bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What about us? Exploring small to medium Australian not for-profit firms and knowledge management
Authors: Hume Craig , Hume Margee
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to research the practice of knowledge management (KM) in not-for-profit (NFP), small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to identify gaps in the current body of knowledge. Previous work has been conducted in small, medium and large enterprises; however, NFP SMEs have been underexamined. Given the prevalence of NFP, SMEs’ further research is warranted.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a case study methodology, this research advances previous KM work (Hume and Hume, 2008). Based on previous work in SMEs, KM and the application to NFP organizations, this work offers a set of propositions related to strategic development of KM in NFP organizations with multiple data sources across hierarchical levels sought and analyzed within each of the case studies. This process provided data variation. Collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The paper supports analysis with the use of Leximancer 3.0 and offers a unique approach to qualitative research using textual and narrative analysis.

Findings

– This paper explores the definition of knowledge, the importance of knowledge planning, capture and diffusion and offers development in NFP SMEs. The paper concludes by introducing the link between KM and internal marketing to address the importance of cultural and social issues of “me” which are central to knowledge capture, renewal and sustainable KM in NFP organizations. The paper introduces socialization strategies and informal knowledge capture specific to the transient, volunteer and permanent employee mix in NFP organizations and introduces the notion of understanding the significance of social mission to employees and volunteers in the embodiment of KM.

Research limitations/implications

– This study has aimed to access all empirical articles in the field of KM in SMEs. To ensure the consideration of the advancement in wireless, mobile computing technology and smartphones as KM support, articles from 2005 onwards were primarily sought. This search restriction has limited the role of earlier works in the research. It is arguable that the sample cases may not offer a comprehensive coverage of all NFP firms, with the qualitative approach further limiting the generalization of the findings.

Originality/value

– To the best of the authors’ knowledge, KM has been applied specifically in very few NFP SME firms, with scant exploration of the constructs of socialization, social mission and informal knowledge structure in NFP considered or previously published in academic journals.
Investigating knowledge management: can KM really change organisational culture?
Authors: Corfield Alison , Paton Rob
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship of knowledge management (KM) with organisational culture, a subject of interest to academics and KM practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

– It is based on case study research in the voluntary sector, which is relatively less studied than the commercial or public sectors.

Findings

– One major finding was that although culture was recognised as an intricate concept, KM programmes were often simplistically intended to “change culture”. Two instances of long-term change were identified. Strong and persistent leadership, with a clear rationale for culture change, and also a well-established technology innovation programme, using local “champions” to help align knowledge programmes with daily work routines, did have an impact on organisational culture.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings provide food for thought for practitioners in the voluntary sector. As external pressures and common technology are leading the different sectors to follow more similar work practices, it is likely that the findings of this paper will have relevance also for other sectors, where organisations face similar resource constraints.

Practical implications

– The paper provides a thoughtful analysis of data collected over several years that suggests sectoral differences will not be the crucial factor to consider when looking at the impact of KM.

Originality/value

– It provides practical examples of what has worked to “change organisational culture” and what has not, as well as ideas for future research.
Improving customer well-being through two-way online social support
Authors: Zheng Qiuying , Yao Tang , Fan Xiucheng
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics of online health care communities and the impact of two-way online social support on customers’ well-being and patients’ quality of life, at different social exclusion levels.

Design/methodology/approach

– An online survey in China’s Anti-Hepatitis B Online Community includes 326 respondents. A combined hierarchical regression analysis and structural equation model test the hypotheses.

Findings

– Both receiving and giving online social support, as reciprocal altruism behaviors, enhance patients’ well-being. Receiving online social support influences psychological well-being most; giving has the largest impact on existential domains. Social exclusion boosts the benefits of giving online social support but attenuates the benefits of receiving it.

Research limitations/implications

– This research focusses on the effects of online social support among socially excluded patients. Extensions could rely on objective instead of subjective measures and alternative methodologies to test the underlying processes. Additional insights could derive from a bidirectional perspective.

Practical implications

– Medical treatment institutions should leverage customer resources; health care providers should prioritize patients who feel socially excluded as effective online support providers. Health care community administrators can use several means to convince patients to contribute to communities.

Originality/value

– Social support in online health care communities is a collaborative service that uses customers as service resources. This study explains the collaborative service and how customers feel about their bidirectional roles. It also extends reciprocal altruism research to a health information technology realm by systematically exploring how giving, vs receiving, online social support affects customers’ well-being.
Rationale and emotion in the selection of influence tactics by managers in conflict with subordinates
Authors: Roth Roni Laslo , Schwarzwald Joseph
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine Koslowsky and Schwarzwald’s (2009) recent conceptualization of the interpersonal power interaction model which assumed that the choice of power tactics in conflict situations is a sequential process including antecedents, mediators, and the choice of influence tactics. The mediation process is the new component of the model, thus the authors tested two potential mediators – perceived damage and negative emotions – in the choice process.

