bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case Series: Keratolimbal Allograft as a Patch Graft for Glaucoma Drainage Devices
Authors: Ahmed Sarah F. , Schmutz Mason , Mosaed Sameh
Published: July 2017

Purpose:

Tube exposure remains one of the most common complications after glaucoma drainage device (GDD) implantation, despite various types of patch grafts available today. We present a 4 patient case series following the effectivity of the keratolimbal allograft (KLAL) as a patch graft for cases of tube exposure. Given its inherent population of stem cells, our hypothesis was that this highly replicative, biological tissue would provide an adequate means of glaucoma tube coverage. The subset of patients chosen for the KLAL patch graft all had a history of abnormally scarred conjunctiva or thin sclera. The aim of utilizing the KLAL patch with its associated donor conjunctival and scleral ring was also to provide additional reinforcement and adequate tube coverage in the setting of compromised native tissue.

Observations:

Four patients comprised of 2 males and 2 females with a minimum postoperative period of 12 months. All GDDs were initially implanted with a limbal-based incision using either Ahmed glaucoma valve or Baerveldt drainage implant. Three of the 4 patients received the KLAL patch graft after tube exposure with scleral patch graft and 1 patient received KLAL as the primary graft during initial tube placement.

Conclusions:

Two of the 4 eyes experienced tube re-exposure postoperatively at 2 and 3 months, respectively. Both of these cases had a history of prior tube exposure after scleral patch graft and both were tubes placed in the pars plana. Interestingly, the patients with failed grafts were younger with a history of more ocular surgeries as compared with the patients with graft viable eyes.

Relevance:

Through our case series, we found that the KLAL utilized as a patch graft over GDD tubes has the potential for favorable outcomes in certain subtypes of eyes. Although further large scale investigation will be necessary to better define the risk factors associated with graft failure, proving the graft’s viability is a crucial first step.
A Novel g.55040074delT in ALAS2 Gene Resulting in a Monomeric Protein and Severe Sideroblastic Anemia Phenotype
Authors: Bhatia Prateek , Singh Aditya , Hedge Avani
Published: July 2017

Sideroblastic anemias are a rare group of disorders resulting from defective iron incorporation during heme synthesis and hence characterized by anemia and presence of ringed sideroblasts in bone marrow. The most common form is an X-linked disorder caused by mutations in ALAS2 gene. In the current paper, a case of X-linked sideroblastic anemia caused by a novel homozygous deletional mutation in exon 10 of ALAS2 gene is presented. The female infant developed moderately severe anemia at 6 months of age, which did not improve despite adequate nutritional support. The diagnosis was suspected considering a high plasma ferritin of 740.9 μg/L. The protein structure as predicted by SWISS model was a monomeric form rather than wild-type homodimer, resulting in marked loss of function and protein instability.
Treatment Minimization in Older Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Authors: Hansen Tara M. , Zellars Richard C.
Published: July 2017

The management of early-stage breast cancer in older patients is complex and requires a careful balance of the risk of cancer death with the competing risks of comorbidities and treatment-related toxicity in women with largely favorable disease. As the US population continues to age, oncologists will increasingly encounter this clinical challenge. Several strategies involving each core component of breast cancer therapy have been investigated to minimize treatment in these patients while still maintaining acceptable outcomes. These include omission of primary tumor resection, surgical axillary evaluation, systemic chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy, as well as reduction in radiotherapy treatment volume (partial breast irradiation) or total treatment time (hypofractionation). We review these strategies and the literature supporting their use, as well as future directions for treatment minimization.
Managing Cancer Pain in Older Adults
Authors: Guerard Emily J. , Cleary James F.
Published: July 2017

Managing cancer pain in older adults can be complex and challenging. Understanding the unique needs of older patients with cancer is important to safe and effective pain management. The goals of this review are to discuss the assessment of older adults with cancer-related pain, treatment of cancer pain, and adverse effects or potential risks from treatment that are unique to older patients. A detailed pain assessment and when possible utilizing the geriatric assessment are vital to developing a cancer pain management plan. The geriatric assessment can help clinicians uncover problems not routinely assessed in the standard oncologic evaluation. Opioid pain medications are safe and effective for older adults with cancer pain as long as these medications are closely monitored and titrated slowly. In addition to the well-known adverse effects of opioid medications, clinicians need to be aware of the unique risks in older adults, which could include delirium, polypharmacy, and falls.
The Metabolopathy of Tissue Injury, Hemorrhagic Shock, and Resuscitation in a Rat Model
Authors: Slaughter Anne L. , Nunns Geoffrey R. , D’Alessandro Angelo , Banerjee Anirban , Hansen Kirk C. , Moore Ernest E. , Silliman Christopher C. , Nemkov Travis , Moore Hunter B. , Fragoso Miguel , Leasia Kiara , Peltz Erik D.
Published: July 2017

Introduction:

The metabolic consequences of trauma induce significant clinical pathology. In this study, we evaluate the independent, metabolic contributions of tissue injury (TI) and combined tissue injury and hemorrhagic shock (TI/HS) using mass spectrometry (MS) metabolomics in a controlled animal model of critical injury.

