bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pakistan’s Global Trade Potential: A Gravity Model Approach
Authors: Abbas Shujaat , Waheed Abdul
Published: August 2019

The international trade of Pakistan is highly concentrated on a few goods and markets. This study investigates macroeconomic behaviour of trade flow and explores potential trade markets for Pakistan using an augmented gravity model on a large panel of 47 cross-sections from 1980 to 2013. The result of standard gravity variables shows consistent findings with statistically significant t-statistics, whereas augmented variables reveal that relative price has a positive impact with lower price elasticity. The result of binary variables shows that Pakistan’s trade is more with countries having the same language, whereas lower trade is observed with bordering countries. The result of South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) revealed ineffectiveness of regional integration on the creation of trade for Pakistan, whereas, bilateral free trade agreements (BFTAs) have created considerable trade. The finding of trade potential revealed exhausted potential with major trading partners and there is a need for greater trade diversification from exhausted to potential countries. It has higher untapped potential with Nepal, Iraq, India, Philippines and Jordan, respectively, in Asia, whereas European countries have the highest potential. The results concluded that Pakistan can diversify its trade from exhausted to potential countries through individual BFTAs and multilateral free trade agreements. South Asian countries should address their disputes and revisit SAFTA aiming to improve regional trade and growth.
Determinants of Diffusion and Adoption of ATM cum Debit Cards in Indian Banking Sector
Authors: Kaur Kamalpreet , Kaur Mandeep
Published: August 2019

Plastic cards are the neglected innovation as far as its research on diffusion and adoption from bankers’ perspective is concerned. The study emphasizes on the identification of factors which may have influenced the banks to adopt Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cum debit cards along with their traditional banking services. Bank-specific variables were investigated to deepen the understanding of the diffusion and adoption of ATM cum debit cards. The sample of the study is confined to 50 commercial banks, out of which 23 are private and 27 are public sector banks. The empirical findings reveal that size, non-interest income, non-performing assets, profitability, age and market share of the bank are the variables which have contributed significantly in the diffusion and adoption of ATM cum debit cards. The present study would serve as the roadmap for the regulators to frame policies and guidelines while introducing new technology in the industry, which are best suited to customers as well as bankers.
The Effect of Celebrity Trustworthiness on Endorsement Effectiveness: A Comparison of Congruence and Hybrid Model
Authors: Thomas Tijo , Johnson Johney
Published: August 2019

The research evaluates the effect of celebrity trustworthiness in creating effective endorsements. The previous research in the field has suggested two competing theories in explaining the influence of celebrity trustworthiness on endorsement effectiveness. This study tries to incorporate this theory for developing a comprehensive model for explaining the effectiveness of celebrity trustworthiness. The article opted cross-validation methodology for evaluating the models. The study selected two advertisements based on a pretest conducted in MG University. The highly recalled female celebrity advertisement formed calibration stage and highly recalled male celebrity advertisement formed validation stage. The calibration stage of the study had 386 respondents and validation stage had 378 respondents. Path analysis, chi-square analysis for model difference and critical ratio analysis for the model difference were employed in the study. The findings of the study suggest that the hybrid model brought statistically significant improvements to the congruence model. The study also found that the trustworthiness was the second highest influencer in case of male celebrity whereas in case of female celebrity, attitude towards brand was second highest influencer. Further the chi-square analysis of group difference showed no significant difference in model among male and female celebrity confirming the robustness of the model.
The ‘Reality’ of Participation During Community Partnership in Management of Forest Resource: Evidences from Bankura District, Eastern India
Authors: Bannerji Parama , Bandopadhyay Sumana
Published: August 2019

The notion of ‘participation’ and its association with the concept of planning and governance has increasingly become important both in rural and urban governance. However the impact of the participation has been different in different settings. The present study is an attempt to examine the participatory processes in planning within an already existing participatory programme in India, namely the Joint Forest Management (JFM) Programme, empowering forest communities within rural forest dwelling units with management functions, through a participative approach. In recent times, within the framework of JFM, Microplan has to be prepared for each village, under the National Afforestation Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. The study aims to address the nature and extent of participation and the factors which have affected the outcome of participatory processes in a representative case site, within broader context of participatory governance.
The European Commission’s Google Shopping decision: Could bias have anything to do with it?
Authors: Bergkamp Penelope A
Published: August 2019

