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PurposeThe insulation of globally mobile workers into communities is often influenced by political considerations within the host country. Most studies examining this area have focused on how expatriates and globally mobile workers seclude themselves into insulated communities when working abroad. This perspective does not take into consideration political and societal factors that often pressure globally mobile workers into secluded communities composed of people similar to themselves. This study examines how host-country political imperatives can help create and maintain insulated communities of foreign workers.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on a case study methodology that examines the J-1 Visa program in the United States and how it has, in many instances, evolved into a de facto guest worker program that secludes foreign workers into insulated communities. The case study includes interviews with five J-1 administrators at sponsoring organizations that employ J-1 recipients.FindingsThis study finds that political pressures do have an impact on the insulation of J-1 recipients into secluded communities in the United States. This is largely accomplished through the legal requirements of the program, pressure from sponsoring employers on the government and the significant political and economic ties that the United States maintains with the home countries of J-1 recipients.Originality/valueThis is one of the few studies to examine insulated communities of globally mobile workers from a political perspective. It is exploratory in nature and recommends that further studies be conducted.

During the 8th-7th centuries BCE, Israelite and Judahite society witnessed expanded applications of writing as a communication technology. In particular, the epigraphic record shows a stark rise in the usage of writing by state and military bureaucracies to manage bodies and economic matters across time and space. Previous scholarship has rarely considered how sectors of society may have perceived writing’s expansion in these administrative contexts. How did Israelites and Judahites think about and talk about the increase in bureaucratic writing? This dissertation seeks to answer this question by investigating administrative writing as depicted in biblical literature. It assesses the historical value of three biblical narratives where administrative documents mediate interaction between sovereign figures and other sectors of society. The three narratives include Gideon’s use of a name-list (Judg 8:14), David’s census (2 Sam 24:1-25), and Jehoash’s fiscal reforms (2 Kgs 12:4-16). Each narrative’s portrayal of writing is situated in its literary and historical contexts while also considered in the light of the epigraphic record, other biblical depictions of writing, the anthropology of documents and bureaucracy, and comparative ancient Near Eastern texts and artistic depictions of bureaucratic writing. Typically, such biblical portrayals of writing are valued in scholarship for what they might say about the extent of literacy in ancient Israel and Judah. This dissertation differs from previous scholarship by instead valuing these depictions for what they might say about attitudes towards document-mediated interaction. When the depictions of writing analyzed here are examined with a full consideration of the evidence, it can be argued that they reveal suspicious and anxious attitudes towards state-sponsored writing. Ultimately, it is argued that such negative attitudes stemmed from West Semitic political culture, which placed an emphasis on political action rooted in negotiation and persuasion. In this sociopolitical landscape, administrative documents could function as powerful symbols of coercion and domination. The three biblical narratives examined here suggest that writing’s increased usage in bureaucratic contexts of the 8th-7th centuries BCE thus generated distrust among some factions who had reservations about the growing centralization of the Judahite and Israelite states.

PurposeThe aim of this study is to develop a better understanding of how the transferability and recognition of host country professional experience and educational credentials impact the repatriation intentions of long-term self-initiated expatriates (SIEs). To that end, the study interviews a sample of American-educated French long-term SIEs in the United States (US) to assess how both their higher education and professional experience influence their social identity in their home country, France and their perceived repatriation opportunities.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies social identity theory to the examination of the combined impact of higher education and work experience abroad on the repatriation expectations of long-term SIEs. The author interviewed twenty-one French SIEs who attended universities in the US and remained there afterward to begin their careers.FindingsThe findings of this study confirm that the repatriation intentions of long-term SIEs are strongly influenced by concerns about the ability to maintain their host country standard of living in their home country. It also finds that foreign educational credentials and professional experience can constrain the ability of long-term SIEs to repatriate easily and gain acceptance. To overcome this, long-term SIEs often feel that they must embrace alternative repatriation strategies to maintain the lifestyle that they enjoyed while abroad when returning back home.Originality/valueThis study examines a sample of long-term SIEs from one home country, France, who left to attend university in the same host country, the US. It assesses how the experiences of those who remained in the US afterward to start their careers impacted their repatriation intentions. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the context of self-initiated expatriation by examining the influence of host-country educational credentials and work experience on the repatriation intentions of long-term SIEs.

