bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of hepatitis B rapid tests toward linkage-to-care: results of a randomized, multicenter study
Authors: Bottero Julie , Boyd Anders , Gozlan Joël , Carrat Fabrice , Lemoine Maud , Rougier Hayette , Varsat Brigitte , Boo Nicolas , Charlois-Ou Cécile , Collignon Anne , Cha Olivier , Campa Pauline , Dhotte Philippe , Girard Pierre-Marie , Lacombe Karine
Published: March 2016

Objectives

Worldwide, many infected individuals are unaware of their hepatitis B virus (HBV) status. We evaluated the effectiveness of HBV rapid testing in promoting linkage-to-care.

Methods

In 2012, volunteers were recruited from five Parisian centers. Participants were randomized 1 : 1 to receive standard serology (S) or rapid testing (VIKIA-HBsAg/Quick Profile anti-HBsAb) with confirmatory serology (R+S). The primary endpoint was percentage of individuals with appropriate linkage-to-care (nonimmunized individuals starting vaccination or HBsAg-positive individuals receiving medical evaluation). The secondary outcomes were percentage receiving HBV-test results and performance of HBV rapid tests.

Results

In total, 995 individuals were screened. Among the HBV-infection groups included in the primary endpoint (n=409), 20 (4.9%) received appropriate linkage-to-care, with no difference between S and R+S groups (5.7 vs. 4.1%, P=0.5). Two of eight HBsAg-positive participants had a medical visit (1/6 and 1/2 in the S and R+S groups, respectively) and 18/401 (4.5%) nonimmunized participants initiated HBV-vaccination (11/205 and 7/196). Factors that tended to be associated with linkage-to-care were female sex, birth country of high HBV prevalence, and extended medical stay. Test results were not obtained in 4.7% of participants, which was significantly higher in the S arm (P=0.02). Both sensitivity and specificity were 100% for the VIKIA-HBsAg rapid test and 94.4 and 80.8%, respectively, for the anti-HBsAb Quick Profile rapid test.

Conclusion

Despite a higher proportion of participants obtaining their results in the R+S arm and better performance of anti-HBsAb rapid tests than described previously, we found no evidence that HBV screening based initially on rapid tests leads to increased HBV-vaccination rates or medical evaluation. This strategy should be evaluated in more hard-to-reach populations.
Endovascular treatment of symptomatic Budd–Chiari syndrome – in favour of early transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
Authors: Rosenqvist Kerstin , Sheikhi Reza , Eriksson Lars-Gunnar , Rajani Rupesh , Rorsman Fredrik , Sangfelt Per , Nyman Rickard
Published: March 2016

Introduction

Treatment of Budd–Chiari syndrome (BCS) has shifted from mainly medical treatment, with surgical shunt and orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) as rescue, to medical treatment combined with an early endovascular intervention in the past two decades.

Purpose

To assess the safety and efficiency of endovascular treatment of symptomatic patients with BCS and to compare mortality with symptomatic BCS patients in the same region treated with only sporadic endovascular techniques.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of clinical data, treatment and survival in 14 patients diagnosed with BCS and treated with endovascular methods from 2003 to 2015. A national epidemiology study of BCS from 1986 to 2003 was used for comparison.

Results

Thirteen of the 14 patients eventually had transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), four after previous liver vein angioplasty. TIPS were performed with polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents and technical success was 100%. Calculated preinterventional prognostic indices indicated a high risk of TIPS dysfunction, OLT and death. However, only one patient died and one had an OLT, and the 1- and 2-year primary TIPS-patency was 85 and 67%, respectively. Episodes of de-novo hepatic encephalopathy occurred in three patients. Overall 1- and 5-year transplantation-free survival was 100 and 93% compared with 47 and 28%, respectively, in 1986 to 2003.

Conclusion

TIPS seems to be a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic BCS and there is an obvious improvement in transplantation-free survival compared with conservatory medical treatment. It should, therefore, be considered early, as first-line intervention, in patients with insufficient response to medical treatment.
Are We Overdoing Pediatric Lower Gastrointestinal Endoscopy?
Authors: Kawada Patricia S. , O'Loughlin Edward V. , Stormon Michael O. , Dutt Shoma , Lee Cheng H. , Gaskin Kevin J.
Published: March 2016

Introduction:

Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy (LGIE)/colonoscopy is frequently performed for rectal bleeding, recurrent abdominal pain, and the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although these are common indications, the causes of isolated rectal bleeding and recurrent abdominal pain in the otherwise well child have not been described.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of patients who had had an LGIE/colonoscopy from January 2001 to December 2010 was performed. The following data were collected: demographic data, indication, distance reached, macroscopic findings, microscopic findings, diagnosis, additional procedures, and complications.

