bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure and microstructure of synthetic hexagonal magnesium–cobalt cordierite solid solutions (Mg2−2xCo2xAl4Si5O18)
Authors: Serrano Francisco Javier , Montoya Noemí , Pizarro José Luis , Reventós María Mercedes , Kojdecki Marek Andrzej , Amigó José María , Alarcón Javier
Published: May 2013

Co2+-containing cordierite glasses, of nominal compositions (Mg1−xCox)2Al4Si5O18(withx= 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1), were prepared by melting colloidal gel precursors. After isothermal heating at 1273 K for around 28 h, a single-phase α-cordierite (high-temperature hexagonal polymorph) was synthesized. All materials were investigated using X-ray powder diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The crystal structure and microstructure were determined from X-ray diffraction patterns. Rietveld refinement confirmed the formation of magnesium–cobalt cordierite solid solutions. The unit-cell volume increased with the increase of cobalt content in the starting glass. The crystalline microstructure of the cordierites was interpreted using a mathematical model of a polycrystalline material and characterized by prevalent crystallite shape, volume-weighted crystallite size distribution and second-order crystalline lattice-strain distribution. Hexagonal prismatic was the prevalent shape of α-cordierite crystallites. Bimodality in the size distribution was observed and interpreted as a consequence of two paths of the crystallization: the nucleation from glass of μ-cordierite, which transformed into α-cordierite with annealing, or the nucleation of α-cordierite directly from glass at high temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy images agreed well with crystalline microstructure characteristics determined from the X-ray diffraction line-profile analysis.
A highly hydrated α-cyclodextrin/1-undecanol inclusion complex: crystal structure and hydrogen-bond network from high-resolution neutron diffraction at 20 K
Authors: Gallois-Montbrun Delphine , Le Bas Geneviève , Mason Sax A. , Prangé Thierry , Lesieur Sylviane
Published: May 2013

The monoclinicC2 crystal structure of an α-cyclodextrin/1-undecanol host–guest inclusion complex was solved using single-crystal neutron diffraction. Large high-quality crystals were specially produced by optimizing temperature-controlled growth conditions. The hydrate crystallizes in a channel-type structure formed by head-to-head dimer units of α-cyclodextrin molecules stacked like coins in a roll. The alkyl chain of the guest lipid is entirely embedded inside the tubular cavity delimited by the α-cyclodextrin dimer and adopts an all-transplanar zigzag conformation, while the alcohol polar head group is outside close to the α-cyclodextrin primary hydroxyl groups. The cyclodextrin dimer forms columns, which adopt a quasi-square arrangement much less compact than the quasi-hexagonal close packing already observed in the less hydrated α-cyclodextrin channel-type structures usually found with similar linear guests. The lack of compactness of this crystal form is related to the high number of interstitial water molecules. The replacement of 1-undecanol by 1-decanol does not modify the overall crystal structure of the hydrate as shown by additional X-ray diffraction investigations comparing the two host–guest assemblies. This is the first study that analyses the entire hydrogen-bonding network involved in the formation of a cyclodextrin dimer surrounded by its shell of water molecules.
The limitations of dispositional resistance in relation to organizational change
Authors: Michel Alexandra , Todnem By Rune , Burnes Bernard
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to test the moderating role of dispositional resistance in achieving sustainable organisational change.

Design/methodology/approach

Four studies were conducted in the period 2005‐2007. Each study included the participation of individuals experiencing ongoing organisational changes at the time, and was repeated with an independent sample in order to strengthen the meaning of the findings.

Findings

The studies confirmed the assumed positive relationship between benefit of change and commitment to change. Furthermore, two studies confirmed the assumed negative relationship between extent of change and commitment to change, while the other two studies, in contrast to the hypothesis presented, found a positive relationship. Despite the assumptions, with the exception of one study it was not possible to show moderating effects of resistance to change.

Research limitations/implications

The study casts doubt about resistance to change defined as a disposition and its stability across different contexts. In explaining these results, the authors draw on Lewin's work on resistance to change.

Originality/value

The paper argues that the importance of dispositional resistance is that it predisposes individuals to view change in a particular way, either negatively or positively. However, the level of resistance towards a specific change event will be influenced by other factors, noticeably the organizational context and the way the change is managed. Consequently, the importance of dispositional resistance lies in its ability to influence an organization's readiness for change and to identify the level of resistance it might expect to meet, and thus the approach to change it needs to adopt.
Websites and revisiting behaviour: an investigation of the relative role of predictors
Authors: Anne Craig‐Lees Margaret , Harris Jennifer , Maulana Amalia E.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to examine factors that influence repeat visits to non‐transactional web sites. Drawing on repurchase and continuance research, this study identifies four focal constructs: site commitment, satisfaction, social influences, and medium involvement, and clarifies the mediator versus moderator role of site commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

Actual visitors to five B2B and B2C non‐transactional web sites provide data participated in an online survey. The tests use the combined sample and then verify results for the individual sites. The test for mediation relies on structural path analysis; the test for moderation uses moderated regression analysis.

