bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lean design for Six Sigma
Authors: Alvarez Jesus Cruz
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss new product development (NPD) based on a traditional stage-gate process and to examine how NPD tools, such as Lean design for Six Sigma, can accelerate the achievement of the main goals of NPD: reliable product quality, cost-effective implementation, and desired time-to-market. These new tools must be incorporated into a new approach to NPD based on the Advanced Product and Quality Planning methodology.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research paper is based on the theoretical background presented in peer-reviewed scientific research papers during the period 1990-2012. In the second section of this study, the author provides examples of the proposed tools and of advanced techniques to show evidence that validates the hypothesis.

Findings

– This study presented the theoretical background on the NPD process and related functions in today’s organizations as it relates to competition. NPD was identified as one of the top priorities of every firm, which is why the NPD process must be optimized and oriented toward customers to ensure the quality and reliability of products while minimizing manufacturing costs. The effect on timing and cost is greatly appreciated by top management, and it is well known throughout the firm when a strong, reliable product is launched that it is flawless.

Research limitations/implications

– To fully deploy all NPD tools requires basic steps such as the following: marketing and planning, design, process, product process validation and the integration of operations from a concurrent engineering standpoint.

Practical implications

– This research paper provides step by step guidance in order to apply Lean Sigma tool in NPD process in order to achieve Six Sigma quality level in manufacturing.

Social implications

– Promoting the practice of Lean design for Six Sigma and its tool enables firms to increase their competitiveness since they will make more reliable products delivered to its consumers.

Originality/value

– The approach of this research paper combines proven statistical tools to be applied in an original sequence in order to design robust product to match manufacturing capabilities.
Playing hide-and-seek? A legal perspective on the complex distinction between commercial and editorial content in hybrid advertising formats
Authors: Hellemans Liesbeth , Lievens Eva , Valcke Peggy
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the challenges raised by hybrid advertising strategies for principles of identification and separation, included in various regulatory instruments, and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

– First, this paper describes two examples of hybrid (television) advertising formats, with a potential interconnection between editorial and commercial content, such as advertorials and commercial overlays. This section is followed by an analysis of the origins and key elements of the identification and separation principle. Next, the implementation in legislation of Belgium (Flanders region), The Netherlands and the UK, and decisions of media regulators in those countries are explored to assess how the principles are interpreted in practice. Finally, the authors identify the concrete challenges that these formats raise and frame those against the background of European policy developments.

Findings

– The analysis shows that the current interpretation of the identification and separation principles conflicts with the inherently integrated features of hybrid advertising formats, especially commercial overlays. To remedy this, the authors propose strengthening the identification principle, for instance, by developing cross-media labels and framing this within a co-regulatory framework where advertisers and media service providers take up their responsibility to respect fundamental principles and protect less cognitively skilled consumers, such as children.

Originality/value

– This paper aims to contribute to the current re-thinking of the legal framework with regard to new commercial communication techniques, convergence and public interest goals. This can be framed against the background of the revision of the AVMSD and the Digital Single Market Strategy.
Social ostracism as a determinant of criminal recidivism in metropolitan Kano-Nigeria: a partial least square analysis
Authors: Ahmed Aminu Musa , Ahmad Abd Halim B.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examining and analyzing the predictors of criminal recidivism among the ex-prisoners in metropolitan Kano-Nigeria using social ostracism as a predictor. However, the study utilizes two main dimensions of social ostracism; being ignored and being excluded in analyzing criminal recidivism.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study is quantitative in nature. Data were collected using survey method. Purposive sampling method was used and the population of the study were the ex-prisoners who are released after their prison terms. A total of 256 sample size was utilized and data were analyzed using Partial Lease Squares – Structural Equation Modeling.

Findings

– The findings revealed that, there is significant positive relationship between ignoring and exclusion of ex-prisoners in relation to criminal recidivism ( < 0.001***). The model used in the study shows that being ignored is having small effects, whereas being excluded is having medium effects (f2 0.121, 0.203), with predictive relevance (Q2 0.1884).

Practical implications

– Going by the study findings it was concluded that social ostracism of ex-prisoners in metropolitan Kano is having positive effects toward criminal recidivism. It is recommended that policy should be made to reduce the exclusion of ex-prisoners so as to reduce their chances of becoming criminal recidivists.

Originality/value

– Though many predictors were used in analyzing recidivism, this study used social ostracism which is not previously used as a sole predictor of criminal recidivism.
Barriers and enablers in adopting of Halal warehousing
Authors: Ngah Abdul Hafaz , Zainuddin Yuserrie , Thurasamy Ramayah
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to identify the determinants of the adoption factors of Halal warehousing activities among Halal manufacturers in Malaysia. It is hoped that this work would contribute to the growth of research in the area of Halal adoption services.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data for this quantitative study were gathered from 140 participants of the Malaysia International Halal Showcase 2013. Smart PLS version 2.0 was used to analyze the relationship of each construct using the structural equation modeling approach.

