bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical haemostasis
Authors: Qureshi Yassar A. , Tai Nigel R. M.
Published: August 2016

It is crucial to minimize blood loss intraoperatively to maintain the patient’s physiology and to enable the surgeon to preserve a clear operative field. A degree of haemorrhage is a normal part of most surgical interventions. Managing unanticipated or uncontrolled bleeding is a vital skill for a surgeon to acquire, so that haemostatic manoeuvres become second nature. Primary bleeding may arise during an operation or as a consequence of non-iatrogenic traumatic injury. Bleeding following surgery is classified as reactionary (up to 48 hours) or secondary (days after). The threshold for suspecting bleeding as a cause of a surgical patient’s postoperative deterioration should be low. A thorough understanding of the principles underlying all methods of haemostasis, in conjunction with other facets of operative surgery, should enable a surgeon to be better equipped to manage all eventualities from minor bleed to a major haemorrhage.
Principles of surgical endoscopy and minimal access surgery
Authors: Schwab Katie , Singh-Ranger Deepak , Rockall Timothy
Published: August 2016

Endoscopic examination of body cavities dates back many centuries but it is only in the last few decades that minimal access surgery (MAS) has made a real impact on surgical technique and has revolutionized modern surgery. Almost every surgical specialty now utilizes a form of endoscopy, such as arthroscopy in orthopaedics and laparoscopy in general and gynaecological surgery. Technological advances and development of surgical techniques have allowed even the most complex abdominal surgery to be accomplished laparoscopically. The benefits are reduced trauma to the patient, improved recovery and reduced complications. MAS does, however, pose technical challenges for surgeons, which often results in a longer procedure time and an extended learning process. Recent advances in technology such as robotics, 3D-vision systems and energy devices, have expanded the procedures amenable to MAS techniques.
Physical examination of body systems
Authors: Woodley Caroline , Reed Malcolm W. R.
Published: August 2016

Information sharing is an important aspect of medicine, and surgeons share information with many people, including patients, relatives, other members of the medical team and members of the wider healthcare team. Poor information sharing is one of the most common causes of patient complaints about the NHS. In this chapter we will consider how to share information effectively so that the patient understands their diagnosis and treatment plan and has realistic expectations regarding the plan. We will also consider how to share accurate information with colleagues in an efficient manner in specific situations and also how to generally enhance team working. The final section covers written communication, which takes many forms within medicine, including referral letters, emails, entries in patient’s notes and increasingly, the use of social media.
Intraoperative care
Authors: Cressey David M.
Published: August 2016

Any surgical procedure performed will carry a number of definable risks. Some risks are generic and these may be dependent or independent of the type of anaesthetic used. Many can be minimized or even removed by following standard operating procedures. Several nationally recognized policies, some from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, exist to guide practice in operating theatres. From ensuring the right patient receives the right operation using all the appropriate equipment (the World Health Organization checklist), to simple measures such as ensuring thermoregulation and patient dignity are maintained, there are many strategies that can and should be employed to enhance intra-operative care.
Postoperative care
Authors: Mills Gary H. , Groves Jeremy
Published: August 2016

If a surgical intervention is to be successful the patient must have meticulous postoperative care, starting as soon as the patient leaves theatre, and following them through to full recovery. Such care needs to be individually tailored to the surgical procedure and the physiological state of the patient. In this chapter we will cover the essence of postoperative care delivered in the hospital environment starting with the recovery area (post anaesthesia care unit [PACU]). Day case (ambulatory) and inpatient surgery will also be considered. Detection of the deteriorating patient and higher levels of care are discussed and the chapter concludes with a discussion of acute pain management.
Assessment of the multiply injured patient
Authors: Middleton Scott , Moran Matthew
Published: August 2016

Rapid and effective evaluation and treatment of the traumatized patient proceeds with an ABCDE approach. Injuries are identified and treated in the order in which they would kill a patient. When multiple casualties present in rapid succession, treatment must be prioritized to those most in need and this is done through the organized process of triage. Shock is commonly encountered in the traumatized patient and the rapid yet balanced treatment of shock is the key to the successful treatment in many patients. Minimizing the effect of the ‘second hit’ on a patient reduces the adverse affects of the body’s response to trauma and the downward spiral to multiorgan failure and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Assessment and management of patients with major trauma, and major and multiple skeletal injuries
Authors: Keating John
Published: August 2016

