bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shared decision-making, decision aids, and the role of values in treatment decision-making
Authors: Gafni Amiram , Charles Cathy
Published: April 2017

Shared decision-making (SDM) between physicians and patients is often advocated as the ‘best’ approach to treatment decision-making in the clinical encounter. In this chapter we describe: (i) the key characteristics of a SDM approach; (ii) the clinical contexts for SDM; (iii) the definition and use of decision aids (DA), as well as their relationship to SDM; and (iv) the vexing problem of defining the meaning and role of values/preferences in treatment decision-making. Areas for further research and conceptual development are also suggested to help resolve outstanding issues in the above areas. Despite the widespread interest in promoting SDM, there does not seem to be as yet a universally accepted consensus on the meaning of this concept.
Achieving shared treatment decisions
Authors: Tattersall Martin H.N. , Kissane David W.
Published: April 2017

The respect of a patient’s autonomous rights within the model of patient-centred care has led to shared decision-making, rather than more paternalistic care. Understanding patient needs, preferences, and lifestyle choices are central to developing shared treatment decisions. Patients can be prepared through the use of question prompt sheets and other decision aids. Audio-recording of informative consultations further helps. A variety of factors like the patient’s age, tumour type and stage of disease, an available range of similar treatment options, and their risk-benefit ratios will impact on the use of shared decision-making. Modifiable barriers to shared decision-making can be identified. Teaching shared decision-making includes the practice of agenda setting, use of partnership statements, clarification of patient preferences, varied approaches to explaining potential treatment benefits and risks, review of patient values and lifestyle factors, and checking patient understanding–this sequence helps both clinicians and patients to optimally reach a shared treatment decision.
Denial and communication
Authors: Sheahan Linda , Kissane David W.
Published: April 2017

Patients who appear not to acknowledge the diagnosis or severity of an illness may be ‘in denial’. Denial will be examined on a spectrum from maladaptive to beneficial outcomes, exploring how it functions within the palliative care setting. We consider when intervention is appropriate and how that intervention is best undertaken. Specific attention is given to the communication skills required for an effective clinical response to denial. Although the term ‘denial’ is an accepted part of the medical vernacular, it is used in a variety of clinical circumstances, with varying definitions and little consensus. This chapter establishes a pragmatic view of denial, explores how it functions within the clinician-patient relationship, and then demonstrates when intervention is appropriate and how that intervention is best undertaken. Specific attention will be given to the communication skills required for an effective clinical response to denial.
Communication in the context of cancer as a chronic disease
Authors: Yates Patsy
Published: April 2017

Changes in cancer treatment and improved survival rates mean that cancer is often experienced as a chronic condition. This chapter draws on contemporary models of chronic disease management, which define the capabilities required to promote self-management and identify the specific communication practices that achieve optimal outcomes for individuals living with a long-term condition. These capabilities require health professionals to provide person-centred care and achieve individual behavioural as well as organizational/system change. Communication skills which reflect these capabilities in practice include open questions and reflective listening, empathy and sensitivity to patient needs, and sharing of information. Communication skills to support motivational interviewing, collaborative problem identification, and organizational change, including communicating within a multidisciplinary team, are critical to achieving optimal outcomes for people living with cancer. These communication practices enable the patient to be a partner as they adjust to new health challenges, and a changed social and psychological context.
Discussing adverse outcomes with patients
Authors: Tan Andy S.L. , Gallagher Thomas H.
Published: April 2017

Few communication challenges are as difficult for healthcare providers as talking with patients about adverse events, especially when the adverse event was due to a medical error. Ethicists and professional organizations have long endorsed open communication with patients about adverse events and errors in their care. Over the past decade, however, there has been a substantial increase in attention being paid to transparent communication with patients. Many countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada have undertaken major disclosure initiatives. The Joint Commission, the body responsible for the accreditation of most US healthcare facilities, requires that patients be informed of all outcomes in their care, including ‘unanticipated outcomes’. In this chapter, we will explore the special aspects of disclosure in the oncology context, among many other important aspects. The chapter concludes by considering a disclosure case study, and discussing next steps for disclosure in oncology.
Challenges in communicating with ethnically diverse populations
Authors: Thomas Bejoy C. , Malhi Rebecca L.
Published: April 2017

