bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital traces for business intelligence
Authors: Milolidakis Giannis , Akoumianakis Demosthenes , Kimble Chris
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Data from social media (SM) has grown exponentially and created new opportunities for businesses to supplement their business intelligence (BI). However, there are many different platforms all of which are in a constant state of evolution. The purpose of this paper is to describe a generic methodology for the gathering of data from SM and transforming it into valuable BI.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach taken is termed virtual excavation and builds on the similarities between the manipulation of technological artefacts virtual communities using various forms of SM and the excavation and analysis of physical artefacts found in archaeological settlements.

Findings

– The paper reports on a case study using this technique that looks at the Facebook fan pages of three mobile telecommunications service providers in Greece. The paper identifies many of the standard BI indicators as well as demonstrating that additional information relating to cross-page use can be collected by looking at how users manipulate artefact such as the “like” button in Facebook.

Research limitations/implications

– Although the methodology is widely applicable, the paper only reports on the analysis of one platform, Facebook, and is heavily reliant on visualization tools. Future work will examine different platforms and different tools for analysis.

Practical implications

– The paper discusses some of the ways in which this approach could be used and suggests some areas in which it might be applied.

Originality/value

– The approach of using virtual excavations to extract BI from virtual communities in online SM offers a systematic approach for dealing with a variety of information from a variety of different media that is not found in techniques based on information systems or management science.
Male prisoners’ constructions of help-seeking
Authors: Cobb Samantha , Farrants Jacqui
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Help-seeking behaviours are fundamental to mental health and well-being. This study is concerned with how male prisoners talk about help-seeking in order that treatment programmes can be developed that better address their needs. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Informed by Foucauldian and Social Constructionist philosophies, this discourse analysis draws on the interview transcripts of nine male prisoners, looking at the discursive constructions mobilised in relation to help-seeking and the implications these have for agency.

Findings

– Three overarching discourses are identified: “man-up and deal with it”, “solidarity” and “authoritarian”. Prisoners resist formal help because of a perceived injustice in the system, disrespect for staff and feeling helpless when they are “bombarded with medication to keep quiet”. When they do engage with formal help-seeking behaviours it is frequently “to work the system”. Generally, they are more motivated to engage with informal help-seeking behaviours with each other, learning the knowledge like “a taxi driver” and sharing it with fellow prisoners although, for some, expressing emotion is like “an episode of Eastenders […] like a girlie programme”.

Research limitations/implications

– The qualitative nature of the analysis requires certain discourses to be privileged over others, acknowledging that there is no one truth. Further research is needed to explore informal sources of help-seeking within the prison population.

Practical implications

– There is a need to develop treatment programmes that promote informal help-seeking strategies and work with prisoners in a facilitative rather than coercive manner.

Originality/value

– To privilege the voices of prisoners.
Cash flow and growth considering different ownership structure
Authors: Lu Wen-Cheng , Jhuang Ruo-Ling
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of financial constraints on firm growth considering six types of ownership structure. According to the theory of financial management and asymmetric information theory, external funds are costly for small firms. However, some ownership structures may alleviate cash flow-growth sensitivity. The paper considers different types of ownership structure to study cash flow-growth relation and its sensitivity.

Design/methodology/approach

– Results are drawn from a dynamic panel data model under the two specific empirical models. Those designs can capture important empirical meanings.

Findings

– The sensitivity of growth to cash flow decreases significantly when managers control larger proportions of a firm's stock and when a firm belongs to a conglomerate. The findings also show that small and young firms grow faster. R&D and advertising expenditures also motivate a firm's growth, as do profitability and abundant cash flow.

Originality/value

– This paper uses a dynamic panel data model to investigate the effect of cash flow on firms' growth under six types of ownership structure. The sensitivity analysis of growth to cash flow provides new results for traditional literature. In fact, different ownership structures lead to distinct cash flow-growth sensitivity.
Military supply chain flexibility measures
Authors: Sokri Abderrahmane
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– So far, the author lacks a comprehensive definition of military supply chain (SC) flexibility, as well as performance measures to evaluate it. This paper aims to address these gaps. It seeks to develop performance measures to assess the flexibility of a military SC.

Design/methodology/approach

– Volume flexibility is measured as the coefficient of variation of the demand quantity. Delivery side is measured in two stages using two ratios: customer satisfaction ratio and delivery flexibility ratio.

Findings

– Building on the flexibility literature, novel performance measures were developed to assess the volume flexibility (the ability to change the level of moved products) and delivery flexibility (the ability to meet short lead times).

Research limitations/implications

– This study characterizes the behaviour of a military SC by focusing on the volume and delivery sides. Efficiency, for example, is not within the scope of this analysis.

Practical implications

– The results of this paper could serve as a means to compare between SCs with drastically different sizes.

