bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental design and awareness impact on organization image
Authors: Bangwal Deepak , Tiwari Prakash
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how environmental design features of a green building contribute to the formation of employees’ organization image (OIM) through better environmental awareness (EAW) within employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a comprehensive literature review on environmental design features of a building, a theoretical model was proposed for investigation. Three putative paths linking workspace (WSP) to EAW, departmental space (DSP) to EAW and EAW to OIM were then tested relying on a survey data of 362 employees collected from three Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified buildings by using structural equation modeling methodology as prescribed by Hairet al.

Findings

Significant evidence was found in support of all three purposed paths. Further, the study found that workspace and the DSP together explained around 46 percent of the variance in employee’s EAW, which then explained around 54 percent of the variance in the formation of the employees’ OIM.

Research limitations/implications

The study drew data only from green certified organizations. Future research should involve other green organizations or a larger sample of green buildings. The size and character of the sample were restricted by organizational constraints.

Practical implications

The organizations need to be extremely cautious of green concerns during the design phase in order to capitalize on the yields of better employees’ OIM. It also motivates the other organizational group toward the green building concept to increase the employees’ EAW and to enhance organizational values and image.

Originality/value

While the green concept has been a significant research topic for more than decades, barely any research has been conducted that focuses specifically on environmental design features of a green building on employees’ EAW and OIM. This study tries to make a link between green building design features with employees’ EAW and OIM. These links are rare in Indian perspective.
Discovering lived experiences through descriptive phenomenology
Authors: Jackson Caroline , Vaughan David Roger , Brown Lorraine
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the reasons why descriptive phenomenology (DP) can provide an improved understanding of hospitality, tourism and event experiences. This is achieved through two objectives: first, by revealing the complexities and philosophical depths of DP; second, by providing a practical, stepped method that offers rigour and transparency.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based upon a study that explored the lived experience of the popular music festival-goer. It generally discusses the phenomenological philosophies of Husserl (1965 [1911]) and the descriptive phenomenological method in psychology of Giorgi (2009). It identifies not only some of the challenges and criticisms of DP but also the strengths of using a scientific approach to phenomenological research.

Findings

The philosophical strengths underlying DP afford a deeper understanding of the phenomenon being studied. The lived experience music festival study illustrates that the method of data collection and analysis highlights the intricacy of the philosophical debate and research findings. Although the bracketing, or epoché, method of DP has been criticised, the actual application is far more complex than trying to blank out prior knowledge. The aim is to ensure that it is the participants’ experiences that are used to identify the structure that is the phenomenon rather than the personal interpretation of the researcher.

Originality/value

It is recognised that researching the lifeworld affords a greater depth of understanding of experiences in people’s lives. One of the disappointments has been that one branch of phenomenological research, DP, has been underutilised and at times misunderstood in hospitality, tourism and event research. This paper aims to demonstrate and illustrate why and how DP should be considered in the future research of such experiences.
Assessing adherence and patient satisfaction with medication
Authors: Alam Md. Moddassir , Sikdar Pallab , Kumar Amresh , Mittal Arun
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The study considers a four-construct model for validating the factors of overall patient satisfaction with medication. This paper aims to study the satisfaction of patients with their medication. Patient satisfaction with medication influences treatment-related behaviors, such as their possibility of continuing to use their medication, to take their medication correctly and to adhere with medication regimens.

Design/methodology/approach

treatment satisfaction questionnaire for medication (TSQM) version 1.4 patient satisfaction model has been tested for reliability and validity through confirmatory factor analysis. A structured questionnaire, incorporating variables identified from original TSQM version 1.4 (Atkinson et al., 2005), has been used as a survey instrument for the study. Final respondent sample size was 380 patients who were on medication for a minimum duration of 10 days.

Findings

In total, 75 per cent of the willingly participating patients were found to adhere to medication regimen as advised by their physician. Effectiveness, side effects, convenience and global satisfaction were found to be reliable and valid factors for assessing satisfaction with medication among patients in emerging market settings.

Originality/value

The existing studies on measuring patient satisfaction have been majorly confined to developed economies. There is lack of focused research on patient satisfaction and its underlying determinants in the emerging market settings. The present study is an attempt to fill the existing research gap.
An investigation into the records management profession in the public service of Namibia
Authors: Ipinge Annastasia , Nengomasha Cathrine Tambudzai
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the recognition of record management profession in the Namibian Public Service. The objectives of the study are to determine appreciation of the importance of records record management; establish policies that support records management; find out the promotion of the records management function in the public service; establish training and job opportunities available for the record management professionals; and come up with recommendations on how the recognition of the record management profession could be enhanced in the public service of Namibia.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study used qualitative data collection methods, namely, focus group discussions and interviews. The two ministries and records keeping staff who took part in the focus group discussions were conveniently selected, whereas the two government offices where one key informant each was interviewed were purposively selected.

