bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Business and development: making sense of business as a development agent
Authors: Blowfield Michael
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for understanding and analysing business's role as a development actor, and the distinction between development tool and development agent.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a theoretical analysis based on secondary data and empirical research.

Findings

Business has various roles to play in the social and economic development of poorer countries, but are all of them equally important and laudable? Mainstream economics has long held that the private sector is essential to economic prosperity, and this has led policy‐makers and neoliberal thinkers to treat it as a tool for development. But under what circumstances does business go beyond acting out its assigned role as a tool of development to become what this article calls a “development agent” – something that consciously strives to deliver, and moreover be held to account for, developmental outcomes?

Research limitations/implications

The article presents a framework for a more structured approach to further empirical research, but does not claim to apply that framework in empirical situations.

Social implications

Despite the considerable literature advocating why business should be a development agent, much less attention has been paid to two more fundamental questions: whether and under what circumstances business will take on such a role; and what being a development agent means. These are the central questions of this article. Answering them enables business practitioners, policy‐makers and academics to predict more accurately when business engagement is likely to deliver genuine development value and be sustainable, and hence when it is a worthwhile business, advocacy or policy objective. It also enables improved decision‐making by non‐private sector partners such as development agencies and NGOs.

Originality/value

The article addresses the above questions in turn with reference to empirical research by the author over nearly two decades, and both the corporate responsibility and the international development literature. It discusses what being a genuine development agent means, and provides a framework for understanding the business‐poverty relationship based on business as a cause, a victim, and a solution in international development terms. It concludes with a discussion of how well business is performing as a development agent, and the future potential and limitations of this role.
CSR and inequality in the Niger Delta (Nigeria)
Authors: Renouard Cécile , Lado Hervé
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The international awareness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues and the socio‐political context of emerging countries are increasing the pressure on businesses, including multinational corporations, to take another look at their societal role. In a context of state failure (immature institutions), paying taxes can guarantee neither the peaceful management of company operations nor the sustainable development of local communities. Moreover, multinationals have experienced that making resources and opportunities available to local communities is not enough. The Niger Delta in Nigeria is, in this regard, a textbook case that demonstrates the challenge of achieving sustainable development in the context of acute inequalities. This paper seeks to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on fieldwork – quantitative and qualitative surveys – carried out in Nigeria for the past seven years, the paper builds on initiatives and approaches undertaken by Total, Agip and NPDC/Shell, consistent with their understanding of their role in society.

Findings

Inequalities and imbalances (income, gender, inter‐regional, sector‐based) ferment frustrations and nurture insecurity and violence in the Niger Delta, therefore hindering sustainable development. As far as the relationship between oil companies and communities is concerned, the authors argue that oil multinationals have to foster an approach that targets the reduction of those exceptional inequalities for which they are partly responsible, as revealed with the “double effect” principle.

Originality/value

Whereas CSR has been so far mainly studied as a management issue, this paper brings broader views and analyzes ethical, cultural and economic dynamics that underlie the acceptability of companies in their environment, in the specific context of the Niger Delta.
Sustainable globalization and implications for strategic corporate and national sustainability
Authors: Fernando Ravi
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to present a conceptual framework and a set of conditions within which nations and business can strive to embed sustainability in corporate/national strategy. The objective is to motivate business and national leaders to do so with sustainability mindsets and strategic leadership. The pre‐conditions that will accelerate the “motivation” to do so are identified, as are interventions identified. The sphere of influence business and national leaders have to impact sustainable globalization is identified.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to focus on information in the public domain that outlines the “real” challenges faced by nations and business as they consider the need for sustainability and key issues such as “poverty and climate change”, which if not addressed could have detrimental strategic implications for the planet, business and nations. The changes that have taken place since 1982 when global leaders signed up to Agenda 21 and the relatively insignificant movement that has occurred to date is outlined to strengthen the case for quantum leaps in the short to medium term. The strategic framework recommended is one that combines the need for organizations to set a new gold standard for “corporate responsibility”, which is a “commitment to sustainable business” followed by a commitment to differentiating the business or nation on a sustainability paradigm. This is presented as means to embedding sustainability in strategy in the form of the concept of “strategic corporate sustainability”. The concept of strategic corporate sustainability is presented as a two‐step approach that initially requires both national and corporate leaders to commit to the need for sustainability by developing triple bottom line strategies. This is followed by the need to embed sustainability strategy as the corporate strategy that differentiates the nation and the business, strategically setting it apart from those that have not done so. This is presented as one of the ways to move forward to achieve the goal of sustainable globalization.

