bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the effects of strategic orientation and motivation on performance and innovation in the production sector of automobile spare parts
Authors: Adiguzel Zafer , Sonmez Cakir Fatma
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between innovative climate, strategic orientation, work motivation, business performance and job performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Within the scope of the research, a survey was conducted with 400 engineers working in organizations operating within companies producing spare parts for automobile companies. IBM SPSS 25, IBM SPSS AMOS and LISREL programs were gradually used, and the data obtained were evaluated and analyzed.

Findings

The importance of strategic orientation and work motivation for organizations can be seen in the analysis results in terms of their positive effects.

Practical implications

In the production sector, where innovation and competition activities take place, not only strategic decisions but also motivation for employees must be realized within the organizational culture in order for the organizations to be successful. Strategic orientation is effective in achieving innovation and creation to the extent that employees are motivated.

Originality/value

In terms of successful performance, it is very important to manage companies with the right strategic understanding and to involve the employees. In order to realize the innovation climate and to be successful in performance criteria, motivation is considered a key factor, in particular for the automobile sector. Automobile companies are now turning to electric vehicle production using new generation technologies. However, they also attach importance to the use of smart technologies in cars. For this reason, the effects of strategic orientation and work motivation on performance and innovation are investigated in companies producing automobile spare parts.
Recognition and rewards as moderators in the relationships between antecedents and performance of women teachers: evidence from India
Authors: Balakrishnan Sashi Rekha , Soundararajan Vasanthi , Parayitam Satyanarayana
Published: July 2022

Purpose

As teachers are considered “knowledge workers,” the present study explores teacher performance in schools. A particular emphasis is given to assessing the performance of female teachers in the rural part of South India.

Design/methodology/approach

After collecting data from 563 female teachers from four blocks in Nilgiris District (Ooty, Kotagiri, Coonoor and Gudalur) consisting of 37 government schools in the southern part of India, all the female teachers were surveyed, and the data were analyzed after checking the instrument's psychometric properties by performing confirmatory factor analysis. Hierarchical regression was employed to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings revealed that (1) empowerment, organizational communication and work–life balance (WLB) and recognition and rewards are positively and significantly related to teacher performance; (2) recognition and rewards moderate the relationship between (a) empowerment and performance, (b) organizational communication and performance, (c) WLB and performance, (d) organizational culture and performance and (e) quality of work-life (QWL) and performance.

Research limitations/implications

As with any survey research, common method bias and social desirability bias may be potential limitations. However, proper care is taken to minimize these biases. The findings from this study contribute to the growing literature on education and training. In addition, the study highlights the importance of creating a climate for empowerment, recognition and rewards to foster teacher performance.

Practical implications

The study helps administrators and policymakers to understand the antecedents of teacher performance and take necessary steps to motivate the teachers for superior performance.

Originality/value

The conceptual model the authors developed and tested is, according to the authors' knowledge, the first of the model's kind. A clear understanding of the predictors of teacher performance may guide the administrators and teaches in fostering performance in schools. The exclusive focus on female teachers is considered in this study because of the several problems the female teachers encounter in rural areas. Despite the disadvantages, female teachers perform well and contribute to students and the country as a whole.
Comparing online retail loyalty segments of Indian Gen Z buyers
Authors: Soni Pavleen , Vohra Jyoti
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Generation Z (Gen Z) is particularly influenced by digital technologies as this cohort is found to have grown up with technology forming the pivot of most of their routine activities. Owing to the huge potential of this market, online retailers are keen to build and sustain their loyalty. Shopper’s loyalty varies across age, gender, income, service quality perceptions, etc. of customers. This study aims to show that it is necessary to identify distinct consumer segments of these shoppers which can enable online retailers to fine tune their marketing programs and increase program effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 700 students pursuing Masters in Business Administration (553 usable responses) from two state universities in North India, data have been collected with reference to accessories, clothes, books and electronic goods. SPSS and AMOS have been used to analyse data using cluster analysis and multinomial logit (MNL) regression analysis.

Findings

The results of cluster analysis reveal that these shoppers can be clustered into three segments, namely disloyal shoppers (DS), staunch loyals (SL) and vacillating shoppers (VS) on the basis of their online retail loyalty. The odds ratio reveals that less frequent online shoppers are less likely to be VS or DS than being SL shoppers. People who experience flow while surfing online shopping websites are 3.260 times more likely to be VS than being SL. Further, service quality decreases the odds of a shopper acting as a VS in comparison to SL shopper by 0.113.

Research limitations/implications

These findings would help marketers identify strategies that can transform the VS or the disloyal ones into loyal and profitable segments. The present study is limited to Gen Z shoppers and so results may vary for customers belonging to other age groups.

