bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of occupational choice of workers in the handloom industry in Assam
Authors: Borah Bortamuly Alin , Goswami Kishor , Hazarika Bhabesh
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the determinants of occupational choice of workers in the handloom industry in Assam and to examine the variables that influence the occupational choice of the workers.

Design/methodology/approach

– Primary data were collected from nine handloom concentrated districts in Assam. Multinomial and binary logistic regression models are used to analyse the data of three mutually exclusive occupations of workers namely owners, weavers, and reelers.

Findings

– The results from the tested empirical model show that annual income, education, access to modern technology, and family size are the significant variables that help in transforming the reelers to owners. Similarly, annual income, education, and access to formal credit are the important variables that help in transforming the reelers to weavers. Access to modern technology appears as the most important factor in the occupational shift from weavers to handloom owners.

Research limitations/implications

– Present study has some limitations. It considers only a few variables related to economic and socio-demographic issues. There is further scope of research incorporating more variables such as personal savings, healthcare facilities, availability of hank yarn, marketing facilities, etc. Limitation of data in the worker category helper is another finding constraint.

Practical implications

– Such studies in the handloom sector in Assam are limited and thus the present study greatly extends the understanding of the occupational choice of the workers in Assam's handloom industry.

Originality/value

– Previous studies on handloom industry concentrated predominantly on the economic condition of the workers using mostly multiple regression technique. The present study deviates from normal research by using multinomial and binomial logistic regressions, which analyse the likelihood of occupational shift of the workers. The findings can be generalized to other handicraft-based small industry.
Can social justice, economic redistribution and voluntariness fit into a single conception of liberty?
Authors: Dimova-Cookson Maria
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The paper aims to examine and compare two understandings of liberty that have dealt successfully with the normative and analytical challenge of reconciling liberty with social justice: Philip Pettit's republican liberty as nondomination and Hobhouse's concept of liberty as personal growth available to all. The paper focuses on one particular question: how successful each of these thinkers has been in resolving the tension between voluntariness of action, implicit in the “primary” meaning of liberty (as defined by T.H. Green), with the often heavy demands of social justice policies aiming at social equality and entailing economic redistribution.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper analyses two theories of liberty by spelling out the difficulties they aimed to deal with and by assessing the level of success they have achieved in resolving these difficulties, with the objective to demonstrate their originality in the broader context of conceptualising liberty.

Findings

– The paper criticises Pettit's republican theory from a new perspective and develops an original critique of it; it spells out the achievements of Hobhouse's understanding of liberty in a new light – related to the specific critique of Pettit's republican liberty; and by spelling out the analytical and normative achievements of Hobhouse's liberty as “personal growth available to all” it offers a viable concept of liberty that fits with contemporary conceptualisations but overcomes their shortcomings.

Research limitations/implications

– As the project is based on analysing texts that have been easy to access, there have not been significant research limitations.

Practical implications

– The two theories of freedom assessed here (the contemporary republican and the “new liberal”) entail some subtle, but potentially significant differences in public policy implications. While both can justify extended state action, the latter could tailor specific policies in a manner more mindful of the well-being of all parties, even those on the wrong side of social justice.

Originality/value

– The paper makes an original contribution in three areas: contemporary republican theory of liberty, Hobhouse's theory of liberty and conceptualisations of liberty in general.
Determinants of rural people to join cooperatives in Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Zeweld Nugusse Woldegebrial , Van Huylenbroeck Guido , Buysse Jeroen
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– There are many farmers in rural Ethiopia, who do not join cooperative societies, despite the different technical and financial supports from the government. This study thus aims to investigate the main factors that inspire rural people to join into the cooperatives.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study collected relevant primary data from 400 sample households using a special household survey designed for this study. The study also reviewed different secondary materials. The collected data were analyzed using the two-sample t-test principle and cooperative participation probit model.

Findings

– The finding of the binary choice model illustrates that information access, special skill, membership in rural association, frequency of attending a public meeting/workshop, household head education, credit access, training access, number of family members in school, distance to main market, availability of infrastructures, farmland ownership and farmland sizes are the major explanatory variables that have statistically significant (p-value <0.05) influence on the rural people joining in the cooperative societies in the study areas.

Research limitations/implications

– This study was based on a cross-sectional survey. As a result, the finding may be subjected to some limitations though the study made all possible efforts to minimize the limitations.

Practical implications

– Many studies found that cooperatives are a basis for food security. Accordingly, the government can increase a number of cooperative societies in the region by giving more focus to knowledge- and awareness-based instruments like education, information center, rural associations, communication services and roads. These campaigns can attract more people to join the cooperatives and then get the different economic and social advantages from the cooperatives in order to ensure household food security.