Design/methodology/approach

– Managers (n=240) were presented with conflict scenarios involving one of their subordinates (low/high performing) and differed by conflict type (relations/task and principle/expediency). They indicated the influence tactics they would utilize in the given situation for gaining compliance and completed a series of questionnaires: perceived damage engendered by disobedience, resultant emotion, cognitive closure, and demographics.

Findings

– Results indicated that perceived damage, directly and through the mediation of resultant negative emotions, influenced the tendency to opt for harsh tactics. This trend was further affected by the managers’ gender and cognitive closure.

Research limitations/implications

– The discussion addresses the empirical validity of the model, the role of rationality and emotion in the process of choosing influence tactics. Practical implications concerning the usage of harsh and soft tactics and the limitation of the self-report method were also discussed.

Originality/value

– The contribution of the study is twofolded: proving the empirical validity of the new conceptualization of the model and explaining the dynamic involved in the choice of influence tactics.
Enacting spiritual leadership in business through ego-transcendence
Authors: Klaus Lauren , Fernando Mario
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– By applying Parameshwar’s (2005) ego-transcendence model to two influential business leaders, the purpose of this paper is to examine how social innovation is promoted by business leaders through spiritual leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study used research tactics available within a phenomenological framework.

Findings

– Based on the analysis of the two business leader case studies, several links between spiritual leadership and social innovation were identified. The central role of a higher purpose in enacting spiritual leadership as well as bringing about social innovation was most significant.

Research limitations/implications

– Use of secondary data, the inherent weaknesses in analysis based on a single individual’s interpretations and the analysis of only two business leaders were key limitations. A unique overlap was found between Dawson and Daniel’s (2010) social innovation model and Parameshwar’s (2005) ego-transcendence model.

Practical implications

– As higher purpose was a key element in enacting spiritual leadership, leaders could look for the seeds of a higher purpose within the challenging circumstances of a situation. By shaping one’s behaviour to a higher purpose-related social cause than merely following rules and procedures or social conventions, leaders are more likely to develop their own personal decision-making style. By highlighting the importance of paying attention to the suffering of others rather one’s own suffering, the study also have implications for reducing the ego-based practices in day to day leadership in organisations.

Originality/value

– Ego-transcendence model explains the link between social innovation and spiritual leadership in a non-organisational setting. The current study applies this link to the leadership context in business.
Manifest leadership styles in a Caribbean cross-sector network
Authors: Cooper Tracy
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the leadership styles emerging within a cross-sector national disaster management network in the Caribbean.

Design/methodology/approach

– Since little empirical research exists on leadership styles within multi-agency systems, particularly those focussed on disaster management, this exploratory study relied on a qualitative research design. In-depth interviews with the network’s participants allowed for a better understanding of group dynamics and members’ leadership approaches.

Findings

– The analysis identified what and when certain leadership styles manifest themselves in the network based on the stages of the disaster management cycle. The findings also underscored the need for a combination of transactional and transformational leadership in a disaster management context.

Research limitations/implications

– Although qualitative methods do not afford generalizability beyond the case study, they do provide depth of knowledge of an under-researched phenomenon and indicate a need for future comparative case studies and longitudinal research on cross-sector disaster management systems and leadership issues.

Originality/value

– As one of the first studies to chart leadership styles that collaborative members practice in such networks in the Caribbean, this research contributes to scholarship on networks in general and leadership within disaster management networks in particular.
How people in organizations make sense of responsible leadership practices
Authors: Antunes Augusto , Franco Mário
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss the concept of responsible leadership, find some dimensions and understand how staff in organizations make sense of this style of leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

– Multiple exploratory case studies in six Portuguese organizations were performed. As data-collecting instruments, several interviews and documentary analysis were used.

Findings

– The authors found four dimensions associated with responsible leadership in the organizations studied here: aggregate of virtues; stakeholder involvement; model of leader’s roles; and principles and ethical values. These organizations integrate relationships which seek human well-being, institutions of reference considered good examples to work in and where the best of human nature is stressed. In particular, the modus operandi of their responsible leadership implants dynamics which lead to the development of individuals’ strengths, resilience and vitality.

Practical/implications

– The emphasis of this leadership style points mainly to the existence of modern leaders with an integrating, holistic view of stakeholders where the focus is on carrying out their various roles where virtuousness and ethical values play a determinant role. Interpersonal relationships, ethical principles regarding the environment, peers and the community were also practices identified as associated with responsible leadership.

