bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exposing Pinocchio customers: investigating exaggerated service stories
Authors: Harris Lloyd C. , Fisk Raymond P. , Sysalova Hana
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– While the links between customer word-of-mouth and desirable organizational outcomes have been widely studied, the possibility that customers might routinely exaggerate their consumption experience stories has been neglected. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– The first exploratory study examined exaggerated and unexaggerated word-of-mouth and the targets of such activities. The second exploratory study focussed on customer-exaggerated negative word-of-mouth and its drivers. The two experimental studies generated deeper insights into attributions of service failure and exaggerated negative word-of-mouth.

Findings

– This research explicitly addresses customer exaggeration regarding service consumption and the reasons customers engaged in such behaviors. Study 1 focussed on the scope and targets of exaggerated word-of-mouth, and Study 2 concentrated on identifying the drivers of exaggerated negative word-of-mouth. Studies 3 and 4 experimentally elucidated the cognitive mechanisms leading to exaggeration.

Research limitations/implications

– Contributions include deeper understanding of the phenomenon of exaggerated negative word-of-mouth and developing and testing a model of the factors associated with consumers’ exaggerated negative word-of-mouth.

Practical implications

– Implications include possible organizational and public policy actions to prevent Pinocchio customers from exaggerated negative word-of-mouth.

Originality/value

– This paper explores the nature and scope of exaggerated customer word-of-mouth and contributes insights in four ways. First, this research explores the scope of consumer exaggeration during word-of-mouth storytelling and the intended targets of such communications. Second, this research focusses on exaggerated negative word-of-mouth and develops a conceptual model of the drivers of such activity. Third, the theory is tested and contributes empirical insights into exaggerated negative word-of-mouth. Fourth, through experiments, insights are gained into the cognitive mechanisms leading to exaggeration and the effects of attribution differences in personal vs service provider blame.
An examination of relative satisfaction and share of wallet: investigating the impact of country and customer characteristics
Authors: Buoye Alexander John
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Absolute satisfaction ratings are widely used, but demonstrate a poor link to share of wallet, in part because this relationship is mediated and/or moderated by customer characteristics (including total spend in the category) and heterogeneity of scale usage. Relative satisfaction metrics, such as the Wallet Allocation Rule, have been shown to produce a much stronger link to share of wallet than absolute monadic ratings. This study compares absolute and relative satisfaction models after controlling for these mediating and moderating factors and re-examines the impact of these factors when using relative, rather than absolute metrics.

Design/methodology/approach

3,793 satisfaction ratings by 1,172 unique grocery customers across 5 countries (US, Brazil, Chile, France & Germany) are used to evaluate the mediating and moderating impacts of scale usage and customer characteristics on the relationship between satisfaction and share of wallet.

Findings

Relative metrics continue to significantly outperform absolute metrics after controlling for these factors. With the exception of the moderating influence of income, effects of customer characteristics and country differences are insignificant when linking relative satisfaction to share of wallet.

Practical implications

Managers need to re-evaluate their satisfaction measurement strategy in order to establish a strong link to actual behavior. While calculating relative satisfaction requires managers to collect data on competitors as well as the focal brand, this need for additional information is mitigated by a trade-off in terms of mediating and moderating information that is essential to properly model absolute metrics, but is not needed when using relative measures.

Originality/value

Provides a significant contribution to both retail literature and scientific literature in general by examining the robustness of a relative metrics approach within the grocery retail sector across a disparate collection of countries.
Factors driving unified communications and collaboration adoption and use in organizations
Authors: Silic Mario , Back Andrea
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal factors that drive the adoption and use of unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) technology in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used quantitative method to survey 296 employees from 50 different countries by conducting and international study. Partial least squares -method was used for the latent variables latent variable analysis

Findings

The authors found that unified theory of acceptance and use of technology constructs are mainly validated where results suggests that performance expectancy and social influence are the most influential drivers in employee acceptance and use of UC&C in organizations. Social presence, influence of peers and superiors are the main factors to take into consideration when implementation UC&C technology.

Research limitations/implications

The study was not longitudinal in design, which should be addressed by a future study that includes multi-cultural dimensions with a longitudinal design

Practical implications

Awareness through education and training of employees needs to be given very particular attention in the future mobile implementations. Moreover, management and employee support is the critical component of the effective information security governance framework implementation. Finally, mobile strategy needs to go over very precise and detailed planning process to ensure the right technology acceptance by users.

