bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OP‐7 THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF DOMPERIDONE ON ABDOMINAL PAIN‐PREDOMINANT FUNCTIONAL GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
Authors: Karunanayake Amaranath , Devanarayana Niranga Manjuri , Rajindrajith Shaman , de Silva Asita
Published: September 2015

Introduction:

The therapeutic effect of domperidone on abdominal pain‐predominant functional gastrointestinal diseases (AP‐FGIDs) was assessed on children in 5–12 year age group at the Gastroenterology Research Laboratory of Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

Methods:

Children fulfilling Rome III criteria for AP‐FGIDs were recruited from the out‐patient clinic of the University Paediatric Unit, North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka, after obtaining parental consent. They were randomized in to 8 weeks of placebo or Domperidone (Motillium 10 mg, 3 times per day, before meals) groups, using computer generated random numbers. Placebo was a specially prepared dummy tablet without any active ingredients, had the same colour, size, shape and taste of domperidone tablet and were packaged similarly. Primary outcomes defined were cure (abdominal pain less than 25 mm on the visual analogue scale and no impact on daily activities) and improvement (pain relief and sense of improvement recorded on global assessment scale). Secondary outcomes were significant improvement in symptoms, gastric motility, quality of life (QoL) and family impact. Both patients and investigators who assessed primary and secondary outcomes before and after intervention were blind to inventions administered. Symptom severity was recorded on a validated 100 mm visual analogue scale. Translated and validated PedQL Generic Score Scale version 4.0 and Family Impact Module were used. Gastric motility was assessed using a validated ultrasound method.

Results:

One hundred children were enrolled and 89 completed the trial [Placebo 42 (22 girls), Domperidone 47(33 girls)]. While comparing primary outcomes, domperidone group had significant improvement [37 (78.7%) vs. 25 (59.5%) in placebo group, p = 0.04], while no such difference was observed in cure. When assessing secondary outcomes, domperidone group reported significant reduction in abdominal pain severity (70.84% vs. 48.18% p = 0.03) and improvement in motility index (29.3% vs. 8.6% p = 0.04) after intervention. No such difference was seen in improvement of QoL and family impact (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Domperidone has a favorable therapeutic effect on improvement AP‐FGIDs in children aged 5–12 years. It causes significant reduction in abdominal pain and improvement in motility of the gastric antrum. However, it has no significant effect on improvement of QoL and family impact.
OP‐10 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF ENEMAS ADMINISTERED HIGH IN THE RECTUM FOR FECAL DISIMPACTION IN CHILDREN.
Authors: Landman M. , Groeneweg M.
Published: September 2015

Aim:

Efficacy and safety of enemas administered high in the rectum for fecal disimpaction in children was evaluated by a retrospective cohort study.

Methods:

Between January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2014 all procedures were evaluated. All enemas were administered, using a standardized in‐house protocol, so all procedures were performed in the same way. An enema high in the rectum was considered effective, if stool production exceeded the amount of stools that is regarded normal for the age and weight of the patient, and if the patient felt relieved after the production of stools.

A qualitative scale was used by the nursing staff to estimate the amount of stools produced by the patient (‘none’, ‘little’, ‘normal’, ‘many’). Stool consistency was scored, using Bristol Stool Scale. Total stool production within 12 hours after enema was scored. Literature review was performed on efficacy and safety of enemas high in the rectum.

Results:

N = 77 procedures were evaluated in which all data were documented. Enemas were administered in N = 75 children (36 girls/39 boys: mean age: 9.8 yr (3.6 ‐ 19)(range)). Fecal impaction was present, defined as: palpable mass in abdomen or in rectum and a history of low stool frequency. N = 25 children were treated with more than one enema during the studied period. 68 % of enemas were effective for acute disimpaction. In 30 (45%) procedures, many stools were evacuated, in 15 (23%) procedures the amount was normal; in 18 (27%) procedures there was little stool production and in 3 (5%) procedures no stools were produced. In N = 11 procedures the amount of stools produced was documented insufficiently. Procedure‐ related complications were not seen. In literature no data were found on the efficacy or on safety of enemas administered high up in the rectum. Literature shows equal efficacy of high dose (oral) macrogol as compared to standard rectal enemas (not high up).

Conclusions:

Enemas administered high up in the rectum are safe in all, and effective in a majority of patients for the management of fecal impaction in children. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate efficacy of enemas high up in the rectum as compared to high doses of macrogol for fecal disimpaction in children.
OP‐16 DIETARY INTERVENTION USING THE LOW FODMAP DIET VERSUS THE “MILK, EGG, WHEAT AND SOYA FREE” DIET FOR TREATMENT OF FUNCTIONAL GUT DISORDERS A SINGLE CENTRE EXPERIENCE
Authors: Keetarut K. , Kiparissi F. , McCartney S. , Murray C.
Published: September 2015

Introduction:

The adolescent clinic is a tertiary referral clinic including patients with a wide variety of complex gastroenterology conditions predominantly tertiary referrals fromGreat Ormond Street Hospital transition clinic. Purpose: To assess the benefit of the low FODMAP diet versus the “Milk, egg, wheat and soya” (MEWS) free diet for symptom control in patients with functional gut disorders and/or food allergy from June 2013 to June 2015.

