bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconsidering the interpretation of WWII shared-heritage in Thailand
Authors: Sirisrisak Tiamsoon
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to find a different perspective of interpreting a Second World War shared-heritage based on the case in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative study was conducted at the Second World War sites in Thailand. The paper employed observation and interview of the local residents and other stakeholders at the site.

Findings

– Conventional interpretation of the Second World War sites in Thailand predominantly focusses on two approaches with a little involvement of the local residents. One emphasizes cruelty, loss, torture, or inhumanity with strong influence of the Australian approach. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, such interpretation could point out the culprit and gives audiences enmity against the loser of the war. Another politically underscores a strong connection between Thailand and Japan by presenting romanticized stories of wartime. The paper suggests that the way to bring Second World War shared-heritage site to life is to put an emphasis on the voice of the local residents rather than focussing on political agenda.

Practical implications

– The argument and recommendation raised in this paper will be particularly useful for the local residents and those who are involved in heritage management field. It would contribute to the better understanding and respect among people with different cultural backgrounds.

Originality/value

– The paper is the first study of a different view of the interpretation of Second World War shared-heritage. The argument raised in the paper would lead to a wider discussion among heritage professionals.
Culture and entrepreneurial intentions of Madagascan ethnic groups
Authors: Urban Boris , Ratsimanetrimanana Fenosoa A
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to delve deeper into understanding to what extent does culture influence entrepreneurship by connecting the causal chain from cultural values to perceived desirability to entrepreneurial intention (EI). Cultural values form a central part of entrepreneurial discourse and have accordingly been the subject of several studies relating to EIs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study takes place in an under-researched country, Madagascar, where instead of focussing on national culture a more nuanced approach is taken by studying several fine-grained groupings of culture at the ethnic level. Based on a survey, 2,220 responses are statistically analysed according to the three main ethnic groups in Madagascar.

Findings

– In terms of hypotheses testing, findings show that cultural dimensions influence the relationship between perceived desirability and EI only for the highlander ethnic group. Differences between the ethnic groups are also observed in terms of the indulgence-restraint cultural dimension.

Practical implications

– When encouraging entrepreneurship in Madagascar policymakers should take cognisance of the complexity of cultural factors among ethnic groups and the interrelationship between perceived desirability and intentions.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first studies to measure cultural values in Madagascar and include the indulgence-restraint cultural dimension. The study takes place in a multicultural, non-Western and predominantly necessity-based entrepreneurship context, where understanding the role that culture plays in shaping intentions can prove to be valuable.
Locating the past in its silence: history and marketing theory in India
Authors: Varman Rohit , Sreekumar Hari
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The paper aims to argue, while examining the history of marketing theory in India, that the discipline is ahistorical, serves large business interests and is shaped by hegemonic Western knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

– The primary sources of data were the marketing doctoral dissertations, working papers, teaching material and research publications produced in the top management schools in India from the 1960s up to the present period.

Findings

– The historical review reveals that the marketing theory in India is characterized by dependence on the West and elision of the country’s rich business history. It further shows that the discipline in India focuses on research problems and issues which are more appropriate to a Western context, and remains detached from local realities. Moreover, the discipline is characterized by a narrow managerial orientation.

Research limitations/implications

– Findings from the paper will be of value to researchers who wish to understand the Indian marketing thought.

Practical implications

– Findings from the paper will be of value to academics and policy makers who wish to create more independent and contextually informed and sensitive management programs.

Social implications

– The paper reveals the extent to which the education and institutions in India are influenced by the West, and aims to motivate academics and policy makers to understand local knowledge and ways of knowing.

Originality/value

– The main contribution of this paper is to show that the marketing discipline in India has been ahistorical and is shaped by hegemonic Western knowledge.
Crowdsourcing information for knowledge-based design of routes for unscheduled public transport trips
Authors: Cairo Osvaldo , Sendra Salcedo José , Gutierrez-Garcia J. Octavio
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to devise a crowdsourcing methodology for acquiring and exploiting knowledge to profile unscheduled transport networks for design of efficient routes for public transport trips.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper analyzes daily travel itineraries within Mexico City provided by 610 public transport users. In addition, a statistical analysis of quality-of-service parameters of the public transport systems of Mexico City was also conducted. From the statistical analysis, a knowledge base was consolidated to characterize the unscheduled public transport network of Mexico City. Then, by using a heuristic search algorithm for finding routes, public transport users are provided with efficient routes for their trips.

Findings

– The findings of the paper are as follows. A crowdsourcing methodology can be used to characterize complex and unscheduled transport networks. In addition, the knowledge of the crowds can be used to devise efficient routes for trips (using public transport) within a city. Moreover, the design of routes for trips can be automated by SmartPaths, a mobile application for public transport navigation.

