bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dainik Jagran: sustaining leadership in the newspaper industry
Authors: Nag Tirthankar , Basu Rituparna , Dasgupta Buroshiva
Published: April 2017

Subject area

The subject area is strategy and business.

Study level/applicability

The case can be used for MBA students. This is equally effective in short courses meant for low-to-mid-level working executives. The case is suited for classes in strategy, general marketing, media management and family business courses.

Case overview

Dainik Jagran – a vernacular daily – is the most read newspaper in India. Under the banner of Jagran Prakashan Ltd.; which is one of the leading media houses in India, the success of Dainik Jagran has been an outcome of the strategic marketing decisions taken by its founder and his successors in the post-independence era. With extensive circulation, it created a large readership base and took bold decisions to launch multi editions to its daily through a series of acquisitions, mergers and consolidations from 1975 to 2010, enabling it to step into product diversification. Readership surveys, investments in technology, advertising, regular branding events and smart phone applications are a few tools that helped. While the group has diversified into other industries, there is an underlying anxiety about the future prospects of its newspaper business. With the onslaught of online news dailies, will Dainik Jagran be able to expand and maintain its readership base using its previous business and marketing strategies? Or is it time to change strategies for businesses in the newspaper and allied media industry in India?

Expected learning outcomes

The study has the following outcomes: application of value chain concept in businesses serving two-sided markets; application of environmental analysis, Porter’s five forces analysis and related strategy concepts; and learning to critically approach and develop a sustainable growth strategy framework for a successful family-run newspaper business in India.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
Time to rethink Norwegian maritime collaboration exercises
Authors: Kristiansen Elsa , Løwe Sørensen Jarle , Carlström Eric , Inge Magnussen Leif
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This case study maps the perceived collaboration between public, private and volunteer organizations during maritime crisis work, with a substantive focus on communication, information flow and distribution of activities. The exercise studied was held in the far north in Norway. It was estimated to be Europe’s most extensive exercise in 2016. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through observations, semi-structured interviews and reviews of associated frameworks and evaluation reports. Data were collected simultaneously at five different sites.

Findings

The key findings showed an intra-organizational focus, a predominance of drills and different informal exercises instead of a cohesive exercise. This made evaluation difficult. Reasons for the fragmentation of the exercise appear to be the size of the exercise and the script.

Research limitations/implications

Generalization of findings is problematic as this study involved only one exercise. However, this study has national significance, as it involved 22 public, private and volunteer stakeholder organizations, including civil emergency response units, the military, the Norwegian Civil Defence, and major maritime volunteer organizations such as the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue. Collaboration between actors suffered from the size of the exercise. A smaller exercise, less dependency on predetermined scripts, and more receptivity toward improvisation could improve collaboration.

Originality/value

The study shows how collaboration fails as an effect of strict agendas and scripts to accomplish an impressive but complex and oversized exercise.
Responsiveness, the primary reason behind re-shoring manufacturing activities to the UK
Authors: Moradlou Hamid , Backhouse Chris , Ranganathan Rajesh
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Due to today’s volatile business environment companies have started to establish a better understanding of the total risk/benefit-balance concerning manufacturing location decisions of their component supply. The focus is now much more on comprehensive and strategic supply chain issues rather than simply relying on piece-part cost analysis. This has led to an emerging trend called re-shoring. The purpose of this paper is to understand the primary motivation behind the re-shoring strategy in the UK and investigate the factors that influence this decision from Indian industries perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of the paper is based on interviews conducted in the UK and India (state of Tamil Nadu) in various industries including automotive, industrial goods, textile, and marine. For this purpose an interview framework based on key enablers identified from the literature, being information technology solutions, manufacturing equipment and human factors. This provided an assessment of the capability of the companies for being responsive to western demand.

Findings

The findings indicate that re-shoring to the UK is the result of inadequacy in responsiveness and long production lead times of the Indian suppliers. The outcome of this paper indicates that the top factors behind this inadequacy in responsiveness are logistics and transportation, electricity shortage, excessive paperwork and working attitude.

Originality/value

This paper aims to fill the gap in the re-shoring literature by providing a clear picture behind the reason for re-shoring in the UK and identify the drivers behind this shortcoming in the component supply from India.
Accelerating environmental responsibility through societal governance
Authors: Thiel Monica
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to critically reflect on how societal governance can drive environmental responsibility instead of being used as a support mechanism for other domains in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.

Design/methodology/approach

There is little discussion in the literature about the individual and social-specific issues and challenges of human and social competition within environmental responsibility. The primary objective of this literature review is to examine how societal governance may decrease environmental responsibility in cross-sector partnerships, especially within the confines of human and social competition.

Findings

Society is competing at differing levels and strategies, thereby creating changing social and environmental contexts for firms that can limit firm competitive advantage and environmental responsibility.

