bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting stickiness and word of mouth in mobile applications
Authors: Kim Seeun , Baek Tae Hyun , Kim Youn-Kyung , Yoo Kyunga
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate user perceptions of mobile app characteristics and interrelationships among identified mobile app characteristics, perceived benefits and post-adoption behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a self-administered online survey (n = 503) drawn from a consumer panel of US smartphone users, this study tests the proposed model that explains why stickiness and word of mouth (WOM) are enhanced during the post-adoption stage.

Findings

The results indicate that user perceptions of mobile app characteristics, perceived ubiquity, perceived informativeness and perceived personalization are positively associated with mobile app usefulness, thereby leading to increased stickiness and positive WOM intentions. Furthermore, perceived personalization is found to become the strongest predictor of usefulness and playful engagement with the mobile app.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are derived from a one-shot correlational study. There is no guarantee that the proposed model establishes causal directions among the latent constructs. Therefore, future research should test the conceptual model in an experimental setting by manipulating the degree and types of ubiquity, informativeness and personalization.

Practical implications

The findings of this research provide managerial guidelines for developing effective mobile app strategies involving utilitarian and hedonic benefits, thereby enhancing user stickiness and WOM intentions.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to develop a conceptual framework that integrates user perceptions of mobile app characteristics into the underlying process of post-adoption behaviors. It empirically demonstrates the importance of ubiquity, informativeness and personalization in building and sustaining loyal relationships with mobile app users.
Effective marketing of high-rise luxury condominiums in a middle-income country like Sri Lanka
Authors: Anthonisz Stephan , Perry Chad
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an effective process to market high-rise luxury condominiums in a middle-income country in Asia like Sri Lanka, based on empirical evidence.

Design/methodology/approach

The case research methodology used to address the four research issues used multiple sources of data. In stage 1, qualitative data were collected in interviews with managers and salespersons of six condominium developments that ranged from successful to failure. In stage 2, quantitative data were collected in a survey of the buyers of the six cases.

Findings

The authors contributions to knowledge include the first evidence-based findings about what influences the success and failure of high-rise luxury condominium developments in a country like Sri Lanka. In addition, a comprehensive marketing model of an effective marketing process is developed for forward-thinking professionals in the field to use to successfully market their luxury high-rise condominiums projects in the future.

Practical implications

Detailed steps for successful marketing are outlined, from the Board of Management down to salespersons.

Originality/value

This is the first academic research paper to examine the effective marketing of high-rise luxury condominiums in a middle-income country like Sri Lanka.
The impact of work-based research projects at postgraduate level
Authors: Costley Carol , Abukari Abdulai
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of work-based research projects at postgraduate level. The focus of this paper is to measure the impact of masters- and doctoral-level work-based projects which was the specific contribution of one group of researchers to the Nixonet al.’s (2008) study.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on data generated as part of a wider study that examines the impact of work-based learning projects across undergraduate through to doctoral level from the perspective of employers and from the employees perspective. The research study is based on a sample of alumni who had graduated from work-based masters and professional doctorate programmes and their corresponding employers in a UK higher education institution.

Findings

At masters and doctorate level the work-based project can often make an impact on the work context and also have a developmental effect on the employee who becomes a practitioner-researcher to undertake the project.

Originality/value

This paper finds that work-based projects are often an investment that companies make that have the propensity to yield tangible business success as well as providing an incentive for key staff to remain in the company and achieve university recognition.
Canadian think tanks and business research: an annotated Bibliography
Authors: Jones Rhiannon
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to examine Canadian think tanks and their use for business research. This bibliography is aimed at business researchers, both academic and professional, entrepreneurs and librarians interested in exploring open access think tank publications.

Design/methodology/approach

The author chose prominent think tanks from across Canada in terms of relevance to business and economics. The organizations were selected based on open access options, ease of use, currency and geographical focus to optimize research areas.

Findings

Most of the organizations that were examined, emphasized current issues broadly applicable to Canadian business research. The think tanks differed in style and focus, yet all had appropriate applications for business research.

Originality/value

This annotated bibliography presents a unique Canadian perspective on business research by focusing on reputable open access resources.
Extreme climate events counteract the effects of climate and land‐use changes in Alpine tree lines
Authors: Barros Ceres , Guéguen Maya , Douzet Rolland , Carboni Marta , Boulangeat Isabelle , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Münkemüller Tamara , Thuiller Wilfried
Published: August 2016

Climate change and extreme events, such as drought, threaten ecosystems world‐wide and in particular mountain ecosystems, where species often live at their environmental tolerance limits. In the European Alps, plant communities are also influenced by land‐use abandonment leading to woody encroachment of subalpine and alpine grasslands.

In this study, we explored how the forest–grassland ecotone of Alpine tree lines will respond to gradual climate warming, drought events and land‐use change in terms of forest expansion rates, taxonomic diversity and functional composition. We used a previously validated dynamic vegetation model, FATE‐HD, parameterized for plant communities in the Ecrins National Park in the French Alps.

Our results showed that intense drought counteracted the forest expansion at higher elevations driven by land‐use abandonment and climate change, especially when combined with high drought frequency (occurring every 2 or less than 2 years).

