bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Principal component analysis of professional competencies of architects in the Ghanaian construction industry
Authors: Kwofie Titus Ebenezer , Amos-Abanyie Samuel , Afram Samuel Owusu
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The identification and development of appropriate competencies remain very critical and central to performance measures in mainstream human resource management genre towards effective teams. It is posited as a viable means for validating and engendering best practices and developing suitable competencies towards acceptable performance outcome in construction project delivery. The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical professional competencies of an architect in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI) towards effective performance in the construction project delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

From a mixed method design involving semi-structured qualitative interview and a questionnaire survey of architects in Ghana, 16 professional architectural competencies were identified for respondents to indicate their importance to effective architectural practice and consulting in the GCI on a five-point Likert scale. Factor analysis was used to explore the interrelations among the variables and make possible empirical explanations.

Findings

Factor analysis revealed four underlying clusters named in order of their significance as efficient design response to client needs, legal aspects of practice, sustainable design and construction and efficient project management skills. The study provides insight into the contextual practice, characteristics and the critical professional architectural competencies needed by architects in the construction industry in Ghana.

Originality/value

The findings have rigorously revealed and provided clear understanding and insight into the thematic critical professional competencies of architects important to the construction industry in Ghana which should be the focus of architectural training and practice. It is also very important towards developing and stimulating a continuous professional development agenda, developing a body of knowledge of professional practice in architecture and conducting curriculum review to meet current emerging competency profiles necessary for influencing performance levels in the GCI.
Identifying the key process factors affecting project performance
Authors: Lindhard Søren , Larsen Jesper Kranker
Published: October 2016

Purpose

A construction project traditionally involves a variety of participants. Owners, consultants, and contractors all have diverse opinions and interests, but they all seek to ensure project success. Success is habitually measured as performance output regarding cost, time, and quality. Despite previous research mapping the success and failure factors, construction managers seem to have difficulty in attaining success. To provide clearer guidance on how to fulfill success criteria, the purpose of this paper is to identify the underlying factors that affect performance and thus project success in construction processes.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey based on a literature review provided 25 key process factors divided into five key categories. Based on the responses from commonly involved construction parties, the factors were ranked and tested for significant differences between the parties.

Findings

The top five most important process factors were found to relate to the sharing of knowledge and communication. Moreover, testing the ranking for significant differences between owners, consultants, and contractors revealed five differences. The differences related to the interpretation and importance of trust, shared objectives, project coordination, and alternative forms of coordination.

Originality/value

All respondents identify improved knowledge sharing and communication as the key to improved cost, time, and quality performance and are therefore the areas where construction managers need to focus their resources. Thus, improved experience sharing and communication will increase the likelihood of project success, through improving competences, commitment, and coordination.
Comparing the levels of performance of small scale local government contractors in Northern Nigeria with international practice
Authors: Gambo Nuru , Said Ilias , Ismail Radzi
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the performance levels of small scale local government contractors (SSLGCs) in northern part of Nigeria with international practice. Previous studies focused attention primarily on benchmarking the performance of contractors, but were mostly conceptual rather than from empirical findings. This continuous to pose a challenge to the sustainable development of the construction industry, particularly, in developing countries like Nigeria. There is therefore a need to identify, assess and compare performance practice levels of small scale contractors.

Design/methodology/approach

The performance of each contractor was evaluated using a five-point Likert scale used in obtaining mean performance levels in respect to three classes of performance practices. A questionnaire survey was administered to major parties in the industry; clients, contractors and consultants who were selected by using a proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The contractors’ performance was compared by using ANOVA with post hoc.

Findings

The results indicated that the SSLGCs in Nigeria were average performers and there were effects and differences among the various contractors’ levels of performance with international practice.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to SSLGCs in northern part of Nigeria.

Practical implications

The study provided the criteria for evaluation of SSLGCs’ performance in Nigeria and other developing countries that faced similar problems.

Social implications

The study created bases for self-evaluation and competition among small scale contractors in Nigeria for the enhancement of productivity particularly in rural areas and general national development.

