bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lessons from disaster: the power and place of story
Authors: Mutch Carol , Marlowe Jay
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to view the human experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes through a varied set of disciplinary lenses in order to give voice to those who experienced the trauma of the earthquakes, especially groups whose voices might not otherwise be heard.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research designs represented in this special issue and discussed in this introductory paper cover the spectrum from open-ended qualitative approaches to quantitative survey design. Data gathering methods included video and audio interviews, observations, document analysis and questionnaires. Data were analysed using thematic, linguistic and statistical tools.

Findings

– The themes discussed in this introductory paper highlight that the Canterbury response and recovery sequence follows similar phases established in other settings such as Hurricane Katrina and the Australian bushfires. The bonding role of community networks was shown to be important, as was the ability to adapt formal and informal leadership to manage crisis situations. Finally, the authors reinforce the important protocols to follow when researching in sensitive contexts.

Research limitations/implications

– The introductory paper only discusses the articles in this special issue but it is important to acknowledge that there are other groups whose stories were not shared due to logistical limitations.

Originality/value

– This introductory paper sets the scene for the articles that follow by outlining the importance of the human stories of the Canterbury earthquakes, through the eyes of particular groups, for example, medical staff, schools, women, children and refugees. The approach of viewing the experience through different community voices and disciplinary lenses is novel and significant. The lessons that are shared will inform future disaster preparedness, response and recovery policy and planning.
“Sailing through a river of emotions”: capturing children's earthquake stories
Authors: Mutch Carol
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The three case studies reported in this paper are drawn from a wider project in which schools in Canterbury, New Zealand, were invited to tell the stories of their experiences of the 2010/2011 earthquakes. The purpose of this paper is to capture the stories for the schools, their communities and for New Zealand's historical record.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach taken was qualitative and participatory. Each school had control over their project design and implementation. The researchers were partners and facilitators in assisting each school to reach its goal. In these three case studies approximately 100 participants including principals, teachers, students and families were engaged in generating data to create tangible and long-lasting end products.

Findings

– The two themes from the data highlighted in this paper are: first, the importance of providing emotional processing opportunities for children without severe post-trauma symptoms to support their recovery and second, the ways in which children can be engaged and given a voice in research that concerns them.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the wider collection of research on and about the Canterbury earthquakes by giving voice to children and highlighting the role of schools in post-disaster response and recovery. The “continuum of engagement” described here is a new and original model.
Preserving family and community: women's voices from the Christchurch earthquakes
Authors: Gordon Liz
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight and report on women's work during and after the Christchurch earthquakes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reports findings of some of a large number of life history interviews conducted with Christchurch women in 2012.

Findings

– Three specific sets of roles for women are identified, arising from the interviews that were undertaken. The first role is in keeping families together, meeting a range of diverse family needs and supporting all family members. The second role is in working with, and leading, post-quake services to offer disaster relief. Finally, a third role is in working in a range of ways to engage with and beautify communities and improve their lives.

Practical implications

– Women's work is often unseen in the post-earthquake environment. But this lack of visibility should not imply that women are not active in earthquake recovery.

Originality/value

– As far as the authors are aware, this is the first life history study of women undertaken to understand the impact of the earthquakes on their lives.
Pedagogy of love and care: shaken schools respond
Authors: O’Connor Peter
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The 22 February 2011 series of earthquakes that devastated large parts of the Canterbury region of New Zealand provides the dramatic backdrop to this paper, which explores the manner in which schools responded and recovered from the quakes. Drawing on interviews held 18 months later with principals, teachers and students, practical suggestions for how schools can manage risk, and prepare for future similar events are made. The manner in which schools altered, and in particular, the roles principals took, are examined. Finally, the central importance of care and love in schools in the quake-affected areas is considered.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative research design using narrative enquiry approaches was used to capture the stories of principals, teachers, and students who had experienced both the earthquakes, and the recovery period following the trauma. Semi-structured interviews with participants were held over a period of days.

Findings

– The importance of being prepared for natural disasters is paramount for all New Zealanders in order to ensure health, safety, and cohesion on the day of an earthquake. However, the research reveals there is significance in having secure, meaningful, and honest relationships with school students to help raise the well-being of all affected by natural disasters.

Originality/value

– The paper continues to look at a pedagogy of love and care as a vital way to support, encourage, and aid children through their trauma and grief which continues long after the earthquake.
Recovering from the earthquake
Authors: Bateman Amanda , Danby Susan
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– Traumatic events can cause post-traumatic stress disorder due to the severity of the often unexpected events. The purpose of this paper is to reveal how conversations around lived experiences of traumatic events, such as the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011, can work as a strategy for people to come to terms with their experiences collaboratively. By encouraging young children to recall and tell of their earthquake stories with their early childhood teachers they can begin to respond, renew, and recover (Brown, 2012), and prevent or minimise more stress being developed.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study involved collecting data of the participating children taking turns to wear a wireless microphone where their interactions with each other and with teachers were video recorded over one week in November 2011. A total of eight hours and 21 minutes of footage was collected; four minutes and 19 seconds of that footage are presented and analysed in this paper. The footage was watched repeatedly and transcribed using conversation analysis methods (Sacks, 1995).

