bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serology in Finfish for Diagnosis, Surveillance, and Research: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jaramillo Diana , Peeler Edmund J. , Laurin Emilie , Gardner Ian A. , Whittington Richard J.
Published: February 2017

Historically, serological tests for finfish diseases have been underused when compared with their use in terrestrial animal health. For years the nonspecific immune response in fish was judged to make serology unreliable and inferior to the direct measurement of agent analytes. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications that reported on the development, validation, or application of serological tests for finfish diseases. A total of 168 articles met the screening criteria; most of them were focused on salmonid pathogens (e.g., Aeromonas spp. and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus). Before the 1980s, most publications reported the use of agglutination tests, but our review indicates that enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has more recently become the dominant serological test. The main application of serological tests has been in the assessment of vaccine efficacy, with few applications for surveillance or demonstration of freedom from disease, despite the advantages of serological tests over direct detection at the population level. Nonlethal sampling, low cost, and postinfection persistence of antibodies make serological assays the test of choice in surveillance, especially of valuable broodstock. However, their adoption has been constrained by poor characterization and validation. The number of publications in our review reporting diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of serological tests in finfish was small (n = 7). Foreseeing a wider use of serological tests in the future for diagnostic end purposes, we offer recommendations for mitigating deficiencies in the development and evaluation of serological tests, including optimization, control of nonspecific reactions, informed cutoff points, diagnostic accuracy, and serological baseline studies. Achieving these goals will facilitate greater international recognition of serological testing in programs supporting aquatic animal health.

Received March 21, 2016; accepted September 24, 2016 Published online February 6, 2017
Effects of T-2 Toxin on Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei: Growth, and Antioxidant Defenses and Capacity and Histopathology in the Hepatopancreas
Authors: Deng Yijia , Wang Yaling , Zhang Xiaodi , Sun Lijun , Wu Chaojin , Shi Qi , Wang Rundong , Sun Xiaodong , Bi Siyuan , Gooneratne Ravi
Published: February 2017

Modified–masked T-2 toxin (mT-2) formed during metabolism in edible aquatic animals may go undetected by traditional analytical methods, thereby underestimating T-2 toxicity. The effects of T-2 on growth and antioxidant capacity and histopathological changes in the hepatopancreas were studied in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei exposed for 20 d to 0, 0.5, 1.2, 2.4, 4.8, and 12.2 mg/kg of T-2 in their feed. The concentration of mT-2 in the hepatopancreas was detected by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrophotometry before and after trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) treatment that converted mT-2 to free T-2. A dose-dependent increase in mT-2 concentration was observed in the hepatopancreas. Dietary exposure to T-2 significantly decreased (P < 0.05) shrimp growth and survival rate compared with the controls. The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was significantly increased in shrimp exposed to feed with ≥2.4 mg/kg T-2 (P < 0.05). The antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and also glutathione (GSH) content increased in shrimp dosed with 2.4–4.8 mg/kg T-2 but declined at the highest dose (12.2 mg/kg), probably indicating an inability to cope with high concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as evident from a marked increase in MDA (P < 0.05) culminating in cellular toxicity. Histopathological changes in the hepatopancreas were dose dependent, with cell autophagy evident at the highest exposure dose. This is the first report in shrimp of a dose-dependent increase in ROS, SOD enzyme activity, and T-AOC at low T-2 exposures, and associated histopathological changes in the hepatopancreas, in response to dietary T-2.

Received January 26, 2016; accepted October 9, 2016 Published online February 6, 2017
Dispersion and oxidative stability of O/W emulsions and oxidation of microencapsulated oil
Authors: Miyagawa Yayoi , Adachi Shuji
Published: February 2017

Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions are among the dispersion systems commonly used in food, and these emulsions are in thermodynamically unstable or metastable states. In this paper, various methods for preparing O/W emulsions are outlined. Since the commodity value of food is impaired by the destabilization of O/W emulsions, experimental and theoretical approaches to assess the stability of O/W emulsions are overviewed, and factors affecting the dispersion stability of emulsions are discussed based on the DLVO theory and the concept of the stability factor. The oxidation of lipids in O/W emulsions is unhealthy and gives rise to unpleasant odors. Factors affecting the autoxidation of lipids are discussed, and theoretical models are used to demonstrate that a reduction of the oil droplet size suppresses or retards autoxidation. Microencapsulated lipids or oils exhibit distinct features in the oxidation process. Models that explain these features are described. It is demonstrated that a reduction in the oil droplet size is also effective for suppressing or retarding the oxidation of microencapsulated oils.
Molecular Biomarkers for the Evaluation of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Sepulveda Antonia R. , Hamilton Stanley R. , Allegra Carmen J. , Grody Wayne , Cushman-Vokoun Allison M. , Funkhouser William K. , Kopetz Scott E. , Lieu Christopher , Lindor Noralane M. , Minsky Bruce D. , Monzon Federico A. , Sargent Daniel J. , Singh Veena M. , Willis Joseph , Clark Jennifer , Colasacco Carol , Rumble R. Bryan , Temple-Smolkin Robyn , Ventura Christina B. , Nowak Jan A.
Published: February 2017

