bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consequences Validity Evidence: Evaluating the Impact of Educational Assessments
Authors: Cook David A. , Lineberry Matthew
Published: February 2016

Because tests that do not alter management (i.e., influence decisions and actions) should not be performed, data on the consequences of assessment constitute a critical source of validity evidence. Consequences validity evidence is challenging for many educators to understand, perhaps because it has no counterpart in the older framework of content, criterion, and construct validity. The authors’ purpose is to explain consequences validity evidence and propose a framework for organizing its collection and interpretation.

Both clinical and educational assessments can be viewed as interventions. The act of administering or taking a test, the interpretation of scores, and the ensuing decisions and actions influence those being assessed (e.g., patients or students) and other people and systems (e.g., physicians, teachers, hospitals, schools). Consequences validity evidence examines such impacts of assessments. Despite its importance, consequences evidence is reported infrequently in health professions education (range 5%–20% of studies in recent systematic reviews) and is typically limited in scope and rigor.

Consequences validity evidence can derive from evaluations of the impact on examinees, educators, schools, or the end target of practice (e.g., patients or health care systems); and the downstream impact of classifications (e.g., different score cut points and labels). Impact can result from the uses of scores or from the assessment activity itself, and can be intended or unintended and beneficial or harmful. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are useful. The type, quantity, and rigor of consequences evidence required will vary depending on the assessment and the claims for its use.
At a Crossroads: The Future of Primary Care Education and Practice
Authors: Brienza Rebecca S.
Published: February 2016

Academic medical centers are under increasing scrutiny to provide both timely, high-quality primary care (PC) and health professional education. The complexity of these issues will require innovative multipronged solutions aimed at academic ambulatory PC training programs. In this issue, Serrao and Orlander describe one model that may address some of these issues: the Ambulatory Diagnostic and Treatment Center (ADTC) in the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System. The ADTC model offers primary care providers (PCPs) the opportunity to refer an especially complex patient to a team of PC faculty and trainees who are not familiar with the patient but who have more time and resources to dedicate to her or his care. The ADTC is one model that may mitigate some of the tension between patient care and education in PC settings. Another model is the West Haven Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence in Primary Care Education program, in which interprofessional teams of faculty and trainees are assigned to care for a panel of patients. Creative solutions to overcoming the barriers to providing timely, high-quality care as well as a commitment to providing sufficient time and quality in PC education are essential. These solutions must include models of education and care that (1) preserve PCP–patient continuity, (2) allow more time for complex patient visits, and (3) integrate interprofessional teams to support PCPs. These models will afford patients, providers, and trainees sufficient time for patient care, continuous relationships, learning, and reflection, resulting in improved satisfaction and more meaningful work.
Perioperative Management of Children With Giant Encephalocele: A Clinical Report of 29 Cases
Authors: Mahajan Charu , Rath Girija P. , Bithal Parmod K. , Mahapatra Ashok K.
Published: February 2016

Background:

Giant encephalocele, a rare entity, makes anesthesiologists wary of challenging anesthetic course. Apart from inherent challenges of pediatric anesthesia, the anesthesiologist has to deal with unusual positioning, difficult tracheal intubation, and associated anomalies during the perioperative course.

Materials and Methods:

Medical records of 29 children with giant encephalocele, who underwent excision and repair, during a period of 13 years, were retrospectively analyzed. Data pertaining to anesthetic management, perioperative complications, and outcome at discharge were reviewed.

Results:

The average age at admission was 164 days. Hydrocephalus and delayed milestones were present in 19 (65.5%) and 7 (24.1%) children, respectively. Difficulty in tracheal intubation was encountered, in 15 (51.7%) children. Tracheal intubation was attempted with direct laryngoscopy, most often, in lateral position (24 [82.8%]). Intraoperative hemodynamic and respiratory complications were observed in 9 (31.0%) and 5 (17.2%) children, respectively. Intraoperative hypothermia was observed in 4 (13.8%) children. The average stay in the intensive care unit was 2.7 days and average hospital stay was 11.5 days. The condition at discharge remained same as the preoperative period in 24 children (82.7%), deteriorated in 2 (6.9%), and 3 children (10.3%) died.

Conclusions:

Management of children with giant encephalocele requires the updated knowledge on possible difficulties encountered during the perioperative period. They need specialized anesthetic care for dealing with difficult tracheal intubation, associated congenital anomalies, unusual positioning, electrolyte abnormalities, hypothermia, and cardiorespiratory disturbances. For securing the airway, we suggest the practice of direct laryngoscopy in lateral position after inhalational induction. Muscle relaxant should be administered only after visualization of the glottis.
Functional Outcome of Forearm Rodding in Children With Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Authors: Ashby Elizabeth , Montpetit Kathleen , Hamdy Reggie C. , Fassier François
Published: February 2016

Background:

The impact of corrective forearm surgery on functional ability in children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) has not previously been reported. This study addresses this issue.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was conducted on 19 children with OI who underwent 22 corrective forearm procedures between 1996 and 2013. Functional ability was assessed preoperatively and every year postoperatively using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI).