Findings

– Through analysing the detailed turn-taking utterances between teachers and children, the orderliness of the co-production of remembering is revealed to demonstrate that each member orients to being in agreement about what actually happened. These episodes of story telling between the teachers and children demonstrate how the teachers encourage the children to tell about their experiences through actively engaging in conversations with them about the earthquake.

Originality/value

– The conversation analysis approach used in this research was found to be useful in investigating aspects of disasters that the participants themselves remember as important and real. This approach offers a unique insight into understanding how the earthquake event was experienced and reflected on by young children and their teachers, and so can inform future policy and provision in post-disaster situations.
The on-going psychological toll from the Canterbury earthquakes
Authors: (Libby) Gawith Elizabeth
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to capture the stories of earthquake experiences from one community and relate this material to some of the psychological phases of recovery from a disaster.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach taken was qualitative, explorative and participatory. The researchers were partners in the school project, as the school determined its own methodology, participation and end result. The audio or video interviews were open-ended and explored broad themes, in groups and individuals. Participants included multiple members of the same families. The stories of the participants were used to illustrate the psychological phases of recovery.

Findings

– The experiences of the research participants were reviewed through the psychological phases of recovery highlighted in the literature (e.g. Myers and Zunin, 2000). The phases identified in the stories indicate that the Christchurch situation is consistent with international experience. Additional psychological responses such as community bonding and resilience, as well as living with secondary stressors, were also identified.

Research limitations/implications

– There are some commonalities apparent for this group of interviewees, for example, many were together at the school, at the time of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. However, there are also many differences and unique experiences and as such, only tentative generalisations can be made from these interviews.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the wider collection of research on and about the Canterbury earthquakes by discussing elements of psychological recovery through the experiences of one community of parents, teachers and primary school children.
Difficulties of integrating older workers into the labor market: exploring the Israeli labor market
Authors: Axelrad Hila , Luski Israel , Miki Malul
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to examine the existence of biased stereotypes about older workers. What are the economic implications of such biased stereotypes? Finally, what policy measures are required in order to achieve efficiency in the labor market?

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors grouped 25 opinions about older workers into three categories of stereotypes. The first category dealt with the productivity of older staff. The other two categories addressed their reliability and adaptability. The authors then questioned 312 Israeli respondents about the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with the opinions. Finally, the authors examined theoretically the economic effects of biased stereotypes about older workers.

Findings

– The study demonstrates that individual and organizational characteristics affect employers' attitudes. Age was a significant factor in all three categories. The older the respondent, the fewer prejudices he or she had against older workers. Other characteristics such as gender, interaction with older workers, the nature of the respondent's work in the organization, the age of the employees, and the size of the organization were all significant, but not always, and not in all three categories. The findings imply that there are biased stereotypes about older workers, so the allocation of workers is distorted, which leads to a failure of the market.

Originality/value

– The results strengthen the economic justification for policy intervention to correct the distorted level of employment of older workers in the labor market.
What influences withdrawal because of rejection of telehealth – the whole systems demonstrator evaluation
Authors: Rixon Lorna , P. Hirani Shashivadan , Cartwright Martin , Beynon Michelle , Selva Abi , Sanders Caroline , P. Newman Stanton
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The widespread deployment of telehealth (TH) has been conducted in the absence of any clear understanding of how acceptable these devices are to patients. One potential limitation of the widespread deployment of TH is that patients may refuse. Moreover an understanding of the reasons for refusing to use TH devices will provide an understanding of the barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

– This investigation from the Whole Systems Demonstrator (WSD) programme, a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial into the effectiveness of TH, examined reasons for patients in the intervention cohort of the trial refusing TH, and the potential barriers to its deployment.

Findings

– Active rejection of the TH intervention was the most frequent reason for withdrawal. After examination of trial-related, health, socio-demographic, cognitive, emotional and behavioural factors, patients diagnosed with diabetes, as opposed to heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and patients’ beliefs about the acceptability of the intervention predicted whether or not they withdrew from the trial because of the intervention.

