bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the resistance spot welding of four-sheet stack of unequal sheet thickness
Authors: Eizadi H. , Marashi S. P. H.
Published: May 2016

There is a lack of sufficient understanding regarding resistance spot welding behaviour of multi-layer structure. This paper investigates the weld nugget development and failure characteristics of four-sheet joint of dissimilar sheet thickness (0.7/1.2/1.2/0.9 mm) made on low carbon steel. The heat dissipation via water-cooled electrode hinders the weld nugget penetration into the thin/thick sheet interface. It was shown that increasing heat input led to bonding mechanism transition from solid-state welding to fusion welding at thin/thick sheet interface. Increasing welding current beyond a critical value changed the failure mode from interfacial to pullout leading to improvement of energy absorption of the joint. Fusion zone size along middle sheet/sheet interface proved to be the most important controlling factor for mechanical properties of four-sheet resistance spot welds.
Two step friction stir spot welding between aluminium and carbon steel sheets
Authors: Mahadeva Swamy M. , Muthukumaran S. , Kiran K.
Published: May 2016

A two step friction stir spot welding has been developed to join a 2 mm thick low carbon steel sheet and a 3 mm thick aluminium sheet. In the first step, a consumable aluminium tool is used to develop frictional heat and plasticise the aluminium layer from the tool which fills the cavity in the aluminium sheet, progressively. In the subsequent step, the plasticised layer is squeezed by a non-consumable forming tool made of high carbon steel with an inverted semi-hemispherical profile. To understand the efficacy of the contact area of the plasticised metal, five different tool rotational speeds were used. The integrity of the joint was evaluated by different mechanical and metallurgical examinations.
Price Differences across Farmers’ Markets, Roadside Stands, and Supermarkets in North Carolina
Authors: Valpiani Natalie H. , Wilde Parke E. , Rogers Beatrice L. , Stewart Hayden G.
Published: May 2016

Whether direct farmer‐to‐consumer outlets compete with supermarkets on produce prices remains an empirical question; marketing costs are not consistently higher in one retail channel or the other. This study compared prices of 29 fruits and vegetables across North Carolina farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and supermarkets. Larger farmers’ markets had higher prices: three fruits and one vegetable were cheaper at a direct outlet, while four vegetables were cheaper at supermarkets. Weighting item prices by consumption share attenuated differences in mean price across outlets. Direct‐retail outlets are price competitive and should be considered among other tools to boost fresh fruit and vegetable intake.
Five Tactics to Quickly Build Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Capacity at Academic Health Centers
Authors: Stevens Carl D.
Published: May 2016

In this issue, Coleman and colleagues propose an ambitious strategic action framework for academic health center (AHC) department chairs seeking to expand faculty expertise in quality improvement and patient safety (QI/PS). Noting the advent of value-based payment models and that AHCs lag behind some community hospitals in QI/PS, Coleman and colleagues call for deliberate, proactive faculty development and recognition measures to build QI/PS capacity at AHCs. In this Invited Commentary, the author addresses the five challenges to strengthening QI/PS capacity identified by Coleman and colleagues: (1) the mentorship gap: the paucity of expert senior faculty who can mentor junior colleagues in QI/PS; (2) data and analytic bottlenecks: information systems and analytic requests to support QI/PS projects often get pushed to the back of long queues of prioritized queries from other departments, effectively halting QI/PS projects; (3) misalignment between existing reimbursement mechanisms and QI/PS: current fee-for-service and prospective payment mechanisms drive high utilization of costly interventions and can financially penalize organizations that keep patients well and avoid interventions; (4) limited recognition for QI/PS achievement in academic advancement decisions; and (5) pressure to invent and deploy alternative business models that reward value and results rather than the volume and pricing of services, to better align payer, provider, and patient incentives around high-value care. The author outlines practical short-term measures to mitigate the first four challenges and a more expansive vision for AHCs to transform their business models and regain a leadership position in QI/PS to address the fifth challenge.
Effect of Polyether Ether Ketone on Therapeutic Radiation to the Spine
Authors: Jackson J. Benjamin , Crimaldi Anthony J. , Peindl Richard , Norton H. James , Anderson William E. , Patt Joshua C.
Published: May 2016

Study Design.

Cadaveric model.

Objectives.

To compare the effect of PEEK versus conventional implants on scatter radiation to a simulated tumor bed in the spine

Summary of Background Data.

Given the highly vasculature nature of the spine, it is the most common place for bony metastases. After surgical treatment of a spinal metastasis, adjuvant radiation therapy is typically administered. Radiation dosing is primarily limited by toxicity to the spinal cord. The scatter effect caused by metallic implants decreases the accuracy of dosing and can unintentionally increase the effective dose seen by the spinal cord. This represents a dose-limiting factor for therapeutic radiation postoperatively.

Methods.