Furthermore, intense and frequent drought accelerated the rates of taxonomic change and resulted in overall higher taxonomic spatial heterogeneity of the ecotone than would be expected under gradual climate and land‐use changes only.

Synthesis and applications. The results from our model show that intense and frequent drought counteracts forest expansion driven by climate and land‐use changes in the forest–grassland ecotone of Alpine tree lines. We argue that land‐use planning must consider the effects of extreme events, such as drought, as well as climate and land‐use changes, since extreme events might interfere with trends predicted under gradual climate warming and agricultural abandonment.
The narratives of hardship: the new and the old poor in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis in Europe
Authors: Dagdeviren Hulya , Donoghue Matthew , Meier Lars
Published: August 2016

This paper examines poverty and hardship in Europe after the 2008 crisis, using household interviews in nine European countries. A number of findings deserve highlighting. First, making a distinction between ‘the old poor’ (those who lived in poverty before as well as after the crisis) and ‘the new poor’ (those who fell into hardship after the crisis), we show that hardship is experienced quite differently by these groups. Second, the household narratives showed that while material deprivations constitute an important aspect of hardship, the themes of insecurity and dependency also emerged as fundamental dimensions. In contrast to popular political discourse in countries such as the UK, dependency on welfare or family was experienced as a source of distress and manifested as a form of hardship by participants in all countries covered in this study.
Utility of a brief index to measure diet quality of Australian preschoolers in the Feeding Healthy Food to Kids Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Duncanson Kerith , Lee Yu Qi , Burrows Tracy , Collins Clare
Published: August 2016

Aim

The aim was to evaluate the utility of a brief dietary intake assessment tool in measuring nutritional adequacy of preschoolers and differences in food and nutrient intake between quartiles stratified by overall diet quality.

Methods

Dietary intakes of preschoolers (n = 146) from the Feeding Healthy Food to Kids trial were reported by parents/caregivers using a 120‐item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Diet quality was assessed using the Australian Recommended Food Score for Preschoolers. Analyses were performed using Kruskal–Wallis one‐way analysis of variance, adjusted for Type 1 error. Participants were grouped into quartiles by total food score for comparison of subscale scores, food groups and nutrient intakes from the FFQ.

Results

Participants who scored less than the median total food score of 36 were more likely to have suboptimal micronutrient intakes. Median fruit (9 vs 5, P < 0.0001) and vegetable (14 vs 7, P < 0.0001) subscale scores for preschoolers in the highest quartile were significantly higher than the lowest quartile, indicating much greater fruit and vegetable variety. Statistically significant differences in diet quality score by quartiles (P < 0.05) were found for total energy and percentage energy from core foods, protein, fibre and 11 micronutrients.

Conclusions

The Australian Recommended Food Score for Preschoolers is a practical brief diet quality assessment tool to measure food variety and nutritional adequacy in Australian preschoolers. Stratifying children by baseline diet quality in future nutrition interventions is recommended in order to identify those who are likely to benefit or require more targeted approaches to address specific nutritional needs in order to optimise food and nutrient intakes.
Hyperglycemia is associated with increased risk of patient delay in pulmonary tuberculosis in rural areas
Authors: Wang Qiuzhen , Ma Aiguo , Han Xiuxia , Zhao Shanliang , Cai Jing , Kok Frans J. , Schouten Evert G.
Published: August 2016

背景

第一次出现肺结核(PTB)症状与诊断之间的间隔时间过长可导致结核不断传播,并且也增加了在社区中传染的风险,除此之外还可以导致疾病加重,死亡率增高。2型糖尿病(T2DM)患者发生PTB的风险更高。然而,目前还尚未完全明确T2DM对PTB的诊断延误有何影响。这项研究在中国的一个农村地区调查了高血糖(糖尿病与糖尿病前期)以及其他因素对PTB患者诊断延误的影响。

方法

在当前这项基于社区的调查研究中,从2011年9月至2013年12月在县结核病诊所连续招募了新诊断的年龄 ≥ 16岁的PTB患者。所有的受试者都要测定空腹血糖,并且使用一份结构化的问卷调查表收集基本信息。

结果

在2280名患者中,605名(26.5%)有高血糖。患者寻求医疗保健的中位数(四分位范围)时间为44(59)天。1754名受试者推迟了寻求医疗保健的时间,并且在年龄 ≥ 30岁的受试者中,高血糖与患者延迟就诊机率增加之间具有独立的相关性(优势比为2.10;95%置信区间为1.49‐2.97)。其他与患者延迟就诊有关的因素包括咳嗽、盗汗以及缺乏对典型结核病症状的认识。发生咯血与患者延迟就诊呈负相关。

结论

在这个结核病高发的农村地区中,患者延误就诊似乎是一个严重的问题。高血糖与患者延误就诊机率增加之间具有独立的相关性,因此导致患者出现更严重的临床表现。
Effect of fixed‐dose combinations of ezetimibe plus rosuvastatin in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia: MRS‐ROZE (Multicenter Randomized Study of ROsuvastatin and eZEtimibe)
Authors: Kim Kyung‐Jin , Kim Sang‐Hyun , Yoon Young Won , Rha Seung‐Woon , Hong Soon‐Jun , Kwak Choong‐Hwan , Kim Weon , Nam Chang‐Wook , Rhee Moo‐Yong , Park Tae‐Ho , Hong Taek‐Jong , Park Sungha , Ahn Youngkeun , Lee Namho , Jeon Hui‐Kyung , Jeon Dong‐Woon , Han Kyoo‐Rok , Moon Keon‐Woong , Chae In‐Ho , Kim Hyo‐soo
Published: August 2016

