bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Musical Modernism Before It Began: Leo Ornstein and a Case for Revisionist History
Authors: VON GLAHN DENISE , BROYLES MICHAEL
Published: November 2013

Musical modernism was born kicking and screaming in 1922 in New York, fathered by Edgard Varése and his International Composers' Guild; the French émigré saved the nation from its own backward-looking ways. Or so the story goes. But this reading ignores numerous and widespread musical activities that were well under way seven years prior to the founding of the ICG. As early as autumn 1914, members of Alfred Stieglitz's artistic circle, including Paul Rosenfeld and Waldo Frank as well as Claire Reis and A. Walter Kramer among others, were engaged in organized efforts to promote musical modernism, with Leo Ornstein as their front man. The initial result was a series of concerts in January, February, and March 1915 that Ornstein performed at the Bandbox Theatre; the programs consisted of entirely modernist music. These concerts catapulted Ornstein to fame, but he was not the isolated figure that he has been portrayed to be. Rosenfeld, Reis, and Kramer continued to promote both Ornstein and modernism with ideas for new societies, and Ornstein himself developed close ties not only to literary figures but also to artists, including Leon Kroll, William Zorach, and John Marin. Music, far from being isolated from other artistic efforts, was part of a burgeoning modernist scene that was securely in place by 1915, and Leo Ornstein was at its center.
Violence against health care: insights from Afghanistan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Terry Fiona
Published: November 2013

This article explores the methodology and main findings of field studies conducted for the ICRC's Health Care in Danger project in Afghanistan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 2010 and 2013. It discusses some of the actions that the ICRC takes in its health programmes to facilitate access to health care, and its approach to promoting better respect for the laws protecting it. It then suggests what more needs to be done to curb the violence.
Trends in Gero-Psychological Research
Authors: Drapaniotis Philipp M. , Neubauer Andreas B. , Wahl Hans-Werner
Published: November 2013

Inspired by Birren’s now-classic statement that gerontology is “data-rich and theory-poor” as well as previous research on the role of theory in social gerontology provided by Bengtson and colleagues, we introduce a new coding scheme capable of extracting and quantitatively analyzing relevant information regarding key study characteristics of gero-psychological research, including references to theory. Our goal was to provide a detailed description of gero-psychological research as well as to detect change, while also comparing articles published between 1990 and 1994 and between 2000 and 2004 (the same periods as in Bengtson et al.’s research). We relied on a randomly drawn sample of N = 535 empirical articles, representing 50% of the material published in the two flagship journals in the field of gero-psychology during the target time periods, i.e., Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences (JoG) and Psychology and Aging (P&A). We found reasonable interrater agreement for the new coding scheme. Regarding key study characteristics, we found, for example, that research related to memory and learning significantly decreased from 38% to 27.3%, whereas research related to social psychology and social-psychological processes as well as research on successful aging increased significantly. References to theory increased from 30% to 44%. We conclude that the intensity of theory use in gero-psychology and respective change from 1990–1994 to 2000–2004 has been consistently somewhat higher than in social gerontology (increase from 27% to 39%), though overall surprisingly low. We discuss this finding in the light of different theoretical entities used in gero-psychological research.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: hERG1 channels modulate integrin signaling to trigger angiogenesis and tumor progression in colorectal cancer
Authors: Crociani Olivia , Zanieri Francesca , Pillozzi Serena , Lastraioli Elena , Stefanini Matteo , Fiore Antonella , Fortunato Angelo , D'Amico Massimo , Masselli Marika , De Lorenzo Emanuele , Gasparoli Luca , Chiu Martina , Bussolati Ovidio , Becchetti Andrea , Arcangeli Annarosa
Published: November 2013

Angiogenesis is a potential target for cancer therapy. We identified a novel signaling pathway that sustains angiogenesis and progression in colorectal cancer (CRC). This pathway is triggered by β1 integrin-mediated adhesion and leads to VEGF-A secretion. The effect is modulated by the human ether-à-go-go related gene 1 (hERG1) K+ channel. hERG1 recruits and activates PI3K and Akt. This in turn increases the Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-dependent transcription of VEGF-A and other tumour progression genes. This signaling pathway has novel features in that the integrin- and hERG1-dependent activation of HIF (i) is triggered in normoxia, especially after CRC cells have experienced a hypoxic stage, (ii) involves NF-kB and (iii) is counteracted by an active p53. Blocking hERG1 switches this pathway off also in vivo, by inhibiting cell growth, angiogenesis and metastatic spread. This suggests that non-cardiotoxic anti-hERG1 drugs might be a fruitful therapeutic strategy to prevent the failure of anti-VEGF therapy.
Bioresponsive controlled release from mesoporous silica nanocontainers with glucometer readout
Authors: Hou Li , Zhu Chunling , Wu Xiaoping , Chen Guonan , Tang Dianping
Published: November 2013

