bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of external integration capabilities of third-party logistics providers on their financial performance
Authors: Liu Chiung-Lin , Lai Pei-Yu
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– Outsourcing by corporations is increasing the demand for complex services (such as customization) from third-party logistics providers (3PLs). Effective integration between 3PLs and their customers, known as the external integration of 3PLs, not only allows 3PLs to respond rapidly to shippers’ needs but also to increase customer satisfaction and the effective allocation of resources while increasing operational efficiency (such as by proposing comprehensive plans for future logistics services to meet shippers’ demands). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causal relationships among the external integration capabilities, cost advantages, and the financial performance of 3PLs.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey of 3PLs in Taiwan and China was performed. The research model was tested using a structural equation modeling technique along with the partial least square (PLS-SEM/PLS) approach.

Findings

– The results herein demonstrated a positive relationship between 3PLs’ external integration capabilities and resource efficiency. The results also suggested that cost competitiveness positively affected the financial performance of 3PLs. Although the external integration capabilities of 3PLs were not found to directly affect their financial performance, the results in this study indicated that external integration capabilities enable a firm to improve financial performance by capturing cost advantages.

Originality/value

– This study provides useful information about the effects of external integration capabilities on the financial performance of 3PLs in a bi-regional context. The sample in this study was drawn from the 3PL industry in Taiwan and China, enabling a comparative analysis of these two countries of similar cultural backgrounds but different degrees of development of their logistics industry and different related demands.
Model (my) neighbourhood – a bottom-up collective approach for crime-prevention in Portugal and Lithuania
Authors: Saraiva Miguel , Matijosaitiene Irina , Diniz Mónica , Velicka Vilius
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to respond to the need for comparative studies on methodologies for implementing Crime Prevention through Urban Design and Planning (CP-UDP) at the local level, particularly in peripheral Europe where CP-UDP’s top-down standards have poor dissemination and acceptance. This paper debates how local partnerships can help reduce crime and how a CP-UDP-based model can be introduced into municipal planning.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the challenge of CP-UDP in the framework of a post-crisis Europe and Europe 2020. Because there is a large gap between theory and practice, lack of a shared holistic approach, and scepticism, or lack of knowledge, of public authorities, at local-level planning professionals and the police have devised bottom-up initiatives based on interdisciplinary partnerships with the community. The paper describes, discusses and compares the implementation of such approaches in Lisbon (Portugal) and Vilnius (Lithuania).

Findings

The paper addresses the processes and challenges of establishing synergies and working relationships between police officers, public officials and the community, and it discusses six main causes for its (un)success. When these conditions were met, crime and social constraints reduced.

Practical implications

Lessons learned are deemed crucial to disseminate knowledge and best practices, paving the way for proper top-down policies and planning legislations in these and other countries.

Originality/value

This paper analyses the potentialities and shortcomings of local-level implementation of CP-UDP strategies as an alternative to failed top-down strategies in two realities mostly unknown of the international scientific community. The case study material is previously unpublished internationally.
Integrating crime prevention into urban design and planning
Authors: Davey Caroline L. , Wootton Andrew B.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the delivery of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) across Europe – from European-wide procedures through national schemes to effective local strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings come from a review of published literature and reports, case studies and site visits conducted primarily during COST Action TU1203 (2013-2016).

Findings

Innovative approaches and methods to integrate crime prevention into urban design, planning and management have been generated by multi-agency partnerships and collaborations at European, national and city levels. Methods and procedures developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Working Group on “Crime Prevention through Urban Planning and Building Design” are pioneering. However, findings show that implementation is best achieved at a local level using methods and procedures tailored to the specific context.

Research limitations/implications

In-depth research is required to appreciate subtle differences between local approaches and conceptual models developed to better understand approaches and methods.

Practical implications

Practitioners and academics working to prevent crime benefit from participation in focused, multi-agency collaborations that, importantly, facilitate visits to urban developments, discussions with local stakeholders responsible for delivery “on the ground” and structured and sustained exploration of innovations and challenges.

Originality/value

The authors hope that this paper will contribute to developing a new direction for CPTED practice and research that builds on significant progress in creating safer environments over previous decades.
Investigation of maintenance performance for a gasification process unit using Weibull analysis
Authors: Zulkafli Nur Izyan , Mat Dan Reduan
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate maintenance performance of a gasification process unit by identifying reliability, failure and hazard rate. The prediction on the number of preventive maintenance (PM) activities and size of labour are being analysed.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study collects maintenance data for 4,000 hours operation to perform Weibull analysis in order to determine two key factors which are beta shape factor, β and characteristic life, η.

Findings

– The results for estimation of failure, reliability and hazard rate show that the pump was most likely contributed to the biggest failure. On the other hand, reaction chamber was able to maintain the longest operation among other components. It is estimated that the total PM activities should be within 20-50 activities per month for whole processing plant. Meanwhile, the estimation of size of labour should be within the range of 60-130 numbers of workers per month for all components.

