bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
School performance trajectories and the challenges for principal succession
Authors: Lee Linda C.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to use empirical data on new principals to clarify the connection between different succession situations and the challenges their successor principals face.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study draws on two waves of interview data from a random sample of 16 new elementary school principals in a major urban school district in the USA.

Findings

– New principals face distinct practice challenges depending on the nature of their successions. The less planned the succession, the less information and knowledge the new principal tends to possess. The more discontinuous the new administration’s trajectory is with the previous administration, the greater the staff resistance that the successor principal tends to face.

Research limitations/implications

– Few studies systematically examine how succession situations differ in schools that are in need of transformation vs those in need of stability. This study addresses this gap by illuminating the varied processes of succession and highlighting specific mechanisms that link these processes to different organizational trajectories.

Practical implications

– For district officials, this study suggests that principals in unplanned successions need greater support in quickly gathering information about their new schools while principals in discontinuous successions need greater expertise in how to balance trust-building and accountability in their attempts to promote transformational change.

Originality/value

– This study’s primary value is its detailed articulation of how certain characteristics of succession situations are associated with specific types of challenges. Only studies at this level of specificity can be effective guides to practitioners and policymakers who are charged with preparing, selecting, and supporting new principals and their schools.
Demographic determinants of electronic commerce (EC) adoption by SMEs
Authors: Awa Hart Okorie , Baridam Don Monday , Nwibere Barinedum Michael
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Research on the demographic characteristics of top management team (TMT) on e-commerce adoption has really advanced. Although some of such studies factored location factors as e-commerce adoption drivers, rare attempts have been made to unravel if the differences in the demographic composition of TMT and the rate of adoption may be explained by the differences in the firm’s geographical location. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to bridge this knowledge gap by proposing a framework that conceives and measures geographical location as a contextual variable between e-commerce adoption and TMT composition.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were generated from the opinions of owners/managers of 226 SMEs drawn purposefully from registered SMEs in five industries located in three geo-political zones of Nigeria. Two cities (a state capital and a commercial nerve centre) were studied and a four-step hierarchical regression (spanning factor-loading) was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– Evidence from the study shows that the hypothesized relationships between demographic factors and e-commerce adoption (main/direct effects) were statistically significant (supporting H1-H4). The two moderators (physical infrastructures and industrial specialization) that explained location factors were equally statistically significant in moderating the relationship between the demographic composition of TMT and e-commerce adoption.

Research limitations/implications

– Sampling the opinions of SMEs in some industries of three geo-political zones of Nigeria limits the power of generalization. Therefore, extended data and measures are required to replicate the study in order to build external validity and reliability, and possibly theories. Further, some errors seem unavoidable in the course of converting the data through SPSS procedure just as all the measures used appear subjective and prone to common method bias. Other demographic and location factors not captured in the study may be handled by future studies.

Originality/value

– The work will be of benefit to the academia and practitioners in terms of showing how location factors dictate the relationship between the demographic composition of top management and e-commerce adoption. The paper raises pointers that stimulate future research and advised policy-makers on even or near-even distribution of infrastructural facilities.
Interplay of cognition and emotion in IS usage
Authors: Yang Inju , Bahli Bouchaib
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effects of emotion as outcomes of cognition, in turn influencing levels of information system (IS) usage at work. In doing so, the author presents set of propositions illustrating an integrated model by adapting both cognitive and affects aspects to explain continuance of IS usage.

Design/methodology/approach

– This conceptual paper explains the importance of cognitive judgement to IS usage via emotional lenses. Based on literature covering the concepts of technology adaptation theory, emotions, as well as the theoretical foundations in cognitive appraisal, the author has examined the relationship between cognition and IS usage with mediating emotion.

Findings

– Propositions based on literature review of cognition and emotions in IS research are presented for further empirical study. The author argues that by connecting cognitive judgement and emotional reactions on IS, both ease of use and usefulness should be considered in designing IS as to how these may generate positive or negative emotions.

Research limitations/implications

– As the success of IS depends on the users’ continued use of the system, an integrated model adapting both cognitive and affects aspects will be better equipped to explain continuance of IS usage.

