bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two bright z > 6 quasars from VST ATLAS and a new method of optical plus mid-infrared colour selection
Authors: Carnall A. C. , Shanks T. , Chehade B. , Fumagalli M. , Rauch M. , Irwin M. J. , Gonzalez-Solares E. , Findlay J. R. , Metcalfe N.
Published: May 2015

We present the discovery of two z > 6 quasars, selected as i-band dropouts in the Very Large Telescope Survey Telescope ATLAS survey. Our first quasar has redshift, z = 6.31 ± 0.03, z-band magnitude, zAB = 19.63 ± 0.08 and rest frame 1450 Å absolute magnitude, M1450 = −27.8 ± 0.2, making it the joint second most luminous quasar known at z > 6. The second quasar has z = 6.02 ± 0.03, zAB = 19.54 ± 0.08 and M1450 = −27.0 ± 0.1. We also recover a z = 5.86 quasar discovered by Venemans et al., in preparation. To select our quasars, we use a new 3D colour space, combining the atlas optical colours with mid-infrared data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. We use iAB − zAB colour to exclude main-sequence stars, galaxies and lower redshift quasars, W1 − W2 to exclude L dwarfs and zAB − W2 to exclude T dwarfs. A restrictive set of colour cuts returns only our three high redshift quasars and no contaminants, albeit with a sample completeness of ∼50 per cent. We discuss how our 3D colour space can be used to reject the majority of contaminants from samples of bright 5.7 < z < 6.3 quasars, replacing follow-up near-infrared photometry, whilst retaining high completeness.
Violent intranight optical variability of the blazar S4 0954+65 during its unprecedented 2015 February outburst
Authors: Bachev Rumen
Published: May 2015

In this letter, we present results from intranight monitoring in three colours (BRI) of the blazar S4 0954+65 during its recent (2015 February) unprecedented high state. We find violent variations on very short time-scales, reaching magnitude change levels of 0.1–0.2 mag h−1. On some occasions, changes of ∼0.1 mag are observed even within ∼10 min. During the night of 2015 February 14, an exponential drop of ∼0.7 mag is detected for about 5 h. Cross-correlation between the light curves does not reveal any detectable wavelength-dependent time delays, larger than ∼5 min. Colour changes ‘bluer-when-brighter’ are observed on longer time-scales. Possible variability mechanisms to explain the observations are discussed and a preference to the geometrical one is given.
Biological challenges to effective vaccines in the developing world
Authors: Grassly Nicholas C. , Kang Gagandeep , Kampmann Beate
Published: May 2015

The reason for holding a meeting to discuss biological challenges to vaccines is simple: not all vaccines work equally well in all settings. This special issue reviews the performance of vaccines in challenging environments, summarizes current thinking on the reasons why vaccines underperform and considers what approaches are necessary to understand the heterogeneity in responses and to improve vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy.
Malnutrition and vaccination in developing countries
Authors: Prendergast Andrew J.
Published: May 2015

Malnutrition contributes to an estimated 45% of deaths among children under 5 years of age in developing countries, predominantly due to infections. Malnourished children therefore stand to benefit hugely from vaccination, but malnutrition has been described as the most common immunodeficiency globally, suggesting that they may not be able to respond effectively to vaccines. The immunology of malnutrition remains poorly characterized, but is associated with impairments in mucosal barrier integrity, and innate and adaptive immune dysfunction. Despite this, the majority of malnourished children can mount a protective immune response following vaccination, although the timing, quality and duration of responses may be impaired. This paper reviews the evidence for vaccine immunogenicity in malnourished children, discusses the importance of vaccination in prevention of malnutrition and highlights evidence gaps in our current knowledge.
Exploring the role of environmental enteropathy in malnutrition, infant development and oral vaccine response
Authors: Gilmartin Allissia A. , Petri William A.
Published: May 2015

Environmental enteropathy (EE) is a poorly defined state of intestinal inflammation without overt diarrhoea that occurs in individuals exposed over time to poor sanitation and hygiene. It is characterized pathologically by small intestine villous blunting and inflammation. In children from low-income countries, it is implicated as a cause of malnutrition, oral vaccine failure and impaired cognitive development. Here we review the search for non-invasive biomarkers to measure EE non-invasively, and assess the current evidence linking EE to malnutrition, vaccine failure and neurocognitive development.
Probiotics, antibiotics and the immune responses to vaccines
Authors: Praharaj Ira , John Sushil M. , Bandyopadhyay Rini , Kang Gagandeep
Published: May 2015

Orally delivered vaccines have been shown to perform poorly in developing countries. There are marked differences in the structure and the luminal environment of the gut in developing countries resulting in changes in immune and barrier function. Recent studies using newly developed technology and analytic methods have made it increasingly clear that the intestinal microbiota activate a multitude of pathways that control innate and adaptive immunity in the gut. Several hypotheses have been proposed for the underperformance of oral vaccines in developing countries, and modulation of the intestinal microbiota is now being tested in human clinical trials. Supplementation with specific strains of probiotics has been shown to have modulatory effects on intestinal and systemic immune responses in animal models and forms the basis for human studies with vaccines. However, most studies published so far that have evaluated the immune response to vaccines in children and adults have been small and results have varied by age, antigen, type of antibody response and probiotic strain. Use of anthelminthic drugs in children has been shown to possibly increase immunogenicity following oral cholera vaccination, lending further support to the rationale for modulation of the immune response to oral vaccination through the intestinal microbiome.
Potential for use of retinoic acid as an oral vaccine adjuvant
Authors: Mwanza-Lisulo Mpala , Kelly Paul
Published: May 2015