A portable and quantitative biosensing platform for monitoring proteins and small molecules without the need for sample separation and washing is developed by using a commercialized personal glucose meter based on bioresponsive controlled release of glucose from aptamer-gated mesoporous silica nanocontainers.
En route to multicatalysis: kinetic resolution of trans-cycloalkane-1,2-diols via oxidative esterification
Authors: Hofmann Christine , Schuler Sören M. M. , Wende Raffael C. , Schreiner Peter R.
Published: November 2013

We demonstrate the application of a multicatalyst to the oxidation of a broad variety of aldehydes and subsequent enantioselective esterification of the incipient acids with (±)-trans-cycloalkane-1,2-diols.
Multilevel topological description of molecular packings in 1,2-benzothiazines
Authors: Aman Farhana , Asiri Abdullah M. , Siddiqui Waseeq A. , Arshad Muhammad Nadeem , Ashraf Adnan , Zakharov Nikita S. , Blatov Vladislav A.
Published: November 2013

A new method for description of molecular networks and packings is proposed and implemented into the program package TOPOS.
Metal–organic framework MIL-101 doped with palladium for toluene adsorption and hydrogen storage
Authors: Qin Weiping , Cao Wenxiu , Liu Hongli , Li Zhong , Li Yingwei
Published: November 2013

Metal–organic framework MIL-101 functionalized with palladium species showed remarkably enhanced adsorption capacities for toluene and hydrogen at room temperature comparing with unmodified MIL-101.
Stability of YSZ and SDC in molten carbonate eutectics for hybrid direct carbon fuel cells
Authors: Xu Xiaoyong , Zhou Wei , Zhu Zhonghua
Published: November 2013

The results obtained in this study confirm the YSZ and SDC corrosion in the molten carbonates eutectics. YSZ is less corrosion resistant in the molten carbonate eutectics than SDC, but the mechanism of YSZ and SDC corrosion reactions in the molten carbonates eutectics are different.
Site-restricted plasminogen activation mediated by group A streptococcal streptokinase variants
Authors: Cook Simon M. , Skora Amanda , Walker Mark J. , Sanderson-Smith Martina L. , McArthur Jason D.
Published: November 2013

SK (streptokinase) is a secreted plasminogen activator and virulence factor of GAS (group A Streptococcus). Among GAS isolates, SK gene sequences are polymorphic and are grouped into two sequence clusters (cluster type-1 and cluster type-2) with cluster type-2 being further classified into subclusters (type-2a and type-2b). In the present study, we examined the role of bacterial and host-derived cofactors in SK-mediated plasminogen activation. All SK variants, apart from type-2b, can form an activator complex with Glu-Plg (Glu-plasminogen). Specific ligand-binding-induced conformational changes in Glu-Plg mediated by fibrinogen, PAM (plasminogen-binding group A streptococcal M protein), fibrinogen fragment D or fibrin, were required for type-2b SK to form a functional activator complex with Glu-Plg. In contrast with type-1 and type-2a SK, type-2b SK activator complexes were inhibited by α2-antiplasmin unless bound to fibrin or to the GAS cell-surface via PAM in combination with fibrinogen. Taken together, these data suggest that type-2b SK plasminogen activation may be restricted to specific microenvironments within the host such as fibrin deposits or the bacterial cell surface through the action of α2-antiplasmin. We conclude that phenotypic SK variation functionally underpins a pathogenic mechanism whereby SK variants differentially focus plasminogen activation, leading to specific niche adaption within the host.
Surfactant‐assisted hydrothermal preparation of monoclinic bismuth vanadate microspheres and visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic activity
Authors: Wang Xinjun , Liu Huanli , Wan Xiaoli
Published: November 2013

Beautiful monoclinic bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) microspheres have been fabricated by using the sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) assisted hydrothermal strategy with bismuth nitrate and ammonium metavanadate as a metal source. The physicochemical properties of the materials were characterised by means of X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller and UV–vis techniques. The photocatalytic activities of the as‐fabricated BiVO4 microspheres were measured for the photodegradation of methylene blue under visible‐light irradiation. The effects of SDS on the synthesis of BiVO4 microspheres were investigated. Comparison experiments were conducted and showed that the amount of SDS significantly influences the morphology of the products. The possible formation mechanism of such BiVO4 microsphere material is also discussed.
360° domain wall injection into magnetic thin films
Authors: Gonzalez Oyarce A. L. , Llandro J. , Barnes C. H. W.
Published: November 2013

We used micromagnetic simulations to develop a device for the injection of localised 360° domain walls into a magnetic thin film nanostripe. In our simulations two current profiles, step and staircase, are applied to two non-parallel wires placed in close proximity to, but not in electrical contact with, the magnetic nanostripe. We show that for current densities of ∼1012 A/m2 and experimentally achievable device dimensions, the magnetic fields generated by these current pulses are of sufficient strength to cause the nucleation of stable and localised 360° domain walls through the Zeeman coupling followed by Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert relaxation dynamics.
Modeling ultrashort laser-induced emission from a negatively biased metal
Authors: Wendelen W. , Mueller B. Y. , Autrique D. , Bogaerts A. , Rethfeld B.
Published: November 2013