Methods:

Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 14) underwent TI alone or TI/HS, followed by resuscitation with normal saline and shed blood. Plasma was collected (baseline, post-laparotomy, post-HS, post-resuscitation) for ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography MS-metabolomics. Repeated-measures ANOVA with Tukey multiple column comparison test compared the fold change of metabolite concentration among the animal groups at corresponding time points.

Results:

Four hundred forty metabolites were identified. TI alone did not change the metabolite levels versus baseline. TI/HS induced changes in metabolites from glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the pentose phosphate, fatty acid and glutathione homeostasis pathways, sulfur metabolism, and urea cycle versus TI alone. Following resuscitation many metabolites normalized to TI alone levels, including lactate, most tri-carboxylic acid metabolites, most urea cycle metabolites, glutathione disulfide, and some metabolites from both the pentose phosphate pathway and sulfur metabolism.

Conclusions:

Significant changes occur immediately following TI/HS versus TI alone. These metabolic changes are not explained by dilution as a number of metabolites remained unchanged or even increased following resuscitation. The differential metabolic changes resulting from TI alone and TI/HS provide foundation for future investigations severe injury in humans, where TI and HS are often concurrent. This investigation provides a foundation to evaluate metabolic-related outcomes and design-targeted resuscitation strategies.
Is the Use of a Robotic Camera Holder Economically Viable? A Cost Comparison of Surgical Assistant Versus the Use of a Robotic Camera Holder in Laparoscopic Liver Resections
Authors: Stott Martyn C. , Barrie Jenifer , Sebastien Domnic , Hammill Christa , Subar Daren A.
Published: July 2017

The laparoscopic approach has gained acceptance in the field of hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery. It offers several advantages including reduced blood loss, reduced postoperative pain, and shorter length of stay. However, long operating times can be associated with surgeon and assistant fatigue and image tremor. Robotic camera holders have been designed to overcome these drawbacks but may come with significant costs. The aim of this study was to economically evaluate their use compared with standard assistants using a single surgeon consecutive series of laparoscopic liver resections from January 2014 to May 2015. Only use of nurse assistants with no advanced training and postgraduate year 2 doctors were cheaper than utilization of the device. We suggest the use of a robotic camera holder is cost-beneficial and may have wider service and educational benefits.
Genetics and genomics of social behaviour in a chicken model
Authors: Johnsson M. , Henriksen R. , Fogelholm J. , Höglund A. , Jensen P. , Wright D.
Published: July 2017

The identification of genes affecting behaviour can be problematic, yet their identification allows a raft of possibilities. Sociality and social behaviour can have multiple definitions, though at its core it is the desire to seek contact with con- or hetero-specifics. The identification of genes affecting sociality can therefore give insights into the maintenance and establishment of sociality. In this study we used the combination of an advanced intercross between wild and domestic chickens with a combined QTL and eQTL genetical genomics approach to identify genes for social reinstatement (SR) behaviour. A total of 24 SR QTL were identified and overlaid with over 600 eQTL obtained from the same birds using hypothalamus tissue. Correlations between overlapping QTL and eQTL indicated 5 strong candidate genes, with the geneTTRAPbeing strongly significantly correlated with multiple aspects of SR behaviour, as well as possessing a highly significant eQTL. The distribution of eQTL can also indicate the genetic mechanisms underlying domestication itself. Multiple eQTL were found to in discrete clusters, however tests for pleiotropy show that these blocks were primarily linked in origin. This suggests that clustered genetic modules, rather than pure pleiotropy (as hypothesised by the neural crest theory) appears to be driving domestication in the chicken.
Polygenic Risk Score of Sporadic late Onset Alzheimer Disease Reveals a Shared Architecture with the Familial and Early Onset Forms
Authors: Del-Aguila Jorge L , Saef Benjamin , Black Kathleen , Fernandez Maria Victoria , Budde John , Ibanez Laura , Kapoor Manav , Tosto Giuseppe , Mayeux Richard P , Holtzman David M , Fagan Anne M. , Morris John C , Bateman Randall J. , Goate Alison ,   the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN), Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI),   the NIA-LOAD family study, Cruchaga Carlos , Harari Oscar
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To determine whether the genetic architecture of sporadic late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (sLOAD) has an effect on familial late-onset AD (fLOAD), sporadic early-onset (sEOAD) and autosomal dominant early-onset (eADAD).

Methods:

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) were constructed using previously identified 21 genome-wide significant loci for LOAD risk.

