bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In ads we trust. Religiousness as a predictor of advertising trustworthiness and avoidance
Authors: Ketelaar Paul Edwin , Konig Ruben , Smit Edith G. , Thorbjørnsen Helge
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide insight into the relationship between religiousness, trust in advertising and advertisement avoidance.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey of 4,984 participants from the USA, the UK, Germany, Spain and France was conducted.

Findings

– This paper shows that religiousness is a (negative) predictor of avoidance of advertisements in traditional and digital media and that advertisement trustworthiness mediates this effect. Higher perceived trustworthiness of advertising among the more religious people leads to less advertisement avoidance. Less religious people trust advertising less and, consequently, show higher advertisement avoidance. The role of religiousness is explained by a positive relationship between religiousness and perceived advertisement trustworthiness because of religious people’s general conformity to authority and because of religion’s emphasis on the good of fellow human beings.

Research limitations/implications

– One limitation is that response bias may have occurred because of the self-reported data on advertisement avoidance in different media. Another limitation is that though the use of existing panels has advantages, it also has disadvantages. Two such disadvantages of the sampling procedure are the considerable non-responses and the impossibility of a non-response analysis for our study. Although all the respondents had Internet access and responded fairly quickly to the survey, we do not know whether they are special in any systematic way.

Practical implications

– The implication of the current paper is that advertisers might also benefit from more closely examining religion and religiousness as a key variable for segmentation. Religiousness constitutes a relatively stable society grouping, and media vehicles also are available for targeting people with different religions within societies (e.g. Websites, social media, magazines, television channels).

Originality/value

– This paper is the first to examine the relationship between religiousness, trust in advertising and advertisement avoidance from an international perspective. This is important because religiousness may have an impact on marketing communication efforts.
The social network implications of prestigious goods among young adults: evaluating the self vs others
Authors: Lee Seung Hwan , Luster Sean
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the paradox of whether prestigious goods help or inhibit a consumer’s social affinity. The goal of this research is to explore whether pursuit of prestigious goods increases consumers’ social affinity or decreases their social affinity, and, more importantly, to understand the mechanisms that drive this process.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three laboratory experimental studies and a social network study are conducted to show that consumers hold inconsistent beliefs about the social implication of prestigious goods.

Findings

– In Study 1, the authors showed that prestigious goods evoked stronger social affinity for the self than for the other. In Study 2, the authors showed that people evaluated themselves high in social affinity when they brought a prestigious wine to a party compared to when they brought a cheaper, generic wine, but evaluated others low in social affinity when they brought the same prestigious wine. In Study 3, the authors showed the mediating effects of social image and boastfulness on social affinity. Study 4 utilizes social network study to further validate previous findings in a field setting.

Practical implications

– For high-end retailers, the authors suggest framing their promotional messages to explicitly highlight how owning prestigious goods will benefit them (i.e. social image). It is important that these retail managers (and salespeople alike) make it more salient on how their prestigious goods socially benefit the consumer (the self). Thus, it is important to get consumers to think about how a prestigious item looks on them and not on others. However, marketers must be prudent when constructing these messages, as the link between prestigious consumption and network development is merely perceptual.

Originality/value

– The findings demonstrate that consuming prestigious goods increases social affinity via positive social image for the self. When evaluating others, the authors demonstrate that consuming prestigious goods decreases social affinity via boastfulness. In sum, owning prestigious items may seem beneficial socially to the self, but people have negative perceptions (boastfulness) of those who own the same prestigious goods. Hence, there seems to be a discrepancy in how the authors evaluate themselves versus how they evaluate others with the same prestigious goods.
Effects of intuitive judgments on consumer assortment evaluations
Authors: Piris Yolande , Guibert Nathalie
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to apply intuition theory to clarify consumers’ assortment evaluations. For each decision process, this paper explores how perceptions of organization and variety influence consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 504 observations were collected across three product categories. Perceived choice, time and expertise in the product category provide proxies to distinguish between intuitive and deliberative systems. The intuitive system further consists of intuition based on either expertise or heuristics.

Findings

– It was revealed that distinct decision processes (deliberative, intuitive based on expertise and intuitive based on heuristics) affect the link between assortment perceptions and consumers’ assortment evaluations. Consumers’ evaluations in deliberative- and heuristic-based intuitive systems rely more on perceptions of organization than of variety; whereas intuitive judgments based on expertise depend almost equally on both perceptions.

Research limitations/implications

– Some limitations have to be underlined. The approximations used could be more precise and are subjective in nature. Moreover, the ordinary product categories that were studied might encourage more intuitive decisions by consumers. If so, the deliberative mode of thinking might have been underrepresented in this sample.