A theoretical study of ultrashort laser-induced electron emission from a negatively biased metallic cathode has been performed. Classical as well as tunneling electron emission mechanisms are considered. It was found that electron emission is governed by an interplay of processes inside as well as above the cathode. A hybrid model is proposed, where the electron distribution within the target is retrieved from Boltzmann scattering integrals, while the charge distribution above it is studied by a Particle-In-Cell simulation. The results indicate that non-equilibrium effects determine the initial emission process, whereas the space charge above the target suppresses the effectively emitted charge.
Tail-ion transport and Knudsen layer formation in the presence of magnetic fields
Authors: Schmit P. F. , Molvig Kim , Nakhleh C. W.
Published: November 2013

Knudsen layer losses of tail fuel ions could reduce significantly the fusion reactivity of highly compressed cylindrical and spherical targets in inertial confinement fusion (ICF). With the class of magnetized ICF targets in mind, the effect of embedded magnetic fields on Knudsen layer formation is investigated for the first time. The modified energy scaling of ion diffusivity in magnetized hot spots is found to suppress the preferential losses of tail-ions perpendicular to the magnetic field lines to a degree that the tail distribution can be at least partially, if not fully, restored. Two simple threshold conditions are identified leading to the restoration of fusion reactivity in magnetized hot spots. A kinetic equation for tail-ion transport in the presence of a magnetic field is derived, and solutions to the equation are obtained numerically in simulations. Numerical results confirm the validity of the threshold conditions for restored reactivity and identify two different asymptotic regimes of the fusion fuel. While Knudsen layer formation is shown to be suppressed entirely in strongly magnetized cylindrical hot spot cavities, uniformly magnetized spherical cavities demonstrate remnant, albeit reduced, levels of tail-ion depletion.
Optical properties of single ZnTe nanowires grown at low temperature
Authors: Artioli A. , Rueda-Fonseca P. , Stepanov P. , Bellet-Amalric E. , Den Hertog M. , Bougerol C. , Genuist Y. , Donatini F. , André R. , Nogues G. , Kheng K. , Tatarenko S. , Ferrand D. , Cibert J.
Published: November 2013

Optically active gold-catalyzed ZnTe nanowires have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy, on a ZnTe(111) buffer layer, at low temperature (350 °C) under Te rich conditions, and at ultra-low density (from 1 to 5 nanowires per μm2). The crystalline structure is zinc blende as identified by transmission electron microscopy. All nanowires are tapered and the majority of them are ⟨111⟩ oriented. Low temperature micro-photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence experiments have been performed on single nanowires. We observe a narrow emission line with a blue-shift of 2 or 3 meV with respect to the exciton energy in bulk ZnTe. This shift is attributed to the strain induced by a 5 nm-thick oxide layer covering the nanowires, and this assumption is supported by a quantitative estimation of the strain in the nanowires.
Evaluating the electro-optical effect in alternating current-voltage-modulated Kerr response for multiferroic heterostructures
Authors: Shu Li , Gao Ya , Hu Jia-Mian , Li Zheng , Shen Yang , Lin Yuanhua , Nan C. W.
Published: November 2013

Voltage-modified Kerr magnetometer has been widely used to measure the voltage-modulated magnetic properties in multiferroic magnetic/ferroelectric heterostructures, where the Kerr signal change is considered to be in proportion to magnetization change, i.e., the magneto-optical Kerr effect. However, the total Kerr signal changes might also incorporate contribution from the electro-optical effect of the ferroelectric layer in the multiferroic heterostructure. Here, we evaluate quantitatively, by combining analytical calculations with experimental observations, such electro-optical contribution in the total voltage-induced Kerr signal changes with comparison to those from Kerr effect via converse magnetoelectric coupling. Influences of several parameters, including the magnetic film thickness on the Kerr signal changes, are also investigated.
Communication: Thermodynamic analysis of critical conditions of polymer adsorption
Authors: Cimino R. , Rasmussen C. J. , Neimark A. V.
Published: November 2013

Polymer adsorption to solid surfaces is a ubiquitous phenomenon, which has attracted long-lasting attention. Dependent on the competition between the polymer-solid adsorption and polymer-solvent solvation interactions, a chain may assume either 3d solvated conformation when adsorption is weak or 2d adsorbed conformation when adsorption is strong. The transition between these conformations occurring upon variation of adsorption strength is quite sharp, and in the limit of “infinite” chain length, can be treated as a critical phenomenon. We suggest a novel thermodynamic definition of the critical conditions of polymer adsorption from the equality of incremental chemical potentials of adsorbed and free chains. We show with the example of freely jointed Lennard-Jones chains tethered to an adsorbing surface that this new definition provides a link between thermodynamic and geometrical features of adsorbed chains and is in line with classical scaling relationships for the fraction of adsorbed monomers, chain radii of gyration, and free energy.
Unipolar behavior in graphene-channel field-effect-transistors with n-type doped SiC source/drain regions
Authors: Nagahisa Yuichi , Harada Yuichi , Tokumitsu Eisuke
Published: November 2013

