bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crisis management for secondary education: a survey of secondary education directors in Greece
Authors: Savelides Socrates , Mihiotis Athanassios , Koutsoukis Nikitas-Spiros
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The Greek secondary education system lacks a formal crisis management system. The purpose of this paper is to address this problem as follows: elicit current crisis management practices, outline features for designing a formal crisis management system in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research is based on a survey conducted with the directors of secondary education and the interpretation of the survey results. Due to the echelon structure of secondary education the directors are experienced educators with plenty of experience. They are in a unique setting to be able to combine the managerial perspective with field experience, both of which are important for managing crises.

Findings

– First, events of sociopolitical nature are considered as important crisis triggers. Second, there is tendency to expect extended involvement of the state. Third despite the lack of a formal system, current practices are relevant and tend to mimic formal systems.

Research limitations/implications

– In practice the lack of a formal system does not impede crisis management to be applied in secondary education units.

Originality/value

– There is no other survey on crisis management at the directors’ level that we are aware of. The findings outline existing practices from a tactical perspective, and can serve as a guide for designing a formal crisis management system that is suited for secondary education in Greece.
Analysing delay causes and effects in Ghanaian state housing construction projects
Authors: Amoatey Charles Teye , Ameyaw Yaa Asabea , Adaku Ebenezer , Famiyeh Samuel
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the causes and effects of delays in public sector housing projects in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

– A purposive sampling approach was used in selecting the respondents for the study. These were experts working on various state housing construction projects in Ghana.

Findings

– Results from the study showed that the critical factors that contribute to project delays in Ghana are; delay in payment to contractor/supplier, inflation/price fluctuation, price increases in materials, inadequate funds from sponsors/clients, variation orders and poor financial/capital market. The critical effects of delays are cost overrun, time overrun, litigation, lack of continuity by client and arbitration.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper is limited to causes and effects of project delays in Ghana based on data collected from only one state institution. Due to geographic constraints the researchers were unable to sample state institutions across Ghana involved in various housing projects.

Practical implications

– This paper has documented the critical state housing construction project delay factors in Ghana. The results will help project managers and policymakers appreciate the effects of these delays on project outcomes.

Social implications

– Measures aimed at reducing cost of housing projects in Ghana can translate into significant benefits to the poor and support achievement of government objective of providing affordable housing to low income citizens.

Originality/value

– This research focussed on the key factors and best practices that lead to the success of state housing projects within the Ghanaian context.
How lifecycle influences capabilities and their development
Authors: Rungi Mait
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– Capabilities are a widely researched subject, but capability development techniques have received considerably less attention. Capability development is a long-term activity, where both how to choose “the right capabilities” and how to develop “the capabilities right” are important. The purpose of this paper is to approach to pick up the most widespread capabilities and development techniques in project-companies, and observes their shift of focus when moving from one lifecycle stage to another.

Design/methodology/approach

– A long-scale survey was chosen and carried out in EU member state Estonia in 2011, resulting with close to a couple of 100 responses.

Findings

– The quality of most business capabilities decreases in reaching the decline stage of the lifecycle, but project-related capabilities are improving. The same cannot be concluded for project-led capability development techniques, as they decline, and the quality of traditional and business-led capability techniques are improving. The use of development techniques changes less throughout lifecycle stages than capabilities do – it is not so important how companies develop capabilities, capabilities themselves matter.

Research limitations/implications

– Survey was performed in a small country which limits the generalizability to larger countries.

Practical implications

– Capabilities and their development techniques are very much practice-oriented, especially development techniques. However, research indicates that it is more important to choose the right capabilities and worry less about their development-specific issues.

Originality/value

– Results provide lifecycle-specific information which capabilities and their development techniques prevail at what stage of companies’ lifecycle. Thus far, learning, as the most important technique, has received the most attention, other techniques less – this research gives further information about a wider array of the techniques. Furthermore, the prior research was concentrated on a few specific capabilities or capabilities at an abstract level, this research focuses on a comprehensive set of capabilities.
The projectification of university research
Authors: Fowler Nina , Lindahl Marcus , Sköld David
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss and critically examine how formal project management (PM) tools and techniques affect the organization of university research.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is empirically grounded and explores how university researchers respond to an increasing emphasis on formalized PM methods to manage research work conducted within the university. The empirical material consists of 20 interviews with research staff working with engineering, natural and medical sciences at Uppsala University, Sweden. Describing how PM techniques are increasingly imposed upon the researchers, the paper analyses different modes of relating to the formalized toolsets, and discusses their accommodation and resistance within academia.

Findings

– One key finding is how the PM formalization is resisted by partial accommodation and containment. This can be described in terms of an enactment of a front- and a backstage of the research organization. At the front-stage, formal PM technology and terminology is used by specially appointed research managers as means of presenting to funding agencies and other external parties. At the backstage, researchers carry out work in more traditional forms.

Practical implications

– The findings indicate a challenge for research to comply with increased PM formalization and secure on-going open-ended research. Second, the paper points toward a risk of young researchers being nudged out into “front-stage” administration with little chance of returning to “backstage” research.