Practical implications

– Good IS design could influence not only the effectiveness of IS but also the emotional well-being of employees.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first studies to consider together the impact of the cognitive and affective processes leading to IS continuance in one model. This is one of the first studies in which one single model is used to consider together the impact of the cognitive and affective processes leading to IS continuance. Thus, the author contributes to IS continuance literature as well as employees’ well-being literatures given how IS is embedded in today’s working organization. The author also believes the model will stimulate more comprehensive understanding of IS continuance as IS users are considered as human beings with both cognition and emotions.
Cultural traits and stock market development: an empirical analysis
Authors: Dutta Nabamita , Mukherjee Deepraj
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– During recent times, the stock market has emerged as a major financial institution of an economy. Yet, cross-country differences, in size and role of stock market, persist. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the correlation between cultural traits and the development of the stock market in a country. Considering multiple dimensions of culture, identified in the literature by Hofstede (1980/2001) and World Value Survey, the authors construct the hypotheses: trust, a key cultural trait, should positively influence stock market development; uncertainty avoidance, Hofstede’s cultural dimension should negatively influence the development of the stock market; and individualism, an alternate cultural dimension of Hofstede’s measures, should be positively correlated with stock market development. The cross-country empirical analysis supports the hypotheses. The results hold for multiple measures of stock market development.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper investigates the correlation between various cultural traits and the development of the stock market in a country. Specifically, the authors consider three different cultural trait measures. The authors consider a cross-sectional analysis of an extensive number of countries. While all explanatory variables of interest are considered over the period 2000-2007, the authors consider 2008 figures for the dependent variables of interest, financial development. Ordinary least squares is considered as the benchmark specification. Robust regression has been considered as part of robustness analysis. The authors mention throughout the paper that the results stress on significant association between the variables, only.

Findings

– The empirical results support the hypotheses. The first measure, trust, is positively associated with stock market development of a nation. Statistically, for one standard deviation rise in trust (1 SD=37.5), stock market capitalization will go up between 11 and 19 percentage points. Uncertainty avoidance, the second measure is negatively correlated and statistically, the impact is much greater. Finally, the third measure, individualism, is positively correlated with stock market development. Statistically, for one SD rise in individualism (SD=23.9), stock market capitalization will rise by 23 percentage points.

Originality/value

– Existing literature has stressed the role of cultural traits – trust, uncertainty avoidance, individualism – in the promotion of entrepreneurship, innovation and growth. Since most startups need to raise capital in order to implement their new ideas, cross-country heterogeneity in the strength of capital markets may lead to important differences in entrepreneurship and productivity growth across economies (Greenwood and Jovanovic, 1990; Jayaratne and Strahan, 1996; Levine, 1997; Beck et al., 2000; Guiso et al., 2004). Yet, the link between stock market development and cultural traits has not been established in the literature. This paper aims to fill this missing link.
Building boundary capabilities at the base of the pyramid
Authors: Mezias Stephen , Fakhreddin Mohamad
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Over the last 15 years, articles about the base of the pyramid (BOP) have begun to appear in scholarly business journals. Although attention was driven initially by claims that corporations could earn a fortune selling to these consumers, it became clear that this is difficult. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– To move beyond this difficulty, the authors emphasize the iterative boundary capabilities built by local, for profit enterprises as the key to creating markets at the BOP.

Findings

– The authors argue that the evolution of the business models to permit firms to earn profits and have positive social impact requires building iterative boundary capabilities and support this claim by reviewing two cases of community based non-profits.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research should demonstrate that the process the authors observed in these two cases applies in other contexts. Scaling social impact will require sharing knowledge about iterative boundary capabilities and developing best practices that can help effective allocation of patient capital to share best practice and guide public policy.

Practical implications

– Social entrepreneurs can conceptualize their own enterprises in terms of iterative boundary capabilities. Social investors can use the framework to assess and advise enterprises in which they may or have invested. Policy makers can enact laws and other legal actions to facilitate the formation of iterative boundary capabilities.

Social implications

– The authors see the framework as part of a broader move toward business models that pursue both positive social impact and profits.

Originality/value

– The authors link a structuring approach with an institutional perspective to enhance business models that pursue profit and create positive social impact in BOP communities.
Facing the open innovation gap: measuring and building open innovation in supply chains
Authors: Shamah Rania Abd Elmonem , Elssawabi Shaymaa M.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to develop a standardized instrument to measure open innovation and trust. The instrument is designed to examine the willingness of those involved in supply chains (SCs) to apply open innovation. It may also be used to observe the potential role of customers, competitors and suppliers in improving the performance of SCs.

Design/methodology/approach

– This survey of the extant studies of Multinational Automobiles Assembly lines in Egypt involved a questionnaire, which was provided across all grades at the middle managerial level. This questionnaire was divided into two main sections. The first section was concerned with elements of open innovation such as innovation, shared values and shared knowledge. The second section was focused on interrelated types of organizational and extra-organizational trust.

