bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BioGranat-IG: a network analysis tool to suggest mechanisms of genetic heterogeneity from exome-sequencing data
Authors: Dand Nick , Sprengel Frauke , Ahlers Volker , Schlitt Thomas
Published: January 2013

Motivation: Recent exome-sequencing studies have successfully identified disease-causing sequence variants for several rare monogenic diseases by examining variants common to a group of patients. However, the current data analysis strategies are only insufficiently able to deal with confounding factors such as genetic heterogeneity, incomplete penetrance, individuals lacking data and involvement of several genes.

Results: We introduce BioGranat-IG, an analysis strategy that incorporates the information contained in biological networks to the analysis of exome-sequencing data. To identify genes that may have a disease-causing role, we label all nodes of the network according to the individuals that are carrying a sequence variant and subsequently identify small subnetworks linked to all or most individuals. Using simulated exome-sequencing data, we demonstrate that BioGranat-IG is able to recover the genes responsible for two diseases known to be caused by variants in an underlying complex. We also examine the performance of BioGranat-IG under various conditions likely to be faced by the user, and show that its network-based approach is more powerful than a set-cover-based approach.

Availability: We implemented our methods in Java as BioGranat-IG, a bundle within our BioGranat graph analysis and visualization tool (www.biogranat.org).

Contact: thomas.schlitt@genetics.kcl.ac.uk

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The dusty aftermath of the V1309 Sco binary merger
Authors: Nicholls C. P. , Melis C. , Soszyński I. , Udalski A. , Szymański M. K. , Kubiak M. , Pietrzyński G. , Poleski R. , Ulaczyk K. , Wyrzykowski Ł. , Kozłowski S. , Pietrukowicz P.
Published: January 2013

We present mid-IR photometry and spectra of the merged binary V1309 Sco taken between 18 and 23 months after outburst. Strong mid-IR emission and a solid-state absorption feature indicate the presence of a significant amount of dust in the circumstellar environment. The absence of detectable mid-IR emission before the outburst suggests that this dust was produced in the eruptive merger event.

Model fits to the solid-state absorption feature constrain the constituent species and column density of the dust around V1309 Sco. We find that the absorption feature can be reproduced by large (3 μm) amorphous pyroxene grains at a temperature of 800 K. This grain size, if confirmed with longer wavelength spectroscopy and modelling, would be suggestive of dust processing in the circumstellar environment. The data in hand do not allow us to discriminate between disc or shell configurations for the dusty material.
Causal Inference without Ignorability: Identification with Nonrandom Assignment and Missing Treatment Data
Authors: Mebane Walter R. , Poast Paul
Published: January 2013

How a treatment causes a particular outcome is a focus of inquiry in political science. When treatment data are either nonrandomly assigned or missing, the analyst will often invoke ignorability assumptions: that is, both the treatment and missingness are assumed to be as if randomly assigned, perhaps conditional on a set of observed covariates. But what if these assumptions are wrong? What if the analyst does not know why—or even if—a particular subject received a treatment? Building on Manski, Molinari offers an approach for calculating nonparametric identification bounds for the average treatment effect of a binary treatment under general missingness or nonrandom assignment. To make these bounds substantively more informative, Molinari's technique permits adding monotonicity assumptions (e.g., assuming that treatment effects are weakly positive). Given the potential importance of these assumptions, we develop a new Bayesian method for performing sensitivity analysis regarding them. This sensitivity analysis allows analysts to interpret the assumptions' consequences quantitatively and visually. We apply this method to two problems in political science, highlighting the method's utility for applied research.
Magnetoreception in laboratory mice: sensitivity to extremely low-frequency fields exceeds 33 nT at 30 Hz
Authors: Prato Frank S. , Desjardins-Holmes Dawn , Keenliside Lynn D. , DeMoor Janice M. , Robertson John A. , Thomas Alex W.
Published: January 2013

Magnetoreception in the animal kingdom has focused primarily on behavioural responses to the static geomagnetic field and the slow changes in its magnitude and direction as animals navigate/migrate. There has been relatively little attention given to the possibility that weak extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (wELFMF) may affect animal behaviour. Previously, we showed that changes in nociception under an ambient magnetic field-shielded environment may be a good alternative biological endpoint to orientation measurements for investigations into magnetoreception. Here we show that nociception in mice is altered by a 30 Hz field with a peak amplitude more than 1000 times weaker than the static component of the geomagnetic field. When mice are exposed to an ambient magnetic field-shielded environment 1 h a day for five consecutive days, a strong analgesic (i.e. antinociception) response is induced by day 5. Introduction of a static field with an average magnitude of 44 µT (spatial variability of ±3 µT) marginally affects this response, whereas introduction of a 30 Hz time-varying field as weak as 33 nT has a strong effect, reducing the analgesic effect by 60 per cent. Such sensitivity is surprisingly high. Any purported detection mechanisms being considered will need to explain effects at such wELFMF.
Modal damping in vibrating objects
via
dissipation from dispersed frictional microcracks
Authors: Jana Prasun , Chatterjee Anindya
Published: January 2013

