bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Genes Involved in Taura Syndrome Virus Resistance in Litopenaeus Vannamei
Authors: Boube I. , Lotz J. M. , Pozhitkov A. E. , Li S. , Griffitt R. J.
Published: September 2014

The goal of the present research was to identify the genes that are differentially expressed between two lineages of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei displaying different susceptibilities to Taura syndrome virus (TSV) and to understand the molecular pathways involved in resistance to the disease. An oligonucleotide microarray was constructed and used to identify several genes that were differentially expressed in the two L. vannamei lineages following infection with TSV. Individual L. vannamei from either resistant or susceptible lineages were exposed via injection to TSV. Individuals were removed at 6 and 24 h postinfection, and gene expression was assessed with the in-house microarray. The microarray data resulted in the selection of a set of 397 genes that were altered by TSV exposure between the different lineages. Significantly differentially expressed genes were subjected to hierarchical clustering and revealed a lineage-dependent clustering at 24 h postinoculation, but not at 6 h postinoculation. Discriminant analysis resulted in the identification of a set of 11 genes that were able to correctly classify Pacific white shrimp as resistant or susceptible based on gene expression data.

Received June 21, 2013; accepted October 24, 2013
Adults’ age-related differences in strategy perseveration are modulated by response-stimulus intervals and problem features
Authors: Lemaire Patrick , Brun Fleur
Published: September 2014

Ageing results in the tendency of older adults to repeat the same strategy across consecutive problems more often than young adults, even when such strategy perseveration is not appropriate. Here, we examined how these age-related differences in strategy perseveration are modulated by response-stimulus intervals and problem characteristics. We asked participants to select the best strategy while accomplishing a computational estimation task (i.e., provide approximate sums to two-digit addition problems like 38 + 74). We found that participants repeated the same strategy across consecutive problems more often when the duration between their response and next problem display was short (300 ms) than when it was long (1300 ms). We also found more strategy perseverations in older than in young adults under short Response-Stimulus Intervals, but not under long Response-Stimulus Intervals. Finally, age-related differences in strategy perseveration decreased when problem features helped participants to select the best strategy. These modulations of age-related differences in strategy perseveration by response-stimulus intervals and characteristics of target problems are important for furthering our understanding of mechanisms underlying strategy perseveration and, more generally, ageing effects on strategy selection.
Three time scale singular perturbation problems and nonsmooth dynamical systems
Authors: Cardin Pedro , da Silva Paulo , Teixeira Marco
Published: September 2014

In this paper we study three time scale singular perturbation problems
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Temperature and entropy profiles to the virial radius of the Abell 1246 cluster observed with Suzaku
Authors: Sato Kosuke , Matsushita Kyoko , Yamasaki Noriko Y. , Sasaki Shin , Ohashi Takaya
Published: September 2014

We report properties of the intracluster medium (ICM) in Abell 1246 to the virial radius (r200) and further outside as observed with Suzaku. The ICM emission is clearly detected to r200, and we derive profiles of electron temperature, density, entropy, and cluster mass based on the spectral analysis. The temperature shows variation from ∼ 7 keV at the central region to ∼ 2.5 keV around r200. The total mass in r500 is (4.3 ± 0.4) × 1014 M⊙, assuming hydrostatic equilibrium. At r > r500, the hydrostatic mass starts to decline and we therefore employ the total mass within r200 based on a weak-lens mass profile obtained from a sample of lower-mass clusters. This yields a gas mass fraction at r200 consistent with the cosmic baryon fraction, i.e., ∼ 17%. The entropy profile indicates a flatter slope than that of the numerical simulation, particularly in r > r500. These tendencies are similar to those of other clusters observed with Suzaku. We detect no significant ICM emission outside of r200, and 2 σ upper limits of redshifted O vii and O viii line intensities are constrained to be less than 2.9 and 5.6 × 10−7 photons cm−2 s−1 arcmin−2, respectively. The O vii line upper limit indicates nH < 4.7 × 10−5 cm−3 (Z/0.2 Z⊙)−1/2 (L/20 Mpc)−1/2, which corresponds to an overdensity, δ < 160 (Z/0.2 Z⊙)−1/2 (L/20 Mpc)−1/2.
Universal predictability of mobility patterns in cities
Authors: Yan Xiao-Yong , Zhao Chen , Fan Ying , Di Zengru , Wang Wen-Xu
Published: September 2014

