bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Marketing Dilemma
Authors: Baker Michael J.
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore the ongoing and continuing debate regarding the role of marketing in an organisation – profit or not‐for‐profit, public or private – in a climate where the disciplines’ contribution is seen as decreasing in importance.

Design/methodology/approach

An eclectic but well‐informed summary of some of the key issues involved based on extensive experience as practitioner, consultant, and academic researcher.

Findings

Too much emphasis is given to the “Tip of the Marketing Iceberg – advertising/promotion/public relations – and what marketers ‘do’ to customers with insufficient consideration of its strategic role as the interface between an organisation and its customers that creates ‘mutually satisfying exchange relationships (Baker, 1976).’” In other words marketing is, or should be, a force for good and, because of its understanding of consumption and human behaviour, has the potential to make a major transformational contribution to achieving the goals of social business, including sustainability, environmental protection and enhanced human welfare.

Originality/value

Too many marketers, academics and practitioners alike, are so closely involved with specific problems and issues that they cannot see the wood for the trees and reflect on the real challenges faced by the marketing profession as a whole. It is argued that we all need to move away from the prevailing marketing management school of thought and “promotional” marketing and concentrate instead on the fundamental issues of improving welfare through the adoption of transformational marketing and an emphasis on social business.
Capacity building to advance entrepreneurship education
Authors: Wai Mui Yu Christina
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The Teen Entrepreneurship Competition (TEC) was an annual inter‐school competition that aimed to promote entrepreneurship education (EE) in Hong Kong (HK) secondary schools. This paper aims to: review and evaluate the implementation of the TEC over the years from 2003‐2010, and use the TEC as a case to demonstrate how EE can be advanced through capacity building in various ways and levels.

Design/methodology/approach

There were two key milestone phases for the TEC. This paper will describe and discuss the achievements made in Phase I and the capacity building for advancing the TEC in Phase II in details. Then, a critical analysis of capacity building for advancing TEC in Phase II will be made with a careful consideration of the TEC's design rationales, the research findings in Phase I and the three inter‐related levels of capacity building. Finally, suggestions will be recommended for further strengthening EE in schools.

Findings

The sustainability and advancement of the TEC are closely related to: advancing “Character Building” at the individual level, advancing “Partnership Building” at the institutional level, and advancing “Social Responsibility” at the societal level. However, the TEC might still overlook an alignment with the existing curriculum development. A further capacity building of course development and policy making should be sought.

Originality/values

This is a precious illustrative case study for the purpose of sharing useful information and genuine experience with those who are interested in promoting teen EE in schools.
An exploratory study of factors affecting undergraduate employability
Authors: Finch David J. , Hamilton Leah K. , Baldwin Riley , Zehner Mark
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The current study was conducted to increase our understanding of factors that influence the employability of university graduates. Through the use of both qualitative and quantitative approaches, the paper explores the relative importance of 17 factors that influence new graduate employability.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive review of the existing literature was used to identify 17 factors that affect new graduate employability. A two‐phase, mixed‐methods study was conducted to examine: Phase One, whether these 17 factors could be combined into five categories; and Phase Two, the relative importance that employers place on these factors. Phase One involved interviewing 30 employers, and Phase Two consisted of an empirical examination with an additional 115 employers.

Findings

Results from both the qualitative and quantitative phases of the current study demonstrated that 17 employability factors can be clustered into five higher‐order composite categories. In addition, findings illustrate that, when hiring new graduates, employers place the highest importance on soft‐skills and the lowest importance on academic reputation.

Research limitations/implications

The sectors in which employers operated were not completely representative of their geographical region.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that, in order to increase new graduates’ employability, university programmes and courses should focus on learning outcomes linked to the development of soft‐skills. In addition, when applying for jobs, university graduates should highlight their soft‐skills and problem‐solving skills.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the employability of university graduates by empirically examining the relative importance of five categories of employability factors that recruiters evaluate when selecting new graduates.
Mass personalization in healthcare: insights and future research directions
Authors: Chaudhuri Atanu , Lillrank Paul
Published: September 2013

Purpose

Purpose of this paper is to identify capabilities required for healthcare service providers to provide mass personalized services and to provide directions to conduct empirical studies to understand the phenomenon of mass personalization in Indian healthcare industry.

Methodology/approach

The research is conducted by undertaking a literature review followed by field visits and interviews conducted at a leading healthcare service provider in India.

