bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of a large competitor’s entry and level of innovativeness in consumer adoption of new products
Authors: Kim Yongbum , Choi Jayoung
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role of a large competitor’s entry and level of innovativeness in consumer adoption of new products.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a comparison between market uncertainty and technological uncertainty. This paper henceforth defines and analyzes the following key factors affecting the purchase intention of small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) new products: type of new products and entry of large competitors. The study further verifies mediator variables that exert impacts: uncertainties regarding both technology and market.

Findings

The findings are as follows: purchase intention of SME new products does vary according primarily to the product types and entry of large competitors. More specifically, the entry of large competitors reduces uncertainties about really new products, thereby positively affecting SME new products.

Originality/value

There was no causal relationship found, however, on incrementally new products. Further findings clarify that the mediator variables affecting reciprocal interactions between purchase intention of SME new products and the entry of large competitors hold valid only for market uncertainties and not for technological uncertainties.
An examination of firms’ strategic orientations, innovativeness and performance with large Korean companies
Authors: Shin Sohyoun Synthia , Lee Sungho
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an examination of firms’ strategic orientations, innovativeness and performance with large Korean companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors investigated the impacts of firms’ major key strategic orientations (customer orientation [CO], competitor orientation [PO], technology orientation [TO] and internal/cost orientation [IO]) on firm innovativeness (INNO) and performance outcomes with large Korean companies.

Findings

The results of the analysis showed that CO, PO and TO positively influence the innovativeness, which contributes to firm performance.

Originality/value

The authors provide some managerial implications on the multiple roles of strategic orientations on firm INNO and performances, along with limitations of this study and future research directions.
Internationalization and performance: evidence from Chinese firms
Authors: Zhou Chao
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to test the internationalization–performance relationship based on data of Chinese firms and the impact of firm size on the internationalization–performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses overseas subsidiaries as a percentage of total subsidiaries to measure the degree of internationalization. As the overseas subsidiaries and total subsidiaries data of Chinese A-share listed firms are not available in any existing databases, the author hand-collected information on subsidiaries of Chinese A-share listed manufacturing firms from their annual financial reports during 2001-2014. The basic accounting and market information is collected from the China Stock Market and Accounting Research Database. This paper finally gets 535 manufacturing firms.

Findings

The empirical results suggest that the internationalization–performance relationship is W-shaped in overall samples, but varies with firm size. Specifically, the internationalization–performance relationship is W-shaped in small firms and U-shaped in large firms.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies based on unlisted Chinese firms or other measurement of internationalization may provide further understanding of the internationalization–performance relationship.

Practical implications

Policymakers should help small firms prepare a long-term internationalization strategy, giving more support for small firms in the first and third phases of internationalization and helping them to reach the second and fourth phases. Policymakers should also pay more attention to limit the aggressive internationalization behavior of large firms.

Originality/value

This study provides new evidence for the internationalization–performance relationship by using the unique longitude sample from China and the unique measurement of internationalization. We also highlight the importance of firm characteristics in the examination of internationalization–performance relationship, which provides a potential explanation for previous mixed evidence.
Forecasting foreign currency exchange rates for department of defense budgeting1
Authors: Gardner Nicholas R. , Ritschel Jonathan D. , White Edward D. , Wallen Andrew T.
Published: January 2018

This paper examines the opportunity cost of applying simple averages in formulating the Department of Defense (DoD) budget for foreign exchange rates. Using out-of-sample validation, we evaluate the status quo of a center-weighted average against a Random Walk model, ARIMA, forward rates, futures contracts, and a private firm's forecasts over two time periods extending from Fiscal Year (FY) 1991 to FY 2014. The results strongly indicate that four of the alternative methods outperform the status quo over the shorter time period, and three methods for both time periods. Furthermore, a non-parametric comparison of the median error demonstrates statistical similarities between the four alternative methods over the short term. Overall, the paper recommends using the futures option prices to decrease forecast error by 3.23% and avoiding a $34 million opportunity cost.
Explaining sme participation and success in public procurement using a capability-based model of tendering
Authors: Flynn Anthony , Davis Paul
Published: January 2018

This paper develops and tests a model for explaining small and medium-size enterprise (SME) participation and success in public procurement. The model is informed by a capability-based view of public sector tendering that includes relational and procedural dimensions. To test the model a survey was carried out on firms competing for contracts with Irish public sector organizations (n = 3010). The survey was repeated one year later to demonstrate reliability (n = 3092). Overall, the results lend support to the model. Procedural capability is associated with frequency of tendering and typical value of contract sought. Relational capability is not. Procedural and relational capabilities are each significant in accounting for success rates in contract competitions and commercial orientation towards the public sector.
Transformative thinking, transformative doing
Authors: Chua Sebastian
Published: January 2018