Originality/value

– This paper builds upon a growing area of the critical analysis of PM practice, offering insights into the tension between the values and norms of university research and an on-going formalization of PM in some organizational contexts.
Building the sustainable organization: an integrated approach
Authors: Perrott Bruce E
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine how some leading companies are integrating sustainability into their planning of future direction and growth. Readers will have a strong interest in sustainability and how it should be managed within organizations. Creating and maintaining sustainable organizations is of high priority to companies planning their future in a turbulent and difficult-to-predict operating environment. Readers will learn how sustainability may be better integrated into the strategic thinking and management processes. This article will be cited in the future for its early discussion on the importance of integrating sustainability discussion and planning into mainstream strategic management.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws on secondary data from seven international organizations to show how they are beginning to embrace sustainability issues into mainstream strategic management. This background is used to propose a process that integrates business and sustainability strategy processes that will deal with issues that emerge in more turbulent operating environments.

Findings

– Secondary research findings suggest that it would be timely to embrace sustainability issue processing with mainstream strategic management processes.

Research limitations/implications

– Information collected in this paper is based upon a small sample of seven international organizations; hence, observations and recommendations are not representative of the wider business community.

Originality/value

– Recommendations presented in this paper will be useful to senior practicing managers as they seek to integrate sustainability management into mainstream strategic management processes.
Prediction of effective porosity from seismic attributes using locally linear model tree algorithm
Authors: Ashtari Talkhestani Ahmad
Published: January 2015

In this study, a locally linear model tree algorithm was used to optimize a neuro‐fuzzy model for prediction of effective porosity from seismic attributes in one of Iranian oil fields located southwest of Iran. Valid identification of effective porosity distribution in fractured carbonate reservoirs is extremely essential for reservoir characterization. These high‐accuracy predictions facilitate efficient exploration and management of oil and gas resources.

The multi‐attribute stepwise linear regression method was used to select five out of 26 seismic attributes one by one. These attributes introduced into the neuro‐fuzzy model to predict effective porosity. The neuro‐fuzzy model with seven locally linear models resulted in the lowest validation error. Moreover, a blind test was carried out at the location of two wells that were used neither in training nor validation. The results obtained from the validation and blind test of the model confirmed the ability of the proposed algorithm in predicting the effective porosity. In the end, the performance of this neuro‐fuzzy model was compared with two regular neural networks of a multi‐layer perceptron and a radial basis function, and the results show that a locally linear neuro‐fuzzy model trained by a locally linear model tree algorithm resulted in more accurate porosity prediction than standard neural networks, particularly in the case where irregularities increase in the data set. The production data have been also used to verify the reliability of the porosity model. The porosity sections through the two wells demonstrate that the porosity model conforms to the production rate of wells.

Comparison of the locally linear neuro‐fuzzy model performance on different wells indicates that there is a distinct discrepancy in the performance of this model compared with the other techniques. This discrepancy in the performance is a function of the correlation between the model inputs and output. In the case where the strength of the relationship between seismic attributes and effective porosity decreases, the neuro‐fuzzy model results in more accurate prediction than regular neural networks, whereas the neuro‐fuzzy model has a close performance to neural networks if there is a strong relationship between seismic attributes and effective porosity.

The effective porosity map, presented as the output of the method, shows a high‐porosity area in the centre of zone 2 of the Ilam reservoir. Furthermore, there is an extensive high‐porosity area in zone 4 of Sarvak that extends from the centre to the east of the reservoir.
Identification of Acute Stroke Using Quantified Brain Electrical Activity
Authors: Michelson Edward A. , Hanley Daniel , Chabot Robert , Prichep Leslie S.
Published: January 2015

Objectives

Acute stroke is a leading cause of brain injury and death and requires rapid and accurate diagnosis. Noncontrast head computed tomography (CT) is the first line for diagnosis in the emergency department (ED). Complicating rapid triage are presenting conditions that clinically mimic stroke. There is an extensive literature reporting clinical utility of brain electrical activity in early diagnosis and management of acute stroke. However, existing technologies do not lend themselves to easily acquired rapid evaluation. This investigation used an independently derived classifier algorithm for the identification of traumatic structural brain injury based on brain electrical activity recorded from a reduced frontal montage to explore the potential clinical utility of such an approach in acute stroke assessment.

Methods

Adult patients (age 18 to 95 years) presenting with stroke‐like and/or altered mental status symptoms were recruited from urban academic EDs as part of a large research study evaluating the clinical utility of quantitative brain electrical activity in acutely brain‐injured patients. All patients from the parent study who had confirmed strokes, and a control group of stroke mimics (those with final ED diagnoses of migraine or syncope), were selected for this study. All stroke patients underwent head CT scans. Some patients with negative CTs had further imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ten minutes of electroencephalographic data were acquired on a hand‐held device in development, from five frontal electrodes. Data analyses were done offline. A Structural Brain Injury Index (SBII) was derived using an independently developed binary discriminant classification algorithm whose input was specified features of brain electrical activity. The SBII was previously found to have high accuracy in the identification of traumatic brain‐injured patients who were found to have brain injury on CT (CT+). This algorithm was applied to patients in this study and used to classify patients as CT+ or not CT+. Performance was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values (NPV, PPV).

