bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of masculinity-femininity on quality of work life
Authors: Ganesh Sarlaksha , Paramasivam Ganesh Mangadu
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to attempt to understand the effects of gender, masculinity-femininity and social support from three sources (supervisor, co-worker and family) on the quality of work life (QWL) of an employee. In addition, the paper tried to explore the moderating effects of gender and social support in the relationship between masculinity-femininity and QWL. Relevant background variables such as age, marital status, parental status and sector have been included as control variables in the study.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from a sample of 307 bank employees in India (208 males and 99 females) working in private and public sector banks using the purposive sampling technique. Prior permission was obtained from the relevant authorities. To test the hypotheses,t-tests and hierarchical regression analyses were performed. In addition, the Baron and Kenny (1986) approach was used to test the moderating effects of gender and social support in the relationship between masculinity-femininity and QWL.

Findings

– Masculinity-femininity was not found to be significant predictor of QWL, while gender emerged as a significant predictor of QWL. Also, gender moderated the relationship between masculinity-femininity and QWL. All three sources of social support significantly predicted QWL. Results oft-test showed that female employees experienced better QWL than male employees. Furthermore, supervisory category employees and parent employees reported significantly better QWL than non-supervisory and non-parent employees.

Practical implications

– The key implication for organisations is that employees with both masculine and feminine tendencies are required to strike a balance between goal orientation and people orientation within the company. Also, employees should understand that their gender as well as their individual orientations towards masculinity or femininity will affect the dynamics of any interaction. Hence, being aware of the tendencies that are typical of their gender role orientations both while dealing with themselves as well as while dealing with customers, colleagues or supervisors would help in improving the quality of their work, as well as their QWL, especially in customer service professions.

Originality/value

– This is one of the few studies that have tried to answer the “why” part of gender differences in QWL. In addition, this study contributes to an understanding of the relative importance of different sources of social support in improving an employee's QWL. Finally, this is the first study to understand the relationship between masculinity-femininity, social support, gender and QWL in the Indian context, where the overall cultural orientation towards gender roles is currently changing.
An evaluation of the performance of the housing finance system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Sidawi Bhzad
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to find ongoing socioeconomic needs and how they affect the built environment and how they should be financed.

Design/methodology/approach

– A field survey was undertaken in 2011 in the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to find the citizens’ views about the initial and ongoing financial support of banks and the real estate development fund.

Findings

– The survey’s results showed that the majority of the respondents did not manage to take up mortgage and own a property. There is also serious lack of financial support for the population’s socioeconomic needs.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is carried out in the KSA. The findings, however, can be generalized to other Gulf and Islamic countries as well.

Practical implications

– The research would enable the policymakers and financing bodies to consider future socioeconomic needs of low-income citizens and set proper financial resources to meet these needs.

Originality/value

– Few research studies have been carried out in the KSA in regard to the relation between the built environment and ongoing socioeconomic needs.
Price effects of surface street traffic on residential property
Authors: E. Larsen James , P. Blair John
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to gauge and compare the impact of surface street traffic externalities on residential properties. Limited previous research indicates that negative externalities dominate for single-family houses. Our objective is to verify that this result applies to our sample, and to determine if the same result extends to multi-unit rental properties.

Design/methodology/approach

– Hedonic regression is used to analyze data from 9,680 single-family house transactions and 455 multi-unit rental properties to measure the influence of surface street traffic on the price of the two property types.

Findings

– Houses located adjacent to an arterial street sold at a 7.8 per cent discount, on average, compared to similar houses located on collector streets. Limiting the analysis to houses adjacent to an arterial street (where traffic counts were available), price and traffic count are negatively related. The results for multi-unit rental dwellings are dramatically different. Multi-unit properties adjacent to an arterial street sold at a 13.75 per cent premium compared to similar properties on collector streets, and when limiting the analysis to properties on arterial streets, no significant relationship was detected between price and traffic volume.

Originality/value

– This is the first empirical study of the influence of surface street traffic on both single-family houses and multi-unit rental residential property. Evidence is provided that traffic externalities impact the two types of properties quite differently. To the extent that this result applies to other locations, the authors suggest planners may be able to use such information to reduce the negative effect of traffic externalities on residential property associated with changes that will increase traffic flow.
Efficiency measurement of Indian retailers using Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Gandhi Aradhana , Shankar Ravi
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the performance of Indian retailers in recent past and derive meaningful insight for practicing managers in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper analyses the economic efficiencies of select Indian retailers using three related methodologies: Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) and Bootstrapped Tobit Regression.