Injury to the skeletal system is common and well-established algorithms should be followed to provide optimal care. Classification systems aid in the understanding of complex injuries and facilitate research and audit. Severe trauma results in profound pathophysiologic effects, which must be appreciated in order to institute appropriate early care and minimize the risk of complications. Careful assessment in the primary and secondary survey provides essential information about the nature and distribution of skeletal injuries, which can then be used to develop a tailored management plan. Early stabilization of fractures remains a cornerstone of treatment for most patients. In patients with severe multiple injuries associated with coagulopathy, acidosis, and hypothermia, early definitive stabilization for all fractures may increase the complication rate and a staged approach to fracture stabilization may be preferable in these patients. The key determinant of outcome is the time to definitive care, which influences early mortality and functional outcome.
Common paediatric surgical conditions
Authors: Morecroft James A. , Craigie Ross J.
Published: August 2016

Pyloric stenosis is common in infancy and, with greater awareness, often presents early without the profound metabolic disturbance and emaciation seen in older textbooks. Inguinal hernia is common (2% boys undergo herniotomy). Incarceration is inversely related to age as is the urgency of operation. Undescended testis is less common with 1% boys undergoing orchidopexy. Testicular descent continues in early postnatal life and it is now recommended to place the testis in the scrotum by the age of 1 year to preserve function. Physiological phimosis is a normal condition when the foreskin does not retract and balloons on micturition; circumcision is rarely required before 6 years of age. Separation of the foreskin from the glans normally begins distally; if proximal separation occurs sebaceous material accumulates in the coronal sulcus forming a preputial pearl. Midline abdominal wall hernias rarely cause problems and often resolve spontaneously.
Principles of transplant immunology and immunosuppressive therapy
Authors: Bolton Eleanor M. , Bradley J. Andrew
Published: August 2016

Transplantation of an organ or tissue between individuals stimulates a powerful cell-mediated and humoral immune response that in the absence of immunosuppressive therapy leads to graft failure from acute rejection. ABO blood group compatibility is important in clinical transplantation because anti-ABO blood group antibodies cause hyperacute rejection. In ABO-compatible grafts, the graft rejection response is directed principally against human leukocyte antigens. In kidney and pancreas transplantation attempts are made to avoid transplanting poorly matched grafts that might have poorer survival and cause sensitization, making repeat transplantation difficult. This is not practical in liver transplantation, but graft rejection is less of a problem. All recipients require immunosuppressive therapy, which is usually very effective at preventing acute graft rejection although many grafts fail in the longer term because of chronic graft rejection. Immunosuppression increases the risk of opportunistic infection, particularly viral infection, and increases the risk of malignancy, particularly non-melanoma skin cancer and lymphoma.
Kidney transplantation
Authors: Bradley J. Andrew , Nicholson Michael
Published: August 2016

Patients with end-stage kidney disease require either dialysis or kidney transplantation, if they are to survive. The former requires creation of vascular access to enable haemodialysis or insertion of a peritoneal catheter for peritoneal dialysis. Kidney transplantation offers selected patients with end-stage-renal-failure (ESRF) a survival advantage and improved quality of life compared to dialysis. Many patients with ESRF are frail and elderly with major co-morbidity that precludes transplantation. Careful assessment of suitability for transplantation is important, particularly with respect to cardiovascular disease, malignancy and infection. There is a twofold to threefold shortage of donor kidneys and patients listed for deceased donor kidney transplant wait an average of 3 years. Deceased donor kidneys are allocated through a points-based national allocation scheme that favours HLA matching and recipients who have waited longest. Living donor transplants (genetically related and unrelated) comprise over a third of UK transplants and offer the best chance of long-term rehabilitation. Potential live donors require extensive evaluation to confirm their medical suitability to donate. Nephrectomy is undertaken laparoscopically and has a 5% major per-operative complication rate. At the time of renal transplant, careful attention to pre-operative care and early post-operative management is important for maximising success. The early results of transplantation are very good, but in the longer term chronic allograft nephropathy commonly accounts for graft failure. The half-life of a kidney transplant is around 15 years. Results are less good for recipients of kidneys from expanded criteria donors and best for recipients of living donor kidneys.
Research in surgery
Authors: Montgomery Alan A. , Blazeby Jane M.
Published: August 2016

