bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CNOT3 contributes to early B cell development by controlling Igh rearrangement and p53 mRNA stability
Authors: Inoue Takeshi , Morita Masahiro , Hijikata Atsushi , Fukuda-Yuzawa Yoko , Adachi Shungo , Isono Kyoichi , Ikawa Tomokatsu , Kawamoto Hiroshi , Koseki Haruhiko , Natsume Tohru , Fukao Taro , Ohara Osamu , Yamamoto Tadashi , Kurosaki Tomohiro
Published: August 2015

The CCR4–NOT deadenylase complex plays crucial roles in mRNA decay and translational repression induced by poly(A) tail shortening. Although the in vitro activities of each component of this complex have been well characterized, its in vivo role in immune cells remains unclear. Here we show that mice lacking the CNOT3 subunit of this complex, specifically in B cells, have a developmental block at the pro- to pre–B cell transition. CNOT3 regulated generation of germline transcripts in the VH region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (Igh) locus, compaction of the locus, and subsequent Igh gene rearrangement and destabilized tumor suppressor p53 mRNA. The developmental defect in the absence of CNOT3 could be partially rescued by ablation of p53 or introduction of a pre-rearranged Igh transgene. Thus, our data suggest that the CCR4–NOT complex regulates B cell differentiation by controlling Igh rearrangement and destabilizing p53 mRNA.
Heracles
Authors: Hsu Katherine Lu
Published: August 2015

Heracles (also spelled Herakles, or Hercules in the Roman tradition) was Greece’s most popular mythological hero. Unlike many heroes whose fame was initially local, Heracles was from the earliest evidence already a Panhellenic figure, known well and widely throughout the Greek-speaking world. In addition to the completion of the Twelve Labors, he was famous for a precocious youth, the murder of his wife Megara and children, his vast appetites, his athletic prowess and martial victories, and his apotheosis. He played a major role in cultural life across Greece, figuring in literature, art, cult, drama, philosophy, politics, etc. His many dimensions provide nearly endless avenues for scholarly investigation, and hence the relevant bibliography is large and unwieldy. This article is focused on the Greek world.
Montesquieu
Authors: Volpilhac-Auger Catherine
Published: August 2015

The first readers of Montesquieu (b. 1689–d. 1755) confronted the breadth of writings that extended into every domain, seeking to offer a global vision of human activities by means of the notion of relationship (rapport) that outright rejects any artificial segmentation of the real. It is multiple as well in its form, insofar as it adopts, while renewing them radically, the paths of fiction, treatises, and essays. But his thought has often been teleologically reduced to The Spirit of Law (L’Esprit des lois, 1748) alone, to which all the rest of his work was supposed to be leading. To be sure, it is a culminating work; but with the discovery of a mass of uncompleted or confidential manuscripts it has become impossible to limit ourselves to his published works: if we are to understand its design and implications in depth, to see even its meaning (for Montesquieu’s thought, synthetic and rich in allusions, is concentrated, even elliptical), it is better to contextualize it and show its evolution. The edition of the texts (and of course their translations as well) here assumes particular importance, for it is not merely a function of philology, but also of interpretation, and it grounds the hermeneutic, which has developed historically in several directions. The first critiques bore on the supposed disorder of The Spirit of Law. This still sometimes underlying notion has become marginal, especially after the renewal of research around 1960. On the other hand the reproach of not choosing between fact (particular) and right (universal), what is and what ought to be, or rather describing without taking sides and underrating the question of value, assumes major importance; to it correspond the political question and that of justice, to which must be added two little-understood aspects of his philosophical activity: the domain of history, and that opened by the Persian Letters. A section on Montesquieu in Context also allows us to put Montesquieu’s originality into relief by indicating the philosophical currents in which he can be situated, more precisely in a section on Montesquieu and the Foundations of Modern Thought; and the Posterity section looks at the echo and influence of his work, more especially in the United States, which merits its own section. As a complement, we have thus also adopted an analytical presentation of the different means that allow us to approach his work: simple tools, edited collections, monographs that are rarely aligned along a single axis or theme of his thought, so pregnant is this totalizing vision in which “everything is closely connected.” By way of complement, bibliographies, biographies, and research resources, indispensable tools, are also presented. The author would like to thank Philip Stewart for translating this article from French into English.
Marxism
Authors: Kleinhans Chuck
Published: August 2015

