bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Features and Radiological Findings in Large Vessel Vasculitis: Are Takayasu Arteritis and Giant Cell Arteritis 2 Different Diseases or a Single Entity?
Authors: Furuta Shunsuke , Cousins Claire , Chaudhry Afzal , Jayne David 
Published: November 2014

Objective.Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) are 2 major variants of large vessel vasculitis (LVV). The frequent involvement of large vessels in GCA has raised the possibility that TAK and GCA should be regarded as 1 disease. By detailed phenotyping of a single-center cohort, we aimed to define the differences between TAK and GCA.Methods.Forty-five patients (23 TAK, 22 GCA) were identified. Baseline characteristics, clinical symptoms, laboratory data, enhanced computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging, treatments, and clinical courses were retrospectively assessed with descriptive statistics. In addition, latent class analysis of the 45 patients was performed to explore phenotypic differences.Results.Patients with GCA had more frequent headache (p < 0.01), higher C-reactive protein levels (p = 0.01), and higher erythrocyte sedimentation rates (p = 0.03) than did patients with TAK at diagnosis. With the exception of subdiaphragmatic lesions, the distributions of vessel lesions were not different between TAK and GCA. However, focusing on subclavian and carotid arteries, long tapered-type stenotic lesions were more frequent in GCA than in TAK (p < 0.01). The proportion of patients without relapse was higher in GCA (60%) than in TAK (22%, p = 0.01). Latent class analysis also divided patients with LVV into 2 separate groups consistent with TAK and GCA.Conclusion.The differences observed in clinical symptoms, inflammatory markers, radiological findings, and clinical courses suggested that TAK and GCA were 2 different diseases. Latent class analysis supported these results. The shape of stenotic lesions in the subclavian and carotid arteries is a useful discriminator between TAK and GCA.
Cost of Illness and Determinants of Costs Among Patients with Gout
Authors: Spaetgens Bart , Wijnands José M.A. , van Durme Caroline , van der Linden Sjef , Boonen Annelies 
Published: November 2014

Objective.To estimate costs of illness in a cross-sectional cohort of patients with gout attending an outpatient rheumatology clinic, and to evaluate which factors contribute to higher costs.Methods.Altogether, 126 patients with gout were clinically assessed. They completed a series of questionnaires. Health resource use was collected using a self-report questionnaire that was cross-checked with the electronic patient file. Productivity loss was assessed by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, addressing absenteeism and presenteeism. Resource use and productivity loss were valued by real costs, and annual costs per patient were calculated. Factors contributing to incurring costs above the median were explored using logistic univariable and multivariable regression analysis.Results.Mean (median) annual direct costs of gout were €5647 (€1148) per patient. Total costs increased to €6914 (€1279) or €10,894 (€1840) per patient per year when adding cost for absenteeism or both absenteeism and presenteeism, respectively. Factors independently associated with high direct and high indirect costs were a positive history of cardiovascular disease, functional limitations, and female sex. In addition, pain, gout concerns, and unmet gout treatment needs were associated with high direct costs.Conclusion.The direct and indirect costs-of-illness of gout are primarily associated with cardiovascular disease, functional limitations, and female sex.
Prevalence of TNF-α Blocker Immunogenicity in Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Zisapel Michael , Zisman Devy , Madar-Balakirski Noa , Arad Uri , Padova Hagit , Matz Hagit , Maman-Sarvagyl Hagit , Kaufman Ilana , Paran Daphna , Feld Joy , Litinsky Ira , Wigler Irena , Caspi Dan , Elkayam Ori 
Published: November 2014

