bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Entrustable Professional Activities and Standards in Training in Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility
Authors: Khlevner Julie , Rosen Rachel , Ambartsumyan Lusine , Lusman Sarah Shrager , Rosen John M. , Yacob Desale , Mousa Hayat , Nurko Samuel , Di Lorenzo Carlo , Boruta Mary , Ratcliffe Elyanne M. , Feinstein Laurence , Snyder Julie , Wood Richard J. , Graham Kahleb , Saps Miguel , Gyawali C. Prakash , Rodriguez Leonel , Belkind‐Gerson Jaime
Published: October 2020

Neurogastroenterology and motility (NGM) disorders are common in childhood and are often very debilitating. Although pediatric gastroenterology fellows are expected to obtain training in the diagnosis and management of patients with these disorders, there is an ongoing concern for unmet needs and lack of exposure and standardized curriculum. In the context of tailoring training components, outcome and expressed needs of pediatric gastroenterology fellows and programs, members of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS) developed guidelines for NGM training in North America in line with specific expectations and goals of training as delineated through already established entrustable professional activities (EPAs). Members of the joint task force applied their expertise to identify the components of knowledge, skills, and management, which are expected of NGM consultants. The clinical knowledge, skills and management elements of the NGM curriculum are divided into domains based on anatomic regions including esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon and anorectum. In addition, dedicated sections on pediatric functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, research and collaborative approach, role of behavioral health and surgical approaches to NGM disorders and transition from pediatric to adult neurogastroenterology are included in this document. Members of the NASPGHAN‐ANMS task force anticipate that this document will serve as a resource to break existing barriers to pursuing a career in NGM and provide a framework towards uniform training expectations at 3 hierarchical tiers corresponding to EPA levels.
Care Management and Care Coordination Within a Patient-Centered Medical Home
Authors: Wakefield Bonnie J. , Lampman Michelle A. , Paez Monica B. , Stewart Greg L.
Published: October 2020

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze perceptions and experiences of clinicians implementing the patient-centered medical home (PCMH).

BACKGROUND

The PCMH model focuses on several important concepts, including team-based care management as well as care coordination and continuity among providers and across settings of care.

METHODS

A qualitative analysis of data collected in 2016 from primary care personnel through a national survey was conducted.

RESULTS

Four themes were found consistent with care management and care coordination: the importance of teamwork and optimized team member roles, need for adequate prioritization of care management and care coordination, need to refine tools and resources supporting care management and care coordination, and challenges with managing and coordinating care with and across complex systems.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful implementation requires adequate support for teamwork and ensuring team members can work according to their clinical competency. Nurses practicing in expanded roles need clear role guidelines and adequate time to function in these roles.
Two Cases of Cerebral Infarcts Caused by Topical Hemostatic Agent Embolism
Authors: Coss Dylan J. , Tlomak Wieslawa , Cochran Elizabeth
Published: October 2020

Resorbable topical hemostatic agents are widely used in surgical procedures to control intraoperative bleeding. There have been multiple reports of complications from use of these agents, including pulmonary vasculature thromboembolism, cerebral venous sinus occlusion, and postoperative inflammatory mass lesions each containing the hemostatic agent. We report 2 cases of inadvertent intra-arterial embolization of hemostatic agent. Both cases followed elective surgical cervical spinal procedures, during which gelatin-based local hemostatic agents were used to control unanticipated bleeding. Postoperatively, both patients exhibited neurologic defects and were found to have infarcts of the brain. At autopsy, vertebrobasilar thromboemboli containing foreign material grossly and microscopically consistent with hemostatic matrix material were found in both cases. These are the first reports of hemostatic agent embolization resulting in cerebral infarcts and leading to death.
Primary Synovial Sarcoma of the Uterine Cervix: First Case Report
Authors: Vaziri Fard Elmira , Zhang Songlin , El Achi Hanadi S. , Covinsky Michael
Published: October 2020