Marxism is a philosophical and practical framework for analyzing and changing society that was developed from the ideas of Karl Marx in the 19th century. He synthesized Hegelian philosophy, English political economy, and French socialist thought to develop a critical analysis of modern capitalism. As a major strategic thought system, Marxism appears variously in media studies: as a systematic investigation of capitalist media economies and societies, as a materialist approach to media objects and processes, and as a source of activist aesthetics. Thus, Marxist media analysis provides pragmatic examples ranging from the study of commercial media markets; state policies and institutions governing communication; critiques of the ideological intent and effect of films, television, and new media; polemics for political activist art and communication; and socially motivated aesthetic criticism of specific works. Crucially framed by its long association with leftist change ranging from labor activism and political insurrection to official state party control of nations and responses to repressive anti-Communism, Marxism almost always carries a weight of challenge to ideas of the “purely aesthetic,” the “neutral,” or “disinterested.” Because it is so wide reaching as an explanatory system, Marxism has influenced and underpinned various critical developments that may be openly antagonistic to other trends within Marxist media analysis broadly construed. In addition to sectarian division, Marxism often operates as a taken-for-granted background in some areas such as Latin American and European media study and a good part of cultural studies: so much so that its Marxist premises are often not openly stated. Also, a history of anti-Communism, especially during the Cold War, pushed many to hide the radical origins of their thought. Another important distinction concerns those who use Marxism to consider economic and institutional structures in media communications, often with a concern for democratic equality in the public sphere and thus a concern for news and information, journalism, state regulation and censorship, mass communications, advertising, and political discourse. A different and contrasting approach uses Marxism for historical, aesthetic, and cultural analysis of film, television, and media ranging from case studies of individual works to issues that run through a variety of forms, such as gender or race images or narratives. Reflecting disciplinary and departmental traditions, in the past these trends have often been antagonistic or blind to the other one in a social science versus arts and humanities contrast. But younger researchers often draw easily from both quantitative and qualitative models, feeling free to cross disciplines, synthesize methods, and actively deconstruct national, racial, ethnic, and gender boundaries in pursuit of understanding.
Charles Chaplin
Authors: Kornhaber Donna
Published: August 2015

Charles Chaplin (b. 1889–d. 1977), better known as Charlie Chaplin, was one of the greatest film stars of the 20th century and one of the most important filmmakers in the history of the medium. Born into poverty in London to a family of music hall performers, Chaplin grew up in destitution with his mother, who suffered from periods of insanity. He joined the prestigious Karno stage company while a teenager and from there was recruited to the fledgling Keystone Studios, famous for its raucous brand of slapstick films. Chaplin excelled at Keystone, quickly developing the “Tramp” character that would become his mainstay and graduating to directing his own short films after only weeks on the job. He left Keystone within a year for a series of more lucrative contracts, quickly becoming one of the highest-paid figures in the film industry and creating a classic body of short films. By 1919 Chaplin had amassed a large enough fortune to start his own film studio and co-founded United Artists to distribute his works, leaving him all but free from outside influence or interference. Throughout the 1920s he created the feature films that would help define his legacy but struggled with the advent of sound technology, refusing to include spoken dialogue in his films for nearly a decade. Chaplin’s first full talkie, The Great Dictator (1940), offered a scathing parody of fascist dictatorship and marked a newfound political mode in his filmmaking. Chaplin’s leftist politics, coupled with a scandalous and protracted paternity suit in the mid-1940s, soon led to a marked decline in his popularity, such that when he left for a worldwide publicity tour for Limelight (1952) he was denied reentry to the country. Chaplin lived the remainder of his life in Switzerland, returning to America only in 1972 to accept an honorary Academy Award. Critical appraisal of Chaplin’s body of work has varied over the decades. Hailed as a genius from early in his career, he saw his critical fortunes fall with his transition to talking pictures. Yet Chaplin always had a coterie of dedicated critical supporters, including such illustrious figures as André Bazin and Andrew Sarris, and the critical estimation of his work has only grown since his death. He remains today one of the most lauded and beloved figures in film history.
Depressive Disorders
Authors: Riso Lawrence P. , Vaughn Matthew
Published: August 2015

Depression is distinguished from ordinary sadness by its greater duration, severity, and impact on functioning. It is a highly prevalent condition, often with an early onset. Nearly a quarter of all individuals will experience a diagnosable depression at some point in their lifetimes. The early onset and recurrent nature of depression contribute to making it the most burdensome illness in the entire world, according to the World Health Organization. Over the last thirty years, the diagnosis of depression has changed little. Since 1980, every edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has included a category for severe acute depression (i.e., “major depression” or “major depressive disorder”) and a category for chronic depression (i.e., “dysthymia,” “dysthymic disorder,” or “persistent depressive disorder”). The current edition of the DSM (DSM-5) includes two main categories, “major depressive disorder” and “persistent depressive disorder.” Owing, perhaps, to its high prevalence rate and societal impact, depression is very well studied.
Austro-Hungarian Empire, 1867-1918
Authors: Miller Michael L.
Published: August 2015