Findings

– DEA analysis has shown that five retail firms out of selected 18 are found as efficient under the CCR model of DEA and seven out of 18 retail firms are efficient under the BCC model of DEA. MPI results indicate that 61 percent of the firms have progressed in terms of the MPI during the period under consideration. The Bootstrapped Tobit Regression shows that number of retail outlets and mergers and acquisitions can be considered as the driving forces influencing efficiency of retailers in India.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper has a limitation with reference to the availability of data for a few retail outlets, especially in the modeling through the Bootstrapped Tobit Regression.

Originality/value

– This study seems to be the first in applying productivity analysis using DEA, MPI and Bootstrapped Tobit Regression for the Indian retail sector.
Choice editing as a retailers’ tool for sustainable consumption
Authors: Gunn Madeline , Mont Oksana
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how and why choice editing is being used as a tool to promote sustainable consumption, using the choice editing of fish as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study is explorative in nature and is based on a case study of choice editing of fish as a product category that has undergone fairly widespread choice editing. The case is built on primary empirical data from three Swedish and four British retailers collected through semi-structured interviews. These retailers are of different sizes, but together represent over 50 per cent of the food retail market in both Sweden and the UK taken by market share.

Findings

– The findings suggest that the main business case choice editing is the creation of a responsible brand image and is often based on pressure from wider societal norms. The case for choice editing is therefore ultimately reliant on consumer recognition of sustainability issues as valuable, and it is unlikely to be taken up when retailers see no added brand value in acting responsibly on a certain issue. Clearer product-based indicators and stronger governmental regulation of unsustainable products may enable further choice editing for sustainability by retailers. NGOs and the media also play a critical role.

Originality/value

– To enable further choice editing for sustainability by retailers, there is a need for clearer product-based indicators and stronger governmental regulation of unsustainable products.
Improving passwords: influence of emotions on security behaviour
Authors: Gulenko Iwan
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to study the influence of emotions on security behaviour by reviewing Information Systems Security (ISS) topics in Information Systems (IS) literature. Researchers in ISS study how to motivate people to adhere to security policies; they mainly focus on cognitive models such as the technology acceptance model (Davis, 1985), innovation diffusion theory (Brancheau and Wetherbe, 1990), theory of planned behaviour (Mathieson, 1991) and social cognitive theory (Compeau and Higgins, 1995). Applying positive emotions such as joy and interest is feasible by adding emoticons and positive messages; we use this approach to improve password choosing.

Design/methodology/approach

– We apply differential emotional theory (Izard 2002) from psychology to the context of ISS. Twenty-two participants took part in an experiment with the task of choosing strong but memorable passphrases. The dependent variable is the strength of the chosen passphrase. The task for the user is to come up with a passphrase that is both strong and memorable. We choose a between-subject design. The independent variable is the emotional interface that the user is confronted with.

Findings

– We found that 5.35 words was the mean when participants were shown positive smiley faces and messages. When exposed to negative emoticons, the mean was only 4.35 words. Through ANOVA, we find the differences to be statistically significant (F1; 20 = 3.16; p < 0.1). We derive from the experiment that positive emotions should be used in ISS when making users start a habit (e.g. developing a new, individual password strategy), and we conclude from our literature review that negative emotions should be used when reinforcing a habit (e.g. taking care of shoulder surfing).

Originality/value

– We contribute to practice by developing a user script that can be installed in all established Internet browsers. The script supports the user to choose a good passphrase strategy when registering for a new service. We find that trainings should not rely on facts only but must make use of emotions, which are crucial for human motivation.
ERP system environments in IS education: design and evaluation of a new course concept
Authors: Klima Christoph , Pfarr Florian , Winkelmann Axel
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– New teaching concepts in IS are highly relevant to deliver practical skills to IS students, as demanded by business practice. There are different approaches for providing knowledge. The authors differentiate between teacher-centered and learner-centered approaches when designing new IS courses. The latter is characterized by creating learning environments, where students work on a solution for a given problem. Since nearly every company integrates its processes in enterprise systems, the authors consider the teaching of ERP as particularly relevant for business practice. Hence, the authors present the design of an ERP laboratory-based master IS courses to deliver practical and technical system knowledge. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The main research methods to achieve the research goals are aligned with a design science approach. For evaluation, data were gathered by a questionnaire-based survey.

Findings

– The authors benchmarked different issues in both classes and finally came to the conclusion that learner-centered approaches on the one hand are characterized by a lot more effort for students but on the other hand lead to a deeper understanding of a topic area and additionally boost class attendance.