Aim

We aimed to compare the effects of fixed‐dose combinations of ezetimibe plus rosuvastatin to rosuvastatin alone in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia, including a subgroup analysis of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) or metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Method

This multicenter eight‐week randomized double‐blind phase III study evaluated the safety and efficacy of fixed‐dose combinations of ezetimibe 10 mg plus rosuvastatin, compared with rosuvastatin alone in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. Four hundred and seven patients with primary hypercholesterolemia who required lipid‐lowering treatment according to the ATP III guideline were randomized to one of the following six treatments for 8 weeks: fixed‐dose combinations with ezetimibe 10 mg daily plus rosuvastatin (5, 10, or 20 mg daily) or rosuvastatin alone (5, 10, or 20 mg daily).

Results

Fixed‐dose combination of ezetimibe plus rosuvastatin significantly reduced LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels compared with rosuvastatin alone. Depending on the rosuvastatin dose, these fixed‐dose combinations of ezetimibe plus rosuvastatin provided LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride reductions of 56%–63%, 37%–43%, and 19%–24%, respectively. Moreover, the effect of combination treatment on cholesterol levels was more pronounced in patients with DM or MetS than in non‐DM or non‐MetS patients, respectively, whereas the effect of rosuvastatin alone did not differ between DM vs non‐DM or MetS vs non‐MetS patients.

Conclusion

Fixed‐dose combinations of ezetimibe and rosuvastatin provided significantly superior efficacy to rosuvastatin alone in lowering LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Moreover, the reduction rate was greater in patients with DM or MetS.
Re‐evaluation of progenitor thresholds and expectations for haematopoietic recovery based on an analysis of 810 autologous transplants: Implications for quality assurance
Authors: Watts Michael J. , Ings Stuart J. , Balsa Carmen , Antonio Andrew , Hack Simon , Linch David C.
Published: August 2016

Haematological engraftment was assessed in 804 autologous transplants. Neutrophil recovery occurred in over 99% within 14 d but platelet recovery was delayed beyond this time in 14·8%. Time to recovery was dependent on the progenitor cell dose infused. The minimum CD34+ cell threshold adopted in this study (2 × 106/kg) was safe although recovery was faster with a dose >5 × 106/kg. CD34+ cell doses of between 1 and 2 × 106/kg were also acceptable if either the granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐forming cell dose exceeded 2 × 105/kg or this dose was due to splitting a higher yield harvest. Prompt neutrophil recovery affords important quality assurance for laboratory processing.
Nurturing the virtuous circle: Looked After Children's participation in reviews, a cyclical and relational process
Authors: Roesch‐Marsh Autumn , Gillies Andrew , Green Dominique
Published: August 2016

Children's participation in decision making of all kinds is of increasing interest across the world as more and more countries seek to comply with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The participation rights of children who are in the care of the state are of particular concern. Recent research in England suggests that Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) can play a crucial role in ensuring that looked after and accommodated children are able to participate in care planning and review processes. This paper outlines the findings of the first Scottish study to investigate the role of Reviewing Officers in encouraging children's participation in reviews. Surveys were collected from social workers, Reviewing Officers and young people after 69 review meetings as part of an action research study. Follow‐up qualitative interviews were then completed with 10 young people and a focus group held with the five participating Reviewing Officers. The findings suggest that participation in looked after reviews can best be understood as a cyclical and relational process and that taking part in action research may enhance participation practices. While the role of the Reviewing Officer was found to be important, the findings suggest that everyone involved in the care and support of the young person needs to encourage participation processes that are individualized.
Improvement in symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea in children following tonsillectomy versus tonsillotomy: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Gorman D. , Ogston S. , Hussain S.S.M.
Published: August 2016

Background

Tonsillotomy (or intracapsular tonsillectomy) is a modern technique which is seen by some as potentially superior to traditional (extracapsular) tonsillectomy for the removal of tonsillar tissue to treat obstructive sleep apnoea in children. It has been suggested that peri‐operative pain and haemorrhage and postoperative haemorrhage are reduced with the tonsillotomy technique. However, no systematic reviews have been carried out to assess its efficacy in treating obstructive sleep apnoea compared to tonsillectomy.

Objective of review

To assess whether subjective improvement in symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea following tonsillotomy is comparable to that following tonsillectomy, measured using a standardised questionnaire, the Obstructive sleep apnoea‐18 (OSA‐18) tool.

Type of review

Systematic review of the literature and meta‐analysis.

Search strategy

PubMed (MEDLINE), followed by Ovid (MEDLINE), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, American College of Physicians Journal Club, and the British Medical Journal were searched for articles published in English between 1995 and 2015 inclusive.

Evaluation method

Literature search, systematic review and meta‐analysis. Studies examining improvement in mean OSA‐18 score following tonsillotomy, improvement in mean OSA‐18 score following tonsillectomy, and examining both were selected, examined and used for meta‐analysis. Studies with and without concurrent adenoidectomy were included.