Findings

– Awareness, complexity and top management support were found to be the determinant factors in the Halal warehousing services adoption among Malaysian Halal manufacturers. Supplier availability was found to have a negative relationship in the adoption of Halal warehousing services.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings of this study revealed some important implications and great values among researchers, Halal service providers and the government sector. It is also hoped that the findings of this study would give some insights into the adoption of Halal warehouse services. However, many other variables such as perceived benefits, consumer pressure and, also, industry pressure which may also contribute to a better understanding of Halal services should also be considered.

Practical implications

– The Halal service providers should focus their offer of services not only to areas around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor but also to other areas in Malaysia. There is a great demand for their services throughout the whole nation, as the Halal manufacturers are scattered all over East and West Malaysia.

Originality/value

– This study is an attempt to investigate and develop the Halal warehousing adoption model that was theoretically grounded in the technology, organization and environment (TOE) framework. This study found that the TOE framework could explain better each variable which has a relationship with the adoption of Halal warehousing activities.
Exploring implicit and explicit attitude toward saving at Islamic bank
Authors: Setyobudi Wahyu Tri , Wiryono Sudarso Kaderi , Nasution Reza Ashari , Purwanegara Mustika Sufiati
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the implicit and explicit attitude toward Islamic bank and how it influences desire to saving at an Islamic bank. Although the Islamic bank system has been experiencing rocket growth worldwide, but the development in Indonesia is still unsatisfying. The penetration is very low compared to the conventional bank system. Consumer attitude is one of the most important variables that need to be understood to develop effective intervention. Although extensive research has been carried out on consumer attitude in the Islamic bank context, no single study adequately elaborates on implicit attitude.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sample of 423 respondents was taken to represent the middle-class employee segment. A set of questionnaires consisting of four sections was administered to respondents. The first section is a paper-based implicit attitude test, which collected data using a face-to-face interview, and the rest was self-reported. Data were analyzed using descriptive, analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis.

Findings

– Analysis of the data shows that the implicit attitude toward Islamic banks in Indonesia is relatively lower than the explicit attitude. In addition, Islamic bank usage pattern and religion have a significant relationship with implicit attitude. While implicit attitude is relatively stable, explicit attitude significantly differs according to age and marital status variables. Finally, this study shows that implicit and explicit attitude simultaneously determine desire to saving at an Islamic bank.

Originality/value

– The paper extends the literature by exploring and highlighting the importance of implicit attitude in the study of Islamic consumer behavior. It also gives deeper understanding to Indonesian middle-class employee saving behavior, which has huge potentials, and helps Islamic bank practitioners to develop a set of strategies to tap the market.
An extension of Aaker’s brand personality model from Islamic perspective: a conceptual study
Authors: Ahmed Muhammad , Jan Muhammad Tahir
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to browse literature based on Aaker’s brand personality modal and highlight criticism on it. Furthermore, the study proposes an Islamic brand personality modal based on Islamic teachings.

Design/methodology/approach

– Extensive research on Muslim characteristics based on Qur’an, hadith and scholarly work of traditional and modern scholars has been used to assess Aaker’s model. Expert opinions of faculty members from relevant field are also taken into consideration to propose Islamic brand personality model.

Findings

– Aaker’s brand personality dimensions have been revised in the light of Islamic teachings. As a result, few pre-existing dimensions have been re-named and several new dimensions such as moral character and trustworthiness are also included.

Research limitations/implications

– Considering the gap found in literature, the need to conduct brand personality research in the service industry such as Islamic banks is highlighted.

Practical implications

– Islamic brand personality model may help marketers effectively differentiate Islamic brands such as Islamic banks. It may also reinforce advertising techniques/tools to attract a large Muslim consumer market.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the early attempts to see brand personality from Islamic perspective.
Human resource management and organisational productivity
Authors: Katou Anastasia A. , Budhwar Pawan
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present robust evidence about the effects of human resource management (HRM) systems on organizational productivity, by mixing both distal objective and proximal subjective measures, and by proposing an estimation method that employs hard HRM data.

Design/methodology/approach

– The purpose of the study is achieved via a simultaneous equations system that has been estimated and simulated, based on an augmented Cobb-Douglas production function, which innovatively has been transformed from static to dynamic, using both economics-based literature and literature from the HRM discipline.

Findings

– The study supports the view that HRM has a positive impact on productivity, through employee skills, attitudes, and behaviour. Additionally, the study finds that a 10 per cent increase in the extent of the systematic use of HR practices will lead to a 3.27 per cent increase in the total production, and that employee compensation and incentives play the most important role in improving production efficiency. Further, the study finds that for each additional year of systematic use of HR practices, total production will be increasing by 0.07 per cent per annum.

