bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiac Slo2.1 Is Required for Volatile Anesthetic Stimulation of K+ Transport and Anesthetic Preconditioning
Authors: Wojtovich Andrew P. , Smith C. Owen , Urciuoli William R. , Wang Yves T. , Xia Xiao-Ming , Brookes Paul S. , Nehrke Keith
Published: February 2016

AbstractAbstract

The authors have used novel gene-deleted mice to demonstrate that K+ flux via the KNa Slick channel encoded by the Slo2.1 gene is required for anesthetic preconditioning in mice. The identification of the role for Slick in anesthetic preconditioning will drive further development of novel cardiac-protective strategies and drugs for the clinical setting.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Background

Anesthetic preconditioning (APC) is a clinically important phenomenon in which volatile anesthetics (VAs) protect tissues such as heart against ischemic injury. The mechanism of APC is thought to involve K+ channels encoded by the Slo gene family, and the authors showed previously that slo-2 is required for APC in Caenorhabditis elegans. Thus, the authors hypothesized that a slo-2 ortholog may mediate APC-induced cardioprotection in mammals.

Methods

A perfused heart model of ischemia–reperfusion injury, a fluorescent assay for K+ flux, and mice lacking Slo2.1 (Slick), Slo2.2 (Slack), or both (double knockouts, Slo2.x dKO) were used to test whether these channels are required for APC-induced cardioprotection and for cardiomyocyte or mitochondrial K+ transport.

Results

In wild-type (WT) hearts, APC improved post-ischemia–reperfusion functional recovery (APC = 39.5 ± 3.7% of preischemic rate × pressure product vs. 20.3 ± 2.3% in controls, means ± SEM, P = 0.00051, unpaired two-tailed t test, n = 8) and lowered infarct size (APC = 29.0 ± 4.8% of LV area vs. 51.4 ± 4.5% in controls, P = 0.0043, n = 8). Protection by APC was absent in hearts from Slo2.1

−/−
mice (% recovery APC = 14.6 ± 2.6% vs. 16.5 ± 2.1% in controls, P = 0.569, n = 8 to 9, infarct APC = 52.2 ± 5.4% vs. 53.5 ± 4.7% in controls, P = 0.865, n = 8 to 9). APC protection was also absent in Slo2.x dKO hearts (% recovery APC = 11.0 ± 1.7% vs. 11.9 ± 2.2% in controls, P = 0.725, n = 8, infarct APC = 51.6 ± 4.4% vs. 50.5 ± 3.9% in controls, P = 0.855, n = 8). Meanwhile, Slo2.2

−/−
hearts responded similar to WT (% recovery APC = 41.9 ± 4.0% vs. 18.0 ± 2.5% in controls, P = 0.00016, n = 8, infarct APC = 25.2 ± 1.3% vs. 50.8 ± 3.3% in controls, P < 0.000005, n = 8). Furthermore, VA-stimulated K+ transport seen in cardiomyocytes or mitochondria from WT or Slo2.2

−/−
mice was absent in Slo2.1

−/−
or Slo2.x dKO.

Conclusion

Slick (Slo2.1) is required for both VA-stimulated K+ flux and for the APC-induced cardioprotection.
No-Pass Zone
Authors: Lee Tracy L. , Crouse Marlene , Gipson Kelly
Published: February 2016

A nurse's need to juggle multiple priorities often leads to delays in responses to patient call lights, which may result in the patient's needs not being met quickly. Low patient satisfaction scores related to hospital staff responding to patient needs created urgency for this system to implement the No-Pass Zone, a multidisciplinary team approach to responding to call lights. A successful implementation of this intervention resulted in patients' needs being met more quickly as indicated by improved Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems performance postimplementation.
Optimistic reinforcement learning: computational and neural bases
Authors: Lefebvre G. , Lebreton M. , Meyniel F. , Bourgeois-Gironde S. , Palminteri S.
Published: February 2016

While forming and updating beliefs about future life outcomes, people tend to consider good news and to disregard bad news. This tendency is supposed to support the optimism bias. Whether this learning bias is specific to “high-level” abstract belief update or a particular expression of a more general “low-level” reinforcement learning process is unknown. Here we report evidence in favor of the second hypothesis. In a simple instrumental learning task, participants incorporated better-than-expected outcomes at a higher rate compared to worse-than-expected ones. In addition, functional imaging indicated that inter-individual difference in the expression of optimistic update corresponds to enhanced prediction error signaling in the reward circuitry. Our results constitute a new step in the understanding of the genesis of optimism bias at the neurocomputational level.
Knowledge sharing as an intervention for Gen Y employees’ intention to stay
Authors: Naim Mohammad Faraz , Lenkla Usha
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the relationship between knowledge sharing, competency development, affective commitment, and Gen Y employees’ intention to stay.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a review of extant literature and using social exchange, and social constructivist approach, this study develops a theoretical rationale behind developing a conceptual framework to retain employees of the Gen Y segment.

