bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nep1-like proteins from three kingdoms of life act as a microbe-associated molecular pattern in
Arabidopsis
Authors: Oome Stan , Raaymakers Tom M. , Cabral Adriana , Samwel Simon , Böhm Hannah , Albert Isabell , Nürnberger Thorsten , Van den Ackerveken Guido
Published: November 2014

Significance

Peptide fragments of Nep1-like proteins (NLPs), occurring in diverse microorganisms of three different kingdoms of life, were found to trigger immunity in the model plant
Arabidopsis
, indicating that they act as a microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP). A synthetic peptide of 24 aa from the central part of the downy mildew HaNLP3 protein was found to activate the plant immune system and trigger resistance to this pathogen. Strikingly, not only peptides of oomycete NLPs, but also those of bacteria and fungi were shown to act as a MAMP. This unprecedented broad taxonomic distribution demonstrates that the occurrence of a MAMP is not necessarily restricted to a class of microorganisms but can occur in a wide range of species from the tree of life.
Completion of DNA replication in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Wendel Brian M. , Courcelle Charmain T. , Courcelle Justin
Published: November 2014

Significance

All phases of DNA replication are tightly regulated to ensure that daughter cells inherit a precise copy of the genomic DNA. Although the mechanisms regulating initiation and elongation have been well characterized, the process of how cells recognize replicated regions and complete replication at the precise doubling point remains a fundamental question yet to be addressed. Here we show that the completion of replication involves a transient over-replication of the region where forks converge before the excess regions are incised, resected, and joined. Completion requires several proteins associated with repairing double-strand breaks, but unlike break repair, it occurs independently of homologous recombination and is targeted for inactivation by some bacterial viruses during the transition to lytic replication.
Decreased polycystin 2 expression alters calcium-contraction coupling and changes β-adrenergic signaling pathways
Authors: Kuo Ivana Y. , Kwaczala Andrea T. , Nguyen Lily , Russell Kerry S. , Campbell Stuart G. , Ehrlich Barbara E.
Published: November 2014

Significance

The main cause of death in autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients is cardiac-related. However, the reasons why remain unclear. We show that mice lacking one copy of polycystin 2, a protein mutated in ADPKD, have altered calcium signaling and desensitized calcium-contraction coupling in cardiomyocytes. We also show that decreased polycystin 2 levels affect cardiac function by altering responses to adrenergic stimulus. We propose that altering polycystin levels in the heart directly contributes to remodeling of the heart in patients with ADPKD in the absence of renal failure or high blood pressure.
Rapid changes in the gut microbiome during human evolution
Authors: Moeller Andrew H. , Li Yingying , Mpoudi Ngole Eitel , Ahuka-Mundeke Steve , Lonsdorf Elizabeth V. , Pusey Anne E. , Peeters Martine , Hahn Beatrice H. , Ochman Howard
Published: November 2014

Significance

Human lifestyles profoundly influence the communities of microorganisms that inhabit the body, that is, the microbiome; however, how the microbiomes of humans have diverged from those found within wild-living hominids is not clear. To establish how the gut microbiome has changed since the diversification of human and ape species, we characterized the microbial assemblages residing within hundreds of wild chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas. Changes in the composition of the microbiome accrued steadily as African apes diversified, but human microbiomes have diverged at an accelerated pace owing to a dramatic loss of ancestral microbial diversity. These results suggest that the human microbiome has undergone a substantial transformation since the human–chimpanzee split.
A major nursery area around the Svalbard archipelago provides recruits for the stocks in both Greenland halibut management areas in the Northeast Atlantic
Authors: Albert Ole Thomas , Vollen Tone
Published: November 2014

Greenland halibut in the Northeast Atlantic currently have two separate management units: the Northeast Arctic (NEA) stock and the West Nordic (WN) stock. The biological basis for this separation is weak, and while the NEA stock has a well-described nursery area in the waters around the Svalbard archipelago, no such major nursery area is known for the WN stock. To examine the linkages between these two stocks, a tagging experiment was conducted in the Svalbard nursery area, which is the only known large nursery area for Greenland halibut in the Northeast Atlantic. A total of 25 149 juvenile Greenland halibut were tagged and released in the period 2005–2008, and as of January 2014, there were 155 recaptures: 92% were caught more than 170 km from the tagging site, while 59% had travelled more than 1500 km. During the first 2 years after tagging, recaptures were reported only from the fishing grounds in the NEA management area. Subsequently, the number of recaptures decreased in the NEA management area, while recaptures were beginning to be reported from the WN management area, which by 2014 accounted for 61% of the total number of reported recaptures. It was concluded that the stocks in the two management areas for Greenland halibut in the Northeast Atlantic have a common nursery ground, and that a recruitment index based on data from the nursery around Svalbard would reflect possible recruitment to the stocks of both management units. The lack of recaptures on the Southeast Greenland shelf suggests a stock boundary west of Iceland. It is suggested to further explore the stock delineation in these areas and that future stock assessments should explore the potential advantage of using a combined assessment model for the two current management units.
Recent multi-kiloton impact events: are they truly random?
Authors: de la Fuente Marcos C. , de la Fuente Marcos R.
Published: November 2014

