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The aim of our study was to investigate the clinical features of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with autofluorescence (AF), retromode (RM), and enface imaging. This retrospective study was conducted at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome (Italy), between September and December 2022. Each patient underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, which included optical coherence tomography (OCT), enface image analysis, AF, and RM imaging. We further evaluated the presence and area of extension of serous retinal detachment and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy through AF, RM, and enface imaging. We included 32 eyes from 27 patients (mean age: 52.7 ± 13.3 years). The median AF area was 19.5 mm2 (IQR 6.1–29.3), while the median RM area was 12.3 mm2 (IQR 8.1–30.8), and the median enface area was 9.3 mm2 (IQR 4.8–18.6). RPE atrophy was diagnosed in 26 cases (81.3%) with RM imaging and in 75% of cases with AF. No difference emerged between AF and RM analysis in the detection of central serous detachment in CSC. However, RM imaging showed a high specificity (91.7%) and negative predictive value (84.6%) to detect RPE changes when compared to the AF standard-of-care technique. Thus, RM imaging could be considered an adjunctive imaging method in CSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are only two Aphaenogaster species from the subterranea group in the western Mediterranean: A. ichnusa Santschi, 1925, from south-western Europe, and A. subterranea (Latreille, 1798), also occurring in central and eastern Europe. Historically, the two species have been widely misunderstood: A. ichnusa was long considered a Sardinian endemic subspecies of A. subterranea, while its continental populations were misidentified as A. subterranea s. str. Recently, A. ichnusa was elevated to species rank and its worker caste was redescribed with that of A. subterranea, allowing for their correct identification. Yet their distribution was documented in detail only for France and Sardinia. Furthermore, no morphological characters were described to distinguish the males and queens of the two species. By investigating private and museum collections, 276 new records of A. ichnusa are provided here and 154 of A. subterranea from the western Mediterranean. Additionally, qualitative and quantitative morphological characters were combined to identify their males and queens. We present the new southernmost, easternmost, and westernmost distribution limits for A. ichnusa. Based on our results, this species is widely distributed in Italy and Catalonia (Spain), also occurring on several Mediterranean islands, avoiding areas with continental climate and high altitudes. Sicily is the only island to host the less thermophilous A. subterranea, which otherwise extends westward to Galicia (Spain). Sympatric occurrence is not rare along the contact zone. Additional natural history observations are reported regarding foraging habits, associated myrmecophiles, habitat preferences, and colony structure in the two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the early efficacy and safety of treatment with intravitreal injections (IVIs) of brolucizumab in patients presenting with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in a real-world setting. Methods: This retrospective study included 194 eyes of 180 patients with nAMD treated with standard 6-mg IVIs of brolucizumab in our clinic between March 11, 2021, and June 15, 2022. Both treatment-naive (33 eyes) and switch therapy patients (161 eyes) were included in the study. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield thickness (CST), retinal fluid distribution (classified as intraretinal, subretinal, under the pigmented epithelium), treatment intervals, and adverse event rates were collected for analysis. Results: Average follow-up time was 37.2 ± 16.6 weeks. Mean baseline BCVAs were 38.1 ± 4.5 and 41.9 ± 6.7 letters in the treatment-naive and switch therapy groups, with a final gain of 16.0 ± 4.9 (p < 0.0001) and 10.7 ± 5.9 (p < 0.0001) letters in the two groups, respectively. Throughout the study period, CST significantly decreased in both treatment naïve (from 352.0 ± 129.4 to 284.2 ± 93.8 µm; p = 0.0015) and switch therapy (from 369.9 ± 140.5 to 307.4 ± 123.5 µm; p < 0.0001). Significant fluid control rates were achieved at the end of the study period (45% and 27% eyes were completely free of fluid in naïve and switch groups, respectively). Five eyes (2.6%) developed adverse events with different grades of intraocular inflammation and visual outcomes. Conclusion: Brolucizumab IVI showed very good anatomical and functional outcomes in both naive and switch patients in this real-world experience. Nevertheless, even showing a favorable risk/benefit profile, clinicians and patients should be aware of the possibility of a small rate of severe complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social innovation, in the context of public innovation, has gained increased attention in the literature, and is approached relative to the third sector, to social enterprises, or as practices initiated by the public sector. However, the interplay among these actors in enabling social innovation is still underexplored. Therefore, the article investigates the role of social entrepreneurs from outside the public sector in enabling public sector innovation networks. Since social innovation is inherently relational, four cases demonstrating how social entrepreneurs have pushed the boundaries of public sector services, and hence expanded public innovation networks, are analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: PERSEUS-IT (NCT02289924) was a prospective, observational, 2-year study evaluating the effectiveness and treatment patterns of intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in routine clinical practice in Italy. Methods: Treatment-naïve patients with nAMD receiving IVT-AFL per routine clinical practice were enrolled. The primary endpoint was mean change in visual acuity (VA; decimals) from baseline to month (M) 12 and M24. Outcomes were evaluated for the overall study population and independently for the 2 treatment cohorts: regular (3 initial monthly doses, ≥ 7 injections by M12, and ≥ 4 injections between M12 and M24) and irregular (any other pattern). Results: Of 813 patients enrolled, 709 were included in the full analysis set (FAS); VA assessments were available for 342 patients at M12 (FAS1Y, 140 regular and 202 irregular) and 233 patients at M24 (FAS2Y, 37 regular and 196 irregular). In the overall FAS, the mean ± SD change in VA from baseline to M12 and M24 was + 0.09 ± 0.24 and + 0.02 ± 0.25 decimals, and there was a statistically significant difference between the regular and irregular cohorts in both FAS1Y (p = 0.0034) and FAS2Y (p = 0.0222). Ocular treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 4.1% (n = 33/810 [safety set]) of patients. Conclusion: In PERSEUS-IT, clinically relevant functional and anatomic improvements were observed within the first 12 months of IVT-AFL treatment in routine clinical practice in Italy in patients with treatment-naïve nAMD. These gains were generally maintained across the 2-year study. The safety profile of IVT-AFL was consistent with prior studies. Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02289924. Date of registration: November 13, 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ant genus Acropyga Roger, 1862 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and its associated myrmecophilous scale insect genus Eumyrmococcus Silvestri, 1926 (Hemiptera: Xenococcidae) are reported from Italy for the first time. These records are based on some alates of Acropyga paleartica Menozzi, 1936 with females of Eumyrmococcus corinthiacus Williams, 1993 carried in their mandibles, collected in Salento area (Apulia region, South Eastern Italy) in 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Employees are considered as important contributors to service innovation, but the literature is not unanimous about what employee involvement in service innovation entails. To advance theoretical understanding of the topic, this paper develops a conceptual framework for analysing employee involvement in service innovations, reviews existing research on the topic and proposes a research agenda. Design/methodology/approach: Different modes of employee involvement in service innovation are distinguished based on two dimensions: (1) the intensity of employee influence on service innovation and (2) the breadth of the innovation activity in which employees are involved. This conceptual framework is abductively developed through a literature review of empirical service innovation studies to identify and analyse whether and how these modes of employee involvement are manifested in the service innovation literature. Findings: The findings delineate six modes of employee involvement in the reviewed service innovation studies. Employees are primarily seen as having a strong influence on situated innovation activities but a limited influence on systemic innovation activities. The findings show that more research is needed to assess the connections between different modes of employee involvement. Practical implications: The findings can be used by practitioners to assess the possibilities different modes of employee involvement may bring to service innovation activities. Originality/value: The proposed conceptual framework and the analysis of current research and research gaps in service innovation studies provide a clear research agenda for progressing multidimensional understanding of employee involvement in service innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A high level of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), which is a nonenzymatic glycosylation product, is correlated with an increased risk of developing microangiopathic complications in Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Erythrocyte membrane fluidity could provide a complementary index to monitor the development of complications since it is influenced by several hyperglycaemia-induced pathways and other independent risk factors. Materials and methods: 15 healthy controls and 33 patients with long-duration (≥20 years) type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) were recruited. Diabetic subjects were classified into two groups: T1DM, constituted by 14 nonretinopathic patients, and T1DM + RD, constituted by 19 patients in any stage of diabetic retinopathy. Red blood cells (RBC) were incubated with the fluorescent Laurdan probe and median values of Generalized Polarization (GP), representative of membrane fluidity, were compared between the two groups. Baseline characteristics among groups have been compared with Student's t test or ANOVA. Values of P < .05 were considered statistically significant. Results: All the participants were comparable for age, Body Mass Index (BMI), creatinine and lipid profile. The duration of diabetes was similar for T1DM (34.4 ± 7.8 years) and T1DM + RD (32.8 ± 7.5 years) subjects as well as values of HbA1c: (55.6 ± 8.1) mmol/mol for T1DM and (61.2 ± 11.0) mmol/mol for T1DM + RD, respectively. Erythrocyte plasmatic membranes of RD patients were found to be more fluid (GP: 0.40 ± 0.04) than non-RD patients (GP: 0.43 ± 0.03) with a statistically significant difference (P = .035). Conclusions: Altered erythrocyte membrane fluidity may therefore represent a marker of retinopathy in T1DM patients as a result of post-translational modifications of multifactorial aetiology (nonenzymatic glycosylation of proteins, generation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and purpose: Choroidal metastases (CM) are the most common intraocular malignancies. With longer survival rates for cancer patients, CM will be increasingly encountered. We evaluated clinical and ultrasonographic (US) characteristics of CM in order to identify diagnostic biomarkers that correlate with the primary tumor site. Methods: The medical records of all patients with CM evaluated at the Ocular Oncology Unit between February 2010 and March 2020 were analyzed. Results: 82 eyes of 70 patients were included. The primary cancer site was lung in 26 patients (37%), breast in 23 (33%), kidney in 9 (13%), gastrointestinal in 5 (7%), thyroid in 5 (7%), parathyroids and prostate respectively in 2 (3%). Fifty-five patients (78%) had other systemic metastases at the time of ocular diagnosis. Ten (14%) patients had no history of primary cancer. Bilateral CM were found in 20 patients (29%); fifty-six eyes (68%) had a single CM. The epicenter of CM was predominantly macula (43 eyes, 52%). The mean thickness was 4,1 mm (range 1,8–12,3). US structure was inhomogeneous in 67 eyes (82%). Reflectivity was mainly medium (39%) and medium-low (39%). In particular, CM from lung cancer showed lower reflectivity than those from the breast (p = 0,02). CM deriving from lung cancer were typically dome-shaped, whereas CM originating from breast were characteristically plateau shaped (p = 0,02). Seventy-four (91%) eyes presented fluid on optical coherence tomography. Conclusion: We significatively found that CM from lung cancer generally appear dome-shaped with medium-low internal reflectivity, whereas those from breast cancer typically present a plateau appearance and higher internal reflectivity. Though it is hard to identify the site of the primary tumor relying exclusively on clinical and US aspects, morphology and internal reflectivity can be considered as diagnostic biomarkers. Thus, the origin of the primary tumor can be suspected by integrating a constellation of findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate if a disease thickness cut-off of 5 mm can be considered the best choice to select gamma emitter sources, as 125I, for the treatment of uveal melanomas. METHODS The records of patients affected by primary uveal melanoma and treated in our institutional IOC (Interventional Oncology Center) from December 2006 to December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients with a disease thickness between 4 mm and 6 mm treated with 106Ru or 125I plaque were considered for this analysis. RESULTS Between December 2006 and December 2016, 107 patients (107 eyes) with UM received brachytherapy treatment with tumor thickness between 4 and 6 mm. Nine patients developed local recurrence while seven patients had distant metastases. No statistically significant difference (p=0.36) was observed between the two groups (125I versus 106Ru) concerning DFS. Five patients treated with 125I (19.2%) experienced radiation maculopathy; this finding is noteworthy because this toxicity was experienced by 21 patients treated with 106Ru (25.9%). CONCLUSION In this study, we report that the use of 125I seeds for UM with a thickness between 5 mm and 6 mm is not associated with a statistically significant increased risk of radiation maculopathy. It is desirable that further multicentric investigations may help to confirm the results of our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idea competitions can help organizations innovate and IT support can make it easier to enrol participants, facilitate collaboration and manage the process. Thus far, the literature on IT‐enabled idea competitions has focused mainly on engaging external actors; consequently, we know less about the internal engagement of employees. Moreover, although the literature reveals several challenges in managing internal IT‐enabled idea competitions, there are no comprehensive empirical accounts of how these challenges manifest in organizational contexts. Against this backdrop, we investigate how an engineering consultancy adapted an IT‐enabled idea competition to support innovation, innovation awareness and knowledge sharing. This descriptive case study provides a detailed analysis of the breakdowns that manifested, what triggered the breakdowns, and how the organization responded. Our analysis reveals that the system required substantial adaptation, and, although it addressed well‐known challenges in managing idea competitions, other challenges surfaced. We combine these empirical insights with extant literature to propose a model for understanding and explaining how our case organization handled the breakdowns that occurred while implementing the idea competition system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the results of a patient's tailored therapeutic approach using a second course of interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) in patients with locally recurrent uveal melanoma. Material and methods: Patients who had already undergone ocular brachytherapy treated at our IOC (Interventional Oncology Center) were considered. Five patients who has received a second course of treatment with a plaque after local recurrences were included in our study. Re-irradiation was performed with Ruthenium-106 (prescribed dose to the apex 100 