Practical implications

– The findings of the study suggest practitioners that competitiveness (expressed by increased productivity) will be increased not by reducing costs, as a result of dismissing employees or decreasing wages, but instead by improving productivity as a result of increased compensation and incentives, and improved training and development.

Originality/value

– The key output of the paper is the development of a sophisticated model that links an HRM system to a production system, through intermediate HRM outcomes, and the extension of the “generalised method of moments” as a systems estimation method that should be used for curing possible misspecification and common method bias problems in the HRM discipline.
Factors influencing back pain treatment behaviour change
Authors: McClymont Hoda , Gow Jeff , Hume Margee , Perry Chad
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The authors seek to better understand the critical incidents and factors that influence the switching behaviours of back pain sufferers who use mainstream and/or complementary and alternative medicine (Edvardsson, 1998). That is, the purpose of this paper is to uncover how they switch between treatments and treatment providers; in particular, this research investigates two issues: the triggers of their switching and their switching paths, and how their emotions are involved in that switching. The contribution is the first empirical foundation for an understanding of these two issues in the context of back pain.

Design/methodology/approach

– The qualitative technique of convergent interviewing was used. It involved conducting a series of long, initially rather unstructured interviews to converge on the important topic areas to the back pain sufferers and why they engage in their treatment behaviour.

Findings

– This study investigated the triggers and categories of triggers that impact upon switching behaviours between bio-medical and CAT healthcare. Four main areas of findings were identified. First, although the literature identified four categories of triggers for switching, namely, situational, reactional, influential and personal characteristics, the findings of this research confirmed only two of these: reactional and situational triggers. The influential category of triggers was found to be more of a moderating factor between switching triggers and switching behaviours rather than a trigger factor on its own. Further, no evidence came to light that could confirm or disconfirm the roles of personal characteristics on switching behaviour and so this issue remains unresolved.

Research limitations/implications

– The methodology used in this research was an exploratory one and so the findings must be used with caution. Further research, using a more quantitative methodology, is warranted to confirm the findings of this research. Also, this research focused on a subset of switching issues and so might not provide a holistic framework. Future investigations should therefore consider and clarify the role of emotion, time and voice in the switching model devised from this study.

Originality/value

– This paper provides new evidence on the reasons for back pain sufferers consuming different treatment modes and the reasons for their switching and includes an exploratory investigation of the role of emotions in this decision making.
The impact of word of mouth on service purchase decisions
Authors: Voyer Peter A. , Ranaweera Chatura
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Primarily, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the interaction and direct effects of tie strength between sender and receiver of word of mouth (WOM) and the receiver’s service purchase decision involvement on WOM influence. A secondary aim is to investigate how a distinctive conceptualization of perceived risk, consisting of two types (outcome risk and psychosocial risk), affects service purchase decision involvement. A conceptual model incorporating these constructs and associated hypotheses is developed and tested.

Design/methodology/approach

– In a survey of actual service consumers, respondents were asked to recall a recent instance where they had received service purchase information via WOM, and relate their responses to this instance. Established scales were used to measure the constructs. The hypothesized model was tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– Principally, findings demonstrate a strong interaction effect between service purchase decision involvement and tie strength. Also, results highlight the complexity of the perceived risk construct, suggesting that it is appropriately modeled as two types: outcome risk, and psychosocial risk.

Research limitations/implications

– This research has contributed to the service marketing literature by testing a model that predicts WOM influence. Evidence confirmed that the effect of service purchase decision involvement on WOM influence is moderated by tie strength. Additionally, a conceptualization of two different types of risk associated with purchase decisions was suggested, together with empirical confirmation of their hypothesized antecedent effects on service purchase decision involvement. Findings have special implications for the literatures of persuasion, social and interpersonal influence, as well as consumer behavior in general.

Practical implications

– To harness the power of WOM, managers should understand who their target audience is and how consumers are related to each other (tie strength) and to the service purchase decision (service purchase decision involvement). Recommendations are made with specific illustrations of how firms can leverage tie strength under conditions of low service purchase decision involvement to enhance WOM influence.

Originality/value

– The formidable power of WOM wields substantial influence on consumers, particularly within a service (vs goods) purchase context, typically characterized by higher perceived risk and lower search qualities. The significant interaction between tie strength and service purchase decision involvement is a unique contribution to the service WOM literature.
Feeling nickeled and dimed – consequences of drip pricing
Authors: Robbert Thomas
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– In drip pricing, companies advertise low prices for products or services and then tack on additional surcharges later in the purchase process. This tactic has not only become popular for airlines but also for other online services, such as retailers and telecommunication companies. Despite the widespread use of drip pricing in the marketplace, little is known about its effects on consumer behavior. The purpose of this paper is to compare the effects of drip pricing with those of price partitioning. Specifically, it elaborates on perceived value, perceived deception, purchase intentions, and the moderating effect of price consciousness.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper develops a conceptual framework and tests four hypotheses with an experimental study on a purchase decision for a continental flight booked through an online travel agent. The experiment is based on a between-subjects design with two groups (n=130). The data are analyzed with multivariate statistics and structural equation modeling.

