bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A cluster concentration typology for making location decisions
Authors: Zelbst Pamela J. , Frazier Gregory V. , Sower Victor E.
Published: July 2010

Purpose

Location decisions are among the most costly decisions that organizations make. This research aims to examine location decisions from a macro perspective and to utilize findings for the development of a typology.

Design/methodology/approach

County level source information from the US Census Bureau, the United States (US) Department of Commerce: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), National Association of Counties (NACO), and Fedstats is used in this analysis. Discriminant analysis as a profile analysis is utilized as an objective assessment of differences between the cluster concentrations.

Findings

The resulting typology of clusters concentrations is based on four constructs identified in the literature: innovation, specialization, complementariness and transfer of knowledge. This typology can serve as an aid in making these critical location decisions for practitioners as well as identifying future research topics for academia.

Research limitations/implications

The research is an exploratory study and limited by its nature; therefore cause and effect cannot be definitively stated. Variables such as politics, environment, geography and cultural differences could have confounding effects on the study. The generalizability of the study could be affected because of the geographic location in relationship to national differences based on these and other variables.

Practical implications

This typology of cluster concentrations can be used as a tool for managers when making crucial location decisions.

Originality/value

The research is original in that it takes a more holistic approach to developing a typology of cluster concentrations. Rather than looking at specific industries and focusing on industry clusters, the research focuses on concentrations of industry clusters.
Study on risk assessment of water security of drought periods based on entropy weight methods
Authors: Dong Qianjin , Ai Xueshan , Cao Guangjing , Zhang Yanmin , Wang Xianjia
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain risk indicators of water security of drought periods in which the indices of reliability, resiliency, and vulnerability are integrated.

Design/methodology/approach

It is not reasonable that weight coefficients of different risk indices are often determined subjectively in conventional procedures, so the entropy weight method is introduced and chosen to solve the problem. Entropy weight method can get the weight coefficients of different risk indices objectively and is valid from the case study.

Findings

The feasibility and validity of entropy weight methods to determine weight coefficients of different risk indices objectively are recognized.

Research limitations/implications

Accessibility and availability of data are the main limitations.

Practical implications

The paper provides a more objective risk indicator of water security of drought periods for water resources managers.

Originality/value

This paper determines the weight coefficients of different risk indices for risk assessment of water security of drought periods based on hazard entropy. The paper is aimed at water resources managers and relative researchers, especially those who deal with risk assessment of water security of drought periods.
Sliding mode control for a class of nonlinear systems based on robust adaptive neural network estimation
Authors: Deng Yigao , Zhang Youan
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a sliding mode controller design method for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with uncertainties and to demonstrate a recursive derivative estimation procedure for the derivatives of system outputs.

Design/methodology/approach

A recursive derivative estimation procedure for the derivatives of system outputs is demonstrated. Radial basis function(RBF) neural networks are used to approximate the uncertainties and filters are introduced to estimate the derivatives of system outputs step‐by‐step. The adaptive tuning rules of RBF neural network weight matrices are derived by the Lyapunov stability theorem, which guarantees filter errors and network weight errors are bounded and exponentially converge to a neighborhood of the origin globally. The sliding mode controller is designed based on the estimation for the derivatives of system outputs such that the sliding surface converges to zero and the system control input is bounded.

Findings

The sliding mode controller can make the system output track the desired output with arbitrarily small tracking error. The filter errors and network weight estimation errors can be made arbitrarily small, and all the system signals are bounded. The proposed method does not need the supper bounds of the unmatched uncertainties and their any order derivatives.

Research limitations/implications

The system output and uncertainties are required to be sufficiently smooth in the proposed method. In practice, this condition is always satisfied generally.

Practical implications

This paper contains very useful advice for researchers on the sliding mode control and the use of neural networks.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new sliding mode controller design method based on recursive derivative estimation of system outputs using neural networks. The paper is aimed at theoretical researchers, especially those who have interest in sliding mode control, neural networks, adaptive techniques, and recursive estimation.
Localization and tracking algorithm for mobile robot based on wireless sensor network
Authors: Zhen Liu , Mingli Ding , Qi Wang
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a low‐cost mobile robot localization and navigation system based on wireless sensor network (WSN). This can be used in extreme environments such as mines, hostile areas, and other places where static nodes cannot be deployed directly.

Design/methodology/approach

The distance between robot and beacon nodes is estimated by received signal strength indicator (RSSI). The adaptive Kalman filter algorithm is used to eliminate noise from the RSSI signal. Then, the paper gets the mobile robot's status information which includes position, velocity, and acceleration. In order to improve the real‐time performance of systems and reduce the computation overhead of robot's CPU, the paper chooses a beacon node by some certain rules to implement the localization program. The robot and beacon nodes use the CC2430 as the communication and data‐processing unit.