Originality/value

The study contributes to existing literature by understanding the antecedents which contribute to online retail loyalty of distinct segments of young shoppers.
Optimization of mechanical performance of a Bernoulli gripper based on the force characteristic curve synthesis method
Authors: Yu Xubo , Zhao Jianghong , Li Xin
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The Bernoulli gripper fixedly installed on the manipulator is subject to limitations such as a small-working region and poor anti-interference capacity. This paper aims to propose a novel Bernoulli gripper design that involves the connection of a positive stiffness component such as a spring in series, based on the force characteristic curve synthesis method, to optimize the mechanical performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed gripper is designed and manufactured. In the suction procedure, the force characteristic curve of the proposed gripper is theoretically and experimentally investigated. In the hovering detection procedure, a dynamic model of the manipulator-gripper-workpiece system is established, and an apparatus is set up to compare the displacements of the workpiece and the manipulator. The proposed gripper is finally applied in the lifting procedure, showing good impact resistance.

Findings

The optimization of mechanical performance of the proposed gripper is realized. The proposed gripper has the effect of increasing the stiffness of the negative stiffness part of the force characteristic curve and reducing the stiffness of the positive stiffness part, increasing the working region. The stability and the anti-interference ability of the workpiece under high-frequency vibration are improved. Meanwhile, the impact resistance in the lifting procedure is enhanced, compared with the original one.

Originality/value

This research proposes a novel design for the Bernoulli grippers to optimize the mechanical performance. The proposed gripper has advantages of a larger working region, better anti-interference ability and better impact resistance. These findings serve as important theoretical and experimental references for the design of the Bernoulli gripper.
House price dynamics in Iberian Metropolitan Statistical Areas: slope heterogeneity, cross-sectional dependence and elasticities
Authors: Cunha António M. , Lobão Júlio
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper studies the dynamics and elasticities of house prices in Spain and Portugal (Iberia) at the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) level, addressing panel regression problems such as heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence between MSA.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop a two steps study. First, five distinct estimation methodologies are applied to estimate the long-term house price equilibrium of the Iberian MSA house market: Mean Group (MG), Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) MG (FMOLS-MG), FMOLS Augmented MG (FMOLS-AMG), Common Correlated Effects MG (CCEMG) and Dynamic CCEMG (DCCEMG). FMOLS-AMG is found to be the best estimator for the long-term model. Second, an additional five distinct estimation methodologies are applied to estimate the short-term house price dynamics using the long-term FMOLS-AMG estimated price in the error-correction term of the short-term dynamic house price model: OLS Fixed Effects (FE), OLS Random Effects (RE), MG, CCEMG and DCCEMG. DCCEMG is found to be the best estimator for the short-term model.

Findings

The results show that in the long run Iberian house prices are inelastic to aggregate income (0.227). This is a much lower elasticity than what was previously found in US MSA house price studies, suggesting that there are other factors explaining Iberian house prices. According to our study, coastal MSA presents an inelastic housing supply and a price to income elasticity close to one, whereas inland MSA are shown to have an elastic supply and a non-significant price to income elasticity. Spatial differences are important and cross-section dependence is prevalent, affecting estimates in conventional methodologies that do not account for these limitations, such as OLS-FE and OLS-RE. Momentum and mean reversion are the main determinants of short-term dynamics.

Practical implications

Recent econometric advances that account for slope heterogeneity and cross-section dependence produce more accurate estimates than conventional panel estimation methodologies. The results suggest that house markets should be analyzed at the metropolitan level, not at the national level and that there are significant differences between short-term and long-term house price determinants.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study applying recent econometric advances to the Iberian MSA house market.
Green finance and high-quality development of marine economy
Authors: Xu Sheng , Gao Ke
Published: July 2022

Purpose

With the Chinese marine economy developing rapidly, the environmental problem has been occurring frequently, which needs green finance that supports energy conservation, environmental protection, and sustainable development to solve.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the entropy method is used to measure the development level of green finance, the DEA-ML index is used to measure the green total factor productivity which is used to indicate the high-quality development level of the marine economy in 11 coastal provinces (cities), then the grey correlation degree between them whose result shows that there is a certain correlation between the two variables is calculated. The fixed-effect model was used to analyze the relationship between them.

Findings

The results show that the development level of green finance can promote the high-quality development of the marine economy, but there are still some problems in the process of green finance supporting the marine economy.

Originality/value

This paper seeks new growth drivers, green finance, for the high-quality development of the marine economy, which few scholars have studied.
The emotion of pride in consumer behaviour and marketing: a review, classification and future research agenda
Authors: Kaur Harleen , Verma Harsh V.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The study aims to synthesize the state of research on pride in consumer behaviour and marketing. Specifically, this study aims to understand the emergent themes of literature, the key theories, analytical techniques and methodologies used, as well as key variables associated with pride in consumer behaviour and marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a systematic literature review process, the study analyses 59 research articles and structures its findings by using the theory–context–characteristics–methodology framework.