Originality/value

– Thus, this paper presents new possibilities for delivering practical and technical skills to IS master students, which is important to IS teachers, faculties and also practitioners.
Prioritizing work for family
Authors: Zhang Mian , Li Hai , Foley Sharon
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to develop an indigenous understanding of work-family interface (WFI) that reflects the drastic changes and evolving social context in China over the past three decades and challenge the existing conceptualizations of WFI and identify societal impact of the changing nature of the WFI.

Design/methodology/approach

– We conducted literature review, content and thematic analyses.

Findings

– The core idea of prioritizing work for family (PWF) is that Chinese employees, especially Chinese male employees, tend to integrate work and family roles as well as deal with WFI issues at the family level. Thus, Chinese employees can be strongly committed to the family while simultaneously prioritizing work performance.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed indigenous perspective of PWF may furnish a contextualized theory for future research. The proposed measurement approaches may help developing indigenous scales for the perspective of PWF for future empirical studies.

Practical implications

– Although Chinese employees tend to be more tolerant of work-family conflict (WFC) than their Western counterparts, such tolerance may be combined with the expectation of long-term returns to their families. Managers may assist employees with career planning and realistic goal setting to compensate for their endurance of WFC.

Social implications

– As a cornerstone of the society, the family plays an important role in building a “harmonious society” promoted by the government. A perceived balance of work and family is a significant factor for family harmony. We bring to the attention of policy makers the changing nature of the Chinese employees' WFI. A corresponding policy may be formulated to help Chinese employees balance their lives.

Originality/value

– We challenge the existing conceptualizations of WFI by proposing and elaborating a perspective of PWF for context-based conceptualization.
Business strategies used by Micro-SMEs in a Bangkok street market
Authors: Walsh John
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to report on research aimed at determining the nature of business strategies employed by micro small and medium-sized street vendors in a local market area in Bangkok.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research consisted of a longitudinal study of the defined research site, involving ethnographic interaction and observation mediated by the use of a research diary.

Findings

– The research found that the use of business strategies was quite limited and varied in line with the street vendor's relationships with other actors and business practitioners.

Research limitations/implications

– The research was deliberately limited in terms of space and is ongoing in terms of time. Additional areas of Bangkok will also be studied for comparative purposes.

Practical implications

– Street vending and markets offer valuable opportunities for informal employment and for part-time employment to provide additional income generation for the working poor. Vendors also help sustain a decent standard of living for migrant workers.

Social implications

– Street vending of this sort reflects the nature of underlying changes in urban life: the building of new mass transit routes, the opening of condominiums in place of shop houses and the flourishing of the frozen food industry. Many street vendors are mobile and flexible but not all of them.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the literature on street vending and urban micro-entrepreneurs and will be of interest not just to scholars of business but also in planning for social policy and urban management.
Uncoupling enterprise culture from capitalism
Authors: C. Williams Colin
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to contribute to the literature that has sought to deconstruct this ideologically driven depiction by demonstrating how the existent enterprise culture in post-Soviet spaces not only challenges the depiction of the entrepreneur as a heroic icon of the legitimate capitalist culture but also opens up the feasibility of alternative futures beyond legitimate profit-driven capitalism. The starting point of this paper is that the enterprise culture is often viewed as inextricably related to the legitimate capitalist economy.

Design/methodology/approach

– To unravel the nature of the enterprise culture in lived practice, this paper reports a 2006 survey involving face-to-face interviews with 90 entrepreneurs in Moscow.

Findings

– Only 7 per cent of the Muscovite entrepreneurs surveyed pursue profit-driven legitimate entrepreneurship. The vast majority adopts social goals to varying degrees and operates wholly or partially in the informal economy. The outcome is to challenge the depiction of an enterprise culture and capitalism as inextricably inter-related and to open up entrepreneurship and enterprise culture in this post-Soviet space to re-signification as demonstrative of the feasibility of imagining and enacting alternative futures beyond capitalism.

Research limitations/implications

– These findings are tentative, as they are based on a small-scale study of just one post-socialist city. Further research is now required to analyse whether the lived practices of entrepreneurship and enterprise cultures are similarly diverse in other post-Soviet spaces as well as beyond.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper to evaluate critically the assumption that enterprise culture is a part of the legitimate capitalist economy in post-Soviet spaces.
The use of library software in Nigerian University Libraries and challenges
Authors: Hudron Kari Kingdom , Emmanuel Baro Ebikabowei
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The study aimed to look at the library software in use in Nigerian university libraries, and the challenges and frustrations experienced in their automation projects.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study adopts a descriptive survey method and covers university libraries in Nigeria. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 32 university libraries in Nigeria.

