bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fighting corruption in Africa: do existing corruption‐control levels matter?
Authors: Asongu Simplice A.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

Are there different determinants in the fight against corruption across African countries? Why are some countries more effective at battling corruption than others? To assess these concerns this paper aims to examine the determinants of corruption control throughout the conditional distribution of the fight against corruption using panel data from 46 African countries for the period 2002‐2010.

Design/methodology/approach

The panel quantile regression technique enables us to investigate if the relationship between corruption control and the exogenous variables differs throughout the distribution of the fight against corruption.

Findings

Results could be summarized in the following. Greater economic prosperity leads to less corruption control and the magnitude of the effect is more important in countries where the fight against corruption is high. Regulation quality seems bimodal, with less positive effects in the tails: among the best and least fighters of corruption. There is support for a less negative consequence of population growth in countries that are already taking the fight against corruption seriously in comparison to those that are lax on the issue. Findings on democracy broadly indicate the democratization process increases the fight against corruption with a greater magnitude at higher quantiles: countries that are already taking the fight seriously. The relevance of voice and accountability in the battle against corruption decreases as corruption control is taken more seriously by the powers that be. Good governance dynamics of political stability, government effectiveness and the rule of law gain more importance in the fight against corruption when existing levels of corruption control are already high.

Social implications

The results of this study suggest that the determinants of corruption control respond differently across the corruption‐control distribution. This implies some current corruption‐control policies may be reconsidered, especially among the most corrupt and least corrupt African nations. As a policy implication, the fight against corruption should not be postponed; doing so will only reduce the effectiveness of policies in the future. The rewards of institutional reforms are more positive in countries that are already seriously engaged in the corruption fight.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to existing literature on the determinants of corruption by focusing on the distribution of the dependent variable (control of corruption). It is likely that good and poor corruption fighters respond differently to factors that influence the fight against corruption. There are subtle institutional differences between corrupt and clean nations that may affect corruption‐control determinants and government efficacy in the fight against corruption.
A‐REIT rights issues
Authors: Dimovski Bill
Published: April 2013

Purpose

This is the first REIT paper to seek to empirically examine potential influencing factors on the discounts and underwriting fees of Australian REIT rights issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a methodology similar to Owen and Suchard, and Armitage, a sample of 62 A‐REIT rights issues during 2001‐2009 is analyzed. A variety of potential factors influencing discounts and underwriting fees are explored.

Findings

Over A$20 billion was raised by A‐REIT rights issues during 2001‐2009 (this around three times that raised through A‐REIT initial public offerings during the same period). The mean offer price was discounted around 9.5 percent from the current market price and underwriting fees averaged 2.9 percent of gross proceeds raised – both substantially less than for industrial rights issues. The standard deviation of daily returns for the past year appears to influence the percentage discount offered to subscribers. This volatility was particularly noticeable in 2008 and 2009, during the global financial crisis, where new issues were discounted substantially so as to raise equity to repay debt. This historical risk variable appears paramount in determining the discounts to subscribers and fees to underwriters.

Practical implications

A‐REITs seeking to minimize the discounts offered to subscribers and to minimize their underwriting costs with rights issue equity capital raisings must first minimize their share price volatility.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the international costs of capital raising literature of REITs by examining such costs with A‐REIT rights issues and is the first paper to examine factors influencing these costs.
Reversionary freehold valuations: over‐rented cash flows by spreadsheet
Authors: French Nick
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The majority of investment property is valued at a point after the original letting or agreed market rent (MR) at review. This briefing aims to look at the valuation of “over‐rented” property. That is the term used to describe a property where the current rent passing exceeds the current market rent.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing looks at the valuation of over‐rented property by discounted cash flow and provides an example of setting up a flexible template by spreadsheet.

Findings

The spreadsheet template allows the valuer to value the over‐rented cash flow by modified or full DCF.

Practical implications

The flexibility of the template allows the user to change the length of the lease, the rent reviews and it calculates the term until the rent passing is exceeded by the estimated market rent.

Originality/value

The technique is not original but the spreadsheet template helps to explain the profile of the cash flows derived from over‐rented properties.
The five key roles of managers: how HR can build engagement that lasts
Authors: Sparrow Jane
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how human resources (HR) can influence sustained engagement by supporting managers to be expert engagers of others.

Design/methodology/approach

This article discusses the limitations of organizational level engagement strategies in relation to sustained engagement. It outlines the critical task managers and leaders play in securing meaningful, long‐term engagement, based on the author's personal views, experience and analysis of effective engagement strategies. The article outlines five key roles that managers need to be proficient in if they are to influence high performance in others. The effectiveness of the roles is supported with the author's observations of managers, leaders and HR practitioners who all excel as engagers.

