bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gas, dust, stars, star formation, and their evolution in M 33 at giant molecular cloud scales
Authors: Komugi Shinya , Miura Rie E , Kuno Nario , Tosaki Tomoka
Published: March 2018

We report on a multi-parameter analysis of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in the nearby spiral galaxy M 33. A catalog of GMCs identifed in 12CO(J = 3–2) was used to compile associated 12CO(J = 1–0), dust, stellar mass, and star formation rate. Each of the 58 GMCs are categorized by their evolutionary stage. Applying the principal component analysis on these parameters, we construct two principal components, PC1 and PC2, which retain 75% of the information from the original data set. PC1 is interpreted as expressing the total interstellar matter content, and PC2 as the total activity of star formation. Young (< 10 Myr) GMCs occupy a distinct region in the PC1–PC2 plane, with lower interstellar medium (ISM) content and star formation activity compared to intermediate-age and older clouds. Comparison of average cloud properties in different evolutionary stages imply that GMCs may be heated or grow denser and more massive via aggregation of diffuse material in their first ∼ 10 Myr. The PCA also objectively identified a set of tight relations between ISM and star formation. The ratio of the two CO lines is nearly constant, but weakly modulated by massive star formation. Dust is more strongly correlated with the star formation rate than the CO lines, supporting recent findings that dust may trace molecular gas better than CO. Stellar mass contributes weakly to the star formation rate, reminiscent of an extended form of the Schmidt–Kennicutt relation with the molecular gas term substituted by dust.
Between Foreign Politics and Humanitarian Neutrality: Medical Emergency Aid by the Two German States before 1970
Authors: Bruchhausen Walter
Published: March 2018

During the armed conflicts of decolonisation in Korea, Vietnam and the Congo in the 1950 s and 1960 s, both German states joined the competition between East and West by sending medical teams to conduct aid work. West German numerical advantages in funds and available staff were countered by East German governmental command of human resources and productive capacities such as the pharmaceutical industry. As a result, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) preferred shorter stays and the supply of large amounts of equipment and materials whereas the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) instead commissioned teams of NGOs for several years and financed whole facilities. Ideological or even distorted interpretation of facts was more obvious in the East, opposition of health workers to the official line of their respective governments in the West. The FRG also introduced a distinction between neutral humanitarian and politically interested development aid whereas for the GDR all work was solidarity with socialist or liberated countries.
Late Onset Sepsis in Very Low Birth Weight Infants in the South American NEOCOSUR Network
Authors: Escalante Maria Jose , Ceriani-Cernadas Jose Maria , D’Apremont Ivonne , Bancalari Aldo , Webb Veronica , Genes Larisa , Villarroel Luis , Munoz Elizabeth , Tapia Jose L.
Published: March 2018

Background:

The main aim is to determine the incidence and associated factors of late onset sepsis (LOS) in very low birth weight infants (500–1500 g), from the NEOCOSUR Network during years 2001–2013. Secondary objectives are to describe the microbiology of the first and second episode of LOS and to study the association between catheter dwell time and LOS.

Methods:

Demographic information and outcome data are prospectively and routinely collected across the network using predefined diagnostic criteria and online data entry. LOS was confirmed by isolation of the organism in blood or through cerebrospinal fluid in cultures. The participating countries were Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

Results:

Overall incidence was 22.2% (3066/13,821). Infants who developed LOS were smaller by weight and gestational age; also, they feature less prenatal care and prenatal steroids, and longer hospital stays. A greater number of infants in the LOS group had 1 minute Apgar Scores ≤3. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a positive association between LOS and necrotizing enterocolitis, mechanical ventilation requirements, patent ductus arteriosus, oxygen dependency at 36 weeks and death. The majority of first LOS episode was caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (44.3%). An increased risk of LOS was observed in relation to catheter dwell time (6% per day of stay of central lines).

Conclusions:

The incidence of LOS was associated with mechanical ventilation, patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis and death. LOS was an important cause of morbidity and mortality in very low birth weight infants in our network, and coagulase-negative staphylococci was the most frequent causative microorganism.
Two Overlapping Clusters of Group B Streptococcus Late-onset Disease in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Berardi Alberto , Guidotti Isotta , Creti Roberta , Alfarone Giovanna , Grottola Antonella , Venturelli Claudia , Fregni Serpini Giulia , Della Casa Elisa , Vecchi Elena , Boncompagni Alessandra , Toffoli Carlotta , Ferrari Fabrizio
Published: March 2018

Objectives:

Current predominant routes of group B Streptococcus (GBS) transmission in preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are poorly defined. We report 2 overlapping clusters of GBS late-onset disease (LOD) from June to September 2015 in an Italian NICU.

Methods:

During the outbreak, possible sources of transmission (equipment, feeding bottles and breast pumps) were swabbed. Specimens from throat and rectum were collected on a weekly basis from all neonates admitted to NICU. Colonized or infected neonates had cohorting. Bacterial isolates were characterized by serologic and molecular typing methods.

