bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review of websites of particular use to social work students and social workers
Authors: Clink Kellian
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide a rationale for seeking out and making federal, state and non-governmental Web sites available to social work students and social workers and describe a number of valuable resources, primarily from the non-governmental agencies, as they can be more difficult to identify.

Design/methodology/approach

– Resources included here include those that illuminate policy issues in general followed by those dealing with specific populations or issues. They have been identified both by systematic study and the serendipity that results from 27 years of experience seeking resources for undergraduate and graduate students in social work.

Findings

– These Web sites provide timely and authoritative information of particular interest to social work students or practitioners: first, Web sites that help illuminate policy and practices related to supporting low income people; and then, Web sites focusing on specific (geographically or topically) information needs.

Research limitations/implications

– The author is most familiar with sources that have been useful to undergraduate social work students and graduate students in a program that focuses on rural social work.

Practical implications

– The information in the Web sites described is timely and authoritative and should be part of the resources that are made known to students, faculty and practitioners in this discipline to inform their work.

Social implications

– Not every library can afford to subscribe to the valuable research presented in social work journals. Nor can they afford to purchase every book that might be valuable to social workers. They can, however, be knowledgeable about Web sites that present good, data-rich information as well as models of successful programming and services. In addition, it seems valuable for social workers in one state to build on the ideas that other practitioners are utilizing in another state. These Web sites often provide that kind of cross-pollination.

Originality/value

– While the organizations that create these Web sites have been around for decades, the literature in library science focuses primarily on collection development activities around books, electronic books and journals, while the Web sites which are free, authoritative and timely get a lot less attention.
Impacts of adaptive collaboration on demand forecasting accuracy of different product categories throughout the product life cycle
Authors: Nagashima Masayasu , Wehrle Frederick T. , Kerbache Laoucine , Lassagne Marc
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to empirically analyze how adaptive collaboration in supply chain management impacts demand forecast accuracy in short life-cycle products, depending on collaboration intensity, product life-cycle stage, retailer type and product category.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors assembled a data set of forecasts and sales of 169 still-camera models, made by the same manufacturer and sold by three different retailers in France over five years. Collaboration intensity, coded by collaborative planning forecasting and replenishment level, was used to analyze the main effects and specific interaction effects of all variables using ANOVA and ordered feature evaluation analysis (OFEA).

Findings

– The findings lend empirical support to the long-standing assumption that supply chain collaboration intensity increases demand forecast accuracy and that product maturation also increases forecast accuracy even in short life-cycle products. Furthermore, the findings show that it is particularly the lack of collaboration that causes negative effects on forecast accuracy, while positive interaction effects are only found for life cycle stage and product category.

Practical implications

– Investment in adaptive supply chain collaboration is shown to increase demand forecast accuracy. However, the choice of collaboration intensity should account for life cycle stage, retailer type and product category.

Originality/value

– This paper provides empirical support for the adaptive collaboration concept, exploring not only the actual benefits but also the way it is achieved in the context of innovative products with short life cycles. The authors used a real-world data set and pushed its statistical analysis to a new level of detail using OFEA.
Does implementing social supplier development practices pay off?
Authors: Sancha Cristina , Gimenez Cristina , Sierra Vicenta , Kazeminia Ali
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is twofold. First is to investigate the impact of social supplier development practices on the suppliers’ social performance. Second is to analyze if the implementation of supplier development practices by Western buying firms pays off in terms of operational and economic results.

Design/methodology/approach

– Hypotheses are tested in a sample of 120 Spanish manufacturing firms using Path Analysis.

Findings

– The results suggest that while supplier development practices help to improve the suppliers’ social performance and the buying firm’s operational performance, they do not pay off in terms of economic performance.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper shows that supplier development practices help to improve the suppliers’ social performance while improving the operational performance of the buying firm. The study has two main limitations. First, because cross-sectional data are used, possible recursive relationships could not be accounted for. Second, the study is limited to the Spanish scope and, as such, results need to be interpreted in that context.

Practical implications

– The results of this study provide insights to managers with respect to the implementation of supplier development practices to make their suppliers more socially responsible. Furthermore, managers are shown the implications of implementing such practices in terms of operational and economic outcomes.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the existing literature on the effectiveness of sustainable supplier development practices by including the suppliers’ performance, which has been generally neglected. Objective measures for economic performance are also included.
Emergent supply chains in the agrifood sector: insights from a whole chain approach
Authors: Anastasiadis Foivos , Poole Nigel
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to report research into emergent supply chain management (SCM) practices in a context in which the imperative for business development requires efficient inter-firm collaboration. It explores the way key supply chain (SC) actors perceive entrepreneurial opportunities and evaluates their SC processes.

Design/methodology/approach

– A whole chain approach, using qualitative methods, was used to investigate retail, wholesale and production links, with a special focus on small businesses which predominate in the agrifood sector. The methodology used is of vital importance to understand the complexity of the sector and the interdependencies among stakeholders.

