bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intestinal microbiota sustains inflammation and autoimmunity induced by hypomorphic RAG defects
Authors: Rigoni Rosita , Fontana Elena , Guglielmetti Simone , Fosso Bruno , D’Erchia Anna Maria , Maina Virginia , Taverniti Valentina , Castiello Maria Carmina , Mantero Stefano , Pacchiana Giovanni , Musio Silvia , Pedotti Rosetta , Selmi Carlo , Mora J. Rodrigo , Pesole Graziano , Vezzoni Paolo , Poliani Pietro Luigi , Grassi Fabio , Villa Anna , Cassani Barbara
Published: March 2016

Omenn syndrome (OS) is caused by hypomorphic Rag mutations and characterized by a profound immunodeficiency associated with autoimmune-like manifestations. Both in humans and mice, OS is mediated by oligoclonal activated T and B cells. The role of microbial signals in disease pathogenesis is debated. Here, we show that Rag2R229Q knock-in mice developed an inflammatory bowel disease affecting both the small bowel and colon. Lymphocytes were sufficient for disease induction, as intestinal CD4 T cells with a Th1/Th17 phenotype reproduced the pathological picture when transplanted into immunocompromised hosts. Moreover, oral tolerance was impaired in Rag2R229Q mice, and transfer of wild-type (WT) regulatory T cells ameliorated bowel inflammation. Mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency in the gut resulted in enhanced absorption of microbial products and altered composition of commensal communities. The Rag2R229Q microbiota further contributed to the immunopathology because its transplant into WT recipients promoted Th1/Th17 immune response. Consistently, long-term dosing of broad-spectrum antibiotics (ABXs) in Rag2R229Q mice ameliorated intestinal and systemic autoimmunity by diminishing the frequency of mucosal and circulating gut-tropic CCR9+ Th1 and Th17 T cells. Remarkably, serum hyper-IgE, a hallmark of the disease, was also normalized by ABX treatment. These results indicate that intestinal microbes may play a critical role in the distinctive immune dysregulation of OS.
Strictly co-isogenic C57BL/6J-Prnp−/− mice: A rigorous resource for prion science
Authors: Nuvolone Mario , Hermann Mario , Sorce Silvia , Russo Giancarlo , Tiberi Cinzia , Schwarz Petra , Minikel Eric , Sanoudou Despina , Pelczar Pawel , Aguzzi Adriano
Published: March 2016

Although its involvement in prion replication and neurotoxicity during transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is undisputed, the physiological role of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) remains enigmatic. A plethora of functions have been ascribed to PrPC based on phenotypes of Prnp−/− mice. However, all currently available Prnp−/− lines were generated in embryonic stem cells from the 129 strain of the laboratory mouse and mostly crossed to non-129 strains. Therefore, Prnp-linked loci polymorphic between 129 and the backcrossing strain resulted in systematic genetic confounders and led to erroneous conclusions. We used TALEN-mediated genome editing in fertilized mouse oocytes to create the Zurich-3 (ZH3) Prnp-ablated allele on a pure C57BL/6J genetic background. Genomic, transcriptional, and phenotypic characterization of PrnpZH3/ZH3 mice failed to identify phenotypes previously described in non–co-isogenic Prnp−/− mice. However, aged PrnpZH3/ZH3 mice developed a chronic demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, confirming the crucial involvement of PrPC in peripheral myelin maintenance. This new line represents a rigorous genetic resource for studying the role of PrPC in physiology and disease.
The Role of Aldosterone in Obesity-Related Hypertension
Authors: Kawarazaki Wakako , Fujita Toshiro
Published: March 2016

Obese subjects often have hypertension and related cardiovascular and renal diseases, and this has become a serious worldwide health problem. In obese subjects, impaired renal-pressure natriuresis causes sodium retention, leading to the development of salt-sensitive hypertension. Physical compression of the kidneys by visceral fat and activation of the sympathetic nervous system, renin–angiotensin systems (RAS), and aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) system are involved in this mechanism. Obese subjects often exhibit hyperaldosteronism, with increased salt sensitivity of blood pressure (BP). Adipose tissue excretes aldosterone-releasing factors, thereby stimulating aldosterone secretion independently of the systemic RAS, and aldosterone/MR activation plays a key role in the development of hypertension and organ damage in obesity. In obese subjects, both salt sensitivity of BP, enhanced by obesity-related metabolic disorders including aldosterone excess, and increased dietary sodium intake are closely related to the incidence of hypertension. Some salt sensitivity-related gene variants affect the risk of obesity, and together with salt intake, its combination is possibly associated with the development of hypertension in obese subjects. With high salt levels common in modern diets, salt restriction and weight control are undoubtedly important. However, not only MR blockade but also new diagnostic modalities and therapies targeting and modifying genes that are related to salt sensitivity, obesity, or RAS regulation are expected to prevent obesity and obesity-related hypertension.
Detection and removal of spatial bias in multiwell assays
Authors: Lachmann Alexander , Giorgi Federico M. , Alvarez Mariano J. , Califano Andrea
Published: March 2016

Motivation: Multiplex readout assays are now increasingly being performed using microfluidic automation in multiwell format. For instance, the Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) has produced gene expression measurements for tens of thousands of distinct cell perturbations using a 384-well plate format. This dataset is by far the largest 384-well gene expression measurement assay ever performed. We investigated the gene expression profiles of a million samples from the LINCS dataset and found that the vast majority (96%) of the tested plates were affected by a significant 2D spatial bias.