Findings

There is limited empirical research on understanding the mass personalization capabilities in healthcare setting and empirical validation of the sand cone model and theory of competitive progression in the context of healthcare. Our interviews and field visits to Narayana Hrudayalaya (NH) indicate that it is attempting to provide personalized services to a large number and variety of patients. By doing so, it is expected to improve on both resource and flow efficiencies at the same time and hence break the trade‐offs between those. Literature review coupled with field visits and interviews help us in identifying key research questions related to mass personalization of healthcare in Indian healthcare industry.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first attempts to understand this trade‐off between resource and flow efficiency in the context of the Indian healthcare industry and to identify areas for future research. The unique characteristics of the Indian healthcare industry provide the ideal research setting to study this phenomenon. Literature review and our exploratory study have helped us in providing directions for future research in this unexplored area.
Improving salespeople's trust in the organization, moral judgment and performance through transformational leadership
Authors: Schwepker Charles H. , Good David J.
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine if transformational leadership has an effect on business‐to‐business salespeople's trust in the organization, whether trust in the organization affects moral judgment and if moral judgment in turn affects salesperson performance, specifically “world‐class” sales performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the utilization of a national survey of 345 business‐to‐business salespeople, this study explored linkages between transformational leadership, trust in the organization, moral judgment and world class sales performance using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results suggest that transformational leadership can be used to influence sales performance through trust in the organization and salesperson moral judgment.

Originality/value

The paper furthers the understanding of transformational leadership and its impact on salespeople. The interaction of three variables (transformational leadership, trust in the organization, and the moral judgment of the salesperson) and their ability to relate to world class sales performance provide an interesting strategic guide for sales organizations, as well as a meaningful set of managerial tools that can assist in constructing a performance driven sales organization. These constructs have not been simultaneously investigated prior to this research.
Gun violence prevention practices among local police in the United States
Authors: Koper Christopher S. , Woods Daniel J. , Kubu Bruce E.
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to examine gun violence prevention practices among urban police in the USA, assessing their scope, effectiveness, limitations, and impacts.

Design/methodology/approach

A national survey was conducted with police agencies serving cities of 100,000 or more people.

Findings

Strategies used most frequently and rated as most effective include targeted efforts focussed on high‐risk places and groups, as well as multi‐agency problem‐solving efforts, particularly those involving federal authorities. However, most agencies make limited use of proactive strategies to reduce gun crime, and there are substantial gaps in the enforcement of many gun laws. Results also suggest that gun crime is lower in places where police engage in more intensive gun‐related enforcement and prevention efforts.

Research limitations/implications

The survey focussed only on large US cities. Implementation of the strategies could not be examined in detail, and assessments of the effectiveness of strategies reflect the views of practitioners. There is a need for more in‐depth research on gun‐related enforcement and prevention practices, their effectiveness, and the organizational and environmental factors that facilitate or hinder them.

Practical implications

The study highlights strategies that should be given priority consideration in policy decisions. The findings also suggest that police efforts to address gun crime can be enhanced considerably – and that doing so may produce demonstrable reductions in gun crime. Further examination of policy changes necessary to facilitate these efforts is warranted.

Originality/value

This study represents the first national survey of gun violence reduction efforts by police in the USA.
Study of Residual Basin and Tectonolayering Based on Airborne Gravity and Magnetic Data
Authors: Wenyong LI , Jianxin ZHOU , Shengqing XIONG , Yanxu LIU , Jianchun XU
Published: September 2013

This paper takes the South Yellow Sea as an example to show a new method for comprehensive geological‐geophysical research such as residual basin and tectonolayering using airborne gravity and magnetic data in China. Based on airborne gravity and magnetic data, by measuring and analyzing stratigraphic density and susceptibility, the depths to the pre‐Sinian magnetic basement top, the pre‐Jurassic top and the Cenozoic bottom, are obtained by forward and inverse methods constrained by seismic and drilling data; and furthermore, the residual thicknesses of the Sinian–Triassic, the Jurassic–Cretaceous and the Cenozoic are calculated. Based on airborne gravity and magnetic anomalies, the faults in the pre‐Sinian magnetic basement, the Jurassic‐Cretaceous and the Cenozoic are respectively interpreted by the qualitative and quantitative methods. On the basis of the above study, and combining regional important tectonic events, four tectonolayers are divided in the vertical succession in South Yellow Sea, namely the pre‐Sinian magnetic basement, the Sinian‐Triassic, the Jurassic‐Cretaceous and the Cenozoic. The result shows that there are thick Cenozoic and Jurassic‐Cretaceous strata and thin residual Sinian‐Triassic strata in the Suzhong‐Huangnan depression area, but there are thin or only sporadic Mesozoic‐Cenozoic terrestrial strata and thick Sinian‐Triassic marine strata reserved in Subei‐Huangzhong uplift area and Sunan‐Wunansha uplift area. The four tectonolayers are very different in structures as well as distributions in plane.
Does Choice Bring Loyalty? Electoral Participation and the Development of Party Identification
Authors: Dinas Elias
Published: September 2013

