bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the perception of Iranian organizations on Internet of Things solutions and applications
Authors: Valmohammadi Changiz
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the perception of Iranian experts and executive managers of sample organizations on the benefits and barriers of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions implementation. Based on the context of Iran using descriptive analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on the review of the related literature and websites, benefits and barriers of successful implementation to IoTs solutions were identified. Through a self-administered questionnaire which was collected from 67 Iranian organizations the ranking and importance of benefits and barriers of IoTs solutions implementation were determined based on the perception of the experts of the surveyed organizations.

Findings

– Analysis of data and the obtained results reveals that “improved customer experience” and “Supply chain optimization and responsiveness” are the most important benefits that the survey organizations expect to reap as a result of IoTs solutions implementation. Also “Integration challenges” and “cannot find right suppliers” were ranked as the most challenging barriers to IoTs solutions implementation.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings and conclusions drawn from this research are representative of the Iranian context only. So, caution needs to be exercised in generalizing the results.

Practical implications

– The top management of Iranian organizations and also, policy makers of the country should be aware that IoTs solutions are being deployed rapidly throughout the globe. Therefore, it is necessary to increase investment in IT infrastructure and also by holding various training for employees and experts of Iranian organizations, and setting various IoT majors in the country’s universities and vocational schools, efforts should be made to accelerate the deployment of IoTs solutions to keep pace with leading companies in the world.

Originality/value

– As IoTs is rather a new phenomenon in the Iranian industries this study has the potential to enhance the understanding of IoTs solutions and applications, benefits and barriers amongst researches and practitioners in the context of Iran. Also policymakers of the country could take advantage of the findings of this study toward a successful implementation of IoTs solutions and applications.
An examination of antecedents of conversion rates of e-commerce retailers
Authors: Gudigantala Naveen , Bicen Pelin , Eom Mike (Tae-in)
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– This study aims to theorize and empirically examine the relationship between “purchase intention and conversion rate”, “website satisfaction and conversion rate” and “purchase intention and conversion rate”. E-Commerce conversion rate represents the percentage of visits to an e-tailer’s website that includes a purchase transaction. Despite the importance of conversion rates for e-tailers, prior research predominantly used purchase intention and website satisfaction as main dependent variables and implicitly assumed that these variables will influence the actual purchase.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data on 85 US retail websites were used to test the hypotheses. The unit of the analysis is the online retail website. Regression analysis was used to perform the data analysis.

Findings

– The results indicate that both purchase intention and website satisfaction positively influence conversion rates. It was also found that website satisfaction positively influences purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

– Only data from 85 US e-tailers from the top-100 US online retailers are used to test the hypotheses. Also, conversion rate is only one of the several important success metrics used by e-tailers.

Originality/value

– This study not only examines antecedents of e-commerce conversion rates, but also theorizes and tests if there is a statistically significant relationship between “purchase intention and conversion rate” and “website satisfaction and conversion rate”. This is because, although previous studies used purchase intention and website satisfaction as main dependent variables and proxies for actual purchase behavior, they did not validate this relationship. This study shows that: there is a statistically significant relationship between “purchase intention and conversion rate” and “website satisfaction and conversion rate”, there is also a statistically significant relationship between “website satisfaction and purchase intention” and this study used firm-level data to theorize, measure and analyze the data, whereas prior literature used only individual-level data.
Adaptation of supply management towards a hybrid culture: the case of a Japanese automaker
Authors: Jia Fu , Gao Ruihong , Lamming Richard , Wilding Richard
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to identify problems caused by cultural differences between Japan and China that face supply chain managers by applying Japanese-style supply management practices within supply networks in China and present solutions to this problem.

Design/methodology/approach

– A single, longitudinal case study conducting two waves of data collection (i.e. interviews and observation) plus the collection of much archival data was performed. It goes beyond the dyad by examining supply management of a Japanese company’s supply chain up to three tiers in China.

Findings

– The four supply cultural differences between Japan and China, which caused the cultural clashes between JVCo and some of its suppliers were revealed and a model of adaptation of Japanese supply management to the Chinese business system was developed. Adaptation involves creating new supply management practices out of selective adaptation, innovation and change of existing Japanese and Chinese supply management practices rooted in different Japanese, Chinese and Western cultures. A list of organisational factors affecting the adaptation has also been provided.

Research limitations/implications

– Due to the adoption of a single case study method, caution should be given to generalising the findings to all Japanese firms.

Practical implications

– The Japanese, Chinese and Western managers were provided with insights on how to mitigate the problems caused by cultural differences within supply relationships in China and some innovative ideas on how managers from all three cultures could blend the elements of the three cultures to form a hybrid culture and reduce cultural clashes.