Objective.The longterm use of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α blockers is limited by the formation of neutralizing antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, immunogenicity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has not been investigated in depth. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence and significance of TNF-α blocker immunogenicity in PsA.Methods.Consecutive patients with PsA treated with either infliximab (IFX), adalimumab (ADA), or etanercept (ETN) > 3 months participated in our cross-sectional study. Their demographic and clinical characteristics, skin and joint disease activity, and records of use of methotrexate (MTX) and other medications were collected. Drug levels (ELISA) and antidrug antibodies (ADAb; Bridging ELISA) were evaluated before the next injection or infusion.Results.A total of 93 patients with PsA were recruited (48 receiving ADA, 24 IFX, and 21 ETN), with a mean age of 53 years (range 21–83 yrs), composed of 53% women. One-fourth of the patients were concomitantly treated with MTX. Altogether, 77% of the patients demonstrated therapeutic drug levels. High levels of ADAb were found in 29% of patients taking ADA, 21% taking IFX, and 0% taking ETN. ADAb significantly correlated with lower drug levels, higher 28-joint Disease Activity Scores, and higher global assessments. MTX use correlated significantly with a lower prevalence of ADAb.Conclusion.Significant levels of ADAb were present in up to 29% of patients with PsA treated with ADA or IFX. ADAb clearly correlated with low therapeutic drug levels and higher disease activity variables. The use of MTX significantly decreased ADAb prevalence, and its use should be strongly considered in combination with TNF-α blocker antibodies in patients with PsA.
Review
Authors: Bonhomme T. 
Published: November 2014

Man and Environment in the Great Basin. Edited by David B. Madsen and James F. O'Connell. Society for American Archaeology SAA Papers No. 2. 1982. Pp. vi + 242. $US14.95.Affluent Foragers. Edited by Shuzo Koyama and David Hurst Thomas. Senri Enthnological Studies No. 9. 1981. ISBN 0387–6004. Pp. 295.
Spatial analysis of the Nenumbo (SE‐RF‐2) Lapita site, Solomon Islands
Authors: Sheppard Peter J. , Green Roger C. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractData on the spatial distribution of features, pottery, lithic materials, fishbones and shellfish are used to examine spatial organization in the SE‐RF‐2 Lapita site (Reef Islands, Southeast Solomons). It is shown that the site is at most a small hamlet and consisted of a large rectilinear central structure with an adjacent cooking area. It is argued that the distribution of imports (pottery, chert, obsidian) with different transport costs cannot be explained in simple economic terms and that their movement was embedded in a set of important social relations.
The use of the fractional CO2 laser resurfacing in the treatment of photoaging in Asians: Five years long‐term results
Authors: Tan Jun , Lei Ying , Ouyang Hua‐Wei , Gold Michael H. 
Published: November 2014

Background and ObjectiveThe purpose of this clinical paper is to explore the therapeutic effects, healing times, adverse effects, and maintenance periods of using a CO2 fractional laser in the treatment of photoaging in Asian skin.Study Design/Materials and MethodsOne fractional CO2 laser procedure was performed on the full face in 56 patients with photoaging. Based on the Dover scoring system, we evaluated the degree of skin aging before treatment and at one‐month post laser and at five years post laser therapy in 30 of the patients. Statistical analysis was performed by the Wilcoxon's method.ResultsThirty of the treated patients have had follow‐up for 5 years at this time. The photoaging scores in these thirty patients were significantly changed (P < 0.01) at one month, one year, and five years after the fractional laser treatment, as compared with their baseline. Adverse events seen during this analysis were found to be minimal and not of clinical significance.ConclusionsFractional CO2 laser resurfacing in the treatment of photoaging in Asians is a useful modality with results, for the first time, being shown to have continued efficacy for up to 5 years. Lasers Surg. Med. 46:750–756, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Boundary regularity of minimizers of $p(x)$-energy functionals
Authors: Ragusa Maria Alessandra , Tachikawa Atsushi 
Published: November 2014

The paper is devoted to the study of the regularity on the boundary

∂Ω

of a bounded open set

\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^{m}

for minimizers

u

for

p(x)

-energy functionals of the following type

\mathcal{E}(u;\Omega ): = \int \limits_{\Omega }\left(g^{\alpha \beta }(x)G_{ij}(u)D_{\alpha }u^{i}(x)D_{\beta }u^{j}(x)\right)^{p(x)/ 2}dx

where

(g^{\alpha \beta }(x))

and

(G_{ij}(u))

are symmetric positive definite matrices whose entries are continuous functions and

p(x) \geq 2

is a continuous function. The authors prove that such minimizers

u

have no singular points on the boundary.

