bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing decentralized knowledge management systems to effectuate individual and collective generative capacities
Authors: Schmitt Ulrich
Published: October 2019

Purpose

In addressing the future trajectory of knowledge management systems, this paper uses the psycho-social notion of generativity which recently stimulated contributions in technology and innovation for a holistic systemic knowledge management (KM) review. The purpose of this study is to identify current shortcomings and fixations together with their ramifying affordances, all enveloped within a novel KM concept and prototype-system-under-development.

Design/methodology/approach

It follows up on prior publications using design science research (DSR) methodologies in compliance with theory effectiveness, a principle expecting system designs to be purposeful in terms of utility and communication. The KM perspective taken prioritizes a decentralizing agenda benefiting knowledge workers while also aiming to foster a fruitful co-evolution with traditional organizational KM approaches.

Findings

The notions of generative fit and capacities in their technical, informational and social interpretations prove able to accommodate diverse KM models and to cumulatively synthesize a wide range of related concepts and perspectives. In the process, Nonaka’s renowned socialize, externalize, combine, internalize and Ba model is repurposed and extended to suggest a corresponding complementing seize, imbed, collate, encompass, effectuate workflow embedded in distinct digital ecosystems fully aligned to the diversity of the generative attributes introduced.

Research limitations/implications

Although the prototype development is still in progress, the study conforms to the DSR practice to report on early visions of technology impact on users, organizations and society and also refers to and reflects on aspects of feasibility, suitability, acceptability and the system’s prospect as a general-purpose technology or disruptive innovation.

Originality/value

The paper transdisciplinarily integrates the well-established psychological notions of generativity into its newer digital and systemic KM dimensions. The resulting new insights transparently inform the concept and prototype design, present a holistic framework for individuals and organizations and suggest avenues for new KM applications and KM research directions inspired by the adopted and adapted novel generativity contexts.
Effectiveness of National Sanitation Day as a community-participatory approach for improving environmental sanitation in Edina Traditional Area, Ghana
Authors: Mensah Justice
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Poor environmental sanitation affects environmental quality and health. Ghana is a developing country whose sanitation profile has been one of the lowest in the world in recent years. This has prompted various views regarding effective approaches for improving sanitation in Ghana for better environmental quality and health. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of National Sanitation Day (NSD) as a model for improving environmental sanitation in the Edina Traditional Area (ETA), Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used key informant interviews and focus group discussions to collect qualitative data from purposively selected participants from predominantly fishing and farming communities in the ETA, Ghana. Data were analysed thematically and presented using interpretive narratives and most significant stories.

Findings

Results showed a high level of community awareness of the model but low participation in the intervention, culminating in the model’s ineffectiveness to make any meaningful impact on improved sanitation in the study area. Key factors responsible for the model’s ineffectiveness include apathy, inadequate logistics, politics and attitude.

Practical implications

Government should engage more effectively with the municipal assembly, private sanitation companies and community level authorities to address the political, logistical, attitudinal and institutional challenges associated with the model to ensure effective participation in the NSD for better sanitation outcomes, leading to improved environmental quality and health for sustainable development.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of the NSD in Ghana since the model was introduced in the country in 2014. The outcome of the study could inform sanitation management policy, practice and research in Ghana as well as other developing countries that may adopt or adapt Ghana’s model.
Assessing blockchain potential for improving the cybersecurity of financial transactions
Authors: Smith Kane J. , Dhillon Gurpreet
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Blockchain holds promise as a potential solution to the problem of cybersecurity in financial transactions. However, difficulty exists for both the industry and organizations in assessing this potential solution. Hence, it is important to understand how organizations in the financial sector can address these concerns by exploring blockchain implementation for financial transactions in the context of cybersecurity. To do this, the problem question is threefold: first, what objectives are important based on the strategic values of an organization for evaluating cybersecurity to improve the security of financial transactions? Second, how can they be used to ensure the cybersecurity of financial transactions in a financial organization? Third, how can these objectives be used to evaluate blockchain as a potential solution for enhancing the cybersecurity of organizations in the financial sector relative to existing cybersecurity methods? The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

To accomplish this goal we utilize Keeney’s (1992) multi-objective decision analytics technique, termed value-focused thinking (VFT), to demonstrate how organizations can assess a blockchain solution’s value to maximize value-add within financial organization.

Findings

The presented model clearly demonstrates the viability of using Keeney’s (1992) VFT technique as a multi-criteria decision analysis tool for assessing blockchain technology. Further, a clear explanation of how this model can be extended and adapted for individual organizational use is provided.

Originality/value

This paper engages both the academic literature as well as an expert panel to develop an assessment model for blockchain technology related to financial transactions by providing a useful method for structuring the decision-making process of organizations around blockchain technology.
The moderating effect of founding assets on the founders’ human capital
Authors: Xu Yang
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate into the conditions under which founders’ human capital (HC) benefits new venture growth (NVG). One such condition is investigated in this study – initial assets at founding. Specifically, founding assets are hypothesized to moderate the relationship between founders’ HC and NVG.

