bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sponsorship Change and the Ghost of Sponsorship Past
Authors: Smith Wayne W. , Litvin Stephen W.
Published: December 2012

One of the primary funding sources for various festival and event types is corporate sponsorship. These partnerships allow festivals to operate at a sufficient level while providing their corporate sponsors a variety of benefits. One of the key benefits (especially for larger sponsorships)
is having the two brands (the corporate and the event's) become synonymous with each other in the mind of the consumer. The customer perceives a corporate entity supporting an event as sharing a common interest and thus the sponsorship can be used by sponsors as a tool to increase awareness
and enhance image. What happens though when an event replaces a major sponsor with another? This case study examines participants' sponsor recall following such a change. Using 5 years of data, this case illustrates that changes in major sponsorship need to be strategically conducted in order
to ensure that the incoming partner is not haunted by the ghost of the sponsor they have replaced.
The Health Informatics Professional
Authors: Lui Keith
Published: December 2012

Health informatics (HI) is an increasingly important discipline to healthcare. HI is the scientific field concerned with improving how information in healthcare is captured, used, and managed. Developments in HI have streamlined and improved the efficacy of health service delivery, ranging from administration to bedside care to telehealth. Anecdotally, one observes that the paradigm of health domain experts working with information technology (IT) domain experts still produces health information systems that fail or do not work adequately; thus, there is a need for individuals knowledgeable in both information methods/tools and health. HI is a very broad discipline, but demonstrates features of a profession that set it apart from conventional IT or computer science; one notes different aspects of knowledge and skill and an ethos that is more aligned with that of health. This chapter provides an overview of HI, introducing the concepts of HI, its history, and how it relates to the skills, knowledge and attitudes of the emerging HI professional. HI is changing how healthcare is delivered and HI professionals are a part of that process. There are a range of roles these individuals fill, with some overlap with more established positions, such as health information managers. Despite the emergence of the HI profession, there are hurdles to overcome in terms of consistent education and registration or accreditation/credentialing.
Electronic Health Record Implementation in the United States Healthcare Industry
Authors: D’Abundo Michelle Lee
Published: December 2012

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act (2009) was legislation passed focused on improving health care delivery and patient care in America through the development of health information technology (HIT). The mission of this chapter is to review how American health care practitioners and organizations will integrate one aspect of HIT, the use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), into the workplace. While objectives and deadlines have been established and aligned with incentives for the meaningful use of EHRs, it seems the missing component is a strategic plan that could be applied by health care organizations to guide the implementation process. The use of a program planning model is suggested to frame a strategic implementation process informed by principles of change management.
e-Health Technologies in Home Care Nursing
Authors: Remmers Hartmut , Hülsken-Giesler Manfred
Published: December 2012

The innovative impact of advancing e-Health technologies is more frequently being discussed in nursing science. Nurses play an important role in collecting data and giving support to other users, especially in home care. Since issues of acceptance play a major role, the following article, which presents findings based on a focus group consisting of the elderly, caretaking relatives and professional nurses, is discussed from an ethical point of view in the context of international debate. It is interesting to note, that to some extent there is substantial ambivalence in the willingness to integrate such technologies into daily care. A need for technical assistance is clearly recognizable, however, limits as well. The authors’ findings indicate that a fundamental discussion on the relevance of e-Health methods in professional nursing needs to be held. It should address the ethical questions of often conflicting interests and rights (protection of identity, privacy and safety) in situations of high vulnerability.
Using Biometrics to Secure Patient Health Information
Authors: Backherms Dennis
Published: December 2012

The crime of identity theft has proven to be one of the most costly crimes in American history. Identity theft has become so prevalent in our society today that many laws have been passed, and new bills introduced, to try and combat these troublesome issues. However, recently, a new trend in identity theft has been occurring, individuals are now experiencing medical identity theft. One way to help protect a patient’s medical information is through biometric authentication for records access. The technology of biometrics, while thought a novelty at first, has proven to be both a reliable and efficient method for securing patient health records. Biometric technology helps to provide a multi-tiered approach to medical record access and also helps create an audit trail for discovery of unauthorized medical record access. Implementing biometric technology in patient health record security will help substantially reduce the likelihood that medical identity theft will occur.
Mapping Input Technology to Ability
Authors: Garzo Ainara , Carmien Stefan P. , Madina Xabier
Published: December 2012

Accessibility is a critical aspect of health care system design, particularly E-health systems. Ability to access services may change as ones abilities vary, by situation as in the use of a cell phone while driving, by condition, as during an illness or as a result of an accident and in the process of aging. As the European population becomes increasingly skewed towards elders, the ability to communicate with and via computers will become more and more important. Communication consists of two processes: presenting information in an accessible manner and receiving input from the user in a mode that fits the users skills and needs. This chapter describes the design process in providing an alternative to a keyboard for input by persons with motoric disabilities.
Design and Implementation of Mobile-Based Technology in Strengthening Health Information System
Authors: Purkayastha Saptarshi
Published: December 2012

