bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetics and the conservation of Australian birds
Authors: Norman Janette , Christidis Les
Published: May 2016

Molecular genetic techniques can be used to address a wide array of contemporary conservation problems encountered in the management of captive and wild bird populations. Most applications pertain to issues relevant to the management of populations or species. These range from sex identification in breeding programmes involving species in which the sexes are phenotypically monomorphic, to the identification of taxonomic diversity at the level of species, subspecies and populations. Additionally, comparative analyses of intra-population variation provide a means of identifying populations more at risk from inbreeding and a loss of diversity. This provides a more tractable approach for the conservation and management of genetic diversity than derived from theoretical considerations about the genetic consequences of small population size. A recent development away from these traditional species-based approaches is the use of information revealed by studies of comparative phylogeography to address issues relevant to the management of entire communities and ecosystems. Molecular studies of non-threatened taxa are also an important tool for wildlife management. Nonthreatened species can be used as indicators of regional biodiversity or to provide information which will assist in the conservation of a closely related species. Molecular studies of apparently widespread and abundant species may also reveal previously unrecognized taxonomic diversity of significance for conservation. With the impressive array of molecular tools now available for addressing issues in conservation biology it is important that they not be applied indiscriminately. Careful consideration needs to be given to the specific needs of wildlife management and the appropriateness of genetic studies should be evaluated on a case by case basis. In some instances molecular studies may not be warranted, providing little information beyond that which has been obtained from ecological and demographic studies or contained in traditional taxonomies.
Determination of the presence of Mycobacterium avium on Guam as a precursor to reintroduction of indigenous bird species
Authors: Silva-Krott Ilse , Kelly Brock M. , E. Junge Randall
Published: May 2016

Eight of 11 native forest bird species on Guam were extirpated by the introduction of the Brown Tree Snake Boiga irregularis. Emergency measures necessary to rescue the Guam subspecies of Micronesian Kingfisher Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina from extinction involved translocation and captive breeding in American mainland zoos. Soon after the establishment of a captive breeding population, the kingfisher demonstrated a high degree of susceptibility to avian tuberculosis (ATB), a disease that proved to be a major threat to the preservation of the species. The cause of ATB is Mycobacterium avium which produces a prolonged course of infection in kingfishers and other birds. Kingfishers infected with M. avium are difficult to detect until late in the course of the disease, thereby potentially posing a risk of transmitting ATB to the Guam captive population of Guam Rails Gallirallus owstoni, if kingfishers are repatriated. M. avium is considered to be ubiquitous in nature. However, there are no reported mortalities due to ATB in any bird species on Guam. In this study, six of twenty-one cultures yielded Mycobacterium spp., two of which were further identified as M. avium. Since this study demonstrates that M. avium already exists on Guam, repatriating kingfishers to Guam poses no threat of introducing a new pathological agent to the island's ecosystem. Strict quarantine procedures along with rigorous animal husbandry protocols should minimize risks of repatriating infected kingfishers to Guam, and prevent transmission of ATB to the captive population of Guam Rails and other bird populations on Guam.
Green Management
Authors: Gurner Ryan
Published: May 2016

Green Management is a collection of environmental and ecological articles relating to management. The collection is intended to provide students and managers with an overview of the importance of "green" management to business and industry. In particular, it addresses the major questions of green management ? why should management be environmentally conscious and how can it balance the requirements of business success with environmental awareness and behavior. The focus of this reader is not only on the development of an environmental management system via the introduction of environmental plans and policies, but also on the role of top management and individual departments in contributing to this development.
Snow. A Natural History; an uncertain Future
Authors: Cumming Suzanne
Published: May 2016

Alpine and subalpine environments are extremely restricted in Australia, with the highest peaks of the Australian Alps occurring well below the theoretical altitudinal range necessary for a permanent snow cover. The alpine environment also suffers from a lack of continuity, emphasized by the break between the mainland and Tasmanian alpine communities. There is a major concern for the snow country of Australia and the organisms which inhabit, and are totally dependent on, the snow. These environments are under threat from predicted global warming from the enhanced greenhouse effect, leading to a loss of snow cover. Australia is facing the loss, not just of snow, but of the alpine ecosystem itself.
Tropical Pacific Island Environments
Authors: Cox Brad
Published: May 2016

The Pacific island region comprises a large and ecologically diverse area of the Earth, but is fragile and highly sensitive to environmental change. On some islands 80% or more of the species are endemic. These species are particularly vulnerable due to their geographic and ecological isolation. It is an area where local cultures conflict with Western development, leading to a myriad of environmental and social problems. Impacts affecting the Pacific islands include international mining, rising sea levels, land degradation, logging, toxic waste contamination of land and ocean, and contamination from nuclear testing. The extent of these problems has yet to gain international attention. Low education and communication standards in the region mean that many of the local people are not aware of environmental problems. Island governments have little political will to legislate to protect the environment. An exception is the Sustainable Development Bill that has been drafted recently in Fiji.
Biology by Numbers: An Encouragement to Quantitative Thinking
Authors: Van Elven B.
Published: May 2016

