bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure of dichlorido{N1-phenyl-N4-[(quinolin-2-yl-κN)methylidene]benzene-1,4-diamine-κN4}mercury(II)
Authors: Faizi Md. Serajul Haque , Prisyazhnaya Elena V. , Iskenderov Turganbay S.
Published: January 2015

In the mononuclear title complex, [HgCl2(C22H17N3)], synthesized from the quinoline-derived Schiff baseN1-phenyl-N4-[(quinolin-2-yl)methylidene]benzene-1,4-diamine (PQMBD) and HgCl2, the coordination sphere around the Hg2+atom is distorted tetrahedral, comprising two Cl atoms [Hg—Cl = 2.3487 (14) and 2.4490 (15) Å] and two N atom donors from the PQMBD ligand,viz. the quinolyl and the imine N atom [Hg—N = 2.270 (4) and 2.346 (4) Å, respectively]. The dihedral angle between the two benzene rings attached to the amino group is 43.7 (3)°. In the crystal, N—H...Cl and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, as well as π–π stacking interactions between one phenyl ring and the pyridine ring of the quinoline moiety of an adjacent molecule [centroid-to-centroid separation = 3.617 (4) Å] are observed, resulting in a three-dimensional network.
Crystal structure of tetrawickmanite, Mn2+Sn4+(OH)6
Authors: Lafuente Barbara , Yang Hexiong , Downs Robert T.
Published: January 2015

The crystal structure of tetrawickmanite, ideally Mn2+Sn4+(OH)6[manganese(II) tin(IV) hexahydroxide], has been determined based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collected from a natural sample from Långban, Sweden. Tetrawickmanite belongs to the octahedral-framework group of hydroxide-perovskite minerals, described by the general formulaBB'(OH)6with a perovskite derivative structure. The structure differs from that of anABO3perovskite in that theAsite is empty while each O atom is bonded to an H atom. The perovskiteB-type cations split into orderedBandB′ sites, which are occupied by Mn2+and Sn4+, respectively. Tetrawickmanite exhibits tetragonal symmetry and is topologically similar to its cubic polymorph, wickmanite. The tetrawickmanite structure is characterized by a framework of alternating corner-linked [Mn2+(OH)6] and [Sn4+(OH)6] octahedra, both with point-group symmetry -1. Four of the five distinct H atoms in the structure are statistically disordered. The vacantAsite is in a cavity in the centre of a distorted cube formed by eight octahedra at the corners. However, the hydrogen-atom positions and their hydrogen bonds are not equivalent in every cavity, resulting in two distinct environments. One of the cavities contains a ring of four hydrogen bonds, similar to that found in wickmanite, while the other cavity is more distorted and forms crankshaft-type chains of hydrogen bonds, as previously proposed for tetragonal stottite, Fe2+Ge4+(OH)6.
Crystal structure of (1S,2R,4R,9S,11S,12R)-9α-hydroxy-4,8-dimethyl-12-[(thiomorpholin-4-yl)methyl]-3,14-dioxatricyclo[9.3.0.02,4]tetradec-7-en-13-one
Authors: Benharref Ahmed , Akssira Mohamed , El Ammari Lahcen , Saadi Mohamed , Berraho Moha
Published: January 2015

The title compound, C19H29NO4S, was synthesised from 9α-hydroxyparthenolide (9α-hydroxy-4,8-dimethyl-12-methylene-3,14-dioxatricyclo[9.3.0.02,4]tetradec-7-en-13-one), which was isolated from the chloroform extract of the aerial parts of the plantAnvillea radiata. The molecule is built up from two fused five- and ten-membered rings, with an additional epoxy ring system and a thiomorpholine group as a substituent. The ten-membered ring adopts an approximate chair–chair conformation, while the thiomorpholine ring displays a chair conformation and the five-membered ring has an envelope conformation, with the C atom closest to the hydroxy group forming the flap. An intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond closes anS(8) ring. The crystal structure features weak C—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions, which link the molecules into [010] chains.
How shopping orientation influences the effectiveness of monetary and nonmonetary promotions
Authors: Büttner Oliver B. , Florack Arnd , Göritz Anja S.
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This research aims to examine whether shopping orientation (experiential vs task-focused) influences how consumers react toward nonmonetary and monetary promotions. It was predicted that promotions are more effective if the promotional benefits are congruent with consumers’ shopping orientation. Moreover, consumers’ financial budget was assumed to moderate the influence of shopping orientation on promotion effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

– The hypotheses were tested in three experiments. Study 1 used a measure of shopping orientation as a consumer disposition and examined its influence on promotion attractiveness. Two further studies used an experimental manipulation of shopping orientation and examined its influence on promotions attractiveness and retailer choice.

Findings

– The results supported the hypotheses. Task-focused shoppers evaluated monetary promotions as more attractive than nonmonetary promotions. Experiential shoppers evaluated both types of promotions as comparably attractive. Furthermore, experiential shoppers were more likely than task-focused shoppers to choose a retailer offering a nonmonetary promotion over a retailer offering a monetary promotion. Low financial budget, however, reduced the influence of shopping orientation on retailer choice.

