bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vertebral End-Plate Perforation for Intervertebral Disc Height Preservation After Single-level Lumbar Discectomy
Authors: Vodičar Miha , Košak Robert , Gorenšek Matevž , Korez Robert , Vrtovec Tomaž , Koder Jadran , Antolič Vane , Vengust Rok
Published: June 2015

Study design:

Pilot single-centre, stratified, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, parallel-group, controlled study.

Objective:

To determine whether vertebral end-plate perforation after lumbar discectomy causes annulus reparation and intervertebral disc volume restoration. To determine that after 6 months there would be no clinical differences between the control and study group.

Summary of Background Data:

Low back pain is the most common long-term complication after lumbar discectomy. It is mainly caused by intervertebral disc space loss, which promotes progressive degeneration. This is the first study to test the efficiency of a previously described method (vertebral end-plate perforation) that should advocate for annulus fibrosus reparation and disc space restoration.

Methods:

We selected 30 eligible patients according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly assigned them to the control (no end-plate perforation) or study (end-plate perforation) group. Each patient was evaluated in 5 different periods, where data were collected [preoperative and 6-mo follow-up magnetic resonance imaging and functional outcome data: visual analogue scale (VAS) back, VAS legs, Oswestry disability index (ODI)]. Intervertebral space volume (ISV) and height (ISH) were measured form the magnetic resonance images. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t test and linear regression. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

We found no statistically significant difference between the control group and the study group concerning ISV (P=0.6808) and ISH (P=0.8981) 6 months after surgery. No statistically significant differences were found between ODI, VAS back, and VAS legs after 6 months between the 2 groups, however, there were statistically significant differences between these parameters in different time periods. Correlation between the volume of disc tissue removed and preoperative versus postoperative difference in ISV was statistically significant (P=0.0020).

Conclusions:

The present study showed positive correlation between the volume of removed disc tissue and decrease in postoperative ISV and ISH. There were no statistically significant differences in ISV and ISH between the group with end-plate perforation and the control group 6 months after lumbar discectomy. Clinical outcome and disability were significantly improved in both groups 3 and 6 months after surgery.
Measurement of Thoracic Inlet Alignment on MRI
Authors: Qiao Jun , Zhu Feng , Liu Zhen , Xu Leilei , Zhu Zezhang , Qian Bangping , Sun Xu , Jiang Qing , Qiu Yong
Published: June 2015

Study design:

A retrospective radiographic study.

Objective:

To investigate the reliability of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure thoracic outlet parameters and whether supine MRI could supersede upright x-ray in measuring these parameters.

Summary of Background Data:

On x-ray, overlapped soft and bony tissues make sternum contour invisible. Thus, measuring thoracic inlet (TI) alignment on x-ray may be inaccurate. MRI could clearly show anatomy around TI.

Methods:

A total of 124 adolescents with idiopathic thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis were recruited. The visibility of T1 upper endplate and the upper end of sternum on the lateral standing x-ray films was rated. For patients with moderate or good clarity forT1 upper endplate and the upper end of sternum on x-ray films, thoracic inlet angle (TIA), T1 slope (T1S), and neck tilt (NT) were measured by 3 observers on standing x-ray films and supine MR images, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to determine the intraobserver, interobserver, and method reliability. The paired t test was performed to compare the measurements between the 2 methods. The correlation coefficients between the 2 methods were analyzed by regression analysis.

Results:

The visibility of TI region on x-ray films was unsatisfactory, whereas all the landmarks were clear on MR images. Only 81 patients’ x-ray films were graded as moderate or good visibility in the TI region. Both the intraobserver ICC and interobserver ICC were better in the MRI set than in the x-ray set among all the observers for 3 TI parameters. The paired t test demonstrated that no significant difference was noted in terms of TIA, T1S, and NT (P=0.572, 0.203, and 0.637, respectively). Regression analysis demonstrated high correlation coefficients for TIA, T1S, and NT (R=0.612, 0.629, and 0.722, respectively).

Conclusions:

MRI serves as a good substitute for x-ray scans with regard to the measurement of TI alignment, with superior reliability.
Consensus on Outcome Measures for Glaucoma Effectiveness Trials: Results From a Delphi and Nominal Group Technique Approaches
Authors: Ismail Rehab , Azuara-Blanco Augusto , Ramsay Craig R.
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

Comparing the relative effectiveness of interventions across glaucoma trials can be problematic due to differences in definitions of outcomes. We sought to identify a key set of clinical outcomes and reach consensus on how best to measure them from the perspective of glaucoma experts.