Methods:

A total of 436 patients were seen during this time period for dietetic advice and the age range varied from 13–21 years old with 43terms of diagnosis used. These included the broad categories of inflammatory bowel disease, food allergy, functional gut conditions, congenital gut disorders, autoimmune disorders and oncology conditions. For functional gut disorders/food allergy there were 14 terms used which varied from “Functional gut disorder” to “Irritable bowel syndrome” and also included patients with delayed gastric emptying. For patients with food allergy the terms “multiple food allergy” or EosinophilicOesophagitis or Colitis were used. A total of 40 patients with functional gut disorders were referred for the MEWS or low FODMAP diet. The efficacy of the diet was measured using a symptom scale pre and post dietary intervention assessing if patients symptoms changed from nil/mild/moderate tosignificant. The results indicate whether the presenting predominant symptom e.g., bloating, constipation or abdominal pain improved following the dietary intervention.

Results:

A total of 29 patients were seen for the “MEWS” free diet.These were 17 functional, 3 food allergy, 6 IBS, 2 EosinophilicOesophagitis, 1 oncology patient. The age ranged from 14 to 21 and average ageat treatment was 16.6 years old with 11 males and 18 females. 13 patients were referred for the low FODMAP diet. The patients referred for the low FODMAP diet were 7 with a functional gut disorder, 5Irritable Bowel Syndrome and1 EosinophilicColitis. The age range was 14 to 19 years old with average age at treatment 16.3 years old. There were 6 males and 7 females. The success rate of the MEWS diet measured by reported significant improvement in predominant presenting symptom was 14/29 (48.2%),moderate 4/29 (13.7%) mild 2/29(6.9%) and 9/29 (31%) nil improvement. For the low fodmap diet 6/13 (46.1%) of patientsreported a significant improvement in symptoms,0/13 (0%) moderate,mild 2/13 (15.4%)and 5/13 (38.5%) had nil improvement.

Conclusions:

This review suggests that although there were larger referral rates for the MEWS diet both the MEWS and low FODMAP diet appear to beequally effective dietary approaches for treating patients with functional gut disorders and/or food allergy.
OP‐17 INFANT DYSCHEZIA IN SRI LANKAN CHILDREN
Authors: Hovenkamp Anne , Walter Hannah A.W. , Devanarayana Niranga M. , Rajindrajith Shaman , Benninga Marc A.
Published: September 2015

Objectives:

Little is known regarding functional gastrointestinal diseases in infants, especially in developing countries. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of infant dyschezia in relation to bowel habits and sociodemographic factors in a representative community sample in Sri Lanka.

Methods:

A multicentre cross‐sectional study was conducted among mothers of 0 ‐7‐month‐old infants, attending 14 growth monitoring and immunization clinics in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. A self‐administered questionnaire was used to determine gastrointestinal symptoms, the infant's bowel habits and sociodemographic characteristics for a total of 1004 infants. The questionnaire was translated to the native language (Sinhala) and pretested. Infant colic and infant dyschezia were diagnosed according to the Rome III criteria.

Results:

The prevalence of infant dyschezia in Sri Lanka was 4.3%. An infant was more likely to suffer from infant dyschezia if he or she was formula‐fed (9.6% vs. 7.8% in breast fed and 4.2% in those on additional foods, P = 0.025) or had a highly educated father (mean years of education 13.5 [SD 4.0] vs. 12.3 [SD 2.6] in unaffected children, P = 0.005). No significant association was found between infant dyschezia and age, sex, gestational age, birth order, birth weight, current weight, and presence of domestic violence (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Infant dyschezia is a significant health problem in Sri Lanka affecting approximately 4.3% of healthy infants. Infants with infant dyschezia are more likely to be formula‐fed and have a highly educated father.
OP‐21 QUALITY OF LIFE BEFORE AND AFTER BIOFEEDBACK TREATMENT IN MYELOMENINGOCELE PATIENT
Authors: Zubiri C. E , Bigliardi R , Miculan S , Nanfito G
Published: September 2015

Introduction:

Myelomeningocele is the most common birth defect that causes physical disability, causing fecal incontinence and thus preventing the social integration of these children and adolescents since they reach adulthood being incontinent.

Objective:

To improve the quality of life and manometric values after biofeedback therapy.

Method:

longitudinal, prospective, analytical and experimental study. The study includes children 5 to 15 years with myelomeningocele and fecal incontinence and their parents. After obtaining informed consent and assent, the PedsQMtm generic questionnaire was applied and anorectal manometry and initial biofeedback sessions were then conducted. After treatment completion, the questionnaire was applied again aforementioned. The analysis was done following the Student test and Fisher and Chi square.

Results:

A total of 17 patients aged between 5 and 15 years and their parents were included in the study. Initially all the patients presented fecal incontinence using diapers and did not use toilet.

