bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cotranslational folding of a pentarepeat β-helix protein
Authors: Notari Luigi , Martínez-Carranza Markel , Farias-Rico Jose Arcadio , Stenmark Pål , von Heijne Gunnar
Published: January 2018

It is becoming increasingly clear that many proteins start to fold cotranslationally, before the entire polypeptide chain has been synthesized on the ribosome. One class of proteins that a priori would seem particularly prone to cotranslational folding is repeat proteins, i.e., proteins that are built from an array of nearly identical sequence repeats. However, while the folding of repeat proteins has been studied extensively in vitro with purified proteins, only a handful of studies have addressed the issue of cotranslational folding of repeat proteins. Here, we have determined the structure and studied the cotranslational folding of a β-helix pentarepeat protein from the human pathogen Clostridium botulinum – a homolog of the Fluoroquinolone Resistance Protein MfpA – using an assay in which the SecM translational arrest peptide serves as a force sensor to detect folding events. We find that cotranslational folding of a segment corresponding to the first four of the eight β-helix coils in the protein produces enough force to release ribosome stalling, and that folding starts when this unit is ~35 residues away from the P-site, near the distal end of the ribosome exit tunnel. An additional folding transition is seen when the whole PENT moiety emerges from the exit tunnel. The early cotranslational formation of a folded unit may be important to avoid misfolding events in vivo, and may reflect the minimal size of a stable β-helix since it is structurally homologous to the smallest known β-helix protein, a four-coil protein that is stable in solution.
Homeostasis of protein and mRNA concentrations in growing cells
Authors: Lin Jie , Amir Ariel
Published: January 2018

Many experiments show that the numbers of mRNA and protein are proportional to the cell volume in growing cells. However, models of stochastic gene expression often assume constant transcription rate per gene and constant translation rate per mRNA, which are incompatible with these experiments. Here, we construct a minimal gene expression model to fill this gap. Assuming ribosomes and RNA polymerases are limiting in gene expression, we find that (1) because the ribosomes translate all proteins, the concentrations of proteins and mRNAs are regulated in an exponentially growing cell volume; (2) the competition between genes for the RNA polymerases makes the transcription rate independent of the genome number. Furthermore, by extending the model to situations in which DNA (mRNA) can be saturated by RNA polymerases (ribosomes) and becomes limiting, we predict a transition from exponential to linear growth of cell volume as the protein-to-DNA ratio increases.
A role for RNA and DNA:RNA hybrids in the modulation of DNA repair by homologous recombination
Authors: D’Alessandro Giuseppina , Adamowicz Marek , Whelan Donna , Howard Sean Michael , Jones-Weinert Corey Winston , Matti Valentina , Rothenberg Eli , Cejka Petr , d’Adda di Fagagna Fabrizio
Published: January 2018

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are toxic DNA lesions which, if not properly repaired, may lead to genomic instability, cell death and senescence. Damage-induced long non-coding RNAs (dilncRNAs) are transcribed from broken DNA ends and contribute to DNA damage response (DDR) signaling. Here we show that dilncRNAs play a role in DSB repair by homologous recombination (HR) by contributing to the recruitment of the HR proteins BRCA1, BRCA2, and RAD51, without affecting DNA-end resection. In S/G2-phase cells, dilncRNAs pair to the resected DNA ends and form DNA:RNA hybrids, which are recognized by BRCA1 and promote its recruitment to DSBs. We also show that RNase H2 is in a complex with the HR proteins BRCA1, PALB2, BRCA2, and RAD51, and that it localizes to DSBs in the S/G2 cell-cycle phase. BRCA2 controls DNA:RNA hybrid levels at DSBs by mediating RNase H2 recruitment and, therefore, hybrids degradation. These results demonstrate that regulated DNA:RNA hybrid levels at DSBs contribute to HR-mediated repair.
Determining a reasonable range of relative numerical tolerance values for simulating deterministic models of biochemical reactions
Authors: Yang Ming , Yang Louis Z.
Published: January 2018

What values of relative numerical tolerance should be chosen in simulation of a deterministic model of a biochemical reaction is unclear, which impairs the modeling effort since the simulation outcomes of a model may depend on the relative numerical tolerance values. In an attempt to provide a guideline to selecting appropriate numerical tolerance values in simulation of in vivo biochemical reactions, reasonable numerical tolerance values were estimated based on the uncertainty principle and assumptions of related cellular parameters. The calculations indicate that relative numerical tolerance values can be reasonably set at or around 10−4 for the concentrations expressed in ng/L. This work also suggests that further reducing relative numerical values may result in erroneous simulation results.
Artefactual formation of pyruvate from in-source conversion of lactate
Authors: Trefely Sophie , Mesaros Clementina , Xu Pening , Doan Mary T. , Jiang Helen , Altinok Oya , Orynbayeva Zulfiya , Snyder Nathaniel W.
Published: January 2018

Rationale

Lactate and pyruvate are high abundance products of glucose metabolism. Analysis of both molecules as part metabolomics studies in cellular metabolism and physiology have been aided by advances in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Methods

We used ion pairing-chromatography and negative ion mode ESI on an QExactive HF to perform stable isotope assisted metabolomics profiling of lactate and pyruvate metabolism.