Biology and the life sciences in general are becomingly increasingly focused on measurement and quantification: how many; how long; what proportion; what effect? Managers are also placing increasing pressure on scientists to produce bottom line figures that quantify nature in order to make effective management decisions. However, many biology students and graduates are not from a mathematical or quantitative background, and find it difficult making the transition to the quantitative thinking necessary to provide such information.
"The Greens" and "Green Fire"
Authors: Bootle Sandi
Published: May 2016

"The Greens", written by Bob Brown and Peter Singer introduces the Greens to a wide audience. Both authors were Green candidates for the Australian Senate at the time of writing. Bob Brown is one of the founders of the Australian Greens. As director of the Tasmanian Wilderness Society, he led the campaign that saved the Franklin River from impoundment for a hydroelectric scheme, and was a member of the Tasmanian parliament from 1983?93. Brown was voted Australian of the Year in 1993 by The Australian newspaper, and in 1990 won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. Peter Singer is Australia's leading public philosopher and the author of award winning and best selling non-fiction Animal Liberation and How are We to Live? At the time of writing he was Professor of Philosophy and Deputy Director of the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University, Melbourne.
Biodiversity and conservation of river macroinvertebrates on an expanding urban fringe: western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Authors: C. Chessman Bruce , A. Williams Simon
Published: May 2016

As in many growing urban areas, the prevention of environmental damage as Sydney spreads westward into the Hawkesbury-Nepean River basin is a major challenge for planners, managers and the local community, We surveyed macroinvertebrates at 45 river and stream sites in April-June 1996, and reviewed data from other sources, in order to assess the issues involved in conservation of the lotic macro invertebrate fauna, Regional richness is high with 443 recorded species and morphospecies, Cluster analysis showed community pattems related mainly to waterway size (separating the Hawkesbury-Nepean River from tributary streams), geology (tributaries on shale or sandstone), tidal intrusion and urbanization (impoverished faunas in urban streams). The ability of genus richness of mites and major insect orders to reflect overall genus richness at a site was limited, and Diptera and Trichoptera appear to have the greatest value as biodiversity predictors. Urban expansion is the major threat to lotic macro invertebrate communities in the region, but agriculture, flow regulation, sand and gravel ex1raction and introduced species have probably also impacted on the fauna, Streams with high conservation value for macroinvertebrates include those few on the Cumberland Plain and surrounding slopes that retain substantial indigenous vegetation in relatively undeveloped catchments. The Hawkesbury-Nepean River sfill harbours a rich faunal community and is also important for conservation, The development of effective strategies for conservation assessment and management is problematic for several reasons, Some species in the region are known to be vulnerable, but the status of most cannot be assessed because of a lack of taxonomic and zoogeographic information, Most "biodiversity indicator" concepts are of dubious value for aquatic macroinvertebrate conservation. A multi-faceted management approach emphasizing subcatchment reserves, riparian restoration and the control of threatening processes is required.
Transcriptional regulator Bhlhe40 works as a cofactor of T-bet in the regulation of IFN-γ production iniNKT cells
Authors: Kanda Masatoshi , Yamanaka Hiroyuki , Kojo Satoshi , Usui Yuu , Honda Hiroaki , Sotomaru Yusuke , Harada Michishige , Taniguchi Masaru , Suzuki Nao , Atsumi Tatsuya , Wada Haruka , Baghdadi Muhammad , Seino Ken-ichiro
Published: May 2016

Significance

A unique characteristic of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells is their ability to immediately produce large amounts of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) upon activation, which enables these cells to play critical roles in initiating immune responses in various pathological conditions. In this study, we demonstrate a previously unidentified mechanism mediated by basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor family, member e40 (Bhlhe40) for accelerating IFN-γ production iniNKT cells. Bhlhe40 is required for normal physiological functions iniNKT cells, where it positively regulates IFN-γ production. Bhlhe40 also contributes to acetylating histone H3-lysine 9 of theIfnglocus iniNKT cells. These findings may help in understanding the molecular mechanisms related to the biology ofiNKT cells.
Anti-oxidation property of the ZrB2–SiC–Si-coated low-density C/C composites
Authors: Feng T. , Li H.-J. , Hu M.-H. , Lin H.-J. , Li L.
Published: May 2016

