bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inégalités sociales et logiques spatiales à la Martinique
Authors: Chivallon Christine
Published: November 2011

La distribution à travers l'espace martiniquais découpé en sept grands ensembles régionaux, de quelques indicateurs relatifs aux revenus, à l'emploi et au niveau de consommation laisse apparaître des disparités notables. Cette inégalité s'inscrit de manière concentrique à partir de Fort-de-France qui mobilise l'essentiel des ressources de l'île. Le modèle qui se dégage est somme toute classique. Le cas martiniquais offre cependant une variante dans la mesure où le phénomène urbain dessine des régions périphériques différenciées en fonction de la place qu'elles occupaient dans le dispositif spatial traditionnel.
Enquêter sur la prostitution de rue... De quelques enjeux qui engagent une prise de position du chercheur
Authors: Mayer Sibylla
Published: November 2011

Résumé Cette contribution propose un retour réflexif sur les débuts d’un terrain de recherche qui, à différents égards, peut être qualifié de sensible. Partant d’une définition de l’objet « prostitution » et du contexte dans lequel il s’inscrit, l’objectif est de décrire et discuter les implications et engagements du chercheur en lien avec différentes facettes de la production de connaissances, de l’accès au terrain à la restitution concernant un thème « d’actualité » qui fait l’objet d’un débat polarisé. À partir d’un ensemble de difficultés rencontrées, nous montrerons comment le chercheur est, aux différentes étapes de la recherche, sommé de prendre position ou, à tout le moins, de dire de quel côté il se situe.
De la prostitution aux clients de la prostitution
Authors: Jovelin Emmanuel
Published: November 2011

Résumé L’objet de cet article est de faire un détour d’une série des travaux que j’ai menés sur les questions de la prostitution, en prenant comme angle théorique les rapports sociaux de sexe. La prostitution est-elle une activité exercée sous contrainte ou un choix consenti?? Cet article tente de répondre à cette question en partant d’un travail sur l’opinion publique face à la prostitution, jusqu’à une recherche sur les clients de la prostitution. Je montre en fait en quoi cette activité ne peut être appréhendée sans la mettre en lien avec la domination masculine. Mon postulat c’est qu’il est difficile de comprendre la prostitution, sans la replacer dans un cadre global, celui des rapports sociaux des sexes, car le système prostitutionnel est celui de la domination du groupe des hommes sur celui des femmes?: sur les sexes, le corps et sur les êtres humains dans leur ensemble (Jovelin, 2010).
Pratique de la prostitution : regards croisés entre régulation socioéconomique et rejet des normes
Authors: Kemayou Louis Roger , Guebou Tadjuidje François , Madiba Marie Sophie
Published: November 2011

Résumé À partir d’un constat relatif aux pratiques sociales défiant les interdits ou à tout le moins les valeurs socioculturelles en Afrique subsaharienne, nous avons identifié dans la société camerounaise une recrudescence de la prostitution. Ce phénomène a essaimé des principaux centres urbains de nombre de pays du continent. Et ce, au mépris de ce qu’en dit le législateur et au grand dam de la société. Pratique jadis secrète, la prostitution fait florès et s’expose ; elle s’exerce désormais à visage découvert et sans gêne apparent. Dès lors, porter des regards croisés sur la régulation socioéconomique d’un tel désordre social nous conduit à mettre en tension la configuration de la prostitution telle que subie par la société et/ou perçue comme une pratique marginale. Notre optique pluridisciplinaire mobilise la sociologie économique, l’anthropologie culturelle, la communication, dans les perspectives théoriques convoquant les théories dynamiste et de l’analyse stratégique : l’une pour proposer une approche diachronique de l’objet à l’étude, l’autre pour rendre compte des rationalités qui y sont à l’œuvre aux fins de sa régulation. Au plan méthodologique, nous avons eu recours à l’ethnométhodologie pour explorer en profondeur, le quotidien des acteurs aux fins de mettre en exergue le sens et la représentation que ces derniers construisent autour de ce « désordre ». Cette approche qualitative a requis, outre l’observation de racolages dans les rues ou dans d’autres lieux de loisirs, la conduite des entretiens semi-dirigés dont nous proposons une analyse des propos. Les résultats auxquels nous sommes parvenus sont les suivants : la prostitution pour dynamique qu’elle paraît, l’est moins suite à l’accommodation des citadins en général au phénomène, qu’au laxisme des pouvoirs publics et à l’influence de réseaux relationnels et autres protecteurs qui tirent grand profit de cette activité. Nonobstant les efforts dont les acteurs de la prostitution font montre pour contourner les normes sociales, ils ne sont pas moins perçus comme une menace sur l’intégrité des mœurs locales, tant les conditions de vie des prostituées ne s’améliorent pas ; tout au plus survivent-elles à peine en pratiquant ce métier.
Les étudiants et la prostitution : entre fantasmes et réalité
Authors: Dequiré Anne-Françoise
Published: November 2011

