bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intricacies of back-office
Authors: Yli-Kauhaluoma Sari , Pantzar Mika
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how back-office service staff cope with the intricacies of administrative work.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper applies the research approach of “at-home ethnography” in a university back-office. The primary method of data collection was participant listening in the field, either in formal interviews or casual conversations. Photography helped the authors to zoom the conversation in to specific artefacts in administrative offices.

Findings

– The study identifies both forward- and backward-looking recipes as essential administrative tools that back-office staff develop and use to handle intricacies that emerge in their daily work. Forward-looking recipes are based on anticipatory cognitive representations, whereas backward-looking recipes are based on experiential wisdom. The study elaborates on the different kinds of modelling practices that back-office service staff engage in while building and applying these two different kinds of recipes.

Practical implications

– The recipes support administrators in knowledge replication and thus help avoid interruptions, reduce uncertainty, and produce consistency in administrative processes.

Originality/value

– In contrast to existing studies of formal bureaucracies, the study provides a unique empirical account to show how back-office service staff cope with the multiple intricacies existing in current office environments. The study shows how recipes as models contribute to stabilizing or even routinizing work processes in complex administrative situations.
An investor’s perspective on risk-models and characteristic-models
Authors: Fieberg Christian , Poddig Thorsten , Varmaz Armin
Published: June 2016

Purpose

In capital markets, research risk factor loadings and characteristics are considered as opposing explanations for the cross-sectional dispersion in average stock returns. However, there is little known about the performance an investor would obtain who believes either in the characteristics explanation (CB-investor) or in the risk factor loadings explanation (RB-investor). The purpose of this paper is to compare the performance of CB- and RB-investors.

Design/methodology/approach

To compare the competing strategies, the authors propose a simple new approach to equity portfolio optimization in the style of Brandt et al. (2009) by modeling the portfolio weight in each asset as a function of the asset's risk factor loadings or characteristics. The authors perform an empirical analysis on the German stock market, exploiting the risk factor loadings from the Carhart (1997) four-factor model and the respective characteristics size, book-to-market equity ratio and momentum.

Findings

The results show that investment strategies relying on characteristics (particularly on momentum) outperform risk-based investment strategies in horse races. These findings hold in- and out-of-sample. Furthermore, the characteristics-based investment strategies outperform a value-weighted market portfolio strategy in- and out-of-sample.

Originality/value

The authors introduce a portfolio optimization approach that enables investors to directly link portfolio decisions to the firm’s characteristics or risk factor loadings.
Toward an optimal hedging strategy considering earnings volatility through fair value accounted financial derivatives
Authors: Ebach Eva Marie , Hertel Michael , Lindermeir Andreas , Tränkler Timm
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine a financial institution's optimal hedging degree under consideration of costly earnings volatility induced by fair value accounted derivatives. The discussion on the adoption of fair value accounting in the financial industry has been rather controversial in recent years. Under this accounting regime, the change in market values of specific assets must be considered as profit or loss. Critics argue that fair value accounting induces higher earnings volatility compared to historical cost accounting and, therefore, may initiate a downward spiral during recessions. Thus, increased earnings volatility induces costs, which can be explained by disappointed capital market expectations. Consequently, in general, a lowering of earnings volatility will be rewarded. Consistent with this theoretical finding, empirical research provides strong evidence that companies pursue income smoothing to reduce earnings volatility. In contrast to industrial corporations, financial institutions may easily reduce their earnings volatility by engaging in additional hedging activities. However, more intense hedging usually reduces expected profits.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a research project initiated by a large German bank, this study quantitatively models the trade-off between the (utility of) costs of earnings volatility and the reduction of profit potential through additional hedging.

Findings

By conducting sensitivity analyses and simulations of the crucial factors of the trade-off, we examine relevant causal relationships to obtain first indications about the economic benefits of income smoothing.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to develop an optimization model that supports decision-making by attempting to determine an optimal (additional) hedging degree considering the costs induced by earnings volatility.
Private firm pricing and propensity to go public: evidence from mutual funds holdings
Authors: Alverio Mariluz , Rodríguez Javier
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to focus on mutual funds’ valuations of their US private firm holdings. According to extant academic literature, mutual funds’ boards of directors should assign prices to their private firm stocks based on their own determination of fair value.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates fluctuations in valuations of mutual funds holdings of private firms, and whether or not mutual funds managers are able to pick privately held firms that eventually undergo an initial public offer.