Only 3 children requiring the use of wheelchairs to roam and 2 orthopedic equipment; the remaining 12 (70.6%) walked without any equipment.

After treatment, all patients improved their fecal incontinence and nine of them stop using diaper (P = 0,0005674). All started the use of the toilet (P = 0,0000001).

Comparing manometric results to begining and the end of treatment with biofeedback we improved voluntary contraction and sensitivity With a P value of 0.00002 and 0.004 respectively. With these results we can prove that there is relationship between biofeedback treatment and improvement in the sensivity and voluntary contraction.

As to test quality of life of children and parents at the beginning and end of treatment, statistically significant differences were observed. It follows from this analysis that there is an improvement in the quality of life for both children and parents after the treatment with biofeedback. But this improvement was most noticeable in the parents than children.

Conclusions:

Clinical improvement and manometry data provides highly significant values. The improvement in quality of life is more notable in the parents. Perhaps these children have developed strategies and stronger psychosocial skills than their parents, because they were born with the disorder and assume daily as such. Unlike parents who encounter this unexpected situation in their lives.
PP‐8 ESOPHAGEAL HIGH RESOLUTION MANOMETRY IN NEUROLOGICALLLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN AND GASTRO‐OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE
Authors: Turco R. , Ummarino D. , Miele E. , Terrone G. , Del Giudice E. , Staiano A.
Published: September 2015

Objectives:

Mechanism underlying the occurrence of Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in neurologically impaired children (NIC) is poorly understood. We sought to characterize, by Esophageal High Resolution Manometry (EHRM), alterations of esophageal motility associated with GERD in NIC and to compare with a group with a suspicion of GERD and normal psychomotor development (NDP).

Methods:

EHRM and multichannel intraluminal impedance/pH‐metry (MII/pH) were conducted in 7 NIC and 9 patients with suspicion of GERD and NPD. Esophagogastric junction relaxation (EGJr), the presence/pressure troughs of the oesophageal segments, the distal contractile integral adjusted for esophageal length (DCIa) and the pressurization frontal velocity (PFV) were analyzed by EHRM.

Results:

Three out of 7 NIC (42.8%) and 4 out of 9 patients with NPD (44.4%) resulted positive to MII/pH (p = 1). No statistical differences were observed for EGJr and PFV between NIC and NPD patients. DCIa was significantly lower in NIC subjects respect to NPD patients (p < 0.01). Comparing NIC with GERD and patients with GERD and NPD we found that third segment was absent in 2/3 (66,6 %) of NIC respect to NPD patients (p < 0.05) and that the third pressure trough was significantly lower in NIC respect to NPD patients (p < 0.05). There were no statistical differences with respect to the first and second pressure trough between NIC and NDP patients.

Conclusions:

NIC have esophageal motor dysfunction that can be detected by EHRM. Some esophageal manometric alterations could be predictive of GERD in NIC and could explain a different pathogenesis of GERD in NIC and in patients with NPD.
PP‐9 NORMAL VALUES OF 3D HIGH‐RESOLUTION ANORECTAL MANOMETRY IN CHIDREN
Authors: Banasiuk Marcin , Banaszkiewicz Aleksandra , Albrecht Piotr
Published: September 2015

Background and Aims:

3D high‐resolution anorectal manometry (3D HRAM) provides a 3D topographic image of pressure along the anal canal. The aim of the study was to determine normal values of 3D HRAM in children.

Methods:

Children without any symptoms arising from the lower gastrointestinal tract were prospectively enrolled in the study. Manometry procedures were performed using a rigid probe (Covidien/Medtronic, Ireland) without premedication. Pressure within the anal canal and 3D images of sphincters were measured. If possible, defecation dynamics and thresholds of sensation were evaluated. Data were expressed as the mean (±SD).

Results:

A total of 61 children (34 males; age: 2–17 years, mean: 8.28 years) were studied. The mean resting and squeeze sphincter pressures were 83.43 (±23.23) mmHg and 191 (±64.21) mmHg, respectively. The mean length of the anal canal was 2.62 (±0.68) cm and correlated with age (r = 0.49, p < 0.0001). The mean rectal balloon volume to elicit recto‐anal inhibitory reflex was 15.66 (±10.9) cc. The first sensation, urge and discomfort were observed at 24.42 (±23.98) cc, 45.91 (±34.55) cc and 91.58 (±50.17) cc of the balloon volume, respectively. The mean resting pressure of the puborectalis muscle was 71.54 (±14.58) mmHg while the mean squeeze pressure was 134.10 (±35.2) mmHg. A positive correlation between age and balloon volume needed to elicit discomfort was determined (r = 0.49, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Normative data of 3D HRAM in children without symptoms arising from the lower gastrointestinal tract were established. There were no significant differences in pressure results between males and females.
PP‐14 EFFECTS OF BODY MASS INDEX ON GASTRIC MOTILITY IN CHILDREN WITH ABDOMINAL PAIN‐PREDOMINANT FUNCTIONAL GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
Authors: Karunanayake Amaranath , Devanarayana Niranga Manjuri , Rajindrajith Shaman
Published: September 2015

Introduction:

There is evidence that overweight children have a higher prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) than normal‐weight children. Objective of this study was to assess the effects of body mass index (BMI) on gastric motility abnormalities in children with abdominal pain‐predominant FGIDs (AP‐FGIDs).