Many materials under multiaxial periodic loading exhibit rate-independent internal dissipation per cycle. Constitutive modelling for such dissipation under spatially variable triaxial stresses is needed for calculating modal damping of solid bodies using computational packages. Towards a micromechanically motivated model for such dissipation, this paper begins with a frictional microcrack in a linearly elastic solid under far-field time-periodic tractions. The material is assumed to contain many such non-interacting microcracks. Single-crack simulations, in two and three dimensions, are conducted using ABAQUS. The net cyclic single-crack dissipation under arbitrary triaxial stresses is found to match, up to one fitted constant, a formula based on a pseudostatic spring-block model. That formula is used to average the energy dissipation from many randomly oriented microcracks using Monte Carlo averaging. A multivariate polynomial is fitted to the Monte Carlo results. The polynomial is used in finite-element simulation of a solid object, wherein modal analysis is followed by computation of the net cyclic energy dissipation via elementwise integration. The net dissipation yields an equivalent modal damping. In summary, starting from a known formula for a single crack, this paper develops and implements a method for computationally modelling the modal damping of arbitrarily shaped solid bodies.
Bees diversified in the age of eudicots
Authors: Cardinal Sophie , Danforth Bryan N.
Published: January 2013

Reliable estimates on the ages of the major bee clades are needed to further understand the evolutionary history of bees and their close association with flowering plants. Divergence times have been estimated for a few groups of bees, but no study has yet provided estimates for all major bee lineages. To date the origin of bees and their major clades, we first perform a phylogenetic analysis of bees including representatives from every extant family, subfamily and almost all tribes, using sequence data from seven genes. We then use this phylogeny to place 14 time calibration points based on information from the fossil record for an uncorrelated relaxed clock divergence time analysis taking into account uncertainties in phylogenetic relationships and the fossil record. We explore the effect of placing a hard upper age bound near the root of the tree and the effect of different topologies on our divergence time estimates. We estimate that crown bees originated approximately 123 Ma (million years ago) (113–132 Ma), concurrently with the origin or diversification of the eudicots, a group comprising 75 per cent of angiosperm species. All of the major bee clades are estimated to have originated during the Middle to Late Cretaceous, which is when angiosperms became the dominant group of land plants.
In vivo and in vitro identification of a hypervariable region in Schmallenberg virus
Authors: Coupeau Damien , Claine François , Wiggers Laetitia , Kirschvink Nathalie , Muylkens Benoît
Published: January 2013

Detected for the first time in 2011, Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an orthobunyavirus of the Simbu serogroup that caused a large outbreak in European ruminants. In a tight time frame, data have been obtained on SBV epidemiology and the clinical pictures associated with this new viral infection, but little information is available on the molecular biology of SBV. In this study, SBV sequence variability was characterized from the central nervous system of two stillborn lambs in a naturally infected herd. A hypervariable region (HVR) was detected in the N-terminal region of the SBV Gc glycoprotein through sequencing and analysis of the two full-length genomes representative of intra-herd SBV dissemination. In vitro growth assays coupled with full-length genome sequencing were performed on the two isolates after successive cellular passages, showing an in vitro adaptation of SBV and mutation accumulation inside the HVR in the absence of immune selective pressure.
HDA18 Affects Cell Fate inArabidopsisRoot Epidermis via Histone Acetylation at Four Kinase Genes
Authors: Liu Cui , Li Lin-Chen , Chen Wen-Qian , Chen Xian , Xu Zhi-Hong , Bai Shu-Nong
Published: January 2013

