bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relevance of F.W. Taylor’s principles to modern shop-floor practices
Authors: Vijai J. Prince , Somayaji G.S.R. , Swamy R.J.R. , Aital Padmanabha
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use an inter-disciplinary approach to examine the relevance of F.W. Taylor’s principles to modern shop-floor practices in the context of a manufacturing organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Standard time study guidelines laid out by the ILO were adopted and random observations made between two operators independently performing an identical operation in the shop-floor premises of a particular factory.

Findings

It was evident from the study that modern management has developed the science for each element of the operator’s manual work, as postulated and proposed by F.W. Taylor. It was also evident that completion of the operation on time was necessary for the operators but not as important as the total number of jobs performed during the duration of the shift. These empirical findings highlighted the high relevance of F.W. Taylor’s principles to modern shop-floor practices.

Research limitations/implications

The authors adopted time study observation as the single method to collect real data from real practices but this could be considered as a biased approach. Since the time study observation is a slow, time consuming, and expensive process of obtaining data, the authors restricted the study to only two operators. Further, the study was carried out in a real setting under several assumptions that may limit its wider applications and practical implications. The study findings suggest that measuring the operator’s performance in terms of time consumption and resource utilization is necessary but not sufficient to evaluate and improve his/her productivity because operators evaluate their performance in terms of the total number of jobs completed during the duration of the shift. Therefore, it is suggested that the managers on the modern shop-floor measure the output at the aggregate level for the given input, while developing new work methods as well as devising performance management and reward systems.

Originality/value

The study has contributed to the body of knowledge by conducting a complete assessment of F.W. Taylor’s first principle from its origin to its application in modern shop-floor practices. Also, the authors empirically examined the relevance of Taylor’s principles to modern shop-floor practices in the context of a manufacturing organization. The study supports the descriptive work of Freeman (1996), who envisaged the relevance of Taylor’s ideas to modern management practices; also, it gives a few directions to test behavioral operations theory in terms of using real operational data to examine an established organization theory (Gino and Pisano, 2008).
Critical factors for culture of judicial excellence: benchmarking study of Emirati courts
Authors: Kassem Rassel , Ajmal Mian , Hussain Matloub , Helo Petri
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the organizational culture of courts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the culture type required to achieve business excellence. This research also aims to benchmark the criteria weights of the International Framework for Court Excellence (IFCE) in the UAE and suggest new weights that better reflect courts’ local priorities and national work culture.

Design/methodology/approach

The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to prioritize the IFCE criteria and select the most important culture types to consider. A questionnaire was designed and data were collected from first instance courts in UAE. The respondents were judges in management roles, to ensure that the opinions provided reflected experience of judging and were aligned with the courts’ strategic objectives.

Findings

The results show that the IFCE model criteria have different levels of importance in UAE than in the original model. The major differences are in court proceedings and processes, and affordability and accessibility of services. Adaptability and mission seem to be the most important cultural traits.

Originality/value

No previous studies have investigated court excellence in UAE. This study should supply court managers and administrators with a clearer understanding of the priorities for achieving court excellence. There is inconsistency about the culture needed to boost good performance in public service organizations like courts, and decision makers may use these findings to enhance the cultural attributes that are particularly associated with excellence in courts.
Benchmarking the utility theory: a data envelopment approach
Authors: Dalalah Doraid , Al-Rawabdeh Wasfi
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to benchmark alternatives of decision problems that include risk and uncertainty considering different risk attitudes via a new data envelopment analysis (DEA) decision model.

Design/methodology/approach

A new utility function of strict bounds is applied in a data envelopment model to evaluate all possible stochastic alternatives (i.e. gambles). The amount of risk in the alternatives is measured by a newly introduced risk ratio (RR). Each alternative is considered as a decision making unit (DMU). The alternatives efficiency frontier is found via linear optimization of the DEA model.

Findings

In contrast to literature studies of binary decision alternatives, here, benchmarking is conducted to evaluate multiple decision alternatives with unbounded utility of the payoffs along with a new DEA decision model. Different surveys and studies have been used to validate the model. DEA could demonstrate the ability to uncover relationships that remain hidden for other methodologies. The resulting rankings remarkably conform to those elicited by subjects.

