bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the Relevance to Patients of Complications in the American College of Mohs Surgery Registry: Results of a Delphi Consensus Process
Authors: Etzkorn Jeremy R. , Gharavi Nima M. , Carr David R. , Tope Whitney D. , Bordeaux Jeremy S. , Maher Ian A.
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Surgical registries are valuable tools for tracking outcomes. Incorporating patient input allows registries to address the interests of this important stakeholder group.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify a list of “patient-selected complications” and to explore the relevance to patients of previously published physician-identified complications.

METHODS

Delphi process with 2 rounds using patients to identify complications that are highly relevant for tracking by the proposed American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) National Registry.

RESULTS

Complications that physicians identified as highly relevant (death from any cause, hospitalization related to the procedure, functional loss attributable to surgery, bleeding requiring a second procedure, and surgical site infection) were each rated as highly relevant by patients. Patients also identified scarring, recurrence, and wound dehiscence as highly relevant outcomes for registry tracking.

CONCLUSION

Incorporating patient input into the ACMS registry design process identified 2 additional complication outcomes to be considered for inclusion within the registry—wound dehiscence and scarring. Patient input also corroborated the relevance of complications previously identified by ACMS physicians for inclusion in the registry. Furthermore, the importance of tracking local recurrence was confirmed from a patient-centered perspective.
Increased Incidence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Hospitalized Children After Enterovirus Infection: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study
Authors: Chen Vincent Chin-Hung , Yang Yao-Hsu , Kuo Ting-Yu , Huang Kuo-You , Huang Yin-Cheng , Lee Yena , McIntyre Roger S. , Huang Yu-Shu , Hsu Chung-Yao
Published: January 2018

Background:

We report the first nationwide population-based cohort study using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database on the association between enterovirus (EV) infection and the incidence of sleep disorders in a pediatric population.

Methods:

Two matched groups of children under 18 years of age were included in the analyses for nonapneic sleep disorder and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Among them, 316 subjects were diagnosed with OSA during the surveillance period, including 182 in the EV infection group and 134 in the non-EV infection group.

Results:

Hospitalization because of EV infection was associated with OSA after adjusting for age, sex, urbanization atopic disease and perinatal complications (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.18–2.21;P= 0.003). An additional factor significantly associated with sleep apnea was allergic rhinitis (hazard ratio: 4.82, 95% confidence interval: 3.45–6.72).

Conclusions:

Children with severe EV infection (ie, requiring hospitalization) carry a significantly higher risk of developing OSA, particularly in those with allergic rhinitis. As pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is a treatable sleep disorder, we emphasize regular follow-up and early detection in children with EV infection.
Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta for Hemorrhage Control in Trauma Patients: An Evidence-Based Review
Authors: Sambor Molly
Published: January 2018

Traditionally, resuscitative efforts for uncontrolled noncompressible torso hemorrhage are achieved by cross-clamping the proximal aorta via thoracotomy to deliver temporary hemodynamic stability during injury repair. A less commonly used method of promoting early resuscitation and hemorrhagic control in trauma patients is resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA). The focus of this literature review is to examine the effectiveness of REBOA in the management of noncompressible pelvic hemorrhage when compared with traditional methods of hemorrhage control in trauma patients. A literature search was performed by using the PubMed database to explore studies that defined the efficacy of REBOA or compared the use of REBOA with resuscitative thoracotomy with aortic cross-clamping for hemorrhage control. Studies encompassed in the review included 3 experimental studies utilizing swine, 2 retrospective studies that reviewed data collected from procedures performed in empirical situations, and a case series that described the implementation of REBOA. Trauma patients with noncompressible torso hemorrhage that is intervened with REBOA have higher mean arterial pressures and systolic blood pressures, require fewer boluses of intravenous fluids and vasopressors, avoid severe acidosis and ischemia, and have significantly lower rates of mortality, thus ensuring enhanced long-term outcomes. Evidence suggests that hemodynamic stability, physiological effects, and mortality rates are improved in patients who receive REBOA for torso hemorrhage control when compared with traditional methods.
Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
Authors: Horikoshi Yasuo , Umeda Katsutsugu , Imai Kohsuke , Yabe Hiromasa , Sasahara Yoji , Watanabe Kenichiro , Ozawa Yukiyasu , Hashii Yoshiko , Kurosawa Hidemitsu , Nonoyama Shigeaki , Morio Tomohiro
Published: January 2018