Findings

The study shows that private firm common stocks’ prices fluctuate much more than preferred stocks’; however, as expected, preferred stock is the most selected security type. This study also investigates these firms’ propensity to undergo an initial public offering (IPO). Results show that mutual funds allocated most of their capital to US private sector firms that underwent an initial public offering. Logit model results reveal that fund managers are able to pick privately held firms that will go public.

Research limitations/implications

Due to data limitations, the authors’ analysis does not control for venture capital ownership; an issue the authors plan to address in the future.

Originality/value

Though, research in this area may exist, the authors have not found academic literature related to holdings of private firms by mutual funds, pricing by funds’ boards of directors or the motives for such investments.
Beyond resumes: LinkedIn for marketing educators
Authors: Hutchins Amber L.
Published: June 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to explore expanded uses for LinkedIn.com as a teaching tool, beyond introductory assignments, for in-demand and emerging marketing techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the current use of LinkedIn as a teaching tool for marketing educators and presents sample assignments that can be used to introduce students to content marketing, SEO, and online reputation management.

Findings

Marketing educators have found LinkedIn to be a valuable resource for teaching professional development in the business curriculum. But the site can also provide a platform for the exploration of emerging specializations including content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO).

Research limitations/implications

As a general review, this paper provides an overview of techniques. Research is needed to test and further explore the use of these techniques.

Practical implications

This paper provides rationale and recommendations for marketing educators who wish to better prepare students for a competitive job market, in which employers expect students to be well versed not only in social media but also in emerging techniques like content marketing and SEO.

Originality/value

Researchers have explored the use of various social media platforms for marketing education, including LinkedIn. This paper addresses the future potential of LinkedIn to teach various marketable skills and shows the versatility of social media platforms as pedagogical tools.
Intervention as workplace learning
Authors: Elkjaer Bente , Nickelsen Niels Christian Mossfeldt
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how workplace interventions may benefit from a simultaneous focus on individuals’ learning and knowledge and on the situatedness of workplaces in the wider world of changing professional knowledge regimes. This is illustrated by the demand for evidence-based practice in health care.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a case study in a public post-natal ward in a hospital in Denmark in which one of the authors acted as both a consultant initiating and leading interventions and a researcher using ethnographic methods. The guiding question was: How to incorporate the dynamics of the workplace when doing intervention in professionals’ work and learning?

Findings

The findings of the paper show how workplace interventions consist of heterogeneous alliances between politics, discourse and technologies rather than something that can be traced back to a single plan or agency. Furthermore, the paper proposes, a road down the middle, made up by both an intentional and a performative model for intervention.

Originality/value

Intervention in workplaces is often directed towards changing humans, their behaviour, their ways of communicating and their attitudes. This is often furthered through reflection, making the success of intervention depend on individuals’ abilities to learn and change. In this paper, it is shown how intervention may benefit from bringing in workplace issues like different professional knowledge regimes, hierarchical structures, materiality, politics and power.
The Kano model: identification of handbook attributes to learn in practice
Authors: Szymczak Michal , Kowal Krzysztof
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Statistics shows terrifying tendencies in people’ unwillingness to develop themselves by reading books. The situation is even more serious if we look at companies and their employees. People want to be specialists, but in fact reading culture in companies is rare. Many actions which are undertaken to reverse this trend may lead to sales increase of books by collecting them instead of reading them, if the quality of handbooks will not be improved. To enhance people to read, it is essential to offer them a product that would really satisfy their needs. The study presented in the paper contributes to the knowledge about some general practitioners requirements for handbooks on methods, in particular these used in quality and management. It shows also the usefulness of Kano’s model application in the new area. A case study was conducted with the application of Kano’s model to identify potential readers’ expectations of a handbook for practitioners in problem-solving methods. The research was based on sample size equal to 376 different people: managers, specialists, operators, directors, students and professors in Poland. As a result, a book on problem solving method called “5 why” was created to verify if the model really works.

Design/methodology/approach

It shows the usefulness of Kano’s model application in the new area of education.

Findings

Potential readers’ expectations of a handbook for practitioners in problem solving methods were identified. The research was based on sample size equal to 376 different people: managers, specialists, operators, directors, students and professors in Poland.

Social implications

By taking into consideration expectations from customers, authors of books and educational services may improve their works. Both sides would make profits form this: customers – better product, authors – bigger and satisfied audience.

Originality/value

From many previous researches, it is known that the Kano’s model is a useful, practical tool for industries; however, studies show that it is also well applicable in providing education service. As a result of the research, a book on problem-solving method called “5 why” was created to prove if the model really works in practice.
Exploring virtual mental practice in maintenance task training
Authors: Bauerle Tim , Brnich Michael J. , Navoyski Jason
Published: June 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to a general understanding of mental practice by investigating the utility of and participant reaction to a virtual reality maintenance training among underground coal mine first responders.

