bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptation and clonal selection models of castration‐resistant prostate cancer: Current perspective
Authors: Ahmed Muhammed , Li Long‐Cheng
Published: November 2012

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in men worldwide. Management of the disease has remained a great challenge and even more so is the aggressive advanced stage with castration‐resistant behavior. The mechanisms and timing of development of castration‐resistant prostate cancer are unclear and remain debatable. Progression to castration‐resistant prostate cancer is undoubtedly multifactorial, with a number of molecular‐genetic aberrations implicated. However, a key question that remains unanswered is: when in the evolution of prostate cancer do the changes that confer castration resistance occur? Earlier attempts to address this question led to two proposed models: the “adaptation” and the “clonal selection” models. Although the prevailing hypothesis is the adaptation model, there is recent evidence in favor of the clonal selection model. Clarification of the model development of castration‐resistant prostate cancer might significantly alter our diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, and potentially lead to improved outcome of management of this daunting condition. Here we review existing knowledge and current research findings addressing the timing of events in the course of prostate cancer progression to castration‐resistant prostate cancer.
An exploratory study investigating children's perceptions of dental behavioural management techniques
Authors: Davies E. Bethan , Buchanan Heather
Published: November 2012

Background

Behaviour management techniques (BMTs) are utilised by dentists to aid children's dental anxiety (DA). Children's perceptions of these have been underexplored, and their feedback could help inform paediatric dentistry.

Aim

To explore children's acceptability and perceptions of dental communication and BMTs and to compare these by age, gender, and DA.

Design

A total of sixty‐two 9‐ to 11‐year‐old school children participated in the study. Children's acceptability of BMTs was quantified using a newly developed Likert scale, alongside exploration of children's experiences and perceptions through interviews. anova and t‐tests explored BMT acceptability ratings by age, gender, and DA. Thematic analysis was used to analyse interviews.

Findings

Statistical analyses showed no effect of age, gender, or DA upon BMT acceptability. Children generally perceived the BMTs as acceptable or neutral; stop signals were the most acceptable, and voice control the least acceptable BMT. Beneficial experiences of distraction and positive reinforcement were common. Children described the positive nature of their dentist's communication and BMT utilisation.

Conclusion

Dental anxiety did not affect children's perceptions of BMTs. Children were generally positive about dentist's communication and established BMTs. Children's coping styles may impact perceptions and effectiveness of BMTs and should be explored in future investigations.
The effect of massage on agitated behaviours in older people with dementia: a literature review
Authors: Moyle Wendy , Murfield Jenny E , O’Dwyer Siobhan , Van Wyk Sierra
Published: November 2012

Aims and objectives.  To review the literature on massage used to manage agitated behaviours in older people with dementia, assess its efficacy as a non‐pharmacological approach and provide recommendations for future research.

Background.  Agitation has traditionally been managed with chemical or physical restraint. There has been a growing interest in complementary therapies such as massage.

Design.  A literature review.

Methods.  Cooper’s five‐stage model of synthesising research guided the review process. The search terms ‘massage’, ‘agitation’ and ‘dementia’ were defined, and 10 databases were searched in October 2011. No date limitations were applied, although searches were limited to articles written in English. For relevant records, full‐text copies were obtained and assessed in terms of inclusion criteria and methodological quality using the Validity Rating Tool (VRT). Data were extracted using a form constructed with reference to the checklist of items to consider in data extraction, produced by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Results.  Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed on the VRT. One study was considered of adequate methodological quality to be included in the review. This prospective study found that massage significantly reduced levels of agitation in 52 cognitively impaired residents in two long‐term care facilities.

Conclusions.  There is a severe paucity of research that considers the effects of massage on managing agitated behaviours in older people with dementia. Whilst conclusions cannot be drawn from the one study included in this review, it did provide evidence to support the use of massage as a non‐pharmacological approach to managing agitation in older people with dementia. More research, of better methodological quality, is needed.

Relevance to clinical practice.  There is a need for health practitioners to be aware of the limited evidence for massage as an intervention for agitation and to provide opportunities to validate massage practice.
Abundances and host relationships of chigger mites in Yunnan Province, China
Authors: ZHAN Y.‐Z. , GUO X.‐G. , SPEAKMAN J. R. , ZUO X.‐H. , WU D. , WANG Q.‐H. , YANG Z.‐H.
Published: November 2012