Findings

– The developed instrument was designed to access and analyze the different types of trust required for the optimal application of open innovation. Its purpose was to enhance customer satisfaction, and to help to create better internal-customer performance and the provision of innovative products. This explorative study indicated that Multinational Automobile Assembly lines in Egypt are willing to apply open innovation methods to improve their performance.

Research limitations/implications

– The study had a number of limitations. As the survey was conducted entirely on Multinational Automobile Assembly lines in Egypt, the applicability of the proposed scale will need to be tested further on different countries and types of industry.

Originality/value

– There is little empirical research about implementation of open innovation. Practitioners and researchers should find value in this unique instrument tool.
Modeling the performance measures of world class manufacturing using interpreting structural modeling
Authors: Digalwar Abhijeet Keshaorao , Jindal Anil , Sangwan Kuldip Singh
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the performance measures of world class manufacturing (WCM) and to establish relationship among them using interpretive structural modeling (ISM).

Design/methodology/approach

– The research paper presents a blend of theoretical framework and practical applications. In the paper, 16 performance measures are identified from literature survey and experts’ opinion, and then these are validated by questionnaire survey in India. Finally, ISM is used to obtain structural relationship among these performance measures of WCM.

Findings

– The results of the survey and the ISM methodology have been used to evolve the mutual relationships among these performance measures.

Practical implications

– The adoption of such an ISM-based model on WCM performance measures in manufacturing organizations would help managers, decision-makers and practitioners of WCM in better understanding of these performance measures and to focus on appropriate performance measures while implementing WCM in their organizations.

Originality/value

– Performance measures are of paramount importance for the implementation of WCM practices. Knowing the key performance measures and relationship among them can help many organizations to implement WCM practices. It is one of the foremost attempts to model performance measures of WCM. The paper provides useful insights into the WCM practitioners, consultants and researchers.
Expanding Oldenburg: homes as third places
Authors: Purnell David
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this research study is to extend the concept of third places, as explained by Oldenburg (2000), as being places designed as meeting places and as being dynamic rather than static.

Design/methodology/approach

– The primary site for this paper is a neighborhood ritual of shared meals that has taken place every Wednesday for the past fourteen years. This was a 6 month study focusing on semi-structured interviews.

Findings

– Characteristics of third places when compared to other arguments for the classification of third place supports the use of space instead of the purpose of a place as the main consideration for the classification of “third place”.

Research limitations/implications

– Defining social events within homes as third spaces pushes the traditional third place theory forward. It offers a way for rituals to be explored more deeply through the experiences they offer.

Practical implications

– This study asks the reader to pay attention to the periphery where interaction takes place and consider how we frame concepts of third places.

Social implications

– Third places create an environment that allows individuals expressions of restraint (to keep the distance between yourself and others), relaxation (to be yourself), freedom (from judgment), reflexivity (when you look back at past events) and vulnerability (opening yourself up to the possibilities that come from interacting with others).

Originality/value

– The distinction of third place is not so much in the categorization of the building but rather in the use for which the space serves. Extending these conversations into future research endeavors would be to continue and to extend the discussion/description of third places.
A social network analysis of South Central Kansas Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development
Authors: Dziadkowiec Oliwier , Wituk Scott , Franklin Debra
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to evaluate the composition and strengths/weaknesses and major actors of a coalition of regional economic leaders in the composites participating in the Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) project aimed at supporting high-skilled and high-wage careers.

Design/methodology/approach

– Social network analysis (SNA) was used to assess south-central (SC) Kansas WIRED coalition (n = 81) based on three surveys question: Who do you know? Who do you communicate with? and Who do you collaborate with? All the surveys were administered online in two waves.

Findings

– SC Kansas WIRED network has a strong core, well-defined periphery and is immune to key actor losses, which suggests that they are well developed and sustainable. The well-defined periphery positions the collaborative to reach out to resources outside of the network and innovation.

Practical implications

– SC Kansas WIRED Leadership team used the SNA to identify opportunities for further collaboration and reach out to individuals and groups who are not engaged well with others but are positioned well for sparking innovation and bringing resources to the region.

Originality/value

– There are few analytic resources to empirically examine coalitions/collaboratives and the human and economic resources embedded in them. The results of this study and the feedback from SC Kansas WIRED Leadership team suggests that SNA was very valuable in identifying areas for action or improvement of the SC Kansas WIRED collaborative and can be utilized for effective decision-making.
Place branding in strategic spatial planning
Authors: Oliveira Eduardo Henrique da Silva
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to firstly depict the theoretical links between place branding and strategic spatial planning to provide further theoretical and conceptual foundations. Secondly, it aims to explore the roots of place branding theory and practice in Portugal, as well as how place branding has been approached (or not) in spatial development plans, strategic initiatives and policy documents by stating the territorial, spatial-economic and sectoral development trajectories for the country and its northern region.