To realize graphene-channel field-effect-transistors (GFETs) with unipolar behavior and high on/off current ratios, we fabricated and characterized top-gate GFETs with n-type doped SiC (n-SiC) source/drain (S/D) regions on 4H-SiC(0001) substrates. 0–2 mono-layers (MLs) of graphene were grown on a monoatomic interfacial layer called zero-layer (ZL) by vacuum annealing. The 0–2 graphene MLs on the ZL were converted into 1–3 MLs of graphene without a ZL by annealing in H2. The GFETs with n-SiC S/D regions and 1–3 MLs of graphene without a ZL showed unipolar behavior with a high on/off current ratio of 2.7 × 103.
Two successive magnetic transitions induced large refrigerant capacity in HoPdIn compound
Authors: Li Lingwei , Namiki Takahiro , Huo Dexuan , Qian Zhenghong , Nishimura Katsuhiko
Published: November 2013

Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in HoPdIn have been studied by magnetization and heat capacity measurements. The compound undergoes two successive magnetic transitions at 6 K and 23 K, and resulting two peaks in the temperature dependence of magnetic entropy change curves, −ΔSM (T). Two peaks are partly overlapping and induced a large refrigerant capacity (RC). For a field change of 0–7 T, the peak values of −ΔSM are 17.7 J/kg K around TC and 10.0 J/kg K around TM, with a large RC value of 635 J/kg. The large reversible MCE and RC indicate that the HoPdIn could be a promising candidate for low temperature magnetic refrigeration.
Terahertz imaging of sub-wavelength particles with Zenneck surface waves
Authors: Navarro-Cía M. , Natrella M. , Dominec F. , Delagnes J. C. , Kužel P. , Mounaix P. , Graham C. , Renaud C. C. , Seeds A. J. , Mitrofanov O.
Published: November 2013

Impact of sub-wavelength-size dielectric particles on Zenneck surface waves on planar metallic antennas is investigated at terahertz (THz) frequencies with THz near-field probe microscopy. Perturbations of the surface waves show the particle presence, despite its sub-wavelength size. The experimental configuration, which utilizes excitation of surface waves at metallic edges, is suitable for THz imaging of dielectric sub-wavelength size objects. As a proof of concept, the effects of a small strontium titanate rectangular particle and a titanium dioxide sphere on the surface field of a bow-tie antenna are experimentally detected and verified using full-wave simulations.
Image-processing technique to measure pig activity in response to climatic variation in a pig barn
Authors: Costa A. , Ismayilova G. , Borgonovo F. , Viazzi S. , Berckmans D. , Guarino M.
Published: November 2013

In the past decades, the increasing scale of intensive pig farms led farmers to use automatic tools to monitor the welfare and health of their animals. Visual observation and manual monitoring, usually practiced in small-scale farms, is unreliable in large-scale husbandry, and is expensive and time consuming. Environmental parameters are crucial information for the efficient management of piggery buildings, as they have a significant effect on production efficiency, health and welfare of confined animals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between pig activity and environmental parameters in a pig building by means of image analysis. The barn for 350 fattening pigs was open-space, mechanically ventilated and subdivided into 16 pens with fully slatted floor. The room was equipped to monitor the ventilation rate, internal and external temperature and relative humidity every minute. For the experiments, two adjacent pens were selected, each 5.9 by 2.6 m, with ~16 pigs in each. Pigs were continuously monitored during 30 days using an infrared-sensitive CCD camera that was mounted 5 m above the floor. Recorded data were processed in real time by Eyenamic, an innovative software that continuously and automatically registers the behaviour of a group of animals, intended as the activity and occupation indices of the pigs. A preliminary virtual subdivision of the two pens in four zones (two zones for each pen) was performed to evaluate differences in activity/occupation indices in ‘front’ and ‘back’ zones of the pen. Recorded images were visually observed in the laboratory to estimate pig activity type in relation to the indices calculated by Eyenamic software. The occupation index showed higher values (up to 0.75 units) in Zones 1 and 4 placed near the corridor. There was a significant relation between pig occupation index measured in the two pens and ventilation rate, temperature and humidity. The interaction between ventilation and humidity and temperature and humidity significantly affected pig movements during the day. Pigs tended to stay in the part of the pen far from the external wall, where air velocity was higher, probably because this is a ‘central zone’ in the barn, characterised by a reasonable air movement (~0.30 m/s). On the contrary, the part of the pen nearest to the external wall, characterised by a humid floor surface and by a limited air speed, was occupied by animals at the trough mainly during feeding times and for defecation and urination.
The beneficial effects of reduced magnesium during the oocyte-to-embryo transition are conserved in mice, domestic cats and humans
Authors: Herrick Jason R. , Strauss Kevin J. , Schneiderman Ann , Rawlins Mary , Stevens John , Schoolcraft William B. , Krisher Rebecca L.
Published: November 2013

