bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linking the emotional maturity factors and self-disclosure: a study of Indian organizations
Authors: Nehra Nagendra Singh , Rangnekar Santosh
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss a survey, carried out by the authors, of 256 employees employed in public and private manufacturing organizations in north India, to determine if emotional maturity factors have positive association with self-disclosure in the Indian context. Specifically, capitalization and social exchange theories support as major theoretical framework to examine the proposed relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample data used were collected through a cross-sectional survey-based research design and a convenience sampling method. Totally, 290 questionnaires were distributed during office hours, administered with a paper and pencil survey. However, in the final analysis, only 256 responses were considered for analysis using multiple hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

Results reveal that all dimensions of emotional maturity positively associated with self-disclosure. This study fully supports the applicability of capitalization and social exchange theories while explaining the proposed relationships in Indian context.

Research limitations/implications

The present study used a cross-sectional survey-based research design; future studies may use longitudinal research design.

Practical implications

The study shows how to develop collective work culture and supportive work climate through emotional maturity and self-disclosure. Thus, employees become accustomed to multicultural team and cultural diversity issues at the workplace. The study also recommended that the organized employees social gathering will create positive feeling, and that such feelings of belonging to a group among employees will give reasons for self-disclosure and finally, in turn, to employee effectiveness.

Originality/value

More predominantly, the proposed association has not been examined before and the findings serve as a potential policy guideline for the self-disclosure literature through the perspective of capitalization and social exchange theories in understudied non-US cultures such as India.
Co-evolutionary dynamics in the music industry
Authors: Uli Vincenzo
Published: April 2018

Purpose

What effects does radical innovation produce on the dialectical relationship between enterprises and their environment? In this paper, by adopting the dynamic adaptation matrix methodological framework, the author addresses this research question by discussing the evolution of the music industry in the period of 1999-2013. The purpose of this study is to identify possible co-evolutionary adaptation paths, namely, virtuous or contradictory adaptation cycles.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is presented as a descriptive comparative case study about the major changes that have occurred in the sector, and this could be of interest to the industry stakeholders. The paper also contributes to the debate about co-evolution as it is an empirical implementation of the adaptation matrix and sheds light on the main environmental dynamics.

Findings

The author found that for a low level of environmental determinism and moderate degree of strategic choice, cost leadership strategy dominates other strategic options. For moderate levels of environmental determinism, differentiation-marketing strategy ensures a better performance than differentiation-innovation strategy. Finally, for a high level of both environmental determinism and strategic choice, differentiation-innovation strategy is the best strategic option among differentiation strategies.

Practical implications

The adaptation matrix, especially in its dynamic form, can be applied to understand the changes within a sector with a co-evolutionary lens and to analyze critically the strategic choices enacted by the market’s incumbents.

Originality/value

This study may have useful implications for both scientific research and managerial practice. In fact, it is intended for all scholars and practitioners interested in exploring the nature of organizational adaptation, especially in industries affected by major technological changes, such as the music industry, which only recently has been considered as a fertile ground for research.
The contagion effect between the oil market, and the Islamic and conventional stock markets of the GCC country
Authors: Mezghani Taicir , Boujelbène Mouna
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the transmission of shock between the oil market and the Islamic and conventional stock markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries during the oil shocks of 2008 and 2014.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses two models. First, the dynamic conditional correlation–generalized autoregressive conditionally heteroskedastic model has been used to capture the fundamental contagion effects between the oil market and the Islamic and conventional stock markets during the tranquil and turmoil-crisis periods of 2008-2014. Second, the filter of Kalman has been used to capture the effects of pure contagion between the oil market and the GCC Islamic and conventional stock markets. The authors analyze the dynamic correlation between forecasting errors of oil returns and stock returns of GCC Islamic and GCC conventional indices.

Findings

The main findings of this investigation are: first, the estimation of the dynamic conditional correlation– generalized autoregressive conditionally heteroskedastic model for oil market and the Islamic and conventional stock markets proves that the Islamic and conventional stock markets and oil market displayed a significant increase in the dynamic correlation during the turmoil period, from mid-2008 and mid-2014. This proves the existence of contagion between the markets studied. Second, the authors analyze the dynamic correlation between forecasting errors of oil returns and stock returns of GCC Islamic and GCC conventional indices. They show a strong increase in the correlation coefficients between the oil market and the conventional GCC stock markets, and between the conventional and Islamic GCC stock markets during the oil crisis of 2014. However, there is no change in regime in the figure of the correlation coefficient between the oil market and the GCC Islamic stock markets during the 2008 financial crisis. This pure contagion is mainly attributed to the herding bias in 2014 oil crisis.

