bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Satisfaction in Open Access Versus Traditional Referral for Upper Endoscopy in Children
Authors: Isaac Daniela Migliarese , Persad Rabin , Huynh Hien Q. , Shirton Leanne , Turner Justine M.
Published: January 2015

Objectives:

In traditional access endoscopy (TAE), patients are booked for endoscopy following a gastroenterology clinic assessment. In contrast, open access endoscopy (OAE) patients are seen for the first time on the day of the procedure, providing same day procedural consent. Controversy exists over the use of OAE in adults, both with the consent process and with patient satisfaction. No literature exists describing satisfaction with OAE in pediatrics. We therefore aimed to assess pediatric patient and caregiver satisfaction in OAE compared with TAE.

Methods:

Consecutive pediatric patients, and their caregivers, undergoing elective upper endoscopy from May to December 2012 at the Stollery Children's Hospital (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) were consented for a cross‐sectional survey. Seven preprocedure and 5 postprocedure questions were completed regarding mood and satisfaction with the wait time and the information provided. Group demographics and endoscopy wait times were collected.

Results:

Median wait time with OAE was less compared with TAE (57 days vs 196 days, P < 0.001). OAE patients reported worse mood preprocedure than TAE patients (35.3% vs 10.7%, P = 0.046). OAE caregivers and patients reported more mood disturbance if required to wait longer for endoscopy by attending clinic preprocedure (OAE caregivers 62.2%, OAE patients 64.7%).

Conclusions:

OAE is associated with worse preendoscopy patient mood; however, children and caregivers seem concerned about longer wait times associated with TAE. Given the significantly shorter wait times in OAE, identifying methods to minimize present limitations of OAE will be useful to improve clinical practices in pediatric gastroenterology.
Health‐Related Quality of Life in Youth With Crohn Disease
Authors: Gray Wendy N. , Boyle Shana L. , Graef Danielle M. , Janicke David M. , Jolley Christopher D. , Denson Lee A. , Baldassano Robert N. , Hommel Kevin A.
Published: January 2015

Objectives:

Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important, but understudied construct in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. Family level predictors of HRQOL have been understudied as are the mechanisms through which disease activity affects HRQOL. The present study examines the relation between a family level factor (parenting stress) and HRQOL in youth with Crohn disease. Parenting stress is examined as a mechanism through which disease activity affects HRQOL.

Methods:

A total of 99 adolescents with Crohn disease and their parents were recruited across 3 sites. Adolescents completed the IMPACT‐III (inflammatory bowel disease–specific HRQOL). Parents completed the Pediatric Inventory for Parents, a measure of medically related parenting stress that assesses stress because of the occurrence of medical stressors and stress because of the perceived difficulty of stressors. Disease activity was obtained from medical records.

Results:

Parenting stress because of the occurrence of medical stressors partially mediated the disease severity–HRQOL relation, reducing the relation between these variables from 49.67% to 31.58% (B = −0.56,P< 0.0001). Bootstrapping analysis confirmed that the indirect effect of disease severity on HRQOL via parenting stress significantly differed from zero. Parenting stress because of the perceived difficulty of medical stressors partially mediated the disease severity–HRQOL relation, reducing the relation from 49.67% to 30.29% (B = −0.55,P< 0.0001). The indirect effect was confirmed via bootstrapping procedures.

Conclusions:

As disease severity increased, parenting stress also increased, and adolescent HRQOL decreased. Parenting stress should be considered and assessed for along with medical factors as part of a comprehensive approach to improve HRQOL in adolescents with Crohn disease.
Bounds on the complex permittivity of polycrystalline materials by analytic continuation
Authors: Gully A. , Lin J. , Cherkaev E. , Golden K. M.
Published: January 2015

An analytic continuation method for obtaining rigorous bounds on the effective complex permittivity

ε

* of polycrystalline composite materials is developed. It is assumed that the composite consists of many identical anisotropic crystals, each with a unique orientation. The key step in obtaining the bounds involves deriving an integral representation for

ε

*, which separates parameter information from geometrical information. Forward bounds are then found using knowledge of the single crystal permittivity tensor and mean crystal orientation. Inverse bounds are also developed, which recover information about the mean crystal orientation from

ε

*. We apply the polycrystalline bounds to sea ice, a critical component of the climate system. Different ice types, which result from different growth conditions, have different crystal orientation and size statistics. These characteristics significantly influence the fluid transport properties of sea ice, which control many geophysical and biogeochemical processes important to the climate and polar ecosystems. Using a two-scale homogenization scheme, where the single crystal tensor is numerically computed, forward bounds for sea ice are obtained and are in excellent agreement with columnar sea ice data. Furthermore, the inverse bounds are also applied to sea ice, helping to lay the groundwork for determining ice type using remote sensing techniques.
Avoiding tipping points in fisheries management through Gaussian process dynamic programming
Authors: Boettiger Carl , Mangel Marc , Munch Stephan
Published: January 2015