A cadaveric thorax specimen was utilized as a metastatic tumor model with two separate three-level spine constructs (one upper thoracic and one lower thoracic). Each construct was examined independently. All four groups compared included identical posterior instrumentation. The anterior constructs consisted of either: an anterior polyether ether ketone (PEEK) cage, an anterior titanium cage, an anterior bone cement cage (polymethyl methacrylate), or a control group with posterior instrumentation alone. Each construct had six thermoluminescent detectors to measure the radiation dose.

Results.

The mean dose was similar across all constructs and locations. There was more variability in the upper thoracic spine irrespective of the construct type. The PEEK construct had a more uniform dose distribution with a standard deviation of 9.76. The standard deviation of the others constructs was 14.26 for the control group, 19.31 for the titanium cage, and 21.57 for the cement (polymethyl methacrylate) construct.

Conclusion.

The PEEK inter-body cage resulted in a significantly more uniform distribution of therapeutic radiation in the spine when compared with the other constructs. This may allow for the application of higher effective dosing to the tumor bed for spinal metastases without increasing spinal cord toxicity with either fractionated or hypofractionated radiotherapy.

Level of Evidence: N/A
Implementation of colorectal cancer screening in Spain: main results 2006–2011
Authors: Salas Trejo Dolores , Portillo Villares Isabel , Espinàs Piñol Josep A. , Ibáñez Cabanell Josefa , Vanaclocha Espí Mercedes , Pérez Riquelme Francisco , de la Vega Prieto Mariola , González de Aledo Linos Álvaro , Idígoras Rubio Isabel , Sacristán Terroba Begoña , López García Rosa , Romero Hergueta Carmen
Published: May 2016

The Spanish Cancer Screening Network involves the participation of all regional programmes and has been working for over 20 years to co-ordinate strategies and implement quality assurance in current and new regional programmes. In colorectal cancer, the target population is the group aged 50–69 years, who are offered biennial testing using the faecal occult blood test in all programmes, with follow-up colonoscopy if the faecal occult blood test is positive. This article presents the main trends, indicators and differences by sex. The main indicators from 2006 to 2011 were analysed: coverage, participation rate, positivity rate, colonoscopy uptake and lesions detected. Annual trends were adjusted by sex and region. In 2011, coverage was 9.74% of the Spanish target population. A total of 1 001 669 first invitations were registered from 2006 to 2011 and 596 649 individuals participated in the programmes (43.83% participation rate). Results were positive in 30 544 individuals (5.47%), with the lowest positivity rate occurring in 2007 (3.06%) and the highest in 2011 (6.30%) (P<0.001). In all, 27 568 colonoscopies were registered, with a high compliance rate (90.00% in 2011 and 95.59% in 2007) (P=0.381). The adenoma and colorectal cancer detection rates increased over the period, reaching 32.25/1000 and 3.42/1000 participants in 2011, respectively (P<0.001 and P=0.001). Comparison of differences by sex showed that detection rates were significantly higher in men than in women (P<0.001). Participation increased over time and has now reached an acceptable rate. Men show low participation but higher detection rates, indicating the need for further intervention. The Spanish Cancer Screening Network provides common evaluation, performance and organizational benchmarking.
Dietary fat and fiber interactively modulate apoptosis and mitochondrial bioenergetic profiles in mouse colon in a site-specific manner
Authors: Fan Yang-Yi , Vaz Frederic M. , Chapkin Robert S.
Published: May 2016

We have demonstrated that the combination of bioactive components generated by fish oil (containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) and fermentable fiber (leading to butyrate production) act coordinately to protect against colon cancer. This is, in part, the result of an enhancement of apoptosis at the base of the crypt across all stages (initiation, promotion, and progression) of colon tumorigenesis. As mitochondria are key organelles capable of regulating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway and mediating programmed cell death, we investigated the effects of diet on mitochondrial function by measuring mucosal cardiolipin composition, mitochondrial respiratory parameters, and apoptosis in isolated crypts from the proximal and distal colon. C57BL/6 mice (n=15/treatment) were fed one of two dietary fats (corn oil and fish oil) and two fibers (pectin and cellulose) for 4 weeks in a 2×2 factorial design. In general, diet modulated apoptosis and the mucosal bioenergetic profiles in a site-specific manner. The fish/pectin diet promoted a more proapoptotic phenotype – for example, increased proton leak (P
interaction=0.002) – compared with corn/cellulose (control) only in the proximal colon. With respect to the composition of cardiolipin, a unique phospholipid localized to the mitochondrial inner membrane where it mediates energy metabolism, fish oil feeding indirectly influenced its molecular species with a combined carbon number of C68 or greater, suggesting compensatory regulation. These data indicate that dietary fat and fiber can interactively modulate the mitochondrial metabolic profile and thereby potentially modulate apoptosis and subsequent colon cancer risk.
Cinnamomum verum ingredient 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde: a new antiproliferative drug targeting topoisomerase I and II in human lung squamous cell carcinoma NCI-H520 cells
Authors: Liu Yi-Heng , Tsai Kuen-Daw , Yang Shu-Mei , Wong Ho-Yiu , Chen Ta-Wei , Cherng Jonathan , Cherng Jaw-Ming
Published: May 2016