Findings

The four focal constructs influence web site revisitation, though in most settings, only site commitment has a direct effect. Findings support the mediator role of site commitment, though some sites exhibit only partial mediation. Results are consistent across B2C and B2B contexts. The relative impact of social influences and medium involvement is less certain, and their impact varies across individual sites.

Research limitations/implications

Because this study uses non‐probability sampling to gather respondents, they may not represent all types of visitors to the sites. The non‐transactional sites are primarily information sites, which restricts the findings. Research that considers other types of non‐transactional sites, such as entertainment or global sites, could offer further insights, especially with regard to the impact of cultural differences.

Originality/value

This research clarifies the role of site commitment by testing for mediation and moderation within the one study.
The KCRM knowledge audit: model and case illustration
Authors: Daghfous Abdelkader , Ahmad Norita , Angell Linda C.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology for conducting a knowledge‐enabled customer relationship management (KCRM) knowledge audit, which involves applying knowledge auditing principles to assess the existence and implementation level of KCRM processes within an organization. This type of audit enables an organization to thoroughly review the extent to which knowledge is generated, codified, distributed and utilized while the firm is identifying, differentiating between, interacting with, and customizing products and services for its customers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws upon the KM, CRM, and auditing literatures to develop a KCRM knowledge audit methodology. As an illustration, the proposed methodology for KCRM knowledge auditing was applied within the service arm of a paint manufacturing firm in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Findings

The proposed methodology allows supplier organizations to systematically evaluate the extent to which their CRM approaches are knowledge‐enabled; and to identify competitive strengths and opportunities in the areas such as cost, product and service quality, as well as flexibility to meet the changing requirements of their business customers.

Research limitations/implications

The study focused on a practical point of view and, therefore, there are no testable propositions derived. In addition, the study focuses on an explicit KM model, which has limitations in tacit KM such as social networks and detail guidelines of KM outcomes.

Originality/value

This paper draws upon the KM, CRM, and auditing fields to develop a KCRM knowledge audit methodology. It contributes to the KM, CRM, and auditing literatures by developing and demonstrating how these literatures intersect via the concept and methodology of a KCRM knowledge audit.
Accounting in a developing transitional economy: the case of Vietnam
Authors: Ngoc Phi Anh Doan , Nguyen Duc‐Tho
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive yet concise review of changes which have occurred in Vietnamese accounting regulations and practices since the mid‐1980s, and an analysis of prospective developments.

Design/methodology/approach

A combination of analytical review and synthesis of information available from diverse sources, and analysis of information obtained from interviews with 20 middle‐to‐senior practicing accountants.

Findings

Over the past two decades, as Vietnam implemented economic liberalization and developed closer links with Western economies, its accounting system has changed accordingly. The current system is a mixture of conceptual and formal elements taken from Western accounting and some basic features and practices retained from the old (Soviet‐style and French‐influenced) system. Further convergence toward international practices is likely to be slow, especially in the SME sector and in large enterprises that do not attract capital from foreign sources. Developments in management accounting and the accounting profession are also reviewed.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature by providing structured and consistent information about a country which is reported only infrequently in the international literature, and considering both the pros and cons of harmonizing with IAS/IFRS in a developing‐country context.
Reflecting on competences to increase role clarity during service delivery in a Third World setting
Authors: Nansubuga Florence , Munene John C.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study is essentially to examine the contribution of reflection in providing a stronger association between explicit competences and role clarity when reflection is used as a means of articulating competences (knowledge, skills and attitudes).

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a correlational survey design and targeted 223 employees in managerial positions of nine districts' local governments in Uganda and primarily used a structured questionnaire.

Findings

The research confirmed a significant positive relationship between reflection and explicit competences, showing the importance of articulating tacit knowledge to develop explicit competences that would increase role clarity.

Research limitations/implications

There are seemingly other confounding factors that may enhance reflection and explicit competences such as community participation in goal setting which need to be considered in future studies.

Practical implications

This paper adds to the understanding of the consequences of routinely utilizing competences without concern on whether they will leads to the desired results. It introduces the concept of reflection; an approach for articulating competences explicitly to increase role clarity.