Originality/value

– Beliefs that the TH intervention resulted in increased accessibility to care, satisfaction with equipment and fewer concerns about the privacy, safety and discomfort associated with using TH equipment predicted continued participation in the WSD trial. Findings suggest that potentially modifiable beliefs about TH predict those more likely to reject the intervention. These findings have important implications for understanding individual differences in the acceptance of TH and subsequent success in mainstreaming TH in healthcare services.
Digital reablement – a personalised service to reduce admissions and readmissions to hospitals and nursing homes
Authors: Doughty Kevin , Mulvihill Patrick
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to consider the importance of digital healthcare through telecare and portable assistive devices in supporting the reengineering of healthcare to deal with the needs of an older and more vulnerable population wishing to remain in their own homes.

Design/methodology/approach

– It supports the importance of the assessment process to identify hazards associated with independent living, and the possible consequences of accidents. By measuring and prioritising the risks, appropriate management strategies may be introduced to provide a safer home environment.

Findings

– A process for assessing and managing these risks has been developed. This can be applied to a wide range of different cases and yields solutions that can support independence.

Research limitations/implications

– The developed digital reablement process can be used to provide vulnerable people with a robust form of risk management.

Practical implications

– If telecare services follow the process described in this paper then they will improve the outcomes for their users.

Originality/value

– The process described in this paper is the first attempt to produce a robust assessment process for introducing telecare services in a reablement context.
Can smartphones support inclusion for autism in mainstream?
Authors: Mintz Joseph
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The “Helping Autism Diagnosed Navigate and Develop Socially” (HANDS) project developed a suite of mobile apps for smartphones, which support children with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with social and life skills functioning – areas of ability which tend to be impaired in this population. The apps were field tested in four special schools. The purpose of this paper is to report on an exploratory investigation of the potential use of this and similar technology to support the inclusion of children with ASD in mainstream secondary schools.

Design/methodology/approach

– A series of technology familiarization sessions and follow up focus groups were held with children with ASD, teachers, teaching assistants and parents at three mainstream secondary schools. A thematic analysis of the focus group transcripts was undertaken.

Findings

– The analysis indicated common themes across schools relating to challenges and opportunities in the use of smartphones to develop social and life skills. Wider debates in the available literature and the general media about national and local school policy on the use of smartphones in the classroom were reflected in the themes identified. Conclusions are drawn about the potential use of smartphones to promote inclusion of children with ASD, and recommendations are made in regards of national and local policy on the use of mobile technology in schools.

Originality/value

– There is little literature on the use of smartphones with children with ASD to support inclusion in mainstream. As such, this initial exploratory report will be of interest to policy makers, school managers and researchers.
Corporate real estate mirrors brand: a conceptual framework and practical applications
Authors: Khanna Chesta , J. M. van der Voordt Theo , W. Koppels Philip
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show how international companies (can) use real estate as a means to reinforce corporate identity and to express brand values in order to evoke a positive image in today's competitive world.

Design/methodology/approach

– A review of literature, seven case studies including analysis of company documents and in-depth interviews with marketing experts and real estate advisors, and a cross-case analysis showing the translation of brand core values in real estate strategies of these multinationals.

Findings

– The findings show that brand values are incorporated in the location strategy, building strategy, workplace strategy and at portfolio management level by all companies, but in different ways and with different focus points. Most commonly used brand values are “Green” values, i.e. sustainability, reliability, transparency, innovation and people oriented. Branding policies take into account both internal stakeholders such as the employees and external stakeholders such as customers and investors.

Research limitations/implications

– The number of interviews is rather small and limited to Dutch staff members of multinationals. Reliability of the findings was enforced by triangulation through connecting the interview findings to literature and strategic documents. Additional empirical research is needed to further explore which strategic choices can be made and in particular what are the actual costs and benefits of “branding by real estate”.

Practical implications

– The different ways to translate corporate brand values in real estate and the conceptual framework that has been developed to describe the step-by-step approach – from defining a vision to translating corporate culture and corporate identity into a well-considered real estate strategy – can be used by policy makers and real estate managers in real estate decision-making on strategic, tactical and operational level.

Originality/value

– The paper links findings from corporate real estate management with insights from marketing theory and adding value by real estate.
Creating business value with open space flexible offices
Authors: De Paoli Donatella , Arge Kirsten , Hunnes Blakstad Siri
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine what organisational and management practices used in connection with open space flexible offices create business value. It seeks to identify what consequences this may have for successful real estate practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper utilises an inductive case study approach. The international telecom company Telenor has implemented open space flexible offices from top to bottom amongst their 35,000 employees. The case description and analysis is based on secondary data, user evaluations and 20 interviews with middle- and top-level managers across levels and functional departments.

Findings

– The case of Telenor reveals that leadership and organizing issues are important, together with work modes and communication technology, for a productive use of work place design. The paper highlights specifically how the open, transparent, flexible office solution creates business value when used with centralised and standardised organisational management systems and a participative, informal leadership culture.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is based on one case, so the findings need to be tested across a representative sample of companies.

Practical implications

– Managers need to take both organisational and management issues into consideration when implementing new office space design. This challenges also the existing real estate strategies to include the organisational and management issues in their planning.

