bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human resource management issues in supply chain management research
Authors: Hohenstein Nils-Ole , Feisel Edda , Hartmann Evi
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– With today's increasing globalization and associated growing demand for talented supply chain managers, human resource management (HRM) in supply chain management (SCM) has emerged as a top priority for firms. However, a thorough analysis of HRM issues in SCM research has not been made so far. To address this gap this paper provides a systematic and comprehensive literature review. The purpose of this paper is threefold: to analyze HRM/SCM issues published in leading SCM journals, to identify different HRM research streams in the SCM literature and to propose areas for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper employs a systematic literature review methodology. The selected journal articles are categorized on the basis of an analytical framework that contains seven HRM/SCM research streams derived from the extant literature.

Findings

– The systematic literature review indicates a growing focus on HRM/SCM issues in recent years, a trend that is predicted to continue. Additionally, the study findings show that research has primarily emphasized certain popular categories while other crucial ones lack analysis.

Originality/value

– This paper presents a structured overview of 109 peer-reviewed articles published in leading academic journals from 1998 to 2014. The review structures extant HRM/SCM literature and highlights its critical importance in SCM research. Topical gaps in the literature are identified as areas for future research.
Conceptualizing students’ written assignments in the context of information literacy and Schatzki's practice theory
Authors: Schreiber Trine
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the ways to practice the written assignment in a university setting in the context of information literacy and in perspective of Schatzki's practice theory.

Design/methodology/approach

– The analysis is based on both a qualitative in-depth study involving individual interviews with students from higher education and the practice theoretical perspective.

Findings

– By analyzing informants’ negotiations of the “acceptable” way to perform the written assignment practice, a configuration of the particular practice has been made. In perspective of Schatzki's practice theory, a study into information literacy involves focussing on the changing character of the activities performing the practice in question. In this paper the changing character is analyzed by comparing the configuration of the written assignment practice with a description of the genre of scientific articles. The paper draws the conclusion that the configuration consists of both regular and irregular occurrences. Job orientation and use of social media seemed to influence the written assignment practice as it was performed by the informants.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to research into information literacy in educational settings by proposing an analysis based on Schatzki's theory combined with concepts of routinization, reflexivity, and genre.
ETD: total cost of ownership – collecting, archiving and providing access
Authors: Han Yan
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a case study of total cost of ownership (TOC) for Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD). Only few articles have been published to discuss the costs associated with repository and/or theses and dissertations (TD).

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper first provides literature reviews in costs associated with repository and TD. By using the DCC life cycle model, the author presents costs for each actionable category: create or receive, appraise & select, ingest, preservation action, store, access, use and reuse and transform. The paper presents four TOCs to illustrate the changes of TOCs from 2005 to current time.

Findings

– The paper gives one case study of the TOCs for ETD over the years, and illustrates how the University lowered the TOCs. The current ETD's TOC is on a par with these costs of two other studies published related to repository titles. The TOC has been decreased from the traditional paper-based TD of $75 per title to ETD of $69 in 2005. By removing the ProQuest processing fee of $55, the TOC decreased to $14.37 in 2010. The TOC is currently $6.33 per title after the ETD collection was migrated to the University of Arizona repository.

Research limitations/implications

– Readers shall be aware that there are no “transform” and little “preservation action” tasks performed. The current cost of “transform” is $0 due to the nature of ETD of its rigid format requirements,

Originality/value

– The paper fulfills the need to study costs associated with repository titles, especially ETD titles. It also provide a way to estimate costs for institutions planning to start ETD collections.
Customer value disclosure and analyst forecasts: the influence of environmental dynamism
Authors: Josée Ledoux Marie , Cormier Denis , Houle Sylvain
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the economic benefits of a pro-active disclosure strategy in a dynamic environment. More specifically, the paper explores the relationships between customer value disclosure, analyst following, and earnings forecasts, taking into account environmental dynamism as captured by R&D intensity, sales variability, and the reverse of industry concentration.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper considers the possibility that a firm's information dynamics may simultaneously affect disclosure strategy, analyst following, and analyst forecasts. Regression models are used in the testing of the hypotheses.

Findings

– First, results show that customer value disclosure is positively associated with analyst following and consensus in analyst earning forecasts. Second, environmental dynamism enhances the association between customer value disclosure and analyst following as well as consensus among analysts. Those results suggest that customer metrics attract analysts and improve their ability to forecast earnings. Moreover, customer value disclosure appears particularly relevant for forecasting earnings of firms involved in dynamic environments.

Practical implications

– Customer value disclosure would allow financial analysts to better assess future earnings in a context of uncertainty. Moreover, analysts may be reluctant to follow a firm facing high environmental dynamism without a clear corporate disclosure commitment. In such a context, managers may consider disclosing strategic information in an attempt to attract financial analysts.

