bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cervical Cancer Screening Beliefs and Prevalence of LSIL/HSIL Among a University-Based Population in Cameroon
Authors: Eakin Cortney , Ekollo Rodrigue , Nembulefack Derick , Halle-Ekane Gregory , Tangui Gracious , Brady Robert , Bhattarai Bikash , Orock George Enow , Greenspan David
Published: September 2018

Objective

The aim of the study was to determine beliefs and utilization of cervical cancer screening and prevalence of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion/high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion among a university-based population in the Southwest region of Cameroon.

Materials and Methods

A public-private partnership was established between the University of Arizona, University of Buea, and the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services. A single-day screening clinic using visual inspection with acetic acid and Lugol's iodine solution (VILI) was provided at the University of Buea. Screening results were documented as negative, low-grade, high-grade, or suspicious for cancer. Thermocoagulation and loop electrosurgical excisional procedure was available for low- and high-grade lesions, respectively. A survey was conducted before screening and factors associated with screening practices were evaluated.

Results

Of 120 clinic participants, 107 (89.2%) believed that treatment of precancerous lesions helped prevent cervical cancer, but most (67.5%) had never been screened. Eighty women (66.7%) were aware of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and only 2 had received vaccination. Among 115 patients screened, the prevalence of abnormal screening was 6.09%. Low-grade lesions were treated with thermocoagulation and high-grade lesions were treated with loop electrosurgical excisional procedure.

Conclusions

Despite knowledge of cervical cancer screening benefits, the majority had not been screened or vaccinated. This study suggests a desire for additional screening services in this population and validates the utility of public-private partnerships in low-income regions.
Identifying Clusters of Recent and Rapid HIV Transmission Through Analysis of Molecular Surveillance Data
Authors: Oster Alexandra M. , France Anne Marie , Panneer Nivedha , Bañez Ocfemia M. Cheryl , Campbell Ellsworth , Dasgupta Sharoda , Switzer William M. , Wertheim Joel O. , Hernandez Angela L.
Published: September 2018

Background:

Detecting recent and rapid spread of HIV can help prioritize prevention and early treatment for those at highest risk of transmission. HIV genetic sequence data can identify transmission clusters, but previous approaches have not distinguished clusters of recent, rapid transmission. We assessed an analytic approach to identify such clusters in the United States.

Methods:

We analyzed 156,553 partial HIV-1 polymerase sequences reported to the National HIV Surveillance System and inferred transmission clusters using 2 genetic distance thresholds (0.5% and 1.5%) and 2 periods for diagnoses (all years and 2013–2015, ie, recent diagnoses). For rapidly growing clusters (with ≥5 diagnoses during 2015), molecular clock phylogenetic analysis estimated the time to most recent common ancestor for all divergence events within the cluster. Cluster transmission rates were estimated using these phylogenies.

Results:

A distance threshold of 1.5% identified 103 rapidly growing clusters using all diagnoses and 73 using recent diagnoses; at 0.5%, 15 clusters were identified using all diagnoses and 13 using recent diagnoses. Molecular clock analysis estimated that the 13 clusters identified at 0.5% using recent diagnoses had been diversifying for a median of 4.7 years, compared with 6.5–13.2 years using other approaches. The 13 clusters at 0.5% had a transmission rate of 33/100 person-years, compared with previous national estimates of 4/100 person-years.

Conclusions:

Our approach identified clusters with transmission rates 8 times those of previous national estimates. This method can identify groups involved in rapid transmission and help programs effectively direct and prioritize limited public health resources.
A Pilot Study Exploring Treatment Burden in a Skilled Nursing Population
Authors: Schreiner Nathanial , Daly Barbara
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This study aimed to measure treatment burden in adults diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions transitioning from a skilled nursing facility to home.

Design

Prospective, two-time point, cohort design utilizing convenience sampling from one skilled nursing facility in Northeast, Ohio.

Methods

Seventy-four men and women participated answering self-report questions measuring treatment burden at two time points: prior to discharge and 30 days after discharge.

Results

t-test analysis determined treatment burden was not statistically different between time points (p > .05). Multivariate analysis explained 23% of treatment burden’s variance, with the severity of multiple chronic conditions and the presence of a caregiver predicting treatment burden (p < .05).

Conclusion

Findings were contrary to our hypothesis of this population being at risk for high treatment burden.

Clinical Relevance

Moderate, fluctuating levels of treatment burden suggest that it is possible to estimate demands of treatment prior to discharge from the skilled nursing facility to better inform discharge planning.
The Changing Face of Emergency General Surgery
Authors: Wohlgemut Jared M. , Ramsay George , Jansen Jan O.
Published: September 2018

Objective:

The aim of the study was to evaluate secular trends in the epidemiology of emergency general surgery (EGS), by analyzing changes in demographics, diagnoses, operations, and outcomes between 1997 and 2016.