In many cell types Mg2+ can antagonise Ca2+-stimulated signalling pathways, but information regarding the effects of these ions on IVF and subsequent embryonic development is limited. Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of Mg2+ in the IVF medium on embryonic development in mice and then determine if similar effects occurred in domestic cats and humans. Oocytes from hybrid and outbred mice, domestic cats and humans were fertilised (IVF, mice and cats; intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), humans) in the presence of 0.2 or 1.2 (mouse and human) or 1.0 (cat) mM Mg2+ and the resulting embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage. Decreased concentrations of Mg2+ during IVF increased (P < 0.05) cleavage of oocytes from outbred mice (77.9 vs 51.0%), development of embryos from hybrid mice (74.5 vs 51.0% hatching blastocyst per cleaved embryo) and both cleavage (68.4 vs 46.8%) and blastocyst development (53.0 vs 26.2% per cleaved embryo) in cats. Development to the blastocyst stage (52.1 vs 40.2%) was also improved (P < 0.05) when ICSI was performed on human oocytes in the presence of 0.2 mM Mg2+, compared with a commercial culture medium. Sensitivity to increased (1.0 to 1.2 mM) concentrations of Mg2+ in the medium during the oocyte-to-embryo transition appears to be conserved in three different species.
Chemical map of
Schizosaccharomyces pombe
reveals species-specific features in nucleosome positioning
Authors: Moyle-Heyrman Georgette , Zaichuk Tetiana , Xi Liqun , Zhang Quanwei , Uhlenbeck Olke C. , Holmgren Robert , Widom Jonathan , Wang Ji-Ping
Published: November 2013

Significance

This paper presents a high-resolution map of nucleosome positions of
Schizosaccharomyces pombe
. Comparison with the high-resolution map of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
has provided important insights into nucleosome–DNA interaction and mechanistic variation in nucleosome positioning. The map shows a preponderance of linker lengths centered on 4/5 bp, placing adjacent nucleosomes on opposite faces of the DNA. The dinucleotide signature for nucleosome positioning is equally strong in exons as in introns. Unexpectedly,
S. pombe
nucleosomes have a preference for A/T residues surrounding the nucleosome dyad, and nucleosome occupancy is very mildly affected by poly (dA-dT) tracts. The preference for A/T residues around the dyad and its role in nucleosome phasing suggest a coevolution of genomes with the DNA binding preferences of nucleosomes across species.
A natural language bipolar argumentation approach to support users in online debate interactions†
Authors: Cabrio Elena , Villata Serena
Published: November 2013

With the growing use of the Social Web, an increasing number of applications for exchanging opinions with other people are becoming available online. These applications are widely adopted with the consequence that the number of opinions about the debated issues increases. In order to cut in on a debate, the participants need first to evaluate the opinions of the other users to detect whether they are in favour or against the debated issue. Bipolar argumentation proposes algorithms and semantics to evaluate the set of accepted arguments, given the support and the attack relations among them. Two main problems arise. First, an automated framework to detect the relations among the arguments represented by the natural language (NL) formulation of the users’ opinions is needed. Our paper addresses this open issue by proposing and evaluating the use of NL techniques to identify the arguments and their relations. In particular, we adopt the textual entailment (TE) approach, a generic framework for applied semantics, where linguistic objects are mapped by means of semantic inferences at a textual level. TE is then coupled together with an abstract bipolar argumentation system which allows to identify the arguments that are accepted in the considered online debate. Second, we address the problem of studying and comparing the different proposals put forward for modelling the support relation. The emerging scenario shows that there is not a unique interpretation of the support relation. In particular, different combinations of additional attacks among the arguments involved in a support relation are proposed. We provide an NL account of the notion of support based on online debates, by discussing and evaluating the support relation among arguments with respect to the more specific notion of TE in the NL processing field. Finally, we carry out a comparative evaluation of four proposals of additional attacks on a sample of NL arguments extracted from Debatepedia. The originality of the proposed framework lies in the following point: NL debates are analysed and the relations among the arguments are automatically extracted.
Febrile temperatures unmask biophysical defects in Nav1.1 epilepsy mutations supportive of seizure initiation
Authors: Volkers Linda , Kahlig Kristopher M. , Das Joost H.G. , van Kempen Marjan J.A. , Lindhout Dick , Koeleman Bobby P.C. , Rook Martin B.
Published: November 2013

Generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) is an early onset febrile epileptic syndrome with therapeutic responsive (a)febrile seizures continuing later in life. Dravet syndrome (DS) or severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy has a complex phenotype including febrile generalized or hemiclonic convulsions before the age of 1, followed by intractable myoclonic, complex partial, or absence seizures. Both diseases can result from mutations in the Nav1.1 sodium channel, and initially, seizures are typically triggered by fever. We previously characterized two Nav1.1 mutants—R859H (GEFS+) and R865G (DS)—at room temperature and reported a mixture of biophysical gating defects that could not easily predict the phenotype presentation as either GEFS+ or DS. In this study, we extend the characterization of Nav1.1 wild-type, R859H, and R865G channels to physiological (37°C) and febrile (40°C) temperatures. At physiological temperature, a variety of biophysical defects were detected in both mutants, including a hyperpolarized shift in the voltage dependence of activation and a delayed recovery from fast and slow inactivation. Interestingly, at 40°C we also detected additional gating defects for both R859H and R865G mutants. The GEFS+ mutant R859H showed a loss of function in the voltage dependence of inactivation and an increased channel use-dependency at 40°C with no reduction in peak current density. The DS mutant R865G exhibited reduced peak sodium currents, enhanced entry into slow inactivation, and increased use-dependency at 40°C. Our results suggest that fever-induced temperatures exacerbate the gating defects of R859H or R865G mutants and may predispose mutation carriers to febrile seizures.
Prevalence, Prediction, and Clonality of Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureusCarriage at Admission to Medical Units in Hong Kong, China
Authors: Luk Shik , Ho Alex Yat Man , Ng Tak Keung , Tsang Iris Hoi Ling , Chan Eliza Hoi Ying , Choi Kin Wing , Tsang Ngai Chong , Lee Rodney Allan , Cheng Vincent Chi Chung , Fung Sau Chun , Lai Wai Man , Que Tak Lun , Wong Andrew Tin Yau
Published: November 2013

Objective.

To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) colonization at the time of admission to acute medical units and to develop a cost-effective screening strategy.

Methods.

Nasal and groin screening cultures were performed for patients at admission to 15 acute medical units in all 7 catchment regions in Hong Kong. All MRSA isolates were subjected tospatyping.

Results.

The overall carriage rate of MRSA was 14.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.5–15.1). MRSA history within the past 12 months (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 4.60 [95% CI, 3.28–6.44]), old age home residence (adjusted OR, 3.32 [95% CI, 2.78–3.98]), and bedbound state (adjusted OR, 2.19 [95% CI, 1.75–2.74]) were risk factors selected as MRSA screening criteria that provided reasonable sensitivity (67.4%) and specificity (81.8%), with an affordable burden (25.2%).spatyping showed that 89.5% (848/948) of the isolates were clustered into the 4spaclonal complexes (CCs):spaCC1081,spaCC032,spaCC002, andspaCC4677. Patients colonized with MRSAspatypes t1081 (OR, 1.77 [95% CI, 1.49–2.09]) and t4677 (OR, 3.09 [95% CI, 1.54–6.02]) were more likely to be old age home residents.

Conclusions.

MRSA carriage at admission to acute medical units was prevalent in Hong Kong. Our results suggest that targeted screening is a pragmatic approach to increase the detection of the MRSA reservoir. Molecular typing suggests that old age homes are epicenters in amplifying the MRSA burden in acute hospitals. Enhancement of infection control measures in old age homes is important for the control of MRSA in hospitals.
Effect of Preoperative Brace Treatment on the Mental Health Scores of SRS-22 and SF-36 Questionnaire in Surgically Treated Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients
Authors: Yu Bin , Wang Yipeng , Qiu Guixing , Shen Jianxiong , Zhang Jianguo
Published: November 2013

Study Design:

Retrospective study.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to analyze whether there were differences in mental health scores of Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire and Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with/without preoperative brace treatment.

Summary of Background Data:

Mental health is an important domain of SRS-22 and SF-36 questionnaire. There are few studies focused on the effect of preoperative brace treatment on mental health in surgically treated AIS patients.

Materials and Methods:

The SRS-22 and SF-36 questionnaires of 211 AIS patients who underwent posterior correction surgery were retrospectively reviewed. The average age of the patients was 14.4 years (range, 11–18 y), and the patients were classified into 2 groups: with preoperative brace treatment (group BS-32 cases, 5 male and 27 female) and without preoperative brace treatment (group S-179 cases, 23 male and 156 female). The radiographic data and mental health scores of SRS-22 and SF-36 questionnaires were compared between the 2 groups.

Results:

There was no significant difference in terms of height, rib hump, the mean preoperative coronal Cobb angle or apical vertebral translation of the major curve, sagittal thoracic kyphosis, or coronal trunk balance between group BS and group S (all P>0.05). The average and total mental health scores of SRS-22 between group BS and group S were 3.6±0.7 and 3.7±0.5, and 18.1±3.5 and 18.3±2.6, respectively. The total mental health scores of SF-36 between group BS and group S were 71.1±8.7 and 68.7±11.5, respectively. There was no significant difference with regard to the mental health scores of SRS-22 and SF-36 questionnaires between group BS and group S (all P>0.05).

