bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Jumped or pushed: what motivates NHS staff to set up a social enterprise?
Authors: Hall Kelly , Miller Robin , Millar Ross
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the motivations behind public sector spin outs, focusing on the Right to Request policy, which enabled NHS staff to set up their own social enterprises to deliver healthcare services.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on empirical data gathered from 16 in‐depth interviews with individuals who had led a Right to Request proposal.

Findings

Motivations to spin out of the NHS into a social enterprise were often “empathetic” in nature, built around the good of the service for staff and users. Alongside this, some felt “pushed” out of the NHS as a result of government restructuring policy, with social enterprise offering the only hope to survive as an organisation.

Research limitations/implications

The study captures a particular point in time and there may be other perspectives that have not been included.

Social implications

The paper is of use to academics, policy makers and practitioners. It provides an important contribution in thinking about how to motivate public sector staff, especially those from a health profession, to consider spinning out into social enterprises.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to look at the motivations of healthcare spin outs through the Right to Request programme. The findings are related to previous literature on social entrepreneurship within public sector settings.
Strategies for scaling up social enterprise: lessons from early years providers
Authors: Lyon Fergus , Fernandez Heather
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the strategies social enterprises can use to scale up their impact. A traditional view has been for growth to occur through expanding operations or setting up new sites owned by a single organisation. However, a range of other strategies of scaling impact outside of organisational boundaries is explored.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an analysis of one detailed and three less intensive case studies of social enterprises in the early years sector supporting children and families. These were selected purposefully to represent a cross section of types of organisation. In the detailed case study, interviews were conducted with ten nursery managers, four of the senior management team and other key stakeholders.

Findings

This paper examines alternatives for scaling up social impact ranging from maximising the impact internally (through new activities, and more sites) to growth beyond the confines of the organisation (through social franchises, use of kite marks, training and networks).

Originality/value

The paper proposes a framework to help define the strategies by which organisations can scale up their social impact. The potential impact grows when considering scaling though partnerships, relationships and dissemination of ideas, but with this increase in scale, there is a loss of control by the original innovator. The research is of value to organisations wanting to scale up and for policy makers wanting to identify suitable strategies for encouraging growth and replication.
Corporate community involvement disclosures in annual report
Authors: Yekini Kemi , Jallow Kumba
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine whether corporate community involvement disclosures (CCID) in annual reports can be construed as a measure of corporate community development (CCD) or a mere signal of corporate social responsibility (CSR) observance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using content analysis and a quality score index, the study examined a panel data set covering the period from 1999 to 2008. The data was collected from a sample of 270 annual reports of 27 UK companies taken from the top 100 companies for corporate responsibility (BITC ranking, 2008). The research framework involves the use of signalling theory to investigate the information content of CCID.

Findings

It is found that the volume of corporate community disclosure (CCID) has a significant association with its total quality score (TQS) although the impact was found to be very small. CCID was also found to be strongly and positively associated with the volume of total CSR disclosed in annual reports. Hence the quantity and quality of CCID in annual reports increased significantly as the quantity of CSR disclosure also increased. Furthermore, the TQS was found to respond to company size and Corporate Governance measures such as audit committee size and board composition, and the existence of standalone CSR Reports, while other measures of public pressure such as leverage, profitability and industrial sector were not statistically significantly related with TQS.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to CSR literature in general and CCID literature in particular. The originality stems from the fact that it employs a signalling framework and a panel study approach as opposed to cross‐sectional only or time‐series only data to examine a less researched social disclosure – corporate community involvement.
A framework for practical and effective eco‐labelling of food products
Authors: Tzilivakis John , Green Andrew , Warner Doug , McGeevor Kate , Lewis Kathy
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The pressure on the food industry and society as a whole to evolve towards more sustainable production and consumption has increased in recent years. There are a number of drivers that can help reduce environmental impacts including legislative instruments, retail marketing and consumer choices and demand. One driver that has received attention recently is the use of product labels, either on a single issue or on multiple issues (using omni‐labelling). The purpose of this paper is to report on a framework that emerged from a wider study exploring effective approaches to environmental labelling of food products.

Design/methodology/approach

Techniques for assessing the environmental impacts of food production were reviewed and a consultation was undertaken with industry and consumer experts to ascertain their views (using multi‐criteria mapping) on the practicality and efficacy of environmental labels.

Findings

The wider study found that although the science is not sufficiently robust to develop an outcome‐based, environmentally broad, omni‐label at this time, there is a role for environmental labelling in conjunction with other initiatives to improve the sustainability of food production and consumption. The framework presented aims to support this role and help improve the practicality and efficacy of environmental labels. It provides a series of interrelated guidelines which provide a basis for developing more effective, robust, credible and practical environmental labels for food.

