bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developmental switch in the kinase dependency of long-term potentiation depends on expression of GluA4 subunit-containing AMPA receptors
Authors: Luchkina Natalia V. , Huupponen Johanna , Clarke Vernon R. J. , Coleman Sarah K. , Keinänen Kari , Taira Tomi , Lauri Sari E.
Published: March 2014

Significance

Ionotropic glutamate receptors are critical for excitatory transmission and plasticity in the brain and have been implicated in several neurological diseases. The GluA4 subunit of the AMPA-type glutamate receptors is expressed transiently in hippocampal CA1 principal neurons when synaptic connectivity is forming, but its physiological significance is unknown. Here we show that GluA4 expression is sufficient to alter the signaling mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and can fully explain the switch in the kinase dependency of long-term potentiation from PKA to Ca2
+
/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II during synapse maturation. GluA4 expression at developing synapses confers a minimal mechanism for activity-dependent AMPA-receptor regulation to facilitate silent synapse activation during early development of glutamatergic synapses.
Development and Decline of the Bampur Valley, Based on the New Archaeological Evidence from Prehistoric Period
Authors: Moradi Hossein , Sarhaddi-Dadian Hossein , Rahman Nik Hassan Shuhami Nik Abdul
Published: March 2014

This paper consists of some of the findings of the authors during their research at prehistoric sites of Bampur and its surrounding areas in August 2011. These areas, which have been introduced as Bampur-related sites, comprise an area about of 5–10 kilometers and belong to the Bronze Age. The paper introduces, categorizes and analyzes the archaeological findings in relation to the Bampur collection. The archaeological findings show that: (1) unlike the previous belief, there existed a peak settlement dated back to the Chah Husseini period which was prior to Bampur I; (2) in fact, Bampur II–IV had larger populations due to growth of trade and commerce and their relations with Yahya and Mesopotamia; (3) the later periods of the Bampur collection show a decreasing number of sites at Bampur VI.
Challenges in the Management of Infections due to Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Drekonja Dimitri M. , Beekmann Susan E. , Elliott Sean , Mukundan Deepa , Polenakovik Hari , Rosenthal Marnie E. , Tamma Pranita D. , Polgreen Philip M. , Weissman Scott J.
Published: March 2014

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections are increasing and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Members of the Emerging Infections Network treating CRE encountered difficulties in obtaining laboratory results and struggled with limited treatment options. In addition, many treated patients experienced an alarming degree of drug toxicity from CRE therapies.
Querying Automated Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing Instruments: A Novel Population-Based Active Surveillance Method for Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli
Authors: Reno Jessica , Schenck Calista , Scott Janine , Clark Leigh Ann , Wang Yun F. (Wayne) , Ray Susan , Vagnone Paula Snippes , Jacob Jesse T.
Published: March 2014

Objective.

To describe the implementation of a population-based surveillance system for multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli (MDR-GNB).

Design.

Population-based active surveillance by the Georgia Emerging Infections Program.

Setting.

Metropolitan Atlanta, starting November 2010.

Patients.

Residents with MDR-GNB isolated from urine or a normally sterile site culture.

Methods.

Surveillance was implemented in 3 phases: (1) surveying laboratory antibiotic susceptibility testing practices, (2) piloting surveillance to estimate the proportion of GNB that were MDR, and (3) maintaining ongoing active surveillance for carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter baumannii using the 2010 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoints. Pilot surveillance required developing and installing queries for GNB on the 3 types of automated testing instruments (ATIs), such as MicroScan, in Atlanta's clinical laboratories. Ongoing surveillance included establishing a process to extract data from ATIs consistently, review charts, manage data, and provide feedback to laboratories.

Results.

Output from laboratory information systems typically used for surveillance would not reliably capture the CLSI breakpoints, but queries developed for the 3 ATIs did. In November 2010, 0.9% of Enterobacteriaceae isolates and 35.7% of A. baumannii isolates from 21 laboratories were carbapenem nonsusceptible. Over a 5-month period, 82 Enterobacteriaceae and 59 A. baumannii were identified as carbapenem nonsusceptible.

Conclusions.

Directly querying ATIs, a novel method of active surveillance for MDR-GNB, proved to be a reliable, sustainable, and accurate method that required moderate initial investment and modest maintenance. Ongoing surveillance is critical to assess the burden of and changes in MDR-GNB to inform prevention efforts.
Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase–Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Hospital Food: A Risk Assessment
Authors: Stewardson Andrew J. , Renzi Gesuele , Maury Nathalie , Vaudaux Celia , Brassier Caroline , Fritsch Emmanuel , Pittet Didier , Heck Max , van der Zwaluw Kim , Reuland E. Ascelijn , van de Laar Thijs , Snelders Eveline , Vandenbroucke-Grauls Christina , Kluytmans Jan , Edder Patrick , Schrenzel Jacques , Harbarth Stephan
Published: March 2014

Objective.

