bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Changes in Older Adults During Hospitalization: Responsiveness of the interRAI Acute Care Instrument
Authors: Wellens Nathalie I. H. , Verbeke Geert , Flamaing Johan , Moons Philip , Boonen Steven , Tournoy Jos , Milisen Koen
Published: April 2013

Objectives

To evaluate the responsiveness of the Minimum Data Set interRAI Acute Care (AC), a comprehensive geriatric assessment system, to detect clinical changes in patient status during hospital stays.

Design

An explorative secondary data‐analysis comparing prospectively collected data with the interRAI AC before hospitalization, upon admission, and at discharge.

Setting

Clinicians from multiple disciplines in nine geriatric and eight nongeriatric wards of nine acute hospitals performed the assessment.

Participants

The interRAI AC was administered serially to 256 geriatric inpatients (aged 83.2 ± 5.2; 60% female).

Measurements

Responsiveness (capacity to detect changes in patients) was calculated for the output scales on five domains: activities of daily living (ADLs), cognition, communication, depressive symptoms, and pain. Internal responsiveness was evaluated using the Friedman test and Guyatt technique.

Results

Significant differences in clinical status were found for all five domains, based on the Friedman test. Post hoc tests revealed differences between each assessment period, except for cognition and communication from admission to discharge and for depressive symptoms from before admission to discharge. The Guyatt Responsiveness Index showed good to excellent capacity to detect longitudinal changes during hospitalization for cognition, communication, and pain and substantial performance for ADLs and depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

In older inpatients, fluctuations in ADLs, cognition, communication, depressive symptoms, and pain can be captured using the interRAI AC output scales, enabling clinicians to evaluate longitudinal changes from admission to discharge and to provide a comparison with patient status before the acute onset of the illness. These results support the use of these scales in geriatric and nongeriatric wards.
Pharmacotherapeutic Management of Dementia Across Settings of Care
Authors: Rattinger Gail B. , Burcu Mehmet , Dutcher Sarah K. , Chhabra Pankdeep T. , Rosenberg Paul B. , Simoni‐Wastila Linda , Franey Christine S. , Walker Loreen D. , Zuckerman Ilene H.
Published: April 2013

Objectives

To describe population‐based use of cognitive‐enhancing and psychopharmacological medications across care settings in Medicare beneficiaries with dementia.

Design

One‐year (2008) cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Medicare administrative claims from a 5% random sample.

Participants

Medicare beneficiaries with dementia aged 65 and older with continuous Medicare Parts A, B, and D coverage and alive throughout 2008. To ascertain dementia, one or more medical claims with a dementia International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code was required before 2008, and an additional claim was required in 2008 to confirm active disease.

Measurements

Use of medications commonly prescribed in managing dementia (cognitive enhancers, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers) was assessed using three measures: annual prevalence of use, consistency of use, and count of psychopharmacological medication classes. Care setting was determined using the number of months of nursing home (NH) residency: no NH (0 months), partial NH (1–11 months), and full NH (12 months).

Results

Community‐dwellers represented 41.3% of the cohort, whereas 42.4% and 16.3% resided partially and fully in a NH, respectively. Annual prevalence of use was 57.1% for cognitive enhancers, 56.4% for antidepressants, 34.0% for antipsychotics, and 8.8% for mood stabilizers. Cognitive enhancer use was significantly lower in those with any NH stay (partial NH vs no NH, adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) = 0.84, 99% confidence interval (CI) = 0.83–0.86; full NH vs no NH, APR = 0.83, 99% CI = 0.81–0.85). In contrast, those with any NH residence had significantly higher use of all psychopharmacological medication classes than community‐dwellers. More than half the cohort had consistent medication regimens during 2008 (64.8%). The number of psychopharmacological medication classes used increased with increasing NH stay duration.

Conclusion

This population‐based study documents significant differences in medication use for managing dementia between care settings and substantial use of psychopharmacological medications in older adults with dementia.
Exclusion of Older Adults from Ongoing Clinical Trials About Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Cruz‐Jentoft Alfonso J. , Carpena‐Ruiz Marina , Montero‐Errasquín Beatriz , Sánchez‐Castellano Carmen , Sánchez‐García Elisabet
Published: April 2013

Objective

To assess the extent of exclusion of older individuals from ongoing clinical trials regarding type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

World Health Organization Clinical Trials Registry Platform.

Participants

Using the Participation of the Elderly in Clinical Trials methodology, data from ongoing clinical trials on type 2 diabetes mellitus were extracted from the platform on July 31, 2011.

Measurements

Proportion of trials excluding individuals using an arbitrary upper age limit or other exclusion criteria that might indirectly cause limited recruitment of older individuals. Exclusion criteria were classified as justified or poorly justified.