Results: Using a novel algorithm combining spatial autocorrelation detection and principal component analysis, we could remove most of the spatial bias from the LINCS dataset and show in parallel a dramatic improvement of similarity between biological replicates assayed in different plates. The proposed methodology is fully general and can be applied to any highly multiplexed assay performed in multiwell format.

Contact:  ac2248@columbia.edu

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Information, Misallocation, and Aggregate Productivity
*
Authors: David Joel M. , Hopenhayn Hugo A. , Venkateswaran Venky
Published: March 2016

We propose a theory linking imperfect information to resource misallocation and hence to aggregate productivity and output. In our setup, firms look to a variety of noisy information sources when making input decisions. We devise a novel empirical strategy that uses a combination of firm-level production and stock market data to pin down the information structure in the economy. Even when only capital is chosen under imperfect information, applying this methodology to data from the United States, China, and India reveals substantial losses in productivity and output due to the informational friction. Our estimates for these losses range from 7% to 10% for productivity and 10% to 14% for output in China and India, and are smaller, though still significant, in the United States. Losses are substantially higher when labor decisions are also made under imperfect information. We find that firms turn primarily to internal sources for information; learning from financial markets contributes little, even in the United States.
Colonization of Barley by the Broad-Host Hemibiotrophic Pathogen Phytophthora palmivora Uncovers a Leaf Development–Dependent Involvement of Mlo
Authors: Le Fevre Ruth , O’Boyle Bridget , Moscou Matthew J. , Schornack Sebastian
Published: March 2016

The discovery of barley Mlo demonstrated that filamentous pathogens rely on plant genes to achieve entry and lifecycle completion in barley leaves. While having a dramatic effect on foliar pathogens, it is unclear whether overlapping or distinct mechanisms affect filamentous pathogen infection of roots. To remove the bias connected with using different pathogens to understand colonization mechanisms in different tissues, we have utilized the aggressive hemibiotrophic oomycete pathogen Phytophthora palmivora. P. palmivora colonizes root as well as leaf tissues of barley (Hordeum vulgare). The infection is characterized by a transient biotrophy phase with formation of haustoria. Barley accessions varied in degree of susceptibility, with some accessions fully resistant to leaf infection. Notably, there was no overall correlation between degree of susceptibility in roots compared with leaves, suggesting that variation in different genes influences host susceptibility above and below ground. In addition, a developmental gradient influenced infection, with more extensive colonization observed in mature leaf sectors. The mlo5 mutation attenuates P. palmivora infection but only in young leaf tissues. The barley–P. palmivora interaction represents a simple system to identify and compare genetic components governing quantitative colonization in diverse barley tissue types.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY Attribution 4.0 International license .
Differential Colonization Dynamics of Cucurbit Hosts by Erwinia tracheiphila
Authors: Vrisman Cláudio M. , Deblais Loïc , Rajashekara Gireesh , Miller Sally A.
Published: March 2016

Bacterial wilt is one of the most destructive diseases of cucurbits in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. Although the disease has been studied since 1900, host colonization dynamics remain unclear. Cucumis- and Cucurbita-derived strains exhibit host preference for the cucurbit genus from which they were isolated. We constructed a bioluminescent strain of Erwinia tracheiphila (TedCu10-BL#9) and colonization of different cucurbit hosts was monitored. At the second-true-leaf stage, Cucumis melo plants were inoculated with TedCu10-BL#9 via wounded leaves, stems, and roots. Daily monitoring of colonization showed bioluminescent bacteria in the inoculated leaf and petiole beginning 1 day postinoculation (DPI). The bacteria spread to roots via the stem by 2 DPI, reached the plant extremities 4 DPI, and the plant wilted 6 DPI. However, Cucurbita plants inoculated with TedCu10-BL#9 did not wilt, even at 35 DPI. Bioluminescent bacteria were detected 6 DPI in the main stem of squash and pumpkin plants, which harbored approximately 104 and 101 CFU/g, respectively, of TedCu10-BL#9 without symptoms. Although significantly less systemic plant colonization was observed in nonpreferred host Cucurbita plants compared with preferred hosts, the mechanism of tolerance of Cucurbita plants to E. tracheiphila strains from Cucumis remains unknown.
The Memory Quilt
Authors: Flanagan Patricia , DeMetro Nancy
Published: March 2016