Determine the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) contamination of food and colonization of food handlers in a hospital kitchen and compare retrieved ESBL-PE strains with patient isolates.

Design.

Cross-sectional study.

Setting.

A 2,200-bed tertiary care university hospital in Switzerland.

Participants.

Food handlers.

Methods.

Raw and prepared food samples were obtained from the hospital kitchen, with a comparator group from local supermarkets. Fecal samples collected from food handlers and selectively pre-enriched homogenized food samples were inoculated onto selective chromogenic media. Phenotypic confirmation of ESBL production was performed using the double disk method. Representative ESBL-PE were characterized using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing for blaCTX-M, blaSHV, and blaTEM genes, and Escherichia coli strains were typed using phylotyping, repetitive element palindromic PCR, and multilocus sequence typing. Meat samples were screened for antibiotic residues using liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Results.

Sixty (92%) of the raw chicken samples were ESBL-PE positive, including 30 (86%) of the hospital samples and all supermarket samples. No egg, beef, rabbit, or cooked chicken samples were ESBL-PE positive. No antibiotic residues were detected. Six (6.5%) of 93 food handlers were ESBL-PE carriers. ESBL-PE strains from chicken meat more commonly possessed blaCTX-M-1 and blaCTX-M-2, whereas blaCTX-M-14and blaCTX-M-15 were predominant among strains of human origin. There was partial overlap in the sequence type of E. coli strains of chicken and human origin. No E. coli ST131 strains or blaCTX-M-15 genes were isolated from meat.

Conclusions.

Although there is significant ESBL-PE contamination of delivered chicken meat, current preventive strategies minimize risks to food handlers, hospital staff, and patients.
Ecological importance of sharks and rays in a structural foodweb analysis in southern Brazil
Authors: Bornatowski Hugo , Navia Andrés Felipe , Braga Raul Rennó , Abilhoa Vinícius , Corrêa Marco Fábio Maia
Published: March 2014

Understanding the trophic interactions and the position of species within a foodweb is crucial if we want to understand the dynamics of marine communities and the impact individual components of the community have on trophic network compartments. Recent studies have indicated sharks and rays are important elements within foodwebs. In this study, we evaluated the ecological importance of sharks and rays in a subtropical ecosystem off the coast of southern Brazil by using topological analyses. We tested the hypotheses that some elasmobranchs can be considered key elements within the foodweb, and that large predators have topological importance (act as keystones), so that, when large predators are excluded, mesopredator elasmobranchs occupy higher topological positions. Our results indicate that Galeocerdo cuvier, Carcharhinus obscurus, Carcharias taurus, Sphyrna lewini and S. zygaena are species with large ecological function values and may exert a powerful influence over lower levels. These issues need to be considered by conservation and fishery management groups since it appears that ecosystem integrity may be compromised by reductions in the populations of large predators. Carcharhinus obscurus, S. zygaena and Zapteryx brevirostris were found to be the elasmobranchs with largest values of centrality, and can, therefore, be considered key elements in the topological structure.
Sources and Availability of Inoculum and Seasonal Survival of Sphaeropsis pyriputrescens in Apple Orchards
Authors: Xiao C. L. , Kim Y. K. , Boal R. J.
Published: March 2014

Sphaeropsis pyriputrescens is the cause of Sphaeropsis rot, a recently reported postharvest fruit rot disease of apple. Infection of apple fruit by the fungus is believed to occur in the orchard, and symptoms develop during storage or in the market. S. pyriputrescens also is the cause of a twig dieback and canker disease of apple and crabapple trees. To determine sources of pathogen inoculum in the orchard, twigs with dieback and canker symptoms, dead fruit spurs, dead bark, and fruit mummies on the trees were collected and examined for the presence of pycnidia of S. pyriputrescens. To monitor inoculum availability during the growing season from early May to early November, dead fruit spurs or twigs from Fuji trees, and twigs with dieback from crabapple trees (as a source of pollen for apple production) in a Fuji orchard as well as dead fruit spurs and dead bark from Red Delicious trees in a Red Delicious orchard were sampled periodically and examined for the presence and viability of pycnidia of S. pyriputrescens. To determine seasonal survival and production of pycnidia of the fungus on twigs, apple twigs were inoculated in early December, sampled periodically for up to 12 months after inoculation, examined for the presence of pycnidia, and subjected to isolation of the fungus from diseased tissues to determine its survival. Pycnidia of S. pyriputrescens were observed on diseased twigs, dead fruit spurs and bark, and mummified fruit on both apple and crabapple trees, suggesting that these tissues were the sources of inoculum for fruit infection in the orchard. With the combined observations from two orchards during three growing seasons, viable pycnidia of the fungus were present throughout the year and observed in 50 to 100% of the Fuji trees, >90% of crabapple trees, and 0 to 50% of the Red Delicious trees. S. pyriputrescens was recovered from diseased tissues of inoculated twigs at all sampling times up to 12 months after inoculation. The results suggest that S. pyriputrescens can survive as mycelium in diseased twigs in north-central Washington State and that availability of viable S. pyriputrescens pycnidia is unlikely a limiting factor for infection of apple fruit in the orchard leading to Sphaeropsis rot during storage.
Review of business intelligence through data analysis
Authors: Selene Xia Belle , Gong Peng
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of business intelligence (BI) in a consulting company. The authors propose to analyze quality through data analysis and efficiency under different business contexts. The best processes and tools in data mining are also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