Results:

The mean PEDI self-care score increased by 6.8 (P=0.017) and the mean PEDI mobility score increased by 7.2 (P=0.020) at 1-year postsurgery. Functional gains were greater in moderate OI (types IV, V, and VI) than in severe OI (type III). Improved function was maintained in the majority of cases at a mean of 8.9 years postcorrection.

Conclusions:

Corrective forearm surgery in children with OI leads to improved functional ability.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV.
Local Infiltration Analgesia Compared With Epidural and Intravenous PCA After Surgical Hip Dislocation for the Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement in Adolescents
Authors: Novais Eduardo N. , Kestel Lauryn , Carry Patrick M. , Sink Ernest , Strupp Kim
Published: February 2016

Background:

Open treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) through a surgical hip dislocation (SHD) approach has been reported to allow for improvement in pain and function. However, the approach require a trochanteric osteotomy and may be associated with high level of pain after surgery. Currently, there is no systematic approach for pain management after SHD for treatment of FAI.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was used to collect data from 121 subjects (12 to 21 y and below) who received periarticular local infiltration analgesia (LIA, n=20), epidural analgesia (n=72), or intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA, n=29) after SHD from January 2003 to June 2014. Verbal pain scores, opioid consumption, incidence of side effects/complications, and length of hospital stay (LOS) were recorded. All nonopioid medications with analgesic potential were included in the statistical models as potential confounding variables

Results:

Twelve hours after surgery, the odds of moderate/severe pain were higher in the PCA group (odds ratio, 20.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7-243.8; P=0.0166] and epidural group (odds ratio, 5.2; 95% CI, 0.7-92.0; P=0.3218) compared with the LIA group. There was no difference in pain scores across all groups 1 hour (P=0.0675) or 24 hours (P=0.3473) postoperatively. Total opioid consumption in the LIA group was 59.8% (95% CI, 15.0%-81.0%; P=0.0175) lower than the total opioid consumption in the epidural group and 60.7% (95% CI, 17.3-81.3; P=0.0144) lower than the total opioid consumption in the PCA group. LOS was increased in the epidural (mean difference, 22.1; 95% CI, 6.8-37.4 h; P=0.0051) and PCA (mean difference, 16 h; 95% CI, 1-31.5 h; P=0.0367) groups relative to the LIA group. There was 0 (0%) complication in the LIA group compared with 11 (15.3%) in the epidural group.

Conclusions:

LIA was more effective at controlling pain 12 hours after surgery in comparison with PCA with similar pain control to epidural. LIA was associated with significantly lower need for opioids and shorter LOS compared with the PCA and epidural protocols. Periarticular infiltration should be considered for pain management after SHD for treatment of FAI in adolescents.

Level of Evidence:

Level III—retrospective comparative study.
Biomechanical Evaluation of the CD HORIZON Spire Z Spinal System With Pedicle and Facet Fixation
Authors: Godzik Jakub , Kalb Samuel , Martinez-del-Campo Eduardo , Newcomb Anna G.U.S. , Singh Vaneet , Walker Corey T. , Chang Steve W. , Kelly Brian P. , Crawford Neil R.
Published: February 2016

Study Design.

Human cadaveric biomechanical study.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomechanics of lumbar motion segments instrumented with the CD HORIZON Spire Z plate system (Spire Z), a posterior supplemental fixation spinous process plate, alone and with additional fixation systems.

Summary of Background Data.

Plates and pedicle screw/rod and facet screw implants are adjuncts to fusion. The plate limits motion, improving segmental stability and the fusion microenvironment. However, the degree to which the plate contributes to overall stability when used alone or in conjunction with additional instrumentation has not been described.

Methods.

Standard nondestructive flexibility tests were performed in 7 L2–L5 human cadaveric spines. Spinal stability was determined as mean range of motion (ROM) in flexion/extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Paired comparisons were made between five conditions: (1) intact/control; (2) Spire Z; (3) Spire Z with unilateral pedicle screw/rod system (Spire Z+UPS); (4) Spire Z with unilateral facet screw system (Spire Z+UFS); and (5) Spire Z with bilateral facet screw system (Spire Z+BFS). Stiffness and ROM data were compared using one-way analysis of variance, followed by repeated-measures Holm-Šidák tests.

Results.

Spire Z was most effective in limiting flexion (20% of normal) and extension (24% of normal), but less effective in reducing lateral bending and axial rotation. In lateral bending, Spire Z+BFS and Spire Z+UPS constructs were not significantly different and demonstrated greater ROM reduction compared with Spire Z+UFS and Spire Z (P < 0.001). Spire Z+BFS demonstrated greatest stiffness in axial rotation compared with Spire Z+UPS (P = 0.025), Spire Z+UFS (P = 0.001), and Spire Z (P < 0.001). Spire Z+UPS was not significantly different from Spire Z+UFS (P = 0.21), and superior to Spire Z (P = 0.013).