In the context of developing countries, there is a mounting interest in the field of mHealth. This surge in interest can be traced to the evolution of several interrelated trends (VW Consulting, 2009). However, with numerous attempts to create mobile-based technology for health, too many experiments and projects have not been able to scale or sustain. How is it possible to design and implement scalable and sustainable mHealth applications in low resource settings and emerging markets?. This chapter provides lessons from case studies of two successful and large scale implementations of mHealth solutions and the choices that were made in the design and implementation of those solutions. The chapter uses Information Infrastructure Theory as a theoretical lens to discuss reasons why these projects have been able to successfully scale.
Health Information Exchange for Improving the Efficiency and Quality of Healthcare Delivery
Authors: Shi Jing , Upadhyaya Sudhindra , Erdem Ergin
Published: December 2012

In healthcare industry, providers, patients, and all other stakeholders must have the right information at the right time for achieving efficient and cost effective services. Exchange of information between the heterogeneous system entities plays a critical role. Health information exchange (HIE) is not only a process of transmitting data, but also a platform for streamlining operations to improve healthcare delivery in a secure manner. In this chapter, we present a comprehensive view of electronic health record (EHR) systems and HIE by presenting their architecture, benefits, challenges, and other related issues. While providing information on the current state of EHR/HIE applications, we also discuss advanced issues and secondary uses of HIE implementations, and shed some light on the future research in this area by highlighting the challenges and potentials.
E-Health Business Models Prototyping by Incremental Design
Authors: Monguet Josep Ma. , Huerta Eduardo , Fernández Joaquín , Ferruzca Marco , Badillo Susana
Published: December 2012

Internet and IT (Information technologies) among other innovative drivers push companies to update their business models, and design stands out as an emergent issue strongly connected with innovation, which, in turn, is the main resource of the modern economy. One way to achieve innovation is through artifacts that allow the development of successful information systems in organizations. Moreover, the field of health appears as a sector with many opportunities to improve services through IT and design. Therefore, e-health comes out as one of the elements that should eventually help in the evolution of business models in health systems. In this chapter, the authors present a design method of IT artifacts for e-health adapted from the method proposed by Pahl and Beitz (1995). The correctness of the design method adopted is a significant issue to generate new business models successfully or to adapt the existing ones in health systems.
Patients with a Spinal Cord Injury Inform and Co-Construct Services at a Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Unit
Authors: Sliedrecht Susan , Kotzé Elmarie
Published: December 2012

This chapter reports on a qualitative research project which explored patients’ experiences of counselling and which provided the impetus for changes to be incorporated in the rehabilitation and health care provided at a spinal cord rehabilitation unit in Auckland, New Zealand. Navigating different landscapes of meaning, philosophies, ideas and practices from approaches such as the relationship-centred model and narrative medicine developed into a collaborative meaning-making partnership between the patient team and the multidisciplinary team that further shaped practices of doing reasonable hope together.
Legal Issues in E-Healthcare Systems
Authors: Sarabdeen Jawahitha
Published: December 2012

E-healthcare systems through electronic medical records (EMRs), electronic prescribing and decision support systems endeavour to reduce the cost and errors in healthcare, while facilitating easy access to it. However the adoption of e-healthcare systems does not seem to be flourishing as expected due to various barriers. One of such barriers is an inadequate level of legal protection or unawareness of availability of laws and regulation that addresses the e-healthcare system. The objective of the study of this chapter was to investigate the present status of law relating to privacy, product liability, jurisdiction of courts in e-health care disputes and professional negligence. The study recommends that the existing offline and e-commerce laws should be interpreted to address many e-healthcare concerns even though specific e-healthcare laws are not enacted by many nations.
Representing Organizational Conservation of Information
Authors: Stachura Max E. , Wood Joseph , Angjellari-Dajci Fjorentina , Grayson James , Astapova Elena V. , Tung Hui-Lien , Sofge Donald A. , Lawless W.F.
Published: December 2012

The authors review a model of the conservation of information (COI) applied to organizations. Following this review, the authors briefly review the mathematics in support of this model and its implications for the development of theory. They apply the model to a review of the status of telemedicine and e-health in Georgia, which they had begun to study last year. After their reviews, the authors discuss future steps and draw conclusions about the model and its benefit to organizational attention and decision-making.
Interprofessional Care and Health Care Complexity
Authors: Johnson Kerry , Tashiro Jayshiro
Published: December 2012

