bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Network-based innovation: the case for mobile gaming and digital music
Authors: Castro Soeiro Filipe , Santos Mariana , Alves José
Published: March 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to identify, analyze and discuss a potential new business opportunity that arises from the intersection of the digital music and game industries across borders throughout network-based innovation approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The research draws on review of industry and academic literature, two online surveys and interviews, overall encompassed by a interpretative exploratory research methodology strategy.

Findings

The study supports the interest and potential for developing new products that combine digital music and casual digital games and that draw on firms from more than one region, while potentially involving a wide set of social network key stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

This is an exploratory study in which findings should be challenged by confirmatory studies, including new product design and development of modeling techniques and network-based innovation approaches. This research contributes for the generation of new insights over technological and social driving forces, as well as emerging trends that shed light on the global competitiveness and on convergence of mobile gaming and digital music industries at regional innovation systems view. It also discusses spillover mechanisms based on new knowledge creation, knowledge diffusion and knowledge appropriation throughout the key stakeholders. The customer-centric innovation and network value autocorrelation hypothesis was validated, and both technology convergence and social factors are enhancement factors for innovation. Limitations and further research with larger sampling, specialization techniques and empirical modeling to in-depth analysis is suggested.

Practical implications

The study provides a framework for managers to develop new products that merges boundaries of related industries and encourages network-based innovation and cooperation between industry players, involving different regions. Ultimately, it shows opportunities of diversification, by introducing new products into new markets, as result of interdependence, soft factors, knowledge spillover and absorptive capacity mechanisms over a network of key stakeholders across different regions throughout customer-centric innovation, while impacting also new discussion on entrepreneurship and knowledge spillover theory and policy making.

Social implications

Social capital network is key for innovation and knowledge spillover among industry players. Content creation regarding products and services show high dependence on spatial external cultural influences, tastes and habits for customer-centric innovation, while impacting on social and learning customer experience, as well.

Originality/value

The paper has value for product development and innovation managers, researchers and practitioners. It discusses the value of innovation systems that are purposively developed beyond traditional geographic and industry boundaries.
School autonomy, leadership and learning: a reconceptualisation
Authors: Cheng Yin Cheong , Ko James , Lee Theodore Tai Hoi
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for reconceptualising research on school autonomy to redress the limitations of traditional research, strengthen the conceptual links between school autonomy and learning outcomes and offer a range of new strategies for studying the interplay of school autonomy, leadership and learning.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a review of international studies and the findings of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Teaching and Learning International Study (TALIS), the conceptual limitations of and gaps in traditional research on school autonomy in relation to leadership and learning are discussed, and their implications for the development of a new framework are outlined.

Findings

– The conceptual limitations of traditional research on school autonomy are as follows: internal school autonomy is insufficiently differentiated; too little attention is paid to cultural autonomy and internal structural autonomy at individual and group levels; autonomy is measured only as perceived by principals, with no attention to the perspectives of other key stakeholders; and conceptual links between school autonomy and learning outcomes are missing, leading to inconsistent findings on the effects of school autonomy on student learning. To redress these limitations, a new framework for research is developed. School autonomy is reconceptualised as a combination of functional autonomy, structural autonomy and cultural autonomy. Leadership is also reconceptualised by categorising three types of leadership activity: leadership for functional initiatives, leadership for structural initiatives and leadership for cultural initiatives. This categorisation may help to strengthen conceptions of the relevance of leadership to autonomy and performance in future research.

Research limitations/implications

– A typology of research strategies is developed to broaden the possibilities for implementing the reconceptualisation framework. A single-component strategy, a two-component strategy, an interaction strategy and a holistic case-study strategy are presented. Depending on the research purposes and the available resources, one or a combination of these strategies can be used to conceptualise the study of school autonomy, leadership and performance.

Originality/value

– The new ideas and perspectives associated with the reconceptualisation framework will contribute to future research in this area on an international scale. Future PISA, TALIS and similar studies will also benefit from this reconceptualisation.
When workfare fails: post-crisis activation reform in the Czech Republic
Authors: Sirovatka Tomas
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse Czech’s activation reforms enacted since 2006 which culminated in 2010-2012 as radical workfare-like reforms. It also aims to explain which factors have influenced their development.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is the case study of activation reforms in one country interpreted within the theoretical framework of the “activation models” and discussion of the factors influencing activation reforms. The design and implementation of the reforms of activation policies are in focus. Institutional analysis is combined with secondary statistical data and survey data.

Findings

– The author distinguish three phases of the activation reforms: the initial phase of activation (work first), the radical phase (workfare) and the failure of radical workfare as the final phase. The key argument is that the main factors leading to the radical workfare version of activation were the political factors combined with institutional factors, particularly, the specific model of policy making (the so-called “compost model”). Ironically, this model which has enabled fast and radical workfare-like reforms was also the main reason why the reforms failed.