The clinical outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was retrospectively analyzed in 6 patients with leukocyte adhesion deficiency. Of 3 patients transplanted with myeloablative conditioning, 2 patients had complete chimerism and 1 patient had mixed chimerism. By contrast, all 3 patients transplanted with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) had mixed chimerism, one of whom progressed to secondary graft failure. All patients with low-level mixed chimerism and secondary graft failure were rescued by donor lymphocyte infusion or a second HSCT. RIC-HSCT is feasible for leukocyte adhesion deficiency, although further refinement/modification of conditioning is required to achieve higher donor chimerism levels.
Sleep Problem Risk for Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease: Sociodemographic, Physical, and Disease-related Correlates
Authors: Valrie Cecelia R. , Trout Krystal L. , Bond Kayzandra E. , Ladd Rebecca J. , Huber Nichelle L. , Alston Kristen J. , Sufrinko Alicia M. , Everhart Erik , Fuh Beng R.
Published: January 2018

The aims of the current study were to investigate whether SCD incurs an additional risk for poor sleep over and above the influence of sociodemographic factors (ie, race and sex) during adolescence, and to explore the relationships between sociodemographic, physical (ie, age and pubertal status), and disease-related factors (ie, SCD genotype and hydroxyurea use) on sleep problem risk during adolescence. Black adolescents (age, 12 to 17 y) with SCD (n=53) were recruited from regional pediatric SCD clinics in the southeast and a sample of healthy black adolescents (n=160) were recruited from middle and high schools. Regression analyses indicated that SCD was uniquely related to sleeping more, and worse sleep quality over and above the influence of sociodemographic factors. Having a more severe SCD genotype was related to worse sleep quality and higher pubertal status was related to sleeping longer during the week. Results indicate the need for systematic assessments of sleep problems, with more a focus on youth with more severe genotypes and higher pubertal status. Future research should focus on characterizing trajectories of sleep problems in this population, identifying key risk factors, and elucidating mechanisms linking risk factors to sleep problem risk to aid in tailoring interventions for this population.
Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 Score and Psoriasis Quality of Life Assess Complementary Yet Different Aspects of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Vakil-Gilani Kiana Maryam , Dinno Alexis , Rich-Garg Neha , Deodhar Atul
Published: January 2018

Background

Psoriasis Quality of Life (PQoL-12) is a validated composite tool assessing patients' quality of life (QoL) with psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3), measuring physical function, pain, and patient global assessment, is used for rheumatoid arthritis. Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 has not been used to assess PsO/PsA patients' QoL.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between PQoL-12 and RAPID3 in PsO and PsA patients in a cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

Methods

Data came from PsO and PsA patients seen from 2008 to 2015 at Oregon Health & Science University (n = 558: 393 with PsO and 165 with PsA). Nonlinear least squares regressions modeled PQoL-12 with functions of RAPID3, controlling for time since first visit. Nonparametric ROC determined RAPID3 scores best correlating with PQoL-12 cutoffs.

Results

Among the PsO cohort, PQoL-12 was explained by RAPID3, the square of RAPID3, time since first visit, and the square of time since first visit; adjusted R
2 = 0.414. For the PsA cohort, PQoL-12 was explained by RAPID3, change in slope of RAPID3 at 2.28, time since first visit, the square of time since first visit; adjusted R
2 = 0.340. Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 cutoffs for PQoL-12 scores of 48 and 96 (mild and moderate QoL impairment) in PsO were 1.55 and 5.72 and in PsA were 1.89 and 6.34.

Conclusions

Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 weakly correlated with PQoL-12, indicating these indices assess different aspects of PsO and PsA. Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 fails to capture mental health information that greatly impacts patients' QoL, whereas PQoL-12 fails to capture the physical and functional aspects of the disease. Results indicate the importance of capturing mental health assessment in order to create a comprehensive tool to measure how psoriatic disease affects patients' QoL.
vacA s1m1 genotype and cagA EPIYA-ABC pattern are predominant among Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from Mexican patients with chronic gastritis
Authors: Atrisco-Morales Josefina , Martínez-Santos Verónica I. , Román-Román Adolfo , Alarcón-Millán Judit , De Sampedro-Reyes José , Cruz-del Carmen Iván , Martínez-Carrillo Dinorah N. , Fernández-Tilapa Gloria
Published: January 2018

Purpose. Virulent genotypes of Helicobacter pylori vacA s1m1/cagA+/babA2+
have been associated with severe gastric diseases. VacA, CagA and BabA are polymorphic proteins, and their association with the disease is allele-dependent. The aims of this work were: (i) to determine the prevalence of H. pylori by type of chronic gastritis; (ii) to describe the frequency of cagA, babA2 and vacA genotypes in strains from patients with different types of chronic gastritis; (iii) to characterize the variable region of cagA alleles.

