bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring students’ satisfaction with universities’ portals in developing countries
Authors: Shaltoni Abdel Monim , Khraim Hamza , Abuhamad Abdullah , Amer Mohammad
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors affecting students’ satisfaction with university portals in developing countries. The factors examined are educational services availability, user ability, system quality and information quality.

Design/methodology/approach

– A self completion questionnaire was developed and distributed to a sample of 550 students in several universities. Correlation and regression analysis were used to identify relationships and explore which of the factors had the strongest explanatory power.

Findings

– The results showed that educational services availability, system quality and information quality influence students’ satisfaction, with service availability being the major determinant. The cultural perspective was employed to explain these results.

Originality/value

– Understanding what students expect from a university portal should increase their satisfaction and consequently have a positive impact on universities’ performance. The results of this study also contribute to the current literature, which is very limited in developing countries. The paper concludes by discussing implications for both research and practitioners.
Understanding knowledge management capability in business process outsourcing
Authors: Liu Shan , Deng Zhaohua
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate trends in the dimensions of low, medium, and high knowledge management (KM) capability of business process outsourcing (BPO) firms. It also explores the trends in BPO performance with different levels of KM capabilities of BPO firms. Moreover, the study determines how firm characteristics, such as size, age, industry, and outsourcing age, affect KM capability.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey was employed to collect data on managers from 605 firms. K-means cluster analysis was performed on the aggregate measures of the four KM capability dimensions and BPO performance to reveal trends. Subsequently, MANOVA was used to evaluate the effects of four firm characteristics on KM capability, and individual ANOVA tests were performed to examine the specific differences among the four dimensions.

Findings

– Among the four dimensions of KM capability, knowledge application is the most significant. Knowledge protection is the second highest in terms of expressing the profile for low KM capability firms, but the lowest among the four dimensions of KM capability for medium and high KM capability firms. Each dimension of KM capability affects BPO performance positively. Firm size, age, industry, and outsourcing age differentially affect the dimensions of KM capability.

Originality/value

– This study presents a theoretical model of firm characteristics, KM capability, and BPO performance. Through the model, ideas are offered: firms with high KM capability significantly differ from those with low and medium KM capabilities; different firms exhibit different KM capabilities; developing knowledge application capability should be the priority in managing BPO; and improving KM capability is an effective means to enhance BPO performance.
Do task- and relation-oriented customers co-create a better quality of service?
Authors: Cheung Fung Yi Millissa , To Wai Ming
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how task- and relation-oriented customers co-create high quality services with frontline employees from the perspective of customer-dominant (C-D) logic.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors reviewed the service management literature and identified a number of critical components that help service providers understand the psychology and behaviour of their customers, and how their customers perceive service encounters. The authors tested the theoretical model using a random survey sample of 707 consumers in Hong Kong.

Findings

– The authors found that information sharing fully mediated the interactive effects of customer involvement and customer motivational orientation on customer perceived service quality and customer satisfaction. These findings support the C-D logic that customers as co-creators of value play a dominant role in service encounters.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors contribute to the existing management literature by identifying the importance of the C-D logic for service delivery and management. In particular, the involvement of customers with different motivational orientations through information sharing significantly affects customers’ perceived service quality and satisfaction.

Originality/value

– The paper enhances the understanding of customer’s logic by exploring the conditions and process between customer involvement and service delivery. Further directions for theoretical and empirical research are suggested.
Ownership participation of cross-border mergers and acquisitions by emerging market firms
Authors: Yang Monica
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to adopt a multi-level approach to investigate what factors shape the content of emerging market firms’ foreign market entry decisions, particularly the ownership participation in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As). In addition, the author would like to know if companies from emerging markets that possess higher (or lower) ownership in cross-border M&As receive higher valuation in the market.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using panel data of cross-border M&As by emerging market firms from 2000 to 2012, the author tests the hypothesized effects of the independent variables on the level of ownership participation; and uses a standard event study methodology to assess the market reaction of a particular cross-border M&A deal.

Findings

– The author finds that a country-level factor (institutional distance), an industry-level factor (industry unrelatedness) and a firm-level factor (board concentration) have significant impact on ownership participation in cross-border M&As. The author also finds that investors do give high valuation to those emerging market firms that chose high ownership participation in cross-border M&As. However, the author did not finds the support for the relationship between ownership participation and cultural distance. Neither did the author finds the support for the relationship between ownership participation and board independence.

Originality/value

– This study enhances the understanding of conditions under which the level of ownership participation in cross-border M&As would increase (decrease) and how the market reacts to high (low) ownership participation of cross-border M&As by emerging market firms.
The effects of ethical climates on trust in supervisor and trust in organization in a Polish context
Authors: Simha Aditya , Stachowicz-Stanusch Agata
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of ethical climate types on two components of organizational trust, i.e. trust in supervisor and trust in organization.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sample of 178 managerial employees from seven hospitals in Poland was used to investigate the specific relationships between ethical climates (i.e. egoistic, benevolent, and principled) and trust in supervisor and trust in organization. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationship between ethical climates and the two trust components.