Party identification is known to influence almost all aspects of political life. How this attachment develops across the adult life cycle, however, remains unknown. I argue that people reinforce their partisan predispositions by voting for their preferred party. Voting entails a choice over a set of alternatives. This choice is likely to induce rationalization. In so doing, it provides signals of group identity, which in turn strengthens people's partisan ties. Testing this hypothesis is made difficult because it implies a reciprocal relationship between partisanship and vote choice. I address this problem by using vote eligibility as an instrument of vote in a sample of almost equally aged respondents. The results indicate that elections fortify prior partisan orientations. Moreover, they do so not by increasing political information. Rather, it is the act of voting for a party that, itself, bolsters partisan attachment. This act leaves a long‐lasting imprint on people's partisan outlooks.
Characterization of plasma cytokines in an infant population cohort of challenge‐proven food allergy
Authors: Dang T. D. , Tang M. L. K. , Koplin J. J. , Licciardi P. V. , Eckert J. K. , Tan T. , Gurrin L. C. , Ponsonby A.‐L. , Dharmage S. C. , Allen K. J. ,   The HealthNuts study
Published: September 2013

Background

Sensitization to food allergens indicates the production of food‐specific IgE; however, sensitization is not a definite indicator of allergic reaction upon ingestion (N Engl J Med, 344, 2001, 30: J Allergy Clin Immunol, 120, 2007, 491). Currently, food challenge is the best approach to identify the presence or absence of allergy. While 95% positive predictive values (PPVs) thresholds for sIgE can assist with identifying increased likelihood of allergy among those who are sensitized, there are no specific biological markers that differentiate between allergic and sensitized individuals.

Objectives

To determine whether plasma serum cytokine profiles predict (i) sensitization to peanut and egg and (ii) food allergy among sensitized infants.

Methods

Peanut‐sensitized (PT) and egg‐sensitized 14‐month‐old infants and nonsensitized controls enrolled in HealthNuts, a population‐based study of food allergy, underwent an oral food challenge (OFC). Blood was collected within 1 h after OFC. Serum levels of Th1, Th2 and regulatory cytokines were determined in allergic (n = 79), sensitized (n = 40) and nonsensitized, nonallergic (n = 37) infants by multiplex assay.

Results

Food‐sensitized infants had significantly higher plasma IL‐4, IL‐13, IL‐12p70 and lower IL‐10 levels compared to nonsensitized infants. IL‐10 and IL‐6 levels were significantly higher in sensitized compared with allergic infants. Egg‐allergic infants had significantly higher IL‐13 and IL‐12p70 levels compared to peanut‐allergic (PA) infants.

Conclusion

Levels of Th2‐related cytokines in plasma are higher in food‐sensitized infants, irrespective of clinical food allergy status. In contrast, IL‐10 levels appear to predict food allergy among sensitized infants. Differences in IL‐13 and IL‐12p70 between egg‐ and peanut‐allergic infants could help explain the different resolution rates of the allergies.
In Defense of a Utilitarian Business Ethic
Authors: Gustafson Andrew
Published: September 2013

In this article, I suggest and support a utilitarian approach to business ethics. Utilitarianism is already widely used as a business ethic approach, although it is not well developed in the literature. Utilitarianism provides a guiding framework of decision making rooted in social benefit which helps direct business toward more ethical behavior. It is the basis for much of our discussion regarding the failures of Enron, Worldcom, and even the subprime mess andWallStreetMeltdown. In short, the negative social consequences are constantly referred to as proof of the wrongness of these actions and events, and the positive social consequences of bailouts and other plans are used as ethical support for those plans to right the wrongs.

I believe the main cause of the neglect of the utilitarian approach is because of misguided criticisms. Here, I defend utilitarianism as a basis for business ethics against many criticisms found in the business ethics literature, showing that a business ethics approach relying onJohnStuartMill's utilitarianism supports principles like justice, is not biased against the minority, and is more reasonable than other views such as aKantian view when dealing with workers and making other decisions in business. I also explain utilitarian moral motivation and use satisficing theory to attempt to defend utilitarian business ethics from questions raised regarding utilitarian calculus.
Anti‐inflammatory cytokines and risk of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Herder C. , Carstensen M. , Ouwens D. M.
Published: September 2013

Proinflammatory processes have been investigated extensively in the development of type 2 diabetes, but our knowledge on anti‐inflammatory proteins is rather limited. This article summarizes studies that investigated associations between circulating levels of anti‐inflammatory cytokines and incident type 2 diabetes preferably in prospective epidemiological studies. Adiponectin is the only known anti‐inflammatory protein whose circulating levels are decreased before type 2 diabetes. In contrast, concentrations of interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1RA), transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15) are increased and indicate the presence of a compensatory, but eventually futile, counter‐regulation of proinflammatory stimuli. Importantly, a proof‐of‐principle study using recombinant IL‐1RA to improve metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrated that a more pronounced upregulation of this protein than that found in the natural course of diabetes development may have clinical relevance. Other interesting candidates like omentin (which shows similar associations with metabolic parameters as adiponectin), interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) and secreted frizzled‐related protein‐5 (Sfrp5) are currently less well studied with sometimes conflicting results regarding their association with type 2 diabetes. Thus, further research is required to better understand the causal role of proinflammatory cytokines, hypoadiponectinaemia and the upregulation of anti‐inflammatory proteins before the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Islet inflammation in plain sight
Authors: Abdulreda M. H. , Berggren P.‐O.
Published: September 2013