ZrB2–SiC–Si-coated low-density C/C composites were prepared by a low-cost and simple pack cementation. The microstructure, oxidation and ablation resistance of the ZrB2–SiC–Si-coated low-density C/C composites have been investigated. The ZrB2–SiC–Si-coated low-density C/C composites exhibited good oxidation, thermal shock and ablation resistance at high temperature. The mass loss of the coated low-density C/C samples was only 0.68% at 1773 K for more than 260 h. The mass gain of the coated low-density C/C samples was 1.5% after 50 thermal cycles. The coated low-density composites could also withstand from ablation at 2573 K for 60 s under oxyacetylene flame. The good oxidation and ablation resistance of the composites are mainly attributed to the interlocking-pattern structure and the protection of the oxide layer.
Lévy-Khintchine random matrices and the Poisson weighted infinite skeleton tree
Authors: Jung Paul
Published: May 2016

We study a class of Hermitian random matrices which includes Wigner matrices, heavy-tailed random matrices, and sparse random matrices such as adjacency matrices of Erdős-Rényi random graphs with

p
n

∼

1
n

p_n\sim \frac 1 n

. Our

n
×
n

n\times n

random matrices have real entries which are i.i.d. up to symmetry. The distribution of entries depends on

n
n

, and we require row sums to converge in distribution. It is then well-known that the limit distribution must be infinitely divisible.

We show that a limiting empirical spectral distribution (LSD) exists and, via local weak convergence of associated graphs, that the LSD corresponds to the spectral measure associated to the root of a graph which is formed by connecting infinitely many Poisson weighted infinite trees using a backbone structure of special edges called “cords to infinity”. One example covered by the results are matrices with i.i.d. entries having infinite second moments but normalized to be in the Gaussian domain of attraction. In this case, the limiting graph is

N

\mathbb {N}

rooted at

1
1

, so the LSD is the semicircle law.
Acute Encephalitis and Abnormal MRI
Authors: Wijdicks Eelco F. M. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Hocker Sara E. , Fugate Jennifer E.
Published: May 2016

The diagnosis of encephalitis is easy, finding the cause is not. Clinicians should always consider the diagnosis of encephalitis in a febrile and confused patient, regardless of the presence of meningeal signs or focal deficits. In this chapter, the differential diagnosis of the main forms of acute encephalitis is discussed. Polymerase chain reaction for herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) should be performed in all cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with presumed encephalitis. MRI with gadolinium is the most informative neuroimaging modality for patients with suspected encephalitis. Medical therapy and indications for brain biopsy are also mentioned in the chapter.
Acutely Progressive Dyspnea and Limb Weakness
Authors: Wijdicks Eelco F. M. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Hocker Sara E. , Fugate Jennifer E.
Published: May 2016

Paradoxical breathing is the most characteristic sign of neuromuscular respiratory failure. How to confidently assess the need for respiratory support in acute neuromuscular disease is difficult. This chapter discusses indications of triage to the intensive care unit, the benefits and risks of noninvasive mechanical ventilation, and indications of intubation in acute neuromuscular disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis. Patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome should be intubated electively when they develop their first signs of ventilatory failure. Patients with myasthenic crisis are best treated with noninvasive ventilation if this support is initiated before the development of hypercapnia.
Prior Cancer and a Worrisome MRI of the Spine
Authors: Wijdicks Eelco F. M. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Hocker Sara E. , Fugate Jennifer E.
Published: May 2016

For patients with spinal cord compression, from metastasis in the patient presented in this chapter, there is an immediate urgency to prevent permanent paralysis. For many physicians this is one of the most uncomfortable situations. The medical treatment with corticosteroids and indications for acute neurosurgical decompression are discussed in this chapter. Aggressive pain management with opioids and corticosteroids may provide adequate palliation. The treatment modality that is best for the patient is determined on the basis of severity and acuity of the neurological deficit, nature of the tumor, instability of the spine, and general performance status and life expectancy of the patient.
Treatable Toxicity After Chemotherapy
Authors: Wijdicks Eelco F. M. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Hocker Sara E. , Fugate Jennifer E.
Published: May 2016

This chapter discusses how to manage a comatose patient with a serious intoxication. Intoxications often present with prominent neurological features, most notably depressed consciousness, delirium, abnormal movements, and seizures. None of these manifestations are specific for any single toxin. Recognition of the most common toxidromes can guide management and predict complications. Early management focuses on securing the airway, ensuring adequate oxygenation, achieving hemodynamic stabilization, excluding hypoglycemia, and considering gastrointestinal decontamination. Options for antidotes, dialysis, and other measures to correct laboratory abnormalities are concisely reviewed in the chapter.
Rigidity After Experimenting with Drugs
Authors: Wijdicks Eelco F. M. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Hocker Sara E. , Fugate Jennifer E.
Published: May 2016