Originality/value

The authors close the existing research gap by providing useful insights into organizations regarding their UC&C technology adoption and use factors
An integration of theoretical knowledge, day by day experience and multicriteria methods to support the entrepreneurial learning process
Authors: Guelfi Silvano , Norese Maria Franca , Saluto Paolo
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide to the entrepreneurs, and propose to the scientific community, a newly structured knowledge system that includes the quality of customers and suppliers, to facilitate learning processes about the current state of the enterprise and new strategic approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The knowledge system is elaborated combining a long day-by-day experience in a specific Italian field [the independent after market (IAM)] with the theoretical knowledge of both economic and financial issues and multiple criteria (MC) methods of decision aid. The economic and financial key performance indicators are generatedad hocfor a specific sector and created with the concept that a company is in the center of a network composed of its suppliers, customers, competitors and the State. An MC model easily and consistently includes aspects that are different in terms of source and formal language. An MC method transparently synthesizes all these elements in relation to a specific decision problem. Integrating the potential of MC models and methods with economic and financial issues and context experience facilitates an effective knowledge transfer to the operators of the sector.

Findings

This methodology is oriented to the companies involved in the IAM and in particular to the manufacture, distributor and spare parts dealer categories (in Italy, almost 500 manufacturers, 150 distributors and 5,000 dealers). Manufacturers can use the methodology and its results to know the economic and financial performances of their customers, distributors can identify their strengths and weaknesses and the situation of their competitors and dealers can identify the most reliable future partners. Also, foreign manufacturers may be interested in this analysis, before selling in Italy, and banks and financiers could consult our knowledge frameworks to analyze the risk default.

Originality/value

The added value of this approach is to allow even small and medium enterprises, without an internal know-how for economic analyses, to use tools that clarify their relations with the interested parties of the macroeconomic system and facilitate the quality assessment of their portfolio of customers/suppliers.
Intellectual capital, impact factor on competitiveness: manufacturing industry SMEs in Mexico
Authors: Sanchez-Gutierrez Jose , Mejia-Trejo Juan , Vargas-Barraza Juan Antonio , Vazquez-Avila Guillermo
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of the intellectual capital (IC) on the competitiveness in the manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of this investigation is developing a theoretical construct to determine the correlation between IC and competitiveness and find the most relevant factors that impact it, where IC is independent variable and the competitiveness is dependant variable. Using the Likert scale to determine the degree of agreement or disagreement, the survey was applied to 420 SMEs. The results were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha and subsequently structural equation models.

Findings

The results show that the IC dimensions – the information obtained, IC developed and learning and feedback – have an effect on the competitiveness of SMEs. The paper presents the theoretical validation of the factors that impact on IC and competitiveness and hence they are the key elements that impact mostly on each analysed variable.

Practical implications

The results obtained measure the level of correlation between the variables in the study, helping to design strategies for the key factors needed to integrate the IC and to develop competitive synergies in the manufacturing SMEs.

Originality/value

This study shows the effects of the IC that are directly impacting the competitiveness of SMEs so that each factor of the dependent and independent variables should be analysed separately to propose improvements in implementing IC to seek higher level of competitiveness.
Morphological Properties of Flexible Polyurethane Foams and Their Relationship with Cell Count
Authors: Yu W.M. , Harlock S.C. , Leaf G.A.V , Yeung K.W.
Published: April 2016

This paper describes the determination of morphological properties of commercially available flexible polyurethane foams and the relationship between such properties and cell count. Among several morphological properties of foams, the present study focused on the cell area,
the equivalent circle diameter and the aspect ratio (ratio of length to width). A significant linear relationship was established between the cell count and both the cell area and the equivalent circle diameter, but no obvious trend was observed with the aspect ratio.
Pressing Performance of Woven Wool Suiting and Trousering Materials
Authors: Leung Mei-yi , Lo T.Y. , Dhingra R.C. , Yeung K.W.
Published: April 2016

This paper investigates the relationships between the fabric crease performance, seam retention and the low stress mechanical and constructional properties for a series of thirty-one suiting and trousering materials. A newly developed test method (IWTO draft test method)
and instrumentation for evaluating the fabric crease performance was used to compare with the commercial steam pressing (Hoffman pressing). This newly test method was further modified for examining the seam retention properties. It has been shown that seam retention properties are significantly related to the fabric crease performance and are not affected by the different testing methods used and grain direction. In fact, the low stress mechanical properties of fabrics were not significantly related to either fabric crease performance and seam retention properties.
Spunlaced Non-Woven Fabric Technology And Its Recent Development In China
Authors: Ng Frankie M.C. , Kho Winson Y.W.
Published: April 2016

The earliest concept of spunlacing (also known as hydroentanglement): using water jets to entangle fibres to form non-woven fabrics, was conceived as early as 1950s. Like other nonwoven fabrics, spunlaced non-woven fabrics are not made of yams, but directly from fibers or filaments which are laid by web forming machines (e.g. cards) to form a loose unbonded web and are subsequently bonded by various processes (needling machines, melt fibers, chemical bonding agents or water needling technology) into a textile sheet. Since its initiation in 1953, the technology received increasing attention and has undergone rapid development during the 1980s. Today, China is one of the nations who has invested in spunlaced nonwoven fabric production, with 10 production lines each costs around 5 millions US dollars. The first China national conference on spunlace non-woven fabric production was held in Zhuhai, China in October 1996. This article reviews the historical development of spunlaced non-woven fabric production, gives an account on the technology and its recent development in China and discusses the problems faced.
Recent Research on Yarn Hairiness Testing and Reduction: Part - Reduction of Yarn Hairiness
Authors: Wang Xungai
Published: April 2016