Objectives: To develop evidence-based guideline recommendations through a systematic review of the literature to establish standard molecular biomarker testing of colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues to guide epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies and conventional chemotherapy regimens.

Methods: The American Society for Clinical Pathology, College of American Pathologists, Association for Molecular Pathology, and American Society of Clinical Oncology convened an expert panel to develop an evidence-based guideline to establish standard molecular biomarker testing and guide therapies for patients with CRC. A comprehensive literature search that included more than 4,000 articles was conducted.

Results: Twenty-one guideline statements were established.

Conclusions: Evidence supports mutational testing for EGFR signaling pathway genes, since they provide clinically actionable information as negative predictors of benefit to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapies for targeted therapy of CRC. Mutations in several of the biomarkers have clear prognostic value. Laboratory approaches to operationalize CRC molecular testing are presented.
CDC's Prevention Status Reports: Monitoring the Status of Public Health Policies and Practices for Improved Performance and Accountability
Authors: Young Andrea C. , Lowry Garry , Mumford Karen , Graaf Christine
Published: February 2017

Context:

Increasing the adoption and implementation of evidence-based policies and practices is a key strategy for improving public health. Although there is widespread agreement about the importance of implementing evidence-based public health policies and practices, there are gaps between what has been shown to be effective and what is implemented at the state level.

Objective:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the Prevention Status Reports (PSRs), a performance measurement system, to highlight evidence-based public health policies and practices and catalyze state performance and quality improvement efforts across the nation.

Design:

CDC selected a set of 10 topics representing some of the most important public health challenges in the nation. Stakeholders, including state health departments and other partners, helped conceptualize the PSRs and informed the development of the PSR framework, which provides an organizational structure for the system. CDC subject matter experts developed criteria for selecting policies and practices, indicators for each policy and practice, and a criteria-based rating system for each indicator.

Participants and Setting:

The PSRs were developed for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Main Outcome:

The PSRs were developed and serve as a performance measurement system for monitoring the adoption, reach, and implementation fidelity of evidence-based public health policies and practices nationwide.

Results:

The PSRs include 33 policy and practice indicators across the 10 health topics. They use a simple 3-level rating system—green, yellow, and red—to report the extent to which each state (and the District of Columbia) has implemented the policy or practice in accordance with supporting evidence or expert recommendations. Results from aggregate analyses show positive change or improvement.

Conclusion:

The PSRs are a unique part of CDC's work to improve the performance and accountability of the public health system, serving as both a monitoring tool and a call to action to improve health outcomes. The PSRs can be used to track the reach of and fidelity to evidence-based policies and practices nationally over time, as well as inform state efforts to improve their use of evidence-based policies and practice.
The Impact of Law on Syndromic Disease Surveillance Implementation
Authors: Purtle Jonathan , Field Robert I. , Hipper Thomas , Nash-Arott Jillian , Chernak Esther , Buehler James W.
Published: February 2017

Context:

Legal environments influence how health information technologies are implemented in public health practice settings. Syndromic disease surveillance (SyS) is a relatively new approach to surveillance that depends heavily on health information technologies to achieve rapid awareness of disease trends. Evidence suggests that legal concerns have impeded the optimization of SyS.

Objectives:

To (1) understand the legal environments in which SyS is implemented, (2) determine the perceived legal basis for SyS, and (3) identify perceived legal barriers and facilitators to SyS implementation.

Design:

Multisite case study in which 35 key informant interviews and 5 focus groups were conducted with 75 SyS stakeholders. Interviews and focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by 3 coders using thematic content analysis. Legal documents were reviewed.

Setting:

Seven jurisdictions (5 states, 1 county, and 1 city) that were purposively selected on the basis of SyS capacity and legal environment.

Participants:

Health department directors, SyS system administrators, legal counsel, and hospital personnel.

Results:

Federal (eg, HIPAA) and state (eg, notifiable disease reporting) laws that authorize traditional public health surveillance were perceived as providing a legal basis for SyS. Financial incentives for hospitals to satisfy Meaningful Use regulations have eased concerns about the legality of SyS and increased the number of hospitals reporting SyS data. Legal issues were perceived as barriers to BioSense 2.0 (the federal SyS program) participation but were surmountable.