Abnormal involuntary movements described variably as twitching, jerking, shaking or convulsing are a common reason for neurological consultation in intensive care units. While many of the abnormal movements in critical illness may simply be observed, certain acute movement disorders represent potentially lethal emergencies and require prompt recognition and treatment. Often these movements indicate some toxicity of some newly introduced drug. An overview of potential causes is presented in this chapter. The majority of acute movement disorders are drug-induced, such as serotonin syndrome, or result from severe metabolic derangements. The triad of acute encephalopathy, fever, and increased tone in association with involuntary movements should prompt consideration of a serious cause.
Sweaty, Febrile, and Tachypneic After Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Wijdicks Eelco F. M. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Hocker Sara E. , Fugate Jennifer E.
Published: May 2016

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity after traumatic brain injury is an underappreciated and undertreated condition. It may cause potentially life-threatening complications, such as intracranial hypertension, dehydration, hyperthermia, refractory surges of hypertension, and muscle contractures. The differential diagnosis is broad, but it can be sorted out quickly by a focused evaluation. The difficulties with management and short- and long-term pharmacological approaches are discussed in this chapter. These include boluses of morphine sulfate for aborting the episodes, propranolol and clonidine for control of the tachycardia and hypertension, and baclofen and diazepam for improving increased muscle tone. Gabapentin is useful for achieving control of the sympathetic dysfunction in the long term.
Hypertension and Bradycardia in Severe Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Authors: Wijdicks Eelco F. M. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Hocker Sara E. , Fugate Jennifer E.
Published: May 2016

Dysautonomia is common in severe forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Paralytic ileus is a concern in all immobilized bedridden patients with this syndrome. Marked blood pressure fluctuations or sustained hypertension are the most concerning manifestations. Treatment of these autonomic disorders is provided in this chapter. Hypertensive surges can be treated with morphine, clonidine, or, if necessary, an infusion of a calcium channel blocker, such as nicardipine. Vagal spells may lead to prolonged episodes of asystole, and a transcutaneous pacemaker might be needed. Every bedridden patient with severe Guillain-Barré syndrome is at risk of developing severe adynamic ileus, and treatment may require a period of parenteral nutrition or colonoscopic decompression.
Struggling to Get a Patient with Myasthenia Gravis off the Ventilator
Authors: Wijdicks Eelco F. M. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Hocker Sara E. , Fugate Jennifer E.
Published: May 2016

Weaning from the mechanical ventilator after intubation following treatment for myasthenic crisis is difficult. There is a high probability of reintubation, especially in patients with bronchial hypersecretion and atelectasis. Long-term management with placement of a tracheostomy is needed after reintubation. Strategies for successful weaning and extubation are discussed in this chapter. Plasma exchange is the preferred treatment in myasthenic patients with severe neuromuscular respiratory muscle weakness. Plasma exchange may not be sufficient, however, to wean a patient off the ventilator, and pyridostigmine is needed to improve respiratory muscle function. Finding an optimal dose of pyridostigmine after treatment of myasthenic crisis is difficult. There is a fine line between minimizing secretions and optimizing the strength of oropharyngeal and respiratory muscles.
What Neurologists Know About Outcome in Post-Resuscitation Coma and What Other Physicians Want to Know
Authors: Wijdicks Eelco F. M. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Hocker Sara E. , Fugate Jennifer E.
Published: May 2016

Important principles in the prognostication of any patient with acute brain injury include assessing the severity of brain injury, understanding the mechanism of injury, allowing appropriate time for assessment, and excluding confounders. Targeted temperature management is used to manage comatose patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and it has introduced new confounders with the neurological examination. Neurological prognostication, discussed in this chapter, should thus be neurocritical care terrain. Poor prognosis can be expected in patients with absence of pupillary light responses, corneal reflexes, and an extensor or absent motor response, or myoclonus status epilepticus. Sedative medications can abolish corneal reflexes and motor responses to noxious stimulation. Their confounding effects need careful judgment. Bilateral absence of cortical (N20) responses is a very reliable indicator of poor prognosis, but only discriminates the worst cases of anoxic brain injury. Documented discrete electrographic seizures may need treatment, but the value of aggressive antiepileptic treatment for generalized epileptiform discharges or burst suppression in anoxic-ischemic brain injury is uncertain.
Conventional treatments in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Rahman Anisur
Published: May 2016

A new diagnosis of SLE can be frightening for patients, and the importance of education and reassurance must be remembered—clinical nurse specialists can play a key role in this. Equally, lifestyle advice regarding sun-protection and smoking cessation should not be neglected. Many patients have a mild disease characterized by ongoing symptoms such as rash, hair loss, and joint or chest pain. Symptomatic treatment, topical corticosteroids, antimalarials, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are generally sufficient to manage these cases, but acute symptomatic flares may require short-term oral or intramuscular corticosteroids. Lupus nephritis should be managed with a combination of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Oral mycophenolate, or the low-dose Euro-Lupus intravenous cyclophosphamide regimen, are used to induce remission. Low-dose corticosteroid plus azathioprine or mycophenolate is used to maintain remission. Corticosteroids are highly effective but have diverse side effects and should be used in the lowest dose compatible with maintaining control of disease activity.
Oxygen abundance determination of B-type stars with the O i 7771–5 Å lines
Authors: Takeda Yoichi , Honda Satoshi
Published: May 2016

