bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hippocampal Damage During Mechanical Ventilation in Trendelenburg Position: A Secondary Analysis of an Experimental Study on the Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Authors: López-Aguilar Josefina , Bassi Gianluigi Li , Quílez María Elisa , Martí Joan Daniel , Ranzani Otavio T. , Xiol Eli Aguilera , Rigol Montserrat , Luque Nestor , Guillamat Raquel , Ferrer Isidre , Torres Antoni , Blanch Lluís
Published: July 2018

We previously corroborated benefits of the Trendelenburg position in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). We now investigate its potential effects on the brain versus the semirecumbent position. We studied 17 anesthetized pigs and randomized to be ventilated and positioned as follows: duty cycle (TI/TTOT) of 0.33, without positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), placed with the bed oriented 30° in anti-Trendelenburg (control group); positioned as in the control group, with TI/TTOT adjusted to achieve an expiratory flow bias, PEEP of 5 cm H2O (IRV-PEEP); positioned in 5° TP and ventilated as in the control group (TP). Animals were challenged into the oropharynx with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We assessed hemodynamic parameters and systemic inflammation throughout the study. After 72 h, we evaluated incidence of microbiological/histological VAP and brain injury. Petechial hemorrhages score was greater in the TP group (P = 0.013). Analysis of the dentate gyrus showed higher cell apoptosis and deteriorating neurons in TP animals (P < 0.05 vs. the other groups). No differences in systemic inflammation were found among groups. Cerebral perfusion pressure was higher in TP animals (P < 0.001), mainly driven by higher mean arterial pressure. Microbiological/histological VAP developed in 0%, 67%, and 86% of the animals in the TP, control, and IRV-PEEP groups, respectively (P = 0.003). In conclusion, the TP prevents VAP; yet, we found deleterious neural effects in the dentate gyrus, likely associated with cerebrovascular modification in such position. Further laboratory and clinical studies are mandatory to appraise potential neurological risks associated with long-term TP.
Using Quality Measures for Performance Improvement in the Skilled Nursing Facility/Long-Term Care Setting
Authors: Bloodworth Linda Capps , Parenti Karen , Fralix Joshua , Smith Martha
Published: July 2018

The escalating cost of health care and the increasing number of older adults make it necessary to focus on effectiveness/efficiency of care. Quality measures can help providers identify areas in which improved processes may lead to better outcomes. Quality assurance and performance improvement) involve collecting and analyzing data to facilitate meaningful conclusions and action plans for improvement. Performance improvement to optimize outcomes in the skilled nursing facility for community discharge, improvement in or maintenance of function, and avoiding hospital readmissions requires a team approach. A background for these quality measures and principles for an effective team response is presented.
Effects of Transitional Care Management Services From an Interprofessional Team on 30-Day Readmission Rates Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Authors: Henriksen Brian , Stuckey Nathan
Published: July 2018

Purpose:

To diminish the negative effects associated with current care transitions (medication discrepancies, poor outcomes, adverse clinical events) while also giving pharmacists and other nonphysician practitioners opportunity to display their value to the health care system.

Methods:

A retrospective medical record review was conducted on patients admitted to the hospital to observe whether a transitions of care management (TCM) services altered hospital readmission within 30 days. Sampling occurred via a convenience sample to capture all patients during the specified time frame.

Results:

There were 226 hospital admissions during the study period (April 2015-February 2016). TCM encounters were performed for 75 of them. The number of readmissions with patients who had a Transitional Care Management encounter was only 5 of 24 total readmissions while 19 of the 151 patients who had not had a Transitional Care Management encounter were readmitted (6.7% compared with 12%; P = .174). These results demonstrate a 51% relative risk reduction.

Conclusion:

The utilization of a Transitional Care Management team reduced the rate of readmission among Medicare beneficiaries by 50%. Economically, the TCM approach saves the hospital money by reducing the rate of readmissions that the hospital must reimburse.
Identification of Fall Risk Factors Through Self-report and Physical Performance
Authors: O'Rourke Beth , Upchurch Rebecca , Bain Jennifer , Tirey Lauren , Vrchota Steven , Watson Katie
Published: July 2018

Preventing falls among community-dwelling older adults continues to be a concern for health care providers, and the development of an interprofessional screening tool is one initiative to address falls reduction. In this study, the Falls Efficacy Scale assessed subjects' self-reported confidence and the Physical Performance Test assessed performance on functional tasks. Both assessments were analyzed for strengths and weaknesses to develop a community screening tool for health care providers. The results of this study suggest that further exploration of self-reported fear of falling, dizziness, walking ability, and urinary urgency are key areas for the creation of an interdisciplinary fall risk screening tool.
The Value of Adding Transcutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (VitalStim) to Traditional Therapy for Poststroke Dysphagia
Authors: Li Lejun , Li Yumei , Wu Xiaohong , Wang Guohua , Yi Xiaojing , Zhao Yichun , Guo Mingjie , Pan Muzhi , Tang Chunlin
Published: July 2018

Background:

Dysphagia may delay the functional recovery and substantially affects the quality of life after stroke, mainly if left untreated. Electrical stimulation has been reported as a treatment for pharyngeal dysphagia in recent studies, but the therapeutic effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (VitalStim) therapy lacks convincing supporting evidence and needs further clinical investigation.

