bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Business process management and service delivery; a case of Uganda's public entities
Authors: Kamukama Nixon , Tumwine Sulait , Opiso Julius , Korutaro Nkundabanyanga Stephen 
Published: September 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to test empirically a variety of hypotheses related to business process management (BPM) and service delivery within public entities and contracting companies in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach
– A valid research instrument was utilized to conduct a survey on 20 government ministries, ten government departments and 13 service providers (contractors) who are representative of the 40 government entities and 25 service providers in Uganda. Correlation and regression analysis were conducted to ascertain the validity of the hypotheses.

Findings
– Statistical support was found for eight out of the nine hypotheses tested.

Research limitations/implications
– Only a single research methodological approach was employed, future research through interviews could be undertaken. Multiple respondents in public entities and service providers were studied, neglecting other key stakeholders like service users. Finally, BPM was studied and by the virtual of the results, there are other elements that contribute to service delivery that were not part of this study.

Practical implications
– There is need to intensify initiatives to encourage greater understanding and acceptance of BPM, employ a viable BPM strategy that includes risk management, building high-level innovation, strong human resource capacity, providers expertise in order to provide optimal service to both service buyers and users.

Originality/value
– This is the first paper in sub-Saharan Africa to tests empirically the relationship between BPM and service delivery in the Ugandan context of service buyers and providers and provides support for the relationship and process management.
Impacts of Privatization of Customary Land Rights in Zambia: A Comparative Study of Rural and Peri‐urban Locations
Authors: Ng'ombe Austine , Keivani Ramin , Mattingly Michael , Stubbs Michael 
Published: September 2014

