bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Just a passing fad?
Authors: Vinnari Eija , Laine Matias
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The study seeks to add to the understanding of the diffusion and decline of environmental reporting practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– Semi-structured interviews and municipal water utility publications are analysed to identify factors which have influenced the diffusion and subsequent decline of environmental reporting practices within the Finnish water sector.

Findings

– The findings suggest a dynamic view of the diffusion and decline of environmental reporting, showing that a variety of forces operated jointly over time. The initial swift diffusion may be mostly explained from the perspectives of fad and fashion, whereas the subsequent gradual decline of such reporting appears to have been driven mainly by internal organizational factors and a lack of outside pressure.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper relies on a qualitative dataset, implying that extensive care is needed when seeking to generalise or apply the findings to different contexts or organizational fields.

Practical implications

– The findings presented here should prove interesting for public sector managers, who are considering how, if at all, their organization should engage in social and environmental reporting.

Originality/value

– The paper provides new insights into public sector sustainability reporting and presents reasons for its decline. In addition, the analysis illustrates the applicability of Abrahamson's typology of innovation diffusion to the study of social and environmental reporting practices.
Effectiveness of brief training in cognitive-behaviour therapy techniques for staff working with people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Dodd Karen , Austin Katie , Baxter Laura , Jennison Jo , Kenny Mark , Lippold Tessa , Livesey Alexandra , Lloyd Julie , Anne Nixon Julie , Webb Zillah , Wilcox Esther
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– There is little research addressing the delivery of training for health professionals who are interested in using cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) techniques as an adjunct to their current role. This paper describes the establishment and evaluation of a CBT training course to develop CBT skills in staff working with people with intellectual disabilities in Trust healthcare settings. The course would enable staff to learn how they could incorporate these skills into their daily practice to help them understand and work more effectively with people with intellectual disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

– A CBT training course was designed to teach staff the use of a number of basic and specific CBT techniques and principles that staff could use within their current roles. Specific issues in relation to people with intellectual disabilities were included, e.g. understanding cognitive deficits as well as cognitive distortions. The course ran for six sessions on a fortnightly basis, followed by a two-month follow-up session. Participants completed a pre- and post-assessment questionnaire and kept a reflective diary.

Findings

– The training clearly focused on teaching skills that were feasible for staff to use in their own work settings. The evaluations, especially from the reflective diaries and the post-course questionnaires clearly demonstrated that this aim was achieved.

Originality/value

– This was a pilot study as there has been no previously published evidence of using this approach within intellectual disabilities services. A further training course has been planned to continue evaluating the effectiveness of this approach.
The use of mechanical restraint with people who engage in severe self-injurious behaviour: impact on support staff
Authors: Bethel Nicola , Beail Nigel
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– There continues to be a small group of people who have intellectual disabilities who need some form of restraint in their support plan due to their self-injurious behaviour. The mechanical restraint restricts their freedom of movement to help prevent injury. Despite the growing literature on the use of such devices, there is very limited literature looking at the impact the use of mechanical restraints has upon service users and support staff using them. The aim of this study was to ascertain the experiences of support staff who apply the restraints to the people they support.

Design/methodology/approach

– Qualitative methodology was utilised. A semi-structured interview was conducted with nine support workers who: directly worked with a client with intellectual disabilities who engage in self-injurious behaviours; followed positive behavioural support plans developed with a multi-disciplinary team; applied restraints as a response to severe self-injurious behaviours to prevent harm; and they had to have been directly involved in the application and removal of the mechanical restraints in the last week. Content analysis utilising emergent coding was used to analyse the data.

Findings

– All participants described using mechanical restraints as having a negative impact upon them. Participants said they manage the negative impact by reframing, inhibiting their emotions, following support plans closely and gaining support from other staff. Participants described concerns and unmet needs regarding whether they were applying the restraints correctly, the responsibility of teaching others to use restraints, not feeling prepared on starting their current job and that the impact/concerns of using restraints is not talked about. Recommendations for practice are made.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to explore the views of care staff who are required to use mechanical restraint. It provides insight on the impact of this on them.
Neural-FEM approach for the analysis of hysteretic materials in unbounded domain
Authors: Coco Salvatore , Laudani Antonino , Riganti Fulginei Francesco , Salvini Alessandro
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims the application of a novel synergy between a neural network (NN) and the finite element method (FEM) in the solution of electromagnetic problem involving hysteretic material in unbounded domain.