Findings

The review proposes a taxonomical classification of the multiple conceptualizations of pride. It identifies that the phenomenon and regulation of pride is explained using theories from psychological self-related research. Pride has been experienced in sustainable, advertising, luxury and digital consumption contexts. Reviewed articles showed an over-reliance on the quantitative methodology and the experimental method. The review identifies that pride is associated with positive outcomes and has considerable influence on consumer behaviour. Building on this analysis, 12 research questions are developed to encourage future research.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first structured review on the emotion of pride in the domains of consumer behaviour and marketing.
Avoiding Medicaid enrollment after the reversal of the changes in the public charge rule among Latino and Asian immigrants
Authors: Bustamante Arturo Vargas , Félix‐Beltrán Lucía , Nwadiuko Joseph , Ortega Alexander N.
Published: July 2022

Objective

To estimate the avoidance of Medicaid enrollment among Latino and Asian immigrants due to fears about immigration status. In 2019, changes to the “public charge” rule made it difficult for immigrants to receive a green card or permanent residence visa, particularly for those who used health and nutrition benefits. Despite the Biden administration's reversal of these changes, fear and misinformation persist among immigrants.

Data Sources

Pooled data from the 2017 to 2020 California Health Interview Survey.

Study Design

We used adjusted predicted probability models to estimate differences in access to and use of health care and health insurance coverage among Latino and Asian immigrant adults with and without green cards, using US citizens as the reference. We estimated the avoidance of Medicaid enrollment among immigrants without a green card, the immigrant population subject to the public charge rule.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Population stratified by race/ethnicity and green card status.

Principal Findings

Latino immigrants without a green card were −23.1% (CI: −27.8, −18.4) less likely to be insured, −9.2% (CI: −12.8, −5.5) less likely to have Medicaid coverage, −9.3% (CI: −14.5, −4.1) less likely to have a usual source of care, and −8.4% (CI: −13.2, −0.3) less likely to have a physician visit relative to citizens. Asian immigrants without a green card were −11.7% (CI: −19.7, −3.72) less likely to be insured, −8.8% (CI: −11.6, −6.1) less likely to have Medicaid coverage, −11.6% (CI: −19.3, −3.9) less likely to have a usual source of care, and −11.0% (CI: −19.2, −2.3) less likely to have a physician visit. Between 107,956 and 192,905 Latino immigrants and 1294 and 4702 Asian immigrants in California likely avoided Medicaid enrollment due to fears about their immigration status.

Conclusion

While our estimates are lower than those of previous studies, our findings highlight barriers to health care for immigrants despite the reversal of the changes in the public charge rule. Since the public charge rule was not abolished, immigrants with low incomes might choose not to seek health care, despite recent efforts in California to expand Medicaid coverage to all eligible immigrants regardless of documentation statuses.
Are farmers ‘efficient but poor’? The impact of crop choices on technical efficiency and poverty in Nigeria
Authors: Ubabukoh Chisom Lotanna , Imai Katsushi S.
Published: July 2022

We test the ‘efficient‐but‐poor’ hypothesis by estimating the determinants of smallholders' choice over cash or food crops and whether their crop choice affects technical efficiency and poverty using the national household panel data in Nigeria. We employ the stochastic frontier analyses correcting for sample selection about farmers' crop choice. Our results indicate that smallholders are generally efficient in their resource allocations. A treatment effects model is employed to estimate farmers' crop choice in the first stage and the impact of their choices on technical efficiency and poverty outcomes in the second stage. The results show that farmers' access to free inputs, non‐farm income and the use of seeds from the previous growing season are important determinants of crop choice. The adoption of cash crops by food‐crop producing households will not generally reduce poverty, although it will improve technical efficiency marginally. However, if cash crops are commercialised, poverty tends to decline.
A tale of two twists: mesentero‐axial and organo‐axial sigmoid volvulus
Authors: Toh James Wei Tatt , Collins Geoffrey Peter , Ridley Lloyd J , Chan Michael , Schofield Reid
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Sigmoid volvulus is a potentially devastating and life‐threatening condition associated with sigmoid colon redundancy. Many of the classical radiological signs are considered to represent the two adjacent loops of bowel in a mesentero‐axial volvulus. However, limited case reports and series have reported on an organo‐axial subtype of sigmoid volvulus. This clinical entity is not widely understood. In this study, we assess the radiological and clinical features of mesentero‐axial and organo‐axial sigmoid volvulus.

Methods

After institutional board approval (CH62/6/2016‐228), all computed tomography (CT) studies from 2011 to 2017 reported as sigmoid volvulus at a single institution were reviewed. The cases were reviewed by three radiologists retrospectively and the course of the bowel followed with a focus on assessing its rotational axis. In each case, the sigmoid volvulus was independently subclassified as mesentero‐axial or organo‐axial volvulus based on the axis of rotation of the volvulus. In addition, X‐ray signs including disproportionate sigmoid dilatation, distended inverted ‘U’ in sigmoid, coffee bean sign, opposed wall sign, direction of apex of sigmoid loop, liver overlap sign, northern exposure sign and proximal colonic dilatation and CT features including whirl sign, ‘X’ marks the spot sign, split wall sign and number of transition points were reported for each case. The clinical management and outcomes including morbidity, mortality, endoscopic decompression and need for surgery were also evaluated. The subtype of volvulus was correlated with the above X‐ray signs, CT features and clinical management and outcomes. Statistical analysis was conducted using Stata/MP, version 15 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA).