Synovial sarcoma is a translocation associated soft tissue malignancy frequently affecting young adults. The classic translocation is t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2): SS18-SSX1/2/4 fusion. Synovial sarcoma tends to favor the distal extremities but can also arise in other locations. To date, no case of primary synovial sarcoma of the uterine cervix has been reported. We report a 42-yr-old woman with no prior history who presented to clinic with vaginal spotting for 3 mo and was found to have a large mass in the uterine cervix. The mass was evacuated from the vagina and sent for pathologic diagnosis. Sections showed proliferation of monotonous spindle cells with scant eosinophilic cytoplasm, round to slightly irregular nuclei, variable nucleoli and frequent mitosis in a background of delicate capillary and occasional thick-walled vessels. No malignant epithelium was identified in the entire specimen. On immunohistochemical workup tumor cells were negative for pan cytokeratin, OSCAR, EMA, chromogranin, S100, SMA, desmin, myogenin, WT1, CD117, CD34, and BRG1. CD45 was positive in a few inflammatory cells. Cyclin D1 showed partial weak to moderate nuclear reactivity. CD99 demonstrated strong diffuse membranous reactivity and BCL-2 showed strong cytoplasmic staining in 60% of tumor cells. Florescence in situ hybridization results for EWSR1, BCOR, and CIC gene rearrangements were negative, however, florescence in situ hybridization results for SS18 (SYT) (18q11) gene rearrangement was positive. A diagnosis of monophasic synovial sarcoma was rendered. We review the differential diagnoses of tumors with similar morphology and discuss the diagnostic process. With this case report it is imperative to include synovial sarcoma in differential diagnosis list of sarcomas of uterus and cervix.
The early influence of COVID-19 pandemic-associated restrictions on pain, mood, and everyday life of patients with painful polyneuropathy
Authors: Kersebaum Dilara , Fabig Sophie-Charlotte , Sendel Manon , Sachau Juliane , Lassen Josephine , Rehm Stefanie , Hüllemann Philipp , Baron Ralf , Gierthmühlen Janne
Published: October 2020

Introduction:

The SARS-Cov-2 pandemic requires special attention on its psychological effects and the impact on patients with chronic pain.

Objectives:

This study aimed at examining the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic-associated regulations initiated by the German government on pain intensity and characteristics, emotional well-being, and everyday life of patients with painful polyneuropathy.

Methods:

Forty-three patients (well assessed with questionnaires before the pandemic and without change of their health status between baseline and current assessment) were investigated with validated, self-reported questionnaires and COVID-19-specific items 2 weeks after the regulations came into effect.

Results:

Pain intensity remained stable or even improved like the neuropathic pain symptom inventory total score (t0: 33.54 ± 20.48 vs t1: 27.38 ± 16.16, P = 0.008). Only 11.6% reported a pandemic-associated pain worsening. Rumination scores of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale were lower during t1 compared to before the pandemic regulations (t0: 7.81 ± 4.70, t1: 6.49 ± 4.39; P = 0.030). Interestingly, pain ratings for the last 7 days were higher in patients with a changed social life compared to those without (−1.63 ± 1.60 vs 0.31 ± 1.83; P = 0.01). Quality of life was decreased and helplessness increased in those with higher pain ratings.

Conclusion:

Results suggest a shift of attention from the chronic pain condition towards the imminent threat of a global pandemic. As the impacts of the pandemic are persistent and evolving, the development of the measured parameters in the forthcoming weeks will be of great interest.
Experiences With Three-dimensional Printing in Complex Liver Surgery
Authors: Huber Tobias , Huettl Florentine , Tripke Verena , Baumgart Janine , Lang Hauke
Published: October 2020

Objective:

We present a series of cases where we used 3D printing in planning of complex liver surgery.

Background:

In liver surgery, three-dimensional reconstruction of the liver anatomy, in particular of vascular structures, has shown to be helpful in operation planning. So far, 3D printing has been used for medical applications only rarely.

Methods and Patients:

From December 2017 to December 2019, in 10 cases where surgery was assumed to be challenging operation planning was performed using full size 3D prints in addition to standard 3 phase CT scans. Models included transparent parenchyma, hepatic veins, vena cava, portal vein, hepatic artery, (biliary tree if requested), and tumors. In 7/10 cases vascular reconstructions were needed during the procedure. Nonstructured feedback of the surgical team revealed that the major benefit was visualization of the critical areas of vascular reconstruction, the expected dimensions of tangential vascular infiltration and the planning of reconstruction. In the multifocal tumors, 3D prints were considered to be helpful for intraoperative orientation to detect metastases and to improve planning of the resection.

Conclusions:

In complex liver surgery with potential need for vascular reconstructions operation planning may be optimized using a 3D printed liver model. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the clinical impact of 3D printing in liver surgery compared to other 3D visualizations.
Functional Effects of Intervening Illnesses and Injuries After Hospitalization for Major Surgery in Community-living Older Persons
Authors: Gill Thomas M. , Han Ling , Gahbauer Evelyne A. , Leo-Summers Linda , Murphy Terrence E. , Becher Robert D.
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To evaluate the functional effects of intervening illnesses and injuries, that is, events, in the year after major surgery.

Background:

Intervening events have pronounced deleterious effects on functional status in older persons, but have not been carefully evaluated after major surgery.

Methods:

From a cohort of 754 community-living persons, aged 70+ years, 317 admissions for major surgery were identified from 244 participants who were discharged from the hospital. Functional status (13 activities) and exposure to intervening hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, and restricted activity were assessed each month. Comprehensive assessments (for covariates) were completed every 18 months.