Design/methodology/approach

– The hysteretic nature of the material is taken into account by an original NN able to perform the modelling of any kind of quasi-static loop (saturated and non-saturated, symmetric or asymmetric). An appositely developed iterative FEM procedure is presented for the solution of this kind of problems in unbounded domains.

Findings

– By starting from a small set of measured loops, the NN manages the values of the magnetic field, H, and the flux density, B, as inputs while the differential permeability is the output. In particular, the proposed NN is capable to perform the modelling of saturated and non-saturated, symmetric or asymmetric hysteresis loops.

Practical implications

– The development of an efficient method for the solution of a complicated electromagnetic problem in unbounded domain by using an iterative approach and NNs, which can be implemented also in existing FEM code.

Originality/value

– The paper shows that the combination of FEM, iterative procedure and NNs allows us to produce effective solutions of electromagnetic problems in unbounded domains involving also nonlinear hysteretic magnetic materials with an acceptable computational cost.
Review of parallel and distributed architectures for micromagnetic codes
Authors: Khan Omar , Khan Fiaz , Ragusa Carlo , Montrucchio Bartolomeo
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Rapid advancements in computer technologies over the past decade have recorded significant growth in the area of computational micromagnetics. As a result, current micromagnetic codes exploit the scalability offered by parallel and distributed computer architectures to deliver maximum performance. The purpose of this paper is to present a review, which explores various aspects of this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors arrange the theme for this paper around the micromagnetic code development process. The review involves a discussion of the micromagnetic model, some new parallel architectures, and computational aspects based on different numerical methods.

Findings

– As current micromagnetic code is not readily portable to different architectures, most of the development effort goes towards this area, with a focus on writing/rewriting code for streaming hardware (particularly graphic cards).

Originality/value

– The paper identifies key challenges and avenues for further research on computational aspects of micromagnetic modelling and suggests recommendations based on the review.
Characteristic impedance of a microstrip line with a dielectric overlay
Authors: Barbuto Mirko , Alù Andrea , Bilotti Filiberto , Toscano Alessandro , Vegni Lucio
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present an analytical expression for the characteristic impedance of a microstrip line in presence of a dielectric cover.

Design/methodology/approach

– Assuming a quasi-TEM propagation mode, a rigorous conformal mapping based on the Schwarz-Christoffel transformation is employed to derive the equivalent capacitance model, which can then be applied to derive a closed analytical expression for the effective permittivity and the characteristic impedance of the line.

Findings

– Such a formulation is not limited to the case of a single cover layer, but an arbitrary number of electric overlays can be considered as well. Comparisons with published numerical results and full-wave simulations in the case of a single cover layer have been also performed to test the validity of the proposed approach.

Originality/value

– The new analytical formula for the characteristic impedance of a microstrip line with a single dielectric cover shows better performances compared to the one of closed formulas already presented in the literature.
It's been a long time: an analysis of job duration in two banks
Authors: Maltezou Vivi , Johnes Geraint
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to use personnel records from two firms in the banking industry, job duration models are estimated to examine separations in the context of banks based in Great Britain and Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

– The duration models are estimated using parametric and semi-parametric methods, and allow for frailty.

Findings

– The paper finds that it is sustained, rather than instantaneous, performance that is linked to separations. In common with some earlier studies, the paper finds qualified support for a u-shaped relationship between performance and separations – suggesting that poor matches are short-lived and that high-performance workers move on to other employment – but only in the case of the British data. Both of the banks under investigation experienced substantial reorganisation activity over the time period considered, and the paper finds that the year following this was characterised by increased separation propensities.

Research limitations/implications

– While most of the findings are consistent across the firms in the two countries studied, the paper finds that single men are more likely than their female counterparts to quit in the bank based in Britain, but less likely to quit in that based in Greece. The paper offers some suggestions about why this should be the case.

Practical implications

– The study serves to enhance the understanding of the determinants of attrition amongst workers in the banking industry, and hence offers clues to employers about how they can enhance retention of productive workers.

Originality/value

– Owing to the availability of data sets, very few studies of this kind exist. The paper presents evidence based on data gathered from two distinct employers, and hence adds significantly to the body of literature in this area.
Constructing career competency model of hospitality industry employees for career success
Authors: Wang Yao-Fen
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This study aimed to focus on developing a career competency model by examining the relationships among career competencies and career success from a career development viewpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study adopted questionnaire survey to collect data from a sample of 277 respondents at 36 international tourist hotels and used the AMOS statistical software package to perform structural equation modeling (SEM) for analysis.