Health care systems are complex and often approach a deterministic chaos in the number and types of interactions that occur among health care providers and patients, as well as among the providers themselves. Such complexity may be an important barrier as North American health care systems are evolving into care-giving settings in which providers work to improve patient outcomes though interprofessional collaborative patient-centred care. The research on evidence-based learning and how to build new models of professional development opportunities for health information management (HIM) professionals is explored. Additionally, creating new and more effective undergraduate training programs in HIM is examined. From the perspective of interprofessional care, the authors provide a core set of interprofessional competencies and discuss how these competencies may be sensibly integrated into, and evaluated within, undergraduate curricular structures as well as professional development programs. A special emphasis of the chapter is an analysis of two case studies that highlight the barriers inherent within complex health care systems. Such barriers inhibit evidence-based education and professional development designed to improve interprofessional care.
Ethical Guidelines for the Quality Assessment of Healthcare
Authors: Chattopadhyay Amit , Malhotra Khushdeep , Chatterjee Sharmila
Published: December 2012

One of the keystone concepts of healthcare improvement is the belief that informed choices will lead to enhanced quality of life and healthcare. Medical Ethics, or Bioethics, is the study of moral issues in the fields of medical treatment and research. It is also used to describe ethical issues in the life sciences and the distribution of scarce medical resources. This chapter will review and describe the principles of ethics and discuss how ethical principles can be used as guidelines for the quality assessment of healthcare provision. It will also discuss areas such as: ethical handling of information, patient safety, communication, obligation for impartial quality assessment, private health information protection, ethical committees and supervision authorities, competence of the assessor, supervision of ethical guidelines for health quality assessment, research and publication ethics, and global ethics of healthcare. Another goal of the manuscript will be to serve as a central reference to access of information about resources related to this topic.
Health 2.0 and Medicine 2.0
Authors: Moumtzoglou Anastasius
Published: December 2012

The collaborative nature of Medicine 2.0/Health 2.0 and its emphasis on personalized health care clearly outlines it with respect to e-health and Web 2.0. The Semantic Web uses the notion that the meaning of a concept relates to other concepts. Therefore, it amplifies many of the existing challenges, but also offers new opportunities for the quality problems of Web 2.0 and enhances the potential to translate information into knowledge. Perhaps the most exciting expectation is that people will use the semantic web to search for healthcare providers of the highest quality, using services that take into account their own preferences and employ decentralized data from different sources. On the other hand, the Semantic Web magnifies privacy and may raise concerns about disintermediation between patients and health professionals and over reliance on virtual interactions. Therefore, the perspective of the chapter is to consider the key debates that occur in the literature with respect to the terms Medicine 2.0 and Health 2.0 acknowledging that any authentic solution to health problems has to originate from patient-centered care.
The Emerging Hispanic Use of Online Health Information in the United States
Authors: Germaine-McDaniel Nicole St.
Published: December 2012

As health-information websites become more popular, healthcare corporations have worked quickly to create Spanish-language sites to reach the Spanish-speaking population. However, changes have to be made in order to effectively adapt to the Spanish-speaking audience. In order to be successful, site designers must create a sense of community by having interactive elements and by advertising these sites through radio or television with well-known celebrities or known figures in the healthcare realm. Further, care must be taken to ensure that the information in these sites is culturally appropriate for this audience. The successful health information website can be a strong tool for educating both Spanish and English speakers alike about preventative care, as well as treatment options, which in turn can improve health outcomes.
Exploring the Effect of mHealth Technologies on Communication and Information Sharing in a Pediatric Critical Care Unit
Authors: Aceti Victoria , Luppicini Rocci
Published: December 2012

Communication and information sharing is an important aspect of healthcare information technology and mHealth management. A main requirement in the quality of patient care is the ability of all health care participants to communicate. Research illustrates that the complexity of communicating within the health care system hinders the quality of health care service delivery. Health informatics have been touted as a way to improve communication deficiencies, which has led to the exponential growth of health informatics integration. However, research still lags in understanding how health informatics affects patient care, health professional work routines, and the overall health care system. This study investigates the extent to which mHealth technologies influence communication information sharing patterns between interdisciplinary health care providers in the delivery of health care services. This study was conducted at Hamilton Health Sciences and through a sociotechnical approach, focuses on both the end user’s experiences with mHealth in daily work communication scenarios, and the extent to which mHealth use affects interdisciplinary communication. Results indicate that there are several mitigating factors which influence communication patterns using mHealth technologies, including: information sharing, mobility, ergonomic and system design.
Development and Psychometric Qualities of the SEIPS Survey to Evaluate CPOE/EHR Implementation in ICUs
Authors: Hoonakker Peter , Cartmill Randi S. , Carayon Pascale , Walker James M.
Published: December 2012

Health Information Technology (IT) implementation can fail or meet high levels of user resistance for a variety of reasons, including lack of attention to users’ needs and the significant workflow changes induced and required by the technology. End-user satisfaction is a critical factor in health IT implementation. In this paper, the authors describe the process of developing and testing a questionnaire to evaluate health IT implementation, in particular Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) technologies. Results show evidence for the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. The Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) questionnaire is easy to administer and allows researchers to evaluate different aspects of health IT implementation. Results of this research can be used for benchmarking results of future studies evaluating health IT implementation.
Formal-Transfer In and Out of Stroke Care Units
Authors: Nadathur Shyamala G. , Warren James R.
Published: December 2012