Résumé En France, les conditions de vie des étudiants divergent. Si certains d’entre eux jugent leurs conditions de vie acceptables, d’autres vivent des situations de précarité, voire d’extrême pauvreté. Au-delà de petits boulots occupés durant l’année universitaire ou durant les périodes estivales, certain(e)s n’ont trouvé que cette ultime solution : la prostitution. Cet article pose plusieurs questions : qui sont les étudiants en France ? Quelles sont leurs conditions de vie ? Qui sont les étudiant(e)s prostitué(e)s ? Quelles motivations trouvent-ils à cette pratique ? Comment s’organise cette prostitution étudiante ?
P2Y6 Receptor Signaling Pathway Mediates Inflammatory Responses Induced by Monosodium Urate Crystals
Authors: Uratsuji Hideya , Tada Yayoi , Kawashima Tomohiko , Kamata Masahiro , Hau Carren Sy , Asano Yoshihide , Sugaya Makoto , Kadono Takafumi , Asahina Akihiko , Sato Shinichi , Tamaki Kunihiko
Published: November 2011

Gout occurs in individuals with hyperuricemia when monosodium urate (MSU) crystals precipitate in tissues and induce acute inflammation via phagocytic cells such as monocytes. MSU crystals have been demonstrated in skin diseases such as tophaceous gout or psoriasis; however, the importance of MSU crystals in the skin is totally unknown. In this study, we found that MSU crystals, through P2Y6 receptors, stimulated normal human keratinocytes (NHK) to produce IL-1α, IL-8/CXCL8, and IL-6. P2Y6 receptor expression increased in MSU-stimulated NHK. Both P2Y6-specific antagonist and P2Y6 antisense oligonucleotides significantly inhibited the production of IL-1α, IL-8/CXCL8, and IL-6 by NHK. Similarly, the P2Y6-specific antagonist completely inhibited the MSU-induced production of IL-1β by THP-1 cells, a human monocytic cell line. Remarkably, the P2Y6-specific antagonist significantly reduced neutrophil influx in both mouse air pouch and peritonitis models. Thus, these results indicate that the P2Y6 receptor signaling pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for MSU-associated inflammatory diseases, such as tophaceous gout.
Is There a Typical Germinal Center? A Large-Scale Immunohistological Study on the Cellular Composition of Germinal Centers during the Hapten-Carrier–Driven Primary Immune Response in Mice
Authors: Wittenbrink Nicole , Klein Anke , Weiser Armin A. , Schuchhardt Johannes , Or-Guil Michal
Published: November 2011

Germinal centers (GCs) are complex, multicell-type, transient structures that form in secondary lymphatic tissues in response to T cell-dependent stimulation. This process is crucial to the adaptive immune response because it is the source of affinity maturation and long-lived B cell memory. Our previous studies showed that the growth of murine splenic GCs is nonsynchronized, involving broad-volume distributions of individual GCs at any time. This raises the question whether such a thing as a typical GC exists. To address this matter, we acquired large-scale confocal data on GCs throughout the course of the 2-phenyl-5-oxazolone chicken serum albumin-driven primary immune response in BALB/c mice. Semiautomated image analysis of 3457 GC sections revealed that, although there is no typical GC in terms of size, GCs have a typical cellular composition in that the cell ratios of resident T cells, macrophages, proliferating cells, and apoptotic nuclei are maintained during the established phase of the response. Moreover, our data provide evidence that the dark zone (DZ) and light zone (LZ) compartments of GCs are about the same size and led us to estimate that the minimal cell loss rate in GCs is 3% per hour. Furthermore, we found that the population of GC macrophages is larger and more heterogeneous than previously thought, and that despite enrichment of T cells in the LZ, the DZ of murine splenic GCs is not poor in T cells. DZ and LZ differ in the T cell-to-macrophage ratio rather than in the density of T cells.
Interaction of Streptavidin-Based Peptide–MHC Oligomers (Tetramers) with Cell-Surface TCRs
Authors: Stone Jennifer D. , Artyomov Maxim N. , Chervin Adam S. , Chakraborty Arup K. , Eisen Herman N. , Kranz David M.
Published: November 2011

The binding of oligomeric peptide–MHC (pMHC) complexes to cell surface TCR can be considered to approximate TCR–pMHC interactions at cell-cell interfaces. In this study, we analyzed the equilibrium binding of streptavidin-based pMHC oligomers (tetramers) and their dissociation kinetics from CD8pos T cells from 2C-TCR transgenic mice and from T cell hybridomas that expressed the 2C TCR or a high-affinity mutant (m33) of this TCR. Our results show that the tetramers did not come close to saturating cell-surface TCR (binding only 10–30% of cell-surface receptors), as is generally assumed in deriving affinity values (KD), in part because of dissociative losses from tetramer-stained cells. Guided by a kinetic model, the oligomer dissociation rate and equilibrium constants were seen to depend not only on monovalent association and dissociation rates (koff and kon), but also on a multivalent association rate (μ) and TCR cell-surface density. Our results suggest that dissociation rates could account for the recently described surprisingly high frequency of tetramer-negative, functionally competent T cells in some T cell responses.
Eosinophils as a Novel Cell Source of Prostaglandin D2: Autocrine Role in Allergic Inflammation
Authors: Luna-Gomes Tatiana , Magalhães Kelly G. , Mesquita-Santos Fabio P. , Bakker-Abreu Ilka , Samico Rafaela F. , Molinaro Raphael , Calheiros Andrea S. , Diaz Bruno L. , Bozza Patrícia T. , Weller Peter F. , Bandeira-Melo Christianne
Published: November 2011