Design/methodology/approach

The longitudinal panel database from the Kauffman Firm Survey for the period 2004–2011 was used to test the hypotheses. The final sample consisted of 4,923 firms, with 34,461 observations made over seven years.

Findings

The regression analysis found the effect of founders’ HC on NVG and the moderating role of founding assets in the HC–NVG relationship.

Research limitations/implications

New ventures benefit even more from founders’ education level, industry and startup experiences when the startups have larger assets at founding. The effect of founders’ education and experiences on startup growth is contingent upon the initial assets at founding.

Practical implications

The results of this study can help practitioners and policy makers to understand the drivers of NVG and the interactions among these drivers. Growth-oriented startups may require a large investment in founding assets such as production facilities. Startups with fewer founding assets may find it particularly difficult to negotiate with external stakeholders and may face unusually intense competitive responses from competitors. Policy makers should tailor the support to the founding conditions of new firms.

Originality/value

The prior literature has shown mostly the independent positive effects of various resources on firm growth. This study argues and empirically shows that startups grow faster when founders with high HC have more assets to utilize. The resource-based view literature was expanded by adding important new causal mechanisms, enriching our understanding of how founders’ HC interact with founding assets, jointly affecting NVG. Like a big fish in a small pond, even highly educated and experienced entrepreneurs have limited opportunities to utilize their talents in a startup with a lower initial resource position.
Critical elements for multigenerational teams: a systematic review
Authors: Burton Cherise M. , Mayhall Chrissa , Cross Jennifer , Patterson Patrick
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on multigenerational teams, to evaluate the maturity of the research area, identify key themes, and highlight areas for future research. Generational differences in the workforce are becoming a critical factor, as four generations (Veterans/Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y/Millennials) currently co-exist, and a fifth generation (Generation Z) stands poised to enter the workforce. To manage these differences effectively, organizations must first understand the various generations and, ultimately, their interaction and engagement with each other. Whereas some literature on the differences between the generations and how they pertain to the organizational work environment exists, currently, it is unclear what is known about how these differences impact the performance of multigenerational teams.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a systematic literature review on teams and generational differences. A total of 7 platforms were included, resulting in 121 articles in the final paper set.

Findings

The review confirmed a low presence of literature related to generational differences and teams, implying the knowledge area is currently immature; however, despite this, there is an upward trajectory in publications and citations over the past few years, and existing publications and citations span a number of countries, suggesting a likelihood of significant growth in the research area in the near future. Further, key themes were identified in the current literature relating to commitment, leadership, team dynamics, conflict and wages and work environment.

Research limitations/implications

Only seven platforms were included in this review, although the seven platforms chosen are believed to provide comprehensive coverage of the field. The search strings used were “generation” and “team,” which was the word combination found to produce the largest number of results in preliminary trials; however, it is possible that using additional word combinations might have yielded some additional papers. Finally, the review was limited to English-language articles (or their translations); although, ultimately, only two articles were eliminated because of lack of an English language version.

Practical implications

The findings can be used by organizations to identify factors of interest in managing multigenerational teams, as well as what is currently known about influencing those factors to achieve more positive team outcomes.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this appears to be the first systematic literature review on generational differences in teams. Given the importance of this topic, this review is critical to provide a baseline on what is currently known in the field and existing research and practice gaps.
Evaluation of acoustic-based particle separation methods
Authors: Ahmad Mansoor , Bozkurt Ayhan , Farhanieh Omid
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to Separation and sorting of biological cells is desirable in many applications for analyzing cell properties, such as disease diagnostics, drugs delivery, chemical processing and therapeutics.

Design/methodology/approach

Acoustic energy-based bioparticle separation is a simple, viable, bio-compatible and contact-less technique using, which can separate the bioparticles based on their density and size, with-out labeling the sample particles.

Findings

Conventionally available bioparticle separation techniques as fluorescence and immunomagnetic may cause a serious threat to the life of the cells due to various compatibility issues. Moreover, they also require an extra pre-processing labeling step. Contrarily, label-free separation can be considered as an alternative solution to the traditional bio-particle separation methods, due to their simpler operating principles and lower cost constraints. Acoustic based particle separation methods have captured a lot of attention among the other reported label-free particle separation techniques because of the numerous advantages it offers.

Practical implications

This study tries to briefly cover the developments of different acoustic-based particle separation techniques over the years. Unlike the conventional surveys on general bioparticles separation, this study is focused particularly on the acoustic-based particle separation. The study would provide a comprehensive guide for the future researchers especially working in the field of the acoustics, in studying and designing the acoustic-based particle separation techniques.