In recent years, Health Promotion Board (HPB) has made a strategic shift from a traditional health education approach to an eco-systemic approach in health promotion, where the Board engages and harnesses the collective power of the 3 Ps (People, Private, and Public). The procuring of core services is a key enabler to support HPB's focus areas in tobacco control, mental well-being, health screening, obesity prevention, nutrition, dietetic services, chronic disease education, etc. In tandem with the Board's strategic shift, the procurement function has taken on strategic importance and is now functioning as an independent department, reporting to HPB's CEO. Fundamentally, HPB Procurement Department has changed the way it interacts with the business as it stands by the belief that the real procurement value goes beyond compliance (Caldwell & Howard, 2010). “Proper”, “simpler”, “faster”, “closer” and “cheaper” are now its mantra for procurement excellence. The objective of this paper is to highlight the transformation journey that HPB's Procurement Department undertook to deliver the results, impact and value to the stakeholders.
The practice of performance-based contracting in developing countries' public procurement: the case of ethiopia
Authors: Ambaw Baynesagn Asfaw , Telgen Jan
Published: January 2018

Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) is widely accepted as a useful tool. It is believed that the use of PBC can assist the efficient utilization of the public resources. The objective of this research is to assess the extent of PBC application and the obstacles to applying it in the public procurement systems of developing countries. Interviews and factual analysis of procurement guidelines and contracts are used to collect data for this research. The analysis results indicate that the majority of public organizations have not yet used PBC even though it is allowed by the law. This is due partly to lack of clarity in the procurement laws and lack of capacity to use PBC.
How do innovators stay innovative? A longitudinal case analysis
Authors: Tuzovic Sven , Wirtz Jochen , Heracleous Loizos
Published: January 2018

Purpose

How can some companies be the innovation leader in their industry over prolonged periods of time, whereas others cannot? The purpose of this study is to understand a firm’s capability to be a successful serial innovator and to generate a constant stream of industry-leading innovations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a longitudinal case study approach to gain an understanding of what and how Singapore Airlines sustained service innovation for over 30 years. The study uses triangulation, whereby the core data from in-depth interviews with senior and middle management and frontline employees were complemented with academic research, case studies, annual reports, observations and archival documents. In total, 240 single-spaced pages of interview transcripts with over 130,000 words were analyzed and coded using MAXQDA for identifying repeated patterns of meaning.

Findings

The authors identified three key institutional foundations for service innovation: innovation climate (i.e. leadership and service culture), human capital (i.e. recruitment, training and development and engagement and incentives) and resource configurations (i.e. systems, structure and processes). These foundations enabled the organization to build the following four service innovation-related dynamic capabilities: embrace ambidexterity, institutionalize learning and knowledge integration, orchestrate collaboration and reinvent customer value. Interestingly, these institutional foundations and capabilities remained largely stable across 30 years; what changed were the contexts and specifics, not the foundations and capabilities.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected only from one company. Because of the method of thematic analysis, the generalizability of the findings needs further investigation.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate the drivers of industry-leading sustained service innovation over a prolonged period of time. The proposed framework provides a fuller and more integrated picture of sustained service innovation than past cross-sectional studies.
Prospective sensemaking of a national quality register in health care and elderly care
Authors: Nordin Annika Maria Margareta , Andersson Gäre Boel , Andersson Ann-Christine
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how external change agents (ECAs) engaged to disseminate a national quality register (NQR) called Senior alert nationwide in the Swedish health care and elderly care sectors interpret their work. To study this, sensemaking theories are used.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative inductive interview study including eight ECAs. To analyze the data, a thematic analysis is carried out.

Findings

Well-disseminated NQRs support health care organizations’ possibility to work with quality improvement and to improve care for patient groups. NQRs function as artifacts that can influence how health care professionals make sense of their work. In this paper, a typology depicting how the ECAs make sense of their dissemination work has been developed. The ECAs are engaged in prospective sensemaking. They describe their work as being about creating future good results, both for patients and affiliated organizations, and they can balance different quality aspects.

Originality/value

The number of NQRs increased markedly in Sweden and elsewhere, but there are few reports on how health care professionals working with the registers interpret their work. The use of ECAs to disseminate NQRs is a novel approach. This paper describes how the ECAs are engaged in prospective sensemaking – an under-researched perspective of the sensemaking theory.
Synthesis and properties of a new halogen-free flame retardant for polyethylene
Authors: Long Jiapeng , Li Sanxi , Liang Bing
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to study a new halogen-free flame retardant that was prepared and characterised.

Design/methodology/approach

The phenyl phosphinic arid di-4-[1-(4-pheny phodphonic acid monophenyl ester-yl)-methyl-ethyl] phenyester dimelaminium (PDEPDM) was synthesised using phenylphosphonic dichloride, melamine, bisphenol A, triethylamine and dichloromethane via solvent-based reaction, that was added into the polyethylene to test flame performance. The chemical structures of PDEPDM were characterised by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The thermal stability, mechanical and flame properties, and morphology for the char layer of composite materials were separately investigated using thermogravimetric analysis, tensile and charpy impact tests, limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 HB flammability standard and scanning electron microscope.

