bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalising user behaviour in online travel sites through the Travel 2.0 website acceptance model
Authors: Muñoz‐Leiva Francisco , Hernández‐Méndez Janet , Sánchez‐Fernández Juan
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse tourist behaviour with regard to the new Web 2.0‐based sites, or Travel 2.0 websites. Concretely, it seeks to generalise the underlying behavioural model in explaining intention to use such sites according to its main determinants.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop a structural equations model (SEM), which is applied to three websites selected for the study – i.e. the blog of a hotel, its Tripadvisor community and its Facebook profile. Rigorous empirical research was conducted by asking respondents to visualise the three different Travel 2.0 websites and complete a web questionnaire.

Findings

The findings reveal that the original technology acceptance model (TAM) is a robust underlying model for studies aimed at examining these sites. Focusing on blogs, social networks and virtual communities, the study shows that the relationship between certain cognitive and behavioural variables may vary depending on the specific website.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to data from a single context (a specific website or type of tool), but an approach centred on visiting a variety of web tools mitigates this restriction. The main management implications of the study are discussed in the last section. Several recommendations to improve web design and the use of Travel 2.0 websites are made. The outcomes are very interesting with a view to increasing the revenues gained through these sites.

Originality/value

The paper permits firsthand knowledge to be gained about the information needs of Travel 2.0 users. It is original in that it establishes a behavioural model that can be extrapolated to all Web 2.0 applications in the context of tourist destinations or hotel websites.
Can strong home country institutions foster the internationalization of MNEs?
Authors: He Xiaoming , Cui Lin
Published: November 2012

Purpose

While many studies on institutional environment have primarily focused on the influence of the host country environment, limited insights have been offered on how the different dimensions of home institutions affect firm internationalization. This paper aims to fill this gap by investigating the effects of regulatory institutions at home.

Design/methodology/approach

Using country governance quality to proxy quality of regulatory institutions, this study attempts to reveal how regulatory institutions at home facilitate a multinational enterprise's (MNE's) international expansion and why the influence differs in different country clusters. Using hierarchical linear modeling and cluster analysis, proposed hypotheses were tested with a three‐year panel of 511 firms from 38 countries.

Findings

The results provide substantial support for the authors' hypotheses that MNEs with high governance quality at home are more engaged in internationalization than those with low governance quality at home. Moreover, differences in institutional effect do exist between country clusters.

Practical implications

This study provides evidence that while country differences exist, governance quality at home can facilitate MNEs' expansion into foreign markets. This finding will help managers of any MNEs to consider country‐level factors and evaluate the governance quality at home before committing resources into foreign operations.

Originality/value

Building on the institutional environment literature, this theory and results make original contributions by underscoring how the consideration of regulatory institutions at home can significantly improve understanding of institutional influence on MNEs. The findings have important implications for both international business researchers and managers of MNEs.
More unintended consequences of use restrictions in confidentiality agreements
Authors: Caplan Gordon , Korn Jeffrey , Langdon Robert T. , Stebbins Robert B.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of careful review and negotiation of confidentiality agreements in corporate transactions and to discuss certain issues that arose out of a recent confidentiality agreement.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the factual background of the dispute and analyzes the court's decision.

Findings

This court decision and the recent decision of the Delaware Chancery Court in Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. v. Vulcan Materials Company highlight the importance of careful attention to the use restrictions when negotiating confidentiality agreements in corporate transactions.

Practical implications

The decision highlights the need for careful negotiation and consideration of the terms of confidentiality agreements in the context of corporate transactions, especially use restrictions and exceptions thereto.

Originality/value

The paper provides guidance by lawyers experienced in the negotiation of standstill and use provisions in confidentiality agreements.
Application of Six Sigma at cell site construction: a case study
Authors: Ur Rehman Hakeem , Asif Muhammad , Aamir Saeed Muhammad , Asim Akbar Muhammad , Usman Awan Muhammad
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The aim of this case study‐based paper is to study the application of Six Sigma, a breakthrough improvement strategy in the field of cell site construction of a telecom company.

Design/methodology/approach

This research provides action research of a Six Sigma project using DMAIC methodology carried out in cell site construction function of a telecom company. The research illustrates how the various Six Sigma tools and techniques were applied in a mutually inclusive manner in one project. The infrastructure department of the company had constructed 900 cell sites last year, out of which 150 were not according to standards and were either disapproved by the operations department or underwent maintenance soon after their use. In 2010, the company spent US$ 0.5 million on rework and maintenance at these sites, thus highlighting the urgency of the problem.

Findings

The paper shows how, after the implementation of the Six Sigma project, the company made savings worth US$ 0.45 million.