Results

Forty‐eight stroke patients (31 ischemic and 17 hemorrhagic) and 135 stroke mimic controls were included. Within the ischemic population, approximately half were CT– but later confirmed for stroke with MRI (CT–/MRI+). Sensitivity to stroke was 91.7%, specificity 50.4% (to stroke mimic), NPV 94.4%, and PPV 39.6%. Eighty percent of the CT–/MRI+ ischemic strokes were correctly identified at the time of the CT– scan.

Conclusions

Despite a small population and the use of a classifier without the benefit of training on a stroke population, these data suggest that a rapidly acquired, easy‐to‐use system to assess brain electrical activity at the time of evaluation of acute stroke could be a valuable adjunct to current clinical practice.
The Effect of Laboratory Testing on Emergency Department Length of Stay: A Multihospital Longitudinal Study Applying a Cross‐classified Random‐effect Modeling Approach
Authors: Li Ling , Georgiou Andrew , Vecellio Elia , Eigenstetter Alex , Toouli George , Wilson Roger , Westbrook Johanna I.
Published: January 2015

Objectives

The objective was to examine the relationship between laboratory testing (including test volume and turnaround time [TAT]) and emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS), using linked patient‐level data from four hospitals across 4 years.

Methods

This was a retrospective, multisite cohort study of patients presenting to any one of fourEDs in New South Wales, Australia, during a 2‐month period (August and September) in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Data fromEDinformation systems were linked to laboratory test data. A cross‐classified random‐effect modeling approach was applied to identify factors affectingED LOS, taking into account the correlation between patients' presentations at the same hospital and/or in the same calendar year. Number of test order episodes (tests ordered at one point in time during theEDstay) andTAT(time from laboratory order receipt to result available) were examined.

Results

As the number of test order episodes increased, so did the duration of patientED LOS(p < 0.0001). For every five additional tests ordered per test order episode, the medianED LOSincreased by 10 minutes (2.9%, p < 0.0001); each 30‐minute increase inTATwas, on average, associated with a 5.1% (17 minutes; p < 0.0001) increase inED LOS, after adjustment for other factors. Patients presenting to theEDat night (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) had longer stays than those presenting during the daytime, although the medianTATs at nights were shorter than those during the daytime.

Conclusions

Laboratory testing has a direct effect on patients'LOSinED. LaboratoryTAT, number of testing episodes, and test volume influenceED LOS. Targeted increases ofEDresources and staffing after‐hours may also contribute to reductions inED LOS.
US federal cocaine essential (‘precursor’) chemical regulation impacts on US cocaine availability: an intervention time–series analysis with temporal replication
Authors: Cunningham James K. , Callaghan Russell C. , Liu Lon‐Mu
Published: January 2015

Background and Aims

Research shows that essential/precursor chemical controls have had substantial impacts on US methamphetamine and heroin availability. This study examines whether US federal essential chemical regulations have impacted US cocaine seizure amount, price and purity—indicators of cocaine availability.

Design

Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA)‐intervention time–series analysis was used to assess the impacts of four US regulations targeting cocaine manufacturing chemicals: potassium permanganate/selected solvents, implemented October 1989 sulfuric acid/hydrochloric acid, implemented October 1992; methyl isobutyl ketone, implemented May 1995; and sodium permanganate, implemented December 2006. Of these chemicals, potassium permanganate and sodium permanganate are the most critical to cocaine production.

Setting

Conterminous United States (January 1987—April 2011).

Measurements

Monthly time–series: purity‐adjusted cocaine seizure amount (in gross weight seizures < 6000 grams), purity‐adjusted price (all available seizures), and purity (all available seizures). Data source: System to Retrieve Information from Drug Evidence.

Findings

The 1989 potassium permanganate/solvents regulation was associated with a seizure amount decrease (change in series level) of 28% (P < 0.05), a 36% increase in price (P < 0.05) and a 4% decrease in purity (P < 0.05). Availability recovered in 1–2 years. The 2006 potassium permanganate regulation was associated with a 22% seizure amount decrease (P < 0.05), 100% price increase (P < 0.05) and 35% purity decrease (P < 0.05). Following the 2006 regulation, essentially no recovery occurred to April 2011. The other two chemical regulations were associated with statistically significant but lesser declines in indicated availability.

