bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building a positive candidate experience: towards a networked model of e-recruitment
Authors: Allden Natasha , Harris Lisa
Published: October 2013

Purpose

–The ubiquity of the social web has forced online recruitment to change dramatically. This paper introduces the first e-recruitment network business model, the Private Talent Network© to support the practice of online talent resourcing.

Design/methodology/approach

–Grounded theory was the research approach adopted, using mixed method data collection and triangulation of results. A study of six FTSE100 companies was conducted from different industries. This was an explorative study into network theories and models in context of e-recruitment.

Findings

–The key outcome was the identification of a positive candidate experience. This was central to realising cost benefits and candidate quality and was influenced by nine internal and external factors. Theoretically actor network theory provided a flexible and representative framework of the online ecosystem adopted by businesses for talent resourcing.

Research limitations/implications

–Limited to UK FTSE100 target group only, the research is presented as a first step in defining a structured e-recruitment business model.

Practical implications

–Direct support to enable practitioners to improve or/and initiate e-recruitment initiatives and further this management discipline.

Originality/value

–Drawing on actor network theory the Private Talent Network© is proposed as the first e-recruitment network business model.
Materialism and clothing post-purchase behaviors
Authors: Joung Hyun-Mee
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate materialistic consumers' apparel purchase, compulsive buying, environmental attitudes, and post-purchase behaviors regarding hoarding, disposing, and participation in recycling.

Design/methodology/approach

– Clothing is used to express the self. Materialistic consumers tend to be young and highly involved with clothing, and purchase compulsively and more than needed. They are more interested in getting possessions than disposing of them. This study was designed to uncover materialistic consumers' post-purchase behaviors. A survey questionnaire was developed and a total of 333 college students completed it in a classroom setting.

Findings

– Results of a k-mean cluster analysis suggested two groups (materialistic consumers and non-materialistic consumers). Findings of independent t-tests indicated that materialistic consumers had significantly higher scores for apparel purchase, compulsive buying, value-oriented hoarding, and disposing, but lower scores for environmental attitudes than did non-materialistic consumers. No difference was found in participation in recycling between the two groups.

Research limitations/implications

– This study suggests that marketing media should address benefits and ways to recycle and educate consumers in sustainable consumption behaviors.

Originality/value

– Due to the nature of fashion, clothing is easily adopted and quickly becomes obsolete. Consumers easily dispose of clothing, which contributes to the increasing volume of textile waste. Although consumers are encouraged to participate in recycling to protect the environment, little research has focused on clothing post-purchase behaviors. Materialistic consumers' post-purchase behaviors regarding apparel hoarding, disposing, and participation in recycling is a new research area.
Classification of scientific publications according to library controlled vocabularies
Authors: Joorabchi Arash , E. Mahdi Abdulhussain
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to report on the design and development of a new approach for automatic classification and subject indexing of research documents in scientific digital libraries and repositories (DLR) according to library controlled vocabularies such as DDC and FAST.

Design/methodology/approach

– The proposed concept matching-based approach (CMA) detects key Wikipedia concepts occurring in a document and searches the OPACs of conventional libraries via querying the WorldCat database to retrieve a set of MARC records which share one or more of the detected key concepts. Then the semantic similarity of each retrieved MARC record to the document is measured and, using an inference algorithm, the DDC classes and FAST subjects of those MARC records which have the highest similarity to the document are assigned to it.

Findings

– The performance of the proposed method in terms of the accuracy of the DDC classes and FAST subjects automatically assigned to a set of research documents is evaluated using standard information retrieval measures of precision, recall, and F1. The authors demonstrate the superiority of the proposed approach in terms of accuracy performance in comparison to a similar system currently deployed in a large scale scientific search engine.

Originality/value

– The proposed approach enables the development of a new type of subject classification system for DLR, and addresses some of the problems similar systems suffer from, such as the problem of imbalanced training data encountered by machine learning-based systems, and the problem of word-sense ambiguity encountered by string matching-based systems.
The key dimensions of luxury from a UK consumers’ perspective
Authors: Walley Keith , Custance Paul , Copley Paul , Perry Sue
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a research study that sought to identify the key dimensions of luxury from a UK consumers’ perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

– The project was empirical in nature and based on a two-stage methodology that involved a series of depth interviews with consumers and a street intercept survey of 131 consumers in the UK.

Findings

– The project found that UK consumers appear to recognise five dimensions of luxury (affect, characteristics, status, gifting and involvement).

Research limitations/implications

– The main limitation was a small sample size and limited statistical significance.

Practical implications

– The paper should usefully focus the attention and efforts of managers of luxury brands, managers of ordinary brands who desire to develop them into luxury brands, and managers who are considering creating luxury brands in the UK. The findings should inform management decisions relating to product development, advertising, promotion and distribution of luxury products and services.