Findings

– The findings reveal that drip pricing for service offerings leads to inferior results compared with partitioned pricing in terms of perceived value, perceived deception, and, ultimately, purchase intentions. The findings also indicate that the effects differ depending on the customer’s price consciousness.

Originality/value

– The study draws from previous studies on partitioned pricing and replicates their findings. However, it is one of the first studies to elaborate on moderators and mediators of the consequences of drip pricing in a service context.
A new marine controlled‐source electromagnetic receiver with an acoustic telemetry modem and arm‐folding mechanism
Authors: Kai Chen , Wenbo Wei , Ming Deng , Zhongliang Wu , Gang Yu
Published: August 2015

We developed a new marine controlled‐source electromagnetic receiver for detecting methane hydrate zones and oil and gas reservoirs on the seafloor, which is not imaged well by seismic reflection surveys. To determine the seafloor structure, the electromagnetic receiver should have low noise, power consumption, clock drift error, and operating costs while being highly reliable. Because no suitable receiver was available in our laboratory, we developed a new marine controlled‐source electromagnetic receiver with these characteristics; the receiver is equipped with acoustic telemetry modem and an arm‐folding mechanism to facilitate deployment and recovering operations. To demonstrate the applicability of our new receiver, we carried out a field experiment offshore of Guangzhou in the South China Sea, where methane hydrates have been discovered. We successfully obtained controlled‐source electromagnetic data along a profile about 13 km long. All six new receivers were recovered, and high‐quality electromagnetic data were obtained. Relatively high apparent resistivity values were detected. The results of the offshore field experiment support the claim that the electromagnetic data obtained using the new receiver are of sufficient quality for the survey target.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil? Assessing Corruption Risk Perceptions and Strategies of Victorian Public Bodies
Authors: van der Wal Zeger , Graycar Adam , Kelly Kym
Published: August 2015

This paper critically examines qualitative survey data from 36 Victorian public sector bodies on their perceptions of corruption risks, and strategies to mitigate these risks, as well as the integrity mechanisms in place. The findings indicate that even though corruption does not seem to be prevalent in these bodies it is not on their radar either, though fraud prevention was significantly present. The paper identifies international best practices of integrity management and inculcation of public service ethos in developed countries, and stresses three vital elements or pillars that combine both the ‘values’ and ‘compliance’ based approaches. These pillars are as follows: (1) specific corruption prevention programs and strategies that are additional to but complement existing anti‐fraud programs; (2) targeted anti‐corruption training, both for employees and for the public; and (3) effective leadership engagement and commitment to an ethical culture (Tone at the Top).
Distinguishing Between Legally and Illegally Produced Gold in South Africa
Authors: Roberts Richard J. , Dixon Roger D. , Merkle Roland K. W.
Published: August 2015

The identification of gold‐bearing material is essential for combating the theft of gold in South Africa. Material seized in police operations is generally a mixture of gold from different mines, and as such cannot be traced back to a single location. ICP‐OES analysis of material dissolved by acid dissolution provided a database of gold compositions comprising gold from South African mines, illegal gold stolen from the mines, and commercial gold alloys and jewelery. Discrimination between legal and illegal gold was possible due to the presence of Pb, As, Sb, Sn, Se, and Te in the stolen material, elements which are not present in legally produced gold. The presence of these elements is a quick and simple way to distinguish between gold alloys based on refined gold, such as in commercially manufactured jewelery, and gold alloys containing a proportion of unrefined and therefore illegally obtained gold.
Evaluation of the Postmortem Glucose and Glycogen Levels in Hepatic, Renal, Muscle, and Brain Tissues: Is It Possible to Estimate Postmortem Interval Using These Parameters?
Authors: Gümüş Alper , Gümüş Burak , Özer Erdal , Yücetaş Esma , Yücetaş Uğur , Düz Emin , Sarı Soner , Koldaş Macit
Published: August 2015

The aim of our study was to investigate the postmortem levels of glucose and glycogen in hepatic, renal, muscle, and brain tissues and then examine the changes in those levels that could be useful for estimating postmortem interval. We established an animal model. Seventy female BALB/c albino mice were used in this study. After being sacrificed, the mice were randomly divided into six groups according to time elapsed since death (Group 1: 0 h; Group 2: 12 h; Group 3: 24 h; Group 4: 36 h; Group 5: 48 h; and Group 6: 60 h). Glucose levels were significantly different between groups for all tissues studied. Slope of the change per unit time was higher for the hepatic glucose levels. Based on these results, it is possible to estimate postmortem interval using postmortem glucose levels in hepatic tissue. Tissue‐specific assessment may contribute valuable information to postmortem interval studies.
Development of a Real‐Time PCR‐Based Method for Analyzing Semen‐Specific Unmethylated DNA Regions and Methylation Status in Aged Body Fluid Stains
Authors: Watanabe Ken , Akutsu Tomoko , Sakurada Koichi
Published: August 2015

