bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MVAC: A Quantitative Method for Measuring the Value Added from Improving Manufacturing Operations
Authors: Schönbohm Avo , Petri Wolfgang R. , Maruffi Brian L.
Published: March 2017

The assumption that improving manufacturing operations and efficiency is a source of competitive advantage continues to be questioned. Manufacturing has progressively lost its role as value creator. This paper introduces a new key performance indicator for the CEO that is referred to as the ‘Manufacturing Value Added Coefficient’ (MVAC™), which can be used to assess apparent performance measurement gaps associated with the value added of manufacturing. MVAC™ is a tool to quantify how much value manufacturing assets contribute to the bottom line. An MVAC™ calculation can serve as a supplementary perspective on product margin analysis. Managers can improve company performance when they do not perceive manufacturing as a cost generator but instead integrate the cost of operational improvement into the broader enterprise value added framework. Two business case studies were selected in order to demonstrate the analytical power of the proposed method.
Entrepreneurship and Networked Collaboration; Synergetic Innovation, Knowledge and Uncertainty
Authors: Anderson Alistair , Li Jinhai
Published: March 2017

This conceptual paper examines the nature of entrepreneurship in innovation processes in time of crisis. Crisis is a time of heightened uncertainty, manifested as increased ambiguity about what knowledge is available yet necessary for innovation. It is argued here that connecting this diverse knowledge is essential for innovation and that this is a key entrepreneurial process. Whilst this point is established in the literature, there is perhaps a gap in understanding how such knowledge is entrepreneurially applied. In systems-based views of innovation there seems to be an assumption that knowledge synthesis just happens as a natural occurrence. Reviewing and synthesising disparate literatures, this paper argues that stocks of knowledge are not, in themselves, sufficient to produce innovation. Instead, entrepreneurial agency is required to collaborate, connect and to combine these knowledge stocks to produce innovation. The paper contributes to understanding and theory by demonstrating how and why this ‘social’ connecting is a critical element of the entrepreneurial role and a crucial part of innovation.
Interactive Strategy-Making: Combining Central Reasoning with ongoing Learning from Decentralised Responses
Authors: Andersen Torben Juul
Published: March 2017

This article outlines an interactive strategy-making model that combines central reasoning with ongoing learning from decentralised responses. The management literature often presents strategy as implementing an optimal plan identified through rational analysis and ascribes potential shortcomings to failed communication and execution of the planned actions. However, effective strategy-making comprises both central reasoning from forward-looking planning considerations and decentralised responses to emerging events as interacting elements in a dynamic adaptive system. The interaction between these central and decentralised processes explains how strategic adaptation can thrive under turbulent conditions in the interface between central reasoning and decentralised responses.
Models of Customer-Supplier Relations
Authors: Sinclair Diane , Hunter Laurie , Beaumont Phil
Published: March 2017

In building relationships, how deeply do customers look into the internal activities of suppliers?
General Management Revisited
Authors: Warner Malcolm , Witzel Morgen
Published: March 2017

General managers have to bring an organization and its members into harmony. The idea of ‘the form’ also needs to be rethought.
Human Resource Management in International Joint Ventures in China
Authors: Lu Yuan , Björkman Ingmar
Published: March 2017

Having capable and committed staff is a critical factor in the success of joint ventures in China.
Development and Validation of a Chinese Language Version of the Ruminative Thought Styles Questionnaire
Authors: Walsh E. , Shou Y. , Han J. , Brinker J. K.
Published: March 2017

The Ruminative Thought Styles Questionnaire (RTS) conceptualizes rumination as repetitive, recurrent, intrusive, and uncontrollable thinking. This article outlines the development and validation of a Chinese language version of the RTS, the RTS-CH. Following independent translation, back translation, and final translation checking, the factor structure, convergent and divergent validity, and item-level congruence of the RTS-CH was examined and improved. The resultant scale showed equivalence to the RTS and had attractive psychometric properties. The RTS-CH is the first Chinese language rumination measure that does not have inherently negative or depressive content.
Psychological measurement: Theory, paradoxes, and prototypes
Authors: Humphry Stephen M.
Published: March 2017

The article focuses on the ongoing debate regarding the measurement of psychological attributes. The aim is to clarify different uses of the term theory and key points of agreement and disagreement among participants. In addition, the article addresses misinterpretations of key points in recent articles and notes an apparent paradox arising in the representational theory of measurement. Substantive theory is contrasted with both item response theory and the representational theory of measurement. Emphasis is placed on the direct dependence of the measurement of physical attributes on substantive quantitative theory as opposed to any form of separate measurement theory. It is concluded that the primary challenge faced in quantitative psychology is to posit testable substantive theories or laws which form a foundation for measurement.
Vaxchora: A Single-Dose Oral Cholera Vaccine
Authors: Cabrera Adriana , Lepage Jayne E. , Sullivan Karyn M. , Seed Sheila M.
Published: March 2017