Summary Background Data:

The provision and delivery of EGS services is a globally and regionally important issue. The impact of changing demographics and surgical disease incidence on EGS services is not well understood.

Methods:

Data from all EGS hospital episodes of adults (aged >15) in Scotland between 1997 and 2016 were prospectively collected, including ICD-10 diagnostic codes and OPCS-4 procedure codes. The number and age- and sex-standardized rates per 100,000 population, per year, of the most common diagnoses and operations were calculated. We analyzed demographic changes over time using linear regression, and changes in characteristics, diagnoses, operations, and outcomes using Poisson analysis.

Results:

Data included 1,484,116 EGS hospital episodes. The number and age- and sex-standardized rate, per 100,000 population, of EGS admissions have increased over time, whereas that of EGS operations have decreased over time. Male admissions were unchanged, but with fewer operations over time, whereas female admissions increased significantly over time with no change in the operation rate. Poisson analysis demonstrated secular trends in demographics, admissions, operations, and outcomes in depth.

Conclusions:

This 20-year epidemiological study of all EGS hospital episodes in Scotland has enhanced our understanding of secular trends of EGS, including demographics, diagnoses, operations, and outcomes. These data will help inform stakeholders in EGS service planning and delivery, as well as in surgical training, what has occurred in recent history.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES OF CHLAMYDIA AND GONORRHEA DETECTION WHEN NOT USING EXTRA GENITAL SCREENING AMONG MALES
Authors: Schafer Chelsea , Prado Belinda , Barin Nora , Gama Leslie
Published: September 2018

Background

Through extra genital screening methods, Health Departments and community clinics can increase detection of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) through the application of urethral testing. The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (LBDHHS) works on preventing cases of chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC) from being undiagnosed, by providing extra genital screening.

Methods

Retrospective medical review of 1,571 patient health records, who received CT/GC testing, based on at least 1-visit to the Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services, STD Clinic, between 2012 to 2015. All male patients ages 18 years or older with positive CT/GC results (242 cases) for any of the three sites (e.g. urethral, rectal, and pharyngeal); regardless of their sexual behaviors, were included in the study. Females, those under the age of 18, and patients who tested negative for all three anatomical sites were excluded (1,412 controls).

Results

At time of collection, study participants had a mean age of 37 years. Reported ethnicity indicated 56% Caucasian, 21% Hispanic or Latino, 9% Asian or Pacific Islander, 7% Other, 5% Black, and 2% More than one race. The use of extra genital screening detected 15% (242) of the 1,571 patients tested positive for at least 1-type of CT/GC infection. Our findings demonstrated that if urine was the only specimen collected, then over 29.7% of CT and 46.8% of GC cases would have been missed.

Conclusions

Testing of all three anatomical sites should continue to be performed for CT/GC detection. Cases of CT/GC are underreported if performing urethral screening alone. These results highlight the need for clinicians to perform extra genital screening among male patients for prevention and control. These testing measures may reduce the potential for missing a diagnosis and mitigating transmission.

Short Summary

The number of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) infections missed were determined using extra genital screening procedures among male patients from the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (LBDHHS), STD/Family Planning Clinic. This method tests urethral, pharyngeal, and rectal sites for CT and GC infection. In this retrospective review of 1,571 patient files, of which 242 tested positive, we determined the proportion of cases that would have remained undetected if only using urethral screening.
The ecology of sexual conflict: behaviorally plastic responses to temperature variation in the social environment can drastically modulate male harm to females
Authors: García-Roa Roberto , Chirinos Valeria , Pau Carazo
Published: September 2018

Sexual conflict is a fundamental driver of male/female adaptations, an engine of biodiversity, and a crucial determinant of population viability. For example, sexual conflict frequently leads to behavioural adaptations that allow males to displace their rivals, but in doing so harm those same females they are competing to access. Sexual conflict via male harm hence not only deviates females from their fitness optimum, but can decrease population viability and facilitate extinction. Despite this prominent role, we are far from understanding what factors modulate the intensity of sexual conflict, and particularly the role of ecology in mediating underlying behavioural adaptations. In this study we show that, in Drosophila melanogaster, variations in environmental temperature of ±4C (within the natural range in the wild) decrease male harm impact on female fitness by between 45–73%. Rate-sensitive fitness estimates indicate that such modulation results in an average rescue of population productivity of 7% at colder temperatures and 23% at hotter temperatures. Our results: a) show that the thermal ecology of social interactions can drastically modulate male harm via behaviourally plasticity, b) identify a potentially crucial ecological factor to understand how sexual conflict operates in nature, and c) suggest that behaviourally plastic responses can lessen the negative effect of sexual conflict on population viability in the face of rapid environmental temperature changes.
In model-based fMRI significant is less than specific
Authors: Peterson Erik J , Seger Carol A
Published: September 2018