Originality/value

This study emanated from the governmental reports and past researches in the area of performance management on the persistence of the poor performance of small scale contractors in construction industry.
We love to hate them! Social media-based anti-brand communities in professional football
Authors: Popp Bastian , Germelmann Claas Christian , Jung Benjamin
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Social media has promoted anti-brand communities, which build around the shared aversion to a specific brand. The purpose of this paper is to investigate social media-based anti-brand communities and their effects on the sports team brand in question.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a netnographic study of Facebook-based anti-brand communities that oppose a professional football team.

Findings

The netnographic study reveals characteristics and drivers of Facebook-based anti-brand communities that oppose a professional football team. The research further identifies co-destructive behaviours of anti-brand community members that harm the sports team brand and even its sponsors. However, the findings also reveal that anti-brand communities may play a positive role in sport, as they strengthen the relationship between fans of the opposed brand and this brand and foster rivalry among football fans.

Practical implications

This research establishes the relevance of social media-based anti-brand communities for sports brands. Recommendations are made for team sport brands with regards to how to deal with the phenomenon of anti-brand communities.

Originality/value

While the previous research on anti-brand activism focused on either offline movements or movements using traditional websites, this research is the first to investigate the pivotal role of social networking sites for anti-brand activism. The paper further uncovers unique motivational, attitudinal, and behavioral patterns of fans that meet in communities opposing not only the rival team, but also the brand associated with the team. Findings show ways to better understand and deal with such anti-brand communities in sports.
Going green in baseball – a case study of the SK Wyverns
Authors: Choi Joon-Seo Andrew
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the marketing journey of a professional baseball team in South Korea (the SK Wyverns), from the conception of a new “green” campaign to the resulting environmental, social and economic gains of the local community and of Korean baseball in general.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigator interviewed 12 constituents of the SK’s green marketing campaign, participated as an observer at seven separate field trips to the SK stadium and meetings, and collected and analyzed corporate documentation and physical artifacts. The role of the researcher as an advisor to the Wyvern’s green marketing initiative from the onset provided rare access to these multiple and different sources of evidence, which helped to establish the trustworthiness of the results (Yin, 2003).

Findings

By taking unconventional steps to find new funding opportunities, the team managed to achieve a triple benefit-of environmental, social and economic gains from green marketing. In the big picture, one will recognize that the SK Wyverns’ story is less about the opportune timing of its funding strategy, and more about its capacity for innovative thinking to address the big issue of meeting up-front costs.

Originality/value

The significance of the SK Wyverns’ green marketing program is that it shows how even a team in a non-major baseball market like South Korea can accept a big challenge and deliver the desired results by solving the cost issue in a proactive, creative way. The hope is that other sport franchises around Asia, in other regions faced with growing environmental concerns, may regard this case as a benchmark and find inspiration for their own creative solutions in going green.
Product ethnicity and perceived consumer authenticity: the moderating role of product type
Authors: Park Jieun , Javalgi Rajshekhar , Wachter Michael
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate an antecedent of perceived authenticity in the relationship between product ethnicity (PE) and evaluations of foreign products. Moreover, the present study explores roles of product involvement and product type as moderators in the relationship between PE and authenticity.

Design/methodology/approach

A pretest was conducted to guide the selection of the product type utilized in the survey. With 200 South Korean panel data in Study 1, hypotheses were analyzed using multiple regression following the procedures outlined by Baron and Kenny (1986). With 288 US panel data in Study 2, mediation effects were analyzed using PROCESS by Hayes (2013).

Findings

The study provides strong evidences of the full mediating role of perceived authenticity between PE and consumer evaluations of foreign products. Experience goods accentuate the impact of congruent PE on authenticity relative to search goods. However, the product involvement as a moderator is not significant.

Practical implications

International marketing practitioners should attend to the importance of how source country consumers perceive the authenticity of foreign product. In particular, insights from findings will provide international marketers with a means to assess the efficacy of strategic communication messages designed to establish a perception of authenticity in the minds of consumers and a more effective approach to market segmentation in the foreign markets.