Despite the long history of modelling human mobility, we continue to lack a highly accurate approach with low data requirements for predicting mobility patterns in cities. Here, we present a population-weighted opportunities model without any adjustable parameters to capture the underlying driving force accounting for human mobility patterns at the city scale. We use various mobility data collected from a number of cities with different characteristics to demonstrate the predictive power of our model. We find that insofar as the spatial distribution of population is available, our model offers universal prediction of mobility patterns in good agreement with real observations, including distance distribution, destination travel constraints and flux. By contrast, the models that succeed in modelling mobility patterns in countries are not applicable in cities, which suggests that there is a diversity of human mobility at different spatial scales. Our model has potential applications in many fields relevant to mobility behaviour in cities, without relying on previous mobility measurements.
Chordate evolution and the three-phylum system
Authors: Satoh Noriyuki , Rokhsar Daniel , Nishikawa Teruaki
Published: September 2014

Traditional metazoan phylogeny classifies the Vertebrata as a subphylum of the phylum Chordata, together with two other subphyla, the Urochordata (Tunicata) and the Cephalochordata. The Chordata, together with the phyla Echinodermata and Hemichordata, comprise a major group, the Deuterostomia. Chordates invariably possess a notochord and a dorsal neural tube. Although the origin and evolution of chordates has been studied for more than a century, few authors have intimately discussed taxonomic ranking of the three chordate groups themselves. Accumulating evidence shows that echinoderms and hemichordates form a clade (the Ambulacraria), and that within the Chordata, cephalochordates diverged first, with tunicates and vertebrates forming a sister group. Chordates share tadpole-type larvae containing a notochord and hollow nerve cord, whereas ambulacrarians have dipleurula-type larvae containing a hydrocoel. We propose that an evolutionary occurrence of tadpole-type larvae is fundamental to understanding mechanisms of chordate origin. Protostomes have now been reclassified into two major taxa, the Ecdysozoa and Lophotrochozoa, whose developmental pathways are characterized by ecdysis and trochophore larvae, respectively. Consistent with this classification, the profound dipleurula versus tadpole larval differences merit a category higher than the phylum. Thus, it is recommended that the Ecdysozoa, Lophotrochozoa, Ambulacraria and Chordata be classified at the superphylum level, with the Chordata further subdivided into three phyla, on the basis of their distinctive characteristics.
DNA Denaturing through Photon Dissipation: A Possible Route to Archean Non-enzymatic Replication
Authors: Michaelian Karo , Santillán Padilla Norberto
Published: September 2014

Formidable difficulties arise when attempting to explain the non-enzymatic replication, proliferation, and the acquisition of homochirality and information content, of RNA and DNA at the beginnings of life. However, new light can be shed on these problems by viewing the origin of life as a non-equilibrium thermodynamic process in which RNA, DNA and other fundamental molecules of life arose as structures to dissipate the prevailing solar spectrum. Here we present experimental results which demonstrate that the absorption and dissipation of UV-C light by DNA at temperatures below their melting temperature leads to complete and reversible denaturing for small synthetic DNA of 25 base pairs (bp), and to partial and reversible denaturing for 48 bp DNA and for large salmon sperm and yeast DNA of average size 100 kbp. This result has direct bearing on the above mentioned problems and thereby opens the door to a possible thermodynamic route to the origin of life.
Non-crossover gene conversions show strong GC bias and unexpected clustering in humans
Authors: Williams Amy L. , Genovese Giulio , Dyer Thomas , Altemose Nicolas , Truax Katherine , Jun Goo , Patterson Nick , Myers Simon R. , Curran Joanne E. , Duggirala Ravi , Blangero John , Reich David , Przeworski Molly ,   T2D-GENES Consortium
Published: September 2014

Although the past decade has seen tremendous progress in our understanding of fine-scale recombination, little is known about non-crossover (NCO) gene conversion. We report the first genome-wide study of NCO events in humans. Using SNP array data from 98 meioses, we identified 103 sites affected by NCO, of which 50/52 were confirmed in sequence data. Overlap with double strand break (DSB) hotspots indicates that the events are likely of meiotic origin. We estimate that a site is involved in a NCO at a rate of 5.7×10-6/bp/generation, consistent with sperm-typing studies, and infer that tract lengths span at least an order of magnitude. Observed NCO events show strong allelic bias at heterozygous AT/GC SNPs, with 68% (58–78%) transmitting GC alleles (P=5×10-4). Strikingly, in 4 of 15 regions for which there are also resequencing data, multiple disjoint NCO tracts cluster in close proximity (~20–30 kb), a phenomenon not previously seen in mammals.
Functional Antagonism Between CELF and Mbnl Proteins in the Cytoplasm
Authors: Wang Eric T. , Ward Amanda J. , Cherone Jennifer , Wang Thomas T. , Giudice Jimena , Cooper Thomas A. , Burge Christopher B.
Published: September 2014