PGD2 is a key mediator of allergic inflammatory diseases that is mainly synthesized by mast cells, which constitutively express high levels of the terminal enzyme involved in PGD2 synthesis, the hematopoietic PGD synthase (H-PGDS). In this study, we investigated whether eosinophils are also able to synthesize, and therefore, supply biologically active PGD2. PGD2 synthesis was evaluated within human blood eosinophils, in vitro differentiated mouse eosinophils, and eosinophils infiltrating inflammatory site of mouse allergic reaction. Biological function of eosinophil-derived PGD2 was studied by employing inhibitors of synthesis and activity. Constitutive expression of H-PGDS was found within nonstimulated human circulating eosinophils. Acute stimulation of human eosinophils with A23187 (0.1–5 μM) evoked PGD2 synthesis, which was located at the nuclear envelope and was inhibited by pretreatment with HQL-79 (10 μM), a specific H-PGDS inhibitor. Prestimulation of human eosinophils with arachidonic acid (10 μM) or human eotaxin (6 nM) also enhanced HQL-79–sensitive PGD2 synthesis, which, by acting on membrane-expressed specific receptors (D prostanoid receptors 1 and 2), displayed an autocrine/paracrine ability to trigger leukotriene C4 synthesis and lipid body biogenesis, hallmark events of eosinophil activation. In vitro differentiated mouse eosinophils also synthesized paracrine/autocrine active PGD2 in response to arachidonic acid stimulation. In vivo, at late time point of the allergic reaction, infiltrating eosinophils found at the inflammatory site appeared as an auxiliary PGD2-synthesizing cell population. Our findings reveal that eosinophils are indeed able to synthesize and secrete PGD2, hence representing during allergic inflammation an extra cell source of PGD2, which functions as an autocrine signal for eosinophil activation.
Deciphering the Pathways of Death ofHistoplasma capsulatum-Infected Macrophages: Implications for the Immunopathogenesis of Early Infection
Authors: Deepe George S. , Buesing William R.
Published: November 2011

Apoptosis of leukocytes is known to strongly influence the immunopathogenesis of infection. In this study, we dissected the death pathways of murine macrophages (MΦs) infected with the intracellular pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum. Yeast cells caused apoptosis of MΦs at a wide range of multiplicity of infection, but smaller inocula resulted in delayed detection of apoptosis. Upon infection, caspases 3 and 1 were activated, and both contributed to cell death; however, only the former was involved in apoptosis. The principal driving force for apoptosis involved the extrinsic pathway via engagement of TNFR1 by TNF-α. Infected MΦs produced IL-10 that dampened apoptosis. The chronology of TNF-α and IL-10 release differed in vitro. The former was detected by 2 h postinfection, and the latter was not detected until 8 h postinfection. In vivo, the lungs of TNFR1−/− mice infected for 1 d contained fewer apoptotic MΦs than wild-type mice, whereas the lungs of IL-10−/− mice exhibited more. Blockade of apoptosis by a pan-caspase inhibitor or by simvastatin sharply reduced the release of TNF-α but enhanced IL-10. However, these treatments did not modify the fungal burden in vitro over 72 h. Thus, suppressing cell death modulated cytokine release but did not alter the fungal burden. These findings provide a framework for the early pathogenesis of histoplasmosis in which yeast cell invasion of lung MΦs engenders apoptosis, triggered in part in an autocrine TNF-α–dependent manner, followed by release of IL-10 that likely prevents apoptosis of newly infected neighboring phagocytes.
Efficacy of SMART Stent Placement for Salvage Angioplasty in Hemodialysis Patients with Recurrent Vascular Access Stenosis
Authors: Hatakeyama Shingo , Toikawa Terumasa , Okamoto Akiko , Yamamoto Hayato , Imanishi Kengo , Okamoto Teppei , Tokui Noriko , Suzuki Yuichiro , Sugiyama Naoki , Imai Atsushi , Hashimoto Yasuhiro , Kudo Shigemasa , Yoneyama Takahiro , Koie Takuya , Kamimura Noritaka , Saitoh Hisao , Funyu Tomihisa , Ohyama Chikara
Published: November 2011

Vascular access stenosis is a major complication in hemodialysis patients. We prospectively observed 50 patients in whom 50 nitinol shape-memory alloy-recoverable technology (SMART) stents were used as salvage therapy for recurrent peripheral venous stenosis. Twenty-five stents each were deployed in native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and synthetic arteriovenous polyurethane graft (AVG) cases. Vascular access patency rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The primary patency rates in AVFversusAVG at 3, 6, and 12 months were 80.3%versus75.6%, 64.9%versus28.3%, and 32.3%versus18.9%, respectively. The secondary patency rates in AVFversusAVG at 3, 6, and 12 months were 88.5%versus75.5%, 82.6%versus61.8%, and 74.4%versus61.8%, respectively. Although there were no statistically significant difference in patency between AVF and AVG, AVG showed poor tendency in primary and secondary patency. The usefulness of SMART stents was limited in a short period of time in hemodialysis patients with recurrent vascular access stenosis.
Characterization of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus-Related Lymphomas by DNA Microarray Analysis
Authors: Ueda Keiji , Ohsaki Eriko , Nakano Kazushi , Zheng Xin
Published: November 2011