Methods:

A total of 135 subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups: traditional swallowing therapy (n = 45), VitalStim therapy (n = 45), and VitalStim therapy plus traditional swallowing therapy (n = 45). The traditional swallowing therapy included basic training and direct food intake training. Electrical stimulation was applied by an occupational therapist, using a modified handheld battery-powered electrical stimulator (VitalStim Dual Channel Unit and electrodes, Chattanooga Group, Hixson, Tennessee). The surface electromyography (sEMG), standardized swallowing assessment (SSA), videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), and visual analog scale (VAS) were used to assess swallowing function before and 4 weeks after the treatment.

Results:

A total of 118 subjects with dysphagia completed the study, 40 in the traditional swallowing group and VitalStim therapy group and 38 in the VitalStim and traditional swallowing therapy group. There were significant differences in sEMG values and SSA and VFSS scores in each group after the treatment (P < .001). After 4-week treatment, sEMG value (917.1; standard deviation [SD], 91.2), SSA value (21.8; SD, 3.5), oral transit time (0.4; SD, 0.1), and pharyngeal transit time (0.8; SD, 0.1) were significantly improved in the VitalStim and traditional swallowing therapy group than in the other 2 groups (P < .001).

Conclusions:

Data suggest that VitalStim therapy coupled with traditional swallowing therapy may be beneficial for poststroke dysphagia.
The Effect of Leisure Activities, Purpose in Life, and Spirituality on Short-Term Outcomes of Geriatric Rehabilitation
Authors: Merims Doron , Ben Natan Merav , Seleznev Irina
Published: July 2018

Background:

Participation in leisure activities, having purpose in life, and spirituality may act to shape individuals' attitudes toward life and life events. Possibly, they may also impact patients' rehabilitation process.

Objectives:

To examine the association between participation in leisure activities (prior to the event requiring rehabilitation), having purpose in life, spirituality, and outcomes of geriatric rehabilitation.

Methods:

Two hundred adults 65 years and older hospitalized at a large geriatric rehabilitation facility completed the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, Purpose in Life test, and Leisure Activities Index. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the effect of participation in leisure activities, having purpose in life, and spirituality, on the outcomes of geriatric rehabilitation (Δ Functional Independence Measure).

Results:

Participation in leisure activities was found to be a predictor of geriatric rehabilitation outcomes, although to a lesser extent than the Mini-Mental State Examination score and age. Having purpose in life was found to be associated with rehabilitation outcomes, but not as a predictor; and no association was found between spirituality and rehabilitation outcomes.

Conclusions:

Participation in leisure activities may serve as a relatively easy-to-measure predictor of geriatric rehabilitation outcomes.
Feasibility and Effectiveness of Mobile Phones in Physical Activity Promotion for Adults 50 Years and Older
Authors: Song Yayun , Qu Jia , Zhang Di , Zhang Jun
Published: July 2018

Objective:

To determine the feasibility and effectiveness of mobile phones for promoting physical activity among adults 50 years and older.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted. Articles were searched on April 1, 2017, in databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and EBSCO) by 2 reviewers.

Results:

Eight articles were included. Three studies were conducted in the United States. Four studies found mobile phone interventions effective in increasing physical activity frequency. Participants found mobile phone interventions interesting, useful, and easy to use.

Conclusion:

Mobile phone interventions were effective in promoting physical activity among older adults, and well accepted despite certain barriers.
The Impact of an Interprofessional Education Experience on Postgraduate Dietetic Students' Self-Assessed Confidence in Their Ability to Identify and Demonstrate Interprofessional Practice Behaviors
Authors: Karamat Emma , Pole David , Rahman Rabia , Toomey Eileen , Eliot Kathrin
Published: July 2018

This study looks at the effect of an interprofessional education experience on dietetic students. Engaging dietetic students in interprofessional education improves their confidence to advocate and demonstrate their scope of training and engage in interprofessional collaboration. Quantitative analysis of retrospective pre-/posttest surveys using paired samples t test and Cohen d effect sizes was used to compare participants' confidence in select interprofessional practice behaviors before and after participating in the interprofessional education experience. There were statistically significant improvements in participants' confidence in all interprofessional practice behaviors surveyed (P < .05). Effect sizes for changes were considered large by Cohen criteria ranging from 1.16 to 1.40.
Impact of the LIFESTEPS Weight Management Program on Measures of Adiposity, Self-Efficacy, and Lifestyle Behaviors
Authors: Woolf Kathleen , Heller Jenna E. , Paulsen Barbara K. , Bourneuf Vicki , Pfaffenberger Tracy , Verason Terri
Published: July 2018