The positive impact of stroke care units (SCUs) on patient outcome has been previously reported. In this study, long-term stroke patients that are formally admitted to teaching-hospitals are compared with and without SCUs. The authors focus on the patients’ experience with ongoing care or formal transfers following current care as this cohort is often high users of the system with associated high costs. Bayesian Networks were employed to analyze routinely collected public-hospital administrative data. The results illustrate that the teaching-hospitals with SCUs, while achieving shorter length of stay, in fact deal with younger patients with lower overall patient complexity than non-SCU teaching-hospitals. Other differences include SCUs predominantly treating subarachnoid hemorrhages whereas the non-SCUs treat more cerebral infarctions. This study illustrates the power of Bayesian Networks to expose the nature of caseload and outcomes recorded in hospital-administrative data as a means to gain insight on current practice and create opportunities for benchmarking and improving care.
Evolution of Information Systems and Technologies Maturity in Healthcare
Authors: Rocha Álvaro
Published: December 2012

Information Systems and Technologies (IST) in healthcare have evolved gradually, and theories about IST adoption and maturity are sufficiently established in the literature of organizational management. This paper examines the evolution of IST in healthcare. The author introduces concepts associated with maturity models, addresses the generic maturity model for IST management, and presents the main maturity models, specifically focusing on the management of IST in healthcare. Widespread and detailed maturity models are not fully available, and the opportunity to develop new maturity models that focus on IST management in healthcare still exists.
Improving the Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice and Information Systems in Healthcare
Authors: Arling Priscilla A. , Doebbeling Bradley N. , Fox Rebekah L.
Published: December 2012

In healthcare, evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates clinical expertise with the best available external evidence from systematic research. Yet even with the aid of technology, implementation of EBP in many settings remains a challenge due in part to the complexity of the healthcare system and the lack of a strong theoretical and analytical foundation to guide implementation efforts. This paper combines research from the fields of healthcare implementation science and social networks to present a theoretically based, integrated framework for the study of EBP implementation. This study explores the application of the framework to a complex healthcare collaborative, the MRSA infection control project, a project intended to foster the implementation of EBP to reduce the spread of MRSA infections. The authors consider how the framework can also be used to inform future research into EBP-related information system implementations and innovations.
Simulation and Reliability Analysis of Laser-Welded Blanks after Metal Surface Finishing Process
Authors: Pandit Tanmay , Ali Ahad
Published: December 2012

Currently there is a huge competition amongst the OEMs and manufacturers in the auto industry to reduce the weight of the car. A few design modifications or use of different size and grades of materials solves this problem greatly. This paper focuses upon the metal finishing process of Laser Welded Blanks (LWB) with simulation and reliability as well as new process development. These blanks are of same gauge-same gauge or different gauge-different gauge materials. The main aim of this process was to remove the visible portion of the weld on the blank, so that it can be used as a body-outer. A new process was developed using expert knowledge and automated machinery tools. A simulation model was developed to compare with the actual developed method and to detect the bottlenecks and optimize the process. Reliability was a major concern during laser-welded blank operations. The paper addresses prediction of the amount of material removed based on the failed parts and visibility of the weld. This approach could provide competitiveness in the weight of the car which is directly related to fuel efficient and long term survival.
Wikis in Collaborative Educational Scenarios
Authors: Forment Marc Alier , De Pedro Xavier , Casañ Maria Jose , Piguillem Jordi , Galanis Nikolas
Published: December 2012

This article outlines a set of features that wiki engines require to successfully host collaborative educational scenarios. The authors explore multiple issues that deal with the use wikis with learning activities. One of the first issues to solve is software support for assessment methodologies. The second is choosing between using an integrated wiki engine inside the Learning Management System (LMS) or an external standalone wiki engine. Advantages and disadvantages from both options of this second issue are discussed. The different implications of each option as far as individual student assessment, feedback, and grading are concerned are also analyzed. Among the expected results, the most notable are incentives to incorporate wikis in the teaching process, significant enhancements in usability, as well as allowing teachers to provide more timely written feedback on their students’ individual contributions on wiki based activities, on top of the usual numerical grading. This paper presents the conclusions of 5 years of experience of work in the field of wikis in education, development of improvements on open source wiki engines and thus, building from scratch accordingly the new wiki engine for the LMS Moodle 2.0.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management in a Developing Context
Authors: Aboelmaged Mohamed Gamal
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this paper is to provide further insights into drivers and consequences of supply chain sustainability in a developing country. Specifically, it aims at empirically examining the impact of stakeholder pressures on sustainable supply chain practices as well as the impact of these practices on sustainable performance including environmental, economic, and social dimensions. By means of regression analysis of data collected from 112 firms in a developing country context, the results indicate that pressures by organizational champions and customers are positively related to supply chain sustainability. However, the relationship between government pressures and supply chain sustainability is insignificant. Moreover, the findings provide evidence that the impact of supply chain sustainability on sustainable performance is significantly positive. The paper has important implications for managers, practitioners, and researchers to improve sustainable supply initiatives and sustainable performance in organizations.
On the Effects of Organizational Culture on E-Learning Readiness
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Yaghoub , Salimifard Khodakaram , Yadollahi Shahrbanoo
Published: December 2012

