bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
q2-sample-classifier: machine-learning tools for microbiome classification and regression
Authors: Bokulich Nicholas A. , Dillon Matthew , Bolyen Evan , Kaehler Benjamin D. , Huttley Gavin A. , Caporaso J. Gregory
Published: April 2018

Microbiome studies often aim to predict outcomes or differentiate samples based on their microbial compositions, tasks that can be efficiently performed by supervised learning methods. Here we present a benchmark comparison of supervised learning classifiers and regressors implemented in scikit-learn, a Python-based machine-learning library. We additionally present q2-sample-classifier, a plugin for the QIIME 2 microbiome bioinformatics framework, that facilitates application of the scikit-learn classifiers to microbiome data.Random forest, extra trees, andgradient boostingmodels demonstrate the highest performance for both supervised classification and regression of microbiome data. Automated feature selection and hyperparameter tuning enhance performance of most methods but may not be necessary under all circumstances. The q2-sample-classifier plugin makes these methods more accessible and interpretable to a broad audience of microbiologists, clinicians, and others who wish to utilize supervised learning methods for predicting sample characteristics based on microbiome composition. The q2-sample-classifier source code is available athttps://github.com/qiime2/q2-sample-classifier. It is released under a BSD-3-Clause license, and is freely available including for commercial use.
Identification and Quantification of Paclitaxel and its Metabolites in Human Meconium from Newborns with Gestational Chemotherapeutic Exposure
Authors: Cardonick Elyce , Broadrup Robert , Xu Peining , Doan Mary T. , Jiang Helen , Snyder Nathaniel W.
Published: April 2018

Objective

Cancer diagnosis during pregnancy occurs in 1 out of 1000 pregnancies with common malignancies including breast and hematological cancers. Fetal exposure to currently utilized agents is poorly described. We directly assessed fetal exposure by screening meconium from 23 newborns whose mothers had undergone treatment for cancer during pregnancy.

Study Design

Meconium was collected from newborns whose mothers were diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy and underwent chemotherapy in the second or third trimester as part of the Cancer and Pregnancy Registry. We conducted screening of 23 meconium samples for chemotherapeutics and known metabolites of chemotherapeutics by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Putative identification of paclitaxel and/or its metabolites was made in 8 screened samples. In positively screened samples, we quantified paclitaxel, 3’-p-hydroxypaclitaxel, and 6α-hydroxypaclitaxel by stable isotope dilution-LC-HRMS.

Results

Mean levels of paclitaxel were 399.9 pg/mg in meconium samples from newborn born to mothers that underwent chemotherapy during pregnancy. 3’-p-hydroxypaclitaxel and 6α-hydroxypaclitaxel mean levels were 105.2 and 113.4 pg/mg meconium, respectively.

Conclusion

Intact paclitaxel, and at least two of its major metabolites were detected in meconium, providing unambiguous confirmation of human fetal exposure. Variability in meconium levels between individuals may indicate a potential for reducing fetal exposure based on timing, dosing, and individual characteristics. This preliminary study may provide an efficient approach for examining the effects of cancer diagnosis during pregnancy on other outcomes by providing a measure of direct fetal exposure.
OSPREY 3.0: Open-Source Protein Redesign for You, with Powerful New Features
Authors: Hallen Mark A. , Martin Jeffrey W. , Ojewole Adegoke , Jou Jonathan D. , Lowegard Anna U. , Frenkel Marcel S. , Gainza Pablo , Nisonoff Hunter M. , Mukund Aditya , Wang Siyu , Holt Graham T. , Zhou David , Dowd Elizabeth , Donald Bruce R.
Published: April 2018

We present OSPREY 3.0, a new and greatly improved release of the OSPREY protein design software. OSPREY 3.0 features a convenient new Python interface, which greatly improves its ease of use. It is over two orders of magnitude faster than previous versions of OSPREY when running the same algorithms on the same hardware. Moreover, OSPREY 3.0 includes several new algorithms, which introduce substantial speedups as well as improved biophysical modeling. It also includes GPU support, which provides an additional speedup of over an order of magnitude. Like previous versions of OSPREY, OSPREY 3.0 offers a unique package of advantages over other design software, including provable design algorithms that account for continuous flexibility during design and model conformational entropy. Finally, we show here empirically that OSPREY 3.0 accurately predicts the effect of mutations on protein-protein binding. OSPREY 3.0 is available at http://www.cs.duke.edu/donaldlab/osprey.php as free and open-source software.
Hif-1alpha induced expression of Il-1beta protects against mycobacterial infection in zebrafish
Authors: Ogryzko Nikolay V. , Lewis Amy , Wilson Heather L. , Meijer Annemarie H. , Renshaw Stephen A. , Elks Philip M.
Published: April 2018