Practical implications

Critically reviewing societal governance apart from economic and environmental domains permits reasonably sound inferences about unmeasured social conditions or situations; thus, permitting greater understanding of not only what is happening and where it is happening but also why it is happening.

Social implications

Society is an underplayed actor than currently portrayed in the literature to drive environmental responsibility within human and social competition in cross-sector partnerships.

Originality/value

This review bridges individual and social aspects of governance and competition within and outside of the firm because society is competing in different contexts that can impact private and public sector environmental responsibility performance.
Where does the time go? A perceived shortage of time in the digital age – the Data Deluge Column
Authors: Frederick Donna Ellen
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this column is to explore the relationship between the increasing presence of computers and communication technologies during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries on the changed perception of the level of personal time available to individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

In recent years, there is considerable writing in research journals and the popular media around a cluster of time-related issues which is sometimes referred to “the time crunch”, “time poverty”, “time famine”, “overwork”, “time scarcity” and countless other similar phrases.

Findings

A predominant contemporary struggle is that we seem to lack the time. We cannot seem to do everything we should and want to do.

Originality/value

The issue of time poverty is likely to remain with us in both our professional and personal lives. The question “where did the time go?” has been growing in importance since the mid-twentieth century, and it appears reasonable that even if some of the other causes of time poverty such as gender and class inequality, lack of new experiences in later life and cultural tolerance of obsessive attitudes toward work were to be miraculously reversed, the growing persistence and invasiveness of technology in our lives are not likely something that will diminish.
International conference on digital libraries (ICDL)-2016 Report, Teri, New Delhi
Authors: Dar Saleeq Ahmad
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Conference Report (ICDL-2016) organized by TERI, New Delhi, India

Design/methodology/approach

Conference Report

Findings

The conference provided an opportunity for participants to share ideas, reach some consensus, agree on differences of opinion and create a future action agenda. All the participants from all different backgrounds were able to bring new things to light and deliberate on contemporary issues related to knowledge trends and digital strategies that will lead to smart future.

Originality/value

The International Conference on Digital Libraries 2016 on the theme of “Smart Future: Knowledge Trends that will Change the World” was convened by the The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) Library and hosted by the TERI during December 13-16, 2016, in Delhi, India.
Do literature festivals promote reading and public libraries? A survey
Authors: Kulkarni Sheshagiri , Dhanamjaya M. , Balaji B. Preedip
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between public libraries, literature festivals (litfests) and reading habits in Chennai and Bangalore to understand publishing, reading and the role of public libraries to improve reading and learning among public.

Design/methodology/approach

A field visit to select book fairs and litfests in Chennai and Bangalore was undertaken in 2015 and 2016 to collect data. A predesigned questionnaire was used for data collection at the festivals to establish the correlation among the libraries, bookshops, book fairs and litfests. A sample of n = 445 responses were received.

Findings

The findings suggest that 47 per cent of the respondents do not have any kind of library membership, and most (n = 154) of the respondents say they own an electronic device for reading. In total, 25 per cent say reading books is one of the top leisure activities, and distance (31.7 per cent) hinders people from visiting libraries for reading. Eighty per cent agree that visiting litfests influences and improves reading habits. Further, 48.4 per cent read books several times a week, and 46.7 per cent read 5-20 books in any given year. In total, 84 per cent agree that there is a significant link between a family’s reading habits and a child’s future attitude toward reading. Also, 74 per cent agree that people who buy books from bookshops also borrow books from libraries and vice versa and endorse the fact that there is a strong relationship between book buyers and library visitors.

Social implications

Litfests are booming to promote literature in India. There is a lot to be done to promote public libraries as a public good for people in India as a third space for reading, inclusion and diversity. Innovations in social media and networks, information and communication technologies and internet give an opportunity to the library sector to tap the litfest phenomenon to celebrate reading to reach a large section of the society.

Originality/value

This is a unique exploration to connect the stakeholders – policy makers, publishers and libraries – associated with reading, as studies of this nature are rarely reported in India, when print and digital publishing is flourishing.
Asset price formation and behavioral biases
Authors: Feldman Todd , Lepori Gabriele
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the debate on whether psychology affects asset prices using agent-based modeling.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors set up three simulation regimes where the first regime contains fundamental investors who invest based on the mean-variance framework. The second regime includes purely irrational investors who invest based on behavioral biases. The third regime combines the two types of investors. The authors test whether the return properties from regime 3 converge to that of regime 1 or 2.

Findings

Results suggest that the type of irrationality affects return properties in different ways. Irrational investors who are introspective in their irrationality, only examining their performance and deficiencies, do not have much of a systematic effect on stock returns when combined with rational investors. However, irrational investors that aggregate information in an irrational manner have a systematic effect when combined with rational investors.