Methods:

A 2-round electronic Delphi survey was conducted. Round 1 involved 25 items identified from a systematic review. Round 2 was developed based on information gathered in round 1. A 10-point Likert scale was used to quantify importance and consensus of outcomes (7 outcomes) and ways of measuring them (44 measures). Experts were identified through 2 glaucoma societies membership—the UK and Eire Glaucoma Society and the European Glaucoma Society. A Nominal Group Technique (NGT) followed the Delphi process. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results:

A total of 65 participants completed round 1 out of 320; of whom 56 completed round 2 (86%). Agreement on the importance of outcomes was reached on 48/51 items (94%). Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field (VF), safety, and anatomic outcomes were classified as highly important. Regarding methods of measurement of IOP, “mean follow-up IOP” using Goldmann applanation tonometry achieved the highest importance, whereas for evaluating VFs “global index mean deviation/defect (MD)” and “rate of VF progression” were the most important. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) was identified as highly important. The NGT results reached consensus on “change of IOP (mean of 3 consecutive measurements taken at fixed time of day) from baseline,” change of VF−MD values (3 reliable VFs at baseline and follow-up visit) from baseline, and change of RNFL thickness (2 good quality OCT images) from baseline.

Conclusions:

Consensus was reached among glaucoma experts on how best to measure IOP, VF, and anatomic outcomes in glaucoma randomized controlled trials.
A Patient Safety Rounds Pilot Program at Clinics Affiliated With a Large Research and Education Institution
Authors: Savely Susanne M. , Muraca Paul W. , Eller Melinda F. , Aljehani Nasser , Kathuria Navneet
Published: June 2015

Objective

In 2012, a 6-month Patient Safety Rounds pilot program was conducted to examine the provider perspective of patient safety and to educate personnel about national patient safety goals at clinics associated with a large research and education institution.

Methods

The Patient Safety Rounds (PSR) team, consisting of 3 to 4 rotating members from executive leadership, physician and nursing groups, and administrative staff, identified contacts within clinical departments and made arrangements for monthly visits. Patient safety issues were preselected by committee for presentation and discussion at a premeeting held with supervisors and administrators during the first few minutes of PSR. After the premeeting, the PSR team split up and met individually with care providers, between patient visits, to review the monthly safety topic and any patient safety concerns that they wanted to discuss during the visit.

Results

Approximately 37 patient safety issues were identified, recorded, and classified during these PSR team visits. If the issues could not be immediately addressed, they were either addressed shortly thereafter or referred to appropriate personnel for resolution.

Conclusions

This PSR pilot program was viewed as a success by participants because it identified provider perspective concerns, which led to the identification and resolution of numerous patient safety issues. This interesting pilot program, however, was discontinued owing to the departure of key leadership and the reorganization and reprioritization of resources.
Dosing Cefepime for Renal Function Does Not Completely Prevent Neurotoxicity in a Patient With Kidney Transplant
Authors: Balderia Percy Guanzon , Chandorkar Aditya , Kim Yongwoo , Patnaik Soumya , Sloan Joshua , Newman George Charles
Published: June 2015

Dosing cefepime for renal function does not completely prevent neurotoxicity in a kidney transplant patient. Cefepime neurotoxicity has been reported primarily among patients with renal insufficiency who received standard doses of the antibiotic. We report a case of nonconvulsive status epilepticus from dose-adjusted cefepime in a kidney transplant patient. The timing of symptoms along with clinical and electroencephalographic improvement after discontinuation of cefepime was critical to the diagnosis. Whether we should adjust the dose of cefepime differently in a patient with transplanted kidney to prevent neurotoxicity is unknown.
Efficacy of N-Acetylcysteine on Wound Healing of Nasal Mucosa
Authors: Yilmaz Beyhan , Türkçü Gül , Şengül Engin , Gül Aylin , Özkurt Fazil Emre , Akdağ Mehmet
Published: June 2015

Postoperative nasal mucosa healing is a highly complex and organized process, and the success rates of endoscopic sinus surgery and septoplasty surgeries are closely associated with the postoperative wound healing processes. In this experimental study, the authors’ aim was to use histopathologic examination to investigate the effects of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) on the wound healing of rat nasal mucosa after mechanical trauma. Twenty-one Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the nontreated group (N = 7), the control saline group (N = 7), and the NAC group (N = 7). No treatment was given to the nontreated group for 15 days. The control saline group received intraperitoneal injection of saline (2.5 mL/kg, intraperitoneal) for 15 days and the NAC group was intraperitoneally injected with NAC at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day for 15 days. At the beginning of the study, unilateral mechanical nasal trauma was induced with an interdental brush inserted through the right nostril in all rats. Samples were stained using hematoxylin and eosin solution, and were examined by a pathologist using a light microscope. The severity of inflammation was milder in the NAC group compared with that in the nontreated and saline groups (P < 0.05). The subepithelial thickness index was lower in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Goblet cell loss was reduced in the experimental group compared with the nontreated and saline groups (P < 0.05). NAC decreases inflammation and goblet cell loss. Therefore, NAC has potential beneficial effects on the wound healing of nasal mucosa in rats.
Fingerprint identification: advances since the 2009 National Research Council report
Authors: Champod Christophe
Published: June 2015