Findings

– Results suggest several SC malfunctions originating in diverse strategic planning practices and different entrepreneurial mentalities which hinder the process of emergence from traditional to more modern chain configurations. The fact that the nature of new opportunities in the agrifood sector (e.g. organics) was poorly understood, obstructs further development of the agrifood sector. Other key findings suggest problematic flows of information within the SC and minimal trust among stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

– Sampling constraints suggest that caution should be exercised in extrapolating these conclusions elsewhere. Nonetheless, further investigation using similar approach should be applied in a wider context not only in Greece but also in other similar economies characterized by nascent SCs.

Originality/value

– The study investigates the entire SC of a vital sector for numerous small- and medium-sized enterprises, with lessons for diverse emerging agribusiness economies. Insights, not only for the direct SC stakeholders but also for policymakers, could serve to unlock the potential of such sectors and also the exploitation of new opportunities in emerging markets which can be stifled by stagnant sectoral structures and conservative business attitudes.
Advanced predictive-analysis-based decision support for collaborative logistics networks
Authors: Ilie-Zudor Elisabeth , Ekárt Anikó , Kemeny Zsolt , Buckingham Christopher , Welch Philip , Monostori Laszlo
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine challenges and potential of big data in heterogeneous business networks and relate these to an implemented logistics solution.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper establishes an overview of challenges and opportunities of current significance in the area of big data, specifically in the context of transparency and processes in heterogeneous enterprise networks. Within this context, the paper presents how existing components and purpose-driven research were combined for a solution implemented in a nationwide network for less-than-truckload consignments.

Findings

– Aside from providing an extended overview of today’s big data situation, the findings have shown that technical means and methods available today can comprise a feasible process transparency solution in a large heterogeneous network where legacy practices, reporting lags and incomplete data exist, yet processes are sensitive to inadequate policy changes.

Practical implications

– The means introduced in the paper were found to be of utility value in improving process efficiency, transparency and planning in logistics networks. The particular system design choices in the presented solution allow an incremental introduction or evolution of resource handling practices, incorporating existing fragmentary, unstructured or tacit knowledge of experienced personnel into the theoretically founded overall concept.

Originality/value

– The paper extends previous high-level view on the potential of big data, and presents new applied research and development results in a logistics application.
The role of collaboration in supply chain resilience
Authors: Scholten Kirstin , Schilder Sanne
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore how collaboration influences supply chain resilience. Collaborative activities and their underlying mechanisms in relation to visibility, velocity and flexibility are investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

– An exploratory case study consisting of eight buyer–supplier relationships in the food processing industry was conducted.

Findings

– Key findings show how specific collaborative activities (information-sharing, collaborative communication, mutually created knowledge and joint relationship efforts) increase supply chain resilience via increased visibility, velocity and flexibility. Underlying mechanisms and interdependencies of these factors within the supply chain network are identified.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first papers to provide in-depth insights into collaboration as a formative element of resilience in a supply chain setting. A series of propositions explain the specific influence of collaborative activities on supply chain resilience beyond a single company perspective.
WTO Judicial Politics and EU Trade Policy: Business Associations as Vessels of Special Interest?
Authors: Poletti Arlo , De Bièvre Dirk , Hanegraaff Marcel
Published: June 2015

This article: Contributes to the literature on interest groups showing how the interplay of domestic and international institutional structures critically affects the character of lobbying. Contributes to a better understanding of EU trade politics, highlighting how such processes are systematically affected by changes in global governance structures. Traces empirically how important institutional innovations were introduced in EU trade policy making in order to adapt to reform of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. Offers systematic empirical evidence about the evolution of the character of dispute settlement cases initiated by the EU in the WTO. Shows empirically how business associations traditionally active in EU trade policy making increasingly act as ‘vessels’ of narrow and specialized interests.

This article focuses on the effects of the WTO’s quasi-judicial system of dispute resolution on the politics of trade policy making in the European Union (EU). We argue that this institutional innovation had a systematic transformative effect on EU trade politics, creating pressures for institutional adaptation and changing the character of organized trade policy lobbying. On the one hand, the new environment of the WTO created pressures for the EU to implement significant institutional innovations to ease access for private parties and generate an influx of information to strengthen offensive market access actions. On the other hand, this reform directly affected firms’ incentives to mobilize politically, creating incentives for specialized lobbying. The empirical analysis shows how these two processes ultimately led to a re-organization of trade policy lobbying in the EU and compelled European business associations to become increasingly receptive to the demands of special interests.
Looking Good For Election Day: Does Attractiveness Predict Electoral Success in Britain?
Authors: Milazzo Caitlin , Mattes Kyle
Published: June 2015

This article Explores the relationship between perceptions of candidate attractiveness and election outcomes in Britain. Uses a computer-based survey to evaluate subjects’ first impressions of real British candidates from the 2010 general election. Looks at the perception that Conservative candidates and candidates who are relatively young are more attractive. Concludes that attractive candidates were more moderately more successful, even when we control for other important determinants of electoral success.