Conclusion:

Major legal reforms are not needed to promote more widespread use of SyS. The current legal environment is perceived by health department and hospital officials as providing a firm basis for SyS practice. This is a shift from how law was perceived when SyS adoption began and has policy implications because it indicates that major legal reforms are not needed to promote more widespread use of the technology. Beyond SyS, our study suggests that federal monetary incentives can ameliorate legal concerns regarding novel health information technologies.
Applying Instructional Design Strategies and Behavior Theory to Household Disaster Preparedness Training
Authors: Thomas Tracy N. , Sobelson Robyn K. , Wigington Corinne J. , Davis Alyson L. , Harp Victoria H. , Leander-Griffith Michelle , Cioffi Joan P.
Published: February 2017

Context:

Interventions and media campaigns promoting household disaster preparedness have produced mixed results in affecting behaviors. In large part, this is due to the limited application of instructional design strategies and behavior theory, such as the Transtheoretical Model (TTM). This study describes the development and evaluation of Ready CDC, an intervention designed to increase household disaster preparedness among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) workforce.

Objectives:

(1) Describe the instructional design strategies employed in the development of Ready CDC and (2) evaluate the intervention's impact on behavior change and factors influencing stage progression for household disaster preparedness behavior.

Design:

Ready CDC was adapted from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Ready campaign. Offered to CDC staff September 2013–November 2015, it consisted of a preassessment of preparedness attitudes and behaviors, an in-person training, behavioral reinforcement communications, and a 3-month follow-up postassessment.

Results:

Ready CDC employed well-accepted design strategies, including presenting stimulus material and enhancing transfer of desired behavior. Excluding those in the TTM “maintenance” stage at baseline, this study determined 44% of 208 participants progressed at least 1 stage for developing a written disaster plan. Moreover, assessment of progression by stage found among participants in the “precontemplation” (n = 16), “contemplation” (n = 15), and “preparation” (n = 125) stages at baseline for assembling an emergency kit, 25%, 27%, and 43% moved beyond the “preparation” stage, respectively. Factors influencing stage movement included knowledge, attitudes, and community resiliency but varied depending on baseline stage of change.

Conclusions:

Employing instructional strategies and behavioral theories in preparedness interventions optimizes the potential for individuals to adopt preparedness behaviors. Study findings suggest that stage movement toward household preparedness was not spurious but rather associated with the intervention. Therefore, Ready CDC was successful in moving staff along the continuous process of adopting household disaster preparedness behaviors, thus providing a model for future interventions. The TTM suggests factors such as knowledge, beliefs, and self-efficacy will differ by stage and may differentially predict progression towards behavior adoption. Thus, tailoring interventions based on an individual's stage of change optimizes the potential for individuals to adopt desired behaviors.
Using Twitter to Identify and Respond to Food Poisoning: The Food Safety STL Project
Authors: Harris Jenine K. , Hawkins Jared B. , Nguyen Leila , Nsoesie Elaine O. , Tuli Gaurav , Mansour Raed , Brownstein John S.
Published: February 2017

Context:

Foodborne illness affects 1 in 4 US residents each year. Few of those sickened seek medical care or report the illness to public health authorities, complicating prevention efforts. Citizens who report illness identify food establishments with more serious and critical violations than found by regular inspections. New media sources, including online restaurant reviews and social media postings, have the potential to improve reporting.

Objective:

We implemented a Web-based Dashboard (HealthMap Foodborne Dashboard) to identify and respond to tweets about food poisoning from St Louis City residents.

Design and Setting:

This report examines the performance of the Dashboard in its first 7 months after implementation in the City of St Louis Department of Health.

Main Outcome Measures:

We examined the number of relevant tweets captured and replied to, the number of foodborne illness reports received as a result of the new process, and the results of restaurant inspections following each report.

Results:

In its first 7 months (October 2015-May 2016), the Dashboard captured 193 relevant tweets. Our replies to relevant tweets resulted in more filed reports than several previously existing foodborne illness reporting mechanisms in St Louis during the same time frame. The proportion of restaurants with food safety violations was not statistically different (P = .60) in restaurants inspected after reports from the Dashboard compared with those inspected following reports through other mechanisms.