The differentiation of hair (H) and non-hair (N) cells in the Arabidopsis thaliana root epidermis is dependent on positional relationships with underlying cortical cells. We previously found that histone acetylation relays positional information and that a mutant altered in the histone deacetylase gene family member HISTONE DEACETYLASE 18 (HDA18) exhibits altered H and N epidermal cell patterning. Here, we report that HDA18 has in vitro histone deacetylase activity and that both mutation and overexpression of HDA18 led to cells at the N position having H fate. The HDA18 protein physically interacted with histones related to a specific group of kinase genes, which are demonstrated in this study to be components of a positional information relay system. Both down- and upregulation of HDA18 increased transcription of the targeted kinase genes. Interestingly, the acetylation levels of histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9), histone 3 lysine 14 (H3K14) and histone 3 lysine 18 (H3K18) at the kinase genes were differentially affected by down- or upregulation of HDA18, which explains why the transcription levels of the four HDA18-target kinase genes increased in all lines with altered HDA18 expression. Our results reveal the surprisingly complex mechanism by which HDA18 affects cellular patterning in Arabidopsis root epidermis.
An identification of a model for digital library critical success factors
Authors: Lagzian Fatemeh , Abrizah Abdullah , Chin Wee Mee
Published: January 2013

Purpose

A significant amount of digital repository research and development activity is taking place worldwide, which calls for the investigation of issues identified as critical to the development, management and sustainability of these repositories. The purpose of this paper is to establish a comprehensive set of critical success factors (CSFs) that would enable successful digital libraries implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of this study is exploratory in nature due to lack of previous research about CSFs in digital library projects. The paper builds the research framework to find CSFs for digital libraries initiatives by collecting possible factors from literature on CSFs of information systems; and feedback from ten experts who have had experience in digital library research and development as well as implementation, through e‐mail interviews. Six dimensions in the enterprise architecture framework (namely motivation, resource, people, process, location and time) needed to create the environment in which digital delivery can be effective and sustained, are mapped with the CSF established from the literature.

Findings

The results revealed six dimensions of CSFs and 36 potential success factor statements contributed by the study participants. Based on these findings, this paper postulates that successful deployment of a digital library implementation may depend on this set of success factors. The identification of these factors has important implications on digital library development.

Originality/value

There has been no comprehensive study on the success factors of digital libraries in the library and information science context, as such, no investigation of the factors in some real‐life contexts of digital library activities. It may help digital library start‐ups to understand what sources and services they need to develop to make their applications successful in an already very populated network. Both researchers and practitioners in the field of digital libraries may value the novelty and results of this study.
Evaluation of e‐learning course, Information Literacy, for medical students
Authors: Kratochvíl Jirí
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The main purpose of this article is to describe and to evaluate the results of evaluation of the e‐learning course, Information Literacy, which is taught by the librarians at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University. In the article the results are discussed to inform about the librarians' experience with tutoring the course.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey covers the medical students who enrolled on the course between autumn 2008 and autumn 2010. The students were requested to fill the questionnaire designed in Google Documents and based on the quantitative method, including a five‐point Likert scale combined with closed and open ended questions.

Findings

Results show the medical students are satisfied with the e‐learning course, Information Literacy, because of time and space flexibility, studying at their own pace and online interactive tutorials. More than half the students found the gradual releasing of the study materials and the tasks as the main motivation for continous learning. Most of the students were satisfied with the taught topics like methodology of searching in the databases Web of Science, Scopus and medical databeses, using EndNoteWeb and citation style ISO 690. Most of the tasks like searching in the online databases, working with EndNoteWeb or finding the impact factor of a journal were evaluated as beneficial.

Practical implications

The results have suggested several important revisions to the e‐learning course, Information Literacy. The librarians have decided to create the interactive tutorials explaining the importance of the topics according to the students' needs in the future and writing a scientific paper and remove the parts of tutorials describing the library terminology and catalogues. Besides this decision, two new tasks – verifying online access to the full text of journals and finding signs of plagiarism in a short text – have been added since spring 2011. Finally the librarians will prepare some printed material supporting the course and improve the publicity of their e‐learning course among the teachers who can recommend the course to their students.

Originality/value

The article presents one of the first experiences with the e‐learning course Information Literacy for medical students in the Czech Republic. The results and its discussion can help other librarians who are going to prepare a similar e‐learning course in planning the conception of their course.
Screenness and organizing: sociomaterial practices in mediated worlds
Authors: Styhre Alexander
Published: January 2013

Purpose

In the contemporary society, new digital media play a key role in organizing both companies and the public sector, as well as public transportation systems in metropolitan areas and similar technological macro‐systems. Humans are encountering digital media through the screen but the underlying mechanisms and structure of the screen, their screenness, remain relatively poorly explored in organization theory. Literature on new media, visual studies, and studies of financial trading is used with the aim of presenting a case in favour of a more integrated understanding of the role of screens in organizing, unearthing screens and portraying them not as insignificant elements of a dull infrastructure but as key components in the day‐to‐day organizing of firms and social space.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on secondary literature addressing the role of screens and screenness in everyday organizing.