Google has been on the radar of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition for some time. Over the last few years, the European Commission has launched competition law investigations into three Google services: Google Shopping, Android and AdSense. In June 2017, the Commission released its decision in the Google Shopping case. The Commission imposed a record fine of €2.42 billion on Google for violating EU antitrust rules. According to the Commission, Google abused its market dominance as a search engine by giving an ‘illegal advantage’ to its own advertisers through its comparison shopping service. The Google Shopping decision can be understood to a significant degree by reference to conscious and unconscious biases. These biases, of course, are not overt – in administrative decision-making, decision-makers have to apply the law and support their decisions with reasons. Legal reasoning, however, provides an opportunity to test the plausibility of hypothesized bias: if the reasoning is strong, persuasive and objective, bias is either irrelevant (that is, it has not influenced the decision) or unlikely. If reasoning is weak, unpersuasive, or subjective, bias may have played a role. As this article demonstrates, based on careful analysis of the Commission’s reasoning in the Google Shopping case, the hypothesis of possible bias is confirmed.
Will the imaginary active consumers please stand up? Case note to Walbusch Walter Busch: Case C-430/17 Walbusch Walter Busch GmbH & Co. KG v. Zentrale zur Bekämpfung unlauteren Wettbewerbs Frankfurt am Main eV, EU:C:2019:47
Authors: Luzak Joasia
Published: August 2019

The questions posed to the Court of Justice of the EU in the recent case of Walbusch Walter Busch asked what qualifies as the means of communication with a limited space or time to display the information and how detailed the disclosure on the right of withdrawal needs to be on such a medium. The judgment in this case had to strike a balance between not limiting traders’ opportunities to use technological advances to reach consumers and one of the main objectives of consumer protection: ensuring consumers have a chance to make fully informed transactional decisions.
Retrospective Prognostic Study of Death at Home or Hospice Versus at a Hospital Among Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Hamamoto Yoichiro , Ibe Tatsuya , Kodama Hiroaki , Mouri Atsuto , Mineshita Masamichi
Published: August 2019

Background:

Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer greatly care about where they will die. Most people in Japan preferred their location of death as their homes. But only 8.2% of patients with cancer spend their last days at home with palliative care in Japan. Many patients with cancer are still going to spend their last days at a hospital (81.7%).

Objective:

We examined the survival times of such patients according to their place of death; that is, whether they died at home, at a hospice, or at a hospital, and investigated patient characteristics.

Results:

Among the 313 patients recruited, 214 were analyzed in this study: 90, 49, and 75 received hospital-based, home-based, and hospice-based palliative care, respectively. The patients who died at a hospice exhibited significantly longer survival than those who died at hospital (estimated median survival time, 420 days [95% confidence interval [CI]: 325-612 days] versus 252 days [95% CI: 201-316 days]; P < .0001). The characteristics of patients did not differ significantly according to place of death.

Conclusions:

Patients who died at a hospice or at home exhibited significantly longer survival than those who died at a hospital for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Opening the Career Counseling Black Box: Behavioral Mechanisms of Empathy and Working Alliance
Authors: Klonek Florian , Will Theresa , Ianiro-Dahm Patrizia , Kauffeld Simone
Published: August 2019

Many individuals who struggle with career decisions seek professional guidance from career counselors. However, little is known about how to ensure that career guidance sessions are of high quality. Vital factors for a successful counseling process include a positive working alliance and empathy of the counselor. This study investigates how counselors’ behaviors, measured with a behavioral coding instrument, related to positive working alliances and empathy. We introduce a video-based instrument that measures microbehaviors and skills during career counseling sessions. Psychometric analyses were conducted on the basis of 53 video recordings. Double-coded sessions ( N = 18) showed excellent interrater reliabilities for the coded microbehaviors. By using a multitrait-multimethod approach, we established construct validity with another coding instrument, whereas criterion validity was established with respect to counselors’ empathy and working alliance ratings. We discuss theoretical implications of using video-based methods in career sessions to advance process research and present practical applications in terms of assessing quality assurance in career interventions.
Efficacy and tolerability of adjuvant therapy in ≥70-year-old patients with T3N0M0 colorectal cancer: An observational study
Authors: Sakin Abdullah , Yasar Nurgul , Sahin Suleyman , Arici Serdar , Secmeler Saban , Can Orcun , Geredeli Caglayan , Demir Cumhur , Cihan Sener
Published: August 2019

Background

This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the efficacy and tolerability of adjuvant chemotherapy in ≥70-year-old patients with stage IIA (T3N0M0) colorectal cancer.

Methods

Lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, margin positivity, dissected lymph node count of <12, and presence of perforation/obstruction were accepted as risk factors. Those patients with at least one risk factor were regarded as having high risk.

Results

The study included 168 patients, among which 95 (56.5%) were male and 73 (43.5%) were female. The median age of patients was 73 years (range: 70–94). One hundred one (60.1%) patients were identified to have high risk. Eighty-one (87%) patients received 5-flourouracil+leucovorin and 12 (13%) patients received capecitabine regimens as adjuvant chemotherapy. The patients receiving capecitabine regimen had significantly higher rates of dose reduction at initiation and during the treatment. Among low-risk group, there was no statistically significant difference between patients with and without adjuvant chemotherapy in terms of disease-free survival or overall survival (p = 0.528 and p = 0.217, respectively). In high-risk group, patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy significantly differed from those not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy in terms of median disease-free survival and overall survival (p = 0.009 and p < 0.001, respectively). While the grade, lymph node status, and adjuvant chemotherapy were identified as the most significant independent factors for disease-free survival, the most significant factors for overall survival were the age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, adjuvant chemotherapy, and recurrence.