Findings

The key findings from information in the public domain of nations and business that have embedded a sustainability policy and are demonstrating that enlightened leaders who have sustainability mindsets as a primary requirement for the future are presented with the examples of General Electric and Unilever. The process of nations embedding sustainability policy, which in turn motivates business to strive for sustainable business, which finally leads to sustainable consumption, is presented in a sequential manner.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is in the form of the concept of strategic corporate sustainability, which was first mooted in 2008 at Cambridge University and has since been accepted as a key subject and elective for MBA and AMP programs between 2008 and 2012 at many business schools, confirming both its validity and its originality.
Board characteristics and the financial performance of Nigerian quoted firms
Authors: Ujunwa Augustine
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of corporate board characteristics on the financial performance of Nigerian quoted firms. Board characteristics studied comprise board size, board skill, board nationality, board gender, board ethnicity and CEO duality.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed the random‐effects and fixed‐effects generalised least squares (GLS) regression to test the six hypotheses formulated for the study, while controlling for firm size and firm age.

Findings

Using panel data from 122 quoted firms in Nigeria between 1991 and 2008, it was found that board size, CEO duality and gender diversity were negatively linked with firm performance, whereas board nationality, board ethnicity and the number of board members with a PhD qualification were found to impact positively on firm performance. The result of the robustness test using the same board characteristics for 160 small firms showed that board duality was positively linked to firm performance, while a PhD qualification was negatively linked to firm performance.

Practical implications

The study contributes to the understanding of the board‐performance link by examining both the traditional variables such as board size, CEO duality and other organisational attributes such as ethnic diversity, foreign nationality and competence variables represented by women and PhD holders, respectively. The results provide an insight for practitioners and policy makers on the importance of relying on institutional specifics in the prescription of corporate governance codes.

Originality/value

The study adds value to the global corporate governance discourse in two ways: first, the use of Nigeria, which is claimed to have one of the weakest business cultures in the world, and secondly, using a good number of proxies that are country‐specific for corporate boards.
Board demographic diversity, independence, and corporate social performance
Authors: Zhang Lu
Published: April 2013

Purpose

Drawing on agency theory and resource dependence theory, the study aims to link board demographic diversity and independence to corporate social performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from various sources for a sample of 475 publicly traded Fortune 500 companies between the years 2007 and 2008.

Findings

It is found that board gender diversity is positively related to institutional and technical strength ratings, while board racial diversity is positively related to institutional strength rating only. Both the proportion of outside directors and CEO non‐duality were negatively associated with institutional and technical weakness ratings.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was predominantly large, publicly traded national and international corporations, which might limit the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

Management personnel should be cognizant of how board configurations and leadership structure may influence their corporate reputation for social responsibility. Efforts should be made to foster a group dynamic that is conducive to effective board functioning.

Originality/value

Few empirical studies have examined the relationship between board characteristics and corporate social performance. This study contributes to the literature by examining such associations.
Effect of board size and promoter ownership on firm value: some empirical findings from India
Authors: Kumar Naveen , Singh J.P.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of corporate board size and promoter ownership on firm value for selected Indian companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyses the corporate governance structure of 176 Indian firms listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange using linear regression analysis.

Findings

The empirical findings show a negative relationship of board size with firm value and significant positive association of promoter ownership with corporate performance. The study suggests that only above a critical ownership level of 40 percent does promoter's interest become aligned with that of the company, resulting in positive effect on firm value.

Research limitations/ implications

The research has been limited to some selected Indian companies, with focus only on board size and promoter ownership as predictor variables. The study suggests that corporate governance reforms in India and introduction of non‐executive independent directors to the board have resulted in diminishing effect of board size on the firm value.

Practical implications

The study implies that for emerging economies like India, it is practical to have greater ownership control by promoters to enhance company value. Also, it is not advisable to have a board size above certain limit.

Originality/value

The paper adds to existing literature on corporate governance by establishing a relationship between firm performance and board size and promoter ownership.
A high‐fat diet and multiple administration of carbon tetrachloride induces liver injury and pathological features associated with non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice
Authors: Kubota Norihiro , Kado Shoichi , Kano Mitsuyoshi , Masuoka Norie , Nagata Yuriko , Kobayashi Toshihide , Miyazaki Kouji , Ishikawa Fumiyasu
Published: April 2013

The aim of the present study was to establish a progressive steatohepatitis mouse model because few reported animal models of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) show the progression from fatty liver to steatohepatitis.

C57BL/6N mice were fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) to develop obesity and were either administered carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) eight times (0.05 mL/kg, s.c., once, followed by 0.1 mL/kg, s.c., seven times) or not. Serum parameters and hepatic histopathology were examined. In a separate experiment, CCl4 was administered subcutaneously from 0 to eight times to HFD‐fed obese mice to investigate progressive changes. Markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, as well as histopathological changes in the liver, were analysed.