Results

A total of 38 scans were reviewed. There were 19 patients identified. Of these, six (32%) were reported as mesentero‐axial and 13 (68%) as organo‐axial volvulus. No X‐ray signs were able to distinguish the two types of volvulus. The number of transition points on CT was predictive of volvulus subtype (OR 25, 95% CI: 1.30–1295.30, P = 0.01). Within the limitations of a small cohort, there was no statistically significant difference in unsuccessful endoscopic decompression, need for colectomy, repeated admissions or mortality between the groups.

Conclusion

This study has demonstrated that organo‐axial sigmoid volvulus may be as common as mesentero‐axial volvulus. Distinguishing organo‐axial from mesentero‐axial volvulus can be achieved on CT, but not on abdominal X‐ray. The number of transition points (two for mesentero‐axial and one for organo‐axial) may be used as a diagnostic feature for differentiating the two forms of volvulus.
Theory as ethics
Authors: McGRANAHAN CAROLE
Published: July 2022

To theorize is to make an argument, to make sense of the world, to name and create. It is to stake a claim in and about the world. This can be an ethical act. But it has not always been one. Thinking of theory as ethics, rather than solely as intellectual practice, requires a rethinking of the purpose and not just the content of theory. This is not a prescription for theory but an acknowledgment of a shift underway across the disciplines. In anthropology, one key move is our recognition of ethnography as theory as well as method. As we reassess theory as a form of ethnographic knowledge, how and when do ethics enter the conversation? What are our responsibilities to speak not only truth to power, but also ethics to theory? [ethnography, theory, ethics, anthropology, fieldwork, refusal, relations, storytelling]
Sperm characteristics in normal and abnormal ejaculates are differently influenced by the length of ejaculatory abstinence
Authors: Meitei Huidrom Yaiphaba , Uppangala Shubhashree , Lakshmi R Vani , Guddattu Vasudeva , Hegde Padmaraj , Kumar Pratap , Adiga Prashanth , Kalthur Guruprasad , Schlatt Stefan , Adiga Satish Kumar
Published: July 2022

Background

No association between the length of ejaculatory abstinence (LEA) and semen characteristics has been confirmed. A short LEA has been linked to improved sperm characteristics and a higher pregnancy rate, but its negative influence on sperm chromatin maturity and longevity may adversely affect reproductive outcomes.

Objectives

We sought to determine the influence of LEA on (i) semen parameters in normozoospermic and abnormal ejaculates; and (ii) the outcomes of sperm‐preparation methods in a large number of subfertile men undergoing infertility workups.

Materials and methods

This retrospective registry‐based cohort study analyzed the data of 10,674 ejaculates from 7972 subfertile men, who were then segregated into normozoospermic, oligozoospermic, asthenozoospermic, and oligo‐asthenozoospermic cohorts. Variations in semen characteristics and post‐wash outcomes were studied between four LEA intervals across 0–15 days.

Results

An age‐adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model linked significant increases in ejaculate volume, sperm concentration (except in the oligozoospermic cohort), and total sperm count to an increased LEA (p < 0.05). LEA was negatively associated with motility (except in the asthenozoospermic cohort) and vitality (p < 0.05). Large‐headed spermatozoa were less common with an increased LEA only in the oligo‐asthenozoospermic cohort (p < 0.05). In the normozoospermic cohort, a longer LEA led to fewer spermatozoa with amorphous heads but more spermatozoa with tapered heads and cytoplasmic droplets (p < 0.05). LEA extension resulted in greater sperm DNA fragmentation in the abnormal cohort (p < 0.01). The post‐wash sperm concentration and total motile sperm count were significantly improved with a longer LEA in the normozoospermic cohort (p < 0.05).

Discussion and conclusion

Considering the findings in this study and existing literature, a generalized recommendation for long LEA has no clinical value. The LEA should be individualized based on the ejaculate profile and the need for specific clinical intervention.
Synthesizing the affinity between employees' internal‐external CSR perceptions and work outcomes: A meta‐analytic investigation
Authors: Aggarwal Priyanka , Singh Reetesh Kumar
Published: July 2022