Findings

– The study revealed that university libraries in Nigeria widely use library software such as KOHA, SLAM and VIRTUA for their library operations. Challenges such as lack of skilled manpower, lack of fund, absence of modern systems (computers) and erratic power supply were identified as the major problems university libraries in Nigeria encountered while using library software. Librarians recommended the use of KOHA, SLAM or VIRTUA library software for use by university libraries that are in search for library software to use.

Originality/value

– The findings of this study will provide useful information to librarians and library administrators in Nigeria and other developing countries who want to automate their library operations.
Implementing a multi-tiered framework for building NDLTD-Taiwan
Authors: Chiang Chia-Ning , Wang Hung-Te , Lin An-Chi
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the multi-tiered framework supported by the NDLTD-Taiwan systems to achieve the collaboration and cooperation with universities and colleges in building electronic theses collection in Taiwan.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper describes the outcomes of multi-tiered framework, its user roles, tasks, and thesis-specific workflow, as well as the function for simulating user roles.

Findings

– The framework is the result of supporting both the two-tiered and the three-tiered frameworks on the NDLTD-Taiwan systems platform. The design guidelines emerged out of the outcomes of task analysis.

Practical implications

– The multi-tiered design not only accommodates graduation procedures for member universities and colleges, but also supports bibliographic control and collections building.

Originality/value

– The paper shows that the multi-tiered design, which emerged out of the existing theses processes of member institutions, is inclusive. The framework allows member universities and colleges to choose an appropriate framework, either two-tiered or three-tiered, for managing their e-theses processes. In addition, role simulation allows the NCL administrator to reproduce problems encountered by the users to help troubleshooting.
Real time algorithm implemented in Altera's FPGA for a newly designed mobile robot
Authors: Abdelmoula Chokri , Chaari Fakher , Masmoudi Mohamed
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a generic platform for a robotic mobile system, seeking to obtain a support tool for under-graduation and graduation activities. Another objective was to gather knowledge in the mobile robotic area in order to provide practical solutions for industrial problems.

Design/methodology/approach

– The proposed new integrated platform would serve as didactic material for many disciplines, shown to be an ideal platform to teach DC motor drives, stepper motor and motion-control systems. To reach this objective, the ability of the robot to plan its motion autonomously is of vital importance. The control of a mobile robot in dynamic and unstructured environments typically requires efficient processing of data/information to ensure precise navigation and many other applications. Path planning is also one common method of auto-navigation. After the computation of the shortest path, mobile robot can navigate safely and without occlusion.

Findings

– The developed platform is an integrated system for intelligent software middleware to coordinate many activities in the field of electric drives, robotics, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence.

Originality/value

– As a result of the study, this paper contributed to research in the industrial development, principally in the fields of industrial robotics and also in different application purposes such as entertainment, personal use, welfare, education, rehabilitation, etc.
Critical factors determining rental value of residential property in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria
Authors: Joshua Adegoke Oluseyi
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– This paper adds to the emerging knowledge base in the Nigeria and is of relevance to all residential property stakeholders. A number of empirical studies have demonstrated that several factors influence residential property values. However, there is a paucity of empirical research on critical factors influencing rental value of residential property in Nigeria. The purpose of this paper is to serve to address this gap by examining critical factors influencing rental value of residential property in the three densities area of Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study used random sampling to select 624 residential properties out of 3,120 residential properties in the portfolio of 52 Estate Surveying and Valuation firms located within Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. Data collected were analysed using a hedonic pricing specification.

Findings

– The results show that different critical factors influences rental values of different types of building in different residential densities. Number of bathroom (NOB), number of living room (NOL) and existence of burglar alarm (EOBA) were critical to bungalow in the whole area of Ibadan while number of toilet (NOT) was critical to duplex. In low-density area; residential location and EOBA have a significant positive impact on rental value of bungalow while NOT, NOBs (NOR), NOL and EOBA have a significant positive impact on detached house. However, it was NOR and EOBA that were critical in the medium density to bungalow.

Practical implications

– The study concluded that each of the residential densities is homogenous and, therefore, every residential property stakeholders should recognise the importance of each factor on rental values so that their valuation estimates will be useful and reliable.

Originality/value

– The study is one of the few attempts at examining factors affecting residential property value. This paper examined critical factors influencing rental value of residential property in the three densities area of Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria.
A taste of nostalgia
Authors: Vignolles Alexandra , Pichon Paul-Emmanuel
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to analyze the links between nostalgia and food consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on an exploratory qualitative analysis of 104 descriptions of nostalgic food consumptions, the use of NVivo helps to substantiate and interpret the textual interview data.

Findings

– The research suggests six themes of food nostalgia (childhood, yearning, substitute, homesickness, special occasions and rediscovery). Prior research suggests that nostalgia is rather a negative or ambivalent emotion; however, the findings of this study suggest that nostalgic food consumption is rather related to positive emotions.

