bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Head Repositioning in Restoration of Electrophysiological Signals During Cervical Spine Procedures
Authors: Appel Shmuel , Korn Akiva , Biron Tali , Goldstein Kobi , Rand Nahshon , Millgram Michael , Floman Yizhar , Ashkenazi Ely 
Published: August 2016

Purpose:
To evaluate the frequency of loss of neurophysiological potentials during head positioning, the usefulness of head repositioning to restore the potentials, and the effect on neurological outcome.

Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed consecutive cervical spine surgeries performed at the Israel Spine Center, Assuta Medical Center, during 2006 to 2013. Surgeries performed with neuromonitoring (transcranial-electric motor evoked potentials, somatosensory evoked potentials, electromyographic recordings) were included. Demographic data, medical history, findings at neurological examination and imaging, electrophysiological data recorded during surgery, and neurological outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results:
Three hundred eighty-one patients met inclusion criteria. Loss of potentials detected in nine patients during patient positioning and repositioning was undertaken with the aim of restoring electrophysiological signals. In 5/9 patients, repositioning resulted in immediate reappearance of potentials; in 1/5, potentials were affected again during decompression. In 4/9, repositioning did not immediately restore electrophysiological signals; in ¼, potentials reappeared later during the decompression and in ¾, potentials had not recovered till the conclusion of surgery. There were new neurological deficits in 2/9, including one patient with loss of potential that was not restored with repositioning and the one in whom potential was restored but lost again during decompression.

Conclusions:
Intraoperative neuro monitoring is an efficient tool to alert the surgical team to potential neurological damage. Head reposition often restores the electrophysiological signals with possible prevention of impending sequelae.
Staphylococcus caprae native mitral valve infective endocarditis
Authors: Kwok T'ng Choong , Poyner Jennifer , Olson Ewan , Henriksen Peter , Koch Oliver 
Published: August 2016

Introduction:

Staphylococcus caprae is a rare cause of infective endocarditis. Here, we report a case involving the native mitral valve in the absence of an implantable cardiac electronic device.

Case presentation:
A 76-year-old man presented with a 2 week history of confusion and pyrexia. His past medical history included an open reduction and internal fixation of a humeral fracture 17 years previously, which remained non-united despite further revision 4 years later. There was no history of immunocompromise or farm-animal contact. Two sets of blood culture bottles, more than 12 h apart, were positive for S. caprae. Trans-thoracic echocardiography revealed a 1×1.2 cm vegetation on the mitral valve, with moderate mitral regurgitation. Due to ongoing confusion, he had a magnetic resonance imaging brain scan, which showed a subacute small vessel infarct consistent with a thromboembolic source. A humeral SPECT-CT (single-photon emission computerized tomography-computerized tomography) scan showed no clear evidence of acute osteomyelitis. Surgical vegetectomy and mitral-valve repair were considered to reduce the risk of further systemic embolism and progressive valve infection. However, the potential risks of surgery to this patient led to a decision to pursue a cure with antibiotic therapy alone. He remained well 3 months after discharge, with repeat echocardiography demonstrating a reduction in the size of the vegetation (0.9 cm).