Practical implications

The framework can be used to design new, or evaluate existing labelling schemes and to identify opportunities for improvements. The process is illustrated with an application to four existing schemes.

Originality/value

Eco‐labelling of food products is gaining interest globally, but there are numerous issues that need to be fully understood in order to develop credible and robust labelling systems.
A new narrative and globally responsible leadership
Authors: Drewell Mark
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of responsible leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

The author draws on a range of current literature and experiences to share views on the need for responsible leadership.

Findings

The need for a new narrative is outlined and the challenges described.

Originality/value

The paper inspires leaders to embrace a new narrative, a narrative that requires a different focus from leadership and a new understanding of what responsible leadership entails.
Role of business: a portfolio model of corporate social responsibility
Authors: Franz Randal S. , Petersen Henry L.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain people's divergent perceptions of companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in order to help organizations strategically manage their global responsibilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Combining institutional theory and role‐theory, the authors examine how people's expectations for the role of business (RoB) in society define the standard by which corporate activities are judged. Where conformity to institutional models confers “legitimacy” and compliance to social scripts constitutes “appropriate” behavior, the authors contend that congruence with RoB expectations is what defines corporate responsibility. This research utilized a quasi‐experimental method to explore the effects of stakeholder status and individuals' RoB expectations on their assessments of CSR activities.

Findings

Significant differences were found between stakeholder groups on all but one of the CSR activities scales. Of substantially more impact, subjects' RoB expectations were found to significantly shape their assessment on all CSR activities scales. A factor analysis of the RoB items identified five dimensions to the role business plays in society, which together define a holistic model for global responsibility.

Research limitations/implications

Subjects were recruited by convenience and randomly assigned to the four experimental conditions, so they are not representative of the general population. Future research would benefit from cross‐cultural, longitudinal and qualitative explorations into people's RoB expectations.

Practical implications

The five RoB components provide managers with a tool to strategically manage a multi‐dimensional portfolio of corporate CSR activities.

Originality/value

This research applies role‐theory concepts to the study of CSR, thereby introducing some emergent, situational, negotiated and idiosyncratic dynamics to our understanding of global responsibility.
Exploring the nature of responsibility in higher education
Authors: Kaul Mishanka , Smith Jonathan
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to understanding of responsibility – specifically exploring responsibility in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper details a research project undertaken in a higher education institute (HEI) in the UK. The research adopted a case study approach and gathered data through 15 semi‐structured interviews.

Findings

The paper discusses four key findings. Major differences in how responsibility is understood and communicated by students, staff and leaders are highlighted, together with the challenges this creates. A model is proposed that may assist with a greater understanding of responsibility.

Research limitations/implications

The research is a small‐scale study involving 15 interviews in one HEI in the UK, therefore generalisations must be treated with caution. The research offers valuable insights into this under‐researched area, together with recommendations for further research.

Practical implications

The paper highlights key factors that HEIs may wish to consider in terms of how responsibility is understood, adopted and communicated.

Social implications

There is typically a low level of appreciation of what responsibility means. This paper raises this awareness and identifies what responsibility looks like within higher education. It emphasises the importance of engraining a responsibility culture in the organisation that not only takes account of staffs' and students' immediate responsibilities, but also their responsibility towards broader global issues.

Originality/value

There is a paucity of exploration concerning responsibility within higher education and this paper highlights some specific areas of focus which have been drawn from research in this field.
Staff injury arising from the use of physical intervention
Authors: Johnson Paula
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on staff injuries arising from incidents involving physical intervention (PI) with service users in a forensic, learning disability hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

Incident reports and individual electronic patient records were analysed to review all incidents in which staff were injured from January‐September 2011.

Findings

Injury rates for staff were consistently higher than those for service users over the nine month period. The majority of staff injuries happen as a result of an assault on staff by the service user either before PI is used (36.3 per cent) or during the PI process (47.6 per cent). The remaining 16.1 per cent of staff injuries occur as a result of accidents during PI (12.9 per cent) or re‐escalation of aggression after the incident (3.2 per cent). Very few (4.8 per cent) staff injuries are reported as “serious”. Most serious injuries are caused by kicks from service users. Kicks from service users are the highest cause of all staff injury.

Research limitations/implications

This review is a retrospective analysis of incident reports and as such does not capture the richness of data which would be available in the planned qualitative piece of research.

Practical implications

The findings of this review can be used to inform aspects of physical intervention training which may be tailored to specifically address areas where staff are at increased risk of injury.