Effective cancer communication is crucial for both clinicians and patients, yet is often suboptimal. Health literacy—the ability to access, comprehend, evaluate, and communicate health information—is a latent factor that may contribute to ineffective medical interactions. Limited health literacy has been associated with significant negative health outcomes and higher medical costs. Given the compelling evidence that ethnically diverse populations are particularly vulnerable, we use a narrative case example—a hypothetical clinical meeting between an oncologist and a newly-diagnosed patient—to highlight how patient risk factors for low health literacy (e.g. age, language, distress, etc.) may be amplified by clinician and contextual factors (e.g. using medical jargon, complexity of patient educational materials, etc.). Finally, we re-imagine the same clinical encounter and illustrate how some simple strategies could ameliorate the effects of low health literacy and facilitate communication and patient decision-making.
Screening for distress
Authors: Bultz Barry D. , Jacobsen Paul B. , Loscalzo Matthew
Published: April 2017

The prevalence of multifactoral distress is significant for cancer patients. In busy and highly specialized tumour clinics, screening for distress brings the science of caring to the team and enhances the role psychosocial oncology plays in the cancer centre. Standardized screening for distress is a simple and effective tool that can help the clinical team better understand, communicate, address patient concerns, and refer to the right professional in a timely way. Screening for distress has been widely endorsed and has become an accreditation standard in many jurisdictions around the world. Modern cancer care must incorporate screening for distress as routine practice in care of the patient.
Social work support in settings of crisis
Authors: Lethborg Carrie , Christ Grace H.
Published: April 2017

Social work has a long history of providing support to people living with cancer and their families. The overall objective of the social worker in this setting is to support and equip the patient and those close to them to navigate and adjust to the impact of the disease on their lives. The social work perspective views living with cancer as an experience accompanied by a series of challenges as treatment decisions are made, side effects are endured, and relationships strained. For most patients, these challenges are managed with support from loved ones and their healthcare team. However, any one of these difficulties can develop into a crisis or a situation where customary methods of coping do not work and the person living with the disease feels overwhelmed. The focus of this chapter will be on the social work role during the crisis periods of the cancer experience.
Communication in cancer radiology
Authors: Feigin Kimberly , D’Alessio Donna
Published: April 2017

Diagnostic radiologists are often the first to know of a patient’s medical diagnosis, disease progression, or response to treatment. Communicating this information to both the referring physician and often directly to the patient has become increasingly important as the role of radiologists in patient care has evolved. As technology advances, and the field of radiology extends beyond the interpretation of diagnostic imaging into that of intervention and treatment, timely and clear communication of imaging results, limitations of radiology examinations, and the risks associated with image-guided interventional and therapeutic procedures is a priority. Instituting structured reporting, reporting lexicons, and formal communication skills training for radiologists are a few measures that radiologists can take to improve communication in the field. Such efforts to improve communication in radiology are integral components to enhancing and expanding the role of radiologists in patient care.
Communication issues in pastoral care and chaplaincy
Authors: Speck Peter , Herbert Christopher
Published: April 2017

The remit of those involved in pastoral care and chaplaincy is not confined to patients of a particular faith or belief system. However, it differs from counselling, since the encounter takes place within the context of a belief system held by the pastoral carer, and which may or may not be shared by the recipient of care. The diagnosis of a life-threatening illness will trigger a range of emotional responses, which may include questions of an existential nature relating to causality, the meaning of the illness, and fears for the future. The essence of communication in pastoral care and chaplaincy is the creation of a safe space within which the person can explore issues of importance to them within the context of their own spirituality.
The Swiss model
Authors: Stiefel Friedrich , Bernhard Jürg , Bianchi Gabriella , Dietrich Lilo , Hürny Christoph , Kiss Alexander , Wössmer Brigitta , Bourquin Céline
Published: April 2017

This chapter focuses on the Swiss model of oncology communication skills training (CST), which was initiated in 1998 and has been declared mandatory in 2005 for physicians specializing in medical oncology. It first discusses the development and implementation of this CST, its setting, and the specific objectives of the training—illustrated by examples from interviews videotaped during a CST session. Particular attention is then paid to trainers’ observations of communication difficulties of participants (e.g. under- or overstructured interviews, information not adapted to the patient’s needs) and to the specific features of the Swiss CST, namely: interdisciplinary training (working with physicians and nurses); individual insight-oriented supervision; and mandatory training. The final section of the chapter is devoted to the different scientific projects investigating the Swiss CST (e.g. communication and psychodynamic aspects of the training (clinicians’ defence mechanisms), impact of the training on working alliance, and linguistic strategies).
Evaluating communication skills training courses
Authors: Konopasek Lyuba , Rosenbaum Marcy , Encandela John , Cole-Kelly Kathy
Published: April 2017