Findings

This study revealed that the records management profession was not well recognised in the public service of Namibia. The hiring of staff with low educational qualifications and the hiring of records keeping staff with some Diploma qualifications into the same positions as those without qualifications were all evidence of this. In addition to these was the failure to re-grade the records keeping staff through the establishment of a records management cadre.

Practical implications

The study recommends the creation of record management units in all offices, ministries and agencies headed by qualified record managers supported by qualified records management staff, finalisation and implementation of the records management policy, as well as the creation of a records management cadre.

Originality/value

The findings of the study on which this paper is based could inform policy for decision makers, and for the records management keeping staff, a strategy for advocating for recognition of their profession was planned.
Outsourcing: reap the fruit; contain the “bad apple”
Authors: Ndubisi Nelson Oly , Umar Setiadi
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to show how outsourcing partners can maximise the benefits of outsourcing while containing the negative effect of destructive conflict (the “bad apple”) on trust and commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

The study reviewed existing literature on the benefits and limitations of outsourcing from the principal’s (outsourcer) and the agent’s (service provider) perspectives. The study further draws on empirical evidence from studies conducted across ten industries in three countries within the Asia–Pacific Rim and the Middle-East, namely, Australia, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

Findings

Long-term orientation and ethical norms are robust ex-ante (i.e. before the destructive conflict) handling strategies, whereas integrative conflict handling style and (to a lesser degree) accommodating and compromising conflict handling styles are effective ex-post (i.e. after the destructive conflict) handling strategies. Forcing and avoidance conflict handling styles can escalate destructive conflict and should be completely avoided by outsourcing partners at all times.

Practical implications

The benefits of outsourcing outweigh its challenges. Trust and commitment are positively affected by ex-ante and ex-post (destructive conflict) strategies. Destructive conflicts (or the bad apple effect) can be contained through these strategies. Firms should leverage the upsides of outsourcing relationships and contain the downsides by integrating long-term orientation and ethical norms that can help to pre-empt and forestall destructive conflict. They should adopt an integrative conflict handling strategy in the event of a manifest conflict. Other strategies that can be applied to manifest conflict (albeit more sparingly) are accommodating and compromising strategies. Each has the potential to increase trust and commitment in the relationship.

Originality/value

The authors unveil before and after (the destructive conflict) handling strategies that do not depend on contextual factors or industry/sectoral differences.
The changed paradigm of business progress: a moral step forward for humanity
Authors: Marques Joan
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Through an overview of the perceptional evolution of progress over the past two centuries, this paper aims to review a changed, yet constructive paradigm that has emerged in business leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a general review-based deliberation presenting standards of the twentieth century, the need for a shift in paradigms and the shift as it unfolds in the twenty-first century.

Findings

Focusing on optimal stakeholder inclusion, yet not disregarding the concept of progress in a competitive environment, this paper presents a set of interrelated leadership skills and characteristics, including a discussion about their applicability and ways to develop them.

Research limitations/implications

While globally applicable, the views in this paper are primarily based on the American performance environment.

Practical implications

Management practices would not have evolved to today’s level if we did not have the past experiences to learn from. The deliberations and insights shared in this article should be seen as a way of evaluating the path that led us to our current, multi-tiered leadership paradigm.

Social implications

The model presented in this article should be seen as a useful, yet incomplete set of skills and characteristics to be considered by today’s and future leaders to ensure greater stakeholder inclusion.

Originality/value

Within the framework of focusing on the management horizon, this paper places the driving motives of two centuries that influenced our current society alongside each other and contemplates on the necessary shifts needed to move forward.
Soft skills: toward a sanctimonious discipline
Authors: Rao M.S.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to achieve sanctimonious status to the soft skills discipline. It explores soft skills in global organizations and educational institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explains the significance of soft skills and the methods to acquire these. It differentiates between soft and hard skills with examples and illustrations. It draws a blueprint to offer soft skills program. It unveils expository strategy, guided strategy and active strategy for teaching and training soft skills.

Findings

The finding of this study reminds that the world is shifting from knowledge economy to self-knowledge economy and of the importance of soft skills with the advent of artificial intelligence. It enlightens that a judicious blend of hard and soft skills is essential for achieving professional and leadership success. It implores not only to build hard skills but also mind soft skills. It concludes that soft skills are essential for everyone from janitors to chief executives to achieve the desired outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

This paper explains from the academic and organizational perspectives only.

Practical implications

This methodology can be applied in any industry and in any size of organization globally.

Social implications

The social implications of this research suggest that educational institutions and global organizations can adopt these methods and strategies to impart and improve soft skills.