Nursing students' learning of adult and pediatric palliative care is a daunting experience. An effective initial teaching strategy using a Memory Quilt activity can improve nursing students' interpersonal and communication skills and help prepare them for end-of-life caring. These skills help students meet patient and family needs, as they transition to care settings.
Finding our Place
Authors: Astle Barbara , Gibson Deborah
Published: March 2016

At the onset, the unfamiliarity of faith integration for nurse educators working within a faith-based university can be challenging. Two nurse educators describe the process they took to learn and navigate faith integration, while teaching undergraduate nursing students. Over the course of one year, various approaches toward faith integration with students were implemented, leading to an authentic relational interconnectedness.
Individual differences in children's innovative problem-solving are not predicted by divergent thinking or executive functions
Authors: Beck Sarah R. , Williams Clare , Cutting Nicola , Apperly Ian A. , Chappell Jackie
Published: March 2016

Recent studies of children's tool innovation have revealed that there is variation in children's success in middle-childhood. In two individual differences studies, we sought to identify personal characteristics that might predict success on an innovation task. In Study 1, we found that although measures of divergent thinking were related to each other they did not predict innovation success. In Study 2, we measured executive functioning including: inhibition, working memory, attentional flexibility and ill-structured problem-solving. None of these measures predicted innovation, but, innovation was predicted by children's performance on a receptive vocabulary scale that may function as a proxy for general intelligence. We did not find evidence that children's innovation was predicted by specific personal characteristics.
Innovation in the collective brain
Authors: Muthukrishna Michael , Henrich Joseph
Published: March 2016

Innovation is often assumed to be the work of a talented few, whose products are passed on to the masses. Here, we argue that innovations are instead an emergent property of our species' cultural learning abilities, applied within our societies and social networks. Our societies and social networks act ascollective brains. We outline how many human brains, which evolved primarily for the acquisition of culture, together beget a collective brain. Within these collective brains, the three main sources of innovation are serendipity, recombination and incremental improvement. We argue that rates of innovation are heavily influenced by (i) sociality, (ii) transmission fidelity, and (iii) cultural variance. We discuss some of the forces that affect these factors. These factors can also shape each other. For example, we provide preliminary evidence that transmission efficiency is affected by sociality—languages with more speakers are more efficient. We argue that collective brains can make each of their constituent cultural brains more innovative. This perspective sheds light on traits, such as IQ, that have been implicated in innovation. A collective brain perspective can help us understand otherwise puzzling findings in the IQ literature, including group differences, heritability differences and the dramatic increase in IQ test scores over time.
Diffusion pseudotime robustly reconstructs lineage branching
Authors: Haghverdi Laleh , Büttner Maren , Wolf F. Alexander , Buettner Florian , Theis Fabian J.
Published: March 2016

Single-cell gene expression profiles of differentiating cells encode their intrinsic latent temporal order. We describe an efficient way to robustly estimate this order according to adiffusion pseudotime, which measures transitions on all length scales between cells using diffusion-like random walks. This allows us to identify cells that undergo branching decisions or are in metastable states, and thereby genes differentially regulated at these states.
The Software Crisis of Synthetic Biology
Authors: Valverde Sergi , Porcar Manuel , Peretó Juli , Solé Ricard V.
Published: March 2016

In fifteen years, Synthetic Biology (SB) has moved from proof-of-concept designs to several flagship achievements. Standardisation efforts are still under way, basic engineering concepts such as modularity and orthogonality are still controversial in biology, and making predictions from computer models is still unreliable. A deep characterization in the pattern of re-use of biological blocks in SB has not been attempted to date. We have compared the topological organisation of two different technological networks, one associated to a standard, large-scale software repository and the second provided by the Registry of Standard Biological Parts (RSBP). Our results strongly suggest that software engineering, and not industrial engineering, is the closest complex system to SB. In both cases, combining standard or quasi-standard components assembly with tinkering may not be at odds with success.
Cdk activity drives senescence from G2 phase
Authors: Müllers Erik , Silva Cascales Helena , Macurek Libor , Lindqvist Arne
Published: March 2016

In response to DNA damage a cell can be forced to permanently exit the cell cycle and become senescent. Senescence provides an early barrier against tumor development by preventing proliferation of cells with damaged DNA. By studying single cells, we show that Cdk activity is retained after DNA damage until terminal cell cycle exit. The low level of Cdk activity not only allows cell cycle progression, but also forces cell cycle exit at a decision point in G2 phase. We find that Cdk activity stimulates p21 production, leading to nuclear sequestration of Cyclin B1, subsequent APC/CCdh1-dependent degradation of mitotic inducers and induction of senescence. We suggest that the same activity that triggers mitosis in an unperturbed cell cycle drives senescence in the presence of DNA damage, ensuring a robust response when most needed.
Zika Virus: Endemic Versus Epidemic Dynamics and Implications for Disease Spread in the Americas
Authors: Bewick Sharon , Fagan William F. , Calabrese Justin , Agusto Folashade
Published: March 2016