This paper contains a meta‐analytic review of 140 research articles and 320 effect sizes to explore how employees' perceptions of internal and external corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities influence an array of work outcomes at three levels (emotional, attitudinal, and behavioral). We aim to discover the underlying psychological and methodological factors affecting this linkage. This study reveals that CSR is more strongly connected with employees' psychological‐emotional reactions (i.e., organizational trust and pride) and work attitude (i.e., organizational commitment) rather than work behavior (i.e., organizational citizenship behavior). Although each type of CSR's association with four work outcomes is positive and significant, wide variance exists in effect sizes reported across studies, warranting a search for substantive moderators. Meta‐regression and subgroup analyses indicate the moderating effects of specific study‐level attributes viz. CSR typology, type of organizational commitment, source & type of organizational citizenship behavior, study design, and other contextual factors. It is found that the CSR‐to‐employee outcome relationship significantly contrasts across industries, regions, and cultures. This paper enriches the extant micro‐CSR literature by emphasizing that CSR can cultivate positive employee sentiments, work attitudes, and behaviors, provided CSR is embedded and integrated innately with sustainable human resource management and core business processes while rising above legal requirements and egocentric motives. Important implications for theorists and managers and potential avenues for future research are conferred in this paper.
Meaningless gestures or pathway to healing and reconciliation? Comparing the perspectives on political apologies in victim and non‐victim communities in El Salvador, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom
Authors: Sagherian‐Dickey Thia , Schaafsma Juliette , Zoodsma Marieke , Cho Ha Jung , Dinnick Iwan , Kim Jimin , Noor Masi , Turner Rhiannon N. , Yáñez de la Cruz María Sol
Published: July 2022

Political apologies have been theorized to play an important role in healing and reconciliation processes in post‐conflict settings. Whether they actually fulfil this function, however, remains unclear as the voices and perspectives of victim communities have largely been underrepresented in research. To address this, we examined the role of apologies that were offered for the El Mozote massacre (El Salvador), the Jeju 4.3 massacres (Republic of Korea) and Bloody Sunday (United Kingdom), according to members of these communities and the broader public. Although we anticipated that victim community members should find the apology more valuable and meaningful and should, therefore, be more positive about its role in healing and reconciliation processes, we found that this varies across countries. This variation could be explained by people's trust in the country's institutions. Across the samples, we found that the apology was seen as a relatively important gesture. For the apology to be perceived as impactful, however, it had to be seen as a meaningful (i.e. sincere) gesture. Our findings suggest that apologies have a role to play in the aftermath of human rights violations, but that it is essential to take the broader context into account.
Changing attitudes about the impact of women's employment on families: The COVID‐19 pandemic effect
Authors: Vandecasteele Leen , Ivanova Katya , Sieben Inge , Reeskens Tim
Published: July 2022

We use representative longitudinal panel data from the Dutch European Values Survey (EVS) to study whether the COVID‐19 pandemic shifted opinions about how a woman's full‐time employment impacts family life. The data was collected before the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2017 and in May 2020. The analysis focuses on groups whose unpaid and paid work situation changed abruptly with the COVID‐19 pandemic: parents with coresident children, and those who experienced a change in paid workload that clashes with traditional gender role expectations, namely women whose workload increased and men whose workload decreased or who stopped working. We found that groups that faced an abrupt change in their paid and unpaid work routines that clashed with their previously held gender attitude changed their gender attitude in alignment with the new paid or unpaid work situation. For women in couple households with children, this meant that they saw a halt in their progression toward gender egalitarian attitudes. For those who experienced a change in paid workload that clashes with traditional gender role norms, it meant stronger progression toward gender egalitarian attitudes. The results are interpreted on the basis of cognitive dissonance theory and exposure theory and placed in the context of previous findings.
Refugee life, refugee space: Ankara as a bottom‐up alternative
Authors: Dell Allan Cooper
Published: July 2022

During research conducted in the summer of 2020, I observed the advanced marginality of the refugees in Ankara, Turkey. While some authors have examined this precarity, and some others have examined how refugees have begun to live in a spatially distinct section of certain cities, the combination of these two phenomena demands further investigation. If the underpinning truly is spatial as claimed by Lefebvre (The production of space. Oxford and Cambridge: Blackwell, 1991), then the precarious subject and the precarious space co‐produce each other. What this paper intends to do is to combine space and precarity using the observations of Wacquant (Urban poverty and the underclass: a reader. Oxford and Cambridge: Blackwell, 1996, Urban Studies, 2016, 53, 1077) in his various analyses on the ghetto in France and the United States. In Wacquant's work, we can begin to see a spatial conception of precarity, and we can further extend this to the point that as space is a production and its subjects are also a co‐constitution of that space. Nevertheless, Sampson (Ethnic & Racial Studies, 2014, 37, 1732) points out a certain state centrism in Wacquant's analysis. Building upon this, as well as the work of Roy (International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 2011, 35, 223 and Territories of poverty: rethinking north and south. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2015), we can offer the refugee neighbourhood in Ankara as an example of “bottom‐up” agency, alternative to Wacquant's original state‐centric analysis. In the course of this paper, this possibility of a “bottom‐up” refugee solidarity and related refugee space will be analysed.
Understanding how general practice nurses support adult lifestyle risk reduction: An integrative review
Authors: Morris Maksi , Halcomb Elizabeth , Mansourian Yazdan , Bernoth Maree
Published: July 2022

Aim

To review the literature exploring how general practice nurses support lifestyle risk reduction.