Results:

GBS was isolated in 2 full-term and 7 preterm neonates. Strains belonged to serotype III, with 3 different sequence types (ST17, ST182 and ST19). Full-term neonates were colonized with GBS strains unrelated to the clusters (ST182 and ST19). Two distinct ST17 strains caused 2 clusters in preterm neonates: a first cluster with 1 case of LOD and a second, larger cluster with 6 LOD in 5 neonates (one of them had recurrence). ST17 strains were isolated from vaginorectal and milk samples of 2 mothers. Two preterm neonates had no evidence of colonization for weeks, until they presented with LOD.

Conclusions:

Molecular analyses identified the presence of multiclonal GBS strains and 2 clusters of 7 cases of GBS–LOD. The dynamics of transmission of GBS within the NICU were complex. Breast milk was suspected to be one of the possible sources. In a research setting, the screening of GBS carrier mothers who deliver very preterm could contribute to the tracking of GBS transmission.
Childhood Mortality After Mass Distribution of Azithromycin
Authors: O’Brien Kieran S. , Cotter Sun Y. , Amza Abdou , Kadri Boubacar , Nassirou Beido , Stoller Nicole E. , Zhou Zhaoxia , West Sheila K. , Bailey Robin L. , Keenan Jeremy D. , Porco Travis C. , Lietman Thomas M.
Published: March 2018

Background:

Mass distributions of azithromycin for trachoma have been associated with secondary benefits, including reductions in child mortality.

Methods:

In the Partnership for the Rapid Elimination of Trachoma cluster-randomized trial in Niger, 24 communities were randomized to annual treatment of everyone and 24 communities were randomized to biannual treatment of children under 12 for 3 years (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00792922). Treatment was a single dose of directly observed oral azithromycin (20 mg/kg up to 1 g in adults). Vital status was assessed during annual census and monitoring visits. In this prespecified secondary analysis, we compared the mortality rate among children 6 months to less than 5 years of age by treatment arm using negative binomial regression.

Results:

Among children 6 months to less than 5 years of age, 404 deaths occurred during the study period. The mortality rate was 35.6 deaths per 1000 person-years (231 deaths, 95% CI: 30.9–40.9) in the annual arm and 29.0 deaths per 1000 person-years (173 deaths, 95% CI: 24.8–33.8) in the biannual arm. The mortality rate ratio comparing children in the biannual arm to the annual arm was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.66–1.00, P = 0.07; primary outcome). The mortality rate ratio comparing children who died from infectious causes in the biannual arm to the annual arm was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.57–0.94; P = 0.02). No adverse events were reported.

Conclusions:

This secondary analysis of a cluster-randomized trial found a nonsignificant 19% decrease in mortality among children 6 months to less than 5 years of age who received biannual azithromycin compared with children who received annual azithromycin. This study was conducted in a high mortality, trachoma-endemic area; thus, results may be specific to this environment only. In addition, the trial was neither designed nor powered to detect a mortality effect, and we cannot rule out the possibility that mortality differences resulted from bias.
Pain and mortality: mechanisms for a relationship
Authors: Smith Diane , Wilkie Ross , Croft Peter , Parmar Simran , McBeth John
Published: March 2018

Moderate to severe chronic pain affects 1 in 5 adults and its impact increases with age. People with chronic pain that interferes with their lives have an increased risk of mortality. Identifying how interfering chronic pain can lead to mortality may highlight potential intervention strategies. This study uses a novel approach to test whether lifestyle, health, social, and psychological factors mediate the relationship between pain and mortality. Survival analyses (Cox's proportional hazard modelling and a technique to assess mediation within survival models) were conducted on a large population study of adults aged 50 years or older from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n = 6324). Data collected at wave 2 (2004) were used as baseline and follow-up was until 2012. The relationship between being “often troubled with pain” and mortality was examined. Lifestyle, health, social, and psychological factors were tested as potential mediators. The strongest mediating factors for the relationship between troubling pain and mortality were functional limitation (hazard ratio 1.31; 95% confidence interval 1.20-1.39), symptoms preventing walking quarter of a mile (1.45 [1.35–1.58]), physical inactivity (1.14 [1.10-1.20]), and poor self-rated health (1.32 [1.23-1.41]). Mediators of the relationship between troubling pain and mortality provide targets for preventive health programmes. Interventions to improve general health, activity, and function could improve long-term survival in patients with this clinical problem.
Three-year Outcomes of a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing a 4.5-mm-Wide to a 3.75-mm-Wide Titanium Implant for Bone Conduction Hearing
Authors: Kruyt Ivo J. , Nelissen Rik C. , Mylanus Emmanuel A. M. , Hol Myrthe K. S.
Published: March 2018

Objective:

To compare 3-year implant stability, survival, and tolerability of a 4.5-mm-wide (test) and a 3.75-mm-wide (control) percutaneous titanium implant for bone-conduction hearing, loaded with the sound processor after 3 weeks.