Originality/value

– The originality and value of the paper lies in the analysis and findings of the Telenor case introducing organizational and management perspectives to real estate issues.
Achieving plausible separability for the resolution of cross-border banks
Authors: Mayes David
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to consider whether it is plausible to resolve troubled systemically important cross-border banks by dividing them so that the component national authorities can resolve the parts in their jurisdiction separately according to their own priorities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The example of New Zealand is used. This country has chosen just such a route in its Open Bank Resolution (OBR) policy. The difficulties and advantages of this route to resolution are analyzed.

Findings

– The paper concludes that the New Zealand route is plausible for systemic subsidiaries, providing there is deposit insurance. The minimum cost route is likely to be one where the home authority takes responsibility for the whole group and keeps all systemic operations running. It remains to be seen what the new EU-level proposals could achieve.

Research limitations/implications

– OBR is as yet fortunately untried although there are some examples from a smaller scheme in Denmark.

Practical implications

– These findings have important implications for financial regulators round the world but especially in the EU as it seeks to find a similar approach in the Recovery and Resolution Directive.

Originality/value

– This topic has not been covered by others and will add ideas of practical value to the debate. One of the major problems addressed by the Basel Committee in its approach to supervision and regulation of cross-border banks is to come up with arrangements that allow the network of national authorities to handle problems in a large cross-border bank quickly, efficiently and preferably pre-emptively without recourse simply to a major taxpayer bailout.
Bank business models, capital rules and structural separation policies
Authors: Blundell-Wignall Adrian , Roulet Caroline
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The study examines the roles of capital rules, macro variables and bank business models in determining the safety of banks as measured by the “distance-to-default” (DTD) with the purpose of drawing implications for regulation of bank capital and business models.

Design/methodology/approach

– A panel regression study using pre- and post-crisis data for 108 US and European banks is used to explore the issue empirically. A new technique is also used to back out the amount of capital banks would have needed during the crisis to keep the “DTD” in the very safe zone.

Findings

– The simple leverage ratio has a strong relationship with “DTD”, while the Basel ratio does not. The most important business model features are derivatives and wholesale funding, which have a strong negative relationship with “DTD”. Trading and available-for-sale securities have a positive influence. Calculations show that it is not possible for any reasonable capital rule to compensate for the risks created by business model features encompassing large derivative-based activities. Bank separation policies are essential.

Originality/value

– The micro evidence-based analysis as an approach to bank regulation and business model requirements stands in contrast to the ad hoc way policy has been constructed before and after the crisis. The empirical evidence supports separation based on the balance sheet size of derivatives and a leverage ratio instead of the complex Basel risk-weighted capital approach. The current approaches to structural separation are criticised constructively, and some evidence-based suggestions for improving bank business models to reduce systemic risk are made.
The use of pseudorandom sweeps for vibroseis surveys
Authors: Dean T.
Published: November 2013

Pseudorandom vibroseis sweeps have long been suggested as an alternative to standard linear sweeps due to their potential for having superior orthogonality, a lower likelihood for infrastructure damage, and increased low‐frequency content. In the past, they were also attractive as they have a better autocorrelation shape, although that is less important today. Their use has been limited but the increasing popularity of simultaneous acquisition techniques has rekindled interest as they offer the ability to reduce interference noise. A wide variety of methods for generating pseudorandom sweeps have been developed over the last 45 years. This paper gives an overview of the motivations for their use before classifying and describing the different sweep types. Finally, the sweeps will be compared in terms of their major attributes including their suitability for simultaneous surveys.
The influence of past experience on wasp choice related to foraging behavior
Authors: Sabrina Moreyra , D'Adamo Paola , Lozada Mariana
Published: November 2013

Memory has been little studied in social wasps. Vespula germanica (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) frequently revisits nondepleted food sources, making several trips between the resource and the nest. In this study, we analyzed this relocating behavior in order to evaluate whether this species is capable of remembering an established association after 1 h. To this end, we trained wasps to feed from a certain array. Then it was removed, setting it up again 1 h later, but this time 2 baited feeders were put in place, one at the original feeding site and the other opposite the first. We recorded the proportion of returning foragers, and their choice of feeder, after either 1 or 4 feeding trials. After 1 h, 78% of wasps trained with 4 feeding trials and 65% trained with 1, returned to the experimental area. Furthermore, during the testing phase, wasps trained with 4 feeding trials collected food from the previously learned feeder significantly more frequently than from the nonlearned one (P < 0.05). In contrast, wasps that had been trained only once chose both feeders equally. Thus, memory retrieval could be observed 1 h after wasps had collected food on 4 consecutive occasions, but not after only 1. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that V. germanica is capable of remembering an association 1 h after the last associative event, demonstrating that 1 h does not impair memory retention if 4 feeding experiences have occurred.
Serum Levels of Intact Parathyroid Hormone Is a Prognostic Indicator of Dialyzed Patients: The Nishinomiya Study
Authors: Hasuike Yukiko , Oue Mai , Hamahata Sayuri , Kimura Tomoko , Fukao Wataru , Mizusaki Kosuke , Kaibe Shoji , Nagasawa Yasuyuki , Kuragano Takahiro , Nakanishi Takeshi
Published: November 2013

Patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the greatest cause of mortality. The target range of serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) for prognosis, 60 to 240 pg/mL, was recommended by the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy guidelines. To investigate the impact of this iPTH target on CVD, dialysis patients were enrolled. A total 287 participants were observed. At the start of the study, serum iPTH levels, routine laboratory parameters, and certain factors related to CVD were evaluated. A survival analysis (Kaplan–Meier curve) was used. After 10 years of follow‐up, 19.2% of patients had CVD. The subjects were divided into three groups according to their iPTH level at baseline based on the target range of 60 to 240 pg/mL: Low, Middle, and High groups. CVD was more common in the High and Low groups compared to the Middle group. A lower risk of CVD was evident in the extended dialysis patients with a range of 60 to 240 pg/mL iPTH. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of the iPTH level on poor outcome.
The epidemiology of food allergy in Europe: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Nwaru B. I. , Hickstein L. , Panesar S. S. , Muraro A. , Werfel T. , Cardona V. , Dubois A. E. J. , Halken S. , Hoffmann‐Sommergruber K. , Poulsen L. K. , Roberts G. , Van Ree R. , Vlieg‐Boerstra B. J. , Sheikh A. ,   the EAACI Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Guidelines Group
Published: November 2013

Food allergy (FA) is an important atopic disease although its precise burden is unclear. This systematic review aimed to provide recent, up‐to‐date data on the incidence, prevalence, time trends, and risk and prognostic factors for FA in Europe. We searched four electronic databases, covering studies published from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2012. Two independent reviewers appraised the studies and qualified the risk of bias using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. Seventy‐five eligible articles (comprising 56 primary studies) were included in a narrative synthesis, and 30 studies in a random‐effects meta‐analysis. Most of the studies were graded as at moderate risk of bias. The pooled lifetime and point prevalence of self‐reported FA were 17.3% (95% CI: 17.0–17.6) and 5.9% (95% CI: 5.7–6.1), respectively. The point prevalence of sensitization to ≥1 food as assessed by specific IgE was 10.1% (95% CI: 9.4–10.8) and skin prick test 2.7% (95% CI: 2.4–3.0), food challenge positivity 0.9% (95% CI: 0.8–1.1). While the incidence of FA appeared stable over time, there was some evidence that the prevalence may be increasing. There were no consistent risk or prognostic factors for the development or resolution of FA identified, but sex, age, country of residence, familial atopic history, and the presence of other allergic diseases seem to be important. Food allergy is a significant clinical problem in Europe. The evidence base in this area would benefit from additional studies using standardized, rigorous methodology; data are particularly required from Eastern and Southern Europe.
Serum vitamin E concentrations at 1 year and risk of atopy, atopic dermatitis, wheezing, and asthma in childhood: the PASTURE study
Authors: Nwaru B. I. , Virtanen S. M. , Alfthan G. , Karvonen A. M. , Genuneit J. , Lauener R. P. , Dalphin J.‐C. , Hyvärinen A. , Pfefferle P. , Riedler J. , Weber J. , Roduit C. , Kaulek V. , Braun‐Fahrländer C. , von Mutius E. , Pekkanen J. ,   the PASTURE study group
Published: November 2013

Background

Prospective studies investigating the role of serum vitamin E concentrations during early life in the development of childhood allergies and asthma are limited.

Objective

To study the associations between serum vitamin E concentrations at first year of life and longitudinal development of atopy, atopic dermatitis, wheeze, and asthma up to 6 years of age.

Methods

The setting was the PASTURE study, a multicenter prospective birth cohort study in five European rural settings. Children of 1133 mothers recruited during pregnancy were followed from birth with measurement of serum vitamin E levels at year 1 and repeated assessments of serum immunoglobulin E antibodies (year 1, 4.5, 6), atopic dermatitis, wheezing symptoms, and asthma (year 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

Results

At 6 years of age, 66% and 82% of the original 1133 subjects underwent blood test for IgE and answered the questionnaire, respectively. We did not observe any statistically significant associations between serum vitamin E concentrations at year 1 and the endpoints, but borderline inverse associations between alpha tocopherol and wheezing without cold (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.19–1.09) and any wheezing symptom (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27–1.02).