Results

Of 440 trials investigating treatments for type 2 diabetes mellitus, 289 (65.7%) excluded individuals using an arbitrary upper age limit. Such exclusion was significantly more common in trials with calculated sample sizes of less than 100 subjects (73.6% vs 59.5%; P = .002). Exclusion for comorbidity was present in 338 trials (76.8%); this exclusion was poorly justified in 236 trials (53.6%). Exclusion for polypharmacy (29.5% of trials), cognitive impairment (18.4%), short life expectancy (8.9%), and other poorly justified exclusion criteria that could limit the inclusion of older individuals was also present. Only six trials (1.4%) were designed specifically to study older adults.

Conclusion

Despite the recommendations of international regulatory agencies, exclusion of older individuals from ongoing trials regarding type 2 diabetes mellitus is frequent—higher than reported for other age‐related diseases. This exclusion limits the value of the evidence that clinicians use when treating old, frail, complex patients with diabetes mellitus.
Family Intervention and Health Care Costs for Kansas Medicaid Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Christenson Jacob D. , Crane D. Russell , Bell Katherine M. , Beer Andrew R. , Hillin Harvey H.
Published: April 2013

Despite a number of studies investigating the effect of pharmacotherapy on treatment costs for schizophrenia patients, there has been little attention given to the effect of family intervention. In this study, data from the Kansas Medicaid system were used to analyze healthcare costs for 164 schizophrenia patients who had participated in family intervention. Structural equation modeling was used to test two competing views of the role of family intervention in treatment. The results showed that a model including direct and indirect effects of family intervention provided a better fit to the data. Family intervention had a significant indirect effect on general medical costs (through other psychological treatment) that showed a savings of $586 for each unit increase in the provision of these services. In addition, the total indirect effects for family intervention showed a $580 savings for general medical costs and $796 for hospitalization costs (for each unit increase).
Retracted: Muscles within muscles: a tensiomyographic and histochemical analysis of the normal human vastus medialis longus and vastus medialis obliquus muscles
Authors: Travnik Ludvik , Djordjevič Srdjan , Rozman Sergej , Hribernik Marija , Dahmane Raja
Published: April 2013

The aim of this study was to show the connection between structure (anatomical and histochemical) and function (muscle contraction properties) of vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) and vastus medialis longus (VML). The non‐invasive tensiomyography (TMG) method was used to determine the contractile properties (contraction time; Tc) of VML and VMO muscle, as a reflection of the ratio between the slow and fast fibers in two groups of nine young men. VML and VMO significantly (P < 0.01) differ in the proportion of type 1 (59.6: 44%) and type 2b (6.3: 15%) fibers. The VML muscle is almost entirely composed of type 1 and type 2a fibers. In many samples of this muscle no type 2b fibers were found. The proportion of slow‐twitch type 1 fibers is nearly twice as high as the proportion of fast‐twitch type 2a fibers. These observations indicate that VML is a slower and more fatigue‐resistant muscle than VMO muscle. These characteristics correspond to the different functions of the VML, which is an extensor of the knee, and to the VMO, which maintains the stable position of the patella in the femoral groove. Our results obtained by TMG provided additional evidence that muscle fibers within the segments of VM muscle were not homogenous with regard to their contractile properties, thereby confirming the histochemical results. Tc can be attributed to the higher percentage of slow‐twitch fibers – type 1. The statistically shorter Tc (P ≤ 0.001) of VMO (22.8 ± 4.0 ms) compared with VML (26.7 ± 4.0 ms) in our study is consistent with previously found differences in histochemical, morphological and electrophysiological data. In conclusion, the results of this study provide evidence that the VML and VMO muscles are not only anatomically and histochemically different muscles, but also functionally different biological structures.
Long‐term outcome of enzyme‐replacement therapy in advanced Fabry disease: evidence for disease progression towards serious complications
Authors: Weidemann F. , Niemann M. , Störk S. , Breunig F. , Beer M. , Sommer C. , Herrmann S. , Ertl G. , Wanner C.
Published: April 2013

Objective

The long‐term effects of enzyme‐replacement therapy (ERT) in Fabry disease are unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether ERT in patients with advanced Fabry disease affects progression towards ‘hard’ clinical end‐points in comparison with the natural course of the disease.

Methods

A total of 40 patients with genetically proven Fabry disease (mean age 40 ± 9 years; n = 9 women) were treated prospectively with ERT for 6 years. In addition, 40 subjects from the Fabry Registry, matched for age, sex, chronic kidney disease stage and previous transient ischaemic attack (TIA), served as a comparison group. The main outcome was a composite of stroke, end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) and death. Secondary outcomes included changes in myocardial left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and replacement fibrosis, change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), new TIA and change in neuropathic pain.

Results

During a median follow‐up of 6.0 years (bottom and top quartiles: 5.1, 7.2), 15 events occurred in 13 patients (n = 7 deaths, n = 4 cases of ESRD and n = 4 strokes). Sudden death occurred (n = 6) only in patients with documented ventricular tachycardia and myocardial replacement fibrosis. The annual progression of myocardial LV fibrosis in the entire cohort was 0.6 ± 0.7%. As a result, posterior end‐diastolic wall thinning was observed (baseline, 13.2 ± 2.0 mm; follow‐up, 11.4 ± 2.1 mm; P < 0.01). GFR decreased by 2.3 ± 4.6 mL min−1 per year. Three patients experienced a TIA. The major clinical symptom was neuropathic pain (n = 37), and this symptom improved in 25 patients. The event rate was not different between the ERT group and the untreated (natural history) group of the Fabry Registry.