Assessment of weight loss options can help consumers and practitioners determine the best way to manage weight. This quasi-experimental study evaluated outcomes for participants (n = 1592; body mass index: 35.7±7.5 kg/m2) enrolled in the LIFESTEPS Weight Management Program. Body adiposity, self-efficacy, and lifestyle behaviors were assessed at program entry and exit. Body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio decreased and self-efficacy increased. More participants reported keeping food records, consuming fruits and vegetables, and participating in physical activity at program exit. Programs that emphasize nutrition, physical activity, and behavior therapy, such as LIFESTEPS, are appropriate options for weight loss.
Breakfast Habits and Diet Quality in Economically Diverse African American and White Adults
Authors: Grimes Megan , Kuczmarski Marie Fanelli , Bodt Barry A. , Baker Sandra D. , Fang Chengshun , Zonderman Alan B. , Evans Michele K.
Published: July 2018

Both skipping breakfast and away-from-home (AFH) food consumption can influence diet quality. This study compared diet quality when breakfasts were eaten at home, eaten AFH, or skipped among adults (aged 32-70 years; 59% female, 62% African American) in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study who completed two 24-hour recalls (n = 2140). Individuals who ate breakfast at home had the highest diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2010 score). Persons who ate breakfast AFH or skipped breakfast had diet quality scores that were 3.98 and 4.62 points lower. Dietitians could promote more at-home meals as an effective strategy to improve the diet quality for Americans' breakfast.
Cell morphological motif detector for high-resolution 3D microscopy images
Authors: Driscoll Meghan K. , Welf Erik S. , Dean Kevin M. , Fiolka Reto , Danuser Gaudenz
Published: July 2018

Recent advances in light-sheet microscopy enable imaging of cell morphology and signaling with unprecedented detail. However, the analytical tools to systematically measure and visualize the intricate relations between cell morphodynamics, intracellular signaling, and cytoskeletal dynamics have been largely missing. Here, we introduce a set of computer vision and graphics methods to dissect molecular mechanisms underlying 3D cell morphogenesis and to test whether morphogenesis itself affects intracellular signaling. We demonstrate a machine learning based generic morphological motif detector that automatically finds lamellipodia, filopodia, and blebs on various cell types. Combining motif detection with molecular localization, we measure the differential association of PIP2and KrasV12with blebs. Both signals associate with bleb edges, as expected for membrane-localized proteins, but only PIP2is enhanced on blebs. This suggests that local morphological cues differentially organize and activate sub-cellular signaling processes. Overall, our computational workflow enables the objective, automated analysis of the 3D coupling of morphodynamics with cytoskeletal dynamics and intracellular signaling.
Clonal evolution and genome stability in a 2,500-year-old fungal individual
Authors: Anderson James B. , Bruhn Johann N. , Kasimer Dahlia , Wang Hao , Rodrigue Nicolas , Smith Myron L.
Published: July 2018

In the late 1980s, a genetic individual of the fungusArmillaria gallicathat extended over at least 37 hectares of forest floor and encompassed hundreds of tree root systems was discovered on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Based on observed growth rates, the individual was estimated to be at least 1500 years old with a mass of more than 105kg. Nearly three decades on, we returned to the site of individual for new sampling. We report here that the same genetic individual ofA. gallicais still alive on its original site, but we estimated that it is older and larger than originally estimated, at least 2,500 years and 4 × 105kg, respectively. We also show that mutation has occurred within the somatic cells of the individual, reflecting its historical pattern of growth from a single point. The overall rate of mutation, however, was extremely low. The large individual ofA. gallicahas been remarkably resistant to genomic change as it has persisted in place.
Modelling Intrinsically Disordered Protein Dynamics as Networks of Transient Secondary Structure
Authors: Wayment-Steele Hannah K. , Hernández Carlos X. , Pande Vijay S.
Published: July 2018