By comparing computational model output to BOLD signal changes model-based fMRI has the potential to offer profound insight into what neural computations occur when. If this potential is to be fully realized, statistically significant outcomes must imply specific outcomes. That is, we must have a clear idea of how often a model not present in the BOLD signal but present in the predictor set will reach significance. We ran Monte Carlo simulations of reinforcement learning to examine this kind of specificity, focusing in on two aspects. One, to what degree can we tell related but theoretically distinct predictors apart. About 40% of the time the studied predictors were indistinguishable. Two, how well can we separate out different parameterizations of the same reinforcement learning terms. Nearly all parameter settings were indistinguishable. The lack of specificity between models and between parameters suggests a uncertain relation between significance and specificity. Follow up analyses suggest the temporally slow and prototyped nature of the haemodynamic response (HRF) can substantially increase correlations, ranging from −0.16 to 0.73 with an average of 0.27. Though we focused on a single case study, i.e., reinforcement learning, specificity concerns are potentially present in any design which does not account for the slow prototyped nature of the HRF. We suggest more specific conclusions can be reached by moving from null hypothesis testing approach to a model selection or model comparison framework.
Conserved patterns of alternative splicing in response to cold acclimation in fish
Authors: Healy Timothy M. , Schulte Patricia M.
Published: September 2018

Phenotypic plasticity is an important aspect of an organism’s response to environmental change that often requires the modulation of gene expression. These changes in gene expression can be quantitative as a result of increases or decreases in the amounts of specific transcripts, or qualitative as a result of the expression of alternative transcripts from the same gene (e.g., via alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs). Although the role of quantitative changes in gene expression in phenotypic plasticity is well known, relatively few studies have examined the role of qualitative changes. Here, we use skeletal muscle RNA-seq data from Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus), threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) to investigate the extent of qualitative changes in gene expression in response to cold. Fewer genes demonstrated alternative splicing than differential expression as a result of cold acclimation; however, differences in splicing were detected for between 426 and 866 genes depending on species, indicating that large numbers of qualitative changes in gene expression are associated with cold acclimation. Many of these alternatively spliced genes were also differentially expressed, and there was functional enrichment for involvement in muscle contraction among the genes demonstrating qualitative changes in response to cold acclimation. Additionally, there was a common group of 29 genes with cold-acclimation-mediated changes in splicing in all three species, suggesting that there may be a conserved set of genes with expression patterns that respond qualitatively to prolonged cold temperatures across fishes.

Summary statement

Qualitative changes in gene expression, such as those mediated by alternative splicing of mRNAs, are involved in phenotypic plasticity in response to prolonged cold acclimation in ectothermic animals
Protein Disulfide Isomerases Control the Secretion of Wnt proteins
Authors: Torpe Nanna , Gopal Sandeep , Baltaci Oguzhan , Rella Lorenzo , Handley Ava , Korswagen Hendrik C. , Pocock Roger
Published: September 2018

Appropriate Wnt morphogen secretion is required to control animal development and homeostasis. Although correct Wnt globular structure is essential for secretion, proteins that directly mediate Wnt folding and maturation are incompletely characterized. Here, we report that protein disulfide isomerase-1 (PDI-1), a protein folding catalyst and chaperone, controls secretion of theCaenorhabditis elegansWnt ortholog EGL-20. We find that PDI-1 function is required to correctly form an anteroposterior EGL-20/Wnt gradient during embryonic development. Further, PDI-1 performs this role in EGL-20/Wnt-producing epidermal cells to cell-non-autonomously control EGL-20/Wnt-dependent neuronal migration. Using pharmacological inhibition, we further show that PDI function is required in human cells for Wnt3a secretion, revealing a conserved role for disulfide isomerases. Together, these results demonstrate a critical role for PDIs within Wnt-producing cells to control long-range developmental events that are dependent on Wnt secretion.
Enhanced population coding for rewarded choices in the medial frontal cortex of the mouse
Authors: Siniscalchi Michael J. , Wang Hongli , Kwan Alex C.
Published: September 2018