Results

Using an LC-MS method for polar metabolite analysis we discovered an artefactual formation of pyruvate from in-source fragmentation of lactate. Surprisingly, this in-source fragmentation has not been previously described, thus we report this identification to warn other investigators. This artefact was detected by baseline chromatographic resolution of lactate and pyruvate by LC with confirmation of this artefact by stable isotope labeling of lactate and pyruvate.

Conclusions

These findings have immediate implications for metabolomics studies by LC-MS and direct infusion MS, especially in negative ion mode, whereby users should resolve lactate from pyruvate or robustly quantify the potential formation of pyruvate from higher abundance lactate in their assays.
Machine-learning dissection of Human Accelerated Regions in primate neurodevelopment
Authors: Whalen Sean , Inoue Fumitaka , Ryu Hane , Fairr Tyler , Markenscoff-Papadimitriou Eirene , Keough Kathleen , Kircher Martin , Martin Beth , Alvarado Beatriz , Elor Orry , Cintron Dianne Laboy , Williams Alex , Samee Md. Abul Hassan , Thomas Sean , Krencik Robert , Ullian Erik M. , Kriegstein Arnold , Rubenstein John L. , Shendure Jay , Pollen Alex A. , Ahituv Nadav , Pollard Katherine S.
Published: January 2018

Using machine learning (ML), we interrogated the function of all human-chimpanzee variants in 2,645 Human Accelerated Regions (HARs), some of the fastest evolving regions of the human genome. We predicted that 43% of HARs have variants with large opposing effects on chromatin state and 14% on neurodevelopmental enhancer activity. This pattern, consistent with compensatory evolution, was confirmed using massively parallel reporter assays in human and chimpanzee neural progenitor cells. The species-specific enhancer activity of assayed HARs was accurately predicted from the presence and absence of transcription factor footprints in each species. Despite these striking cis effects, activity of a given HAR sequence was nearly identical in human and chimpanzee cells. These findings suggest that HARs did not evolve to compensate for changes in the trans environment but instead altered their ability to bind factors present in both species. Thus, ML prioritized variants with functional effects on human neurodevelopment and revealed an unexpected reason why HARs may have evolved so rapidly.
CarbX: a program for the evaluation of wide-angle X-ray scattering data of non-graphitic carbons
Authors: Pfaff Torben , Simmermacher Mats , Smarsly Bernd M.
Published: January 2018

CarbX is an open-source program designed for the analysis of wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) data of non-graphitic carbons (NGCs). As knowledge of their microstructure is crucial for tuning desired properties, an `easy-to-use' analysis tool is essential for effective research in this field. Using CarbX one can retrieve up to 14 microstructural parameters from a single WAXS pattern without having to master the associated complicated mathematics. CarbX was developed to serve as a convenient graphical user interface, translating a complex evaluation algorithm introduced by Ruland & Smarsly [J. Appl. Cryst. (2002), 35, 624–633] into software which can be operated by non-experts. Besides the core functionality of displaying data and manually fitting WAXS curves by user-editable parameters, CarbX offers additional features such as visualization of the deviation between data and fit, the possibility to choose the wavelength used in the measurement, and automatic fitting (using Wolfram Mathematica). One of the key features of the comfortable usability is the functionality to display templates. This allows the user to visually compare measurement data with typical types of NGC WAXS curves which are presented graphically around the measurement data. The authors believe that this program will provide a useful tool for scientists dealing with the characterization of NGCs.
Evidence of anatase intergrowths formed during slow cooling of reduced ilmenite
Authors: D'Angelo Anita M. , Webster Nathan A. S.
Published: January 2018