Findings

– The results showed that career competency model is a multifaceted construct comprising four competency dimensions that influence the career success of food and beverage (F&B) department employees in international tourist hotels. In particular, the competencies related to “career adjustment and control” competency dimension were the most influential competencies for career success.

Originality/value

– The career competencies detailed in this study are a potential reference for the planning of core or general education courses in the hospitality domain. Hospitality programs can offer a “hospitality career and employability” course that presents modules such as career recognition, career planning, self-management, job-seeking and mobility techniques, problem solving skills, ethics and safety in the workplace, workplace attitude, teamwork, and communication and networking skills.
Managing reverse knowledge flow in multinational corporations
Authors: Kumar Nishant
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This study aims to provide insight to the little-researched phenomenon of reverse knowledge flow within multinational corporations (MNCs) and to explain the role of managerial attention in exploiting the prospect of knowledge transfer from subsidiaries located in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

– Existing literature across disciplines has been integrated to provide a clear description of the concept of reverse knowledge flow and managerial attention, in order to explain the role of managerial attention in reverse knowledge transfer activities within MNCs. Two pilot studies were conducted on European MNCs to build the background for this study.

Findings

– Managerial attention is a key factor in recognising potential source of knowledge within the multinational network, and a prior requirement for knowledge transfer to take place. Attention decisions are partially based on the knowledge source location, awareness/attractiveness, and the strategic importance. Thus, MNCs can adopt managerial practices and control mechanisms to influence the attention of executives and achieve higher knowledge flow from subsidiaries.

Research limitations/implications

– There is a need to undertake empirical research and in-depth case studies of knowledge management practices using the arguments and framework provided in this article.

Practical implications

– MNCs can develop mechanisms for overcoming attention biases influence on reverse knowledge flow. The attention based approach can lead to better subsidiary integration and knowledge management practices in MNCs.

Originality/value

– This study advances the theory on reverse knowledge flow in MNCs by presenting an attention based theoretical framework for effective knowledge transfer.
Meta-analysis of scientometric research of knowledge management: discovering the identity of the discipline
Authors: Serenko Alexander
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to conduct a meta-analysis of prior scientometric research of the knowledge management (KM) field.

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of 108 scientometric studies of the KM discipline were subjected to meta-analysis techniques.

Findings

– The overall volume of scientometric KM works has been growing, reaching up to ten publications per year by 2012, but their key findings are somewhat inconsistent. Most scientometric KM research is published in non-KM-centric journals. The KM discipline has deep historical roots. It suffers from a high degree of over-differentiation and is represented by dissimilar research streams. The top six most productive countries for KM research are the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, and Spain. KM exhibits attributes of a healthy academic domain with no apparent anomalies and is progressing towards academic maturity.

Practical implications

– Scientometric KM researchers should use advanced empirical methods, become aware of prior scientometric research, rely on multiple databases, develop a KM keyword classification scheme, publish their research in KM-centric outlets, focus on rigorous research of the forums for KM publications, improve their cooperation, conduct a comprehensive study of individual and institutional productivity, and investigate interdisciplinary collaboration. KM-centric journals should encourage authors to employ under-represented empirical methods and conduct meta-analysis studies and should discourage conceptual publications, especially the development of new frameworks. To improve the impact of KM research on the state of practice, knowledge dissemination channels should be developed.

Originality/value

– This is the first documented attempt to conduct a meta-analysis of scientometric research of the KM discipline.
Examining the work of Mary Parker Follett through the lens of critical biography
Authors: Whitney Gibson Jane , Chen Wei , Henry Erin , Humphreys John , Lian Yunshan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to take a look at significant contributions of Follett through the lens of critical biography to put her work in the context of her life events, her mentors, and the other major influences on her work.

Design/methodology/approach

– Critical biography is a qualitative method with which social historians research the individual scholar's or practitioner's critical incidents in life in order to explore and explain the subject's scholarly development and intellectual contributions, situated in the social and historical background of the subject.

Findings

– Key theoretical contributions of Mary Parker Follett, which seemed ahead of her time and inexplicable given that she did not work in the private sector, are revealed to be linked to her educational, professional and personal experiences.