Methods:

Gastric motility parameters of 100 children with AP‐FGIDs (61(61%) girls, mean age 8.0 years [SD 2.1years] and 50 healthy controls (30 (30%) boys, mean age 8.6 years [SD 1.9 years]) were assessed at the Gastroenterology Research Laboratory of Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, using a previously validated ultrasound method. AP‐FGIDs were diagnosed using Rome III criteria. Fifty‐four had functional abdominal pain, 23 had irritable bowel syndromes, 9 had functional dyspepsia, 8 had abdominal migraine and 6 had more than one AP‐FGID.

Results:

Patients with AP‐FGIDs had significantly lower gastric emptying rate (44.9% vs. 59.5% in controls, p < 0.0001), frequency of antral contractions (8.29 vs. 9.44, p < 0.0001), amplitude of antral contraction (48.6% vs. 58.1%, p < 0.0001) and antral motility index (4.0 vs. 6.4, p = 0.001). Fasting antral size (FA) and antral area at 1minute (AA1) and antral area at 15 minutes (AA15) after ingestion of the liquid test meal were not significantly different. BMI of children with AP‐FGIDs and controls were respectively 15.2 and 15.6 (p = 0.42). The correlations between BMI and AA1 (r = 0.29, p = 0.007), AA15 (r = 0.32, p = 0.003) and MI (r = 0.22, p = 0.038) in children with AP‐FGIDs were significant. Patients with BMI <15Kg/m2 had a lower FA (1.5cm2 vs. 2.1cm2, p = 0.03), AA1 (8.9 cm2 vs. 10.7 cm2, p = 0.003) and AA15 (4.6 cm2 vs. 5.8 cm2, p = 0.01) than patients with BMI >15Kg/m2.

Conclusions:

BMI has an impact on certain gastric motility parameters in children with AP‐FGIDs. However, it does not contribute to abnormalities seen in main gastric motility parameters such as gastric emptying.
Arthroscopic Treatment of Septic Arthritis in Very Young Children
Authors: Thompson Rachel M. , Gourineni Prasad
Published: September 2015

Introduction:

Arthroscopic lavage is a well-established, minimally invasive treatment for septic arthritis (SA) in adults, but the use of arthroscopy in the pediatric population is typically restricted to sports injuries and deformity. Previous research on arthroscopic lavage of septic joints in the pediatric population has been limited to case reports and small case series of older children. As such, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of arthroscopic treatment of SA in various joints in very young children.

Methods:

Between 2011 and 2015, 24 children (aged 3 wk to 6 y) were treated for SA with arthroscopic lavage. A single portal was adequate for both inflow and outflow in most cases. A second portal was used in all knees and in other joints for synovectomy, when indicated. Drains were placed through the portal site and remained in place for 2 to 3 days. Antibiotics were managed by the infectious disease service.

Results:

Nine hips, 9 knees, 4 ankles, and 2 shoulders were included. Portal placement, visualization, and adequate lavage were straight forward in all joints. There was 1 transient femoral nerve palsy and no other arthroscopy-associated complications (iatrogenic damage, difficult drain placement, or conversion to open). Two patients required repeat arthroscopic lavage for disease eradication, one of which required a second admission. A third patient underwent open irrigation following arthroscopic lavage with a resultant 1.125 average procedures per subject. At final follow-up (2 to 49 mo, average 16 mo), no recurrence of infection or decreased range of motion was noted.

Conclusions:

Arthroscopic lavage appears to be a safe, quick, and effective alternative to open arthrotomy for the treatment of SA in very young children. It is feasible in any large joint even in the infantile population, allowing for improved visualization and irrigation with little soft-tissue dissection and morbidity. Our relatively simple technique and positive results should encourage regular use of arthroscopic treatment of SA even in very young children.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—case series.
Are meteotsunamis an underrated hazard?
Authors: Pattiaratchi Charitha B. , Wijeratne E. M. S.
Published: September 2015

Meteotsunamis are generated by meteorological events, particularly moving pressure disturbances due to squalls, thunderstorms, frontal passages and atmospheric gravity waves. Relatively small initial sea-level perturbations, of the order of a few centimetres, can increase significantly through multi-resonant phenomena to create destructive events through the superposition of different factors. The global occurrence of meteotsunamis and the different resonance phenomena leading to amplification of meteotsunamis are reviewed. Results from idealized numerical modelling and field measurements from southwest Australia are presented to highlight the relative importance of the different processes. It is shown that the main influence that leads to amplification of the initial disturbance is due to wave shoaling and topographic resonance. Although meteotsunamis are not catastrophic to the extent of major seismically induced basin-scale events, the temporal and spatial occurrence of meteotsunamis are higher than those of seismic tsunamis as the atmospheric disturbances responsible for the generation of meteotsunamis are more common. High-energy events occur only for very specific combinations of resonant effects. The rareness of such combinations is perhaps the main reason why destructive meteotsunamis are exceptional and observed only at a limited number of sites globally.
Paenibacillus faecis sp. nov., isolated from human faeces
Authors: Clermont Dominique , Gomard Maïté , Hamon Sylviane , Bonne Isabelle , Fernandez José-Carlos , Wheeler Richard , Malosse Christian , Chamot-Rooke Julia , Gribaldo Simonetta , Boneca Ivo Gomperts , Bizet Chantal
Published: September 2015