The detection of semen in forensic investigation is considered important evidence of sexual assault. In this study, we report the development of a real‐time polymerase chain reaction‐based method for identifying semen that can simply and rapidly analyze the semen‐specific unmethylated region of the DACT1 gene. Using two fluorescent probes designed for the methylated or unmethylated status, this method could perform quantitative analysis of the methylation status in this region. Furthermore, this method was used to analyze various body fluid samples, including 29‐year‐old semen and blood stains. The results showed that this method can detect almost exclusively semen or nonsemen signals even in highly decomposed samples, while a few semen or nonsemen samples showed slight signals of the other fluorescence probe. Although there is still a need for further analysis such as setting thresholds to analyze unknown samples, this method could be a useful supplementary tool for identifying semen, especially in old stains such as those in cold‐case investigations.
Fermentation of Allium chinense Bulbs With Lactobacillus plantarum ZDY 2013 Shows Enhanced Biofunctionalities, and Nutritional and Chemical Properties
Authors: Pan Mingfang , Wu Qinglong , Tao Xueying , Wan Cuixiang , Shah Nagendra P. , Wei Hua
Published: August 2015

In this study, fermentation of Allium chinense bulbs was carried out with Lactobacillus plantarum ZDY 2013. A decrease in pH from 6.8 to 3.5 and a stable lactic acid bacteria population were observed during 7‐d fermentation. The total phenolic content increased by 2.7‐fold in the aqueous and ethanol extracts of A. chinense bulbs after fermentation. Antioxidant capacity including 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical‐scavenging effect and reducing power of both extracts was significantly (P < 0.05) improved after fermentation. Antagonistic test against 6 pathogens showed that fermentation significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the antimicrobial activity in both extracts of fermented bulbs, especially in the ethanol extracts of fermented bulbs against L. monocytogenes. Analysis of the free amino acid (FAA) profile by ion‐exchange chromatography revealed that fermentation significantly (P < 0.05) increased total FAA content. In addition, among 27 kinds of volatile components analyzed by headspace–solid phase microextraction–gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, sulfur‐containing compounds accounted for 65.23%, but decreased to 43.65% after fermentation. Our results suggested that fermentation of A. chinense bulbs with L. plantarum could improve their biofunctionalities, and nutritional and chemical properties.
Smoking cessation outcomes of referral to a specialist hospital outpatient clinic
Authors: Khara Milan , Okoli Chizimuzo , Nagarajan Vaishnavi Divya , Aziz Faisal , Hanley Catherine
Published: August 2015

Background and objectives

Hospital visits are an opportunity to engage smokers in tobacco treatment. However, little is known about engagement in follow‐up referrals. The purpose of this study is to report the rates of program engagement and smoking cessation outcomes of patients referred to a specialist outpatient tobacco treatment program after a hospital visit or other referral.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was used to examine the outcomes of 486 participants referred to a hospital‐based smoking cessation clinic provided by tobacco treatment specialists. Referral sources, demographics and smoking, medical, psychiatric, and substance use history were obtained. The main outcomes of interest were engagement in the program and 7‐day point‐prevalence of smoking abstinence.

Results

Sixty‐eight percent of participants who were referred to the program were considered “engaged,” of which 70% were from hospitals, 4% from community programs, 11% were from general practitioners, and 16% were self‐referrals. Thirty‐percent (98/331) of engagers were abstinent by time of chart review (30% from the hospital, 8% from community programs, 19% from general practitioners, and 39% of self‐referrals). Having quit for 1 month or longer at the past quit attempt, greater confidence in quitting smoking, lower expired carbon monoxide levels at baseline, and greater duration in the program were significant predictors of successful smoking cessation.

Discussion and Conclusion

Providing tobacco treatment follow‐up and referral for smokers after a hospital visit is important to enhance smoking cessation efforts.

Scientific Significance

Referral to evidence‐based tobacco treatment after hospital visits is effective. Models of tobacco treatment based on sources of referral should further be explored. (Am J Addict 2015;24:561–570)
Gestational weight gain and body mass indexes have an impact on the outcomes of diabetic mothers and infants
Authors: Maayan‐Metzger Ayala , Schushan‐Eisen Irit , Strauss Tzipora , Globus Omer , Leibovitch Leah
Published: August 2015

Aim

This study evaluated mothers with diabetes to determine whether prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), BMI on delivery or gestational weight gain (GWG) had the greatest impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively examined the medical charts of 634 full‐term infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus not requiring insulin (n = 476), gestational diabetes mellitus requiring insulin (n = 140) and insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (n = 18). Data regarding maternal BMI before pregnancy and on delivery were recorded, as well as maternal and neonatal complications.