Model uncertainty and limited data are fundamental challenges to robust management of human intervention in a natural system. These challenges are acutely highlighted by concerns that many ecological systems may contain tipping points, such as Allee population sizes. Before a collapse, we do not know where the tipping points lie, if they exist at all. Hence, we know neither a complete model of the system dynamics nor do we have access to data in some large region of state space where such a tipping point might exist. We illustrate how a Bayesian non-parametric approach using a Gaussian process (GP) prior provides a flexible representation of this inherent uncertainty. We embed GPs in a stochastic dynamic programming framework in order to make robust management predictions with both model uncertainty and limited data. We use simulations to evaluate this approach as compared with the standard approach of using model selection to choose from a set of candidate models. We find that model selection erroneously favours models without tipping points, leading to harvest policies that guarantee extinction. The Gaussian process dynamic programming (GPDP) performs nearly as well as the true model and significantly outperforms standard approaches. We illustrate this using examples of simulated single-species dynamics, where the standard model selection approach should be most effective and find that it still fails to account for uncertainty appropriately and leads to population crashes, while management based on the GPDP does not, as it does not underestimate the uncertainty outside of the observed data.
Hydrobacter penzbergensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from purified water
Authors: Eder Wolfgang , Peplies Jörg , Wanner Gerhard , Frühling Anja , Verbarg Susanne
Published: January 2015

A Gram-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive bacterium, designated strain EM 4T, which varied in shape from rod-shaped to curved or helical with frequently observed bulb-shaped protuberances, was isolated from purified water. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the novel strain belongs to the family

Chitinophagaceae

within the phylum

Bacteroidetes

; the closest relative among bacterial species with validly published names was determined to be

Sediminibacterium salmoneum

NBRC 103935T, with 93.4 % sequence identity. The main fatty acids of strain EM 4T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, aminolipids, aminophospholipids and unknown lipids; the quinone system consisted of menaquinone MK-7. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and the polar lipid and fatty acid profiles suggest that the strain represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Hydrobacter penzbergensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Hydrobacter penzbergensis is strain EM 4T ( = DSM 25353T = CCUG 62278T).
Acinetobacter seifertii sp. nov., a member of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus–Acinetobacter baumannii complex isolated from human clinical specimens
Authors: Nemec Alexandr , Krizova Lenka , Maixnerova Martina , Sedo Ondrej , Brisse Sylvain , Higgins Paul G.
Published: January 2015

This study aimed to define the taxonomic status of a phenetically distinct group of 16 strains that corresponds to

Acinetobacter

genomic species ‘close to 13TU’, a provisional genomic species of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus–Acinetobacter baumannii (ACB) complex recognized by Gerner-Smidt and Tjernberg in 1993. These strains have been isolated in different countries since the early 1990s and were mostly recovered from human clinical specimens. They were compared with 45 reference strains representing the known taxa of the ACB complex using taxonomic methods relevant to the genus

Acinetobacter

. Based on sequence analysis of the concatenated partial sequences (2976 bp) of seven housekeeping genes, the 16 strains formed a tight and well-supported cluster (intracluster sequence identity of ≥98.4 %) that was clearly separated from the other members of the ACB complex (≤94.7 %). The species status of the group was supported by average nucleotide identity values of ≤91.7 % between the whole genome sequence of representative strain NIPH 973T (NCBI accession no. APOO00000000) and those of the other species. In addition, whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS analyses indicated the distinctness of the group at the protein level. Metabolic and physiological tests revealed several typical features of the group, although they did not allow its reliable differentiation from the other members of the ACB complex. We conclude that the 16 strains represent a distinct novel species, for which we propose the name Acinetobacter seifertii sp. nov. The type strain is NIPH 973T ( = CIP 110471T = CCUG 34785T = CCM 8535T).
Mucilaginibacter gotjawali sp. nov., isolated from soil of a lava forest
Authors: Lee Keun Chul , Kim Kwang Kyu , Eom Mi Kyung , Kim Jong-Shik , Kim Dae-Shin , Ko Suk-Hyung , Lee Jung-Sook
Published: January 2015

A novel bacterial strain, designated SA3-7T, was isolated from soil of a lava forest located in Jeju, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain SA3-7T were Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, non-motile rods and produced creamy white colonies on ten-fold-diluted R2A agar. The isolate contained menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 43.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that strain SA3-7T was related most closely to

Mucilaginibacter frigoritolerans

FT22T (96.7 % sequence similarity) and that it formed a separate lineage in the genus