This paper reports on ectoparasitic chigger mites found on small mammals in Yunnan Province, southwest China. Data were accumulated from 19 investigation sites (counties) between 2001 and 2009. A total of 10 222 small mammal hosts were captured and identified; these represented 62 species, 34 genera and 11 families in five orders. From the body surfaces of these 10 222 hosts, a total of 92 990 chigger mites were collected and identified microscopically. These represented 224 species, 22 genera and three subfamilies in the family Trombiculidae (Trombidiformes). Small mammals were commonly found to be infested by chigger mites and most host species harboured several species of mite. The species diversity of chigger mites in Yunnan was much higher than diversities reported previously in other provinces of China and in other countries. A single species of rodent, Eothenomys miletus (Rodentia: Cricetidae), carried 111 species of chigger mite, thus demonstrating the highest species diversity and heaviest mite infestation of all recorded hosts. This diversity is exceptional compared with that of other ectoparasites. Of the total 224 mite species, 21 species accounted for 82.2% of all mites counted. Two species acting as major vectors for scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease), Leptotrombidium scutellare and Leptotrombidium deliense, were identified as the dominant mite species in this sample. In addition to these two major vectors, 12 potential or suspected vector species were found. Most species of chigger mite had a wide range of hosts and low host specificity. For example, L. scutellare parasitized 30 species of host. The low host specificity of chigger mites may increase their probability of encountering humans, as well as their transmission of scrub typhus among different hosts. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that similarities between different chigger mite communities on the 18 main species of small mammal host did not accord with the taxonomic affinity of the hosts. This suggests that the distribution of chigger mites may be strongly influenced by the environment in which hosts live.
In vitro auxin treatment promotes cell division and delays endoreduplication in developing seeds of the model legume species Medicago truncatula
Authors: Atif Rana M. , Boulisset Florian , Conreux Catherine , Thompson Richard , Ochatt Sergio J.
Published: November 2012

The role of auxins in the morphogenesis of immature seeds of Medicago truncatula was studied, focusing on the transition from the embryo cell division phase to seed maturation. We analyzed seed development in vitro, by flow cytometry, and through the determination of the kinetics of seed fresh weight and size. Thus, seeds were harvested at 8, 10 and 12 days after pollination and cultured in vitro on a medium either without auxin or supplemented with indole‐3‐butyric acid (IBA) or naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at 1 mg l−1. All parameters studied were determined every 2 days from the start of in vitro culture. The results showed that both auxins increased the weight and size of seeds with NAA having a stronger effect than IBA. We further demonstrated that the auxin treatments modulate the transition between mitotic cycles and endocycles in M. truncatula developing seed by favoring sustained cell divisions while simultaneously prolonging endoreduplication, which is known to be the cytogenetical imprint of the transition from the cell division phase to the storage protein accumulation phase during seed development.
Laparoscopic colposuspension to the Cooper's ligament after hysterectomy for uterovaginal prolapse
Authors: Yoon Won Sik , Lee Hae Nam , Lee Yong Seok , Jeung In Cheul , Park Eun Kyung
Published: November 2012

Aim

The goal of this study was to evaluate the long‐term outcomes of laparoscopic colposuspension to the Cooper's ligament after hysterectomy for uterovaginal prolapse.

Material and Methods

We performed chart reviews of 43 patients with uterovaginal prolapse who underwent laparoscopic colposuspension to the Cooper's ligament after hysterectomy at Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea from 2003 to 2009. These patients exhibited grade 3 (29 patients) or grade 4 (14 patients) uterovaginal prolapse.

Results

The mean age was 63.2 years (range, 39–76). The mean follow‐up period was 44.2 months (95% CI, 36.8–51.5). Forty‐three patients showed no sign or recurrence of prolapse. Postoperative complications were tolerable and curable. Urinary frequency (2 patients, 4.7%), voiding difficulty (2 patients, 4.7%), nocturia (1 patient, 2.3%) and vaginal spotting (1 patient, 2.3%) were reported.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic colposuspension using Cooper's ligament after hysterectomy could be an effective surgical option for the treatment of uterovaginal prolapse.
Perinatal outcomes: Intravenous patient‐controlled fentanyl versus no analgesia in labor
Authors: Miyakoshi Kei , Tanaka Mamoru , Morisaki Hiroshi , Kim Seon‐Hye , Hosokawa Yuki , Matsumoto Tadashi , Minegishi Kazuhiro , Yoshimura Yasunori
Published: November 2012

Aim

To investigate perinatal outcomes, the analgesic efficacy and maternal satisfaction in nulliparous women receiving fentanyl intravenous patient‐controlled analgesia (i.v.‐PCA).

Material and Methods

A total of 1401 nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy who received fentanyl i.v.‐PCA (i.v.‐PCA group, n = 290) or no analgesia (control group, n = 1111) in labor between 2005 and 2010 were reviewed. Fentanyl i.v.‐PCA was implemented on maternal request during the first stage of labor over 35 weeks of gestation, and discontinued at full cervical dilatation. Perinatal outcomes were compared between the i.v.‐PCA and the control groups. The numerical rating scale (NRS) levels during labor were also examined in the i.v.‐PCA group. Additionally, parturients received fentanyl i.v.‐PCA in 2010 (n = 73) were asked about overall satisfaction using a scale poor, moderate, good and excellent on postpartum day 0–3.

