bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New or Progressive Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome in Pediatric Severe Sepsis: A Sepsis Phenotype With Higher Morbidity and Mortality*
Authors: Lin John C. , Spinella Philip C. , Fitzgerald Julie C. , Tucci Marisa , Bush Jenny L. , Nadkarni Vinay M. , Thomas Neal J. , Weiss Scott L.
Published: October 2016

Objectives:

To describe the epidemiology, morbidity, and mortality of new or progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in children with severe sepsis.

Design:

Secondary analysis of a prospective, cross-sectional, point prevalence study.

Setting:

International, multicenter PICUs.

Patients:

Pediatric patients with severe sepsis identified on five separate days over a 1-year period.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Of 567 patients from 128 PICUs in 26 countries enrolled, 384 (68%) developed multiple organ dysfunction syndrome within 7 days of severe sepsis recognition. Three hundred twenty-seven had multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on the day of sepsis recognition. Ninety-one of these patients developed progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, whereas an additional 57 patients subsequently developed new multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, yielding a total proportion with severe sepsis–associated new or progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome of 26%. Hospital mortality in patients with progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was 51% compared with patients with new multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (28%) and those with single-organ dysfunction without multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (10%) (p < 0.001). Survivors of new or progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome also had a higher frequency of moderate to severe disability defined as a Pediatric Overall Performance Category score of greater than or equal to 3 and an increase of greater than or equal to 1 from baseline: 22% versus 29% versus 11% for progressive, new, and no multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, respectively (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Development of new or progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome is common (26%) in severe sepsis and is associated with a higher risk of morbidity and mortality than severe sepsis without new or progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Our data support the use of new or progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome as an important outcome in trials of pediatric severe sepsis although efforts are needed to validate whether reducing new or progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome leads to improvements in more definitive morbidity and mortality endpoints.
The Lymphatic Response to Injury with Soft-Tissue Reconstruction in High-Energy Open Tibial Fractures of the Lower Extremity
Authors: van Zanten Malou C. , Mistry Raakhi M. , Suami Hiroo , Campbell-Lloyd Andrew , Finkemeyer James P. , Piller Neil B. , Caplash Yugesh
Published: October 2016

Background:

Severe compound tibial fractures are associated with extensive soft-tissue damage, resulting in disruption of lymphatic pathways that leave the patient at risk of developing chronic lymphedema. There are limited data on lymphatic response following lower limb trauma. Indocyanine green fluorescence lymphography is a novel, real-time imaging technique for superficial lymphatic mapping. The authors used this technique to image the superficial lymphatic vessels of the lower limbs in patients with severe compound tibial fracture.

Methods:

Baseline demographics and clinical and operative details were recorded in a prospective cohort of 17 patients who had undergone bone and soft-tissue reconstruction after severe compound tibial fracture between 2009 and 2014. Normal lymphatic images were obtained from the patients’ noninjured limbs as a control. In this way, the authors investigated any changes to the normal anatomy of the lymphatic system in the affected limbs.

Results:

Of the 17 patients, eight had free muscle flaps with split-thickness skin grafting, one had a free fasciocutaneous flap, one had a full-thickness skin graft, six had local fasciocutaneous flaps, and one had a pedicled gastrocnemius flap. None of the free flaps demonstrated any functional lymphatic vessels; the fasciocutaneous flaps and the skin graft demonstrated impaired lymphatic vessel function and dermal backflow pattern similar to that in lymphedema. Local flaps demonstrated lymphatic blockage at the scar edge.

Conclusion:

Severe compound fractures and the associated soft-tissue injury can result in significant lymphatic disruption and an increased risk for the development of chronic lymphedema.
Core signalling motif displaying multistability through multi-state enzymes
Authors: Feng Song , Sáez Meritxell , Wiuf Carsten , Feliu Elisenda , Soyer Orkun S.
Published: October 2016