Originality/value

This study contributes to identifying the contribution of herding bias on the volatility transmission between the oil markets, and the GCC Islamic and conventional stock market, especially during two controversial shocks: the 2008 oil-price increase and the 2014 oil drop.
Using message strategy to drive consumer behavioral engagement on social media
Authors: Tafesse Wondwesen , Wien Anders
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This study aims to examine how message strategy influences consumer behavioral engagement in social media. To this end, the study develops a comprehensive typology of branded content in social media and tests for its effect on consumer behavioral engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of brand posts derived from the official Facebook pages of top corporate brands was double-coded using an elaborate coding instrument. Message strategy was operationalized using three main message strategies (i.e. informational, transformational and interactional) and their paired combinations. Consumer behavioral engagement was operationalized using consumer actions of liking and sharing brand posts. Proposed relationships were tested with MANCOVA and univariate ANOVAs.

Findings

Results indicate that the transformational message strategy is the most powerful driver of consumer behavioral engagement, while no significant difference is observed between the informational and the interactional message strategies. Further, complementing the informational and interactional message strategies with the transformational message strategy markedly enhances their effectiveness.

Practical implications

Useful managerial guidance to develop effective message strategies is offered. In particular, the importance of transformational messages, both as a standalone and a complementary message strategy, is underscored. By mastering and deploying transformational messages more frequently in their social media communication, marketers could improve their effectiveness.

Originality/value

Drawing on a theory-driven typology, this study sheds light on how message strategy shapes consumer behavioral engagement in a social media context. Importantly, the study documents pioneering empirical evidence regarding the effect of combined message strategies on consumer behavioral engagement.
Load planning processes to enhance cargo compartment utilization
Authors: Carlson Nathan J. , Reiman Adam. D. , Overstreet Robert E. , Douglas Matthew A.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The United States Air Force often provides effective airlift for cargo distribution, but is at times inefficient. This paper aims to address the under-utilization of military airlift cargo compartments that plagues the airlift system.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine seven techniques designed to increase cargo compartment utilization and increase airlift utilization rates. The techniques were applied through load planning software to 30 real-world movements consisting of 159 sorties. They then ran each post-technique movement through a modeled flight environment to obtain cycle movement data. The metrics gained from both the load planning software and the modeled environment were regressed to provide statistical understanding regarding how well each technique influenced cost savings.

Findings

The results showed a 24 per cent elimination of aircraft required and a savings of $14.5m. Extrapolation of the authors’ findings to four years of airlift mission data revealed an estimated annual savings of $1.6bn.

Originality/value

This research effort provides multiple options to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of military airlift.
Towards circular economy – a wastewater treatment perspective, the Presa Guadalupe case
Authors: Casiano Flores Cesar , Bressers Hans , Gutierrez Carina , de Boer Cheryl
Published: April 2018

Purpose

In Mexico, only 19.3 per cent of industrial water is treated (Green-Peace, 2014, pp. 3-4), whereas municipal treatment levels are approximately 50 per cent (CONAGUA, 2014a). This paper aims to focus on how the wastewater treatment plant policy, from a circular economy perspective, is affected by the governance context at the Presa Guadalupe sub-basin. Circular economy can contribute to water innovations that help in improving water quality. However, such benefits are not easily achieved. This case provides an example of the complexity and challenges that the implementation of a circular economy model can face.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected via semi-structured in-depth interviews with the stakeholders that are members of the Presa Guadalupe Commission. The contextual interaction theory (CIT) is the theoretical basis for this analysis (Boer de and Bressers, 2011; Bressers, 2009).

Findings

The findings show that the wastewater treatment plant policy plays an important role in a circular economy model. Some incentives towards a circular economy model are already in place; however, the hurdles of a top-down implementation perspective, low availability of resources, prioritisation of short-term results, lack of enforcement of the “polluter pays” principle and a linear model of water systems need to be overcome. If Mexico wants to move towards a circular economy model and if the government wants to enforce sustainable development principles, wastewater treatment is a challenge that must be addressed.

Originality/value

There are few studies in the circular economy literature that have analysed its implementation under a governance arrangement perspective.
The relation between corporate governance mechanisms, executive compensation and audit fees
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , Tarighi Hossein , Safdari Samaneh
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effects of some corporate governance mechanisms and executive compensation on audit fees in an emerging market.

Design/methodology/approach

The study population consists of 540 observations and 90 listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange during the years 2009-2014. The statistical model used in this study is a multivariate regression model; besides, the statistical technique used to test the hypotheses proposed in this research is panel data.