Results:

There were a total of 999 colonoscopies. The colonoscopy was normal in 390 of 999 (39%). The commonest indication for colonoscopy was a diagnosis of suspected IBD, 449 of 999 (45%). IBD was confirmed in 282 of 449 (63%), but colonoscopy was normal in 143 of 449 (32%) of suspected IBD. Colonoscopy was performed for rectal bleeding in 197 of 999 (20%) of whom 141 of 197 (72%) were normal. There were 46 (5%) colonoscopies performed for recurrent abdominal pain, which were all normal. Our completion rate to the cecum and beyond was 521 of 999 (52%). Our perforation rate during the 10 years was 0.2%.

Conclusions:

Colonoscopy is a safe procedure in pediatrics; however, 39% of colonoscopies in this series were normal. Many of these could have been avoided by eliminating colonoscopy in patients with recurrent abdominal pain in the absence of other clinical features, conservative management with laxatives for those with fresh blood per rectum typical of anal fissures, and fecal calprotectin screening before endoscopy in patients with suspected IBD.
The psychometric properties of the Turkish Stroke and Aphasia Quality Of Life Scale-39
Authors: Atamaz Calis Funda , Celik Serpil , Demir Orcun , Aykanat Dilek , Yagiz On Arzu
Published: March 2016

The Stroke and Aphasia Quality Of Life Scale (SAQOL-39) is a widely used instrument in assessing the quality of life in aphasic patients. Our purpose was to translate the SAQOL-39 into the Turkish language (SAQOL-39/TR) and assess its reliability and validity in patients who had aphasia. SAQOL-39/TR was obtained using the ‘translation–backward translation’ method and administered to 40 patients with aphasia. The reliability studies were performed by means of internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The validation studies were carried out by means of construct validity using within-scale analyses and analyses against the external criteria. Correlation analysis was performed between scales and the Ege Aphasia Test, the Barthel index, the 12-item General Health Questionnaire and the Brunnstrom recovery stages (BRS) of the arm, hand, and lower extremity. In the results, the scores of the SAQOL-39 were not different between groups. Cronbach’sαvariables were good for all domains (0.80, 0.88, 0.89, 0.82, and 0.83). Test–retest reliability was also high (0.96, 0.97, 0.91, 0.70, and 0.96). There were significant correlations with coefficients ranging from 0.36 to 0.60 among the domains of scale and other measures. Moderate–high correlations were also seen with BRS-arm, BRS-hand, and BRS-lower extremity (r, 0.27–0.58). It was found that all domains were highly related with all domains of Ege aphasia test, except praxia (P<0.001). This study showed that the SAQOL-39/TR has acceptable validity and reliability in assessing the quality of life. However, similar results of the scale in patients with dysarthria suggest that the SAQOL-39 may not be specific to only aphasic patients.
Spiritual Meaning in Life and Values in Patients With Severe Mental Disorders
Authors: Huguelet Philippe , Mohr Sylvia Madeleine , Olié Emilie , Vidal Sonia , Hasler Roland , Prada Paco , Bancila Mircea , Courtet Philippe , Guillaume Sébastien , Perroud Nader
Published: March 2016

Spirituality and meaning in life are key dimensions of recovery in psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to explore spiritual meaning in life in relation to values and mental health among 175 patients with schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and anorexia nervosa. For 26% of the patients, spirituality was essential in providing meaning in life. Depending on the diagnosis, considering spirituality as essential in life was associated with better social functioning; self-esteem; psychological and social quality of life; fewer negative symptoms; higher endorsement of values such as universalism, tradition (humility, devoutness), and benevolence (helpfulness); and a more meaningful perspective in life. These results highlight the importance of spirituality for recovery-oriented care.
Comprehensive Comparison of Virtual Monoenergetic and Linearly Blended Reconstruction Techniques in Third-Generation Dual-Source Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Angiography of the Thorax and Abdomen
Authors: Albrecht Moritz H. , Trommer Jesko , Wichmann Julian L. , Scholtz Jan-Erik , Martin Simon S. , Lehnert Thomas , Vogl Thomas J. , Bodelle Boris
Published: March 2016

Objectives

The aim of this study was to perform an objective and subjective image analysis of traditional and advanced noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) algorithms and standard linearly blended images in third-generation dual-source dual-energy computed tomography angiography (DE-CTA) of the thorax and abdomen.

Materials and Methods

Thoracoabdominal DE-CTA examinations of 55 patients (36 male; mean age, 64.2 ± 12.7 years) were included in this retrospective institutional review board–approved study. Dual-energy computed tomography angiography data were reconstructed using standard linearly blended M_0.6 (merging 60% low kiloelectron volt [90 kV] with 40% high kiloelectron volt [150 kV] spectrum), traditional (VMI), and advanced VMI (VMI+) algorithms. Monoenergetic series were calculated ranging from 40 to 120 keV with 10 keV increments. Attenuation and standard deviation of 8 arteries and various anatomical landmarks of the thorax and abdomen were measured to calculate contrast-to-noise ratio values. Two radiologists subjectively assessed image quality, contrast conditions, noise, and visualization of small arterial branches using 5-point Likert scales.