Although, diabetes is reaching pandemic proportions, the exact aetiology of either type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains to be determined. Mounting evidence, however, suggests that islet inflammation is a likely common denominator during early development of either type of the disease. In this review, we highlight some of the inflammatory mechanisms that appear to be shared between T1D and T2D, and we explore the utility of intravital imaging in the study of islet inflammation. Intravital imaging has emerged as an indispensable tool in biomedical research and a variety of in vivo imaging approaches have been developed to study pancreatic islet physiology and pathophysiology in the native environment in health and disease. However, given the scattered distribution of the islets of Langerhans within the ‘sea’ of the exocrine pancreas located deep within the body and the fact that the islets only constitute 1–2% of the total volume of pancreatic tissue, studying the pancreatic islet in situ has been challenging. Here, we focus on a new experimental approach that enables studying local islet inflammation with single‐cell resolution in the relevant context of the in vivo environment non‐invasively and longitudinally and, thereby improving our understanding of diabetes pathogenesis.
Interaction between cytokines and inflammatory cells in islet dysfunction, insulin resistance and vascular disease
Authors: Imai Y. , Dobrian A. D. , Weaver J. R. , Butcher M. J. , Cole B. K. , Galkina E. V. , Morris M. A. , Taylor‐Fishwick D. A. , Nadler J. L.
Published: September 2013

Inflammation is an established pathogenic player in insulin resistance, islet demise and atherosclerosis. The complex interactions between cytokines, immune cells and affected tissues result in sustained inflammation in diabetes and atherosclerosis. 12‐ and 15‐lipoxygenase (LO), such as 12/15‐LO, produces a variety of metabolites through peroxidation of fatty acids and potentially contributes to the complex molecular crosstalk at the site of inflammation. 12‐ and 15‐LO pathways are frequently activated in tissues affected by diabetes and atherosclerosis including adipose tissue (AT), islets and the vasculature. Moreover, mice with whole body and tissue‐specific knockout of 12/15‐LO are protected against insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia and atherosclerosis supporting functional contribution of 12‐ and 15‐LO pathways in diabetes and atherosclerosis. Recently, it has emerged that there is a temporal regulation of the particular isoforms of 12‐ and 15‐LO in human AT and islets during the development of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and obesity. Analyses of tissues affected by diabetes and atherosclerosis also implied the roles of interleukin (IL)‐12 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase‐1 (NOX‐1) in islets and IL‐17A in atherosclerosis. Future studies should aim to test the efficacy of inhibitions of these mediators for treatment of diabetes and atherosclerosis.
Targeting inflammation in the treatment of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Donath M. Y.
Published: September 2013

Islets of patients with type 2 diabetes display the typical features of an inflammatory process characterized by the presence of cytokines, chemokines, immune cell infiltration, impaired function and tissue destruction with fibrotic areas. Functional studies have shown that targeting inflammation may improve insulin secretion and sensitivity. In particular clinical proof of concept studies using modulators of the interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β)—nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) pathway demonstrated the role of the innate immune system in type 2 diabetes. This programme has now entered the phase 3 of clinical development. Other targets such as tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) may be equally important but have been neglected based on poorly designed studies. In this article we discuss the mechanisms of islet inflammation in type 2 diabetes and review the opportunity of clinical translation.
Role of the renin–angiotensin system on abdominal aortic aneurysms
Authors: Malekzadeh Sonaz , Fraga‐Silva Rodrigo A. , Trachet Bram , Montecucco Fabrizio , Mach François , Stergiopulos Nikolaos
Published: September 2013

Background

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex degenerative disease, which leads to morbidity and mortality in a large portion of the elderly population. Current treatment options for AAA are quite limited as there is no proven indication for pharmacological therapy and surgery is recommended for AAA larger than 5·5 cm in luminal diameter. Thus, there is a great need to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological cellular and molecular mechanisms to develop effective therapies. In this narrative review, we will discuss recent findings concerning some potential molecular and clinical aspects of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) in AAA pathophysiology.

Materials and methods

This narrative review is based on the material found on MEDLINE and PubMed up to April 2013. We looked for the terms ‘angiotensin, AT1 receptor, ACE inhibitors’ in combination with ‘abdominal aortic aneurysm, pathophysiology, pathways’.

Results

Several basic research and clinical studies have recently investigated the role of the RAS in AAA. In particular, the subcutaneous infusion of Angiotensin II has been shown to induce AAA in Apo56 knockout mice. On the other hand, the pharmacological treatments targeting this system have been shown as beneficial in AAA patients.