Methods:

Sixty implants were allocated in a 2:1 ratio (test-control) in 57 adult patients included in this prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. Follow-up visits were performed at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days; 6 and 12 weeks; 6 months; and at 1, 2, and 3 years after implantation. During these visits, the implant stability quotient (ISQ) was measured by means of resonance frequency analysis (RFA). The peri-abutment soft tissue status was assessed according to the Holgers classification. Skin height around the abutment was evaluated.

Results:

The mean area-under-the-curve (AUC) of ISQ-low was statistically significantly higher for the test implant (65.7 versus 61.4, p = 0.0002). Both implants showed high survival rates (97.4% versus 95.0%, p = 0.6374). Adverse soft tissue reactions were observed sporadically, with no significant inter-group differences. Skin thickening was seen in the majority of the patients, but no correlation with adverse soft tissue reactions or implant type was observed.

Conclusion:

The 4.5-mm-wide implant provides significantly higher ISQ values during the first 3 years after surgery compared with the previous generation 3.75-mm-wide implant. Both implants showed high survival rates and good tolerability. These long-term results indicate that the wider implant, loaded with a sound processor at 3 weeks, is a safe and well-performing option for hearing rehabilitation in specific types of hearing loss.
Antiarrhythmic drug therapy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: should we use it?
Authors: Soar Jasmeet
Published: March 2018

Purpose of review

The optimal antiarrhythmic drug therapy (amiodarone or lidocaine) in the treatment of ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) cardiac arrest that is refractory to defibrillation is uncertain. This article reviews the evidence for and against these drugs, alternatives treatments for refractory VF/pVT and aims to define the role of antiarrhythmic drugs during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Recent findings

A large randomized controlled trial that compared amiodarone, lidocaine and saline 0.9% sodium chloride for the treatment of refractory VF/pVT out-of-hospital cardiac arrest reported no difference in survival to hospital discharge or neurological outcome. In patients with witnessed arrest, survival was improved with antiarrhythmic drugs compared to saline.

The benefit of antiarrhythmic drugs appears to be for those patients in whom initial early CPR and defibrillation attempts fail and the antiarrhythmic drug is given early. There does not appear to be any clear survival benefit for any one particular drug and other factors such as availability and cost should be considered when deciding which drug to use. Furthermore, other interventions (e.g. percutaneous coronary intervention and extra-corporeal CPR) may provide additional survival benefit when defibrillation attempts and antiarrhythmic drugs are not effective.
Mortality Associated With Emergency Department Boarding Exposure
Authors: Reznek Martin A. , Upatising Benjavan , Kennedy Samantha J. , Durham Natassia T. , Forster Richard M. , Michael Sean S.
Published: March 2018

Background:

Emergency Department (ED) boarding threatens patient safety. It is unclear whether boarding differentially affects patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) versus non-ICU settings.

Research Design and Subjects:

We performed a 2-hospital, 18-month, cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study of adult patients admitted from the ED. We used Kaplan-Meier estimation and Cox Proportional Hazards regression to describe differences in boarding time among patients who died during hospitalization versus those who survived, controlling for covariates that could affect mortality risk or boarding exposure, and separately evaluating patients admitted to ICUs versus non-ICU settings.

Measures:

We extracted age, race, sex, time variables, admission unit, hospital disposition, and Elixhauser comorbidity measures and calculated boarding time for each admitted patient.

Results:

Among 39,781 admissions from the EDs (21.3% to ICUs), non-ICU patients who died in-hospital had a 1.2-fold risk (95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.36; P=0.016) of having experienced longer boarding times than survivors, accounting for covariates. We did not observe a difference among patients admitted to ICUs.

Conclusions:

Among non-ICU patients, those who died during hospitalization were more likely to have had incrementally longer boarding exposure than those who survived. This difference was not observed for ICU patients. Boarding risk mitigation strategies focused on ICU patients may have accounted for this difference, but we caution against interpreting that boarding can be safe. Segmentation by patients admitted to ICU versus non-ICU settings in boarding research may be valuable in ensuring that the safety of both groups is considered in hospital flow and boarding care improvements.
Microbial pathogenesis and biofilm mediated by Enterococcus
Authors: Rabi Nezhad Mousavi Morteza , Mohammadzadeh Rostami Farzaneh
Published: March 2018