Originality/value

– To effectively use promotions as a tool, marketers and retailers need to know when and how to use them, as well as understand which type of promotion is the most effective. This research implies that retailers will benefit from customizing promotions to fit consumers’ shopping orientations. Furthermore, the findings show that the advantage of such a tailored approach is reduced if consumers’ financial budget is limited.
Consonants in brand names influence brand gender perceptions
Authors: Guevremont Amelie , Grohmann Bianca
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This paper examines to what extent consonants in brand names influence consumers’ perceptions of feminine and masculine brand personality.

Design/methodology/approach

– Four experiments empirically test the influence of consonants on feminine and masculine brand personality. The experiments involve different sets of new brand names, variations regarding the consonants tested (the stops k and t, the fricatives f and s), as well as different locations of the focal consonant in the brand name.

Findings

– Consonants influence consumers’ brand perceptions: brand masculinity is enhanced by stops (rather than fricatives), and brand femininity is enhanced by fricatives (rather than stops). Consonants specifically affect feminine and masculine brand personality, but not other brand personality dimensions. Consumers’ responses to brand names and resulting brand gender perceptions (i.e. likelihood to recommend) were moderated by salience of masculinity or femininity as a desirable brand attribute.

Practical implications

– This research has implications for brand name selection: consonants are effective in creating a specifically masculine or a feminine brand personality.

Originality/value

– This research is the first to specifically link consonants and feminine/masculine brand personality. By specifically examining consonants, this research extends the marketing literature on sound symbolism that is characterized by a focus on vowels effects. This research is also the first to address whether the position of the focal phoneme in the brand name matters.
Consumer knowledge discrimination
Authors: Pillai Kishore Gopalakrishna , Brusco Michael , Goldsmith Ronald , Hofacker Charles
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to introduce knowledge discrimination to consumer research. It also examines the antecedent effects of objective knowledge and confidence in knowledge on consumer knowledge discrimination. Research in psychology has sought to distinguish between calibration and discrimination, two related skills in probabilistic judgments. Though consumer research has sought to examine knowledge calibration, the construct of knowledge discrimination has not attracted any attention.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reports on three studies which use a cross-sectional design using a structured questionnaire. The hypotheses are tested using regression. In addition, the paper also reports the results of an experimental study.

Findings

– The paper finds that the objective knowledge has a positive effect on discrimination. But confidence in knowledge does not have a consistent effect on discrimination. The paper also finds that feedback improves discrimination.

Research limitations/implications

– The study adds a new dimension to the examination of metaknowledge and metacognitions in the consumer domain.

Practical implications

– The study suggests some ways in which companies/government agencies can improve consumer knowledge discrimination.

Social implications

– Knowledge discrimination is expected to reduce consumer vulnerability and enhance consumer competence.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to examine knowledge discrimination in the consumer domain. Prior research has observed that there could be a trade-off between calibration and discrimination. Hence, the study of knowledge discrimination can inform the study of knowledge calibration.
The effect of brand design on brand gender perceptions and brand preference
Authors: Lieven Theo , Grohmann Bianca , Herrmann Andreas , Landwehr Jan R. , van Tilburg Miriam
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This research aims to examine the impact of brand design elements (logo shape, brand name, type font and color) on brand masculinity and femininity perceptions, consumer preferences and brand equity.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research empirically tests the relation between brand design elements, brand masculinity and femininity and brand preferences/equity in four studies involving fictitious and real brands.

Findings

– Brand design elements consistently influenced brand masculinity and femininity perceptions. These, in turn, significantly related to consumer preferences and brand equity. Brand masculinity and femininity perceptions successfully predicted brand equity above and beyond other brand personality dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

– Although this research used a wide range of brand design elements, the interactive effects of various design elements warrant further research.

Practical implications

– This research demonstrates how markers of masculinity and femininity that are discussed in the evolutionary psychology literature can be applied to the brand design of new and existing brands.

Originality/value

– This research considers the impact of multiple brand design elements (logo shape, brand name, type font and color) and involves a wide range of brands and product categories.
Mandatory use of technology-based self-service: does expertise help or hurt?
Authors: Reinders Machiel J. , Frambach Ruud , Kleijnen Mirella
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to investigate the effects of two types of expertise (self-service technology and service type) on the disconfirmation of customers’ expectations and the use-related outcomes of technology-based self-service (TBSS).

Design/methodology/approach

– This empirical study pertains to the mandatory use of a national public transport chip card in The Netherlands based on a sample of 267 users of this TBSS.

Findings

– The findings show that technology experts experienced a less positive disconfirmation of expectations and reported less positive evaluations of the new self-service than technology novices. Technology experts also showed lower intentions to engage in positive word-of-mouth than technology novices. The evaluation of the self-service by technology novices is more positive for those that are service experts as compared to service novices, while the evaluation by technology experts is more negative for those that are service experts as compared to service novices.