Results

Vascular attenuation of VMI and VMI+ series showed a gradual increase from high to low kiloelectron volt levels without significant differences between both algorithms (P < 0.894). VMI+ 40-keV series showed the highest contrast-to-noise ratio for both thoracic and abdominal DE-CTA (P < 0.001), albeit revealing higher noise than M_0.6 images (objectively and subjectively, P < 0.001) and were rated best for visualization of small arterial branches in the subjective analysis (P < 0.109). Substantially increased noise was found for VMI 40 and 50 keV series compared with all other reconstructions (objectively and subjectively, P < 0.001). VMI+ images at 100 keV+ were rated best regarding image noise (P < 0.843), whereas VMI+ reconstructions at 70 keV were found to have superior subjective image quality (P < 0.031) compared with other series except for 60 and 80 keV VMI+ series (P < 0.587). Contrast conditions at 50 keV VMI+ were rated superior compared with 60 to 100 keV VMI and VMI+ reconstructions (P < 0.012).

Conclusions

General image quality of DE-CTA examinations can be substantially improved using the VMI+ algorithm with observer preference of 70 keV, while 40 to 50 keV series provide superior contrast and improved visualization of small arterial branches compared with traditional VMI and standard linearly blended series.
Sparse time-frequency decomposition based on dictionary adaptation
Authors: Hou Thomas Y. , Shi Zuoqiang
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we propose a time-frequency analysis method to obtain instantaneous frequencies and the corresponding decomposition by solving an optimization problem. In this optimization problem, the basis that is used to decompose the signal is not known
a priori
. Instead, it is adapted to the signal and is determined as part of the optimization problem. In this sense, this optimization problem can be seen as a dictionary adaptation problem, in which the dictionary is adaptive to one signal rather than a training set in dictionary learning. This dictionary adaptation problem is solved by using the augmented Lagrangian multiplier (ALM) method iteratively. We further accelerate the ALM method in each iteration by using the fast wavelet transform. We apply our method to decompose several signals, including signals with poor scale separation, signals with outliers and polluted by noise and a real signal. The results show that this method can give accurate recovery of both the instantaneous frequencies and the intrinsic mode functions.
Hyperspectral chemical plume detection algorithms based on multidimensional iterative filtering decomposition
Authors: Cicone A. , Liu J. , Zhou H.
Published: March 2016

Chemicals released in the air can be extremely dangerous for human beings and the environment. Hyperspectral images can be used to identify chemical plumes, however the task can be extremely challenging. Assuming we know
a priori
that some chemical plume, with a known frequency spectrum, has been photographed using a hyperspectral sensor, we can use standard techniques such as the so-called matched filter or adaptive cosine estimator, plus a properly chosen threshold value, to identify the position of the chemical plume. However, due to noise and inadequate sensing, the accurate identification of chemical pixels is not easy even in this apparently simple situation. In this paper, we present a post-processing tool that, in a completely adaptive and data-driven fashion, allows us to improve the performance of any classification methods in identifying the boundaries of a plume. This is done using the multidimensional iterative filtering (MIF) algorithm (Cicone
et al.
2014 (
http://arxiv.org/abs/1411.6051
); Cicone & Zhou 2015 (
http://arxiv.org/abs/1507.07173
)), which is a non-stationary signal decomposition method like the pioneering empirical mode decomposition method (Huang
et al.
1998
Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A
454, 903. (
doi:10.1098/rspa.1998.0193
)). Moreover, based on the MIF technique, we propose also a pre-processing method that allows us to decorrelate and mean-centre a hyperspectral dataset. The cosine similarity measure, which often fails in practice, appears to become a successful and outperforming classifier when equipped with such a pre-processing method. We show some examples of the proposed methods when applied to real-life problems.
Wave–turbulence interaction-induced vertical mixing and its effects in ocean and climate models
Authors: Qiao Fangli , Yuan Yeli , Deng Jia , Dai Dejun , Song Zhenya
Published: March 2016