Originality/value

– This is one of the few attempts to study the transfer of Japanese supply management practice to China. Organizational theory (i.e. transfer of organizational practice and hybridization) is applied and provides a robust framework to explain the supply management practice. This study also answers the call for a global supplier relationship management paradigm.
Environmental management: the role of supply chain capabilities in the auto sector
Authors: Liu Yang , Srai Jagjit Singh , Evans Steve
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the specific role of supply chain capabilities (SCCs) in the implementation of particular green strategies and the extent to which this relationship is contingent upon firm size.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey-based approach was used to empirically test the study hypotheses. Data that were collected from 225 senior logistics/supply chain managers across the automotive OEM and supplier base (predominantly from China, North America and Europe) were analyzed using moderated regression analyses.

Findings

– SCCs contribute to effective green strategy implementation and their magnitude varies significantly with respect to green design, green purchasing and green manufacturing. Firm size has positive moderating effects on supply chain flexibility in both green design and green purchasing, and on supplier appraisal capability in both green purchasing and green manufacturing. However, unexpectedly, firm size negatively moderates not only supply chain management (SCM) skills/knowledge in both green design and green purchasing but also IT/IS support in green manufacturing.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper adopted a cross-sectional survey design and was only conducted in the automotive industry which may affect the inferences of causality and generalizability beyond this sector.

Practical implications

– Managers should consider whether the green strategies that they want to follow “fit” with their existing resources/capabilities and firm-level conditions, and accordingly develop and deploy appropriate SSCs for successful implementation.

Originality/value

– The research contributes to the existing resource-based view literature by studying the capability–strategy link with its specific application to environmental management.
3PL selection criteria in integrated circuit manufacturing industry in Taiwan
Authors: Hwang Bang-Ning , Chen Tsai-Ti , Lin James T.
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to identify the key third-party logistics (3PL) selection criteria for the integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing industry in Taiwan. The IC manufacturing industry seeks global sourcing, and is facing increasing pressure due to fierce market competition. More than a cost reduction strategy, 3PL is a strategic tool for IC manufacturers to gain a competitive advantage in a global supply chain complex.

Design/methodology/approach

– The triangulation method that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches was used in the study. The qualitative approach of focus group discussions was adopted to establish the decision framework, and the quantitative approach of the analytic hierarchy process was used to explore the relative importance of the 3PL selection criteria. Finally, an in-depth proof-by-example interview was undertaken to provide an insightful interpretation of the research results.

Findings

– The research shows that performance is the most important criterion group, followed by cost, service, quality assurance, intangible and information technology. At the detailed sub-criteria level, document accuracy, problem-solving capability, continuous cost reduction, value-added services and associated cost control capability are the top five criteria.

Research limitations/implications

– This study focused on the IC manufacturing sector in Taiwan. Multi-country and multi-industry studies are recommended to help further validate and generalise the research findings.

Originality/value

– Due to its application of triangulation, this study is a pioneering work on the 3PL selection criteria in a high-tech manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the value of this research is that it enhances the body of knowledge of 3PL selection by identifying certain emerging selection criteria, it could serve as a guideline for IC manufacturers in planning logistics outsourcing actions and it could significantly contribute to the efforts of 3PL providers in evaluating whether they comply with customer needs and adhere to core competency development.
An empirical study of Chinese SME grocery retailers’ distribution capabilities
Authors: Eng Teck-Yong
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– This study aims to examine theoretical insights from market orientation and resource-based view for enhancing grocery retailers ' distribution capabilities. The distribution capability of a firm can influence both effective and efficient handling of external stocks and internal distribution of products in response to changing market demands. Although firms rely on distribution capability to manage their supply chain to ensure the right products are in the right place at the right time, few studies examine the underlying factors that support distribution capabilities for a firm’s upstream and downstream supply chain activities especially in uncertain environments.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the context of retail firms, a review of the literature shows that distribution capability can be conceptualized as an interfirm phenomenon based on theoretical insights from the resource-based view, market orientation and network structure.

Findings

– Data from a sample of 247 small- and medium-sized grocery retailers operating in three major Chinese cities highlight a salient and positive relationship between a retailer’s distribution capabilities and its performance in uncertain environments.

Originality/value

– However, a retailer’s strong interfirm relations in a distribution network are negatively associated with retailer performance. Similarly, the influence of interfirm market orientation on retailer performance cannot be established in the supply chain. The study suggests that SME grocery retailers would benefit from understanding their numerous supply chain relationships and managing them (rather than relying on centrally ingrained relationships), and developing behavioral norms of interfirm market orientation among different supply chain partners.
Social Demand for Ecosystem Services and Implications for Watershed Management
Authors: Castro Antonio J. , Vaughn Caryn C. , Julian Jason P. , García‐Llorente Marina
Published: January 2016

