bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Illusive inclusion – construction of leaders and employees based on nationality
Authors: Jönsson Sandra , Muhonen Tuija , Scholten Christina , S. Wigerfelt Anders
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss and problematise how leadership and employees, or “employeeship”, are constructed within IKEA, a global firm often associated with national identity, and connected to distinct values and a leadership ideal. From a critical management perspective, the authors' intent was to study whether there were hierarchies and polarisations in constructions of leadership and, if so, how they were manifested.

Design/methodology/approach

– The empirical material consists of 17 interviews with Swedish and non-Swedish managers at the senior management level and internal documents.

Findings

– The analysis of the empirical material supports the finding that employees are constructed in superior vs subordinate positions based on beliefs about nationality (ethnicity), wherein the construction of Swedishness is ranked above other nationalities. Based on these constructions, two different dimensions of a leader emerge. The first dimension is one of leading and supporting, which involves personal development and is regarded as something positive. The second dimension involves being a manager, which is perceived as conservative, dreary and unappealing.

Originality/value

– The study illustrates how leaders in a global firm construct hierarchies and polarisation in the daily work.
An innovative strategy to create equivalent elements for modelling assembly points in joined structures
Authors: Bérot Maxime , Malrieu Julien , Bay François
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– Large structures (e.g. plane, bridge, etc.) often include several hundreds of assembly points. Structural computations often use over-simplistic approximations for these points; among others, they do not take into account the thermo-mechanical history due to the assembling process. Running computations with each assembly point modelled completely would require too much time to achieve a simulation. There is thus a need to create equivalent elements for assembly points in order to: take into account the mechanical state of the assembly point in the design stage – while reducing the computational time cost at the same time. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper introduces an innovative strategy based on a coupling procedure between a finite element tool for modelling the assembly process in order to access to the mechanical state of the assembly point and an optimisation algorithm, in order to identify the equivalent element parameters.

Findings

– The strategy has proven to be successful. A connector model easier to use and much faster than the complete model, has been obtained. Results obtained with this element are in good agreement with experimental tests in the case of multipoint assemblies and with the simulation results of the complete numerical model. Finally the connector model appears to be easier to use and much faster than the complete model, more difficult to model properly.

Originality/value

– The main innovative aspects of this strategy lie in the fact that the creation of this equivalent element is based on a complete numerical approach. The thermo-mechanical history due to the assembly process is considered – the element parameters are identified thanks to an evolution strategy based on the coupling between a finite element model and a zero-order minimisation algorithm.
Polyhedra faster than spheres?
Authors: A. Hopkins Mark
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a new and efficient technique for discrete element modelling using non-convex polyhedral grain shapes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The efficiency of the technique follows from the use of grains that are dilated versions of the basic polyhedral grain shapes. Dilation of an arbitrary polyhedral grain is accomplished by placing the center of a sphere of fixed radius at every point on the surface. The dilated vertices become sphere segments and the edges become cylinder segments. The sharpness of the vertices and edges can be adjusted by varying the dilation radius. Contacts between two dilated polyhedral grains can be grouped into three categories; vertex on surface, vertex on edge, and edge on edge, or in the grammar of the model, sphere on polygonal surface, sphere on cylinder, and cylinder on cylinder. Simple, closed-form solutions exist for each of these cases.

Findings

– The speed of the proposed polyhedral discrete element model is compared to similar models using spherical and ellipsoidal grains. The polyhedral code is found to run about 40 percent as fast as an equivalent code using spherical grains and about 80 percent as fast as an equivalent code using ellipsoidal grains. Finally, several applications of the polyhedral model are illustrated.

Originality/value

– Few examples of discrete element modeling studies in the literature use polyhedral grains. This dearth is because of the perceived complexity of the polyhedral coding challenges and the slow speed of the codes compared to codes for other grain shapes. This paper presents a much simpler approach to discrete element modeling using polyhedral grain shapes.
Cross cultural consensus: development of the universal leadership model
Authors: Paul Jones Robert , Lyu Jewon , Runyan Rodney , Fairhurst Ann , Kim Youn-Kyung , Jolly Laura
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– Retailers have demonstrated mixed results during international expansions. However, home market saturation and the economic climate are forcing more and more retailers to look beyond their borders for revenue. A critical participant in the internationalizing effort is the expatriate manager. Unfortunately the literature is unclear and at times conflicted over how to select and prepare expatriate management for their leadership role. Therefore, this study was designed with the purpose of uncovering various factors which may lead to expatriate retail management success.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on the lack of unanimity in the literature this study adopted a qualitative research methodology in order to develop some consensus regarding successful expatriate leadership attributes. Grounded theory was employed utilizing extensive in-depth interviews as the primary data gathering and analysis tools.