Results:

In the year after major surgery, exposure rates (95% CI) per 100-person months to hospitalizations, ED visits, and restricted activity were 10.0 (8.0–12.5), 3.9 (2.8–5.4), and 12.3 (10.2–14.8) for functional recovery and 7.2 (6.1–8.5), 2.5 (1.9–3.2), 11.2 (9.8–12.9) for functional decline. Each of the 3 intervening events were independently associated with reduced recovery, with adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) of 0.20 (0.09–0.47), 0.35 (0.15–0.81), and 0.57 (0.36–0.90) for hospitalizations, ED visits, and restricted activity. For functional decline, the corresponding odds ratios (95% CI) were 5.68 (3.87–8.33), 1.90 (1.13–3.20), and 1.30 (0.96–1.75). The effect sizes for hospitalizations and ED visits were larger than those for the covariates.

Conclusions:

Intervening illnesses/injuries are common in the year after major surgery, and those leading to hospitalization and ED visit are strongly associated with adverse functional outcomes, with effect sizes larger than those of traditional risk factors.
Do patients with minimal blunt thoracic aortic injury require thoracic endovascular repair?
Authors: DuBose Joseph J. , Charlton-Ouw Kristofer , Starnes Benjamin , Saqib Naveed , Quiroga Elina , Morrison Jonathan , Gewertz Bruce , Azizzadeh Ali ,   AAST/Aortic Trauma Foundation Study Group
Published: October 2020

INTRODUCTION

The optimal management of minimal blunt thoracic aortic injuries (BTAIs) remains controversial, with experienced centers using therapy ranging from medical management (MM) to thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

METHODS

The Aortic Trauma Foundation registry was used to examine demographics, injury characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with BTAI.

RESULTS

Two hundred ninety-six patients from 28 international centers were analyzed (mean age, 44.5 years [SD, 18 years]; 76% [225/296] male; mean Injury Severity Score, 34 [SD, 14]). Blunt thoracic aortic injury was classified as Grade I, 22.6% (67/296); Grade II, 17.6% (52/296); Grade III, 47.3% (140/296); and Grade IV, 12.5% (37/296). Overall aortic-related mortality (ARM) was 4.7% (14/296). Among all deaths, 33% (14/42) were ARM. Open repair was required for only 2%, with most undergoing TEVAR (58.4%) or MM (28.0%). Thoracic endovascular repair complications occurred in 3.4% (6/173), most commonly Type 1 endoleak (2.3%; 4/173). Among patients with minimal aortic injury (Grades I and II), 59.7% (71/119) received MM, while 40.3% (48/119) underwent TEVAR. Two patients initially managed with MM required subsequent TEVAR for injury progression during initial hospital stay. No significant difference in ARM between MM and TEVAR was noted for Grades I and II injuries.

CONCLUSION

A third of the trauma victims with BTAI succumb to ARM. Thoracic endovascular repair has replaced open repair but remains equivalent in outcomes to MM for minimal injuries. These data support MM of patients with minimal aortic injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, level IV.
Time to weigh in on obesity and associated comorbidities in combat-wounded amputees
Authors: Tavares Kelli B. , Russell Dylan M. , Conrad Robert Joseph , Sizemore Grant C. , Nguyen Scott H. , Moon Andrea Y. , Colgan Bridget A. , Condon Freeman J. , Mayo John S. , Criman Erik T. , Lim Robert B.
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

The Joint Trauma System database estimates that about 1,200 individuals have sustained a combat-related amputation during the Global War on Terror. Previous retrospective studies have demonstrated that combat-related amputees develop obesity and cardiovascular disease, but the incidence of obesity and associated comorbidities in this population is unknown. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of obesity in the military amputee population and to compare this with the general population.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of 978 patients who sustained a combat-related amputation from 2003 to 2014. Prevalence of obesity and comorbid conditions were determined. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify risk factors for postamputation obesity. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed using obesity as the event of interest.

RESULTS

A total of 1,233 charts were reviewed with 978 patients included for analysis. The median age of injury was 24 years. Median follow-up time was 8.7 years, ranging from 0.5 years to 16.9 years. The average Injury Severity Score was 23.3. The average body mass index preinjury was 25.6 kg/m2, and the average most recent corrected body mass index was found to be 31.4 kg/m2. Prevalence of comorbidities was higher in the amputee population. Fifty percent of patients who progressed to obesity did so within 1.3 years.

