bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure of the mercury(II) mixed-halide (Br/Cl) complex of 2,2′-(5-tert-butyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(1-pentyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole)
Authors: Rani Varsha , Singh Harkesh B. , Butcher Ray J.
Published: February 2017

The mercury(II) complex of 2,2′-(5-tert-butyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(1-pentyl-1H-benzimidazole), namelycatena-poly[[dihalogenidomercury(II)]-μ-2,2′-(5-tert-butyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(1-pentyl-1H-benzimidazole)-κ2N3:N3′], [HgBr1.52Cl0.48(C34H42N4)],2, has a polymeric structure bridgingviathe N atoms from the benzimidazole moieties of the ligand. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space groupPca21and is a racemic twin [BASF = 0.402 (9)]. The geometry around the HgIIatom is distorted tetrahedral, with the HgIIatom coordinated to two N atoms, one Br atom, and a fourth coordination site is occupied by a mixed halide (Br/Cl). For the two ligands in the asymmetric unit, there is disorder with one of the twotert-butyl groups and benzimidazole moieties showing twofold disorder, with occupancy factors of 0.57 (2):0.43 (2) for thetert-butyl group and 0.73 (3):0.27 (3) for the benzimidazole group. In addition, there is threefold disorder for two of the fourn-pentyl groups, with occupancy factors of 0.669 (4):0.177 (4):0.154 (4) and 0.662 (4):0.224 (4):0.154 (4), respectively. The molecules form a one-dimensional helical polymer propagating in theb-axis direction. The helices are held together by intra-strand C—H...Br and C—H...Cl interactions. Each strand is further linked by inter-strand C—H...Br and C—H...Cl interactions. In addition, there are weak C—H...N inter-strand interactions which further stabilize the structural arrangement.
A new solvate of afatinib, a specific inhibitor of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinases
Authors: Zeller Matthias , Araujo Gabriel Lima Barros de , Parker Trev , Singh Rai Amrinder , Byrn Stephen R.
Published: February 2017

Afatinib (systematic name:N-{4-(3-chloro-4-fluoroanilino)-7-[(tetrahydrofuran-3-yl)oxy]quinazolin-6-yl}-4-(dimethylamino)but-2-enamide), is a specific inhibitor of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinases. The free base form crystallizes from acetonitrile as a mixed water–acetonitrile solvent, C24H25ClFN5O3·0.25C2H3N·2H2O. It crystallizes with two independent molecules (AandB) in the asymmetric unit of the chiral space groupP4212, but exhibits close to perfect pseudo-inversion symmetry, emulatingP4/nccthat relates the two molecules to each other. Exact inversion symmetry is however broken by swapping of oxygen and CH2moieties of the outer tetrahydrofuranyl substituents of the two independent molecules. This can, in turn, be traced back to C—H...N and C—H...O interactions of the acetonitrile solvent molecules with the tetrahydrofuran oxygen and CH2units. In the crystal, neighboring molecules are connectedviaN—H...O hydrogen bonds between the secondary amine and the amide keto O atom. Additional hydrogen bonds are formed through the water solvent molecules, which are engaged in O—H...O and O—H...N hydrogen bonds connecting to the dimethylamino N atom, the amide keto O atom, and one of the quinazoline N atoms of a neighboring molecule, leading to an intricate three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded superstructure. There are two types of channels stretching along the direction of thecaxis; one along the fourfold rotational axis, occupied by acetonitrile solvent molecules situated on that axis, and parallel channels which are not occupied by any solvent.
1,4-Dimethylpyridinium iodide
Authors: Deschner Joshua , Choczynski Jack M. , Wong Calvin Y. , Hayes Kathleen L. , Crisci Ralph R. , Lasher Emily M. , Dragonette Joseph , Cardenas Allan Jay P.
Published: February 2017

The title organic salt, C7H10N+·I−, was synthesized from a mixture of 4-methylpyridine and iodomethane in 2-propanol. It crystallized with three independent 1,4-dimethylpyridinium cations and three independent iodide anions in the asymmetric unit. In the crystal, there are no significant intermolecular interactions present.
Measuring market risk for an agricultural exporter firm: a Copula approach
Authors: Fernández Julián
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of market risk on the revenues perceived by an agricultural producer, namely, a coffee exporter firm.

Design/methodology/approach

To model this risk, copula models and extreme value theory are used to perform more robust estimations, which take into account the multivariate dependence between the risk factors. As a final point, different quantitative measures of risk, such as the value at risk and the expected shortfall, are estimated as an indicator of the maximum expected loss.

Findings

One of the principal findings is that for an agricultural exporter firm, there is an optimal decision between exporting to another country and selling the commodity in the national market. The choice regarding the levels exported will determine the firm’s amount of risk and expected return.