Originality/value

– The paper is innovative since it explains the specific features of the activation reforms in the Czech Republic, distinguishing workfare from other models of activation, and identifying the factors which have played a role in shaping these features. The in-depth case study of one country provides the evidence on the role of the specific factors and helps the author to understand the motives, the design and the implementation of activation reforms in their mutual relationships. The specific role of the institutional legacy in the new circumstances is emphasized.
A study of academic performance by immigrant generation with an emphasis on the black immigrant experience
Authors: Obinna Denise N
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– Instead of identifying them as a single monolithic group, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether the academic performance of black immigrants differs from African Americans as well as Asian and Hispanic students of comparable immigrant generation. By identifying how well black immigrant students perform on standardized tests, grade point averages (GPA) and college enrollment, this study proposes a more comprehensive look into this growing immigrant group.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research uses a data from the Educational Longitudinal Survey of high school sophomores conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics. Data used in this study are from the baseline survey in 2002 and the second follow-up in 2006 when most students had graduated from high school. The methodology includes OLS, binary and ordered logistic regression models.

Findings

– The study finds that while second-generation blacks outperform the native-born generation on standardized tests, this does not extend to GPA or college enrollment. In fact, it appears that only second-generation Hispanic students have an advantage over their native-born counterparts on GPA and standardized tests. Furthermore, first and second-generation Asian immigrants do not show a higher likelihood of enrolling in college than their native-born counterparts nor do they report higher GPA.

Originality/value

– This paper sheds light on a growing yet understudied immigrant population as well as drawing comparisons to other immigrant groups of comparable generation.
An exemplar of GP commissioning and child and adolescent mental health service partnership
Authors: Humphrey Ayla , Eastwood Lynne , Atkins Helen , Vainre Maris , Lea-Cox Caroline
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to commissioning and service structures enabling implementation of evidence-based cost-effective care as illustrated by the “1419” young people’s service treating mild to moderate severity mental health difficulties in teenagers old 14 to 19 years. The authors describe relevant local contextual factors: “relational commissioning”, demand capacity planning and a receptive and safe clinical context.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors used a participant observer qualitative research design to describe commissioning and service design. Treatment outcomes were analysed using a quantitative design and found significant improvement in service user mental health and daily function. These results will be reported elsewhere.

Findings

– The dynamics and structures described here enabled clear shared goals between service user, service purchaser, service provider and service partners. The goals and design of the service were not static and were subject to ongoing development using routine outcome measures and conversations between referrers, commissioners, service users and within the team about what was and was not working.

Research limitations/implications

– The methods are limited by the lack of a prospective systematic evaluation of the implementation process and by the time limitations of the service.

Practical implications

– Implementation of whole system change such as that envisioned by Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies requires consideration of local context and process of implementation. The authors suggest key factors: consideration of “relational commissioning” with purchasers, providers and service users designing services together; case-level collaboration between services and partner agencies; smaller child and adolescent mental health teams eliminating competing task demands, permitting speed of action, providing psychological safety for staff, promoting shared goals and innovation; rigorous demand/capacity planning to inform funding.

Social implications

– The failings of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are detailed in the Department of Health report “Future in mind: promoting, protecting and improving our children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing” (2015). The aims of the report are contingent on the ability of local health providers to implement its recommendations. The authors provide a theoretical approach to enable this implementation.

Originality/value

– To date there are no published papers addressing the key characteristics enabling implementation of evidence-based practice within CAMHS. The unique experience in forming the“1419” service has important implications nationally and brings together evidence of an effective service within a theoretical underpinned context.
Bridging the gap
Authors: Goddard Maria , Kasteridis Panagiotis , Jacobs Rowena , Santos Rita , Mason Anne
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the link between one aspect of primary care in England – the annual review by general practitioners for dementia patients – and length of hospital stay (LoS). The annual review should identify the needs of both patients and carers and co-ordinate services across health and social care to address those needs. If this is done well, timely discharge from hospital may be facilitated.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study uses linked national data from 2006/2007 to 2010/2011 on over 36,000 patients, employing sophisticated statistical techniques to isolate the effect of the annual dementia review on LoS.

Findings

– Hospital patients discharged to the community have significantly shorter stays if they are cared for by practices that reviewed a higher percentage of their patients with dementia. However, this effect is small and is not evident for patients discharged to care homes or who died in hospital. Longer LoS is associated with a range of co-morbidities, markers of low availability of social care and with intensive provision of informal care.

Practical implications

– Although the dementia review has only a modest effect on LoS, the components of the review could improve the health and well-being of those with dementia and their carers.