Conclusion

Despite ERT, clinically meaningful events including sudden cardiac death continue to develop in patients with advanced Fabry disease.
Held to a different standard: Racial differences in the impact of lateness on advancement opportunity
Authors: Luksyte Aleksandra , Waite Eleanor , Avery Derek R. , Roy Rumela
Published: April 2013

Racial biases affect many important personnel decisions such as performance appraisal and promotion. Yet, little is known about how these biases might influence evaluations of employee lateness behaviour. Integrating attribution theory and research on racial stereotypes and meta‐stereotypes, we investigated whether tardy Black and Hispanic employees are penalized harsher than their White counterparts in terms of unfavourable personnel outcomes. Findings from a national US survey (N = 2,789) showed that Black employees perceive fewer advancement opportunities the more often they are late – an effect that did not hold true for Hispanic or White incumbents. A follow‐up experimental study with full‐time working adults (N = 204) further illustrated that the tardiness of Black, but not White, employees negatively impacts their performance appraisal ratings and subsequent chances of advancement. This model of differential penalization of lateness behaviour suggests similar processes may generalize to other forms of stereotypical misbehaviour in organizations.

Practitioner Points

Both employees and managers should be made aware that lateness behaviours are viewed differently for Black, White and Hispanic employees with the penalizing effect applying only to Black employees.

Managers should avoid differential evaluation of the same lateness behaviour of their racially diverse employees when evaluating performance and making subsequent promotion decisions.

Managers could be trained to focus on behaviours, not the race of employees, when making important personnel decisions.
Unpacking the cross‐level effects of tenure diversity, explicit knowledge, and knowledge sharing on individual creativity
Authors: Gilson Lucy L. , Lim Hyoun Sook , Luciano Margaret M. , Choi Jin Nam
Published: April 2013

The composition of the workforce with regard to organizational tenure is rapidly changing. In this paper, we examine the cross‐level effects of tenure diversity on individual‐level creativity. In keeping with the categorization‐elaboration model, we propose individual‐level explicit knowledge as a mediating mechanism between tenure diversity and individual creativity, and knowledge sharing as moderating the relationship between tenure diversity and individual explicit knowledge. Using a sample of 341 Korean insurance agents from 76 groups, we find that knowledge sharing moderates the relationship between tenure diversity and individual explicit knowledge. Results further support the direction of the hypothesized relationships, with tenure diversity positively influencing individual explicit knowledge at high levels of knowledge sharing and exhibiting a negative influence at low levels. Individual explicit knowledge carries these indirect effects to individual creativity, although directional significance was only found at extremely high and low values.

Practitioner Points

Tenure diversity is now a fact of organizational life that managers need to embrace. While our results suggest that tenure diversity is positively related to individual creativity, individual explicit knowledge and knowledge sharing play important roles in the association.

Knowledge sharing appears to be a key boundary condition, which modifies the influence of tenure diversity on individual explicit knowledge. Working in a diverse group is not enough; the knowledge has to be shared.

Individual explicit knowledge mediates the relationship between tenure diversity and individual creativity; it carries a positive indirect effect when knowledge sharing is high and a negative indirect effect when knowledge sharing is low. For complex jobs, where creativity is desired, but much of the work is independent, managers need to encourage employees with diverse levels of tenure to share experiences and ways of performing their tasks.
Marginal bone loss of two implant systems with three different superstructure materials: a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Türk A. G. , Ulusoy M. , Toksavul S. , Güneri P. , Koca H.
Published: April 2013

Marginal bone level is a criterion for implant success. The aetiological factors of bone loss have not been clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of implant systems and prosthetic materials on the marginal bone loss. Twenty‐three patients participated; two implant systems and three superstructure materials were used in this study. Twenty‐two of the implants were restored with porcelain fused to base metal alloy (BMA), 25 with porcelain fused to noble metal alloy (NMA) and 20 with zirconium oxide‐based ceramics. Radiographs were taken at baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months after loading. Crestal bone‐level changes were assessed with digital subtraction radiographs. The effects of superstructure materials and implants were evaluated with one‐way anova and independent samples t‐test, respectively (α = 0·05). The mean crestal bone loss was found 0·483 mm in 3 months, 0·622 mm in 6 months and 0·816 mm in 12 months. Prosthetic materials were found to have greater effect (β = 0·575, P = 0·015) on crestal bone loss than implant systems (P > 0·05). The porcelain fused to BMA restorations showed higher crestal bone loss than NMA‐based restorations (P = 0·003) at 3 months, (P = 0·038), at 6 months and (P = 0·00) at 12 months; however, crestal bone loss differences between NMA and zirconia were not significant (P = 0·629) at 3 months, (P = 0·974) at 6 months and (P = 1) at 12 months. Within the limitations of this study, our results revealed that rather than the implant systems, prosthetic materials seemed to have an effective role on crestal bone.
Effects of lawsone methyl ether mouthwash on oral Candida in HIV‐infected subjects and subjects with denture stomatitis
Authors: Nittayananta Wipawee , Pangsomboon Kanokporn , Panichayupakaranant Pharkphoom , Chanowanna Nilnara , Chelae Sureerat , Vuddhakul Varaporn , Sukhumungoon Pharanai , Pruphetkaew Nannapat
Published: April 2013

Objectives

To determine (i) effects of lawsone methyl ether (LME) mouthwash on antifungal drug resistance of oral Candida, (ii) effects of LME mouthwash on changes in genotype of oral Candida, and (iii) allergy and subjects' satisfaction on LME mouthwash in comparison with chlorhexidine (CHX).