Cinnamomum verum has been used as a Chinese herbal medication. We investigated the antiproliferative effect of 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde (2-MCA), a constituent of the cortex of the plant, and the molecular biomarkers associated with tumorigenesis in human lung squamous cell carcinoma NCI-H520 cells. The effects of 2-MCA on cell growth, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and topoisomerase I and II activities in human lung squamous cell carcinoma NCI-H520 cells were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that 2-MCA inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis as implicated by mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ
m) loss, activation of both caspase 3 and caspase 9, as well as morphological characteristics of apoptosis. Furthermore, 2-MCA also induced lysosomal vacuolation with elevated volume of acidic compartment and cytotoxicity, and inhibited topoisomerase I as well as II activities. Additional study showed the antiproliferative effect of 2-MCA in a nude mice model. In short, our data imply that the antiproliferative activity of 2-MCA in vitro involved downregulation of cell growth markers, both topoisomerase I and II, and upregulation of proapoptotic molecules, associated with increased lysosomal vacuolation. In vivo, 2-MCA reduced the tumor size, which could have had a significant clinical impact. Our data imply that 2-MCA may be a potential agent for chemoprevention as well as anticancer therapy.
Impact of Health Insurance, ADAP, and Income on HIV Viral Suppression Among US Women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study, 2006–2009
Authors: Ludema Christina , Cole Stephen R. , Eron Joseph J. , Edmonds Andrew , Holmes G. Mark , Anastos Kathryn , Cocohoba Jennifer , Cohen Mardge , Cooper Hannah L. F. , Golub Elizabeth T. , Kassaye Seble , Konkle-Parker Deborah , Metsch Lisa , Milam Joel , Wilson Tracey E. , Adimora Adaora A.
Published: May 2016

Background:

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act motivates assessment of health insurance and supplementary programs, such as the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) on health outcomes of HIV-infected people in the United States. We assessed the effects of health insurance, ADAP, and income on HIV viral load suppression.

Methods:

We used existing cohort data from the HIV-infected participants of the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the time from 2006 to unsuppressed HIV viral load (>200 copies/mL) among those with Medicaid, private, Medicare, or other public insurance, and no insurance, stratified by the use of ADAP.

Results:

In 2006, 65% of women had Medicaid, 18% had private insurance, 3% had Medicare or other public insurance, and 14% reported no health insurance. ADAP coverage was reported by 284 women (20%); 56% of uninsured participants reported ADAP coverage. After accounting for study site, age, race, lowest observed CD4, and previous health insurance, the hazard ratio (HR) for unsuppressed viral load among those privately insured without ADAP, compared with those on Medicaid without ADAP (referent group), was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.48 to 0.77). Among the uninsured, those with ADAP had a lower relative hazard of unsuppressed viral load compared with the referent group (HR, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.28 to 0.85) than those without ADAP (HR, 95% CI: 1.00, 0.63 to 1.57).

Conclusions:

Although women with private insurance are most likely to be virally suppressed, ADAP also contributes to viral load suppression. Continued support of this program may be especially critical for states that have not expanded Medicaid.
Effects of Well-Controlled HIV Infection on Complement Activation and Function
Authors: E-B Rossheim Alexandria , Cunningham Tina D. , Hair Pamela S. , Shah Tushar , Cunnion Kenji M. , Troy Stephanie B.
Published: May 2016

Introduction:

Uncontrolled HIV infection is known to activate the complement system, leading to an increase in chronic inflammation. Whether or not this activation of complement persists and contributes to chronic inflammation in subjects with HIV infection that is well controlled through use of antiretroviral therapy has not been studied.

Methods:

We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study using sera from 305 adults with well-controlled HIV infection and 30 healthy controls. Sera was tested for markers of complement activation (C3a and C5a levels), complement function (CH50 assay), and immunoglobulin levels (IgG1–IgG4) as IgG can activate complement. We evaluated the association of well-controlled HIV infection with C3a, C5a, CH50, IgG1–IgG4, and total IgG levels using both univariate and multivariate analyses, controlling for factors such as age, sex, race, comorbidities (including hepatitis C coinfection), smoking status, and statin use.

Results:

Well-controlled HIV infection was associated with a 54% increase in complement activation as measured by C3a levels compared with healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Hepatitis C coinfection was associated with a further 52% increase in complement activation, as measured by C3a levels, over HIV alone (P = 0.003).