Design/methodology/approach

– A content analysis of 20 spatial development plans, strategies and policy documents (of 30 identified), published by Portuguese authorities, the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, mainly for the period between 2014 and 2020, has been used.

Findings

– Empirical evidence shows that tourism-oriented promotion initiatives, investment-oriented marketing campaigns and communication strategies uniquely supported by visual elements and aesthetic values (e.g. logos and slogans) deserve more attention from authorities in charge of spatial planning and policy-making. Place branding is an absent term. Moreover, there is inconsistency between current research and practice on place branding and how it has been incorporated in strategic spatial planning at EU, national and regional levels.

Research limitations/implications

– Whilst some of the research findings are place-specific (Portugal and its northern region), this exploratory paper aims to present a better understanding of the way in which places and branding can be conceptually addressed, primarily by assigning a spatial dimension to the idea of branding places and its alignment with strategic spatial planning and spatial plan-making.

Originality/value

– This paper critically explores the actual or potential roles of place branding as an instrument for the attainment of strategic spatial planning goals through its integration in plan and policy-making. By guiding the attention of academics, practitioners and policymakers towards a strategic spatially oriented approach to place branding, the paper brings an alternative view to the scholarly and professional debate on place branding.
Portfolio diversification during monetary loosening policy
Authors: Makiel Kamil
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to analyze the impact of quantitative easing (QE) performed in the USA on relationship between assets mainly from mining and oil industries. Based on the empirical results, the method of diversified portfolio creation has been proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

– Nine DCC-GARCH-type models have been estimated for each group centered around a main asset: a company from the oil or mining industry, the appropriate currency pair for its market of origin, commodities which could be used for the diversification of risk involved in investing in a portfolio containing the company, and the largest company from the same industry listed on the US market. Each series of conditional correlations was analyzed with regard to the changes that occurred during the various stages of QE.

Findings

– The correlations are shown to be stabilizing in the successive stages of QE. The most significant changes in the distribution of correlations can be observed after the first stage of QE. The effects of QE are evident not only in the USA but also in other countries; however, the level of its influence varies between different markets and assets. It is possible to diversify the inflation, currency and market portfolio risk by appropriately chosen asset decomposition.

Research limitations/implications

– The DCC model is limited, so to provide more precise results, more sophisticated models can be estimated and compared.

Practical implications

– The paper investigate the fact of stabilization in financial markets relations. The findings may prove the validity of continuation of QE. A portfolio creation method has been proposed – it has been stated that including commodity in portfolio is more appropriate then only-bond–equity mix.

Originality/value

– The new approach of analyzing financial stability has been proposed – the control for stability of conditional correlation.
Visualization and establishment of product design regulations as interactive modules
Authors: Blomé Mikael
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore the preferable manner for visualizing different product regulations to be used in the training of and communication between people working at different levels in the production process. Many organizations struggle to communicate important and compulsory regulations, but the intended users are often reluctant to use them.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study has an action research approach, and the visualized regulations were the result of a human-centered design process that considered aspects for successful organizational change.

Findings

– The action research approach proved to be a successful framework to design the transformation of well-constructed illustrations in interactive guides, communicate and convince managers and users of the potential of the concept, develop a number of different well-functioning guides and establish regulations with illustrative elements and interactivity in a long-term perspective of an organization.

Research limitations/implications

– Further research is needed to follow-up the usage of visualized regulations to clarify how communication and quality are supported in design and production processes.

Practical implications

– The study shows how different product regulations should be visualized and established in an organization, with a potential for further dissemination. It is likely that the approach to design and visualize regulations in this study can function in other branches.

Originality/value

– The study finds a preferable manner for visualizing different product regulations to be used in the training of and communication between people working at different levels in the production process.
An analysis of the barriers to the proliferation of M-commerce in Qatar
Authors: Khan Habibullah , Talib Faisal , Faisal Mohd. Nishat
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify and develop a hierarchical model for the barriers affecting the growth of mobile commerce (M-commerce). Based on the model developed, the authors’ objective is to identify those variables that are of strategic nature and are the root cause of the issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– Variables considered as barriers are identified, and utilizing the interpretive structural model approach, a relationship model is developed. Further, the impact matrix cross-reference multiplication applied to a classification approach is used to analyze the effect and dependence among these factors.