Instrumental behavior is characterized by the selection of actions based on the degree to which they lead to a desired outcome. However, we lack a detailed understanding of how rewarded actions are reinforced and preferentially implemented. In rodents, the medial frontal cortex is hypothesized to play an important role in this process, based in part on its capacity to encode chosen actions and their outcomes. We therefore asked how neural representations of choice and outcome might interact to facilitate instrumental behavior. To investigate this question, we imaged neural ensemble activity in layer 2/3 of the secondary motor region (M2) while mice engaged in a two-choice auditory discrimination task with probabilistic outcomes. Correct choices could result in one of three reward amounts (single-, double-, or omitted-reward), which allowed us to measure neural and behavioral effects of reward magnitude, as well as its categorical presence or absence. Single-unit and population decoding analyses revealed a consistent influence of outcome on choice signals in M2. Specifically, rewarded choices were more robustly encoded relative to unrewarded choices, with little dependence on the exact magnitude of reinforcement. Our results provide insight into the integration of past choices and outcomes in the rodent brain during instrumental behavior.
Implications of X-ray beam profiles on qualitative and quantitative synchrotron micro-focus X-ray fluorescence microscopy
Authors: Morrell Alexander P. , Mosselmans J. Frederick W. , Geraki Kalotina , Ignatyev Konstantin , Castillo-Michel Hiram , Monksfield Peter , Warfield Adrian T. , Febbraio Maria , Roberts Helen M. , Addison Owen , Martin Richard A.
Published: September 2018

Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence microscopy is frequently used to investigate the spatial distribution of elements within a wide range of samples. Interrogation of heterogeneous samples that contain large concentration ranges has the potential to produce image artefacts due to the profile of the X-ray beam. The presence of these artefacts and the distribution of flux within the beam profile can significantly affect qualitative and quantitative analyses. Two distinct correction methods have been generated by referencing the beam profile itself or by employing an adaptive-thresholding procedure. Both methods significantly improve qualitative imaging by removing the artefacts without compromising the low-intensity features. The beam-profile correction method improves quantitative results but requires accurate two-dimensional characterization of the X-ray beam profile.
Crystal structures, DFT studies and UV–visible absorption spectra of two anthracenyl chalcone derivatives
Authors: Zainuri Dian Alwani , Razak Ibrahim Abdul , Arshad Suhana
Published: September 2018

The crystal structures of (E)-1-(anthracen-9-yl)-3-(3H-indol-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one, C25H17NO, and (E)-1-(anthracen-9-yl)-3-[4-(dimethylamino)naphthalen-1-yl]prop-2-en-1-one, C29H23NO, are reported. In each case the anthracene ring system and pendant ring system are almost perpendicular to each other [dihedral angles = 75.57 (7)° and 70.26 (10)°, respectively]. In the extended structures, weak N—H...O, C—H...O and C—H...π interactions influence the centrosymmetric crystal packing. Density functional theory calculations were carried out using a 6–311 G++(d,p) basis set and the calculated structures are in good agreement with the crystal structures. The compounds were also characterized by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy and the smallest (HOMO–LUMO) energy gaps of 2.89 and 2.54 eV indicate the enhanced non-linear responses (intermolecular charge transfers) of these systems.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (E)-N-[(2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylidene]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-amine
Authors: Kansiz Sevgi , Macit Mustafa , Dege Necmi , Tsapyuk Galyna G.
Published: September 2018

In the title Schiff base compound, C23H23NO, the two ring systems are twisted by 51.40 (11)° relative to each other. In the crystal, the molecules are connected by weak C—H...π interactions, generating a three-dimensional supramolecular structure. Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots indicate that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H...H (67.2%), C...H/H...C (26.7%) and C...C (2.5%) interactions.
Crystal structures of two thiazolidinone derivatives bearing a trichloromethyl substituent at the 2-position
Authors: Nuriye Ahmed , Yennawar Hemant , Cannon Kevin , Tierney John
Published: September 2018

The title compounds 2-trichloromethyl-3-phenyl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one (C10H8Cl3NOS),1and 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-trichloromethyl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one (C10H7Cl4NOS)2, are structurally related with one atom substitution difference in theparaposition of the benzene ring. In both structures, the thiazolidinone ring adopts an envelope conformation with the S atom as the flap. The dihedral angles between the rings [48.72 (11) in1and 48.42 (9)° in2] are very similar and the molecules are almost superimposable. In both crystal structures, C—H...O `head-to-tail' interactions between the chiral carbon atoms and the thiazolidinone oxygen atoms result in infinite monochiral chains along the direction of the shortest unit-cell parameter, namelyain1andbin2. C—H...π interactions between the thiazolidinone carbon atom at the 4-position and the phenyl ring of the neighboring enantiomer also help to stabilize the packing in each case, although the crystals are not isostructural.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis and of 2-ammoniumylmethyl-1H-benzimidazol-3-ium chloride monohydrate
Authors: Sen Pinar , Kansiz Sevgi , Dege Necmi , Yildiz S. Zeki , Tsapyuk Galyna G.
Published: September 2018

