bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brief Report: Association Between Menopause and Unprotected Sex in High-Risk HIV-Positive Women in Mombasa, Kenya
Authors: Goyette Marielle S. , Wilson Kate S. , Deya Ruth , Masese Linnet N. , Shafi Juma , Richardson Barbra A. , Mandaliya Kishorchandra , Jaoko Walter , McClelland R. Scott
Published: January 2017

Objective:

Many HIV-positive women now live well beyond menopause. Postmenopausal women are no longer at risk for pregnancy, and some studies suggest that they may use condoms less often than premenopausal women. This study tests the hypothesis that, in HIV-positive women who report trading sex for cash or in-kind payment, unprotected sex is more common at postmenopausal visits compared with premenopausal visits.

Design:

Prospective cohort study of HIV-positive women ≥16 years old in Mombasa, Kenya.

Methods:

At enrollment and monthly follow-up visits, participants completed a standardized interview. Study clinicians collected genital samples at enrollment and quarterly visits. Menopausal status was assessed annually. The primary outcome of unprotected sex was determined by detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in vaginal secretions.

Results:

This study followed 404 HIV-positive women who contributed 2753 quarterly examination visits. Detection of PSA was less frequent at postmenopausal visits compared with premenopausal visits [55/554, 10.5% versus 394/2199, 17.9%; relative risk (RR) 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39 to 0.87]. Adjusting for age diminished the association between menopause and PSA detection (adjusted RR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.47 to 1.14). At visits where women reported sexual activity in the past week, they reported similar rates of 100% condom use at postmenopausal and premenopausal visits (RR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.87 to 1.13).

Conclusions:

In this population of high-risk HIV-positive Kenyan women, postmenopausal status was not associated with a greater risk of unprotected sex. The relationship between menopause and unprotected sex is likely context specific and may differ with varying risk groups, regions, and levels of exposure to sexual health education.
Granulocytic Myeloid–Derived Suppressor Cells Increased in Early Phases of Primary HIV Infection Depending on TRAIL Plasma Level
Authors: Tumino Nicola , Bilotta Maria T. , Pinnetti Carmela , Ammassari Adriana , Antinori Andrea , Turchi Federica , Agrati Chiara , Casetti Rita , Bordoni Veronica , Cimini Eleonora , Abbate Isabella , Capobianchi Maria R. , Martini Federico , Sacchi Alessandra
Published: January 2017

Background:

It has been demonstrated that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are expanded in HIV-1–infected individuals and correlated with disease progression. The phase of HIV infection during which MDSC expansion occurs, and the mechanisms that regulate this expansion remain to be established. In this study, we evaluated the frequency of MDSC in patients during primary HIV infection (PHI) and factors involved in MDSC control.

Methods:

Patients with PHI and chronic HIV infection (CHI) were enrolled. PHI staging was performed according to Fiebig classification, and circulating MDSC frequency and function were evaluated by flow cytometry. Cytokine levels were evaluated by Luminex technology.

Results:

We found that granulocytic MDSC (Gr-MDSC) frequency was higher in patients with PHI compared with healthy donors, but lower than that in patients with CHI. Interestingly, Gr-MDSC expansion was observed in the early phases of HIV infection (Fiebig II/III), but it was not associated with HIV viral load and CD4 T-cell count. Interestingly, in PHI, Gr-MDSC frequency was inversely correlated with plasmatic level of tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), although a direct correlation was observed in CHI. Furthermore, lower level of Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) was observed in PHI compared with that in CHI. In vitro experiments demonstrated that, differently from CHI, recombinant TRAIL–induced apoptosis of Gr-MDSC from PHI, an effect that can be abrogated by GM-CSF.

Conclusion:

We found that Gr-MDSC are expanded early during PHI and may be regulated by TRAIL and GM-CSF levels. These findings shed light on the fine mechanisms regulating the immune system during HIV infection and open new perspectives for immune-based strategies.
Glimma: interactive graphics for gene expression analysis
Authors: Su Shian , Law Charity W. , Ah-Cann Casey , Asselin-Labat Marie-Liesse , Blewitt Marnie E. , Ritchie Matthew E.
Published: January 2017

Motivation

Summary graphics for RNA-sequencing and microarray gene expression analyses may contain upwards of tens of thousands of points. Details about certain genes or samples of interest are easily obscured in such dense summary displays. Incorporating interactivity into summary plots would enable additional information to be displayed on demand and facilitate intuitive data exploration.

Results

The open-sourceGlimmapackage creates interactive graphics for exploring gene expression analysis with a few simple R commands. It extends popular plots found in thelimmapackage, such as multi-dimensional scaling plots and mean-difference plots, to allow individual data points to be queried and additional annotation information to be displayed upon hovering or selecting particular points. It also offers links between plots so that more information can be revealed on demand.Glimmais widely applicable, supporting data analyses from a number of well established Bioconductor workflows(limma, edgeRandDESeq2)and uses D3/JavaScript to produce HTML pages with interactive displays that enable more effective data exploration by end-users. Results fromGlimmacan be easily shared between bioinformaticians and biologists, enhancing reporting capabilities while maintaining reproducibility.