Findings

The results showed that the PDEPDM had been prepared successfully. When the intumescent fame retardant was added into the PE, the LOI of composite material was improved.

Research limitations/implications

The PDEPDM can be prepared successfully and can improve the flame resistance of composite material.

Practical implications

The PDEPDM has excellent flame-retardant properties and produce no toxic fumes when burnt in case of fire.

Originality/value

Under the optimal conditions, when the 32 per cent (Wt.%) PDEPDM was added into the PE, the LOI was 29.8, tensile strength and impact strength were 10.06 MPa and 16.77 kJ/m2.
A Nationwide Analysis of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Reservoir Performance in Meeting Operational Targets
Authors: Patterson Lauren A. , Doyle Martin W.
Published: January 2018

The United States (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers operates reservoirs across the U.S. with 89% of reservoirs constructed prior to 1980. Many reservoirs have experienced changes in environmental conditions (e.g., climate and sediment yield) and societal conditions (e.g., water/energy demand and ecological flows) since construction. These changes may challenge the potential for reservoirs to meet their operational targets (OTs) (management goals). Historic daily reservoir data and OTs were collected for 233 reservoirs. Analyses were developed to identify when and where reservoirs may be systematically departing from OTs in terms of the frequency and magnitude of departure. Fifty‐six percent of reservoirs consistently met operating targets, 30% were borderline, and 13% experienced frequent and large magnitude departures. Fifty‐two percent of reservoirs with large departures were due to shortages and were located in the South Pacific and Southwestern divisions. This work provides a framework to identify reservoir performance in relation to management goals, a necessary step for moving toward adaptive management under changing conditions. All individual reservoir analyses are provided via an interactive data visualization tool: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/reservoir-data.
Scapular Fractures in the Pan‐scan Era
Authors: Brown Cortlyn , Elmobdy Karim , Raja Ali S , Rodriguez Robert M.
Published: January 2018

Background

Scapular fractures have been traditionally taught to be associated with significant injuries and major morbidity. As we demonstrated with sternal fracture, pulmonary contusion, and rib fracture, increased chest computed tomography (CT) utilization and head‐to‐pelvis CT (pan‐scan) protocols in blunt trauma evaluation, however, may diagnose minor, clinically irrelevant scapular fractures, possibly rendering previous teachings obsolete.

Objectives

The objectives were to determine the 1) percentages of scapular fractures seen on chest CT only (SOCTO) versus seen on both chest x‐ray (CXR) and CT and of isolated scapular fracture (scapular fracture without other thoracic injuries); 2) frequencies of associated thoracic injury with scapular fracture; and 3) proportion of patients admitted, mortality, hospital length of stay, and injury severity scores (ISS), comparing four patient groups: scapular fracture, nonscapular fracture, scapular fracture SOCTO, and isolated scapular fracture.

Methods

We conducted a preplanned analysis of patients prospectively enrolled in the NEXUS Chest CT study at nine Level I trauma centers with the following inclusion criteria: age > 14 years, blunt trauma within 6 hours of ED presentation, and receiving chest imaging during ED trauma evaluation.

Results

Of 11,477 subjects, 4,501 (39.2%) patients who had both CXR and chest CT and 2.7% of these had scapular fractures; 60.3% of these were SOCTO and 23 (19.0%) were isolated scapular fracture. The most commonly associated thoracic injuries were rib fracture, pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, and thoracic spine fracture and all injuries were more common in scapular fracture patients than nonscapular fracture patients. Although scapular fracture patients had higher admission rates (86.8% vs. 47.4%; difference in proportions = 39.4% [95% confidence interval {CI} = 32.8% to 44.1%]), ISS (21 vs. 5), and length of stay (9.2 days vs. 5.6 days; mean difference = 3.4 days [95% CI = 2.1 to 4.7 days]) than patients without scapular fracture, their hospital mortality was not significantly different (5.6% vs. 3.0%; difference in proportions = 2.6% [95% CI = –8.2% to 0.3%]; unadjusted odds ratio = 1.9 [95% CI = 0.9 to 4.2]). Patients with scapular fracture SOCTO and isolated scapular fracture had higher admission rates and median ISS than nonscapular fracture patients, but their mortality was similar.

Conclusions

Under current blunt trauma imaging protocols that commonly include chest CT, most scapular fractures are SOCTO and most are associated with other thoracic injuries. Although patients with scapular fracture SOCTO and isolated scapular fracture have higher admission rates and ISS than nonscapular fracture patients, their hospital mortality is similar.
Lolium perenne peptide immunotherapy is well tolerated and elicits a protective B‐cell response in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients
Authors: Mösges R. , Koch A. F. , Raskopf E. , Singh J. , Shah‐Hosseini K. , Astvatsatourov A. , Hauswald B. , Yarin Y. , Corazza F. , Haazen L. , Pirotton S. , Allekotte S. , Zadoyan G. , Legon T. , Durham S. R. , Shamji M. H.
Published: January 2018

Background

Systemic allergic reactions are a risk for allergen immunotherapy that utilizes intact allergen preparations. We evaluated the safety, efficacy and immune mechanisms of short‐course treatment with adjuvant‐free Lolium perenne peptides (LPP) following a 6‐week dose‐escalation protocol.

