bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Safety Stand-down: A Technique for Improving and Sustaining Hand Hygiene Compliance Among Health Care Personnel
Authors: Cunningham Dennis , Brilli Richard J. , McClead Richard E. , Davis J. Terrance
Published: March 2015

Objectives

Hand hygiene (HH) is critical to prevent health care–acquired infections. However, compliance by health care workers remains between 30% and 70% at most institutions. Most efforts to improve compliance have proven ineffective. The objective of this study was to determine whether a safety stand-down can improve HH compliance.

Methods

We adapted and borrowed from the military an approach known as a stand-down. A mandatory Hand-Hygiene Leadership Safety Summit was called for all hospital leaders—physicians and nonphysicians. Four days later, a hospital-wide 15-minute–long safety stand-down occurred, during which all nonessential activity was suspended and action plans to improve HH compliance were discussed. All medical sections and hospital departments were required to submit written action plans. After the stand-down, HH compliance monitoring was increased, and noncompliers were required to speak to senior hospital administration.

Results

Compliance increased from less than 65% to greater than 95% (P < 0.001) and has been sustained for 3½ years.

Conclusions

A health care safety stand-down can be an effective method to rapidly change and sustain culture change regarding HH in the inpatient hospital setting.
Shifted convolution and the Titchmarsh divisor problem over 𝔽q[t]
Authors: Andrade J. C. , Bary-Soroker L. , Rudnick Z.
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we solve a function field analogue of classical problems in analytic number theory, concerning the autocorrelations of divisor functions, in the limit of a large finite field.
The unusual gene order in the Echinoderm Hox cluster is related to the embryo and larva symmetries
Authors: Papageorgiou Spyros
Published: March 2015

Background

Hox gene collinearity relates the sequential location of Hox genes in the 3’ to 5’ direction on the chromosome with the linear arrangement of the body elements along the anterior-posterior (A/P) axis of bilaterian embryos. This spatial Hox gene collinearity has been almost universally respected in diverse organisms like worms, insects or vertebrates. It is therefore surprising that the above well established collinearity rule is violated in the case of Echinoderms. No explanation of this violation is apparent. Here a hypothesis is put forward which provides a cue to understand the abnormal serial gene location in the sea urchin disorganized Hox cluster.

Results

Bilateral symmetry along the A/P embryo axis is established at the very early stages of ontogeny of the sea urchin. For the subsequent developmental stages, rotational symmetry emerges in the vestibula larva. In analogy to the linear A/P case, the circular topology of modules might be a reflection of the architectural restructuring of the Hox loci where the 3’ and 5’ ends of the Hox cluster approach each other so that a closed contour of the chromatin fiber is formed. At a later stage, the break and opening of the cluster contour at the level of Hox4 combined with the rotational symmetry leads to the observed Hox gene sequence that violates the standard 3’ to 5’ collinearity.

Conclusion

The unusual gene series manifests the congruence of Hox gene sequence in the cluster with the circular arrangement of the sea urchin primary podia. Accordingly, the Hox sequence after the break at Hox4 is not a violation but an extension of Hox gene collinearity to animals with rotational symmetry.
Hydrogen bonding patterns in salts of derivatives of aminopyrimidine and thiobarbituric acid
Authors: Gomathi Sundaramoorthy , Nirmalram Jeyaraman Selvaraj , Muthiah Packianathan Thomas
Published: March 2015

Three salts, namely 2-amino-4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-1-ium thiobarbiturate trihydrate (I), 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-1-ium thiobarbiturate dihydrate (II) and 2,4-diamino-5-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzyl)pyrimidin-1-ium thiobarbiturate (III), were synthesized and characterized by IR and X-ray diffraction techniques. The primary interaction between the acid and base happensviaN—H...O hydrogen bonds in (II) and (III), andviawater-mediated N—H...OWand OW—HW...S in (I). The water molecules present in compound (I) form a (H2O)12water clusterviawater–water interactions. In all three compounds (I)–(III), thiobarbiturate anions form self-complementary pairs with a robustR22(8) motifviaa pair of N—H...O/N—H...S hydrogen bonds. They mimic the nucleobase base pairs by utilizing the same groups (thymine/uracil uses N3—H and C4=O8 groups during the formation of Watson–Crick and Hoogsteen base pairs with adenine). Compound (I) forms a water-mediated base pair through N—H...OWhydrogen bonds and forms anR42(12) motif. The formation of N—H...S hydrogen bonds, water-mediated base pairs and water–water interactions in these crystal systems offers scope for these systems to be considered as a model in the study of hydration of nucleobases and water-mediated nucleobase base pairs in macromolecules.
Predicting the lattice constants of the ternary pyrochloresA2B2O6O′
Authors: Nickolsky M. S.
Published: March 2015