Originality/value

– This paper presents a novel ways to examine the flexibility of a military distribution process. The developed measures of flexibility are relevant, simple, dimensionless, and action-oriented.
Unit price information on the reference price formation
Authors: Luis Méndez García de Paredes José , Sebastián Angola Cárdenas Ronald , Lisseth Sánchez Garcés Dayana
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of unit price information in the formation of the consumer reference prices.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology consisted of two stages. At first stage a survey with a sample of 700 Spanish consumers was carried out. In the second stage, a 200-consumer panel was used. The sampling method was not random for both stages. In the second stage The authors use virtual shelves of three categories, in which, in addition to the brand, the consumer faces various package sizes.

Findings

– Results show that the unit price information significantly influences the consumers' choice and that such influence can be moderated by the loyalty that the consumer presents. Furthermore, it is noted that the influence of the unit price on price recall is better if the category has many brands and not common size. In these cases the proportion of the use of the unit price is greater. The effect of frequency of purchase on the accuracy of the price recall is less in this type of categories, and more in categories of easy comparison.

Originality/value

– This study proposes that the unit price information influences the internal reference price of consumers.
Commercial property whole-life costing and the taxation environment
Authors: J. Liapis Konstantinos , D. Kantianis Dimitrios , L. Galanos Christos
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The main purpose of this paper is the incorporation of life-cycle costs (LCC) and whole-life costing (WLC) method and the taxation environment into the investment appraisal procedure for commercial real property projects.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper initially presents the methodologies of LCC and WLC together with the NPV measure for the evaluation of real estate investments. These methods are incorporated into a decision-making model using mathematical approaches. The model is applied to a typical commercial property project (office building) in order to explore the significance of impacts from changes in structured variables and the taxation environment by introducing direct, indirect and property taxes in the evaluation of commercial real estate projects.

Findings

– Testing of the methodology on the Greek economic environment revealed that time, cost, the tax regime, the financial variables of funding and the monetary and fiscal environment in a commercial real property project are the main variables of net present value (NPV) of the investment.

Practical implications

– From the calibration of any impact from affected variables, decision-making aiding tools can be extracted for controlling the project throughout its entire life-cycle.

Originality/value

– An integrated WLC mathematical model for the investment appraisal of commercial property projects is introduced. The herein proposed methodology contributes to taxation policy and real estate theory in general and assists industry professionals in effective commercial property management and decision-making.
Evaluation of a deliberative approach to citizen involvement in health care priority setting
Authors: Williams Iestyn , Phillips Daisy , Nicholson Charles , Shearer Heather
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe and evaluate a novel approach to citizen engagement in health priority setting carried out in the context of Primary Care Trust (PCT) commissioning in the English National Health Service.

Design/methodology/approach

– Four deliberative events were held with 139 citizens taking part in total. Events design incorporated elements of the Twenty-first Century Town Meeting and the World Café, and involved specially-designed dice games. Evaluation surveys reporting quantitative and qualitative participant responses were combined with follow-up interviews with both PCT staff and members of the public. An evaluation framework based on previous literature was employed.

Findings

– The evaluation demonstrates high levels of enjoyment, learning and deliberative engagement. However, concerns were expressed over the leading nature of the voting questions and, in a small minority of responses, the simplified scenarios used in dice games. The engagement exercises also appeared to have minimal impact on subsequent Primary Care Trust resource allocation, confirming a wider concern about the influence of public participation on policy decision making. The public engagement activities had considerable educative and political benefits and overall the evaluation indicates that the specific deliberative tools developed for the exercise facilitated a high level of discussion.

Originality/value

– This paper helps to fill the gap in empirical evaluations of deliberative approaches to citizen involvement in health care priority setting. It reports on a novel approach and considers a range of implications for future research and practice. The study raises important questions over the role of public engagement in driving priority setting decision making.
Transformational leadership: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Alexander Arthur Calum , Hardy Lew
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report a field-based quasi-experimental study designed to examine the effectiveness of a transformational leadership intervention in remediating poor performance. The intervention was conducted on elements of the organization that senior management perceived as being low performing.

Design/methodology/approach

– A quasi-experimental pre-test post-design was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the transformational leadership intervention. Pre-test data were collected four months prior to the intervention starting and the post-test data were collected eight months after the intervention had started. Follower perceptions of their leader's behavior and group cohesion, together with training outcome data were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.

Findings

– Results revealed that from pre-test to post-test changes in perceptions of leadership, group cohesion, and training outcome indicated that the intervention had beneficial effects. These beneficial effects were evidenced in one of two ways: desirable behaviors increased in the experimental group from pre-test to post-test while they remained the same or were decreased in the control group; or desirable behaviors remained the same in the experimental group while they decreased in the control group.