Conclusion.

The Spire Z spinous process plate provides excellent immediate fixation, particularly for flexion and extension. While the hybrid Spire Z+BFS screw construct afforded the greatest stability, Spire Z+UPS demonstrated considerable promise.

Level of Evidence: N/A
Improved Stabilization Technique for Vancouver Type B1 Periprosthetic Femur Fractures
Authors: Shur Vladimir B. , Georgiev Krum G. , Svyatkovsky Viktor , Glukhovskiy Boris
Published: February 2016

Periprosthetic femoral fractures after hip replacement are a serious surgical entity that may prove difficult to treat and cause significant patient morbidity. Although there are multiple treatment approaches presented to the orthopedic surgeon, sound data of the most stable construct is limited in the literature. The evidence-based treatment for Vancouver type B1 fractures is open reduction and internal fixation. In this article, we present a novel approach for the stabilization of Vancouver type B1 fractures with lateral plate, flared medial strut allograft, Dall-miles cables, and multiple screws securing the plate-femur-allograft components and bypassing the hip implant.
Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe in Women With a BRCA Mutation?
Authors: Birrer Nicole , Chinchilla Carolina , Del Carmen Marcela , Dizon Don S.
Published: February 2016

Objectives:

Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation are recommended to undergo prophylactic (or risk reducing) bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) before age 40, resulting in surgical menopause. Given the concerns of estrogen deprivation on overall health, hormone therapy (HT) is often discussed, yet safety concerns persist.

Materials and Methods:

We performed a systematic literature review of the safety of HT in women with a BRCA mutation undergoing prophylactic BSO.

Results:

Although there remains a paucity of data on this topic, as evidenced by this systematic review of the contemporary literature, these patients do benefit from treatment, especially as it relates to menopausal symptoms without an apparently increased risk of breast cancer.

Conclusions:

Decisions regarding the use of HT in women who undergo BSO after detection of a BRCA mutation must be individualized based on careful consideration of the risks and benefits. However, the risks of a subsequent cancer diagnosis appear small, particularly in regards to the benefits of treatment afforded by HT.
Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation in Relieving Refractory Pain of Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Shen Wen-Sheng , Xu Xiao-Qi , Zhai Nan-Nan , Zhou Zhi-Shui , Shao Jin , Yu Ya-Hong
Published: February 2016

To investigate the efficacy of radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC) in relieving refractory pain of knee osteoarthritis (OA), we selected 54 patients with chronic knee OA pain, 27 treated with RFTC (case group) and 27 receiving regular treatments (control group). Response evaluations were conducted before treatment, and at the termination of treatment, and 3-month follow-up, applying the visual analog scale, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and American Knee Society Score (AKSS). Data analyses were performed with SPSS 21.0. At the termination of treatments and 3-month follow-ups, cases gained significantly increased scores in vitality, bodily pain, general health perceptions, physical functioning, and social role functioning by SF-36 scaling and in pain, range of motion, stability, walking, and stair climbing by AKSS (all P < 0.05). Controls received higher scores by AKSS in pain at the termination of treatments and in pain, range of motion, and walking at the termination of 3-month follow-ups (all P < 0.05). Both cases and controls presented significant difference between visual analog scale scores before treatments and those at the termination of 3-month follow-ups (both P < 0.05). All patients felt less pain after treatments, cases presenting better improvement (P < 0.05). Pain was stronger in females compared with males and in a positive correlation with age while had no obvious relation to disease course. In conclusion, RFTC may have better efficacy in relieving refractory pain and promoting function recovery in patients with knee OA than regular treatment.
Principles of Stereotactic Electroencephalography in Epilepsy Surgery
Authors: Lhatoo Samden , Lacuey Nuria , Ryvlin Philippe
Published: February 2016

Stereotactic electroencephalography is a method for the invasive study for the human epileptic brain as a prelude to epilepsy surgery. The discipline of stereotactic electroencephalography is underpinned by an anatomo-electro-clinical analysis of epileptic seizures of focal origin and goes beyond simple stereotactic placement of depth electrodes. Stringent analysis of semiological and electrophysiological features is coupled with an understanding of this information in 3D anatomical space. Stereotactic electroencephalography offers significant advantages over subdural grid implantations, allowing pinpoint accuracy access to sulcal areas and deep brain structures, such as the insula, cingulate, basal and mesial brain regions, while associated with lower complication rates. Recent times have seen an exponential growth in stereotactic electroencephalography interest, driven in part by increasing complexity of typical epilepsy surgery patients in epilepsy surgery centers. Such patients are much more likely to be magnetic resonance imaging negative, or reoperations, or to have multifocal or widespread areas of cortical abnormalities. Herein, we discuss the advantages of stereotactic electroencephalography, principles of patient selection, implantation, and interpretation.
Does absolute brain size really predict self-control? Hand-tracking training improves performance on the A-not-B task
Authors: Jelbert S. A. , Taylor A. H. , Gray R. D.
Published: February 2016