Findings

Whilst organizational level engagement strategies play a key role in building understanding and awareness for employees, this is rarely enough to secure deeper and more meaningful levels of engagement that endure. Managers are the missing link in building cultures of performance but they cannot do so alone. HR must support their managers and leaders as engagers with the practical skills and personal development they need to ensure they can deliver.

Originality/value

The article refers to the type of support and counsel managers require of HR to help them fulfill their five roles as engagers. Some practical steps are given within the article for this specific purpose.
Dissecting home regionalization: how large does the region loom?
Authors: Sammartino Andre , Osegowitsch Thomas
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The paper aims to motivate more rigorous theoretical and empirical specification of the home regionalization phenomenon, in particular the dynamics of shifting advantage over time within a multinational enterprise. It aims to improve dialogue among regionalization researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

Contrasting the economizing and behavioral perspectives on internationalization, the paper presents five different archetypes of the home‐regionalization phenomenon. These archetypes are predicated on strategic management stylizations of competitive advantage.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that the notion of home regionalization as a dominant and superior model for firm internationalization remains a promising yet under‐explained and inconsistently articulated thesis. By introducing and exploring the archetypes, it shows the diversity of home‐regionalization theses, and the prospect that multiple forms of regionalization may be at play for different firms, industries and locations.

Originality/value

The paper presents the full complement of archetypes of the home‐regionalization phenomenon and explores their corresponding assumptions. These explorations open up new empirical and theoretical research avenues for distinguishing any genuine region effects.
Evaluation of production control strategies for negligible‐setup, multi‐product, serial lines with consideration for robustness
Authors: Olaitan Oladipupo A. , Geraghty John
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The aims of this paper is to investigate simulation‐based optimisation and stochastic dominance testing while employing kanban‐like production control strategies (PCS) operating dedicated and, where applicable, shared kanban card allocation policies in a multi‐product system with negligible set‐up times and with consideration for robustness to uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

Discrete event simulation and a genetic algorithm were utilised to optimise the control parameters for dedicated kanban control strategy (KCS), CONWIP and base stock control strategy (BSCS), extended kanban control strategy (EKCS) and generalised kanban control strategy (GKCS) as well as the shared versions of EKCS and GKCS. All‐pairwise comparisons and a ranking and selection technique were employed to compare the performances of the strategies and select the best strategy without consideration of robustness to uncertainty. A latin hypercube sampling experimental design and stochastic dominance testing were utilised to determine the preferred strategy when robustness to uncertainty is considered.

Findings

The findings of this work show that shared GKCS outperforms other strategies when robustness is not considered. However, when robustness of the strategies to uncertainty in the production environment is considered, the results of our research show that the dedicated EKCS is preferred. The effect of system bottleneck location on the inventory accumulation behaviour of different strategies is reported and this was also observed to have a relationship to the nature of a PCS's kanban information transmission.

Practical implications

The findings of this study are directly relevant to industry where increasing market pressures for product diversity require operating multi‐product production lines with negligible set‐up times. The optimization and robustness test approaches employed in this work can be extended to the analysis of more complicated system configurations and higher number of product types.

Originality/value

This work involves further investigation into the performance of multi‐product kanban‐like PCS by examining their robustness to common sources of uncertainties after they have been initially optimized for base scenarios. The results of the robustness tests also provide new insights into how dedicated kanban card allocation policies might offer higher flexibility and robustness over shared policies under conditions of uncertainty.
Optimization of robotic assembly sequences using immune based technique
Authors: Biswal B.B. , Deepak B.B. , Rao Y.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new methodology to find out the best robotic assembly sequence amongst feasible robotic sequences.

Design/methodology/approach

The feasible robotic assembly sequences were generated based on the assembly constraints and later and artificial immune system (AIS) was implemented to find out the best assembly sequence.

Findings

The paper reveals the best assembly sequence.

Originality/value

Robotic assembly has expanded the process capabilities in the manufacturing world because of the fact that it is faster, more efficient, precise and cost‐effective process than any conventional mechanized process. Since a robotic system is a cost‐intensive one it is necessary to find out the correct and optimal sequence with the constraints of the process in mind while dealing with assembled products with large number of parts.
The effects of unbalancing operation time variability on the performance of unreliable lines
Authors: Shaaban Sabry , McNamara Tom , Hudson Sarah
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of unpaced unreliable production lines that are deliberately unbalanced in terms of their coefficients of variation (CVs).

Design/methodology/approach

A series of simulation experiments were carried out for five and eight station lines with mean buffer space set at one, two, four and six units. CVs were allocated in 12 different configurations for each of these lines.