Methodology. A total of 164 patients with chronic gastritis were studied. Altogether, 50 H. pylori strains were isolated, and the status of cagA, babA2 and vacA genotypes was examined by PCR. cagA EPIYA segment identification was performed using PCR and sequencing of cagA fragments of six randomly selected strains.

Results/Key findings. The overall prevalence of H. pylori was 30.5 %. Eighty percent of the isolated strains were vacA s1m1, and the cagA and babA2 genes were detected in 74 and 32 % of the strains, respectively. The most frequent genotypes were vacA s1m1/cagA+/babA2-
and vacA s1m1/cagA+/babA2
+, with 40 % (20/50) and 28 % (14/50), respectively. In cagA
+, the most frequent EPIYA motif was -ABC (78.4 %), and EPIYA-ABCC and -ABCCC motifs were found in 10.8 % of the strains. A modified EPIYT-B motif was found in 66.6 % of the sequenced strains.

Conclusion.
H. pylori strains carrying vacA s1m1, cagA
+ and babA2
- genotypes were the most prevalent in patients with chronic gastritis from the south of Mexico. In the cagA
+ strains, the EPIYA-ABC motif was the most common.
Improved management of stillbirth using a care pathway
Authors: Tomlinson Antony John , Martindale Elizabeth , Bancroft Karen , Heazell Alexander
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Each year approximately 3,200 women have a stillbirth in the UK. Although national evidence-based guidance has existed since 2010, case reviews continue to identify suboptimal clinical care and communication with parents. Inconsistencies in management include induction and management of labour and the frequency of investigation after stillbirth. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

An audit of stillbirths was performed in 2014 in 13 maternity units in the North West of England, this confirmed variation in practice described nationally. An integrated care pathway (ICP) was developed from national guidelines to enable optimal care for the management of stillbirth, reduce variation, standardise investigations and coordinate patient-focussed care. This was launched in 2015 and updated in 2016 to resolve the issues that were apparent after implementation.

Findings

Each participating unit had commenced using the ICP by May 2015. Following implementation there were changes in care, most notably from diverse methods for the induction of labour to guideline-directed induction of labour. There were trends towards better care in terms of information given, choices offered, more appropriate analgesia in labour and improved post-delivery investigation for cause. Staff feedback about the ICP was positive.

Practical implications

The use of this ICP improved care for women who had a stillbirth and their families. Issues with implementing a changed care pathway meant that further iterations were required, ongoing improvement is expected following the refinement of the ICP.

Originality/value

ICPs have been used for various clinical conditions. However, this is the first example of their use in women who had a stillbirth.
Analysis of demand and supply in the Colombian housing market: impacts and influences 2005-2016
Authors: Vargas Walteros Camilo , Novoa Hoyos Amalia , Arias Ardila Albert Dario , Peña Ballesteros Arnold Steven
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an estimate of the demand and supply in the housing market in Colombia in a period of high real estate valuation (2005-2016). On the demand side, it evaluates the impact of new housing prices, unemployment, stock market returns, real wages in the retail sector, remittances and mortgage rates. On the supply side, it estimates the influence of the price of new housing, construction costs, time deposit (TD) and mortgage rates. Real estate valuation was analyzed considering foreigners migration and land prices evolution.

Design/methodology/approach

Ordinary least squares (OLS) was used to estimate housing area with the semilog regression model and also to construct price models. OLS was also used in price models. Since quantities depend on prices and vice versa, a two-stage least squares (2SLS) was implemented.

Findings

Rising prices in new homes have an “elastic” effect on both demand and even higher effect on supply. Likewise, the real wage index for the retail sector has an elastic effect. On the other hand, the response to interest rates is negative, but statistically significant only on the supply side. Furthermore, the inflow of remittances is “inelastic” and statistically insignificant.