This chapter describes strategies for designing programme evaluation for communication skills training courses. It draws on the communication literature to demonstrate evaluation approaches including use of control groups, validated instruments, and observation methods. The logic model is introduced as a tool to ensure that evaluation is aligned with programme plans. Kirkpatrick’s four levels of programme evaluation are used to analyse training outcomes. Kirkpatrick’s Level 1 evaluates learners’ reaction to training. Level 2 evaluates changes in the learners’ attitudes, such as self-efficacy, knowledge and skills, including assessment by standardized patients. Level 3 assesses change in communication behaviours in the context of patient care, and Level 4 measures changes in patient outcomes, including patient satisfaction. Examples of each Kirkpatrick level are provided in this chapter, along with their strengths and limitations.
Introduction
Authors: Rayner Mike , Wickramasinghe Kremlin , Williams Julianne , McColl Karen , Mendis Shanthi
Published: April 2017

This is a short chapter which describes the aims and the terminology of this book. This introductory chapter explains how the book is structured into five sections and which key concepts are included. It introduces the policy cycle, principles of prevention, and population-level approaches to prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It is important to recognize that it is neither feasible nor desirable to devote all resources to prevention. This chapter shows that there are considerable areas of overlap and prevention; cure and care can be seen to exist on a continuum of activities that are needed to successfully tackle any disease, including NCDs.
Evidence for population-level approaches to the prevention of NCDs
Authors: Rayner Mike , Wickramasinghe Kremlin , Williams Julianne , McColl Karen , Mendis Shanthi
Published: April 2017

This chapter is the first of three about solution generation. It focuses on ways to evaluate the effectiveness of population health interventions and provides key questions to ask when applying evidence-based medicine to public health interventions. It also discusses how the dialogue between evidence producers and policy-makers can take various forms. Case studies illustrate how action can lag far behind even when evidence is strong and how powerful vested interests can undermine evidence-based policies. The chapter then discusses the role that modelling methods can play in improving public health decision-making, particularly when existing evidence is incomplete and traditional research methods are unable to provide solutions.
Evidence for population-level approaches to the prevention of NCDs
Authors: Rayner Mike , Wickramasinghe Kremlin , Williams Julianne , McColl Karen , Mendis Shanthi
Published: April 2017

This chapter describes health economics, which is an important component of effective health system management. The chapter provides a brief overview of the process of economic evaluation and how to assess the costs and consequences of alternative courses of actions. It goes on to discuss the various types of economic evaluation, including cost-effectiveness analysis, cost–utility analysis, and cost–benefit analysis, which may be used to assess health system performance and to prioritize the allocation of health-care resources. It provides practical examples of cost-effective analyses of prevention interventions from around the world. Finally, it outlines key steps in conducting an economic evaluation and provides tools to critically appraise an economic evaluation.
Living and Working in the Institution, 1890–1920
Authors: Trent James W.
Published: April 2017

Chapter 4 considers the internal workings of the American institution between 1890 and 1920, when public and private institutions increased in size and spread in number. The institution in its growing population and bureaucratic complexity involved many actors. At the institution was a staff hierarchy—from ward attendants and “high-grade imbeciles” providing direct care to bakers, cooks, construction workers supplying day-to-day maintenance; from teachers providing the 3-Rs to farm hands supervising the inmates who provided produce and meat for the institution; and from matrons who supervised daily activities to the superintendent and his assistants who provided organization control. Besides the actors at the institution, there were parents and relatives who interacted with their institutionalized children. The chapter uses letters, diaries, institutional reports, and photographs to construct the meaning of the institution from the perspectives of its various actors.
Exploding Head Syndrome
Authors: Sharpless Brian A. , Zimmerman Jacob A.
Published: April 2017

Exploding head syndrome is the colorful name given to the experience of loud noises during sleep-wake and wake-sleep transitions that result in abrupt arousal and fright. The specific sounds reported during episodes of exploding head syndrome are quite variable and can include perceptions of fireworks, lightening cracks, or nondescript screaming. Visual experiences (e.g., light flashes) may also be involved. A variety of etiological theories exist for exploding head syndrome, but the most popular of these implicates abnormal surges of neuronal activity within the brainstem during sleep-wake transitions—surges which then are perceived as the loud and startling sounds. Although episodes are more common than initially thought and can have important clinical impacts on sufferers, exploding head syndrome is still a relatively unknown disorder. Further, its characteristic symptoms have also been incorporated into several current conspiracy theories, of which many clinicians may be unaware.
Attention Deficit Disorder Psychosis
Authors: Blom Jan Dirk , Niemantsverdriet Marieke , Spuijbroek Anke , Kooji Sandra
Published: April 2017

