bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The littering attitude scale (LAS)
Authors: Ojedokun Oluyinka 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
– Validated and reliable measure of littering attitude is lacking, therefore the purpose of this paper is to describe the development and psychometric evaluation of the littering attitude scale (LAS) as a new self-report measure to assess littering attitude.

Design/methodology/approach
– The internal consistency reliability and validity of LAS were investigated in a cross-sectional survey of 1,360 urban residents in a South-western State in Nigeria. Data were analysed using reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling.

Findings
– Item analysis and exploratory factor analysis suggested a 15-item scale with one general underlying factor. Reliability analysis score for the 15-item scale revealed a Cronbach α coefficient of 0.87. The scores of the LAS items indicated good internal consistency and construct validity consistent with the principles of scale development. The scale also showed a good fit in confirmatory factor analysis for the sample.

Research limitations/implications
– The aims of the study related to determining the validity, appropriateness, utility and feasibility of LAS were achieved. However, further studies should be done to validate the scale in other cultural settings.

Practical implications
– The findings suggested that LAS captures littering attitude and holds promise as a useful tool to conduct environmental audit by scholars, practitioners, and non-governmental organisations who are interested in the social and behavioural management of environmental quality.

Originality/value
– This is the first scale to measure littering attitude. The scale can be used by practitioners and researchers to conduct benchmarking studies on littering attitude.
Sustainable staff well-being within older adult mental health
Authors: Blagg Rosie , Petty Stephanie 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore how staff attend to their well-being when working in an inpatient mental health setting with older adults with dementia and complex mental health needs; how staff understand the link between their well-being and the well-being of patients.

Design/methodology/approach
– A semi-structured group interview was held with 11 members of two multidisciplinary teams. The discussion was audio-recorded and analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings
– Staff reported managing their well-being by both connecting with and avoiding the difficult emotions of the work. The team avoided the gravity of the work through humour, a task-focus, an absence of thinking and the displacement of workplace frustrations onto an outgroup. Connecting with emotions was done in tolerable ways: in contained reflective spaces, in the presence of supportive others, through genuine connections with patients as people and when the organisation demonstrated care for the staff.

Practical implications
– Avoidant strategies appeared to represent short-term ways of maintaining staff well-being, while connecting with the gravity of the work appeared to represent what we hope is a more sustainable approach to managing well-being. A crucial premise for staff well-being is teams embedded within organisations that care for their employees.

Originality/value
– Poor staff well-being can have serious consequences for an organisation, particularly in the existentially challenging environment of dementia care. This study offers a unique opportunity to explore staff well-being in a UK inpatient mental health setting with older adults with dementia and complex mental health needs.
Decision support system framework for performance based evaluation and ranking system of carry and forward agents
Authors: B Karthik , Raut Rakesh D , Kamble Sachin S , Kharat Manoj Govind , Kamble Sheetal Jaisingh 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present a research model that explore strategic outsourcing practices for sustainable competitive advantages. In this paper, a decision support system (DSS) for sustainable performance measurement of carry and forward agents (CFAs) is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach
– The importance of seven criteria as a means of selecting the best CFA for warehouses under the aspect of sustainable environment is analyzed. The criteria are compared and ranked using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with the combined assistance of literature review and expert opinions. This study makes use of unstructured interviews of Regional Distribution Manager and senior strategic leaders of the firms.

Findings
– This paper discusses how strategic outsourcing can help firm to achieve desired business outcomes. The selection of best CFA gives a direction to the company to move toward excellence and provides the key areas to work upon to achieve competitive advantage. The main contribution of this paper includes modeling the performance evaluation problem within the context of a sustainable supply chain based on triple bottom line (TBL) concept.

Research limitations/implications
– The identified selection criteria are bound with Indian transportation and logistics industry. Further, it is suggested to conduct a real-life application of this study to other companies from different countries, to obtain criteria based on globally acceptable norms. The results may yield the network-specific evaluation criteria and their evaluations.