Enterococcus have emerged as antibiotic resistant in nosocomial infections, food pollutant and also found in root canal teeth. The presence of virulence factors leads to spreading and survive in a hospital or other environments. Different molecular studies have reported the importance of Enterococcus with putative virulence factors at infections. The host immune process is able to identify Enterococcus, although these virulence factors provided conditions to evasion from the immune system. Therefore, these determinants are the best candidates for new therapies strategy and controlling this problematic microorganism.
Validation of a Quality of Life Instrument in Spanish Patients With Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Leon Leticia , Rodriguez-Rodriguez Luis , Aguilar Maria Dolores , Jover Juan Ángel , Vadillo Cristina , Redondo Marta , Abasolo Lydia
Published: March 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Rosser classification system for disease states in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

Methods

Our study was based on a questionnaire validation design. Patients were attended at an outpatient rheumatology clinic at Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. The Rosser classification system was completed by the physician from the research team (PMQ) and by the patient (HMQ). Criterion standards: The EuroQol-5D for the HMQ and the physician global estimate (DOCGL) for the PMQ. Internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach α. Test-retest reliability and interobserver reliability were analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. The criterion validity between HMQ and EuroQol-5D and between PMQ and DOCGL was assessed using the Spearman correlation coefficient.

Results

The full analysis was based on 4 samples of patients (104 to 266 patients), most of whom were middle-aged women. For HMQ, Cronbach α was 0.70. Test-retest reproducibility was 0.7. With respect to criterion validity, significant correlations in the expected direction were observed. For PMQ, Cronbach α was 0.70, indicating excellent intraobserver and interobserver reliability. With respect to criterion validity, strong correlations were observed between the PMQ and the DOCGL.

Conclusions

The Rosser classification system showed satisfactory reliability and suitable criterion validity for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. The instrument seems to be suitable for clinical decision making and research.
Surgical Simulation and Custom-Made Implant for Cranial Fibrous Dysplasia
Authors: Sakamoto Yoshiaki , Miwa Tomoru , Yoshida Kazunari , Kishi Kazuo
Published: March 2018

Background:

The management of fronto-orbital fibrous dysplasia involves total excision of the dysplastic bone and bone reconstruction using implants. Custom-made implants are used to achieve good contouring. However, the remnant defect after excising the lesion often does not match the implant.

Methods:

To design the craniotomy line, a template was prepared by preoperative computed surgical simulation. The template was overlaid on the preoperative cranium, such that its inner surface fits exactly with the cranial surface. After excising the lesion by performing osteotomy, the implant was placed in the defect and fixed. Both template and implant were made of hydroxyapatite.

Results:

The authors treated 4 patients, with fibrous dysplasia involving the fronto-facial region by using the template. Intraoperative trimming of the implant or bone defect was not required in 2 patients, while the third patient required mild trimming. They did not have any complications and obtained good contouring.

Conclusion:

The hydroxyapatite templates reduced the surgical time by determining the precise craniotomy line preoperatively, thus avoiding needless trimming of the implant and bone defect. Therefore, they can enhance the efficacy of treatment for fronto-orbital fibrous dysplasia lesion.
Anastasios Demetrios Hondros CMG FRS. 18 February 1930—13 September 2016
Authors: Seah Martin P. , Lea Colin
Published: March 2018

Professor Ernest Hondros CMG FRS DSc Dr d'U FIM CEng was a renowned British metallurgist and materials scientist, an innovator, leader, inspirational encourager, raconteur and friend to many. At the National Physical Laboratory in south west London, Hondros pioneered the measurement of thermodynamic properties of interfaces in crystalline materials and established the importance of interfacial microchemistry in the mechanical strength of engineering materials. Following a period as Head of the Materials Applications Division at the National Physical Laboratory, Dr Hondros was appointed Director of the Petten Laboratory in the Netherlands, an establishment of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, and later was appointed Director of the Commission's Institute for Advanced Materials.
Magic angles for fibrous incompressible elastic materials
Authors: Horgan C. O. , Murphy J. G.
Published: March 2018

In the analysis of the mechanical behaviour of fibre-reinforced incompressible elastic bodies, there is a special angle of orientation of the fibres which leads to a particular mechanical response. This angle has been called a ‘magic angle’ due to its appearance as if by magic in many different aspects of the mechanics of fibrous solids including several examples in biology. It occurs most commonly not only in structural elements composed of circular cylindrical tubes or cylinders reinforced by helically wound fibres but also in flat thin sheets reinforced by fibres in the plane. The occurrence of such a special angle was classically demonstrated using a simple purely geometric analysis in the context of a lattice composed of a single family of helically woundinextensiblefibres. Recently, the magic angle concept has been discussed in the framework of nonlinear hyperelasticity for anisotropic materials with detailed constitutive modelling. Our purpose here is to describe some other contexts in which the magic angle occurs starting from earlier work in a special theory of linear elasticity for inextensible fibres and proceeding to relatively accessible models of hyperelasticity. We discuss the role of the magic angle in the quasi-isotropic mechanical response of fibre-reinforced composites as well as the implications for material instability.
Rumour propagation and the eco-evolutionary dynamics of social information use
Authors: Suire Alexandre , van Baalen Minus
Published: March 2018

