bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enteric viral infections as potential risk factors for intussusception
Authors: Mansour Adel M , El Koutby Montasser , El Barbary Mohamed M , Mohamed Wissam , Shehata Sameh , El Mohammady Hanan , Mostafa Manal , Riddle Mark S , Sebeny Peter J , Young Sylvia Y.N. , Abdel-Messih Ibrahim 
Published: January 2013

Introduction: We aimed to identify potential risk factors for intussusception (ISS) among children presenting to two pediatric hospitals in Egypt. Methodology: In this case-control study, enrolled children < 3 years old with ISS (confirmed radiologically and/or surgically) were matched by age and gender to controls admitted with acute non-abdominal surgical illnesses. Stool samples were collected and tested for various enteric bacteria, rotavirus, enteric adenoviruses (EA, 40 and 41) and astroviruses using commercially available ELISA diagnostic kits. Results: From December 2004 to May 2009, 158 cases and 425 matched controls were enrolled. A history of diarrhoea and cough over the preceding four weeks of interview were more common in cases than controls, respectively. Children with mothers who had secondary education and above were 2.2 times more likely to have ISS than those whose mothers had a lower level of education. In spite of the low detection rate of EA infection (regardless of diarrhoea history) and asymptomatic rotavirus infection, they were detected in higher frequencies in cases than controls; however, infection with astrovirus and bacterial pathogens did not appear to be associated with increased risk of ISS. Conclusions: History of diarrhoea and cough over the four weeks preceding the study and maternal education above secondary level were potential risk factors for ISS. EA and asymptomatic rotavirus infection were detected in higher frequencies among cases than controls; however, association with ISS cannot be confirmed. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings and evaluate the pathogenesis which may link such infections with ISS.
Evidence of arbovirus co-infection in suspected febrile malaria and typhoid patients in Nigeria
Authors: Baba Marycelin , Logue Christopher Hugh , Oderinde Bamidele , Abdulmaleek Hauwa , Williams Joshua , Lewis James , Laws Thomas R , Hewson Roger , Marcello Alessandro , D' Agaro Pierlanfranco 
Published: January 2013

Introduction: Clinical symptoms of malaria and typhoid infections are virtually indistinguishable from those initially seen in many arbovirus infections. Here we describe arbovirus co-infection detected in 310 sera samples collected from febrile, clinically suspected malaria/typhoid patients in Borno State, Nigeria. Methodology: Tested initially for Plasmodium falciparum by microscopy and for Salmonella Typhi by Widal test, samples were subsequently tested for chikungunya (CHIKV), yellow fever (YFV), dengue (DENV) and West Nile viruses (WNV) by plaque reduction neutralization test. Results: While 92% of patients tested positive for malaria, typhoid, an arbovirus infection, or a combination of one or more of these types of infections, less than 1% of the patients tested positive for malaria alone and only 3.9% tested positive for typhoid alone. Approximately half of the patients tested positive for infection with a single arbovirus (48%) regardless of the presence or absence of malaria or typhoid. Of those who showed 90% to 95% virus neutralization, 67.7% had neutralizing antibodies against DENV, 50% against CHIKV, 25% against WNV and 8.7% against YFV. Eight per cent tested negative against all six pathogens, suggesting that other arboviruses not tested for in this study may also be circulating in Nigeria. Conclusions: The results suggest that misdiagnosis of arbovirus co-infections as malaria infections, combined with a lack of virus surveillance and underreporting of arbovirus infections, increases the potential for undetected and uncontrolled spread of important vector-borne arboviruses becoming serious underlying public health concerns in Nigeria.
Prolonged Apoptotic Cell Accumulation in Germinal Centers of Mer-Deficient Mice Causes Elevated B Cell and CD4+ Th Cell Responses Leading to Autoantibody Production
Authors: Khan Tahsin N. , Wong Eric B. , Soni Chetna , Rahman Ziaur S. M. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractMer receptor tyrosine kinase is a member of the Tyro-3/Axl/Mer (TAM) subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases, and its expression on phagocytes facilitates their clearance of apoptotic cells (ACs). Mer expression in germinal centers (GCs) occurs predominantly on tingible body macrophages. B and T cells do not express Mer. In this study, we show that Mer deficiency ((Mer−/−) resulted in the long-term accumulation of ACs primarily in GCs and not in the T cell zone, marginal zone, or red pulp areas of the spleen. AC accumulation in GCs led to augmented Ab-forming cell, GC, and IgG2 Ab responses in Mer−/− mice, which were sustained for at least 80 d. Enhanced responses in Mer−/− mice were due to increased activation and proliferation of B cells and CD4+ Th cells, including follicular helper T cells, which resulted in high titers of anti-nuclear Abs in Mer−/− mice compared with wild-type controls. Secondary IgG-producing Ab-forming cell, total IgG, and IgG2 Ab responses were also increased in Mer−/− mice. Finally, compared with wild-type controls, Mer−/− mice had increased percentage of IFN-γ–producing CD4+ Th cells and elevated levels of Th1 (i.e., IL-2 and IFN-γ) and proinflammatory (i.e., TNF and IL-6) cytokines, consistent with elevated levels of Th1-biased IgG2 Abs in Mer−/− mice. Together, our results demonstrate that Mer deficiency induces prolonged accumulation of ACs in GCs, resulting in dysregulation of GC B cell and CD4+ Th cell responses and Th1 cytokine production, leading to alteration of B cell tolerance and the development of autoantibodies.
An Unbiased Genome-Wide Mycobacterium tuberculosis Gene Expression Approach To Discover Antigens Targeted by Human T Cells Expressed during Pulmonary Infection
Authors: Commandeur Susanna , van Meijgaarden Krista E. , Prins Corine , Pichugin Alexander V. , Dijkman Karin , van den Eeden Susan J. F. , Friggen Annemieke H. , Franken Kees L. M. C. , Dolganov Gregory , Kramnik Igor , Schoolnik Gary K. , Oftung Fredrik , Korsvold Gro Ellen , Geluk Annemieke , Ottenhoff Tom H. M. 
Published: January 2013

Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for almost 2 million deaths annually. Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin, the only vaccine available against tuberculosis (TB), induces highly variable protection against TB, and better TB vaccines are urgently needed. A prerequisite for candidate vaccine Ags is that they are immunogenic and expressed by M. tuberculosis during infection of the primary target organ, that is, the lungs of susceptible individuals. In search of new TB vaccine candidate Ags, we have used a genome-wide, unbiased Ag discovery approach to investigate the in vivo expression of 2170 M. tuberculosis genes during M. tuberculosis infection in the lungs of mice. Four genetically related but distinct mouse strains were studied, representing a spectrum of TB susceptibility controlled by the supersusceptibility to TB 1 locus. We used stringent selection approaches to select in vivo–expressed M. tuberculosis (IVE-TB) genes and analyzed their expression patterns in distinct disease phenotypes such as necrosis and granuloma formation. To study the vaccine potential of these proteins, we analyzed their immunogenicity. Several M. tuberculosis proteins were recognized by immune cells from tuberculin skin test-positive, ESAT6/CFP10-responsive individuals, indicating that these Ags are presented during natural M. tuberculosis infection. Furthermore, TB patients also showed responses toward IVE-TB Ags, albeit lower than tuberculin skin test-positive, ESAT6/CFP10-responsive individuals. Finally, IVE-TB Ags induced strong IFN-γ+/TNF-α+ CD8+ and TNF-α+/IL-2+ CD154+/CD4+ T cell responses in PBMC from long-term latently M. tuberculosis–infected individuals. In conclusion, these IVE-TB Ags are expressed during pulmonary infection in vivo, are immunogenic, induce strong T cell responses in long-term latently M. tuberculosis–infected individuals, and may therefore represent attractive Ags for new TB vaccines.
Organizational resilience: A conceptual integrative framework
Authors: Kantur Deniz , İşeri-Say Arzu 
Published: January 2013