PurposeThis study examines which dimensions of a business environment are most important for attracting globally mobile self-initiated expatriates to a country. The authors use secondary data from the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, IMD and the World Population Review to test eight hypotheses involving six macro-contextual factors that prior studies suggest attract internationally mobile skilled professionals, such as self-initiated expatriates, to a country's business environment. The macro-contextual factors examined are socio-cultural, economic, natural, ecological, technological clusters and legal and regulatory.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use secondary data from the World Bank, IMD, World Population Report and the World Economic Forum to test eight hypotheses concerning macro-contextual factors that attract self-initiated expatriates to a country's business environment.FindingsThe study finds that factors such as the ease of hiring foreign labor, the use of English, macroeconomic stability, the diversity of the workforce and the quality of life in a country positively influence the attractiveness of its business environment to self-initiated expatriates. The study also finds that a business environment's socio-cultural, natural, economic and legal and regulatory macro-contextual attributes make it attractive to self-initiated expatriates.Originality/valueTo reduce common source bias, the authors use secondary data from four sources to examine which of six macro-contextual factors make a sample of 63 national business environments attractive to self-initiated expatriates. This study is one of the few to examine the impact of business environments on global mobility.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that plays a critical role in marine life. It is present in several marine animals, including fish, but the primary producers of EPA are phytoplankton and specific marine bacteria. Although most of the EPA present in marine animals come from phytoplankton, the bacterial input into the marine EPA food web is still unknown. The labelling of EPA within a bacterial strain could be a viable strategy to help revealing this contribution. In this work, Shewanella marinintestina IRL 567, a marine bacterium isolated from fish guts and known to produce EPA, was labelled with the stable isotope

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research’s (SCAR) Action Group on Resilience and the Future of Science-based Decision-making for Antarctica (PoLSciNex AG) has been in existence since 2018 and...

Assessment of Behavioural Parameters of Chironomus Tentans and Lumbriculus Variegatus for the use in a New Early Warning Biomonitoring System for Drinking Water

Purpose Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) detects several classes of genomic alterations across numerous genes simultaneously and can match more patients with genomically targeted therapies than conventional molecular profiling. The current study estimated the costs of anticancer drugs and overall survival (OS) for patients who were treated with matched and unmatched therapy. Methods Costs were estimated for patients with complete data (188 of 500 patients) from a prospective, nonrandomized study of patients with diverse refractory cancers who underwent CGP and were treated with matched or unmatched therapy. We assessed mean time to treatment failure (TTF) and mean observed OS. Patient-specific drug and administration costs were imputed for the first regimen after CGP on the basis of drug classes, unit costs, and time on treatment. Results Patients on matched (n = 122) versus unmatched (n = 66) therapy had longer mean TTF (+1.5 months) and observed OS (+2.4 months) and higher drug costs (+$38,065; all P < .01). Increased drug costs were largely attributable to the longer duration of therapy associated with extended TTF (66.3%) rather than higher monthly drug costs (33.7%). Incremental increases in TTF (+1.9 months v +1.2 months) and observed OS (+2.5 months v +2.1 months) between matched and unmatched therapies were larger for those who underwent CGP in earlier- versus later-line therapy. Incremental increases in drug costs between matched and unmatched therapies were lower for earlier- compared with later-line therapy (+$27,000 v +$43,000, respectively). Conclusion Matched therapy was associated with longer TTF, increased OS, and manageable incremental cost increases compared with unmatched therapy. Most of these increased costs were a result of the longer duration of therapy rather than higher monthly drug costs. The benefits of matching were numerically greater in earlier versus later lines of therapy, which is consistent with the value of early use of CGP.