The conserved CUGBP1, Elav-like (CELF) family of RNA binding proteins contribute to heart and skeletal muscle development and are implicated in myotonic dystrophy (DM). To understand genome-wide functions of CELF proteins, we analyzed transcriptome dynamics following induction ofCELF1orCELF2in adult mouse heart orCELF1in muscle by RNA-seq, complemented by crosslinking/immunoprecipitation-sequencing (CLIP-seq) analysis of mouse cells and tissues to distinguish direct from indirect regulatory targets. Analysis of expression and mRNA binding data revealed hundreds of mRNAs bound in their 3' UTRs by both CELF1 and and the developmentally induced Mbnl1 protein, 3-fold more than expected. The relative extent of CELF1 and Mbnl1 binding in 3' UTRs predicted the extent of repression or stabilization, respectively, following CELF induction. These findings support a “Cytoplasmic Competition” model in which CELF and Mbnl proteins compete to specify degradation or membrane localization/stabilization, respectively, of an overlapping set of targets. Several hundred messages contained proximal CELF1 and Mbnl1 binding sites (within 50 bases), and were more strongly repressed by CELF1 than messages with distal sites. Messages with different spacing of CELF and Mbnl sites in their 3' UTRs exhibited different developmental dynamics, suggesting that spacing is used to tune cytoplasmic competition between these factors to specify the timing of developmental induction. CELF1 also shared dozens of splicing targets with Mbnl1, most regulated oppositely, confirming a phenomenon observed in smaller scale studies but not previously supported by genome-wide methods, which also appears to enhance developmental transitions.
Exonuclease mutations in DNA polymerase epsilon reveal replication strand specific mutation patterns and human origins of replication
Authors: Shinbrot Eve , Henninger Erin E. , Weinhold Nils , Covington Kyle R. , Göksenin A. Yasemin , Schultz Nikolaus , Chao Hsu , Doddapaneni HarshaVardhan , Muzny Donna M. , Gibbs Richard A. , Sander Chris , Pursell Zachary F. , Wheeler David A.
Published: September 2014

Tumors with somatic mutations in the proofreading exonuclease domain of DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE-exo*) exhibit a novel mutator phenotype, with markedly elevated TCT→TAT and TCG→TTG mutations and overall mutation frequencies often exceeding 100 mutations/Mb. Here, we identify POLE-exo* tumors in numerous cancers and classify them into two groups, A and B, according to their mutational properties. Group A mutants are found only in POLE, whereas Group B mutants are found in POLE and POLD1 and appear to be nonfunctional. In Group A, cell-free polymerase assays confirm that mutations in the exonuclease domain result in high mutation frequencies with a preference for C→A mutation. We describe the patterns of amino acid substitutions caused by POLE-exo* and compare them to other tumor types. The nucleotide preference of POLE-exo* leads to increased frequencies of recurrent nonsense mutations in key tumor suppressors such as TP53, ATM, and PIK3R1. We further demonstrate that strand-specific mutation patterns arise from some of these POLE-exo* mutants during genome duplication. This is the first direct proof of leading strand-specific replication by human POLE, which has only been demonstrated in yeast so far. Taken together, the extremely high mutation frequency and strand specificity of mutations provide a unique identifier of eukaryotic origins of replication.
Learning and behavioral deficits associated with the absence of the fragile X mental retardation protein: what a fly and mouse model can teach us
Authors: Santos Ana Rita , Kanellopoulos Alexandros K. , Bagni Claudia
Published: September 2014

The Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent form of inherited mental disability and is considered a monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder. FXS is caused by a triplet expansion that inhibits the expression of theFMR1gene. The gene product, the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), regulates mRNA metabolism in brain and nonneuronal cells. During brain development, FMRP controls the expression of key molecules involved in receptor signaling, cytoskeleton remodeling, protein synthesis and, ultimately, spine morphology. Symptoms associated with FXS include neurodevelopmental delay, cognitive impairment, anxiety, hyperactivity, and autistic-like behavior. Twenty years ago the firstFmr1KO mouse to study FXS was generated, and several years later other key models including the mutantDrosophila melanogaster,dFmr1, have further helped the understanding of the cellular and molecular causes behind this complex syndrome. Here, we review to which extent these biological models are affected by the absence of FMRP, pointing out the similarities with the observed human dysfunction. Additionally, we discuss several potential treatments under study in animal models that are able to partially revert some of the FXS abnormalities.
Enhanced Oxidative Stress Resistance through Activation of a Zinc Deficiency Transcription Factor inBrachypodium distachyon
Authors: Glover-Cutter Kira M. , Alderman Stephen , Dombrowski James E. , Martin Ruth C.
Published: September 2014