Originality/value

– The study contributes to advancing theory in the field of leadership and presents a new framework (dimensions) about responsible leadership. The study is also innovative because contributes to more knowledge about organizations that follow a responsible style of leadership, and in so doing form consistent practices that can represent benchmarking for other organizational structures, even taking into account the natural idiosyncrasies inherent in the Portuguese organizational and business sector.
Alliance‐building Process as Inhibiting Factor for SME International Alliances
Authors: Arranz N. , Arroyabe M. F. , Fdez. de Arroyabe J. C.
Published: February 2016

This study examines how the alliance‐building process affects the intention to enter into international alliances in the case of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). From a psychological perspective (Perceived Behavioural Control), the authors analyse the alliance‐building process as an inhibitor of the international collaboration intention, considering to what extent the experience affects the intention of the partners involved. The study explores these hypotheses based on a sample of 220 Spanish SMEs. The results provide empirical evidence showing that the intention to develop international alliances is negatively affected by the search and the selection process as well as by the negotiation of the agreement, which reduces the intention to establish an international agreement. In addition, the intention is moderated by the experience of the SME manager. Moreover, there is a negative relationship between the extent of the SME manager's international experience and the intention to develop an international alliance.
Changes in Consumer Demand Following Public Reporting of Summary Quality Ratings: An Evaluation in Nursing Homes
Authors: Werner Rachel M. , Konetzka R. Tamara , Polsky Daniel
Published: February 2016

Objective

Limited consumer use of health care report cards may be due to the large amount of information presented in report cards, which can be difficult to understand. These limitations may be overcome with summary measures. Our objective was to evaluate consumer response to summary measures in the setting of nursing homes.

Data Sources/Study Setting

2005–2010 nursing home Minimum Data Set and Online Survey, Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) datasets.

Study Design

In December 2008, Medicare converted its nursing home report card to summary or star ratings. We test whether there was a change in consumer demand for nursing homes related to the nursing home's star rating after the information was released.

Principal Findings

The star rating system was associated with a significant change in consumer demand for low‐ and high‐scoring facilities. After the star‐based rating system was released, 1‐star facilities typically lost 8 percent of their market share and 5‐star facilities gained over 6 percent of their market share.

Conclusions

The nursing home star rating system significantly affected consumer demand for high‐ and low‐rated nursing homes. These results support the use of summary measures in report cards.
Macronutrients in Corn and Human Nutrition
Authors: Ai Yongfeng , Jane Jay‐lin
Published: February 2016

As the leading cereal crop in the world, corn (Zea mays L.) plays a significant role in human foods. The focus of this review is on the structures, properties, bioavailability, and health benefits of macronutrients in corn, including its starch, nonstarch polysaccharides, protein, and lipids. With a large number of naturally existent mutants, corn and corn‐based food ingredients with varying macronutrient compositions and different chemical structures and physical properties are commercially available. The corn varieties that have attracted the most interest in human nutrition include high‐amylose, high‐protein, and high‐oil corn. Chemical compositions and molecular structures of starch, nonstarch polysaccharides, protein, and lipids from different corn varieties are comprehensively reviewed here and related to their physical properties, bioavailability, and physiological effects on human health. Particular emphasis is placed upon the impacts of high‐amylose corn flour/starch on postprandial glycemic/insulinemic responses, insulin sensitivity, satiety/appetite, lipid metabolism/obesity, colon health, and mineral absorption. The information presented in this article will be useful for the utilization of corn and the development of corn‐based food ingredients to prepare nutritious food products to improve human health.
D5S818 Typing Discrepancy Between PowerPlex® Fusion and Other STR Kits Including GlobalFiler® Caused by a One‐base Deletion in 31 Nucleotides Upstream of the Repeat Region
Authors: Fujii Koji , Iwashima Yasuki , Watahiki Haruhiko , Mita Yusuke , Kitayama Tetsushi , Nakahara Hiroaki , Mizuno Natsuko , Sekiguchi Kazumasa
Published: February 2016