Availability and Implementation

TheGlimmaR package is available fromhttp://bioconductor.org/packages/devel/bioc/html/Glimma.html.
Evidence for Transcriptome-wide RNA Editing AmongSus scrofaPRE-1 SINE Elements
Authors: Funkhouser Scott A. , Steibel Juan P. , Bates Ronald O. , Raney Nancy E. , Schenk Darius , Ernst Catherine W.
Published: January 2017

Background

RNA editing by ADAR (adenosine deaminase acting on RNA) proteins is a form of transcriptional regulation that is widespread among humans and other primates. Based on high-throughput scans used to identify putative RNA editing sites, ADAR appears to catalyze a substantial number of adenosine to inosine transitions within repetitive regions of the primate transcriptome, thereby dramatically enhancing genetic variation beyond what is encoded in the genome.

Results

Here, we demonstrate the editing potential of the pig transcriptome by utilizing DNA and RNA sequence data from the same pig. We identified a total of 8550 mismatches between DNA and RNA sequences across three tissues, with 75% of these exhibiting an A-to-G (DNA to RNA) discrepancy, indicative of a canonical ADAR-catalyzed RNA editing event. When we consider only mismatches within repetitive regions of the genome, the A-to-G percentage increases to 94%, with the majority of these located within the swine specific SINE retrotransposon PRE-1. We also observe evidence of A-to-G editing within coding regions that were previously verified in primates.

Conclusions

Thus, our high-throughput evidence suggests that pervasive RNA editing by ADAR can exist outside of the primate lineage to dramatically enhance genetic variation in pigs.
EvoKEN: evolutionary knowledge extraction in networks
Authors: Linard Benjamin , Nguyen Ngoc Hoan , Lecompte Odile , Poch Olivier , Thompson Julie D.
Published: January 2017

We introduce a multi-factorial, multi-level approach to build and explore evolutionary scenarios of complex protein networks. EvoKEN combines a unique formalism for integrating multiple types of data associated with network molecular components and knowledge extraction techniques for detecting cohesive/anomalous evolutionary processes. We analyzed known human pathway maps and identified perturbations or specializations at the local topology level that reveal important evolutionary and functional aspects of these cellular systems.
Allee dynamics: growth, extinction and range expansion
Authors: Bose I , Pal M , Karmakar C
Published: January 2017

In population biology, the Allee dynamics refer to negative growth rates below a critical population density. In this Letter, we study a reaction-diffusion (RD) model of population growth and dispersion in one dimension, which incorporates the Allee effect in both the growth and mortality rates. In the absence of diffusion, the bifurcation diagram displays regions of both finite population density and zero population density, i.e., extinction. The early signatures of the transition to extinction at a bifurcation point are computed in the presence of additive noise. For the full RD model, the existence of travelling wave solutions of the population density is demonstrated. The parameter regimes in which the travelling wave advances (range expansion) and retreats are identified. In the weak Allee regime, the transition from the pushed to the pulled wave is shown as a function of the mortality rate constant. The results obtained are in agreement with the recent experimental observations on budding yeast populations.
Egocentric and Allocentric Representations in Auditory Cortex
Authors: Town Stephen M. , Brimijoin W. Owen , Bizley Jennifer K.
Published: January 2017

A key function of the brain is to provide a stable representation of an object’s location in the world. In hearing, sound azimuth and elevation are encoded by neurons throughout the auditory system and auditory cortex is necessary for sound localization. However the coordinate frame in which neurons represent sound space remains undefined: classical spatial receptive fields in head-fixed subjects can be explained either by sensitivity to sound source location relative to the head (egocentric) or relative to the world (allocentric encoding). This coordinate frame ambiguity can be resolved by studying freely moving subjects and here we recorded spatial receptive fields in auditory cortex freely moving ferrets. We found two distinct populations of neurons: While the majority (∼80%) of spatially tuned neurons represented sound source location relative to the head, we provide novel evidence for a group of neurons in which space was represented in an allocentric world-centered coordinate frame. We also use our ability to measure spatial tuning in moving subjects to explore the influence of sound source distance and speed of head movements on auditory cortical activity and spatial tuning. Modulation depth of spatial tuning increased with distance for egocentric but not allocentric units, whereas for both populations modulation was stronger at faster movement speeds. Our findings argue that auditory cortex is involved in the representation of both sound source location relative to ourselves and sound location in the world independent of our own position.
An overexpressedQallele leads to increased spike density and improved processing quality
Authors: Xu Bin-Jie , Chen Qing , Zheng Ting , Jiang Yun-Feng , Qiao Yuan-Yuan , Guo Zhen-Ru , Cao Yong-Li , Wang Yan , Zhang Ya-Zhou , Zong Lu-Juan , Zhu Jing , Liu Cai-Hong , Jiang Qian-Tao , Lan Xiu-Jin , Ma Jian , Wang Ji-Rui , Zheng You-Liang , Wei Yu-Ming , Qi Peng-Fei
Published: January 2017