Bistability, and more generally multistability, is a key system dynamics feature enabling decision-making and memory in cells. Deciphering the molecular determinants of multistability is thus crucial for a better understanding of cellular pathways and their (re)engineering in synthetic biology. Here, we show that a key motif found predominantly in eukaryotic signalling systems, namely a futile signalling cycle, can display bistability when featuring a two-state kinase. We provide necessary and sufficient mathematical conditions on the kinetic parameters of this motif that guarantee the existence of multiple steady states. These conditions foster the intuition that bistability arises as a consequence of competition between the two states of the kinase. Extending from this result, we find that increasing the number of kinase states linearly translates into an increase in the number of steady states in the system. These findings reveal, to our knowledge, a new mechanism for the generation of bistability and multistability in cellular signalling systems. Further the futile cycle featuring a two-state kinase is among the smallest bistable signalling motifs. We show that multi-state kinases and the described competition-based motif are part of several natural signalling systems and thereby could enable them to implement complex information processing through multistability. These results indicate that multi-state kinases in signalling systems are readily exploited by natural evolution and could equally be used by synthetic approaches for the generation of multistable information processing systems at the cellular level.
John Webster, the Royal Society and
The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft
(1677)
Authors: Hunter Michael
Published: October 2016

This paper publishes for the first time the dedication to the Royal Society that John Webster wrote for his
Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft
(1677), but which failed to appear in the published work. It also investigates the circumstances in which the book received the Royal Society's imprimatur, in the light of the Society's ambivalent attitude towards witchcraft and related phenomena in its early years. The paper concludes that the role of Sir Jonas Moore as Vice-President in licensing the book was highly irregular, evidently reflecting the troubled state of the Society in the mid to late 1670s.
The family-specific α4-helix of the kinesin-13, MCAK, is critical to microtubule end recognition
Authors: Patel Jennifer T. , Belsham Hannah R. , Rathbone Alexandra J. , Wickstead Bill , Gell Christopher , Friel Claire T.
Published: October 2016

Kinesins that influence the dynamics of microtubule growth and shrinkage require the ability to distinguish between the microtubule end and the microtubule lattice. The microtubule depolymerizing kinesin MCAK has been shown to specifically recognize the microtubule end. This ability is key to the action of MCAK in regulating microtubule dynamics. We show that the α4-helix of the motor domain is crucial to microtubule end recognition. Mutation of the residues K524, E525 and R528, which are located in the C-terminal half of the α4-helix, specifically disrupts the ability of MCAK to recognize the microtubule end. Mutation of these residues, which are conserved in the kinesin-13 family and discriminate members of this family from translocating kinesins, impairs the ability of MCAK to discriminate between the microtubule lattice and the microtubule end.
Circular plate capacitor with different discs
Authors: Paffuti Giampiero , Cataldo Enrico , Di Lieto Alberto , Maccarrone Francesco
Published: October 2016

In this paper, we write a system of integral equations for a capacitor composed of two discs of different radii, generalizing Love’s equation for equal discs. We compute the complete asymptotic form of the capacitance matrix for both large and small distances obtaining a generalization of Kirchhoff’s formula for the latter case.
Positive selection of the TRIM family regulatory region in primate genomes
Authors: He Dan-Dan , Lu Yueer , Gittelman Rachel , Jin Yabin , Ling Fei , Joshua Akey
Published: October 2016

Viral selection pressure has acted on restriction factors that play an important role in the innate immune system by inhibiting the replication of viruses during primate evolution. Tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) family members are some of these restriction factors. It is becoming increasingly clear that gene expression differences, rather than protein-coding regions changes, could play a vital role in the anti-retroviral immune mechanism. Increasingly, recent studies have created genome-scale catalogues of DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHSs), which demark potentially functional regulatory DNA. To improve our understanding of the molecular evolution mechanism of antiviral differences between species, we leveraged 14 130 DHSs derived from 145 cell types to characterize the regulatory landscape of the TRIM region. Subsequently, we compared the alignments of the DHSs across six primates and found 375 DHSs that are conserved in non-human primates but exhibit significantly accelerated rates of evolution in the human lineage (haDHSs). Furthermore, we discovered 31 human-specific potential transcription factor motifs within haDHSs, including the
KROX
and
SP1
, that both interact with
HIV-1
. Importantly, the corresponding haDHS was correlated with antiviral factor
TRIM23
. Thus, our results suggested that some viruses may contribute, through regulatory DNA differences, to organismal evolution by mediating TRIM gene expression to escape immune surveillance.
Hippocampal Engagement during Recall Depends on Memory Content
Authors: Ross David A. , Sadil Patrick , Wilson D. Merika , Cowell Rosemary A.
Published: October 2016