Identification of viable strategies to increase stress resistance of crops will become increasingly important for the goal of global food security as our population increases and our climate changes. Considering that resistance to oxidative stress is oftentimes an indicator of health and longevity in animal systems, characterizing conserved pathways known to increase oxidative stress resistance could prove fruitful for crop improvement strategies. This report argues for the usefulness and practicality of the model organism Brachypodium distachyon for identifying and validating stress resistance factors. Specifically, we focus on a zinc deficiency B. distachyon basic leucine zipper transcription factor, BdbZIP10, and its role in oxidative stress in the model organism B. distachyon. When overexpressed, BdbZIP10 protects plants and callus tissue from oxidative stress insults, most likely through distinct and direct activation of protective oxidative stress genes. Increased oxidative stress resistance and cell viability through the overexpression of BdbZIP10 highlight the utility of investigating conserved stress responses between plant and animal systems.
UV laser cutting of glass-epoxy material for opening flexible areas of rigid-flex PCB
Authors: Wang Shouxu , Feng Li , Chen Yuanming , He Wei , Tao Zhihua , Chen Shijing , Xu Huan
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to form good cutting qualities in glass-epoxy material for opening flexible areas of rigid-flex printed circuit boards (PCB) by ultraviolet (UV) laser cutting.

Design/methodology/approach

– The cut width and cut depth of glass-epoxy materials were both observed to evaluate their cutting qualities. The heat affected zone (HAZ) of the glass-epoxy material was also investigated after UV laser cutting. The relationships between the cut width and the parameters of various factors were analyzed using an orthogonal experimental design.

Findings

– The cut width of the glass-epoxy material gradually increased with the increment of the laser power and Z-axis height, while cutting speed and laser frequency had less effect on the cut width. Optimal parameters of the UV laser process for cutting glass-epoxy material were obtained and included a laser power of 6W, a cutting speed of 170 mm/s, a laser frequency of 50 kHz and a Z-axis height of 0.6 mm, resulting in an average cut width of 25 μm and small HAZ.

Originality/value

– Flexible areas of rigid-flex PCBs are in good agreement with the cutting qualities of the UV laser. The use of a UV laser process could have important potential for cutting glass-epoxy materials used in the PCB industry.
Mental health in-reach in an urban UK remand prison
Authors: Forrester Andrew , Singh Jagmohan , Slade Karen , Exworthy Tim , Sen Piyal
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Prison mental health in-reach teams (MHITs) have developed in England and Wales over the last decade. Services have been nationally reviewed, but detailed descriptions of their work have been scarce. The purpose of this paper is to describe the functions of one MHIT in a busy, ethnically diverse, male remand prison in London, UK.

Design/methodology/approach

– Clinical and demographic data were collected for prisoners referred to the MHIT using a retrospective design over an 18-week period in 2008/2009 (n=111).

Findings

– Foreign national prisoners and sentenced prisoners were significantly under-referred. Most referrals were already known to community mental health services, although around a quarter accessed services for the first time in prison. Around a third presented with self-harm/suicide risks. Substance misuse problems were common. Although the MHIT had evolved systems to promote service access, prisoner self-referrals were limited.

Practical implications

– Foreign national prisoners require enhanced investment to improve service access. MHITs identify people with mental disorders for the first time in prisons, but better screening arrangements are needed across systems. An evaluation of multiple MHIT models could inform a wider delivery template.

Originality/value

– One of the first ground-level evaluations of MHITs in England and Wales.
Brand relationship, consumption values and branded app adoption
Authors: Peng Kuo-Fang , Chen Yan , Wen Kuang-Wei
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine influential factors on branded app adoption from the perspectives of brand relationship and consumption values. Thus a research model integrating consumer-brand relationship literature and the theory of consumption values is developed.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using the survey approach, 245 participants were recruited from several app market forums and app fan communities. The banking apps issued by three large banks in Taiwan were used in the research.

Findings

– The findings support the research model and confirm that brand relationship in terms of brand attachment and brand identification, and perceived overall consumption values are influencing factors in branded app adoption.