Controlling the parameters during synthetic rutile production is essential to minimize production costs and ensure final product quality. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) is typically used within the industry to guide process control. This work investigated the source of unusual features observed in the PXRD pattern of a slow-cooled reduced ilmenite (RI), which were not observed for a rapid-cooled RI. For the slow-cooled RI, the 002 peak of M
3O5 (anosovite) had disappeared and the intensity of the \bar 203, 203, 204 and 402 peaks had decreased significantly compared to the pattern for the rapid-cooled RI. Using transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, the authors attribute these features to M
3O5–anatase intergrowth formation, which causes a loss in long-range order along the M
3O5
c axis. Strong diffuse streaking in the SAED patterns was also evident and supported the presence of disordered intergrowths from the oxidation of M
3O5. PDF analysis showed a significant improvement in the fit to the data for the slow-cooled RI, primarily in the <17 Å region, when anatase was added to the PDF model. The results presented here highlight the importance of the reduction and cooling stages during the formation of these industrially relevant RI minerals, which may be used to direct the production process and final TiO2 product quality.
Promising solid electrolyte material for an IT-SOFC: crystal structure of the cerium gadolinium holmium oxide Ce0.8Gd0.1Ho0.1O1.9 between 295 and 1023 K
Authors: Rahayu Sri , Forrester Jennifer S. , Kale Girish M. , Ghadiri Mojtaba
Published: January 2018

The crystal structure of Ce0.8Gd0.1Ho0.1O1.9 (cerium gadolinium holmium oxide) has been determined from powder X-ray diffraction data. This is a promising material for application as a solid electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). Nanoparticles were prepared using a novel sodium alginate sol-gel method, where the sodium ion was exchanged with ions of interest and, after washing, the gel was calcined at 723 K in air. The crystallographic features of Gd and Ho co-doped cerium oxide were investigated around the desired operating temperatures of IT-SOFCs, i.e. 573 ≤ T ≤ 1023 K. We find that the crystal structure is a stable fluorite structure with the space group Fm\overline{3}m in the entire temperature range. In addition, the trend in lattice parameters shows that there is a monotonic increase with increasing temperature.
High-temperature monoclinic α-SrHfF6, and isostructural α-SrZrF6: associating Hf2F12bipolyhedra and SrF8snub disphenoids
Authors: Laval Jean-Paul , Mayet Richard
Published: January 2018

The structure of the high-temperature monoclinic variety α-SrHfF6(strontium hafnium hexafluoride) [and of isostructural α-SrZrF6(strontium zirconium hexafluoride)] associates Hf2F12bipolyhedra and SrF8snub disphenoids, forming zigzag twisted [SrF6]nlayers. The distribution of the Hf and Sr polyhedra forms a three-dimensional framework which can be related to the family of anion-excess ReO3-related superstructures. α-SrHfF6corresponds to a newABX6type and is compared to the other main families already described. A partial amorphization of this structure is observed in samples quenched from the melt.
Two novel alkaline earth coordination polymers constructed from cinnamic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline: synthesis and structural and thermal properties
Authors: Bendjellal Nassima , Trifa Chahrazed , Bouacida Sofiane , Boudaren Chaouki , Boudraa Mhamed , Merazig Hocine
Published: January 2018

In coordination chemistry and crystal engineering, many factors influence the construction of coordination polymers and the final frameworks depend greatly on the organic ligands used. The diverse coordination modes of N-donor ligands have been employed to assemble metal–organic frameworks. Carboxylic acid ligands can deprotonate completely or partially when bonding to metal ions and can also act as donors or acceptors of hydrogen bonds; they are thus good candidates for the construction of supramolecular architectures. We synthesized under reflux or hydrothermal conditions two new alkaline earth(II) complexes, namely poly[(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2N,N′)bis(μ-3-phenylprop-2-enoato-κ3O,O′:O)calcium(II)], [Ca(C10H7O2)2(C10H8N2)]n, (1), and poly[(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2N,N′)(μ3-3-phenylprop-2-enoato-κ4O:O,O′:O′)(μ-3-phenylprop-2-enoato-κ3O,O′:O)barium(II)], [Ba(C10H7O2)2(C10H8N2)]n, (2), and characterized them by FT–IR and UV–Vis spectroscopies, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, as well as by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. Complex (1) features a chain topology of type 2,4 C4, where the Ca atoms are connected by O and N atoms, forming a distorted bicapped trigonal prismatic geometry. Complex (2) displays chains of topology type 2,3,5 C4, where the Ba atom is nine-coordinated by seven O atoms of bridging/chelating carboxylate groups from two cinnamate ligands and by two N atoms from one phenanthroline ligand, forming a distorted tricapped prismatic arrangement. Weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions between phenanthroline ligands are responsible to the formation of a supramolecular three-dimensional network. The thermal decompositions of (1) and (2) in the temperature range 297–1173 K revealed that they both decompose in three steps and transform to the corresponding metal oxide.
Knowledge management infrastructures and organizational intelligence in Iranian research centers
Authors: Keshavarz Hamid , Esmaili Givi Mohammad Reza , Shekari Mohammad Reza
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible relationship between knowledge management infrastructures (KMI) and organizational intelligence (OI) in two country-wide research centers dependent to Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, namely, Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IRIIST) and Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies (IHCS).