Findings

– The research in the area of M-commerce in the Arab world and related to the strategic aspect is limited in the extant literature. The present study tries to fill this gap by investigating the variables that inhibit the growth of M-commerce in Qatar. The research shows that there exists a group of barriers having a high driving power and low dependence requiring maximum attention and of strategic importance, while another group consists of those variables that have high dependence and are the resultant actions.

Practical implications

– There is a growing concern that although the numbers of mobile subscribers are increasing at a very fast pace in Qatar, actual M-commerce activities in the country remain low. The findings of this study can be used to understand the differences between the independent and dependent variables and their mutual relationships. The study would also help the policy makers to develop suitable strategies to facilitate growth of M-commerce in the country.

Originality/value

– This research was the first attempt to investigate the relationships among the variables inhibiting the growth of M-commerce in a fast-growing economy in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Given that there is limited research on M-commerce in the GCC context, the study can be viewed as an investigation that provides a good understanding of the variables and their interrelationships affecting M-commerce proliferation.
Sustaining Sweden’s competitive position: lean lifelong learning
Authors: Isaksson Raine , Garvare Rickard , Johnson Mikael , Kuttainen Christer , Pareigis Jörg
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore what options the adult learner has for continued learning and what role universities are playing in providing net-based education. Current options for lifelong learning and improvement opportunities in the educational process are described based on an assessment inspired by principles of lean management.

Design/methodology/approach

– Sweden is chosen as an example. The current level of net-based university education and the demand for it is assessed using official Swedish data. Lean management principles are used as a starting point to define parameters for interest for the adult learner. These parameters are then converted into a five-level scale for assessing current performance with focus on university courses. The authors also study how Swedish County Councils manage their employee education and carry out a check of courses offered by massive open online course providers.

Findings

– Lean management principles in combination with customer focus seem to present relevant parameters for assessing distance education. Preliminary results indicate that lean lifelong learning has a considerable improvement potential. The main reasons for this potential seem to be more of a bureaucratic and political nature, whereas technology and resources appear to be less of an issue.

Practical implications

– The results have implications for both universities and organisations. The pressure on universities to become more customer-focussed, while at the same time, cost-effectiveness is likely to increase.

Originality/value

– Using the customer perspective for educational services and applying lean principles to education.
Merciful yet effective elderly care performance management practices
Authors: Angelis Jannis , Jordahl Henrik
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The study aims to compare management practices in private and publicly owned elderly care homes. The demands for cost-effective care combined with emphasis on client experience highlights the importance of appropriate management practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study utilises a survey of 500 homes covering management practices on monitoring, performance management and staff development. These are highly correlated, allowing for treating the practices both in aggregate and individually in the analysis. Additional questions capture information on site and management conditions.

Findings

– Management practices employed at the elderly care homes vary greatly, with high and low individual scores found in most homes. But private homes consistently score higher than public homes, especially when it comes to incentive practices. Also, elderly care homes of both ownership forms score at the top and bottom of each management practice. But looking at the average management score, there are fewer private homes that score really low and more private homes that score really high.

Practical implications

– The results identify given characteristics and maturity of the various management practices employed to plan and control operations in the elderly care homes and provides managerial and staff insights into their use.

Originality/value

– The application and impact of standard management practices has previously been limited in publicly funded services. Little is known about management practices in elderly care and whether the practices are associated with better performance.
Party Unity after Elections: A Study of the Roll-Call Votes in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council
Authors: Wang Yu , Peng Minggang
Published: March 2015

This article examines the issue of party unity in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo). By analysing the LegCo roll-call votes, one can see that the voting patterns of its members are characterised by strong party unity. In particular, a cross-party comparison reveals that for the pro-establishment parties, the Liberal Party had a higher level of unity than the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB); for the pro-democracy parties, the Civic Party had a higher level of cohesion than the Democratic Party. Furthermore, this article shows that strong party unity is likely to be the joint product of party discipline and policy homogeneity among partisan members. Based on the empirical results, the article questions the traditional wisdom that party politics in Hong Kong is necessarily underdeveloped for its simple juxtaposition of party politics with the performance of political parties in elections. Instead, it is suggested that for a better understanding of party politics in Hong Kong, due attention should be paid to the legislative process.
WOMEN'S GENDER PERFORMANCES AND CULTURAL HETEROGENEITY IN THE ILLEGAL DRUG ECONOMY
Authors: GRUNDETJERN HEIDI
Published: March 2015