What do British voters look for in their candidates? We know they favour candidates who have experience serving their constituents and those with local ties. As a result, parties often emphasise these characteristics in their campaign materials. However, these materials also provide voters with the candidates’ images. Using a survey where respondents are asked to evaluate real British candidates using only rapidly determined first impressions of facial images, we demonstrate that candidates who were deemed attractive enjoyed greater electoral success in the 2010 general election. Specifically, we find that candidates who are widely perceived to be more attractive had a higher vote share, even when we take into account the candidates’ age, party, incumbency and campaign spending.
House Price Expectations: Unbiasedness and Efficiency of Forecasters
Authors: Zhang Jing
Published: June 2015

The understanding of house price expectations formation is quite limited in the housing literature. This is the first article to rigorously test the rationality of expectations of house price change using survey data. Using a panel data set of the Wall Street Journal economic forecasting survey from 2007 through 2012, I test for unbiasedness and efficiency by implementing the econometric methodology proposed in Davies and Lahiri (1995) in the setting of a three‐dimensional panel data set. I find that, after controlling for aggregate shocks, nine of the 47 forecasters have statistically significant biases, and their biases are all negative, indicating that they persistently predict too high of a change in house prices. The hypothesis of efficiency cannot be rejected, suggesting lack of evidence for inefficient use of information. When the year 2012 is excluded, the unbiasedness test shows that 25 of the 47 forecasters systematically overpredicted house price changes. Again, the hypothesis of efficiency cannot be rejected.
Male adaptations to minimize sexual cannibalism during reproduction in the funnel‐web spider Hololena curta
Authors: Xiao Yong‐Hong , Zunic‐Kosi Alenka , Zhang Long‐Wa , Prentice Thomas R. , McElfresh J. Steven , Chinta Satya P. , Zou Yun‐Fan , Millar Jocelyn G.
Published: June 2015

Males of many spider species risk being attacked and cannibalized while searching for, courting, and mating with conspecific females. However, there are exceptions. We show that the funnel‐web spider, Hololena curta, has 3 adaptations that minimize risk to males during courtship and mating, and enhance reproductive success. First, males detected chemical or tactile signals associated with webs of virgin females, and differentiated them from webs of mated females, enabling males to increase encounter rates with virgin females and avoid aggressive mated females. Second, males produced stereotyped vibrational signals during courting which induced female quiescence and suppressed female aggression. Third, when touched by males, sexually receptive females entered a cataleptic state, allowing males to safely approach and copulate. Because males can mate multiple times and the sex ratio in natural populations of H. curta is female biased, overall reproductive output is likely increased by males of this species avoiding sexual cannibalism.
Endoscopic therapy in early adenocarcinomas (Barrett's cancer) of the esophagus
Authors: Knabe Mate , May Andrea , Ell Christian
Published: June 2015

The incidence of early esophageal adenocarcinoma has been increasing significantly in recent decades. Prognosis depends greatly on the choice of treatment. Early cancers can be treated by endoscopic resection, whereas advanced carcinomas have to be sent for surgery. Esophageal resection is associated with high perioperative mortality (1–5%) even in specialized centers. Early diagnosis enables curative endoscopic treatment option. Patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and a familial risk for esophageal cancer should undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. High‐definition endoscopes have been developed with technical add‐on that helps endoscopists to find fine irregularities in the esophageal mucosa, but interpreting the findings remains challenging. In this review we discussed novel and old diagnostic procedures and their values, as well as our own recommendations and those of the authors discussed for the diagnosis and treatment of early Barrett's carcinoma. Endoscopic resection is the therapy of choice in early esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is mandatory to perform a subsequent ablation of all residual Barrett's mucosa to avoid metachronous lesions.
Administration of Antiarrhythmic Drugs to Maintain Sinus Rhythm After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Xu Xiuli , Alida Choumi T. , Yu Bo
Published: June 2015

Background

Whether the short‐term administration of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) to maintain sinus rhythm following catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) can prevent the recurrence of AF is still a matter of debate. We searched the PubMed database and the Cochrane Library, and compiled a list of retrieved articles. We included only randomised controlled trials(RCTs) that compared any AADs against control (placebo or no treatment) or other AADs following CA for AF. Statistical analysis of the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to determine the overall effect of both outcomes. The Mantel–Haenszel method was used to pool data of the outcomes of AF recurrence into fixed effect model meta‐analyses.

Aims

We performed a systematic review to determine the effectiveness of short‐term treatment with AADs on the recurrence of AF after CA.