Conclusions

In the United States, essential chemical controls from 1989 to 2006 were associated with pronounced downturns in cocaine availability.
Islam and Human Rights: A Growing Rapprochement?
Authors: Johnston David L.
Published: January 2015

Can Islamic thought provide a basis for a fully developed theory of human rights? This article begins with an examination of the tensions between religion in general and the secular framing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). From a historical perspective, it then delves into the history of the relationship between Muslim political and religious leaders and the UDHR. With that background in mind, the author analyzes the positions of three influential Muslim scholars on human rights: Khaled Abou El Fadl's emphasis on ethics and law; Abdulaziz Sachedina's recent bookIslam and the Challenge of Human Rights(2009), in which he urges the traditionalists to develop a “public theology”; and finally, Abdullahi An‐Na'im's focus on shari'a and the secular state. He concludes that the majority of Muslims worldwide remain more conservative than these authors, and yet they overwhelmingly support the notion of human rights. This bodes well for the growing influence of such reformist thinking and, as a result, for the retooling of traditional Islamic jurisprudence in addressing human rights.
Impacts of an Extreme Precipitation Event on Dipterocarp Mortality and Habitat Filtering in a Bornean Tropical Rain Forest
Authors: Margrove James A. , Burslem David F. R. P. , Ghazoul Jaboury , Khoo Eyen , Kettle Chris J. , Maycock Colin R.
Published: January 2015

The frequency of extreme precipitation events is predicted to increase in some tropical regions in response to global climate change, but the impacts of this form of disturbance on the structure and dynamics of tropical tree communities across heterogeneous landscapes remain understudied. We determined the effects of an extreme precipitation event (EPE) in July 2006 on mortality of dipterocarps on a 68 ha permanent inventory plot in Sepilok Forest Reserve, Sabah. For stems ≥30 cm dbh, 12 of the 15 species of Dipterocarpaceae on this plot have significant positive and/or negative associations to habitats defined by topography and soil type. Short‐term mortality induced by the EPE was much greater for individuals growing on the alluvial floodplain (13.7%) than in the mudstone (1.4%) or sandstone (0.0%) habitats, but mortality of dipterocarps did not differ among these habitats in the subsequent 5‐yr interval. The likelihood of mortality in response to the EPE was highest for a small group of fast growing dipterocarps that possess low wood density and a strong association to the alluvial forest habitat. This group of species represents a high percentage of dipterocarp individuals but a low proportion of dipterocarp diversity in this habitat. We conclude that disturbance induced by high rainfall events contributes to the episodic nature of tropical forest dynamics, and that increases in the frequency of these events would disproportionately impact low‐lying alluvial forest environments and some of the species growing in them.
CXCL10 induces the recruitment of monocyte-derived macrophages into kidney, which aggravate puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis
Authors: Petrovic-Djergovic D , Popovic M , Chittiprol S , Cortado H , Ransom R F , Partida-Sánchez S
Published: January 2015

The mechanism responsible for trafficking of monocyte-derived macrophages into kidney in the puromycin aminonucleoside model of nephrotic syndrome in rats (PAN-NS), and the significance of this infiltration, remain largely unknown. CXCL10, a chemokine secreted in many T helper type 1 (Th1) inflammatory diseases, exhibits important roles in trafficking of monocytes and activated T cells. We hypothesized that induction of circulating interferon (IFN)-γ and glomerular tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α during PAN-NS would stimulate the release of CXCL10 by podocytes, leading to infiltration of activated immune cells and greater glomerular injury. We found that serum IFN-γ, glomerular Cxcl10 mRNA and intra- and peri-glomerular macrophage infiltration were induced strongly during the late acute phase of PAN-NS in Wistar rats, but not in nude (Foxn1rnu/rnu) rats lacking functional effector T lymphocytes. Wistar rats also developed significantly greater proteinuria than nude rats, which could be abolished by macrophage depletion. Stimulation of cultured podocytes with both IFN-γ and TNF-α markedly induced the expression of Cxcl10 mRNA and CXCL10 secretion. Together, these data support our hypothesis that increased circulating IFN-γ and glomerular TNF-α induce synergistically the production and secretion of CXCL10 by podocytes, attracting activated macrophages into kidney tissue. The study also suggests that IFN-γ, secreted from Th1 lymphocytes, may prime proinflammatory macrophages that consequently aggravate renal injury.
Longitudinal analysis of maternal serum Follistatin concentration in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia
Authors: Garcés María F. , Vallejo Sergio A. , Sanchez Elizabeth , Palomino‐Palomino Miguel A. , Leal Luis G. , Ángel‐Muller Edith , Díaz‐Cruz Luz A. , Ruíz‐Parra Ariel Iván , González‐Clavijo Angélica M. , Castaño Justo P. , Abba Martin , Lacunza Ezequiel , Diéguez Carlos , Nogueiras Rubén , Caminos Jorge E.
Published: January 2015

Objective

Follistatin (FST) is a regulator of the biological activity of activin A (Act A), binding and blocking it, which could contribute to the modulation of its pro‐inflammatory activity during pregnancy. We sought to investigate, in this nested case–control study, FST serum levels during normal pregnancy and correlate it with the FST profile in preeclamptic pregnant women, normal pregnant women followed 3 months postpartum and eumenorrheic nonpregnant women throughout the menstrual cycle.