Results

Women receiving i.v.‐PCA showed significantly longer labor and more need of oxytocin augmentation, compared with the control. Cesarean section was significantly less frequent in the i.v.‐PCA group compared with the control (11.0% v.s. 24.1%, respectively), with the vacuum‐assisted delivery rate comparable between groups. Neonatal outcomes (i.e. Apgar score <7 at 1 min or 5 min, umbilical artery pH <7.20) were comparable between groups, irrespective of mode of delivery. Significant reduction of NRS levels was noted until 3 h after induction of i.v.‐PCA, compared to the baseline. Of the women who expressed their satisfaction, 72% (48/67) exhibited ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ for pain relief by i.v.‐PCA.

Conclusion

Fentanyl i.v.‐PCA could be a useful approach for labor pain relief in nulliparas when regional blocks are unavailable.
Oxytocin versus sustained‐release dinoprostone vaginal pessary for labor induction of unfavorable cervix with Bishop score ≥4 and ≤6: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Koc Onder , Duran Bülent , Ozdemirci Safak , Albayrak Mustafa , Koc Ummugulsum
Published: November 2012

Aim

To compare the efficacy and safety of high‐dose intravenous oxytocin and sustained‐release dinoprostone vaginal pessaries for cervical ripening and labor induction in pregnant patients at term with poor Bishop scores.

Material and Methods

Women at term with a Bishop score ≥4 and ≤6 were randomized into two groups to undergo induction of labor with either high‐dose oxytocin administered intravenously (n = 90) or dinoprostone‐only vaginal pessary without oxytocin augmentation (n = 90). The main outcome measures were rate of cesarean delivery, induction to delivery interval, number of deliveries achieved within 4, 8, 12, and 16 h of labor induction, maternal complications during induction, fetal outcome, and total hospital stay. In this study, per‐protocol analysis was performed.

Results

There were fewer cesarean deliveries with oxytocin compared to dinoprostone‐only groups (7/79 vs 14/89); however, the difference was not statistically significant. The induction–delivery intervals (7.9 h vs 12.0 h, P < 0.001; and 5.7 vs 10.4 h, P < 0.001; oxytocin vs dinoprostone‐only for primiparous and multiparous patients, respectively) were significantly shorter in oxytocin‐induced patients compared to dinoprostone‐only. A significantly higher percentage of patients delivered in the oxytocin group compared to the dinoprostone‐only group in 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 h.

Conclusion

Intravenous oxytocin is effective to stimulate labor at term for patients with Bishop scores ≥4 and ≤6, with a shorter time interval from induction to vaginal delivery.
ENDOGENOUS TIMING IN CONTESTS WITH DELEGATION
Authors: BAIK KYUNG HWAN , LEE JONG HWA
Published: November 2012

We study two‐player contests in which each player hires a delegate, and the delegates decide endogenously when to expend their effort. First, we look closely at the delegates' decisions on when to expend their effort, given contracts between the players and the delegates, and look at the players' decisions on their contracts. Then, we compare the outcomes of the endogenous‐timing framework with those of the simultaneous‐move framework. We show that the higher‐valuation player offers her delegate greater contingent compensation than her opponent, the delegate of the higher‐valuation player chooses his effort level after observing his counterpart's, the equilibrium expected payoff of the delegate of the higher‐valuation player is greater than that of his counterpart, and economic rent for each delegate exists. We show that, in the endogenous‐timing framework, each player offers her delegate better contingent compensation, each delegate's expected payoff is greater, and each player's expected payoff is smaller, as compared with the simultaneous‐move framework. (JELD72)
Using performance analysis to identify candidate operations for GIS software parallelization
Authors: SLOAN TERENCE M , GITTINGS BRUCE M , HEALEY RICHARD G
Published: November 2012

This paper examines the potential impact of parallel computing on the computational performance of GIS. Performance analyses on existing GIS operations, vector topology creation and interpolation, in commercial GIS products in a serial environment are used to work out the critical computational factors that determine elapsed time performance. Analyses reveal that the extraction of all data necessary to perform a GIS operation at a particular geographical locality dominates the I/O and CPU resource usage. For GIS to benefit from parallel computing, the performance of this task must be addressed.
Are Exporters More Likely to Introduce Product Innovations?
Authors: Bratti Massimiliano , Felice Giulia
Published: November 2012

A firm’s export status may improve its ability to introduce product innovations (learning by exporting). We explore this idea using very rich firm‐level data on Italian manufacturing, which enables us to control for many confounding factors in the exporting–product innovation link (i.e. selection on observable variables). We also make an attempt to address the potential self‐selection of firms into exporting according to unobservable characteristics using an industry–province specific measure of firm distances from their most likely export markets, and of these export markets’ potentials as sources of presumably exogenous variations in export status using an instrumental variables strategy. We find that export status significantly increases the likelihood of introducing product innovations and that this effect is not fully captured by the channels commonly stressed by the theoretical literature, such as larger markets (and accordingly firm size) or higher investments in R&D. We argue that heterogeneity in foreign customers’ tastes and needs may explain our findings.
ESCHATOLOGY AND SCIENTIFIC COSMOLOGY: FROM DEADLOCK TO INTERACTION
Authors: Russell Robert John
Published: November 2012