Findings

The results show that the best unbalanced CV patterns in terms of throughput rates or idle times as compared to a balanced line counterpart are those where the steadiest stations are concentrated near the centre of the line. On the other hand, either concentrating the steadier operators towards the centre or close to the end of the line gives best average buffer level results.

Practical implications

The results provide guidelines for production line managers when designing unpaced unbalanced lines depending on their performance aims.

Originality/value

The investigation of the effects of unbalancing CVs in unreliable lines has not previously been studied and can provide insights into how best to place workstations with differing variability along the line.
Recent research trend of economic‐lot scheduling problems
Authors: Kai Chan Hing , Ho Chung Sai , Lim Ming K.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

This research note aims to present a summary of research concerning economic‐lot scheduling problem (ELSP).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach is to review over 100 selected studies published in the last 15 years (1997‐2012), which are then grouped under different research themes.

Findings

Five research themes are identified and insights for future studies are reported at the end of this paper.

Research limitations/implications

The motivation of preparing this research note is to summarize key research studies in this field since 1997, when the ELSP problems have been verified as NP‐hard.

Originality/value

ELSP is an important scheduling problem that has been studied since the 1950s. Because of its complexity in delivering a feasible analytical closed form solution, many studies in the last two decades employed heuristic algorithms in order to come up with good and acceptable solutions. As a consequence, the solution approaches are quite diversified. The major contribution of this paper is to provide researchers who are interested in this area with a quick reference guide on the reviewed studies.
Transnational project work: practices creating knowing
Authors: Hydle Katja Maria , Joachim Breunig Karl
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of how practices creating knowing can be enabled in project work.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on an exploratory, in‐depth case study of an international professional service firm (IPSF) and local and transnational project work to deliver services. Project work is investigated through a practice approach.

Findings

In transnational project work, three knowing practices are identified – networking, doing, and sorting – and three practices of creating new knowing – finding, learning, and probing.

Research limitations/implications

Although only one organization was studied, the research presented shows that knowledge creation and project work benefit from a practice perspective to highlight the enacted aspects of knowing and new knowing.

Practical implications

The findings show that different project phases enable the necessary knowing and/or new knowing practices through a differentiated focus on social interaction and contacts on the one hand and the use of materials, documents, systems and infrastructure on the other.

Originality/value

The paper extends earlier research and shows that practices of knowing involve more than doing and practices of creating knowing involve more than learning. A conceptual understanding of knowing‐who, knowing‐how, and knowing‐what is developed to identify the knowing and new knowing while appreciating their interrelations. Further, the paper shows how the project phases and the practices can be better enabled through a differentiated focus on the social and the material use.
Observation's role in technically complex project implementation: the social autopoietic system view
Authors: Koskinen Kaj U.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore what the role of individuals' observations is in the implementation of technically complex projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially essential theoretical information is presented, by reviewing the concepts of systemic view and autopoiesis. Then the notion of communication is described focusing on Niklas Luhmann's theory on communication in social autopoietic systems. After that follows an illustration of the concept of technical complexity in projects. Next notions of problem and problem solving are highlighted. Then follows the main content of this paper; namely descriptions of the concepts of observation and distinction making focusing particularly on the Spencer Brown's ideas of these concepts. And finally, the paper deals with the notion of importance of shared understanding.

Findings

The project team members act under the limitations of their subjective observations. However, individuals' observations play an important role in the implementation of technically complex projects.

Originality/value

Literature dealing with systems – projects in this case – has largely ignored the problem of the observer simply discussing the characteristics of different types of systems as if they were observer‐independent. Obviously, there seems to be a need to shed new light on the issues: observer and observation.
An analysis of the issues in developing research universities in China
Authors: Wanbing Shi
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out the problems in the contemporary development of Chinese research universities and think about relevant measures and policy for promotion.

Design/methodology/approach

After over 20 years practice, China has made quite significant achievements in developing research universities, yet there are still some issues that exist. Analyzing the issues and the effects of existing policies for construction and development of China's research universities, and looking back at practices guided by these polices, the study proposes new dimensions in the measures and policies, on the bases of the achievements that have been made.

Findings

This paper analyzes the current situation of China's research university development and reveals that the critical issues, such as faculty qualities, academic freedom, post‐graduate education, initiative research outcome, and internationalization, etc. must be highlighted and solved.

Originality/value

To further progress it is important to analyze the problems of developing research university development in the existing higher education system. The policy implication of this paper lies in that the results can be a reference for policy makers and the HEI administrations.
Key factors in the technological catch‐up of China's traditional industry
Authors: Wang He‐Chun , Su Jing‐Qin , Cao Hui‐Ling
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The color TV industry in China has become a mature industry. Its development demonstrates and provides reference implications for how developing industries within a country can achieve a technological leap. This paper aims to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory case study approach is taken to find the key factors in the technological catch‐up of China's traditional industry.