Spike density and processing quality are important traits during the evolution of wheat, which is controlled by multiple gene loci. The associated gene loci have been heavily studied with slow progress. A common wheat mutant with extremely compact spikes and good processing quality was isolated. The gene (Qc1) responsible for the mutant phenotype was mapped and cloned, and the cellular mechanism for the mutant phenotype was investigated.Qc1originated from a point mutation that interferes with the miR172-directed cleavage of theQgene, leading to its overexpression.Qc1reduces the longitudinal cell size of rachises, resulting in an increased spike density.Qc1increases the number of vascular bundles, which suggests a higher efficiency in the transportation of assimilates in the spikes of the mutant than in the WT. This could account for the improved processing quality. The effects ofQc1on spike density and wheat processing quality were confirmed by the identification of nine common wheat mutants having four differentQcalleles. These results deepen our understanding of the key role ofQgene, one of the most important domestication gene for wheat, and provide new insights for the potential application ofQcallele in wheat breeding.
OrthoFiller: utilising data from multiple species to improve the completeness of genome annotations
Authors: Dunne Michael P. , Kelly Steven
Published: January 2017

Backround

Complete and accurate annotation of sequenced genomes is of paramount importance to their utility and analysis. Differences in gene prediction pipelines mean that genome sequences for a species can differ considerably in the quality and quantity of their predicted genes. Furthermore, genes that are present in genome sequences sometimes fail to be detected by computational gene prediction methods. Erroneously unannotated genes can lead to oversights and inaccurate assertions in biological investigations, especially for smaller-scale genome projects which rely heavily on computational prediction.

Results

Here we present OrthoFiller, a tool designed to address the problem of finding and adding such missing genes to genome annotations. OrthoFiller leverages information from multiple related species to identify those genes whose existence can be verified through comparison with known gene families, but which have not been predicted. By simulating missing gene annotations in real sequence datasets from both plants and fungi we demonstrate the accuracy and utility of OrthoFiller for finding missing genes and improving genome annotation. Furthermore, we show that applying OrthoFiller to existing “complete” genome annotations can identify and correct substantial numbers of erroneously missing genes in these two sets of species.

Conclusions

We show that significant improvements in the completeness of genome annotations can be made by leveraging information from multiple species.
Epistatic networks jointly influence phenotypes related to metabolic disease and gene expression in Diversity Outbred mice
Authors: Tyler Anna L. , Ji Bo , Gatti Daniel M. , Munger Steven C. , Churchill Gary A. , Svenson Karen L. , Carter Gregory W.
Published: January 2017

Genetic studies of multidimensional phenotypes can potentially link genetic variation, gene expression, and physiological data to create multi-scale models of complex traits. Multi-parent populations provide a resource for developing methods to understand these relationships. In this study, we simultaneously modeled body composition, serum biomarkers, and liver transcript abundances from 474 Diversity Outbred mice. This population contained both sexes and two dietary cohorts. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we summarized transcript data into functional modules which we then used as summary phenotypes representing enriched biological processes. These module phenotypes were jointly analyzed with body composition and serum biomarkers in a combined analysis of pleiotropy and epistasis (CAPE), which inferred networks of epistatic interactions between quantitative trait loci that affect one or more traits. This network frequently mapped interactions between alleles of different ancestries, providing evidence of both genetic synergy and redundancy between haplotypes. Furthermore, a number of loci interacted with sex and diet to yield sex-specific genetic effects. We were also able to identify alleles that potentially protect individuals from the effects of a high-fat diet. Although the epistatic interactions explained small amounts of trait variance, the combination of directional interactions, allelic specificity, and high genomic resolution provided context to generate hypotheses for the roles of specific genes in complex traits. Our approach moves beyond the cataloging of single loci to infer genetic networks that map genetic etiology by simultaneously modeling all phenotypes.
Reciprocal insulation analysis of Hi-C data shows that TADs represent a functionally but not structurally privileged scale in the hierarchical folding of chromosomes
Authors: Zhan Yinxiu , Mariani Luca , Barozzi Iros , Schulz Edda G. , Blüthgen Nils , Stadler Michael , Tiana Guido , Giorgetti Luca
Published: January 2017