Results

Six RCTs were included in this study, with a total of 814 patients. Post‐procedural temporary administration of AADs in patients after CA for AF reduced the early recurrence of AF (antiarrhythmic drug 103 patients [25.3%], control 162 patients [39.8%]; OR 0.47 [95% CI 0.34–0.64]; χ2 = 3.77; P = 0.58; I2 = 0%). No significant difference in patients after CA for AF in the late recurrence of AF (antiarrhythmic drug 148 patients [36.5%], control 171 patients [42.5%]; OR 0.77 [95% CI 0.57–1.03]; χ2 = 3.15; P = 0.68; I2 = 0%). The heterogeneity was zero in both analyses.

Conclusion

Although the continued administration of AADs after CA for AF can decrease early atrial tachycardias (ATa), this treatment does not prevent late ATa.
Solving the ecological puzzle of mycorrhizal associations using data from annotated collections and environmental samples – an example of saddle fungi
Authors: Hwang Jonathan , Zhao Qi , Yang Zhu L , Wang Zheng , Townsend Jeffrey P.
Published: June 2015

The relation between ecological and genetic divergence of Helvella species (saddle fungi) has been perplexing. While a few species have been clearly demonstrated to be ectomycorrhizal fungi, ecological roles of many other species have been controversial, alternately considered as either saprotrophic or mycorrhizal. We applied SATé to build an inclusive deoxyribonucleic acid sequence alignment for the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of annotated Helvella species and related environmental sequences. Phylogenetic informativeness of ITS and its regions were assessed using PhyDesign. Mycorrhizal lineages present a diversity of ecology, host type and geographic distribution. In two Helvella clades, no Helvella ITS sequences were recovered from root tips. Inclusion of environmental sequences in the ITS phylogeny from these sequences has the potential to link these data and reveal Helvella ecology. This study can serve as a model for revealing the diversity of relationships between unculturable fungi and their potential plant hosts. How non‐mycorrhizal life styles within Helvella evolved will require expanded metagenomic investigation of soil and other environmental samples along with study of Helvella genomes.
Differentiating the Lévy walk from a composite correlated random walk
Authors: Auger‐Méthé Marie , Derocher Andrew E. , Plank Michael J. , Codling Edward A. , Lewis Mark A.
Published: June 2015

Understanding how to find targets with very limited information is a topic of interest in many disciplines. In ecology, such research has often focused on the development of two movement models: (i) the Lévy walk and (ii) the composite correlated random walk and its associated area‐restricted search behaviour. Although the processes underlying these models differ, they can produce similar movement patterns. Due to this similarity and because of their disparate formulation, current methods cannot reliably differentiate between these two models.

Here, we present a method that differentiates between the two models. It consists of likelihood functions, including one for a hidden Markov model, and associated statistical measures that assess the relative support for and absolute fit of each model.

Using a simulation study, we show that our method can differentiate between the two search models over a range of parameter values. Using the movement data of two polar bears (Ursus maritimus), we show that the method can be applied to complex, real‐world movement paths.

By providing the means to differentiate between the two most prominent search models in the literature, and a framework that could be extended to include other models, we facilitate further research into the strategies animals use to find resources.
Using sea water for cleaning oil from seabird feathers
Authors: McConnell Helen M. , Morgan Kerri J. , Sine Abigail , Leung Yuet‐Ming B. , Ward Janelle M. , Chilvers B. Louise , Gartrell Brett
Published: June 2015

During an oil spill, marine wildlife, particularly birds, are at risk of external contamination, affecting insulation, waterproofing and consequently survival. Decontamination of oiled wildlife usually involves a succession of washes and rinses with warm, freshwater and detergent. However, accessibility of large quantities of freshwater needed for cleaning oiled wildlife can be limited.

To assess the efficacy of sea water as an alternative, we used 80 seabird feathers, 40 saturated with heavy fuel oil and 40 unoiled feathers as controls, then washed and rinsed them using either freshwater or sea water, or a combination of both.

Cleanliness and water repellency were assessed visually, and a barbule amalgamation index (BAI) was calculated to evaluate feather microstructure. Particulate residue was assessed using scanning electron microscopy.

Results indicate that for oiled feathers, a sea water wash/rinse produced clean, low BAI/unclumped feathers with minimal particulate residue. Sea water cleaning trials should now be undertaken on live birds to understand links with sea water use and waterproofing.

The method described has world‐wide application for oiled wildlife response activities and could be readily modified for the cleaning of other taxa such as mammals.
Dermal expression of laminin‐332 and type IV collagen in humans with severe sepsis
Authors: Koskela M. , Gäddnäs F. , Koivukangas V. , Oikarinen A. , Laurila J. , Kallioinen M. , Ala‐Kokko T. I.
Published: June 2015

Background

An intact basement membrane at the dermal–epidermal junction is essential to the viability of the skin. The effect of sepsis on the basement membrane is unknown.

Methods

Skin biopsies were used to study basement membrane structure in severe sepsis (Day 1). Subsequent biopsies were taken on Day 8 and at 3 months in the survivors. Immunohistochemical staining was undertaken using laminin‐223 and type IV collagen. Twenty patients with severe sepsis and four control subjects were included in the analysis.