Gy) or with Iodine-125 plaques (prescribed dose to the apex 85 Gy). Moreover, a systematic literature search was conducted through three electronic databases, including Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. Results: All patients were initially treated with Ruthenium-106 plaque; the re-irradiation was performed with Ruthenium-106 plaque in three cases and with Iodine in two cases. Mean time between the first and the second plaque was 56.8 months (range, 25-93 months). Local tumor control rate was 100%, no patient underwent secondary enucleation owing to re-treatment failure. Distant metastasis occurred in 1 patient after 6 months from re-treatment. After a median follow-up of 44.2 months (range, 26-65 months) from re-treatment, all patients experienced worsening of the visual acuity (median visual acuity was 0.42 at time of recurrence and decline to 0.24 at the most recent follow-up); cataract occurred in two cases, no patient developed scleral necrosis. We considered 2 papers for a systematic review. Conclusions: In selected cases, especially in presence of marginal local recurrence, a personalized re-treatment strategy with a plaque may offer high probability of tumor control and organ preservation but worsening of visual acuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this case series was to report the potential role of cyclophosphamide (CY) on bleb survival and to evaluate the safety of the trabeculectomy procedure under immunosuppressant systemic therapy.Case series: Five eyes of five patients with unresponsive to intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering medication, progressive glaucoma, underwent mytomicin C (MMC) augmented phaco-trabeculectomy, performed by the same surgeon, A.G., during the period from May 2015 to January 2016. All patients were treated with low doses of systemic CY at the time of surgery, to control their relapsing progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) form.Results: During a mean follow-up period of 20.6 ± 8.1 months, for cases of “complete success” (when the IOP was < 15 mmHg without glaucoma therapy) were observed, while one case was classified as a “qualified success” since the IOP was ≤ 15 mmHg with β-blocker drops. There were no bleb infections, nor bleb-related complications.Conclusion: This study reports the safety of performing the filtration surgical procedure under immunosuppressant systemic therapy and provides a possible explication of CY anti-fibrotic mechanism and its possible role on bleb survival. Our findings may suggest new perspectives of study in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although introduced for the treatment of maculopathies, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is now largely used in some eye cancers treatment. The selective tissue damage with PDT is achieved by sequestration of the photosensitizer in the target tissue and focal activation of the photosensitizer by low energy directed light. In this way, it is possible to achieve the destruction of the tumor tissue by safeguarding the surrounding healthy structures. Our study describes the clinical uses and efficacy of photodynamic therapy in ocular oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Canary Islands are a biologically important archipelago hosting many unique species, whose myrmecofauna is peculiarly rich in both endemic and introduced species. Lepisiota frauenfeldi cfr. kantarensis Forel, 1911 is reported for the first time from Fuerteventura and Tenerife. It is the second species of Lepisiota introduced in the archipelago in the last few years, and one of the few documented cases in which Lepisiota frauenfeldi (Mayr, 1855) s.l. acts as a successful tramp species. Comments are also given on taxonomic problems involving the L. frauenfeldi-group and related taxa. Finally, new additional information and comments are presented on the distribution of other alien ants species from the Canary Islands [Lasius neglectus Van Loon, Boomsma & Andrásfalvy, 1990, Lepisiota capensis (Mayr, 1862) and Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop a predictive model and nomogram for maculopathy occurrence at 3 years after 106Ru/106Rh plaque brachytherapy in uveal melanoma. Material and methods: Clinical records of patients affected by choroidal melanoma and treated with 106Ru/106Rh plaque from December 2006 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were: dome-shaped melanoma, distance to the fovea > 1.5 mm, tumor thickness > 2 mm, and follow-up > 4 months. The delivered dose to the tumor apex was 100 Gy. Primary endpoint of this investigation was the occurrence of radiation maculopathy at 3 years. Analyzed factors were as follows: gender, age, diabetes, tumor size (volume, area, largest basal diameter and apical height), type of plaque, distance to the fovea, presence of exudative detachment, drusen, orange pigment, radiation dose to the fovea and sclera. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to define the impact of baseline patient factors on the occurrence of maculopathy. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate freedom from the occurrence of the maculopathy. The model performance was evaluated through internal validation using area under the ROC curve (AUC), and calibration with Gronnesby and Borgan tests. Results: One hundred ninety-seven patients were considered for the final analysis. Radiation-related maculopathy at 3 years was observed in 41 patients. The proposed nomogram can predict maculopathy at 3 years with an AUC of 0.75. Distance to fovea appeared to be the main prognostic factor of the predictive model (hazard ratio of 0.83 [0.76-0.90], p < 0.01). Diabetes (hazard radio of 2.92 [1.38-6.20], p < 0.01), and tumor volume (hazard radio of 21.6 [1.66-281.14], p = 0.02) were significantly predictive for maculopathy occurrence. The calibration showed no statistical difference between actual and predicted maculopathy (p = 1). Conclusions: Our predictive model, together with its nomogram, could be a useful tool to predict the occurrence of radiation maculopathy at 3 years after the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: To verify the efficacy of 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for the management of posteriorly dislocated lens material after complicated cataract extraction and to determine in what patients this approach offers the optimal benefit in terms of efficacy and safety, considering the amount of retained nuclear material and the duration of surgery. Methods: Forty eyes of 40 patients with retained lens fragments undergoing early (within 1 week) or late (within >1 week) 25-gauge PPV were retrospectively reviewed. The amount of dislocated nuclear material was graded by the surgeon intraoperatively, and the patients were divided into two groups according to the nuclear grading: group A (≤50% dropped nucleus) and group B (>50% dropped nucleus). The presence of brunescent nuclear pieces was considered. The outcomes measured included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and postoperative complications such as retinal detachment, cystoid macular edema (CME) and postoperative ocular hypertension or hypotonia. Results: The patients had a mean age of 78 years. The mean preoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA was 0.57 ± 0.24 (20/80). A significant positive correlation was found between nuclear material grade and PPV duration (R2 = 0.81, p < 0.0001). None of the patients had dislocation of brunescent nuclear pieces. On postoperative day 1, the mean postoperative intraocular pressure was 16.75 ± 2.7 mm Hg, with no case of ocular hypotonia. At 6 months of follow-up, the mean logMAR BCVA improved to 0.23 ± 0.3 (20/32). Retinal detachment developed in 4 patients (10%), occurring only in patients of group B (p < 0.002). Four patients with late PPV developed postoperative CME, with no case of CME among patients with early vitrectomy (p = 0.014). Conclusion: Removal of dislocated lens fragments after complicated cataract surgery can be effectively managed with 25-gauge PPV, although it appears to be most efficient for cases with a limited amount of dislocated lens material. In consideration of the higher rate of retinal detachment observed in cases of prolonged PPV time, the expected duration of surgery should be taken into account when choosing the best surgical approach. Visual outcomes are not affected by the timing of PPV, whereas early vitrectomy seems to prevent the onset of inflammatory macular edema. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tetramorium striativentre species group is revised. Workers and queens of the species of this group are characterized by the unique for all other Palaearctic Tetramorium species feature: the first gastral tergite, or at least its anterior half, is very densely and distinctly longitudinally striato-punctated. We place six species to this group, including two new ones: T. striativentre Mayr, T. schneideri Emery, T. kabulistanicum Pisarski, T. saudicum Sharaf, T. sabatinellii sp. n. from Jordan, and T. pisarskii sp. n. from Afghanistan. Additions to the diagnosis of T. striativentre and T. schneideri and the first descriptions of males of these two species are provided, and a key to species of this group is compiled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To report the risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ocular infection after UVA-riboflavin corneal collagen cross-linking in a patient with atopic dermatitis. Methods. A 22-year-old man, with bilateral evolutive keratoconus and atopic dermatitis, underwent UVA-riboflavin corneal cross-linking and presented with rapidly progressive corneal abscesses and cyclitis in the treated eye five days after surgery. The patient was admitted to the hospital and treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobic therapy. Results. The patient had positive cultures for MRSA, exhibiting a strong resistance to antibiotics. Antibiotic therapy was modified and targeted accordingly. The intravitreal reaction is extinguished, but severe damage of ocular structures was unavoidable. Conclusion. Riboflavin/UVA corneal cross-linking is considered a safe procedure and is extremely effective in halting keratoconus’ progression. However, this procedure is not devoid of infectious complications, due to known risk factors and/or poor patients’ hygiene compliance in the postoperative period. Atopic dermatitis is a common disease among patients with keratoconus and Staphylococcus aureus colonization is commonly found in patients with atopic dermatitis. Therefore, comorbidity with atopic dermatitis should be thoroughly assessed through clinical history before surgery. A clinical evaluation within three days after surgery and the imposition of strict personal hygiene rules are strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) are usually double helical and circular molecules containing 37 genes that are encoded on both strands. The arrangementof thegenes isnot constant for all species, andproducesdistinctgeneorders (GOs) thathave proven to be diagnostic in defining clades at different taxonomic levels. In general, it is believed that distinct taxa have a very low chance of sharing identically arranged GOs. However, examples of identical, homoplastic local rearrangements occurring in distinct taxa