Findings

– Knowledge sharing in the organization has a great potential to foster competency development and generate a sense of affective commitment and intention to stay of employees of Gen Y.

Research limitations/implications

– A conceptual framework of knowledge sharing for competency development could assist HR managers in fine-tuning their retention strategy for Gen Y employees. The future work should carry out the empirical validation of the suggested conceptual framework.

Practical implications

– Organizations should focus on knowledge sharing to enhance absorptive capacity, which fosters competency development. The framework suggests an approach of generation-specific retention strategy.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the literature in human resources pertaining to knowledge sharing as a competency development intervention and develops a linkage between knowledge sharing and Gen Y employees’ intention to stay. The study is one of the first of its kind to address knowledge sharing and competency development in the context of Gen Y retention.
The effect of knowledge management capability and customer knowledge gaps on corporate performance
Authors: Tseng Shu-Mei
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of knowledge management capability (KMC) and customer knowledge gaps (CKG) on corporate performance, as well as proposing concrete suggestions for filling CKG and enhancing corporate performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to explore on KMC, CKG, and corporate performance, the questionnaire and partial least square (PLS) techniques were used.

Findings

– The results showed that KMC is the major factor for enhancing corporate performance, and suggested CKG to be a significant intervening factor between KMC and corporate performance.

Research limitations/implications

– This research applied a purposive sampling method and obtained a slightly inadequate number of respondents. Therefore, it is suggested that future research should apply a random sampling method to collect more responses and increase the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

– Firms should apply their KMC to gather knowledge for, from and about customers to decrease CKG and enhance their relationship with customers as well as improve corporate performance.

Originality/value

– Developing a method by which to apply KMC in order to bridge CKG and to enhance corporate performance has become a significant issue. However, a holistic picture among KMC, CKG, and corporate performance has yet to emerge. This study thus applies a questionnaire survey method to explore the influence of KMC and CKG on corporate performance. Based on the results, specific recommendations are provided for enterprises planning to enhance their corporate performance in the future.
Social media content and product co-creation: an emerging paradigm
Authors: Rathore Ashish K. , Ilavarasan P. Vigneswara , Dwivedi Yogesh K.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise and discuss the possible insights that can be generated for product development by analysing the user-generated content available from various social media platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reviews the role of user generated content in developing products and its features (e.g. appearance and shape). It delineates the directions in which the relationship between social media content and customer oriented concepts evolve while developing successful new products.

Findings

– The review and arguments presented in this paper suggest that the social media approach adds more value than the traditional approaches for obtaining insights about the products. Availability of users’ opinions and information about existing products provide insights for the improvement in the product design process. Co-creation and self-construal are important components that are based on customer engagement and customer behaviour, respectively, in the product design and development.

Practical implications

– As social media creates new ways of communication with users, businesses can include users into the product development process to improve and refine their products or for making the next generation of products.

Originality/value

– This paper suggests a new approach in getting useful insights about the products from user-generated contents. This way of using social media helps businesses to move forward from the traditional product development paradigms.
The impact model of business intelligence on decision support and organizational benefits
Authors: Rouhani Saeed , Ashrafi Amir , Zare Ravasan Ahad , Afshari Samira
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– Decision support (DS), as a traditional management concept, have had a remarkable role in competitiveness or survival of organizations and nowadays, business intelligence (BI), as a brand modern impression, has various contributions in supporting decision-making process. Although, a variety of benefits are expected to arise from BI functions, researches, and models that determining the effect of BI functions on the decisional and organizational benefits are rare. The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between BI functions, DS benefits, and organizational benefits in context of decision environment.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research conducts a quantitative survey-based study to represent the relationship between BI capabilities, decision support benefits, and organizational benefits in context of decision environment. On this basis, the partial least squares (PLS) technique employs a sample of 228 firms from different industries located in Middle-East countries.

Findings

– The findings confirm the existence of meaningful relationship between BI functions, DS benefits, and organizational benefits by supporting 15 out of 16 main hypotheses. Essentially, this research provides an insightful understanding about which capabilities of BI have strongest impact on the outcome benefits.

Originality/value

– The results can provide effective and useful insights for investors and business owners to utilize more appropriate BI tools and functions to reach more idealistic organizational advantages. Also it enables managers to better understand the application of BI functions in the process of achieving the specified managerial support benefits.
Self-reflection as a mediator between self-efficacy and well-being
Authors: Seggelen - Damen Inge van , Dam Karen van
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– How does self-efficacy affect employee well-being? The purpose of this paper is to increase insight in the underlying process between employee self-efficacy and well-being at work (i.e. emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction) by investigating the mediating role of employees’ engagement in reflection and rumination.