Describing the dynamics and conformational landscapes of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) is of paramount importance to understanding their functions. Markov State Models (MSMs) are often used to characterize the dynamics of more structured proteins, but models of IDPs built using conventional MSM modelling protocols can be difficult to interpret due to the inherent nature of IDPs, which exhibit fast transitions between disordered microstates. We propose a new method of determining MSM states from all-atom molecular dynamics simulation data of IDPs by using per-residue secondary structure assignments as input features in a MSM model. Because such secondary structure algorithms use a select set of features for assignment (dihedral angles, contact distances, etc.), they represent a knowledge-based refinement of feature sets used for model-building. This method adds interpretability to IDP conformational landscapes, which are increasingly viewed as composed of transient secondary structure, and allows us to readily use MSM analysis tools in this paradigm. We demonstrate the use of our method with the transcription factor p53 c-terminal domain (p53-CTD), a commonly-studied IDP. We are able to characterize the full secondary structure phase space observed for p53-CTD, and describe characteristics of p53-CTD as a network of transient helical and beta-hairpin structures with different network behaviors in different domains of secondary structure. This analysis provides a novel example of how IDPs can be studied and how researchers might better understand a disordered protein conformational landscape.
Transforming Insect Population Control with Precision Guided Sterile Males
Authors: Kandul Nikolay P. , Liu Junru , Sanchez C. Hector M. , Wu Sean L. , Marshall John M. , Akbariut Omar S.
Published: July 2018

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an environmentally safe and proven technology to suppress wild populations. To further advance its utility, a novel CRISPR-based technology termed “precision guided SIT” (pgSIT) is described. PgSIT mechanistically relies on a dominant genetic technology that enables simultaneous sexing and sterilization, facilitating the release of eggs into the environment ensuring only sterile adult males emerge. Importantly, for field applications, the release of eggs will eliminate burdens of manually sexing and sterilizing males, thereby reducing overall effort and increasing scalability. To demonstrate efficacy, we systematically engineer multiple pgSIT systems inDrosophilawhich consistently give rise to 100% sterile males. Importantly, we demonstrate that pgSIT-generated males are fit and competitive. Using mathematical models, we predict pgSIT will induce substantially greater population suppression than can be achieved by currently-available self-limiting suppression technologies. Taken together, pgSIT offers to transform our ability to control insect agricultural pests and disease vectors.
Increased α-2,8-sialyltransferase 8B (ST8SIA2) expression in schizophrenia superior temporal gyrus
Authors: Mueller Toni M. , Yates Stefani D. , Meador-Woodruff James H.
Published: July 2018

Reduced polysialylation of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in schizophrenia has been suggested to contribute to abnormal neuroplasticity and neurodevelopmental features of this illness. The posttranslational addition of sialic acid is mediated by sialyltransferases, and polysialylation (the addition of ≥ 8 α -2,8-linked sialic acid residues) is catalyzed by three enzymes: ST8SIA2 (also called STX), ST8SIA4 (also called PST), and/or ST8SIA3. ST8SIA2 and ST8SIA4 are the primary mediators of NCAM polysialylation. The gene encoding ST8SIA2 maps to schizophrenia risk locus 15q26, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and SNP haplotypes of the ST8SIA2 gene have been associated with schizophrenia in multiple populations. The current study in elderly schizophrenia (N = 16) and comparison (N = 14) subjects measured the protein expression of NCAM, polysialylated-NCAM (PSANCAM), and three poly-α-2,8-sialyltransferases (ST8SIA2, ST8SIA3, and ST8SIA4) in postmortem superior temporal gyrus. Although expression of NCAM, PSA-NCAM, ST8SIA3, and ST8SIA4 were not different in schizophrenia, increased protein levels of ST8SIA2 were identified. It has been reported that ST8SIA2 mutations associated with increased schizophrenia risk impair PSA-NCAM synthesis, suggesting that increased protein expression of ST8SIA2 may represent a compensatory mechanism in the face of impaired enzyme function. This interpretation is further supported by our finding that the relationship between ST8SIA2 enzyme expression and PSA-NCAM levels are different between schizophrenia and comparison subjects. Together these findings suggest a possible neurodevelopmentally-regulated mechanism which could contribute to abnormal synaptic plasticity evident in schizophrenia.
A dual motif mediates outer-membrane translocation and packing of glycosidases intoBacteroidesOuter Membrane Vesicles
Authors: Valguarnera Ezequiel , Scott Nichollas , Feldman Mario F.
Published: July 2018

Outer membrane vesicles (OMV) are spherical structures derived from the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria.Bacteroides spp. areprominent components of the human gut microbiota, and OMV produced with these species are proposed to play key roles in gut homeostasis. OMV biogenesis inBacteroidesis a poorly understood process. Here, we revisited the protein composition ofB. thetaOMVs by mass spectrometry. We confirmed that OMVs produced by this organism contain large quantities of glycosidases and proteases, with most of them being lipoproteins. We found that most of these OMV-enriched lipoproteins are encoded by polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs), such as thesusoperon. We examined the subcellular localization of the components of the Sus system, and found that the alpha-amylase SusG is highly enriched in OMVs while the oligosaccharide importer SusC remains mostly in the OM. We show that all OMV-enriched lipoproteins possess a lipoprotein export sequence (LES) that mediates translocation of SusG from the periplasmic face of the OM towards the extracellular milieu and is required for SusG to localize preferentially to OMVs. We also show that surface-exposed SusG in OMVs is active and can rescue growth of bacterial cells incapable of growing on starch as only carbon source. Our results support the role of OMVs as “public goods” that can be utilized by other organisms with different metabolic capabilities.