Design/methodology/approach

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) developed software to provide opportunities for mine rescue team members to learn to inspect, assemble and test their closed-circuit breathing apparatus and to practice those skills. In total, 31 mine rescue team members utilized OMSHR’s BG 4 Benching Trainer software and provided feedback to the development team. After training, participants completed a brief post-training questionnaire, which included demographics, perceived training climate and general training evaluation items.

Findings

The results overall indicate a generally positive reaction to and high perceived utility of the BG 4 benching software. In addition, the perceived training climate appears to have an effect on the perceived utility of the mental practice virtual reality game, with benchmen from mines with more positive training climates reporting greater perceived efficacy in the training’s ability to prepare trainees for real emergencies.

Originality/value

This paper helps to broaden current applications of mental practice and is one of the few empirical investigations into a non-rehabilitation virtual reality extension of mental practice. This paper also contributes to the growing literature advocating for greater usage of accurate and well-informed mental practice techniques, tools and methodologies, especially for occupational populations with limitations on exposure to hands-on training.
The relationship between business ethics diffusion, knowledge sharing and service innovation
Authors: Wu Chen-fong
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to consider business ethics as a concept and behavior that is worthy of attracting more proponents, and to explore how the diffusion of business ethics can effectively promote service innovation in an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study applies a quantitative research approach to 357 businesses in the travel and tourism industry on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Findings

– The results reveal that the increased visibility of business ethics activities in an organization strengthens its ability to display service innovation, with the condition that knowledge sharing actively occurs as the mediating variable.

Originality/value

– This study proposes a business ethics diffusion model that is advantageous for industries seeking innovations in service provision.
The intra business group effects of alliance network extensions
Authors: Chen I-Fen , Chang Shao-Chi
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to better understand the influence of business group membership by exploring how actions by a member firm influence other firms in the business group. Specifically, the authors ask two questions in this study: when a member firm forms strategic alliances with partners outside of the business group, how does the alliance influence other members in the business group? Moreover, which types of member firms are more affected than others?

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors employ standard event-study methodology to examine the stock price responses for the focal and member firms on the announcement of an alliance. Moreover, the authors employ the cross-sectional regression analyses to test hypotheses concerning the impact of alliance, group, and firm characteristics on the cumulative abnormal returns of non-announcing members. All regressions are estimated using ordinary least squares.

Findings

– The results show that, on average, alliance-announcing member firms experience significantly positive share price responses to announcements of strategic alliances. Moreover, the impact of alliance formation spillover to other non-announcing members in the business group. The authors also find that the influences on the non-announcing members are dissimilar. The non-announcing members are more strongly affected when they are in different industries from the non-member partner, and when the ownership of the business group is more concentrated.

Originality/value

– This study is to extend the resource complementarities perspective, which may help firms to more effectively configure their network portfolios in order to develop synergies among related network resources. The study thus extends the alliance portfolio literature to the literature on business groups. Since the inter-firm networks within business groups are more complex than those in alliance portfolios, the authors are able to study how the structure of a business, such as ownership concentration, can influence the intra-network effect.
Are CSR disclosures relevant for investors? Empirical evidence from Germany
Authors: Verbeeten Frank H.M. , Gamerschlag Ramin , Möller Klaus
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether narrative corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures (the provision of textual information on companies’ environmental and social performance to external stakeholders) are associated with firm value in Germany.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on the global reporting initiative guidelines, the paper uses content analysis to assess the value relevance of CSR disclosures of 130 German companies over four years.

Findings

– The results show that CSR information is value-relevant, but the value relevance of CSR information differs among CSR categories. Specifically, the disclosure of social information is positively associated with firm value yet environmental disclosures are not.

Practical implications

– The results confirm that management should be aware of the potential capital market effects of voluntary CSR disclosures, even though such disclosures may be directed at other stakeholders.