Findings

The changes in the value of a CEO’s own firm stock option portfolio, in thousands of rials (Iran’s currency), for a 0.01 change in stock return volatility and stock price are defined as Vega and Delta, respectively. The results demonstrated that there is a positive association between audit fees and delta, but not Vega; this means that a fee premium is linked to CEO Delta incentives. The findings show that Iranian companies pay more audit fees when they give managers more rewards. In addition, the results show that there is not a significant relationship between fees resulting from audit risk and Delta and Vega incentives of the board. Inconsistent with agency theory, the authors found that the independence of board members did not have any effect on audit fees. As a final point, the outcomes of the paper demonstrate that managers who invest in companies under their own management do not have any impact on the amount of audit fee. To put it another way, there is not any significant connection between the board ownership and audit fees.

Practical implications

This is one of the most important studies that simultaneously surveys the impacts of corporate governance mechanisms and executive compensation in the Iranian audit market. The results of this study will reveal more than the role of corporate governance mechanisms for society and users of financial statements because as tools on the CEO actions, they always have to pay attention to the implementation of corporate principles in the economic entity’ operation.

Originality/value

The present study has examined the relationship between two cases of corporate governance mechanisms named the board independence and the board ownership with audit fees in a country where, to the authors’ knowledge as in most other developing markets, such a relationship has not been a subject of empirical research. Moreover, the use of a two-dimensional measure of executive compensation, namely, Delta and Vega incentives, primarily considering research undertaken in an emerging market, as a valuable contribution may be observed.
Kaizen, a continuous improvement practice in organizations
Authors: Alvarado-Ramírez Karla María , Pumisacho-Álvaro Víctor Hipólito , Miguel-Davila José Ángel , Suárez Barraza Manuel F.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the practices of continuous improvement that are applied in medium and large manufacturing and service companies in two Latin American countries. At the same time, benefits and barriers experienced by these companies with regard to sustainability of continuous improvement are explored.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to generate a comparative study between two Latin American countries, interviews were conducted with managers linked to continuous improvement in medium and large companies in the State of Puebla and the Metropolitan District of Quito, which are important areas in Mexico and Ecuador, respectively. Data were collected by means of document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and direct observation.

Findings

Companies in both countries identify the use of various techniques and/or tools for continuous improvement. The results of the empirical evidence show how the impact of the application of the techniques has been beneficial in economic and human terms. Thus, the exploratory study has permitted the identification of the drivers and inhibitors in the maintenance of continuous improvement.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on only two areas of the Latin American countries: Mexico and Ecuador. Their results can therefore not be generalized. The approach is applied in a specific environment, namely, the State of Puebla and the Metropolitan District of Quito. This study incorporates the perception of managers, directors, and/or supervisors involved in continuous improvement processes.

Practical implications

This paper seeks to provide analytical input. The study is of great interest to researchers, managers, consultants, and professionals linked to projects of continuous improvement who wish to incorporate continuous improvement practices which are sustainable over time. A new managerial behavior is the basis of continuous improvement, where the training and development of the human resource increases the commitment to achieve organizational changes.

Originality/value

This research makes an empirical contribution to the literature through the understanding of practices of continuous improvement in a Latin American context, highlighting the factors that improve or impede the process of continuous improvement. Particularly in Mexico and Ecuador, the empirical evidence on this subject is still scarce despite the existence of theoretical academic literature.
The quality movement from six perspectives
Authors: Miller William J. , Duesing Robert J. , Lowery Christopher M. , Sumner Andrew T.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the quality movement in the framework of an organizing taxonomy model from six perspectives: global trend, national mandate, industry trend, organizational strategy, operational strategy, and personal philosophy.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the organizing taxonomy model to analyze the quality movement from each of the six perspectives in terms utilizing a diverse range of key questions, characteristics, and issues which must be addressed.

Findings

The analysis shows that viewing the quality movement from these various perspectives can help practitioners in developing an understanding of the quality movement not only from a historical standpoint, but also in terms of current requirements and future demands. This can also benefit quality management researchers in terms of organizing the focus of their research on the various perspectives. The organizing taxonomy model can also be used to assess other phenomena such as lean, supply chain management, knowledge management, and business analytics which are similarly impacting organizations across all industries and throughout the world.

Originality/value

The paper presents a fresh look at the quality movement from a range of perspectives and provides insight into an organized method of assessing major movements that continue to impact businesses globally.
Carpooling: travelers’ perceptions from a big data analysis
Authors: Ciasullo Maria Vincenza , Troisi Orlando , Loia Francesca , Maione Gennaro
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the reasons why people use or do not use carpooling. A further aim is to collect and analyze empirical evidence concerning the advantages and disadvantages of carpooling.

Design/methodology/approach

A large-scale text analytics study has been conducted: the collection of the peoples’ opinions have been realized on Twitter by means of a dedicated web crawler, named “Twitter4J.” After their mining, the collected data have been treated through a sentiment analysis realized by means of “SentiWordNet.”