PurposeThis study aims to empirically examine the most common appeals recommended for use in nation branding campaigns to attract and retain skilled professionals from abroad to enhance a country’s economic competitiveness. To assess this, the authors examine how the image and reputation of a country as a destination and location for talent compare to its actual performance in terms of attracting and retaining skilled professionals. This comparison provides useful insights into the aspects of a country’s reputation that matter most for attracting the talent it needs to enhance its competitiveness.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a multivariate analysis to examine a sample of 122 countries using secondary data from the World Economic Forum, the World Bank, the UNDP and other non-governmental sources, such as the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto. It then tests the results using a sample of 35 OECD countries to assess whether they apply to all types of countries equally.FindingsThe study finds that the two most important factors for ensuring that a country is maximizing its potential to attract skilled professionals are the availability of employment and the degree of ethnic and cultural diversity within the host country. The most important factor for ensuring that a country is maximizing its potential to retain talent, the study finds, is the availability of employment. This does not mean that other factors do not matter, but employment and diversity are crucial for attracting talent from abroad.Research limitations/implicationsThe study also tests the overall results of the study by using a smaller sample of 35 OECD countries. It finds that the availability of employment and high levels of GDP per capita (i.e. wealth) is important for attracting and retaining skilled professionals in more industrially developed countries.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the few empirical studies to examine nation branding to attract and retain talent from abroad to enhance national competitiveness. Its findings suggest that a multifaceted and holistic framework-based approach to nation branding to attract talent, such as that recommended by Silvanto and Ryan (2014), is less likely to work in the short term than an approach which primarily emphasizes employment and diversity.

Purpose This paper aims to develop a clearer understanding of the role of business education and business schools in fostering global mobility. As business schools seek to educate managers who can work globally and adjust to new business and cultural environments, it is important to assess which specific dimensions of business education, such as the location of the school and its curriculum, play a significant role in fostering greater global mobility among business graduates. This also helps how business schools potentially influence global talent flows. Design/methodology/approach This study uses an empirical research methodology in the form of a multivariate analysis to examine a sample of 91 business schools that are accredited by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in the 2015 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking. Findings This study finds that international mobility of MBA graduates is mediated both by the design of the curriculum and the location of the business school. MBA graduates from leading business schools that offer greater levels of international experiential learning are more likely to pursue overseas careers after graduation. MBA graduates from leading business schools that are located in economically globalized locations, by contrast, are often more likely to remain in the country where they studied after graduation to pursue local employment opportunities. Originality/value This paper contributes to the knowledge of how business education influences the international mobility of business graduates and how it influences global talent flows.

The proposed transition to single-pilot operations (SPO) in commercial and military aircraft has motivated the development of advanced autonomy systems. However, a detailed analysis of the impact of advanced autonomy on pilot workload through various phases of flight and contingency scenarios has not been conducted. To this end, this paper presents the development of the Pilot-Autonomy Workload Simulation (PAWS), a discrete event simulation model that allows the investigation of pilot workload under a variety of advanced autonomy capabilities and scenarios. Initial utilization results from PAWS of nominal and off-nominal point-to-point missions demonstrate that the workload for a single pilot assisted by advanced autonomy varies considerably over different phases of flight and various contingencies. These results suggest that advanced autonomy to offset pilot workload is not needed for low-workload phases, but could be critical during periods of high workload.

Recent advances in unmanned and autonomous vehicle technology are accelerating the push to integrate these vehicles into environments, such as the National Airspace System, the national highway system, and many manufacturing environments. These environments will require close collaboration between humans and vehicles, and their large scales mean that real-world field trials may be difficult to execute due to concerns of cost, availability, and technological maturity. This paper describes the use of an agent-based model to explore the system-level effects of unmanned vehicle implementation on the performance of these collaborative human–vehicle environments. In particular, this paper explores the introduction of three different unmanned vehicle control architectures into aircraft carrier flight deck operations. The different control architectures are tested under an example mission scenario using 22 aircraft. Results show that certain control architectures can improve the rate of launches, but these improvements are limited by the structure of flight deck operations and nature of the launch task (which is defined independently of vehicles). Until the launch task is improved, the effects of unmanned vehicle control architectures on flight deck performance will be limited.