Originality/value

Six Sigma as a means of waste reduction has gained popularity among researchers and practitioners. The literature on the methodology of Six Sigma and the management approach towards Six Sigma is burgeoning. While various Six Sigma tools and techniques and their application are discussed in literature independent of each other, the need has arisen to observe their systematic application as they apply in a project; every company can use this breakthrough improvement strategy to improve its processes by reducing waste and deriving the financial benefits.
Achieving customer service excellence using Lean Pull Replenishment
Authors: Kumar Sameer , Choe David , Venkataramani Shiv
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to highlight a key strategic initiative within the former ADC Company (now part of TE Connectivity) called “Lean Pull Replenishment”, designed and implemented to achieve Six Sigma customer service excellence. This case study would also help facilitate problem‐based learning pedagogy.

Design/methodology/approach

The study showcases implementation of the Lean Pull Replenishment approach using the define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) framework. Key input variables were analyzed that contributed to historically inconsistent and unsatisfactory customer delivery performance. Analysis resulted in improving the allocative efficiency of critical input variables through pilot programs on strategic value streams by deploying dozens of kaizen events, and sustaining the gains through leveraging best practices and effective change management principles.

Findings

The study presents a strong case for the team work and the cultural transformation that occurred during the course of implementing this initiative across ADC supply chain. The paper also summarizes the improvement in customer service metrics and financials of the company.

Originality/value

Through this study, it has been established that with consistency of purpose, using the right tools for solving problems and through teaching Lean principles, remarkable results can be achieved, which can be sustained for the long‐term and become a self‐sustaining business philosophy.
Fair enough? Women and Fair Trade
Authors: McArdle Louise , Thomas Pete
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to consider the impact of Fair Trade on producers with particular reference to women involved in Fair Trade production.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers Fair Trade as an alternative to rational economic models of free trade and as a tool for development. A gender and development (GAD) perspective is used to assess whether Fair Trade empowers women in developing nations.

Findings

Fair Trade offers an alternative to free trade within capitalist production and has a positive impact for producers. The impact on gender relations within producer communities is limited although there are benefits for some women involved in Fair Trade production.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based on secondary data and highlights the need for more focused research, which explores the links between gender, cultural relations and Fair Trade.

Originality/value

Understanding that while Fair Trade is usually considered as a positive developmental tool, its impacts are not homogeneous and are subject to the cultural gender relations that exist in producer communities. The paper highlights the need for a more systematic and longitudinal analysis of the impact of Fair Trade for women.
Social entrepreneurship in South Africa: a different narrative for a different context
Authors: Karanda Crispen , Toledano Nuria
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship, paying special attention to the new narratives that are emerging about this phenomenon in the context of Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper addresses this issue, by comparing the meanings of what is called “social” in this context and in developed areas. The paper's particular interest in the use of language and narratives is grounded in the experience of how narratives and stories are genuinely constitutive and perfomative of people's actions.

Findings

This paper reveals that “social” in the social entrepreneurship narratives does not necessarily have the same meaning in different contexts. Specifically, when the phenomenon is re‐interpreted in the context of the discourses that come from a developing area such as South Africa, it adds flexibility and a more local sense to the entrepreneurs' social missions.

Research limitations/implications

The study was affected by the limited availability of published data on social entrepreneurship in Africa. Economic challenges and failures by governments to access donor funds have resulted in militant governance thereby reducing the role of social entrepreneurship to negligible levels.

Originality/value

The study provides a narrative lens of looking at the challenges that social entrepreneurship is facing in Africa.
The influence of herding behaviour on house prices
Authors: Hott Christian
Published: November 2012

Purpose

A comparison of fundamental house prices with actual prices indicates that house prices fluctuate more than fundamentally justified, a fact difficult to explain with standard rational agent models. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate to what extent herding behaviour among investors can be seen as an explanation for deviations of house prices from their fundamental value.

Design/methodology/approach

To see whether house prices fluctuate more than fundamentally justified, the paper calculates a fundamental house price and compares it to the actual price for seven European and three non‐European OECD countries. Then the paper incorporates herding behaviour into the house‐price model and examines its influence on the development of prices.

Findings

A comparison of the fundamental house prices with actual prices indicates that house prices fluctuate more than fundamentally justified. The calibration of the herding model indicates that it can help to explain fluctuations of actual house prices.

Originality/value

The incorporation of herding behaviour into a housing model and the calibration of its impact are the main innovations of this paper.
Risk identification and analysis in the hospitality industry
Authors: Bharwani Sonia , Mathews David
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the key risks which are endemic to the hospitality industry and considered as important by hoteliers in today's growing global context, with particular reference to the Indian context. It also seeks to propose a generic model for risk management.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data collection using questionnaires and semi‐structured qualitative interviews with hospitality professionals was supplemented by secondary research in the field of risk and uncertainty management.