Objective: To review trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of Vaxchora, a reformulated, single-dose, oral, lyophilized Vibrio cholerae CVD 103-HgR vaccine for the prevention of travel-related cholera caused by V cholerae serogroup O1. Data Sources: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (1946 to January week 3, 2017) and EMBASE (1996 to 2017 week 3). Keywords included oral cholera vaccine, single-dose, Vaxchora, and CVD 103-HgR. Limits included human, clinical trials published in English since 2010. ClinicalTrials.gov was used as a source for unpublished data. Additional data sources were obtained through bibliographic review of selected articles. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies that addressed the safety and efficacy of Vaxchora, the reformulated, single-dose oral CVD 103-HgR cholera vaccine, were selected for analysis. Data Synthesis: Approval of Vaxchora, was based on efficacy of the vaccine in human trials demonstrating 90.3% protection among those challenged with V cholerae 10 days after vaccination and in immunogenicity studies with 90% systemic vibriocidal antibody conversion at 6 months after a single-dose of vaccine. Tolerability was acceptable, with the most common adverse effects reported to be fatigue, headache, and abdominal pain. Conclusion: Vaxchora is the only FDA-approved, single-dose oral vaccine for the prevention of cholera caused by V cholerae serogroup O1 in adult travelers from the United States going to cholera-affected areas. Safety and efficacy has not been established in children, immunocompromised persons, and pregnant or breastfeeding women or those living in cholera-endemic areas.
Assessing Key Predictors of Career Success
Authors: Hirschi Andreas , Nagy Noemi , Baumeler Franziska , Johnston Claire S. , Spurk Daniel
Published: March 2017

Identifying predictors of career success is one of the most considered topics in career research and practice. However, the existing literature suggests a vast array of potential predictors that cannot be economically measured. This significantly limits research and practice. To address this issue, we have integrated theoretical and meta-analytic research to propose an integrative framework of career resources, including human capital, environmental, motivational, and career management behavior resources represented by 13 distinct factors. In a multistep process, we have developed the career resources questionnaire to assess these factors in workers and college students. In two studies encompassing 873 workers and 691 students, we have confirmed reliability and factor structure, convergent validity with existing scales, and criterion validity with indicators of subjective and objective career success. The developed measure can provide researchers and practitioners with a reliable, concise, and comprehensive measure to assess the key predictors of career success.
Effects of natural antimicrobials on prevention and reduction of bacterial cross-contamination during the washing of ready-to-eat fresh-cut lettuce
Authors: Pablos Cristina , Fernández Alba , Thackeray Alison , Marugán Javier
Published: March 2017

Microbiological safety of the fresh-cut produce may not be guaranteed if the quality of wash water is not maintained. The use of natural antimicrobials as alternative to chlorine may offer interesting possibilities for disinfecting wash water. Antimicrobial properties of allyl- and benzyl-isothiocyanates, respectively, and chitosan against Salmonella spp. were evaluated by standard plate count. Minimal inhibitory concentration values were observed for benzyl-isothiocyanate and chitosan, corresponding to 50 and 1000 mgl−1, respectively. A 5 min washing of 25 g fresh-cut lettuce was performed. Transfer of Salmonella from the water to the produce was observed. Benzyl-isothiocyanate addition of 75 mgl−1 before starting the washing process gave rise to a complete removal of total bacteria and Salmonella in the wash water after 24 h before starting the second cycle. Antimicrobial benzyl-isothiocyanate effects have been demonstrated to persist after 48 h.
Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy and ADHD: Results From a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies
Authors: He Yan , Chen Jian , Zhu Li-Hua , Hua Ling-Ling , Ke Fang-Fang
Published: March 2017

Objective: Findings on maternal smoking during pregnancy and ADHD risk in children are inconsistent. A meta-analysis was performed to summarize effects of exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy on ADHD risk in children. Method: We conducted a systematic literature search to select articles up to June 2016. Only prospective cohort studies were included. Summary relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Pooled RR estimates based on 12 cohort studies including 17,304 pregnant women suggested that maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of ADHD (pooled RR = 1.58, 95% CI = [1.33, 1.88]). Conclusion: Results from this study indicate that maternal smoking during pregnancy is related to an increased risk of ADHD in children. There is an urgent need to increase maternal awareness of smoking risk and quitting smoking to mitigate the ADHD risk in children.
On the arithmetic intensity of high-order finite-volume discretizations for hyperbolic systems of conservation laws
Authors: Loffeld J , Hittinger JAF
Published: March 2017

