bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HPLC-DAD analysis ofThymus serpyllumbased natural pigments and investigation of their antimicrobial properties
Authors: Çakmakçi Emrah , Deveoglu Ozan , Muhammed Ahmed , Fouad Ali , Torgan Emine , Karadag Recep
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– In this study, it was aimed to investigate the antibacterial properties of natural pigments prepared fromThymus serpyllum.

Design/methodology/approach

– Al (III), Fe (II), Sn (II) and Cu (II) complexed natural pigments were obtained by using a precipitation method and the main constituents in the pigments were identified with HPLC-DAD. Also FTIR analysis was performed for further structural characterization. Moreover, the thermal stability and thermal degradation properties of the pigments were analyzed by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). The antimicrobial activity of the thyme plant-extracted pigments was evaluated by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentration.

Findings

– Apigenin and luteolin flavones were detected as the main components of the natural dyes. Thermal degradation behaviour of the pigments was determined by means of TGA. All pigments showed high char yields and it was attributed to the high complexation between the metal and the ligand species. The antimicrobial activity of the thyme plant-extracted pigments was measured and it was found that all pigments had high antimicrobial activity. Aluminum-thymus pigments showed the highest antimicrobial efficiency among other pigments used in this study.

Originality/value

– The obtained pigments have high antimicrobial activities, and therefore, they can be used for the production of antimicrobial textiles. Furthermore, Thymus-based natural pigments might have potential applications in coating, paint, plastic industries, etc.
Evaluating consumer response associated with sponsorship of major sporting events in Australia
Authors: Lobo Antonio , Meyer Denny , Chester Yayoi
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the key determinants of positive consumer behaviour associated with sports sponsorship. Using the consumer decision-making process and classical conditioning principles as an underpinning framework, it examines consumer perceptions of a sponsor, sponsored property and sponsorship activity relative to their intention of purchasing a sponsor's product or service. The purchase intention of consumers is analysed as an outcome of five significant constructs: event factors, sponsor factors, sponsorship factors, a pre-purchase response and the transfer of image values.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from approximately 700 respondents using a validated survey instrument. Factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to analyse survey data. The conceptual model and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling.

Findings

– The findings revealed that personal beliefs of consumers, sponsor-event fit and image transfer have a strong bearing on their post-event response, which further leads to a strong image transfer value. This is central to predicting a consumer's intention to purchase.

Research limitations/implications

– Both sponsors and sponsored properties must invest resources towards market research to facilitate the development and adherence of appropriate fit and congruence objectives. Most importantly, a holistic, consumer-centric approach to sponsorship examination offers marketers a guide to effective sponsorship planning and execution and a sound return for their investment.

Originality/value

– Despite its potential importance hardly any research has previously been conducted in relation to the return on investment associated with sponsorship of major sporting events in Australia.
America's Cup 2007: sailing, glitter and power
Authors: Lassalle Frederic
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a tool with which to understand the power existing in relations between sports organisations. This research proposes a tool will draw from the work of Machiavel (1513/2000), Galbraith (1985) and Baechler (1978). This tool is composed by three dimensions which guarantee the possessor an absolute power, so avoiding the threat of overthrow by discontented individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

– A case study of the America's Cup 2007, held in Valencia, Spain, will seek to shed light on the theoretical conceptions of various authors. The America's Cup is one of the world's oldest competitive sporting events. A semantic analysis of the resulting data via Alceste and Wordmapper software, will highlight the particular power present in relations.

Findings

– The importance of this research, in addition to finding a type of power in a precise case, is essentially to verify the functioning of the model of three dimensions, given its triangular form.

Practical implications

– Organisations could acquire a better understanding of power present in their relations that they maintain and hence adapt their behaviour according to the strategy they seek to employ. International sporting events constitute a field where stakes are high, and each entity must work hard to put in place a set of strategies to ensure profit.

Originality/value

– Sport as an area of research, sport is justified by recent developments in the world of sporting special events management, where weighty power struggles have considerably increased.
Toward a framework of “athlete citizenship” in professional sport through authentic community stakeholder engagement
Authors: J.A. Agyemang Kwame
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– While there is extant research regarding corporate citizenship, the literature negates the micro level of analysis as it only concentrates on macro and/or meso levels. Utilizing sport as a context, more specifically, professional athletes, the purpose of this paper is to introduce a concept termed athlete citizenship. The author defines athlete citizenship as the manner in which a professional athlete conducts himself or herself (on and away from competition) and makes a positive impact on society. The author centralizes community stakeholder engagement as one method of exemplifying athlete citizenship qualities. In doing so, the author attempts to provide professional athletes and their managers with a framework to engage community stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

– Given the scope of what is asked of professional athletes in the current age, the author adopts Sequeira and Warner's (2007) framework on how organizations can engage community stakeholders and applies it to professional athletes.

