bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lack of Accuracy of Biomarkers and Physical Examination to Detect Bacterial Infection in Febrile Infants
Authors: Díaz Marta Germán , García Rosa Pavo , Gamero Daniel Blázquez , González-Tomé M. Isabel , Romero Pilar Cedena , Ferrer Milagros Marín , Contreras Jesús Ruiz
Published: March 2015

Objectives

The aim of this study was to analyze the usefulness of physical examination, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), white blood cell (WBC) count, and absolute neutrophils counts (ANCs) for the diagnosis of invasive bacterial infections (IBIs) and potentially serious bacterial infections in infants younger than the age of 3 months presenting with fever without source (FWS) to the emergency department (ED).

Methods

A descriptive retrospective study that includes all infants aged younger than 3 months who presented with FWS to the ED between July 2008 and January 2012. We evaluated diagnostic performance for each test by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio were also calculated.

Results

Three hundred eighteen patients met the inclusion criteria. Eleven bacteremia (3.5%) and 76 urinary tract infections (23.9%) were diagnosed. To detect IBI, the areas under the curve for the different tests were as follows: PCT, 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57–0.96); CRP, 0.54 (95% CI, 0.36–0.73); ANC, 0.53 (95% CI, 0.34–0.71); and WBC, 0.42 (0.24–0.61). To detect potentially serious bacterial infections, the areas under the curve were as follows: PCT, 0.66 (95% CI, 0.59–0.74); CRP, 0.68 (0.60–0.76); ANC, 0.64 (0.56–0.71); and WBC, 0.66 (0.58–0.72).

Conclusions

Procalcitonin is better than CRP, WBC, and ANC to confirm or dismiss the presence of an IBI in infants aged younger than 3 months presenting with FWS to the ED. However, it could not identify almost 30% of infants with IBI. Most patients diagnosed with IBI (10 of 11) presented abnormal values in at least one of the analytical parameters and/or physical appearance. Four of 5 patients with IBI and well appearing presented abnormal results in at least one of the analytical parameters. Therefore, the development of tools combining different tests including the new biomarkers could increase the reliability of the tests for the diagnosis of IBI in these patients.
The architecture of amyloid-like peptide fibrils revealed by X-ray scattering, diffraction and electron microscopy
Authors: Langkilde Annette E. , Morris Kyle L. , Serpell Louise C. , Svergun Dmitri I. , Vestergaard Bente
Published: March 2015

Structural analysis of protein fibrillation is inherently challenging. Given the crucial role of fibrils in amyloid diseases, method advancement is urgently needed. A hybrid modelling approach is presented enabling detailed analysis of a highly ordered and hierarchically organized fibril of the GNNQQNY peptide fragment of a yeast prion protein. Data from small-angle X-ray solution scattering, fibre diffraction and electron microscopy are combined with existing high-resolution X-ray crystallographic structures to investigate the fibrillation process and the hierarchical fibril structure of the peptide fragment. The elongation of these fibrils proceeds without the accumulation of any detectable amount of intermediate oligomeric species, as is otherwise reported for, for example, glucagon, insulin and α-synuclein. Ribbons constituted of linearly arranged protofilaments are formed. An additional hierarchical layer is generatedviathe pairing of ribbons during fibril maturation. Based on the complementary data, a quasi-atomic resolution model of the protofilament peptide arrangement is suggested. The peptide structure appears in a β-sheet arrangement reminiscent of the β-zipper structures evident from high-resolution crystal structures, with specific differences in the relative peptide orientation. The complexity of protein fibrillation and structure emphasizes the need to use multiple complementary methods.
Structure of the adenylation–peptidyl carrier protein didomain of theMicrocystis aeruginosamicrocystin synthetase McyG
Authors: Tan Xiao-Feng , Dai Ya-Nan , Zhou Kang , Jiang Yong-Liang , Ren Yan-Min , Chen Yuxing , Zhou Cong-Zhao
Published: March 2015

Microcystins, which are the most common cause of hepatotoxicity associated with cyanobacterial water blooms, are assembledin vivoon a large multienzyme complexviaa mixed nonribosomal peptide synthetase/polyketide synthetase (NRPS/PKS). The biosynthesis of microcystin inMicrocystis aeruginosaPCC 7806 starts with the enzyme McyG, which contains an adenylation–peptidyl carrier protein (A–PCP) didomain for loading the starter unit to assemble the side chain of an Adda residue. However, the catalytic mechanism remains unclear. Here, the 2.45 Å resolution crystal structure of the McyG A–PCP didomain complexed with the catalytic intermediate L-phenylalanyl-adenylate (L-Phe-AMP) is reported. Each asymmetric unit contains two protein molecules, one of which consists of the A–PCP didomain and the other of which comprises only the A domain. Structural analyses suggest that Val227 is likely to be critical for the selection of hydrophobic substrates. Moreover, two distinct interfaces demonstrating variable crosstalk between the PCP domain and the A domain were observed. A catalytic cycle for the adenylation and peptide transfer of the A–PCP didomain is proposed.
Structural and biophysical characterization of an epitope-specific engineered Fab fragment and complexation with membrane proteins: implications for co-crystallization
Authors: Johnson Jennifer L. , Entzminger Kevin C. , Hyun Jeongmin , Kalyoncu Sibel , Heaner David P. , Morales Ivan A. , Sheppard Aly , Gumbart James C. , Maynard Jennifer A. , Lieberman Raquel L.
Published: March 2015