Findings

The experiment shows it has the characteristics of good position precision, is easily realized, and inexpensive.

Research limitations/implications

That the system needs so many beacon nodes, is the main limitation.

Practical implications

A very useful and low‐cost method for mobile robot localization and navigation.

Originality/value

The innovative aspect of the paper is that it attempts an analysis of the localization system based on WSN, by attempting to analyze and explain the model of localization system which includes robot and beacon nodes.
Employee‐organization relationship in collective entrepreneurship: an overview
Authors: Ribeiro‐Soriano Domingo , Urbano David
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to add new theoretical insights on the employee‐organization relationship (EOR) in the context of corporate entrepreneurship (CE), specifically in collective entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a brief overview of the content of each of the articles included in this special issue.

Findings

In the last decades, the study of the EOR has become an integral part of the literature as an approach aimed to provide the theoretical foundations to understanding the employee and employer perspectives to the exchange. Also, the greater complex environment and the higher level of innovativeness have pushed firms to become more entrepreneurial in order to identify new opportunities for sustained superior performance. In this context, emerges CE and involves not only formal activities to enhance product innovation, risk taking and a proactive response to environmental forces, but also organizational learning, driven by collaboration, and commitment. Specifically, different EORs and specific human resources management practices are required in the light of collective entrepreneurship, understood as work among entrepreneurial teams within the organizations and collaboration among employees.

Originality/value

The paper provides an overview of the EOR in collective entrepreneurship.
Innovative capability development for entrepreneurship
Authors: Annique Un C. , Montoro‐Sanchez Angeles
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to integrate three streams of literature – organizational capabilities based in resource‐based view (RBV) and the team‐ and organization‐level innovation – to provide a theoretical framework of how firms invest in developing innovative capabilities for entrepreneurship and change management.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper based on the RBV and the team‐ and organization‐level innovation literatures.

Findings

Linking the three bodies of literature, two main models for developing innovative capabilities are proposed: organization and project team models. The “organization model” requires firms to invest at the organization level to generate the supporting organization‐level processes, i.e. communication routines, independent of when they organize for innovation, and the “project team model” calls for just‐in‐time investment as needed in the process of innovation. The paper discusses other potential models and provides directions for future research on this important and timely topic.

Originality/value

The paper expands the RBV of the firm by providing a theoretical framework of how firms develop the capabilities to mobilize and create knowledge for innovation as an entrepreneurial activity and for managing the changes in organizations.
The relative importance of service features in explaining customer satisfaction
Authors: Pantouvakis Angelos
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the relative importance of various service‐quality dimensions in explaining customer satisfaction; and to examine whether this assessment is affected by the measurement instrument that is used.

Design/methodology/approach

A new (“servicescape”) model for directly measuring the physical and the interactive features of a service is proposed and tested against the SERVQUAL measurement model and Nordic conceptualisation. Data are collected from a structured questionnaire survey of 434 passengers at the port of Piraeus in Greece.

Findings

The findings reveal that the widely used SERVQUAL instrument fails to fully capture the role of “tangibles” in determining overall customer satisfaction in the service under examination. The new proposed “servicescape model” attaches more importance to the role of physical environmental attributes than has been reported in most previous studies.

Practical implications

Service providers should pay more attention to the physical environment in which they are operating. They should also note that different measurement instruments provide different results.

Originality/value

This paper proposes and tests a new (“servicescape”) measuring instrument that has not been previously developed or operationalised.
Development of personalised services in small business: an iterative learning process
Authors: Gottfridsson Patrik
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The aim of this study is to achieve a better understanding of how small business develops personalised business‐to‐business services.

Design/methodology/approach

In‐depth interviews are conducted with representatives of 11 small Swedish companies in the service sector. Qualitative data from the interviews are coded and sorted according to themes.

Findings

Service development in the firms studied is an unstructured, incremental, and relatively informal process that proceeds as part of the firms' day‐to‐day interactions with their customers. It is essentially an iterative learning process by which individuals develop new knowledge and competencies to enhance the capacity of their firms to solve the specific problems of customers.

Originality/value

In contrast to the highly structured and sequenced models that have characterised most of the existing research on service development, this study provides an alternative view of new service development as a relatively informal learning process.
A review and future research directions of secure and trustworthy mobile agent‐based e‐marketplace systems
Authors: Patel Ahmed , Qi Wei , Wills Christopher
Published: July 2010

Purpose

There is a need to provide secure and safe information security systems through the use of firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, encryption, authentication, and other hardware and software solutions. The purpose of this paper is therefore to propose a framework which includes safe, secure, trusted, and auditable services, as well as forensic mechanisms to provide audit trails for digital evidence of transactions and protection against malicious and illegal activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the literature as the foundation and knowledge base for the proposed framework and system of secure and trustworthy mobile agent (MA)‐based e‐marketplaces. It consists of the current state of the art taxonomy for the classified MA‐based frameworks for e‐marketplace trading, underlying supporting systems, e‐payment systems, and the essential issues related to auditable and digital forensic services.