Among herpesviruses, γ-herpesviruses are supposed to have typical oncogenic activities. Two human γ-herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), are putative etiologic agents for Burkitt lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and some cases of gastric cancers, and Kaposi's sarcoma, multicentric Castleman's disease, and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) especially in AIDS setting for the latter case, respectively. Since such two viruses mentioned above are highly species specific, it has been quite difficult to prove their oncogenic activities in animal models. Nevertheless, the viral oncogenesis is epidemiologically and/or in vitro experimentally evident. This time, we investigated gene expression profiles of KSHV-oriented lymphoma cell lines, EBV-oriented lymphoma cell lines, and T-cell leukemia cell lines. Both KSHV and EBV cause a B-cell-originated lymphoma, but the gene expression profiles were typically classified. Furthermore, KSHV could govern gene expression profiles, although PELs are usually coinfected with KSHV and EBV.
Assessing the Diagnostic Imaging needs for Five Selected Hospitals in Uganda
Authors: Kawooya Michael G , Pariyo George , Malwadde Elsie K , Byanyima Rosemary , Kisembo Harrient
Published: November 2011

Introduction:

Uganda has limited health resources. It is important to measure the need for imaging in order to set policy and plan for imaging services.

Objectives:

The first specific objective was to develop and apply four imaging needs indices on a case study basis, in five selected Ugandan hospitals. The indices were: Imaging Load (IL), Imaging Burden (IB), Type Specific Imaging Burden (TSIB), and Disease Specific Imaging Burden (DSIB). The second objective was to explore the perceptions of the patient, referring clinician, and radiologist regarding the values, meaning, and objective of imaging in patient care.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional survey employing triangulation methodology, conducted in 5 Ugandan hospitals over a period of 3 years during 2005 - 2008. The subjects were divided into four clusters: Obstetrics and gynecology (obs/gynae), surgery, internal medicine, and pediatrics. For the quantitative component of the study, data from case notes was used to calculate the indices. The qualitative component explored the non-measurable aspects of imaging needs from the clinician's, radiologist's, and patient's perspective.

Results:

A total of 1961 patient case notes were studied. The IB was 460 per 1000 hospital patients per year. The highest TSIB was for ultrasound at 232 per 1000 hospital patients per year, followed by 191 patients for general X-ray. The majority of the patients interviewed had special desires, expectations, and misconceptions.

Conclusions:

There is a high IB of 460 per thousand patient populations per year, mainly due to ultrasound. The majority of the patients have perceptions, misconceptions, beliefs, and values which influence the need for imaging. There is a need to address the medical and non-tangible imaging needs of the patient and to counteract imaging-related misconceptions and over-expectations. Public awareness of the value, capabilities, limitations, and adverse effects of various imaging modalities need to be addressed to ensure that the patients make informed imaging choices and readily avail themselves of interventions in situations when imaging is crucial, for example in suspected high-risk pregnancy.
Aberrant Signaling Pathways in Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma
Authors: Shi Ivy , Sadraei Nooshin Hashemi , Duan Zhong-Hui , Shi Ting
Published: November 2011

Lung cancer is the second most commonly occurring non-cutaneous cancer in the United States with the highest mortality rate among both men and women. In this study, we utilized three lung cancer microarray datasets generated by previous researchers to identify differentially expressed genes, altered signaling pathways, and assess the involvement of Hedgehog (Hh) pathway. The three datasets contain the expression levels of tens of thousands genes in normal lung tissues and squamous cell lung carcinoma. The datasets were combined and analyzed. The dysregulated genes and altered signaling pathways were identified using statistical methods. We then performed Fisher's exact test on the significance of the association of Hh pathway downstream genes and squamous cell lung carcinoma.

395 genes were found commonly differentially expressed in squamous cell lung carcinoma. The genes encoding fibrous structural protein keratins and cell cycle dependent genes encoding cyclin-dependent kinases were significantly up-regulated while the ones encoding LIM domains were down. Over 100 signaling pathways were implicated in squamous cell lung carcinoma, including cell cycle regulation pathway, p53 tumor-suppressor pathway, IL-8 signaling, Wnt-β-catenin pathway, mTOR signaling and EGF signaling. In addition, 37 out of 223 downstream molecules of Hh pathway were altered. The P-value from the Fisher's exact test indicates that Hh signaling is implicated in squamous cell lung carcinoma.

Numerous genes were altered and multiple pathways were dysfunctional in squamous cell lung carcinoma. Many of the altered genes have been implicated in different types of carcinoma while some are organ-specific. Hh signaling is implicated in squamous cell lung cancer, opening the door for exploring new cancer therapeutic treatment using GLI antagonist GANT 61.
Earnings Benchmarks in International hotel firms
Authors:   Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Parte Esteban Laura ,   Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales,   Dpto. Economía de la Empresa y Contabilidad,   Paseo Senda del Rey, 11,   28040 Madrid,   E-mail:lparte@cee.uned.es, Such Devesa María Jesús ,   Universidad de Alcalá; Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales; Dpto. de Estadística, Estructura Económica y Organización Económica Internacional; Antiguo Colegio de Mínimos; Plaza de la Victoria, 2; 28802 Alcalá de Henares (MADRID); E-mail: mjesus.such@uah.es
Published: November 2011

