bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Putative roles as oncogene or tumour suppressor of the Mid-clustered microRNAs in Gallid alphaherpesvirus 2 (GaHV2) induced Marek’s disease lymphomagenesis
Authors: Teng Man , Yu Zu-Hua , Zhao Pu , Zhuang Guo-Qing , Wu Zi-Xiang , Dang Lu , Li Hui-Zhen , Ma Sheng-Ming , Cui Zhi-Zhong , Zhang Gai-Ping , Wu Run , Luo Jun
Published: May 2017

In the last decade, numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified in diverse virus families, particularly in herpesviruses. Gallid alphaherpesvirus 2 (GaHV2) is a representative oncogenic alphaherpesvirus that induces rapid-onset T-cell lymphomas in its natural hosts, namely Marek’s disease (MD). In the GaHV2 genome there are 26 mature miRNAs derived from 14 precursors assembled into three clusters, namely the Meq-cluster, Mid-cluster and LAT-cluster. Several GaHV2 miRNAs, especially those in the Meq-cluster (e.g. miR-M4-5p), have been demonstrated to be critical in MD pathogenesis and/or tumorigenesis. Interestingly the downstream Mid-cluster is regulated and transcribed by the same promoter as the Meq-cluster in the latent phase of the infection, but the role of these Mid-clustered miRNAs in GaHV2 biology remains unclear. We have generated the deletion mutants of the Mid-cluster and of its associated individual miRNAs in GX0101 virus, a very virulent GaHV2 strain, and demonstrated that the Mid-clustered miRNAs are not essential for virus replication. Using GaHV2-infected chickens as an animal model, we found that, compared with parental GX0101 virus, the individual deletion of miR-M31 decreased the mortality and gross tumour incidence of infected chickens while the deletion individually of miR-M1 or miR-M11 unexpectedly increased viral pathogenicity or oncogenicity, similarly to the deletion of the entire Mid-cluster region. More importantly, our data further confirm that miR-M11-5p, the miR-M11-derived mature miRNA, targets the viral oncogene meq and suppresses its expression in GaHV2 infection. We report here that members of the Mid-clustered miRNAs, miR-M31-3p and miR-M11-5p, potentially act either as oncogene or tumour suppressor in MD lymphomagenesis.
Are Your Covariates Under Control? How Normalization Can Re-introduce Covariate Effects
Authors: Pain Oliver , Dudbridge Frank , Ronald Angelica
Published: May 2017

Many statistical tests rely on the assumption that the residuals of a model are normally distributed. Rank-based inverse normal transformation (INT) of the dependent variable is one of the most popular approaches to satisfy the normality assumption. Studies regularly adjust for covariates and then normalize the residuals. This study investigated the effect of regressing covariates against the dependent variable and then applying rank-based INT to the residuals. The correlation between the dependent variable and covariates at each stage of processing was assessed. An alternative approach was tested of applying rank-based INT to the dependent variablebeforeregressing covariates was tested. Analyses based on both simulated and real data examples demonstrated that applying rank-based INT to the dependent variable residuals after regressing out covariates re-introduces a linear correlation between the dependent variable and covariates in almost all situations. This will increase type-1 errors and reduce power. Our proposed alternative approach, where rank-based INT was applied prior to controlling for covariate effects, gave residuals that were normally distributed and linearly uncorrelated with covariates. This approach is therefore recommended.
The Oropharynx as a Distinct Colonization Site forstaphylococcus aureusin the Community
Authors: Hanson Blake M. , Kates Ashley E. , Mills Elizabeth , Herwaldt Loreen A. , Torner James C. , Dawson Jeffrey D. , Smith Tara C.
Published: May 2017

Background

S. aureusis a frequent cause of hospital and community associated infections and colonization is known to increase the risk of infection, with the nares considered the most important colonization site.

Methods

We compared the prevalence of nasal and oropharyngeal carriage in a yearlong, prospective cohort study of people from the community as well as assessed risk factors for nares-only and oropharynx-only colonization.

Results

Colonization at both anatomical sites was correlated; however, oropharynx only carriage occurred and oropharyngeal swabs were more sensitive than nasal swabs at detecting carriage (77.27% and 72.725 respectively). Non-Caucasian race, having a greater number of people living in your home and more children in your home all significantly increased the odds of oropharynx-only carriage. HavingS. aureuspresent on home environmental sites, exercising in a fitness center, and sharing bath towels all increased the odds of nares-only carriage.