We performed a sociocultural preference assessment for a suite of ecosystem services provided by the Kiamichi River watershed in the south‐central United States, a region with intense water conflict. The goal was to examine how a social assessment of services could be used to weigh tradeoffs among water resource uses for future watershed management and planning. We identified the ecosystem services beneficiaries groups, analyzed perception for maintaining services, assessed differences in the importance and perceived trends for ecosystem services, and explored the perceived impact on ecosystem services arising from different watershed management scenarios. Results show habitat for species and water regulation were two ecosystem services all beneficiaries agreed were important. The main discrepancies among stakeholder groups were found for water‐related services. The identification of potential tradeoffs between services under different flow scenarios promotes a dynamic management strategy for allocating water resources, one that mitigates potential conflicts. While it is widely accepted the needs of all beneficiaries should be considered for the successful incorporation of ecosystem services into watershed management, the number of studies actually using the sociocultural perspective in ecosystem service assessment is limited. Our study demonstrates it is both possible and useful to quantify social demand of ecosystem services in watershed management.
Estimating Evapotranspiration for Dryland Cropping Systems in the Semiarid Texas High Plains Using SWAT
Authors: Marek Gary W. , Gowda Prasanna H. , Evett Steven R. , Baumhardt R. Louis , Brauer David K. , Howell Terry A. , Marek Thomas H. , Srinivasan R.
Published: January 2016

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is one of the most widely used watershed models for simulating hydrology in response to agricultural management practices. However, limited studies have been performed to evaluate the SWAT model's ability to estimate daily and monthly evapotranspiration (ET) in semiarid regions. ET values were simulated using ArcSWAT 2012 for a lysimeter field managed under dryland conditions at the USDA‐ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory at Bushland, Texas, and compared with measured lysimeter values from 2000 to 2010. Two scenarios were performed to compare SWAT's performance: (1) use of default plant leaf area index (LAI) values in the embedded plant database and (2) adjusted LAI values. Scenario 1 resulted in an “unsatisfactory” Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.42 and 0.38 for the calibration and validation periods, respectively. Scenario 2 resulted in a “satisfactory” NSE value for the calibration period while achieving a “good” NSE of 0.70 for the validation period. SWAT generally underestimated ET at both the daily and monthly levels. Overestimation during fallow years may be due to the limitations of the pothole function used to simulate furrow diking. Users should be aware of potential errors associated with using default LAI parameters. Inaccuracies in ET estimation may also stem from errors in the plant stress functions, particularly when evaluating water management practices for dryland watersheds.
The detection of magnetotactic bacteria in deep sea sediments from the east Pacific Manganese Nodule Province
Authors: Dong Yi , Li Jinhua , Zhang Wuchang , Zhang Wenyan , Zhao Yuan , Xiao Tian , Wu Long‐Fei , Pan Hongmiao
Published: January 2016

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are distributed ubiquitously in sediments from coastal environments to the deep sea. The Pacific Manganese Nodule Province contains numerous polymetallic nodules mainly composed of manganese, iron, cobalt, copper and nickel. In the present study we used Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology to assess the communities of putative MTB in deep sea surface sediments at nine stations in the east Pacific Manganese Nodule Province. A total of 402 sequence reads from MTB were classified into six operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Among these, OTU113 and OTU759 were affiliated with the genus Magnetospira, OTU2224 and OTU2794 were affiliated with the genus Magnetococcus and Magnetovibrio, respectively, OTU3017 had no known genus affiliation, and OTU2556 was most similar to Candidatus Magnetananas. Interestingly, OTU759 was widely distributed, occurring at all study sites. Magnetism measurements revealed that all sediments were dominated by low coercivity, non‐interacting single domain magnetic minerals. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the magnetic minerals were magnetosomes. Our data suggest that diverse putative MTB are widely distributed in deep sea surface sediments from the east Pacific Manganese Nodule Province.
Variable but persistent coexistence ofProchlorococcusecotypes along temperature gradients in the ocean's surface mixed layer
Authors: Chandler Jeremy W. , Lin Yajuan , Gainer P. Jackson , Post Anton F. , Johnson Zackary I. , Zinser Erik R.
Published: January 2016

The vast majority of the phytoplankton communities in surface mixed layer of the oligotrophic ocean are numerically dominated by one of two ecotypes ofProchlorococcus,eMIT9312oreMED4. In this study, we surveyed large latitudinal transects in theAtlantic andPacificOcean to determine if these ecotypes discretely partition the surface mixed layer niche, or if populations exist as a continuum along key environmental gradients, particularly temperature. Transitions of dominance occurred at approximately 19–21°C, with theeMED4ecotype dominating the colder, andeMIT9312ecotype dominating the warmer regions. Within these zones of regional dominance, however, the minority ecotype was not competed to extinction. Rather, a robust log‐linear relationship between ecotype ratio and temperature characterized this stabilized coexistence: for every 2.5°C increase in temperature, theeMIT9312:eMED4ratio increased by an order of magnitude. This relationship was observed in both quantitative polymerase chain reaction and in pyrosequencing assays. Water column stratification also contributed to the ecotype ratio along the basin‐scale transects, but to a lesser extent. Finally, instances where the ratio of theeMED4andeMIT9312abundances did not correlate well with temperature were identified. Such occurrences are likely due to changes in water temperatures outpacing changes in community structure.
Fast and accurate detection of evolutionary shifts in Ornstein–Uhlenbeck models
Authors: Khabbazian Mohammad , Kriebel Ricardo , Rohe Karl , Ané Cécile
Published: January 2016

The detection of evolutionary shifts in trait evolution from extant taxa is motivated by the study of convergent evolution, or to correlate shifts in traits with habitat changes or with changes in other phenotypes.