Originality/value

This study suggests the addition of authenticity into future studies of country of origin (COO) effects. As authenticity fully mediates the relationship between PE and product image evaluations, this study suggests the congruent product-country match as a signal of authenticity, in addition to product image. Moreover, this finding extends literature on COO effects by discussing the importance of authenticity in the context of experience goods relative to search goods.
Sounds of music: exploring consumers’ musical engagement
Authors: Hollebeek Linda D. , Malthouse Edward C. , Block Martin P.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Although “engagement” is receiving increasing attention in the marketing literature, the characteristics and dynamics characterizing this concept in specific contextual conditions, including consumers’ selection of particular music and ensuing music-related behaviors, remain nebulous to date. This study aims to develop the concept of consumers’ musical engagement (ME) and explore it within a broader nomological network of conceptual relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the research gap, the authors deploy a survey sampling 2,498 US-based adults to develop and confirm a 25-item ME scale. The authors also test their scale in a broader nomological network of specific theoretical relationships using regression and mediation modeling.

Findings

The authors identify three ME factors, namely, social identity, transportive and affect-inducing engagements. The authors find ME to exhibit a nonlinear effect on music consumption with increasing returns. Although both social identity and transportive experiences represent significant predictors of music consumption, the effect of affect-inducing experience is non-significant. Further, the social identity experience has a significantly greater association with music consumption than the transportive experience.

Research limitations/implications

This paper provides a conceptualization and an associated diagnostic tool for ME, in addition to initial insight into the role of ME in a broader nomological network of conceptual relationships. Based on the identified research limitations, the authors also provide key future research directions for ME.

Practical implications

The insight attained into ME may be used to underpin the design, implementation and evaluation of managerial ME-based tactics and strategies in the music industry. In particular, the authors find that successful appeals to consumers’ social identity engagement are a significant driver of increased future music consumption. The authors provide a number of managerial recommendations to develop this particular ME dimension.

Originality/value

This paper provides an ME conceptualization and an associated scale and explores ME within a broader nomological network of theoretical relationships. The authors also draw key implications from these analyses.
The impact of reversibility on the decision to disclose personal information
Authors: Peer Eyal , Acquisti Alessandro
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how reversibility in disclosing personal information – that is, having (vs not having) to option to later revise or retract personal information – can impact consumers’ willingness to divulge personal information.

Design/methodology/approach

Three studies examined how informing consumers they may (reversible condition) or may not (irreversible condition) revise their personal information in the future affected their propensity to disclose personal information, compared to a control condition.

Findings

Study 1 (which included three experiments with different time intervals between initial and revised disclosure) showed that consumers disclose less in both the reversible and irreversible conditions, compared to the control condition. Studies 2 and 3 showed that this is because consumers treat reversibility as a cue to the sensitivity of the information they are asked to divulge, and that leads them to disclose less when reversibility or irreversibility is made explicitly salient beforehand.

Practical implications

As many marketers are interested in hoarding consumers’ personal information, privacy advocates call for methods that would ensure careful and well-informed disclosure. Offering reversibility to a decision to disclose personal information, or merely pointing out the irreversibility of that decision, can make consumers reevaluate the sensitivity of the situation, leading to more careful disclosures.

Originality/value

Although previous research on reversibility in consumer behavior focused on product return policies and showed that reversibility increases purchases, none have studied how reversibility affects self-disclosure and how it can decrease it.
Beyond hedonic enjoyment: eudaimonia experience in craft consumption
Authors: Zheng Qiuying , Xia Lan , Fan Xiucheng
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the distinctions and similarities about Eudaimonia (a deeper pleasure beyond the hedonic enjoyment) and hedonic enjoyment, especially the influencing factors of Eudaimonia.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey and experiment are conducted to obtain the data. Structural equation modeling, confirmatory factor analysis and analysis of variance are used to analyze the data.

Findings

Three empirical studies support the idea that Eudaimonia, as a deeper-level pleasure, is a distinct construct from hedonic enjoyment. Like hedonic enjoyment, Eudaimonia can lead to satisfaction. Unlike hedonic enjoyment, Eudaimonia is driven by effort. Moreover, the effort impact on Eudaimonia is enhanced by the uniqueness of the craft task.