Materials and methods

A randomized clinical trial was conducted in HIV‐infected subjects and denture wearers receiving either LME or CHX mouthwash. Candidal culture by oral rinse technique was performed as baseline and after using the mouthwash for 2 weeks. Antifungal drug resistance and changes in genotype of oral Candida were assessed by microdilution assay, inverted repeat polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism assays, respectively. Allergy and subjects' satisfaction on the mouthwashes were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi‐squared and Fisher's exact tests.

Results

Twenty‐nine HIV‐infected subjects (age range, 26–54 years; mean age, 41 years) and 38 denture wearers (age range, 27–76 years; mean age, 55 years) were enrolled. C. albicans was the most common specie found in both groups followed by C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, and C. glabrata. Neither antifungal drug resistance nor significant changes in genotyping of Candida were noted among those receiving LME mouthwash. Subjects' satisfaction on taste and smell of LME mouthwash was comparable to that of CHX.

Conclusions

Use of LME mouthwash for 2 weeks neither led to antifungal drug resistance nor significant changes in genotype of oral Candida. Thus, LME may be an alternative mouthwash in prophylaxis of oral candidiasis among those at risk of developing the disease.
Teachers' Challenges, Strategies, and Support Needs in Schools Affected by Community Violence: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Maring Elisabeth F. , Koblinsky Sally A.
Published: April 2013

BACKGROUND

Exposure to community violence compromises teacher effectiveness, student learning, and socioemotional well‐being. This study examined the challenges, strategies, and support needs of teachers in urban schools affected by high levels of community violence.

METHODS

Twenty teachers from 3 urban middle schools with predominantly low‐income African American students completed open‐ended interviews. Selected schools were in geographic areas with high violent crime levels.

RESULTS

Consistent with an ecological risk and resilience framework, findings revealed that teachers experienced challenges and adopted coping strategies at the individual, family, school, and community levels. Teachers employed a number of strategies associated with resilience, such as prayer and seeking support from family and colleagues, but also engaged in some avoidant strategies, such as emotional withdrawal and avoiding difficult students.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest interventions to improve school safety and reduce the negative impact of violence‐related stressors. Teacher training in behavior management, effective school leadership, improved school security, peer mediation, expanded mental health services, and parent involvement may promote resilience among both teachers and their students.
A Multilevel Assessment of School Climate, Bullying Victimization, and Physical Activity
Authors: Roman Caterina G. , Taylor Caitlin J.
Published: April 2013

BACKGROUND

This study integrated criminological and public health perspectives to examine the influence of bullying victimization and the school environment on physical activity (PA).

METHODS

We used a weighted sample of 7786 US middle school students surveyed as part of the Health Behavior in School‐Aged Children study to conduct a multilevel analysis of bullying victimization as a predictor of self‐reported PA and number of days attending physical education (PE) classes. Hierarchical models assessed the contribution of school climate and anti‐crime programs.

RESULTS

Results indicated that bullying victimization was associated with fewer days in PE and lower odds of reporting at least 60 minutes of PA more than once a week. Although one of the school crime prevention policies examined was associated with more days in PE, the school‐level factors did not account for a large portion of the variance in the 2‐level models for either days in PE or PA.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that reduced levels of PA can be added to the growing list of health issues associated with bullying victimization and provide support for the importance of bullying prevention efforts in conjunction with health promotion programs targeted to middle school students.
Increased Risk for School Violence‐Related Behaviors Among Adolescents With Insufficient Sleep
Authors: Hildenbrand Aimee K. , Daly Brian P. , Nicholls Elizabeth , Brooks‐Holliday Stephanie , Kloss Jacqueline D.
Published: April 2013

BACKGROUND

School violence is associated with significant acute and long‐term negative health outcomes. Previous investigations have largely neglected the role of pertinent health behaviors in school violence, including sleep. Insufficient sleep is associated with adverse physical, behavioral, and psychosocial consequences among adolescents, many of which are concurrently implicated in youth violence. This study examined the relationship between insufficient sleep and school violence behaviors in a nationally representative sample of high school students.