Originality/value

– The paper makes an original contribution to knowledge by reporting the findings of an empirical study of luxury from the UK consumers’ perspective. It has value to academic researchers who are interested in the concept of luxury as well as those involved in or considering luxury brand management.
Perceived quality in higher education: an empirical study
Authors: Calvo-Porral Cristina , Lévy-Mangin Jean-Pierre , Novo-Corti Isabel
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to address two issues. First research goal is about analyzing differences in perceived quality in higher education (HE) between a private and a public university centre. Second, the research aims to analyze which are the key dimensions in perceived quality in HE from the students’ standpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

– An analysis based on a modified SERVQUAL instrument was used to respond to the objectives put forward. Then, a mean comparison and covariance structure analysis approach was carried out to test the differences in perceived quality between the students from both centres, as well as the dimensions with higher influence in perceived quality.

Findings

– The results suggest that tangibility and empathy dimensions are the most influent variables on perceived quality in HE. Furthermore, some relevant significant differences were found between the public and the private centre.

Research limitations/implications

– The results give an opportunity to HE institutions’ managers to develop enhancing quality strategies for their institutions, given that the present study relies on a sample of actual undergraduate university students.

Originality/value

– The present research provides with a comparative analysis between a private and a public centre, in order to assess which one offers higher educational and teaching quality from the students’ viewpoint, as well as an approach to the main variables in HE perceived quality.
Marketing at the bottom of pyramid: market attractiveness and strategic requirements
Authors: Chikweche Tendai
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the reasons for firms’ continued presence in a difficult bottom of pyramid (BOP) environment, outlining the challenges of establishing a market orientation and required key strategic marketing requirements for effective engagement of this segment.

Design/methodology/approach

– A mixed research method approach comprising, qualitative research methods approach consisting of case studies and ethnographic observations was used to collect data from two local firms and two MNC subsidiaries that manufacture food and personal hygiene products in Zimbabwe.

Findings

– Key findings include identification of presence of new and previously cited diverse macro-environmental challenges cited by BOP researchers, confirmation of attraction and viability of the BOP, identification of multiple motivators for continued presence and a strategic framework for effectively serving the market is then proposed.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample used is small but representative of a majority of the sales of food and personal hygiene products in a developing country and confining the focus to the food and personal hygiene sector may limit generalisation of findings to a broader population.

Practical implications

– The paper provides managers with insights on identifying key strategic marketing requirements that enhance their engagement of the BOP.

Originality/value

– Research into the BOP is a relatively new area of study in international business. The majority of studies have focused on Latin America and Asia ignoring the 800 million BOP consumers in Africa. The paper expands knowledge in the area thereby providing new insights on marketing to the BOP. The paper extends the discussion on potential marketing strategies for the BOP beyond the marketing mix discussion, which has been the focal point of previous studies.
Use and acceptance of social software in corporate environments
Authors: Lindoval Aragão Matos José , Pedro Lourenço Rui
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims at contributing to the knowledge regarding the use of social software in corporate environments. It analyses, in an exploratory way, the perceptions of social software managers (specifically blogs and wikis) regarding the implementation processes and actual usage of this type of applications within their companies.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper follows a qualitative approach, with exploratory nature. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect social software manager's perceptions, and the resulting data were subjected to qualitative content analysis, from which several issues emerged and were analyzed.

Findings

– According to managers' perceptions, social software applications are helping companies regarding, in particular, knowledge management, project management, and internal communication issues. On the other hand, it seems clear that companies (and managers) need to adopt participation incentives, establish usage rules, implement monitoring and evaluation instruments, and broaden the scope of usage beyond core business areas.

Research limitations/implications

– The analysis reflects the managers' perceptions expressed in semi-structured interviews made on a limited number of companies where most application users have technological academic formation or experience. Further research efforts should overcome these limitations by including a wide variety of companies (from other activity sectors), with a wider diversity of application user profiles. Also, input from application users should be taken into account in the analysis, as well as some quantitative indicators (regarding actual usage, for instance).

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the knowledge regarding the use of social software, namely blogs and wikis, in corporate environments, an area where further research is needed. The analysis and reported findings can be of value to managers responsible for social software implementation processes within corporations, helping them to reflect upon the issues that emerged.
SME bank selection and patronage behaviour in the Ghanaian banking industry
Authors: Narteh Bedman
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The paper aims to investigate small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) bank selection and patronage behaviour in the Ghanaian banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– A detailed literature review was used to identify five determinants of bank selection and other patronage factors which were used to survey 503 SMEs randomly selected from the data base of the National Board for Small Scale Industries in Ghana. Exploratory factor analysis, multiple regression and correlation analysis were used for the data analysis.

Findings

– The study found price competitiveness, credit availability, perceived service quality, staff attributes and bank attributes as determinants of SME bank selection. In addition, loans and overdrafts, cash collection, transfers, bank guarantees, advisory services and training were among the core services patronized by the SMEs.

Practical implications

– The study highlights the importance of factors considered important to the SME bank selection and patronage behaviour. It thus provides practical leverage to banks on how to attract, serve and retain SMEs in Ghana.