The HFD‐fed obese mice showed fatty liver but not steatohepatitis. In contrast, HFD‐fed mice administered CCl4 eight times showed histopathological features of steatohepatitis (fatty liver, inflammation, hepatocellular ballooning and fibrosis) and increased serum alanine aminotransferase levels. However, the multiple administration of CCl4 to obese mice reduced the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione, superoxide dismutase activity and mitochondrial DNA copy number, leading to the development of chronic oxidative stress, increased numbers of apoptotic cells and increased levels of both tumour necrosis factor‐α and transforming growth factor‐β mRNA. The resulting inflammation led to increased hydroxyproline content in the liver and fibrosis.

The present study demonstrates that multiple administration of CCl4 to HFD‐fed obese mice induces chronic oxidative stress that triggers inflammation and apoptosis and leads to the development of fibrosis in the liver, resulting in progression from fatty liver to steatohepatitis. This murine model will be useful in the research of hepatic disorders.
The shell middens of Las Bela coast and the Indus delta (Arabian Sea, Pakistan)
Authors: Biagi Paolo
Published: April 2013

The surveys carried out along the coast of Las Bela (Balochistan) and the Indus delta (Sindh), have shown that these two regions were inhabited since the end of the eighth millennium BP. The discovery of shell middens along the shores of Daun Bay and Lake Siranda (Las Bela), have radically changed our view of the prehistory of this territory. The surveys conducted in the Indus delta have revealed that all the rocky outcrops rising from the alluvium are covered with chipped stone artefacts and marine and mangrove shells, which were radiocarbon dated between the seventh and fourth millennium BP, showing that all the outcrops above were islands at least until Hellenistic times. The radiocarbon results obtained from a few shell samples indicate that some of these islands had already been settled at the beginning of the seventh millennium BP, suggesting that seafaring was already practised along the northern Arabian Sea coast at least since the beginning of the Neolithic.
Considering the Arabian Neolithic through a reconstitution of interregional obsidian distribution patterns in the region
Authors: Khalidi Lamya , Inizan Marie‐Louise , Gratuze Bernard , Crassard Rémy
Published: April 2013

As a result of a programme devoted to obsidian geochemical analyses for the Red Sea region (VAPOR), the register of analysed obsidian artefacts from Arabia has grown considerably in recent years. A percentage of these correspond to surveyed and excavated Neolithic contexts in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman. This growing database of site to source matches has enabled us to consider the Neolithic of Arabia as more than just a period of sedentism and initial domestication, but as a period where we can begin piecing together the formulation of complex social networks and exchange mechanisms that included, and may even have depended to some extent on, mobile groups. Using obsidian source analyses coupled with spatial mapping, site and lithic data, we use obsidian as a guide to gain a better understanding of the early dynamics of interaction between regions in Arabia and beyond, and to assess what role the socio‐economic networks identified may have had in the process of Arabian Neolithisation, or in certain cases, the lack thereof.
The fall and rise of Ethiopian wolves: lessons for conservation of long‐lived, social predators
Authors: Marino J. , Sillero‐Zubiri C. , Gottelli D. , Johnson P. J. , Macdonald D. W.
Published: April 2013

Informed management of Ethiopian wolf Canis simensis populations necessitates an understanding of their dynamics and of the social groups that constitute them. Benefitting from a natural experiment occasioned by a disease outbreak, we studied the demography and spatial behaviour of 14 Ethiopian wolf packs across 16 population years in the Bale Mountains, testing for density‐dependent regulation and comparing high‐density versus recovery phases. The rate of population growth was density‐dependent across the study period. As for many other long‐lived species with delayed reproduction, adult survival (to 2 years or more, when wolves become adults) contributed most to population change, followed by pup survival (to 1 year), the latter with a steeper response to density change. The number of pups per pack (= all pups divided by the number of packs) also affected population growth. As typically only the dominant female in the pack breeds, the number of pups born each year depended on the number of packs in the population and not on population density. Packs produced larger litters during the recovery from the disease outbreak, but delays in the formation of new social groups created a reproductive deficit, and the rate of population growth at low density was lower than expected by density dependence. Wolf packs that survived the epizootics remained cohesive and expanded their territory. Only once they had attained large membership, one pack split up and others provided dispersers that coalesced into new packs. With this strategy, the surviving wolves deterred colonization by outsiders and eventually inherited part of their natal range. We discuss the implications of our findings for the future management of Ethiopian wolf populations and in the context of the population dynamics of other species with similar life‐history traits.
Assessing the accuracy of interviewed recall for rare, highly seasonal events: the case of wildlife consumption in Madagascar
Authors: Golden C. D. , Wrangham R. W. , Brashares J. S.
Published: April 2013

Read the Commentaries on this Feature Paper: Unusual data in conservation science: searching for validation; Wildlife consumption and recall accuracy – but is it recall of hunting, of cooking or of eating?

