bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vendor managed inventory (VMI): evidences from lean deployment in healthcare
Authors: Machado Guimarães Cristina , Crespo de Carvalho José , Maia Ana
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Understanding how VMI benefits serve lean purposes in healthcare and why its outcomes can be difficult to achieve in healthcare settings is the main purpose of this study.

Design/methodology/approach

An in‐depth case study of VMI is presented in the perspective of the downstream member, a public general multi‐site hospital, operating as a small scale consolidated service centre in terms of material management, exploring such dimensions as: VMI benefits, risks, barriers and enablers.

Findings

Despite some unawareness of VMI benefits in healthcare, it can present a waste reduction solution not only in costs but in the quality of care for freeing clinical professionals to clinical tasks, among other savings. The multiple benefits are better explored, as in any relationship building, by investing in partnership creation and overcoming the idiosyncratic barriers of the healthcare sector.

Research limitations/implications

Although findings of a single case study are difficult to generalize, the protocol and methodology presented allow replication in other units of analysis with the same inclusion criteria.

Practical implications

This paper brings the lean deployment discussion out of the organization's boundaries, showing the interconnections and pointing to the need for future work that would allow healthcare managers to build a lean supply chain.

Originality/value

By considering VMI an outsourcing alternative, this paper identifies the lean thinking intent behind such options and enhances the idiosyncratic difficulties in full deployment in the healthcare sector, a less studied setting.
Vendor managed inventory in the blood supply chain in Germany
Authors: Stanger Sebastian H.W.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a generic framework for the assessment of VMI implementation. The framework is used for the analysis of multiple case studies in German hospitals to discuss the feasibility of VMI in the German blood supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is twofold. In a first step, the literature is reviewed and a generic theoretical VMI framework is developed. In a second step, the case study methodology is applied to 13 cases to assess the feasibility of VMI in the German blood supply chain.

Findings

The paper contributes a generic framework for assessing the implementation of VMI in seven steps. The research proposed that hospitals hesitate to enter a VMI relationship for critical resources such as blood. Hospitals fear losing control over critical resources.

Research limitations/implications

The unit of analysis is hospitals in Germany and the case studies do not target the suppliers in the supply chain. The paper contributes three propositions regarding VMI in the healthcare/blood supply chain.

Practical implications

A generic framework for assessing the applicability and feasibility of VMI is provided which supports managers with the implementation of VMI in a supply chain.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the first papers targeting inventory and supply chain management in the German blood supply chain. It provides a generic framework for the assessment of the feasibility of VMI.
Drug inventory management and distribution: outsourcing logistics to third‐party providers
Authors: Azzi Anna , Persona Alessandro , Sgarbossa Fabio , Bonin Mauro
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of the present research is to explore the current situation and future expectations on whether to self‐manage or outsource logistics operations in centralized healthcare networks, and to analyse and quantify the relationships between logistics outsourcing, costs and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a thorough study of a local Italian healthcare network, which evaluated the economic sustainability of logistics outsourcing. The data were collected using interviews, documentation and observations in hospital pharmacies and wards, and by referring to public information available on the internet. A system dynamic simulation followed by a sensitivity analysis was used to investigate the impact of changing key variables as well as the advice of logistics providers.

Findings

The sensitivity analysis demonstrates that logistics outsourcing is often the most economical choice.

Social implications

Performance‐oriented concepts applied to healthcare have many pros in terms of sustainable delivery of quality healthcare at affordable costs.

Originality/value

While there are numerous studies on logistics outsourcing in many industries, when it comes to the healthcare sector literature is scarce, probably due to the great changes this sector has faced in recent times: thus, the paper's quantitative findings should be seen as a first attempt to assist the “make‐or‐buy” decision process toward sustainable development of the healthcare sector.
The “Management Standards” for stress in large organizations
Authors: Mellor Nadine , Smith Phoebe , Mackay Colin , Palferman David
Published: March 2013

Purpose

In Great Britain, the ‘”Management Standards” were launched in 2004 and formally published in 2007 by the Health and Safety Executive to help organizations manage work‐related stress. The purpose of this paper is to examine how these Standards are translated into organizational practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses case studies carried out in five large organizations drawn from the public and private sectors in Great Britain.

Findings

Senior management commitment and worker participation are key to managing work‐related stress and are commonly reported across organizations, although to variable form and depth. The solution chosen to identify stress issues is a short assessment of all staff via annual staff surveys, coupled with in‐depth assessments of groups at risk. Common practice also includes combining individual and organizational interventions. One significant challenge emerges as the translation from identified stress issues to focussed interventions and their evaluation.