Conclusion:
Management of this infection was challenging due to its rarity and its unclear progression, complicated by the dilemma surrounding surgical intervention in a patient with a complex medical background.
The Dichotomous Effects of Caffeine on Homologous Recombination in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Magwood Alissa C. , Mundia Maureen M. , Mosser Dick D. , Baker Mark D. 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTThis study was initiated to examine the effects of caffeine on the DNA damage response (DDR) and homologous recombination (HR). An initial 2 h exposure to 5 mM caffeine slowed a fraction of the cells in G1, but thereafter, continued caffeine exposure permitted this cell fraction to progress through the cycle until they eventually stalled at G2/M and underwent apoptosis. This prolonged caffeine exposure also induced a strong DDR along with subsequent activation of wild-type p53 protein. An unexpected observation was the caffeine-induced depletion of Rad51 (and Brca2) proteins. Consequently, caffeine-treated cells were expected to be inefficient in HR. However, a dichotomy in the HR response of cells to caffeine treatment was revealed. Caffeine treatment rendered cells significantly better at performing the nascent DNA synthesis that accompanies the early strand invasion steps of HR. Conversely, the increase in nascent DNA synthesis did not translate into a higher level of gene targeting events. Levels of Rad51 appear to be irrelevant. Thus, prolonged caffeine exposure stalls the cell cycle, induces a p53-mediated apoptotic response and a down-regulation of critical HR proteins, and stimulates early steps of HR, but not the formation of complete repair products.
Degradation of non-methylated DNA by MsPJI impairs its usefulness as epigenetic tool
Authors: Jerez María Belén , Juri Ayub Maximiliano 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTDNA treatment with sensitive and/or dependent restriction enzymes, followed by PCR amplification is a widely used approach for testing CpG methylation. Recently, MspJI has been characterized as a promisory tool for epigenetic analyses. In the present report, we describe that MspJI shows significant activity against non-methylated DNA, suggesting that additional caution and improvements would be required before applying this enzyme as a routine epigenetic tool.
Revealing unobserved factors underlying cortical activity using a rectified latent variable model applied to neural population recordings
Authors: Whiteway Matthew R. , Butts Daniel A. 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTThe activity of sensory cortical neurons is not only driven by external stimuli, but is also shaped by other sources of input to the cortex. Unlike external stimuli these other sources of input are challenging to experimentally control or even observe, and as a result contribute to variability of neuronal responses to sensory stimuli. However, such sources of input are likely not “noise”, and likely play an integral role in sensory cortex function. Here, we introduce the rectified latent variable model (RLVM) in order to identify these sources of input using simultaneously recorded cortical neuron populations. The RLVM is novel in that it employs non-negative (rectified) latent variables, and is able to be much less restrictive in the mathematical constraints on solutions due to the use an autoencoder neural network to initialize model parameters. We show the RLVM outperforms principal component analysis, factor analysis and independent component analysis across a variety of measures using simulated data. We then apply this model to the 2-photon imaging of hundreds of simultaneously recorded neurons in mouse primary somatosensory cortex during a tactile discrimination task. Across many experiments, the RLVM identifies latent variables related to both the tactile stimulation as well as non-stimulus aspects of the behavioral task, with a majority of activity explained by the latter. These results suggest that properly identifying such latent variables is necessary for a full understanding of sensory cortical function, and demonstrates novel methods for leveraging large population recordings to this end.
Disaster vulnerability of Emirati energy sector and barriers to enhance resilience
Authors: Pathirage Chaminda , Al-Khaili Khalifa 
Published: August 2016

Purpose
United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced various natural and man-made hazards. The energy sector dominates in the UAE and protection of this critical infrastructure against any impending hazards is important. The purpose of this paper is to examine the vulnerability of Emirati energy sector, explored barriers to enhance resilience and ways to overcome identified barriers.

Design/methodology/approach
Study followed case study research strategy and multiple case studies; three electricity generating power plant facilities – one in Abu Dhabi, one in Dubai and one in Sharjah were selected. Data collection involved a combination of a questionnaire survey and semi-structured face-to-face interviews. In total 42 questionnaire responses and nine interviews among Emirati energy sector employees were analyzed.

Findings
Results indicated terrorism, atmospheric and tectonic hazards as the three main risks of vulnerability within Emirati energy sector; whereas “lack of or absence of national government legislation” and “awareness and education” are revealed as the main barriers. Improving human resource management within Emirati energy sector through better awareness, training and practices is considered as a priority.

Research limitations/implications
It is argued that the vulnerabilities and barriers identified in this study can be applicable to Emirati energy sector in general, not just the case studies represented in the study.

Originality/value
The feedback from the members of the Emirati energy sector is indicative of the latent failures and urgent issues that need to be addressed; predominately those of training, education and awareness. Findings of this study may help UAE energy sector to be prepared and build resilience for future hazards.
Observing the NHS’s A&E performance objectives: is lean the cure?
Authors: Bancroft John , Saha Krish 
Published: August 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate England’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) portion of the National Health Service (NHS). This paper is based upon weekly published data from A&E trusts across England, spanning from November 2010 to December 2014.

Design/methodology/approach
Emphasis is placed on a number of variables; month (time of year), performance (patients seen in less than four hours), patient volume and exploring the relationship between these variables. A deductive approach has been selected as the most appropriate for this paper and the format of a correlational study. Lean will be discussed as a philosophy throughout this paper, as a means to improve the NHS.

Findings
The NHS’s success in reaching its 95 per cent performance objective has in a gradual downwards trend since the data started being published and the volume of patients seen in A&E is trending upwards. However, there is only a weak relationship between these variables, suggesting that peak in demand are effectively foretasted by the NHS and appropriate resources deployed to combat this. Additionally, there is a clear relationship between the time of year (month) and volume.

Research limitations/implications
The data used are not broken down and are aggregated from A&E departments across the NHS in England. Therefore, outliers could be present that impact the data and results. Should outliers exist, these should be targeted for improvement or to be learnt from, depending on their ranking.

Practical implications
Should the NHS continue with their Lean transformation, it is believed that efficiency will improvement throughout the organisation.