Findings

– It was found that egoistic climates were negatively associated with trust in organization and trust in supervisor, whereas benevolent climates were positively associated with trust in supervisor and trust in organization. No support was obtained for any sort of association between principled climates and either of the two trust components.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research should examine the role of trust as a mediating variable in the relationship between ethical climates and variables such as commitment or productivity or satisfaction. Future research should also examine different national and work contexts to test out these relationships.

Practical implications

– Managers and organizations should try and establish benevolent ethical climates as opposed to egoistic ones, in order to bolster levels of trust among their employees.

Originality/value

– The findings of this paper are unique and original because this is the first study to suggest a relationship between ethical climate types and the two trust components. The value of this study is that it provides managers and organizations with a way by which they could potentially increase levels of trust among their employees.
Immunization with heat‐inactivated Staphylococcus aureus induced an antibody response mediated by IgG1 and IgG2 in patients with recurrent tonsillitis
Authors: Garcia‐Romo Gina Stella , Gonzalez‐Ibarra Misael , Donis‐Hernandez Felipe Raul , Zendejas‐Buitron Victor Manuel , Pedroza‐Gonzalez Alexander
Published: February 2015

Currently Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant pathogen isolated from the respiratory tract of patients with recurrent tonsillitis. Because of an increase in multi‐drug resistant strains of S. aureus, there is a pressing need for effective treatments and preventive approaches to reduce the risk of invasive and life‐threatening infections. A preventive vaccine against S. aureus would have a tremendous clinical impact. However, multiple clinical trials have failed to identify an agent that can induce protective responses. Most trials have been based on subunit vaccines using one or a few purified antigens, which may not be enough to confer protection. Here, the impact of a whole‐cell vaccine comprised of heat‐inactivated S. aureus was investigated in patients with RT. The vaccine was well tolerated and had no significant local or systemic reactions. Immunization with heat‐inactivated S. aureus elicited a significant antibody response characterized by production of IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies and, to a lesser extent, of IgA antibodies. Notably, this response was associated with an important decrease in the incidence of tonsillitis and bacterial colonization of the oropharyngeal mucosa. Our results show that whole‐cell inactivated S. aureus is safe and capable of evoking specific antibody responses in patients with recurrent tonsillitis.
Assessment and management of the communication difficulties of children with cerebral palsy: a UK survey of SLT practice
Authors: Mary Watson Rose , Pennington Lindsay
Published: February 2015

Background

Communication difficulties are common in cerebral palsy (CP) and are frequently associated with motor, intellectual and sensory impairments. Speech and language therapy research comprises single‐case experimental design and small group studies, limiting evidence‐based intervention and possibly exacerbating variation in practice.

Aims

To describe the assessment and intervention practices of speech–language therapist (SLTs) in the UK in their management of communication difficulties associated with CP in childhood.

Methods & Procedures

An online survey of the assessments and interventions employed by UK SLTs working with children and young people with CP was conducted. The survey was publicized via NHS trusts, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and private practice associations using a variety of social media. The survey was open from 5 December 2011 to 30 January 2012.

Outcomes & Results

Two hundred and sixty‐five UK SLTs who worked with children and young people with CP in England (n = 199), Wales (n = 13), Scotland (n = 36) and Northern Ireland (n = 17) completed the survey. SLTs reported using a wide variety of published, standardized tests, but most commonly reported assessing oromotor function, speech, receptive and expressive language, and communication skills by observation or using assessment schedules they had developed themselves. The most highly prioritized areas for intervention were: dysphagia, alternative and augmentative (AAC)/interaction and receptive language. SLTs reported using a wide variety of techniques to address difficulties in speech, language and communication. Some interventions used have no supporting evidence. Many SLTs felt unable to estimate the hours of therapy per year children and young people with CP and communication disorders received from their service.

Conclusions & Implications

The assessment and management of communication difficulties associated with CP in childhood varies widely in the UK. Lack of standard assessment practices prevents comparisons across time or services. The adoption of a standard set of agreed clinical measures would enable benchmarking of service provision, permit the development of large‐scale research studies using routine clinical data and facilitate the identification of potential participants for research studies in the UK. Some interventions provided lack evidence. Recent systematic reviews could guide intervention, but robust evidence is needed in most areas addressed in clinical practice.
How Best‐Practice Public Administration is Quietly Transforming Victoria
Authors: Wear Andrew
Published: February 2015

Drawing on interviews with nine Victorian Fellows of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, this article documents examples of successful public sector reforms in Victoria. Examples include the following: a reduction in road fatalities, a reduction in household water consumption, securing Melbourne's liveability despite significant population growth, service and infrastructure delivery, and improved collaboration aimed at addressing family violence and emergency management. The interviews also pointed to promising early commissioning work, designing and creating new markets. Bipartisan support was common to most of the examples, which involve both market and non‐market approaches. The reforms documented in this article make it clear that public servants are contributing to making Victoria a better place.
Spherical Photography and Virtual Tours for Presenting Crime Scenes and Forensic Evidence in New Zealand Courtrooms
Authors: Tung Nicole D. , Barr Jason , Sheppard Dion J. , Elliot Douglas A. , Tottey Leah S. , Walsh Kevan A. J.
Published: February 2015