Originality/value

– The method of Weibull analysis for investigating current maintenance performance has been analysed using real case study data. The data collection is obtained from a typical gasification process unit.
Interest-bearing checking policies at single-market banks, 2008-2012
Authors: Kashian Russ , Drago Robert
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze interest-bearing checking (IC) account policies, including the monthly fee, and minima to avoid the fee or to earn interest, as shrouded equilibria in the sense that low-income depositors subsidize higher income depositors. The authors ask whether behavior is consistent with low-income depositors being myopic, and analyze the role of competition and bank size.

Design/methodology/approach

– IC policy data from RateWatch cover more than 600 single-market banks from 2008-2012, and are matched to FDIC SOD data and call report data for testing. Hypotheses assuming low-income depositors are myopic are tested, as are the effects of bank size and competition with local market and multi-market banks.

Findings

– IC policies represent locally shrouded equilibria, with low-income depositors subsidizing higher income depositors up to a well-defined threshold, with depositors above that threshold subsiding all other customers. IC policy patterns are consistent with low-income customers being myopic, with banks generally avoiding drawing their attention, attempting to confuse them, and with policies consistent with a present orientation among low-income depositors. Local market competition does not meet the traditional expectation of favoring consumers. Additionally, larger banks report higher fees and minima, with the difference growing during the period.

Social implications

– IC policies have not received regulatory attention, yet the fees likely fall mainly on low-income individuals, and may continue to grow.

Originality/value

– The analysis of IC policies is novel, as is the locally shrouded equilibrium model, and findings regarding competition.
Reexamining fund manager skill from a new angle
Authors: Bu Qiang , Lacey Nelson
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine managerial skill of US equity mutual funds in the context of both abnormal return and risk.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors evaluate manager skill based on the outperforming probability and cumulative distribution function of the actual funds and the bootstrapped funds. And the authors recognize the role of fund life cycle and use different evaluation horizons to control for fund age and the overall state of the market.

Findings

– The authors find that a small percentage of equity funds can beat the market, and the percentage is overall higher than what the control group would predict. The authors find no evidence of persistence. The authors also document that the chance of underperformance is much higher than what the authors had expect from the control group. Taking the risk-return tradeoff into account, any performance advantage of actual funds over bootstrapped funds is correlated with tail risk, and a robustness check confirms this finding.

Originality/value

– The authors find that the outperforming probability itself is not enough to confirm the existence of manager skill. The complete story of mutual fund alpha, should it exist, would not be complete without incorporating both risk and luck.
Capturing qualitatively different healthfulness images of food products
Authors: Puska Petteri , Luomala Harri T.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish whether food products carry qualitatively different healthfulness images in consumers’ minds. The images explored in this paper go beyond the conventional healthful vs unhealthful dichotomy. The limitations of mainstream healthfulness perception research were pinpointed and a multi-dimensional conception of food product healthfulness images was introduced in an attempt to extend current theorizing.

Design/methodology/approach

– A pilot test (n=17) was conducted to develop a tool for measuring multi-dimensional healthfulness images of food products. The main study (n=1,081) comprised of an internet survey exposing respondents to pictures of various commercial food products.

Findings

– Empirical support for the existence of qualitatively different healthfulness images in consumers’ minds for food products was found. First, a food product perceived in overall as more unhealthful than its counterpart was still viewed as more healthful in certain specific way. Second, respondents reported to yield dissimilar health benefits (e.g. energy and appearance vs emotional well-being and self-management) from consuming two food products that were in overall perceived as equally healthful.

Practical implications

– In their communication, food marketers should emphasize those healthfulness image dimensions that consumers strongly perceive to characterize their food product. Second, companies can learn from analyzing the role of their own and competitors’ branding and packaging solutions in shaping consumers’ food product healthfulness image experiences. Third, consumer target group understanding is helpful in managing these experiences.

Social implications

– The results can assist in the fight against obesity. It is possible that the wider use of more emotionally evocative and cognitively effortless food-related communication enabled by uncovering of qualitative healthfulness images can produce more healthy food choices in the long run due to their higher persuasive power in certain consumer groups.

Originality/value

– This study was the first to show that food products can carry qualitatively different healthfulness images in consumers’ minds. It developed and introduced an easy measuring technique, based on the health-related motive orientation theory, for capturing them. It propagated for a multi-dimensional conception of food product healthfulness images and for the need to acknowledge the role holistic information processing and peripheral cues in their genesis.
Measuring Issue Ownership: A Comparative Question Wording Experiment
Authors: Lefevere Jonas , Walgrave Stefaan , Stubager Rune , Tresch Anke
Published: July 2016