Findings

– The author argues that by carrying out authentic community stakeholder engagement, professional athletes can witness strategic benefits such as eliminating resentment, building a positive reputation, attaining revenue-generating ventures, and enhancing their brand.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first to discuss stakeholder engagement among professional athletes, the notion of athlete citizenship and how these can produce strategic benefits.
A telehealth intervention for families caring for a child with traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Authors: T. Woods Damith , Catroppa Cathy , Godfrey Celia , Giallo Rebecca , Matthews Jan , A. Anderson Vicki
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine the preliminary clinical utility of a telephone-support format of the “Signposts” (Hudsonet al., 2003) behavioural intervention programme to be used with a paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) population.

Design/methodology/approach

– Nine families caring for a child with moderate or severe TBI, participated in a pilot study of a TBI adapted “Signposts for Building Better Behaviour” manualised programme. The programme is designed to help parents learn positive parenting skills and strategies that empower them to successfully manage their child's challenging behaviour post-TBI. The programme consists of seven core sessions and two supplemental sessions. Parents work through the sessions with an accompaniment of guiding information booklets, a DVD with scenes modelling positive parenting strategies, and a workbook containing written exercises. At the completion of each session parents receive a telephone-support call from a trained Signposts practitioner who provides assistance and feedback on programme content.

Findings

– On average parents completed eight sessions (range seven to nine) and every family completed the seven core sessions. Participation in the telephone-support calls was high with 96 per cent of calls having been successfully received by families. All parents agreed that the telephone calls were a useful part of the programme and felt that the materials were helpful for managing challenging behaviour. Paired-samplest-tests showed significant reductions for challenging behaviour from pre- to post-intervention. Parenting practices also significantly improved over the course of the intervention. In general, parents rated a high level of consumer satisfaction with the Signposts programme and its content.

Originality/value

– Overall, these preliminary findings support the potential clinical utility of a telephone-support version of the Signposts programme to improve parenting skills and to reduce challenging child behaviour following TBI. This study has provided the impetus for a larger clinical research trial to be conducted.
Brain injury spousal caregivers’ experiences of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) group
Authors: Williams Jonathan , Vaughan Frances , Huws Jaci , Hastings Richard
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the experiences of acquired brain injury (ABI) family caregivers who attended an acceptance based group intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative design and interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology were used.

Findings

– Five key themes were identified: increasing personal awareness; the dialectic of emotional acceptance vs emotional avoidance; integration of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) principles; peer support; and moving forward after the group. It seemed that some individuals found the ACT exercises distressing, whereas others reported benefits. All participants described experiences of acceptance vs avoidant means of coping, and attempts to integrate new approaches into existing belief systems.

Originality/value

– This study is the first to explore the experiences of ABI caregivers undertaking an ACT group intervention.
Paediatric neuropsychological assessment: an analysis of parents’ perspectives
Authors: Stark Daniel , Thomas Sophie , Dawson David , Talbot Emily , Bennett Emily , Starza-Smith Arleta
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Modern healthcare services are commonly based on shared models of care, in which a strong emphasis is placed upon the views of those in receipt of services. The purpose of this paper is to examine the parents’ experiences of their child’s neuropsychological assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

– This was a mixed-methodology study employing both quantitative and qualitative measures.

Findings

– The questionnaire measure indicated a high overall level of satisfaction. Qualitative analysis of parental interviews provided a richer insight into the parental experience and indicated four major themes.

Practical implications

– Implications covered three major areas. Firstly, whilst a high value was placed upon the assessment, the need for further comprehensive neurorehabilitation and intervention was highlighted. Secondly, this study highlights the significant adversity experienced by such families and subsequent unmet psychological needs which also require consideration. Finally, findings from the current study could assist in improving future measures of satisfaction in similar services.

Originality/value

– This is the first published study of parental experiences of and satisfaction with paediatric neuropsychological assessment in the UK.
The race to implement co-creation of value with stakeholders: five approaches to competitive advantage
Authors: J. Gouillart Francis
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– After leading more than thirty co-creation projects, and observing more than 200 others, the author can offer a view on why co-creation with stakeholders is becoming a cornerstone of the creative economy and suggest how the most popular approaches contribute to helping firms gain a competitive advantage through connections that enable continuous innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

– To tackle large, complex problems, co-creation, in its most generic form, requires adopting five processes that each represent a potential source of competitive advantage; an approach can utilize each process from very little to a lot. A co-creation strategy will be most powerful when all five processes are used in combination.

Findings

– Leading theorists are predicting that in the foreseeable future the co-creation model will become a primary source of the firm's competitive advantage.