Based on interviews with 32 female drug dealers in Norway, this study investigates different gender performances among women situated in the illegal hard drug economy—a context with strong gendered “rules of the game.” Using grounded theory methods, I have identified four predominant patterns in which women enact their gendered identities being part of the drug economy: performing emphasized femininity in the context of marginalization; performing street masculinity; employing a feminine business model; and last, flexible use of cultural repertoires. The findings suggest that different gender performances among dealers are rooted in variations in the cultural tool kits they have at their disposal. I find that the content of women's cultural tool kits varied with three sociodemographic factors: 1) age, 2) time of entrée to the drug economy, and 3) educational and employment history. Combined, these influenced the type of gender performances the dealers tended to use as well as their position in the drug market hierarchy. The research suggests that those dealers using cultural repertoires flexibly are the most successful as they skillfully employed the model best suited for the context they were in.
Fungal Isolates from a Pu‐Erh Type Tea Fermentation and Their Ability to Convert Tea Polyphenols to Theabrownins
Authors: Wang Qiuping , Gong Jiashun , Chisti Yusuf , Sirisansaneeyakul Sarote
Published: March 2015

The natural microbiota involved in the fermentation influence the quality and taste of fully postfermented teas such as China's Pu‐erh tea. Ten microbial isolates representing 6 species were recovered from a solid‐state fermentation of a Pu‐erh type tea. The isolates were Aspergillus tubingensis, Aspergillus marvanovae, Rhizomucor pusillus, Rhizomucor tauricus, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida mogii. With the exception of A. marvanovae and C. mogii, all these microorganisms have been previously reported in solid‐state fermentations of native Pu‐erh tea. The ability of the isolates for converting the tea polyphenols to bioactive theabrownins in infusions of sun‐dried green tea leaves in a submerged fermentation process was subsequently investigated. All isolates except C. mogii TISTR 5938 effectively produced theabrownins in a 4‐d fermentation in shake flasks at 40 °C, 250 rpm. A. tubingensis TISTR 3646, A. tubingensis TISTR 3647, A. marvanovae TISTR 3648, and A. fumigatus TISTR 3654 produced theabrownins at particularly high levels of 6.5, 12.4, 11.1, and 8.4 g/L, respectively.
Post Keynesian Theories of Crisis
Authors: Keen Steve
Published: March 2015

Post Keynesian economics has two complementary theories of crisis that were used to predict the 2007 crisis and diagnose its causes: Minsky's financial instability hypothesis and Godley's stock‐flow‐consistent approach. Both theories take a monetary perspective on capitalism and argue that the dynamics of private debt caused the crisis. As well as explaining the crisis and enabling its occurrence (though not precise timing) to be predicted, both theories imply that the current recovery will be short‐lived because the underlying cause of the last crisis has not been addressed by subsequent economic policy.
Stressing the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroidectomy
Authors: Serpell Jonathan W. , Lee James C. , Chiu Wing K. , Edwards Glenn
Published: March 2015

Background

In thyroidectomy, little has been reported on the differential recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy rates between the left and right sides. Even less is known about the potential differences causing these differential rates. This study reports the left versus right RLN palsy rates of total thyroidectomy cases in a single institution, relating them to the comparative stiffness of the left and right porcine RLNs. Computed stress modelling was also used to estimate the differential levels of tension within each RLN.

Methods

For the comparison of the left and right RLN palsy rates, 1926 cases of total thyroidectomy (between 2007 and 2013) from the Monash University Endocrine Surgery Unit were included. Stiffness of porcine RLNs was experimentally determined by measuring nerve extension against incremental increase in load. Additionally, the tension of intraoperatively stretched RLNs was estimated by computer modelling.

Results

The left RLN had a palsy rate of 0.9% (18/1926), which was significantly lower (P = 0.025) than the right RLN palsy rate of 1.8% (34/1926). The left porcine RLN was 22% stiffer than the right RLN (P = 0.004). The stress modelling estimated that at the apex of the artificial RLN genu during anteromedial rotation of the thyroid lobe, the right RLN experiences twice the tension experienced by the left RLN.

Conclusion

The stiffer left RLN and the higher tension generated in the right RLN during thyroidectomy may jointly contribute to the higher right RLN palsy rate.
Phyllodes tumour among participants in screening mammography
Authors: Farshid Gelareh , Gill P. Grantley
Published: March 2015

Background

In screening, the distinction between phyllodes tumour (PT) and fibroadenoma (FA) is imprecise, often needing surgery.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study and literature review, we wished to (i) present our experience with PT diagnosed among screening participants; (ii) identify discriminating features between FA and PT; (iii) assess the efficacy of cancer screening in identifying PT; and (iv) for women diagnosed with PT, determine appropriate breast cancer screening schedules.