Research limitations/implications

– Qualitative research in general and critical biography in particular are demonstrated to be the useful methods for providing context for management history. The limitation of author interpretation is recognized.

Practical implications

– The current usefulness of Follett's ideas are demonstrated and a case is made for increasing management history coverage in today's business schools.

Originality/value

– The paper offers a critical biography of Mary Parker Follett and provides a historical, social and political context for the evolution of her work.
Responsible executive leadership
Authors: M. Novicevic Milorad , Zikic Jelena , Martin Jeanette , H. Humphreys John , Roberts Foster
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to develop a moral identity perspective on Barnard's conceptualization of executive responsibility.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses a prospective study design, as an alternative to a transitional grounded approach, to develop a theory-based framework to compare textual patterns in Barnard's writings. By using Barnard's conceptualization of executive responsibility within the identity control theoretical framework, the paper analyzes the challenges of executive moral identification.

Findings

– The paper develops a theory-based, yet practical, typology of moral identification of responsible executive leaders.

Research limitations/implications

– Although this proposed typology appears rather parsimonious, it is recognized that issues of moral behavior are certainly complex, and therefore should be addressed in a requisite manner in future model developments.

Originality/value

– The paper posits that Barnard's conceptualization provides a useful channel to address the critical domain at the intersection of responsible executive leadership, identity, and ethics relative to the issues of CSR, diversity management, gender equity, and community involvement. The paper considers the typology of moral identification to be an operative conduit for subsequent empirical research and practical guidance for executive leadership development.
Better, faster, smarter: developing a blueprint for creating forensic accountants
Authors: Yogi Prabowo Hendi
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this article, which is based on author's study, is to highlight the essential attributes of forensic accountants and to construct the forensic accountant “blueprint” as a reference for forensic accounting education and training.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses primary and secondary data on forensic accounting profession in Indonesia and the USA. Such data were collected by means of literature reviews, in-depth interviews, and a focus group discussion with a number of forensic accounting professionals in Indonesia and the USA.

Findings

– The author establishes that the “problem-based” nature of forensic accounting requires a unique approach in producing forensic accountants compared to ordinary accountants. The essential attributes that a forensic accountant needs to possess are mentality, method, and experience. “Mentality” consists of elements such as ability to differentiate the right from the wrong, courage to stand up for what is right, ability to withstand pressures from the works, and puzzle solving mindsets. “Methods” refer to the understanding of the fraud investigation process such as fraud detection, evidences, investigation methods, and investigation report. “Experience” as the third attribute is gained primarily through involvement in fraud investigation process in which a forensic accountant utilizes his or her knowledge previously acquired through education and training.

Research limitations/implications

– Forensic accounting is a problem oriented skill that may differ across countries. Due to the time and financial resource constraint, this study is limited only on two countries and a small number of respondents. For future study, more countries and respondents should be included in analysis to gain a more complete picture on what constitute a forensic accountant.

Practical implications

– The results of this study contribute to the development of human resource in the forensic accounting profession. More specifically, they serve as a reference in the development of curriculum for forensic accounting education and training especially in Indonesia.

Originality/value

– This paper sees forensic accountant skill development from the “demand” point of view by highlighting what that the profession expects from a forensic accountant.
The disruption of crime in Scotland through non-conviction based asset forfeiture
Authors: Collins Martin , King Colin
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Targeting criminal assets plays a key role in tackling crime, yet there is a notable absence of research on the operation and impact of this approach. This article calls for greater engagement between policymakers, practitioners and researchers to address this. Using experiences from Scotland, the article focuses on the use of civil recovery and identifies a number of areas that are in need of further research. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This article is a collaborative effort by a member of the Scottish Civil Recovery Unit and an academic researcher. The aim was to stimulate debate on the use of civil recovery, its impact, and future research directions. It draws upon two case studies from Scotland to illustrate how civil recovery has operated in practice.

Findings

– There are important distinctions between the civil recovery regime in Scotland and the regime that applies in other parts of the UK (e.g. the absence of “incentivisation”). There is a need to consider how the impact of civil recovery can be measured, and there is scope for future research in this area.

Research limitations/implications

– There is a notable absence of empirical research on civil recovery. The hope is that this article will lead to greater engagement between policymakers, practitioners and researchers. There is a need for empirical research on areas such as has civil recovery disrupted criminal activities, what intelligence gains does asset recovery bring, does asset recovery offer value for money, how is “impact” to be measured, etc.