Understanding how regulatory sequences interact in the context of chromosomal architecture is a central challenge in biology. Chromosome conformation capture revealed that mammalian chromosomes possess a rich hierarchy of structural layers, from multi-megabase compartments to sub-megabase topologically associating domains (TADs) and sub-TAD contact domains. TADs appear to act as regulatory microenvironments by constraining and segregating regulatory interactions across discrete chromosomal regions. However, it is unclear whether other (or all) folding layers share similar properties, or rather TADs constitute a privileged folding scale with maximal impact on the organization of regulatory interactions. Here, we present a novel algorithm named CaTCH that identifies hierarchical trees of chromosomal domains in Hi-C maps, stratified through their reciprocal physical insulation, which is a single and biologically relevant parameter. By applying CaTCH to published Hi-C data sets, we show that previously reported folding layers appear at different insulation levels. We demonstrate that although no structurally privileged folding level exists, TADs emerge as a functionally privileged scale defined by maximal boundary enrichment in CTCF and maximal cell-type conservation. By measuring transcriptional output in embryonic stem cells and neural precursor cells, we show that the likelihood that genes in a domain are coregulated during differentiation is also maximized at the scale of TADs. Finally, we observe that regulatory sequences occur at genomic locations corresponding to optimized mutual interactions at the same scale. Our analysis suggests that the architectural functionality of TADs arises from the interplay between their ability to partition interactions and the specific genomic position of regulatory sequences.
Crystal structure of 22,24,25-trimethyl-8,11,14-trioxa-25-azatetracyclo[19.3.1.02,7.015,20]pentacosa-2,4,6,15(20),16,18-hexaen-23-one
Authors: Nguyen Van Tuyen , Truong Hong Hieu , Le Tuan Anh , Soldatenkov Anatoly T. , Thi Tuyet Anh Dang , Tran Thi Thanh Van , Esina Natalia Ya. , Khrustalev Victor N.
Published: January 2017

The title compound, C24H29NO4, is the product of a Petrenko–Kritchenko condensation of 1,5-bis(2-formylphenoxy)-3-oxapentane, pentan-3-one and methylammonium acetate in ethanol. The molecule has mirror symmetry. The aza-14-crown-3 ether ring adopts abowlconformation stabilized by a weak intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond. The conformation of the C—O—C—C—O—C—C—O—C polyether chain is t–g+–t–t–g−–t (t =trans, 180°; g =gauche, ±60°). The dihedral angle between the benzene rings fused to the aza-14-crown-4-ether moiety is 72.68 (4)°. The piperidinone ring adopts achairconformation. The nitrogen atom has a trigonal–pyramidal geometry, the sum of the bond angles being 335.9°. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by weak C—H...O interactions, forming zigzag chains propagating along the [100] direction.
Temperature profiles obtained in thermoelastic stress test for different frequencies
Authors: Silva António José Ramos , Moreira P.M.G. , Vaz Mario A.P. , Gabriel Joaquim
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Maintenance is one of the most critical and expensive operations during the life cycle of metallic structures, in particular in the aeronautic industry. However, early detection of fatigue cracks is one of the most demanding operations in global maintenance procedures. In this context, non-destructive testing using image techniques may represent one of the best solutions in such situations, especially thermal stress analyses (TSA) using infrared thermography. The purpose of this paper is to access and characterize the main stress profile calculated through temperature variation, for different load frequencies.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a cyclic load is applied to an aluminum sample component while infrared thermal image is being acquired. According to the literature and experiments, a cyclic load applied to a material results in cyclic temperature variation.

Findings

Frequency has been shown to be an important parameter in TSA evaluations, increasing the measured stress profile amplitude. The loading stimulation frequency and the maximum stress recorded show a good correlation (R2 higher than 0.995). It was verified that further tests and modeling should be performed to fully comprehend the influence of load frequency and to create a standard to conduct thermal stress tests.

Originality/value

This work revealed that the current infrared technology is capable of reaching far more detailed thermal and spatial resolution than the one used in the development of TSA models. Thus, for the first time the influence of mechanical load frequency in the thermal profiles of TSA is visible and consequentially the measured mechanical stress.
Seismic rehabilitation effect in a steel moment frame subjected to tow critical loads
Authors: Faghihmaleki Hadi , Khaksar Najafi Elmira , Hooshmand Aini Ali
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a probabilistic assessment and verify the effectiveness of seismic improvement schemes against earthquake, blast and progressive collapse. The probabilistic analysis is performed by taking into account the uncertainties in loading such as planar configuration and amplitude of the blast loading. A standard Monte Carlo (MC) simulation method is employed to generate various concepts of the uncertain parameters within the problem. For a given concept, various local dynamic analyses are performed within a certain range of distance, in order to quantify and locate the damage induced by impact wave on structural elements. In the next step, a limit state analysis is performed in order to investigate whether a progressive collapse mechanism forms under the acting loads or not.