Since being introduced into Brazil in 2014, Zika virus (ZIKV) has spread explosively across Central and South America. Although the symptoms of ZIKV are generally mild, recent evidence suggests a relationship between prenatal exposure to ZIKV and microcephaly. This has led to widespread panic, including travel alerts and warnings to avoid pregnancy. Because ZIKV is an emerging disease, response efforts are complicated by limited understanding of disease dynamics. To this end, we develop a novel state- and class-structured compartment model for ZIKV. Our model shows that the risk of prenatal ZIKV exposure should decrease dramatically following the initial wave of disease, reaching almost undetectable levels in endemic systems. Our model also suggests that, depending on ZIVK transmission levels in the Americas, efforts to reduce ZIKV prenatal exposures through mosquito management and avoidance may have minimal benefit, and may even result in increased risk of microcephaly in later years of an outbreak.
Preparation of a Total Membrane Fraction from 3T3-L1 Adipocytes
Authors: Sadler Jessica B.A. , Lamb Christopher A. , Gould Gwyn W. , Bryant Nia J.
Published: March 2016

The dynamic nature of insulin-sensitive glucose transporter isoform 4 (GLUT4) storage vesicles (GSVs) makes their characterization challenging. Fractionation techniques can facilitate isolation of GSVs from insulin-sensitive cells. In this protocol, we describe preparation of a total membrane fraction from 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The resulting pellet contains all membranes and allows for easier identification of membrane proteins, including the insulin-sensitive pool of GLUT4. A method for concentration of the soluble fraction is also included.
Enrichment of Phosphopeptides via Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography
Authors: Swaney Danielle L. , Villén Judit
Published: March 2016

Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) is a frequently used method for the enrichment of phosphorylated peptides from complex, cellular lysate-derived peptide mixtures. Here we outline an IMAC protocol that uses iron-chelated magnetic beads to selectively isolate phosphorylated peptides for mass spectrometry–based proteomic analysis. Under acidic conditions, negatively charged phosphoryl modifications preferentially bind to positively charged metal ions (e.g., Fe3+, Ga3+) on the beads. After washing away nonphosphorylated peptides, a pH shift to basic conditions causes the elution of bound phosphopeptides from the metal ion. Under optimal conditions, very high specificity for phosphopeptides can be achieved.
Fiducial marker application method for position alignment of in situ multimodal X-ray experiments and reconstructions
Authors: Shade Paul A. , Menasche David B. , Bernier Joel V. , Kenesei Peter , Park Jun-Sang , Suter Robert M. , Schuren Jay C. , Turner Todd J.
Published: March 2016

An evolving suite of X-ray characterization methods are presently available to the materials community, providing a great opportunity to gain new insight into material behavior and provide critical validation data for materials models. Two critical and related issues are sample repositioning during an in situ experiment and registration of multiple data sets after the experiment. To address these issues, a method is described which utilizes a focused ion-beam scanning electron microscope equipped with a micromanipulator to apply gold fiducial markers to samples for X-ray measurements. The method is demonstrated with a synchrotron X-ray experiment involving in situ loading of a titanium alloy tensile specimen.
Analyzing diffuse scattering with supercomputers. Corrigendum
Authors: Michels-Clark T. M. , Lynch V. E. , Hoffmann C. M. , Hauser J. , Weber T. , Harrison R. , Bürgi H. B.
Published: March 2016

Errors in the paper by Michels-Clark, Lynch, Hoffmann, Hauser, Weber, Harrison & Bürgi [J. Appl. Cryst. (2013), 46, 1616–1625] are corrected.
Crystal structures ofN-(3-fluorobenzoyl)benzenesulfonamide andN-(3-fluorobenzoyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide
Authors: Suchetan P. A. , Naveen S. , Lokanath N. K. , Lakshmikantha H. N. , Srivishnu K. S. , Supriya G. M.
Published: March 2016

The crystal structures of twoN-(arylsulfonyl)arylamides, namelyN-(3-fluorobenzoyl)benzenesulfonamide, C13H10FNO3S, (I), andN-(3-fluorobenzoyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide, C14H12FNO3S, (II), are described and compared with related structures. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 82.73 (10)° in (I) compared to 72.60 (12)° in (II). In the crystal of (I), the molecules are linked by C—H...O and C—H...π interactions, resulting in a three-dimensional grid-like architecture, while C—H...O interactions lead to one-dimensional ribbons in (II). The crystals of both (I) and (II) feature strong but non-structure-directing N—H...O hydrogen bonds withR22(8) ring motifs. The structure of (I) also features π–π stacking interactions.
Coming of age, seeking legitimacy
Authors: Amankwah-Amoah Joseph
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the historical trajectory of African management research and managerial thinking.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws from a review and synthesis of the literature from 1960

-

2012.

Findings

– The analysis led to the identification of three distinct phases which reflect the difficult and uncertain beginning of a promising future. The historical pathway model also accounts for the evolution of management philosophies and thoughts and the current state of knowledge.