Practical implications

– As civil recovery increases in popularity as a form of crime control, this article calls for greater empirical research on the operation and impact of the civil process to tackling criminal assets. This is especially important today as the European Union is investigating the possibility of a European model of non-conviction based asset recovery.

Originality/value

– Discussion of civil recovery under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 tends to focus on England and Wales. This article considers civil recovery from a Scottish perspective.
The project of “general systemology” instigated by Ludwig von Bertalanffy
Authors: Pouvreau David
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The paper aims to present the main perspectives and conclusions of a doctoral research in the history and philosophy of science conducted in France and Austria by the author on the project of “general systemology” (or “general system theory”) instigated by Ludwig von Bertalanffy.

Design/methodology/approach

– A genealogical enquiry accounts for its scientific, philosophical and more generally cultural origins. Its genesis in Bertalanffy's works between 1926 and 1944 is explained. The process that led it to become a collective project is then discussed: the history of the Society for General Systems Research is considered, the ambivalence of its role with regard to general systemology being demonstrated. Finally, the unity of the diverse contributions to the latter's development is asserted in a framework put forward by the author in order to account for its structure and functions.

Findings

– While stating a comprehensive view of its history, the paper characterizes general systemology as the project of a general science of systemic interpretation of the “real” which remains topical, although it was never fully actualized.

Originality/value

– A new insight is thus provided on the scope and meaning of this hermeneutics: it meets the contemporary need for a better understanding of the foundations of systems research.
Uncertainty measure for general relation-based rough fuzzy set
Authors: Bingzhen Sun , Weimin Ma
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a measure method of the uncertainty for rough fuzzy set based on general binary relation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Rough set and fuzzy set are two different but complementary theories for expressing uncertainty information, and based on the combination of these two uncertainty theories of expressing and handling uncertainty information, the rough fuzzy set model and uncertainty measure based on general relation are discussed.

Findings

– This paper reveals the intrinsic of the uncertainty for rough fuzzy set based on general relation and presents a new measure method by introducing the Shannon entropy to generalized approximation space.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the discussion on the research of rough set and fuzzy set. The conclusions are useful in information processing with uncertainty.
Factors influencing student choice to study at private higher education institutions
Authors: Shah Mahsood , Sid Nair Chenicheri , Bennett Lorraine
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to make a contribution to the current lack of literature in the Australian context by reviewing qualitative feedback collected from students in five private higher education institutions. In particular, the paper seeks to examine factors influencing student choice to study at private higher education institutions and student perceptions of such institutions. Previous studies on this topic are mostly focussed on universities with lack of research with the booming private higher education sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study draws data from five different private for-profit higher education institutions in Australia. It involved feedback from 120 students undertaking higher education courses in different discipline areas at different stages of study. The study involved 15 focus group interviews with eight students in a group. The selection of students was based on the representation of different characteristics of student such as: male/female, domestic/international, and discipline areas.

Findings

– An analysis of the data collected from the students across these five institutions indicated that the main factors influencing student choice can be grouped in six domains. These are: student perception; access and opportunity; learning environments; quality of teachers; course design; and graduate success. This study reinforces that student perception of the private for-profit higher education institutions is an important factor in influencing student choice to study at the institution.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitation of the study was the ability to interview more students from larger colleges, across all discipline areas. However, the time and length of the focus group interviews was largely managed by the five institutions.

Originality/value

– The private higher education sector has experienced consistent growth in the last few years in Australia. Currently, there is no qualitative research done in Australian private higher education on factors influencing student choice to study with private institutions. The rise of such providers require research on insights about student choice, student expectation and their experience.
Leadership of the National Student Survey for enhancement
Authors: Pickford Ruth
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse student satisfaction as identified in the UK National Student Survey (NSS) at an institutional level in one post-1992 UK university, to discuss the perceived factors behind changes in NSS results and to identify the possible impact of institutional-level quality enhancement interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reviews some of the literature available on the NSS, teaching evaluation and on learning and teaching leadership in higher education and demonstrates by comparison with practice how different approaches to change management were experienced.

Findings

– Over a period of eight years within one HEI, it was possible to identify four distinct phases of NSS scores and to identify strong trends in both quantitative and qualitative results.