Conclusions

Oropharyngeal swabs increase the detection ofS. aureuscolonization in community embers.
Ascorbate concentration inArabidopsis thalianaand expression of ascorbate related genes using RNAseq in response to light and the diurnal cycle
Authors: Laing William , Norling Cara , Brewster Di , Wright Michele , Bulley Sean
Published: May 2017

We explore where transcriptional regulation of ascorbate concentration lies in plants. Is it in biosynthesis,recycling, regulation or consumption? Arabidopsis thaliana plants were grown under controlled environment at four photon flux density levels (PFD). Rosettes from plants were harvested at the four PFD levels and over a diurnal cycle and after a step change in PFD and analysed for ascorbate concentration and transcript levels measured by RNAseq. Ascorbate concentrations and expression of genes in the L-galactose ascorbate biosynthesis, recycling,consumption pathways and regulation are presented to provide a full analysis of the control of ascorbate by environmentally modulated gene expression. Ascorbate concentration responded to PFD levels but not to time of day and showed only a small response to change of PFD after 2 days. Of the L-galactose pathway genes, only GDP galactose phosphorylase (GGP) showed a significant response in to different PFDs, time of day and to change in PFD. Other genes also showed limited responses. This study compares gene expression of a range of ascorbate related genes to changes in environment in a unified way and supports the concept that GGP is the key regulatory gene in ascorbate biosynthesis and that post transcriptional regulation is also important.

Highlight

In a comprehensive study of expression of all ascorbate related genes the data is consistent with the control of leaf ascorbate concentration by transcription being through the expression of GDP galactose phosphorylase.
Integrating planar polarity and tissue mechanics in computational models of epithelial morphogenesis
Authors: Fisher Katherine H. , Strutt David , Fletcher Alexander G.
Published: May 2017

Cells in many epithelial tissues are polarised orthogonally to their apicobasal axis. Such planar polarity ensures that tissue shape and structure are properly organised. Disruption of planar polarity can result in developmental defects such as failed neural tube closure and cleft palette. Recent advances in molecular and live-imaging techniques have implicated both secreted morphogens and mechanical forces as orienting cues for planar polarisation. Components of planar polarity pathways act upstream of cytoskeletal effectors, which can alter cell mechanics in a polarised manner. The study of cell polarisation thus provides a system for dissecting the interplay between chemical and mechanical signals in development. Here, we discuss how different computational models have contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying planar polarity in animal tissues, focusing on recent efforts to integrate cell signalling and tissue mechanics. We conclude by discussing ways in which computational models could be improved to further our understanding of how planar polarity and tissue mechanics are coordinated during development.
The neural representation of personally familiar and unfamiliar faces in the distributed system for face perception
Authors: Visconti di Oleggio Castello Matteo , Halchenko Yaroslav O. , Guntupalli J. Swaroop , Gors Jason D. , Gobbini M. Ida
Published: May 2017

Personally familiar faces are processed more robustly and efficiently than unfamiliar faces. The human face processing system comprises a core system that analyzes the visual appearance of faces and an extended system for the retrieval of person-knowledge and other nonvisual information. We applied multivariate pattern analysis to fMRI data to investigate aspects of familiarity that are shared by all familiar identities and information that distinguishes specific face identities from each other. Both identity-independent familiarity information and face identity could be decoded in an overlapping set of areas in the core and extended systems. Representational similarity analysis revealed a clear distinction between the two systems and a subdivision of the core system into ventral, dorsal and anterior components. This study provides evidence that activity in the extended system carries information about both individual identities and personal familiarity, while clarifying and extending the organization of the core system for face perception.
(E)-N-[(Anthracen-9-yl)methylidene]hydroxylamine
Authors: Sebhaoui Jihad , El Bakri Youness , Essassi El Mokhtar , Mague Joel T.
Published: May 2017

In the title compound, C15H11NO, the anthracene unit is slightly bowed. Inversion-related pairs of O—H...N hydrogen bonds form dimers that are stacked along theb-axis direction by offset π–π stacking interactions between the anthracene units.
The state of affairs with digital preservation at ARL member libraries
Authors: Dressler Virginia A.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Digital preservation is a term that is a bit of an enigma to many people both in and out of the digital arena, but it will undoubtedly be important in an increasingly all-digital world. The underlying work relating to digital preservation is essential to the long-term care of digital media, but who is charged with addressing this type of work, and can policy serve to structure and also reflect this complex concept? The main point of interest for this study is to examine existing digital preservation policies at Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions and analyze the content of the policies. The purpose will be to determine if these policies are able to provide a robust framework for true digital preservation work at this point in time. First, an introduction is made to provide the structure of the study and background. Next, a literature review is provided, followed by an outline of the methods and results of the study, and finally a conclusion with recommendations for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of digital preservation policy at ARL institutions is conducted, with recommendations provided for further research.