Short tandem repeat (STR) typing is widely used in forensic investigation. When the same DNA sample is analyzed with different STR typing kits, a typing discrepancy is occasionally observed. In this study, we examined the cause of a typing discrepancy in a sample at D5S818 locus. This sample was designated as 10, 12 using Identifiler®, Identifiler® Plus, GlobalFiler®, PowerPlex® 16HS, and PowerPlex® 18D, but as 9.3, 12 using PowerPlex® Fusion. Sequencing results indicated that the shorter allele in the sample had a deletion (U31Tdel) at 31 nucleotides upstream of the repeat region (AGAT)10. This deletion was located in the binding site of the published D5S818 forward primer in PowerPlex® 16 and was only 9 and 11 nucleotides downstream of our estimated 5′ end position of D5S818 forward primer in GlobalFiler® and PowerPlex® 18D, respectively. We also examined the effect of primer length on the heterozygous peak balance in this sample.
Storage Stability of Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water and Circulating Electrolyzed Water and Their Property Changes after Application
Authors: Xuan Xiao‐Ting , Wang Meng‐Meng , Ahn Juhee , Ma Yan‐Na , Chen Shi‐Guo , Ye Xing‐Qian , Liu Dong‐Hong , Ding Tian
Published: February 2016

Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) has been recognized as an effective bactericidal agent with free chlorine, but its limitations include its instability and its great dependence on equipment. Newly developed circulating electrolyzed water (CEW) with a higher available chlorine concentration (ACC) could successfully overcome these limitations. In this study, SAEW (ACC of 20 mg/L), CEW1 (ACC of 200 mg/L), and CEW2 (ACC of 20 mg/L) were evaluated for changes in properties (pH, oxidization reduction potential [ORP], and ACC) during storage in open or closed glass bottles under light or dark conditions at room temperature (approximately 20 °C) and after washing pork and lettuce. Additionally, the washed pork and lettuce were evaluated for total viable counts, pH and general appearance. The results showed that CEW1 with a higher ACC has better stability than SAEW with a lower ACC for the storage and washing experiments, and CEW still remained stable after dilution with distilled water. The property indices of EW were greatly affected for the pork‐washing experiments compared with the lettuce‐washing experiments, probably due to the existence of alkaline and organic materials on the surface of pork. Furthermore, EWs were more effective for inactivating microbes in lettuce than in pork, while there was no significant difference in tissue pH and the general appearance of pork and lettuce. These findings indicated that CEW with a higher ACC shows potential for reducing foodborne pathogens on pork and lettuce without effects on their physicochemical characteristics, and it can be applied in a diluted form.
Radiological input during paediatric multidisciplinary team meetings and its influence on clinical patient management
Authors: Llewellyn‐Jones Glyn , Pereira John
Published: February 2016

Introduction

There is little information about the role of the radiologist at multidisciplinary team meetings; in particular their influence on patient management. To evaluate the influence of radiologists on clinical patient management during multidisciplinary meetings.

Methods

Prospective data were collected over a 5‐week period from multidisciplinary team meetings across four paediatric clinical domains. Radiological input was recorded for each case discussion, including the type of influence and its potential effect on clinical patient management.

Results

One hundred and forty paediatric cases were reviewed. Radiological advice was requested from the radiologist for 25.7% (N = 36) of cases. In 17.9% (N = 25) this advice was judged to have influenced clinical patient management. There were two cases where new imaging findings were discovered.

Conclusions

Radiologists influence clinical patient management during multidisciplinary team meetings primarily by providing differential diagnoses and guidance regarding future imaging, with respect to both the necessity and the modality. Occasionally, when imaging is reviewed at these meetings, new findings are discovered that impact on patient management.
Association of plasma chloride values with acute kidney injury in the critically ill – a prospective observational study
Authors: Marttinen M. , Wilkman E. , Petäjä L. , Suojaranta‐Ylinen R. , Pettilä V. , Vaara S. T.
Published: February 2016

Background

Chloride‐rich fluids have been found to associate with an increased risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Studies evaluating the association of plasma chloride (Cl) with the development of AKI are few. We hypothesized that higher plasma Cl is associated with an increased risk for the development of AKI.

Methods

In this sub‐study of the prospective FINNAKI study, we analyzed Cl values measured during ICU stay in two ICUs at a tertiary center including 445 patients. We calculated time‐weighted mean values within the first 24 h in ICU for plasma Cl (ClTWM 24). We analyzed the association of ClTWM 24 primarily with the development of AKI, and secondarily with 90‐day mortality.

Results

Based on the first measured Cl value, 350 of 445 patients [78.7 (95 CI, 74.8–82.5)] had hyperchloremia (P‐Cl > 106 mmol/l) and 48 [10.8 (95 CI, 7.9–13.7)] severe hyperchloremia (P‐Cl > 114 mmol/l). Altogether 217 of 445 [48.8% (95% CI 44.2–53.4%)] patients developed AKI. Of these 217, AKI was diagnosed in 62 (28.6%) after 24 h from ICU admission and were included in the analysis regarding development of AKI. ClTWM 24 was associated with an increased risk for the development of AKI (OR1.099; 1.003–1.205) after multivariable adjustments. According to ClTWM 24, no difference in 90‐day mortality between severely hyperchloremic patients and others existed.