Conclusion

The findings of our study showed improved disease-free survival and overall survival in high-risk ≥70-year-old patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy due to T3N0M0 colorectal cancer. We believe that 5-flourouracil+leucovorin or capecitabine regimens should be recommended for these older high-risk patients who could receive adjuvant chemotherapy regardless of age.
A plane strain problem in the theory of elastic materials with voids
Authors: De Cicco Simona , De Angelis Fabio
Published: August 2019

This article is concerned with the linear theory of elastic materials with voids. With respect to the classical theory of elasticity, this model is characterized by four independent kinematic variables: the displacement field [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] and the change in volume fraction [Formula: see text]. First, we present the field equations in the equilibrium theory and derive the equations of the plane strain problem. Then, the problem of a cylindrical rigid inclusion in an infinite body is investigated. The results are obtained in closed form. The solution can be considered as a generalization of the corresponding problem in the classical theory of elasticity. The displacement field and the stresses are expressed by mean of explicit formulas. The maximum tensile stress and the stress concentration factor are calculated.
Impact of atmospheric non-thermal plasma and hydrothermal treatment on bioactive compounds and microbial inactivation of strawberry juice: A hurdle technology approach
Authors: Mehta Deepak , Yadav Sudesh Kumar
Published: August 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the hurdle effect of combining atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) with hydrothermal treatment on ascorbic acid, individual polyphenolic compounds, total phenolic content, and microbial inactivation of strawberry juice. Strawberry juice was treated with ACP for 10 and 15 min using dielectric barrier discharge at 60 kV with the input voltage of 260 V. The ascorbic acid concentration was retained maximum only in ACP treatment followed by ACP + hydrothermal treatment. Furthermore, ACP treatment for 10 min coupled with hydrothermal treatment resulted in the higher concentration of gallic acid, epigallocatechin, phloretin, naringin, hyprin, and 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid with respect to control ( p < 0.05). In addition, ACP treatment for 10 min at 60 kV in combination with hydrothermal treatment resulted in increased total phenolic content ( p < 0.05). Moreover, a 2-log microbial reduction was found in processed strawberry juice with ACP coupled-hydrothermal treatment in comparison to control juice ( p < 0.05). Therefore, ACP treatment of 10 min followed by hydrothermal treatment was found to be advantageous processing for strawberry juice to retain nutritional quality and decrease microbial load. Moreover, further optimization of ACP or hydrothermal processing with utilization of preservatives could be achieved for desired microbial inactivation for an industrial process.
Confucian Masculinity: State Advocacy of Active Fatherhood in Singapore
Authors: Lim Adelyn
Published: August 2019

This article examines representations of fathers and fatherhood in the advertising campaigns of Singaporean government agencies. The introduction of paternity leave and encouragement for fathers to play a bigger role in childcare and child-raising suggest that the government is sympathetic to the pursuit of gender equality, but I argue that state advocacy of active fatherhood serves to reinforce patriarchal tendencies in Singapore. Current scholarship on the problematization of women in state discourses has highlighted the power and privilege of a particular social group in Singapore: heterosexual men. However, there has been a developing body of theoretical and empirical research that looks more critically at the discursive constructions of masculinities, particularly along the dimensions of class, race, and sexuality. This article takes up this issue of different masculinities and the implications this diversity has for understanding patriarchal culture and its intersecting hierarchies. I propose the concept of Confucian masculinity to explain how the depiction of active fatherhood reinforces the ubiquitous “normal family” that upholds patriarchal ideology and perpetuates patriarchal power, thereby obscuring the contradictions of class, race, and sexuality that exist in Singapore.
Experimental and numerical study of wavy mechanical face seals operating under pressure inversions
Authors: Cochain Jérémy , Brunetière Noël , Parry Andrew , Denoix Henri , Maoui Abdelghani
Published: August 2019