Conclusion:

These results suggest that complement activation may contribute to a proinflammatory state even in well-controlled HIV infection. Furthermore, hepatitis C virus coinfection may be even more proinflammatory, in complement activation, compared with HIV infection alone.
The social brain: scale-invariant layering of Erdős–Rényi networks in small-scale human societies
Authors: Harré Michael S. , Prokopenko Mikhail
Published: May 2016

The cognitive ability to form social links that can bind individuals together into large cooperative groups for safety and resource sharing was a key development in human evolutionary and social history. The ‘social brain hypothesis’ argues that the size of these social groups is based on a neurologically constrained capacity for maintaining long-term stable relationships. No model to date has been able to combine a specific socio-cognitive mechanism with the discrete scale invariance observed in ethnographic studies. We show that these properties result in nested layers of self-organizing Erdős–Rényi networks formed by each individual's ability to maintain only a small number of social links. Each set of links plays a specific role in the formation of different social groups. The scale invariance in our model is distinct from previous ‘scale-free networks’ studied using much larger social groups; here, the scale invariance is in the relationship between group sizes, rather than in the link degree distribution. We also compare our model with a dominance-based hierarchy and conclude that humans were probably egalitarian in hunter–gatherer-like societies, maintaining an average maximum of four or five social links connecting all members in a largest social network of around 132 people.
Parents face quantity–quality trade-offs between reproduction and investment in offspring in Iceland
Authors: Lynch Robert Francis
Published: May 2016

How to optimally allocate time, energy and investment in an effort to maximize one's reproductive success is a fundamental problem faced by all organisms. This effort is complicated when the production of each additional offspring dilutes the total resources available for parental investment. Although a quantity–quality trade-off between producing and investing in offspring has long been assumed in evolutionary biology, testing it directly in humans is difficult, partly owing to the long generation time of our species. Using data from an Icelandic genealogy (Íslendingabók) over two centuries, I address this issue and analyse the quantity–quality trade-off in humans. I demonstrate that the primary impact of parents on the fitness of their children is the result of resources and or investment, but not genes. This effect changes significantly across time, in response to environmental conditions. Overall, increasing reproduction has negative fitness consequences on offspring, such that each additional sibling reduces an individual's average lifespan and lifetime reproductive success. This analysis provides insights into the evolutionary conflict between producing and investing in children while also shedding light on some of the causes of the demographic transition.
Surface tension and the Mori–Tanaka theory of non-dilute soft composite solids
Authors: Mancarella Francesco , Style Robert W. , Wettlaufer John S.
Published: May 2016

Eshelby's theory is the foundation of composite mechanics, allowing calculation of the effective elastic moduli of composites from a knowledge of their microstructure. However, it ignores interfacial stress and only applies to very dilute composites—i.e. where any inclusions are widely spaced apart. Here, within the framework of the Mori–Tanaka multiphase approximation scheme, we extend Eshelby's theory to treat a composite with interfacial stress in the non-dilute limit. In particular, we calculate the elastic moduli of composites comprised of a compliant, elastic solid hosting a non-dilute distribution of identical liquid droplets. The composite stiffness depends strongly on the ratio of the droplet size,
R
, to an elastocapillary lengthscale,
L
. Interfacial tension substantially impacts the effective elastic moduli of the composite when

R

/

L
≲
100

. When
R
<3
L
/2 (
R
=3
L
/2) liquid inclusions stiffen (cloak the far-field signature of) the solid.
Tiny vampires in ancient seas: evidence for predation via perforation in fossils from the 780–740 million-year-old Chuar Group, Grand Canyon, USA
Authors: Porter Susannah M.
Published: May 2016

One explanation for the Early Neoproterozoic expansion of eukaryotes is the appearance of eukaryovorous predators—i.e. protists that preyed on other protists. Evidence for eukaryovory at this time, however, is indirect, based on inferences from character state reconstructions and molecular clocks, and on the presence of possible defensive structures in some protistan fossils. Here I describe 0.1–3.4 µm circular holes in seven species of organic-walled microfossils from the 780–740 million-year-old Chuar Group, Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA, that are similar to those formed today by predatory protists that perforate the walls of their prey to consume the contents inside. Although best known in the vampyrellid amoebae, this ‘vampire-like’ behaviour is widespread among eukaryotes, making it difficult to infer confidently the identity of the predator. Nonetheless, the identity of the prey is clear: some—and perhaps all—of the fossils are eukaryotes. These holes thus provide the oldest direct evidence for predation on eukaryotes. Larger circular and half-moon-shaped holes in vase-shaped microfossils from the upper part of the unit may also be the work of ‘tiny vampires’, suggesting a diversity of eukaryovorous predators lived in the ancient Chuar sea.
Model selection in statistical historical biogeography of Neotropical insects—theExophthalmusgenus complex (Curculionidae: Entiminae)
Authors: Zhang Guanyang , Basharat Usmaan , Matzke Nicholas , Franz Nico M.
Published: May 2016