A spore-forming, rod-shaped Gram-strain-positive bacterium, strain 656.84T, was isolated from human faeces in 1984. It contained anteiso-C15 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acid, meso-diaminopimelic acid was found in the cell wall peptidoglycan, the polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and aminophospholipids as the major components, and the predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The DNA G+C content was 52.9 mol%. The results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies placed strain 656.84T within the genus Paenibacillus. Its closest phylogenetic relatives were Paenibacillus barengoltzii and Paenibacillus timonensis. Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain 656.84T and Paenibacillus timonensis CIP 108005T and Paenibacillus barengoltzii CIP 109354T were 17.3 % and 36.8 %, respectively, indicating that strain 656.84T represents a distinct species. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic results, strain 656.84T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus faecis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 656.84T ( = DSM 23593T = CIP 101062T).
Micromonospora nickelidurans sp. nov., isolated from soil from a nickel-mining site
Authors: Lin Yan Bing , Fan Miao Chun , Guo Yan Qing , Di Xiao Hui , Dong Dan Hong , Zhang Xing , Wei Ge Hong
Published: September 2015

An actinomycete, strain K55T, was isolated from a composite soil sample from a nickel mine, collected from Yueyang, Shaanxi Province, PR China. Strain K55T showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.73 %–98.51 % to species of the genus Micromonospora, including Micromonospora haikouensis 232617T, Micromonospora coxensis 2-30-b(28)T, Micromonospora wenchangensis 2602GPT1-05T, Micromonospora matsumotoense IMSNU 22003T, Micromonospora maoerensis NEAU-MES19T, and Micromonospora humi P0402T. This strain harboured meso-diaminopimelic acid, alanine and glycine as the major cell-wall amino acids, xylose and glucose as the characteristic whole-cell sugars, and iso-C15 : 0 (20.53 %),iso-C17 : 0 (12.74 %), iso-C16 : 0 (12.15 %), anteiso-C17 : 0 (7.97 %), C17 : 1ω8c (7.49 %) and C17 : 0 (6.63 %) as the dominant fatty acids. The major menaquinones were MK-10(H4) and MK-10(H6). The phospholipid profile comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol and unknown phosphoglycolipids. The DNA G+C content was 71.4 mol%. A comprehensive analysis of several physiological and biochemical traits and DNA–DNA relatedness indicated that strain K55T was different from closely related species. These phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic data suggest that strain K55T represents a novel species of the genus Micromonospora, for which the name Micromonospora nickelidurans sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is K55T ( = JCM 30559T = ACCC19713T).
A Serial Multiplex Immunogold Labeling Method for Identifying Peptidergic Neurons in Connectomes
Authors: Shahidi Réza , Williams Elizabeth A. , Conzelmann Markus , Asadulina Albina , Verasztó Csaba , Jasek Sanja , Bezares-Calderón Luis A. , Jékely Gáspár
Published: September 2015

Electron microscopy-based connectomics aims to comprehensively map synaptic connections in neural tissue. However, current approaches are limited in their capacity to directly assign molecular identities to neurons. Here, we use serial multiplex immunogold labeling (siGOLD) and serial-section transmission electron microscopy (ssTEM) to identify multiple peptidergic neurons in a connectome. The high immunogenicity of neuropeptides and their broad distribution along axons, allowed us to identify distinct neurons by immunolabeling small subsets of sections within larger series. We demonstrate the scalability of siGOLD by using 11 neuropeptide antibodies on a full-body larval ssTEM dataset of the annelidPlatynereis. We also reconstruct a peptidergic circuitry comprising the sensory nuchal organs, found by siGOLD to express pigment-dispersing factor, a circadian neuropeptide. Our approach enables the direct overlaying of chemical neuromodulatory maps onto synaptic connectomic maps in the study of nervous systems.
Crystal structure of 1-(5-bromo-1-benzofuran-2-yl)ethanone oxime
Authors: Krishnaswamy G. , Krishna Murthy P. , Nivedita Desai R. , Suchetan P. A. , Aruna Kumar D. B.
Published: September 2015