Issue ownership, or the idea that some parties are considered by the public to be better able or more committed to dealing with specific issues, is increasingly used in studies of electoral choice. Yet, various scholars have argued that if measures of issue ownership are confounded with party choice, this raises concerns regarding their usability to predict electoral choice. This research note examines to what extent various measures of issue ownership are confounded with voters’ party preferences and voters’ agreement with the party's position on the issue. Relying on an online survey‐embedded question wording experiment fielded in two countries (Belgium and Denmark), question wording effects for two dimension of issue ownership are examined: competence issue ownership and associative issue ownership. It is found that, in both countries, the two associative issue ownership measures were less affected by party preference and positional agreement. The most used competence issue ownership measures are most confounded with party choice and positional agreement in the experiment. Results in the two countries are largely similar, the main exception being that one of the two associative measures performs worse in Denmark. The results imply that scholars should take care in using measures of especially competence issue ownership to predict the vote, but that also country differences affect the validity of issue ownership measures.
Autologous platelet rich plasma in the management of non‐healing vasculitic ulcers
Authors: Sriram Sankaran , Sankaralingam Rajeswari , Mani Madeshwaran , Tamilselvam Tiruchengode Natesan
Published: July 2016

Aim

To determine the role and efficacy of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the healing of recalcitrant vasculitic ulcers and to study the rapidity of ulcer healing with respect to platelet concentration in the prepared PRP.

Methods

This is a pilot study which included 20 patients with biopsy‐proven vasculitic ulcers after excluding human immunodeficiency virus, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, active smoking and platelet abnormalities in peripheral smear. PRP was prepared from whole blood by centrifugation and activated using 10% calcium chloride. Activated PRP was applied over the ulcer by spraying using a syringe. Weekly dressing was done until the ulcer healed and healing was monitored using the Leg Ulcer Measurement Tool (LUMT).

Results

The total number of patients were 20 (male four; female 16). The mean age was 34.5 ± 15.36 years (2.0 SD). Mean duration of illness was 8.6 ± 2.9 months(2.0 SD). Ulcers were located in the lower third of the leg (n = 13), ankle (n = 4) and foot (n = 3) in the descending order of frequency. On average, epithelization of the wound occurred at 4.4 weeks. Faster healing was seen in mixed connective tissue disease (average 3.5 weeks) and delayed healing in systemic lupus erythematosus (average 4.7 weeks). Average platelet count obtained in the PRP was 5.52 lakhs/mm3 to 18.6 lakhs/mm3 with an increase in platelet count of 3.4‐ to 6‐fold, respectively. Duration of healing corresponded with the platelet concentration in the prepared PRP. All the 20 patients showed complete healing within 6 weeks.

Conclusion

PRP is a safe, effective, outpatient procedure for the treatment of chronic recalcitrant vasculitic ulcers which improves the quality of life of patients and reduces their financial burden.
Efficacy and safety of golimumab in Indian patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Subgroup data from GO‐MORE study
Authors: Pal Sarvajeet , Veeravalli Sarath Chandra Mouli , Das Siddharth Kumar , Shobha Vineeta , Uppuluri Ramakrishna Rao , Dharmanand B G , Nadkar Milind , Hsia Elizabeth , Fei Kaiyin , Yao Ruji , Khalifa Ahmed
Published: July 2016

Aim

To conduct a subgroup analysis of GO‐MORE trial Part 1, comparing efficacy and safety of add‐on subcutaneous golimumab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients enrolled from and outside India.

Methods

GO‐MORE was an open‐label, multicenter, prospective trial of add‐on golimumab in biologic‐naïve RA patients, having active disease despite being on conventional DMARD regimen(s). Part 1 of the study was chosen as the focus of this subgroup analysis because a substantial number of Indian patients (106) were enrolled compared to no Indian patients in Part 2. The primary efficacy outcome was proportion of patients achieving good to moderate DAS28‐ESR (Disease Activity Score of 28 joints calculated using erythrocyte sedimentation rate) European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response at month 6.

Results

Efficacy evaluable population comprised of 105 and 3175 patients from India and outside India, respectively. Safety analysis included 106 patients enrolled from India and 3251 from outside India. A higher proportion of Indian patients had a high disease activity as measured by DAS28 ESR than outside India patients. At month 6, the proportion of Indian and non‐Indian patients achieving DAS28‐ESR, DAS28 – C‐reactive protein, simplified disease activity index (SDAI) remission, and EuroQoL Quality‐of‐Life Questionnaire (EQ‐5D) scores were comparable. Incidence of all adverse events was lower in Indian patients. There were no deaths, cases of tuberculosis or malignancy reported in the patients from India at month 6.

Conclusions

The efficacy and safety results with add‐on golimumab were consistent between RA patients from India and outside India, despite high baseline disease activity in the Indian patients.
Dual‐energy computed tomography as a diagnostic tool for gout during intercritical periods
Authors: Breuer Gabriel S. , Bogot Naama , Nesher Gideon
Published: July 2016

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic yield of dual‐energy computed tomography (DECT) in detection of uric acid accumulation in joints or periarticular structures in patients suspected of having gout, in their intercritical period.

Methods

Patients with a history of recurrent, short‐lived mono‐ or oligo‐arthralgia or arthritis, referred to the rheumatology clinic for diagnosis of their condition, were included in this retrospective evaluation.