Originality/value

– Germany is an interesting setting as CSR disclosures are voluntarily, even though the institutional environment appears sensitive to CSR disclosures. Despite this, little research has focussed upon the value-relevance of CSR-disclosures in Germany. In addition, the results confirm that management should be aware of the potential capital market effects of voluntary CSR disclosures, even though they are not directed at shareholders as such.
Does state capitalism matter in firm internationalization? Pace, rhythm, location choice, and product diversity
Authors: Chen Hongquan , Li Xiaodong , Zeng Saixing , Ma Hanyang , Lin Han
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the direct effects of state capitalism on the internationalization behavior of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Specifically, the authors focus on four distinct aspects of internationalization behavior; namely, pace of internationalization, rhythm of internationalization, location choice (developing countries vs developed countries), and diversity of product lines.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors empirically test the hypotheses using data from Chinese construction companies during the period 2009-2015. The authors build a unique dataset by combining the data from ENR Top 225 International Contractors reports and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of China information. Moreover, concerning the panel data structure and the potential for autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity, The authors use the feasible generalized least square panel model to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– The authors find that the level of state capitalism has a positive effect on SOEs’ rhythm of internationalization, while there is no significant relationship between the level of state capitalism and the pace of internationalization. Furthermore, the authors find that the SOEs affiliated with higher levels of government organizations are more likely to locate business operations in developing countries and engage in more diversity of product lines.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings show that the different varieties of state capitalism are the source of the different internationalization patterns of SOEs. Instead of supposing SOEs to be uniform players in emerging economies, the authors show that the nature of SOEs varies depending on the level of government with which they are affiliated, and this fact results from the divergent manifestations of state capitalism itself.

Originality/value

– This study improves the understanding of how state capitalism affects the capabilities and motivations of SOEs in regard to overseas expansion. The authors extend institutional theory by supposing that the level of state capitalism has a positive effect on the rhythm of internationalization. Moreover, the authors find that SOEs embedded with high levels of government affiliation tend to enter into developing countries and diversify their product lines.
A moderated mediation model of CSR and organizational attractiveness among job applicants
Authors: Joo Young Ran , Moon Hyoung Koo , Choi Byoung Kwon
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of perceived overall justice and the moderating effect of self- and other-centered motives in the relationship between organizational corporate social responsibility (CSR) and organizational attractiveness using a sample of job applicants.

Design/methodology/approach

– The hypotheses were tested using a 2-by-2 experimental design and a sample of 376 South Korean University students.

Findings

– The results showed that organizational CSR positively influenced job applicants’ perceived overall justice. Moreover, it was found that perceived overall justice mediated the influence of CSR on organizational attractiveness. However, contrary to the hypotheses, the indirect effect of CSR on organizational attractiveness through perceived overall justice was significant only for job applicants who attributed self-centered motives to CSR.

Practical implications

– As it was found that job applicants who attributed other-centered motives to organizational CSR had high levels of perceived overall justice regarding organizations, independent of the actual level of engagement in CSR, it is crucial that organizations show sincerity in executing CSR. In addition, small- and medium-sized organizations may not have sufficient resources for CSR, but it is especially crucial for them to focus on CSR activities that are aligned with their business, implement CSR programs consistently, and focus on CSR itself rather than on advertising in order to facilitate, among job applicants, the attribution of other-centered motives to their CSR.

Originality/value

– From the perspective of overall justice and attributed motives, this study intensively explores the internal mechanism by which organizational engagement in CSR influences organizational attractiveness among job applicants. In practical terms, this study shows that it is important for organizations to consistently invest in CSR with authenticity, even when CSR activities are insubstantial and doing so may be attributed to self-centered motives. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
The impact of social capital on competitive advantage
Authors: Chuang Min-Yueh , Chen Chih-Jou , Lin Ming-ji James
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the influence of social capital on competitive advantage through collective learning and absorptive capacity.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study carries out analyses based on structural equation modeling to measure the main constructs and test the hypothesized relationships among the variables. The primary statistical technique for assessing survey data collected from 358 Taiwan tenants is partial least squares analysis.

Findings

– Collective learning and absorptive capacity fully mediate the relationship between social capital and competitive advantage. Moreover, social capital has a significant influence on both collective learning and absorptive capacity.

Practical implications

– Tenant firms in industrial parks must develop effective management tactics for the nurturing of inter-firm relations to enhance collective learning and their absorptive capacity to acquire and exploit key strategic resources such as tacit and explicit knowledge. For specialized firms, close social interactions in specific contexts, mediated by collective learning and absorptive capacity to make up for their resource constraints, can heighten their competitive advantage.

Originality/value

– By demonstrating the impact of social capital on competitive advantage in the specific context of industrial parks, whose artificial environment encourages and promotes close social interactions among tenants, this paper overcomes previous and contradictory findings regarding the relationship between social capital and competitive advantage. A key contingent factor is the mediating role of collective learning and absorptive capacity.
Reform priorities for corporate sustainability
Authors: Jitmaneeroj Boonlert
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– Most companies rarely work on sustainable development as a whole, which includes environmental, social, governance, and economic pillars. The purpose of this paper is to explore causal relationships between pillar scores and overall score of sustainability and identify the most critical pillar to which policy makers should allot limited resources with the highest priority.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on Thomson Reuters ASSET4 database of global corporate sustainability, this paper examines the causal relations between pillar scores and overall score of sustainability by using the three-stage integrative methodology consisting of cluster analysis, data mining, and partial least square path modeling.