Originality/value

– The findings reveal that the relations between customer value disclosure, analyst following, and analyst forecasts are not straightforward but are affected by a firm's environmental uncertainty.
Enterprise risk management implementation in construction firms
Authors: Zhao Xianbo , Hwang Bon-Gang , Pheng Low Sui
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purposes of this paper are to: first, identify the critical drivers for and hindrances to enterprise risk management (ERM) implementation in Singapore-based Chinese construction firms (CCFs); second, interpret the critical drivers and hindrances in tandem with organizational change theories; and third, provide possible strategies to strengthen the drivers and overcome the hindrances.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire survey was conducted and responses were received from 35 experienced managers in CCFs operating in Singapore.

Findings

– A total of 13 drivers and 25 hindrances with significant influence were identified. Of them, “improved decision-making” was the top driver, while “insufficient resources (e.g. time, money, people, etc.)” was the most influential hindrance.

Research limitations/implications

– As the survey was performed with the Singapore-based CCFs, there may be geographical limitation on the identification of the critical drivers for and hindrances to ERM implementation. The sample size was still small, despite a relatively high response rate.

Practical implications

– Specific strategies were identified to strengthen the drivers for ERM implementation and overcome the hindrances to ERM implementation.

Originality/value

– This study present the theoretical rational behind the critical drivers for and hindrances to ERM implementation. As few studies have attempted to investigate ERM in construction firms, this study contributes to the literature through interpreting ERM implementation from an organizational change perspective. The identification of the drivers and hindrances and the managerial implications provide practitioners and academics with valuable information as well as a clear understanding of how to consolidate ERM programs and overcome the hindrances.
An interdisciplinary method for brand association research
Authors: Ranfagni Silvia , Guercini Simone , Crawford Camiciottoli Belinda
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current role of qualitative research in the analysis of the relations between brands and consumers in new market spaces, with particular reference to how it can be enhanced with quantitative techniques to study interactions in online communities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reviews key scientific contributions in the area of qualitative marketing research. Drawing from this theoretical background, the authors then propose the integration of digital ethnography (a qualitative approach) with quantitative text mining as an innovative approach to gain insights into perceptions of brand associations among online consumers.

Findings

– The paper contributes to a greater awareness of both limitations and new perspectives in relation to qualitative market research, while suggesting innovative paths for future research.

Practical implications

– The new methodological approach described can be used to better understand brand knowledge based on consumer brand associations. These insights can then be applied towards developing and implementing effective branding strategies.

Originality/value

– The authors propose an interdisciplinary methodology to study consumer behaviour in online communities which incorporates digital ethnography and computer-assisted textual analysis. Particularly the latter technique (borrowed from the field of linguistics) has not yet been exploited extensively in marketing research, but is capable of offering new types of knowledge with important implications for strategic brand management.
Impact of non-homogenous distributor's preferred allocation on shortages in hospitals
Authors: Gnanlet Adelina , Paul Choi Hyun-cheol
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– Hospitals procure high volumes of medical supplies through large distributors in order to leverage economies of scale. However, when shortages hit, hospitals incur high penalty costs by purchasing from secondary markets. In this paper, the authors counter the hospital's typical purchasing strategy that a collaborative relationship with a large, Tier I medical supply distributor is beneficial under all conditions. The paper finds that during shortages the more beneficial strategy is for the hospital to add a medium-sized, Tier II distributor who offers a transactional relationship and is willing to provide a “preferred allocation” in return for a pre-committed annual purchase contract. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors assume availability of order volume to be a stochastic process and formulate the problem as a two-stage stochastic programming model, with optimal allocation in the second stage. The authors analyze the first-stage objective function using full-factorial numerical experimentation and perform a complete search for optimal volume mix. In addition, the model accounts for purchasing relationship, shortage cost, and varying price discount schedules.

Findings

– Under no shortage situation, hospitals purchase its entire order volume from Tier I distributor. However, during shortages, for any increase in preferred allocation from the Tier II distributor, hospitals purchase high volumes from the Tier II distributor except when preferred allocation and availability is high. The paper finds that the average cost savings for the use of preferred allocation is 16.14 percent.

Originality/value

– Existing purchasing literature focusses on the benefit of using single/multiple homogenous distributors under all conditions. In this paper, the authors examine the benefit of using non-homogenous distributors under conditions of shortage when one of them is willing to provide preferred allocation under varying price discount schedules.
Effects of online advertising on automobile sales
Authors: Peng Jianping , Zhang Guoying , Zhang Shaoling , Dai Xin , Li Jing
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of online advertising spending on automobile sales through both search and non-search advertising.

Design/methodology/approach

– Sales data of the top 52 vehicle models were collected in two consecutive years in China. The advertising spending data of both formats were collected from a leading consulting company and a major search engine company. Then several empirical models were proposed to evaluate the effects of online advertising on automobile sales. Two extended models were further investigated for search advertising.

Findings

– The results revealed that both formats of online advertising have significantly positive effects on automobile sales. However, excessive spending on non-search advertising does not help sales and a moderate budget is preferred. On the other hand, spending on search advertising has no such constraint to improve the vehicle sales.

Practical implications

– The empirical findings have proved the importance of online advertising to the automobile companies and thus can help companies improve their decision making in online advertising allocation strategies.