Statistical historical biogeographical methods rely on the use of models that assume various biogeographic processes. Until recently model selection remains an explored topic and the impacts of using different models on inferring biogeographic history are poorly understood. Focusing on the Neotropical weevils in theExophthalmusgenus complex (Insecta: Curculionidae: Entiminae), we compare three commonly used biogeographic models – DIVA (Dispersal-Vicariance Analysis), DEC (Dispersal-Extinction-Cladogenesis) and BayArea (Bayesian Analysis of Biogeography), and examine the impact of modeling founder-event jump dispersal on biogeographic history estimation. We also investigate the biogeographic events that have shaped patterns of distributions, diversification, and endemism in this group of weevils. We sample representatives of 65 species of theExophthalmusgenus complex and 26 outgroup terminals from the Neotropics including Caribbean islands and mainland. We reconstruct a molecular phylogeny based on six genes and performed molecular dating using a relaxed clock with three fossil calibration points. We conduct biogeographic history estimations and compare alternative biogeographic models with the R package BioGeoBEARS. Model selection strongly favors biogeographic models that include founder-event jump dispersal. Without modeling jump dispersal, estimations based on the three biogeographic models are dramatically different, especially at early diverging nodes. When jump dispersal is modeled, however, the three biogeographic models perform similarly. Accordingly, we show that the Neotropical mainland was colonized by Caribbean species in the early Miocene, and thatin situdiversification accounts for a majority (~75%) of the biogeographic events in theExophthalmusgenus complex. Our study highlights the need for testing for wide-ranging historical biogeographic processes in the study of Caribbean biogeography and the importance of comparing and selecting the best-fitting model in statistical biogeographic inferences. We demonstrate that modeling founder-event jump dispersal significantly improves the fit of the biogeographic history estimation of Caribbean and Neotropical mainland weevils. We establish thatin situdiversification acts as a dominant biogeographic force in the evolution of theExophthalmusgenus complex. The colonization of the Neotropical mainland from Caribbean islands reinforces the notion that islands can be an important source of continental diversity.
A hyperactive transcriptional state marks genome reactivation at the mitosis-G1 transition
Authors: Hsiung Chris C.-S. , Bartman Caroline , Huang Peng , Ginart Paul , Stonestrom Aaron J. , Keller Cheryl A. , Face Carolyne , Jahn Kristen S. , Evans Perry , Sankaranarayanan Laavanya , Giardine Belinda , Hardison Ross C. , Raj Arjun , Blobel Gerd A.
Published: May 2016

During mitosis, RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and many transcription factors dissociate from chromatin, and transcription ceases globally. Transcription is known to restart in bulk by telophase, but whether de novo transcription at the mitosis-G1 transition is in any way distinct from later in interphase remains unknown. We tracked Pol II occupancy genome-wide in mammalian cells progressing from mitosis through late G1. Unexpectedly, during the earliest rounds of transcription at the mitosis-G1 transition, ~50% of active genes and distal enhancers exhibit a spike in transcription, exceeding levels observed later in G1 phase. Enhancer-promoter chromatin contacts are depleted during mitosis and restored rapidly upon G1 entry, but do not spike. Of the chromatin-associated features examined, histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation levels at individual loci in mitosis best predict the mitosis-G1 transcriptional spike. Single-molecule RNA imaging supports that the mitosis-G1 transcriptional spike can constitute the maximum transcriptional activity per DNA copy throughout the cell division cycle. The transcriptional spike occurs heterogeneously and propagates to cell-to-cell differences in mature mRNA expression. Our results raise the possibility that passage through the mitosis-G1 transition might predispose cells to diverge in gene expression states.
Hitchhiking on the Frontier: Accelerating Eusociality and other Improbable Evolutionary Outcomes by Trait Hitchhiking in a Boom-and-Bust Feedback Loop
Authors: Calvin William H.
Published: May 2016

Here I analyze the brush-fire cycle behind the brushy frontier of a grassland, seeking evolutionary feedback loops for large grazing animals and their hominin predators. Several months after a lightning strike, the burn scar grows enough new grass to expand the carrying capacity for grass-specialized herbivores,which evolved from mixed feeders in Africa during the early Pleistocene. The frontier subpopulation of grazers that discovers the auxiliary grassland quickly multiplies,creating a secondary boom for its hominin predators as well. Following this boom, a bust occurs several decades later when the brush returns; it squeezes both prey and predator populations back into the core grassland. This creates a feedback loop that can repeatedly shift the core’s gene frequencies toward those of the frontier subpopulation until fixation occurs. Any brush-relevant allele could benefit from this amplifying feedback loop, so long as its phenotypes concentrate near where fresh resources can suddenly open up, back in the brush. Thus, traits concentrated in the frontier fringe can hitchhike; improved survival is not needed. This is natural selection but utilizin selective reproductive opportunity instead of the usual selective survival. Cooperative nurseries in the brush’s shade should concentrate the alleles favoring eusociality, repeatedly increasing their proportion via trait hitchhiking in the feedback loop.
Euclidean distance as a measure to distinguish ventral and dorsal white matter connectivity in the human brain
Authors: Kellmeyer Philipp , Vry Magnus-Sebastian
Published: May 2016

Fiber tractography based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has become an important research tool for investigating the anatomical connectivity between brain regions in vivo. Combining DTI with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) allows for the mapping of structural and functional architecture of large-scale networks for cognitive processing. This line of research has shown that ventral and dorsal fiber pathways subserve different aspects of bottom-up- and top-down processing in the human brain.