This paper focuses on earnings management around earnings benchmarks (avoiding losses and earnings decreases hypothesis) in international firms and non international firms belonging to the Spanish hotel industry. First, frequency histograms are used to determine the existence of a discontinuity in earnings in both segments. Second, the use of discretionary accruals as a tool to meet earnings benchmarks is analysed in international and non international firms. Empirical evidence shows that international and non international firms meet earnings benchmarks. It is also noted different behaviour between international and non international firms.
A social initiative in the textile recovery field that creates employment: Berohi S. Coop.
Authors:   Universidad del País Vasco, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Dpto. Economía Financiera II. Avda. Lehendakari Aguirre 83, 48015 BILBAO. E-mail: maite.ruiz@ehu.es, Ruiz-Roqueñi Maite , Retolaza Ávalos Jose Luis ,   AURKILAN Business Ethics Research Institute, Bañales Mallo Amaia ,   Universidad del País Vasco, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Dpto. Economía Financiera II. Avda. Lehendakari Aguirre 83, 48015 BILBAO. E-mail: amaia.banales@ehu.es
Published: November 2011

The increase in clothes consumption causes a raise in the volume of thrown out clothes each year, and this provokes the awareness of reusing that resource necessity. Berohi S. Coop. is one of the organizations placed in Bizkaia (Basque Country) that works in second hand clothing recovery and recycling. The initial conception and development of Berohi S. Coop. business project is the focal point of this case. Berohi S. Coop. was founded in 2000 as a result of a collaboration process among the Basque Country entities that worked in second hand clothing recovery. Berohi is a cooperative society of public utility and social initiative whose main objectives are to satisfy the clothing requirements of needy people, to promote environmental improvement and to create employment for the people in social exclusion risk or situation. Its main activities are the selective collection of second hand clothes, shoes, accessories and the rest of textile elements for their subsequent handling, treatment and sale. Today, the organization provides an integrated solution in the textile recovery field throughout Bizkaia and a development cooperation project in Chile.
The protection of the inventions across patents in european, japanese and american universities
Authors:   Universidad de Vigo, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Departamento de Organización de Empresas y Marketing, Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo (Pontevedra). email: quintas@uvigo.es, Quintás Corredoira M.ª de los Ángeles , Caballero Fernández Gloria ,   gloriacf@ uvigo.es, Arévalo Tomé Raquel ,   arevalo@uvigo.es, Piñeiro García Pilar ,   Universidad de Vigo, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Departamento de Organización de Empresas y Marketing, Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo (Pontevedra). email: otremo@uvigo.es
Published: November 2011

In the last years an increasing trend has taken place in the universities of the whole world to protecting their inventions across rights of patents. This fact reflects the major usefulness of the university investigation and the intention of transferring these results to the industry. In this work we study the patents that have applied, across the European route, the Japanese, American and European universities, in order to establish a comparative analysis among them. We analyze the level of applications that they present, the technological areas and the extension of the protection of these patents and the ranking of the universities that more patents applied and of the companies that collaborate with these universities.
Analysis of the political and legal environment in the context of the strategic planning in tourism and hospitality sector
Authors:   Profesora Doctora de la Universidad de Cádiz, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Departamento de Marketing y Comunicación, Glorieta Carlos Cano s/n. 11002 Cádiz. Email: teresa.alles@uca.es, Fernández Alles Maria Teresa
Published: November 2011

Tourism companies are caught in a changing environment, characterized by technological advances, increased global competition and the consequences of the global economic crisis. Under these circumstances, tourism companies are forced to devise marketing strategies and implement strategic plans. Well, to understand the marketing and developing effective strategies is to understand the context in which the company operates, since it will generate market opportunities and threats presented that will condition their future. Among the forces that comprise the business environment are the economy, society, politics, demographics, among others. One of the most significant demographic phenomena for tourism enterprises in the last decade has been the increase in the disabled population, combined with greater participation in the tourism sector itself. However, this participation could be even greater if both destinations and companies comprising it were accessible to the disabled. The scant attention paid to them until recently, disabled people, and especially their right to leisure and enjoy your free time, have led to tourist destinations not accessible to disabled tourists. The present work is focused on the study of political and legal environment in the tourism sector in general and in the hotel sector, particularly regarding accessibility.
The importance of management in the university spin-offs development. Organizational and financial analysis
Authors:   Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. do Burgo, s/n., 15782 Santiago de Compostela. Email: david.rodeiro@usc.es, Rodeiro Pazos David , Calvo Babío Nuria ,   Universidad de A Coruña, Campus de Elviña s/n., 15071 A Coruña. Email: nuriacb@udc.es, Fernández López Sara ,   1 Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Avda. do Burgo, s/n., 15782 Santiago de Compostela
Published: November 2011

The number of university spin offs in the Spanish University System have increased in the last years. However, these companies still have to face financial and organizational problems, like the lack of management abilities of their founder members. Based on a panel of 72 spin offs created in Spain in the last decade, this paper analyzes the main problems of these companies, and proposes financial and organizational tools to solve some of them. As a result of this previous research, we describe, on the one hand, a series of applied initiatives in organizational design and human resources policies. On the other hand, from a financial perspective, we propose the use of venture capital resource as potential financial instrument. This paper contributes to increase the data frame of university spin offs in Spain, and proposes new approaches to support the management abilities of entrepreneurs, through the proposal of applied organizational and financial tools.
The effect of cultural context on the efficiency of best practices in human resource management
Authors:   Universidad del País Vasco (UPV-EHU), Departamento de Economía Financiera II, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Plaza Oñati 1, 20008 Donostia-San Sebastián. Email: aitziber.lertxundi@ehu.es, Lertxundi Lertxundi Aitziber , Landeta Rodríguez Jon ,   Universidad del País Vasco (UPV-EHU), Departamento de Economía Financiera II, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Plaza Oñati 1, 20008 Donostia-San Sebastián. Email: jon.landeta@ehu.es
Published: November 2011