Results

DECT confirmed the diagnosis of gout in 30 of 50 patients (60%). A positive DECT was present in 12 of 16 cases (75%) with serum uric acid > 8.5 mg/dL, compared to seven of 13 cases (54%) and two of five cases (40%) with levels of 6.1–8.5 mg/dL and ≤ 6 mg/dL, respectively. The diagnostic impact of screening hands and feet were highest (78% and 56%, respectively). Follow‐up data were available for 24 of the 30 patients with urate deposits identified by DECT. Twenty‐one were treated with urate‐lowering agents, all responded with lowering of serum uric acid and cessation of flares. Follow‐up data were available for 16 of the 20 patients with no urate deposits identified by DECT. Gout was diagnosed in two of them by synovial fluid examination during subsequent flares. Both positive and negative predictive values of DECT for diagnosing gout in this patient population were 87%. Following DECT, treatment regimen was modified to gout‐specific therapy in 52% of the patients.

Discussion

The ability to make a definite diagnosis of gout by DECT imaging in a substantial number of asymptomatic patients in the intercritical period should help in treatment decision‐making and improve patient adherence to long‐term urate‐lowering therapy.
An Effective Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: A Bottom Up Approach
Authors: Malkin Anton , Momani Bessma
Published: July 2016

This article suggests that the debate surrounding the inception of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is missing a crucial element of staffing policy. We review existing literature onIMFand World Bank reform, which shows that developing and emerging economy leadership in the organizations may not be sufficient in changing the normative character and policy orientation of the new organization. To counter principle‐agent problems that make multilateral lending institutions unresponsive to policy directives from shareholders and management, we argue that staffing policies should be at the forefront ofAIIBscrutiny. We show that, staffing practices should safeguard against three specific staff‐level issues: (1) half‐hearted or incomplete policy mandate reform; (2) intellectual monocropping; and (3) at organization culture incompatibility. To substantiate our conclusions and policy recommendations we examine the World Bank andIMFas case studies of staff‐level reforms in multilateral lending institutions.
Prolonged withdrawal from cocaine self‐administration affects prefrontal cortex‐ and basolateral amygdala–nucleus accumbens core circuits but not accumbens GABAergic local interneurons
Authors: Purgianto Anthony , Weinfeld Michael E. , Wolf Marina E.
Published: July 2016

Withdrawal from extended‐access cocaine self‐administration leads to progressive intensification (‘incubation’) of cocaine craving. After prolonged withdrawal (1–2 months), when craving is high, expression of incubation depends on strengthening of excitatory inputs to medium spiny neurons (MSN) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). These excitatory inputs interact with the intra‐NAc GABAergic ‘microcircuit’, composed of MSN axon collaterals and GABAergic interneurons. Here, we investigated whether the increased glutamatergic neurotransmission observed after prolonged withdrawal is accompanied by altered GABAergic neurotransmission, focusing on NAc core. Rats self‐administered cocaine or saline (6 hours/day) and then underwent >40 days of withdrawal. First, we investigated parvalbumin positive (PV+) interneurons, GABAergic fast‐spiking interneurons that regulate MSN activity. Immunohistochemical studies revealed no significant change in PV signal intensity or the number of PV+ cells in cocaine rats versus saline controls. We then screened PV and other interneuron markers using immunoblotting. We detected no changes in levels of PV, calretinin, calbindin or neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Because expression of these markers is activity dependent, our results suggest no marked changes in interneuron activity. Finally, we utilized local field potential recording, which can detect GABA‐mediated alterations at the circuit level, to investigate potential changes in two circuits implicated in cocaine craving: prelimbic prefrontal cortex to NAc core and basolateral amygdala to NAc core. We detected differential adaptations in these circuits, some of which may involve GABA. Overall, our results suggest that alterations in GABA transmission may accompany incubation of cocaine craving, but they are circuit specific and less pronounced than alterations in glutamate transmission.
Identity Work at a Normal University in Shanghai
Authors: Cockain Alex
Published: July 2016

Based upon ethnographic research, this article explores undergraduate students' experiences at a normal university in Shanghai focusing on the types of identities and forms of sociality emerging therein. Although students’ symptoms of disappointment seem to indicate the power of university experiences to extinguish purposeful action, this article suggests they are associated with students' identity work, central to which are attempts to cope with disintegrations to school‐related identities and efforts to construct alternate senses of self.
Campus Custodians in the Corporate University: Castes, Crossing Borders, and Critical Consciousness
Authors: Magolda Peter , Delman Liliana
Published: July 2016

This ethnographic study showcases life stories of campus custodians and their interactions with members of other campus subcultures to reveal insights about higher education. This manuscript illuminates the ways the worldwide economic calamities, beginning in 2008, resulted in the implementation of corporate‐like ideologies. Analyses reveal how custodians interpreted, coped with, and subverted these mandates. This bottom‐up view of the university provides a unique vantage point to enrich understanding about how universities manage change.
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane exposure and anogenital distance in the Venda Health Examination of Mothers, Babies and their Environment (VHEMBE) birth cohort study, South Africa
Authors: Bornman M. S. , Chevrier J. , Rauch S. , Crause M. , Obida M. , Sathyanarayana S. , Barr D. B. , Eskenazi B.
Published: July 2016