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C8H11N3
2+·2Cl−·H2O, contains three organic cations, six chloride anions and three water molecules of crystallization, which are connected by extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions into a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture. Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots indicate that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H...H (37.4%), Cl...H/H...Cl (35.5%), C...H/H...C (9.5%) and C...C (6.9%) interactions.
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and HOMO–LUMO analysis of (E)-4-bromo-N′-(4-methoxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide
Authors: Balasubramani Kasthuri , Premkumar Ganesan , Sivajeyanthi Palaniyappan , Jeevaraj Muthaiah , Edison Bellarmin , Swu Toka
Published: September 2018

The title Schiff base compound, C15H13BrN2O2, displays an E configuration with respect to the C=N double bond, which forms a dihedral angle of 58.06 (9)° with the benzene ring. In the crystal, the molecules are linked into chains parallel to the b axis by N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, giving rise to rings with an R
2
1(6) graph-set motif. The chains are further linked into a three-dimensional network by C—H...π interactions. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from C...H (33.2%), H...H (27.7%), Br...H/H...Br (14.2%) and O...H/H...O (13.6%) interactions. The title compound has also been characterized by frontier molecular orbital analysis.
(Z)-2-(4-Nitrophenyl)-3-[4-(pyridin-4-ylmethoxy)phenyl]acrylonitrile
Authors: Rao Qingpeng , Wang Zepeng , Yang Mingdi , Wu Zhichao
Published: September 2018

The title compound, C21H15N3O3, features an essentially planar molecule (r.m.s. deviation for all non-H atoms = 0.090 Å). An intramolecular C—H...N hydrogen bond occurs. In the crystal, the molecules are connected by C—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen bonds into layers parallel to (102).
Effect of mutually orthogonal heated plates on buoyancy convection flow of micropolar fluid in a cavity
Authors: Muthtamilselvan M. , Periyadurai K. , Doh Deog Hee
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the natural convection of micropolar fluid in a square cavity with two orthogonal heaters placed inside. The study of natural convection in a two-dimensional enclosure determines the effect of non-uniform heated plate on certain micropolar fluid flows which are found in many engineering applications. Therefore, because of its practical interest in the engineering fields such as building design, cooling of electronic components, melting and solidification process, solar energy systems, solar collectors, liquid crystals, animal blood, colloidal fluids and polymeric fluids, the topic needs to be further explored.

Design/methodology/approach

The dimensionless governing equations have been solved by finite volume method of the second-order central difference and upwind scheme.

Findings

The effects of the Rayleigh number, nonuniformity parameter and vortex viscosity parameter on fluid flow and heat transfer have been analyzed. The rate of heat transfer increases with an increase in the aspect ratio of the heated plates for all the values of Rayleigh number and vortex viscosity parameter. The heat transfer rate is reduced with an increase in the vortex viscosity parameter. It is predicted that the non-uniform of the baffle gives better heat transfer than uniform heating.

Originality/value

The present numerical results were tested against the experimental work. The present results have an excellent agreement with the results obtained by the previous experimental work.
The successive differentiation computer-assisted method for solving well-known scientific and engineering models
Authors: Khuri Suheil , Wazwaz Abdul-Majid
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Ordinary differential equations (ODEs) are widely used in the engineering curriculum. They model a spectrum of interesting physical problems that arise in engineering disciplines. Studies of different types of ODEs are determined by engineering applications. Various techniques are used to solve practical differential equations problems. This paper aims to present a computational tool or a computer-assisted technique aimed at tackling ODEs. This method is usually not taught and/or not accessible to undergraduate students. The aim of this strategy is to help the readers to develop an effective and relatively novel problem-solving skill. Because of the drudgery of hand computations involved, the method requires the need to use computers packages. In this work, the successive differentiation method (SDM) for solving linear and nonlinear and homogeneous or non-homogeneous ODEs is presented. The algorithm uses the successive differentiation of any given ODE to determine the values of the function’s derivatives at a single point, mostly x = 0. The obtained values are used to construct the Taylor series of the solution of the examined ODE. The algorithm does not require any new assumption, hence handles the problem in a direct manner. The power of the method is emphasized by testing a variety of models with distinct orders, with constant and variable coefficients. Most of the symbolic and numerical computations can be carried out using computer algebra systems.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents a computational tool or a computer-assisted technique aimed at tackling ODEs. This method is usually not taught and/or not accessible to undergraduate students. The aim of this strategy is to help the readers to develop an effective and relatively novel problem-solving skill. Because of the drudgery of hand computations involved, the method requires the need to use computers packages.