Research limitations/implications

The implementation processes outlined in this study are by no means exhaustive due to the small sample size but are consistent with previous research.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that the HSE Management Standards approach for dealing with stress issues is do‐able. Refining the information in the HSE guidance on implementing and evaluating interventions and broadening the current focus on organization‐level interventions is needed.

Originality/value

Publication of case studies of the implementation of the Management Standards has been limited. This paper illustrates the efforts made by large organizations to integrate national guidance on stress and this could be used for guiding and improving stress management in similar work settings.
Transforming stress in complex work environments
Authors: Walinga Jennifer , Rowe Wendy
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how to transform one's perception of workplace stressors, moving beyond the idea of merely surviving or coping with stress to “thriving” within what is becoming a non‐negotiable level of stress in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers generated a working definition of work stress thriving based on current literature, then conducted a content analysis of qualitative interviews to develop an empirically‐grounded understanding of factors differentiating a stress transformation response from a coping response to workplace stressors.

Findings

The study revealed key characteristics of a stress transformation response to stress challenges in the work place: systemic cognitive appraisal, inclusive communication strategies, collaborative and sustainable problem solving, individual learning and growth, and organizational positive impacts.

Research limitations/implications

As a pilot study, limitations to the research include a relatively small sample size and only one type of work environment. More empirical work is needed to test the model, develop and validate measures of stress transformation.

Practical implications

Findings provide the foundation for further empirical research into stress transformation, and will potentially lead to the development of measures, training interventions, organizational structures, and work processes to enhance stress thriving within organizations.

Social implications

The findings provide preliminary insights into tools for both organizational leaders and employees to respond more sustainably to increasingly stressful, fast paced, and complex work environments.

Originality/value

The study provides an original conceptual perspective on the concept of stress management, calling for a paradigm shift that views stress as desirable and conducive to optimal performance.
Impact of financial liberalization and foreign bank entry on Islamic banking performance
Authors: Kabir Hassan M. , Sanchez Benito , Faisal Safa M.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of financial liberalization and foreign Islamic bank entry on the performance of domestic Islamic banks, and credit availability to the private sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the weighted least squares method to estimate four models. These models are suggested by Lee. For this, the inverse of the number of domestic Islamic banks in each period is used to weight the observations in the regressions to correct for varying number of bank observations in each country.

Findings

The results indicate that foreign Islamic banks, on average, follow aggressive financing in host countries and enjoy higher net profit margin. Banking sector returns play an important role in the entry decision and presence of foreign banks. Moreover, favorable macro‐economic conditions play a supportive role while higher tax policies play a hostile role for the entry and presence of foreign Islamic banks. The recent financial crisis does not seem to affect the entry decision significantly. But the profitability of domestic Islamic banks has been seriously affected by the recent crisis. Also domestic tax policy and macro‐economic environment play important roles in determining the domestic Islamic bank performance. Results also indicate that private sector credit availability seems to suffer because of higher tax and reserve rate.

Practical implications

The authors' findings suggest that host Islamic economies should strive for an efficient capital market with supportive macro‐economic environment, which in turn helps the local banking sector to develop and benefit from the foreign Islamic bank entry.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to analyze the entry of foreign Islamic banks in the host countries with Islamic banking sector.
Prioritizing service quality factors in Iranian Islamic banking using a fuzzy approach
Authors: Amirzadeh Rasoul , Reza Shoorvarzy Mohammad
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The aim of the present research is firstly to examine and recognize the quality elements of services in the banks by SERVQUAL instrument and some Islamic banking factors. Secondly, the aim is to prioritize these factors based on fuzzy TOPSIS. Fuzzy logic provides a useful tool for dealing with decisions in which the phenomena are vague.

Design/methodology/approach

The present research was performed among bank customers. The required information was gathered through a designed questionnaire. Using fuzzy set theory, customers' perceptions of service quality are generally expressed subjectively in vague linguistic terms, and this paper tries to apply a fuzzy approach to service quality.

Findings

The result of this study shows that “short and suitable queue” and “confident and reliable staff” are the most important quality factors in bank service and on the other hand, “being equal with Islamic doctrines” and “accessible branches” are the least significant factors of service quality in the view of Iranian bank customers.

Practical implications

The results of the present research will be useful for bank decision makers to pay particular attention to indicators of most or least importance.

Originality/value

The concept of ranking quality factors in banking service using fuzzy TOPSIS is a new approach, especially in the field of Islamic banking. Banks have huge budgets, which can then be allocated for indicators of higher importance when the importance of each factor is determined.
Critical success factors of public private partnership (PPP) implementation in Malaysia
Authors: Ismail Suhaiza
Published: March 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the importance of the success factors as perceived by the overall respondents. Also, the study intends to identify the differences concerning the importance of the success factors between the public and private sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was used to elicit the perceptions of public and private sectors on the key success factors of a PPP project in Malaysia. In total, 179 usable responses were obtained and analysed using SPSS to rank the importance of the success factors and to examine the differences in the perceptions between the government and the private sector.