Results:

We found that there is an overlap in the genetic architecture among sEOAD, fLOAD, and sLOAD. sEOAD showed the highest odds for the PRS (OR=2.27; p=1.29×10-7), followed by fLOAD (OR=1.75; p=1.12×10-7) and sLOAD (OR=1.40; p=1.21×10-3). PRS is associated with cerebrospinal fluid ptau181-Aβ42on eADAD.

Conclusion:

Our analysis confirms that the genetic factors identified for sLOAD also modulate risk in fLOAD and sEOAD cohorts. Furthermore, our results suggest that the burden of these risk variants is associated with familial clustering and earlier-onset of AD. Although these variants are not associated with risk in the eADAD, they may be modulating age at onset.
Optimization of Alginante-poly-L-lysine Microencapsules Strength by Box-Behnken Model for CHO cells Culture in Stirred Tank Bioreactor
Authors: Wang Yu , Li Na , Sun Dongsheng , He Shengnan , Mou Lisha
Published: July 2017

Summary statement

Box-Behnken model is an efficient method to optimized process conditions of microencapsules strength for long-term cell culture, promotes CHO cells viability and protein production in a stirred tank bioreactor.

Cell microencapsulation technology has been proved to be a valuable technology in the fields of large-scale cell culture. It is important to accurately construct the microcapsule membranes with desired properties including a certain thickness suitable for cell growth, and maximum strength for the stability of microencapsules. As single factor experiments are time-consuming to obtain the desired membrane preparation conditions, Box-Behnken model was used to investigate the interactions among reaction conditions, predict the optimized reaction conditions for given purpose, that was membrane with maximum strength and desired thickness for microencapsulated cell culture. Significant values of R2in this study indicated the model theoretical values are very close to the measured values. Based on the desired membrane thickness, the process of maximum strength was optimized, and the prediction agreement of measured value and model theoretical value was 91.11%. The optimized microencapsules with maximum strength and 15 μm membrane thickness promote CHO cells viability and protein production in stirred tank bioreactor. The result shows that Box-Behnken model is an efficient method to optimized process conditions of microencapsules strength for long-term cell culture.
Collaborative environmental DNA sampling from petal surfaces of flowering cherryCerasus ×- yedoensis'Somei-yoshino' across the Japanese archipelago
Authors: Ohta Tazro , Kawashima Takeshi , Shinozaki Natsuko O. , Dobashi Akito , Hiraoka Satoshi , Hoshino Tatsuhiko , Kanno Keiichi , Kataoka Takafumi , Kawashima Shuichi , Matsui Motomu , Nemoto Wataru , Nishijima Suguru , Suganuma Natsuki , Suzuki Haruo , Taguchi Y-h. , Takenaka Yoichi , Tanigawa Yosuke , Tsuneyoshi Momoka , Yoshitake Kazutoshi , Sato Yukuto , Yamashita Riu , Arakawa Kazuharu , Iwasaki Wataru
Published: July 2017

Recent studies have shown that environmental DNA is found almost everywhere. Flower petal surfaces are an attractive tissue to use for investigation of the dispersal of environmental DNA in nature as they are isolated from the external environment until the bud opens and only then can the petal surface accumulate environmental DNA. Here, we performed a crowdsourced experiment, the “Ohanami Project”, to obtain environmental DNA samples from petal surfaces ofCerasus × yedoensis‘Somei-yoshino’ across the Japanese archipelago during spring 2015.C. × yedoensisis the most popular garden cherry species in Japan and clones of this cultivar bloom simultaneously every spring. Data collection spanned almost every prefecture and totaled 577 DNA samples from 149 collaborators. Preliminary amplicon-sequencing analysis showed the rapid attachment of environmental DNA onto the petal surfaces. Notably, we found DNA of other common plant species in samples obtained across a wide distribution; this DNA likely originated from pollen of the Japanese cedar. Our analysis supports our belief that petal surfaces after blossoming are a promising target to reveal the dynamics of environmental DNA in nature. The success of our experiment also shows that crowdsourced environmental DNA analyses have considerable value in ecological studies.
Zebra diel migrations reduce encounter risk with lions over selection for safe habitats
Authors: Courbin Nicolas , Loveridge Andrew J. , Fritz Hervé , Macdonald David W. , Patin Rémi , Valeix Marion , Chamaillé-Jammes Simon
Published: July 2017

Diel migrations (DMs) undertaken by prey to avoid visual predators during the day have been demonstrated in many taxa in aquatic ecosystems. We reveal that zebras in Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe) employ a similar anti-predator strategy. Zebras forage near waterholes during the day but move away from them at sunset. We demonstrate that this DM, occurring over a few km, dramatically reduces their night-time risk of encountering lions, which generally remain close to waterholes. By contrast, zebra changes in night-time selection for vegetation types marginally reduced their risk of encountering lions. This may arise from a trade-off between encounter risk and vulnerability across vegetation types, with zebras favouring low vulnerability once DM has reduced encounter risk. In summary, here we (1) quantify the effect of a predator-induced DM in a terrestrial system on the likelihood of encountering a predator, (2) distinguish the effects of the DM from those related to day/night changes in selection for vegetation types. We discuss how revealing how prey partition their risk between predator encounter risk and habitat-driven vulnerability is likely critical to understand the emergence of anti-predator behavioural strategies.
Integrated Human-Virus Metabolic Modelling Predicts Host-Based Antiviral Targets Against Chikungunya, Dengue and Zika Viruses
Authors: Aller Sean , Scott Andrew E. , Sarkar-Tyson Mitali , Soyer Orkun S.
Published: July 2017