Methods

In a prospective, dose‐escalation study, 61 grass pollen–allergic patients received 2 subcutaneous injections of LPP once weekly for 6 weeks. Safety was assessed evaluating local reactions, systemic reactions and adverse events. The clinical effect of LPP was determined by reactivity to the conjunctival provocation test (CPT). Specific IgE, IgG4 and blocking antibodies were measured at baseline (V1), during (V6) and after treatment (V8).

Results

No fatality, serious adverse event or epinephrine use was reported. Mean wheal diameters after injections were <0.6 cm and mean redness diameters <2.5 cm, independent of dose. Transient and mostly mild adverse events were reported in 33 patients. Two patients experienced a grade I and 4 patients a grade II reaction (AWMF classification). At V8, 69.8% of patients became nonreactive to CPT. sIgG4 levels were higher at V6 (8.1‐fold, P < .001) and V8 (12.2‐fold, P < .001) than at V1. The sIgE:sIgG4 ratio decreased at V6 (−54.6%, P < .001) and V8 (−71.6%, P < .001) compared to V1. The absolute decrease in IgE‐facilitated allergen binding was 18% (P < .001) at V6 and 25% (P < .001) at V8.

Conclusion

Increasing doses of subcutaneous LPP appeared safe, substantially diminished reactivity to CPT and induced blocking antibodies as early as 4 weeks after treatment initiation. The benefit/risk balance of LPP immunotherapy remains to be further evaluated in large studies.
Role of bisphenol A as environmental factor in the promotion of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease: in vitro and clinical study
Authors: Dallio M. , Masarone M. , Errico S. , Gravina A. G. , Nicolucci C. , Di Sarno R. , Gionti L. , Tuccillo C. , Persico M. , Stiuso P. , Diano N. , Loguercio C. , Federico A.
Published: January 2018

Background

Bisphenol A is an endocrine disrupting chemical associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease and liver enzyme abnormalities.

Aim

To evaluate bisphenol A plasma and urine levels in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients compared to healthy subjects. Furthermore, we evaluated, in human HepG2 cells, the effects of exposure to different concentrations of bisphenol A on both oxidative stress induction and cell proliferation.

Methods

We enrolled 60 patients with histological diagnosis of NAFLD with or without T2DM and sixty healthy subjects. In vitro, the proliferation of bisphenol A‐exposed HepG2 cells at two different concentrations (0.025 and 0.05 μM) was evaluated, both at high (H‐HepG2) and at low (L‐HepG2) glucose concentrations for 48 h. Lipoperoxidation was assessed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay.

Results

Bisphenol A levels were significantly higher in 60 NAFLD subjects, both in urine and in plasma (P < 0.0001) when compared to controls and, in this group, it appeared to be higher in 30 non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis patients compared to 30 simple steatosis subjects (P < 0.05), independently from the presence of T2DM. After a bisphenol A‐free diet for 1 month, NAFLD patients showed a significant reduction in bisphenol A circulating levels (P < 0.05), without a significant reduction in urine levels. H‐HepG2 cells treated with bisphenol A (0.05 μM) increased proliferation compared to controls at 48 h (P < 0.0001). Bisphenol A increased TBARS levels at 48 h versus controls.

Conclusions

Our study reveals a possible role of bisphenol A as an environmental factor involved in the promotion of NAFLD, particularly in T2DM patients.
The State of American Protest: Shared Anger and Populism
Authors: Gaffney Amber M. , Hackett Justin D. , Rast David E. , Hohman Zachary P. , Jaurique Alexandria
Published: January 2018

Social psychological models of group identity and collective action should be particularly adept at providing psychological explanations for growing rates of populism in the Western World. Because populism tends to arise in times of societal shifts that reflect both economic and cultural changes, populist attitudes are likely grounded in perceptions of intergroup relations and collective attitudes. We surveyed 95 demonstrators at the 2016 Republican National Convention and 108 demonstrators at the Democratic National Convention. Results support the idea that relative anger prototypicality, in this case, the extent to which people believe that their own anger toward politicians is representative of most Americans’ anger, predicts feelings of group‐based relative deprivation. Importantly, these feelings of deprivation mediate the relationship between prototypical anger and populist attitudes. These findings provide a unique picture of current political engagement, motivated by feelings of shared anger and collective feelings of lacking representation and voice.
Successful resection to treat idiopathic azygos vein aneurysm
Authors: Hatachi Go , Miyazaki Takuro , Obata Tomohiro , Kitamura Yuka , Matsumoto Keitaro , Tsuchiya Tomoshi , Yamasaki Naoya , Kinoshita Naoe , Nagayasu Takeshi
Published: January 2018