Abstract Among the many scholarly surveys of historical and contemporary approaches to Christian eschatology, few treat the relation between eschatology and scientific cosmology. It is the purpose of this essay to do so. I begin with a brief summary of the importance of eschatology to contemporary Christian theology. Next, an overview is given of scientific cosmology, its earlier scenarios for the cosmic far future of “freeze or fry,” and, more recently the discovery that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. These predictions severely challenge those versions of Christian eschatology that are based on the bodily resurrection of Jesus and, by analogy, the transformation of the universe into the new creation. Several recent approaches to this challenge are outlined, including those of Denis Edwards, Jürgen Moltmann, Wolfhart Pannenberg, Ted Peters, John Polkinghorne, and my own. I conclude with some suggestions for future research in both theology and science.
THE ROOTS AND PREVENTION OF GENOCIDE AND RELATED MASS VIOLENCE
Authors: Staub Ervin
Published: November 2012

Abstract Genocide and mass violence originate in difficult life conditions, conflict between groups, and cultural characteristics such as a history of devaluation of a group, victimization, and overly strong respect for authority. These can join in creating uncertainty and fear, frustrating the fulfillment of basic psychological needs, and shaping destructive psychological reactions and social processes such as scapegoating and destructive ideologies. The evolution of increasing hostility and violence can follow, allowed by the passivity of internal and external bystanders. Halting genocide and mass violence is very difficult. It is more effective to focus on early prevention: responding to difficult life conditions, developing positive attitudes and constructive ideologies that humanize the “other”; dialogue; healing wounds and memories of past victimization; training about the roots, psychological impact, and prevention of violence in workshops and the media; and supporting development practices and democratization. Early prevention requires leadership in the United Nations, the work of NGOs, cooperating national governments, and citizen groups of active bystanders.
THE FALL OF “AUGUSTINIAN ADAM”: ORIGINAL FRAGILITY AND SUPRALAPSARIAN PURPOSE
Authors: Schneider John
Published: November 2012

Abstract This essay is framed by conflict between Christianity and Darwinian science over the history of the world and the nature of original human personhood. Evolutionary science narrates a long prehuman geological and biological history filled with vast amounts, kinds, and distributions of apparently random brutal and pointless suffering. It has also unveiled an original human person with animal psychosomatic heredity. This narrative seems to discredit Christianity's (Augustinian) metanarrative of the Fall—Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. The author contends that the Augustinian story and its character of Adam are implausible, anyway, for reasons of theology and apologetics. He proposes that Christians adopt instead a Supralapsarian metaphysics of original human personhood and existence that grows from the intuitions of Irenaeus. The outcome will be improved Christian theology, more persuasive theodicy, and, above all, peace with Darwinian science
GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS IN HUMANS AND OTHER ANIMALS: PERFORMATIVE SOUL‐MAKING AND GRACED NATURE
Authors: Deane‐Drummond Celia
Published: November 2012

Abstract Although official Roman Catholic teaching affirms the concept of evolution as a convincing theory in order to explain the biological origin of different life forms, there is still a strong insistence on an “ontological gap” between human beings and all other creatures. This paper investigates how best to interpret that gap while still affirming human evolution. Drawing on medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas, I seek to uncover the influence of Aristotelian ideas on the rational soul. I will argue for the crucial importance of divine grace in consideration of divine image‐bearing bearing so that while other animals share in the likeness of God, only humans, like angels, bear God's image. Such an approach does not provide any justification for the denigration of other creatures. Rather, the possibility of a further transformation of human nature, deification, and thus into the likeness of God depends on Christ as the one who bears the image of God perfectly, and the Spirit, who enables such a transformation in human subjects.
International comparisons of preterm birth: higher rates of late preterm birth are associated with lower rates of stillbirth and neonatal death
Authors: Lisonkova S , Sabr Y , Butler B , Joseph KS
Published: November 2012

Please cite this paper as: Lisonkova S, Sabr Y, Butler B, Joseph K. International comparisons of preterm birth: higher rates of late preterm birth are associated with lower rates of stillbirth and neonatal death. BJOG 2012;119:1630–1639.

Objective  To examine international rates of preterm birth and potential associations with stillbirths and neonatal deaths at late preterm and term gestation.

Design  Ecological study.

Setting  Canada, USA and 26 countries in Europe.

Population  All deliveries in 2004.