Social implications
Through the identification of volume trends better care and efficiency can be provided to patients visiting the A&E departments of the NHS.

Originality/value
This paper analyses data over the past four years which can be used to spot past trends and predict future trends, therefore smoothing the reliability and quality of the care offered to patients. This can be achieved through a Lean transformation and a flexible resourcing approach.
A Markovian-QFD approach in addressing the changing priorities of the customer needs
Authors: Asadabadi Mehdi Rajabi 
Published: August 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce a solution to the problem of changing priorities of customer needs (CNs) in quality function deployment (QFD). Customer preferences and priorities are not very stable and they may change before products are ready for the market. Therefore, finding CNs accurately is a key to reach a higher level of customer satisfaction through improving products.

Design/methodology/approachIn the proposed model, a Markov chain is employed to model the changing priorities of CNs. The Markov chain finds a pattern of future CNs, the main inputs of QFD. The QFD method is applied to translate CNs into product requirements (PRs). The analytic network process (ANP) is attached to QFD to ensure that all the relations among the elements, inner and outer, are taken into consideration during the translation process. Thus, CNs are received and adjusted by a Markov chain.

FindingsThe application of Markov chains for an ANP-QFD model develops an adequate method of finding a pattern of changing priorities of CNs. This pattern enables the ANP-QFD method to work independent of the initial CNs, and originates a Markovain ANP-QFD.

Originality/valueThis study originates a stochastic ANP-QFD model. There have been several papers employing various tools and techniques such as the ANP or analytic hierarchy process for QFD to find accurate relations between PRs and CNs. While there are a few papers applying Markov chains to predict the future of the relations of QFD, there is no study which traces the changes in priorities of the CNs during the improvement process. This is addressed by applying a Markovian ANP-QFD. The model is validated through a case study.
Implementing capabilities-based quality management and marketing strategies to improve business performance
Authors: Mehra Satish , Coleman Joshua T. 
Published: August 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the impact of successfully coordinating infrastructural capabilities, such as technology, and structural capabilities, such as people, on the performance of service businesses. Effective coordination of these two types of capabilities is shown to impact the implementation of quality management practices and the design of marketing strategy, both of which when utilized properly, lead to enhanced organizational performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors surveyed retail banking firms for this study to analyze empirical data on infrastructural and structural capabilities. Results were corroborated on the basis of in-depth interviews with several banking managers to provide real world verification of the findings.FindingsResults indicate that both infrastructural and structural capabilities positively impact the design of marketing strategy, while only structural capabilities impact the implementation of quality management practices. Both, successfully implemented quality management ideals and a well-designed marketing strategy, are shown to enhance overall organizational performance.Research limitations/implicationsResearch was conducted on a specific sector of the service industry, the banking sector. Also, the relatively small size of the study sample may have impacted the outcome of research applicability in some large businesses. Continuously emerging financial regulations could not be incorporated in the study. On the positive side, strong managerial feedback provides guidance toward adopting the study results, and lays the foundation for future research.Originality/valueAs today’s rapidly evolving society pushes people out of service encounters, replacing them with efficient and cost-saving technology, roles of both the people and the technology in an organization must be fully understood. This paper shows that, despite the exponential growth of technological innovation, both people and technology are critical to enhancing organizational performance through sound quality management practices and supportive marketing strategies.
Promoting safety participation through diversity and inclusion climates
Authors: Paolillo Anna , Silva Silvia A. , Pasini Margherita 
Published: August 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of diversity climate and inclusion climate on safety participation behaviors through the mediating effect of the motivation to actively promote safety at work.Design/methodology/approachParticipants were 491 workers employed in four Italian metal-mechanical companies. They completed a paper questionnaire containing measures of psychological diversity climate, psychological inclusion climate, safety motivation participation and safety participation behaviors. Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling.FindingsResults showed that safety participation motivation fully mediates the relationship between diversity climate and safety participation behaviors, whereas it partially mediates the relationship between climate for inclusion and safety participation behaviors.Practical implicationsThe present findings can help managers to motivate employees in pursuing safety goals independently of compensation or obligation by creating an organization in which the main concern is caring for each other’s well-being.Originality/valueThis is the first study which has empirically tested the relationships between diversity climate, inclusion climate and safety behaviors. It has extended previous research which simply tested the effects of objective types of diversity on safety performance.
A multi-agent based system with big data processing for enhanced supply chain agility
Authors: Giannakis Mihalis , Louis Michalis 
Published: August 2016

Purpose
Decision support systems are becoming an indispensable tool for managing complex supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to develop a multi-agent-based supply chain management system that incorporates big data analytics that can exert autonomous corrective control actions. The effects of the system on supply chain agility are explored.