Social implications

Individuals of different wealth backgrounds evaluate risky decision problems differently.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the existing research by benchmarking multiple alternatives as compared to the literature research which usually assesses binary problems. Instead of using explicit utilities, the model implements the efficiencies along with a new utility function and a new RR. The introduction of DEA to such a decision field is found to be successful in benchmarking numerous alternatives under different risk attitudes.
The impact of quality management practices on performance: an empirical study
Authors: Patyal Vishal Singh , Koilakuntla Maddulety
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between quality management (QM) and performance, specifically how the infrastructure and core QM practices affect quality and business performance, in Indian manufacturing organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the empirical data were drawn from 262 manufacturing organizations in India. The research model was tested using the structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

The findings of the empirical study revealed that infrastructure QM practices have a positive effect on core QM practices and indirectly on quality performance, whereas, core QM practices have a positive effect on quality performance. Also, quality performance has a positive effect on business performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study considered QM from two dimensions (infrastructure and core quality practices), the study further contributes to the understanding of the different roles played by diverse QM dimensions in determining business performance in terms of increased return on investment, shareholder and stakeholder value.

Practical implications

The study showed that infrastructure quality practices support the application of core quality practices. Therefore, managers must develop and maintain their organization’s quality system and sufficient resources need to be allocated to both types of practices in order to achieve the superior business performance.

Originality/value

This study considers both total quality management and Six Sigma practices for defining a new set of infrastructure and core QM practices in Indian manufacturing organizations.
Development of questionnaire to assess the supplier evaluation criteria and supplier selection benefits
Authors: Kant Ravi , Dalvi Manojkumar Vithalrao
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an instrument/questionnaire to assess the supplier evaluation (SE) criteria and supplier selection (SS) benefits with their level of importance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops an instrument/questionnaire based on generally accepted principle of instrument design to assess the SE criteria and SS benefits through the responses collected from 34 automobile industries in India. The SE criteria and SS benefits were derived through extensive literature review and expert’s opinion.

Findings

The reliability, normality and validity of developed instrument/questionnaire were determined through the responses collected from the managers of 34 automobile industries in India and are found to be acceptable for most of the SE criteria and SS benefits. The criterion validity is also found to be fairly good for the developed instrument/questionnaire.

Research limitations/implications

While designing the instrument/questionnaire, SE criteria and SS benefits were considered for automobile sector in India through prequestionnaire sheet. Further, research may be required to corroborate these results from larger data sets.

Practical implications

Now a days, it is essential for organizations to rely on their suppliers for their survival and to gain competitive advantage. The well developed and validated instrument/questionnaire can be used for industry practitioners in Indian automobile industries to assess the SE criteria and SS benefits.

Originality/value

An empirically tested instrument/questionnaire is developed first time to assess the SE criteria and SS benefits for automobile sector in India.
Risks perceived regarding recruitment process outsourcing: stakeholder concerns
Authors: David Rajasekhar , Banerjee Pratyush , Ponnam Abhilash
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore various risks that are associated with recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) strategy in the Indian information technology (IT)/IT-enabled service (ITes) industries.

Design/methodology/approach

Purposeful intensity sampling was used to select respondents from IT/ITes organizations. Twenty-eight respondents were interviewed through face-to-face semi-structured interviews and telephonic interviews. Each interview lasted for approximately 65 min. All interviews were audio recorded with the permission of the respondents and were then transcribed. The data were analyzed with the help of a qualitative technique, thematic analysis.

Findings

Results show that the stakeholders associated with RPO are not satisfied with several issues such as violation of initial contact between the applicant and the potential employer, violation of contracts by the vendor, unfair practices by the vendor, poor quality service provided by the vendor, plausibility that the vendor does not understand the culture of the client organization, inappropriate placement of human resources by the vendor, low morale of the employees and loss of managerial control due to RPO.

Research limitations/implications

Small sample size and qualitative research design reduces the external validity of the findings to certain extent.

Practical implications

Companies deploying RPO should be wary about the plausible negative consequences. This paper offers various solutions to mitigate such risks.

Originality/value

This paper is a novel attempt which details various risks due to deployment of RPO from multiple stakeholder perspectives.
Quo vadis outsourcing? A view from practice
Authors: Gewald Heiko , Schäfer Leonie
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to derive a prioritized list of the present and future topics that sourcing managers in large companies are mostly concerned with using a rigorous methodological approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The Delphi method was chosen to derive the list. An initial list of topics was compiled based on a literature review combined with the results of an expert panel. This input was prioritized and extended by sourcing managers over three iterations.

Findings

The findings indicate that outsourcing remains a hot topic, even after almost 25 years of academic research. The authors identified four clusters where outsourcing scholars who are interested to provide insights and guidance for practitioners should focus their attention: managerial decisions (selection of the right partner and ability of the company to outsource parts of their business), managing the service provider (governance issues and relationship management and alignment), managerial responsibilities (integrated risk management and adherence to regulation and compliance) and increased flexibility (cloud computing and multi-vendor arrangements).