Design/methodology/approach

( | ) and ( | ) are blast fragility and seismic fragility, respectively; ( ) and ( ) are annual occurrence rate of earthquake and blast, respectively. The purpose of the current study is to calculate for the primary structure as well as the retrofitted structure. Annual occurrence rate of earthquake can be calculated by using probability seismic hazard analysis for the site of interest, where the structure is located. In this paper, blast fragility and seismic fragility are defined rather differently; in other words, seismic fragility is defined as the probability of structural collapse given a specified level of seismic intensity whereas blast fragility is defined as the probability of collapse given that a significant blast event takes place. Both blast and earthquake loading conditions involve the activation of energy dissipation mechanism and, as a consequence, both can be resisted employing ductility enhancing techniques, such as column wrapping or jacketing and steel bracing.

Findings

The current paper aims to present a probabilistic assessment of progressive collapse under blast and earthquake loads. Non-dependent and incompatible events are considered to obtain a general rate of collapse. Finally, probabilistic collapse rate was obtained for a moment frame before and after modifying with convergent steel brace (CBF). The purpose of doing so is to investigate whether seismic improvement schemes can reduce collapse risk of different critical events or not.

Originality/value

Objective of the present work is to present a methodology for calculating the annual risk of collapse for a civil structure subjected to both seismic and blast loads, using a bi-hazard approach. Given that a blast event takes place, the probability of progressive collapse is calculated using a MC simulation procedure. The simulation procedure implements an efficient non-linear limit state analysis, formulated and solved as a linear programming problem. The probability of collapse caused by an earthquake event can be calculated by integrating the seismic fragility of the structure and the seismic hazard for the site.
Side-vent-channels solution for improved buried-mine-blast survivability of a light-tactical-vehicle
Authors: Grujicic Mica , Yavari Ramin , Ramaswami S. , Snipes Jennifer
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to carry out a design-optimization analysis of the recently proposed side-vent-channel concept/solution for mitigation of the blast loads resulting from a shallow-buried mine detonated underneath a light tactical vehicle. Within this concept/solution, side-vent-channels attached to the V-shaped vehicle underbody are used to promote venting of ejected soil and supersonically expanding gaseous detonation products. This effect generates a downward thrust on the targeted vehicle, helping the vehicle survive mine-detonation-induced impulse loading.

Design/methodology/approach

The utility and the blast-mitigation capacity of this concept are investigated computationally using coupled finite-element/discrete-particle computational methods and tools. To maximize the blast-mitigation capacity of the solution (as defined by a tradeoff between the maximum reductions in the detonation-induced total momentum transferred to, and the acceleration acquired by, the target vehicle), the geometry and size of the side-vent-channel solution are optimized.

Findings

It is found that by optimizing the shape and size of the side-vent-channels, their ability to mitigate blast can be improved, but the overall blast-mitigation potential of the side-vent-channel solution remains relatively modest.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, the present work is the first attempt to combine the finite-element/discrete-particle analysis with optimization in order to refine the side-vent-channel blast-mitigation concept.
On the effect of reduced boundary elements in steel shear walls
Authors: Talaeitaba Sayed Behzad , Esmaeili Hamed , Torki Mohammad Ebrahim
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Steel shear walls have recently received exclusive remark. Respective of most building code requirements, design of shear wall vertical boundary elements (VBEs) and local boundary elements (LBEs) against web yielding triggers exaggerated stiffness. The extent of stiffness reduction effects in boundary elements thus calls for more exhaustive investigation. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, FEM-based push-over curves demonstrating base shear vs roof displacement, and von Mises plastic strains were scrutinized in half-scale and full-size models. Analyses were in perfect conformity with experimental data.

Findings

With reference to the AISC requirement, up to 35 percent decrease in the VBE moments of inertia could be imparted in higher levels without the ultimate load capacity nor displacement to failure being reduced. Also considered was open shear walls with reduced or minimum-design LBEs, the latter being used in continuous or abridged form. LBEs could be used with a moment of inertia 80 percent smaller than required if only used in a continuous form. The effect due to opening geometry was negligible on loading capacity but distinguished on the post-yielding buckling-induced softening.

Practical implications

Light-weight design of low- to medium-level steel structures against earthquake loads.

Originality/value

With respect to continuous walls, the results are more comprehensive than those existing in the literature in that they combine the effects due to scale and orientation (horizontal or vertical) of boundary elements. The results for open shear walls are not only comprehensive but also original in a sense that they account for the influences induced by the opening type (door or window), orientation (horizontal or vertical), and design (full-length or abridged) of boundary elements, in reduced form, on the lateral stiffness of the frame.
Monitoring of compressive behaviour of stiffened composite panels using embedded fibre optic and strain gauge sensors
Authors: Ruzek Roman , Kadlec Martin , Tserpes Konstantinos , Karachalios Evaggelos
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Compression is critical loading condition for composite airframes. Compression behaviour of structures with or without damages is a weak point for composite fuselage panels. This is one of the reasons for need of continuous in-service health monitoring of composite structures. The purpose of this paper is to characterize the compression panel behaviour on the base of a developed and implemented structural health monitoring (SHM) system.