Research limitations/implications

One of the limitations found in modelling the risk/return of the firm is the data. Not much data on the structure of the firm can be found, and many of the firms are averse to providing such information.

Practical implications

The purpose of the paper is to create a measure of risk to analyse the future of the firm, generating a measure of expected risk and return that takes into account the uncertainty of the future. The applications can be applied to measure the risk of a potential investment and real option valuation.

Originality/value

This paper applied multiple coherent measures of financial risk to an agricultural commodity exporter firm. This can be novel, especially in the context of a non-financial firm.
Efficiency and exogenous factors: evidence from Spanish tourism regions
Authors: Solana Ibáñez José , Para González Lorena , de Nieves Nieto Carmen
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the performance of Spanish tourism regions for the 2008-2011 period, to obtain a ranking of efficiency and to examine the hypothesis that the efficiency of these regions is determined by a group of contextual variables.

Design/methodology/approach

In contrast with monitoring reports based on descriptive methods, this paper uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology and bootstrap semiparametric procedures to correct inherent bias. The significance of a group of exogenous factors is investigated and the importance of each determinant is ordered by its elasticity.

Findings

The ranking obtained by radial DEA models and by bias-corrected ones describes two remarkably different settings. The exogenous variables influence hypothesis and confirmed: that estimated coefficients are of the correct sign and statistically significant at 5 per cent.

Originality/value

The statistical significance of the potential attractors can offer an interesting tool for strategic decisions. The two-stage procedure employed has supposed a turning point in the methodology and there are only a handful of very recent studies of this type in the literature on tourism destination performance. In this sense, no previous work has considered the returns to scale test or the separability assumption. Following United Nations of World Tourism Organization recommendations, it is essential to move towards responsible tourism in all aspects. Some final considerations about the link between performance and sustainability of the Spanish tourist model are addressed in this study.
A framework for benchmarking the strategic position of bond markets in the competing environment
Authors: Sukcharoensin Sorasart
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a benchmarking framework for identifying different indicators and their importance in forming the strategic position of Thai bond markets in competitive economies using Strategic Position and Action Evaluation (SPACE) matrix framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The Delphi approach is deployed for indicator selection and the framework validation. A questionnaire survey is then used to assess the importance of different factors determining the strategic bond market development and competitiveness using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model.

Findings

A group of experienced bond market experts assign different levels of importance for each key factor under a given dimension to reach consensus. The results reveal that there are 17 factors affecting the strategic development and competitiveness of the bond market. Among four aspects under the framework, the financial strength dimension is considered by the experts as the most dominant aspect to strategic bond market development, followed by competitive advantage, industry strength, and environment stability, respectively.

Practical implications

The benchmarking framework developed in this study is useful for guiding measurement and assessment of the strategic position of bond markets in the competing environment.

Originality/value

The author proposes for the first time a conceptual framework based on macro-level data to assess the strategic bond market development and competitiveness using SPACE matrix method. The study employs the Delphi’s technique and in-depth interview with bond market experts to build indicators for each dimension under the framework. Second, this paper also applies the AHP to discover the order of relative importance for the indicators identified by the experts through pairwise comparison to reach consensus, which has never been conducted before.
A framework to enhance agile manufacturing system
Authors: Sindhwani Rahul , Malhotra Vasdev
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the interactions among different enablers of agile manufacturing system (AMS). The existing enablers available in the past literature are scattered and not able to meet specific requirements of the customers. So, it becomes a necessity to encapsulate these enablers in appropriate proportions to enable traditional organizations to AMS. To fill this gap total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) and MICMAC analysis-based framework model have been developed to understand the mutual interactions between among the enablers.

Design/methodology/approach

Identification of enablers followed by application of TISM, which is an innovative version of ISM and MICMAC analysis, is used to study and analyze the mutual interactions between identified enablers.

Findings

The result reveals that top management support, organizational structure and information technology integration have strong driving power and weak dependence power and are at the lowest level in the TISM model hierarchy, while the outcome enablers of AMS have low-driving power but have high-dependence power.

Research limitations/implications

This model is developed on the basis of inputs from few experts and may not reflect the opinion of whole industry community.

Practical implications

Top management must stress on enablers having strong driving power for efficient implementation of AMS. Managers in the area of manufacturing may drive useful insights from the empirical study presented in this paper. Managers should plan an effective strategy for proper implementation of AMS which makes organization more agile, productive, competitive and profitable.

Originality/value

TISM-based framework structural model has been proposed for industry or organization which is a new effort for implementation of AMS.
Extended dependency network diagrams: adding a strategic dimension
Authors: Ulbrich Frank , Borman Mark
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Organizations increasingly form or join collaborations to gain access to resources paramount for achieving a sustained competitive advantage. This paper aims to propose an extension to the established dependency network diagram (DND) technique to better facilitate analysis, design and, ultimately, strategic management of such collaborations.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the resource dependence theory, the constructs of power and secondary dependency are operationalized and integrated into the original DND technique. New rules and an updated algorithm for how to construct extended DNDs are provided.