Practical implications

– Opening up the traditional value chain to stakeholders could precipitate a race to co-creation, as every firm tries to connect each function and process to the relevant ecosystem and attract the best external players as partners.

Originality/value

– Leading theorists anticipate that in the foreseeable future the co-creation model will become a primary source of the firm's competitive advantage. The article lays out five approaches.
A leader's guide to innovation in the experience economy
Authors: Joseph Pine II B. , H. Gilmore James
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– To succeed in the rapidly evolving experience economy executives must think differently about how they create economic value for their customers.

Design/methodology/approach

– Five value-creating opportunities are likely to drive further progress in the dynamic experience economy: customizing goods; enhancing services; charging for experiences; fusing digital technology with reality; and transformative experiences, a promising frontier.

Findings

– For leaders, five insights about the value-creating opportunities are key to achieving success via state-of-the-art experience staging, and they provide tested guidelines for managing in the experience economy, now and into the future.

Practical implications

– A huge first step in staging more engaging experiences is embracing the principle that work is theatre. So businesses should ask: What acts of theatre would turn our workers' functional activities into memorable events?

Originality/value

– Three key lessons: innovation to create high-quality experiences that customers will pay for is even more important than goods or service innovation. When you customize an experience, you automatically turn it into a transformation. Companies enabling transformations should charge not merely for time but for the change resulting from that time.
Voids investigation in solder joints performed with vapour phase soldering (VPS)
Authors: Kinga Synkiewicz Beata , Skwarek Agata , Witek Krzysztof
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The main advantages of vapour phase soldering are a non-oxygen environment, the elimination of overheating and the possibility of the vacuum application, which can guarantee undeniably higher quality of solder joints, especially as regards void formation. These features are less affected by the alloy composition. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The quality of solder joints made in two VPS options (with and without vacuum) was investigated in terms of voids formation. Solder alloys of 37%Pb63%Sn (PbSn) and 96%Sn3.5%Ag0.5%Cu (SAC 305) were applied to an etched Cu layer on a glass-epoxy substrate using the screen-printing method. 1206 SMD resistors were placed on the solder pads with a Quadra pick-and place machine. For the inspection of joint structure and void identification, 3D X-ray images of samples were taken using a computed tomography system with a 180 kV/15 W nanofocus. For comparison, traditional cross-sections of the samples were performed using a metallographic polisher. The cross-section analysis was done in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). To confirm the relevance of these data, a statistical analysis was carried out.

Findings

– The paper shows that alloy composition has less impact on the quality of joints as regards void formation. The tendency for a different arrangement of voids in a junction depending on the distance SMD element and the thickness of the solder layer was investigated using X-ray computed tomography.

Originality/value

– The use of 3D computed tomography for void investigation gives full information about the internal structure of the joint and allows for precise void identification. Vacuum application during the soldering allows significant voids elimination.
Combined loading and failure analysis of lead-free solder joints due to creep and fatigue phenomena
Authors: Jankowski Krystian , Wymyslowski Artur , Chicot Didier
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this work is the use of specially designed, authoring device to evaluate the strength of solder alloys commonly used in all kinds of electronic and electrical devices that are used in various fields of economic and industrial development to shorten the testing period. By obtaining answers to pervade science questions on how to properly investigate the reliability of solder joints can increase lifespan (uptime) of all electronic devices, and especially those that are used in the process submitted severe external conditions (dust, humidity air, heat, mechanical stress).

Design/methodology/approach

– The basic demand for performing the experimental tests is to measure small displacements (order of fractions of micrometers or of single microns) occurring within the sample. The analysis of the displacement values in various environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, current flow) allows estimating how a given material behaves also in a longer time, under normal operating conditions. Unlike a commonly used method, based on measuring the time-to-failure, at which the item is damaged due to accelerated aging, a behaviour of the sample is being tested for the selected duration time and the given loading conditions.

Findings

– The theoretical analysis and performed numerical simulations of ATC tests based on developed failure and reliability investigation system (FRIS) imply proposed here combined loading approach a promising and affective method for accelerated reliability tests. Both indentation and FRIS techniques by numerous possibilities of loading conditions seem to be appropriate in order to study the creep and fatigue behaviour. That kind of behaviours can be used by different models which characterize separately the mechanical properties under creep or fatigue tests. In case of creep mode, the displacement is expressed as a function of time where different parameters can be used to represent the creep sensibility.

Originality/value

– New device can provide both creep and fatigue phenomena simultaneously and perform tests in digital controlled environmental conditions. That approach enables faster method for testing reliability of solder joints.
Electrodeposition of thin metallic layer for solar cell electrodes
Authors: Drabczyk Kazimierz , Socha Robert , Panek Piotr , Mordarski Grzegorz
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The paper aims to show application of the electrochemically deposited coatings for thickening of the screen printed electric paths potentially applied in photovoltaic cells.