Research limitations/implications

– It is postulated that evidence-informed institutional-level interventions in learning and teaching practice can have an impact on the external evaluation of student satisfaction when they are part of a coherent strategy. However, although some aspects of the work are generalisable to other contexts, it is also recognised that individual environments and experiences will impact on outcomes.

Social implications

– This paper argues, first, that the NSS could be as much an indicator of organisational culture as a measure of student satisfaction with courses; second, that areas that students highlight as being important tend to be consistent and third, that regardless of the foci or type of interventions, senior staff level engagement is a critical factor in achieving high NSS scores and enhancing student satisfaction.

Originality/value

– The paper will be valuable to those using the NSS for quality enhancement at a strategic level.
Knowledge in the feet: the “beauté du geste” in the “beautiful game”
Authors: Thomas Weir David
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This article aims to draw on analysis of embodied plays in the game of association football to show the central significance of embodied spatial competence.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is descriptive and theoretical.

Findings

– Describes the special skills of unusually talented performers like dancers and midfield soccer players who appear to understand embodied movement in three-dimensions, and considers whether these attributes are transferable to business decision making.

Research limitations/implications

– No original research is reported but suggestions for areas of further study are made.

Practical implications

– If senior managers were able to learn such skills, the practice of strategy formulation and review could be better understood as embodied rather than as embrained.

Social implications

– Developing strategy as performance could enhance organisational competence.

Originality/value

– These concepts have not previously been applied in organisational analysis.
The insider artist: a quartet of case studies
Authors: Guillet de Monthoux Pierre
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to examine the similarities between creative business leadership and successful artists and to illustrate how the label “outside artist” is a romantic myth.

Design/methodology/approach

– Making use of four cases in classical music history, this study analyzes how a quartet of musical artists negotiated their space inside highly organized and changing environments.

Findings

– Many qualities exhibited by musical artists are similar to those required of successful organizational managers. One of the reasons that insider artistry is a complex phenomenon is that socio-organizational conditions are not fixed, they change. Therefore, each new generation of artists has to invent new strategies to get the job done.

Practical implications

– Understanding the nature of these similar qualities will help clarify the issue of making art work inside organizations and dispel erroneous assumptions about the role of artists in these organizations.

Originality/value

– This article will contribute to the practical as well as the philosophical conversation about the place of artists inside successful organizations in society.
Brugada Phenocopy in a Patient with Pectus Excavatum: Systematic Review of the ECG Manifestations Associated with Pectus Excavatum
Authors: Awad Sara F.M. , Barbosa‐Barros Raimundo , de Sousa Belem Lucia , Cavalcante Camila Pinto , Riera Andrés Ricardo Pérez , Garcia‐Niebla Javier , Anselm Daniel D. , Baranchuk Adrian
Published: September 2013

Brugada phenocopies (BrP) have emerged as new clinical entities that are etiologically distinct from true Brugada syndrome (BrS). BrP are characterized by an ECG pattern that is phenotypically identical to true BrS (type 1 or type 2); however, BrP are caused by various other factors such as mechanical mediastinal compression, myocardial ischemia, pericarditis, myocarditis, pulmonary embolism, and metabolic disturbances. We report a case of an electrocardiographic BrP in a patient with pectus excavatum deformity in the absence of true BrS using currently defined BrP diagnostic criteria. A systematic review of ECG manifestations associated with pectus excavatum is also discussed.
Reduction of the Inappropriate ICD Therapies by Implementing a New Fuzzy Logic–Based Diagnostic Algorithm
Authors: Lewandowski Michał , Przybylski Andrzej , Kuźmicz Wiesław , Szwed Hanna
Published: September 2013

Aims

The aim of the study was to analyze the value of a completely new fuzzy logic–based detection algorithm (FA) in comparison with arrhythmia classification algorithms used in existing ICDs in order to demonstrate whether the rate of inappropriate therapies can be reduced.

Methods

On the basis of the RR intervals database containing arrhythmia events and controls recordings from the ICD memory a diagnostic algorithm was developed and tested by a computer program. This algorithm uses the same input signals as existing ICDs: RR interval as the primary input variable and two variables derived from it, onset and stability. However, it uses 15 fuzzy rules instead of fixed thresholds used in existing devices. The algorithm considers 6 diagnostic categories: (1) VF (ventricular fibrillation), (2) VT (ventricular tachycardia), (3) ST (sinus tachycardia), (4) DAI (artifacts and heart rhythm irregularities including extrasystoles and T‐wave oversensing‐TWOS), (5) ATF (atrial and supraventricular tachycardia or fibrillation), and 96) NT (sinus rhythm). This algorithm was tested on 172 RR recordings from different ICDs in the follow‐up of 135 patients.