Originality/value

– The study is the first to employ a robust methodology to investigate the impact of the annual dementia review on hospital LoS, an important aspect of the interface between primary and secondary care. There are implications for clinical and financial aspects of health and social care policy.
Option replication and the performance of a market timer
Authors: Hübner Georges
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The Treynor and Mazuy framework is a widely used return-based model of market timing. However, existing corrections to the regression intercept can be manipulated through derivatives trading. Because they are conceptually flawed, these corrections produce biased performance measures. This paper aims to get back to Henriksson and Merton’s initial idea of option replication to overcome this issue and adapt the market timing model to various kinds of trading strategies and return-generating processes.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper proposes a theoretical adjustment based on Merton’s option replication approach adapted to the Treynor and Mazuy specification. The linear and quadratic coefficients of the regression are exploited to assess the cost of the replicating option that yields similar convexity for a passive portfolio. A similar reasoning applies for various timing patterns and in multi-factor models.

Findings

– The proposed framework induces a potential rebalancing risk and involves the delicate issue of choosing the cheapest option. This paper shows that these issues can be overcome for reasonable tolerance levels. The option replication approach is a workable approach for practical applications.

Originality/value

– The adaptation of Merton’s reasoning to the Treynor and Mazuy model has surprisingly never been proposed so far. This paper has the potential to correct for a pervasive bias in the estimation of the performance of a market timer in the context of this very popular quadratic regression setup. Because of the power of the option replication approach, the reasoning is shown to be applicable to multi-factor models, negative timing and market neutral strategies. This paper could fuel empirical studies that would shed new light on the genuine market timing skills of active portfolio managers.
Mergers and acquisitions: a review. Part 1
Authors: Yaghoubi Reza , Yaghoubi Mona , Locke Stuart , Gibb Jenny
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to review the relevant literature on mergers and acquisitions in an attempt to provide a comprehensive account of what we know about mergers and which parts of the puzzle are still incomplete.

Design/methodology/approach

– This literature review consists of three key sections. The first part of this paper summarises the literature on the cyclical nature of mergers referred to in the literature as merger waves. The second section reviews the causes and consequences of takeovers; it first reviews the causes, or drivers, of acquisitions, while focusing on the fact that acquisitions happen in waves and then reviews the consequences of takeovers, with a predominant focus on the impacts of mergers on the economic performance of acquirers. The third part of the review summarises the theories as well as previous empirical studies on determinants of announcement returns and post-acquisition performance of combined firms.

Findings

– Merger activity demonstrates a wavy pattern, i.e. mergers are clustered in industries through time. The causes suggested for this fluctuating pattern include industry and economy-level shocks, mis-valuation and managerial herding. Market reaction to announcement of acquisitions is, on average, slightly negative for acquirer stocks and significantly positive for target stocks. The combined abnormal return is positive. These findings have been consistent over several decades of investigation. The prior research also identifies a number of factors that are related to performance of acquisitions. These factors are categorised and reviewed in five different groups: acquirer characteristics, target characteristics, bid characteristics, industry characteristics and macro-environment characteristics.

Originality/value

– This review illustrates a number of issues. Prior research is heavily biased towards gains to acquirers and factors that affect these gains. It is also biased towards finding sources of value creation through mergers, despite the fact that several theories suggest that mergers can be value-destroying. In fact, value destruction is often attributed to managers’ self-interest (agency problem) and mistakes (hubris). However, the mechanisms through which mergers destroy value are rarely addressed. Aside from that, the possibility of simultaneous creation and destruction of value in acquisitions is not often considered. Finally, after several decades of investigation, a key question is not completely answered yet: “What are the sources of value in mergers and acquisitions?”
The manipulation of LIBOR and related interest rates
Authors: Braml Harald
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The “London InterBank Offered Rate” (LIBOR) is one of the most important short-term interest rates with trillions of US dollar in financial products tied to it. Due to recent allegations of manipulation of the LIBOR, this paper aims to investigate the integrity of this rate.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper analyzes the LIBOR and its rate fixing process using different screens to detect potential manipulative behavior on the macro and micro level. As main frameworks, an interest rate parity approach and the construction of a theoretical LIBOR using Credit Default Swap (CDSs) are applied. A simulation on the potential impact from one through four banks manipulating the LIBOR is performed as well.

Findings

– The results on the macro level show that the LIBOR deviates heavily from other short-term interest rates from mid-2007 onwards, reaching its peak in September 2008 with the collapse of Lehman Brothers. On the micro level, the individual submissions of the panel banks are investigated, finding inconsistencies for Barclays and HSBC. Furthermore, a simulation on the influence from potential manipulation under the current calculation method reveals substantial effects on the LIBOR fixing. Even one bank trying to manipulate the fixing has a strong influence on the rate setting.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the academic landscape in that it investigates the LIBOR rate setting process and if irregular behavior can be detected, given the screens used. Due to the findings of conspicuous behavior in the fixing during certain periods, the integrity of the rate setting process is more than questionable.
Physicochemical and sensory properties of milk fortified with iron microcapsules prepared with water‐in‐oil‐in‐water emulsion during storage
Authors: Chang Yoon Hyuk , Lee Sun Young , Kwak Hae‐Soo
Published: March 2016