Originality/value

– The current study is the first to utilize a quasi-experimental organization wide design to examine the efficacy of a transformational leadership intervention. Furthermore, the current study provides evidence that transformational leadership can buffer negative environmental effects.
Influence behaviors and organizational commitment: a comparative study
Authors: P.M. Chong Melody
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Prior research has identified the outcomes of influence tactics as short-term task commitment, compliance and resistance. This paper argues that leaders’ downward influence behaviors should also have an impact on followers’ organizational commitment. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of three influence strategies (11 downward influence tactics) on organizational commitment, and the moderating effect of national culture.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study draws on survey data (n=185) and follow-up interviews (n=19) from Hong Kong Chinese employees who work for Hong Kong Chinese or Japanese managers.

Findings

– The quantitative results show that all rational tactics, the inspirational appeal and pressure tactics had effects on organizational commitment. Drawing on the survey and follow-up interview data, three specific factors in the use of influence tactics on organizational commitment are identified. Results suggest that some tactics are more universal and able to provide “long-lasting” effects compared with other tactics in enhancing or reducing employees’ organizational commitment. The results of the entire study also show that most rational influence tactics seem to be convergent; yet, there is also evidence that other tactics are more culturally specific in generating employee commitment.

Originality/value

– This is the first empirical study to examine the effects of influence behaviors on organizational commitment with both inter- and intra-cultural samples. The study has also drawn on interview data to demonstrate examples of effective and ineffective influence tactics used by superiors, thereby offering managerial hints to managers on how to exercise their influence behaviors effectively.
Supervisor transgressions: a thematic analysis
Authors: E. Basford Tessa
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Despite the harmful impact of supervisor transgressions, they have received little empirical attention. The purpose of this paper is to addresses this important gap, examining the nature of transgressions committed at work by supervisors against subordinates.

Design/methodology/approach

– A critical incident technique was employed in which employees described a transgression committed by their supervisor. Qualitative responses were then analyzed, resulting in the emergence of supervisor transgression themes.

Findings

– In total, 11 themes emerged, including: performance criticisms, demeaning insults, false accusations, undue demands, unfair employment decisions, inconsiderate treatment, inequitable behavior, inappropriate contextual selections, disregard of opinions, undersupplied resources, and underprovided recognition.

Research limitations/implications

– While this approach is not without limitations, including the potential for participant memory error and researcher analytical bias, it offers a necessary initial exploration into the content of supervisor transgressions. Findings open new areas for continued research exploration into the nature and functioning of supervisor transgressions.

Practical implications

– Practitioners also stand to benefit from this work, as this identification of supervisor transgression themes affords organizations knowledge about how to best target supervisory interventions.

Originality/value

– Though researchers have just begun to examine the nature of leader transgressions, they have yet to analyze the content of supervisor transgressions. This study offers an original investigation into how supervisors transgress against subordinates at work.
Coupon redemption behaviour: a Malaysian cross-segment investigation
Authors: J. Kitchen Philip , Faridah Syed Alwi Sharifah , Che-Ha Norbani , Yee Lim Pei
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine differing attitudinal characteristics (attitude and subjective norms) and perceptions of coupon characteristics (coupon value and coupon expiration date) towards coupon redemption based on psychological and demographic segments of consumers who may well differ in their purchase motivations and accompanying decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

– Following a detailed literature review, the characteristics are examined by means of a structured questionnaire administered via “mall intercept” to a convenience sample in major shopping areas in Malaysia.

Findings

– Following a variety of statistical tests, the findings support the use of coupon proneness, value consciousness, price consciousness and brand involvement as separate variables underpinning coupon usage propensity and indicated the value of coupons if used judiciously in relation to pre-identified segments.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitations associated with convenience sampling apply here, that is the findings cannot be generalised.

Practical implications

– The basis for sound parameters for the use of coupons are of value to marketing management.

Originality/value

– The paper offers an unique insight into coupon propensity and usage from a little-known economy. Its value lies in the degrees of support offered to findings from more advanced economies and a basis for differentiation in the Malaysian context.
Customer engagement planning emerging from the “individualist-collectivist”-framework
Authors: Nguyen Bang , Chang Kirk , Simkin Lyndon
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Today marketers operate in globalised markets, planning new ways to engage with domestic and foreign customers alike. While there is a greater need to understand these two customer groups, few studies examine the impact of customer engagement tactics on the two customer groups, focusing on their perceptual differences. Even less attention is given to customer engagement tactics in a cross-cultural framework. In this research, the authors investigate customers in China and UK, aiming to compare their perceptual differences on the impact of multiple customer engagement tactics.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a quantitative approach with 286 usable responses from China and the UK obtained through a combination of person-administered survey and computer-based survey screening process, the authors test a series of hypotheses to distinguish across-cultural differences.