It is difficult – but increasingly important – to build collaborative systems that can do a range of jobs in a range of ways in a range of conditions. Much of this difficulty stems from the broad scope of contextual and collaborative knowledge required to interact productively with humans amidst uncertainty and change. With respect to physical collaboration, human-robot interaction (HRI) studies have made progress on related problems by constraining uncertainty and dynamism, thus limiting the knowledge required. Our participation in an extreme context prevented us from adopting these approaches: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program has a requirement that the prototype robotic copilot system it seeks to develop must be extensible in 30 days to function in a different, unspecified aircraft in a range of flight conditions and missions. To accommodate, we developed a knowledge management-inspired approach and system that allowed a variety of stakeholders to curate and rely on a dynamic body of flight-related knowledge. This had significant positive implications across design, test and use of the system, crucially enabling pilots to compose a robot- and human-legible plan for their interaction with the system using familiar conventions. Our contributions promise to accelerate quality development of extensible collaborative robotic systems for settings such as general medical assistance, disaster response and construction that require collaborative problem solving in highly uncertain, dynamic and variable conditions.

Recent advances in unmanned and autonomous vehicle technology are accelerating the push to integrate these vehicles into human-centered environments such as commercial aviation and public roads. Much of the current research into autonomous systems examines improving the performance of individual unmanned vehicles or improving the safety of their interactions with individual humans; very little examines the behavior of the broader system. For large-scale transportation systems, real-world field trials involving unmanned vehicles are difficult to execute due to concerns of cost, feasibility of construction, and the maturity of the technologies. This paper describes the use of an agent-based model of unmanned vehicle behavior in human-centered environments to explore the effects of their implementation in these domains. In particular, this work explores how safety protocols governing the integration of manned and unmanned vehicles affect performance in an aircraft carrier ground control environment. Three di...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically assess the importance for nations of key institutional, economic, and societal factors for attracting skilled professionals from abroad. It examines the existing literature on international talent mobility and empirically tests the validity of nation branding as a strategy for attracting internationally mobile skilled professionals. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use secondary data from the World Economic Forum, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Martin Prosperity Institute to test six hypotheses concerning factors that attract internationally mobile skilled professionals to a foreign country to live and work. Findings – The study finds that conditions of employment, quality of life, good governance, and tolerance towards people of diverse backgrounds are key issues that need to be holistically emphasized in successful nation branding campaigns aimed at attracting highly skilled professionals from abroad. Originality/value – The authors use strong secondary data to reduce common method bias in the results which show that “macro” factors sway internationally mobile skilled professionals to favor some countries over others. The authors contribute to the literature on international talent flows by conceptualizing nation branding as a framework through which a variety of push and pull factors can be examined to entice and attract internationally mobile skilled professionals to a particular host-country. The findings will apply to several different types of skilled professionals including self-initiated expatriates, self-initiated corporate expatriates, and third country nationals and local foreign hires.

Summer Gut Syndrome (SGS) is caused by various Vibrio bacterial species and can have negative effects on aquaculture farms worldwide. In New Zealand, SGS is caused by Vibrio harveyii infecting King Salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ). To find leads for the prevention of SGS, we screened the inhibitory effects of 16 strains of Shewanella upon V. harveyii growth in competitive solid phase cultures. The detailed investigation of Shewanella halifaxensis IRL548 revealed 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol ( 1 ), a known, commercially available antibacterial agent, as the major bioactive component. Synthesis of a small library of congeners to confirm the natural product identity and to provide a structure–activity relationship for the observed activity was also completed. Compound 1 exhibits moderate activity against two pathogenic microorganisms.