Drug resistant mycobacteria are a rising problem worldwide. There is an urgent need to understand the immune response to TB to identify host targets that, if targeted therapeutically, could be used to tackle these currently untreatable infections. Here, we use an Il-1β fluorescent transgenic line to show that there is an early innate immune pro-inflammatory response to well-established zebrafish models of inflammation andMycobacterium marinum(Mm) infection. We demonstrate that host-derived hypoxia signalling, mediated by the Hif-1α transcription factor, can prime macrophages with increased levels of Il-1β in the absence of infection, upregulating neutrophil antimicrobial nitric oxide production, leading to greater protection against infection. Our data link Hif-1α to proinflammatory macrophage Il-1β transcriptionin vivoduring early mycobacterial infection and importantly highlight a host protective mechanism, via antimicrobial nitric oxide, that decreases disease outcomes and that could be targeted therapeutically to stimulate the innate immune response to better deal with infections.
Understanding the regulation of STIM1-ORAI1 interaction using a reaction-diffusion model
Authors: Schmidt Barbara , Bogeski Ivan , Niemeyer Barbara A. , Rieger Heiko
Published: April 2018

Release of Ca2+ from endoplasmatic retriculum (ER) Ca2+ stores causes stromal interaction molecules (STIM) in the ER membrane and ORAI proteins in the plasma membrane (PM) to interact and form the Ca2+ release activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels, which represent a major Ca2+ entry route in non-excitable cells and thus control various cell functions. Extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) can modulate the CRAC current Icrac via oxidation of ORAI1. We formulate a reaction-diffusion model to quantify the STIM1-ORAI1 interaction during CRAC channel formation and analyze different ORAI1 channel stoichiometries and different ratios of STIM1 and ORAI1 in comparison with experimental data. We incorporate the inhibition of ORAI1 channels by ROS into our model and calculate its contribution to the CRAC channel amplitude. We find that the possibility of reactions between CRAC channel subunits and established CRAC channels tunes the total amount of Ca2+ influx and determines which CRAC channel configuration is mostly preferred. High numbers of ROS-inhibited ORAI1 dimers (in comparison to non-inhibited ORAI1 dimers) are needed to induce a strong decrease of Ca2+ influx compared to the wildetype (WT) case.
Intrinsic Excitability Increase in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells Following Delay Eyeblink Conditioning in Mice
Authors: Titley Heather K. , Watkins Gabrielle V. , Lin Carmen , Weiss Craig , McCarthy Michael , Disterhoft John F. , Hansel Christian
Published: April 2018

Cerebellar learning is canonically thought to rely on synaptic plasticity, particularly at synaptic inputs to Purkinje cells. Recently, however, other complementary mechanisms have been identified. Intrinsic plasticity is one such mechanism, and depends in part on the down-regulation of calcium-dependent SK-type K channels, which is associated with an increase in neuronal excitability. In the hippocampus, SK-mediated intrinsic plasticity has been shown to play a role in trace eyeblink conditioning; however, it is not yet known how intrinsic plasticity contributes to a cerebellar learning task such as delay eyeblink conditioning. Whole cell recordings were obtained from acute cerebellar slices from mice ~48 hours after learning a delay eyeblink conditioning task. Over a period of repeated training sessions mice received either distinctly paired trials of a tone co-terminating with a periorbital shock (conditioned mice) or trials in which these stimuli were presented in an unpaired manner (pseudoconditioned mice). Conditioned mice show a significantly reduced afterhyperpolarization (AHP) following trains of parallel fiber stimuli. Moreover, we find that SK-dependent intrinsic plasticity is occluded in conditioned, but not pseudoconditioned mice. These findings show that excitability is enhanced in Purkinje cells after delay eyeblink conditioning and point toward a downregulation of SK channels as a potential underlying mechanism.
Estrogen receptor regulates hormone-induced growth arrest in a luminal A like breast cancer model
Authors: Haddon Lacey , Hu Sunny , Jabbari Hosna , Loney Brittney , Lichtensztejn Zelda-Saidman , Fahlman Richard , Hitt Mary , McManus Kirk , Dabbs Kelly , Mackey John , Hugh Judith
Published: April 2018

Estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer has been divided into two subtypes, luminal A and luminal B, which differ in their ER expression and response to hormone therapy. The absence of luminal A cell lines means the extensive amount ofin vitrowork studying the response to hormones in ER+ breast cancers is biased for the luminal B subtype. We have developed a luminal A like cell model by increasing the ER expression in the MCF-7 cell line. Our results show that increased ER expression promotes an anti-proliferative response to estrogen through regulation of genes involved in the G1/S-phase transition of the cell cycle. Furthermore, increased ER expression increases ER-DNA binding in the absence of estrogen and regulates basal gene transcription by promoting DNA looping. These results provide novel evidence that the characteristic increased ER expression of luminal A tumors may promote a novel chromatin configuration that enables growth of these tumors in the absence of estrogen and enables gene repression in the presence of hormones.
Joint Modeling of Reaction Times and Choice Improves Parameter Identifiability in Reinforcement Learning Models
Authors: Ballard Ian C. , McClure Samuel M.
Published: April 2018