Findings

The overall results show that “good governance”, “commitment of the public and private sectors”, “favourable legal framework”, “sound economic policy” and “availability of finance market” are the top five success factors of PPP implementation in Malaysia. Although the rankings of many factors were different between the public and private sectors, there were no significant differences in the perception of the public and private sectors concerning the importance of the success factors except for a few factors.

Originality/value

This paper highlights not only the important success factors for PPP implementation in Malaysia, but also offers evidence concerning the importance of the factors of the two key parties involved in PPP – the public sector and private sector.
Communicating social and religious values through visual arts in the aftermath of a revolution
Authors: Hamed Sara , El‐Bassiouny Noha
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to identify the different values that were communicated through the visuals of the Egyptian revolution of January 25th, 2011 with reflections on those that were communicated historically in Germany to highlight how these visuals can act as tools of informal education and social marketing campaigns to citizens of a country.

Design/methodology/approach

The current research paper takes a qualitative exploratory approach. The method that was utilized is content analysis, with the sub‐method used to analyze the content of the street visuals being semiotic analysis.

Findings

The main social and religious values communicated between citizens in Egypt and Germany were about freedom, peace, unity, and victory. These street visuals help in communicating social and religious values to citizens of a country at the time of the revolution and recording them keeps their messages for future generations to come. Accordingly, these visuals help in informally educating citizens and act as social marketing campaigns from and to the people.

Research limitations/implications

The results here should not be regarded as conclusive results as they are of a qualitative nature and should be followed and tested by future quantitative research.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this research paper is to fill the gap in literature by blending all the different research domains about informal education research, social marketing, graffiti and street art papers, and the historical revolution accounts. There was no prior research conducted with either a similar aim or under all these previous domains.
Selection of Lean and Six Sigma projects in industry
Authors: Kornfeld Bernard , Kara Sami
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Although there is a considerable body of literature regarding the selection of improvement projects, little of it reveals what actually occurs in industry. To answer this question the authors aimed to determine how industry selects Lean and Six Sigma projects in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Practitioners of Lean and Six Sigma were surveyed to ascertain the methods and criteria that are used to select projects as well as their attitudes towards these approaches.

Findings

This paper reveals: significant practitioner dissatisfaction with the approaches used; a gap between strategy formulation and portfolio generation; and that organizations generally use subjective or unstructured approaches and seldom apply the approaches that are advocated in the literature.

Practical implications

Improved linkage from strategy to portfolio ought to lead to better project outcomes and longevity of the methodology. There are opportunities for better translation of the state of the art to industrial application.

Originality/value

This paper presents a relatively large sample set (n=74) that reflects practitioner views on the state of practice in selecting Lean and Six Sigma projects and portfolios.
Integrating Six Sigma with ISO 9001
Authors: Marques Pedro , Requeijo José , Saraiva Pedro , Frazão‐Guerreiro Francisco
Published: March 2013

Purpose

By exploiting the relationships between Six Sigma and quality management systems (QMS) based on the ISO 9001 standard, this paper proposes a set of guidelines to combine and integrate both approaches in a systematic way. The guidelines are organised into integration topics, and each one is linked to the clauses of the ISO 9001 standard they refer to.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature review, Six Sigma and QMS based on the ISO 9001 standard are thoroughly discussed and compared and beneficial synergies between them are identified. Based on this study, and to take advantage of the compatibilities and logical linkages between both approaches, guidelines for the integration of Six Sigma with the ISO 9001 requirements are developed.

Findings

Benefits resulting from the integration of Six Sigma with a QMS based on the ISO 9001 standard are mutual. The integration guidelines proposed in this paper provide a framework to unify process management practices, enhance the effectiveness of continual improvement efforts, facilitate the identification, evaluation and selection of Six Sigma projects, align the quality objectives defined for the QMS with Six Sigma project goals, establish relationships between the roles of a Six Sigma program and those inherent to an ISO 9001 QMS, and demonstrate how internal quality audits and management review benefit from a Six Sigma program.

Research limitations/implications

The integration models and guidelines herein proposed can be further expanded to include other relevant normative references, particularly environmental management systems (ISO 14001) and safety and health management systems (OHSAS 18001).