Originality/value

Housing can sometimes be a Giffen good, this result challenges the traditional neoclassical model, but it can be explained by investment reasons and “bubble” behavior in the housing market. One last influence is the difference between “temporary” and “permanent” migrations. The latter has a statistically significant and perfectly inelastic effect on the price of new homes.
Value creation and the impact of policy interventions: Indian LPG supply chain case study
Authors: Mittal Neeraj , Agarwal Renu , Selen Willem
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the development of key supply chain capabilities in the Indian public sector-run liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply chain. This case study has relevance to emerging markets grappling with problems caused by monopolies and subsidies. Furthermore, this case study not only aims to improve operations of the LPG supply chain, but also re-designs its supply network to meet customers’ expectations. It illustrates value creation through growth in non-domestic sales, a reduction in consumption of subsidized LPG as a consequence of better understanding of customer needs and customer diversity, process re-engineering and deployment of ICT systems, and change management and capability building across various LPG stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

An interpretive research methodology is applied, using an illustrative single case study of the Indian public sector-run LPG supply chain. The research methodology is iterative and exploratory in nature, consisting of a back and forth process between extant literature and the field, as well as in-depth discussions/interviews with senior management, distributors, and consumers.

Findings

Key supply chain capabilities of an integrated and seamless ICT system, detection and blocking of duplicate/ghost connections, the capping of entitlements, and coordination and collaboration across various stakeholders result in value creation for all stakeholders. When such collaboration across stakeholders’ spans both vertically and horizontally through the supply chain, change management and capability building drive value creation through policy interventions and initiatives.

Practical implications

This study provides an illustrative example of meeting customers’ expectations, increasing consumer convenience, and improving service levels, amidst the complex subsidy challenges in LPG distribution in India. The economic and environmental benefits, as well as increased customer satisfaction, from policy interventions regarding value creation in supply chains, have implications for similar public sector-run schemes.

Social implications

As a result of the various policy changes, the LPG subsidy was restricted to legitimate customers, reducing the fiscal burden on the Indian Government. Furthermore, seamless ICT-introduced efficiencies for government, distributers, and customers were attained.

Originality/value

This research articulates the capture, creation, and appropriation of value through the deployment of new supply chain initiatives in a large, complex environment, in particular the public sector-run LPG supply chain.
An exploratory study of Internet of Things (IoT) adoption intention in logistics and supply chain management
Authors: Tu Mengru
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The Internet of Things (IoT) envisions a global infrastructure of networked physical objects that render radical transparency to supply chain management. Despite the perceived advantages of IoT, industry has still not widely adopted IoT-enabled logistics and supply chain management. The purpose of this paper is to understand the incentives and concerns behind firms’ decisions to adopt IoT, explore the determinant factors affecting IoT adoption in logistics and supply chain management.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses mixed methods research to explore the determinants of IoT adoption intention in logistics and supply chain management. Qualitative analysis using the Grounded Theory methodology reveals the underlying perceptions regarding logistic innovation with IoT. Quantitative hypotheses are then developed based on qualitative investigation and adoption literature. Survey data were collected from the managerial staff of Taiwanese firms across various industries. Structural equation modeling with partial least square is used for data analysis.

Findings

The results of the qualitative study identify uncertainties and issues regarding firms’ intention to accept or reject IoT technology in logistics and supply chain management, including the benefit and cost aspects of adopting IoT, uncertainties about the trustworthiness of IoT technology, and the external motivating force to embrace IoT. The resulting quantitative model shows that perceived benefits, perceived costs, and external pressure are significant determinants of IoT adoption intention, while technology trust is not. However, technology trust does indirectly influence IoT adoption intention through perceived benefits.

Practical implications

The empirical findings of this study provide some guidelines for logistics and supply chain managers to evaluate IoT adoption in their firms. Likewise, IoT solution providers can also benefit from this study by improving their solutions to mitigate the IoT adoption concerns addressed herein.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first known to examine IoT adoption intention in logistics and supply chain management using mixed methods research. The mixed methods approach offers a better insight in understanding incentives behind firms’ decisions to adopt IoT vs the use of either a qualitative or quantitative method alone.
Ensuring supplier participation toward addressing sustainability-oriented objectives of the mid-day meal supply chain
Authors: Roy Vivek , Charan Parikshit , Schoenherr Tobias , Sahay B.S.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and further explain the phenomena of supplier participation in addressing the sustainability-oriented objectives of a supply chain. Specifically, the paper explains how a buyer can integrate sustainability concerns among its suppliers. The study is based in the context of the Indian school feeding (mid-day meal) program and approaches the issue from the perspective of a mid-day meal provider.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first explains how the mid-day meal providers in India explicitly address the social and economic dimensions of sustainability. Thereby, it conducts an exploratory case study on a renowned meal provider with the objective to understand the nature of its efforts toward supplier participation through in-depth interviews.

Findings

As evident in the case, from the buyer’s perspective, the key to success in winning supplier participation in addressing the sustainability-oriented supply chain objectives largely revolves around efforts along the critical aspects of policy development, policy implementation, and intent building with suppliers.

