bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On developing responsible leaders
Authors: Eriksen Matthew , Cooper Kevin
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology to develop responsible leaders through developing their response-ability within the context of their day-to-day lives that addresses the existing disconnect between the knowledge about responsible leadership and its practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The responsible leadership development methodology begins by helping individuals increase their awareness of their impact on others based on how they are relating and responding to them. This is facilitated through individuals engaging in self-reflexivity and reflection on relationships for which they want to be responsible. Then individuals experiment with and take responsibility for how they are relating and responding within the relationships. Finally, they engage in self-reflexivity and reflection to make sense of the experience to develop practical wisdom and the response-ability that will allow them to become more responsible leaders.

Findings

Students that completed an MBA leadership course that employed the responsible leadership development methodology overwhelmingly reported that their response-ability improved in ways that allowed them to become more responsible for their actions, impact on others, relationships and the reality they co-construct with others, as well as becoming a more responsible person.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on an MBA class of 24 students, only a few of whom currently occupied organizational leadership positions.

Originality/value

The presented leadership development methodology facilitates the development of responsible leaders through developing their ability and commitment to act responsibly within the context of their day-to-day lives.
Hallie Flanagan and the federal theater project: a critical undoing of management history
Authors: Williams Kristin S. , Mills Albert J.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to accomplish two things: to build on current research which interrogates the role of management history in the neglect of women leaders and labor programs and to draw attention to Hallie Flanagan and the Federal Theater Project and their lost contributions to management and organizational studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a feminist poststructural lens fused with critical discourse analysis to capture the role of discourses in concealing a more fragmented view of history.

Findings

The findings are openly discursive and aim to disrupt current knowledge and thinking in the practice of making history. The paper calls for an undoing of history and an examination of the powerful forces, which result in a gendered and limited understanding of the past.

Originality/value

The objective of this paper is to help scholarship continue to transform management and organizational studies and management history and to raise the profile of remarkable leaders, like Flanagan and similarly remarkable programs like the Federal Theater Project. Flanagan managed arguably the most ambitious and novel labor program under the New Deal, which resulted in an average of 10,000 workers in the arts being employed over four years, in a project which engaged audiences of over 30,000,000 Americans.
Getting the toll story about willingness-to-pay tolls
Authors: (Wie) Yusuf Juita-Elena , O’Connell Lenahan , Chapman David , M. Jordan Meagan , Anuar Khairul Azfi
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine drivers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) tolls using data from a survey of drivers in the Hampton Roads region of Southeastern Virginia. The theory of planned behavior is applied to understand the different factors contributing to WTP tolls. The study measures different dimensions of WTP, offers a two-stage approach that aligns correlates of WTP tolls in logical sequence, and assesses the role of price information (toll rates) as an anchor heuristic in WTP.

Design/methodology/approach

Three WTP measures are elicited via contingent valuation method using three survey questions that incorporate different price information. The study tests the role of price information as an anchor heuristic. WTP is analyzed using a two-stage decision process. Drivers first decide whether, in-principle, to support tolls, followed by the amount they are willing to pay (maximum and peak amounts). Three regression models are run to test the impact of ability to pay on amount WTP, impact of in-principle WTP on maximum WTP, and impact of maximum WTP on peak WTP given an anchor toll rate.

Findings

Attitudes supportive of tolls and the ability to pay are predictors of in-principle WTP, while in-principle WTP predicts amount (maximum and peak) WTP. Price information, as an anchor heuristic, reduces variability in amount WTP and conditions the amounts WTP.

Originality/value

The value and originality of this study lie in the application of the theory of planned behavior to study WTP tolls, the use of contingent valuation, and the effect of anchor heuristics.
Reconceptualising the principles of Penrose’s (1959) theory and the resource based view of the firm
Authors: Burvill Samantha Marie , Jones-Evans Dylan , Rowlands Hefin
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework to explain the firm growth process based on an integration and extension, through empirical research, of Penrose’s theory of the growth of the firm and the resource-based view. Theoretical development within the firm growth literature has been noticeably limited. Firm growth studies use different theoretical bases and what is needed is integration of multiple theories and empirical testing of these to form a new conceptual framework capable of explaining the modern growth process fully.

Design/methodology/approach

The key perspectives are critically reviewed and integrated and empirical qualitative research is undertaken analysing the process of growth in two firms. Semi-structured interviews, participant observation and analysis of company documentation are utilised.

Findings

The key insight this research provides is detailed information with regard to which resources, mediators and outputs are vital to firm growth, how they need to be developed and why this is the case. The study shows that these act in a cyclical nature to enable firm growth and development.

Practical implications

These findings could be used by practitioners to determine which part of the conceptual framework requires the most amount of improvement and which are developed to an acceptable state, enabling them to make plans for the achievement of growth.