Findings

The big data analysis identified the 12 most frequently used concepts about carpooling by Twitter’s users: seven advantages (economic efficiency, environmental efficiency, comfort, traffic, socialization, reliability, curiosity) and five disadvantages (lack of effectiveness, lack of flexibility, lack of privacy, danger, lack of trust).

Research limitations/implications

Although the sample is particularly large (10 percent of the data flow published on Twitter from all over the world in about one year), the automated collection of people’s comments has prevented a more in-depth analysis of users’ thoughts and opinions.

Practical implications

The research findings may direct entrepreneurs, managers and policy makers to understand the variables to be leveraged and the actions to be taken to take advantage of the potential benefits that carpooling offers.

Originality/value

The work has utilized skills from three different areas, i.e., business management, computing science and statistics, which have been synergistically integrated for customizing, implementing and using two IT tools capable of automatically identifying, selecting, collecting, categorizing and analyzing people’s tweets about carpooling.
Restrictive physical interventions and teacher professionalism: a discussion
Authors: Willis Jonathan
Published: April 2018

This article examines how the use of restrictive physical interventions (RPIs) for pupils within a social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) special needs primary school relate to teacher professionalism. The dialogue is written from the perspective of the headteacher of such a school. It is a personal response to the suggestion that teachers are sometimes reluctant to identify themselves as professionals, and examines the extent to which RPIs cast them as carers rather than educators. The discussion addresses the question: To what extent does the use of RPIs in a SEMH special needs school constitute an aspect of teacher professionalism, and what shape does this take? The work concludes with the suggestion that the use of RPIs transcends any debate about professionalism, and that those working in the SEMH field need to focus their attention on ensuring these acts are conducted in a manner that meets the needs of the pupils.
Level of empathy among dietitians: A pilot study
Authors: Yang Wai Y. , Fu Yen
Published: April 2018

Aim

The health‐care providers’ empathy has been linked to better patient outcomes. The increased demand for dietetics services has called for dietitians to examine their clinical practices and encounters with patients. To date, there are limited studies published on empathy among dietitians. Hence, this study aimed to determine the clinical dietitians’ empathy level in Malaysia.

Methods

Using a purposive sampling method, this study was conducted on dietitians practising in the Malaysian hospitals (government and private). The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ), a validated 16‐item questionnaire was self‐administered, either by online survey method or face‐to‐face method. Additional information on gender, ethnicity, years of experience and percentage of working time spent on clinical, administrative and other areas were collected.

Results

A total of 69 dietitians participated in the study (private (n = 36) and government (n = 33)). The dietitians’ mean total TEQ scores were 49.72 ± 5.62 (score ranged between 35 and 63). Significant difference of mean total TEQ scores was found between dietitians from private (51.06 ± 5.26) and government hospitals (48.27 ± 5.72). There was no significant difference in the level of empathy by gender, ethnicity, years of experience and percentage of time spent on clinical consultations, administration or others while at work.

Conclusions

Results from this study showed that there were differences in empathy level of Malaysian dietitians by work setting. This preliminary finding serves as a baseline for future studies and could facilitate the development of dietetics education in Malaysia.
Utility of pooled sequencing for association mapping in nonmodel organisms
Authors: Micheletti Steven J. , Narum Shawn R.
Published: April 2018

High‐density genome‐wide sequencing increases the likelihood of discovering genes of major effect and genomic structural variation in organisms. While there is an increasing availability of reference genomes across broad taxa, the greatest limitation to whole‐genome sequencing of multiple individuals continues to be the costs associated with sequencing. To alleviate excessive costs, pooling multiple individuals with similar phenotypes and sequencing the homogenized DNA (Pool‐Seq) can achieve high genome coverage, but at the loss of individual genotypes. Although Pool‐Seq has been an effective method for association mapping in model organisms, it has not been frequently utilized in natural populations. To extend bioinformatic tools for rapid implementation of Pool‐Seq data in nonmodel organisms, we developed a pipeline called PoolParty and illustrate its effectiveness in genetic association mapping. Alignment expectations based on five pooled Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) libraries showed that approximately 48% genome coverage per library could be achieved with reasonable sequencing effort. We additionally examined male and female O. tshawytscha libraries to illustrate how Pool‐Seq techniques can successfully map known genes associated with functional differences among sexes such as growth hormone 2. Finally, we compared pools of individuals of different spawning ages for each sex to discover novel genes involved with age at maturity in O. tshawytscha such as opsin4 and transmembrane protein19. While not appropriate for every system, Pool‐Seq data processed by the PoolParty pipeline is a practical method for identifying genes of major effect in nonmodel organisms when high genome coverage is necessary and cost is a limiting factor.
Immature stages of the turquoise‐banded shoemaker Archaeoprepona amphimachus pseudomeander (Fruhstorfer, 1906) and a comparative review of the Preponini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
Authors: Dias Fernando Maia Silva , Casagrande Mirna Martins , Mielke Olaf Hermann Hendrik
Published: April 2018