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is used for malaria control by 10 countries, nine of which are in Africa. Technical DDT contains various isomers with 65–80% insecticidal p,p’‐DDT and 15–21% o,p′‐DDT, an estrogenic chemical, while the persistent metabolite of p,p′‐DDT, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′‐DDE), is an antiandrogen. In utero antiandrogenic exposure reduces anogenital distance in animal models and the anal position index in a single study. This study examined the associations between mother's serum DDT and DDE levels at delivery and anogenital distance in their children at birth and age 1 year. Data were collected as part of the Venda Health Examination of Mothers, Babies and their Environment (VHEMBE), a birth cohort study located in rural South Africa. DDT and DDE concentrations were measured in blood samples collected from 752 mothers at delivery. Anogenital distance measurements, taken at birth (n = 671) and age 1 year (n = 674), included anofourchette and anoclitoral distances in girls, and anoscrotal and anopenile lengths in boys. We also measured anococcygeal and coccyx‐fourchette distances in girls, while in boys, we measured anococcygeal and coccyx‐scrotal distances as well as penile length and penile width. The anal position index is calculated for both sexes as anoscrotal/coccyx‐scrotal in boys and anofourchette/coccyx‐fourchette in girls. We found no associations between p,p′‐DDT/‐DDE or o,p′‐DDT and anogenital distance measurements at birth in either boys or girls. At 1 year, o,p′‐DDE was negatively associated with anofourchette in girls (β =−1.32 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −2.27, −0.38) and positively associated with penile width in boys (β = 0.30 mm, 95% CI = 0.00, 0.60). The results do not suggest an overt antiandrogenic or estrogenic effect on anogenital distance after long‐term DDT exposure. These weak associations may be due to chance.
Ventricular repolarization time, location of pacing stimulus and current pulse amplitude conspire to determine arrhythmogenicity in mice
Authors: Speerschneider T. , Grubb S. , Olesen S. P. , Calloe K. , Thomsen M. B.
Published: July 2016

Aim

In this study, we investigate the impact of altered action potential durations (APD) on ventricular repolarization time and proarrhythmia in mice with and without genetic deletion of the K+‐channel‐interacting protein 2 (KChIP2−/− and WT respectively). Moreover, we examine the interrelationship between the dispersion of repolarization time and current pulse amplitude in provoking ventricular arrhythmia.

Methods

Intracardiac pacing in anesthetized mice determined refractory periods and proarrhythmia susceptibility. Regional activation time (AT), APD and repolarization time (=AT + APD) were measured in isolated hearts using floating microelectrodes.

Results

Proarrhythmia in WT and KChIP2−/− was not sensitive to changes in refractory periods. Action potentials were longer in KChIP2−/− hearts compared to WT hearts. Isolated WT hearts had large apico‐basal dispersion of repolarization time, whereas hearts from KChIP2−/− mice had large left‐to‐right ventricular dispersion of repolarization time. Pacing from the right ventricle in KChIP2−/− mice in vivo revealed significant lower current pulse amplitudes needed to induce arrhythmias in these mice.

Conclusion

Large heterogeneity of repolarization time is proarrhythmic when pacing is delivered from the location of earlier repolarization time. Ventricular repolarization time, location of the pacing stimulus and the amplitude of the stimulating current pulse are critical parameters underlying arrhythmia vulnerability.
Serum YKL‐40 and gestational diabetes – an observational cohort study
Authors: Gybel‐Brask Dorte , Johansen Julia S. , Christiansen Ib J. , Skibsted Lillian , Høgdall Estrid V. S.
Published: July 2016

To examine serum YKL‐40 in women developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In the present large observational cohort study of 1179 pregnant women, we determined serum YKL‐40 four times during pregnancy (at gestational age 12, 20, 25, and 32 weeks). Pregnancy outcome was obtained from medical records. Sixty‐eight women (5.8%) developed GDM. Serum YKL‐40 increased from gestational age (GA) 12 weeks and the following weeks in the women who developed GDM and was independent of BMI, parity, and maternal age (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.45–5.00, p = 0.002). No association was found between serum YKL‐40 and the oral glucose tolerance test results. In conclusion, YKL‐40 significantly increased in pregnant women with GDM compared with women without GDM, probably reflecting the low‐grade inflammation of GDM. However, we did not find an association between serum concentrations of YKL‐40 in early pregnancy and the development of GDM and thus we conclude that YKL‐40 alone is not usable as a biomarker for early prediction of GDM.
The role of knowledge visualisation in supporting postgraduate dissertation assessment
Authors: Renaud Karen , Biljon Judy Van
Published: July 2016