Originality/value

– Despite the limitations, this research is, to our knowledge, the first to explore the influence of intuition theory on ordinary shopping and in particular on assortment perception. As such, it contributes to a deeper understanding of this theory in the field.
SEC issues Staff Legal Bulletin after four-year comprehensive review of proxy system
Authors: Sorkin John E. , Bomba Abigail Pickering , Epstein Steven , Forbes Jessica , Golden Peter S. , Richter Philip , Schwenkel Robert C. , Shine David , Fleischer Arthur , Weinstein Gail
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– To provide an overview of the guidance for proxy firms and investment advisers included in the Staff Legal Bulletin released this year by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after its four-year comprehensive review of the proxy system.

Design/methodology/approach

– Discusses briefly the context in which the SEC’s review was conducted; the general themes of the guidance provided; the most notable aspects of the guidance; and the matters that were expected to be, but were not, addressed by the SEC.

Findings

– The guidance does not go as far in regulating proxy advisory firms as many had anticipated it would. The key obligations specified in the guidance are imposed on the investment advisers who engage the proxy firms. The responsibilities, policies and procedures mandated do not change the fundamental paradigm that has supported the influence of proxy firms – that is, investment advisers continue to be permitted to fulfill their duty to vote client shares in a “conflict-free manner” by voting based on the recommendations of independent third parties, and continue to be exempted from the rules that generally apply to persons who solicit votes or make proxy recommendations.

Practical implications

– The SEC staff states in the Bulletin that it expects that proxy firms and investment advisers will conform to the obligations imposed in the Bulletin “promptly, but in any event in advance of [the 2015] proxy season.”

Originality/value

– Practical guidance from experienced M&A lawyers.
SEC touts whistleblower award to a compliance professional – use care in responding to reports of potential violations
Authors: Srere Mark , Buchanan Mary Beth , Koch Elaine , Mammen Jennifer , Johnson Tyson A.
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– To highlight the first award granted under the US Securities and Exchange Commission Whistleblower Program to a compliance professional.

Design/methodology/approach

– Explains the first award issued to a compliance professional under the SEC’s Whistleblower program and the rules for issuing such an award.

Findings

– The SEC has emphasized this award to a compliance professional, noting that individuals performing compliance, audit, and legal functions are on the front lines against fraud and corruption and are often privy to the very kinds of specific, timely, and credible information that can prevent an imminent fraud or stop an ongoing fraud. The SEC’s specific courting of compliance and audit personnel makes it even more important for companies to pay particular attention to complaints raised by those individuals.

Practical implications

– Companies should continue to take steps to ensure that they have vigorous compliance programs in place to detect potential issues and to respond immediately and effectively to internally reported information.

Originality/value

– Practical guidance from experienced regulatory and employment lawyers.
US SEC approves sweeping amendments to rules governing money market funds
Authors: Murphy Jack , Cohen Stephen , Carroll Brenden , Smith Aline A. , Virag Matthew , Goldberg Justin
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– To explain the background and details and to discuss the implications of the USA Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) July 23, 2014 amendments to Rule 2a-7 and other rules that govern money market funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Design/methodology/approach

– Explains the background, including problems during the financial crisis, the USA Treasury’s temporary guarantee program in 2008, earlier SEC proposals, and the USA Financial Stability Oversight Council’s recommendations. Details the amendments to Rule 2a-7, including the authorization to impose liquidity fees and redemption gates, the floating net asset value (NAV) requirement, the impact of the amendments on unregistered money funds operating under Rule 12d1-1, guidance on fund valuation methods, disclosure requirements, requirements for money fund portfolios to be diversified as to issuers of securities and guarantors, stress testing requirements, and compliance dates.

Findings

– The Amendments set forth sweeping changes to money fund regulation and will have a profound effect on the money fund industry. Although the most significant provisions of the Amendments – the floating NAV requirement and the imposition of liquidity fees and redemption gates – will not go into effect for two years, the changes to the industry will be apparent almost immediately.

Practical implications

– Money fund managers and boards of directors should begin assessing the potential impact of the Amendments and develop a schedule to come into compliance.

Originality/value

– Practical guidance from experienced financial services lawyers.
Recent civil and criminal enforcement action involving high frequency trading
Authors: Rossi Matthew , Deis Greg , Roche Jerome , Przywara Kathleen
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– To alert high frequency trading firms to the increased regulation and prosecution of manipulative trading practices during 2014 and early 2015.

Design/methodology/approach

– Reviews four significant proceedings against high frequency trading firms (and/or individuals employed by such firms) and other developments from the relevant government agencies as a possible preview of the enforcement and prosecution of high frequency trading practices in 2015. Provides advice to high frequency trading firms on how to decrease the risk of regulatory or criminal actions against them in this changing environment.

Findings

– Although the focus on high frequency trading has only recently begun to intensify, firms should be aware of the increased enforcement activity of the past year. These actions, both regulatory and criminal, have already resulted in large penalties and have helped initiate a strengthening of rules and regulations regarding manipulative trading practices, of which firms need to be aware and stay current.