Findings

– This paper finds that each pillar has unequal effects on the overall corporate sustainability and that the overall score is affected by not only the direct effects from pillar scores but also the indirect effects from the causal interrelations among pillars. Moreover, the patterns of causal directions and the most critical pillar are sensitive to industries. Social performance is the most critical pillar for the majority of industries, followed by environmental performance, and economic performance, respectively. The governance performance, however, is not the most critical pillar in any industry.

Practical implications

– To construct a roadmap for reform priorities, policy makers should follow the top-down approach which involves hierarchical decisions. Using the three-stage methodology, the policy makers first decide on the most critical pillar score before selecting the most critical category score underneath.

Originality/value

– Relaxing traditional assumptions of simple average overall score of corporate sustainability, the three-stage integrative framework allows for causal interrelations among pillars and different weights on individual pillars.
Dancing with the stars: what do foreign firms get from high-status local partners?
Authors: Yu Yang , Sharma Revti Raman
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of high-status local exchange partners on foreign firms.

Design/methodology/approach

– Bridging status research and international business literature, the study develops a framework that describes three prominent effects of high-status partners on foreign firms, and further links these effects to firms’ relationship outcomes. The proposed conceptual model is examined using partial least squares structural equations modeling on a sample of 96 foreign firms operating in China.

Findings

– The study provides evidence that high-status local exchange partners tend to seek higher relationship-specific investment from foreign firms, and in the meantime, provide firms with greater opportunities for local learning and networking; subsequently, foreign firms are more likely to achieve satisfactory outcomes in the relationships.

Practical implications

– These findings suggest that affiliation with high-status local actors can be a key approach to overcome the liability of foreignness in a host country. Firms therefore, should treat them carefully as an important category of exchange partner portfolios. These are particularly relevant to foreign firms competing in China, a society characterized by strong hierarchies.

Originality/value

– The study serves as a preliminary attempt to introduce status concept to the field of international business. It promotes status as a key criterion for local partner selection, and offers the status research a contextual insight in the dilemma of choosing high- vs low-status partner candidates.
Assessing children’s swallowing: parent and professional perceptions
Authors: Cockerill Helen , van den Engel - Hoek Lenie , Harding Celia
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– For infants and children who have difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing (dysphagia), there are significant health risks that include aspiration (food and fluid entering the lungs) and poor growth. Videofluoroscopy is often the instrumental method of assessment used to exclude or confirm aspiration. The purpose of this paper is to investigate parental and referrer perceptions of the reasons for and the outcomes of videofluoroscopy.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were gathered through the use of structured telephone interviews before and after videofluoroscopy.

Findings

– Four key themes emerged: first, the importance of identifying specifically the problems with swallowing; second, understanding the rationale for videofluoroscopy; third, preparing a child for videofluoroscopy; and fourth, using videofluoroscopy to inform management. Referrers used videofluoroscopy to confirm their concerns about a child’s ability to swallow safely.

Practical implications

– Parents understood that the purpose of videofluoroscopy was to identify specific swallowing difficulties. They reported anxieties with managing the child’s positioning during the procedure and whether the child would eat. They also had concerns about outcomes from the study. Some of these issues raise questions about the true value and benefits of videofluoroscopy.

Originality/value

– This is the first study that considers parent views of an instrumental assessment. For some parents of children with learning disabilities, mealtimes are an important social occasion. Further studies that focus on decision making about children with learning disabilities who find feeding difficult are warranted as parents feel loss and disempowerment when decisions are made about non-oral feeding.
Iron‐chelating agent, deferasirox, inhibits neutrophil activation and extracellular trap formation
Authors: Kono Mari , Saigo Katsuyasu , Yamamoto Shiori , Shirai Kohei , Iwamoto Shuta , Uematsu Tomoko , Takahashi Takayuki , Imoto Shion , Hashimoto Makoto , Minami Yosuke , Wada Atsushi , Takenokuchi Mariko , Kawano Seiji
Published: June 2016