The high-quality evaluation of standard and innovative surgical interventions is an essential element of surgical practice. Evaluation requires well-designed and well-conducted studies to produce evidence that informs health policy and clinical decision-making. This chapter describes methods for study design and conduct and provides general advice for planning and undertaking high-quality surgical research. The key features for planning and designing trials in surgery are described, including eligibility criteria, internal and external validity, outcome selection and measurement, sample size estimation, types of bias and, methods for data analyses. Trial conduct is discussed, including methods for obtaining informed consent for research participation, randomization, blinding, and how to avoid protocol deviations and optimise retention. The CONSORT Guidance for reporting RCTs is presented. The chapter also underlines the importance of multidisciplinary research teams with surgeons, statisticians, clinicians, health economists, and methodologists working together to design and conduct high-quality research.
Quality improvement
Authors: Bethune Rob , Blazeby Jane M.
Published: August 2016

Healthcare is changing. No longer can doctors and surgeons purely focus on the acquisition of technical skills and clinical knowledge. They must start to appreciate the wider context in which they work and improve the systems within which they are an integral component. To do this, it is necessary to understand and apply quality improvement techniques such as the model for improvement. The chasm between the best possible healthcare and the care delivered in the National Health Service (NHS) is enormous. Up to a fifth of patients admitted to surgical wards experience an adverse event. Systems have and are being developed (for example the Surgical Safety Checklist) to improve quality of care. The relatively new science of human factors will help train the next generation of surgeons to be fully equipped to address these challenges.
Information sharing
Authors: Marshall Michelle
Published: August 2016

Information sharing is an important aspect of medicine, and surgeons share information with many people, including patients, relatives, other members of the medical team and members of the wider healthcare team. Poor information sharing is one of the most common causes of patient complaints about the NHS. In this chapter we will consider how to share information effectively so that the patient understands their diagnosis and treatment plan and has realistic expectations regarding the plan. We will also consider how to share accurate information with colleagues in an efficient manner in specific situations and also how to generally enhance team working. The final section covers written communication, which takes many forms within medicine, including referral letters, emails, entries in patient’s notes and increasingly, the use of social media.
Surgical consent
Authors: Lonsdale Robbie
Published: August 2016

Consent is the permission obtained by a clinician from a patient to carry out a procedure on them. The need to obtain consent is rested on the fundamental ethical premise that any adult human has autonomy, the right of self-determination, and therefore the right to decide whether or not they allow another to invade their being. In order to make the decision of whether to give or refuse consent a patient must understand the treatment for which consent is being requested and the possible consequences of refusing treatment. In other words, they must be capable of making the decision and must be free to make the decision without coercion. The concept and requirements of consent are defined by common law, case law, and statutes that may vary between legal jurisdictions. A surgeon’s ethical responsibilities with respect to consent may extend beyond those required by law and those recommended by national bodies.
Wernicke’s aphasia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Wernicke’s aphasia from the Higher Functions section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Mixed UMN/LMN dysarthria
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Mixed UMN/LMN dysarthria from the Higher Functions section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Mimicry
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Mimicry from the Higher Functions section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Perseveration
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Perseveration from the Higher Functions section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Amnesia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Amnesia from the Higher Functions section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Introduction to movement disorders
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Introduction to movement disorders from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Hemidystonia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Hemidystonia from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Retrocollis
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Retrocollis from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Musician’s dystonia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Musician’s dystonia from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Belly dancer’s dystonia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Belly dancer’s dystonia from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
End-of-dose dystonia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on End-of-dose dystonia from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Frontalis dystonia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Frontalis dystonia from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Introduction to parkinsonism
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Introduction to parkinsonism from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Cues in parkinsonian gait
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Cues in parkinsonian gait from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Retropulsion and propulsion
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Retropulsion and propulsion from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Non dopa induced dystonia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Non dopa induced dystonia from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Oculogyric crisis
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Oculogyric crisis from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Stereotypy
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Stereotypy from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Psychogenic jerks
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Psychogenic jerks from the Movement Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Slow saccades
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Slow saccades from the Eyes/Eye Movements section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Blepharospasm
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Blepharospasm from the Eyes/Eye Movements section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Ptosis
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Ptosis from the Eyes/Eye Movements section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Vertical nystagmus
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Vertical nystagmus from the Eyes/Eye Movements section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Congenital nystagmus
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Congenital nystagmus from the Eyes/Eye Movements section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Jaw winking
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Jaw winking from the Eyes/Eye Movements section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Psychogenic disorders affecting the eyes
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Psychogenic disorders affecting the eyes from the Eyes/Eye Movements section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Mixed cranial nerve lesions
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Mixed cranial nerve lesions from the Head and Neck section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Overview of epilepsy
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J. , Bleasel Andrew
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Overview from the Epilepsy section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Psychogenic seizures
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J. , Bleasel Andrew
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Psychogenic seizures from the Epilepsy section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Inverted supinator reflex
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Inverted supinator reflex from the Reflexes section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Gait in hemidystonia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Gait in hemidystonia from the Gait section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Gait in generalized dystonia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Gait in generalized dystonia from the Gait section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Cerebellar ataxic gait
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Cerebellar ataxic gait from the Gait section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Waddling (Trendelenburg) gait
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Waddling (Trendelenburg) gait from the Gait section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Antalgic gait
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Antalgic gait from the Gait section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Advanced parkinsonian gait
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Advanced parkinsonian gait from the Gait section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Other parkinsonian gaits
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Other parkinsonian gaits from the Gait section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Cues in parkinsonian gait
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Cues in parkinsonian gait from the Gait section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Myokymia
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Myokymia from the Lower Motor Neuron / Muscle disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Psychogenic speech
Authors: Morris John G. , Grattan-Smith Padraic J.
Published: August 2016