Originality/value

– Some studies found that state, leadership, success history of the cooperative and autonomous status are the most important factors that determine not only the expansion of cooperatives in terms of a number of and types but also for the success of the cooperatives. This study, however, found the importance of information- and knowledge-based mechanisms as a basis to attract more people so that increase in a number of and types of the cooperative societies. Thus, the result of the study is significant for policy makers, social science students, researchers and cooperative societies.
Substitution to augmentation: faculty adoption of iPad mobile learning in higher education
Authors: Cavanaugh Cathy , Hargis Jace , Kamali Tayeb , Soto Melissa
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– This article aims to present an examination of the first six months of a national college-level iPad implementation project involving 14,000 new students based on faculty shift from substituting their teaching methods with mobile technology to augmentation of teaching methods with new affordances of mobile technology.

Design/methodology/approach

– A χ2 analysis of descriptions of teaching practices at a baseline sharing event among teachers (called iCelebrate) and a second similar event (iCelebrate2) was used to compare the abstracts for the events using an alpha of 0.05. The parameters examined were five indicators from the technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) model including the substitution, augmentation, modification and redefinition (SAMR) levels of technology integration.

Findings

– No significant difference (p=0.069) was found in the technology focus of abstracts, although there was a significant (p=0.0015) difference in the content focus. There was no significant difference (p=0.129) for the pedagogical focus. For technology integration into content teaching, there was no significant difference (p=0.379) in level of substitution versus other levels (augmentation, modification or redefinition), although substitution increased to higher levels; with a corresponding decrease in abstracts that focused merely on substitution. For the level of technology adoption, there was a significant difference (p=0.0083) in levels, with a shift to higher levels of integration.

Research limitations/implications

– A limitation of the study is that it relies on volunteer faculty who were motivated to adopt the mobile learning tools and to share their approaches with colleagues. Thus, the findings show the development and potential of this self-selected group and may not generalize to non-volunteers. Indeed, the findings may generalize in very specific ways at different campuses. In seeking to understand why these faculty volunteered and why specific campuses were represented differently from others, the paper refers to the varying influences of the school context proposed by Clarke and Hollingsworth. The campus context may support or impede professional growth by influencing a faculty member's access to professional development opportunities, by offering incentives to participation, by creating a culture that values experimentation, and by providing supports for applying learning in the classroom. More data are needed in order to document linkages among campus factors and faculty TPACK.

Originality/value

– This study is entirely original and has not been published elsewhere in whole or in part. Its intent is to guide education organizations in planning faculty development for mobile education programs.
Mapping the landscape of computer-assisted language learning: an inventory of research
Authors: Parmaxi Antigoni , Zaphiris Panayiotis , Papadima-Sophocleous Salomi , Ioannou Andri
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to chart the development in computer-assisted language learning (CALL), by building a map of existing research work in the field. Based on a corpus of 163 manuscripts, published between January 2009 and September 2010 in four major journals devoted to CALL, it sets out to describe the range of topics covered under the umbrella of CALL and provide a holistic view of the field.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach adopted in this research includes: development of the 2009-2010 CALL corpus; literature overview and initial coding scheme development; refinement of the initial coding scheme with the help of a focus group and construction of the CALL map version 1.0; refinement of the CALL map version 1.0 following a systematic approach of content analysis and development of the CALL map version 2.0; evaluation of the proposed structure and inclusiveness of all categories in the CALL map version 2.0 using card sorting technique; and finally development of the CALL map version 3.0.

Findings

– The research trends in the categories of the CALL map are discussed, as well as possible future directions in the field.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a holistic view of the field of CALL guiding both junior CALL researchers to place themselves in the field, and policy and decision makers who attempt to evaluate the current and future scholar activity in the field. Finally, it caters for more experienced researchers to focus on certain underinvestigated domains.
Expecting the unexpected
Authors: Sundstrom Beth , Lyn Briones Rowena , Janoske Melissa
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore a postmodern approach to crisis management through the lens of complexity theory to understand six non-profit organizations’ communication responses to anti-abortion terrorism.

Design/methodology/approach

– Researchers conducted a qualitative content analysis of publicly available documents from six non-profit organizations, which included 62 news releases and statements on organization web sites, 152 tweets, and 63 articles in national and local newspapers.

Findings

– A history of violence and rituals of remembrance emerged as important pieces of organizational, personal, and social history surrounding anti-abortion terrorism. The process of self-organization facilitated calling publics to action and combating the “terrorism” naming problem. The non-profits’ dynamic environment exemplified the importance of coalition building to construct digital attractor basins, or networks extending beyond permeable boundaries, through a variety of strategies, including new media. Twitter served as a strange attractor, where the concept of interacting agents emerged as a key component of relationship building.

Research limitations/implications

– Findings provide opportunities to expand complexity theory.