Practical implications

– Perspectives are given for the use of nostalgia in an advertising context and as a reinsurance factor.

Originality/value

– This research integrates marketing and sociological perspectives to better understand links between food consumption and nostalgia.
Differences in earnings management between firms using US GAAP and IAS/IFRS
Authors: Liu Chunhui , Yip Yuen Chun , J. Yao (posthumously) Lee , H. Chan Siew
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the relatively rules-based US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the more principles-based International Accounting Standards/International Financial Reporting Standards (IAS/IFRS) provide different opportunities for earnings management (EM). Such an examination is critical as the world moves toward principles-based standards.

Design/methodology/approach

– Financial information for the fiscal years 1999-2004 from the annual reports of firms listed under the Prime Standard on the Germany Frankfurt Stock Exchange is analyzed. Data from the German Frankfurt Stock Exchange are used to resolve the difficulty in comparing accounting standards across different markets and countries with different institutional factors and corporate governance issues. The unique feature of dual listing in the German Frankfurt Stock Exchange allows firms listing shares under the Prime Standard to report in accordance with either the US GAAP or the IAS/IFRS before the IFRS adoption by the European Union in 2005. Strong legal enforcement in Germany ensures that reporting under each standard is in close compliance to the standard under comparison. Extending extant IFRS vs US GAAP EM research with discretionary accruals, this research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding by also examining EM through deferred tax expense and EM through research and development investment.

Findings

– The findings reveal that EM through research and development investment is significantly higher for the IAS/IFRS firms. Similar to prior findings, EM through accruals is not found to be significantly different between US GAAP and IAS/IFRS firms.

Originality/value

– The findings of this study advance the understanding of differences between US GAAP and IFRS with data from Germany where legal enforcement of standards is strong. In particular, this study reveals that principles-based standards with imprecise rules like IAS/IFRS may encourage structured management due to the expectation of error costs and compliance uncertainty. The results inform regulators considering IAS/IFRS adoption. In addition, this research highlights the importance of considering real EM in US GAAP vs IAS/IFRS studies.
The effectiveness of exercise for the prevention and treatment of antenatal depression: systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Daley AJ , Foster L , Long G , Palmer C , Robinson O , Walmsley H , Ward R
Published: June 2014

Background

Antenatal depression can have harmful consequences for the mother and fetus. Exercise may be a useful intervention to prevent and treat antenatal depression.

Objectives

This systematic review aims to establish whether there is sufficient evidence to conclude that exercise is an effective intervention for preventing and treating antenatal depression.

Search strategy

Searches using electronic databases from MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, AMED and PsycINFO were performed.

Selection criteria

Randomised controlled trials (RCT) that compared any type of exercise intervention with any comparator in pregnant women were eligible for inclusion.

Data collection and analysis

Meta‐analysis was performed calculating standardised mean differences (SMD).

Main results

Six trials (seven comparisons) were eligible for inclusion. Meta‐analysis showed a significant reduction in depression scores (SMD −0.46, 95% CI −0.87 to −0.05, P = 0.03, I2 = 68%) for exercise interventions relative to comparator groups. The test for subgroup differences in women who were non‐depressed (one trial) (SMD −0.74, 95%CI −1.22 to −0.27, P = 0.002) and depressed (five trials) (SMD −0.41, 95% CI −0.88 to 0.07, P = 0.09) at baseline was not significant (P = 0.32). The test for subgroup differences between aerobic (one trial) and non‐aerobic exercise (five trials) was also nonsignificant (P = 0.32).

Authors' conclusions

We found some evidence that exercise may be effective in treating depression during pregnancy but this conclusion is based on a small number of low‐moderate quality trials with significant heterogeneity and wide confidence intervals.
Prospective observational study of emergent endotracheal intubation practice in the intensive care unit and emergency department of an Australian regional tertiary hospital
Authors: Phillips Luke , Orford Neil , Ragg Michael
Published: June 2014

Objective

The present study aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes of intubation occurring in the ICU and ED of an Australian tertiary teaching hospital.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study of intubation practice across the Geelong Hospital over a 6 month period from 1 August 2012 to 31 January 2013. Data were entered by the intubating team through an online data collection form.

Results

There were 119 patients intubated and 134 attempts at intubation in the ED and ICU over a 6 month period. The first‐pass success rate was 104/119 (87.4%), and all but a single patient was intubated by the second attempt. Propofol, fentanyl, midazolam and suxamethonium were the most common drugs used in rapid sequence induction. AEs were reported in 44/134 (32.8%) of intubation attempts, with transient hypoxia and hypotension being the most common. A significant adverse outcome, namely aspiration pneumonitis, occurred in one patient. There were no peri‐intubation deaths.