Findings

Drawing on a study of financial trading, screens are envisaged as the surfaces on which the financial traders' life‐worlds present themselves and are enacted, rendering the abstract flows of capital and innumerable financial transactions meaningful and tangible through the use of certain aesthetics and geometries of representation.

Originality/value

The conceptual paper combines literature from a number of disciplines and theoretical perspectives.
Young people's perspectives on health: empowerment, or risk?
Authors: Spencer Grace
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Research to date has identified young people's perspectives on a number of health‐related topics such as smoking, alcohol, sexual health, physical activity and healthy eating. Whilst this body of research draws important attention towards young people's views on topical health concerns, it arguably remains located within a pre‐defined agenda; thereby marginalising young people's own, and potentially different, frames of reference when discussing health. In light of this omission, the aim of this paper is to examine young people's own understandings of health in line with their own frames of reference.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 55 young people aged 15‐16 years through group discussions, individual interviews and observational data in a school and surrounding community settings. Key themes were analysed for their implications for “emic” conceptualisations of health. Young people's perspectives were further compared with accounts given by professionals.

Findings

Two key themes emerged from young people's accounts: being happy and having fun. Young people's meanings of being happy highlighted the relational components of developing a positive self‐belief, pointing to a number of socially located prerequisites for promoting their health. Discussions of having fun were understood as potentially liberating, resistive and subversive, but which exist in some tension with adults’ discourses of risk and risk‐taking.

Originality/value

Examining young people's accounts points to the possibility of a more positive discourse on health – opening up new opportunities and insights for health promotion informed by concepts of empowerment.
Design and manufacture methods of rapid prototyping wind‐tunnel models based on photopolymer‐resin
Authors: Dang‐guo Yang , Yan Sun , Zheng‐yu Zhang , Chao Wang , Wei‐jun Zhu
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel method to design and manufacture rapid prototyping (RP) lightweight photopolymer‐resin models for wind‐tunnel tests. This method can ensure the structural configuration similarity considering model deformation under aerodynamic loads.

Design/methodology/approach

Photopolymer‐resin based on RP technique was used to fabricate DLR‐F4 models. Testing in a subsonic and transonic wind tunnel was carried out and the test results were compared to analyze performance predictions.

Findings

RP photopolymer‐resin wind‐tunnel models fabricated by the design methods yielded satisfactory aerodynamic performance. The methods can decrease the model's weight and prevent resonance occurrence among the models, wind‐tunnel, and support system, shorten the processing period, and lead to decrease in manufacturing period and cost.

Research limitations/implications

Stiffness shortage of the thin components, such as wing tip, often leads to deformation occurrence under aerodynamic loads in transonic wind‐tunnel tests, which has significant influence on aerodynamic characteristics of the test models. Therefore, model deformation should be taken into account in the design process.

Originality/value

This design and manufacture method, aerodynamic and structural combination design and structural optimization, can obtain RP lightweight photopolymer‐resin wind‐tunnel models for satisfactory aerodynamic performance, which makes RP techniques more practical for manufacturing transonic wind‐tunnel test models, considering deformation induced by aerodynamic forces such as lift force. The methods also present an inexpensive way to test and evaluate preliminary aircraft designs, in both academia and industry.
Effect of the Q‐switch parameters on the sintering behavior of laser micro sintering Cu‐based metal powder using Q‐switched Nd‐YAG laser
Authors: Zhu Haihong , Ke Linda , Lei Wenjuan , Dai Cheng , Chen Baijin
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of the Q‐switching parameters on the sintering behavior of laser micro sintering Cu‐based metal powder, using Q‐switched 1064 nm Nd‐YAG laser.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental study has been performed. Metal powder mixture with Cu and Cu‐P alloy powders has been utilized. Q‐switching duration of 15 μs∼25 μs, rate of 25 kHz∼45 kHz have been used.

Findings

The results show that as the Q‐switching rate and duration increases, the peak laser power decreases and the densification enhances. However, an optimal peak laser power exists and if the peak laser power is too low, the density of the sample is also low. The densification regime of laser micro‐sintering is not only caused by the liquid phase filling the pores, but is also caused by the Cu powder migrating and by coalescence, e.g. including initial stage and intermediate stage of the traditional furnace liquid phase sintering. However, the degree of these stages depends on the peak power and input laser energy.