Findings

– Findings show that the collectivists (Chinese customers) perceive customer engagement tactics differently than the individualists (UK customers). The Chinese customers are more sensitive to price and reputation, whereas the UK customers respond more strongly to service, communication and customisation. Chinese customers’ concerns with extensive price and reputation comparisons may be explained by their awareness towards face (status), increased self-expression and equality.

Practical implications

– The findings challenge the conventional practice of using similar customer engagement tactics for a specific market place with little concern for multiple cultural backgrounds. The paper proposes strategies for marketers facing challenges in this globalised context.

Originality/value

– Several contributions have been made to the literatures. First, the study showed the effects of culture on the customers’ perceptual differences. Second, the study provided more information to clarify customers’ different reactions towards customer engagement tactics, highlighted by concerns towards face and status. Third, the study provided empirical evidence to support the use of multiple customer engagement tactics to the across cultural studies.
Reliability investigations for high temperature interconnects
Authors: Dudek Rainer , Sommer Peter , Fix Andreas , Trodler Joerg , Rzepka Sven , Michel Bernd
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Because of the need for electronics use at temperatures beyond 150°C, high temperature resistant interconnection technologies like transient liquid phase (TLP) soldering and silver sintering are being developed which are not only replacements of high-lead solders, but also open new opportunities in terms of temperature resistance and reliability. The paper aims to address the thermo-mechanical reliability issues that have to be considered if the new interconnection technologies will be applied.

Design/methodology/approach

– A TLP soldering technique is briefly introduced and new challenges concerning the thermo-mechanical reliability of power devices are worked out by numerical analysis (finite element simulation). They arise as the material properties of the interconnect materials differ substantially from those known for soft solders. The effective material responses of the new materials are determined by localized unit cell models that capture the inhomogeneous structure of the materials.

Findings

– It is shown that both the TLP solder layer and the Ag-sinter layer have much less ductility and show less creep than conventional soft solders. The potential failure modes of an assembly made by TLP soldering or Ag sintering change. In particular, the characteristic low cycle fatigue solder failures become unlikely and are replaced either by metallization fatigue, brittle failure of intermetallic compound, components, or interfaces.

Originality/value

– A variety of new failure risks, which have been analyzed theoretically, can be avoided only if they are known to the potential user of the new techniques. It is shown that an optimal reliability will be strongly dependent on the actual assembly design.
Skin Autofluorescence Predicts Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis
Authors: Kimura Hiroshi , Tanaka Kenichi , Kanno Makoto , Watanabe Kimio , Hayashi Yoshimitsu , Asahi Koichi , Suzuki Hodaka , Sato Keiji , Sakaue Michiaki , Terawaki Hiroyuki , Nakayama Masaaki , Miyata Toshio , Watanabe Tsuyoshi
Published: January 2014

Tissue accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGE) is thought to contribute to the progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Skin autofluorescence, a non‐invasive measure of AGE accumulation using autofluorescence of the skin under ultraviolet light, has been reported to be an independent predictor of mortality associated with CVD in Caucasian patients on chronic hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of skin autofluorescence on all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality in non‐Caucasian (Japanese) patients on chronic hemodialysis. Baseline skin autofluorescence was measured with an autofluorescence reader in 128 non‐Caucasian (Japanese) patients on chronic hemodialysis. All‐cause and cardiovascular mortality was monitored prospectively during a period of 6 years. During the follow‐up period, 42 of the 128 patients died; 19 of those patients died of CVD. Skin autofluorescence did not have a significant effect on all‐cause mortality. However, age, carotid artery intima‐media thickness (IMT), serum albumin, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), skin autofluorescence and pre‐existing CVD were significantly correlated with cardiovascular mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed skin autofluorescence (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 3.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]1.67–9.43), serum albumin (adjusted HR 0.05; 95% CI 0.01–0.32), and hsCRP (adjusted HR 1.55; 95% CI 1.18–2.05) to be independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality. The present study suggests that skin autofluorescence is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in non‐Caucasian (Japanese) patients on chronic hemodialysis.
Changes in Hepcidin and Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Equivalent Levels in Response to Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator Administration in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Study
Authors: Kakimoto‐Shino Midori , Toya Yoshiyuki , Kuji Tadashi , Fujikawa Tetsuya , Umemura Satoshi
Published: January 2014