– Management perspectives of data analysis from Florilla Consulting Company are collected using an inductive research approach. Based on a large sample of qualitative data, cost-and-benefit analysis is used to assess the BI technologies as a strategic necessity to Florilla Consulting Company.

Findings

– Findings classify the best processes and tools of data analysis under different business scenarios. The authors also propose a revised process and tools for Florilla Consulting Company to be further evaluated by future research.

Practical implications

– The insights offered in this paper derives authentic value for any consulting company that is interested to benefit from the opportunities bought by the BI technologies. Quality management also gets a new dimension when technology is integrated into business.

Originality/value

– This study has challenged the way quality is managed in Florilla Consulting Company. The connection of BI to quality management is explored via an empirical study of a consulting company by linking theory with practice.
Influence of resources on maintenance operations with different asset monitoring levels
Authors: A. Alabdulkarim Abdullah , D. Ball Peter , Tiwari Ashutosh
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The demand for contracts on assets availability has increased. Recently published papers show that the use of asset health monitoring technologies is being encouraged to improve the asset performance. This is based on reason rather than analysis. This paper aims to understand and assess the effect of different types of business processes for maintenance resource levels on the behaviour of the maintenance operations and asset availability located at different customer locations using different asset monitoring levels.

Design/methodology/approach

– A discrete event simulation (DES) model was developed to mimic complex maintenance operations with different monitoring levels (reactive, diagnostics, and prognostics). The model was created to understand and assess the influence of resources (labour and spare parts) on a particular maintenance operation. The model was created to represent different levels of asset monitoring to be applied in a case study. Subsequently, different levels of spare parts (ranging from deficient inventory to a plentiful spares inventory) and labour were applied to show the effects of those resources on the asset availability.

Findings

– This research has found that the DES was able to discern different processes for asset monitoring levels in complex maintenance operations. It also provided numerical evidence about applying such asset monitoring levels and proved that the higher asset monitoring level does not always guarantee higher asset availability.

Practical implications

– The developed model is a unique model that can provide the decision makers of maintenance operations with numerical evidence to select an appropriate asset monitoring level based on their particular maintenance operations.

Originality/value

– A novel DES model was developed to support maintenance operations decision makers in selecting the appropriate asset monitoring level for their particular operations. This unique approach provides numerical evidence rather than reasoning, and also proves that the higher asset monitoring level does not always guarantee higher asset availability.
The rules of global engagement for developing country firms
Authors: Ketkar Sonia
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to examine how property rights, financial liberalization and the control of corruption at the country level influence the inward and outward global engagement of domestic firms from developing countries. The author also examines whether firms with certain resource endowments such as human capital or technological capabilities are better positioned to globalize as the aforementioned institutional factors evolve.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a sample of 18,365 firms from 57 developing countries and multilevel modeling, the author shows that institutional factors are related to inward and outward global engagement.

Findings

– The author finds that firms with human capital are more likely to move outward in the presence of lower levels of corruption. Domestic firms possessing technological capabilities are more likely to engage inward as financial liberalization eases the access to capital.

Originality/value

– Many existing studies that have investigated the impact of institutional factors on internationalization by developing country firms have bundled different institutions together therefore sacrificing a focus on the effect of specific institutions on these firm decisions. While the author knows that institutions matter for developing country firm globalization, there is limited research on which institutions matter. There is also a debate on how institutions matter for developing country firms. The study sheds light on these aspects. The author also uses hierarchical linear modelling and uses both country- and firm-level variables.
Evaluating the role ofblatin finding graduate employment in post-Soviet Ukraine
Authors: Onoshchenko Olga , C. Williams Colin
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to evaluate the use of personal connections to circumvent formal procedures, known asblatin the Soviet era, in post-Soviet societies by studying its role in graduate employment recruitment.

Design/methodology/approach

– To do this, the extent to which and howblatis used by graduates to find a job in the city of Mykolayiv in Ukraine is analysed through 85 face-to-face structured interviews with those who in the past seven years have sought employment after graduating from university.