Information is a crucial currency for living organisms as it allows them to adjust their behaviour to environmental fluctuations. Thus, natural selection should have favoured the capacity of collecting information from different sources, including social interactions whereby individuals could quickly gain reliable information. However, such conditions may also favour the gathering of potentially detrimental information, such as false or misinterpreted accounts of environmental and social phenomena such as rumours, which may spread via informational cascades. We applied ecological and evolutionary principles to investigate how the propagation of social information at a populational level affects the propensity to assimilate it, here defined as the gullibilty. Our results show that the evolution of an individual's susceptibility to assimilate information strongly depends on eco-evolutionary feedbacks, in particular when both useful and detrimental information circulate. We discuss our results regarding the different information transmission mechanisms involved with particular attention to specific cases of social learning.
Retrograde Transport and ATG-4.2-Mediated Maturation Cooperate to Remove Autophagosomes from the Synapse
Authors: Hill Sarah E. , Colón-Ramos Daniel A.
Published: March 2018

Autophagy is spatially compartmentalized in neurons, with autophagosome biogenesis occurring in the axon and degradation in the cell body. The mechanisms that coordinate autophagosome formation, trafficking and degradation across the polarized structure of the neuron are not well understood. Here we use genetic screens and in vivo imaging in single neurons of C. elegans to demonstrate that specific steps of autophagy are differentially required in distinct subcellular compartments of the neuron. We demonstrate that completion of autophagosome biogenesis and closure at the synapse are necessary for dynein-mediated retrograde transport. We uncover a role for UNC-16/JIP3/Sunday Driver in facilitating autophagosome retrograde transport. Through forward genetic screens we then determine that autophagosome maturation and degradation in the cell body depend on removal of LGG-1/Atg8/GABARAP from autophagosomes by the protease ATG-4.2. Our studies reveal that regulation of distinct ATG4 proteases contributes to the coordination of autophagy across subcellular regions of the neuron.

HIGHLIGHTS and eTOC Blurb

Autophagosome closure, but not maturation, occurs locally at presynaptic sites

Retrograde transport of autophagosomes requires the motor adaptor UNC-16/JIP3

The autophagy protease ATG-4.2, but not the related ATG-4.1, is required for autophagosome maturation and degradation

Defects in retrograde transport and maturation genetically interact and enhance accumulation of autophagosomes in presynaptic regions
Enzyme catalysis captured using multiple structures from one crystal at varying temperatures
Authors: Horrell Sam , Kekilli Demet , Sen Kakali , Owen Robin L. , Dworkowski Florian S. N. , Antonyuk Svetlana V. , Keal Thomas W. , Yong Chin W. , Eady Robert R. , Hasnain S. Samar , Strange Richard W. , Hough Michael A.
Published: March 2018

High-resolution crystal structures of enzymes in relevant redox states have transformed our understanding of enzyme catalysis. Recent developments have demonstrated that X-rays can be used, via the generation of solvated electrons, to drive reactions in crystals at cryogenic temperatures (100 K) to generate `structural movies' of enzyme reactions. However, a serious limitation at these temperatures is that protein conformational motion can be significantly supressed. Here, the recently developed MSOX (multiple serial structures from one crystal) approach has been applied to nitrite-bound copper nitrite reductase at room temperature and at 190 K, close to the glass transition. During both series of multiple structures, nitrite was initially observed in a `top-hat' geometry, which was rapidly transformed to a `side-on' configuration before conversion to side-on NO, followed by dissociation of NO and substitution by water to reform the resting state. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the top-hat orientation corresponds to the oxidized type 2 copper site, while the side-on orientation is consistent with the reduced state. It is demonstrated that substrate-to-product conversion within the crystal occurs at a lower radiation dose at 190 K, allowing more of the enzyme catalytic cycle to be captured at high resolution than in the previous 100 K experiment. At room temperature the reaction was very rapid, but it remained possible to generate and characterize several structural states. These experiments open up the possibility of obtaining MSOX structural movies at multiple temperatures (MSOX-VT), providing an unparallelled level of structural information during catalysis for redox enzymes.
Crystal structure of RecR, a member of the RecFOR DNA-repair pathway, fromPseudomonas aeruginosaPAO1
Authors: Che Shiyou , Chen Yujing , Liang Yakun , Zhang Qionglin , Bartlam Mark
Published: March 2018