Originality/value

The study recommends district managers to formally engage in continuous reflection on tacit competences in order to minimise errors and increase role clarity during service delivery.
One goal, different strategies: an analysis of national broadband plans in Latin America
Authors: Galperin Hernan , Mariscal Judith , Fernanda Viecens María
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The ambitious government initiatives currently underway to accelerate broadband development indicate a major shift from the consensus that prevailed during the 1990 s in the telecommunications sector. To what extent does this change represent a return to the period before market liberalization and the privatization of government‐run telecom services? What are the main objectives of national broadband plans and which policy tools are best suited to achieve them? This paper aims to analyze these questions through a comparative analysis of the goals, policy instruments and network‐deployment models of the most relevant national broadband plans adopted in Latin America.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a comparative analysis of the goals, policy instruments and network‐deployment models of the most relevant national broadband plans adopted in Latin America.

Findings

Common patterns and key differences between the initiatives adopted in five countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico) are identified and compared to those deployed in developed countries. Variations in the strategies adopted are linked to national differences in economic endowments and the broader processes of political change in Latin America.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper making this comparative analysis.
Recognizing junior doctors' potential contribution to patient safety and health care quality improvement
Authors: Elias Ibrahim Joseph , Jeffcott Shelley , Davis Marie‐Claire , Chadwick Liam
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to re‐frame perceptions surrounding junior doctors' capacity to contribute to patient safety and quality improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

A targeted literature review was conducted followed by individual telephone interviews and a half‐day forum involving junior doctor representatives and selected leaders in the sector.

Findings

Junior doctors' entry into health care is an ideal time to cultivate practitioners' interest and expertise in improving the health system for better patient care. Junior doctors are more likely to bring or embrace new ideas, and recognize the importance of transparency and integration of technology into healthcare systems. Engaging with junior doctors in collaborative processes, rather than focusing on their more senior colleagues, may create a more effective culture.

Originality/value

The attributes of junior doctors (as they are in the absence of specific quality improvement or leadership training) that are currently underutilized in patient safety and quality improvement are explored, along with the factors limiting and facilitating the utilization of these attributes.
Awkward encounters and ethnography
Authors: Koning Juliette , Ooi Can‐Seng
Published: May 2013

Purpose

Researchers rarely present accounts of their awkward encounters in ethnographies. Awkwardness, however, does matter and affects the ethnographic accounts we write and our understanding of social situations. The purpose is to bring these hidden sides of organizational ethnography to the fore, to discuss the consequences of ignoring awkward encounters, and to improve our understanding of organizational realities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents awkward ethnographic encounters in the field: encounters with evangelizing ethnic Chinese business people in Indonesia (Koning), and visiting an artist village in China (Ooi). Based on analysing their awkwardness, and in the context of a critical assessment of the reflexive turn in ethnography, the authors propose a more inclusive reflexivity. The paper ends with formulating several points supportive of reaching inclusive reflexivity.

Findings

By investigating awkward encounters, the authors show that these experiences have been left out for political (publishing culture in academia, unwritten rules of ethnography), as well as personal (feelings of failure, unwelcome self‐revelations) reasons, while there is much to discover from these encounters. Un‐paralyzing reflexivity means to include the awkward, the emotional, and admit the non‐rational aspects of our ethnographic experiences; such inclusive reflexivity is incredibly insightful.

Research limitations/implications

Inclusive reflexivity not only allows room for the imperfectness of the researcher, but also enables a fuller and deeper representation of the groups and communities we aim to understand and, thus, will enhance the trustworthiness and quality of our ethnographic work.

Originality/value

Awkwardness is rarely acknowledged, not to mention discussed, in organizational ethnography.
Exports of services: Indian experience in perspective
Authors: Eichengreen Barry , Gupta Poonam
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to survey India's experience with exporting services. The authors seek to show that the country's experience is unique in that modern tradable services are a significantly larger share of GDP than in other countries at comparable levels of economic development. This has not always been the case, however; India's out‐performance is limited to recent years. Policy initiatives, from trade reform to liberalization of domestic industrial and service sectors, were important for jump‐starting the process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the literature and evidence. It takes a close look at the Indian service sector and specifically information‐technology‐related (IT) services, seeking to situate the growth in service exports from India in its comparative context. The authors document the role that exports of services have played in the performance of the Indian economy in recent years. They seek to pinpoint the “take‐off” in Indian services output and establish the extent to which the country's success in exporting services is exceptional from an international point of view. And they discuss the extent to which India's performance as an exporter of services has been shaped by policies liberalizing the service sector itself and by liberalization of the manufacturing sector.

Findings

Panel and country‐specific regressions for a cross section of countries point to the importance of a range of additional factors: overall economic development, communications infrastructure, access to foreign technology, and spillovers between the merchandise and service exports. Importantly, however, these factors, jointly or individually, do not wipe out the significance of a dummy variable for India. India, evidently, is a significant outlier as an exporter of services, and even more so as the period proceeds.