Findings

The value of the proposed extension of the DND technique is illustrated by analysis of an application hosting collaboration case study from the Australian financial service industry.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides preliminary evidence for strategically managing resource collaborations. Future research could further test empirically the usefulness of the proposed extension of the DND technique and how much it contributes to better understanding resource collaborations.

Practical implications

The proposed extension of the DND technique enables managers to perform a broader analysis of dependencies among participants in a collaboration, helping them to more accurately comprehend the relationships between the entities in their collaborative environment and, thus, being in a better position of strategically managing resource dependencies.

Originality/value

The proposed extension of the DND technique makes a central contribution to the extant literature by adding a strategic dimension to a visualization technique used to represent collaborative environments.
A manager/researcher can learn about professional practices in their workplace by using case research
Authors: Morelli Joseph , Perry Chad
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The research involved a funeral home manager who used case research within another funeral home to learn more about how to manage his own workplace. This research aims to investigate for the first time how funeral homes can strategically manage the marketing of their services to customers during emotional times in their lives.

Design/methodology/approach

The two methodologies of convergent interviewing and case research in a funeral home workplace are described in detail.

Findings

The case research revealed what strategic marketing management principles have to be emphasized in the unique context of funeral homes, and the related need to develop a hybrid strategy. The project demonstrated that a case research project can align a formal research project with the professional development of managers.

Practical implications

The paper provided the first author with a valuable learning experience of management in his industry, and provides other funeral home managers with a detailed guide to doing their strategic marketing management.

Originality/value

The authors’ contributions are the first example of case research used for workplace learning in a blend of formal academic research and workplace learning. It is also the first academically rigorous coverage of strategic marketing management workplace practices in the unique context of funeral homes; they were uncovered in interviews across a range of staff levels in a funeral home.
Factors influencing foreign direct investment in South Asian economies
Authors: Adhikary Bishnu Kumar
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the macroeconomic determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) for the top five South Asian economies, namely, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, and to examine whether these factors are the same for each.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs fully modified ordinary least squares and two-stage least squares estimation methods.

Findings

This study shows that South Asian economies have a number of FDI determinants in common. For example, market size and human capital are the two most common factors attracting FDI in each country (except for Nepal, which revealed a negative correlation between FDI and market size). Other factors, such as infrastructure, domestic investment, lending rates, exchange rates, inflation, financial stability/crisis, and stock turnover entered into regression with both positive and negative signs, thereby indicating that the underlying theories on FDI do not provide a clear prediction of the direction of the effect of a particular variable on FDI.

Research limitations/implications

This paper studied the effects of demand-side factors on FDI. A comparative study of the supply-side factors may add further knowledge.

Practical implications

This paper provides evidence to show that the determinants of FDI are indeed country-specific. Thus, to design a suitable FDI policy, it would not be wise to solely rely on other economies’ FDI experiences.

Originality/value

This paper provides updated evidence on factors that are essential to promoting or deterring FDI in South Asian economies.
Healthcare financial management: the missing piece of the employee wellness puzzle
Authors: Torre Tom
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to educate human resources professionals on employee wellness.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach was to outline statistics from various studies, including one from the author’s company, Copatient, to outline the issues with employee education and ultimately employee wellness.

Findings

Each of the surveys helped to illustrate the issues with employee education or lack there of.

Originality/value

The article brought in data and statistics from various reliable sources, which allowed the author to perfectly illustrate his message: there are not enough resources out there for employees to be educated on their wellness and benefits, and that needs to change.
The History of the Jehovah's Witnesses: An Appraisal of Recent Scholarship
Authors: Knox Zoe
Published: February 2017

Zoe Knox's analysis of the English‐language historiography of the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society was published in this journal in 2011. It assessed four types of historical writing on the organisation: the Watch Tower Society's own publications; material produced by two categories of detractors, namely ex‐Witnesses and Christians writing from other denominational perspectives; and academic studies. There are vast quantities of all but the last of these. Her article thus concluded with a call for scholars to take this religious community more seriously as an historical subject, echoing an appeal made by Rodney Stark and Laurence Iannaccone to social scientists in 1997. This review essay is intended to supplement Knox's historiographical analysis by appraising recent publications on the history of the Jehovah's Witnesses. As we shall see, although scholarship on this topic remains sparse, particularly given the organisation's visibility, since 2011 several important books have appeared alongside others which make contributions to the limited sum of our knowledge of the origins and emergence of the organisation and the way it has operated in different historical contexts. In short, the field requires reappraisal in light of these publications.
Automation: is it really different this time?
Authors: Wajcman Judy
Published: February 2017