Subjects and Methods

Follistatin serum levels determined by ELISA, biochemical and anthropometric variables were measured in normal pregnant (n = 28) and preeclamptic (n = 20) women during three periods of gestation. In addition, FST serum levels were measured in a subset of normal pregnant women (n = 13) followed 3 months postpartum and in eumenorrheic nonpregnant women (n = 20) during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

Results

Follistatin serum levels in the eumenorrheic nonpregnant and postpartum group were significantly lower when compared to levels throughout gestation (P < 0·01). Serum FST levels increased in each period of pregnancy analysed, being significantly higher towards the end of gestation (P < 0·01). FST levels were lower in late pregnancy in preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women (P < 0·05). Finally, FST levels were higher in the luteal phase when compared with the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (P < 0·05).

Conclusions

These analyses would permit the consideration that changes in FST levels during pregnancy contribute to the control of the Act A system.
Polygenic expression of teratozoospermia and normal fertility in B10.MOL‐TEN1 mouse strain
Authors: Hirawatari Keitaro , Hanzawa Naoto , Kuwahara Maki , Aoyama Hiroaki , Miura Ikuo , Wakana Shigeharu , Gotoh Hideo
Published: January 2015

Subfertility and infertility are two major reproductive health problems in human and domestic animals. The contribution of the genotype to these conditions is poorly understood. To examine the genetic basis of male subfertility, we analyzed its relationship to sperm morphology in B10.MOL‐TEN1 mice, which shows high‐frequencies (about 50%) of morphologically abnormal sperm. Drastic histological changes were also found in the testis of the B10.MOL‐TEN1. Segregation analysis showed that the abnormal sperm phenotype in B10.MOL‐TEN1 was inherited and was predictably controlled by at least three loci. We also found that male fertility of this strain was normal. These findings indicate a complicated relationship between sperm morphology and male subfertility.
Radiological comparison of laser‐microtextured and platform‐switched implants in thin mucosal biotype
Authors: Linkevicius Tomas , Puisys Algirdas , Svediene Olga , Linkevicius Rokas , Linkeviciene Laura
Published: January 2015

Objective

To compare how laser‐microtextured implants and implants with platform switching maintain crestal bone stability in thin peri‐implant tissues.

Material and methods

Thirty laser‐microtextured implants of 4.6 mm diameter (Tapered Internal Laser‐Lok, BioHorizons, Birmingham, AL, USA; Group 1) and 30 implants with platform switching of 5/4 mm diameter (Certain Prevail; Biomet/3i, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA; Group 2) were placed in 30 patients (12 males and 18 females, mean age 42.3 ± 2.4) with thin mucosal tissues (≤2 mm). Implants were placed in posterior mandible in one‐stage approach and after integration were restored with screw‐retained metal‐ceramic restorations. Radiographic examination was performed after implant placement, 2 months after healing, at prosthetic restoration delivery and after 1‐year follow‐up. Mean crestal bone loss was calculated, Mann–Whitney U‐test was applied, and significance was set to 0.05.

Results

After 2 months of healing, the crestal bone loss was 0.71 ± 0.25 mm SD (range, 0.25–1.6 mm) and 1.02 ± 0.25 mm SD (range, 0.6–1.55 mm) in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.001). At restorations' delivery, the crestal bone loss was 1.10 ± 0.30 mm SD (range, 0.65–1.85 mm) and 1.37 ± 0.27 mm SD (range, 0.90–1.80 mm) in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.001). After 1‐year follow‐up, the crestal bone loss was 1.41 ± 0.42 mm SD (range, +0.1–2.30 mm) and 1.43 ± 0.23 mm SD (range, 1–1.80 mm) in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.976).

Conclusions

Laser‐microtexturing of implant collar or platform‐switched implant/abutment connection did not eliminate crestal bone loss, if at the time of implant placement vertical soft tissue thickness was ≤2 mm. However, laser‐microtextured implants may present less proximal bone loss than platform‐switching implants in the period before implant loading.
Frequency, manifestations and management of bezoars in ileal pouches
Authors: Wu Xian‐rui , Ashburn Jean , Shen Bo
Published: January 2015

Background and Aim

To evaluate the frequency, diagnosis and management of ileal pouch bezoars.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with ileal pouch bezoars at the Pouch Center at Cleveland Clinic from 2002 to 2013 were included. Demographic, clinical and endoscopic features, management and outcomes were evaluated.

Results

Twelve patients with ileal pouch bezoars were enrolled, including five (0.4%) of 1390 patients with J‐pouch and seven (13.0%) of 54 with continent ileostomy (P < 0.001). Males accounted for 25% (n = 3) of the cohort. Mean age at time of detection was 61.5 ± 10.3 years. Of the 12 patients, six (50.0%) had phytobezoars, four (33.3%) had lithobezoars, one (8.3%) had pharmacobezoar and one (8.3%) had a retained‐Jackson‐Pratt drain. Median number of harvested bezoars was one (range: 1–224), and mean diameter was 4.0 ± 2.4 cm. Bezoars were located at the pouch body in eight (66.7%) patients, pouch inlet in two (16.7%), pouch‐anal anastomosis in one (8.3%) and efferent limb in one (8.3%). Ten patients (83.3%) were symptomatic, including seven (58.3%) with partial bowel obstructive symptoms. Eleven patients (91.7%) were initially managed with endoscopic treatment including basket, RothNet®, mechanical lithotripsy Tripod and snares. After a median of one (1–3) endoscopic therapy, bezoars were successfully removed in seven patients (58.3%). Surgical intervention was required in the remaining five patients (41.7%).