Results

Intensive care unit mortality was 4/20, and total 30‐day mortality was 5/20. Exactly, 7/17 of patients with severe sepsis exhibited weak or absent laminin‐332 expression and 11/15 exhibited weak or absent type IV collagen expression compared with 0/4 of control subjects on Day 1 in intact skin. The proportion of sepsis patients with weak or absent laminin‐332 expression was 5/11 on Day 8 and fell to 1/7 at 3 months. The proportion of sepsis patients with weak or absent type IV collagen expression was 10/11 on Day 8 and 4/7 at 3 months.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that basement membrane formation may be compromised in patients with severe sepsis.
The Western Australian Convicts
Authors: Meinzer Nicholas J.
Published: June 2015

British convicts transported to Western Australia between 1850 and 1868 were not as positively selected regarding their human capital as early historical accounts suggest. The heights of the convicts were not statistically different from those of British prisoners who were not transported. While few were skilled, the proportion of construction workers was higher than expected, consistent with selection for the needs of the colonial government's works on infrastructure. Data on inmates of Fremantle Prison allow validation of height measurements and occupational statements in the convict list. Australian‐born prisoners were taller than those who came from Britain as free immigrants.
Consensus recommendations on the use of daylight photodynamic therapy with methyl aminolevulinate cream for actinic keratoses in Australia
Authors: See Jo‐Ann , Shumack Stephen , Murrell Dedee F , Rubel Diana M , Fernández‐Peñas Pablo , Salmon Robert , Hewitt Daniel , Foley Peter , Spelman Lynda
Published: June 2015

Australia has the highest prevalence of actinic keratoses (AK) worldwide. Because of the risk of transformation of AK to invasive squamous cell carcinomas, consensus guidelines recommend that AK are removed using appropriate therapies to prevent progression to invasive disease. Daylight photodynamic therapy (PDT) is emerging as an efficacious treatment for AK, particularly for patients who require treatment of large areas of chronic actinic damage that can be exposed easily to daylight. Daylight PDT with methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) cream is a simple treatment for AK, almost painless, well tolerated and convenient, requiring minimal time in the clinic. Randomised controlled studies from northern Europe and Australia support the use of daylight PDT as an effective therapy for grade I and II AK on the face and scalp. There is sufficient daylight to conduct daylight PDT in Australia at any time of the year and during most weather conditions. Hence, daylight PDT with MAL can be included as an effective and well‐tolerated new treatment option for the treatment of AK in Australia. These consensus recommendations provide guidelines for Australian clinicians on the use of daylight PDT in the treatment of diagnosed AK.
Prediction of peri‐operative adverse respiratory events in children: the role of exhaled nitric oxide
Authors: Ramgolam A. , Hall G. L. , Zhang G. , Hegarty M. , von Ungern‐Sternberg B. S.
Published: June 2015

Increased levels of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) may be a more objective predictor in identifying children at higher risk of peri‐operative adverse respiratory events than the presence of risk factors such as recent cold or wheeze. Children with either none or ≥ 2 risk factors had eNO measured before surgery and any peri‐operative adverse respiratory events were recorded. We found that an elevated eNO level was only predictive of adverse respiratory events in children with ≥ 2 risk factors (OR 2.96 (95% CI 1.48–5.93), p = 0.002). The presence of risk factors had a better predictive capability than a raised eNO level (OR 3.83 (95% CI 1.85–7.95), p < 0.001). The combination of both predictors did not improve the predictive capability for adverse respiratory events (OR 1.93 (95% CI 1.44–2.59), p < 0.001). We conclude that measuring eNO levels does not lead to improved prediction of adverse respiratory events and that, in routine clinical practice, an accurate history of risk factors remains the most appropriate tool for successfully identifying children at risk of peri‐operative adverse respiratory events.
Association between concurrent genital bleeding and cervical cancer: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Xavier‐Júnior José C.C. , Vale Diama B. , Zeferino Luiz C. , dufloth Rozany M.
Published: June 2015

Introduction

Genital bleeding may be a common symptom among women with cervical cancer.

Material and methods

Cross‐sectional study evaluating whether the prevalence of cervical smear results is different in women with and without clinical information about concurrent genital bleeding.

Results

The sample consisted of 2 324 836 smears; of these, 0.4% had clinical information on genital bleeding. When stratified by age group, women with genital bleeding had a higher chance of a cytological result of a high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [30–49 years odds ratio (OR) 2.38; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60–3.53 and ≥50 years OR 6.30; 95%CI 3.72–10.67), of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (30–49 years OR 24.70; 95%CI 11.96–51.03 and ≥50 years OR 48.91; 95%CI 31.28–76.47) and of atypical glandular cells (30–49 years OR 5.72; 95%CI 3.30–9.93 and ≥50 years OR 11.56; 95%CI 5.96–22.45); there was also a higher chance of adenocarcinoma for women ≥50 years (OR 53.13; 95%CI 28.08–100.51). The sensitivity of genital bleeding for women aged 18–29 years was 0.4% for high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL); for women 30–49 years old the rate was 0.9% for HSIL, 8.6% for SCC and 2.1% for atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS), while for women aged from 50 years or more the rates were 2.0% for HSIL, 13.7% for SCC, 3.6% for AGUS and 14.7% for adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