The first part ofthis series discussed current research on yam hairiness testing [Wang 1998]. In this part of the series, the importance of yam hairiness is outlined first. This is followed by a description of recent research on several novel ways of reducing yam hairiness.
Effect of Seam Allowance of a Plain Seam on Bending of Woven Fabrics
Authors: Chung Siuping , Hu Jinlian , Lo Mingtak
Published: April 2016

The present paper investigates the effect of real seams on fabric bending using Peirce’s fabric cantilever. The effect of a plain seam with different seam allowances and seam positions are discussed on bending of the fabric cantilever. Vertical and horizontal seams are studied experimentally in terms of bending length. Simple structured fabrics of plain and twill weaves with various fiber contents such as cotton, silk, wool and polyester are used. Theoretical study of a vertical seam on bending properties of woven fabrics are exhibited. Experimental bending behavior of vertical seam is explained using the second moment of area ofthe fabric cross section.
Investigation of Denim Wear Consumption in China
Authors: Zhang Zhiming , Ching Gary , Gong Chen , Moody John , Sun Liu Wing
Published: April 2016

Major findings of a project, Investigating The Markets Of Denim Wear In Hong Kong And China, sponsored by Institute of Textiles and Clothing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, are discussed. The project was conducted in Hong Kong and six other major cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Harbin, Xi'an and Chengdu. Total sample size was 3,623. Three aspects of denim wear consumption were investigated and are discussed in the paper: dressing habit of Chinese consumers in denim wear, their consumption pattern, and brand awareness. Based on the findings, marketing implications are discussed as well. This information should be of use to manufacturers and retailers of denim wear and denim products for more effective marketing.
Surface Characteristics Measurement System for Tactile Perception
Authors: Ha Kwon Young
Published: April 2016

Surface characteristics of surface are very important factors for tactile perception in fabric, paper and furniture industries. In order to measure the surface characteristics such as frictional forces in multi-direction and variations of pressure, we designed measurement system attached by 3-component load cell. The hemispherical viscoelastic contact probe was made by silicon rubber as the fingerpad. The coefficients of frictions on the smoother surfaces are increased as compared with rough surface. Also we investigated people's degree of tactile perception about fabrics and compared the surface characteristics.
A Fast Algorithm for Shelf Optimization
Authors: Jacobs David P. , Peck John C. , Davis J. Steve
Published: April 2016

Performance of an automated storage and retrieval system such as a carousel depends upon the way it is loaded. Commonly a carousel will be loaded with cases of items that will be removed in groups. A group is a specified number of items of each type. For example, a group might constitute the collection of parts needed to manufacture one garment. Typically the storage system operator wants to retrieve as many groups as possible without running out of items of any type. We present a fast algorithm that prescribes how many cases of each item type should be loaded, yielding a maximal number of groups.
A Review of The Techniques of Knitting and Moulding Pertinent to Seamless Fashion Creation
Authors: Ng Frankie
Published: April 2016

A study has been carried out to investigate the past and present techniques, processes and procedures that enable creation of seamless fashion towards innovative ends. Among the fifteen techniques investigated, knitting and moulding are by far two of the most developed toward seamless clothing production. This paper gives a chronological review of the development of these two techniques pertinent to seamless garment production that could be deployed for seamless fashion creation.
A STUDY OF CHILDREN DAILY WEAR - PRIMARY SCHOOL UNIFORM
Authors: Kwok Y.L. , Sung C.S. , Choi K.F.
Published: April 2016

School uniform is regarded as children’s daily wear, which is restricted to wear for more than 5 times per week. However, available information shows that some parents and children are not satisfied with the existing school uniforms. Therefore, it is meaningful and valuable to investigate this area. From the existing information, it shows that people are dissatisfied with the existing school uniforms. It is because they are not suitable for children's physical and psychological development. Therefore, improvements in school uniforms are needed. Information on new design of school uniform was obtained through literature review, observation, interview and questionnaire surveys. Finally, new school uniforms were designed based on child development.
APPLICATION OF A SPECIAL SEWING THREAD TO GATHERING
Authors: Xi Xiangrong , Ajiki Isao
Published: April 2016

In order to produce gathering on the fabric, it is a normal method to tighten the thread sewed on fabric. In this paper a new method is presented for producing gathering on the fabric. A special thread (Acrylic95%, polyurethane5%) shrunk by treating with steam as a sewing thread to sew on the fabric. Then, the sewed fabric is treated by steam to produce gathering. The gathering ratio of the fabric is measured and the mechanical properties of the fabric are investigated.
AN ASSESSMENT OF SOFTNESS PROPERTY OF KNITTED GOLF FABRICS
Authors: Au Kin Fan , Chan Cynthia N.Y. , Ho Yee Mei
Published: April 2016