Findings

In the study it is found that China's color TV industry, as a mature traditional industry, has four‐dimensional key factors affecting the catch‐up of technology in the flat‐panel stage: market; merger and acquisition; international cooperation innovation for patent; and the roles of internal reform. “Market” is the window of opportunity and challenge; “merger and acquisition” is the key factor for making the patent convert from external mode to internal mode by deviant‐track. The “international cooperation innovation for patent” is also a key factor to ensure achievement of technology catch‐up and sustainable technological innovation. The role of internal reform promoter is the key factor in the technological catch‐up process in which taking entrepreneur as the core.

Originality/value

The article describes Changhong's flat‐panel TV technology catch‐up mode, analyzes four‐dimensional key factors affecting the technology catch‐up of China's color TV industry; the Chinese color TV industry as mature industry; and discusses which developments have demonstrated how to achieve a technological leap in developing industries.
When knowledge married capital: the birth of academic enterprise
Authors: Etzkowitz Henry
Published: April 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate knowledge‐capital relationship through tracking the history of knowledge commercialization.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretical exploration, historical evidence and interviews are used in this research. Firstly it recalls the convergence of academic knowledge and industrial capital. Then the knowledge‐capital marriage is observed. Finally, the paper discusses the impact of the marriage on future enterprise development.

Findings

The combination of knowledge and capital is inevitable; the knowledge‐capital marriage is the origin of contemporary academic enterprise; the future enterprise will more rely on knowledge‐capital combination.

Originality/value

This study is helpful to policymaking: to promote the combination of knowledge and capital in less developed countries or regions, achieving knowledge‐capital interaction in innovation system.
Smart regulation, shifting architectures and changes in governance
Authors: Eccles Timothy , Pointing John
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The paper explores theories of regulation by examining their consistency and fit with the development of smart regulation, better regulation and self‐regulation. It achieves this through the use of two case studies. Building control is offered as an example of deregulation, the 1980s approach to “smart” regulation, whilst the Primary Authority scheme is provided as an example of current thinking. The paper develops an explanation of how these shifting regulatory architectures have generated current views of how to manage the issue of regulation and then proposes a framework to explain how professional and local authority regulation works and can be made to work better.

Design/methodology/approach

Analytical, as a preliminary to testing theoretical constructs by further empirical research. The paper examines case studies to draw out the drivers for regulatory practice and then establishes a model from this as the basis for further work.

Findings

The use of Giddens's concept of Late Modernity is useful in describing the loss of authority by traditional regulators and explaining the adoption of “smart” regulation by others seeking to dominate regulation. A lack of theoretical definition as to what is meant by smart regulation can be countered by the development of constructs, such as the regulatory “triptych” developed here.

Practical implications

The development of a structure for professional and local authority regulation allows researchers to place developments in smart regulation in context. It also allows those newly emerging dominant authorities, in Giddens's terms, to be encouraged to develop a higher quality form of regulation.

Originality/value

The paper generates a grounded set of concepts that have explanatory efficacy.
Information and communications technologies in the age of globalization
Authors: Edoho Felix M.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the challenges and opportunities for implementing ICTs in Africa. It identifies potential areas that ICTs can be targeted and implemented for maximum in the region, and offers an integrated framework that could help the region to coordinate various components and institutionalize ICTs in the economy. It is argued that Africa needs an integrated approach to leverage ICTs for socioeconomic development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews African theoretical perspectives of ICTs. Synthesizing literature on African perspectives of ICTs, an integrated framework is developed to help provide a coherent focus for the implementation of ICTs in a holistic manner.

Findings

Basic systems for leveraging ICTs for development in Africa are fragmented and uncoordinated. Critical physical infrastructure and human capacity do not work synergistically to effectively implement ICTs. Where the basic infrastructure exists, various components do not operate synergistically to engender optimal results.

Practical implications

Ideas formulated in this study will be helpful to future researchers relative to how various ICT components could be systematized and managed to stimulate sustainable socioeconomic development and structural changes in Africa. The framework will help to guide policymakers to design and implement ICT‐friendly policies and strategies.