Results

All diagnostic categories of the algorithm were present in the analyzed recordings: VF (n = 35), VT (n = 48), ST (n = 14), DAI (n = 32), ATF (n = 18), NT (n = 25). Thirty‐eight patients (31.4%) in the studied group received inappropriate ICD therapies. In all these cases the final diagnosis of the algorithm was correct (19 cases of artifacts, 11 of atrial fibrillation and 8 of ST) and fuzzy rules algorithm implementation would have withheld unnecessary therapies. Incidence of inappropriate therapies: 3 vs. 38 (the proposed algorithm vs. ICD diagnosis, respectively) differed significantly (p < 0.05). VT/VF were detected correctly in both groups. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated: 100%, 97.8%, and 100%, 72.9% respectively for FA and tested ICDs recordings (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Diagnostic performance of the proposed fuzzy logic based algorithm seems to be promising and its implementation could diminish ICDs inappropriate therapies. We found FA usefulness in correct diagnosis of sinus tachycardia, atrial fibrillation and artifacts in comparison with tested ICDs.
Designing mosaic landscapes for Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix using multi‐scaled models
Authors: Geary Matthew , Fielding Alan H. , Marsden Stuart J.
Published: September 2013

With increasing pressures on land for human use, it is important to identify the habitat requirements of key species, not just in terms of a correlation with a given habitat feature, but also the relationship between species presence and its coverage, proximity to other habitat types, and importance at different spatial scales. We used maximum entropy to estimate the optimal proportions of 18 habitat types, plus elevation and habitat richness associated with the presence of leks of Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix within an 800‐km2 study area in Perthshire, Scotland. We repeated the analysis at several radii (0.2–3 km) to assess how the importance of different habitats changed with proximity to lek and scale. We then examined habitat features or combinations of features that were associated with large leks or positive lek growth. Models at all radii had satisfactory predictive power. Using response curves from maxent, we constructed ideal habitat mixes for leks at each radius. At the 2‐km radius, suitability was highest with around 20% each of three moorland types and open/mixed forestry, whereas close to leks (0.2 km), higher proportions of grouse moor and lower proportions of closed‐canopy woodland were optimal. The relationship between habitat and lek size or direction of lek growth was complex, indicating that a landscape containing large or productive leks can be the result of more than one combination of habitats. This demonstrates a degree of flexibility in designing landscapes for Black Grouse conservation, so landowners can prioritize combinations of habitats that are the most practical and/or economical, while still serving the requirements of the target species.
Mining Functional Model Graphs to Find Product Design Heuristics With Inclusive Design Illustration
Authors: Sangelkar Shraddha , McAdams Daniel A.
Published: September 2013

Engineering design heuristics offer the potential to improve the design process and resultant designs. Currently, heuristics are empirically derived by experts. The goal of this paper is to automate the heuristics generation process. Functional modeling, a well-established product representation framework, is applied in this research to abstract the intended functionality of a product. Statistically significant heuristics, extracted from a database of functional models, serve as design suggestions or guidelines for concept generation. The heuristics can further be applied to automate portions of the concept generation process. Prior research efforts in automated concept generation rely heavily on the design repository. The repository needs to be appended for broader categories of design problems, and, at the same time, a tool for quick analysis of the expanded repository is required. An automated heuristic extraction process has the capability to efficiently mine the updated repositories and find new heuristics for design practice. A key objective of this research is to develop design heuristics applicable in the diverse and challenging domain of inclusive design. The research applies graph theory for mathematical representation of the functional model, graph visualization for comprehending graphs, and graph data mining to extract heuristics. The results show that the graphical representation of functional models along with graph visualization allows quick updates to the design repository. In addition, we show that graph data mining has the capability to efficiently search for new design heuristics from the updated repository.
Toward Searching Possible Oscillatory Region in Order Space for Nonlinear Fractional-Order Systems
Authors: Tavazoei Mohammad Saleh
Published: September 2013