Originality/value

– Although there is a burgeoning stream of African management research, a lack of comprehensive review and synthesis has obscured the enormous strides made. This paper advances a “novel” approach towards theory application and theory creation, building on the “convergence hypothesis” and “divergence hypothesis”. This analysis yielded a number of promising avenues for future research.
Succeeding in international competition by making use of home-country institutions
Authors: Moen Eli
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to addresses the question how a low-cost carrier (LCC) embedded in a coordinated market economy is succeeding in a highly competitive industry with a strong cost focus.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper reports the results of a case study of a LCC (Norwegian Air Shuttle). The case study draws on both organizational and institutional theory as to how the international business environment and the national institutional framework continuously impact on its strategies.

Findings

– It is found that home-country high wage levels and strong labour regulation have been overcome by developing firm-specific capabilities based on active employee involvement which aligns with the tradition of the national system of industrial relations.

Research limitations/implications

– The present case study provides an input for further research on how actors deal with conflicting pressures. It supports the varieties of capitalism (VOC) argument that national institutional arrangements influence firms and actors’ strategies and practices, but it also supports the call within institutional theories for a more malleable conceptualizing of the link between actors and institutions than is the case in the VOC models.

Originality/value

– The paper provides an account of a successful case in a highly competitive international business despite disadvantages linked with home-country institutions.
Renewing the call forcritical perspectives on international business
Authors: Roberts Joanne , Dörrenbächer Christoph
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to reflect on the future ofcritical perspectives on international business(cpoib) by considering some key developments in the international business (IB) context since the Journal’s launch in 2005. The Journal’s mission and scope is refreshed in light of these developments. Changes to the editorial team and editorial advisory board are also announced.

Design/methodology/approach

– A review of some of the key developments in the IB context provides the background and justification for a revised editorial mission and scope.

Findings

– Given changes in the IB environment, the need for a journal that takes a critically reflexive view on the activities of IB and issues of relevance to IB is found to be of increasing importance. This finding underlines the need for scholars to undertake empirical and conceptual studies that adopt critical perspectives to identify IB practices that are detrimental to stakeholders broadly defined and to offer alternatives.

Originality/value

– This is the first effort to reassess and renewcpoib’s mission and scope in the light of the changes in the IB context since the Journal’s launch in 2005.
The research on surface non-uniformity of textile systems
Authors: Juciene Milda , Radaviciene Svetlana , Saceviciene Virginija , Adaškevicius Rimas , Petraitiene Stase
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the non-uniformity of the surface where textile fabric systems were joined using embroidery with the help of the system dimensional scanning.

Design/methodology/approach

– To ascertain and evaluate surface non-uniformity and puckering of the embroidered elements dimensional 3D laser scanner was used. The dimensional 3D model of the embroidered element was imported into the software package RapidformTM and returned to the beginning of the coordinate system for the puckering analysis and evaluation.

Findings

– The obtained results have shown that when embroidering an element it is important to evaluate the direction of stitches with consideration to the fabric because when elements are performed in different fabric direction their quality can be different. The embroidered elements that were performed on more lightweight fabrics have bigger surface non-uniformity. The greatest inadequacy of shape and dimensions in the embroidered element was found for materials with the smallest value of surface density, closeness of texture and the smallest indicator of fabric surface filling.

Originality/value

– The proposed approach can be adjusted to investigate surface non-uniformity of embroidered elements.
Lean Six Sigma: a categorized review of the literature
Authors: Yadav Gunjan , Desai Tushar N.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– Literature reviews in the field of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) are often substantially less stringently portrayed than other empirical research. The purpose of this paper is to lucubrate on clarifying emerging aspects, trends and importance of LSS through reviewing the published literature over multiple parameters for a ameliorating and trenchant view.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the present study, a literature review of LSS articles is carried out over the time horizon of 14 years from referred peer-reviewed journals in business and management disciplines, information systems and computer science, engineering, healthcare, etc. While carrying out the literature review, various distinct dimensions are considered, such as publication years and journals, countries, research design, research type and application sector within industries. A descriptive evaluation of the literature body is followed by gap identification and future research opportunities.

Findings

– LSS research is growing rapidly, covering various disciplines and domains with a great focus on LSS tools and techniques; empirical research is dominant with more emphasis on case study approach; and growing gap between manufacturing- and service-focused articles implies return of LSS to manufacturing as its initial base.