Originality/value

This research explores tools and techniques to measure soft skills. It encourages experiential learning to impart soft skills. It coins an innovative evaluation tool – Meka’s five-level model – to measure soft skills training. It outlines a few sample questions to measure soft skills training. It crafts course curriculum for soft skills. It unveils a list of soft skills essential for leaders.
Factors influencing service quality
Authors: Ojekalu Samson Oluseun , Ojo Olatoye , Oladokun Timothy Tunde , Olabisi Sumoila Aremu
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine factors influencing service quality of the property managers to the occupiers of shopping complexes in Ibadan, Nigeria. This was with a view to providing information that could enhance property management practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were used for the study. The study area was stratified into five axes using major roads where shopping complexes were highly concentrated. Systematic sampling technique was used to select 139 out of 276 shopping complexes in the study area. The data obtained were analyzed using mean ranking and principal component analysis.

Findings

The study found that ineffective employee’s compensation, high employee turnover, lack of continuous improvement culture, inadequate use of employee empowerment, inadequate staff, lack of teamwork, inability to see tenants as customer, lack of motivation, education and training of the property managers and poor planning among others were the most significant factors influencing service quality of the property managers using mean ranking. The study further found that professional and empowerment factor, teamwork and motivation factor, customer related factor, work volume and operation factor, skills and job satisfaction factor, top-management commitment factor, experience and communication factor as well as financial factor were the factors influencing service quality of the property managers using principal component analysis.

Practical implications

This study will aid the property managers of shopping complexes in identifying areas which needed to be improved upon in order to provide quality service to occupiers thereby enhancing tenant retention and loyalty.

Originality/value

Previous studies on factors influencing service quality have been focusing on hospitality, healthcare, real estate agency and library industries. This study is one of the very few studies that examined factors influencing service quality of property managers of shopping complex. Also, the paper underlines the need for property managers of shopping complexes to give required attention to factors influencing service quality for enhanced property management practice.
Targeted metagenomics demonstrates the ecological role of IS1071in bacterial community adaptation to pesticide degradation
Authors: Dunon Vincent , Bers Karolien , Lavigne Rob , Top Eva M. , Springael Dirk
Published: September 2018

IS1071, an insertion element that primarily flanks organic xenobiotic degradation genes in cultured isolates, is suggested to play a key role in the formation and distribution of bacterial catabolic pathway gene clusters. However, in environmental settings, the identity of the IS1071genetic cargo and its correspondence to the local selective conditions remain unknown. To respond, we developed a long‐range PCR approach amplifying accessory genes between two IS1071copies from community DNA followed by amplicon sequencing. We applied this method to pesticide‐exposed environments, i.e. linuron‐treated agricultural soil and on‐farm biopurification systems (BPS) treating complex agricultural wastewater, as to non‐treated controls. Amplicons were mainly recovered from the pesticide‐exposed environments and the BPS matrix showed a higher size diversity compared to the agricultural soil. Retrieved gene functions mirrored the main selection pressure as (i) a large fraction of the BPS amplicons contained a high variety of genes/gene clusters related to the degradation of organics including herbicides present in the wastewater and (ii) in the agricultural soil, recovered genes were associated with linuron degradation. Our metagenomic analysis extends observations from cultured isolates and provides evidence that IS1071is a carrier of catabolic genes in xenobiotica stressed environments and contributes to community level adaptation towards pesticide biodegradation.
Sample Selection for Medicare Risk Adjustment Due to Systematically Missing Data
Authors: Bergquist Savannah L. , McGuire Thomas G. , Layton Timothy J. , Rose Sherri
Published: September 2018

Objective

To assess the issue of nonrepresentative sampling in Medicare Advantage (MA) risk adjustment.

Data Sources

Medicare enrollment and claims data from 2008 to 2011.

Data Extraction

Risk adjustment predictor variables were created from 2008 to 2010 Part A and B claims and the Medicare Beneficiary Summary File. Spending is based on 2009–2011 Part A and B, Durable Medical Equipment, and Home Health Agency claims files.

Study Design

A propensity‐score matched sample of Traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries who resembled MA enrollees was created. Risk adjustment formulas were estimated using multiple techniques, and performance was evaluated based on R2, predictive ratios, and formula coefficients in the matched sample and a random sample of TM beneficiaries.

Principal Findings

Matching improved balance on observables, but performance metrics were similar when comparing risk adjustment formula results fit on and evaluated in the matched sample versus fit on the random sample and evaluated in the matched sample.