Practical implications
– The developed excel-based tool could be used to record the inspection data, compare the CFAs and determine the best CFAs on the basis of selected criteria. With the help of this tool, CFAs know their position and ranking among all the CFAs and the focus areas they need to work upon to perform well. The training module could be used to keep the CFA staff on the right track which is very essential in a typical manufacturing industry warehouse. The improved performance of CFAs will in turn help to improve the manufacturing process, thus maximizing the gains along with environmental benefits.

Originality/value
– This paper provides a priority of sustainable issues for evaluating the performance of the best CFA. The paper presents a strategic outsourcing model, which suggest both theoretical and managerial implications showing how to implement successful outsourcing practices in the global market by analyzing the performance of outsourcing partners, i.e. CFAs.
Genetic Diversity and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Staphylococcus Aureus Isolated from Leaf Vegetables in Korea
Authors: Hong Jisoo , Kim Yangkyun , Kim Jonguk , Heu Sunggi , Kim Se‐ri , Kim Kwang‐Pyo , Roh Eunjung 
Published: May 2015

AbstractStaphylococcus aureus is an important foodborne pathogen on global basis. The current study investigated the genetic patterns in S. aureus isolates from leaf vegetables (n = 53). Additional isolates from livestock (n = 31) and humans (n = 27) were compared with the leaf vegetable isolates. Genes associated with toxins, antibiotic resistance, and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were analyzed. At least 1 enterotoxin‐encoding gene (sea, seb, sec, sed, and see) was detected in 11 of 53 (20.75%) leaf vegetable isolates. When the agr (accessory gene regulator) grouping was analyzed, agr II was the major group, whereas agr IV was not present in leaf vegetable isolates. All S. aureus isolates from leaf vegetables were resistant to more than one of the antibiotics tested. Nineteen of 53 (35.85%) isolates from leaf vegetables exhibited multidrug‐resistance, and 11 of these were MRSA (methicillin‐resistant S. aureus). A dendrogram displaying the composite types of S. aureus isolates from 3 origins was generated based on the combination of the toxin genes, agr genes, antibiotic resistance, and PFGE patterns. The isolates could be clustered into 8 major composite types. The genetic patterns of S. aureus isolates from leaf vegetables and humans were similar, whereas those from livestock had unique patterns. This suggests some S. aureus isolates from leaf vegetables to be of human origin.
Self‐reported adverse tattoo reactions: a New York City Central Park study
Authors: Brady Bobbi G. , Gold Heidi , Leger Elizabeth A. , Leger Marie C. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryBackgroundAlthough permanent tattoos are becoming increasingly commonplace, there is a paucity of epidemiological data on adverse tattoo reactions. Several European studies have indicated that tattoo reactions may be relatively common, although the extent of this phenomenon in the United States is largely unknown.ObjectivesTo provide insights into the prevalence and nature of adverse tattoo reactions.Patients/materials/methodsWe administered a survey about adverse tattoo reactions to 300 randomly selected tattooed people in Central Park, New York City.ResultsOf 300 participants, 31 (10.3%) reported experiencing an adverse tattoo reaction, 13 (4.3%) reported acute reactions, and 18 (6.0%) suffered from a chronic reaction involving a specific colour lasting for >4 months. Forty‐four per cent of colour‐specific reactions were to red ink, which was only slightly higher than the frequency of red ink in the sampled population (36%). Twenty‐five per cent of chronic reactions were to black ink, which was less than expected based on the number of respondents with black tattoos (90.3%). Study participants with chronic, colour‐specific reactions had more tattoo colours than those without reactions.ConclusionsThis study shows that tattoo reactions are relatively common, and that further investigation into the underlying causes is merited.
Pharmacokinetic characteristics of therapeutic antibodies
Authors: Wohlrab Johannes 
Published: May 2015