Research limitations/implications

Research implication of using simulation analysis is that the results need to be verified via other methods such as empirical and/or experimental analysis.

Practical implications

Practical implications of the research is that policy makers can look for factors that investors use to aggregate to better understand the movement of financial prices and ignore other factors.

Social implications

Social implication is that mass psychology impacts financial prices.

Originality/value

No other paper has used agent-based/behavioral analysis to better understand how different types of behavior may impact financial prices in different ways.
Analysis of default behavior of borrowers under Islamic versus conventional banking
Authors: Bekele Genanew , Chowdhury Reza H. , Rao Ananth
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider borrower-specific characteristics to understand the factors affecting both the probability and quantum of loan default by individual borrowers under Islamic and conventional banking.

Design/methodology/approach

Borrower-specific characteristics that explain the probability of default may not necessarily be similar factors that determine the quantum of default. The authors therefore apply a Box-Cox double hurdle model to treat both the probability and quantum of default in a two-step approach. The authors also explain the differences in default risk and quantum of default between Islamic and conventional banking borrowers from their behavioral perspectives following the Sharia principles in financial transactions between lenders and borrowers. The authors use borrower-specific information of two separate bank branches of the United Arab Emirates that solely deal with either Islamic or conventional banking products.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that the probability of default and the quantum of default appear to be influenced by different set of client-specific factors. The results suggest that the probability of default does not vary significantly between Islamic and conventional banking borrowers. The evidence also shows that Islamic banking defaulters, compared to those in conventional banking, repay a large quantum of overdue when their financial leverage improves. However, they do not tend to reduce their outstanding quantum of overdue faster than conventional banking defaulters.

Research limitations/implications

Availability of data from only two bank branches may limit the explanatory power of empirical findings.

Practical implications

The study findings will enable the Islamic and conventional banks to appropriately address Basel Capital requirements based on the borrowers’ behavior.

Social implications

The study findings have the potential for Islamic and conventional financing institutions to be more flexible with equity in their lending practices.

Originality/value

Religious beliefs are crucial in borrower’s default behavior in Islamic banking.
Paste-filling weighing control system optimization based on neural network
Authors: Wang Guimei , Zhang Yong Shuo , Yang Lijie , Zhang Shuai
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to optimize the weighing control system and compensate weighing error for weighing control system of coal mine paste-filling weighing control system.

Design/methodology/approach

The process of the paste-filling weighing control system is analyzed and the mathematical model of the paste-filling material weight is established. Then, the back-propagation (BP) neural network is used to optimize the control system and compensate the weighing error.

Findings

Without the BP neural network, the weighing error of the paste-filling control system is more than 3 per cent, whereas after optimization with the BP neural network, the weighing error is less than 1 per cent. With the simulation results, it is seen that the weighing error of the paste-filling control system decreases and the accuracy of the weighing control system improves and optimizes.

Originality/value

The method can be further used to improve the control precision of the coal mine paste-filling system.
Coupling reaction of epoxide and carbon dioxide catalysed by alkali metal salts in the presence of ß-cyclodextrin derivatives
Authors: Guangqing Zhang , Qin Shenjun , Zhen Li , Haiyan Han , Hui Li , Chang Tao
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the coupling reaction of epoxide and CO2 catalysed by alkali metal salts in the presence of ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) derivatives to generate cyclic carbonates at various conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The coupling reaction was catalysed by alkali metal salts. The effects of the co-catalysts were investigated by using the conversion rate of raw materials. The affecting factors, such as reaction temperature, amount of the co-catalyst and reaction time, were explored. The possible mechanism of the coupling reaction was discussed.

Findings

Results showed that the structure of ß-CD is an important factor influencing the catalytic activity for the coupling reaction of epoxide with CO2. The catalytic system of 2,3,6-trimethyl-ß-CD with potassium iodide (KI) showed a high catalytic activity. The protocol was expanded to various epoxides, which provided the corresponding cyclic carbonates in excellent yields. The apparent decrease in the yields was not detected after four recycling times. Moreover, the mechanism for the synergetic effect of the catalyst was proposed.

Originality/value

The coupling reactions were achieved in the presence of different structure of ß-CD as co-catalysts. The affecting of substituent of ß-CD were investigated.
An initial study of the risk of coal-roof water flow based on the “three maps two predictions” method
Authors: Yingbin Guan , Xinghen Wang , Shengwen Guo
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of study is to develop methods for damage prevention and production safety.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, water aquifers in various districts of the Merlin Temple coal-mining area number 3-1 were examined using a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. Using FLAC-3D software, a three-dimensional numerical model based on the geological conditions of the first mining area was built to produce a numerical simulation of the fissure-zone and caving development in the area.