Originality/value

This review is unique in the available literature in highlighting the point at which the injury occurs during the PI process.
Evaluation of a therapeutic community intervention for men with intellectual disability and personality disorder
Authors: Morrissey Catrin , Taylor Jon , Bennett Charlene
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Therapeutic Community (TC) approaches have not been applied to individuals with intellectual disability. This paper aims to present preliminary evaluation of a planned TC service intervention in a secure setting for men with mild intellectual disabilities and personality disorder over a period of 12 months.

Design/methodology/approach

The TC intervention group (n=11) was compared on repeated measures of violent incidents, seclusion hours, and informant and self‐report clinical outcome measures collected six months prior to, six and 12 months post the start of the intervention. The TC group was also compared with a pragmatic control group (n=10) receiving treatment as usual (TAU).

Findings

Clinical changes in the predicted direction were evident, with the TC group showing comparatively less pathology both over time and in relation to the comparison group. However, change was more likely for clinical scales measuring internalising problems, than for externalising problems. The mean number of violent incidents did not reduce over time. There was nevertheless a strong trend towards reduction in seclusion hours in the TC treatment group over time, with significant differences between groups also being observed at the six and 12 months stage.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size is small. The literature suggests a minimum of 18 months in TC treatment, so this is an interim evaluation. The planned evaluation period is two years, although attrition may affect the numbers of participants in the study after this period.

Practical implications

TC treatment is consistent with the core principles of involvement and choice. The findings of this preliminary service evaluation are promising in terms of the TC approach being a potential mode of treatment suitable for a proportion of patients with learning disability in secure conditions.

Originality/value

TC approaches are innovative in forensic learning disability. No previous evaluations of TC based interventions have been published in this field, and this paper contributes to an evidence base.
Peer mentoring to secure student placements
Authors: Procter Chris
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a case study where student peer mentors were employed to motivate and assist undergraduates to secure optional professional placement positions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the reasons for establishing the project, the recruitment and work carried out by the mentors. It explains a survey of students who had not undertaken placements the previous year to try to identify the activities that would be most effective on the part of the mentors. The mentors, together with the placement co‐coordinator, devised support ranging from one‐to‐one mentoring, drop in “clinics”, online support and large group talks. It discusses the results of this work and evaluates the responses of both mentors and mentees.

Findings

Those mentees who took part in the mentoring were typically those who were already enthusiastic about placement opportunities. The majority of students did not take advantage of mentoring support, including support on a drop‐in basis or one‐to‐one basis or support available online through a social network. It was found that the mentoring scheme did not significantly affect the proportion of students seeking or securing placements. However, the mentors themselves gained tremendous benefits from the mentoring scheme, in particular developing their communication skills and confidence.

Research limitations/implications

A thorough survey of potential mentees was not carried out after the project to ascertain the reasons for their lack of engagement.

Practical implications

There are two separate implications of this project. First, the mentoring scheme was valuable primarily for the mentors and not the mentees; and second, the level of support provided by the University is not the main factor in the low take up of optional placement opportunities. If these are felt to be sufficiently valuable for the student learning experience they need to be compulsory with appropriate support available – a mentoring scheme might then be of far more value to mentees.

Originality/value

There is very little published concerning the use of mentoring to facilitate work‐based learning so this paper is valuable for that alone. Furthermore, most published work on mentoring is located in the “best practice” school of pedagogical research where it is implicitly assumed that one must report on the success of an intervention. Frequently it is more valuable to examine more unexpected results of an intervention. This paper however shows much greater benefits achieved by the mentors than the mentees.
Enhancement of productivity through an integrated crew management system
Authors: Menelaou Angelos , Violaris Ioannis
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The management of human resources (HR) in the shipping industry is a continuing object of cost management due to the fact that labor cost is becoming an increasingly larger element of the overall operational costs. While the fleet of merchant vessels constantly increases in size, organizations struggle to administrate their personnel more efficiently. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the administrative environment of one of the world's largest crew management companies, Marlow Navigation, in order to identify flaws in management structure and propose the framework variables of respective solutions to improve productivity and quality of work.

Design/methodology approach

A questionnaire survey has been undertaken to gather data related to the administrative productivity of Marlow and to the use of available IT applications. The approach consists of two steps: first, descriptive statistics are used to provide quantitative descriptions of questionnaire results (problem identification). Second, qualitative analysis, through “focus group discussion”, aims to identify the specific administrative areas where changes must be effected and to propose the key parameters for their implementation (solution).

Findings

Enhanced administrative productivity is accomplished through an integrated system of crew management based on specialized IT instruments, innovative workflow and employees’ multidiscipline knowledge.

