bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Destruction of White Matter Integrity in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Sun Xiaoyan , Salat David , Upchurch Kristen , Deason Rebecca , Kowall Neil , Budson Andrew
Published: October 2015

Background

Accumulating evidence shows that gradual loss of white matter integrity plays an important role in the development of Alzheimer disease (AD).

Objective

The aim of this research was to study the microstructural integrity of white matter in AD in vivo.

Methods

Global fractional anisotropy, global axial diffusivity (AxD), and global radial diffusivity (RD) were analyzed in subjects with normal controls (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD using Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative data (total N = 210). We further compared specific white matter tracts among the 3 groups.

Results

Compared with the NC group, the MCI group had significantly increased global AxD and global RD. Compared with the NC and MCI groups, the AD group had significantly decreased global fractional anisotropy, increased global AxD, and increased global RD. With regard to specific white matter tracts, in the MCI group, we found increased AxD and increased RD in the external capsule, part of the lateral cholinergic pathway, in addition to the tracts connecting the limbic regions, predominantly in the left hemisphere. In the AD group, white matter abnormalities were widespread, including in the external capsule (cholinergic pathway) and limbic region tracts as well as tracts connecting anterior to posterior regions bilaterally.

Conclusions

The radiographic manifestation of damaged white matter microstructural integrity in the cholinergic pathway in MCI patients may provide a rational basis for the use of cholinesterase inhibitor drugs in the MCI stage of AD.
Evaluation of Arterial Blood Flow Changes by Orbital Doppler in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma
Authors: Yakut Zeynep Ilerisoy , Karadağ Remzi , Ozol Duygu , Senturk Aysegul
Published: October 2015

Purpose

Both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. They primarily affect the lungs, but they have various extrapulmonary manifestations. The aim of our study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes in orbital vessels of the patients with COPD and asthma using color Doppler ultrasonography and compare the results with healthy control subjects.

Methods

Thirty-seven patients with COPD, 37 patients with asthma, and 41 healthy control subjects were included in this study. All patients with COPD were in moderate to severe group according to GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease), and similarly, all patients with asthma were in moderate to severe persistent group according to GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) 2006 guidelines. End-tidal carbon dioxide, peripheral oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and respiratory rate were measured by using pulse oximeter in all patients. Measurements were performed in only 1 randomly selected eye of each participant. The peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and resistance index were measured in the central retinal artery, temporal posterior ciliary artery, and nasal posterior ciliary artery using the color Doppler ultrasonography technique.

Results

The peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and resistance index values of temporal posterior ciliary artery and nasal posterior ciliary artery were significantly higher in COPD and asthma than in the control subjects. There was no difference between asthma and COPD.

Conclusions

We concluded that retrobulbar hemodynamics change in COPD and asthma is showing 1 of the systemic effects in these diseases.
Characteristics of Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Image Enhancement in Prolactinomas Resistant to Dopamine Agonist Therapy
Authors: Guo Qinghua , Erickson Bradley J. , Chang Alice Y. , Erickson Dana
Published: October 2015

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine whether dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) enhancement parameters could predict dopamine agonist (DA) resistance in prolactinomas.

Methods

We retrospectively identified patients with prolactinomas who were treated with DA and underwent dMRI from 2001 through 2012 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). Intensities of the adenoma and pituitary gland were measured by drawing regions of interest on the images. Enhancement ratio, enhancement peak, prepeak slope (PPS), and enhancement time were compared between DA-resistant and DA-responsive groups, between DA-treated and DA-naive groups, and between the first and follow-up dMRIs.

Results

We identified 49 patients with prolactinomas, with 6 (12.2%) showing DA resistance. Thirty-seven patients (75.5%) underwent dMRI while receiving treatment, 12 (25.5%) underwent dMRI before starting therapy, and 10 (20.4%) had follow-up dMRI after DA therapy. The PPS of the tumor was higher in the treatment-resistant group versus the responsive group (mean [SD], 4.42 [3.19] vs 2.65 [1.59]; P = 0.03), whereas no difference was noted in the pituitary gland (5.79 [2.21] vs 4.06 [2.48]; P = 0.11). Logistic regression analysis indicated that tumor PPS was associated with DA resistance (odds ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–3.27; P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Dynamic MRI with PPS analysis potentially can be used early in the treatment course to evaluate DA resistance in pituitary prolactinomas.
Nasal Nitric Oxide in Patients with Inherited Retinal Dystrophies
Authors: Heffler Enrico , Marchese Cristiana , Boita Monica , Rolla Giovanni
Published: October 2015

Background

Ciliopathies refer to a wide variety of diseases in which mutations in the genes encoding proteins involved in ciliogenesis or protein transport to the primary cilia play pathogenetic roles, and in such diseases, retinal involvement may be present. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in airway physiology, including regulation of ciliary motility and host defense. In primary ciliary dyskinesia, a syndromic ciliopathy, nasal NO (nNO) levels were reported to be extremely low compared with controls, possibly reflecting molecular defects leading to structural and functional ciliary abnormalities. We investigated whether decreased nitric levels were also present in patients with retinal inherited dystrophies.