METHOD

We used data from the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Logistic regression analyses evaluated the association between insufficient sleep and school violence behaviors, controlling for demographic factors. In addition to examining main effects, interaction terms were entered into the models to examine whether potential associations varied by sex or race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

Students with insufficient sleep had higher odds of engaging in the majority of school violence‐related behaviors examined compared to students with sufficient sleep. Males with insufficient sleep were at increased risk of weapon carrying at school, a finding not observed for females with insufficient sleep. White students with insufficient sleep had higher odds of missing school because of safety concerns, a pattern that did not emerge among Black and Hispanic/Latino students.

CONCLUSION

Results highlight the potential value of incorporating sleep education interventions into school‐based violence prevention programs and underline the need for further examination of the relationship between sleep and school violence among adolescents.
Using the Extended Parallel Process Model to Examine Teachers' Likelihood of Intervening in Bullying
Authors: Duong Jeffrey , Bradshaw Catherine P.
Published: April 2013

BACKGROUND

Teachers play a critical role in protecting students from harm in schools, but little is known about their attitudes toward addressing problems like bullying. Previous studies have rarely used theoretical frameworks, making it difficult to advance this area of research. Using the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), we examined the association between teachers' perceived threat and perceived efficacy and their likelihood of intervening in bullying situations. We also explored whether the school level at which teachers taught (elementary vs secondary), and their years of experience of working at the school moderated these associations.

METHODS

Data come from 1062 teachers who completed an anonymous Web‐based survey regarding their attitudes and responses to bullying. Structural equation modeling and multiple group analyses were used to test the hypothesized relationships and for effect modification by teacher characteristics.

RESULTS

Perceived threat and efficacy were associated with teachers' likelihood of intervening in bullying situations but varied based on teachers' years of experience at their school. For less experienced teachers, perceived efficacy, but not perceived threat, was strongly associated with likelihood of intervening. For more experienced teachers, both perceived threat and perceived efficacy were significantly associated. Finally, the associations did not differ by the school level.

CONCLUSION

This is one of few studies examining possible predictors of teachers' likelihood of intervening in bullying situations. EPPM may inform the development of bullying interventions aiming to increase the likelihood that teachers will intervene in bullying situations.
Rapidly evolving hypopituitarism in a boy with multiple autoimmune disorders
Authors: Jevalikar Ganesh , Wong Sze Choong , Zacharin Margaret
Published: April 2013

A 10‐year‐old boy with acute onset cranial diabetes insipidus and multiple autoimmune disorders had evolving panhypopituitarism, thought to be due to autoimmune hypophysitis. Over 18 months, a dramatic clinical course with progressive hypopituitarism and development of type 1 diabetes mellitus was evident. Serial brain imaging showed changes suggestive of germinoma.
A randomised trial of two techniques for bottle feeding preterm infants
Authors: Dawson Jennifer A , Myers Leanne R , Moorhead Anita , Jacobs Susan E , Ong Katherine , Salo Frances , Murray Sally , Donath Susan , Davis Peter G
Published: April 2013

Aim

Preterm infants begin the transition from gastric tube feeds to sucking feeds around 34 weeks' postmenstrual age. We compared physiological stability in two bottle feeding positions, cradle hold versus side lying in preterm infants.

Methods

Randomised crossover trial of infants <34 weeks' gestation at birth, ≥34 weeks' postmenstrual age at study and receiving at least two sucking feeds/day. Two feeds were studied on successive days. A pulse oximeter measured oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) before, during and 30 min after feeds. Continuous data were compared using paired t‐tests and proportions using chi squared.

Results

Twenty‐five study infants were mean (standard deviation (SD)) 37 (2.4) weeks' post‐menstrual age and 2740 (589) g at study. There was little difference in mean (SD) SpO2 during feeds between the cradle‐hold and side‐lying position 94 (6) % versus 95 (6) %, respectively (P = 0.55, confidence interval (CI) −1.4, 5.4). During feeds, 17/25 (68%) experienced a period of SpO2 <80% in the cradle‐hold position compared with 14/25 (56) % in the side‐lying position (P = 0.26, CI 0.68, 4.10). There were no significant differences in the mean HR or number of episodes of bradycardia HR <100 bpm. There was a trend towards infants consuming a smaller mean (SD) proportion of their feed in the cradle‐hold position compared with the side‐lying position, 82 (25) % versus 87 (20) % (P = 0.08, CI −0.64, 10.00).

Conclusions

There was little difference in infants' physiological stability between the two bottle feeding positions. Both methods may be appropriate for the transition from gastric tube to sucking feeds in preterm infants.
Toward a Theory of Multi‐Tier Supply Chain Management
Authors: Mena Carlos , Humphries Andrew , Choi Thomas Y.
Published: April 2013

Recent trends toward outsourcing and global sourcing have created longer, more complex and more fragmented supply chains. In this research, we aim to instigate a theoretical development of multi‐tier supply chain (MSC) management by adopting an inductive case study research design. Following a multiple case research design, we investigate three‐tier supply chains to develop a theory of MSC management. Each of the investigated supply chains consists of a buyer, supplier and supplier's supplier. Based on the case studies, propositions are built concerning how MSCs operate. As an underlying methodology, we first conduct a within‐case analysis and then expand that analysis to the cross‐case context. The results show the impact that the dynamics of the MSC have on power balance, structure, interdependence and relationship stability inherent in MSCs.
A Meta‐Analysis of Environmentally Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices and Firm Performance
Authors: Golicic Susan L. , Smith Carlo D.
Published: April 2013