Practical implications

– High frequency trading firms should be aware of the recent regulatory and criminal actions in order to better evaluate their own practices and controls, to ensure that their trading patterns do not resemble manipulative practices, and to avoid similar actions.

Originality/value

– Practical guidance from experienced litigators and securities regulatory lawyers, including a former SEC Assistant Chief Litigation Counsel and a former federal prosecutor, that consolidates and describes several recent actions and developments in one piece.
A phenomenology of occupation‐based hand therapy
Authors: Colaianni Donna J. , Provident Ingrid , DiBartola Leesa M. , Wheeler Steven
Published: May 2015

Background/aim

The existing tension between holistic, occupation focused approaches and the medical model in occupational therapy is most evident in the area of hand therapy. Occupation‐based hand therapy has been proposed as a means to alleviate this tension. However, there is a lack of research on occupation‐based hand therapy. Clearly describing and defining what constitutes occupation‐based hand therapy can facilitate efficacy research and help promote occupation‐based practice in keeping with the philosophy of the profession.

Methods

The qualitative approach of phenomenology as described by Moustakas was used. Participants who were occupational therapists with more than 5 years of experience who self ‐identified as occupation‐based practitioners were recruited to the point of saturation using criterion and chain sampling for a final total of 10 participants. Data were collected through audio recorded telephone interviews and electronic mail. The data were reduced and distilled into a description of the experience of providing occupation‐based hand therapy.

Results

Participants described the experience of providing occupation‐based hand therapy around the concepts of influences, psychosocial benefits, procedural elements of practice and challenges.

Conclusion

Findings of this study can assist occupational therapists to develop a more occupation‐based intervention program through focusing on occupation‐based theory, being intentional, using occupation‐focused interventions and building an occupation focused context. Findings can also inform future research into the efficacy of occupation‐based hand therapy, appropriate timing for balancing occupation with tissue protection, and the effects of therapist experience on their ability to use an occupation‐based approach in hand therapy.
Distances in Organizations: Innovation in an R&D Lab
Authors: Dolfsma Wilfred , van der Eijk Rene
Published: May 2015

The distance between actors in an organization affects how they interact with each other, and particularly whether they will exchange (innovative) knowledge with each other. Actors in each other's proximity have fewer conflicts, more trust towards each other, for example, and are thus more involved in knowledge transfer. Actors close to others thus are believed to perform better: by being more innovative, for instance. This theory of propinquity's claim resonates widely in the literature and has intuitive appeal: ‘people are most likely to be attracted towards those in closest contact with them’ (Newcomb, Th. (1956). American Psychologist, 11, p. 575). Knowledge that a focal actor receives from alters who are close is more readily accessed, better understood and more readily useable. At the same time, however, and in contrast to the what the theory of propinquity suggests, knowledge that a focal actor receives from alters who are at a greater distance may be more diverse, offer unexpected and valuable insights, and therefore give rise to innovation. In order to understand these opposing expectations, scholars have indicated that distance must be conceived of as multifaceted: individuals can be close to each other in one way, while at the same time distant in another. No prior paper has extensively studied the effects of distance as a multifaceted concept, however. This study offers two distinct contributions. It argues, first, why some instances of distance affect the opportunity to interact with alters, potentially lowering an actor's performance, while other instances of distance affect the expected benefits from interaction. The latter would increase an actor's performance. Secondly, this paper is the first study to test empirically the expectations about how seven different measures of distance affect an actor's innovative performance. Innovative performance is measured as both creative contribution and contribution to knowledge that has immediate commercial use (patents). In the setting of a large research lab, it is found, contrary to expectations, that distance does not hurt individual innovative performance and sometimes helps it in unexpected ways.
Recent Trends in the Size and the Distribution of Inherited Wealth in the UK
Authors: Karagiannaki Eleni
Published: May 2015

In this paper, we use HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estate statistics and micro data from four UK household surveys to examine changes in the size, the composition and the distribution of inherited wealth in the UK over the period 1985−2010. Our findings indicate that the period under examination is characterised by a substantial increase in the flow of inheritance. This increase, which was particularly marked in the early 2000s, was mainly driven by an increase in housing inheritance, which in turn reflected the rise in house prices and, to a lesser extent, the increase in the proportion of inheritances that included housing assets. The distribution of inheritance amongst recipients became more unequal over this period. However, the inequality‐increasing effect from the greater dispersion in the distribution of inheritance was counterbalanced by the increase in the percentage of the population who received an inheritance, resulting in a small decrease in the inequality of inheritance for the population overall. Analysis of the distribution of inheritance by socio‐economic status suggests a positive association between inheritance and socio‐economic status, with some evidence suggesting that this association might have strengthened over time. Overall, however, the value of inheritance for most people is rather small and the differences across groups rather moderate.
Can the critically ill consent to participation in commercial television programmes? An Australian prehospital and emergency medicine perspective
Authors: Mackenney Jonathan N
Published: May 2015