Research limitations/implications

– The research advances the understanding of the effect of brand relationship on branded app use behavior and the functional and non-functional value components pertaining to branded apps.

Originality/value

– Little research has investigated if brand-consumer relationship and consumption values can sustain and continually impact consumers’ choice in mobile apps.
Suicide by cop: implications for crisis (hostage) negotiations
Authors: Sarno Marina , B. Van Hasselt Vincent
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Suicide by cop (SbC) is a growing problem and presents special challenges to crisis (hostage) negotiation teams. The purpose of this paper is to examine current definitions of SbC, early warning signs of SbC, successful and unsuccessful resolution of cases, and strategies that have proven most effective to resolve these incidents. Recommendations regarding appropriate training and coping strategies in dealing with the post-shooting emotional sequelae of SbC are presented.

Design/methodology/approach

– With a dearth of empirical knowledge regarding how to properly respond to SbC crisis incidents, an extensive literature review was conducted to ascertain extant strategies to de-escalate and reduce the lethality of these events.

Findings

– Results indicated that SbC crisis incidents are more likely to be resolved if officers provide reassurance for the way that subject's feel, comply with reasonable requests, and offer alternative or realistic options. Establishing rapport by spending time with the subject and utilizing active listening skills can decrease the likelihood of another episode in the future.

Practical implications

– These findings have implications for the efficient training of law enforcement officers in general, and crisis negotiators, in particular, in how to appropriately deal with SbC events. The authors also highlight specific errors in negotiation and how to observe early warning signs in the SbC subject to inform prevention and intervention strategies.

Originality/value

– The paper adds to the limited literature on crisis negotiation techniques for resolving SbC incidents.
When is an offender not a criminal? Instrumentality distinguishes self-reported offending of criminals
Authors: Youngs Donna , Canter David
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Although most aetiological theories of crime assume that offenders are a distinct subset of the population, there is evidence that many illegal acts are committed by people who have no convictions and are therefore not regarded as criminals. The question consequently arises as to whether there are aspects of illegal actions that set convicted offenders apart. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– To answer this, a 45-item self-report questionnaire was administered to two samples (males 15-29 years): 185 prisoners and 80 young men without convictions.

Findings

– The results draw attention to a distinguishing psychological dimension of instrumentality operating across the range of offence forms. Convicted offenders are more likely to commit crimes for direct gratification with intent when compared with the sorts of illegal activities that non-convicted respondents report they have done.

Research limitations/implications

– Careful matching of convicted criminals and those without convictions is extremely difficult. Future research that explores other non-criminal samples would therefore be of value.

Practical implications

– Interventions with people who commit crimes need to carefully distinguish between those who are determined criminals and those whose activities are more likely to be part of an opportunistic culture.

Originality/value

– The results challenge conceptualisation of criminals and criminality as something always distinct from those without convictions. It thus has implications for what theories of crime should seek to explain. The significance of instrumentality also give further force to the legal emphasis on men's area.
Alexithymia, Asperger's syndrome and criminal behaviour: a review
Authors: Payne Katy-Louise , Hollin Clive
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review the empirical literature informing the nature of the relationship between criminal behaviour and both Alexithymia and Asperger's syndrome (AS).

Design/methodology/approach

– The relevant literature was identified through database searches and via citations in primary sources.

Findings

– Alexithymia and AS are relatively similar constructs with some overlap in their defining characteristics including utilitarian thinking and deficiencies in empathy. Alexithymia is significantly more prevalent in offender populations than controls and, in particular, has a complex relationship with psychopathy. The research concerning AS has mainly focused on offense type and reasons for offending. In terms of offences, homicide rates were in keeping with general base rates, however, sexual offences were under-represented and arson was over-represented.

Practical implications

– In terms of reasons for offending, criminal behaviour is best described as a consequence of the classical characteristics of AS. It is suggested that despite their similarities the relationship of the two disorders with criminal behaviour may well be different. This suggestion has implications for the design of services intended to reduce the risk of offending in these two groups.

Originality/value

– The review draws together a diverse range of literature around a rather neglected topic in criminological psychology. It will be of value to researchers in suggesting where new knowledge is needed, particularly with regard to disentangling the risk factors for offending for the two conditions, and to practitioners within the criminal justice system in pointing towards areas for intervention to reduce risk.
Judiciary views on criminal behaviour and intention of offenders with high-functioning autism
Authors: M. Berryessa Colleen
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how judges perceive High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders (hfASDs) and the disorders’ effects on an offender's ability to formulate criminal intent and control behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

– Semi-structured interviews on topics related to offenders with hfASDs were conducted with 21 California Superior Court Judges. A coding scheme was developed and an iterative qualitative coding process was used for analysis.