Findings

To secure competitive advantage and develop business resilience, it is becoming increasingly important for hospitality organisations to shift their focus from merely responding and reacting to crises and emergency situations, to proactively identifying, analysing and assessing risks while formulating their business strategies. The paper identifies the most commonly addressed areas of risk in the Indian hospitality industry, which include competition, seasonality of business and changes in customer preferences and demand.

Practical implications

Practitioners, researchers and educationists in the hospitality industry will find the implications of this study useful in the context of the present complex business environment which is fraught with risks.

Originality/value

Given the dearth of research in the field of risk and uncertainty management in the hospitality industry, especially in the Indian context, the paper explores various aspects of hospitality operations prone to risk and proposes a framework for identifying the key risks in hospitality organisations. It also puts forward a generic model of the process of risk management.
Household Engel curve analysis for food, Beijing, China
Authors: Seale James L. , Bai Junfei , Wahl Thomas I. , Lohmar Bryan T.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the income sensitivity of food consumption in Beijing, China, using an original household survey data set collected by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Design/methodology/approach

An Engel curve model is fit to the household data of nine food categories and 35 food items, and both conditional and unconditional expenditure elasticities of demand are calculated and reported for the nine food groups and the 35 food items.

Findings

Working's model fits the data well, and the elasticity estimates are all reasonable in terms of economic theory, size and signs. The results indicate a relative large range in income sensitivity among the nine food groups and 35 food items in response to changes in household food expenditure levels.

Originality/value

The research analyzes unique and rich urban household survey data collected by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and is the most comprehensive analysis to date in terms of the number of food items studied for which expenditure elasticities are calculated. These elasticities may be used to study household food consumption patterns, to calculate caloric or nutrient elasticities, to study obesity in China, to study policy prescriptions in terms of taxes and subsidies on food, to infer welfare and affluence, and may be used as inputs into econometric models such as those used by the World Bank, IFPRI, and others.
Measuring intellectual capital in the light of the EFQM Excellence Model: evidence from Hungary
Authors: Eszter Tóth Zsuzsanna , Jónás Tamás
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ask how the EFQM Excellence Model and organizations' self‐assessment practice could contribute to the managerial and quantification efforts of intellectual capital (IC) and how indicators and measures applied during self‐assessment can be connected to well‐known intellectual capital measuring models such as Sveiby's Intangible Asset Monitor.

Design/methodology/approach

The method applied highlights the potentials in the EFQM Excellence Model's criteria system to measure specific IC elements by studying the self‐assessment practice of 31 Hungarian National Quality Award (NQA) winners.

Findings

The EFQM Excellence Model is a suitable approach for characterizing the management and measurement of human, customer and structural capital within the organization.

Research limitations/implications

Corporations following regular self‐assessment practice have the ability to measure most of their intangibles, at least those which serve the traceability of strategic purposes and internal measuring objectives. IC measurement can be regarded as part of organizational excellence.

Originality/value

The criteria system of the EFQM Model makes synergic effects between single IC elements visible. Due to regular and systematic self‐assessments those IC elements are highlighted which support the execution of current strategic purposes. These fortify the contribution of IC management to strategy deployment.
Governance issues in BOT based PPP infrastructure projects in India
Authors: Santosh Kumar Delhi Venkata , Mahalingam Ashwin , Palukuri Seshanka
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to identify the combinations of economic, normative, reputational and cognitive mechanisms that can prevent post‐award governance challenges on build‐operate‐transfer (BOT) projects in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an empirical, case‐study based methodology to collect data and analyzes the cases through the use of the qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) technique. The paper first identifies and classifies the various kinds of governance challenges and preventive mechanisms in BOT projects based on the extant literature. Empirical evidence on 11 BOT projects in India is gathered and QCA is employed to unearth the linkages between specific governance mechanisms and post‐award challenges on these projects.

Findings

Project governance issues were identified across two dominant interfaces – one between the public and private sector and the other between the project and the societal stakeholders. Governance mechanisms based on providing shared incentives combined with the capacity to administer projects are effective in combating governance challenges across the public‐private sector interface. Cognitive mechanisms which make the project more accountable to the societal stakeholders are most effective across the project‐stakeholder interface.

Research limitations/implications

These findings can be validated on larger data sets, across geographies, sectors and variety of PPP projects – currently the authors have only studied the BOT variant of PPPs.

Practical implications

The authors’ “contingency” approach to governance can help decision makers select specific governance mechanisms based on a project's structure and risk profile to better ensure successful delivery of a BOT project's objectives.