IMPORTANCE

Species from theBacteroidesgenus are predominant members of the human gut microbiota. OMVs inBacteroideshave been shown to be important for the homeostasis of complex host-commensal relationships, mainly involving immune tolerance and protection from disease. OMVs carry many enzymatic activities involved in the cleavage of complex polysaccharides and have been proposed as public goods that can provide growth to other bacterial species by release of polysaccharide breakdown products into the gut lumen. Nevertheless, the mechanistic nature of OMV biogenesis is unclear forBacteroidesspp. This works shows the presence of a negatively-charged rich amino acid dual motif that is required for efficient packing of the surface-exposed alpha-amylase SusG into OMVs. Discovery of this motif (LES) is the first step in the generation of tailor made probiotic interventions that can exploit LES-related sequences to generateBacteroidesstrains displaying proteins of interest in OMVs.
Human cytomegalovirus RNA2.7 regulates host cell cycle and facilitates viral DNA replication by inhibiting RNA polymerase II phosphorylation
Authors: Huang Yujing , Zhang Jing , Guo Xin , Wang Qing , Liu Zhongyang , Ma Yanping , Qi Ying , Ruan Qiang
Published: July 2018

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen belongs to the beta herpesvirus family. RNA2.7 is a viral long non-coding RNA accounting for more than 20% of total viral transcripts at early time of infection. By construction of RNA2.7 deleted mutant and genome transcriptomic analysis, RNA2.7 is demonstrated to repress host cellular RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-dependent transcription through inhibiting the phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Co-immunoprecipitation, RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assay are followed to investigate its mechnism. A 145nt-in-length fragment in RNA2.7 is identified to bind to Pol II and block the interaction between Pol II and phosphorylated cyckin-dependent kinase 9 (phospho-CDK9). By inhibiting Pol II phosphorylation, RNA2.7 decreases the transcription and expression levels of chromatin licensing and DNA replication factor 1 (Cdt1) and cell division cycle gene 6 (Cdc6). Through above way, RNA2.7 prevents the entry of cells into S phase and facilitates viral DNA replication. Our results discover the functions of HCMV RNA2.7 in regulation of Pol II phosphorylation and cell cycle control during infection.

Author summary

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) RNA2.7 is a viral lncRNA that is most abundant during infection. Here we show that a 145nt-in-length fragment in RNA2.7 binds to RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and blocks the interaction between Pol II and phosphorylated cyckin-dependent kinase 9 (phospho-CDK9). By inhibiting Pol II phosphorylation, RNA2.7 decreases the transcription and expression levels of chromatin licensing and DNA replication factor 1 (Cdt1) and cell division cycle gene 6 (Cdc6), and blocks host cells entering into S phase. RNA2.7 is confirmed to facilitate viral DNA replication through decreasing Cdt1 and Cdc6. Therefore, our results discover the functions of HCMV RNA2.7 in regulation of Pol II phosphorylation and cell cycle control during infection.
Death of new microRNA genes in Drosophila via gradual loss of fitness advantages
Authors: Lu Guang-An , Zhao Yixin , Yang Hao , Lan Ao , Shi Suhua , Liufu Zhongqi , Huang Yumei , Tang Tian , Xu Jin , Shen Xu , Wu Chung-I
Published: July 2018

The prevalence of de novo coding genes is controversial due to length and coding constraints. Noncoding genes, especially small ones, are freer to evolve de novo by comparison. The best examples are microRNAs (miRNAs), a large class of regulatory molecules ∼22 nt in length. Here, we study six de novo miRNAs in Drosophila, which, like most new genes, are testis-specific. We ask how and why de novo genes die because gene death must be sufficiently frequent to balance the many new births. By knocking out each miRNA gene, we analyzed their contributions to the nine components of male fitness (sperm production, length, and competitiveness, among others). To our surprise, the knockout mutants often perform better than the wild type in some components, and slightly worse in others. When two of the younger miRNAs are assayed in long-term laboratory populations, their total fitness contributions are found to be essentially zero. These results collectively suggest that adaptive de novo genes die regularly, not due to the loss of functionality, but due to the canceling out of positive and negative fitness effects, which may be characterized as “quasi-neutrality.” Since de novo genes often emerge adaptively and become lost later, they reveal ongoing period-specific adaptations, reminiscent of the “Red-Queen” metaphor for long-term evolution.
The Future Museum shapes the museum future
Authors: Wang Michelle Chaotzu , Lin James Quo-Ping
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a progressive strategy of the National Palace Museum (NPM) using new media art exhibitions as a creative marketing tool to interpret its collection, generate cultural value and navigate the greater global context.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of museum marketing literature and the challenges presented by Taiwan’s sociopolitical situation contextualize discussions on marketing activities and the emergence of museum-commissioned new media art at the NPM within the past two decades.