This study investigated the possibility of fortifying iron microcapsule powder into milk and the effects of the fortification on the physicochemical and sensory properties of the products during storage. The iron microcapsules were prepared by the water‐in‐oil‐in‐water (W/O/W) emulsion technique. Fortifying the lower concentrations (0.1–0.3%, w/v) of iron microcapsules into the milk samples did not significantly change thiobarbituric acid values. The L‐values for the milk samples were not significantly influenced by fortifying iron microcapsules (0.1–0.7%, w/v). The overall acceptability scores were not affected when the lowest concentration of iron microcapsules (0.1%, w/v) was fortified into the milk.
Delirium recall – an integrative review
Authors: Fuller Valerie
Published: March 2016

Aims and objectives

The aim of this article is to review and synthesise the empirical literature on patient recall of delirium episodes and to provide a direction for future research.

Background

Delirium is a common and costly condition seen in hospitalised and institutionalised patients. Much of the existing literature focuses on delirium detection, risk factors, aetiologies and treatment. Few studies describe the patient experience of delirium recall.

Design

A literature search was conducted using the databases of the National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE/OVID), the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature and the American Psychological Association (PsycINFO). Articles were restricted to the English language and from the years 1980–2014.

Methods

An integrative review of 12 selected studies on delirium recall was performed.

Results

The majority of participants recalled their delirious episodes and during these episodes experienced both perceptual disturbances and psychological distress. Common themes from the qualitative data included incomprehensible experiences, strong emotional feelings and fear.

Conclusion

Delirium recall is common, is distressing and warrants further investigation. Future studies should employ standardised delirium detection tools and a systematic examination of factors that may predict delirium recall.

Relevance to clinical practice

Understanding delirium recall may help nurses mitigate the psychological morbidity and distress associated with the phenomenon and generate new theories to improve care.
An Experimental Investigation on Transpiration Cooling Based on the Multilaminated Sintered Woven Wire Mesh Structures
Authors: Ma Jiandong , Luo Xiang , Li Haiwang , Liu Yangpeng
Published: March 2016

This paper experimentally investigated a transpiration cooling performance of double-laminated and triple-laminated sintered woven wire mesh structures with different porosities and arrangements. Each laminated test piece was made up of two or three layers, and each layer has different porosities and same thickness. The porosities of layers include 25.6%, 37.1%, 46.9%, and 55.1%. All the tests were performed with air. The flow rate and temperature of main flow were kept at 300 kg/hr and 90 °C, respectively. The blowing ratio between the cooling air and main flow approximately varied from 1.2% to 9%. The average surface temperature of test pieces was captured by an infrared thermal imager. The cooling effectiveness for each specimen was calculated and analyzed. Moreover, the pressure drop of several specimens was analyzed with modified Darcy equation. The results showed that the flow behavior agrees well with the modified Darcy equation. The average porosity of the test piece has a great influence on flow behavior, and the air flow direction through a double-laminated porous medium has only slight influence on pressure drop in this study. The results also indicated that the cooling efficiency increases as the average porosity increases. The arrangement of layers affects the transpiration cooling performance, and the cooling efficiency of the laminated model is affected by each laminates together.
Deposition on a Cooled Nozzle Guide Vane With Nonuniform Inlet Temperatures
Authors: Prenter Robin , Ameri Ali , Bons Jeffrey P.
Published: March 2016

External deposition on a slot film cooled nozzle guide vane, subjected to nonuniform inlet temperatures, was investigated experimentally and computationally. Experiments were conducted using a four-vane cascade, operating at temperatures up to 1353 K and inlet Mach number of approximately 0.1. Surveys of temperature at the inlet and exit planes were acquired to characterize the form and migration of the hot streak. Film cooling was achieved on one of the vanes using a single spanwise slot. Deposition was produced by injecting sub-bituminous ash particles with a median diameter of 6.48 μm upstream of the vane passage. Several deposition tests were conducted, including a baseline case, a hot streak-only case, and a hot streak and film cooled case. Results indicate that capture efficiency is strongly related to both the inlet temperature profiles and film cooling. Deposit distribution patterns are also affected by changes in vane surface temperatures. A computational model was developed to simulate the external and internal flow, conjugate heat transfer, and deposition. Temperature profiles measured experimentally at the inlet were applied as thermal boundary conditions to the simulation. For deposition modeling, an Eulerian–Lagrangian particle tracking model was utilized to track the ash particles through the flow. An experimentally tuned version of the critical viscosity sticking model was implemented, with predicted deposition rates matching experimental results well. Comparing overall deposition rates to results from previous studies indicates that the combined effect of nonuniform inlet temperatures and film cooling cannot be accurately simulated by simple superposition of the two independent effects; thus, inclusion of both conditions in experiments is necessary for realistic simulation of external deposition.
An Experimental and Numerical Study on the Aerothermal Characteristics of a Ribbed Transonic Squealer-Tip Turbine Blade With Purge Flow
Authors: Arisi A. , Phillips J. , Ng W. F. , Xue S. , Moon H. K. , Zhang L.
Published: March 2016