Originality/value

– This study provides a better understanding of the relationship between online advertising spending and automobile sales, and helps business to define sophisticated online advertising strategies to improve sales performance.
REVIEW: The detection of aquatic animal species using environmental DNA – a review of eDNA as a survey tool in ecology
Authors: Rees Helen C. , Maddison Ben C. , Middleditch David J. , Patmore James R.M. , Gough Kevin C.
Published: June 2014

Knowledge of species distribution is critical to ecological management and conservation biology. Effective management requires the detection of populations, which can sometimes be at low densities and is usually based on visual detection and counting.

Recently, there has been considerable interest in the detection of short species‐specific environmental DNA (eDNA) fragments to allow aquatic species monitoring within different environments due to the potential of greater sensitivity over traditional survey methods which can be time‐consuming and costly.

Environmental DNA analysis is increasingly being used in the detection of rare or invasive species and has also been applied to eDNA persistence studies and estimations of species biomass and distribution. When combined with next‐generation sequencing methods, it has been demonstrated that entire faunas can be identified.

Different environments require different sampling methodologies, but there remain areas where laboratory methodologies could be standardized to allow results to be compared across studies.

Synthesis and applications. We review recently published studies that use eDNA to monitor aquatic populations, discuss the methodologies used and the application of eDNA analysis as a survey tool in ecology. We include innovative ideas for how eDNA can be used for conservation and management citing test cases, for instance, the potential for on‐site analyses, including the application of eDNA analysis to carbon nanotube platforms or laser transmission spectroscopy to facilitate rapid on‐site detections. The use of eDNA monitoring is already being adopted in the UK for ecological surveys.
Costs of female reproduction in a conifer tree: a whole‐tree level assessment
Authors: Santos‐del‐Blanco Luis , Climent José
Published: June 2014

Costs of reproduction lie at the core of basic ecological and evolutionary theories, and their existence is commonly invoked to explain adaptive processes. Despite their sheer importance, empirical evidence for the existence and quantification of costs of reproduction in tree species comes mostly from correlational studies, while more comprehensive approaches remain missing. Manipulative experiments are a preferred approach to study cost of reproduction, as they allow controlling for otherwise inherent confounding factors like size or genetic background.

Here, we conducted a manipulative experiment in a Pinus halepensis common garden, removing developing cones from a group of trees and comparing growth and reproduction after treatment with a control group. We also estimated phenotypic and genetic correlations between reproductive and vegetative traits.

Manipulated trees grew slightly more than control trees just after treatment, with just a transient, marginally non‐significant difference. By contrast, larger differences were observed for the number of female cones initiated 1 year after treatment, with an increase of 70% more cones in the manipulated group. Phenotypic and genetic correlations showed that smaller trees invested a higher proportion of their resources in reproduction, compared with larger trees, which could be interpreted as an indirect evidence for costs of reproduction.

Synthesis. This research showed a high impact of current reproduction on reproductive potential, even when not significant on vegetative growth. This has strong implications for how we understand adaptive strategies in forest trees and should encourage further interest on their still poorly known reproductive life‐history traits.
Children's responses to social atypicality among group members – advantages of a contextualized social developmental account
Authors: Abrams Dominic , Rutland Adam , Palmer Sally B. , Purewal Kiran
Published: June 2014

Abrams, Rutland, Palmer, Ferrell, and Pelletier (2014) showed that better second‐order mental state understanding facilitates 6–7‐year‐olds' ability to link a partially disloyal child's atypicality to inclusive or exclusive reactions by in‐group or outgroup members. This finding is interpreted in terms of predictions from the developmental subjective group dynamics model. We respond to thoughtful commentaries by Rhodes and Chalik, Patterson, and Rakoczy. Children face a significant developmental challenge in becoming able to recognize and interpret social atypicality in intergroup contexts. Researching that ability to contextualize judgements raises new questions about the nature of peer inclusion and exclusion, about children's social cognition, and about the way that social cognitive development and social experience combine. Rather than individual‐focused cognition taking priority over category‐based cognition, we argue the two become more systematically integrated during development. We note that loyalty is but one example of typicality, and we also consider the role of more advanced perspective taking among older children, and the role of multiple classification skill among younger children, as well as potential implications for intervention to reduce peer victimization and prejudice.
Mammalian Insectivores Exert Top‐Down Effects on Azteca Ants
Authors: Hirsch Ben T. , Martinez Daniel , Kurten Erin L. , Brown Danielle D. , Carson Walter P.
Published: June 2014

Insectivorous mammals are hypothesized to reduce the abundance of their insect prey. Using a 14‐yr mammal exclusion experiment, we demonstrate for the first time that a widespread and abundant Neotropical mammalian insectivore (Tamandua: Tamandua mexicana) reduced Azteca ant abundance. Azteca ant nests inside mammal exclosures were significantly larger than nests in control plots, where tamanduas were more abundant. These top‐down effects were caused not only by direct consumption, but also through non‐trophic direct effects, specifically nest damage. In contrast, tamanduas appeared to exert no significant top‐down effect on termite prey, which have strong chemical defenses. Our results are consistent with theory that strong defenses against predation can mitigate the top‐down effects of predators on some prey species. We argue that predicting the degree of top‐down effects caused by predators requires both a quantitative knowledge of prey choice and an understanding of the anti‐predator defenses of prey.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2‐oxo‐pyrazine‐3‐carboxamide‐yl Nucleoside Analogues and Their Epimers as Inhibitors of Influenza A Viruses
Authors: Gao Jingjing , Luo Xianjin , Li Yuhuan , Gao Rongmei , Chen Haifeng , Ji Dingjue
Published: June 2014