The pyrochloresA2B2O6O′ attract much attention because of their physical properties. Several models which relate chemical compositions of ternary pyrochlores with lattice constants have been proposed. Analysis of these models shows that some of them are statistically inadequate and cannot be used. Statistical models to predict lattice constants of ternary pyrochloresA2B2O6O′ have been derived using multiple linear regression analysis.
A comprehensive classification and nomenclature of carboxyl–carboxyl(ate) supramolecular motifs and related catemers: implications for biomolecular systems
Authors: D'Ascenzo Luigi , Auffinger Pascal
Published: March 2015

Carboxyl and carboxylate groups form important supramolecular motifs (synthons). Besides carboxyl cyclic dimers, carboxyl and carboxylate groups can associate through a single hydrogen bond. Carboxylic groups can further form polymeric-like catemer chains within crystals. To date, no exhaustive classification of these motifs has been established. In this work, 17 association types were identified (13 carboxyl–carboxyl and 4 carboxyl–carboxylate motifs) by taking into account thesynandanticarboxyl conformers, as well as thesynandantilone pairs of the O atoms. From these data, a simple rule was derived stating that only eight distinct catemer motifs involving repetitive combinations ofsynandanticarboxyl groups can be formed. Examples extracted from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) for all identified dimers and catemers are presented, as well as statistical data related to their occurrence and conformational preferences. The inter-carboxyl(ate) and carboxyl(ate)–water hydrogen-bond properties are described, stressing the occurrence of very short (strong) hydrogen bonds. The precise characterization and classification of these supramolecular motifs should be of interest in crystal engineering, pharmaceutical and also biomolecular sciences, where similar motifs occur in the form of pairs of Asp/Glu amino acids or motifs involving ligands bearing carboxyl(ate) groups. Hence, we present data emphasizing how the analysis of hydrogen-containing small molecules of high resolution can help understand structural aspects of larger and more complex biomolecular systems of lower resolution.
Structure and stability of BaTiSi2O7
Authors: Viani Alberto , Palermo Andrea , Zanardi Stefano , Demitri Nicola , Petrícek Václav , Varini Federico , Belluso Elena , Ståhl Kenny , Gualtieri Alessandro Francesco
Published: March 2015

Due to their optical, photo-luminescence (PL), and afterglow properties, barium titanosilicates are compounds of great interest for functional materials and light-emitting devices. Among them, BaTiSi2O7(BTS2) is certainly one of the most intriguing; it displays peculiar properties (e.g.PL orange emission) whose exhaustive explanation has been hampered to date by the lack of a structure model. In this work, BTS2 and the related compound BaTiSi4O11(BTS4) were synthesized through conventional solid-state reaction methods. BTS2 invariably shows complex twinning patterns. Thus, its structure solution and Rietveld structure refinement were attempted using synchrotron powder diffraction. BTS2 was found to be an intergrowth of monoclinic and triclinic crystals. The monoclinic phase has the space groupP21/nand unit cella= 7.9836 (3),b= 10.0084 (4),c= 7.4795 (3) Å, and β = 100.321 (3)°, whereas the triclinic phase has the space group P\bar 1 and unit cella= 7.99385 (4),b= 10.01017 (5),c= 7.47514 (3) Å, α = 90.084 (8), β = 100.368 (8) and γ = 89.937 (9)°. These lattices can be seen as a distortion of that of tetragonal synthetic β-BaVSi2O7with Ti in place of V. The structure models obtained from this study confirm the presence of fivefold coordinated Ti atoms in a distorted pyramidal configuration. The proposed solution supports existing theories for the explanation of the PL orange colour in BTS2.
Phosphoramides bearing isoxazole derivative: spectroscopic and structural characterization, study of hydrogen-bonding interactions and two lanthanide complexes (LnIII= Ce and Eu)
Authors: Gholivand Khodayar , Molaei Foroogh , Hosseini Mahdieh
Published: March 2015

In this study, the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of new phosphoramides based on 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole with the formulaR2P(O)[NH–C4H4NO],R= C6H5O (1), C6H5(2),RP(O)[NH—C4H4NO]2,R= C6H5O (3), CH3—C6H4O (4), C6H5NH (5), (C6H5)ClP(O)[NH–C4H4NO] (6) and two lanthanide complexes [Ln(2)2(NO3)3(EtOH)]·EtOH, LnIII= Ce (7) and Eu (8), have been reported. The structural study of (3) shows the presence of two conformers (crystallographically independent molecules) in the crystalline lattice, caused by different orientations of the phenyl and isoxazole rings. For (3), the intermolecular interactions have been studied by Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots. Furthermore, the electronic and energy aspects of hydrogen bonds between molecules of (3) have been explored by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. X-ray crystallography of complexes (7) and (8) reveals that two phosphoramide ligands take part in coordination to the metal, one as monodentate from Ophosphoryl, and the other one as chelate through Ophosphoryland Nring. The complexes are also composed of two conformers in the solid-state structure. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis discloses the electrostatic nature of the Ln–ligand interaction.
Crystal structures of 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-1,3-benzothiazin-4-one and 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-1,3-benzothiazin-4-one
Authors: Yennawar Hemant , Cali Aaron S. , Xie Yiwen , Silverberg Lee J.
Published: March 2015