In 1867, following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise (Ausgleich), the Habsburg Monarchy was reorganized into a constitutional monarchy, divided into two parts: Cisleithania (or the “Austrian” part of the monarchy), which included Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Tyrol, Voralberg, Salzburg, Carniola, Dalmatia, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Galicia, and Bukovina; and Transleithania (or the “Hungarian” part of the monarchy), which included the Kingdom of Hungary (including Transylvania), Croatia-Slavonia, and the city of Fiume. At this time, the largest Jewish populations were in Galicia, Bukovina, Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, and Lower Austria (where Vienna is located). In 1867, the Jews of Austria-Hungary were emancipated, and they were allowed to live in Habsburg territories (such as Carnolia) that were formerly off-limits. By the outbreak of World War I, the Jews of Austria-Hungary were increasingly concentrated in large cities, such as Budapest, Vienna, Lemberg (Lwów/Lvov), Czernowitz, and Prague. Austria-Hungary was highly multinational, yet the scholarship on the monarchy has been written largely within national paradigms. This is also the case with scholarship on the Jews of Austria-Hungary, though there is also a noticeable tendency to focus on Jews in the larger cities, especially Vienna and Budapest.
Vitamin D Status in Blount Disease
Authors: Lisenda Laughter , Simmons Dina , Firth Gregory B. , Ramguthy Yammesh , Kebashni Thandrayen , Robertson Anthony J. F.
Published: August 2015

Introduction:

Blount disease can be defined as idiopathic proximal tibial vara. Several etiologies including the mechanical theory have been described. Obesity is the only causative factor proven to be associated with Blount disease. The aim of this study is to assess if there is an association of vitamin D deficiency and Blount disease.

Methods:

This a retrospective study of preoperative and postoperative patients with Blount disease who were screened for vitamin D deficiency. Patients with genu varum due to confirmed vitamin D deficiency and rickets were excluded. The study patients had the following blood tests done: calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) hormones.

Results:

We recruited 50 patients. The mean age of these patients was 10.4 years (SD±3.88) with average body mass index of 28.7 kg/m2 (±10.2). Thirty (60%) patients were diagnosed with infantile, 4 (8%) juvenile, and 16 (32%) adolescent Blount disease. Eight (16%) patients were found to be vitamin D deplete (25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/L). Of these, 8 patients, 6 were insufficient (25(OH)D levels between 30 and 50 nmol/L) and the other 2 were deficient (25(OH)D levels <30 nmol/L).

Conclusions:

This study showed that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children with Blount disease was similar to that of healthy children living in Johannesburg. There is no evidence that vitamin D deficiency is a factor in causing Blount disease.

Level of Evidence:

Level III—retrospective study.
The Influence of the Unaffected Hip on Gait Kinematics in Patients With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Tretiakov Mikhail , Do Khanh P. , Aiona Michael
Published: August 2015

Background:

Hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP) patients have transverse-plane gait deviations that may include the “uninvolved” side. The aim of this study is to quantify the static rotational profile, the dynamic position during gait and determine whether any correlations between the involved and uninvolved side exist.

Methods:

A total of 171 subjects that met the inclusion criteria of HCP and no prior history of bony surgery were reviewed. Clinical and gait measurements were analyzed and compared between subjects and a population of typically developing (TD) children.

Results:

Among children with HCP, static internal hip rotation of the affected limb was strongly correlated to static internal hip rotation on the unaffected limb (r=0.543, P<0.0001).

There were 100 patients with maximum static internal rotation ≥66% of the total arc of motion in the affected hip. These subjects showed significant differences of static range of motion measures of the affected hip compared with TD. They also showed statistical significant differences between the dynamic measures of the affected limb of HCP and TD for mean pelvic rotation, mean hip rotation, and mean knee progression.

In these 100 subjects, 23 patients had a maximum static internal rotation ≥66% of the total arc of motion on the unaffected hip and there were 77 subjects with <66% static internal rotation. Pelvic rotation and hip rotation were statistically different between these 2 groups, but knee progression angle was not significant.

Conclusions:

The “unaffected” side in patients with HCP influence gait kinematics. If static internal hip rotation exceeds 66% of the total arc of motion, almost all studied static and gait parameters were abnormal in HCP children, regardless if it was the affected side. Compensations on the “unaffected” side seem to be somewhat limited if the anatomic alignment is significantly asymmetric. This may be 1 reason pelvic transverse-plane changes after femoral rotation osteotomy are unpredictable.