Methods

Nasal NO was measured in a group of patients with syndromic and nonsyndromic inherited retinal dystrophies.

Results

Patients with inherited retinal dystrophies, both syndromic and nonsyndromic, had mean nNO levels that were lower than healthy controls. Seven patients had particularly low levels of nNO: 3 patients with retinitis pigmentosa and 4 individual patients with Mainzer-Saldino syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Usher syndrome, and cone-rod disease.

Conclusions

These findings provide evidence that there is an underlying abnormal ciliary function involving the nasal epithelium in some patients with inherited retinal dystrophies.
Serum β-Crosslaps as Predictor of Long-term Parathyroid Hormone Levels in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Coppolino Giuseppe , Lucisano Gaetano , Rivoli Laura , Simeoni Mariadelina , De Paola Luciano , Timpano Raffaele , Palmieri Camillo , Fuiano Giorgio
Published: October 2015

Background and Aims

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurements in hemodialysis (HD) patients are routinely performed every 3 to 6 months of therapy, which are adjusted in accordance with PTH. However, recent evidences show very high PTH biological variability. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of serum β-crosslap (CTX), a validated marker of bone resorption, as indicator of PTH maintenance at different time intervals.

Methods

Forty-six HD patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (HD age of more than 21 months and 7 PTH measurements for the last 21 months) for this retrospective cohort study and were enrolled. Data of the backward quarter PTH values for the last 21 months were collected from clinical records, and a single CTX was measured. To evaluate the relationship between CTX value and the maintenance of PTH in the short-term and long-term, 7 time intervals (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 months) were stated and the mean value of PTH was measured within each interval and calculated for every patient.

Results

We found the following: (1) positive correlation between mean PTH in each time interval and β-crosslaps with a progressive increase of the correlation coefficient (highest value for the 12- and 21-month intervals); (2) significant differences between tertiles of β-crosslaps at 6-, 9-, 12-, 15-, 18-, and 21-month intervals, with a progressively growing value of the test coefficient; and (3) after the computation of receiver operating characteristic curves, β-crosslaps showed to significantly estimate threshold PTH values with the highest areas under the curves (AUCs; AUC, 0.763; 95% confidence interval, 0.625–0.901 for <150 pg/mL of PTH; AUC, 0.774; 95% confidence interval, 0.614–0.934 for >300 pg/mL of PTH) and best value of both sensitivity and specificity at the 12-month time interval (82% and 72% for <150 pg/mL of PTH; 78% and 79% for >300 pg/mL of PTH).

Conclusions

In HD patients, β-crosslaps have a potential ability to best estimate backward PTH into 12 months of interval.
Diagnosis of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Patients with Myeloproliferative Disorders
Authors: Cinemre Hakan , Serinkan Cinemre Behice F. , Çekdemir Demet , Aydemir Birsen , Tamer Ali , Yazar Hayrullah
Published: October 2015

Background

Myeloproliferative disorders are characterized by proliferation of 1 or more lineage of hematologic cells. Rapid proliferation of cells may lead to depletion of vitamin B12, which may be falsely elevated by conventional assays in these disorders. We evaluated vitamin B12 status with conventional vitamin B12 assay and levels of serum methylmalonic acid (MMA), serum holotranscobalamin (holoTC), and plasma homocysteine in myeloproliferative disorders.

Methods

In 58 patients who had myeloproliferative disorders and normal serum creatinine levels, we measured levels of vitamin B12, MMA, holoTC, and homocysteine. Correlations were evaluated between these tests, with MMA as the reference standard for vitamin B12 deficiency.

Results

Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was 69%, despite high serum vitamin B12 levels. Levels of holoTC of 40.6 pmol/L or less and homocysteine of greater than 14 mol/L were the best cutoff levels with sensitivity values of 75% and 70%, specificity values of 80% and 68%, and positive predictive values of 88% and 80%. Logistic regression showed that cutoff values of holoTC of 40.6 pmol/L or less and homocysteine of greater than 14 mol/L resulted in odds ratio 15.5 for low versus high holoTC, and odds ratio 5.4 for high versus low homocysteine, to confirm vitamin B12 deficiency.