Originality/value

The effect of the Q‐switching parameters on sintering behavior of laser micro sintering Cu‐based metal powder using Q‐switched 1064 nm Nd‐YAG laser has been obtained. It is found that the densification behavior is Q‐switching parameters dependent, although the average laser power is same. The densification regime of laser micro‐sintering includes initial stage and intermediate stage of the traditional furnace liquid phase sintering, but the degree is Q‐switching parameters dependent.
Exploring boundary attitude
Authors: Bates Peter , Lymbery Mark , Emerson Eric
Published: January 2013

Purpose

There have been increased concerns about disciplinary procedures in relation to adult safeguarding. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the personal “boundary attitude” of workers is a strong component of their response to issues that have a safeguarding dimension.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reports an analysis of questionnaire responses and data generated from interactive training events.

Findings

The data suggest most workers adopt a personal stance or “boundary attitude” that drives their response to many of the diverse circumstances they face at the interface of their professional and personal life.

Research limitations/implications

The particular profession, stage in career development or work environment may affect staff responses and this needs further exploration.

Practical implications

There are implications for how services identify the most effective workers and their least effective colleagues, as well as for staff selection and training. Improving our understanding of boundary attitude will help to protect vulnerable people from abuse whilst supporting them to have a full life.

Social implications

A better understanding of whether staff who maintain rigid boundaries deliver better outcomes than their colleagues who exercise substantial flexibility will help in recruitment, supervision and safeguarding activities.

Originality/value

The paper explores an under‐recognised issue in adult safeguarding, the personal “boundary attitudes” of staff, and their impact on judgements that affect a range of professional decisions they take.
Assessment of competitive tendering methods of procuring educational building projects in Nigeria
Authors: Adedokun O.A. , Ibironke O.T. , Babatunde S.O.
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess educational building projects with a view to determining the level of utilization of competitive tendering methods, factors influencing their choice and predisposition to risk factors, in order to ensure effective construction project delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper assessed the level of utilization of competitive tendering methods, the factors influencing their choice and finally the predisposition of each of the methods to risk factors, adopting survey method which involved primary data, obtained by using multiple‐choice questionnaire administered to the respondents (architects, quantity surveyors, builders, structural engineers, civil engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers).

Findings

It was found that the usage of open competitive tendering methods outweighed selective tendering method of procurement as a result of accountability and price competition involved, which made it predisposed to not only financial risk factors, but also political and logistics factors.

Research limitations/implications

Multiple‐choice questionnaire administered to the respondents (architects, quantity surveyors, builders, structural engineers, civil engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers) was limited to selected institutions in the southwestern zone of Nigeria.

Practical implications

The most widely adopted method (open competitive tendering method) suffers from risk factors such as selective but high premium being placed on financial and logistic risk factors in order to achieve hitch‐free construction project delivery. These measures will help the stakeholders in assessing degrees of project complexity and better manage the potential risks that might be induced to different levels of competitive tendering methods of project procurement in relation to educational building projects.

Originality/value

This empirical investigation provides strong evidence on the procurement of educational building projects in response to due process policy. The findings provided insightful perspectives to define and understand project complexity. For stakeholders, understanding and addressing the complexity help to improve project planning and implementation.
The impact of employee learning on staff motivation in Greek small firms: the employees' perspective
Authors: Panagiotakopoulos Antonios
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to try to understand the main motivational forces, from the employees' point of view, that direct staff behavior in small firms within a country that suffers from a severe financial crisis. The study will identify the main factors affecting staff motivation at a period where the financial rewards are kept to the minimum, with the purpose of helping small firm owners create working environments that stimulate employee performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to explore the impact of various contextual variables on staff motivation, 65 structured personal interviews were conducted with employees working in Greek small firms that showed an interest to participate in the study. The empirical work took place in Greece during September‐December 2011 and the respondents consisted of workers employed in 20 small firms (i.e. firms employing from 5 to 50 workers) of the Greek services sector, as well as the manufacturing industry. The interview questions looked at various factors affecting staff motivation, such as quality of supervision, financial rewards, job design, training and development opportunities, social relations with co‐workers etc. The data analysis involved descriptive, hierarchical coding based on a priori codes identified from previous theory and grounded codes that emerged from new observations.

Findings

The changing nature of the international business environment has placed an increasing emphasis on the importance of effective human resource practices for firm success, including the importance of the “psychological contract” (i.e. the perceptions of the employee and employer of what their mutual informal obligations are towards each other) within the employment relationship.

Originality/value

Human resource management plays a vital role in ensuring the promotion of business success and managing change. This involves paying attention to the “psychological contract” and the establishment of expectations and obligations with all groups of employees within the organization. This paper explores the impact of various contextual variables on staff motivation from the employees' perspective.
The rules of engagement
Authors: by Gareth Bell Interview
Published: January 2013

Purpose

Provides an interview with Jane Sparrow, author of The Culture Builders.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews Sparrow about her research and findings.