Findings

The simulation results, together with the traditional empirical formula, were used to produce a contour map of the distribution of these characteristics. This enabled areas to be classified according to various safety factors.

Originality/value

On the basis of the water richness in the area, coal-roof aquifers and the safety factors of different districts, as well as comprehensive coal-roof water-flow conditions and their associated dangers could be better understood.
Flexural and shear strengths of fiber modify lightweight aggregate concrete and its application in water-retaining structures
Authors: Qadir Adnan , Gazder Uneb
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the incorporation of lightweight aggregate concrete modify with fiber (LWACF) in water retaining structure. In developed countries LWACF is being successfully used as structural concrete; however, third-world countries such as Pakistan are still struggling to come up with the practical applications of lightweight concrete in the building and construction industry. One reason is because of the lack of reliable data regarding its performance as a structural member in the building and construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study inspected the flexural and shear tolerance of fiber-reinforced LWACF by testing six beam specimens’ cast, cured and tested after 28 days for the purpose. An overhead tank of 1,000-gallon capacity was also constructed to verify the application of LWACF by observing its water retention behavior. The experimental design included a mix design of concrete at a target strength of 21 MPa for control sample natural aggregate and for synthetic aggregate modified with polypropylene fibers. Compressive strengths of both categories of concrete were also determined by crushing the cylindrical samples at the age of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The cast beams were later subjected to the application of two-point loading test until failure.

Findings

It was found that the beams fabricated with LWACF possessed better resistance to cracks compared with those fabricated with normal weight concrete, both in terms of number and crack width. The study also concluded that the constructed water tank with LWACF was thermally efficient and structurally sound, as it showed no sign of seepage for the observed period.

Originality/value

On the basis of the results, it can be concluded that the LWACF used has revolutionized the concept of using lightweight aggregates in regular structures and that consequently it will help in a constructing a sustainable environment. One of the useful applications of such material is for water-retaining structures.
An IMB model testing via endorser types and advertising appeals on young people's attitude towards cervical cancer prevention advertisement in Hong Kong
Authors: Fung Maggie S.K.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test eight hypotheses to understand the relationship between information (Cervical Cancer Prevention (CCP) advertisements via endorser types and advertising appeals), motivation (attitude and effectiveness towards advertisements, audiences’ reported self-health consciousness, motivation to learn more information) and behaviour intentions (accept and intent to receive CCP vaccination) using the information-motivation-behavioural skills (IMB) model.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental study was conducted using a sample of 668 young people aged 18-25 in Hong Kong. Participants were asked to respond to questions relating to self-health consciousness, motivation to learn more information, attitudes and effectiveness towards the assigned print advertisements randomly drawn from a set of eight (4 × 2 full-factorial) experimental designs and behavioural intentions.

Findings

Results revealed that celebrity endorsers had the most effective CCP ad appeal among young consumers regardless of advertising appeal in Hong Kong. The findings suggested that highly self-health conscious young people are motivated to learn more information about CCP and have a more positive attitude and effectiveness towards the CCP advertisement. Furthermore, effective advertisement predicts higher motivation and behavioural intention, whereas higher “self-health consciousness” and “motivation to learn more information” predicts more positive advertisement attitude.

Originality/value

By investigating young consumers’ attitude and effectiveness towards CCP advertisements, this paper aimed to expand the knowledge of previous studies and contribute to advertising theory by focusing on CCP aspects in Hong Kong context.
Microbial viability, physicochemical and sensory properties of kefir microcapsules prepared using maltodextrin/Arabic gum mixes
Authors: Nale Zeynep , Tontul Ismail , Aşçi Arslan Ayşe , Sahin Nadeem Hilal , Kucukcetin Ahmet
Published: April 2017

Kefir microencapsulation was optimised using Box–Behnken's response surface methodology. Product yield, moisture, water activity, bulk density, hygroscopicity, colour, wettability, solubility, particle size, pH, titratable acidity and microstructure were analysed. The viable counts of lactobacilli, lactococci and yeasts in the kefir microcapsules were found in the range of 9.03–9.92 log cfu/g, 9.56–11.51 log cfu/g and 3.09–5.90 log cfu/g, respectively. Sensory evaluation indicated that reconstituted samples obtained from microencapsulated kefir samples had high and/or full scores for flavour, appearance/colour and structure/texture. Addition of hydrocolloids to kefir before spray‐drying provided sufficient stability for the powdered product.
Identifying key genes in rheumatoid arthritis by weighted gene co‐expression network analysis
Authors: Ma Chunhui , Lv Qi , Teng Songsong , Yu Yinxian , Niu Kerun , Yi Chengqin
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This study aimed to identify rheumatoid arthritis (RA) related genes based on microarray data using the WGCNA (weighted gene co‐expression network analysis) method.