Originality/value

The study insights a brief theory of different types of acoustic waves and their interaction with the bioparticles is considered, followed by acoustic-based particle separation devices reported till the date. The integration of acoustic-based separation techniques with other methods and with each other is also discussed. Finally, all major aspects like the approach, and productivity, etc., of the adopted acoustic particle separation methods are sketched in this article.
An empirical exploration of Agile manufacturing for enhanced business performance in Indian manufacturing industry
Authors: Kumar Rahul , Singh Kanwarpreet , Jain Sanjiv Kumar
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of agile manufacturing practices on business performance of Indian medium and large-scale manufacturing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was designed to attain the research objectives. Agile manufacturing questionnaire was sent to around 500 randomly selected manufacturing organizations in the northern spectrum of India through e-mails and posts, out of which 154 usable responses have been received. This study investigates the inter-relationships between various agile manufacturing implementation practices and business performance measures using various statistical techniques. This paper deploys Games–Howell hoc test to establish the statistical significance of business performance improvements, progressively accrued over a reasonable period of time, through holistic agile manufacturing implementation.

Findings

The paper validates the contribution of agile manufacturing toward realization of the significant improvements in various business performance measures such as customer-related achievements, financial achievements, business-related achievements, operational achievements, employee-related achievements, and supplier-related achievements. Further, the discriminant validity test has been used in this paper for classifying highly successful and moderately successful organizations.

Research limitations/implications

The paper only concentrated on manufacturing organizations in northern India. The results of this paper cannot generalize across all the sectors and spectrum of Indian manufacturing organizations.

Originality/value

This paper develops an insight into the strong potential of agile manufacturing implementation practices in affecting business performance measures.
Development of comorbidity score for patients undergoing major surgery
Authors: Mehta Hemalkumar B. , Yong Shan , Sura Sneha D. , Hughes Byron D. , Kuo Yong‐Fang , Williams Stephen B. , Tyler Douglas S. , Riall Taylor S. , Goodwin James S.
Published: October 2019

Objective

To develop and validate a claims‐based comorbidity score for patients undergoing major surgery, and compare its performance with established comorbidity scores.

Data Source

Five percent Medicare data from 2007 to 2014.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥65 years undergoing six major operations (N = 99 250).

Data Collection

One‐year mortality was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were hospital mortality, 30‐day mortality, 30‐day readmission, and length of stay. The comorbidity score was developed in the derivation cohort (70 percent sample) using logistic regression model. The comorbidity score was calibrated and validated in the validation cohort (30 percent sample), and compared against the Charlson, Elixhauser, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Categories (CMS‐HCC) comorbidity scores using c‐statistic, net reclassification improvement, and integrated discrimination improvement.

Principal Findings

In the validation cohort, the surgery‐specific comorbidity score was well calibrated and performed better than the Charlson, Elixhauser, and CMS‐HCC comorbidity scores for all outcomes; the performance was comparable to the CMS‐HCC for 30‐day readmission. For example, the surgery‐specific comorbidity score (c‐statistic = 0.792; 95% CI, 0.785‐0.799) had greater discrimination than the Charlson (c‐statistic = 0.747; 95% CI, 0.739‐0.755), Elixhauser (c‐statistic = 0.747; 95% CI, 0.735‐0.755), or CMS‐HCC (c‐statistic = 0.755; 95% CI, 0.747‐0.763) scores in predicting 1‐year mortality. The net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement were greater for surgery‐specific comorbidity score compared to the Charlson, Elixhauser, and CMS‐HCC scores.

Conclusions

Compared to commonly used comorbidity measures, a surgery‐specific comorbidity score better predicted outcomes in the surgical population.
Meso‐Cenozoic Tectonothermal History of Permian Strata, Southwestern Weibei Uplift: Insights from Thermochronology and Geothermometry
Authors: YU Qiang , REN Zhanli , LI Rongxi , TAO Ni , QI Kai , JIANG Cheng , WANG Baojiang
Published: October 2019