Women ≥30 years old with genital bleeding should be referred for colposcopy to rule out the possibility of cervical cancer.
Reoperation for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment as quality indicator for disease management: a register study
Authors: Hajari Javad N. , Christensen Ulrik , Kiilgaard Jens F. , Bek Toke , la Cour Morten
Published: June 2015

Purpose

To establish a quality indicator that could be used in optimizing treatment for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Methods

The Danish National Patient Registry was used to identify surgery conducted in Denmark for RRD in the period 01 January 2001–31 December 2009. Cases were identified by diagnosis and surgical codes.

Results

A total of 6522 cases were operated for a primary RRD in the study period, and 22% (1434 patients) were reoperated for a redetachment. A Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of redetachment was equal to or less than detachment on the fellow eye 1 year after primary surgery with techniques not using silicone oil. The same was true 1.5 years after surgery for techniques using silicone oil. Based on this, we established a quality indicator defining failure as the need for operation for redetachment within 1 year from initial surgery when using techniques without oil and after 1.5 years for techniques using oil. Also the lack of oil removal within 1 year from initial surgery should be noted as an operational failure. We applied the quality indicators on the cohort of 6522 RRDs and found that in Denmark the need for redetachment surgery has decreased over time and also that high‐volume departments have better outcome compared to smaller ones.

Conclusions

The risk of reoperation for redetachment after initial surgery fulfils the criteria for a good quality indicator and can be used in RRD surgery. This indicator could aid in optimizing the management of RRD patients to minimize morbidity.
The relationships between IFNL4 genotype, intrahepatic interferon‐stimulated gene expression and interferon treatment response differs in HCV‐1 compared with HCV‐3
Authors: Holmes J. A. , Congiu M. , Bonanzinga S. , Sandhu M. K. , Kia Y. H. , Bell S. J. , Nguyen T. , Iser D. M. , Visvanathan K. , Sievert W. , Bowden D. S. , Desmond P. V. , Thompson A. J.
Published: June 2015

Background

The biological mechanism underlying the association between IFNL4/IFNL3 polymorphism and peginterferon/ribavirin (PR) response in HCV‐1 is thought to involve differential intrahepatic interferon‐stimulated gene expression. HCV‐3 is more sensitive to PR, but there are no studies of the association between IFNL4 polymorphism, PR treatment response and liver interferon‐stimulated gene expression in HCV‐3.

Aim

We evaluated the association between IFNL4/IFNL3 genotypes, PR treatment outcomes and intrahepatic interferon‐stimulated gene expression, according to HCV genotype.

Methods

HCV‐1 and HCV‐3 patients who received PR therapy were identified. IFNL3 (rs12979860) and IFNL4 genotype (rs368234815) were determined. A second cohort with stored liver specimens was identified. Expression of ISGs was measured by rt‐PCR.

Results

Two hundred and fifty‐nine patients were identified: 55% HCV‐1, 45% HCV‐3. IFNL4 genotype frequency was TT/TT 44%, TT/ΔG 42% andΔG/ΔG 14%. Linkage disequilibrium with IFNL3 genotype was high (r2 = 0.98). The association between IFNL4 genotype and PR response was attenuated in HCV‐3 vs. HCV‐1 (HCV‐3: SVR 89% vs. 76% vs. 72% for TT/TT vs. TT/ΔG vs. ΔG/ΔG, P = 0.09; HCV‐1: SVR: 82% vs. 29% vs. 24%, P < 0.001). Intrahepatic ISG expression was evaluated in 92 patients; 61% HCV‐1. The association between IFNL4 genotype and liver ISG expression was significantly different for HCV‐3 vs. HCV‐1 (P‐value for interaction = 0.046), with levels of interferon‐stimulated gene expression being highest in HCV‐1 patients who carried a poor‐response IFNL4 genotype.

Conclusions

The relationship between IFNL4 genotype and PR treatment response as well as intrahepatic interferon‐stimulated gene expression differs between HCV‐1 and HCV‐3. These data suggest fundamental differences in host–virus interactions according to HCV genotype.
Undetectable anti‐TNF drug levels in patients with long‐term remission predict successful drug withdrawal
Authors: Ben‐Horin S. , Chowers Y. , Ungar B. , Kopylov U. , Loebstein R. , Weiss B. , Eliakim R. , Del Tedesco E. , Paul S. , Roblin X.
Published: June 2015

Background

Low drug levels are associated with emerging loss of response to anti‐TNF. However, this may not be the case in patients with long‐term remission.

Aim

To investigate the outcome of anti‐TNF discontinuation in patients with long‐term remission and incidental undetectable drug levels.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study examining the duration of relapse‐free survival in IBD patients in remission who discontinued infliximab or adalimumab having undetectable drug levels.