Findings

– Analysis yielded three major themes on how an hfASD diagnosis affects an offender's ability to regulate actions and criminal behaviour. Interviewed judges reported beliefs that hfASD offenders view the world in a different way and that much of their behaviour is not under their direct control. Judges reported these perceptions likely affect how they criminally process and make legal decisions regarding offenders with hfASDs.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample size was small and therefore no statistical significance can be drawn from results; findings cannot be applied to perceptions or experiences of the entire California Superior Court Judge population.

Originality/value

– Past academic research reports that individuals with hfASDs that offend often do so because of specific symptoms associated with the disorder. This presents a complex dilemma for the criminal justice system regarding how best to understand the disorder and process these offenders. This study and its findings aim to shed light on issues judges encounter in determining these offenders’ responsibility and sentencing, in what ways this information might be integrated into judicial decision making, and areas where future research is needed.
Performance analysis and measurement of reconfigurable manufacturing systems
Authors: H. Garbie Ibrahim
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a new performance analysis and measurement regarding reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) taken into consideration new circumstances which include changes in the market demand, changes in a product design, and/or introduction of a new product. As the reconfiguration process is applied to a manufacturing system to improve the system's performance due to new circumstances, the RMS process has potential quantitative and qualitative measures.

Design/methodology/approach

– The manufacturing system has a great impact on the performance measurement and the selection of the objectives to measure the performance is very important. These objectives include the critical requirements for a RMS and they are as follows: product cost, manufacturing response, system productivity, people behavior, inventory, and quality of the finished products. Because each criterion measure in a RMS is a potential source of evaluation, it should have a relative weight with respect to the other measures. First, each criterion will be measured individually. Second, these measures need to be evaluated through an aggregate quantitative metric because there is a lack of analytical techniques to analyze and evaluate both qualitative and quantitative measures.

Findings

– Performance evaluation of a RMS from one circumstance to another is highly desired by using the new quantitative metric regarding updating (upgrading) the system for the next period based on the previous one. The results show that the applicable of using this new technique in evaluating the RMS. The results also support the new quantitative metric.

Originality/value

– The suggestion of a new aggregate performance measurement metric including the all potential objectives is highly considered. This paper provides an insight into each objective individually to measure it. It is also used from 0 to 1 as range of measure to evaluate the potential and aggregate metrics toward next reconfiguration with respect to the existing one.
Evaluating Six Sigma methodology to improve logistical measures of food distribution SMEs
Authors: Shokri Alireza , Oglethorpe David , Nabhani Farhad
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation of the Six Sigma methodology as a systematic business strategy and quality initiative to improve the critical logistical measures within small-to-medium-sized food distributors.

Design/methodology/approach

– The first stage was the conducting of structured questionnaires to verify the applicability in terms of capability, resources and culture in the targeted industry. The second stage was the implementation of two industrial case studies to investigate the impacts of Six Sigma on logistical measures.

Findings

– It was found that Six Sigma is applicable and beneficial in small-to-medium-sized food distributors. It was also found that required training, personal characteristics of managers, size of the organisation, education level and workplace of the employees are the most effective elements to adopt Six Sigma for these organisations.

Research limitations/implications

– Cultural factors including high level of secrecy in information exchange, ambiguity and lack of knowledge, sampling population and requirement of ISO9000 were found as key issues in implications of this research programme.

Practical implications

– Six Sigma programme can be used as a problem solving practice, a performance measurement tool and a business strategy in small food distributors through more simplified approach to improve the ultimate food supply chain.

Originality/value

– This research paper studies the application of Six Sigma in food logistics SME sector by having integrated research approach, and also provides a practical scientific and rigorous quality and profitability improvement methodology for smaller food distribution organisations with limited resources.
Collective leadership for cultures of high quality health care
Authors: A. West Michael , Lyubovnikova Joanne , Eckert Regina , Denis Jean-Louis
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges that health care organizations face in nurturing and sustaining cultures that ensure the delivery of continually improving, high quality and compassionate care for patients and other service users.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on an extensive review of the literature, the authors examine the current and very challenging context of health care and highlight the core cultural elements needed to enable health care organizations to respond effectively to the challenges identified.

Findings

– The role of leadership is found to be critical for nurturing high-quality care cultures. In particular, the authors focus on the construct of collective leadership and examine how this type of leadership style ensures that all staff take responsibility for ensuring high-quality care for patients.