Azygos vein aneurysm is a rare disease. Surgical resection is usually performed when it ruptures. To avoid the thromboembolism, procedures that do not touch or push the aneurysm are recommended. Herein, we report a case of idiopathic azygos vein aneurysm. A 56‐year‐old woman was admitted to the hospital for right lateral chest pain. Chest enhanced multi‐detector CT revealed an azygos vein aneurysm in the posterior mediastinal space. No thrombus in the aneurysm was detected before surgery. Video‐assisted thoracic surgery was performed to treat the aneurysm. The patient was discharged from the hospital 4 days after surgery. Video‐assisted thoracic surgery was a good option to treat an azygos vein aneurysm, and an enhanced multi‐detector CT was useful for performing surgery safely.
Doing better (or worse) than one's parents: Social status, mobility, and performance‐avoidance goals
Authors: Jury Mickaël , Bruno Alisée , Darnon Céline
Published: January 2018

Background

Previous research has shown that, when succeeding in higher education, first‐generation (FG) students endorse more performance‐avoidance goals (i.e., the fear of performing poorly) than continuing‐generation (CG) students.

Aims

In this study, individual mobility is examined as a predictor of performance‐avoidance goal endorsement. It is argued that FG students endorse more these goals than CG students because in higher education, the former (but not the latter) experience upward mobility. In addition, CG can also be at risk of endorsing these goals when they are confronted with downward mobility.

Sample(s)

Two studies were conducted with psychology students (N = 143 in Study 1; N = 176 in Study 2).

Methods

In Study 1, FG and CG students’ perceived upward mobility was measured. In Study 2, FG and CG students were provided with a feedback that suggested either upward or downward mobility. In both studies, participants reported their level of performance‐avoidance goal endorsement.

Results

Results from Study 1 supported an indirect effect of status on performance‐avoidance goals via a higher perception of upward mobility. Results from Study 2 supported that psychology students who face mobility (i.e., FG students who received better feedback than their usual level of performance, CG students who received worse feedback than their usual level of performance) increased their performance‐avoidance goals the most.

Conclusions

Taken together, the results of these studies support that one's actual social position and, even more, the social position one is about to reach are reliable predictors of performance‐avoidance goals.
Predicting the intrauterine fetal death of fetuses with cystic hygroma in early pregnancy
Authors: Shimura Mai , Ishikawa Hiroshi , Nagase Hiromi , Mochizuki Akihiko , Sekiguchi Futoshi , Koshimizu Naho , Itai Toshiyuki , Odagami Mizuha
Published: January 2018

We investigated whether it was possible to predict the prognosis of fetuses with cystic hygroma in early pregnancy based on the degree of neck thickening. We retrospectively analyzed 57 singleton pregnancies with fetuses with cystic hygroma who were examined before the 22nd week of pregnancy. The fetuses were categorized according to the outcome, structural abnormalities at birth, and chromosomal abnormalities. Here, we proposed a new sonographic predictor with which we assessed neck thickening by dividing the width of the neck thickening by the biparietal diameter, which is expressed as the cystic hygroma width/biparietal diameter ratio. The median cystic hygroma width/biparietal diameter ratio in the intrauterine fetal death group (0.51) was significantly higher than that in the live birth group (0.27). No significant difference in the median cystic hygroma width/biparietal diameter ratio was found between the structural abnormalities group at birth and the no structural abnormalities group, and no significant difference in the median cystic hygroma width/biparietal diameter ratio was found between the chromosomal abnormality group and the no chromosomal abnormality group. We used receiver operating characteristic analysis to evaluate the cystic hygroma width/biparietal diameter ratio to predict intrauterine fetal death. When the cystic hygroma width/biparietal diameter ratio cut‐off value was 0.5, intrauterine fetal death could be predicted with a sensitivity of 52.9% and a specificity of 100%. It is possible to predict intrauterine fetal death in fetuses with cystic hygroma in early pregnancy if cystic hygroma width/biparietal diameter ratio is measured. However, even if cystic hygroma width/biparietal diameter ratio is measured, predicting the presence or absence of a structural abnormality at birth or a chromosomal abnormality is difficult.
Factors associated with p‐phenylenediamine sensitization: data from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, 2008–2013
Authors: Schubert Steffen , Lessmann Holger , Schnuch Axel , Uter Wolfgang , Geier Johannes ,   for the IVDK
Published: January 2018

Background

Risk factors for p‐phenylenediamine (PPD) sensitization include the use of hair dyes, the application of temporary black henna tattoos, working as a hairdresser, and, possibly, exposure to hair dye pretests.

Objectives

To quantify the impact of these (putative) risk factors on PPD sensitization.