Conclusion:

The Dashboard differs from other citizen engagement mechanisms in its use of current data, allowing direct interaction with constituents on issues when relevant to the constituent to provide time-sensitive education and mobilizing information. In doing so, the Dashboard technology has potential for improving foodborne illness reporting and can be implemented in other areas to improve response to public health issues such as suicidality, spread of Zika virus infection, and hospital quality.
Implementation of a Legionella Ordinance for Multifamily Housing, Garland, Texas
Authors: Whitney Ellen A. , Blake Sarah , Berkelman Ruth L.
Published: February 2017

Context:

The incidence of legionellosis has sharply increased in the United States as a result of contaminated water systems. Jurisdictions across the country are considering whether to develop and implement regulations to protect individuals against Legionnaires' disease with its associated high morbidity and mortality.

Objective:

This article sheds light on the implementation and effectiveness of a 2005 citywide Legionella testing mandate of multifamily housing cooling towers in Garland, Texas. This ordinance has been in place for more than 10 years and represents the first of its kind in the United States to mandate routine testing of cooling towers for Legionella in multifamily housing.

Design, Setting, and Population:

We utilized a mix of both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the development, adoption, and implementation of the ordinance. Phone interviews were conducted with individuals from the City of Garland Health Department and apartment managers. Quantitative data included public health surveillance data on legionellosis.

Main Outcome Measures:

Barriers and facilitators of implementation, number and percentage of cooling towers from multifamily housing units that tested positive for Legionella by year, and number of legionellosis cases by year in Garland, Texas.

Results:

Study outcomes highlight key themes that facilitated the successful implementation of the Legionella testing mandate, including the importance of timing, leadership support, stakeholder engagement, and education and outreach. The number of contaminated cooling towers was reduced over time.

Conclusion:

Mandatory monitoring for legionella in a local jurisdiction may result in reduced risk of legionellosis from cooling towers through raising awareness and education of building owners and managers about the need to prevent, detect, and remediate legionella contamination in their building water systems. Garland, Texas, broke new ground in the United States in moving toward primary prevention of legionellosis. The ordinance may be useful both in serving to educate and increase awareness about the need for Legionella prevention and to monitor effectiveness of maintenance procedures.
Check Hep C: A Community-Based Approach to Hepatitis C Diagnosis and Linkage to Care in High-Risk Populations
Authors: Ford Mary M. , Jordan Ashly E. , Johnson Nirah , Rude Eric , Laraque Fabienne , Varma Jay K. , Hagan Holly
Published: February 2017

Context:

In New York City (NYC), an estimated 146 500 people, or 2.4% of the adult population, have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and half may be unaware of their infection. Despite a 2014 state law requiring health care providers to screen for HCV infection in primary care settings, many high-risk HCV-positive persons are not, and a large proportion of those screened do not receive RNA testing to confirm infection, or antiviral therapies.

Objective:

The NYC Department of Health's Check Hep C program was designed to increase hepatitis C diagnosis and improve linkage to care at community-based organizations.

Design:

Coordinated, evidence-based practices were implemented at 12 sites, including HCV antibody testing, immediate blood draw for RNA testing, and patient navigation to clinical services.

Results:

From May 2012 through April 2013, a total of 4751 individuals were tested for HCV infection and 880 (19%) were antibody-positive. Of antibody-positive participants, 678 (77%) had an RNA test, and of those, 512 (76%) had current infection. Of all participants, 1901 were born between 1945 and 1965, and of those, 201 (11%) were RNA-positive. Ever having injected drugs was the strongest risk factor for HCV infection (40% vs 3%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 19.1), followed by a history of incarceration (18% vs 4%; AOR = 2.2). Of the participants with current infection, 85% attended at least 1 follow-up hepatitis C medical appointment. Fourteen patients initiated hepatitis C treatment at a Check Hep C site and 6 initiators achieved cure.

Conclusion:

The community-based model successfully identified persons with HCV infection and linked a large proportion to care. The small number of patients initiating hepatitis C treatment in the program identified the need for patient navigation in high-risk populations. Results can be used to inform screening and linkage-to-care strategies and to support the execution of hepatitis C screening recommendations.
Conducting Community Health Needs Assessments in the Local Public Health Department: A Comparison of Random Digit Dialing and the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response
Authors: Stone Kahler , Sierocki Allison , Shah Vaidehi , Ylitalo Kelly R. , Horney Jennifer A.
Published: February 2017

Context:

Community health needs assessments (CHNAs) are now required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for nonprofit hospitals and the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) for local health departments that seek accreditation. Currently, various primary data collection methods exist that meet the ACA and PHAB requirements.

Objective:

To compare 2 CHNA data collection methods implemented in the same geographical area from a local health department perspective.

Design and Setting:

Two community surveys, one door-to-door and one telephone, in the 76706 zip code area of McLennan County, Texas.