It is customarily assumed that Earth-striking meteoroids are completely random, and that all the impacts must be interpreted as uncorrelated events distributed according to Poisson statistics. If this is correct, their impact dates must be uniformly spread throughout the year and their impact coordinates must be evenly scattered on the surface of our planet. Here, we use a time- and yield-limited sample of Earth-impacting superbolides detected since 2000 to explore statistically this critical though frequently overlooked topic. We show that the cadence of these multi-kiloton impact events is incompatible with a random fall pattern at the 0.05 significance level or better. This result is statistically robust and consistent with the observed distribution of the longitudes of the ascending nodes of near-Earth objects (NEOs). This lack of randomness is induced by planetary perturbations, in particular Jupiter's, and suggests that some of the recent, most powerful Earth impacts may be associated with resonant groups of NEOs and/or very young meteoroid streams. An intriguing consequence of this scenario is that the impact hazard of Chelyabinsk-like objects should peak at certain times in the year.
Improving Public Reporting and Data Validation for Complex Surgical Site Infections After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery and Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Calderwood Michael S. , Kleinman Ken , Murphy Michael V. , Platt Richard , Huang Susan S.
Published: November 2014

Background.  Deep and organ/space surgical site infections (D/OS SSI) cause significant morbidity, mortality, and costs. Rates are publicly reported and increasingly used as quality metrics affecting hospital payment. Lack of standardized surveillance methods threaten the accuracy of reported data and decrease confidence in comparisons based upon these data.

Methods.  We analyzed data from national validation studies that used Medicare claims to trigger chart review for SSI confirmation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and hip arthroplasty. We evaluated code performance (sensitivity and positive predictive value) to select diagnosis codes that best identified D/OS SSI. Codes were analyzed individually and in combination.

Results.  Analysis included 143 patients with D/OS SSI after CABG and 175 patients with D/OS SSI after hip arthroplasty. For CABG, 9 International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis codes identified 92% of D/OS SSI, with 1 D/OS SSI identified for every 4 cases with a diagnosis code. For hip arthroplasty, 6 ICD-9 diagnosis codes identified 99% of D/OS SSI, with 1 D/OS SSI identified for every 2 cases with a diagnosis code.

Conclusions.  This standardized and efficient approach for identifying D/OS SSI can be used by hospitals to improve case detection and public reporting. This method can also be used to identify potential D/OS SSI cases for review during hospital audits for data validation.
Detection of pigments of halophilic endoliths from gypsum: Raman portable instrument and European Space Agency's prototype analysis
Authors: Culka Adam , Osterrothová Kateřina , Hutchinson Ian , Ingley Richard , McHugh Melissa , Oren Aharon , Edwards Howell G. M. , Jehlička Jan
Published: November 2014

A prototype instrument, under development at the University of Leicester, for the future European Space Agency (ESA) ExoMars mission, was used for the analysis of microbial pigments within a stratified gypsum crust from a hypersaline saltern evaporation pond at Eilat (Israel). Additionally, the same samples were analysed using a miniaturized Raman spectrometer, featuring the same 532 nm excitation. The differences in the position of the specific bands, attributed to carotenoid pigments from different coloured layers, were minor when analysed by the ESA prototype instrument; therefore, making it difficult to distinguish among the different pigments. The portable Delta Nu Advantage instrument allowed for the discrimination of microbial carotenoids from the orange/green and purple layers. The purpose of this study was to complement previous laboratory results with new data and experience with portable or handheld Raman systems, even with a dedicated prototype Raman system for the exploration of Mars. The latter is equipped with an excitation wavelength falling within the carotenoid polyene resonance region. The ESA prototype Raman instrument detected the carotenoid pigments (biomarkers) with ease, although further detailed distinctions among them were not achieved.
Bisgaardia miroungae sp. nov., a new member of the family Pasteurellaceae isolated from the oral cavity of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), and emended description of the genus Bisgaardia
Authors: Hansen Mie Johanne , Bertelsen Mads Frost , Christensen Henrik , Bojesen Anders Miki
Published: November 2014

A total of 17 bacterial isolates from northern elephant seals, tentatively classified within the family