The crystal structures are reported of the isomeric compounds 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-1,3-benzothiazin-4-one, (I), and 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-1,3-benzothiazin-4-one, (II), both C20H14N2O3S, being thepara-nitro andortho-nitro forms, respectively, themeta-form of which is known [Yennawaret al.(2013).Acta Cryst.E69, o1679]. The six-membered thiazone ring fused with a benzene ring displays a screw-boat conformation with a total puckering amplitude of 0.627 (1) Å in (I), and a near screw-boat conformation with a total puckering amplitude of 0.600 (1) Å in (II). The dihedral angles between the planes of the substituent nitrophenyl and phenyl and rings with the benzene ring of the parent benzothiazone moiety are 75.93 (5) and 82.61 (5)° [in (I)], and 76.79 (6) and 71.66 (6)° [in (II)]. Weak intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions between aromatic H-atom donors and both a nitro-O atom and a thiazone O-atom acceptor in (I) and a thiazone O atom in (II) are present, forming in (I) a centrosymmetric 22-membered cyclic dimer which is extended through a similar inversion-related 14-membered cyclic hydrogen-bonding association into a zigzag chain structure extending alongc. In (II), a single intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond gives a chain structure extending alongb. In addition, weak C—H...π interactions are present in both structures [minimum C...ring-centroid separations = 3.630 (2) and 3.581 (2) Å, respectively].
Crystal structure of 3-methylpyridine-2-carbaldehyde 4-methylthiosemicarbazone monohydrate
Authors: Mokhtaruddin Nur Shuhada Mohd , Ravoof Thahira Begum S. A. , Tahir Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: March 2015

In the title hydrate, C9H12N4S·H2O (systematic name: 3-methyl-1-{(E)-[(3-methylpyridin-2-yl)methylidene]amino}thiourea monohydrate), a small twist is noted between the pyridine ring and the rest of the organic molecule [dihedral angle = 6.96 (5)°]. The imine and pyridine N atoms aresyn, and the amine H atoms areanti. The latter arrangement allows for the formation of an intramolecular N—H...N(imine) hydrogen bond. Both the N-bonded H atoms form hydrogen bonds to symmetry-related water molecules, and the latter forms O—H hydrogen bonds with the pyridine N and thione S atoms. These interactions lead to supramolecular layers that stack along thea-axis direction with no specific interactions between them.
The crystal structures of three clozapinium salts: different molecular configurations, and supramolecular assembly in one, two and three dimensions
Authors: Kaur Manpreet , Jasinski Jerry P. , Yathirajan Hemmige S. , Kavitha Channappa N. , Glidewell Christopher
Published: March 2015

The structures of three salts derived from clozapine, 8-chloro-11-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-5H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepine, are reported, namely, clozapinium 3,5-dinitrobenzoate dimethyl sulfoxide monosolvate, C18H20ClN4+·C7H3N2O6−·C2H6OS, (I), where the dimethyl sulfoxide component is disordered over two sets of atomic sites having occupancies 0.627 (2) and 0.373 (2); clozapinium hydrogen maleate 0.21-hydrate, C18H20ClN4+·C4H3O4−·0.21H2O, (II), and clozapinium 2-hydroxybenzoate, C18H20ClN4+·C7H5O3−, (III). In all three salts, the protonation site is the methylated N atom of the piperazine ring, and the dimensions and conformations of the fused tricyclic system are very similar. However, differences are apparent in the piperazine component: in both compounds (II) and (III), the unprotonated N atom of this ring has a pyramidal geometry, but in compound (I) this atom has a planar geometry. In compound (III), both N-substituents in this ring occupy equatorial sites, but in compound (II) the fused tricyclic system occupies an axial site of the piperazine ring. The independent components of compound (I) are linked within the selected asymmetric unit by a combination of N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, and these hydrogen-bonded aggregates are linked into chains by an aromatic π–π stacking interaction. In compound (II), the components are linked into sheets by a combination of O—H...O, N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, and in compound (III), a combination of N—H...O, C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds links the components into a three-dimensional framework structure. Comparisons are made with some similar compounds.
Crystal structure of 2,3-bis[(4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethylphenyl)imino]butane
Authors: Zhao Sheng-Lan , Yuan Jian-Chao , Zhao Yan
Published: March 2015