Methods

Two gene expression profile datasets GSE55235 (10 RA samples and 10 healthy controls) and GSE77298 (16 RA samples and seven healthy controls) were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database. Characteristic genes were identified using metaDE package. WGCNA was used to find disease‐related networks based on gene expression correlation coefficients, and module significance was defined as the average gene significance of all genes used to assess the correlation between the module and RA status. Genes in the disease‐related gene co‐expression network were subject to functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis using Database for Annotation Visualization and Integrated Discovery. Characteristic genes were also mapped to the Connectivity Map to screen small molecules.

Results

A total of 599 characteristic genes were identified. For each dataset, characteristic genes in the green, red and turquoise modules were most closely associated with RA, with gene numbers of 54, 43 and 79, respectively. These genes were enriched in totally enriched in 17 Gene Ontology terms, mainly related to immune response (CD97, FYB, CXCL1, IKBKE, CCR1, etc.), inflammatory response (CD97, CXCL1, C3AR1, CCR1, LYZ, etc.) and homeostasis (C3AR1, CCR1, PLN, CCL19, PPT1, etc.). Two small‐molecule drugs sanguinarine and papaverine were predicted to have a therapeutic effect against RA.

Conclusion

Genes related to immune response, inflammatory response and homeostasis presumably have critical roles in RA pathogenesis. Sanguinarine and papaverine have a potential therapeutic effect against RA.
A Prospective Comparison of How the Level of Response to Alcohol and Impulsivity Relate to Future DSM‐IV Alcohol Problems in the COGA Youth Panel
Authors: Schuckit Marc A. , Smith Tom L. , Danko George , Anthenelli Robert , Schoen Lara , Kawamura Mari , Kramer John , Dick Danielle M. , Neale Zoe , Kuperman Samuel , McCutcheon Vivia , Anokhin Andrey P. , Hesselbrock Victor , Hesselbrock Michie , Bucholz Kathleen
Published: April 2017

Background

Alcohol problems reflect both environmental and genetic characteristics that often operate through endophenotypes like low levels of response (low LRs) to alcohol and higher impulsivity. Relationships of these preexisting characteristics to alcohol problems have been studied, but few analyses have included both low LR and impulsivity in the same model.

Methods

We extracted prospective data from 1,028 participants in the Prospective Youth Sample of the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). At Time 1 (age 18), these drinking but non‐alcohol‐dependent males and females completed the Barratt Impulsivity Scale and the Self‐Report of the Effects of Alcohol questionnaire regarding drinks required for effects the first 5 times of drinking (SRE5‐LR). Two years later, they reported perceived drinking patterns of peers (PEER), their own alcohol expectancies (EXPECT), and their drinking to cope with stress (COPE). Subsequently, at Time 3, participants reported numbers of up to 11 DSM‐IV alcohol criterion items experienced in the 2 years since Time 2 (ALC PROBS). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results

In the SEM, Baseline SRE5‐LR and impulsivity were weakly related and did not interact in predicting later ALC PROBS. LR was directly linked to Time 3 ALC PROBS and to PEER, but had no direct path to EXPECT, with partial mediation to ALC PROBS through PEER to EXPECT and via COPE. Impulsivity did not relate directly to ALC PROBS or PEER, but was directly related to EXPECT and COPE, with effects on ALC PROBS also operating through EXPECT and COPE.

Conclusions

Low LRs and impulsivity related to Time 3 ALC PROBS through somewhat different paths. Education‐ and counseling‐based approaches to mitigate future alcohol problems may benefit from emphasizing different potential mediators of adverse alcohol outcomes for youth with low LRs versus those with high impulsivity or both characteristics.
Global correlates of extinction risk in freshwater crayfish
Authors: Bland L. M.
Published: April 2017

Global trait‐based analyses can shed light on the factors predisposing species to high extinction risk, and can help bridge knowledge gaps in speciose and poorly known taxa. In this paper, I conduct the first global comparative study of crayfish extinction risk. I collated data on intrinsic (biology and ecology) and extrinsic (environment and threats) factors for 450 crayfish species assessed on the IUCN Red List. Phylogenetic multiple regression models were used to identify correlates of risk in all species; in centres of diversity (American cambarids and Australian parastacids); and among threat types (agriculture, water management, pollution). I assessed the relative ability of threat maps quantifying specific threats (e.g. river fragmentation, mercury deposition) or a generic threat (human population density) to predict crayfish extinction risk. I also quantified the effects of range size on extinction risk with variation partitioning and multiplicative bivariate regressions. Crayfish with small range size, small body size, habitat dependency on caves, and with ranges in areas of low precipitation, high altitude and high human population density were at higher risk of extinction. Correlates of risk varied between American cambarids and Australian parastacids, suggesting that centres of diversity shape patterns of extinction risk in crayfish. The explanatory power of models ranged between 31 and 65%, with low explanatory power for models based on threat types. Few specific threat measures were significantly related to extinction risk, suggesting that large‐scale threat mapping may not be informative for freshwater invertebrates. In the absence of population data for most freshwater invertebrates, trait‐based models are powerful and cost‐effective tools for understanding and mitigating drivers of extinction risk.
Predictive value of serum sST2 in preschool wheezers for development of asthma with high FeNO
Authors: Ketelaar M. E. , van de Kant K. D. , Dijk F. N. , Klaassen E. M. , Grotenboer N. S. , Nawijn M. C. , Dompeling E. , Koppelman G. H.
Published: April 2017