Conclusions

Patients who had myeloproliferative disorders had a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency, despite high serum vitamin B12 levels. Therefore, vitamin B12 status should be evaluated in patients with myeloproliferative disorders. Holotranscobalamin level may be the best initial test and may replace vitamin B12 assay to accompany MMA and homocysteine levels.
Factors Predicting Recurrence of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Hospitalized Patients: Retrospective Study of More than 2000 Patients
Authors: Abdelfatah Mohamed , Nayfe Rabih , Nijim Ala , Enriquez Kathleen , Ali Eslam , Watkins Richard R. , Kandil Hossam
Published: October 2015

Background

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has increased in incidence and severity worldwide, causing direct costs estimated to range from US $3.2 billion to $4.8 billion. The aim of this study was to investigate and identify factors that predict recurrence of CDI.

Methods

This was a retrospective case-control study between 2007 and 2013 on patients admitted with CDI. Recurrent CDI is defined as a new episode of diarrhea within 90 days confirmed by a positive stool C. difficile toxin assay or polymerase chain reaction, after resolution of the initial CDI episode for at least 10 days and after discontinuation of the CDI therapy.

Results

Three thousand twenty patients were diagnosed with CDI between January 2007 and December 2013. Two hundred nine of 2019 patients in the study had a recurrence of CDI within 90 days of the end of the initial CDI episode (10.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that most of the recurrences occurred in patients with comorbidities, particularly chronic kidney disease (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0–2.4; P = 0.039). In addition, a higher percentage of patients in the recurrence group were prescribed proton-pump inhibitors (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.0–1.7; P = 0.002) and steroids (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.0–1.5; P = 0.047).

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the use of glucocorticoids, use of proton-pump inhibitors, and having end-stage renal disease are significant risk factors associated with recurrent CDI.
Aldosterone Synthase Promoter Polymorphism and Cardiovascular Phenotypes in a Large, Multiethnic Population-Based Study
Authors: Byrd James Brian , Auchus Richard J. , White Perrin C.
Published: October 2015

Background

A single-nucleotide polymorphism in the aldosterone synthase gene (CYP11B2) promoter [−344C/T, rs1799998] has been reported to associate with cardiovascular phenotypes.

Methods

The Dallas Heart Study is a large, multiethnic cohort with a high prevalence of hypertension. We genotyped 3452 Dallas Heart Study participants for −344C/T. Generalized linear models were used to assess whether variation at −344C/T associated with plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), plasma glucose (in persons with no diabetes), HOMA IR (Homeostasis Model Assessment as an Index of Insulin Resistance), and left ventricular (LV) mass indexed to height. Systolic blood pressure and DBP were significantly higher in blacks compared with whites ( P < 0.001 for SBP and for DBP) and Hispanics ( P < 0.001 for SBP and for DBP). Log-transformed body mass index was also significantly higher in blacks compared with whites ( P < 0.001), but not Hispanics ( P = 0.10). Log-transformed PAC was higher in whites compared with blacks ( P < 0.001), but did not differ significantly in whites compared with Hispanics ( P = 0.73). In univariate and multivariable analysis, −344C/T was not significantly associated with PAC within any ethnicity. In univariate and multivariable analysis, −344C/T was not associated with SBP or DBP within any ethnicity. After adjustment for multiple testing, univariate and multivariable analyses revealed no association between −344C/T and plasma glucose in patients with no diabetes, HOMA IR, or LV mass indexed to height.

Conclusions

We were unable to reproduce previously reported associations between −344C/T and PAC, blood pressure, plasma glucose, or LV mass. Methodological differences might explain the differences between our findings and those previously reported.
Crosstalk between toll-like receptors and hypoxia-dependent pathways in health and disease
Authors: Crifo Bianca , Taylor Cormac T
Published: October 2015

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in shaping the host immune response to infection and inflammation. Tissue hypoxia is a common microenvironmental feature of infected and inflamed tissues. Furthermore, hypoxia significantly impacts the development of immune and inflammatory responses through the regulation of host innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we will discuss current knowledge in relation to the crosstalk that exists between toll-like receptor- and hypoxia-dependent signaling pathways in health and disease.
Significant Association between Polymorphisms of Wnt Antagonist Genes and Lung Cancer
Authors: Yilmaz Meral , Donmez Gonca , Kacan Turgut , Sari Ismail , Akgül Babacan Nalan , Sari Musa , Kilickap Saadettin
Published: October 2015