The title compound, C28H40N2, was obtained from the condensation reaction of 4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethylaniline and butane-2,3-dione. The molecule lies on an inversion centre. The C=N bond has anEconformation. The plane of the benzene ring is almost perpendicular to the 1,4-diazabutadiene mean plane [dihedral angle = 89.8 (9)°].
Crystal structure of 8-hydroxyquinolinium 2-carboxy-6-nitrobenzoate monohydrate
Authors: Divya Bharathi M. , Ahila G. , Mohana J. , Chakkaravarthi G. , Anbalagan G.
Published: March 2015

In the title hydrated salt, C9H8NO+·C8H4NO6−·H2O, the deprotonated carboxylate group is almost normal to its attached benzene ring [dihedral angle = 83.56 (8)°], whereas the protonated carboxylate group is close to parallel [dihedral angle = 24.56 (9)°]. In the crystal, the components are linked by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds, generating [001] chains. The packing is consolidated by C—H...O and π–π [centroid-to-centroid distances = 3.6408 (9) and 3.6507 (9) Å] interactions, which result in a three-dimensional network.
Antimicrobial resistance and stewardship
Authors: Birnbaum David
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on recent developments concerning promotion of initiatives to contain the spread of resistance to antimicrobial drugs.

Design/methodology/approach

– Narrative review.

Findings

– In 2014, an American executive order made combating antimicrobial resistance a national priority. While this and other developments convey a message of growing urgency, the core elements required and challenges ahead are neither new nor unexplored. The quantity and quality of antimicrobial stewardship research over the past decade has added little to what already was known. Suppressing evolution of emerging drug resistance and containing emergence of resistant strains as on-going activities to maintain a balance might be a more realistic statement of the problem than framing it as winning a war. It remains to be seen how well those in the front lines of healthcare epidemiology and infection control shape framing of this problem before American federal and state agencies respond to their presidential directive by relaying marching orders through laws, rules, regulations, financial incentives and penalties. It remains to be seen whether the next decade will be more successful than the last given a more recent emphasis on the strategy of bundling small sets of practical key measures into effect, and the involvement of public health departments in support of antimicrobial stewardship. Unlike a generation ago, it also is clear that international trade and travel make this a global problem. America cannot be expected to resolve emerging drug resistance alone even if containment efforts within its own borders are successful, but like other developed countries it can be expected to have vested self-interests in promoting global solutions to this complex problem.

Originality/value

– This report brings together recent American government policy decisions and insights from two noteworthy interdisciplinary conferences.
Clinical governance: an assessment of New Zealand’s approach and performance
Authors: Gauld Robin , Horsburgh Simon
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Clinical governance policy initiatives have been introduced in many countries and health systems. How to assess development is an important question. The purpose of this paper is to describe and reflect upon the approach taken in New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

– New Zealand’s clinical governance policy of 2009 and its implementation through its public health care system are outlined. The authors’ assessments, in 2010 and 2012, of this policy are described and key findings summarised.

Findings

– The implementation of the policy was swift, with considerable commitment across the public health care system to this. The quantitative assessments found reasonable developmental progress between 2010 and 2012. Case studies undertaken in 2012 indicated various areas that policy makers should attend to or build upon in order to better support clinical governance development.

Research limitations/implications

– Key lessons from New Zealand’s clinical governance experience, based on the assessments, include the need for: a well-defined definition of clinical governance; resource materials that can be used by those involved in clinical governance development; recognition that clinical governance development is complicated and takes time; and commitment to new leadership and organisational arrangements.

Originality/value

– This paper provides useful lessons for policy makers pursuing clinical governance development, derived from two rounds of assessment in New Zealand.
CGIJreview
Authors: MacVane Phipps Fiona
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the content of the current issue ofCGIJ.

Design/methodology/approach

– The review is prepared by the review editor to highlight key points within each paper.

Findings

– Enables readers to scan content and select articles of most interest or relevance to their needs.

Originality/value

–CGIJis the only Emerald health journal providing this service to its readers.
Breaking the circle of blame for sustainable buildings – evidence from Nordic countries
Authors: Andelin Mia , Sarasoja Anna-Liisa , Ventovuori Tomi , Junnila Seppo
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The study aims to examine how the vicious circle of blame for sustainable buildings can be turned into virtuous loops of adaptation when considering sustainable buildings and what are the drivers for tenants and investors regarding sustainable buildings and gaining insights of investors’ and tenants’ corporate responsibility (CR) actions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper consists of a literature review and two surveys. The literature review concentrates on exploring investors’ and tenants’ CR and sustainability drivers. Empirical evidence was gathered via two specific surveys. The first survey targeted investors, and the second survey targeted tenants to determine the focus areas of sustainability.