Here, we investigate the feasibility and applicability of Euclidean distance as a simple geometric measure to differentiate ventral and dorsal long-range white matter fiber pathways tween parietal and inferior frontal cortical regions, employing a body of studies that used probabilistic tractography.

We show that ventral pathways between parietal and inferior frontal cortex have on average a significantly longer Euclidean distance in 3D-coordinate space than dorsal pathways. We argue that Euclidean distance could provide a simple measure and potentially a boundary value to assess patterns of connectivity in fMRI studies. This would allow for a much broader assessment of general patterns of ventral and dorsal large-scale fiber connectivity for different cognitive operations in the large body of existing fMRI studies lacking additional DTI data.
The effects of old-age stereotypes on organizational productivity (part two)
Authors: Appelbaum Steven H. , Wenger Richard , Buitrago Carolina Pachon , Kaur Ravneet
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine common stereotypes regarding old-age workers and the effect of these stereotypes on organizational productivity, as well as to suggest practical solutions for accommodating old-age workers and increasing productivity in all employees.

Design/methodology/approach

– This three part paper will present a thorough review of relevant literature (1991-2014, with the exception of two studies from 1976) that were conducted on the topics of old-age stereotyping, the effect of old-age stereotyping on organizational productivity, and methods for adequately motivating and managing old-age workers. Studies concerning psychology theories are also examined in order to provide a framework for practical solutions, as well as demographic statistics on population age and employment trends.

Findings

– This paper identifies a number of old-age stereotypes that have decreased organizational productivity in empirical studies, including reluctance to change, decreased learning ability, intelligence and memory, poor health and accidents, higher organizational costs, decreased motivation, and low innovation and productivity. Findings also suggest that old-age workers can positively affect productivity, and that low productivity is often a result of stereotyping.

Research limitations/implications

– The prevalence of old-age stereotyping and its impact on organizational productivity may differ by culture, industry, type of employment, education level, and other factors, and thus further research may be necessary. The literature reviewed may not adequately represent worldwide organizational trends, as the literature is largely comprised of studies performed in North America and Europe.

Practical implications

– Solutions based on these findings are taken directly from the literature or derived from literature on psychology theories, which include self-determination theory, socioemotional selectivity theory, and selective optimization and compensation theory. The practical solutions proposed address work environment, motivation, rewards, flexibility, and the loss and gain of resources in old-age workers.

Social implications

– The proportion of old-age workers is increasing and it is therefore necessary to determine ways to adequately integrate old-age workers in the workforce. Furthermore, this can raise productivity in all employees.

Originality/value

– This paper demonstrates that old-age stereotyping is both prevalent and detrimental within an organizational context. These findings and solutions can potentially be used by organizations in order to increase individual and overall productivity.
HR interventions and quality of work life of healthcare employees: an investigation
Authors: Nayak Tanaya , Sahoo Chandan Kumar , Mohanty Prabodh Kumar , Sundaray Bijaya Kumar
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the predictors of perceived quality of work life (QWL) by accentuating on human resource interventions in healthcare units.

Design/methodology/approach

– Primary data were accumulated from 158 health care employees through a structured questionnaire from healthcare organisations in India. Statistical analysis was done using tools like factor analysis and multiple regression analysis by using SPSS (version 20).

Findings

– A total of 18 independent variables was used in the study, only four factors were extracted specifically work life balance, communication, teamwork and empowerment were found to be significant predictors of perceived QWL. The proposed hypotheses for this study are significant.

Research limitations/implications

– This work provides a pragmatic view about the compendium of human resource interventions pivotal for better QWL in healthcare organisations. The survey also offers insights to healthcare managers, administrators and practitioners for implementing these interventions.

Originality/value

– This work clearly reflects on the relationship of HR intervention and QWL in the new context of health care.
The effect of academic education on employers’ satisfaction and audit quality in Iran
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , Bahrami Mostafa , Alizadeh Fatemeh
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of academic education of auditors on the satisfaction of employees and the quality of audit reports.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to collecting data a questionnaire designed and developed among the auditors, managers, and professors in Iran during November 20, 2014.