Results

Infants born to women who gained more than the recommended weight during pregnancy had higher birthweights, higher rates of meconium‐stained amniotic fluid and neonatal hypoglycaemia. Using logistic regression, Caesarean section delivery was predicted by gestational diabetes requiring insulin, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.76, maternal hypertension (OR 2.4), infants born large for gestational age (OR 2.78) and maternal BMI ≥30 on delivery (OR 1.06). Neonatal complications were predicted by maternal insulin‐dependent diabetes (OR 5.21), lower gestational age (OR 0.8) and GWG above the recommended amount (OR 1.56).

Conclusion

Women with diabetes should be made aware that higher GWG can lead to Caesarean section delivery, infant macrosomia and other neonatal complications.
Clonal dissemination of multilocus sequence type ST15 KPC‐2‐producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Bulgaria
Authors: Markovska Rumyana , Stoeva Temenuga , Schneider Ines , Boyanova Lyudmila , Popova Valentina , Dacheva Daniela , Kaneva Radka , Bauernfeind Adolf , Mitev Vanyo , Mitov Ivan
Published: August 2015

A total of 36 consecutive clinical and two fecal‐screening carbapenem‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from two Bulgarian university hospitals (Varna and Pleven) were investigated. Susceptibility testing, conjugation experiments, and plasmid replicon typing were carried out. Beta‐lactamases were characterized by isoelectric focusing, PCR, and sequencing. Clonal relatedness was investigated by RAPD and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Most of the isolates demonstrated multidrug resistance profile. Amikacin and tigecycline retained good activity with susceptibility rates of 95 and 87%, respectively. The resistance rate to colistin was 63%. Six RAPD‐ and MLST‐types were identified: the dominating MLST‐type was ST15 (27 isolates), followed by ST76 (six isolates), and ST1350 (two isolates). ST101, ST258, and ST151 were detected once. All except one of the K. pneumoniae produced KPC‐2, mostly in combination with CTX‐M‐15, while for one isolate (ST101) the enzymes OXA‐48 and CTX‐M‐14 were found. All KPC‐2‐producing transconjugants revealed the presence of IncFII plasmid. The OXA‐48‐ and CTX‐M‐14‐producing isolate showed the presence of L/M replicon type. The dissemination of KPC‐2‐producing K.pneumoniae in Bulgaria is mainly due to the sustained spread of successful ST15 clone and to a lesser extent of ST76 clone. This is the first report of OXA‐48 producing ST101 K. pneumoniae in Bulgaria.
A case of chronic suppurative otitis media caused by Kerstersia gyiorum
Authors: Uysal Elif B. , Çelik Cem , Tuzcu Nevin , Can Fevzi , Doğan Mansur , Ertürk Rahşan , Bakici Mustafa Z.
Published: August 2015

Chronic suppurative otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear and mastoid that involves discharge and hearing loss. Kerstersia gyiorum is a member of the Alcaligenaceae family that who could not be treated with classical treatments such as patients with chronic otitis media, neck abscesses. K. gyiorum strain isolated from a patient with chronic suppurative otitis media.
Mycobacterium massiliense Type II genotype leads to higher level of colony forming units and TNF‐α secretion from human monocytes than Type I genotype
Authors: Kim Byoung‐Jun , Shim Tae Sun , Yi Su‐Yeon , Kim Ho‐Cheol , Kim Bo‐Ram , Lee So‐Young , Kook Yoon‐Hoh , Kim Bum‐Joon
Published: August 2015

Recently, we introduced a novel Mycobacterium massiliense Type II genotype from Korean patients, in which all isolates showed only a rough (R) colony morphotype. In this study, we sought to compare clinical factors and virulence potentials of two genotypes of M. massiliense, Type I and Type II. Patients infected with Type II tend to be younger at infection than those infected with Type I (56.7 vs 62.3, p = 0.051). Type II was more significantly related to R colony type than Type I (34.1% vs 94.1%, p < 0.001). The Type II strain showed significantly more colony forming units (CFUs) and higher levels of TNF‐α secretion in infection of human monocytes than the Type I strain. The challenge of extracted glycopeptidolipid (GPL) into human monocytes indicated that the loss of GPL from the cell wall of the Type II genotype led to a higher level of TNF‐α secretion in a toll‐like receptor 2(TLR2)‐dependent manner. Taken together, our data suggest that the M. massiliense Type II genotype shows higher virulence than Type I, which may be due to the induction of TNF‐α via the loss of GPL from the Type II cell wall.
Corporate character, corporate virtues
Authors: Moore Geoff
Published: August 2015