Findings

Discusses the five leadership types she discovered.

Practical implications

Offers advice on how to get the best from your work force.

Originality/value

Presents the insight of a leading practitioner in the field of management and employee engagement.
A conceptual framework for hybrid system dynamics and discrete event simulation for healthcare
Authors: Chahal Kirandeep , Eldabi Tillal , Young Terry
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a generic framework for hybrid (integrated deployment of system dynamics and discrete event simulation) simulation which can be applied in the healthcare domain.

Design/methodology/approach

As hybrid simulation in an organisational context is a new topic with limited available data on deployment of hybrid simulation in organisational context, an inductive approach has been applied. On the basis of knowledge induced from literature, a generic conceptual framework for hybrid simulation has been developed. The proposed framework is demonstrated using an explanatory case study comprising an accident and emergency (A&E) department.

Findings

The framework provided detailed guidance for the development of a hybrid model of an A&E case study. Findings of this case study suggest that the hybrid model was more efficient in capturing behavioural impact on operational performances.

Research limitations/implications

The framework is limited to only SD and DES; as agent‐based is another simulation method which is emerging as a promising tool for analysing problems such as spread of infectious diseases in healthcare context, inclusion of this into the framework will enhance the utility of the framework.

Practical implications

This framework will aid in the development of hybrid models capable of comprehending both detail as well as dynamic complexity, which will contribute towards a deeper understanding of the problems, resulting in more effective decision making.

Social implications

It is expected that this research will encourage those engaged in simulation (e.g. researchers, practitioners, decision makers) to realise the potential of cross‐fertilisation of the two simulation paradigms.

Originality/value

Currently, there is no conceptual framework which provides guidance for developing hybrid models. In order to address this gap, this paper contributes by proposing a conceptual framework for hybrid simulation for the healthcare domain.
Framework for detailed workflow analysis and modelling for simulation of multi‐modal image‐guided interventions
Authors: Fernández‐Gutiérrez Fabiola , Barnett Iain , Taylor Bruce , Houston Graeme , Melzer Andreas
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for analysing and modelling detailed workflow of image‐guided interventions to facilitate simulation and the re‐engineering process for the development of new procedures in multi‐modal imaging environments.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology presented includes a literature review on workflow simulation in surgery, focussing on radiology environments, an assessment of simulation tools, a data gathering and management framework and research on methods for conceptual modelling of the processes.

Findings

The literature review reveals that few authors attempted to analyse the phases within image‐guided interventions, and those that did, only did so partially. The framework developed for this work intends to fill the gap found in the survey. It allows the maintenance and management of large amounts of data, one of the most critical factors when modelling detailed workflow. In addition, selecting the appropriate simulation software plays an important role, saving time in later stages of the project.

Originality/value

The framework presented for endovascular interventions can be extended to other types of image‐guided interventions. Moreover, modelling the workflow processes in a modular way facilitates the re‐engineering process when integrating different imaging modalities during the same procedure.
Revisiting the economic effect of export subsidy: an expansion of the traditional analysis
Authors: Sun Zesheng , Wang Shuyun
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to expand the traditional economic effect analysis of export subsidy, which has previously ignored the incentive of export subsidies in terms of competition from re‐importation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper performs a comparative static analysis based on the traditional welfare analysis of export subsidies by introducing different transportation costs and using small country model and large country model, respectively.

Findings

Compared with the traditional analysis, exporting countries that implement export subsidies suffer less welfare loss and induce intra‐industry trade of homogeneous products. Due to export subsidy policy incentives, transportation costs heavily influence trade patterns, trade volumes and welfare. Trade patterns evolve from unidirectional export to intra‐industry trade as transportation costs are reduced, with the main source of welfare loss coming from transportation costs. The distribution of export subsidies is biased when domestic transportation costs are high. Under low domestic transportation costs, inefficient intra‐industry trade would emerge as a result of export subsidy incentive.

Practical implications

The findings could be helpful to understand the impact of export subsidy policy on trade pattern, trade volumes and welfare when considering international and domestic transportation cost.