This paper investigates the impact of the face waviness and pressure inversions on the leakage and on the outer fluid entry of mechanical face seals using a numerical model and an experimental setup. The numerical model couples a transient Reynolds equation, an analytical contact model, a force balance solver, and a solver for the thermo-mechanical deformations. The experimental tests on a face seal with low waviness and on a face seal with high waviness provide leakage and outer fluid entry data, which are reproduced by the model. Contrary to the face seal with low waviness, the face seal with high waviness has poor performance and the pressure inversions increase significantly the ingression of outer fluid. The parametric study shows a decrease of leakage with increasing spring force, and an increase of leakage and outer fluid entry with increasing values of waviness amplitude. The higher leakage observed for wavy seals is shown to be due to the higher average film thickness, and to some extent due to the mechanisms associated with waviness: hydrodynamic pressure generation, film squeeze and stretching.
Perspectives of individuals with multiple sclerosis on discontinuation of disease-modifying therapies
Authors: McGinley Marisa P , Cola Philip A , Fox Robert J , Cohen Jeffrey A , Corboy John J , Miller Deborah
Published: August 2019

Background:

Therapeutic research in multiple sclerosis (MS) has focused on the development of treatments with little investigation regarding the possibility of discontinuation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).

Objective:

To understand the opinion of individuals with MS concerning stopping DMTs and the factors that influence the decision-making process.

Methods:

A mixed method approach was used starting with three focus groups from which a survey was developed. This survey was sent to 1000 participants in the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis registry who met inclusion criteria (age ⩾45 years; on most recent DMT for ⩾5 years). Descriptive analysis and structural equation modeling were used.

Results:

Of 1000 participants receiving the survey, 377 provided complete responses and met inclusion criteria. Only 11.9% of participants reported that if their disease was considered stable, they would consider coming off medications. A high level of external locus of control in influential others such as physicians significantly decreased the likelihood of considering discontinuation.

Conclusions:

Most individuals with MS report being unlikely to consider stopping MS therapy if their disease was considered “non-active.” As the results of studies concerning DMT discontinuation are obtained, information from providers will be an important part of individuals’ decision-making process.
Aerodynamic noise characteristics of a thin airfoil with line distribution of holes adjacent to the trailing edge
Authors: Sumesh CK , Sarvoththama Jothi TJ
Published: August 2019

This paper investigates the noise emissions from thin airfoils experimentally. An attempt has been made to study the effect of line distribution of 3 mm diameter holes adjacent to the trailing edge on noise emission characteristics. Thin airfoils having chord length and span of 150 and 240 mm, respectively, are considered for the investigation. The airfoil is subjected to the flow Reynolds number (defined based on the chord length of airfoil) in the range of 2.0 × 105 to 5.0 × 105, and angles of attack of 0°, 2°, and 4°. The spectral results indicate that the modified airfoil with holes is effective in minimizing the lower frequency noise (<3.5 kHz) compared to that of the reference airfoil. The reduction in the low-frequency sound pressure levels for the modified airfoil is found up to 5 dB. The modified airfoil with holes is ineffective in reducing the higher frequency noise components, and in fact, generated a broadband frequency noise at higher Reynolds number. From the spectral studies, a critical Strouhal number is estimated to be around 0.15 that defines the limiting value for the effectiveness of the modified airfoil. The overall sound pressure level studies depicted that the modified airfoil is effective at higher angles of attack with the reduction of around 1–2 dB. The noise generated from the thin airfoils is found to have the directivity towards the upstream.
Research on cross-layer design and optimization algorithm of network robot 5G multimedia sensor network
Authors: He Yongqiang , Yang Mingming
Published: August 2019

Cross-layer optimization based on maximizing the utility of network robot 5G multimedia sensor network is a systematic method for cross-layer design of wireless networks. It abstracts the functional and performance requirements of the layers in the protocol stack into objective functions and constraints in mathematical optimization problems. In this article, the cross-layer optimization problem of wireless Mesh networks using multi-radio interface multi-channel technology is studied. The optimization problem is modelled based on the network utility maximization method, and the corresponding algorithm is proposed. Based on the random network utility maximization method, the cross-layer optimization model of network robot 5G multimedia sensor network is established. Aiming at the time-varying randomness of random data flow and wireless propagation environment in network robot 5G multimedia sensor network, a model of joint congestion control and power control based on chance constrained programming is proposed, and its genetic algorithm is used to verify it. Reforming research will help speed up the practical pace of the field, with certain theoretical forward-looking and practical value.
Risk to bystanders in clinical trials: A symposium
Authors: Eyal Nir
Published: August 2019

This symposium takes a critical look at the ethics of impact on “bystanders” to clinical research. By that we mean study non-participants who nevertheless are at risk of being affected by the study in some way. This introduction suggests some questions to consider while reading through the symposium contributions, and gives a précis of each.
Objective monitoring of mosquito bednet usage and the ethical challenge of respecting study bystanders’ privacy
Authors: Krezanoski Paul , Haberer Jessica
Published: August 2019