Design/methodology/approach

– The electric paths were screen printed with the use of silver-based paste. The paths were thickened by electrodeposition of thin copper layer in potentiostatic regime from surfactant-free plating bath. The morphology and surface quality of the paths were studied by imaging with scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

– The electric paths can be thickened successfully, but quality for the screen printed substrate determines quality of deposited layer. The EDX analysis confirmed that the deposited copper layer covered uniformly the printed paths.

Research limitations/implications

– The adhesion of the copper-covered path to the silicon wafer surface depends on adhesion of the original screen printed path.

Originality/value

– This paper confirms that electrodeposited copper can be applied for screen printed silver paths thickening in a controllable way.
Characterization of nano-enhanced interconnect materials for fine pitch assembly
Authors: Zhang Yan , Sitek Janusz , Fan Jing-yu , Ma Shiwei , Koscielski Marek , Ye Lilei , Liu Johan
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Multiple fillers are adopted to study the filler influences on electrical and mechanical properties of the conductive adhesives. The performances of the developed nano-enhanced interconnect materials in printing process are also evaluated. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Micron-sized silver flakes are used as the basic fillers, and submicro- and nano-sized silver spheres and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are adopted to obtain conductive adhesives with multiple fillers. Differential scanning calorimetry measurement is carried out to characterize the curing behavior of the samples with different fillers, four-probe method is used to obtain the bulk resistivity, shear test is conducted for adhesive strength, and environmental loading test is also involved. Furthermore, printing trials with different patterns have been carried out.

Findings

– The electrical resistivity of the adhesives with submicro-sized silver spheres does not monotonically change with the increasing sphere proportion, and there exists an optimized value for the ratio of silver flakes to spheres. Samples with relatively small amount of CNT additives show improved electrical properties, while their mechanical strengths tend to decrease. For the printing application, the adhesives with 18.3 volume% filler content behave much better than those with lower filler content of 6 percent. The presence of the nano-particles makes a slight improvement in the printing results.

Research limitations/implications

– More detailed printing performance and reliability test of the samples need to be carried out in the future.

Originality/value

– The conductive adhesives as interconnect materials exhibit some improved properties with optimized bimodal or trimodal fillers. The additive of the nano-fillers affects slightly on the printing quality of the bimodal conductive adhesives.
IT outsourcing in the public sector: a conceptual model
Authors: Duhamel Francois , Gutiérrez-Martínez Isis , Picazo-Vela Sergio , Luna-Reyes Luis
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to propose a theoretical model explaining information technology outsourcing performance in the public sector as well as a set of empirically testable propositions to improve the understanding of key determinants of success.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on Fountain ' s technology enactment framework, the authors integrated inter-organizational factors, such as trust, knowledge sharing, and quality of outsourcing interfaces, in the model and added organizational culture alignment between service providers and public administration to enhance Fountain ' s original framework.

Findings

– The authors proposed 17 empirically testable propositions to establish the relationships between key variables in IT outsourcing projects in the public sector.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed model provides guidance for future research aimed at advancing knowledge of IT outsourcing.

Originality/value

– The contribution lies in the development of specific variables, such as trust, knowledge, and organizational culture, which are related to building an outsourcing relationship and are used as determinants of the quality of organizational interfaces between public bureaucracies and IT outsourcing providers.
How semantic technologies transform e-government domain
Authors: Lamharhar Hind , Chiadmi Dalila , Benhlima Laila
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– In e-government domain, an efficient semantic interoperability of services is a big challenge. In this context, semantic technologies play a fundamental role in numerous e-government programs. Indeed, these technologies enable enriching the public service description provided by different public administrations with additional semantic information, which allows automatic services processing and information exchange between involved members in comprehensive and interpretable manner, thus facilitating service integration and cooperation. The most frequently used technologies in this area are semantic web services (SWS) technology and ontology. Thus, for modelling efficiently public services, the authors have exploring, studying and analyzing some of e-government researches and projects that applied semantic technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, the authors address how semantic technologies transform the e-government domain through exploring and studying the use of SWS and ontology in numerous researches and projects applying these technologies in this area. Then, the authors have compared them through a set of criteria defined according to e-government requirements such as the SWS modelling approach for describing semantically public services, ontologies for representing governmental specific features (e.g. regulation and organizational structures) and developed portal for supporting user
'
s perspectives. Based on this study, the authors have identified the appropriate standards, frameworks, and models for developing the framework.

Findings

– The authors have developed a framework for public services which enhances existing approaches with additional aspects. Thus, the approach comparing to other works improves the service ontology with a cognitive semantic approach to support the multiple usage contexts and situations of services. This semantic is developed in form of a Sit/Ctx ontology developed based on CSs model represented through conceptual graphs theory. The authors have used this model besides OWL-S, improving thus the level of automation of discovery and composition process of public services, which become more efficient with taken into consideration their interrelations and situations.