Wheezing is common in childhood. However, current prediction models of pediatric asthma have only modest accuracy. Novel biomarkers and definition of subphenotypes may improve asthma prediction. Interleukin‐1‐receptor‐like‐1 (IL1RL1 or ST2) is a well‐replicated asthma gene and associates with eosinophilia. We investigated whether serum sST2 predicts asthma and asthma with elevated exhaled NO (FeNO), compared to the commonly used Asthma Prediction Index (API). Using logistic regression modeling, we found that serum sST2 levels in 2‐3 years‐old wheezers do not predict doctors’ diagnosed asthma at age 6 years. Instead, sST2 predicts a subphenotype of asthma characterized by increased levels of FeNO, a marker for eosinophilic airway inflammation. Herein, sST2 improved the predictive value of the API (AUC=0.70, 95% CI 0.56‐0.84), but had also significant predictive value on its own (AUC=0.65, 95% CI 0.52‐0.79). Our study indicates that sST2 in preschool wheezers has predictive value for the development of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthmatic children at school age.
Imaging collector channel entrance with a new intraocular micro‐probe swept‐source optical coherence tomography
Authors: Xin Chen , Chen Xiaoya , Li Meng , Shi Yan , Wang Huaizhou , Wang Ruikang , Wang Ningli
Published: April 2017

Purpose

To describe the use of a newly developed side‐viewing catheter probe to provide the cross‐sectional images of collector channel entrance (CCE), achieved by swept‐source optical coherence tomography (SS‐OCT).

Methods

A side‐viewing SS‐OCT catheter probe was developed that has a core probe diameter of 0.15 mm and an outer diameter of 0.25 mm, for the purpose of imaging CCEs within eye globe. Cadaver eyes harvested from swine and human were used to demonstrate its feasibility. For porcine eyes, the probe imaged the CCE by accessing the region of the aqueous plexus (AP) as well as along the inner wall (IW) of the trabecular meshwork (TM). For human eyes, the CCE images were captured by placing the probe within the lumen of the Schlemm's canal (SC) and along its IW.

Results

With the optical coherence tomography (OCT) catheter probe, the CCE is well delineated as optically empty areas within the highly scattering sclera. In porcine eyes, images captured in the region of the AP demonstrate a large cavity with delicate tissue strands around the probe. The CCE can be identified at the outer margin of the AP. When imaged along the IW, the TM is discernable but difficult to be distinguished from the AP. In the human limbal regions, when placed within the lumen of the SC, the catheter probe fully occupies the potential space. TM is highly compact. The CCE can be identified at the outer wall of the SC. When imaged along the IW of TM, the SC and CCE can be identified.

Conclusion

The intraocular SS‐OCT catheter probe is feasible to provide the CCE images, indicating useful clinical applications to assist glaucoma surgery.
Topical antibiotics and intravitreal injections
Authors: Hunyor Alex P. , Merani Rohan , Darbar Archie , Korobelnik Jean‐François , Lanzetta Paolo , Okada Annabelle A.
Published: April 2017

There is increasing evidence that topical antibiotics, given before and/or after intravitreal injections, are ineffective in preventing endophthalmitis and are possibly harmful. In addition to the lack of efficacy and increased development of resistant organisms, the use of topical antibiotics adds significantly to the cost of delivering intravitreal therapy. Despite this, in many countries, it is still common practice to use pre‐ and/or postinjection topical antibiotics. This review outlines the general principles of effective antibiotic prophylaxis, and the evidence regarding topical antibiotic use as a prophylactic measure for endophthalmitis following intravitreal injections. A key distinguishing feature of intravitreal injections from most other invasive procedures is the fact that they are often repeated on multiple occasions to the same eye. Given the lack of evidence to support topical antibiotics as an effective method of prophylaxis for postinjection endophthalmitis, it appears that more widespread education of ophthalmologists is required to avoid continued inappropriate use. Revision of drug labels in some jurisdictions, and amendment of local/professional society guidelines, may be required to assist in achieving this goal. Emphasis should be placed on antisepsis and aseptic technique, which are the major proven methods of endophthalmitis prevention, rather than antibiotics.
Factors affecting soil seed banks of riparian communities in an agricultural ecosystem: potential for conservation of native plant diversity
Authors: Dalton Rebecca L. , Carpenter David J. , Boutin Céline , Allison Jane E.
Published: April 2017

Questions

Do agricultural land use and nitrogen (N) enrichment have negative effects on riparian soil seed banks? What is the potential of the soil seed bank for the conservation and restoration of native riparian plant diversity? Are non‐native dominant grass species affected by agriculture and do they affect species richness?