Current and reoccurring viral epidemic outbreaks such as those caused by Zika virus illustrate the need for rapid development of antivirals. Such development would be immensely facilitated by computational approaches that can provide experimentally testable predictions for possible antiviral strategies. A key factor that has not been considered fully to date in the study of antiviral targets is the high dependence of viruses to their host metabolism for reproduction. Here, we focus on this dependence and develop a stoichiometric, genome-scale metabolic model that integrates human macrophage cell metabolism with the biochemical demands arising from virus production. Focusing this approach to currently epidemic viruses Chikungunya, Dengue and Zika, we find that each virus causes specific alterations in the host metabolic flux towards fulfilling their individual biochemical demands as predicted by their genome and capsid structure. Subsequent analysis of this integrated model allows us to predict a set of host reactions, which when constrained can inhibit virus production. We show that this prediction recovers most of the known targets of existing antiviral drugs, while highlighting a set of hitherto unexplored reactions with either broad or virus specific antiviral potential. Thus, this computational approach allows rapid generation of experimentally testable hypotheses for novel antiviral targets within a host.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

A key challenge in combatting any new and emerging virus outbreaks is rapid drug development. In particular, generation of experimentally testable hypotheses through computational approaches is mostly lacking. Here, we address this gap by developing host-virus metabolic models for three viruses that cause current (or previously) epidemic viral outbreaks. We develop viral biomass functions using information from their genomes and physical structure, and incorporate these within a genome-scale metabolic model of human macrophage cells. The resulting integrated model allows us to predict host reactions, which when blocked, stop the system from attaining optimal viral production. These predictions recover currently known antiviral targets within human cells, and highlight a set of new reactions that are hitherto not explored for antiviral capacity.
Transcription start site profiling uncovers divergent transcription and enhancer-associated RNAs inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Meers Michael P. , Adelman Karen , Duronio Robert J. , Strahl Brian D. , McKay Daniel J. , Matera A. Gregory
Published: July 2017

Background

High-resolution transcription start site (TSS) mapping in D. melanogaster embryos and cell lines has revealed a rich and detailed landscape of both cis- and trans-regulatory elements and factors. However, TSS profiling has not been investigated in an orthogonal in vivo setting. Here, we present a comprehensive dataset that links TSS dynamics with nucleosome occupancy and gene expression in the wandering third instar larva, a developmental stage characterized by large-scale shifts in transcriptional programs in preparation for metamorphosis.

Results

The data recapitulate major regulatory classes of TSSs, based on peak width, promoter-proximal polymerase pausing, and cis-regulatory element density. We confirm the paucity of divergent transcription units in D. melanogaster, but also identify notable exceptions. Furthermore, we identify thousands of novel initiation events occurring at unannotated TSSs that can be classified into functional categories by their local density of histone modifications. Interestingly, a sub-class of these unannotated TSSs overlaps with functionally validated enhancer elements, consistent with a regulatory role for “enhancer RNAs” (eRNAs) in defining transcriptional programs that are important for animal development.

Conclusions

High-depth TSS mapping is a powerful strategy for identifying and characterizing low-abundance and/or low-stability RNAs. Global analysis of transcription initiation patterns in a developing organism reveals a vast number of novel initiation events that identify potential eRNAs as well as other non-coding transcripts critical for animal development.
Optimal Point Process Filtering for Birth-Death Model Estimation
Authors: Parag Kris V , Pybus Oliver G
Published: July 2017