Results

Four studies examining tonsillotomy and 16 studies examining tonsillectomy were included in the analysis. Using a random effects model, the pooled improvement in OSA‐18 score for tonsillotomy was 2.46 (95% CI 1.92–2.99), and for tonsillectomy, it was 2.10 (95% CI 1.91–2.30). There was no significant difference between the methods.

Conclusion

That there is no significant difference in subjective outcome between tonsillotomy and tonsillectomy may support wider use of tonsillotomy over tonsillectomy for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea in children.
Expression of embryonic stem cell markers in pyogenic granuloma
Authors: Blackwell Max G. , Itinteang Tinte , Chibnall Alice M. , Davis Paul F. , Tan Swee T.
Published: August 2016

Background

Recent description of hemangioblastic blood islands within pyogenic granuloma (PG) has led us to investigate the expression of embryonic stem cell (ESC) markers in this tumor.

Methods

In this study we examined the expression of ESC markers, OCT4, SOX2, STAT3 and NANOG in PG samples from 11 patients, by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, NanoString analysis and in situ hybridization (ISH).

Results

IHC staining demonstrated the expression of pSTAT3, OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG by the endothelium of the microvessels in PG whilst pSTAT3, SOX2 and NANOG were also expressed by cells in the interstitium, outside of the microvessels. NanoString and ISH analysis showed mRNA expression for STAT3, OCT4 and NANOG in PG.

Conclusions

The expression of the ESC markers, OCT4, SOX2, pSTAT3 and NANOG, suggests the endothelium of PG displays a primitive phenotype. Cells in the interstitium expressing pSTAT3, SOX2 and NANOG may represent a more downstream derivative of the primitive endothelium, or a separate population. The primitive nature of the endothelium and cells in the interstitium reveals novel insights into the biology of PG. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the expression of ESC markers in PG, implying the presence of a hematopoietic stem cell population.
Sebaceous mantleoma (mantle adenoma): reappraisal of the myth of the problematic benign neoplasm with sebaceous mantle differentiation
Authors: Goto Keisuke , Misago Noriyuki , Sumiya Noriyoshi , Ishikawa Yukio
Published: August 2016

Few cases of a true benign neoplasm with sebaceous mantle differentiation have been reported, and little is known about this tumor. Herein, we present a rare case of the neoplasm called sebaceous mantleoma, along with a comparison of the histology and immunoprofile with those of normal sebaceous mantles. A pedunculated polyp occurred on the scalp of a 51‐year‐old woman. Histopathologically, the tumor showed lobulated epithelial‐mesenchymal units that were separated from the normal dermis by clefts. The lesion was composed of cords and columns of basaloid cells containing a few mature sebocytes, with a focal connection to infundibulocystic structures as well as dense fibrotic or fibromyxoid stroma. Immunohistochemically, androgen receptor, estrogen receptor, and CD117 were partially positive for the tumor, and CD8 (C8/144B) and epithelial membrane antigen were focally positive. Additionally, cytokeratin 20‐positive Merkel cells were individually admixed in the tumor nests as well as in normal sebaceous mantles. This case report reveals the characteristic histology and immunoprofile of this problematic benign neoplasm and helps to understand this entity.
Retrospektive Analyse von Zufallsbefunden, die bei Patienten mit kutanem malignen Malignom durch 18F‐Fluordeoxyglucose‐PET/CT erhoben wurden
Authors: Conrad Franziska , Winkens Thomas , Kaatz Martin , Goetze Steven , Freesmeyer Martin
Published: August 2016

Hintergrund und Ziele

Bei der 18F‐Fluordeoxyglucose‐Positronenemissionstomographie/Computertomographie (FDG‐PET/CT) ergeben sich häufig Zufallsbefunde. In der vorliegenden Studie konzentrierten wir uns auf mittels FDG‐PET/CT erhaltene Zufallsbefunde bei Patienten mit kutanem Melanom und überprüften deren Relevanz hinsichtlich weiterer diagnostischer Maßnahmen und Interventionen.

Patienten und Methoden

Die Krankenakten von 181 konsekutiven Melanom‐Patienten wurden retrospektiv ausgewertet, um das Management von Zufallsbefunden zu dokumentieren. Der Schwerpunkt lag dabei auf den histologischen Befunden.

Ergebnisse

Bei 33 von 181 (18 %) Patienten lagen 39 relevante Zufallsbefunde vor, und zwar im Kolorektalbereich (n = 15 Patienten), in der Schilddrüse (n = 8), der Prostata (n = 2), dem Bewegungsapparat (n = 2), in Lymphknoten (n = 2), der Parotis (n = 1), den Mandeln (n = 1), den Nieren (n = 1) und der Gallenblase (n = 1). Bei 25 Patienten schlossen sich weitere diagnostische Verfahren an, wobei in 21 Fällen ein klinisches Korrelat nachgewiesen wurde. Bei 16 von 21 Patienten ergab sich eine Neoplasie, darunter fünf maligne Läsionen (vier Kolonkarzinome und ein Prostatakarzinom). Die Malignome wurden frühzeitig diagnostiziert und in der Mehrzahl der Fälle erfolgreich entfernt.