Mucilaginibacter

. Combined phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics supported the conclusion that strain SA3-7T represents a novel species of the genus

Mucilaginibacter

, for which the name Mucilaginibacter gotjawali sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is SA3-7T ( = KCTC 32515T = CECT 8628T = DSM 29289T).
Rickettsia buchneri sp. nov., a rickettsial endosymbiont of the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis
Authors: Kurtti Timothy J. , Felsheim Roderick F. , Burkhardt Nicole Y. , Oliver Jonathan D. , Heu Chan C. , Munderloh Ulrike G.
Published: January 2015

We obtained a rickettsial isolate from the ovaries of the blacklegged tick,Ixodes scapularis. The isolate (ISO7T) was grown in theIxodes ricinusembryonic cell line IRE11. We characterized the isolate by transmission electron microscopy and gene sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of 11 housekeeping genes demonstrated that the isolate fulfils the criteria to be classified as a representative of a novel rickettsial species closely related to ‘Rickettsiamonacensis’. These rickettsiae form a clade separate from other species of rickettsiae. Gene sequences indicated that several genes important in rickettsial motility, invasiveness and temperature adaptation were mutated (e.g.sca2,rickA,hsp22,pldAandhtrA). We propose the nameRickettsiabuchnerisp. nov. for this bacterium that infects the ovaries of the tickI. scapularisto acknowledge the pioneering contributions of Professor Paul Buchner (1886–1978) to research on bacterial symbionts. The type strain ofR. buchnerisp. nov. is strain ISO-7T( = DSM 29016T = ATCC VR-1814T).
Flavobacterium daemonensis sp. nov., isolated from Daemo Mountain soil
Authors: Ngo Hien T. T. , Kook MooChang , Yi Tae-Hoo
Published: January 2015

A Gram-staining-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, obligately aerobic, motile by gliding, bright yellow and rod-shaped bacterial strain was isolated from soil of Daemo Mountain (Daemosan) in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic study. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG–DJ7T was found to be most closely related to

Flavobacterium denitrificans

ED5T (97.9 % sequence similarity),

Flavobacterium ginsenosidimutans

THG 01T (97.6 %),

Flavobacterium kyungheensis

THG-107T (97.5 %),

Flavobacterium anhuiense

D3T (97.1 %) and

Flavobacterium ginsengisoli

DCY54T (97.0 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain THG–DJ7T and its phylogenetically closest neighbours was below 40.0 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 32.6 mol%. The only isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG–DJ7T was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major component in the polyamine pattern was sym-homospermidine. The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophosphoglycolipid, phosphatidylserine and an unidentified lipid. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). These data support the affiliation of strain THG–DJ7T to the genus

Flavobacterium

. We report the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG–DJ7T. Based on the findings presented, a novel species of the genus

Flavobacterium

, Flavobacterium daemonensis sp. nov. is proposed, with THG–DJ7T ( = KACC 17651T = JCM 19455T) as the type strain.
Pedobacter ureilyticus sp. nov., isolated from tomato rhizosphere soil
Authors: Ngo Hien T. T. , Kook MooChang , Yi Tae-Hoo
Published: January 2015

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped and pinkish-yellow bacterium, which was motile by gliding and designated strain THG–T11T, was isolated from tomato rhizosphere soil in Gyeonggi province, Republic of Korea. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-T11T was found to be most closely related to ‘Pedobacter
zeaxanthinifaciens’ TDMA-5 (95.9 % sequence similarity),

Pedobacter agri

PB92T (94.9 %),

Pedobacter rhizosphaerae

01-96T (94.6 %) and

Pedobacter alluvionis

NWER-II11T (94.5 %). The DNA G+C content was 38.4 mol%. The only isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-T11T was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The major component in the polyamine pattern was sym-homospermidine. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phosphoglycolipid, an unidentified glycolipid, an unidentified lipid, unidentified aminophospholipids and unidentified aminolipids. The major ceramide was found to be ceramide phosphorylethanolamine. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. These data support the affiliation of strain THG-T11T to the genus

Pedobacter

. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analysis, it is proposed that strain THG-T11T represents a novel species of the genus

Pedobacter

for which the name Pedobacter
ureilyticus sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-T11T as the type strain ( = KACC 17660T = JCM 19461T).
The impediments to the competitiveness of the rail industry in Australia
Authors: Ghaderi Hadi , Fei Jiangang , Cahoon Stephen
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify current impediments to the competitiveness of the rail industry in the Australian non-bulk freight market.

Design/methodology/approach

– A systematic literature review was adapted to identify the impediments and challenge themes from 1,081 studies available on the Australian rail industry. To select the studies relevant to the research question, a tollgate criterion was then deployed. Impediments were identified by a structured data synthesis process and a heuristic algorithm was developed to explore the possible relationships between the impediments and challenges.