Design/methodology/approach

The SHM system based on fibre optic Bragg grating (FOBG) sensors and standard resistance strain gauges (SGs) was placed onto/into (embedded or bonded) three stiffened carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) fuselage panels. The FOBG sensor system was used to monitor the structural integrity of the reference, impacted, and fatigued panels under compression loading. Both barely visible impact damage and visible impact damage were created to evaluate their influence on the panel behaviour. The functionality of the SHM system was verified through mechanical testing.

Findings

Experimental data showed the presence of impact damages significantly changes the buckling modes development and deformation behaviour of the panels. Some differences between the optical and SG sensors during buckling were observed. The buckling waves and failure development were very well indicated during loading by all sensors located on the panel surface but not by the embedded sensors. Good agreement between the data from the SGs and FOBG sensors was achieved for all sensors placed on the stringers, which did not buckle. The good reliability of FOBG sensors during the fatigue and static testing up to panel failure was verified.

Originality/value

The paper gives information about different buckling behaviour of CFRP fuselage stiffened panels in compression. The paper gives detailed information about measured signals from different sensors based on their location on/in the panel structure for realistic loading scenario of composite aerostructures. The paper gives an integrated overview of sensors placement considering possibilities to predicate structure behaviour.
Factors associated with the size of internal audit functions: evidence from Kuwait
Authors: Alhajri Meshari O.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether the size of internal audit functions (IAFs) is significantly related to factors documented by related prior auditing research, namely, diffusion of ownership, firm size, affiliation to the financial services industry, proportion of assets in the form of receivables and inventory, audit committee’s size and the presence of risk management committee.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data related to companies listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange, this study uses a regression model to examine research hypothesis related to factors predicted to have an association with the size of the firm’s IAF.

Findings

The results of the current study provide evidence of a significantly positive relation between the size of the IAF and firm’s affiliation to the finance sector, audit committee’s size and the presence of a separate risk management committee. Such empirical evidence, which stems from the Kuwaiti market, is expected to be valuable for regulators and policy makers as well as audit researchers interested in linking it to the international empirical findings about this issue documented in other audit markets.

Originality/value

This study is original because it is the first to empirically examine factors associated with the size of IAFs in the GCC region, including Kuwait.
Referrals for new client acquisition in professional services
Authors: Grierson Stuart , Brennan Ross
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the following research question: What are the perceptions of professionals and consumers regarding the antecedents of client referrals in the financial advice sector?

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 61 qualitative interviews were conducted, with the following three key groups: independent financial advisers (IFAs; 20 interviews), clients of IFAs (26 interviews) and consumers who manage their own financial affairs and do not use the services of an IFA (15 interviews).

Findings

The financial advisers interviewed believe that client referrals are important to their business success, that they can influence clients to become ambassadors who will consciously seek out new clients and that excellent service will motivate clients to provide referrals. However, the interviews with the clients painted a different picture. While advisers believe that they can influence client referral behavior, the clients did not believe that they were influenced by the adviser to make referrals.

Research limitations/implications

The sampling method was non-random and relied on the professional contacts of the principal researcher as a starting point, from which a network of contacts was established to identify interviewees. The study casts doubt on the ability of professional service providers to influence client referral behavior. This novel finding deserves further research investigation.

Practical implications

There is clearly scope for greater measurement in connection with referrals in professional service businesses. The propensity for clients to refer should be included as a metric in the performance measurement of professional service providers, in addition to standard financial measures. This would encourage the service provider to consider referrals during client interactions.

Originality/value

The study reports on a substantial qualitative study involving both professional service providers and their clients. While the providers believe that client referrals are critical to their business success, the evidence collected provides little or no support for this belief. Clients report they are not motivated to refer. Advisers do not explicitly measure referrals. The reality of referrals seems not to match the mythology.
Improving health care quality: the implementation of whistleblowing
Authors: Ciasullo Maria Vincenza , Cosimato Silvia , Palumbo Rocco
Published: January 2017

Purpose

In line with the current literature, the purpose of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of whistleblowing procedures and their influence on overall organisational quality. To this end, institutional, organisational, and cultural barriers to whistleblowing implementation have been investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative analysis based on three explorative case studies investigates and compares different whistleblowing practices implemented in health care organisations, operating within the Italian National Health Service (INHS).

Findings

INHS organisations have implemented whistleblowing procedures in different ways, despite the fact that the procedures are laid down by law. These differences are mainly due to cultural, administrative, organisational, and process barriers, which have a deep impact on whistleblowing integration in managerial practices and their influence on the overall quality of health processes and services.

Research limitations/implications

This research paper was limited by the analysis of three Italian public health care organisations, which did not allow the generalisability of findings. Therefore, the study offers interesting insights on the way effective whistleblowing systems should be implemented in order to support managers to improve organisation’s management and service quality.