Further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying lung cancer (LC) is essential for the development of new effective therapeutic agents. Recently, involvement of Wnt antagonists in oncogenesis has been demonstrated in several cancers. The investigation of their contribution to lung carcinogenesis is still under investigation. We aimed to investigate whether there is a susceptibility or preventive effect of Wnt antagonist gene polymorphisms on the development and/or prognosis of LC. We investigated 110 LC patients and 160 controls. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of Wnt antagonist genes including DKK2 (rs17037102), DKK3 (rs3206824), DKK3 intron4 G/C (rs7396187), DKK4 (rs2073664), and sFRP4 (rs1802074) were analyzed using nested polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results showed that patients with DKK3 AA compared with controls have a decreased risk of LC (adjusted for smoking habit, body mass index, and familial history) ( P = 0.02; odds ratio [OR],0.08; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.01–0.7). It was found that, for sFRP4 polymorphism, patients with GG and GA genotypes versus AA genotype controls showed a decreased risk for LC ( P = 0.01; [OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.05–0.73 for GG genotype]; [OR = 0.18, 95% CI, 0.04–0.72 for GA genotype]). In addition, a decreased risk of LC was also found for the genotype combination of DKK3 (rs3206824) GG and sFRP4 AG + GG (P = 0.004; OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02–0.58). We suggest that these 2 polymorphisms have a protective effect on LC in this study.
The Great Migration and African-American genomic diversity
Authors: Baharian Soheil , Barakatt Maxime , Gignoux Christopher R , Shringarpure Suyash , Errington Jacob , Blot William J , Bustamante Carlos D , Kenny Eimear E , Williams Scott M , Aldrich Melinda C , Gravel Simon
Published: October 2015

Genetic studies of African-Americans identify functional variants, elucidate historical and genealogical mysteries, and reveal basic biology. However, African-Americans have been under-represented in genetic studies, and little is known about nation-wide patterns of genomic diversity in the population. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of African-American genomic diversity using genotype data from nationally and regionally representative cohorts. We find higher African ancestry in southern United States compared to the North and West. We show that relatedness patterns track north- and west-bound routes followed during the Great Migration, suggesting that admixture occurred predominantly in the South prior to the Civil War and that ancestry-biased migration is responsible for regional differences in ancestry. Rare genetic traits among African-Americans can therefore be shared over long geographic distances along the Great Migration routes, yet their distribution over short distances remains highly structured. This study clarifies the role of re- cent demography in shaping African-American genomic diversity.
Crystal structure of (Z)-2-benzylidene-4-methyl-2H-benzo[b][1,4]thiazin-3(4H)-one
Authors: Ellouz Mohamed , Sebbar Nada Kheira , Essassi El Mokhtar , Saadi Mohamed , El Ammari Lahcen
Published: October 2015

In the title compound, C16H13NOS, the 1,4-thiazine ring displays a screw-boat conformation. The conformation about the ethene bond [1.344 (2) Å] isZ. The plane of the fused benzene ring makes a dihedral angle of 58.95 (9)° with the pendent phenyl ring, indicating a twisted conformation in the molecule. In the crystal, molecules are linked by pairs of C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers.
Crystal structure of 8-ethoxy-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-chromen-2-one
Authors: Walki Shashikanth , Naveen S. , Kenchanna S. , Mahadevan K. M. , Kumara M. N. , Lokanath N. K.
Published: October 2015

In the title compound, C17H13NO5, the coumarin ring system is essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.008 Å). The nitrophenyl ring makes a dihedral angle of 25.27 (9)° with the coumarin ring plane. The nitro group is almost coplanar with the phenyl ring to which it is attached, making a dihedral angle of 4.3 (3)°. The ethoxy group is inclined to the coumarin ring plane by 4.1 (2)°. Electron delocalization was found at the short bridging C—C bond with a bond length of 1.354 (2) Å. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviaC—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming sheets in thebcplane. The sheets are linkedviaπ–π stacking [centroid–centroid distances = 3.5688 (13) and 3.7514 (13) Å], forming a three-dimensional structure.
Promotional alternate reality games – more than “just” marketing
Authors: Janes Stephanie
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ways in which players and producers of promotional alternate reality games (ARGs) negotiate their commercial status, similar to the way in which Matt Hills (2002) argues fan communities negotiate their position within a commercial media industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– In-depth interviews with game designers is combined with the results of an online player survey and qualitative analysis of discussion on player forums. This provides a strong platform from which to discuss player and producer attitudes towards the status of promotional ARGs as marketing materials.

Findings

– Both players and producers use various strategies which allow them to negotiate their relationship to the commercial nature of promotional ARGs. These include a focus on the immersive nature of the games (also known as the “This Is Not a Game” philosophy), defining their creative interests strongly against the perceived commercial interests of corporate media companies and an emphasis on the personal, emotional or affective impact of the games.

Originality/value

– In the very slim body of academic work on promotional ARGs, few scholars have considered the status of the games as marketing from the perspective of the audience. The paper provides original audience research which is of value and interest to scholars in a diverse variety of disciplines, and to anyone involved in the production or consumption of ARGs.
The influence of transformational leadership on followers’ affective commitment
Authors: Stinglhamber Florence , Marique Géraldine , Caesens Gaëtane , Hanin Dorothée , De Zanet Fabrice
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine why and when followers of transformational leaders exhibit increased affective organizational commitment. Particularly, the authors examined the role played by perceived organizational support (POS) and supervisor’s organizational embodiment (SOE), i.e. a perception concerning the extent to which employees identify their supervisor with the organization, in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 287 employees of a water producer organization responded to a questionnaire.