Pasteurellaceae,
were further characterized by genotypic and phenotypic tests. Phylogenetic analysis of partial 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequences showed that the isolates investigated formed a monophyletic group, closely related to the genus

Bisgaardia

within the family

Pasteurellaceae

. The rpoB gene sequence similarity was 97.2–100 % within the group and 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed 99.2–99.8 % similarity within the group. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the most closely related species with a validly published name was

Bisgaardia hudsonensis

with 96.9 % similarity and the most closely related species based on rpoB sequence comparison was

Bisgaardia

genomospecies 1 with an rpoB sequence similarity of 90.9 %. All the isolates investigated exhibited the phenotypic characteristics of the family

Pasteurellaceae

. However, these isolates could be separated from existing species of the genus

Bisgaardia

by the following characteristics: ability to grow at 42 °C, and acid production from lactose, melibiose, raffinose and l-rhamnose, but not from d-mannitol or trehalose. On the basis of both phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that the strains should be classified as representatives of a novel species within the genus

Bisgaardia

: Bisgaardia miroungae sp. nov. The type strain, WildatricT ( = CCUG 65148T = DSM 28141T), was isolated from the oral cavity of a wild northern elephant seal at The Marine Mammal Center, California, USA in 2011. To include the novel species, the description of the genus

Bisgaardia

has been emended.
Litoribaculum gwangyangense gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a sea-tidal flat sediment
Authors: Jin Hyun Mi , Jeon Che Ok
Published: November 2014

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain GY12T, was isolated from a tidal flat of South Korea. Cells were moderately halotolerant, catalase- and oxidase-positive rods with gliding motility, and were devoid of flagella. Growth of strain GY12T was observed at 15–40 °C (optimum 25–30 °C), pH 6.0–8.5 (optimum pH 7.0–7.5) and with 1–5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1–2 %). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipids consisted almost entirely of phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 34.8 mol% and the only respiratory quinone detected was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). Strain GY12T was most closely related to the genera

Gaetbulibacter

,

Flaviramulus

,

Mariniflexile

and

Tamlana

with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 94–97 %, but phylogenetic inferences based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain formed phyletic lineages distinct from these genera within the family

Flavobacteriaceae

. On the basis of phenotypic and molecular features, strain GY12T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family

Flavobacteriaceae

, for which the name Litoribaculum gwangyangense gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is GY12T ( = KACC 16441T = JCM 18325T).
Nuclear position dictates DNA repair pathway choice
Authors: Lemaître Charlène , Grabarz Anastazja , Tsouroula Katerina , Andronov Leonid , Furst Audrey , Pankotai Tibor , Heyer Vincent , Rogier Mélanie , Attwood Kathleen M. , Kessler Pascal , Dellaire Graham , Klaholz Bruno , Reina-San-Martin Bernardo , Soutoglou Evi
Published: November 2014

Faithful DNA repair is essential to avoid chromosomal rearrangements and promote genome integrity. Nuclear organization has emerged as a key parameter in the formation of chromosomal translocations, yet little is known as to whether DNA repair can efficiently occur throughout the nucleus and whether it is affected by the location of the lesion. Here, we induce DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) at different nuclear compartments and follow their fate. We demonstrate that DSBs induced at the nuclear membrane (but not at nuclear pores or nuclear interior) fail to rapidly activate the DNA damage response (DDR) and repair by homologous recombination (HR). Real-time and superresolution imaging reveal that DNA DSBs within lamina-associated domains do not migrate to more permissive environments for HR, like the nuclear pores or the nuclear interior, but instead are repaired in situ by alternative end-joining. Our results are consistent with a model in which nuclear position dictates the choice of DNA repair pathway, thus revealing a new level of regulation in DSB repair controlled by spatial organization of DNA within the nucleus.
Crystal structure of bis{2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-[(isopropylimino)methyl]phenolato-κ2N,O}zinc dichloromethane monosolvate
Authors: Hao Yuan-Zeng
Published: November 2014

In the title compound, [Zn(C18H28NO)2]·CH2Cl2, the ZnIIatom isN,O-chelated by two crystallographically independent salicylaldehyde imine ligands, leading to a distorted tetrahedral coordination sphere. The dihedral angle between the planes of the two metallacycles is 88.69 (6)°. Intramolecular non-classical C—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions are observed. In the crystal, the complex molecules stack into columns along theaaxis. Dichloromethane solvent molecules are situated in the voids of this arrangement.
Crystal structure of 5-chloro-2,4,6-trimethyl-3-(4-methylphenylsulfinyl)-1-benzofuran
Authors: Choi Hong Dae , Lee Uk
Published: November 2014