Research limitations/implications

– This study provides insight into how different types and levels of customer expertise affect individuals’ assessments of a TBSS upon its mandatory use.

Practical implications

– For marketing managers and public policy-makers, understanding the multifaceted role of customer expertise enables more effective market segmentation and targeting, thus improving implementation of TBSS.

Originality/value

– This research suggests that customers’ technology and service expertise have some counter-intuitive effects on TBSS use-related outcomes.
Raising capital by issuing transferable membership in a consumer cooperative
Authors: Mikami Kazuhiko
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– It is generally recognized that consumer cooperatives are at a disadvantage when raising capital as compared to conventional capitalist firms. The purpose of this paper is to explore a method for consumer cooperatives to issue transferable membership shares as financial securities and raise non-redeemable equity. The author examines if such a method can strengthen the financial viability of consumer cooperatives in the market economy.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author first explain the mechanism by using diagrams of the circular flow of factors of production and the product. The author then developed a simple formal model and compare the amount of equity capital raised by a capitalist firm and a consumer cooperative.

Findings

– The author found that the amount of equity that a consumer cooperative can raise by issuing shares of membership is greater than the amount of equity that a capitalist firm can raise by issuing shares of stock.

Research limitations/implications

– More research effort is required to apply the theory discussed in this paper for practical use.

Social implications

– Consumer cooperatives have many good features that conventional capitalist firms do not have. However, the scale and scope of consumer cooperatives have been quite limited partly because of the problem of finance. The method presented in this paper is expected to improve the financial viability of consumer cooperatives and promotes their activities in the market economy.

Originality/value

– This paper regards the membership of a consumer cooperative as a kind of financial security and as a tool for procuring capital for investment. As far as the author knows, the present paper is the first one that presents such a concept.
Who are the victims of property crime in Mexico?
Authors: Martinez Jose Navarro , Cortez-Yactayo Willy Walter
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of social exposure activities, risk awareness measures, individual and family characteristics and the socioeconomic environment where the individual resides on the probability of property crime victimization.

Design/methodology/approach

– A state preference model of crime is employed using victimization surveys data for several years complemented with municipality level data from population census. Logit regressions for the probability of victimization are run for males and females separately and using different specifications.

Findings

– Regression estimates show that self-protection measures do not offset significantly the probability of victimization and that the likelihood of repeat victimization is highly significant. The most likely victims of property crime in Mexico do not live in highly marginalized communities. Finally, the covariates related to income are stronger predictors of victimization than the level of social exposure.

Research limitations/implications

– Further research is needed that considers other types of crime and complements the victimization data with police resources data.

Social implications

– This paper helps to obtain a better understanding of property crime in Mexico and its victims. The main results can help policy makers to allocate scarce resources more efficiently and design more efficient measures to fight property crime in Mexico.

Originality/value

– The data set used combines individual and family data from several victimization surveys and complements it with municipality level characteristics from population census. The analysis of victimization is made for the entire country and not for large cities only.
The rich or the poor: who gains from public education spending in Ghana?
Authors: Gaddah Mawuli , Munro Alistair , Quartey Peter
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the incidence of public education subsidies in Ghana. Since the late 1990s, Ghana’s government has increasingly recognized human capital as key to alleviating poverty and income inequality, causing dramatic increases of government expenditures to the education sector. At the same time user fees have been introduced in higher education while basic education is being made progressively free. The question then is, whether these spending increases have been effective in reaching the poor and to what extent? What factors influence the poor’s participation in the public school system?

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors address the key issues by employing both the standard benefit incidence methods and the willingness-to-pay method.

Findings

– The results give a clear evidence of progressivity with consistent ordering: pre-schooling and primary schooling are the most progressive, followed by secondary, and then tertiary. Own price and income elasticities are higher for private schools than public schools and for secondary than basic schools.

Practical implications

– Given the liquidity constraints African governments face yet there is the need to improve the human capacity of the countries, this study offers solution to how to optimally allocate the educational budget.

Originality/value

– The use of policy simulations to ascertain the incidence of public spending on education is innovative as far as previous studies in Africa is concerned.
Selection of project delivery approach with unascertained model
Authors: Li Huimin , Qin Keli , Li Peng
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The construction project is implemented under uncertainty environment, and the product of construction is very complex. Selecting a project delivery system/approach is a critical task, which determines the project schedule, quality and investment objectives. The purpose of this paper is to propose a decision-making model for the selection of project delivery system which is based on information entropy and unascertained measure model.

Design/methodology/approach

– A decision-making model based on information entropy and unascertained set is employed to select project delivery approach. In order to overcome the subjective evaluations from the experts, the theory of “entropy weight” is applied to modify the experts’ subjective weight. The multi-attribute unascertained measure decision making is fitted to deal with the uncertainty information for selection of project delivery system.

Findings

– The proposed methodology is more comprehensive compared with the previous work, especially in the uncertainty environment.