Originality/value

– The study is the first of its kind that investigated both bank selection and patronage behaviour at the same time and provides important insight for banks on how to attract, satisfy and manage SMEs. It also makes a major contribution to the literature on SME banking behaviour especially in a sub-Saharan Africa and responds to the recent call for more studies on SME practices in emerging economies.
E-service flexibility: meeting new customer demands online
Authors: Jin Yan , Oriaku Ngozi
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– Business-to-consumer (B2C) electronic service (e-service) allows a company to decrease transaction costs, expedite delivery time, and serve more customers. Flexibility lets e-service providers improve their service without costly and time-consuming infrastructure overhauls to cope with the changing business environment. Little work has been done to associate flexibility with e-service. This paper aims to provide a conceptual taxonomy of e-service flexibility in line with the online purchase in a customer activity cycle (CAC), as well as a theoretical model to investigate the relationships among a company's internal flexibility, e-service flexibility, customer readiness and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on an extensive review of e-service and flexibility literature, the paper develops a taxonomy of B2C e-service flexibility in a CAC framework and a conceptual model to show the influence e-service flexibility exerts on firm performance and the factors that support e-service flexibility.

Findings

– This research identifies the important e-service flexibility in each CAC stage, discusses the influence of e-service flexibility on firm performance and an organization's internal flexibility supporting e-service flexibility, and argues that customer readiness has an important influence on firm performance as well.

Research limitations/implications

– The conceptual model of e-service flexibility and propositions need further empirical validation.

Practical implications

– This paper should help managers identify the critical e-service flexibility that satisfies their customers and the core internal flexibility that supports flexible e-service. It should help managers consider customer limitations when developing e-service flexibility.

Originality/value

– This research sets some theoretical and research foundation for future empirical studies. First, the research provides a conceptual definition of e-service flexibility in line with the CAC. Based on the definition, measurements of e-service flexibility in each stage of CAC could be developed and the e-service flexibility construct could be validated. Second, the conceptual model outlines the relationships between a company's internal flexibility, e-service flexibility, customer readiness, and firm performance. The theoretical model provides the foundation for empirically testing the influences of interactions between a company and their customers on firm performance.
Institutional, macroeconomic and firm-specific determinants of capital structure
Authors: Taddese Lemma Tesfaye , Negash Minga
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The study aims to investigate the role of institutions, macroeconomic conditions, industry and firm characteristics on firm's capital structure decision within the context of nine African countries.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sample of 986 firms over the period 1999-2008 were analysed using a series of models that link institutional, macroeconomic, industry and firm-specific characteristics, on the one hand, and measures of capital structure, on the other. The paper used system generalized method of moments and seemingly unrelated regression which are robust to data heterogeneity and endogeneity problems to estimate the relationships between variables. Furthermore, the paper checked the robustness of findings using various estimation procedures.

Findings

– The paper found evidence that the legal and financial institutions, income level of the country in which a firm operates, growth rate of the economy and inflation matter in capital structure choices of firms in the sample countries. Furthermore, capital structure choice of firms in the sample countries was affected by industry and firm-specific characteristics. These findings signify the role that probability of bankruptcy, agency costs, transaction costs, tax issues, information asymmetry problems, access to finance and market timing play in capital structure decisions of firms in Africa.

Research limitations/implications

– As in most empirical studies, this study focused on listed firms. Nonetheless, future studies that focus on non-listed firms could add additional insights to the extant literature.

Practical implications

– The findings have practical implications for corporate managers, governments, legislators and policymakers in the African continent.

Originality/value

– The study focuses on firms in African countries for which cross-country studies such as this are rare. It also explicitly models industry variable as one of the determinants of capital structure, a marked departure from previous studies on capital structure decision of firms.
The fitness costs of adaptation via phenotypic plasticity and maternal effects
Authors: Ezard Thomas H. G. , Prizak Roshan , Hoyle Rebecca B.
Published: October 2013

Phenotypes are often environmentally dependent, which requires organisms to track environmental change. The challenge for organisms is to construct phenotypes using the most accurate environmental cue.

Here, we use a quantitative genetic model of adaptation by additive genetic variance, within‐ and transgenerational plasticity via linear reaction norms and indirect genetic effects respectively.

We show how the relative influence on the eventual phenotype of these components depends on the predictability of environmental change (fast or slow, sinusoidal or stochastic) and the developmental lag τ between when the environment is perceived and when selection acts.

We then decompose expected mean fitness into three components (variance load, adaptation and fluctuation load) to study the fitness costs of within‐ and transgenerational plasticity. A strongly negative maternal effect coefficientmminimizes the variance load, but a strongly positivemminimises the fluctuation load. The adaptation term is maximized closer to zero, with positive or negativempreferred under different environmental scenarios.

Phenotypic plasticity is higher when τ is shorter and when the environment changes frequently between seasonal extremes. Expected mean population fitness is highest away from highest observed levels of phenotypic plasticity.