Research limitations/implications

– The data collected from the public transport users of Mexico City may vary through the year.

Originality/value

– The significance and novelty is that the present work is the earliest effort in making use of a crowdsourcing approach for profiling unscheduled public transport networks to design efficient routes for public transport trips.
Hobbyists, artisans and entrepreneurs
Authors: Bouette Martin , Magee Florence
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into the goals and values of craft practitioners in Ireland, and assesses the validity of the business support provided to Dublin based craft practitioners. This research aimed to identify entrepreneurial traits in craft businesses and to challenge the objectives of public business support programs. This research enquires into what support practitioners have participated in and the perceived relevance to their professional needs and goals. Indeed, does demand or policy shape business support programs for craft in Dublin?

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is based on a mix of quantitative and qualitative research using surveys and interviews.

Findings

– The research provides new insights into the goals and values of craft practitioners in Ireland. It identifies discrepancies between the needs of these businesses and the support programs available in Dublin. This study also highlighted three profiles of craft practitioners with distinct goals and values: the hobbyist, the artisan and the entrepreneur.

Research limitations/implications

– This study was limited to members registered with the Craft Council of Ireland in Dublin. It therefore excluded any professional craft business non-registered with the agency.

Practical implications

– This paper provides valuable insights on craft practitioners goals and values and offers useful recommendation on business support for craft micro-businesses in Ireland.

Originality/value

– This paper offers empirical data entirely new for Ireland and highlights the similarities between craft businesses and other micro-businesses, questioning business support rationale for the whole of this sector.
The Human Sigma approach to business improvement in tourism SMEs
Authors: Sutton Carley
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– Human Sigma is an emerging topic among many academics and practitioners. At present, limited studies have been reported about the successful applications of Human Sigma in small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this paper therefore is to provide an analysis of contemporary business improvement tool implementation in UK tourism SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper presents an exploratory study of the Human Sigma approach to business improvement. Particularly, the research offers an overview of approaches to business improvement, whilst also presenting a framework for the implementation of Human Sigma. Adopting a case study of tourism SMEs, the paper examines attitudes to service quality management in terms of the implementation of business improvement tools.

Findings

– The results of the study reveal that many of the SMEs are not aware of the Human Sigma approach to business improvement and while there is a range of tools, techniques and approaches available, they perceive several key barriers to prevent them from fully engaging. The research highlights the critical success factors for successful implementation are often related to customers and not employees. The perceived benefits from the usage of these tools are also displayed.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitations of this research are recognised, in particular the relatively small number of SMEs in a geographically confined area. Nevertheless, the research is intended primarily as an exploratory study designed to identify themes and issues as a basis for further research. Consequently, the study offers a number of significant findings that contribute more broadly to the Human Sigma literature.

Originality/value

– This paper presents an initial study on the status of Human Sigma implementation in UK tourism SMEs. The service sector is dominated by a large number of SMEs and despite escalating attention paid within the literature to issues related to quality management, limited research has been undertaken into the utilisation and contribution of contemporary business improvements tools. A framework for the implementation of the Human Sigma approach to business improvement is illustrated. This paper will yield value to academics, consultants, researchers and practitioners.
Who becomes an entrepreneur? A 30-years-review of individual-level research
Authors: Walter Sascha G. , Heinrichs Simon
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to cumulate published empirical studies (1980-2009) on the relationship between individual variables and entrepreneurial status. The authors categorize repeatedly analyzed determinants into six perspectives (trait, cognitive, affective, intentions, learning, and economic), review empirical findings for each determinant and each perspective, investigate trends in the field, and propose avenues for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors categorize determinants into one of the six paradigms and review findings for 46 repeatedly studied variables from 131 studies. Support for each variable, publication outlets chosen, and temporal trends in exploring entrepreneurial intentions, entrepreneurial status or differences between entrepreneurs and other individuals are analyzed.

Findings

– Prior studies have focused on trait and economic perspectives with strong support, followed by the learning and intentions perspectives. The affective perspective is a still under-researched, yet growing field. Most articles were published in the 1990s. The emphasis on theoretical perspectives varies over decades. Directions for future research include integrating the perspectives (e.g. across the cognitive and affective domain), testing the temporal stability of influences, and developing and testing cross-level models that incorporate contextual influences.