This paper will discuss the major developments in the area of fingerprint identification that followed the publication of the National Research Council (NRC, of the US National Academies of Sciences) report in 2009 entitled:
Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward.
The report portrayed an image of a field of expertise used for decades without the necessary scientific research-based underpinning. The advances since the report and the needs in selected areas of fingerprinting will be detailed. It includes the measurement of the accuracy, reliability, repeatability and reproducibility of the conclusions offered by fingerprint experts
.
The paper will also pay attention to the development of statistical models allowing assessment of fingerprint comparisons. As a corollary of these developments, the next challenge is to reconcile a traditional practice dominated by deterministic conclusions with the probabilistic logic of any statistical model. There is a call for greater candour and fingerprint experts will need to communicate differently on the strengths and limitations of their findings. Their testimony will have to go beyond the blunt assertion of the uniqueness of fingerprints or the opinion delivered
ispe dixit
.
Four cocrystals of thymine with phenolic coformers: influence of the coformer on hydrogen bonding
Authors: Sridhar Balasubramanian , Nanubolu Jagadeesh Babu , Ravikumar Krishnan
Published: June 2015

Cocrystals are molecular solids composed of at least two types of neutral chemical species held together by noncovalent forces. Crystallization of thymine [systematic name: 5-methylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione] with four phenolic coformers resulted in cocrystal formation,viz.catechol (benzene-1,2-diol) giving thymine–catechol (1/1), C5H6N2O2·C6H6O2, (I), resorcinol (benzene-1,3-diol) giving thymine–resorcinol (2/1), 2C5H6N2O2·C6H6O2, (II), hydroquinone (benzene-1,4-diol) giving thymine–hydroquinone (2/1), 2C5H6N2O2·C6H6O2, (III), and pyrogallol (benzene-1,2,3-triol) giving thymine–pyrogallol (1/2), C5H6N2O2·2C6H6O3, (IV). The resorcinol molecule in (II) occupies a twofold axis, while the hydroquinone molecule in (III) is situated on a centre of inversion. Thymine–thymine base pairing is common across all four structures, albeit with different patterns. In (I)–(III), the base pair is propagated into an infinite one-dimensional ribbon, whereas it exists as a discrete dimeric unit in (IV). In (I)–(III), the two donor N atoms and one carbonyl acceptor O atom of thymine are involved in thymine–thymine base pairing and the remaining carbonyl O atom is hydrogen bonded to the coformer. In contrast, in (IV), just one donor N atom and one acceptor O atom are involved in base pairing, and the remaining donor N atom and acceptor O atom of thymine form hydrogen bonds to the coformer molecules. Thus, the utilization of the donor and acceptor atoms of thymine in the hydrogen bonding is influenced by the coformers.
The rhetoric of conscience and teachers’ resistance in an era of accountability: a Macao study
Authors: Huang Hua , Vong Sou Kuan
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore and explain the role of the traditional Chinese rhetoric of “conscience” in teachers’ resistance against the drive for accountability that oppresses them.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper first introduces increased accountability in the context of Macao and describes its impact on teachers. Following this, it presents a post-structuralist theory of teachers’ resistance as an analytical framework. A case study was conducted to illuminate how teachers employ the rhetoric of conscience to respond to the challenges raised by the prevalence of accountability.

Findings

– This paper argues that the rhetoric of conscience, as the traditional paradigm, provides new insight for teachers to live a life that is different from the normality that is defined by the discourse introduced by accountability.

Originality/value

– This paper sheds light on the role of the traditional Chinese rhetoric of conscience in teachers’ resistance in an era of accountability. In teachers’ lived experiences, the rhetoric of conscience intersects with the dominating notion of accountability and this contributes to a transitional discursive space where teachers’ resistance emerges as they negotiate or struggle with the entangled discourses.
The development of human rights education in China
Authors: Shen Taixia
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– There has been a lack of human rights education for a long period since New China was founded. Human rights education appeared at the university level in the 1990s, and has developed quickly over the past decade in mainland China. The purpose of this paper is to argue that human rights education in mainland China has had its own characteristics and problems during its development, and intends to identify and solve its problems in order to achieve sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

– First, this paper surveys the development of human rights education in mainland China. Second, it summarizes its characteristics and problems objectively, and then gives some ideas and suggestions for its future sustainable development.