Location

South Nation River watershed (an agricultural watershed), Ontario, Canada.

Methods

We examined the riparian above‐ground vegetation at 24 sites located across a large (~4000 km2) North American watershed and identified the corresponding soil seed bank composition from soil cores using the seedling emergence method. The above‐ground vegetation and soil seed bank species compositions were compared in terms of species richness, percentage of non‐native species and a floristic quality index. Factors affecting these descriptors of plants communities (concentration of in‐stream nitrate and percentages of surrounding natural habitat and annual crop land) were assessed. The effects of agriculture on two dominant non‐native grasses species and their effects on species richness were also assessed.

Results

In total, 274 plant taxa were identified, including 181 taxa in the soil seed bank and 231 taxa in the vegetation. Overall species richness was high in both the soil seed bank and above‐ground vegetation and was unaffected by measures of agricultural intensity (surrounding annual crop land and N enrichment). Above‐ground vegetation species richness was strongly negatively affected by the widespread and dominant non‐native grasses, Phalaris arundinacea and Bromus inermis, whereas soil seed bank species richness was unaffected. The community compositions of both the soil seed bank and vegetation were negatively affected by the loss of natural habitat and by N enrichment. In fact, an increase in the percentage of non‐native species and a decrease in floristic quality were observed along a gradient of agricultural intensity.

Conclusions

Species richness of the soil seed bank demonstrated resilience to invasions by P. arundinacea and B. inermis, and the soil seed bank showed good potential for conservation of taxonomic diversity. However, the loss of natural habitat and N enrichment had negative effects on the soil seed bank community composition that may lead to an eventual decline in above‐ground species richness.
Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with direct‐acting antivirals in patients with β‐thalassaemia major and advanced liver disease
Authors: Sinakos Emmanouil , Kountouras Dimitrios , Koskinas John , Zachou Kalliopi , Karatapanis Stylianos , Triantos Christos , Vassiliadis Themistoklis , Goulis Ioannis , Kourakli Alexandra , Vlachaki Efthymia , Toli Barbara , Tampaki Maria , Arvaniti Pinelopi , Tsiaoussis Georgios , Bellou Aristea , Kattamis Antonis , Maragkos Konstantinos , Petropoulou Foteini , Dalekos George N. , Akriviadis Evangelos , Papatheodoridis George V.
Published: April 2017

Interferon‐based regimens for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) were often deferred in patients with β‐thalasaemia major (β‐TM) due to poor efficacy and tolerance. Current guidelines recommend direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) for these patients. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of DAAs in patients with β‐TM and advanced liver disease due to CHC. Patients were recruited from eight liver units in Greece. The stage of liver disease was assessed using transient elastography and/or liver histology. Five regimens were used: sofosbuvir (SOF) + ribavirin (RBV); SOF + simeprevir ± RBV; SOF + daclatasvir ± RBV; ledipasvir/SOF ± RBV and ombitasvir/paritaprevir‐ritonavir + dasabuvir ± RBV. Sixty‐one patients (median age 43 years) were included. The majority of patients was previously treated for hepatitis C (75%) and had cirrhosis (79%). Viral genotype distribution was: G1a: n = 10 (16%); G1b: n = 22 (36%); G2: n = 2 (3%); G3: n = 14 (23%); G4: n = 13 (22%). The predominant chelation therapy was a combination of deferoxamine and deferiprone (35%). Overall sustained virological response rates were 90%. All treatment regimens were well tolerated and no major adverse events or drug‐drug interactions were observed. Approximately half of the patients who received RBV (7/16, 44%) had increased needs for blood transfusion. Treatment of CHC with DAAs in patients with β‐TM and advanced liver disease was highly effective and safe.
Who is at risk of death from nephrectomy? An analysis of thirty‐day mortality after 21 380 nephrectomies in 3 years of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) National Nephrectomy Audit
Authors: Fernando Archie , Fowler Sarah , Van Hemelrijck Mieke , O'Brien Tim ,   the British Association of Urological Surgeons ( BAUS )
Published: April 2017

Objective

To ascertain contemporary overall and differential thirty‐day mortality (TDM) rates after all types of nephrectomy in the UK, and to identify potential new risk factors for death.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the 110 deaths that occurred within 30 days of surgery out of the total of 21 380 nephrectomies performed, and calculated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for TDM based on peri‐operative characteristics.