Aims: Broad molecular profiling of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is strongly advised to optimize genomic matching with available targeted treatment options or investigational agents. Unlike conventional molecular diagnostic testing, or smaller hotspot panels, comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) identifies genomic alterations across hundreds of clinically relevant cancer genes from a single tissue specimen. The present study sought to estimate the budget impact of increased use of CGP using a 324-gene panel (FoundationOne) vs non-CGP (represented by a mix of conventional molecular diagnostic testing and smaller NGS hotspot panels) and the number needed to test with CGP to gain 1 life year. Materials and methods: A decision analytic model was developed to assess the budget impact of increased CGP in advanced NSCLC from a US private payer perspective. Model inputs were based on published literature (epidemiology and treatment outcomes), real-world data (testing and rates, medical service costs), list prices for CGP and anti-cancer drugs, and assumptions for clinical trial participation. Results: Among 2 million covered lives, 532 had advanced NSCLC; 266 underwent molecular diagnostic testing. An increase in CGP among those tested, from 2% to 10%, was associated with $0.02 per member per month budget impact, of which $0.013 was attributable to costs of prolonged drug treatment and survival and $0.005 to testing cost. Approximately 12 patients would need to be tested with CGP to add 1 life year. Limitations: The model incorporated certain assumptions to account for inputs with a limited evidence profile and simplify the possible post-CGP treatments. Conclusions: An increase in CGP utilization from 2% to 10% among patients with advanced NSCLC undergoing molecular diagnostic testing was associated with a modest budget impact, most of which was attributable to increased use of more effective treatments and prolonged survival.

Aims: To assess the frequency of biopsies and molecular diagnostic testing (human DNA/RNA analysis), anti-cancer drug use (genomically-matched targeted therapy [GMTT], unmatched targeted therapy [UTT], endocrine therapy [ET], and chemotherapy [CT]), and medical service costs among adults with metastatic cancer. Methods: Adults diagnosed with metastatic breast, non-small cell lung (NSCLC), colorectal, head and neck, ovarian, and uterine cancer (2010Q1–2015Q1) were identified in the OptumHealth Care Solutions claims database and followed from first metastatic diagnosis for ≥1 month and until the end of data availability. Utilization was assessed for each cancer cohort (all and patients aged ≥65 years); per-patient-per-month (PPPM) medical service costs were assessed for all patients. Testing frequency estimates were applied to Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data to estimate the number of untested patients (2010–2014). Results: Patients with metastatic cancer (n = 8,193; breast [n = 3,414], NSCLC [n = 2,231], colorectal [n = 1,611], head and neck [n = 511], ovarian [n = 275], and uterine [n = 151]) were 63 years old (mean), with 11.1–22.2 months of observation. Biopsy and molecular diagnostic testing frequencies ranged from 7% (uterine) to 73% (ovarian), and from 34% (head and neck) to 52% (breast), respectively. Few were treated with GMTT (breast, 11%; NSCLC, 9%; colorectal, 6%). Treatment with UTT ranged from 0.7% (uterine) to 21% (colorectal). Biopsy, diagnostic testing, and anti-cancer drug therapy were less frequent for those ≥65 years. Medical service costs (PPPM, mean) ranged from $6,618 (head and neck) to $9,940 (ovarian). The estimated number of untested new patients with metastatic cancer was 636,369 (all) and 341,397 (≥65). Limitations: In addition to the limitations of claims analyses, diagnostic testing frequency may be under-estimated if patients underwent testing prior to study inclusion. Conclusions: The low frequency of molecular diagnostic testing suggests there are opportunities to better inform management of patients with advanced cancer, particularly decisions to treat with GMTT.