Conclusions

More than three of four critically ill patients had hyperchloremia and 1 of 10 had its severe form. Higher time‐weighted mean chloride was independently associated with an increased risk for AKI.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with prediabetes in obese Swedish children
Authors: Ekbom Kerstin , Marcus Claude
Published: February 2016

Aim

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with obesity and living in areas that lack sunshine, such as northern Europe. The aim of this study was to investigate the vitamin D status of a group of obese children in Sweden and to investigate the associations between vitamin D status and markers of glucose metabolism and metabolic risk markers.

Methods

This was a prospective cross‐sectional study of 202 obese children between 4.5 and 17.9 years of age who had been referred to the National Childhood Obesity Centre at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm. We examined age, gender, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), f‐glucose, f‐insulin and metabolic risk markers. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as less than 30 25(OH)D nmol/L. Children with and without a vitamin D deficiency were compared.

Results

Just over a third (33.2%) of our study population had vitamin D levels <30 nmol/L 25(OH)D. A significant interaction effect was found between age and 25(OH)D. An association was also found between low 25(OH)D levels and impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) independent of age and season.

Conclusion

Low vitamin D levels were common among obese adolescents living in Sweden and were strongly associated with age and associated with a higher risk of IFG.
EXECUTIVE SUCCESSION PLANNING: BARRIERS AND SUBSTITUTES IN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Authors: MCKEE Gregory , FROELICH Karen
Published: February 2016

Predicted shortages of chief executives combined with growing economic and social significance of the nonprofit sector in an increasingly complex operating environment highlight the need for executive succession planning. Accordingly, our research explores factors that may influence executive succession planning in nonprofit and cooperative forms of organizations. Survey data (N = 242) were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results suggest both barriers to and substitutes for executive succession planning that help explain the apparent dearth of succession planning efforts in these organizations. A penchant for continuity was found to be a barrier to such planning, while elements of governance quality and internal development were found to substitute for executive succession planning.
Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of yoghurts made from goat and cow milk
Authors: Costa Roberto Germano , Beltrão Filho Edvaldo Mesquita , de Sousa Solange , da Cruz George Rodrigo Beltrão , Queiroga Rita de Cássia Ramos do Egypto , da Cruz Eliel Nunes
Published: February 2016

Substituting goats' milk for cows' milk could improve the quality of dairy products, because it adds new sensorial characteristics. The aim of this study was to develop a type of yoghurt using goats' milk (25, 50, 75 and 100%) in place of cows' milk and to compare their characteristics. Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics were evaluated using a nine‐point hedonic scale and purchase intention test. The data obtained in the physicochemical analysis were submitted to regression analysis and the sensory results were evaluated through analysis of variance. Among the physicochemical characteristics of the yoghurts, variation (P < 0.05) of ash, acidity and lactose was observed. Tasters in the sensory analysis indicated that yoghurts up to 50% of goats' milk received favorable averages; with lower scores for higher goats' milk concentrations (75% and 100%). No difference was reported in acidity. Replacing cows' milk with goats' milk in yoghurt preparation promotes variations in the physicochemical characteristics for ash, acidity and lactose. However, it does not cause alterations in the sensory attributes (50% goat milk) and therefore could be considered as an alternative for the production of dairy products. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science
Guess who? Children use prosody to infer intended listeners
Authors: Varghese Anisha L. , Nilsen Elizabeth S.
Published: February 2016

This study examined the relative influence of prosody and semantic content in children's inferences about intended listeners. Children (n = 72), who ranged in age from 5 to 10 years, heard greetings with prosody and content that was either infant or adult directed and chose the intended listener from amongst an infant or an adult. While content affected all children's choices, the effect of prosody was stronger (at least, for children aged 7–10 years). For conditions in which prosodic cues were suggestive of one listener, and content cues, another, children aged 7–10 years chose the listener according to prosody. In contrast, the youngest age group (5‐ to 6‐year‐olds) chose listeners at chance levels in these incongruent conditions. While prosodic cues were most influential in determining children's choices, their ratings of how certain they felt about their choices indicated that content nonetheless influenced their thinking about the intended listener. Results are the first to show the unique influence of prosody in children's thinking about appropriate speech styles. Findings add to work showing children's ability to use prosody to make inferences about speakers' communicative intentions.
Cytotoxic amounts of cisplatin induce either checkpoint adaptation or apoptosis in a concentration‐dependent manner in cancer cells
Authors: Swift Lucy H. , Golsteyn Roy M.
Published: February 2016

Background Information

Checkpoint adaptation (entry into mitosis with damaged DNA) is a process that links arrest at the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint and cell death in cancer cells. It is not known, however, whether cells treated with the genotoxic agent, cisplatin, undergo checkpoint adaptation or if checkpoint adaptation is a major pathway leading to cell death or not. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between treatment with cisplatin and cytotoxicity in cancer cells.