This paper extends previous discussions of corporate character and corporate virtues. By drawing particularly on the work of Alasdair MacIntyre, it offers a perspective on context‐dependent categories of the virtues. It then provides a philosophically grounded framework which enables a discussion of which virtues are required for business organizations to qualify as virtuous. It offers a preliminary taxonomy of such corporate virtues and provides a revised definition of corporate character.
Integrating character in management: virtues, character strengths, and competencies
Authors: Morales‐Sánchez Rafael , Cabello‐Medina Carmen
Published: August 2015

In recent years, character traits in general and virtue‐related concepts in particular have been of considerable interest to philosophers, psychological researchers, and practitioners in the business ethics field. Three approaches to character traits can be used to incorporate ethics into organizations: virtues (philosophical approach), character strengths (psychological approach), and competencies (management approach). The aim of this article is to clarify the concept of character traits, or virtues, and provide a unified operational version of it for incorporation into management. To this end, we first discuss the analogy among virtues, character strengths, and competencies. Then, we propose a list of moral competencies that can be implemented in competency‐based human resource management.
Who should Decide for the Unrepresented?
Authors: Courtwright Andrew , Rubin Emily
Published: August 2015

Unrepresented patients lack the capacity to make medical decisions for themselves, have no clear documentation of preferences for medical treatment, and have no surrogate decision maker or obvious candidate for that role. There is no consensus about who should serve as the decision maker for these patients, particularly regarding whether to continue or to limit life‐sustaining treatment. Several authors have argued that ethics committees should play this role rather than the patient's treating physician, a common current default. We argue that concerns about the adequacy of physicians as surrogates are either empirically unfounded or apply equally to ethics committees. We suggest that physicians should be the primary decision maker for the unrepresented because of their fiduciary duties toward their patients. As part of the process of fulfilling these duties, they should seek the advice of third parties such as ethic committees; but final end‐of‐life decision‐making for the unrepresented should rest with the treating physician.
Happiness increases distraction by auditory deviant stimuli
Authors: Pacheco‐Unguetti Antonia Pilar , Parmentier Fabrice B. R.
Published: August 2015

Rare and unexpected changes (deviants) in an otherwise repeated stream of task‐irrelevant auditory distractors (standards) capture attention and impair behavioural performance in an ongoing visual task. Recent evidence indicates that this effect is increased by sadness in a task involving neutral stimuli. We tested the hypothesis that such effect may not be limited to negative emotions but reflect a general depletion of attentional resources by examining whether a positive emotion (happiness) would increase deviance distraction too. Prior to performing an auditory‐visual oddball task, happiness or a neutral mood was induced in participants by means of the exposure to music and the recollection of an autobiographical event. Results from the oddball task showed significantly larger deviance distraction following the induction of happiness. Interestingly, the small amount of distraction typically observed on the standard trial following a deviant trial (post‐deviance distraction) was not increased by happiness. We speculate that happiness might interfere with the disengagement of attention from the deviant sound back towards the target stimulus (through the depletion of cognitive resources and/or mind wandering) but help subsequent cognitive control to recover from distraction.
Niche Differentiation and its Relationship with Food Abundance and Vegetation Complexity in Four Frugivorous Bat Species in Southern Mexico
Authors: Vleut Ivar , Galindo‐González Jorge , de Boer Willem Frederik , Levy‐Tacher Samuel I. , Vazquez Luis‐Bernardo
Published: August 2015

Species can co‐exist within a community when their use of limiting resources is differentiated. To test whether differentiation facilitates coexistence, we quantified differences and overlap in habitat use, fruit consumption, morphological characteristics, and the relationship with vegetation structure for two pairs of ecologically similar frugivorous bat species,Carollia sowelliandC. perspicillata, andArtibeus jamaicensisandA. lituratus. InCarollia sowelliandC. perspicillata, differences in body mass and wing aspect ratio were not reflected in differences in fruit or habitat use (diet overlap, 96 percent; habitat overlap, 98 percent). However, the capture rate ofCarollia sowellipositively correlated with canopy openness, and that ofC. perspicillatapositively correlated with tree height. Body mass and wing characteristics ofArtibeusspecies suggested a greater maneuverability forA. jamaicensis. Also, moreA. jamaicensisindividuals were captured feeding onFicusspp., whileArtibeus lituratuspreferred fruits of the early successional treeCecropia. However, both habitat overlap and diet overlap were higher than by chance (diet overlap, 75 percent; habitat overlap, 92 percent). The co‐existence of the four bat species in the study area may be facilitated by the abundance of the food resources forming part of the diets of bothCarolliaspecies, by the morphological differences between theArtibeusspecies, which allow the differentiation of foraging behavior in relation to fruit consumption, and by the structural characteristics of the vegetation.
Psychosocial well‐being of parents of children with oral clefts
Authors: Nidey N. , Moreno Uribe L. M. , Marazita M. M. , Wehby G. L.
Published: August 2015

Background

Parents of children with oral clefts may be impacted psychosocially in several ways, but empirical evidence remains relatively sparse. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of psychosocial well‐being of parents of affected children.