Practical implications

– Climates for quality and safety can be accomplished by the development of strategies that ensure leaders, leadership skills and leadership cultures are appropriate to meet the challenges health care organizations face in delivering continually improving, high quality, safe and compassionate patient care.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a comprehensive integration of research findings on how to foster quality and safety climates in healthcare organizations, synthesizing insights from academic literature, practitioner reports and policy documents to propose clear, timely and much needed practical guidelines for healthcare organizations both nationally and internationally.
Audience segmentation: identifying key stakeholders for mental health literacy interventions in India
Authors: Loganathan Santosh , Kreuter Matthew
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Improving mental health literacy is a key component of any population-based mental health program, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Effective strategies to increase awareness and reduce stigma associated with mental health are sparse and have not been evaluated in India or among other low- and middle-income countries. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The review was based on the literature obtained from articles identified by searches of Medline, PubMed, and Google (Scholar) with the Mesh terms “mental health literacy”, “developing countries,” and “audience segmentation” between 1979 and 2012. Information was also obtained by interacting with experts in the field of health communication and public health, one of whom (M.K.) is a co-author.

Findings

– Systematic reviews of studies among occidental countries have proposed that targeted approaches to mental health literacy are not only more effective, but also more cost-effective than general population approaches. Using audience segmentation to target distinct population sub-groups is a well-established best practice in health communication, is recommended for low resource settings and in situations with a limited budget, and may be especially effective when based on socio-cultural variables.

Originality/value

– Yet to date it has not been applied in India for mental-health-related communication. The need for such cost-effective, innovative, and equitable strategies for mental health literacy is the cornerstone to mitigate stigma associated with mental illness, and improve awareness among a proportionately illiterate population.
Mental health services: the African gap
Authors: Wilson Claire , Taghi Yasamy Mohammad , Morris Jodi , Novin Atieh , Saeed Khalid , D. Nkomo Sebastiana
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Neuropsychiatric disorders account for a substantial proportion of disease burden and disability in Africa. Despite this, mental health systems are under-resourced in Africa, as in most parts of the world, creating a “treatment gap” and denying the African population the right to mental health achieved through access to mental health services. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The mental health systems of African countries were compared with figures for all low- and middle-income countries (LAMICS) using data from the World Health Organization Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems. Comparable global figures were also available for some indicators from the WHO's World Mental Health Atlas 2011.

Findings

– Selected indicators of mental health systems are presented for 14 African countries and shows that they are lower as compared to figures for all other LAMICS and also global figures. The treatment gap for mental disorders is much higher in Africa than comparable global figures. For example, the treatment gap for mood disorders has been estimated from 95 to 100 per cent for some African countries.

Originality/value

– There is an imbalance between need and service provision in the area of mental health across the world but particularly in Africa. Despite this, there are a greater number of outpatient than inpatient services in Africa which provides an opportunity for development of community-based services. There are also many encouraging examples of effective approaches to reducing the burden of neuropsychiatic disease in Africa.
The creative artist support group: a case study
Authors: Benjamin Elliot
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the therapeutic benefits of a community-based creative artists support group. The author is also the participant/facilitator of the group, which has been ongoing for the past eight months. The relevant experiences of three participants in the group have been chosen, to briefly illustrate the diverse kinds of social and therapeutic value that people with creative artistic inclinations may benefit from.

Design/methodology/approach

– The philosophy of the author's facilitation of this creative artist support group is based upon the humanistic psychology foundations of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, as well as the author's previous work on the relationship of the creative artist to mental disturbance and mental health.

Findings

– The pragmatic illustrations of therapeutic benefit from participation in this creative artist support group are directly related to the humanistic supportive atmosphere that is described in this paper as a cornerstone of the Artistic Theory of Psychology.

Originality/value

– This paper is highly original in the context of the author's description of his Artistic Theory of Psychology, which utilizes the foundation for the “successful creative artist” as being successful in both one's chosen artistic realm as well as making a satisfactory adjustment to day-to-day life. It should also be noted that this paper has been written in the context of a “brief case study” as discussed in August 2013 with the Journal of Public Mental Health editor.
Enhancement of reading experience
Authors: Huang Kuo-Liang , Chen Kuo-Hsiang , Ho Chun-Heng
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Tablets are becoming mainstream devices for digital reading. Through user experience (UX), the purpose of this paper is to identify significant differences between tablet reading systems and other digital reading systems, explore potential requirements for the interactive interface, and propose design solutions so that user’ behavioral intention (BI) may be further enhanced.