The delivery of forensic science evidence in a clear and understandable manner is an important aspect of a forensic scientist's role during expert witness delivery in a courtroom trial. This article describes an Integrated Evidence Platform (IEP) system based on spherical photography which allows the audience to view the crime scene via a virtual tour and view the forensic scientist's evidence and results in context. Equipment and software programmes used in the creation of the IEP include a Nikon DSLR camera, a Seitz Roundshot VR Drive, PTGui Pro, and Tourweaver Professional Edition. The IEP enables a clear visualization of the crime scene, with embedded information such as photographs of items of interest, complex forensic evidence, the results of laboratory analyses, and scientific opinion evidence presented in context. The IEP has resulted in significant improvements to the pretrial disclosure of forensic results, enhanced the delivery of evidence in court, and improved the jury's understanding of the spatial relationship between results.
Severe hoarseness associated with the streamlined liner of the pharyngeal airway (SLIPATM)
Authors: MA X.‐X. , FANG X.‐M.
Published: February 2015

Hoarseness is a common post‐operative complication in patients who receive general anesthesia. In most cases, the symptoms are temporary and improve within several days. This report describes two patients with prolonged hoarseness following use of the streamlined liner of the pharyngeal airway (SLIPATM). We present the first case of a 56‐year‐old female patient who developed arytenoid cartilage dislocation resulting in prolonged hoarseness and dysphagia after using a SLIPA™ during a laparoscopic myomectomy. In the second case, we report on a 65‐year‐old male patient who was scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Left vocal fold paralysis or paresis resulting from recurrent laryngeal nerve injury associated with use of a SLIPA™ caused persistent hoarseness. It should be noted that recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or arytenoid cartilage dislocation are possible complications associated with use of the SLIPATM in case of persistent hoarseness.
Mentoring in surgical training
Authors: Rashid Prem , Narra Maruthi , Woo Henry
Published: February 2015

Surgical mentors have helped trainees develop fulfilling and academically productive careers, while supervisors are formally assigned to impart skills and oversee training. This paper reviews the comparative roles of the supervisor and mentor and how they overlap, while exploring the impact of the ‘unknown’ mentor. While the supervisor's role in directing the student is formally recognized, the mentee will personally select a mentor who successfully models the career and life balance to which the mentee aspires. The unknown mentor is known only to the mentee. The mentee's commitment to communicating with both mentor and supervisor is crucial to success. Better processes can be used to guide the mentor relationship. Confusion between the two roles – mentor and supervisor – is due to their complementary nature as well as an overlap in roles. Both remain essential to the growth and development of the surgical trainee. The unknown mentor could give detached advice and guidance to the student, while acting as a positive role model.
Mechanisms of airway hyper‐responsiveness in asthma: the past, present and yet to come
Authors: Chapman D. G. , Irvin C. G.
Published: February 2015

Airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR) has long been considered a cardinal feature of asthma. The development of the measurement of AHR 40 years ago initiated many important contributions to our understanding of asthma and other airway diseases. However, our understanding of AHR in asthma remains complicated by the multitude of potential underlying mechanisms which in reality are likely to have different contributions amongst individual patients. Therefore, the present review will discuss the current state of understanding of the major mechanisms proposed to contribute to AHR and highlight the way in which AHR testing is beginning to highlight distinct abnormalities associated with clinically relevant patient populations. In doing so we aim to provide a foundation by which future research can begin to ascribe certain mechanisms to specific patterns of bronchoconstriction and subsequently match phenotypes of bronchoconstriction with clinical phenotypes. We believe that this approach is not only within our grasp but will lead to improved mechanistic understanding of asthma phenotypes and we hoped to better inform the development of phenotype‐targeted therapy.
Leaving the Executive Committee of the Japanese Society for Neuroimmunology
Authors: Suzumura Akio
Published: February 2015

The Japanese Society for Neuroimmunology has a history of more than 25 years. Our Society has contributed valuable information to the field of neuroimmunology, and is still growing. I trust that our Society will contribute more to the understanding of neuroimmunological disorders in the future.
No increases in the rate of undescended testis in Hungary during the last 50 years: A population‐based study
Authors: Mavrogenis Stelios , Ács Nándor , Czeizel Andrew E.
Published: February 2015