Résumé

Dans cet article, les auteurs étudient la régularité sur la frontière

∂Ω

d'un ouvert borné

\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^{m}

des minimiseurs

u

des fonctionnelles d'énergie

p(x)

du type suivant :

\mathcal{E}(u;\Omega ): = \int \limits_{\Omega }\left(g^{\alpha \beta }(x)G_{ij}(u)D_{\alpha }u^{i}(x)D_{\beta }u^{j}(x)\right)^{p(x)/ 2}dx,

où

(g^{\alpha \beta }(x))

et

(G_{ij}(u))

sont des matrices symétriques définies positives dont les éléments sont des fonctions continues et

p(x) \geq 2

est une fonction continue. Les auteurs prouvent que ces minimiseurs

u

n'ont pas de point singulier sur la frontière

∂Ω

.
Increased evolutionary rate in the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak is due to transient polymorphism and not positive selection
Authors: Spielman Stephanie J. , Meyer Austin G. , Wilke Claus O. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractGire et al. (Science345:1369–1372, 2014) analyzed 81 complete genomes sampled from the 2014 Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) outbreak and reported “rapid accumulation of […] genetic variation” and a substitution rate that was “roughly twice as high within the 2014 outbreak as between outbreaks.” These findings have received widespread attention, and many have perceived Gire et al. (2014)’s results as implying rapid adaptation of EBOV to humans during the current outbreak. Here, we argue that, on the contrary, sequence divergence in EBOV is rather limited, and that the currently available data contain no robust signal of particularly rapid evolution or adaptation to humans. The doubled substitution rate can be attributed entirely to the application of a molecular-clock model to a population of sequences with minimal divergence and segregating polymorphisms. Our results highlight how subtle technical aspects of sophisticated evolutionary analysis methods may result in highly-publicized, misconstrued statements about an ongoing public health crisis.
Are capital structure decisions of service SMEs different? Empirical evidence from Portugal
Authors: Serrasqueiro Zélia 
Published: November 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the importance of information asymmetry in the relationships between Portuguese SME's capital structure decisions and creditors, comparing the results of service SME with those found in manufacturing SMEs.Design/methodology/approachTwo samples of Portuguese SMEs are considered: one sample is composed by 610 unlisted service SMEs; and, the other sample is made up by 381 unlisted SMEs in manufacturing industry, for the period 1999‐2006. To estimate the results, the two‐step estimation method is used, to control possible bias arising from data selection. In the first step, probit regression is used. In the second step, after the control for possible data bias, dynamic panel estimators are used.FindingsThe results obtained suggest that information asymmetry in the relationships between SMEs and creditors has a greater relative influence on capital structure decisions of service SMEs than on those of manufacturing SMEs.Practical implicationsGiven the increasing importance of service SMEs in the Portuguese economy for stimulating employment, business volume, and consequently economic growth, it would be advisable for policy makers to create special long‐term lines of credit, with advantageous terms, so that Portuguese service SMEs, when internal finance is insufficient, can finance more efficiently the growth opportunities and the strategies for diversification. In addition, since SMEs' capital structure decisions present differences, both concerning the sector of industry and over time, the measures adopted by policy makers should differentiate their measures between industry sectors and over time.Originality/valueFirst, this paper is pioneering in comparing the adjustment of actual short‐ and long‐term debts, in service and manufacturing SMEs, towards the respective target ratios. Second, it is pioneering in using dynamic estimators and in using the two‐step estimation method, in studies of determinants of capital structure decisions of service and manufacturing SMEs.
External auditor characteristics and internal control reporting under SOX section 302
Authors: Stephens Nathaniel M. 
Published: November 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether external auditor traits influenced the reporting of internal control deficiencies (ICDs) prior to SOX‐mandated audits, holding constant the existence of a control weakness.Design/methodology/approachData are collected from publicly available sources such as Securities and Exchange Commission filings and Audit Analytics database.FindingsCompanies that were audited by industry leading auditors were more likely to disclose ICDs prior to SOX‐mandated audits and that companies with longer client‐auditor tenure were less likely to disclose ICDs prior to SOX‐mandated audits.Originality/valueThese findings suggest that while external auditors were not required to participate in internal control evaluation and certifications prior to their audit of internal control for the 2004 fiscal year, they nevertheless influence the likelihood of ICD disclosure prior to their initial audit.
Step‐in or step‐out: supporting innovation through communities of practice
Authors: Borzillo Stefano , Kaminska‐Labbé Renata 
Published: November 2014