Originality/value

The set of guidelines proposed in this paper is original and will be of practical value to the increasing number of organisations adopting a process‐model for the ISO 9001 standard, that seek to incorporate Six Sigma principles, practices, methods and tools within their QMS. The guidelines cover a wide spectrum of relevant activities that usually take place in the context of both initiatives. In addition, because each guideline is accompanied by the identification of the applicable clauses of ISO 9001, they provide a useful framework to develop, implement, maintain, and improve a QMS in parallel with a Six Sigma program.
Interventions for young people with intellectual disabilities who commit arson
Authors: Tranah Troy , Nicholas Jennifer
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to review the current literature on working with young people with intellectual disabilities who commit arson.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of assessment methods and interventions involving young people with intellectual disabilities who start fires was completed. It explores the trends across the population of firesetters as a whole and also compares how treatment implications may differ for young people with and without an intellectual disability.

Findings

The paper outlines the core risk factors to be investigated within an assessment of a young firesetter with intellectual disabilities. In terms of treatment, the best current approach appears to be a combination of education and cognitive behavioural approaches including social skills training. Other treatment modalities, e.g. joint interventions provided by fire services and mental health services, are also discussed.

Originality/value

Given the lack of available literature on young firesetters with intellectual disabilities it is hoped that this paper will be useful in guiding clinicians working in this area and also prompt future research regarding treatment with this client group.
Angiolyphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia occurring after venipuncture trauma
Authors: Stewart Nicholas , Zagarella Samuel , Mann Steve
Published: March 2013

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE), also known as epithelioid hemangioma, is a benign vascular proliferation of uncertain etiology. Herein, we present the first documented case of ALHE following venipuncture and review the published work regarding the relationship of this entity to preceding trauma.
Clinical and histopathological differential diagnosis of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis
Authors: Fujiyama Toshiharu , Tokura Yoshiki
Published: March 2013

Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) is an inflammatory disease characterized by repeated pruritic follicular papules and pustules arranged in arcuate plaques, and folliculotropic infiltration of eosinophils. The diagnosis of EPF is occasionally difficult and problematic because EPF may share the clinical appearance and histological findings with other diseases. Moreover, EPF has several clinical subtypes, including the classical type, infantile type and immunosuppression‐associated type. Because the therapies of EPF are relatively specific as compared to eczematous disorders, accurate diagnosis is essential for the management of EPF. Clinical differential diagnoses include tinea, acne, rosacea, eczematous dermatitis, granuloma faciale, autoimmune annular erythema, infestations and pustular dermatosis. Histologically, cutaneous diseases with eosinophilic infiltrates can be differentially diagnosed. Follicular mucinosis, mycosis fungoides and other cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas are the most important differential diagnoses both clinically and histopathologically. It should be kept in mind particularly that the initial lesions of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma resemble EPF.
Modelling the biological significance of behavioural change in coastal bottlenose dolphins in response to disturbance
Authors: New Leslie F. , Harwood John , Thomas Len , Donovan Carl , Clark James S. , Hastie Gordon , Thompson Paul M. , Cheney Barbara , Scott‐Hayward Lindesay , Lusseau David
Published: March 2013

Behavioural change in response to anthropogenic activities is often assumed to indicate a biologically significant effect on a population of concern. Disturbances can affect individual health through lost foraging time or other behaviours, which will impact vital rates and thus the population dynamics. However, individuals may be able to compensate for the observed shifts in behaviour, leaving their health and thus their vital rates and population dynamics, unchanged.

We developed a mathematical model simulating the complex social, spatial, behavioural and motivational interactions of coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Moray Firth, Scotland, to assess the biological significance of increased rate of behavioural disruptions caused by vessel traffic.

We explored a scenario in which vessel traffic increased from 70 to 470 vessels a year in response to the construction of a proposed offshore renewables' facility. Despite the more than sixfold increase in vessel traffic, the dolphins' behavioural time budget, spatial distribution, motivations and social structure remain unchanged.

We found that the dolphins are able to compensate for their immediate behavioural response to disturbances by commercial vessels. If the increased commercial vessel traffic is the only escalation in anthropogenic activity, then the dolphins' response to disturbance is not biologically significant, because the dolphins' health is unaffected, leaving the vital rates and population dynamics unchanged.

Our results highlight that behavioural change should not automatically be correlated with biological significance when assessing the conservation and management needs of species of interest. This strengthens the argument to use population dynamics targets to manage human activities likely to disturb wildlife.
Plant pathogens structure arthropod communities across multiple spatial and temporal scales
Authors: Tack Ayco J. M. , Dicke Marcel
Published: March 2013

Plant pathogens and herbivores frequently co‐occur on the same host plants. Despite this, little is known about the impact of their interactions on the structure of plant‐based ecological communities.

Here, we synthesize evidence that indicates that plant pathogens may profoundly impact arthropod performance, preference, population dynamics and community structure across multiple spatial and temporal scales.

Intriguingly, the effects of plant–pathogen–herbivore interactions frequently cascade up and down multiple trophic levels and explain variation in the arthropod community at spatial scales ranging from patterns within single host plants to entire landscapes.