In the title compound, C18H17ClO2S, the dihedral angle between the planes of the benzofuran ring [r.m.s. deviation = 0.013 (1) Å] and the 4-methylphenyl ring is 87.37 (5)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions between the furan and benzene rings of neighbouring molecules [centroid–centroid distance = 3.525 (2) Å]. In addition, an S...S [3.6584 (9) Å] contact is observed.
High pressure and multiferroics materials: a happy marriage
Authors: Gilioli Edmondo , Ehm Lars
Published: November 2014

The community of material scientists is strongly committed to the research area of multiferroic materials, both for the understanding of the complex mechanisms supporting the multiferroism and for the fabrication of new compounds, potentially suitable for technological applications. The use of high pressure is a powerful tool in synthesizing new multiferroic, in particular magneto-electric phases, where the pressure stabilization of otherwise unstable perovskite-based structural distortions may lead to promising novel metastable compounds. Thein situinvestigation of the high-pressure behavior of multiferroic materials has provided insight into the complex interplay between magnetic and electronic properties and the coupling to structural instabilities.
Increasing the effectiveness of reward management: an evidence‐based approach
Authors: Armstrong Michael , Brown Duncan , Reilly Peter
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore the reasons why many organisations do not evaluate the effectiveness of their reward policies and practices, examines the approaches used by those organizations which do evaluate, and develops a model of evidence‐based reward management which describes how evaluation can take place.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a study of why organisations do or do not evaluate reward and an examination of what organizations taking evaluation seriously were doing about it. The study was based on a survey of 173 reward and HR practitioners and 13 case studies.

Findings

The survey found that only 46 per cent of respondents carried out a full evaluation. Other surveys have established that an even lower proportion evaluated. Those organisations which evaluate reward do so because they recognise that it is necessary to obtain value for money from their considerable expenditure on pay. Those who do not evaluate offer a number of reasons, but the most important was lack of resources or time. It was established that while an evidence‐based approach was desirable there was no set pattern of conducting an evaluation.

Practical implications

Information about the evaluation practices of the case study organisations and the concept of evidence‐based reward management as an approach to evaluation provide guidance to practitioners on how they can measure the effectiveness of their reward policies and practices.

Originality/value

The paper extends the pioneering research of Corbyet al.to develop new insights into the process of reward evaluation.
Service Charges in Commercial Property: measuring code compliance
Authors: Eccles Timothy , Holt Andrew
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The paper seeks to measure compliance by owners and their managing agents with the RICS Code of Practice Service Charges in Commercial Property, emphasising the financial reporting to tenants in multi‐let financial services buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were hand collected by examining original source documents provided to commercial leaseholders as part of the service charge management process. This removes bias from relying on secondary respondents to provide data.

Findings

The paper finds that requirements of the Code of Practice are not onerous, and whilst service charge management has improved, the majority of landlords still fail to achieve its requirements.

Research limitations/implications

The sample represents approximately 6.2 per cent of multi‐let office space in England and Wales 1998‐2009. The content analysis method used requires some subjective interpretation by the researchers.

Originality/value

Data are original to this research and the paper offers an analysis on the current standards of accounting practice by service charge managers.
A Biblical basis for localization
Authors: Beed Clive , Beed Cara
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a Biblical basis for localization as against globalization. This paper argues that the normative direction of Biblical thought is toward the localization of socio‐economic activity. A case study is made for the developing world today relevant to localization.

Design/methodology/approach

An evaluation is made of normative Biblical teaching that might have bearing on the localization of socio‐economic activity. How this teaching could apply to the contemporary developing world is assessed.

Findings

Normative Biblical teaching is oriented toward localization. This emphasis is capable of being applied in the developing world.

Originality/value

The case that normative Biblical teaching is in favour of localization rather then dispersal (and thereby globalization) has not been made previously. For those who believe that normative Biblical teaching has relevance today, the localization bias challenges the widespread acceptance of globalization.
The pattern of grey fuzzy forecasting with feedback
Authors: Li Xican , Yu Tao , Wang Xiao , Yuan Zheng , Shang Xiaodong
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to establish the pattern of multi‐objective and multi‐dimensional grey fuzzy forecasting with feedback based on the theories of grey system and fuzzy recognition.

Design/methodology/approach

First, according to the given weights, the weighting integrated value of samples were computed. Second, the method of fuzzy recognition with single index was employed to calculate the fuzzy classification of the integrated value. According to the cause analysis, the fuzzy classification of the integrated value is used to compute the weights of indexes. In the same way, repeating the above processes, the weighting integrated value and fuzzy classification with given accuracy are retrieved at the same time. Finally, the authors calculate the correlation coefficient between the weighting integrated values and forecasting objects, according to the principle of maximal relativity, optimizing the weighting integrated value of samples, establishing the fuzzy forecasting pattern, and checking the model's precision. A numeric example is also computed in the last part of the paper.