The hippocampus is considered pivotal to recall, allowing retrieval of information not available in the immediate environment. In contrast, neocortex is thought to signal familiarity, and to contribute to recall only when called upon by the hippocampus. However, this view is not compatible with representational accounts of memory, which reject the mapping of cognitive processes onto brain regions. According to representational accounts, the hippocampus is not engaged by recall per se, rather it is engaged whenever hippocampal representations are required. To test whether hippocampus is engaged by recall when hippocampal representations are not required, we used functional imaging and a non-associative recall task, with images (objects, scenes) studied in isolation, and image-patches used as cues. As predicted by a representational account, hippocampal activation increased during recall of scenes – which are known to be processed by hippocampus – but not during recall of objects. Object recall instead engaged neocortical regions known to be involved in object-processing. Further supporting the representational account, effective connectivity analyses revealed that recall was associated with increased information flow out of lateral occipital cortex (object recall) and parahippocampal cortex (scene recall), suggesting that recall-related activation spread from neocortex to hippocampus, not the reverse.
Effect of gamma irradiation on X-ray absorption and photoelectron spectroscopy of Nd-doped phosphate glass
Authors: Rai V. N. , Rajput Parasmani , Jha S. N. , Bhattacharyya D. , Raja Shekhar B. N. , Deshpande U. P. , Shripathi T.
Published: October 2016

X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of Nd-doped phosphate glasses have been studied before and after gamma irradiation. The intensity and the location of the white line peak of theL3-edge XANES of Nd are found to be dependent on the ratio O/Nd in the glass matrix. Gamma irradiation changes the elemental concentration of atoms in the glass matrix, which affects the peak intensity of the white line due to changes in the covalence of the chemical bonds with Nd atoms in the glass (structural changes). Sharpening of the Nd 3d5/2peak profile in XPS spectra indicates a deficiency of oxygen in the glasses after gamma irradiation, which is supported by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements. The ratio of non-bridging oxygen to total oxygen in the glass after gamma radiation has been found to be correlated to the concentration of defects in the glass samples, which are responsible for its radiation resistance as well as for its coloration.
Prioritizing services and facilities in a higher education institution
Authors: Latif Latifah Abdol , Bahroom Ramli , Khalil Mohamad Afzhan Khan Mohamad
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the “selling points” for Open University Malaysia (OUM) to be used in its marketing activities and the “critical points” that OUM should focus on for further improvements in providing its services to its students. These selling and critical points are derived from the analysis of the importance and satisfaction data collected from OUM’s postgraduate students.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a two-dimensional, i.e., Importance-Satisfaction Survey which consists of 47 items, categorized under eight dimensions. Items are phrased as positive statements and students are asked to indicate how important it is to them using a seven-point Likert scale ranging from not at all important (1) to very important (7). They are then asked to rate their level of satisfaction, using the same scale from very dissatisfied (1) to very satisfied (7). A total of 709 postgraduate students responses were used in this study. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to explain the relationship between the dependent variable, overall satisfaction and eight independent variables. The “selling points” and “critical points” are determined by combining the quadrant and gap analyses. The “selling point” items are the high-importance-high-satisfaction (HIHS) items with relatively small gap scores while the “critical points” are those in the high-importance-low-satisfaction and HIHS quadrants with relatively large gap scores.

Findings

The overall results of the Importance-Satisfaction Survey showed that the postgraduate students are generally satisfied with OUM’s programmes and services. The multiple regression analysis of all dimensions against overall satisfaction as the dependent variable showed that the five dimensions of facilitator, curriculum, faculty, support services and learning centre account for 75.7 per cent of the variation in overall satisfaction. The selling points include: the learning management system (MyVLE), online registration, course contents, modules and facilitators. The critical points include those related to facilitator interaction and feedback, students’ sense of connectedness with the faculty staff, timely responses to enquiries and complaints and accessibility to digital library and learning centre staff.

Practical implications

Importance-Satisfaction Surveys can be used to help an institution to identify the services and facilities that can be marketed and also those that need to be improved in order to better meet its students’ expectations.

Originality/value

While many similar studies had been conducted elsewhere, this study had identified the “selling points” and “critical points” which are unique to OUM. In addition, most previous studies were focused on conventional institutions, carried out in many different countries with differing learning environments and cultures.
Factors leading to effective teaching of MOOCs
Authors: Wong Billy Tak-ming
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to survey the factors which facilitate effective teaching through massive open online courses (MOOCs).