Results

Forty eight patients who discontinued anti‐TNF while in remission and had available drug levels were identified in two centres in France and Israel (infliximab‐treated 35, adalimumab‐13, Crohn's disease 30, ulcerative colitis 18, mean treatment duration of 22.7 ± 12.4 months). Endoscopy/MRE before stopping showed absence of active inflammation in 40/42 (95%) of evaluated patients, while inflammatory biomarkers (CRP and/or Calprotectin) were completely normal in only 31/48 (65%) of patients. During 12 months median follow‐up, relapse occurred in 16/20 (80%) of patients who stopped anti‐TNF while having measurable drug levels compared with 9/28 (32%) of patients who had undetectable drug levels (OR: 8.4, 95% CI: 2.2–32, P = 0.002). Relapse‐free survival after anti‐TNF cessation was significantly longer in patients with absent drug compared to those with detectable drug (P < 0.001, log rank test). On multivariate analysis, a patient's decision to stop therapy was weakly associated and abnormal inflammatory biomarkers and detectable drug levels were both strongly and independently associated with a higher risk of relapse after drug discontinuation.

Conclusion

Incidental finding of undetectable anti‐TNF drug levels in patients with stable long‐term deep remission may identify a subset of patients whose clinical remission is no longer dependent on anti‐TNF treatment.
Social presence in the 21st century: An adjustment to the Community of Inquiry framework
Authors: Armellini Alejandro , De Stefani Magdalena
Published: June 2015

The Community of Inquiry framework, originally proposed by Garrison, Anderson and Archer, identifies teaching, social and cognitive presences as central to a successful online educational experience. This paper presents the findings of a study conducted in Uruguay between 2007 and 2010. The research aimed to establish the role of cognitive, social and teaching presences in the professional development of 40 English language teachers on continuous professional development programmes delivered in blended learning settings. The findings suggest that teaching presence and cognitive presence have themselves “become social.” The research points to social presence as a major lever for engagement, sense‐making and peer support. Based on the patterns identified in the study, this paper puts forward an adjustment to the Community of Inquiry framework, which shows social presence as more prominent within the teaching and cognitive constructs than the original version of the framework suggests.
Immunocytochemical detection of ERG expression in exfoliated urinary cells identifies with high specificity patients with prostate cancer
Authors: Pal Raj P. , Kockelbergh Roger C. , Pringle John Howard , Cresswell Lara , Hew Roger , Dormer John P. , Cooper Colin , Mellon John Kilian , Barwell Julian G. , Hollox Edward J.
Published: June 2015

Objectives

To evaluate the immunocytochemical detection of ERG protein in exfoliated cells as a means of identifying patients with prostate cancer (PCa) before prostate biopsy.

Materials and Methods

Urine samples (30 mL) were collected after digital rectal examination (DRE) from 159 patients with an elevated age‐specific prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and/or an abnormal DRE who underwent prostate biopsy. In all cases, exfoliated urinary cells from half of the urine sample underwent immunocytochemical assessment for ERG protein expression. Exfoliated cells in the remaining half underwent assessment of TMPRSS2:ERG status using either nested reverse‐transcriptase (RT)‐PCR (151 cases) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH; eight cases). Corresponding tissue samples were evaluated using FISH to determine chromosomal gene fusion tissue status and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to determine ERG protein expression. Results were correlated with clinicopathological variables.

Results

The sensitivity and specificity of urinary ERG immunocytochemistry (ICC) for PCa were 22.7 and 100%, respectively. ERG ICC results correlated with advanced tumour grade, stage and higher serum PSA. In comparison, urine TMPRSS2:ERG transcript analysis had 27% sensitivity and 98% specificity for PCa detection. On tissue IHC, ERG staining was highly specific for PCa. In all, 52% of cancers harboured foci of ERG staining; however, only 46% of cancers that were found to have ERG overexpression were positive on urine ICC. The ERG ICC results showed strong concordance with urinary RT‐PCR and FISH, and tissue IHC and FISH.

Conclusion

This is the first study to show that cytological gene fusion detection using ICC is feasible and identifies patients with adverse disease markers. ERG ICC was highly specific, but this technique was less sensitive than RT‐PCR.
Prognosis of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and pancreatic metastases
Authors: Kalra Sarathi , Atkinson Bradley J. , Matrana Marc Ryan , Matin Surena F. , Wood Christopher G. , Karam Jose A. , Tamboli Pheroze , Sircar Kanishka , Rao Priya , Corn Paul G. , Tannir Nizar M. , Jonasch Eric
Published: June 2015

Objectives

To identify the clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) with pancreatic metastases (PM) treated with either pazopanib or sunitinib and assess whether PM is an independent prognostic variable in the current therapeutic environment.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective review of patients with mRCC in an outpatient clinic was carried out for the period January 2006 to November 2011. Patient characteristics, including demographics, laboratory data and outcomes, were analysed. Baseline characteristics were compared using chi‐squared and t‐tests and overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) rates were estimated using Kaplan–Meier methods. Predictors of OS were analysed using Cox regression.