AbstractIncreasingly chaotic business environments of today demand organizations to be more resilient. While the concept of resilience is widely discussed in disaster (e.g., Wildavsky, 1991) and crisis management literatures (e.g., Manyena, 2006), the literature on organizational resilience is developing disjointedly in organizational studies. The literature review suggests that some factors that are suggested in the literature as components of organizational resilience are sources contributing to the emergence of resilience in organizations. This study proposes an integrative framework for organizational resilience and introduces a new outcome concept of organizational evolvability, emphasizing the heightened sensitivity and increased wisdom of the post-event organization. In this model, sources of organizational resilience are categorized as perceptual stance, contextual integrity, strategic capacity and strategic acting, and organizational resilience leads to organizational evolvability as its outcome. The proposed organizational resilience framework attempts to provide a synthesis of the divergent literature on resilience and aims to strengthen organizational resilience research for richer theoretical and empirical progress.
Look up, look around: Is there anything different about team-level OCB in China?
Authors: Mo Shenjiang , Wang Zhongming , Akrivou Kleio , Booth Simon A 
Published: January 2013

AbstractEthical leadership has been widely identified as the key variable in enhancing team-level organizational citizenship behavior (team-level OCB) in western economic and business contexts. This is challenged by empirical evidence in China and findings of this study. Our study examined the relationship between ethical leadership, organizational ethical context (ethical culture and corporate ethical values) and team-level OCB. Team-level data has been collected from 57 functional teams in 57 firms operating in China. The findings suggest that although ethical leadership is positively associated with team-level OCB, ethical context positively moderates the relationship between ethical leadership and team-level OCB. The higher ethical context is found to be, the greater is the (positive) effects of ethical leadership on team-level OCB and the opposite holds true when ethical context is low. Key implications are discussed on the role of contextual ethics for team-level OCB, while managerial implications include how non-Chinese firms could improve team-level OCB in the Chinese business context.
The role of strategic alliances in complementing firm capabilities
Authors: Rice John , Liao Tung-Shan , Martin Nigel , Galvin Peter 
Published: January 2013

AbstractStrategic alliance research emerged to explain alliance formation based upon transaction cost minimisation and opportunism reduction. Later research, and early research from Japan, emphasised the role of alliances in facilitating the transfer of knowledge between organisations. Most recently, alliance research has focussed on the development of shared, potentially idiosyncratic, resource stocks. This paper builds on this recent research, testing the proposition that alliances are important vehicles allowing firms to access or acquire external resources, hence shoring up capability gaps and building new capabilities as required during firm, product and industry life cycles. Using a sample from Australian manufacturing small-and-medium-sized enterprises, the paper reveals that alliances employed by firms can be viewed as initiatives to either fill a gap in the firm's resource stock or to exploit a perceived opportunity in its operational and strategic environment.
Thermodilution versus Saline Dilution Method for Vascular Access Blood Flow Measurement in High-Flux and On-Line Hemodiafiltration
Authors: Fontseré Néstor , Maduell Francisco , Blasco Miquel , Vera Manel , Arias Marta , Mestres Gaspar , Bermudez Patricia , Campistol Josep M. 
Published: January 2013

Purpose Access blood flow (Qa) measurements are one of the most important components in vascular access monitoring programs, even though these indirect methods have only been validated with high-flux hemodialysis (HF; pump flow [Qb] 300 mL/min). This study was to assess the utility from thermodilution (BTM) with respect to the saline dilution method (SDM) in HF and on-line hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) with routinely prescribed parameters in comparison with validation conditions. Methods Three consecutive sessions were assessed in 31 hemodialysis patients (27AVF). The Bland-Altman method and Lin's concordance coefficient (ρc) were used to study accuracy and precision. We used the student t test for the analysis of Qa-value in the different subgroups. Results In HF-hemodialysis 1 (Qb 300 mL/min), Qa was 1109 ± 541 mL/min SDMa and 1213 ± 639 mL/min BTM (P=.993a; bias 103.7 mL/min and ρc 0.78). In HF-hemodialysis 2 (Qb 420 mL/min) Qa 1071 ± 578 mL/min SDM (P=1.0a; -38.2 mL/min and 0.96) and 1216 ± 667 mL/min BTM (P=.992a; 127.3 mL/min and 0.70). In OL-HDF hemodialysis 3 (Qb 420 mL/min) Qa 1071 ± 510 mL/min SDM (P=1.0a; -48.4 mL/min and 0.96) and 1219 ± 580 mL/min BTM (P=.977a; 99.2 mL/min and 0.75). Statistically significant differences were only obtained in patients aged ≥ 65 years old (P=.016) and peripheral vascular disease (P=.007). Conclusions Our results demonstrate how the saline dilution method was more accurate than thermodilution in the HF and OL-HDF modalities with routinely prescribed parameters. Finally, in this study, advanced age (>65 years old) and peripheral vascular disease were associated with a significantly lower Qa-value.
Conceptualisation de l’internationalisation des PME
Authors: Ramadan Maarouf , Levratto Nadine 
Published: January 2013