Conclusion

The majority of airways are managed by ICU and ED consultants and trainees, with success rates and AE rates comparable with other published studies.
Multiparametric 3T MRI in the evaluation of intraglandular prostate cancer: Correlation with histopathology
Authors: Styles Colin , Ferris Nicholas , Mitchell Catherine , Murphy Declan , Frydenberg Mark , Mills John , Pedersen John , Bergen Noelene , Duchesne Gillian
Published: June 2014

Introduction

Prostate cancer is common and may be treated immediately or managed conservatively by observation. We sought to determine how reliable multiparametric MRI is in the detection of intraprostatic prostate cancer and what role it has in risk stratification.

Methods

The histology from 38 whole mount prostate specimens was compared with preoperative multiparametric 3T MRI studies with an endorectal receiver coil in place. T1‐weighted, T2‐weighted, diffusion (b values 50 400 800), perfusion (Ve, Kep, Ktrans, area under the curve) and proton spectroscopic sequences were used.

Results

For cancers greater than 0.5 cc, the detection rate for combined T2‐weighted imaging and diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) was 85%. For cancers 0.1 cc–0.5 cc, the sensitivity was 52%.Per patient, false positive rate was 50% for combined T2‐weighted imaging and DWI. Perfusion imaging had a sensitivity of 70% for tumours greater than 0.5 cc but had a per patient false positive rate of 80% influenced by benign prostatic hypertrophy. In only 15 patients could a satisfactory spectroscopy study be obtained. Weak correlation was found between the Gleason score and tumour size (r = 0.51), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) (r = −0.30) and (choline + creatine)/citrate ratio (r = 0.41).

Conclusion

T2‐weighted imaging and DWI in combination were the best strategy for detecting prostate cancer and had a sensitivity of 85% for detecting lesions greater than 0.5 cc. At 3T, an ADC threshold of between 1100–1200.10−6 mm2/s was optimal for diagnosing prostate cancer. There are significant limitations in the use of perfusion and spectroscopy to detect prostate cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging‐targeted or guided biopsy post‐MRI imaging is likely to be needed in some patients to assist risk stratification.
Identifying the ichthyoplankton of a coral reef using DNA barcodes
Authors: Hubert Nicolas , Espiau Benoit , Meyer Christopher , Planes Serge
Published: June 2014

Marine fishes exhibit spectacular phenotypic changes during their ontogeny, and the identification of their early stages is challenging due to the paucity of diagnostic morphological characters at the species level. Meanwhile, the importance of early life stages in dispersal and connectivity has recently experienced an increasing interest in conservation programmes for coral reef fishes. This study aims at assessing the effectiveness of DNA barcoding for the automated identification of coral reef fish larvae through large‐scale ecosystemic sampling. Fish larvae were mainly collected using bongo nets and light traps around Moorea between September 2008 and August 2010 in 10 sites distributed in open waters. Fish larvae ranged from 2 to 100 mm of total length, with the most abundant individuals being <5 mm. Among the 505 individuals DNA barcoded, 373 larvae (i.e. 75%) were identified to the species level. A total of 106 species were detected, among which 11 corresponded to pelagic and bathypelagic species, while 95 corresponded to species observed at the adult stage on neighbouring reefs. This study highlights the benefits and pitfalls of using standardized molecular systems for species identification and illustrates the new possibilities enabled by DNA barcoding for future work on coral reef fish larval ecology.
Elliptical Time‐Density model to estimate wildlife utilization distributions
Authors: Wall Jake , Wittemyer George , LeMay Valerie , Douglas‐Hamilton Iain , Klinkenberg Brian
Published: June 2014

We present a new animal space‐use model (elliptical time density – ETD) that uses discrete‐time tracking data collected in wildlife movement studies. The ETD model provides a trajectory‐based, nonparametric approach to estimate the utilization distribution (UD) of an animal, using model parameters derived directly from the movement behaviour of the species. The model builds on the theory of ‘time‐geography’ whereby elliptical constraining regions are established between temporally adjacent recorded locations.

Using a Weibull speed distribution fitted for an animal's movement data, a time density value (i.e. time per unit landscape) is determined from the expectation of all elliptical regions equal to, or greater than, the minimum bounding ellipse for a given landscape point. We tested the ETD model using a tracking dataset for an African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and compared the resulting UDs for regularly sampled, frequently recorded locations, as well as irregular random time intervals between locations and also infrequent temporal‐sampling regimes, providing insight to the method's performance with different resolution data. We compared the performance of the ETD model, the Brownian bridge movement model (BBMM), the time‐geography density estimator (TGDE) and the Kernel Density Estimator (KDE) by calculating omission/commission errors from the predicted space‐use distribution of each model relative to the true known UD of our elephant test data. The comparison was made for the 10–99% percentile UD model areas.