Design/methodology/approach

The research is a survey in a descriptive manner. Using two validated questionnaires related to KMI and OI, the research was conducted among 175 faculty members and staffs of the two research centers. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures, collected data were then analyzed by software SPSS and partial least squares.

Findings

Factor analysis showed a high factor loading related to the two main variables and all of the items indicated goodness of fit (GoF) related to the questions. The variance-mean ratio between two variables was higher than 0.5 indicating a high convergent validity. R2 for OI showed fitness of SEM. The GoF for IRIIST was 0.642 lower than IHCS with 0.645. Also, path analysis indicated a significant relationship between two variables by 95 percent degree of confidence accepting the two research hypothesis.

Originality/value

By comparison, KMI was more correlated with OI in IHCS than IRIIST. KMI in IRIIST predicted OI by 0.826 percent while in the IHCS by 0.848 percent.
Are electronic theses and dissertations (still) grey literature in the digital age? A FAIR debate
Authors: Schopfel Joachim , Rasuli Behrooz
Published: January 2018

Purpose

While distribution channels of theses and dissertations have changed significantly in the digital age, they are generally still considered grey literature. This paper aims to argue the applicability of the concept of grey to electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is presented as a debate between two contradictory opinions on the application of the grey literature concept to ETDs.

Findings

The paper provides a definition of grey literature and then discusses its application to electronic dissertations and theses. In particular, it assesses the aspects of acquisition, quality, access and preservation. Some arguments highlight the “grey nature” of ETDs, such as the limited access via institutional and other repositories. Other arguments (e.g. the development of ETD infrastructures and the quality of ETDs) question this grey approach to ETDs. The paper concludes that “greyness” remains a challenge for ETDs, a problem waiting for solution on the way to open science through the application of the FAIR (findability, accessibility, interoperability reusability) principles.

Research limitations implications

Library and information science (LIS) professionals and scientists should be careful about using the concept of grey literature. The debate will help academic librarians and LIS researchers to better understand the nature of grey literature and its coverage, here in the field of ETDs.

Originality/value

Some definitions from the print age may not be applicable to the digital age. The contradictory character of the debate helps clarify the similitudes and differences of grey literature and ETDs and highlights the challenge of ETDs, in particular, their accessibility and findability.
Measurement and analysis of collaboration ability
Authors: Zhao Rongying , Wei Xuqiu
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Collaboration is an important way for scientific research. It attracts a large number of researchers, and forms a series of measurement evaluation indicators. The purpose of this study further enriches the evaluation system of collaboration and provides new indicators to measure collaboration ability at author level in order to identify the most appropriate potential partners.

Design/methodology/approach

The papers published during the period 2006-2015 and collected from Web of Science Core Collection in library and information science (LIS) are regarded as data source. And it defines and measures the collaborative rate, collaborative breadth and collaborative depth at author level.

Findings

The authors’ research shows that collaboration is an important way in the scientific research activities in LIS. Unfortunately, most author’s collaborative breadth and the collaborative depth are lower than mean. Therefore, the author’s scope and stability of collaboration is further strengthened in future. Authors can identify the most appropriate potential partners according to author’s research purpose and the region of the collaborative breadth – the collaborative depth.

Originality/value

It further enriches the evaluation system of collaboration and provides new indicators to evaluate collaboration ability at author level. Authors can identify the most appropriate potential partners according to author’s collaboration ability.
E-readiness assessment of academic libraries: a case study in Iran
Authors: Motahari-Nezhad Hossein , Shekofteh Maryam , Kazerani Maryam
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the e-readiness status of libraries in the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in terms of four dimensions – human resources, electronical infrastructure, network services and programs and enhancers of the networked world.

Design/methodology/approach

The study population consists of 11 libraries of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, including the central library and 10 faculty libraries. The data collection instrument is a questionnaire prepared by the researchers that has been designed on the basis of the “e-readiness assessment of Iranian academic libraries model”. Depending on the respondents there are three parts to the questionnaire: questionnaire for managers, staff and information and communication technology (ICT) officials. Their reliability and validity have been proved.

Findings

The libraries of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences had an average to high status in terms of “human resources” with a score of 2.32, “electronic infrastructure” with a score of 2.48, “network services and programs” with a score of 2.09 and “networked world enhancers” with a score of 2.37 out of 4. In total, these libraries had an average to high status in terms of e-readiness, with a score of 2.29.