Findings

The current knowledge shows that there is a serious lack of auditable and digital forensic services to make secure and trustworthy MA‐based e‐marketplaces systems. The paper draws conclusions and highlights further research work which is ongoing and new work that needs to be performed.

Originality/value

The paper perceives the needs to define the requirements for secure and trustworthy MA‐based e‐marketplaces and proposes a framework to design effective systems using the latest techniques and technologies.
The use of feedback in lab energy conservation: fume hoods at MIT
Authors: Wesolowski Daniel , Olivetti Elsa , Graham Amanda , Lanou Steve , Cooper Peter , Doughty Jim , Wilk Rich , Glicksman Leon
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the results of an Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chemistry Department campaign to reduce energy consumption in chemical fume hoods. Hood use feedback to lab users is a crucial component of this campaign.

Design/methodology/approach

Sash position sensor data on variable air volume fume hoods are remotely collected. A 15 minutes average fume hood sash positions for each laboratory are recorded. Data are compiled monthly and a report with average sash position over time and relative frequency of hood position are delivered to the principal investigators of the labs.

Findings

Average sash height is lowered by 26 percent (from 16.3±0.85 percent open to 12.1±0.39 percent open) throughout the department, saving an estimated $41,000/year. Sash position during inactive periods is lowered from 9 to 6 percent open. Half of all department savings occurred in four (of 25) labs. Energy savings are substantially less than original expectations because most installed fume hoods use combination sashes. Labs with vertical sashes use the most energy, and see the most savings from the intervention.

Practical implications

Monthly feedback is an effective tool for encouraging better hood use behavior. Potential savings from even large behavior changes can be limited if existing equipment is relatively efficient, so conservation programs should be tailored to the existing conditions.

Originality/value

The present analysis provides data on the impact of a program in a relatively efficient setting compared to other fume hood conservation reports. The results have cautionary value for designers of similar programs. A breakdown of a laboratory building utility use is also provided.
Using visualization technologies for design and planning of a healthy construction workplace
Authors: Rwamamara Romuald , Norberg Håkan , Olofsson Thomas , Lagerqvist Ove
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to investigate how health and safety gains and improvements of the construction workplace can be made through the use of three‐dimensional (3D) and four‐dimensional (4D) visualization technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used in the paper was a combination of semi‐structured interviews with five construction project planners from three construction projects and observations of a 4D model used in one of the three projects.

Findings

The findings of the paper have shown a great potential for 3D and 4D visualization in terms of communicating construction information as well as the health and safety risks in the design process where clash detection, work tasks sequence, workspace congestion can be identified by project stakeholders who are thus able to plan for alternative solutions to reduce or eliminate rework, heavy material handling and repetitive and awkward postures which expose workers to musculoskeletal injury risk.

Research limitations/implications

The 3D and 4D models as they are currently used in the design of construction projects, particularly in the three projects investigated in this paper, still lack the worker reference frame and the visual interaction between the worker and the permanent as well as the temporary works.

Originality/value

The paper describes the current and emerging trends in the development of 3D, virtual reality and 4D computer‐aided design visualization and simulation, which have affected or are likely to have an impact on construction projects planning in the Swedish construction sector.
Interface research: a commentary on a commentary – ten years on
Authors: Carson David
Published: July 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to be a reflection on the marketing/entrepreneurship interface paradigm after ten years.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews original comments made in the inaugural issue Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and uses relevant parts of this to serve as a foundation for contemporary reflections.

Findings

The paper finds that perhaps there is a need to refocus research initiatives towards small business (SB) marketing/entrepreneurship.

Practical implications

Given the dearth of knowledge within the small business sector of WEB and WEB 2.0 as potential business tools, there are potentially huge practical implications stemming from meaningful research outcomes.

Originality/value

Comments are original thought based on many years' research and practice in the SB marketing/entrepreneurship interface.
A note on capital structure target adjustment – Indonesian evidence
Authors: Reinhard Ludwig , Li Steven
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether existing capital structure target adjustment models are able to identify whether companies adjust their capital structures towards an (unobservable) target.

Design/methodology/approach

Existing capital structure target adjustment models are applied to a specific dataset by using different regression techniques (ordinary least square, fixed effect, Fama‐MacBeth, least square dummy variable “corrected”, SYS‐GMM).

Findings

Existing capital structure target adjustment models are not able to identify whether companies adjust their capital structures towards a target or not. They might indeed indicate target adjustment behaviour when companies' capital structures actually move away from their targets.