CONCLUSION

There is a notable prevalence of obesity that develops in the amputee population that is much higher than the general population. We determined that the amputee population is at risk, and these patients should be closely monitored for 1 to 2.5 years following injury. This study provides a targeted period for which monitoring and intervention can be implemented.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Retrospective, basic science, outcomes analysis, level III/IV.
Propofol downregulates the activity of glutamatergic neurons in the basal forebrain via affecting intrinsic membrane properties and postsynaptic GABAARs
Authors: Li Yuping , Chen Lin , Zhu Dan , Chen Yaohua , Qin Wanxiang , Cui Jian
Published: October 2020

Propofol anesthesia rapidly causes loss of consciousness, while the neural mechanism underlying this phenomenon is still unclear. Glutamatergic neurons in the basal forebrain play an important role in initiation and maintenance of wakefulness. Here, we selectively recorded the activity of glutamatergic neurons in vGlut-2-Cre mice. Propofol induced outward currents in a concentration-dependent manner. Bath application of propofol generated membrane hyperpolarization and suppressed the firing rates in these neurons. Propofol-induced stable outward currents persisted after blockade of the action potentials, implying a direct postsynaptic effect of propofol. Furthermore, propofol selectively increased the GABAergic inhibitory synaptic inputs via affecting the GABAARs, but did not affect the glutamatergic transmissions. Together, propofol inhibits the excitability of the glutamatergic neurons via direct influencing the membrane intrinsic properties and the inhibitory synaptic transmission. This inhibitory effect might provide a novel mechanism for the propofol-induced anesthesia.
Semigroup applications everywhere
Authors: Nagel Rainer , Rhandi Abdelaziz
Published: October 2020

Most dynamical systems arise from partial differential equations (PDEs) that can be represented as an abstract evolution equation on a suitable state space complemented by an initial or final condition. Thus, the system can be written as a Cauchy problem on an abstract function space with appropriate topological structures. To study the qualitative and quantitative properties of the solutions, the theory of one-parameter operator semigroups is a most powerful tool. This approach has been used by many authors and applied to quite different fields, e.g. ordinary and PDEs, nonlinear dynamical systems, control theory, functional differential and Volterra equations, mathematical physics, mathematical biology, stochastic processes.

The present special issue of Philosophical Transactions includes papers on semigroups and their applications.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Semigroup applications everywhere’.
Analysis of respiratory and systemic immune responses in COVID-19 reveals mechanisms of disease pathogenesis
Authors: Szabo Peter A. , Dogra Pranay , Gray Joshua I. , Wells Steven B. , Connors Thomas J. , Weisberg Stuart P. , Krupska Izabela , Matsumoto Rei , Poon Maya M.L. , Idzikowski Emma , Morris Sinead E. , Pasin Chloé , Yates Andrew J. , Ku Amy , Chait Michael , Davis-Porada Julia , Zhou Jing , Steinle Matthew , Mackay Sean , Saqi Anjali , Baldwin Matthew , Sims Peter A. , Farber Donna L.
Published: October 2020

Immune responses to respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2 originate and function in the lung, yet assessments of human immunity are often limited to blood. Here, we conducted longitudinal, high-dimensional profiling of paired airway and blood samples from patients with severe COVID-19, revealing immune processes in the respiratory tract linked to disease pathogenesis. Survival from severe disease was associated with increased CD4+T cells and decreased monocyte/macrophage frequencies in the airway, but not in blood. Airway T cells and macrophages exhibited tissue-resident phenotypes and activation signatures, including high level expression and secretion of monocyte chemoattractants CCL2 and CCL3 by airway macrophages. By contrast, monocytes in blood expressed the CCL2-receptor CCR2 and aberrant CD163+and immature phenotypes. Extensive accumulation of CD163+monocyte/macrophages within alveolar spaces in COVID-19 lung autopsies suggested recruitment from circulation. Our findings provide evidence that COVID-19 pathogenesis is driven by respiratory immunity, and rationale for site-specific treatment and prevention strategies.
Molecular mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 inactivation by temperature
Authors: Martí Didac , Torras Juan , Betran Oscar , Turon Pau , Alemán Carlos
Published: October 2020

Recent studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 virus can be inactivated by effect of heat, even though, little is known about the molecular changes induced by the temperature. Here, we unravel the basics of such inactivation mechanism over the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein by executing atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Both theclosed downandopen upstates, which determine the accessibility to the receptor binding domain, were considered. Results suggest that the spike undergoes drastic changes in the topology of the hydrogen bond network while salt bridges are mainly preserved. Reorganization in the hydrogen bonds structure produces conformational variations in the receptor binding subunit and explain the thermal inactivation of the virus. Conversely, the macrostructure of the spike is preserved at high temperature because of the retained salt bridges. The proposed mechanism has important implications for engineering new approaches to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The Design Principles of Discrete Turing Patterning Systems
Authors: Leyshon Thomas , Tonello Elisa , Schnoerr David , Siebert Heike , Stumpf Michael P.H.
Published: October 2020