Level of Evidence:

Level II.
Arthroscopic Treatment of Discoid Lateral Meniscus Tears in Children With Achondroplasia
Authors: Atanda Alfred , Wallace Maegen , Bober Michael B. , Mackenzie William
Published: August 2015

Background:

Achondroplasia is the most common form of skeletal dysplasia that presents to the pediatric orthopaedist. More than half of achondroplasia patients are affected with knee pain. It is thought that the majority of this pain may be due to spinal stenosis, hip pathology, or knee malalignment. Discoid menisci can be a source of lateral knee joint pain in skeletally immature patients in general. We present the first case series of patients with achondroplasia who had symptomatic discoid lateral menisci treated with arthroscopic knee surgery.

Methods:

The charts of 6 patients (8 knees) with achondroplasia who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery for symptomatic discoid lateral menisci were collected. History and physical examination data, magnetic resonance imaging findings, and operative reports were reviewed. Meniscal tear configuration and treatment type (meniscectomy vs. repair) were noted.

Results:

Each patient was found to have a tear of the discoid meniscus. All menisci were treated with saucerization. In addition, meniscal repair was performed in 2 cases, partial meniscectomy in 3 cases, and subtotal meniscectomy in 3 cases. Two patients had bilateral discoid meniscal tears which were treated. Average follow-up was 2.4 years (range, 1 to 4.5 y) and the average pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (pedi-IKDC) score was 85.3% (range, 75% to 95.4%). At final follow-up, all patients were pain free and able to return to full activities.

Conclusions:

Discoid meniscus tears may be a source of lateral joint line pain in patients with achondroplasia. These injuries can be successfully treated with arthroscopic surgery in this patient population. Future studies need to be done to determine the exact incidence of discoid menisci in achondroplasia patients and also to determine whether there is a genetic relationship between the 2 conditions.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—case series.
Factors influencing intensive care admission: a mixed methods study of EM and ICU
Authors: Emerson Philip , Brooks Daniel , Quasim Tara , Puxty Alex , Kinsella John , Lowe David J.
Published: August 2015

Objectives

Twenty-six percent of ICU patients in the UK are referred directly from the Emergency Department (ED). There is limited literature examining the attitudes or practice of ED/ICU physicians towards referrals from the ED to the ICU. We examined these attitudes through a mixed methods study, designing a model incorporating these attitudes to promote a shared mental model between ED and ICU specialities.

Methods

Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 ED consultants and 11 ICU consultants at two hospitals in the west of Scotland. Interviews were based on 10 ‘case-based vignettes’ representing patients for whom referral from the ED to the ICU is borderline or challenging. Participants were asked to note whether they would refer/accept the patient from the ED to the ICU. The proportions of participants from each speciality choosing to refer or accept patients were compared using a t-test comparing proportions. The reasons behind these decisions were explored during the semistructured interviews.

Results

Twelve factors emerged as influencing the decisions made by the participants. These belonged three core themes: patient factors, clinician factors and resource factors, which were incorporated into a shared mental model. Two cases demonstrated statistically significant differences in referral rates between specialities. There were also clinically significant differences among other cases.

Conclusion

We have described the attitudes of physicians towards ED to ICU referrals in two west of Scotland hospitals, and we have demonstrated that there is a difference in the aspects of the decision-making process. We have developed a model encompassing all factors considered by participants when assessing these difficult referrals. It is hoped that this model will promote shared and more efficient decision-making in the future.
What single-cell stimulation has told us about neural coding
Authors: Doron Guy , Brecht Michael
Published: August 2015

In recent years, single-cell stimulation experiments have resulted in substantial progress towards directly linking single-cell activity to movement and sensation. Recent advances in electrical recording and stimulation techniques have enabled control of single neuron spiking
in vivo
and have contributed to our understanding of neuronal coding schemes in the brain. Here, we review single neuron stimulation effects in different brain structures and how they vary with artificially inserted spike patterns. We briefly compare single neuron stimulation with other brain stimulation techniques. A key advantage of single neuron stimulation is the precise control of the evoked spiking patterns. Systematically varying spike patterns and measuring evoked movements and sensations enables ‘decoding’ of the single-cell spike patterns and provides insights into the readout mechanisms of sensory and motor cortical spikes.
Playing the electric light orchestra—how electrical stimulation of visual cortex elucidates the neural basis of perception
Authors: Cicmil Nela , Krug Kristine
Published: August 2015