Attention deficit disorder psychosis is a little-known clinical phenomenon currently enjoying a modest revival of scientific attention. It is argued by some to not merely be a result of diagnostic comorbidity between psychosis and attention deficit disorder, but rather a diagnostic category in its own right with unique treatment implications. More specifically, a body of scientific literature has emerged which discusses the co-occurrence of psychotic symptoms and attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder symptoms, which, in at least some cases, is attributed to a shared genetic vulnerability for both groups of symptoms. The similarities and difference between attention deficit disorder psychosis and schizophrenia also are discussed, as is what some might consider a counterintuitive treatment procedure involving the careful concurrent use of antipsychotics and psychostimulants.
Could it be Adult ADHD?
Authors: Willer Jan
Published: April 2017

One out of every 10 adult psychotherapy clients—or more—probably has attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). When psychotherapists miss the ADHD, treatment is frustrating and less effective. This book is for the general mental health professional who wishes to learn how to recognize, assess, and treat adult ADHD. Adults with ADHD are very different, developmentally and symptomatically, from children. ADHD affects adults of all races, gender identities, and backgrounds, and obvious hyperactivity is rarely part of the adult clinical picture. This book provides a full description of adult ADHD symptoms, based on the most current research, including executive functioning problems, emotional dysregulation, atypical reward sensitivity, and problems with time perception. Complete guidance to recognizing adult ADHD is provided, including behavior displayed during psychotherapy, developmental issues, educational challenges, and adaptive functioning problems. Depression, anxiety, self-image issues, and substance abuse are addressed, since these mental health problems are commonly associated with adult ADHD. Guidance is provided to help the mental health practitioner provide psychoeducation about cognitive differences in ADHD, which is essential for client self-acceptance and adaptive functioning. Common psychotherapy problems with ADHD clients are addressed, including chronic lateness to sessions, missed appointments, motivation problems, difficulties with homework, and tangentiality. The principles of cognitive-behavioral treatment of ADHD are provided, along with case examples to illustrate the implementation of these techniques. An overview of medications for ADHD is provided, including their benefits, contraindications, and side effects. Nontraditional treatments are reviewed for their effectiveness.
Clinician's Guide to Evidence-Based Practices
Authors: Norcross John C. , Hogan Thomas P. , Koocher Gerald P. , Maggio Lauren A.
Published: April 2017

The second edition of the Clinician’s Guide to Evidence-Based Practices: Behavioral Health and Addictions provides practitioners with the skills to retrieve and use research in order to benefit patients suffering from mental and addictive disorders. Practice must be informed and guided by research, yet so much of the research literature feels inaccessible and overwhelming, too removed and too large to guide what we do daily with our patients. This book overcomes these challenges to evidence-based practice (EBP) by serving as a practical, how-to guide for graduate students and behavioral health practitioners. Following three realistic patients throughout, the Clinician’s Guide canvases the entire EBP process: asking the right questions, accessing the best available research, appraising the research, translating that research into practice, integrating that research with clinician expertise and patient characteristics, evaluating the entire enterprise, attending to the ethical considerations, and, when done, moving the EBP process forward by teaching it to others. This revised and updated edition includes a separate chapter on filtered sources for accessing the best available research, a series of hands-on Skill Exercises in each chapter to provide practical use of the material, a new section on barriers to successful implementation, and a companion website with expanded content, interactive examples, and hyperlinked references.
Myomerger induces fusion of non-fusogenic cells and is required for myoblast fusion
Authors: Quinn Malgorzata E. , Goh Qingnian , Kurosaka Mitsutoshi , Gamage Dilani G. , Petrany Michael J. , Prasad Vikram , Millay Douglas P.
Published: April 2017

Despite the importance of cell fusion for mammalian development and physiology, the factors critical for this process remain to be fully defined1. This lack of knowledge has severely limited our ability to reconstitute cell fusion, which is necessary to decipher the biochemical mechanisms driving plasma membrane merger. Myomaker (Tmem8c) is a muscle-specific protein required for myoblast fusion2,3. Expression of myomaker in fibroblasts drives their fusion with myoblasts, but not with other myomaker-fibroblasts, highlighting the requirement of additional myoblast-derived factors for fusion. Here, we demonstrate thatGm7325, named myomerger, induces the fusion of myomaker-expressing fibroblasts. Cell mixing experiments reveal that while myomaker renders cells fusion-competent, myomerger induces fusogenicity. Thus, myomaker and myomerger confer fusogenic activity to normally non-fusogenic cells. Myomerger is skeletal muscle-specific and only expressed during developmental and regenerative myogenesis. Disruption of myomerger in myoblast cell lines through Cas9-mutagenesis generated non-fusogenic myocytes. Genetic deletion of myomerger in mice results in a paucity of muscle fibers demonstrating a requirement for myomerger in normal muscle formation. Myomerger deficient myocytes exhibit an ability to differentiate and harbor organized sarcomeres, however remain mono-nucleated. These data identify myomerger as a fundamental myoblast fusion protein and establishes a system that begins to reconstitute mammalian cell fusion.
Practical unidentifiability of receptor density in target mediated drug disposition models can lead to over-interpretation of drug concentration data
Authors: Stein Andrew M
Published: April 2017