Design/methodology/approach

– A representative sample of the Dutch working population (n=506) filled out an online questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test the measurement model and research model.

Findings

– As predicted, self-efficacy was significantly related to emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. Rumination mediated the self-efficacy-exhaustion relationship. Reflection did not serve as a mediator; although reflection was predicted by self-efficacy, it was unrelated to exhaustion and job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

– This cross-sectional study was restricted to self-report measures. Longitudinal research is needed to validate the findings and to further investigate the relationship between reflection and rumination.

Practical implications

– Organizations might try to support their employees’ well-being through interventions that strengthen employees’ self-efficacy, and prevent or decrease rumination.

Originality/value

– This study increases the understanding of the role of reflection and rumination at work. The findings indicate that self-reflection can have positive as well as negative outcomes.
Autonomy and citizenship behavior: a moderated mediation model
Authors: Park Rhokeun
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of perceived organizational support (POS) in the relationships between job autonomy and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and the moderating role of organizational strategy in those relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

– The hypotheses were tested by a moderated mediation model using multilevel survey data that were collected in South Korea in 2008.

Findings

– This study found that POS mediated the relationship between autonomy and OCB regardless of organizational strategy, and that job autonomy was more strongly related to POS in companies with an analyzer strategy than with a defender strategy. The results also indicated that the indirect relationship between job autonomy and OCB via POS was stronger in companies with an analyzer strategy than in companies with a defender strategy.

Research limitations/implications

– This study provides a new mechanism in the relationship between job autonomy and OCB using social exchange theory. An analyzer strategy should not be treated as a hybrid of defender and prospector strategies.

Practical implications

– While all organizations may benefit from providing employees with job autonomy regardless of organizational strategy, companies with an analyzer strategy in particular should provide their employees with sufficient autonomy.

Originality/value

– The present study bridged the gap between the macro and micro approaches through multilevel analyses. This study is unique in that it examined the vertical fit between job autonomy and organizational strategy while focussing on individual employee outcomes.
Extending the job demands-resources model with guanxi exchange
Authors: Hu Qiao , Schaufeli Wilmar B. , Taris Toon W.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to differentiate between two types of job resources (i.e. task resources and social resources) and extends the job demands-resources (JD-R) model with a typically Chinese form of social exchange – guanxi exchange – to increase its applicability in the Chinese context.

Design/methodology/approach

– Multigroup structural equation analysis was used to test the hypotheses in two cross-sectional Chinese samples of 463 police officers and 261 nurses.

Findings

– Results supported the distinction between social resources and task resources. Social resources were positively related to engagement and organizational commitment (for police officers), task resources were positively related to engagement (for both nurses and police officers), organizational commitment (for police officers), and negatively to burnout (for police officers). Guanxi exchange with supervisors was positively associated with social resources (for both nurses and police officers), task resources (for nurses), and organizational commitment (for police officers). Moreover, guanxi exchange was positively related with work engagement in both nurses and police officers. Unexpectedly, guanxi exchange was positively related with burnout in police officers.

Research limitations/implications

– Due to its cross-sectional design, longitudinal replication of the findings is desirable in order to establish causality.

Practical implications

– The effects of informal interpersonal relations (i.e. guanxi exchange) on employees’ well-being and organizational commitment should be acknowledged, especially when developing strategies to reduce burnout and increase work engagement.

Originality/value

– For the first time, task resources and social resources are distinguished and a Chinese traditional concept (guanxi exchange) is integrated into the JD-R model.
Perceived investment in employee development and taking charge
Authors: Dysvik Anders , Kuvaas Bård , Buch Robert
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the relationship between perceived investment in employee development (PIED) and taking charge is moderated by perceived job autonomy.

Design/methodology/approach

– Self-report data were obtained from 737 employees. In addition, manager ratings of taking charge were obtained for 154 employees from their respective managers. Hierarchical moderated regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– The results revealed a positive relationship between PIED and both self-reported and manager-rated taking charge only for employees who perceived high levels of job autonomy.

Research limitations/implications

– Given the cross-sectional nature of the data, no causal inferences can be drawn.

Practical implications

– Managers and organizations may benefit from providing work conditions that facilitate a felt obligation to reciprocate, but at the same time provide sufficient levels of perceived job autonomy to actually do so with respect to increasing the levels of employees’ voluntary and constructive efforts to improve work situations.