Originality/value

This research is able to reconceptualise two dominant theoretical perspectives resulting in the generation of a new firm growth framework, thereby addressing a distinct gap in the firm growth literature.
Entrepreneurial management equity allocation and financing structure optimization of technology-based entrepreneurial firm
Authors: Hui Xiang , Li Bingxiang , Li Mingmin
Published: June 2018

Purpose

To satisfy the demand of initial investor for above-average capital return and the expectation of entrepreneurial management to establish their own business, this paper aims to explore a dynamic equity allocation model in which the shareholding ratio of the technology-based entrepreneurial firm changes with its growth and profit. Based on the dynamic equity allocation model, the authors design a financing structure which not only ensures timely and adequately obtaining the fund but also avoids equity dilution and safeguards the integrity of equity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper selects high-tech companies listed in China as the sample for empirical research to identify the role of stock incentive and uses model deduction to find the equitable quantized benchmark for entrepreneurial management equity allocation. The study uses capital exclusivity as an entry point to perform theoretical analysis and demonstrates how the equity allocation of a technology-based entrepreneurial firm changes dynamically as the presentation speed of entrepreneurial management’s human capital exclusivity accelerates. The paper then constructs a conceptual model to design the financing structure of the technology-based entrepreneurial firm.

Findings

The study finds that stock incentive upwardly regulates debt financing and downwardly regulates equity financing. Based on characteristics of technology-based entrepreneurial firms, the paper suggests that the immediate surplus capital increment can signify the increasing presentation speed of human capital exclusivity, and it is proposed as an equitable quantized benchmark for equity allocation to entrepreneurial management. Based on the dynamic equity allocation model, the paper designs an internal equity and external debt financing structure.

Originality/Value

The conclusions enrich the theoretical foundation for entrepreneurial management to participate in residual claim and provide practical guidance for equity allocation and financing structure design in the context of mass entrepreneurship and innovation. The paper also sets up a conceptual framework for solving two major issues of the technology-based entrepreneurial firm: timely acquisition of external funding and lasting maintenance of entrepreneurial management stability.
Changes to administrative controls in banks after the financial crisis
Authors: Christensen Leif , Rikhardsson Pall , Rohde Carsten , Batt Catherine Elisabet
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore and explain how administrative controls have been changed as a response to a significant crisis, using the transition of the three largest Icelandic banks from bankrupt to operational entities after the 2008 financial crisis. The Icelandic banks are compared with three Danish banks to separate crisis-driven responses from simple market-driven reactions.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data were collected using semi-structured interviews. The participating Icelandic and Danish banks were considered as two units, which formed the basis for a comparative case study between the two countries.

Findings

Driven by an understanding of what is expected by the market rather than the need to inform and guide the employees the Icelandic banks implemented a number of revolutionary and formally documented changes. These changes included significant bigger risk management functions and policies and procedures documenting “everything”. However, in both countries, it seems that new values supported by the “tone at the top”, areas with limited formal documentation, are the most important management tools.

Research limitations/implications

The study relies on interviews with employees, and the actual changes of administrative controls have not been reviewed. The most important implication is that the situated logics in Iceland driven by external institutional pressure initiated a revolutionary implementation of values bypassing existing routines and formalised rules.

Originality/value

Although the use of management controls has been studied intensively, detailed studies of the banking sector have been lacking. Furthermore, there is limited knowledge of how administrative controls changed in response to the financial crisis.
Maturity in competing tourism destinations: the case of Tenerife
Authors: Báez-García Alberto Javier , Flores-Muñoz Francisco , Gutiérrez-Barroso Josué
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to contribute to the ongoing literature on the pertinence of TALC (tourism area life cycle) to model and analyse mature destinations, using quantitative data and alternative functional forms. With this purpose, this work analyses the recent data on tourist demand in Tenerife (Canary Islands), which is supposed to be playing the role of “refuge” with respect to other competing resorts, when the latter ones present political instability after the so-called Arab Springs, particularly the Middle East and North Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyse the data, and to explore potential epiphenomenon, nonlinear competing regression analysis were performed (logistic, Gaussian and logarithmic), taking into account some insights from tourism life cycle theories.

Findings

Some suggestions are presented for political management of these destinations that are still working under a moratorium on tourist infrastructure.

Research limitations/implications

Once the TALC is accepted – even under discussion – in the scholarly fore, certain incentives arise to identify, interpret and communicate signals of maturity. Public funds and specific policies (moratoria) can then be solicited to political instances. Further empirical research, complementary quantitative approaches, along with new data that confronts the evolution of demand in Tenerife with paulatine reactivation of competing destinations, will be strongly required to overcome the limitations of this first attempt and to properly determine the effectiveness of rejuvenation policies. Besides, additional quantitative data should be considered to explore the potential explanatory factors beyond the time series analysis into models that are more theoretical.