Heated from above, the oceans are stably stratified. Therefore, the performance of general ocean circulation models and climate studies through coupled atmosphere–ocean models depends critically on vertical mixing of energy and momentum in the water column. Many of the traditional general circulation models are based on total kinetic energy (TKE), in which the roles of waves are averaged out. Although theoretical calculations suggest that waves could greatly enhance coexisting turbulence, no field measurements on turbulence have ever validated this mechanism directly. To address this problem, a specially designed field experiment has been conducted. The experimental results indicate that the wave–turbulence interaction-induced enhancement of the background turbulence is indeed the predominant mechanism for turbulence generation and enhancement. Based on this understanding, we propose a new parametrization for vertical mixing as an additive part to the traditional TKE approach. This new result reconfirmed the past theoretical model that had been tested and validated in numerical model experiments and field observations. It firmly establishes the critical role of wave–turbulence interaction effects in both general ocean circulation models and atmosphere–ocean coupled models, which could greatly improve the understanding of the sea surface temperature and water column properties distributions, and hence model-based climate forecasting capability.
Accelerating Wright-Fisher Forward Simulations on the Graphics Processing Unit
Authors: Lawrie David S.
Published: March 2016

Forward Wright-Fisher simulations are powerful in their ability to model complex demography and selection scenarios, but suffer from slow execution on the CPU, thus limiting their usefulness. The single-locus Wright-Fisher forward algorithm is, however, exceedingly parallelizable, with many steps which are so-calledembarrassingly parallel, consisting of a vast number of individual computations that are all independent of each other and thus capable of being performed concurrently. The rise of modern Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and programming languages designed to leverage the inherent parallel nature of these processors have allowed researchers to dramatically speed up many programs that have such high arithmetic intensity and intrinsic concurrency. The presentedGPUOptimized Wright-Fisher simulation, orGO Fishfor short, can be used to simulate arbitrary selection and demographic scenarios while running over 250-fold faster than its serial counterpart on the CPU. Even modest GPU hardware can achieve an impressive speedup of well over two orders of magnitude. With simulations so accelerated, one can not only do quick parametric bootstrapping of previously estimated parameters, but also use simulated results to calculate the likelihoods and summary statistics of demographic and selection models against real polymorphism data - all without restricting the demographic and selection scenarios that can be modeled or requiring approximations to the single-locus forward algorithm for efficiency. Further, as many of the parallel programming techniques used in this simulation can be applied to other computationally intensive algorithms important in population genetics,GO Fishserves as an exciting template for future research into accelerating computation in evolution.GO Fishis part of the Parallel PopGen Package available at:http://dl42.github.io/ParallelPopGen/
Lipid profiles and body mass index of young students in Jordan
Authors: Rasheed Habeeb Alquraishi Balasim , Rababah Eman
Published: March 2016

Objective

Toanalyze the lipid profile in a population of young university students in relation with their BMI.

Methods

This study assessed 96 students with age between 18 and 31 years old who were classified according to their sex and their body mass index (BMI). The fastingserum submitted to lipid profile analysis, including serum level of total cholesterol (TC), High(HDL-c), triglycerides (TG)were measured by using enzymatic methodandNon HDLD and a fraction of cholesterol of low (LDL-c) which calculated mathematically besides of life habits and atherogenic data.

Results

The mean BMI (Kg/cm2) in male (27.75±5.76) is higher than the mean BMI in female (23.17±2.78), P value (0.0001). The mean total concentration of cholesterol, LDL-c and Non HDL (mg/dl) in males (165.88±32.20, 85.00±39.94, 105.09±34.22) respectively is less than in females (194.27±52.04, 125.32±50.39, 139.14±51.35) correspondingly. The mean total concentration of HDL-c and TG (61.97±13.29, 94.80±53.65) respectively are higher in male than those in female (54.57±13.14, 71.75±35.51) correspondingly. Lipid indices, total cholesterol/HDL, LDL/HDL and Non HDL/HDL in male (2.91±1.02, 1.50±0.86, 1.87±0.99) respectively are less than those in female (3.73±1.24, 2.47±1.24, 2.75±1.25).

Conclusions

The obesity of young males (25.00%) is more prevalence than the obesity of young females (2.28%). The risk concentration of total cholesterol,LDL-c and Non HDLand the lipid indices (Total cholesterol/HDL,LDL/HDL and Non HDL/HDL) are higher in females than males and this indicate that the young females have more risk to develop cardiac problems in older ages.
Functional metagenomics usingPseudomonas putidaexpands the known diversity of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthases and enables the production of novel polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers
Authors: Cheng Jiujun , Charles Trevor C.
Published: March 2016