Findings

– The finding is thatblatis widely used by graduates to find a job. However, contrary to the existing literature which suggests thatblathas become commodified in post-Soviet market societies with monetary payment being requested by and given to personal connections “pulling strings”, no evidence is found that this is the case. Instead, this remains a non-monetised form of friendly help by and for close social relations, akin to the Soviet era, and is viewed in a positive or neutral manner by participants even though its consequences can be to circumvent meritocratic formal recruitment procedures and foster nepotism and cronyism.

Research limitations/implications

– This study ofblatis limited to analysing graduate recruitment in one city in Ukraine. Broader empirical research on the contemporary role ofblatin this and other spheres in post-Soviet societies and beyond is now required so as to develop a more nuanced context-bound understanding of both the positive and negative facets of this social practice in contemporary societies.

Originality/value

– This study reveals thatblatis commonly used to find graduate jobs and is widely viewed as a socially acceptable practice, despite hindering meritocratic recruitment procedures.
Exploring the impact of Investors in People
Authors: M. Smith Simon , Stokes Peter , F. Wilson John
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Investors in People (IiP) is a UK government-backed scheme aimed at enabling organizations to develop their training and development cultures and, thereby, their competitiveness. The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceptions and understandings of individuals in six organizations undergoing IiP to explore recent claims within the literature concerning the Standard's impact on training and development, and job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data from 35 semi-structured interviews among managers and employees of six diverse organizations were gathered and analysed.

Findings

– The paper identifies three key findings in response to recent literature: first, the findings do not support a causal relationship between IiP and training and development; second, the findings do not support a causal relationship between IiP and job satisfaction; third, and to support the other findings, the results indicate little employee awareness of IiP.

Practical implications

– If IiP – UKCES are to realize the potential of their Standard, it needs to find a way to ensure it has a direct and positive impact on skill development.

Originality/value

– While much of the previous research has identified associations between IiP and various outcomes, this paper seeks to identify the extent to which these associations can be considered to be causal.
Correctional mental health in the USA
Authors: A. Dlugacz Henry
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss five domains impacted by the transformation of correctional mental health care in the USA: public health, public safety, legal obligations, fiscal responsibility and ethical standards, as well as critical issues such as administrative segregation, suicide prevention and reentry planning.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the last four decades, the USA has seen a sizable growth in its criminal justice system and corrections population. It has also seen reductions in civil and community-based mental health care. Persons with mental disabilities have come to represent a highly disproportional segment of the corrections population. The paper discusses the implications and underlying causes of these developments as well as recent responses to them.

Findings

– This set of circumstances is starting to change the mission of correctional health services from crisis intervention and suicide prevention to include preparation for the inmate's almost inevitable return to the community.

Originality/value

– Such changes have led to further developments in correctional mental health care, in particular, policy designed to treat mental illness, reduce its destructive outcomes such as suicide, and facilitate successful reentry into the community in attempts to reduce recidivism and improve clinical outcomes. Mental health care professionals working within corrections have likewise faced ethical challenges in effectuating treatment.
Professional accounting education programmes in South Africa and India
Authors: Stainbank Lesley , Dutt Tewari Devi
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a contextual analysis of the professional accounting education programmes in South Africa and India by benchmarking both programmes to the International Education Standards (IESs) of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

Design/methodology/approach

– The research methodology is a qualitative archival approach extracting information from secondary data (Statements of Membership Obligations’ compliance questionnaires available on the IFAC web site and information from the web sites of the relevant professional accountancy bodies).

Findings

– With regards to the IESs, the study found that both countries comply with the standards, although important differences occur. In South Africa, most of the education takes place during the university phase; and while both countries cover the content requirements, India covers the acquisition of professional skills more formally; ethics is taught and examined in both countries; both countries require a three year training contract; both countries have a final examination but the content of the examinations are different; and South Africa requires more continuous professional development than India. These findings, when related to India's and South Africa's relative positions on certain of the Global Competitiveness Indices may indicate that India could learn from the South African accountancy education model in order to strengthen the Indian position with regards to auditing and reporting standards.

Research limitations/implications

– A limitation of the study is that it did not investigate the quality of the relative education programmes and it benchmarks both programmes at a single point in time.

Practical implications

– India could strengthen its accounting profession by implementing some of the South African aspects of its education model. South African could consider adopting the flexibility in the entry requirements in the Indian education model in order to increase the number of accountants in South Africa. These findings may also be useful to other developing countries to identify practices which could be adopted if suitable in their respective countries.