Bifidobacteria are dominant members of the microbial community in the intestinal tract of infants, and studies have shown that glycolipids extracted from the cell surface of these bacteria elicit beneficial immune responses. Accordingly, the identification and structural characterization of glycolipids from the cell wall of bifidobacteria is the first step in correlating glycolipid structure with biological activity. Using whole cell MALDI as a screening tool, we herein present for the first time the identification and structural elucidation of the major polar lipids from Bifidobacterium longum subs. infantis. The lipids identified include an unprecedented plasmenyl cyclophosphatidic acid and a mixed acetal glycolipid, with the latter subsequently being isolated and found to suppress the innate immune response.

Purpose – The global migration and movement of talent plays an important role in the economic growth and competitiveness of many nations. In coming decades, it is anticipated that there will be increased competition between countries to attract the best and brightest. The World Economic Forum (2011) has recommended using nation branding strategies to attract talent. In response to this recommendation, the purpose of this paper is to propose a strategic framework and terminology for branding nations to attract highly skilled workers. Based on a review of the literature, it recommends five strategic vision drivers that can help countries brand themselves in an appealing and compelling way to talented professionals. This paper also recommends the term “relocation branding” to describe the practice of branding nations, regions and cities to attract talent. Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines the literature on nation branding and talent mobility to propose a conceptual framework of five vision drivers for branding destinations to attract talent. It also discusses how these vision drivers can be used in the context of an overall branding initiative and campaign. Findings – This paper finds that the determinants of talent mobility are complex and overlapping. Highly skilled temporary and permanent migrants have a broad range of concerns and interests when they voluntarily choose a country to live and work in. This paper argues that, given these complexities, a more tailored and multidimensional understanding of talent mobility is necessary to effectively craft a branding strategy that will appeal to the highly skilled. A clear vision, demonstrating an understanding of the challenges of moving between countries, has to be integrated into the brand from the outset. Originality/value – This paper is one of the only in-depth studies of nation branding for the purpose of attracting temporary and permanent skilled migrants. The value of this paper is significant as it provides a framework for strategically creating and positioning nation brands to attract highly skilled workers.

We propose a method for peristaltic transport of nanoparticles using the optical force field over a nanostructured surface. Nanostructures may be designed to produce strong near-field hot spots when illuminated. The hot spots function as optical traps, separately addressable by their resonant wavelengths and polarizations. By activating closely packed traps sequentially, nanoparticles may be handed off between adjacent traps in a peristaltic fashion. A linear repeating structure of three separately addressable traps forms a "nano-optical conveyor belt"; a unit cell with four separately addressable traps permits controlled peristaltic transport in the plane. Using specifically designed activation sequences allows particle sorting.

Optical tweezers have been widely used to manipulate biological and colloidal material, but the diffraction limit of far-field optics makes focused beams unsuitable for manipulating nanoscale objects with dimensions much smaller than the wavelength of light. While plasmonic structures have recently been successful in trapping nanoscale objects with high positioning accuracy, using such structures for manipulation over longer range has remained a significant challenge. In this work, we introduce a conveyor belt design based on a novel plasmonic structure, the resonant C-shaped engraving (CSE). We show how long-range manipulation is made possible by means of handoff between neighboring CSEs, and we present a simple technique for controlling handoff by rotating the polarization of laser illumination. We experimentally demonstrate handoff between a pair of CSEs for polystyrene spheres 200, 390, and 500 nm in diameter. We then extend this technique and demonstrate controlled particle transport down a 4.5 μm long "nano-optical conveyor belt."

This article examines the emergence of the World Heritage Site (WHS) designation as a de facto brand. The study applies Balakrishnan’s (2009) strategic framework for destination branding to the demand for World Heritage Sites. A total of 72 countries currently applying for WHS status for national sites are examined. Previous studies in this area have been based mainly on case-study methodologies and/or are limited either to a single country or to a comparison among a small number of countries. The study finds, inter alia, that countries that have a large number of foreign arrivals but are not yet fully integrated into the global economy are particularly disposed to expanding the number of WHS on their national territories.