Research limitations/implications

As target adjustment behaviour is often used as support for the trade‐off and against the pecking order theory, the “horse race” between both theories seems still to be open.

Originality/value

This paper highlights some of the fallacies of existing capital structure target adjustment models and demonstrates that the results obtained by those models can be highly misleading.
The ultimate client experience: recipe for success in a down (or any) economy
Authors: Pope Michelle
Published: July 2010

The purpose of paper is to give recommendations to find the perfect recipe to delivering a client experience like no other.

Design/methodology/approach

The author's approach to this article was to not only research how others were providing an experience to their clients but to also interview existing and potential clients as to what they believe to be a great experience and how they might be accomplishing providing that experience to their clients in their businesses.

Findings

Each experience may be unique; however, the key is for it to be consistently delivered regardless of who the client is interfacing with within your organization. Your employees at all levels must understand what the experience looks like and how to deliver upon it each and every time they interface with a client.

Originality/value

There is not necessarily anything new to the approach of creating the client experience – just validation as to how you can go about doing so.
Sourcing, insourcing and two times outsourcing: four phases of procurement of telecommunications services within the Swedish public sector
Authors: Brege Staffan , Brehmer Per‐Olof , Lindskog Helena
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze how and why the question of outsourcing or insourcing within a specific empirical context, telecommunications services, has been handled differently over time.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal study on procurement of telecommunications for the Swedish public sector's organizations during the last 40 years. The empirical data were collected from three case studies and one research project.

Findings

The paper identifies four phases: from a simple buying situations, via insourcing of equipment in order to produce some services in‐house, to outsourcing of telecommunications in a first step and to outsourcing of combined data and telecommunications in a second step. Three major contextual determinants are identified for the public procurement of telecommunications services: de‐monopolization, rapid technical development and pressure on public agencies from politicians, citizens and others. In addition to low cost, core competence, control and flexibility, the paper identifies business development as a new logic for outsourcing and insourcing.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to Sweden and public procurement of telecommunications services. Therefore, it would be of value to test if the development of public procurement of telecommunications in other countries passed through the same phases and with the same determinants.

Practical implications

Many of the findings are valid for public procurement in other countries, especially in the European Union due to the common legislative base for public procurement.

Originality/value

The paper fulfills an identified need to carry out a longitudinal study of changes in public procurement of telecommunications through the different phases of in/outsourcing.
How gendered is organizational commitment? The case of academic faculty
Authors: Fisher Ron , Boyle Maree V. , Fulop Liz
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the gendered and emotionalized nature of organizational commitment in a university context.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a qualitative study that utilizes a grounded theory approach. The research investigates the gendered and emotionalized nature of commitment which is often not accurately and clearly understood in the context of the modern workplace.

Findings

The research finds that the existing measures of organizational commitment are biased and are not appropriate measures of the commitment of women and some men in contemporary workplaces. Studying organizational commitment using an interpretive approach allows a more realistic picture to emerge.

Practical implications

Current approaches focus on measurement rather than understanding the nature of organizational commitment. As a consequence, the commitment of women, and some men, is not accurately and clearly understood in many workplaces. Lack of understanding leads to the perception that women, and some men, are lacking in commitment to their organizations. Many management decisions, such as promotion and performance management, are based on the perceptions that managers have of subordinates' commitment to the organization.

Originality/value

Few researches have been conducted into how organizational commitment is understood from the perspective of the employees themselves. This paper provides insight into how managers can make more appropriate decisions based on a clearer understanding of commitment.
A systematic review of the effectiveness of smoking relapse prevention interventions for abstinent smokers
Authors: Agboola Shade , McNeill Ann , Coleman Tim , Leonardi Bee Jo
Published: July 2010

Aims  To carry out a systematic review of the effectiveness of relapse prevention interventions (RPIs) among abstinent smokers who had completed an initial course of treatment or who had abstained unassisted, pooling only outcome data from similar follow‐up time points.

Methods  We used the same search strategy as was used in Cochrane reviews of RPIs to identify randomized trials of behavioural and pharmacological studies of smoking RPIs published up to July 2008. Abstinence from smoking was defined as either continuous abstinence or point prevalence abstinence, measured at three follow‐up time points: short term (1–3 months post randomization), medium term (6–9 months) and long term (12–18 months). Abstinence among pregnant/postpartum women was also measured at delivery or the last follow‐up prior to delivery. Random effect meta‐analysis was used to estimate pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results  Thirty‐six studies randomizing abstainers were included. Self‐help materials appeared to be effective in preventing relapse at long‐term follow up in initially unaided quitters (pooled OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.15 to 2.01, I2 = 0%, NNT = 11, 3 studies). Other behavioural interventions for relapse prevention appeared effective in the short term only. There were positive results for the use of pharmacotherapies for relapse prevention. Bupropion was effective at long‐term follow‐up (pooled OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.10 to 2.01; I2 = 0%; NNT = 11; 4 studies). Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) was effective at medium‐term (pooled OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.11; I2 = 37%; NNT = 14; 4 trials) and long‐term follow‐ups (pooled OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.63; I2 = 0%; NNT = 20; 4 trials). Single trials of extended treatment of Varenicline and rimonabant were also found to be effective at short‐term and medium‐term follow‐ups.