Background

Reinforcement learning models provide excellent descriptions of learning in multiple species across a variety of tasks. Many researchers are interested in relating parameters of reinforcement learning models to neural measures, psychological variables or experimental manipulations. We demonstrate that parameter identification is difficult because a range of parameter values provide approximately equal quality fits to data. This identification problem has a large impact on power: we show that a researcher who wants to detect a medium sized correlation (r= .3) with 80% power between a variable and learning rate must collect 60% more subjects than specified by a typical power analysis in order to account for the noise introduced by model fitting.

New Method

We derive a Bayesian optimal model fitting technique that takes advantage of information contained in choices and reaction times to constrain parameter estimates.

Results

We show using simulation and empirical data that this method substantially improves the ability to recover learning rates.

Comparison with Existing Methods

We compare this method against the use of Bayesian priors. We show in simulations that the combined use of Bayesian priors and reaction times confers the highest parameter identifiability. However, in real data where the priors may have been misspecified, the use of Bayesian priors interferes with the ability of reaction time data to improve parameter identifiability.

Conclusions

We present a simple technique that takes advantage of readily available data to substantially improve the quality of inferences that can be drawn from parameters of reinforcement learning models.

Highlights

–

Parameters of reinforcement learning models are particularly difficult to estimate

–

Incorporating reaction times into model fitting improves parameter identifiability

–

Bayesian weighting of choice and reaction times improves the power of analyses assessing learning rate
Neural network model reference decoupling control for single leg joint of hydraulic quadruped robot
Authors: Gao Bingwei , Han Wenlong
Published: April 2018

Purpose

To control one of the joints during the actual movement of the hydraulically driven quadruped robot, all the other joints in the leg need to be locked. Once the joints are unlocked, there is a coupling effect among the joints. Therefore, during the normal exercise of the robot, the movement of each joint is affected by the coupling of other joints. This brings great difficulties to the coordinated motion control of the multi-joints of the robot. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the influence of the coupling of the hydraulically driven quadruped robot.

Design/methodology/approach

To solve the coupling problem with the joints of the hydraulic quadruped robot, based on the principle of mechanism dynamics and hydraulic control, the dynamic mathematical model of the single leg mechanism of the hydraulic quadruped robot is established. On this basis, the coupling dynamics model of the two joints of the thigh and the calf is derived. On the basis of the multivariable decoupling theory, a neural network (NN) model reference decoupling controller is designed.

Findings

The simulation and prototype experiment are carried out between the thigh joint and the calf joint of the hydraulic quadruped robot, and the results show that the proposed NN model reference decoupling control method is effective, and this method can reduce the cross-coupling between the thigh and the calf and improve the dynamic characteristics of the single joint of the leg.

Practical implications

The proposed method provides technical support for the mechanical–hydraulic cross-coupling among the joints of the hydraulic quadruped robot, achieving coordinated movement of multiple joints of the robot and promoting the performance and automation level of the hydraulic quadruped robot.

Originality/value

On the basis of the theory of multivariable decoupling, a new decoupling control method is proposed, in which the mechanical–hydraulic coupling is taken as the coupling behavior of the hydraulic foot robot. The method reduces the influence of coupling of system, improves the control precision, realizes the coordinated movement among multiple joints and promotes the popularization and use of the hydraulically driven quadruped robot.
Challenges in working with patients with dual diagnosis
Authors: Pinderup Pernille
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Studies have shown that mental health professionals find working with patients with dual diagnosis challenging, and the purpose of this paper is to examine some of these challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 85 mental health professionals from 8 different mental health centres in Denmark were interviewed. The data analysis was inspired by a grounded theory approach.

Findings

Different challenges in the dual diagnosis treatment were identified and they suggested that the focus of treatment was mainly on the mental illness rather than the substance use disorder. The single focus of the treatment made it challenging to treat patients with dual diagnosis sufficiently. While several studies explain the single focus by inadequate competencies among professionals, the present study suggests that the single focus is also explained by the way that the treatment is organised. For instance, standardized treatment packages and insufficient guidelines on substance abuse treatment make it challenging to treat patients with dual diagnosis.