Novel 2‐oxo‐pyrazine‐3‐carboxamide‐yl nucleoside analogues and their epimers were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their activities against influenza A viruses H1N1 and H3N2 in Madin‐Darby canine kidney cells. All the compounds showed low cytotoxicities in these anti‐influenza tests. One of the epimers, 4‐[(1S, 3R, 4R, 7R)‐7‐hydroxy‐1‐(hydroxymethyl)‐2,5‐dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐3‐yl]‐3‐oxo‐3,4‐dihydropyrazine‐2‐carboxamide 8a, with high antiviral activities (IC50 = 7.41, 5.63 μm for H3N2 and H1N1, respectively) and remarkable low cytotoxicity (TC50 > 200 μm), has great potential for further development as a novel anti‐influenza A agent. Molecular docking of compound 8a with RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase was performed to understand the binding mode between these inhibitors and the active site of RdRp and to rationalize some SARs.
In vitro functional studies of rare CYP21A2 mutations and establishment of an activity gradient for nonclassic mutations improve phenotype predictions in congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Authors: Barbaro Michela , Soardi Fernanda C. , Östberg Linus J. , Persson Bengt , de Mello Maricilda Palandi , Wedell Anna , Lajic Svetlana
Published: June 2014

Background

A detailed genotype–phenotype evaluation is presented by studying the enzyme activities of five rare amino acid substitutions (Arg233Gly, Ala265Ser, Arg341Trp, Arg366Cys and Met473Ile) identified in the CYP21A2 gene in patients investigated for Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).

Objective

To investigate whether the mutations identified in the CYP21A2 gene are disease causing and to establish a gradient for the degree of enzyme impairment to improve prediction of patient phenotype.

Design and patients

The CYP21A2 genes of seven patients investigated for CAH were sequenced and five mutations were identified. The mutant proteins were expressed in vitro in COS‐1 cells, and the enzyme activities towards the two natural substrates were determined to verify the disease‐causing state of the mutations. The in vitro activities of these rare mutations were also compared with the activities of four mutations known to cause nonclassic CAH (Pro30Leu, Val281Leu, Pro453Ser and Pro482Ser) in addition to an in silico structural evaluation of the novel mutants.

Main outcome measure

To verify the disease‐causing state of novel mutations.

Results

Five CYP21A2 mutations were identified (Arg233Gly, Ala265Ser, Arg341Trp, Arg366Cys and Met473Ile). All mutant proteins exhibited enzyme activities above 5%, and four mutations were classified as nonclassic and one as a normal variant. By comparing the investigated protein changes with four common mutations causing nonclassic CAH, a gradient for the degree of enzyme impairment could be established. Studying rare mutations in CAH increases our knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms that render a mutation pathogenic. It also improves phenotype predictions and genetic counselling for future generations.
(R)‐alpha‐methylhistamine Suppresses Inhibitory Neurotransmission in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons Counteracting Propofol‐Induced Amnesia in Rats
Authors: Li Wei‐Wei , Cheng Long‐Zhen , Zou Zui , Tian Mou‐Li , Zhang Hao , Raya Abou Dargham , Wang Yun , Shi Xue‐Yin
Published: June 2014

Background

Propofol is a short‐acting, intravenous general anesthetic that is widely used in clinical practice for short procedures; however, it causes depressed cognitive function for several hours thereafter. (R)‐alpha‐methylhistamine (RAMH), a selective histamine H3 receptor agonist, can enhance memory retention and attenuates memory impairment in rats. In this study, we investigated whether RAMH could rescue propofol‐induced memory deficits and the underlying mechanisms partaking in this process.

Methods

In the modified Morris water maze (MWM) test, rats were randomized into the following groups: control, propofol (25 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min before training), RAMH (10 mg/kg, i.p., 60 min before training), and propofol plus RAMH. All randomized rats were subjected to 2 days of training, and a probe test was conducted on day 3. Field excitatory postsynaptic potentials were recorded from CA1 neurons in rat hippocampal slices, and long‐term potentiation (LTP) was induced by either theta‐burst stimulation (TBS) or high‐frequency tetanic stimulation (HFS). Spontaneous and miniature inhibitory (sIPSCs, mIPSCs) or excitatory (sEPSCs, mEPSCs) postsynaptic currents were recorded from CA1 pyramidal neurons by whole‐cell patch clamp.