Bacterially produced biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates with versatile properties can be achieved using different PHA synthase enzymes. This work aims to expand the diversity of known PHA synthases via functional metagenomics, and demonstrates the use of these novel enzymes in PHA production. Complementation of a PHA synthesis deficientPseudomonas putidastrain with a soil metagenomic cosmid library retrieved 27 clones expressing either Class I, Class II or unclassified PHA synthases, and many did not have close sequence matches to known PHA synthases. The composition of PHA produced by these clones was dependent on both the supplied growth substrates and the nature of the PHA synthase, with various combinations of SCL-and MCL-PHA. These data demonstrate the ability to isolate diverse genes for PHA synthesis by functional metagenomics, and their use for the production of a variety of PHA polymer and copolymer mixtures.
Comparative study of the field-induced and spontaneous AF2′ multiferroic phases in MnWO4and Mn0.90Co0.10WO4within the magnetic symmetry framework
Authors: Urcelay-Olabarria Irene , García-Muñoz José Luis , Ressouche Eric , Mukhin Alexander A. , Skumryev Vassil
Published: March 2016

(Mn,Co)WO4compounds are regarded as reference spin-induced multiferroics. A comparative study is presented here, within the magnetic symmetry framework, of the incommensurate magnetic orders responsible for the ferroelectric phases of (i) MnWO4under a magnetic field (H||b) and (ii) Mn0.90Co0.10WO4in the absence of an external field. On the one hand, although these two ferroelectric phases are stabilized under different external physical conditions, both present the sameXc1′(α0γ)ssmagnetic symmetry and practically the same modulation vector. The magnetic ordering in both phases is an elliptical helix with the magnetic moments (as the polarization vector,P) perpendicular to thebaxis, although in most of the ferroelectric compositions of the (Mn,Co)WO4family the spins rotate in planes containingb(and haveP||b). On the other hand, the anisotropy of the resulting magnetic modulations is extraordinarily different in the two phases. This is described and explained in the light of the different anisotropies of Co and Mn ions.
Magnetic field-dependent spin structures of nanocrystalline holmium
Authors: Szary Philipp , Kaiser Daniel , Bick Jens-Peter , Lott Dieter , Heinemann André , Dewhurst Charles , Birringer Rainer , Michels Andreas
Published: March 2016

The results are reported of magnetic field-dependent neutron diffraction experiments on polycrystalline inert-gas condensed holmium with a nanometre crystallite size (D= 33 nm). AtT= 50 K, no evidence is found for the existence of helifan(3/2) or helifan(2) structures for the nanocrystalline sample, in contrast with results reported in the literature for the single crystal. Instead, when the applied fieldHis increased, the helix pattern transforms progressively, most likely into a fan structure. It is the component ofHwhich acts on the basal-plane spins of a given nanocrystallite that drives the disappearance of the helix; for nanocrystalline Ho, this field is about 1.3 T, and it is related to a characteristic kink in the virgin magnetization curve. For a coarse-grained Ho sample, concomitant with the destruction of the helix phase, the emergence of an unusual angular anisotropy (streak pattern) and the appearance of novel spin structures are observed.
Powder sample-positioning system for neutron scattering allowing gas delivery in top-loading cryofurnaces
Authors: Lee Stanley , Chevreau Hubert , Booth Norman , Duyker Samuel G. , Ogilvie Stephen H. , Imperia Paolo , Peterson Vanessa K.
Published: March 2016

A system for positioning powder samples in top-loading cryofurnaces during neutron scattering experiments, while facilitating the successive delivery of gas doses at set temperatures to the sample, has been designed and tested. The positioning system is compatible with a Hiden Isochema IMI instrument as a gas-dosing platform, enabling gases to be delivered to the sample through a centrally located and thermally stabilized capillary line and valve. The positioning system separates into an upper and a lower section, with the lower section enabling the sample to be isolated and inserted into a glove box. This work describes the system using example neutron powder diffraction results obtained with this system in closed-cycle cryofurnaces.
Comparing the research-practice gap in management accounting
Authors: Tucker Basil P. , Schaltegger Stefan
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast perceptions about the research-practice “gap” as it may apply within management accounting, from the perspective of professional accounting bodies in Australia and Germany.

Design/methodology/approach

– The findings reported in this paper is based on the collection and analysis of data from interviews with 19 senior representatives from four Australian Professional bodies and 14 representatives of German Professional accounting bodies.

Findings

– In Australia and Germany, there exist common as well as unique barriers preventing a more effective engagement of academic research with practice. Common to both countries is the perception that the communication of research represents a major barrier. In Australia, practitioner access to academic research is seen to be a principal obstacle; in Germany, the relevance of topics researched by academics is perceived to represent a significant barrier to academic research informing practice.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper directly engages with, and extends recent empirically based research into the extent to which academic research may “speak” to management accounting practice. It extricates both common and specific barriers contributing to the oft-quoted “research-practice gap” in management accounting, and points to the pivotal nature of an intermediary to act as a conduit between academics and practice.