Findings

This study was an attempt to highlight the current state of digital preservation policies, reviewing both the positive elements and the shortcomings of policies at ARL member institutions. The call for policies made for this study resulted in finding that 32 (26 per cent) ARL institutions currently have a digital preservation policy in place, from the institutions that responded (58 per cent response rate). In total, 23/40 institutions without a current policy indicate there is, or will be, work to complete a policy within the coming year (2016-2017). A call can be made at this time for more in-depth research and analysis of the policies for further inquiry. Both effective (University of Houston, University of Florida, York University) and ineffective (Colorado State University, University of Texas, Virginia Tech) digital preservation policies were discovered during the course of the study, with many policies falling somewhere in the middle. Many institutions provided a good template for digital preservation but lacked details for how this work would be addressed and who would be completing such work.

Research limitations/implications

Limited to ARL member institutions at the time of the study (January 2016).

Originality/value

There is currently a gap in analysis and research of digital preservation policies. This is an area of active policy creation for many institutions, and it will likely be a growing area for researchers to examine.
Understanding the effects of multi-dimensional tourism experiences on tourists’ positive emotions and satisfaction in the context of casino hotels
Authors: Io Man-U
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate casino-hotel visitors’ tourism experiences which consist of multiple dimensions, and test their joint effects on visitors’ positive emotions and satisfaction. The findings are expected to reveal how multi-dimensional tourism experiences could shape visitors’ positive emotions, and empirically support positive emotions as the mediator between tourism experiences and satisfaction in the context of casino hotels.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey was conducted for this study. In all, 500 valid questionnaires were collected at four major casino hotels in Macao. Respondents were Chinese tourists who visited casino hotels in June. A structural model was developed and tested to understand the relationships between multi-dimensional tourism experiences, positive emotions and satisfaction.

Findings

Positive emotions were identified as “light pleasure” and “intense fun” emotions based on the context-specific measurement of casino hotels. The “light pleasure” emotions were found to be more effective in influencing respondents’ satisfaction than “intense fun” emotions. Different dimensions of tourism experiences were found to have different levels of impact on respondents’ positive emotions. The findings revealed how multi-dimensional tourism experiences influenced respondents’ positive emotions which in turn determined their satisfaction.

Originality/value

The findings advanced the understanding of the relationships between tourism experiences, positive emotions and satisfaction in the context of casino hotels. The two types of positive emotions identified in the study add values to the literature of casino-hotel visitors and emotional experiences. This study suggests a further investigation into the scope and measurement of each dimension of tourism experiences in different tourism settings in future research. The findings provided some practical suggestions for the management of positive emotions and tourism experiences in casino hotels.
Impact of other customers on service quality evaluation and revisit intention in hospitality services
Authors: Sarkar Sengupta Aditi , Pillai Sreejesh S.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, the authors investigate the influence of other customer perception (OCP) on focal customer’s service quality perception and service revisit intention in hotel services. Second, they examine whether negative effects of OCP can be managed through customer participation. Finally, they examine the effectiveness of CP as a strategy when individuals vary in terms of their need for uniqueness (NFU).

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (OCP: favorable versus unfavorable) × 2 (customer participation: customer participation versus no customer participation) × 2 (NFU: high versus low) between-subjects experiment was conducted to collect responses. Analysis of variance and pre-planned contrast tests were carried out to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Customers who are exposed to unfavorable OCP reported low service quality evaluation and revisit intention. However, two-way interaction results supported that in unfavorable OCP situation, customers who are exposed to high customer participation have reported high revisit intention compared to those who are not exposed to customer participation. In addition, the three-way interaction effects indicate that customer participation may work as an intervention mechanism to reduce the negative effects of OCP to form favorable service quality perception and revisit intention only for customers with low NFU.

Originality/value

This is the first in its stream of studies examining the following research questions: “Can the negative effects of OCP be mitigated with the help of managerial intervention?”; and “Would a customer’s individual differences influence the effectiveness of such an intervention strategy?”
Using HOLSAT to evaluate satisfaction of religious tourist at sacred destinations: the case of religious travelers visiting sacred destinations in the Himalayas, India
Authors: Malodia Suresh , Singla Harish
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to measure the satisfaction of religious tourists travelling to various destinations in the Himalayas to identify the expectation-experience gaps and understand the shift in motives of travel.

Design/methodology/approach

The satisfaction of religious tourists is examined using holiday satisfaction (HOLSAT) model developed by Tribe and Snaith (1998). The study analyzes the expectation-experience gap using mean scores on 47 destination specific attributes for a sample of 500 respondents.

Findings

The study finds a significant gap between the expectations and experience of religious tourists traveling to sacred destinations in the Himalayas. The study also finds that motives of religious tourists have shifted from purely religious to secular touristic motives.