Originality/value

This paper suggests that a more flexible, and a longer period of, treatment, together with more sufficient guidelines on dual diagnosis treatment and a more formalized collaboration with the substance abuse treatment centres, will make it a less challenging issue to treat patients with dual diagnosis.
Chaos in a second-order non-autonomous Wien-bridge oscillator without extra nonlinearity
Authors: Xu Quan , Zhang Qinling , Jiang Tao , Bao Bocheng , Chen Mo
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a simple chaotic circuit. The circuit can be fabricated by less discrete electronic components, within which complex dynamical behaviors can be generated.

Design/methodology/approach

A second-order non-autonomous inductor-free chaotic circuit is presented, which is obtained by introducing a sinusoidal voltage stimulus into the classical Wien-bridge oscillator. The proposed circuit only has two dynamic elements, and its nonlinearity is realized by the saturation characteristic of the operational amplifier in the classical Wien-bridge oscillator. After that, its dynamical behaviors are revealed by means of bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponent and phase portrait and further confirmed using the 0-1 test method. Moreover, an analog circuit using less discrete electronic components is implemented, and its experimental results are measured to verify the numerical simulations.

Findings

The equilibrium point located in a line segment varies with time evolution, which leads to the occurrence of periodic, quasi-periodic and chaotic behaviors in the proposed circuit.

Originality/value

Unlike the previously published works, the significant values of the proposed circuit with simple topology are inductor-free realization and without extra nonlinearity, which make the circuit can be used as a paradigm for academic teaching and experimental illustraction for chaos.
Developing new capability: middle managers’ role in corporate entrepreneurship
Authors: Wu Yuanyuan , Ma Zhenzhong , Wang Milo Shaoqing
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of middle managers in the corporate entrepreneurship process that drives new capability development. Middle managers are highlighted as key entrepreneurial agents because of their special position in an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on existing capability development and corporate entrepreneurship literature and develops a conceptual model and research propositions that are illustrated through three examples from a Chinese private firm.

Findings

This paper contends the dual role of middle managers, both as change implementers to follow pre-set rules of an existing corporate entrepreneurship system and as change initiators to bring new rules to improve the existing system.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is conceptual in nature, advancing the understanding of middle managers’ role in corporate entrepreneurship. The paper provides directions for future empirical research.

Practical implications

The interactions between middle managers and other organizational agents are discussed in the propositions. This paper suggests the importance of empowering middle managers to facilitate changes in complex internal environments.

Originality/value

The paper provides a unique theoretical contribution by introducing the interface-based, multi-level conceptual model of corporate entrepreneurship toward new capability development.
Engaged in integrated reporting? Evidence across multiple organizations
Authors: Lopes Ana Isabel , Coelho Ana Margarida
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to provide evidence on geographic and firm-level characteristics within organizations using integrated reporting () methodology to communicate their business model to stakeholders; and to shed light on the contend of integrated reports of organizations that have been recognized as leading practice by a reputable award process or through benchmarking.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary analysis of data (descriptive and inferential statistics) is used for a sample of 224 organizations (79 classified as  Reference Reporters and 145 as  Regular Reporters) across 26 countries (2011 to mid-2015). Content analysis is used for  Reference Reporters.

Findings

Evidence for the first objective suggests that compared with  Regular Reporters, the majority of the  Reference Reporters are from Europe, are larger, have a higher market value, are more profitable and are less leveraged. Evidence for the second objective reveals that the guiding principles, fundamental concepts and content elements of the most recent integrated report published by each  Reference Reporter (leading practice) seem less than expected.

Research limitations/implications

 Examples Database does not cover all of the organizations reporting according to the  framework. Content analysis can be biased by authors’ interpretations.

Practical implications

Potential benefit both to researchers and to those involved in the reporting of financial and non-financial information using the  tool.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is as follows: it contributes to the international debate on the evolution from sustainability to , provides evidence on geographies and firm-level characteristics of organizations using  to better communicate and provides the most prominent information disclosed by Reference Reporters.
Priming effects on safety decisions in a virtual construction simulator
Authors: Lu Xueqing , Davis Steven
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of priming on people’s risk perceptions and safety decisions in a virtual construction simulator.

Design/methodology/approach

Civil engineering students were recruited to interact with a virtual reality (VR) safety simulator. They were divided into four groups covering with and without sound and with and without priming factors. Data were collected on the risks that they perceived and the safety levels of their actions.

Findings

It was found that obvious stimuli in a virtual environment with sound help people to recognise more hazards near the location of the stimuli. Sound is helpful in training simulations to create high levels of presence. However, priming factors are not suitable to be added to VR simulators for training purposes. Priming of safe choice results in people taking fewer risks in the VR simulator, but this does not carry over into other situations. Compared to priming effects, being “injured” in a training simulator with sound improves trainees’ ability to make safe decisions.