Originality/value

The findings of this study can help the library administrators and officials of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences to plan improvements to the situation of ICT.
Improving flow in the OR
Authors: Blouin-Delisle Charles Hubert , Drolet Renee , Gagnon Serge , Turcotte Stephane , Boutet Sylvie , Coulombe Martin , Daneau Eric
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase efficiency in ORs without affecting quality of care by improving the workflow processes. Administrative processes independent of the surgical act can be challenging and may lead to clinical impacts such as increasing delays. The authors hypothesized that a Lean project could improve efficiency of surgical processes by reducing the length of stays in the recovery ward.

Design/methodology/approach

Two similar Lean projects were performed in the surgery departments of two hospitals of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec: Hôtel Dieu de Quebec (HDQ) and Hôpital de l'Enfant Jesus (HEJ). The HDQ project designed around a Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control process revision and a Kaizen workshop focused on patients who were hospitalized in a specific care unit after surgery and the HEJ project targeted patients in a post-operative ambulatory context. The recovery ward output delay was measured retrospectively before and after project.

Findings

For the HDQ Lean project, wasted time in the recovery ward was reduced by 62 minutes (68 percent reduction) between the two groups. The authors also observed an increase of about 25 percent of all admissions made in the daytime after the project compared to the time period before the project. For the HEJ Lean project, time passed in the recovery ward was reduced by 6 min (29 percent reduction).

Originality/value

These projects produced an improvement in the flow of the OR without targeting clinical practices in the OR itself. They demonstrated that change in administrative processes can have a great impact on the flow of clinical pathways and highlight the need for comprehensive and precise monitoring of every step of the elective surgery patient trajectory.
Implementation of a multimodal patient safety improvement program “SafetyLEAP” in intensive care units
Authors: Backman Chantal , Hebert Paul C. , Jennings Alison , Neilipovitz David , Choudhri Omar , Iyengar Akshai , Rigal Romain , Forster Alan J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Patient safety remains a top priority in healthcare. Many organizations have developed systems to monitor and prevent harm, and have invested in different approaches to quality improvement. Despite these organizational efforts to better detect adverse events, efficient resolution of safety problems remains a significant challenge. The authors developed and implemented a comprehensive multimodal patient safety improvement program called SafetyLEAP. The term “LEAP” is an acronym that highlights the three facets of the program including: a Leadership and Engagement approach; Audit and feedback; and a Planned improvement intervention. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the implementation of the SafetyLEAP program in the intensive care units (ICUs) of three large hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

A comparative case study approach was used to compare and contrast the adherence to each component of the SafetyLEAP program. The study was conducted using a convenience sample of three (n=3) ICUs from two provinces. Two reviewers independently evaluated major adherence metrics of the SafetyLEAP program for their completeness. Analysis was performed for each individual case, and across cases.

Findings

A total of 257 patients were included in the study. Overall, the proportion of the SafetyLEAP tasks completed was 64.47, 100, and 26.32 percent, respectively. ICU nos 1 and 2 were able to identify opportunities for improvement, follow a quality improvement process and demonstrate positive changes in patient safety. The main factors influencing adherence were the engagement of a local champion, competing priorities, and the identification of appropriate resources.

Practical implications

The SafetyLEAP program allowed for the identification of processes that could result in patient harm in the ICUs. However, the success in improving patient safety was dependent on the engagement of the care teams.

Originality/value

The authors developed an evidence-based approach to systematically and prospectively detect, improve, and evaluate actions related to patient safety.
An interdisciplinary approach to improve surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis
Authors: Conaty Oisín , Gaughan Leah , Downey Colum , Carolan Noreen , Brophy Megan Joanne , Kavanagh Ruth , McNamara Deborah A.A. , Smyth Edmond , Burns Karen , Fitzpatrick Fidelma
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) prescribing in orthopaedic surgery using the model for improvement framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Orthopaedic patients receiving joint replacements, hip fracture repairs or open-reduction internal-fixation procedures were included. Antimicrobial(s); dose, time of administration and duration of SAP were evaluated for appropriateness based on the local SAP guidelines. After baseline data collection, a driver diagram was constructed with interventions devised for plan-do-study-act cycles. Data were fed back weekly using a point prevalence design (PPD). Interventions included SAP guideline changes, reminders and tools to support key messages.

Findings

SAP in 168 orthopaedic surgeries from 15 June 2016 to 31 January 2017 was studied. Prescribing appropriateness improved from 20 to 78 per cent. Junior doctor changeover necessitated additional education and reminders.

Practical implications

Due to constant staff changeover; continuous data collection, communication, education and reminders are essential to ensure continuous compliance with clinical guidance. Patients with hip fractures are difficult to weigh, requiring weight estimation for weight-based antimicrobial dosing. Unintended consequences of interventions included the necessity to change pre-operative workflow to accommodate reconstitution time of additional antimicrobials and inadvertent continuation of new antimicrobials post-operatively.