Originality/value

This paper propagates a threefold value by outlining the central importance of the focus on efforts and challenges for understanding supplier participation in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). First, the paper is among the initial studies to focus on ground-level efforts and challenges for a mid-day meal provider, and outlines best practices. Second, the case presents revelatory insights on SSCM from the perspective of supplier participation. For example, it demonstrates the relevance of supply-chain-based social identification in governing supplier willingness to participate in a buyer’s SSCM. Third, the findings also extend critical implications toward SSCM theory and practice.
The role of dependence and information sharing on governance decisions regarding conflict
Authors: Eckerd Stephanie , Sweeney Kevin
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Contemporary supply chain exchanges are governed by both contractual and relational governance mechanisms. However, the decision about when to use these mechanisms is likely driven by key relationship characteristics as well as the context in which they are needed. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the influence of dependence and information sharing on the governance decision within the context of inter-organizational conflict, and assess the degree to which contractual and relational governance approaches lead to more satisfying outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

This research builds on both transaction cost and conflict resolution arguments to build hypotheses. To test the hypotheses, survey data were collected from supply chain professionals regarding specific episodes of conflict and analyzed using an ordinary least squares regression.

Findings

The results show a strong reluctance for the use of relational governance mechanisms to resolve conflict when the relationship is characterized by strong joint dependency or information sharing asymmetries. A strong dependence asymmetry and high degree of joint information sharing are associated with greater use of contractual and relational governance approaches, respectively. Finally, the authors find that contractual mechanisms do not necessarily lead to a dissatisfactory outcome for the manager involved.

Originality/value

This research investigates not only the use of contractual and relational governance mechanisms in inter-firm conflict resolution, but also the relationship specific factors that influence a firm’s decision to leverage either type of governance mechanism.
Financial service providers and banks’ role in helping SMEs to access finance
Authors: Song Hua , Yu Kangkang , Lu Qiang
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Despite their crucial role in sustaining national economies, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are beset by the constraint of financing at better conditions. The purpose of this paper is to compare supply chain finance (SCF) solutions provided by commercial banks and financial service providers (FSPs) that help SMEs access financing.

Design/methodology/approach

This study looks at multiple case studies using in-depth interviews with focal firms (lenders) to answer the research questions. In-depth interviews were conducted with three Chinese FSPs and three commercial banks providing working capital to the same SMEs. The unit of analysis is SCF solutions that have made the companies competitive in the industry.

Findings

The case studies show that the acquisition of transaction information and business credit in SCF can reduceex anteinformation asymmetry. SCF utilizing receivable transfers, closed-loop business, relational embeddedness, and a combination of outcome control and behavioral control can also reduceex postinformation asymmetry. For these reasons, compared with commercial bank-dominated SCF, SCF adopted by FSPs in the supply chain can better reduce information asymmetry.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the emerging literature exploring the impact of SCF on SMEs accessing financing. In particular, this study provides supply chain management and operations insights on SCF and their consequent influence. Previous research has focused on the direct dyadic relationship between lenders and borrowers while neglecting supply chain effects. Uniquely, this study explores the different ways commercial banks and FSPs implement SCF solutions.
Drivers of franchisor growth: a meta-analysis
Authors: Kang Jun , Asare Anthony K. , Brashear-Alejandro Thomas , Li Ping
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This study aims to help resolve some of the inconsistencies of the relationships between franchisor growth and its drivers in prior literature.

Design/methodology/approach

First, this study provides a meta-analysis with bivariate correlation analysis and moderation analysis. It then offers an additional analysis of secondary data to shed further light on the relationship between franchisor growth and its drivers.

Findings

This study confirms the diverse nature of the relationship between the various measures of growth and drivers. It finds that proportion of outlets franchised and brand reputation have the strongest relationships with geographic dispersion; age and proportion of outlets franchised have the strongest relationships with outlet growth rate; and size has the strongest relationship with the number of new outlets. In addition, these multiple relationships are moderated by all three research characteristics that this study investigates, including data source, time frame and industry context.

Research limitations/implications

This meta-analysis merely offers an examination of the most commonly studied drivers and not a complete review of all potentially important variables. It calls for further research that examines the factors that lead to franchisor growth and performance in general.

Practical implications

Managers of young franchisors do not need to rush to expand their business across a wide range of geographic regions. Young franchisors instead should focus initially on gaining maturity, developing their business concept, building an attractive track record and improving their brand reputation. Beyond a strong brand and well-developed business concept, franchisors can attract potential franchisees by reassuring them and making them feel secure about their investment.