Findings

This method is applied to a variety of well-known equations, such as the Bernoulli equation, the Riccati equation, the Abel equation and the second-order Euler equation, some with constant and variable coefficients. SDM handles linear and nonlinear and homogeneous or nonhomogeneous ODEs in a direct manner without any need to restrictive conditions. The method works effectively to the Volterra integral equations, as will be discussed in a coming work.

Originality/value

The method can be extended to a wide range of engineering problems that are modeled by differential equations. The method is simple and novel and highly accurate.
Line managers’ influence on employee usage of a web-based system for occupational health management
Authors: Frykman Mandus , Lundmark Robert , von Thiele Schwarz Ulrica , Villaume Karin , Hasson Henna
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate line managers’ influence on employee usage of a web-based system for occupational health management.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were used to measure line managers’ transformational leadership at baseline and their change-supportive managerial activities during weeks 16–52. Employee initial (weeks 16–52) and sustained (weeks 53–144) use of the web-based system was measured by extracting their frequency of logins to the system from electronic records. Data were collected from six white-collar organizations from 2011 through 2013. Mixed Poisson regressions were used to analyze the influence of transformational leadership and change-supportive managerial activities on employee usage.

Findings

As predicted, line managers’ change-supportive activities influenced the employees’ initial and sustained use of the system. Line managers’ transformational leadership had no direct effect on employees’ use of the system, however transformational leadership was indirectly associated with employees’ initial and sustained use of the system through line managers’ change-supportive activities.

Originality/value

The study adds to the understanding of the role line managers’ play during the implementation of occupational health interventions. The findings suggest that the line managers’ change-supportive activities directed toward the intervention are important for employees’ initial and sustained use of the system. The influence of transformational leadership was indirect, suggesting that line managers may need to direct their leadership behaviors toward the intervention to facilitate implementation.
Biased decisions on IT outsourcing: how vendor selection adds value
Authors: Das Arindam , Grover Dimple
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the unconscious aspects of information technology (IT) outsourcing decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers extend the current literature and existing knowledge on the economic aspects of outsourcing decisions in a study on human behaviour and decision-making. Some vulnerabilities related to decision-making on outsourcing have been identified and mechanisms to address these vulnerabilities have been proposed.

Findings

Although IT outsourcing is a widely accepted practice, the vulnerabilities that result from unconscious bias can outweigh the supposed economic gains. However, with support from research in psychology, it is possible to minimize bias and ensure positive value creation when engaging in outsourcing.

Originality/value

The authors argue for a multi-disciplinary approach, for decision-making on outsourcing, that integrates the psychological elements of decision-making with economic value-creation logic. The proposed practitioner-oriented approach is used in conjunction with traditional approaches to decision-making. Specifically, it addresses the uncertainties that may occur when interpreting and inferring information that influences outsourcing decisions.
An appraisal on barriers to implement lean in SMEs
Authors: Yadav Vinod , Jain Rakesh , Mittal Murari Lal , Panwar Avinash , Sharma Milind Kumar
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Global competition has intensified pressure on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to implement lean. Recently, the debate has converged to the role of lean implementation barriers (LIBs). The purpose of this paper is to contribute to this debate by exploring the LIBs in SMEs through three case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was employed followed by interpretive structural modelling (ISM) to model the interrelationship among the LIBs.

Findings

This study reveals that lack of management commitment, leadership and resources are the key barriers to lean implementation in SMEs in India. Furthermore, poor communication between different levels of the organisation and inadequate dissemination of the knowledge of lean benefits also creates hindrance in lean implementation. Managerial implications of the identified barriers for lean implementation in SMEs have been discussed.

Originality/value

The research regarding lean implementation in SMEs is scarce. This study is the first attempt of its kind to identify the lean barriers in a small industry setup through mathematical analysis.
Capital spending in local government
Authors: Rivenbark William C. , Afonso Whitney , Roenigk Dale J.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of the Great Recession on the capital assets being depreciated and the capital assets condition ratio for the governmental activities of the government-wide financial statements, while identifying possible socioeconomic and financial variables that help explain capital investment behavior in local government.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on capital spending from fiscal year 2005–2006 (FY06) to fiscal year 2012–2013 (FY13) for the governmental activities of 471 North Carolina municipalities as reported on their government-wide financial statements, the authors use a fixed effects model to test our two hypotheses.