Originality/value

The paper represents one of the first attempts to structurally analyse the practice of whistleblowing in an Italian healthcare system. Therefore the study has mainly focussed not only on the analysis of whistleblowing practices, but also on their impacts on the improvement of organisational processes’ quality and, subsequently, on social well-being.
Evolution of top management’s understanding of product quality in Eastern Europe since the end of communism
Authors: Georgiev Svetoslav , Georgiev Emil
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of top management’s understanding of product quality in Bulgaria since the end of communism. The study examines three specific areas: top management’s understanding of the term “quality”; top management’s understanding of the relationship between quality and business performance; and top management’s understanding of the impact of job position on quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper relies on a quantitative research approach by using data from a survey of 186 companies in Bulgaria.

Findings

The paper suggests that senior managers in Bulgaria continue to base their understanding of “quality” on a single approach (*a characteristic of the communist era), with the product-based and the user-based approaches currently being the two most common ones. At the same time, surprisingly enough, this study claims that senior management in Bulgaria is currently well aware of the importance of quality as a dimension of firm’s competitiveness, and is also highly conscious of its roles’ impact on product quality.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study are exclusively based on the case of Bulgaria and must be treated with caution in the case of other former communist states from the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region.

Practical implications

This paper has relevance for both managers and companies doing business in Eastern Europe.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to provide detailed analysis of the evolution of the understanding of “product quality” in CEE since the end of communism. Moreover, this paper applies, for the first time, Garvin’s five approaches to defining quality within a practical context.
Identifying the critical determinants of TQM and their impact on company performance
Authors: Bouranta Nancy , Psomas Evangelos L. , Pantouvakis Angelos
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enrich the existing literature by determining the underlying structure (latent factors) of total quality management (TQM) practices and their impact on company performance outcomes in the Greek hotel industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The research questions were examined using a sample of 153 top-and middle-level hotel-quality managers. Exploratory factor analyses, coupled with multiple linear regression analyses, were used to examine the extent to which elements of TQM influence hotel performance.

Findings

The TQM factors revealed by the present empirical research in the hotel industry are the quality practices of top management, strategic quality planning, employee quality management, customer focus and employee knowledge and education. On the other hand, the performance dimensions revealed through the present study are summarized as: financial performance, customer focused performance and service quality performance. The results also confirmed that most of the TQM elements are antecedents of hotel business performance.

Practical implications

Hotel managers/owners using reliable and valid frameworks comprising TQM practices and performance outcomes may better address their efforts by choosing whether to invest in company refurbishing or better train their personnel to maximize hotel performance.

Originality/value

The purpose of this study is to enrich the existing literature by identifying and confirming the enablers and outcomes of TQM specifically within the hospitality industry. Moreover, the relationship between the implementation of TQM practices and superior company performance is also examined due to the past contradictory results regarding this matter.
Hybridization between ecotypes in a phenotypically and ecologically heterogeneous population ofIris savannarum(Iridaceae) in Florida
Authors: Meerow Alan W. , Gideon Michael , Nakamura Kyoko
Published: January 2017

IrisseriesHexagonaeis a small, monophyletic complex of five species and associated hybrid populations, popularly known as the ‘Louisiana irises’. SeriesHexagonaehas been recognized as a textbook case of introgressive hybridization based on numerous studies in Louisiana. We previously explored patterns of genetic structure and diversity in populations of the complex in Florida. Populations that occupy high, dry habitats have plants with a distinctive floral ‘highlands’ phenotype. Aquatic populations ofI. savannarumalso have a consistent floral phenotype (‘coastal’). Jacks Branch slough in Glades County harbors the largest population of seriesHexagonaesampled in our previous studies. It is an ecologically heterogeneous site, punctuated by sandy uplands that remain above high water and harborIriswith the highlands floral phenotype as well as coastal types in the wetter areas of the slough. We hypothesized that mesic, but non‐inundated, sites in the slough would host hybrids of the two phenotypic groups, and tested these hypotheses with 19 microsatellite loci. All data analyses support our hypothesis of hybridization between the upland and hydric subpopulations. Although two methods of introgression analysis identify some of the individuals from the admixture zone as first‐generation hybrids, subsequent admixture was asymmetric with introgression from the ‘highland’ parent. This is the first report of such assortative processes occurring in the confines of a single population ofIris. We suggest that the evolutionary processes described interspecifically for seriesHexagonaecommence early at the population level.
An observational study of community‐acquired severe sepsis comparing intensive care and non‐intensive care patients
Authors: Nygård S. T. , Skrede S. , Langeland N. , Flaatten H. K.
Published: January 2017

Background

Most studies of sepsis are from intensive care units (ICUs). We aimed to investigate community‐acquired severe sepsis in a broader population, in order to compare patients treated in or outside an ICU .