Practical implications

– Findings suggest practical implications for anti-abortion counterterrorism and crisis management, and provide opportunities to develop communication counter measures.

Originality/value

– Applying a complexity lens to the study of anti-abortion counterterrorism builds on the growing emphasis of the postmodern approach to crisis management and answers the call for further inquiry into the application of complexity theory to crisis situations. Furthermore, this study fills a gap in the study of crisis management by investigating how multiple organizations handle a crisis.
An explorative review of the Lean office concept
Authors: Bodin Danielsson Christina
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The concept of Lean office design has emerged, claiming to support an efficient labour process. This article aims to investigate how the two main perspectives identified in the Lean office: the neo-Tayloristic approach and the team-based approach, based in different historical backgrounds, use the office design to shorten lead time and free up time.

Design/methodology/approach

– An extensive review is done in the article of what the Lean office concept means for different research areas and to practitioners.

Findings

– The study presents the two Lean office perspectives in relation to each other, something that has not been done before since it is only recently the team-based Lean office was introduced. The study also presents possible risk and benefits of two perspectives from an employee and organizational perspective.

Research limitations/implications

– Since this is a first exploratory review of the Lean office concept based on theories and examples from design practice, further empirical studies are needed to determine risks and benefits of the concept.

Practical implications

– The clarifying examples in the article make it useful for people involved in the design and building process of offices.

Originality/value

– The article brings together the fields of labour process, office research and facility management with the design practice and presents the two perspectives Lean office design in relation to each other, which has not been done before since the team-based Lean office has only recently been introduced.
TMT overtaking the traditional sectors
Authors: Woodford Karine , Kuljanin Milena
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The paper aims to examine the state of the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector at the global level from an occupier perspective. It provides a snapshot of activity in various geographic locations and looks at the major trends and underlying drivers. The paper suggests the implications of these trends for property with emphasis on opportunities for corporate occupiers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses in-house data on property take up and internal as well as external sources on economic activity combined with documentary analysis and expert knowledge.

Findings

– The paper suggests that the TMT sector could overtake the financial services sector as the main engine of global office take up. The paper also finds that the TMT sector is increasingly choosing to locate in central business districts as opposed to traditional out-of-town business parks.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfils the need to understand some of the major shifts taking place within the TMT sector and make a connection between these changes with the property sector emphasizing on corporate occupation.
Optimal jurisdiction of financial supervision
Authors: Patrik Berglund Tom
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to discuss factors that affect the socially optimal jurisdiction of financial supervision in the presence of economies of scale in banking.

Design/methodology/approach

– Analysis of the trade-off between likelihood of “regulatory capture” of supervisors in a small jurisdictions and benefits of greater rates of financial innovation in a less-bureaucratized and more diverse supervisory organization.

Findings

– The challenge is to create a financial supervisory institution that should be powerful enough to close down even the largest financial institutions within its jurisdiction, while at the same time not becoming so large and omnipotent that it would stifle further development of firms in financial services.

Research limitations/implications

– Deeper understanding of minimum efficient scales in financial intermediation required, and of regulatory capture vs efficient information acquisition from regulated units.

Practical implications

– Basis for international (regional) cooperation in facilitating efficient delivery of financial services, in particular in smaller countries.

Originality/value

– Developments in information technology have fundamentally changed the ways financial intermediaries operate paving the way for giant units that in key areas are able to outcompete smaller business units. The financial crisis that started in 2008 revealed that these large and interconnected organizations are in a position to extract implicit subsidies from the rest of the society. The organization of financial supervision must adapt to these changing conditions.
Living wills and cross-border resolution of systemically important banks
Authors: Carmassi Jacopo , John Herring Richard
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether and how “living wills” and public disclosure of such resolution plans contribute to market discipline and the effective resolution of too big and too complex to fail banks.

Design/methodology/approach

– The disorderly collapse of Lehman Brothers is analyzed. Large, systemically important banks are now required to prepare resolution plans (living wills). In the USA, parts of the living wills must be disclosed to the public. The public component is analyzed with respect to contribution to market discipline and effective resolution of banks considered too big and complex to fail. In a statistical analysis of the publicly available section of living wills, this information is contrasted with legislative requirements.

Findings

– The analysis of public disclosures of resolution plans shows that they are insufficient to facilitate market discipline and, in some instances, fail to enhance public understanding of the financial institution and its business. When coupled with the uncertainty over how an internationally active financial institution will be resolved, the paper concludes that these reforms will do little to reduce market expectations that some financial firms are simply too big or too complex to fail.

Research limitations/implications

– A very small data set and the necessity of cross-checking the authors' observations with all publicly available sources. The authors have also tried to infer a purpose for public disclosure of parts of resolution plans. The authorities are remarkably vague on the issue and so the authors have assumed they actually did have a specific intent that would strengthen the system.