The fly‐on‐the‐wall medical documentary is a popular television phenomenon. When patients can give appropriate consent to filming, the final product can be both educational for the public and rewarding for its subjects. However, in the dynamic world of emergency and prehospital medicine, consenting critically ill patients before filming is a significant challenge. The main barriers to gaining valid consent in the field and in the ED are limited time to inform the patient and the diminished capacity of the sick patient. Although there is an argument that involvement in a commercial film might be beneficial to several parties, including the patient, these benefits do not amount to therapeutic necessity if prior consent is not obtainable. Despite this, we still see acutely incapacitated patients featured in some television programmes. In these cases, the conventional process of consent might be being sidestepped in order to obtain permission for broadcast retrospectively. This alternative process fails to recognise that incapacitated patients require protection from an invasion of privacy that occurs when a crew is filming their resuscitations. This harm has already occurred by the time consent is sought. Ultimate responsibility for defending the patients' interests during their medical treatment rests with the medical practitioner. We argue that filming a patient without prior consent in both the prehospital and emergency environment is ethically unsound: it threatens trust in the healthcare relationship and might compromise the patient's dignity and privacy. Robust guidelines should be developed for all healthcare professionals who engage with commercial film crews.
Identifying Key Attributes for Protein Beverages
Authors: Oltman A.E. , Lopetcharat K. , Bastian E. , Drake M.A.
Published: May 2015

This study identified key attributes of protein beverages and evaluated effects of priming on liking of protein beverages. An adaptive choice‐based conjoint study was conducted along with Kano analysis to gain insight on protein beverage consumers (n = 432). Attributes evaluated included label claim, protein type, amount of protein, carbohydrates, sweeteners, and metabolic benefits. Utility scores for levels and importance scores for attributes were determined. Subsequently, two pairs of clear acidic whey protein beverages were manufactured that differed by age of protein source or the amount of whey protein per serving. Beverages were evaluated by 151 consumers on two occasions with or without priming statements. One priming statement declared “great flavor,” the other priming statement declared 20 g protein per serving. A two way analysis of variance was applied to discern the role of each priming statement. The most important attribute for protein beverages was sweetener type, followed by amount of protein, followed by type of protein followed by label claim. Beverages with whey protein, naturally sweetened, reduced sugar and ≥15 g protein per serving were most desired. Three consumer clusters were identified, differentiated by their preferences for protein type, sweetener and amount of protein. Priming statements positively impacted concept liking (P < 0.05) but had no effect on overall liking (P > 0.05). Consistent with trained panel profiles of increased cardboard flavor with higher protein content, consumers liked beverages with 10 g protein more than beverages with 20 g protein (6.8 compared with 5.7, P < 0.05). Protein beverages must have desirable flavor for wide consumer appeal.
Using Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy to Characterize the Glass Transition Time of Polydextrose
Authors: Buehler Martin G. , Kindle Michael L. , Carter Brady P.
Published: May 2015

Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy was used to characterize the glass transition time, tg, of polydextrose, where the glass transition temperature, Tg, and water activity, aw (relative humidity), were held constant during polydextrose relaxation. The tg was determined from a shift in the peak frequency of the imaginary capacitance spectrum with time. It was found that when the peak frequency reaches 30 mHz, polydextrose undergoes glass transition. Glass transition time, tg, is the time for polydextrose to undergo glass transition at a specific Tg and aw. Results lead to a modified state diagram, where Tg is depressed with increasing aw. This curve forms a boundary: (a) below the boundary, polydextrose does not undergo glass transition and (b) above the boundary, polydextrose rapidly undergoes glass transition. As the boundary curve is specified by a tg value, it can assist in the selection of storage conditions. An important point on the boundary curve is at aw = 0, where Tg0 = 115 °C. The methodology can also be used to calculate the stress‐relaxation viscosity of polydextrose as a function of Tg and aw, which is important when characterizing the flow properties of polydextrose initially in powder form.
Development of Aa New Time Temperature Indicator for Enzymatic Validation of Pasteurization of Meat Products
Authors: Brizio Ana Paula Dutra Resem , Prentice Carlos
Published: May 2015