Originality/value

– The approach comparing to other works improves the service ontology with a cognitive semantic approach to support the multiple usage contexts and situations of public services, providing thus the end-users (people and enterprises) a better orientation in discovery process.
The effect of information quality on trust in e-government systems
'
transformation
Authors: Lee Ally , Levy Yair
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of information quality (IQ) on citizens
'
trust in e-government systems.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study used a mixed-method approach. In the first phase, the study drew IQ characteristics from the literature pool and then administered a qualitative questionnaire to a sample of 20 citizens who use e-government systems. In the second phase, the study delivered a quantitative survey via web to a group of about 1,000 citizens.

Findings

– This two-phased study uncovered citizens
'
perceived IQ factors and determined the influence of the IQ factors on trust in e-government systems.

Research limitations/implications

– There were some limitations to the study. Citizen
'
s demographics, along with the type of e-government interaction, were not taken into consideration.

Practical implications

– Understanding IQ characteristics that improve trust would enhance the relationship between citizens and e-government systems, as well as aide in the design and development of such systems.

Originality/value

– This paper applied an established IQ framework, and used the value focus approach in assessing IQ characteristics that effect citizens
'
trust in e-government systems.
Patient Loyalty in a Mature IDS Market: Is Population Health Management Worth It?
Authors: Carlin Caroline S.
Published: January 2014

Objective

To understand patient loyalty to providers over time, informing effective population health management.

Study Setting

Patient care‐seeking patterns over a 6‐year timeframe in Minnesota, where care systems have a significant portion of their revenue generated by shared‐saving contracts with public and private payers.

Study Design

Weibull duration and probit models were used to examine patterns of patient attribution to a care system and the continuity of patient affiliation with a care system. Clustering of errors within family unit was used to account for within‐family correlation in unobserved characteristics that affect patient loyalty.

Data Collection

The payer provided data from health plan administrative files, matched to U.S. Census‐based characteristics of the patient's neighborhood. Patients were retrospectively attributed to health care systems based on patterns of primary care.

Principal Findings

I find significant patient loyalty, with past loyalty a very strong predictor of future relationship. Relationships were shorter when the patient's health status was complex and when the patient's care system was smaller.

Conclusions

Population health management can be beneficial to the care system making this investment, particularly for patients exhibiting prior continuity in care system choice. The results suggest that co‐located primary and specialty services are important in maintaining primary care loyalty.
Surgical Quality Is More Than Volume: The Association between Changing Urologists and Complications for Patients with Localized Prostate Cancer
Authors: DuGoff Eva H. , Bekelman Justin E. , Stuart Elizabeth A. , Armstrong Katrina , Pollack Craig Evan
Published: January 2014

Objectives

To examine the association of changing urologists on surgical complications in men with prostate cancer.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Registry and administrative claims data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐Medicare database from 1995 to 2005.

Study Design

A cross‐sectional observational study of men with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy.

Methods

Subjects were classified as having “changed urologists” if they had a different urologist who diagnosed their cancer from the one who performed their surgery. “Doubly robust” propensity score weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the effect of changing urologists on 30‐day surgical complications, late urinary complications, and long‐term incontinence.

Principal Findings

Men who changed urologists between diagnosis and treatment had significantly lower odds of 30‐day surgical complications compared with men who did not change urologists (odds ratio: 0.82; 95 percent confidence interval: 0.76–0.89), after adjustment. Changing urologists was associated with lower risks of 30‐day complications for both black and white men compared with staying with the same urologist for their diagnosis and surgical treatment.

Conclusions

Urologist changing is associated with the observed variation in complications following radical prostatectomy. This may suggest that patients are responding to aspects of surgical quality not captured in surgical volume.
Estimation of Standardized Hospital Costs from Medicare Claims That Reflect Resource Requirements for Care: Impact for Cohort Studies Linked to Medicare Claims
Authors: Schousboe John T. , Paudel Misti L. , Taylor Brent C. , Mau Lih‐Wen , Virnig Beth A. , Ensrud Kristine E. , Dowd Bryan E.
Published: January 2014

Objective

To compare cost estimates for hospital stays calculated using diagnosis‐related group (DRG) weights to actual Medicare payments.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Medicare MedPAR files and DRG tables linked to participant data from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) from 1992 through 2010. Participants were women age 65 and older recruited in three metropolitan and one rural area of the United States.

Study Design

Costs were estimated using DRG payment weights for 1,397 hospital stays for 795 SOF participants for 1 year following a hip fracture. Medicare cost estimates included Medicare and secondary insurer payments, and copay and deductible amounts.