Originality/value

– By investigating this issue in two quite different cultural, educational, academic and practice contexts, this paper provides much-needed empirical evidence about the nature, extent and pervasiveness of the perceived research-practice gap in management accounting, and provides a basis for further investigation of this important topic.
Exploring urban institutional pressures on logistics service providers
Authors: Rose William J , Mollenkopf Diane A , Autry Chad W. , Bell John E.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– As global populations become increasingly urbanized and urban areas grow in density and complexity, many firms seeking to operate in these areas face significant new challenges. The purpose of this paper is to identify the approaches utilized by urban logistics service providers to overcome the issues resulting from urban density and complexity. The paper also identifies potential directions for future research based on the research findings.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study followed a grounded theory approach (Corbin and Strauss, 2008) to uncover the approaches utilized by logistics service providers to adapt to urban environments.

Findings

– The urban environment exerts certain coercive and mimetic pressures on logistics service providers. To overcome these pressures, urban logistics service providers seek to manage space, resources, and legitimacy in the urban environment.

Research limitations/implications

– This research followed an inductive approach, and therefore, further empirical research is required to ensure statistical generalizability. Additionally, all research participants are currently employed in the USA, and so further research at the international level should be conducted.

Practical implications

– The framework presented will enable firms seeking to enter the urban market to more quickly adapt to the specific pressures of the urban ecology.

Originality/value

– While literature from several academic disciplines outline problems and solutions specific to urban areas, little qualitative, inductive research has been conducted in the field of urban logistics. The current research serves as a starting point for further urban logistics research.
Social psychological dynamics of hostage negotiation: forensic psychology, suicide intervention, police intelligence/counterintelligence, and tactical entry
Authors: Knowles Gordon James
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review several major components of hostage negotiation including: the different types of hostage situations; the prediction of the behavioral patterns of the hostage taker; the collection and the use of police intelligence in hostage incidents; and the application of forensic psychology during the hostage negotiations process.

Design/methodology/approach

– Emphasis on the social psychological aspects of creating attitude change and gaining compliance with the hostage taker are introduced to assist in developing an effective crisis communication approach during the hostage negotiations process.

Findings

– The paper also discusses trends in hostage negotiation strategies within incidents of domestic violence, suicide by cop, school shootings, and suicide/homicide bombings.

Practical implications

– Limitations and advancements in the field of hostage negotiations are also discussed as well as suggestions for the use of tactical entry to resolve unsuccessful hostage negotiations.

Social implications

– Explores the current trend of “suicide by cop,” but also introduces the concept of homicide by cop in relation to police shootings.

Originality/value

– The use of criminal psychology in developing hostage negotiation strategies to engage hostage takers with personality disorders, PTSD, paranoid schizophrenia, and suicidal depression is also discussed.
Is ROC analysis a tool that should replace probative analysis in studying lineups?
Authors: Levi Avraham
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explain why ROC analysis is an inappropriate replacement for probative analysis in lineup research.

Design/methodology/approach

– Taking as the medical example comparing two methods to detect the presence of a malignant tumor (Mickes et al., 2012), and operationally defining ROC analysis: radiologists are shown the results from two methods. Their confidence judgments create a graph of correct identifications by mistaken ones. The author can compare the methods on radiologists’ ability to differentiate sick from healthy. Lineup researchers create two distinct lineups. In target-present lineups, witnesses differentiate between the target and the foils, not the target and the innocent suspect. In target-absent lineups, witnesses cannot even differentiate between innocent suspects and foils, having seen none.

Findings

– Eyewitness ROC curves are similar to probative analysis, but provide less useful information.

Research limitations/implications

– Researchers ware warned against using ROC when conducting lineup research.

Originality/value

– Preventing inappropriate use of ROC analysis.
Incredible Years parenting programme: cost-effectiveness and implementation
Authors: Edwards Rhiannon Tudor , Jones Carys , Berry Vashti , Charles Joanna , Linck Pat , Bywater Tracey , Hutchings Judy
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– There is growing interest in the economic evaluation of public health prevention initiatives and increasing government awareness of the societal costs of conduct disorder in early childhood. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cost-effectiveness of the Incredible Years (IY) BASIC parenting programme compared with a six-month waiting list control.

Design/methodology/approach

– Cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a pragmatic randomised controlled trial of a group-parenting programme. The primary outcome measure was the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), a measure of child behaviour.

Findings

– The IY programme was found to have a high probability of being cost-effective, shifting an additional 23 per cent of children from above the clinical concern to below the cut-off on the SDQ compared to the control group, at a cost ranging from £1612-£2418 per child, depending on the number of children in the group.

Originality/value

– The positive findings of this study have led to ongoing implementation of the IY programme and is therefore an example of commitment to evidence-based service provision and investment in prevention initiatives.
Job enlargement, job crafting and the moderating role of self-competence
Authors: Berdicchia Domenico , Nicolli Francesco , Masino Giovanni
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between job enlargement and some specific job crafting behaviors and to analyze the moderating role of self-competence.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were gathered from 158 workers in a large retail company and analyzed through a regression methodology.