Originality/value

– The review analysis entirely focuses on descriptive statistics of empirical research in LSS. The sample size includes 189 shortlisted articles in 58 journals published over a time span of 14 years (2001-2014). The paper provides both academicians and practitioners a better panorama to understand the present status of LSS for pursuing rigorous LSS research through explicating chronological emergence, challenging themes, dominating research types and application areas in LSS.
Measuring lean implementation for maintenance service companies
Authors: de Jong Stephan  J. , Beelaerts van Blokland Wouter W.A.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– Implementation of lean manufacturing is currently performed in the production industry; however, for the airline maintenance service industry, it is still in its infancy. Indicators such as work in process, cycle time, on-time performance and inventory are useful indicators to measure lean implementation; however, a financial economic perspective taking fixed assets into consideration is still missing. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to propose a method to measure lean implementation from a fixed asset perspective for this type of industry. With the indicators, continuous improvement scenarios can be explored by value stream discrete event simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

– From literature, indicators regarding asset specificity to measure lean implementation are found. These indicators are analysed by a linear least square method to know if variables are interrelated to form a preliminary model. The indicators are tested by value stream-based discrete event simulation regarding continuous improvement scenarios.

Findings

– With the new found lean transaction cost efficiency indicators, namely, turnover, gross margin and inventory pre-fixed asset (T/FA, GM/FA and I/FA, respectively), it is possible to measure operation performance from an asset specificity perspective under the influence of lean implementation. Secondly, the results of implementing continuous improvement scenarios are measured with the new indicators by a discrete event simulation.

Research limitations/implications

– This research is limited to the airline maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service industry regarding component repair. Further research is necessary to test the indicators regarding other airline MRO service companies and other sectors of complex service industries like health care.

Practical implications

– The lean transaction cost efficiency model provides the capability for a maintenance service company to simulate the effects of process improvements on operation performance for service-based companies prior to implementation.

Social/implications

– Simulation of a Greenfield process can involve employees with possible changes in processes. This approach supports the adoption of anticipated changes.

Originality/value

– The found indicators form a preliminary model, which contributes to the usage and linkage of theories on lean manufacturing and transaction cost theory – asset specificity.
Study of the microstructure, hardness and tribological behavior of hypoeutectic Al-7Si hybrid composites
Authors: Viswanatha BM , Prasanna Kumar M , Basavarajappa S , Kiran TS
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the microstructure, hardness and tribological properties of hypoeutectic (Al-7Si) matrix reinforced with fixed quantities of 3 Wt.% graphite (Gr) and x Wt.% SiCp (x = 3, 6 and 9) hybrid composites.

Design/methodology/approach

– The composites were fabricated by stir cast technique. The microstructure, hardness and tribological measurements were carried out on the base alloy and composites. The tribological investigation was carried out on pin-on-disc wear testing machine under dry sliding condition.

Findings

– The wear rate decreases with the increase of SiCp into A356-3Gr composites. The composite containing A356-9SiCp-3Gr had better hardness and good wear resistance compared to the base alloy. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electro dispersive spectrometry (EDS) images were used to study the reinforcement distribution and worn-out surface of the specimens.

Originality/value

– The present paper brings out a clear picture of the various events that take place under the worn-out surfaces leading to the generation of mechanical mixed layer.
The experiences of Indian migrant care home staff working with people with dementia: a pilot study exploring cultural perspectives
Authors: Ow Yong Brandon , Manthorpe Jill
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– Little is known about migrant Indian care workers working in long-term care facilities for people with dementia in England and the purpose of this paper is to remedy this lack of information in the light of political interest in immigration to the UK and continued staff shortages in parts of the social care sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– This pilot study investigated the experiences of workplace acculturation among 12 migrant Indian care workers who were employed in English care homes. Qualitative face-to-face interviews were conducted in 2013. Analysis of the interviews was conducted using principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

– Following analysis five themes emerged along an acculturation timeline. First, during the first six months of their employment, the migrant care workers recalled feeling vulnerable, seemingly marked by a sense of insecurity and an overwhelming state of cognitive burden within an unfamiliar cultural context. Second, simultaneously, the migrants felt perturbed about their new role as direct care workers. Third, few had been able to draw on their networks of friends and relatives to build up knowledge of their new work environments before starting care home employment. Fourth, two years into the work, although they reported feeling better adapted, psychological and socio-cultural adjustments were still thought to be needed. Fifth, most participants retained their ambition to be recognised as a qualified nurse in the UK and to pursue a nursing career outside the social care sector.

Research limitations/implications

– This is a pilot study in which 12 migrant Indian care home workers were interviewed. Further interviews might provide a greater range of views and experiences. The care homes that participated in this research were in the London region where staff shortages are common in dementia services such as care homes.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest a need for employers and human resource managers to respond to the specific needs of Indian and other migrants working with older people who are resident in care homes. Such responses should reflect the timeline of their acculturation and employers need also to acknowledge and address aspirations to move on to NHS work.

Originality/value

– This study is unique to the best of the authors’ knowledge in addressing Indian care workers specifically as a substantial part of the migrant care workforce in the UK. It offers information about their perceptions and suggests practical human response and managerial initiatives.
Factors affecting employment retention among older workers in South Korea
Authors: Kim Sanghee
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine employee retention rates and describe factors affecting employee retention among older workers.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study conducts a secondary data analysis using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) of Korea Employment Information Service. The authors use data on 1,264 newly employed older workers from the 2010 KLoSA and determine their employment retention status based on data from the 2012 KLoSA.