Originality/value

VR simulation is helpful in construction training because of its unique ability to give trainees exposure to dangerous situations without physical risk. However, the overloading the working memory of users is detrimental to the outcomes. Therefore, the optimum level of complexity in VR simulators should be further studied.
What influences the networking behaviours of female entrepreneurs?
Authors: Surangi Hapugoda Achchi Kankanammge Nadee Sheresha
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Research investigating female entrepreneurs and their networking relationships has developed considerably over the past two decades. There are, however, few Sri Lankan studies that have specifically focussed on female entrepreneurs in terms of their social networks. This paper aims to examine the important influences on these female entrepreneurs’ networking behaviour within small businesses in the tourism sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Having established that the social constructionist approach is most suitable for this study, in-depth narrative interviews and observations were deemed a particularly suitable research tool. In total, 14 female entrepreneurs were purposively approached and interviewed. Narrative analysis was used to analyze and interpret qualitative data, which were organized with the assistance of QSR NVivo 10, a software programme.

Findings

Competing family responsibilities and business matters (being a good mum and dutiful wife), culture and societal expectations, running home-based business and building trust were found as main influences on female entrepreneurial networking behaviours. The majority revealed stressful times trying to combine the business with multiple roles and societal expectations.

Practical implications

Applications of the model in female entrepreneurial networking behaviour are suggested, within and beyond the context of the small business tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

Originality/value

This study enriches the understanding of social networks and social capital based on the experience of Sri Lankan female entrepreneurs, which is influenced by contextual factors of identity, gender and culture.
Synchronous self-learning Pareto strategy
Authors: Mozaffari Ahmad
Published: April 2018

Purpose

In recent decades, development of effective methods for optimizing a set of conflicted objective functions has been absorbing an increasing interest from researchers. This refers to the essence of real-life engineering systems and complex natural mechanisms which are generally multi-modal, non-convex and multi-criterion. Until now, several deterministic and stochastic methods have been proposed to cope with such complex systems. Advanced soft computational methods such as evolutionary games (cooperative and non-cooperative), Pareto-based techniques, fuzzy evolutionary methods, cooperative bio-inspired algorithms and neuro-evolutionary systems have effectively come to the aid of researchers to build up efficient paradigms with application to vector optimization. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel hybrid algorithm called synchronous self-learning Pareto strategy (SSLPS) is presented for the sake of vector optimization. The method is the ensemble of evolutionary algorithms (EA), swarm intelligence (SI), adaptive version of self-organizing map (CSOM) and a data shuffling mechanism. EA are powerful numerical optimization algorithms capable of finding a global extreme point over a wide exploration domain. SI techniques (the swarm of bees in our case) can improve both intensification and robustness of exploration. CSOM network is an unsupervised learning methodology which learns the characteristics of non-dominated solutions and, thus, enhances the quality of the Pareto front.

Findings

To prove the effectiveness of the proposed method, the authors engage a set of well-known benchmark functions and some well-known rival optimization methods. Additionally, SSLPS is employed for optimal design of shape memory alloy actuator as a nonlinear multi-modal real-world engineering problem. The experiments show the acceptable potential of SSLPS for handling both numerical and engineering multi-objective problems.

Originality/value

To the author’s best knowledge, the proposed algorithm is among the rare multi-objective methods which fosters the use of automated unsupervised learning for increasing the intensity of Pareto front (while preserving the diversity). Also, the research evaluates the power of hybridization of SI and EA for efficient search.
Minimizing assembly variation in selective assembly for auto-body parts based on IGAOT
Authors: Xing Yanfeng , Wang Yansong
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Dimensional quality of sheet metal assemblies is an important factor for the final product. However, the part tolerance is not easily controlled because of the spring back deformation during the stamping process. Selective assembly is a means to decrease assembly tolerance of the assembly from low-precision components. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose a fully efficient method of selective assembly optimization based on an improved genetic algorithm for optimization toolbox (IGAOT) in MATLAB.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of influence coefficient is first applied to calculate the assembly variation of sheet metal components since the traditional rigid assembly variation model cannot be used due to welding deformation. Afterwards, the IGAOT is proposed to generate optimal selective groups, which consists of advantages of genetic algorithm for optimization toolbox (GAOT) and simulated annealing.

Findings

The cases of two simple planes and the tail lamp bracket assembly are used to illustrate the flowchart of optimizing combinations of selective groups. These cases prove that the proposed IGAOT has better precision than that of GAOT with the same parameters for selective assembly.

Originality/value

The research objective of this paper is to evaluate the changes from rigid bodies to sheet metal parts which are very complex for selective assembly. The method of IGAOT was proposed to the selected groups which has better precision than that of current optimization algorithms.
An exploratory study of team conflict in the capital investment decision-making process
Authors: Lefley Frank
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the current management perceptions regarding conflict within teams, specifically looking at capital investment appraisals, with the aim of improving team performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was undertaken in two stages. The first stage is based on a postal questionnaire survey relating to the appraisal of capital investments, addressed to large UK organisations. The second stage was conducted through semi-structured interviews, which were followed by a short-questionnaire sent out by e-mail, and designed from the information obtained from the interviews. The research is both qualitative and quantitative.