Response from the authors: Practical directions for the use of recall data in conservation science
Ovarian fibroma/fibrothecoma: Retrospective cohort study shows limited value of risk of malignancy index score
Authors: Numanoglu Ceyhun , Kuru Oguzhan , Sakinci Mehmet , Akbayır Ozgur , Ulker Volkan
Published: April 2013

Background

Ovarian fibromas/fibrothecomas are uncommon benign tumours of ovary. Due to their solid structure, these benign tumours are sometimes confused with malignant tumours during clinical evaluation.

Aims

To determine the clinico‐pathological characteristics of ovarian fibroma/fibrothecoma and analyse the efficiency of risk of malignancy index (RMI) scoring system to distinguish malignancy among these tumours.

Methods

Between November 2001 and February 2012, women with a pathological diagnosis of ovarian fibroma/fibrothecoma were identified. Depending on the menopausal status, serum CA‐125 level and ultrasonographic findings, RMI scores were calculated for each of the patients.

Results

During the study period, 43 ovarian fibroma/fibrothecoma (4.7%) were detected among 912 adnexal masses operated. The mean age of the women was 52.2 (range, 21–80 years). Upon calculating RMI scores, 33 women (76.7%) were classified as low risk and 10 women (23.3%) as high risk for malignancy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the RMI scoring for identification of malignant lesions preoperatively were found as 0%, 76%, 0% and 97%, respectively. Final pathological diagnosis was ovarian fibroma in 13 (30%) women, fibrothecoma in 29 (67%) and fibrosarcoma in one woman (2%).

Conclusion

There are no specific markers for accurate preoperative diagnosis of ovarian fibroma/fibrothecoma. Moreover, according to our results, RMI scoring system does not aid clinicians in this issue either, with a high false‐positive rate and very low sensitivity. Further studies with higher number of cases are needed to state clearly the role of RMI scores in preoperative discrimination of malignancy.
Intraocular pressure and corneal biomechanics in Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy and after posterior lamellar keratoplasty
Authors: Clemmensen Kåre , Hjortdal Jesper
Published: April 2013

Purpose:  To evaluate the precision of techniques for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) in corneas with presumably altered biomechanical properties.

Methods:  Intraocular pressure was measured with a Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), ocular response analyzer (ORA) and dynamic contour tonometer (DCT) in 70 eyes. Thirty‐five eyes were normal corneas, 18 eyes had Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy, and 17 eyes had undergone Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) surgery. Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF) as well as central corneal thickness (CCT) were recorded with the ORA.

Results:  The measured cornea‐corrected IOP using ORA was significantly higher than GAT in all three groups (p < 0.001). The DCT differed significantly from the Goldmann only in the Fuchs’ group (p = 0.04). The Goldmann and DCT showed no significant between‐group differences, whereas IOP measured with the ORA was different between groups (p < 0.001). CH in the DSEAK group differed significantly from the controls (p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the DSEAK and Fuchs’ groups (p = 0.21). CCT did not differ significantly between the DSAEK and Fuchs’ group (p = 0.47). However, both these groups differed significantly from the controls (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:  Corneal hysteresis and CRF are reduced in Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy as well as after posterior lamellar keratoplasty. GAT and DCT seem to measure IOP correctly in patients with Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy as well as after posterior lamellar keratoplasty. Corneal‐corrected IOP as measured with the ORA appears to overestimate IOP in patients with Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy as well as after posterior lamellar keratoplasty.
Post‐cervical conization outcomes in patients with high‐grade intraepithelial lesions
Authors: Simões Renata B. , Campaner Adriana B.
Published: April 2013

To investigate the rates of residual, recurrent and invasive disease after cervical conization in patients diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 2/3.

A retrospective study was conducted with 274 patients undergoing cervical conization due to diagnosis ofCIN2/3. Cervical conization was done through the Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) and Cold Knife Conization. Data related to personal, familial, gynecological, and obstetric antecedents, as well as surgical specimens margins were collected from medical records. The outcome after conization was evaluated, including the time of follow‐up and disease recurrence.

The outcome after conization was not associated with age of menarche (p = 0.920), age of the first sexual intercourse (p = 0.533), number of parturition (p = 0.063), number of sexual partners (p = 0.328), immunosuppression (p = 0.225), smoking habit (p = 0.193), and conization type (p = 0.198). However, the outcome presented a significant association with age (p < 0.001), pregnancy numbers (p = 0.009), use of hormonal contraception methods (p = 0.016), menopause (p = 0.007), type of margins (p = 0.011), and cone histological results (p = 0.030).