We propose here a phylogenetic lasso method to study trait evolution from comparative data and detect past changes in the expected mean trait values. We use the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process, which can model a changing adaptive landscape over time and over lineages.

Our method is very fast, running in minutes for hundreds of species, and can handle multiple traits. We also propose a phylogenetic Bayesian information criterion that accounts for the phylogenetic correlation between species, as well as for the complexity of estimating an unknown number of shifts at unknown locations in the phylogeny. This criterion does not suffer model overfitting and has high precision, so it offers a conservative alternative to other information criteria.

Our re‐analysis of Anolis lizard data suggests a more conservative scenario of morphological adaptation and convergence than previously proposed. Software is available on GitHub.
Productivity benchmarks for operative service units
Authors: Helkiö P. , Aantaa R. , Virolainen P. , Tuominen R.
Published: January 2016

Background

Easily accessible reliable information is crucial for strategic and tactical decision‐making on operative processes. We report development of an analysis tool and resulting metrics for benchmarking purposes at a Finnish university hospital.

Methods

The analysis tool is based on data collected in a resource management system and an in‐house cost‐reporting database.

Results

The exercise reports key metrics for four operative service units and six surgical units from 2014 and the change from year 2013. Productivity, measured as total costs per total hours, ranged from 658 to 957 €/h and utilization of the total available resource hours at the service unit level ranged from 66% to 74%. The lowest costs were in a unit running only regular working hour shifts, whereas the highest costs were in a unit operating on 24/7 basis. The tool includes additional metrics on operating room (OR) scheduling and monthly data to support more detailed analysis.

Conclusion

This report provides the hospital management with an improved and detailed overview of its operative service units and the surgical process and related costs. The operating costs are associated with on call duties, size of operative service units, and the requirements of the surgeries. This information aids in making mid‐ to long range decisions on managing OR capacity.
Evidence of melatonin synthesis in the ram reproductive tract
Authors: Gonzalez‐Arto M. , Hamilton T. R dos S. , Gallego M. , Gaspar‐Torrubia E. , Aguilar D. , Serrano‐Blesa E. , Abecia J.A. , Pérez‐Pé R. , Muiño‐Blanco T. , Cebrián‐Pérez J. A. , Casao A.
Published: January 2016

Melatonin is a ubiquitous molecule found in a wide range of fluids, one of them being ram seminal plasma, in which it can reach higher concentrations than those found in blood, suggesting an extrapineal secretion by the reproductive tract. In order to identify the source of the melatonin found in ram seminal plasma, we first tried to determine whether the melatonin levels were maintained during the day. For this purpose, melatonin concentrations were measured in seminal plasma obtained from first ejaculates of six rams at 6:00 a.m. in total darkness, at 10:00 a.m. and at 14:00 p.m. The melatonin concentration was higher (p < 0.05) in ejaculates collected at 6:00 a.m. than at 10:00 and 14:00. There was no statistical difference between the latter. To further corroborate an extrapineal secretion of melatonin, the presence of the two key enzymes involved in melatonin synthesis, arylalkylamine‐N‐acetyltransferase (AANAT) and N‐acetylserotonin‐O‐methyltransferase (ASMT) was analyzed by RT‐PCR, q‐PCR and Western‐blot in ram testes, epididymis, and accessory glands. The RT‐PCR showed the presence of the m‐RNA codifying both AANAT and ASTM in all the tissues under study, but the q‐PCR and Western‐blot revealed that gene expression of these enzymes was significantly higher in the testis (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of AANAT and ASMT in the testis and revealed that they were found in the Leydig cells, spermatocytes, and spermatids. Also, measurable levels of melatonin were found in testicular tissue and the tail of the epididymis. In conclusion, our study indicates that the testes are one of the likely sources of the high levels of melatonin found in ram seminal plasma, at least during the day.
Silvicultural treatments for converting loblolly pine to longleaf pine dominance: effects on ground layer and midstorey vegetation
Authors: Hu Huifeng , Knapp Benjamin O. , Wang G. Geoff , Walker Joan L.
Published: January 2016

Questions

How do management practices used to enhance longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) seedling survival and growth under a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) canopy alter the structure of midstorey and ground layer vegetation? Do management treatments achieve general restoration targets for longleaf pine ecosystem structure?