Methods  Information on preterm birth (<37, 32–36, 28–31 and 24–27 weeks of gestation) and perinatal deaths was obtained for 28 countries. Data sources included files and publications from Statistics Canada, the EURO‐PERISTAT project and the National Center for Health Statistics. Pearson correlation coefficients and random‐intercept Poisson regression were used to examine the association between preterm birth rates and gestational age‐specific stillbirth and neonatal death rates. Rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated after adjustment for maternal age, parity and multiple births.

Main outcome measures  Stillbirths and neonatal deaths ≥32 and ≥37 weeks of gestation.

Results  International rates of preterm birth (<37 weeks) ranged between 5.3 and 11.4 per 100 live births. Preterm birth rates at 32–36 weeks were inversely associated with stillbirths at ≥32 weeks (adjusted rate ratio 0.94, 95% CI 0.92–0.96) and ≥37 weeks (adjusted rate ratio 0.88, 95% CI 0.85–0.91) of gestation and inversely associated with neonatal deaths at ≥32 weeks (adjusted rate ratio 0.88, 95% CI 0.85–0.91) and ≥37 weeks (adjusted rate ratio 0.82, 95% CI 0.78–0.86) of gestation.

Conclusions  Countries with high rates of preterm birth at 32–36 weeks of gestation have lower stillbirth and neonatal death rates at and beyond 32 weeks of gestation. Contemporary rates of preterm birth are indicators of both perinatal health and obstetric care services.
Are Americans Really Less Happy with Their Incomes?
Authors: Kapteyn Arie , Smith James P. , Van Soest Arthur
Published: November 2012

Recent economic research on international comparisons of subjective well‐being suffers from several important biases due to the potential incomparability of response scales within and across countries. In this paper we concentrate on self‐reported satisfaction with income in two countries: the Netherlands and the U.S. The comparability problem is addressed by using anchoring vignettes. We find that in the raw data, Americans appear decidedly less satisfied with their income than the Dutch. It turns out however that after response scale adjustment based on vignettes, the distribution of satisfaction in the two countries is essentially identical. In addition, we find that the within‐country cross‐sectional effect of income on satisfaction—a key parameter in the recent debate in the economic literature—is significantly underestimated, especially in the U.S., when differences in response scales are not taken into account.
The Impact of Innovative Culture on Individual Employees: The Moderating Role of Market Information Sharing
Authors: Wei Yinghong (Susan) , O'Neill Hugh , Lee Ruby P. , Zhou Nan
Published: November 2012

Current innovation literature provides a very limited understanding of the potential impacts of innovative culture on employees. Building on resource‐based view theory, the authors investigate theoretically and empirically how a perceived innovative culture can be a building block for a firm's competitive resource and advantage by creating superior employee‐level outcomes and how a market information‐sharing process may moderate these effects. The authors identify three distinct types of individual‐level outcomes stemming from an innovative culture. The three outcome variables—job satisfaction, organizational dynamism perception, and firm performance perception—reflect employees’ psychological and cognitive reactions to the process of creating organizational innovation and innovative culture. The authors collect survey data from 3960 individual employees in China. Their findings first show that a perceived innovative culture significantly and positively affects employees’ job satisfaction and perceptions of organizational dynamism and firm performance. Moreover, organizational dynamism perception plays an important mediating role among three employee‐level outcomes by converting job satisfaction into firm performance perception. The authors also find support for the direct, positive effect of a perceived market information‐sharing process on job satisfaction but not on perceptions of organizational dynamism and firm performance. Most importantly, their findings on the significant moderating role of a market information‐sharing system contribute to innovation theory by emphasizing the importance of the innovation/marketing interface: bundling market information sharing and innovative culture together enhances employees’ positive attitudes and perceptions. This result also suggests that examining only the direct effects of innovative culture and market information sharing may lead to incorrect conclusions as to how to manage the cultural infusion process: the market information‐sharing process shows only a weak effect on job satisfaction and no effect on perceptions of organizational dynamism or firm performance. Organizational designs should ensure simultaneous consideration of both variables in the cultural transformation process to enhance employees’ derived benefits in the process of creating an innovative culture. We offer a new insight: a perceived market information‐sharing process may strengthen the effect of an innovative culture on employees’ job satisfaction and organizational dynamism perception, while it may weaken the effect of an innovative culture on firm performance perception. This more nuanced view of market information sharing in the cultural infusion process presents new wisdom and calls for further studies in entrepreneurial innovation.
Improving Marketing's Contribution to New Product Development
Authors: Drechsler Wenzel , Natter Martin , Leeflang Peter S. H.
Published: November 2012