The routine control of all patients who had undergone cervical conization is obligate, independently of surgical margins, due to the risk of disease recurrence; the older patients and those withCIN3 should have a more rigorous follow‐up.
Feeding plasticity in the nematode Pristionchus pacificus is influenced by sex and social context and is linked to developmental speed
Authors: Serobyan Vahan , Ragsdale Erik J. , Müller Manuela R. , Sommer Ralf J.
Published: April 2013

The increasing evidence for a role of developmental plasticity in evolution offers exciting prospects for testing interactions between ecological and developmental genetic processes. Recent advances with the model organism Pristionchus pacificus have provided inroads to a mechanistic understanding of a developmental plasticity. The developmental plasticity of P. pacificus comprises two discontinuous adult mouth‐forms, a stenostomatous (“narrow mouthed”) and a eurystomatous (“wide mouthed”) form, the latter of which is structurally more complex and associated with predatory feeding. Both forms are consistently present in populations, but fundamental properties guiding fluctuations in their appearance have been poorly understood. Here, we provide a systematic characterization of the mouth plasticity in P. pacificus, quantifying a strong sexual dimorphism and revealing that, in an inbred genetic background, maternal phenotype is linked to that of male offspring. Furthermore, cues from conspecifics influenced the developmental decision in juvenile nematodes. Separating individuals from a population resulted in a lower eurystomatous frequency, which decreased incrementally with earlier isolation. Finally, the time to the reproductively mature stage was, in the presence of an abundant bacterial food supply, less for stenostomatous than for eurystomatous individuals, suggesting the potential for a fitness trade‐off between developmental time and breadth of diet. This study provides a baseline understanding of the mouth dimorphism in P. pacificus as a necessary reference point for comparative analysis.
Expression patterns of Oct4, Cdx2, Tead4, and Yap1 proteins during blastocyst formation in embryos of the marsupial, Monodelphis domestica Wagner
Authors: Morrison J. T. , Bantilan N. S. , Wang V. N. , Nellett K. M. , Cruz Y. P.
Published: April 2013

The marsupial blastocyst forms in an entirely different manner from its eutherian counterpart, involving cell–zona rather than cell–cell adhesion during the 8‐ to‐16‐cell transition. While the eutherian blastocyst consists of a spherical trophoblast completely enveloping a pluripotent inner cell mass, or pluriblast, the marsupial blastocyst forms initially as a bowl‐shaped monolayer of cells lining the zona pellucida at the embryonic pole (ep). This monolayer contains a small patch of centrally positioned pluriblast cells edged with trophoblast cells that later coalesce at the abembryonic pole. Using immunocytochemistry, we examined the localization of the proteins Oct4, Cdx2, Tead4, Sox2, and Yap1 in opossum embryos to determine if their temporal expression pattern differed from that in the mouse, given the important differences in cell behavior preceding blastocyst formation in these mammals. Our results indicate that these proteins are expressed in similar temporal patterns despite the topological differences between mouse and opossum cleavage‐stage embryos and blastocysts. That the Hippo‐pathway protein Yap1 localized specifically around the approximately 128‐cell stage to opossum trophoblast nuclei but remained in the cytoplasm of pluriblast cells suggests that this transcriptional regulator participates in allocating cells to the trophoblast lineage, as it does in mouse. Interestingly, in both mouse and opossum embryos, expression of the pluripotency marker Oct4 persisted after Cdx2, which signals trophoblast specification, began to be expressed in trophoblast cells. This and the observation that Cdx2 is present in opossum embryos well before blastomere–zona adhesion even occurs suggests that the proteins studied may have other roles in early mammalian embryonic development.
Geographic structure in metabolome and herbivore community co‐occurs with genetic structure in plant defence genes
Authors: Bernhardsson Carolina , Robinson Kathryn M. , Abreu Ilka N. , Jansson Stefan , Albrectsen Benedicte R. , Ingvarsson Pär K.
Published: April 2013

Plant–herbivore interactions vary across the landscape and have been hypothesised to promote local adaption in plants to the prevailing herbivore regime. Herbivores that feed on European aspen (Populus tremula) change across regional scales and selection on host defence genes may thus change at comparable scales. We have previously observed strong population differentiation in a set of inducible defence genes in Swedish P. tremula. Here, we study the geographic patterns of abundance and diversity of herbivorous insects, the untargeted metabolome of the foliage and genetic variation in a set of wound‐induced genes and show that the geographic structure co‐occurs in all three data sets. In response to this structure, we observe local maladaptation of herbivores, with fewer herbivores on local trees than on trees originated from more distant localities. Finally, we also identify 28 significant associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms SNPs from defence genes and a number of the herbivore traits and metabolic profiles.
The adverse event profile of perampanel: meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Zaccara G. , Giovannelli F. , Cincotta M. , Verrotti A. , Grillo E.
Published: April 2013

Background and purpose

To identify adverse events (AEs) significantly associated with perampanel treatment in double‐blind clinical studies (RCTs). SeriousAEs, study withdrawals due toAEs and dose–effect responses of individualAEs were also investigated.