The formation of spatial structures lies at the heart of developmental processes. However, many of the underlying gene regulatory and biochemical processes remain poorly understood. Turing patterns constitute a main candidate to explain such processes, but they appear sensitive to fluctuations and variations in kinetic parameters, raising the question of how they may be adopted and realised in naturally evolved systems. The vast majority of mathematical studies of Turing patterns have used continuous models specified in terms of partial differential equations. Here, we complement this work by studying Turing patterns using discrete cellular automata models. We perform a large-scale study on all possible two-species networks and find the same Turing pattern producing networks as in the continuous framework. In contrast to continuous models, however, we find these Turing pattern topologies to be substantially more robust to changes in the parameters of the model. We also find that diffusion-driven instabilities are substantially weaker predictors for Turing patterns in the discrete modelling framework in comparison to the continuous case, and show that a more refined criterion constitutes a stronger predictor. The similarity of the results for the two modelling frameworks suggests a deeper underlying principle of Turing mechanisms in nature. Together with the larger robustness in the discrete case this suggests that Turing patterns may be more robust than previously thought.
Programmable Aggregation of Artificial Cells with DNA Signals
Authors: Qiu Hengming , Li Feiran , Du Yancheng , Li Ruixin , Hyun Ji Yeon , Lee Sei Young , Choi Jong Hyun
Published: October 2020

Cell aggregation is a complex behavior, which is closely related to the viability, differentiation, and migration of cells. An effort to create synthetic analogs could lead to considerable advances in cell physiology and biophysics. Rendering and modulating such a dynamic artificial cell system require mechanisms for receiving, transducing, and transmitting intercellular signals, yet effective tools are limited at present. Here we construct synthetic cells from engineered lipids and show their programmable aggregation behaviors using DNA oligonucleotides as a signaling molecule. The artificial cells have transmembrane channels made of DNA origami that are used to recognize and process intercellular signals. We demonstrate that multiple small vesicles aggregate onto a giant vesicle after a transduction of external DNA signals by an intracellular enzyme, and that the small vesicles dissociate when receiving ‘release’ signals. This work provides new possibilities for building synthetic protocells capable of chemical communication and coordination.
EXEQ and InEXEQ: software tools for experiment planning at the Extreme Environment Diffractometer
Authors: Bartkowiak Maciej , Prokeš Karel , Fromme Michael , Budack Anne , Dirlick Juliane , Prokhnenko Oleksandr
Published: October 2020

The Extreme Environment Diffractometer was a neutron time-of-flight instrument equipped with a constant-field hybrid magnet providing magnetic fields up to 26 T. The magnet infrastructure and sample environment imposed limitations on the geometry of the experiment, making it necessary to plan the experiment with care. EXEQ is the software tool developed to allow users of the instrument to find the optimal sample orientation for their diffraction experiment. InEXEQ fulfilled the same role for the inelastic neutron scattering experiments. The source code of the software is licensed under the GNU General Public Licence 3, allowing it to be used by other facilities and adapted for use on other instruments.
Learning peg-in-hole assembly using Cartesian DMPs with feedback mechanism
Authors: Liu Nailong , Zhou Xiaodong , Liu Zhaoming , Wang Hongwei , Cui Long
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to enable the robot to obtain human-like compliant manipulation skills for the peg-in-hole (PiH) assembly task by learning from demonstration.

Design/methodology/approach

A modified dynamic movement primitives (DMPs) model with a novel hybrid force/position feedback in Cartesian space for the robotic PiH problem is proposed by learning from demonstration. To ensure a compliant interaction during the PiH insertion process, a Cartesian impedance control approach is used to track the trajectory generated by the modified DMPs.

Findings

The modified DMPs allow the robot to imitate the trajectory of demonstration efficiently and to generate a smoother trajectory. By taking advantage of force feedback, the robot shows compliant behavior and could adjust its pose actively to avoid a jam. This feedback mechanism significantly improves the dynamic performance of the interactive process. Both the simulation and the PiH experimental results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model.

Originality/value

The trajectory and the compliant manipulation skill of the human operator can be learned simultaneously by the new model. This method adopted a modified DMPs model in Cartesian space to generate a trajectory with a lower speed at the beginning of the motion, which can reduce the magnitude of the contact force.
Failure prediction in electrical connector assembly: a case in automotive assembly process
Authors: Altinisik Armagan , Yildirim Utku
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Electrical defects cover an important part of assembly defects and strongly affect the vehicle system performance. Almost 40% of assembly defects are classified as human errors and electrical connection failures represent a significant part of them. Humans still remain a cost-effective solution for the flexible manufacturing systems with increasing product complexity. So, understanding human behaviors is still a challenging task. The purpose of this study is to define, prioritize and validate the critical factors for the complexity of electrical connector plugin process.