The efficiency of High Performance Work Systems has been a special object of study for the last two decades. Analysis of their behaviour has involved the consideration of Several factors that supposedly moderate their efficiency, among which internal company factors stand out. However, contextual perspective has not been considered in great detail. In this regard, we go about our analysis incorporating cultural context as a possible moderating variable. From a sample of foreign affiliates of Spanish multinational companies, the results recommend that this variable be more closely considered in future investigations.
Chinese multinationals: how do institutional factors affect their location patterns?
Authors:   Universidad de Alicante, Departamento de Organización de Empresas, Campus de San Vicente del Raspeig, Ap. 99. E-03080. Alicante. Email: diego.quer@ua.es, Quer Ramón Diego , Claver Cortés Enrique ,   Universidad de Alicante, Departamento de Organización de Empresas, Campus de San Vicente del Raspeig, Ap. 99. E-03080. Alicante. Email: enrique.claver@ua.es, Rienda García Laura ,   Universidad de Alicante, Departamento de Organización de Empresas, Campus de San Vicente del Raspeig, Ap. 99. E-03080. Alicante. Email: laura.rienda@ua.es
Published: November 2011

This paper analyses the impact of various host country institutional factors on the location patterns of 29 large Chinese multinationals. From a sample of 127 outward foreign direct investment (FDI) decisions made in 52 countries, our findings suggest that a greater difficulty in doing business and a high political risk in the host country do not discourage Chinese multinationals. However, the presence of overseas Chinese in the host country, a larger absolute host market size and a higher volume of Chinese exports to that country affect positively.
Corporate social responsibility benchmarking. The case of galician firms
Authors:   2 Universidad de Vigo, Facultad de CCEE, Lagoas Marcosende, s/n 36200. Vigo. Email:egzlez@uvigo.es, González Vázquez Encarnación , Alén González Mª Elisa ,   Universidad de Vigo, Facultad de CCEE y Turismo, Campus Universitario, s/n 32004 Ourense. Email: alen@uvigo.es, Rodríguez Comesaña Lorenzo ,   Universidad de Vigo, Facultad de CCEE y Turismo, Campus Universitario, s/n 32004 Ourense. Email: loroco@uvigo.es
Published: November 2011

In this paper we review the concept of corporate social responsibility. Subsequently we analyze the possibilities and problems of the use of benchmarking in CSR by analyzing the latest research that had developed a method of benchmarking. From this analysis we propose a homogeneous indicator that assesses 68 aspects related to the various stakeholders involved in CSR. It also provides information on the importance attached by respondents to these aspects. The results for each of the 5 sectors considered show the areas in which the work in CSR is greatest and others where improvement is needed.
A predictive model of the export behaviour of small and medium sized firms: an application to the case of Castilla-La Mancha
Authors:   Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13.071 Ciudad Real, Spain. Email: MariaJesus.Ruiz@uclm.es, Ruiz-Fuensanta María Jesús
Published: November 2011

Based on an extensive theoretical review, the aim of this paper is to carry out a closer examination of the differences between exporters according to their commitment to the international market. Once the main disparities are identified by means of a non-parametric test, a logistic analysis based upon data collected from small and medium sized manufacturing firms is conducted in order to construct a classificatory model.
Dinámica de las Redes Virtuales de Fabricación Global en la Industria Aeronáutica
Authors:   Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Departamento de Ingeniería de Organización, Administración de Empresas y Estadística, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, Vilana Arto José Ramón ,   28006 – Madrid. Email: jrvajrva@gmail.com, Rodríguez Monroy Carlos ,   Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Departamento de Ingeniería de Organización, Administración de Empresas y Estadística, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2; 28006 – Madrid. Email: crmonroy@etsii.upm
Published: November 2011

Global manufacturing virtual networks (GMVNs) constitute a new type of organization based on vertical and horizontal relations between independent companies or even competitors where it is not needed to maintain internal manufacturing resources but to manage and share the network resources. The result is a highly flexible system characterized by low barriers to entry and exit, geographic flexibility, low costs, rapid technological diffusion, high diversification through contract manufacturers and exceptional economies of scale and specialization. Within GMVNs, relations are established among Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), component suppliers performing at the same level as the OEMs under formulas such as Risk and Revenue Sharing Partnership (RRSP), or even manufacturers from another industrial sectors. However, the inherent risk of working with competitors is also very relevant. In order to avoid these problems, the OEMs use a variety of structural mechanisms like the utilization of central network positioning, structural holes or indirect links with peripheral actors, in order to be able to maintain a tacit power over other GMVN actors. This work will demonstrate how power is managed in these organizations and the importance of these mechanisms through a quantitative study in one of the sectors where GMVNs have more intensively grown, the manufacturing industry of aircraft engines. This study will permit to know, in a clear manner, how these networks work, to give perspective to one of the organization types that have grown to a great extend over the past years.
New advertising formats: advergames as a marketing communication tool
Authors:   Universitat de València, Facultad de Economía, Dpto. Comercialización e Investigación de Mercados, Avda. Tarongers s/n 46022 Valencia, España. Email: jose.marti-parreno@uv.es, Martí Parreño José , Currás Pérez Rafael ,   Universitat de València, Facultad de Economía, Dpto. Comercialización e Investigación de Mercados, Avda. Tarongers s/n 46022 Valencia, España. Email: rafael.curras-perez@uv.es, Sánchez García Isabel ,   Universitat de València, Facultad de Economía, Dpto. Comercialización e Investigación de Mercados, Avda. Tarongers s/n 46022 Valencia, España. Email: isabel.sanchez@ uv.es
Published: November 2011