Large-scale, comparative cognition studies are set to revolutionize the way we investigate and understand the evolution of intelligence. However, the conclusions reached by such work have a key limitation: the cognitive tests themselves. If factors other than cognition can systematically affect the performance of a subset of animals on these tests, we risk drawing the wrong conclusions about how intelligence evolves. Here, we examined whether this is the case for the A-not-B task, recently used by MacLean and co-workers to study self-control among 36 different species. Non-primates performed poorly on this task; possibly because they have difficulty tracking the movements of a human demonstrator, and not because they lack self-control. To test this, we assessed the performance of New Caledonian crows on the A-not-B task before and after two types of training. New Caledonian crows trained to track rewards moved by a human demonstrator were more likely to pass the A-not-B test than birds trained on an unrelated choice task involving inhibitory control. Our findings demonstrate that overlooked task demands can affect performance on a cognitive task, and so bring into question MacLean's conclusion that absolute brain size best predicts self-control.
High atmospheric temperatures and ‘ambient incubation’ drive embryonic development and lead to earlier hatching in a passerine bird
Authors: Griffith Simon C. , Mainwaring Mark C. , Sorato Enrico , Beckmann Christa
Published: February 2016

Tropical and subtropical species typically experience relatively high atmospheric temperatures during reproduction, and are subject to climate-related challenges that are largely unexplored, relative to more extensive work conducted in temperate regions. We studied the effects of high atmospheric and nest temperatures during reproduction in the zebra finch. We characterized the temperature within nests in a subtropical population of this species in relation to atmospheric temperature. Temperatures within nests frequently exceeded the level at which embryo’s develop optimally, even in the absence of parental incubation. We experimentally manipulated internal nest temperature to demonstrate that an average difference of 6°C in the nest temperature during the laying period reduced hatching time by an average of 3% of the total incubation time, owing to ‘ambient incubation’. Given the avian constraint of laying a single egg per day, the first eggs of a clutch are subject to prolonged effects of nest temperature relative to later laid eggs, potentially increasing hatching asynchrony. While birds may ameliorate the negative effects of ambient incubation on embryonic development by varying the location and design of their nests, high atmospheric temperatures are likely to constitute an important selective force on avian reproductive behaviour and physiology in subtropical and tropical regions, particularly in the light of predicted climate change that in many areas is leading to a higher frequency of hot days during the periods when birds breed.
Shemore thanhe: gender bias supports the empathic nature of yawn contagion inHomo sapiens
Authors: Norscia Ivan , Demuru Elisa , Palagi Elisabetta
Published: February 2016

Psychological, clinical and neurobiological findings endorse that empathic abilities are more developed in women than in men. Because there is growing evidence that yawn contagion is an empathy-based phenomenon, we expect that the female bias in the empathic abilities reflects on a gender skew in the responsiveness to others’ yawns. We verified this assumption by applying a linear model on a dataset gathered during a 5 year period of naturalistic observations on humans. Gender, age and social bond were included in the analysis as fixed factors. The social bond and the receiver’s gender remained in the best model. The rates of contagion were significantly lower between acquaintances than between friends and family members, and significantly higher in women than in men. These results not only confirm that yawn contagion is sensitive to social closeness, but also that the phenomenon is affected by the same gender bias affecting empathy. The sex skew, also found in other non-human species, fits with the female social roles which are likely to require higher empathic abilities (e.g. parental care, group cohesion maintenance, social mediation). The fact that female influence in social dynamics also relies on face-to-face emotional exchange raises concerns on the negative repercussions of having women’s facial expressions forcibly concealed.
Language influences music harmony perception: effects of shared syntactic integration resources beyond attention
Authors: Kunert Richard , Willems Roel M. , Hagoort Peter
Published: February 2016

Many studies have revealed shared music–language processing resources by finding an influence of music harmony manipulations on concurrent language processing. However, the nature of the shared resources has remained ambiguous. They have been argued to be syntax specific and thus due to shared syntactic integration resources. An alternative view regards them as related to general attention and, thus, not specific to syntax. The present experiments evaluated these accounts by investigating the influence of language on music. Participants were asked to provide closure judgements on harmonic sequences in order to assess the appropriateness of sequence endings. At the same time participants read syntactic garden-path sentences. Closure judgements revealed a change in harmonic processing as the result of reading a syntactically challenging word. We found no influence of an arithmetic control manipulation (experiment 1) or semantic garden-path sentences (experiment 2). Our results provide behavioural evidence for a specific influence of linguistic syntax processing on musical harmony judgements. A closer look reveals that the shared resources appear to be needed to hold a harmonic key online in some form of syntactic working memory or unification workspace related to the integration of chords and words. Overall, our results support the syntax specificity of shared music–language processing resources.
Genome-wide association analyses in > 119,000 individuals identifies thirteen morningness and two sleep duration loci
Authors: Jones Samuel E. , Tyrrell Jessica , Wood Andrew R. , Beaumont Robin N. , Ruth Katherine S. , Tuke Marcus A. , Yaghootkar Hanieh , Hu Youna , Teder-Laving Maris , Hayward Caroline , Roenneberg Till , Wilson James F. , Del Greco Fabiola , Hicks Andrew A. , Shin Chol , Yun Chang-Ho , Ku Lee Seung , Metspalu Andres , Byrne Enda M. , Gehrman Philip R. , Tiemeier Henning , Allebrandt Karla V. , Freathy Rachel M. , Murray Anna , Hinds David A. , Frayling Timothy M. , Weedon Michael N.
Published: February 2016