AbstractIn its quest for development, Zambia is pursuing a land policy that facilitates privatization of customary land. This article investigates the effects of privatization in terms of how it shapes people's behaviour and perception of private tenure and related tenure dynamics. Findings have shown that the appetite to privatize land is growing stronger in peri‐urban areas as land becomes more scarce. Furthermore, privatization of land appears to be a threat to traditional political structures as allegiance and loyalty towards chiefs diminish and tension and struggles over land in peri‐urban areas increase. Similarly, privatization of land erodes people's faith in the role that cultural and ancestral beliefs play in traditional land management. Also, people in rural areas tend to favour private tenure more if ‘privatization of customary land’ means allocation of land to outsiders. If, by contrast, the phrase is taken to mean communities registering their own land, peri‐urban communities tend to have a stronger desire to register land. Furthermore, rural communities were found to be less informed about land policy and seemed less keen to be involved in land policy processes when compared to peri‐urban residents. However, rural people may have no reason to inform themselves about land policy until they realise that the policy is likely to affect them.
Functional and structural diversity in GH62 α‐L‐arabinofuranosidases from the thermophilic fungus Scytalidium thermophilum
Authors: Kaur Amrit Pal , Nocek Boguslaw P. , Xu Xiaohui , Lowden Michael J. , Leyva Juan Francisco , Stogios Peter J. , Cui Hong , Di Leo Rosa , Powlowski Justin , Tsang Adrian , Savchenko Alexei 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThe genome of the thermophilic fungus Scytalidium thermophilum (strain CBS 625.91) harbours a wide range of genes involved in carbohydrate degradation, including three genes, abf62A, abf62B and abf62C, predicted to encode glycoside hydrolase family 62 (GH62) enzymes. Transcriptome analysis showed that only abf62A and abf62C are actively expressed during growth on diverse substrates including straws from barley, alfalfa, triticale and canola. The abf62A and abf62C genes were expressed in Escherichia coli and the resulting recombinant proteins were characterized. Calcium‐free crystal structures of Abf62C in apo and xylotriose bound forms were determined to 1.23 and 1.48 Å resolution respectively. Site‐directed mutagenesis confirmed Asp55, Asp171 and Glu230 as catalytic triad residues, and revealed the critical role of non‐catalytic residues Asp194, Trp229 and Tyr338 in positioning the scissile α‐L‐arabinofuranoside bond at the catalytic site. Further, the +2R substrate‐binding site residues Tyr168 and Asn339, as well as the +2NR residue Tyr226, are involved in accommodating long‐chain xylan polymers. Overall, our structural and functional analysis highlights characteristic differences between Abf62A and Abf62C, which represent divergent subgroups in the GH62 family.
Topical fentanyl stimulates healing of ischemic wounds in diabetic rats 局部芬太尼麻醉可以促进糖尿病大鼠缺血性伤口的愈合
Authors: Gupta Mihir , Poonawala Tasneem , Farooqui Mariya , Ericson Marna E , Gupta Kalpna 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundTopically applied opioids promote angiogenesis and healing of ischemic wounds in rats. We examined if topical fentanyl stimulates wound healing in diabetic rats by stimulating growth‐promoting signaling, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and nerve regeneration.MethodsWe used Zucker diabetic fatty rats that develop obesity and diabetes on a high fat diet due to a mutation in the Leptin receptor. Fentanyl blended with hydrocream was applied topically on ischemic wounds twice daily, and wound closure was analyzed regularly. Wound histology was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, nerve fibers and phospho‐platelet derived growth factor receptor‐β (PDGFR‐β) were visualized by CD31‐, lymphatic vessel endothelium‐1, protein gene product 9.5‐ and anti‐phospho PDGFR‐β‐immunoreactivity, respectively. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and PDGFR‐β signaling were analyzed using Western immunoblotting.ResultsFentanyl significantly promoted wound closure as compared to phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS). Histology scores were significantly higher in fentanyl‐treated wounds, indicative of increased granulation tissue formation, reduced edema and inflammation, and increased matrix deposition. Fentanyl treatment resulted in increased wound angiogenesis, lymphatic vasculature, nerve fibers, nitric oxide, NOS and PDGFR‐β signaling as compared to PBS. Phospho‐PDGFR‐β co‐localized with CD31 co‐staining for vasculature.ConclusionsTopically applied fentanyl promotes closure of ischemic wounds in diabetic rats. Increased angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, peripheral nerve regeneration, NO and PDGFR‐β signaling are associated with fentanyl‐induced tissue remodeling and wound healing.
Evaluation of a novel breast reconstruction technique using the Braxon® acellular dermal matrix: a new muscle‐sparing breast reconstruction
Authors: Berna Giorgio , Cawthorn Simon J. , Papaccio Guido , Balestrieri Nicola 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundImplant‐based breast reconstruction is becoming increasingly popular because of the widespread adoption of acellular dermal matrix (ADM), which allows surgeons to obtain good aesthetic results with fewer operations. To develop more conservative surgical techniques, a retrospective, three‐centre, proof‐of‐concept study was performed to study the effectiveness of a new, immediate, muscle‐sparing breast reconstruction technique using the patented Braxon® ADM, which enables subcutaneous positioning of the breast implant without detaching the pectoralis major.MethodsEthics committee of the study coordinating centre approved medical record review on 19 women who underwent muscle‐sparing breast reconstruction between November 2012 and January 2014. The first 10 implants were performed using 0.9‐mm‐thick porcine ADM, with preservatives. In the subsequent 15 implants, the product was changed to 0.6‐mm‐thick porcine dry ADM, without preservatives.ResultsNineteen patients (25 implants) received six bilateral and 13 unilateral muscle‐sparing breast reconstructions. For the first type of ADM used (0.9‐mm‐thick with preservatives), the rate of implant loss was 12% (n = 3) because of seroma (8%, n = 2) and infection (4%, n = 1). Minor complications, such as seroma (8%, n = 2), occurred when using the 0.6‐mm‐thick Braxon® ADM and were treated by aspiration. Symmetrical and natural breasts with good shape, ptosis and softness to the touch were obtained. None of the patients reported experiencing pain.ConclusionsThe preliminary results are encouraging from aesthetic and clinical viewpoints. Further studies are planned to evaluate long‐term results.
4 Growth and Decline in Classic Maya Puuc Political Economies
Authors: Isendahl Christian , Dunning Nicholas P. , Sabloff Jeremy A. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThe Classic period Puuc region presents Maya archaeologists with significant challenges. One challenge to interpretation lies in the fact that, despite a form of agro‐urban settlement that proved highly resilient in the Maya Lowlands overall, Puuc cities flourished relatively briefly, beginning on a grand scale in the sixth century C.E. and with a halt in major building construction and depopulation in the tenth century C.E. This chapter focuses on analyzing how the Puuc economy depended on sustained economic growth and ultimately suffered its consequences for long‐term agro‐ecological sustainability. We suggest that an important clue to understanding urban collapse in the Puuc is found by looking at transitions in the net energy gain of the agricultural economy over the long‐term. The boom‐and‐crash character of Puuc economic history follows a series of opportunities, challenges, and problem‐solving with varying efficacy for long‐ and short‐term sustainability and resilience. These factors include the highly fertile soils as the main resource; water scarcity as a limiting factor; effective water management as a key solution; and costly social complexity a driving force of agro‐economic growth. The diminishing returns on energy invested were consequences of a dependency on economic growth as the supply of the primary resource decreased. The elite segments of polities were unable to adjust to decreasing returns, which led to economic decline and, eventually, organizational collapse. The boom‐and‐crash character of Puuc settlement suggests a political economy that had locked into dependency on constant growth and failed to adapt to diminishing returns.
6 A Reassessment of Water and Soil Resources in the Flatlands of the Northern Maya Lowlands
Authors: Fedick Scott L. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTOften characterized as a low, flat, limestone shelf with thin soils and restricted water resources, the northern lowlands are now proving to have supported high population levels and complex social development from the earliest Preclassic times through the Postclassic, though striking differences in developmental trajectories exist. The karstic plain of the north‐central portion of the Yucatán Peninsula is characterized by the presence of dry depressions or rejolladas with wells, cenotes, and caves with water. The spatial distribution of these hydrological features played a key role in the occupation of the region since the Late Preclassic period, while the archaeological data suggest population growth during the eighth and ninth centuries C.E., reaching its peak in the tenth and eleventh centuries. Various agricultural technologies provided adaptations to the resource base, while the general settlement history may be linked to the dynamics of water‐table fluctuations and resulting suitability of the wetlands for subsistence production.
11 Resilience and Vulnerability in the Maya Hinterlands
Authors: Iannone Gyles , Prufer Keith , Chase Diane Z. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTGiven their grand architecture, intricately carved monuments, and colorful histories, the largest Maya centers have long drawn the attention of archaeologists and non‐specialists alike. Early interest in the infamous Maya collapse was, in fact, initially inspired by the discovery of these “lost cities in the jungle.” This research focus was further stimulated by advances in deciphering the Maya hieroglyphic script, and the recognition that monument erection—or in other words, the written histories of most of the southern Lowland centers—came to a rather abrupt end in the 9th century C.E. IHOPE scholars are attempting to elucidate the conditions that lead to the decline of these impressive centers. In doing so, the trajectories of smaller communities, and or those located in hinterlands between the more prominent centers, have emerged as interesting counterpoints that provide unique, and no less significant, examples of resilience and vulnerability. The emerging data suggest that these communities had specific strengths and weaknesses, which in turn provided them with a particular set of challenges, as well as a specific range of coping mechanisms they could marshal when dealing with their ever‐changing environment circumstances (i.e., climate change, resource availability, landscape modifications), and the highly dynamic geopolitical landscape within which they were embedded. This chapter will discuss some of the key insights derived from our examination of hinterland communities, with particular attention being paid to the broader implications of the contrasting trajectories exhibited by these segments of ancient Maya society.
Platelets from children are hyper‐responsive to activation by thrombin receptor activator peptide and adenosine diphosphate compared to platelets from adults
Authors: Yip Christina , Linden Matthew D. , Attard Chantal , Monagle Paul , Ignjatovic Vera 
Published: September 2014