Advergames are marketing communication-driven videogames. As a hybrid message, they combine advertising content and entertainment content, providing interesting opportunities to marketing communications in a new media environment where traditional advertising has lost effectiveness. This paper clarifies the concept of advergame, analysing the different types of advergames and their effects on marketing and communication goals. Furthermore some recommendations for implementing marketing communication through advergames are provided, as well as ethic and moral issues that should be considered.
Service Dominant Logic in the tourism sector: internal marketing as an antecedent of an innovations' co-creation culture with clients and first-line employees
Authors:   Universidad de Oviedo, Facultad de Economía y Empresas, Dpto.de Administración de Empresas, Avda. del Cristo, s/n 33071- Oviedo. Email: nuriagr@uniovi.es, García Rodríguez Nuria , Álvarez Álvarez Begoña ,   Universidad de Oviedo, Facultad de Economía y Empresas, Dpto.de Administración de Empresas, Avda. del Cristo, s/n 33071- Oviedo. Email: mbalvarez@uniovi.es, Santos Vijande M.ª Leticia ,   Universidad de Oviedo, Facultad de Economía y Empresas, Dpto.de Administración de Empresas, Avda. del Cristo, s/n 33071- Oviedo. Email: lsantos@uniovi.es
Published: November 2011

This research seeks to achieve a deeper understanding of the Internal Marketing (IM) concept, considered as an operant resource, according to the Service Dominant Logic (SDL) theory, as well as to analyze the IM contribution to the achievement of competitive advantage. To this end, the research examines the IM effect on the organizations' predisposition to involve their clients and first-line employees in the development of new services, widening in this way the opportunities for value co-creation, again from a SDL viewpoint. The conceptual model is tested on a 240 national sample of hotels using structural equations modelling. The results support that those firms more involved in IM practices are also more willing to co-develop new services with their customers and first-line employees, which ultimately improve in a sustained way customer-related performance and overall firm's performance.
Banks in trouble? A Early Warning System for the Prevention of Banking Crisis
Authors:   Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Departamento de Econometría y Estadística, Avda Lehendakari Aguirre, 83, 48015 Bilbao, Spain. Email: ana.fernandez@ehu.es, Fernández-Sainz Ana , Llaugel Felipe ,   Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Departamento de Economía, República Dominicana. Email: fllaugel@ hotmail.com
Published: November 2011

The regulatory and supervisory financial authorities have tried various methods to find an effective procedure in developing an early warning system of banking crises. Logistic regression models have been used but have shown some weaknesses, so we need new and better methods. The banking crisis occurred in the Dominican Republic between 2002 and 2004 has been used to compare the effectiveness of the logistic regression method over the use of Support Vector Machines (SVM) for the detection of banking crisis. In the analysis 30 financial indicators are used to determine which ones are most appropriate to build a model able to classify banks. In this context, the SVM method produced better results than logistic regression, in detecting problem banks and contradict the findings of other studies that ask about the ineffectiveness of the financial indicators to identify banking crises in emerging economies.
New Trends in Diagnosis and Control Strategies for Implant Infections
Authors: Arciola Carla Renata , Montanaro Lucio , Costerton John William
Published: November 2011

In implant infections, a quick and reliable identification of the etiological agent is crucial to realizing efficacious therapies. Among molecular methods, automated ribotyping has proven to be an accurate and rapid technique. More recently, MALDI-TOF/MS and PCR-electrospray ionization (ESI)/ MS have been applied successfully to microbiological diagnosis. In implant infections, biofilm is still the major problem for bacterial persistence and recalcitrance to antibiotic therapy. Among biofilm-disrupting agents, enzymes promise the greatest therapeutic possibilities. DNase I degrades biofilm extracellular DNA and has been shown to sensitize biofilm to various biocides and anionic detergents, while dispersin B acts on biofilm exopolysaccharide and, combined with antiseptic, gives a broad-spectrum antibiofilm and antimicrobial activity. The novel antimicrobial approach based on photodynamic treatment (PDT) applies, in combination with antibiotics, to the implant or medical devices reachable by optical fibers. Better progress could be gained by the development of infection-resistant biomaterials able to both inhibit bacterial adhesion and promote tissue integration. New knowledge regarding the fibronectin-mediated internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by osteoblasts, and on its role in the pathogenesis of implant-related osteomyelitis, paves the way for the development of vaccines against staphylococcal adhesins, to prevent both adhesion on biomaterials and bacterial invasion of bone cells.
Copper and Silver ion Implantation of Aluminium Oxide-Blasted Titanium Surfaces: Proliferative Response of Osteoblasts and Antibacterial Effects
Authors: Fiedler Jörg , Kolitsch Andreas , Kleffner Bernhard , Henke Dietmar , Stenger Steffen , Brenner Rolf E.
Published: November 2011