Design

Integrative literature review.

Sources

CINAHL, Emcare, MEDLINE, Proquest and Scopus were searched for peer‐reviewed primary research published in English from 2010 to 2022.

Methods

Sixteen papers met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for methodological quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Findings were extracted and thematically analysed.

Results

Four themes described general practice nurses: (1) Establishing relational connections; (2) Empowering active participation; (3) Engaging mutual motivation and (4) Enabling confident action. General practice nurses used complex interpersonal, risk communication and health coaching skills to build collaborative partnerships that supported patients' self‐determination and self‐efficacy. While mutual motivation and confidence were reciprocally enabling, gaps in skills, experience and knowledge plus time, resource and role constraints limited general practice nurses' ability to support lifestyle risk reduction.

Conclusion

General practice nurses play a key role in lifestyle risk reduction. Ongoing education, funding, organizational and professional support are needed to enhance their commitment, confidence and capacity.

Impact

What problem did the study address?

While general practice nurses play a key role in health promotion and risk reduction, their potential is yet to be fully realized. Research examining methods by which nurses working in general practice support lifestyle risk reduction is limited.

What were the main findings?

Successful interactions depended on personal, professional, organisational and systemic factors which either enhanced or inhibited relational quality, shared decision‐making, mutual commitment, and nurses' confidence and capacity to address lifestyle risks. Targeted professional development and peer mentoring are needed to build proficient practice.

Where and on whom will the research have impact?

Understanding how general practice nurses support risk reduction can inform policy and identify training and support needs to advance their skills and role. Research exploring synergies between themes may illuminate this process.
Using machine learning to improve diagnostic assessment of ASD in the light of specific differential and co‐occurring diagnoses
Authors: Schulte‐Rüther Martin , Kulvicius Tomas , Stroth Sanna , Wolff Nicole , Roessner Veit , Marschik Peter B. , Kamp‐Becker Inge , Poustka Luise
Published: July 2022

Background

Diagnostic assessment of ASD requires substantial clinical experience and is particularly difficult in the context of other disorders with behavioral symptoms in the domain of social interaction and communication. Observation measures such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) do not take into account such co‐occurring disorders.

Method

We used a well‐characterized clinical sample of individuals (n = 1,251) that had received detailed outpatient evaluation for the presence of an ASD diagnosis (n = 481) and covered a range of additional overlapping diagnoses, including anxiety‐related disorders (ANX, n = 122), ADHD (n = 439), and conduct disorder (CD, n = 194). We focused on ADOS module 3, covering the age range with particular high prevalence of such differential diagnoses. We used machine learning (ML) and trained random forest models on ADOS single item scores to predict a clinical best‐estimate diagnosis of ASD in the context of these differential diagnoses (ASD vs. ANX, ASD vs. ADHD, ASD vs. CD), in the context of co‐occurring ADHD, and an unspecific model using all available data. We employed nested cross‐validation for an unbiased estimate of classification performance and made available a Webapp to showcase the results and feasibility for translation into clinical practice.

Results

We obtained very good overall sensitivity (0.89–0.94) and specificity (0.87–0.89). In particular for individuals with less severe symptoms, our models showed increases of up to 35% in sensitivity or specificity. Furthermore, we analyzed item importance profiles of the ANX, ADHD, and CD models in comparison with the unspecific model revealing distinct patterns of importance for specific ADOS items with respect to differential diagnoses.

Conclusions

ML‐based diagnostic classification may improve clinical decisions by utilizing the full range of information from detailed diagnostic observation instruments such as the ADOS. Importantly, this strategy might be of particular relevance for older children with less severe symptoms for whom the diagnostic decision is often particularly difficult.
Development of a reporting guideline for systematic reviews of animal experiments in the field of traditional Chinese medicine
Authors: Zhao Bing , Hu Kaiyan , Zeng Xiantao , Kwong J.S.W , Li Bo , Chen Hao , Tian Guoxiang , Xiong Jun , Li Zhaoxia , Niu Junqiang , Jiao Mingyue , Yang Jinwei , Ding Fengxing , Liu Chen , Du Liang , Zhang Junhua , Ma Bin
Published: July 2022

Objective

In recent years, there are several systematic reviews published on animal experiments of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analysis) guidelines provide a guarantee for significantly improving the reporting quality of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta‐analysis (MAs) to a certain extent; however, there are still certain defects found in the quality of SRs/MAs of animal experiments of TCM. It has been found that especially, the descriptions of the rationale and animal characteristics of TCM interventions are inadequate. As a result, we have developed a novel reporting guideline for SRs/MAs of animal experimental in the field of TCM (PRISMA‐ATCM) to overcome these problems.