Crystallization chaperones are attracting increasing interest as a route to crystal growth and structure elucidation of difficult targets such as membrane proteins. While strategies to date have typically employed protein-specific chaperones, a peptide-specific chaperone to crystallize multiple cognate peptide epitope-containing client proteins is envisioned. This would eliminate the target-specific chaperone-production step and streamline the co-crystallization process. Previously, protein engineering and directed evolution were used to generate a single-chain variable (scFv) antibody fragment with affinity for the peptide sequence EYMPME (scFv/EE). This report details the conversion of scFv/EE to an anti-EE Fab format (Fab/EE) followed by its biophysical characterization. The addition of constant chains increased the overall stability and had a negligible impact on the antigen affinity. The 2.0 Å resolution crystal structure of Fab/EE reveals contacts with larger surface areas than those of scFv/EE. Surface plasmon resonance, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and size-exclusion chromatography were used to assess Fab/EE binding to EE-tagged soluble and membrane test proteins: namely, the β-barrel outer membrane protein intimin and α-helical A2a G protein-coupled receptor (A2aR). Molecular-dynamics simulation of the intimin constructs with and without Fab/EE provides insight into the energetic complexities of the co-crystallization approach.
Capture and X-ray diffraction studies of protein microcrystals in a microfluidic trap array
Authors: Lyubimov Artem Y. , Murray Thomas D. , Koehl Antoine , Araci Ismail Emre , Uervirojnangkoorn Monarin , Zeldin Oliver B. , Cohen Aina E. , Soltis S. Michael , Baxter Elizabeth L. , Brewster Aaron S. , Sauter Nicholas K. , Brunger Axel T. , Berger James M.
Published: March 2015

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) promise to enable the collection of interpretable diffraction data from samples that are refractory to data collection at synchrotron sources. At present, however, more efficient sample-delivery methods that minimize the consumption of microcrystalline material are needed to allow the application of XFEL sources to a wide range of challenging structural targets of biological importance. Here, a microfluidic chip is presented in which microcrystals can be captured at fixed, addressable points in a trap array from a small volume (<10 µl) of a pre-existing slurry grown off-chip. The device can be mounted on a standard goniostat for conducting diffraction experiments at room temperature without the need for flash-cooling. Proof-of-principle tests with a model system (hen egg-white lysozyme) demonstrated the high efficiency of the microfluidic approach for crystal harvesting, permitting the collection of sufficient data from only 265 single-crystal still images to permit determination and refinement of the structure of the protein. This work shows that microfluidic capture devices can be readily used to facilitate data collection from protein microcrystals grown in traditional laboratory formats, enabling analysis when cryopreservation is problematic or when only small numbers of crystals are available. Such microfluidic capture devices may also be useful for data collection at synchrotron sources.
Time-lapse anomalous X-ray diffraction shows how Fe2+substrate ions move through ferritin protein nanocages to oxidoreductase sites
Authors: Pozzi Cecilia , Di Pisa Flavio , Lalli Daniela , Rosa Camilla , Theil Elizabeth , Turano Paola , Mangani Stefano
Published: March 2015

Ferritin superfamily protein cages reversibly synthesize internal biominerals, Fe2O3·H2O. Fe2+and O2(or H2O2) substrates bind at oxidoreductase sites in the cage, initiating biomineral synthesis to concentrate iron and prevent potentially toxic reactions products from Fe2+and O2or H2O2chemistry. By freezing ferritin crystals ofRana catesbeianaferritin M (RcMf) at different time intervals after exposure to a ferrous salt, a series of high-resolution anomalous X-ray diffraction data sets were obtained that led to crystal structures that allowed the direct observation of ferrous ions entering, moving along and binding at enzyme sites in the protein cages. The ensemble of crystal structures from both aerobic and anaerobic conditions provides snapshots of the iron substrate bound at different cage locations that vary with time. The observed differential occupation of the two iron sites in the enzyme oxidoreductase centre (with Glu23 and Glu58, and with Glu58, His61 and Glu103 as ligands, respectively) and other iron-binding sites (with Glu53, His54, Glu57, Glu136 and Asp140 as ligands) reflects the approach of the Fe2+substrate and its progression before the enzymatic cycle 2Fe2++ O2→ Fe3+—O—O—Fe3+→ Fe3+—O(H)—Fe3+and turnover. The crystal structures also revealed different Fe2+coordination compounds bound to the ion channels located at the threefold and fourfold symmetry axes of the cage.
Cholesterol oxidase: ultrahigh-resolution crystal structure and multipolar atom model-based analysis
Authors: Zarychta Bartosz , Lyubimov Artem , Ahmed Maqsood , Munshi Parthapratim , Guillot Benoît , Vrielink Alice , Jelsch Christian
Published: March 2015