Disrupted circadian rhythms and reduced sleep duration are associated with several human diseases, particularly obesity and type 2 diabetes, but little is known about the genetic factors influencing these heritable traits. We performed genome-wide association studies of self-reported chronotype (morning/evening person) and self-reported sleep duration in 128,266 White British individuals from the UK Biobank study. Sixteen variants were associated with chronotype (P<5x10-8), including variants near the known circadian rhythm genesRGS16(1.21 odds of morningness [95%CI 1.15, 1.27],P=3x10-12) andPER2(1.09 odds of morningness [95%CI 1.06, 1.12],P=4x10-10). ThePER2signal has previously been associated with iris function. We sought replication using self-reported data from 89,823 23andMe participants; thirteen of the chronotype signals remained significant atP<5x10-8on meta-analysis and eleven of these reachedP<0.05 in the same direction in the 23andMe study. For sleep duration, we replicated one known signal inPAX8(2.6 [95%CIs 1.9, 3.2] minutes per alleleP=5.7x10-16) and identified and replicated two novel associations atVRK2(2.0 [95% CI: 1.3, 2.7] minutes per allele,P=1.2x10-9; and 1.6 [95% CI: 1.1, 2.2] minutes per allele,P=7.6x10-9). Although we found genetic correlation between chronotype and BMI (rG=0.056,P=0.048); undersleeping and BMI (rG=0.147,P=1x10-5) and oversleeping and BMI (rG=0.097,P=0.039), Mendelian Randomisation analyses provided no consistent evidence of causal associations between BMI or type 2 diabetes and chronotype or sleep duration. Our study provides new insights into the biology of sleep and circadian rhythms in humans.
Bayesian Node Dating based on Probabilities of Fossil Sampling Supports Trans-Atlantic Dispersal of Cichlid Fishes
Authors: Matschiner Michael , Musilová Zuzana , Barth Julia M. I. , Starostová Zuzana , Salzburger Walter , Steel Mike , Bouckaert Remco
Published: February 2016

Divergence-time estimation based on molecular phylogenies and the fossil record has provided insights into fundamental questions of evolutionary biology. In Bayesian node dating, phylogenies are commonly time calibrated through the specification of calibration densities on nodes representing clades with known fossil occurrences. Unfortunately, the optimal shape of these calibration densities is usually unknown and they are therefore often chosen arbitrarily, which directly impacts the reliability of the resulting age estimates. As possible solutions to this problem, two non-exclusive alternative approaches have recently been developed, the “fossilized birth-death” model and “total-evidence dating”. While these approaches have been shown to perform well under certain conditions, they require including all (or a random subset) of the fossils of each clade in the analysis, rather than just relying on the oldest fossils of clades. In addition, both approaches assume that fossil records of different clades in the phylogeny are all the product of the same underlying fossil sampling rate, even though this rate has been shown to differ strongly between higher-level taxa. We here develop a flexible new approach to Bayesian node dating that combines advantages of traditional node dating and the fossilized birth-death model. In our new approach, calibration densities are defined on the basis of first fossil occurrences and sampling rate estimates that can be specified separately for all clades. We verify our approach with a large number of simulated datasets, and compare its performance to that of the fossilized birth-death model. We find that our approach produces reliable age estimates that are robust to model violation, on par with the fossilized birth-death model. By applying our approach to a large dataset including sequence data from over 1000 species of teleost fishes as well as 147 carefully selected fossil constraints, we recover a timeline of teleost diversification that is incompatible with previously assumed vicariant divergences of freshwater fishes. Our results instead provide strong evidence for trans-oceanic dispersal of cichlids and other groups of teleost fishes. (Keywords: node dating; calibration density; relaxed molecular clock; fossil record; Cichlidae; marine dispersal)
Phenotypic plasticity promotes balanced polymorphism in periodic environments by a genomic storage effect
Authors: Gulisija Davorka , Kim Yuseob , Plotkin Joshua B.
Published: February 2016