Conclusions

Fitting MA risk adjustment formulas on a random sample versus a matched sample yields little difference in MA plan payments. This does not rule out potential improvements via the matching method should reliable MA encounter data and additional variables become available for risk adjustment.
Risk factors of lymph node metastasis in 734 early gastric carcinoma radical resections in a Chinese population
Authors: Du Ming Zhan , Gan Wen Juan , Yu Jie , Liu Wei , Zhan Sheng Hua , Huang Shan , Huang Ren Peng , Guo Ling Chuan , Huang Qin
Published: September 2018

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in early gastric carcinoma (EGC) in a Chinese population.

METHODS

The data were analyzed to determine risk factors of LNM. The patients’ characteristics, the tumor's location, gross features, histological type, differentiation, invasive depth, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), perineural invasion and the numbers of lymph nodes retrieved and involved were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 734 patients with EGC were finally enrolled in the study, and LNM was present in 14.2% (104/734) of them. By univariate analysis, significant risk factors for LNM included depressed or excavated gross patterns, size ≥1.0 cm, SM2, moderate/poor differentiation, histological type of hepatoid or micropapillary adenocarcinoma, LVI, perineural invasion and tumor necrosis. By multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for LNM were size ≥3.0 cm (odds ratio [OR] 4.9), SM2 (OR 2.4), moderate (OR 3.6) and poor (OR 5.0) differentiation, LVI (OR 3.1) and tumor necrosis (OR 1.7). Early gastric cardiac carcinoma (OR 0.3) had a significantly lower risk than non‐cardiac carcinoma. No LNM was identified in 67 EGC of <1.0 cm in size and without poor differentiation, in 142 intramucosal EGC cases of smaller than 2.0 cm and without poor differentiation, in 129 cases of well‐differentiated EGC without deep SM2 submucosal invasion, or in 54 intramucosal EGC located in the gastric cardia.

CONCLUSION

Independent risk factors for LNM in EGC include tumor size ≥3.0 cm, SM2 invasion, moderate/poor differentiation, LVI and tumor necrosis. Early cardiac carcinoma had a significantly lower risk of LNM than non‐cardiac EGC.
Hot off the Press: SGEM #226. I Want a New Drug—One That Doesn't Cause an Adverse Drug Event
Authors: Bond Christopher , Morgenstern Justin , Heitz Corey , Milne William K.
Published: September 2018

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a significant cause of emergency department (ED) visits in North America and are frequently misdiagnosed. Despite evidence supporting improved health care outcomes for ED patients who have a pharmacist‐led medication review, EDs do not have sufficient clinical pharmacists to perform medication reviews on all patients. The study reviewed in this article aimed to validate clinical decision rules for use by clinical pharmacists and physicians to prioritize ED patients with ADEs.
Effect of shade and eutrophication on the biological control of Salvinia molesta (Salviniaceae) by the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae (Coleoptera: Erirhinidae)
Authors: Maseko Zolile , Coetzee Julie A , Hill Martin P
Published: September 2018

Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell (Salviniaceae), a floating aquatic weed, is a menace in many water bodies, disrupting the ecological balance wherever it invades, with wide ranging economic and health impacts. Biological control using the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder & Sands has been an effective control method globally, although some infestations persist, in particular in shaded waterbodies. This study thus aimed to determine the effect of shade on the efficacy of biological control of S. molesta. Plants were grown in a greenhouse at high and low nutrients, in three varying shade levels, and half of the experiment subjected to herbivory by C. salviniae. Plant biomass was significantly greater in high‐nutrient conditions, in the absence and presence of herbivory at all levels of shade tested. Under shade and high‐nutrient conditions, plants were significantly higher in quality (i.e. lower carbon:nitrogen ratio) compared with those exposed to full sun. Plants in the shade sustained less damage, possibly due to the high insoluble nitrogen concentrations, which may have deterred herbivory by C. salviniae. However, when exposed to full sun, plants were of lower quality and consequently sustained more damage from the weevils despite lower populations. The results therefore suggest that nutrient supply is pivotal in plant growth compared with light (amount of PAR). The results from this study add to the growing body of literature that plant quality is a major factor in determining the success of aquatic weed biological control programmes.
Prognostic value of retrieved lymph node counts in patients with node‐negative perihilar cholangiocarcinomas
Authors: Lin Huapeng , Wu Yu‐Shen , Li Zhongyi , Jiang Yicheng
Published: September 2018

Background

This study aimed to find out the prognostic value and optimal cut‐off value of retrieved lymph node (LN) counts in patients with node‐negative perihilar cholangiocarcinomas.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database was used to screen out patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. The cut‐off number of retrieved LNs was determined by the X‐tile programme. Kaplan–Meier methods with log‐rank tests and Cox regression analysis were used for survival analysis.