Results

During a 23.7 years time frame, PT was diagnosed in 30 women, reflecting an incidence of 2.53 per 100 000 women screened. Only 22 (73.3%) PT were found by screening. The remaining eight (26.7%) presented as interval tumours. Thirteen PT were benign, eight borderline and nine malignant. Six of eight (75%) malignant PT were symptomatic. A circumscribed mass, mean diameter 34.7 mm, was the dominant finding. Enlargement (14 imaging, seven clinical) was documented in 21 (70%) cases. Diagnostic open biopsy was required in 67.9%. Follow‐up of at least 12 months is available in 20 cases. Only two developed recurrence. One woman died of metastatic PT and one PT recurred locally.

Conclusion

The extreme rarity of PT in screening contrasts with the prevalence of FAs. The peak incidence of PT in women is 40–50, whereas screening is targeted at women 50–74. Two yearly screening mammography is not designed to detect PT reliably. In particular, malignant PT grows rapidly and becomes symptomatic. Women with benign PT can continue with screening. Women with borderline and malignant PT should resume screening after 5 years of specialist surveillance.
Outcomes of the house advancement flap for pilonidal sinus
Authors: Mackowski Alicia , Levitt Michael
Published: March 2015

Background

Many surgical techniques have been described for the treatment of pilonidal sinus, yet rates of recurrence and prolonged wound healing remain high and consensus on the optimal technique is lacking. This retrospective study evaluates outcomes of the use of the house advancement flap in the treatment of pilonidal sinus including time to wound healing, sinus recurrence, wound infection and flap necrosis.

Method

Thirty‐three consecutive patients who underwent excision and house advancement flap for pilonidal sinus, of whom seven patients (21%) had recurrent pilonidal sinus disease following previous surgical intervention, were reviewed retrospectively. Follow‐up ranged from 4 to 59 months (mean 28 months).

Results

All 33 patients completed a follow‐up survey. Age at time of operation ranged from 14 to 44 years with a mean of 25 years. No patients developed wound infection or flap necrosis. Four patients (12%) failed to achieve primary wound healing; mean time to wound healing for the remaining 29 patients was 62 days. Recurrence of pilonidal sinus occurred in eight patients (24%), at a mean time of 22 months post‐operatively.

Conclusion

The house advancement flap achieves primary wound closure in almost 90% of cases with few acute post‐operative complications. However delayed wound healing and sinus recurrence remain issues with this technique and it appears to have little advantage over other primary closure techniques.
A CHARACTERIZATION OF THE RAWLSIAN SOCIAL ORDERING OVER INFINITE UTILITY STREAMS
Authors: Miyagishima Kaname
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we characterize a Rawlsian ordering over infinite utility streams using a fairness principle called Hammond Equity, as well as a weak efficiency principle, Sup Continuity, and a condition that links finite and infinite settings of distributive justice called Preference Continuity.
HARSH NORMS AND SCREENING FOR LOYALTY
Authors: Berg Nathan , Kim Jeong‐Yoo
Published: March 2015

Norms that restrict choice sets or impose otherwise harsh requirements would seem to act as barriers to group formation by raising the costs of adherence to potential and continuing members. Contrary to that intuition, one observes a broad range of group norms in the real world that impose large costs on group members. Iannaccone provides a rationale for harsh norms as a mechanism to reduce free‐riding in supplying a club good. This paper proposes a new rationalization for harsh group norms as a mechanism under which harsh norms serve to screen out disloyal members, providing what is essentially a technology for measuring loyalty in environments where group leaders cannot reliably measure group members' loyalty. The model demonstrates that loyalty can be signalled through acts that are seemingly irrelevant to the group's core objectives and identity.
A NEW COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE FREE‐FLOATING AND CURRENCY BOARD REGIMES IN HONG KONG
Authors: Tam Kwo Ping
Published: March 2015