The discrete space, continuous time birth-death model is a key process for describing phylogenies in the absence of coalescent approximations. Extensively used in macroevolution for analysing diversification, and in epidemiology for estimating viral dynamics, the birth-death process (BDP) is an important null model for inferring the parameters of reconstructed phylogenies. In this paper we show how optimal, point process (Snyder) filtering techniques can be used for parametric inference on BDPs. Specifically, we introduce the Bayesian Snyder filter (SF) to estimate birth and death rate parameters, given a reconstructed phylogeny. Our estimation procedure makes use of the equivalent Markov birth process description for a reconstructed birth-death phylogeny (Neeet al, 1994). We first analyse the popular constant rate BDP and show that our method gives results consistent with previous work. Among these results is an analytic solution to the special case of the Yule-Furry model. We also find an equivalence between the SF Poisson likelihood and two standard conditioned birth-death model likelihoods. We then generalise our estimation problem to BDPs with time varying rates and numerically solve the SF for two illustrative cases. Our results compare well with a recent Markov chain Monte Carlo method by Hohnaet al(2016) and we numericaly show that both methods are solving the same likelihood functions. Lastly we apply the SF to a model selection problem on empirical data. We use the Australian Agamid dataset and predict the same relative model fit as that of the original maximum likelihood technique developed and used by Rabosky (2006) for this dataset. While several capable parametric and non-parametric birth-death estimators already exist, ours is the first to take the Neeet alapproach, and directly computes the posterior distribution of the parameters. The SF makes no approximations, beyond those required for parameter space discretisation and numerical integration, and is mean square error optimal. It is deterministic, easily implementable and flexible. We think SFs present a promising alternative parametric BDP inference engine.
Structure of the deactive state of mammalian respiratory complex I
Authors: Blaza James N. , Vinothkumar Kutti R. , Hirst Judy
Published: July 2017

Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is central to energy metabolism in mammalian mitochondria. It couples NADH oxidation by ubiquinone to proton transport across the energy-conserving inner membrane, catalyzing respiration and driving ATP synthesis. In the absence of substrates, ‘active’ complex I gradually enters a pronounced resting or ‘deactive’ state. The active-deactive transition occurs during ischemia and is crucial for controlling how respiration recovers upon reperfusion. Here, we set a highly-active preparation ofBos tauruscomplex I into the biochemically-defined deactive state, and used single-particle electron cryomicroscopy to determine its structure to 4.1 Å resolution. The deactive state arises when critical structural elements that form the ubiquinone-binding site become disordered, and we propose reactivation is induced when substrate binding templates their reordering. Our structure both rationalizes biochemical data on the deactive state, and offers new insights into its physiological and cellular roles.
Experimental evaluation of numerical errors for multi-physics coupling methods using disparate meshes
Authors: Jüttner Matthias , Pflug Andreas , Wick Markus , Rucker Wolfgang M.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Multiphysics problems are solved either with monolithic or segregated approaches. For accomplishing contrary discretisation requirements of the physics, disparate meshes are essential. This paper is comparing experimental results of different interpolation methods for a segregated coupling with monolithic approaches, implemented using a global and a local nearest neighbour method. The results show the significant influence of discretisation for multiphysics simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying disparate meshes to the monolithic as well as the segregated calculation of finite element problems and evaluating the related numerical error is content of the contribution. This is done by an experimental evaluation of a source and a material coupling applied to a multiphysics problem. After an introduction to the topic, the evaluated multiphysics model is described based on two bidirectional coupled problems and its finite element representation. Afterwards, the considered methods for approximating the coupling are introduced. Then, the evaluated methods are described and the experimental results are discussed. A summary concludes this work.

Findings

An experimental evaluation of the numerical errors for different multiphysics coupling methods using disparate meshes is presented based on a bidirectional electro-thermal simulation. Different methods approximating the coupling values are introduced and challenges of applying these methods are given. It is also shown, that the approximation of the coupling integrals is expensive. Arguments for applying the different methods to the monolithic and the segregated solution strategies are given and applied on the example. The significant influence of the mesh density within the coupled meshes is shown. Since the projection and the interpolation methods do influence the result, a careful decision is advised.

Originality/value

In this contribution, existing coupling methods are described, applied and compared on their application for coupling disparate meshes within a multiphysics simulation. Knowing their performance is relevant when deciding for a monolithic or a segregated calculation approach with respect to physics dependent contrary discretisation requirements. To the authors’ knowledge, it is the first time these methods are compared with a focus on an application in multiphysics simulations and experimental results are discussed.
Analysis and design of electrical machines with material uncertainties in iron and permanent magnet
Authors: Li Min , Mohammadi Mohammad Hossain , Rahman Tanvir , Lowther David
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Manufacturing processes, such as laminations, may introduce uncertainties in the magnetic properties of materials used in electrical machines. This issue, together with magnetization errors, can cause serious deterioration in the performance of the machines. Hence, stochastic material models are required for the study of the influences of the material uncertainties. The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology to study the impact of magnetization pattern uncertainties in permanent magnet electric machines.

Design/methodology/approach

The impacts of material uncertainties on the performances of an interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine were analyzed using two different robustness metrics (worst-case analysis and statistical study). In addition, two different robust design formulations were applied to robust multi-objective machine design problems.