Findings

– The findings of this study indicate that the vicious circle of blame can be turned into one of cooperation with respect to sustainable buildings if the mutual drivers for improving sustainability are linked with investor–tenant collaboration. Based on the survey, the tenants claim that productivity, corporate culture and image are the primary drivers for sustainable buildings, whereas the investors claim that corporate culture and image, tenant demand and marketability are the primary drivers. Both parties mentioned the same sustainability drivers: corporate culture and image and lower operating costs. However, it was found that investors are not communicating their CR actions to public or promoting image and productivity benefits of green buildings to potential tenants.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitation of this study is the sampling of Nordic countries, as there are indications of different situation in other markets such as the USA.

Originality/value

– Improving sustainability in the real estate industry is linked to investor–tenant collaboration. In addition to common drivers, both investors and tenants have their own list of benefits and drivers for sustainable buildings. These drivers are linked to each other. Making progress with respect to sustainability in the built environment depends on people in the industry being aware of the importance of and possibilities offered by sustainable buildings, as well as being able and willing to act on this knowledge. Only through partnership can the full potential of the built environment be realised and help deliver an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable future.
An investigation into how corporate real estate in the financial services industry can add value through alignment and methods of performance measurement
Authors: Langford Luke , Haynes Barry
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to evaluate corporate real estate (CRE) performance measurement and how value can be added to the core business.

Design/methodology/approach

– An analysis is made of the appropriate literature and primary research conducted via interviews with 11 senior professionals from three globally renowned companies, one global financial organisation and two corporate advisory firms.

Findings

– The findings from this research provide evidence that CRE can be used to add value to the core business, both in the physical and behavioural environment. By aligning aims and objectives with the business, continually conducting portfolio analytics, encompassing size, cost, space, retention and productivity, value can be added, maximising shareholder worth.

Research limitations/implications

– The main conclusions drawn from this study are that CRE can add value to the business. The role of corporate real estate asset managers (CREAMs) needs to change from the physical environment to the behavioural environment, working to increase productivity, which can have greatest impact on shareholder value.

Originality/value

– This paper provides evidence to suggest that CRE ’s role is not only to manage property but should be broadened to add value to the organisation by aligning CRE strategy with the corporate strategy. Closer interactions with human resource and information technology are required to enhance productivity, via relationship management, perhaps outsourcing to provide best in industry expertise. CREAMs can shape the future of office space, by demanding carbon neutral properties. This paper recommends that further research should be conducted on the measurement of intangibles, like productivity and corporate social responsibility, and how they can be used to add value and sustainable saves.
Knowledge transfer in family business successions
Authors: Boyd Britta , Royer Susanne , Pei Rong , Zhang Xiaolei
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Knowledge often is the fundament for strategic competitive advantage. Thus, it is highly relevant to understand better how knowledge is transferred from one generation to the next in family businesses. The purpose of this paper is to link the competitive advantage realisation in family businesses to the success of transferring strategically valuable knowledge in different business environments to the next generation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Building on the contingency model of family business succession (Royeret al., 2008) knowledge transfer in family businesses from different cultures is investigated in this paper. From a resource-oriented and transaction cost inspired perspective two family businesses with a similar industry background from China and Europe are compared regarding knowledge transfer in the context of family firm succession taking into account the respective transaction atmosphere.

Findings

– Different successions for two long-lived family firms are illustrated in a systematic fashion: based on the theoretical elements suggested both cases are described to get insights into the usefulness of the theoretical reasoning developed. On the basis of these, the cases are compared with each other and conclusions for both cases are drawn. Implications for theory and practice as well as avenues for future research are sketched.

Originality/value

– The focus of the current study is to gain more insight into long-lived family businesses by comparing two cases over a period of more than 200 years with regard to strategically relevant resources as well as the underlying transaction atmospheres. Implications for family firms depending on the resource types and transaction atmosphere are discussed.
The absorptive capacity of family firms
Authors: Andersén Jim
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Absorptive capacity (AC) is a key competitive advantage and is defined as the capacity to absorb knowledge from the environment. Although some studies have examined how various antecedents to AC differ between family firms and non-family firms, no studies have set out to specifically analyze AC in the context of family firms. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the ability of family firms to absorb external knowledge by analyzing the relationship between “familiness” and “AC”.

Design/methodology/approach

– By reviewing and combining studies on AC and knowledge-management practices of family firms, new insights into the AC of family firms are developed.

Findings

– It is argued that due to higher levels of social capital, familiness is positively related to the ability to transform and use external knowledge (i.e. realized AC). However, firms with high levels of familiness are likely to be inferior in acquiring and assimilating external knowledge (i.e. potential AC).

Originality/value

– Although previous studies have analyzed various knowledge-management practices of family firms, no studies have set out to specifically explore how familiness affects various dimensions of AC.
Family business insights: an overview of the literature
Authors: Pounder Paul
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the family business literature has evolved, and to examine the factors influencing family-owned and managed businesses. The paper discusses important patterns in the present literature and new directions for future study.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research identifies key research topics and methodical approaches to understand family businesses. Insights into the reasoning behind the historic changes and the current direction and trends of the family business literature are also identified.