Schlussfolgerungen

Der Einsatz der FDG‐PET/CT als Routine‐Diagnostik wird in den Leitlinien empfohlen und ist indiziert bei malignem Melanom ab Stadium IIC. In dieser Studie wurden auf effektive Weise ansonsten nicht erkannte Krebserkrankungen, insbesondere Kolonkarzinome, detektiert. In den meisten Fällen war eine frühe Intervention möglich. Zufallsbefunde durch FDG‐PET/CT sollten, unter Berücksichtigung des Zustands und der Wünsche des Patienten, mit den geeigneten diagnostischen Maßnahmen abgeklärt werden.
Zum Stellenwert der Unterdruck‐Instillationstherapie in der Dermatologie
Authors: Müller Cornelia Sigrid Lissi , Burgard Barbara , Zimmerman Monika , Vogt Thomas , Pföhler Claudia
Published: August 2016

Die Methoden zur Behandlung akuter und chronischer Wunden unterliegen einer steten Weiterentwicklung, Reevaluierung und Anwendung innovativer Therapieformen. Die Vakuumtherapie zur Wundbehandlung gehört zu den etablierten Behandlungsmodalitäten. Ein innovatives Verfahren kombiniert die Vakuumtherapie mit der automatisierten, kontrollierten Zufuhr und Drainage wirkstoffhaltiger Lösungen zur topischen Wundbehandlung im Wundbett und auch wirkstofffrei durch Instillation physiologischer Kochsalzlösung (Unterdruck‐Instillationstherapie). Hierdurch können die Effekte der konventionellen Vakuumtherapie mit denen der lokalen Antisepsis kombiniert werden. Hierdurch kommt es zu einer Reduktion der Wundfläche, einer Induktion von Granulationsgewebe sowie einer Reduktion der Keimbesiedelung der Wunden. Bisher publizierte Studien konzentrieren sich auf die Anwendung dieses Therapieverfahrens zur Behandlung orthopädisch‐chirurgischer Krankheiten. Die Datenlage bezüglich der Vakuum‐Instillationstherapie in der Dermatochirurgie beschränkt sich derzeit auf Fallberichte und Einzelfallerfahrungen. Randomisierte, prospektive Studien zum Vergleich der Vakuum‐Instillationstherapie zur Behandlung dermatologischer Krankheitsbilder existieren bislang nicht. Ziele des vorliegenden Artikels sind die Vorstellung der Vakuumtherapie mit Instillation einschließlich ihres Wirkprinzips, deren mögliche Komplikationen, die Diskussion erdenklicher Kontraindikationen sowie eine Übersicht über die aktuell verfügbare Datenlage. Zusammenfassend scheint sich die Evidenz zu verdichten, dass mittels Unterdruck‐Instillationstherapie sowohl einfache als auch komplizierte Wunden effizient behandelt werden können, was sich in einer deutlichen Beschleunigung der Wundgranulation mit konsekutiv früher möglichem Defektverschluss äußert.
THE OPTIMAL ALLOCATION OF PRIZES IN TOURNAMENTS OF HETEROGENEOUS AGENTS
Authors: Balafoutas Loukas , Dutcher E. Glenn , Lindner Florian , Ryvkin Dmitry
Published: August 2016

Tournaments are widely used in organizations, explicitly or implicitly, to reward the best‐performing employees, for example, by promotion or bonuses, and/or to penalize the worst‐performing employees, for example, by demotion, withholding bonuses, or unfavorable job assignments. These incentive schemes can be interpreted as various prize allocations based on the employees' relative performance. While the optimal prize allocation in tournaments of symmetric agents is relatively well understood, little is known about the impact of the allocation of prizes on the effectiveness of tournament incentive schemes for heterogeneous agents. We show that while multiple prize allocation rules are equivalent when agents are symmetric in their ability, the equivalence is broken in the presence of heterogeneity. Under a wide range of conditions, loser‐prize tournaments, that is, tournaments that award a low prize to relatively few bottom performers, are optimal for the firm. The reason is that low‐ability agents are discouraged less in such tournaments, as compared to winner‐prize tournaments awarding a high prize to few top performers, and hence can be compensated less to meet their participation constraints. (JELM52, J33, J24)
Predictive ability of a simple subjective memory complaints scale for incident dementia: Evaluation of Japan's national checklist, the “Kihon Checklist”
Authors: Tomata Yasutake , Sugiyama Kemmyo , Kaiho Yu , Sugawara Yumi , Hozawa Atsushi , Tsuji Ichiro
Published: August 2016

Aim

Subjective memory complaints scales are expected to be useful for the prediction of future cognitive decline. In Japan, the “Kihon Checklist‐Cognitive Function” (KCL‐CF), which consists of three items, is used for primary screening of high‐risk older adults. However, the predictive validity of the KCL‐CF remains unknown. The aim of the present cohort study was to examine whether the KCL‐CF can predict the incidence of dementia.

Methods

Information on the KCL‐CF score (0–3 points) was collected from community‐dwelling older adults (≥65 years) through a questionnaire. Data on incident dementia were retrieved from the Long‐term Care Insurance database. The Cox model and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used.