Originality/value

Post‐award governance of PPP projects is a theme that has received comparatively little attention in the extant literature. Further, while post‐award issues as well as governance mechanisms have been separately identified, very little work exists that links these two sets of constructs. This paper seeks to contribute to knowledge in this area by proposing some preliminary findings on the link between post‐award issues and governance mechanisms. In addition, the paper employs an innovative technique called QCA to analyze the case‐study data.
Quantitative analysis of defects in university buildings: user perspective
Authors: Abdul Lateef Olanrewaju A.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Defect management is an important segment in building maintenance management. Although defect management requires systemic approach, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the measurement of defects in university buildings based on user perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews related literature and presents the outcome of a survey of 550 university buildings users, derived from a convenience sample from five universities.

Findings

A total of 20 defects were found to be very critical to the building users. Faulty electrical systems, faulty air conditioning system and roof damages were the defects requiring urgent maintenance. Based on the findings, it was concluded that resources be directed towards defects that affect security, safety and comfort.

Research limitations/implications

The list of 32 defects may not be exhaustive, but are indicative of defects that affect university building performance. Because the buildings are not prototypes, some of the findings required adaptation. The conclusions were based on data from five universities.

Practical implications

This study is useful to maintenance organizations in efforts to increase users’ satisfaction, productivity and building performance by guiding resources allocation and at the same time reducing rework, dissatisfaction and waste. The findings would provide feedback and feed forward information and knowledge to the design and construction teams. The study provides a platform to integrate maintenance issues into the design and construction phases of building projects.

Originality/value

There is no such conclusive study on the maintenance of university buildings. Both academics and practitioners can apply the findings to their respective maintenance management scenarios.
Assessing risk in services for people with intellectual disability
Authors: Yacoub Evan , Latham Richard
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to make recommendations for practitioners on risk assessment in relation to people with intellectual disability.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors summarise research in the area of risk assessment in order to recommend a practical approach for practitioners working in the field of intellectual disability psychiatry.

Findings

Risk assessment for the purpose of predicting risk in an individual is not likely to be of value in clinical settings. The use of structured clinical judgement does however provide a comprehensive structure for considering relevant risk factors, developing an overall formulation relating to a specific risk and devising a risk management plan.

Research limitations/implications

Much of the evidence is extrapolated from research with people without an intellectual disability.

Practical implications

The use of structured clinical judgement is advocated as a useful tool for developing a risk management plan for practitioners working with people with intellectual disability in secure and community settings. The issues of training and the interface between community and security settings are explored.

Originality/value

The paper provides more clarity about the use of such tools in this population.
Sustainable refurbishment in building technology
Authors: Gohardani Navid , Björk Folke
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The aim of this review article is to identify a number of key research efforts related to decision making tools in building refurbishment projects and selected energy efficiency efforts in the built environment. Following these findings a proposed research area with focus on energy in the building environment will be suggested for further investigation.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a multilateral review study, a number of major research efforts in sustainable refurbishment are highlighted. The necessity of directing future research towards energy conservation is illustrated for a specific approach to developing the built environment.

Findings

The findings of this article identify high performance thermal insulation solutions as one of the promising approaches to significant energy consumption reductions in buildings.

Research limitations/implications

This review study is solely limited to the revisited research directions.

Originality/value

This study successfully identifies a number of decision making tools related to building refurbishment and an initial research path in favor of building energy consumption reductions.
Larval density dependence inAnopheles gambiaes.s., the major African vector of malaria
Authors: Muriu Simon M. , Coulson Tim , Mbogo Charles M. , Godfray H. Charles J.
Published: November 2012

Anopheles gambiaesensu stricto is the most important vector of malaria inAfrica although relatively little is known about the density‐dependent processes determining its population size.

Mosquito larval density was manipulated under semi‐natural conditions using artificial larval breeding sites placed in the field in coastalKenya; two experiments were conducted: one manipulating the density of a single cohort of larvae across a range of densities and the other employing fewer densities but with the treatments crossed with four treatments manipulating predator access.

In the first experiment, larval survival, development rate and the size of the adult mosquito all decreased with larval density (controlling for block effects between 23% and 31% of the variance in the data could be explained by density).

In the second experiment, the effects of predator manipulation were not significant, but again we observed strong density dependence in larval survival (explaining 30% of the variance).