Originality/value

Rather than perform the traditional retrospective focused audit, we established a prospective, continuous, interventional quality improvement (QI) project focusing on internal processes within the control of the project team with rapid cyclical changes and interventions. The weekly PPD was pragmatic and enabled the QI project to be sustained with no additional resources.
The NHS Bowel cancer screening programme achieves the anticipated survival improvement, but participation must be improved
Authors: Borowski David W. , Cawkwell Sarah , Zaidi Syed M. Amir , Toward Matthew , Maguire Nicola , Garg Dharmendra K. , Gill Talvinder S.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The NHS Bowel cancer screening programme (NHSBCSP) aims to reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) cumulative mortality by up to 23 per cent; long-term outcomes at national level are not yet known. The purpose of this paper is to examine a local population of CRC patients of screening age for their characteristics and long-term survival in relation to their presentation, including through the NHSBCSP.

Design/methodology/approach

Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained CRC database for the years 2009-2014 in a single district hospital providing bowel cancer screening and tertiary rectal cancer services.

Findings

Of 528 CRC patients diagnosed in the screening age range, 144(27.3 per cent) presented through NHSBCSP, 308(58.3 per cent) electively with symptoms and 76(14.4 per cent) as emergency. NHSBCSP-diagnosed patients were younger (median 66 vs 68 and 69 years, respectively,p=0.001), had more often left-sided cancers (59(41.0 per cent) vs 82(26.6 per cent) and 24(31.6 per cent), respectively,p=0.001), more UICC-stage I (42(29.2 per cent) vs 49(15.9 per cent) and 2(2.6 per cent)), stage III (59(41.0 per cent) vs 106(34.4 per cent) and 20(26.3 per cent)) and less stage IV disease (8(5.6 per cent) vs 61(19.8 per cent) and 34 (44.7 per cent), respectively,p<0.001). Three-year overall survival was best for NHSBCSP and worst for emergency patients (87.5 per cent vs 69.0 per cent and 35.3 per cent, respectively, LogRankp<0.001).

Originality/value

Patients diagnosed within the NHSBCSP have improved outcome compared to both symptomatic elective and emergency presentations. A reduction in overall cumulative mortality in order of 25 per cent may well be achieved, but continuing high levels of emergency presentations and undetected right-sided disease emphasise need for further improvement in public participation in the NHSBCSP and research into more sensitive and acceptable alternative screening methods.
Improved hybrid Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithms for multi-objective optimization
Authors: Shankar K. , Baviskar Akshay S.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design an improved multi-objective algorithm with better spread and convergence than some current algorithms. The proposed application is for engineering design problems.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes two novel approaches which focus on faster convergence to the Pareto front (PF) while adopting the advantages of Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm-2 (SPEA2) for better spread. In first method, decision variables corresponding to the optima of individual objective functions (Utopia Point) are strategically used to guide the search toward PF. In second method, boundary points of the PF are calculated and their decision variables are seeded to the initial population.

Findings

The proposed methods are tested with a wide range of constrained and unconstrained multi-objective test functions using standard performance metrics. Performance evaluation demonstrates the superiority of proposed algorithms over well-known existing algorithms (such as NSGA-II and SPEA2) and recent ones such as NSLS and E-NSGA-II in most of the benchmark functions. It is also tested on an engineering design problem and compared with a currently used algorithm.

Practical implications

The algorithms are intended to be used for practical engineering design problems which have many variables and conflicting objectives. A complex example of Welded Beam has been shown at the end of the paper.

Social implications

The algorithm would be useful for many design problems and social/industrial problems with conflicting objectives.

Originality/value

This paper presents two novel hybrid algorithms involving SPEA2 based on: local search; and Utopia point directed search principles. This concept has not been investigated before.
Can Lean Six Sigma be used to reduce medication errors in the health-care sector?
Authors: Trakulsunti Yaifa , Antony Jiju
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) to reduce medication errors, by using four case examples. The paper will also suggest appropriate Lean and Sigma tools to improve the medication process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors critically analyze four case examples that used LSS projects, to demonstrate the approach, benefits, success factors and lessons learnt.

Findings

LSS is a powerful process improvement methodology that could be applied by health-care sectors to reduce medication errors, increase patient safety and reduce operational costs. Common Lean and Six Sigma tools play a significant role in improving and sustaining the medication process.

Practical implications

It is necessary for the project team to select the most appropriate LSS tools to address medication process problems. Adoption of a LSS roadmap could help health-care organizations in the successful implementation of LSS.