DNA damage is usually lethal to all organisms. Homologous recombination plays an important role in the DNA damage-repair process in prokaryotic organisms. Two pathways are responsible for homologous recombination inPseudomonas aeruginosa: the RecBCD pathway and the RecFOR pathway. RecR is an important regulator in the RecFOR homologous recombination pathway inP. aeruginosa. It forms complexes with RecF and RecO that can facilitate the loading of RecA onto ssDNA in the RecFOR pathway. Here, the crystal structure of RecR fromP. aeruginosaPAO1 (PaRecR) is reported.PaRecR crystallizes in space groupP6122, with two monomers per asymmetric unit. Analytical ultracentrifugation data show thatPaRecR forms a stable dimer, but can exist as a tetramer in solution. The crystal structure shows that dimericPaRecR forms a ring-like tetramer architectureviacrystal symmetry. The presence of a ligand in the Walker B motif of one RecR subunit suggests a putative nucleotide-binding site.
Off-farm employment, land renting and concentration of farmland in the process of urbanization
Authors: Su Weiliang , Eriksson Tor , Zhang Linxiu
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of off-farm employment on the concentration of farmland via households’ land rental activities in rural China.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses Probit and Tobit models to estimate the effect of off-farm employment on land rental activities. Furthermore, the paper compares the degree of land concentration between pre-renting and post-renting in terms of Gini coefficients of farmland ownership at village level.

Findings

The authors find that off-farm employment has a positive effect on the renting out farmland, and insignificant effect on renting in farmland. Moreover, off-farm employment intensifies the concentration of farmland from small farms toward big farms by renting activities.

Originality/value

The authors believe that the results will contribute positively to the assessment of the effect of off-farm employment on land concentration in the context of the urbanization process in China.
Investigating students’ attitudes towards private sector work during study in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-asqah Amnah
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the students’ attitudes towards private sector work during study.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a comprehensive social survey (including questionnaire and interviewing) distributed to experts in departments and colleges in King Saud University and Princess Nora University.

Findings

This study found that students’ attitudes can be influenced by the financial and social security achieved through private work during study, and the personal development of job skills. Whereas society’s inferior view to private work, study and working hours’ conflicts, and the insufficient information about private work during study are some of the negative factors that influence their attitudes. It also emphasised the role of the private sector in influencing such attitudes by advertising job opportunities for students, giving them flexible work hours and providing training programmes. This study concludes with a proposal suggesting how to modify students’ attitudes towards private sector work during study.

Originality/value

This paper identifies the students’ attitudes towards private sector work during study and suggests a proposal that contributes to support students’ positive attitudes and adjust the negative ones; thus, helping to reduce the unemployment rate among young people.
An empirical-deductive model for the assessment of the mortgage lending value of properties as securities for credit exposures
Authors: Tajani Francesco , Morano Pierluigi
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This study aims to propose and test an innovative methodology for assessing mortgage lending value. The method tries to improve and rationalize, within the canonical and derivative approach that is generally used by the sector operators, the appraisal of the percentage reduction to be applied to the market value.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering that the European Mortgage Federation and the Basel Committee highlight the importance of information about the risks of properties to be loaned on, the value at risk approach has been developed so as to assess the mortgage lending value as a technique of risk analysis. With reference to the Italian context, the method elaborates the historical analysis of the property values in 93 major Italian cities for the residential and commercial intended uses in a significant period (1967-2015) and allows to determine the reduction coefficients of the market value as a function of the central, semi-central and peripheral locations of the property.

Findings

The results include the reduction coefficients of the market value for the derivative appraisal of the mortgage lending value. The coefficients obtained satisfy the need for a rational assessment of the property risk and the appropriate spatial contextualization of the risk components related to the local demand and supply, thus eliminating any inconsistency and danger of determining the mortgage lending value using a simple and lump-sum percentage deduction of the market value.

Originality/value

The global economic crisis in the past decade, triggered by the 2007 US Subprime mortgage crisis and consequent collapse of property values, has highlighted the need for high level professional skills in the appraisal of properties as securities for credit exposures. The method proposed for the assessment of the mortgage lending value allows to overcome the uncertainties underlying the determination of an independent value through indirect methods (income approach, cost approach) and rationalize the appraisal of the risk in the traditional derivative approach through a flexible procedure, with it being possible to adapt it to any territorial context, as well as any intended use.
Public sector’s perspective on implementing public – private partnership (PPP) policy in Ghana and Hong Kong
Authors: Osei-Kyei Robert , Chan Albert P.C.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The public sector plays a critical role in the successful implementation of public–private partnership (PPP) projects. Thus, there is a need to holistically explore the public sector’s view on the implementation practices of PPP. This paper aims to explore and compare the public sector’s views on PPP practices in Ghana and Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with PPP practitioners of senior authority in public institutions in both Ghana and Hong Kong. The interviews covered critical issues of PPP implementation practices such as motivations for engaging in PPP, success criteria/indicators, critical success factors (CSFs), external stakeholder management and training and education in PPPs.

Findings

The findings show that quick delivery of public projects and private sector efficiency are the reasons considered by both groups of interviewees. On the success criteria, interviewees from both jurisdictions mentioned user satisfaction, budget, time and quality. The CSFs mentioned by both groups include capacity building and training, project viability, proper planning and good feasibility studies. Sensitization programs, including open forums and community meetings, were mentioned by both groups as measures for managing external stakeholders. On the training and education, both groups mentioned international study tours and organizing courses and seminars.