Conclusions

Ileal pouch bezoars appeared to be more frequently encountered in patients with continent ileostomies than in those with J‐pouches. Endoscopic management seemed to be effective in some patients, whereas surgical intervention was needed in others.
Strategies for inhibitor treatment and costs in the short and long term: a critical evaluation of recent clinical studies
Authors: Baghaipour Mohammad Reza , Steen Carlsson Katarina
Published: January 2015

One important complication of patients with severe haemophilia A is the formation of inhibitory antibodies to factor VIII (FVIII). Immune tolerance induction (ITI) is the treatment of choice for patients with inhibitors, but this approach is successful in about 60% of patients. Treatment of acute bleeding in patients with inhibitors is one of the greatest challenges in haemophilia management and is costly. Bypassing agents are the mainstay of treatment in these patients. The aims of this study were to review the most recent publications concerning the costs of inhibitor treatment. We conducted a literature review using PubMed which yielded 63 papers analysing the costs of inhibitor management of which 12 were suitable for our study. Four of eight studies supported the use of activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) with lower costs, but the remaining four studies showed that recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) had a lower average treatment cost. Of four ITI studies, two supported lifelong cost‐effectiveness of ITI vs. bypassing agents and the remaining two papers showed a high cost of inhibitor treatment. Dosages, time between onset of bleeding and treatment, patient characteristics and the price of drugs are some of the important issues that should be considered for further studies.
A new dynamic null model for phylogenetic community structure
Authors: Pigot Alex L. , Etienne Rampal S.
Published: January 2015

Phylogenies are increasingly applied to identify the mechanisms structuring ecological communities but progress has been hindered by a reliance on statistical null models that ignore the historical process of community assembly. Here, we address this, and develop a dynamic null model of assembly by allopatric speciation, colonisation and local extinction. Incorporating these processes fundamentally alters the structure of communities expected due to chance, with speciation leading to phylogenetic overdispersion compared to a classical statistical null model assuming equal probabilities of community membership. Applying this method to bird and primate communities in South America we show that patterns of phylogenetic overdispersion – often attributed to negative biotic interactions – are instead consistent with a species neutral model of allopatric speciation, colonisation and local extinction. Our findings provide a new null expectation for phylogenetic community patterns and highlight the importance of explicitly accounting for the dynamic history of assembly when testing the mechanisms governing community structure.
Islands as model systems in ecology and evolution: prospects fifty years after MacArthur‐Wilson
Authors: Warren Ben H. , Simberloff Daniel , Ricklefs Robert E. , Aguilée Robin , Condamine Fabien L. , Gravel Dominique , Morlon Hélène , Mouquet Nicolas , Rosindell James , Casquet Juliane , Conti Elena , Cornuault Josselin , Fernández‐Palacios José María , Hengl Tomislav , Norder Sietze J. , Rijsdijk Kenneth F. , Sanmartín Isabel , Strasberg Dominique , Triantis Kostas A. , Valente Luis M. , Whittaker Robert J. , Gillespie Rosemary G. , Emerson Brent C. , Thébaud Christophe
Published: January 2015

The study of islands as model systems has played an important role in the development of evolutionary and ecological theory. The 50th anniversary of MacArthur and Wilson's (December 1963) article, ‘An equilibrium theory of insular zoogeography’, was a recent milestone for this theme. Since 1963, island systems have provided new insights into the formation of ecological communities. Here, building on such developments, we highlight prospects for research on islands to improve our understanding of the ecology and evolution of communities in general. Throughout, we emphasise how attributes of islands combine to provide unusual research opportunities, the implications of which stretch far beyond islands. Molecular tools and increasing data acquisition now permit re‐assessment of some fundamental issues that interested MacArthur and Wilson. These include the formation of ecological networks, species abundance distributions, and the contribution of evolution to community assembly. We also extend our prospects to other fields of ecology and evolution – understanding ecosystem functioning, speciation and diversification – frequently employing assets of oceanic islands in inferring the geographic area within which evolution has occurred, and potential barriers to gene flow. Although island‐based theory is continually being enriched, incorporating non‐equilibrium dynamics is identified as a major challenge for the future.
Vitamin D: a target for improving post‐stroke prognosis?
Authors: Béjot Y.
Published: January 2015

Click here to view the accompanying paper in this issue.
To Be or Not to Be: How Family Firms Manage Family and Commercial Logics in Succession
Authors: Jaskiewicz Peter , Heinrichs Katharina , Rau Sabine B. , Reay Trish
Published: January 2015