An organization’s success in implementing e-learning depends on the supports provided by the organizational culture. This paper is aimed to evaluate the impacts of organizational culture on e-learning readiness. To test the research hypothesis, Beta coefficient test was used. Research results indicated a significant positive impact of Clan and Adhocracy cultures on e-learning readiness. It was found that Market culture has a negative impact on e-learning readiness. Research findings cannot justify a relationship between Hierarchy culture and e-learning readiness.
Economic, Cultural and Religious Determinants of Perceived Level of Political Corruption
Authors: Sekmen Fuat
Published: December 2012

Political corruption has received increasing attention in the recent literature as it leads to crises in both industrialized and developing countries. This study examines the level of corruption and for this purpose this study tries to find out the question of what determines political corruption. Foreign aid, the world policy index, GDP per worker, democracy, British colony, religion, women in the parliament, ethnolinguistic fractionalization, and the number of years of schooling are used as explanatory variables. The ordinary least squares (OLS) and a parsimonious specification is used in order to identify the insignificant variables which will be dropped sequentially from the first setup, so as to arrive at a final specification. Yet, the core variables are kept, which were the number of years of democratic government (Durable), and the percentage of population with Protestant religious affiliation (Prot), and enthnolinguistic fractionalization (Etf), from the first specification to the last one and those core variables have a significant effect in determining the perceived level of corruption.
Graft-versus-Host Disease Impairs Vaccine Responses through Decreased CD4+ and CD8+ T Cell Proliferation and Increased Perforin-Mediated CD8+ T Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Capitini Christian M. , Nasholm Nicole M. , Duncan Brynn B. , Guimond Martin , Fry Terry J.
Published: December 2012

Tumor-targeted vaccines represent a strategy to enhance the graft-versus-leukemia effect after allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation (BMT). We have previously shown that graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can negatively impact quantitative responses to vaccines. Using a minor histocompatibility Ag–mismatched BMT (B6→B6 × C3H.SW) followed by adoptive transfer of HY-specific T cells and HY-expressing dendritic cells, we assessed whether GVHD induced by donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) affects the persistence, proliferation, and survival of vaccine-responding, nonalloantigen reactive T cells. Both CD8+ and CD4+ HY-specific T cells undergo less vaccine-driven proliferation in allogeneic recipients with GVHD. Although vaccine-responding CD8+ T cells show decreased IFN-γ and CD107a production, CD4+ T cells exhibit increased programmed death 1 and T cell Ig mucin-like domain 3 expression. In addition, the degree of apoptosis in vaccine-responding CD8+ T cells was higher in the presence of GVHD, but there was no difference in CD4+ T cell apoptosis. Using Fas ligand–deficient or TRAIL-deficient DLI had no impact on apoptosis of HY-specific T cells. However, perforin-deficient alloreactive DLI induced significantly less apoptosis of vaccine-responding CD8+ T cells and resulted in enhanced tumor protection. Thus, diminished vaccine responses during GVHD result from impaired proliferation of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells responding to vaccination, with an additional contribution from perforin-mediated CD8+ T cell apoptosis. These results provide important insights toward optimizing vaccine responses after allogeneic BMT.
Helios Induces Epigenetic Silencing of Il2 Gene Expression in Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Baine Ian , Basu Samik , Ames Rachel , Sellers Rani S. , Macian Fernando
Published: December 2012

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance and preventing autoimmune disease. Tregs express the transcription factor Foxp3, which acts as a master regulator of their differentiation and controls their capacity to suppress T cell responses. Tregs have an intrinsically anergic phenotype and do not produce IL-2 or proliferate upon stimulation ex vivo. Recent studies identified that Helios, a member of the Ikaros family of transcription factors, is expressed in Tregs. However, its specific function is not fully understood. In this study, we show that Helios regulates IL-2 production in Tregs by suppressing Il2 gene transcription. Loss of Helios in Tregs breaks their anergic phenotype and results in derepression of the Il2 locus, allowing Tregs to display increased baseline proliferation and to produce IL-2 following stimulation. Conversely, forced expression of Helios in CD4+Foxp3− T cells results in a loss of their normal ability to produce IL-2. Helios acts by binding to the Il2 promoter and inducing epigenetic modifications that include histone deacetylation. We also show that loss of Helios in Tregs results in decreased Foxp3 binding to the Il2 promoter, indicating that Helios promotes binding of Foxp3 to the Il2 promoter. Interestingly, the loss of Helios in Tregs also causes a decrease in suppressive capacity. Our results identify Helios as a key regulator of Il2 expression in Tregs, contributing to the maintenance of the anergic phenotype.
Regulatory B Cell (B10 Cell) Expansion during Listeria Infection Governs Innate and Cellular Immune Responses in Mice
Authors: Horikawa Mayuka , Weimer Eric T. , DiLillo David J. , Venturi Guglielmo M. , Spolski Rosanne , Leonard Warren J. , Heise Mark T. , Tedder Thomas F.
Published: December 2012