Originality/value

– The paper complements prior reviews and meta-analyses by picturing the breadth of the field and adding important points to the research agenda.
Vulnerability and trust in leader-follower relationships
Authors: Nienaber Ann-Marie , Hofeditz Marcel , Romeike Philipp Daniel
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– Vulnerability is a concept that lies at the core of the most prevalent academic trust definitions. Accordingly, a vast amount of scholars refers to vulnerability when studying trust. Surprisingly, there is almost no conceptual nor empirical work explicitly directed at understanding vulnerability itself. The purpose of this paper is to summarize and critique the existing base of knowledge of vulnerability with a particular focus on the leader-follower relationship and to open avenues for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the process of a very systematic literature search, the authors identified 49 studies that refer to vulnerability when studying trust at the interpersonal level. The authors coded the literature into conceptualizations, antecedents and consequences of vulnerability – with a particular focus on the leader-follower relationship.

Findings

– The authors introduce a theoretical framework which allows the authors to structure the rather fuzzy discussed concept of vulnerability. The development of such a theoretical framework allows the authors to distinguish between trusting beliefs and actual trusting behaviour so that it is possible to separate the constructs of willingness-to-be-vulnerable and actual vulnerability.

Research limitations/implications

– With the help of the developed framework, the authors point to the need for more work on vulnerability in order to take the study of trust to the next level. In this respect, the authors formulate several propositions that should be tested in future research.

Practical implications

– Practitioners are made aware of the need to risk willingness to be vulnerable as a base for trusting behaviour. There is no way around being willing to be vulnerable.

Originality/value

– This literature review provides a holistic understanding of the concept of vulnerability. The intention is to show the different understandings and interpretations of this term within the literature and identify which antecedents and consequences are related to the concept of vulnerability.
On informational efficiency of the banking sector: a behavioral model of the credit boom
Authors: Peon David , Calvo Anxo , Antelo Manel
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the informational efficiency in retail credit markets to test whether behavioral biases (excessive optimism) by some participants in the banking industry might explain how credit booms are fueled by the banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper analyzes the conditions for the efficient market hypothesis approach to be extended to bank-based systems. A simple model of herding and limits of arbitrage that follows a three-step behavioral approach is presented (Shleifer, 2000). The model is based on duopolistic Cournot competition, where one bank is unbiased and the other is boundedly rational in terms of excessive optimism.

Findings

– The paper shows why solely behavioral biases by participants in the banking industry explain how it feeds a credit bubble. According to the presented model, optimistic banks would lead the industry, while it would be rational for unbiased banks to herd under conditions that the authors derive. An important finding is the role of limits of arbitrage in the banking sector: there would be no incentives for rational banks to correct the misallocations of their biased competitors.

Practical implications

– It might be a valid contribution to the current debate on macroprudential regulation. Should tests of rationality and correlated behavior provide evidence on the pervasiveness of behavioral biases in the banking industry suggested by our model, then banking regulation should account for it.

Originality/value

– This paper introduces an alternative approach to analyze informational efficiency in the banking industry that, to the best of our knowledge, had not been raised so far. The model shows how behavioral biases might guide retail credit markets and why limits of arbitrage would be more pervasive in bank-based financial systems than in market-based ones.
Identifying an index of financial conditions for South Africa
Authors: Thompson Kirsten , Van Eyden Renee , Gupta Rangan
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to construct a financial conditions index (FCI) for the South African economy to enable the gauging of financial conditions and to better understand the macro-financial linkages in the country. The global financial crisis that began in 2007-2008 demonstrated how severe the impact of financial markets’ stress on real economic activity can be. In the wake of the financial crisis, policy-makers and decision-makers across the world identified the critical need for a better understanding of financial conditions, and more importantly, their impact on the real economy.

Design/methodology/approach

– The FCI is constructed using monthly data over the period 1966 to 2011, and is based on a set of 16 financial variables, which include variables that define the state of international financial markets, asset prices, interest rate spreads, stock market yields and volatility, bond market volatility and monetary aggregates. The authors explore different methodologies for constructing the FCI, including full sample and rolling-window principal components analysis. Furthermore, the authors investigate whether it is beneficial to purge the FCI of the real effects of inflation, economic growth and interest rates, and evaluate the performance of our constructed FCIs by comparing their ability to pick up turning points in the South African business cycle, and by running in-sample causality (forecast) tests.

Findings

– The authors find that the estimated FCIs are good predictors of economic activity; with the rolling-window FCI being the “best” performing index. Causality tests indicate that this FCI is a good in-sample predictor of industrial production growth and the Treasury Bill rate, but a weak predictor of inflation.

Practical implications

– The authors find that the resulting FCI can act as an “early warning system”. This, in turn, may serve to indicate that monetary policy should take broader financial conditions into account.