Detailed heat transfer coefficient (HTC) and film cooling effectiveness (Eta) distribution on a squealer-tipped first stage rotor blade were measured using an infrared technique. The blade tip design, obtained from the Solar Turbines, Inc., gas turbine, consists of double purge hole exits and four ribs within the squealer cavity, with a bleeder exit port on the pressure side close to the trailing edge. The tests were carried out in a transient linear transonic wind tunnel facility under land-based engine representative Mach/Reynolds number. Measurements were taken at an inlet turbulent intensity of Tu = 12%, with exit Mach numbers of 0.85 (Reexit = 9.75 × 105) and 1.0 (Reexit = 1.15 × 106) with the Reynolds number based on the blade axial chord and the cascade exit velocity. The tip clearance was fixed at 1% (based on engine blade span) with a purge flow blowing ratio, BR = 1.0. At each test condition, an accompanying numerical study was performed using Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations solver ansys fluent to further understand the tip flow characteristics. The results showed that the tip purge flow has a blocking effect on the leakage flow path. Furthermore, the ribs significantly altered the flow (and consequently heat transfer) characteristics within the squealer-tip cavity resulting in a significant reduction in film cooling effectiveness. This was attributed to increased coolant–leakage flow mixing due to increased recirculation within the squealer cavity. Overall, the peak HTC on the cavity floor increased with exit Mach/Reynolds number.
Hydropower Plant Frequency Control Via Feedback Linearization and Sliding Mode Control
Authors: Ding Xibei , Sinha Alok
Published: March 2016

This paper presents a new nonlinear controller design approach for a hydraulic power plant focusing on load frequency control aspect. It is based on input state feedback linearization and sliding mode/H∞ control. Simulation results for a nonlinear dynamic model of entire hydropower plant are presented and compared to those from the classical linear proportional-integral (PI) controller. A novel two-stage scheme for the nonlinear controller design with integral feedback is presented for a fast transient response and zero steady-state error.
Cavitation Performance of Hydraulic Turbines in the Three Gorges Reservoir With Consideration of Influence of Total Phosphorus Pollution
Authors: Jiang Wenshan , Chang Jinshi
Published: March 2016

The Three Gorges Reservoir has the largest installed power station in the world and generates the most energy in the world as well; the hydraulic turbines employed are the largest Francis turbines. In recent years, total phosphorus (TP) pollution in the reservoir has increased along with eutrophication. TP is the total amount of various phosphides mostly phosphate metal represented by phosphorus element. In this paper, the cavitation pressure characteristics of polluted water were determined through experiments, and the impact on the suction head of turbines during actual operation was studied. Based on the pollution situation, the cavitation performance and the possibility of severe cavitation erosion of turbines in the Three Gorges Reservoir were evaluated. Studies proved that with the increase in the TP concentration, the cavitation inception pressure and critical cavitation pressure increased. This may led to a decrease in the cavitation performance of turbines, which run with polluted water as the working medium. These research results have great importance on cavitation theory and engineering practice.
Reduced Biaxial Contractility in the Descending Thoracic Aorta of Fibulin-5 Deficient Mice
Authors: Murtada S.-I. , Ferruzzi J. , Yanagisawa H. , Humphrey J. D.
Published: March 2016

The precise role of smooth muscle cell contractility in elastic arteries remains unclear, but accumulating evidence suggests that smooth muscle dysfunction plays an important role in the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAADs). Given the increasing availability of mouse models of these conditions, there is a special opportunity to study roles of contractility ex vivo in intact vessels subjected to different mechanical loads. In parallel, of course, there is a similar need to study smooth muscle contractility in models that do not predispose to TAADs, particularly in cases where disease might be expected. Multiple mouse models having compromised glycoproteins that normally associate with elastin to form medial elastic fibers present with TAADs, yet those with fibulin-5 deficiency do not. In this paper, we show that deletion of the fibulin-5 gene results in a significantly diminished contractility of the thoracic aorta in response to potassium loading despite otherwise preserved characteristic active behaviors, including axial force generation and rates of contraction and relaxation. Interestingly, this diminished response manifests around an altered passive state that is defined primarily by a reduced in vivo axial stretch. Given this significant coupling between passive and active properties, a lack of significant changes in passive material stiffness may help to offset the diminished contractility and thereby protect the wall from detrimental mechanosensing and its sequelae.
What is really driving cell–surface interactions? Layer-by-layer assembled films may help to answer questions concerning cell attachment and response to biomaterials
Authors: Sergeeva Yulia N. , Huang Tongtong , Felix Olivier , Jung Laura , Tropel Philippe , Viville Stephane , Decher Gero
Published: March 2016