PurposeTo provide managers, researchers, and consultants with practical insights on using Communities of Practice to support innovation in organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe research design is based on a four‐year longitudinal case study of five Communities of Practice (CoPs) within a Specialty Chemicals division of a multinational company Alpha. Primary (interviews, direct observation) and secondary (internal documents) data were collected and analysed resulting in several conclusions about the role of Communities of Practice in supporting organizational innovation.FindingsThe main conclusion drawn from the study is that supporting innovation involves switching between different degrees of managerial involvement in Communities of Practice, namely step‐in and step‐out modes. The step‐in mode results in knowledge expansion, which supports incremental innovation while the step‐out mode leads to knowledge probing which supports radical innovation.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are based on a single case study of a firm which successfully used CoPs to support innovation across its R&D teams; generalizing these results would require the analysis of additional cases.Practical implicationsThe paper provides managers with practical recommendations on how to align CoP dynamics with the specific innovation needs of an organization. On the one hand, CoPs require a great deal of autonomy if they are to generate radical innovation. On the other, when incremental innovation is needed managers can and should steer CoP activities.Originality/valueThe data, approach, and analysis are all original. This paper enriches the existing theory on the role of CoPs in supporting innovation by highlighting the need to adapt the degree of managerial involvement. The findings resolve the existing tension between two opposing streams of research – that which considers CoPs as self‐organized, emergent and fully autonomous systems and the other, which advocates that CoPs require managerial guidance.
Outside director experience, compensation, and performance
Authors: Shiah‐Hou Shin‐Rong , Cheng Chin‐Wei 
Published: November 2014

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how outside directors' experience and their compensation affect firm performance through the quality of their monitoring and advising, when traditional board structure devices do not seem to work well.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the authors use a two‐way fixed effects (FE) regression model to explore the effects of outside director experience and compensation on firm performance. Second, in order to address the potential endogeneity problem of outside director compensation, the authors adopt two‐stage least squares regression (2SLS).FindingsControlling for other potentially influential variables, it is found that outside director experience and outside director compensation have an economically positive impact on a firm's accounting and market performance. Even when taking into account the endogeneity problem of outside director compensation, outside director compensation and experience still have positive effects on firm performance, consistent with the authors' predictions.Practical implicationsIt is inferred that regulators are able to ask publicly owned firms to provide outside director's experience and compensation in detail. In addition, future research should investigate the social relationships between outside directors, which also affect the functions of monitoring and advising.Originality/valueFirst, this paper contributes to this area of the extant literature by simultaneously considering the direct impacts arising from the outside director's experience and compensation. Second, the paper highlights the importance of considering multiple dimensions of director's experience in assessing its effects on firm performance.
Boopsie and librarians: connecting mobile learners and the library
Authors: Johnstone Brian T. 
Published: November 2014