Methods

PRISMA‐ATCM reporting guidelines were formed by analyzing both the status and quality of published SRs/MAs of animal experiments and consulting experts in the related fields, and then by Delphi consultation, consensus meeting and revision.

Results

Among the 27 items on the PRISMA checklist, Title (1), Structured summary (2), Rationale (3), Objectives (4), Protocol and registration (5), Eligibility criteria (6), Data items (11), Planned methods of analysis (14), Study characteristics (18), Summary of evidence (24), Limitations (25), and Funding (27) have been extensively revised and expanded, to specifically include the details about TCM intervention and animal characteristics. In addition, illustrative examples and explanations have been provided for each item.

Conclusion

PRISMA‐ATCM could markedly improve the quality SRs/MAs of animal experiments in the field of TCM.
Nutritional screening in a cancer prehabilitation programme: A cohort study
Authors: Burden Sorrel T. , Bibby Neil , Donald Kirsty , Owen Kellie , Rowlinson‐Groves Kirsty , French Chloe , Gillespie Loraine , Murphy Jack , Hurst Sarah Jayne , Mentha Robert , Baguley Karly , Rowlands Ash , McEwan Karen , Merchant Zoe , Moore John
Published: July 2022

Background

Cancer patients are often malnourished pre‐operatively. The present study aimed to establish whether current screening was appropriate for use in prehabilitation and investigate any association between nutritional risk, functionality and quality of life (QoL).

Methods

This cohort study used routinely collected data from September 2020 to August 2021 from patients in a Prehab4cancer programme. Included patients were aged ≥ 18 years, had colorectal, lung or oesophago‐gastric cancer and were scheduled for surgery. Nutritional assessment included Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG‐SGA) Short‐Form and QoL with a sit‐to‐stand test. Association between nutritional risk and outcomes was analysed using adjusted logistic regression.

Results

From 928 patients referred to Prehab4Cancer service over 12 months, data on nutritional risk were collected from 526 patients. Pre‐operatively, 233 out of 526 (44%) patients were at nutritional risk (score ≥ 2). During prehabilitation, 31% of patients improved their PG‐SGA and 74% of patients maintained or improved their weight. Odds ratios (OR) with confidence intervals (CI) showed that patients with better QoL using EuroQol‐5 Dimensions (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.45, p = 0.01), EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93, 1.00, p = 0.04) or sit‐to‐stand (OR = 0.96, 95% 0.93, 1.00, p = 0.04) were less likely to be nutritional at risk.

Conclusions

Almost half of patients in Prehab4Cancer programme assessed using PG‐SGA were at risk of malnutrition. However, almost half of the sample did not have their risk assessed. Patients at risk of malnutrition were more likely to have a poorer QoL and sit‐to‐stand test than those who were not at risk.
ERF4 interacts with and antagonizes TCP15 in regulating endoreduplication and cell growth in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ding An‐Ming , Xu Chuan‐Tao , Xie Qiang , Zhang Ming‐Jin , Yan Ning , Dai Chang‐Bo , Lv Jing , Cui Meng‐Meng , Wang Wei‐Feng , Sun Yu‐He
Published: July 2022

Endoreduplication is prevalent during plant growth and development, and is often correlated with large cell and organ size. Despite its prevalence, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying the transition from mitotic cell division to endoreduplication remain elusive. Here, we characterize ETHYLENE‐RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING FACTOR 4 (ERF4) as a positive regulator of endoreduplication through its function as a transcriptional repressor. ERF4 was specifically expressed in mature tissues in which the cells were undergoing expansion, but was rarely expressed in young organs. Plants overexpressing ERF4 exhibited much larger cells and organs, while plants that lacked functional ERF4 displayed smaller organs than the wild‐type. ERF4 was further shown to regulate cell size by controlling the endopolyploidy level in the nuclei. Moreover, ERF4 physically associates with the class I TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) protein TCP15, a transcription factor that inhibits endoreduplication by activating the expression of a key cell‐cycle gene, CYCLIN A2;3 (CYCA2;3). A molecular and genetic analysis revealed that ERF4 promotes endoreduplication by directly suppressing the expression of CYCA2;3. Together, this study demonstrates that ERF4 and TCP15 function as a module to antagonistically regulate each other's activity in regulating downstream genes, thereby controlling the switch from the mitotic cell cycle to endoreduplication during leaf development. These findings expand our understanding of how the control of the cell cycle is fine‐tuned by an ERF4–TCP15 transcriptional complex.
Nurse leaders' perceptions of workload and task distribution in public healthcare: A qualitative explorative study
Authors: Miller Mikaela , Hemberg Jessica
Published: July 2022

Background

Unreasonable workload and work‐related stress can reduce nurse leaders' job satisfaction and productivity and can increase absence and burnout. Nurse leaders' workload in public healthcare settings is relatively unresearched.

The Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate nurse leaders' perceptions of workload and task distribution with relation to leading work tasks in public healthcare.