Participants:

Adult survey respondents (Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response [CASPER]: N = 184; random digit dialing [RDD]: N = 133) of the 76706 zip code in McLennan County, Texas.

Main Outcome Measures:

Survey response rates, sociodemographic characteristics of survey respondents, and self-reported health behaviors from both community survey types.

Results:

The CASPER survey had a contact rate of 36.0% and a cooperation rate of 60.5%, compared with a 10.1% response rate for the RDD survey. CASPER respondents were younger (26.6% aged 18-24 years), had lower education attainment (17.4% less than high school), and had a higher proportion of Hispanics (24.5%) than RDD respondents (4.6%, 10.5%, and 17.3%, respectively). CASPER respondents were less likely to report being overweight or obese (56.5%), to report days where no fruit or vegetables were consumed (7.1%), and to report days where no walking activity was conducted (9.8%) than RDD respondents (70.2%, 27.8%, and 21.8%, respectively). The CASPER survey cost less to conduct ($13 500) than the RDD survey ($100 000) and was logistically easier for the local health department to conduct using internally available resources.

Conclusions:

Local health departments use various data collection methods to conduct CHNAs for their populations and require varying levels of commitment and resources. RDD and CASPER can be used to meet ACA and PHAB requirements, collecting valuable health needs estimates and offer various strengths and weaknesses. PHAB and ACA requirements can be met using the CASPER or RDD survey to conduct CHNAs. However, local health departments may consider the CASPER survey a viable alternative to the RDD survey when time and resources are limited. The CASPER survey offers flexibility and efficiency and requires limited equipment and training.
A Doubly Stochastic Change Point Detection Algorithm for Noisy Biological Signals
Authors: Gold Nathan , Frasch Martin G. , Herry Christoph , Richardson Bryan S. , Wang Xiaogang
Published: February 2017

Experimentally and clinically collected time series data are often contaminated with significant confounding noise, creating short, noisy time series. This noise, due to natural variability and measurement error, poses a challenge to conventional change point detection methods.

We propose a novel and robust statistical method for change point detection for noisy biological time sequences. Our method is a significant improvement over traditional change point detection methods, which only examine a potential anomaly at a single time point. In contrast, our method considers all suspected anomaly points and considers the joint probability distribution of the number of change points and the elapsed time between two consecutive anomalies. We validate our method with three simulated time series, a widely accepted benchmark data set, two geological time series, a data set of ECG recordings, and a physiological data set of heart rate variability measurements of fetal sheep model of human labour, comparing it to three existing methods. Our method demonstrates significantly improved performance over the existing pointwise detection methods.
Early sex-chromosome evolution in the diploid dioecious plantMercurialis annua
Authors: Veltsos Paris , Ridout Kate E. , Toups Melissa A. , González-Martínez Santiago C. , Muyle Aline , Emery Olivier , Rastas Pasi , Hudzieczek Vojtech , Hobza Roman , Vyskot Boris , Marais Gabriel A.B. , Filatov Dmitry A. , Pannell John R.
Published: February 2017

Suppressed recombination around a sex-determining locus allows divergence between homologous sex chromosomes and the functionality of their genes. Here, we reveal patterns of the earliest stages of sex-chromosome evolution in the diploid dioecious herbMercurialis annuaon the basis of cytological analysis,de novogenome assembly and annotation, genetic mapping, exome resequencing of natural populations, and transcriptome analysis. Both genetic mapping and exome resequencing of individuals across the species range independently identified the largest linkage group, LG1, as the sex chromosome. Although the sex chromosomes ofM. annuaare karyotypically homomorphic, we estimate that about a third of the Y chromosome has ceased recombining, a region containing 568 transcripts and spanning 22.3 cM in the corresponding female map. Patterns of gene expression hint at the possible role of sexually antagonistic selection in having favored suppressed recombination. In total, the genome assembly contained 34,105 expressed genes, of which 10,076 were assigned to linkage groups. There was limited evidence of Y-chromosome degeneration in terms of gene loss and pseudogenization, but sequence divergence between the X and Y copies of many sex-linked genes was higher than betweenM. annuaand its dioecious sister speciesM. huetiiwith which it shares a sex-determining region. The Mendelian inheritance of sex in interspecific crosses, combined with the other observed pattern, suggest that theM. annuaY chromosome has at least two evolutionary strata: a small old stratum shared withM. huetii, and a more recent larger stratum that is probably unique toM. annuaand that stopped recombining about one million years ago.