Pathogens use numerous methods to subvert host immune responses, including the modulation of host IL-10 production by diverse cell types. However, the B cell sources of IL-10 and their overall influence on innate and cellular immune responses have not been well characterized during infections. Using Listeria as a model pathogen, infection drove the acute expansion of a small subset of regulatory B cells (B10 cells) that potently suppress inflammation and autoimmunity through the production of IL-10. Unexpectedly, spleen bacteria loads were 92–97% lower in B10 cell–deficient CD19−/− mice, in mice depleted of mature B cells, and in mice treated with CD22 mAb to preferentially deplete B10 cells before infection. By contrast, the adoptive transfer of wild-type B10 cells reduced bacterial clearance by 38-fold in CD19−/− mice through IL-10–dependent pathways. B10 cell depletion using CD22 mAb significantly enhanced macrophage phagocytosis of Listeria and their production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and NO ex vivo. Accelerated bacteria clearance following B10 cell depletion significantly reduced Ag-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation and cytokine production, but did not alter CD8+ T cell responses. B10 cell regulatory function during innate immune responses was nonetheless dependent on cognate interactions with CD4+ T cells because B10 cells deficient in IL-10, MHC-II, or IL-21R expression did not influence Listeria clearance. Thus, Listeria manipulates immune responses through a strategy of immune evasion that involves the preferential expansion of endogenous B10 cells that regulate the magnitude and duration of both innate and cellular immune responses.
Triggering of B7h by the ICOS Modulates Maturation and Migration of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells
Authors: Occhipinti Sergio , Dianzani Chiara , Chiocchetti Annalisa , Boggio Elena , Clemente Nausicaa , Gigliotti Casimiro Luca , Soluri Maria Felicia , Minelli Rosalba , Fantozzi Roberto , Yagi Jungi , Rojo Josè Maria , Sblattero Daniele , Giovarelli Mirella , Dianzani Umberto
Published: December 2012

B7h, expressed by several cell types, binds ICOS expressed by activated T cells. We have previously shown that B7h triggering by ICOS-Fc inhibits human endothelial cell adhesiveness. This work investigated the effect of ICOS-Fc on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). We found that DCs matured with LPS in the presence of ICOS-Fc (mDCsICOS) produced greater amounts of IL-23 and IL-10, and promoted a higher secretion of IL-17A and IL-17F in MLCs than did those DCs matured with LPS alone (mDCs). Moreover, mDCsICOS pulsed with the keyhole limpet hemocyanin Ag during the maturation phase were better stimulators of Ag-specific MHC class I–, but not class II–restricted T cells than mDCs. This was probably due to promotion of cross-presentation because it was not detected when the Flu-MA58–66 Ag was directly loaded on already matured DCs and mDCsICOS. Finally, ICOS-Fc inhibited the adhesion of both immature DCs and mDCs to vascular and lymphoid endothelial cells, their migratory activity, and the expression of the Rac-1 activator β-Pix involved in cell motility. These data suggest that B7h stimulation modulates DC function with effects on their maturation and recruitment into tissues. This opens a novel view on the use of interactors of the ICOS:B7h system as immunomodulatory drugs.
Endothelial MKK3 Is a Critical Mediator of Lethal Murine Endotoxemia and Acute Lung Injury
Authors: Mannam Praveen , Zhang Xuchen , Shan Peiying , Zhang Yi , Shinn Amanda S. , Zhang Yitao , Lee Patty J.
Published: December 2012

Sepsis is a leading cause of intensive care unit admissions, with high mortality and morbidity. Although outcomes have improved with better supportive care, specific therapies are limited. Endothelial activation and oxidant injury are key events in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced lung injury. The signaling pathways leading to these events remain poorly defined. We sought to determine the role of MAPK kinase 3 (MKK3), a kinase of the p38 group, in the pathogenesis of sepsis. We used a murine i.p. LPS model of systemic inflammation to mimic sepsis. Lung injury parameters were assessed in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. Primary lung endothelial cells were cultured and assessed for mediators of inflammation and injury, such as ICAM-1, AP-1, NF-κB, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Our studies demonstrate that MKK3 deficiency confers virtually complete protection against organ injury after i.p. LPS. Specifically, MKK3−/− mice were protected against acute lung injury, as assessed by reduced inflammation, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation, endothelial injury, and ICAM-1 expression after LPS administration. Our results show that endothelial MKK3 is required for inflammatory cell recruitment to the lungs, mitochondrial oxidant-mediated AP-1, NF-κB activation, and ICAM-1 expression during LPS challenge. Collectively, these studies identify a novel role for MKK3 in lethal LPS responses and provide new therapeutic targets against sepsis and acute lung injury.
TLR4 Activation Under Lipotoxic Conditions Leads to Synergistic Macrophage Cell Death through a TRIF-Dependent Pathway
Authors: Schilling Joel D. , Machkovech Heather M. , He Li , Diwan Abhinav , Schaffer Jean E.
Published: December 2012