Findings

– A multi-dimensional construct emerged from the data requiring all dimensions to be utilized for a successful retail expatriate assignment. The construct of “Universal Leadership”, is proposed as formative, comprised of reflective sub-dimensions; Ability, Adaptability, Ambassadorship, and Awareness (Self), which we refer to as the Four A's, for successful expatriate management assignments. Several propositions are put forward as suggestions for future research in the use of the universal leadership model for both selection and training of retail expatriate managers.

Originality/value

– The study develops a theoretical platform for expatriate leadership success allowing for cultural and business variation. Awareness is introduced as a critical attribute in achieving success as an expatriate success. The universal leadership model proposes attributes beneficial for training and also selection which is critically under examined in the literature.
Service innovation in networks: a systematic review and implications for business-to-business service innovation research
Authors: Mustak Mekhail
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– Service innovation in networks (SIIN) is of utmost importance particularly to business-to-business firms for their profitability, growth and long-term competitive advantage. This paper aims to investigate several critical aspects of extant SIIN research: its current state, theoretical standpoints, determinants, and outcomes. Based on the findings, implications for business-to-business service innovation research are drawn.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a systematic literature review. Extant publications were located from large electronic databases, analyzed, and the findings have been compiled to answer the predefined questions.

Findings

– The paper illustrates the overall state of extant SIIN research and presents its major topics. It reveals the six key theoretical perspectives that have been applied in SIIN studies. Determinants that affect SIIN, as well as its potential positive and negative outcomes, are shown. In addition, gaps in the existing knowledge-base have been identified and have led to the laying out of paths for future research.

Research limitations/implications

– The review does not cover publications that were unavailable in the electronic databases employed, or were not written in English. However, the succinct presentation of accessible knowledge provides multidimensional theoretical understandings as well as empirical insights into SIIN research.

Practical implications

– Managers may benefit from this study by understanding the determinants that they may influence, and the potential changes that may accompany the positive and negative outcomes of SIIN.

Originality/value

– The analytical review provides a concise synopsis of existing knowledge on service innovation in networks, and discusses its implications for business-to-business research and firms, which will be of interest to both academics and practitioners.
Time for some home truths – exploring the relationship between GPs and social workers
Authors: Mangan Catherine , Miller Robin , Cooper Jeremy
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between general practitioners (GPs) and social care professionals by reflecting on a project (the Home Truths project) which sought to improve joint working between general practice and social care though an action-research process.

Design/methodology/approach

– iMPOWER's Home Truths project involved gathering local data regarding joint working in local areas and using this data as a catalyst for change. The Institute of Local Government Studies and the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham were asked to act as a critical friend to the project. This involved supporting the design of the data collection, offering advice on the process and to carrying out a short evaluation of the impact of the first wave. The paper reflects on the collected data from the sites and information from the impact evaluation.

Findings

– The paper highlights the poor quality of the relationship between GPs and social workers. Findings that illustrate this include GPs’ poor knowledge of social care services; a perception that social care services were of poor quality and rating the quality of their relationships with social workers as poor. However GPs felt that knowing more about social care could help prevent their patients going into residential care earlier than necessary and wanted to work more closely with social care to exploit the benefits and opportunities. The interventions that have been put in place to try and improve relationships focus on the day-to-day working lives of the professionals rather than attempting to introduce new initiatives.

Research limitations/implications

– The response rate from GPs in the areas was low (average response rate was 10 per cent in each area) and it may be that only those GPs who are interested in working with social care responded. The initiatives that have been developed appear to be reasonable responses to the issues identified. However, a lack of discrete outcomes through which to measure improvement will make it difficult to demonstrate the impact of the interventions.

Originality/value

– This paper underlines that despite many years of policy makers promoting better integration, the relationship between the key gate-keepers within the health and social care systems is still poor. The findings from the Home Truths surveys and action plans has gone some way to address the gap identified in the evidence base about the relationships between GPs and social workers.
Service user and carers perspectives of joint and integrated working between health and social care
Authors: Cameron Ailsa , Bostock Lisa , Lart Rachel
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an update to a review of the joint working literature in the field of health and social care for adults, with particular emphasis given to the experiences of users and carers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The aims of the literature review remained largely the same as those of the original, they were to identify: models of joint working, evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness and the factors promoting or hindering the models. However, to reflect the growing interest in the experiences of users and carers a fourth aim was added to map these experiences. Given their prominence in terms of policy debates about integration, the review focused on jointly organised services for older people and people with mental health problems in the UK only.

Findings

– The review demonstrates tentative signs that some initiatives designed to join-up or integrate services can deliver outcomes desired by government. Importantly some studies that report the experiences of users of services and carers suggest that they perceive benefits from efforts to join-up or integrate services. However it is our contention that the evidence is less than compelling and does not justify the faith invested in the strategy by current or previous governments.

Originality/value

– The study updates our knowledge of the impact of joint working in the field of health and social care for adults. Importantly the paper highlights what is known about the experiences of users and carers of joint/integrated services.
Joining up care around the individual – lessons from Vancouver
Authors: P. Sloan John
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe lessons learned from a homecare practice for frail elderly people.