Examination of protein structure at the subatomic level is required to improve the understanding of enzymatic function. For this purpose, X-ray diffraction data have been collected at 100 K from cholesterol oxidase crystals using synchrotron radiation to an optical resolution of 0.94 Å. After refinement using the spherical atom model, nonmodelled bonding peaks were detected in the Fourier residual electron density on some of the individual bonds. Well defined bond density was observed in the peptide plane after averaging maps on the residues with the lowest thermal motion. The multipolar electron density of the protein–cofactor complex was modelled by transfer of the ELMAM2 charge-density database, and the topology of the intermolecular interactions between the protein and the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor was subsequently investigated. Taking advantage of the high resolution of the structure, the stereochemistry of main-chain bond lengths and of C=O...H—N hydrogen bonds was analyzed with respect to the different secondary-structure elements.
Combination of X-ray crystallography, SAXS and DEER to obtain the structure of the FnIII-3,4 domains of integrin α6β4
Authors: Alonso-García Noelia , García-Rubio Inés , Manso José A. , Buey Rubén M. , Urien Hector , Sonnenberg Arnoud , Jeschke Gunnar , de Pereda José M.
Published: March 2015

Integrin α6β4 is a major component of hemidesmosomes that mediate the stable anchorage of epithelial cells to the underlying basement membrane. Integrin α6β4 has also been implicated in cell proliferation and migration and in carcinoma progression. The third and fourth fibronectin type III domains (FnIII-3,4) of integrin β4 mediate binding to the hemidesmosomal proteins BPAG1e and BPAG2, and participate in signalling. Here, it is demonstrated that X-ray crystallography, small-angle X-ray scattering and double electron–electron resonance (DEER) complement each other to solve the structure of the FnIII-3,4 region. The crystal structures of the individual FnIII-3 and FnIII-4 domains were solved and the relative arrangement of the FnIII domains was elucidated by combining DEER with site-directed spin labelling. Multiple structures of the interdomain linker were modelled by Monte Carlo methods complying with DEER constraints, and the final structures were selected against experimental scattering data. FnIII-3,4 has a compact and cambered flat structure with an evolutionary conserved surface that is likely to correspond to a protein-interaction site. Finally, this hybrid method is of general application for the study of other macromolecules and complexes.
Structural and functional characterization of TesB fromYersinia pestisreveals a unique octameric arrangement of hotdog domains
Authors: Swarbrick C. M. D. , Perugini M. A. , Cowieson N. , Forwood J. K.
Published: March 2015

Acyl-CoA thioesterases catalyse the hydrolysis of the thioester bonds present within a wide range of acyl-CoA substrates, releasing free CoASH and the corresponding fatty-acyl conjugate. The TesB-type thioesterases are members of the TE4 thioesterase family, one of 25 thioesterase enzyme families characterized to date, and contain two fused hotdog domains in both prokaryote and eukaryote homologues. Only two structures have been elucidated within this enzyme family, and much of the current understanding of the TesB thioesterases has been based on theEscherichia colistructure.Yersinia pestis, a highly virulent bacterium, encodes only one TesB-type thioesterase in its genome; here, the structural and functional characterization of this enzyme are reported, revealing unique elements both within the protomer and quaternary arrangements of the hotdog domains which have not been reported previously in any thioesterase family. The quaternary structure, confirmed using a range of structural and biophysical techniques including crystallography, small-angle X-ray scattering, analytical ultracentrifugation and size-exclusion chromatography, exhibits a unique octameric arrangement of hotdog domains. Interestingly, the same biological unit appears to be present in both TesB structures solved to date, and is likely to be a conserved and distinguishing feature of TesB-type thioesterases. Analysis of theY. pestisTesB thioesterase activity revealed a strong preference for octanoyl-CoA and this is supported by structural analysis of the active site. Overall, the results provide novel insights into the structure of TesB thioesterases which are likely to be conserved and distinguishing features of the TE4 thioesterase family.
Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a type II NADH:quinone oxidoreductase from the human pathogenStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Rosário Ana Lúcia , Sena Filipa V. , Batista Ana P. , Oliveira Tânia F. , Athayde Diogo , Pereira Manuela M. , Brito José A. , Archer Margarida
Published: March 2015

In recent years, type II NADH dehydrogenases (NDH-IIs) have emerged as potential drug targets for a wide range of human disease causative agents. In this work, the NDH-II enzyme from the Gram-positive human pathogenStaphylococcus aureuswas recombinantly expressed inEscherichia coli, purified, crystallized and a crystallographic data set was collected at a wavelength of 0.873 Å. The crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space groupP212121, with unit-cell parametersa= 81.8,b= 86.0,c= 269.9 Å, contained four monomers per asymmetric unit and diffracted to a resolution of 3.32 Å. A molecular-replacement solution was obtained and model building and refinement are currently under way.
Crystal structure of (2E)-1-(4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-3-yl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one
Authors: Mangwala Kimpende Peter , Nguyen Ngoc Thanh , Nguyen Minh Thao , Vu Quoc Trung , Van Meervelt Luc
Published: March 2015