Results

Treatment of HT‐29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells with cisplatin can induce cell death by one of two different mechanisms. Cells treated with a cytotoxic 30 μM amount of cisplatin died after undergoing checkpoint adaptation. Before dying, however, almost all treated cells were positive for histone γH2AX staining and contained high levels of cyclin B1. Rounded cells appeared that were positive for phospho‐Ser10 histone H3, with low levels of phospho‐Tyr15 cyclin‐dependent kinase 1, high levels of cyclin‐dependent kinase 1 activity, and checkpoint kinase 1 that was not phosphorylated on Ser345. These cells were in mitosis with damaged DNA. Strikingly, with 30 μM cisplatin, 81% of cells had entered mitosis before dying. By contrast, after treatment with 100 μM cisplatin, nearly all cells died but only 7% of cells had entered mitosis. Instead, these cells died by apoptosis; they were positive for annexin‐V staining, contained cleaved caspase 3, cleaved caspase 9 and cleaved PARP and did not contain Mcl‐1.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that cancer cells treated with cisplatin can undergo one of two modes of cell death depending upon concentration used. These findings suggest that checkpoint adaptation is likely a primary pathway in genotoxic cell death at pharmacological concentrations of cisplatin.

Significance

Checkpoint adaptation might be a common biochemical pathway taken by human cancer cells in response to pharmacologically relevant, cytotoxic amounts of damaged DNA.
Development of sedimentary basins: differential stretching, phase transitions, shear heating and tectonic pressure
Authors: Hartz Ebbe H. , Medvedev Sergei , Schmid Daniel W.
Published: February 2016

Classical models of lithosphere thinning predict deep synrift basins covered by wider and thinner post‐rift deposits. However, synextensional uplift and/or erosion of the crust are widely documented in nature (e.g. the Base Cretaceous unconformity of the NE Atlantic), and generally the post‐rift deposits dominate basins fills. Accordingly, several basin models focus on this discrepancy between observations and the classical approach. These models either involve differential thinning, where the mantle thins more than the crust thereby increasing average temperature of the lithosphere, or focus on the effect of metamorphic reactions, showing that such reactions decrease the density of lithospheric rocks. Both approaches result in less synrift subsidence and increased post‐rift subsidence. The synextensional uplift in these two approaches happens only for special cases, that is for a case of initially thin crust, specific mineral assemblage of the lithospheric mantle or extensive differential thinning of the lithosphere. Here, we analyse the effects of shear heating and tectonic underpressure on the evolution of sedimentary basins. In simple 1D models, we test the implications of various mechanisms in regard to uplift, subsidence, density variations and thermal history. Our numerical experiments show that tectonic underpressure during lithospheric thinning combined with pressure‐dependent density is a widely applicable mechanism for synextensional uplift. Mineral phase transitions in the subcrustal lithosphere amplify the effect of underpressure and may result in more than 1 km of synextensional erosion. Additional heat from shear heating, especially combined with mineral phase transitions and differential thinning of the lithosphere, greatly decreases the amount of synrift deposits.
Photodynamic UVA‐riboflavin bacterial elimination in antibiotic‐resistant bacteria
Authors: Makdoumi Karim , Bäckman Anders
Published: February 2016

Background

To evaluate the bactericidal effect of clinical ultraviolet A (UVA) settings used in photoactivated chromophore for infectious keratitis (PACK)‐collagen cross‐linking (CXL) in antibiotic‐resistant and non‐resistant bacterial strains.

Methods

Well‐characterized bacterial strains from clinical isolates, without and with antibiotic resistance, were studied in a pairwise comparison. The evaluated pathogens were Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis. Bacteria were dispersed in PBS and diluted to a concentration of approximately 4 × 105/ml. Riboflavin was added to a concentration of 0.01%. By spreading the solution on a microscope slide, a fluid film layer, with a thickness of around 400 mm, was formed and UVA exposure followed. Eight separate exposures were made for each strain (n = 8). The degree of elimination in resistant and non‐resistant pathogens was compared.

Results

The bactericidal efficacy of exposure differed between the tested microorganisms, and the mean elimination ranged between 60 and 92%, being most extensive in both of the evaluated Pseudomonas strains and least in the E. faecalis strains. Similar reductions were seen in antibiotic‐resistant and non‐resistant strains, with the exception of S. aureus, in which the resistant strain metchicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was eradicated in a greater extent than the non‐resistant strain (P = 0.030).