Studies linking environmental sustainability to firm performance have been increasing as more companies are contemplating the implementation of sustainable practices internally and in coordination with other firms along their supply chains. However, findings from these studies have found positive and negative associations, leaving practitioners perplexed as to what actions would be beneficial to pursue. With hypotheses grounded in the natural resource–based view of the firm, the current study examines over 20 years of research on environmental supply chain practices using a meta‐analysis to determine whether the overall effect of these specific practices on firm performance is, in fact, positive. The results show that the link between environmental supply chain practices and market‐based, operational‐based and accounting‐based forms of firm performance is positive and significant, providing support for the business case that sustainable supply chain management results in increased firm performance. Different operationalizations of supply chain practices — upstream, design, production and downstream — along with industry, sample region, firm size and time are examined as moderators of this relationship with nuanced results that help to extend the discipline's understanding of the relationship between environmentally sustainable supply chain management and firm performance.
Economic Analysis of International Supply Chains: An Internalization Perspective
Authors: Casson Mark
Published: April 2013

Offshoring and outsourcing in global value chains have been extensively analyzed from a strategic management perspective (Gereffi & Li, 2012; Gereffi, Humphrey & Sturgeon, 2005; Mudambi & Venzin, 2010). This paper examines these issues from an internalization theory perspective by summarizing the contribution of internalization theory to supply chain analysis; considering how a division of labor is coordinated and comparing coordination by management with coordination by the market; and discussing the formal models of supply chains developed by economists. Supply chain researchers possessing an interest in economic principles and good mathematical skills can make an important contribution to internalization theory, and it is hoped that this paper will encourage them to do so.
The Reshoring Phenomenon: What Supply Chain Academics Ought to know and Should Do
Authors: Gray John V. , Skowronski Keith , Esenduran Gökçe , Johnny Rungtusanatham M.
Published: April 2013

The popular press has begun to pay attention to the phenomenon of “reshoring”. The task of supply chain management researchers with regard to this phenomenon should be to clarify what it is; to explore whether it is really a new phenomenon; and, paraphrasing (Simon, 1967; p. 1), to conduct research into the reshoring phenomenon so as to contribute not only to the science but also to the practice of reshoring. This essay is a starting point for our efforts in that direction. We make a number of informed assertions about reshoring—assertions that are juxtaposed in relevant literature and that aim to (a) define what reshoring is and is not; (b) explain why the reshoring phenomenon should not be examined in isolation but rather as a reversion of a prior offshoring decision; (c) describe how the reshoring phenomenon might evolve as societies, worldwide, place increasing emphasis on the environmental impact of business decisions; and (d) articulate a plausible scenario in which reshoring eventually hampers employment in Western nations. We hope these assertions will, in turn, jumpstart an intellectual discourse, through scientific research, into the what, how, when, where, and why of the reshoring phenomenon.
Offshoring and Reshoring: An Update on the Manufacturing Location Decision
Authors: Ellram Lisa M. , Tate Wendy L. , Petersen Kenneth J.
Published: April 2013

This research uses data from a survey to explore the factors that affect organizations' manufacturing location decisions. Manufacturing location, more specifically the possibility of firms' nearshoring or reshoring, has received a great deal of recent attention, especially in the United States. This paper applies the location aspect of internalization theory to provide an understanding of what factors affect organizations' perceptions of the attractiveness of various regions as locations for owned manufacturing facilities. An exploratory factor analysis is used to develop factors that drive manufacturing location decisions. Multiple regression analysis is used to test the relationship between the drivers of manufacturing location decisions and movement of manufacturing into or out of a region, and overall perceived risk of a region. Findings indicate that various drivers have differential effects across regions. For example, while North America is viewed favorably for its trade policies over the next 3 years, the trade policies are also viewed as an increasing source of risk, possibly reflecting bipartisan conflicts. Three theoretical propositions are developed to advance the understanding of the current state of manufacturing location decisions from an internalization perspective. It appears that organizations are beginning to look at their manufacturing location decisions through a broader lens, giving more weight to supply chain issues as well as strategic factors.
Producing Immigrant Victims’ “Right” to Legal Status and the Management of Legal Uncertainty
Authors: Lakhani Sarah Morando
Published: April 2013

This article investigates how lawyers manage legal and bureaucratic uncertainties associated with humanitarian immigration law by examining their representation of undocumented crime victims petitioning for U Visa status. Immigration attorneys craft dual narratives to persuade adjudicators that their clients qualify for and deserve this new legal status, but representing migrants well creates moral dilemmas. I explore how lawyers elicit and script narratives of “clean” victimhood to demonstrate that their clients qualify for U Visa standing. Next I argue that attorneys construct narratives articulating migrants’ civic engagement to position their clients as contributing members of society who deserve legal status. The final section illustrates how the production of these narratives generates a range of professional and ethical dilemmas for lawyers. This examination of how law is developed within a confining legal framework that is at the same time not totally institutionalized extends the “law in action” paradigm, which has been animated primarily by analyses of how legal actors tailor the idiosyncratic details of discrete cases to match existing precedents.
Stable carbon isotope labeling reveals different carry‐over effects between functional types of tropical trees in an Ethiopian mountain forest
Authors: Krepkowski Julia , Gebrekirstos Aster , Shibistova Olga , Bräuning Achim
Published: April 2013