Location

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune,NC,USAwithin the Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Ecoregion.

Methods

Four levels of timber harvest were applied to loblolly pine stands: Control (uncut, basal area ~16.2 m2·ha−1), MedBA(residual basal area ~9.0 m2·ha−1), LowBA(residual basal area ~6.4 m2·ha−1) and Clearcut (residual basal area of 0 m2·ha−1). Within each canopy treatment, we applied three cultural treatments selected to facilitate longleaf pine seedling success:NT(untreated), H (chemical control of woody vegetation) and H + F (chemical control plus fertilization). Vegetation responses, including the abundance (cover) of ground layer vegetation and midstorey stem densities, were reported for three growing seasons (2008–2010) following canopy removal.

Results

The ground layer was dominated by woody vegetation, and total vegetation cover generally increased with increasing canopy removal. Canopy treatment effects varied through time. Clearcut plots had higher total herbaceous and graminoid cover than MedBAand Control plots in 2008, while woody cover was significantly lower on Control plots than on LowBAand Clearcut plots in 2009. Clearcut plots had higher densities of loblolly pines than Control plots in 2009 and 2010. The herbicide treatment reduced hardwood densities, but increased loblolly pine densities, especially in 2010.

Conclusions

Successful restoration prescriptions are often site‐specific because of different land‐use history, climate, site characteristics and starting conditions. To achieve the restoration objective of creating an open midstorey with an herbaceous‐dominated ground layer when converting loblolly pine stands to longleaf pine dominance on relatively productive sites with abundant hardwoods and aggressive loblolly pine natural regeneration, canopy retention can slow the rate of development of loblolly pine regeneration and herbicides reduce hardwood stem densities. Frequent, repeated burning would likely be required to further reduce woody vegetation and increase the relative abundance of herbaceous vegetation.
The potential exploitation of research participants in high income countries who lack access to health care
Authors: Dal‐Ré Rafael , Rid Annette , Emanuel Ezekiel , Wendler David
Published: January 2016

There are millions of individuals living inNorth Americaand theEuropean Unionwho lack access to healthcare services. When these individuals participate in research, they are at increased risk of being exposed to the risks and burdens of clinical trials without realizing the benefits that result from them. The mechanisms that have been proposed to ensure that research participants in low‐ and middle‐income countries are not exploited are unlikely to protect participants in high‐income countries. The present manuscript argues that one way to address concerns about exploitation in high‐income countries would be to require sponsors to provide targeted benefits such as medical treatment during the trial, or the study drug after the trial. The latter could be achieved through extension studies, expanded access programs, or named‐patient programs. Sponsors also might provide non‐medical benefits, such as education or social support. Ethical and regulatory guidance should be revised to ensure that research participants in high‐income countries who lack access to healthcare services receive sufficient benefits.
Esthetic assessment of immediately restored implants combined with GBR and free connective tissue graft
Authors: Kolerman Roni , Nissan Joseph , Mijiritsky Eitan , Hamoudi Nasreen , Mangano Carlo , Tal Haim
Published: January 2016

Aim

Esthetic assessment of immediately restored implants combined with GBR and free connective tissue (CT) graft

Methods

A case–control, retrospective study involving 34 patients treated with maxillary anterior single implants, immediately placed and restored. Clinical and esthetic results were analyzed using standard clinical examination and a comprehensive index, comprising pink esthetic and white esthetic scores (PES/WES). The height of the implant crown and the corresponding height of the contralateral tooth crown were measured to identify mucosal recessions. The distance from the mucosal margin to the implant shoulder (DIM) was measured on the master model.

Results

Thirty of 34 implants fulfilled the strict success criteria set for dental implants with regard to osseointegration. Success was defined as implants with bone loss not exceeding 1.5 mm during the first year and loosing not more than 0.2 for each successive year. The other four implants were stable but did not meet the bone loss criteria mentioned above and defined as survived implants. Mean PES/WES was 14.44 ± 2.34 (range: 9–20). Mean PES was 7.12 ± 1.89 (range: 1–10). The highest mean values were achieved for the variable of root convexity/soft tissue color and texture (1.71 ± 0.46) whereas the mesial papilla (1.09 ± 0.62) proved to be the least pleasing. The mean WES was 7.32 ± 1.25 (range: 5–10). The difference between IC and contralateral TC was 0.54 mm. The mean value for the facial DIM was 3.82 ± 0.87 mm.