Originality/value

– This study offers three main contributions to the existing literature on financial conditions in South Africa: the authors construct an FCI over a sample period that is three decades longer than existing indices, the FCI of this paper comprises a wider coverage of financial variables than others and the authors make use of rolling-window estimation techniques that allow them to account for parameter instability and to capture the real-time constraints faced by a policymaker.
Over-investment, the marginal value of cash holdings and corporate governance
Authors: Huang Chih Jen , Liao Tsai-Ling , Chang Yu-Shan
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how investors’ valuation of cash holdings is related to firm-level investment.

Design/methodology/approach

– As prior studies note that holding excess cash serve as a driver to would be over-investing, and that over-investment imposes substantial agency costs on shareholders, the authors focus on the value implications of holding cash in the presence of over-investment from the perspective of shareholders.

Findings

– By examining the publicly traded companies on Taiwan stock market, the authors uncover that cash is valued less in firms with over-investment than in those with under-investment and the magnitude of over-investment is negatively related to the marginal value of cash holdings (MVCH). It reveals that investment activities impact the value that shareholders place on cash holdings. Moreover, further tests indicate that higher block holdings and the presence of independent directors on boards can effectively mitigate the negative impact of over-investment on the MVCH.

Practical implications

– This paper enhances the understanding of the valuation implications of cash reserves held by firms with over-investment and the effectiveness of governance structures in containing the detrimental effect of investment-related agency costs on the value of holding cash.

Originality/value

– This paper provides pioneering evidence that outside investors discount cash assets in over-investing firms to reflect their expectations that they will not receive the full benefit of these assets; and this paper extends the literature on corporate governance by assessing the role of governance mechanisms in reversing the negative relation between over-investment and the MVCH.
Reconsidering the role of Tobin’s Q
Authors: Holmes Mark J. , Maghrebi Nabil
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to investigate nonlinearities in the behavior of investment expenditure. Conventional wisdom suggests that Tobin’s Q criterion is an important explanation of investment behaviour that bridges the financial and real sides of the economy. However, the empirical evidence in support of Q as a means of explaining aggregate business investment is rather weak. We answer a number of questions about the relationship between investment expenditure and Q. In particular, is the relationship governed by non-linearities? If so, what is the nature of the non-linearities present?

Design/methodology/approach

– The rationale for paying closer attention to non-linearities is based on the presence of information asymmetries and possible dependence of adjustments on non-linearities with respect to factors such as fixed costs, threshold effects and irreversibility, which are entertained in the investment literature. Using the non-linear vector error-correction model procedure advocated by Hansen and Seo, we show that in the context of the US economy, investment has a long-run relationship with Q that is based on threshold error correction.

Findings

– There are asymmetries present with respect to error correction or the speed of adjustment towards long-run equilibrium. We find that investment expenditure only responds significantly to long-run disequilibrium from Q during a particular regime. Such a regime is characterised by long-run disequilibrium based on high or rising investment expenditure compared with a relatively weak stock market.

Originality/value

– The authors provide new insights into the relationship between Tobin’s Q and real investment. In contrast to previous work, they find that error correction based on the adjustment of real investment is regime-specific and function of the size of departures from long-run equilibrium. The tests also allow for the identification of periods when error correction has occurred. Not only are these insights significant for future research on financial crises, market volatility and the impact of debt, but for policymaking purposes as well.
Evolution of the construction of Dublin City Council’s housing, with emphasis on wall construction
Authors: O'Neill Daniel , Gunnigan Louis , Clarke Peter
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present information on the construction technology used to build Dublin City Council’s (DCC’s) housing stock, with an emphasis on wall construction.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology applied was a mix of literature review and archival research. The research was undertaken as part of PhD research exploring the energy upgrade of a housing stock.

Findings

– The research uncovered details of the construction technology used in the construction of DCC’s housing stock, especially wall construction. These details disprove perceptions and assumptions made on the evolution of construction technology in Dublin and Ireland.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is limited in that it primarily focused on the period between 1887 to the introduction of the 1991 Building Regulations. Further research is required on both DCC’s housing stock and the Irish housing stock to identify the specific changes in construction technology.

Practical implications

– It is hoped this research will be a foundation for further research on the evolution of house construction technology, and housing stock asset intelligence in Ireland.

Originality/value

– This research provides information for researchers and professionals with an interest in the evolution of Irish house construction technology. This is an area which has not received significant attention in Irish built-environment research.
Parent? Carer? Mid-lifer? Older person? Similarities and diversities across different experiences of caring and their implications for practice
Authors: Manthorpe Jill , Moriarty Jo , Cornes Michelle
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to consider the experiences of carers caring for an adult child, particularly as they affect the transition from midlife into older age. It explores aspects affecting the vast majority of carers, such as accessing information and services, but focuses on the specific concerns of those caring for a child with a life-long disability or a child who acquires a long-term health problem in adolescence or adulthood. In the context of the introduction of the Care Act (2014) in England, the paper highlights ways in which support for carers could be improved.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws on interview data which consisted of 86 face-to-face interviews with purposefully selected participants based in four local authorities. At the end of the study in 2014 the authors held a series of five focus groups for practitioners and carers to explore how the emerging findings chimed with their experiences and to refine the study’s messages for practice. The data from interviews are set in the context of policy and practice developments in social care in England.