Undescended testis (cryptorchidism) is a common structural birth defect, i.e. congenital abnormality of the male genital organs and increasing trend in its birth prevalence was reported in some countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the recorded annual birth prevalence of isolated undescended testis (IUT) in the population‐based large dataset of the Hungarian Congenital Abnormality Registry for the period between 1962 and 2011, i.e. during the last 50 years. Cases with IUT reported after births were evaluated, and their annual rate per 1000 live‐births was calculated. The rates of cases with IUT were compared with the so‐called true rate of IUT measured in a previous clinical‐epidemiological study based on the personal examination of 10 203 newborn infants. The birth prevalence of cases with recorded IUT in Hungary was lower than expected based on the true rate of IUT. Thus the two waves in the rate of IUT were connected with the different completeness of reporting. In conclusion the birth prevalence of cases with IUT in Hungary did not indicate a real increasing trend during the last 50 years.
How Local Is Local? A Reflection on Canadian Local Food Labeling Policy from Consumer Preference
Authors: Lim Kar H. , Hu Wuyang
Published: February 2015

We conducted a nationwide choice experiment to gauge Canadian consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for local beef assigned with various mileage and geopolitical connotations. Results revealed that consumers are mostly indifferent between products labeled generically as “local” and as “local: from within 160 km,” implying that the 160‐km radius fits perception of local of the representative consumers. Additionally, consumers are willing to pay significantly more for home‐province products over products generically labeled “local.” We also found significant positive WTP for enhanced bovine spongiform encephalopathy tested beef as well as for grass‐ over grain‐fed beef.
Untangling knots between autophagic targets and candidate drugs, in cancer therapy
Authors: Xie Tao , Li Si‐Jia , Guo Ming‐Rui , Wu Yue , Wang Hang‐Yu , Zhang Ke , Zhang Xue , Ouyang Liang , Liu Jie
Published: February 2015

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved lysosomal mechanism implicated in a wide variety of pathological processes, such as cancer. Autophagy can be regulated by a limited number of autophagy‐related genes (Atgs) such as oncogenic Bcl‐2/Bcl‐XL, mTORC1, Akt and PI3KCI, and tumour suppressive proteins PI3KCIII, Beclin‐1, Bif‐1, p53, DAPKs, PTEN and UVRAG, which play their crucial roles in regulating autophagy‐related cancer. As autophagy has a dual role in cancer cells, with tumour‐promoting and tumour‐suppressing properties, it has become an attractive target for a series of emerging small molecule drugs. In this review, we reveal new discoveries of related small molecules or chemical compounds that can regulate autophagic pathways and lead to pro‐death or pro‐survival autophagy, in different types of cancer. We discuss the knots between autophagic targets and candidate drugs, in the hope of shedding new light on exploiting new anti‐tumour small molecule drugs for future cancer therapy.
Decrease in circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells during short‐term systemic normobaric hypoxia
Authors: Yilmaz Atilla , Ratka Josi , Rohm Ilonka , Pistulli Rudin , Goebel Bjorn , Asadi Yahya , Petri Alexander , Kiehntopf Michael , Figulla Hans R. , Jung Christian
Published: February 2015

Background

During exposure to high altitude, the immune system is altered. During hypoxia, an increase in interleukin (IL)‐6 and high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), and an increase in natural killer cells and decrease in T cells in blood was shown. However, the impact of hypoxia on dendritic cells has not been investigated yet.

Material and methods

Twelve healthy volunteers were subjected to a transient normobaric hypoxia for 6·5 h simulating an oxygen concentration at 5500 m. During exposure to hypoxia, blood samples were collected and analysed by flow cytometrical cell sorting (FACS) for circulating myeloid (mDCs) and plasmacytoid (pDCs) DCs. Serum levels of IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α were analysed. In a cell culture hypoxia chamber, blood samples were subjected to the same hypoxia and analysed regarding DCs.

Results

Exposure to normobaric hypoxia induced a significant decrease in circulating pDCs about 45% (P = 0·001) but not of mDC compared to baseline normoxia. Furthermore, we observed a significant increase of TNF‐α about 340% (P = 0·03) and of IL‐6 about 286% (P = 0·002). In cell culture experiments exposure of blood to hypoxia led to no significant changes in DCs, so that a direct cytotoxic effect was excluded. During hypoxia, we observed a transient increase in stromal‐derived factor 1 (SDF‐1) which is important for pDC tissue recruitment.

Conclusions

We show a significant decrease in circulating pDCs during hypoxia in parallel to a pro‐inflammatory response. Further studies are necessary to evaluate whether the decrease in circulating pDCs might be the result of an enhanced tissue recruitment.
Effect of opicapone on levodopa pharmacokinetics, catechol‐O‐methyltransferase activity and motor fluctuations in patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Ferreira J. J. , Rocha J.‐F. , Falcão A. , Santos A. , Pinto R. , Nunes T. , Soares‐da‐Silva P.
Published: February 2015

Background and purpose

Opicapone (OPC) is a novel third generation catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor that enhances levodopa availability. This study investigated the effects of OPC in comparison with placebo on levodopa pharmacokinetics, tolerability and safety, COMT activity and motor response to levodopa in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with motor fluctuations.