Conclusions

Serum vitamin E concentrations at year 1 were not associated with allergies or asthma by 6 years of age. While further prospective studies with repeated assessments of vitamin E during early life may clarify its putative role in the development of the diseases, it is also possible that the antioxidant hypothesis in the development of allergies and asthma does not hold.
A Receptor‐Based Bioadsorbent to Target Advanced Glycation End Products in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Zhang Yangrong , Lapidos Karen A. , Gal‐Moscovici Anca , Sprague Stuart M. , Ameer Guillermo A.
Published: November 2013

The accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) has been reported to be a major contributor to chronic systemic inflammation. AGEs are not efficiently removed by hemodialysis or the kidney of a chronic kidney disease (CKD) patient. The goal of this study was to develop a receptor for AGEs (RAGE)‐based bioadsorbent device that was capable of removing endogenous AGEs from human blood. The extracellular domain of RAGE was immobilized onto agarose beads to generate the bioadsorbent. The efficacy of AGE removal from saline, serum, and whole blood; biological effects of AGE reduction; and hemocompatibility and stability of the bioadsorbent were investigated. The bioadsorbent bound AGE‐modified bovine serum albumin (AGE‐BSA) with a binding capacity of 0.73 ± 0.07 mg AGE‐BSA/mL bioadsorbent. The bioadsorbent significantly reduced the concentration of total AGEs in serum isolated from end‐stage kidney disease patients by 57%. AGE removal resulted in a significant reduction of vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 expression in human endothelial cells and abolishment of osteoclast formation in osteoclast progenitor cells. A hollow fiber device loaded with bioadsorbent‐reduced endogenous AGEs from recirculated blood to 36% of baseline levels with no significant changes in total protein or albumin concentration. The bioadsorbent maintained AGE‐specific binding capacity after freeze‐drying and storage for 1 year. This approach provides the foundation for further development of soluble RAGE‐based extracorporeal therapies to selectively deplete serum AGEs from human blood and decrease inflammation in patients with diabetes and/or CKD.
Basic characterization of avian NK‐lysin (NKL) from the Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica
Authors: Ishige Taichiro , Hara Hiromi , Hirano Takashi , Kono Tomohiro , Hanzawa Kei
Published: November 2013

We identified an antimicrobial cationic peptide that was expressed in the natural killer cells and cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes of Japanese quail. The gene, designated CjNKL, was located downstream of AEBP1L and POLD2 in a region syntenic with the chicken genome. CjNKL comprised four exons, as does chicken GgNKL. The coding sequence in CjNKL was 411 bp long and exon 3 of CjNKL lacked 9 bp when compared to chicken GgNKL, but CjNKL and GgNKL were 81% identical at the nucleic acid level. The saposin like type‐B domain of CjNKL contained the six essential cysteines, one proline, 15 cationic amino acids residues, and an antibacterial region that are characteristic of NKL proteins. The 5' flanking region of CjNKL contained positive regulatory elements, an activator protein‐1 binding site and two nuclear factor (NF)‐κB binding sites, and a negative regulatory element, CAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) binding site. However, the number of NF‐κB sites and C/EBPβ sites within CjNKL are fewer than the number within GgNKL. Additionally, we confirmed that CjNKL was transcribed in at least 18 tissues, including immune and digestive tissues. These data indicated that transcriptional activation of CjNKL differed slightly from those of GgNKL.
Effects of selenium supplementation on plasma progesterone concentrations in pregnant heifers
Authors: Kamada Hachiro , Nonaka Itoko , Takenouchi Naoki , Amari Masahiro
Published: November 2013

It is known that selenium (Se) has various functions in animals. Many investigations on the biochemical and physiological effects of Se have been previously reported; however, the detailed function of Se in reproduction is not yet clear. We proposed the possibility that Se plays a notable role in progesterone production. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of Se supplementation on progesterone levels of pregnant Holstein heifers. Eight Holstein heifers (−Se) were fed basal diet (containing 0.022 ppm of Se) throughout the experiment. While a 0.3 ppm diet of Se (sodium selenite) was fed to another seven animals (+Se) with basal diet. Blood sampling was carried out every week. Plasma Se concentrations were higher in Se‐supplemented cows compared with controls (−Se) (P < 0.01) throughout the experiment. Se supplementation increased plasma progesterone in the 29–39 weeks of pregnancy from 4.98 ± 0.64 to 6.86 ± 0.49 ng/mL on average (P < 0.05). The present findings suggest that Se contributes to maintaining the function of the corpus luteum and/or placenta in the latter period of pregnancy.
An assessment of reproductive and lifetime performances of Kagoshima Berkshire gilts and sows
Authors: Sasaki Yosuke , Tokunaga Tadaaki , Uemura Ryoko , Sueyoshi Masuo
Published: November 2013