This is a chapter on Psychogenic speech from the Psychogenic Disorders section of A Manual of Neurological Signs. Most of the chapters contain a description of the sign, associated signs, and cases, supported by clinical videos and figures.
Genotyping-by-Sequencing to Predict Resistance to Lima Bean Downy Mildew in a Diversity Panel
Authors: Mhora T. T. , Ernest E. G. , Wisser R. J. , Evans T. A. , Patzoldt M. E. , Gregory N. F. , Westhafer S. E. , Polson S. W. , Donofrio N. M.
Published: August 2016

Lima bean is affected by severe downy mildew epidemics caused by the oomycete Phytophthora phaseoli. There are six documented races of P. phaseoli (A to F). Race F is currently predominant in the mid-Atlantic region, creating the need for resistant lima bean cultivars with desirable agronomic characteristics. In order to develop markers for detecting race F resistance, bulked segregant analysis (BSA) using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was used on a biparental F2 population comprised of 216 lima bean progeny segregating for a dominant race F resistance phenotype. Data were analyzed using a custom bioinformatic analysis pipeline (redrep). Kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction assays were developed using 12 GBS markers associated with the race F resistance phenotype. Using these assays, the F2 population was used to map the race F resistance locus. Seven markers were in linkage and significantly associated with race F resistance that mapped between two markers located approximately 4.88 centimorgan (cM) apart. These assays were successfully used to genotype a newly acquired lima bean diversity panel consisting of 256 landraces, cultivars, and wild germplasm, and a haplotype consisting of two of the seven linked markers was demonstrated to accurately predict race F resistance. This confirmed the ability of our customized methods to accurately predict phenotypes in diverse lines of lima bean.
A framework to assess the contribution of bioaerosols to the outcome of meteorological contexts favorable for rainfall
Authors: Morris Cindy E. , Soubeyrand Samuel , Bigg E. Keith , Creamean Jessie M. , Sands David C.
Published: August 2016

Rainfall feedback results from the sensitivity of atmospheric processes to environmental conditions that are generated by a preceding rainfall event. Feedback that is persistent over several weeks is most likely due to environmental phenomena that involve growth and therefore most probably involves aerosols of biological origin. Based on a tool developed to quantify feedback at specific sites from historical daily rainfall data and maps of the feedback trends (http://w3.avignon.inra.fr/rainfallfeedback/index.html) we have generated a series of site-specific and season-specific hypotheses about the extent to which aerosols – from biological sources in particular - influence the outcome of meteorological conditions that are favorable for rainfall. We illustrate how the tools we report here and elsewhere can be applied in a framework of rationale for the design of field experiments finely tuned to site-specific hypotheses and thereby to a more refined understanding of the contexts of geography, season and land use that underlie the extent to which aerosols influence the fate of cloud processes.
Local PCA Shows How the Effect of Population Structure Differs Along the Genome
Authors: Li Han , Ralph Peter
Published: August 2016