Research limitations/implications

The findings are only directly transferrable to large companies using experienced sourcing managers in Germany.

Originality/value

The findings may serve as input in formulating a research agenda which helps to align scholars’ focus and practitioners’ problems.
Discursive construction of the legitimacy of a place marketing project: the case of North Karelia
Authors: Halme Juha
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to theoretically explain the significance of discourse for the construction of the legitimacy of place marketing practice, and to illustrate empirically how this is done in a “genre of strategy”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies a critical discourse analysis perspective, and utilises a theoretical framework of four legitimation strategies of authorisation, moral evaluation, rationalisation and mythopoesis to analyse how the legitimacy of a place marketing project carried out in the region of North Karelia, Finland, is discursively constructed within strategic documents of the project.

Findings

Several discursive legitimation strategies were recognised. The authority of the project was constructed by referring to the organisational context of the project, while rational and moral legitimation strategies drew from hegemonic discourses of regional competitiveness, attractiveness and cooperation. These discourses were further connected to discussions of contemporary regional development in Finland and in Europe.

Research limitations/implications

While the paper underlines the significance of the “genre of strategy” for the discursive legitimation of place marketing projects, it points out that it does not extend to cover the reception or change over time of the legitimation strategies, that should be addressed in further studies.

Originality/value

The paper presents an original perspective on legitimacy of place marketing projects by introducing discourse as a central element in the construction of legitimacy. This is especially useful for critical purposes, as it allows the discourses that legitimise place marketing practice to be placed under scrutiny, hence opening up the possibility for alternative discourses to emerge.
International retirement migration and Thai stakeholders’ views: a Japanese case study
Authors: Ashton Ann Suwaree , Scott Noel
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate Thai stakeholders’ perceptions of developing a destination for international retirement migration (IRM). Increasingly, residents of developed nations such as Japan who retire from work are choosing to live in Thailand or other less-developed countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative approach was used, and data were collected through focus groups and in-depth interviews in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Content analysis technique was used to analyze data after completing the interviews of 35 industry participants.

Findings

It was found from the participants that considerable new real estate development and services specifically for these retirees has been created in recent years, but that there is a lack of stakeholder collaboration in catering to this market. Moreover, local resident knowledge of the retirees’ culture and language is lacking, along with a need for policy and planning support from government.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this study is that it explored only the perception of business stakeholders involved with Japanese IRM, a group of importance to the Thai Government due to their increasing numbers. Further study could look at local community attitudes toward IRM and how a community adapts to this new phenomenon.

Practical implications

This study provides guidelines for stakeholders, government and local communities. Especially, the role of government is to provide support with clear information about the visa process and legal documents.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the body of knowledge of destination development strategy for a specific international retirement tourist group.
Destination brand love: managerial implications and applications to tourism businesses
Authors: Swanson Kathryn
Published: February 2017

Purpose

In an increasingly competitive marketplace and with homogenization of destination brands occurring alongside globalization, enticing tourists to travel at all, let alone to a particular destination, can be a significant challenge. This paper aims to address this issue through exploration of the utility of the concept of brand love in the context of tourism destinations.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation of the problem involved three large cities in the USA and utilized a variety of qualitative research methods, including tourist interviews, photos and collages. Additionally, the research included key informant interviews.

Findings

In total, 13 themes through which participants articulated their love were identified through thematic analysis of the tourist data, and these themes were drawn together in a model of destination brand love. Furthermore, three types of destination brand love were identified, and these coincide with three words for “love” in the Greek language.

Practical implications

The most significant managerial value of the article’s findings likely would come from tourism destination marketing organizations determining what type(s) of love is/are (or could be) prevalent among that destination’s most loyal tourists. Steps to do this are provided.

Originality/value

The complexity in tourists’ relationships with, and feelings of love for, destinations and their brands that this research has revealed demonstrates that there is opportunity for deeper understanding of how and why tourists come to love a destination and its brand. With this more complete knowledge, marketers would be better prepared to foster and grow brand love among their destinations’ tourists, resulting in increased visitation and revenue.
Enhancing organizational commitment and employee performance through employee engagement
Authors: Nazir Owais , Islam Jamid Ul
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between perceived organizational support, employee engagement, employee performance and affective commitment in the context of Indian higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 410 employees from various higher educational institutes of India using a self-administered questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results revealed a positive influence of perceived organizational support on employee performance and affective commitment. Moreover, these relationships have also been found to be mediated by employee engagement.