We investigated the reproductive and lifetime performances of Kagoshima Berkshire gilts and sows. We examined 20 605 parity records of 4419 pigs for 2008 to 2012 on a farrow‐to‐finish commercial farm. The mean parity (± SD) of all animals was 3.0 ± 2.1. For farrowing performance, the highest numbers of total pigs born and pigs born alive were found in sows with parities 5 and 6 and with parity 3–6, respectively (P < 0.05). Regarding weaning and mating performance, sows with parity 2 had the lowest preweaning mortality (P < 0.05). The longest weaning‐to‐first‐mating interval was found in parity 1 pigs, and the interval decreased as parity increased (P < 0.05). Parities 0 and 1 pigs had the lowest farrowing rate and those with parity 4 had the highest farrowing rate (P < 0.05). The mean parity at culling, total number of pigs born alive in a lifetime, and nonproductive days in a lifetime were 5.5 ± 2.93, 49.2 ± 24.72 pigs, and 132.1 ± 83.34 days, respectively. These animals had a lower litter size and fertility that the F1 crossbred sows mainly used in Japan, but a similar tendency for performance by parity.
Cold exposure increases slow‐type myosin heavy chain 1 (MyHC1) composition of soleus muscle in rats
Authors: Mizunoya Wataru , Iwamoto Yohei , Sato Yusuke , Tatsumi Ryuichi , Ikeuchi Yoshihide
Published: November 2013

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cold exposure on rat skeletal muscle fiber type, according to myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform and metabolism‐related factors. Male Wistar rats (7 weeks old) were housed individually at 4 ± 2°C as a cold‐exposed group or at room temperature (22 ± 2°C) as a control group for 4 weeks. We found that cold exposure significantly increased the slow‐type MyHC1 content in the soleus muscle (a typical slow‐type fiber), while the intermediate‐type MyHC2A content was significantly decreased. In contrast to soleus, MyHC composition of extensor digitorum longus (EDL, a typical fast‐type fiber) and gastrocnemius (a mix of slow‐type and fast‐type fibers) muscle did not change from cold exposure. Cold exposure increased mRNA expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) in both the soleus and EDL. Cold exposure also increased mRNA expression of myoglobin, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC1α) and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) in the soleus. Upregulation of UCP3 and PGC1α proteins were observed with Western blotting in the gastrocnemius. Thus, cold exposure increased metabolism‐related factors in all muscle types that were tested, but MyHC isoforms changed only in the soleus.
Effect of Nitazoxanide on Erythrocytes
Authors: Arnold Markus , Lang Elisabeth , Modicano Paola , Bissinger Rosi , Faggio Caterina , Abed Majed , Lang Florian
Published: November 2013

Nitazoxanide, a drug effective against a variety of pathogens, triggers apoptosis and is thus considered to be employed against malignancy. Similar to nucleated cells, erythrocytes may undergo an apoptosis‐like suicidal cell death or eryptosis. Hallmarks of eryptosis include cell shrinkage and phospholipid scrambling of the cell membrane with translocation of phosphatidylserine to the erythrocyte surface. Stimulators of eryptosis include increase in cytosolic Ca2+‐activity ([Ca2+]i). The Ca2+‐sensitivity of eryptosis is increased by ceramide. This study explored whether nitazoxanide triggers eryptosis. [Ca2+]i was estimated from Fluo3‐fluorescence, cell volume from forward scatter, phosphatidylserine exposure from annexin‐V‐binding, ceramide abundance utilizing fluorescent antibodies and haemolysis from haemoglobin release. A 48‐hr exposure to nitazoxanide (1–50 μg/ml) did not significantly modify [Ca2+]i but significantly increased ceramide formation, decreased forward scatter (≥10 μg/ml), increased the percentage of annexin‐V‐binding erythrocytes (≥10 μg/ml) and, at higher concentrations (≥20 μg/ml), stimulated haemolysis. The stimulation of annexin‐V‐binding was significantly blunted in the absence of calcium. Nitazoxanide thus stimulates eryptosis, an effect in part due to ceramide formation.
What predicts performance during clinical psychology training?
Authors: Scior Katrina , Bradley Caroline E. , Potts Henry W. W. , Woolf Katherine , de C Williams Amanda C
Published: November 2013

Objectives

While the question of who is likely to be selected for clinical psychology training has been studied, evidence on performance during training is scant. This study explored data from seven consecutive intakes of the UK's largest clinical psychology training course, aiming to identify what factors predict better or poorer outcomes.

Design

Longitudinal cross‐sectional study using prospective and retrospective data.

Method

Characteristics at application were analysed in relation to a range of in‐course assessments for 274 trainee clinical psychologists who had completed or were in the final stage of their training.