The title compound, C10H8BrNO2, is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation for the non-H atoms = 0.031 Å) and the conformation across the C=N bond istrans. Further, the O atom of the benzofuran ring issynto the N atom of the oxime group. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of O—H...N hydrogen bonds generateR22(6) loops. Very weak aromatic π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid separations = 3.9100 (12) and 3.9447 (12) Å] are also observed.
Crystal structure of 4-[(E)-(2-carbamothioylhydrazinylidene)methyl]benzoic acid
Authors: Tahir Muhammad Nawaz , Anwar-ul-Haq Muhammad , Choudhary Muhammad Aziz
Published: September 2015

The title compound, C9H9N3O2S, is close to planar with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.032 Å. An intramolecular N—H...N hydrogen bond closes anS(5) ring. In the crystal, molecules are connected into inversion dimers of theR22(8) type by pairs of O—H...O interactions. The dimers are further connected by pairs of N—H...S interactions, which also completeR22(8) ring motifs. The chains of dimers are cross-linked by N—H...O bonds and henceR42(28) rings are completed. Taken together, these interactions lead to infinite sheets propagating in the (122) plane.
Crystal structure of 2-(2,4-diphenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ylidene)acetonitrile
Authors: Priya K. , Saravanan K. , Kabilan S. , Selvanayagam S.
Published: September 2015

In the title 3-azabicyclononane derivative, C22H22N2, both the fused piperidine and cyclohexane rings adopt a chair conformation. The phenyl rings attached to the central azabicylononane fragment in an equatorial orientation are inclined to each other at 23.7 (1)°. The amino group is not involved in any hydrogen bonding, so the crystal packing is stabilized only by van der Waals forces.
Assessing organizational innovativeness – evidence from corporate narratives
Authors: Ackermann Malte Stefan , Stephan Michael , Penrose John M.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is twofold: to quantify the communication of organizational innovativeness (OI) on a large scale; and to examine the relationship of communicating OI and the corresponding investments in research and development (R & D) of multinational corporations (MNCs).

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 3,043 annual reports from 326 MNCs are examined utilizing quantitative content analysis, which focusses on fixed selected terminologies, in the years 1998-2008.

Findings

– Scholars assume that the capacity for OI is becoming the single most important task in organizational survival. Even though in the sample the investments in R & D are not increasing, even slightly declining, the communication of OI is increasing. Using mixed-effects regression analysis, the findings indicate that the corporations that are investing in R & D are also communicating these efforts correspondingly.

Practical implications

– This is the first study that measures the communication of OI using quantitative content analysis.

Originality/value

– The results indicate that not only do the communication efforts of an organization’s OI have a perceived increasing importance. They also suggest that OI itself has become more important for organizations from a strategic point of view.
Engaging employees in China
Authors: Men Linjuan Rita , Hung-Baesecke Chun-ju Flora
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Academics and professionals across management and communication fields have increasingly recognized significant contributions of engaged employees to organizations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of communication channels, and communication attributes of transparency and authenticity on employee engagement in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– A web survey was conducted with 407 employees randomly selected from a variety of medium-sized and large corporations in China.

Findings

– The study results show that face-to-face interactions and social media are the most effective channels in building organizational transparency, authenticity, and engaging employees in China. Organizational transparency and authenticity demonstrate strong positive effects on employee engagement. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Originality/value

– This study was among the first empirical attempts to examine the impact of corporate communication channels on employee engagement in China. It also contributes to the growing literature on corporate transparency and authenticity, two of the major communication trends identified in the twenty-first century.
It's not just a cup of “tea”: building consumer brand relationship
Authors: Kamath Renuka , Aggarwal Ashita
Published: September 2015

Subject area

Marketing management, brand management, brand loyalty, brand consumer behavior.

Study level/applicability

MBA program or the Executive Education program.

Case overview

Anubhav Jain, Marketing Head of Digamber Industries, is concerned about the national launch of Surya Gold tea. The brand had been doing well in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh, India) with almost 20 per cent market share. However, market reports suggested that retailers primarily pushed the brand and consumers had little loyalty for Surya Gold. Owing to lower repeat purchases, Jain had to spend large amount of money on consumer acquisition. For the national launch, a large base of loyal consumers was critical for business growth. He understood brand loyalty but found it a difficult proposition to relate from consumers' perspective. Market consultants were hired to conduct a qualitative research based on Susan Fournier's work on consumer-brand relationships. The case gives an account of conversations with professed lovers of tea to understand consumer behavior toward tea, including why people drink tea, how they choose their brands and what makes them re-buy or change brands. The case makes certain propositions around brand loyalty, which Jain had to decode to understand tea consumers in India, how brand loyalty develops and changes over time, and hence, how should he plan his marketing strategy. The case attempts to help students critique traditional definitions of brand loyalty, understand and evaluate the concept from consumers' perspective and highlight its importance in marketing strategy planning by explaining evolution, various types and intensity of brand loyalty.

Expected learning outcomes

The broad objective of the case is to strengthen participants' understanding of brand loyalty concept and also appreciate the importance and role of brands in consumer's life. The case can be used for MBA or executive education in brand management or consumer behavior courses. The specific objectives of this case are to help students appreciate the variations in brand loyalty across consumers and critically assess the traditional definition of loyalty, highlight the connection between the consumer personality and the brand attributes, help them understand how the concept of brand loyalty and brand relationship affects consumers' attitude and behavior, help students understand as to why brand loyalty develops and how it can be maintained and expose students to qualitative unstructured data and give them an experience of using it for managerial use.