There has been a worldwide increase in the number of postgraduate students over the last few years and therefore some examiners struggle to maintain high standards of consistency, accuracy and fairness. This is especially true in developing countries where the increase is supervision capacity is not on a par with the growth in student numbers. The aim of this research is to deploy freely available technology in order to find a way to help examiners to cope with this extra pressure, while maintaining the rigour of the assessment process. In terms of methodology, we commenced by mining the literature to ascertain exactly what criteria dissertation examiners were assessing, and how they went about doing this. We discovered that examiners tend first to gain an initial impression of a dissertation by reading the summary sections of the report: the abstract, introduction and conclusion. This delivers a helpful overview that eases the subsequent thorough examination of the dissertation, where they work their way through each chapter. This “overview then zoom” practice is reminiscent of the primary information visualisation mantra. This led us to consider whether knowledge visualisation could be the ameliorative mechanism we were looking for. We then carried out a systematic literature overview in order to determine whether knowledge visualisation had been used in this context. This revealed a surprising lack of research on the use of knowledge visualisation for assessment. We thus commenced to study extant use of visualisations. A case study approach was employed to study extant use of visualisations, in terms of how adequately they provided evidence of students having satisfied the previously identified assessment criteria. A number of experienced supervisors were then surveyed to gather their opinions about the role of knowledge visualisations in dissertations. Our findings indicate that knowledge visualisations can indeed provide evidence that particular criteria have been satisfied within a dissertation, and they do this more efficiently than text. Given the advances in technology, all postgraduate students are now able easily to produce computer‐generated visualisations, so requiring their inclusion would be no great impediment. We conclude that knowledge visualisations demonstrate promise in terms of supporting assessment of postgraduate dissertations. Our recommendations are that the deliberate deployment of knowledge visualisations in this context be investigated further to determine whether this initial promise can be realised in actual practice.A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y7mcF2ZBNT8
The effect of alendronate soaking and ultraviolet treatment on bone–implant interface
Authors: Kim Hyung Soo , Lee Jae In , Yang Sun Sik , Kim Beom Su , Kim Bong Chul , Lee Jun
Published: July 2016

Objective

Rapid and stable fixation of dental implants is crucial for successful treatment. Herein, we examined whether the simultaneous treatment of titanium implants with ultraviolet (UV) and alendronate (ALN) synergistically improved the bone‐to‐implant contact.

Materials and methods

We assessed the in vitro effects of UV radiation‐treated (UV+/ALN−), ALN‐soaked (UV−/ALN+), and UV radiation/ALN‐treated (UV+/ALN+) titanium implants on cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, cell adhesion, and osteoblast differentiation using MG‐63 osteoblast‐like cells by the assays of MTS, live/dead, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and alizarin red S (AR‐S) staining, respectively. Furthermore, in vivo bone formation at the bone–implant interface efficiency determined using a rabbit tibia implantation. Implants were divided into 3 experimental groups (UV+/ALN−, UV−/ALN+, UV+/ALN+) and the non‐treated control (UV−/ALN−) group and transplanted into the proximal tibia of rabbits. At 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks post‐operation, bone formation at the bone–implant interface was evaluated by micro‐computed tomography and histological analysis.

Results

MG‐63 cells cultured on UV+/ALN+ implants showed significantly higher cell proliferation, ALP activity, and calcium mineralization than those cultured on other implants (P < 0.05). Furthermore, SEM observation showed the highest increase in cell attachment and growth on the UV+/ALN+ implants. In vivo, experimental groups at all time points showed greater peri‐implant bone formation than the control group. At 8 weeks post‐implantation, in the UV+/ALN+ group, significantly higher bone formation was observed than the UV+/ALN− or UV−/ALN+ group, respectively (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Treatment of titanium surfaces with UV and ALN may synergistically enhance osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization in vitro and enhance bone formation at the bone–implant interface in vivo. These data suggest that UV and ALN treatment may improve the osseointegration of titanium implants.
Incipient ferralization and weathering indices along a soil chronosequence in Taiwan
Authors: Jien S.‐H. , Baillie I. , Huang W.‐S. , Chen Y.‐Y. , Chiu C.‐Y.
Published: July 2016

The low hilly topography of Green Island, a volcanic island off southeastern Taiwan, includes an altitudinal sequence of sub‐horizontal benches. We examined eight profiles along this sequence, ranging from pale brown loamy coral sand on the lowest bench that fringes the coast at an elevation of about 10 m to deep, intensely red and acid clay on the highest bench at about 240 m. Chemical analyses, differential Fe extractions, thin sections, X‐ray diffraction of the clay minerals and indices of pedochemical weathering and strain indicated that soil development progressed by weathering of primary and secondary phyllosilicates through argilluviation in the intermediate stages to the generation of increasing quantities of free Fe. The Fe accumulates as free sesquioxides, which crystallize with age. Taxonomically the soil types progress from sandy coral Arenosol, through Eutric Cambisol, Hypereutric Lixisol and Acrisol to incipient Ferralsol (Udipsamment → Eutrudept → Udalf → Udultisol → Udox in Soil Taxonomy). The profiles are interpreted as a chronosequence, although this is complicated by minor and upwardly diminishing contributions of reef coral to the mainly igneous parent materials. There are also variations in the andesitic‐basaltic bedrock, and minor aeolian inputs in the higher and older soil types. Regional eustatic sea‐level correlations, 14C dating of carbonates on the two lowest benches and estimates of local tectonic uplift indicate that the incipient Ferralsols on the upper bench might date from about 150 ka. The transition through argilluvial Acrisols to incipient sesquioxide‐dominated Ferralsols appears, therefore, to develop within 100–200 ka on Green Island, which is faster than usual.