Methods

This was a randomized, multicentre, double‐blind and placebo‐controlled study in four parallel groups of PD patients treated with standard‐release 100/25 mg levodopa/carbidopa or levodopa/benserazide and with motor fluctuations (wearing‐OFF phenomenon). Subjects were sequentially assigned to be administered, once‐daily, up to 28 days (maintenance phase), placebo (n = 10) or 5 (n = 10), 15 (n = 10) and 30 mg (n = 10) OPC. Two levodopa tests were performed, one at baseline and another following the maintenance phase. Subjects kept a diary to record motor fluctuations (ON/OFF periods) throughout the study.

Results

In relation to placebo, levodopa exposure (AUC0–6) increased 24.7%, 53.9% and 65.6% following 5, 15 and 30 mg OPC, respectively. Maximum COMT inhibition (Emax) ranged from 52% (5 mg OPC) to 80% (30 mg OPC). The study was not designed to detect any significant differences in motor performance, but the exploratory analysis performed shows improvement in various motor outcomes, including a dose‐dependent change in absolute OFF time corresponding to a percentage decrease of 4.16% (P > 0.05), 29.55% (P > 0.05) and 32.71% (P < 0.05) with 5, 15 and 30 mg OPC, respectively. Treatments were generally well tolerated and safe.

Conclusions

OPC is a promising new COMT inhibitor that significantly decreased COMT activity, increased systemic exposure to levodopa and improved motor response.
Reference genes for gene expression analysis in proliferating and differentiating human keratinocytes
Authors: Lanzafame Manuela , Botta Elena , Teson Massimo , Fortugno Paola , Zambruno Giovanna , Stefanini Miria , Orioli Donata
Published: February 2015

Abnormalities in keratinocyte growth and differentiation have a pathogenic significance in many skin disorders and result in gene expression alterations detectable by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR). Relative quantification based on endogenous control (EC) genes is the commonly adopted approach, and the use of multiple reference genes from independent pathways is considered a best practice guideline, unless fully validated EC genes are available. The literature on optimal reference genes during in vitro calcium‐induced differentiation of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) is inconsistent. In many studies, the expression of target genes is compared to that of housekeeping genes whose expression, however, significantly varies during keratinocyte differentiation. Here, we report the results of our investigations on the expression stability of 15 candidate EC genes, including those commonly used as reference in expression analysis by qRT‐PCR, during NHEK calcium‐induced differentiation. We demonstrate that YWHAZ and UBC are extremely stable genes, and therefore, they represent optimal EC genes for expression studies in proliferating and calcium‐induced differentiating NHEK. Furthermore, we demonstrate that YWHAZ/14‐3‐3‐zeta is a suitable reference for quantitative comparison of both transcript and protein levels.
Keratinocyte differentiation and upregulation of ceramide synthesis induced by an oat lipid extract via the activation of PPAR pathways
Authors: Chon Su‐Hyoun , Tannahill Ruth , Yao Xiang , Southall Michael D. , Pappas Apostolos
Published: February 2015

Activation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs) has been shown to have an important role in skin barrier function by regulating differentiation and lipid synthesis in keratinocytes. Oat (Avena sativa) has long been used as a soothing agent to relieve skin irritations, and the clinical benefits of topical oat formulations have been proven; however, the mechanistic understanding of oat's mode of action remains unknown. We investigated whether an oat lipid extract could activate PPARs and subsequently increase epidermal lipid synthesis and differentiation markers. Primary human epidermal keratinocytes and transformed cell lines were treated with PPAR agonists and oat lipid extracts to investigate the PPAR agonism. PPAR target genes and epidermal differentiation markers were analysed using quantitative real‐time PCR and HPTLC analysis. Oat lipid extract demonstrated robust dual agonism for PPARα and PPARβ/δ, and increased direct PPAR target gene induction in primary human keratinocytes. In addition, oat oil treatment increased both receptor expression and, consistent with the literature on PPARs, oat oil treatment resulted in a significant upregulation of differentiation genes (involucrin, SPRRs and transglutaminase 1) and ceramide processing genes (β‐glucocerebrosidase, sphingomyelinases 3 and ABCA12). Further, oat oil treatment in keratinocytes significantly increased ceramide levels (70%), suggesting a functional translation of PPAR activation by oat oil in keratinocytes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that oat lipids possess robust dual agonistic activities for PPARα and PPARβ/δ, increase their gene expression and induce differentiation and ceramide synthesis in keratinocytes, which can collectively improve skin barrier function.
Changes in soil carbon stocks under perennial and annual bioenergy crops
Authors: Ferchaud Fabien , Vitte Guillaume , Mary Bruno
Published: February 2015