Alors que la mondialisation pousse les entreprises et les États à construire leur croissance en dehors du cadre national, cet article vise à mettre en évidence les modalités de l’internationalisation des PME libanaises. À partir des analyses théoriques de cette question proposées par la théorie incrémentale (Uppsala), la théorie des réseaux et la théorie économique (IDE), est construit un protocole d’enquête permettant d’apprécier les modalités d’insertion d’un échantillon de PME dans les échanges internationaux. Nous montrons que les formes d’internationalisation observées sont diversifiées sur le plan des modalités et des stratégies mises en oeuvre. La section 1 propose une revue de littérature sur les trois théories de l’internationalisation qui conditionnent le questionnement empirique. La section 2 décrit le contexte libanais qui sert de toile de fond à l’analyse factuelle à partir duquel nous construisons un cadre conceptuel de l’internationalisation des PME. La section 3 présente les résultats ainsi qu’une discussion.
Motivation entrepreneuriale et logique d’action du créateur
Authors: Estay Christophe , Durrieu François , Diop Pape Madické 
Published: January 2013

L’objet de cette recherche est de faire émerger les ressorts de la motivation entrepreneuriale et de repérer les logiques d’action des créateurs d’entreprise (projets) associées à chaque dimension de cette attitude. Plus précisément, l’étude vise à répondre aux deux questions suivantes : Quels sont les besoins et leur intensité à l’origine de la création d’entreprise ? Et dans quelle mesure la motivation entrepreneuriale influence-t-elle les projets des entrepreneurs ?
À partir des questionnaires à l’attention de chefs d’entreprises nouvellement installés, nous recherchons les ressorts de la motivation entrepreneuriale (besoins et intensité de ces derniers), ses antécédents et les logiquesd’action du créateur (imitation, innovation-aventure, reproduction et innovation-valorisation). Cette étude s’appuie sur un cadre théorique issu de recherches sur la motivation et l’entrepreneuriat. Une série de relations de causalité est retenue puis testée. L’analyse permet de tirer un ensemble de conclusions sur la motivation entrepreneuriale.
Les chemins de la motivation nous conduisent à des logiques d’action liées à des projets innovants et éclairent le phénomène de reproduction (ou mimétisme) que l’on observe parfois chez les créateurs d’entreprise. À l’origine, on relève des objectifs de développement et d’indépendance. Dans le premier cas, le créateur espère que son entreprise lui apportera des résultats tangibles sur les plans financier et matériel. Dans le second cas, l’entrepreneur est conscient que son projet lui demandera de s’investir de façon autonome sur l’ensemble des dimensions de son entreprise (gestion, commercialisation, etc.). Sur le chemin de la logique d’action de valorisation, on retrouve la non-aversion pour le risque, l’exploitation d’un contexte porteur conjuguée à une maîtrise des compétences et à un besoin de créativité. Ces deux dimensions sont associées à un objectif d’indépendance. La logique de reproduction est motivée par un sentiment de confiance en soi (locus of control, LOC) et répond à un objectif de développement de l’entreprise.
Relation entre les compétences du dirigeant de PME et la performance de son entreprise
Authors: Pettersen Normand , St-Pierre Josée , Brutus Stéphane 
Published: January 2013