Findings

Democratic potency inherent in the digital medium has enabled the NPM to transcend the conflicting cultural perceptions surrounding its collection and fulfill the function of market expansion and cultural transmission.

Originality/value

Specialized heritage museums, such as the NPM, do not traditionally create or collect contemporary artworks that engage in ongoing cultural dialogues. This paper brings into view the novelty of using the digital medium to generate cultural value as exemplified in the new media art commissioned by the NPM.
Which consumers opt for organic wine and why? An analysis of the attitude-behaviour link
Authors: Schäufele Isabel , Pashkova Daria , Hamm Ulrich
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of attitudes and socio-demographics on wine consumers’ real purchase behaviour for organic wine.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on GfK household panel data, a real market data source of high population coverage. A two-part fractional model was applied as two distinct categories of wine buyers were observed. The first part of the two-part fractional model consisted of a standard binary choice model and defined the likelihood of belonging to the group of organic wine buyers. The second part of the model only took organic wine buyers into account and described their purchase intensity.

Findings

Preferences for organic products and sustainability concerns (e.g. environmental and social concerns) drive organic wine purchases. Proving a causal relation between attitudes and purchase behaviour gives evidence that stated preferences are a reliable indicator to predict consumer behaviour. However, the weak relation between attitudes and behaviour confirms the existence of an attitude-behaviour gap.

Practical implications

Quality benefits of organic wine production need to be communicated to attract new customers. Stronger focus should be put on sustainability issues with the aim of encouraging organic customers to also increase their expenditures for organic wine.

Originality/value

The influence of sustainability concerns on purchase behaviour is still controversial and no study, so far, has analysed real purchase data for organic wine. The results provide new insights on why attitudes do not fully transform into purchase behaviour.
Fostering knowledge sharing and knowledge utilization
Authors: Ouakouak Mohammed Laid , Ouedraogo Noufou
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of organizational commitment and trust on knowledge sharing and on knowledge utilization. Also, the study aims to examine the influence of knowledge sharing on knowledge utilization.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative study was conducted among 307 employees working at Canadian organizations.

Findings

The results reveal that both affective commitment and professional trust have positive influences on knowledge sharing and knowledge utilization, whereas personal trust and continuance commitment do not. The authors also found that business ethics moderates the relationship between knowledge sharing and knowledge utilization.

Practical implications

These findings extend the literature on knowledge management and demonstrate, from a practical perspective, that in order to build a knowledge-sharing culture, managers must create conditions that allow affective commitment, professional trust and business ethics to flourish.

Originality/value

The current study offers an initial investigation of the effects of both kinds of commitment and trust on knowledge sharing and knowledge utilization.
Relative leader-member relationships within group context
Authors: Bakar Hassan Abu , Omilion-Hodges Leah M.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Although the importance of group leader and group member dyadic relationships has been increasingly emphasized, only few studies have focused on the dyadic level analysis of leader–member relationships. By integrating theories of relational leadership and relational dyadic communication among workgroups, the purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical model that links relative leader–member exchange quality (RLMX) and relative leader–member conversation quality (RLMCQ) to group performance, as mediated by group cooperation.

Design/methodology/approach

The model was tested in a field study with multiple sources, including 232 leader–member dyads and 407 workgroup peer dyads among 70 intact workgroups. Data were collected on-site during paid working hours from four training sessions. Group members were surveyed four times (Time 1, Time 2 and Time 3) and group leaders were surveyed once (Time 4) to minimize common method bias. The hierarchical linear modeling and polynomial regression approach were used to determine the mediating effects of the group cooperation.

Findings

In this study, the authors found support for indirect effects of relative RLMX and RLMCQ on group performance through the mediating role of group cooperation.

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional design of the current study is to be interpreted with caution, concerning any conclusions about the causal ordering of the variables in the model.

Practical implications

In organizational situations with group leaders and group members already in high-quality relationships and conversation, management should endeavor to facilitate opportunities for cooperation among group members and a means to also enhance team–member exchange.

Originality/value

By introducing LMCQ and group member cooperative behavior in workgroups, this study actively respond to the scholars’ warnings that ignoring the workgroup context may hamper the progress in understanding the factors that will inhibit or enhance workgroup behavior.
Internationalisation at home for tourism training programmes: case studies from Vietnam
Authors: Khuong Cam Thi Hong , Thi Tran Ly
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Tourism is one of the most notable features of the contemporary globalised world. The tourism industry is becoming increasingly vital to the economy of many developing and developed countries around the globe. The demand of the tourism industry has posed a challenge for tourism training providers to move towards a more responsive and internationalised curriculum to enhance work readiness for tourism graduates who are expected to work with an increased number of international tourists. The purpose of this paper is analyse whether and how internationalisation has been implemented in the tourism training programmes across six institutions in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

The research deployed case studies as research strategy with interviews and document analysis as two instruments of data collection.