Originality/value

The proposed key variables of an HR management system can serve as a model for other business organizations, providing a basis for innovative progression with the potential for differentiation from traditional commercial shipping practices.
Poor quality employment is worse for mental health than no job at all and contributes to mental distress in new mothers
Authors: Holttum Sue
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This Research Watch aims to summarise two recent research papers relating to employment and mental health, one relating to all sectors of the working‐age population and the other to women who had recently had a child.

Design/methodology/approach

A search was undertaken to identify research papers with a mental health and social inclusion focus published within the past 12 months.

Findings

Both studies involved large samples of people in Australia. The first paper used information from over 7,000 people of working age, and investigated whether the quality of employment was related to mental health. Poor quality employment turned out to be worse for mental health than no job at all. The second paper focused on over 1,000 women who had given birth in the previous 12 months, and found that quality of employment predicted whether they experienced mental distress.

Originality/value

These two papers add to our understanding of the relationship between mental health and employment, the first focusing specifically on the quality of employment rather than simply employed versus unemployed status, the second by highlighting how poor quality employment may contribute to psychological distress after having a baby. Real social inclusion through employment may depend not only on being in work but the quality of that work.
Eco art on prescription
Authors: Baker David , Ley Ann , Alexander Justine , Beer Anne
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This article reports an evaluation of the effect of Eco Art on Prescription courses on the wellbeing of 39 participants.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants with experience of mild to moderate depression, stress or anxiety took part in one of three ten‐week art courses held in North Devon. The courses were themed to the local environment and carefully tailored to meet the needs of the targeted participants by providing a safe, supportive and affirming experience. Students completed a validated wellbeing scale at the start and end of each course, when qualitative data were also gathered. All data were analysed by an independent evaluator.

Findings

Attendance over the sessions was extremely high at 91 per cent. Results indicate a significant increase in wellbeing scores from the start (M=2.59, SD=0.82), to the end of the courses (M=3.26, SD=0.79), t(26)=−6.74, p=0.0001. Independent observation of a sample of sessions revealed a group of people totally absorbed in what they were doing. There was a relaxed, friendly atmosphere with developing social relationships amongst the students. Key themes from students' qualitative feedback were sheer enjoyment, educational benefits and increased confidence, both artistically and socially.

Originality/value

This small project adds to an accumulating body of knowledge, both locally and nationally, indicating the potential of art to improve wellbeing, promote social networks, and to even transform the lives of individuals recovering from mental distress.
“Staging the past, enacting the present”
Authors: Conway Tony , Leighton Debra
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate experiential marketing as a potential strategy for cultural attractions operating in a highly competitive leisure marketplace.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the relevance of the experiential approach for the UK arts and cultural sector with its multiple stakeholders and innate tensions between commercial objectives and curatorial/artistic goals, between visitor access and preservation and between scholarship and entertainment.

Findings

Experiential marketing is evaluated as a means by which organizations in the arts and cultural sector can capture uncontended market space while satisfying the wants and expectations of an increasingly discerning visitor. The analytical basis for the evaluation is provided through comparative case studies – one from the heritage sector and one from the performing arts.

Originality/value

The experiential approach is considered and the findings applied to a conceptual model, with a view to offering proposals for the dissemination of best practice and identifying directions for further research.
Defining market approaches in cultural organizations: an analysis of Italian theatres
Authors: Guercini Simone , Ranfagni Silvia
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the emergent role of market in cultural enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors consider market as network and identify the role of the interaction process with a special focus on theatre organizations.

Findings

The interactions are examined on the basis of relationship models, distinguishing for each of them the progressive changes in their structural components (actors, activities and resources) and the outcomes (economic, artistic, social) produced.

Originality/value

The value of the study is to identify market representation by theatre organizations and to analyse their interactions with the market as a cumulative and continuous process.
Risk factors for bruxism among Croatian navy employees
Authors: ALAJBEG I. Z. , ZUVELA A. , TARLE Z.
Published: May 2012