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive meta-analysis was conducted to first examine the literature covering the characteristics of teaching in MOOCs, the profile of participants, the instructional design of course materials and/or the course assessment methods – and then to summarise the factors which are conducive to the teaching effectiveness of MOOCs. A random sample of MOOCs was then reviewed to sort out the extent to which the factors can be identified in these courses.

Findings

The factors leading to effective teaching of MOOCs revolve around six areas according to the stages of course delivery, namely, preparation, attraction, participation, interaction, consolidation and post-course support. They address the application of technology to achieve educational purposes, while coping with the potentials and constraints of the MOOC environment. In practice, however, existing MOOCs show varying degrees of the implementation of the factors.

Research limitations/implications

As this is an exploratory study summarising and categorising the factors, further work should be done, in particular on the proper adoption of these factors in teaching, their effectiveness and ways of assessing such effectiveness.

Originality/value

The factors identified will help institutions and academics who plan to offer MOOCs to be aware of how teaching can be best delivered to promote effective student learning.
Transient technologies: the end of the username and password?
Authors: McMullen Anthony
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights and commentary into issues encountered in providing computing services to library users in an era of shrinking budgets, reductions in staffing and increased costs.

Design/methodology/approach

Uses examples and illustrations from the technology literature and both anecdotal and analytic information from the author’s library to highlight some of the implications and resulting costs of password fatigue.

Findings

Web users are increasingly finding themselves in situations where they are overwhelmed by the stress induced by the need to remember many usernames and password combinations of varying complexities to complete their tasks at home, work and school.

Originality/value

This paper describes the shortcomings and counter-productive nature of the exceedingly complex and increasingly insecure world of usernames and password-protected web-based services. The cost of help desk-mediated password resets is enormous. Libraries are not immune to a large volume of calls generated by access issues.
Training academic library staff using an online learning management system (LMS)
Authors: Bell Brigitte
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This column aims to propose the idea of using learning management systems (LMSs) as a platform for online training and development within academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

A background and literature review are used as a basis for these recommendations.

Findings

The column argues that LMSs possess untapped potential as an effective online library training platform.

Originality/value

The column proposes further widespread use of LMSs for online training and development in academic libraries, despite a historical lack of use for this purpose.
How can companies succeed in forming CSR reputation?
Authors: Lee Sun Young
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the channels companies use to communicate their corporate social responsibility (CSR) messages and to test the effectiveness of those channels – specifically, press releases, corporate websites, CSR reports, corporate Facebook pages, and TV advertising – on forming companies’ CSR reputations.

Design/methodology/approach

The two primary methods used in this study were secondary analysis of existing data and content analysis. The study sample was the 101 companies in the Reputation Institute’s 2014 CSR ranking of the 100 most highly regarded companies (two companies were tied) across 15 countries.

Findings

Corporate websites and CSR reports were the most common channels for CSR communications, but press releases – through their impact on news articles – and general corporate Facebook pages were the only effective channels in forming CSR reputation.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence of the effectiveness of various CSR communication channels; it not only focuses on CSR reputation, a specific aspect of corporate reputation which has not been studied in this context before, but also examines several different channels simultaneously, in contrast to previous studies which have only investigated one or two channels at a time.
Storytelling in organisations: supporting or subverting corporate strategy?
Authors: Spear Sara , Roper Stuart
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Storytelling is claimed to be an effective way of communicating corporate strategy within organisations. However, previous studies have tended to focus holistically on storytelling in organisations rather than investigating how different groups may use and be influenced by stories. The purpose of this paper is to address these gaps in the literature by investigating how storytelling in internal communication can either support or subvert corporate strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study was conducted into storytelling in two large companies in the UK energy industry. Data were collected through 70 semi-structured interviews, documentary research, and observation research. Impression management theory was used to analyse how stories supported or subverted corporate strategy.

Findings

Storytelling by employees in the corporate and customer service areas of the organisations showed the greatest support for corporate strategy. There was more subversive storytelling in the operational areas, particularly by lower level employees. Stories subverted corporate strategy by recounting incidents and encouraging behaviour that contradicted the organisation’s vision/goals and values.