SummaryBecause of their high molecular weight and their highly hydrophilic character, therapeutic antibodies behave differently in terms of absorption, distribution and elimination compared to conventional drugs. Also, their pharmacokinetic profile varies significantly among individuals. After subcutaneous administration, antibodies are absorbed via the lymphatic system and become systemically bioavailable with some delay. The physicochemical properties of the molecules hinder their distribution from the bloodstream into the tissue. Elimination occurs by proteolysis in various organs (skin, muscle, liver), but mainly within the reticuloendothelial system. Also relevant is the elimination through target antigens (especially in the case of cell‐bound target antigens) as well as a recycling process through binding to the neonatal Fc receptor that provides protection from lysosomal degradation. Depending on the immunogenicity of the therapeutic antibody and the individual immune response, neutralizing antibodies can develop. Pharmacokinetic conditions can be optimized by coadministration of, for example, methotrexate. Moreover, risk factors for the loss of immunological tolerance, such as on‐demand therapy or elective switching of therapeutic antibodies, should be avoided.
Transthoracic and Three‐Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiographic Presentation of Anomalous Circumflex Origin from Right Coronary Artery in Patient with Severe Mitral Stenosis
Authors: Wierzbowska‐Drabik Karina , Peruga Jan Zbigniew , Lipiec Piotr , Michalski Błażej , Kasprzak Jarosław Damian 
Published: May 2015

Mini‐AbstractAn origin of the circumflex coronary artery (Cx) from the right coronary artery or right Valsalva sinus is usually clinically silent coronary anomaly. Nevertheless, retroaortic course of aberrant Cx involving mitro‐aortic continuity may become significant in the setting of mitral or aortic valve intervention, leading to compression of Cx and ischemic complication. For that reason, the early and accurate recognition of this anomaly is important and should be considered also during echocardiography. We described a man with severe mitral valve stenosis and anomalous Cx found during TEE on the base of detected “bleb sign” and retroaortic course of the artery.
Muscle strength: A better index of low physical performance than muscle mass in older adults
Authors: Kim Yeo Hyung , Kim Kwang‐Il , Paik Nam‐Jong , Kim Ki‐Woong , Jang Hak Chul , Lim Jae‐Young 
Published: May 2015