Results

In the MWM task, propofol injection significantly impaired spatial memory retention. Pretreatment with RAMH reversed propofol‐induced memory retention. In hippocampal CA1 slices, propofol perfusion markedly inhibited TBS‐ but not HFS‐induced LTP. Co‐perfusion of RAMH reversed the inhibitory effect of propofol on TBS‐induced LTP reduction. Furthermore, in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, RAMH significantly suppressed the frequency but not the amplitude of sIPSCs and mIPSCs and had little effects on both the frequency and amplitude of sEPSCs and mEPSCs.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that RAMH, by inhibiting presynaptic GABAergic neurotransmission, suppresses inhibitory neurotransmission in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, which in turn reverses inhibition of CA1 LTP and the spatial memory deficits induced by propofol in rats.
Amiloride and SN‐6 Suppress Audiogenic Seizure Susceptibility in Genetically Epilepsy‐Prone Rats
Authors: Quansah Hillary , N'Gouemo Prosper
Published: June 2014

Aims

We have recently reported that amiloride, a potent and nonselective blocker of acid‐sensing ion channels, prevents the development of pilocarpine‐induced seizures and status epilepticus. Amiloride is also known to suppress the activity of Na+/Ca2+ and Na+/H+ exchangers that have been implicated in the pathophysiology of seizures. Here, we evaluated the effects of amiloride, SN‐6 (a potent blocker of Na+/Ca2+ exchangers) and zoniporide (a potent blocker of Na+/H+ exchangers) on acoustically evoked seizures (audiogenic seizures, AGS) in genetically epilepsy‐prone rats (GEPR‐3s), a model of inherited generalized epilepsy.

Methods

Male, six‐week‐old GEPR‐3s were used. The GEPR‐3s were tested for AGS susceptibility before and after treatment with various doses of amiloride, SN‐6, and zoniporide (1, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg; per os).

Results

We found that pretreatment with amiloride and SN‐6 markedly reduced the incidence and severity of AGS in the GEPR‐3s. In contrast, administration of zoniporide only minimally reduced the incidence and severity of AGS in the GEPR‐3s. A combination of noneffective doses of SN‐6 and zoniporide also suppressed AGS susceptibility in the GEPR‐3s.

Conclusions

These findings suggest acid‐sensing ion channels and the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger may play an important role in the pathophysiology of inherited AGS susceptibility in the GEPR‐3s.
Oedema‐based model for diffuse low‐grade gliomas: application to clinical cases under radiotherapy
Authors: Badoual M. , Gerin C. , Deroulers C. , Grammaticos B. , Llitjos J.‐F. , Oppenheim C. , Varlet P. , Pallud J.
Published: June 2014

Objectives

Diffuse low‐grade gliomas are characterized by slow growth. Despite appropriate treatment, they change inexorably into more aggressive forms, jeopardizing the patient's life. Optimizing treatments, for example with the use of mathematical modelling, could help to prevent tumour regrowth and anaplastic transformation. Here, we present a model of the effect of radiotherapy on such tumours. Our objective is to explain observed delay of tumour regrowth following radiotherapy and to predict its duration.

Materials and methods

We have used a migration–proliferation model complemented by an equation describing appearance and draining of oedema. The model has been applied to clinical data of tumour radius over time, for a population of 28 patients.

Results

We were able to show that draining of oedema accounts for regrowth delay after radiotherapy and have been able to fit the clinical data in a robust way. The model predicts strong correlation between high proliferation coefficient and low progression‐free gain of lifetime, due to radiotherapy among the patients, in agreement with clinical studies.

We argue that, with reasonable assumptions, it is possible to predict (precision ~20%) regrowth delay after radiotherapy and the gain of lifetime due to radiotherapy.

Conclusions

Our oedema‐based model provides an early estimation of individual duration of tumour response to radiotherapy and thus, opens the door to the possibility of personalized medicine.
Impact of fatal cases on the epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury in Estonia
Authors: Sabre L. , Remmer S. , Adams A. , Väli M. , Rekand T. , Asser T. , Kõrv J.
Published: June 2014

Background and purpose

Most epidemiological studies on traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) have not included patients who die before hospitalization. The aim of the research was to study the incidence of TSCI by including the individuals who die at the scene of the accident in addition to data retrieved from all hospitals in Estonia.

Methods

Medical records of patients with TSCI from all hospitals in Estonia from 2005 to 2007 were studied. With collaboration from the Estonian Forensic Science Institute the data of the victims of TSCI who died before hospitalization were included.

Results

From 2005 to 2007, 391 TSCI cases were identified: 183 patients were found retrospectively from medical records and 208 cases were detected from autopsy reports.

Fifty‐three per cent of patients died before hospitalization. The annual incidence rate was 97.0 per million population (95% confidence interval 87.4–106.6). The mean age at injury was 44.4 ± 18.7 years. Motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of TSCI amongst the individuals who died before hospitalization (75%). Falls accounted for the highest number of TSCIs (43%) amongst the patients who reached hospital.