Practical implications

The results of the study reinforce the value of HOLSAT model as a potential tool to measure and enhance the satisfaction of religious tourists, indicating the attributes that can contribute positively toward tourist satisfaction.

Originality/value

Measuring the expectations and experience for the same set of respondents is a unique contribution of this study. The study attempts to overcome limitations of the HOLSAT model as discussed by Tribe and Snaith.
Mitigating asset misappropriation through integrity and fraud risk elements
Authors: Mustafa Bakri Haniza Hanim , Mohamed Norazida , Said Jamaliah
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the effects of fraud risk elements and integrity on asset misappropriation in the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP). In addition, this research also examines whether integrity moderates the relationship between fraud risk elements and asset misappropriation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are gathered from the responses of the questionnaires distributed to the RMP. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed based on simple random selection from five RMP centres in the capital city. Out of 200 questionnaires distributed, only 189 were returned.

Findings

The findings indicate that the existence of fraud risk elements significantly affects the incident of asset misappropriation. An interesting finding was made that integrity is negatively related to asset misappropriation. This implies that integrity is an important value in minimising the occurrence of asset misappropriation. The results also indicate that minimising fraud risk elements is crucial in reducing the incident of asset misappropriation.

Originality/value

This present paper contributes to the literature by investigating a commonly proposed but underexplored elements of integrity in mitigating fraud. Incorporating integrity and fraud risk elements simultaneously in a single framework in context of RMP would enhance the understanding and will be able to provide a framework for practitioners on how to mitigate the incident of fraud.
The escalating relevance of internal auditing as anti-fraud control
Authors: Westhausen Hans-Ulrich
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss critical success factors for the enormous development that internal auditing (IA) as “third line of defense” (IIA, 2016) and one of the strongest anti-fraud controls has reached within the past decades. Additionally, weaknesses of IA are identified and evaluated to allow further improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The anti-fraud requirements stipulated in the “International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing” are confronted with empirical data about the current situation of the IA as anti-fraud control. The empirical data were extracted from global sources such as “Fraud Reports” (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners – ACFE) and “common body of knowledge (CBOK)” studies. The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).

Findings

Over the years, IA has been continuously increasing its auditing quality and effectiveness with new analytical methods, specialized software tools and professional certifications. But all these efforts have hardly been reflected in statistical or research data, especially not in the listing of the top sources of fraud detection. The “ACFE-Fraud Report 2016” revealed that IA is now – for the first time ever – second among the initial detections of occupational frauds (financial statement fraud, corruption and asset misappropriation) worldwide. This positive trend of global anti-fraud auditing was probably no “one-hit wonder”, but a result of a lengthy process of professionalization of IA.

Originality/value

It is hoped that this paper will facilitate the discussion about the value that IA can add within an anti-fraud management system.
Use of Bostick’s Library Anxiety Scale (LAS) in a developing country perspective
Authors: Ahmed S.M. Zabed , Aziz Tanzila Binte
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the use of Bostick’s (1992) Library Anxiety Scale (LAS) in a developing country perspective to find out the level of anxiety among university students and to identify the underlying factors that contribute to this phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

A slightly modified 43-item LAS was used to collect data from 350 students at Dhaka University. For data analysis, negatively worded statements were reverse-scored so that all the statements are scored in the same direction. The statistical significance is measured using Mann–Whitney (M-W) and Kruskal–Wallis (K-W) tests. The M-W tests were conducted to examine the differences in students’ library anxiety scores in terms of their age and educational levels. The K-W tests were conducted to examine the differences in students’ ratings on LAS items in terms of their age and faculty enrolment. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on the survey data to examine the factors contributing to students’ anxiety. Finally, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the convergent validity of the measures chosen to represent each factor construct.

Findings

The result of this study indicated that library anxiety exists amongst Dhaka University students, as most LAS scores fell above 3 on a 5-point Likert scale. The individual differences in terms of gender, age, educational level and frequency of library visit were not significant for most of the items. The EFA, after several iterations, yielded a five-factor solution for library anxiety constructs although only two factors were found to have met the required reliability scores. The CFA, however, failed to produce any meaningful results. This paper made several recommendations to the university library administration to alleviate the problems that appear to have triggered library anxiety.

Originality value

This is a pioneering study of the use of Bostick’s LAS in Bangladesh. It is hoped that the findings of this study will encourage researchers to develop anxiety scales which would address the need for library services in developing country context.
Uncertainty and subjective task complexity in the information-seeking behaviour of lawyers
Authors: Adewale Nafisat Toyin , Mansor Yushiana , Yusuf Muhammad-Bashir Owolabi , Onikosi Ahmeed
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This study investigates the moderating effects of age, experience and educational qualification on the relationship between uncertainty and subjective task complexity among lawyers working in private law firms in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method was adopted and data were gathered using questionnaires. The analysis was carried out based on partial least squares structural equation modelling using SmartPLS 2.0 M3 software.