Social implications

– Greater levels of employee taking charge behaviors may offset the decline of businesses and thus aid in reducing long-term unemployment in the society at large.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to a more complete understanding of how job characteristics may facilitate or inhibit the influence of antecedents for taking charge.
Leader inclusiveness, psychological diversity climate, and helping behaviors
Authors: Randel Amy E , Dean Michelle A. , Ehrhart Karen Holcombe , Chung Beth , Shore Lynn
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how psychological diversity climate and leader inclusiveness relate to an employee’s self-reported propensity to engage in helping behaviors toward the leader or work group. The authors also tested whether these elements operate differently for women and racioethnic minorities.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sample of 534 respondents completed electronic surveys. Hypotheses were tested with hierarchical multiple regression.

Findings

– Results indicate a positive relationship between leader inclusiveness and leader-directed and work group-directed helping behaviors, particularly when accompanied by a positive psychological diversity climate. These relationships were stronger for racioethnic minorities and women relative to racioethnic majority members and men for leader-directed helping.

Research limitations/implications

– Data were self-report. Future research should incorporate data from other sources and additional outcomes.

Practical/implications

– Leaders who act inclusively can obtain measurable benefits with respect to employee helping by reinforcing a diversity climate.

Social/implications

– Leaders should act in ways that demonstrate that they are inclusive; coupled with a positive diversity climate, this may encourage all members to engage in helping behaviors, which may have a positive impact on society at large.

Originality/value

– The authors addressed the call in past research for sending consistent signals across the organization regarding the value of diversity and inclusion.
Authentic leadership and mindfulness development through action learning
Authors: Baron Louis
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a three-year training program based on action learning principles with regard to its effectiveness in fostering authentic leadership (AL) and mindfulness among the participants.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were obtained using a mixed-method design. Quantitative data were collected using a quasi-experimental sequential cohort design with comparison group, in which 143 participants responded to a self-evaluation questionnaire up to six times over a three-year period. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with 24 managers.

Findings

– The results indicate that, as participants evolved through the leadership development program, self-reports of AL and mindfulness increased significantly and linearly as determined using repeated measures ANOVA, pairedt-tests, and content analysis of interviews.

Practical implications

– The results suggest that a leadership development program based on action learning principles can foster the development of AL and mindfulness. The core elements of action learning (i.e. working on real problems, gaining new insights in a supportive and confrontational environment of one’s peer) appear to be key to bringing about real changes in the behavior of participating managers and maximizing the chances of generating lasting effects.

Originality/value

– This is the first longitudinal study to demonstrate that the development of mindfulness and AL – which calls for internalization of attitudes and behaviors – can be fostered by a leadership development program. The question of whether AL can be developed through planned interventions is paramount for advancing theory and research on AL.
Antecedents and consequences of observing workplace sexual behavior
Authors: Baker Amy Nicole
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the antecedents and consequences of non-harassing sexual behavior in the workplace. Individual perceptions of climate were examined as antecedents; physical strain and turnover intentions were studied as consequences of non-harassing sexual behavior at work.

Design/methodology/approach

– Questionnaires were administered to two samples of working adults. In the second sample, criterion measures were collected four months after the predictors.

Findings

– Innovative and traditional climates were associated with workplace sexual behavior; sexual behavior was positively associated with physical strain and turnover intentions, both concurrently and four months later.

Research limitations/implications

– Climate was not assessed at the group level of analysis; only individual perceptions of workplace climate were measured. The research design was not longitudinal, thus causal conclusions cannot be drawn. Despite these limitations, the results suggest that perceptions of climate are related to sexual behaviors in the workplace. Further, the findings highlight negative outcomes associated with observing even non-harassing sexual behavior at work.

Practical implications

– Managers may consider implementing specific guidelines around non-harassing sexual behavior in the workplace. Organizational leaders may have the ability to affect how non-harassing sexual behavior is interpreted, based on the kinds of climates they create in their organizations.

Originality/value

– This is the first study that assesses both the antecedents and consequences of non-harassing sexual behavior. It expands the literature by including psychological perceptions of the workplace as predictors of sexual behavior at work.
Age diversity and team outcomes: a quantitative review
Authors: Schneid Matthias , Isidor Rodrigo , Steinmetz Holger , Kabst Rüdiger
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the literature on the relationship between age diversity (AD) and the essential team outcomes (i.e. performance quality, financial performance, innovation and creativity, effectiveness, satisfaction, and turnover).

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conduct a meta-analysis of the relationship between AD and team outcomes using a sample of 74 studies. Furthermore, the authors investigate the role of contextual factors (task complexity, type of performance evaluation, study setting, team size, age cohort) as moderators of the AD-team outcome relationship.

Findings

– The results show no significant overall relationships between AD and team outcomes, except for turnover (r=0.11,p< 0.05). Moderator analyses reveal significant albeit weak differences regarding task complexity, team size, and age cohort.