Results

Among 13 974 participants, the 5.7‐year rate of incident dementia was 8.8%. All KCL‐CF items significantly predicted the risk of incident dementia even after adjustment for age and sex (P‐trend < 0.0001). A higher KCL‐CF score was associated with a higher risk of dementia; the age‐ and sex‐adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) were 1.00 (reference) for a KCL‐CF score of 0 points, 1.89 (1.65–2.15) for 1 point, 3.01 (2.59–3.50) for 2 points, and 6.20 (4.87–7.90) for 3 points (P‐trend < 0.0001). A cut‐off score of ≥1 points had a specificity of 65.1% and a sensitivity of 60.2%, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.65 (95% confidence interval 0.63–0.66).

Conclusions

The KCL‐CF was able to predict incident dementia. However, because a false‐negativity rate of approximately 40% would be expected, the KCL‐CF score alone might not be sufficient for screening of dementia incidence. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1300–1305.
Effective axillary malodour reduction by polyquaternium‐16‐containing deodorants
Authors: Traupe B. , Fölster H. , Max H. , Schulz J.
Published: August 2016

Objective

Worldwide, individuals apply deodorants to combat malodour formation originating from the axillary vault. Considering the globally increasing demand for efficacious, safe deodorants, we investigated the antimicrobial effectiveness of a polymeric quaternary ammonium compound (PQ‐16) as a new active in a roll‐on formulation against microbial growth and axillary malodour.

Methods

We utilized an in vivo microbiological assessment to determine antimicrobial effects of the PQ‐16‐containing deodorant formulation (DEO1) (i) in comparison with a commercially available deodorant roll‐on claiming a 24‐h protection against body odour (DEO2) and (ii) in comparison with a roll‐on containing the same formulation as DEO1 but comprising aluminium chlorohydrate instead of PQ‐16 (DEO3) 1, 4, 8, 24 and 48 h after treatment. Also, the axillary malodour intensity 24 and 48 h after application of deodorants was investigated in a controlled in vivo study performed by a trained sniffer panel using direct sniffing.

Results

Treatment with DEO1 in comparison with application of DEO2 significantly reduced the log 10 bacterial count at all points in time. After 24 and 48 h, sniffers rated malodour production in the DEO1‐treated axillae significantly lower than in the DEO2‐treated armpits. Application of DEO1 in comparison with DEO3 decreased the log 10 bacterial count after 1, 4, 8 and 24 h (significant for 4 and 8 h). After 48 h, the log 10 bacterial count showed similar values for both DEO1 and DEO3. The sniffer panel reported no significant differences between axillary malodour in DEO1‐treated compared to DEO3‐treated armpits after 24 and 48 h.

Conclusion

We identified polyquaternium‐16 (PQ‐16, copolymers of 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and 1‐vinyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride) as a highly effective deodorant active. Results showed that a newly developed PQ‐16‐containing deodorant roll‐on formulation (i) significantly reduced axillary malodour 24 and 48 h after treatment, (ii) significantly decreased the amount of axillary bacteria, (iii) compared to a commercially available deodorant claiming a 24‐h odour protection significantly lowered axillary malodour 24 h and 48 h after application, and (iv) was well tolerated by the study population. PQ‐16 represents an innovative and skin‐friendly deodorant active.
Pre‐Implementation Strategies to Adapt and Implement a Veteran Peer Coaching Intervention to Improve Mental Health Treatment Engagement Among Rural Veterans
Authors: Koenig Christopher J. , Abraham Traci , Zamora Kara A. , Hill Coleen , Kelly P. Adam , Uddo Madeline , Hamilton Michelle , Pyne Jeffrey M. , Seal Karen H.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

Telephone motivational coaching has been shown to increase urban veteran mental health treatment initiation. However, no studies have tested telephone motivational coaching delivered by veteran peers to facilitate mental health treatment initiation and engagement. This study describes pre‐implementation strategies with 8 Veterans Affairs (VA) community‐based outpatient clinics in the West and Mid‐South United States to adapt and implement a multisite pragmatic randomized controlled trial of telephone peer motivational coaching for rural veterans.

Methods

We used 2 pre‐implementation strategies, Formative Evaluation (FE) research and Evidence‐Based Quality Improvement (EBQI) meetings to adapt the intervention to stakeholders’ needs and cultural contexts. FE data were qualitative, semi‐structured interviews with rural veterans and VA clinic staff. Results were rapidly analyzed and presented to stakeholders during EBQI meetings to optimize the intervention implementation.

Findings

FE research results showed that VA clinic providers felt overwhelmed by veterans’ mental health needs and acknowledged limited mental health services at VA clinics. Rural veteran interviews indicated geographical, logistical, and cultural barriers to VA mental health treatment initiation and a preference for self‐care to cope with mental health symptoms. EBQI meetings resulted in several intervention adaptations, including veteran study recruitment, peer veteran coach training, and an expanded definition of mental health care outcomes.