We describe the external morphology and natural history of the immature stages of the turquoise‐banded shoemaker Archaeoprepona amphimachus pseudomeander (Fruhstorfer, 1906) (Charaxinae: Preponini), found in a forest fragment in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Immature stages of this species use two species of Cinnamomum (Lauraceae) as host plants. We also provide morphological descriptions and illustrations and discuss morphological characteristics of taxonomic significance of immature stages of other species of Preponini known to date. These data support the synonymisation of Noreppa Rydon, 1971 with Archaeoprepona Fruhstorfer, 1844 and the close relationship between species formerly included in Agrias Doubleday, 1844 and the other species of Prepona Boisduval, [1836]. Our results agree with recent morphological and molecular findings, supporting the assertion that immature stages are an important source of information for systematics.
Detection of genetic variants between different Polish Landrace and Puławska pigs by means of RNA‐seq analysis
Authors: Piórkowska K. , Żukowski K. , Ropka‐Molik K. , Tyra M.
Published: April 2018

Variant calling analysis based on RNA sequencing data provides information about gene variants. RNA‐seq is cheaper and faster than is DNA sequencing. However, it requires individual hard filters during data processing due to post‐transcriptional modifications such as splicing and RNA editing. In the present study, RNA‐seq transcriptome data on two Polish pig breeds (Puławska, PUL, n = 8, and Polish Landrace, PL, n = 8) were included. The pig breeds are significantly different with regard to meat qualities such as texture, water exudation, growth traits and fat content in carcasses. A total of 2451 significant mutations were identified by a chi square tests, and functional analysis was carried out using Panther, KEGG and Kobas. Interesting missense gene variants and mutations located in regulatory regions were found in a few genes related to fatty acid metabolism and lipid storage such as ACSL5, ALDH3A2, FADS1, SCD, PLA2G12A and ATGL. A validation of mutational influences on pig traits was performed for ALDH3A2, ATGL, PLA2G12A and MYOM1 variants using association analysis including 215 pigs of the PL and PUL breeds. The ALDH3A2ENSSSCT00000019636.2:c.470T>C polymorphism was found to affect the weight of the ham and loin eye area. In turn, an ENSSSCT00000004091.2:c.2836G>A MYOM1 mutation, which could be implicated in myofibrillar network organisation, had an effect on meatiness and loin texture parameters. The study aimed to estimate the usefulness of RNA‐seq results for a purpose other than differentially expressed gene analysis. The analysis performed indicated interesting gene variants that could be used in the future as markers during selection.
Employing the CEO of Me, Inc.: US corporate hiring in a neoliberal age
Authors: GERSHON ILANA
Published: April 2018

Social practices and contingencies always exceed the neoliberal models by which people currently try to contain the inherent unpredictability of accomplishing social tasks with others, such as getting a job. Contradictions in neoliberal logics emerge when people try to live according to neoliberal precepts, engaging with other social entities as though all are corporate persons and all alliances are, metaphorically speaking, business‐to‐business alliances. Moments in US corporate hiring challenge scholarly critiques of neoliberal logics that have made neoliberalism seem too reductive and too prescriptive. At such moments, Americans find that one neoliberal principle is incompatible in practice with a different neoliberal principle—as when, for example, being a flexible worker is antithetical to being a legible job candidate.
Operating room‐to‐incision interval and neonatal outcome in emergency caesarean section: a retrospective 5‐year cohort study
Authors: Palmer E. , Ciechanowicz S. , Reeve A. , Harris S. , Wong D. J. N. , Sultan P.
Published: April 2018