This paper presents the development of a new smart time‐temperature indicator (TTI) of pasteurization whose operating principle is based on the complexation reaction between starch and iodine, and the subsequent action of an amylase on this complex causing its discoloration at a rate dependent on time and temperature of the medium. Laboratory simulations and tests in a manufacturing plant evaluated different enzyme concentrations in the TTI prototypes when exposed to pasteurization conditions. The results showed that the color response of the indicators was visually interpreted as adaptive to measurement using appropriate equipment, with satisfactory reliability in all conditions studied. The TTI containing 6.5% amylase was one whose best results were suited for use in validating the cooking of hams. When attached to the primary packaging of the product, this TTI indicated the pasteurization process inexpensively, easily, accurately, and nondestructively.
Recovery of Staphylococcus aureus in Gray Mugil cephalus Roe (Bottarga): Investigation by an Integrated Cultural/Molecular Approach
Authors: Brandas Valeria , Orrù Germano , Carraro Valentina , Sanna Adriana , Brajon Giovanni , Salati Fulvio , Sanna Clara , Ciusa Maria laura , Meloni Mauro , Coroneo Valentina
Published: May 2015

In the Mediterranean area, salted and dried roe from the gray Mugil cephalus “bottarga” represent a speciality food with great commercial value. Bottarga is currently produced by a traditional handmade process and, the risk of human bacterial contamination during its manufacturing is still unknown; in this perspective the foodborne pathogen Staphylococcus aureus could potentially contaminate this product due to poor sanitation or bad handling during processing. The aim of this work is: to evaluate the contamination level of foodborne pathogens at different product manufacturing stages and, in addition, to describe a fast and realizable method for the rapid detection of S. aureus in bottarga samples in the field. A cultural procedure was initially used to investigate the occurrence of S. aureus and the other main foodborne pathogens in bottarga samples at the different manufacturing stages (from roe to final product). In addition, a molecular approach was used to rapidly determine the presence of total bacteria, S. aureus, and its potential toxigenicity. Of the 194 specimens analyzed, we identified: Clostridium perfringens, Enterococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae. However, some samples resulted as being contaminated with S. aureus (4% in roe and 8.7% in the final product). During the bottarga manufacturing process, we observed an increase in pathogen levels (from 102 to 105 CFU/g) in contaminated samples, and entA and entB genotypes were identified. Reconstruction experiments suggest that the fresh roe and the bottarga (not completely dried) could represent a risk for the contamination and growth of pathogen bacteria.
The influence of Helicobacter pylori eradication on the expression and methylation status of the FHIT gene in non‐cancerous gastric mucosa of dyspeptic patients
Authors: Peczek Lukasz , Zuk Karolina , Stec‐Michalska Krystyna , Medrek Marta , Nawrot Barbara
Published: May 2015

Objective

To investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication on the expression level of the FHIT gene and its methylation status in the gastric mucosa of dyspeptic patients with or without a family history of gastric cancer (FHGC).

Methods

In all, 31 patients with H. pylori infection including 13 with FHGC were enrolled in the study. The effectiveness of H. pylori eradication were confirmed by UBT, RUT and multiplex PCR (the presence of selected H. pylori strains) for biopsy samples from the antrum and corpus. Histopathological assessment was also performed. The expression of FHIT mRNA was determined by quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and the methylation status of the FHIT promoter was assessed by methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction.

Results

After H. pylori eradication, the improvement of inflammation from superficial gastritis to normal mucosa (G→N) was observed in 39% of the patients without FHGC and in 54% of those with FHGC. FHIT mRNA expression was increased in patients without FHGC after H. pylori eradication (P < 0.05), while there was no statistically significant change in gene methylation status after H. pylori eradication (P > 0.05). For the samples from those with FHGC, the FHIT mRNA expression was not significantly changed and the methylation status fluctuated evenly.

Conclusions

H. pylori eradication results in the improvement of gastric mucosal inflammation and histopathological non‐atrophic changes. The FHIT gene expression is increased in patients without FHGC, which may contribute to the prevention of GC development.
Statistical modelling of annual variation for inference on stochastic population dynamics using Integral Projection Models
Authors: Metcalf C. Jessica E. , Ellner Stephen P. , Childs Dylan Z. , Salguero‐Gómez Roberto , Merow Cory , McMahon Sean M. , Jongejans Eelke , Rees Mark
Published: May 2015

Temporal fluctuations in vital rates such as survival, growth or reproduction alter long‐term population dynamics and can change the dynamics from invasion and population persistence to extinction. Projections of population dynamics made in the absence of such fluctuations may consequently be misleading. However, data for estimation of yearly fluctuations in demographic parameters are often limited. Accordingly, the current diverse range of statistical and demographic modelling strategies used for stochastic population modelling may influence predictions.

We used simulations to explore the effects of different methods of parameter estimation on projections of population dynamics obtained using stochastic integral projection models (IPMs). The simulations were built from data on a monocarpic thistle, Carlina vulgaris, and an ungulate, Soay sheep, Ovis aries; these populations are subject to yearly fluctuation in vital rates facilitating the exploration of the effects of different methods of model construction on the properties of stochastic IPMs. Specifically, we looked at effects on the stochastic growth rate, log λs, and the mean and variance in the one‐step population growth rate (Nt+1/Nt).