Findings

The results are convincing: not only that the pattern of multi‐objective and multi‐dimensional grey fuzzy forecasting with feedback based is valid, but also the model's applied prediction accuracy is higher, where the test samples' mean forecast accuracy of groundwater dynamic levels is 96.50 percent.

Practical implications

The method exposed in the paper can be used to predict groundwater dynamic levels and even for other similar forecast problems.

Originality/value

The paper succeeds in realising both a prediction pattern and application of predicting groundwater dynamic levels by using the newest developed theories of grey system and fuzzy recognition.
Interval number based comprehensive evaluation for breeding target character
Authors: Guo Ruilin , Wu Qiufang , Liu Yafei , Liu Yanzhen
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to solve a decision‐making problem for breeding target character showed as an interval number.

Design/methodology/approach

A new comprehensive evaluation method was proposed based on similarity‐difference theory and interval number theory. The data from Winter Wheat Group I Variety Regional Test in Henan Province in 2009‐2010 were analysed using the proposed method.

Findings

The results showed that Zhou 99233 was a good variety, Yuxhan No.7, An 05‐28, Xun K8, Jinyumai 378 and Zhoumai 18 were better ones, 08 luo 36, and Xuke 718 ordinary ones, and others worse ones. Based on this, the feasibility of the method was discussed. It showed that the proposed method had some obvious merits, such as arithmetic was simple, operation convenient, flexible and practical, fast and effective, etc.

Practical implications

Application to a living example indicated that its evaluation effect was satisfactory. Consequently, the application prospect of the method will be very vast.

Originality/value

The paper succeeds in solving a decision‐making problem for breeding target character shown as an interval number.
4‐stage distribution network optimization of supply chain with grey demands
Authors: Zhang Qishan , Wang Haiyan , Liu Hong
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to realize a distribution network optimization in supply chain using grey systems theory for uncertain information.

Design/methodology/approach

There is much uncertain information in the distribution network optimization of supply chain, including fuzzy information, stochastic information and grey information, etc. Fuzzy information and stochastic information have been studied in supply chain, however grey information of the supply chain has not been covered. In the distribution problem of supply chain, grey demands are taken into account. Then, a mathematics model with grey demands has been constructed, and it can be transformed into a grey chance‐constrained programming model, grey simulation and a proposed hybrid particle swarm optimization are combined to resolve it. An example is also computed in the last part of the paper.

Findings

The results are convincing: not only that grey system theory can be used to deal with grey uncertain information about distribution of supply chain, but grey chance‐constrained programming, grey simulation and particle swarm optimization can be combined to resolve the grey model.

Practical implications

The method exposed in the paper can be used to deal with distribution problems with grey information in the supply chain, and network optimization results with a grey uncertain factor could be helpful for supply chain efficiency and practicability.

Originality/value

The paper succeeds in realising both a constructed model of the distribution of supply chain with grey demands and a solution algorithm of the grey mathematics model by using one of the newest developed theories: grey systems theory.
Elements of a cybernetic epistemology: output‐side attention directing systems
Authors: Nechansky Helmut
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to analyze cybernetic necessities of output‐side attention directing systems, i.e. how systems can decide to act towards one of various inputs.

Design/methodology/approach

Complex pattern recognition and sequence learning systems may recognize more than one pattern and deliver more than one output at a point in time. Therefore, they require an output‐side attention directing system to decide to act towards just one pattern. The necessary cybernetic structures of such systems are analyzed using a functional approach.

Findings

An output‐side attention directing system has to evaluate the effect of current observations (patterns, sequences, etc.) on highest level goal‐values (in a living system these are existential goal‐values like a body temperature or energy supply). Measure of this effect is the degree of goal‐approximation towards these goal‐values. This measure can either be preprogrammed for some patterns or sequences, or has to be determined in trial and error processes for new patterns or sequences learned by the system.

Practical implications

The paper shows the cybernetic necessities of the development of the “know how” of sequence learning systems in time, starting with default behavior, via learning new patterns and sequences, and trial and error to develop goal‐orientated actions towards them, until finally the achieved results enable experience based directing of attention.

Originality/value

The paper shows basic cybernetic structures and functions for output‐side attention directing systems required for all complex pattern recognition and sequence learning systems.
The many facets of Poincare recurrence theorem of the logistic map
Authors: Karamanos Kostas , Mistakidis Ioannis , Mistakidis Simeon
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the many aspects of Poincare recurrence time theorem for an archetype of a complex system, the logistic map.