An aerobic, thermophilic, moderately acidophilic non-spore-forming bacterium, strain K22T, was isolated from geothermally heated soil at Mount Ngauruhoe, New Zealand. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, K22T was shown to belong to subdivision 4 of the phylum Acidobacteria and to be most closely related to ‘Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum’ (86 %) and Blastocatella fastidiosa (86 %). Cells stained Gram-negative and were catalase and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids detected were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, iso-C19 : 0 and iso-C21 : 0 when standard lipid extraction protocols were employed. Analysis of the total cell lipid acid hydrolysate also detected membrane-spanning and ether lipids, which made up approximately 40 % of the total membrane composition. These lipids included dicarboxylic (iso-diabolic) acid and the glyceryl ether of alkyl analogues of iso-C15 : 0 and iso-diabolic acid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 59.6 mol% and the primary respiratory quinone was MK-8. Strain K22T grew at 50–69 °C with an optimum temperature of 65 °C and at pH 4.1–7.8 with an optimum growth pH of 6.5. NaCl tolerance was up to 1 % (w/v). Cells displayed a chemoheterotrophic and obligately aerobic metabolism. Cells grew on nutrient broth, alginate, arabinose, Casamino acids, glucose, lactate, formate, mannose, sodium alginate, peptone, sucrose, tryptone, xanthan, xylan, xylose and yeast extract. Nitrogen sources included nitrate, ammonium, urea, yeast extract and Casamino acids, but not dinitrogen gas. The distinct phylogenetic position and the phenotypic characteristics separate strain K22T from all other members of the class Acidobacteria and indicate that it represents a novel species and genus, for which the name Pyrinomonas methylaliphatogenes gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is K22T ( = DSM 25857T = ICMP 18710T).

Bioassay and NMR approaches have been used to guide the isolation of one known and two new cyclic 3-alkyl pyridinium alkaloid (3-APA) monomers from the New Zealand marine sponge Haliclona sp. The new compounds, dehydrohaliclocyclins C (3) and F (4), are the first reported examples of cyclic 3-APA monomers with unsaturation in the alkyl chain. The known compound haliclocyclin C (2) was also isolated from a mixture with 4. The structures of compounds 2-4 were elucidated using NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and chemical degradation.

The objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of heart failure (HF) readmissions that can be prevented through a quality improvement (QI) program. All HF patients at the University of Connecticut Health Center who had a readmission within 30 days of discharge in the year before (2008) and the year after (2011) a QI program were studied. Through chart review, the percentage of patients who had preventable readmissions in each year was estimated. Prior to the QI initiative, chart reviewers identified that 20% to 30% of readmissions were preventable. The decrease in readmissions after the QI program was similar at 28%. Fewer readmissions after the QI initiative were deemed preventable compared with before. In conclusion, this study found a percentage of preventable readmissions similar to the actual 28% reduction in readmissions after a QI program was launched. Preventable readmissions were less common after the QI program was in place.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine empirically whether teaching methodologies that emphasize international experiential learning have a significant role in fostering or encouraging greater international mobility. To that end, it assesses whether MBA programs that emphasize experience‐based learning in the form of international travel, exchanges and internships have more internationally mobile graduates than programs that do not. It also discusses the broader role of experiential learning in teaching students skills relevant to international business.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses data from the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings and the A.T. Kearney/Foreign Policy Globalization Index to assess whether international experiential learning is conducive to the future international mobility of graduates. It employs a multivariate data analysis methodology to examine whether the international experience and exposure received during an MBA is a predictor of subsequent international mobility.FindingsThis study finds that MBA programs that use experiential teaching methods that emphasize international travel, exchanges and internships tend to have more internationally mobile graduates than those that do not, even after the influence of foreign students and location have been controlled for.Originality/valueRelatively few studies have examined the question of whether the international experiential teaching methods that many MBA programs use, such as exchanges, internships and travel, have an impact on the subsequent international mobility of graduates. This is an important research area as many MBA programs have embraced experiential learning techniques as the centerpiece of their efforts to train more culturally sensitive, adaptable and internationally‐minded graduates to work both domestically and overseas.