This review indicates that knowledge on pathogen–herbivore interactions may be crucial for understanding the dynamics of terrestrial communities.
Nutrition, population growth and disease: a short history of lactose
Authors: Brüssow Harald
Published: March 2013

Food and nutrition have played a crucial role in biological evolution. Lactation in mammals was one key invention. A central role in milk is played by lactose, otherwise an exotic sugar in nature. Lactose digestion needs the induction of specialized gut enzymes. This enzyme is shut off in a precisely timed developmental step leading to lactose malabsorption promoting weaning in the young and ovulation in the mother. The lactose–lactase system could thus regulate optimal birth spacing in land mammals. The domestication of cattle promoted milk as a food item also for adult nutrition. This was only possible by two further key inventions: the concomitant domestication of lactic acid bacteria which ferment the non‐digestible lactose to the easily absorbed lactic acid and the mutation to lactase persistence (LP) in adults from dairy societies. This mutation represents one of the strongest selected loci of the human genome. Since no crucial nutritional selective advantage is conferred by LP, its dominance might be the result of indirect effects like the spread of cattle pathogens into humans. Lactase is also temporarily lost in rotavirus and Escherichia coli childhood diarrhoea and persistent diarrhoea is consequently best treated with lactose‐free diets.
Linking the lytic and lysogenic bacteriophage cycles to environmental conditions, host physiology and their variability in coastal lagoons
Authors: Maurice C. F. , Bouvier C. , de Wit R. , Bouvier T.
Published: March 2013

Changes in environmental conditions and prokaryote physiology can strongly affect the dynamics of both the lysogenic and lytic bacteriophage replication cycles in aquatic systems. However, it remains unclear whether it is the nature, amplitude or frequency of these changes that alter the phage replication cycles. We performed an annual survey of three Mediterranean lagoons with contrasting levels of chlorophyll a concentration and salinity to explore how these cues and their variability influence either replication cycle. The lytic cycle was always detected and showed seasonal patterns, whereas the lysogenic cycle was often undetected and highly variable. The lytic cycle was influenced by environmental and prokaryotic physiological cues, increasing with concentrations of dissolved organic carbon, chlorophyll a, and the proportion of respiring cells, and decreasing with the proportion of damaged cells. In contrast, lysogeny was not explained by the magnitude of any environmental or physiological parameter, but increased with the amplitude of change in prokaryote physiology. Our study suggests that both cycles are regulated by distinct factors: the lytic cycle is dependent on environmental parameters and host physiology, while lysogeny is dependent on the variability of prokaryote physiology. This could lead to the contrasting patterns observed between both cycles in aquatic systems.
Fairness Obligations and Non-Acceptance of Benefits
Authors: Klosko George
Published: March 2013

It is widely held that an adequate theory of political obligation must be general; that is, it must establish requirements to obey the law for all or virtually all members of a given population. In regard to the principle of fairness (or fair play), generality poses a challenge, because many people claim not to want or to accept major benefits provided by the state. However, because the most important state benefits are public goods and so received even if they are not accepted, the implications of not accepting these benefits differ from those of not accepting excludable goods. Because of complex psychological aspects of rejecting non-excludable goods, rejecting such benefits frees recipients of obligations they would otherwise have only if they can pass an ‘alternative test’, and so explain how they would manage if rejection of the benefits actually prevented their receipt.
Life politics, nature and the state: Giddens' sociological theory and The Politics of Climate Change
Authors: Thorpe Charles , Jacobson Brynna
Published: March 2013

Anthony Giddens' The Politics of Climate Change represents a significant shift in the way in which he addresses ecological politics. In this book, he rejects the relevance of environmentalism and demarcates climate‐change policy from life politics. Giddens addresses climate change in the technocratic mode of simple rather than reflexive modernization. However, Giddens' earlier sociological theory provides the basis for a more reflexive understanding of climate change. Climate change instantiates how, in high modernity, the existential contradiction of the human relationship with nature returns in new form, expressed in life politics and entangled with the structural contradictions of the capitalist state. The interlinking of existential and structural contradiction is manifested in the tension between life politics and the capitalist nation‐state. This tension is key for understanding the failures so far of policy responses to climate change.
The Classification of Inkjet Inks Using AccuTOF™DART™ (Direct Analysis in Real Time) Mass Spectrometry—A Preliminary Study
Authors: Houlgrave Stephanie , LaPorte Gerald M. , Stephens Joseph C. , Wilson Justin L.
Published: March 2013