In many firms, the marketing department plays a minor role in new product development (NPD). However, recent research demonstrates that marketing capabilities more strongly influence firm performance than other areas such as research and development. This finding underscores the importance of identifying relevant capabilities that can improve the position of marketing within the NPD process as part of the quest to improve innovation performance. However, thus far, it has remained unclear precisely how the marketing department can increase its influence on NPD to enhance a firm's innovation performance. The results of this study demonstrate that the relationship between marketing capabilities and innovation performance is generally mediated by the decision influence of marketing on NPD. In particular, both marketing research quality and the ability to translate customer needs into product characteristics serve to increase marketing's influence on NPD. This increased influence, in turn, positively contributes to overall firm innovation performance. Hence, these results show that in addition to having the appropriate marketing capabilities, the marketing department must achieve a status in which these capabilities can translate into performance implications.
A Data‐Driven Inventory Control Policy for Cash Logistics Operations: An Exploratory Case Study Application at a Financial Institution
Authors: Baker Tim , Jayaraman Vaidyanathan , Ashley Nancy
Published: November 2012

A number of market changes are impacting the way financial institutions are managing their automated teller machines (ATMs). We propose a new class of adaptive data‐driven policies for a stochastic inventory control problem faced by a large financial institution that manages cash at several ATMs. Senior management were concerned that their current cash supply system to manage ATMs was inefficient and outdated, and suspected that using improved cash management could reduce overall system cost. Our task was to provide a robust procedure to tackle the ATM's cash deployment strategies. Current industry practice uses a periodic review system with infrequent parameter updates for cash management based on the assumption that demand is normally distributed during the review period. This assumption did not hold during our investigation, warranting a new and robust analysis. Moreover, we discovered that forecast errors are often not normally distributed and that these error distributions change dramatically over time. Our approach finds the optimal time series forecaster and the best‐fitting weekly forecast error distribution. The guaranteed optimal target cash inventory level and time between orders could only be obtained through an optimization module that was embedded in a simulation routine that we built for the institution. We employed an exploratory case study methodology to collect cash withdrawal data at 21 ATMs owned and operated by the financial institution. Our new approach shows a 4.6% overall cost reduction. This reflects an annual cost savings of over $250,000 for the 2,500 ATM units that are operated by the bank.
Supplier Rationalization: A Sourcing Decision Model
Authors: Talluri Srinivas , DeCampos Hugo A. , Hult G. Tomas M.
Published: November 2012

We draw on extant literature on strategic sourcing and supply base rationalization to anchor our argument that measuring supplier performance diversity is germane to executing an effective supply base rationalization strategy. We explicate how a novel approach to data envelopment analysis (DEA) efficiency assessment can be utilized to measure this performance diversity. More specifically, our methods are anchored in cross efficiency analysis in DEA that allows for evaluating the efficiency of a supplier with respect to the optimal weights (strengths) of its peers. This methodology is applied to an actual supplier dataset of a large multinational telecommunications company in categorizing their supply base into groups for effective supplier rationalization. We conclude that measuring and analyzing the performance diversity within the framework of DEA provides a mechanism for firms to better balance a rationalized and diversified supply base with unique skills.
Homeownership and Social Trust in Neighbors
Authors: McCabe Brian J.
Published: November 2012

This paper investigates the role of homeownership in generating social trust among neighbors. Drawing on data from the 2006 Social Capital Community Survey, it tests whether homeownership contributes to the formation of social capital by strengthening the bonds of trust in local neighborhoods. Through a falsification strategy that compares trust in neighbors to trust in other social groups, the results confirm that homeowners are more trusting of their neighbors than renters, but are no more likely to trust strangers, shopkeepers, coworkers, or the police. While initial models reveal spillover effects into neighborhoods with high homeownership rates, further analyses suggest that median neighborhood income is the more salient predictor of neighborhood–level social trust. The findings contribute to a rich sociological tradition of neighborhood research by focusing on the role of homeownership in strengthening local communities.
Little evidence that condition, stress indicators, sex ratio, or homozygosity are related to landscape or habitat attributes in declining woodland birds
Authors: Amos J. N. , Balasubramaniam S. , Grootendorst L. , Harrisson K. A. , Lill A. , Mac Nally R. , Pavlova A. , Radford J. Q. , Takeuchi N. , Thomson J. R. , Sunnucks P.
Published: November 2012

Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation are drivers of major declines in biodiversity and species extinctions. The actual causes of species population declines following habitat change are more difficult to discern and there is typically high covariation among the measures used to infer the causes of decline. The causes of decline may act directly on individual fitness and survival, or through disruption of population processes. We examined the relationships among configuration, extent and status of native vegetation and three commonly used indicators of individual body condition and chronic stress (haemoglobin level, haematocrit, residual body mass condition index) in 13 species of woodland‐dependent birds in south‐eastern Australia. We also examined two measures of changes to population processes (sex ratio and individual homozygosity) in ten species and alleic richness in five species. We found little support for relationships between site or landscape characteristics and individual or population response variables, notwithstanding that our simulations showed we had sufficient power to detect relatively small effects. We discuss possible causes of the absence of detectable habitat effects in this system and the implications for the usefulness of individual body condition and easily measured haematological indices as indicators of the response of avian populations to habitat change.
Phylogenetic alpha and beta diversities of butterfly communities correlate with climate in the western Swiss Alps
Authors: Pellissier Loïc , Alvarez Nadir , Espíndola Anahí , Pottier Julien , Dubuis Anne , Pradervand Jean‐Nicolas , Guisan Antoine
Published: November 2012