Originality/value

The results suggest that the diagnosis of maturity was at least premature in the first place, poorly based on data analysis and fast in promoting specific policies whose effectiveness is under discussion even after decades.
State‐space modelling of the flight behaviour of a soaring bird provides new insights to migratory strategies
Authors: Pirotta Enrico , Katzner Todd , Miller Tricia A. , Duerr Adam E. , Braham Melissa A. , New Leslie
Published: June 2018

Characterising the spatiotemporal variation of animal behaviour can elucidate the way individuals interact with their environment and allocate energy. Increasing sophistication of tracking technologies paired with novel analytical approaches allows the characterisation of movement dynamics even when an individual is not directly observable.

In this study, high‐resolution movement data collected via global positioning system (GPS) tracking in three dimensions were paired with topographical information and used in a Bayesian state‐space model to describe the flight modes of migrating golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in eastern North America.

Our model identified five functional behavioural states, two of which were previously undescribed variations on thermal soaring. The other states comprised gliding, perching and orographic soaring. States were discriminated by movement features in the horizontal (step length and turning angle) and vertical (change in altitude) planes and by the association with ridgelines promoting wind deflection. Tracked eagles spent 2%, 31%, 38%, 9% and 20% of their daytime in directed thermal soaring, gliding, convoluted thermal soaring, perching and orographic soaring, respectively. The analysis of the relative occurrence of these flight modes highlighted yearly, seasonal, age, individual and sex differences in flight strategy and performance. Particularly, less energy‐efficient orographic soaring was more frequent in autumn, when thermals were less available. Adult birds were also better at optimising energy efficiency than subadults.

Our approach represents the first example of a state‐space model for bird flight mode using altitude data in conjunction with horizontal locations and is applicable to other flying organisms where similar data are available. The ability to describe animal movements in a three‐dimensional habitat is critical to advance our understanding of the functional processes driving animals’ decisions.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
The apoptotic effect of Zoledronic acid on the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via ROS mediated chloride channel activation
Authors: Wang Liang , Gao Hong , Yang Xiaoya , Liang Xiechou , Tan Qiuchan , Chen Zhanru , Zhao Chan , Gu Zhuoyu , Yu Meisheng , Zheng Yanfang , Huang Yanqing , Zhu Linyan , Jacob Tim J.C. , Wang Liwei , Chen Lixin
Published: June 2018

Zoledronic acid (ZA), a third‐generation bisphosphonate, has been applied for treatment of bone metastases caused by malignant tumors. Recent studies have found its anti‐cancer effects on various tumor cells. One of the mechanisms of anti‐cancer effects of ZA is induction of apoptosis. However, the mechanisms of ZA‐induced apoptosis in tumor cells have not been clarified clearly. In this study, we investigated the roles of chloride channels in ZA‐induced apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE‐2Z cells. Apoptosis and chloride current were induced by ZA and suppressed by chloride channel blockers. After the knockdown of ClC‐3 expression by ClC‐3 siRNA, ZA‐induced chloride current and apoptosis were significantly suppressed, indicating that the chloride channel participated in ZA‐induced apoptosis may be ClC‐3. When reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was inhibited by the antioxidant N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (L‐NAC), ZA‐induced apoptosis and chloride current were blocked accordingly, suggesting that ZA induces apoptosis through promoting ROS production and subsequently activating chloride channel.
Inference‐in‐residuals as an Estimation Method for Earnings Management
Authors: Christodoulou Demetris , Ma Le , Vasnev Andrey
Published: June 2018

The paper tests the assumptions underlying the inference‐in‐residuals method as an estimation framework for detecting and classifying suspects of earnings management. We derive several systematic biases that are shown to confound inference‐in‐residuals and, depending on the data, could render the method a futile exercise. This is not a matter of model specification, but a limitation of the statistical method. Also, it is shown that the method of using estimated residuals in a second stage regression on economic determinants of earnings management suffers considerably, especially when residuals are estimated by industry classification in the first stage.
Audience Costs and the Dynamics of War and Peace
Authors: Crisman‐Cox Casey , Gibilisco Michael
Published: June 2018

We estimate audience costs and examine their substantive effects on the evolution of interstate disputes by using an infinitely repeated and dynamic game of crisis escalation. Unlike past efforts, our approach estimates country‐specific audience cost parameters without relying on proxy variables, such as democracy measures. Contrary to intuition, increases in a country's audience costs encourage it to initiate disputes in equilibrium because the costs serve as a commitment device during the subsequent crisis, incentivizing the country to stand firm and coercing its opponent to back down. Nonetheless, the results demonstrate that larger audience costs would result in more peace worldwide, as they also discourage potential opponents from initiating disputes. Beyond regime type, we find that a free press, provisions for executive appointment or removal, and historical rivalries are also important determinants of audience costs.
Toxic Encounters, Settler Logics of Elimination, and the Future of a Continent
Authors: Nunn Neil
Published: June 2018