Originality/value

A systemic framework is developed to help policymakers in Africa to institutionalize ICTs in their economies.
Characterization and recombinant protein expression of ferritin light chain homologue in the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Hong Sun Mee , Mon Hiroaki , Lee Jae Man , Kusakabe Takahiro
Published: April 2013

The silkworm genome encodes three iron storage proteins or ferritins, Fer1HCH, Fer2LCH, and Fer3HCH. Probing our EST library constructed from 1‐day‐old silkworm eggs revealed only Fer2LCH mRNA, which encoded for a protein with a predicted putative N‐glycosylation site. Developmental and tissue expression analyses during embryogenesis revealed that Fer2LCH mRNA was abundant from 6 h to 6 days after oviposition. Transcriptional expression of Fer2LCH during the postembryonic stage is also high in the larval fat body and mid‐gut, and then is upregulated in all pupal tissues tested. We found that Fer2LCH mRNA contains an iron‐responsive element, suggesting this ferritin subunit is subject to translational control. Although ferritin expression has been shown to increase following immune challenge in other insects, the levels of Fer2LCH mRNA were not significantly induced following viral or bacterial infection of Bombyx mori. Using a baculovirus expression system we expressed recombinant BmFer2LCH protein, which was detectable in the cytoplasmic fraction, likely in a compartment of the secretory pathway, and was shown to undergo posttranslational modifications including N‐glycosylation. In particular, rBmFer2LCH carbohydrate chains were composed of mannose and GlcNAc. We suggest that Fer2LCH is important for iron homeostasis and maintaining normal organ function in silkworms.
Assessing bacterial diversity in a seawater‐processing wastewater treatment plant by 454‐pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA and amoA genes
Authors: Sánchez Olga , Ferrera Isabel , González Jose M. , Mas Jordi
Published: April 2013

The bacterial community composition of activated sludge from a wastewater treatment plant (Almería, Spain) with the particularity of using seawater was investigated by applying 454‐pyrosequencing. The results showed that Deinococcus‐Thermus, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant retrieved sequences, while other groups, such as Actinobacteria, Chlorobi, Deferribacteres, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, Spirochaetes and Verrumicrobia were reported at lower proportions. Rarefaction analysis showed that very likely the diversity is higher than what could be described despite most of the unknown microorganisms probably correspond to rare diversity. Furthermore, the majority of taxa could not be classified at the genus level and likely represent novel members of these groups. Additionally, the nitrifiers in the sludge were characterized by pyrosequencing the amoA gene. In contrast, the nitrifying bacterial community, dominated by the genera Nitrosomonas, showed a low diversity and rarefaction curves exhibited saturation. These results suggest that only a few populations of low abundant but specialized bacteria are responsible for removal of ammonia in these saline wastewater systems.
Diabetes and cancer relationships (糖尿病与肿瘤的关联性)
Authors: Wang Tiange , Ning Guang , Bloomgarden Zachary
Published: April 2013

Diabetes and cancer are both heterogeneous and multifactorial diseases with tremendous impact on health worldwide. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that certain malignancies may be associated with diabetes, as well as with diabetes risk factors and, perhaps, with certain diabetes treatments. Numerous biological mechanisms could account for these relationships. Insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐1, IGF‐2, IGF‐1 receptors, insulin, and the insulin receptor play roles in the development and progression of cancers. Although evidence from randomized controlled trials does not support or refute associations of diabetes and its treatments with either increased or reduced risk of cancer incidence or prognosis, consideration of malignancy incidence rates and the magnitude of the trials that would be required to address these issues explains why such studies may not be readily undertaken.
Weighted Poisson and Semiparametric Kernel Models Applied to Parasite Growth
Authors: Kiessé Tristan Senga , Mizère Dominique
Published: April 2013

This work deals with some parametric and semiparametric modeling approaches for count data distributions related to development of spiraling whitefly which is an insect pest collected in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. In this study, the count data distributions are assumed to be modified Poisson probability mass functions. For the discrete semiparametric associated kernel estimator investigated, its almost sure consistency and asymptotic normality are shown under some asumptions. Some weighted Poisson models (WPD) are applied in comparison with the semiparametric approach for finite samples characterizing the growth of spiraling whitefly. Finally, the discrete semiparametric estimation is simple and effective for estimating any count distribution while WPD are practically more meaningful.
‘Two‐step’ head‐to‐body delivery activates foetal gluconeogenesis
Authors: Zanardo Vincenzo , de Luca Federico , Trevisanuto Daniele , Simbi Alphonse , Scambia Giovanni , Straface Gianluca
Published: April 2013

Aim

The ‘two‐step’ head‐to‐body delivery method, which involves waiting for the next contraction to deliver the shoulders, causes a decrease in umbilical artery pH. The aim of this study was to assess whether foetal acidemia activates gluconeogenesis.

Methods

We tested umbilical artery cord blood glucose concentration and pH after 341 spontaneous and 25 vacuum extractor ‘two‐step’ vaginal deliveries (VD) and after 85 elective and 49 emergency caesarean sections (CS).