Conclusions

Our study shows that, when the cases that die at the scene of the accident are included, the incidence of TSCI in Estonia rises from 39.7 to 97.0 per million population.
Great Spotted Cuckoos Frequently Lay Their Eggs While Their Magpie Host is Incubating
Authors: Soler Manuel , Pérez‐Contreras Tomás , de Neve Liesbeth
Published: June 2014

Species that suffer from brood parasitism face a considerable reduction in their fitness which selects for the evolution of host defences. To prevent parasitism, hosts can mob or attack brood parasites when they approach the host nest and block the access to the nest by sitting on the clutch. In turn, as a counter‐adaptation, brood parasites evolved secretive behaviours near their host nests. Here, we have studied great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) egg‐laying behaviour and defence by their magpie (Pica pica) hosts inside the nest using continuous video recordings. We have found several surprising results that contradict some general assumptions. The most important is that most (71%) of the parasitic events by cuckoo females are completed while the magpie females are incubating. By staying in the nest, magpies force cuckoo females to lay their egg facing the high risk of being attacked by the incubating magpie (attack occurred in all but one of the events, n = 15). During these attacks, magpies pecked the cuckoo violently, but could never effectively avoid parasitism. These novel observations expand the sequence of adaptations and counter‐adaptations in the arms race between brood parasites and their hosts during the pre‐laying and laying periods.
Climate change enhances the negative effects of predation risk on an intermediate consumer
Authors: Miller Luke P. , Matassa Catherine M. , Trussell Geoffrey C.
Published: June 2014

Predators are a major source of stress in natural systems because their prey must balance the benefits of feeding with the risk of being eaten. Although this ‘fear’ of being eaten often drives the organization and dynamics of many natural systems, we know little about how such risk effects will be altered by climate change. Here, we examined the interactive consequences of predator avoidance and projected climate warming in a three‐level rocky intertidal food chain. We found that both predation risk and increased air and sea temperatures suppressed the foraging of prey in the middle trophic level, suggesting that warming may further enhance the top‐down control of predators on communities. Prey growth efficiency, which measures the efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels, became negative when prey were subjected to predation risk and warming. Thus, the combined effects of these stressors may represent an important tipping point for individual fitness and the efficiency of energy transfer in natural food chains. In contrast, we detected no adverse effects of warming on the top predator and the basal resources. Hence, the consequences of projected warming may be particularly challenging for intermediate consumers residing in food chains where risk dominates predator‐prey interactions.
Reduction of angiotensin A and alamandine vasoactivity in the rabbit model of atherogenesis: differential effects of alamandine and Ang(1‐7)
Authors: Habiyakare Belthrand , Alsaadon Hiba , Mathai Michael L. , Hayes Alan , Zulli Anthony
Published: June 2014

Novel treatments are necessary to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Alamandine binds to MrgD and is reported to induce vasodilation via stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), but its role in atherogenic blood vessels is yet to be determined. To determine the vasoactive role of alamandine and its precursor AngA in diseased aorta, New Zealand White rabbits were fed a diet containing 1% methionine + 0.5% cholesterol + 5% peanut oil for 4 weeks (MC, n = 5) or control (n = 6). In abdominal aorta, alamandine (1 μM) was added 30 min before a dose–response curve to angiotensin II or AngA (1 nM–1 μM), and immunohistochemistry was used to identify MrgD receptors and eNOS. The thoracic aorta, renal, carotid and iliac arteries were mounted in organ baths. Rings were precontracted with phenylephrine, then a bolus dose of alamandine (1 μM) was added 10 min before a dose–response curve to acetylcholine (0.01 μM–10 μM). The MrgD receptor was localized to normal and diseased aorta and colocalized with eNOS. In control but not diseased blood vessels, alamandine enhanced acetylcholine‐mediated vasodilation in the thoracic aorta and the iliac artery (P < 0.05) and reduced it in the renal artery (P < 0.05). In control abdominal aorta, AngA evoked less desensitization than AngII (P < 0.05) and alamandine reduced AngA‐mediated vasoconstriction (P < 0.05). In MC, AngA constriction was markedly reduced vs. control (P < 0.05). The vasoactivity of alamandine and AngA are reduced in atherogenesis. Its role in the prevention of CVD remains to be validated.
Developing and testing a urine colour reference scale: a practice development project
Authors: Meagher Anna , Thompson Julia , Vanderpuije Jacinta
Published: June 2014

Although it is a common reason for consulting a doctor, there is inconsistency in describing and discussing abnormally coloured urine. To produce a reliable visual urine colour rating scale that reflects and enables accurate reporting of varying degrees of concentrated urine and of macroscopic haematuria. A practice development project was undertaken in the Urology ward of an acute care private hospital. The project was patient focussed, multidisciplinary, actively engaged staff and was evolutionary. Initially a prototype chart was developed but was found to need redevelopment. Funding and ethics approval were obtained. Study 1 involved a second draft of the scale with three colours depicting hydration status and four depicting macroscopic haematuria, together with instructions for use. Study 2 demonstrated the need for and benefit of having a urine colour reference scale. Studies 3 and 4 demonstrated the very high intra‐rater (r = 0·8175–0·9999) and inter‐rater (r = 0·5886–0·9932) reliability of the scale. Following these studies it was decided to include a depiction of normal clear urine among the three colours depicting hydration status and the four depiction of macroscopic haematuria. A urine colour rating scale was developed and refined through repeated trials of efficacy and usability which may facilitate objective communication between patients, carers, nurses and doctors concerning the colour of urine (it also serves an educational function, giving prompts about the other factors likely to be of significance when management decisions are made). This scale can be used by healthcare workers and patients/carers when describing urine colour, especially during phone conversations to inform decisions concerning treatment.
Progression of KRAS mutant pancreatic adenocarcinoma during vemurafenib treatment in a patient with metastatic melanoma
Authors: Grey A. , Cooper A. , McNeil C. , O'Toole S. , Thompson J. , Grimison P.
Published: June 2014