Methods

Six items related to PPD exposure were added to the routine Information Network of Departments of Dermatology questionnaire from 2008 to 2013. A retrospective analysis of data from 4314 patients tested with PPD 1% pet. was conducted.

Results

Of the PPD‐positive patients (n = 271), 80% had their hair dyed, and, of these, 57% subsequently developed scalp dermatitis, whereas only 11% had had a henna tattoo. The self‐administrated pretest with hair dye was performed by only a few patients, precluding a more detailed analysis. Hair dyeing [odds ratio (OR) 6.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.9–9.4], henna tattoos (OR 2.4; 95%CI: 1.5–3.7) and being a hairdresser (OR 2.1; 95%CI: 1.3–3.2) increased the risk of PPD sensitization. Neither dyeing of own hair nor application of a temporary henna tattoo seemed to affect PPD sensitization in hairdressers. p‐Aminoaryl compounds more often gave positive reactions in patients with henna tattoo.

Conclusions

Hair dyeing is the major risk factor for PPD sensitization in this clinical setting, and application of a temporary black henna tattoo may also lead to (strong) PPD sensitization.
A rare cause of retinal artery embolism: Accessory mitral valve tissue
Authors: Kahyaoglu Muzaffer , Kalayci Arzu , Gecmen Cetin , Sari Munevver , Guner Ahmet , Celik Mehmet , İzgi Ibrahim Akin , Kirma Cevat
Published: January 2018

A 42‐year‐old female patient was referred our clinic for investigation of a history of acute retinal artery occlusion. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a cyst‐like, mobile formation on posterior mitral valve leaflet. 2D and real time 3D transesophageal echocardiography showed a flexible circular mobile structure which was attached to posterior mitral valve leaflet. Echocardiographic appearance and morphological characteristics were suggestive of accessory mitral valve tissue.
Measurement in pediatric epilepsy self‐management: A critical review
Authors: Smith Gigi , Modi Avani C. , Johnson Erica K. , Shegog Ross , Austin Joan K. , Wagner Janelle L.
Published: January 2018

Given the paucity of information available regarding self‐management, the aims of this paper are to synthesize the literature on factors associated with and measures to assess self‐management in pediatric epilepsy. Inclusion criteria: youth birth to 18 years with a seizure disorder or an epilepsy diagnosis and/or their caregivers, published 1985‐2014 in English, and conducted in countries with a very high human development index. The review was conducted in 6 phases: (1) identification of bibliographical search criteria and databases; (2) abstract assessment; (3) full article review; (4) organization of final citations into categories; (5) identification of predictors, potential mediators/moderators, and outcomes associated with self‐management factors and categorization of factors as influences, processes, or behaviors across individual, family, community, and health care domains; and (6) critique of self‐management instrument studies. Twenty‐five studies that evaluated factors associated with self‐management were identified. Individual and family‐focused factors were the most commonly studied predictors of self‐management, with psychosocial care needs and self‐efficacy for seizure management identified as key factors associated with pediatric epilepsy self‐management. Few studies have included mediator and moderator analyses. Measures of adherence were the most commonly used outcome. There has been a predominant focus on pediatric epilepsy influences and processes that are modifiable in nature, potentially at the expense of evidence for the role of community and health systems in pediatric epilepsy self‐management. The 6 self‐management instrument tools reported scientific rationale and good psychometric properties. Results highlight several key modifiable cognitive and behavioral targets for skills development: adherence, self‐efficacy for seizure management, attitudes toward epilepsy, and family variables. Moving forward, a comprehensive pediatric epilepsy self‐management model, well‐validated measures of self‐management behaviors, mediator/moderator designs to examine the complex relationships between predictors and pediatric epilepsy self‐management outcomes, and studies examining the community and health care domains of self‐management are necessary.
Explaining the Consequences of Paternal Incarceration for Children's Behavioral Problems
Authors: Dwyer Emory Allison
Published: January 2018

Objective

To measure the extent to which changes within children's families associated with paternal incarceration account for increased externalizing and acting‐out behavior in children with incarcerated fathers.

Background

Paternal incarceration has consistently been linked with aggression and acting‐out behaviors in children, yet mechanisms underlying these behavioral problems remain unclear. Identifying these paths is essential for both understanding how incarceration contributes to intergenerational disadvantage and determining how best to mitigate the collateral consequences of incarceration for children.

Method

Longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study are used with structural equation modeling to test the extent to which the co‐occurring changes to material hardship, family engagement, and caregiver stress mediate the association between paternal incarceration and child behavior at 9 years of age.

Results

Two key findings emerged from this analysis. First, changes in family‐level well‐being account for nearly half of the total association between recent paternal incarceration and aggressive or externalizing behavior in children. Second, fathers' weakened family relationships and families' increased material hardship are the strongest and most consistent mechanisms explaining these outcomes.

Conclusion

In clarifying pathways, these findings are an important step toward understanding and ultimately targeting the most harmful components of the incarceration experience for children.