Originality/value

The paper emphasizes the incentive of export subsidy on re‐importation, and links it with transportation costs, which expand the traditional export subsidy analysis.
International classification of functioning, disability and health and motor neurone disease rehabilitation
Authors: Ng Louisa , Khan Fary
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine if issues relevant to multidisciplinary rehabilitation care from the perspective of the patient and caregiver can be addressed utilising the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework; also to identify gaps in evidence and service provision to optimise clinical care.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants with motor neurone disease (MND) (n=44) and their caregivers (n=37) were recruited from a tertiary MND clinic. Cross‐sectional predominantly qualitative methodology was used to explore the perspectives of MND patients and their caregivers on disability and service gaps. Their disability experience and relevant environmental factors were then mapped onto the ICF framework. Personal factors were described. The impact of MND on caregivers was also described.

Findings

There were significant gaps in MND care. In particular, the need for coordinated care by neurology, rehabilitation and palliative care services (“neuropalliative rehabilitation” model) was highlighted. The ICF framework adequately incorporated patient‐and caregiver‐ reported disability in MND.

Originality/value

This is the first review that the authors can identify, that lays the foundation for development of an ICF “Core set” (expert‐selected ICF categories that should be addressed in multidisciplinary care settings) for MND, which could improve consensus of care and communication amongst treating clinicians.
Lasting behavioural responses of brown bears to experimental encounters with humans
Authors: Ordiz Andrés , Støen Ole‐Gunnar , Sæbø Solve , Sahlén Veronica , Pedersen Bjørn E. , Kindberg Jonas , Swenson Jon E.
Published: January 2013

Some large carnivore populations are increasing in Europe and North America, and minimizing interactions between people and carnivores is a major management task. Analysing the effects of human disturbance on wildlife from a predator–prey perspective is also of conservation interest, because individual behavioural responses to the perceived risk of predation may ultimately influence population distribution and demography.

The Scandinavian brown bear population provides a good model to study the interactions between an expanding large carnivore population, and people who use forests extensively for professional and recreational activities. We experimentally approached 52 GPS‐collared brown bears (293 approaches on foot) from 2006 to 2011, to document the reaction of bears and quantify the effect of disturbance on bear movements.

None of the bears reacted aggressively to the observers. Although the location of the animals was known, bears were usually in quite concealed spots and were physically detected in only 16% of the approaches (seen in 42 approaches; heard in 6). However, the bears altered their daily movement patterns after the approaches. Bears increased movement at night‐time and moved less at daytime, which was most visible in days 1 and 2 after the approaches, altering their foraging and resting routines.

Synthesis and applications. We provide experimental evidence on the effect of human disturbance on a large carnivore. The lack of aggressive reactions to approaching observers reinforces the idea that European brown bears generally avoid people, although bears can respond aggressively if they feel threatened (e.g. when wounded). However, the movement patterns of the bears changed after disturbance. Separating large carnivores and people temporally and spatially is an important goal for conservation and management. Conserving the shrub cover that provides concealment to the carnivores and keeping people away from the most densely vegetated spots in the forests is a way to avoid encounters between carnivores and people, therefore promoting human safety and carnivore conservation.
Single‐cell and population level viral infection dynamics revealed by phageFISH, a method to visualize intracellular and free viruses
Authors: Allers Elke , Moraru Cristina , Duhaime Melissa B. , Beneze Erica , Solonenko Natalie , Barrero‐Canosa Jimena , Amann Rudolf , Sullivan Matthew B.
Published: January 2013

Microbes drive the biogeochemical cycles that fuel planet Earth, and their viruses (phages) alter microbial population structure, genome repertoire, and metabolic capacity. However, our ability to understand and quantify phage–host interactions is technique‐limited. Here, we introduce phageFISH – a markedly improved geneFISH protocol that increases gene detection efficiency from 40% to > 92% and is optimized for detection and visualization of intra‐ and extracellular phage DNA. The application of phageFISH to characterize infection dynamics in a marine podovirus–gammaproteobacterial host model system corroborated classical metrics (qPCR, plaque assay, FVIC, DAPI) and outperformed most of them to reveal new biology. PhageFISH detected both replicating and encapsidated (intracellular and extracellular) phage DNA, while simultaneously identifying and quantifying host cells during all stages of infection. Additionally, phageFISH allowed per‐cell relative measurements of phage DNA, enabling single‐cell documentation of infection status (e.g. early vs late stage infections). Further, it discriminated between two waves of infection, which no other measurement could due to population‐averaged signals. Together, these findings richly characterize the infection dynamics of a novel model phage–host system, and debut phageFISH as a much‐needed tool for studying phage–host interactions in the laboratory, with great promise for environmental surveys and lineage‐specific population ecology of free phages.
Making a Killing (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Gusterson Hugh
Published: January 2013

In this editorial Gusterson critiques anthropologists' writing on US gun culture and suggests a different way of making the case for gun control.
Rich Man, Poor Man, Politician Man: Wealth Effects in a Candidate Biography Survey Experiment
Authors: Campbell Rosie , Cowley Philip
Published: January 2013

Research Highlights and Abstract

We show that voters are sensitive to the relative wealth of election candidates. As candidates' earnings increase, so their popularity declines. Wealth is an especial negative for women, for working class respondents and for Labour and Lib Dem respondents. Conservative respondents are less put off by wealthy candidates, although they draw a sharper distinction between the source of income than others.