Findings

The computational analyses show that material uncertainties may result in deviations of the machine performances and cause nominal solutions to become non-robust.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors present stochastic models for the quantification of uncertainties in both ferromagnetic and permanent magnet materials. A robust multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is demonstrated and successfully applied to the robust design optimization of an IPM machine considering manufacturing errors and operational condition changes.
Proximal predictors of breath alcohol level at venues primarily serving sexual minority patrons
Authors: Croff Julie M. , Currin Joseph M. , Hubach Randolph D. , Frederick Amanda F. , Jacobs Sue C. , Crethar Hugh C.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the proximal predictors of breath alcohol content (BrAC) at exit of a venue that primarily served sexual minority patrons. Contrary to prior research that relies on self-report of alcohol consumption, participants’ BrAC level was measured prior to entering the venue and again at exit.

Design/methodology/approach

A portal method was used to assess individuals before and after attending a sexual minority bar. Participants (n=96) were randomly selected for participation on weekends from four bars.

Findings

A multivariate path model was conducted to predict BrAC at exit from the bar. Individuals who drank before coming to the bar had a mean BrAC of 0.093 (SD=0.065) at exit from the bar and those who did not drink before attending the bar had a mean BrAC 0.030 (SD=0.050) at exit (t=5.47 (99), p<0.001). Drinking before bar attendance, BrAC at entrance, planning to drive, and drinking intentions were significant predictors of BrAC at exit from the bar. There were no significant variations in BrAC by sexual identity.

Research limitations/implications

BrAC levels at exit were mainly influenced by the BrAC levels at entrance and were not significantly changed while at the venue.

Originality/value

While previous research has demonstrated a higher incidence of problematic drinking behaviors in nonheterosexual populations, the current study suggests that bars and clubs who serve sexual minority patrons might not be adding to these problematic behaviors, and instead serve as a place of community for LGB individuals.
The effect of diagnostic and interactive uses of management control systems and managerial coaching on reflection in teams
Authors: Matsuo Makoto , Matsuo Takami
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of managerial coaching, as well as interactive and diagnostic uses of management control systems (MCS), on reflection and critical reflection, which are important for team learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a questionnaire survey. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to test hypotheses using data from 235 employees in 50 teams from a Japanese automotive supplier.

Findings

The results indicated that: MCS used interactively have a positive influence on critical reflection in teams; MCS used diagnostically have no significant effect on reflection or critical reflection in teams; and managerial coaching has a positive influence on team reflection.

Research limitations/implications

These findings suggest that the interactive use of MCS should be combined with managerial coaching in promoting reflection and critical reflection within teams. Because this study used data from employees of a Japanese automotive supplier, the results may have been influenced by the Japanese management style.

Practical implications

Organizations need to implement interactive MCS at the team level, while coaching programs should be provided for managers to enhance team learning.

Originality/value

This study extends the existing literature by examining the effect of MCS at the team level, and identifying that managerial coaching plays a complementary role, supporting the interactive use of MCS in promoting reflection within a team.
Comprehensive performance measurement and management – innovativeness and performance through reflective practice
Authors: Ukko Juhani , Hildén Sanna , Saunila Minna , Tikkamäki Kati
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate how organizations can exploit performance management through reflective practice to foster innovativeness and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework has been designed to link the studied concepts and to explicitly indicate current research gaps in the area. Moreover, the authors have conducted interventionist case studies to understand the interconnections between theory and practice.

Findings

This study showed that there are many possibilities with which to exploit performance management through reflective practice to foster innovativeness and performance. The study has three main implications. First, reflective practice can be learned and developed. Second, reflective practice is connected to innovativeness and performance. Third, performance management through performance measurement systems can assist in targeting the reflective practice.

Originality/value

New forms of performance measurement and management are receiving increasingly amount of attention, because the traditional forms of managing organizations do not fulfill the needs of rapidly changing environment. Prior studies maintain that a performance measurement and management supports the periodic execution of the same routines in organizations where changes are small or non-existent. In these forms, the role of reflection as an individual, collective or organizational practice is emphasized.
Impact of audit quality on the components of executive cash compensation
Authors: Fernando Guy D. , Thevaranjan Alex
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to study the impact of audit quality on the components of executive cash compensation. It is predicted that as audit quality improves, greater emphasis will be placed on the incentive components of cash compensation, and lower emphasis on the salary (fixed) component. Specifically, it is predicted that as audit quality enhances, greater emphasis will be placed on earnings and sales revenues in determining executive cash compensation. Using auditor specialization as a proxy for audit quality, empirical support is provided for all of our predictions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides empirical support with agency theoretic predictions.

Findings

This paper developed the following hypotheses:H1– in executive cash compensation, more weight is being placed on earnings-based measures as auditor specialization improves;H2– in executive cash compensation, more weight is also being placed on sales revenues as auditor specialization improves;H3– in executive cash compensation, salary levels decrease as auditor specialization improves; andH4– the impact of auditor specialization on the weight on earnings, sales and the salary levels is lower in the post-Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX) period compared to pre-SOX period.

Research limitations/implications

First, the article limits itself to cash compensation, while current executive compensation is largely made of equity. Second, the measure of audit quality used, ‘national level auditor specialization’, may not be as effective in the post-SOX era.