Bioenergy crops are expected to provide biomass to replace fossil resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are of primary importance. The aim of this study was to measure changes in SOC stocks in bioenergy cropping systems comparing perennial (Miscanthus × giganteus and switchgrass), semi‐perennial (fescue and alfalfa), and annual (sorghum and triticale) crops, all established after arable crops. The soil was sampled at the start of the experiment and 5 or 6 years later. SOC stocks were calculated at equivalent soil mass, and δ13C measurements were used to calculate changes in new and old SOC stocks. Crop residues found in soil at the time of SOC measurements represented 3.5–7.2 t C ha−1 under perennial crops vs. 0.1–0.6 t C ha−1 for the other crops. During the 5‐year period, SOC concentrations under perennial crops increased in the surface layer (0–5 cm) and slightly declined in the lower layers. Changes in δ13C showed that C inputs were mainly located in the 0–18 cm layer. In contrast, SOC concentrations increased over time under semi‐perennial crops throughout the old ploughed layer (ca. 0–33 cm). SOC stocks in the old ploughed layer increased significantly over time under semi‐perennials with a mean increase of 0.93 ± 0.28 t C ha−1 yr−1, whereas no change occurred under perennial or annual crops. New SOC accumulation was higher for semi‐perennial than for perennial crops (1.50 vs. 0.58 t C ha−1 yr−1, respectively), indicating that the SOC change was due to a variation in C input rather than a change in mineralization rate. Nitrogen fertilization rate had no significant effect on SOC stocks. This study highlights the interest of comparing SOC changes over time for various cropping systems.
Adherence to prophylaxis and quality of life in children and adolescents with severe haemophilia A
Authors: García‐Dasí M. , Aznar J. A. , Jiménez‐Yuste V. , Altisent C. , Bonanad S. , Mingot E. , Lucía F. , Giménez F. , López M. Fernanda , Marco P. , Pérez R. , Fernández M. Á. , Paloma M. J. , Galmes B. , Herrero S. , García‐Talavera J. A.
Published: February 2015

Treatment adherence in adolescents with chronic diseases is around 50%, and failure is more common in preventive therapy. In haemophilia, contradictory results are reported by the published studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate adherence with factor VIII (FVIII) prophylaxis in Spanish patients with severe haemophilia A between age 6 and 20 years. Data were collected retrosp‐ectively in the previous 2 years. The primary endpoint was the absolute adherence index (AAI), and the endpoints were related to clinical status, age, prophylaxis regimen, responsibility for factor administration and quality of life (QoL), assessed by the Haemo‐QoL questionnaires. A total of 78 patients from 14 Spanish hospitals were recruited. Adherence ranged between −64.4 and 66.7 (mean −3.08). No differences were observed between children and adolescents (7.11 vs. 6.39; P = 0.809). A statistically significant association (P < 0.010) between infra adherent group and target joint was found, as was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.010) between the number of bleeding episodes experienced by the adherent group (mean 1.4) and by infra adherents (mean 4.5). There was no significant difference between AAI and prophylactic regimen (6.35 vs. 6.96, P = 0.848), neither between AAI and the person responsible for factor administration (5.57 vs. 8.79, P = 0.326). The Haemo‐QoL scores (8–12 years) were related to adherence level (P < 0.05). Adherence was approximately ideal and patients perceived a high QoL. Because of the repercussions for compliance, it is essential to work during puberty on emotional and self‐acceptance aspects of the disease, as well as coping, and the patient's family, school and health team relationships.
FUTURE BY HISTORY: RETHINKING PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY
Authors: Rüsen Jörn
Published: February 2015

Philosophy of history has a threefold dimension: material, formal, and functional, which have largely been conceptualized as mutually exclusive. It is high time to mediate them into a coherent relationship, and Rohbeck's book is a decisive step toward such a new philosophy of history.

The book is divided into three parts: the first deals with the relationship between history and the future, the second analyzes the relationship between history and ethics, and the third synthesizes these two aspects into a pragmatics of history. With regard to the first part, historical thinking is based on a perception of temporal otherness related to the past. Rohbeck prolongs the time perspective by bridging this time gap into the future. As to the second, Rohbeck replaces teleology by ethics. Teleology includes ethics but limits its scope to a one‐sided development. Ethics allows many more options. Finally, who is the agent for historical ethics? Rohbeck proposes the “generation” as the basic actor in historical change and the addressee of ethical commitment.

At the end of his work, Rohbeck draws consequences for the idea of philosophy of history from his idea of historical ethics. He shows that history has a new perspective if it is viewed through the lens of ethical elements in the fundamental relationship between past, present, and future.

Of course, many questions follow this fascinating new version of the old philosophy of history. I raise only three of them: (1) What synthesizes the three dimensions of time into one and the same history? (2) Did we not learn from historicism that values in ethics have an inbuilt temporality? This argument does not run against the idea of an ethics of history, but should sharpen its genuine historical character. (3) Who is the agent of this change: who brings it about and at the same is subjected to it? An anonymous sum of generations in space and time is not a convincing answer. We need an integrative idea that covers the vast field of experience of the human world in space and time and that covers the strong commitment to universal values. In this respect it would be worthwhile to pick up the idea of humankind as it was conceptualized as the red thread of history in traditional, modern philosophy of history.
Double labelling of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells withGd‐DTPAandPKH26 and the influence on biological characteristics of hUCMSCs
Authors: Shuai Hanlin , Shi Changzheng , Lan Jifa , Chen Danliang , Luo Xin
Published: February 2015