Macrophage dysfunction in obesity and diabetes may predispose to the development of diabetic complications, such as infection and impaired healing after tissue damage. Saturated fatty acids, such as palmitate, are present at elevated concentrations in the plasma of patients with metabolic disease and may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes and its sequelae. To examine the effect of lipid excess on macrophage inflammatory function, we determined the influence of palmitate on LPS-mediated responses in peritoneal macrophages. Palmitate and LPS led to a profound synergistic cell death response in both primary and RAW 264.7 macrophages. The cell death had features of apoptosis and necrosis and was not dependent on endoplasmic reticulum stress, ceramide generation, or reactive oxygen species production. Instead, we uncovered a macrophage death pathway that required TLR4 signaling via TRIF but was independent of NF-κB, MAPKs, and IRF3. A significant decrease in macrophage lysosomal content was observed early in the death pathway, with evidence of lysosomal membrane damage occurring later in the death response. Overexpression of the transcription factor TFEB, which induces a lysosomal biogenic program, rescued the lysosomal phenotype and improved viability in palmitate- and LPS-treated cells. Our findings provide new evidence for cross-talk between lipid metabolism and the innate immune response that converges on the lysosome.
Micro-RNA 155 Is Required for Optimal CD8+ T Cell Responses to Acute Viral and Intracellular Bacterial Challenges
Authors: Lind Evan F. , Elford Alisha R. , Ohashi Pamela S.
Published: December 2012

Recent studies have begun to define the role of micro-RNAs in regulating the immune response. Micro-RNA155 (mir-155) has been shown to play a role in germinal center formation, T cell inflammation, and regulatory T cell development. In this study, we evaluated the role of mir-155 in cytotoxic T cell function. We report in this study that mice lacking mir-155 have impaired CD8+ T cell responses to infections with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and the intracellular bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. We show by a series of adoptive transfer studies that the impaired CD8+ T cell response to L. monocytogenes is T cell intrinsic. In addition, we observed that CD8+ T cells lacking mir-155 have impaired activation of the prosurvival Akt pathway after TCR cross-linking. These data suggest that mir-155 may be a good target for therapies aimed at modulating immune responses.
Pheochromocytoma with Catecholamine-Induced Cardiomyopathy: Not an Appropriate Case for Laparoscopic Procedure
Authors: Jain Anuj , Singh Surendra
Published: December 2012

Laparoscopic surgery results in multiple postoperative benefits, allowing for quicker recovery and shorter hospital stay, but this is not a panacea. Catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy (CIC) is well known in patients with persistently elevated catecholamine levels in the blood. The complex interaction between existing cardiac pathology and laparoscopy associated cardiovascular changes may precipitate heart failure in patients with limited cardiac reserve. We report a diagnosed case of adrenal pheochromocytoma undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy. A 2D echocardiography done at the time of presentation demonstrated dilated left ventricle (LV) with global hypokinesia and ejection fraction (EF) of 25% with moderate mitral regurgitation (MR). The patient received phenoxybenzamine, 20 mg TDS; propanolol, 10 mg TDS; ramipril, 2.5 mg OD and Amlodipine, 5 mg BD for medical optimization prior to excision of pheochromocytoma. Echocardiography after the start of medical therapy now showed a normal sized LV with EF of 40% with no regional wall motion abnormality with mild MR. Pneumoperitoneum was created with carbon dioxide. Subsequent to peritoneal insufflation patient developed features of left ventricular failure. The laparoscopy was abandoned and laparotomy was done. The surgery could proceed successfully without major intraoperative and postoperative problems.