SummaryPlatelets are crucial subcellular elements of haemostasis at sites of vascular injury and are also known to be immune mediators in pathological thrombosis. Despite the integral role of platelets in many disease processes, there is very little information available on platelet function and response to agonists in healthy children. We recently reported important differences in the interaction of platelets with monocytes in the circulation, including increased formation of monocyte‐platelet aggregates (MPAs) without concomitant increase in P‐selectin expression. Our current study investigates parameters of platelet activation (PAC‐1 binding and P‐selectin expression) and MPA formation in response to a range of physiologically relevant platelet agonists in healthy children compared to healthy adults. All parameters were significantly higher in children in response to sub‐maximal concentrations of thrombin receptor activator peptide and adenosine diphosphate, reflecting an age‐specific difference in agonist‐stimulated platelet reactivity in children. The results of our study challenge the general assumption that platelet reactivity in children is similar to adults. This finding is fundamental to investigating the role of platelets in diseases of childhood and pathogenesis of adult‐based diseases that have their origins in childhood. Our findings underscore the need for age‐specific reference ranges for platelet function in children rather than extrapolation from adult data.
Quantification of the effect of chemotherapy and steroids on risk of Pneumocystis jiroveci among hospitalized patients with adult T‐cell leukaemia
Authors: Maeda Toshiki , Babazono Akira , Nishi Takumi , Matsuda Shinya , Fushimi Kiyohide , Fujimori Kenji 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThis study aimed to quantify the risks of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) among adult T‐cell leukaemia (ATL) patients without prophylaxis. We used hospital administrative data collected nationwide in Japan over 4 years. The research design was a retrospective cohort study. Subjects were 4369 patients diagnosed with ATL aged 18 years or older. The subjects were categorized into four treatment groups: no agent, chemotherapy, chemotherapy + steroids and steroids. We described the risks of PCP among ATL patients without prophylaxis. Risks of PCP were 3·2% for the no agent group, 9·7% for the chemotherapy group, 10·0% for the chemotherapy + steroids group and 16·6% for the steroids group. Logistic regression analyses showed that the chemotherapy, chemotherapy + steroids and steroids groups had significantly higher risk of PCP than did the no agent group [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3·30 (1·55–7·02), P = 0·002 for the chemotherapy group; AOR 3·35 (2·18–5·17), P < 0·001 for the chemotherapy + steroids group; AOR 6·12 (3·99–9·38), P < 0·001 for the steroids group]. In conclusion, the chemotherapy, chemotherapy + steroids and steroids groups had significantly higher risks of PCP. Prophylaxis for PCP among ATL patients being treated with chemotherapy, chemotherapy + steroids and steroids is highly recommended.
Chronic adrenergic stimulation induces brown adipose tissue differentiation in visceral adipose tissue
Authors: Søndergaard E. , Gormsen L. C. , Christensen M. H. , Pedersen S. B. , Christiansen P. , Nielsen S. , Poulsen P. L. , Jessen N. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundRecruitment of brown adipose tissue is a promising strategy to treat obesity and Type 2 diabetes, but the physiological effects of a large amount of metabolically active brown adipose tissue in humans are unknown.Case reportIn the present paper, we report a case of massive brown adipose tissue infiltration of the visceral adipose tissue depot in a person with Type 2 diabetes with a catecholamine‐secreting paraganglioma. The patient was evaluated with [18F]‐fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography on three occasions: pre‐therapy, during α‐blockade and postoperatively. During surgery, biopsies of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue were obtained and evaluated for brown adipose tissue. At diagnosis, brown adipose tissue glucose uptake, assessed by [18F]‐fludeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography, was massively increased. [18F]‐fludeoxyglucose uptake was confined to known locations for brown adipose tissue, with additional uptake in the visceral adipose tissue. As a result of increased thermogenesis, resting energy expenditure was doubled. After surgical removal of the tumour, antidiabetic medicine was no longer needed, despite an 8.2‐kg weight gain.ConclusionThese results show that human visceral adipose tissue holds an unprecedented potential for brown adipogenic differentiation; however, a detrimental effect on glucose metabolism persisted despite massive brown adipose tissue activity, with a doubling of resting energy expenditure.
Changes in cell density and morphology of selected cells of the ageing human dental pulp
Authors: Daud Sulinda , Nambiar Prabhakaran , Hossain M. Zakir , Rahman Mas Rizal Ab , Bakri Marina M. 
Published: September 2014