Summary  The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between bruxism, and sociodemographic parameters, symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), personality and war experience among Croatian navy employees. The sample included 1092 subjects, aged 20–60 years (mean age 37·06 ± 7·85). An individual’s bruxism status was based on clinical oral examination and participants’ report of bruxism. Subjects with bruxism index values ≥ 90th percentile were included in severe bruxism group (n = 111), and those with scores below 90th percentile were labelled as negligible bruxism group (n = 981). No differences were found in gender distribution between the two groups. The proportion of military personnel presenting with bruxism is double the proportion of administrative employees with bruxism. A total of 23·34% subjects in negligible bruxism group and 48·65% in severe bruxism group participated in the war. Subjects in severe bruxism group presented more TMD‐related signs and symptoms than those in negligible bruxism group. Higher prevalence of neuroticism and psychoticism was found in severe bruxism group. According to logistic regression, the probability of severe bruxism was significantly associated with marital status [Odds ratio (OR) 6·859, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3·869–12·158 P < 0·001], neuroticism (OR 2·842, 95% CI 1·434–5·632 P = 0·003), psychoticism (OR 2·618, 95% CI 1·193–5·746 P = 0·016), military duty (OR 1·828, 95% CI 1·013–3·298 P = 0·045) and masticatory muscles tenderness (OR 9·372, 95% CI 4·923–17·841 P < 0·001). Smokers had a 2·72‐fold (95% CI 1·706–4·335 P < 0·001) higher risk of bruxism than non‐smokers. Subjects who participated in war were more represented in severe bruxism group. Further studies, including other potential risk factors, are required to clarify these relationships.
Prognosis of immediately loaded implants and their restorations: a systematic literature review
Authors: STRUB J. R. , JURDZIK B. A. , TUNA T.
Published: May 2012

Summary  Immediate loading of oral implants has become popular because of the increasing demands of a shortened treatment time. This literature review evaluates the prognosis of immediately loaded implants and their restorations with immediate or delayed implant placement. Special attention was given to the impact of type of jaw, bone quality, implant length, time of implant placement and type of restoration. An electronic (PubMed) and a manual search in relevant journals were conducted until February 2012. Only publications in English, in peer‐reviewed journals, were considered. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria: five studies dealt with fixed restorations, two studies with removable rehabilitation of edentulous jaws and two studies dealt with partially edentulous patients. Implant survival rates ranged from 95·8% to 100%, implant success rates in the treatment for the mandible from 79% to 100% and restoration survival rates for both jaws from 96·4% to 100%. Within the limits of this review, appropriate patient selection, primary implant stability, splinting of implants and the expertise of surgeons seem to be important for the prognosis of immediately loaded implants and their restorations. Good bone quality and use of long implants appear to play a role. However, careful interpretation is required because conclusions are based on articles with low level of evidence. While immediate loading of oral implants in the mandible shows encouraging and predictable results, further multicenter randomised controlled clinical trials with sufficient statistical power are needed to examine (i) the outcome of immediately loaded implants in the maxilla and (ii) the outcome of immediate loading of immediately placed implants.
BAR expressolog identification: expression profile similarity ranking of homologous genes in plant species
Authors: Patel Rohan V. , Nahal Hardeep K. , Breit Robert , Provart Nicholas J.
Published: May 2012

Large numbers of sequences are now readily available for many plant species, allowing easy identification of homologous genes. However, orthologous gene identification across multiple species is made difficult by evolutionary events such as whole‐genome or segmental duplications. Several developmental atlases of gene expression have been produced in the past couple of years, and it may be possible to use these transcript abundance data to refine ortholog predictions. In this study, clusters of homologous genes between seven plant species – Arabidopsis, soybean, Medicago truncatula, poplar, barley, maize and rice – were identified. Following this, a pipeline to rank homologs within gene clusters by both sequence and expression profile similarity was devised by determining equivalent tissues between species, with the best expression profile match being termed the ‘expressolog’. Five electronic fluorescent pictograph (eFP) browsers were produced as part of this effort, to aid in visualization of gene expression data and to complement existing eFP browsers at the Bio‐Array Resource (BAR). Within the eFP browser framework, these expression profile similarity rankings were incorporated into an Expressolog Tree Viewer to allow cross‐species homolog browsing by both sequence and expression pattern similarity. Global analyses showed that orthologs with the highest sequence similarity do not necessarily exhibit the highest expression pattern similarity. Other orthologs may show different expression patterns, indicating that such genes may require re‐annotation or more specific annotation. Ultimately, it is envisaged that this pipeline will aid in improvement of the functional annotation of genes and translational plant research.
Decadal trends in abundance, size and condition of Antarctic toothfish in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, 1972–2011
Authors: Ainley David G , Nur Nadav , Eastman Joseph T , Ballard Grant , Parkinson Claire L , Evans Clive W , DeVries Arthur L.
Published: May 2012