We conducted a 5‐year retrospective cohort study on women undergoing caesarean section to investigate factors influencing the operating room‐to‐incision interval. Time‐to‐event analysis was performed for category‐1 caesarean section using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. Covariates included: anaesthetic technique; body mass index; age; parity; time of delivery; and gestational age. Binary logistic regression was performed for 5‐min Apgar score ≥ 7. There were 677 women who underwent category‐1 caesarean section and who met the entry criteria. Unadjusted median (IQR [range]) operating room‐to‐incision intervals were: epidural top‐up 11 (7–17 [0–87]) min; general anaesthesia 6 (4–11 [0–69]) min; spinal 13 (10–20 [0–83]) min; and combined spinal‐epidural 24 (13–35 [0–75]) min. Cox regression showed general anaesthesia to be the most rapid method with a hazard ratio (95%CI) of 1.97 (1.60–2.44; p < 0.0001), followed by epidural top‐up (reference group), spinal anaesthesia 0.79 (0.65–0.96; p = 0.02) and combined spinal‐epidural 0.48 (0.35–0.67; p < 0.0001). Underweight and overweight body mass indexes were associated with longer operating room‐to‐incision intervals. General anaesthesia was associated with fewer 5‐min Apgar scores ≥ 7 with an odds ratio (95%CI) of 0.28 (0.11–0.68; p < 0.01). There was no difference in neonatal outcomes between the first and fifth quintiles for operating room‐to‐incision intervals. General anaesthesia is associated with the most rapid operating room‐to‐incision interval for category‐1 caesarean section, but is also associated with worse short term neonatal outcomes. Longer operating room‐to‐incision intervals were not associated with worse neonatal outcomes.
Fijian adolescents’ understanding and evaluation of climate change: Implications for enabling effective future adaptation
Authors: Scott‐Parker Bridie , Kumar Roselyn
Published: April 2018

Pacific Island countries are particularly vulnerable to future manifestations of climate change due to high coastline‐to‐land‐area ratios, and high dependence of inhabitants on natural ecosystems. While everyone in the Pacific Islands should participate in climate change adaptation activities, it is the young people, given they are the generation likely to not only bear the burden of climate change, but to lead and live effective climate change adaptation activities and strategies specific to their region, the involvement of youth is critical. Pacific Island youths are often marginalised within traditional decision‐making hierarchies, therefore they are typically excluded from participating in meaningful discussions at community and government levels. Discussions were held with 30 adolescents aged 14–18 years in Fiji to explore knowledge and experiences regarding climate change. Participants revealed their dismay at their inability to talk to family – who they consider are not doing enough – about what they consider as appropriate responses to climate change, recommending the help of an authoritative outsider who could speak to their community leaders and family. Discussions also revealed that Fijian youth could not distinguish between changes in the climate and normal weather events, attesting to the importance of climate‐change education and awareness‐raising efforts within the Pacific Islands more generally.
Evaluation of changes in Bone Scan Index at different acquisition time‐points in bone scintigraphy
Authors: Kaboteh Reza , Minarik David , Reza Mariana , Sadik May , Trägårdh Elin
Published: April 2018

Bone Scan Index (BSI) is a validated imaging biomarker to objectively assess tumour burden in bone in patients with prostate cancer, and can be used to monitor treatment response. It is not known if BSI is significantly altered when images are acquired at a time difference of 1 h. The aim of this study was to investigate if automatic calculation of BSI is affected when images are acquired 1 hour apart, after approximately 3 and 4 h. We prospectively studied patients with prostate cancer who were referred for bone scintigraphy according to clinical routine. The patients performed a whole‐body bone scan at approximately 3 h after injection of radiolabelled bisphosphonate and a second 1 h after the first. BSI values for each bone scintigraphy were obtained using EXINI boneBSI software. A total of 25 patients were included. Median BSI for the first acquisition was 0·05 (range 0–11·93) and for the second acquisition 0·21 (range 0–13·06). There was a statistically significant increase in BSI at the second image acquisition compared to the first (P<0·001). In seven of 25 patients (28%) and in seven of 13 patients with BSI > 0 (54%), a clinically significant increase (>0·3) was observed. The time between injection and scanning should be fixed when changes in BSI are important, for example when monitoring therapeutic efficacy.
Clinical examination and non‐invasive screening tests in the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease in people with diabetes‐related foot ulceration
Authors: Vriens B. , D'Abate F. , Ozdemir B. A. , Fenner C. , Maynard W. , Budge J. , Carradice D. , Hinchliffe R. J.
Published: April 2018

Aim

Peripheral artery disease is common in people with diabetes‐related foot ulceration and is a risk factor for amputation. The best method for the detection or exclusion of peripheral artery disease is unknown. This study investigated the utility of clinical examination and non‐invasive bedside tests in screening for peripheral artery disease in diabetes‐related foot ulceration.

Methods

Some 60 people presenting with new‐onset ulceration participated. Accuracy of pulses, ankle pressure, toe pressure, toe–brachial index (TBI), ankle–brachial pressure index (ABPI), pole test at ankle, transcutaneous oxygen pressure and distal tibial waveform on ultrasound were examined. The gold standard diagnostic test used was > 50% stenosis in any artery or monophasic flow distal to calcification in any ipsilateral vessel on duplex ultrasound.