In the title compound, C20H17NO5, the dihedral angle between the mean plane of the dihydroquinoline ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.003 Å) and the benzene ring is 1.83 (11)°. The almost planar conformation is a consequence of an intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond and theEconfiguration about the central C=C bond. In the crystal structure, O—H...O hydrogen bonds generate chains of molecules along the [10-1] direction. These chains are linkedviaπ–π interactions [inter-centroid distances are in the range 3.6410 (16)–3.8663 (17) Å].
Crystal structure of (7-chloro-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)methylN,N-dimethylcarbamodithioate
Authors: Kavitha H. D. , Vinduvahini M. , Mahabhaleshwaraiah N. M. , Kotresh O. , Devarajegowda H. C.
Published: March 2015

In the title compound, C13H12Cl N O2S2, the 2H-chromene ring system is almost planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.005 (2) Å. The packing features C—H...S hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions between fused benzene rings of chromene [shortest centroid–centroid distances = 3.6553 (13) and 3.5551 (13) Å].
Crystal structure of (E)-2-[(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)(phenyl)methylidene]-N-phenylhydrazine-1-carboxamide
Authors: Annie C. F. , Sithambaresan M. , Kurup M. R. Prathapachandra
Published: March 2015

The title compound, C21H19N3O3, has anEconformation about the azomethine double bond. The central moiety of the hydrazinecarboxamide moiety [–N—N—C(=O)—N–] has an almost coplanar arrangement [maximum deviation for the C atom = 0.010 (2) Å]. This central moiety is flanked by three aromatic rings and its mean plane makes dihedral angles of 24.7 (1), 72.91 (12) and 34.26 (11) Å, respectively, with the phenolic ring, the phenyl ring attached to the same C atom as the phenolic ring, and the phenylhydrazine ring. The adjacent phenolic and phenyl rings are twisted away from each other to reduce steric hindrance and make a dihedral angle of 80.59 (12)°. The phenolic and phenylhydrazine rings are inclined to one another by 28.89 (11)°. The rigidity of the molecule is increased by an intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond involving the phenolic hydrogen and the azomethine N atom. In the crystal, the carbonyl O atom forms bifurcated hydrogen bonds with the two NH atoms of the hydrazinic group, leading to the formation of chains propagating along [001]. Within the chains there are also C—H...O hydrogen bonds present. The chains are linkedviaC=O...π [3.4316 (18) Å] and parallel slipped π–π interactions, involving inversion-related benzene rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.8850 (14) Å; inter-planar distance = 3.3895 (10) Å; slippage = 1.899 Å], forming sheets lying parallel to (100).
Crystal structure of (E)-N-(3,3-diphenylallylidene)-9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-amine
Authors: Thirumurthy Kannan , Thirunarayanan Ganesamoorthy , Murugavel S.
Published: March 2015

In the title compound, C29H24N2, the C=N bond of the central imine group adopts anEconformation. The dihedral angles between the mean plane of the essentially planar carbazole ring system [r.m.s. deviation = 0.039 (2) Å] and the two phenyl rings of the 3,3-diphenylallylidene unit are 75.9 (1) and 64.6 (1)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...π interactions, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
Crystal structure of ethylN-(1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)carbamate
Authors: Danish Muhammad , Tahir Muhammad Nawaz , Anwar Uzma , Raza Muhammad Asam
Published: March 2015

In the title compound, C14H17N3O3, the dihedral angle between the benzene ring and the five-membered dihydropyrazole ring is 52.26 (9)°. The ethyl ester group is approximately planar (r.m.s. deviation 0.0568 Å) and subtends an angle 67.73 (8)° to the pyrazole ring. In the crystal, molecules are linked by pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers with anR22(10) ring motif. Weaker C—H...O contacts link these dimers into a three-dimensional network of molecules stacked along thea-axis direction. Offset π–π stacking interactions between the benzene rings [centroid-to-centroid distance = 3.8832 (12) Å] further stabilize the crystal packing.
Bangkok beer & beverages: in pursuit of growth
Authors: Racela Olimpia C.
Published: March 2015

Title

Bangkok beer & beverages: in pursuit of growth.

Subject area

Entrepreneurship, Strategic management, Importer/Distributor, Marketing, Environmental forces, Wine, Thailand.

Study level/applicability

Senior undergraduate or graduate MBA students taking a course in entrepreneurship, strategic management, marketing or small business management.