Methods

All placebo controlled, double‐blindRCTs investigating therapeutic effects of oral perampanel were searched.AEs were assessed for their association with perampanel after exclusion of synonyms, rareAEs and non‐assessableAEs. Risk difference (RD) was used to evaluate the association of anyAE(99% confidence intervals) and withdrawals or serious AEs (95% confidence intervals) with perampanel.

Results

NineRCTs (five in pharmacoresistant epilepsy and four inParkinson's disease) were included in our study. Almost 4000 patients had been recruited, 2627 of whom were randomized to perampanel and treated with drug doses of 0.5 mg/day (n = 68), 1 mg/day (n = 65), 2 mg/day (n = 753), 4 mg/day (n = 1017), 8 mg/day (n = 431) or 12 mg/day (n = 293). SeriousAEs were not significantly associated with perampanel treatment. The experimental drug was significantly associated with an increased risk ofAE‐related study withdrawals at 4 mg/day [RD(95% confidence interval) 0.03 (0.00, 0.06)] and 12 mg/day [RD(95% confidence interval) 0.13 (0.07, 0.18)]. Of 15 identifiedAEs, five (dizziness, ataxia, somnolence, irritability and weight increase) were found to be significantly associated with perampanel and one (seizure worsening) was significantly associated with placebo.

Conclusions

VestibulocerebellarAEs (dizziness, ataxia), sedative effects (somnolence), irritability and weight increase were significantly associated with perampanel treatment.
Plant diversity does not buffer drought effects on early‐stage litter mass loss rates and microbial properties
Authors: Vogel Anja , Eisenhauer Nico , Weigelt Alexandra , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael
Published: April 2013

Human activities are decreasing biodiversity and changing the climate worldwide. Both global change drivers have been shown to affect ecosystem functioning, but they may also act in concert in a non‐additive way. We studied early‐stage litter mass loss rates and soil microbial properties (basal respiration and microbial biomass) during the summer season in response to plant species richness and summer drought in a large grassland biodiversity experiment, the Jena Experiment, Germany. In line with our expectations, decreasing plant diversity and summer drought decreased litter mass loss rates and soil microbial properties. In contrast to our hypotheses, however, this was only true for mass loss of standard litter (wheat straw) used in all plots, and not for plant community‐specific litter mass loss. We found no interactive effects between global change drivers, that is, drought reduced litter mass loss rates and soil microbial properties irrespective of plant diversity. High mass loss rates of plant community‐specific litter and low responsiveness to drought relative to the standard litter indicate that soil microbial communities were adapted to decomposing community‐specific plant litter material including lower susceptibility to dry conditions during summer months. Moreover, higher microbial enzymatic diversity at high plant diversity may have caused elevated mass loss of standard litter. Our results indicate that plant diversity loss and summer drought independently impede soil processes. However, soil decomposer communities may be highly adapted to decomposing plant community‐specific litter material, even in situations of environmental stress. Results of standard litter mass loss moreover suggest that decomposer communities under diverse plant communities are able to cope with a greater variety of plant inputs possibly making them less responsive to biotic changes.
Impact of HLA alleles and cytokine polymorphisms on inhibitors development in children with severe haemophilia A
Authors: Pergantou H. , Varela I. , Moraloglou O. , Economou M. , Spanou K. , Kapsimali Z. , Constantinidou N. , Platokouki H.
Published: April 2013

Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) alleles, cytokine polymorphisms and the type of factor VIII (FVIII) gene mutation are among predisposing factors for inhibitors (inh) development in children with severe haemophilia A (HA). The aim was to investigate the correlations among (i) FVIII gene intron‐22 inversion, (ii) HLA alleles and haplotypes and (iii) certain cytokine polymorphisms, with the risk for FVIII inhibitors development in 52 Greek severe HA children, exclusively treated with recombinant concentrates. We performed Long‐Range PCR for detection of intron‐22 inversion and PCR‐SSP, PCR‐SSO for genotyping of HLA‐A, B, C, DRB1, DQB1 alleles and also for cytokine polymorphisms of TNF‐α, TGF‐β1, IL‐10, IL‐6 and IFN‐γ. Chi‐squared test and Fischer's exact test were used for statistical analysis. A total of 28 children had developed inhibitors (Group I), 71.4% high responding, while 24 had not (Group II). No statistically increased intron‐22 inversion prevalence was found in Group I compared with Group II (P = 0.5). Comparison of HLA allele frequencies between the two groups showed statistically significant differences in the following genotypes (i) promoting inhibitors development: DRB1*01(P = 0.014), DRB1*01:01(P = 0.011) and DQB1*05:01 (P = 0.005) and (ii) possibly protecting from inhibitors development: DRB1*11 (P = 0.011), DRB1*11:01 (P = 0.031), DQB1*03 (P = 0.004) and DQB1*03:01 (P = 0.014). Analysis of cytokines revealed a higher incidence of inhibitor detection only in homozygotes of the haplotypes ACC and ATA for IL‐10 polymorphisms (P = 0.05). There is evidence that HLA alleles and cytokine polymorphisms play an important role in FVIII inh development. On the contrary, no statistically significant results were obtained for intron‐22 inversion and its impact on FVIII inhibitors formation.
Experiences of family carers of older people with mental health problems in the acute general hospital: a qualitative study
Authors: Clissett Philip , Porock Davina , Harwood Rowan H. , Gladman John R.F.
Published: April 2013