Findings

Results showed that the effect of uncertainty on subjective task complexity is significantly moderated by age, educational attainment, experience of the lawyers under study.

Research limitations/implications

Although data were collected in the most populated state and commercial hub of Nigeria, generalisation based on findings may still need to be made with caution.

Practical implications

Attainment of higher educational qualification is highly important for lawyers even though the minimum requirement to practice as a lawyer is a degree. Lawyers with higher degrees (LLM and PhD) had less uncertainty and perceived their tasks to be less complex compared to their counterparts who had the first degree (LLB).

Originality/value

The demographic profile of professionals (age, education and experience) has proven to have an impact on their perception about task complexity as determined by uncertainty as found in this study.
A unidimensional instrument for measuring internal marketing concept in the higher education sector
Authors: Yildiz Suleyman Murat , Kara Ali
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Although the existing internal marketing (IM) scales include various scale items to measure employee motivation, they fall short of incorporating the needs and expectations of service sector employees. Hence, the purpose of this study is to present a practical instrument designed to measure the IM construct in the higher education sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in this empirical study. A qualitative method was used to develop the scale items to measure the IM construct and a quantitative method was used to test the scale developed in the higher education sector. The study sample includedn= 240 academic staff from a large university. Both exploratory (EFA) and the confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were used to confirm the dimensionality of the IM scale developed.

Findings

The study results showed that all items in the measurement scale were loaded on a single dimension that represents the IM construct in the higher education sector. The psychometric properties of the developed scale (IM-11) met and exceeded the expected criteria cited in the literature.

Research limitations/implications

The IM-11 scale presented in this study offers a practical tool for higher education administrators in their efforts to measure the needs and expectations of their employees. Moreover, this knowledge should provide a framework for the administration to develop strategies for employee motivation, job satisfaction and performance and assume additional responsibilities in their efforts to serving their external customers better. Sample size, cultural factors and the complex nature of university academic staff limit one’s ability to generalize these results to broader populations.

Originality/value

In line with the information provided in the literature on IM, this study developed a simple and practical instrument to measure the IM construct for an academic unit within a university.
A quadruple helix model of entrepreneurship, innovation and stages of economic development
Authors: Galvão Anderson , Mascarenhas Carla , Gouveia Rodrigues Ricardo , Marques Carla Susana , Leal Carmem Teresa
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the role of entrepreneurship in economic development based on the four dimensions of the quadruple helix model (Government, University, Enterprise and Society) in relation to the three stages of economy defined by the GEM (innovation-, efficiency- and factor-driven economies). In this context, the authors considered a set of variables that allowed them to measure and verify the stimulus that the four helixes represent in economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was supported on secondary data from the GEM platform for 58 countries, for 2015. SPSS software was used to analyze data, which allowed the use of the ANOVA and Kruskall-Wallis tests, as well as the generalized linear regression.

Findings

The results show that in the factor-driven economies, there is a greater influence by the industry, while in the efficiency-driven economies, there is homogeneity among the four dimensions, highlighting only the variables “R&D transfer” and “Entrepreneurial Intention”. Because of the constant need for innovation to become more competitive, in the innovation-driven economies, business and government are the most important dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

Both in the scientific community with future empirical studies that can confirm the relevance of this model to better understanding which dimensions of quadruple helix improve economic development, and in the governmental community, to serve for policies and strategies that stimulate entrepreneurship to foster the transition from one stage of economic development to another.

Originality/value

Proposal and test of a quadruple helix model, using the variables available in the GEM database, to the three stages of economic development of the economies that were involved in the GEM.
Models and strategies of family businesses internationalization
Authors: Rexhepi Gadaf , Ramadani Veland , Rahdari Amir , Anggadwita Grisna
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to emphasize the importance of crafting and selecting business models and strategies of family business in the process of internationalization.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on literature review about international entrepreneurship, strategic management, models and strategies of internationalization, a new conceptual framework on family businesses internationalization is provided.

Findings

Family businesses, depending on their size, use different models and strategies to internationalize their activities.