Practical implications

The study serves as guide for the development of influential strategies to develop and retain a well engaged, competent and committed workforce at higher educational institutes in India.

Originality/value

The study enriches the organizational behavior literature by identifying and empirically validating some antecedents and consequences of employee engagement in the context of Indian higher education where such studies are scant.
Working capital management and firms’ profitability: evidence from emerging Asian countries
Authors: Singhania Monica , Mehta Piyush
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Excessive working capital or paucity of the same can impair the profits and health of an organization. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of working capital management (WCM) on the profitability of firms for a sample comprising of non-financial companies in countries of South East Asia, South Asia and East Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

Analytical modeling has been used to estimate the impact of WCM on profitability with the help of financial data of the companies listed in major indices of the target countries (India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan). The mathematical model presented in the paper has been tested using two-step-generalized method of moments.

Findings

The study reveals a non-linear relationship between profitability of a firm and WCM for 11 economies of the Asia Pacific region.

Research limitations/implications

The results are subject to the differences in the market dynamics of different economies (countries). Moreover, the limitations of the specific statistical method used to verify the model apply to the model too.

Practical implications

The research can be used as a tool by the firms (global as well as local) to ameliorate their performance by understanding the effects of WCM on profitability in different global markets and adjusting their working capital accordingly.

Originality/value

The research on the impact of WCM on profitability of the firms of South East Asia, South Asia and East Asia is a new effort and tries to make the importance of WCM more luciferous.
Impact of stillbirths on international comparisons of preterm birth rates: a secondary analysis of the WHO multi‐country survey of Maternal and Newborn Health
Authors: Morisaki N , Ganchimeg T , Vogel JP , Zeitlin J , Cecatti JG , Souza JP , Pileggi Castro C , Torloni MR , Ota E , Mori R , Dolan SM , Tough S , Mittal S , Bataglia V , Yadamsuren B , Kramer MS ,   on behalf of the PREBIC Epidemiology Working Group and the WHO‐MCS Research Network
Published: February 2017

Objective

To evaluate the extent to which stillbirths affect international comparisons of preterm birth rates in low‐ and middle‐income countries.

Design

Secondary analysis of a multi‐country cross‐sectional study.

Setting

29 countries participating in the World Health Organization Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health.

Population

258 215 singleton deliveries in 286 hospitals.

Methods

We describe how inclusion or exclusion of stillbirth affect rates of preterm births in 29 countries.

Main outcome measures

Preterm delivery.

Results

In all countries, preterm birth rates were substantially lower when based on live births only, than when based on total births. However, the increase in preterm birth rates with inclusion of stillbirths was substantially higher in low Human Development Index (HDI) countries [median 18.2%, interquartile range (17.2–34.6%)] compared with medium (4.3%, 3.0–6.7%), and high‐HDI countries (4.8%, 4.4–5.5%).

Conclusion

Inclusion of stillbirths leads to higher estimates of preterm birth rate in all countries, with a disproportionately large effect in low‐HDI countries. Preterm birth rates based on live births alone do not accurately reflect international disparities in perinatal health; thus improved registration and reporting of stillbirths are necessary.

Tweetable abstract

Inclusion of stillbirths increases preterm birth rates estimates, especially in low‐HDI countries.
Understanding local community attitudes toward industrial development in the Great Barrier Reef region World Heritage Area: are environmental impacts perceived to overshadow economic benefits?
Authors: Benham Claudia F.
Published: February 2017

Conflicts between industrial development and environmental conservation can be particularly acute when such development occurs in the vicinity of World Heritage sites. A key example is the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) in northeastern Australia, where a 2012 review by the World Heritage Council found that rapid port development inshore of the coral reef posed significant risks to local marine ecosystems. Such instances pose pressing challenges for decision‐makers seeking to manage World Heritage sites for multiple values and needs, including those of key stakeholder groups, such as local communities. There is increasingly a societal expectation that public decision‐making takes into account local views and priorities, and that companies seek a ‘social license to operate’. This research explored local community attitudes toward port development associated with the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal through the GBRWHA. Using data drawn from a survey and interviews, the research examined how a range of geographical factors, including proximity to gas infrastructure and the perceived impacts and risks of development to the local community, economy and environment shape community perceptions of the industry. Findings suggest that local attitudes toward gas and coal terminal development inshore of the GBRWHA are shaped predominantly by community perceptions of environmental impacts and risks associated with such infrastructure, in contrast to a broader public narrative that focuses largely on economic benefits. A complex combination of other factors, including social impacts, personal environmental values, community trust in industry, and equity in decision‐making and distribution of the risks and benefits of industrial development also contribute. Placed in a broader, global context, the findings have important implications for public decision‐making processes in Australia and elsewhere as they suggest that, for local communities, the perceived impacts of gas development on the environment may overshadow the benefits of industry.
Benefit‐Cost Analysis of Integrated Water Resource Management: Accounting for Interdependence in the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan
Authors: Yoder Jonathan , Adam Jennifer , Brady Michael , Cook Joseph , Katz Stephen , Johnston Shane , Malek Keyvan , McMillan John , Yang Qingqing
Published: February 2017