Supplementary materials

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Moderating effect of environmental supply chain collaboration
Authors: Chen Yenming J. , Wu Yenchun Jim , Wu Tienhua
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how corporate environmental strategies, namely, environmental management strategy (EMS) and green product strategy (GPS), affect the competitiveness of a firm. In addition, this study investigates whether the environmental collaboration in supply chains (ECSC), namely, environmental collaboration with suppliers (ECS), and environmental collaboration with customers (ECC) moderate the environment-performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey methodology and regression modeling are adopted to assess the relationship between corporate environmental strategy and competitive performance of a company, including the moderating effects of ECSC.

Findings

– Competitiveness is positively affected by EMS and GPS. ECSC moderately affects the links among EMS, GPS, and competitiveness. Regarding the differences between the impacts of ECS and ECC on performance, only ECS acts as a moderator in the enhancement of EMS and GPS. Thus, ECS positively contributes to enhance competitive advantage. In contrast to perceptions, ECC directly improves firm competitiveness.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings support the understanding that the moderating role of ECSC may explain the conflicting results in environment-performance linkages. In particular, suppliers and customers could impact EMS and GPS in direct or interactive ways, or both, to enhance the performance of a firm.

Practical implications

– Significant performance improvements are influenced not only by the real environmental commitment of companies to internal green management but also by the positive relations of firms with their external cooperative capabilities in environmental relationships with chain partners.

Originality/value

– This research is the first to suggest and empirically test the moderating impacts of ECSC on the relationship between corporate environmental strategy and competitiveness.
Social capital and job search behaviour of long-term welfare recipients
Authors: Varekamp Inge , Knijn Trudie , van der Gaag Martin , Bos Peter
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Long-term welfare recipients in the Netherlands are either long-term unemployed or part-time employed in jobs that generate incomes below the subsistence level. The question is whether reintegration policies aiming at their return to – a fulltime – job should consider individual social network factors besides psychological and human capital factors. The purpose of this paper is to investigate welfare recipients’ job search behaviour, in particular how individual social capital is distributed, and whether it is related to job search activities.

Design/methodology/approach

– Standardised and structured interviews were conducted with 189 long-term unemployed welfare recipients. An adapted version of the Resource Generator instrument was used to measure individual access to social capital.

Findings

– Social capital scales measuring domestic social resources, status-related social resources, expert advice on regulations and financial matters, and advice on finding a job were developed and psychometrically tested. Status-related social resources were more easily accessible to men and higher educated persons. Advice on finding a job was more easily accessible to recently unemployed individuals. Domestic social resources were less accessible to ethnic minorities. Persons with more social capital, specifically status-related social resources and advice in finding a job, showed more active job search behaviour.

Social implications

– The differences in job search activities between respondents with more social capital and those with less social capital were present but to a small degree, and therefore there is no argument for reintegration activities to focus on enlarging social capital.

Originality/value

– This study addresses the instrumental functions of the social network by multidimensionally scrutinising the resources that social relationships provide access to.
Culture, religion and social capital: evidence from European regions
Authors: Kaasa Anneli
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible relationship of religion and culture with the social capital in a particular region.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data of 85 regions from 26 European countries are analysed. Regression analysis is used for analysing cultural dimensions, religion-related aspects and the communist past as possible factors of social capital components. In addition, graphic analysis is used for the generalisation of the results.

Findings

– The results from both the regression and graphic analyses indicate that cultural dimensions capture the possible reasons for different levels of social capital better than religion-related aspects or the division according to the communist background.

Research limitations/implications

– Conclusions can be drawn only for the European regions analysed. Data were not available for regions in all European countries and including control variables was limited by the data availability.

Practical implications

– When intending to develop policies for increasing social capital, the culture of a particular region should be assessed in order to predict the success of the policies.

Originality/value

– The novelty of this study lies in including cultural dimensions based on Hofstede’s concept to the set of possible factors determining the level of social capital in a region.
CSR in the Russian aviation industry: the winds of change
Authors: Belyaeva Zhanna
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The article outlines strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) ongoing progress in the aviation industry in Russia as well as its results.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper pinpoints some CSR techniques as a response to the drastic changes of the aviation business environment in Russia. The cases are related to four specific Russian airlines.

Findings

– The revealed paradox reads that passengers choose the cheapest, but the safest company, care for aviation effects on environment and spread all the failure stories faster with social media and networks. CSR in aviation seems to be the improvement driver ensuring stable passenger traffic if applied right. On the other hand, the irresponsible behaviour might cost too expensive in the long run.

Practical implications

– The paper illustrates some cases on the example of the Russian civic aviation CSR, which uncovers do’s and don’ts in applying CSR techniques in the industry.