Despite the heavy burden of diarrhoeal disease across much of the tropical world, only two diarrhoea-causing pathogens, cholera and rotavirus, are the target of commercially available vaccines. Oral vaccines are generally less immunogenic than the best parenteral vaccines, but the reasons for this are still debated. Over the past decade, several lines of evidence from work in experimental animals have suggested that all-transretinoic acid (ATRA), a form of vitamin A which is highly transcriptionally active, can alter the homing receptor expression of T lymphocytes. Increased expression of α4β7 integrin and the chemokine receptor CCR9 following exposure to ATRA can be used to redirect T cells to the gut. Early work in human volunteers suggests that oral ATRA administration 1 h prior to dosing with oral typhoid vaccine can augment secretion of specific IgA against vaccine-derived lipopolysaccharide into gut secretions. In this review, we set out the rationale for using ATRA in this way and assess its likely applicability to vaccination programmes for protection of children in low-income countries from the considerable mortality caused by diarrhoeal disease. Comparison of recent work in experimental animals, non-human primates and men suggests that a more detailed understanding of ATRA dosage and kinetics will be important to taking forward translational work into human vaccinology.
Factors influencing innate immunity and vaccine responses in infancy
Authors: Kampmann Beate , Jones Christine E
Published: May 2015

Despite significant progress in reducing the burden of mortality in children under the age of five, reducing mortality in newborns remains a major challenge. Infection plays a significant role in infant deaths and interventions such as early vaccination or antenatal immunization could make a significant contribution to prevention of such deaths. In the last few years, we have gained new insights into immune ontogeny and are now beginning to understand the impact of vaccines, nutrition and environmental factors on ‘training′ of the immune response in early life. This review article sets out to explain why vaccine responses can be heterogeneous between populations and individuals by providing examples chosen to illustrate the impact of host, pathogen and environmental factors on shaping the immune ‘interactome′ in young children.
Delivering vaccines to the people who need them most
Authors: Barocchi Michèle Anne , Rappuoli Rino
Published: May 2015

Thanks to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the Vaccine Fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the global health community has made enormous progress in providing already existing vaccines to developing countries. However, there still exists a gap to develop vaccines for which there is no market in the Western world, owing to low economic incentives for the private sector to justify the investments necessary for vaccine development. In many cases, industry has the technologies, but lacks the impetus to direct resources to develop these vaccine products. The present emergency with the Ebola vaccine provides us an excellent example where a vaccine was feasible several years ago, but the global health community waited for a humanitarian disaster to direct efforts and resources to develop this vaccine. In the beginning of 2015, the first large-scale trials of two experimental vaccines against Ebola virus disease have begun in West Africa. During the past few years, several institutions have dedicated efforts to the development of vaccines against diseases present only in low-income countries. These include the International Vaccine Institute, the Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health, the Hilleman Institute, the Sabin Vaccine Institute and the Infectious Disease Research Institute. Nevertheless, solving this problem requires a more significant global effort than that currently invested. These efforts include a clear policy, global coordination of funds dedicated to the development of neglected disease and an agreement on regulatory strategies and incentives for the private sector.
Aliiroseovarius pelagivivens gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from seawater, and reclassification of three species of the genus Roseovarius as Aliiroseovarius crassostreae comb. nov., Aliiroseovarius halocynthiae comb. nov. and Aliiroseovarius sediminilitoris comb. nov.
Authors: Park Sooyeon , Park Ji-Min , Kang Chul-Hyung , Yoon Jung-Hoon
Published: May 2015

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic and ovoid or rod-shaped bacterium, designated GYSW-22T, was isolated from seawater off Geoje Island in the South Sea, South Korea. Strain GYSW-22T grew optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 1.0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain GYSW-22T and the type strains of Roseovarius crassostreae, Roseovarius halocynthiae and Roseovarius sediminilitoris form a coherent cluster, independent of phylogenetic lineages or clusters comprising the type strains of other species of the genus Roseovarius. Strain GYSW-22T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 97.2, 96.6 and 96.3 % to R. halocynthiae MA1-10T, R. crassostreae CV919-312T and R. sediminilitoris M-M10T, respectively, and of 92.6–94.7 % to the type strains of other species of the genus Roseovarius. Strain GYSW-22T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain GYSW-22T was 59.0 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with R. halocynthiae MA1-10T was 15 %. On the basis of the data presented, we propose strain GYSW-22T represents a novel species of a new genus, Aliiroseovarius pelagivivens gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of the type species is GYSW-22T ( = KCTC 42459T = CECT 8811T). In this study, it is also proposed that Roseovarius crassostreae, Roseovarius halocynthiae and Roseovarius sediminilitoris be reclassified into the new genus as Aliiroseovarius crassostreae comb. nov. (type strain CV919-312T = ATCC BAA-1102T = DSM 16950T), Aliiroseovarius halocynthiae comb. nov. (type strain MA1-10T = KCTC 23462T = CCUG 60745T) and Aliiroseovarius sediminilitoris comb. nov. (type strain M-M10T = KCTC 23959T = CCUG 62413T), respectively.
Staphylococcus argensis sp. nov., a novel staphylococcal species isolated from an aquatic environment
Authors: Heß Stefanie , Gallert Claudia
Published: May 2015