Integrated water resource management (IWRM) requires accounting for many interrelated facets of water systems, water uses and stakeholders, and water management activities. The consequence is that project analysis must account for the nonseparability among the component parts of IWRM plans. This article presents a benefit‐cost (B‐C) analysis of a set of projects included in the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan proposed for the Yakima Basin in south‐central Washington State. The analysis accounts for interdependence among proposed water storage projects and between water storage and water market development in the context of historical and more adverse projected future climate scenarios. Focusing on irrigation benefits from storage, we show that the value of a given proposed storage project is lower when other proposed storage projects in the basin are implemented, and when water markets are functioning effectively. We find that none of the water storage projects satisfy a B‐C criterion, and that assuring proposed instream flow augmentation is less expensive by purchasing senior diversion rights than relying on new storage to provide it.
Cardioprotective effects of pectin–insulin patch in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats
Authors: Sibiya Ntethelelo , Ngubane Phikelelani , Mabandla Musa
Published: February 2017

Background

Cardiovascular complications are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetes mellitus. Despite the beneficial effects of subcutaneous insulin, reports suggest that the therapy itself precipitates cardiovascular risks due to the high insulin concentration administered. It is therefore necessary to seek alternative routes of insulin administration that may bypass the undesirable effects associated with high plasma insulin concentrations. Accordingly, the present study investigated the effects of a novel transdermal pectin–insulin patch on selected markers of cardiovascular function in diabetes.

Methods

Pectin–insulin matrix patches (20.0, 40.8, and 82.9 μg/kg) were prepared as described previously. The three formulations were applied to streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats thrice daily. Blood glucose concentrations and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were monitored weekly for 5 weeks. Rats were then killed and blood collected for analysis of the lipid profile, cardiotropin‐1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP).

Results

The patches decreased blood glucose concentrations and diabetes‐induced disturbances in lipid profile were attenuated by patch application (82.9 μg/kg). The diabetes‐induced increase in MAP was also attenuated in patch (82.9 μg/kg)‐treated rats. Patch treatment resulted in a decreased heart weight: body weight ratio, as well as reductions in cardiotropin‐1, TNF‐α, and hsCRP concentrations.

Conclusions

Application of the pectin–insulin patch protects against the debilitating cardiovascular effects associated with conventional diabetes treatment. This suggests that the pectin–insulin patch may provide an effective alternative therapeutic approach to the commonly used subcutaneous insulin injections in the management of diabetes.
Clinical value of the new International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society classification of lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Guo Ziwei , Yi Fumei , Yin Wencheng , Zhang Yu , Li Qian , Gu Yangchun , Xiao Yu , Cao Baoshan , Ma Liwen , Liang Li
Published: February 2017

Background

We explored correlations between the new International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society classification, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status, and prognosis.

Methods

Data from 293 patients with lung adenocarcinoma were classified according to the new classification. Fisher’s exact, χ2, and log‐rank tests and Cox regression analysis were used to analyze correlations between EGFR mutation status, lung cancer prognosis, and the new histologic subtype. Disease‐free survival and progression‐free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

Lepidic and non‐solid adenocarcinomas showed significantly elevated EGFR mutation rates (79.0% and 65.8%, respectively; P < 0.05). EGFR mutation status was only associated with gender (P < 0.001). EGFR mutation‐positive patients who received targeted therapy had better median PFS than those who received chemotherapy as first‐line treatment (P < 0.001). The median PFS of patients with exon 19 and exon 21 mutations who received first‐line targeted therapy were 12.5 and 9.5 months, respectively (P = 0.970). Patients with micropapillary predominant adenocarcinomas had the shortest disease‐free survival (<18 months) and PFS. Histologic subtype (P = 0.036), treatment type (P = 0.031), and EGFR mutation status (P = 0.019) might be good prognostic factors for lung adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

Patients with exon 19 mutations obtained greater benefits from targeted therapy. In the new classification, EGFR mutation rates are higher in lepidic cases and in cases without the solid subtype. The micropapillary subtype of adenocarcinoma has the worst prognosis, while the lepidic subtype has the best.
Extent of visceral pleural invasion and the prognosis of surgically resected node‐negative non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Seok Yangki , Jeong Ji Yun , Lee Eungbae
Published: February 2017

Background

Visceral pleural invasion (VPI) is generally considered a poor prognostic factor in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). VPI is defined as penetration beyond the elastic layer of visceral pleura (PL1), including the visceral pleural surface without the involvement of adjacent structures (PL2) by cancer cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the extent of VPI on NSCLC prognosis.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 90 patients with resected node‐negative NSCLC with VPI. The overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariate analysis for prognostic factors was performed using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. The pattern of recurrence was also compared between PL1 and PL2 groups.