It has been conjectured that higher-order discretizations for partial differential equations will have advantages over the lower-order counterparts commonly used today. The reasoning is that the increase in arithmetic operations will be more than offset by the reduction in data transfers and the increase in concurrent floating-point units. To evaluate this conjecture, the arithmetic intensity of a class of high-order finite-volume discretizations for hyperbolic systems of conservation laws is theoretically analyzed for spatial discretizations from orders three through eight in arbitrary dimensions. Three cache models are considered: the limiting cases of no cache and infinite cache as well as a finite-sized cache model. Models are validated experimentally by measuring floating-point operations and data transfers on an IBM Blue Gene/Q node. Theory and experiments demonstrate that high-order finite-volume methods will be able to provide increases in arithmetic intensity that will be necessary to make better utilization of on-node floating-point capability.
Improving Gastric Cancer Outcome Prediction Using Single Time-Point Artificial Neural Network Models
Authors: Nilsaz-Dezfouli Hamid , Abu-Bakar Mohd Rizam , Arasan Jayanthi , Adam Mohd Bakri , Pourhoseingholi Mohamad Amin
Published: March 2017

In cancer studies, the prediction of cancer outcome based on a set of prognostic variables has been a long-standing topic of interest. Current statistical methods for survival analysis offer the possibility of modelling cancer survivability but require unrealistic assumptions about the survival time distribution or proportionality of hazard. Therefore, attention must be paid in developing nonlinear models with less restrictive assumptions. Artificial neural network (ANN) models are primarily useful in prediction when nonlinear approaches are required to sift through the plethora of available information. The applications of ANN models for prognostic and diagnostic classification in medicine have attracted a lot of interest. The applications of ANN models in modelling the survival of patients with gastric cancer have been discussed in some studies without completely considering the censored data. This study proposes an ANN model for predicting gastric cancer survivability, considering the censored data. Five separate single time-point ANN models were developed to predict the outcome of patients after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. The performance of ANN model in predicting the probabilities of death is consistently high for all time points according to the accuracy and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.
Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis of Second-Harmonic Generation Images: A Semiautomatic Collagen Fibers Quantification Protocol
Authors: Zeitoune Angel A , Luna Johana SJ , Sanchez Salas Kynthia , Erbes Luciana , Cesar Carlos L , Andrade Liliana ALA , Carvahlo Hernades F , Bottcher-Luiz Fátima , Casco Victor H , Adur Javier
Published: March 2017

A vast number of human pathologic conditions are directly or indirectly related to tissular collagen structure remodeling. The nonlinear optical microscopy second-harmonic generation has become a powerful tool for imaging biological tissues with anisotropic hyperpolarized structures, such as collagen. During the past years, several quantification methods to analyze and evaluate these images have been developed. However, automated or semiautomated solutions are necessary to ensure objectivity and reproducibility of such analysis. This work describes automation and improvement methods for calculating the anisotropy (using fast Fourier transform analysis and the gray-level co-occurrence matrix). These were applied to analyze biopsy samples of human ovarian epithelial cancer at different stages of malignancy (mucinous, serous, mixed, and endometrial subtypes). The semiautomation procedure enabled us to design a diagnostic protocol that recognizes between healthy and pathologic tissues, as well as between different tumor types.
Significant Prognostic Features and Patterns of Somatic TP53 Mutations in Human Cancers
Authors: Zhang Wensheng , Edwards Andrea , Flemington Erik K , Zhang Kun
Published: March 2017

TP53 is the most frequently altered gene in human cancers. Numerous retrospective studies have related its mutation and abnormal p53 protein expression to poor patient survival. Nonetheless, the clinical significance of TP53 ( p53) status has been a controversial issue. In this work, we aimed to characterize TP53 somatic mutations in tumor cells across multiple cancer types, primarily focusing on several less investigated features of the mutation spectra, and determine their prognostic implications. We performed an integrative study on the clinically annotated genomic data released by The Cancer Genome Atlas. Standard statistical methods, such as the Cox proportional hazards model and logistic regression, were used. This study resulted in several novel findings. They include the following: (1) similar to previously reported cases in breast cancer, the mutations in exons 1 to 4 of TP53 were more lethal than those in exons 5 to 9 for the patients with lung adenocarcinomas; (2) TP53 mutants tended to be negatively selected in mammalian evolution, but the evolutionary conservation had various clinical implications for different cancers; (3) conserved correlation patterns (ie, consistent co-occurrence or consistent mutual exclusivity) between TP53 mutations and the alterations in several other cancer genes (ie, PIK3CA, PTEN, KRAS, APC, CDKN2A, and ATM) were present in several cancers in which prognosis was associated with TP53 status and/or the mutational characteristics; (4) among TP53-mutated tumors, the total mutation burden in other driver genes was a predictive signature ( P < .05, false discovery rate <0.11) for better patient survival outcome in several cancer types, including glioblastoma multiforme. Among these findings, the fourth is of special significance as it suggested the potential existence of epistatic interaction effects among the mutations in different cancer driver genes on clinical outcomes.
Transcriptologs: A Transcriptome-Based Approach to Predict Orthology Relationships
Authors: Ambrosino Luca , Chiusano Maria Luisa
Published: March 2017