A staphylocoagulase-negative, novobiocin-susceptible strain (M4S-6T) of a species of the genus Staphylococcus was isolated from the river Argen in Southern Germany. It was assigned to the genus Staphylococcus due to the presence of the fatty acids, ai-C15 : 0, i-C15 : 0, i-C17 : 0, ai-C17 : 0, and of menaquinone (MK-7) in the cytoplasmic membrane, which are typical of coagulase-negative staphylococci. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unknown phospholipid and an unknown glycolipid. Although the 16S gene sequence of strain M4S-6T revealed a 98 % similarity with its closest relative, Staphylococcus pettenkoferi, it could be distinguished by several phenotypical and physiological markers. In contrast to S. pettenkoferi, M4S-6T was ornithine decarboxylase-positive, urease-negative and could use formiate and l-histidine as carbon-sources; nitrate was not reduced. Whereas S. pettenkoferi could grow with d(-)-mannitol, d-sorbitol, gluconic acid, l-proline, carboxymethylcellulose and lignosulfonate, M4S-6T was not able to grow with these substances. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and of phenotypic testing indicated that M4S-6T was a representative of a novel species for which the name Staphylococcus argensis sp. nov., is proposed with the type strain M4S-6T (DSM 29875T = CIP 110904T).
Phaeodactylibacter luteus sp. nov., isolated from the oleaginous microalga Picochlorum sp.
Authors: Lei Xueqian , Li Yi , Wang Guanghua , Chen Yao , Lai Qiliang , Chen Zhangran , Zhang Jingyan , Liao Pingping , Zhu Hong , Zheng Wei , Zheng Tianling
Published: May 2015

A Gram-staining-negative, orange-pigmented, non-motile, aerobic bacterial strain, designated GYP20T, was isolated from a culture of the alga Picochlorum sp., a promising feedstock for biodiesel production, which was isolated from the India Ocean. Growth was observed at temperatures from 20 to 37 °C, salinities from 0 to 3  % and pH from 5 to 9.Mg
2+ and Ca2+ ions were required for growth. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the strain was a member of the genus Phaeodactylibacter, which belongs to the family Saprospiraceae. Strain GYP20T was most closely related to Phaeodactylibacter xiamenensis KD52T (95.5  % sequence similarity). The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The polar lipids of strain GYP20T were found to consist of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, four unidentified glycolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified aminolipids. According to its morphology, physiology, fatty acid composition and 16S rRNA sequence data, the novel strain most appropriately belongs to the genus Phaeodactylibacter, but can readily be distinguished from Phaeodactylibacter xiamenensis GYP20T. The name Phaeodactylibacter luteus sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain GYP20T ( = MCCC 1F01222T = KCTC 42180T).
Synthesis of dithiafulvene–quinone donor–acceptor systems: isolation of a Michael adduct
Authors: Lissau Henriette , Jevric Martyn , Madsen Anders Østergaard , Nielsen Mogens Brøndsted
Published: May 2015

π-Conjugated donor–acceptor systems based on dithiafulvene (DTF) donor units and various acceptor units have attracted attention for their linear and nonlinear optical properties. The reaction betweenp-benzoquinone and a 1,3-dithiole phosphonium salt, deprotonated by lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS), gave a product mixture from which the Michael adduct [systematic name: dimethyl 2-(3-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-ylidene)-2H-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate], C13H10O6S2, was isolated. It is likely that one of the unidentified products obtained previously by others from related reactions could be a similar Michael adduct.
The first example of a two-coordinated AuIatom bonded to an FeIIatom and an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand
Authors: Bechtoldt Alexander , Lerner Hans-Wolfram , Bolte Michael
Published: May 2015

The aurophilicity exhibited by AuIcomplexes depends strongly on the nature of the supporting ligands present and the length of the Au–element (Au—E) bond may be used as a measure of the donor–acceptor properties of the coordinated ligands. A binuclear iron–gold complex, [1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene-2κC2]dicarbonyl-1κ2C-(1η5-cyclopentadienyl)gold(I)iron(II)(Au—Fe) benzene trisolvate, [AuFe(C5H5)(C27H36N2)(CO)2]·3C6H6, was prepared by reaction of K[CpFe(CO)2] (Cp is cyclopentadienyl) with (NHC)AuCl [NHC = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]. In addition to the binuclear complex, the asymmetric unit contains three benzene solvent molecules. This is the first example of a two-coordinated Au atom bonded to an Fe and a C atom of an N-heterocyclic carbene.
Crystal structure of (2-chloroethyl)[2-(methylsulfanyl)benzyl]ammonium chloride
Authors: Raghavendra Kumar P. , Shailesh Upereti , Palakshamurthy B. S.
Published: May 2015