Results

A total of 228 patients were reviewed, of whom 44 (19.3%) had PM and 184 (81.7%) had metastases to sites other than the pancreas. The distribution of baseline characteristics was equal in both groups, with the exception of a higher incidence of previous nephrectomy, diabetes and number of metastatic sites in the PM group. Four patients had isolated PM, but the majority of patients (68%) with PM had at least three different organ sites of metastases, as compared with 29% in patients without PM (P < 0.01). The distribution of organ sites of metastases was similar, excluding the pancreas, in those with and those without PM (P > 0.05). The median OS was 39 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 24–57, hazard ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.42–0.94; P = 0.02) for patients with PM, compared with 26 months (95% CI 21–31) for patients without PM (P < 0.01). CSS was 42 months (95% CI 30–57) in the PM group and 27 months (95% CI 22–33) in the control group (P = 0.05).

Conclusions

Despite a higher number of affected organ sites in the PM cohort, mRCC behaviour in this cohort appears to be more indolent, as demonstrated by a higher median OS. These findings suggest that host or tumour features associated with PM may represent a less aggressive tumour phenotype.
Novel fluorescence in situ hybridization‐based definition of bacille Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) failure for use in enhancing recruitment into clinical trials of intravesical therapies
Authors: Kamat Ashish M. , Willis Daniel L. , Dickstein Rian J. , Anderson Rooselvelt , Nogueras‐González Graciela , Katz Ruth L. , Wu Xifeng , Barton Grossman H. , Dinney Colin P.
Published: June 2015

Objectives

To present a molecular definition of bacille Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) failure that incorporates fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing to predict BCG failure before it becomes clinically evident, which can be used to enhance trial designs for patients with non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer.

Patients and Methods

We used data from 143 patients who were followed prospectively for 2 years during intravesical BCG therapy, during which time FISH assays were collected and correlated to clinical outcomes.

Results

Of the 95 patients with no evidence of tumour at 3‐month cystoscopy, 23 developed tumour recurrence and 17 developed disease progression by 2 years. Patients with a positive FISH test at both 6 weeks and 3 months were more likely to develop tumour recurrence (17/37 patients [46%] and 16/28 patients [57%], respectively) than patients with a negative FISH test (6/58 patients [10%] and 3/39 patients [8%], respectively; both P < 0.001). Using hazard ratios for recurrence with positive 6‐week and 3‐month FISH results, we constructed clinical trial scenarios whereby patients with a negative 3‐month cystoscopy and positive FISH result could be considered to have ‘molecular BCG failure’ and could be enrolled in prospective, randomized clinical trials comparing BCG therapy (control) with an experimental intravesical therapy.

Conclusions

Patients with positive early FISH and negative 3‐month cystoscopy results can be considered to have molecular BCG failure based on their high rates of recurrence and progression. This definition is intended for use in designing clinical trials, thus potentially allowing continued use of BCG as an ethical comparator arm.
Variability of inter‐observer agreement on feasibility of partial nephrectomy before and after neoadjuvant axitinib for locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC): independent analysis from a phase II trial
Authors: Karam Jose A. , Devine Catherine E. , Fellman Bryan M. , Urbauer Diana L. , Abel E. Jason , Allaf Mohamad E. , Bex Axel , Lane Brian R. , Thompson R. Houston , Wood Christopher G.
Published: June 2015

Objective

To evaluate how many patients could have undergone partial nephrectomy (PN) rather than radical nephrectomy (RN) before and after neoadjuvant axitinib therapy, as assessed by five independent urological oncologists, and to study the variability of inter‐observer agreement.

Patients and Methods

Pre‐ and post‐systemic treatment computed tomography scans from 22 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in a phase II neoadjuvant axitinib trial were reviewed by five independent urological oncologists. R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score and κ statistics were calculated.

Results

The median R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score changed from 11 before treatment to 10 after treatment (P = 0.002). Five tumours with moderate complexity before axitinib treatment remained moderate complexity after treatment. Of 17 tumours with high complexity before axitinib treatment, three became moderate complexity after treatment. The overall κ statistic was 0.611. Moderate‐complexity κ was 0.611 vs a high‐complexity κ of 0.428. Before axitinib treatment the κ was 0.550 vs 0.609 after treatment. After treatment with axitinib, all five reviewers agreed that only five patients required RN (instead of eight before treatment) and that 10 patients could now undergo PN (instead of three before treatment). The odds of PN feasibility were 22.8‐times higher after treatment with axitinib.

Conclusions

There is considerable variability in inter‐observer agreement on the feasibility of PN in patients treated with neoadjuvant targeted therapy. Although more patients were candidates for PN after neoadjuvant axitinib therapy, it remains difficult to identify these patients a priori.