Results

The negative and positive likelihood ratios of pedal pulse assessment (0.75, 1.38) and the other clinical assessment tools were poor. The negative and positive likelihood ratios of ABPI (0.53, 1.69), transcutaneous oxygen pressure (1.10, 0.81) and ankle pressure (0.67, 2.25) were unsatisfactory. The lowest negative likelihood ratios were for tibial waveform assessment (0.15) and TBI (0.24). The highest positive likelihood ratios were for toe pressure (17.55) and pole test at the ankle (10.29) but the negative likelihood ratios were poor at 0.56 and 0.74.

Conclusions

Pulse assessment and ABPI have limited utility in the detection of peripheral artery disease in people with diabetes foot ulceration. TBI and distal tibial waveforms are useful for selecting those needing diagnostic testing.
Successful implementation of diabetes audits in Australia: the Australian National Diabetes Information Audit and Benchmarking (ANDIAB) initiative
Authors: Lee A. S. , Colagiuri S. , Flack J. R.
Published: April 2018

Aim

We developed and implemented a national audit and benchmarking programme to describe the clinical status of people with diabetes attending specialist diabetes services in Australia.

Methods

The Australian National Diabetes Information Audit and Benchmarking (ANDIAB) initiative was established as a quality audit activity. De‐identified data on demographic, clinical, biochemical and outcome items were collected from specialist diabetes services across Australia to provide cross‐sectional data on people with diabetes attending specialist centres at least biennially during the years 1998 to 2011.

Results

In total, 38 155 sets of data were collected over the eight ANDIAB audits. Each ANDIAB audit achieved its primary objective to collect, collate, analyse, audit and report clinical diabetes data in Australia. Each audit resulted in the production of a pooled data report, as well as individual site reports allowing comparison and benchmarking against other participating sites.

Conclusions

The ANDIAB initiative resulted in the largest cross‐sectional national de‐identified dataset describing the clinical status of people with diabetes attending specialist diabetes services in Australia. ANDIAB showed that people treated by specialist services had a high burden of diabetes complications. This quality audit activity provided a framework to guide planning of healthcare services.
Healthcare professionals' views of group structured education for people with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Winkley K. , Upsher R. , Keij S. M. , Chamley M. , Ismail K. , Forbes A.
Published: April 2018

Aim

To determine healthcare professionals' (HCP) views of group structured education for people with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

Methods

This was a qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews to ascertain primary care HCPs’ views and experiences of education for people with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes. A thematic framework method was applied to analyse the data. Participants were HCPs (N = 22) from 15 general practices in three south London boroughs.

Results

All but one HCP viewed diabetes education favourably and all identified that low attendance was a problem. Three key themes emerged from the qualitative data: (1) benefits of diabetes education, including the group mode of delivery, improved patient interactions, saving HCPs’ time and improved patient outcomes; (2) factors limiting uptake of education, including patient‐level problems such as access and the appropriateness of the programme for certain groups, and difficulties communicating the benefits to patients and integration of education management plans into ongoing diabetes care; and (3) suggestions for improvement, including strategies to improve attendance at education with more localized and targeted marketing and enhanced programme content including follow‐up sessions and support for people with pre‐existing psychological issues.

Conclusions

Most HCPs valued diabetes education and all highlighted the lack of provision for people with different levels of health literacy. Because there was wide variation in terms of the level of knowledge regarding the education on offer, future studies may want to focus on how to help HCPs encourage their patients to attend.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus in older people: a brief statement of key principles of modern day management including the assessment of frailty. A national collaborative stakeholder initiative
Authors: Strain W. D. , Hope S. V. , Green A. , Kar P. , Valabhji J. , Sinclair A. J.
Published: April 2018

Rates of population ageing are unprecedented and this, combined with the progressive urbanization of lifestyles, has led to a dramatic shift in the epidemiology of diabetes towards old age, particularly to those aged 60–79 years. Both ageing and diabetes are recognized as important risk factors for the development of functional decline and disability. In addition, diabetes is associated with a high economic, social and health burden. Traditional macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes appear to account for less than half of the diabetes‐related disability observed in older people. Despite this, older adults are under‐represented in clinical trials. Guidelines from organizations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, and the American Diabetes Association acknowledge the need for individualized care, but the glycaemic targets that are suggested to constitute good control [HbA1c 53–59 mmol/mol (7–7.5%)] are too tight for frail older individuals. We present a framework for the assessment of older adults and guidelines for the management of this population according to their frailty status, with the intention of reducing complications and improving quality of life for these people.
Personal Security and Electoral Demobilization: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Abdo‐Katsipis Carla B.
Published: April 2018