Findings

– The paper draws attention to the need for practitioners to find ways of involving carers in decision making without compromising the rights to autonomy and choice on the part of the person cared for. Both those commissioning services and practitioners need to acknowledge that parent carers need assurances about the long-term viability and quality of the plans that are developed for the person they support.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper is drawn on interviews with carers and practitioners in four areas of England; most of the carers interviewed were white British and female. The implications of planning research and conducting research with family carers are explored and their similarities with practice encounters identified.

Practical implications

– The key practice point in this paper highlights the necessity of talking about the future with parent carers, making plans for possible and highly likely events, addressing mortality, and being aware of the potential for a deeply held sense of pessimism and unspoken distress among carers. Some participants seemed to feel that practitioners conveyed a sense that they were inadequate or unwilling to discuss these matters and practitioners who suspect this may apply to them or their team could usefully consider seeking skills development to improve their practice.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first to consider practice perspectives in the context of the Care Act (2014) and personal budgets in England relating to parent carers.
Case of bilateral acroangiodermatitis due to symmetrical arteriovenous fistulas of the soles
Authors: Horiguchi Yuji , Takahashi Kenzo , Tanizaki Hideaki , Miyachi Yoshiki
Published: May 2015

A 58‐year‐old woman presented painful chronic inflammation of the outside skin of the bilateral soles. A skin biopsy revealed chronic inflammation of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, as well as the marked dilatation and proliferation of capillaries and veins, and the thick deposition of elastic fibers around the thick‐walled veins. 3‐D contrasted computed tomography of the lower extremities demonstrated early bilateral imaging of the veins, and fistulas of the peroneal as well as posterior tibial artery and vein of the bilateral soles. On the basis of a diagnosis of bilateral acroangiodermatitis due to symmetrical arteriovenous fistulas, the patient underwent compression therapy using elastic bandages, and the symptoms reduced in several days.
REVIEW: Quantifying urban ecosystem services based on high‐resolution data of urban green space: an assessment for Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Authors: Derkzen Marthe L. , van Teeffelen Astrid J. A. , Verburg Peter H.
Published: May 2015

The urban dimension of ecosystem services (ES) is underexposed, while the importance of ES for human well‐being is nowhere as evident as in cities. Urban challenges such as air pollution, noise and heat can be moderated by urban green space (UGS), simultaneously providing multiple other services. However, available methods to quantify ES cannot typically deal with the high spatial and thematic resolution land cover data that are needed to better understand ES supply in the urban context.

This study derives methods to quantify and map a bundle of six ES as supplied by UGS, using land cover data with high spatial and thematic resolution, and applies these to the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Land cover data comprise eight classes of UGS. Methods are derived from an evidence base on the importance of UGS types for the supply of each of the six ES that was built using literature review.

The evidence base reveals that UGS types differ in their contribution to various ES, although the strength of the evidence varies. However, existing indicators for urban ES often do not discriminate between UGS types. To derive UGS‐specific indicators, we combined methods and evidence from different research contexts (ES, non‐ES, urban, non‐urban).

Rotterdam shows high spatial variation in the amount of UGS present, and accounting for this in ES supply reveals that ES bundles depend on UGS composition and configuration. While the contribution of UGS types to ES supply differed markedly with UGS type and ES considered, we demonstrate that synergies rather than trade‐offs exist among the ES analysed.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings underline the importance of a careful design of urban green space (UGS) in city planning for ecosystem services (ES) provision. Based on the latest insights on how different UGS provide ES, the methods presented in this study enable a more detailed quantification and mapping of the supply of ES in cities, allowing assessments of current supply of key urban ES and alternative urban designs. Such knowledge is indispensable in the quest for designing healthier and climate‐resilient cities.
Fermentation of Soybean Meal Hydrolyzates with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis for Ethanol Production
Authors: Luján‐Rhenals Deivis E. , Morawicki Rubén O. , Gbur Edward E. , Ricke Steven C.
Published: May 2015