Results

Cord blood glucose concentration was significantly higher (95.5 ± 21.4 mg/dL vs 75.6 ± 16.4, p < 0.001), and pH values significantly lower (7.31 ± 0.09 vs 7.33 ± 0.06, p = 0.003) in ‘two‐step’ VD neonates than in CS delivered neonates. In addition, cord blood glucose concentration was significantly higher (101.4 ± 30.6 mg/dL, p = 0.004), and pH values were significantly lower (7.26 ± 0.10, p < 0.001) in VD by vacuum extractor than in all other groups. The cord blood glucose concentration is significantly and negatively correlated with pH in the study population (r = −0.094, p = 0.036) and strongly significantly and negatively correlated in VD by vacuum extractor (r = −0.594, p = 0.007).

Conclusion

Cord blood glucose concentrations are significantly higher and pH values significantly lower in ‘two‐step’ VD neonates, indicating activated foetal gluconeogenesis.
Phase I/II study of bortezomib‐melphalan‐prednisolone for previously untreated Japanese patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Ogawa Yoshiaki , Suzuki Kenshi , Sakai Akira , Iida Shinsuke , Ogura Michinori , Tobinai Kensei , Matsumoto Morio , Matsue Kosei , Terui Yasuhito , Ohashi Kazuteru , Ishii Masami , Mukai Harumi Y. , Ando Kiyoshi , Hotta Tomomitsu
Published: April 2013

This phase I/II study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bortezomib‐melphalan‐prednisolone in Japanese patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma who are ineligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. One hundred and one patients were enrolled, and 99 patients received up to nine 6‐week cycles of bortezomib (0.7/1.0/1.3 mg/m2) on days 1, 4, 8, 11, 22, 25, 29, and 32 in cycles 1–4 and on days 1, 8, 22, and 29 in cycles 5–9, with melphalan (9 mg/m2) and prednisolone (60 mg/m2) on days 1–4 of each cycle. The recommended dose was determined in the phase I portion, and the overall response rate and safety of bortezomib‐melphalan‐prednisolone at the recommended dose were assessed in the phase II portion. The recommended dose of bortezomib was determined to be 1.3 mg/m2. Grade 3 or higher non‐hematological adverse events included diarrhea (12%) and peripheral neuropathy (10%); grade 4 hematological adverse events included lymphopenia (41%), neutropenia (30%), and thrombocytopenia (22%). Eleven patients had lung injury associated with bortezomib; two had grade 3 disease, and the other nine had grade 1 or 2 disease. Of the 86 patients treated with 1.3‐mg/m2 bortezomib in phases I and II, the median number of treatment cycles was 4.5, and the overall response rate was 70% (95% confidence interval: 59–79%). Bortezomib‐melphalan‐prednisolone with 1.3‐mg/m2 bortezomib was considered to be tolerable and effective in Japanese patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma. However, further investigation is needed to refine the administration schedule.
Developmental Mechanisms Underlying the Legacy of Childhood Experiences
Authors: Roisman Glenn I. , Fraley R. Chris
Published: April 2013

Developmental scientists tend to address questions about mechanism in ways that, ironically, are not especially developmental. More specifically, although we now have a great deal of data that suggest that childhood experiences have implications for human development, we know little about the time course of such effects or the dynamic mechanisms that might sustain them. Why? Because longitudinal data are rarely analyzed in a manner that can probe the developmental mechanisms by which earlier experiences are carried forward over time. In this article, we explore this paradox in detail, propose a solution, and review a set of published examples that implement the solution with a focus on the predictive significance of early maternal sensitivity. We conclude with suggestions for work in this area.
GLP‐1 and peptide YY secretory response after fat load is impaired by insulin resistance, impaired fasting glucose and type 2 diabetes in morbidly obese subjects
Authors: Fernández‐García José C. , Murri Mora , Coin‐Aragüez Leticia , Alcaide Juan , El Bekay Rajaa , Tinahones Francisco J.
Published: April 2013

Objective

Both glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and peptide YY (PYY) are gut hormones involved in energy homoeostasis. Obesity, insulin resistance and hyperglycaemia are significant confounders when GLP‐1 and PYY secretion is assessed. Thus, we evaluated GLP‐1 and PYY response after fat load in morbidly obese patients with different degrees of insulin resistance and glycemic status.

Design

We studied 40 morbidly obese subjects (mean age, 40·6 ± 1·3 years; mean BMI, 53·1 ± 1·2 kg/m2) divided into groups according to their glycemic status: normal fasting glucose (NFG) group, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) group and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) group. NFG patients were additionally subclassified, according to the homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMAIR), into a low insulin‐resistance (LIR) group (HOMAIR <3·9) or a high insulin‐resistance (HIR) group (HOMAIR ≥3·9).