This paper engages the relationship between toxic geographies and settler colonialism. By bringing to light larger structures and histories that underpin the settler colonial project, I examine a series of toxic encounters and consider the racialised hegemonic narratives that enable the production toxicity. Among these is a methylmercury contamination in Northern Ontario, just upstream from Grassy Narrows First Nation, and a cluster of toxic conversations that bled through social media in the wake of the murder of Colten Boushie, a 22‐year‐old Cree man in Saskatchewan, Canada. I argue that examining the normative ideologies, settler narratives, and socio‐political structures that are involved in the production of toxicity provides valuable insight into the diffuse and relational colonial logics that define the lives that are privileged as the standard, and those that fall outside the regulatory category of the Human, and as a result, are subject to elimination.
Exploring the Coroplasts’ ‘Techne’ in Greek Architectural Terracottas from Sicily: an Archaeometric Approach
Authors: Barone G. , Mazzoleni P. , Raneri S. , Monterosso G. , Santostefano A. , Spagnolo G. , Vasta V.
Published: June 2018

The study intends to support the archaeological questions about the technological choices related to the manufacturing of an important class of archaic artefacts—the fictile roof revetments of the temples—in the Greek colonies of Sicily, unveiling the possible relations among raw materials, decorative and firing techniques and functionality of the architectural terracottas. By applying a multidisciplinary and a multimethodological archaeometric approach, the aforementioned questions have been addressed, explaining the technological expedients employed by the coroplasts in the manufacturing of the roof revetments, and suggesting interesting mobility schemes of both raw materials and ‘techne’ (know‐how) throughout the island.
Redesigning the river: Bridge‐building on the London Thames 1730–1830
Authors: Stockton Hannah
Published: June 2018

The bridges in London built between 1730 and 1830 were the first new crossings in over 500 years and were seen by designers, politicians and commentators as opportunities to fundamentally redesign the river space in the service of the economic, political, imperial and civic ideals of the time. A close examination of the proposals, designs and usage of the six new bridges shows that the river landscape was co‐produced by an entanglement of human and non‐human materials, ideas and agencies, from the river's waters to contemporary economic theory. However, in exploring the creation of these new points of interaction or collision between the materialities of the river and the bridges, and contemporary social motivations, it becomes apparent that architects and engineers were not the sole designers of the bridges or the river. The bridges and the wider river landscape were and are constantly redesigned as social and natural forces intertwine and collide to varying degrees, building and eroding the material forms of the Thames. In treating the river as a material thing it is possible to explore the different forces which shaped that thing, incorporating consideration of social influences, but also the non‐human and natural forces which have often been neglected in understanding how the urban environment was designed.
Minimally invasive abdominal and left thoracic approach for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma with esophageal diverticulum: A case report
Authors: Takeuchi Yuta , Ebihara Yuma , Nakanishi Yoshitsugu , Asano Toshimichi , Noji Takehiro , Kurashima Yo , Murakami Soichi , Nakamura Toru , Tsuchikawa Takahiro , Okamura Keisuke , Shichinohe Toshiaki , Hirano Satoshi
Published: June 2018

Controversy remains regarding the optimal resection approach for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). Furthermore, an esophageal diverticulum, although rare, can complicate surgical procedures. Herein, we report a case of EGJ adenocarcinoma with an esophageal diverticulum that was treated using the minimally invasive abdominal and left thoracic approach (MALTA). A 72‐year‐old man, with EGJ adenocarcinoma and an epiphrenic diverticulum on esophagogastroduodenoscopy underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection. The pathological diagnosis of the specimen revealed invasion to the lymphatic vessels. Therefore, laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and thoracoscopic lower esophagectomy with D1 lymph node dissection and double‐tract reconstruction of the esophageal diverticulum were performed via MALTA. The patient was discharged without any postoperative morbidity. MALTA provides good visualization for the transection of the lower esophagus in cases of esophageal diverticulum. Moreover, MALTA for adenocarcinoma of the EGJ is technically feasible, even with the presence of a lower esophageal diverticulum.
An assessment of physiotherapist’s delivery of behaviour change techniques within the SOLAS feasibility trial
Authors: Keogh Alison , Matthews James , Hurley Deirdre A.
Published: June 2018

Objectives

To investigate physiotherapist's (PTs) fidelity to 31 protocol‐listed behaviour change techniques (BCTs) during a group‐based self‐management intervention. This study also explored the PTs delivery of these BCTs beyond the present or absent dichotomy, using a third variable, partial delivery (i.e., attempted).

Design

Assessment of the intervention arm of the Self‐management of Osteoarthritis and Low back pain through Activity and Skills (SOLAS) cluster, randomized controlled feasibility trial, using quantitative methods.

Methods

Eight PTs delivered six SOLAS classes each, of which 50% were audio‐recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded by two raters using the Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy v1 and an intervention‐specific manual and assessed for the delivery (i.e., full, partial, or absent) of the 31 BCTs and their target behaviours. Fidelity was calculated as fully delivered BCTs listed as a percentage of those due to take place within each class.