Design/methodology/approach

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Poincare's recurrence theorem had revolutionized modern mechanics and statistical physics. However, this theorem did not attract considerable attention, at least from a numerical and computational point of view. In a series of relatively recent papers, Balakrishnan, Nicolis and Nicolis have addressed the recurrence time problem in a firm basis, introducing notation, theory, and numerical studies. Motivated by this call, the paper proposes to illustrate the many aspects of Poincare recurrence time theorem for an archetype of a complex system, the logistic map. The authors propose here in different tests and computations, each one illuminating the many aspects of the problem of recurrence. The paper ends up with a short discussion and conclusions.

Findings

In this paper, the authors obtain new results on computations, each one illuminating the many aspects of the problem of recurrence. One striking aspect of this detailed work, is that when the sizes of the cells in the phase space became considerable, then the recurrence times assume ordinary values.

Originality/value

The paper extends previous results on chaotic maps to the logistic map, enhancing comprehension, making possible connections with number theory, combinatorics and cryptography.
Rethinking public ownership and participation
Authors: Cumbers Andrew , McMaster Robert
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This paper seeks to challenge the simplistic formulation of public ownership in terms of centralized planning and state bureaucracy. Instead, drawing on the works of Dewey and Veblen the paper aims to argue that public ownership is a critical aspect of forging progressive change through enhancing democratic participation in economic decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a conceptual analysis of public ownership types and employs case examples to further illuminate the argument.

Findings

The conceptual analysis challenges the supposition of market superiority in standard economic approaches and in neoliberalism. Drawing from the instrumental valuation principle a wide corpus of public ownership modes can offer the prospect of enhanced democratic participation that challenges existing power structures.

Originality/value

By emphasising the association between ownership and democracy the paper challenges the assumption that markets necessarily offer the only route to democratic participation. It also identifies and challenges the market fundamentalism of standard economic approaches.
Teaching popular economics to less‐educated adults: principles and examples for teaching heterodox and critical economics
Authors: Kim Marlene
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This paper aims to describe how to teach economics to adult learners, many of whom are women, immigrants and do not hold college degrees, but who feel the effects of mainstream economics — and the brunt of economic policies and the ensuing lack of services that are provided — in their everyday lives.

Design/methodology/approach

The article reviews popular education pedagogy and discusses and illustrates these in teaching lay audiences economics. Because they are lower‐educated adult learners, different pedagogy and curriculum are needed, which involve participatory methods that clearly illustrate how different economic policies affect different economic players and how these have and can affect their lives. Many examples of these principles are discussed. Discussing alternative policies is key, and these are also illustrated. Because they discuss alternative policies, this pedagogy naturally encompasses heterodox approaches, which is also illustrated. Impediments to teaching popular economics and how this differs from traditional classroom teaching are also discussed.

Findings

When taught in the manner described, adult learners, even those with low levels of education, can learn about any economic issue or concept, including the intricacies of tax policy, the international economy, the recent financial crisis, and complex financial derivatives. With their new knowledge, participants feel empowered to take action in their communities and advocate for economic change.

Originality/value

This paper reflects on popular education pedagogy in applying and discussing issues and problems in teaching lay learners. The paper draws on the author's 20 years of experience in teaching economics to lay learners.
The practice of complexity
Authors: Mowles Chris , van der Gaag Anna , Fox Jane
Published: November 2014

Purpose

In the last five years more and more scholars have drawn on insights from the complexity sciences as a way of understanding the process of managing and organising in the NHS differently. This paper aims to describe working methods derived from the theory of complex responsive processes, a more radical interpretation of these insights, used by a consultancy team in one NHS setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors were invited to undertake this intervention over a two year period to bring about service improvement. The paper sets out a critique of systems theory, which underpins most management literature, as well as offering a critique of some of the ways that complexity theory gets taken up in the health literature. As an alternative it explores the theoretical underpinnings of complex responsive processes and gives practical examples of methods that the authors believe are more suitable for understanding the complex environment NHS staff work within.

Findings

Working with ideas of ambiguity, paradox and complexity are not easy for staff educated in a Western tradition of linear cause and effect. However, as a result of this intervention managers and staff pointed to a much greater confidence and skill in dealing with the complex daily process of organising, which they attribute to the methods used. Although the authors make no claim that service improvement arose as a direct consequence of the methods employed, significant, observable improvements in service provision did occur during and after the consultancy intervention.