Results

A total of 778 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (2004–2014) met the inclusion criteria for this research, and there were 403 patients without LN metastases (N0) among them. The cut‐off numbers of retrieved LNs, which were determined using the X‐tile programme, were 8 and 18. Both results of univariate and multivariate survival analyses in N0 patients showed that patients with ≥18 retrieved LNs had a significantly better survival rate than patients with 1–7 retrieved LNs and patients with 8–17 retrieved LNs. In the subgroup of patients with early‐stage tumours, patients with at least 13 retrieved LNs had a significantly better overall and cancer‐specific survival than patients with fewer retrieved LNs.

Conclusions

The retrieved LN counts are an independent prognostic factor for patients with node‐negative perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Patients with at least 18 retrieved LNs had a better overall and cancer‐specific survival than patients with fewer retrieved LNs. The minimum requirement for retrieving of LNs should reach 18 in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Role of post‐operative serum C‐reactive protein levels as a predictor of complications in upper gastrointestinal surgery
Authors: Späth Christoph , Srinivasa Sanket , Walsh Michael , Singh Parry , Rodgers Michael , Koea Jonathan
Published: September 2018

Background

This study was undertaken to assess the value of C‐reactive protein (CRP) in predicting infective complications after elective upper gastrointestinal surgery.

Methods

Demographic data, clinical outcomes and serial CRPs preoperatively to post‐operative day (POD) 7 were collected for patients undergoing pancreatectomy, hepatectomy and oesophago‐gastrectomy between 2005 and 2016. Areas under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate diagnostic accuracy per day of measurement.

Results

Of the 249 patients, 63 (25.3%) developed infective complications and 25 (10%) developed severe infective complications (≥Clavien–Dindo Grade III). Patients with infective complications trended towards higher CRP levels on POD1–POD4 and had significantly higher CRP levels on POD5 (156 versus 114 mg/dL; P = 0.03), POD6 (146 versus 93 mg/dL; P < 0.01) and POD7 (135 versus 84.6 mg/dL; P < 0.01). CRP had the best diagnostic accuracy for severe infective complications on POD6 (AUC: 0.73) and POD7 (AUC: 0.63). A CRP cut‐off of 120 mg/dL on POD6 had a negative predictive value of 96.1% and a CRP cut‐off of 80 mg/dL on POD7 had a negative predictive value of 94.9%.

Conclusion

CRP measurements can be used as a negative predictive marker of infective complications in the first post‐operative week after major elective upper gastrointestinal surgery.
Totally Endoscopic Robotic‐Assisted Cardiac Surgery in Children
Authors: Onan Burak , Aydin Unal , Kadirogullari Ersin , Onan Ismihan Selen , Sen Onur
Published: September 2018

Robotic surgery for intracardiac pathologies in children is relatively uncommon. This study presents our initial experience with robotic‐assisted cardiac surgery in children. We also present the feasibility and safety of robotic surgery in children. From May 2013 to June 2018, 30 children underwent totally endoscopic robotic atrial septal defect closure (n = 22), right‐sided (n = 5) or left‐sided (n = 1) partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair, tricuspid valve annuloplasty (n = 4), and mitral valve replacement (n = 2, due to Barlow and rheumatic diseases). The mean age of the patients was 16.1 ± 1.1 years (range, 13–17) and the mean weight was 56.7 ± 0.1 kg (range, 42–77). Associated anomalies included left persistent superior vena cava (n = 2) and the absence of innominate vein (n = 1). All procedures were completed uneventfully. Operation time was 4.1 ± 0.6 h. No patient was converted to thoracotomy or sternotomy. Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic clamping times were 90.6 ± 28.0 (range, 45–136) and 48.6 ± 24.9 (range, 15–94) min, respectively. The mean ventilation time was 3.7 ± 1.2 h and hospital stay time was 3.3 ± 0.7 days. No right phrenic nerve injury, hemorrhage, or blood transfusion were noted. One patient had postoperative pneumothorax, and 1 had supraventricular arrhythmia. Follow‐up was a mean of 1.7 years (range, 1–52 months). Patients were healthy and no residual intracardiac defect was observed on echocardiography examinations. There was no operative or follow‐up mortality. Robotically assisted cardiac surgery is a feasible and safe approach in selected pediatric patients. In the future, new generation robotic devices may offer an alternative surgical approach in cardiac surgery for younger children with lower body weight.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: conditioned pain modulation in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Albusoda Ahmed , Ruffle James K. , Friis Kathrine A. , Gysan Maximilian R. , Drewes Asbjørn M. , Aziz Qasim , Farmer Adam D.
Published: September 2018

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common and is characterised by recurrent abdominal pain, which is a major contributor to healthcare seeking. The neurobiological basis of this pain is incompletely understood. Conditioned pain modulation is a neuromodulatory mechanism through which the brain inhibits the nociceptive afferent barrage through the descending pathways. Reduced conditioned pain modulation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of IBS, although to date only in studies with relatively small sample sizes.