Originality/value

The outputs of this study offer strategies that are very useful to international private developers who are interested in PPP practices in Africa and Asia. Further, the findings contribute to the knowledge on the international best practices for PPP.
Muslim and non-Muslim consumers’ perception towards introduction of Islamic banking in Ghana
Authors: Mbawuni Joseph , Nimako Simon Gyasi
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This study aims to examine consumer perception of introduction of Islamic banking (IB) in Ghana, which is a new and emerging form of banking in many non-Islamic countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical field data were collected from a sample of 975 respondents using self-administered structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was conducted using SPSS version 16.

Findings

Muslim respondents have significantly positive perceptions of IB compared to non-Muslims and have stronger intentions to adopt IB in Ghana than non-Muslims. Non-Muslims have high perceived benefit of IB. Non-Muslim respondents do not perceive potential threat of violence associated with the introduction of IB in Ghana. Although non-Muslims perceive IB that would make Islam popular, they do not perceive it as a means of Islamizing bank customers. Relatively, non-Muslims appear to have low knowledge of IB, unfavourable attitude towards IB, are reluctant to comply withSharialaw and consequently have weaker intentions to adopt IB.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited to descriptive analysis and to only Ghana. Future research should quantitatively model IB adoption and switching factors using samples from other developing countries.

Practical implications

IB institutions could focus on attracting a niche of Muslim consumers at its initial stages. Moreover, to facilitate the introduction of IB, the Bank of Ghana and other relevant stakeholders, in addition to establishing effective governance structures, must promote consumer education to enhance consumer knowledge of IB and correct misconceptions about IB among consumers, particularly non-Muslim customers.

Originality/value

One unique contribution of this study is that it provides an initial empirical exploration of consumers’ attitude and perceptions of IB in Ghana, which is an under-researched area.
FINRA revises and restructures registration and exam requirements
Authors: Johnsen Edward J. , Grady John H.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

To explain a new set of rules, detailed in FINRA Regulatory Notice 17-30, proposed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), that revise and streamline the number and types of proficiency exams broker-dealer personnel must take in order to become registered, as well as the categories of registration.

Design/methodology/approach

Discusses the background, including FINRA’s consolidation of National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) rules; the new registration regime; conditions for waivers; criteria for “permissive” registration; firms’ requirement to designate “Principal Financial Officers” and “Principal Operations Officers”; new categories of principal registration; FINRA’s elimination of certain registration categories; research analyst, research principal and supervisory analyst exam requirements; the ability of a registered representative to function as a principal for a limited period; the prohibition of unregistered persons to accept orders from customers; and the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Examination Content Outline.

Findings

The new structure is intended to bring greater consistency and uniformity to the qualification process. Among other changes, it eliminates several registration categories that either have become outdated or have limited utility, permits persons not yet associated with a broker-dealer or employed in the securities industry to take a preliminary registration exam prior to entering the securities industry, and makes other changes intended to modernize the registration and examination regime for broker-dealer personnel.

Originality/value

Practical guidance from lawyers with broad stock brokerage, investment management and related financial services experience.
SEC releases enforcement division FY 2017 annual report: shift in tone and likely approach
Authors: Solomon Matthew C. , Bergen Robin M. , Collins Alexis
Published: March 2018

Purpose

To discuss and analyze the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) FY 2017 Annual Report, which details its priorities for the coming year and evaluates enforcement actions that occurred during FY2017.

Design/methodology/approach

Summarizes key shifts from FY 2016, outlines the Enforcement Division’s current priorities, and, in view of its stated focus on the conduct of investment professionals and protection of retail investors, provides guidance to the investment management industry as it gears up for the coming year.

Findings

The Report provides insight into changes in the SEC’s approach to enforcement actions, including a general shift in tone suggesting a more measured approach to enforcement and remedies and a move away from a statistics-oriented approach, and a glimpse into its priorities for the coming year, including five core principles guiding the Division’s enforcement decisions.

Practical implications

As those in the asset management industry consider revisions to their policies and procedures for FY 2018, as well as their risk profile more generally, they should keep in mind key insights into the Commission’s enforcement strategy offered by the Report.