A novel approach for the analysis of inkjet inks is being reported. A time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer, coupled with a Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART™) ion source (AccuTOF™ DART™), was used to determine if inkjet inks from various manufacturers and models of printers could be reliably differentiated, characterized, and identified. A total of 217 ink standards were analyzed. As inkjet printing often involves the use of multiple colors (e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) to form an image or text, two different approaches to creating a library of standards and sampling methods were evaluated for implementation in a standard operating procedure. This research will show that a microscopic examination of the region of interest is requisite to identify what colors were utilized during the printing process, prior to comparing with known standards. Finally, blind testing was administered with 10 unknown samples to assess the validity and accuracy of the methodology.
A New Method for the Removal and Analysis of Small Particles Adhering to Carpet Fiber Surfaces,,
Authors: Bowen Andrew , Stoney David
Published: March 2013

Fibers are a commonly encountered evidence type and fiber comparisons are routinely conducted. When the characteristics of questioned and known fibers correspond, the probative value is limited because the characteristics compared are determined by their manufacture. It would be valuable to test the hypothesis that questioned fibers originated from a specific carpet. One means of testing this is to analyze fine particles on the fibers. A procedure was developed for removing adhering particles from fibers and preparing them for scanning electron microscopy/ energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS) analysis. The efficacy of several fluids (acetone, ethanol, hexanes, aqueous ethanol, aqueous sodium hexametaphosphate) and agitation methods (sonication and vortexing) for removing particles from fibers was evaluated. The most effective method evaluated was sonication in ethanol for 10 min. The recovered particles were filtered onto a polycarbonate filter and analyzed by automated SEM/EDS analysis to generate data on the particle assemblage. This method makes possible future research to test the within‐item and between‐item variability of particle assemblages on fibers.
Variation in Methods of Cardiac Dissection—A Potential Confounder in Measuring Cardiac Weight at Autopsy
Authors: Lee Vivian , Byard Roger W.
Published: March 2013

To evaluate whether the weight of the heart measured at autopsy may be affected by the type of dissection, a prospective study was undertaken of the weights of sequential cases of nonpediatric hearts. Four hundred fifty‐eight hearts were examined (age range 17–96 years; mean 55.9 years; M:F = 3:1). The hearts were each weighed fresh, once the apex had been sliced, the auricles of the atria opened and blood drained, and again once the cardiac chambers had been opened completely. The difference in the partially and fully opened heart weights (range 146–1028 g; mean 434.8 g; range 134–1011 g; mean 420.8 g, respectively) (p < 0.05) ranged from 0 to 100 g (mean 14 g). In the most extreme example, the weight of the partially opened heart was 30.3% higher than that of the fully opened specimen. Failure to fully open the heart prior to weighing may result in significant error.
Highly Sensitive Detection of Blood by Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering,,
Authors: Boyd Samantha , Bertino Massimo F. , Ye Dexian , White Lauren S. , Seashols Sarah J.
Published: March 2013

Raman spectroscopy for forensic body fluid analysis has received some attention due to the nondestructive nature and potential application for identification at the crime scene; however, its usage has been limited by low detection sensitivity. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was evaluated for blood identification for forensic applications. Specifically, a SERS‐active substrate was fabricated, composed of nickel nanotips coated with Ag nanoparticles. Compared with a conventional substrate, the SERS substrate enhanced Raman scattering by more than two orders of magnitude and allowed blood to be identified to a dilution of 1:100,000. Blood was also successfully detected by swabbing the SERS substrate directly on mock evidence. Most importantly, Raman spectra obtained by swabbing the SERS substrate on blood stains were free of luminescence even when blood was deposited on luminescent fabrics. The nondestructive character, simplicity of sample preparation, and high sensitivity make SERS a prime candidate for field and laboratory‐based blood identification.
Accelerated Aging against Conventional Storage: Effects on the Volatile Composition of Chardonnay White Wines
Authors: Cejudo‐Bastante María Jesús , Hermosín‐Gutiérrez Isidro , Pérez‐Coello María Soledad
Published: March 2013

The effects of time (storage period) and temperature (accelerated aging) on Chardonnay white wines have been evaluated. Attention was focused on a large extent of individual volatile compounds, scarcely previously reported in that kind of wines. On the one hand, several volatile compounds (mainly esters, benzenic compounds, C13‐norisoprenoids, acids, and terpenes) showed the same behavior when temperature and time were applied separately. Therefore, the effect of 1 y of storage could be predicted by temperature application during short time, just analyzing those volatile compounds. Moreover, the formation of some volatile compounds (such as dioxanes, dioxolanes, and 1,2‐dihydro‐1,1,6‐trimethylnaphtalene (TDN)) and the disappearance of some alcohols, terpenes, and furanic compounds occurred in both conventional stored and accelerated‐aged wines. On the other hand, wines submitted to high temperature differed from 1‐y stored wines on several volatile compounds, such as β‐damascenone, C6‐alcohols, dioxolanes, γ‐butyrolactone, and TDN. Therefore, it is possible to assert that the analysis of these compounds could allow checking the possible inadequate handling by employing an excessive temperature.
Expectations about insulin therapy, perceived insulin‐delivery system social acceptability, and insulin treatment satisfaction contribute to decreases in insulin therapy self‐efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes after 36 weeks insulin therapy (2型糖尿病患者经过36周的胰岛素治疗后，患者对胰岛素治疗的期望、感知的胰岛素给药装置的社会接受性以及对胰岛素治疗的满意度都可以导致胰岛素治疗自我效能感的下降)
Authors: Hayes Risa P. , Curtis Bradley , Ilag Liza , Nelson David R. , Wong Mayme , Funnell Martha
Published: March 2013