Within‐ and transgenerational plasticity act in concert to deliver well‐adapted phenotypes, which emphasizes the need to study both simultaneously when investigating phenotypic evolution.
The renin–angiotensin system from conception to old age: the good, the bad and the ugly
Authors: Lumbers Eugenie R , Pringle Kirsty G , Wang Yu , Gibson Karen J
Published: October 2013

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) plays a critical role in placentation and nephrogenesis. Failure to thrive during intrauterine life, possibly related to placental dysfunction and impaired expression of the renal RAS, as well as prematurity, results in smaller kidneys at birth and reduced nephron number. The remaining nephrons are therefore hyperfiltering from birth. Hyperfiltration, infections and Type 2 diabetes cause glomerular and tubular fibrosis, leading to further reductions in nephron number.

 The intrarenal RAS plays a key role in promoting tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Low birth weight and a high incidence of preterm birth program Indigenous children for early onset renal disease in adult life. Indigenous Australians have 404 000 fewer nephrons than non‐Indigenous Australians. This, coupled with the high incidence of infectious diseases (particularly acute post‐streptococcal glomerulonephritis) and the increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, explains why end‐stage renal disease is of epidemic proportions in Indigenous Australians.

 The existence of RAS gene polymorphisms and inflammatory cytokines may further potentiate susceptibility to renal disease in Indigenous Australians.
Antinociceptive and antidiarrheal effects of pioglitazone in a rat model of diarrhoea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome: Role of nitric oxide
Authors: Paragomi Pedram , Rahimian Reza , Kazemi Mohammad Hossein , Gharedaghi Mohammad Hadi , Khalifeh‐Soltani Amin , Azary Saeedeh , Javidan Abbas Norouzi , Moradi Kamran , Sakuma Stephen , Dehpour Ahmad Reza
Published: October 2013

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent disease characterized by abdominal pain and abnormal bowel habits. Pioglitazone is a peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) γ agonist and, although it is mostly used as an antidiabetic agent, it has been reported to have analgesic effects. Nitric oxide (NO), a gaseous molecule that mediates many of the effects of pioglitazone, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of IBS. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of pioglitazone on symptoms in a rat model of diarrhoea‐predominant IBS (D‐IBS).and to determine the role of NO in these effects.

Diarrhoea‐predominant IBS was induced by intracolonic instillation of acetic acid. Pioglitazone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered on Days 7, 9 and 11 after acetic acid instillation. To investigate the mechanism involved in pioglitazone action, rats were also administered either the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 (3 mg/kg, i.p.), the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME; 10 mg/kg, i.p.) or the NO precursor l‐arginine (250 mg/kg, i.p.) along with pioglitazone. Visceral hypersensitivity, nociceptive thresholds, defecation frequency, stool form, serum and colon NO production and inducible (i) NOS activity were assessed 1 h after the final injection of pioglitazone or dimethylsulphoxide (used as the vehicle).

Pioglitazone reduced visceral hypersensitivity and defecation frequency, increased nociceptive thresholds, NO production and iNOS activity and shifted stool form towards hard stools in D‐IBS rats. These effects of pioglitazone were significantly reversed by l‐NAME, but not GW9662. l‐Arginine augmented the effects of pioglitazone.

In conclusion, pioglitazone alleviates symptoms in a rat model of D‐IBS through an NO‐dependent mechanism.
The Dortmund Case — On the Enactment of an Urban Economic Imaginary
Authors: Jonas Michael
Published: October 2013

Launched in the year 2000, the so‐called Dortmund Project was a 10‐year local development initiative aimed at creating 70,000 new jobs and redeveloping the old industrial sites in Dortmund, a city in the Ruhr area of Germany. The project's proclaimed vision of a ‘new Dortmund’ is seen as a part of a new imaginary. This article uses a praxeological perspective to work out the enactment practices in this imaginary, viewing them as various nexuses of doings and sayings. In doing so, it stresses the relevance of the production and influence of different reports in this process and seeks to offer an insight into the complexity of the setting in which this imaginary was enacted.
Cultural Cooperation, Institution Building and Metropolitan Governance in Decentralizing Indonesia
Authors: Hudalah Delik , Firman Tommy , Woltjer Johan
Published: October 2013

The institutional turn in metropolitan governance has been influenced to a considerable degree by a rational choice approach, which views metropolitan governance as essentially created by local actors to reduce the transaction costs of inter‐jurisdictional public‐service provision. Another influential theoretical route follows a historical approach, which emphasizes the role of the state structure in producing formal institutions to enable governance at the regional level. Both approaches tend to be formalistic, simplistic and deterministic in nature, thus neglecting the dynamic interactions between the actors and their more informal, intangible, yet more basic, legitimate institutions, such as culture. This article examines the dynamic role of culture in metropolitan governance building in the context of decentralizing Indonesia. The analysis focuses on ‘best‐practice’ experiences of metropolitan cooperation in greater Yogyakarta, where three neighbouring local governments known as Kartamantul have collaboratively performed cross‐border infrastructure development to deal with the consequences of extended urbanization. We draw on sociological institutionalism to argue that building this metropolitan cooperation has its roots in the capacity of the actors to use and mobilize culture as a resource for collaborative action.
Associations between self‐reported sleep duration and sleeping disorder with concentrations of fasting and 2‐h glucose, insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin among adults without diagnosed diabetes (在未诊断糖尿病的成年人中自我报告的睡眠时间、睡眠障碍与空腹及餐后2小时血糖、胰岛素以及糖化血红蛋白浓度之间的关系)
Authors: Ford Earl S. , Wheaton Anne G. , Chapman Daniel P. , Li Chaoyang , Perry Geraldine S. , Croft Janet B.
Published: October 2013