Design/methodology/approach

The critical variables were defined by the expert team members. The required number of measurements and variables were revised resulting preliminary analysis of binary logistic regression. After the revision of measurement plan, the list of critical input variables and the mathematical model were defined. The model has been validated by the fitted values of the residuals (FITS analysis).

Findings

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the limited studies, which defines the critical factors for electrical connection process complexity. Female connector harness length, connector width/height/length differences, operator sense of correct connector matching and ergonomy were defined as the factors with the highest impact on the failure occurrence. The obtained regression equation strongly correlates the failure probability.

Practical implications

The obtained mathematical model can be used in new model development processes both for the product and assembly process design (ergonomy, accessibility and lay-out).

Originality/value

The obtained risk factors demonstrated a strong correlation with assembly process complexity and failure rates. The output of this study would be used as an important guide for process (assembly line ergonomy, accessibility and lay-out) and product design in new model development and assembly ramp-up phases.
Framing autism in newspaper media: an example from Finland
Authors: Pesonen Henri , Itkonen Tiina , Saha Mari , Nordahl-Hansen Anders
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Media play a significant role in the process of raising public awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite an increase in ASD media coverage, there is scarcity of research that examines how the actual frame is constructed and how the news stories are narrated. This study aims to examine the extent to which Finnish print media papers extend medical and societal narration of ASD to other issue domains and the extent to which newspaper stories use a positive, negative or neutral narrative.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyzed 210 full newspaper reports from the largest daily appearing newspaper by circulation in Finland from 1990 to 2016. The authors used the newspaper’s electronic database to conduct a systematic papers search. The authors then used coding scheme about news story framing, which was followed by a detailed content analysis of the papers.

Findings

Approximately two-thirds of the papers consisted of a straightforward informational or clinical lens to educate the public (n = 110). This is in line with international studies. However, the authors’ analysis revealed four additional themes of medical and societal ASD reporting.

Social implications

The study increases understanding about how the media can shape the public perception of ASD, which in turn might influence how autistic individuals are accepted in the society, as well as how they feel that they belong.

Originality/value

While ASD itself is at the center of neutral news reporting, this study’s results imply how to construct ASD from new paradigms. Linking ASD to a culture, and thus extending it to the more commonly accepted notion of deafness as a culture, might shape the public’s perceptions about ASD.
Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur
Authors: Chand Vijaya Sherry
Published: October 2020

This case focuses on the steps taken by the Director of the Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur, to arrive at a working definition of the problem of lack of student engagement and to initiate corrective measures. A key assumption made by the Director was that if students were engaged outside of the curriculum, they would be more engaged with the curriculum. This is consistent with research findings (see for example Kuh, Kinzie, Buckley, Bridges and Hayek, 2006) which show that students who are more engaged within the curriculum are more engaged with their institution's governance and student activities. It must be pointed out, however, that each institute, given its own context, should examine whether this assumption holds—activities outside the curriculum should not end up simply competing for valuable students' time.
The role of innovation capability in the relationship between marketing capability and new product development: evidence from the telecommunication sector
Authors: Aljanabi Abdulqadir Rahomee Ahmed
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between marketing and innovation capabilities and new product development (NPD), including the potential mediating and moderating roles of innovation capability (IC) in the relationship between marketing capability (MC) and NPD.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from telecommunication firms operating in the Kurdistan region of Iraq using a self-administered questionnaire. Of 556 distributed questionnaires, 272 were returned and used for statistical analysis. To analyze the data, a structural equation model (SEM) was developed to test both measurement and structural models.

Findings

Both innovation capability and marketing capability positively impact NPD. Furthermore, IC not only strengthens the relationship between MC and NPD but also serves as a mechanism enabling this relationship.

Originality/value

This study offers NPD researchers a deeper understanding of the capabilities that may affect the NPD process. From a theoretical perspective, previous studies focused exclusively on IC and MC separately and thus did not capture the relationships between these antecedents and NPD. Another valuable contribution of this study to the NPD literature is the inclusion of different roles of IC within the frame of MC and NPD. For practitioners, this study outlines novel combinations of antecedents leading to better levels of NPD.
Does currency misalignment matter for economic growth? – Evidence from Turkey
Authors: Mamun Abdulla Hil , Bal Harun , Basher Shahanara
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The study mainly aims to examine the currency misalignment of Turkish lira and evaluate if it has an impact on economic growth of Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

It relies on Johansen cointegration technique for measuring currency misalignment relying on single-equation approach and the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to evaluate how misalignment affects economic growth. The sample period covers from 1980 to 2016.