Research limitations/implications

– There is some further work that should be considered, such as how to deal with the imprecise and subjective information given by the experts; how to determine the weight of the experts’; finding a set of importance factors influencing the selection of a delivery system is a complex task to further research.

Practical implications

– The proposed method can help the construction owner to select a most fitted project delivery system of a construction project.

Originality/value

– A new approach to select project delivery approach is proposed based on information entropy and unascertained set.
Vegetation structure is as important as climate for explaining ecosystem function acrossPatagonian rangelands
Authors: Gaitán Juan J. , Oliva Gabriel E. , Bran Donaldo E. , Maestre Fernando T. , Aguiar Martín R. , Jobbágy Esteban G. , Buono Gustavo G. , Ferrante Daniela , Nakamatsu Viviana B. , Ciari Georgina , Salomone Jorge M. , Massara Virginia
Published: January 2015

Drylands cover about 41% ofEarth's land surface, and 65% of their area supports domestic livestock that depends on the above‐ground net primary productivity (ANPP) of natural vegetation. Thus, understanding how biotic and abiotic factors controlANPPand related ecosystem functions can largely help to create more sustainable land‐use practices in rangelands, particularly in the context of ongoing global environmental change.

We used 311 sites across a broad natural gradient in Patagonian rangelands to evaluate the relative importance of climate (temperature and precipitation) and vegetation structure (grass and shrub cover, species richness) as drivers ofANPP, precipitation‐use efficiency (PUE) and precipitation marginal response (PMR).

Climatic variables explained 60%, 52% and 12% of the variation in grass cover, shrub cover and species richness, respectively. Shrub cover increased in areas with warmer, drier and winter rainfall climates, while the response observed for both grass cover and species richness was the opposite. Climate and vegetation structure explained 70%, 60% and 29% of the variation inANPP,PUEandPMR, respectively. These three variables increased with increasing vegetation cover, particularly grass cover. Species richness also increased withANPP,PUEandPMR.ANPPincreased, andPUEdecreased with increasing mean annual precipitation, whereasPMRincreased with the proportion of precipitation falling in spring–summer. Temperature had a strong negative effect onANPPandPUE, and a positive direct effect onPMR. Standardized total effects from structural equation modelling showed that vegetation structure and climate had similar strengths as drivers of ecosystem functioning. Grass cover had the highest total effect onANPP(0.58),PUE(0.55) andPMR(0.41). Among the climatic variables, mean annual precipitation had the strongest total effect onANPP(0.51) andPUE(−0.41), and the proportion of the precipitation falling in spring–summer was the most influential onPMR(0.36).

Synthesis. Vegetation structure is as important as climate in shaping ecosystem functioning Patagonian rangelands. Maintaining and enhancing vegetation cover and species richness, particularly in grasses, could reduce the adverse effects of climate change on ecosystem functioning in these ecosystems.
Fire, percolation thresholds and the savanna forest transition: a neutral model approach
Authors: Abades Sebastián R. , Gaxiola Aurora , Marquet Pablo A.
Published: January 2015

Recent empirical and theoretical analyses have suggested that biomes could correspond to alternative equilibrium states; one such example is the transition between forest, savanna and treeless states.

Fire supposes to be a key functional component of savanna ecosystems and is a powerful predictor of tree cover that can differentiate between forest and savanna ecosystems. Interestingly, empirical evidence suggests that fire occurrence drops at a threshold tree cover near 40%. Since savannas are ecosystems characterized by a discontinuous tree canopy cover immersed in a continuous grass layer a 40% of tree cover implies around 60% cover of grasses, which are the flammable component of this ecosystem.

In this article, we hypothesize that the observed common pattern of 40% tree cover versus 60% in grass cover often reported for savanna ecosystems is the outcome of a spatial phase transition associated with the existence of a critical percolation threshold for fire spread.

To test this hypothesis, we developed a spatially explicit neutral metacommunity model to explore the relationship between species cover and the emergence of percolation patterns. The model is intended to emulate savanna dynamics under neutrality assumptions.

Using a statistical mechanical approach, we show that a second‐order phase transition behaviour is observed for the probability that a grass species develops a percolating cluster. Using a simple finite size scaling analysis, the percolation threshold pc for our model was estimated to be in the range of 0.53–0.62.

Synthesis. Our results point out that the emergence of a spatial phase transition associated with percolation is a robust result of neutral metacommunity dynamics with a critical threshold of space occupancy close to pc ˜ 0.6, which supports our hypothesis that the empirically observed 40% tree cover (60% grass cover) is associated with a percolation threshold for C4 grasses that in turn imply the existence of a spatially connected or spanning cluster of grass cover over which fire can spread.
Squaring the Virtuous Circle: Exploring the Potential of the ‘Five Cs’
Authors: Butcher John R.
Published: January 2015