Conclusions  Self‐help materials appear to prevent relapse in initially unaided quitters. Use of NRT, bupropion and varenicline appears to be effective in preventing relapse following an initial period of abstinence or an acute treatment episode. There is currently no good evidence that behavioural support prevents relapse after initial unaided abstinence or following an acute treatment period.
Were the changes to Sweden's maintenance treatment policy 2000–06 related to changes in opiate‐related mortality and morbidity?
Authors: Romelsjö Anders , Engdahl Barbro , Stenbacka Marlene , Fugelstad Anna , Davstad Ingrid , Leifman Anders , Thiblin Ingemar
Published: July 2010

Aims  To analyse whether changes in maintenance treatment of opiate‐dependent subjects in Sweden were related to changes in opiate‐related mortality and inpatient care from 1998 to 2006.

Design  We collected data from surveys of methadone maintenance treatment units, of buprenorphine and methadone sales, and of mortality and inpatient care in Sweden.

Setting  Sweden.

Participants  Patients in maintenance treatment.

Measurements  Survey data of treatment policy to all units in 2003 and 2005. Trend tests and correlation analyses of data on sales, mortality, inpatient care and forensic investigations.

Findings  The surveys showed a marked change to a less restrictive policy, with increased use of ‘take‐away doses’ and a reduction of discharges due to side misuse. The one‐year retention rate stayed high. Sales of buprenorphine and methadone and the number of patients in treatment increased more than threefold from 2000 to 2006, with the greatest increase for buprenoprphine, introduced in year 2000. There was a significant 20–30% reduction in opiate‐related mortality and inpatient care between 2000–2002 and 2004–2006 but not of other drug‐related mortality and inpatient care. This decline was larger in Stockholm County, which had a less restricted treatment policy. However, a significant increase in buprenorphine‐ and methadone‐related mortality occurred. For the study period 1998–2006, statistically significant declines occurred only in Stockholm County.

Conclusions  The liberalization of Sweden's drug policy correlated with an increase in maintenance treatment, a decrease in opiate‐related mortality and inpatient care and an increase in deaths with methadone and buprenorphine in the tissues.
Dextromethorphan, chlorphenamine and serotonin toxicity: case report and systematic literature review
Authors: Monte Andrew A. , Chuang Ryan , Bodmer Michael
Published: July 2010

The aim of this review was to describe a patient with serotonin toxicity after an overdose of dextromethorphan and chlorphenamine and to perform a systematic literature review exploring whether dextromethorphan and chlorphenamine may be equally contributory in the development of serotonin toxicity in overdose. A Medline literature review was undertaken to identify cases of serotonin toxicity due to dextromethorphan and/or chlorphenamine. Case reports were included if they included information on the ingested dose or plasma concentrations of dextromethorphan and/or chlorphenamine, information about co‐ingestions and detailed clinical information to evaluate for serotonin toxicity. Cases were reviewed by two toxicologists and serotonin toxicity, defined by the Hunter criteria, was diagnosed when appropriate. The literature was then reviewed to evaluate whether chlorphenamine may be a serotonergic agent. One hundred and fifty‐five articles of dextromethorphan or chlorphenamine poisoning were identified. There were 23 case reports of dextromethorphan, of which 18 were excluded for lack of serotonin toxicity. No cases were identified in which serotonin toxicity could be solely attributed to chlorphenamine. This left six cases of dextrometorphane and/or chlorphenamine overdose, including our own, in which serotonin toxicity could be diagnosed based on the presented clinical information. In three of the six eligible cases dextromethorphan and chlorphenamine were the only overdosed drugs. There is substantial evidence from the literature that chlorphenamine is a similarly potent serotonin re‐uptake inhibitor when compared with dextrometorphan. Chlorphenamine is a serotonergic medication and combinations of chlorphenamine and dextromethorphan may be dangerous in overdose due to an increased risk of serotonin toxicity.
Erlotinib and pantoprazole: a relevant interaction or not?
Authors: Ter Heine Rob , Fanggiday James C. , Lankheet Nienke A. G. , Beijnen Jos H. , Van Der Westerlaken Monique M. L. , Staaks Gerald H. A. , Malingré Mirte M.
Published: July 2010

AIMS

There is increasing evidence that erlotinib exposure correlates well with treatment outcome. In this report we present a case of therapeutic drug monitoring of erlotinib in a patient with a gastric ulcer, treated with the proton pump inhibitor pantoprazole. This agent may cause an unwanted, but not always unavoidable, interaction since absorption of erlotinib is pH dependent.