Phenotypic plasticity is known to evolve in perturbed habitats, where it alleviates the deleterious effects of selection. But the effects of plasticity on levels of genetic polymorphism, an important precursor to adaptation in temporally varying environments, are unclear. Here we develop a haploid, two-locus population-genetic model to describe the interplay between a plasticity modifier locus and a target locus subject to periodically varying selection. We find that the interplay between these two loci can produce a “genomic storage effect” that promotes balanced polymorphism over a large range of parameters, in the absence of all other conditions known to maintain genetic variation. The genomic storage effect arises as recombination allows alleles at the two loci to escape more harmful genetic backgrounds and associate in haplotypes that persist until environmental conditions change. Using both Monte Carlo simulations and analytical approximations we quantify the strength of the genomic storage effect across a range of selection pressures, recombination rates, plasticity modifier effect sizes, and environmental periods.
Variations in MHC-DRB1 exon2 and associations with Brucellosis susceptibility in Chinese Merino sheep
Authors: Chen Yue’e , Xu Wanyun , Chen Chuangfu , Blair Hugh T , Gao Jianfeng
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to investigated the association between MHC-DRB1 exon2 and Brucellosis susceptibility in Chinese Merino sheep. MHC-DRB1 exon2 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from 126 healthy and 67 Brucellosis-infected Chinese Merino sheep. PCR products were analyzed using the SSCP technique, and then cloned to allow sequencing of the different alleles. For each SNP, allelic and genotypic frequencies were compared between case and control samples, in addition the association with Brucellosis susceptibility was determined. Haplotypes and their frequencies were established and analyzed by SHEsis online software. There were forty-one single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 270 bp DNA sequence. The distribution of C>T alleles at locus 109 was significantly different between case and control samples. The linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis showed that there were nine LD blocks in MHC-DRB1 exon2 and strong LD between SNPs existed in every Block. Haplotype analysis identified nine haplotypes with strong LD, but only Hap8 and Hap9 in case-control groups were significantly different (P<0.05); neither haplotype contained the C>T allele at locus 109. In conclusion, genetic variants of MHC-DRB1 gene exon2 demonstrated associations with Brucellosis susceptibility, indicating that further research is warranted.

Abbreviations

MHC

Major Histocompatibility Complex

OLA

Ovine Lymphocyte Antigen

SNP

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
Development of molecular markers for determining continental origin of wood from white oaks (QuercusL. sect.Quercus)
Authors: Schroeder H. , Cronn R. , Yanbaev Y. , Jennings T. , Mader M. , Degen B. , Kersten B.
Published: February 2016

To detect and avoid illegal logging of valuable tree species, identification methods for the origin of timber are necessary. We used next-generation sequencing to identify chloroplast genome regions that differentiate the origin of white oaks from the three continents; Asia, Europe, and North America. By using the chloroplast genome of Asian Q. mongolica as a reference, we identified 861 variant sites (672 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs); 189 insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphism) from representative species of three continents (Q. mongolica from Asia; Q. petraea and Q. robur from Europe; Q. alba from North America), and we identified additional chloroplast polymorphisms in pools of 20 individuals each from Q. mongolica (789 variant sites) and Q. robur (346 variant sites). Genome sequences were screened for insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphisms to develop markers that identify continental origin of oak species, and that can be easily evaluated using a variety of detection methods. We identified five indel and one SNP that reliably identify continent-of-origin, based on evaluations of up to 1078 individuals representing 13 white oak species and three continents. Due to the size of length polymorphisms revealed, this marker set can be visualized using capillary electrophoresis or high resolution gel (acrylamide or agarose) electrophoresis. With these markers, we provide the wood trading market with an instrument to comply with the U.S. and European laws that require timber companies to avoid the trade of illegally harvested timber.
Genome-wide association analysis identifies novel loci for chronotype in 100,420 individuals from the UKBiobank
Authors: Lane Jacqueline M. , Vlasac Irma , Anderson Simon G. , Kyle Simon , Dixon William G. , Bechtold David A. , Gill Shubhroz , Little Max A. , Luik Annemarie , Loudon Andrew , Emsley Richard , Scheer Frank AJL. , Lawlor Deborah A. , Redline Susan , Ray David W. , Rutter Martin K. , Saxena Richa
Published: February 2016

Our sleep timing preference, or chronotype, is a manifestation of our internal biological clock. Variation in chronotype has been linked to sleep disorders, cognitive and physical performance, and chronic disease. Here, we perform a genome-wide association study of self-reported chronotype within the UKBiobank cohort (n=100,420). We identify 12 new genetic loci that implicate known components of the circadian clock machinery and point to previously unstudied genetic variants and candidate genes that might modulate core circadian rhythms or light-sensing pathways. Pathway analyses highlight central nervous and ocular systems and fear-response related processes. Genetic correlation analysis suggests chronotype shares underlying genetic pathways with schizophrenia, educational attainment and possibly BMI. Further, Mendelian randomization suggests that evening chronotype relates to higher educational attainment. These results not only expand our knowledge of the circadian system in humans, but also expose the influence of circadian characteristics over human health and life-history variables such as educational attainment.
Islamic ethical responsibilities for business and sustainable development
Authors: Hassan Abul
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to address the issue of environmental development in view of the Islamic ethical responsibilities, and the extent to which businesses should be involved in environment development activities will be addressed.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study integrates the mainstream and Islamic positions on the subject of the environment and sustainable development based on published literature and argues that whichever definition of environmental development one might subscribe to eventually each arrives at an environmental concern. It takes inspiration from the verses of the Holy Quran and ethics of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in respect of environment and business that indicate a way out of this impasse.