Implications

A wide array of prevention and intervention efforts exist to mitigate the implications of paternal incarceration for children. These analyses suggest that for child behavioral outcomes, focusing on incarceration‐related changes to material hardship and father engagement occurring within families may be a productive way to disrupt intergenerational disadvantage.
Pulmonary endoplasmic reticulum stress—scars, smoke, and suffocation
Authors: Dickens Jennifer A. , Malzer Elke , Chambers Joseph E. , Marciniak Stefan J.
Published: January 2018

Protein misfolding within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER stress) can be a cause or consequence of pulmonary disease. Mutation of proteins restricted to the alveolar type II pneumocyte can lead to inherited forms of pulmonary fibrosis, but even sporadic cases of pulmonary fibrosis appear to be strongly associated with activation of the unfolded protein response and/or the integrated stress response. Inhalation of smoke can impair protein folding and may be an important cause of pulmonary ER stress. Similarly, tissue hypoxia can lead to impaired protein homeostasis (proteostasis). But the mechanisms linking smoke and hypoxia to ER stress are only partially understood. In this review, we will examine the role of ER stress in the pathogenesis of lung disease by focusing on fibrosis, smoke, and hypoxia.
Having a Finger in the Pie: Labor Power and Corporate Payout Policy
Authors: Haw In‐Mu , Hu Bingbing , Wu Donghui , Zhang Xu
Published: January 2018

Exploiting time‐series data on labor laws from 39 countries, we investigate how labor power influences firms’ payouts. We find that legislative changes that strengthen labor power reduce firms’ dividend payments and total payouts. The payout restriction effect of labor power is more pronounced in firms with greater labor intensity and in firms operating in countries with broader collective bargaining coverage and more effective law enforcement. Tightened operating flexibility and excess wage extraction are two plausible channels through which labor power affects payouts. These findings indicate that labor power is another important country‐wide institution that shapes corporate payout policy.
High land‐use intensity exacerbates shifts in grassland vegetation composition after severe experimental drought
Authors: Stampfli Andreas , Bloor Juliette M. G. , Fischer Markus , Zeiter Michaela
Published: January 2018

Climate change projections anticipate increased frequency and intensity of drought stress, but grassland responses to severe droughts and their potential to recover are poorly understood. In many grasslands, high land‐use intensity has enhanced productivity and promoted resource‐acquisitive species at the expense of resource‐conservative ones. Such changes in plant functional composition could affect the resistance to drought and the recovery after drought of grassland ecosystems with consequences for feed productivity resilience and environmental stewardship. In a 12‐site precipitation exclusion experiment in upland grassland ecosystems across Switzerland, we imposed severe edaphic drought in plots under rainout shelters and compared them with plots under ambient conditions. We used soil water potentials to scale drought stress across sites. Impacts of precipitation exclusion and drought legacy effects were examined along a gradient of land‐use intensity to determine how grasslands resisted to, and recovered after drought. In the year of precipitation exclusion, aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) in plots under rainout shelters was −15% to −56% lower than in control plots. Drought effects on ANPP increased with drought severity, specified as duration of topsoil water potential ψ < −100 kPa, irrespective of land‐use intensity. In the year after drought, ANPP had completely recovered, but total species diversity had declined by −10%. Perennial species showed elevated mortality, but species richness of annuals showed a small increase due to enhanced recruitment. In general, the more resource‐acquisitive grasses increased at the expense of the deeper‐rooted forbs after drought, suggesting that community reorganization was driven by competition rather than plant mortality. The negative effects of precipitation exclusion on forbs increased with land‐use intensity. Our study suggests a synergistic impact of land‐use intensification and climate change on grassland vegetation composition, and implies that biomass recovery after drought may occur at the expense of biodiversity maintenance.
Social support and motivation to transfer as predictors of training transfer: testing full and partial mediation using meta‐analytic structural equation modelling
Authors: Reinhold Sarah , Gegenfurtner Andreas , Lewalter Doris
Published: January 2018

Social support and motivation to transfer are important components in conceptual models on transfer of training. Previous research indicates that both support and motivation influence transfer. To date, however, it is not yet clear if social support influences transfer of training directly, or if this influence is mediated by motivation to transfer. Conceptually, some models assume that motivation to transfer fully mediates the influence of social support on transfer (full mediation models), whereas other models also include direct relationships between social support and transfer of training (partial mediation models). In addition, some models specify finer sub‐dimensions of social support, such as supervisor support, peer support, supervisor sanctions and feedback/coaching. What is the relative influence of these dimensions on the transfer of training? To what extent does motivation to transfer mediate the influence of different support dimensions and transfer? Aimed at answering these questions, the present meta‐analysis (k = 32 studies, N = 5487 participants) examined the relationships between social support, motivation to transfer and transfer of training. Social support was conceptualized in four dimensions: supervisor support, peer support, supervisor sanctions and feedback/coaching. Meta‐analytic structural equation modelling was used to test a partial mediation model and a full mediation model. Full mediation resulted in a better model fit. Peer support was the strongest predictor of motivation to transfer, and feedback/coaching was the strongest predictor of transfer of training. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings for developing conceptual models, measurement instruments and training interventions are discussed.
Transsphincteric repair of rectourethral fistulas: 15 years of experience with the York Mason approach
Authors: Dafnis George
Published: January 2018

Objectives

To evaluate the surgical and functional outcomes of our single institution's 15‐year experience with surgically treated rectourethral fistulas using a modification of the York Mason technique.