Findings

– The results show that, when employees strongly identify their supervisor with the organization, transformational leadership is positively related to POS, with positive consequences in terms of emotional attachment to this organization. In contrast, when the supervisor is not identified to the organization, his/her transformational leadership does not extend to POS and, finally, to affective organizational commitment.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest that a high transformational leadership and a high SOE together engender the highest POS and affective commitment. Organizations should thus provide their managers with training programs and feedbacks over their performance as leaders to promote transformational leadership. Furthermore, to foster perceptions of SOE, organizations might implement socialization tactics aiming to strengthen managers’ organizational identification or person-organization fit, and give managers more power and influence in their day-to-day work to increase employees’ attributions of informal organizational status to managers.

Originality/value

– By showing that POS and SOE are important mechanisms in the transformational leadership-affective commitment relationship, this research explains why and when transformational leadership of supervisors has spillover effect on organization-directed attitudes.
Airosonic Travels Private Limited: staying competitive through IT development
Authors: Thakurta Rahul , Rao Umesh Hodeghatta
Published: October 2015

Subject area

Information technology (IT) project risks.

Study level/applicability

This case is suitable for the students who are enrolled in masters or executive programmes in management. Considering the masters programme in management, the case can be introduced in the MIS course in sessions related to IT project risks. The case will also be appropriate for discussion in elective courses, such as IT project management. Here the case can be introduced in discussions related to understanding IT project outsourcing risks. The case will also fit well with the audience of the executive programme in sessions on IT project risks. The assignment questions provided below are designed from the perspective of teaching this case to a business student audience. The case could certainly be adjusted to fit the needs of students in more technical disciplines.

Case overview

This case presents an organization (Airosonic Travels Private Limited) which was set up in 1988. The organization provided travel-related services (i.e. ticketing, hotels bookings, car rentals and cruises to exotic destinations) to meet the requirements of corporate users such as organization employees, vendors, dealers and customers. The packages were provided though the portal www.corporatetravels.in/. With cut-throat completion from other vendors, the organization acquired the globally preferred airline reservation system Galileo to gain market share in the computer reservation system market. This acquisition, however, led to a series of deliberations on how the new system could be put to use and integrated with the portal so that it helped Airosonic to achieve efficiency in its day-to-day processes. The integration was necessary, as this would entirely eliminate third-party requirements (such as travel agents) and also make travel planning easy, cost-effective and hassle-free. The different alternatives available to the governing body were to develop and manage the entire thing in-house, outsource the development to a third part, or delegate the entire responsibility to the third party. The analysis of the case takes into account the different risks that are associated with each of these decision alternatives and the possible ways forward for the Airosonic management.

Expected learning outcomes

The objective of this teaching case is as follows: to understand the different risk elements that influence development of a software initiative, to differentiate between different categories of risks including project development risks and project management risks, to appreciate the differences in the types of risks that influence different project execution scenarios such as in-house development and outsourcing and to understand how an organization can address and manage the risks facing a software initiative.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
LibanPost: a successful strategy for a private-public partnership
Authors: Yaacoub Hala Khayr , Aziz Shaza Abdul , Wehbeh Ramona , Debs Rania El
Published: October 2015

Subject area

This case gives readers the opportunity to think about strategies employed in the postal sector amid sector, technological, national and global challenges. It highlights the importance of thinking about real options, and real solutions to counter the failures of the past and the uncertainties of the future.

Study level/applicability

The case will be particularly useful for master's degrees, Master of Business Administration, doctorate students or undergraduate specialized courses of strategy, public sector management and privatization.

Case overview

This case study aims to analyze the manner in which LibanPost transformed itself from a government bureaucracy to a commercial company and how, through diversification, it was transformed from a traditional postal operator to a high-end service provider. In addition, it attempts to examine the stages that have led to LibanPost's success, shedding the light on the major barriers and enablers for its reform.

Expected learning outcomes

The students will be able to examine how a privately owned postal company succeeded in transforming a courier company from a bureaucratic public administration incurring substantial losses to a profitable commercial company, through privatization, and grasp the major success barriers and enablers for LibanPost, while exploring the reasons behind the failure of the foreign–national partnership.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Boycott and racism: a loaf of bread is just a loaf of bread
Authors: Abdul-Latif Samshul-Amry , Abdul-Talib Asmat-Nizam
Published: October 2015

Subject area

This case study can be used for courses under marketing management, international marketing or public relations.

Study level/applicability

This case study may be suitable for courses which discuss decision-making and/or executive actions and execution, at both undergraduate and graduate levels. It could also be used in graduate classes as some open-ended questions are also included to illicit critical thoughts and fresh ideas.