Originality/value

This paper provides a new conceptual framework about internationalization of family businesses, which is based in three main phases: operating in a domestic market and get prepared for a foreign market, selecting the right model of internationalization and selecting the right strategy of internationalization. Beside the new conceptual model, the authors provide the implications of this model toward internationalization of family businesses, and the authors propose some useful recommendation for further research in this field.
Innovativeness in family firms: an internationalization approach
Authors: Ratten Vanessa , Tajeddini Kayhan
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to build on opportunity identification and resource-based view theory, this paper examines the internationalization process of family firms. The role of innovativeness in influencing the internationalization rate of family firms is explored in terms of customer responsiveness, proactiveness and risk-taking.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple case studies were carried out with several family businesses in the information technology industry in Australia.

Findings

The findings of this research suggest that innovativeness of family firms depends on responsiveness to customer needs in the international market while involving a degree of risk-taking. In addition, the results suggest family firms are not proactive in their pursuit of international market opportunities.

Research limitations/implications

If family firms focus more on becoming more innovative, then they will stand a better chance to successfully enter more international markets.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the need for family firms to embrace their innovativeness as a distinctive capability for their internationalization efforts. Several new research directions that may enhance the understanding of family firm innovation and internationalization are suggested.
Customer relationship management research in tourism and hospitality: a state-of-the-art
Authors: Rahimi Roya , Köseoglu Mehmet Ali , Ersoy Ayse Begum , Okumus Fevzi
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This study aimed to provide a critical review of the evolution of customer relationship management (CRM) research in the hospitality and tourism (H&T) field.

Design/methodology/approach

The study conducted a thorough systematical literature review by collecting papers from 14 leading tourism and hospitality journals. The examination of the literature is first based on the evolution of CRM notion and its definitions. Next, CRM studies in the literature that are related to H&T were assessed based on their timelines and themes. Third, the studies were classified based on CRM components and its impacts on firms’ performances.

Findings

The literature review provided an in-depth understanding on the progress of CRM based on the selected topics and suggests a redesigned research agenda for scholars, graduate students and practitioners.

Implications

This study provides new and meaningful avenues for further research in CRM in H&T area.

Originality value

CRM has a key role in business performance and increased customer satisfaction and retention, specifically in the context of the service industry. To date, scholars have produced an abundant number of CRM-related studies in tourism and hospitality journals. In this study, the progress of CRM research conducted in the tourism and hospitality sector is critically reviewed.
Perceived organizational support, work-family/family-work conflict and presenteeism in hotel industry
Authors: Arslaner Ebru , Boylu Yasin
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between perceived organizational support, work-family conflict, family-work conflict and presenteeism in the context of hotel industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via survey administered to 402 employees of five-star hotels in Antalya, Turkey. Data were analyzed using SPSS package program.

Findings

The results showed that there was a significant and negative relationship between perceived organizational support and presenteeism and a significant and positive relationship between work-family/family-work conflict and presenteeism. Moreover, perceived organizational support had no significant effect on presenteeism, while work-family/family-work conflict had a significant effect on presenteeism.

Practical implications

Hotels need a healthy and productive workforce to ensure customer satisfaction and increase the quality of service. Reducing work-family/family-work conflict and increasing organizations’ support to employees is critical for protecting employee health and eliminating presenteeism behavior.

Originality/value

This study provides organizations with practical and theoretical implications to improve employee health and productivity.
The Rise of Uber and Regulating the Disruptive Innovator
Authors: Dudley Geoffrey , Banister David , Schwanen Tim
Published: May 2017

The ride‐hailing company Uber has achieved extremely rapid global expansion by means of outmanoeuvring governments, regulators and competitors. The rise of the company has been based on a deliberate strategy of acting as a market disruptive innovator through a user friendly technology and making use of the ‘sharing economy’. These attributes are not unique, but are distinctively augmented by a relentless expansionary ambition and an ability to maintain the capacity to innovate. Uber has generated great political controversy, but the challenge for governments and regulators is to embrace the benefits of the disruptive innovator, while adopting an approach that takes into account the full range of impacts. For Uber, the challenge is to maintain its expansionary style as a disruptive innovator, while also redefining on its terms the political and public debate. The case study of London provides important insights into the dynamics of these processes.
Fatal Ingestion of Chlumsky Disinfectant Solution
Authors: Handlos Petr , Uvíra Matěj , Marecová Klára , Staňková Marie , Smatanová Margita , Dvořáček Igor , Joukal Marek
Published: May 2017