Conclusions

An evaluation of soft and hard tissue augmentation in immediately restored immediate implant procedures was employed to obtain stable hard and soft tissues. The combined GBR and CT graft procedure achieved favorable peri‐implant soft tissue condition and esthetic results. However, recession and incomplete papillas were frequently observed.
Bilingualism alters children's frontal lobe functioning for attentional control
Authors: Arredondo Maria M. , Hu Xiao‐Su , Satterfield Teresa , Kovelman Ioulia
Published: January 2016

Bilingualism is a typical linguistic experience, yet relatively little is known about its impact on children's cognitive and brain development. Theories of bilingualism suggest that early dual‐language acquisition can improve children's cognitive abilities, specifically those relying on frontal lobe functioning. While behavioral findings present much conflicting evidence, little is known about its effects on children's frontal lobe development. Using functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), the findings suggest that Spanish–English bilingual children (n = 13, ages 7–13) had greater activation in left prefrontal cortex during a non‐verbal attentional control task relative to age‐matched English monolinguals. In contrast, monolinguals (n = 14) showed greater right prefrontal activation than bilinguals. The present findings suggest that early bilingualism yields significant changes to the functional organization of children's prefrontal cortex for attentional control and carry implications for understanding how early life experiences impact cognition and brain development.
Selective attention to a talker's mouth in infancy: role of audiovisual temporal synchrony and linguistic experience
Authors: Hillairet de Boisferon Anne , Tift Amy H. , Minar Nicholas J. , Lewkowicz David J.
Published: January 2016

Previous studies have found that infants shift their attention from the eyes to the mouth of a talker when they enter the canonical babbling phase after 6 months of age. Here, we investigated whether this increased attentional focus on the mouth is mediated by audio‐visual synchrony and linguistic experience. To do so, we tracked eye gaze in 4‐, 6‐, 8‐, 10‐, and 12‐month‐old infants while they were exposed either to desynchronized native or desynchronized non‐native audiovisual fluent speech. Results indicated that, regardless of language, desynchronization disrupted the usual pattern of relative attention to the eyes and mouth found in response to synchronized speech at 10 months but not at any other age. These findings show that audio‐visual synchrony mediates selective attention to a talker's mouth just prior to the emergence of initial language expertise and that it declines in importance once infants become native‐language experts.
Diabetic nephropathy: where are we on the journey from pathophysiology to treatment?
Authors: Gallagher H. , Suckling R. J.
Published: January 2016

Diabetic nephropathy affects 30–40% of people with diabetes, and is the leading cause of end‐stage kidney disease. The current treatment paradigm relies on early detection, glycaemic control and tight blood pressure management with preferential use of renin‐angiotensin system blockade. This strategy has transformed outcomes in diabetic kidney disease over the last 20 years. Over the last two decades we have also witnessed significant advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy; however, despite this new knowledge, we have yet to develop new treatments of proven efficacy. Whilst a continued emphasis on preclinical and clinical research is clearly needed, clinicians treating people with diabetes should not forget that, in the short term, the greatest gains are likely to be realised by more consistent deployment of existing therapies.
Case series evaluating the use of absorbable staples compared with metallic staples in equine ventral midline incisions
Authors: Biedrzycki A. H. , Brounts S. H.
Published: January 2016

The objective was to evaluate the use of subcuticular absorbable staples (SAS) and compare them with metallic staples (MS) in abdominal skin closure for equine abdominal surgery in terms of surgical site infection (SSI) reduction. A prospective, randomised clinical trial was carried out on client owned horses presenting for abdominal surgery (n = 42 horses). During surgery, horses were randomly assigned to receive either SAS or MS. Preoperative criteria recorded included age, breed and sex of horse; surgical variables included lesion type, anaesthetic, surgical and stapling times; post operative variables included an anaesthetic recovery quality score and an incisional assessment score. Mean ± s.d. anaesthesia times for small intestinal surgeries between the MS and SAS (228 ± 58.8 min, 234 ± 38.7 min, respectively) and surgical times between MS and SAS (158 ± 58.8 min, 174 ± 26.5 min, respectively) were not significantly different from each other. There was no significant difference in closure times for the MS and SAS (61 ± 14.1 s, 85 ± 35.3 s, respectively). Wound scores for the MS (median score 6) were significantly greater than the SAS (median score 3) until Day 14, after which there was no significant difference between the 2 techniques. No horses in this case series developed a SSI. Although no SSIs were identified in either group, the superior wound score with the SAS together with other in vitro and clinical evaluations in other species suggest that the use of SAS may be potentially beneficial in horses.
Structure of AmtR, the global nitrogen regulator of Corynebacterium glutamicum, in free and DNA‐bound forms
Authors: Palanca Carles , Rubio Vicente
Published: January 2016