Practical implications

– The inference from the publicly available portion of living wills is that the authorities are a very long way from abolishing too-big-to-fail.

Originality/value

– So far as the authors know, this is the first in-depth analysis of the information available in the public sections of living wills.
What drives issue spreads on commercial paper?
Authors: Poskitt Russell
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine how issue spreads are determined in the New Zealand commercial paper market both before and after the onset of the global financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses regression analysis on data from 1,340 commercial paper tenders conducted by 26 issuers between mid-2003 and mid-2011 to explore how credit risk and liquidity factors impact on issue spreads.

Findings

– Prior to March 2008, issue spreads are higher when issuers have a weaker credit rating, risk aversion is high and investor appetite for the issue is low. There is no term premium in issue spreads. After March 2008, credit ratings have no influence on issue spreads, while the influence of risk aversion is weaker. Issue spreads are more sensitive to the investor appetite and the term of the issue. Investors assign higher spreads to issues made by securitisation conduits despite these entities retaining the highest possible short-term credit rating, reflecting the erosion of confidence in credit ratings on asset-backed securities.

Originality/value

– This is the first published study of the New Zealand commercial paper market. The results show that since the onset of the global financial crisis, investor perceptions of credit risk have played a more important role in the determination of issue spreads than short-term credit ratings. This is consistent with a loss of confidence in credit ratings on asset-backed securities.
Real options analysis as a practical tool for capital budgeting
Authors: Guthrie Graeme
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to demonstrate the practical application of real options analysis to the evaluation of multistage projects, using an example involving a commercial real estate development.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach demonstrated builds on static discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis and requires knowledge of only the binomial option pricing model.

Findings

– Real options analysis can be implemented in a spreadsheet and only one parameter – the volatility of the price of the completed project – needs to be estimated in addition to those required for static DCF analysis. The approach described can be used to evaluate a project at any stage of development, which is especially useful when the suspension of partly completed projects is under consideration.

Originality/value

– The paper shows how to carry out real options analysis of complex multistage development projects using straightforward valuation tools, making an important project evaluation technique more readily available to practitioners.
Wii-based Movement Therapy benefits stroke patients with low and very low movement ability
Authors: A. McNulty Penelope , G. Thompson-Butel Angelica , T. Shiner Christine , Trinh Terry
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– Stroke patients with low and very low functional movement are not usually considered suitable for rehabilitation. Without therapy the more-affected side will not improve and may lose any residual function. Poor movement ability reduces independence and limits the social engagement of such patients. The purpose of this paper was to investigate whether Wii-based Movement Therapy was suitable and beneficial for stroke patients with low and very low movement ability.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 13 patients aged 22-77 years and three months to 21 years post-stroke completed the standardised 14-day protocol of Wii-based Movement Therapy. Therapy is a structured and targeted programme, tailored to the individual needs and deficits of each patient. Functional ability was assessed using a suite of tools. Increased use of the more-affected hand and arm in everyday life was assessed using the Quality of Movement subscale of the Motor Activity Log.

Findings

– Functional movement of the more-affected hand and arm improved by 40 per cent on the Fugl-Meyer Assessment. Hand-use in everyday tasks more than doubled and improvements were also seen in lower-limb function, balance, and cardiovascular function. Qualitative improvements in psychological status were also noted.

Practical implications

– The paper demonstrates that stroke patients with low and very low movement ability post-stroke can benefit from upper-limb rehabilitation. Wii-based Movement Therapy is a viable and effective option with high patient compliance.

Originality/value

– The patients in this study became less disabled. Improving movement ability of stroke survivors will not only increase their independence in activities of daily living but will also reduce the burden of care on patients, their families and the community.
The attitudes of people with Huntington's disease and their carers to research
Authors: Wright Jan , McDonald Paul , Rickards Hugh , De Souza Jennifer
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the attitude and understanding of research among people with Huntington's disease (HD) and their carers, as well as their experiences of research participation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants with HD (ranging from pre-symptomatic to moderately severe HD) and ten carers. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

– The emerging themes indicated that carers played a more active part in the research process while the service users adopted a more passive role. These differences gave rise to differences in their attitudes and perceptions of research. Carers described in detail their information processing and decision-making role when participation was offered and then throughout the subsequent study. They facilitated attendance, provided support, enabled the collection of correct data for the study, as well as ensuring the wellbeing of the service user throughout the research process. Service users, however, focused upon the behavioural and physical changes they experienced during the trial. Nevertheless a great level of enthusiasm for research was reported by both service users and carers.