Our analyses showed that none of the tested approaches resulted in large biases in the estimation of log λs. However, when realistic study durations (e.g. 12 years) were used for statistical modelling, the confidence intervals around the λs estimates remained large. Estimation of the variance in one‐step population growth rates, on the other hand, was strongly sensitive to the method employed, and the overestimation and underestimation of the variance were also influenced by the life history of the organism.

Our findings highlight the need to consider the influences of statistical and demographic modelling approaches when population dynamics have significant temporal stochasticity, as in population viability analyses and evolutionary predictions of bet hedging.
Isolation of Nocardia mexicana from focal proliferative tenosynovitis and arthritis in a steer
Authors: Owen H , Buckle K , Olm J , Leitner M , Pandey S , Gaughan JB , Sullivan ML , Lees AM , Gibson JS
Published: May 2015

Case report

An 18‐month‐old Charolais steer was presented with lameness and fluctuant swelling of the right stifle joint, which yielded neutrophils on fine‐needle aspiration. A diagnosis of bacterial proliferative tenosynovitis and arthritis was made on postmortem and histological examination. Culture and 16S rRNA sequencing identified a Nocardia sp. with 99% homology with the corresponding DNA fragment of N. mexicana DSM 44952. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed the isolate was susceptible to co‐trimoxazole and third‐generation cephalosporins.

Conclusion

We report the first case, both in Australia and internationally, of proliferative tenosynovitis and arthritis caused by Nocardia spp. infection in a bovine and the first report of pathology attributed to N. mexicana in a veterinary patient. Given the limited susceptibility of the bacteria, the poor antimicrobial penetration that would be expected and the morphological changes that had taken place in the joint; the steer would have required protracted antimicrobial treatment in addition to invasive debridement of the lesion. This case emphasises the importance of routinely performing cytology and extended incubation of cultures in cases of arthritis in order to make ethical and economically viable treatment decisions.
Retrospective survey of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology in Western Australian horses presented for evaluation of the respiratory tract: effect of season on relative cell percentages
Authors: Secombe CJ , Lester GD , Robertson ID , Cullimore AM
Published: May 2015

Objective

To characterise the cytological changes in equine bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples over multiple years to determine if the prevalence of a relative mast cell response was influenced by season.

Methods

Medical records of 228 horses with clinical signs consistent with non‐infectious respiratory disease or poor performance where a BAL was performed were reviewed retrospectively. BAL fluid cytology and categorised clinical variables were analysed using a Chi‐square test to determine associations.

Results

The predominant signalment was a racing horse between 2 and 6 years of age, and poor athletic performance was the most common presenting complaint. Based on published criteria, 69.7% of horses had abnormal BAL cytology. The presence of nasal discharge was the only clinical finding that differed significantly between horses with abnormal and normal cytology. The most common cytological derangement was a mixed cell response (26.7%), the majority of which comprised elevated percentages of neutrophils and mast cells. A solely neutrophilic response or mast cell response occurred with equal frequency (18% and 18.95%, respectively), and an isolated eosinophilic response was noted in 6.1% of cases. Of the horses with cytology consistent with non‐infectious lower airway inflammation, 58.4% had increases in the relative percentage of mast cells. Cell profiles were significantly associated with season, with mastocytosis occurring more commonly in spring, whereas eosinophilic and neutrophilic responses were more common in summer.

Conclusion

In this study, a relative mast cell increase was the most common cytological profile in horses with lower airway inflammation and was associated with season.
Integration of PKPD relationships into benefit–risk analysis
Authors: Bellanti Francesco , van Wijk Rob C. , Danhof Meindert , Della Pasqua Oscar
Published: May 2015

Aim

Despite the continuous endeavour to achieve high standards in medical care through effectiveness measures, a quantitative framework for the assessment of the benefit–risk balance of new medicines is lacking prior to regulatory approval. The aim of this short review is to summarise the approaches currently available for benefit–risk assessment. In addition, we propose the use of pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PKPD) modelling as the pharmacological basis for evidence synthesis and evaluation of novel therapeutic agents.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search has been performed using MESH terms in PubMed, in which articles describing benefit–risk assessment and modelling and simulation were identified. In parallel, a critical review of multi‐criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is presented as a tool for characterising a drug's safety and efficacy profile.

Results

A definition of benefits and risks has been proposed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in which qualitative and quantitative elements are included. However, in spite of the value of MCDA as a quantitative method, decisions about benefit–risk balance continue to rely on subjective expert opinion. By contrast, a model‐informed approach offers the opportunity for a more comprehensive evaluation of benefit–risk balance before extensive evidence is generated in clinical practice.