Findings

– Human rights education in mainland China has seen great improvement, although it also has its own characteristics and has had problems during its development. The ideas about and approaches to human rights education development in mainland China should be adjusted. Ensuring and promoting the respect of human rights in society is the main goal of human rights education. Balanced development, independent development, the encouragement of and investment by the government and society in the subject and the high quantity and quality of available human rights teachers are the guarantees for a sustainable model of human rights education in mainland China.

Originality/value

– This paper studies the history and current situation of human rights education in mainland China, summarizing its characteristics and existing problems completely and objectively. This paper states that human rights education in mainland China should change its theories and its approaches to development.
Implementation of global traceability standards: incentives and opportunities
Authors: Ringsberg Henrik Anders
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– Implementing global traceability standards (GTSs) facilitates interoperability in food supply chains (FSCs). The purpose of this paper is to present incentives, opportunities and requirements for implementing GTSs in a fresh FSC.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was developed in two stages: a literature review was conducted to establish a theoretical framework; and then an in-depth case study of a Swedish fresh fish supply chain was conducted. The Kano methodology was used to evaluate opportunities based on implementation requirements in each enterprise.

Findings

– FSC enterprises implement a GTS to meet legal food traceability requirements. This incentive is stronger among enterprises upstream in the FSC than among downstream enterprises. Downstream enterprises emphasize communication with the end consumer as an incentive to implement a GTS. Implementing a GTS increases the opportunity to preserve end consumer confidence, efficiency in information sharing, reduces time in inventory management and the risk of theft.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper contributes to the field of food traceability by providing knowledge regarding incentives, opportunities and requirements for implementing standards to meet food traceability requirements at FSC enterprises.

Practical implications

– Regulatory requirements on traceability preservation of food safety, quality and sustainability stipulate the implementation of a GTS. The research presented can support managers in understanding incentives and opportunities for implementing a GTS.

Originality/value

– This paper combines in-depth academic research with the involvement of Swedish fresh food enterprises. The study is of benefit to fresh food enterprises, authorities and organizations in the further implementation and development of GTSs.
Benchmarking by Item Response Theory (BIRTH)
Authors: Pacheco Juliano Anderson , de Andrade Dalton Francisco , Bornia Antonio Cezar
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a new method for benchmarking, which allows the construction of scales of competitiveness for the comparison of products using Item Response Theory (IRT).

Design/methodology/approach

– Theoretically, the method combines classic benchmarking process steps with IRT steps and demonstrates through mathematical models how this technique can measure the competitiveness of products by means of a latent trait.

Findings

– The IRT method uses the theories of psychometrics to measure the competitiveness of products through qualitative and quantitative interpretation of the tangible and intangible characteristics of those products. To demonstrate the application of the developed method, the items were constructed for teaching staff.

Research limitations/implications

– The application of the developed method will increase the accuracy of assessments of the competitiveness of a product because this method uses a mathematical model of the IRT to evaluate the characteristics product that reflect market competitiveness. Items must be selected based on theories relevant to the product and/or expert opinion or customers.

Practical implications

– The applicability of the method results in the construction of a scale in which items identify good practice with greater difficulty because they are represented in the same units that index competitiveness. Thus, managers of companies obtain knowledge about their products and the market, which allows them to assess their performance against their competitors and to make decisions regarding the continuous improvement of their production process and expansion of product characteristics.

Originality/value

– This work presents a new method for benchmarking using a quantitative technique that enables measurement of the latent trait of “competitiveness” through robust mathematical models.
An exploratory evaluation of state road provision to commuters and shippers
Authors: Min Hokey , Lambert Thomas
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– Due to mounting fiscal pressures, the federal government as well as many state and municipal governments in the USA have had to re-examine their transportation policies. Tax increases and/or spending cuts which aim to trim budget deficits are preoccupations of most policy makers and legislative bodies nowadays. With regard to the task of building new or rehabilitating old bridges, highways, and toll gates, cost-benefit analysis and economic impact studies are often undertaken by various government entities to rank and prioritize spending in the hopes of maximizing fiscal efficiency and road usage benefits. Since most highway construction and maintenance expenditures are absorbed by state governments, it is mostly up to state policy makers to decide transportation priorities. Not much research to date has been conducted to evaluate the comparative efficiency of state road provision to commuters and shippers. Such research would be useful to a state government’s budgetary allocation, road planning, and spending plans. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses data envelopment analysis under both constant and variable returns-to-scale and then to explain variations in efficiency ratings by using Tobit regression analysis.