Oxygen abundances of 34 B-type stars in the effective temperature range of Teff ∼ 10000–28000 K with diversified rotational velocities (vesin i ∼ 0–250 km s−1) were determined from the O i triplet lines at 7771–5 Å, with an aim of examining whether this O i feature can be a reliable abundance indicator for such high-temperature stars including rapid rotators. It revealed that the required non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) abundance correction is distinctly large (ranging from ∼−0.6 dex to ∼−1.7 dex) and its consideration is indispensable. On the condition that the non-LTE effect is taken into account, this triplet is a useful O abundance indicator (with a precision of ≲ 0.2 dex) up to Teff ≲ 25000 K, since its total equivalent width is sufficiently large ( ≳ 200 mÅ). In contrast, it is not adequate for abundance derivation for stars at Teff ≳ 25000 K, where its strength rapidly drops down toward a hardly detectable level (except for sharp-lined stars) and its sensitivity to Teff or log g becomes considerably large. The resulting non-LTE oxygen abundances turned out to be almost normal (i.e., near-solar around ∼8.7–8.8 within ∼±0.2 dex) for most stars without any dependence upon projected rotational velocity as well as luminosity (or mass), which is consistent with the prediction of recent stellar evolution calculations.
SXDF–ALMA 2-arcmin2 deep survey: 1.1-mm number counts
Authors: Hatsukade Bunyo , Kohno Kotaro , Umehata Hideki , Aretxaga Itziar , Caputi Karina I. , Dunlop James S. , Ikarashi Soh , Iono Daisuke , Ivison Rob J. , Lee Minju , Makiya Ryu , Matsuda Yuichi , Motohara Kentaro , Nakanishi Kouichiro , Ohta Kouji , Tadaki Ken-ich , Tamura Yoichi , Wang Wei-Hao , Wilson Grant W. , Yamaguchi Yuki , Yun Min S.
Published: May 2016

We report 1.1-mm number counts revealed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Survey Field (SXDF). The advent of ALMA enables us to reveal millimeter-wavelength number counts down to the faint end without source confusion. However, previous studies are based on the ensemble of serendipitously detected sources in fields originally targeting different sources and could be biased due to the clustering of sources around the targets. We derive number counts in the flux range of 0.2–2 mJy by using 23 (≥4σ) sources detected in a continuous 2.0-arcmin2 area of the SXDF. The number counts are consistent with previous results within errors, suggesting that the counts derived from serendipitously detected sources are not significantly biased, although there could be field-to-field variation due to the small survey area. By using the best-fitting function of the number counts, we find that ∼40% of the extragalactic background light at 1.1 mm is resolved at S1.1mm > 0.2 mJy.
Acute Focal Bacterial Nephritis Associated With Central Nervous System Manifestations
Authors: Kasuga Yuki , Fuchigami Tatsuo , Fukuda Ayumi , Takahashi Satoko , Murai Takemi , Yonezawa Ryuuta , Miyashita Michio , Kohira Ryutaro , Fujita Yukihiko , Takahashi Shori
Published: May 2016

Acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) is a localized bacterial infection of the kidney presenting as an inflammatory mass without frank abscess formation. In children, most patients with AFBN present with nonspecific conditions, such as fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain. A small number of reported cases are accompanied by neurological symptoms, including meningeal irritation, unconsciousness, and seizures. We experienced 2 rare cases of AFBN associated with central nervous system lesions. The first case was a 3-year-old girl who had neurological symptoms, including unconsciousness and seizures, with AFBN associated with acute reversible encephalopathy. The second case was a 5-year-old girl who had neurological symptoms, including unconsciousness, with AFBN accompanied by clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion.
Alemtuzumab as Antirejection Therapy
Authors: Bouvy Anne P. , Klepper Mariska , Betjes Michiel G.H. , Weimar Willem , Hesselink Dennis A. , Baan Carla C.
Published: May 2016

Background

Alemtuzumab induction therapy in kidney transplant patients results in T cell depletion followed by slow immune reconstitution of memory T cells with reduced immune functions. The kinetics and functional characteristics of T cell reconstitution when alemtuzumab is given during immune activation, ie, as antirejection therapy, are unknown.