This article reports the findings from an Internet survey experiment designed to investigate the British public's reactions to wealthy (or not so wealthy) candidates. We applied two experimental manipulations, one to wealth and the other to occupation. We varied occupation and the amount that the candidates earned each year. We found that voters preferred self-made businessmen to financiers, but that regardless of occupation they reacted negatively to financial success. We discovered heterogeneity in responses, with women, working class and Labour and Lib Dem respondents being especially hostile to increases in income. Conservative respondents were less put off by wealthy candidates, although they drew a sharper distinction between the source of income than did others. The experiments provide support for the identity politics claim that voters want a representative who is ‘like them’; and suggest that political scientists should pay more attention to the representation of wealth and social class.
Updated evidence‐based practice guidelines for the nutritional management of patients receiving radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy
Authors: Isenring Elisabeth , Zabel Rachel , Bannister Melanie , Brown Teresa , Findlay Merran , Kiss Nicole , Loeliger Jenelle , Johnstone Cara , Camilleri Belinda , Davidson Wendy , Hill Jan , Bauer Judy
Published: January 2013

Aims

The aim of this paper was to update the evidence‐based practice guidelines for the nutritional management of patients receiving radiation therapy and broaden the scope to include chemotherapy.

Methods

The following databases were searched using a range of keywords: Cochrane Database, CENTRAL, MEDLINE (via Ebscohost), EMBASE, CINAHL (Ebscohost), Web of Science, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition and PubMed. Relevant papers (n = 47) were reviewed by at least two members of the steering committee and assigned a level of evidence and a quality rating.

Results

There were no new published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of nutrition intervention in radiation therapy. Most statements in the previous radiation therapy guidelines have strong evidence supporting nutrition intervention. There were 12 studies in chemotherapy including five RCTs. While these studies provided strong evidence that simple nutrition intervention improves nutritional outcomes such as dietary intake and weight, they did not find an improvement in quality of life or survival. Several RCTs found no benefits of nutrition support in patients undergoing chemotherapy. None of the RCTs in chemotherapy used medical nutrition therapy (MNT) as the intervention, but rather simple dietary advice and/or supplements.

Conclusions

The evidence to support nutrition intervention in patients receiving radiation therapy remains strong. However, the benefits of nutrition intervention in chemotherapy are less clear. Further studies are required to evaluate the impact of MNT as opposed to simple dietary advice in chemotherapy patients. This update contributes to a move towards comprehensive evidence‐based guidelines for the nutritional management of patients with cancer.
Adherence to a Mediterranean‐style diet can slow the rate of cognitive decline and decrease the risk of dementia: a systematic review
Authors: Opie Rachelle Sara , Ralston Robin A. , Walker Karen Z.
Published: January 2013

Aim

The aim of the present study was to explore the association between a Mediterranean‐style diet and cognitive performance, dementia, Alzheimer's disease and associated mortality in ageing populations.

Methods

A systematic search of Ovid Medline, Embase and Cinahl plus databases for papers published from September 1970.

Results

Ten prospective cohort studies and one cross‐sectional study were included in this review. Higher adherence to a Mediterranean‐style diet was associated with significantly decreased risks for all‐cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer's disease mortality and infarcts detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Adherence to a Mediterranean‐style diet was not, however, consistently associated with tests of cognitive performance and was not associated with the presence of white matter hyper‐intensities in the brain. In four of six studies, subjects in the highest tertile for Mediterranean diet adherence had a 28–48% lower risk for development of dementia or Alzheimer's disease than subjects in the lowest tertile. For subjects with Alzheimer's disease, those in the highest tertile of adherence to a Mediterranean‐style diet had a 73% lower mortality risk than those in the lowest tertile (fully adjusted hazard ratio 0.27, 95% CIs: 0.10–0.69, P for trend = 0.003).

Conclusions

There is strong evidence for the protective role of a Mediterranean‐style diet against cognitive decline and development of Alzheimer's disease. Strategies should now be sought to promote this eating pattern in older Australians. Support for dietitians in implementing this change has potential to reduce the high health‐care costs associated with cognitive decline on ageing.