Findings

– The authors discovered that the greater the level of state resident income and/or the warmer the weather, the higher the road or mass transit provision efficiency on average. The authors also found that greater urbanization in a state had little to do with efficiencies with respect to road provision.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the first to assess and evaluate the comparative efficiency of road provision across 50 states in the USA and then set a benchmark for utilizing state financial resources to improve road infrastructure. More importantly, this paper helps transportation planners and public policy makers better allocate their limited financial resources to public goods in time of budget cutbacks and shortfalls.
Testing complex hypotheses using secondary data analysis: is the association between sexual abuse and psychosis moderated by gender in a large prison sample?
Authors: Shevlin Mark , Murphy Jamie , Read John
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– There have been many studies that demonstrated an association between sexual trauma and psychotic disorders or psychotic symptoms. Limited attention has been paid to gender differences regarding this association. A recent study evidenced that the trauma-psychosis association may be moderated by gender and that the effect may be specific for females. However, there have been many methodological limitations, particularly that low prevalence of psychosis and sexual trauma for males leads to low statistical power, that have made this hypothesis difficult to test. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study sought to estimate the association between sexual trauma and psychosis, and to determine if the association was moderated by gender using data from the Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity among Prisoners in England and Wales (n=3,142).

Findings

– Bivariate analysis showed that sexual trauma predicted probable psychosis for both females (OR=4.13) and males (OR=4.72). After controlling for confounding variables the odds ratios for males and females did not differ significantly (the shared odds ratio was 2.60) indicating that the association was not moderated by gender.

Originality/value

– The relationship between sexual abuse and psychosis may neither be specific to, nor moderated by, gender.
Optimal design study of thermoacoustic regenerator with lexicographic optimization method
Authors: Tartibu L.K. , Sun B. , Kaunda M.A.E.
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to illustrate the use of the augmented epsilon-constraint method implemented in general algebraic modelling system (GAMS), aimed at optimizing the geometry of a thermoacoustic regenerator. Thermoacoustic heat engines provide a practical solution to the problem of heat management where heat can be pumped or spot cooling can be produced. However, the most inhibiting characteristic of thermoacoustic cooling is their current lack of efficiencies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Lexicographic optimization is presented as an alternative optimization technique to the common used weighting methods. This approach establishes a hierarchical order among all the optimization objectives instead of giving them a specific (and most of the time, arbitrary) weight.

Findings

– A practical example is given, in a hypothetical scenario, showing how the proposed optimization technique may help thermoacoustic regenerator designers to identify Pareto optimal solutions when dealing with geometric parameters. This study highlights the fact that the geometrical parameters are interdependent, which support the use of a multi-objective approach for optimization in thermoacoustic.

Originality/value

– The research output from this paper can be a valuable resource to support designers in building efficient thermoacoustic device. The research illustrates the use of a lexicographic optimization to provide more meaningful results describing the geometry of thermoacoustic regenerator. It applies the epsilon-constraint method (AUGMENCON) to solve a five-criteria mixed integer non-linear problem implemented in GAMS (GAM software).
Corporate cash flow and dividends smoothing: a panel data analysis at Bursa Malaysia
Authors: Kighir Apedzan Emmanuel , Omar Normah Haji , Mohamed Norhayati
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate and find out the impact of cash flow on changes in dividend payout decisions among non-financial firms quoted at Bursa Malaysia as compared to earnings. There has been renewed debate in recent finance and accounting literature concerning the key determinants of changes in dividends payout policy decisions in some jurisdictions. The conclusion in some is that firms base their dividend decisions on cash flows rather than published earnings.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research made use of panel data from 1999 to 2012 at Bursa Malaysia, using generalized method of moments as the main method of analysis.

Findings

– The research finds that Malaysia non-financial firms consider current earnings more important than current cash flow while making dividends payout decisions, and prior year cash flows are considered more important in dividends decisions than prior year earnings. We also found support for Jensen (1986) in Malaysia on agency theory, that managers of firms pay dividends from free cash flow to reduce agency conflicts.

Practical implications

– The research concludes that Malaysian non-financial firms use current earnings and less of current cash flow in making changes in dividends policy. The policy implication is that current earnings are dividends smoothing agents, and the more they are considered in dividends payout decisions, the less of dividends smoothing.

Social implications

– If dividends smoothing is encouraged, it could lead to dividends-based earnings management.