Originality/value

– Research on the attitudes and experiences of people with HD and their carers is inadequate. Further research is therefore needed into the carers’ potentially considerable burden and significant role in HD research. This could then conceivably impact on the enhancement of the clinical trial experience and recruitment and retention in studies could be improved.
Hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction following traumatic brain injury
Authors: R. Rosario Emily , R. Bustos Melissa , Moore Colleen
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a significant public health problem that affect an estimated 1.7 million US residents yearly. TBI patients experience a variety of symptoms related to physical functioning, sensory processing, cognition, communication, behavior, and mental health, all of which differ in severity by individual. Recent evidence suggests that hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction may be impacting recovery. The purpose of this paper is to increase awareness about the frequency of hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction following a TBI and its effect on functional recovery.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reviews the literature regarding hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction following TBI and discusses the potential benefits of hormone replacement therapy for individuals with hormone deficiencies.

Findings

– The rate of hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction following TBI has been reported as anywhere between 25 and 80 percent. Specifically, abnormal hormone levels, both chronic and acute, are generally estimated to be approximately 5-22 percent for thyroid hormones, 15-33 percent for growth hormone (GH), and 25-80 percent for testosterone. The effect of hypopituitarism has been reported on several aspects cognitive and physical function as well as overall quality of life. In these studies, GH and testosterone deficiencies appear to underlie the observed impairments.

Originality/value

– The paper suggests the importance of understanding and screening for hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction as hormone replacement therapy may be a beneficial intervention to promote physical and cognitive rehabilitation.
Genetic diversity within a declining natural population of Ferocactus histrix (DC) Lindsay
Authors: Castro‐Felix Patricia , Rosas‐Espinoza Verónica Carolina , Díaz‐Cárdenas Brenda , Pérez‐Valencia Laura Izascum , Huerta‐Martínez Francisco Martín , Santerre Anne
Published: November 2013

Ferocactus histrix is a barrel cactus that is widespread in Mexico. A population located in Llanos de Ojuelos, a semiarid zone representative of many disturbed regions in north‐central Mexico, was studied. Over a period of 10 years (1997 to 2007), the average number of individuals decreased from 21.95 to 3.53 plants per 300 m2. A change in population size structure was also registered over this period of time. In 2008, a plot selected on the basis of plant abundance was established within the population and a genetic analysis was conducted with ISTR and ISSR markers. This analysis revealed low levels of genetic diversity (expected heterozygosity (HE) = 0.073, Shannon index (I) = 0.113 and HE = 0.178, I = 0.271, respectively) compared with those of most studied cacti species. The genetic diversity between the different life stages was also evaluated, and a gradual decrease in levels of genetic variation was observed from adults to juveniles and seedlings (HE = 0.130, I = 0.192 to HE = 0.103, I = 0.157). These differences, however, were not significant. Loci fixation and a decrease in the frequency of rare alleles were observed in seedling and juvenile classes. The decline in genetic variation may be associated with recent bottlenecks experienced by the population of F. histrix. If the sizes of local populations of F. histrix continue to decrease, genetic variation will be gradually lost, and the risk of extinction will increase.
Subgrouping in the Sabellian branch of Indo‐European
Authors: Clackson James
Published: November 2013

The Sabellian branch of the Italic languages of Indo‐European comprises Oscan, Umbrian, South Picene and a number of smaller varieties. This paper analyses the current model for subgrouping these languages and gives detailed consideration to a number of phonological and morphological isoglosses. The publication of a new corpus of the Sabellian inscriptions allows a better understanding of the relative chronology for language change in the Sabellian branch, and this leads to a new perspective on the interrelations between the Sabellian languages.
Microcirculation in women with severe pre‐eclampsia and HELLP syndrome: a case–control study
Authors: Cornette J , Herzog E , Buijs EAB , Duvekot JJ , Rizopoulos D , Hop WCJ , Tibboel D , Steegers EAP
Published: November 2013

Objective

To compare microcirculatory perfusion in women with severe pre‐eclampsia against that in healthy pregnant women, and secondly in women with severe pre‐eclampsia with or without HELLP syndrome (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets).

Design

Case–control study.

Setting

University Hospital Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Population

Twenty‐three women with severe pre‐eclampsia and 23 healthy pregnant controls, matched for maternal and gestational age. Out of the 23 women with severe pre‐eclampsia, ten presented with HELLP syndrome.

Methods

Microcirculation was analysed sublingually by a non‐invasive sidestream dark‐field imaging device (SDF).

Main outcome measures

Perfused vessel density (PVD), microcirculatory flow index (MFI), and heterogeneity index (HI) were calculated for both small vessels (∅ < 20 μm; capillaries) and non‐small vessels (∅ > 20 μm; venules and arterioles).