Findings

The authors find that most municipalities consistently invested in capital assets before, during, and after the Great Recession but were not able to maintain pace with depreciation. The authors also find that the capital assets being depreciated is affected by numerous socioeconomic and financial variables, while the capital assets condition ratio is not.

Research limitations/implications

The study continues to build on previous research, demonstrating that different results are produced when the analysis is based on local data rather than sub-national data.

Practical implications

An implication from our study that expands across research and practice is that capital investment and capital value are two different dimensions of capital management in local government, which drives research in terms of how this multidimensional concept is specified and drives practices in terms of how this multidimensional concept is approached within annual capital budgets and capital improvement programs.

Originality/value

The study represents one of the first studies that focuses on capital spending in local government based on data from the government-wide financial statements.
Executive ethical decisions initiating organizational culture and values
Authors: Bridges Eileen
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Ethical decisions determine which individuals and/or groups benefit, and which suffer. Such decisions by executives impact front-line providers directly and customers indirectly; they are important because repercussions in service interactions feel personal. The purpose of this paper is to fill an important gap in the service literature by exploring how high-level executives make ethical decisions, creating values and culture within an organization; the results include testable propositions.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used a grounded theory approach, wherein high-level executives in successful service organizations responded through in-depth interviews. Complete interview transcripts were analyzed using standard qualitative methodology, including open coding to better understand and categorize the data, axial coding to seek out crucial relationships between concepts, and selective coding to develop research propositions.

Findings

Data analysis revealed two groups of interviewees, one more outcome-oriented in decision making and the other more process-oriented. The organizations led by more outcome-oriented executives have strong family-like (or paternalistic) cultures, whereas the organizations led by more process-oriented executives value adaptability and diversity.

Research limitations/implications

The executives interviewed are quite successful; therefore, it is not possible to make inferences about unsuccessful executives or those leading poorly performing organizations. Propositions developed relate that process-oriented executives use both analytical measures and intuition in decision making, whereas outcome-oriented respondents rely more heavily on analytical measures.

Practical implications

Service executives apparently make ethical decisions while focusing either on processes or on outcomes; members of these two groups use different evaluative criteria to identify a successful decision. Decisions relating to people within the organization are perceived by the executives to be especially salient, apparently owing to interpersonal interaction in services.

Social implications

There are inherent social implications when ethical decisions are made, because these decisions determine which individuals or groups benefit, and which suffer.

Originality/value

This research is among the first to interview high-level service executives about their ethical decision making when their choices define culture and values within their organizations. Findings offer a new look at how differences between executives that focus on processes and those that focus on outcomes may shape organizational cultures and lead to consideration of different criteria in making and evaluating decisions.
Zygophyllum albumaqueous extract reduces glycemia and ameliorates lipid profile and oxidative damage in hypercholesterolemic-diabetic rats
Authors: Bahlil Yasmina , Krouf Djamil , Taleb-Dida Nawal
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to study the effects ofZygophyllum album(Za) (Z. album) in hypercholesterolemic-diabetic rats.

Design/methodology/approach

Male Wistar rats (n= 36) weighing 200 ± 10 g, consumed an experimental diet containing 20 per cent casein were divided into three groups (n= 12). The first group consumed the diet enriched with 1 per cent cholesterol (CH), the second group is rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg body weight) (D) (DM). The third group is hypercholesterolemic and STZ-induced diabetic (CH-DM); each group was subdivided into two groups (n= 6), non-treated groups (CH, DM and CH-DM) and treated groups supplemented with 1 per centZ. albumlyophilized aqueous extract (CH-Z, DM-Z and CH-DM-Z).

Findings

In CH-DM group,Z. albumdecreases glycemia (−15 per cent) and inversely increases insulinemia (+28 per cent) and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (+19 per cent). In liver, total cholesterol (TC) and triacyglycerols (TAG) levels were reduced by −57 per cent and −29 per cent, respectively. In plasma, TC concentration was increased by +20 per cent, whereas those of TAG level were lowered by −56 per cent. Lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase and paraoxonase 1 activities were raised by +45 and +59 per cent, respectively. Inversely, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels were lowered significantly in liver, heart, kidney and adipose tissue (p< 0.05). Superoxide dismutase activity was enhanced in liver (+54 per cent), heart (+36 per cent), kidney (+45 per cent) and adipose tissue (59 per cent). Liver glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was enhanced by +38 per cent and heart activities of GSH-Px, and glutathione reductase (GSSH-Red) were increased by +25 and +18 per cent. In kidney, GSH-Px activity was reduced by −26 per cent; in reverse, GSSH-Red activity was increased by +14 per cent. In adipose tissue, GSH-Px and GSSH-Red activities were augmented by +35 and +15 per cent.