Findings

– Job enlargement is positively related to specific job crafting behaviors, such as increasing structural and social resources. Self-competence does not moderate the relationship between job enlargement and increasing structural resources; however, it does negatively moderate the relationship between job enlargement and increasing social resources.

Research limitations/implications

– This is a cross-sectional, single source study.

Practical/implications

– Organizations may implement job design policies aimed at facilitating the way workers proactively craft their jobs (increasing social and structural resources) by promoting a collaborative organizational culture and decreasing the social costs of job crafting initiatives.

Originality/value

– This study clarifies the role of contextual and personal antecedents to job crafting. More specifically, it shows that enlarged jobs and employees’ level of self-competence may significantly influence employees’ job crafting in the workplace.
Authenticity at work – a job-demands resources perspective
Authors: Metin U. Baran , Taris Toon W. , Peeters Maria C. W. , van Beek Ilona , Van den Bosch Ralph
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– Previous research has demonstrated strong relations between work characteristics (e.g. job demands and job resources) and work outcomes such as work performance and work engagement. So far, little attention has been given to the role of authenticity (i.e. employees’ ability to experience their true selves) in these relations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship of state authenticity at work with job demands and resources on the one hand and work engagement, job satisfaction, and subjective performance on the other hand.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 680 Dutch bank employees participated to the study. Structural equation modelling was used to test the goodness-of-fit of the hypothesized model. Bootstrapping (Preacher and Hayes, 2008) was used to examine the meditative effect of state authenticity.

Findings

– Results showed that job resources were positively associated with authenticity and, in turn, that authenticity was positively related to work engagement, job satisfaction, and performance. Moreover, state authenticity partially mediated the relationship between job resources and three occupational outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

– Main limitations to this study were the application of self-report questionnaires, utilization of cross-sectional design, and participation of a homogeneous sample. However, significant relationship between workplace characteristics, occupational outcomes, and state authenticity enhances our current understanding of the JD-R Model.

Practical implications

– Managers might consider enhancing state authenticity of employees by investing in job resources, since high levels of authenticity was found to be strongly linked to positive occupational outcomes.

Originality/value

– This study is among the first to examine the role of authenticity at workplace and highlights the importance of state authenticity for work-related outcomes.
Proactive personality and career success
Authors: Yang Fu , Chau Rebecca
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation of subordinate proactive personality with subjective evaluations of career success by direct supervisors, as well as conceptualize the quality of leader-member exchange (LMX) as a mediator and power distance orientation as a moderator for understanding this relation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected using a two-wave survey research design. Participants were drawn from 360 supervisor-subordinate dyads from mainland China. Hierarchical regression analyses, Edwards and Lambert’s (2007) moderated path analysis approach, and Preacheret al.’s (2010) Monte Carlo simulation procedure were used to test the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

– LMX mediated the positive relationship between proactive personality and career success. Both the relationship between LMX and career success and the indirect relationship between proactive personality and career success were stronger when power distance orientation was lower.

Research limitations/implications

– This study contributes to the authors’ understanding of how and when proactive personality facilitates employee career success in the era of the boundaryless career. However, all data were collected within a single organization, which limits the observed variability and decreases external validity.

Practical implications

– Training employees to facilitate initiative in the workplace may build and maintain better and stronger relationships with their supervisors. To enhance person-organization fit, organizations should recruit and hire employees with lower levels of power distance orientation.

Originality/value

– This study provides solid evidence that the extent to which LMX mediates the relationship between proactive personality and career success depends on power distance orientation. It represents a promising new direction for the proactive personality and career success literatures.
Organizational powerlessness, dehumanization, and gendered effects of procedural justice
Authors: Bell Chris M , Khoury Careen
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to test whether procedural justice effects on organizational powerlessness and dehumanization are stronger for women than men and, consequently, mediated effects on turnover intention are conditional upon gender.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors recruited to a two-wave survey of workplace attitudes with flyers distributed at downtown subway exits. The authors controlled for and tested alternative models for distributive and interpersonal justice.

Findings

– Gender moderated procedural justice effects on both mediators. The moderated mediation model held only for organizational dehumanization, even controlling for powerlessness. Models for distributive and interpersonal justice were not significant.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors used cross-sectional, self-report data but separated predictor and criterion variables in two surveys to counteract common method bias. Nevertheless, causal inferences are limited.

Practical implications

– To retain personnel, managers, and organizations should be aware of the different needs of their employees and corresponding effects of justice. Likewise, women should be diligent in assessing justice and their response to being treated fairly.

Social implications

– The model is not predicated on an innate quality of gender but on endemic inequities in society. Procedural justice is associated with basic human needs, and effects that are conditional on gender may be socially constructed rather than based in supposed inherent gender differences.