Design/methodology/approach

– It is strictly a description of a point of view in respect of care of frailty designed to avoid institution.

Findings

– Generally, frail elderly patients choose care focused on comfort and function as opposed to the traditional systematic healthcare goals of rescue and prevention. This choice should be respected.

Research limitations/implications

– There are no formal research findings.

Practical implications

– Cost-saving as well as improvement in care is possible through team-based relationship-oriented homecare of the frail elderly where that care emphasizes comfort and function.

Originality/value

– This paper is authored by Dr John Sloan and is entirely original.
Linking organizational trust with employee engagement: the role of psychological empowerment
Authors: Ugwu Fabian O , Onyishi Ike E. , Rodríguez-Sánchez Alma Maria
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to investigate the relationship between organizational trust, psychological empowerment, and employee engagement. In addition, the study seeks to test the moderating role of psychological empowerment on the relationship between trust and engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

– Hierarchical regression analyses were carried out on a sample of 715 employees from seven commercial banks and four pharmaceutical companies in south-eastern Nigeria who participated in the survey.

Findings

– The results showed that organizational trust and psychological empowerment were predictors of work engagement. There was a moderating effect of empowerment on the relationship between trust and engagement.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings show that organizational trust and psychological empowerment that predict positive job behaviour in Western cultures are also critical in understanding Nigerian workers ' positive organizational behaviour such as work engagement.

Practical implications

– For practical purposes, the results suggest that organizational trust may be a significant component of organizational interventions. Given that psychological empowerment is strongly related to work engagement, empowerment intervention programs is therefore important in building employees that would be engaged in their work.

Originality/value

– This study was one of the first attempts to empirically investigate the direct relationship among organizational trust, psychological empowerment and employee work engagement. Additionally, most previous studies on engagement have been conducted in developed economies of North America and Europe. This study was carried out in a Nigerian business environment where organizational behaviours have been scarcely investigated and comparing these findings with earlier studies may help further clarify the emerging work engagement concept.
Work-team bonding and bridging social networks, team identity and performance effectiveness
Authors: Henttonen Kaisa , Johanson Jan-Erik , Janhonen Minna
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The focus in this paper is on the extent to which bonding and bridging social relationships predict the performance effectiveness and attitudinal (identity) outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was survey-based, involving 76 work teams and a total of 499 employees in 48 organisations.

Findings

– The analysis reveals a positive relationship between both bonding and bridging relationships and performance effectiveness and attitudinal outcomes. Team identity mediates the relationship between the team ' s social-network structure and its performance effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

– The research investigates the performance effectiveness and attitudinal outcomes of social networks simultaneously, which is rare, but for study-design reasons fails to investigate behavioural outcomes. More extensive data would reveal more about the possible interaction between bridging and bonding.

Practical implications

– In order to improve performance effectiveness managerial attention should focus on building a team and social networks.

Originality/value

– The research shows that team identity fully mediates the influence of bonding and bridging social relationships. This finding sheds light on the processes that mediate performance effectiveness, which in turn facilitate understanding of how team dynamics lead to differing performance levels. The results also reveal how the type of social network affects the creation of a team identity: individuals identify with the team through the social networks to which they belong both within it and outside. Thus, team identity matters given the evidence suggesting that those who identify more with their work teams perform more effectively.
Methods for recommending and predicting Nobel Prize candidates
Authors: Gen-Ming Guo , Hui-Shan Chen
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– In the twenty-first century, technology and information are continuously being changed and rapidly updated. Many new innovations and discoveries emerge daily. This study aims to identify significant pioneers and milestones in academic research through utilizing bibliometric methods and heterogeneous data, including textbook citations, citations of theses and dissertations, and journal citations.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study proposes several methods and formulas for recommending Nobel prizes candidates. Through utilizing bibliometric methods and heterogeneous data, including textbook citations, citations of theses and dissertations, and journal article citations, this research facilitates the collection of numerous significant research results. The authors propose several new, useful formulae, including a pioneer paper impact factor, a popular classical paper impact factor, a ranking factor of specific fields, a groundbreaking author impact factor, and a frequently cited author impact factor.

Findings

– This study utilizes historical information on the Nobel Prize to examine, revise, and verify existing methods for recommending and predicting candidates, in order to enhance the accuracy and availability of the approach presented by this study. The experimental results show that the approach designed in this study had a rate of successful prediction exceeding 50 percent. The major reason for producing reasonable results is that the milestone paper and pioneer paper are filtered first, and then the important candidate authors from the most pioneer paper are filtered. Therefore, the results indicated the feasibility of the methods developed by this study.