Findings

From the exploratory study, the author was able to identify and further investigate what the author’s respondents termed “personal” and “departmental” conflicts, as well as what the author perceived to be “good” (positive) conflict and “bad” (negative) conflict. The author finds that controlled “departmental” conflict may lead to enhanced decision making, while “personal” conflict may be destructive and lead to non-optimal decision making. The author also identified the importance of the investment appraisal “procedure” as distinct from the individual models used, and suggests that this is one way of controlling conflict within teams.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by the fact that it is based on individual perceptions of a small sample number. However, the sample consists of some of the most senior executives from the largest UK organisations whose views are usually difficult to obtain by academics.

Practical implications

It provides senior managers with a comprehensive view, by their peers, and a better understanding of team conflict, especially with regard to “personal” and “departmental” conflicts; thus, allowing them to manage teams more efficiently in the future.

Originality/value

The research is unique in that it focusses on conflict within teams that are given the specific task of appraising capital projects and it theorises on what the respondents’ terms “departmental” and “personal” conflict. It brings up-to-date, managements’ current perception of team conflict and contributes to the ongoing search for a better understanding of conflict within business teams, and ultimately to an enhanced team performance and improved decision making.
Identifying competence characteristics for excellent communication professionals
Authors: Fuller Melissa , Heijne-Penninga Marjolein , Kamans Elanor , van Vuuren Mark , de Jong Menno , Wolfensberger Marca
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify which knowledge, skills and behaviors are used to describe excellent performance in professional communication. As the demand for talented communication professionals increases, organizations and educators need an empirically defined set of performance criteria to guide the development of (potentially) excellent communication professionals (ECPs). This research aimed to render a competence profile which could assist in the development of recruitment, training and development to develop relevant programs for high-potential communication practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

This mixed-method research was approached in two phases: first, a series of focus groups (n=16) were held to explore work field perspectives resulting in a concept profile, and second, a series of expert panels (n=30) following the Delphi method were conducted to determine the extent of agreement with the findings.

Findings

Participants clarified that excellent performance is characterized by competences which transcend normative technical skills or practical communication knowledge. The five domains, 16 item “SEEDS” competence profile describes that ECPs are distinguished by their compounded ability to be strategic, empathic, expressive, and decisive and to see patterns and interrelationships.

Research limitations/implications

Although a broad range of relevant professionals were involved in both phases, the study could be considered limited in size and scope. Research was conducted in one national setting therefore further research would be necessary to confirm generalizability of the results to other cultural contexts.

Originality/value

Although many competence frameworks exist which describe normative performance in this profession, specific criteria which illustrate excellent performance have not yet been identified. This competence profile clarifies characteristics which typify excellent performance in professional communication and can be helpful to educators and employers who wish to identify and create suitable training programs for ECPs.
The resident physician as leader within the healthcare team
Authors: Sonnenberg Lyn Kathryn , Pritchard-Wiart Lesley , Busari Jamiu
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore inter-professional clinicians’ perspectives on resident leadership in the context of inter-professional teams and to identify a definition for leadership in the clinical context. In 2015, CanMEDS changed the title of one of the core competencies from manager to leader. The shift in language was perceived by some as returning to traditional hierarchical and physician-dominant structures. The resulting uncertainty has resulted in a call to action to not only determine what physician leadership is but to also determine how to teach and assess it.

Design/methodology/approach

Focus groups and follow-up individual interviews were conducted with 23 inter-professional clinicians from three pediatric clinical service teams at a large, Canadian tertiary-level rehabilitation hospital. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to inductively analyze the data.

Findings

Data analysis resulted in one overarching theme: leadership is collaborative – and three related subthemes: leadership is shared; leadership is summative; and conceptualizations of leadership are shifting.

Research limitations/implications

Not all members of the three inter-professional teams were able to attend the focus group sessions because of scheduling conflicts. Participation of additional clinicians could have, therefore, affected the results of this study. The study was conducted locally at a single rehabilitation hospital, among Canadian pediatric clinicians, which highlights the need to explore conceptualization of leadership across different contexts.

Practical implications

There is an evident need to prepare physicians to be leaders in both their daily clinical and academic practices. Therefore, more concerted efforts are required to develop leadership skills among residents. The authors postulate that continued integration of various inter-professional disciplines during the early phases of training is essential to foster collaborative leadership and trust.