We draw on the institutional logics perspective to understand different approaches that family firms can use to manage the process of succession. Based on the analysis of 21 case studies of family firms in Germany, we identify four different ways of managing potentially conflicting family and commercial logics that are associated with four different succession processes. Our findings contribute to the family firm literature by improving our knowledge of the heterogeneity of family firms and by explaining different ways that the family logic can influence firm behavior. Moreover, we contribute to institutional theory by showing the importance of filtering mechanisms for organizations that must respond to coexisting logics.
Corporate Entrepreneurship Managers’ Project Terminations: Integrating Portfolio–Level, Individual–Level, and Firm–Level Effects
Authors: Behrens Judith , Patzelt Holger
Published: January 2015

Corporate entrepreneurship managers often need to terminate projects to maximize their innovation portfolios’ commercial prospects. Drawing on the attention–based view of the firm, we develop a model for how past project failure experience, the firm's growth rate, and their hierarchical level impact managers’ attention to a project's fit with the corporate portfolio strategy and the balance of the portfolio when terminating projects. Using data from a conjoint study with 6,944 assessments of project terminations made by 217 managers, we provide insights into corporate entrepreneurship decision making and how portfolio–level, individual–level, and firm–level aspects interact in explaining project termination.
Accountability, Rhetoric, and Political Interests: Twists and Turns of NHS Performance Measurements
Authors: Chang Li‐cheng
Published: January 2015

This study draws upon institutional theory to examine the extent to which the political interests of New Labour influenced the application of NHS performance measurements devised for accountability purposes between 1997 and 2007. This study adopts an interpretative perspective and emphasises the ‘ethos’ of New Labour's policy initiatives to convey its beliefs and moral superiority to the electorate. It argues that the performance measurements constituted by political interests served as a source of power deployed by New Labour to strengthen its credibility as being an accountable person. Where political interests were in play, multi‐dimensional performance measurements did not necessarily promote a balanced pursuit of performance improvements but led to various distortions and dysfunctional behaviour which hindered the stated aims of the NHS reforms and undermined the ethos of New Labour.
Performance Auditing and Adjudicating Political Disputes
Authors: Funnell Warwick
Published: January 2015

Performance audits have provided governments with new opportunities to take advantage of the public sector auditor's moral legitimacy as an agent of accountability who is independent of government. With particular reference to a recent performance audit by the Australian Auditor‐General which the Prime Minister called for after he was accused of lying to the Parliament, and adopting insights from Suchman's theory of legitimacy, this paper confirms that after an extended, intense period of resistance governments now recognise performance audits and the Auditor‐General's considerable reputation for integrity as potentially potent ways to enhance their political legitimacy.
Framing Performance Management of Acute‐Care Hospitals by Interlacing NPM and Institutional Perspectives: A New Theoretical Framework
Authors: Kelly Rosemarie , Doyle Gerardine , O'Donohoe Sheila
Published: January 2015

This paper develops a theoretical framework which combines ideas underlying new public management (NPM) with new institutional sociology (NIS) to explore the development of performance management during a period of healthcare reform. The framework distinguishes three categories of explanatory variables; NPM antecedents, the institutional environment and institutional elements within a three tier level of analysis; economic/political, organisational field and organisational unit level. Evidence to support the relevance and appropriateness of this framework is gathered within the Irish health service using in‐depth interviews, a questionnaire and documentary data. The application of the framework highlights that all antecedents of NPM can be influential and that all institutional elements can play a role at the three different levels of analysis.
Listeria monocytogenes has a functional chitinolytic system and an active lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase
Authors: Paspaliari Dafni K. , Loose Jennifer S. M. , Larsen Marianne H. , Vaaje‐Kolstad Gustav
Published: January 2015

Chitinases and chitin‐active lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are most commonly associated with chitin metabolism, but are also reported as virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria. Listeria monocytogenes, a well‐known virulent bacterium, possesses two chitinases (ChiA and ChiB) and a multi‐modular lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LmLPMO10). These enzymes have been related to virulence and their role in chitin metabolism is poorly understood. It is thus of interest to functionally characterize the individual enzymes in order to shed light on their roles in vivo. Our results demonstrate that L. monocytogenes has a fully functional chitinolytic system. Both chitinases show substrate degradation rates similar to those of the nonprocessive endo‐chitinase SmChiC from Serratia marcescens. Compared to the S. marcescens LPMO chitin‐binding protein CBP21, LmLPMO10 shows a similar rate but different product profiles depending on the substrate. In LPMO‐chitinase synergy experiments, CBP21 is able to boost the activity of both ChiA and ChiB more than LmLPMO10. Product analysis of the synergy assays revealed that the chitinases were unable to efficiently hydrolyse the LPMO products (chitooligosaccharide aldonic acids) with a degree of polymerization below four (ChiA and SmChiC) or three (ChiB). Gene transcription and protein expression analysis showed that LmLPMO10 is neither highly transcribed, nor abundantly secreted during the growth of L. monocytogenes in a chitin‐containing medium. The chitinases on the other hand are both abundantly secreted in the presence of chitin. Although LmLPMO10 is shown to promote chitin degradation in tandem with the chitinases in vitro, the secretome and transcription data question whether this is the primary role of LmLPMO10 in vivo.
Decreased aggression and increased repetitive behavior in Pten haploinsufficient mice
Authors: Clipperton‐Allen A. E. , Page D. T.
Published: January 2015