Originality/value

– Research and lay theories have emphasized that women value procedural justice because of inherently stronger relational needs. The findings suggest gendered effects are due to broader social conditions affecting women’s instrumental and existential needs.
Why and when does ethical leadership evoke unethical follower behavior?
Authors: Kalshoven Karianne , van Dijk Hans , Boon Corine
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– In examining whether social exchange or social identity mechanisms drive the relationship between ethical leadership and unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB), the purpose of this paper is to argue that the mechanism linking ethical leadership and UPB varies for different levels of job autonomy.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were requested from 225 employees in several Dutch organizations, of which 156 questionnaires were returned. The authors used multilevel path analysis in MPlus to test the hypotheses, which allows for simultaneous estimation of different regression equations and for testing the significance of indirect effects.

Findings

– In line with the hypotheses, results revealed a direct relationship between ethical leadership and UPB when followers have little job autonomy. For followers high on job autonomy, the authors found that ethical leadership relates to UPB via organizational identification.

Practical implications

– It is advised to use ethical leadership with care when it focusses on reciprocity and identification. The results suggest that followers may be inclined to justify their unethical actions by appealing to the principle of higher loyalty – believing they are just doing what the organization wants them to do.

Originality/value

– Previous research has used social learning theory to show that ethical leadership is likely to stimulate and transfer ethical norms and behaviors. The current study however demonstrates the reciprocal and dark side of ethical leadership, as the authors found that ethical leadership can encourage UPB for followers with low job autonomy.
Authentic leadership and team climate: testing cross-lagged relationships
Authors: Kinnunen Ulla , Feldt Taru , Mauno Saija
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between authentic leadership and team climate across 22 months. More specifically, three alternative causation models (normal, reversed, reciprocal) were tested.

Design/methodology/approach

– The longitudinal study was conducted among 265 Finnish municipal employees (87.5 per cent women, mean age 48.4 years). The participants completed a questionnaire three times: at baseline (T1), about 14 months after baseline (T2) and about eight months after the second questionnaire (T3).

Findings

– The cross-lagged analyses based on structural equation modelling lent support to the reversed causation model more than the normal causation and reciprocal models. More specifically, team climate at T2 predicted authentic leadership across eight months at T3. Thus the study suggests that positive team climate (i.e. vision, participation safety, task orientation, and support for innovation) may foster authentic leadership in the long term and not vice versa.

Practical/implications

– The findings suggest that − besides improving team climate and authentic leadership themselves – team climate should be improved in order to enable authentic leadership to develop and flourish. It is important to emphasize that in forming the team climate employees are active agents and not passive targets.

Originality/value

– The study is among the first to test different causal models regarding authentic leadership and team climate. From the theoretical viewpoint, the findings suggest that follower-centric theories of leadership merit greater attention in the future.
Are leaders defined by followers? Role of follower’s ILT and the mediating influence of LMX on follower outcomes
Authors: Rahn Doug L , Jawahar I.M. , Scrimpshire Alex J. , Stone Thomas
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to cast followers in an active role, and proposes a research model in which follower’s implicit leadership theory (ILT) congruence (ILT congruence) influences perceptions of transformational leadership (TL) and the quality of leader-member exchange (LMX) relationship. In addition, the authors expect LMX to mediate the influence of ILT congruence and TL on outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research model was tested with data collected at three different points in time from 210 newly hired employees. Results of structural equation modeling provided strong support for the overall model.

Findings

– This study focussed on extending the understanding of leader-follower relationships. First, ILTs measured on the first day of employment shaped new entrants’ perceptions of TL measured 30 days after date of hire. Second, both ILT congruence and TL influenced the quality of LMX measured approximately 90 days from followers’ date of hire. As expected, LMX fully mediated the influence of ILT congruence and perceptions of TL on the dependent variables of turnover intentions, organizational identification and perceived organizational support (POS).

Practical implications

– Organizations should focus on measuring and developing LMX quality during the early phases of a follower’s socialization into the organization. Consistent with other research (Erdogan and Liden, 2002), LMX was a significant predictor of turnover intentions, organizational identification, and POS. Given the cost of turnover, organizations focussed on developing high quality LMX relationships could realize dramatic results.

Originality/value

– This study extends prior research by showing LMX fully mediates the influence of followers’ ILTs and transformational leader behaviors on POS, organizational identification and turnover intentions. By using data collected at three points in time from new employees, the authors demonstrated the effect of ILT congruence on the early development of LMX. Additionally, the results showed high ILT congruence leads followers to perceive their leaders as more transformational. Finally, data show the effects of ILT congruence and TL perceptions on turnover intentions, POS and organizational identification were fully mediated by LMX.