In the title molecular salt, C10H15ClNS+·Cl−, the cation is [R′R"NH2]+, whereR′ is 2-MeS-C6H4CH2– andR" is –CH2CH2Cl, and the anion is Cl−. In the cation, the N atom is protonated withsp3-hybridization and with a tetrahedral geometry. In the crystal, the anions are connected to the cations through two pairs of N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, generating a four-centred inversion dimer with anR42(8) ring motif.
Crystal structure ofN,N′-[(thiophene-2,5-diyl)bis(methanylylidene)]di-p-toluidine
Authors: Boyle Raina , Crundwell Guy , Glagovich Neil M.
Published: May 2015

The title compound, C20H18N2S, was synthesized by the condensation reaction betweenp-toluidine and thiophene-2,5-dicarboxaldehye in refluxing toluene withp-toluenesulfonic acid added as catalyst. The molecule lies on a twofold rotation axis and adopts anEorientation with respect to the azomethine bonds. The dihedral angle between the unqiue benzene ring and the least-squares plane [maximum deviation = 0.0145 (14) Å] containing the azomethine and thiophene groups is 32.31 (6)°.
Crystal structure of 3-methyl-5-trimethylsilyl-1H-pyrazole
Authors: Ferrence Gregory M. , Kocher Joshua L.
Published: May 2015

The title compound, C7H14N2Si, crystallizes in a tetragonal space group and exists as an N—H...N hydrogen-bonded tetramer, formed around the crystallographic fourfold rotoinversion axis. The molecular identity is clearly the 5-trimethylsilyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole tautomer and the structure is isomorphous with that of 5-tert-butyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole [Foces-Foces & Trofimenko (2001).Acta Cryst.E57, o32–o34].
Isolation of 3-amino-4-nitrobenzyl acetate: evidence of an undisclosed impurity in 5-amino-2-nitrobenzoic acid
Authors: Quillian Brandon , Hendricks Jordan , Trivitayakhun Matthew , Padgett Clifford W.
Published: May 2015

Yellow crystals of the title compound 3-amino-4-nitrobenzyl acetate, C9H10N2O4, were isolated from the reaction of acetic anhydride with (5-amino-2-nitrophenyl)methanol, prepared from reduction of commerically available 5-amino-2-nitrobenzoic acid with borane–THF. The molecule is essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.028 Å). The molecules are linked by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions between the carbonyl and amine groups, forming a zigzag chain along theb-axis direction lying in a plane parallel to (-102). The chains are stacked along thecaxis by π–π interactions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.6240 (3) and 3.5855 (4) Å]. A strong intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen-bonding interaction is observed between the nitro group and the amine group [2.660 (2) Å].
Crystal structure of (4Z)-4-[(2E)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-hydroxyprop-2-en-1-ylidene]-5-methyl-2-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one
Authors: Shahid Muhammad , Munawar Munawar Ali , Tahir Muhammad Nawaz , Salim Muhammad , Malik Khizar Iqbal
Published: May 2015

In the the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C19H15ClN2O2, there are two symmetry-independent molecules, which adopt similar conformations. The largest difference is observed in the dihedral angles between the phenyl and the pyrazole fragments [17.00 (12) and 23.42 (10)°]. A strong intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond with theS(6) motif is observed in both molecules. Pairs of π–π stacking interactions between the phenyl groups [centroid–centroid distances = 3.6627 (13) and 3.7156 (14) Å] assemble the molecules into two types of centrosymmetric dimers. Weak C—H...O interactions connect molecules into chains along thebaxis.
Crystal structure ofcatena-poly[[chlorido(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine-κ2N,N′)copper(II)]-μ-chlorido]
Authors: Nita Rafaela , Deschamps Jeffrey R. , Trammell Scott A. , Knight D. Andrew
Published: May 2015

The title compound, [CuCl2(C12H12N2)]n, was obtainedviaa DMSO-mediated dehydration of Cu(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)copper(II)·0.25H2O. The central CuIIatom is coordinated in a distorted trigonal–bipyramidal geometry by two N atoms of a chelating 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine ligand [average Cu—N = 2.03 (3) Å] and three Cl atoms, one terminal with a short Cu—Cl bond of 2.2506 (10) Å, and two symmetry-equivalent and bridging bonds. The bridging Cl atom links the CuIIions into chains parallel to [001]viaone medium and one long Cu—Cl bond [2.3320 (10) and 2.5623 (9) Å]. The structure displays both inter- and intramolecular C—H...Cl hydrogen bonding.
Financial development, economic growth and millennium development goals in South Africa
Authors: Akinboade Oludele Akinloye , Kinfack Emilie Chanceline
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically report the findings on the relationship between financial sector development, economic growth and of millennium development goals (MDGs) for poverty reduction, education and health development in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

– The autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing technique was applied to two indicators of financial development, economic growth and four indicators of MDGs.

Findings

– Economic growth and MDGs jointly cause financial development. Similarly, economic growth and financial sector development jointly cause the attainment of MDGs. The attainment of MDGs such as increased per capita expenditure on food and education as well as economic growth jointly cause financial development.