Findings

– This study shows that the Islamic approach is more agreeable to environmental protection, and the issues associated with environmental and sustainable development have moral, ethical and social responsibilities, and the businesses should have on intense commitment to Islamic ethics in justice and welfare of human beings. Because of environmental ethics in Islam, and the value chain of suppliers through customers, businesses should be aware of the environmental aspects and impacts of their companies.

Originality/value

– This paper enhances the understanding of Islamic ethical responsibilities in business, environmental and sustainable development and attempts to show attributes of the various levels of behaviour of an organisation.
Efficiency analysis of Islamic banks in Pakistan
Authors: Majeed Muhammad Tariq , Zanib Abida
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to empirically analyze the efficiency of full-fledged Islamic banks, Islamic branches of conventional banks and conventional banks in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses data envelopment analysis to measure and compare the efficiency of banks. Three measures of efficiencies such as total technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency are computed to achieve the objective of the paper.

Findings

– Overall, full-fledged Islamic banks are less efficient in terms of total technical efficiency and pure technical efficiency than conventional banks. However, Islamic branches of conventional banks are highly scale-efficient than their counterparts.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings need to be supported by considering production function and risk exposure factors.

Originality/value

– This paper evaluates and compares the efficiency of Islamic and conventional banks by utilizing the largest available data set during 2007-2014.
Efficiency, effectiveness and performance profile of Islamic and conventional banks in Pakistan
Authors: Abbas Muhammad , Azid Toseef , Hj Besar Mohd Hairul Azrin
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– Although there exists a huge pile of literature on the performance of banking sector, a gap exists in developing countries like Pakistan where only limited work has been previously done to evaluate the performance of banking sector. In fact, most of the previous studies are based on traditional ratio analysis. Other studies not only have applied modern techniques of frontier approach like data envelopment analysis (DEA) but also are limited to the measurement and comparison of efficiency scores of various groups of banks. The purpose of this study is to find out the determinant of variation in the performance of banks.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study computes various elements of performance, including efficiency and effectiveness, and finds out the factors of variation in each component of performance by using the Tobit regression.

Findings

– Overall performance of Islamic banks was influenced positively by age, capitalization, size, non-markup expenditure, minimum capital requirement and gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, whereas profitability, concentration and inflation had a negative relationship.

Research limitations/implications

– Islamic financial institutions are in their infancy stage. With the passage of time, one can find the exact trend in the performance and efficiency of these institutions.

Practical implications

– This study guides the investors in the process of their decision-making.

Social implications

– Society can also take the advantage of the moral steps which are taken by these institutions.

Originality/value

– This is an original study.
Employee motivation an Islamic perspective
Authors: Bhatti Omar K , Aslam Uzma  S , Hassan Arif , Sulaiman Mohamed
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide an understanding of employee motivation from the Islamic perspective. The main objective of this paper is to understand Islamic motivation and to explore if Islamic spirituality, punishment and reward and justice motivate Muslim employees.

Design/methodology/approach

– Qualitative research approach was used to understand and examine the views of the respondents. Semi-structured interviewing technique was adopted, and the respondents were asked to share their own thoughts and understanding for each question provided. A sample of 13 experienced academicians and practitioners from renowned private organizations and academic institutions from Malaysia and Pakistan were selected for the present study.

Findings

– The study found that the conventional viewpoint of motivation varies from Islamic viewpoint in regard to motivation of employees. And significantly, Islamic spirituality, reward and punishment, and justice act more compellingly in improving employee’s motivation.

Originality/value

– This paper clearly highlights that the Western viewpoint of employee motivation is different as compared to the Islamic perspective.
Understanding Long-Term Effects of Sports Sponsorship: Role of Experience, Involvement, Enthusiasm and Clutter
Authors: Cornwell T. Bettina , Relyea George E.
Published: February 2016

An empirical investigation based on 222 sports fans of a university basketball team finds that sports enthusiasm and the mere exposure to sponsorship stimuli is positively associated with the awareness of event sponsors. In addition, the findings reveal the negative impact of advertising and sponsorship clutter on individuals' recall and recognition of sponsors.
Fan Characteristics and Sporting Event Attendance: Examining Variance in Attendance
Authors: Arnett Dennis B. , Laverie Debra A.
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this research is to investigate four factors (fan identity salience, satisfaction, attachment, and enduring involvement) to assess their ability to differentiate among three types of fans (frequent, moderately frequent, and infrequent attendees). A convenience sample of college fans of a university woman's basketball team is used. The results suggest both identity salience and enduring involvement may be useful as segmentation variables for sports marketers
An Interview with Ron Seaver, President and CEO of Seaver Marketing Group
Authors: Stotlar David
Published: February 2016

Ron Seaver is in a unique position within the sport industry. He has worked on both sides of the sponsorship business, selling sponsorships for teams and assisting corporations in securing productive sponsorship. In his current role as President and CEO of Seaver Marketing Group, Ron is working to bring all parties in the sponsorhip industry together. Here he talks to Dr David Stotlar, of the University of Northern Colorado, sharing his experience and his insights.
Doping scandals in professional cycling: impact on primary team sponsor’s stock return
Authors: Danylchuk Karen , Stegink Jelmer , Lebel Katie
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of doping scandals (n=25) in professional cycling Grand Tour events on the primary team sponsor’s daily stock return.