Originality/value

The paper is valuable for health-care professionals seeking to reduce errors in the medication process or other processes that need to be improved.
HRM and product innovation: does innovative work behaviour mediate that relationship?
Authors: Sanz-Valle Raquel , Jiménez-Jiménez Daniel
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically analyse the mediator effect of innovative work behaviour (IWB) between the firm’s human resource management system and product innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from 225 Spanish manufacture companies. Hypotheses are tested using structured equation modelling. The structural model is estimated through partial least squares modelling.

Findings

The results provide strong evidence about the effect of the system of human resource management practices on both, employee’s IWB and product innovation. Furthermore, findings support the idea that employee’s IWB mediates the relationship between human resource management and product innovation.

Research limitations/implications

Although the study counts with the limitations of cross-sectional studies, its findings suggest that employees’ IWB fosters product innovation and that the adoption of a high-performance work system is positively associated to such behaviour.

Practical implications

This paper shows that companies seeking to foster product innovation should pay attention to their employees’ behaviour. In particular, they should promote that employees engage in innovative behaviours, and that adopting high-performance human resource management practices can help in this line.

Originality/value

Although a number of studies suggest that IWB is a key determinant of innovation and a mediator in the link between human resource management and innovation, there is no empirical research examining these relationships. This paper covers this gap detected in the literature and provides evidence supporting them.
Successes of quality management systems through self-evaluation and commitment in different organizational cultures
Authors: Krajcsák Zoltán
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to create a theoretical framework that shows how the specialties of the organizational culture relate to the success of quality management systems’ (QMSs) application. In addition to these variables, the dependent variables of employees’ self-evaluation and some dimensions of commitment are also analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

Unsuccessful organizational implementations of ISO 9000, total quality management (TQM) and Six Sigma are presented in case studies. These conclusions are utilized to retrieve individual and organizational barriers to the variables considered in each culture.

Findings

The characteristics of adhocracy determine self-efficacy and professional commitment. Through high levels of these variables, Six Sigma can be suggested for adhocracies. The clan culture is characterized by a high level of affective commitment and self-esteem, which support the TQM together with the internal focus dimension of the culture. The market culture is characterized by a high level of continuance commitment and neuroticism, which support ISO 9000 standards together with the control dimension of the culture.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the findings comes from the small sample size. The model presented is partly based on case studies; therefore, further research studies need to support or refute it.

Practical implications

In the practical use of the results, QMSs can be selected more targeted, reducing the risk of failing quality improvement strategies.

Social implications

Increasing and aligning quality and commitment in organizations supports the strengthening of individual and social well-being.

Originality/value

The study attempts to determine the most appropriate QMSs for organizational cultures in a complex way by analyzing the relationships between multiple organizational and individual variables.
Do new ways of working increase work engagement?
Authors: Gerards Ruud , de Grip Andries , Baudewijns Claudia
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed more light on the impact of the various facets of new ways of working (NWW) on employee work engagement, taking into account multiple sectors and occupational fields.

Design/methodology/approach

Insights from the literature and the job demands-resources model underpin the hypotheses on how NWW would affect work engagement. The hypotheses were tested using the Preacher and Hayes’ (2008) bootstrap method for multiple mediation and controls, taking into account two potential mediators between (facets of) NWW and work engagement: social interaction in the workplace and transformational leadership.

Findings

The analyses show that three facets of NWW – management of output, access to organizational knowledge, and a freely accessible open workplace – positively affect employees’ work engagement. The latter two facets appear to be fully mediated by social interaction and transformational leadership.

Practical implications

The results imply that firms should foster transformational leadership styles among their line managers, and social interaction in the workplaces, to maximize the positive impact of NWW on work engagement.

Originality/value

This empirical paper draws on a unique data set on the Dutch working population to provide novel insights with a substantial degree of generalizability into the relation between NWW and work engagement, whilst applying a more comprehensive definition of NWW than previously applied, while incorporating two potential mediators.
Revisiting the “give and take” in LMX
Authors: Han Yu , Sears Greg , Zhang Haiyan
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Drawing on principles of social exchange and equity theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between employee reports of leader-member exchange (LMX) and two types of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB): affiliative and change-oriented OCB. Further, equity sensitivity, a dispositional variable reflecting one’s tendency to “give” or “take” in their interpersonal interactions, was tested as a moderator of these effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a sample of 240 manufacturing employees in China and their respective supervisors. Multilevel analyses were conducted to test the hypothesized effects.

Findings

LMX was found to be positively associated with affiliative, but not change-oriented OCB. Equity sensitivity moderated these relationships, such that LMX was positively associated with both types of OCB when employees are benevolent, but not when they are entitled.

Research limitations/implications

Given the different pattern of relationships that were observed between LMX and affiliative vs change-oriented OCB, the results suggest that LMX may differentially influence these two types of OCB. Future studies should continue to explore the role of dispositional traits in moderating the effects of LMX, including less desirable (“negative”) traits.