Results

Seventy‐three patients had PL1. The three‐year OS rates for the PL1 and PL2 groups were 97.4% and 82.4%, respectively (
P
 = 0.004). The two‐year DFS rates for PL1 and PL2 groups were 81.0% and 76.5%, respectively (
P
 = 0.419). According to the multivariate analysis, PL2 was not a significant prognostic factor for survival outcome in node‐negative NSCLC with VPI compared to PL1 (hazard ratio for DFS 1.753, 95% confidence interval 0.582–5.284;
P
 = 0.319). In this study, six patients in the PL1 and one in PL2 group developed ipsilateral pleural recurrence (
P
 = 1.000).

Conclusion

VPI extent may not influence survival outcomes in patients with surgically resected node‐negative NSCLC with VPI.
Relationships between inflammation‐ and immunity‐related transcript abundance in the rumen and jejunum of beef steers with divergent average daily gain
Authors: Reynolds J. G. , Foote A. P. , Freetly H. C. , Oliver W. T. , Lindholm‐Perry A. K.
Published: February 2017

The bovine rumen papillae are in contact with a wide array of microorganisms and the metabolites they produce, which may activate an inflammatory and/or immune response. Cytokines, chemokines and their receptor genes were tested for differential expression in the rumen and jejunum of beef steers with greater and lesser average daily body weight gain (ADG) near the average daily dry matter intake (DMI) for the population. Angus‐sired steers (n = 16) were used to represent the greater (ADG = 2.2 ± 0.07 kg/day; DMI = 10.1 ± 0.05 kg/day) and lesser (ADG = 1.7 ± 0.05 kg/day; DMI = 10.1 ± 0.05 kg/day) ADG groups with eight steers each. Rumen epithelium and jejunum mucosal samples were collected at slaughter, and gene expression was evaluated using a commercially available qRT‐PCR array containing 84 genes representing chemokines, cytokines and their receptors. None of the genes on the array were differentially expressed in the jejunum of the steers with greater vs. lesser ADG. However, in the rumen, two chemokine genes (CCL11, CXCL5) and one receptor gene (IL10RA) were detected as differentially expressed (P < 0.05). The genes IL1A, BMP2, CXCL12 and TNFSF13 also displayed trends for differential expression (P < 0.10). All of the genes identified were lower in transcript abundance in the greater ADG animals. Thus, greater ADG steers have a lesser inflammatory response in the rumen papillae, which may lead to a more efficient use of nutrients.
Our experience in using telehealth for paediatric plastic surgery in Western Australia
Authors: Rimal Debesh , Huang Fu Ju Hui , Gillett David
Published: February 2017

Background

Western Australia accounts for one‐third of Australia's total land mass. Princess Margaret Hospital is the only dedicated plastic surgery tertiary referral centre providing services to over 500 000 children across the state. The aim of this study is to share our experience using telehealth for service provision and delivery of care in a geographically challenging setting.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted, and data were extracted from patients’ notes. The time period was from January 2014 to 31 December 2015 and included all patients registered for plastic surgery telehealth service.

Results

There were a total of 194 rural patients (66 males and 128 females), 26 of whom were elective cases. A total of 358 telehealth follow‐up consultations were conducted for the 194 patients during the study period. A total of 10 patients were managed via telehealth alone without a clinical review in Perth; 24 patients had their first clinical review in Perth and further follow‐up via telehealth, and 99 patients were post‐operative cases. Case load ranged from skin lacerations to complex soft tissue and bony injuries as well as elective hand and craniofacial post‐operative follow‐up cases. Telehealth service was utilized mainly for post‐operative follow‐up.