The results are compared with laboratory studies ofA. gambiaelarval competition and the few other studies conducted in the field, and the consequences for malaria control are discussed
Semantic Development in Spanish–English Bilingual Children: Effects of Age and Language Experience
Authors: Sheng Li , Bedore Lisa M. , Peña Elizabeth D. , Fiestas Christine
Published: November 2012

This study examines semantic development in 60 Spanish–English bilingual children, ages 7 years 3 months to 9 years 11 months, who differed orthogonally in age (younger, older) and language experience (higher English experience [HEE], higher Spanish experience [HSE]). Children produced 3 associations to 12 pairs of translation equivalents. Older children produced more semantic responses and code switched more often from Spanish to English than younger children. Within each group, children demonstrated better performance in the more frequently used than the less used language. The HEE children outperformed the HSE children in English and the HSE children outperformed the HEE children in Spanish. These effects of age and language experience are consistent with predictions of the revised hierarchical model of bilingual lexical organization.
The γ‐Secretase Blocker DAPT Reduces the Permeability of the Blood–Brain Barrier by Decreasing the Ubiquitination and Degradation of Occludin During Permanent Brain Ischemia
Authors: Zhang Gen‐Sheng , Tian Yun , Huang Ji‐Yun , Tao Rong‐Rong , Liao Mei‐Hua , Lu Ying‐Mei , Ye Wei‐Feng , Wang Rui , Fukunaga Kohji , Lou Yi‐Jia , Han Feng
Published: November 2012

Background

Tight junction protein degradation is a principal characteristic of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) damage that occurs during brain ischemia.

Aims

We investigated the mechanisms of occludin degradation that underlie permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) in rats.

Methods and Results

Western blot and Co‐immunoprecipitation data indicated ubiquitination and degradation of occludin in brain after pMCAO, which was consistent with ZO‐1 degradation in penumbra regions as observed at 24 h after pMCAO. We further investigated candidate protease(s) responsible for the degradation of occludin during pMCAO. The intraventricular administration of γ‐secretase blocker DAPT significantly inhibited the pMCAO‐induced neurovascular damage, whereas ALLM and Batimastat, which are inhibitors of calpain and metalloproteinase proteases, respectively, were less effective. Notably, we found that DAPT significantly inhibited BBB disruption in comparison with vehicle treatment, as assessed by Evans blue excretion. Interestingly, the confocal immunostaining revealed that activation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch is associated with degradation of occludin in brain microvessels following ischemia. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that the inhibition of γ‐secretase signaling and the itch‐mediated ubiquitination of occludin likely underlie the vasoprotective effect of DAPT after pMCAO.

Conclusion

The γ‐secretase blocker DAPT reduces the permeability of the BBB by decreasing the ubiquitination and degradation of occludin during permanent brain ischemia, suggesting that γ‐secretase may represent a novel therapeutic target for preventing neurovascular damage.
The Causal Structure of Utility Conditionals
Authors: Bonnefon Jean‐François , Sloman Steven A.
Published: November 2012

The psychology of reasoning is increasingly considering agents' values and preferences, achieving greater integration with judgment and decision making, social cognition, and moral reasoning. Some of this research investigates utility conditionals, ‘‘if p then q’’ statements where the realization of p or q or both is valued by some agents. Various approaches to utility conditionals share the assumption that reasoners make inferences from utility conditionals based on the comparison between the utility of p and the expected utility of q. This article introduces a new parameter in this analysis, the underlying causal structure of the conditional. Four experiments showed that causal structure moderated utility‐informed conditional reasoning. These inferences were strongly invited when the underlying structure of the conditional was causal, and significantly less so when the underlying structure of the conditional was diagnostic. This asymmetry was only observed for conditionals in which the utility of q was clear, and disappeared when the utility of q was unclear. Thus, an adequate account of utility‐informed inferences conditional reasoning requires three components: utility, probability, and causal structure.
The tower of Babel: Survey on concepts and terminology in electrical status epilepticus in sleep and continuous spikes and waves during sleep in North America
Authors: Fernández Iván Sánchez , Chapman Kevin E. , Peters Jurriaan M. , Kothare Sanjeev V. , Nordli Douglas R. , Jensen Frances E. , Berg Anne T. , Loddenkemper Tobias
Published: November 2012

Purpose:  The terms “electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES)” and “continuous spikes and waves during sleep (CSWS)” have been used interchangeably when referring to related but different concepts. In addition, the quantification of epileptiform activity has not been standardized, and different approaches to quantification have been used. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which pediatric neurologists and epileptologists use a homogeneous terminology and conceptualization in CSWS and ESES and to characterize the current understanding of these conditions.

Methods:  A survey addressing the use of terminology in “ESES” and “CSWS” and the understanding of related concepts was distributed online to all members of the Child Neurology Society and the American Epilepsy Society mailing lists. Surveys were self‐administered and collected using an online survey website (http://www.surveymonkey.com).