Originality/value

The description of working methods based on reflective and reflexive group processes, alongside more empirical data‐gathering methods, is offered as a radical alternative to more orthodox ways of understanding, and attempting to work with change in the NHS.
High performance work systems and employee well‐being
Authors: Young Suzanne , Bartram Timothy , Stanton Pauline , Leggat Sandra G.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the attitudes of managers and employees to high performance work practices (HPWS) in a medium sized rural Australian hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consists of two stages. Stage one involved a qualitative investigation consisting of interviews and focus group sessions with senior, middle and line management at the hospital. Bowen and Ostroff's framework was used to examine how strategic HRM was understood, interpreted and operationalised across the management hierarchy. Stage one investigates the views of managers concerning the implementation of strategic HRM/ HPWS. Stage two consisted of a questionnaire administered to all hospital employees. The mediation effects of social identification on the relationship between high performance work systems and affective commitment and job satisfaction are examined. The purpose of stage two was to investigate the views and effects of SHRM/HPWS on employees. It should be noted that HPWS and strategic HRM are used inter‐changeably in this paper.

Findings

At the management level the importance of distinctiveness, consistency and consensus in the interpretation of strategic HRM/HPWS practices across the organization was discovered. Findings indicate that social identification mediates the relationship between HPWS and affective commitment and also mediates the relationship between HPWS and job satisfaction.

Practical implications

High performance work systems may play a crucial role facilitating social identification at the unit level. Such practices and management support is likely to provide benefits in terms of high performing committed employees.

Originality/value

The paper argues that team leaders and managers play a key role in building social identification within the team and that organizations need to understand this role and provide recognition, reward, education and support to their middle and lower managers.
Redrawing medical professional domains
Authors: Kathan‐Selck Constanze , van Offenbeek Marjolein
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the forces that influence the shifting of professional boundaries on the entry of a new medical occupation in Dutch hospitals – non‐specialist emergency physicians.

Design/methodology/approach

Five case studies of Dutch hospitals were conducted and the emergency physicians' implementation process was analyzed by means of force field analysis.

Findings

Emergency physicians were conceptualized as being the answer to unequivocal contextual changes. However, their contribution to better performance varies due to problems in the implementation process. Strong socio‐political forces between traditional specialties and these new doctors mediate the intended improvement. The emergency physicians aim to establish their own organizational‐, patient‐ and knowledge‐domain by redrawing professional boundaries but they are not on a par with the specialists who set these boundaries. Consequently, emergency physicians only gradually redraw the existing boundaries, resulting in limited added value. Their reaction is to obtain power by striving to develop into a recognized specialty; ironically, by becoming an additional layer in the traditional medical hierarchy they might lose their envisaged added value.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is based on the first Dutch hospitals that implemented emergency physicians. The number of cases is therefore limited. Moreover, the study took place at an early stage of emergency physician implementation.

Practical implications

The extent of successful redrawing depends on the implementation's transition logic, the existing degree of differentiation and boundary permeability and on the ideological power developed by the leaders.

Originality/value

The introduction of emergency physicians is currently being discussed in many countries worldwide, and some countries consider following the Dutch example of non‐specialist doctors. This paper supports health professionals and hospital managers in not falling prey to the same pitfalls as some Dutch hospitals.
High performance work systems: the gap between policy and practice in health care reform
Authors: Leggat Sandra G. , Bartram Timothy , Stanton Pauline
Published: November 2014

Purpose

Studies of high‐performing organisations have consistently reported a positive relationship between high performance work systems (HPWS) and performance outcomes. Although many of these studies have been conducted in manufacturing, similar findings of a positive correlation between aspects of HPWS and improved care delivery and patient outcomes have been reported in international health care studies. The purpose of this paper is to bring together the results from a series of studies conducted within Australian health care organisations. First, the authors seek to demonstrate the link found between high performance work systems and organisational performance, including the perceived quality of patient care. Second, the paper aims to show that the hospitals studied do not have the necessary aspects of HPWS in place and that there has been little consideration of HPWS in health system reform.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a series of correlation studies using survey data from hospitals in Australia, supplemented by qualitative data collection and analysis. To demonstrate the link between HPWS and perceived quality of care delivery the authors conducted regression analysis with tests of mediation and moderation to analyse survey responses of 201 nurses in a large regional Australian health service and explored HRM and HPWS in detail in three case study organisations. To achieve the second aim, the authors surveyed human resource and other senior managers in all Victorian health sector organisations and reviewed policy documents related to health system reform planned for Australia.

Findings

The findings suggest that there is a relationship between HPWS and the perceived quality of care that is mediated by human resource management (HRM) outcomes, such as psychological empowerment. It is also found that health care organisations in Australia generally do not have the necessary aspects of HPWS in place, creating a policy and practice gap. Although the chief executive officers of health service organisations reported high levels of strategic HRM, the human resource and other managers reported a distinct lack of HPWS from their perspectives. The authors discuss why health care organisations may have difficulty in achieving HPWS.