Originality/value

– The authors extend previous research by quantitatively reviewing the AD-team outcome relationship. By showing that AD is only related to turnover, the authors provide counter-evidence to many scholars arguing for the importance of AD for team outcomes. Additionally, the authors found some potential sources of the conflicting findings observed in the literature by considering contextual factors.
The customer-centric logic of multi-product corporations
Authors: Manral Lalit
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to articulate a customer-centric logic to explain the strategic behavior of multi-product corporations whose portfolio of complementary product offerings belong to diverse industries.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper develops a theoretical framework to explain the heterogeneity in multi-product corporations ' motivation and ability to leverage the demand-side strategic assets developed in their home-markets to enter new markets and thereby improve their long-run corporate performance.

Practical implications

– The paper includes implications for strategic behavior of multi-product corporations in various industrial sectors such as telecommunications, financial services, consumer discretionary and staples, real estate, and so on.

Originality/value

– The profitable applicability of demand-side strategic assets to new contexts should be explained both by the motivation of multi-product consumers (to purchase a portfolio of complementary products from a diversified seller) as well as the motivation of multi-product corporations (to leverage their demand-side strategic assets to enter new markets).
Does accounting for uncertain tax benefits provide information about the relation between book-tax differences and earnings persistence?
Authors: Zhou Mingjun
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This study aims to use research setting provided by the implementation of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation 48 (FIN48) to help develop a further understanding of large positive book–tax differences (LPBTD) and their relationship with earnings persistence. Extant literature indicates that the tax information provided in financial statements, such as large book–tax differences, is useful for detecting earnings management and signals less persistent future earnings. However, more information is needed about the causes of large book–tax differences and their abilities to signal the differences in earnings persistence (Blaylock et al., 2012).

Design/methodology/approach

– In the first step, temporary book–tax differences are ranked by quintiles based on the approach in Hanlon’s (2005) study and the highest quintile in the sample observations are designated as large positive temporary book–tax differences (LPBTD). In the second step, differences in the persistence of earnings for high tax-planning firms as measured by UTB_NonETR are searched for. In further testing, an ordered logistic model and the Vuong (1989) test are applied to compare both the incremental and the relative ability of UTB_NonETR and Cash-ETR to explain the ranking order of temporary book–tax differences.

Findings

– The negative relation between temporary differences and earnings persistence is moderated by the level of tax planning as measured by UTB_NonETRs. More specifically, the persistence of earnings appears to be higher for firm-years with large UTB_NonETRs. When comparing the relative power of UTB_NonETR with Cash-ETR, the results indicate that UTB_NonETR is incrementally useful for explaining the ranking orders of temporary book–tax differences. However, it appears that neither UTB_NonETR nor Cash-ETR is relatively more useful over another under the Vuong (1989) test.

Originality/value

– First, the part of UTB, if recognized, that would not affect earnings (UTB_NonETR) is used as an empirical proxy and its usefulness is tested in the context of book–tax differences and the persistence of earnings. Second, new evidence is provided supporting the predictions, as in Ayers’ et al. (2010) and Blaylock et al.’s (2012) studies, that the level of tax planning will attenuate the negative association between large book–tax differences and earnings quality. Third, the findings can contribute to the post-implementation review of FIN48 (Financial Accounting Foundation, 2012) supporting the argument that FIN48 can provide decision-useful information for financial statement users.
From bush to butchery: cattle rustling as an entrepreneurial process in Kenya
Authors: Bunei Emmanuel K. , McElwee Gerard , Smith Robert
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the changing practices of cattle rustling in Kenya from a relatively small isolated and opportunistic activity to a much more planned and systematic entrepreneurial business involving collusion and corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper provides a conceptual approach using key literature and documentary evidence to show how, in the northern part of Kenya, cattle rustling is common occurrence with criminals taking advantage of remote rural environments with minimal surveillance and consequently less opportunity of being stopped and searched by police.

Findings

– Results evidence significant differences in how rustling is perceived and valorized. Rustling in Kenya is now an entrepreneurial crime with the involvement of rural organized criminal gangs (ROCGs), who are operating in food supply chains throughout Kenya and the African continent.

Practical/implications

– This paper suggests that a more nuanced understanding of the entrepreneurial nature of some illegal practices in a rural Kenya is necessary and how it requires multi-agency investigation.