Insecticide-treated bednets are among the most prevalent and cost-effective tools for preventing malaria throughout the world. Consistent bednet use is crucial for effectiveness, but assessing adherence is challenging due to limitations in current measurement tools. Recent technologies have introduced methods for remote electronic bednet use monitoring. While valuable for researchers, these monitoring tools create potential ethical concerns for study bystanders because the monitors are typically unable to discriminate between individuals who are or are not study participants. Considerations related to study bystanders, including privacy, ancillary care obligations, and community perceptions, are discussed.
Sex partners as bystanders in HIV prevention trials: Two test cases for research ethics
Authors: Bärnighausen Till
Published: August 2019

Research involving human subjects can impose risk on some ‘bystanders’– people who are not themselves research subjects but whom the study may affect. We examine the consequences of research for a particular category of bystanders – research subjects’ sex partners – in trials testing interventions to reduce (1) HIV transmission (HIV treatment-as-prevention trials) and (2) HIV acquisition (HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis trials). Both types of trials provide useful test cases for assessing whether bystanders to research deserve special consideration in ethics reviews, and potentially some of the benefits and protections that research subjects receive. In HIV treatment-as-prevention trials, there are two groups of people who are alike in many important respects but treated very differently by research ethics: research subjects who contribute data on the primary endpoint of the trial (because some of them have sex with the people receiving the treatment conditions of the trials) – and bystanders who are not enrolled in the trials but who could have contributed primary endpoint data in the same way as the first group. In pre-exposure trials, the sex partners of people participating in pre-exposure prophylaxis trials are bystanders, even though they are necessary for the success of the trial. Research subjects’ autonomy is fiercely protected by trial enrolment processes. Bystanders, by contrast, often have no choice but to be affected by the study, because of their relationship to a research subject. In HIV prevention trials, standing by can come with important risks, including the same ones on which the success of the research hinges. It is thus important to consider the ethical obligations to protect bystanders, and the related procedural responsibilities.
Cloudy days ahead: Cross-border evidence collection and its impact on the rights of EU citizens
Authors: Siry Lawrence
Published: August 2019

In recent years, the development of cloud storage and the ease of cross-border communication have rendered the area of evidence collection particularly difficult for law enforcement agencies (LEAs), courts and academics. Evidence related to a criminal act in one jurisdiction might be stored in a different jurisdiction. Often it is not even clear in which jurisdiction the relevant data are, and at times the data may be spread over multiple jurisdictions. The traditional rules related to cross-border evidence collection, the mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) regimes, have proved to be out-dated, cumbersome and inefficient, as they were suited for a time when the seeking of cross-border evidence was more infrequent. In order to tackle this problem, the United States has enacted the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act, which gives extraterritorial e-evidence collection powers to US courts. Simultaneously, the European Union (EU) has proposed similar sweeping changes which would allow for LEAs in Member States to preserve and collect cloud-based evidence outside of the MLAT system. This article critically evaluates these developments from the perspective of the impact on the rights of EU citizens.
NAO robot for cooperative rehabilitation training
Authors: Assad-Uz-Zaman Md , Rasedul Islam Md , Miah Suruz , Rahman Mohammad H
Published: August 2019

Introduction

The aim of this research is to develop a robot-assistive training approach for the disabled individuals with impaired upper limb functions. People with impaired upper limb function can regain their motor functionality undergoing intense rehabilitation exercises. With increasing number of disabled individuals, we face deficiency in the number of expert therapists. One promising remedy could be the use of robotic assistive devices.

Method

To instruct and demonstrate rehabilitation exercise, this research used NAO robot. A library of recommended rehabilitation exercises involving shoulder (i.e., abduction/adduction, vertical flexion/extension, and internal/external rotation), and elbow (i.e., flexion/extension) joint movements was formed in Choregraphe (graphical programming interface). For this purpose, a kinematic model of human upper-extremity was developed based on modified Denavit-Hartenberg notations.

Result

In experiments, NAO robot gave voice instruction and was maneuvered to cooperate and demonstrate the exercises from the library. NAO also plays some complex game with the subject that represents a multi-joint movement's exercise, which was also included in the library.

Conclusions

Experimental results with healthy participants reveal that the NAO robot can successfully instruct and demonstrate upper-extremity rehabilitation exercises for single and multi-joint movements. It implies a technical development of cooperative rehabilitation system for which target group will be individuals with upper limb impairment.
Information retrieval as a part of evidence-based practice: Retrieval skills, behavior and needs among nurses at a large university hospital
Authors: Lee Anne , Alving Berit Elisabeth , Horup Mette Bøg , Thrysoee Lars
Published: August 2019