Article summary

Plants that evolved separate sexes (dioecy) recently are ideal models for studying the early stages of sex-chromosome evolution. Here, we use karyological, whole genome and transcriptome data to characterize the homomorphic sex chromosomes of the annual dioecious plantMercurialis annua. Our analysis reveals many typical hallmarks of dioecy and sex-chromosome evolution, including sex-biased gene expression and high X/Y sequence divergence, yet few premature stop codons in Y-linked genes and very little outright gene loss, despite 1/3 of the sex chromosome having ceased recombination in males. Our results confirm that theM. annuaspecies complex is a fertile system for probing early stages in the evolution of sex chromosomes.
Structure and physicochemical characterization of a naproxen–picolinamide cocrystal
Authors: Kerr Hannah E. , Softley Lorna K. , Suresh Kuthuru , Hodgkinson Paul , Evans Ivana Radosavljevic
Published: February 2017

Naproxen (NPX) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with pain- and fever-relieving properties, currently marketed in the sodium salt form to overcome solubility problems; however, alternative solutions for improving its solubility across all pH values are desirable. NPX is suitable for cocrystal formation, with hydrogen-bonding possibilitiesviathe COOH group. The crystal structure is presented of a 1:1 cocrystal of NPX with picolinamide as a coformer [systematic name: (S)-2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanoic acid–pyridine-2-carboxamide (1/1), C14H14O3·C6H6N2O]. The pharmaceutically relevant physical properties were investigated and the intrinsic dissolution rate was found to be essentially the same as that of commercial naproxen. An NMR crystallography approach was used to investigate the H-atom positions in the two crystallographically unique COOH–CONH hydrogen-bonded dimers.1H solid-state NMR distinguished the two carboxyl protons, despite the very similar crystallographic environments. The nature of the hydrogen bonding was confirmed by solid-state NMR and density functional theory calculations.
Intermolecular interactions in AST zeolites through 14N NMR and DFT calculations
Authors: Dib Eddy , Freire Mélanie , Pralong Valérie , Mineva Tzonka , Alonso Bruno
Published: February 2017

The structure of the silica AST zeolites (octadecasil) synthesized in fluoride medium using tetramethylammonium (TMA) as the organic structure-directing agent has been reinvestigated using 14N NMR quadrupolar parameters and DFT calculations. The value of the experimental 14N quadrupolar coupling constant (CQ
= 27 kHz) is larger than expected for a TMA cation possessing a high degree of motion. The analysis of a DFT-optimized octadecasil cluster along with the comparison between measured and calculated 14N NMR parameters demonstrate the presence of weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds between the TMA in the [46612] cages and the silica skeleton. These intermolecular interactions can be related to the presence of Si...F tetrel bonds within the [46] cages. These new results provide additional information with regard to the formation mechanisms and structure of the octadecasil zeolites.
A13C solid-state NMR investigation of four cocrystals of caffeine and theophylline
Authors: Vigilante Nicolas J. , Mehta Manish A.
Published: February 2017

We report an analysis of the13C solid-state NMR chemical shift data in a series of four cocrystals involving two active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) mimics (caffeine and theophylline) and two diacid coformers (malonic acid and glutaric acid). Within this controlled set, we make comparisons of the isotropic chemical shifts and the principal values of the chemical shift tensor. The dispersion at 14.1 T (600 MHz1H) shows crystallographic splittings in some of the resonances in the magic angle spinning spectra. By comparing the isotropic chemical shifts of individual C atoms across the four cocrystals, we are able to identify pronounced effects on the local electronic structure at some sites. We perform a similar analysis of the principal values of the chemical shift tensors for the anisotropic C atoms (most of the ring C atoms for the API mimics and the carbonyl C atoms of the diacid coformers) and link them to differences in the known crystal structures. We discuss the future prospects for extending this type of study to incorporate the full chemical shift tensor, including its orientation in the crystal frame of reference.
Exploring the adoption of mobile internet services by socioeconomically disadvantaged people
Authors: Ma Dandan , Tina Du Jia , Cen Yonghua , Wu Peng
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify enablers and inhibitors to the adoption of mobile internet services by socioeconomically disadvantaged people: an understudied population adversely affected by digital inequality.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study combining a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. In total, 32 socioeconomically disadvantaged people explored mobile lottery services and subsequently were asked a series of semi-structured questions about their perceptions of the technology.

Findings

Users’ attitudes toward mobile internet services were ambivalent. They experienced some advantages of smartphones (including escaping spatiotemporal constrains, fashionableness, privacy, and cost-effectiveness) and conceived of mobile internet services in terms of social advantages (including their ubiquitous nature, fitting in socially and fear of being “left behind”). However, they also experienced barriers and concerns, such as limited mobile data packages, external barriers from mobile services (including security concerns, complex online help tutorials, irrelevant pop-ups, and a lack of personalized services) and internal psychological barriers (including technophobia, self-concept, and habitus).