Originality/value

– The purpose of the Nobel Prize is to reward original research findings or inventions that significantly and positively influence human life. However, due to budget limitations, only five fields are included in the academic domains for which Nobel prizes are awarded. The authors develop one useful new way to identify milestone papers and authors. Young students can choose, read and learn from these milestone papers. The pioneer authors identified by this research could be the recommended candidate list for some academic awards.
On parametric variation in Bantu, with particular reference to Kinyarwanda
Authors: Zeller Jochen , Ngoboka Jean Paul
Published: May 2014

Marten, Kula and Thwala (2007) compare the morphological and syntactic properties of ten Bantu languages by postulating 19 micro‐parameters with binary values, which capture many of the grammatical differences between the languages in their sample. In our paper, we extend the empirical basis of their study by describing the morpho‐syntax of the Bantu language Kinyarwanda (D61) with respect to the same 19 micro‐parameters. We then make a proposal about the insights that can be gained from comparative studies of this kind. We suggest that systematically organised data about micro‐variation in Bantu offer the opportunity to discover correlations between grammatical properties from which descriptive generalisations can be derived. These generalisations shed light on the abstract principles that determine linguistic variation and may lead to hypotheses about underlying ‘major’ parameters which control whole clusters of grammatical surface differences between groups of languages. We also discuss a number of examples of (unidirectional and bidirectional) correlations that we have found in the data, which point to interesting links between morpho‐syntactic phenomena such as agreement, relativisation, and word order in the Bantu languages.
Economic evaluation of robot‐assisted hysterectomy: a cost‐minimisation analysis
Authors: Teljeur C , O'Neill M , Moran PS , Harrington P , Flattery M , Murphy L , Ryan M
Published: May 2014

Objective

The aim of this study was to carry out an economic evaluation of robot‐assisted hysterectomy compared with the current standard of care in Ireland.

Design

Cost‐minimisation analysis of robot‐assisted hysterectomy compared with a combination of traditional open and conventional laparoscopic surgery.

Setting

The publicly funded healthcare system in Ireland.

Population

The target population was women requiring hysterectomy that could be completed using robot‐assisted surgery.

Methods

A simulation‐based economic evaluation model including data derived from a systematic review and local databases was used to estimate surgical costs.

Main outcome measures

Incremental cost of robot‐assisted surgery compared to current routine care.

Results

The incremental cost of robot‐assisted hysterectomy is an estimated €3291 (95% confidence interval €2509–€4183) more than the existing mix of open and traditional laparoscopic surgery. The additional cost of robot‐assisted surgery is primarily driven by the increased cost of surgical equipment, the robot, maintenance of the robot, and the cost of theatre staff due to longer operative times. The only significant factor reducing the cost of surgery is a shorter hospital stay relative to open surgery.

Conclusions

Robot‐assisted hysterectomy is more costly than the current mix of open and traditional laparoscopic surgery. Without longer‐term or functional outcome data, the additional expense associated with robot‐assisted hysterectomy may not be justified in a budget‐constrained health system.
Haemorrhoids and anal fissures during pregnancy and after childbirth: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Poskus T , Buzinskienė D , Drasutiene G , Samalavicius NE , Barkus A , Barisauskiene A , Tutkuviene J , Sakalauskaite I , Drasutis J , Jasulaitis A , Jakaitiene A
Published: May 2014

Objective

To identify the incidence and risk factors of haemorrhoids and fissures during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Design

Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting

University hospital and outpatient clinics in Lithuania.

Population

A total of 280 pregnant women followed up until 1 month after delivery.

Methods

Women were examined four times through pregnancy and after delivery; those that developed peri‐anal diseases were compared with those that did not.

Main outcome measures

Incidence, time and risk factors of haemorrhoids and fissures.

Results

In all, 123 (43.9%) women developed peri‐anal disease: 1.6% in the first trimester, 61% during the third trimester, 34.1% after delivery and 3.3% 1 month after delivery; 114 (40.7%) women were diagnosed with haemorrhoids, seven (2.5%) with haemorrhoids and anal fissure and two (0.71%) with anal fissure. Ninety‐nine (80.5%) women had vaginal delivery and 24 (19.5%) women had undergone caesarean section. Multivariate analysis identified personal history of peri‐anal diseases (odds ratio [OR] 11.93; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.18–65.30), constipation (OR 18.98; 95% CI 7.13–50.54), straining during delivery for more than 20 minutes (OR 29.75; 95% CI 4.00–221.23) and birthweight of newborn >3800 g (OR 17.99; 95% CI 3.29–98.49) as significant predictors of haemorrhoids and anal fissures during pregnancy and perinatal period.