The detection of orthologs is a key approach in genomics, useful to understand gene evolution and phylogenetic relationships and essential for gene function prediction. However, a reliable annotation of the encoded protein regions is still a limiting aspect in genomics, mainly due to the lack of confirmatory experimental evidence at proteome level. Nevertheless, the current ortholog collections are generally based on protein sequence comparisons, in addition to the availability of large transcriptome sequence collections. We developed Transcriptologs, a method for the prediction of orthologs based on similarities of translated fragments from messenger RNAs of 2 species. We implemented a procedure to extend BLAST-based alignments and to define orthologs based on the Bidirectional Best Hit approach. Results from a test case on Arabidopsis thaliana and Sorghum bicolor transcript collections revealed in some cases outperformance of Transcriptologs in comparison with a classical protein-based analysis in terms of alignment quality, revealing similarities otherwise not detectable.
In Vitro and In Vivo Antimetastatic Effect of Glutathione Disulfide Liposomes
Authors: Sadhu Satya S , Wang Shenggang , Dachineni Rakesh , Averineni Ranjith Kumar , Seefeldt Teresa , Xie Jiashu , Tummala Hemachand , Bhat G Jayarama , Guan Xiangming
Published: March 2017

Cancer metastasis is the major cause of cancer mortality. Despite extensive research efforts, effective treatment for cancer metastasis is still lacking. Cancer metastasis involves 4 essential steps: cell detachment, migration, invasion, and adhesion. Detachment is the first and required step for metastasis. Glutathione disulfide (GSSG) is derived from the oxidation of glutathione (GSH), which is present in biological systems in millimolar concentration. Although GSSG is commercially available, the impact of GSSG on cell functions/dysfunctions has not been fully explored due to the fact that GSSG is not cell membrane permeable and a lack of method to specifically increase GSSG in cells. We have developed GSSG liposomes that effectively deliver GSSG to cells. Unexpectedly, cells treated with GSSG liposomes were resistant to detachment by trypsinization. This observation led to the investigation of the antimetastatic effect of GSSG liposomes. Our data demonstrate that GSSG liposomes at 1 mg/mL completely blocked cell detachment and migration, and significantly inhibited cancer cell invasion. Aqueous GSSG showed no such effect, confirming that the effects on cell detachment, migration, and invasion were caused by the intracellular delivery of GSSG. An in vivo experiment with a murine melanoma experimental metastasis model showed that GSSG liposomes prevented melanoma lung metastasis. The unique antimetastatic mechanism through the effects on detachment and migration, and effective in vitro and in vivo metastasis inhibition, warrants further investigation of the GSSG liposomes as a potential treatment for cancer metastasis.
Teachers’ curation of Australian screen content for school-based education
Authors: Dezuanni Michael , Cunningham Stuart , Goldsmith Ben , Miles Prue
Published: March 2017

This article outlines how teachers curate Australian screen content for use in classrooms from pre-school to senior secondary school. It suggests teachers use their professional knowledge of curriculum and pedagogy to arrange screen resources, curriculum concepts and student experiences to promote learning. This complex curatorial process adds value to broadcaster and producer curation processes that aim to position cut-down clips and educational resources for classroom use. The article draws on a national research project that undertook interviews with 150 teachers in schools across Australia. The authors suggest the ongoing digital disruption of the school sector presents both opportunities and challenges for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Special Broadcasting Service and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.
Measurement matters: difficulties in defining and measuring children’s television viewing in a changing media landscape
Authors: Livingstone Sonia , Local Claire
Published: March 2017

Audience measurement techniques currently fail to provide a clear picture of trends in children’s television viewing because of the diversification in devices on which television content can be viewed. It is argued that understanding how children engage with television content is undermined by commonplace but problematic comparisons of time spent on television viewing and on Internet use, in which it is widely believed that children are deserting ‘television’ for ‘the Internet’. Although it is already well known that television content can be viewed on Internet-enabled devices such as tablets, smartphones and laptop computers while Internet content and services can be accessed via Internet-enabled television sets, such viewing cannot be measured satisfactorily at present. While no doubt measurement techniques will continue to improve in accuracy, this article suggests that such measurement difficulties matter at a time when children’s public service broadcasting provision is falling and further threatened.
Repeated lifestyle interventions lead to progressive weight loss: A retrospective review chart study
Authors: Dandanell Sune , Ritz Christian , Verdich Elisabeth , Dela Flemming , Helge Jørn W.
Published: March 2017

Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether repeated lifestyle interventions lead to progressive weight loss or to weight cycling. Methods: A retrospective review chart study with follow-up on 2120 participants (mean±SD age 36±15 years; body weight 116±28 kg; fat 43±6%). All had participated in one to four 11–12 week lifestyle interventions (residential weight loss programme, mixed activities). Weight loss was promoted through a hypocaloric diet (−500 to −700 kcal/day) and daily physical activity (1–3 hours/day). Primary outcomes were weight loss and change in body composition (bioimpedance measurements) after the intervention periods and at follow-up. Results: A total of 2120, 526, 139 and 47 people participated in one to four interventions with mean±SEM times from start to follow-up of 1.3±0.1, 2.9±0.2, 4.2±0.3 and 5.2±0.4 years respectively. Overall 50, 41, 18 and 11% of the participants were lost to follow-up after one to four interventions, respectively. The cumulated weight loss at follow-up increased with the number of interventions from one to four: 12.2±0.1, 15.9±0.7, 16.1±1.2 and 18.5±2.0 kg ( p<0.001). The ratios between cumulated loss of fat and fat free mass after one to four interventions decreased with the number of interventions (2.4, 2.2, 2.1 and 1.4). Rates of weight loss during the interventions ranged from 0.70±0.06 to 1.06±0.01 kg/week and the maximum weight regain during the follow-up periods was 0.039±0.007 kg/week. Conclusions: Repeated relatively short lifestyle interventions in a selected and motivated group can be an efficient method for weight loss maintenance with only limited body weight cycling in the interim periods. However, the relationship between loss of fat and fat free mass might change in an unfavourable direction.
Decennial trends and inequalities in healthy life expectancy: The HUNT Study, Norway
Authors: Storeng Siri H. , Krokstad Steinar , Westin Steinar , Sund Erik R.
Published: March 2017

Aims: Norway is experiencing a rising life expectancy combined with an increasing dependency ratio – the ratio of those outside over those within the working force. To provide data relevant for future health policy we wanted to study trends in total and healthy life expectancy in a Norwegian population over three decades (1980s, 1990s and 2000s), both overall and across gender and educational groups. Methods: Data were obtained from the HUNT Study, and the Norwegian Educational Database. We calculated total life expectancy and used the Sullivan method to calculate healthy life expectancies based on self-rated health and self-reported longstanding limiting illness. The change in health expectancies was decomposed into mortality and disability effects. Results: During three consecutive decades we found an increase in life expectancy for 30-year-olds (~7 years) and expected lifetime in self-rated good health (~6 years), but time without longstanding limiting illness increased less (1.5 years). Women could expect to live longer than men, but the extra life years for females were spent in poor self-rated health and with longstanding limiting illness. Differences in total life expectancy between educational groups decreased, whereas differences in expected lifetime in self-rated good health and lifetime without longstanding limiting illness increased. Conclusions: The increase in total life expectancy was accompanied by an increasing number of years spent in good self-rated health but more years with longstanding limiting illness. This suggests increasing health care needs for people with chronic diseases, given an increasing number of elderly. Socioeconomic health inequalities remain a challenge for increasing pensioning age.
Validation of the free area method for modelling fabric air dispersion system without orifices in computational fluid dynamics simulation
Authors: Chen Fu-Jiang , Wu Qin-Yu , Huang Dan-Dan , Zhang Yun , Lu Wang , Chen Meng-Meng
Published: March 2017

The fabric air dispersion system (FADS) is a ventilation terminal made of special polymer fabric. The porous structure of the fabric causes complex flow motion. Due to its advantages over the conventional ventilation system, i.e. ducts and diffusers, the FADS has been widely favoured by architects and researchers. In computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation the FADS is usually simplified into a free opening with an area equal to all pores and perforations, called the free area (FA) method in this present work. However, the effectiveness of this simplified method has not been validated. The present work took a half cylindrical FADS without orifices as an example and employed the FA method to simulate the airflow properties inside a chamber under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. The simulated distributions of air velocity and temperature were compared with those by the direct description (DD) method. Meanwhile, the uniformity of air velocity distribution close to the FADS was validated against test data and the flow visualization using the dry ice as a smoking material. Results demonstrate that the FA method is effective and easy to implement, and performs as well as the DD method in predicting the distribution of airflow generated by the FADS without orifices.
Female immigration and the ambivalence of dirty care work: Caribbean nurses in imperial Britain
Authors: Olwig Karen Fog
Published: March 2017

It is a generally accepted view that immigrants, especially women, often are relegated to performing the denigrated dirty care work that the local population refuses to do. Studies of Caribbean women who trained and worked as nurses in the post-Second World War British hospitals thus have emphasized that they were especially saddled with tasks involving unclean substances reflective of their racialized, low-status position as immigrants in Britain. Drawing on Bakhtin’s analysis of dirt, this article argues that the categorization of immigrants’ work as particularly dirty refers not only to their position as marginalized, discriminated outsiders. It also represents both a tacit recognition of their essential contribution to the regeneration of the receiving society and an attempt to control the transgressive potential inherent in this contribution by debasing their work. Immigrants therefore are branded as doing dirty work, because they represent a transformative force that is both needed and feared.
Multiple circular–circular regression
Authors: Jha Jayant , Biswas Atanu
Published: March 2017

In this article, we consider the circular–circular regression model using Möbius transformation. We first consider the model provided by Kato et al. (2008) for only one circular regressor and prove the identifiability of the model. After that, a methodology is discussed to reduce the prediction error of this model. We then introduce the two multiple circular–circular regression models with multiple circular regressors. We prove the identifiability of the models and discuss their geometry. We then discuss the parameter estimation procedure followed by simulation study. The methodologies are illustrated by some real datasets.
Addressing Tobacco Use Among Consumers and Staff at Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities Through Comprehensive Workplace Programming
Authors: Samaha Hannah L. , Correa-Fernández Virmarie , Lam Cho , Wilson William T. , Kyburz Bryce , Stacey Tim , Williams Teresa , Reitzel Lorraine R.
Published: March 2017