With increasing popularity for golf and the demand for good quality golf-shirts, the softness property for the sportswear was investigated in this research. Twenty-seven fine-gauge circular knitted samples from nine different knitted fabrics intended for golf shirt fabrics were assessment using both the subjective and objective methods. In the experiment, five mechanical properties which are considered significant in knitted fabric softness were evaluated, including Compression Resilience (RC), Surface Friction (MIU), Geometrical Roughness (SMD), Thickness (T) and Weight (W). The result implies that softness property is a feeling of springy (i.e., High in RC) with a smooth hand (i.e., Low in MIU and SMD). Also, knitted fabrics which are thin and light in weight are preferred in softness property. Fabric construction was also identified as a significant factor affecting softness with plain knitted ranked better than tuck knitted fabrics. Finally, a statistical model is proposed for evaluating softness of knitted golf fabrics using the recommended mechanical properties.
THE INFLUENCE OF WEAVE, YARN AND FINISHING PARAMETERS ON THE FAST FABRIC MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Authors: Frydrych I. , Hunter L. , Żurek W. , Dziworska G.
Published: April 2016

FAST parameters for 12 kinds of fabrics varying in weave, fibre blend as well as finishing were measured. The influence of the above-mentioned factors on the FAST results are discussed and the results presented graphically.
THE PILLING OF ACRILIC FABRICS EFFECT OF FIBRE MODULI
Authors: Lohrasbi F. , Behzadan H. , Mosavi Pour Gharbi S.H.
Published: April 2016

A change in proportions of non-shrinkable and shrinkable acrylic fibres, affects the pilling properties of knitted fabrics. As the number of ICI tester rotations increased from 20,000 to 44,000, there was an increase in the number of small, medium and large pills that were produced. Because of their higher initial modulus, more non-shrinkable fibres are more likely to be damaged by friction, which seems to play a greater role in creating pills on the fabric surface.
Use of a driving simulator to improve on‐road driving performance and cognition in persons with Parkinson's disease: A pilot study
Authors: Devos Hannes , Morgan John C. , Onyeamaechi Arinze , Bogle Craig A. , Holton Katie , Kruse Jonathon , Sasser Sierra , Akinwuntan Abiodun E.
Published: April 2016

Background/aim

The use of simulators as an assessment and intervention tool for driving is an emerging field in occupational therapy. We investigated the potential usefulness of a driving simulator to improve on‐road skills and cognitive functions in drivers with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method

Fifteen participants with PD, and Hoehn and Yahr stages between 2 and 3 participated in this pre–post comparison study. Twelve of the 15 individuals (median age (Q1–Q3), 68 (63.5–72.5); 10 men) completed 10 hours of training in a high‐fidelity driving simulator. A practical road test as well as off‐road cognitive and simulator tests were administered at pre‐training and post‐training.

Results

Nine participants, who passed the road test before training, passed at post‐training. Furthermore, all three participants who initially failed the on‐road test passed after training. Participants’ performance improved significantly from pre‐ to post‐training on two cognitive tests: (i) the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and (ii) Dot Cancellation test.

Conclusion

This pilot study demonstrates the potential usefulness of a simulator to improve on‐road driving and driving‐related cognitive skills in PD. Adequately powered randomized controlled trials are needed to further expand this field of study.
Gender in family therapy education: reflections of cis‐females
Authors: Mui‐Teng Quek Karen , Eppler Christie , Morgan Martha L.
Published: April 2016

Purpose: Research indicates that family therapy courses in gender studies affect both female and male students to the same degree. How female students experience a gender‐focused family therapy class has yet to be explored. This qualitative study focused on self‐identified cis‐female students' experiences in a ten‐week course on gender in family therapy. The purpose of this study was to present female students' critical reflections of taking a clinical training course dedicated to gender studies.

Method: Using transcendental phenomenology, we analysed reflections from 86 student‐participants regarding how they perceived themselves as gendered and how new information had transformed their thoughts and actions. Thematic analysis from the data was inductive, we read and reread the reflections and then generated several main themes.

Results: Participants were challenged to revisit gendered assumptions about significant and insignificant concerns in their development. We organized women's self‐reports into four domains: Affect, Identity, Empowerment, and Action.

Conclusions: In summary, addressing gender‐related topics in the classroom had impacted students intra‐personally and interpersonally. As they processed internally, they began to reshape their relationships. Additionally, they planned to become agents of change in therapy room.