AimThe most appropriate muscle index for the definition of sarcopenia has not been agreed on. We aimed to investigate the associations of muscle mass and strength with 5‐year mortality and low physical performance.MethodsWe included 560 participants aged 65 years or older in the analysis. Muscle and fat mass were assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Leg muscle and grip strength were measured using dynamometers. The clinical outcomes were 5‐year mortality and low physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery score < 9) in 5 years. Associations between muscle indices and clinical outcomes were analyzed. A Cox proportional hazard model for mortality and a logistic regression model for physical performance were used.ResultsDecreases in leg muscle and grip strength were significantly associated with 5‐year mortality and low physical performance in both sexes. Total muscle mass in men and appendicular skeletal mass in both sexes were associated with mortality, but not with low physical performance. Lower leg muscle strength (OR 0.107; P = 0.020) was an independent predictor of low physical performance in women after adjusting for age, fat, cognition, and depression. Lower leg muscle (OR 0.123; P = 0.031) and lower grip strength (OR 0.950; P = 0.012) were independent predictors of low physical performance in men.ConclusionsMuscle strength is a better indicator of 5‐year adverse clinical outcomes of mortality and low physical performance than muscle mass. Muscle strength was an independent predictor of low physical performance in 5 years. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 577–585.
Aplasia cutis congenita: report of 22 cases
Authors: Mesrati Hela , Amouri Meriem , Chaaben Hend , Masmoudi Abdelrahmen , Boudaya Sonia , Turki Hamida 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundAplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a rare malformation characterized by absent or scarred areas of skin at birth. Although most commonly found on the scalp, ACC can also involve other locations. Its etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear.ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiologic, clinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects of ACC through a hospital series.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study from 1995 to 2012 and reported all cases of ACC.ResultsWe enrolled 22 cases (14 girls and eight boys) of ACC during 18 years. The mean age at diagnosis was 5.7 years. Sixteen ACC involved the scalp, five the trunk, and one the left buttock. ACC was oval‐shaped in 20 cases, triangular in one case, and linear in one case. The mean size was 4 cm. ACC was associated with bone defects in two cases, various malformations in eight (37.1%), and with syndromic malformation in three (Adams–Olivier syndrome: two cases; Goltz syndrome: one case). Conservative treatment consisting of wound dressing with vaseline was indicated in six cases. Bone reconstruction was performed in two cases. Regular follow‐up and no treatment was recommended in 14 cases.ConclusionOur study emphasizes the frequent association of ACC with malformations (37.1%) and bone defects (9%).
Criteria for assessing maturity of skulls in the common dolphin, Delphinus sp., from New Zealand waters
Authors: Jordan Friederike F. J. , Murphy Sinéad , Martinez Emmanuelle , Amiot Christophe , van Helden Anton , Stockin Karen A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractKnowledge about the maturity status of specimens included in evolutionary, taxonomic or life history investigations is fundamentally important. This study investigated the use of the degree of cranial suture fusion, the developmental status of cranial bones, and the degree of tooth wear as indicators for cranial maturity status in Delphinus sp. from New Zealand waters. In total, 15 sutures, one joint and three nonmetric characters were assessed on 66 skulls obtained from stranded and bycaught individuals sampled between 1932 and 2011. A suture index (SI) was computed based on 10 sutures, in which degree of fusion was correlated with age and the three misclassification indices (MI), calculated for a given suture, were <50%. In addition to these, five premaxilla‐maxilla fusion and seven tooth wear categories were assessed. Results suggest that New Zealand Delphinus sp. skulls should be regarded as cranially mature if at least two of the following criteria are met: (1) individuals assessed as sexually mature, (2) aged ≥ 11 yr, (3) SI ≥ 8, and (4) premaxilla‐maxilla fusion ≥ 75% of the length of the dorsal side of the rostrum. Presence of any number of rostral teeth worn to the gum line provided further evidence for cranial maturity.
High site fidelity, strong associations, and long‐term bonds: Short‐finned pilot whales off the island of Hawai‘i
Authors: Mahaffy Sabre D. , Baird Robin W. , McSweeney Daniel J. , Webster Daniel L. , Schorr Gregory S. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractStudies of short‐finned pilot whales suggest they travel in stable mixed‐sex groups composed of strongly associated individuals; however, temporal analyses of social structure are lacking. To examine site fidelity, association patterns, and temporal relationships, we analyzed data from 267 encounters of this species off the island of Hawai‘i from 2003 through 2007, identifying 448 distinctive individuals (68.1% seen more than once). About 72% of the whales were linked by association into a single social network, suggesting the possibility of multiple populations using the area. Sighting histories suggested that only some individuals exhibit high site fidelity. Individuals demonstrated preferential associations and community division was strongly supported by average‐linkage hierarchical cluster analysis of the association data. Nine longitudinally stable social units composed of key individuals and their constant companions were identified. Qualitative assignment of age and sex classes of unit members indicated that some segregation between adult males and female/calf pairs may occur. Temporal analyses of individuals encountered on the same day indicate stable long‐term associations. Differential patterns of residency and site fidelity were unexpected and may be indicative of multiple populations around the main Hawaiian Islands. The presence of a resident population demonstrating strong, long‐term site fidelity and associations off Hawai‘i Island may warrant special management considerations.
The growing evidence for the use of platelet‐rich plasma on diabetic chronic wounds: A review and a proposal for a new standard care
Authors: Picard Frédéric , Hersant Barbara , Bosc Romain , Meningaud Jean‐Paul 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTNonhealing chronic wounds and exposed tendons, bones and joints are very challenging to cure specially for diabetic patients. Plastic surgeons have a new weapon to enhance wound healing with the use of autologous growth factors. Recently, the process of fabrication of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) has been simplified. The goal of this literature review is to summarize the evidenced‐based body of knowledge regarding the treatment of diabetic chronic wounds by PRP. A PubMed and Cochrane search (1978–2015) was performed and all studies assessing the clinical effect of PRP on the healing of diabetic chronic wounds were included. The screening retrieved 7,555 articles and 12 studies were included. On six randomized studies included, five found significant benefits for the use of PRP on diabetic chronic foot ulcers and the sixth randomized study did not publish a statistical analysis but found favorable outcomes. The two other controlled studies included found significant benefits regarding the healing rate and the four uncontrolled studies included showed high rates of healing with the adjunction of PRP. Regarding the method of use, PRP was applied on the wound as a gel twice a week (41.7% of studies) or once a week (33.3% of studies). In conclusion, 87.5% of controlled studies found a significant benefit for the adjunction of PRP to treat chronic diabetic wounds. As PRP may be beneficial, we suggest using PRP on diabetic ulcers which remain unhealed after standard treatment.
Therapeutic Transcutaneous Immunization with a Band-Aid Vaccine Resolves Experimental Otitis Media
Authors: Novotny Laura A. , Clements John D. , Bakaletz Lauren O. 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) is a noninvasive strategy to induce protective immune responses. We describe TCI with a band-aid vaccine placed on the postauricular skin to exploit the unique organization of the stratum corneum and to promote the development of immune responses to resolve active experimental otitis media due to nontypeable
Haemophilus influenzae
(NTHI). This therapeutic immunization strategy induced significantly earlier resolution of middle ear fluid and rapid eradication of both planktonic and mucosal biofilm-resident NTHI within 7 days after receipt of the first immunizing band-aid vaccine. Efficacy was ascribed to the homing of immunogen-bearing cutaneous dendritic cells to the nasal-associated lymphoid tissue, induction of polyfunctional CD4
+
T cells, and the presence of immunogen-specific IgM and IgG within the middle ear. TCI using band-aid vaccines could expand the use of traditional parenteral preventative vaccines to include treatment of active otitis media, in addition to other diseases of the respiratory tract due to NTHI.
Impaired Antigen-Specific Immune Response to Vaccines in Children with Antibody Production Defects
Authors: Szczawinska-Poplonyk Aleksandra , Breborowicz Anna , Samara Husam , Ossowska Lidia , Dworacki Grzegorz 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