For monoclonal antibodies, mathematical models of target mediated drug disposition (TMDD) are often fit to data in order to estimate key physiological parameters of the system. These parameter estimates can then be used to support drug development by assisting with the assessment of whether the target is druggable and what the first in human dose should be. The TMDD model is almost always over-parameterized given the available data, resulting in the practical unidentifiability of some of the model parameters, including the target receptor density. In particular, when only PK data is available, the receptor density is almost always practically unidentifiable. However, because practical identifiability is not regularly assessed, incorrect interpretation of model fits to the data can be made. This issue is illustrated using two case studies from the literature.
Temporal niche expansion in mammals from a nocturnal ancestor after dinosaur extinction
Authors: Maor Roi , Dayan Tamar , Ferguson-Gow Henry , Jones Kate E.
Published: April 2017

Most modern mammals, including strictly diurnal species, exhibit sensory adaptations to nocturnal activity, thought to be the result of a prolonged nocturnal phase or ‘bottleneck’ during early mammalian evolution. Nocturnality may have allowed mammals to avoid antagonistic interactions with diurnal dinosaurs during the Mesozoic. However, understanding the evolution of mammalian activity patterns is hindered by scant and ambiguous fossil evidence. While ancestral reconstructions of behavioural traits from extant species have the potential to elucidate these patterns, existing studies have been limited in taxonomic scope. Here, we use an extensive behavioural dataset for 2415 species from all extant orders to reconstruct ancestral activity patterns across Mammalia. We find strong support for the nocturnal origin of mammals and the Cenozoic appearance of diurnality, although cathemerality (mixed diel periodicity) may have appeared in the late Cretaceous. Simian primates are among the earliest mammals to exhibit strict diurnal activity, some 52-33Mya. Our study is consistent with the hypothesis that temporal partitioning between early mammals and dinosaurs during the Mesozoic led to a mammalian nocturnal bottleneck, but also demonstrates the need for improved phylogenetic estimates for Mammalia.
Integrated genomic analyses reveal frequent TERT aberrations in acral melanoma
Authors: Liang Winnie S. , Hendricks William , Kiefer Jeffrey , Schmidt Jessica , Sekar Shobana , Carpten John , Craig David W. , Adkins Jonathan , Cuyugan Lori , Manojlovic Zarko , Halperin Rebecca F. , Helland Adrienne , Nasser Sara , Legendre Christophe , Hurley Laurence H. , Sivaprakasam Karthigayini , Johnson Douglas B. , Crandall Holly , Busam Klaus J. , Zismann Victoria , Deluca Valerie , Lee Jeeyun , Sekulic Aleksandar , Ariyan Charlotte E. , Sosman Jeffrey , Trent Jeffrey
Published: April 2017

Genomic analyses of cutaneous melanoma (CM) have yielded biological and therapeutic insights, but understanding of non-ultraviolet (UV)-derived CMs remains limited. Deeper analysis of acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), a rare sun-shielded melanoma subtype associated with worse survival than CM, is needed to delineate non-UV oncogenic mechanisms. We thus performed comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 34 ALM patients. Unlike CM, somatic alterations were dominated by structural variation and absence of UV-derived mutation signatures. Only 38% of patients demonstrated driver BRAF/NRAS/NF1 mutations. In contrast with CM, we observed PAK1 copy gains in 15% of patients, and somatic TERT translocations, copy gains, and missense and promoter mutations, or germline events, in 41% of patients. We further show that in vitro TERT inhibition has cytotoxic effects on primary ALM cells. These findings provide insight into the role of TERT in ALM tumorigenesis and reveal preliminary evidence that TERT inhibition represents a potential therapeutic strategy in ALM.
Preparation of Total RNA from Fission Yeast
Authors: Bähler Jürg , Wise Jo Ann
Published: April 2017