Methods

Patients (n = 12) with glucocorticoid-resistant or severe vascular kidney transplant rejection were treated with alemtuzumab. Flow cytometric analysis was performed on whole blood to measure cell division by the marker Ki-67, and cytokine responsiveness by IL-2–mediated and IL-7–mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 of T cells before and during the first year after rejection therapy.

Results

At 1 year after alemtuzumab antirejection therapy, the total T cell population recovered to baseline level. Repopulation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was associated with increased percentages of Ki-67+ proliferating T cells (P < 0.05). In addition, both populations showed a phenotypic shift toward relatively more memory T cells (P < 0.01). At the functional level, IL-7 reactivity of CD4+ memory T cells was diminished, reflected by a decreased capacity to phosphorylate signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 during the first 6 months after alemtuzumab treatment (P < 0.05), whereas reactivity to IL-2 was preserved. CD8+ T cells were affected in terms of both IL-2 and IL-7 responses (both P < 0.05). After reconstitution, relatively more regulatory T cells were present, and a relatively high proportion of Ki-67+ T cells was observed.

Conclusions

Preliminary data from this small series suggest that alemtuzumab antirejection therapy induces homeostatic proliferation of memory and regulatory T cells with diminished responsiveness to the homeostatic cytokine IL-7. IL-2 responsiveness was affected in repopulated CD8+ T cells.
Recruiting Dementia Caregivers Into Clinical Trials
Authors: Leach Matthew J. , Ziaian Tahereh , Francis Andrew , Agnew Tamara
Published: May 2016

The burden on those caring for a person with dementia is substantial. Although quality research assists in addressing the needs of these caregivers, recruiting caregivers into clinical studies is often problematic. This investigation explores the difficulties and successes in recruiting dementia caregivers into community-based clinical research by reporting the findings of a mixed-method substudy of a multicenter randomized controlled trial involving 40 community-dwelling dementia caregivers living in Adelaide, South Australia. Data for the substudy were derived from standardized trial monitoring documentation and structured telephone interviews. From a total of 16 distinct methods used across a 12-month recruitment campaign, the most cost-effective strategy was the distribution of flyers through a single study site. This approach generated the greatest number of enrollments of all methods used, achieving a 67% recruitment yield. The least cost-effective strategy, with a 0% recruitment yield, was the publication of a newspaper advertisement. Themes that emerged from the interviews pointed toward 5 key facilitators and 3 barriers to future trial recruitment. This study has generated new insights into the effective recruitment of dementia caregivers into clinical trials. We anticipate that these lessons learnt will assist in shaping the recruitment strategies of future studies of dementia caregivers.
A cross-package Bioconductor workflow for analysing methylation array data
Authors: Maksimovic Jovana , Phipson Belinda , Oshlack Alicia
Published: May 2016

Methylation in the human genome is known to be associated with development and disease. The Illumina Infinium methylation arrays are by far the most common way to interrogate methylation across the human genome. This paper provides a Bioconductor workflow using multiple packages for the analysis of methylation array data. Specifically, we demonstrate the steps involved in a typical differential methylation analysis pipeline including: quality control, filtering, normalization, data exploration and statistical testing for probe-wise differential methylation. We further outline other analyses such as differential methylation of regions, differential variability analysis, estimating cell type composition and gene ontology testing. Finally, we provide some examples of how to visualise methylation array data.
Late mitochondrial origin is pure artefact
Authors: Martin William F. , Roettger Mayo , Ku Chuan , Garg Sriram G. , Nelson-Sathi Shijulal , Landan Giddy
Published: May 2016

Pittis and Gabaldón1recently claimed that the mitochondrion came late in eukaryotic evolution, following an earlier phase of evolution in which the eukaryotic host lineage acquired genes from bacteria. Here we show that their paper has multiple fatal flaws founded in inappropriate statistical methods and analyses, in addition to erroneous interpretations.
Impact of service failure severity and agreeableness on consumer switchover intention
Authors: Riaz Zeeshan , Khan Muhammad Ishfaq
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the asymmetric impact of service failure severity and agreeableness on consumer switchover intention with the mediating role of consumer forgiveness in the aftermath of service failure.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 364 university students were given a hypothetical service failure situation and their response was collected through a standardized questionnaire. Multiple regression and Preacher and Hayes (2004) mediation analysis tests were conducted to analyze data.

Findings

– The findings reveal that service failure severity has a direct positive impact on switchover intention and it also has an indirect impact on switchover intention through consumer forgiveness which it tends to weaken. On the other side, agreeableness has a direct negative impact on switchover intention, and it inhibits switchover intention indirectly too by stimulating forgiveness.

Research limitations/implications

– A cross-sectional study involving convenience sampling has been conducted through self-report measures. Generalization of the research findings shall therefore be done with caution.