Tobacco use is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States; cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use. Smoking has become increasingly concentrated among individuals with behavioral health needs (e.g., persistent mental illness) and has led to increased morbidity and mortality in this group relative to the general population. Comprehensive tobacco-free workplace programs are effective in reducing tobacco use and cigarette smoke exposure among behavioral health consumers and the individuals who serve them. Taking Texas Tobacco-Free (TTTF) represents an academic–community partnership formed to address tobacco use among consumers and employees at behavioral health clinics across Texas via the dissemination of an evidence-based, multicomponent tobacco-free workplace program. Program components of TTTF include tobacco-free campus policy implementation and enforcement, staff education about tobacco use hazards, provider training to regularly screen for and address tobacco dependence via intervention, and community outreach. These components, the nature of the academic–community partnership, the process of behavioral health facility involvement and engagement, and the benefits and challenges of implementation from the perspectives of the project team and participating clinic leaders are described. This information can guide similar academic and community partnerships and inform the implementation of other statewide tobacco-free workplace programming.
Corrective Osteotomy of Malunited Diaphyseal Fractures of the Forearm Simplified Using 3-Dimensional CT Data: Proposal of Our Simple Strategy Through Case Presentation
Authors: Hamada Yoshitaka , Gotani Hiroyuki , Sasaki Kousuke , Tanaka Yoshitaka , Egawa Hiroshi , Kanchanathepsak Thepparat
Published: March 2017

Background: Reconstruction of malunited diaphyseal fractures of the forearm is one of the most difficult treatments due to its complicated structure. Widespread usage of Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data of 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) and 3D printing can make estimating the true plane of the deformity easy. Methods: A 21-year-old man with limited supination due to left forearm nonunion deformity initially treated by locking plate fixation was referred to our hospital. We evaluated the deformity by superimposing the mirror image bone model of the contralateral normal bone onto a model of the affected bone and 3D real full-scale bone model. Results: The patient underwent a manual corrective osteotomy according to our planning. He had satisfactory improvement of his symptoms with no complications. Conclusions: We postulated that our simple preoperative simulation and manual osteotomy with the aid of 3D CT reconstruction and 3D real full-scale bone model fit in the clinical practice as a recent trend.
Critical leadership studies: A response to Learmonth and Morrell
Authors: Collinson David
Published: March 2017

This article re-states the value of a dialectical approach to critical leadership studies: one that explicitly uses the ‘language of leadership’ to examine and illuminate workplace power and identity dynamics. Outlining an alternative view of what it means to be ‘critical’, this response questions the dichotomizing tendency in Learmonth and Morrell’s arguments and highlights their misrepresentation and misinterpretation of my 2014 article. Learmonth and Morrell’s article shifts in different places between Marxist structuralism and mainstream voluntarism. Their proposal to replace the language of leadership with a Marxist binary of manager and worker all but precludes the possibility of a critical approach to leadership studies, and leaves little, if any, conceptual space for the study of leadership whatsoever. They also suggest that critical studies of leadership are not critical enough. Yet, paradoxically, their objections draw on conventional, voluntaristic and uncritical conceptions of both leaders and followers. Rather than reproduce and reinforce further dichotomies, future critical work on leadership would be better served, in my view, exploring the dialectical asymmetries, situated interrelations and intersecting practices of leaders and followers and managers and workers in all their ambiguous, paradoxical and contradictory forms.
Imaging of Groin Pain: Magnetic Resonance and Ultrasound Imaging Features
Authors: Lee Susan C. , Endo Yoshimi , Potter Hollis G.
Published: March 2017

Context:

Evaluation of groin pain in athletes may be challenging as pain is typically poorly localized and the pubic symphyseal region comprises closely approximated tendons and muscles. As such, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) may help determine the etiology of groin pain.

Evidence Acquisition:

A PubMed search was performed using the following search terms: ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, sports hernia, athletic pubalgia, and groin pain. Date restrictions were not placed on the literature search.

Study Design:

Clinical review.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Results:

MRI is sensitive in diagnosing pathology in groin pain. Not only can MRI be used to image rectus abdominis/adductor longus aponeurosis and pubic bone pathology, but it can also evaluate other pathology within the hip and pelvis. MRI is especially helpful when groin pain is poorly localized. Real-time capability makes ultrasound useful in evaluating the pubic symphyseal region, as it can be used for evaluation and treatment.

Conclusion:

MRI and US are valuable in diagnosing pathology in athletes with groin pain, with the added utility of treatment using US-guided intervention.