Results

Trainees were diverse in age, pre‐training experience, and academic performance at A‐level (advanced level certificate required for university admission), but not in gender or ethnicity. Failure rates across the three performance domains (academic, clinical, research) were very low, suggesting that selection was successful in screening out less suitable candidates. Key predictors of good performance on the course were better A‐levels and better degree class. Non‐white students performed less well on two outcomes. Type and extent of pre‐training clinical experience on outcomes had varied effects on outcome. Research supervisor ratings emerged as global indicators and predicted nearly all outcomes, but may have been biased as they were retrospective. Referee ratings predicted only one of the seven outcomes examined, and interview ratings predicted none of the outcomes.

Conclusions

Predicting who will do well or poorly in clinical psychology training is complex. Interview and referee ratings may well be successful in screening out unsuitable candidates, but appear to be a poor guide to performance on the course.

Practitioner points

While referee and selection interview ratings did not predict performance during training, they may be useful in screening out unsuitable candidates at the application stage

High school final academic performance was the best predictor of good performance during clinical psychology training

The findings are derived from seven cohorts of one training course, the UK's largest; they cannot be assumed to generalize to all training courses
Prognostic impact of baseline serum C‐reactive protein in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with sunitinib
Authors: Beuselinck Benoit , Vano Yann‐Alexandre , Oudard Stéphane , Wolter Pascal , De Smet Robert , Depoorter Lore , Teghom Corine , Karadimou Alexandra , Zucman‐Rossi Jessica , Debruyne Philip R. , Van Poppel Hendrik , Joniau Steven , Lerut Evelyne , Strijbos Michiel , Dumez Herlinde , Paridaens Robert , Van Calster Ben , Schöffski Patrick
Published: November 2013

Objective

To evaluate the impact of baseline serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) level on outcome in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with sunitinib.

Patients and Methods

We reviewed the charts of patients with mRCC who started sunitinib as a first targeted treatment between 2005 and 2012 in three hospitals in Belgium and France.

Collected data included known prognostic factors for mRCC, anatomical location of metastatic sites, response rate (RR), progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

A total of 200 eligible patients were identified by retrospective chart review. The median PFS and OS were 12 and 20 months, respectively.

We observed a clear impact of baseline CRP levels on outcome: the median PFS was 25 months in the group with baseline CRP ≤5 mg/L and 8 months in the group with baseline CRP >5 mg/L (hazard ratio [HR] 2.48, 95% CI 1.74–3.59). The median OS in each group was 50 vs 12 months, respectively (HR 3.17, 2.20–4.68). In the group with baseline CRP ≤5 mg/L, 61% of patients experienced a partial response compared with 32% of patients in the group with baseline CRP >5 mg/L (difference = 29%, 95% CI 15–42).

When adding baseline CRP (with a log transformation) to the six variables of the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) model in a multivariable Cox regression model, baseline CRP was independently associated with poor PFS (HR for each doubling in CRP level: 1.14, 95% CI 1.03–1.26; P = 0.01) and OS (HR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.16–1.43; P < 0.001).

Adding baseline CRP to the model increased the c‐statistic of PFS at 5 years from 0.63 (0.59–0.68) to 0.69 (0.65–0.73), and the c‐statistic of OS at 5 years from 0.65 (0.60–0.69) to 0.70 (0.66–0.74).

Patients with elevated baseline CRP levels had a poor prognosis independent of the IMDC risk group, whereas patients with a low baseline CRP in the IMDC favourable risk group had a very good outcome.

Conclusion

Baseline serum CRP level is a strong independent variable linked with RR, PFS and OS in patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib.
Endozoochory and Fire as Germination Triggers in Neotropical Dry Forests: an Experimental Test
Authors: Peguero Guille , Espelta Josep M.
Published: November 2013

Endozoochory and fire are crucial ecological factors determining germination success and recruitment in many plant species. Fire is a well‐known germination trigger while endozoochory may allow seed dispersal along with an increase in germination. Their interaction has rarely been addressed, however, even though both factors are pervasive in human‐transformed ecosystems like most Neotropical Dry Forests (NDF). For three common Mesoamerican tree species (Acacia pennatula, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, and Guazuma ulmifolia), we used feeding trials to assess the preference of cattle, which are their main seed dispersal agent. We also experimentally tested the interaction between gut passage and fire as triggers of germination. The fruits of the three species were eaten by cattle, but the small seeds of G. ulmifolia were ingested 10‐fold more than those of the other species. While gut passage did not have any effect on germination, heat‐shocks above 90 °C increased the number of germinating seeds by 15 percent. These results suggest that cattle may be a key dispersal vector in NDF, but that fire may be an important germination trigger. Physical dormancy in these species may have been selected for by extinct megaherbivores because it was a key trait ensuring seed survival after gut passage. However, in light of the recent expansion of cattle‐ranching and fire occurrence in NDF, it has become a useful exaptation facilitating the colonization of disturbed areas.