Practical implications

– The findings highlight the complexity of the relationship between financial development, economic growth and MDGs. It is essential that the government of South Africa pursue a three track strategy of promoting financial sector development, economic growth and MDGs. The development of one strategy causes and is caused by the development of the other two.

Originality/value

– Relationships between financial development, economic growth and MDG targets are unsettled in the literature. This paper studies the link between the three variables in South Africa. Hence, the contribution of this study is to enrich the understanding of this important field in the context of an important African country.
Context matters: general practice and social work – the Birmingham story
Authors: Lotinga Alan
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the approach adopted to building relationships between health and social care in Birmingham.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a practical case study, reflecting on personal experience of being directly involved in the situations and discussions described. It supplements a 2012 paper (Lotinga and Glasby, 2012) on the creation of Birmingham’s Health and Well-being Board.

Findings

– Local history and context is crucial in shaping the nature of local joint working initiatives – understanding where local services have come from and why they have made the choices they have is a crucial pre-requisite for understanding current and future opportunities.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper aims to place joint working between general practice and social work in a broader organisational, financial and policy setting – and placing local developments in this wider context is crucial for understanding barriers and opportunities locally.

Originality/value

– In the absence of a detailed evidence base, front-line practice is often far ahead of the current research evidence. This means that local case studies like this are crucial in terms of sharing learning with other areas of the country, with policy makers and with researchers. While many case studies of joint working are small in nature, Birmingham is the largest local authority in Europe – so this paper also contributes learning based on trying to develop joint working in very large, complex authorities.
Knowing me, knowing you
Authors: Mangan Catherine , Miller Robin , Ward Carol
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on the findings of the first stage of a project seeking to improve interprofessional working between general practice and adult social care teams. It develops the current evidence base through findings from focus groups and reflects on the implications of the findings for interprofessional collaboration.

Design/methodology/approach

– The project involved running seven focus groups with general practice staff and adult social work teams to explore their perceptions and understanding of each other.

Findings

– The focus groups highlighted that the negative aspects of interprofessional working outweighed the positives. Negatives included perceptions of different value bases, a lack of knowledge about each others’ roles and responsibilities which resulted in resorting to stereotypes, poor interprofessional communication and a sense of an unspoken professional hierarchy with general practitioners (GPs) at the top leading preventing a culture of appropriate challenge.

Research limitations/implications

– The research has only been conducted with four GP practices and three social work teams that had expressed an interest in improving their interprofessional working. Therefore the findings may not be generalisable.

Practical implications

– The case study suggests that there is a lack of effective interprofessional working between social care teams and general practice. With the current health and social care agenda focused on integration, this suggests there should be a greater focus on this area.

Originality/value

– This paper illustrates that despite many years of policy makers promoting better integration, the quality of the interprofessional collaboration between social care teams and general practice remains poor.
From illustrations to an interactive art installation
Authors: Pavlin Erika , Elsner Žiga , Jagodnik Tadej , Batagelj Borut , Solina Franc
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to set an example of how people with severe learning difficulties could be more integrated into our society.

Design/methodology/approach

– The installation consists of puzzles in the form of a specially designed table with an integrated touch screen. As the visual templates for the puzzles serve pictures painted by a person with severe learning difficulties. The pieces of the puzzles are manipulated directly by the player on the touch screen presenting an intuitive and easily learned user interface.

Findings

– The framework for the work was a creation of an interactive art installation in the form of a game where users assemble puzzles on a touch monitor, housed in a specially designed table. Paintings by a person with severe learning difficulty served as visual templates for the puzzles. The pieces of the puzzles can be manipulated directly by the user on a touch screen presenting an intuitive and easily learned user interface, which stimulates the learning of fine motor skills and encourages practice, thus making it suitable for persons with severe learning difficulties in an art therapy setting.

Practical implications

– As the work has the format of an interactive art installation, this enables it to gain publicity through exhibitions in art galleries.

Social implications

– The installation demonstrates how people with severe learning difficulties can be integrated into the broader society. At the same time, these people are encouraged to use modern computer information technology, which is becoming a necessity also for this group of users. Ethical issues regarding how this group of people can get involved in such work are also discussed.

Originality/value

– Combining the habituation of people with severe learning difficulties with computer technology in the form of a game, and framing the whole process as a fine art undertaking, to win the public recognition, is a novelty in addressing the needs of these people.
Applying classification controls to Internet content in Australia
Authors: Leitch Shona , Warren Matthew
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to explore Australian public and stakeholders views towards the regulation of the Internet and its content. The federal government called for submissions addressing their proposal, and this paper analyses these submissions for themes and provides clarity as to the Australian public and stakeholders key concerns in regards to the proposed policy.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses a qualitative approach to analyse the public consultations to the Australian Federal Government. These documents are coded and analysed to determine negative and positive viewpoints.

Findings

– The research has shown, based upon the analysis of the consultation, that there was no public support for any of the measures put forward, that the Australian Federal Government in its response has not recognised this public feedback and instead has only utilised some of the qualitative feedback obtained through the public consultation process to try to justify its case to proceed with its proposals.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is focussed on Australia.

Practical implications

– The paper analyses a proposed national approach to filtering the content of the Internet and discussed the public reaction to such an approach.

Social implications

– The paper looks at how different parts of Australian society view Internet filtering in a positive or negative manner.