Originality/value

– The research is our novel contribution of assisting investors and government in making informed decisions regarding dividends policy in Malaysia.
Overseas financial investigation of organised crime
Authors: Brown Rick , Gillespie Samantha
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the problems that arise when undertaking a financial investigation that involves tracing assets in foreign jurisdictions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on a secondary analysis of data collected as part of a qualitative study of the role of financial investigation in tackling organised crime. This was based on interviews with investigating officers, financial investigators and Crown Prosecution Service representatives associated with 60 cases. Of the 60 cases, 36 were found to have an international dimension.

Findings

– The study found a number of problems with undertaking overseas financial investigations. These included problems with the letter of request process, difficulties tracking assets in some countries and problems with tracing funds transferred through money service bureaux. Informal contact on a police-to-police basis was generally considered an effective means of improving the quality of information received.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is based on just 60 cases of organised crime in which financial investigation was used. The extent to which these findings can be generalised to other cases is unclear.

Practical implications

– The study highlights the most common obstacles to overseas financial investigation that should be addressed. In addition, the importance of informal contact with overseas police jurisdictions may highlight a means of improving requests for assistance.

Originality/value

– This paper provides an important insight into the views of operational staff undertaking overseas financial investigations and as such highlights the particular difficulties in this work.
Payday loans and globalization in the age of the Internet – policy recommendations
Authors: Szajngarten Roger Alain
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to analyze Payday loans and many similar products which are a relatively new phenomena in the USA, but have been rapidly expanding particularly after the 2008 financial crisis, and have taken a heavy toll on the most vulnerable members of our society.

Design/methodology/approach

– An extensive literature review of the key US features of payday loans, the regulatory framework and its limitations, the issues and the most recent actions taken to date. The review also includes work done by the European Union, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations while discussing how the Internet and extraterritoriality influence the current landscape.

Findings

– With the advent of globalization and the Internet, the issues associated with payday loans have become harder to tackle, particularly in the USA, given the arcane state regulations used to address the numerous frauds and abuses plaguing the industry. The lack of any international approach combined with increasing cases where questionable actors leverage extraterritoriality, making addressing the issues even more challenging.

Originality/value

– This is an all-encompassing review aimed at expanding on existing approaches to properly provide and regulate payday loans and similar alternative sources of credit in this rapidly changing environment; pragmatic domestic and international policy recommendations are listed accordingly.
An exploratory study of entrepreneurship barriers: the case of Qatar
Authors: Kebaili Boumediene , Al-Subyae Saif Saeed , Al-Qahtani Fahed , Belkhamza Zakariya
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the major entrepreneurship barriers facing Qataris. Qatar has a very specific economic and cultural environment that is different from any other Arab or western country. Such differences may contribute to the existing literature regarding entrepreneurship barriers in the Middle East.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative methodology was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with final year business students. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were used in order to uncover all aspects related to the research objective from the students’ perspective.

Findings

– Seven factors were identified as the main barriers to start-up new business activities among Qataris, which are: the non-availability of funds, risk avoidance, fear of failure, market barriers, knowledge barriers, stress avoidance, and attitude towards change.

Research limitations/implications

– It will be very useful to conduct a comparative study that covers more Gulf Cooperation Council countries to see whether the findings can be generalised to them. Furthermore, since this study adopted a qualitative approach, it will be interesting to empirically test these findings using a quantitative method.

Practical implications

– The government needs to ease and facilitate the loans, by establishing a government fund for financing new businesses. Learning institutions have an important role to reduce these barriers. Indeed, promoting a healthy culture that encourages and promotes entrepreneurship can be achieved by including specialised entrepreneurship courses into students’ curriculum as early as primary schools. Government can also allocate certain percentage of contracts to new or small companies. This will ease market access. Business associations must also play their part by providing assistance, and provide training programmes tailored to the need of local potential entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the entrepreneurship body of knowledge by providing insight from the Qatari-specific economic and social environment context.
Paired box gene 5 isoforms A and B have different functions in transcriptional regulation of B cell development‐related genes in immature B cells
Authors: Kikuchi Hidehiko , Nakayama Masami , Kuribayashi Futoshi , Mimuro Hitomi , Imajoh‐Ohmi Shinobu , Nishitoh Hideki , Takami Yasunari , Nakayama Tatsuo
Published: June 2015