Findings

– Four major themes are apparent, each of which presents the rail industry with challenges in the non-bulk freight market. “Infrastructural inefficiencies and the need for further integration” was ranked as the main rail industry challenge, while “environmental concerns and the associated costs of externalities” was the least. In addition, across the four themes data synthesis identified 43 impediments from purely policy related to technical and operational aspects.

Research limitations/implications

– The major implication of this review is the identification of impediments that have no linkage to the four industry challenges as revealed by stakeholders in the literature. That means that the rail industry has been dealing with a number of issues that have not been explored and studied in depth either by practitioners or academics. The underlying elements of impediments in this group are perceived as managerial, organisational and leadership factors. The rail industry has failed to manage its organisational ties across the system, both horizontally and vertically. This issue has been intensified as the result of complex interactions between different transport modes and operators associated with the non-bulk freight sector.

Originality/value

– For the first time in the Australian context, this study provides an en masse and summarised picture of impediments to the competitiveness of the rail industry in the non-bulk freight market by systematically reviewing the reports generated by different stakeholders in the last ten years. The outcomes will assist the rail industry and government to understand impediments impacting on the quality of rail freight services that may lead to collaboration on decision-making and investment strategies.
Design and testing of a magnetic suspension for a 90° horizontal bend conveyor
Authors: Fabbri Massimo , Ribani Pier Luigi , Zuffa Davide
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– A conveyor device is studied with the aim to reduce the friction between the inner surface of the beam and the chain. The lower is the friction between the chain and the beam, the lower is the surface wear. The magnetic repulsion force among permanent magnets (PMs) placed on the beam and on the chain is utilized to reduce friction. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The considered magnetic suspension is realized with PMs in repulsive configuration; it is designed by solving a constrained optimization problem, with reference to the geometry of the 90° horizontal bend FlexLink WL322 conveyor. Flux density field and its gradient are evaluated using volume integral equation method, allowing to calculate the forces acting on the chain and the stiffness of the magnetic suspension.

Findings

– The magnetic suspension prototype was manufactured and tested. The experimental and calculated values of the forces acting on the chain compares well. A stable horizontal equilibrium of the chain was obtained during both static and dynamical tests.

Research limitations/implications

– The quasi-static model used neglects the dynamical interactions among the elements of the chain, the PMs and loads weight during motions and the eddy current losses in the aluminium beam. However the dynamical tests on the prototype show that the chain motion is regular up to the nominal velocity all along the conveyor with the exception of the trailing edge of the 90° curve.

Practical implications

– The tests on the prototype show the possibility of a removal or at least a reduction of the friction force between the chain and the inner side of the beam by means of a passive magnetic suspension. As a consequence a reduction of noise and vibrations and an increase of the mean-time-to-failure is expected.

Originality/value

– Prototype testing shows that the unavoidable vertical instability of the magnetic forces has no practical consequence since, reducing the allowed vertical gap, the chain is stabilized by the gravitational force.
Cross-kink multi-soliton solutions for the (3+1)-D Jimbo-Miwa equation
Authors: Xu Zhenhui , Chen Hanlin
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to reveal the dynamical behavior of higher dimensional nonlinear wave by searching for the multi-wave solutions to the (3+1)-D Jimbo-Miwa equation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors apply bilinear form and extended homoclinic test approach to the (3+1)-D Jimbo-Miwa equation.

Findings

– In this paper, by using bilinear form and extended homoclinic test approach, the authors obtain new cross-kink multi-soliton solutions of the (3+1)-dimensional Jimbo-Miwa equation, including the periodic breathertype of kink three-soliton solutions, the cross-kink four-soliton solutions, the doubly periodic breather-type of soliton solutions and the doubly periodic breather-type of cross-kink two-soliton solutions. It is shown that the extended homoclinic test approach, with the help of symbolic computation, provides an effective and powerful mathematical tool for solving higher dimensional nonlinear evolution equations in mathematical physics.

Research limitations/implications

– The research manifests that the structures of the solution to higher dimensional nonlinear equations are diversified and complicated.

Originality/value

– The methods used in this paper can be widely applied to the research of spatial and temporal characteristics of nonlinear equations in physics and engineering technology. These methods are also conducive for people to know objective laws and grasp the essential features of the development of the world.
Numerical investigation of fluid flow structure and heat transfer in a passage with continuous and truncated V-shaped ribs
Authors: Li Shian , Xie Gongnan , Sunden Bengt
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The employment of continuous ribs in a passage involves a noticeable pressure drop penalty, while other studies have shown that truncated ribs may provide a potential to reduce the pressure drop while keeping a significant heat transfer enhancement. The purpose of this paper is to perform computer-aided simulations of turbulent flow and heat transfer of a rectangular cooling passage with continuous or truncated 45-deg V-shaped ribs on opposite walls.