Principal Findings

The mean (SD) of inpatient DRG‐based cost estimates per person‐year were $16,268 ($10,058) compared with $19,937 ($15,531) for MedPAR payments. The correlation between DRG‐based estimates and MedPAR payments was 0.71, and 51 percent of hospital stays were in different quintiles when costs were calculated based on DRG weights compared with MedPAR payments.

Conclusions

DRG‐based cost estimates of hospital stays differ significantly from Medicare payments, which are adjusted by Medicare for facility and local geographic characteristics. DRG‐based cost estimates may be preferable for analyses when facility and local geographic variation could bias assessment of associations between patient characteristics and costs.
Propensity Score Methods and Unobserved Covariate Imbalance: Comments on “Squeezing the Balloon”
Authors: Ali M. Sanni , Groenwold Rolf H. H. , Klungel Olaf H.
Published: January 2014

In their recent Health Services Research article titled “Squeezing the Balloon: Propensity Scores and Unmeasured Covariate Balance,” Brooks and Ohsfeldt (2013) addressed an important topic on the balancing property of the propensity score (PS) with respect to unmeasured covariates. They concluded that PS methods that balance measured covariates between treated and untreated subjects exacerbate imbalance in unmeasured covariates that are unrelated to measured covariates. Furthermore, they emphasized that for PS algorithms, an imbalance on unmeasured covariates between treatment and untreated subjects is a necessary condition to achieve balance on measured covariates between the groups. We argue that these conclusions are the results of their assumptions on the mechanism of treatment allocation. In addition, we discuss the underlying assumptions of PS methods, their advantages compared with multivariate regression methods, as well as the interpretation of the effect estimates from PS methods.
Effect of Salts of Organic Acids on Listeria monocytogenes, Shelf Life, Meat Quality, and Consumer Acceptability of Beef Frankfurters
Authors: Morey Amit , Bowers Jordan W. J. , Bauermeister Laura J. , Singh Manpreet , Huang Tung‐Shi , McKee Shelly R.
Published: January 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate anti‐listerial efficacy of salts of organic acids, and their impact on the quality of frankfurters. Beef frankfurters were manufactured by incorporating organic acids in 5 different combinations: (1) control (no marinade addition; C); (2) sodium lactate (2% wt/wt; SL); (3) potassium lactate (2% wt/wt; PL); (4) sodium citrate (0.75% wt/wt; SC); and (5) sodium lactate (2% wt/wt)/sodium diacetate (0.25% wt/wt; SL/SD). Cooked frankfurters were inoculated with streptomycin‐resistant (1500 μg/mL) L. monocytogenes (7 log10 CFU/frank). Inoculated and noninoculated frankfurters were vacuum packaged and stored at 4 °C. Samples were taken weekly up to 10 wk for estimation of L. monocytogenes as well as aerobic plate count (APC) and psychrotrophs (PSY), respectively. Total of 2 independent trials of the entire experiment were conducted. Noninoculated beef frankfurters were evaluated weekly by untrained sensory panelists for 7 wk. SL, PL, and SC treatments did not (P > 0.05) adversely affect consumer acceptability through 8 wk although, SL/SD treatment was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) less preferred across all sensory attributes. SL/SD treatment negatively affected product quality, but was able to control APC, PSY, and L. monocytogenes levels. SC performed similar to the control throughout the 8, 9, and 10 wk storage periods, providing no benefit for inhibiting L. monocytogenes (increasing from 7 logs CFU/frank to 10 logs CFU/frank throughout storage) or extending shelf life of the beef frankfurters. In conclusion, 2% SL and PL, and 2% SL/0.25% SD may be effective L. monocytogenes inhibitors (maintaining inoculation levels of 7 logs CFU/frank during storage), but changes in SL/SD treatment formulation should be studied to improve product quality.
Thermomechanical and Morphological Properties of Nanocomposite Films from Wheat Gluten Matrix and Cellulose Nanofibrils
Authors: Rafieian Fatemeh , Shahedi Mohammad , Keramat Javad , Simonsen John
Published: January 2014