Results

Physiotherapists delivered a mean 20.5 BCTs per class (68.3%; range = 64.9–72.4%). Of these, 17 BCTs were fully delivered in each class representing moderate fidelity to the protocol (56.8%; range = 53.5–59.3%). A further 3.5 BCTs per class (11.5%; range = 8.7–14.8%) were partially delivered. BCTs associated with ‘goals and planning’ were often poorly delivered.

Conclusions

Delivering the SOLAS intervention BCTs with high fidelity was not feasible. The assessment of partial delivery of BCTs provided greater insight into the techniques that should be removed from the protocol or that may require further training. Complex interventions should consider a list of ‘core’ or mandatory BCTs alongside ‘optional’ BCTs, depending on the target behaviour, and the needs of individual participants.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

BCTs are the smallest active components of behavioural interventions, yet typically their effectiveness is determined through meta‐analyses.

Attempted delivery of BCTs is often unaccounted for yet may provide valuable insight into difficulty with delivery.

There is a need to investigate BCT implementation beyond simple presence/absence to identify protocol refinements or required BCT training.

What does this study add?

BCT delivery was assessed in greater depth than previous research, including partial delivery.

Highlights the need for appropriate training in BCTs that are difficult to deliver, particularly those associated with ‘goals and planning’

Highlights the need for intervention‐specific criteria as to what constitutes ‘high’, ‘moderate’, and ‘low’ fidelity.
Kindergarten Children's Executive Functions Predict Their Second‐Grade Academic Achievement and Behavior
Authors: Morgan Paul L. , Farkas George , Hillemeier Marianne M. , Pun Wik Hung , Maczuga Steve
Published: June 2018

Whether and to what extent kindergarten children's executive functions (EF) constitute promising targets of early intervention is currently unclear. This study examined whether kindergarten children's EF predicted their second‐grade academic achievement and behavior. This was done using (a) a longitudinal and nationally representative sample (N = 8,920, Mage = 97.6 months), (b) multiple measures of EF, academic achievement, and behavior, and (c) extensive statistical control including for domain‐specific and domain‐general lagged dependent variables. All three measures of EF—working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control—positively and significantly predicted reading, mathematics, and science achievement. In addition, inhibitory control negatively predicted both externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors. Children's EF constitute promising targets of experimentally evaluated interventions for increasing academic and behavioral functioning.
Areas of endemism: to overlap or not to overlap, that is the question
Authors: Szumik Claudia , Pereyra Verónica V. , Casagranda M. Dolores
Published: June 2018

The concept of “areas of endemism”, and the assumption that these patterns are always a consequence of vicariant events, are reviewed. This assumption is related to the idea that areas of endemism have well‐defined limits and never share any surface with other areas of endemism because they must represent sister areas supported by sister taxa. Based on this idea, overlapping areas have been considered rarely, or ignored completely. Using a data set of mammals of North America, we test here whether the overlapping areas are indeed sister areas supported by sister taxa, thus evaluating whether vicariant events are commonly the factor producing areas of endemism.
An immune multiagent system to monitor and control public bus transportation systems
Authors: Mnif Salima , Darmoul Saber , Elkosantini Sabeur , Ben Said Lamjed
Published: June 2018

In public bus transportation systems, several types of disturbances, such as accidents and congestion, may affect preestablished timetables and visiting hours at stations. Disturbances result in detrimental consequences, degraded performance, and poor quality of service in terms of extended delays and waiting times, punctuality, frequency, and efficiency of shuttles. Despite numerous research on the monitoring and control of public transportation systems by means of buses, distributed monitoring and control architectures that confer intelligence and decision‐making autonomy to buses to react to disturbances are still missing. This article addresses this gap by designing and developing a distributed architecture to monitor and control public transportation buses using multiagent systems. The design relies on biological immunity as a methodological framework that guides the development of knowledge models and decision‐making mechanisms. Knowledge models structure knowledge about disturbances and control decisions, whereas decision‐making mechanisms implement control and reaction strategies. Through experimental validation based on simulation, we show that the suggested immune multiagent distributed control architecture is not only able to maintain performance (average delay/earliness, average total time in simulated network) at acceptable levels but also to improve quality of service in terms of number of served passengers and stations by at least 15% in case of disturbances.
Short‐ and midterm results for internal jugular vein extension for short right renal vein kidney transplant
Authors: Lu Tony , Yi Stephanie G. , Bismuth Jean , Knight Richard J. , Gaber A. Osama , Bechara Carlos F.
Published: June 2018