Design/methodology/approach

– Computational fluid dynamics technique is used to study the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics in a three-dimensional rectangular passage with continuous and truncated V-shaped ribs.

Findings

– The inlet Reynolds number, based on the hydraulic diameter, is ranged from 12,000 to 60,000 and a low-Re k-e model is selected for the turbulent computations. The local flow structure and heat transfer in the internal cooling passages are presented and the thermal performances of the ribbed passages are compared. It is found that the passage with truncated V-shaped ribs on opposite walls provides nearly equivalent heat transfer enhancement with a lower (about 17 percent at high Reynolds number of 60,000) pressure loss compared to a passage with continuous V-shaped ribs or continuous transversal ribs.

Research limitations/implications

– The fluid is incompressible with constant thermophysical properties and the flow is steady. The passage is stationary.

Practical implications

– New and additional data will be helpful in the design of ribbed passages to achieve a good thermal performance.

Originality/value

– The results imply that truncated V-shaped ribs are very effective in improving the thermal performance and thus are suggested to be applied in gas turbine blade internal cooling, especially at high velocity or Reynolds number.
Variation theory based approaches to teaching subject-specific vocabulary within differing practical subjects
Authors: Driver Alice , Elliott Katherine , Wilson Andrew
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe how a learning study model, guided by variation theory, can be used to improve lesson design and a pupil’s understanding of key words and vocabulary in the context of three different subjects, namely art, dance and science.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three lesson designs were used with three groups of pupils from the same year group. In each case, pupils were given either visual or audio stimuli to describe and compare prior to being introduced to the keywords. Pupil interviews, observations and pre- and post-lesson tasks were used in each case to assess the success of the strategy and the impact it had on the understanding of different ability-level students. The results from each lesson were analysed and utilised to improve the design of the subsequent lesson.

Findings

– The results of the study found that this approach was successful, with pupils able to produce their own definitions, including a reference to relevant critical features following the lesson, and that in most cases this information was retained. The strategy was most effective at reinforcing concepts and vocabulary, and was preferred by low- and mid-ability pupils, whereas higher-ability pupils preferred to use specific terminology from the outset.

Originality/value

– Many published learning studies have been carried out within subjects, concentrating on a particular learning object that pupils have difficulty with. In this study the authors have demonstrated that this approach can also be employed as a successful approach to promote pupil learning across different subjects.
Logistics performance management in textiles supply chains: best-practice and barriers
Authors: Ülgen Veronica S , Forslund Helena
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to explore the practices with logistics performance management in two textiles supply chains, and to identify the related best practices and barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The method is a multiple case study of two textiles supply chains with a special focus on the rarely addressed interface between the manufacturer and the retail chain. The retail chains represent one large, global retail chain and one Nordic, comparably smaller retail chain. This paper is primarily empirical and describes practices for logistics performance management. The analysis discusses and explains best practices and barriers for logistics performance managements in textiles supply chains.

Findings

– Differences were identified regarding practices, priorities and collaboration in the logistics performance management process. No textiles industry-specific practices were found. A way of exchanging action plans between the actors is an interesting best practice, which enables improvement projects even with long geographical distances. Barriers in the shape of difficulties in creating a collaborative culture were found; however, IT support seems no longer to be a barrier.

Research limitations/implications

– Two cases are explored, why a broader study is necessary to confirm the results. The best practices and barriers identified are similar to those known from manufacturing companies.

Practical implications

– The detailed descriptions of logistics performance management practices can provide insights for practitioners. Even if the studied supply chains are important for the respective actors, there is a potential for increased effectiveness in textiles supply chains.

Originality/value

– Supply chains for textiles products “starting at a manufacturer and ending in a retail chain” seem to be an unchartered territory and not many studies have been performed.
Designing a model for profiling organizational performance management
Authors: Jääskeläinen Aki , Roitto Juho-Matias
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to design and test a model for analyzing organizational performance management (PM) practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study follows the design science approach. Variables affecting the status of PM are reviewed and classified based on existing literature. These variables are analyzed and a compact set of critical variables are chosen to represent PM maturity. Designed model is implemented in practice as a survey receiving 271 responses, and tested by using both quantitative and qualitative approach.

Findings

– The survey data are utilized in the development of four distinct PM maturity profiles. The empirical results provide understanding on the current PM maturity level and common development targets in Finnish organizations.

Research limitations/implications

– External validity of the research is compromised by the context and respondent group. More in-depth qualitative studies could provide more understanding on the causes of presented findings.