Conclusions

Emerging evidence suggests that RAS may act as a molecular and therapeutic target for treating AAA. However, several issues on the role of RAS and the protective activities of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and Angiotensin 1 receptors blockers against AAA require further clarifications.
Androgen activity, ischaemic heart disease and risk factors among men in NHANES III
Authors: Schooling C. Mary
Published: September 2013

Aim

Observationally, low serum testosterone among men is associated with cardiovascular diseases and its risk factors, but it is unclear whether raising endogenous androgens would be protective. To clarify the role of androgens, the association of two different androgen biomarkers (serum testosterone and androstanediol glucuronide) with cardiovascular disease risk factors and mortality was examined in a nationally representative sample of US men.

Research design and methods

Multivariable linear and proportion hazards regression were used to examine the adjusted associations of serum testosterone and androstanediol glucuronide with cardiovascular disease risk factors and death from major cardiovascular diseases in 1460 men from NHANES III phase 1 (1988–1991) followed‐up through 2006.

Results

Serum testosterone and androstanediol glucuronide were weakly correlated (0·13). Serum testosterone was associated with healthier values of most cardiovascular disease risk factors but not with death from ischaemic heart disease or stroke, adjusted for age, education, race/ethnicity, smoking and alcohol use. Similarly adjusted, androstanediol glucuronide was associated with unhealthier values of some cardiovascular risk factors and death from ischaemic heart disease (hazard ratio 1·16, 95% confidence interval 1·003–1·33 per standard deviation).

Conclusions

Androgen biomarkers had inconsistent associations with cardiovascular disease risk factors and ischaemic heart disease. Androstanediol glucuronide, rather than serum testosterone, had associations with cardiovascular disease risk factors more similar to those seen in randomized controlled trials of testosterone therapy, with corresponding implications for raising androgens.
Unified EEG terminology and criteria for nonconvulsive status epilepticus
Authors: Beniczky Sándor , Hirsch Lawrence J. , Kaplan Peter W. , Pressler Ronit , Bauer Gerhard , Aurlien Harald , Brøgger Jan C. , Trinka Eugen
Published: September 2013

The diagnosis of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) relies largely on electroencephalography (EEG) findings. The lack of a unified EEG terminology, and of evidence‐based EEG criteria, leads to varying criteria for and ability to diagnose NCSE. We propose a unified terminology and classification system for NCSE, using, as a template, the Standardised Computer‐based Organised Reporting of EEG (SCORE). This approach integrates the terminology recently proposed for the rhythmic and periodic patterns in critically ill patients, the electroclinical classification of NCSE (type of NCSE) and the context for the pathologic conditions and age‐related epilepsy syndromes. We propose flexible EEG criteria that employ the SCORE system to assemble a database for determining evidence‐based EEG criteria for NCSE.
Understanding Health Insurance Literacy: A Literature Review
Authors: Kim Jinhee , Braun Bonnie , Williams Andrew D.
Published: September 2013

The 2010 Affordable Care Act changed health insurance plans for both the insured and uninsured. Currently insured consumers need to understand changes that impact their purchase decisions, and newly eligible consumers need to understand how to purchase through the new health insurance marketplace. Health insurance literacy is a new concept that addresses the extent to which consumers can make informed purchase and use decisions. Consumers currently exhibit limited health insurance literacy. Researchers and educators need a comprehensive review of the literature and existing curriculum and materials to conduct research and to create and test educational programs that could increase health insurance literacy. This article provides a review of relevant literature and curricula. It offers implications for additional research, measurement of health insurance literacy, and development of educational programs to improve health insurance literacy in the United States.
Melt inclusion evidence for magma evolution at Mutnovsky volcano, Kamchatka
Authors: Robertson K. , Simon A. , Pettke T. , Smith E. , Selyangin O. , Kiryukhin A. , Mulcahy S. R. , Walker J. D.
Published: September 2013

Mutnovsky Volcano, located in Kamchatka, Russia, is a young volcano that has formed a series of four overlapping stratocones over its approximately 80 ka history. Erupted products at Mutnovsky range in composition from basalts to dacites; basalts are the most common. In this study, melt inclusions from representative samples of all erupted compositions from all four eruptive centers were analyzed to investigate the causes of the compositional heterogeneity, melt evolution, and pre‐eruptive magma dynamics. Melt inclusions from Mutnovsky were sampled in olivine, plagioclase, orthopyroxene, and clinopyroxene. The melt inclusion data represent a wide range of melt compositions, from basalt through rhyolite. Geochemical modeling of melt inclusion data, combined with field evidence and chemical zoning of plagioclase phenocrysts, indicates that fractional crystallization and magma mixing produced the range of erupted bulk rock compositions. The measured variability of melt inclusion compositions in each host mineral phase indicates that different host minerals trapped unique melts that evolved separately from one another. The melt inclusion data suggest that individual melt portions evolved by fractional crystallization, perhaps in different magma chambers, within the Mutnovsky plumbing system, and were mixed prior to eruption. Our data do not indicate whether the mixing events were the cause of eruption or are simply the manifestation of the eruption process.
Epicardial fat thickness is associated with impaired coronary flow reserve in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Atakan Aydin , Macunluoglu Beyza , Kaya Yuksel , Ari Elif , Demir Halit , Asicioglu Ebru , Kaspar Cigdem
Published: September 2013