This study provides an integrated interpretation for the Mesozoic ‐ Cenozoic tectonothermal evolutionary history of the Permian strata in the Qishan area of the southwestern Weibei Uplift, Ordos Basin. Apatite fission‐track and apatite/zircon (U‐Th)/He thermochronometry, bitumen reflectance, thermal conductivity of rocks, paleotemperature recovery, and basin modeling were used to restore the Meso‐Cenozoic tectonothermal history of the Permian Strata. The Triassic AFT data have a pooled age of ∼180±7 Ma with one age peak and P(χ2)=86%. The average value of corrected apatite (U‐Th)/He age of two Permian sandstones is ∼168±4 Ma and a zircon (U‐Th)/He age from the Cambrian strata is ∼231±14 Ma. Bitumen reflectance and maximum paleotemperature of two Ordovician mudstones are 1.81%, 1.57% and ∼210°C, ∼196°C respectively. After undergoing a rapid subsidence and increasing temperature in Triassic influenced by intrusive rocks in some areas, the Permian strata experienced four cooling‐uplift stages after the time when the maximum paleotemperature reached in late Jurassic: (1) A cooling stage (∼163 Ma to ∼140 Ma) with temperatures ranging from ∼132°C to ∼53°C and a cooling rate of ∼3°C/Ma, an erosion thickness of ∼1900 m and an uplift rate of ∼82 m/Ma; (2) A cooling stage (∼140 Ma to ∼52 Ma) with temperatures ranging from ∼53°C to ∼47°C and a cooling rate less than ∼0.1°C Ma, an erosion thickness of ∼300 m and an uplift rate of ∼3 m/Ma; (3) (∼52 Ma to ∼8 Ma) with ∼47°C to ∼43°C and ∼0.1°C /Ma, an erosion thickness of ∼500 m and an uplift rate of ∼11 m/Ma; (3) (∼8 Ma to present) with ∼43°C to ∼20°C and ∼3°C/Ma, an erosion thickness of ∼650 m and an uplift rate of ∼81 m/Ma. The tectonothermal evolutionary history of the Qishan area in Triassic was influenced by the interaction of the Qinling Orogeny and the Weibei Uplift, and the south Qishan area had the earliest uplift‐cooling time compared to other parts within the Weibei Uplift. The early Eocene at ∼52 Ma and the late Miocene at ∼8 Ma, as two significant turning points after which both the rate of uplift and the rate of temperature changed rapidly, were two key time for the uplift‐cooling history of the Permian strata in the Qishan area of the southwestern Weibei Uplift, Ordos Basin.
Petrogenesis of Early Carboniferous Alkaline Basalt from the Wusun Mountain: Implications for Tectonic Evolution of the Western Yining Block, NW China
Authors: WANG Zuopeng , LV Yan , LI Hai , LI Yongjun , ZHOU Yanlong , LI Ganyu , YANG Gaoxue
Published: October 2019

Late Paleozoic volcanic rocks are well exposed in the Yining Block, NW China, and are predominately composed of andesites, rhyolites and volcaniclastics as well as minor basalts. Study of the petrology, whole‐rock geochemistry and zircon U‐Pb dating for the Early Carboniferous alkaline basalts from Wusun Mountain, western Yining Block, constrains their petrogenesis and tectonic evolution. The alkaline basalts consist mainly of plagioclases, mostly albite and labradorite, as well as clinopyroxenes and olivines; zircon U‐Pb dating indicates their formation at ca. 350 Ma. Geochemically, the basaltic samples have low SiO2 contents, and high TiO2, Al2O3 and alkaline contents, coupled with high Na2O/K2O ratios, displaying an alkaline basalt affinity. They show remarkable LILE enrichment and HFSE depletion. Meantime, these samples have relatively high TFe2O3, MgO, and Mg# values as well as Ni and Cr, relatively high Sm/Yb and U/Th, suggesting origination from a mantle source metasomatized by slab fluids. They formed in a transitional tectonic setting from arc to intraplate, showing a typical affinity of back‐arc basin basalts. The alkaline basalts were likely generated in a nascent back‐arc extension setting resulting from slab rollback of the southern Tianshan oceanic lithosphere. A bi‐directional subduction model seems more reasonable for the evolution of the southern Tianshan Ocean. These new data will provide a new tectonic model for Late Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the western Yining Block.
The Effects of Incentive Scheme and Task Difficulty on Employees' Altruistic Behavior Outside the Firm
Authors: Newman Andrew H. , Tafkov Ivo D. , Zhou Flora Hailan
Published: October 2019

Employer‐sponsored opportunities for altruism outside the workplace can improve employee engagement and passion within the firm, enhance the firm's corporate visibility, and improve its recruitment. There is limited understanding of whether and how a firm's management control system on employees' daily tasks can influence employee willingness to engage in altruism outside the workplace. In this study, we investigate via an experiment how the incentive scheme (tournament vs. piece rate) on employees' daily tasks interacts with the difficulty level of these tasks (low vs. high) to affect employees' altruistic behavior outside the firm. Our results indicate that, compared to a piece‐rate scheme, a tournament scheme leads to a greater decrease in non‐winning participants' altruistic behavior outside the firm when the original, incentivized task is more difficult compared to when it is less difficult. Consistent with our theory, participants' feelings of excessive entitlement partially mediate the interaction effect of incentive scheme and task difficulty on participants' altruistic behavior outside the firm. This study informs firms about how the design of its incentive scheme on employees' daily task inside the firm and the nature of that task can influence employee willingness to act altruistically outside the firm.
The Settlement Norm in Audit Legal Disputes: Insights from Prominent Attorneys
Authors: Maksymov Eldar , Pickerd Jeffrey , Lowe D. Jordan , Peecher Mark E. , Reffett Andrew , Donelson Dain C.
Published: October 2019