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled multicomponent films offer the opportunity to control and to fine-tune cell attachment and behavior on solid surfaces [Layer-by-Layer Films for Biomedical Applications, edited by Picart et al. (Wiley, Weinheim, 2014) and El-Khouri et al., “Multifunctional layer-by-layer architectures for biological applications,” in Functional Polymeric Ultrathin Films, edited by Advincula and Knoll (Wiley, Weinheim, 2011), Vol. 1]. At the same time, these films allow for quite detailed physicochemical characterization of static and dynamic surface properties that are typically not available in classic cell culture. In this report, the authors investigate cell adhesion and cytocompatibility of compositionally and morphologically similar thin films composed of oppositely charged synthetic or natural polyelectrolytes in which different physical parameters such as surface charge or water content are varied through chemical composition and deposition conditions. Human adult dermal fibroblasts were chosen as a model because of the need for chemically defined matrix in the field of primary cell amplification. The growth and the stability of the multilayer films in the incubation media were studied dissipation-enhanced quartz crystal micobalance (QCM-D) and ellipsometry. The QCM-D signals observed during the film deposition were analyzed qualitatively to estimate the viscoelastic properties of the films. The authors used contact angle measurements with water to study the contribution of the chemical functionalities to wetting behavior of the films. Most importantly, they also studied the interaction of the films with serum components. Our results underline that cell adhesion is a highly complex process which is not only governed by the functionality of a surface but also by its morphology, its affinity for serum components, and also by changes of surface properties brought about by adsorbing molecules. Of the many LbL-films tested, poly(4-styrenesulfonate)/poly(allyl amine) multilayers were best suited for our fibroblast cultures, which opens a way to avoid gelatin based and similar substrates whose exact chemical composition is unknown.
Experimental and computational study of zero dimensional metallic behavior at the LaLuO3/SrTiO3 interface
Authors: Shekhter Pini , Uzan-Saguy Cecile , Schubert Jürgen , Amouyal Yaron , Eizenberg Moshe
Published: March 2016

One of the observed and reported phenomena in heterogeneous interfaces of perovskite oxides is the presence of a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG). In this study, the imperfect interface that is formed between LaLuO3 and SrTiO3 was studied. It was found using x ray diffraction pole figure that LaLuO3 is deposited on SrTiO3 in a two-domain structure with alternately charged layers parallel to the surface. First-principles calculations reveal that even though the lattices of the two materials do not match, an increase of the total potential is found at the interface between the two lattices. Due to this increased potential, electrons are drawn to the interface; since the interface is not perfectly epitaxial, 2DEG is not formed and instead semicontinuous 0D metallic segments probed by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy are spread along the interface on the LaLuO3 side.
How hair can reveal a history
Authors: Armitage Hanae , Rogers Nala
Published: March 2016

Sophisticated methods are giving hair a new role in forensic analysis.
Who dropped the bomb?
Authors: Stone Richard
Published: March 2016

Postdetonation forensics may help provide answers if the nuclear nightmare becomes a reality.
Clues from the ashes
Authors: Wade Lizzie
Published: March 2016

Were the bodies of 43 missing Mexican students burned at a dumpsite? Fire investigator José Torero says the science doesn't add up.
The microbial death clock
Authors: Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: March 2016

The succession of microbes breaking down a human cadaver may provide precise information about the time of death.
The Bitcoin busts
Authors: Bohannon John
Published: March 2016

Its anonymity made Bitcoin popular among criminals. But even with cryptocurrency, researchers can follow the money.
Tackling toxics
Authors: Blum Arlene
Published: March 2016

Most Americans believe that if a chemical is in their cosmetics, their coat, or their couch, someone is making sure it's safe for their health. In reality, little toxicity information or regulation is required for 80,000 industrial chemicals used in commerce in the United States. To address this, legislation to update the ineffective 1976 Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) is currently moving through Congress. The hope is that it will lead to improved regulation of chemicals, but the extent and timeliness of the reform are not certain. In the meantime, the widespread use of harmful chemicals continues to pose a threat to our health and environment.
Plesiomonas shigelloides Revisited
Authors: Janda J. Michael , Abbott Sharon L. , McIver Christopher J.
Published: March 2016