Originality/value

– The only study that directly looks at the viewpoint of the Australian public.
Three's a Crowd: The Role of Inter‐logic Relationships in Highly Complex Institutional Fields
Authors: Fincham Robin , Forbes Tom
Published: May 2015

Institutional complexity is increasingly seen in terms of potential schisms between logics in pluralist fields. However, research into complexity is mostly confined to binary institutional logics that oversimplify settings where more logics interact. The reorganized mental health service we studied brought a range of expert groups together in a highly complex institutional field. Three logics were seen to be continually in play: a health logic based on expert medical values, a care logic of holistic values, and a logic of integration based partly on managerial priorities but also shared more broadly. The paper identifies how the pattern of conflicting and reinforcing inter‐logic relations that underpinned this field was constituted and further explores a number of critical implications for complexity theory.
Ex‐ante Evaluation of Policy Measures: Effects of Reward and Punishment for Fertiliser Reduction in Palm Oil Production
Authors: Moser Stefan , Mußhoff Oliver
Published: May 2015

Palm oil production creates negative externalities, e.g. through intensive fertiliser application. Policies to limit externalities need an effective, sustainable and efficient measure We use a business simulation game in a framed field experiment in Indonesia to test ex‐ante different incentives for reducing such negative externalities. This setting allows inclusion of adequate contextual features, required for reasonable ex‐ante evaluation of policy measures. The different designs of the test incentives (either a reward or punishment) varied in their magnitude and probability of occurrence but with constant effects on expected income. Results show that participants react differently to these incentives, indicating that the design can contribute significantly to effectiveness, sustainability or efficiency. A high reward with a low probability was found to be the most effective and sustainable incentive. Moreover, for the most efficient design, a low and certain reward is indicated.
Systematic analysis of design and stratification for phase III trials in first‐line advanced non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Komiya Takefumi , Perez Raymond P. , Erickson Kirsten D. , Huang Chao H.
Published: May 2015

Background

A recent study reviewed phase III trials of first‐line advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) conducted from 1981 to 2010, and provided trends in the study outcome. However, such trials have never been analyzed in detail for design and stratification factors.

Methods

Phase III studies of systemic treatment for first‐line advanced or metastatic NSCLC published in English literature between 1981 and 2010 were identified. Characteristics, including sample size, number of trials, region, rate of meeting accrual goal, primary endpoint, type of phase III, interim analysis, allocation method, and stratification factors, were determined for each decade.

Results

A total of 162 studies met the criteria. The number of studies and sample size increased over the three decades. The primary endpoint was reported more frequently in recent decades, and non‐overall survival endpoints were chosen in European and Asian studies. Interim analysis was conducted more commonly during the 2000s. Allocation method was rarely reported throughout the three decades. The number of stratification factors increased significantly from one in 1980s to three in 2000s. Performance status, stage, and institution were most frequently selected, and at least one of the three factors was used in most of the studies in the 2000s. However, there are many other stratification factors that were used infrequently.

Conclusions

Despite Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines, allocation method has rarely been reported. The choice of stratification factor remains inconsistent across studies.
Agreement Between Experts Regarding Assessment of Postoperative Urinary Elimination Nursing Outcomes in Elderly Patients
Authors: Bitencourt Graziele Ribeiro , Alves Luise de Almeida Ferreira , Santana Rosimere Ferreira , Lopes Marcos Venicios de Oliveira
Published: May 2015

Purpose

This study aims to verify the interrater reliability for indicators of the Nursing Outcomes Classification of urinary elimination.

Methods

A total of 103 elderly postoperative patients were followed by two nurses with specialized training in medical‐surgical and gerontological nursing.

Findings

The agreement of evaluators was based on interpretation of the Krippendorff's alpha coefficient, for complete emptying of the bladder (.928) and presence of leukocytes (.885). The amount of urine (.262), density (.425), and urinary frequency (.307) had the lowest rates of agreement.

Implications for Nursing Practice

Analysis of urinary elimination could help in clinical follow‐up of elderly postoperative patients and selection of nursing interventions.
Defining Characteristics and Related Factors of Decreased Cardiac Tissue Perfusion: Proposal of a New Nursing Diagnosis
Authors: Santos Vinicius Batista , Atallah Álvaro Nagib , Lopes Camila Takáo , Lopes Juliana de Lima , Bottura Leite de Barros Alba Lúcia
Published: May 2015

Purpose

To identify the possible defining characteristics (DCs) and related factors of the nursing diagnosis (ND) decreased cardiac tissue perfusion.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study using medical charts of adults admitted to an emergency department with the chief complaint of chest pain in a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.

Findings

DCs identified: crushing chest pain, elevated markers of myocardial necrosis, ischemic electrocardiogram changes, sweating, nausea, and vomiting. Related factors identified: interruption of arterial blood flow and coronary spasm.

Conclusion

This ND was clinically identified due to significant differences in the DCs of patients with and without the diagnosis.