METHODS

Erlotinib trough concentrations were monitored in a patient during treatment with orally and intravenously administered pantoprazole.

RESULTS

Erlotinib trough concentrations were diminished during high dose intravenously administered pantoprazole, but returned to normal when the dose was reduced and pantoprazole was administered orally.

CONCLUSIONS

More studies are needed to assess the dose dependency of the interaction between pantoprazole and erlotinib. Furthermore, we advise to monitor closely erlotinib plasma concentrations and adjust the erlotinib dose accordingly when a clinically relevant interaction is suspected and no proper dosing guidelines are available.
Atorvastatin and cardiac hypertrophy and function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a pilot study
Authors: Nagueh Sherif F. , Lombardi Raffaella , Tan Yanli , Wang Jianwen , Willerson James T. , Marian Ali J.
Published: July 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (11): 976–983

Background  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic paradigm of cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy is a major determinant of risk of sudden death and morbidity in HCM. Treatment with statins reverses hypertrophy in animal models of HCM. Thus, statins may afford therapeutic benefits in HCM.

Methods  We performed a feasibility study with atorvastatin to gather the pre‐requisite data for designing randomized efficacy studies.

Results  We screened 32 patients with HCM in 18 months. Twenty‐one patients met the study criteria and consented to participate. The demographics and echocardiographic phenotype of those who did and those who did not participate were not significantly different. We treated the participants with escalating doses of atorvastatin (20, 40 and 80 mg day−1) for 2 years. We performed ECG and echocardiography and measured plasma lipids, liver enzymes, creatine kinase and B‐type natriuretic peptide levels before and after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of therapy. Fifteen, 12 and 11 patients completed 6, 12 and 24 months of therapy respectively. Six patients discontinued atorvastatin because of perceived lack of benefit. We stopped atorvastatin in 4 patients because of modest elevations in liver enzymes, creatine kinase or back pain. The characteristics of those who did or did not complete the study were not significantly different. The mean plasma low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol level was reduced by 55%. However, echocardiographic indices of cardiac hypertrophy and function remained unchanged.

Conclusions  The findings illustrated the challenges that will be encountered in designing efficacy studies to test the potential beneficial effects of atorvastatin in human HCM.
Effects of upland clearcutting and riparian partial harvesting on leaf pack breakdown and aquatic invertebrates in boreal forest streams
Authors: KREUTZWEISER DAVID , MUTO ELISA , HOLMES STEPHEN , GUNN JOHN
Published: July 2010

1. Leaf litter breakdown and associated invertebrates were compared among three logged and three reference stream reaches 2–3 years before and 3–4 years after logging to assess the environmental impacts of partial‐harvest logging as a novel riparian management strategy for boreal forest streams.

2. Partial‐harvest logging at three sites resulted in 10, 21 and 28% average basal area removal from riparian buffers adjacent to upland clear‐cut areas.

3. Leaf litter breakdown rates were not significantly different between reference and logged sites after logging, but litter breakdown was significantly different from year to year at all sites.

4. Significant post‐logging differences in aquatic invertebrate communities were detected at only one of the three logged sites. These differences were largely the result of increases in some leaf‐shredding stoneflies and a detritivorous mayfly and a decrease in a chironomid group 2–4 years after logging. This site where significant change was detected had the lowest intensity of riparian logging (average 10% removal) but the highest proportion of the catchment area that was clear cut (85%).

5.The post‐logging differences in invertebrate communities at this site were more related to catchment‐wide influences (e.g. weather patterns, water yield, possibly upland clearcutting) than to reach‐level disturbances from riparian logging.

6.The study indicates that partial‐harvest logging in riparian buffers at up to 50% removal should pose little risk of harm to leaf litter breakdown processes or aquatic invertebrate communities beyond any impacts that might arise from upland logging disturbance or catchment‐wide influences. However, the results should be viewed in the context of the natural disturbance (summer drought conditions) through the post‐logging assessment period of this study. Post‐logging summer drought conditions may have masked or confounded logging impacts on streams.
Early predictors of morbidity and mortality in trauma patients treated in the intensive care unit
Authors: BRATTSTRÖM O. , GRANATH F. , ROSSI P. , OLDNER A.
Published: July 2010