Conclusions

Haemorrhoids and fissures are common during the last trimester of pregnancy and 1 month after delivery, with constipation, personal history of haemorrhoids or fissures, birthweight of newborn >3800 g, straining during delivery for more than 20 minutes being independently associated risk factors.
Report of the Editor‐in‐Chief
Authors: Harvey David
Published: May 2014

Submissions to the Journal continue to increase strongly (up 35% since last year), with a strong international pattern, while our response times are also improving. The JAE's citation impact factor declined slightly in 2012 from the record high in 2011 (1.55) to 1.5. However, current data on 2013 citations imply a significant decline in 2013 (due to be published in June 2014). Wiley‐Blackwell continue to provide a strong publishing platform with our full archive generating rapidly increasing numbers of downloads.
Sir John Pringle MD, Early Scottish Enlightenment Thought and the Origins of Modern Military Medicine
Authors: Craig Stephen C.
Published: May 2014

Sir John Pringle published Observations on the Diseases of the Army in April 1752. Over the next two decades it was proclaimed by French, British and German authors as the premier volume on the new subject of military medicine. Although Pringle's experiences in the War of the Austrian Succession furnished clinical substance, his education at St Andrews and Edinburgh universities, and medical instruction under Hermann Boerhaave, provided the enduring ethical foundation for the theory and practice of the art by medical and line officers.
Rosiglitazone Attenuates Atrial Structural Remodeling and Atrial Fibrillation Promotion in Alloxan‐Induced Diabetic Rabbits
Authors: Liu Tong , Zhao Hui , Li Jian , Korantzopoulos Panagiotis , Li Guangping
Published: May 2014

Introduction

The pleiotropic effects of glitazones may favorably affect atrial remodeling. We sought to investigate the effects of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ) activator rosiglitazone on atrial structural remodeling and atrial fibrillation (AF) promotion in alloxan‐induced diabetic rabbits.

Methods

Twenty alloxan‐induced diabetic rabbits were randomly divided into two groups (10 animals in each group), namely the diabetic rosiglitazone group (treated with rosiglitazone 2 mg/day/kg for 4 weeks) and the nontreated diabetic group, while 10 additional healthy rabbits served as controls. Moreover, isolated Langendorff‐perfused rabbit hearts were used to evaluate atrial electrophysiological parameters and vulnerability to AF, examined by burst pacing. Histological examination was also performed, whereas plasma oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers were measured.

Results

The duration of induced AF was significantly prolonged in the alloxan‐induced diabetic rabbits compared with controls (1.6 ± 0.4 s vs. 0 s; P < 0.05). Rosiglitazone treatment significantly reduced the duration of induced AF in the treated rabbits (1.6 ± 0.4 s vs. 1.2 ± 0.05 s; P < 0.05). Moreover, rosiglitazone attenuated atrial structural remodeling reducing the interatrial activation time (35.4 ± 12.1 ms vs. 24.2 ± 10.8 ms, P < 0.05; control 23.3 ± 10.4 ms) and the atrial interstitial fibrosis as well (collagen volume fraction: 5.6 ± 3.9% vs. 2.4 ± 2.1%, P < 0.05; control 1.6 ± 0.8%). Rosiglitazone increased plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and, on the other hand, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA), hs‐C‐reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor‐α levels.

Conclusion

Rosiglitazone attenuates arrhythmogenic atrial structural remodeling and AF promotion in alloxan‐induced diabetic rabbits. Also, it seems to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation in this experimental model.
Who selects the ‘right’ directors? An examination of the association between board selection, gender diversity and outcomes
Authors: Hutchinson Marion , Mack Janet , Plastow Kevin
Published: May 2014

Using a sample of companies from the top 500 listed firms in Australia, we investigate whether the presence of a designated nomination committee and female representation on the nomination committee affect board gender diversity. We also examine whether gender diversity on the board affects firm risk and financial performance. We find that board gender diversity is significantly and positively associated with the presence of a designated nomination committee and that female representation on the nomination committee is a significant explanatory factor of increasing board gender diversity following the release of the 2010 Australian Securities Exchange Corporate Governance Council (ASXCGC) recommendations. Further, our results support the business case for board gender diversity as we find greater gender diversity moderates excessive firm risk which in turn improves firms' financial performance. Our results are robust after correcting for selection bias and controlling for other board, firm and industry characteristics.
IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES ON SMALLHOLDERS’ TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM ETHIOPIA
Authors: ABATE Gashaw Tadesse , FRANCESCONI Gian Nicola , GETNET Kindie
Published: May 2014

Using household survey data from Ethiopia, this paper evaluates the impact of agricultural cooperatives on smallholders’ technical efficiency. We used propensity score matching to compare the average difference in technical efficiency between cooperative member farmers and similar independent farmers. The results show that agricultural cooperatives are effective in providing support services that significantly contribute to members’ technical efficiency. These results are found to be insensitive to hidden bias and consistent with the idea that agricultural cooperatives enhance members’ efficiency by easing access to productive inputs and facilitating extension linkages. According to the findings, increased participation in agricultural cooperatives should further enhance efficiency gains among smallholder farmers.
SOCIAL COOPERATIVES IN ITALY: ECONOMIC ANTECEDENTS AND REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION
Authors: PICCIOTTI Antonio , BERNARDONI Andrea , COSSIGNANI Massimo , FERRUCCI Luca
Published: May 2014