La pression qu’exerce l’environnement d’affaires sur les dirigeants de PME les oblige à se comporter de façon particulièrement efficace pour assurer la performance de leur entreprise. Mais quels sont ces comportements qui favorisent la performance des PME ? Les résultats des nombreux travaux concernant l’influence du dirigeant sur la performance de son entreprise n’offrent pas de réponse satisfaisante à cette question, notamment en raison de certaines limites méthodologiques. En effet, la mesure des comportements qui repose presque toujours sur une autoévaluation effectuée par le dirigeant lui-même ne constitue qu’un point de vue, de surcroît empreint de subjectivité. Afin de tenter d’obtenir des évaluations plus fiables et plus riches, la présente recherche utilise un instrument multisource qui fait appel à plusieurs évaluateurs dans l’entourage du dirigeant pour mesurer ses nombreux comportements de leadership. Les résultats obtenus auprès de 43 dirigeants de PME et de 215 membres de leur entourage indiquent que les évaluations provenant de l’entourage, comparativement aux autoévaluations réalisées par les dirigeants, sont effectivement davantage reliées à la performance de l’organisation, ce qui appuie la pertinence d’avoir recours à un instrument de mesure multisource. En outre, ces résultats permettent de jeter un regard sur les compétences de ces dirigeants qui sont les plus corrélés à la performance de leur PME mesurée dans la présente étude par la rentabilité, la croissance des ventes et le taux de départ volontaire des employés de production.
L’Abus de droit : l’anténorme — Partie II
Authors: Moyse Pierre-Emmanuel 
Published: January 2013

En droit privé, la logique du droit suit une logique des intérêts. La notion de droit subjectif sert ainsi de mesure dans la relation État-individu mais aussi d’outil dans l’ordonnancement des intérêts privés. Elle symbolise l’idée d’un droit coordinateur sans effacer totalement la référence à l’État. Le droit de manière générale s’explique d’ailleurs par la polarité entre individu et société. La distinction civiliste droit public-droit privé n’exprime qu’une variation dans le mode de son expression. L’abus de droit rend compte de cette polarité inhérente au droit en réintroduisant des valeurs sociales sur l’axe des rapports intersubjectifs. Le détournement de pouvoir devient ainsi, dans son langage, le détournement d’un droit.
La common law n’a pas eu besoin jusqu’à présent d’exposer complètement cette polarité. Mais cela change, notamment dans les disciplines telles que la propriété intellectuelle. Les intérêts jusqu’alors juridicisés lors du procès et dans les décisions judiciaires se muent en droits dans le texte législatif. Ils ne sont plus seulement traités à partir des mécanismes processuels du droit. Avec la recrudescence de législations spéciales, le danger d’élever les intérêts les plus divers au rang de droits sans que l’on rende compte de l’axiomatique fondamentale du droit qui se réclame des principes de justice réapparaît. Or, c’est dans ces principes que l’on trouve les moyens de fixer les contours des droits et les fondements de la théorie de l’abus. Le message de l’abus doit donc être rappelé et trouve en propriété intellectuelle une application nouvelle et féconde. À en juger par la jurisprudence récente dans ce domaine, l’idée de l’abus est en vogue. Ce texte est la deuxième partie d’un article publié en deux numéros.
Rethinking the role of Higher Education
Authors: Mengual-Andrés Santiago 
Published: January 2013

Abstract
The market has to change as our current society becomes increasingly diverse and so do workers’ competences, which are now more and more cross-disciplinary. New training models have appeared seeking to meet such market and society needs. This editorial reflects on the pressing need to redefine university education and the accreditation processes in non-formal education.
The impacts of individualization on equity educational policies
Authors: Francia Guadalupe 
Published: January 2013

Abstract
The present article has as its aim to illustrate and discuss the impacts of individualization strategies on equity educational policies through the analysis of individualized teaching strategies applied within the framework of educational priority policies in Sweden. The methodology used in our research work includes: (a) the study of research literature about the individualization of teaching implemented in the Swedish comprehensive compulsory school; and (b) the study of research literature about educational priority policies aimed at children from socially and ethnically segregated areas. Comparative research of educational policies considers the individualization of teaching carried out in the Swedish comprehensive compulsory school as a relevant explanation for the successful application of equitable educational policies in that country. However, research studies published during the 2000s in Sweden show a more complex perspective regarding the effects of individualized teaching strategies. This contribution reviews European comparative research studies on individualization strategies followed in the context of equity policies. It raises questions about the lack of analyses referring to the impacts of individualization on schools located in socially and ethnically segregated areas. It argues that this ideology tends to reduce the issue of school failure to ethnic segregation and individualized teacher support. This article claims that individualization strategies based on differentiated curricula for students run the risk of increasing the discrimination of students for reasons of language or ethnic background. Even though the present study focuses on the Swedish experience, it can lead to a better understanding of the impacts caused by individualization strategies on equity in other European countries.