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the changes in cell density and morphology of selected cells of the ageing human dental pulp.BackgroundChanges in cell density and morphology of dental pulp cells over time may affect their capability to respond to tooth injury.Materials and methodsOne hundred thirty‐one extracted teeth were obtained from individuals between the ages of 6 and 80 years. The apical 1/3 of the root region was removed from all teeth prior to routine processing for producing histological slides. The histology slides were used to study the changes in cell density and morphology of selected pulp cells; odontoblasts, subodontoblasts and fibroblasts in the crown and root regions of the dental pulp. Student's t‐test and one‐way anova were used for statistical analyses.ResultsIn all age groups, the cell density for all types of cells was found to be higher in the crown than in the root (p < 0.05). In general, the pulp cell density was found to decrease with age in both the crown and root regions. However, it was noted that the reduction of coronal odontoblasts occurred later in life (40–49 years) when compared to that of subodontoblasts or fibroblasts (30–39 years).ConclusionsThe density of the coronal pulp cells reduces and these cells undergo morphological changes with ageing of individuals and this may affect the pulp's ability to resist tooth injury.
Cutaneous sarcoidosis: clinicopathologic study of 76 patients from Lebanon
Authors: Ishak Rim , Kurban Mazen , Kibbi Abdul‐Ghani , Abbas Ossama 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundSarcoidosis is a multi‐system granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. The skin is involved in 25% of cases. Studies on cutaneous sarcoidosis from our region are lacking.ObjectivesThis study was conducted to describe clinical and histopathologic findings in all patients diagnosed with cutaneous sarcoidosis at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between 1992 and 2010 and to compare findings with those published in the literature.MethodsClinical charts of patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis were retrospectively reviewed. Extracutaneous lesions were classified by organ involvement. Treatment was documented. Pathology specimens were reviewed.ResultsCutaneous sarcoidosis was diagnosed in 76 Lebanese patients, 79% of whom were women. Mean age at diagnosis was 48 years. A total of 29% of patients had systemic disease that was commonly associated with lupus pernio lesions and subcutaneous sarcoidosis. The most common cutaneous lesions were sarcoidal plaques. The histopathologic features in our series did not differ from those described in the literature, except for the documented presence of a grenz zone. Interestingly, 23% of biopsy specimens contained perineural granulomas, raising the possibility of tuberculoid or borderline tuberculoid leprosy. Foreign bodies were detected in 10% of cases (all had systemic involvement), supporting the opinion that sarcoidosis and granulomatous foreign body reaction are not mutually exclusive.ConclusionsThe clinical and histopathologic features of cutaneous sarcoidosis patients in the present series are generally comparable with those published in the literature, with minor differences. Clinically, the most commonly seen lesion was plaque. Microscopically, cutaneous sarcoidosis may exhibit a grenz zone and may show perineural inflammation and foreign bodies.