Originality/value

– The study is original as accountancy education programmes in India and South Africa have not been contrasted before. In view of their similar colonial background and the fact that both countries are major economic and political forces in their respective regions, the value of this study is that it provides useful and relevant information to India, South Africa and other countries with similar economic and social backgrounds.
The Quality of Life Scale for Children (QoL-C)
Authors: L. Thompson Hannah , Reville Marie-Claire , Price Anna , Reynolds Laura , Rodgers Lauren , Ford Tamsin
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– There is a lack of valid and reliable generic measures of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) for children under eight. The purpose of this paper is to assess the psychometric properties of the newly formulated Quality of Life Scale for Children (QoL-C), which uses a pictorial response format.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 335 primary school children completed the QoL-C on two occasions, two weeks apart. Children aged four to seven were interviewed one-to-one while children aged eight to nine completed the measure as a class activity. Test-re-test reliability, convergent validity and child-parent concordance were assessed.

Findings

– Only one child refused to complete the QoL-C, which suggests the measure is user-friendly. Test-re-test reliability was moderate for the measure's total score (intraclass correlation coefficient =0.48, 95 percent CI 0.39, 0.57) but low to fair for individual items (K from 0.13 to 0.37). Internal consistency was moderate (α=0.42 time one, 0.53 time two). A small significant correlation was found between the QoL-C and Child Health Meter in the expected direction (r=−0.32), suggesting convergent validity. There was low concordance between the children's QoL-C responses and parent's responses (r=0.19) to a parallel measure.

Research limitations/implications

– The results suggest that further development of this measure is needed. However, the findings indicate that one-to-one support increases the reliability of very young children's responses. The use of pictures, emoticons and minimal text used in the QoL-C should be investigated further.

Originality/value

– Low parent-child concordance underscores the importance of younger children getting the opportunity to share their views about their HRQoL.
Joined-up thinking, joined-up services, exploring coalface challenges for making services work for families with complex needs
Authors: Hutchings Judy , Elen Williams Margiad
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to describe coal-face challenges to making services in the UK work to ensure the mental and physical health, safety and wellbeing of children.

Design/methodology/approach

– After briefly referring to some challenges to effective joined-up service provision, it describes examples from the first author's experience of problems, during 30+ years as an NHS clinical child psychologist, and some solutions. It then describes two challenges that underpin many of these problems: lack of understanding of, or training in, evaluating evidence for interventions and a more general lack of knowledge about effective behaviour change principles.

Findings

– The paper concludes with recommendations about how to achieve effective joined-up services. Common themes emerging from the research are discussed, including choosing evidence-based programmes, providing adequate training to staff, and increasing people's understanding of behavioural principles.

Originality/value

– Having effective joined-up services would mean better services for parents and their children, and would be more cost-effective for the NHS. The ideas presented in this paper could also be applied to other services within the NHS.
Individual antecedents of ACAP and implications of social context in joint engineering project teams: a conceptual model
Authors: Oluwaseyi Ojo Adedapo , Raman Murali , Choy Chong Siong , Wei Chong Chin
Published: March 2014

Purpose

–This paper attempts to propose a conceptual model to explain the micro-level antecedents of absorptive capacity (ACAP) and social context of joint engineering project teams. It delineates ACAP into four dimensions and suggests specific level for each dimension. Revisiting the micro-foundational origin of ACAP, acquisition of partner's embedded knowledge through joint project teams requires complex interaction among individuals, thus the effect of individual differences and perception in the team's context is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

–Cohen and Levinthal's assertion on the conceptual affinity that ACAP shares with creative capacity and organizational learning was revisited. Upon synthesizing pertinent literature, individual antecedents were conceptualized, while strategic alliance literature was examined to theorize on the social context.

Findings

–Propositions relating individual antecedents and social context to associated dimension of ACAP are postulated. Furthermore, the paper suggests a need for further inquest on the implication of cultural differences.

Research limitations/implications

–The hypothesized relationships among the constructs are subject to empirical investigation in order to deepen our understanding on individual differences and social contextual effects.

Practical implications

–Based on the conceptualized relationships among micro-level antecedents, multidimensional ACAP, and social context, this manuscript recommends some practical guidelines in the context of joint engineering project teams.

Originality/value

–This study explicates the micro-level antecedents of ACAP within a joint engineering project team. By integrating individual and social context, it advances multilevel conceptualization of ACAP.
Religious affiliation: buffering negative reactions to service failures
Authors: O. Cowart Kelly , Ramirez Edward , K. Brady Michael
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This research aims to examine the buffering effect of a firm's religious association on customer reactions to a service failure.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two scenario-driven studies containing religious and non-religious reasons for a store closing were conducted.

Findings

– The results from Study 1 suggest that a religious affiliation safeguards against negative reactions to failures related to store policies (see Hoffman et al., 2003). Customers are more likely to forgive transgressing firms when service failures are associated with religion, regardless of attitudes toward the religious group. A follow up study supports the first, even when no specific religion was identified in the scenario, the service failure involved a firm that closed weekly, and a non-student sample was used.