Background: We investigated the incidence and severity of post‐injury morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU)‐treated trauma patients. We also identified risk factors in the early phase after injury that predicted the later development of complications.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort study design was used. One hundred and sixty‐four adult patients admitted to the ICU for more than 24 h were included during a 21‐month period. The incidence and severity of morbidity such as multiple organ failure (MOF), acute lung injury (ALI), severe sepsis and 30‐day post‐injury mortality were calculated and risk factors were analyzed with uni‐ and multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results: The median age was 40 years, the injury severity score was 24, the new injury severity score was 29, the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score was 15, sequential organ failure assessment maximum was 7 and ICU length of stay was 3.1 days. The incidences of post‐injury MOF were 40.2%, ALI 25.6%, severe sepsis 31.1% and 30‐day mortality 10.4%. The independent risk factors differed to some extent between the outcome parameters. Age, severity of injury, significant head injury and massive transfusion were independent risk factors for several outcome parameters. Positive blood alcohol was only a predictor of MOF, whereas prolonged rescue time only predicted death. Unexpectedly, injury severity was not an independent risk factor for mortality.

Conclusions: Although the incidence of morbidity was considerable, mortality was relatively low. Early post‐injury risk factors that predicted later development of complications differed between morbidity and mortality.
The association between early hemodynamic variables and outcome in normothermic comatose patients following cardiac arrest
Authors: TORGERSEN C. , SCHMITTINGER C. A. , TAKALA J. , JAKOB S. M. , DÜNSER M. W.
Published: July 2010

Background: Currently, few data exist on the association between post‐cardiac arrest hemodynamic function and outcome. In this explorative, retrospective analysis, the association between hemodynamic variables during the first 24 h after intensive care unit admission and functional outcome at day 28 was evaluated in 153 normothermic comatose patients following a cardiac arrest.

Methods: Medical records of a multidisciplinary intensive care unit were reviewed for comatose patients (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤9) admitted to the intensive care unit after successful resuscitation from an in‐ or an out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest. The hourly variable time integral of hemodynamic variables during the first 24 h after admission was calculated. At day 28, outcome was assessed as favorable or adverse based on a Cerebral Performance Category of 1–2 and 3–5, respectively. Bi‐ and multivariate regression models adjusted for relevant confounding variables were used to evaluate the association between hemodynamic variables and functional outcome.

Results: One hundred and fifty‐three normothermic comatose patients were admitted after a cardiac arrest, of whom 64 (42%) experienced a favorable outcome. Neither in the adjusted bivariate models (r2, 0.61–0.78) nor in the adjusted multivariate model (r2, 0.62–0.73) was the hourly variable time integral of any hemodynamic variable during the first 24 h after intensive care unit admission associated with functional patient outcome at day 28 in all patients as well as in patients after an in‐ or an out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest.

Conclusion: Commonly measured hemodynamic variables during the first 24 h following intensive care unit admission due to a cardiac arrest do not appear to be associated with the functional outcome at day 28.
Extubation score in the operating room after liver transplantation
Authors: SKURZAK S. , STRATTA C. , SCHELLINO M. M. , FOP F. , ANDRUETTO P. , GALLO M. , RAMPA P. , CRUCITTI M. , ZABATTA D. , PANIO A. , CERUTTI E.
Published: July 2010

Background:Early extubation after liver transplantation (LT) is an increasingly applied safe practice. The aim of the present study was to provide a simple extubation rule for accelerated weaning in the operating room (OR).

Methods:Data of 597 patients transplanted at the LT center of Turin (Italy) were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty‐two nonextubated patients (excluding those with a scheduled early reoperation) were compared with 545 successfully extubated patients (not in need of reintubation within the first 48 h). Significant variables at univariate analysis were entered into a logistic regression model and the regression coefficients of independent predictors were used to yield a prognostic score called the safe operating room extubation after liver transplantation (SORELT) score.

Results:Two major and three minor criteria were found. The major ones were blood transfusions (higher than/or equal to 7 U of packed red blood cells) and end of surgery lactate (higher than/or equal to 3.4 mmol/l). The minor ones were status before LT (home vs. hospitalized patient), duration of surgery (longer than/or equal to 5 h), vasoactive drugs at the end of surgery (dopamine higher than 5 μg/kg/min or norepinephrine higher than 0.05 μg/kg/min). Patients who fulfill the SORELT score‐derived criteria (fewer than two major/one major plus two minor/three minor criteria) can be considered for OR extubation.