During his May 2014 visit to Australia Pascal Lamy, former Director General of the World Trade Organization, urged ‘public institutions, civil society, and global businesses’ to forge ‘creative coalitions’ for the purpose of engaging constructively and positively with the complex problems standing in the way of achieving social and economic sustainability. Lamy's visit was but the first of several occasions during 2014 in which intense public discussion erupted about the need for government, business, and civil society to pool their capacities in boundary‐spanning efforts to address complex policy problems. This article investigates whether the public discussion portends a heightened policy focus on the ‘five Cs’: co‐production, co‐design, corporate social responsibility, collective impact, and Lamy's creative coalitions.
‘Gentrification Without Displacement' and the Consequent Loss of Place: The Effects of Class Transition on Low‐income Residents of Secure Housing in Gentrifying Areas
Authors: Shaw Kate S. , Hagemans Iris W.
Published: January 2015

The increasingly disputed concept of gentrification‐induced displacement is combining with the argument that the poor benefit from social mix to produce a theoretical case for ‘positive gentrification'. The notion that new middle‐class residents not only attract more investment but bring opportunities for ‘upward social mobility' to low‐income people who manage to stay in gentrifying areas has become policy orthodoxy. While there are scholarly challenges to the extent of these benefits, the disadvantages of imposed social mix on low‐income communities even where they are not physically displaced remain under‐researched. This article helps to fill this gap by reporting on research into the experience of long‐term low‐income residents of gentrifying neighbourhoods who managed to stay put. The research explores notions of social mix, place and displacement among residents of secure community housing in Melbourne, Australia (the equivalent of small‐scale social housing in Europe and North America) with the object of establishing whether the absence of physical displacement is sufficient to ameliorate gentrification's negative impacts. The findings demonstrate that transformations in shops and meeting places, and in the nature of local social structure and government interventions, cause a sense of loss of place even without physical displacement.
Using lithium ion batteries in the aeromedical environment: A calculated risk?
Authors: Haggerty Andrew , Keogh Sean
Published: January 2015

Lithium ion batteries are increasingly utilised within helicopter emergency medical services. Their favourable chemical profile confers many desirable properties: they are small, lightweight and provide a high specific capacity (energy to weight ratio) coupled with a slow self‐discharge rate, ensuring a longer functional availability for vital equipment. They are frequently used in routine medical equipment including ventilators, monitors and intravenous pumps, and in aviation specific items, such as satellite and mobile phones, VHF radios and navigation systems.
Heterogeneity in practice during negative scrotal exploration for clinically‐suspected testicular torsion
Authors: Naumann David N , Jones Simon A , Taylor Caroline , Jaganathan Ramasamy , Hendrickse Charles W , Karandikar Sharad
Published: January 2015

Aim

Diagnostic uncertainty, inadequate training and inexperience could lead to surgeons performing unnecessary orchidopexy during negative scrotal exploration for suspected testicular torsion. In the present study, we aimed to examine current practice, in order to highlight areas for improvement and focused guideline recommendations.

Patients and Methods

Patients undergoing scrotal exploration for suspected torsion at a UK hospital from 1 August 2012 to 1 July 2013 were included. Urologists managed patients over 16 years of age, and general surgeons managed those 16 years and younger. Demographic and admission details, diagnosis, surgical technique and specialty of the surgeon were recorded. Diagnosis and management of torsion and nontorsion were examined. Negative scrotal exploration was defined as the absence of testicular torsion.

Results

There were 73 emergency scrotal explorations. The median age was 17 years. Urologists operated on 52 per cent. A total of 34 per cent of adult and 26 per cent of paediatric patients had an intraoperatively‐confirmed diagnosis of torsion (P < 0.01). Fifty two of 73 (70 per cent) patients had negative scrotal exploration, of which 29 of 52 (56 per cent) underwent ipsilateral orchidopexy, and seven of 52 (13 per cent) underwent contralateral orchidopexy. General surgeons performed nonindicated orchidopexy more than urologists (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Variations in practice exist between surgeons managing negative scrotal exploration. Although appropriate emphasis during training is placed on managing testicular torsion, attention must also be given to consensus management of negative scrotal exploration.
Efficacy of a Transition Theory‐Based Discharge Planning Program for Childhood Asthma Management
Authors: Ekim Ayfer , Ocakci Ayse Ferda
Published: January 2015

Purpose

This study tested the efficacy of a nurse‐led discharge planning program for childhood asthma management, based on transition theory.

Methods

A quasi‐experimental design was used. The sample comprised 120 children with asthma and their parents (intervention group n = 60, control group n = 60).

Findings

The asthma management self‐efficacy perception level of parents in the intervention group increased significantly and the number of triggers their children were exposed to at home was reduced by 60.8%. The rates of admission to emergency departments and unscheduled outpatient visits were significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group.

Conclusions

Transition theory‐based nursing interventions can provide successful outcomes on childhood asthma management.