Population structure leads to systematic patterns in measures of mean relatedness between individuals in large genomic datasets, which are often discovered and visualized using dimension reduction techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA). Mean relatedness is an average of the relationships across locus-specific genealogical trees, which can be strongly affected on intermediate genomic scales by linked selection and other factors. We show how to use local principal components analysis to describe this meso-scale heterogeneity in patterns of relatedness, and apply the method to genomic data from three species, finding in each that the effect of population structure can vary substantially across only a few megabases. In a global human dataset, localized heterogeneity is likely explained by polymorphic chromosomal inversions. In a range-wide dataset ofMedicago truncatula, factors that produce heterogeneity are shared between chromosomes, correlate with local gene density, and may be caused by linked selection, such as background selection or local adaptation. In a dataset of primarily AfricanDrosophila melanogaster, large-scale heterogeneity across each chromosome arm is explained by known chromosomal inversions thought to be under recent selection, and after removing samples carrying inversions, remaining heterogeneity is correlated with recombination rate and gene density, again suggesting a role for linked selection. The visualization method provides a flexible new way to discover biological drivers of genetic variation, and its application to data highlights the strong effects that linked selection and chromosomal inversions can have on observed patterns of genetic variation.
Privatization, tunneling, and tax avoidance in Chinese SOEs
Authors: Tang Tanya Y.H.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of ownership structure arising from China’s unique privatization process on listed firms’ tunneling activities and their interaction with tax avoidance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using hand-collected data on the incompletely restructured state-owned listed firms and their applicable tax rate, this paper conducts a multivariate regression to test research questions. It also employs a triple differences method to examine whether the observed interaction between tax avoidance and tunneling is mitigated for well-governed firms.

Findings

It documents that controlling shareholders’ tunneling increases as the percentage of shares owned by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) increases. Evidence also shows that the magnitude of tunneling increases when SOEs controlled by the central government engage in more tax avoidance, suggesting that these firms use tax avoidance to facilitate wealth expropriation.

Social implications

These findings advance the understanding of the tunneling incentive behind the tax avoidance behavior for a subset of Chinese SOEs and have implications for emerging capital markets that are characterized by concentrated government ownership and weak corporate governance.

Originality/value

This paper is the first paper to investigate the effect of the incomplete privatization process on tunneling and the interaction between tunneling and tax avoidance activities. It extends prior studies by investigating the incentives behind SOEs’ tax avoidance from the perspective of an agency problem and documenting that good corporate governance plays an important role in deterring the diversionary tax avoidance.
Are political ties only based on interpersonal relations?
Authors: Zhang Nan , Liang Qiao-zhuan , Lei Haimin , Wang Xiao
Published: August 2016

Purpose

Despite most studies on political ties focusing on the interpersonal relationships between firms and government officials, this study suggests that local party committees (LPCs) create special forms of political ties in China – i.e. organizational political ties. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influences that these organizational political ties have on Chinese firms’ innovative activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon data based on a nationwide survey of Chinese firms in 2013, this study uses a structural equations model to examine the relationship between LPCs and firms’ innovations.

Findings

This study found that LPCs do affect firms’ innovations positively, including both radical innovations and incremental innovations.

Research limitations/implications

By suggesting that LPCs are a form of political tie particular to China – i.e. an organizational political tie – this study’s findings may shed fresh light on the research into political ties in other emerging economies.

Originality/value

Compared to traditional political ties, maintaining the organizational political ties fostered by LPCs benefits firms’ innovations significantly in China, making them less costly and more stable.
In search of the roots of HRM in the Chinese workplace
Authors: Busse Ronald , Warner Malcolm , Zhao Shuming
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to trace back the roots of US-driven “Human Resource Management” (HRM) school of thought which now become widely institutionalized in China, up to the present day.