Background

There is limited information from population‐based investigations of the associations between sleep duration and sleep disorders and parameters of glucose homeostasis. The objective of the present study was to examine cross‐sectional associations between sleep duration and sleep disordered breathing with concentrations of insulin, fasting and 2‐h glucose, and HbA1c.

Methods

Data from 11 815 adults aged ≥20 years without diagnosed diabetes (5002 with an oral glucose tolerance test) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2010 were used. Information about sleep duration (2005–2010) and sleep apnea and sleep‐disordered breathing (2005–2008) was obtained via questionnaire.

Results

An estimated 36.0% of participants reported sleeping ≤6 h/night, 62.0% reported sleeping 7–9 h/night, and 2.0% reported sleeping ≥10 h/night. In 2005–2008, 33.0% reported snoring ≥5 nights per week, 5.9% reported they snorted, gasped, or stopped breathing ≥5 nights/week, and 4.2% reported sleep apnea. Sleep duration was significantly associated with fasting concentrations of insulin and concentrations of HbA1c only in models that did not adjust for body mass index (BMI). Concentrations of fasting and 2‐h glucose were significantly associated with sleep duration in models that adjusted only for age. Snoring frequency was positively associated with concentrations of insulin and HbA1c. Frequency of snorting or stopping breathing and sleep apnea status were associated with concentrations of insulin and of HbA1c only when BMI was not accounted for.

Conclusion

In a representative sample of US adults, concentrations of insulin and HbA1c were significantly associated with short sleep duration, possibly mediated by BMI.
Use of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists and bone fractures: A meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials (胰高血糖素样肽‐1受体激动剂的使用与骨折的关系：一项对随机临床试验的meta分析)
Authors: Mabilleau Guillaume , Mieczkowska Aleksandra , Chappard Daniel
Published: October 2013

Background

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at a higher risk of bone fractures independent of the use of antidiabetic medications. Furthermore, antidiabetic medications could directly affect bone metabolism. Recently, the use of dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors has been associated with a lower rate of bone fracture. The aim of the present meta‐analysis was to assess whether patients with T2DM treated with glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1Ra) present a lower incidence of bone fracture compared with patients using other antidiabetic drugs.

Methods

A search on Medline, Embase, and http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, as well as a manual search for randomized clinical trials of T2DM treated with either a GLP‐1Ra or another antidiabetic drug for a duration of ≥24 weeks was conducted by two authors (GM, AM) independently.

Results

Although 28 eligible studies were identified, only seven trials reported the occurrence of at least a bone fracture in one arm of the trial. The total number of fractures was 19 (13 and six with GLP‐1Ra and comparator, respectively). The pooled Mantel–Haenszel odds ratio for GLP‐1Ra was 0.75 (95% confidence interval 0.28–2.02, P = 0.569) in trials versus other antidiabetic agents.

Conclusions

Although preliminary, our study highlighted that the use of GLP‐1Ra does not modify the risk of bone fracture in T2DM compared with the use of other antidiabetic medications.
A DNA mini‐barcode for land plants
Authors: Little Damon P.
Published: October 2013

Small portions of the barcode region – mini‐barcodes – may be used in place of full‐length barcodes to overcome DNA degradation for samples with poor DNA preservation. 591,491,286 rbcL mini‐barcode primer combinations were electronically evaluated for PCR universality, and two novel highly universal sets of priming sites were identified. Novel and published rbcL mini‐barcode primers were evaluated for PCR amplification [determined with a validated electronic simulation (n = 2765) and empirically (n = 188)], Sanger sequence quality [determined empirically (n = 188)], and taxonomic discrimination [determined empirically (n = 30 472)]. PCR amplification for all mini‐barcodes, as estimated by validated electronic simulation, was successful for 90.2–99.8% of species. Overall Sanger sequence quality for mini‐barcodes was very low – the best mini‐barcode tested produced sequences of adequate quality (B20 ≥ 0.5) for 74.5% of samples. The majority of mini‐barcodes provide correct identifications of families in excess of 70.1% of the time. Discriminatory power noticeably decreased at lower taxonomic levels. At the species level, the discriminatory power of the best mini‐barcode was less than 38.2%. For samples believed to contain DNA from only one species, an investigator should attempt to sequence, in decreasing order of utility and probability of success, mini‐barcodes F (rbcL1/rbcLB), D (F52/R193) and K (F517/R604). For samples believed to contain DNA from more than one species, an investigator should amplify and sequence mini‐barcode D (F52/R193).
The role of the Australasian Journal on Ageing in the Asia‐Oceania region
Authors: Howe Anna L
Published: October 2013