Originality/value

Leaders in health care organisations should focus on ensuring human resource management systems, structures and processes that support HPWS. Policy makers need to consider HPWS as a necessary component of health system reform. There is a strong need to reorient organisational human resource management policies and procedures in public health care organisations towards high performing work systems.
Radio frequency identification: the big role player in health care management
Authors: Zare Mehrjerdi Yahia
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This paper seeks to review the fundamental concepts of radio frequency identification (RFID) and to discuss the fact that the road to success for healthcare systems is the thorough management of patients, employees, equipment, medications, and records throughout the industry. Thereafter, it aims to prepare a deep review of the technology, study seven new cases on the topic of healthcare management and deliver a broad applications area thereof.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies key elements of RFID through the review of healthcare management literature and case studies. For this purpose, seven cases from the healthcare industry are reviewed to demonstrate the extent of the applications of RFID in this area.

Findings

To make healthcare management systems functional and successfully operational, RFID solutions can be used to reduce operating costs through management of patients, employees, equipment, medications, and records to improve tracking and tracing, and preventing the lost of resources under any circumstances.

Originality/value

This paper delivers a review of RFID on the healthcare industry. For this reason, the basic and key point on RFID technology is discussed and seven cases from the literature are reviewed.
Meeting the four‐hour deadline in an A&E department
Authors: Eatock Julie , Clarke Malcolm , Picton Claire , Young Terry
Published: November 2014

Purpose

Accident and emergency (A&E) departments experience a secondary peak in patient length of stay (LoS) at around four hours, caused by the coping strategies used to meet the operational standards imposed by government. The aim of this paper is to build a discrete‐event simulation model that captures the coping strategies and more accurately reflects the processes that occur within an A&E department.

Design/methodology/approach

A discrete‐event simulation (DES) model was used to capture the A&E process at a UK hospital and record the LoS for each patient. Input data on 4,150 arrivals over three one‐week periods and staffing levels was obtained from hospital records, while output data were compared with the corresponding records. Expert opinion was used to generate the pathways and model the decision‐making processes.

Findings

The authors were able to replicate accurately the LoS distribution for the hospital. The model was then applied to a second configuration that had been trialled there; again, the results also reflected the experiences of the hospital.

Practical implications

This demonstrates that the coping strategies, such as re‐prioritising patients based on current length of time in the department, employed in A&E departments have an impact on LoS of patients and therefore need to be considered when building predictive models if confidence in the results is to be justified.

Originality/value

As far as the authors are aware this is the first time that these coping strategies have been included within a simulation model, and therefore the first time that the peak around the four hours has been analysed so accurately using a model.
Modeling of plated through hole reliability and performance
Authors: Sharon Gilad , Barker Donald
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate modeling of the reliability characteristics of the copper (Cu) used in plated through holes (PTHs) for electrical connections across printed circuit boards (PCBs).

Design/methodology/approach

Assessments of the Cu damage in the first three reflow cycles are performed using finite element analysis. A two‐dimensional axi‐symmetric model of a PTH on a laminate board is validated against a three‐dimensional full model and test cases. Stress and strain measurements in the inner ring of the PTH are obtained in numerical simulations.

Findings

Loads applied after the reflow cycles contribute to subsequent mechanical disconnects. Reliability assessments relying on undamaged circuits are less accurate than estimates incorporating Cu damage following three reflow cycles.

Originality/value

In order to increase the accuracy of PCB reliability predictions significantly, prior‐to‐use damage should be calculated. In this paper, a modification to the reliability analysis is proposed.
Wave propagation in thermo‐elastic plate of arbitrary cross‐sections
Authors: Ponnusamy P.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the wave propagation in a homogeneous isotropic, thermo‐elastic plate of arbitrary cross‐sections using the two‐dimensional theory of thermo‐elasticity.

Design/methodology/approach

A mathematical model is developed to study the wave propagation in an arbitrary cross‐sectional thermo‐elastic plate by using two‐dimensional theory of thermo‐elasticity. After developing the formal solution of the mathematical model consisting of partial differential equations, the frequency equations have been derived by using the boundary conditions prevailing at the arbitrary cross‐sectional surface of the plate for symmetric and antisymmetrical modes in completely separate forms using Fourier expansion collocation method. The roots of the frequency equation are obtained by using the secant method, applicable for complex roots.

Findings

The computed non‐dimensional frequencies are compared with those results available in the literature in the case of elliptic cross‐sectional solid plate with clamped edges without thermal field and this result is coincide with the results of Nagaya. The computed non‐dimensional frequencies are plotted in the form of dispersion curves for longitudinal and flexural (symmetric and antisymmetric) modes of vibrations for the material copper.

Originality/value

The wave propagation in a plate of arbitrary cross‐sections with the stress free (unclamped) and rigidly fixed (clamped) edges are analyzed with and without thermal field.