Research limitations/implications

– While the results provide support for the buffering effects of a religious affiliation against a particular type of service failure – temporary service interruptions due to the observance of religious holidays and celebrations, future research should test the robustness of this effect on technology failures and rude treatment by employees.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first, to the authors' knowledge, to test the effect of a firm's religious affiliation on customer perceptions of frontline service encounters in general and service failures in particular.
Improving Medical Device Regulation: The United States and Europe in Perspective
Authors: SORENSON CORINNA , DRUMMOND MICHAEL
Published: March 2014

Context

Recent debates and events have brought into question the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks for medical devices in the United States and Europe to ensure their performance, safety, and quality. This article provides a comparative analysis of medical device regulation in the two jurisdictions, explores current reforms to improve the existing systems, and discusses additional actions that should be considered to fully meet this aim. Medical device regulation must be improved to safeguard public health and ensure that high‐quality and effective technologies reach patients.

Methods

We explored and analyzed medical device regulatory systems in the United States and Europe in accordance with the available gray and peer‐reviewed literature and legislative documents.

Findings

The two regulatory systems differ in their mandate and orientation, organization, pre‐ and postmarket evidence requirements, and transparency of process. Despite these differences, both jurisdictions face similar challenges for ensuring that only safe and effective devices reach the market, monitoring real‐world use, and exchanging pertinent information on devices with key users such as clinicians and patients. To address these issues, reforms have recently been introduced or debated in the United States and Europe that are principally focused on strengthening regulatory processes, enhancing postmarket regulation through more robust surveillance systems, and improving the traceability and monitoring of devices. Some changes in premarket requirements for devices are being considered.

Conclusions

Although the current reforms address some of the outstanding challenges in device regulation, additional steps are needed to improve existing policy. We examine a number of actions to be considered, such as requiring high‐quality evidence of benefit for medium‐ and high‐risk devices; moving toward greater centralization and coordination of regulatory approval in Europe; creating links between device identifier systems and existing data collection tools, such as electronic health records; and fostering increased and more effective use of registries to ensure safe postmarket use of new and existing devices.
Meta‐analysis of the efficacy of cold coagulation as a treatment method for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a systematic review
Authors: Dolman L , Sauvaget C , Muwonge R , Sankaranarayanan R
Published: March 2014

Background

Cold coagulation is an ablative method for treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Despite reports of efficacy against all grades of CIN (CIN1‐3), cold coagulation has been infrequently used since the 1980s, and was absent from the recent Cochrane review on CIN treatment.

Objectives

To provide a systematic review of cold coagulation efficacy and acceptability for CIN treatment through meta‐analysis of clinical reports and a randomised control trial.

Search strategy

A literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and regional databases yielded 388 papers. Title, abstract and/or reference list review identified 22 papers describing cold coagulation treatment of CIN, with 13 providing adequate data for inclusion in the meta‐analysis.

Selection criteria

Publications or conference abstracts describing original data (number of women treated, followed up and cured, provider type, cure definition) were retained. No language or publication date limitations were imposed.

Data collection and analysis

Data extracted from 13 studies were pooled, and statistical analyses of proportion cured were conducted with data stratified by lesion grade and study region.

Main results

Among 4569 CIN patients treated with cold coagulation, summary proportion cured of 96% [95% confidence interval (CI) 92–99%] and 95% (92–98%) were obtained for CIN1 and CIN2‐3 disease, respectively. Side‐effects and adverse effects were infrequent, and fertility was not impaired.

Conclusions

Cold coagulation CIN cure rates were comparable to those of other excisional and ablative methods. Cold coagulation is indicated for all grades of CIN, is safe, quick and acceptable, and may be of particular relevance for use in resource‐limited settings.
Appendicitis in abdominal wall hernia: Case series and literature review
Authors: Cheung Yau‐Fung , Ng Dennis C.K. , Li Raymond S.K. , Leong Heng‐Tat
Published: March 2014

Appendicitis in hernia is a rare disease entity. It usually presents with symptoms and signs of incarcerated hernia, and accurate preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Management includes appendicectomy and hernia repair. Different approaches of appendicectomy have been proposed, including transherniotomy, transabdominal and laparoscopic routes. In this case series, three cases of appendicitis inside different types of abdominal wall hernias, namely incisional, inguinal and Spigelian, are described. A literature review was also performed. Scientific evidence is lacking, and the optimal management remains to be defined.
Copy number variants in a highly inbred Iberian porcine strain
Authors: Fernández A. I. , Barragán C. , Fernández A. , Rodríguez M. C. , Villanueva B.
Published: March 2014