Findings

– The findings of this research argues that the main cause of the challenges in running a family business stem from the management of the interrelationship between family concerns and business concerns. Strong leadership and building a culture that accepts continuous change are key success factors.

Research limitations/implications

– Due to the specific nature of the family business dynamics and decision-making conflict, which can hardly be captured by quantitative studies alone, a promotion of qualitative studies is advisable.

Practical implications

– This study suggests that understanding the culture surrounding decision making in family business has great value. Characteristics such as aggressiveness, fearlessness and competition are key areas for investigation.

Social implications

– Overlooking the potential of non-family members for family business leadership can produce sub-optimal choices of successors. Further, the aspiration to change society’s and government’s view of family businesses warrants attention.

Originality/value

– This review of previous research offers researchers a broader and comprehensive view of the family business, which is inclusive of the challenges, decision making and solutions within the family business structure. Researchers, educators and practitioners will benefit from this paper.
How much does a diabetes out-patient appointment actually cost? An argument for PLICS
Authors: Grant Paul
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The national tariff system for clinical processes and procedures aims to put a discrete unit cost on clinical activity. Calculating such costs can be subject to a great deal of local variation and interpretation. Given the rising costs of diabetes the purpose of this paper is to ask the question what does a diabetes outpatient appointment in the UK NHS actually cost? This is important in a time of financial austerity and healthcare rationing because it can be difficult to decipher the attribution of costs within the acute hospital setting.

Design/methodology/approach

– Exploring this question, the author considers the present cost model and analyse in terms of the language of unit model cost; the basic tariff system and how it works in diabetes and looking at internal cost information the author attempts to unbundle the cost to provide a more accurate value for the cost object.

Findings

– One major finding is that costs and overheads are divided arbitrarily as opposed to being distributed on the basis of measured relative consumption. Alternative costing methods are appraised to demonstrate that a patient level episodic costing approach such as patient level information and costing system (PLICS) which incorporates aspects of activity-based costing (ABC) would be far more appropriate. Using time driven ABC (TDABC), a new patient appointment costs £162 for 30 minutes and a follow-up appointment costs £81 for 15 minutes.

Practical implications

– PLICS has the added benefit of greater financial and clinical transparency and this goes some way towards the holy grail of greater engagement with the doctors delivering clinical care.

Social implications

– It would appear that there are different purposes of different costing systems. One can argue that a costing system is there to both contain costs and divide overheads and demonstrate activity. Depending on how data are interpreted costing information can be an agent of enlightenment and behavioural modification for healthcare professionals to show them their direct and indirect costs, their capacity and productivity.

Originality/value

– Clinicians and health service managers can see from this practical example how the distribution of costs and resources are unfair and can impede the delivery of a service. By using alternative costing methodologies such as ABC not only do the author gets a better reflection of the true cost of the finished consultant episode but is also able to engage clinicians in understanding how costs are generated.
Vertical and horizontal control dilemmas in public hospitals
Authors: Pettersen Inger Johanne , Solstad Elsa
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The hospital sector in Norway has been continuously reorganized since 2002 and the reforms have created organizations that are functionally/vertically controlled, whereas the production lines are coordinated on a process or a lateral basis. The purpose of this paper is to focus on both the perceived functional vertical control and horizontal controls within and between the local hospitals and the regional administrative levels.

Design/methodology/approach

– A national survey study, complemented with interviews of some key informants and document studies.

Findings

– The study shows that the functional and vertical lines of management control are perceived to be operating according to the traditional views of management control. The study indicates that the horizontal tasks are not very well implemented, and we did not find interactive and lateral uses of management control systems for managerial purposes.

Practical implications

– New control problems arise when services are to be coordinated between autonomous units.

Originality/value

– The paper focuses on the control problems found within the horizontal, flat relationship between production units in hospitals; new organizational structures have emerged where lateral relations are important, but traditional control practices follow functional, vertical lines.
Impact of the organisational culture on primary care staff members’ intention to engage in research and development
Authors: Morténius Helena , Baigi Amir , Palm Lars , Fridlund Bengt , Björkelund Cecilia , Hedberg Berith
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand how organisational culture influences the intentions of primary care staff members (PCSM) to engage in research and development (R&D).

Design/methodology/approach

– The participants (n=30) were PCSM employed in a care centre in south-western Sweden. The study had an observational design with an ethnographic approach. The data were collected by means of observations, interviews and analysis of documents.

Findings

– The results revealed the perceptions of PCSM in two domains, research and clinical practice, both of which existed at three different cultural levels: visible (structures and policy), semi-visible (norms and values) and invisible (taken-for-granted attitudes).

Research limitations/implications

– It is difficult to conduct a purely objective ethnographic study because the investigation is controlled by its context. However, it is necessary to highlight and discuss the invisible level to improve understanding of negative attitudes and preconceptions related to the implementation of R&D in the clinical setting.