Highlights

Green Island (Taiwan) has been volcanically dormant but tectonically active for 2 million years.

The island has a toposequence of bevelled surfaces with relatively uniform andesitic regoliths.

The soils of the surfaces form a chronosequence from Arenosols through Acrisols to incipient Ferralsols.

The transition from argilluvial to ferralitic pedogenesis, at 100–200 ka, is relatively rapid.
Blindfolded vs. Informed Ultimatum Bargaining – A Theoretical and Experimental Analysis
Authors: Güth Werner , Pull Kerstin , Stadler Manfred , Zaby Alexandra K.
Published: July 2016

This paper analyzes blindfolded vs. informed ultimatum bargaining where proposer and responder are both either uninformed or informed about the size of the pie. Considering the transition from one information setting to another suggests that more information induces lower (higher) price offers and acceptance thresholds when the pie is small (large). While our experimental data confirm this transition effect, risk aversion leads to diverging results in blindfolded ultimatum bargaining where task-independent strategies such as ‘equal sharing’ or the ‘golden mean’ are implemented more frequently.
Trunk muscle activation characteristics in patients with severe haemophilia
Authors: Kurz E. , Herbsleb M. , Grassme R. , Anders C. , Hilberg T.
Published: July 2016

Introduction

Recurrent bleeding episodes in patients with haemophilia (PWH) lead to joint alterations and therewith disturbed muscle coordination patterns. Major weight‐bearing joints are affected most. However, possible effects on trunk muscle activity have not been examined so far. The objective of this work was to study consequences of haemarthropathy on characteristics of trunk muscles in PWH while standing on surfaces with different mechanical properties.

Methods

Surface EMG of internal oblique (IO) and multifidus (MF) muscles were bilaterally recorded during a natural bilateral stance in 20 PWH with severe haemophilia A [age: 42 years (SD: 10)] and 25 non‐haemophilic controls [NHC, 43 (12)]. Amplitude ratios, a symmetry index between sides and the co‐activation ratio of IO over MF served as outcome measures and compared standing on three different surfaces (stable, soft, unsteady).

Results

PWH revealed markedly restricted lower extremity joints (P < 0.001), but without any hint of back pain. Neither result revealed significant main or interaction effects of ‘group’ (P > 0.24). Group‐independent analyses showed amplitude ratios (MF: P < 0.05) as well as symmetry indices (MF: P < 0.02) significantly altered by ‘surface’ in NHC only. Effects of utilizing soft vs. unsteady surfaces were not detectable (P > 0.77).

Conclusion

Utilizing unstable surfaces does not lead to altered trunk muscle activity in PWH. Differently than expected, a quite similar behaviour of lower trunk muscles in terms of applied indices can be found in PWH and NHC. Ascending alterations of muscle coordination in PWH could not be verified.
Air embolism following removal of hemodialysis catheter
Authors: Sahutoglu Tuncay , Sakaci Tamer , Hasbal Nuri Baris , Kara Ekrem , Ahbap Elbis , Sevinc Mustafa , Koc Yener , Basturk Taner , Sahutoglu Elif , Unsal Abdulkadir
Published: July 2016

Introduction: Air embolism (AE) is a rare, but serious complication that can occur in the practice of hemodialysis. In contrast to careful techniques and meticulous care during insertions and manipulations of the central catheters, awareness of the risk of AE following catheter removal is less. We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of the all case reports with AE after catheter removal and summarize the mechanisms, clinical consequences, treatment and prevention of AE. Methods: In addition to our case, MEDLINE database was searched for all case reports with AE following catheter removal, and the clinical, diagnostic and outcome data were analyzed. Findings: A total of 10 patients (including our case) (M/F 6/4; median age 50.5 years) were found for the analysis. Procedures for prevention of AE were reported in a few patients (Trendelenburg position 2, airtight dressing 1). The time that elapsed between catheter removals and onset of AEs was ranged from seconds to 6 hours. The most common findings were dyspnea (90%), hypoxemia (70%), and cerebral dysfunction (70%). The most common sites where air could be detected were the left ventricle (40%), pulmonary artery (30%) and right ventricle (30%). Mortality was reported in 4 (40%) cases and the remaining 6 patients had complete recovery. Blocking of air portal was not reported in any of the fatal cases. Discussion: AE following catheter removal carries a major risk of mortality. Great awareness and attention to preventive procedures and appropriate care after development of AE seem mandatory.
The Translation of Management Knowledge: Challenges, Contributions and New Directions
Authors: Spyridonidis Dimitrios , Currie Graeme , Heusinkveld Stefan , Strauss Karoline , Sturdy Andrew
Published: July 2016