Most of the ethanol currently produced by fermentation is derived from sugar cane, corn, or beets. However, it makes good ecological and economic sense to use the carbohydrates contained in by‐products and coproducts of the food processing industry for ethanol production. Soybean meal, a co‐product of the production of soybean oil, has a relatively high carbohydrate content that could be a reasonable substrate for ethanol production after fermentable sugars are released via hydrolysis. In this research, the capability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae NRRL Y‐2233 and Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis NRRL B‐4286 to produce ethanol was evaluated using soybean meal hydrolyzates as substrates for the fermentation. These substrates were produced from the dilute‐acid hydrolysis of soybean meal at 135 °C for 45 min with 0, 0.5%, 1.25%, and 2% H2SO4 and at 120 °C for 30 min with 1.25% H2SO4. Kinetic parameters of the fermentation were estimated using the logistic model. Ethanol production using S. cerevisiae was highest with the substrates obtained at 135 °C, 45 min, and 0.5% H2SO4 and fermented for 8 h, 8 g/L (4 g ethanol/100 g fresh SBM), while Z. mobilis reached its maximum ethanol production, 9.2 g/L (4.6 g ethanol/100 g fresh SBM) in the first 20 h of fermentation with the same hydrolyzate.
Inactivation of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Enterica on Blueberries in Water Using Ultraviolet Light
Authors: Liu Chuhan , Huang Yaoxin , Chen Haiqiang
Published: May 2015

Ultraviolet light (UV) has antimicrobial effects, but the shadowing effect has limited its application. In this study, a novel setup using UV processing in agitated water was developed to inactivate Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on blueberries. Blueberries were dip‐ or spot‐inoculated with E. coli or Salmonella. Blueberries inoculated with E. coli were treated for 2 to 10 min with UV directly (dry UV) or immersed in agitated water during UV treatment (wet UV). E. coli was most easily killed on spot‐inoculated blueberries with a 5.2‐log reduction after 10‐min wet UV treatment. Dip‐inoculated blueberries were the most difficult to be decontaminated with only 1.6‐log reduction after 10‐min wet UV treatment. Wet UV treatment generally showed higher efficacies than dry UV treatment, achieving an average of 1.4 log more reduction for spot‐inoculated blueberries. For dip‐inoculated blueberries, chlorine washing and UV treatments were less effective, achieving <2 log reductions of E. coli. Thus, the efficacy of combinations of wet UV with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), levulinic acid, or chlorine was evaluated. Inoculated blueberries were UV‐treated while being immersed in agitated water containing 100 ppm SDS, 0.5% levulinic acid or 10 ppm chlorine. The 3 chemicals did not significantly enhance the wet UV treatment. Findings of this study suggest that UV treatment could be used as an alternative to chlorine washing for blueberries and potentially for other fresh produce.
Modeling Streamflow and Water Quality Sensitivity to Climate Change and Urban Development in 20 U.S. Watersheds
Authors: Johnson T. , Butcher J. , Deb D. , Faizullabhoy M. , Hummel P. , Kittle J. , McGinnis S. , Mearns L.O. , Nover D. , Parker A. , Sarkar S. , Srinivasan R. , Tuppad P. , Warren M. , Weaver C. , Witt J.
Published: May 2015

Watershed modeling in 20 large, United States (U.S.) watersheds addresses gaps in our knowledge of streamflow, nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus), and sediment loading sensitivity to mid‐21st Century climate change and urban/residential development scenarios. Use of a consistent methodology facilitates regional scale comparisons across the study watersheds. Simulations use the Soil and Water Assessment Tool. Climate change scenarios are from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program dynamically downscaled climate model output. Urban and residential development scenarios are from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Integrated Climate and Land Use Scenarios project. Simulations provide a plausible set of streamflow and water quality responses to mid‐21st Century climate change across the U.S. Simulated changes show a general pattern of decreasing streamflow volume in the central Rockies and Southwest, and increases on the East Coast and Northern Plains. Changes in pollutant loads follow a similar pattern but with increased variability. Ensemble mean results suggest that by the mid‐21st Century, statistically significant changes in streamflow and total suspended solids loads (relative to baseline conditions) are possible in roughly 30‐40% of study watersheds. These proportions increase to around 60% for total phosphorus and total nitrogen loads. Projected urban/residential development, and watershed responses to development, are small at the large spatial scale of modeling in this study.
Aldehyde inhibition of antioxidant enzymes in the blood of diabetic patients
Authors: Lankin Vadim Z. , Konovalova Galina G. , Tikhaze Alla K. , Shumaev Konstantin B. , Belova (Kumskova) Elena M. , Grechnikova Maria A. , Viigimaa Margus
Published: May 2015

Background

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of aldehyde modification on antioxidant enzyme activity in diabetic patients.

Methods

The activity of commercially available antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase [GPx], and Cu,Zn‐superoxide dismutase [SOD]) was determined in vitro prior to and after aldehyde modification. The activity of erythrocyte Cu,Zn‐SOD was assayed in blood drawn from healthy donors, diabetic patients with decompensated carbohydrate metabolism, and diabetic patients after glucose‐lowering therapy.