The role of the Australasian Journal on Ageing (AJA) in the Asia‐Oceania region has been developing over the 30 years of the journal's publication, and review of its current and potential future roles is timely in the context of a number of developments in the region. This review describes the regional reach of the AJA, presents an analysis of regional content published over the 5 years to 2012, discusses the regional context with reference to other journals published in the region, and proposes several strategies for advancing the AJA's regional role. Pursuing these strategies would realise the AJA's potential as a vehicle for promoting the exchange of multidisciplinary knowledge on ageing.
Thirty years of the United Nations and global ageing: An Australian perspective
Authors: Kendig Hal , Lucas Nina , Anstey Kaarin J
Published: October 2013

Over the past three decades, the United Nations (UN) has slowly devoted increasing attention to global ageing. Concern for individually based welfare or health‐care programs for older people in developed countries has progressed to also consider the contributions of older people and implications of ageing for socioeconomic advancement in developing countries, including those in Asia Oceania. These shifts are evident in the International Plans of Action on Ageing from Vienna in 1982 to Madrid in 2002; recent 10‐year reviews of the Madrid Plan; and current advocacy for inclusion of ageing in the influential UN Millennium Plan post‐2015. Australia has demonstrated progressive policies and contributed to ageing developments by the UN, International Federation on Ageing the World Health Organization and the International Association of Gerontology. Key ideas driving further action are the importance of valuing people at all ages, addressing inequalities over the life‐course and implementing human rights approaches to ageing.
Diagnosed open‐angle glaucoma in screened versus unscreened subjects–a long‐term age cohort study
Authors: Åström Siv , Stenlund Hans , Lindén Christina
Published: October 2013

Purpose

To investigate and compare the cumulative incidence of diagnosed open‐angle glaucoma (OAG) in an age cohort of elderly people, of which one group was screened.

Methods

Cohort study comprising all 856 individuals born in 1915 and living in the municipality of Skellefteå in 1981. A randomly selected subgroup of the cohort (40%) was repeatedly screened, and suspected OAG cases were followed until 2002 for the development of OAG. Medical records were collected and analysed for OAG. The numbers of OAG cases were compared between the screened group and the remaining part of the cohort (the unscreened group).

Results

The cohort consisted of 339 screened and 517 unscreened persons. Before 1981, there were six known cases of OAG in the screened group and nine cases in the unscreened group. During the follow‐up from 1981 to 2002, there were 33 new cases in the screened group and 31 new cases of OAG in the unscreened group. The incidence of diagnosed OAG in women was higher in the screened group than in the unscreened group, incidence rate ratio = 1.94 (p = 0.035). In contrast, the cumulative incidence of diagnosed OAG in men was similar in the two groups (p = 0.58). For the whole population, there was no significant difference (p = 0.053).

Conclusion

In this population with a high prevalence of PEX and increased risk for glaucoma, there was a non‐significant difference between the screened and unscreened groups regarding the proportion of diagnosed OAG. The failure to reach significance may be due to the limited sample size. OAG was diagnosed twice as often among women in the screened group than in the unscreened group.
Foetal and placental 11β‐HSD2: a hub for developmental programming
Authors: Cottrell E. C. , Seckl J. R. , Holmes M. C. , Wyrwoll C. S.
Published: October 2013

Foetal growth restriction (FGR), reflective of an adverse intrauterine environment, confers a significantly increased risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity. In addition, low birthweight associates with adult diseases including hypertension, metabolic dysfunction and behavioural disorders. A key mechanism underlying FGR is exposure of the foetus to glucocorticoids which, while critical for foetal development, in excess can reduce foetal growth and permanently alter organ structure and function, predisposing to disease in later life. Foetal glucocorticoid exposure is regulated, at least in part, by the enzyme 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β‐HSD2), which catalyses the intracellular inactivation of glucocorticoids. This enzyme is highly expressed within the placenta at the maternal–foetal interface, limiting the passage of glucocorticoids to the foetus. Expression of 11β‐HSD2 is also high in foetal tissues, particularly within the developing central nervous system. Down‐regulation or genetic deficiency of placental 11β‐HSD2 is associated with significant reductions in foetal growth and birth weight, and programmed outcomes in adulthood. To unravel the direct significance of 11β‐HSD2 for developmental programming, placental function, neurodevelopment and adult behaviour have been extensively investigated in a mouse knockout of 11β‐HSD2. This review highlights the evidence obtained from this mouse model for a critical role of feto‐placental 11β‐HSD2 in determining the adverse programming outcomes.
Superoxide anions involved in sympathoexcitation and pressor effects of salusin‐β in paraventricular nucleus in hypertensive rats
Authors: Sun H.‐J. , Zhang L.‐L. , Fan Z.‐D. , Chen D. , Zhang L. , Gao X.‐Y. , Kang Y.‐M. , Zhu G.‐Q.
Published: October 2013

Aims

Salusin‐β in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) increases renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) release in hypertensive rats but not in normal rats. The present study was designed to investigate the downstream molecular mechanism of salusin‐β in the PVN in hypertension.