Key Findings:  Two hundred nineteen surveys were completed, 137 from the Child Neurology Society mailing list and 82 from the American Epilepsy Society mailing list. ESES and CSWS were considered synonymous by 117 respondents, not synonymous by 61, 21 respondents did not know, and 20 did not respond. Most respondents (63.1%) considered CSWS as a devastating epileptic encephalopathy with severe sequelae even if treated correctly, but 25.1% of respondents indicated that it does not leave sequelae if epilepsy was treated early and another 11.8% noted that cognitive difficulties resolved with age. Cognitive and/or language regression were considered mandatory for the diagnosis of CSWS by only 27% of the respondents. The diagnosis of CSWS was based on electroencephalography (EEG) assessment alone by 31% of respondents. Respondents used different methods for calculation of the epileptiform activity, different EEG samples for calculation, and considered differently the lateralized epileptiform activity. The cut‐off values for percentage of the sleep record occupied by spike‐waves were variable depending on the respondent. There was no agreement on whether these cutoff values were mandatory for the diagnosis of ESES and CSWS.

Significance:  Our data show that the professionals caring for children with ESES and CSWS in North America use the terms, concepts, and defining features heterogeneously. The lack of a common language may complicate communication among clinicians and jeopardize research in this field. We anticipate that our data will fuel the development of much needed common terminology and conceptualization of ESES and CSWS.
Applying ecological and evolutionary theory to cancer: a long and winding road
Authors: Thomas Frédéric , Fisher Daniel , Fort Philippe , Marie Jean‐Pierre , Daoust Simon , Roche Benjamin , Grunau Christoph , Cosseau Céline , Mitta Guillaume , Baghdiguian Stephen , Rousset François , Lassus Patrice , Assenat Eric , Grégoire Damien , Missé Dorothée , Lorz Alexander , Billy Frédérique , Vainchenker William , Delhommeau François , Koscielny Serge , Itzykson Raphael , Tang Ruoping , Fava Fanny , Ballesta Annabelle , Lepoutre Thomas , Krasinska Liliana , Dulic Vjekoslav , Raynaud Peggy , Blache Philippe , Quittau‐Prevostel Corinne , Vignal Emmanuel , Trauchessec Hélène , Perthame Benoit , Clairambault Jean , Volpert Vitali , Solary Eric , Hibner Urszula , Hochberg Michael E.
Published: November 2012

Since the mid 1970s, cancer has been described as a process of Darwinian evolution, with somatic cellular selection and evolution being the fundamental processes leading to malignancy and its many manifestations (neoangiogenesis, evasion of the immune system, metastasis, and resistance to therapies). Historically, little attention has been placed on applications of evolutionary biology to understanding and controlling neoplastic progression and to prevent therapeutic failures. This is now beginning to change, and there is a growing international interest in the interface between cancer and evolutionary biology. The objective of this introduction is first to describe the basic ideas and concepts linking evolutionary biology to cancer. We then present four major fronts where the evolutionary perspective is most developed, namely laboratory and clinical models, mathematical models, databases, and techniques and assays. Finally, we discuss several of the most promising challenges and future prospects in this interdisciplinary research direction in the war against cancer.
Reduced fitness of Atlantic salmon released in the wild after one generation of captive breeding
Authors: Milot Emmanuel , Perrier Charles , Papillon Lucie , Dodson Julian J. , Bernatchez Louis
Published: November 2012

Salmonids rank among the most socioeconomically valuable fishes and the most targeted species by stocking with hatchery‐reared individuals. Here, we used molecular parentage analysis to assess the reproductive success of wild‐ and hatchery‐born Atlantic salmon over three consecutive years in a small river in Québec. Yearly restocking in this river follows a single generation of captive breeding. Among the adults returning to the river to spawn, between 11% and 41% each year were born in hatchery. Their relative reproductive success (RRS) was nearly half that of wild‐born fish (0.55). RRS varied with life stage, being 0.71 for fish released at the fry stage and 0.42 for fish released as smolt. The lower reproductive success of salmon released as smolt was partly mediated by the modification of the proportion of single‐sea‐winter/multi‐sea‐winter fish. Overall, our results suggest that modifications in survival and growth rates alter the life‐history strategies of these fish at the cost of their reproductive success. Our results underline the potential fitness decrease, warn on long‐term evolutionary consequences for the population of repeated stocking and support the adoption of more natural rearing conditions for captive juveniles and their release at a younger stage, such as unfed fry.
The accuracy of the National Equine Database in relation to vector‐borne disease risk modelling of horses in Great Britain
Authors: Robin C. A. , Lo Iacono G. , Gubbins S. , Wood J. L. N. , Newton J. R.
Published: November 2012

Reasons for performing the study

The National Equine Database (NED) contains information on the size and distribution of the horse population, but the data quality remains unknown. These data could assist with surveillance, research and contingency planning for equine infectious disease outbreaks.