We present an intra‐annual stable carbon isotope (δ13C) study based on a labeling experiment to illustrate differences in temporal patterns of recent carbon allocation to wood structures of two functional types of trees, Podocarpus falcatus (a late‐successional evergreen conifer) and Croton macrostachyus (a deciduous broadleaved pioneer tree), in a tropical mountain forest in Ethiopia.

Dendrometer data, wood anatomical thin sections, and intra‐annual δ13C analyses were applied.

Isotope data revealed a clear annual growth pattern in both studied species. For P. falcatus, it was possible to synchronize annual δ13C peaks, wood anatomical structures and monthly precipitation patterns. The labeling signature was evident for three consecutive years. For C. macrostachyus, isotope data illustrate a rapid decline of the labeling signal within half a year.

Our δ13C labeling study indicates a distinct difference in carryover effects between trees of different functional types. A proportion of the labeled δ13C is stored in reserves of wood parenchyma for up to 3 yr in P. falcatus. By contrast, C. macrostachyus shows a high turnover of assimilates and a carbon carryover effect is only detectable in the subsequent year.
Osteoid osteoma mimicking Brodie's abscess in a 13‐year‐old girl
Authors: Schlur Charles , Bachy Manon , Wajfisz Anthony , Ducou le Pointe Hubert , Josset Patrice , Vialle Raphaël
Published: April 2013

Osteoid osteoma is a solitary, benign lesion of bone causing significant nocturnal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and bone scan are commonly used in this diagnosis. A case of osteoid osteoma of the distal femur mimicking chronic osteomyelitis with Brodie's abscess is reported and discussed. Initial radiographs and MRI showed a lesion of the distal femur consistent with subacute osteomyelitis with a Brodie's abscess. Because primary malignant tumor could not be eliminated, surgical biopsy was carried out. Histological examination showed a typical nidus consistent with the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma. Subacute osteomyelitis (Brodie's abscess) may be difficult to distinguish from other malignant or benign bone lesions as osteoid osteoma. CT usually is recommended as the best imaging procedure to identify the nidus and confirm the diagnosis. MRI also can be used for this purpose. Surgical biopsy remains mandatory for unclear lesions before deciding on appropriate treatment.
Modelling Time to Death or Discharge in Neonatal Care: An Application of Competing Risks
Authors: Hinchliffe Sally R. , Seaton Sarah E. , Lambert Paul C. , Draper Elizabeth S. , Field David J. , Manktelow Bradley N.
Published: April 2013

Background

Understanding length of stay for babies in neonatal care is vital for planning services and for counselling parents. While previous work has focused on the length of stay of babies who survive to discharge, when investigating resource use within neonatal care, it is important to also incorporate information on those babies who die while in care. We present an analysis using competing risks methodology which allows the simultaneous modelling of babies who die in neonatal care and those who survive to discharge.

Methods

Data were obtained on 2723 babies born at 24–28 weeks gestational age in 2006–10 and admitted to neonatal care. Death and discharge alive are two mutually exclusive events and can be treated as competing risks. A flexible parametric modelling approach was used to analyse these two competing events and obtain estimates of the absolute probabilities of death or discharge.

Results

The absolute probabilities of death or discharge are presented in graphical form showing the cause‐specific cumulative incidence over time by gender, gestational age and birthweight. The discharge of babies alive generally occurred over a longer time period for babies of lower gestational age and smaller birthweight than for bigger babies.

Conclusion

This study has presented a useful statistical method for modelling the length of stay where there are significant rates of in‐unit mortality. In health care systems that are increasingly focusing on costs and resource planning, it is essential to consider not only length of stay of survivors but also for those patients who die before discharge.
Different Munc13 Isoforms Function as Priming Factors in Lytic Granule Release from Murine Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes
Authors: Dudenhöffer‐Pfeifer Monika , Schirra Claudia , Pattu Varsha , Halimani Mahantappa , Maier‐Peuschel Monika , Marshall Misty R. , Matti Ulf , Becherer Ute , Dirks Jan , Jung Martin , Lipp Peter , Hoth Markus , Sester Martina , Krause Elmar , Rettig Jens
Published: April 2013