Findings

– The results of the study reveal that the inability to fully understand the audit report is one of the major problems of customers. For the audit firm, issues such as observation of accounting standards in financial statements, preparation of sufficient documents for the auditor, strong internal control, and understanding the limitations and problems of auditors were considered important.

Originality/value

– To the best of the authors’ knowledge the current paper is the first study which deals with the topic of the study in developing countries, especially Iran.
Consumer preferences for banking technologies by age groups
Authors: Harris Michael , Cox K. Chris , Musgrove Carolyn Findley , Ernstberger Kathryn W
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The prevailing mindset is that younger people value and more readily adopt technology. The purpose of this paper is to determine if this is true with respect to banking practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey was conducted to evaluate the importance of mobile, online, and physical-based banking across multiple age groups. Factor analysis and analysis of covariance were used to evaluate the responses.

Findings

– The results show that older consumers see more value in traditional, physical-based banking, all ages are equally interested in currently emerging technologies (online), and younger users are more interested in the newest technologies.

Research limitations/implications

– The stereotype of technology-adverse elderly may be too limiting. Age influences are not absolute barriers enacted by time, but are potentially learned behaviors.

Practical implications

– Practitioners interested in introducing new technologies to the elderly might consider making their innovations more compatible with existing technologies already in use.

Originality/value

– This study builds on the concepts of technology adoption and previous work on aging as it relates to adoption. However, it is shown that cognitive declines are not the only factor that can explain age-related differences in technology usage. Cohort differences in experience and resources may also be important. This is of value not only to the banks, but to all businesses that rely on consumer use of technology to maintain the business relationship.
Online corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in the banking industry
Authors: Kiliç Merve
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, this study analyzes the extent to which banks report online their corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices; second, it determines the impact of size, ownership structure, multiple exchange listing, and the internationalization of banks on the level of their online CSR reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study examines the Turkish banking industry’s online CSR communications by performing a content analysis of banks’ online reporting of their CSR practices in four sub-dimensions, namely, environment and energy, human resources, products and customers, and community involvement. A sample of 25 banks in Turkey was grouped according to the criteria of size, ownership structure (listed or unlisted on stock exchanges), multiple exchange listing (listing on home and foreign exchanges), and internationality (local or foreign). This study employs a nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test to determine the significance of the differences among these groups.

Findings

– The results of the study demonstrate that the most disclosed dimension on the websites of the banks is products and customers. In particular, there is a lack of disclosure on items of environment and energy. Further, the findings of the research show that size, ownership structure, and multiple exchange listing are significant in explaining online CSR disclosure level.

Originality/value

– Several previous studies have focussed less on the CSR disclosure practices of companies in industries with little direct environmental impact, such as banking and finance. This study extends the previous studies of CSR reporting by gathering data from the banks’ websites rather than their annual reports. This study contributes to the literature by examining the online CSR disclosure practices of banks from an emerging market context and, specifically, that of Turkey.
From hope to dystopia
Authors: Pemunta Ngambouk Vitalis , Tabenyang Tabi Chama James
Published: May 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the dark flip side of the heightened dreams and wild expectations of development as a bright picture that accompanied the discovery of petroleum in politically unstable and donor-dependent Chad.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were elicited through local-level ethnography–participant observation, individual surveys and focus group discussion sessions with stakeholders on the impact of the Chad–Cameroon pipeline and petroleum development project.

Findings

While the “discourse of development” is about a better and new future, this new future, however, has a dark side: un/under-development, “backwardness”, corruption and patronage, leading to deeply entrenched poverty. Petroleum has become a discursive site where the competing discourses about development personified as the provision of material resources are played out.

Originality/value

The failure of petro-dollar-inspired development in Chad speaks to the mutually reinforcing nature of development decisions. Although firms need workers with specialized skills, workers will not acquire those skills in anticipation of employment opportunities. This disjuncture highlights the need for strategic complementarity in investment decision and coordination among economic agents. More than a decade later, the utopic dream of petro-dollar-inspired development as an aspiration is now characterized by a disconnect–environmental degradation, food insecurity, gendered and deeply entrenched poverty. This disjuncture demonstrates the need for a holistic impact assessment that involves different adaptive approaches and focus on a wide range of livelihood issues. Holistic evaluation on all programmes, plans, projects, policies and interventions will lead to the achievement of sustainable people-centred development that conserves the stewardship of nature.
Measuring supply chain knowledge management (SCKM) performance based on double/triple loop learning principle
Authors: Ramish Asher , Aslam Haris
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose performance measures for supply chain knowledge management (SCKM) performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a conceptual study. State of performance measurement has been analyzed on the basis of a comprehensive review of literature in field of SCKM. Based on principles of double and triple loop learning, performance measures have been identified for measuring the success of KM practices in SCs.

Findings

– Principles of double and triple loop learning have been utilized to suggest KPI’s for SCKM performance, i.e. supply chain identity and knowledge supply chain stratum. The relevance and justification of these KPI’s is also discussed.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is limited to conceptualized measures for SCKM only. Further research is required to test the benefits of these performance measures based on industry applications.