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is a new risk factor in CVD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between EFT and coronary artery flow reserve (CFR), which is an early indicator of endothelial dysfunction in coronary vessels of HD patients. We performed a cross‐sectional study including 71 chronic HD patients and 65 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. Epicardial fat tissue was significantly higher in HD patients when compared to healthy controls (6.53 ± 1.01 mm vs. 5.79 ± 1.06 mm, respectively, P < 0.001). On transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, CFR values were significantly lower in HD patients when compared to healthy controls (1.73 ± 0.11 vs. 2.32 ± 0.28, P < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed CFR values to be inversely correlated with EFT (r = −0.287, P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to define independent determinants of EFT in HD patients. Artery flow reserve, age, body mass index and total cholesterol levels were independently correlated with EFT thickness. This study demonstrated that EFT was significantly higher among HD patients compared to healthy controls. In addition, this study was the first to demonstrate an inverse correlation between EFT and CFR in this patient population.
Oral l‐ornithine‐l‐aspartate in minimal hepatic encephalopathy: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Alvares‐da‐Silva Mario Reis , de Araujo Alexandre , Vicenzi João Reinhardt , da Silva Gabriel Veber , Oliveira Fabiana Bazanella , Schacher Fernando , Oliboni Lucas , Magnus Aline , Kruel Leticia Pinto , Prieb Rita , Fernandes Luiz Nelson Teixeira
Published: September 2013

Aim

Evaluate efficacy/safety of oral l‐ornithine‐l‐aspartate (LOLA) in controlling minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).

Methods

Consecutive cirrhotic outpatients with MHE (defined by psychometric number connection tests A/B [NCT‐A/B] and digit symbol substitution test [DSST] score of >2 standard deviations) were randomized to a 60‐day oral LOLA (5 g t.i.d) or placebo group. Critical flicker frequency test (CFF), quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG), arterial ammonia (NH3), Beck's anxiety–depression forms and liver disease quality of life (LD‐QOL) were assessed. Patients were followed for 6 months after the end of the study to assess LOLA prophylactic role on overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE).

Results

Sixty‐four patients were included, 63 (98.4%) with MHE. In six of these patients, CFT was less than 39 Hz (9.52%); NH3 was increased in 32 (50.8%); 25% had abnormal qEEG. Age, sex, scholarship, Child–Pugh (CP), Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease, NCT‐A/B, DSST, CFF and NH3 were similar in both groups at the baseline. LOLA led to a significant improvement in NCT‐B age‐controlled z‐score (3.4 ± 3.4 vs 1.5 ± 2.3, P = 0.01) and CFF (42.2 ± 5.8 vs 45.2 ± 5.8, P = 0.02), comparing the first and the last visit, but there were no differences between LOLA and placebo regarding the whole psychometric battery, CFF, LD‐QOL and Beck's forms. No serious adverse effects occurred. Patients taking LOLA had less episodes of OHE at 6 months (5% vs 37.9%, P = 0.016), as they have significant improvement on liver function assessed by CP (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

A 60‐day oral LOLA course was not better than placebo in treating MHE, but was useful in preventing further episodes of OHE.
Effect of pantoprazole on 24‐h intragastric pH and serum gastrin in humans.
Authors: Londong W
Published: September 2013

Pantoprazole, a novel proton pump inhibitor, is a potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion. In this review, data are presented from nine controlled, prospective, clinical pharmacodynamic investigations. The effects of oral and intravenous doses of pantoprazole (administered for 5‐7 days) on continuously monitored 24‐h intragastric pH and serum gastrin are discussed: oral pantoprazole 20 to 80 mg/day (given in the morning before breakfast) induced a dose‐related increase in both the 24‐h intragastric pH and the serum gastrin profile. The effects of pantoprazole doses of 60 and 80 mg were not significantly different from those of the 40 mg dose. It was concluded that oral pantoprazole at 40 mg/day is the optimal antisecretory dose for the treatment of acid‐related diseases. In two comparative studies, this dose of pantoprazole (administered before breakfast) proved to be significantly more effective than ranitidine 300 mg (given in the evening) and omeprazole 20 mg (given in the morning). Administration of oral and intravenous pantoprazole (40 mg) was found to be equipotent at increasing 24‐h intragastric pH, but this finding requires further evaluation. The approximately 2‐4‐fold rise in median serum gastrin concentrations following several days' administration of pantoprazole 40 mg is of a comparable magnitude to that of other proton pump inhibitors. It seems unlikely that this moderate hypergastrinaemia during pantoprazole treatment should influence the human enterochromaffin‐like (ECL) cell density in a clinically relevant way, but data during long‐term therapy are necessary to confirm this conclusion.
Effect of postoperative xylazine administration on cardiopulmonary function and recovery quality after isoflurane anesthesia in horses
Authors: Ida Keila K. , Fantoni Denise T. , Ibiapina Bruna T. , Souto Maria‐Teresa M. R. , Zoppa André L. V. , Silva Luis Claudio L. C. , Ambrósio Aline M.
Published: September 2013

Objective

To evaluate equine cardiopulmonary function and recovery quality after administration of 0.25 or 0.50 mg/kg xylazine intravenously (IV) during recovery.