Originality/value

The study shows the important contribution of employees to the collective sensemaking process in organisations, by narrating supportive or subversive stories. Engaging employees in storytelling can enhance support for corporate strategy, however, managers should also see subversive stories as an opportunity to identify and address problems in the organisation.
(Un)willing to engage? First look at the engagement types of millennials
Authors: Rissanen Hilkka , Luoma-Aho Vilma
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel framework that includes degree, tone, and motives of consumer engagement of young consumers. Focusing on millennials, this paper offers preliminary look into their willingness and motives to engage with organizations on online environment. Based on narrative analysis, the authors establish nine different millennial engager types. The paper introduces a novel model grouping of motives for different tones and degrees of online engagement in the context of young consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on qualitative data collected through focus group interviews of 31 Finnish millennials (ages of 16-19 years). Data were analyzed by thematic analysis and constructing narratives.

Findings

The results show that there are nine different engager groups based on their motives for online consumer engagement. Out of the nine engagement types identified, two were negative and five included forms of disengagement. The findings are illustrated on a continuum of engagement that acknowledges three types of engagement: positive engagement, negative engagement, and disengagement.

Practical implications

The study introduces a model of grouping engager types by motives. The model, once developed further, is a helpful framework to identify and target different types of engagers. Organizations aiming to engage millennials should be aware of different tones and approach engagement via both degree and tone.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is in its attempt to introduce a novel framework that includes degree, tone, and motives of consumer online engagement. It sheds light on millennials willingness to engage online in reality, and more importantly, the lack of engagement, and highlights the necessity of understanding the willingness behind consumer engagement.
Facebook discussion of a crisis: authority communication and its relationship to citizens
Authors: Tampere Päivi , Tampere Kaja , Luoma-Aho Vilma
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the authority communication and its relationship to citizens during a disaster. This analysis is crucial for organisations to help them understand the different ways in which crises are perceived by citizens, and the reactions they may cause. The results will help authorities in planning their crisis communication.

Design/methodology/approach

Facebook comments written by authorities and citizens are studied and analysed in an exploratory case study related to the 2011 catastrophe in the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant via content analysis.

Findings

The analysis of Facebook comments revealed that authorities have to be prepared for communicating with citizens with diverging interests, who have different perceptions on a crisis and that relation is not the same with those different profiles of citizens.

Research limitations/implications

This case study only focusses on the Fukushima debate from the point of view of the authorities and citizens.

Practical implications

This study argues that it is crucial for both authorities and public relations practitioners to acknowledge that competing opinion holders are challenging each other and authority online, and that crisis communication should be planned accordingly.

Originality/value

The participant profiles can help organisations to clarify citizens’ crisis perceptions that can emerge in online discussions. Practitioners need to concentrate on determining how to get their voice heard so that there are perceived credible and legitimate actors.
Sponsorship selections: corporate culture, beliefs and motivations
Authors: Vance Leonard , Raciti Maria M. , Lawley Meredith
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Sponsorship can be an effective strategic marketing tool yet it attracts criticism as a corporate indulgence shaped by the personal interests of senior executives. While research into the outcomes of sponsorship is extensive, the practices involved in sponsorship selections have been largely ignored. Today, sponsorship selection in large corporations is recommended to be a formal process involving evaluation criteria aligned to corporate policy and strategic priorities. Yet, in reality, corporate culture influences sponsorship selection, as do sponsorship managers’ beliefs about sponsorship types and motivations. The purpose of this paper is to explore sponsorship selection practices and to consider the interplay between corporate culture and sponsorship managers’ beliefs about sponsorship types and their motivations. The findings provide not only new interpretation of the literature but also reveal a detailed picture of sponsorship selection.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory qualitative study comprises in-depth interviews with senior sponsorship managers from eight large Australian companies that use sponsorship as a strategic marketing tactic.

Findings

This study concludes that the sponsorship selection process is strongly influenced by corporate culture as well as the sponsorship manager’s beliefs about sponsorship types and their motivations.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the sponsorship management research stream by providing important insights into under-researched factors that influence the sponsorship selection process.
“There is still a perception that homelessness is a housing problem”: devolution, homelessness and health in the UK
Authors: Whiteford Martin , Simpson Glenn
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an exploratory account of the links between devolution, homelessness and health in the UK. Specifically, it focusses on the policy context and governance structures that shape the systems of healthcare for homeless people in London, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirically the paper draws on semi-structured interviews with a small sample of policy and practice actors from the devolved territories. Qualitative interviews were supplemented by a comparative policy analysis of the homelessness and health agenda within the devolved regions. Theoretically, it takes inspiration from Chaney’s concept of the “issue salience of homelessness” and explores the comparative character of healthcare as pertains to homeless people across the devolved territories.