Design/methodology/approach
For the development of the architecture of the system, a sequential approach is adopted. First three fundamental dimensions of supply chain agility are identified – responsiveness, flexibility and speed. Then the organisational design of the system is developed. The roles for each of the agents within the framework are defined and the interactions among these agents are modelled.

Findings
Applications of the model are discussed, to show how the proposed model can potentially provide enhanced levels in each of the dimensions of supply chain agility.

Research limitations/implications
The study shows how the multi-agent systems can assist to overcome the trade-off between supply chain agility and complexity of global supply chains. It also opens up a new research agenda for incorporation of big data and semantic web applications for the design of supply chain information systems.

Practical implications
The proposed information system provides integrated capabilities for production, supply chain event and disruption risk management under a collaborative basis.

Originality/value
A novel aspect in the design of multi-agent systems is introduced for inter-organisational processes, which incorporates semantic web information and a big data ontology in the agent society.
So that’s what the impact of IT innovation looks like? Examining the socio-technical dynamics of public service innovation
Authors: Carroll Noel 
Published: August 2016

PurposeServices comprise of socio-technical (human and technological) factors which exchange various resources and competencies. Service networks are used to transfer resources and competencies, yet they remain an underexplored and “invisible” infrastructure. Considering the growth in technological investment in recent years, this research sets out to model the impact of IT-enabled innovation on a service network. In response to the growing importance placed on understanding these complexities, the field of “service science” has emerged to guide the effective design, implementation, and management of service systems. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of introducing an IT-enabled innovation in a public service network.Design/methodology/approachThis is achieved through a case study of an Exam Administration Service Department (EASD) where an electronic grading system was introduced to improve the EASD grading process. Data are analysed using both actor-network theory (ANT) as a theoretical lens and social network analysis (SNA) for empirical purposes to visualise the impact of IT-enabled innovation on a service environment.FindingsThe research described in this paper makes a useful contribution to the service science and IT innovation community both in terms of its topic (public service networks) and in terms of its theoretical framework and application methods (ANT and SNA).Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates how we can investigate the impact of IT-enabled innovation within a service network. Most notably, the application of SNA enables us to visualise the impact of technology and gain insights on the socio-technical dynamics associated with introducing service innovations.
Restriction site associated DNA (RAD) for de novo sequencing and marker discovery in sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fab. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)
Authors: Pavinato V. A. C. , Margarido G. R. A. , Wijeratne A. J. , Wijeratne S. , Meulia T. , Souza A. P. , Michel A. P. , Zucchi M. I. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe present the development of a genomic library using RADseq (restriction site associated DNA sequencing) protocol for marker discovery that can be applied on evolutionary studies of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis, an important South American insect pest. A RADtag protocol combined with Illumina paired‐end sequencing allowed de novo discovery of 12 811 SNPs and a high‐quality assembly of 122.8M paired‐end reads from six individuals, representing 40 Gb of sequencing data. Approximately 1.7 Mb of the sugarcane borer genome distributed over 5289 minicontigs were obtained upon assembly of second reads from first reads RADtag loci where at least one SNP was discovered and genotyped. Minicontig lengths ranged from 200 to 611 bp and were used for functional annotation and microsatellite discovery. These markers will be used in future studies to understand gene flow and adaptation to host plants and control tactics.
Comparative Characterization of the External Genitalia and Reproductive Tubular Organs of Three Species of the Genus Saimiri Voigt, 1831 (Primates: Cebidae)
Authors: Lopes G. P. , Brito A. B. , Paim F. P. , Santos R. R. , Queiroz H. L. , Domingues S. F. S. 
Published: August 2016

SummaryMorphological information on the reproductive system allows the understanding of ecological and behavioural aspects of different species as well as supports the development of conservational strategies. Unfortunately, for many species, not enough relevant and precise information is available. In the present study, we describe for the first time the macroscopic and histological aspects of female genital organs and external female genitalia of Saimiri macrodon, Saimiri cassiquiarensis and Saimiri vanzolinii. We perform a comparison between these three peripatric species and investigate the possibility of their reproductive morphology to act as a factor of reproductive isolation. We have found that these species share many similarities in most of the analysed organs. Although some important differences were identified that may play an important role in the evolution of the components of the reproductive system of these species, those differences are not enough to compose a mechanism of reproductive isolation for these three species of Saimiri. The results of this study may be used to support the development of biotechnological approaches of reproduction and strategies for conservation programmes and management of threatened species of this genus, particularly S. vanzolinii, considered to be a vulnerable species to extinction.