Originality/value

– The paper is unique in that it considers how cattle rustling is becoming a more entrepreneurial crime than previously. Little prior work on this subject exists in Kenya. The paper utilizes the framework of Smith and McElwee (2013) on illegal enterprise to frame cattle rustling as an entrepreneurial crime.
Financial Flexibility and At‐the‐Market (ATM) Equity Offerings: Evidence from Real Estate Investment Trusts
Authors: Hartzell David , Howton Shawn D. , Howton Shelly , Scheick Benjamin
Published: February 2016

This article examines at‐the‐market (ATM) equity programs as an additional source of financial flexibility. We find that firms with higher market‐to‐book ratios and greater institutional ownership are more likely to announce an ATM program. Firms using ATM programs are also more likely to issue shares when they have exhausted other viable financing alternatives, have timely investment opportunities and when market conditions are favorable. Finally, we document a significant negative announcement effect around the establishment of an ATM program, though the magnitude of this effect is significantly less negative than that of a comparable SEO.
Who Killed the Australian Automotive Industry: The Employers, Government or Trade Unions?
Authors: Clibborn Stephen , Lansbury Russell D. , Wright Chris F.
Published: February 2016

The decision by the three multinational automotive manufacturers – Ford, General Motors and Toyota – to cease production in Australia followed a long period of decline in the local industry. This paper examines the factors potentially contributing to these decisions including reductions in government assistance to the industry, the volatility in exchange rates, global strategic decisions by the parent companies to shift production to expanding markets in Asia, and the role of industrial relations and trade unions. Despite the attention given in public discourse to industrial relations arrangements in supposedly hastening the demise of local automotive manufacturing, we find that this factor made no identifiable difference to the final decisions of the parent companies in Tokyo and Detroit to cease production in Australia, which can be attributed to an unfavourable conjuncture of factors. The paper concludes by considering possible options for retaining some aspects of automotive manufacturing in Australia in the future.
Use of a new intra‐ocular spectral domain optical coherence tomography in vitreoretinal surgery
Authors: Mura Marco , Iannetta Danilo , Nasini Francesco , Barca Francesco , Peiretti Enrico , Engelbrecht Leonore , de Smet Marc D. , Verbraak Frank
Published: February 2016

Purpose

To describe the use of a novel intra‐ocular side‐scanning probe enabling the acquisition of spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) images during surgery in a series of patients with complex forms of retinal detachment.

Methods

A 23‐gauge, side‐scanning SD‐OCT probe (C7 System; LightLab Imaging, Inc/St Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) in a 20‐gauge catheter, was used to acquire the intra‐operative OCT images in seven patients with vitreoretinal diseases. Twenty‐five gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was performed in every patient in a standard fashion. After enlarging the temporal sclerotomy to a 20‐gauge port, all the patients were scanned with intra‐ocular side‐scanning SD‐OCT, during different steps of the surgery based on surgeon needs. Scans were recorded real time and directly evaluated on a screen during surgery. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans were judged beneficial when they would recognize structures otherwise not seen on biomicroscopy.

Results

The intra‐ocular SD‐OCT has been helpful in acquiring extra information during vitreoretinal surgery such as the detection of the presence of otherwise invisible membranes (epiretinal membrane, subretinal membrane), the location of small tears and the identification of the retinal plane under suboptimal conditions for visualization.

Conclusion

The use of an intra‐ocular SD‐OCT can expand upon visual cues during surgery, helping in the decision‐making process and allowing additional deliberate surgical manoeuvres aimed at improving surgical outcomes.
Twenty‐four‐hour pattern of intra‐ocular pressure in untreated patients with primary open‐angle glaucoma
Authors: Cheng Jingyi , Kong Xiangmei , Xiao Ming , Sun Xinghuai
Published: February 2016

Purpose

To investigate and compare the 24‐hr intra‐ocular pressure (IOP) pattern among different severities of glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) together with different subtypes of primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods

The IOPs of untreated patients with POAG were measured every 2 hrs over a 24‐hr period. Subjects were divided into mild, moderate and severe groups according to the glaucoma staging system 2. The two POAG subtypes, normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and hypertension glaucoma (HTG) were classified according to peak IOP values throughout the 24‐hr period. The 24‐hr IOP curves were obtained based on the average IOP value at each time‐point. The mean, peak, trough and fluctuation of IOP together with the diurnal‐to‐nocturnal IOP change were calculated and compared among different groups.

Results

A total of 160 POAG patients (84 NTG and 76 HTG) were enrolled in the study. Generally, IOP decreased in the diurnal period and increased progressively during the nocturnal period, with peak IOP occurring from 2:00 AM to 10:00 AM. The average IOP values at all time‐points were significantly higher in the mild group compared to the moderate and severe groups (p < 0.05). Compared with the NTG subjects, the IOP parameters including mean, peak, trough and fluctuation were significantly higher in the HTG subjects (p < 0.001), and IOP increased more predominantly in the HTG subtype during the nocturnal period.