Study Design

Randomized, blinded, prospective, clinical study.

Animals

Horses (n = 20).

Methods

During recovery after 3 hours of isoflurane anesthesia for arthroscopic surgery, horses were administered either 0.25 mg/kg (G25, n = 10) or 0.50 mg/kg (G50, n = 10) xylazine intravenously. Vital signs and arterial blood samples were obtained during recovery before sedation (baseline), 5, 10, 20, 30, and 45 minutes after xylazine and 30 minutes after standing. The quality of recovery scores ranged from 10 to 72 (10 = best, 72 = worst).

Results

G25 horses recovered faster (mean ± SD, 33 ± 5 min) than G50 horses (50 ± 7 min,P < .0001). Mean maximal decrease in arterial oxygen tension was 55 ± 11 mmHg in G25 (at 10 minutes;P < .05) and 54 ± 7 mmHg in G50 (at 20 minutes;P < .01). G25 group had a total recovery score (23 [range 18–29]) and number of attempts to stand (4 ± 2) greater than the G50 group (18 [10–23] and 1 ± 1, respectively;P < .001).

Conclusions

Both doses of xylazine promoted a moderate and transient hypoxemia during recovery; however, the 0.5 mg/kg dose produced a longer and improved quality of recovery from anesthesia.
Fabrication of Transparent Spinel Honeycomb Structures by Methyl Cellulose–Based Thermal Gelation Processing
Authors: Biswas Papiya , Rajeswari Kotikalapudi , Ramavath Pandu , Johnson Roy , Maiti Himadri S.
Published: September 2013

Transparent MgAl2O4 spinel of flat as well as honeycomb structure was fabricated by employing thermally induced gel casting of the slurry with 56 wt% solid loading containing 0.2 wt% of methylcellulose. The green specimens were pressureless sintered to 98%–99% of theoretical density with no open porosity at an optimum temperature of 1700°C. Final densification by hot isostatic pressing of both the specimens at the optimum temperature of 1800°C and 195 MPa pressure enabled further elimination of residual porosities and full densification resulting in theoretical density of 3.58 g/cc. The design of the honeycomb was such that it exhibited a surface area to volume ratio of 0.65 cm2/cm3 and a relative density of 0.69. The hardness of the honeycomb specimens has been found to be 13 GPa, which is at par with the solid specimens processed under identical conditions. Solid specimens of around 4 mm thickness exhibited a transmission of >80% in the visible (0.4–0.8 μm) region. Specimens were also tested according to ASTM procedures and have shown a flexural strength (σf) of 195 MPa and plane‐strain fracture toughness (KIc) of 1.87 MPa·m1/2 as reported in this study.
Evaluation of Life Cycle Assessment Recycling Allocation Methods
Authors: Johnson Jeremiah X. , McMillan Colin A. , Keoleian Gregory A.
Published: September 2013

Life cycle assessment practitioners struggle to accurately allocate environmental burdens of metals recycling, including the temporal dimension of environmental impacts. We analyze four approaches for calculating aluminum greenhouse gas emissions: the recycled content (RC) or cut‐off approach, which assumes that demand for recycled content displaces primary production; end‐of‐life recycling (EOLR), which assumes that postuse recycling displaces primary production; market‐based (MB) approaches, which estimate changes in supply and demand using price elasticities; and value‐corrected substitution (VCS), which allocates impact based on price differences between primary and recycled material. Our analysis suggests that applications of the VCS approach do not adequately account for the changing scrap to virgin material price ratio over time, whereas MB approaches do not address stock accumulation and depletion. The EOLR and RC approaches were analyzed using two case studies: U.S. aluminum beverage cans and vehicle engine blocks. These approaches produced similar results for beverage cans, which have a closed material loop system and a short product life. With longer product lifetimes, as noted with the engine blocks, the magnitude and timing of the emissions differs greatly between the RC and EOLR approaches. The EOLR approach indicates increased impacts at the time of production, offset by negative impacts in future years, whereas the RC approach assumes benefits to increased recycled content at the time of production. For vehicle engine blocks, emissions using EOLR are 140% higher than with RC. Results are highly sensitive to recycled content and future recycling rates, and the choice of allocation methods can have significant implications for life cycle studies.
Debating the Future of Management Research
Authors: Birkinshaw Julian , Healey Mark P. , Suddaby Roy , Weber Klaus
Published: September 2013