Practitioner points

Therapists recognize how gender‐related power differences, gender roles in societal and familial systems, and the ways unequal gender relations affect relationships

Therapists address not only the position of women in their cultures but also how their social environment reproduces this positioning within its own ranks

Educators ensure that their pedagogies and therapeutic practices constantly reflect gender‐aware practices in order to be culturally competent
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome‐based severe sepsis screening algorithms in emergency department patients with suspected sepsis
Authors: Shetty Amith L , Brown Tristam , Booth Tarra , Van Kim Linh , Dor‐Shiffer Daphna E , Vaghasiya Milan R , Eccleston Cassanne E , Iredell Jonathan
Published: April 2016

Objective

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)‐based severe sepsis screening algorithms have been utilised in stratification and initiation of early broad spectrum antibiotics for patients presenting to EDs with suspected sepsis. We aimed to investigate the performance of some of these algorithms on a cohort of suspected sepsis patients.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis on an ED‐based prospective sepsis registry at a tertiary Sydney hospital, Australia. Definitions for sepsis were based on the 2012 Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines. Numerical values for SIRS criteria and ED investigation results were recorded at the trigger of sepsis pathway on the registry. Performance of specific SIRS‐based screening algorithms at sites from USA, Canada, UK, Australia and Ireland health institutions were investigated.

Results

Severe sepsis screening algorithms' performance was measured on 747 patients presenting with suspected sepsis (401 with severe sepsis, prevalence 53.7%). Sensitivity and specificity of algorithms to flag severe sepsis ranged from 20.2% (95% CI 16.4–24.5%) to 82.3% (95% CI 78.2–85.9%) and 57.8% (95% CI 52.4–63.1%) to 94.8% (95% CI 91.9–96.9%), respectively. Variations in SIRS values between uncomplicated and severe sepsis cohorts were only minor, except a higher mean lactate (>1.6 mmol/L, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

We found the Ireland and JFK Medical Center sepsis algorithms performed modestly in stratifying suspected sepsis patients into high‐risk groups. Algorithms with lactate levels thresholds of >2 mmol/L rather than >4 mmol/L performed better. ED sepsis registry‐based characterisation of patients may help further refine sepsis definitions of the future.
Patient‐Specific Relationship Between Hydraulic Permeability of Microvasculature and the Extent of Burden of Excess Fluid in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Yashiro Masatomo , Ochiai Miyuki , Yanai Yuko , Kotera Hirohisa , Iehara Noriyuki
Published: April 2016

We have reported a significant correlation between hydraulic permeability of microvasculature adjusted with ultrafiltration rate (AdjLpst) and excess fluid divided by dry weight (ExF/DW) in a cross‐sectional study of hemodialysis patients. We aimed to study longitudinally whether a similar relationship between them exists in each patient. Twelve hemodialysis (HD) patients in whom AdjLpst and ExF/DW had been measured more than four times (total of 85 measurements) were enrolled. AdjLpst was calculated by monitoring blood volume during HD. ExF was calculated from the fluid volume measured via bioimpedance spectroscopy. The borders of overhydration were 1.66 mL/mm Hg per min for AdjLpst and a positive value for ExF/DW. There was a significant correlation between AdjLpst and ExF/DW (r = 0.517). When the 85 measurements were classified into four quadrants according to ExF/DW and AdjLpst, the evaluations of fluid status agreed in 66 measurements. In six patients, significant positive correlations were found. In nine patients, equal to or more than 80.0% of evaluations by AdjLpst and those by ExF/DW agreed. In only one patient was there neither significant correlation nor agreement. AdjLpst of two patients suffering from chronic heart failure and microscopic polyangiitis was reduced compared with that of others loaded with the same extent of excess fluid. We concluded that there was a significant correlation between AdjLpst and ExF/DW and high agreement between evaluation by AdjLpst and evaluation by ExF/DW in the majority of patients. However, the relationship between them was patient‐specific to some extent.
Governmental standard drink definitions and low‐risk alcohol consumption guidelines in 37 countries
Authors: Kalinowski Agnieszka , Humphreys Keith
Published: April 2016

Background and Aims

One of the challenges of international alcohol research and policy is the variability in and lack of knowledge of how governments in different nations define a standard drink and low‐risk drinking. This study gathered such information from governmental agencies in 37 countries.

Methods

A pool of 75 countries that might have definitions was created using World Health Organization (WHO) information and the authors' own judgement. Structured internet searches of relevant terms for each country were supplemented by efforts to contact government agencies directly and to consult with alcohol experts in the country.

Results

Most of the 75 national governments examined were not identified as having adopted a standard drink definition. Among the 37 that were so identified, the modal standard drink size was 10 g pure ethanol, but variation was wide (8–20 g). Significant variability was also evident for low‐risk drinking guidelines, ranging from 10–42 g per day for women and 10–56 g per day for men to 98–140 g per week for women and 150–280 g per week for men.