Findings

The study identifies that terms of trade, relative productivity differences, net foreign asset, investment and trade openness determine the equilibrium REER of Turkey, and the degree of currency misalignment is observed at a substantial level. The outcome of the ARDL approach suggests that higher currency misalignment reduces economic growth. Turning to the separate impacts of undervaluation and overvaluation, while the former falters economic growth, the later promotes it, a finding contrary to the conventional expectation. Therefore, the use of exchange rate as a policy variable is a critical concern to avoid misalignment for sustained economic growth.

Practical implications

The anti-growth effect of undervaluation and misalignment is an indication of redistribution of income which could be verified by examining the aggregate consumption behavior of the economy in response to RER movements.

Originality/value

The impacts of currency undervaluation and overvaluation on economic growth of Turkey have been studied in a number of time-series studies. But there is no documented study on the role of currency misalignment on Turkish economic growth. This study is the first that examines how the economic growth of Turkey is influenced by currency misalignment together with the impact of undervaluation and overvaluation.
Sustainable value creation? Entrepreneurial orientations in the football industry
Authors: Bull Mike , Whittam Geoff
Published: October 2020

Purpose

In this paper the authors investigate precarious value creation in English football clubs. They examine strategic, economic, cultural and social capital to analyse the orientations of legal owners of football clubs (entrepreneurs) and the implications for moral owners (the fans). Their research question is not if entrepreneurs create value – but whether the value created is productive or destructive.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design is a case study of the professional football industry, specifically 44 football clubs in the top two professional divisions in England, namely the English Premier League and the English Football League Championship. The authors’ methodology is secondary textual data. Their approach is to examine official club statements, triangulated with regional and national press reports, fan accounts and narratives from published artefacts; fan blogs and websites.

Findings

The “opening up” of the professional football industry in England to market forces in 1983 has subsequently attracted entrepreneurs that use football clubs as artefacts to pursue other business interests. Over-grazing on strategic and economic capital at the expense and exploitation of social and cultural capital exists. As entrepreneurial opportunities to exploit a football club's assets becomes more apparent, the unique relationship between club and fan is being strained. The authors observe detachment, disenchantment and protest.

Research limitations/implications

The data sought for this study design was necessarily in the public domain and therefore drawn from secondary sources. The scope was English football and the top two divisions, thus the findings are context specific to that region and level.

Practical implications

For policy, the authors call for a new government inquiry into football ownership in English football, re-examining heritage, purpose and value creation.

Social implications

Football fans are the majority stakeholder in the football industry but are under-represented in English football because of the private ownership of football clubs. Fans are, however, a barometer for how their owners are acting as custodians of their clubs and if the value created by entrepreneurs is productive or exploitative.

Originality/value

This paper has value in drawing attention to this unique and ignored industry from an entrepreneurship perspective, provoking a call for further research to explore this phenomenon. Sustainable value creation may be a useful framework for further research in this and other industries.
The roles of school leaders in developing future-ready learners: the case of Singapore
Authors: Wong Choun Pei , Ng David
Published: October 2020

Purpose

An education system can only be successful if it can develop future-ready learners who can continue to learn after graduation, take on their future lifework and thrive in the future society and environment. This article examines the economic, social and environmental trajectories of Singapore and proposes that it is important for future-ready learners to develop habits of practices that will support the skills, knowledge and values that are pertinent to these trajectories.

Design/methodology/approach

School leaders are responsible for creating environments and implementing practices that are conducive for fostering habits of practices that are crucial for future-ready outcomes. The authors discuss the inadequacies of traditional teaching and learning practices in supporting these habits and elucidate how newer paradigms such as constructivism, connectivism, coagency and communities of practice might be more useful in achieving this. The authors also present a case study of a school leadership preparation programme that aims to develop future-ready learners.

Findings

This paper provides insights into how newer paradigms of teaching and learning can be supportive for developing desirable habits of practices for future readiness.

Originality/value

This discussion piece introduces a fresh concept – habits of practices – that is relevant in preparing future-ready learners in Singapore.
The role of blockchain in reducing the impact of barriers to humanitarian supply chain management
Authors: Ozdemir Ali Ihsan , Erol Ismail , Ar Ilker Murat , Peker Iskender , Asgary Ali , Medeni Tunc Durmus , Medeni Ihsan Tolga
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The objective of this study is to investigate the role of blockchain in reducing the impact of barriers to humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) using a list of blockchain benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

A decision aid was used to explore the suitability of blockchain in humanitarian supply chains. To achieve that, first, a list of barriers to HSCM was identified. Then, the intuitionistic fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (IF–DEMATEL) method was utilized to determine the relationships and the level of interdependencies among the criteria. Finally, the intuitionistic fuzzyanalytic network process (IF–ANP) technique was employed, as it successfully handles dependencies among the criteria.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that interorganizational barriers are the most suitable ones, the impacts of which blockchain may alleviate. This study further suggests that trust turned out to be the most significant benefit criterion for the analysis.