Inadequate iron availability limits the response to erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESA) and hepcidin is a key regulator of iron metabolism. However, there is little information concerning time‐dependent changes in hepcidin in response to the change of accelerated iron demand due to ESA‐induced erythropoiesis. In this study, iron‐related parameters, including hepcidin levels, were explored in comparison to patients receiving continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) and epoetin beta (EPO) treatment. Ninety‐four patients were randomized to receive monthly CERA (N = 47) or EPO three times/week (N = 47). After the titration period, hemoglobin levels and iron‐related parameters were examined. Data for 71 patients were evaluated (CERA, N = 34; EPO, N = 37). Compared with EPO treatment, CERA treatment caused significant decreases within 1 week in hepcidin (−93.5 ± 46.9 vs. −1.3 ± 38.3 ng/mL, P < 0.01), reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret‐He) (−4.03 ± 2.64 vs. −1.13 ± 1.41 pg, P < 0.01), ferritin (−58.9 ± 30.5 vs. −12.2 ± 23.8 ng/mL, P < 0.01) and transferrin saturation (−13.2 ± 9.1 vs. 1.0 ± 11.9%, P < 0.01) and significant increases within 2 weeks in the levels of hemoglobin (0.42 ± 0.38 vs. −0.02 ± 0.48 g/dL, P < 0.01). In conclusion, hepcidin, Ret‐He, ferritin and transferrin saturation levels decreased within 1 week and hemoglobin increased within 2 weeks after CERA administration. Time course of iron‐related parameters including hepcidin demonstrated accelerated iron utilization appropriately according to ESA‐induced erythropoiesis.
Overexpression of Hyperpolarization‐Activated Cyclic Nucleotide‐Gated Channels into the Ventral Tegmental Area Increases the Rewarding Effects of Ethanol in UChB Drinking Rats
Authors: Rivera‐Meza Mario , Quintanilla María Elena , Bustamante Diego , Delgado Ricardo , Buscaglia Marianne , Herrera‐Marschitz Mario
Published: January 2014

Background

A number of studies have shown that ethanol (EtOH) activates dopamine neurocircuitries and is self‐administered into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the rat brain. In vitro and in silico studies have showed that hyperpolarization‐activated cyclic nucleotide‐gated (HCN) ionic channels on VTA dopamine neurons may constitute a molecular target of EtOH; however, there is no in vivo evidence supporting this assumption.

Methods

Wistar‐derived University of Chile Drinking (UChB) rats were microinjected into the VTA with a lentiviral vector coding for rat HCN‐2 ionic channel or a control vector. Four days after vector administration, daily voluntary EtOH intake was assessed for 30 days under a free‐access paradigm to 5% EtOH and water. After EtOH consumption studies, the effect of HCN‐2 overexpression was also assessed on EtOH‐induced conditioned place preference (CPP); EtOH‐induced locomotion, and EtOH‐induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc).

Results

Rats microinjected with the HCN‐2 coding vector into the VTA showed (i) a ~2‐fold increase in their voluntary EtOH intake compared to control animals, (ii) lentiviral‐HCN‐2‐treated animals also showed an increased CPP to EtOH (~3‐fold), (iii) a significant higher locomotor activity (~2‐fold), and (iv) increased dopamine release in NAcc upon systemic administration of EtOH (~2‐fold).

Conclusions

Overexpression of HCN‐2 ionic channel in the VTA of rats results in an increase in voluntary EtOH intake, EtOH‐induced CPP, locomotor activity, and dopamine release in NAcc, suggesting that HCN levels in the VTA are relevant for the rewarding properties of EtOH.
Association of the Availability of Beer, Wine, and Liquor Outlets with Beverage‐Specific Alcohol Consumption: A Cohort Study
Authors: Halonen Jaana I. , Kivimäki Mika , Pentti Jaana , Virtanen Marianna , Subramanian S. V. , Kawachi Ichiro , Vahtera Jussi
Published: January 2014

Background

Little evidence exists on whether beverage‐specific alcohol availability is associated with beverage‐specific consumption. We longitudinally examined whether the number and change in number of beer, wine, and liquor outlets near one's home are associated with alcohol consumption by beverage type.

Methods

The study population consisted of 28,074 women and 6,639 men of the Finnish Public Sector Study who reported their alcohol use at baseline (in 2004/2005) and follow‐up (in 2008/2009). The coordinates of their residence and alcohol outlets during the study period were obtained from national registers. Associations of the number and change in the number of beer, wine, and liquor outlets with beer, wine, and liquor consumption were analyzed using 2‐level cumulative logistic regression adjusted for individual‐ and area‐level characteristics.

Results

Having ≥3 wine outlets within 0.5 km of home was associated with a higher likelihood of wine consumption compared with having no outlets within 0.5 km: the cumulative odds ratios (CORs) 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10 to 1.31) in women and 1.29 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.56) in men. For an increase in the number of wine outlets, the COR for wine consumption was 1.16 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.25) among all women and 1.10 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.21) among those who did not move between surveys. No corresponding beverage‐specific outlet‐consumption associations were observed for beer and liquor.