The transcription factor paired box gene 5 (Pax5) is essential for B cell development. In this study, complementation analyses in Pax5‐deficient DT40 cells showed that three Pax5 isoforms Pax5A, Pax5B and Pax5BΔEx8 (another spliced isoform of Pax5B lacking exon 8) exhibit distinct roles in transcriptional regulation of six B cell development‐related genes (activation‐induced cytidine deaminase, Aiolos, BTB and CNC homology 2, B cell lymphoma‐6, early B cell factor 1, origin binding factor‐1 genes), transcriptions of which are remarkably down‐regulated by Pax5‐deficiency. Moreover, ectopic expression study shows that these Pax5 isoforms may regulate themselves and each other at the transcriptional level.
Body size affects individual winter foraging strategies of thick‐billed murres in the Bering Sea
Authors: Orben Rachael A. , Paredes Rosana , Roby Daniel D. , Irons David B. , Shaffer Scott A.
Published: June 2015

Foraging and migration often require different energetic and movement strategies. Though not readily apparent, constraints during one phase might influence the foraging strategies observed in another. For marine birds that fly and dive, body size constraints likely present a trade‐off between foraging ability and migration as smaller bodies reduce flight costs, whereas larger bodies are advantageous for diving deeper.

This study examines individual wintering strategies of deep diving thick‐billed murres (Uria lomvia) breeding at three colonies in the south‐eastern Bering Sea: St Paul, St George and Bogoslof. These colonies, arranged north to south, are located such that breeding birds forage in a gradient from shelf to deep‐water habitats.

We used geolocation time‐depth recorders and stable isotopes from feathers to determine differences in foraging behaviour and diet of murres during three non‐breeding periods, 2008–2011. Body size was quantified by a principal component analysis (wing, culmen, head+bill and tarsus length). A hierarchical cluster analysis identified winter foraging strategies based on individual movement, diving behaviour and diet (inferred from stable isotopes).

Structural body size differed by breeding island. Larger birds from St Paul had higher wing loading than smaller birds from St George. Larger birds, mainly from St Paul, dove to deeper depths, spent more time in the Bering Sea, and likely consumed higher trophic‐level prey in late winter. Three winter foraging strategies were identified. The main strategy, employed by small birds from all three breeding colonies in the first 2 years, was characterized by high residency areas in the North Pacific south of the Aleutians and nocturnal diving. In contrast, 31% of birds from St Paul remained in the Bering Sea and foraged mainly during the day, apparently feeding on higher trophic‐level prey. Throat feather stable isotopes indicated that individuals exhibited flexibility in the use of this colony‐specific foraging strategy. The third strategy only occurred in 2010/2011, when birds dove more and deeper, suggesting limited prey resources.

Foraging strategies partitioned with respect to annual differences, presumably in response to shifts in distribution of prey, and were linked to body size. The presence of a colony‐specific wintering strategy suggests the potential for overwinter survival differences between these populations.
Assessing Community Quality of Health Care
Authors: Herrin Jeph , Kenward Kevin , Joshi Maulik S. , Audet Anne‐Marie J. , Hines Stephen J.
Published: June 2015

Objective

To determine the agreement of measures of care in different settings—hospitals, nursing homes (NHs), and home health agencies (HHAs)—and identify communities with high‐quality care in all settings.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Publicly available quality measures for hospitals, NHs, and HHAs, linked to hospital service areas (HSAs).

Study Design

We constructed composite quality measures for hospitals, HHAs, and nursing homes. We used these measures to identify HSAs with exceptionally high‐ or low‐quality of care across all settings, or only high hospital quality, and compared these with respect to sociodemographic and health system factors.

Principal Findings

We identified three dimensions of hospital quality, four HHA dimensions, and two NH dimensions; these were poorly correlated across the three care settings. HSAs that ranked high on all dimensions had more general practitioners per capita, and fewer specialists per capita, than HSAs that ranked highly on only the hospital measures.

Conclusion

Higher quality hospital, HHA, and NH care are not correlated at the regional level; regions where all dimensions of care are high differ systematically from regions which score well on only hospital measures and from those which score well on none.
A Level‐of‐Service Concept for Planning Future Water Supply Projects under Probabilistic Demand and Supply Framework
Authors: Asefa Tirusew , Adams Alison , Wanakule Nisai
Published: June 2015

One of the most challenging tasks of water supply utilities is planning the timing and quantity of new water supply sources as demand for water consumption grows. Many water supply utilities target on meeting 100% of their customers' needs based on scenario‐based deterministic demand projections numbers even though there are uncertainties in both supply and demand values. This may result in under or overly conservative approach in assessing future needs. In this article, a level‐of‐service concept is introduced to capture a utility's willingness to accept a given level of risk, plan for it, and invoke a management strategy during extreme events than build a facility to accommodate those in planning for new water supply sources. Accounting for uncertainties in both supply and demand help quantify reliability by achieving a prescribed level of service. The major benefit of such an approach for planning future water supply is that it allows policy makers to evaluate the use of adaptive water management strategies and develop supply in an incremental fashion as demand warrants it. For example, if a given level of service cannot be reliably met with the existing system at a future time t, an incremental water supply project would come online to bring the required reliability level up but no more.
Apocalyptic Satire, James II and Transubstantiation: Pulpit, Polemics and the Declaration of Indulgence
Authors: Weinbrot Howard D.
Published: June 2015