Conclusions

As the VA moves to cultivate community partnerships in order to personalize and expand access to care for rural veterans, pre‐implementation processes with engaged stakeholders, such as those described here, can help guide other researchers and clinicians to achieve proactive and veteran‐centered health care services.
Rifaximin for the prevention of readmissions for patients with hepatic encephalopathy – the price is right
Authors: Tapper Elliot B.
Published: August 2016

See Article on Page 1295
Dynamic Pricing in the Presence of Myopic and Strategic Consumers: Theory and Experiment
Authors: Kremer Mirko , Mantin Benny , Ovchinnikov Anton
Published: August 2016

We investigate retailers’ dynamic pricing decisions in a stylized two‐period setting with possible supply constraints and demand from both myopic and strategic consumers. We present an analytical model and then test its predictions in a behavioral experiment in which human subjects played the role of pricing managers. We find that the fraction of strategic consumers in the market systematically moderates the optimal pricing structure. When this fraction exceeds a certain threshold, the retailer offers relatively small late season markdowns to discourage strategic consumers from waiting and to incentivize them to buy during the early season; otherwise, the retailer offers relatively large markdowns to divert all strategic consumers to the late season, where the majority of revenue is made. Our model analyses suggest that the latter policy is optimal under fairly broad conditions. Our experiment shows that after some significant learning, aggregate behavior is able to approximate the key qualitative predictions from our model analysis, with one notable deviation: in the presence of a mixture of myopic and strategic consumers, subjects act somewhat myopically – they underprice and oversell in the main selling season, which significantly limits their ability to generate revenue in the markdown season.
A Minimum Relative Entropy Based Correlation Model Between the Response and Covariates
Authors: Bhattacharya Bhaskar , Al-talib Mohammad
Published: August 2016

A semiparametric model is presented utilizing dependence between a response and several covariates. We show that this model is optimum when the marginal distributions of the response and the covariates are known. This model extends the generalized linear model and the proportional likelihood ratio model when the marginal distributions are unknown. New interpretations of known models such as the logistic regression model, density ratio model and selection bias model are obtained in terms of dependence between variables. For estimation of parameters, a simple algorithm is presented which is guaranteed to converge. It is also the same regardless of the choice of the distribution for response and covariates; hence, it can fit a very wide variety of useful models. Asymptotic properties of the estimators of model parameters are derived. Real data examples are discussed to illustrate our approach and simulation experiments are performed to compare with existing procedures.
Use of routine histopathology and factor VIII‐related antigen/von Willebrand factor immunohistochemistry to differentiate primary hemangiosarcoma of bone from telangiectatic osteosarcoma in 54 dogs
Authors: Giuffrida M. A. , Bacon N. J. , Kamstock D. A.
Published: August 2016

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) of bone and telangiectatic osteosarcoma (tOSA) can appear similar histologically, but differ in histogenesis (malignant endothelial cells versus osteoblasts), and may warrant different treatments. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for endothelial cell marker factor VIII‐related antigen/von Willebrand factor (FVIII‐RAg/vWF) is a well‐documented ancillary test to confirm HSA diagnoses in soft tissues, but its use in osseous HSA is rarely described. Archived samples of 54 primary appendicular bone tumours previously diagnosed as HSA or tOSA were evaluated using combination routine histopathology (RHP) and IHC. Approximately 20% of tumours were reclassified on the basis of FVIII‐RAg/vWF immunoreactivity, typically from an original diagnosis of tOSA to a reclassified diagnosis of HSA. No sample with tumour osteoid clearly identified on RHP was immunopositive for FVIII‐RAg/vWF. RHP alone was specific but not sensitive for diagnosis of HSA, compared with combination RHP and IHC. Routine histopathological evaluation in combination with FVIII‐RAg/vWF IHC can help differentiate canine primary appendicular HSA from tOSA.
Concurrent exercise training: do opposites distract?
Authors: Coffey Vernon G. , Hawley John A.
Published: August 2016

Specificity is a core principle of exercise training to promote the desired adaptations for maximising athletic performance. The principle of specificity of adaptation is underpinned by the volume, intensity, frequency and mode of contractile activity and is most evident when contrasting the divergent phenotypes that result after undertaking either prolonged endurance or resistance training. The molecular profiles that generate the adaptive response to different exercise modes have undergone intense scientific scrutiny. Given divergent exercise induces similar signalling and gene expression profiles in skeletal muscle of untrained or recreationally active individuals, what is currently unclear is how the specificity of the molecular response is modified by prior training history. The time course of adaptation and when ‘phenotype specificity’ occurs has important implications for exercise prescription. This context is essential when attempting to concomitantly develop resistance to fatigue (through endurance‐based exercise) and increased muscle mass (through resistance‐based exercise), typically termed ‘concurrent training’. Chronic training studies provide robust evidence that endurance exercise can attenuate muscle hypertrophy and strength but the mechanistic underpinning of this ‘interference’ effect with concurrent training is unknown. Moreover, despite the potential for several key regulators of muscle metabolism to explain an incompatibility in adaptation between endurance and resistance exercise, it now seems likely that multiple integrated, rather than isolated, effectors or processes generate the interference effect. Here we review studies of the molecular responses in skeletal muscle and evidence for the interference effect with concurrent training within the context of the specificity of training adaptation.