In order to fuse lytic granules (LGs) with the plasma membrane at the immunological synapse, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) have to render these LGs fusion‐competent through the priming process. In secretory tissues such as brain and neuroendocrine glands, this process is mediated by members of the Munc13 protein family. In human CTLs, mutations in the Munc13‐4 gene cause a severe loss in killing efficiency, resulting in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 3, suggesting a similar role of other Munc13 isoforms in the immune system. Here, we investigate the contribution of different Munc13 isoforms to the priming process of murine CTLs at both the mRNA and protein level. We demonstrate that Munc13‐1 and Munc13‐4 are the only Munc13 isoforms present in mouse CTLs. Both isoforms rescue the drastical secretion defect of CTLs derived from Munc13‐4‐deficient Jinx mice. Mobility studies using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy indicate that Munc13‐4 and Munc13‐1 are responsible for the priming process of LGs. Furthermore, the domains of the Munc13 protein, which is responsible for functional fusion, could be identified. We conclude from these data that both isoforms of the Munc13 family, Munc13‐1 and Munc13‐4, are functionally redundant in murine CTLs.
Genetic diversity of Orobanche cumana populations from Spain assessed using SSR markers
Authors: Pineda‐Martos R , Velasco L , Fernández‐Escobar J , Fernández‐Martínez J M , Pérez‐Vich B
Published: April 2013

Orobanche cumana (sunflower broomrape) is found in Spain as an allochthonous species parasitising exclusively sunflower. For many years, it was distributed in the Guadalquivir Valley and Cuenca province, but in recent years, it has spread to new areas. The objective of this research was to study genetic diversity of O. cumana populations from Spain using robust co‐dominant molecular markers. Cluster analysis on a set of 50 populations using 15 microsatellite markers revealed the existence of two distant gene pools, one in Cuenca province and another one in the Guadalquivir Valley. Within each gene pool, both inter‐ and intrapopulation variability were extremely low. This population structure probably reflects a founder effect, with the two genetically distant gene pools deriving from separate introduction events. Different races occurred within the same gene pool, suggesting that current races might have evolved through mutation from a common genetic background. Most of the populations from new areas were identical to the populations from the Guadalquivir Valley. Only a few populations showed larger intrapopulation variation. In these cases, our results suggested the co‐existence of both gene pools within the same population, as well as the occurrence of genetic recombination between them. Genetic recombination between distant gene pools is an important mechanism for creating new variation, which might also have an effect on race evolution. These results will contribute to the establishment of improved crop breeding and management strategies for O. cumana control.
Prognostic factors predicting ischemic wound healing following hyperbaric oxygenation therapy
Authors: Feldman‐Idov Yulie , Melamed Yehuda , Linn Shai , Ore Liora
Published: April 2013

Identifying patients who benefit from hyperoxygenation therapy is important, because treatment is time‐consuming and involves high costs and complications (minor). Our objective was to develop a model for predicting therapy outcome based on population of patients with and without diabetes. A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a major hospital in Israel. All 385 patients treated between 1/1/1998 and 1/1/2007 for ischemic nonhealing lower extremities wounds were included. Data on medical history, demographic, transcutaneous oximetry, wounds, treatment, and outcome characteristics were collected. Eight factors were identified to optimally predict wound healing: (1) number of hyperbaric oxygenation treatments (odds ratio [OR] = 1.034, p < 0.001), (2) transcutaneous oximetry values at hyperbaric conditions (OR = 1.001, p = 0.019), (3) wound duration (OR = 0.988, p = 0.022), (4) absence of heart disease (OR = 3.304, p < 0.001), (5) being employed (OR = 3.16, p = 0.008), (6) low socioeconomic status (OR = 2.50, p = 0.004), (7a) good/partial granulation wound appearance (OR = 2.73, p = 0.022), (7b) wounds covered with fibrin (OR = 3.16, p = 0.015), and (8) absence of anemia (OR = 2.13, p = 0.016). The model's sensitivity is 78.7%, specificity is 62.9%, and accuracy is 71.8%. We suggest using our model as an adjunct to patients' clinical evaluation. Also, we recommend initiating hyperoxygenation therapy no later than 2 months after wound appearance.
Advanced optics experiments using nonuniform aperture functions
Authors: Wood Lowell T.
Published: April 2013

A method to create instructive, nonuniform aperture functions using spatial frequency filtering is described. The diffraction from a single slit in the Fresnel limit and the interference from a double slit in the Fraunhofer limit are spatially filtered to create electric field distributions across an aperture to produce apodization, inverse apodization or super-resolution, and apertures with phase shifts across their widths. The diffraction effects from these aperture functions are measured and calculated. The excellent agreement between the experimental results and the calculated results makes the experiment ideal for use in an advanced undergraduate or graduate optics laboratory to illustrate experimentally several effects in Fourier optics.
Classical connection between near-field interactions and far-field radiation and the relevance to quantum photoemission
Authors: Peatross Justin , Corson John P. , Tarbox Grayson
Published: April 2013

Interference in the far-field radiation pattern emitted from a classical current distribution implies near-field work between different spatial portions of the distribution. We examine this relationship and the essential role of system geometry for the case of two oscillating dipoles and for a Gaussian current distribution. This analysis offers a compelling argument as to why the radiation from a large single-electron quantum wave packet should not exhibit the same destructive interference as that associated with a comparable classical charge density. Our discussion draws attention to the ad hoc heuristics motivating the original derivation of a quantum electron's radiation profile.