Research limitations/implications

The readers should construe the findings of this study with caution since it was carried out using the data collected from the experts of a particular country. Moreover, the proposed decision aid contemplates a limited set of criteria to assess a possible role of blockchain in overcoming the barriers to HSCM.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can assist humanitarian supply chain managers to make more judicious assessments on whether they implement the blockchain in humanitarian supply chain operations. Specifically, this research may help decision makers to identify the certain barriers, the impact of which may be reduced by using the blockchain. The findings of this research will also help various decision makers make more rational decisions and allocate their resources more effectively.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, no single study exists to investigate the role of blockchain in reducing the impact of barriers to HSCM using an intuitionistic fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making approach.
Do sustainability practices influence university quality? A Colombian case study
Authors: Hernandez-Diaz Paula M. , Polanco Jorge-Andrés , Castaño Sandra Milena
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to know how university’s strategic managers, from botacademic and administrative systems, perceive the relationship between sustainability and accreditation as sustainability incorporation and the quality of their processes are amongst the actual challenges of universities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper opted for an inductive, exploratory study using the case study approach, including 19 in-depth interviews to administrative and academic managers in a private, high-quality certified university in Colombia. The data were assessed using the content analysis methodology. The Colombian accreditation guidelines were the base to analyse the data as accreditation is part of the quality assurance system.

Findings

This paper provides empirical insights into how the implementation of sustainability in universities relates to the Colombian accreditation factors. The main links found were in the areas of the university’s social impact and organisational responsibility, which are highly relevant to graduates, external stakeholders and sustainability skills. Sustainable campus operation was associated with environmental management and improvement of the quality of the physical plant, with social and economic benefits in the long-term. Additionally, this research found a need for administrative and academic managers to understand and increase their commitment to sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

Because it was a case study, results are not generalisable. Consequently, further research on similar lines is required to universalise the mentioned observation and results.

Practical implications

The accreditation factors related to sustainability, inductively defined and exposed in this paper, provide an idea of how sustainability implementation could contribute to higher education quality assurance.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to filling the knowledge gap about embedding sustainability in Latin-American universities. This paper postulates a starting point considering accreditation standards and the link of the strategic manager’s perceptions of sustainability.
Personalized recommendation framework design for online tourism: know you better than yourself
Authors: Wang Xiaoqian
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to create an idea and a framework to enhance customer stickiness and improve transformation efficiency flow of tourism products from online to offline platforms through the application of personalized recommendation technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Studies on an overview of progress in current personalized recommendation research, business scenario analysis of online tourism and some possible logical limitations discussion are required for improvement. This study clarifies concepts including online tourism user behavior and generated data, user preference themes and spaces, user models and image and user-product (two-dimensional matrix, etc.). The author then creates a user portrait based on behavior data convergence to locate the user's role from both horizontal and vertical dimensions and also clear the logical levels and associations among them, verifying the similarity in measurement and calculation and optimizing the implementation of the personalized recommendation program under online tourism business scenarios.

Findings

By providing a framework design about personalized recommendations of online tourism including a flow from data collection to a personalized recommendation algorithm selection, logical analysis is established while the corresponding personalization algorithm is improved.

Originality/value

This study show a logical shift of personalized recommendations in online tourism management from focusing on the simple collection of travel information and the logical speculation of tourism products to focusing on the individual behavior of potential travelers.
Digitalization and the greening of supply chains
Authors: Sarkis Joseph , Kouhizadeh Mahtab , Zhu Qingyun Serena
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study provides a reflective overview on the role of traditional and emergent digitalization and information technologies for leveraging environmental supply chain sustainability – while reflecting on potential trade-offs and conflicts of digitalization and greening.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use relevant literature and literature from Industrial Management and Data Systems (IMDS) research published in this journal over the past 50 years. They also use their knowledge and over 30 years of research experience in the field to provide professional scholarly reflections and perspective.

Findings

The authors provide a focused and succinct evaluation for research directions. A pressures, practices and performance framework sets the stage for pertinent research questions and theoretical needs to investigate the nexus of digitalization and green supply chain management. The authors provide two frameworks with exemplary practices and research for traditional and emergent digitalization and information technology. Their reflection concludes with a summary and steps forward.

Social implications

The authors show how research and practice can be used to affect supply chain greening with digitalization and information technology. They observe that care should be taken given that these technologies can paradoxically simultaneously offer solutions to environmental degradation and potentially be a source of environmental degradation across the supply chain.

Originality/value

This work provides a summary and unique perspective that links traditional and emergent digitalization technology to green and environmental sustainability work. The area has not seen a clear summary and path forward and shows how IMDS literature has contributed to the field for decades.