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Disability Sport Socialization and Identity Construction
Authors: Williams Trevor
Published: August 2016

The subject of this paper is the sport socialization of athletes with disabilities; the object is to contribute to research and praxis through a review of the relevant sociological literature on the subject. The majority of the research, which uses structural-functionalism, is seen as a set of pioneering attempts to generate reliable information. However, the resulting information is too simplistic and theoretically deficient. The minority of the research, which uses interactionism, is seen as complementing the structural-functionalist studies by focusing on different aspects of the socialization experiences of athletes with disabilities. This research is insightful but it is collectively unsystematic. It is concluded that the study of disability sport socialization is in its infancy and is in urgent need of an adequate theoretical foundation. Three theoretical suggestions are offered to provide such a foundation, together with substantive suggestions for focusing on the themes of institutionalized physical activity and sport, social relationships, social configurations, and social control.
Clumsiness in Adolescence: Educational, Motor, and Social Outcomes of Motor Delay Detected at 5 Years
Authors: Cantell Marja H. , Smyth Mary M. , Ahonen Timo P.
Published: August 2016

This paper reports the follow-up at age 15 of a group of children who were diagnosed at age 5 as having delayed motor development. The group of children who were clumsy and the control group still differed in motor performance 10 years later: 46% of the members of the early motor delay group were classified as different from the control group on motor and perceptual tasks. The remainder made up an intermediate group that could not be clearly distinguished from the other groups. Adolescents with stable motor problems had fewer social hobbies and pastimes and had lower academic ambitions for their future than the controls, although the lower academic ambitions also reflect their lower academic achievements. The adolescents who were clumsy believed they were less physically and scholastically competent than the controls. However, they did not have poor opinions of their social acceptance or self-worth. The intermediate group, although they showed motor delay at age 5, had good school performance and high ambitions and engaged in social sports at age 15.
Identification of Children with Movement Problems in Singapore: Usefulness of the Movement ABC Checklist
Authors: Wright Helen C. , Sugden David A. , Ng Richard , Tan John
Published: August 2016

This investigation is concerned with the identification and assessment of Singaporean primary school children who have developmental coordination disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 1987). The present study forms part of a larger project concerned with the suitability of currently available assessment techniques and intervention programs for use in Singapore. In this paper the usefulness of the Movement ABC Checklist and Test as an assessment instrument is explored. The data on a sample of 212 7- and 8-year-olds compared favorably with data from the standardized sample in the United Kingdom. Age and gender differences were similar, and the effects of increasing task difficulty within the checklist were generally confirmed. The checklist identified 15.6% of children as having movement problems or being at risk, which was close to the value obtained in the U.K. The Movement ABC Test provided evidence of the validity of this figure as it successfully differentiated the selected children from age-matched controls who scored well on the checklist. Although some of the items in both instruments need modification, the results suggest that the Movement ABC package is a workable research tool in the Singaporean context.
Repetitive Goal-Directed Arm Movements in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorders: Role of Visual Information
Authors: Rösblad Birgit , von Hofsten Claes
Published: August 2016

Are children with developmental coordination disorders (DCD) more dependent on vision for constructing movements than children without DCD? How important is visual feedback of the hand and how important is visual specification of the goal in this respect? These questions were studied in 10 children with DCD, 3 girls and 7 boys, ranging in age between 7 and 16 years. Each child was matched against a child of the same sex and age without DCD. The task was to pick beads, one at a time, from one cup and carry them to another cup. With the aid of a mirror arrangement and a curtain, visual information about the performing hand and the cups and beads was manipulated. The movements were monitored with an optoelectronic device (SELSPOT II). The results showed that the children with DCD made movements that were both slower and much more variable than those of their age-matched peers, The withdrawal of visual information affected both groups of children in similar ways. However, one boy with developmental disorders revealed a remarkable decrease in performance when the task was carried out without visual information of either the hand or the cups and beads.
Contextual Interference Effects in the Acquisition and Retention of Motor Tasks by Individuals with Mild Mental Handicaps
Authors: Painter Mary A. , Inman Kathleen B. , Vincent William J.
Published: August 2016

The effects of contextual interference on motor skill acquisition and retention were examined in 24 subjects (mean age 13.9 years) with mild mental retardation and 24 chronologically age-matched subjects (mean age 13.11 years) with no disabilities. Subjects from each group were assigned randomly to either a blocked or a random practice schedule. All subjects performed 15 practice trials for each of three different beanbag throwing tasks, 45 trials total. Following a 10-min filled retention interval, 2 trials of each throw (6 total) were performed in a random order by all subjects. Accuracy scores were measured as absolute error from the target. The data revealed a significant interaction between ability groups and practice schedule. Post hoc analyses revealed that the retention scores of the mildly mentally handicapped subjects practicing under blocked conditions were significantly less accurate than scores of any of the other three acquisition groups. Significant effects in variable error retention scores indicated that subjects in the random practice condition performed more consistently than subjects in the blocked condition.
Individuals with Visual Impairments: A Review of Psychomotor Behavior
Authors: Skaggs Steve , Hopper Chris
Published: August 2016

The present paper is a review of the psychomotor abilities of individuals with visual impairments. It was found that cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, flexibility, and balance were significantly lower in individuals with visual impairments than in individuals with nonimpaired sight. Differences were found in physical fitness and psychomotor skills among individuals with visual impairments. Those individuals with a later onset of blindness and greater visual acuity performed best. Segregated environments appeared to foster superior physical fitness and psychomotor skills compared to integrated environments. Findings indicated that some physical fitness evaluation instruments produce inaccurate results in testing individuals with visual impairments. Suggestions for future research are included.