Conclusions

Researchers working and communicating across national boundaries should be sensitive to the substantial variability in ‘standard’ drink definitions and low‐risk drinking guidelines. The potential impact of guidelines, both in general and in specific national cases, remains an important question for public health research.
Three‐dimensional printing in orthopaedic surgery: review of current and future applications
Authors: Mulford Jonathan S. , Babazadeh Sina , Mackay Neil
Published: April 2016

Three‐dimensional (3D) printing is a rapidly evolving technology with the potential for significant contributions to surgical practice. There are many current applications for 3D printing technology with future applications being explored. This technology has applications in preoperative planning, education, custom manufacturing (implants, prosthetics and surgical guides) and exciting potential for biological applications. This article reviews the current and future applications of 3D technology in orthopaedic surgery.
Clinical outcomes after spontaneous and nucleos(t)ide analogue‐treated HBsAg seroclearance in chronic HBV infection
Authors: Chen Y. C. , Jeng W. J. , Chien R. N. , Chu C. M. , Liaw Y. F.
Published: April 2016

Background

Both spontaneous and nucleos(t)ide analogue (Nuc)‐treated hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance are associated with excellent clinical outcomes.

Aim

To conduct a case–control study to explore whether there is difference of clinical outcomes between these two groups.

Methods

A total of 312 chronic hepatitis B patients with spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance and 110 patients with Nuc‐treated HBsAg seroclearance were recruited retrospectively. Propensity score (PS) matching method produced 98 patients in each group for comparison. The development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatic complications and cumulative incidence of antibody to HBsAg (anti‐HBs) was compared.

Results

During a mean follow‐up period of 107 months after HBsAg seroclearance, five patients developed HCC after a mean period of 75.3 months (four and one patients with spontaneous and Nuc‐treated HBsAg seroclearance, respectively) in overall population. One died of pneumonia with sepsis and one experienced variceal bleeding in Nuc‐treated patients but none in spontaneous group. The incidence of anti‐HBs seroconversion was comparable between spontaneous and Nuc‐treated HBsAg seroclearance (69.6% vs. 66.4%, respectively, P = 0.617). There were no significant differences in HCC development (2% vs. 1.1%), overall mortality (0% vs. 1%), variceal bleeding (0% vs. 4.2%) and 6‐year cumulative incidence of anti‐HBs seroconversion (62.3% vs. 61.5%) among PS‐matched patients with spontaneous and Nuc‐treated HBsAg seroclearance.

Conclusions

The clinical outcomes between patients with spontaneous and Nuc‐treated HBsAg seroclearance are comparable. HCC can develop at a low rate during long‐term follow‐up and periodic surveillance after HBsAg seroclearance is still mandatory.
Effects of supplementing an active dry yeast product on rumen microbial community composition and on subsequent rumen fermentation of lactating cows in the mid‐to‐late lactation period
Authors: Uyeno Yutaka , Akiyama Kiyoshi , Hasunuma Toshiya , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Yokokawa Hiroaki , Yamaguchi Tsuneko , Kawashima Kenji , Itoh Minoru , Kushibiki Shiro , Hirako Makoto
Published: April 2016

The effects of supplementing feed of cows in mid‐to‐late lactation with an active yeast product (Actisaf Sc 47) were evaluated using 15 Holstein cows in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. The animals were fed a mixed ration with 33% neutral detergent fiber, consisting of timothy hay (29.8%), a commercial concentrate (70.0%) and commercial calcium triphosphate (0.2%), twice daily to meet 105% of their energy requirement. Yeast supplement was set at 0, 5 and 10 g per day over 21‐day periods, each of which consisted of 14 days for adaptation followed by 7 days of data collection. Milking performance, plasma metabolite parameters, rumen volatile fatty acids, lipopolysaccharide and microbial properties were measured. Although there were no significant differences in feeding and milking performance or blood parameters associated with supplementation, the acetate to propionate ratio in the rumen fluid tended to decrease (P = 0.08). The population of Bacteroidetes tended to be less prominent (P = 0.07) and the fibrolytic bacterium Fibrobacter significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the rumen fluid of the yeast 10 g group compared with that of the control. These data suggest that effects of supplementing live yeast to cows in mid‐to‐late lactation may be limited to microbial composition and fermentation characteristics in the rumen.
How technology shapes assessment design: Findings from a study of university teachers
Authors: Bennett Sue , Dawson Phillip , Bearman Margaret , Molloy Elizabeth , Boud David
Published: April 2016