Prior research indicates that most audit legal disputes settle. There is, however, little evidence of the factors that drive the settlement norm and its exceptions in audit legal disputes. To better understand these factors, we rely on theory related to how professionals manage risks and, as a result, how professions defend jurisdictional claims. We use this theoretical lens to help motivate four research questions that we probe by interviewing 27 prominent attorneys experienced in audit litigation. Consistent with our lens, our interview data indicate that attorneys manage their risks, including the risk of reputational loss, by settling based on their expectations of trial verdicts. Unlike trials, settlements simultaneously enable attorneys on both sides to limit costs and avoid catastrophic jury verdicts and, by doing so, claim “wins” for their clients. Attorneys also stress that they settle many audit disputes without any legal filings. Thus, a large subset of disputes is invisible to the public and researchers. Attorneys characterize trials as exceptions to the settlement norm that emerge due to abnormal conditions sometimes present in disputes. However, trial verdicts in these abnormal conditions help attorneys justify the use of settlements to clients, as attorneys stress that by settling they can avoid the dreaded possibility of extreme unfavorable verdicts. We conclude that as individual attorneys manage their risks, especially the risk of reputational loss, their profession maintains its public image and thereby defends its jurisdictional claims. Among the many questions we pose for future research is whether the settlement norm reduces society's ability to monitor the audit profession and, more generally, whether this norm's benefits outweigh its drawbacks.
IL‐10 to TNFα ratios throughout early first trimester can discriminate healthy pregnancies from pregnancy losses
Authors: Kaislasuo Janina , Simpson Samantha , Petersen Jesper F. , Peng Gang , Aldo Paulomi , Lokkegaard Ellen , Paidas Michale , Pal Lubna , Guller Seth , Mor Gil
Published: October 2019

Problem

Embryo implantation and placentation require a careful immunological balance. Cytokines such as IL‐10 and TNFα have been implicated as markers of dysregulation, but have only been studied at a single time point or after a pregnancy loss. Our objective was to determine normative patterns of serum levels of IL‐10 and TNFα and their ratio throughout the first trimester in healthy pregnancies and to determine if this pattern differs from pregnancy loss.

Method of study

Two prospective longitudinal cohorts of gravidae including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and naturally conceived pregnancies with serial blood draws. Cytokines were assayed using Simple Plex. In the IVF cohort, we monitored from the implantation day up to 6 weeks of gestation; whereas in the naturally conceived cohort, sample collection began at 4 weeks and throughout the whole first trimester.

Results

IL‐10 concentrations in normal pregnancies were significantly higher than in pregnancies ending in a loss starting at 6‐8 weeks of gestation, while TNFα concentrations were significantly lower in normal than in pregnancies ending in a loss starting at 3‐5 of gestation weeks. The IL‐10 to TNFα ratio in normal pregnancies was significantly higher from 4 to 9 weeks compared to pregnancies that were lost (t test, P < .05). Changes were observed before any symptoms of miscarriage were present.

Conclusion

We provide evidences of differences in early immunomodulation in healthy pregnancies vs those destined to end in first‐trimester loss. The ratio of IL‐10 to TNFα rises significantly higher in viable pregnancies as early as 4.5 weeks compared to pregnancies loss.
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide‐based asthma management: The feasibility of its implementation into antenatal care in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: McLaughlin Karen , Jensen Megan E. , Foureur Maralyn , Gibson Peter G. , Murphy Vanessa E.
Published: October 2019

Background

The use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)‐based asthma management during pregnancy can significantly reduce asthma exacerbations in non‐smoking pregnant women. The feasibility of implementing this strategy into antenatal care has not been explored.

Aims

To examine the feasibility of implementing FeNO‐based asthma management into antenatal clinics in New South Wales (NSW) Australia.

Materials and Methods

Semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews with video elicitation were conducted with healthcare professionals (HCPs) providing antenatal care in one of two hospital‐based antenatal clinics in NSW, Australia. The video shown demonstrated the use of the FeNO instrument and other aspects of the management strategy, in antenatal care. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

A total of 20 interviews were conducted with 15 midwives, four obstetricians, and one general practitioner. Two main themes and ten sub‐themes arose: Getting a number (sub‐themes: engaging, technically easy, objective, predictive, reassuring); and Resourcing (sub‐themes: time and timing, systems, staff, education and cost). Comments included: ‘It's easy, fast and effective’ and ‘the main barrier is time’. All HCPs felt capable of facilitating the FeNO‐based management strategy, with appropriate education, and were willing to undertake this strategy, saying: ‘…it would be perfectly acceptable for a midwife or doctor to do it’; also, ‘they don't necessarily need to see a physician, it's something that midwives would take on generally…’.

Conclusion

Participants in this study considered FeNO‐based asthma management for pregnant women to be a feasible addition to antenatal care following appropriate provision of resources and education.
Healthcare organizations and high profile disagreements
Authors: Moore Bryanna , Lantos John D.
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we examine healthcare organizations’ responses to high profile cases of doctor–parent disagreement. We argue that, once a conflict crosses a certain threshold of public interest, the stakes of the disagreement change in important ways. They are no longer only the stakes of the child’s interests or who has decision‐making authority, but also the stakes of public trust in healthcare practitioners and organizations and the wide scale spread of medical misinformation. These higher stakes call for robust organization‐level responses. There are responsible and thoughtful ways for healthcare organizations to directly engage with these cases. Hospitals should seek an alliance with the parents around the goal of public discussion and utilize web‐based platforms to provide the public with information about medical conditions, experimental treatments, and how clinical ethics deliberation in hospitals works. We outline five important lessons for healthcare organizations to keep in mind when responding to such cases. Approached with care, these cases could become “teachable moments” for both healthcare organizations and society.
Alive inside
Authors: Peterson Andrew , Owen Adrian M. , Karlawish Jason
Published: October 2019