The aim of this investigation was the optimization of preparing gluten film containing cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). An optimization procedure using central composite design (CCD) with three factors (CNF, glycerol, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentrations) was used in order to investigate the effect of these parameters on the mechanical (tensile strength—TS, elongation at break—εb) and thermal properties of gluten films and to establish a formulation to depict the relationship between the mentioned factors and mechanical properties. Through regression analysis, it was found that TS and εb well fitted by quadratic polynomial equations (R2 = 0.99 and 0.98, respectively) and the glycerol concentration was the most significant factor influencing them. The optimization was based on maximizing TS and εb. The optimum conditions determined using response surface methodology (RSM) were defined as: CNF concentration, 11.129 g/100 g, glycerol concentration, 35.440 g/100 g and SDS concentration, 6.259 g/100 g. The predicted responses for these film preparation conditions were a TS of 3.630 MPa and εb of 86.033%. The verification experiments were conducted under optimal conditions to compare predicted and actual values of dependent variables. This experiment indicated that both predicted and actual values (TS of 3.721 MPa and εb of 88.935%) almost coincide each other and therefore the estimated models were reasonable and of high accuracy to predict dependent variables values. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed non‐agglomerated and well dispersed CNF in the gluten matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results indicated that there is not any significant difference (P > 0.05) between the glass transition temperature (Tg) of optimum nanocomposite (−29.12 °C) and control film (−29.64 °C) and their thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) thermograms showed similar degradation behavior.
Nonthermal Inactivation of Soy (Glycine Max Sp.) Lipoxygenase by Pulsed Ultraviolet Light
Authors: Janve Bhaskar A. , Yang Wade , Marshall Maurice R. , Reyes‐De‐Corcuera José I. , Rababah Taha M.
Published: January 2014

This study investigated pulsed ultraviolet (PUV) illumination at different distances from the PUV source on soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) (0.4 mg/mL in 0.01 M Tris‐HCl buffer, pH 9) activity. Samples (5 mL) were illuminated for 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 s at 3 distances 6, 8.5, and 11 cm from the PUV lamp's quartz window. The temperature of 33.5 ± 1.8°C was observed for the highest treatment time of 16 s at the shortest distance of 6 cm, and resulted in a 3.5 log reduction (99.95%) in initial LOX activity. Illumination time and distance from the lamp significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected LOX inactivation. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) was performed on treated LOX samples and further protein profile for treated LOX filtrate (≤10 kDa), was analyzed by reverse phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC). The protein profile analysis revealed that LOX protein degradation was influenced significantly (P ≤ 0.05) by PUV illumination time.
Impact of primer choice on characterization of orchid mycorrhizal communities using 454 pyrosequencing
Authors: Waud Michael , Busschaert Pieter , Ruyters Stefan , Jacquemyn Hans , Lievens Bart
Published: January 2014

Although the number of studies investigating mycorrhizal associations in orchids has increased in recent years, the fungal communities associating with orchids and how they differ between species and sites remain unclear. Recent research has indicated that individual orchid plants may associate with several fungi concurrently, implying that to study mycorrhizal associations in orchids the fungal community should be assessed, rather than the presence of individual dominant fungal species or strains. High‐throughput sequencing methods, such as 454 pyrosequencing, are increasingly used as the primary tool for such analyses. However, many studies combine universal primers from previous phylogenetic or ecological studies to generate amplicons suitable for 454 pyrosequencing without first critically evaluating their performance, potentially resulting in biased fungal community descriptions. Here, following in silico primer analysis we evaluated the performance of different combinations of existing PCR primers to characterize orchid mycorrhizal communities using 454 pyrosequencing by analysis of both an artificially assembled community of mycorrhizal fungi isolated from diverse orchid species and root samples from three different orchid species (Anacamptis morio, Ophrys tenthredinifera and Serapias lingua). Our results indicate that primer pairs ITS3/ITS4OF and ITS86F/ITS4, targeting the internal transcribed spacer‐2 (ITS‐2) region, outperformed other tested primer pairs in terms of number of reads, number of operational taxonomic units recovered from the artificial community and number of different orchid mycorrhizal associating families detected in the orchid samples. Additionally, we show the complementary specificity of both primer pairs, making them highly suitable for tandem use when studying the diversity of orchid mycorrhizal communities.
A model of emulation funds
Authors: Chen Zhe , Foster F. Douglas , Gallagher David R. , Lee Adrian D.
Published: January 2014

Emulation funds are a potentially cost‐effective way for multimanager funds to improve their investment performance by delaying and netting trade signals from underlying managers. We develop a model to represent the expected sources of differential performance in an emulation fund relative to its underlying multimanager portfolio. The model formalises the expected interaction between potential savings and opportunity costs and allows us to observe complexities in the emulation process that are hidden without a benchmark. Finally, the functional representation of the model allows sensitivity analysis of the emulation fund to key parameters and enables us to determine theoretically optimal lag periods.
What drives mortgage fees in Australia?
Authors: Liu Benjamin , Roca Eduardo
Published: January 2014

We investigate the factors that affect total, ongoing and origination fees of mortgages in Australia during the period 1996 to 2011. We find that banks charge significantly higher total and ongoing fees than mortgage corporations although they require lower origination fees. We also find that fee levels are dependent on loan size, loan‐to‐value ratio and loan features like term of the loan and presence of an offset account. Further, we confirm that lenders trade‐off higher (lower) interest rates with lower (higher) fee levels. Finally, our results show that mortgage fees are significantly affected by market conditions.
Infectious endophthalmitis in Boston keratoprosthesis: incidence and prevention
Authors: Behlau Irmgard , Martin Kathryn V. , Martin Jacqueline N. , Naumova Elena N. , Cadorette James J. , Sforza J. Tammy , Pineda Roberto , Dohlman Claes H.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

To determine the cumulative worldwide incidence of infectious endophthalmitis and associated vision loss after Boston keratoprosthesis (B‐KPro) Type I/II implantation and to propose both safe and inexpensive prophylactic antibiotic regimens.