Conclusion

It is our experience that telehealth provides access to Specialist Plastic Surgery service across the state. We utilize telehealth for a wide scope of functions. Patients in rural areas are managed in their home environments, reducing financial and psychosocial burden with the option of transfer to Princess Margaret Hospital should an intervention be required.
The HemoCue WBC DIFF system could be used for leucocyte and neutrophil counts but not for full differential counts
Authors: Karawajczyk Malgorzata , Haile Saba , Grabski Magnus , Larsson Anders
Published: February 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the HemoCue WBC DIFF system for point of care testing of fingerstick samples from paediatric patients.

Methods

We analysed 158 white blood cell counts on both the point of care HemoCue WBC DIFF instrument and the Cell Dyn Sapphire cell counter used by our central laboratory and compared the results. The measurements were performed using fingerstick samples drawn by nurses working in paediatric emergency and paediatric oncology units.

Results

There was good agreement between the two instruments for white blood cell and neutrophil counts. The correlation was weaker for lymphocytes, and the correlations were poor for monocytes and eosinophils. The HemoCue WBC DIFF flagged 56 of the 148 capillary drawn samples as abnormal, but none of the 10 venously collected samples. Only two of the flagged samples differed significantly between the instruments, with regard to the cell counts.

Conclusion

The correlations between the white blood cell counts and neutrophil counts in this real‐life study were good enough to diagnose children in emergency department and oncology unit settings. However, the high number of pathological flags from fingerstick samples, which made reruns necessary, limited the usefulness of the instrument.
Hypoxia‐stimulated membrane trafficking requires T‐plastin
Authors: Wottawa M. , Naas S. , Böttger J. , van Belle G. J. , Möbius W. , Revelo N. H. , Heidenreich D. , von Ahlen M. , Zieseniss A. , Kröhnert K. , Lutz S. , Lenz C. , Urlaub H. , Rizzoli S. O. , Katschinski D. M.
Published: February 2017

Aim

Traffic between the plasma membrane and the endomembrane compartments is an essential feature of eukaryotic cells. The secretory pathway sends cargoes from biosynthetic compartments to the plasma membrane. This is counterbalanced by a retrograde endocytic route and is essential for cell homoeostasis. Cells need to adapt rapidly to environmental challenges such as the reduction of pO2 which, however, has not been analysed in relation to membrane trafficking in detail. Therefore, we determined changes in the plasma membrane trafficking in normoxia, hypoxia, and after reoxygenation.

Methods

Membrane trafficking was analysed by using the bulk membrane endocytosis marker FM 1‐43, the newly developed membrane probe mCLING, wheat germ agglutinin as well as fluorescently labelled cholera toxin subunit B. Additionally, the uptake of specific membrane proteins was determined. In parallel, a non‐biased SILAC screen was performed to analyse the abundance of membrane proteins in normoxia and hypoxia.

Results

Membrane trafficking was increased in hypoxia and quickly reversed upon reoxygenation. This effect was independent of the hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF) system. Using SILAC technology, we identified that the actin‐bundling protein T‐plastin is recruited to the plasma membrane in hypoxia. By the use of T‐plastin knockdown cells, we could show that T‐plastin mediates the hypoxia‐induced membrane trafficking, which was associated with an increased actin density in the cells as determined by electron microscopy.

Conclusion

Membrane trafficking is highly dynamic upon hypoxia. This phenotype is quickly reversible upon reoxygenation, which suggests that this mechanism participates in the cellular adaptation to hypoxia.
Fatty acid composition, fat deposition, lipogenic gene expression and performance of broiler fed diet supplemented with different sources of oil
Authors: Khatun Jannatara , Loh Teck Chwen , Akit Henny , Foo Hooi Ling , Mohamad Rosfarizan
Published: February 2017

The present study assessed the effect of feeding palm oil (PO), sunflower oil (SO) and their combination on performance, fat deposition, fatty acid composition and lipogenic gene expression of broilers reared for 42 days. A total of 144 1‐day‐old broilers (Cobb500) were randomly allotted into four treatment diets with each having six replicates of six chicks in each replicate following a completely randomized design. Live weight gain and feed efficiency was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in birds fed with a combination of oil sources compared to controls. Birds fed with the combination of oil and SO alone had higher carcass yield and lower abdominal fat. Higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and lower concentrations of palmitic acid and saturated fatty acid (SFA) was found in birds fed SO alone and combinations of SO and PO. Furthermore, the outcomes showed that birds fed diet supplemented with SO and the combination of SO and PO down‐regulated gene expression of key hepatic lipogenic enzymes of fatty acids synthase (FAS), acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) and stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD). These findings suggest that the diet containing the combination of 2% PO and 4% SO may reduce hepatic lipogenesis, as well as lower abdominal fat content of broilers.
Progress on nature and nurture: Commentary on Granqvist and Nkara's ‘Nature meets nurture in religious and spiritual development’
Authors: Boyatzis Chris J.
Published: February 2017

