The relationship of systemic markers of renal function and vascular function with retinal blood vessel responses

Purpose: To test the hypothesis of a significant relationship between systemic markers of renal and vascular function (processes linked to cardiovascular disease and its development) and retinal microvascular function in diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease.Methods: Ocular microcirculatory function was measured in 116 patients with diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease using static and continuous retinal vessel responses to three cycles of flickering light. Endothelial function was evaluated by von Willebrand factor (vWf), endothelial microparticles and soluble E selectin, renal function by serum creatinine, creatinine clearance and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). HbA1c was used as a control index.Results: Central retinal vein equivalence and venous maximum dilation to flicker were linked to HbA1c (both p<0.05). Arterial reaction time was linked to serum creatinine (p=0.036) and eGFR (p=0.039), venous reaction time was linked to creatinine clearance (p=0.018). Creatinine clearance and eGFR were linked to arterial maximum dilatation (p<0.001 and p=0.003 respectively) and the dilatation amplitude (p=0.038 and p=0.048 respectively) responses in the third flicker cycle. Of venous responses to the first flicker cycle, HbA1c was linked to the maximum dilation response (p=0.004) and dilatation amplitude (p=0.017), vWf was linked to the maximum constriction response (p=0.016), and creatinine clearance to the baseline diameter fluctuation (p=0.029). In the second flicker cycle, dilatation amplitude was linked to serum creatinine (p=0.022). Conclusions: Several retinal blood vessel responses to flickering light are linked to glycaemia and renal function, but only one index is linked to endothelial function. Renal function must be considered when interpreting retinal vessel responses.

Application of Intervention Analysis to Evaluate the Impacts of Special Events on Freeways

In China in particular, large, planned special events (e.g., the Olympic Games, etc.) are viewed as great opportunities for economic development. Large numbers of visitors from other countries and provinces may be expected to attend such events, bringing in significant tourism dollars. However, as a direct result of such events, the transportation system is likely to face great challenges as travel demand increases beyond its original design capacity. Special events in central business districts (CBD) in particular will further exacerbate traffic congestion on surrounding freeway segments near event locations. To manage the transportation system, it is necessary to plan and prepare for such special events, which requires prediction of traffic conditions during the events. This dissertation presents a set of novel prototype models to forecast traffic volumes along freeway segments during special events. Almost all research to date has focused solely on traffic management techniques under special event conditions. These studies, at most, provided a qualitative analysis and there was a lack of an easy-to-implement method for quantitative analyses. This dissertation presents a systematic approach, based separately on univariate time series model with intervention analysis and multivariate time series model with intervention analysis for forecasting traffic volumes on freeway segments near an event location. A case study was carried out, which involved analyzing and modelling the historical time series data collected from loop-detector traffic monitoring stations on the Second and Third Ring Roads near Beijing Workers Stadium. The proposed time series models, with expected intervention, are found to provide reasonably accurate forecasts of traffic pattern changes efficiently. They may be used to support transportation planning and management for special events.

Convergence-divergence of HRM in the Asia-Pacific:context-specific analysis and future research agenda

In this article, we highlight the significance and need for conducting context-specific human resource management (HRM) research, by focusing on four critical themes. First, we discuss the need to analyze the convergence-divergence debate on HRM in Asia-Pacific. Next, we present an integrated framework, which would be very useful for conducting cross-national HRM research designed to focus on the key determinants of the dominant national HRM systems in the region. Following this, we discuss the critical challenges facing the HRM function in Asia-Pacific. Finally, we present an agenda for future research by presenting a series of research themes.

Leader-member exchange, group- and individual-level procedural justice and reactions to performance appraisals

Previous research has established that relationships with authority figures and procedural justice perceptions are important in terms of the way in which employees react to organizational procedures that affect them. What is less clear are the reasons why exchange quality with authorities is related to perceptions of process fairness and the role of procedural justice climate in this process. Results indicate that individual-level perceptions of procedural justice, but not performance ratings, partially mediate the relationship between exchange quality and reactions to performance appraisals, and that procedural justice climate is positively related to perceptions of procedural justice and appraisal reactions. These results support a more relational than instrumental view of justice perceptions in organizational procedures bound by exchange quality with an authority figure. Our study suggests that it is essential for managers to actively monitor and manage employee perceptions of process fairness at the group and individual levels. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Transient simulations for present and last interglacials using a comprehensive coupled climate model CCSM3 (Community Climate System Model 3.0), links to model result files in NetCDF format

Transient simulations are widely used in studying the past climate as they provide better comparison with any exisiting proxy data. However, multi-millennial transient simulations using coupled climate models are usually computationally very expensive. As a result several acceleration techniques are implemented when using numerical simulations to recreate past climate. In this study, we compare the results from transient simulations of the present and the last interglacial with and without acceleration of the orbital forcing, using the comprehensive coupled climate model CCSM3 (Community Climate System Model 3). Our study shows that in low-latitude regions, the simulation of long-term variations in interglacial surface climate is not significantly affected by the use of the acceleration technique (with an acceleration factor of 10) and hence, large-scale model-data comparison of surface variables is not hampered. However, in high-latitude regions where the surface climate has a direct connection to the deep ocean, e.g. in the Southern Ocean or the Nordic Seas, acceleration-induced biases in sea-surface temperature evolution may occur with potential influence on the dynamics of the overlying atmosphere. The data provided here are from both accelerated and non-accelerated runs as decadal mean values.