Strength-of Recommendation Taxonomy:

C
Isolated Lumbar Extension Resistance Training Improves Strength, Pain, and Disability, but Not Spinal Height or Shrinkage (“Creep”) in Participants with Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Steele James , Bruce-Low Stewart , Smith Dave , Jessop David , Osborne Neil
Published: March 2017

Objective. Loss of disc height is commonly associated with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Isolated lumbar extension (ILEX) exercise for the lumbar extensors is recommended to treat CLBP and is suggested such exercise might promote disc healing and regeneration. This study examined a 12-week ILEX intervention on indirect determination of disc height and shrinkage through seated stadiometry, strength, pain, and disability. Design. A quasi-experimental wait-list controlled design was used. Nine participants underwent pretesting (T1), a 12-week control period, retesting (T2), a 12-week intervention period, and finally posttesting (T3). Seated stadiometry, ILEX strength, pain, and disability were measured at each time point. Results. No significant repeated-measures effects for any seated stadiometry variables occurred. Significant improvement across the intervention period (T2 to T3) was found for strength ( P <0.0001; effect size [ES] = 2.42). Change in pain was not significant for repeated effects ( P = 0.064); however, ES for the intervention period (T2 to T3) was moderate (ES = −0.77). Change in disability was significant between time point T1 and T3 ( P = 0.037) and ES for the intervention period (T2 to T3) was large (ES = −0.92). Pain and disability achieved minimal clinically important changes. Conclusions. This is apparently the first study to examine disc change in vivo after exercise in CLBP. Results of the present study, though supporting ILEX resistance training to improve strength, pain, and disability, did not find any effect on spinal height.
Social Eavesdropping: Can You Hear the Emotionality in a “Hello” That Is Not Meant for You?
Authors: Karthikeyan Sethu , Ramachandra Vijayachandra
Published: March 2017

The study examined third-party listeners’ ability to detect the Hellos spoken to prevalidated happy, neutral, and sad facial expressions. The average detection accuracies from the happy and sad (HS), happy and neutral (HN), and sad and neutral (SN) listening tests followed the average vocal pitch differences between the two sets of Hellos in each of the tests; HS and HN detection accuracies were above chance reflecting the significant pitch differences between the respective Hellos. The SN detection accuracy was at chance reflecting the lack of pitch difference between sad and neutral Hellos. As expected, the SN detection accuracy positively correlated with theory of mind; participating in these tests has been likened to the act of eavesdropping, which has been discussed from an evolutionary perspective. An unexpected negative correlation between the HS detection accuracy and the empathy quotient has been discussed with respect to autism research on empathy and pitch discrimination.
Leukocyte Telomere Length and Serum Levels of High-Molecular-Weight Adiponectin and Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Could Reflect Distinct Aspects of Longevity in Japanese Centenarians
Authors: Aoki Yuji , Aoki Masato , Yamada Kazuya
Published: March 2017

Leukocyte telomere length and serum levels of high-molecular-weight adiponectin and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) were assessed in association with nutrition and performance status (PS) in Japanese centenarians. Twenty-three centenarians (five men, 18 women) were classified according to their PS 1 (nearly fully ambulatory, n = 2), 2 (in bed less than 50% of daytime, n = 10), 3 (in bed greater than 50%, n = 6), and 4 (completely bedridden, n = 5). Leukocyte telomere length was determined by the hybridization protection assay, and the adiponectin and DHEA-S levels were measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. Among variables of PS, body mass index (BMI), albumin, adiponectin, DHEA-S, and telomere length, there were significant correlations between PS and albumin ( r = −.694, p < .01), between telomere length and BMI ( r = .522, p < .05), between adiponectin and BMI ( r = −.574, p < .01), and between DHEA-S and albumin ( r = .530, p < .01). When excluding two cancer-bearing centenarians with short telomere, telomere length significantly correlated with PS ( r = −.632, p < .01). It was indicated that the short leukocyte telomere was associated with poor PS and cancer development and that the adiponectin or DHEA-S was associated with adiposity or nutritional status. Despite a small number of subjects, these biomarkers seemed to reflect distinct aspects of longevity in Japanese centenarians.
When is cough functional, and how should it be treated?
Authors: Weinberger Miles , Lockshin Boris
Published: March 2017

Key points

Habit cough is most commonly characterised by a repetitive loud barking cough that persists for prolonged periods.

The cough interferes with normal activity and substantially decreases the quality of life.

Thesine qua nonis the total absence of this troublesome cough once asleep.

The age distribution ranges from 4 years to late adolescence, with 85% of cases occurring from 8 to 14 years of age; similar cough in adults is much less common and poorly characterised.

Pharmacological treatment is ineffective.

A simple behavioural approach called suggestion therapy has been applied with success by many physicians.

The natural history in the absence of treatment can result in persistence for months to years.

Educational aims

To increase awareness of functional cough as a non-organically caused symptom in children and adolescents.

To provide the means of diagnosing a functional cough based on the distinguishing characteristics of this cause of chronic cough.

To understand the principles of treating a functional cough with a simple behavioural technique called suggestion therapy.