Treatment with hot phenol breaks open fission yeast cells and begins to strip away bound proteins from RNA. Deproteinization is completed by multiple extractions with chloroform/isoamyl alcohol and separation of the aqueous and organic phases using MaXtract gel, an inert material that acts as a physical barrier between the phases. The final step is concentration of the RNA by ethanol precipitation. The protocol can be used to prepare RNA from several cultures grown in parallel, but it is important not to process too many samples at once because delays can be detrimental to RNA quality. A reasonable number of samples to process at once would be three to four for microarray or RNA sequencing analyses and six for preliminary investigations of mutants implicated in RNA metabolism.
Culture and Expansion of Primary Undifferentiated Spermatogonial Stem Cells
Authors: Goodyear Shaun , Brinster Ralph
Published: April 2017

This protocol describes a culture method for supporting the maintenance and expansion of a primary mouse undifferentiated spermatogonial population containing spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). The doubling time for SSCs in culture is relatively slow. Once established, SSC lines are split 1:2 to 1:4 every 7 d. Therefore, the time required to generate sufficient SSCs for experimentation can be considerable and requires careful planning.
Efficient Method for Whole-Cell Recording in Freely Moving Rodents Using Ultraviolet-Cured Collar-Based Pipette Stabilization
Authors: Lee Doyun , Lee Albert K.
Published: April 2017

Whole-cell recording is a key technique for investigating synaptic and cellular mechanisms underlying various brain functions. However, because of its high sensitivity to mechanical disturbances, applying the whole-cell recording method to freely moving animals has been challenging. Here, we describe a technique for obtaining such recordings in freely moving, drug-free animals with a high success rate. This technique involves three major steps: obtaining a whole-cell recording from awake head-fixed animals, reliable and efficient stabilization of the pipette with respect to the animal’s head using an ultraviolet (UV)-transparent collar and UV-cured adhesive, and rapid release of the animal from head fixation without loss of the recording. This technique has been successfully applied to obtain intracellular recordings from the hippocampus of freely moving rats and mice exploring a spatial environment, and should be generally applicable to other brain areas in animals engaged in a variety of natural behaviors.
Accounting, accountability, social media and big data: revolution or hype?
Authors: Arnaboldi Michela , Busco Cristiano , Cuganesan Suresh
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline an agenda for researching the relationship between technology-enabled networks – such as social media and big data – and the accounting function. In doing so, it links the contents of an unfolding area research with the papers published in this special issue of Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper surveys the existing literature, which is still in its infancy, and proposes ways in which to frame early and future research. The intention is not to offer a comprehensive review, but to stimulate and conversation.

Findings

The authors review several existing studies exploring technology-enabled networks and highlight some of the key aspects featuring social media and big data, before offering a classification of existing research efforts, as well as opportunities for future research. Three areas of investigation are identified: new performance indicators based on social media and big data; governance of social media and big data information resources; and, finally, social media and big data’s alteration of information and decision-making processes.

Originality/value

The authors are currently experiencing a technological revolution that will fundamentally change the way in which organisations, as well as individuals, operate. It is claimed that many knowledge-based jobs are being automated, as well as others transformed with, for example, data scientists ready to replace even the most qualified accountants. But, of course, similar claims have been made before and therefore, as academics, the authors are called upon to explore the impact of these technology-enabled networks further. This paper contributes by starting a debate and speculating on the possible research agendas ahead.
How social media reshapes action on distant customers: some empirical evidence
Authors: Agostino Deborah , Sidorova Yulia
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how centres of calculation, now emerging in connection with social media, impact on the process of acting on distant customers. Specifically, the authors are interested in exploring how the distance between the organization and its customer is affected and how knowledge is accumulated within this centre.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study in an Italian telecommunication company was conducted over a time horizon of two years, analysing data sources in the form of interviews, documents and reports, corporate website, social media platforms and participants’ observations. With the adoption of social media, the company configured a new centre of calculation, called monitoring room, in the attempt to accumulate knowledge about its customers. The authors unpacked the activity of the centre of calculation discussing its ability to perform action upon a distant periphery and the process of knowledge accumulation inside the centre itself.