Method

Renovascular hypertension was induced by two‐kidney, one‐clip (2K1C) in male SD rats. Acute experiments were carried out 4 weeks after 2K1C or sham operation under anaesthesia.

Results

MrgA1 mRNA expression and salusin‐β level in the PVN as well as plasma salusin‐β level were increased in 2K1C rats. Bilateral PVN microinjection of salusin‐β increased the RSNA, MAP and HR in 2K1C rats, which were abolished by the pre‐treatment with polyethylene glycol–superoxide dismutase (PEG‐SOD), the superoxide anion scavenger tempol, the NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor apocynin or the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine chloride (CLC), but not affected by the AT1 receptor antagonist losartan, the Mas receptor antagonist A‐779, the NOS inhibitor L‐NAME or the GABAA and GABAB receptor antagonists gabazine+CGP‐35348. Salusin‐β‐induced increases in superoxide anion level and NAD(P)H oxidase activity in the PVN were abolished by the PVN pre‐treatment with CLC. Salusin‐β increased AVP levels in rostral ventrolateral medulla and plasma, which were prevented by the pre‐treatment with PEG‐SOD, apocynin or CLC in 2K1C rats. Salusin‐β augmented the enhanced activity of PKC in the PVN in 2K1C rats.

Conclusion

Protein kinase C‐NAD(P)H oxidase‐superoxide anions pathway in the PVN is involved in salusin‐β‐induced sympathetic activation, pressor response and AVP release in renovascular hypertension.
Laparoscopic total pelvic exenteration with en bloc lateral lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for advanced primary rectal cancer
Authors: Mukai Toshiki , Akiyoshi Takashi , Ueno Masashi , Fukunaga Yosuke , Nagayama Satoshi , Fujimoto Yoshiya , Konishi Tsuyoshi , Ikeda Atsushi , Yamaguchi Toshiharu
Published: October 2013

Total pelvic exenteration (TPE) may be the only procedure that can cure T4 rectal cancer that directly invades the urinary bladder or prostate. Here, we describe our experience of laparoscopic TPE with en bloc lateral lymph node dissection for advanced primary rectal cancer. A 62‐year‐old man diagnosed with advanced lower rectal cancer (T4bN0M0) underwent laparoscopic TPE with en bloc lateral lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Ligation of the dorsal vein complex was performed under direct visualization through the perineal approach, and the large perineal defect was reconstructed using bilateral V‐Y advancement of the gluteus maximus musculocutaneous flaps. The ileal conduit was constructed extracorporeally through an extended umbilical port that was extended to 4 cm. The total operative time was 831 min and estimated blood loss was 600 mL. Laparoscopic TPE appears to be safe and feasible in selected patients.
Gastric cancer after mini‐gastric bypass surgery: A case report and literature review
Authors: Wu Chun‐Chi , Lee Wei‐Jei , Ser Kong‐Han , Chen Jung‐Chien , Tsou Jun‐Juin , Chen Shu‐Chun , Kuan Wai‐Sang
Published: October 2013

Gastric cancer in the stomach after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass or mini‐gastric bypass is rare, but a few cases have been reported since 1991, when the first case emerged. According to the literature, the interval between bypass surgery and the diagnosis of cancer ranged from 1 to 22 years. Given the difficulty of monitoring a bypassed stomach, the potential for gastric cancer must be considered, especially in countries with high incidence of this cancer. The literature reported the first case in the Asia–Pacific region – a woman developed advanced gastric cancer in her stomach 9 years after laparoscopic mini‐gastric bypass for morbid obesity.
Population dynamics of feral horses (Equus caballus) following above‐average rainfall in a semi‐arid environment of Australia
Authors: Kampmann S , Hampson BA , Pollitt CC
Published: October 2013

Background

Recent record rainfall in much of semi‐arid Central Australia is the most likely reason for a feral horse population increase in excess of normal. Uncontrolled numbers of feral horses have habitat degradation and animal welfare implications.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to investigate the social structure of feral horses and assess their population growth rate following unseasonably high rainfall.

Methods

The study area was 4000 km2 of unmanaged, semi‐arid country in Central Australia (latitude 24.50°S, longitude 132.10°E). Horses were identified by descriptive features from ground searches, movement‐activated cameras and ‘hides’ positioned at key water holes. Wherever possible, sex and age categories were documented. Population growth rate was estimated by the number of foals divided by the number of horses older than 1 year in the observed population.

Results

A total of 1424 horses were identified and categorised, of which 335 were foals born within the current year. Only 123 juveniles were identified. Of the adult horses, 53.4% were male and 46.6% were female and this differed from parity (P = 0.04). Of the mares, 71.9% had a foal at foot and the population growth rate was 29.5%.