Practice Implications

Transition theory‐based discharge planning program can guide nursing interventions to standardize care of the child with asthma. Combining care at home with hospital care strengthens ongoing qualified asthma management.
Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Synthases, But Not Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase, Selectively Worsens Left Ventricular Function After Successful Resuscitation From Cardiac Arrest in Swine
Authors: Dokken Betsy B. , Gaballa Mohamed A. , Hilwig Ronald W. , Berg Robert A. , Kern Karl B.
Published: January 2015

Objectives

Nitric oxide (NO) is a critical regulator of vascular tone and signal transduction in the cardiovascular system. NO is synthesized by three unique enzymes (nitric oxide synthases [NOS]): endothelial and neuronal NOS, both constitutively expressed, and inducible NOS (iNOS), which is induced by proinflammatory stimuli and subsequently produces a burst of NO. NO has been implicated as both an injurious and a beneficial mediator after cardiac arrest and resuscitation. A previous study in swine found that iNOS expression is absent in the myocardium prior to cardiac arrest and that it increases after 10 minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation (VF), decreases somewhat during the early postresuscitation period, and then steadily increases up to 6 hours postresuscitation. Because this time course of iNOS expression mirrors that of postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that selective inhibition of iNOS improves postresuscitation outcomes in swine.

Methods

Thirty‐two domestic swine of either sex were randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments 15 minutes after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC): 1) NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME), a global NO inhibitor; 2) aminoguanidine (AG), a selective iNOS inhibitor; or 3) saline as control. After 10 minutes of untreated VF, swine received a standard resuscitation protocol. Twenty‐four‐hour survival, neurological status, left ventricular (LV) function, and hemodynamic measurements were obtained.

Results

Return of spontaneous circulation occurred in 28 of 32 animals (88%). Only successfully resuscitated animals were assigned to treatment groups and completed the study. There were no differences in survival or neurological outcomes between groups. There were also no differences in LV function or hemodynamic variables found between the control group and the AG group. Global inhibition of NOS with l‐NAME post‐ROSC increased aortic pressure and transiently decreased pulse pressure. Treatment with l‐NAME also increased LV end diastolic pressure and decreased cardiac output within 30 minutes post‐ROSC, which was sustained throughout the 4‐hour measurements, compared to both the control and the AG groups. In addition, LV ejection fraction recovered to baseline measurements in both the control and AG groups, but failed to recover in the l‐NAME group.

Conclusions

Global inhibition of NOS after cardiac arrest and resuscitation markedly worsens hemodynamic variables. Selective inhibition of iNOS after cardiac arrest and resuscitation does not prevent postresuscitation myocardial stunning. There were no significant differences in neurological outcome or survival between treatment groups.
Emergency Department Transfers and Transfer Relationships in United States Hospitals
Authors: Kindermann Dana R. , Mutter Ryan L. , Houchens Robert L. , Barrett Marguerite L. , Pines Jesse M.
Published: January 2015

Objectives

The objective was to describe transfers out of hospital‐based emergency departments (EDs) in the United States and to identify different characteristics of sending and receiving hospitals, travel distance during transfer, disposition on arrival to the second hospital, and median number of transfer partners among sending hospitals.

Methods

Emergency department records were linked at transferring hospitals to ED and inpatient records at receiving hospitals in nine U.S. states using the 2010 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Emergency Department Databases and State Inpatient Databases, the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, and the Trauma Information Exchange Program. Using the Clinical Classification Software (CCS) to categorize conditions, the 50 disease categories with the highest transfer rates were studied, and these were then placed into nine clinical groups. Records were included where both sending and receiving records were available; these data were tabulated to describe ED transfer patterns, hospital‐to‐hospital distances, final patient disposition, and number of transfer partners.

Results

A total of 97,021 ED transfer encounters were included in the analysis from the 50 highest transfer rate disease categories. Among these, transfer rates ranged from 1% to 13%. Circulatory conditions made up about half of all transfers. Receiving hospitals were more likely to be nonprofit, teaching, trauma, and urban and have more beds with greater specialty coverage and more advanced diagnostic and therapeutic resources. The median transfer distance was 23 miles, with 25% traveling more than 40 to 50 miles. About 8% of transferred encounters were discharged from the second ED, but that varied from 0.6% to 53% across the 50 conditions. Sending hospitals had a median of seven transfer partners across all conditions and between one and four per clinical group.

Conclusions

Among high‐transfer conditions in U.S. EDs, patients are often transferred great distances, more commonly to large teaching hospitals with greater resources. The large number of transfer partners indicates a possible lack of stable transfer relationships between U.S. hospitals.
Does migration raise agricultural investment? An empirical analysis for rural Mexico
Authors: Böhme Marcus H.
Published: January 2015

The effect of remittances on capital accumulation remains a contested topic. This article uses a panel data set from rural Mexico to investigate the impact of remittances on agriculture and livestock investments. After controlling for the endogeneity of migration through an instrumental variable estimation our empirical results show that international migration has a significantly positive effect on the accumulated agricultural assets but not on livestock capital. This suggests that households use the capital obtained from international migration only to overcome liquidity constraints for subsistence production whereas migration itself seems to be the superior investment option compared to other productive activities such as livestock husbandry.
Gas, dust, and fumes exposure is associated with mite sensitization and with asthma in mite‐sensitized adults
Authors: Bjerg A. , Rönmark E.P. , Hagstad S. , Eriksson J. , Andersson M. , Wennergren G. , Torén K. , Ekerljung L.
Published: January 2015