Social cooperatives represent the most notable form of non‐profit organizations operating in Italy in the social services field, the birth and development of which has been strongly linked to, and conditioned by, the needs and resources of territories and communities. This paper intends to demonstrate how certain socio‐economic factors, recognized in economic literature as antecedents of the development of social enterprises, may account for the spread of social cooperatives in different Italian regions. Furthermore, the research results demonstrate an inter‐regional differentiation of the shape social cooperation has entered into in Italy.
Around 1987: outline of a lesson in geographic thought
Authors: Cresswell Tim
Published: May 2014

This short commentary reflects on Philo's 1987 Area paper, ‘ “Not at our seaside”: community opposition to a nineteenth‐century branch asylum’ by placing it in the context of currents of thought emerging or coalescing in that year as well as my own intellectual trajectory. These contexts include the emerging interest in Foucault, developments in cultural, social and historical geography and the long‐standing interest in the significance of ‘outsiders’ and their role in the production of order. Most of all, perhaps, the paper prefigures Philo's own career with its consistent interest in (and sympathy for) outsiders, engagement with wider currents of theory (particularly Foucault) and insistence on the importance of history.
Straight to the Core — Explaining Union Responses to the Casualization of Work: TheIG Metall Campaign for Agency Workers
Authors: Benassi Chiara , Dorigatti Lisa
Published: May 2014

The existing literature provides different accounts on the strategies of unions regarding marginal workers. It has been argued that under increasing labour market segmentation, unions have either to prioritize their core constituencies and to seek compromises with management, or to adopt inclusive strategies towards peripheral workers to counterbalance eroding bargaining power. This article shows that both strategies represent equally viable options to protect the interests of unions' core members. The strategic choice depends on the (perceived) competition between core and peripheral employees related to employers' personnel strategies; this affects the possible alignment of interests between unions' core members, on the one hand, and either management or peripheral employees, on the other. Our historical analysis of union strategies towards agency workers in the German metal sector illustrates this mechanism, and identifies institutional change towards liberalization as the trigger for aggressive segmentation strategies by employers and for inclusive union strategies.
Alterations of thyroid volume and nodular size during and after pregnancy in a severe iodine‐deficient area
Authors: Sahin Serap B. , Ogullar Sabri , Ural Ulku Mete , Ilkkilic Kadir , Metin Yavuz , Ayaz Teslime
Published: May 2014

Objective

The effects of pregnancy on thyroid nodules were investigated in a few number of studies. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid nodules, the changes in size, volume and number of nodules during pregnancy and after delivery in pregnant women.

Design and methods

This prospective study was performed in a severe iodine‐deficient area and included 83 pregnant women (mean age 30·4 ± 5·5 years). We evaluated thyroid hormone levels, ultrasound examination of thyroid and urine iodine concentration (UIE) at each trimester and at 3‐month post‐partum period (PP). All patients with thyroid nodules >1 cm underwent fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) after the last visit at the PP.

Results

Twenty‐six women had thyroid nodules on thyroid ultrasonography at the first trimester. The volume of single/dominant nodule showed enlargement during pregnancy and remained at the PP; however, it was not significant (first trimester: 0·83 ± 0·8 ml; second trimester: 0·92 ± 1 ml; third trimester: 0·99 ± 1·2 ml; PP: 0·92 ± 1·2 ml). The maximum diameter of single/dominant nodule in the third trimester of pregnancy (12·6 ± 5·4 mm) was greater than the first trimester (11·9 ± 4·8 mm) (P = 0·002). The number of nodules did not change during pregnancy. The mean TV increased during pregnancy and remained 3 months after delivery (P < 0·001), and the maximum value of TV was reached in the third trimester (14·2 ± 7·9 ml). FNAB results revealed a 6·6% prevalence of malignancy among the nodules.

Conclusions

Thyroid nodules were present in 30·1% of pregnant women. While size of the single/dominant thyroid nodule increased significantly during pregnancy, the number of nodules did not change.
Tracking the Pharmaceutical Pipeline: Clinical Trials and Global Disease Burden
Authors: Cottingham Marci D. , Kalbaugh Corey A. , Fisher Jill A.
Published: May 2014