Nurses are required to apply research-based knowledge in order to perform evidence-based practice. A survey was conducted to identify nurses’ information-retrieval skills, behavior and needs and replies were received from 1301 nurses. The most used electronic resources for retrieval of healthcare information were the local intra-net and Google, while bibliographic databases were used to a lesser extent. Half of the respondents indicated that they were accustomed to search databases and an equal number indicated lack of time and that information retrieval was not requested by their colleagues. The majority assessed their own information-retrieval skills as good while one third lacked knowledge and described information retrieval as difficult. Significant differences in competences and use of bibliographic databases were found between nurses who had graduated before and after an educational reform in 2011. Further measures, including collaborations between librarians and nurse management, must be developed to support information literacy and evidence-based practice among nurses.
A Reflection on Marketing 4.0 From the Perspective of Senior Citizens’ Communities of Practice
Authors: Gau Wen-Bing
Published: August 2019

Based on an exploration of the marketing strategies employed in senior citizens’ communities of practice (CoPs), this study proposes that the concept of co-construction derived from learning theory is indispensable in Marketing 4.0, which builds on offline and online interaction between and among consumers and the providers of particular goods and services to create a sense of community. Adopting a qualitative approach, the researchers visited 15 Senior Citizens Learning Centers (SCLCs) in Taiwan, and employed semi-structured interview methods to probe selected interviewees’ insights. This resulted in the identification of four key strategies for CoPs’ marketing efforts, all of which work best if governed by a quality process known as legislating peripheral participation (LPP), which is grounded in co-construction. Specifically, it was found that an SCLC with a unique and high-quality LPP process can not only attract senior citizens’ participation, but also transform their roles from customers to volunteers. The study also assesses whether and how well the four identified strategies can be implemented simultaneously, along with their implications for Marketing 4.0 and for the management of senior citizen–specific CoPs. On a theoretical level, this study highlights the differences between the educational concept of co-construction and the Marketing 4.0 concept of co-creation: with the former being a mutual engagement that integrates buyers and sellers into a cooperative interaction. This process, which takes into account the growth of group identity, individuals’ sense of meaning, and marketing potential, is an important force in Marketing 4.0 that transforms customers into advocates.
Acceptability of a Wellness Group Program for Veterans With Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Mori DeAnna L , Smidt Katharine , Brown Laurel , Pless Kaiser Anica , Weinstein Elizabeth S , Niles Barbara L
Published: August 2019

Background

Although there are effective evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), many individuals drop out or do not benefit from treatment. There is a need for new treatments, including approaches that are nontrauma focused.

Objective

The purpose of this program evaluation was to investigate the acceptability of a Wellness Group designed to promote healthy behaviors and adaptive coping when offered to veterans with PTSD.

Methods

Nine veterans in a PTSD outpatient clinic enrolled in a 12-week, 24-session Wellness Group. Acceptability of the intervention was evaluated with attendance data, questionnaires, and interviews.

Results

Group attendance rates were high and no participants dropped out of treatment. Treatment satisfaction was high and all veterans reported gains in at least 3 of the 8 Wellness domains covered. Interview data supported the findings that veterans had positive reactions to the group.

Conclusion

A Wellness approach may offer a low-cost alternative or supplementary treatment for veterans with PTSD that is highly acceptable and may improve health behaviors, quality of life, and coping skills.
Employer-Supported Volunteerism in Rural Worksites
Authors: Nothwehr Faryle , Rohlman Diane
Published: August 2019

Employer-supported volunteerism has the potential to benefit employees and ultimately have a positive business impact. Volunteerism has been linked to improved quality of life, reduced morbidity, and higher self-rated health. This study was designed to understand what small, rural worksites are doing with regard to volunteerism, and what their barriers are to such activities. An online survey was distributed to worksites using the social network of a Resource, Conservation, and Development Council, a rural nonprofit entity. Analyses included descriptive statistics, and for qualitative data, review and summary of common themes. Thirty-eight worksites responded, representing a wide range of worksite types. Volunteer activities requiring less time and resources to organize were more commonly employed versus group-based activities. Identified barriers included time, costs, small staffing numbers, perceived employee lack of interest, worksite policies, distance to volunteer sites, language barriers, and lack of awareness of opportunities. Despite a variety of challenges, some forms of employer-supported volunteerism seem feasible even in very small rural worksites. Worksite type, culture, and leadership are likely to be determinants of the extent and nature of employer-supported volunteerism. Strategies to encourage greater volunteerism need to be tailored to the interests and resources of each site. Occupational health nurses should consider incorporating some form of employee volunteerism activities within their health promotion programming, as it is consistent with an overall strategy of enhancing employee well-being. This could lead to positive business impacts such as increased employee engagement, improved recruitment and retention, and improved productivity.
Inquiry-Based Instruction in Science and Mathematics in Middle School Classrooms: Examining Its Association With Students’ Attitudes by Gender and Race/Ethnicity
Authors: Riegle-Crumb Catherine , Morton Karisma , Nguyen Ursula , Dasgupta Nilanjana
Published: August 2019