Occupational exposure to gas, dust, and fumes (GDF) increases the risk of asthma and eczema. We investigated the role of sensitization in the association between GDF and allergic conditions. A population‐based sample of 788 adults from the West Sweden Asthma Study completed questionnaires and skin prick tests. After adjustment for confounders, GDF exposure was associated with a doubled risk of sensitization to mites, but not with other allergens. Mite sensitization also modified the effect of GDF on asthma. In mite‐sensitized subjects, GDF was associated with physician‐diagnosed asthma, adjusted OR 2.9 (1.2–7.2), and with wheeze, OR 2.4 (1.1–5.3). In non‐mite‐sensitized subjects, the corresponding ORs were 1.1 (0.5–2.6) and 0.6 (0.3–1.3). GDF was independently associated with eczema regardless of mite sensitization, but not with rhinitis. These novel findings suggest that components of GDF may act as adjuvants that facilitate sensitization to mites and that mite‐sensitized individuals may be especially susceptible to inhalant occupational exposures.
Elevated D‐dimers in attacks of hereditary angioedema are not associated with increased thrombotic risk
Authors: Reshef A. , Zanichelli A. , Longhurst H. , Relan A. , Hack C. E.
Published: January 2015

Background

Recommended management of attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) due to C1 esterase inhibitor (C1‐INH) deficiency (C1‐INH‐HAE) includes therapy with exogenous C1INH. Thrombotic/thromboembolic events (TEE) have been reported with plasma‐derived C1INH, but so far none with recombinant human C1INH (rhC1INH). This phase III, randomized, placebo (saline)‐controlled study evaluated the safety of rhC1INH 50 IU/kg for the treatment of acute attacks in 74 patients with C1‐INH‐HAE.

Methods

Monitoring for TEE and assessment of risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by the Wells prediction rule were performed, and levels of fibrin degradation products (plasma D‐dimers) were assessed before study drug administration (baseline), 2 h, and 7 days posttreatment.

Results

Plasma D‐dimer levels were elevated in 80% of the patients (median [25th–75th percentiles]: 2149 [480–5105] μg/l; normal ≤250 μg/l) and were higher in patients with submucosal (abdominal, oropharyngeal–laryngeal) attacks (3095 [890–10000] μg/l; n = 29) compared with subcutaneous (peripheral, facial) attacks (960 [450–4060] μg/l; n = 35). Median plasma D‐dimer levels were comparable across treatment groups at baseline (1874 [475–4568] μg/l rhC1INH; 2259 [586–7533] μg/l saline) and 2 h postinfusion (2389 [760–4974] μg/l rhC1INH; 2550 [310–8410] μg/l saline); median plasma D‐dimer levels were decreased by Day 7 in both groups (425 [232–3240] μg/l rhC1INH; 418 [246–2318] μg/l saline). No increased risk of DVT was identified, nor any TEE reported in rhC1INH treated or controls.

Conclusion

Elevated plasma D‐dimer levels were associated with acute C1‐INH‐HAE attacks, particularly with submucosal involvement. However, rhC1INH therapy was not associated with thrombotic events.
The Effects of Other‐Oriented Perfectionism and Conscientiousness on Helping at Work
Authors: Shoss Mindy K. , Callison Kori , Witt L.A.
Published: January 2015

Workers high in other‐oriented perfectionism have unreasonable standards for others and place considerable importance on others meeting these standards. Although other‐oriented perfectionism is thought to be maladaptive, we investigated whether other‐oriented perfectionists might help others achieve the high standards that they set for them by engaging in task‐focused interpersonal citizenship behaviors (ICB). We suggest that the relationship between an individual's other‐oriented perfectionism tendencies and his or her task‐focused ICB is non‐linear. Furthermore and in line with trait interactionist theory, we argue that an individual's conscientiousness moderates the other‐oriented perfectionism–task focused ICB relationship. As hypothesised, data from 154 employees of a public sector organisation, using self‐reports of personality and supervisor reports of task‐focused ICB, revealed that increases in other‐oriented perfectionism for workers high in conscientiousness generally led to those employees engaging in greater levels of task‐focused ICB. However, there were diminishing returns at high levels of other‐oriented perfectionism. The opposite was found amongst workers low in conscientiousness. Thus, we conclude that conscientiousness brings out a bright side of other‐oriented perfectionism.
Successful Use of Hydroxocobalamin and Sodium Thiosulfate in Acute Cyanide Poisoning: A Case Report with Follow‐up
Authors: Zakharov Sergey , Vaneckova Manuela , Seidl Zdenek , Diblik Pavel , Kuthan Pavel , Urban Pavel , Navratil Tomas , Pelclova Daniela
Published: January 2015