Results

The overall TDM rate was 110/21380 (0.5%). The TDM rates after radical, partial, simple nephrectomy and nephro‐ureterectomy were 0.6% (63/11057), 0.1% (4/3931), 0.4% (11/2819) and 0.9% (28/3091), respectively. TDM increased with age, stage, estimated blood loss (EBL), operating time and performance status. EBL of 1–2 L was associated with a greater risk of TDM than EBL of 2–5 L (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.03–2.24). Conversion from minimally invasive surgery was associated with higher risk than non‐conversion (OR 2.53; 95% CI 1.14–4.51. Curative surgery was safer than cytoreductive surgery (OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.18–0.54). There was an association between surgical volume and TDM.

Conclusions

This study provides contemporary insights into the true risks of all types of nephrectomy. The TDM rate after nephrectomy in the UK appears acceptably low at 0.5%. Established risk factors were confirmed and the following novel risk factors were identified: modest EBL (1–2 L) and conversion from minimally invasive surgery.
Clinical sequencing using a next‐generation sequencing‐based multiplex gene assay in patients with advanced solid tumors
Authors: Kou Tadayuki , Kanai Masashi , Yamamoto Yoshihiro , Kamada Mayumi , Nakatsui Masahiko , Sakuma Tomohiro , Mochizuki Hiroaki , Hiroshima Akinori , Sugiyama Aiko , Nakamura Eijiro , Miyake Hidehiko , Minamiguchi Sachiko , Takaori Kyoichi , Matsumoto Shigemi , Haga Hironori , Seno Hiroshi , Kosugi Shinji , Okuno Yasushi , Muto Manabu
Published: April 2017

Advances in next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have enabled physicians to test for genomic alterations in multiple cancer‐related genes at once in daily clinical practice. In April 2015, we introduced clinical sequencing using an NGS‐based multiplex gene assay (OncoPrime) certified by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment. This assay covers the entire coding regions of 215 genes and the rearrangement of 17 frequently rearranged genes with clinical relevance in human cancers. The principal indications for the assay were cancers of unknown primary site, rare tumors, and any solid tumors that were refractory to standard chemotherapy. A total of 85 patients underwent testing with multiplex gene assay between April 2015 and July 2016. The most common solid tumor types tested were pancreatic (n = 19; 22.4%), followed by biliary tract (n = 14; 16.5%), and tumors of unknown primary site (n = 13; 15.3%). Samples from 80 patients (94.1%) were successfully sequenced. The median turnaround time was 40 days (range, 18–70 days). Potentially actionable mutations were identified in 69 of 80 patients (86.3%) and were most commonly found in TP53 (46.3%), KRAS (23.8%), APC (18.8%), STK11 (7.5%), and ATR (7.5%). Nine patients (13.0%) received a subsequent therapy based on the NGS assay results. Implementation of clinical sequencing using an NGS‐based multiplex gene assay was feasible in the clinical setting and identified potentially actionable mutations in more than 80% of patients. Current challenges are to incorporate this genomic information into better therapeutic decision making.
Novel reduction‐sensitive micellar nanoparticles assembled from Rituximab–doxorubicin conjugates as smart and intuitive drug delivery systems for the treatment of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma
Authors: Yin Huabin , Meng Tong , Shu Ling , Mao Min , Zhou Lei , Chen Haiyan , Song Dianwen
Published: April 2017

In this study, a novel reduction‐sensitive drug delivery system, the rituximab–doxorubicin (RTX‐DOX) micellar nanoparticle (RDMN), was specially designed for targeted delivery and release of DOX in non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cells. The RDMN was fabricated by self‐assembling of amphiphilic RTX‐DOX conjugates (RDCs), which were synthesized by conjugating the hydrophilic Fab fragments of RTX (an anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody) and hydrophobic DOXs by a reduction‐responsive linker, 3‐(2‐Pyridyldithio) propionyl hydrazide (PDPH). The RDMNs were characterized via dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, both showed the sizes of approximately 94.1 ± 14.5 nm with a uniform size distribution. Polyplex dissociation, which was indicated by accelerated DOX release rate and increased particle size, was observed in the presence of 2.5 mm 1,4‐dithiothreitol due to the cleavage of disulfide bonds in PDPH linkers. In vitro transfection assays against human NHL cell line, JeKo‐1, showed significantly increased uptake for RDMNs, as compared to RDCs and free RTX/DOX. Both in and ex vivo experiments demonstrated that RDMNs showed the highest therapeutic effect among all the experimental groups. These results suggested that this RDMN could be a potential, safe and efficient drug delivery vector, which deserves further investigation in the clinic.