Originality/value

Very few studies have examined the role of dispositional variables in moderating the effects of LMX. Consistent with principles of the social exchange and equity theory, the results suggest that LMX will only be associated with OCB when employees are benevolent (i.e. they are “givers”), and not when they are entitled (i.e. they are “getters”).
Why am I still doing this job? The examination of family motivation on employees’ work behaviors under abusive supervision
Authors: Tariq Hussain , Ding Donghong
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Synthesizing theories of prosocial motivation and action identification, the purpose of this paper is to test several hypotheses associating abusive supervisory behavior with employees’ work behaviors via intervening variables, i.e., intrinsic motivation and family motivation.

Design/methodology/approach

The two-study examination of outcomes of abusive supervision stands in contrast to prior research, which has primarily focused on family motivation that influences supervisor-subordinate relationship. A lagged survey study at a Fortune 500 company and an experience sampling study at multi-organizations located in Anhui province of People’s Republic of China (PRC) support the moderated-mediation motivational model.

Findings

In the first study, designed as a lagged survey study, the authors found that abusive supervision is negatively associated with employees’ job performance and positively associated with employees’ turnover intentions. As anticipated, the results also found that family motivation moderates the direct relationship between abusive supervision and employees’ work behaviors. Furthermore, these results were then replicated and expanded in an experience sampling study. Consistent with the predictions, the authors found that intrinsic motivation acts as a mediator between abusive supervision and employees’ work behaviors and family motivation has the capacity to compensate for the absence of intrinsic motivation.

Research limitations/implications

Although the paper contributes to leadership and motivation literature, there are several noteworthy limitations to be discussed in the future. The subjective measurement, the validity of abusive supervision in the Chinese context and generalizing of the study in western countries are the key limitations of the study. Moreover, the authors measure abusive supervision only on high/low frequency based rather than high/low intensity. Hence, there is a possibility that intensity and frequency have dissimilar effects.

Originality/value

The study with meaningful implications on motivation and leadership research concludes that family as a powerful source of motivation encourages subordinates’ job performance and discourages employees’ turnover intentions at the workplace, even under abusive supervision.
Effort-reward imbalance at work: the role of job satisfaction
Authors: Devonish Dwayne
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and burnout, turnover intentions, and mental health.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of 323 full-time employees in the small developing country in the Caribbean, this survey study tested a mediation model with job satisfaction depicting the relationship between ERI and various outcome variables. The model was compared to a partial mediation model.

Findings

The structural equation modelling (SEM) results revealed that the partial mediating model was superior to the full mediation model, suggesting that job satisfaction plays only a partial role in mediating the relationships between ERI and burnout, turnover intentions, and mental health.

Research limitations/implications

The study presents a cross-sectional approach to model testing but the study controlled for CMV statistically using the common latent factor approach within latent SEM procedures.

Practical implications

Organisations should ensure that employees’ efforts are appropriately and fairly rewarded as a means of reducing negative ERIs which can have adverse consequences on the physical and mental health of employees.

Originality/value

Using latent SEM procedures and statistical controls for CMV, the study examined job satisfaction as a potential mediator in a popular stressor-strain model.
Does perceived predation risk affect patterns of extra‐pair paternity? A field experiment in a passerine bird
Authors: Abbey‐Lee Robin N. , Araya‐Ajoy Yimen G. , Mouchet Alexia , Moiron Maria , Stuber Erica F. , Kempenaers Bart , Dingemanse Niels J.
Published: January 2018

Non‐consumptive predator effects have been shown to influence a wide range of behavioural, life history and morphological traits. Extra‐pair reproduction is widespread among socially monogamous birds and may incur predation costs. Consequently, altered rates of extra‐pair reproduction are expected in circumstances characterized by increased adult perceived predation risk.

In addition, extra‐pair reproduction is expected to be most affected for birds with phenotypes that generally increase predation risk (such as more active individuals).

In two consecutive years, perceived predation risk was manipulated for great tits Parus major breeding in 12 nest‐box plots by broadcasting sounds of their main predator (European sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus; six plots). As a control treatment, sounds of a sympatric, avian non‐predator species were broadcast (Eurasian blackbird Turdus merula; six plots).

Levels of extra‐pair paternity did not differ between plots with different predation risk treatments. Males that moved more in a novel environment (more active or “faster exploring”) tended to have offspring with fewer partners, but this effect did not vary with predation risk treatment.

From an adaptive viewpoint, predation costs associated with extra‐pair reproduction may be small and may not outweigh the benefits of extra‐pair behaviour. Research on a broader range of taxa with different mating strategies is now needed to confirm the generality of our findings.

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