This review examines several recent books that deal with the impact of automation and robotics on the future of jobs. Most books in this genre predict that the current phase of digital technology will create massive job loss in an unprecedented way, that is, that this wave of automation is different from previous waves. Uniquely digital technology is said to automate professional occupations for the first time. This review critically examines these claims, puncturing some of the hyperbole about automation, robotics and Artificial Intelligence. The review argues for a more nuanced analysis of the politics of technology and provides some critical distance on Silicon Valley's futurist discourse. Only by insisting that futures are always social can public bodies, rather than autonomous markets and endogenous technologies, become central to disentangling, debating and delivering those futures.
A mobile health intervention promoting healthy gestational weight gain for women entering pregnancy at a high body mass index: the txt4two pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: Willcox JC , Wilkinson SA , Lappas M , Ball K , Crawford D , McCarthy EA , Fjeldsoe B , Whittaker R , Maddison R , Campbell KJ
Published: February 2017

Objective

To determine the feasibility and effectiveness of an mHealth intervention promoting healthy diet, physical activity and gestational weight gain in pregnant women.

Design

Randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Setting

Australian tertiary obstetric hospital.

Population

One hundred pregnant women who were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy.

Methods

Women recruited at the first antenatal clinic visit were randomised to either an intervention or a control group. The intervention consisted of a tailored suite of strategies delivered (from first antenatal visit until 36 weeks' gestation) via multiple modalities available on mobile devices.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was intervention feasibility and secondary outcomes were objectively measured changes in gestational weight gain (GWG) and self‐reported dietary intake and physical activity.

Results

Ninety‐one women completed the study. Delivery to protocol provides evidence of program feasibility. Most women engaged regularly with the program, with the majority (97.6%) reporting that the intervention was helpful. Secondary outcomes demonstrated a significantly lower GWG in the intervention group (7.8 kg ± 4.7 versus 9.7 kg ± 3.9; P =0.041) compared with the control group at intervention completion. Intervention group women reported significantly smaller reductions in total, light‐ and moderate‐intensity physical activity from baseline to completion of the intervention (P = 0.001) compared with the control group, but no differences in consumption frequencies of key food groups.

Conclusion

An intervention that aimed to deliver healthy diet, physical activity and GWG guidance utilising innovative technology can be feasibly implemented and produce positive physical activity and GWG outcomes.

Tweetable abstract

txt4two mHealth study improved gestational weight gain and physical activity in pregnant women with high BMIs.
Age‐differentiated impact of land appropriation and resettlement on landless farmers: a case study of Xinghua village, China
Authors: Tong Weiming , Zhang Pingyu , Lo Kevin , Chen Tiantian , Gao Ran
Published: February 2017

Land appropriation and subsequent resettlement of rural inhabitants are central to urbanisation in China. Often, the result is the impoverishment of landless farmers, who are a principal source of social unrest in the country. In the literature, landless farmers are often wrongly assumed to be a homogeneous group. In contrast, this paper presents the age‐differentiated experiences of land appropriation and resettlement among farmers. Using the case study of Xinghua village in China, and by reference to data collected via surveys and interviews, we show that even within a single community, there can be significant age‐related differences in terms of compensation, livelihood changes, income, living conditions, and satisfaction. Older farmers tend to receive more compensation, and the negative impact of land appropriation is felt most acutely by middle‐aged farmers. Viewed from a broader theoretical perspective, this study demonstrates the importance of understanding the impact of land appropriation and resettlement and shows how this impact is distributed unevenly across the affected communities.
Physicochemical Characterization of a Heat Treated Calcium Alginate Dry Film Prepared with Chicken Stock
Authors: Báez Germán D. , Piccirilli Gisela N. , Ballerini Griselda A. , Frattini Agustín , Busti Pablo A. , Verdini Roxana A. , Delorenzi Néstor J.
Published: February 2017

Solid sodium alginate was dissolved into chicken stock in order to give a final alginate concentration of 0.9 percent (w/v). Calcium ions present in chicken stock were enough to induce ionic gelation. After drying, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thickness and mechanical properties of films obtained were determined. Calcium alginate‐chicken stock films were heated at 130 °C for different times between 0 and 15 min. Mechanical and optical studies, differential scanning calorimetry, visual aspect and scanning electron microscopy were carried out to describe physicochemical properties of heat treated films. Heating developed a maroon ochre color and increased the brittleness (crispness) of the films related to the intensity of the treatment. Differential scanning thermometry and study on appearance of the films suggested that Maillard reactions may be responsible for the observed changes. Maillard reactions mainly occurred between reducing sugar monomers and free amino groups of gelatin peptides present in the chicken stock, and between alginate and gelatin peptides to a lesser extent. In addition, the plasticizing effect of fat added with chicken stock was also studied. These studies suggest a potential use of heat treated chicken stock films as a substitute of roasted chicken skin.
Biochemical Characterization of an Extracellular Heat‐Stable Protease from Serratia liquefaciens Isolated from Raw Milk
Authors: Baglinière François , Salgado Rafael Locatelli , Salgado Cleonice Aparecida , Vanetti Maria Cristina Dantas
Published: February 2017