Originality/value

This study includes a bivariate analysis that was used to conduct a meta-analysis and also an empirical analysis of secondary data. By conducting the secondary data analysis, we were able to examine the extent to which the meta-analysis results of this study could be extended beyond the time period for papers included in the meta-analysis.
Internal elements that hinder a better industrial service offering
Authors: Pereira Giancarlo Medeiros , Rocha Mauro , Nunes Fabiano L. , Borchardt Miriam , Viegas Claudia Viviane
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the internal elements that influence service offering. A better understanding of these elements can improve interaction between organizational structure, corporate culture and human resource management, and can leverage interdepartmental collaboration.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 12 global manufacturers that sell products and services to the automotive or to the chemical supply chains were investigated on multiple case studies.

Findings

The lack of interdepartmental processes and indicators may induce other departments to not prioritize the demands of the service department, thus lowering the service level. Service professionals who do not combine technical and commercial skills may hinder sales increase (product + service). The isolation of service professionals prevents the dissemination of knowledge among departments, thus reducing manufacturer’s innovativeness.

Research limitations/implications

Further research must focus on how to manage/redesign processes to improve sales and innovativeness; how to hire, qualify and motivate service professionals who possess commercial skills; and how to mitigate the isolation of service professionals.

Originality/value

New interdepartmental processes and indicators can turn on new and better organizational structures, improve the service management and reduce internal conflicts. Service professionals who possess and use only technical skills can hamper the incorporation of the new demands presented by the customers. Isolated professionals may negatively affect the efficacy of the market strategy.
A multilevel study on servant leadership, job boredom and job crafting
Authors: Harju Lotta K. , Schaufeli Wilmar B. , Hakanen Jari J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine cross-level effects of team-level servant leadership on job boredom and the mediating role of job crafting. Cross-level moderating effects of team-level servant leadership were also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

This longitudinal study employed a multilevel design in a sample of 237 employees, clustered into 47 teams. Servant leadership was aggregated to the team-level to examine the effects of shared perceptions of leadership at T1 on individual-level outcome, namely job boredom, at T2. In addition, mediation analysis was used to test whether team-level servant leadership at T1 can protect followers from job boredom at T2 by fostering job crafting at T2. Cross-level moderating effects of team-level servant leadership at T1 on the relation between job crafting at T2 and job boredom at T2 were also modeled.

Findings

Job crafting at T2 mediated the cross-level effect of team-level servant leadership at T1 on job boredom at T2.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest that team-level servant leadership predicts less job boredom by boosting job crafting.

Originality/value

This study is the first to assess the effects of servant leadership on job boredom and the mediating role of job crafting. This paper examines job boredom in a multilevel design, thus extending knowledge on its contextual components.
On the fire performance of unbraced composite frames
Authors: Bahr Oliver
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the structural behaviour of fire-exposed unbraced composite frames. Designers to date paid little attention to unbraced one-bay composite frames as structural system. There are two main reasons for this. First, codes lack simplified methods for the fire design of these frames due to their sway and the linked P-Δ effects when subjected to fire, which complicates the design. Second, it is demanding to construct external composite joints for the regarded one-bay frames. Thus, external joints in composite constructions are mostly constructed as steel joints. Nevertheless, these frames offer advantages. These include increased usable space and flexibility in the building’s use, large spans, fast construction times and inherent fire resistance.

Design/methodology/approach

To profit from these benefits, two different external semi-rigid composite joint were developed for the considered one-bay composite frames. The first solution based on concrete-filled steel tube columns and the second on concrete-filled double skin tube columns. Furthermore, a numerical model was established to study the fire performance of unbraced composite frames. The model was validated against four fire tests on isolated composite joints and two large-scale fire tests on unbraced composite frames.

Findings

Overall, the predictions of the numerical model were in good agreement with the test results. Thus, the numerical model is appropriate for further investigations on the fire performance of unbraced composite frames.

Originality/value

The sequence of construction results in significant stresses in the steel section, which creates difficulties in numerical modelling and may account for the relatively few studies carried out at room temperature. For the fire design, there was, to the best knowledge of the author, to date no numerical model available that was capable of considering the sequence of construction.
“This course made me feel guilty to be an Australian”
Authors: Crowhurst Michael , Faulkner Julie
Published: January 2018

Purpose

From one Graduate Diploma Secondary student taking a pro-diversity course that both authors had a connection with there was a very angry response, encapsulated by the statement “This course made me feel guilty to be an Australian”. We are aware that negative student evaluations can be part of the territory for tertiary teachers working in diversity courses. The purpose of this paper is to explore the students’ confronting comment which will be construed as a type of offer that is being extended to us – an offer that we are refusing. We draw on Deleuze and Guattari’s notion of “exterior assemblages”, and we shift our gaze to consider “what constitutes the territory” that is our response to the pre-service teacher’s evaluative claim.