Practical implications

– Severity of failure hampers forgiveness and therefore service managers should check factors that may challenge the tolerance level of consumers. While gauging satisfaction in post failure scenario, it is equally important to gauge consumer forgiveness.

Originality/value

– This study is among the initial endeavors to explore forgiveness in service failures context. Also it is the first validation of a direct positive relationship between agreeableness and forgiveness in a South Asian country.
Effects of quality management on hospitality performance in different contexts
Authors: Llach Josep , Alonso-Almeida Maria Del Mar , Martí Jordi , Rocafort Alfredo
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to test the role of the managerial team’s commitment to quality deployment, quality performance and firm performance; second, to shed light on the effects of a certified quality management system on this chain; and third, to analyze the effects of changes in this chain on different management team attitudes, namely, innovativeness.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a survey conducted in a sample of 370 hotels from the region of Madrid (Spain), the model and hypotheses were validated using structural equation modeling analysis.

Findings

– The results reveal the importance of a commitment to quality for quality deployment. In addition, quality deployment has a strong impact on operations and employee and customer performance. However, only impacts derived from customers’ perceptions of service quality affect firm performance. In addition, a contextual analysis was performed to verify whether various contextual factors (certification in a quality management standard and the innovative attitude of the management team) could modify the previously obtained results for the full sample.

Practical implications

– The management team should understand that its attitude toward quality management could affect the company’s overall performance. On the one hand, the team should be aware that the cost of implementing quality practices could be a burden for employees in the performance of their daily activities. On the other hand, there is a positive relationship between involvement in addressing customers’ requirements and financial performance. Therefore, a balance between the efforts to maintain a certain level of quality by the firm’s employees and the service quality offered to the customers is crucial to achieving better financial performance.

Originality/value

– The impact of the implementation of quality management practices on performance has been widely studied; however, the role of intangible factors has not been commonly discussed in service industries in general and even less so in the hospitality sector. This paper analyses the influence of the quality management team’s attitudes toward innovativeness and the implementation of a quality management standard.
Six Sigma enablers in Mexican manufacturing companies: a proposed model
Authors: Tlapa Diego , Limon Jorge , García-Alcaraz Jorge L , Baez Yolanda , Sánchez Cuauhtémoc
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to extend the understanding of Six Sigma (SS) and the underlying dimensions of its critical success factors (CSF) via an analysis of the effects of top management support (TMS), implementation strategy (IS), and collaborative team (CT) on project performance (PP) in Mexican manufacturing companies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a SS literature review, a survey was conducted to capture practitioners’ viewpoints about CSFs for SS implementation and their impact on performance in manufacturing companies. A factor analysis and structural equation modeling were conducted in order to identify and analyze causal relationships.

Findings

– The results suggest that CSFs grouped in the constructs TMS, IS, and CT have a positive impact on PP as measured by cost reduction, variation reduction, and quality improvement.

Research limitations/implications

– Although the empirical data collected supported the proposed model, results might differ among organizations in different countries. In addition, the study did not analyze a unique performance metric; instead, general PP dimensions were used.

Practical implications

– Boosting the TMS, IS, and CT enhances positive PP of SS in manufacturing companies.

Originality/value

– IS as a construct has not been studied exhaustively; this work contributes to a better understanding of it and its impact on PP. Additionally, studies of SS in Latin America are limited, so this study gives a complementary vision to practitioners and researchers about it.
Comprehensive management practices and policies performance model
Authors: Medlin Bobby , Green Kenneth W. , Wright Alan D.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of a specific set of management practices and policies and policies (organizational behavior modification, the management principles, and the management process) on human resource outcomes and on individual employee performance. A comprehensive management practices and policies performance model is theorized and empirically assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data collected from a sample of full-time employees working in the Southern USA are analyzed using a partial least squares/structural equation modeling methodology.

Findings

– Considering the direct and indirect links among the constructs the authors conclude the following: organizational behavior modification, the management principles, and the management process combine to improve organizational commitment and job satisfaction; organizational commitment and job satisfaction combine to improve employee engagement and workplace optimism; and employee engagement and workplace optimism combine to enhance individual performance.

Research limitations/implications

– The model tested reflects the synergy created though the implementation of the management practices and policies and policies and the impact of that synergy on human resource outcomes and individual employee performance. This is the first assessment of this comprehensive model. Replication and verification of the model are suggested.

Practical implications

– Practitioners are provided with a framework for assessing the synergistic impact of the management practices and policies on human resource outcomes and individual employee performance. The theorized model and results provide practicing managers with a blueprint for the systematic implementation of the management practices and policies.

Originality/value

– A comprehensive management practices and policies performance model is proposed and empirically assessed. The results support the proposition that implementation of the management practices and policies leads to improved human resource outcomes and individual employee performance.
Leadership behaviours and capabilities in Syria: an exploratory qualitative approach
Authors: Megheirkouni Majd
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature of leadership development in Syria, by answering specific research questions: what are the types of leadership behaviours and capabilities adopted by companies operating in Syria? And why are they adopted?