The observation of non‐random phylogenetic distribution of traits in communities provides evidence for niche‐based community assembly. Environment may influence the phylogenetic structure of communities because traits determining how species respond to prevailing conditions can be phylogenetically conserved. In this study, we investigate the variation of butterfly species richness and of phylogenetic α‐ and β‐diversities along temperature and plant species richness gradients. Our study indicates that butterfly richness is independently positively correlated to temperature and plant species richness in the study area. However, the variation of phylogenetic α‐ and β‐diversities is only correlated to temperature. The significant phylogenetic clustering at high elevation suggests that cold temperature filters butterfly lineages, leading to communities mostly composed of closely related species adapted to those climatic conditions. These results suggest that in colder and more severe conditions at high elevations deterministic processes and not purely stochastic events drive the assemblage of butterfly communities.
Allocation to pollen competitive ability versus seed production inViola tricoloras an effect of plant size, soil nutrients and presence of a root competitor
Authors: Lankinen Åsa , Larsson Mattias C. , Fransson Ann‐Mari
Published: November 2012

In hermaphroditic plants, the effect of a social environment on sex allocation has not been studied to our knowledge, while in hermaphroditic animals such effects are known to be common. In recent years, studies on root competition beyond the effects of nutrients have shown that plants can respond to their conspecific root competitors (social environment), making it interesting to ask if these effects could also influence sex allocation in addition to more commonly studied factors, such as plant size or resources. In this study on hermaphroditicViola tricolor, we investigated how plant size, soil nutrients and presence of a root competitor influenced allocation to pollen competitive ability versus seed production, i.e. male and female reproductive functions. We allowed plants to grow in pairs with partly intermingled or separate roots in the same amount of soil. In additional treatments with intermingled roots (as part of the same experiment) one of the two competitors was given combinations of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and micro nutrients. We found that pollen performance but not seed production increased when plants were in contact in the soil. Additionally, pollen performance was negatively correlated to plant size across fertilisation treatments. For seed production, the opposite relation to plant size was seen, indicating that large, fertilized plants invest relatively more in the female function. In conclusion, in violets, sex allocation appears to be size‐dependent and influenced by both the presence of a root competitor and by nutrients. These results suggest that social environment can influence sex allocation in plants as well as in animals, indicating that such effects are important to consider in sex allocation studies across taxa.
Can limiting similarity increase invasion resistance? A meta‐analysis of experimental studies
Authors: Price Jodi N. , Pärtel Meelis
Published: November 2012

Synthesis

We used meta‐analyses to examine experimental evidence that functional similarity between invaders and resident communities reduces invasion. We synthesized evidence from studies that experimentally added seed to resident communities in which the functional group composition had been manipulated. We found communities containing functionally similar resident species reduced invasion of forb but not grass invaders. However, experimental design dramatically influenced the results – with evidence for limiting similarity only found in artificially assembled communities, and not when studies used functional group removal from more ‘natural communities’. We suggest that functional group similarity plays a limited role in biotic resistance in established communities.

The principle of limiting similarity suggests that species must be functionally different to coexist; based on the assumption that inter‐specific competition should be greatest between functionally similar species. There has been controversy over the generality of this assembly rule for plant communities with some studies finding evidence for limiting similarity and others not. One approach to testing this is to examine the ‘invasion’ success of species into communities in which the functional group composition has been manipulated. Using a meta‐analysis approach, we examined the generality of limiting similarity for plant communities based on published experimental studies. We asked – is establishment of an invading species less successful if it belongs to a functional group that is already present in the community compared to a community in which that functional group is absent? We explored separately colonisation (i.e. germination, establishment or seedling survival) and performance (i.e. biomass, cover or growth) of different functional groups (forbs and grasses) and experimental designs (removal experiments of more or less natural communities and synthetic‐assemblage experiments). We found that communities containing functionally similar resident species did reduce invader colonisation and performance of forb invaders, but did not reduce colonisation or performance of grass invaders. Evidence in support of limiting similarity was only detected in synthetic‐assemblage experiments and not when studies used functional group removal from ‘natural’ communities. Functional similarity is an important aspect of biotic resistance for forb invaders, but was only found in artificial communities. This has implications for restoration ecology especially when communities are built de novo. However, we suggest that limiting similarity plays a limited role in biotic resistance, because no evidence was detected in established communities.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment for the fixation of implant prosthesis in oncology patients irradiated
Authors: Goiato Marcelo C. , dos Santos Daniela M. , Pesqueira Aldiéris A. , Haddad Marcela F. , Garcia Idelmo R. , Biasoli Eder R. , Moreno Amália
Published: November 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2012.00636.x

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment for the fixation of implant prosthesis in oncology patients irradiated

Objectives:  This study aimed to present a clinical report of an irradiated oncologic patient who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy to be rehabilitated with implant‐supported prosthesis.