Practical implications

– The proposed model offers best practices to develop PM and identifies variables crucial to create satisfaction toward PM. The presented profiles also help in evaluating the status of PM in the organization examined.

Originality/value

– The originality of the new model relates to its balance between rigor and relevance. In addition, the study is one of the first attempts to widely apply PM maturity models in practice. A distinctive feature of this study is the maturity profiles which are built upon empirical data.
Study of reliability measures of a local area network via copula linguistics approach
Authors: Rawal D. K. , Ram Mangey , Singh V. V.
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to find the reliability measures of Linux operating system connected in local area network (LAN).

Design/methodology/approach

– The system has two different topologies, i.e. star topology (subsystem-1) and bus topology (subsystem-2), are placed at two different places, and connected to a server through a hub. Both the topologies have n clients. The system has partial failure and complete failure. The partial failure is of two type’s namely minor partial and major partial. The minor partial failure degrades the system whereas the major partial failure brings the system to a break down mode. The system can completely fail due to failure of server hacking and blocking.

Findings

– By using supplementary variable technique and Laplace transformation, by taking different types of failure and two types of repairs the availability, non-availability, mean time to failure and cost analysis (expected profit) of the design system have been obtained.

Originality/value

– In this research, a mathematical model of Linux operating system has been discussed from which one can check the behavioral analysis of the designed system.
Using workplace changes as learning opportunities
Authors: Hetzner Stefanie , Heid Helmut , Gruber Hans
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to contribute to an understanding of how individual characteristics and perceived contextual conditions shape reflection in professional work, particularly in workplaces that provide a variety of work experiences related to changes. The authors examine the effects of personal initiative, self-efficacy and perceived psychological safety in work relations with colleagues and supervisors on individuals’ reflection at work.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sample of 84 client advisors who had recently been affected by major changes in retail banking workplaces participated in the study. The participants completed a questionnaire consisting of instruments to map their self-rated personal initiative, self-efficacy beliefs, reflection at work and perception of psychological safety in work relations with colleagues and supervisors. The data were analysed by performing correlation analyses and hierarchical regression analyses.

Findings

– The results revealed that both individuals’ personal initiative and self-efficacy significantly positively affect reflection at work. An individual’s perception of psychological safety – particularly among peers – positively predicts reflection.

Originality/value

– This paper enriches the research on reflection in professional work, particularly against the backdrop of workplace changes. This is done by emphasising the power of individuals’ proactive role and initiative-taking work behaviour; positive beliefs in their own capabilities, e.g. managing the various opportunities involved in workplace changes; and their perception of a psychologically safe environment within a work group that is characterised by interpersonal trust, mutual respect and supportive cooperation.
Main difficulties hindering supply chain performance: an exploratory analysis at Uruguayan SMEs
Authors: Tanco Martin , Jurburg Daniel , Escuder Matias
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to create a list of supply chain (SC)-related difficulties based on the existing SC literature. It also presents an exploratory survey concerning the main difficulties which Uruguayan managers consider to have the most negative impact on their SCs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The survey was carried out within small- and medium-sized manufacturing and retailing companies in Uruguay, yielding 99 valid responses. A statistical analysis of the survey is introduced including a ranking of the difficulties and a grouping of those using factorial analysis. A difficulty, as understood throughout this paper, is any factor that significantly impacts, or has impacted in recent years, the performance of SCs.

Findings

– Eighteen main difficulties hindering SC performance were identified. Moreover, an exploratory analysis of the survey showed that the main concerns to SC managers are related to workforce availability and government policies.

Practical implications

– Difficulties encountered by SCs would not only be of interest to scholars but also to the managers who face the challenge of the day-to-day managing of a SC. Once the difficulties over the SCs are identified, strategies can be designed and implemented to attain desired benefits. Today’s intense competition requires firms to be more aware of their SC and to achieve excellence in many areas, especially at small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Originality/value

– There is a growing body of literature concerning isolated issues that SCs have to face; however, an exhaustive list of difficulties is hardly available. Moreover, first-hand information of Uruguayan managers was ascertained to rank each one using a Likert scale.
MOVES model for idling emission of signalised junction in developing country
Authors: Kumar Ravindra , Parida Purnima , Shukla Surbhi , Saleh Wafaa
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to estimate total emission during idling of vehicles and validate emission results from real-world data.

Design/methodology/approach

– Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES)2010b emission model is customised for developing country like India and a case study of the Ashram intersection in Delhi has been selected in order to measure the emissions of vehicles during idling.