Originality/value

The paper discusses the country's major policy initiatives, such as trade reforms and liberalization of domestic industrial and service sectors, and their importance for jump‐starting the process of services growth and its exports. Regression results show that, in addition to these policies, other factors such as overall economic development, communications infrastructure, access to foreign technology, and spillovers between the merchandise and service exports were important as well.
Trade liberalization and wage inequality in India: a mandated wage equation approach
Authors: Mishra Prachi , Kusum Das Deb
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between trade liberalization and wages in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses an empirical approach based on the “mandated wage equations”.

Findings

The main result in the paper is that trade reforms have been associated with a rise in the relative wages of medium‐skilled workers (defined as having completed secondary schooling). The authors do not find any evidence for trade reforms to be associated with an increase or decrease in wage inequality between low and high‐skilled workers. The results are consistent with the predictions of the Stolper‐Samuelson theorem.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is to add to the debate on trade reforms and inequality in India by focusing on the variation in skill categories.
Beyond Lewis: rural‐to‐urban migration with endogenous policy change
Authors: Chen Zhao , Liu Xiaofeng , Lu Ming
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to answer the following questions concerning rural‐to‐urban labor migration in China: What is the impact of discrimination against non‐Hukou in urban public service provision? Will such discrimination disappear in the future within the current policy‐making framework? What is the result of such an endogenous policy change as far as urbanization and economic growth are concerned?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors build a theoretical model of rural‐urban migration, taking into account the cost of social conflict due to discrimination against urban non‐Hukou in local public service. The possibility of endogenous policy change is also considered by numerical simulation.

Findings

The authors prove that, in the early stage of urban economic growth when the losses of potential conflicts are relatively small, the exclusive urban public service provision may be beneficial to them, but the losses under such unequal public service provision policy increase in the process of urban growth, and after a certain stage of development, opening public service access equally to the immigrants will be a better choice, even if only the natives' utility is considered. Such an endogenous policy change not only decreases the within‐city inequality and conflicts, but also advances the urbanization and urban economic growth.

Research limitations/implications

The authors only consider two extreme cases of local public service provision, that is, the urban non‐Hukou residents have equal access to public service or they are totally not entitled. The possibility of partial access to local public service is not considered in the model.

Originality/value

The authors investigate impact of social conflicts on within‐city inequality, urbanization as well as urban economic growth due to unequal social public service within urban residents. The model also shows an endogenous policy change during rural‐urban labor migration.
Self‐employment or wage‐employment?
Authors: Wang Zi‐cheng , Yang Wei‐guo
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the impact of return migration on the occupational choice in rural China.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ research uses the two‐stage residuals inclusion estimation, 2SRI, to deal with the endogeneity problem, and then compares the occupational choice between returnees and stayers with multinomial logit estimation and counterfactual analysis.

Findings

The authors mainly find that: the migration experience has a significant positive impact on wage‐employment activities, but may be has a negative effect on the entrepreneurial activities. The workers engaged in non‐agricultural activities (self‐employment and wage‐employment) have the same characteristics in the labor market (i.e. younger, male, higher education levels, less average land and parents with little children) compared to the agricultural activities, but these characteristics show no significant affect on the occupation choice between self‐employment and wage‐employment.

Research limitations/implications

This paper extends the empirical analysis in internal migration, but it also has some drawbacks, such as not enough data can be obtained to distinguish the occupations between different types of self‐employment as own account workers and as entrepreneurs. Further research needs more comprehensive data to support.

Originality/value

The authors’ research is the first study which uses self‐selection model to examine the activity choice of return migrants in rural China. They also extend the existing studies in two directions: first, they use nationally‐representative data from the general social survey of China carried out in 2006 to examine the relationship between the return rural migrants and their occupational choices. Second, they propose a more exact category for rural occupational choice including non‐agricultural activities (self‐employee, wage‐employment) and agricultural activities (peasants).
Brucella melitensis 16MΔhfq attenuation confers protection against wild‐type challenge in BALB/c mice
Authors: Zhang Junbo , Guo Fei , Chen Chuangfu , Li Zhiqiang , Zhang Hui , Wang Yuanzhi , Zhang Ke , Du Guoqing , li Yuefeng , Wang Jiangde , Jian Tong , Wang Zhen
Published: May 2013

Brucellosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease that causes animal and human diseases. Although effective, the current Brucella vaccines (Rev.1 and M5‐90) have several drawbacks. The first involves residual virulence for animals and humans and the second is the inability to differentiate natural infection from that caused by vaccination. Therefore, Brucella melitensis 16M hfq mutant (16MΔhfq) was constructed to overcome these drawbacks. Similarly to Rev.1 and M5‐90, 16MΔhfq reduces survival in macrophages and mice and induces strong protective immunity in BALB/c mice. Moreover, these vaccines elicit anti‐Brucella‐specific IgG1 and IgG2a subtype responses and induce secretion of gamma interferon and interleukin‐4. The Hfq antigen also allows serological differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. These results show that 16MΔhfq is an ideal live attenuated vaccine candidate against virulent Brucella melitensis 16M infection. It will be further evaluated in sheep.
Pregnancy intention and postpartum depression: secondary data analysis from a prospective cohort
Authors: Mercier RJ , Garrett J , Thorp J , Siega‐Riz AM
Published: May 2013

Objective

To assess the relationship between unintended pregnancy and postpartum depression.

Design

Secondary analysis of data from a prospective pregnancy cohort.

Setting

The study was performed at the University of North Carolina prenatal care clinics.

Population/sample

Pregnant women enrolled for prenatal care at the University of North Carolina Hospital Center.

Methods

Participants were questioned about pregnancy intention at 15–19 weeks of gestation, and classified as having an intended, mistimed or unwanted pregnancy. They were evaluated for postpartum depression at 3 and 12 months postpartum. Log binomial regression was used to assess the relationship between unintended pregnancy and depression, controlling for confounding by demographic factors and reproductive history.

Main outcome measures

Depression at 3 and 12 months postpartum, defined as Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale score >13.

Results

Data were analysed for 688 women at 3 months and 550 women at 12 months. Depression was more likely in women with unintended pregnancies at both 3 months (risk ratio [RR] 2.1, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2–3.6) and 12 months (RR 3.6, 95% CI 1.8–7.1). Using multivariable analysis adjusting for confounding by age, poverty and education level, women with unintended pregnancies were twice as likely to have postpartum depression at 12 months (RR 2.0, 95% CI 0.96–4.0).

Conclusion

While many elements may contribute to postpartum depression, unintended pregnancy could also be a contributing factor. Women with unintended pregnancy may have an increased risk of depression up to 1 year postpartum.
The ‘double pituitary hot spot’ sign of skull base meningioma on gallium‐68‐labelled somatostatin analogue PET
Authors: Law W Phillip , Fiumara Frank , Fong William , Macfarlane David J
Published: May 2013

Gallium‐68 (68Ga)‐labelled somatostatin analogue imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) is increasingly replacing single photon (such as 111In‐labelled octreotide) imaging in the detection and staging of carcinoid and other neuroendocrine tumours. Among other tissues, pituitary uptake of 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid‐octreotate (DOTA‐TATE) and other somatostatin analogues is physiological. DOTA‐TATE also accumulates in meningiomas, which have a high density of somatostatin receptor expression. The combination of pituitary and skull base meningioma uptake results in a characteristic ‘double hot spot’ appearance, which indicates the presence of a meningioma. This is a case of a middle‐aged woman who underwent 68Ga‐DOTA‐TATE PET for confirmation and staging of clinically suspected carcinoid tumour, in whom a skull base meningioma was incidentally discovered. With the increasing use of PET in the management of neuroendocrine tumours – and the not infrequent occurrence of meningiomas – the appearance of meningiomas on somatostatin analogue imaging should be one with which reporting clinicians are familiar.
Evaluation of the Charlson Comorbidity Index to Predict Early Mortality in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Patients
Authors: Bhavnani Sanjeev P. , Coleman Craig I. , Guertin Danette , Yarlagadda Ravi K. , Clyne Christopher A. , Kluger Jeffrey
Published: May 2013

Background

Current guidelines consider the implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) a class III indication in patients with a life expectancy of <1 year. An evaluation of concomitant noncardiac conditions may identify patients whom may not derive benefit with ICD therapy. We sought to evaluate the association of the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) on the prediction of early mortality (EM), death <1 year after ICD implant.

Methods

The study population consisted of patients (n = 1062) undergoing ICD implantation for the primary or secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death from 1997 to 2007. The predictive value of the CCI on the risk of EM and appropriate shock therapy for ventricular arrhythmias as compared to patients without EM after ICD implant was calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards and receiver operator analyses.