Results

There were no significant differences between women with severe pre‐eclampsia and healthy controls. Women with pre‐eclampsia and HELLP syndrome showed a reduced PVD (P = 0.045), MFI (P = 0.008), and increased HI (P = 0.002) for small vessels, as compared with women with pre‐eclampsia but without HELLP syndrome.

Conclusions

Sidestream dark‐field is a novel, promising technique in obstetrics that permits the non‐invasive evaluation of microcirculation. We did not observe major differences in sublingual microcirculatory perfusion between women with severe pre‐eclampsia and healthy pregnant controls. In women with severe pre‐eclampsia, the presence of HELLP syndrome is characterised by impaired capillary perfusion.
Abamectin resistance in strains of vegetable leafminer, Liriomyza sativae (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is linked to elevated glutathione S‐transferase activity
Authors: Wei Qing‐Bo , Lei Zhong‐Ren , Nauen Ralf , Cai Du‐Cheng , Gao Yu‐Lin
Published: November 2013

Abamectin resistance was selected in the vegetable leafminer, Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) under laboratory conditions, and cross‐resistance patterns and possible resistance mechanisms in the abamectin‐resistant strains (AL‐R, AF‐R) were investigated. Compared with the susceptible strain (SS), strain AL‐R displayed 39‐fold resistance to abamectin after 20 selection cycles during 25 generations, and strain AF‐R exhibited 59‐fold resistance to abamectin after 16 selection cycles during 22 generations. No cross‐resistance to cyromazine was found in both abamectin‐resistant strains. However, we failed to select for cyromazine resistance in L. sativae under laboratory conditions by conducting 17 selection cycles during 22 generations. However, moderate levels of cross‐resistance to abamectin (6–9 fold) were observed in strains which received cyromazine treatments. Biochemical analysis showed that glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activity in both abamectin‐resistant strains (AL‐R, AF‐R) was significantly higher than in the susceptible strain (SS), suggesting metabolically driven resistance to abamectinin L. sativae. Recommendations of mixtures or rotation of cyromazine and abamectin should be considered carefully, as consecutive cyromazine treatments may select for low‐level cross‐resistance to abamectin.
Indirect Ion Selective Electrode Methods Potentially Overestimate Peritoneal Dialysate Sodium Losses
Authors: Persaud Jahm , Thomas Michael , Davenport Andrew
Published: November 2013

Measurements of dialysate sodium are used to estimate peritoneal dialysis sodium losses and sodium sieving, a measure of hydraulic permeability of the peritoneum. Peritoneal dialysates differ from serum samples in terms of pH, osmolality, protein and glucose concentration. We wished to determine whether these factors affected sodium measurement. Dialysate samples were taken from 52 consecutive peritoneal dialysis patients attending for a standard peritoneal dialysis equilibrium test (PET), 20 with standard lactate dialysate and 32 with neutral pH dialysate and sodium was measured by both flame photometry and indirect ion selective electrode (ISE). Sodium measured by ISE consistently overestimated that measured by flame photometer, mean bias 1.5 mmol/L (95% confidence limits 1.2 to 1.8), P < 0.001. Sodium was lower in fresh neutral pH dialysates by both methods – flame 125.3 ± 1.17 vs. 131.6 ± 0.39 mmol/L, than standard lactate dialysates ISE 127.4 ± 1.05 vs 132.7 ± 0.27 mmol/L, P < 0.001. Glucose was higher in fresh neutral pH dialysates 122.7 ± 1.1 vs. standard lactate dialysates 116.7 ± 0.4 mmol/L, P < 0.001. On multiple regression analysis, only glucose was found to be an independent factor for sodium measurement, F = 14.78, β = −0.0851, SEM 0.022, 95% confidence limits −1.28 to −0.042. In this study there was a small but consistent difference between sodium measurements by ISE and flame photometry during the PET. Sodium measurements by either method appeared to be affected by hypertonic dialysates, but there were differences with pH. This may potentially lead to errors in both overestimating peritoneal sodium losses and the proportion of patients with ultrafiltration failure due to loss of sodium sieving.
Parachute Implant: CT Morphological Criteria of our Center to Identify the Suitable Patient
Authors: Bozdag‐Turan Ilkay , Bermaoui Benjamin , Turan R. Goekmen , Kische Stephan , Paranskaya Liliya , Kloker Katja , Ortak Jasmin , Akin Ibrahim , Hauenstein Karlheinz , Nienaber Christoph A. , Ince Hueseyin
Published: November 2013

Aims

In this study, we present and discuss our institutionalized and standardized computed tomography (CT) morphological criteria for the treatment of patients with a parachute device.