Findings

– Results show that 3.997 mg/m3 of hydrocarbon, 1.82 mg/m3 of NOx and 17.688 mg/m3 of carbon monoxide is emitted from the cars, trucks and buses, respectively, at Ashram intersection in one day. As there are 600 intersections throughout Delhi, a total of 2,398.055 mg/m3 of hydrocarbon, 1,087.068 mg/m3 of NOx and 10,612.612 mg/m3 of carbon monoxide is emitted from cars, trucks and buses in a day in all of Delhi.

Originality/value

– Knowledge of idling emission and fuel loss is very little for Indian traffic condition during delays.
Indoor air-quality investigation in code for sustainable homes and passivhaus dwellings
Authors: McGill Grainne , Oyedele Lukumon O. , Keeffe Greg
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– Energy efficient building design strategies are growing in popularity, promoted through increased awareness of climate change, rising energy prices, global consciousness and a demand for energy security. To aid this design process, assessment tools such as Code for Sustainable Homes (CSHs) and Passivhaus were introduced in the UK. However, it is suggested that these tools prioritise energy efficiency over occupant health through a fundamental lack of attention to indoor air quality (IAQ). The purpose of this paper is to investigate IAQ in selected dwellings built using CSHs level 6, level 3 and Passivhaus homes in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a case study approach, the investigation consisted of IAQ measurements during summer and winter months, occupant diaries and occupant interviews.

Findings

– The results from the IAQ measurements show the recommended maximum level of 1,000 ppm was breached in all three Code 6 and two Code 3 homes, with levels slightly below this limit in the two Passivhaus homes. Measurements found high levels of formaldehyde, carbon dioxide and low levels of relative humidity.

Practical implications

– There is a need for the adequate consideration of IAQ in sustainable assessment methods, including the use of mandatory credits to ensure occupant health is not disregarded in the drive towards zero carbon.

Originality/value

– These results can be used to recognise areas of improvement in the CSHs and Passivhaus standard, and the design of energy efficient homes in general. Research of this nature is essential to ensure occupant health is not sacrificed through the drive towards zero carbon.
The contribution of the ERA to the selection of the environmental indicators and to the allowance of the environmental objectives
Authors: Saadi Saadia , Djebabra Mébarek
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This paper is interested to assist organizations in the task of selecting and use appropriate indicators for their environmental evaluation procedure (EPE). This maximizes the successful deployment of the EPE process and as a consequence the introduction of good environmental practices. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– It consists of a proposal for a combined methodology based on the simultaneous use of environmental risk (ER) approach and RPN-based allocation method.

Findings

– In the developed methodology, the authors use the principles of risk assessment and purpose a new formulation of weight allowance with reference to the severity of ERs and significance of environmental aspects.

Practical implications

– Methodology suggested constitutes an invaluable help to implementation EPE process and as a consequence the introduction of good environmental practices.

Originality/value

– Methodology suggested facilitates the process of environmental performance evaluation providing substantial assistance to one of the most important stages that is to decide which particular indicators will be considered.
Quality of wheat-cassava bread as affected by selected improvers
Authors: Idowu Michael Ayodele , Iroko Kazeem , Adeola Abiodun Aderoju , Oluwalana Isaac Babatunde , Ayo Jerome Ayokunle , Ikuomola Damilola Shayo
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate some common bread improvers (normally used for 100 per cent wheat bread) for their effect on the quality attributes of wheat-cassava (90:10) composite bread.

Design/methodology/approach

– Four commonly used bread improvers (ASA, ABT, EDC and PTB) in Nigeria were evaluated for their effect on the baking potential of wheat-cassava (90:10) composite flour. Bread samples were baked from wheat-cassava (90:10) composite flour, with and without bread improvers. Changes in dough height during fermentation, oven spring, yield and specific volume of bread samples were determined. Bread samples were also evaluated for their sensory and staling characteristics.

Findings

– Results showed that dough height during fermentation did not change significantly (p<0.05) and crumb colour, firmness, taste and aroma were unaffected by addition of bread improvers; but oven spring, yield, specific volume, bread shape, crust colour, texture and overall acceptability of bread were significantly different (p>0.05). All the bread improvers except ABT extended the shelf life of wheat-cassava (90:10) composite bread for a period of 24-48 hours.

Practical implications

– Bread improvers normally used for 100 per cent wheat bread could be used effectively for wheat-cassava (90:10) composite bread without an adverse effect on quality of bread.

Originality/value

– Bread makers need little or no additional training to handle wheat-cassava (90:10) composite flour for bread making process hence, Nigeria can sustain her policy of using wheat-cassava composite flour for baking without any serious technical problem.
Diabetic nephropathy research in China: Data analysis and review from the National Natural Science Foundation of China中国糖尿病肾病研究现状：对中国国家自然科学基金数据的回顾性分析
Authors: Wan Qiang , Xu Yanying , Dong Erdan
Published: January 2015

As the largest funding agency of natural science of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has made great efforts in promoting the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN) research in recent years. The aim of the current study is to summarize the diabetic nephropathy research in China by analyzing NSFC‐funded projects.