Originality/value

This paper shifts hedonic consumption studies from a product-based paradigm (e.g. utilitarian vs hedonic) to an experience-based paradigm (hedonic enjoyment vs Eudaimonia). The extension of pleasure to Eudaimonia domain successfully explains why prior hedonic consumption studies find that pleasure is more than the absence of effort and can be more inspiring than purely sensory.
Is font size a big deal? A transaction – acquisition utility perspective on comparative price promotions
Authors: Aggarwal Praveen , Vaidyanathan Rajiv
Published: October 2016

Purpose

In promotional ads that contain both the Regular Price and Sale Price information, this paper aims to investigate whether changing the font sizes of these two prices has an effect on how consumers process the ad message. The authors use acquisition-transaction utility perspective to identify key differences in mechanisms invoked by the larger font size of the Regular Price vs that of the Sale Price.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 uses eye-tracking apparatus to study subjects’ responses to a full-color, realistic-looking ad for a digital camera. Study 2 uses a survey questionnaire to gauge subjects’ responses to a similar print ad. The font sizes of Regular Price and Sale price were manipulated while keeping all the other elements of the ad the same. Subjects were undergraduate students who participated in the study for a small incentive.

Findings

The authors find that making the relative font size of Regular Price bigger invokes a transaction-utility mechanism where customers’ attention is focused on the savings that can be had using the promotion. A bigger font size of Sale Price invokes an acquisition-utility mechanism that draws on the customers’ value consciousness.

Research limitations/implications

The use of student subjects and only one product category in the experiments may limit the generalizability of the study’s findings.

Practical implications

In print ads, managers predominantly use a bigger font size for the Sale Price. This study suggests that the choice of a bigger font size should really be driven by the objective of the promotion: a bigger font size for Sale Price is advised if the objective is to take an acquisition utility approach, whereas a bigger font size for Regular Price is advised for using a transaction utility approach.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt at using an acquisition-transaction utility perspective for understanding the use of relative font sizes in the context of price promotions.
Pharmacokinetics of ivermectin applied topically by whole‐body bathing method in healthy volunteers
Authors: Miyajima Atsushi , Hirota Takashi , Tashiro Mari , Noguchi Wataru , Kawano Yayoi , Hanawa Takehisa , Kigure Akira , Anata Taichi , Yamamoto Yosuke , Yuasa Nae , Koshino Machi , Shiraishi Yumi , Yuzawa Kaoru , Akagi Keita , Yoshimasu Takashi , Makigami Kuniko , Komoda Masayo
Published: October 2016

As a novel administration method of ivermectin (IVM) for scabies treatment, we proposed a “whole‐body bathing method (WBBM)”. In this method, the patients would bathe themselves in a bathing fluid containing IVM at an effective concentration. Previously, we demonstrated that WBBM could deliver IVM to the skin but not to the plasma in rats. In the present study, to assess the clinical validity of the method an arm bathing examination (first trial) and a whole‐body bathing examination (second trial) were conducted in healthy volunteers. In both the first and second trials, after bathing in fluid containing IVM, the exposure in the stratum corneum was higher compared with that after taking IVM p.o. as reported previously. IVM was not detected in plasma at any sampling point after the whole‐body bathing in the second trial. Furthermore no serious adverse events were found. These results in both trials suggest that WBBM can deliver IVM to the human stratum corneum without systemic exposure or serious adverse effects in healthy volunteers, and at concentrations that would be adequate for scabies treatment.
Adalimumab administration after infliximab therapy is a successful treatment strategy for generalized pustular psoriasis
Authors: Matsumoto Ai , Komine Mayumi , Karakawa Masaru , Kishimoto Megumi , Ohtsuki Mamitaro
Published: October 2016