Conclusions

A high number of wine outlets near home may increase wine consumption among men and women. In addition, an increase in the number of wine outlets may add to its consumption among women, independent of the individuals' choice to move to areas of better availability.
Mutational Spectrum of the C1 Inhibitor Gene in a Cohort of Italian Patients with Hereditary Angioedema: Description of Nine Novel Mutations
Authors: Bafunno Valeria , Bova Maria , Loffredo Stefania , Divella Chiara , Petraroli Angelica , Marone Gianni , Montinaro Vincenzo , Margaglione Maurizio , Triggiani Massimo
Published: January 2014

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant disease due to mutations in the C1 inhibitor gene (C1NH) that affects protein synthesis (HAE type I) or function (HAE type II). In 45 subjects affected by HAE diagnosed through clinical features and C1 inhibitor deficiency from the south of Italy (38 with type I and 7 with type II HAE), the whole C1NH coding region was screened for mutations by direct DNA sequencing. A severity score based on clinical manifestation, age at disease onset, and need for long‐term prophylaxis was used to investigate possible genotype‐phenotype correlations. A series of 22 different mutations was identified: nine missense (40.9%), five nonsense (22.7%), six frameshift (27.3), one small deletion (4.5%), and one splicing defect (4.5%). Nine C1NH mutations have not been previously described. No correlation was found between C1 inhibitor function level and severity score or age at first attack. Moreover, there was no correlation between different types of mutations and clinical phenotype. The number of different mutations identified highlights the heterogeneity of C1 inhibitor deficiency and supports the hypothesis that HAE clinical phenotype is not strictly related to the type of mutation but rather depends on unknown factors.
Moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa treated with biological therapies
Authors: Chinniah Niranthari , Cains Geoffrey David
Published: January 2014

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a debilitating disorder that can be difficult to manage with current conventional treatment strategies. Given its association with proinflammatory cytokines there has been interest in the use of novel biological monoclonal antibodies. We describe our experience with the use of these agents in six patients in whom conventional treatment had failed, with promising response noted in some patients. A growing number of studies now highlight the efficacy of these agents.
Has carotid artery stenting found its place? A 10‐year regional centre perspective
Authors: Biggs Nathan G. , Rangarajan Shrikkanth , McClure David N.
Published: January 2014

Introduction

The post‐Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial era has seen a dramatic decline in the practice of carotid artery stenting (CAS). A retrospective review of prospectively collected CAS outcomes over a 10‐year period by a single operator was undertaken to determine if this change in practice is justified and to identify the place of carotid stenting in current practice.

Methods

One hundred fifty‐nine carotid stent procedures were undertaken on 137 patients from 2002 to 2012. Cases were selected for CAS only if they fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the SAPPHIRE trial. Post‐procedural outcomes were compared against those of a contemporaneous cohort of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) by the same operator and against published meta‐analyses. The measure of CAS durability was need for re‐intervention, based on the presence of ultrasound‐detected re‐stenosis >70%.

Results

No significant difference was identified in 30‐days' complication rates between patients undergoing CAS and those having CEA. Compared to published meta‐analyses of CAS, our practice was accompanied by a significantly lower rate of peri‐procedural stroke (1.26% versus 6%, P = 0.014) while carrying equivalent 30‐days' death and myocardial infarction. Four stented arteries had re‐intervention, due to asymptomatic in‐stent stenosis of >70%. Further intervention was declined in a fifth case. This represents a re‐stenosis rate of 3.1% over a mean follow‐up of 40.2 ± 27.6 months.

Discussion

CAS can provide a safe and durable treatment option for selected patients with carotid artery disease, in the hands of appropriately trained proceduralists who meet accepted standards of practice.
Evaluation of short‐term outcomes after laparoscopically assisted abdominoperineal resection for low rectal cancer
Authors: Wang Zheng , Zhang Xing‐Mao , Liang Jian‐Wei , Hu Jun‐Jie , Zeng Wei‐Gen , Zhou Zhi‐Xiang
Published: January 2014

Background

To investigate the feasibility, safety and short‐term efficacy of laparoscopic techniques applied in the abdominoperineal resection (APR) for low rectal cancer.

Methods

The clinical data of 236 patients with APR from January 2010 to January 2012 were analysed retrospectively, including 100 patients underwent laparoscopically assisted APR (LAAPR group), 136 cases of open APR (OAPR group). The demographics, tumor and procedure‐related parameters, perioperative results and short‐term oncological outcomes were evaluated using t‐test or χ2‐test.