Corynebacterium glutamicum is a bacterium used for industrial amino acid production, and understanding its metabolic pathway regulation is of high biotechnological interest. Here, we report crystal structures of AmtR, the global nitrogen regulator of C. glutamicum, in apo (2.25‐Å and 2.65‐Å resolution) and DNA‐bound (3‐Å resolution) forms. These structures reveal an all‐α homodimeric TetR family regulator composed of a helix–turn–helix‐hosting N‐terminal DNA‐binding domain and a C‐terminal dimerization domain. AmtR has several unique structural features that appear to be invariant among AmtR proteins, which may be related to its regulation by the nitrogen‐sensing trimeric protein GlnK rather than by small‐molecule effectors. As compared with other TetR family members, AmtR has an extra C‐terminal helix, a large extended external loop that resembles the flexible tranducer T‐loop of GlnK in sequence, and a large open cavity towards the intersubunit region that changes shape upon DNA binding. The marked kinking of helix 4 decreases in the DNA‐bound form. The binding of one AmtR dimer to its DNA operator involves not only the insertion of helices 3 and 3′ in adjacent turns of the double‐helix major groove, but also the anchoring of 19‐residue, arginine‐rich and proline‐rich N‐terminal extensions to two external minor grooves. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with a deletion mutant reveal that the 19‐residue extension is crucial for AmtR binding to DNA. N‐extension anchoring explains the flanking by AT sequences of the recognized target DNA sequence core. The significance of these findings for the entire TetR family of regulators and for GlnK regulation of AmtR is discussed.

Database

The atomic coordinates and structure factors have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank, www.pdb.org [PDB ID codes 5DXZ (native AmtR), 5DY1 (SeMet–AmtR), and 5DY0 (AmtR·DNA)].
FROM ‘GEDICHT’ TO ‘GENICHT’: PAUL CELAN AND LANGUAGE SCEPTICISM
Authors: Weller Shane
Published: January 2016

This article explores Paul Celan's critical engagement with late nineteenth‐ and early twentieth‐century language‐sceptical discourses and literary traditions. Through a close analysis of the various kinds of linguistic negativism deployed in his poetry between the 1940s and the late 1960s, the article seeks to demonstrate that Celan may be seen as a late modernist closely akin to Samuel Beckett in his attempt to achieve a paradoxical ‘Literatur des Unworts’.

Dieser Beitrag untersucht Paul Celans kreative Auseinandersetzung mit sprachskeptischen Diskursen und literarischen Traditionen des ausgehenden 19. und des frühen 20. Jahrhunderts. Aufbauend auf einer detaillierten Analyse der verschiedenen Formen des sprachlichen Negativismus, die Celans Werk zwischen 1940 und den späten sechziger Jahren dominieren, wird demonstriert, dass Celan als ein später Modernist in der Tradition Samuel Becketts betrachtet werden kann, da er wie dieser nach der paradoxen Verwirklichung einer ‘Literatur des Unworts’ strebt.
Association between depression and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Araújo Milena Moreira , Martins Carolina Castro , Costa Lidiane Cristina Machado , Cota Luís Otávio Miranda , Faria Rodrigo Lamounier Araújo Melo , Cunha Fabiano Araújo , Costa Fernando Oliveira
Published: January 2016

Aim

The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to assess the scientific evidence on the association between depression and periodontitis.

Methods

An electronic search was conducted in three databases until October 2015 (PROSPERO‐CRD42014006451). Hand searches and grey literature were also included. Search retrieved 423 potentially studies. Two independent reviewers selected the studies, extracted data and assessed risk bias through a modified version of Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Meta‐analysis was performed for the presence/absence of periodontitis (dichotomic). Summary effect measures and odds ratio (OR) 95% CI were calculated.

Results

After selecting the studies, 15 were included in the systematic review (eight cross‐sectional, six case–control and one cohort study). Six studies reported that depression was associated with periodontitis, whereas nine studies did not. The majority of studies had low risk of bias by methodological quality assessment. Meta‐analysis of seven cross‐sectional studies showed no significant association between depression and periodontitis (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.75–1.41).

Conclusion

Findings from the present systematic review showed a great heterogeneity among the studies and the summary effect measure of the meta‐analysis cannot affirm an association between depression and periodontitis. Future studies with different designs in distinct populations should be conducted to investigate this association.
Burnout among anaesthetists in Chinese hospitals: a multicentre, cross‐sectional survey in 6 provinces
Authors: Rui Min , Ting Chen , Pengqian Fang , Xinqiao Fu
Published: January 2016

Objectives

Anesthesiology has reached a new stage which anaesthesia safety is significantly affected by human factors. The number of Chinese anaesthetists has increased to nearly twice as many as that in 2005. Attributed to traditional concepts, many problems in anesthesiology persist in Chinese hospitals. This study aims to determine the current status of anaesthesia job burnout, including problems related to burnout, as well as the conditions of anaesthesia human resources in Chinese hospitals.

Methods

A multi‐center, cross‐sectional survey of 395 anaesthetists from 60 hospitals in 6 provinces was conducted to collect data on the work conditions of anesthesiologists by using questionnaires. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure burnout. Different statistical models were also used to evaluate the data.