Findings

The paper provides clear evidence of areas of divergence and convergence in policy and practice between the devolved regions. These features are shown to be strongly mediated by the interplay of two factors: first, the scope and scale of national and local homelessness prevention strategies; and second, intra-national variation in public health responses to homelessness.

Originality/value

The paper offers considerable insight from a comparative policy perspective into the nature of healthcare provision for homeless people in the devolved regions.
Access to social support among homeless urban women and men in Tehran (Iran)
Authors: Zare Zahra
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Social support is a significant factor in the life of homeless people, as it helps them meet their life challenges more efficiently and increases the likelihood of return to a normal life. Social support plays a different role in homeless women’s life, as gender culture often causes them to be exposed to more risks. The purpose of this paper is to identify homeless people’s access to social support from their network members, with a comparison between men and women.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a survey method was used with an administrated questionnaire. Participants were recruited from among the homeless people (men and women) who used the municipal social services in shelters and social service centers in Tehran. The main variables in this study included frequency of contact, social support, and gender.

Findings

The results have shown significant differences between homeless men and homeless women in terms of frequency of contact and receipt of social support. Homeless women contacted their network members more often than did homeless men and also received more support. There seems to be a strong correlation between the receipt of social support and women’s greater ability for social communication, as well as with traditional culture, which considers women to be weak and dependent so that they receive more support compared with men. The weakness of social support, especially among homeless men, requires serious attention; however, homeless women are not in a favorable situation either.

Originality/value

The social networks of homeless people who usually live on the streets and in public places without permanent shelter are weak because of various reasons, including poverty, addiction, immigration, and divorce. The weakness of social support leads to an escalation of their vulnerabilities. Thus, it is necessary, in social policy and services, to improve the social network of high-risk people such as homeless people, which would help the rehabilitation process and reduce the probability of exposure to harm.
Housing and ageing in France and Germany: the intergenerational solution
Authors: Labit Anne , Dubost Nathalie
Published: October 2016

Purpose

In France and Germany, intergenerational housing is put forward as an option by public authorities. This kind of housing scheme seems like a good solution for seniors and young people, from both an economic and a social point of view. But beyond this common philosophy, there are differences in the way intergenerational housing is being implemented in the two countries. France mainly favours the student-senior home-sharing model whereas the intergenerational collaborative housing (co-housing) model based on solidarity between seniors and families is gaining ground in Germany. The purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons for these differences and present results from field surveys conducted in both countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative methodology of the field surveys consisted essentially of semi-structured interviews with the young people and seniors living in these types of housing, in order to understand how they experienced intergenerational solidarity.

Findings

The authors’ surveys revealed that certain conditions are essential for this intergenerational solidarity to be fully effective, notably voluntary participation and commitment to the project, and possibly external support to ensure that it is designed and implemented in the best possible way.

Originality/value

This paper provides useful recommendations for decision makers who wish to support this type of housing concept based on intergenerational solidarity.
Guest interactions and the formation of memorable experiences: an ethnography
Authors: Torres Edwin N.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

For most customers, the vacation experience is enjoyed in the company of others; thus, studying customer-to-customer interactions becomes critical. This research aims to explore customer-to-customer interactions and their impact on the guest experience.

Design/methodology/approach

An ethnographic approach was taken to study a tour group over the course of two weeks. The author was a covert researcher and a member of the touring group.

Findings

Individuals gained social status both among fellow travelers and also among friends and family by virtue of their travels, the stories told, pictures shared and social media postings. The group became highly cohesive in a short time span, which led to an “in” and “out” group dynamic. Informants were more prone to take risks, owing to both their status as travelers and the group dynamics. The consumption of alcohol was observed along with its positive and negative effects. It was also noted that group members influenced one another during the process of assigning gratuities to the tour guide.