The ETD90 model (i.e. ETD model parameterized using the 90% percentile value of the Weibull speed distribution) resulted in the fewest errors of commission and omission with regard to locating the true movement path at the 99% percentile UD area.

The ETD model provides an improved approach for estimating animal UDs since (i) parameters are derived directly from the tracking data rather than assumed; (ii) parameter values are biologically interpretable; (iii) the Weibull speed distribution is adaptable to various temporal‐sampling regimes; and (iv) the ETD model handles the case of degenerate ellipses thus preserving landscape connectivity in the UD. Software (freeware) for calculating the ETD and a Bayesian framework for estimating the Weibull distribution speed parameters are also introduced in the paper.
Does intramuscular thermal feedback modulate eccrine sweating in exercising humans?
Authors: Todd G. , Gordon C. J. , Groeller H. , Taylor N. A. S.
Published: June 2014

Aim

Few investigators have considered the possibility that skeletal muscles might contain thermosensitive elements capable of modifying thermoeffector responses. In this experiment, the temporal relationships between dynamic changes in deep‐body and intramuscular temperatures and eccrine sweat secretion were explored during rhythmical and reproducible variations in heat production.

Methods

Eight subjects performed semi‐recumbent cycling (25 °C) at a constant load to first establish whole‐body thermal and sudomotor steady states (35 min), followed by a 24‐min block of sinusoidal workload variations (three, 8‐min periods) and then returning to steady‐state cycling (20 min). Individual oesophageal, mean skin and intramuscular (vastus lateralis) temperatures were independently cross‐correlated with simultaneously measured forehead sweat rates to evaluate the possible thermal modulation of sudomotor activity.

Results

Both intramuscular and oesophageal temperatures showed strong correlations with sinusoidal variations in sweating with respective maximal cross‐correlation coefficients of 0.807 (±0.044) and 0.845 (±0.035), but these were not different (P = 0.40). However, the phase delay between intramuscular temperature changes and sweat secretion was significantly shorter than the delay between oesophageal temperature and sweating [25.6 s (±12.6) vs. 46.9 s (±11.3); P = 0.03].

Conclusion

The temporal coupling of eccrine sweating to intramuscular temperature, combined with a shorter phase delay, was consistent with the presence of thermosensitive elements within skeletal muscles that appear to participate in the modulation of thermal sweating.
Nomadic beekeeper movements create the potential for widespread disease in the honeybee industry
Authors: Gordon R , Bresolin‐Schott N , East IJ
Published: June 2014

Objective

To examine the nomadic movements of Australian beekeepers and determine their potential to assist the spread of pests and diseases.

Methods

A questionnaire was mailed to all beekeepers in Australia who maintained >100 hives, requesting information on the location of their home base, locations used throughout the year and the crops that the bees fed on in each location. The information was analysed using network analysis software and a geographic information system.

Results

Nomadic Australian beekeepers formed a connected network linking 288 locations from central Queensland to western Victoria. A second, smaller network included 42 locations in south‐eastern South Australia. Almond orchards in Robinvale and Boundary Bend and lucerne seed production in Keith were locations of major hive congregations driven by the opportunity to provide paid pollination services. In the 3 months after completion of almond pollination in August 2008, movement of hives occurred from Robinvale and Boundary Bend to 49 locations, ranging from south‐east Queensland to south‐west Victoria.

Discussion

The movements identified in this study highlight the potential for rapid spread of disease or pests throughout the beekeeping industry should an incursion occur.
Maternal Morbidity of Women Receiving Birth Center Care in New South Wales: A Matched‐Pair Analysis Using Linked Health Data
Authors: Laws Paula J. , Xu Fenglian , Welsh Alec , Tracy Sally K. , Sullivan Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2014

Background

Around 2 percent of women who give birth in Australia each year do so in a birth center. New South Wales, Australia's largest state, accounts for almost half of these births. Previous studies have highlighted the need for better quality data on maternal morbidity and mortality, to fully evaluate the safety of birth center care.

Aims

This study aimed to examine maternal morbidity related to birth center care for women in New South Wales.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study with matched‐pairs was conducted using linked health data for New South Wales. Maternal outcomes were compared for women who intended to give birth in a birth center, matched with women who intended to give birth in the co‐located hospital labor ward.