Research limitations/implications

The findings are of limited generalizability due to the small size of the sample. However, the study has implications for understanding the acceptance of technology among socioeconomically disadvantaged people.

Social implications

The study has social implications for bridging digital inequality in terms of socioeconomic status.

Originality/value

While previous studies have primarily focused on enablers of adopting mobile internet services by active users, this study reveals both the promise of and the barriers to the use of such services by inactive users who comprise an under-served population.
Does culture matter in effectiveness of social media marketing strategy? An investigation of brand fan pages
Authors: Khan Imran , Dongping Han , Wahab Akhter
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Along with traditional marketing channels, social media outlets are integrated as a part of the marketing mix. Social media has changed the dynamics of interaction between companies and consumers that foster this relationship. Managing brand fan pages on social networking sites is a specific way the companies are using. Customers can become brand fans on these pages and indicate that they like the brand posts, share on their wall or simply comment. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of cultural differences on the effectiveness of social media metrics and scientifically tested brand engagement in terms of commitment, loyalty and brand recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analysed 1,922 brand posts from five different brands of a single product category in three different countries. Ordinary least square and hierarchical moderation regression was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Results show that all determinants are not equally suitable for enhancement of number of likes, comments and shares. More specifically, vivid and interactive brand post determinants enhance the number of likes. Furthermore, interactive brand posts enhance the number of comments while vivid brand posts enhance number of shares. Moreover, impact and intensity vary across different cultures.

Originality/value

Brand fan page moderators can obtain guidance from the research in formulating their social media marketing strategies in order to decide which post determinants to place on the fan page.
Measurement of internal user satisfaction and acceptance of the e-justice system in Turkey
Authors: Oktal Ozlem , Alpu Ozlem , Yazici Berna
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an evaluation model for National Judiciary Informatics System (NJIS), which is an e-justice system forming part of e-government, based on the models and the theories of information systems (ISs).

Design/methodology/approach

The survey was conducted on 8,840 internal users working for judicial services in Turkey. The success of the NJIS as an e-justice system is evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results show that while the most important factor is the latent variable information quality in the SEM created to analyze the satisfaction of internal users using the NJIS, other factors include perceived usefulness (PU), system quality, and service quality, respectively. It is found that design quality has affected directly and positively the perceived ease of use (PEoU) while PEoU has affected the PU in the same manner.

Research limitations/implications

This study was solely concerned with internal users. Therefore, a more comparative study in which other users such as lawyers and ordinary citizens can be incorporated is suggested. Related to internal user satisfaction of the e-justice system, it is explored whether or not internal users are satisfied with their information processing needs, the system’s efficiency, the number of process steps, technical office services, and the system in general.

Originality/value

The research presents a new developed evaluation model of e-justice system from an internal user perspective. Most evaluation models focus on system-centered evaluation or organizational structure while user-centered evaluation concerning judicial ISs has not been explored yet.
Exploring continuance intention of social networking sites
Authors: Bao Zheshi
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the determinants of continuance intention of social networking site (SNS) users through a new perspective and discuss how to retain SNS users.

Design/methodology/approach

The author proposed a research model by integrating network externalities and social support. Three dimensions of social support and two types of network externalities were analyzed, respectively, to explore the direct and indirect effects on continuance intention. Online questionnaires were adopted to collect data, and 513 valid samples were analyzed by structural equation modeling approach.

Findings

The findings show that network externalities have a significant indirect effect on user’ continuance intention through the mediation effects of social support, and among the three dimensions of social support, network management plays a more important role on continuance intention.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest that network externalities can trigger the function of social support to keep the “stickiness” of SNS users, and network management is the key dimension of online social support. Some other theoretical and practical implications are also provided.

Originality/value

The study is novel in exploring users’ continuance intention of SNSs by integrating social support and network externalities. Meanwhile, the author also intends to compare the effect of different dimensions of social support on SNS usage and discuss their internal relationships.
Information technology and marketing performance within international market-entry alliances
Authors: Zhao Shasha , Priporas Constantinos-Vasilios
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to engage in a comprehensive review of the research on information technology (IT)-mediated international market-entry alliances.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a theory-informed conceptual framework of IT-enabled cross-border interfirm relationships and performance outcomes. It integrates perspectives of resource-based view (RBV) and transaction cost economics (TCE) to argue that the establishment of interfirm IT capabilities enhances the marketing performance of the foreign partner in the host location by improving interfirm relationship governance. Furthermore, IT-related risks and contextual restrictions are identified as important moderators.