Findings

– The employee turnover rate of older workers was 37.1 per cent between 2010 and 2012, indicating that one-third of older workers stopped work within the two years under study. The factors affecting the employment retention of older workers were education level, job position, job type, work-related stress, health status, and activity limitation due to health status.

Research limitations/implications

– This study concentrated on the South Korea context. Given the particular circumstances facing South Korea (as outlined in the study) it is unlikely that the findings would provide a base for informing employment retention strategies for older workers in other societies.

Practical implications

– The South Korean government could use this study’s findings in formulating a policy for improving welfare in workplaces to increase the employment retention rate among older workers. Employers employing or intending to hire older workers would have a better understanding about factors affecting their retention. To reduce their work-related stress, older workers require a safe and healthy work environment that considers their health status.

Originality/value

– This study is the first one to look at the factors affecting the retention of older workers in South Korea.
GMOs in the Internal Market: New Legislation on National Flexibility
Authors: Lee Maria
Published: March 2016

In an area where until now national autonomy has been tenaciously resisted, new EU legislation provides Member States with ‘flexibility to decide whether or not they wish to cultivate GMOs on their territory’. This forces attention on to the subtle, and not so subtle, ways in which internal market law constrains political actors in the EU. But it is similarly suggestive of how political actors might contribute to the evolution of the internal market. As well as exploring this relationship between the new legislation and internal market law, this article reflects on the ways in which lessons from the past have been addressed by legislators. Whilst it takes somewhat seriously the politics of GMOs, the new legislation simultaneously reinforces some of the limitations of our dominant models for generating knowledge, including the EU's problematic dichotomy between facts and values, risk assessment and risk management.
Indirect Standardization Matching: Assessing Specific Advantage and Risk Synergy
Authors: Silber Jeffrey H. , Rosenbaum Paul R. , Ross Richard N. , Ludwig Justin M. , Wang Wei , Niknam Bijan A. , Hill Alexander S. , Even‐Shoshan Orit , Kelz Rachel R. , Fleisher Lee A.
Published: March 2016

Objective

To develop a method to allow a hospital to compare its performance using its entire patient population to the outcomes of very similar patients treated elsewhere.

Data Sources/Setting

Medicare claims in orthopedics and common general, gynecologic, and urologic surgery from Illinois, New York, and Texas from 2004 to 2006.

Study Design

Using two example “focal” hospitals, each hospital's patients were matched to 10 very similar patients selected from 619 other hospitals.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

All patients were used at each focal hospital, and we found the 10 closest matched patients from control hospitals with exactly the same principal procedure as each focal patient.

Principal Findings

We achieved exact matches on all procedures and very close matches for other patient characteristics for both hospitals. There were few to no differences between each hospital's patients and their matched control patients on most patient characteristics, yet large and significant differences were observed for mortality, failure‐to‐rescue, and cost.

Conclusion

Indirect standardization matching can produce fair audits of quality and cost, allowing for a comprehensive, transparent, and relevant assessment of all patients at a focal hospital. With this approach, hospitals will be better able to benchmark their performance and determine where quality improvement is most needed.
Regression Algorithms in Hyperspectral Data Analysis for Meat Quality Detection and Evaluation
Authors: Pan Ting‐Tiao , Sun Da‐Wen , Cheng Jun‐Hu , Pu Hongbin
Published: March 2016

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system in tandem with chemometric methods is proposed as a rapid, efficient, cost‐saving, and nondestructive detection technique, and multivariate data analysis is an indispensable part of this novel detection technique. In recent years, the rapid progress that we have made in using all kinds of chemometric methods to deal with hyperspectral data of meat products, however, cannot meet the practical needs very well. Thus, in order to give some suggestions on how to select an appropriate algorithm for hyperspectral data analysis, this review, first, briefly introduces the principle of the most widely used regression algorithms, and, more importantly, then focuses on the application of different algorithms in modeling the correlation between the quality attributes of the tested sample and their hyperspectral data. The advantages and limitations of these algorithms are compared and discussed. This review article will provide valuable guidelines for data analysis in the future progress of HSI detection technique.
Effects of Icodextrin and Glucose Bicarbonate/Lactate‐Buffered Peritoneal Dialysis Fluids on Effluent Cell Population and Biocompatibility Markers IL‐6 and CA125 in Incident Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Opatrná Sylvie , Pöpperlová Anna , Lysák Daniel , Fuchsová Radka , Trefil Ladislav , Racek Jaroslav , Topolčan Ondrej
Published: March 2016