Case overview

Companies can be boycotted for many reasons; for example, a company may be associated with or engage in egregious acts which trigger a consumer boycott. However, it is unusual for racial and political elements to form the basis of a consumer boycott. This paper describes how a current leader in the packaged bread market, Gardenia Bakeries Sdn Bhd (GBKL), responded to one such online campaign. This case study highlights the importance of effective communications and marketing strategies for responding to sensitive issues involving racism and politics.

Expected learning outcomes

Students are introduced to the concept of consumer boycotts and how this may affect a business. Students are exposed to the development of appropriate public relation strategies and explore creative methods to combat bad publicity and/or a smear campaign. Students can learn to appreciate the sensitivity of allegations of racism in a multi-ethnic country and understand how multi-ethnic consumers respond to these types of issues. Students are exposed to the effects of political and socio-demographic influences on purchase behavior in a particular market or country. Students may explore the effects of consumer activism on a company's brand image.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
New life luxury: upcycled Scottish heritage textiles
Authors: Keith Sara , Silies Maria
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The term luxury and sustainability, within the fashion and textile industries are seldom seen as natural bedfellows. Recently however, the perception of luxury has begun to include a definition left behind in the twentieth century; beautifully hand crafted artefacts valued for the time, skill and design invested in them. It is possible though, for the concept of luxury textiles to embrace this definition and that of the sustainable credentials of a “Cradle to Cradle” (McDonough and Braungart, 2002) mindset (that of a life beyond original creation) and be fashionable. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Utilising a variety of methodologies including case studies, reflective practice and a practice-based approach; this paper examines the use of pre-consumer waste in the creation of new luxury textiles. Several projects are cited, offering examples of collaboration between textile mills and designers in the creation of new fabrics made from luxury by-products. This luxury waste is routinely shredded for automobile seat filling or landfill, however current sustainable thinking encourages a more creative solution to this circumstance. Designers have a crucial role to play in converting an unwanted by-product to one that is highly desirable.

Findings

– Traditional values of what constitutes a luxury item include the concept of time invested in making a unique handmade artefact. More recently, this premise has been overlooked in favour of branded goods. The slow fashion movement advocates the inherent value of craftsmanship coupled with the ethical use of sustainable and or local materials and processes. The traditional techniques of felting, weave and stitch are utilised to create beautiful, original textiles from discarded waste. By collaborating with local mills, designers provide solutions to something that could be perceived as a problem.

Originality/value

– The embedded narrative within these layered textiles provides an original quality and added value, building on their Scottish heritage. The resulting textiles reflect their provenance; the landscape they come from and the people who created them. As a result of purchase, the story continues with the new custodian, adding to the ongoing history of the textile. The design work and collaboration that this paper outlines embodies a transferable model for sustainable upcycled luxury textiles.
Selling luxury goods online: effects of online accessibility and price display
Authors: Kluge Philipp Nikolaus , Fassnacht Martin
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– Luxury goods manufacturers have long been hesitant to adopt the internet as a channel of distribution. A luxury brand’s concept of exclusiveness is seemingly incompatible with the ubiquitous accessibility provided by the mass medium internet. The purpose of this paper is to address the apparent contradiction by examining consumer responses to the online accessibility and price display of luxury goods.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three studies are presented: first, a qualitative pre-study with luxury industry experts is conducted to identify the current managerial discussion on the online distribution of luxury goods. Second, an experiment with 183 high-income individuals is conducted to test the effects of online accessibility on consumer perceived scarcity and desirability. Third, a second experiment with 142 qualified luxury insiders is conducted to test consumer responses to the online accessibility and price display of luxury goods.

Findings

– Results indicate that the online accessibility of luxury goods does not affect consumer perceived scarcity and, hence, does not dilute brand desirability. This “no-dilution” finding applies to both high- and low-involvement goods and persists independently of whether or not retail prices are explicitly displayed.

Originality/value

– Whether or not to sell luxury goods online has been controversially discussed among both marketing scholars and executives. To the authors’ knowledge, the present paper is the first to empirically examine consumer responses to the online accessibility and price display of luxury goods.
Presidential parties, monetary regimes, and health care returns
Authors: Bredthauer Jeffery Scott , Payne Brian C. , Tresl Jiri , Karels Gordon V.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the absolute and risk-adjusted stock return performance of the US health care industry conditional upon the presidential administration’s political party and the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance. It evaluates this return behavior across the 60-year time period from 1954 to 2013, and sub-divides this entire period into the pre-Medicare period (1954-1964), Medicare period (1965-1984), and Medicare-plus-high-health-care-inflation period (1985-2013).