The aim of this study was to determine whether double labelling of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) with gadolinium‐diethylene triamine penta‐acetic acid (Gd‐DTPA) andPKH26 influences their biological characteristics. A tissue adherence technique was used to separate and purify the hUCMSCs and flow cytometry was performed to detect the surface markers expressed on them.Gd‐DTPAandPKH26 were used to label the stem cells andMRIand fluorescence microscopy were used to detect the double‐labelled hUCMSCs. AMTTassay was used to delineate the growth curve. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy were used to demonstrate the ultrastructural features of the hUCMSCs. Flow cytometry showed that hUCMSCs highly expressedCD29,CD90,CD44 andCD105. No expression ofCD31,CD34 andCD45 was detected. Very low expression ofHLA‐DRandCD40 was detected. Atomic force microscopy showed these cells were long, spindle shaped, and the cytoplasm and nucleus had clear boundaries. After double labelling,TEMshowedGd particles aggregated in the cytoplasm in a cluster pattern. The proliferation activity, cell cycle, apoptosis and differentiation of the stem cells were not influenced by double labelling. Thus a tissue adherence technique is helpful to separate and purify hUCMSCs effectively; andGd‐DTPAandPKH26 are promising tracers in the investigation of migration and distribution of hUCMSCsin vivo.
Evaluation of CO2 absorption and desorption rate in oysters (Cassostrea gigas) using the soluble gas stabilisation method
Authors: Santos Soares Lenilton , Tosati Juliano Vinicius , de Lima Marieli , Lerin Lindomar Alberto , Monteiro Alcilene Rodrigues
Published: February 2015

Soluble gas stabilisation (SGS) is a recently proposed method to extend the shelf life of food. However, no studies have determined the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed in food and particularly in oysters. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine CO2 absorption and desorption rates in oysters during the solubilisation process. Cooked oysters were placed in the apparatus's chamber, CO2 was injected into the chamber, and the SGS process started at different pressures, temperatures and gas/product (g/p) ratios. CO2 absorption and desorption rates were obtained from data of CO2 concentration in the chamber headspace and calculated by mathematical models. The results showed higher absorption rates under higher pressure, higher g/p ratio and lower temperature (0 °C). The concentration of CO2 dissolved in the oysters was 21008.45 mg CO2 kg product−1. On the other hand, lower desorption rates occurred for the lowest pressure (200 kPa) and lowest gas/product ratio (1:1). For CO2 desorption from oysters, it was observed that 10 min was enough to desorb a large amount of CO2 under normal atmosphere.
Effect of enzymatic debridement with two different collagenases versus mechanical debridement on chronic hard‐to‐heal wounds
Authors: Onesti Maria Giuseppina , Fioramonti Paolo , Fino Pasquale , Sorvillo Valentina , Carella Sara , Scuderi Nicolò
Published: February 2015

A chronic ulcer is usually defined as an injury that does not spontaneously evolve towards healing and does not progress through normal healing stages such as inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. This study was designed in order to compare two types of collagenases with mechanical debridement alone. It was thus possible to evaluate their differences in terms of pain and debridement efficacy. Patients were divided into three groups: 30 patients were daily dressed using an ointment based on collagenase produced by Vibrio alginolyticus (B group), 30 patients were daily dressed using an ointment based on a collagenase preparation derived from Clostridium histolyticum (N group) and 30 patients underwent classical mechanical debridement (M group). Complete wound healing over a period of 8 weeks occurred in 24 patients (27%) out of 90;10 patients belonging to the B group, 8 patients to the N group and 6 patients to the M group. This study was performed in order to highlight the differences between two commercially available collagenase‐based ointments in comparison with mechanical debridement alone. At the final time point of week, the difference in the percentage of debridement was not statistically significant in all groups, but at 4 weeks, the debrided area in the B group was larger with respect to the N and M groups, suggesting a more rapid wound bed cleansing process. On the basis of our experience, collagenase derived from V. alginolyticus with hyaluronic acid showed chemical and physical properties that make it a product of great manageability and ensure the protection of peri‐wound skin. Moreover, less pain was experienced by the patients.
L'inspection du travail en Chine: vers un modèle anglo‐saxon hybride
Authors: ZHUANG Wenjia , NGOK Kinglun
Published: February 2015

Si le contenu de la législation du travail chinoise est en expansion, sa mise en application reste en retard. Depuis les années 1980, l'inspection du travail évolue en direction du modèle anglo‐saxon, caractérisé par la fragmentation des services et des interventions réactives, sélectives et non coercitives. Ce modèle hybride provient de la greffe de réformes néolibérales sur le régime autoritaire hérité du léninisme. Pour faire respecter la loi de façon plus efficace, il faudrait intégrer coopération tripartite et dialogue social au processus de mise en application des normes et y impliquer une main‐d'œuvre organisée de façon indépendante.
Accidents du travail et maladies professionnelles en Chine: injustices, conflits et troubles sociaux
Authors: ZHU Ying , CHEN Peter Y. , ZHAO Wei
Published: February 2015