Objectives

1) To assess the extent of obsolete and missing data from NED, 2) evaluate the extent of spatial separation between horse and owner location and 3) identify relationships between spatial separation and land use.

Methods

Two questionnaires were used to assess data accuracy in NED utilising local authority passport inspections and distribution of questionnaires to 11,000 horse owners. A subset of 1010 questionnaires was used to assess horse–owner geographic separation.

Results

During 2005–2010, 17,048 passports were checked through local authority inspections. Of these, 1558 passports (9.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.7–9.5%) were noncompliant, with 963 (5.6%; 95% CI 5.3–6.0%) containing inaccurate information and 595 (3.5%; 95% CI 3.2–3.8%) classified as missing. Of 1382 questionnaires completed by horse owners, 380 passports were obsolete (27.5%; 95% CI 25.2–29.9%), with 162 (11.7%; 95% CI 10.0–13.4%) being retained for deceased horses and 218 (15.8%; 95% CI 13.9–17.7%) having incorrect ownership details. Fifty‐three per cent (95% CI 49.9–56.1%) of owners kept their horse(s) at home and 92% (95% CI 90.3–93.7%) of horses resided within 10 km of their owners.

Conclusions and potential relevance

Data from a small sample survey suggest the majority of data on NED are accurate but a proportion of inaccuracies exist that may cause delay in locating horses and contacting owners during a disease outbreak. The probability that horses are located in the same postcode sector as the owner's home address is larger in rural areas. Appropriate adjustment for population size, horse–owner spatial separation and land usage would facilitate meaningful use of the national horse population derived from NED for risk modelling of incursions of equine diseases into Great Britain.
The effect of airflow on thermographically determined temperature of the distal forelimb of the horse
Authors: Westermann S. , Stanek C. , Schramel J. P. , Ion A. , Buchner H. H. F.
Published: November 2012

Reasons for performing study

Current literature suggests that thermographic imaging of horses should be performed in a draught‐free room. However, studies on the effect of airflow on determined temperature have not been published.

Objectives

To investigate effects of airflow on thermographically determined temperature of horses’ forelimbs; to assess the relationship of wind velocity, rectal temperature, ambient temperature and humidity.

Methods

Thermographic images were obtained for the forelimbs of 6 horses in a draught‐free room. Three replicates (R) with defined wind velocities (R1, 0.5–1.0 m/s; R2, 1.3–2.6 m/s; and R3, 3.0–4.0 m/s) were conducted. Each replicate consisted of a baseline image, a 15 min phase with the wind on and a 15 min phase with the wind off. We exposed only the right leg to airflow and determined the temperature by thermography with the wind on and wind off. Temperature differences between baseline and wind on, between wind on and wind off and between different wind velocities were analysed by a general linear model, Student's paired t test and ANOVA.

Results

After the onset of wind, the temperature on the right forelimb decreased within 1–3 min (by approximately 0.6°C at R1, 1.5°C at R2 and 2.1°C at R3). With the wind off, the temperature increased within 3 min (by approximately 1.2°C at R1, 1.7°C at R2 and 2.1°C at R3). With increasing wind velocity, the temperature differences between baseline and wind on and between wind on and wind off increased significantly.

Conclusions

Barely noticeable wind velocities caused a decrease in thermographically determined temperatures of the forelimbs of the horse. Further research is required to assess the influence of airflow on other parts of the body and at different ambient temperatures, as well as the effect on horses with inflammatory lesions, especially of the distal limbs.

Potential relevance

It is essential for practitioners to perform thermography on horses in a draught‐free environment in order to avoid false‐positive or ‐negative diagnoses.
Association of interleukin‐18 promoter polymorphisms with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in male smokers
Authors: Wang J. , Liu X. , Xie J. , Xu Y.
Published: November 2012