Design/methodology/approach

The specific methods we deployed involved an eclectic appropriation of various tools. We embarked on this process of exploration by journaling, collective reflection and informal discussions with other colleagues. Our journals responded to the question: What constitutes the place that is the territory that is our refusal of the student’s offer? In order to explore this place we: kept a hand-written journal; used conventional text and arts based practice techniques in our journaling; discussed our journal entries periodically (face to face, via Skype and via e-mail); discussed this project with colleagues – giving them knowledge that we were doing this – and that we might write journal entries about these conversations; and read a variety of relevant texts We engaged in these processes for a three month period. At the end of this period we shared journals, and set about the task of analysing them. We engaged in a number of analyses and detailed our findings over the next month. Further, over a longer period of time we engaged with this incident and our journal entries and presented a series of in progress papers at a variety of conferences and seminars. The analysis of the data generated involved discourse analysis and dialogue.

Findings

A series of key discourses were identified and listed in the paper.

Research limitations/implications

The key identified ideas are briefly linked to a series of implications for practitioners.

Practical implications

One of the key practical implications is the suggestion that where disagreements surface in education that one response to such moments might be for the parties to consider where they are located.

Social implications

The paper outlines a way of thinking about disagreements that has useful implications when considering issues relating to pedagogical strategies aiming to work towards social justice.

Originality/value

The paper is an original response to a critical moment that occurred for two lecturers in pre-service teacher education.
Effect of apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain on vaccine efficacy: Overcoming the effects of its deficiency with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant
Authors: Lee Deuk‐Ki , Lee Eun‐Young , Kim Ryoon‐Ho , Kwak Hye‐Won , Kim Joo Young , Kim Hun , Kang Kyung‐Won , Lee Sang‐Myeong , Park Jong‐Hwan , Chang Jun , Nam Jae‐Hwan
Published: January 2018

Host factors such as nutritional status and immune cell state are important for vaccine efficacy. Inflammasome activation may be important for triggering vaccine‐induced humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses. Formulations with alum as a typical adjuvant to overcome the effects of host factors have recently been shown to induce inflammasome activation, which augments vaccine efficacy. Apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) is one of the main components of inflammasomes, but it is not clear whether ASC affects the vaccine‐induced immune response. Herein, we used two types of vaccines: inactivated influenza vaccine not formulated with alum, and HPV vaccine formulated with alum. We gave the vaccines to ASC knockout (ASC−/−) mice to investigate the role of ASC in vaccine efficacy. Influenza vaccine‐immunized ASC−/− mice did not show antibody titers in week 2 after the first vaccination. After boosting, the antibody titer in ASC−/− mice was about half that in wild type (WT) mice. Furthermore, a cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte response against influenza vaccine was not induced in ASC−/− mice. Therefore, vaccinated ASC−/− mice did not show effective protection against viral challenge. ASC−/− mice immunized with alum‐formulated HPV vaccine showed similar antibody titers and T‐cell proliferation compared with immunized WT mice. However, the HPV vaccine without alum induced up to threefold lower titers of HPV‐specific antibody titers in ASC−/− mice compared with those in WT mice. These findings suggest that alum in vaccine can overcome the ASC‐deficient condition.
Defensive symbionts mediate species coexistence in phytophagous insects
Authors: Hertäg Corinne , Vorburger Christoph
Published: January 2018

Competition of two species for the same resource is expected to result in competitive exclusion of the inferior competitor. In natural communities, however, other antagonists and symbionts moderate competition. Thus, we have to go beyond studying pairwise interactions.

Natural enemies may facilitate coexistence if they affect the superior competitor more strongly, or they can hinder coexistence via apparent competition. Less well studied is the role of symbionts, which may influence species coexistence in conjunction with enemies.

Eukaryotes commonly harbour microbial endosymbionts that provide protection against natural enemies, but are costly in their absence. Such defensive symbionts could thus mediate coexistence of species competing for the same resource, both in the presence and in the absence of enemies, but as yet there is little evidence for this claim.