La proportion d'accidents du travail et de maladies professionnelles est nettement plus élevée en Chine que dans les autres pays développés, avec pour conséquence une montée des conflits et des troubles qui perturbent la stabilité et l'harmonie sociales. Pour étudier la façon dont les parties prenantes abordent les questions de sécurité et santé au travail, les auteurs ont interrogé des travailleurs victimes de tels accidents ou maladies sur les pratiques et les risques en matière de sécurité au travail, la façon dont les victimes ont été traitées, ou pas, et le système d'indemnisation. Ils présentent également un certain nombre de recommandations.
Pénurie de main‐d'œuvre et défaut de droits sociaux des travailleurs migrants en Chine
Authors: WANG Zhikai
Published: February 2015

Depuis 2004, l'exode rural massif que connaissait la Chine s'est ralenti, provoquant une pénurie de main‐d'œuvre dans la région côtière. Ce phénomène est en partie dû au fait que les travailleurs migrants internes ne bénéficient guère de la sécurité sociale. De fait, plutôt qu'une pénurie, il existe un énorme surplus de main‐d'œuvre rurale. Si l'on améliorait le régime des droits sociaux et de la sécurité sociale applicable aux travailleurs migrants, la pénurie apparente de main‐d'œuvre serait moindre, ce qui résoudrait les problèmes d'emploi des entreprises, stimulerait la productivité et alimenterait la croissance économique du pays à long terme.
How Machines Learned to Think Statistically
Authors: Tarran Brian , Ghahramani Zoubin
Published: February 2015

Creating artificial human intelligence has proved more difficult than first imagined. But thanks to statistical ideas and models, our machines are getting smarter. Brian Tarran reports

An existential risk?

Statistics, superintelligence and the fate of humanity

The Automatic Statistician

A Q&A with Zoubin Ghahramani discussing his Google-backed project to create an artificial intelligence for data science
For Want of a Nail: Why Unnecessarily Long Tests may be Impeding the Progress of Western Civilisation
Authors: Wainer Howard , Feinberg Richard
Published: February 2015

The longer the test, the more reliable it is – up to a point. Howard Wainer and Richard Feinberg expose the costs and hours lost in pursuit of marginal gains and worthless subscores

Why unnecessarily long tests may be impeding the progress of Western civilization. By Howard Wainer and Richard Feinberg
Game, Set and Stats
Authors: Gray Chris
Published: February 2015

Chris Gray makes the case for data analytics in tennis with a simple probability model for analysing the outcomes of matches
A Murky Business
Authors: Jeong Yujin , Gastwirth Joseph L.
Published: February 2015

Corruption in Iraq's Oil-for-Food Programme was exposed a decade ago. But key information remains unpublished – information that could shed further light on the impact of bribes paid to Saddam Hussein's regime. By Yujin Jeong and Joseph L. Gastwirth
The Position of Higher Education Institutions in a Changing European Context: An EU Law Perspective
Authors: Gideon Andrea
Published: February 2015

The article analyses an enigma of EU higher education institution (HEI) policy; while Member States are reluctant to use the ‘Community Method’ to actively shape a supranational legal framework, their national policy choices remain subject to directly effective EU law, following the Court's tendency to let it spill over into any policy field. This unidirectional legal integration can have unintended consequences on HEIs' research and educational strategies, which may ultimately drive the sector towards more commercialisation. The article, first, sets out the conceptual framework. Its main part is then dedicated to analysing the tendency of directly applicable EU law to assert influences on education and research, the main areas of activities of HEIs, which have been largely kept out of the supranational EU hard law framework.
Association between smoking and hand dermatitis – a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Lukács J. , Schliemann S. , Elsner P.
Published: February 2015

Tobacco smoking is known to influence various inflammatory skin diseases. A systematic review with a meta‐analysis was conducted to analyse a possible association between the lifestyle factor tobacco smoking and hand dermatitis. We performed a systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central Register databases. Our search was limited to English and German language, human‐subject studies published between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 2013. A total of 43 articles were identified from the initial search, and after taking into account exclusion criteria, only three studies remained investigating the risk factors for hand eczema in the general and in high‐risk populations (e.g. bakers, hairdressers, dental technicians). The extracted data were pooled and analysed by standard statistical methods. The studies meeting inclusion criteria consisted of one cohort study and two cross‐sectional studies based on a total of 4.113 subjects with hand dermatitis and 34.875 subjects without hand dermatitis. While one of the studies had reported a significant association between hand dermatitis and smoking, the meta‐analysis did not confirm this finding (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.88–1.11). However, heterogeneity across studies was high (I2 = 72%). Our meta‐analysis did not show tobacco smoking to be a risk factor for hand dermatitis. However, these results depend mainly on two large studies from one country. From present data, it cannot be excluded that smoking may influence the course of hand dermatitis. Even though smoking does not seem to be associated with hand dermatitis, it may still negatively influence the course of the disease.