Aggregate data about pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) tend to examine Phase III trials. Hence, there are few published data about investigational drugs in earlier phases of clinical development that might fail. It is also unclear how well R&D corresponds to disease burden. We track the pharmaceutical pipeline using data from industry publications that provide otherwise unreported information about industry‐sponsored clinical trials. The sample includes 2,477 unique drug entities in 4,182 clinical trials. The majority of drugs targeted neoplasms (26.20%), neurological diseases/diseases of the sense organs (13.48%), infectious and parasitic diseases (10.5%), and endocrine, metabolic, nutrition, and immunity disorders (9.45%). Less than 6% of drugs targeted diseases of the circulatory system, which represent the most prevalent causes of global mortality. Detailing the pharmaceutical pipeline, our findings suggest that pharmaceutical development does not adequately address global disease burden. Future research on the under‐reported details of Phase I and II clinical trials is needed to understand how the industry operates and how its resource‐allocation matches global health concerns.
Conservation opportunities across the world's anthromes
Authors: Martin Laura J. , Quinn John E. , Ellis Erle C. , Shaw M. Rebecca , Dorning Monica A. , Hallett Lauren M. , Heller Nicole E. , Hobbs Richard J. , Kraft Clifford E. , Law Elizabeth , Michel Nicole L. , Perring Michael P. , Shirey Patrick D. , Wiederholt Ruscena
Published: May 2014

Aim

Biologists increasingly recognize the roles of humans in ecosystems. Subsequently, many have argued that biodiversity conservation must be extended to environments that humans have shaped directly. Yet popular biogeographical frameworks such as biomes do not incorporate human land use, limiting their relevance to future conservation planning. ‘Anthromes’ map global ecological patterns created by sustained direct human interactions with ecosystems. In this paper, we set to understand how current conservation efforts are distributed across anthromes.

Location

Global.

Methods

We analysed the global distribution of IUCN protected areas and biodiversity hotspots by anthrome. We related this information to density of native plant species and density of previous ecological studies. Potential conservation opportunities in anthromes were then identified through global analysis and two case studies.

Results

Protected areas and biodiversity hotspots are not distributed equally across anthromes. Less populated anthromes contain a greater proportion of protected areas. The fewest hotspots are found within densely settled anthromes and wildlands, which occur at the two extremes of human population density. Opportunities for representative protection, prioritization, study and inclusion of native species were not congruent.

Main conclusions

Researchers and practitioners can use the anthromes framework to analyse the distribution of conservation practices at the global and regional scale. Like biomes, anthromes could also be used to set future conservation priorities. Conservation goals in areas directly shaped by humans need not be less ambitious than those in ‘natural areas’.
Effects of Paclitaxel and Carboplatin Combination on Mechanical Myocardial and Microvascular Functions: A Transthoracic Doppler Echocardiography and Two‐Dimensional Strain Imaging Study
Authors: Altin Cihan , Sade Leyla Elif , Demirtas Saadet , Karacaglar Emir , Kanyilmaz Suleyman , Simsek Vahide , Ayhan Ali , Muderrisoglu Haldun
Published: May 2014

Aim

Paclitaxel and carboplatin are frequently used chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies. Little is known about their effects on left ventricular mechanical and coronary microvascular functions.

Methods

Thirty consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled. Patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) before and after chemotherapy, to evaluate left ventricular mechanical functions and coronary flow reserve (CFR). A comprehensive TTE, tissue Doppler and two‐dimensional (2D) strain imaging were performed and coronary flow velocity was measured at baseline and after dipyridamole infusion. CFR was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to baseline diastolic peak flow velocities. Mitral annular velocities by tissue Doppler, peak strain, and systolic strain rate by velocity vector imaging (VVI) were measured. Baseline measurements were compared with healthy controls (n = 26).

Results

No patient developed heart failure (HF) symptoms, no significant change occurred in left ventricular ejection fraction or cardiac output and no significant difference was observed in CFR after chemotherapy. Baseline mean longitudinal peak strain and systolic stain rate were similar between patients and controls: −17.5 ± 2.6% versus −17.6 ± 2.2% (P = NS) and −1.04 ± 0.14/sec versus −1.05 ± 0.12/sec (P = NS). Peak strain and systolic strain rate decreased significantly after chemotherapy (from −17.5 ± 2.6% to −16.2 ± 2.5%, P < 0.02; and from −1.05 ± 0.12/sec to −0.96 ± 0.11/sec, P = 0.01, respectively). However, mean longitudinal velocity did not change significantly.

Conclusion

Paclitaxel and carboplatin combination did not impair CFR; however, this chemotherapy combination could induce subtle impairment in myocardial mechanical function which can be detected by advanced deformation imaging techniques rather than by tissue Doppler imaging or conventional 2D and Doppler echocardiography.
Comparison of outcomes after autologous stem cell transplantation between myeloma patients with skeletal and soft tissue plasmacytoma
Authors: Shin Ho‐Jin , Kim Kihyun , Lee Ji Won , Song Moo‐Kon , Lee Je‐Jung , Lee Ho‐Sup , Lee Won Sik , Kim Seok Jin , Chung Joo Seop
Published: May 2014