We report a case of a 70‐year‐old woman with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) who responded well to infliximab therapy and adalimumab therapy after secondary failure of infliximab therapy, but did not respond to ustekinumab therapy. We speculate that the pathogenic factor in this case favored anti‐tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α therapy to anti‐interleukin‐12/23 therapy. Herein, we also briefly present three additional cases of treatment with adalimumab after secondary failure of infliximab. GPP is often difficult to treat, and no placebo‐controlled trials have been conducted to guide the use of biologics against it because of a paucity of cases. Infliximab and adalimumab are anti‐TNF‐α antibodies that specifically block the interaction of TNF‐α with its receptors. Infliximab has been reported to be effective, with a rapid clearance of symptoms, even in cases of severe GPP. Adalimumab could be a good biologic candidate that can be administrated after secondary failure of infliximab therapy.
Adjuvant alternative treatment with chemical peeling and subsequent iontophoresis for postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, erosion with inflamed red papules and non‐inflamed atrophic scars in acne vulgaris
Authors: Kurokawa Ichiro , Oiso Naoki , Kawada Akira
Published: October 2016

The standard management of acne vulgaris in Japan includes a combination of topical treatment with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and BPO/clindamycin (CLDM), topical adapalene and systemic antimicrobials. However, the treatment of therapy‐resistant complications such as postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), erosions with inflamed red papules and atrophic scars has not been established. We performed chemical peeling with glycolic acid and iontophoresis with ascorbyl 2‐phosphate 6‐palmitate and DL‐α‐tocopherol phosphate for the treatment of PIH, erosions with inflamed red papules and non‐inflamed atrophic scars in 31 patients with acne vulgaris (mild to severe severity), and evaluated the efficacy and safety of these interventions. In most of cases, there was remarkable improvement in PIH and erosions with inflamed red papules after treatment. There was also some improvement in non‐inflamed atrophic scars without erythema. Mild redness and irritation was observed in four cases as adverse reactions. Early initial treatment of PIH and erosions with red papules by chemical peeling and iontophoresis is an effective and safe method to prevent the formation of atrophic scars in patients with acne vulgaris.
Ambient Influences on Municipal Net Assets: Evidence from Panel Data
Authors: Davies Stephen P. , Johnson Laurence E. , Lowensohn Suzanne
Published: October 2016

Governments’ net assets balances are viewed as a measure of fiscal health and have been linked to municipal credit ratings. This study explores the extent to which ambient socioeconomic factors are captured in aggregated restricted and unrestricted net assets balances (termed “liquid net assets”) to understand why such balances are relevant to credit analysts and others. We model liquid net assets balances using observable nonaccounting factors (e.g., unemployment rates) to learn whether they reflect such influences. We use panel data for fiscal years 2007–2011 so our results comprehend effects of recent economic fluctuations. We find that liquid net assets balances impound a rich array of influences, bearing a positive association with the mayor‐council form of government, community wealth, the incidence of property crimes, and increases in governments’ business‐type net assets. Liquid net assets balances bear a negative association with liabilities for postemployment benefits, unemployment, and violent crime. The results indicate that net assets balances capture noteworthy debt burden, administrative, and socioeconomic influences and, as such, have meaning beyond their basic accounting interpretation.
The Patient Care Paradox: An Interprofessional Qualitative Study of Agitated Patient Care in the Emergency Department
Authors: Wong Ambrose Hon‐Wai , Combellick Joan , Wispelwey Beth Ann , Squires Allison , Gang Maureen
Published: October 2016

Objectives

The emergency department (ED) has been recognized as a high‐risk environment for workplace violence. Acutely agitated patients who perpetrate violence against healthcare workers represent a complex care challenge in the ED. Recommendations to improve safety are often based on expert opinion rather than empirical data. In this study we aim to describe the lived experience of staff members caring for this population to provide a broad perspective of ED patient violence. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of a comprehensive framework for ED agitated patient care that will guide safety interventions.

Methods

We conducted uniprofessional focus groups and individual interviews using a phenomenologic approach with emergency medicine resident physicians, ED staff nurses, patient care technicians, and hospital police officers at an urban hospital in New York City. Audio recordings were transcribed and coded for thematic analysis using the constant comparison method.

Results

We reached theoretical saturation with 31 interprofessional participants. Three broad themes emerged from our analysis: 1) ED healthcare workers provide high‐quality care to a marginalized patient population that concurrently poses safety threats, creating a patient care paradox; 2) teamwork is critical to safely managing this population, but hierarchy and professional silos hinder coordinated care between healthcare professionals; and 3) environmental challenges and systems issues both in and outside the ED exacerbate threats to safety.