We report the analyses of a dataset spanning 39 years of near‐annual fishing for Dissostichus mawsoni in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, 1972–2011. Data on total length, condition and catch per unit effort (CPUE) were derived from the > 5500 fish caught, the large majority of which were measured, tagged and released. Contrary to expectation, the length frequency of the McMurdo Sound catch was dominated by fish in the upper two‐thirds of the overall distribution exhibited in the industrial catch for the Ross Sea shelf. Fish length and condition increased from the early 1970s to the early 1990s and then decreased. Fish length positively correlated with Ross Sea ice extent in early spring, a relationship possibly caused by more ice encouraging larger fish to move farther south over the shelf and into the study area. Fish condition positively correlated with the amount of open water in the Ross Sea during the previous summer (Feb), perhaps reflecting greater availability of prey with the higher productivity that more open water brings. Decreasing fish size corresponds to the onset of the fishery, which targets the large individuals. CPUE was constant through 2001 and then decreased dramatically. We hypothesize that this decrease is related to the industrial fishery, which began in the 1996–97 austral summer, and concentrates effort over the ice‐free Ross Sea continental slope. As a result of limited prey choices and close coupling among mesopredators of the region, Antarctic toothfish included, the fishery appears to be dramatically altering the trophic structure of the Ross Sea.
The aged microenvironment contributes to the age‐related functional defects of CD4 T cells in mice
Authors: Lefebvre Julie S. , Maue Alexander C. , Eaton Sheri M. , Lanthier Paula A. , Tighe Michael , Haynes Laura
Published: May 2012

CD4 T cells, and especially T follicular helper cells, are critical for the generation of a robust humoral response to an infection or vaccination. Importantly, immunosenescence affects CD4 T‐cell function, and the accumulation of intrinsic defects decreases the cognate helper functions of these cells. However, much less is known about the contribution of the aged microenvironment to this impaired CD4 T‐cell response. In this study, we have employed a preclinical model to determine whether the aged environment contributes to the defects in CD4 T‐cell functions with aging. Using an adoptive transfer model in mice, we demonstrate for the first time that the aged microenvironment negatively impacts at least three steps of the CD4 T‐cell response to antigenic stimulation. First, the recruitment of CD4 T cells to the spleen is reduced in aged compared to young hosts, which correlates with dysregulated chemokine expression in the aged organ. Second, the priming of CD4 T cells by DCs is reduced in aged compared to young mice. Finally, naïve CD4 T cells show a reduced transition to a T follicular helper cell phenotype in the aged environment, which impairs the subsequent generation of germinal centers. These studies have provided new insights into how aging impacts the immune system and how these changes influence the development of immunity to infections or vaccinations.
ANALYSIS OF ALEXANDRIUM TAMARENSE (DINOPHYCEAE) GENES REVEALS THE COMPLEX EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF A MICROBIAL EUKARYOTE1
Authors: Chan Cheong Xin , Soares Marcelo B. , Bonaldo Maria F. , Wisecaver Jennifer H. , Hackett Jeremiah D. , Anderson Donald M. , Erdner Deana L. , Bhattacharya Debashish
Published: May 2012

Microbial eukaryotes may extinguish much of their nuclear phylogenetic history due to endosymbiotic/horizontal gene transfer (E/HGT). We studied E/HGT in 32,110 contigs of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense (Dinophyceae) using a conservative phylogenomic approach. The vast majority of predicted proteins (86.4%) in this alga are novel or dinoflagellate‐specific. We searched for putative homologs of these predicted proteins against a taxonomically broadly sampled protein database that includes all currently available data from algae and protists, and reconstructed a phylogeny from each of the putative homologous protein sets. Of the 2,523 resulting phylogenies, 14%–17% are potentially impacted by E/HGT involving both prokaryote and eukaryote lineages, with 2%–4% showing clear evidence of reticulate evolution. The complex evolutionary histories of the remaining proteins, many of which may also have been affected by E/HGT, cannot be interpreted using our approach with currently available gene data. We present empirical evidence of reticulate genome evolution that combined with inadequate or highly complex phylogenetic signal in many proteins may impede genome‐wide approaches to infer the tree of microbial eukaryotes.
The Organization of Words and Symbolic Gestures in 18‐Month‐Olds’ Lexicons: Evidence From a Disambiguation Task
Authors: Suanda Sumarga H. , Namy Laura L.
Published: May 2012

Infants’ early communicative repertoires include both words and symbolic gestures. The current study examined the extent to which infants organize words and gestures in a single unified lexicon. As a window into lexical organization, eighteen‐month‐olds’ (N = 32) avoidance of word–gesture overlap was examined and compared with avoidance of word–word overlap. The current study revealed that when presented with novel words, infants avoided lexical overlap, mapping novel words onto novel objects. In contrast, when presented with novel gestures, infants sought overlap, mapping novel gestures onto familiar objects. The results suggest that infants do not treat words and gestures as equivalent lexical items and that during a period of development when word and symbolic gesture processing share many similarities, important differences also exist between these two symbolic forms.
Mitral Isthmus Ablation Using Steerable Sheath and High Ablation Power: A Single Center Experience
Authors: WONG KELVIN C. K. , QURESHI NORMAN , JONES MICHAEL , RAJAPPAN KIM , BASHIR YAVER , BETTS TIMOTHY R.
Published: May 2012

Case Series of Mitral Isthmus Ablation. Background: Mitral isthmus ablation is challenging. The use of steerable sheath and high ablation power may improve success rate.