Iron‐chelating agents, which are frequently prescribed to transfusion‐dependent patients, have various useful biological effects in addition to chelation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by neutrophils can cause pulmonary endothelial cell damage, which can lead to acute lung injury (ALI). We previously reported that deferasirox (DFS), an iron‐chelating agent, inhibits phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP)‐induced ROS production in neutrophils, in vitro. Here, we investigate whether DFS inhibits vacuolization in neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. Human neutrophils were incubated with DFS and stimulated with PMA or fMLP. Human neutrophils were separated from heparinized peripheral blood using density gradient centrifugation, and subsequently incubated with DFS. After 10 minutes, neutrophils were stimulated by PMA or fMLP. Vacuole formation was observed by electron microscopy. For observing NET formations using microscopes, immunohistological analyses using citrullinated histone H3 and myeloperoxidase antibodies, and SYTOX Green (an impermeable DNA detection dye) staining, were conducted. NET formation was measured as the quantity of double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA), using the AccuBlue Broad Range dsDNA Quantitation Kit. DFS (50 μmol/L) inhibited vacuole formation in the cytoplasm and NET formation. Additionally, 5–100 μmol/L concentration of DFS inhibited the release of dsDNA in a dose‐independent manner. We demonstrate that DFS inhibits not only ROS production but also vacuolization and NET formation in neutrophils. These results suggest the possibility of protective effects of DFS against NET‐related adverse effects, including ALI and thrombosis.
Outcomes of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with parotid metastases
Authors: McDowell Lachlan J , Tan Tze‐Jian , Bressel Mathias , Estall Vanessa , Kleid Stephen , Corry June , Johnston Meredith L
Published: June 2016

Introduction

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (cHNSCC) metastatic to the parotid has a moderate risk of recurrence despite multimodality treatment. Immunosuppression is associated with lower rates of long‐term cure. Our aim was to review outcomes of current management in a tertiary centre with a view to targeting future strategies.

Methods

A retrospective review of clinico‐pathological data and outcomes for patients with metastatic cHNSCC involving the parotid gland, undergoing radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy during 2000–2014 was conducted. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to determine time‐to‐event outcomes.

Results

One hundred and thirty‐two patients met the inclusion criteria. Median follow‐up was 5.0 years. Five‐year overall (OS), cancer‐specific (CSS) and progression free survival (PFS) were 44% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 34–53%), 64% (95% CI 52–74%) and 37% (95% CI 28–47%) respectively. Locoregional control (LRC) was 68% (95% CI 55–77%) at 5 years. Immunosuppressed patients fared worse (compared with immune‐competent) with five‐year OS, CSS, and PFS of 14% versus 53% (HR = 3.19; 95% CI 1.91–5.34), 40% versus 71% (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 2.92; 95% CI 1.38–6.19) and 10% versus 46% (HR = 2.51; 95% CI 1.52–4.14) respectively. On multivariate analysis, immune status strongly predicted OS (P < 0.001), CSS (P = 0.003), DMFS (P < 0.001) and PFS (P < 0.001), but not LRC. Largest lymph node size was the only significant factor predictive for LRC on multivariate analysis (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Despite multimodality treatment metastatic cHNSCC involving the parotid shows moderate rates of recurrence. Immunosuppressed patients with this disease have a particularly poor prognosis, demonstrating lower rates of CSS with similar rates of LRC compared to their immunocompetent counterparts.
A randomized trial assessing the impact of three different glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists on glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet receptor inhibition and clinical endpoints in patients with acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Holmes Lewis E. , Gupta Rohan , Rajendran Saissan , Luu John , French John K. , Juergens Craig P.
Published: June 2016

Aims

To compare three glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists (GPIs) in terms of platelet inhibition and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), and assess the rate of bleeding and MACEs between GPIs and coadministered P2Y12 agents.

Methods

Eighty‐three acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with planned GPI use were randomized to receive high‐dose bolus tirofiban, double‐bolus eptifibatide, or abciximab followed by a 12‐hour infusion. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet receptor inhibition was measured at baseline and at 10 minutes, 1 hour, and 24 hours postbolus dose. Major adverse cardiac events and bleeding complications at 30 days were documented. The incidence of MACEs and bleeding in patients receiving ticagrelor or prasugrel were compared to those given clopidogrel.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in platelet inhibition between GPIs at 10 minutes (P=.085) and 1 hour (P=.337). At 24 hours, abciximab achieved statistically significantly higher median [interquartile range] platelet inhibition (75 [65–88]%) compared to tirofiban (28 [3–56]%; P<.0001) and eptifibatide (44 [31–63]%; P=.007). There were no differences in bleeding or MACEs depending on GPI or P2Y12 inhibitor administered.