Practice Implications

The clinical indicators identified in this study can be the starting point for the DCs for this ND.
Effects of single‐shot and steady‐state propofol anaesthesia on rocuronium dose–response relationship: a randomised trial
Authors: Stäuble C. G. , Stäuble R. B. , Schaller S. J. , Unterbuchner C. , Fink H. , Blobner M.
Published: May 2015

Background

Similar to volatile anaesthetics, propofol may influence neuromuscular transmission. We hypothesised that the administration of propofol influenced the potency of rocuronium depending on the duration of the administration.

Methods

After consent, patients scheduled for elective surgery randomly received rocuronium either after induction of anaesthesia with propofol (2 min of propofol, n = 36) or after 30 min of propofol infusion (30 min of propofol, n = 36). Remifentanil was given in both groups. Neuromuscular monitoring was performed by calibrated electromyography. The dose–response relationship of rocuronium was determined with a single‐bolus technique (0.07, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.45 mg/kg rocuronium). The primary endpoints were the ED50 and ED95 of rocuronium after 2 and 30 min propofol. Data are presented as means with (95% confidence interval). The trial is registered with the Eudra‐CT: 2009‐012815‐16.

Results

A total of 72 patients were included. Time to maximal neuromuscular blockade was significantly shorter in patients after 30 min of propofol [3.3 min (2.9–3.7)] compared with patients anaesthetised with 2 min of propofol [4.6 min (4.0–5.2)]. After 30 min of propofol, the slope of the dose–response curve was significantly steeper (30 min of propofol: 4.34 [3.62–5.05]; 2 min of propofol: [3.34 (2.72–3.96)], resulting in lower ED95 values of rocuronium (30 min of propofol: 0.287 mg/kg [0.221–0.368]; 2 min of propofol [0.391 mg/kg (0.296–0.520)]. The ED50 were not different between groups.

Conclusion

The potency of rocuronium was significantly enhanced after propofol infusion for 30 min. Estimates of potency those are usually determined during steady‐state anaesthesia might underestimate rocuronium requirements for endotracheal intubation at the time of induction.
Ethnic disparities in thyroid surgery outcomes in New Zealand
Authors: Kwon Hyok Jun , Morton Randall P.
Published: May 2015

Background

Although thyroid disease is known to have significant ethnic variability, ethnic disparities in outcomes of thyroid surgery have been poorly studied.

Method

Retrospective review of 716 consecutive thyroid operations at Counties Manukau Health, a public health provider in New Zealand, from January 2002 to August 2013.

Results

Compared with Europeans, Māori and Pacific Islanders have longer operation times (P < 0.001) and heavier thyroid glands (P < 0.001). Polynesians also had higher risk of post‐operative haemorrhage compared with non‐Polynesians (P = 0.016). They also have higher body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists scores and rates of smoking. There were no differences in length of inpatient stay and readmission rates.

Conclusions

There are significant ethnic differences in certain outcomes of thyroid surgery. Part of this may be explained by higher co‐morbid characteristics.
Minimally invasive Ivor–Lewis oesophagectomy is a feasible and safe approach for patients with oesophageal cancer
Authors: Mei Xinyu , Xu Meiqing , Guo Mingfa , Xie Mingran , Liu Changqing , Wang Zhou
Published: May 2015

Background

Minimally invasive approaches are increasingly being used in oesophagectomy. The aim of this study was to compare the short‐term clinical outcomes of the minimally invasive Ivor–Lewis oesophagectomy (MIILE) technique with those of the open Ivor–Lewis oesophagectomy (OILE) technique.

Methods

We identified 131 patients who underwent MIILE combined with thoracoscopy and laparoscopy. These patients were compared with 248 patients who underwent OILE between January 2012 and December 2013.

Results

MIILE and OILE produced similar post‐operative hospital mortality (MIILE 2.3 versus OILE 2%; P = 1.000). The MIILE approach was associated with a significant decrease in the time until chest drain removal (MIILE 9.07 ± 5.075 days versus OILE 11.26 ± 6.989 days; P = 0.002) and post‐operative length of stay (MIILE 10.89 ± 4.976 days versus OILE 12.83 ± 6.921 days; P = 0.002). Pneumonia was the most common complication in both groups. MIILE patients exhibited a lower incidence of post‐operative pneumonia (MIILE 17.6% versus OILE 28.2%; P = 0.024) compared with OILE. The survival rate did not significantly differ between the MIILE and OILE groups (1‐year survival rates: MIILE 86 versus OILE 88.2%; P = 0.537).

Conclusions

In this study, we demonstrate that MIILE is a feasible and safe approach for patients with middle or lower oesophageal cancer.
Combined metformin‐clomiphene in clomiphene‐resistant polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Abu Hashim Hatem , Foda Osama , Ghayaty Essam
Published: May 2015

Objective

Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of metformin plus clomiphene citrate vs. gonadotrophins, laparoscopic ovarian diathermy, aromatase inhibitors, N‐acetyl‐cysteine and other insulin sensitizers+clomiphene for improving fertility outcomes in women with clomiphene‐resistant polycystic ovary syndrome.

Design

PubMed, SCOPUS and CENTRAL databases were searched until April 2014 with the key words: PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome, metformin, clomiphene citrate, ovulation induction and pregnancy. The search was limited to articles conducted with humans and published in English.

Sample

The PRISMA statement was followed. Twelve randomized controlled trials (n = 1411 women) were included.