How to cite this article

Jain A, Singh S. Pheochromocytoma with Catecholamine-Induced Cardiomyopathy: Not an Appropriate Case for Laparoscopic Procedure. World J Endoc Surg 2012;4(3):105-107.
The Impact of board characteristics on Firm Performance: Evidence from Nonfinancial Listed Companies in Kuwaiti Stock Exchange
Authors: Al-Matari Ebrahim Mohammed , Al-Swidi Abdullah Kaid , Fadzil Faudziah Hanim , Al-Matari Yahya Ali
Published: December 2012

The core aim of this study is to examine the relationship between board characteristics and the firm performance of non-financial listed Kuwaiti firms. To achieve the objectives of the study, the data were collected from a sample of 136 companies for the financial year 2009. Variables such as CEO duality, COE tenure, audit committee size, board size and board composition were considered as predictors of the firm performance that was measured employing the return on assets (ROA). By contrast, the effects of CEO tenure and leverage on firm performance were found to be negative and significant at the chosen level of significance. To test the hypotheses of the study, multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS 18.0 was utilized. Using the firm size and leverage as a control variable, the findings of the study support the positive effects of CEO duality and audit committee size on ROA. Other findings of the study were discussed in the discussion section and some other future study directions were provided.
Equity Capital-Structure-Based Evaluation Method
Authors: El Ibrami Hassan , Naciri Ahmed
Published: December 2012

Abstract The main purpose of this paper is to theoretically compare three structural models presenting several similarities and using financial statements within the context of real options theory. The models are those suggested by i) Leland (1994); ii) Goldstein, Ju and Leland (2001) and iii) Sarkar and Zapatero (2003). The analysis emphasizes convergence conditions of the three models based on their respective dynamic equations. The results show that the first two models represent special cases of the third one. The paper also presents a new equity and debt valuation method. Keywords: Structural model, Financial statement, Equity, EBIT, Mean reversion, Contingent claim, Convergence.
Factors influencing intellectual capital disclosure by Portuguese companies
Authors: Ferreira Ana Lúcia , Branco Manuel Castelo , Moreira José António
Published: December 2012

This study analyzes annual reports as media of intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) by Portuguese listed companies using costs/benefits theoretical framework. According to this framework which companies have an incentive to disclose voluntary information when the benefits to be derived from additional disclosure are perceived to outweigh the associated costs, is used. Regression analysis is used to analyze some factors which influence ICD. The findings reported in this study are consistent with those obtained in previous studies. Information on external capital is the type of information on IC that more companies disclose in their annual reports. The kind of intellectual information that more companies disclose in their annual reports pertains to management processes, business collaborations, brands, and the profile of workers. Results also show that size and type of auditor are significant in explaining ICD, whereas leverage, profitability, ownership concentration, and intellectual capital level are not.
Corporate Social Responsibility Practices (CSR) and CSR Performance in Malaysian Automotive Industry
Authors: Fuzi Nursyazwani Mohd , Desa Auni Fatin Nadia Chiek , Hibadullah Siti Norhafizan , Zamri Farah Izzaida Mohd , Habidin Nurul Fadly
Published: December 2012

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is increasing interest in Malaysian automotive industry. The aim of this study is to review the structural relationship between CSR practices and CSR performance in Malaysian Automotive Industry.  Thus, this paper seeks to explore the CSR practices (employee involvement, customer focus, environment, corporate governance, community and society, human right) and corporate social responsibility performance (environmental performance and social performance). This study concludes that CSR has an importance practices to improve performance. Based on the proposed conceptual model and reviewed, research hypotheses are being developed.
Preparation and Catalytic Properties of Iron-Cerium Phosphates with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
Authors: Onoda Hiroaki , Sakumura Takeshi
Published: December 2012

Iron phosphate was prepared from iron nitrate and phosphoric acid with sodium dodecyl sulfate at various stirring hours. The chemical composition of the obtained samples was estimated from ICP and XRD measurements. Particle shape and size distribution were observed by SEM images and laser diffraction/scattering methods. Further, the catalytic activity was studied with the decomposition of the complex between formaldehyde, ammonium acetate, and acetylacetone. The peaks of FePO4 were observed in XRD patterns of samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 and then heated at 600°C. Other samples were amorphous in XRD patterns. Iron-cerium phosphates had high catalytic activity for the decomposition of the complex.
Brain Activation in Primary Motor and Somatosensory Cortices during Motor Imagery Correlates with Motor Imagery Ability in Stroke Patients
Authors: Confalonieri Linda , Pagnoni Giuseppe , Barsalou Lawrence W. , Rajendra Justin , Eickhoff Simon B. , Butler Andrew J.
Published: December 2012

Aims. While studies on healthy subjects have shown a partial overlap between the motor execution and motor imagery neural circuits, few have investigated brain activity during motor imagery in stroke patients with hemiparesis. This work is aimed at examining similarities between motor imagery and execution in a group of stroke patients. Materials and Methods. Eleven patients were asked to perform a visuomotor tracking task by either physically or mentally tracking a sine wave force target using their thumb and index finger during fMRI scanning. MIQ-RS questionnaire has been administered. Results and Conclusion. Whole-brain analyses confirmed shared neural substrates between motor imagery and motor execution in bilateral premotor cortex, SMA, and in the contralesional inferior parietal lobule. Additional region of interest-based analyses revealed a negative correlation between kinaesthetic imagery ability and percentage BOLD change in areas 4p and 3a; higher imagery ability was associated with negative and lower percentage BOLD change in primary sensorimotor areas during motor imagery.