Hydroxocobalamin is an effective first‐line antidote used mainly in monotherapy of cyanide poisonings, while the opinions are different on the effects of its combination with sodium thiosulfate. A 58‐year‐old male committed a suicide attempt by ingesting of 1200–1500 mg of potassium cyanide; he was unconscious for 1–1.5 min. after ingestion with the episode of generalized seizures. On admission to the ICU, the patient was acidotic (pH 7.28; HCO3 14.0 mmol/L, base excess −12.7 mmol/L, saturation O2 0.999) with high serum lactate (12.5 mmol/L). Hydroxocobalamin was administered 1.5 hr after ingestion in two subsequent intravenous infusions at a total dose of 7.5 g. The infusion was followed by continuous intravenous administration of 1 mL/hr/kg of 10% sodium thiosulfate at a total dose of 12 g. No complications and adverse reactions were registered. Serum lactate decreased to 0.6 mmol/L the same day, and arterial blood gases became normal (pH 7.49; HCO3 27.2 mmol/L, base excess 2.2 mmol/L, saturation O2 0.994). The follow‐up examination 5 months later revealed no damage of basal ganglia and cerebellum on magnetic resonance imaging. The neurological examination revealed no pathological findings. On the ocular coherence tomography, the retinal nerve fibres layer was normal. In visual evoked potentials, there was a normal evoked complex on the left eye and minor decrease in amplitude on the right eye. Combination of hydroxocobalamin and sodium thiosulfate can have a positive effect on the survival without long‐term neurological and visual sequelae in the cases of massive cyanide poisonings due to the possibility of a potentiation or synergism of hydroxocobalamin effects by sodium thiosulfate. This synergism can be explained by the different time‐points of action of two antidotes: the initial and immediate effect of hydroxocobalamin, followed by the delayed, but more persistent effect of sodium thiosulfate.
Final quality of life and safety data for patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer treated with cabazitaxel in the UK Early Access Programme (EAP) (NCT01254279)
Authors: Bahl Amit , Masson Susan , Malik Zafar , Birtle Alison J. , Sundar Santhanam , Jones Rob J. , James Nicholas D. , Mason Malcolm D. , Kumar Satish , Bottomley David , Lydon Anna , Chowdhury Simon , Wylie James , de Bono Johann S.
Published: January 2015

Objective

To compile the safety profile and quality of life (QoL) data for patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) treated with cabazitaxel in the UK Early Access Programme (UK EAP).

Patients and Methods

A total of 112 patients participated at 12 UK cancer centres. All had mCRPC with disease progression during or after docetaxel. Patients received cabazitaxel 25 mg/m2 every 3 weeks with prednisolone 10 mg daily for up to 10 cycles. Safety assessments were performed before each cycle and QoL was recorded at alternate cycles using the EQ‐5D‐3L questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS). The safety profile was compiled after completion of the UK EAP and QoL measures were analysed to record trends. No formal statistical analysis was carried out.

Results

The incidences of neutropenic sepsis (6.3%), grade 3 and 4 diarrhoea (4.5%) and grade 3 and 4 cardiac toxicity (0%) were low. Neutropenic sepsis episodes, though low, occurred only in patients who did not receive prophylactic granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor. There were trends towards improved VAS and EQ‐5D‐3L pain scores during treatment.

Conclusions

The UK EAP experience indicates that cabazitaxel might improve QoL in mCRPC and represents an advance and a useful addition to the armamentarium of treatment for patients whose disease has progressed during or after docetaxel. In view of the potential toxicity, careful patient selection is important.
The National Institutes of Health Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function: A Tool for Developmental Science
Authors: Bauer Patricia J. , Zelazo Philip David
Published: January 2015

In this article, we describe the development of the Cognition Battery (CB) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function. The goal of the NIH Toolbox initiative was to provide a brief, comprehensive tool to assess cognitive, emotional, motor, and sensory function in various settings, emphasizing outcomes in clinical trials and functional status in large‐scale epidemiological and longitudinal studies. The CB assesses six key subdomains of cognition from 3 to 85 years, assesses typical function, is brief and easy to administer, is available without charge, and can be modified to reflect scientific and technological advances. It is also child friendly, making it a useful tool for developmental science.
Immigrant Youth Adaptation in the Greek School Context: A Risk and Resilience Developmental Perspective
Authors: Motti‐Stefanidi Frosso
Published: January 2015

Immigrant youth comprise a sizable and integral part of contemporary societies. Their successful adaptation becomes a high‐stakes issue for them and for society. In spite of the challenges they face, most of them adapt well in their new countries. In this article, I examine the question of who among immigrant youth succeeds and why, based on findings from a three‐wave longitudinal project conducted in Greece. That study found that immigrant youth were less well adapted initially with respect to major developmental tasks (academic achievement, conduct, peer acceptance) and were less engaged in school than their nonimmigrant classmates, but that they did not have less optimal psychological well‐being. These findings held for all ethnic groups and generations. Family functioning and immigrant youth's attributes contributed to individual differences in their adaptation. These results may reflect at least partly societal attitudes toward the presence of immigrants in the country.