Findings

The results highlight the implication of social media for “action at a distance”. On the one hand, social media blurs the distinction between the centre and a periphery giving rise to a de-centring, and stimulating a joint control activity between the customer and the organization. On the other hand, social media was found vulnerable in providing a unique knowledge about customers: accumulation cycles that exploit social media data can be replicated by users with skills in data analytics and the knowledge they provide might conflict with knowledge provided by traditional data.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to an emergent stream of literature that is investigating accounting implications derived from social media, by underlying the controversial effects connected with centres of calculation enacted by social media data. The authors suggest that, while social media data provide the organization with huge amount of information real time, at the same time, it contributes to de-centring allowing customers and external actors to act upon the organization, rather than improving knowledge inside the centre.
Risk analysis model for regional railroad investment
Authors: Suh Sunduck , Suh Wonho , Kim Jung In
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to model risks in financial analysis. These risks associated with uncertainties in the projects should be properly addressed to ensure proper decision regarding the projects. Performance indicators should be developed and assessing risks has high priority. All these activities comprise appraisal, and based on these, a proper course of action should be recommended.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyze the attractiveness of a project for foreign regional railroad investment or participation, the project should be analyzed in a systematic way. First, the project’s goals and objectives should be evaluated for compatibility. Also, criteria of acceptability for stakeholders should be checked against output from the project. Usually, a project can have many alternatives, and impacts of each alternative should be analyzed in terms of quantitative and qualitative forecasts of impacts. Benefits and costs need to be counted in proper units of measurement per goals and objectives.

Findings

This paper shows that risk modeling can reflect uncertainty in decision-making and provide robustness of modeling process and improved communication. Also, challenges are presented in using risk analysis.

Originality/value

To overcome the shortcomings of traditional mathematical optimization model in identifying best sets of projects for private application, the proposed model finds ways to incorporate risk management components for the optimization procedure. Based on simulation results, a brute force solution procedure using enumeration can be used. Another approach is recommended to use the genetic algorithm process to reduce the number of alternatives to search to reach an optimal solution.
Optimized GNSS RTK measurement planning for effective point occupation via heuristic analysis
Authors: Bartonek Dalibor , Bures Jiri , Svabensky Otakar
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with the formulation of the technological principle for precise positioning using global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) in railway engineering during construction and maintenance of a railway line and its spatial position. Solution of optimal route is based on finding the shortest Hamiltonian path in the graph method with additional conditions in nodes.

Design/methodology/approach

The core of the algorithm is a dynamic data structure which is based on events list. The optimization of field measurement solves the time demands and brings economic effectiveness.

Findings

The technology enables to determine the precise position with absolute difference limit from 10 to 15 mm within GNSS CZEPOS permanent network in the territory of Czech Republic.

Research limitations/implications

Technology is the result of applied research.

Practical implications

This technology innovates the current procedure of geodetic control network determination used by Railway Infrastructure Administration (state organization) in Czech Republic.

Originality/value

The event means measurement at a given track point and time for a specified duration of observation. The algorithm was realized in Borland Delphi. The optimization of field measurement solves its time demands and increases economic effectiveness. The technology enables precise position determination with absolute difference limit from 10 to 15 mm within GNSS CZEPOS permanent network in the territory of Czech Republic. It has been verified in field selected electrified and non-electrified railway lines.
Using a grid computing-based meta-evolutionary mining approach for the microarray data cancer-categorization
Authors: Chiang Tai-Wei , Chen Ta-Cheng
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The categorization response model through gene expression patterns turns into one of the most favorable utilizations of the microarray technology. In this study, the aim is to propose a grid computing-based meta-evolutionary mining approach as a categorization response model for gene selection and cancer classification.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach is based on the grid computing infrastructure for establishing the best attributes set selected from a big microarray data. The novel discriminant analysis is based on vector distant of median method as the evaluation function of meta-evolutionary mining approach. In this study, the proposed approach lays stress on finding the best attributes set for constructing a categorization response model with highest categorization accuracy.

Findings

Examples for several benchmarking cancer microarray data sets were used to evaluate the proposed approach, whose results are also compared with other approaches in literatures. Experimental results from four benchmarking problems indicate that the proposed approach works effectively and efficiently, and the results of the proposed methods are superior to or as well as other existing methods in literatures.

Originality/value

The novel discriminant analysis is based on vector distant of median method as the evaluation function of meta-evolutionary mining approach to discover the best feature subset automatically from the microarray tumor database. In this study, the proposed approach lays stress on finding the best attributes set for constructing a categorization response model with highest categorization accuracy.
Do PISA data justify PISA-based education policy?
Authors: Araujo Luisa , Saltelli Andrea , Schnepf Sylke V.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Since the publication of its first results in 2000, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) implemented by the OECD has repeatedly been the subject of heated debate. In late 2014 controversy flared up anew, with the most severe critics going so far as to call for a halt to the programme. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the methodological design of PISA and the ideological basis of scientific and policy arguments invoked for and against it.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine the soundness of the survey methodology and identify the conflicting interpretations and values fuelling the debate.