Practical implications

– These proposed KPI’s will facilitate the development of the new processes through re-engineering, i.e. problem identification and then rectification. Further, these KPI’s will provide some essential insights as to how supply chains can develop their performance evaluation systems to become more effective and learning oriented.

Originality/value

– This study aims to not only identify the gaps present in the SCKM performance measurement literature but also aims to fill the knowledge gap by suggesting suitable performance metrics.
Achieving triple “P” bottom line through resonant leadership: an Indian perspective
Authors: Lenka Usha , Tiwari Binita
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review the extant literature on resonant leadership and develop a conceptual framework about the role played by resonant leaders of crisis-ridden firms in developing employees for achieving triple “P” bottom line.

Design/methodology/approach

– A systematic review of literature was conducted from 1994 to 2015 with key words leadership, resonant leadership, and triple “P” bottom line. Related research papers were searched from select databases of Elsevier, Emerald, Sage, Springer, Taylor and Francis, Wiley, and other library services of Proquest, Ebsco, and Scopus.

Findings

– Resonant leaders motivate their subordinates by being compassionate toward them, showing an overall positive mood, and through guidance for achieving sustainable triple “P” bottom line. India is a secular country that emphasizes on spiritual beliefs as well as on socio-cultural and religious values. Therefore, Indian managers generally adopt these values in their early socialization process by following traditional epics and religious scriptures. They spread positive emotions among their subordinates and raise their level of consciousness by exhibiting altruistic values. Therefore, altruism could be considered as an additional dimension of resonant leadership style of Indian managers for downsized firms. These leaders nurture surviving employees at the time of economic crisis to build a sustainable triple “P” bottom line.

Originality/value

– Altruism can be considered as a new dimension of resonant leadership style of Indian managers for downsized firms. These leaders provide a sense of psychological security to their employees by developing a value led organization with meaningful vision and an edge over their competitors.
Factors affecting performance of co-operatives in Malaysia
Authors: Hammad Ahmad Khan Hafizah , Yaacob Mahazril 'Aini , Abdullah Hussin , Abu Bakar Ah Siti Hajar
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors affecting co-operatives performance by focussing on the roles of its intangible assets which are in the form of intellectual capital and members’ participation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Questionnaires have been distributed among co-operatives board of members of the 100 best co-operatives in Malaysia. This study used Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis to examine the impact of intellectual capital and members’ participation on the co-operatives performance and determine the most influencing factors that affect the performance.

Findings

– Results showed that there is a positive relationship between structural capital, relational capital and members’ participation with the co-operatives performance while human capital has been found to have a negative relationship. This is further supported by the findings based on the multiple regression analysis whereby all the independent variables were found to be significant expect for structural capital. Based on the findings, this study proposed a model for co-operatives’ performance which is based on its intangible assets.

Practical implications

– Findings of this study would provide guidance for the co-operatives sector to improve its performance and indirectly help the government in realizing the nation economic goals.

Originality/value

– This study provided a better understanding on the performance of the co-operatives by focussing on the roles of its intangible assets. Apparently, there are very limited studies on intellectual capital which is based on co-operative framework and thereby this present study would fill in the gap. In addition, due to the objective of the co-operatives which differs from other types of organization, findings of this study might provide significant contribution on the study of intellectual capital.
The role of natural resources in the historic urban landscape approach
Authors: Caballero Gabriel Victor Aves
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore possible contributions of natural resources for the historic urban landscape (HUL) approach. It points to several possible avenues for collaborative research, which can expand the discourse on the topic of urban sustainability with different disciplines of heritage studies, natural resource management, urban planning and disaster risk reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

– There are already several UNESCO initiatives such as the Man and Biosphere Programme, World Heritage Forests Programme and the World Heritage Programme for Small Island Developing States, which the HUL approach can learn from to understand approaches that integrate natural resource management in urban planning methods. Different cases from the USA, Japan and Singapore applying landscape approaches have also been documented in this research.

Findings

– Several examples have been found in which natural resources are integrated to bigger strategies of urban planning. Japan has enacted the “Landscape Law” in 2004 to highlight the importance of preserving landscapes in improving the quality and viability of community life. The “Mauritius Strategy” created by small island developing states is another example. It holistically looks at policies to deal with environmental challenges while advocating economic growth and protecting cultural and natural heritage, among other concerns. The long tradition of creating greenways in the USA have also contributed in presenting heritage assets and providing environmental benefits. The High Line in New York City is a good example of this.

Originality/value

– In line with the HUL approach, the research points out possibilities of non-traditional collaborations in solving current urban challenges. Finding ways of linking natural resources to a bigger urban framework can inspire new solutions for the interlinked problems of urban growth, heritage management and nature conservation amidst climate change.