This commentary addresses several key ideas in the Granqvist and Nkara (this issue) conceptual piece on the need for a more sophisticated understanding of how nature and nurture interact to influence religious and spiritual development. Cultural and genetic factors are explored.
Religious and spiritual development are determined 100% by nature, and 100% by nurture: A playful response to Boyatzis
Authors: Granqvist Pehr , Nkara Frances
Published: February 2017

In this response, we respond to Boyatzis’ commentary to our paper ‘Nature meets nurture in religious and spiritual development’. We also provide additional elaborations on how nurture might co‐sculpt nature in the context of religious and spiritual development.
The role of extracorporeal photopheresis in the management of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, graft‐versus‐host disease and organ transplant rejection: a consensus statement update from the UK Photopheresis Society
Authors: Alfred Arun , Taylor Peter C. , Dignan Fiona , El‐Ghariani Khaled , Griffin James , Gennery Andrew R. , Bonney Denise , Das‐Gupta Emma , Lawson Sarah , Malladi Ram K. , Douglas Kenneth W. , Maher Tracey , Guest Julie , Hartlett Laura , Fisher Andrew J. , Child Fiona , Scarisbrick Julia J.
Published: February 2017

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been used for over 35 years in the treatment of erythrodermic cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) and over 20 years for chronic and acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) and solid organ transplant rejection. ECP for CTCL and GvHD is available at specialised centres across the UK. The lack of prospective randomised trials in ECP led to the development of UK Consensus Statements for patient selection, treatment schedules, monitoring protocols and patient assessment criteria for ECP. The recent literature has been reviewed and considered when writing this update. Most notably, the national transition from the UVAR XTS® machine to the new CELLEX machine for ECP with dual access and a shorter treatment time has led to relevant changes in these schedules. This consensus statement updates the previous statement from 2007 on the treatment of CTCL and GvHD with ECP using evidence based medicine and best medical practise and includes guidelines for both children and adults.
Multiple sclerosis and nephrolithiasis: a matched‐case comparative study
Authors: Ganesan Vishnu , Chen Wen Min , Jain Rajat , De Shubha , Monga Manoj
Published: February 2017

Objective

To compare stone composition and serum/urine biochemistries in stone formers with multiple sclerosis (MS) against stone formers without MS and to examine the association between mobility, methods of bladder emptying, and stone formation.

Patients and Methods

In this retrospective case‐control study, we identified patients diagnosed with MS and kidney stone disease who were seen at our institution between 2001 and 2016. For the first part of the study, up to two controls (stone formers without a history of MS) were identified for each case and matched on age, body mass index, and sex. For the second part of this study, matched controls (MS patients without a history of stones) were identified in a 1:1 ratio in a similar fashion. Results of 24‐h urine biochemistry studies, stone compositions, serum laboratory measures, medications, history of stone surgeries, mobility, and method of bladder emptying were collected.

Results

In all, 587 patients were identified who had both MS and a history of stone disease. Of these, 118 patients had a stone composition available. When compared to matched controls, patients with MS were significantly more likely to have calcium phosphate stones (42% vs 15%, P < 0.001) and struvite stones (8% vs 3%, P = 0.03) and less likely to have calcium oxalate monohydrate stones (39% vs 64%, P < 0.001). Among those patients with a composition available, those with MS were more likely to have undergone a percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL; 25% vs 12%, P = 0.005) or a cystolithopaxy (16% vs 3%, P < 0.001) compared to their matched controls. In all, 61 patients had a complete 24‐h urinary stone panel. There were no significant differences in urinary pH, volume, creatinine, calcium, citrate, oxalate, sodium, and uric acid as well as rates of hypocitraturia, hyperoxaluria, hypercalciuria, and hyperuricosuria among patients with MS. Use of intermittent straight catheterisation [ISC; odds ratio (OR) 3.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.89–6.47]; P < 0.001] or an indwelling catheter (OR 9.78, 95% CI 4.81–19.88; P < 0.001) for bladder emptying was significantly associated with stone disease. There was no association between level of mobility and stone disease (P = 0.10).

Conclusions

Similar to findings seen in patients with spinal cord injuries, patients with MS have a high incidence of calcium phosphate stones and struvite stones when compared with matched controls. Additionally, they were more likely to undergo PCNL. The method of bladder management appears to be a risk factor in the development of stone disease. These findings suggest the importance of prompt treatment of urinary tract infections in this population and delay the use of ISC, suprapubic tube, or an indwelling Foley, when possible.