Aim

To clarify the relationship between conditioned pain modulation and IBS by undertaking a systemic review and meta‐analysis

Methods

A systematic review of MEDLINE and Web of Science databases was searched (up to 10 May 2018). We included studies examining conditioned pain modulation in adults with IBS and healthy subjects. Data were pooled for meta‐analysis to calculate the odds ratio and effect size of abnormal conditioned pain modulation in IBS, with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

The search strategy identified 645 studies, of which 13 were relevant and 12 met the inclusion criteria. Conditioned pain modulation in IBS patients vs healthy subjects was significantly reduced, odds ratio 4.84 (95% CI: 2.19‐10.71, P < 0.0001), Hedges’ g effect size of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.42‐1.28, P < 0.001). There was significant heterogeneity in effect sizes (Q‐test χ2 = 52, P < 0.001, I2 = 78.8%) in the absence of publication bias.

Conclusion

Conditioned pain modulation is significantly diminished in patients with IBS vs healthy controls. These data suggest that abnormal descending pathways may play an important pathophysiological role in IBS, which could represent an investigation and a therapeutic target in IBS.
A reinforcement learning approach to personalized learning recommendation systems
Authors: Tang Xueying , Chen Yunxiao , Li Xiaoou , Liu Jingchen , Ying Zhiliang
Published: September 2018

Personalized learning refers to instruction in which the pace of learning and the instructional approach are optimized for the needs of each learner. With the latest advances in information technology and data science, personalized learning is becoming possible for anyone with a personal computer, supported by a data‐driven recommendation system that automatically schedules the learning sequence. The engine of such a recommendation system is a recommendation strategy that, based on data from other learners and the performance of the current learner, recommends suitable learning materials to optimize certain learning outcomes. A powerful engine achieves a balance between making the best possible recommendations based on the current knowledge and exploring new learning trajectories that may potentially pay off. Building such an engine is a challenging task. We formulate this problem within the Markov decision framework and propose a reinforcement learning approach to solving the problem.
Exploring employee interactions and quality of contributions in intra‐organisational innovation platforms
Authors: Chasanidou Dimitra , Sivertstøl Njål , Hildrum Jarle
Published: September 2018

This study builds on the innovation management and organizational knowledge networks to examine the user interactions in an intra‐organizational innovation platform of a Norwegian telecommunications operator, as well as the influence of user interactions on idea development. Although current studies mainly focus on user interactions and idea quality in innovation processes, little attention has been paid to the layered nature of user interactions that impact on idea development. Data from an intra‐organizational innovation platform, called Explorathon, was used in an exploratory study, with a mixed‐methods approach. For 10 days, 3200 employees posted 390 ideas, with 1435 comments. Results show that employees communicated through the innovation platform with 11 interaction types, eight contribution types and three collaboration types. The findings demonstrate that diverse platform interactions coexist and have a diverse impact on ideas. The authors suggest three types of contribution qualities—passive, efficient and balanced—that reflect the degree of meaningful interactions around an idea. The contribution qualities are only indicative of the content of interactions and they complement other evaluation metrics of the innovation platform. The findings also suggest that the user roles of idea contributors and platform moderators or facilitators are significant in maintaining interactions and weighted contributions over time. The study has implications both for research and practice.
Children's Experiences of Bullying Victimization and the Influence on Their Subjective Well‐Being: A Multinational Comparison
Authors: Savahl Shazly , Montserrat Carme , Casas Ferran , Adams Sabirah , Tiliouine Habib , Benninger Elizabeth , Jackson Kyle
Published: September 2018

The study used data from the second wave of the Children's Worlds Survey to explore the relation between children's experiences of bullying victimization (physical and psychological) and their subjective well‐being (SWB) across three age groups (8, 10, and 12) and 15 global geographical regions. The sample consists of 47,029 children randomly selected from 15 countries. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. The results show appropriate fit structure for the overall model, and that the combined influence of physical and psychological bullying made a significant contribution to SWB across age groups and geographical regions. The findings are interpreted using Cummins's (1995) Homeostasis Theory of SWB.
Shanghai Time Outside to Reduce Myopia trial: design and baseline data
Authors: He Xiangui , Sankaridurg Padmaja , Xiong Shuyu , Li Wayne , Zhang Bo , Weng Rebecca , Zhu Jianfeng , Naduvilath Thomas , Resnikoff Serge , Zou Haidong , Xu Xun
Published: September 2018

Importance

Myopia is a major public health concern worldwide, while outdoor time is indicated to be protective against the onset of myopia.

Background

To describe the methodology and baseline data of the Shanghai Time Outside to Reduce Myopia (STORM) trial.

Design

A 2‐year, school‐based, prospective, cluster randomized trial.