A wide range of technologies has been developed to enhance assessment, but adoption has been inconsistent. This is despite assessment being critical to student learning and certification. To understand why this is the case and how it can be addressed, we need to explore the perspectives of academics responsible for designing and implementing technology‐supported assessment strategies. This paper reports on the experience of designing technology‐supported assessment based on interviews with 33 Australian university teachers. The findings reveal the desire to achieve greater efficiencies and to be contemporary and innovative as key drivers of technology adoption for assessment. Participants sought to shape student behaviors through their designs and made adaptations in response to positive feedback and undesirable outcomes. Many designs required modification because of a lack of appropriate support, leading to compromise and, in some cases, abandonment. These findings highlight the challenges to effective technology‐supported assessment design and demonstrate the difficulties university teachers face when attempting to negotiate mixed messages within institutions and the demands of design work. We use these findings to suggest opportunities to improve support by offering pedagogical guidance and technical help at critical stages of the design process and encouraging an iterative approach to design.
An investigation of the effects of programming with Scratch on the preservice IT teachers’ self‐efficacy perceptions and attitudes towards computer programming
Authors: Yukselturk Erman , Altiok Serhat
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of programming with Scratch on the views of preservice Information Technology (IT) teachers towards computer programming. The study sample consisted of 151 preservice IT teachers who took an elective course including a Scratch module in the 2013–14 academic year. Three online questionnaires (Personal Information Questionnaire, The Computer Programming Self‐Efficacy Scale and The Computer Programming Learning Attitude Scale) were used to gather the quantitative data and focus group interviews were conducted to collect the qualitative data regarding the preservice IT teachers’ views in more detail. According to the results, there were significant increases in the mean of the preservice IT teachers’ self‐efficacy perceptions regarding almost all complex programming tasks after their Scratch programming experience. The results also showed that the preservice IT teachers’ negative attitudes towards programming decreased significantly and programming in the Scratch platform had significantly positive effects on the preservice IT teachers’ attitudes regarding some items in the scale.
Clinical activity of carfilzomib correlates with inhibition of multiple proteasome subunits: application of a novel pharmacodynamic assay
Authors: Lee Susan J. , Levitsky Konstantin , Parlati Francesco , Bennett Mark K. , Arastu‐Kapur Shirin , Kellerman Lois , Woo Tina F. , Wong Alvin F. , Papadopoulos Kyriakos P. , Niesvizky Ruben , Badros Ashraf Z. , Vij Ravi , Jagannath Sundar , Siegel David , Wang Michael , Ahmann Gregory J. , Kirk Christopher J.
Published: April 2016

While proteasome inhibition is a validated therapeutic approach for multiple myeloma (MM), inhibition of individual constitutive proteasome (c20S) and immunoproteasome (i20S) subunits has not been fully explored owing to a lack of effective tools. We utilized the novel proteasome constitutive/immunoproteasome subunit enzyme‐linked immunosorbent (ProCISE) assay to quantify proteasome subunit occupancy in samples from five phase I/II and II trials before and after treatment with the proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib. Following the first carfilzomib dose (15–56 mg/m2), dose‐dependent inhibition of c20S and i20S chymotrypsin‐like active sites was observed [whole blood: ≥67%; peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs): ≥75%]. A similar inhibition profile was observed in bone marrow–derived CD138+ tumour cells. Carfilzomib‐induced proteasome inhibition was durable, with minimal recovery in PBMCs after 24 h but near‐complete recovery between cycles. Importantly, the ProCISE assay can be used to quantify occupancy of individual c20S and i20S subunits. We observed a relationship between MM patient response (n = 29), carfilzomib dose and occupancy of multiple i20S subunits, where greater occupancy was associated with an increased likelihood of achieving a clinical response at higher doses. ProCISE represents a new tool for measuring proteasome inhibitor activity in clinical trials and relating drug action to patient outcomes.
Effects of pharmacological and genetic disruption of CXCR4 chemokine receptor function in B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Randhawa Shubhchintan , Cho Byung S. , Ghosh Dipanjan , Sivina Mariela , Koehrer Stefan , Müschen Markus , Peled Amnon , Davis Richard E. , Konopleva Marina , Burger Jan A.
Published: April 2016

B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B‐ALL) cells express high levels of CXCR4 chemokine receptors for homing and retention within the marrow microenvironment. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) secrete CXCL12, the ligand for CXCR4, and protect B‐ALL cells from cytotoxic drugs. Therefore, the therapeutic use of CXCR4 antagonists has been proposed to disrupt cross talk between B‐ALL cells and the protective stroma. Because CXCR4 antagonists can have activating agonistic function, we compared the genetic and pharmacological deletion of CXCR4 in B‐ALL cells, using CRISPR‐Cas9 gene editing and CXCR4 antagonists that are in clinical use (plerixafor, BKT140). Both genetic and pharmacological CXCR4 inhibition significantly reduced B‐ALL cell migration to CXCL12 gradients and beneath BMSC, and restored drug sensitivity to dexamethasone, vincristine and cyclophosphamide. NOD/SCID/IL‐2rγnull mice injected with CXCR4 gene‐deleted B‐ALL cells had significant delay in disease progression and superior survival when compared to control mice injected with CXCR4 wild‐type B‐ALL cells. These findings indicate that anti‐leukaemia activity of CXCR4 antagonists is primarily due to CXCR4 inhibition, rather than agonistic activity, and corroborate that CXCR4 is an important target to overcome stroma‐mediated drug resistance in B‐ALL.
Where are Ecology and Biodiversity in Social–Ecological Systems Research? A Review of Research Methods and Applied Recommendations
Authors: Rissman Adena R. , Gillon Sean
Published: April 2016