Findings

The major findings show that even though the tourism industry demands graduates to possess global competency, knowledge and skills, the curriculum does not prioritise the internationalisation dimensions and the faculty members are not facilitated to be internationally active in their roles. Overall, internationalisation is still fragmented and ad hoc in these institutions even though the private institutions in this research appear to be more responsive to the trend of internationalisation in education than their public counterparts.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides recommendations on how to effectively embed internationalisation components into local tourism training programs in Vietnam.

Originality/value

The research bridges the gap in the literature on internationalisation of the local tourism programme in non-English-speaking countries.
Development and characterization of three-dimensional woven fabric for ultra violet protection
Authors: Nasreen Adeela , Umair Muhammad , Shaker Khubab , Hamdani Syed Talha Ali , Nawab Yasir
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of materials, three dimensional (3D) structure and number of fabric layers on ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), air permeability and thickness of fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

Total 24 fabrics samples were developed using two 3D structures and two weft materials. In warp direction cotton (CT) yarn and in weft direction polypropylene (PP) and polyester (PET) were used. Air permeability, thickness and UPF testings were performed and relationship among fabric layers, air permeability, thickness and UPF was developed.

Findings

UPF and thickness of fabrics increases with number of fabric layers, whereas air permeability decreases with the increase in number of fabric layers. Furthermore, change of multilayer structure from angle interlock to orthogonal interlock having same base weave does not give significant effect on UPF. However, change of material from polyester (PET) to polypropylene (PP) has a dominant effect on UPF. Minimum of three layers of cotton/polyester fabric, without any aid of ultraviolet radiation (UV) resistant coating, are required to achieve good. Cotton/polyester fabrics are more appropriate for outdoor application due to their long-term resistance with sunlight exposure.

Originality/value

Long-term exposure to UV is detrimental. So, there is need of proper selection of material and fabric to achieve ultraviolet protection. 3D fabrics have yarns in X, Y as well as in Z directions which provide better ultraviolet protection as compared to two dimensional (2D) fabrics. In literature, mostly work was done on ultraviolet protection of 2D fabrics and surface coating of fabrics. There is limited work found on UPF of 3D woven fabrics.
From good to great: nonlinear improvement of healthcare service
Authors: Liu Sandra , Chen Jie , Sun Zhaonan , Zhu Michael Yu
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Increasing consumer choices in health care results in keener competition faced by providers. The existing nonlinear and asymmetric impact of patient perceived quality of care to their choices should provide insights for hospitals to deploy limited resources to areas that produces most significant and positive outcomes. This study aims to develop an algorithm for examining the nonlinear and asymmetrical relationships in the health-care domain with the hope to provide a more precise indication as to how specifically addressing patient experience with meaningful improvements of service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained through telephone surveys of 2,000 inpatients who had been hospitalized in a health system in 2006. After coding the original data, the authors conducted regression analysis and Z-test to investigate the nonlinear and asymmetrical relationship between patient recommendation and perceived hospital attributes.

Findings

“Spiritual care” is considered as a “delight” for patients. “Procedure efficiency”, “Compassionate care” and “Mutual communication” linearly related to patients’ likelihood to recommend the hospital (LTR) in the positive domains, but increasingly sensitive to LTR in negative domain.

Practical implications

Examining the asymmetry and the nonlinear relationship can detect diminishing effect of certain drivers for patient satisfaction. An emphasis on patients’ spiritual needs can provide the hospital with a unique opportunity to differentiate itself from other health-care providers which usually compete within the ordinary domain of services. The absence of “Procedure efficiency”, “Compassionate care” and “Mutual communication” will result in extremely negative word-of-mouth.

Originality/value

This study has developed an algorithm to examine the asymmetry and the nonlinear relationship between perceived hospital performance and patient satisfaction. The insights generated should help providers determine specific sets of priorities for improving services and hence strategize for optimal deployment of limited resources.
Quality management systems as indicators for stability and change in customer-supplier relationships
Authors: Hallberg Peter , Hasche Nina , Kask Johan , Öberg Christina
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper extends the discussion on stability and change through focus on specific relationship characteristics. Quality management systems prescribe established routines for supplier selection and monitoring, and may thereby designate the nature and longevity of customer–supplier relationships. The purpose of this paper is to describe and discuss the effects of quality management systems on stability and change in different forms of customer–supplier relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A number of illustrative examples based on participatory data and interviews help to capture different types of customer–supplier relationships (private/public; certified/non-certified) related to quality management systems.