Conclusions:

Preoperative brace treatment did not have obvious influence on the mental health scores of SRS-22 and SF-36 questionnaires in surgically treated AIS patients.
Policy implications of population ageing in West Africa
Authors: Alhassan Issahaku Paul , Neysmith Sheila
Published: November 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss trends in demographic ageing in West Africa and asks the question of what policy challenges are posed by the increasing presence of older persons in the subregion. We explore the unique dimensions of population ageing in the subregion, including its rural‐urban and gendered distributions, the occupational history of older persons, among others with the view to identifying the health, housing, and income security implications of ageing. The paper discovers and reviews what policy initiatives are being pursued in respect of older persons and suggests ways for their improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the existing literature on ageing and policy in both published and grey sources, including national and international policy documents. The discussion looks at policy responses in Ghana as a case example for the West African context. Policy information pertaining to Ghana is interpreted in light of the first author's personal familiarity with the context as a national of that country. The age of adults in this context is hard to determine due to low birth registration. In this paper older persons are defined as those 60 plus in chronological years, the age of retirement in Ghana.

Findings

It is established that older persons are concentrated in the rural areas of West Africa and a higher proportion of this demographic group is female. Further, the majority of older persons in West Africa has low formal literacy, is in the informal economy, and has no income security in old age. Yet, older persons continue to play the significant role of grandparenting. This examination of Ghana's policy on ageing revealed inadequacies which need to be addressed. A key recommendation is a policy of universal non‐means‐tested old age security to provide basic income for persons aged 60 years and above.

Originality/value

A recommended policy of universal non‐means‐tested old age security to provide basic income for persons aged 60 years and above in Ghana is the original contribution of this paper.
Specialization and market development as engines of growth
Authors: Phillips Kerk L.
Published: November 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the following stylized facts. First, the share of household production in total output has fallen over time as the economy has grown. Second, services as a percent of GDP have risen at the same time.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper constructs an original model of growth based on Adam Smith's notions of specialization and extent of the market. Growth depends on the specialization of labor in market production and learning‐by‐doing in transactions services. It is a model of sustained, but not infinite, growth.

Findings

It is found that the model can replicate the above stylized facts for reasonable parameterizations.

Originality/value

This paper shows that it is possible to build growth models that match the historic experience without relying in unbounded growth. Models like this may be very useful in understanding the processes that drive growth.
Building effective clinical teams in healthcare
Authors: Ezziane Zoheir , Maruthappu Mahiben , Gawn Lynsey , Thompson Emily A. , Athanasiou Thanos , Warren Oliver J.
Published: November 2013

Purpose

This article aims to review teamwork and the creation of effective teams within healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach

By combining research material found in management, psychology and health services research the article explores the drivers increasing the importance of teamwork, reviews the current knowledge base on how to build a team and focuses on some of the barriers to effective team performance.

Findings

The simultaneous inflation of healthcare costs and necessity to improve quality of care has generated a demand for novel solutions in policy, strategy, commissioning and provider organisations. A critical, but commonly undervalued means by which quality can be improved is through structured, formalised incentivisation and development of teams, and the ability of individuals to work collectively and in collaboration. Several factors appear to contribute to the development of successful teams, including effective communication, comprehensive decision making, safety awareness and the ability to resolve conflict. Not only is strong leadership important if teams are to function effectively but the concept and importance of followership is also vital.

Research limitations/implications

Building effective clinical teams is difficult. The research in this area is currently limited, as is the authors' understanding of the different requirements faced by those working in different areas of the health and social care environment.

Originality/value

This article provides a starting place for those interested in leading and developing teams of clinicians.
Redefining the school nurse role: an organizational perspective
Authors: Chabot Guylaine , Gagnon Marie‐Pierre , Godin Gaston
Published: November 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to identify organizational readiness for change towards adoption of a redefined role of the school nurse as a strategic option in the context of a health promoting school approach. This new role is consistent with planned change directed at life habits and life conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire based on a modified version of the organizational readiness for change (ORC) framework was e‐mailed to 122 top and middle managers (response rate of 74 percent) in 42 local health organizations in the Province of Quebec, Canada, during the fall of 2009.

Findings

In total, 90 percent of participants perceived the proposed role as a solution to fulfil their school health program needs, especially to plan and integrate health promotion projects. The lack of resources and nursing support emerged as factors hampering the capacity of school nurses to play such a role.

Research limitations/implications

Additional implications of the ORC framework are needed in order to better address organizational readiness for complex changes in specific health‐related settings.

Practical implications

Access to information technology and the development of computer skills would help enhance this encompassing role in health promotion.

Originality/value

Findings have the potential to better inform health authorities regarding the new role of the school nurse as a strategic option in health promotion. This study also provides an application of the theoretical framework showing the need for additional empirical tests.
Trends in telemedicine assessment indicate neglect of key criteria for predicting success
Authors: Jackson Duncan E. , McClean Sally I.
Published: November 2013

Purpose

This innovative analysis aims to quantify the use of evaluation criteria in telemedicine and to identify current trends in metric adoption. The focus is to determine the frequency of actual performance metric reporting in telemedicine evaluation, in contrast to systematic reviews where assessment of study quality is the goal.