Results

In vitro aldehyde modification had no effect on catalase activity, but diminished GPx and Cu,Zn‐SOD activity. In diabetic patients with decompensated carbohydrate metabolism, glucose‐lowering therapy significantly increased Cu,Zn‐SOD activity, the effect being especially pronounced after administration of metformin.

Conclusions

It is likely that metformin antagonizes the aldehyde‐induced inhibition of erythrocyte Cu,Zn‐SOD in diabetic patients more effectively than sulfonylurea drugs.
Fibromyalgia with chronic rheumatic diseases in South Korea: a comparison of clinical and American College of Rheumatology criteria
Authors: Choi Hyo Jin , Han Jung Yoon , Seo Mi Ryoung , Ryu Hee Jung , Baek Han Joo
Published: May 2015

Aim

To describe the prevalence and characteristics of fibromyalgia (FM) in patients with underlying rheumatic disease, and to compare it by three different measures.

Methods

We studied 546 patients with chronic rheumatic diseases who attended our rheumatology clinic. If patients answered all of a screening questionnaire with yes, then we considered patients to be having widespread pain as assessed by the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), widespread pain index (WPI), and symptom severity (SS). A physician administered the tender point (TP) exam and clinician's judgment of FM. We collected demographics, clinical and laboratory features.

Results

One hundred and sixty‐four (30.0%) patients among 546 cases had a further exam. The male‐to‐female count was 25 : 139. The mean age was 49.7 years, disease duration 3.7 years, TP counts 4.2, FIQ score 47.0 and WPI with SS score was 11.1. We classified 17 patients (10.4%) with concomitant FM with widespread pain by tender point exam, 56 patients (34.2%) by WPI with SS, and 36 patients (22.0%) by a clinician's judgment. A total of 70.6% (n = 12) of those classified as FM by 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria wee categorized as FM by clinician's judgment, while 33.3% by clinician's judgment were classified by 1990 ACR criteria.

Conclusions

We found a 10.4~34.2% prevalence of concomitant FM in the patients with chronic widespread pain. The 1990 ACR criteria were the most restrictive except for SLE. Although The 2010 ACR criteria had a wide spectrum, it can be used for FM diagnosis even in the patient with underlying rheumatic diseases.
Consortium of the ‘bichlorophyllous’ cyanobacterium Prochlorothrix hollandica and chemoheterotrophic partner bacteria: culture and metagenome‐based description
Authors: Velichko Natalia , Chernyaeva Ekaterina , Averina Svetlana , Gavrilova Olga , Lapidus Alla , Pinevich Alexander
Published: May 2015

‘Bacterial consortium’ sensu lato applies to mutualism or syntrophy‐based systems consisting of unrelated bacteria. Consortia of cyanobacteria have been preferentially studied on Anabaena epibioses; non‐photosynthetic satellites of other filamentous or unicellular cyanobacteria were also considered although structure‐functional data are few. At the same time, information about consortia of cyanobacteria which have light‐harvesting antennae distinct from standard phycobilisome was missing. In this study, we characterized first, via a polyphasic approach, the cultivable consortium of Prochlorothrix hollandica CCAP 1490/1 (filamentous cyanobacterium which contains chlorophylls a, b/carotenoid/protein complex in the absence of phycobilisome) and non‐photosynthetic heterotrophic bacteria. The strains of most abundant satellites were isolated and identified. Consortium metagenome reconstructed via 454‐pyro and Illumina sequencing was shown to include, except for P. hollandica, several phylotypes of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The ratio of consortium members was essentially stable irrespective of culture age, and restored after artificially imposed imbalance. The consortium had a complex spatial arrangement as demonstrated by FISH and SEM images of the association, epibiosis, and biofilm type. Preliminary data of metagenome annotation agreed with the hypothesis that satellite bacteria contribute to P. hollandica protection from reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Prescription Errors Before and After Introduction of Electronic Medication Alert System in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Sethuraman Usha , Kannikeswaran Nirupama , Murray Kyle P. , Zidan Marwan A. , Chamberlain James M.
Published: May 2015

Objectives

Prescription errors occur frequently in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs).The effect of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) with electronic medication alert system (EMAS) on these is unknown. The objective was to compare prescription errors rates before and after introduction of CPOE with EMAS in a PED. The hypothesis was that CPOE with EMAS would significantly reduce the rate and severity of prescription errors in the PED.

Methods

A prospective comparison of a sample of outpatient, medication prescriptions 5 months before and after CPOE with EMAS implementation (7,268 before and 7,292 after) was performed. Error types and rates, alert types and significance, and physician response were noted. Medication errors were deemed significant if there was a potential to cause life‐threatening injury, failure of therapy, or an adverse drug effect.