Aims

To explore the experiences of family carers of people with cognitive impairment during admission to hospital.

Background

Providing appropriate care in acute hospitals for people with co‐morbid cognitive impairment, especially dementia or delirium or both, is challenging to healthcare professionals. One key element is close working with family members.

Design

Qualitative interview study.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews with family carers of 34 older people who had been admitted to a UK general hospital and had co‐morbid cognitive impairment. Interviews conducted in 2009 and 2010. Analysis was undertaken using Strauss and Corbin's framework.

Findings

The findings elaborate a core problem, ‘disruption from normal routine’ and a core process, ‘gaining or giving a sense of control to cope with disruption’. Family carers responded to disruption proactively by trying to make sense of the situation and attempting to gain control for themselves or the patient. They tried to stay informed, communicate with staff about the patient and plan for the future. The interaction of the core problem and the core process resulted in outcomes where family members either valued the support of hospital staff and services or were highly critical of the care provided.

Conclusion

Family carers are not passive in the face of the disruption of hospitalization and respond both by trying to involve themselves in the care and support of their relative and by trying to work in partnership with members of staff. Nurses need to foster this relationship conscientiously.
The Gap in Transition Between Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and General Adult Psychiatry
Authors: Lindgren Eva , Söderberg Siv , Skär Lisa
Published: April 2013

Background

During transition from child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) to general adult psychiatry (GenP) young adults with mental illness face multilevel transitions along with a risk for disruption in continuity of care. The aim of this study was to describe professionals' experiences and views of the transition process from CAP to GenP.

Method

Data were collected through six focus group discussions with professionals from both CAP and GenP and analyzed by content analysis.

Results

The results showed a gap in transition between CAP and GenP when different perspectives and care cultures meet in a complex process.

Conclusions

Cooperation, transition planning, and a mutual understanding of care can support young adults in transition from CAP to GenP.
Adolescent Non‐Suicidal Self‐Injury (NSSI) Interventions
Authors: Gonzales Ariel Henrie , Bergstrom Linda
Published: April 2013

Topic

Evidence‐based treatment of non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) in adolescents.

Purpose

To review the evidence base supporting current interventions for NSSI.

Sources Used

PubMed searches and ancestry analysis.

Conclusions

All treatments studied—developmental group therapy, individual cognitive‐behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy for adolescents—were found to be comparable to the typical treatments offered in the treatment settings where the research was conducted. Additional strategies such as harm reduction have very limited evidence suggesting they may be helpful. A few common interventions including relaxation techniques have extremely limited evidence suggesting they may be perceived as harmful by clients.
Impact of interleukin 28B polymorphisms on spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus infection: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Yang Ming , Rao Hui‐Ying , Feng Bo , Zhang Wei , Wei Lai
Published: April 2013

Background and Aim

Recent studies suggested that interleukin 28B (IL28B) polymorphisms may affect spontaneous clearance (SC) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our purpose was to update the meta‐analysis to reevaluate the impact of IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphisms on SC in patients infected with HCV.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase up to February 2013. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by fixed‐ or random‐effects models. Heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were also assessed.

Results

Seventeen eligible papers were involved in this study. The SC rate was higher in patients with the rs12979860 CC (vs CT/TT OR = 2.98, 95% CI 2.53–3.50) and rs8099917 TT (vs GT/GG OR = 2.80, 95% CI 2.23–3.51) in the IL28B polymorphisms. Ethnicity stratification revealed that rs12979860 CC was associated with SC for Caucasians (vs CT/TT OR = 3.05, 95% CI 2.67–3.49), Asians (vs CT/TT OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.33–2.66), and Africans (vs CT/TT OR = 3.15, 95% CI 2.39–4.15); rs8099917 TT was associated with SC for Caucasians (vs GT/GG OR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.96–3.15).

Conclusions

IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 single nucleotide polymorphisms are significantly associated with SC of HCV infection. The predictive value of rs12979860 CC was stronger in Caucasians and Africans than in Asians.
Food habits, socioeconomic status and body mass index among premenopausal and post‐menopausal women in Mauritius
Authors: Bhurosy T. , Jeewon R.
Published: April 2013

Background

Although many health disparities arise as a result of socioeconomic inequalities, less is known about the diet quality of women after menopause. The present study aimed to determine the factors affecting food habits and body mass index (BMI) among premenopausal and post‐menopausal Mauritian working women.