Conclusions

There was some regularity in the 24‐hr IOP pattern in POAG, but different severities of GON and different subtypes might present different characteristics. Other non‐IOP factors may lead to pathological IOP fluctuation and could be correlated with GON.
Oral nucleos(t)ide analogues reduce recurrence and death in chronic hepatitis B‐related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wong G. L.‐H. , Tse Y.‐K. , Chan H. L.‐Y. , Yip T. C.‐F. , Tsoi K. K.‐F. , Wong V. W.‐S.
Published: February 2016

Background

In patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)‐related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), high viral load was associated with tumour recurrence and deaths.

Aims

To investigate the effect of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) on the clinical outcomes after different HCC treatments.

Methods

A territory‐wide cohort study was conducted using the database from Hospital Authority. We identified CHB patients with HCC by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) diagnosis codes in 2000–2012. HCC treatments, NA use and laboratory parameters were retrieved. The primary endpoint was HCC recurrence and death. A 3‐month landmark analysis was used to evaluate the primary outcome in patients with or without NA treatment.

Results

A total of 2198 CHB patients (1230 NA‐untreated and 968 NA‐treated) with HCC, receiving at least one type of HCC treatment were included in the analysis. At a median follow‐up of 2.8 (IQR 1.4–4.9) years, tumour recurrence and death occurred in 451 (36.7%) and 578 (47.0%) untreated patients; and in 216 (22.3%) and 301 (31.1%) NA‐treated patients respectively. NA therapy reduced the risk of overall HCC recurrence [adjusted sub‐hazard ratio (SHR) 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49–0.80; P < 0.001]. The effect was most obvious in patients undergoing resection (SHR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.37–0.91, P = 0.018). The possibility of NA therapy reducing the risk of death (HR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.64–1.03, P = 0.092), is most obvious in resection subgroup (HR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.41–0.99, P = 0.050) but insignificant in the other treatment groups.

Conclusion

Our findings show that nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment reduces the risk of HCC recurrence in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated by surgical resection.
Hyperglycemia Increases the Production of Amyloid Beta‐Peptide Leading to Decreased Endothelial Tight Junction
Authors: Chao A‐Ching , Lee Tai‐Chi , Juo Suh‐Hang Hank , Yang Ding‐I
Published: February 2016

Aims

Amyloid beta‐peptide (Aβ), the main component of senile plaques in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, is generated from sequential cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β‐ and γ‐secretase. Hyperglycemia in diabetes may compromise barrier integrity in endothelial cells (ECs). However, the roles of endothelial APP in response to high glucose (HG) remain to be delineated. The aims of this study were to test whether HG may increase Aβ secretion, thereby leading to heightened paracellular permeability in ECs.

Methods

We determined the effects of HG on production of Aβ, expression of full‐length APP, intercellular permeability, and expression levels of specific junctional proteins in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Results

HG at 30 mM significantly stimulated expression of full‐length APP accompanied by heightened secretion of Aβ1‐42, increased paracellular permeability, and attenuated expression of zona occluden‐1 (ZO‐1), claudin‐5, occludin, and junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)‐C in HUVECs; all of which were abolished by the γ‐secretase inhibitor BMS299897. Exogenous application of Aβ1‐42, but not the reverse peptide Aβ42‐1, was sufficient to downregulate the expression of the same junction proteins.

Conclusion

Hyperglycemia enhances APP expression with increased Aβ production, which downregulates junctional proteins causing increased intercellular permeability in ECs.
Dietary restraint: what's the harm? A review of the relationship between dietary restraint, weight trajectory and the development of eating pathology
Authors: Schaumberg K. , Anderson D. A. , Anderson L. M. , Reilly E. E. , Gorrell S.
Published: February 2016

Dietary restraint has historically been implicated as a risk factor for the development of eating pathology. Despite existing findings, recent research suggests that many individuals are capable of practicing dietary restraint without negative effects. In order to successfully incorporate the positive aspects of dietary restraint into interventions for healthy weight management, a nuanced examination of the relationship between dietary restraint and resulting eating patterns is necessary. Accordingly, the current review seeks to clarify the existing literature with regard to dietary restraint. First, this review examines the construct of dietary restraint and differentiates dietary restraint from related constructs, such as weight loss dieting. Second, it identifies situations in which dietary restraint has been linked with positive outcomes, such as healthy weight management and prevention of eating pathology. Altogether, it appears that dietary restraint can prove a beneficial strategy for those attempting to control their weight, as it does not relate to increased levels of eating pathology when practiced as part of a well‐validated weight management programme.
Attrition and weight loss outcomes for patients with complex obesity, anxiety and depression attending a weight management programme with targeted psychological treatment
Authors: McLean R. C. , Morrison D. S. , Shearer R. , Boyle S. , Logue J.
Published: February 2016