Originality/value

The results of this study suggest that inter-professional clinicians view clinical leadership as collaborative and fluid and determined by the fit between tasks and team member expertise. Mentorship is important for increasing the ability of resident physicians to develop collaborative leadership roles within teams. The authors propose a collaborative definition of clinical leadership based on the results of this study: a shared responsibility that involves facilitation of dialog; the integration of perspectives and expertise; and collaborative planning for the purpose of exceptional patient care.
Do employees actually intend to turnover when betrayed? Evidence from China and the USA
Authors: Xu Shan , Wang Yanling , Jin Jiafei
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The main purpose of present study is to investigate how familial collectivism and gender affect the psychological contract violation–turnover intention relationship by comparing Chinese with American samples.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 688 and 892 full-time workers were recruited, respectively, from China and the USA to form the two samples. Then, three-way interaction regression models were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicate that familial collectivism will negatively moderate the psychological contract violation–turnover intention relationship in the Chinese sample and positively moderate their relationship in the American sample. Moreover, the moderating effect of familial collectivism on the relationship between psychological contract violation and turnover intention is significant among the male employees and insignificant among the female employees for Chinese sample. Whereas for the American sample, the moderating effects are significant among both the male and the female employees.

Originality/value

This study improves the theoretical model of Turnley and Feldman (1999) by examining the moderating effect of familial collectivism and gender differences on the relationship between psychological contract violation and turnover intention. And two samples (China vs the USA) are used in the study, which helps to explain the possible difference in influencing the relationship between psychological contract violation and turnover intention between two nations. The main practical implication for managers is that organizations should recognize the importance of the gender role and individuals’ culture orientation when implementing different human resource management policies.
The Diagnostic Implications of Two Cases of Known Rheumatoid Arthritis from the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection
Authors: Biehler‐Gomez Lucie , Cattaneo Cristina
Published: April 2018

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common erosive arthropathy and is of particular interest to forensic sciences. However, its diagnosis on bones remains challenging. We examined two skeletons from the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection diagnosed with the pathology during life, to test the validity of the diagnostic criteria on bones. The first showed typical lesions of RA described in the literature. The second exhibited secondary osteoarthrosis, suggesting long‐standing RA. A differential diagnosis including all four seronegative spondyloarthropathies, erosive osteoarthritis, gout and neuropathic arthropathy was also considered. Both shared common features consistent with the literature: symmetric erosions of bones in the hands, wrists and elbows, sparing of the distal interphalangeal joints, and the absence of sacroiliac and spinal fusion. Given the paucity of studies on known RA skeletons, these results strengthen the criteria for diagnosis. This research is, to our knowledge, the first study on identified and known individuals with RA.
The Relationship Between Hard Tissue and Soft Tissue Dimensions of the Nose in Children: A 3D Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study
Authors: Allam Eman , Mpofu Philani , Ghoneima Ahmed , Tuceryan Mihran , Kula Katherine
Published: April 2018

This study using three‐dimensional cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of children determined relationships between nasal skeletal and soft tissue measurements and assessed the association with sex, age, and skeletal maturation stage. Following reliability studies, skeletal and soft tissue parameters were measured on coded CBCTs of 73 children (28M:45F;6–13 yoa). Pearson and Mantel correlations were used to analyze associations between skeletal and soft tissues. Partial Mantel correlations were used to study the associations between skeletal and soft tissue, adjusting for sex, age, and skeletal maturation. Linear regression analyses were used to predict soft tissues sizes. Logistic regression was used to study the relationships between soft and skeletal tissue symmetry. Except for nasal aperture width and interalar width, skeletal landmarks best predicted corresponding soft tissue landmarks. Significant positive associations existed between skeletal and soft tissues after adjusting for sex, skeletal maturation, and age. Children's nasal skeletal tissues predicted nasal soft tissue reasonably well.
Female Sexual Homicide Offenders: A Descriptive and Comparative Study
Authors: Skott Sara , Beauregard Eric , Darjee Rajan
Published: April 2018

Research on female sexual homicide has been very scarce. In Europe, it has rarely been examined, and in Scotland, it has never previously been studied. This exploratory study aims to examine the characteristics of sexual homicides involving female offenders between 1990 and 2015 in Scotland. Using data from the Scottish Homicide Database between 1990 and 2015, female sexual homicides (n = 7) were compared to nonsexual homicides committed by females (n = 106) and to sexual homicides committed by men (n = 89) using Fisher's exact tests. The findings show that although female sexual homicide offenders are similar to both female nonsexual homicide offenders and male sexual homicide offenders in certain aspects, there are important differences that distinguish sexual homicides involving female offenders from both groups. Female sexual homicide offenders can arguably be seen as a distinct group of offenders, with specific characteristics and specific needs.
Opioid Deaths in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin 2013‐2017: The Primacy of Heroin and Fentanyl
Authors: Peterson Brian L. , Schreiber Sara , Fumo Nicole , Brooke Lerner E.
Published: April 2018