Background

Self‐efficacy plays a critical role in diabetes self‐care. Herein we explore factors contributing to decreased insulin therapy self‐efficacy in insulin‐naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) initiating and managing insulin therapy over 36 weeks.

Methods

The study was conducted within an international, randomized clinical trial comparing two insulin therapies administered by insulin pen in patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with oral antihyperglycemic medications. Patients completed the Self‐Efficacy about Insulin Therapy Questionnaire (SEITQ) at baseline and endpoint. Patients also completed patient‐reported measures assessing expectations about insulin therapy at baseline and perceptions about insulin therapy and insulin‐delivery system (IDS) satisfaction at endpoint. Baseline and endpoint SEITQ scores were compared. Using prespecified criteria, patients were classified as having “decreased” or “no change/improved” insulin self‐efficacy. Demographic, clinical, and patient‐reported variables were entered into a logistic regression model with decreased insulin self‐efficacy (yes or no) as the dependent variable.

Results

Baseline and endpoint SEITQ data were available for 450 insulin‐naïve T2DM patients (mean age 59 years; 53% female; 57% Caucasian; mean baseline HbA1c 9.4%; 80.0 mmol/mol). Insulin therapy self‐efficacy improved from baseline to endpoint (74.0 vs 77.5; P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that lower IDS satisfaction (P < 0.0001), lower IDS social acceptability (P = 0.004), and more positive expectations of insulin therapy (P < 0.0001) were associated with decreased insulin self‐efficacy.

Conclusions

A candid discussion between clinicians and their insulin‐naïve T2DM patients about the benefits and challenges of insulin therapy may prevent unrealistic expectations that could potentially undermine insulin self‐efficacy.
Selenium supplementation has no effect on serum glucose levels in men at high risk of prostate cancer (在前列腺癌高风险的男性中补硒治疗对血糖水平没有影响)
Authors: Algotar Amit Mohan , Hsu Chui‐Hseih , Singh Parminder , Stratton Steven Paul
Published: March 2013

Background

Current literature regarding the effect of selenium supplementation on the risk of diabetes is inconclusive. Hence, a longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the effect of selenium supplementation on serum glucose levels in elderly men.

Methods

Data were obtained from 699 men participating in a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled Phase 3 clinical trial investigating the effects of two doses of selenium (200 and 400 μg/day) compared with placebo on the incidence of prostate cancer. Subjects were followed every 6 months for up to 5 years. Serum glucose levels were obtained every 6 months. Mixed‐effects regression models were used to assess whether the rate of change of serum glucose levels was significantly different in the selenium‐supplemented groups compared with placebo. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of findings and to minimize the possibility of residual bias due to fasting status.

Results

Of the total 2893 glucose measurements, 734 were performed when the subject had been fasting for ≥8 h. Changes in serum glucose levels during the course of the trial did not differ significantly between the placebo and selenium 200 μg/day (P = 0.98) and 400 μg/day (P = 0.81) groups. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated comparable results for models using the total population and models restricted to subjects with only fasting glucose data.

Conclusion

These results do not support a relationship between selenium supplementation and risk of diabetes. Hence, recommendations regarding selenium supplementation based on increased risk of diabetes seem premature.
Novel therapies for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Part 2. Addressing the incretin defect in the clinical setting in 2013 (新型2型糖尿病治疗药物：第2部分. 2013年临床上针对肠促胰岛素缺陷的治疗药物)
Authors: Grunberger George
Published: March 2013

The present short review summarizes and updates clinical experience with two classes of drugs introduced for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus over the past 8 years: (i) the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists; and (ii) the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors. Both classes of agents address the so called “incretin defect” in patients with T2DM.
Jane Cave Winscom: Provincial Poetry and the Metropolitan Connection
Authors: SCHÜRER NORBERT
Published: March 2013