Design/methodology/approach

– The study uses monthly returns to the health care industry and overall market, characterizing each sample month as either having a Republican or Democratic president and either a contractionary or expansionary monetary policy regime determined by whether the Federal Reserve is increasing or decreasing interest rates, respectively. It incorporates univariate and multivariate analysis to quantify the return behavior of both the health care industry and the overall market during the entire period and all three sub-periods. Additionally, it utilizes a common four-factor multivariate regression model and associated hypothesis testing to characterize risk-adjusted excess returns (i.e. α) to the health care industry during the entire period and all three sub-periods.

Findings

– The health care industry has earned robust, positive risk-adjusted returns with the magnitude of the returns sensitive to the political party of the administration and the monetary policy regime. The authors find that prior to 1965 (1954-1964), when the president was a Republican, during times of monetary contraction, health care earned an excess risk-adjusted return. There was no association between Democratic administrations and excess health care returns prior to 1965. In contrast, the authors find that after 1965 this relationship changes. The authors find that returns to health care were positive for Republicans during times of monetary expansion and positive for Democrats during monetary contraction. The authors also find this relationship has become more pronounced after 1984.

Originality/value

– The study extends prior literature, which has shown that the health care industry is a priced factor in the US stock market and that it provides significant risk-adjusted returns in the recent past. Uniquely, this study shows that the excess returns to health care vary considerably over the past 60 years, and that these excess returns are quite sensitive to political policy, proxied by the presidential administration party, and monetary policy, as measured using Fed discount rate changes. These findings have implications for management and shareholders of highly regulated and subsidized industries and firms.
Copper homeostasis at the host vibrio interface: lessons from intracellular vibrio transcriptomics
Authors: Vanhove Audrey S. , Rubio Tristan P. , Nguyen An N. , Lemire Astrid , Roche David , Nicod Julie , Vergnes Agnès , Poirier Aurore C. , Disconzi Elena , Bachère Evelyne , Le Roux Frédérique , Jacq Annick , Charrière Guillaume M. , Destoumieux‐Garzón Delphine
Published: October 2015

Recent studies revealed that several vibrio species have evolved the capacity to survive inside host cells. However, it is still often ignored if intracellular stages are required for pathogenicity. Virulence of Vibrio tasmaniensis LGP32, a strain pathogenic for Crassostrea gigas oysters, depends on entry into hemocytes, the oyster immune cells. We investigated here the mechanisms of LGP32 intracellular survival and their consequences on the host–pathogen interaction. Entry and survival inside hemocytes were required for LGP32‐driven cytolysis of hemocytes, both in vivo and in vitro. LGP32 intracellular stages showed a profound boost in metabolic activity and a major transcription of antioxidant and copper detoxification genes, as revealed by RNA sequencing. LGP32 isogenic mutants showed that resistance to oxidative stress and copper efflux are two main functions required for vibrio intracellular stages and cytotoxicity to hemocytes. Copper efflux was also essential for host colonization and virulence in vivo. Altogether, our results identify copper resistance as a major mechanism to resist killing by phagocytes, induce cytolysis of immune cells and colonize oysters. Selection of such resistance traits could arise from vibrio interactions with copper‐rich environmental niches including marine invertebrates, which favour the emergence of pathogenic vibrios resistant to intraphagosomal killing across animal species.
Organizational Identification: A Context‐Specific Mitigating Resource of Work–Family Conflict
Authors: Allen Joseph A. , Crowe John , Baran Benjamin E. , Scott Cliff
Published: October 2015

The tension between work and non‐work life remains a critical issue in contemporary careers. This study explores the role of organizational identification (OI) in reducing work–family conflict (WFC) within demanding and high‐stakes jobs in dynamic, uncertain and potentially dangerous contexts (e.g., firefighting). Survey data from 341 firefighters suggest that, congruent with conservation of resources theory and scarcity theory, OI may serve as a resource that mitigates WFC in these contexts. Additionally, the data suggest that the negative relationship between OI and WFC is stronger when trauma is low. For practice, this study provides important implications for employees in similar contexts concerning potential ways to mitigate WFC as well as recommendations concerning exposure to trauma.
Determination of certain quality characteristics, thermal and sensory properties of ice creams produced with dried Besni grape (Vitis vinifera L.)
Authors: Kavaz Arzu , Yüksel Mehmet , Dağdemir Elif
Published: October 2015

In this study, the effect of adding dried Besni grape (BG) at different concentrations on the physico‐chemical characteristics, colour values, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, glass transition (), melting (), freezing (Tf) and melting (Tm) point temperatures, and sensory properties of ice creams was investigated. Generally, the addition of BG caused a statistically significant (P < 0.01) increase in total solids, ash, fat, viscosity, first dripping times, complete melting times and a* colour values, while it decreased protein, pH, overrun, L*, b*, , , Tf and Tm values. The colour scores of ice cream samples showed a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) with the increment of BG concentration, while the effects of BG addition on texture, resistance to melting, flavour, gumming structure and overall acceptability scores were not statistically significant.
Nursing Care Plans Based on NANDA, Nursing Interventions Classification, and Nursing Outcomes Classification: The Investigation of the Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention in Greece
Authors: Patiraki Elisabeth , Katsaragakis Stylianos , Dreliozi Angeliki , Prezerakos Panagiotis
Published: October 2015

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an educational intervention on home nursing care plans based on NANDA, Nursing Interventions Classification, and Nursing Outcomes Classification for registered nurses working at primary healthcare settings in Greece.