This article provides an ethical analysis of the U.S. practice guideline update on disorders of consciousness. Our analysis focuses on the guideline’s recommendations regarding the use of investigational neuroimaging methods to assess brain‐injured patients. Complex and multifaceted ethical issues have emerged because these methods alter the clinical understanding of consciousness. We address issues of false hope, patient suffering, and cost. We argue that, in spite of these concerns, there is significant benefit to using neuroimaging to assess brain‐injured patients in most cases.
Brevifoliol ester induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by activation of caspase pathway
Authors: Bhukya Balakishan , Fatima Kaneez , Nagar Abhishek , Lakshmi Vijaya , Dubey Poornima , Kumar Shailesh , Kumar Yogesh , Luqman Suaib , Chanda Debabrata , Tandon Sudeep , Shanker Karuna , Khan Feroz , Negi Arvind S.
Published: October 2019

Prostate cancer is fourth most abundant cancer type around the globe. Brevifoliol, a rearranged taxoid from Taxus walllichiana needles has been derivatized as C5 esters using Steglich esterification reaction. Seventeen diverse analogues were evaluated against a panel of human cancer cell lines by MTT assay. Among these, two of the semi‐synthetic analogues, that is, 13 and 16 exhibited potent cytotoxicity, selectively against PC‐3, prostate cancer cell lines. In cell cycle analysis, analogue 13 induced S and G2/M phase arrest and induced apoptosis by activating caspase‐3. Compound 13 showed moderate efficacy in in‐vivo Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in Swiss albino mice. Further, compound 13 was found to be safe in Swiss albino mice up to 1,000 mg/kg dose in acute oral toxicity. Brevifoliol ester 13 may further be optimized for better efficacy.
Spatially Based Rules for Reducing Multiple–Race into Single–Race Data
Authors: Cabrera Joseph F. , Dela Cruz Rachael R.
Published: October 2019

There is a discord between the categorization of mixed–race data in spatial studies, which has become more complex as the mixed–race population increases. We offer an efficient, spatially based method for assigning mixed–race respondents into single–race categories. The present study examined diversity within 25 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States to develop this racial bridging method. We identify prescriptions for each two–race category based on average diversity experiences and similarity scores derived from census tract data. The results show the following category assignments: (1) Black–Asians to Black, (2) White–others to White, (3) Asian–others to Asian, (4) White–Blacks to other, (5) White–Asians to White (if Asian >3.0 percent), (6) White–Asians to Asian (if Asian <3.0 percent), (7) Black–Asians to other (if Black >8.5 percent), and (8) Black–Asians to Black (if Black <8.5 percent). We argue that the proposed method is appropriate for all race–based studies using spatially relevant theoretical constructs such as segregation and gentrification.
A randomized trial comparing transanal irrigation and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in the management of low anterior resection syndrome
Authors: Enriquez‐Navascues J. M. , Labaka‐Arteaga I. , Aguirre‐Allende I. , Artola‐Etxeberria M. , Saralegui‐Ansorena Y. , Elorza‐Echaniz G. , Borda‐Arrizabalaga N. , Placer‐Galan C.
Published: October 2019

Aim

To assess the effectiveness of transanal irrigation (TAI) compared with posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in severe and chronic low anterior resection syndrome (LARS).

Method

A two‐group parallel, open‐label randomized controlled trial carried out in a single university hospital. The study population included patients with a LARS scale score of more than 29 points who had undergone rectal surgery more than 1 year previously. These were randomly allocated, with a central randomization system, following a 1:1 sequence to TAI or PTNS. The main study outcome was to achieve a reduction of at least one LARS grade in at least 50% of the patients, for each intervention.

Results

A total of 27 patients (TAI = 13, PTNS = 14) were randomized. Both groups were similar with regard to confounding factors. Four patients were excluded because of intercurrent disease or early dropout, leaving 23 (TAI,n = 10; PTNS,n = 13) for analysis. Eight out of 10 and 4 out of 13 patients were downgraded with TAI and PTNS, respectively. The median LARS score decreased from 35 [interquartile range (IQR) 32–39] to 12 (IQR 12–26) (P = 0.021) for the TAI group and from 35 (IQR 34–37) to 30 (IQR 25–33) (P = 0.045) for the PTNS group. The Vaizey score fell from 15 (IQR 11–18) to 6 (IQR 4–7) (P = 0.037) and from 14 (IQR 13–17) to 9 (IQR 7–10) (P = 0.007) with TAI and PTNS, respectively, with 80% and 38% of patients, respectively, showing decreases of more than 50%. Improvement in quality of life was observed in both groups.