Utilizing a nationally representative sample of middle school students, this article focuses on whether students who report experiencing more inquiry-based instruction in science and mathematics classrooms have more positive attitudes toward these subjects. Results of multilevel, multivariate regression analyses revealed that, net of the inclusion of control variables for student, teacher, and school characteristics, a higher frequency of inquiry-based instruction is significantly associated with greater interest, perceptions of utility, and self-efficacy for science and mathematics. Furthermore, although there is some evidence indicating that compared with female students, male students’ perceptions of science utility are higher in relation to more inquiry-based instruction, overall, the weight of evidence clearly leans toward the conclusion that the attitudes of students from different gender and racial/ethnic backgrounds are similarly associated with greater exposure to inquiry-based instruction in both their science and mathematics classrooms.
Inclusiveness in the Panchayati Raj Institutions
Authors: Sukumar N. , Lal L. David , Mishra Vinod Kumar
Published: August 2019

The 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution has evolved as a significant mechanism for devolution of power and democratic decentralisation. The template was to transform the power relation at three levels, that is, family, community and state apparatuses. Studies on the representation of underprivileged groups (caste, gender and tribes) in the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) have highlighted the continued discrimination against these groups. This article analyses both enabling and disabling factors which affect the performance of the elected representatives (ERs) belonging to the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women from seven states. The findings (both qualitative and quantitative) of the study highlight general as well as group-specific enabling and disabling factors that impact the performance of the ERs in PRIs.
Preoccupation with failure and adherence to shared baselines: Measuring high-reliability organizational culture
Authors: Etchegaray Jason M , Thomas Eric J , Profit Jochen
Published: August 2019

Objective

To create, administer, and psychometrically examine a survey to measure two new organizational culture factors – preoccupation with failure and adherence to shared baselines – in healthcare settings.

Method

Direct care providers (n = 4484) from a large healthcare system in the Southern United States completed a survey as part of their annual safety culture assessment.

Results

We provide evidence about the internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha ranged from .80 to .89) factor structure, concurrent validity (correlation with overall patient safety grade ranged from .60 to .67, p < .05), and discriminant validity (correlations less than .85 with safety and teamwork culture) of these two factors.

Conclusions

We established evidence for internal consistency and validity of two new factors that measure aspects of organizational culture – preoccupation with failure and adherence to shared baselines – that are distinct from safety culture and teamwork culture.
Determination of the phase composition of partially dehydroxylated kaolinites by modelling their X-ray diffraction patterns
Authors: Drits Victor A. , Sakharov Boris A. , Dorzhieva Olga V. , Zviagina Bella B. , Lindgreen Holger
Published: August 2019

Modelling of experimental X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns is used to determine the phase composition of partially dehydroxylated kaolinite samples. To identify unambiguously the presence of two or three phases in the heated kaolinite samples, the full range of their XRD patterns has to be analysed. Two different kaolinites, from Imerys (UK) and from Georgia (USA; KGa-21), were studied. The heating temperatures were selected to cover the entire range of dehydroxylation for both kaolinites (400–550°C for Imerys and 400–495°C for KGa-21). Two different dehydroxylation pathways were observed. At each stage of partial dehydroxylation, the kaolinite from Imerys consisted of the original, non-dehydroxylated kaolinite and of a fully dehydroxylated phase, metakaolinite. During partial dehydroxylation of kaolinite KGa-21, each product formed at a given heating temperature consisted of three phases: the original kaolinite; a dehydroxylated phase, metakaolinite; and a phase with diffraction features corresponding to a defective kaolinite-like structure. To determine the content of metakaolinite in a partially dehydroxylated specimen, its experimental XRD pattern was reproduced by the optimal summation of the diffraction patterns of the initial kaolinite and metakaolinite. A procedure that reveals the basic diffraction features of the third phase is suggested. The XRD patterns and thus the structures of the metakaolinites formed after dehydroxylation of the Imerys and KGa-21 samples differ substantially. The conventional determination of the initial kaolinite and metakaolinite contents in partially dehydroxylated kaolinite based on the analysis of basal reflections and weight losses may lead to overlooking the formation of the intermediate phases.
L-selectin shedding affects bacterial clearance in the lung: a new regulatory pathway for integrin outside-in signaling
Authors: Cappenberg Anika , Margraf Andreas , Thomas Katharina , Bardel Bernadette , McCreedy Dylan A. , Van Marck Veerle , Mellmann Alexander , Lowell Clifford A. , Zarbock Alexander
Published: August 2019

This study unveils an unanticipated role of L-selectin downstream of integrin outside-in signaling in important neutrophil effector functions, including the clearance of bacteria in infected tissues.
The emerging role of mast cell proteases in asthma
Authors: Pejler Gunnar
Published: August 2019