Across many sectors, new developments and discourses that emphasize change, collaboration, shifting professional boundaries and increased sharing of knowledge are taking place. One is thus challenged to question and/or develop further understanding of how and to what extent new ideas, scientific developments and technologies are translated within such contexts and thereby extend management and organization studies. To advance understanding about this significant field in the scholarly community, this special issue has assembled a diverse set of papers, which review developments in translation theory and seek to encourage new thinking and frameworks and open up new directions in management and organization studies more generally. By reflecting on these papers, the authors summarize key challenges in translational research and new framings, and point to exciting new research opportunities that can be found in fruitfully comparing, elaborating, expanding, contrasting and blending extant perspectives.
Relationships between water and paddlefish Polyodon spathula dentary elemental and stable‐isotopic signatures: potential application for reconstructing environmental history
Authors: Bock L. R. , Whitledge G. W. , Pracheil B. , Bailey P.
Published: July 2016

The objectives of this study were to characterize relationships between water and paddlefish Polyodon spathula dentary Sr:Ca, δ18O and stable hydrogen isotope ratio (δD) to determine the accuracy with which individual P. spathula could be assigned to their collection locations using dentary‐edge Sr:Ca, δD and δ18O. A laboratory experiment was also conducted to determine whether dentary Sr:Ca in age 0 year P. spathula would reflect shifts in water Sr:Ca to which fish were exposed. Significant linear relationships between water and dentary Sr:Ca, δD and δ18O were observed, although the relationship between water and dentary δ18O was weaker than those for Sr:Ca and δD. Classification success for individual fish to collection locations that differed in water Sr:Ca, δD and δ18O ranged from 86 to 100% based on dentary‐edge Sr:Ca, δD and δ18O. Dentary Sr:Ca increased significantly in laboratory‐reared age 0 year P. spathula following 4 weeks of exposure to elevated water Sr:Ca; dentary Sr:Ca of fish held in water with elevated Sr:Ca was also significantly higher than that of control fish reared in ambient laboratory water. Results indicated that P. spathula dentaries reflect water signatures for commonly‐applied natural chemical markers and strongly suggest that dentary microchemistry and stable‐isotopic compositions will be applicable for reconstructing P. spathula environmental history in locations where sufficient spatial differences in water chemistry occur.
Quantifying the influence of small omnivorous fishes on seagrass epiphyte load
Authors: Gilby B. L. , Henderson C. J. , Tibbetts I. R. , Burfeind D. D.
Published: July 2016

The influence of two cryptic, seagrass‐inhabiting omnivorous fishes, the fan‐bellied leatherjacket Monacanthus chinensis and the variable sabretoothed blenny Petroscirtes variabilis, on seagrass epiphyte biomass are described. Overall, M. chinensis significantly reduced epiphyte biomass by 35·1% after 18 h in experimental aquaria, whilst P. variabilis showed a non‐significant 15·7% reduction. It is concluded that some cryptic omnivorous species play an important role in epiphyte removal in seagrass beds.
Biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance pattern of dominant Staphylococcus aureus clonal lineages in China
Authors: Song Minghui , Li Qiongqiong , Zhang Yi , Song Jinxia , Shi Xianming , Shi Chunlei
Published: July 2016

Biofilm formation usually increases antimicrobial resistance capacity of Staphylococcus aureus, which poses considerable challenges to successful eradication of staphylococcal infections. Very little is known about the biofilm‐forming capacity and antibiotic resistance pattern of dominant S. aureus clonal lineages in China. In this study, the disk diffusion method and the microtiter plate assay were, respectively, performed to determine the antibiotic resistance and biofilm‐forming capacity of 84 different S. aureus isolates belonging to 10 dominant clonal lineages in China. It was shown that isolates of different clonal lineages had obvious variations in biofilm‐forming capacity. Resistance to individual antibacterial agents was most frequently observed to erythromycin (72.6%) and azithromycin (72.6%). Then, all tested isolates were further screened for the presence of 16 resistance genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and no significant correlation was found between clonal lineage and the distribution of resistance genes. Overall, our results indicate that biofilm producers of S. aureus have a greater likelihood to carry more antibiotic resistance genes than non‐biofilm producers (p < .01), further implying that biofilm may promote the dissemination of antibiotic resistance determinants.

Practical applications

Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of nosocomial infections and often associated with food poisoning worldwide. Biofilm formation of S. aureus influences the efficacy of antimicrobial therapy and promotes the persistence of infections; however, the knowledge about biofilm formation capacity of isolates belonging to different clonal lineages is little. Therefore, this study on biofilm formation capacity and antibiotic resistance pattern of dominant S. aureus clonal lineages could help to fix this information gap.