Practical implications

– By highlighting the invisible level of culture, the management of an organisation has the opportunity to initiate discussion of issues related to concealed norms and values as well as attitudes towards new thinking and change in the primary health context.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the very few studies to investigate the influence of organisational culture on the intentions of PCSM to engage in R&D.
Using sentiment analysis to review patient satisfaction data located on the internet
Authors: Hopper Anthony M. , Uriyo Maria
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to test the usefulness of sentiment analysis and time-to-next-complaint methods in quantifying text-based information located on the internet. As important, the authors demonstrate how managers can use time-to-next-complaint techniques to organize sentiment analysis derived data into useful information, which can be shared with doctors and other staff.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors used sentiment analysis to review patient feedback for a select group of gynecologists in Virginia. The authors utilized time-to-next-complaint methods along with other techniques to organize this data into meaningful information.

Findings

– The authors demonstrated that sentiment analysis and time-to-next-complaint techniques might be useful tools for healthcare managers who are interested in transforming web-based text into meaningful, quantifiable information.

Research limitations/implications

– This study has several limitations. For one thing, neither the data set nor the techniques the authors used to analyze it will account for biases that resulted from selection issues related to gender, income, and culture, as well as from other socio-demographic concerns. Additionally, the authors lacked key data concerning patient volumes for the targeted physicians. Finally, it may be difficult to convince doctors to consider web-based comments as truthful, thereby preventing healthcare managers from using data located on the internet.

Practical implications

– The report illustrates some of the ways in which healthcare administrators can utilize sentiment analysis, along with time-to-next-complaint techniques, to mine web-based, patient comments for meaningful information.

Originality/value

– The paper is one of the first to illustrate ways in which administrators at clinics and physicians’ offices can utilize sentiment analysis and time-to-next-complaint methods to analyze web-based patient comments.
Data visualization as a communication tool
Authors: Archambault Susan Gardner , Helouvry Joanne , Strohl Bonnie , Williams Ginger
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide a framework for thinking about meaningful data visualization in ways that can be applied to routine statistics collected by libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

– An overview of common data display methods is provided, with an emphasis on tables, scatter plots, line charts, bar charts, histograms, pie charts and infographics. Research on “best practices” in data visualization design is presented; also provided is a comparison of free online data visualization tools.

Findings

– Different data display methods are best suited for different quantitative relationships. There are rules to follow for optimal data visualization design. Ten free online data visualization tools are recommended by the authors.

Originality/value

– Evidence-based libraries collect and use data to affect change and to support departmental and institutional accreditation standards. Proper data visualization allows libraries to communicate their message in a more compelling and interesting way, while assisting in the understanding of complex data.
Utilizing a time-to-shelf study to start a conversation on change
Authors: Gibson Sally
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show the value of benchmarking organizational performance in order to enable conversations about workflow analysis and potential changes.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data from a time-to-shelf study are compared to literature describing similar studies at other academic libraries which enable the decision-making process for a new workflow.

Findings

– The results of a time-to-shelf study necessitated a change in workflow. This paper examines how the data enabled staff to agree to changes and supported the decision-making process.

Originality/value

– This paper examines the impact of evidence-based decision making on the performance and workflow of a technical services department.
Building holistic and agile collection development and assessment
Authors: Duncan Cheri Jeanette , O'Gara Genya Morgan
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the development of a flexible collections assessment rubric comprised of a suite of tools for more consistently and effectively evaluating and expressing a holistic value of library collections to a variety of constituents, from administrators to faculty and students, with particular emphasis to the use of data already being collected at libraries to “take the temperature” of how responsive collections are in supporting institutional goals.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a literature review, internal and external conversations, several collections pilot projects, and a variety of other investigative mechanisms, this paper explores methods for creating a more flexible, holistic collection development and assessment model using both qualitative and quantitative data.

Findings

– The products of scholarship that academic libraries include in their collections are expanding exponentially and range from journals and monographs in all formats, to databases, data sets, digital text and images, streaming media, visualizations and animations. Content is also being shared in new ways and on a variety of platforms. Yet the framework for evaluating this new landscape of scholarly output is in its infancy. So, how do libraries develop and assess collections in a consistent, holistic, yet agile, manner? Libraries must employ a variety of mechanisms to ensure this goal, while remaining flexible in adapting to the shifting collections environment.