Originality/value

– This article suggests how shared value-based strategic responsibility can become powerful risk-management tool for the progressive airlines.
Differential phagocytosis of Leishmania mexicana promastigotes and amastigotes by monocyte‐derived dendritic cells
Authors: Argueta‐Donohué Jesús , Wilkins‐Rodríguez Arturo A. , Aguirre‐García Magdalena , Gutiérrez‐Kobeh Laila
Published: September 2015

Leishmania species are dimorphic protozoan parasites that live and replicate in the gut of sand flies as promastigotes or in mammalian hosts as amastigotes. Different immune cells, including DCs, and receptors differ in their involvement in phagocytosis of promastigotes and amastigotes and in recognition of different Leishmania species. In the case of L. mexicana, differences in phagocytosis of promastigotes and amastigotes by DCs and participation of C‐type lectin receptors (CLRs) have not been established. In the present study, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy were used to investigate the phagocytosis by monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (moDCs) of L. mexicana promastigotes and amastigotes in the presence or absence of immune serum during various periods of time. Blocking antibodies against mannose receptors and DC‐SIGN were used to explore the participation of these receptors in the phagocytosis of L. mexicana by moDC. The major differences in interactions of L. mexicana promastigotes and amastigotes with moDC were found to occur within the first 3 hr, during which phagocytosis of promastigotes predominated as compared with opsonization of promastigotes and amastigotes. However, after 6 hr of incubation, opsonized promastigotes were preferentially phagocytosed as compared with unopsonized promastigotes and amastigotes and after 24 hr of incubation there were no differences in the phagocytosis of promastigotes and amastigotes. Finally, after 3 hr incubation, DC‐SIGN was involved in the phagocytosis of promastigotes, but not of amastigotes.
Early‐shared Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin sub‐strains induce Th1 cytokine production in vivo
Authors: Taniguchi Keiichi , Miyatake Yuuji , Hayashi Daisuke , Takami Atsuro , Itoh Saotomo , Yamamoto Saburo , Hida Shigeaki , Onozaki Kikuo , Takii Takemasa
Published: September 2015

Interleukin‐12 is one of the cytokines that induce acquired immunity by progressing the differentiation of T cells. When antigens are presented by APCs, including macrophages and DCs, T cells are activated and produce the Th1 cytokines IL‐2 and IFN‐γ. We have previously reported greater IL‐12 production from macrophages infected with early‐shared BCG sub‐strains (ex. BCG‐Japan, ‐Sweden) than from those infected with late‐shared BCG (ex. BCG‐Pasteur and ‐Connaught) . In this study, we investigated the Th1 cytokine‐inducing activity of splenocytes co‐cultured with BCG‐infected DCs. Early‐shared BCG‐infected DCs produced IL‐12 and TNF‐α⋅ Furthermore, when they were co‐cultured with purified protein derivative‐stimulated DCs, the splenocytes of mice immunized with BCG‐Tokyo/Japan produced more Th1 cytokine than did those of mice immunized with BCG‐Connaught. In conclusion, early‐shared BCG sub‐strains more strongly induce Th1 cytokine production in vivo. This study provides basic information to inform the selection of candidates for primary vaccination.
Age, oxidative stress exposure and fitness in a long‐lived seabird
Authors: Herborn Katherine A. , Daunt Francis , Heidinger Britt J. , Granroth‐Wilding Hanna M. V. , Burthe Sarah J. , Newell Mark A. , Monaghan Pat
Published: September 2015

The need to manage exposure to oxidative stress, which can damage macromolecules, is thought to influence the resolution of life‐history trade‐offs. Oxidative damage is expected to increase with age as a consequence of changes in the optimal investment in defences or repair, and/or because of senescence in antioxidant defence systems, although the pattern might differ between short and long‐lived species. However, data on age‐related changes in damage levels in wild populations are rare.

Using cross‐sectional and longitudinal data collected over 3 years, we examine variation in a measure of oxidative damage exposure in known age, wild European Shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), a relatively long lived species.

The cross‐sectional data showed a quadratic relationship between oxidative damage exposure and age: both relatively young and old adults had higher levels than those in middle age. In contrast, a measure of non‐enzymatic antioxidant levels did not vary with age.

The cross‐sectional increase in oxidative damage exposure in later life was consistent with longitudinal patterns observed within older birds (more than 10 years old).

However, the apparent decline in oxidative damage in early adulthood was not consistent with longitudinal patterns in younger birds, which showed individual variation but no consistent age‐related change in the marker. This suggests that cross‐sectional patterns reflect instead higher disappearance of individuals with high exposure to oxidative damage at this life stage.

Our data further show that oxidative damage levels are predictive of attendance at the colony in all age classes: juveniles fledging with a high damage exposure index were less likely to be resighted in the breeding colony 2 years later, and adults with high levels at the end of the breeding season had reduced return rates, irrespective of age. Since this is a species that shows high colony fidelity, this is likely to reflect mortality patterns.

These data suggest that exposure to oxidative damage increases with age in a long lived species, but only in later life, when high investment in reproduction at the cost of defence would be predicted.