PurposeThis paper aims to provide an overview of the Boopsie product for creation of a mobile device application for deployment on all major mobile devices.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the experience of implementing this mobile app product at Bucks County Community College Library, including interfacing with the integrated library system and preexisting web‐based services.FindingsImplementation of this product was done with ease, a minimum of staff time and was affordable. Usage is dispersed across a variety of mobile device networks.Practical implicationsReaders will understand how this product is utilized at Bucks and will see how this fits into an overall strategy of creating a sense of place for the mobile learner.Originality/valueLibraries will be able to determine whether this service will be of benefit to their users.
The organizational performance of learning companies
Authors: Goh Swee C. , Ryan Peter J. 
Published: November 2014

PurposeA growing body of literature on organizational learning suggests that companies or organizations with a learning capability can gain a competitive advantage. The argument is that learning organizations are better at knowledge transfer and generating new knowledge to solve problems. The objective of this study is to examine empirically if learning companies are more competitive and better performers than their competitors.Design/methodology/approachThis study examines a portfolio of learning companies and a set of their competitors, looking at their financial performance over a significant period. Learning companies were selected based on content analysis of the published literature. Competitors were selected from an existing top 500 companies listing matched to the learning company's business domain. This study compares their performance using both market and accounting financial data.FindingsThe data show that learning companies demonstrate strong performance in financial markets over time, beating the traditional market indexes in both bull and bear markets. The accounting data show similar results. On a majority of the financial measures, the long‐term financial performance of learning companies is significantly superior to that of their closest competitors.Research limitations/implicationsThis study discusses and explores the implications of these results in studying the link between learning companies and organizational performance. A limitation of the study is the small sample size of learning companies in the study. Also some potential alternative explanations for their performance cannot be completely ruled out due to the longitudinal nature of the study.Originality/valueThis study shows that there is a positive link between learning capability and competitive advantage, as measured by long‐term market financial performance of a group of learning companies.
The development of a sex offender assessment and treatment service within a community learning disability team (the SHEALD project): part 2
Authors: Olsen Angela , Ravey Michael 
Published: November 2014

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a commentary on the previous paper in this issue on “The development of a sex offender assessment and treatment service within a Community Learning Disability Team (the SHEALD project): part 2”.Design/methodology/approachThe authors consider the nature of traditional service delivery for people with learning/intellectual disabilities and the potential that services have for the physical, emotional and sexual abuse of these vulnerable people.FindingsThe authors argue that effective community based treatment/support is best delivered in a way that acknowledges and employs the range of skills offered by practitioners from health and social care backgrounds.Originality/valueBoth SHEALD and HIST are examples of community treatment programmes which show that a person‐centred approach supported by a dedicated and consistent team of practitioners may be an effective way of addressing complex, high‐risk behaviours.
Enhancing mental health services through joint delivery with employment and other essential community services: early lessons from an innovative New Zealand program
Authors: Nepe Melanie , Pini Tyron , Waghorn Geoff 
Published: November 2014

PurposeClients often report reluctance in attending publicly funded mental health services, particularly when those services are provided at segregated and stand‐alone locations well known to the wider community. One way to address this stigma‐driven reluctance to attend appointments is to deliver mental health services in combination with employment services, education and training, income support, housing, disability support, legal services, and other health services, as an essential suite of community services. This paper aims to research this possibility.Design/methodology/approachThe paper outlines the early planning and implementation phases of the Huntly Community Link project.FindingsThe paper finds that ongoing joint governance and management, clear on‐site leadership, and an evaluation strategy are needed to ensure joint service delivery goals are attained.Practical implicationsSeveral important practical issues emerge. For instance, differences in organisational culture take time to change towards greater support for the new joint service delivery goals.Social implicationsEarly indicators suggest that the Huntly Community highly values the joint delivery of these essential services from a suitable purpose designed building.Originality/valueThis is an innovative New Zealand program that promises to reduce attendance stigma by nesting the delivery of publicly‐funded mental health services among a broad mix of other essential community services.