Methods

Prospectively recorded data between 2002 and 2016 of all patients who underwent transsphincteric repair of rectourethral fistula using a modified York Mason technique at Eskilstuna County Hospital, Eskilstuna, Sweden, were assessed. A total of 20 consecutive patients, including 17 referrals (85%) and three patients (15%) from our hospital have undergone the modified York Mason procedure. The surgical and functional outcomes were evaluated.

Results

Of the 20 patients, 18 were repaired successfully (90%), and one was combined with a dartos muscle interposition flap. No fistula recurrence occurred in the 18 successful repairs during the median follow‐up time of 84.7 months. Before fistula repair, 12 patients (60%) underwent a diverting stoma. The remaining eight patients (40%) underwent repair and synchronous diverting stoma. We did not find any significant differences between patients in which the repair was successful compared with patients with failed repair, but diabetes, smoking and preoperative irradiation were much more frequent in the failed group. Of the 18 patients who had a successful repair, 17 patients experienced normal voiding and no urinary incontinence. One patient was suffering from postprostatectomy incontinence before rectourethral fistula repair, and was successfully treated with Scott prosthesis. All the 13 patients in whom the stoma had been closed reported intact fecal continence and no anal stenosis postoperatively.

Conclusions

The transsphincteric modified York Mason approach offers excellent exposure and a high fistula closure rate without fecal and urinary incontinence.
Inversion domain network stabilization and spinel phase suppression in ZnO
Authors: Hoemke Joshua , Tochigi Eita , Tohei Tetsuya , Yoshida Hidehiro , Shibata Naoya , Ikuhara Yuichi , Sakka Yoshio
Published: January 2018

The development of inversion domain networks consisting of basal‐plane and pyramidal‐plane inversion domain boundary (b‐IDB and p‐IDB) interfaces within grains in Sn‐Al dual‐doped ZnO (Zn0.98Sn0.01Al0.01O) polycrystalline ceramics has been confirmed using transmission electron microscopy. The atomic structure of the b‐IDB and p‐IDB interfaces has been analyzed using atomic‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. The localization of Sn and Al at the respective sites of the b‐IDBs and p‐IDBs was confirmed by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. In contrast to Sn or Al single‐dopant addition to ZnO, which results in the formation of spinel phase precipitates without the development of inversion domain networks, Sn‐Al dual‐doping caused the suppression of spinel phase formation and the formation of monophasic inversion domain networks composed of RMO3(ZnO)n homologous phase compound members, where R and M represent dopants substituting at the b‐IDB and p‐IDB sites, with a general formula of SnAlO3(ZnO)n. The results of this study demonstrate that the formation of inversion domain networks in ZnO‐based ceramics can be stabilized via multiple‐dopant addition. This finding has potential implications for the modification of the bulk or nanoscale properties based on the choice of the specific dopants, R and M, the control of the ratio R:M and the value of n in the RMO3(ZnO)n homologous phase compound members constituting the inversion domain networks.
Conserved roles of Osiris genes in insect development, polymorphism and protection
Authors: Smith C. R. , Morandin C. , Noureddine M. , Pant S.
Published: January 2018

Much of the variation among insects is derived from the different ways that chitin has been moulded to form rigid structures, both internal and external. In this study, we identify a highly conserved expression pattern in an insect‐only gene family, the Osiris genes, that is essential for development, but also plays a significant role in phenotypic plasticity and in immunity/toxicity responses. The majority of Osiris genes exist in a highly syntenic cluster, and the cluster itself appears to have arisen very early in the evolution of insects. We used developmental gene expression in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, the bumble bee, Bombus terrestris, the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, and the wood ant, Formica exsecta, to compare patterns of Osiris gene expression both during development and between alternate caste phenotypes in the polymorphic social insects. Developmental gene expression of Osiris genes is highly conserved across species and correlated with gene location and evolutionary history. The social insect castes are highly divergent in pupal Osiris gene expression. Sets of co‐expressed genes that include Osiris genes are enriched in gene ontology terms related to chitin/cuticle and peptidase activity. Osiris genes are essential for cuticle formation in both embryos and pupae, and genes co‐expressed with Osiris genes affect wing development. Additionally, Osiris genes and those co‐expressed seem to play a conserved role in insect toxicology defences and digestion. Given their role in development, plasticity, and protection, we propose that the Osiris genes play a central role in insect adaptive evolution.