Conclusions

Benefit–risk balance should be an integral part of the risk management plan and as such considered before marketing authorisation. Modelling and simulation can be incorporated into MCDA to support the evidence synthesis as well evidence generation taking into account the underlying correlations between favourable and unfavourable effects. In addition, it represents a valuable tool for the optimization of protocol design in effectiveness trials.
Learning in a Different Era: do our education systems do enough to enable learners to flourish as independent, autonomous and well‐balanced individuals?
Authors: Cheng Kai‐ming
Published: May 2015

There is a prime necessity to make a distinction between education and learning. Learning is a human instinct. Education is not. Education is about learning processes designed by adults for the young. In the past two centuries in the industrial era, education has developed into society‐wide school systems. Young people are expected to go through such systems.
Changes in northern Gulf of Mexico sediment bacterial and archaeal communities exposed to hypoxia
Authors: Devereux R. , Mosher J. J. , Vishnivetskaya T. A. , Brown S. D. , Beddick D. L. , Yates D. F. , Palumbo A. V.
Published: May 2015

Biogeochemical changes in marine sediments during coastal water hypoxia are well described, but less is known about underlying changes in microbial communities. Bacterial and archaeal communities in Louisiana continental shelf (LCS) hypoxic zone sediments were characterized by pyrosequencing 16S rRNA V4‐region gene fragments obtained by PCR amplification of community genomic DNA with bacterial‐ or archaeal‐specific primers. Duplicate LCS sediment cores collected during hypoxia had higher concentrations of Fe(II), and dissolved inorganic carbon, phosphate, and ammonium than cores collected when overlying water oxygen concentrations were normal. Pyrosequencing yielded 158 686 bacterial and 225 591 archaeal sequences from 20 sediment samples, representing five 2‐cm depth intervals in the duplicate cores. Bacterial communities grouped by sampling date and sediment depth in a neighbor‐joining analysis using Chao–Jaccard shared species values. Redundancy analysis indicated that variance in bacterial communities was mainly associated with differences in sediment chemistry between oxic and hypoxic water column conditions. Gammaproteobacteria (26.5%) were most prominent among bacterial sequences, followed by Firmicutes (9.6%), and Alphaproteobacteria (5.6%). Crenarchaeotal, thaumarchaeotal, and euryarchaeotal lineages accounted for 57%, 27%, and 16% of archaeal sequences, respectively. In Thaumarchaeota Marine Group I, sequences were 96–99% identical to the Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 sequence, were highest in surficial sediments, and accounted for 31% of archaeal sequences when waters were normoxic vs. 13% of archaeal sequences when waters were hypoxic. Redundancy analysis showed Nitrosopumilus‐related sequence abundance was correlated with high solid‐phase Fe(III) concentrations, whereas most of the remaining archaeal clusters were not. In contrast, crenarchaeotal sequences were from phylogenetically diverse lineages, differed little in relative abundance between sampling times, and increased to high relative abundance with sediment depth. These results provide further evidence that marine sediment microbial community composition can be structured according to sediment chemistry and suggest the expansion of hypoxia in coastal waters may alter sediment microbial communities involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling.
Morbidly obese patient with non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis‐related cirrhosis who died from sepsis caused by dental infection of Porphyromonas gingivalis: A case report
Authors: Omura Yuno , Kitamoto Mikiya , Hyogo Hideyuki , Yamanoue Takao , Tada Yoshihiro , Boku Noriko , Nishisaka Takashi , Miyauchi Mutsumi , Takata Takashi , Chayama Kazuaki
Published: May 2015

Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with increased risks of developing lifestyle‐related diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cerebral vessel disease. While the two‐hit hypothesis and, recently, multiple parallel hits hypothesis of NASH pathogenesis were proposed, further details have not emerged. Recently, dental infection of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) has been reported as a critical risk factor for NASH progression, which acts as multiple parallel hits to induce inflammation and fibrogenic responses in steatosis. We describe here a 54‐year‐old woman who died from sepsis and was diagnosed with NASH. Briefly, her body mass index (BMI) at the age of 35 years old had been 25.6 kg/m2, but she became obese after withdrawing into her home at the age of 45 years. Severe obesity continued over 19 years without diabetes mellitus. She was admitted to our hospital due to a sudden disturbance of consciousness. On admission, her BMI was 48.5 kg/m2. Computed tomography revealed cirrhotic liver with massive ascites, and laboratory data indicated increased inflammatory responses, renal failure and C grade Child–Pugh classification, suggesting the diagnosis of sepsis. Also, severe periodontal disease was present, because the patient's front teeth fell out easily during intubation. Although the focus of infection was not specified, the oral flora Parvimonas micra, a periodontal pathogen, was detected in venous blood. In spite of intensive care including artificial respiration management and continuous hemodiafiltration, she died on the 43rd day after admission. Surprisingly, P. gingivalis was detected in her hepatocytes. This case may represent the significance of P. gingivalis in the progress to cirrhosis in NASH patients.
An oil‐soluble extract of Rubus idaeus cells enhances hydration and water homeostasis in skin cells
Authors: Tito A. , Bimonte M. , Carola A. , De Lucia A. , Barbulova A. , Tortora A. , Colucci G. , Apone F.
Published: May 2015