Research Design, Participants and Research Context

A qualitative explorative design was used. The data material consisted of texts from interviews with nurse leaders in public healthcare (N = 8). The method was inspired by content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used.

Ethical considerations

Informed consent was sought from the participants regarding study participation and the storage and handling of data for research purposes.

Findings

Six main themes were found: Increased and unreasonable workload, Length of work experience as nurse leader affects perception of workload, Number of staff and staff characteristics affect perception of workload, Versatile and flexible task distribution, Working overtime as a way of managing high workload and Insufficient time for leadership mission.

Conclusion

The workload for nurse leaders in a public healthcare setting was perceived to be unreasonable. Common measures for managing high workload included working overtime, delegating work tasks and organising more staff resources in the form of additional staff. How nurse leaders perceive their workload was linked to both the number of staff and staff characteristics. These should both be considered equally important when determining staff levels and measuring nurse leaders' workload. Future research should focus on investigating workload and task distribution from nurses' perspectives.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Through this study, greater understanding of workload and the diverse work of nurse leaders in a public healthcare setting has been revealed, which can be used to further develop the framework for nurse leaders' work.
Why do insurers fail? A comparison of life and nonlife insurance companies from an international database
Authors: de Bandt Olivier , Overton George
Published: July 2022

This paper tests the claim that insurers often engage in risk‐shifting years before the materialization of a failure. It compares the mechanisms of insurance insolvency across different jurisdictions, using a first‐of‐its‐kind international database assembled by the authors, merging individual financial data together with information on impairments over the last 30 years in four of the largest insurance markets in the world (France, Japan, the UK, and the United States). Results show evidence that low profitability is a leading indicator of failures. Further, there is an asymmetry between life insurance, where bond investment is highly significant, and nonlife insurance sectors, where operating inefficiency plays a larger role. Moreover, this paper highlights differences across countries: a stronger reaction to operating inefficiency in nonlife insurance in France and a less positive impact of bond investment in life insurance in Japan. Both results are linked to differences in the functioning of insurance markets.
Parental perceptions on the impact of visiting restrictions during COVID‐19 in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Broom Margaret , Cochrane Tim , Cruickshank Debbora , Carlisle Hazel
Published: July 2022

Aim

During the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), visiting guidelines in neonatal units changed to maintain the health and safety of staff, neonates, and families. In the neonatal intensive care unit/special care nursery (NICU/SCN), restrictions were placed on parental contact and extended family excluded. Our team was interested in evaluating the effect of these restrictions on parental stress and discharge confidence.

Methods

A prospective descriptive study utilising survey methodology was undertaken. The survey was developed and previously used by the NICU research group to evaluate parental knowledge and understanding, parental role, communication, and parental stress (admission/discharge). We have also included a section regarding COVID19 visiting restrictions (ETH.2020.LRE.00124). The survey used a five‐level Likert scale. Statistical analysis was completed using SPSS version 21.

Results

Notably, 33 surveys were returned. Results showed visiting restrictions reduced social contact between partners 26/33 (84%), with their other children 14/16 (87.5%) and extended family 28/33 (84.8%). Parents indicated that they had high levels of confidence in understanding their babies' medical needs (78–93%) and gaining hands‐on experience caring for their baby (87–100%). However, 11/33 (33%) of parents reported concerns with discharge processes and gaining consistent information as challenges during their baby's admission. Notably, 17/33 (51.5) stated their NICU/SCN experience had been very to extremely stressful. Parents openly described how the restrictions had affected their mental/emotional health identifying the need to treat parents as one unit, and a gap in the psychological support available for families.

Conclusion

Support services and consistency of communication with NICU/SCN families need to be enhanced and prioritised during periods of restrictions, especially peri‐discharge.
Non‐base compensation and the gender pay gap
Authors: Hirsch Boris , Lentge Philipp
Published: July 2022

This paper investigates whether non‐base compensation contributes to the gender pay gap (GPG). Using administrative data from Germany, we find in wage decompositions that lower bonus payments to women explain about 10 per cent of the gap at the mean and at different quantiles of the unconditional wage distribution whereas the lower prevalence of shift premia and overtime pay among women is unimportant. Among managers, the contribution of bonuses to the mean gap more than doubles and is steadily rising as one moves up the wage distribution. Our findings suggest that gender differences in bonuses are an important contributor to the GPG, particularly in top jobs.
Aphantasia: In search of a theory
Authors: Blomkvist Andrea
Published: July 2022

Though researchers working on congenital aphantasia (henceforth “aphantasia”) agree that this condition involves an impairment in the ability to voluntarily generate visual imagery, disagreement looms large as to which other impairments are exhibited by aphantasic subjects. This article offers the first extensive review of studies on aphantasia, and proposes that aphantasic subjects exhibit a cluster of impairments. It puts forward a novel cognitive theory of aphantasia, building on the constructive episodic simulation hypothesis of memory and imagination. It argues that aphantasia is best explained as a malfunction of processes in the episodic system, and is therefore an episodic system condition.