Practical implications

The marketing of hospitality and tourism services can stress benefits that go beyond one single vacation. Companies can engage in more vigorous efforts to facilitate positive customer-to-customer interactions to enhance the guest experience. Finally, given the speed of group processes and formation of a cohesive environment, organizations should be vigilant of how both employees and customers interact in the early stages of group development.

Originality/value

Even though mature travelers have been the subject of much research attention, the interactions, habits and influence of young travelers in the literature is underrepresented. Furthermore, the present research challenges the previously held assumption that services are simultaneously produced and consumed. Using pictures, social media posting and stories, informants recall and continue to experience benefits from their vacation.
The mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between high-performance work practices and job outcomes of employees in Nigeria
Authors: Karatepe Osman M. , Olugbade Olusegun A.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine work engagement as a mediator of the effects of selective staffing, job security, teamwork and career opportunities as the indicators of high-performance work practices on absence intentions, service recovery and creative performances.

Design/methodology/approach

Data came from 287 frontline employee–supervisor dyads in the international chain hotels in Nigeria. The direct and mediating effects were assessed using structural equation modeling. The Sobel test was also used to test the significance of each mediating effect.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the simultaneous implementation of selective staffing, job security, teamwork and career opportunities fosters work engagement that in turn leads to reduced absence intentions and results in service recovery and creative performances at elevated levels.

Practical implications

The presence of selective staffing, job security, teamwork and career opportunities enables management to hire individuals high in work engagement. Management should obtain significant feedback about new service ideas and suggestions for novel customer problems through workshops in which employees effectively participate. Management may also let employees with poor performance leave the organization rather than wasting organizational resources to retain them.

Originality/value

Little is known about the underlying mechanism through which high-performance work practices are linked to organizationally relevant and valued attitudinal and behavioral outcomes.
Determinants of authentic experiences
Authors: Kim Jong-Hyeong , Jang SooCheong (Shawn)
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This study aims to address a lack of studies on the attributes of ethnic restaurants that influence customers’ perceptions of authenticity. Particularly, this study extended Gilmore and Pine’s authenticity framework (is the offering true to itself and is the offering what it says it is) by incorporating a servicescape factor (i.e. employees).

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a 2 × 2 × 2 between-participants design which examined the effects of using an authentic sauce in a dish, advertising “authenticity” and employing staff from the native culture of the ethnic food on authentic experiences. Follow-up contact was made by phone and mail to assess their memory of ethnic Korean food tried in experimental conditions. Participants were asked how clearly and vividly they could recollect the food experience.

Findings

The results showed that all of the tested factors significantly influenced the subjects’ perceived authenticity of the food and recollection of the food experience. However, the authors did not find any significant interaction effects.

Practical implications

This study suggests factors that influence customers’ authentic experiences and memory. Thus, the findings provide important implications for delivering authentic and memorable experiences.

Originality/value

Previous researchers have emphasized the importance and urgency of providing authentic and memorable experiences. However, it is still unclear what specific attributes of ethnic restaurants influence individuals’ perceptions of authenticity and memory.
Why do we buy luxury experiences?
Authors: Yang Wan , Mattila Anna S.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The luxury segment of the hospitality industry has experienced substantial growth in the past decade. Unfortunately, the notion of perceived luxury values has received scant attention, and there is a lack of valid framework to capture consumers’ value perceptions in the context of luxury hospitality services. Using luxury restaurant as an example of luxury hospitality services, this paper aims to establish the structure of luxury hospitality values and their measures and to investigate the relationship between luxury hospitality values and purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was developed to test the proposed luxury value framework. Confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical linear regression were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Four luxury restaurant value dimensions including functional value, hedonic value, symbolic/expressive value and financial value were identified. The study results further reveal that a consumer’s purchase intention is influenced primarily by hedonic value, followed by functional value and financial value. Interestingly, unlike in the context of luxury goods, the purchase of luxury restaurant services is not substantially influenced by symbolic/expressive value.