Icodextrin peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution has been shown to increase interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) levels in PD effluent as well as leukocyte and mesothelial cell count. Mesothelial cells release cancer antigen 125 (CA125), which is used as a marker of mesothelial cell mass. This 1‐year prospective study was designed to compare peritoneal effluent cell population, its inflammatory phenotype and biocompatibility biomarkers IL‐6 and CA125 between icodextrin (E) and glucose bicarbonate/lactate (P) based PD solutions. Using baseline peritoneal ultrafiltration capacity, 19 stable incident PD patients were allocated either to P only (N = 8) or to P plus E for the overnight dwell (N = 11). Flow cytometry was used to measure white blood cell count and differential and the expression of inflammatory molecules on peritoneal cells isolated from timed overnight peritoneal effluents. Compared to P, E effluent showed higher leukocyte (10.9 vs. 7.9), macrophages (6.1 vs. 2.5) and mesothelial cells (0.3 vs. 0.1)×106/L count, as well as expression of HLA DR on mesothelial cells and IL‐6 (320.5 vs. 141.2 pg/min) on mesothelial cells and CA125 appearance rate (159.6 vs. 84.3 IU/min), all P < 0.05. In the E group, correlation between IL‐6 and CA125 effluent levels (r = 0.503, P < 0.05) as well as appearance rates (r = 0.774, P < 0.001) was demonstrated. No effect on systemic inflammatory markers or peritoneal permeability was found. Icodextrin PD solution activates local inflammation without systemic consequences so the clinical relevance of this observation remains obscure. Correlation between effluent IL‐6 and CA125 suggests that CA125 might be upregulated due to inflammation and thus is not a reliable marker of mesothelial cell mass and/or biocompatibility.
Impact of Lanthanum Carbonate on Prognosis of Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study (Kawashima Study)
Authors: Tsuchida Kenji , Nagai Kojiro , Yokota Narushi , Minakuchi Jun , Kawashima Shu
Published: March 2016

In hemodialysis patients, mineral and bone disorder is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and subsequent death through the progression of vascular calcification. Serum phosphorus plays a major role in this process. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed the effects of oral phosphate binder, lanthanum carbonate (LC), on the mortality in hemodialysis patients. Among a total of 841 patients who underwent maintenance hemodialysis on 1 July 2010, patients who were treated with LC (LC group, N = 324) and those who were treated without LC (NLC group, N = 517) were compared with respect to their all‐cause mortality for a long‐term observation period of up to 36 months. The mortality rate was compared using the Cox proportional hazard model adjusted by the propensity score. The adjusted hazard ratio for mortality in the LC group versus NLC group was 0.515 (95% confidence interval, 0.328–0.807), suggesting that the use of LC is associated with an almost 50% reduction in the mortality rate. The present retrospective study including all hemodialysis patients demonstrated, for the first time, an association between the use of LC and improved prognosis in hemodialysis patients. Randomized controlled trials should be done in the future to validate our present findings.
Risk factors for Barrett's esophagus
Authors: Arora Zubin , Garber Ari , Thota Prashanthi N.
Published: March 2016

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a well‐recognized precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and is defined as ≥1 cm segment of salmon‐colored mucosa extending above the gastroesophageal junction into the tubular esophagus with biopsy confirmation of metaplastic replacement of the normal squamous epithelium by intestinal‐type columnar epithelium. The incidence of both BE and EAC has been increasing over the past few decades. As a result, preventing the development of BE by identifying and understanding its modifiable and non‐modifiable risk factors may help reduce the incidence of EAC. Over the recent past, a tremendous amount of progress has been made towards improving our knowledge of risk factors and pathogenesis of BE. This article reviews the evidence for the various risk factors for developing BE.
Identification of CR1 retroposons in Arborophila rufipectus and their application to Phasianidae phylogeny
Authors: Cui Yaoyao , Yan Chaochao , Sun Tianlin , Li Jing , Yue Bisong , Zhang Xiuyue , Li Jing
Published: March 2016

Chicken repeat 1 (CR1), a member of non‐LTR retroposon, is an important phylogenetic marker in avian systematics. In this study, we reported several characteristics of CR1 elements in a draft genome of Arborophila rufipectus (Sichuan partridge). According to the analyses of RepeatMasker, approximately 254 966 CR1 elements were identified in A. rufipectus, covering 6.7% of the genome. Subsequently, we selected eighteen novel CR1 elements by comparing the chicken genome, turkey genome and assembled A. rufipectus scaffolds. Here, a combined data set comprising of 22 CR1 loci, mitochondrial genomes and eight unlinked introns was analysed to infer the evolutionary relationships of twelve Phasianidae species. The applicability of CR1 sequences for inferring avian phylogeny relative to mtDNA and intron sequences was investigated as well. Our results elucidated the position of A. rufipectus in Phasianidae with robust supports that it presented a sister clade to Arborophila ardens/Arborophila brunneopectus, and implied that genus Arborophila was in a basal phylogenetic position within Phasianidae and a phylogenetic affinity between Meleagris gallopavo and Pucrasia macrolopha. Therefore, this work not only resolved some of the confounding relationships among Phasianidae, but also suggested CR1 sequences could provide powerful complementary data for phylogeny reconstruction.