Heroin and fentanyl are the overwhelming and increasing cause of opioid deaths in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. We reviewed all drug and opioid deaths from 2013 to 2017 to delineate the specific opioid drugs involved and changes in their incidence. From 2013 to 2017, 980 deaths were due to opioids, rising from 184 in 2013 to 337 in 2017. In 2017, opioid deaths exceeded combined non‐natural deaths from homicide and suicide. Illicit heroin and fentanyl/analogs caused 84% of opioid deaths and 80% of drug deaths, with no increase in deaths due to oral prescription drugs such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Any approach to decreasing this dramatic increase in opioid deaths should first focus on interdicting the supply and cheap availability of these illicit opioids. Fentanyl and its analogs represent the most deadly opioids and the greatest threat to human life in our population.
A morphometric signature of depressive symptoms in unmedicated patients with mood disorders
Authors: Wise T. , Marwood L. , Perkins A. M. , Herane‐Vives A. , Williams S. C. R. , Young A. H. , Cleare A. J. , Arnone D.
Published: April 2018

Objective

A growing literature indicates that unipolar depression and bipolar depression are associated with alterations in grey matter volume. However, it is unclear to what degree these patterns of morphometric change reflect symptom dimensions. Here, we aimed to predict depressive symptoms and hypomanic symptoms based on patterns of grey matter volume using machine learning.

Method

We used machine learning methods combined with voxel‐based morphometry to predict depressive and self‐reported hypomanic symptoms from grey matter volume in a sample of 47 individuals with unmedicated unipolar and bipolar depression.

Results

We were able to predict depressive severity from grey matter volume in the anteroventral bilateral insula in both unipolar depression and bipolar depression. Self‐reported hypomanic symptoms did not predict grey matter loss with a significant degree of accuracy.

Discussion

The results of this study suggest that patterns of grey matter volume alteration in the insula are associated with depressive symptom severity across unipolar and bipolar depression. Studies using other modalities and exploring other brain regions with a larger sample are warranted to identify other systems that may be associated with depressive and hypomanic symptoms across affective disorders.
Children with mucopolysaccharidosis risk progressive visual dysfunction despite haematopoietic stem cell transplants
Authors: Teär Fahnehjelm Kristina , Olsson Monica , Chen Enping , Hengstler Jürg , Naess Karin , Winiarski Jacek
Published: April 2018

Aim

This prospective study assessed the long‐term ocular and visual outcomes of children with mucopolysaccharidoses type I Hurler syndrome (MPS IH) who were treated with haematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT).

Methods

Clinical ophthalmological assessments were performed on eight patients at the St Erik Eye Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden, from 2001–2018: The median age at diagnosis and HSCT were 12.2 (range 5.0–16.4) and 16.7 (8.0–20.4) months. The last eye examination was at a median of 13.4 (6.3–19.0) years and follow‐up lasted a median of 12.0 (5.0–17.4) years.

Results

Poor visual acuity, poor night vision and, or, photophobia were reported by six children. The best corrected visual acuity at the last visit was a median of 0.4 and 0.5 in the right and left eye and had declined significantly in two patients. Corneal opacities had increased despite HSCT in five patients. High hyperopia, at a median of +6 Dioptres, occurred in all patients and stiff corneas in all four patients that were measured. The patients’ corrected intraocular pressures were normal. Retinal degeneration was identified in two patients.

Conclusion

Despite HSCT, the long‐term follow‐up of patients with MPS IH showed reduced visual acuity due to corneal opacities or retinal degeneration.
Late Pleistocene Lithic Procurement and Geochemical Characterization of the Cerro Kaskio Obsidian Source in South‐western Bolivia
Authors: Capriles J. M. , Tripcevich N. , Nielsen A. E. , Glascock M. D. , Albarracin‐Jordan J. , Santoro C. M.
Published: April 2018

Primary questions regarding the foraging behaviour of the first hunter–gatherers who colonized the New World are how they found, procured and utilized high‐quality raw materials for manufacturing stone tools. In this paper, we present evidence from the late Pleistocene site of Cueva Bautista in the highlands of south‐western Bolivia, which demonstrates that a substantial portion of the recovered stone tool assemblage originated in Cerro Kaskio, a recently discovered obsidian source located 15 km south‐west of the site. In addition to describing the geological and geochronological setting, we provide the first geochemical characterization of the Cerro Kaskio source by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis and energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence. Supported on the technological analysis and archaeometric sourcing of the obsidian lithics found in Cueva Bautista, we discuss the nature of the procurement strategies practised by the earliest mobile hunter–gatherers who explored and colonized the Andean highlands. We conclude that opportunistic lithic resource procurement was probably an important component of the first foraging societies that explored the highland Andes.