Aggression is an aspect of social behavior that can be elevated in some individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a concern for peers and caregivers. Mutations in Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), one of several ASD risk factors encoding negative regulators of the PI3K–Akt–mTOR pathway, have been reported in individuals with ASD and comorbid macrocephaly. We previously showed that a mouse model of Pten germline haploinsufficiency (Pten+/−) has selective deficits, primarily in social behavior, along with broad overgrowth of the brain. Here, we further examine the social behavior of Pten+/− male mice in the resident–intruder test of aggression, using a comprehensive behavioral analysis to obtain an overall picture of the agonistic, non‐agonistic and non‐social behavior patterns of Pten+/− mice during a free interaction with a novel conspecific. Pten+/− male mice were involved in less aggression than their wild‐type littermates. Pten+/− mice also performed less social investigation, including anogenital investigation and approaching and/or attending to the intruder, which is consistent with our previous finding of decreased sociability in the social approach test. In contrast to these decreases in social behaviors, Pten+/− mice showed increased digging. In summary, we report decreased aggression and increased repetitive behavior in Pten+/− mice, thus extending our characterization of this model of an ASD risk factor that features brain overgrowth and social deficits.
A lack of functional NK1 receptors explains most, but not all, abnormal behaviours of NK1R‐/‐ mice1
Authors: Porter A. J. , Pillidge K. , Tsai Y. C. , Dudley J. A. , Hunt S. P. , Peirson S. N. , Brown L. A. , Stanford S. C.
Published: January 2015

Mice lacking functional neurokinin‐1 receptors (NK1R‐/‐) display abnormal behaviours seen in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattentiveness). These abnormalities were evident when comparing the behaviour of separate (inbred: ‘Hom’) wildtype and NK1R‐/‐ mouse strains. Here, we investigated whether the inbreeding protocol could influence their phenotype by comparing the behaviour of these mice with that of wildtype (NK1R+/+) and NK1R‐/‐ progeny of heterozygous parents (‘Het’, derived from the same inbred strains). First, we recorded the spontaneous motor activity of the two colonies/genotypes, over 7 days. This continuous monitoring also enabled us to investigate whether the diurnal rhythm in motor activity differs in the two colonies/genotypes. NK1R‐/‐ mice from both colonies were hyperactive compared with their wildtypes and their diurnal rhythm was also disrupted. Next, we evaluated the performance of the four groups of mice in the 5‐Choice Serial Reaction‐Time Task (5‐CSRTT). During training, NK1R‐/‐ mice from both colonies expressed more impulsive and perseverative behaviour than their wildtypes. During testing, only NK1R‐/‐ mice from the Hom colony were more impulsive than their wildtypes, but NK1R‐/‐ mice from both colonies were more perseverative. There were no colony differences in inattentiveness. Moreover, a genotype difference in this measure depended on time of day. We conclude that the hyperactivity, perseveration and, possibly, inattentiveness of NK1R‐/‐ mice is a direct consequence of a lack of functional NK1R. However, the greater impulsivity of NK1R‐/‐ mice depended on an interaction between a functional deficit of NK1R and other (possibly environmental and/or epigenetic) factors.
Behavioral phenotypes in males with XYY and possible role of increased NLGN4Y expression in autism features
Authors: Ross J. L. , Tartaglia N. , Merry D. E. , Dalva M. , Zinn A. R.
Published: January 2015

The male sex chromosome disorder, 47,XYY syndrome (XYY), is associated with increased risk for social‐emotional difficulties, attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We hypothesize that increased Y chromosome gene copy number in XYY leads to overexpression of Y‐linked genes related to brain development and function, thereby increasing risk for these phenotypes. We measured expression in blood of two Y genes NLGN4Y and RPS4Y in 26 boys with XYY and 11 male controls and evaluated whether NLGN4Y expression correlates with anxiety, ADHD, depression and autistic behaviors (from questionnaires) in boys with XYY. The XYY cohort had increased risk of ASD behaviors on the social responsiveness scale (SRS) and increased attention deficits on the Conners' DSM‐IV inattention and hyperactive scales. In contrast, there was no increase in reported symptoms of anxiety or depression by the XYY group. Peripheral expression of two Y genes in boys with XYY vs. typically developing controls was increased twofold in the XYY group. Results from the SRS total and autistic mannerisms scales, but not from the attention, anxiety or depression measures, correlated with peripheral expression of NLGN4Y in boys with XYY. Males with XYY have social phenotypes that include increased risk for autism‐related behaviors and ADHD. Expression of NLGN4Y, a gene that may be involved in synaptic function, is increased in boys with XYY, and the level of expression correlates with overall social responsiveness and autism symptoms. Thus, further investigation of NLGN4Y as a plausible ASD risk gene in XYY is warranted.