Involuntary cough without an identified underlying organic reason has been given various names and recommended treatments. Current experience in children and adolescents suggests that “habit cough” best describes this entity, and suggestion therapy is a highly effective treatment that most physicians can learn.
Introduction: Mapping the Complex Parliamentary Field of the Mediterranean—How Many Actors?
Authors: Stavridis Stelios
Published: March 2017

Following the end of the Cold War and the appearance of globalization and new forms of regionalization, new actors have emerged in world politics and changed the traditional practice of diplomacy. New forms of diplomacy range from economic diplomacy to paradiplomacy, cultural diplomacy, or even celebrity diplomacy. Parliamentary diplomacy has also developed its influence in this new world, and there is now a clear “parliamentarization” of world politics. This phenomenon resulted from democratization, globalization, regionalization, and technological developments. There are now three different perspectives on diplomacy: statist (the state speaks with one voice), globalist (the growth of nonstate diplomacy), and postglobalist (combining both state-centric and multicentric realities). This essay falls clearly within the last of these three possibilities. It focuses on the growth of parliamentary diplomacy in the Mediterranean Basin.
Promoting Cohesion and Consistency in EU Foreign Policy: The European Parliament and the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Authors: Gianniou Maria
Published: March 2017

In the literature dealing with parliamentary diplomacy, the role that the European Parliament (EP) can play in the formation and conduct of European Union (EU) foreign policy is intensively studied. Yet analyses thus far have not dealt with how the EP can urge the EU and its member states to ensure foreign policy coherence. The essay aims to fill this gap. It draws on empirical data from the EP's approach toward the Israel-Palestine conflict and aims to identify the ways the EP, although not directly and officially in charge of ensuring EU coherence, can contribute to promoting coherence in the EU's foreign policy.
Catalan Parliamentary Diplomacy toward the Mediterranean
Authors: Feliu Laura , Serra Francesc
Published: March 2017

This essay analyzes the diplomacy of the Parliament of Catalonia in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Spain, toward the Mediterranean region. In recent years, the academic literature has shown increased interest in the wide range of international activities undertaken by members of parliaments at the subnational level. Yet the academic study on diplomacy of the Parliament of Catalonia remains limited. Because there is a well-rooted tradition of foreign activity in the Catalan political culture, the Parliament of Catalonia has been working consistently in the international sphere. The Mediterranean dimension illustrates the strengths and the weaknesses of such activities.
How Commitment to Craftsmanship Leads to Unique Value: Steinway & Sons’ Differentiation Strategy
Authors: Cattani Gino , Dunbar Roger L. M. , Shapira Zur
Published: March 2017

The positioning perspective in strategic management suggests that successful differentiation results from a firm’s deliberate efforts to create something that is perceived as being unique. This usually involves looking beyond the proximate to pursue distant opportunities. However, a firm that pursues local opportunities eventually may be perceived as being unique especially when competitors decide to follow other strategic paths within the same industry. In the language of the NK modeling approach, a firm can attain successful differentiation by choosing to move to a different peak (i.e., pursue distant opportunities), or to stay on the same peak in which it is currently located (i.e., pursue local opportunities). While extant strategy research has expounded the first path to differentiation, the second path has remained underexplored. Relying on a data set that combines primary and secondary sources, we use an historical case study research design to explore how and why, over time, Steinway & Sons adhered to traditional craft manufacturing methods to develop pianos that most virtuoso concert pianists still prefer today. While this commitment to craft methods enhanced the perceived uniqueness of Steinway & Sons’ pianos, it also constrained ability to adopt mass-production technologies even as other firms introduced them to reduce production costs and target piano mass markets. The case offers a counterpoint to the view that a successful differentiation strategy requires a firm to pursue distant opportunities by moving away from its current position on the competitive landscape.
National Funding Formula: An analysis
Authors: Harnden Julia
Published: March 2017

Understanding the National Funding Formula, its limitations and how it will affect your school is vitally important. As the second consultation period draws to a close, Julia Harnden analyses the current proposals
Density Functional Theory Computation of Organic Compound Penetration into Sepiolite Tunnels
Authors: Karataş Deniz , Tekin Adem , Çelik Mehmet Sabri
Published: March 2017

Sepiolite is a fibrous clay mineral and consists of 2:1 silicate blocks connected at the corners and separated by tunnels (channels on external surfaces) that extend in the direction of fiber length. The tunnels, 3.7 Å × 610.6 Å in cross-section, are responsible for the incorporation of organic and inorganic compounds. The present study aimed to examine the capacity of twelve different organic molecules, such as pyridine, indigo, methylene blue, and quaternary amines, to gain access to the tunnels of sepiolite using quantum chemistry techniques. The interaction energy computations performed at the B97-D/TZVP level showed that all of the considered organic molecules tend to access the tunnels of sepiolite if external water molecules are absent. This finding is in agreement with experimental studies that included pyridine, indigo, 2,2-bipyridyl, and methylene blue. Interestingly, 2,6-dimethyl pyridine preferred to remain in a tunnel rather than an external channel of the sepiolite.