The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of baseline anxiety and depression, using different definitions for caseness, on attrition and weight outcomes following a multidisciplinary weight management programme. The study design is a prospective observational study. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to measure anxiety and depression with ‘caseness’ scoring ≥11 and severity ≥14. The participants were all patients who began a weight management programme between 1 October 2008 and 30 September 2009 (n = 1838). The setting was the Glasgow and Clyde Weight Management Service (GCWMS), a specialist multidisciplinary service, which aims to achieve a minimum of ≥5 kg weight loss. The results were as follows: patients with HADS score ≥14 were referred to the integrated psychology service for psychological assessment or intervention. Patients with caseness (HADS ≥11) for anxiety (33%) and depression (27%) were significantly younger, heavier, more socio‐economically deprived and a higher proportion was female. There was a significant positive correlation between HADS anxiety and depression scores and increasing body mass index (r2 = 0.094, P < 0.001 and r2 = 0.175, P < 0.001, respectively). Attendance and completion was lower throughout follow‐up amongst patients with anxiety or depression. More patients with HADS score ≥11 achieved ≥5 kg or ≥5% weight loss and by 12 months those with anxiety had a significantly higher mean weight loss (P = 0.032). Participants who scored for severe anxiety (HADS ≥14) achieved similar weight loss to those without, whilst participants who scored for severe depression achieved significantly greater weight loss than non‐cases at 3, 6 and 12 months of follow‐up (P < 0.01). Despite a less favourable case‐mix of risk‐factors for poor weight loss, patients who scored caseness for severe anxiety or depression and were offered additional psychological input achieved similar or better weight loss outcomes.
ABCC4 Is a Determinant of Cytarabine‐Induced Cytotoxicity and Myelosuppression
Authors: Drenberg CD , Hu S , Li L , Buelow DR , Orwick SJ , Gibson AA , Schuetz JD , Sparreboom A , Baker SD
Published: February 2016

Resistance to cytarabine remains a major challenge in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Based on previous studies implicating ABCC4/MRP4 in the transport of nucleosides, we hypothesized that cytarabine is sensitive to ABCC4‐mediated efflux, thereby decreasing its cytotoxic response against AML blasts. The uptake of cytarabine and its monophosphate metabolite was found to be facilitated in ABCC4‐expressing vesicles and intracellular retention was significantly impaired by overexpression of human ABCC4 or mouse Abcc4 (P < 0.05). ABCC4 was expressed highly in AML primary blasts and cell lines, and cytotoxicity of cytarabine in cells was increased in the presence of the ABCC4 inhibitors MK571 or sorafenib, as well as after ABCC4 siRNA. In Abcc4‐null mice, cytarabine‐induced hematological toxicity was enhanced and ex vivo colony‐forming assays showed that Abcc4‐deficiency sensitized myeloid progenitors to cytarabine. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that ABCC4 plays a protective role against cytarabine‐mediated insults in leukemic and host myeloid cells.
Platelet‐released growth factors induce the antimicrobial peptide human beta‐defensin‐2 in primary keratinocytes
Authors: Bayer Andreas , Lammel Justus , Rademacher Franziska , Groß Justus , Siggelkow Markus , Lippross Sebastian , Klüter Tim , Varoga Deike , Tohidnezhad Mersedeh , Pufe Thomas , Cremer Jochen , Gläser Regine , Harder Jürgen
Published: February 2016

Platelet‐released growth factors (PRGF) and its related clinically used formulations [e.g. Vivostat platelet‐rich fibrin (PRF®)] are thrombocyte concentrate lysates that support healing of chronic, hard‐to‐heal and infected wounds. Human beta‐defensin‐2 (hBD‐2) is an antimicrobial peptide expressed in human keratinocytes exhibiting potent antimicrobial activity against wound‐related bacteria. In this study, we analysed the influence of PRGF on hBD‐2 expression in human primary keratinocytes and the influence of Vivostat PRF® on hBD‐2 expression in experimentally generated skin wounds in vivo. Treatment of primary keratinocytes with PRGF caused a significant increase in hBD‐2 gene and protein expressions in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner. The use of blocking antibodies revealed that the PRGF‐mediated hBD‐2 induction was partially mediated by the epidermal growth factor receptor and the interleukin‐6 receptor (IL‐6R). Luciferase gene reporter assays indicated that the hBD‐2 induction through PRGF required activation of the transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP‐1), but not of NF‐kappaB. In concordance with these cell culture data, Vivostat PRF® induced hBD‐2 expression when applied to experimentally generated skin wounds. Together, our results indicate that the induction of hBD‐2 by thrombocyte concentrate lysates can contribute to the observed beneficial effects in the treatment of chronic and infected wounds.