After many years in the family
Vibrionaceae
, the genus
Plesiomonas
, represented by a single species,
P. shigelloides
, currently resides in the family
Enterobacteriaceae
, although its most appropriate phylogenetic position may yet to be determined. Common environmental reservoirs for plesiomonads include freshwater ecosystems and estuaries and inhabitants of these aquatic environs. Long suspected as being an etiologic agent of bacterial gastroenteritis, convincing evidence supporting this conclusion has accumulated over the past 2 decades in the form of a series of foodborne outbreaks solely or partially attributable to
P. shigelloides
. The prevalence of
P. shigelloides
enteritis varies considerably, with higher rates reported from Southeast Asia and Africa and lower numbers from North America and Europe. Reasons for these differences may include hygiene conditions, dietary habits, regional occupations, or other unknown factors. Other human illnesses caused by
P. shigelloides
include septicemia and central nervous system disease, eye infections, and a variety of miscellaneous ailments. For years, recognizable virulence factors potentially associated with
P. shigelloides
pathogenicity were lacking; however, several good candidates now have been reported, including a cytotoxic hemolysin, iron acquisition systems, and lipopolysaccharide. While
P. shigelloides
is easy to identify biochemically, it is often overlooked in stool samples due to its smaller colony size or relatively low prevalence in gastrointestinal samples. However, one FDA-approved PCR-based culture-independent diagnostic test system to detect multiple enteropathogens (FilmArray) includes
P. shigelloides
on its panel. Plesiomonads produce β-lactamases but are typically susceptible to many first-line antimicrobial agents, including quinolones and carbapenems.
In Vitro
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Isolates of Human and Animal Origin
Authors: Humphries Romney M. , Wu Max T. , Westblade Lars F. , Robertson Amy E. , Burnham Carey-Ann D. , Wallace Meghan A. , Burd Eileen M. , Lawhon Sara , Hindler Janet A.
Published: March 2016

MIC results for 115
Staphylococcus intermedius
group isolates are presented. Of these, 33% were methicillin resistant, among which 51.4% were susceptible to doxycycline, 29.7% to clindamycin, and 21.6% to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. All of the isolates were susceptible to ceftaroline, daptomycin, linezolid, nitrofurantoin, quinupristin-dalfopristin, rifampin, tigecycline, and vancomycin. Of all the isolates, 82.6%, 67.8%, and 23.5% were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and penicillin, respectively. No isolates harbored
mupA
or
qacA
/
B
genes, which suggested a lack of resistance to mupirocin or chlorhexidine.
Human Papillomavirus E2 Regulates SRSF3 (SRp20) To Promote Capsid Protein Expression in Infected Differentiated Keratinocytes
Authors: Klymenko T. , Hernandez-Lopez H. , MacDonald A. I. , Bodily J. M. , Graham S. V.
Published: March 2016

The human papillomavirus (HPV) life cycle is tightly linked to differentiation of the infected epithelial cell, suggesting a sophisticated interplay between host cell metabolism and virus replication. Previously, we demonstrated in differentiated keratinocytes
in vitro
and
in vivo
that HPV type 16 (HPV16) infection caused increased levels of the cellular SR splicing factors (SRSFs) SRSF1 (ASF/SF2), SRSF2 (SC35), and SRSF3 (SRp20). Moreover, the viral E2 transcription and replication factor that is expressed at high levels in differentiating keratinocytes could bind and control activity of the SRSF1 gene promoter. Here, we show that the E2 proteins of HPV16 and HPV31 control the expression of SRSFs 1, 2, and 3 in a differentiation-dependent manner. E2 has the greatest transactivation effect on expression of SRSF3. Small interfering RNA depletion experiments in two different models of the HPV16 life cycle (W12E and NIKS16) and one model of the HPV31 life cycle (CIN612-9E) revealed that only SRSF3 contributed significantly to regulation of late events in the virus life cycle. Increased levels of SRSF3 are required for L1 mRNA and capsid protein expression. Capsid protein expression was regulated specifically by SRSF3 and appeared independent of other SRSFs. Taken together, these data suggest a significant role of the HPV E2 protein in regulating late events in the HPV life cycle through transcriptional regulation of SRSF3 expression.

IMPORTANCE
Human papillomavirus replication is accomplished in concert with differentiation of the infected epithelium. Virus capsid protein expression is confined to the upper epithelial layers so as to avoid immune detection. In this study, we demonstrate that the viral E2 transcription factor activates the promoter of the cellular SRSF3 RNA processing factor. SRSF3 is required for expression of the E4
^
L1 mRNA and so controls expression of the HPV L1 capsid protein. Thus, we reveal a new dimension of virus-host interaction crucial for production of infectious virus. SRSF proteins are known drug targets. Therefore, this study provides an excellent basis for developing strategies to regulate capsid protein production in the infected epithelium and the production of new virions.
Comparative Analysis of HIV-1 and Murine Leukemia Virus Three-Dimensional Nuclear Distributions
Authors: Quercioli Valentina , Di Primio Cristina , Casini Antonio , Mulder Lubbertus C. F. , Vranckx Lenard S. , Borrenberghs Doortje , Gijsbers Rik , Debyser Zeger , Cereseto Anna
Published: March 2016