The protease Ser2 secreted by the psychrotrophic strain Serratia liquefaciens L53, a highly proteolytic strain isolated from Brazilian raw milk was purified and characterized. Using azocasein as substrate, Ser2 exhibited activity in a wide range of pH (5 to 10) and temperature (4 to 60 °C). The optimal activity was detected at pH 8.0 and at a temperature of 37 °C. This protease, still active at 4, 7, and 10 °C, was strongly inhibited by chelating agents and by dithiothreitol, a reducing agent. These results confirmed that Ser2 belongs to the peptidase family M10 and requires Ca2+, Zn2+, and disulfide bridges for stability. This protease is able to hydrolyze three kinds of casein in the preferential order of κ→ β→ α‐casein. Highly heat‐stable in skimmed, semi‐skimmed, and whole milk at 140°C with D‐values of 2.8, 3.9, and 4.5 min, respectively, Ser2 showed a residual activity between 87 and 100 percent after heat‐treatment of 65 °C for 30 min, 72 °C for 20 s, and 140 °C for 4 s that are commonly used in dairy industries. As the protease AprX that is mainly secreted by Pseudomonas genus, Ser2 could be one of the main causes of UHT milk destabilization during storage.
Explaining Counterfeit Alcohol Purchases in Russia
Authors: Kotelnikova Zoya
Published: February 2017

Background

Alcohol is a common target of counterfeiting in Russia. Counterfeit alcohol is defined here as the manufacture, distribution, unauthorized placement (forgery) of protected commodity trademarks, and infringement of the exclusive rights of the registered trademark holders of alcoholic beverages. It is often argued that the expansion of the counterfeit product market is due to the steady demand of economically disadvantaged people for low‐priced goods. The situation becomes more complicated once deceptive and nondeceptive forms of counterfeiting are taken into account. This study aimed to identify markers of risky behavior associated with the purchase of counterfeit alcohol in Russia.

Methods

The analysis relied on consumer self‐reports of alcohol use and purchase collected nationwide by the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS‐HSE) in 2012 to 2014. I used a generalized linear mixed‐model logistic regression to identify predictors of risky behavior by consumers who purchased counterfeit alcohol, either knowingly or unknowingly, during the 30 days preceding the survey.

Results

Purchases of counterfeit alcohol declined slightly from 2012 to 2014, mainly due to a decrease in consumers mistakenly purchasing counterfeit products. Predictors of counterfeit alcohol purchases differed between consumers who knowingly and unknowingly purchased counterfeit products. Nondeceptive purchase of counterfeit alcohol was related primarily to an indifference to alcohol brands. Consumers with social networks that include drinkers of nonbeverage alcohol and producers of homemade alcohol were highly likely to consume counterfeit alcohol deliberately. Problem drinking was significantly associated with a higher risk of both deceptive and nondeceptive purchases of counterfeit alcohol. Poverty largely contributed to nondeceptive counterfeiting.

Conclusions

The literature has overestimated the impact of low prices on counterfeit alcohol consumption. Problem drinking and membership in social networks of consumers of surrogate alcohol (i.e., nonbeverage) are more influential in explaining why people purchase counterfeit alcohol. Further research on these 2 factors is needed to more fully understand the purchase and consumption of counterfeit alcoholic beverages.
Selective use of the electrocardiogram in pediatric preparticipation athletic examinations among pediatric primary care providers
Authors: Clark Bradley C. , Hayman Joshua M. , Berul Charles I. , Burns Kristin M. , Kaltman Jonathan R.
Published: February 2017

Objectives

Recent literature examining insurance administrative data suggests that a selective approach, with concurrent history and physical exam (H&P), for obtaining an electrocardiogram (ECG) as a part of a preparticipation examination (PPE) for pediatric athletes is commonly used in the primary care setting demonstrating a high rate of disease detection. We sought to understand practice patterns of providers with regard to usage of ECG as a part of PPE.

Methods

Utilizing an online survey, we queried primary care providers regarding their practice patterns, rationale, and concerns regarding use of ECGs as a part of the PPE.