Participants

Children from grade I and II classes of 24 schools from eight districts in Shanghai, China, were randomized to either a control group, a test group I (40‐min outdoor time/day) or test group II (80‐min outdoor time/day).

Methods

At baseline and annual intervals, cycloplegic autorefraction and axial length measurement will be performed. Time outdoors and light exposure will be monitored via parent/carer questionnaires and a wearable device.

Main Outcome Measures

Spherical equivalent, prevalence of myopia and time outdoors in each group.

Results

A total of 6295 eligible children (age 7.2 ± 0.7 y [6‐9 y]) were randomized to control (n = 2037), test group I (n = 2329) and test group II (n = 1929). At baseline, spherical equivalent was +0.98 ± 1.02D, +1.02 ± 1.02D and +1.00 ± 0.99D (P = 0.708), myopia prevalence was 8.9, 7.7 and 7.8% (P = 0.270) and time outdoors was 58.5 ± 35.8, 59.8 ± 34.7 and 58.5 ± 35.3 min/d (P = 0.886) for control, test groups I and II, respectively.

Conclusions and Relevance

Myopia prevalence was high at nearly 8 to 9% in school children aged 7 years in Shanghai, China. The current trial will help evaluate if increased time outdoors has a role to play in reducing the incidence of myopia and/or slow the progression of myopia.
User‐Guided Lip Correction for Facial Performance Capture
Authors: Dinev D. , Beeler T. , Bradley D. , Bächer M. , Xu H. , Kavan L.
Published: September 2018

Facial performance capture is the primary method for generating facial animation in video games, feature films and virtual environments, and recent advances have produced very compelling results. Still, one of the most challenging regions is the mouth, which often contains systematic errors due to the complex appearance and occlusion/dis‐occlusion of the lips. We present a novel user‐guided approach to correcting these common lip shape errors present in traditional capture systems. Our approach is to allow a user to manually correct a small number of problematic frames, and then our system learns the types of corrections desired and automatically corrects the entire performance. As correcting even a single frame using traditional 3D sculpting tools can be time consuming and require great skill, we also propose a simple and fast 2D sketch‐based method for generating plausible lip corrections for the problematic key frames. We demonstrate our results on captured performances of three different subjects, and validate our method with an additional sequence that contains ground truth lip reconstructions.
MPM simulation of interacting fluids and solids
Authors: Yan X. , Li C‐F. , Chen X‐S. , Hu S‐M.
Published: September 2018

The material point method (MPM) has attracted increasing attention from the graphics community, as it combines the strengths of both particle‐ and grid‐based solvers. Like the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) scheme, MPM uses particles to discretize the simulation domain and represent the fundamental unknowns. This makes it insensitive to geometric and topological changes, and readily parallelizable on a GPU. Like grid‐based solvers, MPM uses a background mesh for calculating spatial derivatives, providing more accurate and more stable results than a purely particle‐based scheme. MPM has been very successful in simulating both fluid flow and solid deformation, but less so in dealing with multiple fluids and solids, where the dynamic fluid‐solid interaction poses a major challenge. To address this shortcoming of MPM, we propose a new set of mathematical and computational schemes which enable efficient and robust fluid‐solid interaction within the MPM framework. These versatile schemes support simulation of both multiphase flow and fully‐coupled solid‐fluid systems. A series of examples is presented to demonstrate their capabilities and performance in the presence of various interacting fluids and solids, including multiphase flow, fluid‐solid interaction, and dissolution.
Adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products on the face vary with age, but not with sex
Authors: Huang Li‐ning , Zhong Yi‐ping , Liu Dan , Wang Xiao‐hua , Gong Can‐yi , Wen Si , Elias Peter M. , Yang Bin , Man Mao‐Qiang
Published: September 2018

Background

Adverse skin reactions to skin care products have been increasing in recent years. However, to date, these reactions have not been well characterized.

Objective

To describe the symptoms, clinical signs and frequency of adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products on the face in males vs females of various ages.

Patients and methods

All outpatients diagnosed with adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products on the face examined by dermatologists at the Dermatology Hospital of South Medical University between November 1, 2016 and October 31, 2017, employing a questionnaire and an interview, were eligible. The associations of adverse cutaneous reactions with age and sex were analysed.