Finding the oscillatory region in the order space is one of the most challenging problems in nonlinear fractional-order systems. This paper proposes a method to find the possible oscillatory region in the order space for a nonlinear fractional-order system. The effectiveness of the proposed method in finding the oscillatory region and special order sets placed in its boundary is confirmed by presenting some examples.
A Consistent, Hybrid-Dynamical-System, Lumped-Parameter Model of Tire–Terrain Interactions
Authors: Sanghvi Pravesh , Dankowicz Harry
Published: September 2013

This paper establishes the internal mathematical and energetic consistency of a hybrid-dynamical-system, lumped-parameter, planar, physical model for capturing transient interactions between an elastically deformable tire and an elastically deformable terrain as a baseline result for more realistic models that account for permanent deformation, shear failure, and three-dimensional contact conditions. The model accounts for radial and circumferential deformation of the tire as well as normal and tangential deformation of the terrain. It captures the onset and loss of contact as well as localized stick and slip phases for each of the discrete tire elements by a suitable evolution of a collection of associated internal state variables. The analysis characterizes generic transitions between distinct phases of contact uniquely in forward time and proves that all internal state variables remain bounded during compact intervals of contact. The behavior of the model is further illustrated through an analytical and numerical study of two instances of tire-terrain interactions under steady state condition.
Mitochondrial Replacement, Evolution, and the Clinic
Authors: Reinhardt Klaus , Dowling Damian K. , Morrow Edward H.
Published: September 2013

Mitochondrial replacement therapy might bear health risks, especially for males.
Lewis Acidity of Organofluorophosphonium Salts: Hydrodefluorination by a Saturated Acceptor
Authors: Caputo Christopher B. , Hounjet Lindsay J. , Dobrovetsky Roman , Stephan Douglas W.
Published: September 2013

The Pull of Phosphorus

Lewis acidity is primarily associated with compounds like boranes that lack a full complement of electrons in their coordination sphere and therefore attract electron donors (Lewis bases) to fill the gap.

Caputo
et al.

(p.
1374
; see the Perspective by

Gabbaï

) now show that a class of 4-coordinate phosphonium salts can act as surprisingly potent Lewis acids, despite their electronic saturation. The phosphorus cations, bearing fluorine and fluorinated aromatic substituents, can sever an alkyl carbon-fluorine bond by pulling away its fluoride—a process rendered catalytic through the use of a silane acceptor.
Comment on “Invasive Harlequin Ladybird Carries Biological Weapons Against Native Competitors”
Authors: Sloggett John J.
Published: September 2013

Vilcinskas
et al
. (Reports, 17 May 2013, p. 862) proposed that infectious microsporidia of the invasive ladybird
Harmonia axyridis
act against intraguild predators, rather than ladybird alkaloid defenses. However, as both microsporidia and the harmonine defense alkaloid were administered to predators by microinjection rather than into the gut, such a conclusion is premature. Alkaloids also provide defense when predation occurs, whereas microsporidia act much later.
Response to Comments on “Invasive Harlequin Ladybird Carries Biological Weapons Against Native Competitors”
Authors: Vilcinskas Andreas , Stoecker Kilian , Schmidtberg Henrike , Röhrich Christian R. , Vogel Heiko
Published: September 2013

Comments by de Jong
et al
., Solter
et al
., and Sloggett question the ecological relevance of the abundant microsporidia found in the invasive ladybird
Harmonia axyridis
. We contend that there is abundant evidence that native ladybirds feed on
H. axyridis
eggs and that interspecific microsporidial transfer is a common phenomenon, supporting the proposed role of these parasites as biological weapons.
Lewis Acids with a Difference
Authors: Gabbaï François P.
Published: September 2013

A fluorinated phosphorus Lewis acid may find application in fluorocarbon remediation.

[Also see Report by

Caputo
et al.

]
When Prior Belief Trumps Scholarship
Darwin's Doubt
The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design

by Stephen C. Meyer

HarperOne (HarperCollins), New York, 2013. 520 pp. $28.99. ISBN 9780062071477.
Authors: Marshall Charles R.
Published: September 2013

Meyer holds that the emergence of animal phyla in the Cambrian demonstrates the existence of an intelligent designer.
Predators in the 'Hood
Authors: Morell Virginia
Published: September 2013

As cougars, coyotes, and bears spread into backyards and downtowns, science is helping to show how people and predators can coexist.