Results

A total of 125 pediatricians completed the survey; 73.7% selectively use the ECG, 24.6% never use the ECG, and only 1.7% always obtain an ECG as part of the PPE. The most common rationale for selectively or never using the ECG is the belief that the H&P is sufficient to identify cardiac disease (70%). The most common H&P findings that lead to ECG screening include chest pain or syncope with exertion, family history of sudden cardiac death, an irregular heart rate, and a diastolic murmur. Among the diseases associated with sudden cardiac death, most pediatricians fear missing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Conclusion

Based on a survey of primary care providers, most practitioners are utilizing a selective approach of obtaining an ECG as a part of a PPE for athletic participation, which is in agreement with the current American Heart Association guidelines. Significant practice variation continues to exist, and may represent an area for future resource optimization.
Thrombolysis with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator during early postpartum period: a review of the literature
Authors: Akazawa Munetoshi , Nishida Makoto
Published: February 2017

Thromboembolic events are one of the leading causes of maternal death during the postpartum period. Postpartum thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt‐PA) is controversial because the treatment may lead to massive bleeding. Data centralization may be beneficial for analyzing the safety and effectiveness of systemic thrombolysis during the early postpartum period. We performed a computerized MEDLINE and EMBASE search. We collected data for 13 cases of systemic thrombolytic therapy during the early postpartum period, when limiting the early postpartum period to 48 hours after delivery. Blood transfusion was necessary in all cases except for one (12/13; 92%). In seven cases (7/13; 54%), a large amount of blood was required for transfusion. Subsequent laparotomy to control bleeding was required in five cases (5/13; 38%), including three cases of hysterectomy and two cases of hematoma removal, all of which involved cesarean delivery. In cases of transvaginal delivery, there was no report of laparotomy. The occurrence of severe bleeding was high in relation to cesarean section, compared with vaginal deliveries. Using rt‐PA in relation to cesarean section might be worth avoiding. However, the paucity of data in the literature makes it difficult to assess the ultimate outcomes and safety of this treatment.
Comparison of treatment patterns in schizophrenia between China and Japan (2001‐2009)
Authors: Xiang Yu‐Tao , Kato Takahiro A. , Kishimoto Taishiro , Ungvari Gabor S. , Chiu Helen F.K. , Si Tian‐Mei , Yang Shu‐Yu , Fujii Senta , Ng Chee H. , Shinfuku Naotaka
Published: February 2017

Introduction

To date no study has compared the treatment patterns for schizophrenia specifically between China and Japan. This study examined the cross‐national differences in the use of psychotropic drugs and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in schizophrenia.

Method

Data on 3248 schizophrenia inpatients (n = 1524 in China and n = 1724 in Japan) were collected by either chart review or interviews during the designated 3 study periods between 2001 and 2009. Patients' socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics, prescriptions of psychotropic drugs, and ECT use were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure.

Results

Multivariate analyses revealed that compared to their Japanese counterparts, Chinese inpatients had a shorter length of current hospitalization, were significantly less frequently prescribed second‐generation antipsychotics (except clozapine), antipsychotic polypharmacy, benzodiazepines, and mood stabilizers, and more likely to receive clozapine, antidepressants, and ECT.

Discussion

Substantial variations in inpatient treatment patterns for schizophrenia were found between China and Japan. The common use of ECT and clozapine in Chinese inpatients and the frequent use of antipsychotic polypharmacy and high antipsychotic doses in Japanese inpatients need to be addressed.
Review article: pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence – the why, the what and the wherefore
Authors: Goh E. T. , Morgan M. Y.
Published: February 2017

Background

The development of alcohol dependence is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. For the majority of affected people the most appropriate goal, in terms of drinking behaviour, is abstinence from alcohol. Psychosocial intervention is the mainstay of the treatment but adjuvant pharmacotherapy is also available and its use recommended.

Aim

To provide an updated analysis of current and potential pharmacotherapeutic options for the management of alcohol dependence. In addition, factors predictive of therapeutic outcome, including compliance and pharmacogenetics, and the current barriers to treatment, including doctors’ unwillingness to prescribe these agents, will be explored.

Methods

Relevant papers were selected for review following extensive, language‐ and date‐unrestricted, electronic and manual searches of the literature.

Results

Acamprosate and naltrexone have a substantial evidence base for overall efficacy, safety and cost‐effectiveness while the risks associated with the use of disulfiram are well‐known and can be minimised with appropriate patient selection and supervision. Acamprosate can be used safely in patients with liver disease and in those with comorbid mental health issues and co‐occurring drug‐related problems. A number of other agents are being investigated for potential use for this indication including: baclofen, topiramate and metadoxine.