Results

The demographic data of the two groups were comparable. Perioperative results were better after laparoscopic surgery, with less intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.017), earlier return of bowel function (P < 0.05) and lower complication rates (P = 0.015). No significant differences were detected between the two groups in operation time, tumor size, specimen length, the distance of tumor from the anal verge, lymph nodes removed and the status of circumferential resection margin (P > 0.05). During the follow‐up period of 17–38 months (average, 26 months), the overall survival rates were not significantly different between the two groups [82.5% (80/97) versus 82.7% (110/133), P > 0.05]. The differences in recurrence and metastasis between the two groups were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Laparoscopically assisted APR for low rectal cancer is safe and effective. It has the advantages of less bleeding, rapid postoperative recovery and fewer complications, without affecting the radical degree of the surgery. Further studies are needed to fully assess oncological outcomes in the future.
Curcumin attenuates staphylococcus aureus‐induced acute lung injury
Authors: Xu Feng , Diao Ran , Liu Jin , Kang Yanhua , Wang Xuanding , Shi Liyun
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Curcumin has remarkable anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its effects on bacterium‐induced acute lung injury (ALI) are not fully understood.

Objective

To investigate the protective effects of curcumin on a mouse model of S. aureus‐induced ALI.

Methods

Mice were pretreated with intraperitoneal injection of curcumin or vehicle 2 h before Staphylococcus aureus instillation. The survival rate and bacterial burden after infection were recorded. Mice were sacrificed for the analyses of severity of pneumonia, integrity of lung barrier, disorder of coagulation cascades and extent of inflammation 12 h postinfection. The production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was detected.

Results

Pretreatment with curcumin markedly attenuated S. aureus‐induced pneumonia, barrier disruption, lung edema and vascular leakage. Activation of plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 and infiltration of neutrophils were reduced by curcumin, together with lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

Conclusion

Curcumin can alleviate S. aureus‐induced ALI through multiple pathways.
Geographies of Securitized Catastrophe Risk and the Implications of Climate Change
Authors: Johnson Leigh
Published: January 2014

This article analyzes the drivers and implications of catastrophe bonds’ growing popularity as an alternative asset class. As investor demand for bonds outpaces their supply from reinsurers, the study asks how the place‐based physical vulnerabilities of fixed capital have been rendered into assets deemed increasingly desirable by growing blocks of financial capital. Combining data from extended interviews with industry datasets and market reports, the study demonstrates how this securitization pathway allows mobile capital on a search for yield to reframe spatial liabilities as tradable assets, thus accessing new “returns on place.” By aggregating and analyzing data on approximately $37 billion in catastrophe bond transactions since 1997, the study reveals both the ongoing concentration of capital in so‐called “peak perils” such as U.S. hurricane and earthquake risks, and the fragmentation and recombination of peak perils to create new risk/return profiles. These purposive, scalable, and selective financial engagements with catastrophic risks depend upon the avoidance of the fixed costs and relational entanglements borne by (re)insurers. This ambivalent relationship with geographical liabilities is reaching its logical apogee in recent proposals to expand the catastrophe bond market to capitalize on growing climate change risks. This movement to “underwrite to securitize” intentionally emulates the “originate to securitize” model pioneered in mortgage‐backed securities. This study argues that such developments could ultimately yield a built environment that is both more dependent on the state as an insurer of last resort and less adapted to climate extremes.
Body size affects host defensive behavior and progeny fitness in a parasitoid wasp, Lysiphlebus fabarum
Authors: Ameri Mohammad , Rasekh Arash , Michaud J.P.
Published: January 2014

This study tested effects of maternal body size on foraging behavior and progeny development in a thelytokous population of Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Small and large wasps were reared from first and second instar hosts [black bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae)], respectively, and each was provided with a patch (bean leaf disk) containing either 15 small (second instar) or 15 large (fourth instar) hosts for a 30‐min foraging period. Neither body size nor host size affected time allocation to various behaviors within a patch, but second instar aphids produced significantly more mummies than fourth instars. The preferred attack orientation was from the side of the aphid, suggesting wasps were sensitive to the risk of smearing with cornicle secretions. Few wasps developed in fourth instar hosts, suggesting later host instars were somewhat resistant to parasitism. Second instar hosts, the most suitable stage for L. fabarum development, relied more on defensive behavior, specifically kicking and secreting cornicle droplets. Large wasps were more likely to elicit a double cornicle secretion, indicating that aphids graded their response to the size of the attacker. Larger wasps were also more likely to be smeared with cornicle secretion, suggesting they were more vulnerable than small wasps. Although small wasps had smaller eggs than large wasps, there was no effect of maternal egg size on the size of progeny. However, daughters of small females emerged with larger egg loads than daughters of large mothers, and their eggs tended to be slightly smaller, although not significantly. Regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between maternal egg size and progeny developmental time for small and large wasps, and between maternal egg size and progeny egg load for small wasps. These results confirm maternal effects of body size in an aphid parasitoid, and reveal that vulnerability to host behavioral defenses is also body size dependent.
5,10‐Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase single nucleotide polymorphisms and gene–environment interaction analysis in non‐syndromic cleft lip/palate
Authors: Estandia‐Ortega Bernardette , Velázquez‐Aragón José A. , Alcántara‐Ortigoza Miguel A. , Reyna‐Fabian Miriam E. , Villagómez‐Martínez Sandra , González‐del Angel Ariadna
Published: January 2014