Case overview

Bangkok Beer & Beverages (BB&B) Company is an importer, distributor and marketer of premium spirits and wines in Thailand. The case takes place in April 2007, after the public announcement of BB&B's distribution agreement with Fosters Group of Australia to distribute the Group's Penfolds brand throughout Thailand. Coinciding with this milestone of BB&B is the rising interest in wine and the announcement by the Thailand Government to impose stricter regulations for the distribution and promotion of alcoholic beverages to curb consumption in response to demands made by several public interest groups. Within this backdrop, Pongchalerm Chalermsaphayakorn, co-founder and CEO of BB&B, was working with a team to consider future opportunities to pursue for sustainable long-term growth.

Expected learning outcomes

This case problem can be used to increase students' understanding of: how an entrepreneurial firm attempts to build/develop organizational capability; how decision-makers should assess the impact of, and respond to, the threat of significant and uncontrollable changes to the business macroenvironment; a firm's market position and the identification of strategic groups in an industry; and evaluating different growth opportunities and the implications on a firm's mission.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
The assortativity of scholars at a research-intensive university in Malaysia
Authors: Kumar Sameer , Jan Jariah Mohd.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to provide quantitative indicators of intra-university assortative mixing patterns of scholars based on five parameters: degree of connections, faculty, professional position, gender and race.

Design/methodology/approach

– We conducted a case study of business and management scholars of University of Malaya, a research-intensive University in Malaysia, using co-authorship in papers indexed in the Digital Library Indexing System, Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) database of Web of Science, from 2006 to 2010. Background information of scholars was extracted from bibliometric records, online curriculum vitaes and other online sources. Assortativity coefficients were calculated for all parameters.

Findings

– The study found a degree assortativity coefficient of 0.195, which corresponds with other studies in the literature. Assortativity due to university faculty was strongly assortative at 0.649, whereas gender (0.28) and race (0.16) were weakly assortative. However, in contrast to the common belief that “similarity breeds connection”, the scholars were highly disassortative by professional position (−0.75).

Practical implications

– This study holds significance to policymakers in understanding the socio-academic factors that bring scholars together. It also adds to the body of knowledge in social network studies that are examining the various factors responsible in bringing the actors together.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first studies that empirically investigated mixing patterns of researchers at a prominent research-intensive university in Malaysia.
Web challenges faced by blind and vision impaired users in libraries of Delhi
Authors: Kumar Shailendra , Sanaman Gareema
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the challenges faced by blind/vision-impaired users during the web access in the leading academic and special libraries of Delhi, India.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey methodology has been used as the basic research tool for data collection with the help of questionnaire. A total of 125 users surveyed in all the five libraries are selected randomly on the basis of willingness of the users to participate in the survey with the experience of working in digital environment. The survey results were tabulated and analysed with descriptive statistics methods using Excel software and “Stata version 11”.

Findings

– There are various barriers faced by blind/vision-impaired users in the libraries of Delhi (India) during the “web access” with the help of assistive technologies as assistive technology like “Screen Readers” available today are “somewhat compatible” with the web. The facility of “web-based catalogue” is generally lacking in Delhi libraries.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper does not offer a comprehensive set of web accessibility issues, concentrating instead on the most common problems as epitome of this study.

Practical implications

– The paper raises awareness of web accessibility issues in libraries of Delhi, India.

Originality/value

– The paper highlights the web accessibility issues faced by blind/vision-impaired users of leading academic and special libraries of India including the users’ recommendations for the accessible web page/website design for the first time.
Implementing a resource list management system in an academic library
Authors: Cross Richard
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review the key components of the introduction of a new resource list management system (RLMS) at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) using the Aspire application from Talis Education. It explains the key service goals; the implementation milestones; the main technical challenges which needed to be addressed; and the dynamic relationship between the rollout of the RLMS and existing selection, acquisition and resource delivery processes.

Design/methodology/approach

– This evidence in this paper is drawn from the experiences of the NTU RLMS project group, which involved colleagues from Libraries and Learning Resources, Information Systems and the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) teams at the university. It draws on both qualitative evaluations and quantitative assessments of adoption and use by academics, students and library staff; and the internal mechanisms of project review.

Findings

– This paper concludes that the successful technical implementation of a cloud-based mission-critical service for academics and students depends on a successful collaboration between library, VLE and technical teams; and reaffirms that a hosted RLMS service still requires the deployment of local technical expertise. It is essential (although not always straightforward) to try to anticipate the impact that the introduction of a new RLMS will have on existing processes (inside the library and without). Ultimately, however, the successful implementation of an RLMS is dependent on securing its adoption by both academics and students; not least by ensuring that the application meets their needs. Although it is not a technical prerequisite, the prospect of a successful implementation of an RLMS is greatly improved when working with the grain of a supportive institutional policy environment.

Originality/value

– Interest in “next-generation” resource list systems which can address the needs of students, academics and library services is likely to increase sharply in the next few years, as library services seek to align both resource spend and resource discovery more closely than ever with the student experience around “directed reading”. The experiences of an “early adopter” implementer of an RLMS highlight some of the key prerequisites and significant operational decisions, and provide a number of insights for those about to embark on a similar implementation process.
The factors and criteria for prioritization of GIS utilization by libraries
Authors: Pournaghi Roya , Babalhavaeji Fahimeh
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to identify the impressive factors on choosing the type of the libraries and information centers and determining their significance and prioritizing them and finally determining the priority of each type according to the identified factors to implement geographic information system (GIS) in the library researches.