Methods and Results

After clinical and echocardiographic screening of 79 patients with ischemic heart failure, 28 were examined using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) to assess their suitability for treatment with a parachute implant. From the 28 examined patients, nine were suitable for parachute implantation. Within the group of excluded patients, the cardiac diameters of one‐third of the patients were too large, whereas for another third they were too small. Approximately 20% of the patients were rejected because of a deep insertion of the papillary muscles. Further reasons included left ventricular bands as well as mismatches between CT and echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Conclusions

To ensure a safe parachute device implantation in patients with ischemic heart failure, only the CT at present offers the capability to obtain complete and dynamic three‐dimensional (3D) measurements of the cardiac dimensions.
Childhood maltreatment and inflammatory markers: a systematic review
Authors: Coelho R. , Viola T. W. , Walss‐Bass C. , Brietzke E. , Grassi‐Oliveira R.
Published: November 2013

Objective

Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with several diseases in adult life, including diabetes, obesity and mental disorders. Inflammatory conditions have been postulated as possible mediators of this relationship. The aim was to conduct a systematic review regarding the association between CM and inflammatory markers in adulthood.

Method

A literature search of the PubMed, ISI, EMBASE and PsychINFO databases was conducted. The key terms used were as follows: ‘Child Maltreatment’, ‘Childhood Trauma’, ‘Early Life Stress’, ‘Psychological Stress’, ‘Emotional Stress’, ‘Child Abuse’ and ‘Child Neglect’. They were cross‐referenced separately with the terms: ‘C‐reactive Protein (CRP)’, ‘Tumor Necrosis Factor’, ‘Cytokine’, ‘Interleukin’, ‘Inflammatory’ and ‘Inflammation’.

Results

Twenty articles remained in the review after exclusion criteria were applied. Studies showed that a history of CM was associated with increased levels of CRP, fibrinogen and proinflammatory cytokines. Increased levels of circulating CRP in individuals with a history of CM were the most robust finding among the studies. Data about anti‐inflammatory mediators are still few and inconsistent.

Conclusion

Childhood maltreatment is associated with a chronic inflammatory state independent of clinical comorbidities. However, studies are heterogeneous regarding CM assessment and definition. Important methodological improvements are needed to better understand the potential impact of CM on inflammatory response.
Progesterone Activates Multiple Innate Immune Pathways in Chlamydia trachomatis‐Infected Endocervical Cells
Authors: Wan Charles , Latter Joanna L. , Amirshahi Ashkan , Symonds Ian , Finnie Jane , Bowden Nikola , Scott Rodney J. , Cunningham Kelly A. , Timms Peter , Beagley Kenneth W.
Published: November 2013

Problem

Susceptibility to Chlamydia trachomatis infection is increased by oral contraceptives and modulated by sex hormones. We therefore sought to determine the effects of female sex hormones on the innate immune response to C. trachomatis infection.

Method of study

ECC‐1 endometrial cells, pre‐treated with oestradiol or progesterone, were infected with C. trachomatis and the host transcriptome analysed by Illumina Sentrix HumanRef‐8 microarray. Primary endocervical epithelial cells, prepared at either the proliferative or secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, were infected with C. trachomatis and cytokine gene expression determined by quantitative RT‐PCR analysis.

Results

Chlamydia trachomatis yield from progesterone‐primed ECC‐1 cells was significantly reduced compared with oestradiol‐treated cells. Genes upregulated in progesterone‐treated and Chlamydia‐infected cells only included multiple CC and CXC chemokines, IL‐17C, IL‐29, IL‐32, TNF‐α, DEFB4B, LCN2, S100A7‐9, ITGAM, NOD2, JAK1, IL‐6ST, type I and II interferon receptors, numerous interferon‐stimulated genes and STAT6. CXCL10, CXCL11, CX3CL1 and IL‐17C, which were also upregulated in infected secretory‐stage primary cells, and there was a trend towards higher levels of immune mediators in infected secretory‐phase compared with proliferative‐phase cells.

Conclusion

Progesterone treatment primes multiple innate immune pathways in hormone‐responsive epithelial cells that could potentially increase resistance to chlamydial infection.
Democracy, the Market, and the Logic of Social Choice
Authors: DeCanio Samuel
Published: November 2013

This article compares the types of knowledge democracy and the market require to rationally allocate resources. I argue that high levels of public ignorance and voters’ inability to compare the effects of different parties’ policies make it difficult for parties and elections to rationally allocate resources. Markets mitigate these problems because the simultaneous existence of multiple firms’ products facilitates comparisons that mimic the conditions of scientific experimentation. The economy of knowledge involved in such comparisons indicates there are epistemic advantages to using firms and markets, instead of political parties and elections, to allocate scarce resources. However, in contrast to arguments that markets merely provide better information than political decisions, I argue markets’ epistemic advantages are derived from the way they facilitate comparisons that minimize decision makers’ need for knowledge or understanding.
Social Esteem and Participation in Contentious Politics: A Field Experiment at an LGBT Pride Rally
Authors: McClendon Gwyneth H.
Published: November 2013