Originality/value

– In so much as the authors are aware, this is the first paper to examine an agile, holistic approach to collections using both qualitative and quantitative data.
Steatocystoma multiplex with hair shaft abnormalities
Authors: Pietrzak Aldona , Bartosinska Joanna , Filip Agata A. , Rakowska Adriana , Adamczyk Michal , Szumilo Justyna , Kanitakis Jean
Published: March 2015

Steatocystoma multiplex (SM) is an unusual benign disorder of the pilosebaceous duct characterized by multiple cysts with little or no nail and hair involvement. We report a 30‐year‐old woman with multiple cystic nodules located on the neck, axillae and forearms as well as patchy scalp alopecia. Histopathological examination of the lesions was diagnostic of SM. Trichoscopy revealed pili torti and pili canaliculi. This patient represents an unusual clinical presentation of SM because of the presence of hair abnormalities.
Sebaceous carcinoma in association with actinic keratosis: A report of two cases with an immunohistochemical study
Authors: Misago Noriyuki , Kuwashiro Maki , Tsuruta Noriko , Narisawa Yutaka
Published: March 2015

We report two cases of sebaceous carcinoma associated with actinic keratosis (AK) with an immunohistochemical study, which suggests the possibility that sebaceous carcinoma really does develop within AK. Case 1 had sebaceous carcinoma arising within the atrophic type AK and case 2 had sebaceous carcinoma associated with bowenoid AK in the periphery and some parts of the overlying epidermis of the lesion.
Rs4948496 within ARID5B gene is associated with clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus in the Chinese Han population
Authors: Jiang Long , Wu Jianping , Li Weiran , Du Juan , Wang Wenjun , Zhu Zhengwei , Gao Jinping , Sheng Yujun , Yin Xianyong , Zheng Xiaodong , Li Hui , Li Yang , Meng Li , Fan Xing , Liu Shengxiu , Zeng Ming , Wang Zaixing , Cui Yong , Tang Huayang , Sun Liangdan , Yang Sen , Zhang Xuejun
Published: March 2015

In our previous meta‐analysis of genome‐wide association study, we identified the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs4948496 (P = 5.1 × 10−11, odds ratio [OR] = 0.85) within the ARID5B gene associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Chinese population. To investigate its association with disease subphenotypes, we further analyzed the genotype data of rs4948496 in 4348 cases and 6679 controls from our previous meta‐analysis and an independent replication cohort in this study. The SNP rs4948496 was significantly associated with SLE (P = 1.61 × 10−5, OR = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.83–0.93) in our group. In case‐only study, the genotype of rs4948496 was associated with antinuclear antibodies (P = 0.03, OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.68–0.98) and anti‐RNP (P = 0.03, OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.76–0.99). This study showed that rs4948496 in ARID5B is associated with several subphenotypes of SLE and this gene may cause the complicacy of clinical features.
Lamellar ichthyosis with pseudoexon activation in the transglutaminase 1 gene
Authors: Suga Yasushi , Tsuda Tatsuya , Nagai Makoto , Sakaguchi Yoshiko , Jitsukawa Orie , Yamamoto Masaaki , Hitomi Kiyotaka , Yamanishi Kiyofumi
Published: March 2015

We report a case of a 12‐year‐old boy who was born as a collodion baby after which thick scales developed on his entire body surface. His younger brother showed a similar skin condition. Arcuate‐shaped, large, brownish scales covered his face with ectropion. His lower legs were also covered with larger thick, brownish, plate‐like scales, but other areas were covered with smaller scales. Next‐generation sequencing for exons and splice sites detected a stop‐gain TGM1 mutation leading to p.R71* in transglutaminase 1 (TG1). Another mutation identified was a cryptic mutation in intron 3 that activated a pseudoexon, which was detected by RNA‐based analysis of hair bulbs. The deep intronic mutation caused another truncation mutation, p.N171Tfs*45, in TG1. An in situ TG1 assay demonstrated that TG1 activity was totally lost in this case. Thus, we conclude that the severe phenotype of the patient developed due to those novel compound heterozygous null truncation mutations in TGM1.
Refractory case of adrenergic urticaria successfully treated with clotiazepam
Authors: Kawakami Yukari , Gokita Mari , Fukunaga Atsushi , Nishigori Chikako
Published: March 2015

Adrenergic urticaria (AU) is a rare type of stress‐induced physical urticaria characterized by widespread pruritic urticarial papules. Diagnosis can be made by i.d. injection of adrenaline or noradrenaline, which produces the characteristic rash. Although the lesions of AU typically respond to beta‐blockers such as propranolol, the therapeutic options for AU are limited. Here, we report a case of AU that was resistant to beta‐blockers and successfully treated with clotiazepam. The clinical picture of AU resembles that of cholinergic urticaria (CU), however, positive noradrenaline test and negative acetylcholine skin test were useful for the differential diagnosis of AU and CU. Although his symptoms were resistant to several therapeutic methods including olopatadine (H1 antagonist), lafutidine (H2 antagonist) and propranolol, the severity and frequency of his attacks and his subjective symptoms were reduced by oral clotiazepam, an anxiolytic benzodiazepine. Dermatologists should be aware that anxiolytic benzodiazepines may be a therapeutic option in AU.