Renal transplantation remains the definitive treatment for end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). The shorter renal vein in right donor nephrectomies is associated with higher incidence of technical failure. We present here our experience with autologous internal jugular vein (IJV) conduits to facilitate living‐donor transplants. Six patients underwent right, living‐donor kidney transplant with simultaneous IJV harvest over a 1‐year period. All had bilateral jugular duplex scans preoperatively and were placed on aspirin 81 mg postoperatively. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and laboratories were retrospectively queried. Postoperative follow‐up and examination were performed per institutional protocol. The mean age and BMI were 51 ± 4.6 years and 30 ± 1.4 kg/m2, respectively. An average 4.5 ± 0.5 cm of IJV was taken, and anastomosed exsitu, end to end to the renal vein. One patient developed a perinephric hematoma requiring reexploration and another expired during follow‐up from septic shock of unknown etiology; there were no harvest site complications or deep vein thrombosis. All had immediate and stable graft function at 3.8 ± 1.7 (range: 0.7‐11.3) months follow‐up. Mean serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate were 1.3 ± 0.1 mg/dL and 55 ± 2.4 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Internal jugular vein extension of short right renal veins for kidney transplant is a viable technique for ESRD patients with promising results.
No effect of resveratrol on VLDL‐TG kinetics and insulin sensitivity in obese men with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Poulsen Marianne K. , Nellemann Birgitte , Bibby Bo Martin , Stødkilde‐Jørgensen Hans , Pedersen Steen B. , Grønbæk Henning , Nielsen Søren
Published: June 2018

The present study (NCT01446276, ClinicalTrials.gov) assessed long‐term effects of high‐dose Resveratrol (RSV) on basal and insulin‐mediated very low‐density lipoprotein triglyceride (VLDL‐TG), palmitate and glucose kinetics, and liver fat content in men with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Participants (n = 16) were non‐diabetic, upper‐body obese (BMI > 28 kg/m2, WHR > 0.9) men with NAFLD who were randomized (1:1) in a double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled clinical trial to either RSV or placebo (500 mg 3 times daily) for 6 months. Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, dual‐X‐ray absorptiometry and MR imaging assessed liver fat content and body composition, respectively. 14C‐labeled VLDL‐TG and 3H‐labeled glucose and palmitate tracers, in combination with indirect calorimetry and breath samples, were used to assess kinetics and substrate oxidations during basal and hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp conditions. RSV did not improve either basal or insulin‐mediated VLDL‐TG secretion, oxidation or clearance rates, nor did it affect palmitate or glucose turnover. Likewise, no changes in body composition or liver fat content occurred following RSV compared with placebo treatment. Therefore, RSV cannot be recommended for treatment of metabolic abnormalities in NAFLD.
Rural and agricultural subsidies in Latin America: Development costs of misallocated public resources
Authors: Anríquez Gustavo , Foster William , Ortega Jorge
Published: June 2018

Motivation

The tendency of governments to surrender to interest groups and divert resources to agricultural subsidies calls into question the efficiency of rural public spending as a tool to promote agricultural growth and rural development: the displacement of government expenditures on public goods by subsidies to private goods hinders farm sector performance.

Purpose

This uses an expanded dataset of rural and agricultural spending in Latin America to examine the effect of the composition of government expenditures on rural wellbeing. Furthermore, the article tests whether it is the composition of rural spending more generally or spending on agriculture specifically which drives these impacts.

Approach and methods

Econometric panel data methods are used to assess and quantify the relationship between the composition of rural and agricultural spending and sectoral performance. Additionally, the article tests and corrects for the endogeneity of the examined policies and agricultural performance.

Findings

The results show that the composition of agricultural expenditures significantly impacts the sector’s evolution. We confirm that diverting taxpayer funds from public goods to subsidies decreases farm sector performance.

Policy implications

Large gains are to be had from a redistribution of rural (and particularly agricultural) spending from subsidies to public goods. Without addressing this misallocations, the argument to promote rural spending and reduce urban bias in government policies is undermined.
Riparian defoliation by the invasive green alder sawfly influences terrestrial prey subsidies to salmon streams
Authors: Roon David A. , Wipfli Mark S. , Kruse James J.
Published: June 2018

Invasive species in riparian forests are unique as their effects can transcend ecosystem boundaries via stream‐riparian linkages. The green alder sawfly (Monsoma pulveratum) is an invasive wasp whose larvae are defoliating riparian thin‐leaf alder (Alnus tenuifolia) stands across southcentral Alaska. To test the hypothesis that riparian defoliation by this invasive sawfly negatively affects the flow of terrestrial prey resources to stream fishes, we sampled terrestrial invertebrates on riparian alder foliage, their subsidies to streams and their consumption by juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Invasive sawflies altered the composition of terrestrial invertebrates on riparian alder foliage and as terrestrial prey subsidies to streams. Community analyses supported these findings revealing that invasive sawflies shifted the community structure of terrestrial invertebrates between seasons and levels of energy flow (riparian foliage, streams and fish). Invasive sawfly biomass peaked mid‐summer, altering the timing and magnitude of terrestrial prey subsidies to streams. Contrary to our hypothesis, invasive sawflies had no effect on the biomass of native taxa on riparian alder foliage, as terrestrial prey subsidies, or in juvenile coho salmon diets. Juvenile coho salmon consumed invasive sawflies when most abundant, but relied more on other prey types selecting against sawflies relative to their availability. Although we did not find effects of invasive sawflies extending to juvenile coho salmon in this study, these results could change as the distribution of invasive sawflies expands or as defoliation intensifies. Nevertheless, riparian defoliation by these invasive sawflies is likely having other ecological effects that merits further investigation.
Job‐ and schoolprescription: A local adaptation to individual placement and support for first episode psychosis
Authors: Hegelstad Wenche ten Velden , Joa Inge , Heitmann Lena , Johannessen Jan Olav , Langeveld Johannes
Published: June 2018