Design/methodology/approach

– Qualitative research method has been adopted to achieve the aim of this study.

Findings

– The findings revealed that the leadership behaviours and capabilities required for business environment in Syria include strategic thinking, business skills, communication, understanding the whole, ability to change, teamwork, self-awareness, decision making/problem solving, and adaptability.

Research limitations/implications

– Research data has been collected in an unstable environment because of what was called the Arab Spring, so this affected not only the participants, but also how they respond to each question. Additionally, only the for-profit sector was involved in the study because of its flexibility, lack of bureaucracy, and application of leadership development.

Practical implications

– The paper explores the major leadership behaviours and capabilities utilised and their purposes, as well as more broadly for designers who are attempting to develop leadership in the Syrian context.

Originality/value

– The study offers data and interpretation of a specific non-Western context on which foundation further studies in the Middle Eastern context can be developed.
Differences in treatment approach between ethnic groups
Authors: Sizmur Steve , McCulloch Andrew
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The mental health experience of people from ethnic minorities differs from that of the majority, including differential access to services and treatments. The 2014 National Health Service (NHS) Community Mental Health survey gathered data from 13,787 individuals in 57 NHS trusts in England, providing one means of monitoring such experience. The purpose of this paper is to analyse survey variables describing treatments offered to respondents for evidence of differential access or treatment experiences associated with ethnicity.

Design/methodology/approach

– Secondary analysis of survey data. Proportions for target variables were modelled using multilevel logit models. Ethnic background, age and gender were entered as independent variables.

Findings

– Respondents in most minority groups were more likely to be on the care programme approach (CPA) to provision than white British respondents and less likely to report receiving psychological treatments. Unmet need for psychological treatment was relatively high in certain Asian groups. Medication use was consistently high across respondents, but differences by ethnic background were evident.

Research limitations/implications

– The study was dependent on existing survey data of a relatively limited nature, and potentially subject to non-response bias. The survey excludes users of certain types of service, giving an incomplete cross-section.

Originality/value

– This represents a novel use of the data from the Community Mental Health survey, and complements evidence from a range of other sources. The findings mostly concur with other evidence but provide important new data in relation to medication, unmet needs in psychotherapy and use of the CPA. They remain suggestive of the complex nature of discrimination and/or unequal access and treatment in mental health services.
The Delphi method: methodological issues arising from a study examining factors influencing the publication or non-publication of mental health nursing research
Authors: Flanagan Tracy , Ashmore Russell , Banks David , MacInnes Doug
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe how the classic Delphi method can be adapted and structured to ensure that specific research questions are clearly addressed.

Design/methodology/approach

– As part of a larger mixed method project, a modified Delphi study was undertaken to explore factors influencing publication and non-publication of mental health nursing research.

Findings

– This paper reports brief findings from the Delphi study. However, its main focus is the methodological issues arising from the Delphi method.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper argues that the classic Delphi method can be adapted and structured to ensure that specific research questions are able to be clearly answered. The adaptations are pragmatic in approach and in keeping with the general principles underpinning the Delphi method, while successfully addressing the problems of attrition and previous criticism of homogenous panels.

Originality/value

– This paper offers some practical solutions to issue arising from undertaking research using the Delphi method.
Online sustainability information in European local governments
Authors: Tirado-Valencia Pilar , Rodero-Cosano Mª Luisa , Ruiz-Lozano Mercedes , Rios-Berjillos Araceli
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose an analytical model that shows causal relationships between the amount and nature of information on strategies and the governance of city councils, as well as the contents of different dimensions of sustainability that are disclosed on the websites of local governments in big European cities. This model could reveal if the information is disseminated in a homogeneous and coordinated way and could improve the quality of the information, its coherence and its comparability.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors have designed a questionnaire with 75 variables from the Global Reporting Initiative proposal to specify information disclosed on sustainability. The level of information about each of these variables has been gathered by consulting the contents published on the websites of the 142 local governments in the sample. Finally the authors propose a model about the cause-effect relationships between the amount and nature of the information in different dimensions of sustainability on the websites of large cities’ local governments based on the structural equation modelling methodology.

Findings

– The model obtained reveals that there is coherence in the sustainability information disclosed by large European cities on their websites. However, it is demonstrated that the relations between the amount of information about strategies and the dissemination of information on each of the dimensions of sustainability (economic, social and environmental) do not have the same intensity.

Originality/value

– The proposed model can be useful as a reference framework to structure online information supplied in a balanced and comprehensive way. This conceptual model can suggest ways for sustainable improvements based on the experience of analysed local governments.