It is now well established that mast cells (MCs) play a crucial role in asthma. This is supported by multiple lines of evidence, including both clinical studies and studies on MC-deficient mice. However, there is still only limited knowledge of the exact effector mechanism(s) by which MCs influence asthma pathology. MCs contain large amounts of secretory granules, which are filled with a variety of bioactive compounds including histamine, cytokines, lysosomal hydrolases, serglycin proteoglycans and a number of MC-restricted proteases. When MCs are activated,e.g.in response to IgE receptor cross-linking, the contents of their granules are released to the exterior and can cause a massive inflammatory reaction. The MC-restricted proteases include tryptases, chymases and carboxypeptidase A3, and these are expressed and stored at remarkably high levels. There is now emerging evidence supporting a prominent role of these enzymes in the pathology of asthma. Interestingly, however, the role of the MC-restricted proteases is multifaceted, encompassing both protective and detrimental activities. Here, the current knowledge of how the MC-restricted proteases impact on asthma is reviewed.
Changes in behaviors after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and 10-year incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality
Authors: Strelitz Jean , Ahern Amy L. , Long Gráinne H. , Boothby Clare E. , Wareham Nicholas J. , Griffin Simon J.
Published: August 2019

Background

Large changes in health behaviors achieved through intensive lifestyle intervention programs improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among adults with type 2 diabetes. However, such interventions are not widely available, and there is limited evidence as to whether changes in behaviors affect risk of CVD events.

Methods

Among 852 adults with screen-detected type 2 diabetes in theADDITION-Cambridgestudy, we assessed changes in diet, physical activity, and alcohol use in the year following diabetes diagnosis. Participants were recruited from 49 general practices in Eastern England from 2002 to 2006, and were followed through 2014 for incidence of CVD events (n = 116) and all-cause mortality (n = 127). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for the associations of changes in behaviors with CVD and all-cause mortality. We estimated associations with CVD risk factors using linear regression. We considered changes in individual behaviors and overall number of healthy changes. Models adjusted for demographic factors, bodyweight, smoking, baseline value of the health behavior, and cardio-protective medication use.

Results

Decreasing alcohol intake by ≥ 2 units/week was associated with lower hazard of CVD vs maintenance [HR: 0.56, 95% CI 0.36, 0.87]. Decreasing daily calorie intake by ≥ 300 kcal was associated with lower hazard of all-cause mortality vs maintenance [HR: 0.56, 95% CI 0.34, 0.92]. Achieving ≥ 2 healthy behavior changes was associated with lower hazard of CVD vs no healthy changes [HR: 0.39, 95% CI 0.18, 0.82].

Conclusions

In the year following diabetes diagnosis, small reductions in alcohol use were associated with lower hazard of CVD and small reductions in calorie intake were associated with lower hazard of all-cause mortality in a population-based sample. Where insufficient resources exist for specialist-led interventions, achievement of moderate behavior change targets is possible outside of treatment programs and may reduce long-term risk of CVD complications.

Trial registrationThis trial is registered as ISRCTN86769081. Retrospectively registered 15 December 2006
Adipose Tissue Distribution and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Cespedes Feliciano Elizabeth M. , Chen Wendy Y. , Bradshaw Patrick T. , Prado Carla M. , Alexeeff Stacey , Albers Kathleen B. , Castillo Adrienne L. , Caan Bette J.
Published: August 2019

PURPOSE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major source of morbidity and mortality among breast cancer survivors. Although body mass index (BMI) is associated with CVD risk, adipose tissue distribution may better identify patients with a high risk of CVD after breast cancer.

METHODS

Among 2,943 patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer without prior CVD, we used International Classification of Diseases (9th and 10th revisions) codes to identify incidence of nonfatal stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, or CVD death. From clinically acquired computed tomography scans obtained near diagnosis, we measured visceral adiposity (centimeters squared), subcutaneous adiposity (centimeters squared), and intramuscular adiposity (fatty infiltration into muscle [Hounsfield Units, scored inversely]). We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs per SD increase in adiposity accounting for competing risks and adjusting for demographics, smoking, cancer treatment, and pre-existing CVD risk factors.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) age was 56 (12) years. Over a median follow-up of 6 years, 328 CVD events occurred. Each SD increase in visceral or intramuscular adiposity was associated with an increase in CVD risk (HR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.03 to 1.29] and HR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.06 to 1.37]), respectively). Excess visceral and intramuscular adiposity occurred across all BMI categories. Among normal-weight patients, each SD greater visceral adiposity increased CVD risk by 70% (HR, 1.70 [95% CI, 1.10 to 2.62]).

CONCLUSION

Visceral and intramuscular adiposity were associated with increased CVD incidence after breast cancer diagnosis, independent of pre-existing CVD risk factors and cancer treatments. The increased CVD incidence among normal-weight patients with greater visceral adiposity would go undetected with BMI alone. Measures of adipose tissue distribution may help identify high-risk patients and tailor CVD prevention strategies.