Apocalyptic satire laments the collapse of a culture, a nation or a religion – or all of these. The speaker uses images of ruins, deluges and infectious diseases but fails to correct vice. The exception is Protestant, especially Anglican, resistance to James II's Declaration of Indulgence. Opponents focused on Transubstantiation as an emblem of James's absolutism, savaged Catholic convert John Dryden and feared that James might also demand that priests ‘read an Homily for Transubstantiation’. To avoid apocalypse, the satirists sought to change the king's behaviour, as in this rare case they did by changing the king.
Clinical outcome of epidermal growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy for patients with overlapping kirsten rat sarcoma 2 viral oncogene homolog and epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations
Authors: Zhang Hong , Bai Hua , Yang Xiaodan , Zhong Jia , An Tongtong , Zhao Jun , Wang Jie
Published: June 2015

Background

Kirsten rat sarcoma 2 viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) is the second most common mutated gene following epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation in Chinese lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) patients. Investigating the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with co‐existing KRAS and EGFR mutations can provide significant information for suitable therapies.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 2106 LADC patients who had undergone EGFR and KRAS mutation tests at the Peking University Cancer Hospital. Only advanced LADC patients who carried KRAS and/or EGFR mutations, received EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and/or chemotherapy, and had completed follow‐up analysis were analyzed further. KRAS and EGFR mutations were tested by denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography.

Results

A KRAS mutation was detected in 123 out of 2106 LADC patients (5.8%) and 38 (1.8%) had a concurrent EGFR mutation. Seventy‐two of 123 patients were advanced cases, which were divided into two sub‐groups according to EGFR mutation status: overlapping KRAS and EGFR mutations (n = 24) and KRAS mutation alone (n = 48). Clinical characteristics of the two subgroups were similar. A greater ratio of patients with double mutations received EGFR‐TKIs compared to KRAS mutation alone (75% vs. 43.8%, P = 0.012), and obtained a better objective response rate (38.9% vs. 9.5%, P = 0.027) and longer progression‐free survival (8.0 vs. 1.5 months, P = 0.028) following EGFR‐TKIs therapy. However, these differences were not observed in patients treated with platinum‐based chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Overlapping KRAS and EGFR mutations occurred in 1.8% of Chinese LADC patients studied. The co‐presence of EGFR mutations could predict a clinical benefit from EGFR‐TKIs treatment for patients with KRAS mutations.
SMALL DATA
Authors: Coomber Steve
Published: June 2015

It really is a numbers business
INDIA'S GROWING SUCCESS
Authors: Ramdas Kamalini
Published: June 2015

Brainchild of Indian winemaker Rajeev Samant, Sula Vineyards is taking on the world. Kamalini Ramdas reports on the company's grape expectations
TEED UP FOR CHANGE
Authors: Dearlove Des
Published: June 2015

David Williams is set on professionalising the business of European golf. The chair of the PGA European Tour talks to Des Dearlove
THE QUEST PRINCIPLES
Authors: Dearlove Des
Published: June 2015

Ajit Prabhu, CEO and chairman of the engineering company QuEST, outlines the ten principles that enabled it to grow from an unfunded startup to a $35m company
ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?
Authors: Birkinshaw Julian
Published: June 2015

The key challenge faced by all managers is looking after the scarcest resource of all: attention. Julian Birkinshaw ventures into the attention economy
LIFEWORK
Authors: Anderson Jamie , Baron Ayelet
Published: June 2015

A job, an office, power. What is success? Jamie Anderson and Ayelet Baron investigate a broader definition
Severe hypoglycemia during methadone escalation in an 8‐year‐old child
Authors: Gjedsted J. , Dall R.
Published: June 2015

This case report describes hypoglycemia during methadone escalation in an 8‐year‐old girl with acute lymphatic leukemia. After a significant increase in the methadone dosage, the blood glucose decreased from 12 mmol/l to 1 mmol/l. Nutrition and other medications were meticulously checked and no other apparent explanation was found. There are few reports from the adult palliative setting which describe this serious side effect. This is to our knowledge, the first described pediatric case.