Design/methodology/approach

– Event study methodology.

Findings

– Overall it was found that during the time period and events under examination in this study doping scandals had no significant impact on the primary team sponsor’s stock returns.

Originality/value

– There is limited research to explain the economic impact of widespread doping in cycling and its commercial shareholders. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between doping scandals in professional cycling and the daily stock return of the involved team’s primary sponsor.
An Interview with Brian Phillpotts, Marketing Director, The Football League
Authors: Hudson David
Published: February 2016

Brian Philpotts is Marketing Director of TheFootball League and is soon to take up a similarrole at the FA Premier League. In this interviewhe talks to David Hudson of De MontfortUniversity about his role and the challenges hefaced after joining The Football League fromNewcastle United in 1999. He shares his experienceand insights on the subject of sports marketingat both league and club level.
Sponsorship of Intercollegiate Athletics: The Importance of Image Matching
Authors: Gladden James M. , Wolfe Richard
Published: February 2016

Given the importance of image matching as a rationale for sponsorship investment, this paper examines the extent to which image matching occurs in U.S. intercollegiate athletics. Utilizing student-athlete education and athletic program ethics as image dimensions, while controlling for winning, the authors find that individual corporations tend to sponsor athletic programs that project very different images. The authors then prescribe an approach that prospective sponsors could use to determine appropriate image matches.
Understanding Brand Loyalty in Professional Sport: Examining the Link Between Brand Associations and Brand Loyalty
Authors: Gladden James M. , Funk Daniel C.
Published: February 2016

This paper examines the relationship between brand associations (anything in the consumer's mind linked to a specific team brand) and brand loyalty in US professional sport. To study the relationship between 13 brand association dimensions and brand loyalty, a survey of professional sport consumers was completed (N = 929). Results of multiple regression analysis revealed positive relationships between fan identification, escape, nostalgia, and product delivery, and brand loyalty. Negative relationships were found between tradition, star players, and peer group acceptance, and brand loyalty.
Marketing Generosity: Avon's Women's Health Programs and New Trends in Global Community Relations
Authors: King Samantha
Published: February 2016

As corporate operations are increasingly internationalized and as goods are sold in a growing number of locations, companies become responsible to new and diverse communities. This essay identifies the emergence of some new strategies of global strategic community relations among US-based multinationals through a case study of Avon Products Inc. It argues that new approaches have emerged from an increased recognition among corporate executives of the need to forge ethical relations with their various constituents, in conjunction with management pressure to make community relations programs an integral component of corporate business strategy. Through a historical, contextual analysis of the Avon World Wide Fund for Women's Health and the Avon Running Global Women's Circuit - an international series of women-only 10K runs and 5K walks - the essay explores the particular valence of offering opportunities for women to participate in sport as a form of global strategic community relations. Further, it seeks to identify the ethical and political commitments enabled and constrained by such programs.
Development of the Sport Interest Inventory (SII): Implications for Measuring Unique Consumer Motives at Team Sporting Events
Authors: Funk Daniel C. , Mahony Daniel F. , Nakazawa Makoto , Hirakawa Sumiko
Published: February 2016

A 30-item Sport Interest Inventory (SII) was developed and validated for measuring ten unique motives related to consumer interest at an international sporting event. Spectators (N=1,321) attending five different US venues during the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup were administered the SII. Analysis revealed that sport and team interest, excitement, supporting women's opportunity in sport, aesthetics and vicarious achievement explained 35 per cent of the variance in spectators' interest in the event. Results provide sport marketers with consumer-based marketing strategies, particularly for women's sport.
Corporate Selling Activities and the Determinants of Corporate Partner Retention in the National Basketball Association (NBA)
Authors: Lachowetz Tony , Sutton William A. , McDonald Mark , Warnick Rodney , Clark John
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify those corporate sales activities that lead to teams' higher rates of retention of corporate customers. Twenty-two of 29 National Basketball Association (NBA) teams participated. Teams were categorized based on their success at retaining corporate customers for the three-season period 1998-99 to 2000-01. Key conclusions that led to higher rates of customer retention were: 1) teams having total control over the sale of corporate inventory; 2) corporate sales staff training; and 3) teams understanding that customers needed assistance in the activation of sponsorship programs.