do exist. In this study, we sequenced the complete mtDNAs of the ants Formica fusca and Myrmica scabrinodis (Formicidae, Hymenoptera) and compared their GOs with those of other Insecta. The GO of F. fusca was found to be identical to the GO of Dytrisia (the largest clade of Lepidoptera). This finding is the first documented case of an identical GO shared by distinct groups of Insecta, andit is the oldestknownevent ofGOconvergent evolutioninanimals. BothHymenoptera andLepidoptera acquired thisGO early in their evolution. Using a phylogenetic approach combined with new bioinformatic tools, the chronological order of the evolutionary events that produced the diversity of the hymenopteran GOs was determined. Additionally, new local homoplastic rearrangementssharedbydistinctgroupsof insectswere identified. Our study showedthat localandglobalhomoplasies affecting the insect GOs are more widespread than previously thought. Homoplastic GOs can still be useful for characterizing the various clades, provided that they are appropriately considered in a phylogenetic and taxonomic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article involves a qualitative study of factors impacting the adoption of ICT solutions in the Danish facility management supply chain. The results show that there are a number of drivers and barriers that influence the adoption of ICT solutions in this service sector. These have been grouped under three major categories: organizational factors including strategic and operational factors; external environmental factors including supplier interdependence and industry characteristics; and technological factors including compatibility and complexity. The study is relevant to researchers concerned with ICT adoption, operations and service management (especially facilities management) as well as operation managers and ICT managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The paper aims to investigate how customers may contribute to radical innovation in consultancy services and the conditions needed for customers to be involved in such radical service innovations. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a qualitative case study approach including rich descriptions based primarily on interviews to investigate an extreme example of successful customer involvement in the development of radical service innovations at Ramboll, a leading Scandinavian engineering consultancy. Findings – The study reveals that customers may be involved in radical innovation processes to different degrees. However, actively involving customers in radical services innovation require a relationship between the customer company and the service provider that might be described as a partnership in which ongoing learning takes place to develop new solutions. The findings reveal that unsolved problems as well as personal trust are key in making customers involved in radical service innovations. Customers involved actively are further characterised by possessing high expertise and extraordinary personal engagement. Research limitations/implications – As in all case studies, the main limitation of the study is the generalisability of the findings. More cases would help to shed light on the generalisability of the findings across other radical innovation projects within the same company or in similar types of company. Originality/value – The study contributes with new and detailed insights into both how to involve customers in radical service innovations and the conditions and challenges found in doing so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to investigate whether management and employees in academic libraries involve users in library service innovations and what these user roles are. Design/methodology/approach – The article first reviews the literature focusing on innovation, new product development, new service development and library science with specific focus on users and management. Subsequently the research uses a case study approach to investigate management and customer involvement in a Danish academic library. Findings – Results from the case study show that academic libraries are making some attempts to draw on customers in service innovations and not only rely on management and employees. The main conclusion is that there are unexplored possibilities for customer involvement in library service innovations. Research limitations/implications – One limitation relates to the difficulty of generalization of the findings to other Danish libraries and especially other national contexts. The other one relates to the preponderance of the literature from sources outside the field of library management and library science. Therefore, library managers might have to be cautious in using the results of this study. Practical implications – The article has practical implications for library managers, employees, library science and innovation researchers alike. Originality/value – The article is original because it generates new insights into management and especially customer involvement in academic library service innovations on the basis of an in-depth case study of a Danish academic library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a wide-ranging literature review, we argue that the information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure has not received adequate attention for its role in the development and maintenance of industrial clusters. This article develops expectations for how firms in an industrial cluster make use of a public, broadband ICT infrastructure, particularly in support of e-commerce applications. We further address the question of whether ICT use, by enabling