Conclusion

Both treatments improved the LARS score in this study but this was only significant in the TAI group.
Hospitalization rates of children by developmental disability, maternal nativity, and Indigenous status: the complexity of intersectionality
Authors: Slaughter‐Acey Jaime C , Saintil Sara
Published: October 2019

This commentary is on the original article by Abdullahi et al. on pages 470–476 of this issue.
Risk of first stroke in people with type 2 diabetes and its relation to glycaemic control: A nationwide observational study
Authors: Zabala Alexander , Darsalia Vladimer , Holzmann Martin J. , Franzén Stefan , Svensson Ann‐Marie , Eliasson Björn , Patrone Cesare , Nyström Thomas , Jonsson Magnus
Published: October 2019

Aims

To compare stroke incidence in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with that in a matched control group, and to investigate whether glucose exposure in people with T2D can predict a first‐time stroke event and mortality.

Material and methods

In a nationwide observational cohort study, individuals with T2D were linked in the Swedish National Diabetes Register and matched with five individual population‐based control subjects. We calculated crude incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and used Cox regression and multivariable hazard ratios (HRs), to estimate the risk of stroke and mortality in relation to glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.

Results

A total of 406 271 people with T2D (age 64.1 ± 12.4 years, 45.7% women) and 2086 440 control subjects (age 64.0 ± 12.4 years, 45.7% women) were included. During a median follow‐up of 7.3 years, 26 380 people with T2D (6.5%) versus 92 375 control subjects (4.4%) were diagnosed with a stroke. The incidence rate was 10.12 events per 1000 person‐years versus 7.26 events per 1000 person‐years (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.52‐1.56). In the T2D group after multivariable adjustments, the HRs for stroke stratified by HbA1c level were: 54‐64 mmol/mol: 1.27 (95% CI 1.22‐1.32); 65‐75 mmol/mol: 1.68 (95% CI 1.60‐1.76); 76‐86 mmol/mol: 1.89 (95% CI, 1.75‐2.05); and > 87 mmol/mol: 2.14 (95% CI 1.90‐2.42), respectively, compared with the reference category of HbA1c ≤53 mmol/mol. There was a stepwise increased risk of death after stroke, for every 10‐mmol/mol categorical increment of HbA1c (HR 1.71; 95% CI 1.47‐2.00) for the highest HbA1c category.

Conclusions

An increased risk of stroke and death was associated with poor glycaemic control in people with T2D.
Perception of Thai dental students on becoming innovative healthcare professionals
Authors: Sooampon Sutti , Sooampon Sireerat
Published: October 2019

Objectives

This study investigated the perception of dental students on becoming innovative healthcare professionals. The specific objective was to identify aspects of innovative healthcare development that could spur their interest in becoming more involved in healthcare research and new product development.

Methods

Survey research was conducted via questionnaires using a five‐point Likert scale response. Based on the innovation science literature, each questionnaire comprised three sets of questions that might foster dental students’ interest in healthcare innovation development. Data were obtained from 265 students from years 2, 4 and 6.

Results

Three critical dimensions of dental student's preferences were revealed. First, socially related goals were identified as important for developing healthcare innovation. Second, non‐traditional learning activities, especially lectures from experienced innovators or an industrial trip were suggested to foster interest in healthcare innovation. Third, the students thought it was important to learn about the research process that translates scientific findings into healthcare innovation.

Conclusions

This study identifies potential ways to develop dental clinicians’ interest in becoming innovative professionals who are involved in healthcare product development. This is especially true for Thailand where commercially based innovation has not yet flourished.
The red blood cell count and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the diagnosis of polycythaemia vera
Authors: Nersesjan Vardan , Zervides Kristoffer A. , Sørensen Anders L. , Kjær Lasse , Skov Vibe , Hasselbalch Hans C.
Published: October 2019

Background

Iron deficiency in polycythaemia vera (PV) may impact the validity of the haematocrit (HCT), since HCT is red blood cell count (RBC) × mean corpuscular volume (MCV).

Objectives

To investigate (a) the effect of microcytosis on HCT, (b) the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as a possible additional diagnostic marker for PV.

Material and methods

This study included 182 subjects: 39 with PV, 27 with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and 116 suspected of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) with a secondary cause for either thrombocytosis or erythrocytosis.

Results

Patients with PV had significantly lower ratio of MCV and serum ferritin compared to MPN suspects. A good correlation of RBC versus HCT was found for PV and MPN subjects when individuals with microcytosis were excluded (R2 = .87 in PV and R2 = .82 in MPN suspects). We found a specificity of 98% and a sensitivity of 37% for ESR <2 mm in the diagnosis of PV.