Understanding social–ecological systems (SES) is critical for effective sustainability and biodiversity conservation initiatives. We systematically reviewed SES research to examine whether and how it integrates ecological and social domains and generates decision‐relevant recommendations. We aim to inform SES research methods and improve the relevance of SES research. Of 120 SES articles, two‐thirds included an ecological variable while all but one included a social variable. Biodiversity was a less common ecological variable than resource productivity, land cover, and abiotic measures. We found six diverse social–ecological linking methods: modeling (9%), causal loop diagrams (18%), quantitative correlations (8%), separate quantitative measures (13%), indicators (14%), and rich description (37%). Policy recommendations addressing social–ecological dynamics were more likely in articles including both ecological and social variables, suggesting the importance of research approach for policy and practice application. Further integration of ecology and biodiversity is needed to support governance, policy, and management for SES sustainability.
Prevention knowledge, risk behaviours and seroprevalence among nonurban injectors of southwest Connecticut
Authors: Grau Lauretta E. , Zhan Weihai , Heimer Robert
Published: April 2016

Introduction and Aims

Little is known about injection‐associated risk behaviours, knowledge and seroprevalence of viral infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) in nonurban locales in the US. Harm reduction services are more available in urban locales. The present study examined a cohort of active PWID residing in non urban areas of Connecticut to investigate how primarily injecting in urban or non urban areas was associated with injection‐associated risk behaviours, knowledge and prevalence of blood‐borne viruses.

Design and Methods

We described the sample and performed bivariate and multivariable analyses on injection‐associated risk behaviours, HIV/hepatitis/overdose knowledge and baseline serological data to identify differences between individuals who injected primarily in nonurban locales and those who did not.

Results

Harm reduction knowledge and use of harm reduction services were poor in both groups. Those injecting most often in urban settings were 1.88 (1.19, 2.98 95% confidence interval) times more likely to engage in at least one injection‐associated risk behaviour than their nonurban counterpart. Seroprevalence rates (23.6% for hepatitis B virus, 39.2% for hepatitis C virus, and 1.1% for HIV) were no different between the two groups.

Discussion and Conclusions

The data provided little evidence that the benefits of urban harm reduction programs, such as syringe exchange, risk reduction interventions and education programs have penetrated into this nonurban population, even among those who injected in urban locales where such programs exist. Harm reduction interventions for nonurban communities of PWID are needed to reduce HIV and hepatitis B and C transmission. [Grau LB, Zhan W, Heimer R. Prevention knowledge, risk behaviours and seroprevalence among nonurban injectors of southwest Connecticut. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:628‐636]
Functional identity is the main driver of diversity effects in young tree communities
Authors: Tobner Cornelia M. , Paquette Alain , Gravel Dominique , Reich Peter B. , Williams Laura J. , Messier Christian
Published: April 2016

Two main effects are proposed to explain biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships: niche complementarity and selection effects. Both can be functionally defined using the functional diversity (FD) and functional identity (FI) of the community respectively. Herein, we present results from the first tree diversity experiment that separated the effect of selection from that of complementarity by varying community composition in high‐density plots along a gradient of FD, independent of species richness and testing for the effects of FD and community weighted means of traits (a proxy for FI) on stem biomass increment (a proxy for productivity). After 4 years of growth, most mixtures did not differ in productivity from the averages of their respective monocultures, but some did overyield significantly. Those positive diversity effects resulted mostly from selection effects, primarily driven by fast‐growing deciduous species and associated traits. Net diversity effect did not increase with time over 4 years.
Independence of seasonal patterns of root functional traits and rooting strategy of a grass‐clover sward from sward age and slurry application
Authors: Chen S.‐M. , Lin S. , Loges R. , Reinsch T. , Hasler M. , Taube F.
Published: April 2016

Root functional traits (RFTs) are crucial for understanding nutrient cycling processes. However, seasonal variation of RFTs and their potential changes in root foraging pattern have been almost ignored in field studies. In this work, belowground net primary production (BNPP, g m−2), root length density (RLD, km m−2), specific root length (SRL, m g−1), root N concentration and C/N ratio in defoliated grass‐clover swards of different sward ages and receiving different cattle slurry levels were investigated for 2 years. All measured RFTs showed significant seasonal variation: in general, seasonal variation was most marked between primary growth period (until heading stage of perennial ryegrass) and subsequent regrowth periods following defoliation; meanwhile, the rooting pattern also differed. These phenomena were not affected by current management or sward composition, but were correlated with plant C availability. Daily BNPP and RLD rates varied 7‐ to 8‐fold in the growing season. Moreover, BNPP and RLD were asynchronous due to seasonal variation in SRL. Rooting pattern and the relationship with shoot phenology are discussed. We conclude that root functional traits vary with season; thus, roots which develop in different seasons may be involved in belowground nutrient cycling processes with different turnover characteristics; trade‐off among traits may also involve temporal variation. Root‐C related investigations in grass‐clover swards should include root mass sampling rather than use of root length observations alone.