Results

There was a significant reduction in the errors per 100 prescriptions (10.4 before vs. 7.3 after; absolute risk reduction = 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.2 to 4.0). Drug dosing error rates decreased from 8 to 5.4 per 100 (absolute risk reduction = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.8 to 3.4). Alerts were generated for 29.6% of prescriptions, with 45% involving drug dose range checking. The sensitivity of CPOE with EMAS in identifying errors in prescriptions was 45.1% (95% CI = 40.8% to 49.6%), and the specificity was 57% (95% CI = 55.6% to 58.5%). Prescribers modified 20% of the dosing alerts, resulting in the error not reaching the patient. Conversely, 11% of true dosing alerts for medication errors were overridden by the prescribers: 88 (11.3%) resulted in medication errors, and 684 (88.6%) were false‐positive alerts.

Conclusions

A CPOE with EMAS was associated with a decrease in overall prescription errors in our PED. Further system refinements are required to reduce the high false‐positive alert rates.
Effects of Fully Accessible Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Emergency Department
Authors: Redd Vanessa , Levin Scott , Toerper Matthew , Creel Amanda , Peterson Susan
Published: May 2015

Background

The Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center certification requires that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) be available on site, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for evaluation of stroke in emergency department (ED) patients. Increased access to advanced diagnostic imaging has been shown to increase utilization, ED length of stay (LOS), and health care costs. EDs nationwide face decisions to pursue certification and increase MRI access. Understanding changes in utilization and the downstream effects may inform these decisions.

Objectives

The objective was to determine changes in emergency MRI utilization following placement of a 24/7 accessible MRI in the ED and its effects on resource utilization for rule‐out stroke and neurology consult patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study comparing MRI use during the 32 months before and 26 months after MRI acquisition period in the ED of a Level I trauma and stroke center. An interrupted time‐series design was used to account for changes in clinical practice patterns following MRI acquisition. Time‐series plots and segmented regression analyses are presented to compare utilization patterns pre‐ and post‐MRI and to understand potential confounding due to secular trends. Statistical hypothesis testing was used to determine differences in utilization, demographics, and clinical characteristics for cohorts pre‐ and post‐MRI.

Results

MRI utilization in the ED increased 38.4% for rule‐out stroke and 51.4% for neurology consult patients after MRI acquisition. The proportion of rule‐out stroke patients receiving MRI increased from 32.5% pre‐MRI to 45.0% post‐MRI (p < 0.001). The proportion of neurology consult patients increased from 32.6% pre‐MRI to 49.4% post‐MRI (p < 0.001). Considering baseline increases in MRI utilization rates for both cohorts over time, segmented regression models detected more substantial and significant changes in utilization after MRI acquisition for the larger neurology cohort (p < 0.001) compared to the rule‐out stroke cohort (p = 0.095). However, hospital admission rates declined 16.7% for rule‐out stroke patients (68.2% pre, 56.8% post; p < 0.001) and remained constant for neurology patients (56.5% pre, 57.5% post; p = 0.414). Patients who obtained MRI in the ED had increased ED LOS, but decreased hospital LOS (admitted patients), compared to those with no MRI for pre and post cohorts.

Conclusions

Emergency MRI utilization increased substantially after placement of a fully accessible MRI in the ED. Patients receiving emergency MRI had increased ED LOS, decreased admission rates for some patients (rule‐out stroke), and reduced hospital LOS for those admitted. Potential changes in ED patient resource utilization should be considered when determining whether to acquire an MRI for Comprehensive Stroke Center certification.
A comparison of conventional visual and spectrophotometric shade taking by trained and untrained dental students
Authors: Alshiddi IF , Richards LC
Published: May 2015

Background

The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of shade selection using a spectrophotometer with a conventional method using a shade guide for ‘trained’ and ‘untrained’ students.

Methods

The ‘trained’ group were given a presentation and training exercise on colour science and shade selection and the ‘untrained’ group were not given any information or training. Each student matched the shade of maxillary right central incisor for eight test subjects using both methods. Differences in colour (∆E) and value (∆L) between the natural teeth and the shade determined by each method were calculated for both trained and untrained students.

Results

Overall, the spectrophotometric method was more accurate but ‘trained’ students tended to be more accurate in matching shade using the visual method and were significantly better in matching the value visually than when using the spectrophotometer. ‘Untrained’ students matched both the shade and the value more accurately when using the spectrophotometer.

Conclusions

Within the limits of this study, matching the shade of natural teeth using a spectrophotometric device is more accurate than a conventional method using a shade guide. However, knowledge and training on colour science and shade selection significantly affected the results.