Conclusion

UVA‐riboflavin settings used in PACK‐CXL are effective in reducing both antibiotic‐resistant and non‐resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance does not appear to be protective against the photooxidative exposure.
A Survey of Visualization for Live Cell Imaging
Authors: Pretorius A. J. , Khan I. A. , Errington R. J.
Published: February 2016

Live cell imaging is an important biomedical research paradigm for studying dynamic cellular behaviour. Although phenotypic data derived from images are difficult to explore and analyse, some researchers have successfully addressed this with visualization. Nonetheless, visualization methods for live cell imaging data have been reported in an ad hoc and fragmented fashion. This leads to a knowledge gap where it is difficult for biologists and visualization developers to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different visualization methods, and for visualization researchers to gain an overview of existing work to identify research priorities. To address this gap, we survey existing visualization methods for live cell imaging from a visualization research perspective for the first time. Based on recent visualization theory, we perform a structured qualitative analysis of visualization methods that includes characterizing the domain and data, abstracting tasks, and describing visual encoding and interaction design. Based on our survey, we identify and discuss research gaps that future work should address: the broad analytical context of live cell imaging; the importance of behavioural comparisons; links with dynamic data visualization; the consequences of different data modalities; shortcomings in interactive support; and, in addition to analysis, the value of the presentation of phenotypic data and insights to other stakeholders.
Agreement between health utility instruments in cochlear implantation
Authors: Ramakers G.G.J. , Smulders Y.E. , van Zon A. , Kraaijenga V.J.C. , Stegeman I. , Van Zanten G.A. , Grolman W.
Published: February 2016

Objectives

The objectives of our study were threefold: to compare health utility scores measured with different health utility instruments in adult patients with bilateral deafness, to compare the change in health utility scores after unilateral or bilateral cochlear implantation using the different health utility instruments and to assess which health utility instrument would be the most appropriate for future studies on cochlear implantation.

Design

A prospective study.

Setting

The data for this article were collected as part of a multicentre randomised controlled trial in the Netherlands on the benefits of simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation compared to unilateral cochlear implantation.

Participants

The study included 38 adult patients with severe to profound bilateral post‐lingual sensorineural hearing loss.

Main outcome measures

Participants completed various quality of life questionnaires (the EuroQol five‐dimensional questionnaire (EQ‐5D), the Health Utilities Index mark 3 (HUI3), a visual analogue scale (VAS) for general quality of life and a VAS for hearing) preoperatively, and one and two years postoperatively. The general health utility instruments (EQ‐5D, HUI3 and VAS general) were compared.

Results

The EQ‐5D, HUI3 and VAS general utility scores differed significantly. The intraclass correlation coefficients showed poor to no agreement between these instruments. A gain in health utility after cochlear implantation was found with the HUI3 and VAS general. The highest gain in health utility was found with the HUI3.

Conclusions

A health utility score depends on the health utility instrument that is used in a specific patient population. We recommend using the HUI3 in future studies on cochlear implantation.
What Makes Health Systems Research in Developing Countries Ethical? Application of theEmanuel Framework for Clinical Research toHealthSystems Research
Authors: Wassenaar Doug , Rattani Abbas
Published: February 2016

The growing importance of health systems research has opened debate about appropriate ethical frameworks and guidelines for the ethical review and conduct of health systems research. In this article we consider a detailed proposal fromHyder et al. (2014) and consider it in relation to the conventional criteria for ethics review of clinical research outlined byEmanuel et al. (2004; 2008) and argue that theEmanuel criteria can be usefully applied to the review of health systems research to supplement the Hyder et al. proposals. We argue further that health systems researchers and reviewers would benefit from many of the debates that have characterized the ethics of clinical research over the past three decades.
Diet, physical activity and mental health status are associated with dysglycaemia in pregnancy: the Healthy Start Study
Authors: Sauder K. A. , Starling A. P. , Shapiro A. L. , Kaar J. L. , Ringham B. M. , Glueck D. H. , Leiferman J. A. , Siega‐Riz A. M. , Dabelea D.
Published: February 2016

Aims

To examine the association between dysglycaemia and multiple modifiable factors measured during pregnancy.

Methods

The Healthy Start Study collected self‐reported data on modifiable factors in early and mid‐pregnancy (median 17 and 27 weeks gestation, respectively) from 832 women. Women received one point for each modifiable factor for which they had optimum scores: diet quality (Healthy Eating Index score ≥64), physical activity level (estimated energy expenditure ≥170 metabolic equivalent task‐h/week), and mental health status (Perceived Stress Scale score <6 and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score <13). Dysglycaemia during pregnancy was defined as an abnormal glucose challenge result, ≥1 abnormal results on an oral glucose tolerance test, or a clinical diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios for dysglycaemia as a function of each factor and the total score, adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, pre‐pregnancy BMI, history of gestational diabetes, and family history of Type 2 diabetes.