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered a complex genetic disorder and it is expected that many genes play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Previous studies have reported that several variations within the interleukin (IL)‐18 gene promoter region have been associated with different inflammatory diseases such as asthma. However, the association of IL‐18 promoter polymorphisms with COPD has not been studied yet. We then performed a prospective case–control study to explore this association in male smokers of Chinese Han people. Our study recruited 112 COPD cases and 105 healthy controls matched for age. The genotyping of IL‐18 promoter polymorphisms (‐607 C/A and ‐137 G/C) was performed using TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping assays. The frequencies of the alleles and genotypes in patients and controls were compared. We found that the frequency of IL‐18 ‐607 C allele was significantly increased in patients with COPD (odds ratio (OR) = 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–2.15, P = 0.04). The frequency of IL‐18 ‐607 C allele was significantly higher in the GOLD (Global initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease) 3–4 group compared with the GOLD 1–2 group (OR=2.06, 95% CI = 1.21–3.51, P = 0.01). There were no significant differences in the frequencies of the alleles and genotypes of IL‐18 ‐137 G/C polymorphism between the patients and healthy smokers or between GOLD 3–4 group and GOLD 1–2 group. Our study revealed that the IL‐18 ‐607 C/A polymorphism was associated with COPD susceptibility and severity of airflow limitation in male smokers of Chinese Han people.
Performance of a point‐of‐care device in determining prothrombin time in supra‐therapeutic INRs
Authors: Hashimoto V. A. M. , De Paula E. V. , Colella M. P. , Luz Fiusa M. M. , Montalvao S. A. L. , Machado T. F. G. S. , Orsi F. A. , Annichino‐Bizzacchi J. M.
Published: November 2012

Introduction

Point‐of‐care (POC) devices have been widely adopted for monitoring prothrombin time (PT) (INR) following the demonstration of their accuracy compared to standard INR determination. However, guidelines suggest confirmation of POC results when INRs increase above therapeutic range, due to concerns regarding possible inferior performance of POC devices in high INR levels. Unfortunately, patients with supra‐therapeutic INRs are underrepresented in studies that validated these devices.

Methods

We performed a prospective evaluation of the performance of a POC device in monitoring oral anticoagulation in patients with INR values above 3.5 in a University outpatient anticoagulation clinic. During a 6‐month period, 2322 INR determinations were performed with a POC device, and results above 3.5 were immediately repeated on an automated coagulometer.

Results

Dual INR determinations by two methods were obtained in 160 visits, with a mean INR from the POC device of 4.52 ± 0.96. Both classical statistics and clinical concordance analysis yielded satisfactory results when the two methods were compared.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that POC devices present good correlation with standard laboratory methods for PT determination in supra‐therapeutic INRs and that differences in clinical management do not support the need for systematic confirmation of these results in nonbleeding patients.
Infant‐Directed Prosody Helps Infants Map Sounds to Meanings
Authors: Graf Estes Katharine , Hurley Karinna
Published: November 2012

Adults typically use an exaggerated, distinctive speaking style when addressing infants. However, the effects of infant‐directed (ID) speech on infants' learning are not yet well understood. This research investigates howIDspeech affects how infants perform a key function in language acquisition, associating the sounds of words with their meanings. Seventeen‐month‐old infants were presented with two label‐object pairs in a habituation‐based word learning task. In Experiment 1, the labels were produced in adult‐directed (AD) speech. In Experiment 2, the labels were produced inIDprosody; they had higher pitch, greater pitch variation, and longer durations than theADlabels. We found that infants failed to learn the labels inADspeech, but succeeded in learning the same labels when they were produced inIDspeech. Experiment 3 investigated the role of variability in learning fromIDspeech. When the labels were presented inIDprosody with no variation across tokens, infants failed to learn them. Our findings indicate thatIDprosody can affect how readily infants map sounds to meanings and that the variability in prosody that is characteristic ofIDspeech may play a key role in its effect on learning new words.
HLA‐DRB1 ALLELES IN GREEK RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: Stavropoulos C. , Spyropoulou M. , Koumantaki Y. , Kappou I. , Kaklamani V. , Linos A. , Giziaki E. , Kaklamani E.
Published: November 2012

The association of certain HLA‐DRB1 alleles in Greek rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with several features of the disease, the gender of the patient and the age at onset was investigated. This case control study includes 86 Greek RA patients and 130 healthy controls unrelated to the patients. HLA typing was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybridization with sequence‐specific oligonucleotide (SSO) probes. HLA‐DR4 was significantly increased in RA patients. The alleles *0101, *0401, *0405 and *1001 were associated with a higher risk of RA. The *0408 allele was absent from our patients. Sixty‐five per cent of RA patients carried the ‘shared epitope’ (SE) compared with 31.5% of controls. The risk for RA in individuals carrying a single allele positive for SE was 2.85 times higher, and for those carrying two alleles positive for SE 8.57 times higher, than in SE‐negative individuals. The risk was higher in those carrying the *0401 allele, followed by *0405 and *0101, while the genotype *0401/*0404 was absent. Alleles positive for SE comprise a predisposing factor for RA at an early age, particularly in men, and are associated with positive rheumatoid factor, nodules and erosions.