Methods

We performed a 1‐year prospective observational study with enrollment of patients from three units; a general ICU, a combined ICU/non‐ICU and a medical ward with limited surveillance facilities. Hospital survivors were followed up for 5 years.

Results

Overall, 220 patients were included, of which 107 received ICU treatment. The majority of abdominal (77%, P = 0.003) and genitourinary (81%, P < 0.001) infections were found in ICU and non‐ICU patients, respectively. Time to first antibiotic administration was longer in ICU‐patients (median 3.5 vs. 2.0 h in non‐ICU patients, P = 0.011). ICU developed more organ dysfunctions than non‐ICU patients (P < 0.001), nevertheless supportive therapy with vasoactive drugs and non‐invasive ventilation was documented in 22% and 27% of the latter. Median hospital length of stay was 15 vs. 9 days (P = 0.001), and hospital and 5‐year mortality rates 35% vs. 16% (P = 0.002) and 57% vs. 58% (P = 0.892) among ICU and non‐ICU patients, respectively. Increasing age (HR 1.06 (1.04, 1.07) per year, P < 0.001), not care level during hospitalization (HR 1.19 (0.70, 2.02), P = 0.514), influenced long‐term survival.

Conclusion

Half of the subjects with community‐acquired severe sepsis never received ICU treatment. Still, use of organ supportive therapy outside the ICU was considerable. Hospital mortality was higher, whereas 5‐year survival was similar when comparing ICU with non‐ICU patients.
Passengers at risk: a multi‐level analysis of the decision to travel with a drunk driver
Authors: Nazif‐Muñoz José Ignacio , Blank‐Gomel Aharon
Published: January 2017

Aims

To assess the impact of demographic, intrapersonal and environmental factors on the likelihood in Chile of becoming a passenger of an alcohol‐impaired driver (PAID).

Design

Multi‐level cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Data were acquired from two large‐scale household surveys of representative samples of Chile's Metropolitan Region.

Participants

The study included 1341 individuals ≥ 16 years; 696 of them reported engaging in PAID.

Measurement

The primary outcome was self‐reported frequencies of having accepted a ride with an alcohol‐impaired driver.

Findings

PAID was associated significantly with ‘age’ [odds ratio (OR) = 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.98–0.99, P = 0.03], ‘traffic safety beliefs’ (OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.078–0.44, P = 0.00), ‘time exposure as passenger’ (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 1.00–1.01, P = 0.00) and ‘sex’ (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.53–0.87, P = 0.00). In women, PAID was associated with ‘age’ (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97–0.99, P = 0.02), ‘traffic safety beliefs’ (OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.05–0.59, P = 0.00) and ‘low quality of public bus stops’ (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.98–0.99, P = 0.01). Younger women with high education levels were more likely to engage in PAID than younger women with low education levels. In men, PAID was associated with ‘traffic safety beliefs’ (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02–0.63, P = 0.01) and ‘time exposure as passenger’ (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 1.00–1.01, P = 0.02).

Conclusions

In Chile, men are at higher risk of becoming a passenger of an alcohol‐impaired driver (PAID) than women. In women, PAID appears to be associated with lower traffic safety beliefs, lower quality of public bus stations and an interaction between education and age. In men, PAID is associated with lower traffic safety beliefs and higher time exposure as passenger.
Model‐based economic evaluations in smoking cessation and their transferability to new contexts: a systematic review
Authors: Berg Marrit L. , Cheung Kei Long , Hiligsmann Mickaël , Evers Silvia , de Kinderen Reina J. A. , Kulchaitanaroaj Puttarin , Pokhrel Subhash
Published: January 2017

Aims

To identify different types of models used in economic evaluations of smoking cessation, analyse the quality of the included models examining their attributes and ascertain their transferability to a new context.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature on the economic evaluation of smoking cessation interventions published between 1996 and April 2015, identified via Medline, EMBASE, National Health Service (NHS) Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), Health Technology Assessment (HTA). The checklist‐based quality of the included studies and transferability scores was based on the European Network of Health Economic Evaluation Databases (EURONHEED) criteria. Studies that were not in smoking cessation, not original research, not a model‐based economic evaluation, that did not consider adult population and not from a high‐income country were excluded.

Findings

Among the 64 economic evaluations included in the review, the state‐transition Markov model was the most frequently used method (n = 30/64), with quality adjusted life years (QALY) being the most frequently used outcome measure in a life‐time horizon. A small number of the included studies (13 of 64) were eligible for EURONHEED transferability checklist. The overall transferability scores ranged from 0.50 to 0.97, with an average score of 0.75. The average score per section was 0.69 (range = 0.35–0.92). The relative transferability of the studies could not be established due to a limitation present in the EURONHEED method.

Conclusion

All existing economic evaluations in smoking cessation lack in one or more key study attributes necessary to be fully transferable to a new context.