Conclusion

Pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence has been shown to be moderately efficacious with few safety concerns, but it is substantially underutilised. Concerted efforts must be made to remove the barriers to treatment in order to optimise the management of people with this condition.
Randomised clinical trial: faecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridum difficile infection – fresh, or frozen, or lyophilised microbiota from a small pool of healthy donors delivered by colonoscopy
Authors: Jiang Z. D. , Ajami N. J. , Petrosino J. F. , Jun G. , Hanis C. L. , Shah M. , Hochman L. , Ankoma‐Sey V. , DuPont A. W. , Wong M. C. , Alexander A. , Ke S. , DuPont H. L.
Published: February 2017

Background

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has become routine in managing recurrent C. difficile infection (CDI) refractory to antibiotics.

Aim

To compare clinical response and improvements in colonic microbiota diversity in subjects with recurrent CDI using different donor product.

Methods

Seventy‐two subjects with ≥3 bouts of CDI were randomised in a double‐blind study to receive fresh, frozen or lyophilised FMT product via colonoscopy from 50 g of stool per treatment from eight healthy donors. Recipients provided stools pre‐ and 7, 14 and 30 days post‐FMT for C. difficile toxin and, in a subset, microbiome composition by 16S rRNA gene profiling.

Results

Overall resolution of CDI was 87% during 2 months of follow‐up after FMT. Stool samples before FMT had significantly decreased bacterial diversity with a high proportion of Proteobacteria compared to donors. Cure rates were highest for the group receiving fresh product seen in 25/25 (100%), lowest for the lyophilised product 16/23 (78%; P = 0.022 vs. fresh and 0.255 vs. frozen) and intermediate for frozen product 20/24 (P = 0.233 vs. fresh). Microbial diversity was reconstituted by day 7 in the subjects receiving fresh or frozen product. Improvement in diversity was seen by day 7 in those randomised to lyophilised material with reconstitution by 30 days.

Conclusions

Comparative efficacy in faecal microbiota transplantation was observed in subjects receiving fresh or frozen faecal product from the same donors. The lyophilised product had a slightly lowered efficacy compared with fresh product, but it resembled other treatments in microbial restoration 1 month after faecal microbiota transplantation.
New Evidence of the Purple‐Dye Industry at Tel Shiqmona, Israel
Authors: Sukenik N. , Iluz D. , Amar Z. , Varvak A. , Bar S.
Published: February 2017

Pottery sherds stained with purple dye were found in the excavations at Tel Shiqmona, and were dated to the Iron Age II period. Analysis by HPLC‐DAD identified the dye as ‘true purple’, derived from the Hexaplex trunculus sea snail, which is associated with the purple‐dye industry that flourished in the coastal area at that time. This result is compatible with the classification of over 1000 Muricidae shells that were found in the excavation. Hexaplex trunculus constitutes 80% of this group, indicating that it was the most commonly used species in the dye production at Tel Shiqmona.
Is God just a big person? Children's conceptions of God across cultures and religious traditions
Authors: Nyhof Melanie A. , Johnson Carl N.
Published: February 2017

The present research examines the influence of intuitive cognitive domain and religion on the God concepts of children growing up in religious traditions that present God in ways varying from abstract to concrete. In Study 1, we compared children from a Latter‐Day Saints (LDS) background with those from mainstream Christian (MC) backgrounds in the United States. In contrast to MC theology that holds that God is all‐knowing, all‐powerful, and disembodied, LDS theology depicts God as embodied. In Study 1, 3‐ to 7‐year‐olds from LDS and MC backgrounds were asked about supernatural mental and immaterial attributes of God, a ghost, a dad, and a bug. In Study 2, children ages 3–7 from Muslim and Catholic backgrounds in Indonesia were presented with a variant of Study 1. Taken together, the two studies examine the God concepts of children raised in three different religious traditions with God concepts that range from highly abstract to concrete. Overall, we find that the youngest children, regardless of religion, distinguish God from humans and hold similar ideas of God, attributing more supernatural psychological than physical properties. Older children's conceptions of God are more in line with the theological notions of their traditions. The results suggest that children are not simply anthropomorphic in their God concepts, but early on understand supernatural agents as having special mental properties and they continue to learn about differences between agents, influenced by their religious traditions.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject

Research on children's God concepts has established that children begin to distinguish the mind of God from that of humans by around age 4–5. The main debate in the field is whether children start out thinking about God in anthropomorphic terms or whether they start out with an undifferentiated idea of agents’ minds as all having access to knowledge.

Research on children's understanding of immortality has demonstrated that around the same age that children begin differentiating God's mind from human minds, they also differentiate between the two in terms of life‐cycle attributes, attributing immortality to God, but not to humans.

What does this study add?

The present research contributes to the field by examining the God concepts of children from different religious backgrounds. These religious backgrounds have theologies with God concepts that range from physically concrete (Latter‐Day Saints or Mormonism) to highly abstract (Islam). We also include Christian samples for comparison.

The present research examines children's attributions to different supernatural agents including God, but also a ghost and an angel.