Results

The number of Chinese anaesthetists has increased to nearly twice as many as that in 2005. According to our field survey of burnout among anaesthetists, only 17 (4.30%) respondents exhibited high levels of burnout. The average scores corresponding to the dimensions of burnout are 14.64 ± 11.40 (emotional exhaustion, EE), 4.22 ± 5.74 (depersonalization, DP), and 33.41 ± 10.05 (personal accomplishment, PA), as determined by MBI. These results indicate the differences in the spatial distribution of anaesthetists. Moreover, 15.3% of the anaesthetists showed high EE, 8.1% exhibited high DP, and 33.6% had low PA.

Conclusion

Anxiety and undesirable conditions experienced by professional groups in anaesthesiology need to be addressed. Educational level, an important factor in anaesthesia care, influences not only psychological health of practitioners but patient safety as well. Thus, personnel structure must be optimized to relieve tension in the practice of the profession and reduce burnout among anaesthetists in hospitals in China. Meanwhile, the management must increase its effort toward improving the mental health of practitioners and patient safety in anaesthesia care.
Characterization of hepatitis B virus surface antigen variability and impact on HBs antigen clearance under nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy
Authors: Velay A. , Jeulin H. , Eschlimann M. , Malvé B. , Goehringer F. , Bensenane M. , Frippiat J‐P. , Abraham P. , Ismail A. M. , Murray J. M. , Combet C. , Zoulim F. , Bronowicki J‐P. , Schvoerer E.
Published: January 2016

For hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related chronic infection under treatment by nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs), HBsAg clearance is the ultimate therapeutic goal but very infrequent. We investigated how HBV envelope protein variability could lead to differential HBsAg clearance on NUCs. For 12 HBV genotype D patients receiving NUCs, six resolvers (HBsAg clearance) were compared to six matched nonresolvers (HBsAg persistence). PreS/S amino acid (aa) sequences were analysed with bioinformatics to predict HBV envelope antigenicity and aa covariance. To enrich our analyses on very rare resolvers, these were compared with other HBV genotype D strains in three characterized clinical cohorts including common chronically infected patients. The sT125M+sP127T combination was observed in four nonresolvers of six, corroborated by aa covariance analysis, associated with a lower predicted antigenicity than sT125T+sP127P. Concordant features within this HBV key functional domain, at positions 125 and 127, were reported from two of the three comparative cohorts. In our hands, a lower ELISA reactivity of HBV‐vaccinated mice sera was observed against the sT125M mutant. In the S gene, 56 aa changes in minor variants were detected in non‐resolvers, mainly in the major hydrophilic region, vs 28 aa changes in resolvers. Molecular features in patients showing HBsAg persistence on NUCs argue in favour of a different aa pattern in the HBV S gene compared to those showing HBsAg clearance. In nonresolvers, a decrease in HBs ‘a’ determinant antigenicity and more frequent mutations in the S gene suggest a role for the HBV envelope characteristics in HBsAg persistence.
Temporal genetic stability of Stegomyia aegypti (= Aedes aegypti) populations
Authors: GLORIA‐SORIA A. , KELLNER D. A. , BROWN J. E. , GONZALEZ‐ACOSTA C. , KAMGANG B. , LUTWAMA J. , POWELL J. R.
Published: January 2016

The mosquito Stegomyia aegypti (= Aedes aegypti) (Diptera: Culicidae) is the primary vector of viruses that cause yellow fever, dengue and Chikungunya fever. In the absence of effective vaccines, the reduction of these diseases relies on vector control strategies. The success of these strategies is tightly linked to the population dynamics of target populations. In the present study, 14 collections from St. aegypti populations separated by periods of 1–13 years were analysed to determine their temporal genetic stability. Although temporal structure is discernible in most populations, the degree of temporal differentiation is dependent on the population and does not obscure the geographic structure of the various populations. The results suggest that performing detailed studies in the years prior to and after population reduction‐ or modification‐based control interventions at each target field site may be useful in assessing the probability of success.
Emergence of Culicoides obsoletus group species from farm‐associated habitats in Germany
Authors: STEINKE S. , LÜHKEN R. , BALCZUN C. , KIEL E.
Published: January 2016

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) may transmit several arboviruses to ruminant livestock. The species of the Obsoletus group are considered to be among the most important vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV) in northern Europe. As agricultural environments offer suitable habitats for the development of their immature stages, the emergence of adult Culicoides from potential breeding sites was investigated at 20 cattle farms throughout Germany in 2012 and 2013. In analyses of species‐specific habitat preferences and relationships between Culicoides abundance in breeding substrates and their physicochemical characteristics, dungheaps emerged as the most important substrate for the development of Culicoides obsoletus sensu stricto (s.s.) (Meigen), whereas Culicoides chiopterus (Meigen) and Culicoides dewulfi Goetghebuer were generally restricted to cowpats. A decreasing pH value was associated with a higher abundance or a higher probability of observing these three species. Furthermore, the abundance of C. obsoletus s.s. was positively related to increasing moisture. Dungheaps were very productive breeding sites for this species and are therefore suggested as a target for potential control measures.