Design/methodology/approach

– A combination of documentary, Delphi and analytic methods was used in the current study. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the topic in mind, different dimensions of the issue were firstly identified through reviewing the research literature. Then, the Delphi panel was formed and the factors and indices for choosing and prioritizing the libraries were extracted and finally the analytic-hierarchy and Topsis method was used for analyzing and ranking the data which were collected through a questionnaire. In this way, the instrument was devised by the researcher and the population under the study consisted of the professors in two fields of LIS and the GIS. The criteria include the “access to the library”, “being active”, “the number of sources”, “the size and space of the place”, “the library equipment”, “compatibility” each one include eight, seven, five, five, two and five factors, respectively.

Findings

– In the Delphi study, six factors including 32 indices were determined for prioritizing the libraries to implement the GIS in the library researches. The analytic-hierarchy method was applied to compare the factors correspondingly in terms of the degree of their significance. In this way, “access to the library sources”, “being active”, “the number of sources”, “the size and space of the place”, “the library equipment” and “compatibility” were identified as the factors on choosing the library type with the values of 0.39, 0.24, 0.16, 0.08, 0.07 and 0.06, respectively. Then, several types of the libraries were ranked and the findings show that academic libraries are prioritized as the first one for conducting the GIS projects.

Originality/value

– Employing the factors resulted from the conducted researches is recommended for choosing the libraries to implement the GIS, so that the researches in this interdisciplinary field become more organized. To extend the current study, the extracted factors and indices can be sent to the professors of the LIS from the other countries to elicit their insights and thereby, designing a standard international checklist for choosing the libraries and information centers in the GIS projects.
An exploratory study on factors affecting the adoption of cloud computing by information professionals
Authors: Aharony Noa
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study explores what factors may influence information professionals to adopt new technologies, such as cloud computing in their organizations. The objectives of this study are as follows: to what extent does the technology acceptance model (TAM) explain information professionals intentions towards cloud computing, and to what extent do personal characteristics, such as cognitive appraisal and openness to experience, explain information professionals intentions to use cloud computing.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was conducted in Israel during the second semester of the 2013 academic year and encompassed two groups of information professionals: librarians and information specialists. Researchers used seven questionnaires to gather the following data: personal details, computer competence, attitudes to cloud computing, behavioural intention, openness to experience, cognitive appraisal and self-efficacy.

Findings

– The current study found that the behavioural intention to use cloud computing was impacted by several of the TAM variables, personal characteristics and computer competence.

Originality/value

– The study expands the scope of research about the TAM by applying it to information professionals and cloud computing and highlights the importance of individual traits, such as cognitive appraisal, personal innovativeness, openness to experience and computer competence when considering technology acceptance. Further, the current study proposes that if directors of information organizations assume that novel technologies may improve their organizations’ functioning, they should be familiar with both the TAM and the issue of individual differences. These factors may help them choose the most appropriate workers.
Exploration of usage behavioral model construction for university library electronic resources
Authors: Chang Sung-Shan , Lou Shi-Jer , Cheng Shuenn-Ren , Lin Chin-Lang
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The primary purpose of this paper is to integrate unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and website service quality, compiling it into a usage behavioural model for university library electronic resources.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using structural equation model technology to verify model fit. Questionnaire surveys are the main research methodology in this study, in which fourth-year university students and second-year Master’s students in six Taiwan public and private universities are the research population. This study uses a cluster sampling, releasing 1,206 questionnaires, and retrieves 1,089 valid questionnaires, for a valid retrieval rate of 90.3 per cent.

Findings

– The conclusions are: this study has good fit in the model, and is applicable for the UTAUT; the pairs of variables are correlated; public or private and school type have partial significant mediating effect; website service quality has a significant positive influence on behavioural intention; performance expectancy and social influence both positively affect behavioural intention; facilitating conditions positively affect use behaviour.

Originality/value

– Empirical research results and suggestions are provided for the relevant departments for practice and future academic research.
Outdoor learning contra indoor learning
Authors: Mellvig Susanne , Nilsson Anders
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– In the Swedish biology curriculum for upper secondary school, it is stated that teaching in ecology should include field studies. The purpose of this study was to answer whether students increased their understanding in ecology after they had participated in a field trip, compared to traditional classroom teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

– The students’ (n=64) prior knowledge of ecology was measured by questionnaires. One group of students (G1) was then exposed to a theoretical teaching strategy. A second group (G2) was directly exposed to a field study. When the groups had been exposed to the same central concepts, the knowledge of ecosystem concepts were again tested by questionnaires. In a second learning cycle, we exposed group one to outdoor ecology teaching and group two to traditional theoretical teaching. A pretest was performed, followed by the educational settings. After this second learning cycle, a second test was administered and the results were evaluated.