We carried out a comprehensive genomic analysis of porcine copy number variants (CNVs) based on whole‐genome SNP genotyping data and provided new measures of genomic diversity (number, length and distribution of CNV events) for a highly inbred strain (the Guadyerbas strain). This strain represents one of the most ancient surviving populations of the Iberian breed, and it is currently in serious danger of extinction. CNV detection was conducted on the complete Guadyerbas population, adjusted for genomic waves, and used strict quality criteria, pedigree information and the latest porcine genome annotation. The analysis led to the detection of 65 CNV regions (CNVRs). These regions cover 0.33% of the autosomal genome of this particular strain. Twenty‐nine of these CNVRs were identified here for the first time. The relatively low number of detected CNVRs is in line with the low variability and high inbreeding estimated previously for this Iberian strain using pedigree, microsatellite or SNP data. A comparison across different porcine studies has revealed that more than half of these regions overlap with previously identified CNVRs or multicopy regions. Also, a preliminary analysis of CNV detection using whole‐genome sequence data for four Guadyerbas pigs showed overlapping for 16 of the CNVRs, supporting their reliability. Some of the identified CNVRs contain relevant functional genes (e.g., the SCD and USP15 genes), which are worth being further investigated because of their importance in determining the quality of Iberian pig products. The CNVR data generated could be useful for improving the porcine genome annotation.
Retracted: New bone formation in bone defects after melatonin and porcine bone grafts: experimental study in rabbits
Authors: Calvo‐Guirado José‐Luis , Gómez‐Moreno Gerardo , Maté‐Sánchez José‐Eduardo , López‐Marí Laura , Delgado‐Ruiz Rafael , Romanos Georgios E.
Published: March 2014

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the topical application of melatonin compared with collagenized porcine bone grafts to accelerate bone formation 2 months after their insertion in tibiae rabbits.

Material and Methods

Twenty New Zealand rabbits weighing 3,900–4,500 g were used. Twenty collagenized porcine bone (MP3) grafts, twenty melatonin‐impregnated bone grafts, and twenty control areas were placed in the proximal metaphyseal area of both rear tibias. Four groups were formed according to the moment in which animal killing was carried out: Group I (15 days), Group II (30 days), Group III (45 days) and Group IV (60 days). Cortical width and cortical length of bone formation was measured. Following implantation, an anteroposterior and lateral radiological study was carried out. Samples were sectioned at 5 μm and stained using hematoxylin‐Eeosin, Masson's trichromic, and Gordon‐Switt reticulin stains.

Results

After 60 days of treatment period, melatonin increased the length of cortical bone formation 99.03 ± 0.61% like control 98.90 ± 3.82% compared with porcine bone 92.73 ± 1.08%. Related to perimeter of cortical bone of the tibiae melatonin new bone was 98.35 ± 1.14% like control 98.0 ± 1.43% more than porcine bone 92.05 ± 1.03%. Histomorphometric values related to porcine bone were connective tissue 49.16 ± 2.4%, graft material (MP3) 23.52 ± 2.3%, and new bone formation 27.32 ± 1.4% compared with test group with melatonin 24.5 ± 1.2%, connective tissue 45.1 ± 1.2%, and new bone formation of 30.4 ± 1.0%.

Conclusion

Melatonin has proven to regenerate the width and length of cortical bone in tibiae rabbits more quickly than collagenized porcine bone. Melatonin acts as a bone stimulator compared with porcine bone and control sites.
Temporary disaster debris management site identification using binomial cluster analysis and GIS
Authors: Grzeda Stanislaw , Mazzuchi Thomas A. , Sarkani Shahram
Published: March 2014

An essential component of disaster planning and preparation is the identification and selection of temporary disaster debris management sites (DMS). However, since DMS identification is a complex process involving numerous variable constraints, many regional, county and municipal jurisdictions initiate this process during the post‐disaster response and recovery phases, typically a period of severely stressed resources. Hence, a pre‐disaster approach in identifying the most likely sites based on the number of locational constraints would significantly contribute to disaster debris management planning. As disasters vary in their nature, location and extent, an effective approach must facilitate scalability, flexibility and adaptability to variable local requirements, while also being generalisable to other regions and geographical extents. This study demonstrates the use of binomial cluster analysis in potential DMS identification in a case study conducted in Hamilton County, Indiana.
‘Here, I'm not at ease’: anthropological perspectives on community resilience
Authors: Barrios Roberto E.
Published: March 2014