Methods

Two retrospective methods were used to determine the incidence, visual outcomes and aetiologies of infectious endophthalmitis associated with the B‐KPro divided per decade: (i) systematic review of the literature from 1990 through January 2013 and (ii) a surveillance survey sent to all surgeons who implanted B‐KPros through 2010 with 1‐year minimum follow‐up. In addition, a single‐Boston surgeon 20‐year experience was examined.

Results

From 1990 through 2010, there were 4729 B‐KPros implanted worldwide by 209 U.S. surgeons and 159 international surgeons. The endophthalmitis cumulative mean incidence declined from 12% during its first decade of use to about 3% during its second decade in the Unites States and about 5% internationally during the second decade. There remains a large incidence range both in the United States (1–12.5%) and internationally (up to 17%). Poor compliance with daily topical antibiotics is an important risk factor. While Gram‐positive organisms remained dominant, fungal infections emerged during the second decade.

Conclusions

Daily prophylactic topical antibiotics have dramatically reduced the endophthalmitis incidence. Although Gram‐positive organisms are the most common aetiology, antimicrobials must be inclusive of Gram‐negative organisms. Selection of prophylactic regimens should be tailored to local antibiotic susceptibility patterns, be cost‐effective, and should not promote the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. An example of a broad‐spectrum, low‐cost prophylactic option for non‐autoimmune patients includes trimethoprim/polymyxinB once daily.
A novel optic nerve photograph alignment and subtraction technique for the detection of structural progression in glaucoma
Authors: Marlow Elizabeth D. , McGlynn Margaret M. , Radcliffe Nathan M.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

To highlight changing features over time within a single static image through the auto‐alignment and subtraction of serial optic nerve photographs.

Methods

Subtraction maps were generated from auto‐aligned (EyeIC, Narbeth, PA) baseline and follow‐up images using Adobe Photoshop software. They demonstrated progressive retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) defects, optic disc haemorrhage (DH), neuroretinal rim loss (RL) and peripapillary atrophy (PPA). A masked glaucoma specialist identified features of progression on subtraction map first, then assessed feature strength by comparison with original images using alternation flicker. Control images with no progression and parallax‐only images (as determined by flicker) were included.

Results

Eighty eyes of 67 patients were used to generate subtraction maps that detected glaucoma progression in 87% of DH (n = 28, sensitivity (Se) 82%, specificity (Sp) 98%) and 84% of PPA (n = 30, Se 80%, Sp 98%) cases. The lowest rate of detection was seen with RL at 67% (n = 31, Se 65%, Sp 100%). The subtraction technique was most sensitive for detecting parallax (n = 39, Se 98%, Sp 94%). Features of glaucoma progression appeared equally strong in flicker and subtraction images, but parallax was often enhanced on subtraction maps. Among control images selected for absence of features of glaucomatous change (n = 9) in original flicker images, no features were detected on subtraction maps.

Conclusions

Auto‐alignment and subtraction of serial optic nerve photographs reliably detects features of glaucoma progression with a single static image. Parallax identification may also be facilitated. Auto‐alignment and subtraction of serial optic nerve photographs may prove especially useful in education and printed publications when dynamic imaging is not feasible.
Hermenegildo Arruga (1886–1972): a versatile ophthalmologist who simplified cerclage to retinal surgery
Authors: Ascaso Francisco J. , Grzybowski Andrzej
Published: January 2014

Hermenegildo Arruga Liró (1886–1972) was a versatile Spanish ophthalmologist who specialized in retinal surgery. He designed numerous surgical instruments and introduced significant improvements in ophthalmic surgical techniques. Thus, he was among the first ophthalmologists to advocate the intracapsular cataract extraction. Furthermore, he refined several surgical procedures such as dacryocystorhinostomy, corneal transplantation, evisceroenucleation and pterygium excision. Arruga perfected Gonin's operation and contributed significantly for retinal detachment surgery to be put in place. Later, he adopted the injection of air at the end of surgery. In the 1950s, Arruga simplified the technique of equatorial cerclage using a suture to encircle the equator of the eye.