Measurements

Lipid emulsion was administered orally and measurements made at baseline and 180 min postprandially of levels of GLP‐1, PYY, insulin, glucose, free fatty acids, triglycerides and leptin.

Results

At the 180‐minute postprandial reading, GLP‐1 and PYY had increased in LIR‐NFG subjects (41·84%, P = 0·01; 35·7%, P = 0·05; respectively), whereas no changes were observed in HIR‐NFG, IFG or T2D subjects.

Conclusions

These results suggest that in morbidly obese subjects, both insulin resistance and abnormal glucose metabolism (IFG or T2D) impair the GLP‐1 and PYY response to fat load. The implications of this attenuated enteroendocrine response should be elucidated by further studies.
Cutaneous clues for diagnosing X‐chromosomal disorders
Authors: Vreeburg M. , Sallevelt S.C.E.H. , Stegmann A.P.A. , van Geel M. , Detisch Y.J.H.A. , Schrander‐Stumpel C.T.R.M. , van Steensel M.A.M. , Marcus‐Soekarman D.
Published: April 2013

In a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic for hereditary skin diseases and/or syndromes involving the skin, 7% (30 of 409) of patients were found to have an abnormality involving the X chromosome, a mutation in a gene located on the X chromosome or a clinical diagnosis of an X‐linked monogenetic condition. The collaboration of a dermatologist and a clinical geneticist proves to be very valuable in recognizing and diagnosing these conditions. By combining their specific expertize in counselling an individual patient, X‐linked diagnoses were recognized and could be confirmed by molecular and/or cytogenetic studies in 24 of 30 cases. Mosaicism plays an important role in many X‐linked hereditary skin disorders. From our experience, we extracted clinical clues for specialists working in the field of genetics and/or dermatology for considering X‐linked disorders involving the skin.
Psychological Perspectives on ‘Acute on Chronic’ Trauma in Children: Implications of the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti
Authors: Gabrielli Joy , Gill Meghan , Koester Lynne Sanford , Borntrager Cameo
Published: April 2013

The 2010 earthquakes in Haiti initiated crises for one of the world's poorest nations. This transpired amidst pervasive, pre‐disaster hardships, with the resulting situation described as ‘acute on chronic’ trauma exposure. The current paper provides a description of a dynamic model focused on three factors of consideration for similar crises: cultural context, unfolding traumatic events and developmental processes. Knowledge from developmental psychology can inform humanitarian aid efforts to effectively address the unique needs of children. Recommendations are offered for research, clinical work and policy related to the mental health needs of children where ‘acute on chronic’ conditions exist.
Nevoid follicular mucinosis: a new type of hair follicle nevus
Authors: Tadini Gianluca , Boldrini Maria P. , Brena Michela , Pezzani Lidia , Marchesi Lorenzo , Rongioletti Franco
Published: April 2013

Follicular mucinosis represents a term for a histopathologic reaction pattern in follicular epithelium. It is a characteristic of alopecia mucinosa. However, it may also occur in a variety of unrelated conditions. Epidermal nevi are considered to be hamartomatous disorders and they can show a predominant component of non‐organoid (keratinocytes) and/or organoid nevi. All the cases of epidermal nevi described with mucin deposits until now are reported as mucinous nevus or mucinous eccrine nevus; in the first type of disorder, diffuse mucin deposition is only seen in the papillary dermis, and in the second type, the mucin is found around the proliferation of eccrine structures. We believe this is the first reported case of epidermal nevus along Blaschko's lines exhibiting typical microscopic findings of mucinosis exclusively distributed inside the follicular epithelia.
Evaluating recall bias in a case‐crossover design estimating risk of injury related to alcohol: Data from six countries
Authors: Ye Yu , Bond Jason C. , Cherpitel Cheryl J. , Borges Guilherme , Monteiro Maristela , Vallance Kate
Published: April 2013

Introduction and Aims

Prior work suggests that recall bias may be a threat to the validity of relative risk estimation of injury due to alcohol consumption, when the case‐crossover method is used based on drinking during the same six hours period the week prior to injury as the control period. This work explores the issue of alcohol recall bias used in the case‐crossover design.

Design and Methods

Data were collected on injury patients from emergency room studies across six countries (Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama and Canada), conducted in 2009–2011, each with n ≈ 500 except Canada (n = 249). Recall bias was evaluated comparing drinking during two control periods: the same six hours period the day before versus the week before injury.

Results

A greater likelihood of drinking yesterday compared with last week was seen using data from the Dominican Republic, while lower likelihood of drinking yesterday was found in Guatemala and Nicaragua. When the data from all six countries were combined, no differential drinking between the two control periods was observed.