Yliopisto-opettajien pedagoginen koulutus, aktivoivien opetusmenetelmien käyttö ja näkemykset tieteellisestä ajattelusta

Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin millaisia ovat yliopisto-opettajien näkemykset tieteellisestä ajattelusta ja opiskelijoiden tieteellisen ajattelun kehittymisestä. Lisäksi selvitettiin, onko yliopisto-opettajien mahdollisilla pedagogisilla opinnoilla yhteyttä aktivoivien opetusmenetelmien käyttöön. Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin myös, onko aktivoivien opetusmenetelmien käyttö yhteydessä opettajien näkemyksiin tutkimuksesta ja opiskelijoiden tieteellisen ajattelun kehittymisestä. Tutkimusjoukko (N = 101) koostui Turun yliopiston opettajista, jotka edustivat neljää tiedekuntaa. 43,9 % vastaajista (n = 43) ilmoitti suorittaneensa pedagogisia opintoja. 56,1 % vastaajista (n = 55) ilmoitti, että ei ole suorittanut mitään pedagogisia opintoja. Pedagogisiksi opinnoiksi laskettiin tässä tutkielmassa yliopistopedagogiset, pedagogiset ja muut kasvatustieteelliset opinnot. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin kyselylomakkeella ja käsiteltiin tilastollisin menetelmin. Tässä tutkimuksessa opettajien näkemykset tieteellisestä ajattelusta ja opiskelijoiden tieteellisen ajattelun kehittymistä voitiin jakaa tilastollisten testien perusteella viiteen ulottuvuuteen, jotka nimettiin seuraavasti: (1) Joustava ja laaja-alainen, (2) Mekaaninen ja varma, (3) Objektiivinen ja perusteleva, (4) Päättelykyky ja tiedon kumuloituminen ja (5) Opiskelutaidot ja asiantuntijuus. Tulosten perusteella pedagogisilla opinnoilla ja aktivoivien opetusmenetelmien runsaammalla käytöllä näyttäisi olevan yhteys ja yhteys on tilastollisesti erittäin merkitsevä. Lisäksi voidaan todeta, että ne opettajat, jotka kertoivat käyttävänsä opetuksessaan paljon aktivoivia opetusmenetelmiä, näkevät päättelytaitojen omaksumisen ja kyvyn yhdistää uutta tietoa jo olemassa olevaan tärkeämpänä kuin ne opettajat, jotka kertoivat käyttävänsä aktivoiva menetelmiä vähemmän. He myös näkevät opiskelijoiden tieteellisen ajattelun kehittymisen joustavampana ja laaja-alaisempana. Ne opettajat, jotka kertoivat käyttävänsä opetuksessaan vähemmän aktivoivia opetusmenetelmiä, puolestaan näkevät opiskelijoiden tieteellisen ajattelun kehittymisen varmaan tietoon perustuvana ja mekaanisempana kuin opettajat, jotka kertoivat käyttävänsä näitä menetelmiä paljon. Tulosten perusteella voidaan todeta, että yliopisto-opettajien hankkima pedagoginen koulutus on tärkeää, sillä opiskelijat hyötyvät monipuolisten aktivoivien opetusmenetelmien käytöstä. Opettajat, jotka kertoivat käyttävänsä aktivoivia opetusmenetelmiä runsaasti, näkivät tiedon joustavana ja laaja-alaisena. Opettajien näkemykset voivat heijastua opiskelijoiden näkemyksiin tiedosta ja näin ollen tukea opiskelijoiden episteemisen ajattelun kehittymistä.

Should eye protection be worn during dermatological surgery: prospective observational study

Background There is a potential risk of infection with blood-borne viruses if a doctor receives a blood splash to a mucous membrane. The quantification of facial contamination with blood has never been documented in the context of dermatological surgery. Objectives (i) To identify the number of facial blood splashes that occur during skin surgery and to identify the procedures that present higher risks for the operator and assistant. (ii) To assess the provision of eye protection and attitudes to its use in dermatological surgery in the U.K. Methods (i) Prospective, observational study in the skin surgery suite of a U.K. teaching hospital assessing 100 consecutive dermatological surgery procedures, plus 100 consecutive operations in which an assistant was present. Primary outcome: number of face-mask visors with at least one blood splash. Secondary outcomes: to identify if any of the following variables influenced the occurrence of a blood splash: grade of operator, site and type of procedure, and the use of electrocautery. (ii) A postal survey of all U.K.-based members of the British Society of Dermatological Surgery (BSDS) was conducted assessing facilities available and the attitudes of U.K.-based clinicians to the use of face masks during surgery. Results (i) In 33% of all surgical procedures there was at least one facial splash to the operator (range 1–75) and in 15% of procedures the assistant received at least one splash (range 1–11). Use of monopolar electrocautery was significantly less likely to result in splashes to the mask compared with bipolar electrocautery [odds ratio (OR) 0Æ04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0Æ01–0Æ19]. Compared with the head/neck, operations on the body were significantly more likely to result in splashes to the mask (OR 6Æ52) (95% CI 1Æ7–25Æ07). The type of procedure and the status of the operator did not have a bearing on the likelihood of receiving a splash to the mask. (ii) From the survey, 33 of 159 (20Æ8%) of BSDS members had no face masks available and 54 of 159 (34Æ0%) did not wear any facial protection while operating. The majority (53Æ5%) thought they received a splash in £ 1% of procedures. Conclusions There is a substantial risk of a splash of blood coming into contact with the face during dermatological surgery for both the operator and assistant, regardless of the procedure. The risk of receiving a blood splash to the face may be substantially underestimated by U.K.-based dermatologists. The use of protective eyewear is advisable at all times, but particularly when using bipolar electrocautery, or when operating on high-risk individuals.