Conclusions

With a sustained population growth rate of 29.5%, this population of feral horses will more than double within 3 years. The high population increase will likely have a detrimental effect on native fauna and flora and the fragile, semi‐arid ecosystems of Central Australia. After a period of high rainfall and plentiful resources, ‘normal’ drought conditions will return and many feral horses will starve and die as they compete for limited resources.
Role of maternal elimination diets and human milk IgA in the development of cow's milk allergy in the infants
Authors: Järvinen K. M. , Westfall J. E. , Seppo M. S. , James A. K. , Tsuang A. J. , Feustel P. J. , Sampson H. A. , Berin C.
Published: October 2013

Background

The role of maternal avoidance diets in the prevention of food allergies is currently under debate. Little is known regarding the effects of such diets on human milk (HM) composition or induction of infant humoral responses.

Objective

To assess the association of maternal cow's milk (CM) avoidance during breastfeeding with specific IgA levels in HM and development of cow's milk allergy (CMA) in infants.

Methods

We utilized HM and infant serum samples from a prospective birth cohort of 145 dyads. Maternal serum and HM samples were assessed for casein and beta‐lactoglobulin (BLG)‐specific IgA and IgG by ELISA; 21 mothers prophylactically initiated a strict maternal CM avoidance diet due to a sibling's history of food allergy and 16 due to atopic eczema or regurgitation/vomiting seen in their infants within the first 3 months of life. Infants' sera were assessed for casein and BLG‐specific IgG, IgA and IgE; CMA was confirmed by an oral food challenge. The impact of HM on BLG uptake was assessed in transcytosis assays utilizing Caco‐2 intestinal epithelial cell line.

Results

Mothers avoiding CM had lower casein‐ and BLG‐specific IgA in HM than mothers with no CM restriction (P = 0.019 and P = 0.047). Their infants had lower serum casein‐ and BLG‐specific IgG1 (P = 0.025 and P < 0.001) and BLG‐specific IgG4 levels (P = 0.037), and their casein‐ and BLG‐specific IgA levels were less often detectable than those with no CM elimination diet (P = 0.003 and P = 0.007). Lower CM‐specific IgG4 and IgA levels in turn were associated with infant CMA. Transcytosis of BLG was impaired by HM with high, but not low levels of specific IgA.

Conclusions

Maternal CM avoidance was associated with lower levels of mucosal‐specific IgA levels and the development of CMA in infants.

Clinical relevance

HM IgA may play a role in preventing excessive, uncontrolled food antigen uptake in the gut lumen and thereby in the prevention of CMA.
Three noninvasive methods in the evaluation of subclinical cardiovascular disease in patients with acromegaly: epicardial fat thickness, aortic stiffness and serum cell adhesion molecules
Authors: Topaloglu Oya , Sayki Arslan Muyesser , Turak Osman , Ginis Zeynep , Sahin Mustafa , Cebeci Muhammet , Ucan Bekir , Cakir Evrim , Karbek Basak , Ozbek Mustafa , Cakal Erman , Delibasi Tuncay
Published: October 2013

Context

Several studies have reported increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to early development of endothelial dysfunction and structural vascular changes in patients with acromegaly.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate subclinical cardiovascular disease with epicardial fat thickness (EFT), aortic stiffness and serum levels of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in patients with acromegaly.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Patients

Twenty‐seven patients with active acromegaly (AA), 13 patients with remission acromegaly (RA) and 37 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls were studied.

Measurements

Epicardial fat thickness was evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Aortic stiffness (β) index, aortic strain (AoS) and aortic distensibility (AoD) were calculated from the aortic diameters measured by TTE. Serum levels of CAMs such as intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)‐1 and E‐selectin were measured.

Results

Epicardial fat thickness was significantly increased in patients with RA and AA as compared to controls 9·71 ± 1·54 and 10·08 ± 1·95 mm vs 5·74 ± 0·92 mm, P < 0·001, respectively). A significant positive correlation was found between the EFT and growth hormone (GH) levels (r = 0·365, P = 0·024). β‐index was similarly higher in patients with RA and AA than controls (15·68 ± 7·27 and 11·90 ± 8·24 vs 6·85 ± 2·87, P < 0·001, respectively). AoS and AoD were significantly decreased in patients with RA and AA as compared to the control group (3·81 ± 1·94 and 3·68 ± 1·99 vs 8·19 ± 4·19%, P < 0·001, respectively; and 1·21 ± 0·66 and 1·18 ± 0·63 vs 2·58 ± 1·50, 10−6 cm2/dyn, P < 0·001, respectively). Serum ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 levels were significantly higher in patients as compared to the control group (P < 0·001 vs P = 0·032, respectively). There were no significant differences in EFT, AoD, AoS, β‐index and serum CAMs between two patients groups (AA vs RA, P > 0·05). There was a significant negative correlation between E‐selectin and AoD (r = −0·45, P = 0·008). In multiple linear regression analysis, EFT was found to be associated with GH levels (β‐coefficient = 0·575, P = 0·008).

Conclusion

This study suggests that EFT and risk of subclinical cardiovascular disease are increased in patients with acromegaly. Serum GH level is an independent risk factor for EFT.