This study aims to compare the performance of free‐floating and currency board regimes for Hong Kong by examining historical data of the two on the output growth and inflation rate. Structural vector autoregression has been applied in the empirical analysis. Without making a strong assumption of unit variance in the residual matrix, this study applies a more natural approach proposed by Cecchetti and Rich to recover the structural parameters. The study has further investigated the recovery of the economy under a demand shock under different exchange rate regimes, in order to provide some evidence to answer why Hong Kong's recovery process after the Asian financial crisis is relatively longer than that in other economies with a managed floating exchange rate regime. New evidence in this study indicates that output recovers much faster in a flexible exchange rate regime than in a fixed exchange rate regime after an aggregate demand shock. Furthermore, this study has applied a more robust method in the counterfactual analysis when comparing the two regimes. New evidence in this study suggests that a free‐floating regime may generate much smaller output variance in Hong Kong and deliver higher output and price levels to Hong Kong.
Globular Glial Mixed Four Repeat Tau and TDP‐43 Proteinopathy with Motor Neuron Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia
Authors: Takeuchi Ryoko , Toyoshima Yasuko , Tada Mari , Tanaka Hidetomo , Shimizu Hiroshi , Shiga Atsushi , Miura Takeshi , Aoki Kenju , Aikawa Akane , Ishizawa Shin , Ikeuchi Takeshi , Nishizawa Masatoyo , Kakita Akiyoshi , Takahashi Hitoshi
Published: March 2015

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be accompanied by frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We report a case of glial mixed tau and TDP‐43 proteinopathies in a Japanese patient diagnosed clinically as having ALS‐D. Autopsy revealed loss of lower motor neurons and degeneration of the pyramidal tracts in the spinal cord and brain stem. The brain showed frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), the most severe neuronal loss and gliosis being evident in the precentral gyrus. Although less severe, such changes were also observed in other brain regions, including the basal ganglia and substantia nigra. AT8 immunostaining revealed that predominant occurrence of astrocytic tau lesions termed globular astrocytic inclusions (GAIs) was a feature of the affected regions. These GAIs were Gallyas‐Braak negative. Neuronal and oligodendrocytic tau lesions were comparatively scarce. pS409/410 immunostaining also revealed similar neuronal and glial TDP‐43 lesions. Interestingly, occasional co‐localization of tau and TDP‐43 was evident in the GAIs. Immunoblot analyses revealed band patterns characteristic of a 4‐repeat (4R) tauopathy, corticobasal degeneration and a TDP‐43 proteinopathy, ALS/FTLD‐TDP Type B. No mutations were found in the MAPT or TDP‐43 genes. We consider that this patient harbored a distinct, sporadic globular glial mixed 4R tau and TDP‐43 proteinopathy associated with motor neuron disease and FTD.
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Derivatives as Novel DPP‐4 Inhibitors
Authors: Li Qing , Zhou Muxing , Han Li , Cao Qing , Wang Xinning , Zhao LeiLei , Zhou Jinpei , Zhang Huibin
Published: March 2015

A new series of DPP‐4 inhibitors with imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine scaffold were designed by exploiting scaffold hopping strategy and docking study. Based on docking binding model, structural modifications of 2‐benzene ring and pyridine moieties of compound 5a led to the identification of compound 5d with 2, 4‐dichlorophenyl group at the 2‐position as a potent (IC50 = 0.13 μm), selective (DPP‐8/DPP‐4 = 215 and DPP‐9/DPP‐4 = 192) and in vivo efficacious DPP‐4 inhibitor. Further, molecular docking revealed that compound 5d could retain key binding features of DPP‐4 with the pyridine moiety of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine ring providing an additional π−π interaction with Phe357 of DPP‐4. Compound 5d might be a promising lead for further development of novel DPP‐4 inhibitor treating T2DM.
Osteotome Sinus Floor Elevation without Grafting: A 10‐Year Prospective Study
Authors: Nedir Rabah , Nurdin Nathalie , Vazquez Lydia , Abi Najm Semaan , Bischof Mark
Published: March 2015

Background

Little is known about the long‐term outcome of implants placed in the atrophic maxilla using osteotome sinus floor elevation (OSFE) without grafting.

Purpose

The study aims to evaluate the long‐term efficiency of the procedure and stability of the peri‐implant bone formed following implant placement without grafting into resorbed posterior maxilla.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐five implants (≤10 mm in length) were placed in 17 patients using OSFE without grafting. The mean residual bone height was 5.4 ± 2.3 mm. Bone levels were evaluated at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years using periapical radiographs.

Results

Fifteen patients (23 implants) participated in the 10‐year examination. All implants fulfilled the survival criteria. Following surgery, the implant sites gained endo‐sinus bone (mean: 3.0 ± 1.4 mm). The mean crestal bone loss (CBL) was limited to 1.0 ± 0.9 mm. The difference in mean endo‐sinus bone gain and CBL was statistically significant between 1 and 10 years, but not between 3 and 5, 3 and 10, and 5 and 10 years.

Conclusions

At 10 years, the implant survival rate was 100%. Endo‐sinus bone was mainly gained during the first year. This study demonstrates the long‐term predictability of OSFE without grafting and simultaneous implant placement.