Design/methodology/approach

It looks at the diffusion of management knowledge over the period to Chinese business, which involved in turn scientific management (SM), human relations (HR) and HRM, respectively, from the interwar years onwards, by using a bibliometric analysis of Chinese language sources, searching a number of databases now available.

Findings

The authors scanned the international, as well as Chinese, literature to support a conjecture of a HR route towards China and how it morphed into HRM and went on to conclude that there was by the end of the year 2015 still a significant output of academic publications with references to both HR and HRM, respectively, but that we must be cautious in asserting a firm conclusion.

Originality/value

This paper traces back the roots of Chinese HRM back to the US-driven HR school of thought.
From the white darkness to dark tourism: the case of Sarikamish
Authors: Yirik Sevket , Seyitoğlu Faruk , Çakar Kadir
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand and examine whether the Sarikamish battlefield site can be considered as a dark tourist attraction by exploring the extent to which the site meets the five stages of MacCannell’s sacralisation process.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present research, the case study approach was adopted within the context of the battlefield site to examine the sight sacralisation concept, which is credited to MacCannell (1976), by considering its five stages, which include naming, framing and elevation, enshrinement, mechanical reproduction and social reproduction.

Findings

The findings of the present study reveal that the Sarikamish battlefield site has the potential for dark tourism consumption. However, there is lack of interest in the Sarikamish site, and little attention has been paid to this issue. The results also show that there is a significant difference between the Gallipoli and Sarikamish battlefields in terms of tourist flows regarding dark tourism.

Research limitations/implications

Because of time limits and the long distance to the Sarikamish province, this research benefited from gathering data both from printed documents and websites related to the province, in addition to interviews that were conducted using semi-structured questions, which were e-mailed to the respondents.

Originality/value

The present study is unique in regards to its objective, which is to increase public awareness about the site. Moreover, it seeks to make people more cognisant in terms of motivation to visit the Sarikamish battlefield, and these issues have been given little attention by scholars.
Looking beyond pasta and pizzas: examining personal and historical nostalgia as travel motives
Authors: Phau Ian , Quintal Vanessa , Marchegiani Chris , Lee Sean
Published: August 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how nostalgia influences travel attitudes and intentions of tourist destination among travellers with Italian heritage. Perceived travel risks as a moderating role between the relationships between personal and historical nostalgia and travel attitudes are also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered mail survey was used, targeting Australians of Italian heritage, to investigate the influence of nostalgia on attitudes and intentions to visit Italy as a tourist destination. A total of 218 usable responses were used for analysis. Exploratory factor analysis was utilised to assess the dimensionality of the constructs, and regression analysis was used to test the hypothesised relationships in the research model.

Findings

On analysis of the data collected through a mail survey, results showed that only personal nostalgia was found to exert a positive influence upon travel attitudes which in turn was positively related to travel intention toward Italy. Perceived travel risk factors did not moderate the relationship between personal nostalgia and travel attitudes. However, a negative relationship was found between perceived travel risk and travel intentions towards Italy.

Practical implications

The findings provide further validity to the personal and historical nostalgia scales as a means of understanding motivations to visit a tourist destination. Such findings are significant in adding destination managers and policymakers in developing marketing executions and policies that seek to capitalise on the nostalgic sentiments of the target segments. This study further contributes to the literature on perceived travel risks by highlighting its moderating effect on nostalgic motivations and travel attitudes.

Originality/value

This study aimed to enrich the theoretical base of the tourism discipline by reviewing the significance of personal and historical nostalgia as travel motives and their impact upon a tourist’s travel attitudes and intentions. It also examines the moderating role of perceived travel risks in an empirical model. Further, the current study is the first of its kind to empirically examine personal and historical nostalgia within a leisure travel context.
Satisfying service needs without compromising culture
Authors: Schaffer Vikki
Published: August 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the preparedness of regional destinations for new and developing markets (NDMs) focusing on service provision and cultural considerations.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews using semi-structured questions and quantitative and qualitative analyses were undertaken with regional tourism-related stakeholders to investigate NDMs, levels of preparedness for these markets, perceptions on service quality and host and visitor culture.