Aim

Individual placement and support (IPS) for first episode psychosis (FEP) has proven effective for employment and education, but yields differing results across geographical regions. Local adaptations may be necessary for various reasons, such as regional differences in employment‐ and welfare services; in educational opportunities and job markets. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of an adapted Norwegian intervention offering early IPS for education and employment to persons with FEP.

Method

Matched control (N = 66) study with a 1‐year early IPS intervention and a 2‐year follow up. A rating of fidelity to the IPS model was conducted.

Results

Fidelity was “good.” Adaptations to the model included the use of internships and flexible combinations of education and employment. Thirty out of 33 participants completed the intervention. Fourteen were in competitive employment >20 h/wk post intervention, compared to 2 in the control group. Fifteen participants were enrolled in education >20 h/wk, 10 of whom also had employment >20 h/wk and 3 < 20 h/wk, compared to 5 in the control group, with 2 having employment <20 h/wk on the side. Symptom levels did not predict outcome.

Conclusion

The School‐ and JobPrescription adaptation of IPS, allowing for temporary internships as a step towards obtaining the goal of paid competitive employment and facilitating flexible combinations of employment and education, showed encouraging results. These were however not sustained after closure of the intervention. At the 2‐year follow up, Job‐ and SchoolPrescription advantages had waned, underscoring the point in IPS that support should be time‐unlimited.
Medication, hospitalizations and mortality in 5 years after first‐episode psychosis in a Swedish nation‐wide cohort
Authors: Strålin Pontus , Hetta Jerker
Published: June 2018

Aim

To investigate medication, rehospitalizations and mortality after first‐episode hospital‐treated psychosis.

Methods

A population‐based nation‐wide cohort (n = 2488) with a first hospitalization for psychosis at ages between 16 and 25 was identified. Cases were followed for up to 5 years after the first psychosis hospitalization with regard to mortality, hospitalizations and dispensations of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines.

Results

The proportion of patients dispensing antipsychotics decreased from 80% year 1 after first discharge to 55% year 5. The proportion of patients having episodes of inpatient care also decreased year by year from 46% year 1 to 27% year 5. Of 863 cases with 5 years of observation time 41% had dispensations of antipsychotics every year; 21% had no dispensation of antipsychotics or hospitalization after the first year.

The cumulative 5‐year mortality was 3.9%. Cumulative suicide mortality was 2.4%. Incidence of suicide was highest in the first year. Male gender, benzodiazepines, recent hospital‐discharge and self‐harm were identified as risk factors for suicide.

Conclusions

The proportion of cases dispensing antipsychotics decreases year by year after first discharge. Mortality and rates of rehospitalization also decrease year by year from high levels the first year.
The socioeconomic burden of patients affected by hemophilia with inhibitors
Authors: D'Angiolella Lucia S. , Cortesi Paolo A. , Rocino Angiola , Coppola Antonio , Hassan Hamisa J. , Giampaolo Adele , Solimeno Luigi P. , Lafranconi Alessandra , Micale Mariangela , Mangano Sveva , Crotti Giacomo , Pagliarin Federica , Cesana Giancarlo , Mantovani Lorenzo G.
Published: June 2018

Hemophilia is associated with a high financial burden on individuals, healthcare systems, and society. The development of inhibitors significantly increases the socioeconomic burden of the diseases. This study aimed to review and describe the burden of hemophilia with inhibitors, providing a reference scenario to assess the impact of new products in the real word. Two systematic literature reviews were performed to collect data on (i) health economics and (ii) health‐related quality of life evidences in hemophilic patients with inhibitors. The costs associated with patients with hemophilia and inhibitors are more than 3 times greater than the costs incurred in those without inhibitors, with an annual cost per patient that can be higher than €1 000 000. The costs of bypassing agents account for the large majority of the total healthcare direct costs for hemophilia treatment. The quality of life is more compromised in patients with hemophilia and inhibitors compared to those without inhibitors, in particular the physical domains, whereas mental domains were comparable to that of the general population. The development of an inhibitor has a high impact on costs and quality of life. New treatments have the potential to change positively the management and socioeconomic burden of hemophilia with inhibitors.
Median nerve stimulation induced motor learning in healthy adults: A study of timing of stimulation and type of learning
Authors: Carvalho Sandra , French Melanie , Thibaut Aurore , Lima Wilrama , Simis Marcel , Leite Jorge , Fregni Felipe
Published: June 2018