We aimed to compare the characteristics of skeletal and soft tissue plasmacytomas and to analyze clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients with plasmacytoma. We retrospectively reviewed data from 93 myeloma patients with detectable extramedullary (EM) plasmacytoma at diagnosis or during the course of the disease, who underwent ASCT. Soft tissue plasmacytoma occurred more frequently in male patients and had higher levels of serum β2‐microglobulin and lactate dehydrogenase and high frequency of advanced disease according to International Staging System compared to the skeletal plasmacytoma group. Both soft tissue and skeletal plasmacytoma groups showed similar plasmacytoma relapse patterns after ASCT and relapsed with EM plasmacytoma slightly more frequently in the bone compared to soft tissue sites. Compared to patients with skeletal plasmacytoma, patients with soft tissue plasmacytoma had worse median progression‐free survival (PFS) (12 vs. 28 months) (P = 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (37 vs. 67 months) (P = 0.037) after ASCT. In a multivariate analysis, soft tissue plasmacytoma was an only independent poor prognostic factor for both PFS (HR, 2.398; 95% CI, 1.304–4.410) and OS (HR, 2.811; 95% CI, 1.107–7.135) after ASCT. These results demonstrate that, even though ASCT achieved a strong response in myeloma patients with soft tissue plasmacytoma, the presence of EM disease still contributed to a poor prognosis after ASCT compared to skeletal plasmacytoma, and these poor outcomes were not overcome by ASCT.
A memory‐based foraging tactic reveals an adaptive mechanism for restricted space use
Authors: Merkle J. A. , Fortin D. , Morales J. M.
Published: May 2014

The restricted area of space used by most mobile animals is thought to result from fitness‐rewarding decisions derived from gaining information about the environment. Yet, assessments of how animals deal with uncertainty using memory have been largely theoretical, and an empirically derived mechanism explaining restricted space use in animals is still lacking. Using a patch‐to‐patch movement analysis, we investigated predictions of how free‐ranging bison (Bison bison) living in a meadow‐forest matrix use memory to reduce uncertainty in energy intake rate. Results indicate that bison remembered pertinent information about location and quality of meadows, and they used this information to selectively move to meadows of higher profitability. Moreover, bison chose profitable meadows they had previously visited, and this choice was stronger after visiting a relatively poor quality meadow. Our work demonstrates a link between memory, energy gains and restricted space use while establishing a fitness‐based integration of movement, cognitive and spatial ecology.
Tumor suppressor p53 induces miR‐1915 processing to inhibit Bcl‐2 in the apoptotic response to DNA damage
Authors: Nakazawa Kazuya , Dashzeveg Nurmaa , Yoshida Kiyotsugu
Published: May 2014

The antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2 is overexpressed in human cancers, and confers resistance to antitumor agents in cancer cells. Bcl‐2 is negatively regulated by the tumor suppressor p53 in response to DNA damage during apoptotic cell death. However, this molecular mechanism remains unclear. The available evidence indicates that miR‐1915 represses Bcl‐2 expression at the post‐transcriptional level in human colorectal carcinoma cells, which is correlated with drug resistance. Here, we show that p53 controls miR‐1915 expression in response to DNA damage. Induction of p53 affects the expression of precursor and mature, but not primary, miR‐1915. Inhibition of miR‐1915 abrogates downregulation of Bcl‐2 expression following treatment with genotoxin. These findings demonstrate that p53 negatively regulates Bcl‐2 expression by targeting miR‐1915 processing from primary into precursor miRNA. Taken together, the findings of the current study reveal a novel mechanism whereby p53 negatively modulates Bcl‐2 by controlling miR‐1915.
High resolution land cover data improve understanding of mechanistic linkages with stream integrity
Authors: Tormos T. , Van Looy K. , Villeneuve B. , Kosuth P. , Souchon Y.
Published: May 2014

Recent progress in very high spatial resolution imagery (VHSRI) has increased the availability of fine‐scale land cover data over extensive areas. This new spatial information might improve our understanding of how land cover affects stream ecosystems.

Land cover information was investigated in whole catchments and riparian areas in Normandy (France) and related to stream macroinvertebrates at 155 sites. The first model was based on the land cover data obtained via moderate spatial resolution imagery (MSRI) at the catchment scale. The second and the third models were additionally based on riparian land cover data both locally (at the site) and upstream. The riparian land cover data were derived from the MSRI for the second and from the VHSRI for the third model.

Riparian vegetation (at a distance from the channel of 5–100 m) was poorly detected by MSRI when compared to VHSRI. The model based on higher resolution data at the riparian scale (i) ensured that relationships identified at the riparian corridor scale were independent from those at whole catchment scale, (ii) identified the influence of riparian vegetation on the aquatic environment as being most pronounced when using data from a 20‐m wide strip (i.e. 20 m on each bank for a total of 40 m) and (iii) disentangled the effects of roads from other urban infrastructure.

This study confirms the advantages of using very high resolution data in landscape approaches to the study of aquatic ecosystems. It provides accurate spatial information at the riparian scale that improves interpretation of the influence of land cover on the ecological condition of streams and allows identification of relevant features for management.