Most criticism on provincial authors argues that they succeeded through connections to the London metropolis. The career of Jane Cave Winscom (c.1762‐1812) shows that another kind of provincial poet existed, one who moved through the provinces and eschewed metropolitan connections. New information on Winscom's biography and publications, and a close analysis of the content and rhetorical strategies of her poems, show her to have been a committed provincial author who interacted with the local community wherever she happened to be living.
A Measure of the Depth of Housing Stress and its Application in Australia
Authors: Tanton Robert , Phillips Ben
Published: March 2013

One calculation used in Australia for housing stress is that a household spends more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs and they are in the bottom two quintiles of the income distribution. One problem with this measure is that a household is either in housing stress, or not in housing stress. This article extends work by Chaplin and Freeman on the depth of housing stress to include a 30/40 measure. This article also explores how different groups of households have different levels of housing stress, and different depths of housing stress, and why these may diverge. Depth of housing stress is compared by age group; housing tenure and over time. Finally, conclusions and implications for Government policy are suggested.
Comparison of complete and minimal mediastinal lymph node dissection for non‐small cell lung cancer: Results of a prospective randomized trial
Authors: Zhang Junhua , Mao Teng , Gu Zhitao , Guo Xufeng , Chen Wenhu , Fang Wentao
Published: March 2013

Background

To compare surgical results, pathological staging, and survival between complete and minimal mediastinal lymph node dissection for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was carried out in 202 patients who were assigned to undergo either skeletonized complete mediastinal lymph node dissection (CLD) or minimal mediastinal lymph node dissection (MLD). Clinical and pathological characteristics, surgical results, postoperative staging, and five‐year survival were recorded for statistical analysis.

Results

Significantly more stations of lymph nodes were harvested through CLD, than MLD (8.9 vs. 6.2, P < 0.001). There was no difference in major complications (CLD 14.7% vs. MLD 14.0%, P = 0.884) or postoperative death (CLD 2.1% vs. MLD 1.9%, P = 0.904). No significant difference was detected in pathological staging between the two groups. The pN2 rates (27.1% vs. 24.2%), skip‐mediastinal metastasis (9.3% vs. 7.4%), and multi‐stational mediastinal involvement (15.0% vs. 16.8%) were similar between MLD and CLD. However, CLD had significantly better five‐year survival than MLD (55.7% vs. 37.7%, P = 0.005), especially in patients with a tumor size >3 cm, pleural invasion, pN1‐N2, stage II‐III, adenocarcinoma, and low‐differentiation carcinoma. Upon multivariate analysis, CLD, along with stage I and high‐differentiation, were independent prognostic factors for better overall survival.

Conclusions

Complete and minimal mediastinal dissections have similar surgical risks and mediastinal staging effect in patients with NSCLC. Minimal dissection is enough for early stage high‐differentiation tumors. For patients with stage II‐III or low‐differentiation carcinoma, skeletonized complete mediastinal dissection may improve survival compared with minimal dissection.
Effects of naltrexone on adolescent alcohol cue reactivity and sensitivity: an initial randomized trial
Authors: Miranda Robert , Ray Lara , Blanchard Alexander , Reynolds Elizabeth K. , Monti Peter M. , Chun Thomas , Justus Alicia , Swift Robert M. , Tidey Jennifer , Gwaltney Chad J. , Ramirez Jason
Published: March 2013

Adolescent alcohol use is associated with myriad adverse consequences and contributes to the leading causes of mortality among youth. Despite the magnitude of this public health problem, evidenced‐based treatment initiatives for alcohol use disorders in youth remain inadequate. Identifying promising pharmacological approaches may improve treatment options. Naltrexone is an opiate receptor antagonist that is efficacious for reducing drinking in adults by attenuating craving and the rewarding effects of alcohol. Implications of these findings for adolescents are unclear; however, given that randomized trials of naltrexone with youth are non‐existent. We conducted a randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled cross‐over study, comparing naltrexone (50 mg/daily) and placebo in 22 adolescent problem drinkers aged 15–19 years (M = 18.36, standard deviation = 0.95; 12 women). The primary outcome measures were alcohol use, subjective responses to alcohol consumption, and alcohol–cue‐elicited craving assessed in the natural environment using ecological momentary assessment methods, and craving and physiological reactivity assessed using standard alcohol cue reactivity procedures. Results showed that naltrexone reduced the likelihood of drinking and heavy drinking (P's ≤ 0.03), blunted craving in the laboratory and in the natural environment (P's ≤ 0.04), and altered subjective responses to alcohol consumption (P's ≤ 0.01). Naltrexone was generally well tolerated by participants. This study provides the first experimentally controlled evidence that naltrexone reduces drinking and craving, and alters subjective responses to alcohol in a sample of adolescent problem drinkers, and suggests larger clinical trials with long‐term follow‐ups are warranted.