Findings

Conceptualisations of IT capabilities, IT-enhanced interfirm governance, and IT-led marketing performance improvement are suggested. Drawing on RBV and TCE, IT resources, related human resources, and IT integration between partner firms in combination enhances the ability of firms to manage the relationship more effectively through shared control, interfirm coordination, cross-firm formalisation, and hybrid centralisation. These benefits then bring about better upstream and downstream marketing performance in the host location. Additionally, IT capabilities help to mitigate possible contextual limitations and risks.

Research limitations/implications

The paper offers a number of theory- and literature-informed research propositions which can be empirically tested in future studies.

Practical implications

Top managers of firms currently in or planning to enter international alliances for market entry should carefully consider effective development of interfirm IT capabilities in terms of readiness of hardware and software, human resources, and organisational resources.

Originality/value

The paper provides an integrated framework and propositions which contribute to limited understanding and appreciation of IT value in international market-entry alliances.
Push and pull factors in international franchising
Authors: Madanoglu Melih , Alon Ilan , Shoham Amir
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Using munificence, real options and ambidexterity theories, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the differential between home and host market environmental conditions affects US international franchising expansion.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used firm-level panel data for 151 US-based franchising firms, fromBond’s Guide for Franchise Opportunities, for the years 1994-2008 plus macroeconomic data on the environment, to explain the probability of franchising.

Findings

The paper finds that the differential in economic growth and economic uncertainty impacts franchisors’ desire to expand abroad on a continual basis.

Research limitations/implications

Researchers in international franchising should not only focus on host market environmental variables (pull factors), but also on conditions in the home market (push factors).

Originality/value

The paper adds to environmental explanations of international franchising by focusing on the differential in munificence and uncertainty between home and host countries.
Multi-country collaborative innovation in the internationalisation process
Authors: Chebbi Hela , Yahiaoui Dorra , Thrassou Alkis
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to operationalise the collaborative cross-border innovation process employed by multinational corporations in their effort to penetrate new markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on the case study of a leading European telecommunications group (OPERACOM). Methodologically it relies on 32 interviews, observation and secondary data analysis, and is theoretically founded on an extensive (mostly narrative and partly meta-synthetic) literature review.

Findings

The findings show that two new activities merit inclusion in the collaborative cross-border innovation process: strategic marketing anticipation and pre-opportunity studies. In this context, three strategic marketing levers are elucidated: subsidiaries’ knowledge integration, communication/coordination mechanisms, and collaboration-governance; interrelating on the way the activities and elements comprising the breadth and depth of the process’ continuum.

Research limitations/implications

These stem from and are inherent to the very nature of the research (case study), which proscribes generalisations. Additionally, the research’s long-term span subjects the results to some inevitable potential temporal distortions.

Practical implications

The research findings, owing to their detailed and activity-specific disposition, constitute a case prototype towards further and/or corresponding application to organisations of this and/or other industries; presenting executives with an existing and market-tested positive paradigm of the innovation aspect of the collaborative market-entry mechanism.

Originality/value

Carrying significant scholarly and executive value, the research substantially and specifically enhances the understanding of innovation as an integral part of the internationalisation process, describing and prescribing explicit processes and actions throughout the horizontal and vertical organisational axes.
Portfolio selection with transaction costs and default risk
Authors: Puopolo Giovanni Walter
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of default risk and transaction costs on the investor’s asset allocation and the liquidity premium. More precisely, it aims at answering the following question: can default risk generate a first-order effect on the investor’s asset allocation and a liquidity premium of the same order of magnitude as transaction costs?

Design/methodology/approach

The author proposes a very simple consumption-investment model in which an infinitely lived investor allocates her wealth between a risky asset and a riskless security, and incurs in proportional transaction costs when exchanging them. In addition, the risky asset may default at some random time, thus reducing the available wealth of the agent. Two different scenarios of default risk are considered. In the total default scenario, the value of the risky asset drops to zero when default occurs, whereas, in the partial default case, the proceeds from the liquidation of the risky asset amount to 50 percent of its value.

Findings

The paper shows that default risk can generate a first-order effect on the investor’s asset allocation. On the contrary, the liquidity premium is one order of magnitude smaller than the transaction costs, implying that the additional source of risk determined by the possibility of default is not able to generate a first-order effect on asset pricing.

Originality/value

To the author knowledge, this is the first paper that investigates the interaction of default risk and transaction costs on the investor’s asset allocation and its effects on the liquidity premium.