Results

Patients experiencing EM (n = 110) demonstrated higher CCI scores (mean 2.8 ± 1.3 vs 1.5 ± 1.2, P < 0.001) as compared to individuals without EM (n = 963). Among patients with a CCI of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5, the incidence of EM increased from 5% to 78%. The CCI was an independent predictor of EM (AHR 1.4 [95% CI 1.2–1.6], P < 0.001, per single score increase). Patients who experienced EM demonstrated a decreased incidence of appropriate ICD therapy when compared to patients without EM (AHR 0.4 [95% CI 0.2–0.7], P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Noncardiac conditions are commonly observed among patients undergoing ICD implantation. Guidelines must incorporate a comprehensive assessment of concomitant comorbidities to minimize the risk of EM and to maximize the survival benefit with ICD therapy.
The Urban Injustices of New Labour's “New Urban Renewal”: The Case of the Aylesbury Estate in London
Authors: Lees Loretta
Published: May 2013

This paper discusses the urban injustices of New Labour's “new urban renewal”, that is the state‐led gentrification of British council estates, undertaken through the guise of mixed communities policy, on the Aylesbury estate in Southwark, London, one of the largest council estates in Europe. In this particular case of post‐political planning I show how the tenant support for the regeneration programme was manipulated and misrepresented and how choices were closed down for them, leaving them ultimately with a “false choice” between a regeneration they did not want or the further decline of their estate. I look at what the estate residents thought/think about the whole process and how they have resisted, and are resisting, the gentrification of their estate. I show revanchist and post‐political practices, but ultimately I refuse to succumb to these dystopian narratives, very attractive as they are, for conflict/dissent has not been completely smothered and resistance to gentrification in and around the Aylesbury is alive and well. I argue that we urgently need to re‐establish the city as the driver of democratic politics with an emancipatory agenda, rather than one that ratifies the status quo or gets mired in a dystopic post‐justice city.
Systematic review: MRI enterography for assessment of small bowel involvement in paediatric Crohn's disease
Authors: Giles E. , Barclay A. R. , Chippington S. , Wilson D. C.
Published: May 2013

Background

Barium meal enteroclysis (BM) is the recommended imaging technique for small bowel inaccessible by ileo‐colonoscopy when diagnosing paediatric‐onset inflammatory bowel disease, but it has poor sensitivity and involves ionising radiation. MRI enterography (MRE) is an alternative methodology.

Aims

To critically appraise the published evidence on MRE in the assessment of Paediatric inflammatory bowel disease by systematic review.

Methods

Review of all English language data reporting MRE for the investigation of patients <18 years with known or suspected IBD. Primary searches of Medline (Jan 1950–April 2012), Cinahl (1966–April 2012) and Pubmed (Jan 1950–April 2012) were performed using keyword and MeSH terms; IBD; Magnetic resonance imaging; small bowel imaging; EMBASE was then searched. Two authors independently assessed the quality of studies using the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies tool.

Results

Searches yielded 930 035 hits, combination word searches limited to 1983 titles. Fifty‐two studies were fully reviewed, 41 were excluded due to lack of paediatric data. Eleven studies of 496 children were included. All studies used endoscopy as the reference test. 10/496 patients required jejunal intubation for bowel preparation. Meta‐analysis of six comparable studies gave a pooled sensitivity and specificity for MRE detection of active terminal ileal Crohn's disease of 84% and 97% respectively. Studies displayed heterogeneity in bowel preparation, scanning technique, reporting methodology and timing of ileo‐colonoscopy in relation to MRE. In three studies comparing BM, MRE had greater sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions

MRE is a sensitive and specific tool for diagnosis in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease. Technical considerations require refinement and standardisation; however, MRE has no radiation. Current data suggest that MRE should supersede BM as the SB imaging technique in centres with appropriate expertise.
That which does not kill me makes me stronger; combining ERK1/2 pathway inhibitors and BH3 mimetics to kill tumour cells and prevent acquired resistance
Authors: Sale Matthew J , Cook Simon J
Published: May 2013

Oncogenic mutations in RAS or BRAF can drive the inappropriate activation of the ERK1/2. In many cases, tumour cells adapt to become addicted to this deregulated ERK1/2 signalling for their proliferation, providing a therapeutic window for tumour‐selective growth inhibition. As a result, inhibition of ERK1/2 signalling by BRAF or MEK1/2 inhibitors is an attractive therapeutic strategy. Indeed, the first BRAF inhibitor, vemurafenib, has now been approved for clinical use, while clinical evaluation of MEK1/2 inhibitors is at an advanced stage. Despite this progress, it is apparent that tumour cells adapt quickly to these new targeted agents so that tumours with acquired resistance can emerge within 6–9 months of primary treatment. One of the major reasons for this is that tumour cells typically respond to BRAF or MEK1/2 inhibitors by undergoing a G1 cell cycle arrest rather than dying. Indeed, although inhibition of ERK1/2 invariably increases the expression of pro‐apoptotic BCL2 family proteins, tumour cells undergo minimal apoptosis. This cytostatic response may simply provide the cell with the opportunity to adapt and acquire resistance. Here we discuss recent studies that demonstrate that combination of BRAF or MEK1/2 inhibitors with inhibitors of pro‐survival BCL2 proteins is synthetic lethal for ERK1/2‐addicted tumour cells. This combination effectively transforms the cytostatic response of BRAF and MEK1/2 inhibitors into a striking apoptotic cell death response. This not only augments the primary efficacy of BRAF and MEK1/2 inhibitors but delays the onset of acquired resistance to these agents, validating their combination in the clinic.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Emerging Therapeutic Aspects in Oncology. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2013.169.issue‐8
ORM‐10103, a novel specific inhibitor of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, decreases early and delayed afterdepolarizations in the canine heart
Authors: Jost N , Nagy N , Corici C , Kohajda Z , Horváth A , Acsai K , Biliczki P , Levijoki J , Pollesello P , Koskelainen T , Otsomaa L , Tóth A , Papp J Gy , Varró A , Virág L
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose

At present there are no small molecule inhibitors that show strong selectivity for the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX). Hence, we studied the electrophysiological effects of acute administration of ORM‐10103, a new NCX inhibitor, on the NCX and L‐type Ca2+ currents and on the formation of early and delayed afterdepolarizations.

Experimental Approach

Ion currents were recorded by using a voltage clamp technique in canine single ventricular cells, and action potentials were obtained from canine and guinea pig ventricular preparations with the use of microelectrodes.

Key Results

ORM‐10103 significantly reduced both the inward and outward NCX currents. Even at a high concentration (10 μM), ORM‐10103 did not significantly change the L‐type Ca2+ current or the maximum rate of depolarization (dV/dtmax), indicative of the fast inward Na+ current. At 10 μM ORM‐10103 did not affect the amplitude or the dV/dtmax of the slow response action potentials recorded from guinea pig papillary muscles, which suggests it had no effect on the L‐type Ca2+ current. ORM‐10103 did not influence the Na+/K+ pump or the main K+ currents of canine ventricular myocytes, except the rapid delayed rectifier K+ current, which was slightly diminished by the drug at 3 μM. The amplitudes of pharmacologically‐ induced early and delayed afterdepolarizations were significantly decreased by ORM‐10103 (3 and 10 μM) in a concentration‐dependent manner.

Conclusions and Implications

ORM‐10103 is a selective inhibitor of the NCX current and can abolish triggered arrhythmias. Hence, it has the potential to be used to prevent arrhythmogenic events.

Linked Article

This article is commented on by Terracciano and Hancox, pp. 765–767 of this issue. To view this commentary visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.12299
The kynurenine pathway as a therapeutic target in cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders
Authors: Stone Trevor W , Darlington L Gail
Published: May 2013

Understanding the neurochemical basis for cognitive function is one of the major goals of neuroscience, with a potential impact on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders. In this review, the focus will be on a biochemical pathway that remains under‐recognized in its implications for brain function, even though it can be responsible for moderating the activity of two neurotransmitters fundamentally involved in cognition – glutamate and acetylcholine. Since this pathway – the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism – is induced by immunological activation and stress, it also stands in a unique position to mediate the effects of environmental factors on cognition and behaviour. Targeting the pathway for new drug development could, therefore, be of value not only for the treatment of existing psychiatric conditions, but also for preventing the development of cognitive disorders in response to environmental pressures.
Mental Spatial Transformations in 14‐ and 16‐Month‐Old Infants: Effects of Action and Observational Experience
Authors: Frick Andrea , Wang Su‐hua
Published: May 2013

Infants' ability to mentally track the orientation of an object during a hidden rotation was investigated (N = 28 in each experiment). A toy on a turntable was fully covered and then rotated 90°. When revealed, the toy had turned with the turntable (probable event), remained at its starting orientation (improbable event in Experiment 1), or turned to the opposite side (improbable event in Experiment 2). Results demonstrated a developmental progression between 14 and 16 months of age in infants' sensitivity to spatial object relations and their ability to track the orientation of an object during hidden rotation. Experiment 3 showed that 14‐month‐olds' performance improved with hands‐on training, highlighting the role of action experience in cognitive development.
Effects of Head Start REDI on Children's Outcomes 1 Year Later in Different Kindergarten Contexts
Authors: Bierman Karen L. , Nix Robert L. , Heinrichs Brenda S. , Domitrovich Celene E. , Gest Scott D. , Welsh Janet A. , Gill Sukhdeep
Published: May 2013