Discussion and Conclusions

These findings are in contrast to earlier studies showing a downward recall bias of drinking, and suggest that it may be premature to dismiss the last week case‐crossover method as a valid approach to estimating risk of injury related to drinking. However, the heterogeneity across countries suggests that there may be some unexplained measurement error beyond random sampling error. [Ye Y, Bond JC, Cherpitel CJ, Borges G, Monteiro M, Vallance K. Evaluating recall bias in a case‐crossover design estimating risk of injury related to alcohol: Data from six countries. Drug Alcohol Rev 2013;32:512–518]
Depressed performance and detoxification enzyme activities of Helicoverpa armigera fed with conventional cotton foliage subjected to methyl jasmonate exposure
Authors: Yang Shiyong , Wu Huihui , Xie Jianchun , Rantala Markus J.
Published: April 2013

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA)‐mediated defense in conventional cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae), against cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), was investigated with respect to the activities of the detoxification enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), carboxylesterase (CarE), and glutathione S‐transferases (GST) in pupae as well as the performance of larvae. The results suggested that exogenous application of MeJA to cotton leaves depressed the activities of AChE, CarE, and GST of cotton bollworm pupae. Both the absolute and protein‐specific AChE activities of pupae were depressed at all three MeJA concentrations applied as compared with a control, and the effects of 0.4 mM MeJA were significantly higher than those of 0.1 and 0.2 mM. A marked reduction in absolute CarE activity was observed at the 0.4 mM MeJA treatment, whereas the protein‐specific activity was increased by 0.2 and 0.4 mM. Absolute GST activity was significantly depressed only by the 0.4 mM MeJA treatment, whereas protein‐specific GST activity was not markedly affected by MeJA. Protein content of pupae was reduced by 0.4 mM MeJA‐induced defense in cotton leaves. The development time of larvae was protracted and pupal weight was reduced by 0.1 and 0.4 mM MeJA‐treated cotton leaves. Larval weight gain was inhibited significantly on 0.2 and 0.4 mM MeJA‐treated cotton leaves. The results suggested that MeJA‐induced plant defense may have adverse effects on H. armigera. In addition to the inhibition of growth and development, induced defense may also impair the insect's ability to detoxify toxic plant secondary metabolites.
Climatic and biotic velocities for woody taxa distributions over the last 16 000 years in eastern North America
Authors: Ordonez Alejandro , Williams John W.
Published: April 2013

We estimated the latitudinal velocity (km/decade) of northern and southern boundaries of core distributions for 30 woody taxa over the last 16 000 years (biotic velocities) using networks of fossil pollen records, and compared these with climate velocities estimated from CCSM3 simulations. Biotic velocities were faster during periods of rapid temperature change (i.e. 16 to 7 ka) than times of relative stability (i.e. 7 to 1 ka), with a consistent northward movement of northern and southern boundaries. For most taxa, biotic velocities were faster for northern than for southern boundaries between 12 and 7 ka, resulting in expanding distributions. For individual time periods, biotic velocities were as fast or faster than climate velocities calculated using multivariate approaches. These results indicate that climate change paced the rate of distribution shifts in both northern and southern populations while suggesting that northern populations were more sensitive. A similar sensitivity and pacing is expected under 21st century climate change.
Steroids for preventing recurrence of acute severe migraine headaches: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Huang Y. , Cai X. , Song X. , Tang H. , Huang Y. , Xie S. , Hu Y.
Published: April 2013

Background and purpose

Recurrence of migraine headaches after treatment is common. The evidence regarding steroids for preventing migraine headache recurrence is controversial. This meta‐analysis examined the effectiveness of steroids for prevention of recurrent headaches.

Methods

Databases (PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library) and conference proceedings were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing steroids and placebo in the treatment of migraine headaches. Two independent reviewers assessed studies and extracted data. Relative risks (RRs) of headache recurrence and adverse events were calculated and reported with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

Results

Eight studies with 905 patients were included. Pooled analysis showed that when steroids were added to standard abortive therapy they reduced the rate of moderate or severe headache recurrence after 24–72 h of follow‐up evaluation (RR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.59–0.86). There was no significant benefit of steroids compared with placebo in the proportion of totally resolved migraines (RR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.94–1.32). The side effects of steroids are mild and not significant except for dizziness. Subgroup meta‐analysis showed that parenteral dexamethasone tends to be more effective in reducing moderate or severe recurrent headaches (RR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.55–0.84). However, no significant differences were found between oral administration and parenteral administration of steroids (P = 0.37).

Conclusion

When steroids are added to standard abortive therapy for migraine headaches, they are effective and safe for preventing moderate or severe headache recurrence.