Implant infection still represents a major clinical problem in orthopedic surgery. We therefore tested the in vitro biocompatibility and antibacterial effects of copper (Cu)- and silver (Ag)-ion implantation. Discs of a commonly used titanium alloy (Ti6AlV4) with an aluminium oxide-blasted surface were treated by Cu- or Ag-ion implantation with different dosage regimen (ranging from 1e15–17 ions cm−2 at energies of 2–20 keV). The samples were seeded with primary human osteoblasts and cell attachment and proliferation was analyzed by an MTT-assay. In comparison to the reference titanium alloy there was no difference in the number of attached viable cells after two days. After seven days the number of viable cells was increased for Cu with 1e17 ions cm−2 at 2 and 5 keV, and for Ag with 1e16 ions cm−2 at 5 keV while it was reduced for the highest amount of Ag deposition (1e17 ions cm−2 at 20 keV). Antibacterial effects on S.aureus and E.coli were marginal for the studied dosages of Cu but clearly present for Ag with 1e16 ions cm−2 at 2 and 5 keV and 1e17 ions cm−2 at 20 keV. These results indicate that Ag-ion implantation may be a promising methodological approach for antibacterial functionalization of titanium implants.
Effect of Amphotericin B Alone or in Combination with Rifampicin or Clarithromycin Against Candida Species Biofilms
Authors: Del Pozo Jose L. , Francés María L. , Hernáez Silvia , Serrera Alicia , Alonso Marta , Rubio Manuel F.
Published: November 2011

Effectiveness of amphotericin B alone or in combination with rifampicin or clarithromycin on the killing of Candida species biofilms was investigated in vitro. Amphotericin B was assayed at 0.005 to 10 mg/ml. Rifampin and clarithromycin were assayed at 10 mg/ml. We studied 7 Candida albicans, 3 Candida parapsilosis, 3 Candida glabrata, 3 Candida krusei and 2 Candida tropicalis strains. Biofilms were developed in 96-well, flat-bottomed microtiter plates for 48 hours. A synergistic effect between amphotericin B and clarithromycin was demonstrated against 66.6% of C. parapsilosis, 66.6% of C. glabrata, and 42.8% of C. albicans biofilms. A synergistic effect between amphotericin B and rifampin was demonstrated against 66.6% of C. parapsilosis, 42.8% of C. albicans, and 33.3% of C. glabrata biofilms. No synergistic effect was observed against C. krusei or C. tropicalis biofilms with any of the combinations. Rifampin or clarithromycin alone did not exert any effect on Candida species biofilms. Rifampin or clarithromycin combinations with amphotericin B might be of interest in the treatment of Candida biofilm-related infections.
Role of Antibiofilm-Antimicrobial Agents in Controlling Device-Related Infections
Authors: Aslam Saima , Darouiche Rabih O.
Published: November 2011

Objectives

To assess the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on organism viability in planktonic and biofilm phases, biofilm thickness, and extracellular polysaccharide content.

Methods

We performed time-kill curves and broth macrodilution assays of bacterial and fungal clinical isolates with varying concentrations of NAC. We also created in vitro bacterial biofilms, incubated them with NAC or control, and then stained with propidium iodide and FITC-labeled concanavalin A. We measured biofilm thickness, number of non-viable cells, and fluorescent intensity as a marker of extracellular matrix via a confocal laser scanning microscope. All experiments were conducted in triplicate. Tested organisms included methicillin-sensitive and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA), S. epidermidis, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and C. krusei.

Results

NAC 80 mg/ml was uniformly bactericidal (>99.9% reduction) against all tested bacteria with no recoverable organisms after 30 minutes of incubation, but was fungistatic against candida species. Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of NAC ranged from 5–10 mg/ml. Biofilm thickness was significantly decreased in NAC-treated biofilms for all organisms except VRE. The number of non-viable cells in NAC-treated Gram-positive biofilms was increased (p<0.05 for MRSA and VRE). NAC-treated Gram-negative biofilms had scant cellularity and lacked complex 3-dimensional structures that were characteristic of controls. Fluorescent intensity was similar in the experimental and control arms.

Conclusions

NAC is bactericidal against clinically relevant and drug-resistant bacteria and also leads to biofilm disruption. NAC has the potential for use as a novel agent for prevention or treatment of biofilm-related infections.
Preoperative Nutritional Status and Post-Operative Infection in Total Knee Replacements: A Prospective Study of 213 Patients
Authors: Font-Vizcarra Lluís , Lozano Luis , Ríos José , Forga Maria Teresa , Soriano Alex
Published: November 2011

Purpose

To assess the potential relationship between preoperative nutritional status, including anthropometric parameters, and infection following total knee replacement surgery.

Methods

A total of 213 patients undergoing total knee replacement between December 2007 and May 2008 were prospectively studied. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis were excluded. For each patient we pre-operatively checked biochemical and anthropometric parameters of nutrition information about co-morbidities such as diabetes and high blood pressure, ASA score, age, and gender. Information about early infections, both superficial and deep, was collected. A descriptive statistical analysis and univariate/multivariate logistic regression model for risk factors were performed.

Results

Eleven patients (5.16%) had an infection, 5 deep and 6 superficial. Neither co-morbidities nor preoperatively biochemical parameters were associated with infection. However, in the univariate logistic regression model there was an inversely proportional relationship between triceps skinfold (TSF) and infection. After adjusting for age, ASA score and gender (multivariate logistic regression), TSF remained significantly associated with infection.

Conclusion

There was a statistically significant association between TSF and post-operative infection risk after TKR.

Level of evidence

Level I (Prospective prognostic study).