Findings

– When our results were evaluated, no difference between traditional classroom teaching and outdoor teaching could be found. In our opinion well motivated students in general – i.e. the students included in this study – could be, to a lesser degree, motivated by changes in the learning context.

Originality/value

– The method we used enabled us to study progress and achievement, this can also be easily applied to the Swedish natural science curriculum. Although our results didn’t show any differences between indoor and outdoor learning, we feel encouraged to use this method to further explore potential benefits from outdoor learning.
Trade performance and revealed comparative advantage of Indian pharmaceutical industry in new IPR regime
Authors: Mahajan Varun , Nauriyal D.K. , Singh S P.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the trade performance, revealed comparative advantage and trade specialisation indices of Indian pharmaceutical in the post-modified Indian Patent Act.

Design/methodology/approach

– The main data sources for this paper are United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, PROWESS of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, Government of India reports and Reserve Bank of India databases. Revealed comparative advantage index (RCAI) and trade specialisation coefficient (TSC) have been calculated in the study.

Findings

– India is ranked third in regard of TCS, far behind Ireland and Israel. While Ireland has moved up the value chain faster after 1995, Israel has moved up swiftly after 2000 through global production network and supply chain. The Indian pharmaceutical industry, on the other hand, has largely capitalised on its low-cost production of generic drugs and a large domestic market. The RCAI also supports the results of TSC. India is positioned at 11th place, far behind Ireland, which stands tall at the top with distantly followed by Israel, Switzerland, Belgium, the UK, etc.

Practical implications

– The study shows the policy implications for future sustainable development of the industry as the new IPR regime has given opportunities as well as threats to both domestic pharmaceutical companies as well as the multinational corporations. The Indian pharmaceutical industry can be a good learning experience for other developing countries hopeful to enter the global market for generic drugs.

Originality/value

– There are no major studies providing detailed analyses of India’s comparative advantage vis-à-vis other leading exporters of pharmaceutical products in the world. This study endeavours to fill this gap. It also attempts to capture recent trends in exports and imports during the global recession period.
Escape of spring frost and disease through phenological variations in oak populations along elevation gradients
Authors: Dantec Cécile Françoise , Ducasse Hugo , Capdevielle Xavier , Fabreguettes Olivier , Delzon Sylvain , Desprez‐Loustau Marie‐Laure
Published: March 2015

The timing of tree flushing follows strong phenotypic and genetic clines across environmental gradients. It may be seen as an adaptive response to abiotic (escape of spring frost and maximizing growing season length) and biotic (escape of pest and disease) hazards. However, few studies have investigated jointly both types of hazards.

We assessed exposure to both abiotic (spring frost) and biotic (powdery mildew) hazards within and between sessile oak populations along elevation gradients, during the flushing period in several years. For each population and phenological phenotype (early‐ vs. late‐flushing trees), we estimated safety margins, defined as the time period separating budburst from the hazard occurrence (spore emission, spring frost).

We observed that powdery mildew phenology (initiation of spore release in spring) was less responsive to the elevation gradient than oak phenology (budburst) and that it was not correlated with tree phenology within populations. The spring frost and disease safety margins varied considerably between oak populations as a function of elevation and within populations in relation to tree phenological phenotype. For both hazards, safety margins decreased significantly with increasing elevation. The safety margin for spring frost was mostly positive (i.e. escape), whereas the safety margin for powdery mildew was mostly negative (i.e. exposure), leading to infection. The abiotic and biotic hazards interact in opposite directions with phenology, especially at low elevations (< 500 m) where early flushing enabled trees to escape disease while late flushing provided a higher safety margin against late frost.

Synthesis. The observed patterns suggest that oak populations are better adapted to escape spring frost than pathogen exposure all along the elevation gradient. The combination of the biotic and abiotic selective pressures may have contributed to the maintenance of phenological diversity within low‐elevation tree populations. As tree and pathogen respond differently to environmental cues, climate change is likely to affect the phenological (a)synchrony between host and parasite, both within and between populations.
Interventionism by Design or Failure: The Coalition and Humanitarian Intervention
Authors: Oliver Timothy J.
Published: March 2015

The Coalition took office in 2010 in what seemed to be a relatively benign foreign policy environment. Since then, the international environment has become far more treacherous and the government has considered war on humanitarian grounds on three occasions. In light of the silence of early Coalition documents on humanitarian intervention, together with the two parties’ different positions on the issue, this article assesses the extent to which the Coalition has adopted a distinctive approach to humanitarian intervention. In so doing, it evaluates the relative importance of Conservative and Liberal Democrat traditions in determining the direction of Coalition foreign policy. The article also considers whether there are other, more pertinent factors driving foreign policy, and offers an explanation for its relative isolation from coalition tensions. It concludes by reflecting on the likely future of humanitarian intervention after the May 2015 general election.
The Liberal Democrats and the Coalition: Driven to the Edge of Europe
Authors: Goes Eunice
Published: March 2015