Design/methodology/approach

Automated literature search identified telemedicine studies reporting quantitative performance metrics. Studies were classified by telemedicine class; store‐and‐forward (SAF), real‐time consultation (RTC) and telecare (TC), and study stage. Studies were scanned for evaluation metric reporting, i.e. clinical outcomes, satisfaction, patient quality and cost measures.

Findings

Evaluation metric use was compared among telemedicine classes, and between pilot and routine use stages. Diagnostic accuracy was reported significantly more frequently in pilots for RTC and TC. Cost measures were more frequently reported in routine use for TC. Clinical effectiveness and hospital attendance were better reported in routine use for SAF. Comparison also revealed different evaluation strategies. In pilots, SAF favoured diagnostic accuracy, compared to RTC and TC. TC preferred clinical effectiveness evaluations and TC more frequently assessed patient satisfaction. Cost was only reported in less than 20 per cent of studies, but most frequently in RTC. Routine use led to increased reporting of all metrics, except diagnostic accuracy. Clinical effectiveness reporting increased significantly with routine use for RTC and SAF, but declined for TC.

Originality/value

Clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction were reported frequently in telemedicine studies, but reporting of other performance metrics was rare. Understanding current trends in metric reporting will facilitate better design of future telemedicine evaluations.
Review of mid- and long-term predictions of China's grain security
Authors: Lv Xinye
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– This paper analyzes the factors that potentially affect grain security in China and reviews the techniques used for prediction. It reviews and compares forecasts for grain security in 2020 and 2030 with the aim of making some judgments, from the perspective of grain supply and demand, about the future grain security situation in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this article, the paper will introduce the methods and results of the forecast and also focus on the predictions for grain security in 2020 and 2030 in order to give a clear review of previous researches in this regard.

Findings

– The results indicate that the traditional threats to food supply and demand in China still exist, while demand for biomass energy continues to rise. With regard to grain aggregate, the grain supply-demand balance will still be relatively tight for both 2020 and 2030. In terms of structure, grain for feed will experience increase – mainly driven by the supply of corn – adding to the unabated structural issues confronting regional grain supply and demand. In the future, therefore, China should try to preserve favorable factors that increase grain production, optimize grain structure and production, maintain the proper scale and make-up of grain imports and exports, and work for a sound global trading environment for grain.

Originality/value

– This article contributes to existing literature by analyzing the factors affecting grain security in China and reviewing prediction techniques and forecasts for grain security in China in 2020 and 2030. The findings suggest that China needs to take appropriate measures to ensure future grain security.
Career commitment, proactive personality, and work outcomes: a cross-lagged study
Authors: Vandenberghe Christian , Basak Ok Afife
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to examine the relationships of career commitment to turnover intention, internal networking, job embeddedness, and turnover, and whether proactive personality moderates these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected at two points in time, spaced by a six-month interval, from a sample of employees working in diverse organizations (n=312 at Time 1 and n=186 at Time 2). Hypotheses were tested using moderated multiple (linear and logistic) regression analyses.

Findings

– Career commitment was positively related to Time 1 turnover intention, with this relationship being stronger at high levels of proactivity. Proactive personality also interacted with career commitment in predicting Time 2 internal networking and job embeddedness, such that these relationships were significantly positive only at low levels of proactivity. Finally, career commitment was positively related to Time 2 turnover, but this relationship was not moderated by proactive personality.

Practical implications

– Findings suggest organizations should enhance the within-organization opportunities of people with high career commitment and proactivity. In contrast, they should work at maintaining the employability of people with high career commitment and low proactivity, as these individuals may become stuck in their organization.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the understanding of the relationships of career commitment and proactive personality to organization-relevant outcomes. It also breaks new ground by showing that career commitment may influence attitudes and behavior distinctively as a function of individuals' levels of dispositional proactivity.
Experienced and potential medical tourists' service quality expectations
Authors: Guiry Michael , Scott Jeannie J. , Vequist David G.
Published: November 2013

Purpose

The paper's aim is to compare experienced and potential US medical tourists' foreign health service‐quality expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via an online survey involving 1,588 US consumers engaging or expressing an interest in medical tourism. The sample included 219 experienced and 1,369 potential medical tourists. Respondents completed a SERVQUAL questionnaire. Mann‐Whitney U‐tests were used to determine significant differences between experienced and potential US medical tourists' service‐quality expectations.

Findings

For all five service‐quality dimensions (tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy) experienced medical tourists had significantly lower expectations than potential medical tourists. Experienced medical tourists also had significantly lower service‐quality expectations than potential medical tourists for 11 individual SERVQUAL items.

Practical implications

Results suggest using experience level to segment medical tourists. The study also has implications for managing medical tourist service‐quality expectations at service delivery point and via external marketing communications.

Originality/value

Managing medical tourists' service quality expectations is important since expectations can significantly influence choice processes, their experience and post‐consumption behavior. This study is the first to compare experienced and potential US medical tourist service‐quality expectations. The study establishes a foundation for future service‐quality expectations research in the rapidly growing medical tourism industry.