The Editors ofJMSinvited four leading scholars in research on management and organizations to have an open discussion on the current state and future prospects of management research. Our four contributors discuss, among other things, the growing influence of economics, psychology, and sociology on current management research, and the danger of an increasingly fetishistic and formulaic approach to management research that they believe may lead to stale and narrow contributions. Such an approach carries a risk in the long run of seriously dampening the intellectual vigour and impact of management research. Our contributors conclude their discussion with a number of recommendations for management researchers. These recommendations include asking bigger, better, and more challenging questions compared to the orthodoxy in our management research and engaging in modes of research that are not only intellectually challenging but that also have the potential of making a real impact on management practice.
Awareness of venous thromboembolism in mental health services for older people
Authors: van Zyl M. , Wieczorek G. , Reilly J.
Published: September 2013

Accessible summary

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important safety issue in the inpatient mental health care of older people.

In a survey of specialist mental health staff, knowledge of deep vein thrombosis was good.

More variable awareness of the presentation and risk factors for pulmonary embolism indicates the need for training integrated into regular physical health care updates.

Currently, failure to adequately screen and prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) is estimated to cause between 25 000 and 32 000 potentially avoidable deaths annually in the United Kingdom. The authors aimed to assess the awareness of VTE in clinical staff working in Mental Health Services for Older People, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys National Health Service Foundation Trust. A questionnaire was devised to assess knowledge of VTE symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and treatment in clinical staff working in Mental Health Service for Older Peoples' inpatient units. Forty‐nine nurses, 12 consultant psychiatrists, and 11 clinical pharmacists responded. A significant proportion of staff had previous involvement in VTE treatment. Staff had significantly more limited knowledge of pulmonary embolism compared to deep vein thrombosis with areas for improvement in presentation, risk factors, and prevention. The study confirms a need for improved awareness among all clinical staff including nurses, pharmacists, and doctors, which can be met by including VTE awareness in First Response training, and encouraging use of the Department of Health VTE e‐learning tool.
Religious Prosociality and Aggression: It's Real
Authors: Blogowska Joanna , Lambert Catherine , Saroglou Vassilis
Published: September 2013

Individual religiosity relates to prosocial attitudes, behavioral intentions, and behaviors of minimal (no/low cost; limited to in‐group members) prosociality in hypothetical situations. Yet evidence on religious prosociality through other‐oriented, costly helping behavior in real life is still to be documented. Similarly, religiosity relates to cognitive, emotional, and attitudinal components of prejudice toward moral out‐groups. Evidence on real behavior of prejudice is nevertheless still needed. In two experiments using the same measure of religiosity and samples from the same population, religiosity predicted helping, in a real‐life context, of an in‐group member in need (Experiment 1) as well as overt and direct aggression by means of allocating hot sauce to a gay, but not to a neutral, target (Experiment 2). Religious prosociality and aggression are real, concern distinct kinds of targets, and are at the heart of personal religiosity.
Network Hubs and Opportunity for Complex Thinking Among Young British Muslims
Authors: Williams Ryan J.
Published: September 2013

This study examines whether individuals in a network esteem peers who think in integratively complex ways about religious issues in the context of a small‐group educational course comprised of young British Muslims. Integrative complexity (IC) measures the degree to which an individual's information processing is characterized by (a) rigid, black‐and‐white thinking or (b) ability to recognize the validity of, and integrate, multiple perspectives. A novel measurement procedure was developed for this research called the Social Field Generator. Results from seven groups (n = 55) showed that (a) participants with levels of IC were described by their peers with more positive sentiment than their low‐IC counterparts; (b) the higher the IC scores of participants, the closer peers felt toward them; and (c) the highest IC individuals were consistently selected as sources of advice, whereas the lowest IC individuals were not viewed as sources of advice. This research shows that within an educational environment aimed at promoting complex thinking, group processes and grassroots religious leadership can encourage higher levels of IC as a group norm.
British Romanticism and Paper Money
Authors: Dick Alexander
Published: September 2013

Scholars of British Romanticism have of late become very interested in the suspension of cash payments, which, from 1797 to 1821, disallowed customers from exchanging notes for coin at the Bank of England and effectively made Britain the first paper money economy in modern history. Like their colleagues in eighteenth‐century and Victorian studies, Romanticists in the 1980s and 90s assumed the structural homology between money and language derived from Marx, Freud, and the Cambridge historians (Brewer, Pocock) that made the study of money in literature akin to the general thematic of representation. Recent work, by contrast, has shown that before and during the Romantic period, as commercial value came to replace the social meanings it had once embodied, questions about what money is, what form it should take, how it should circulate, and by whom were more contentious than previously understood. These contentious played a significant role in shaping the dialectical character of Romantic literature. Recent discussions of these debates have also opened up fissures in the field of economic criticism between advocates of “historical description” and adherents of “close reading” that will likely galvanize the field of British Romantic studies.