Methods

This is a quasi‐experimental study without a control group. The sample consisted of 19 registered nurses. The study tool was a questionnaire administered pre‐ and post‐educational intervention.

Findings

The intervention improved their skills on nursing diagnoses' nomination, proper formulation, and individualization of defining characteristics, but it did not improve them in desired outcomes formulation.

Conclusions

A significant effect of an educational intervention on nursing care plans was demonstrated.

Implications for Nursing Practice

Nurses' knowledge and attitudes are important for understanding and integrating documentation within the nursing process.
Central anticholinergic syndrome vs. idiosyncratic reaction triggered by a small IV dose of atropine
Authors: Cao X. , Cui Y. , White P. F. , Tang J. , Ma H.
Published: October 2015

A 58‐year‐old male was scheduled to undergo radical gastrectomy for cancer under general anesthesia. The patient developed agitation and irregular breathing after receiving a single dose of atropine (0.5 mg) to treat bradycardia immediately prior to induction of anesthesia. Within 5 min after the atropine injection, the patient became unresponsive with facial flushing and diaphoresis. When a drop in oxygen saturation was observed, a laryngeal mask airway was inserted after administering a small bolus dose of propofol (80 mg) and the patient was ventilated with 100% oxygen. Physostigmine was not administered because of the relatively low dose of atropine and the fact that his symptoms were not totally consistent with central anticholinergic syndrome (CAS). The differential diagnosis at the time also included an acute cardiovascular event and an idiosyncratic reaction to atropine. The patient fully recovered within 80 min from this highly unusual reaction to a single 0.5 mg IV dose of atropine.
Critical Appraisal of Emergency Medicine Education Research: The Best Publications of 2014
Authors: Yarris Lalena M. , Juve Amy Miller , Coates Wendy C. , Fisher Jonathan , Heitz Corey , Shayne Philip , Farrell Susan E.
Published: October 2015

Objectives

The objective was to critically appraise and highlight rigorous education research study articles published in 2014 whose outcomes advance the science of emergency medicine (EM) education.

Methods

A search of the English language literature in 2014 querying Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), PsychINFO, PubMed, and Scopus identified 243 EM‐related articles using either quantitative (hypothesis‐testing or observational investigations of educational interventions) or qualitative (exploring important phenomena in EM education) methods. Two reviewers independently screened all of the publications using previously established exclusion criteria. Six reviewers then independently scored the 25 selected publications using either a qualitative or a quantitative scoring system. Each scoring system consisted of nine criteria. Selected criteria were based on accepted educational review literature and chosen a priori. Both scoring systems use parallel scoring metrics and have been used previously within this annual review.

Results

Twenty‐five medical education research papers (22 quantitative, three qualitative) met the criteria for inclusion and were reviewed. Five quantitative and two qualitative studies were ranked most highly by the reviewers as exemplary and are summarized in this article.

Conclusions

This annual critical appraisal series highlights seven excellent EM education research studies, meeting a priori criteria and published in 2014. Methodologic strengths in the 2014 papers are noted, and current trends in medical education research in EM are discussed.
Improved detection of disease‐associated variation by sex‐specific characterization and prediction of genes required for fertility
Authors: Ho N. R. Y. , Huang N. , Conrad D. F.
Published: October 2015

Despite its great potential, high‐throughput functional genomic data are rarely integrated and applied to characterizing the genomic basis of fertility. We obtained and reprocessed over 30 functional genomics datasets from human and mouse germ cells to perform genome‐wide prediction of genes underlying various reproductive phenotypes in both species. Genes involved in male fertility are easier to predict than their female analogs. Of the multiple genomic data types examined, protein–protein interactions are by far the most informative for gene prediction, followed by gene expression, and then epigenetic marks. As an application of our predictions, we show that copy number variants (CNVs) disrupting predicted fertility genes are more strongly associated with gonadal dysfunction in male and female case–control cohorts when compared to all gene‐disrupting CNVs (OR = 1.64, p < 1.64 × 10−8 vs. OR = 1.25, p < 4 × 10−6). Using gender‐specific fertility gene annotations further increased the observed associations (OR = 2.31, p < 2.2 × 10−16). We provide our gene predictions as a resource with this article.