What motivates individuals to participate in contentious, political forms of collective action? In this article, I consider the possibility that the promise of social esteem from an ingroup can act as a powerful selective incentive for individuals to participate in contentious politics. I conducted a field experiment—the first to my knowledge to take place in the context of a political march, rally, or social‐identity event—to isolate this esteem mechanism from others. Using measures of intent to attend, actual attendance, and reported attendance at a gay and lesbian pride event in New Jersey, I find evidence that the promise of social esteem boosts all three measures of participation. The article offers new theoretical and practical implications for the study of participation in nonvoting forms of collective action.
Carotid Artery Doppler Flow Pattern After Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in Neonatal Piglets
Authors: Tirilomis Theodor , Malliarou Stella , Coskun K. Oguz , Schoendube Friedrich A.
Published: November 2013

The mechanisms of cerebral injury after cardiac surgery in neonates are not clear. The aim of the study was the analysis of flow changes in the carotid artery of neonatal piglets after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). Eight neonatal piglets were connected to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and underwent (i) cooling to 18°C core temperature within 30 min, (ii) DHCA for 90 min, and finally (iii) rewarming to 37°C after cross‐clamp release (60 min of reperfusion). The blood flow was measured in the left carotid artery by an ultrasonic flow probe before CPB (baseline; T0), immediately after termination of reperfusion on CPB (T1), 30 min later (T2), and 60 min later (T3). Additionally, the pulsatility index and the resistance index were calculated and compared. Finally, the relationship between the carotid artery flow and the corresponding pressure at each time‐point was compared. After termination of CPB (T1), the mean carotid artery flow was reduced from 45.26 ± 2.58 mL/min at baseline to 23.29 ± 2.58 mL/min (P < 0.001) and remained reduced 30 and 60 min later (P < 0.001 vs. baseline). Both the pulsatility index and the resistance index were increased after termination of reperfusion, with the maximum occurring 30 min after CPB end. In conclusion, the carotid artery Doppler flow in neonatal piglets was reduced after DHCA, while the indices of pulsatility and resistance increased.
Bone mineral density in Turner's syndrome and the influence of pubertal development
Authors: Nadeem Montasser , Roche Edna F
Published: November 2013

Aim

To describe bone mineral density at the lumbar spine in a group of girls with Turner's syndrome and determine its relation to pubertal development.

Methods

Girls with Turner's syndrome aged over 12 years were invited to participate in the study. All participants underwent auxology, pubertal assessment and laboratory evaluation. Bone mineral density was estimated by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Bone mineral apparent density was then calculated, and the results were compared with age‐matched Dutch reference data.

Results

We studied 32 girls with Turner's syndrome, mean (SD) [range] age 16.7 (2.6) [12.4–20.2] years and height 148.3 (9.0) [126–159.2] cm. Bone mineral apparent density lumbar spine values were −0.87 SD, significantly lower than in the reference population (p <0.001). Bone mineral apparent density values were positively and significantly associated with breast Tanner stages and postmenarcheal status, but not spontaneous puberty. However, no significant association was found between bone mineral apparent density and karyotype, growth hormone or timing of oestrogen therapy.

Conclusion

Girls with Turner's syndrome have lower bone mineral apparent density values at the lumbar spine, even after correcting for size, compared with an age‐ and sex‐matched general population. Pubertal development has significant impact on bone mineral apparent density in girls with Turner's syndrome.
Actions of intravenous injections of AVP and oxytocin on plasma ACTH, GH, insulin and glucagon concentrations in goats
Authors: Roh Sang‐gun , Koiwa Kohta , Sato Katsuyoshi , Ohtani Yoshihisa , Takahashi Tatsuyuki , Katoh Kazuo
Published: November 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the arginine‐vasopressin (AVP)‐ and oxytocin‐induced changes in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), growth hormone (GH), insulin and glucagon levels and their metabolite concentrations in goats. In this study, five goats were intravenously injected with either AVP (0.3 nmol/kg body weight (BW)) or oxytocin (0.7 IU/kg BW). AVP injection significantly increased ACTH and GH secretions compared to controls, although insulin and glucagon concentrations were not altered. The incremental areas (ICAs) of the ACTH and GH concentrations were higher in the AVP group than in the saline group. Oxytocin injections increased insulin and glucagon secretions, while ACTH level was not altered. GH levels became elevated 30 min after the oxytocin injection. The ICAs of insulin and glucagon after oxytocin was injected were higher than those of the control. Results indicate that AVP is a potent stimulant of ACTH and GH secretions, while oxytocin uses different pathways to regulate insulin and glucagon secretions in goats.