One year after participating in the Research‐based, Developmentally Informed (REDI) intervention or “usual practice” Head Start, the learning and behavioral outcomes of 356 children (17% Hispanic, 25% African American; 54% girls; Mage = 4.59 years at initial assessment) were assessed. In addition, their 202 kindergarten classrooms were evaluated on quality of teacher–student interactions, emphasis on reading instruction, and school‐level student achievement. Hierarchical linear analyses revealed that the REDI intervention promoted kindergarten phonemic decoding skills, learning engagement, and competent social problem‐solving skills, and reduced aggressive–disruptive behavior. Intervention effects on social competence and inattention were moderated by kindergarten context, with effects strongest when children entered schools with low student achievement. Implications are discussed for developmental models of school readiness and early educational programs.
Social Welfare and Marine Reserves: Is Willingness to Pay for Conservation Dependent on Management Process? A Discrete Choice Experiment of the Ningaloo Marine Park in Australia
Authors: Rogers Abbie A.
Published: May 2013

The creation of a marine reserve network is an active area of policy in Australia. Here, a discrete choice experiment is used to estimate how the community values the ecology of the Ningaloo Marine Park, with a view to understanding the drivers of social welfare in relation to marine conservation. A novel aspect of this research is that it not only considers the values people hold for conservation outcomes, but also their preferences for how those outcomes are achieved. The results indicate that management process does have an impact on individuals’ preferences for conservation. By considering management process within the choice model, we gain a richer understanding of the relationship between social welfare and marine conservation.
STADIUM CONSTRUCTION AND MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE
Authors: GITTER SETH R. , RHOADS THOMAS A.
Published: May 2013

The established literature shows that new stadium construction for major league baseball (MLB) teams can increase attendance, but there are limited studies at the minor league level. We use a data set encompassing all A, AA, and AAA minor league baseball teams from 1992 to 2006 to estimate the impact of stadium construction on minor league attendance. This data set includes almost 200 teams, over half of which constructed a new stadium during the 15‐year observation period. Over a 10‐year period our results show that new stadiums increase attendance by 1.2 million fans at the AAA level, 0.4 million at the AA and high A level, and 0.2 million at short season low A. A cost benefit analysis suggests that increased ticket sales do not offset the stadium costs, in line with previous works on MLB. (JEL H0, L83)
Reliability of field methods for estimating body fat
Authors: Loenneke Jeremy P. , Barnes Jeremy T. , Wilson Jacob M. , Lowery Ryan P. , Isaacs Melissa N. , Pujol Thomas J.
Published: May 2013

When health professionals measure the fitness levels of clients, body composition is usually estimated. In practice, the reliability of the measurement may be more important than the actual validity, as reliability determines how much change is needed to be considered meaningful. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of two bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices (in athlete and non‐athlete mode) and compare that to 3‐site skinfold (SKF) readings. Twenty‐one college students attended the laboratory on two occasions and had their measurements taken in the following order: body mass, height, SKF, Tanita body fat‐350 (BF‐350) and Omron HBF‐306C. There were no significant pairwise differences between Visit 1 and Visit 2 for any of the estimates (P>0·05). The Pearson product correlations ranged from r = 0·933 for HBF‐350 in the athlete mode (A) to r = 0·994 for SKF. The ICC's ranged from 0·93 for HBF‐350(A) to 0·992 for SKF, and the MD's ranged from 1·8% for SKF to 5·1% for BF‐350(A). The current study found that SKF and HBF‐306C(A) were the most reliable (<2%) methods of estimating BF%, with the other methods (BF‐350, BF‐350(A), HBF‐306C) producing minimal differences greater than 2%. In conclusion, the SKF method presented with the best reliability because of its low minimal difference, suggesting this method may be the best field method to track changes over time if you have an experienced tester. However, if technical error is a concern, the practitioner may use the HBF‐306C(A) because it had a minimal difference value comparable to SKF.
SimultaneousEEGand fMRIrecordings (EEG‐fMRI) in children with epilepsy
Authors: Moeller Friederike , Stephani Ulrich , Siniatchkin Michael
Published: May 2013

By combining electroencephalography (EEG) with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) it is possible to describe blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) signal changes related toEEGpatterns. This way,EEG‐pattern–associated networks of hemodynamic changes can be detected anywhere in the brain with good spatial resolution. This review summarizesEEG‐fMRIstudies that have been performed in children with epilepsy.EEG‐fMRIstudies in focal epilepsy (structural and nonlesional cases, benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes), generalized epilepsy (especially absence epilepsy), and epileptic encephalopathies (West syndrome,Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome, continuous spike and waves during slow sleep, andDravet syndrome) are presented. AlthoughEEG‐fMRIwas applied mainly to localize the region presumably generating focal interictal discharges in focal epilepsies,EEG‐fMRIidentified underlying networks in patients with generalized epilepsies and thereby contributed to a better understanding of these epilepsies. In epileptic encephalopathies a specific fingerprint of hemodynamic changes associated with the particular syndrome was detected. The value of theEEG‐fMRItechnique for diagnosis and investigation of pathogenetic mechanisms of different forms of epilepsy is discussed.