Conclusion

The RBC may more precisely reflect the total red cell mass and accordingly the hypercoagulable state of the PV patient, which is integrated in the ESR. A combination of RBC and ESR is proposed as a novel tool to substitute the Hb concentration and the HCT in the diagnosis of PV.
Mirror‐mediated responses of California scrub jays (Aphelocoma californica) during a caching task and the mark test
Authors: Clary Dawson , Stow Meara K. , Vernouillet Alizée , Kelly Debbie M.
Published: October 2019

Mirror self‐recognition, as an index of self‐awareness, has been proposed as a precursor for more complex social cognitive abilities, such as prosocial reasoning and cooperative decision‐making. Indeed, evidence for mirror self‐recognition has been shown for animals possessing complex social cognitive abilities such as great apes, dolphins, elephants and corvids. California scrub jays (Aphelocoma californica) have provided strong evidence that non‐human animals are capable of mental state attribution. For instance, scrub jays are reported to use their experience stealing the food of others to infer that other birds may similarly intend to steal from them. If a concept of “self” is required for such complex social cognitive abilities, then scrub jays might be expected to show mirror self‐recognition. Thus, we examined whether California scrub jays are capable of mirror self‐recognition using two experimental contexts: a caching task and the mark test. During the caching task, we compared the extent to which scrub jays protected their food after caching alone, in the presence of a conspecific and in the presence of a mirror. The birds did not engage in more cache protection behaviours with a mirror present than when caching alone, suggesting scrub jays may have recognized their reflection and so did not expect cache theft. Alternative explanations for this behaviour are also discussed. During the mark test, the scrub jays were surreptitiously marked with a red or plumage‐coloured control sticker. The scrub jays showed no evidence of mirror self‐recognition during the mark test, as the birds did not preferentially attempt to remove the red mark in the presence of a mirror. Together, the results provide mixed evidence of the mirror self‐recognition abilities of California scrub jays. We highlight the need to develop alternative approaches for evaluating mirror self‐recognition in non‐human animals to better understand its relationship with complex social cognition.
Identifying potential causes of fish declines through local ecological knowledge of fishers in the Ganga River, eastern Bihar, India
Authors: Dey Subhasis , Choudhary Sunil Kumar , Dey Sushant , Deshpande Kadambari , Kelkar Nachiket
Published: October 2019

Local ecological knowledge (LEK) can offer insights into fisheries management by describing long‐term changes that are difficult to unravel in data‐poor river‐floodplain fisheries. LEK is derived from complex interactions between fishers’ observations of environmental change and their institutional capacities to manage fisheries. Hence, it is important to understand where and how LEK and formal scientific studies on fish species’ decline could complement each other. In this paper, the causes of decline of 58 fish and two shrimp taxa were identified from LEK data (1999–2019) obtained from river–floodplain fisheries of the Gangetic plains (Bihar, India). Qualitative analyses of LEK were used to generate species‐specific hypotheses and historical insights on their declines. Destructive fishing, overfishing and the Farakka barrage were cited by fishers as the major causes of declines. Potential reasons for these perceptions were explored in relation to fishers’ experiences of conflicts in the region over fishing rights and access.
It's coming from inside the House (of Commons): Agenda control, accountability, and interest group lobbying in majoritarian parliaments
Authors: Hopkins Vincent
Published: October 2019

In majoritarian parliaments, the executive branch typically enjoys an informational advantage over the legislature. In theory, legislators can reduce this asymmetry with information from interest groups. In practice, the government is almost always better informed than the legislature. This article develops a model whereby a politician's access to outside information depends not just on her parliamentary power but on the diffusion of legislative agenda control among political parties—for example, during minority government. Using a new panel data set of 41,619 lobbying communications, it finds interest groups are more likely to communicate with government frontbenchers than with opposition or backbench members. This gap diminishes as agenda control diffuses to opposition parties. It also finds evidence of partisan clustering in lobbying networks during majority government. Strong legislative parties weaken accountability by restricting access to outside information, but this is conditional on the governing party's control over the agenda.
An Approximation of Inner Boundary Conditions for Wells Intersecting Highly Conductive Structures
Authors: Giese Markus , Reimann Thomas , Liedl Rudolf , Dewandel Benoit , Maréchal Jean‐Christophe , Sauter Martin
Published: October 2019

Inner boundary conditions describe the interaction of groundwater wells with the surrounding aquifer during pumping and are associated with well‐skin damage that limits water production and water derived from wellbore storage. Pumping test evaluations of wells during immediate and early time flow require assignment of inner boundary conditions. Originally, these concepts were developed for vertical well screens, and later transferred to wellbores intersecting highly conductive structures, such as preferential flow zones in fractured and karstic systems. Conceptual models for pumping test analysis in complex bedrock geology are often simplified. Classic analytical solutions generally lump or ignore conditions that limit or enhance well productivity along the well screen at the onset of pumping. Numerical solutions can represent well drawdowns in complex geological settings, such as karst systems, more precisely than many analytical solutions by accounting for additional physical processes and avoiding assumptions and simplifications. Suitable numerical tools for flow simulations in karst are discrete pipe‐continuum models that account for various physical processes such as the transient hydraulics of wellbores intersecting highly conductive structures during pumping.