Recent advances in fluorescence microscopy allow three-dimensional analysis of HIV-1 preintegration complexes in the nuclei of infected cells. To extend this investigation to gammaretroviruses, we engineered a fluorescent Moloney murine leukemia virus (MLV) system consisting of MLV-integrase fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (MLV-IN-EGFP). A comparative analysis of lentiviral (HIV-1) and gammaretroviral (MLV) fluorescent complexes in the nuclei of infected cells revealed their different spatial distributions. This research tool has the potential to achieve new insight into the nuclear biology of these retroviruses.
Phylogenomic Analysis Reveals an Asian Origin for African Burkholderia pseudomallei and Further Supports Melioidosis Endemicity in Africa
Authors: Sarovich Derek S. , Garin Benoit , De Smet Birgit , Kaestli Mirjam , Mayo Mark , Vandamme Peter , Jacobs Jan , Lompo Palpouguini , Tahita Marc C. , Tinto Halidou , Djaomalaza Innocente , Currie Bart J. , Price Erin P.
Published: March 2016

Sporadic melioidosis cases have been reported in the African mainland and Indian Ocean islands, but until recently, these regions were not considered areas where
B. pseudomallei
is endemic. Given the high mortality rate of melioidosis, it is crucial that this disease be recognized and suspected in all regions of endemicity. Previous work has shown that
B. pseudomallei
originated in Australia, with subsequent introduction into Asia; however, the precise origin of
B. pseudomallei
in other tropical regions remains poorly understood. Using whole-genome sequencing, we characterized
B. pseudomallei
isolates from Madagascar and Burkina Faso. Next, we compared these strains to a global collection of
B. pseudomallei
isolates to identify their evolutionary origins. We found that African
B. pseudomallei
strains likely originated from Asia and were closely related to South American strains, reflecting a relatively recent shared evolutionary history. We also identified substantial genetic diversity among African strains, suggesting long-term
B. pseudomallei
endemicity in this region.
Bilateral adrenal haemorrhage: a cause of haemodynamic collapse in heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia
Authors: Saleem Nasir , Khan Mahjabeen , Parveen Sanober , Balavenkatraman Arvind
Published: March 2016

Heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia (HIT) is a life-threatening complication of exposure to heparin. It is mediated by autoantibodies to platelet factor-4 causing platelet activation, destruction and thrombosis. Given their rich arterial supply and a single central vein, the adrenal glands are particularly susceptible to congestive haemorrhage following venous thrombosis. We report a case of bilateral adrenal haemorrhage (BAH) associated with HIT following prophylactic use of unfractionated heparin for venous thromboembolism causing adrenal insufficiency. BAH is a life-threatening paradoxical complication associated with HIT, a prothrombotic state. The resulting adrenal insufficiency can lead to haemodynamic collapse if unrecognised. Early diagnosis, in the wake of vague symptoms, and prompt treatment primarily aimed at repletion of glucocorticoids and close monitoring of enlarging haemorrhage is of utmost importance. Likewise, early identification of HIT is important to prevent potential complications including adrenal haemorrhage.
Why is there variation in the practice of evidence-based medicine in primary care? A qualitative study
Authors: Hisham Ranita , Ng Chirk Jenn , Liew Su May , Hamzah Nurazira , Ho Gah Juan
Published: March 2016

Objective

To explore the factors, including barriers and facilitators, influencing the practice of evidence-based medicine (EBM) across various primary care settings in Malaysia based on the doctors’ views and experiences.

Research design

The qualitative study was used to answer the research question. 37 primary care physicians participated in six focus group discussions and six individual in-depth interviews. A semistructured topic guide was used to facilitate both the interviews and focus groups, which were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, checked and analysed using a thematic approach.

Participants

37 primary care doctors including medical officers, family medicine specialists, primary care lecturers and general practitioners with different working experiences and in different settings.

Setting

The study was conducted across three primary care settings—an academic primary care practice, private and public health clinics in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

Results

The doctors in this study were aware of the importance of EBM but seldom practised it. Three main factors influenced the implementation of EBM in the doctors’ daily practice. First, there was a lack of knowledge and skills in searching for and applying evidence. Second, workplace culture influenced doctors’ practice of EBM. Third, some doctors considered EBM as a threat to good clinical practice. They were concerned that rigid application of evidence compromised personalised patient care and felt that EBM did not consider the importance of clinical experience.

Conclusions

Despite being aware of and having a positive attitude towards EBM, doctors in this study seldom practised EBM in their routine clinical practice. Besides commonly cited barriers such as having a heavy workload and lack of training, workplace ‘EBM culture’ had an important influence on the doctors’ behaviour. Strategies targeting barriers at the practice level should be considered when implementing EBM in primary care.