The impaired synthesis of antigen-specific antibodies, which is indispensable for an adaptive immune response to infections, is a fundamental pathomechanism that leads to clinical manifestations in children with antibody production defects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the synthesis of antigen-specific antibodies following immunization in relation to peripheral blood B cell subsets in young children with hypogammaglobulinemia. Twenty-two children, aged from 8 to 61 months, with a deficiency in one or more major immunoglobulin classes participated in the study. Postvaccination antibodies against tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus, and the capsular
Haemophilus influenzae
type b polysaccharide antigen were assessed along with an immunophenotypic evaluation of peripheral blood B lymph cell maturation. A deficiency of antibodies against the tetanus toxoid was assessed in 73% of cases and that against the diphtheria toxoid was assessed in 68% of cases, whereas a deficiency of antibodies against the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus was revealed in 59% of the children included in the study. A defective response to immunization with a conjugate vaccine with the
Haemophilus influenzae
type b polysaccharide antigen was demonstrated in 55% of hypogammaglobulinemic patients. Increased proportions of transitional B lymph cells and an accumulation of plasmablasts accompanied antibody deficiencies. The defective response to vaccine protein and polysaccharide antigens is a predominating disorder of humoral immunity in children with hypogammaglobulinemia and may result from a dysfunctional state of the cellular elements of the immune system.