Results

In individual analyses, only physical activity was significantly associated with a reduced risk of dysglycaemia (adjusted odds ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.44–1.00). We observed a significant, dose–response association between increasing numbers of optimal factors and odds of dysglycaemia (adjusted P=0.01). Compared with having no optimal modifiable factors, having all three was associated with a 73% reduced risk of dysglycaemia (adjusted odds ratio 0.27, 95% CI 0.08–0.95).

Conclusions

An increasing number of positive modifiable factors in pregnancy was associated with a dose–response reduction in risk of dysglycaemia. Our results support the hypothesis that modifiable factors in pregnancy are associated with the risk of prenatal dysglycaemia.
Association of hearing impairment with insulin resistance, β–cell dysfunction and impaired fasting glucose before onset of diabetes
Authors: Seo M. , Lee Y.‐S. , Moon S.‐S.
Published: February 2016

Aim

Diabetes is a known risk factor for hearing impairment. No study regarding the association of insulin resistance (IR), β–cell dysfunction and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) with hearing impairment has been reported in the population without diabetes. We examined these associations using a representative sample of the Korean population.

Methods

Participants included 1589 males and 2496 females, who were ≥ 20 years of age and without diabetes from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys of the Korean population (2010). Audiometric tests and laboratory examinations were performed. Homeostasis model assessments of IR and β–cell function (HOMA–IR and HOMA–β) were calculated.

Results

The prevalence of both high‐ and low‐/mid‐frequency hearing impairment among subjects with IFG was higher compared with those with normal glycaemia (42.2% vs. 24.5%, 14.7% vs. 7.8%, respectively). After adjustment for age, HOMA–IR and HOMA–β showed significant association with high‐frequency hearing impairment in males. In the multiple logistic regression analyses adjusting for confounding variables, the presence of IFG, higher HOMA–IR and lower HOMA–β remained as independent risk factors for high‐frequency mild hearing impairment in males < 70 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.441, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.056 to 1.967; OR, 1.448, 95% CI, 1.039 to 2.101; and OR, 0.447, 95% CI, 0.274 to 0.729, P < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusions

IR, β–cell dysfunction and IFG are associated with high‐frequency mild hearing impairment in the male population < 70 years before the onset of diabetes.
Ecological interactions and the fitness effect of water‐use efficiency: Competition and drought alter the impact of natural MPK12 alleles in Arabidopsis
Authors: Campitelli Brandon E. , Des Marais David L. , Juenger Thomas E.
Published: February 2016

The presence of substantial genetic variation for water‐use efficiency (WUE) suggests that natural selection plays a role in maintaining alleles that affect WUE. Soil water deficit can reduce plant survival, and is likely to impose selection to increase WUE, whereas competition for resources may select for decreased WUE to ensure water acquisition. We tested the fitness consequences of natural allelic variation in a single gene (MPK12) that influences WUE in Arabidopsis, using transgenic lines contrasting in MPK12 alleles, under four treatments; drought/competition, drought/no competition, well‐watered/competition, well‐watered/no competition. Results revealed an allele × environment interaction: Low WUE plants performed better in competition, resulting from increased resource consumption. Contrastingly, high WUE individuals performed better in no competition, irrespective of water availability, presumably from enhanced water conservation and nitrogen acquisition. Our findings suggest that selection can influence MPK12 evolution, and represents the first assessment of plant fitness resulting from natural allelic variation at a single locus affecting WUE.
Fit Among Business Strategy, Strategy Formality, and Dynamic Capability Development in New Product Development
Authors: Gumusluoglu Lale , Acur Nuran
Published: February 2016

Taking new product development (NPD) as the unit of analysis, this study, based on strategic fit approach, investigates the effects of NPD strategy formality and dynamic capabilities (sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring) on NPD performance for different business strategy types (prospectors, analyzers, defenders). The sample of the study includes 203 companies from nine countries: Australia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. The study finds that a formal NPD strategy is an important driver of NPD performance for all companies regardless of the strategy pursued. Of the dynamic capabilities, sensing capabilities have significant performance effects for all strategy types. Seizing capabilities have stronger effect on NPD performance for prospectors and analyzers, than for defenders while reconfiguring capabilities is a driver of performance only for defenders. Furthermore, dynamic capabilities explain NPD performance above and beyond strategizing, irrespective of the strategy pursued.