Data on all projects in the DN field funded by NSFC from 1986 to 2013 were collected. The funding tendency, funding areas, and hotspots in the DN field, and major research institutions, were analyzed. As one output of this support, outstanding research groups in China, and their representative studies, are also highlighted.

From 1986 to 2013, the NSFC has funded a total of 248 projects in the DN field, with a total funding amount of 91.5 million RMB (US$14.9 million). A rapid increase could be seen in the past 5 years, with an average annual 30% increase in projects numbers and a 52% increase in funding amount. All fields in DN research have been covered by the NSFC, including etiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Along with increased funding of the DN research, there has been a growth in the papers published in Science Citation Index journals by Chinese scholars.

In the past decade, the funding scale and funding budget have increased dramatically. Benefiting from this, DN research in China has also made considerable progression.
Contemplating the future: Acting now on long‐term monitoring to answer 2050's questions
Authors: Lindenmayer David B. , Burns Emma L. , Tennant Philip , Dickman Chris R. , Green Peter T. , Keith David A. , Metcalfe Daniel J. , Russell‐Smith Jeremy , Wardle Glenda M. , Williams Dick , Bossard Karl , deLacey Claire , Hanigan Ivan , Bull C. Michael , Gillespie Graeme , Hobbs Richard J. , Krebs Charles J. , Likens Gene E. , Porter John , Vardon Michael
Published: January 2015

In 2050, which aspects of ecosystem change will we regret not having measured? Long‐term monitoring plays a crucial part in managing Australia's natural environment because time is a key factor underpinning changes in ecosystems. It is critical to start measuring key attributes of ecosystems – and the human and natural process affecting them – now, so that we can track the trajectory of change over time. This will facilitate informed choices about how to manage ecological changes (including interventions where they are required) and promote better understanding by 2050 of how particular ecosystems have been shaped over time. There will be considerable value in building on existing long‐term monitoring programmes because this can add significantly to the temporal depth of information. The economic and social processes driving change in ecosystems are not identical in all ecosystems, so much of what is monitored (and the means by which it is monitored) will most likely target specific ecosystems or groups of ecosystems. To best understand the effects of ecosystem‐specific threats and drivers, monitoring also will need to address the economic and social factors underpinning ecosystem‐specific change. Therefore, robust assessments of the state of Australia's environment will be best achieved by reporting on the ecological performance of a representative sample of ecosystems over time. Political, policy and financial support to implement appropriate ecosystem‐specific monitoring is a perennial problem. We suggest that the value of ecological monitoring will be demonstrable, when plot‐based monitoring data make a unique and crucial contribution to Australia's ability to produce environmental accounts, environmental reports (e.g. the State of the Environment, State of the Forests) and to fulfilling reporting obligations under international agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. This paper suggests what must be done to meet Australia's ecological information needs by 2050.
Tidal flats of the Yellow Sea: A review of ecosystem status and anthropogenic threats
Authors: Murray Nicholas J. , Ma Zhijun , Fuller Richard A.
Published: January 2015

Tidal flats provide ecosystem services to billions of people worldwide, yet their changing status is largely unknown. In the Yellow Sea region of East Asia, tidal flats are the principal coastal ecosystem fringing more than 4000 km of the coastlines of China, North Korea and South Korea. However, widespread loss of areal extent, increasing frequency of algal blooms, hypoxic dead zones and jellyfish blooms, and declines of commercial fisheries and migratory bird populations suggest that this ecosystem is degraded and declining. Here, we apply the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Ecosystems criteria to the Yellow Sea tidal flat ecosystem and determine that its status is endangered. Comparison of standardized remotely sensed habitat data and historic topographic map data indicated that in the last 50 years, a decline of more than 50% but less than 80% of tidal flat extent has occurred (criterion A1). Although restricted to a narrow band along the coastline, Yellow Sea tidal flats are sufficiently broadly distributed to be classified as least concern under criterion B. However, widespread pollution, algal blooms and declines of invertebrate and vertebrate fauna across the region result in a classification of endangered (C1, D1). Owing to the lack of long‐term monitoring data and the unknown impacts of severe biotic and abiotic change, the ecosystem was scored as data deficient for Criterion E and several subcriteria. Our assessment demonstrates an urgent need to arrest the decline of the Yellow Sea tidal flat ecosystem, which could be achieved by (i) improved coastal planning and management at regional and national levels, (ii) expansion of the coastal protected area network, and (iii) improved managed of existing protected areas to reduce illegal land reclamation and coastal exploitation.