Vision research has the potential to reveal fundamental mechanisms underlying sensory experience. Causal experimental approaches, such as electrical microstimulation, provide a unique opportunity to test the direct contributions of visual cortical neurons to perception and behaviour. But in spite of their importance, causal methods constitute a minority of the experiments used to investigate the visual cortex to date. We reconsider the function and organization of visual cortex according to results obtained from stimulation techniques, with a special emphasis on electrical stimulation of small groups of cells in awake subjects who can report their visual experience. We compare findings from humans and monkeys, striate and extrastriate cortex, and superficial versus deep cortical layers, and identify a number of revealing gaps in the ‘causal map′ of visual cortex. Integrating results from different methods and species, we provide a critical overview of the ways in which causal approaches have been used to further our understanding of circuitry, plasticity and information integration in visual cortex. Electrical stimulation not only elucidates the contributions of different visual areas to perception, but also contributes to our understanding of neuronal mechanisms underlying memory, attention and decision-making.
Pulse trains to percepts: the challenge of creating a perceptually intelligible world with sight recovery technologies
Authors: Fine Ione , Boynton Geoffrey M.
Published: August 2015

An extraordinary variety of sight recovery therapies are either about to begin clinical trials, have begun clinical trials, or are currently being implanted in patients. However, as yet we have little insight into the perceptual experience likely to be produced by these implants. This review focuses on methodologies, such as optogenetics, small molecule photoswitches and electrical prostheses, which use artificial stimulation of the retina to elicit percepts. For each of these technologies, the interplay between the stimulating technology and the underlying neurophysiology is likely to result in distortions of the perceptual experience. Here, we describe some of these potential distortions and discuss how they might be minimized either through changes in the encoding model or through cortical plasticity.
Light, heat, action: neural control of fruit fly behaviour
Authors: Owald David , Lin Suewei , Waddell Scott
Published: August 2015

The fruit flyDrosophila melanogasterhas emerged as a popular model to investigate fundamental principles of neural circuit operation. The sophisticated genetics and small brain permit a cellular resolution understanding of innate and learned behavioural processes. Relatively recent genetic and technical advances provide the means to specifically and reproducibly manipulate the function of many fly neurons with temporal resolution. The same cellular precision can also be exploited to express genetically encoded reporters of neural activity and cell-signalling pathways. Combining these approaches in living behaving animals has great potential to generate a holistic view of behavioural control that transcends the usual molecular, cellular and systems boundaries. In this review, we discuss these approaches with particular emphasis on the pioneering studies and those involving learning and memory.
Illuminating neural circuits and behaviour in
Caenorhabditis elegans
with optogenetics
Authors: Fang-Yen Christopher , Alkema Mark J. , Samuel Aravinthan D. T.
Published: August 2015

The development of optogenetics, a family of methods for using light to control neural activity via light-sensitive proteins, has provided a powerful new set of tools for neurobiology. These techniques have been particularly fruitful for dissecting neural circuits and behaviour in the compact and transparent roundworm
Caenorhabditis elegans
. Researchers have used optogenetic reagents to manipulate numerous excitable cell types in the worm, from sensory neurons, to interneurons, to motor neurons and muscles. Here, we show how optogenetics applied to this transparent roundworm has contributed to our understanding of neural circuits.
Manipulating neural activity in physiologically classified neurons: triumphs and challenges
Authors: Gore Felicity , Schwartz Edmund C. , Salzman C. Daniel
Published: August 2015

Understanding brain function requires knowing both how neural activity encodes information and how this activity generates appropriate responses. Electrophysiological, imaging and immediate early gene immunostaining studies have been instrumental in identifying and characterizing neurons that respond to different sensory stimuli, events and motor actions. Here we highlight approaches that have manipulated the activity of physiologically classified neurons to determine their role in the generation of behavioural responses. Previous experiments have often exploited the functional architecture observed in many cortical areas, where clusters of neurons share response properties. However, many brain structures do not exhibit such functional architecture. Instead, neurons with different response properties are anatomically intermingled. Emerging genetic approaches have enabled the identification and manipulation of neurons that respond to specific stimuli despite the lack of discernable anatomical organization. These approaches have advanced understanding of the circuits mediating sensory perception, learning and memory, and the generation of behavioural responses by providing causal evidence linking neural response properties to appropriate behavioural output. However, significant challenges remain for understanding cognitive processes that are probably mediated by neurons with more complex physiological response properties. Currently available strategies may prove inadequate for determining how activity in these neurons is causally related to cognitive behaviour.
Marinibactrum halimedae gen. nov., sp. nov., a gammaproteobacterium isolated from a marine macroalga
Authors: Nishijima Miyuki , Adachi Kyoko , Sano Hiroshi , Yamasato Kazuhide
Published: August 2015