Conclusions

Glycoprotein receptor inhibitors achieve similar levels of platelet inhibition at 10 minutes and 1 hour; however, abciximab maintains this benefit 24 hours after bolus dose. We did not witness an increased rate of bleeding in patients given new potent P2Y12 inhibitors and a GPI in the modern era.
Safety and efficacy of policosanol in patients with high on‐treatment platelet reactivity after drug‐eluting stent implantation: two‐year follow‐up results
Authors: Xu Kai , Liu Xinming , Li Yi , Wang Yunuo , Zang Hongyun , Guo Liang , Wang Yuan , Zhao Wei , Wang Xiaozeng , Han Yaling
Published: June 2016

Objectives

To investigate safety and efficacy of policosanol in patients with high on‐treatment platelet reactivity after drug‐eluting stent implantation.

Background

Certain number of patients has high residual platelet reactivity on clopidogrel after coronary intervention, and their risk of thrombotic events is high.

Method

In this prospective, randomized trial conducted in four Chinese sites, 350 patients with high on‐treatment platelet reactivity (HPR, defined as platelet aggregation >65%) were randomized by the ratio of 1:3:3 to: group A, clopidogrel 75 mg/d for 1 year (n=50); group B, clopidogrel 150 mg/d for 30 days followed by 75 mg/d until 1 year (n=150); or group C, policosanol 40 mg/d for 6 month and clopidogrel 75 mg/d for 1 year (n=150). All of them were treated with aspirin. The primary endpoint was the reversion rate of HPR at 1 month (reversion was defined as platelet aggregation <65%). The secondary endpoints were 6‐month major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which included cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or ischemic symptoms driven target vessel revascularization.

Results

At 30 days, the reversion rate of HPR was 34.0%, 55.2%, and 48.7% in group A, group B, and group C, respectively (P=.029). Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 4 (8.0%), 6(4.0%), and 5(3.3%) patients (P=.342). There was 1 (0.7%) major bleeding and 1 (0.7%) minor bleeding event in high maintenance dose clopidogrel group, no major or moderate bleeding in the other two groups. The minimal bleeding in group B was significantly higher than group C (10.7% vs 2.7%, P=.022). At 2‐year follow‐up, the benefits of policosanol on bleedings persisted compared with group B.

Conclusions

Policosanol reduced platelet reactivity to a similar extent as high maintenance dose of clopidogrel without increasing bleeding rate.
Rho‐Kinase inhibitor fasudil suppresses high glucose‐induced H9c2 cell apoptosis through activation of autophagy
Authors: Gao Huikuan , Hou Fei , Dong Ruiqing , Wang Zefeng , Zhao Can , Tang Wurina , Wu Yongquan
Published: June 2016

Introduction

Cardiac cell apoptosis plays a crucial role in the progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Recent studies have shown that fasudil, a Rho‐kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, inhibits cardiac cell apoptosis; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate whether fasudil protects H9c2 cells from high glucose‐induced apoptosis via activation of autophagy.

Methods

Rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells were treated with high glucose and used as a diabetic cardiomyopathy model. Cell survival rate, apoptosis, and subcellular morphology were examined using the MTT assay, flow cytometry, and electron microscopy, respectively. ROCK1 and ROCK2 mRNA levels were determined using quantitative real‐time PCR. Bcl‐2 and Bax, myosin phosphatase target subunit‐1 (MYPT‐1), phosphorylated (p)‐MYPT1, LC3‐II/LC3‐I, Beclin‐1, soluble and insoluble P62 protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis.

Results

Fasudil reversed the high glucose‐induced inhibition of cell proliferation and suppressed high glucose‐induced early apoptosis. Fasudil also reversed the high glucose‐suppressed Bcl‐2 levels and decreased the high glucose‐induced Bax levels. Further, Fasudil suppressed ROCK levels, expression, promoted autophagy via increasing the LC3‐II/LC3‐I ratio, Beclin‐1 expression, and the number of autophagosomes in H9c2 cells treated with high glucose. These effects of fasudil were abrogated by 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA), an autophagy inhibitor.

Conclusion

Fasudil inhibited high glucose‐induced apoptosis in rat H9c2 cells through activating autophagy.
Are there subtypes of bipolar depression?
Authors: Perich T. , Hadzi‐Pavlovic D. , Frankland A. , Breakspear M. , Loo C. , Roberts G. , Holmes‐Preston E. , Mitchell P. B.
Published: June 2016

Objective

To investigate for subtypes of bipolar depression using latent class analysis (LCA).