Originality/value

Practical guidance from experienced securities enforcement, litigation, compliance and anti-corruption lawyers.
FINANCING STRUCTURE AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF SELECTED SADC MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS (MFIs)
Authors: BAYAI Innocent , IKHIDE Sylvanus
Published: March 2018

This study analyses selected Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in delineating how commercialized financing structure relates to financial sustainability given the need to control poverty through financially sustainable MFIs. The study takes from a recent SADC microfinance survey which recommended financial rescue packages for ailing MFIs to proffer financial sustainability. This survey failed to specify the form of financing which supports financial sustainability in addition to the inconclusive and little evidence in this regard. We note that though the financing structure and the level of financial sustainability varies with countries, MFIs are generally financially unsustainable. A robust probit model framework affirms the role of financing structure on financial sustainability. Portfolio at risk, cost efficiency and costs linked to deposit attraction explain financial sustainability. We suggest the availing of more donations, upgrading risk management and improving cost efficiency to induce financial sustainability.
Systematic review of outcome measures following chemoradiotherapy for the treatment of anal cancer (CORMAC)
Authors: Fish R. , Sanders C. , Ryan N. , der Veer S. Van , Renehan A. G. , Williamson P. R.
Published: March 2018

Aim

Six Phase III randomized trials have determined the effectiveness of chemoradiotherapy as primary treatment for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC), but outcomes reported in these trials varied widely, hindering evidence synthesis. To improve reporting in all future trials, we aim to develop a core outcomes set (COS). As the first stage of COS development, we undertook a systematic review to summarize the outcomes reported in studies evaluating chemoradiotherapy for ASCC.

Method

Systematic literature searches identified studies evaluating radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for ASCC. Outcomes and accompanying definitions were extracted verbatim and categorized into domains.

Results

From 5170 abstracts, we identified 95 eligible studies, reporting 1192 outcomes and 533 unique terms. We collapsed these terms into 86 standardized outcomes and five domains: survival; disease activity; life impact [including quality of life (QoL)]; delivery of care; and toxicity. The most commonly reported domains were survival and disease activity, reported in 74 (86%) and 54 (62%) studies, respectively. No outcome was reported in every publication. Over half (43/86) of the standardized outcome terms were reported in fewer than five studies, and 21 (25%) were reported in a single study only. There was wide variation in definitions of disease‐free survival, colostomy‐free survival and progression‐free survival (PFS). Anal continence was reported in only 35 (41%) studies.

Conclusion

Outcomes reported in studies evaluating chemoradiotherapy for ASCC were heterogenous and definitions varied widely. Outcomes likely to be important to patients, such as ano‐rectal function, toxicity and QoL, have been neglected. A COS for future trials will address these issues.
Two cases of hepatopathy and hyperferraemia managed with deferoxamine and phlebotomy
Authors: Gummery L. , Johnston P. E. J. , Sutton D. G. M. , Raftery A. G.
Published: March 2018

The following case report documents the investigation and progression of two cases of hepatic failure and hyperferraemia in Shetland ponies in Scotland exposed to high environmental levels of iron in groundwater, and to the authors’ knowledge describes the first use of deferoxamine in adult ponies. The importance of consideration of serum iron levels in cases of equine hepatic disease is highlighted and it is suggested that reduction in serum iron by phlebotomy or treatment with deferoxamine may be beneficial in cases displaying hyperferraemia.
Masculinity or Femininity: Questioning Social Gender of Personal Nouns
Authors: Zhao Liang
Published: March 2018

Since essentialism and binarism of gender is challenged in gender studies, poststructuralists argue for a more deconstructive perspective of gender. Through a survey on social gender of thirty lexically female and male Chinese personal nouns, this research tends to examine: 1) how lexically female and male personal nouns are socially gendered in language use, 2) how such social gendering affects sex stereotyping. Combining a langue-oriented and structuralist framework with a parole-oriented and poststructuralist perspective, the author shows that diversified language use encourages coining of new lexical forms. Along with this process transitions and shifts happen to traditional sex stereotypes. This research encourages more similar research with combined structuralist and poststructuralist approaches on the interrelationship between gender and language. (Personal nouns, social gender, sex stereotypes, gender representation)
L-space knots
Authors: Greene Joshua Evan , Lewallen Sam , Vafaee Faramarz
Published: March 2018

We characterize the $(1,1)$ knots in the 3-sphere and lens spaces that admit non-trivial L-space surgeries. As a corollary, 1-bridge braids in these manifolds admit non-trivial L-space surgeries. We also recover a characterization of the Berge manifold among 1-bridge braid exteriors.
Medidas de protección al consumidor de seguros en contextos de liberalización de mercados
Authors: Sánchez Guerrero Daniel
Published: March 2018

Este artículo presenta algunas medidas de protección al consumidor de seguros, en contextos de liberalización de mercados, con base en la normatividad e instituciones más relevantes del Reino Unido, Alemania y Colombia. Los ejes de comparación utilizados en este artículo para comparar instituciones existentes actualmente en estas tres naciones son (i) medidas normativas y (ii) medidas bilaterales y multilaterales. Con base en experiencias europeas, se plantea que resultaría deseable una mayor intervención del regulador colombiano, mediante mecanismos bilaterales y multilaterales, dadas las evidentes limitaciones que tiene la protección al consumidor de seguros colombiano en el contexto de la liberalización del mercado asegurador colombiano.