Vemurafenib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of BRAF that prolongs survival in patients with BRAF V600‐mutant metastatic melanoma. Secondary cutaneous malignancies are a well‐documented toxicity of vemurafenib, thought to be mediated by enhanced ERK signalling in BRAF wild‐type, RAS‐mutant cells. Vemurafenib could also promote growth of non‐cutaneous secondary malignancies by a similar mechanism. We present a case of an individual who received vemurafenib for metastatic melanoma and experienced rapid growth of a pre‐existing KRAS‐mutant pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Renal drug dosing recommendations: evaluation of product information for brands of the same drug
Authors: Khanal A. , Peterson G. M. , Castelino R. L. , Jose M. D.
Published: June 2014

Objectives

To review the product information (PI) for various brands of the same generic drugs and investigate the extent to which information is currently available on dosing in renal impairment and the concordance between the dosing recommendations for the same generic drug.

Method

The Monthly Index of Medical Specialities (MIMS) was examined for 28 generic drugs recommended to be used with caution in renal impairment. For each generic drug all available brands listed as having solid oral dosage form were recorded. For each identified brand, the current PI was consulted and data referring to renal impairment was collated. The dissimilarity between these PI regarding the renal dosage recommendation was determined.

Results

There was generally a lack of detailed information in the PI on the use of drugs in patients with renal impairment. The majority of PI documents (88 of 155 PI; 57%) provided quantitative dosage recommendations, but this was often not detailed enough to help users to make an informed decision. For 37 PI documents (24%), an altered dosage regimen was proposed without a quantifiable measure of renal function reported in the dose recommendation. The renal function severity category terms used and the associated quantitative values were also not consistent. It was observed that the recommendations varied among different brands of hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, tramadol, metformin and topiramate.

Conclusion

The reporting of renal function quantification methods, and associated dosage recommendations, in PI requires standardisation to ensure optimal drug dosing. Regularly updating of PI is also necessary.
Gastrointestinal amyloidosis in Australian Indigenous patients
Authors: Frommer D. J. , Fernandes D. , Pawar G. , Goud R.
Published: June 2014

This study documents the symptoms, racial distribution, pathological findings and outcomes of patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal amyloidosis in Alice Springs Hospital. In a 4 year retrospective survey. 9 patients, all indigenous, 7F/2M, had biopsy proven gastrointestinal amyloidosis. Four out of four patients tested were found to have AA amyloidosis. Presenting symptoms included diarrhoea, bloody in some, vomiting and abdominal pain. All but one had diabetes mellitus, type 2. Multiple infections were common and most patients had low serum albumin and transferrin concentrations but high serum ferritin concentrations. Five of the patients died, and the gastrointestinal symptoms of the remaining 4 remitted. Gastrointestinal amyloidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of indigenous patients presenting with chronic diarrhoea, vomiting or abdominal pain. It carries a grave prognosis, is probably secondary to chronic infections but is potentially reversible.
Sperm DNA integrity testing: big halo is a good predictor of embryo quality and pregnancy after conventional IVF
Authors: Tandara M. , Bajić A. , Tandara L. , Bilić‐Zulle L. , Šunj M. , Kozina V. , Goluža T. , Jukić M.
Published: June 2014

Sperm DNA integrity is a sperm functional parameter of male fertility evaluation. Two parameters of sperm DNA integrity were observed: DNA damage expressed as DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and percentage of the DNA undamaged spermatozoa expressed as big halo. Halosperm test was used for sperm DNA integrity determination. The aim of this study was to evaluate which DNA integrity parameter is better as an embryo quality and pregnancy prognostic parameter after the conventional IVF. We evaluated two embryo groups (positive and negative group) according to the 3rd day cumulative embryo score. Big halo and DFI, as we expected, showed good correlation (r = −0.69; p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses show that DFI and big halo are significant (p < 0.001) as prognostic parameters of embryo quality. ROC curves comparison of DFI and big halo revealed the AUC value for big halo to be significantly higher (DFI AUC = 0.71 vs. big halo AUC = 0.83; p = 0.025) than for DFI. Big halo was found to be the only independent predictor of embryo quality. Sperm DNA integrity both parameters are good prognostic parameters of embryo quality after the conventional IVF where big halo seems to be better. ROC analyses show DFI and big halo as significant prognostic parameters for achieved pregnancy (AUC ± SE for DFI was 0.67 ± 0.06 and 0.75 ± 0.06 for big halo). To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the correlation between sperm DNA undamaged rate expressed as big halo parameter and semen characteristics as well as the influence on fertilization rate, embryo quality and pregnancy in conventional IVF.
In Vitro Evaluation of Ice‐Cold Saline Irrigation During Catheter Radiofrequency Ablation
Authors: SQUARA FABIEN , MAEDA SHINGO , ALDHOON BASHAR , MARGINIERE JULIE , SANTANGELI PASQUALE , CHIK WILLIAM W. , MICHELE JOHN , ZADO ERICA , MARCHLINSKI FRANCIS E.
Published: June 2014