Methods: This single‐center, prospective study enrolled 200 patients who underwent ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF), including mitral isthmus ablation. Mitral isthmus ablation was performed using an irrigated ablation catheter via a steerable sheath (endocardium: maximum power: 40/50 W limited to annular end, maximum temperature: 48 °C; coronary sinus [CS]: maximum power: 25/30 W, maximum temperature: 48 °C). Endpoint was bidirectional mitral isthmus block.

Results: Mitral isthmus block was acutely achieved in 182/200 patients (91%). Sixty‐nine percent of patients required CS ablation. Mean total ablation time was 13 ± 6 minutes. There was 1 case of acute circumflex artery occlusion. Mean left atrium (LA) diameter was significantly bigger in patients with unsuccessful mitral isthmus ablation (49 ± 4 mm vs. 43 ± 6 mm; P = 0.0007). In redo procedures, the incidence of reconduction at the mitral isthmus, roof and cavotricuspid isthmus was 44%, 37%, and 29%, respectively. Overall incidence of perimitral flutter was 9%. Prior complex fractionated atrial electrogram ablation was a predictor for microreentrant atrial tachycardia (AT) whereas gaps in linear lesions predicted macroreentrant flutters. After a mean follow‐up of 20 ± 9 months, 73% of patients remained free from AF or AT.

Conclusion: We reported on a series of mitral isthmus ablation using steerable sheath and high ablation power (50 W). Larger LA diameter was a predictor of failure to achieve mitral isthmus block. The mitral isthmus had a moderately high incidence of re‐conduction but was only associated with a relatively low incidence of perimitral flutter. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 1193–1200, November 2012)
A Novel Missense Mutation Causing a G487R Substitution in the S2–S3 Loop of Human ether‐à‐go‐go‐Related Gene Channel
Authors: KINOSHITA KOSHI , YAMAGUCHI YOSHIAKI , NISHIDE KOHKI , KIMOTO KATSUYA , NONOBE YUKI , FUJITA AKIRA , ASANO KENTA , TABATA TOSHIHIDE , MORI HISASHI , INOUE HIROSHI , HATA YUKIKO , FUKUROTANI KENKICHI , NISHIDA NAOKI
Published: May 2012

hERG(G487R) Channel. Introduction: Mutations of human ether‐à‐go‐go‐related gene (hERG), which encodes a cardiac K+ channel responsible for the acceleration of the repolarizing phase of an action potential and the prevention of premature action potential regeneration, often cause severe arrhythmic disorders. We found a novel missense mutation of hERG that results in a G487R substitution in the S2–S3 loop of the channel subunit [hERG(G487R)] from a family and determined whether this mutant gene could induce an abnormality in channel function.

Methods and Results: We made whole‐cell voltage‐clamp recordings from HEK‐293T cells transfected with wild‐type hERG [hERG(WT)], hERG(G487R), or both. We measured hERG channel‐mediated current as the “tail” of a depolarization‐elicited current. The current density of the tail current and its voltage‐ and time‐dependences were not different among all the cell groups. The time‐courses of deactivation, inactivation, and recovery from inactivation and their voltage‐dependences were not different among all the cell groups. Furthermore, we performed immunocytochemical analysis using an anti‐hERG subunit antibody. The ratio of the immunoreactivity of the plasma membrane to that of the cytoplasm was not different between cells transfected with hERG(WT), hERG(G487R), or both.

Conclusion: hERG(G487R) can produce functional channels with normal gating kinetics and cell‐surface expression efficiency with or without the aid of hERG(WT). Therefore, neither the heterozygous nor homozygous inheritance of hERG(G487R) is thought to cause severe cardiac disorders. hERG(G487R) would be a candidate for a rare variant or polymorphism of hERG with an amino acid substitution in the unusual region of the channel subunit. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 1246–1253, November 2012)
Socio‐demographic and behavioural inequalities in the impact of dental pain among adults: a population‐based study
Authors: Constante Helena M. , Bastos João L. , Peres Karen G. , Peres Marco A.
Published: May 2012

Objectives

To assess socio‐demographic and behavioural inequalities in the impact of dental pain on daily activities, as well as to estimate the prevalence and intensity of dental pain.