We addressed this proposed role of defensive symbionts in replicated simple communities consisting of two aphid species sharing the same host plant and the same natural enemy, a parasitoid wasp. Both, one, or neither species were infected with a resistance‐conferring symbiont, and they competed in the absence as well as the presence of parasitoids.

The symbiont had significant effects in the absence of parasitoids by lowering competitive ability especially in one species, but the effects were more dramatic in the presence of parasitoids. With both species protected by the symbiont, parasitoid densities remained low and both aphid species persisted. When neither species was protected, parasitoids drove both species to extinction. Surprisingly, the same outcome was observed when only one species was protected. The susceptible species supported high densities of parasitoids that also killed the resistant aphids via mechanisms other than parasitism, presumably by disturbing them to the point of starvation. This is an intriguing form of apparent competition.

Our results demonstrate an important role of defensive symbionts in insect communities through modifying species interactions. This highlights the need for experimental data when studying species coexistence in competitive networks. Furthermore, the observation that a susceptible host can negatively affect a resistant host via a shared parasitoid is an instructive insight for biological control.

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Stable isotope signatures of underground seedlings reveal the organic matter gained by adult orchids from mycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Schweiger Julienne M.‐I. , Bidartondo Martin I. , Gebauer Gerhard
Published: January 2018

Orchids produce dust seeds dependent on the provision of organic carbon by mycorrhizal fungi for their early development stages. Hence, all chlorophyllous orchids experience a dramatic switch in trophic strategies from initial mycoheterotrophy to either autotrophy or partial mycoheterotrophy during ontogeny. Yet, the degree to which partially mycoheterotrophic orchids gain carbon from their mycorrhizal fungi is unclear based on existing approaches.

Here, we propose a novel approach to quantify the fungal‐derived organic matter gain of chlorophyllous mature orchids mycorrhizal with rhizoctonia fungi, using the stable isotope signatures of their fully mycoheterotrophic (FMH) seedlings in a linear two‐source mixing model.

We conducted a field germination experiment with seven orchid species and measured carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen stable isotope natural abundances and nitrogen concentrations of mature orchids, underground seedlings, and autotrophic references.

After in situ burial for 19–30 months, germination rates varied considerably among five orchid species and failed for two. On average, underground seedlings were enriched in 13C and 15N relative to mature orchids and had higher nitrogen concentrations. Using the mean enrichment factors ε13C and ε2H of seedlings as FMH endpoint, the organic matter gain derived by mature orchids from mycorrhizas was c. 20%.

Chlorophyllous orchids mycorrhizal with rhizoctonias are predisposed to partially mycoheterotrophic nutrition due to their initially mycoheterotrophic seedling stage. We show that the carbon and hydrogen isotope abundances of underground seedlings can be used in an improved mixing‐model to identify a significant proportion of fungal‐derived organic matter in mature orchids.

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Environmental conditions synchronize waterbird mortality events in the Great Lakes
Authors: Princé Karine , Chipault Jennifer G. , White C. LeAnn , Zuckerberg Benjamin
Published: January 2018

Since the 1960s, periodic outbreaks of avian botulism type E have contributed to large‐scale die‐offs of thousands of waterbirds throughout the Great Lakes of the United States. In recent years, these events have become more common and widespread. Occurring during the summer and autumn months, the prevalence of these die‐offs varies across years and is often associated with years of warmer lake temperatures and lower water levels. Little information exists on how environmental conditions mediate the spatial and temporal characteristics of mortality events.

In 2010, a citizen science programme, Avian Monitoring for Botulism Lakeshore Events (AMBLE), was launched to enhance surveillance efforts and detect the appearance of beached waterbird carcasses associated with avian botulism type E outbreaks in northern Lake Michigan. Using these data, our goal was to quantify the within‐year characteristics of mortality events for multiple species, and to test whether the synchrony of these events corresponded to fluctuations in two environmental factors suspected to be important in the spread of avian botulism: water temperature and the prevalence of green macroalgae.

During two separate events of mass waterbird mortality, we found that the detection of bird carcasses was spatially synchronized at scales of c. 40 km. Notably, the extent of this spatial synchrony in avian mortality matched that of fluctuations in lake surface water temperatures and the prevalence of green macroalgae.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings are suggestive of a synchronizing effect where warmer lake temperatures and the appearance of macroalgae mediate the characteristics of avian mortality. In future years, rising lake temperatures and a higher propensity of algal masses could lead to increases in the magnitude and synchronization of avian mortality due to botulism. We advocate that citizen‐based monitoring efforts are critical for identifying the potential environmental conditions associated with widespread mortality events and estimating future risk to waterbird populations.