A 32‐year‐old pregnant woman in the 25th week of pregnancy underwent oral glucose tolerance screening at the diabetologist's. Later that day, she was found dead in her apartment possibly poisoned with Chlumsky disinfectant solution (solutio phenoli camphorata). An autopsy revealed chemical burns in the digestive system. The lungs and the brain showed signs of severe edema. The blood of the woman and fetus was analyzed using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and revealed phenol, its metabolites (phenyl glucuronide and phenyl sulfate) and camphor. No ethanol was found in the blood samples. Both phenol and camphor are contained in Chlumsky disinfectant solution, which is used for disinfecting surgical equipment in healthcare facilities. Further investigation revealed that the deceased woman had been accidentally administered a disinfectant instead of a glucose solution by the nurse, which resulted in acute intoxication followed by the death of the pregnant woman and the fetus.
At the Cross Section of Thrombotic Microangiopathy and Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: A Narrative Review of Differential Diagnostics and a Problematization of Nomenclature
Authors: Åkesson Alexander , Zetterberg Eva , Klintman Jenny
Published: May 2017

Complement‐mediated atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease associated with high mortality and morbidity. Renal biopsies often indicate thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). The condition is caused by an excessive activation of the alternative pathway leading to depositions of membrane attack complexes (MAC) on host cells. It may depend on mutations in complement components and regulatory proteins, or the formation of complement‐specific antibodies. Mainly, an environmental trigger (e.g. infection) is needed for the excessive response to develop. The clinical characteristics are more or less shared with a wide range of diseases manifesting with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Because of prior deficits in pathogenic understanding, associated nomenclature has been based on clinical symptoms. New knowledge challenges these symptomatic definitions; however, an outdated terminology is still being applied in clinical practice to various extents. With respect to gained insights, it is more advantageous to rebuild the concepts on etiological and pathogenic grounds. The need for more distinct definitions is even more urgent in the light of the effective treatment regimen with eculizumab for complement‐mediated aHUS. This review presents an up‐to‐date summary of the field of investigation, addresses the need for faster differential diagnostics and proposes a revised nomenclature based on the current pathogenic understanding.
Conceptualizing behavioural addiction in children and adolescents
Authors: Kräplin Anja
Published: May 2017

Commentary to: How can we conceptualize behavioural addiction without pathologizing common behaviours?
Who achieves low risk drinking during alcohol treatment? An analysis of patients in three alcohol clinical trials
Authors: Witkiewitz Katie , Pearson Matthew R. , Hallgren Kevin A. , Maisto Stephen A. , Roos Corey R. , Kirouac Megan , Wilson Adam D. , Montes Kevin S. , Heather Nick
Published: May 2017

Background and aims

There is evidence that low‐risk drinking is possible during the course of alcohol treatment and can be maintained following treatment. Our aim was to identify characteristics associated with low‐risk drinking during treatment in a large sample of individuals as they received treatment for alcohol dependence.

Design

Integrated analysis of data from the Combined Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Intervention (COMBINE) study, Project MATCH (Matching Alcoholism Treatments to Client Heterogeneity) and the United Kingdom Alcohol Treatment Trial (UKATT) using repeated‐measures latent class analysis to identify patterns of drinking and predictors of low‐risk drinking patterns during treatment.

Setting

United States and United Kingdom.

Participants

Patients (n = 3589) with alcohol dependence receiving treatment in an alcohol clinical trial were primarily male (73.0%), white (82.0%) and non‐married (41.7%), with an average age of 42.0 (standard deviation = 10.7).

Measurements

Self‐reported weekly alcohol consumption during treatment was assessed using the Form‐90 and validated with biological verification or collateral informants.

Findings

Seven patterns of drinking during treatment were identified: persistent heavy drinking (18.7% of the sample), increasing heavy drinking (9.6%), heavy and low‐risk drinking (6.7%), heavy drinking alternating with abstinence (7.9%), low‐risk drinking (6.8%), increasing low‐risk drinking (10.5%) and abstinence (39.8%). Lower alcohol dependence severity and fewer drinks per day at baseline significantly predicted low‐risk drinking patterns [e.g. each additional drink prior to baseline predicted a 27% increase in the odds of expected classification in heavy drinking versus low‐risk drinking patterns; odds ratio = 1.27 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10, 1.47, P = 0.002]. Greater negative mood and more heavy drinkers in the social network were significant predictors of expected membership in heavier drinking patterns.

Conclusions

Low‐risk drinking is achievable for some individuals as they undergo treatment for alcohol dependence. Individuals with lower dependence severity, less baseline drinking, fewer negative mood symptoms and fewer heavy drinkers in their social networks have a higher probability of achieving low‐risk drinking during treatment.
The cross talk between cervical carcinoma cells and vascular endothelial cells mediated by IL‐27 restrains angiogenesis
Authors: Zhang Bing , Xie Feng , Dong Chun‐Lin , Gu Chun‐Jie , Cheng Jiao , Wang Yuan , Xu Xi‐Zhong , Pu Hong , Wu Yi‐Bo , Qi Xiao‐Wei , Li Da‐Jin , Yu Jin‐Jin , Li Ming‐Qing
Published: May 2017

Problem

To explore whether cervical carcinoma cell‐derived interleukin‐27 (IL‐27) modulates the angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells.