Methods

A population‐based cross‐sectional study was carried out in Florianopolis, Southern Brazil, with 1720 adults aged 20–59 years in 2009–2010. Interviews were performed at adults' households, which included socio‐demographics and behavioural characteristics, such as smoking status and alcohol abuse, along with mental health, self‐reported health, number of retained teeth, dental pain occurrence (including its intensity and its impact on daily life). The association between the impact of dental pain and the covariates was tested using multinomial logistic regression.

Results

The global prevalence of dental pain was 14.8% (95% CI, 12.9–16.7). Adjusted analysis showed that women, those who self‐classified as dark‐skinned Blacks, those with low family income, current smokers and those with common mental disorders reported a higher impact of dental pain than their counterparts. Among subjects reporting dental pain, 12.7% indicated the maximum intensity, whereas 6.0% had some daily activity disrupted by it, such as difficulties in chewing certain foods (38.0%), sleep disturbance (21.0%), difficulty to work (21.0%) and difficulty in performing household tasks (8.0%). Prevalence ratios of impact of dental pain between the poorest income group and richest income group (2.4), between the highest and lowest schooling group (2.6), and between dark‐skinned Blacks and Whites (2.1) were of higher magnitude than the dental pain prevalence ratios among the same groups (1.7, 1.3 and 1.4, respectively).

Conclusions

The impact of dental pain showed a social gradient. Inequalities between socio‐economic groups found in this study should be taken into account, as the impact of dental pain leads to reduced daily activities and poor quality of life.
Interaction of Liposomal Formulations of Meta‐tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (Temoporfin) with Serum Proteins: Protein Binding and Liposome Destruction
Authors: Reshetov Vadzim , Zorin Vladimir , Siupa Agnieszka , D’Hallewin Marie‐Ange , Guillemin François , Bezdetnaya Lina
Published: May 2012

mTHPC is a non polar photosensitizer used in photodynamic therapy. To improve its solubility and pharmacokinetic properties, liposomes were proposed as drug carriers. Binding of liposomal mTHPC to serum proteins and stability of drug carriers in serum are of major importance for PDT efficacy; however, neither was reported before. We studied drug binding to human serum proteins using size‐exclusion chromatography. Liposomes destruction in human serum was measured by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Inclusion of mTHPC into conventional (Foslip®) and PEGylated (Fospeg®) liposomes does not affect equilibrium serum protein binding compared with solvent‐based mTHPC. At short incubation times the redistribution of mTHPC from Foslip® and Fospeg® proceeds by both drug release and liposomes destruction. At longer incubation times, the drug redistributes only by release. The release of mTHPC from PEGylated vesicles is delayed compared with conventional liposomes, alongside with greatly decreased liposomes destruction. Thus, for long‐circulation times the pharmacokinetic behavior of Fospeg® could be influenced by a combination of protein‐ and liposome‐bound drug. The study highlights the modes of interaction of photosensitizer‐loaded nanovesicles in serum to predict optimal drug delivery and behavior in vivo in preclinical models, as well as the novel application of NTA to assess the destruction of liposomes.
Development of ASME Section X Code Rules for High Pressure Composite Hydrogen Pressure Vessels With Nonload Sharing Liners
Authors: Newhouse Norman L. , Rawls George B. , Rana Mahendra D. , Shelley Bernard F. , Gorman Michael R.
Published: May 2012

The purpose of this paper is to document the development of ASME Section X Code rules for high pressure vessels for containing hydrogen and to provide a technical basis of their content. The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Project Team on Hydrogen Tanks was formed in 2004 to develop Code rules to address the various needs that had been identified for the design and construction of up to 15,000 psi hydrogen storage vessel. One of these needs was the development of Code rules for high pressure composite vessels with nonload sharing liners for stationary applications. In 2009, ASME approved new Appendix 8, for Section X Code which contains the rules for these vessels. These vessels are designated as Class III vessels with design pressure ranging from 21 MPa (3000 psi) to 105 MPa (15,000 psi) and maximum allowable outside liner diameter of 2.54 m (100 in.). The maximum design life of these vessels is limited to 20 years. Design, fabrication, and examination requirements have been specified, including Acoustic Emission testing at the time of manufacture. The Code rules include the design qualification testing of prototype vessels. Qualification includes proof, expansion, burst, cyclic fatigue, creep, flaw, permeability, torque, penetration, and environmental testing.