This research examines the link between the encroachment upon personal security and political participation among women in Lebanon and Morocco. Analyses are performed on the Status of Women in the Middle East and North Africa Survey conducted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) from August 2009 to June 2010. Results indicate a strong link between perceptions of personal security in both public and private spheres, and the propensity to vote. The results show that not feeling free to leave the home and experiencing regular sexual harassment in the public sphere curtail women's likelihood to vote. These findings have profound implications for shaping policies as they apply to women in the transitioning Middle East.
The importance of stream interstitial conditions for the early‐life‐stage development of the European nase (Chondrostoma nasus L.)
Authors: Duerregger Alexander , Pander Joachim , Palt Martin , Mueller Melanie , Nagel Christoffer , Geist Juergen
Published: April 2018

Rheophilic cyprinid populations are in decline in many European rivers and have become target species of conservation and river restoration. This is especially true for the European nase (Chondrostoma nasus), a lithophilic species for which the early life stages pose the first bottlenecks in successful population development. In this study, egg dispersal at the substrate surface as well as within the stream interstitial was evaluated and the development of nase eggs was tested at three spawning grounds in the German Alpine Foreland. New incubation systems for cyprinid eggs as well as reference incubation boxes were developed. A significantly higher number of nase eggs (95.5%) were deposited within the stream interstitial compared to eggs sticking to the substrate surface (4.5%). Most eggs successfully developed within the stream interstitial, and hatched larvae moved deeper into the stream substrate. Higher fine sediment accumulation rates in incubation systems had a negative impact on hatching rates. Our results suggest that a permeable, well‐oxygenated stream interstitial at spawning grounds can greatly enhance hatching rates and successful development of nase, as previously found for other taxa such as salmonids. Furthermore, movements of hatched larvae into deeper layers of the stream interstitial underline its importance not only for egg development, but also as shelter for early life stages. Future conservation and restoration efforts should thus consider more intensively stream interstitial conditions on spawning grounds, including evaluating physical characteristics, fine sediment accumulation as well as bioindication with suitable incubation systems for cyprinids.
The single berberine bridge enzyme homolog of Physcomitrella patens is a cellobiose oxidase
Authors: Toplak Marina , Wiedemann Gertrud , Ulićević Jelena , Daniel Bastian , Hoernstein Sebastian N. W. , Kothe Jennifer , Niederhauser Johannes , Reski Ralf , Winkler Andreas , Macheroux Peter
Published: April 2018

The berberine bridge enzyme from the California poppy Eschscholzia californica (EcBBE) catalyzes the oxidative cyclization of (S)‐reticuline to (S)‐scoulerine, that is, the formation of the berberine bridge in the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Interestingly, a large number of BBE‐like genes have been identified in plants that lack alkaloid biosynthesis. This finding raised the question of the primordial role of BBE in the plant kingdom, which prompted us to investigate the closest relative of EcBBE in Physcomitrella patens (PpBBE1), the most basal plant harboring a BBE‐like gene. Here, we report the biochemical, structural, and in vivo characterization of PpBBE1. Our studies revealed that PpBBE1 is structurally and biochemically very similar to EcBBE. In contrast to EcBBE, we found that PpBBE1 catalyzes the oxidation of the disaccharide cellobiose to the corresponding lactone, that is, PpBBE1 is a cellobiose oxidase. The enzymatic reaction mechanism was characterized by a structure‐guided mutagenesis approach that enabled us to assign a catalytic role to amino acid residues in the active site of PpBBE1. In vivo experiments revealed the highest level of PpBBE1 expression in chloronema, the earliest stage of the plant's life cycle, where carbon metabolism is strongly upregulated. It was also shown that the enzyme is secreted to the extracellular space, where it may be involved in later steps of cellulose degradation, thereby allowing the moss to make use of cellulose for energy production. Overall, our results suggest that the primordial role of BBE‐like enzymes in plants revolved around primary metabolic reactions in carbohydrate utilization.

Database

Structural data are available in the PDB under the accession numbers 6EO4 and 6EO5.
Principal Component Regression in Spatial Lag Model: Teen Employment in the City of Rosario, Argentina
Authors: Izaguirre Alejandro , Di Capua Laura , Pellegrini José Luis
Published: April 2018

Teen employment is a very important socioeconomic phenomenon because of its consequences on human capital formation. We assess the relation between teen employment and poverty, education, and unemployment in the city of Rosario, using information from the 2010 Argentina Census disaggregated at census block level. We use two different spatial models: The spatial lag model (SLM) and a linear regression model with the spatial component filtered (filtering model, FM). Given the nature of the variables employed, multicollinearity is an issue. One of the techniques proposed in the literature to deal with multicollinearity problems is principal component regression (PCR). We develop an adaptation of such methodology to be used in the SLM. Both models are estimated using their traditional methodologies (instrumental variables for the SLM and OLS for the FM) and using PCR. Although results are similar between the two models, depending on the methodology used in the estimations they differ greatly. Under traditional methodologies estimations show high variability, instability, and contradictory outcomes, but under PCR, results behave according to the literature.