Phylogenetic and taxonomic characterization was performed for a bacterium, designated strain Q-192T, isolated from the surface of the green macroalgaHalimedasp., collected from the subtropical Ishigaki Island, Japan. The isolate was a polysaccharide-producing, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, motile bacterium with a polar flagellum. The isolate was slightly halophilic, required Na+, Mg2+and Ca2+ions for growth, but did not require growth factors. The only isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8.The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0and C14 : 0. The main hydroxy fatty acid was C10 : 03-OH. The DNA G+C content was 45.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences placed the isolate in the classGammaproteobacteria. The phylogenetically closest relatives with validly published names werePseudomaricurvus alkylphenolicusKU41GT,Teredinibacter turneraeT7902T,Pseudoteredinibacter isoporaeSW-11TandSimiduia agarivoransSA1Twith sequence similarities of 94.5, 94.1, 93.7 and 93.6 %, respectively. The isolate was distinguished from members of these genera by a combination of DNA G+C content, chemotaxonomic characteristics (respiratory quinone system, fatty acid profile and polar lipid composition) and other phenotypic features. Based on phylogenetic, genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics, strain Q-192Tis considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the nameMarinibactrum halimedaegen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain ofMarinibactrum halimedaeis Q-192T( = NBRC 110095T = NCIMB 14932T).
Paracoccus laeviglucosivorans sp. nov., an l-glucose-utilizing bacterium isolated from soil
Authors: Nakamura Akira
Published: August 2015

Strain 43PTwas isolated as anl-glucose-utilizing bacterium from soil in Japan. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and non-motile cocci. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain showed high similarity to that ofParacoccus limosus(98.5 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that this strain belongs to the genusParacoccus.Strain 43PTcontained Q-10 as the sole isoprenoid quinone. The major cellular fatty acids were C18: 1ω7cor C18: 1ω6cand C16: 0, and C18: 0, C18: 1ω9c, C10: 03-OH and summed feature 2 were detected as minor components. The DNA G+C content of strain 43PTwas 64.1 mol%. Strain 43PTcontained the major polar lipids phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unknown aminolipid and two unknown glycolipids. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain 43PTand the six related type strains of the genusParacoccus, includingP. limosus, was below 23 %. Based on the chemotaxonomic and physiological data and the values of DNA–DNA relatedness, especially the ability to assimilatel-glucose, this strain should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genusParacoccus, for which the nameParacoccus laeviglucosivoranssp. nov. (type strain 43PT = JCM 30587T = DSM 100094T) is proposed.
Leadership development: an applied comparison of Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle and Scharmer’s Theory U
Authors: Potter Christopher
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine two contrasting leadership development methodologies, Reflective Practice and Scharmer’s Theory U.

Design/methodology/approach

– Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle and Scharmer’s Reflecting Deeply exercise were applied to the same leadership incident on separate days.

Findings

– Reflective Practice provided helpful insights through focusing on one’s thoughts, feelings and motives during the event, as well as the actions of others and the author’s responses to them. The author found that using Scharmer’s Reflecting Deeply exercise enabled a deeper understanding of the incident to emerge, which also provided new and distinct insights.

Research limitations/implications

– The main limitation was the case study nature of this exercise; these findings are merely the result of one person’s experiences.

Practical implications

– To develop rounded leadership skills, leaders can benefit from tapping into all of their resources; these two approaches allow different aspects of one’s intelligence to be accessed, which ought to facilitate greater development.

Social implications

– Many authors cite a current crisis of leadership, not least of all a perceived failure to tackle the environmental challenges we face. By seeking to develop more intelligent and rounded leaders, leadership itself ought to improve which in turn should help society tackle pressing issues.

Originality/value

– To the author’s knowledge, a direct comparison of the leadership development methodologies used in this paper has not been previously described. This paper provides useful insights into the practical application of Reflective Practice and Scharmer’s Theory U, which will help inform others seeking to develop as leaders.
Nationwide Training Limited were chosen by Action for Blind People to design an ILM middle manager leadership and management programme
Authors: Metcalf Andrea
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine Nationwide Training Limited’s development an ILM middle manager leadership and management programme for Action for Blind People.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper presents an overview of designing the programme.

Findings

– The programme has received excellent feedback and is oversubscribed for future attendees. There have been a number of internal successes already with a number of appointments to key internal roles from those on the scheme, reinforcing action’s commitment to develop, nurture and retain staff, as well as showing the influence of the programme in terms of helping individuals become ready for more strategic positions within the organisation.