stronger ties to non-cluster partners, can weaken clusters. A case study of a successful biotechnology cluster in Denmark and Sweden—the Medicon Valley—is used to explore ICT use in a knowledge-intensive cluster context. We conclude that ICT use appears to strengthen rather than weaken the Medicon Valley cluster, and that firms located within a cluster appear to gain some unique advantages from their ICT usage that are not necessarily available to firms outside the cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients. Methods: This interventional case series study included 15 eyes of 10 patients with bilateral PDR: 13 eyes with severe PDR and active new vessels (NV) and two eyes with recurrent vitreous haemorrhages. Study eyes received a single intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg (0.05 ml) bevacizumab. All eyes were followed up for 3 months, and eight of them for 9 months. Reinjection was performed in three eyes 4–6 months after the first injection. Study eyes were evaluated by fluorescein angiography at baseline, 1, 3 and 9 months. Quantitative planimetric analysis (QPA) of NV area was measured before and after treatment. All eyes received or completed panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) 1 month after the first injection. Results: As early as at 1 month, all study eyes had a regression (paired t-test, P = 0.01) of QPA-estimated NV area. The eyes with recurrent vitreous haemorrhages had clearing of bleeding. These early effects were maintained at 3 months for all eyes and tended to be stable at 9 months. The fast and measurable efficacy of bevacizumab allowed a subsequent complete and safe PRP. Conclusion: Intravitreal bevacizumab did not reveal any side-effects and was effective in the regression of NV areas and the resolution of vitreous haemorrhages. This approach is potentially useful in allowing (within a planned temporal window) a safe and efficient PRP to be performed while minimizing the risk of its complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the competences deemed necessary both at top managerial and individual levels for the successful adoption and assimilation of business-to-business e-services in small and medium size enterprises. To this end, an in-depth case study of a business-to-business e-service system, a Web-based travel reservation system, was conducted. The results show that three main competences, namely vision, value and control, are important at fop management level for the primary adoption of e-services. For secondary adoption and assimilation, three categories of competences were identified as being important either to have or to develop at the individual level, namely technical, interpersonal and conceptual skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the technological and social factors that led to the successful adoption of groupware by a virtual team in a educational setting. Drawing on a theoretical framework based on the concept of technological frames, we conducted an action research study to analyse the chronological sequence of events in groupware adoption. We argue that groupware adoption can be conceptualised as a three-step process of expanding and aligning individual technological frames towards groupware. The first step comprises activities that bring knowledge of new technological opportunities to the participants. The second step involves facilitating the participants to articulate and evaluate their work practices and their use of technology. The third and final step deals with the participants' commitment to, and practical enactment of, groupware technology. The alignment of individual technological frames requires the articulation and re-evaluation of experience with collaborative practice and with the use of technology. One of the key findings is that this activity cannot take place at the outset of groupware adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The authors describe a myopic choroidal neovascular membrane excised 4 months after photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods A 68-year-old woman with classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to pathologic myopia underwent PDT with verteporfin in the left eye. Four months after treatment a full-thickness macular hole was diagnosed in the same eye and the patient underwent vitrectomy with submacular membranectomy. The subfoveal membrane was studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemical techniques. Results Light microscopy showed a thin fibrovascular membrane covered by residual retinal pigment epithelium. The membrane contained homogeneous matrix with small collagen bundles, fibroblasts and small blood vessels. The distribution of blood vessels was nonuniform: extravasated red blood cells, macrophages and other inflammatory elements were not present in the fibrous matrix. Endothelial cells were highlighted by CD34 immunostaining and did not show any significant alteration. There was no evidence of inflammatory cells or thrombosis inside vascular lumina. Conclusions Histologic examination of the neovascular membrane showed features similar to those of surgically excised myopic CNV without PDT treatment. Our findings suggest that PDT-induced occlusion is temporary. Fluorescein leakage from CNV after a single PDT treatment can be considered as an sign of blood vessel regrowth or recanalization indicating that multiple treatments are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the adoption of Internet commerce by small-to-medium enterprises in the south of Italy. Innovation and electronic commerce; Information technology adoption drivers and inhibitors; Tornatzky and Fleischer model.