Synopsis

Objective

Raspberry plants, belonging to the species of Rubus idaeus, are known for their excellent therapeutic properties as they are particularly rich in compounds with strong antioxidant activity, which promote health and well‐being of human cells. Besides their high content of phenolic compounds, Rubus plants are rich in oil‐soluble compounds, which are also primary components of the hydrolipidic film barrier of the skin. As plant cell cultures represented a valuable system to produce interesting compounds and ingredients for cosmetic applications, we developed liquid suspension cultures from Rubus idaeus leaves and used them to obtain an active ingredient aimed at improving hydration and moisturization capacity in the skin.

Methods

Rubus idaeus cells, grown in the laboratory under sterile and controlled conditions as liquid suspension cultures, were processed to obtain an oil‐soluble (liposoluble) extract, containing phenolic compounds and a wide range of fatty acids. The extract was tested on cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts and then on the skin in vivo, to assess its cosmetic activities.

Results

When tested on skin cell cultures, the extract induced the genes responsible for skin hydration, such as aquaporin 3, filaggrin, involucrin and hyaluronic acid synthase, and stimulated the expression and the activity of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase, involved in ceramide production. Moreover, the liposoluble extract increased the synthesis of the extracellular matrix components in cultured fibroblasts and showed a remarkable skin‐hydrating capacity when tested on human skin in vivo.

Conclusions

Thanks to these activities, the Rubus idaeus liposoluble extract has several potential applications in skin care cosmetics: it can be used as hydrating and moisturizing ingredient in face and body lotions, and as anti‐ageing product in face creams specifically designed to fight wrinkle formation.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide suppresses macrophage‐mediated inflammation by downregulating interleukin‐17A expression via PKA‐ and PKC‐dependent pathways
Authors: Ran Wen‐Zhuo , Dong Liang , Tang Chun‐Yan , Zhou Yong , Sun Guo‐Ying , Liu Tian , Liu Yong‐Ping , Guan Cha‐Xiang
Published: May 2015

Interleukin (IL)‐17A is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine that markedly enhances inflammatory responses in the lungs by recruiting neutrophils and interacting with other pro‐inflammatory mediators. Reducing the expression of IL‐17A could attenuate inflammation in the lungs. However, whether VIP exerts its anti‐inflammatory effects by regulating the expression of IL‐17A has remained unclear. Here, we show that there is a remarkable increase of IL‐17A in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue of mice with acute lung injury (ALI). Moreover, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulated elevated expression of IL‐17A, which was evident by the enhanced levels of mRNA and protein observed. Furthermore, we also found that VIP inhibited LPS‐mediated IL‐17A expression in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner in an in vitro model of ALI and that this process might be mediated via the phosphokinase A (PKA) and phosphokinase C (PKC) pathways. Taken together, our results demonstrated that VIP might be an effective protector during ALI by suppressing IL‐17A expression.
Just‐in‐time parts feeding policies for paced assembly lines: possible solutions for highly constrained layouts
Authors: Zammori Francesco , Braglia Marcello , Castellano Davide
Published: May 2015

This paper deals with the dimensioning of a just‐in‐time (JIT) parts feeding system, for a paced assembly line. Specifically, we consider the quite frequent case of an old‐fashioned, push‐oriented warehouse arrangement, characterized by materials and subassemblies that are stocked in different and peripheral areas of the manufacturing plant. In these circumstance, layout changes are almost impossible and warehouses cannot be substituted by supermarkets. Nevertheless, this does not preclude the possibility to rationalize material flow and to reduce work in process (WIP) using a JIT parts feeding system. To this aim, we propose two alternative approaches, differentiating in terms of the order with which warehouses and workstations are visited. In order to dimension both systems and to estimate their expected performances, a mathematical model is also presented. At first, the model is presented in a basic formulation, which is very effective and easy to use. A more sophisticated formulation, based on Bayesian probability, is introduced next; this is not so much for practical purposes, but rather to demonstrate the potential of the proposed JIT system in very constrained operating settings.
Agglomeration, backward and forward linkages: evidence from South Korean investment in China
Authors: Debaere Peter , Lee Joonhyung , Paik Myungho
Published: May 2015

Abstract With a firm‐level data set, we study the location decision of South Korean multinationals across China's regions. Our conditional logit estimates confirm agglomeration effects along industry and along national lines. We add an upstream and downstream (backward and forward) linkage effect. We find that the presence of upstream and downstream South Korean affiliates significantly increases the likelihood that a South Korean multinational invests in a particular region. However, linkages that do not differentiate by nationality do not seem to matter much. As such, our analysis of investors' location choice brings together two perspectives: linkages and agglomeration along national lines.