Findings

While certified customers in most sectors only need to prove that their suppliers have procedures in place, many customers equate this with requiring that their suppliers should be certified. The paper further shows that customers replace deeper understandings for their suppliers’ procedures with the requirement that they be certified.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the existing literature through integrating quality management systems literature with the business network approach. For business network studies, the discussion on quality management systems as constricting regimes is interesting and provides practical insights to the business network studies as such quality management systems increase in importance and spread.
Analysis of barriers to women entrepreneurship through ISM and MICMAC
Authors: Tripathi Kumari Amrita , Singh Saumya
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to study the impediments and difficulties that prevent Indian women from becoming entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained through a survey involving 15 experts. Based on the feedback provided by the experts, ten relevant barriers in the context of Indian micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were chosen. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data. These ten barriers create obstruction for Indian women as entrepreneurs. These barriers were ranked, and causal relationships among them established using interpretive structural modeling andMatrice d’Impacts croises-multiplication appliqúean classment(cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification) (ISM–MICMAC) approach.

Findings

This study identifies, on the basis of extant literature and experts’ opinion, ten barriers to female entrepreneurship. These barriers were ranked, and causal relationships among them established using the ISM–MICMAC approach. On the basis of ranking, women can move forward in MSMEs after removing these obstacles and it will have good results.

Research limitations/implications

In this research, with literature reviews and experts opinion, ten barriers have been identified for women’s entrepreneurship and have been used to build the model.

Practical implications

To bring Indian women forward in the field of entrepreneurship, both the society and the government should work together, and efforts should be made to overcome the obstacles coming in the way of entrepreneurs.

Social implications

Female entrepreneurship in India faces many problems including negative attitude of authorities and society toward women. The society and authorities have no format or model for Indian women to move forward in the entrepreneurship sector.

Originality/value

This study seeks to identify, on the basis of a thorough review of literature and expert opinion, major barriers to female entrepreneurship in the context of Indian MSMEs.
Evaluating the cost and benefits of earthquake protection of buildings
Authors: Manganelli Benedetto , Vona Marco , De Paola Pierfrancesco
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is the evaluation of the cost and benefits of earthquake protection of buildings to verify whether the legislative push, through tax incentives, will produce results and lead to a redevelopment of private real estate assets.

Design/methodology/approach

Through contingent valuation, this research aims to measure the propensity of homeowners to invest in the seismic security of their properties. The sample of homeowners was selected in a southern Italy city, which was characterized by a medium-high seismic hazard. The willingness to pay, once made independent from the family income, was compared with the actual cost of a seismic retrofitting technique to assess its cost-effectiveness.

Findings

The analysis developed on an example case shows that the economic sustainability of the intervention is only verified when considering the current tax incentives for this type of intervention.

Practical implications

Choosing to introduce a system to compulsory insurance against seismic risk could certainly be a strong incentive for the implementation of retrofitting interventions on private real estate assets. In this direction, investigations like this can be fundamental to establish the fair risk premium.

Originality/value

The need for effective seismic risk mitigation policies is also based on the growing awareness of the, often fatal, effects of seismic events, emphasized by the recent medium and high intensity events that hit Italy. The issue of the security of residential buildings is therefore a very topical issue in view of their high seismic vulnerability and the vast number of buildings requiring major seismic retrofitting. Therefore, the propensity of owners to intervene in improving the seismic performance of their properties can be crucial in seismic risk mitigation.
Inter-occupational cooperation and boundary work in the hospital setting
Authors: Cregård Anna
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to add a little piece to the research on boundary work and inter-occupational cooperation by addressing two questions: how do actors perform boundary work in an inter-occupational cooperation project that seeks to improve the personnel health work in a hospital setting? What impact does the boundary work have on such cooperation in the personnel health project?

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on individual, in-depth interviews and participative observations of focus group discussions conducted at a regional municipal organization in Sweden. Respondents are hospital line managers, experts and strategists in the HR departments, and experts from the internal occupational health service.

Findings

The concepts on boundary work, which include closing/opening boundary strategies, provide the framework for the empirical illustrations. The cooperation runs smoothly in the rehabilitation work because of an agreed upon process in which the professionals’ jurisdictions are preserved through closing strategies. Illness prevention and health promotion are not areas of inter-occupational cooperation because the stronger actors use closing strategies. While the weaker actors, who try to cooperate, use opening boundary strategies in these areas, they are excluded or marginalized.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical investigation concerns one cooperation project and was completed at one data collection point.

Originality/value

No similar study of boundary work and inter-occupational cooperation in a hospital setting is available despite the frequency of this professional group configuration in practice. A more inclusive concept of professionalism may facilitate the study of boundary work and inter-occupational cooperation among actors with different professional authority.