Median nerve stimulation (MNS) has been shown to change brain metaplasticity over the somatosensory networks, based on a bottom‐up mechanism and may improve motor learning. This exploratory study aimed to test the effects of MNS on implicit and explicit motor learning as measured by the serial reaction time task (SRTT) using a double‐blind, sham‐controlled, randomized trial, in which participants were allocated to one of three groups: (a) online active MNS during acquisition, (b) offline active MNS during early consolidation and (c) sham MNS. SRTT was performed at baseline, during the training phase (acquisition period), and 30 min after training. We assessed the effects of MNS on explicit and implicit motor learning at the end of the training/acquisition period and at retest. The group receiving online MNS (during acquisition) showed a significantly higher learning index for the explicit sequences compared to the offline group (MNS during early consolidation) and the sham group. The offline group also showed a higher learning index as compared to sham. Additionally, participants receiving online MNS recalled the explicit sentence significantly more than the offline MNS and sham groups. MNS effects on motor learning have a specific effect on type of learning (explicit vs. implicit) and are dependent on timing of stimulation (during acquisition vs. early consolidation). More research is needed to understand and optimize the effects of peripheral electrical stimulation on motor learning. Taken together, our results show that MNS, especially when applied during the acquisition phase, is a promising tool to modulate motor leaning.
Molecular chaperones: from proteostasis to pathogenesis
Authors: Ravindran Madhu Sudhan
Published: June 2018

Maintaining protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is essential for a functional proteome. A wide range of extrinsic and intrinsic factors perturb proteostasis, causing protein misfolding, misassembly, and aggregation. This compromises cellular integrity and leads to aging and disease, including neurodegeneration and cancer. At the cellular level, protein aggregation is counteracted by powerful mechanisms comprising of a cascade of enzymes and chaperones that operate in a coordinated multistep manner to sense, prevent, and/or dispose of aberrant proteins. Although these processes are well understood for soluble proteins, there is a major gap in our understanding of how cells handle misfolded or aggregated membrane proteins. This article provides an overview of cellular proteostasis with emphasis on membrane protein substrates and suggests host–virus interaction as a tool to clarify outstanding questions in proteostasis.
An analysis of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm with translocations involving the MYC locus identifies t(6;8)(p21;q24) as a recurrent cytogenetic abnormality
Authors: Sumarriva Lezama Lhara , Chisholm Karen M , Carneal Eugene , Nagy Alexandra , Cascio Michael J , Yan Jie , Chang Chung‐Che , Cherry Athena , George Tracy I , Ohgami Robert S
Published: June 2018

Aims

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is an aggressive neoplasm with leukaemic features and frequent skin involvement. Translocations involving the MYC locus have been recently identified as recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities in this entity. The aim of this study was to assess the clinicopathological, immunophenotypic and genetic features in MYC‐rearranged BPDCN cases.

Methods and results

Pathology archives from six major institutes were queried for cases of BPDCN with 8q24 MYC translocations, and two cases were identified. A literature review identified 14 cases. Clinicopathological features, immunophenotype and cytogenetic and molecular data were reviewed. In these 16 MYC‐rearranged cases, the median age at diagnosis was 70.5 years, and there was a male predominance. Whereas all cases showed marrow involvement, skin lesions (62.5%) and lymphadenopathy (50%) were variably seen. The median survival was 11 months. The median percentage of blasts in peripheral blood was 9%. All cases showed expression of CD4, with 10 of 16 being positive for CD56. HLA‐DR, CD123, TCL1 and CD303 were positive in all cases tested. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a single recurrent translocation partner of MYC at 6p21 in 11 cases (69%), whereas four cases showed different MYC translocation partners (2p12, Xq24, 3p25, and 14q32). Interestingly, the group of patients with t(6;8)(p21;q24) showed an older median age at diagnosis (74 years) and a remarkably shorter median survival (3 months).

Conclusions

Translocations involving the 8q24 MYC locus more frequently manifest as t(6;8)(p21;q24), and, given its association with specific clinicopathological features suggesting even more aggressive behaviour, t(6;8)(p21;q24) indicate a genetically defined subgroup within BPDCN.
Ectoparasite burden of Blue‐footed Booby chicks depends on combined parental ages
Authors: Ramos Alejandra G. , Drummond Hugh
Published: June 2018

The probability of Blue‐footed Booby Sula nebouxii fledglings becoming reproductive adults is maximal when one parent is old and the other young, and minimal when both are old or young. No mechanism has been identified to explain this pattern, but here we showed that nestlings with different‐aged parents are the least infested with ticks. This result constitutes preliminary confirmation of the hypothesis that the effect of combined parental ages on probability of recruitment is mediated by offspring immunocompetence. The contribution of immunocompetence and parental care to these parental age effects needs to be unravelled.