In Vitro Evaluation of Ice‐Cold Saline Irrigation

Introduction

Irrigated radiofrequency (RF) catheters allow tissue‐electrode interface cooling, decreasing thrombus risk while enabling higher RF power delivery. The impact of irrigation with ice‐cold saline (ICS) instead of conventional ambient‐temperature saline (ATS) on lesion formation is unknown.

Methods and Results

We performed 120 RF ablations in vitro on porcine left ventricles, using ICS (<5 °C) or ATS (21 °C) irrigation. For ICS irrigation, the irrigation circuit was cooled externally to maintain delivery of cooled saline at the catheter's tip. We applied 20 g of contact force, and delivered 20 W (irrigation 8 or 17 mL/min) or 30 W (irrigation 17 or 30 mL/min) RF power. Temperatures at tissue‐electrode interface and 3‐mm depth were assessed by fluoroptic probes. Lesion dimensions were assessed. ICS irrigation cooled the tissue‐electrode interface better than ATS (53.9 ± 9.6 °C vs. 63 ± 11.4 °C, P < 0.001). Temperatures at 3‐mm depth were similar at 30 W using ICS and ATS (104.2 ± 9.3 °C vs. 105.8 ± 7.3 °C, P = 0.5), but were cooler at 20 W using ICS (71.3 ± 11.6 °C vs. 100.2 ± 11.9 °C, P < 0.001). This translated into smaller lesions at 20 W with ICS versus ATS. At 30 W with 17 mL/min flow rate, lesions had the same depth with ICS and ATS (4.9 ± 0.8 mm vs. 5.4 ± 0.7 mm, P = 0.13) but were narrower with ICS (7.7 ± 0.8 mm vs. 9.3 ± 1.2 mm, P = 0.001). At 30 mL/min, lesions had the same dimensions. Steam pop rate was similar using ICS or ATS irrigation.

Conclusion

ICS irrigation more effectively cools tissue‐electrode interface than ATS. This may improve RF safety by potentially decreasing thrombus formation, thus facilitating safe ablation at a low saline volume load. However at lower RF power, ICS reduced lesion size compared to ATS.
Editorial: Acknowledging complexity and heterogeneity in causality – implications of recent insights into neuropsychology of childhood disorders for clinical practice
Authors: Coghill David
Published: June 2014

From a clinical perspective research that tries to unravel the causal processes that underpin mental health problems can often seem esoteric and far removed from day to day clinical decision making. Indeed even though there are now a plethora of evidence based clinical guidelines that aim to support the translational process it still takes many years for new scientific understanding of a condition to permeate routine clinical practice, via this route. At the same time, however, a clinician's personal and informal interpretation of what is causing their patients' problems can have very important clinical implications and impact directly on; their formulation of a patient's presentation, the way in which they transmit this to the patient and their family and any treatment decisions that are made. Clinicians who are able to stay up to date with the latest evidence and scientific debate about what is and is not known about the underlying causes of mental health problems should be at an advantage in this regard. But for the busy clinician, ‘just’ staying up to date with the huge amount of new directly related to this topic is in itself a big ask in itself – critically appraising this evidence, in a balanced way, another thing altogether. To facilitate this process it is necessary for researchers to make every effort to include a balanced, clear and relevant discussion of the translational implications of their findings. In particular they must try to avoid overselling a message that may attract a lot of initial attention but that may, in time, prove to be a false dawn or an over simplification.
Diet variation of a generalist fish predator, grey snapper Lutjanus griseus, across an estuarine gradient: trade‐offs of quantity for quality?
Authors: Yeager L. A. , Layman C. A. , Hammerschlag‐Peyer C. M.
Published: June 2014

This study examined diet, prey quality and growth for a generalist fish predator, grey snapper Lutjanus griseus, at five sites across an estuarine gradient in the Loxahatchee River estuary, Florida, U.S.A. Lutjanus griseus diets shifted from dominance by low quality, intertidal crabs upstream to an increased reliance on higher quality shrimp, fishes and benthic crabs downstream. Frequency of L. griseus with empty stomachs was higher at downstream sites. Lutjanus griseus growth rates did not vary among sites. Results indicate that L. griseus may be able to compensate for lower quality prey upstream by consuming more, and thus individuals are able to maintain similar levels of energy balance and growth rates across the estuarine gradient. Elucidating mechanisms, such as compensatory feeding, that enable generalist species to remain successful across habitat conditions are critical to understanding their organismal ecology and may facilitate predictions about the response of generalists to landscape alteration.