Methods

The study was conducted as a cross‐sectional survey in different workplaces located in the nine districts of Mauritius. Mauritian women (n = 400; 215 premenopausal, 185 post‐menopausal) were recruited using stratified random sampling. Participants completed a self‐reported questionnaire comprising a food frequency questionnaire previously constructed and used to address dietary guidelines that assess the intake of vegetables, fruits, dairy products, cereals, high‐ and low‐fat protein sources, fats and sweetened beverages, as well as questions aiming to elicit socioeconomic profile, menopausal status, physical activity level and demographic data. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured. An independent sample t‐test, chi‐squared test and one‐way analysis of variance were used for the statistical analyses.

Results

The mean dietary guideline score was significantly higher for post‐menopausal than premenopausal women, (P = 0.017). Each socioeconomic status (SES) category of post‐menopausal women also demonstrated a higher dietary guideline score than that of premenopausal women (P > 0.05). A high BMI was significantly associated with a low SES of participants (P = 0.042) and post‐menopausal stage (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Low SES and post‐menopausal stage are risk factors for obesity among female workers in Mauritius. Although post‐menopausal women ate a better diet, their mean BMI was higher than that of premenopausal women.
High density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are an independent predictor of the progression of chronic kidney disease
Authors: Baragetti A. , Norata G. D. , Sarcina C. , Rastelli F. , Grigore L. , Garlaschelli K. , Uboldi P. , Baragetti I. , Pozzi C. , Catapano A. L.
Published: April 2013

Objectives

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often present with reduced plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels. Whether this reduction in an epiphenomenon or is involved in disease progression is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between HDL‐C levels/function and CKD progression in patients with different degrees of disease.

Design

A total of 176 patients with CKD [glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 50.3 ± 29.1 mL min−1] were recruited and followed for up to 84 months. Lipid profile, metabolic status and kidney function were evaluated at predetermined times. Age‐matched control subjects were selected from the PLIC study (n = 453). Scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SR‐BI) and ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA‐1)‐dependent efflux of cholesterol were measured in CKD patients and in age‐matched control subjects.

Results

Low HDL‐C levels, diabetes and hypertension were associated with reduced GFR. At follow‐up, low HDL‐C levels were associated with earlier entry in dialysis or doubling of the plasma creatinine level (P = 0.017); HDL‐C levels were the only lipid parameter that affected the progression of CKD (hazard ratio 0.951, 95% confidence interval 0.917–0.986, P = 0.007), independently of the presence of diabetes. Only SR‐BI‐mediated serum cholesterol efflux was significantly reduced in the group of CKD patients with low HDL‐C levels compared to the control group.

Conclusions

CKD patients with low levels of plasma HDL‐C have a poor prognosis. HDL functionality is also impaired in renal dysfunction. These data support the relevance of HDL in influencing CKD progression.
Alterations in bile acid synthesis in carriers of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α mutations
Authors: Ekholm E. , Nilsson R. , Groop L. , Pramfalk C.
Published: April 2013

Objectives

Heterozygous mutations in hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α) cause maturity onset diabetes of the young 3 (MODY3), an autosomal dominant form of diabetes. Deficiency of HNF1α in mice results in diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and increased bile acid (BA) and cholesterol synthesis. Little is known about alterations in lipid metabolism in patients with MODY3. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with MODY3 have altered cholesterol and BA synthesis and intestinal cholesterol absorption. A secondary aim was to investigate the effects of HNF1α mutations on the transcriptional regulation of BA metabolism.

Methods

Plasma biomarkers of BA and cholesterol synthesis and intestinal cholesterol absorption were measured in patients with MODY3 (n = 19) and in matched healthy control subjects (n = 15). Cotransfection experiments were performed with several promoters involved in BA metabolism along with expression vectors carrying the mutations found in these patients.

Results

Plasma analysis showed higher levels of BA synthesis in patients with MODY3. No differences were observed in cholesterol synthesis or intestinal cholesterol absorption. Cotransfection experiments showed that one of the mutations (P379A) increased the induction of the cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase promoter compared with HNF1α, without further differences in other studied promoters. By contrast, the other four mutations (L107I, T260M, P291fsinsC and R131Q) reduced the induction of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) promoter, which was followed by reduced repression of the small heterodimer partner promoter. In addition, these mutations also reduced the induction of the apical sodium‐dependent bile salt transporter promoter.

Conclusions

BA synthesis is increased in patients with MODY3 compared with control subjects. Mutations in HNF1α affect promoters involved in BA metabolism.