The present studies look at children's attribution of not only supernatural mental attributions, but also the supernatural physical attributions of immateriality and omnipresence that have been understudied.
Parent–child learning interactions: A review of the literature on scaffolding
Authors: Mermelshtine Roni
Published: February 2017

Background

Scaffolding can be observed during learning‐based interactions, when interventions by parents are adjusted according to children's observed abilities, with the main goal of enabling the child to work independently (Woodet al., 1976,Journal of child psychology and psychiatry,17, 89). Such contingent instruction behaviours occur from infancy, and are said to be relevant for children's development of executive function, language acquisition, and cognitive and academic abilities. Scaffolding behaviours are considered a product of the family and the wider context, a process affected by parent and child characteristics, and the environment they inhabit. Over 40 years of scaffolding research has produced an abundance of findings. Early investigations were concerned with the conceptualization of scaffolding, whereas more recent studies build upon the theory, testing its correlates and relevance for child development.

Aims

This article offers an overview of the literature, focusing on the relevance of scaffolding for child developmental outcomes, and the factors associated with individual differences in the process.

Structure

The article is structured such that the origins of the theory and its definitions are discussed first, followed by an overview of the correlates of scaffolding. The review concludes with a critical evaluation of the literature, proposing novel avenues for future research.
A phase 1/2 trial of ublituximab, a novel anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody, in patients with B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia previously exposed to rituximab
Authors: Sawas Ahmed , Farber Charles M. , Schreeder Marshall T. , Khalil Mazen Y. , Mahadevan Daruka , Deng Changchun , Amengual Jennifer E. , Nikolinakos Petros G. , Kolesar Jill M. , Kuhn John G. , Sportelli Peter , Miskin Hari P. , O'Connor Owen A.
Published: February 2017

This phase 1/2 study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetic behavior and anti‐tumour activity of ublituximab, a unique type I, chimeric, glycoengineered anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody, in rituximab‐relapsed or ‐refractory patients with B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (B‐NHL) or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Induction therapy (doses of 450–1200 mg) consisted of 4 weekly infusions in cycle 1 for NHL and 3 weekly infusions in cycles 1 and 2 for CLL. Patients received ublituximab maintenance monthly during cycles 3–5, then once every 3 months for up to 2 years. Enrolled patients with B‐NHL (n = 27) and CLL (n = 8) had a median of 3 prior therapies. No dose‐limiting toxicities or unexpected adverse events (AEs) occurred. The most common AEs were infusion‐related reactions (40%; grade 3/4, 0%); fatigue (37%; grade 3/4, 3%); pyrexia (29%; grade 3/4, 0%); and diarrhoea (26%; grade 3/4, 0%). Common haematological AEs were neutropenia (14%; grade 3/4, 14%) and anaemia (11%; grade 3/4, 6%). The overall response rate for evaluable patients (n = 31) was 45% (13% complete responses, 32% partial responses). Median duration of response and progression‐free survival were 9·2 months and 7·7 months, respectively. Ublituximab was well‐tolerated and efficacious in a heterogeneous and highly rituximab‐pre‐treated patient population.
Aetiology and management of earlier vs later biochemical recurrence after retropubic radical prostatectomy
Authors: Llukani Elton , Lepor Herbert
Published: February 2017

Objectives

To examine the characteristics and management of earlier (within 5 years) vs later (after 5 years) biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Materials and Methods

Between October 2000 and October 2009, 1597 men underwent open retropubic RP. BCRs were managed using salvage radiation therapy (SRT), androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or active surveillance (AS). BCR‐free survival was assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Factors predicting earlier or later BCR and BCR after SRT were assessed using logistic regression and

Cox proportional hazard models, respectively.

Results

The probabilities of developing BCR within 5 years and 10 years were 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.7–13.9) and 18.4% (95% CI 16.2–20.6), respectively. On multivariate analysis, prostate‐specific antigen doubling time, positive surgical margins and pathological Gleason score significantly differentiated earlier from later BCR. Overall, 74.5, 12.7 and 12.7% of men developing BCR underwent SRT, ADT or AS, respectively. A significantly greater proportion of men in the earlier BCR group underwent SRT (80.8 vs 59%) and ADT (14.6 vs 8.2%), and a significantly greater proportion of men in the later BCR group underwent AS (32.8 vs 4.6%; P<0.001). The response to SRT was independent of time to BCR. On multivariate analysis, clinical stage and pathological stage significantly predicted failure of SRT.

Conclusions

Approximately one third of BCRs occurred between 5 and 10 years after RP. The aetiology and management of BCR was dependent on time to BCR, whereas response to SRT was independent of time to recurrence. Long‐term follow‐up is mandatory beyond 5 years for all men after RP.