Findings

Regional tourism operators and organisations within the case study were not well prepared for NDMs such as China and India. There was a strong desire to present a local experience with services that reflect the Australian culture, rather than replicate the visitors’ culture. Levels of awareness for the services preferred by NDMs and the intention to cater specifically to these preferences was found to be inconsistent. Key challenges include market diversity, staff training, limited resources and inadequate infrastructure. Resource allocation to address these challenges may not be a high priority, impacting NDMs’ preparedness and regional tourism growth.

Originality/value

Globally, tourism organisations are directing marketing efforts towards NDMs. However, ill-preparedness for these markets can lead to low levels of tourist satisfaction, reduced re-visitation and fewer positive word-of-mouth recommendations, all of which negatively impact tourism growth and development. Limited research has been undertaken in this area; thus, this study aids in identifying areas of focus for regional preparedness, service provision and resource allocation for existing markets and NDMs.
Impact of school autonomy on student achievement: cases from Australia
Authors: Caldwell Brian John
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report four case studies in Australia that respond to the question: “How have schools with a relatively high degree of autonomy used their increased authority and responsibility to make decisions that have led in explicit cause-and-effect fashion to higher levels of student achievement”?

Design/methodology/approach

A conventional case study methodology was adopted, framed by a review of evidence in the international literature. The studies were conducted in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Victoria. Senior leaders in systems of public education in these jurisdictions nominated schools which have had a relatively high degree of autonomy for at least two years; have achieved high levels of student achievement, or have shown noteworthy improvement; and are able to explain how the link between autonomy and achievement had been made. The four schools chosen from these nominations represented different types as far as level and location were concerned. Triangulation of sources was a feature of the studies.

Findings

The findings reveal that the schools were able to explain the links and that it was possible to map the cause-and-effect chain. Schools used their autonomy to select staff and allocate funds in their budgets, each being capacities that came with a higher level of autonomy. Leadership was important.

Research limitations/implications

The paper cautions against generalizing the findings.

Originality/value

There is international interest in the extent to which granting public schools a higher level of autonomy than has traditionally been the case in various national settings has had an impact on student achievement. These case studies go part of the way in describing what schools do when they successfully take up a higher level of authority and responsibility as one strategy in efforts to raise levels of achievement.
European mobile markets and the doctrine of “4 networks good, 3 networks bad”
Authors: Curwen Peter , Whalley Jason
Published: August 2016

Purpose

In light of the recent European Commission decisions that clearly favour the maintenance of a four-network structure in European mobile markets, the purpose is to provide an empirical examination of the case for and against such a structure.

Design/methodology/approach

A table of concentration ratios in 35 sample European markets is constructed and is followed by a detailed analysis of all relevant merger/takeover cases since 2012. These are then used to provide a general analysis of the desirability of further consolidation in the European mobile sector.

Findings

Although the relevant investigatory bodies claim to have made out a watertight case for the maintenance of existing structures, the paper explains why these claims should be met with some scepticism, especially in light of the development of “quad-play” in all markets.

Research limitations/implications

When a decision is made on a market structure, it is pointless to pursue the “but what if?” alternatives any further. However, it should be possible in a few years’ time to assess whether the Commission’s predictions have come to pass.

Originality/value

As the UK decision has only just been delivered, the only commentary so far has had a narrow focus, whereas this paper seeks to provide useful and relevant background data about the structure of markets and technological developments.
Visual management in production management: a literature synthesis
Authors: Tezel Algan , Koskela Lauri , Tzortzopoulos Patricia
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to holistically discuss, explore and synthesise the key literature on visual management (VM), an important, yet highly fragmented subject that is frequently referred in lean production accounts.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review was conducted to classify the current literature, to explore the different aspects and limitations of the current discussions on the subject, to clarify in what ways VM benefits manifest themselves in a workplace and to identify the future research focus.

Findings

VM is an important close-range communication strategy based on cognitively effective information conveyance. This strategy has been frequently discussed in the production management literature. However, the literature is fragmented as to the roles of VM in a production setting; the body of literature lacks integrated focus and cohesion with an abundance of related terminology from scholarly works and consultant books; a practical VM tools taxonomy and a visual workplace implementation framework were presented; there is poor clarity with regards to the functions (benefits) that VM may provide within organisations, nine conceptual VM functions were proposed; a wide array of future research directions related to VM was identified.

Originality/value

This paper synthesises the key literature related to VM, providing a conceptual picture of the current knowledge.