Non‐syndromic cleft lip/palate (NSCL/P) is a common congenital defect inMexico. Periconceptional intake of folic acid (FA) may reduce the risk of this malformation. Although the 5,10‐methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme participates in folate metabolism, several studies failed to find any association betweenNSCL/Pand theMTHFRC677TandA1298Cpolymorphisms. However, interactions amongNSCL/P,MTHFRgene polymorphisms, andFAintake have not been explored inMexican populations. This case–control study included 132 patients withNSCL/Pand 370 controls fromMexicoCity. MaternalFAconsumption during pregnancy was examined, as were theMTHFRC677TandA1298Cpolymorphisms and gene–FAinteractions. MaternalFAintake during the periconceptional period was lower in cases (1.5%) than in controls (13%), with the risk of delivering a child withNSCL/Plower in mothers who consumedFA(OR = 0.29, 95%CI: 0.19–0.44). In addition, the risk ofNSCL/P was lower in children with theTTthan theCCgenotype ofMTHFRC677T (OR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.23–0.68), afterBonferroni correction and exclusion of stratification. No evidence of gene–FAinteraction was found. These results indicate that maternalFAintake and theTTgenotype of theMTHFRC677Tpolymorphism in children independently reduced the risk ofNSCL/Pin our population.
Influence of geriatric oncology consultation on the management of breast cancer in older women: A French population‐based study
Authors: Somana‐Ehrminger Sophie , Dabakuyo Tienhan S , Manckoundia Patrick , Ouédraogo Samiratou , Marilier Sophie , Arveux Patrick , Quipourt Valérie
Published: January 2014

Aim

The objective of the present population‐based study was to assess the impact of geriatric oncology consultation on the management of elderly patients with breast cancer and to identify the predictive factors of breast cancer treatment in this population.

Methods

A total of 206 women aged 75 years and older with breast cancer, diagnosed from January 2007 to December 2009 were included. The independent impact of geriatric oncology consultation on treatment was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for the other predictive factors of treatment.

Results

Patients who had a geriatric oncology consultation (19.4%) had more comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥1; P = 0.02), more advanced tumors (P = 0.025), more aggressive tumors (P = 0.029), were more likely to receive mastectomy and adjuvant therapy (P < 0.0001); and less likely to be treated by breast‐conserving surgery and adjuvant therapy (P = 0.003). Regarding the geriatric oncology database, 36 of the 40 patients consulted a geriatrician about oncological treatment, and 27 of these 36 patients received the treatment suggested by the geriatrician. For the whole population, geriatric oncology consultation remained a positive predictor for mastectomy and adjuvant therapy (odds ratio 2.32, P = 0.043), and a negative predictor for breast‐conserving surgery and adjuvant therapy (odds ratio 0.38, P = 0.048).

Conclusions

In the present study, we found that treatment of patients who underwent a geriatric oncology consultation generally followed the geriatricians' recommendations. The geriatric oncology consultation was a positive predictor of mastectomy and adjuvant therapy, and a negative predictor of breast‐conserving surgery and adjuvant therapy. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 111–119.
Looking inside an avalanche using a novel radar system
Authors: Keylock C.J. , Ash M. , Vriend N. , Brennan P.V. , McEwaine J.N. , Sovilla B.
Published: January 2014

Snow avalanches are a significant natural hazard in alpine regions and their flow dynamics have similarities to pyroclastic flows and other geological mass movements. However, the potential for artificial release and the temporary nature of their deposits makes them somewhat easier to study. This article explains recent developments in radar technology for imaging these flows. These new data mean that, for the first time, we are seeing the whole flow averaged over spatial scales that are dynamically relevant. This provides an opportunity to properly test existing models for the dynamics used in risk applications and to gain knowledge of the flow physics, which will guide the next generation of model formulations.
Water, ice and mud: lahars and lahar hazards at ice‐ and snow‐clad volcanoes
Authors: Waythomas Christopher F.
Published: January 2014

Large‐volume lahars are significant hazards at ice and snow covered volcanoes. Hot eruptive products produced during explosive eruptions can generate a substantial volume of melt water that quickly evolves into highly mobile flows of ice, sediment and water. At present it is difficult to predict the size of lahars that can form at ice and snow covered volcanoes due to their complex flow character and behaviour. However, advances in experiments and numerical approaches are producing new conceptual models and new methods for hazard assessment. Eruption triggered lahars that are ice‐dominated leave behind thin, almost unrecognizable sedimentary deposits, making them likely to be under‐represented in the geological record.