Originality/value

– This paper points to best practice for similar projects.
Delegation – a crucial but sadly neglected management skill
Authors: Rees W. David , Porter Christine
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explain the importance of the concept of delegation, highlighting the lack of attention to it in management textbooks and identifying the key skills involved in effective delegation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use their background as lecturers and authors in management combined with their management and consultancy experience to do a literature search of the topic of management and use their experience to comment on how the understanding and practice of delegation can be improved.

Findings

– As a result of a thorough search through the standard business studies textbooks, the authors found little coverage of the topic of delegation. They found many examples of failures of delegation, sometimes with catastrophic results. Despite the evidence to the contrary, there seems to be a general and highly over-optimistic assumption that an understanding of delegation and good practice can be taken for granted.

Originality/value

– Evidence has been collected about the alarming lack of attention to this critical management skill. The authors have attempted to remedy this by a clear explanation of the skills involved and the potential consequences of neglecting it. The core concepts include accountability, the rationale for delegating authority, associated skills and obstacles and how they can be dealt with; and the overlapping concept of empowerment. Case studies of recent world events illustrating the need for good governance and risk assessment are included.
Becoming “leaderful”: leading forward in turbulent times
Authors: Yeo Roland K. , Gold Jeff , Marquardt Michael J.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to offer a practice-based understanding of leadership based on the concept of “leaderful” practice. In supporting this concept, the paper describes the contexts that shape leadership capacity and introduces an integrative framework that further illustrates “leaderful” practice.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws on prior research conducted by the authors in a variety of industries. Insights were gleaned from both theoretical perspectives and qualitative data drawn from a number of empirical studies.

Findings

– In order to lead confidently in turbulent times, leaders need to first unlearn the conventional wisdom of leadership. Three contextual enablers contribute to “leaderful” practice, namely problem, action, and experience. Becoming “leaderful” is being mindful of how these three enablers could be harnessed and integrated to facilitate change in meaningful ways.

Practical implications

– In order to promote “leaderful” practice, both reflective and conversational spaces are imperative. Such spaces help leaders to be mindful of their internal and external contexts, including a keen awareness of self and others in framing references of the past for the future. In doing so, leaders need to be “present” to confront “wicked” problems and take action through collective experience and intelligence.

Originality/value

– Understanding how leaders think, feel, and act in actual practice helps us understand the genuine characteristics of leadership. The paper introduces a framework of “leaderful” practice with a focus on leading with confidence. It extends current understanding of leadership practice by viewing “leaderful” practice from the perspective of problem, action, and experience.
Depression screening optimization in an academic rural setting
Authors: Aleem Sohaib , Torrey William C , Duncan Mathew S , Hort Shoshana J , Mecchella John N
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Primary care plays a critical role in screening and management of depression. The purpose of this paper is to focus on leveraging the electronic health record (EHR) as well as work flow redesign to improve the efficiency and reliability of the process of depression screening in two adult primary care clinics of a rural academic institution in USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors utilized various process improvement tools from lean six sigma methodology including project charter, swim lane process maps, critical to quality tree, process control charts, fishbone diagrams, frequency impact matrix, mistake proofing and monitoring plan in Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control format. Interventions included change in depression screening tool, optimization of data entry in EHR. EHR data entry optimization; follow up of positive screen, staff training and EHR redesign.

Findings

– Depression screening rate for office-based primary care visits improved from 17.0 percent at baseline to 75.9 percent in the post-intervention control phase (p
<
0.001). Follow up of positive depression screen with Patient History Questionnaire-9 data collection remained above 90 percent. Duplication of depression screening increased from 0.6 percent initially to 11.7 percent and then decreased to 4.7 percent after optimization of data entry by patients and flow staff.

Research limitations/implications

– Impact of interventions on clinical outcomes could not be evaluated.

Originality/value

– Successful implementation, sustainability and revision of a process improvement initiative to facilitate screening, follow up and management of depression in primary care requires accounting for voice of the process (performance metrics), system limitations and voice of the customer (staff and patients) to overcome various system, customer and human resource constraints.
Performance improvement CME for quality: challenges inherent to the process
Authors: Vakani Farhan Saeed , O'Beirne Ronan
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the perspective debates upon the real-time challenges for a three-staged Performance Improvement Continuing Medical Education (PI-CME) model, an innovative and potential approach for future CME, to inform providers to think, prepare and to act proactively.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this discussion, the challenges associated for adopting the American Medical Association’s three-staged PI-CME model are reported.

Findings

– Not many institutions in USA are using a three-staged performance improvement model and then customizing it to their own healthcare context for the specific targeted audience. They integrate traditional CME methods with performance and quality initiatives, and linking with CME credits.