Materials and Methods:  A 67‐year‐old man was admitted at Oral Oncology Center (FOA‐UNESP) presenting a lesion on the mouth floor. After clinical evaluation, incisional biopsy and histopathological exam, a grade II squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed. The patient was subjected to surgery to remove the lesion and partial glossectomy. Afterwards, the radiotherapy, in the left/right cervicofacial area of the supraclavicular fossa, was conducted. After 3 years of the surgery, the patient was submitted to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Then, four implants were installed in patient’s mandible. Five months later, an upper conventional complete denture and lower full‐arch implant‐supported prosthesis were fabricated.

Conclusion:  The treatment resulted in several benefits such as improving his chewing efficiency, swallowing and speech, less denture trauma on the mucosa and improving his self‐esteem.
Aligning global organizations' human capital needs and global supply‐chain strategies
Authors: Harvey Michael , Fisher Ron , McPhail Ruth , Moeller Miriam
Published: November 2012

Globalization of business has had a profound impact on organizations. The focus of management has shifted from a domestic one to a more complex understanding of how to compete effectively in the global marketplace. One element that has accentuated the need for managers to develop a global mindset is in the area of global supply‐chain management. The need to modify and update the type of manager needed to manage global interorganizational relationships effectively has arrived. This theoretical research examines the growing importance of having the appropriate human resource management (HRM) processes to select, train, and retain competent global supply‐chain managers. In addressing the human resource dimensions of successful global supply‐chain management the growing importance of HRM in the management of supply chains is presented as a combination of resource‐based (e.g. internal), market‐based (e.g. external) and dynamic capabilities perspectives. In addition, selection, training and assessing the new ‘breed’ of global supply‐chain managers is explored.
Antibody Response After Single H1N1 Influenza Vaccine in Chronic Dialysis Patients
Authors: Azak Alper , Huddam Bülent , Kocak Gülay , Altas A Basak , Duranay Murat , Korukluoglu Gülay
Published: November 2012

The first influenza pandemic of this century happened through a rapid spread of a novel swine‐derived H1N1 influenza virus. Vaccines are produced in order to avoid the infection. Children and other high risk groups are highly recommended for vaccination due to the high probability of contracting the virus. Chronic kidney disease patients were also accepted as a risk group and vaccination of all patients undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis was recommended. The results of H1N1 influenza virus vaccine on patients receiving hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are analyzed. Antibody titers of both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients were elevated after vaccination. Peritoneal dialysis patients responded better.
The Determinants of Corruption: Cross‐Country‐Panel‐Data Analysis
Authors: Elbahnasawy Nasr G. , Revier Charles F.
Published: November 2012

This study explores the determinants of corruption, utilizing the Hausman and Taylor's technique to estimate a random effects model that incorporates both the effects of corruption determinants that vary over time and those that are time‐invariant, and using a larger panel dataset and a comprehensive set of corruption determinants.

The first interesting result is that perception of strong support for rule of law is strongly correlated with reduced corruption, suggesting that a better quality of law enforcement reduces corruption. Rich countries have lower corruption, and the perception of free expression and accountability strongly decreases corruption, indicating that providing greater opportunities for citizens to participate in selecting their government, more freedom of expression, and free media are effective ways of curbing corruption. Conversely, natural resource abundance, country population size, country's dominant religious tradition, ethnic fractionalization, and political stability are unimportant determinants of corruption, while previous research has suggested they are important.
The effect of toothbrush design on the ability of nurses to brush the teeth of institutionalized cerebral palsy patients
Authors: Yitzhak Moran , Sarnat Haim , Rakocz Meir , Yaish Yaniv , Ashkenazi Malka
Published: November 2012

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of two toothbrush designs in tooth brushing by nurses of individuals with cerebral palsy. Methods: Following instruction, nurses brushed the teeth of 21 individuals with a single‐headed‐toothbrush, and 22 with a triple‐headed‐toothbrush. After one month, the nurses brushed their patients with the other toothbrush, following instruction. Tooth brushing performance skill was evaluated and scored using the TB‐PS‐I/Ashkenazi index following the first brushing as well as on a recall visit one month later. Results: After 1 month, 7.6% of the nurses required further instruction following brushing with the triple‐headed toothbrush compared to 15% after brushing with the single‐headed. Reductions in plaque and gingival indices were greater after using the triple‐ headed than single‐headed toothbrush. More nurses preferred the triple‐headed toothbrush (75.5% compared to 22.6%). Conclusion: Brushing by nurses of cerebral palsy patients was more effective and instruction better retained with a triple‐headed compared to single‐headed toothbrush.