Findings

The authors find that while PISA has promoted the focus on the important subject of children's education worldwide there are legitimate concerns about what PISA measures, and how. The authors conclude that the OECD should be more transparent in the documentation of the methodological choices that underlie the creation of the data and more explicit about the impact of these choices on the results. More broadly, the authors advise caution in the attempt to derive and apply evidence-based policy in the domain of education; the authors furthermore propose an alternative model of social inquiry that is sensitive and robust to the concerns of the various actors and stakeholders that may be involved in a given policy domain.

Originality/value

The issues and tensions surrounding the PISA survey can be better understood in the framework of post-normal science (PNS), the application of which to the PISA controversy offers a potential solution to a stalemate.
Added worker effect during the Great Recession: evidence from Italy
Authors: Ghignoni Emanuela , Verashchagina Alina
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to check the existence of the added worker effect (AWE) in Italy during the Great Recession.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used the Bank of Italy Survey on Household Income and Wealth to study factors driving the change in female work status over the period 2006-2012. The probit model was used to identify the timing, significance and the magnitude of the AWE. The authors also performed panel estimates to understand how women, positioned at either extensive or intensive margins, respond to the reduction in male hours of work which appear to be crucial for the AWE to manifest.

Findings

The authors find that with the crisis progressing, Italian women respond ever less to the reduction in male earnings, at the same time they become more responsive to the job loss by male partner which is the worst outcome. This means that the AWE survives, even if only in cases of serious hardship. It also remains when the reduction in male incomes is coupled with the reduction in their hours of work, suggesting that the redistribution of household chores is an important prerequisite for women to get into work.

Originality/value

This paper provides evidence on the AWE in Italy during the Great Recession. The authors took into account the peculiarity of the Italian labour market whose performance was affected by the use of the Wage Supplementation Fund. It masks part of the AWE when the standard methodology is used. By looking at the reduction in male earnings with or without a change in their work hours, the authors were able to reveal additional channels through which the AWE operates in Italy.
Project governance in public sector agile software projects
Authors: Lappi Teemu , Aaltonen Kirsi
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Agile methodologies are widely used to manage the technical complexity of software development, and project governance can provide feasible means of organizational support for complex project success. The purpose of this paper is to: analyze the project governance practices of public sector organizations, illustrate what kind of impact these practices have on agile software projects and describe the tensions of agile project governance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on qualitative research strategy and applies elaborative logic with analyses of three case projects in the Finnish public sector.

Findings

The findings of the research describe how project governance practices can be categorized into six dimensions: business case, contracting, controlling, steering, decision-making and capability building. The results illustrate how these practices either support or detract the performance of agile projects. The results also show that there are two interfaces to agile project that create most tensions to governance – the public sector and technology.

Originality/value

The study contributes to both project management and information and communication technology theories by combining technical aspects of agile methodologies with micro-level project governance practices. The study also adds original value to academics by introducing the new concept of “agile project governance.” The results of this study will allow public sector project organizations to design appropriate governance mechanisms for agile projects, and to identify the challenges and tensions that need to be considered and managed in the process.
Coping with lack of authority
Authors: Hällgren Markus , Lindahl Marcus
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore alternative coping strategies that may compensate for the limitations of weak governance structure in a product development project.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings are based on a single case study, including interviews and documents, of a product development project that consists of two interlinked projects in a large multinational company.

Findings

Two distinct procedures are identified to cope and manage effectively when there are weak project governance structures. The first procedure is a horizontal process of operational consensus-seeking where conflicts between projects are negotiated and resolved through communication between independent actors such as two project managers who are at the same hierarchical level within the same organization. The second process is a vertical process of strategic escalation where issues that have failed to be resolved are shifted upwards to a new hierarchical level where a new round of operational consensus-seeking is attempted.

Research limitations/implications

This paper complements the existing understanding of project governance with a project-as-practice perspective. Based on the findings the authors suggest that project governance needs to be nuanced in its understanding since a too-structured approach may in fact increase tensions in an organization.

Practical implications

Practical insights include how organizations may work with its project governance structures in order to avoid tensions. The authors suggest that, in particular, politically sensitive situations may be avoided by weak rather than strong governance structures.

Social implications

The authors find that weak governance structures may be efficient for the organization, but harmful to personnel, who become too focused on the task at hand.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge very little research has been attributed to project governance from a practice approach. Moreover, most attention has been given to strong structures, thereby not examining the positive implications of weak structures.