Practical implications

Compensation committees should pay attention to audit quality (in whatever way it may be proxied by) in determining executive compensation.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to show that audit quality not only improves the earnings response coefficient in firm valuation but also enhances the weight placed on earnings (and sales revenues) in executive compensation.
A technology-aided program for helping persons with Alzheimer’s disease perform daily activities
Authors: Lancioni Giulio , Singh Nirbhay , O’Reilly Mark , Sigafoos Jeff , D’Amico Fiora , Pinto Katia , De Vanna Floriana , Caffò Alessandro
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Persons with mild and moderate Alzheimer’s disease experience increasing activity engagement failures, with consequent cognitive, social, and physical drawbacks. The purpose of this paper is to assess a technology-aided program to help these persons to independently start and carry out daily activities at the appropriate times.

Design/methodology/approach

The program was implemented with eight participants according to an adapted non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. The program provided each participant with: timely reminders about the activities to carry out, verbal instructions about the activity steps, and brief encouragements and praise.

Findings

All participants showed improvement during the program, that is, they managed to independently start the activities at the scheduled times and perform those activities with satisfactory levels of accuracy (i.e. with mean percentages of correct steps nearing or exceeding 90).

Originality/value

A technology-aided program, such as that used in this study, may help persons with mild and moderate Alzheimer disease engage in daily activities, with possible benefits for their cognitive functioning, social image, and physical condition.
Knowledge management, intellectual capital, structural holes, economic complexity and national prosperity
Authors: Roos Göran
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to tie together the insights from the body of research relating to economic complexity theory, structural holes, non-price based competition, and knowledge management. The insights relating to generating national prosperity are synthesised through an intellectual capital lens.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses literature review combined with insights from an Australian project on state-based economic complexity.

Findings

The connectivist and autopoietic epistemological paradigms are found to be most aligned with the need to manage transformation between organisational and human resources that will achieve causal ambiguity and hence inimitability. This inimitability forms the basis for achieving non-price based competition and if there is a rich network of economic agents that, both individually and collectively through collaboration, have these characteristics a large share of the economy can operate on the basis of non-priced based competition. If all these agents have an export focus the economic complexity of the economy will be high, and likely increasing, which will enable both the creation and the appropriation of large amounts of value and hence result in increasing national prosperity.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are only relevant for OECD countries given the origins of the data used.

Practical implications

Managerial implications are outlined as are major implications for public policy.

Originality/value

This is the first time that these concepts are linked.
Capability, social capital and opportunity-driven graduate entrepreneurship in Tanzania
Authors: Wakkee Ingrid , Hoestenberghe Karel , Mwasalwiba Ernest
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into the reasons why most Tanzanian graduates do not consider entrepreneurship as an attractive career option despite dire labor market conditions, while a small number of them are able to benefit from local opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing insights from capability and social capital perspectives, a qualitative investigation based on interviews, group discussions and document analysis was undertaken to explore how this phenomenon can be explained and remedied.

Findings

This study shows that many graduates value entrepreneurship as a potential career but many find their way to be act upon these aspirations blocked. Indeed, actual entrepreneurial capability is only available to a minority of graduates with access to powerful connections who are able to benefit from technological and financial conversion factors. Most graduates cannot benefit from these conversion factors due to the lack of the necessary social capital to break through to the legal, tax, financial and cultural systems. Hence, the authors argue that social capital itself is actually a critical conversion factor toward developing entrepreneurial capability.

Research limitations/implications

The insight formulated in this study are based on a qualitative analysis of the Tanzanian context and formulated specifically for this particular context. At the same time, the country shares many characteristics with other countries in Africa, many of which are struggling to move toward a more entrepreneurial society. Hence, the recommendations may partially be transferable beyond the specific Tanzanian situation. Theoretically, the notion that social capital should be considered as a key conversion factor enabling aspiring entrepreneurs in translating valued functionings into actualized functionings and thus toward enhancing entrepreneurial capability opens up novel avenues for empirical research into how entrepreneurship can be stimulated.

Social implications

This study searches for conversion factors from the actual “functioning” toward the real “capability” allowing to succeed as a new graduate and find that social capital itself might act as the critical conversion factor. That brings the authors to the recommendations for policy makers, educators and media, argued in such a way that the entrepreneurial capability of young graduates and their ability to tap into relevant social capital can be enhanced.