Practical implications

– Overall the US health system is interested in a structured PI-CME model with the potential to improve physicians practicing behaviors.

Originality/value

– Knowing the dearth of evidence for applying this structured performance improvement methodology into the design of CME activities, and the lack of clarity on challenges inherent to the process that learners and providers encounter. This paper establishes all-important first step to render the set of challenges for a three-staged PI-CME model.
Healthy work environment – a challenge?
Authors: Jansson von Vultée Pia Hannele
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– In Sweden, leave due to sickness was high during the 1990s. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency was able to decrease sick days in the period between 2000 and 2010 but sick days are rising again in Sweden, mostly due to psychological problems among women and partly due to their work environment. It is important to find methods to identify poor work settings to prevent absenteeism due to sickness. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors created a web questionnaire focusing on the organizational setting and its impact on employee wellbeing – reported as mental energy, work-related exhaustion and work satisfaction. The questionnaire measures good and poor work environment factors to help managers improve organizational settings. The questionnaire was validated qualitatively and quantitatively.

Findings

– It is possible to measure individual wellbeing in an organizational context at an early stage. The authors followed a company undergoing organizational change and identified groups at risk of developing illness.

Practical implications

– Managers uncertain about employee mental status can measure employee wellbeing easily and cost effectively to prevent illness.

Originality/value

– The authors created a method, statistically evaluated, to proactively identify good and poor work environments to promote healthy co-workers.
Client satisfaction determinants in four Kenyan slums
Authors: Wambua Jonesmus Mutua , Mbayaki Regina , Munyao Paul Musya , Kabue Mark Mugo , Mulindi Rose , Change Patrick Mose , Ikamati Rudia , Jahonga Ruth , Ambalu Rachel , Maranga Wamae , Mudany Mildred
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– In Kenya, gaps exist in health service provision to slum residents, especially service availability and access to quality care. There is also little information on the health status of people living in slums other than in Nairobi. The purpose of this paper is to generate evidence for use in designing interventions to improve health services in four mid-sized slums in Embu, Nyeri and Thika, Kenya.

Design/methodology/approach

– A cross-sectional survey of clients receiving services in health facilities was conducted in the targeted slums. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Factor scores were generated using the Rasch model; simple and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done using the R statistical software.

Findings

– Overall, 81 per cent of the 203 participants reported being satisfied with health services. Most clients (89 per cent) reported that health facility staff greeted them warmly; 82 per cent said their consultation was private. The facility type, waiting time and client experience with service providers determined their satisfaction (p
<
0.05).

Practical implications

– Healthcare managers can improve client satisfaction levels by understanding the client flow in their facilities and addressing causes of client dissatisfaction, such as long waiting times, while at the same time promoting facilitating factors.

Originality/value

– The authors use latent variable modelling to compute client satisfaction scores, which were dichotomised into two categories and fitted into a logistic regression model to identify factors that influence client satisfaction. Health facility clients in the four slums are satisfied with services and have confidence the providers will serve them in a friendly and professional manner that promotes respect and quality care. The paper recommend healthcare managers in similar settings carry out client flow analysis and institute remedial measures to address long waiting times. Qualitative studies are recommended to determine the reasons behind the high satisfaction levels reported in this study.
Factors affecting dental service quality
Authors: Bahadori Mohammadkarim , Raadabadi Mehdi , Ravangard Ramin , Baldacchino Donia
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Measuring dental clinic service quality is the first and most important factor in improving care. The quality provided plays an important role in patient satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to identify factors affecting dental service quality from the patients’ viewpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

– This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted in a dental clinic in Tehran between January and June 2014. A sample of 385 patients was selected from two work shifts using stratified sampling proportional to size and simple random sampling methods. The data were collected, a self-administered questionnaire designed for the purpose of the study, based on the Parasuraman and Zeithaml’s model of service quality which consisted of two parts: the patients’ demographic characteristics and a 30-item questionnaire to measure the five dimensions of the service quality. The collected data were analysed using SPSS 21.0 and Amos 18.0 through some descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, as well as analytical methods, including confirmatory factor.

Findings

– Results showed that the correlation coefficients for all dimensions were higher than 0.5. In this model, assurance (regression weight=0.99) and tangibility (regression weight=0.86) had, respectively, the highest and lowest effects on dental service quality.

Practical implications

– The Parasuraman and Zeithaml’s model is suitable to measure quality in dental services. The variables related to dental services quality have been made according to the model.

Originality/value

– This is a pioneering study that uses Parasuraman and Zeithaml’s model and CFA in a dental setting. This study provides useful insights and guidance for dental service quality assurance.