Originality/value

These results suggest thatZ. albumaqueous extract has antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipemic actions. Also,Z. albumprotects against tissue oxidative damage; therefore, it can help to prevent cardiovascular complications of diabetes combined with hypercholesterolemia.
Implementing accessibility initiatives at the Michigan State University Libraries
Authors: Schroeder Heidi M.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to describe a variety of accessibility initiatives implemented at the Michigan State University (MSU) Libraries to better support persons with disabilities who want to use and access library services and resources.

Design/methodology/approach

By using two campus accessibility policies to help expand and improve its accessibility efforts, the MSU Libraries implemented accessibility purchasing procedures for e-resources; drafted a five-year accessibility plan, which launched an extensive multi-year staff accessibility training plan and detailed plans for content accessibility and accessibility investment; dedicated additional library staff positions and time to accessibility; drafted an accessibility statement and website documentation; established an in-house remediation service; increased library web page and collection remediation; and began leading efforts related to vendor e-resource accessibility in the Big Ten Academic Alliance library consortium.

Findings

As a result of these many accessibility initiatives, the MSU Libraries has thought strategically about and taken action on constantly improving its accessibility in a variety of areas; provided or hosted 29 staff accessibility training sessions; implemented new accessibility positions, roles and services; and helped influence and improve library e-resource accessibility, especially through its leadership in the Big Ten library consortium.

Originality/value

Most libraries strive to provide welcoming access to information and library services for all users, including persons with disabilities, but resources and literature on comprehensive accessibility initiatives in academic libraries are somewhat limited. The library accessibility initiatives implemented by a large, academic research library shared in this paper will hopefully contribute to the much-needed library and information science literature on this topic.
EBSCO information services usability study on accessibility
Authors: Power Jill A.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Last spring, EBSCO Information Services conducted a usability study with several students with visual impairments. The goal was to understand how these students conduct research and identify areas for improvement of EBSCO Discovery Service™ such that it would meet the needs of all potential users. EBSCO Discovery Service™ provides users with means of accessing all of an institution’s internal (library) and external (database vendors) information resources through a single search. The purpose of this paper is to outline the findings of this research and the applicability to the design of any online resource.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the Bentley University’s user experience lab to facilitate the study and the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts, for recruitment of college students, EBSCO solicited feedback on how students conduct research on the Web in general, as well as their experience using EBSCO’s discovery service. The study involved a structured interview with eight visually impaired students from the Boston area, who had recently been enrolled in a college course. The students were also asked to complete certain tasks using the discovery service and report out as they completed each activity.

Findings

The findings demonstrated that for the most part, students with visual impairments engaged in research on the Web and within the discovery service in a similar manner to sighted students. They used the same standard search sites, expected the same layout conventions for results’ lists and filters and wanted easily savable full-text documents. Main differences involved their ability to navigate in a similar way to sighted users. Elements that one could skip over quickly as a sighted user were more of a hindrance to those relying on a screen reader. Additionally, improved descriptions for graphics, functions and form fields were noted as opportunities for improvement. For those with low vision, using screen magnifiers, modal boxes and hover features or other unexpected changes on the site proved to be challenging.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused only on students with visual disabilities. There are many other print disabilities that were not explored such as color blindness, cognitive disabilities or learning disabilities. All the students were in their 20s and had experience conducting research and using library or research-related search sites. Many of the findings highlighted areas of improvement that would benefit all students.

Originality/value

A study on students with visual disabilities using assistive technologies as they completed research tasks on a discovery system has not been studied before. Guidelines and audits do not provide a complete picture as to whether a website is fully accessible. It is only by working with actual users that insight into what it means to create a truly accessible experience can be gained.
Postformalism and affect in research: autoethnography, truth and estrangement
Authors: Earhart Robert
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate learning, relatedness and ethics in research as question of personal responsibility. Positivist and postformalist approaches to research are considered in light of the perspectives and experiences of the researchers themselves.

Design/methodology/approach

These questions are considered through an autoethnography of postformalism based on the doctoral research of the author.

Findings

The conclusion of this work is that research inclusive of affect, reflexivity and the context in which the research takes place, allows for insights into organizational ethics that would otherwise not be possible. However, these approaches come at a personal and professional risk for the researcher. Truly authentic postformalist research demands a degree of hazard for the researcher, becoming both a way of living and an ethical choice.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the ongoing debate concerning the use of first-person research, in general, which has not received a warm welcome as a “serious” form of research, especially in the more conventional methodological circles. The conclusions open up new considerations for first-person methods, such as autoethnography.