Originality/value

The combination and integration of the Sen’s capability approach with social capital perspectives offers a novel way to explain difference in responses to the Tanzanian institutions and their ability to act upon a valued functioning such as opportunity-driven entrepreneurship.
Effects of Ecologically‐Based Family Therapy with substance‐using, prostituting mothers
Authors: Murnan Aaron , Wu Qiong , Slesnick Natasha
Published: July 2017

Studies report that high rates of prostituting women seek substance use treatment, and that most of these women have children in their care. However, compared to non‐prostituting women, they show poorer treatment outcomes. Effective intervention for this population is needed, and the current study is the first to test family therapy with mothers seeking substance use treatment, who also reported prostitution. Sixty‐eight treatment‐seeking women with children in their care were randomly assigned to receive twelve sessions of Ecologically‐Based Family Therapy or twelve sessions of individual treatment. Results showed that women who received family therapy reported greater reductions in substance use and depressive symptoms as well as greater improvements in their mother‐child interactions. Findings underscore the importance of offering family therapy as a treatment option when prostituting women with children seek substance use treatment.

Practitioner points

It has proved difficult to meet the unique needs of prostituting women, and this article offers practical assistance to practitioners serving this population

Ecologically‐Based Family Therapy (EBFT) shows promise, having some superior outcomes compared to an individual therapy with prostituting mothers

Substance use treatment facilities should strongly consider including EBFT for these women and their children as an adjunct to treatment
Justice, Efficiency, and the New Public Management
Authors: Volacu Alexandru
Published: July 2017

In this article I aim to explore the link between two normative values, namely justice and efficiency, and the New Public Management approach. In pursuing this task I offer several critical arguments against some of the recent justice‐based objections levied against New Public Management by David Arellano‐Gault. I claim that Arellano‐Gault's account of the relation between justice and the New Public Management is seriously undermined by two conceptual flaws: (1) a conflation of right‐libertarianism, utilitarianism, and desert theories of justice and (2) a conflation of the technical/productive sense of efficiency with the social/distributive sense. Furthermore, I maintain that even when the different theories of justice and the different senses of efficiency are properly delineated, the case for necessarily linking NPM to a particular theory of justice is markedly unconvincing.
Supervision, self care, rare events and rejection
Authors: Thorp John
Published: July 2017

Deputy Editor‐in‐Chief, Dr John Thorp, discusses his top articles from this issue in an audio podcast available at: https://soundcloud.com/bjog/august-editors-choice-2017.
Cross‐Cultural Validation of the Patient Perception of Integrated Care Survey
Authors: Tietschert Maike V. , Angeli Federica , van Raak Arno J. A. , Ruwaard Dirk , Singer Sara J.
Published: July 2017

Objective

To test the cross‐cultural validity of the U.S. Patient Perception of Integrated Care (PPIC) Survey in a Dutch sample using a standardized procedure.

Data Sources

Primary data collected from patients of five primary care centers in the south of the Netherlands, through survey research from 2014 to 2015.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional data collected from patients who saw multiple health care providers during 6 months preceding data collection.

Data collection

The PPIC survey includes 59 questions that measure patient perceived care integration across providers, settings, and time. Data analysis followed a standardized procedure guiding data preparation, psychometric analysis, and included invariance testing with the U.S. dataset.

Principal Findings

Latent scale structures of the Dutch and U.S. survey were highly comparable. Factor “Integration with specialist” had lower reliability scores and noninvariance. For the remaining factors, internal consistency and invariance estimates were strong.

Conclusions

The standardized cross‐cultural validation procedure produced strong support for comparable psychometric characteristics of the Dutch and U.S. surveys. Future research should examine the usability of the proposed procedure for contexts with greater cultural differences.
Correlation between microRNA expression, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognosis in patients with Non‐small cell Lung Cancer: A retrospective study
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhang Yi , Zhi Xiuyi
Published: July 2017

Background

Lung cancer prognosis is related to various factors; however, the comprehensive relationship between these factors, including microRNAs (miRNAs), and lung cancer prognosis has not been determined. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the key factors associated with lung cancer prognosis.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed prognosis and relevant factors in 216 non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients diagnosed from January 2008 to December 2014. Paraffin‐embedded lung tissue samples were used to detect miRNA‐21 and miRNA‐155. Clinical information was collected, including tumor malignancy, tumor node metastasis (TNM) classification, pathological type, site of the original tumor, and lung involvement. The association between factors and overall survival was analyzed. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to perform univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Age at surgery (hazard ratio [HR] 1.021, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.003–1.040), TNM stages II (HR 3.858, 95% CI 2.449–6.078) and III (HR 3.099, 95% CI 1.911–5.023), and miRNA‐21 (HR 1.002, 95% CI 1.001–1.003) and miRNA‐155 expression (HR 1.131, 95% CI 1.064–1.202) were independent prognostic factors in NSCLC patients. MiRNA‐21 expression with TNM stages II (HR 1.282, 95% CI 1.197–1.372) and III (HR 1.247, 95% CI 1.149–1.354) interacted to affect prognosis in NSCLC patients.

Conclusions

Older age, higher clinical TNM stage, and increased miRNA‐21 and miRNA‐155 expression in NSCLC tissue were independently associated with poor survival in NSCLC patients. MiRNA‐21 expression and clinical TNM stage interacted to affect prognosis.