A number of recent studies on disaster reconstruction have focused on the concept of community resilience and its importance in the recovery of communities from collective trauma. This article reviews the contributions the anthropological literature and the ethnographic case studies of two post‐Hurricane Mitch housing reconstruction sites make to the theorising of community and resilience in post‐disaster reconstruction. Specifically, the article demonstrates that communities are not static or neatly bounded entities that remain constant before, during and after a disaster; rather, communities take on shape and qualities depending on the relationships in which they engage with government agencies and aid organisations before and after disasters. Consequently, the article argues that definitions of community resilience and disaster mitigation programmes must take the emergent and relational nature of communities into account in order to address the long‐term causes and impacts of disasters.
Flexibility of truncated and full‐length glucansucrase GTF180 enzymes from Lactobacillus reuteri 180
Authors: Pijning Tjaard , Vujičić‐Žagar Andreja , Kralj Slavko , Dijkhuizen Lubbert , Dijkstra Bauke W.
Published: March 2014

Glucansucrase enzymes synthesize high‐molecular‐mass extracellular α‐glucan polysaccharides from sucrose. Previously, the crystal structure of truncated glucansucrase glucosyltransferase (GTF)180‐ΔN from Lactobacillus reuteri 180 (lacking the N‐terminal domain) revealed an elongated overall structure with two remote domains (IV and V) extending away from the core. By contrast, a new crystal form of the α‐1,6/α‐1,3 specific glucansucrase GTF180‐ΔN shows an approximate 120o rotation of domain V about a hinge located between domains IV and V, giving a much more compact structure than before. Positional variability of domain V in solution is confirmed by small angle X‐ray scattering experiments and rigid‐body ensemble calculations. In addition, small angle X‐ray scattering measurements of full‐length GTF180 also provide the first structural data for a full‐length glucansucrase, showing that the enzyme has an almost symmetric boomerang‐like molecular shape, with a bend likely located between domains IV and V. The ~ 700‐residue N‐terminal domain, which is not present in the crystal structures, extends away from domain V and the catalytic core of the enzyme. We conclude that, as a result of the hinge region, in solution, GTF180‐ΔN (and likely also the full‐length GTF180) shows conformational flexibility; this may be a general feature of GH70 glucansucrases.

Database

• Structural data for GTF180‐ΔN II have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession code 4AYG.
Ecological and evolutionary determinants of species richness and phylogenetic diversity for island snakes
Authors: Pyron R. Alexander , Burbrink Frank T.
Published: March 2014

Aim 

Island biogeography predicts positive relationships between area and species richness resulting from the ecological processes of colonization in smaller areas and the evolutionary process of in situ diversification in larger areas. However, the relative contribution of these ecological and evolutionary processes to diversity on islands over time is unclear without associated measures of phylogenetic diversity (PD), which account for the evolutionary distinctiveness of component taxa.

Location 

Global.

Methods 

We assemble a global dataset of island richness for snakes, along with a phylogeny for the group, to examine the origins of species richness and PD on islands.

Results 

Ecological models driven by colonization explain a majority of species richness in island snake faunas, while in situ diversification is rare, restricted to a few large islands and rarely contributing significantly to island richness. Similarly, PD on islands is tied to variables that affect colonization probability such as isolation and climate, but not area, indicating that in situ diversification does not exert a significant influence on island richness.

Main conclusions 

Even large islands with high in situ diversification do not produce phylogenetically distinct faunas, but are instead dependent on colonization of new lineages from the continent, as predicted by ecological theory. Evolutionary processes such as in situ diversification are relatively insignificant drivers of both species richness and PD compared with colonization from regional species pools, even over evolutionary time‐scales on large islands.
A new approach for evaluating the water resistance of sunscreens on consumers: tap water vs. salt water vs. chlorine water
Authors: Puccetti G. , Fares H.
Published: March 2014

Synopsis

Objective

An efficient sunscreen product needs to offer broad spectrum photostable UV protection during consumer use. Water resistance has become an additional criterion requested by consumers spending time near water or outdoors. Polymers generally provide water resistance to formulations and are critical to the formation and stability of a sunscreen film on skin when exposed to water. The present work introduces a new in vivo screening approach to measure water resistance using UVA‐induced fluorescence imaging.

Methods

The approach has been applied to several formulations containing different polymers and compared to commercial products, for the three main water types: tap, salt and chlorinated water. All testing has been performed on the forearms of 10 subjects using UVA imaging. In addition, the skin whitening has been measured for all formulations on five subjects when exposed to water by visible light imaging.

Results

Our approach showed clear differences in water resistance values among the formulations tested, reflecting the importance of the formulation and the polymers used. The method proved capable of discriminating not only sunscreen performances with different water proofing ingredients but also water specific sunscreens such as a beach dedicated product showing a 20% higher resistance to salt water vs. tap and chlorine waters.

Conclusion

The use of UVA‐induced fluorescence imaging on skin proved a useful in vivo approach for measuring the water resistance performances for various sunscreen lotions with a wide range of skin whitening effects in water. Our method showed how high water resistance can be combined in a Wet skin® sunscreen with superior non whitening effect on the skin.