Main outcome measures

Ovulation and clinical pregnancy rates per woman randomized.

Results

Compared with gonadotrophins, the metformin+clomiphene combination resulted in significantly fewer ovulations (odds ratio 0.25; 95% confidence interval 0.15–0.41; p < 0.00001, 3 trials, I2 = 85%, n = 323) and pregnancies (odds ratio 0.45; 95% confidence interval 0.27–0.75; p = 0.002, 3 trials, I2 = 0%, n = 323). No significant differences were found when metformin+clomiphene was compared with laparoscopic ovarian diathermy (odds ratio 0.88; 95% confidence interval 0.53–1.47; p = 0.62, 1 trial, n = 282; odds ratio 0.96; 95% confidence interval 0.60–1.54; p = 0.88, 2 trials, I2 = 0%, n = 332, for ovulation and pregnancy rates, respectively). Likewise, no differences were observed in comparison with aromatase inhibitors (odds ratio 0.88; 95% confidence interval 0.58–1.34; p = 0.55, 3 trials, I2 = 3%, n = 409; odds ratio 0.85; 95% confidence interval 0.53–1.36; p = 0.50, 2 trials, n = 309, for ovulation and pregnancy rates, respectively).

Conclusions

There is evidence for the superiority of gonadotrophins, but the metformin+clomiphene combination is mainly relevant for clomiphene‐resistant polycystic ovary syndrome patients and, if not effective, a next step could be gonadotrophins. More attempts with metformin+clomiphene are only relevant if there is limited access to gonadotrophins.
THE MARKET SHARE OF NONPROFIT AND FOR‐PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE QUASI‐MARKET: JAPAN'S LONG‐TERM CARE SERVICES MARKET
Authors: KANAYA Nobuko , TAKAHASHI Hiromasa , SHEN Junyi
Published: May 2015

This study uses a prefectural panel data set to examine the factors that affect the market share of nonprofit and for‐profit providers in Japan's long‐term care insurance system. Here, we focus on the market size and potential, asymmetric information, and the voluntarism environment. Our findings are as follows: (1) nonprofit organizations have a larger market share in areas with relatively unprofitable market conditions; (2) in the case of asymmetric information, experienced nonprofit providers, including government‐driven and partial nonprofit providers, have a larger market share than citizen‐driven nonprofit and for‐profit providers; and (3) citizen‐driven nonprofit providers have a larger market share in areas with more active civic voluntarism.
THE ROLE OF PROXIMITY IN VALUE PREFERENCES: A STUDY OF CONSUMER CO‐OPERATIVES
Authors: BYRNE Noreen , HEINONEN Kristina , JUSSILA Iiro
Published: May 2015

Proximity is seen as an essential part of the relationship between a co‐operative and its members, one that is a source of member value and competitive advantage. As the restructuring trend in co‐operatives has tended towards scale and centralization, proximity to the member decreases. Thus, proximity between the members and the co‐operative is a major challenge. Still, proximity has received limited attention in both the co‐operative and consumer (member) value literature. The purpose of this paper is to begin filling this gap by investigating the relationship between proximity (both spatial and non‐spatial) and members' value preferences in a co‐operative. Our findings based on a credit union member survey indicate that in terms of member value preferences, spatial proximity has an indirect impact and non‐spatial proximities impact directly on member value preferences. Implications of the study are discussed.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE FUTURE OF THE SOCIAL ECONOMY
Authors: VAN PARIJS Philippe
Published: May 2015

A just society is a society whose institutions sustainably secure the greatest possible real freedom to those with least real freedom. It must comprise a ‘social economy’ for two reasons : (1) its greater ability to achieve a fruitful combination between the flexibility it shares with the for‐profit sector and the trust it shares with the public sector; (2) its ability to mobilize ‘self exploitation’ and thereby to meet many needs that could only be met by the other two sectors at a prohibitive price. Moreover, a just society requires the introduction of an unconditional basic income, which provides a simple, non‐intrusive way of systematically encouraging and stabilizing the social economy.
Antipsychotics as antidepressants
Authors: Roberts Rona Jeannie , Lohano Kavita K. , El‐Mallakh Rif S.
Published: May 2015

Three second‐generation antipsychotic (SGA) agents have received FDA approval for adjunctive treatment, to antidepressant, of major depressive disorder: quetiapine, aripiprazole, and olanzapine. Additionally, quetiapine and lurasidone have been approved for the treatment of bipolar depression. There are data suggesting that quetiapine is effective for major depressive disorder as monotherapy. These agents are effective for depression only at subantipsychotic doses. Receptor profiles predict that all SGA will have anxiolytic effects as subantipsychotic doses but that all will be dysphorogenic at full antipsychotic doses (i.e., produce a depression‐like clinical picture). The antidepressant effect appears to be unique to some agents, with direct evidence of insignificant antidepressant action for ziprasidone. Three general principles can guide the use of antipsychotics as antidepressants: (i) All SGAs may have anxiolytic effects; (ii) full antipsychotic doses are dysphorogenic, and therefore, subantipsychotic doses are to be used; and (iii) SGAs do not have a general antidepressant effect, rather, this appears to be unique to quetiapine and aripiprazole, and possibly lurasidone.