Results

A total of 433 outpatients, accounting for 0.12% of all outpatients, were assessed. Of these, 223 patients, including 204 females and 19 males, aged 4 to 75 years, were eventually diagnosed with adverse reactions to skin care products on the face. Eighty‐two per cent of patients experienced pruritus, 80% showed erythema, and 48% showed visible swelling. The incidence rates of both xerosis and oedema correlated positively with age, whereas acne‐like lesions were negatively associated with age, but not with sex.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that pruritus, xerosis and erythema are common adverse cutaneous reactions to facial skin care products. These reactions vary with age, but not with sex. Vigorous safety testing should precede the marketing of skin care products.
876. AGAPANTHUS CAMPANULATUS
Authors: Singh Yashica , Baijnath Himansu
Published: September 2018

Agapanthus campanulatus F.M. Leighton, an endemic from southern Africa is illustrated and described. Its relationship to closely related species is depicted in a key to the Section Lilacinipollini Zonn. Notes on the history, contemporary changes in taxonomy and cultivation of the genus are included.
DETERMINANTS OF REVENUE IN SPORTS LEAGUES: AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT
Authors: Bradbury John Charles
Published: September 2018

This study investigates determinants of revenue in North America's four major professional sports leagues. Revenue is positively associated with on‐field success in baseball (MLB), basketball (NBA), and hockey (NHL), but not in football (NFL). The returns to success are not diminishing as commonly assumed, which casts doubt on the uncertainty of outcome hypothesis, and differences across leagues are consistent with revenue sharing arrangements. Estimates indicate a strong negative but diminishing relationship between stadium age and revenue. Teams in larger markets generate more revenue than smaller markets, but the returns to success do not differ according to market size. (JELZ21)
Periodontal status of anterior teeth following clinical crown lengthening by minimally traumatic controlled surgical extrusion
Authors: Pham Hien Tin , Nguyen Phuc Anh , Pham Thuy Anh Vu
Published: September 2018

Background/Aims

The number of fractured anterior teeth following trauma has been increasing while not every patient is able to afford a dental implant instead of maintaining the injured tooth. Thus, a tooth conservation solution is required to place an aesthetic and functional restoration without biologic width violation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of minimally traumatic controlled surgical extrusion in fractured anterior teeth crown lengthening by assessing the periodontal status through clinical examination and radiographs.

Methods

This longitudinal observational study investigated a group of 18 patients (six males and 12 females) at the Department of Periodontology, National Hospital of Odonto‐stomatology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Following pre‐surgery procedures and examination, minimally traumatic controlled surgical extrusion was carried out using a periotome. Patients were examined at four follow‐up appointments after 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months to record the following experimental variables: periodontal parameters including the gingival index (GI), pocket depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), mobility, marginal gingiva position, alveolar ridge resorption, periapical osteogenesis, tooth resorption and ankylosis.

Results

All periodontal parameters were significantly decreased at 3 and 6 months post‐procedure (P < 0.001). Tooth mobility decreased gradually following surgery, and at 6 months, all teeth became normal at level 0. Periapical osteogenesis changes were significantly increased at 1, 3 and 6 months in comparison with pre‐surgery (P < 0.001). Marginal gingiva position and alveolar ridge resorption were not significantly different between pre‐surgery and 1, 3 and 6 months post‐surgery. No cases of root resorption or ankylosis were observed at 6 months post‐surgery.

Conclusion

A minimally traumatic controlled surgical extrusion technique for clinical crown lengthening yielded highly successful results in both aesthetic and functional aspects, and no cases had unfavourable outcomes during the 6‐month follow‐up period.
Risk factors for traumatic dental injuries in the Brazilian population: A critical review
Authors: Soares Thais Rodrigues Campos , Magno Marcela Baraúna , Jural Lucas Alves , Loureiro Jessica Muniz , Chianca Thomaz Kauark , de Andrade Risso Patrícia , Maia Lucianne Cople
Published: September 2018

Background/Aims

Strategies for the prevention of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) should consider the risk factors involved for each population studied. The aim of this study was to perform a critical review regarding the risk factors for TDI in the Brazilian population.

Materials and Methods

A systematic literature search was performed in the MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, and BBO databases using MeSH terms, synonyms, and keywords, with no language or date restrictions. In the first step, all relevant studies identified, regardless of the type of statistical analysis performed, were grouped according to their geographic location. In a second step, the studies using Andreasen's criteria to classify the injuries and multivariate analysis to identify the risk factors for TDI in Brazilian subjects were included for data extraction.

Results

The search strategy initially identified 3373 articles. However, only 108 articles assessed TDI with predisposing factors and were included in the first step. From those, 28 were deemed eligible for inclusion in the second step. No consensus related to the relationship between gender and TDI in the primary dentition was achieved. Nonetheless, males were found to be more prone to trauma in the permanent dentition. Overjet, inadequate lip sealing and anterior open bite increased the risk for TDI, both in primary and permanent dentitions. Social environment was related to trauma only in primary dentition. For permanent dentition, dental caries, obesity, binge drinking, and drug use were identified as considerable risk factors for TDI.

Conclusion

The risk factors for TDI in the Brazilian population are similar to those found worldwide. However, some differences can be observed, such as gender and socioeconomic indicators as predisposing factors.