Methods

The study included a total sample of 287 parents (171 mothers and 116 fathers) of children with oral clefts. Parents completed validated psychosocial instruments to measure social avoidance and distress, fear of negative evaluation scale, self‐esteem and interpersonal support. Regression analysis was used to evaluate how selected child, parent and household characteristics relate to psychosocial outcomes focusing on child's cleft type, sex and age, differences between mothers and fathers, marital status and household income.

Results

Fathers had higher self‐esteem than mothers (P = 0.01) and lower concern of being negatively judged by others (P < 0.0001) but also had lower perception of having someone to talk to about their problems (P = 0.01). High household income was associated with greater self‐esteem and perception of social support (<0.05). Parents of male affected children had greater perception of social support than parents of female affected children (P = 0.04). No significant differences in parental psychosocial status measures were found by cleft type. Similarly, there is little evidence of changes with child age, except for an increase in parental distress and decline in self‐esteem during mid‐adolescence (age 15–17 years).

Conclusions

The results indicate that mothers and fathers of children with oral clefts may differ in their psychosocial adjustment and that mothers may overall experience more psychosocial problems than fathers. Also, parents from less wealthy households may be at greater risk. Parental psychosocial status should be considered in holistic family‐based treatment approaches to reduce burden on affected families and improve their well‐being.
A New Perspective on Children's Communicative Perspective Taking: When and How Do Children Use Perspective Inferences to Inform Their Comprehension of Spoken Language?
Authors: San Juan Valerie , Khu Melanie , Graham Susan A.
Published: August 2015

Successful communication often requires a listener to reason about a speaker's perspective to make inferences about communicative intent. Although children can use perspective reasoning to influence their interpretation of spoken utterances, when and how children integrate perspective reasoning with language comprehension remain unclear. These questions are central to theoretical debates in language processing and have led to competing accounts of communicative perspective taking: early versus late integration. In this article, we examine how developmental evidence addresses the predictions of each account. Specifically, we review evidence to determine whether children can rapidly integrate perspective inferences when processing spoken language while central abilities (i.e., executive function and theory of mind) are still emerging.
Full 3D Plant Reconstruction via Intrusive Acquisition
Authors: Yin Kangxue , Huang Hui , Long Pinxin , Gaissinski Alexei , Gong Minglun , Sharf Andrei
Published: August 2015

Digitally capturing vegetation using off‐the‐shelf scanners is a challenging problem. Plants typically exhibit large self‐occlusions and thin structures which cannot be properly scanned. Furthermore, plants are essentially dynamic, deforming over the time, which yield additional difficulties in the scanning process. In this paper, we present a novel technique for acquiring and modelling of plants and foliage. At the core of our method is an intrusive acquisition approach, which disassembles the plant into disjoint parts that can be accurately scanned and reconstructed offline. We use the reconstructed part meshes as 3D proxies for the reconstruction of the complete plant and devise a global‐to‐local non‐rigid registration technique that preserves specific plant characteristics. Our method is tested on plants of various styles, appearances and characteristics. Results show successful reconstructions with high accuracy with respect to the acquired data.
Developments in amphibian captive breeding and reintroduction programs
Authors: Harding Gemma , Griffiths Richard A. , Pavajeau Lissette
Published: August 2015

Captive breeding and reintroduction remain high profile but controversial conservation interventions. It is important to understand how such programs develop and respond to strategic conservation initiatives. We analyzed the contribution to conservation made by amphibian captive breeding and reintroduction since the launch of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP) in 2007. We assembled data on amphibian captive breeding and reintroduction from a variety of sources including the Amphibian Ark database and the IUCN Red List. We also carried out systematic searches of Web of Science, JSTOR, and Google Scholar for relevant literature. Relative to data collected from 1966 to 2006, the number of species involved in captive breeding and reintroduction projects increased by 57% in the 7 years since release of the ACAP. However, there have been relatively few new reintroductions over this period; most programs have focused on securing captive‐assurance populations (i.e., species taken into captivity as a precaution against extinctions in the wild) and conservation‐related research. There has been a shift to a broader representation of frogs, salamanders, and caecilians within programs and an increasing emphasis on threatened species. There has been a relative increase of species in programs from Central and South America and the Caribbean, where amphibian biodiversity is high. About half of the programs involve zoos and aquaria with a similar proportion represented in specialist facilities run by governmental or nongovernmental agencies. Despite successful reintroduction often being regarded as the ultimate milestone for such programs, the irreversibility of many current threats to amphibians may make this an impractical goal. Instead, research on captive assurance populations may be needed to develop imaginative solutions to enable amphibians to survive alongside current, emerging, and future threats.