When the Liberal Democrats joined the Coalition government in May 2010, there was an expectation that they would have a restraining effect on the Conservatives, particularly in the area of European politics. But after almost five years as the junior party in the Coalition, the Liberal Democrats struggle to demonstrate their influence over the government's approach to Europe. Not only did they let the Conservatives lead the Coalition's European agenda, but they will be forever associated with the government that brought the UK closer to the exit door of the European Union. The article argues that this outcome is the result of a series of avoidable if surprising mistakes, such as the choice of ministerial portfolios and the party's attitude to the Coalition's monitoring mechanisms, as well as some unavoidable mistakes that could have not been foreseen when the Coalition was formed.
What Types of Australian Households are in Housing Affordability Stress?
Authors: Borrowman Luc , Kazakevitch Gennadi , Frost Lionel
Published: March 2015

A residual stress measure, based on the level of disposable income after housing costs have been met, which is then compared to a poverty line or budget standard. The measure is adaptable to different household types Using survey data for 2000‐10, the residual measure and ‘after housing’ budget standards, we develop an Ordered Probit model to identify the specific factors that predict financial stress, housing stress. Contribute to more effective housing policy and may inform decisions on housing policies that specifically target the type of households that are most vulnerable to housing stress. Types of Australian Households are in Housing Affordability Stress.
Humanitarian obstetric care for refugees of the Syrian war. The first 6 months of experience of Gynécologie Sans Frontières in Zaatari Refugee Camp (Jordan)
Authors: Bouchghoul Hanane , Hornez Emmanuel , Duval‐Arnould Xavier , Philippe Henri‐Jean , Nizard Jacky
Published: March 2015

Objective

To report the first 6 months of experience of a nongovernmental‐organization‐managed obstetric care unit in a war refugee camp, with problems encountered and solutions implemented.

Design

Prospective observational study of the maternity activity of Gynécologie Sans Frontières (GSF).

Setting

GSF's maternity unit, in Zaatari camp (Jordan).

Population

All pregnant women among Syrian refugees who came to the unit for delivery.

Methods

The GSF's maternity unit is a light structure built with three tents, permitting low‐risk pregnancy care and childbirth. Emergency cesarean deliveries were performed in the Moroccan army field hospital. High‐risk pregnancies were transferred to Al Mafraq or Amman Hospital (Jordan) after assessment.

Main outcome measures

Delivery characteristics, indications for referral.

Results

From September 2012 to February 2013, 371 women attended the unit and 299 delivered in it. Delivery rates increased from 5/month to 112/month over the period. Mean gestational age at birth was 39+3 gestational weeks (SD = 1.9). Median birthweight was 3100 g (25–75% interquartile range 2840–3430 g). Spontaneous vaginal deliveries were dominant and the major maternal complication was postpartum hemorrhage (n = 13). Eighty‐two women were referred to Al Mafraq or Amman hospitals, mainly for preterm labor (32%) and congenital malformations (11%). We managed one case of stillbirth. Maternal mortality did not occur.

Conclusions

Despite the difficulties of war, high‐risk pregnant women were properly identified, permitting referrals when required. Cooperation with other nongovernmental organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, was essential for the management of situations at risk of complications and to contain perinatal and maternal mortality.
The Nuclear Factor kappaB Inhibitor Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate Prevents Cardiac Remodelling and Matrix Metalloproteinase‐2 Up‐Regulation in Renovascular Hypertension
Authors: Cau Stefany B. A. , Guimaraes Danielle A. , Rizzi Elen , Ceron Carla S. , Gerlach Raquel F. , Tanus‐Santos Jose E.
Published: March 2015

Imbalanced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity is involved in hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy. Pharmacological inhibition of nuclear factor kappaB (NF‐кB) with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) can prevent MMP up‐regulation. We suggested that treatment with PDTC could prevent 2‐kidney, 1‐clip (2K1C) hypertension‐induced left ventricular remodelling. Sham‐operated controls or 2K1C rats with hypertension received either vehicle or PDTC (100 mg/kg/day) by gavage for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure was monitored every week. Histological assessment of left ventricles was carried out with haematoxylin/eosin sections, and fibrosis was quantified in picrosirius red‐stained sections. Oxidative stress was evaluated in heart samples with the dihydroethidium probe. Cardiac MMP activity was determined by in situ zymography, and cardiac MMP‐2 was assessed by immunofluorescence. 2K1C surgery significantly increased systolic blood pressure in the 2K1C vehicle. PDTC exerted antihypertensive effects after 2 weeks of treatment. Histology revealed increased left ventricular and septum wall thickness associated with augmented myocyte diameter in hypertensive rats, which were reversed by treatment with PDTC. Hypertensive rats developed pronounced cardiac fibrosis with increased interstitial collagen area, increased cardiac reactive oxygen species levels, gelatinase activity and MMP‐2 expression. PDTC treatment decreased these alterations. These findings show that PDTC modulates myocardial MMP‐2 expression and ameliorates cardiac remodelling in renovascular hypertension. These results suggest that interfering with MMP expression at transcriptional level may be an interesting strategy in the therapy of organ damage associated with hypertension.