Practical implications

Hospitality firms catering to the affluent might use the luxury value framework to better understand what drives their customers’ purchase intentions, and use such knowledge to create new services or to improve current product offerings. In addition, luxury hospitality companies can use this luxury value framework to position their brands/products.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first that empirically tests a luxury value framework in the luxury hospitality context and investigates the relationship between luxury hospitality values and purchase intentions.
Cost benefit analysis of war
Authors: Hausken Kjell
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Among the many perspectives to analyze war, such as rational actor, organizational process, governmental politics and ethics, the perspective that actually incorporates the costs and benefits into a systematic theoretical structure has hardly been analyzed. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the costs and benefits perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Three kinds of value are distinguished, i.e. human, economic and influence. Different actors (politicians, populations, stakeholders, etc). assign different weights to the three kinds of value. Six gradually more complicated models are developed. The first subtracts losses from gains for the three kinds of value. Thereafter, the paper accounts for multiple periods, time discounting, attitude towards risk, multiple stakeholders, subcategories for the three kinds of value, sequential decision-making and game theory.

Findings

The rich theoretical structure enables assessing costs and benefits more systematically and illuminatingly. The cost benefit analysis is illustrated with the 2003-2011 Iraq War. The paper estimates gained and lost value of human lives, economic value and influence value, and show how different weights impact the decision of whether to initiate war differently.

Originality/value

The paper provides scientists and policy makers with a theoretical structure within which to evaluate the costs and benefits of war, accounting for how different actors estimate weights, the future, risk and a variety of parameter values differently.
Do remotely piloted aerial vehicles make terrorism more costly for terrorists?
Authors: Mazhar Ummad
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The use of remotely piloted aerial vehicles (RPVs) as a counterterrorism strategy is intensely debated on grounds of legitimacy, political feasibility and human rights. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the link between RPVs’ strikes and terrorism through evidence-based analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

Using insights from economic analysis of counterterrorism, the study hypothesized possible channels through which RPVs may increase costs for terrorism. A novel data set is gathered to empirically test the theory-consistent prediction of a negative link between RPVs’ strikes and terrorism in a multivariate econometric framework.

Findings

Focusing on RPVs’ strikes in Pakistan over 2008 to 2013, the analysis yields important new insights. The principal finding suggests that RPVs reduce overall terrorism, while, without negating the negative spillover effects of RPVs use, there is no evidence of a positive feedback from civilian casualties to terrorism. These findings are not driven by extreme observations and satisfy a number of conventional diagnostic checks.

Practical implications

A well-constructed comparison and empirical evidence in this study implies that RPVs may yield net benefits in terms of greater security at regional and national levels.

Social implications

Moreover, as a proactive counterterrorism measure, RPVs can be an effective policing tool in crowded urban areas facing the greater threat of terrorism.

Originality/value

The study is the first to systematically analyze the link between RPV strikes and the magnitude of terrorism. The groundbreaking analysis thus extends the scope of economic inquiry to the role of RPVs as a counterterrorism strategy at national, regional and global levels. The findings of the study cast doubt on the validity of many popular notions about RPVs strikes, as they find little support in the empirical analysis.
Does a firm’s bond IPO influence monitoring by private lenders?
Authors: Hussain Tashfeen
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a firm’s undertaking of a bond IPO influences the monitoring of the private loans granted to the firm by private lenders. If it does, in which direction the monitoring changes?

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses both univariate and multivariate analyses to test the hypothesis. For the purposes of this research, the author’s primary data sources are LPC Dealscan, which provides data on private loans; Mergent FISD, which provides data on public bond issues; and the Compustat Industrial Annual Database, which provides the required financial data for the sample firms. The author’s sample covers non-financial US firms for the period of 1991-2010. The author’s final sample consists of nearly 23,000 private loans granted to about 5,500 non-financial US firms.

Findings

The major finding of this research is that private lenders increase their degree of monitoring of loans that they extend to a firm after it issues a bond IPO. The results of the two-stage bond IPO anticipation model further strengthen the findings. The evidence suggests that as the firm issues public debt for the first time, private lenders get concerned about the potential increase of agency problems and leverage, and consequently, find it valuable to increase the degree of monitoring of loans. Also, the magnitude of change in monitoring is strongly influenced by the degree of information asymmetry, leverage, profitability, and potential to waste free cash flow.

Originality/value

This paper enhances one’s understanding of the contracting dynamics between private lenders and the firm as it issues in the public debt market. The findings can aid firms anticipate the borrowing conditions they will face if they undertake a bond IPO. Further, the cross-sectional analysis on covenant changes from pre- to post-bond IPO period identifies specific firm characteristics that impact the magnitude of change of covenant intensity and comprehensiveness. As a result, uncertainty regarding post-bond IPO outcomes is reduced for borrowing firms.