Results

Rates of maternal outcomes, including postpartum hemorrhage, retained placenta, and postpartum infection, were significantly lower in the birth center group, after controlling for demographic and institutional factors. Interventions such as cesarean section and episiotomy were also significantly lower in these women, and the rate of breastfeeding at discharge was higher. There existed no difference in length of stay, admission to ICU, or maternal mortality.

Conclusions

Birth centers are a safe option for low‐risk women; however, further research is required for some rare maternal outcomes.
Stein, Jared & Graham, Charles R (2014) Essentials for blended learningRoutledge (New York & London) isbn 978‐0‐415‐63616‐2 210 pp £19.99 http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415636162/
Authors: Laborda Jesus Garcia
Published: June 2014

This reader‐friendly jargon‐free volume is a down‐to‐earth and visual guide for practitioners seeking new ways to improve educational opportunities in times when quality needs to be enriched by simple but effective online experiences. It is a must for those involved in integrating technology into the classroom. If this book deals with a subject likely to be relevant to you, I recommend you buy a copy.

Jesus Garcia Laborda
Validation of the GreenLight™ Simulator and development of a training curriculum for photoselective vaporisation of the prostate
Authors: Aydin Abdullatif , Muir Gordon H. , Graziano Manuela E. , Khan Muhammad Shamim , Dasgupta Prokar , Ahmed Kamran
Published: June 2014

Objectives

To assess face, content and construct validity, and feasibility and acceptability of the GreenLight™ Simulator as a training tool for photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP), and to establish learning curves and develop an evidence‐based training curriculum.

Subjects and Methods

This prospective, observational and comparative study, recruited novice (25 participants), intermediate (14) and expert‐level urologists (seven) from the UK and Europe at the 28th European Association of Urological Surgeons Annual Meeting 2013. A group of novices (12 participants) performed 10 sessions of subtask training modules followed by a long operative case, whereas a second group (13) performed five sessions of a given case module. Intermediate and expert groups performed all training modules once, followed by one operative case. The outcome measures for learning curves and construct validity were time to task, coagulation time, vaporisation time, average sweep speed, average laser distance, blood loss, operative errors, and instrument cost. Face and content validity, feasibility and acceptability were addressed through a quantitative survey.

Results

Construct validity was demonstrated in two of five training modules (P = 0.038; P = 0.018) and in a considerable number of case metrics (P = 0.034). Learning curves were seen in all five training modules (P < 0.001) and significant reduction in case operative time (P < 0.001) and error (P = 0.017) were seen. An evidence‐based training curriculum, to help trainees acquire transferable skills, was produced using the results.

Conclusion

This study has shown the GreenLight Simulator to be a valid and useful training tool for PVP. It is hoped that by using the training curriculum for the GreenLight Simulator, novice trainees can acquire skills and knowledge to a predetermined level of proficiency.
Imatinib Activates Pathological Hypertrophy by Altering Myocyte Calcium Regulation
Authors: Barr Larry A. , Makarewich Catherine A. , Berretta Remus M. , Gao Hui , Troupes Constantine D. , Woitek Felix , Recchia Fabio , Kubo Hajime , Force Thomas , Houser Steven R.
Published: June 2014

Background

Imatinib mesylate is a selective tyrosine‐kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of multiple cancers, most notably chronic myelogenous leukemia. There is evidence that imatinib can induce cardiotoxicity in cancer patients. Our hypothesis is that imatinib alters calcium regulatory mechanisms and can contribute to development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Methods and Results

Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) were treated with clinical doses (low: 2 μM; high: 5 μM) of imatinib and assessed for molecular changes. Imatinib increased peak systolic Ca2+ and Ca2+ transient decay rates and Western analysis revealed significant increases in phosphorylation of phospholamban (Thr‐17) and the ryanodine receptor (Ser‐2814), signifying activation of calcium/calmodulin‐dependent kinase II (CaMKII). Imatinib significantly increased NRVM volume as assessed by Coulter counter, myocyte surface area, and atrial natriuretic peptide abundance seen by Western. Imatinib induced cell death, but did not activate the classical apoptotic program as assessed by caspase‐3 cleavage, indicating a necrotic mechanism of death in myocytes. We expressed AdNFATc3‐green fluorescent protein in NRVMs and showed imatinib treatment significantly increased nuclear factor of activated T cells translocation that was inhibited by the calcineurin inhibitor FK506 or CaMKII inhibitors.

Conclusion

These data show that imatinib can activate pathological hypertrophic signaling pathways by altering intracellular Ca2+ dynamics. This is likely a contributing mechanism for the adverse cardiac effects of imatinib.