Method

Participants were recruited through a bipolar disorder (BD) clinic. LCA was undertaken using: (i) symptoms reported on the SCID‐IV for the most severe lifetime depressive episode; (ii) lifetime illness features such as age at first depressive and hypo/manic episodes; and (iii) family history of BD and unipolar depression. To explore the validity of any demonstrated ‘classes’, clinical, demographic and treatment correlates were investigated.

Results

A total of 243 BD subjects (170 with BD‐I and 73 with BD‐II) were included. For the combined sample, we found two robust LCA solutions, with two and three classes respectively. There were no consistent solutions when the BD‐I and BD‐II samples were considered separately. Subjects in class 2 of the three‐class solution (characterised by anxiety, insomnia, reduced appetite/weight loss, irritability, psychomotor retardation, suicidal ideation, guilt, worthlessness and evening worsening) were significantly more likely to be in receipt of government financial support, suggesting a particularly malign pattern of symptoms.

Conclusion

Our study suggests the existence of two or three distinct classes of bipolar depression and a strong association with functional outcome.
The canine era: the rise of a biomedical model
Authors: van Steenbeek F. G. , Hytönen M. K. , Leegwater P. A. J. , Lohi H.
Published: June 2016

Since the annotation of its genome a decade ago, the dog has proven to be an excellent model for the study of inherited diseases. A large variety of spontaneous simple and complex phenotypes occur in dogs, providing physiologically relevant models to corresponding human conditions. In addition, gene discovery is facilitated in clinically less heterogeneous purebred dogs with closed population structures because smaller study cohorts and fewer markers are often sufficient to expose causal variants. Here, we review the development of genomic resources from microsatellites to whole‐genome sequencing and give examples of successful findings that have followed the technological progress. The increasing amount of whole‐genome sequence data warrants better functional annotation of the canine genome to more effectively utilise this unique model to understand genetic contributions in morphological, behavioural and other complex traits.
Association of polymorphisms of the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP2) gene with pulmonary tuberculosis in an elderly Japanese population
Authors: Thu Kaung Si , Sato Noriko , Ikeda Shinobu , Naka‐Mieno Makiko , Arai Tomio , Mori Seijiro , Sawabe Motoji , Muramatsu Masaaki , Tanaka Masashi
Published: June 2016

The transporter associated with antigen processing 2 (TAP2) gene is involved in the immunological response to tuberculosis (TB) infection. Variations in the TAP2 gene have been associated with TB infection in small population studies in India, Columbia, and Korea. We investigated the association of TAP2 polymorphisms with TB susceptibility in an elderly Japanese population. We analyzed samples from consecutive autopsy cases (n = 1850) registered in the Japanese Geriatric SNP Research database. TB was diagnosed pathologically by TB granuloma on autopsy samples. There were 289 cases and 1529 controls. Twenty‐four single nucleotide variations (SNVs), including four missense variations in the TAP2 region, were genotyped using the Illumina Infinium Human Exome BeadChip array. Of the 24 SNVs in the TAP2 gene, rs4148871, rs4148876 (R651C), and rs2857103 showed statistically significant associations with TB susceptibility, and rs4148871 and rs2857103 also showed significant genotypic associations in a dominant allele model adjusted for age, sex, and smoking. Haplotype analysis showed that TAP2 allele *0103 conferred an increased TB risk (OR = 1.48, p = 0.0008), while the TAP2 *0201 allele was protective against TB (OR = 0.73, p = 0.0007). Our results suggest that TAP2 polymorphisms influence TB susceptibility in a Japanese population.
Laparoscopic subtotal proctocolectomy for synchronous triple colorectal cancers: a case report
Authors: Okoshi Kae , Mizumoto Masaki , Kinoshita Koichi
Published: June 2016

A 42‐year‐old woman presented with abdominal pain. On the basis of CT results, we diagnosed her condition as bowel obstruction caused by advanced transverse colon cancer. Colonoscopy findings showed three lesions: (i) an advanced tumor in the transverse colon; (ii) a laterally spreading descending colon tumor; and (iii) a rectal polyp. The tumors and the polyp were all pathologically diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. After inserting a self‐expanding metallic stent into the main tumor of the transverse colon to decompress the bowel, we performed endoscopic submucosal dissection of the laterally spreading descending colon tumor. Pathological examination results showed submucosal invasion and a positive margin. Because we endoscopically identified that the rectal polyp was invading the submucosa, we performed laparoscopic subtotal proctocolectomy and ileorectal anastomosis with lymph node dissection along the surgical trunk; we also performed central vascular ligation of the ileocolic artery, right and left branches of the middle colic artery, and inferior mesenteric artery. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. We present this case because there have been few reports on laparoscopic subtotal or total proctocolectomy for synchronous multiple colorectal cancers.