Method of study

The expression of IL‐27 in cervical cancer tissues and cervical cell lines was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, ELISA and flow cytometry. Then, the effects of IL‐27 on the proliferation and apoptosis‐related molecules and angiogenesis in vitro of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were investigated. Finally, in vivo experiment was performed to further confirm the effects of IL‐27.

Results

Compared with cervicitis, the cervical cancer tissues highly expressed IL‐27. Both HeLa and CaSki cells secreted IL‐27, and HUVECs expressed low levels of IL‐27 receptors (IL‐27R). However, the co‐culture of cervical cell lines and HUVECs led to a significant elevation of IL‐27R on HUVECs. Co‐culturing with IL‐27‐overexpressed HeLa cells downregulated Ki‐67 and Bcl‐2 and upregulated Fas expression in HUVECs. In addition, overexpression of IL‐27 in HeLa cells and CasKi cells secreted less IL‐8 and could further restrict angiogenesis compared with control cells in vitro. In the subcutaneous tumorous model of C57/BL6 mouse, there were decreased vessel density and tumor volume when inoculation with IL‐27‐overexpressed TC‐1 cells.

Conclusion

This study indicates that IL‐27 secreted by cervical carcinoma cells restricts the angiogenesis in a paracrine manner in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.
Conventional and right‐sided screening for subcutaneous ICD in a population with congenital heart disease at high risk of sudden cardiac death
Authors: Alonso Pau , Osca Joaquín , Rueda Joaquín , Cano Oscar , Pimenta Pedro , Andres Ana , Sancho María José , Martinez Luis
Published: May 2017

Background

Information regarding suitability for subcutaneous defibrillator (sICD) implantation in tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) and systemic right ventricle is scarce and needs to be further explored. The main objective of our study was to determine the proportion of patients with ToF and systemic right ventricle eligible for sICD with both, standard and right‐sided screening methods. Secondary objectives were: (i) to study sICD eligibility specifically in patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death, (ii) to identify independent predictors for sICD eligibility, and (iii) to compare the proportion of eligible patients in a nonselected ICD population.

Methods

We recruited 102 patients with ToF, 33 with systemic right ventricle, and 40 consecutive nonselected patients. Conventional electrocardiographic screening was performed as usual. Right‐sided alternative screening was studied by positioning the left‐arm and right‐arm electrodes 1 cm right lateral of the xiphoid midline. The Boston Scientific ECG screening tool was utilized.

Results

In high‐risk patients with ToF, eligibility was higher with right‐sided screening in comparison with standard screening (61% vs. 44%; p = .018). Eligibility in high‐risk right ventricle population was identical with both screening methods (77%, p = ns). The only independent predictor for sICD eligibility was QRS duration.

Conclusion

In high‐risk patients with ToF, right‐sided implantation of the sICD could be an alternative to a conventional ICD. In patients with a systemic right ventricle, implantation of a sICD is an alternative to a conventional sICD.
Categorization and theoretical comparison of quantitative methods for assessing QT/RR hysteresis
Authors: Gravel Hugo , Curnier Daniel , Dahdah Nagib , Jacquemet Vincent
Published: May 2017

Background

In the human electrocardiogram, there is a lag of adaptation of the QT interval to heart rate changes, usually termed QT/RR hysteresis (QT‐hys). Subject‐specific quantifiers of QT‐hys have been proposed as potential biomarkers, but there is no consensus on the choice of the quantifier.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify original articles reporting quantifiers of repolarization hysteresis from the surface ECG in humans.

Results

Sixty articles fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Reported biomarkers were grouped under four categories. A simple mathematical model of QT/RR loop was used to illustrate differences between the methods. Category I quantifiers use direct measurement of QT time course of adaptation. They are limited to conditions where RR intervals are under strict control. Category IIa and IIb quantifiers compare QT responses during consecutive heart rate acceleration and deceleration. They are relevant when a QT/RR loop is observed, typically during exercise and recovery, but are not robust to protocol variations. Category III quantifiers evaluate the optimum RR memory in dynamic QT/RR relationship modeling. They estimate an intrinsic memory parameter independent from the nature of RR changes, but their reliability remains to be confirmed when multiple memory parameters are estimated. Promising approaches include the differentiation of short‐term and long‐term memory and adaptive estimation of memory parameters.

Conclusion

Model‐based approaches to QT‐hys assessment appear to be the most versatile, as they allow separate quantification of QT/RR dependency and QT‐hys, and can be applied to a wide range of experimental settings.