Design/methodology/approach

– First, the authors extracted the context of use and behavior patterns by conducting contextual inquiries; then, potential requirements were identified and design solutions were developed; last, the technology acceptance model was employed to verify research findings.

Findings

– The outcome shows that the improved version of the interactive interface is significantly (p<0.05) superior to the original version in various aspects, including perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, user attitude, and BI.

Originality/value

– So far, there has been no relevant research on UX concerning tablet reading systems. Therefore, this study first tried to investigate the primary difference between tablet reading systems and other digital reading systems in context of use and behavior patterns. Then, based on the foregoing discoveries, users’ motivations and perception of tablet readers were probed, and the problems with BI could be solved.
Experts as facilitators for the implementation of social media in the library? A social network approach
Authors: Vanwynsberghe Hadewijch , Boudry Elke , Vanderlinde Ruben , Verdegem Pieter
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Based on the social capital theory, the authors assume that personal and professional experts are both relevant to people's competence development. However, to date, there is little empirical evidence of how professional experts can support, or impede, people in learning how to deal with social media. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role and position of social media experts in the distribution of information on social media within the library as organization.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws upon social network and qualitative methods, within three public libraries located in Belgium.

Findings

– The findings suggest that as the most central actors, social media experts in a library play a significant role in either supporting or constraining the distribution of information on social media.

Research limitations/implications

– While the sample size was chosen to conduct a mixed methods study that would explore how the position of a social media expert in an organization such as the library facilitates or prevents the exchange of social media information, the authors acknowledge the need for large-scale empirical studies that can substantiate the findings in larger and more diverse samples.

Originality/value

– This unique study explores how the role and position social media experts in Belgian public libraries can support, or impede, librarians in learning how to deal with social media. This study is useful for other public libraries who want to implement social media, establish a social media policy and/or provide social media training.
Understanding methodological and disciplinary differences in the data practices of academic researchers
Authors: Weller Travis , Monroe-Gulick Amalia
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to better understand the data practices, influences and needs of researchers at a major public research institution.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is based on the results of a pre-tested, web-based survey of University of Kansas faculty, staff, researchers and graduate students.

Findings

– Influences on data practices and data needs vary with the research methodology and academic discipline of the researcher.

Practical implications

– Academic libraries may need to adjust the services they offer to meet the varying needs of researchers in differing disciplines using differing methodologies.

Originality/value

– This study adds to the developing literature describing research data management.
Institutional repository as an important part of scholarly communication
Authors: Koler-Povh Teja , Mikoš Matjaž , Turk Goran
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the institutional repository (IR) named DRUGG (Digital Repository of the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering) of the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering (UL FGG), just from its beginnings in 2011, and using the statistics of visits to present its merits for higher visibility of scholarly publications on the web. The role of all stakeholders involved in the construction of this IR is highlighted.

Design/methodology/approach

– The historical overview of the awareness of researchers on the UL FGG on worldwide scientific communication through web sites is showed from beginning in the 1990s. Using Google Analytics the statistics of visits and downloads after a year of operations is showed, as well as the statistics of access from different networks from all over the world.

Findings

– In the DRUGG repository mainly theses are archived which are usually not published elsewhere. They are very interesting for professional engineers working in practice. The statistics showed that 89 per cent of all visits come from public domains, while only 11 per cent are from the home domain of the University of Ljubljana (UL).

Research limitations/implications

– This paper is a case study and limited only to IR DRUGG. It describes the steps taken in implementing the IR considering the technological infrastructure, human resources and collaboration of the library staff with other professional and administrative faculty units.

Practical implications

– The repository is to a large extent used by the professional public and that the use is not limited only to the home institution – UL.

Originality/value

– This paper helps in planning to build an IR. It also presents an overview of worldwide research and analysis about the influence of IRs on citations of scholarly publications to convince the sceptical research policy makers.
Julio O. De Castro: open your eyes! Research opportunities are all around you
Authors: Ibarreche Santiago
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to be a conversation with Julio O. De Castro, conducted by Santiago Ibarreche, about his career as an eclectic scholar, with high aims at having social impact in his activities as an academician in the area of international businesses, entrepreneurship, family firms, piracy, informal firms and other equally important subjects.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is an interview.

Findings

– The interview explores De Castro’s career, his achievements and continued search for excellence in terms of teaching, research and service in academia, especially in his role as President of The Iberoamerican Academy of Management.

Originality/value

– The interview in this special section, A Life in Research, brings out an individual scholar’s experience and history, not only as recognition of scholarly impact but also as recognition of the person.