Conclusion:Early extubation after LT requires a very careful assessment of the pre‐operative, intraoperative, graft and post‐operative care data available. The SORELT score helps as a simple and objective aid in considering such a decision.
Insights into the adaptive significance of vertical pupil shape in snakes
Authors: BRISCHOUX F. , PIZZATTO L. , SHINE R.
Published: July 2010

Pupil shape in vertebrates ranges from circular to vertical, with multiple phylogenetic shifts in this trait. Our analyses challenge the widely held view that the vertical pupil evolved as an adaptation to enhance night vision. On functional grounds, a variable‐aperture vertical pupil (i) allows a nocturnal species to have a sensitive retina for night vision but avoid dazzle by day by adjusting pupil closure, and (ii) increases visual acuity by day, because a narrow vertical pupil can project a sharper image onto the retina in the horizontal plane. Detection of horizontal movement may be critical for predators that wait in ambush for moving prey, suggesting that foraging mode (ambush predation) as well as polyphasic activity may favour the evolution of vertical pupil shape. Camouflage (disruption of the circular outline of the eye) also may be beneficial for ambush predators. A comparative analysis in snakes reveals significant functional links between pupil shape and foraging mode, as well as between pupil shape and diel timing of activity. Similar associations between ambush predation and vertically slit pupils occur in lizards and mammals also, suggesting that foraging mode has exerted major selective forces on visual systems in vertebrates.
Effects of carvedilol on delayed rectifier and transient inactivating potassium currents in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons
Authors: Duan Jing‐Jing , Wang Qin , Deng Chun‐Yu , Kuang Su‐Juan , Chen Ru‐Zhu , Tao Liang
Published: July 2010

1. The aims of the present study were to investigate the mechanism(s) underlying the protective effect of carvedilol against neural damage.

2. The transient inactivating potassium current (IA) and the delayed rectifier potassium current (IK) in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons were recorded using whole‐cell patch‐clamp techniques.

3. Carvedilol (0.1–3 μmol/L) significantly inhibitedIKwith an IC50of 1.3 μmol/L and the inhibition was voltage independent. Over the same concentration range, carvedilol had no effect on the amplitude ofIA. At 1 μmol/L, carvedilol did not significantly change the steady state activation curves ofIAandIK, but did negatively shift their steady state inactivation curves. Recovery from inactivation was slowed for bothIAandIK. The inhibitory effect of carvedilol onIKwas not affected by the adrenoceptor agonists phenylephrine and prazosin or the adrenoceptor antagonist isoproterenol, but propranolol was able to shift the dose–response curve of carvedilol forIKto the right.

4. BecauseIKis the main pathway for loss of intracellular potassium from depolarized neurons, selective obstruction ofIKby carvedilol could be useful for neuroprotection.
Hyperglycaemia in hospital inpatients: still a sticky situation
Authors: Tonks K. T. , Jones G. R. , McGeechan K. , Campbell L. V.
Published: July 2010

Background: Diabetes diagnosis is delayed 4–7 years and 50% are undiagnosed. Forty percent of hospitalized patients with any blood glucose level (BGL) ≥10 mmol/L have diabetes 3 months post‐discharge, yet less than 5% are detected in hospital. We review identification of, and responses to, hyperglycaemia in inpatients at a teaching hospital.

Methods: The world's largest retrospective review of medical records for inpatients with venous BGL ≥11.1 mmol/L without known diabetes over 12 months (2005–2006). The primary outcome was recognition of hyperglycaemia; secondary outcomes were treatment and documentation of follow up. Logistic regression was performed with variables including BGL, admitting team, length of stay and endocrine team review.

Results: Of 10 973 people screened, 162 were eligible. The median age was 58 years and BGL 13.3 mmol/L, with increased mortality and length of stay. Hyperglycaemia was noted as definitely in 26%, maybe in 24% and definitely not in 50%. Forty percent of patients were treated in hospital and 19% on discharge. Follow up was documented for 24%. A higher BGL and review by the endocrine team were strongly associated with clinical recognition on uni‐ and multivariate analyses. However, where an endocrine review was sought for non‐hyperglycaemia reasons, similar rates of non‐recognition occurred.

Conclusion: Despite evidence for improved inpatient outcomes when treated, and high short‐term progression to frank diabetes, inpatient hyperglycaemia remains frequently missed. In‐hospital recognition is cheap, and vital for the implementation of activities to improve outcomes and prevent progression and complications. Changes to systems for checking pathology results, medical officer education and inpatient screening guidelines are indicated.
Metastatic osteosarcoma to the breast: A rare case
Authors: Vieira Sabas Carlos , Tavares Marília Buenos Aires Cabral , Da Cruz Filho Alexandre Jorge Gomes , Sousa Rodrigo Beserra , Dos Santos Lina Gomes
Published: July 2010

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone neoplasia and metastasizes mainly to the lung. Breast metastasis is an extremely rare event and poorly reported in the literature. We present a case of a 51‐year‐old patient, with a past surgical history of thigh osteosarcoma presented metastasis to the right breast and lung. She underwent the metastasis resection and later abandoned the treatment. Metastasis of osteosarcoma to the breast is an extremely rare event, but this diagnosis should be considered when meeting patients with a large breast nodule and a past history of osteosarcoma.