Conclusion

The experience of ED staff members while caring for agitated patients is complex and multidimensional. We identified issues that coalesced into four tiers of healthcare delivery at the individual, team, environment, and system levels. Future research is needed to determine applicability of our findings across institutions to build a comprehensive framework for ED agitated patient care.
Alcohol‐involved maxillofacial fractures
Authors: Lee K , Olsen J , Sun J , Chandu A
Published: October 2016

Background

Alcohol‐related facial trauma is an increasingly prominent social problem and health hazard. Interpersonal violence (IPV) is often implicated in these trauma presentations and the facial skeleton frequently targeted. This paper examines the characteristics of admitted patients with alcohol‐related facial fractures.

Methods

Electronic data of patients assessed or treated for facial fractures from January 2012 to December 2014 at Western Health was obtained through the Clinical Record Department. Variables analysed include patient age and gender, fracture site(s), alcohol involvement, country of birth, injury mechanism and surgical intervention.

Results

Of 659 patient records analysed, 18% presentations had alcohol involvement. In the alcohol group, 88% were male, 44% in the 20–34 year age group, 41% suffered nasal fractures, 65% presented following IPV and 60% required surgery. Thirty‐seven per cent of patients were non‐Australians. Alcohol involvement was significantly correlated with gender, age group and fracture sites but not with surgical intervention or ethnic origin.

Conclusions

A binge drinking culture has contributed to prevalence of alcohol‐related trauma. This study reports alcohol involvement in facial fractures to have high predilection for gender, age group of patients and fracture location. Facial trauma frequently necessitates surgical intervention. Educational programmes should be implemented to raise awareness of this potentially preventable health burden among health providers.
Basal 17‐hydroxyprogesterone cannot accurately predict nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia in children and adolescents
Authors: Bello Rachel , Lebenthal Yael , Lazar Liora , Shalitin Shlomit , Tenenbaum Ariel , Phillip Moshe , de Vries Liat
Published: October 2016

Aim

This study explored whether using the suggested diagnostic serum basal level of 17‐hydroxyprogesterone (6.0 nmol/L) would lead to underdiagnosis of nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 123 patients with nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia, defined as an adrenocorticotropic hormone‐stimulated 17‐hydroxyprogesterone level of more than 45 nmol/L. Of these 13 had basal 17‐hydroxyprogesterone levels of less than 6.0 nmol/L and 110 exceeded that level. The 42 controls had idiopathic premature pubarche. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed and compared.

Results

There were no differences between patients with 17‐hydroxyprogesterone levels of <6.0 nmol/L or ≥6.0 nmol/L based on age at presentation, gender, anthropometric measurements, bone age advancement, age at glucocorticoid initiation and hydrocortisone dosage. Patients with basal 17‐hydroxyprogesterone <6.0 nmol/L had significantly lower stimulated 17‐hydroxyprogesterone levels (p = 0.02) and higher stimulated serum cortisol levels (p < 0.008). Children with nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia and premature pubarche were clinically indistinguishable from controls with idiopathic premature pubarche. Androgen levels were significantly higher in the nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia group.

Conclusion

A basal 17‐hydroxyprogesterone threshold of 6.0 nmol/L was not a sensitive predictive marker for diagnosing nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Children whose clinical presentation suggests nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia should undergo diagnostic adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation testing.
Teachers' legitimacy: Effects of justice perception and social comparison processes
Authors: Gouveia‐Pereira Maria , Vala Jorge , Correia Isabel
Published: October 2016

Background

Teachers' legitimacy is central to school functioning. Teachers' justice, whether distributive or procedural, predicts teachers' legitimacy.

Aims

What is still do be found, and constitutes the goal of this paper, is whether unjust treatment by a teacher affects the legitimacy of the teacher differently when the student knows that the teacher was fair to a peer (comparative judgement) or when the student does not have that information (autonomous judgement).

Samples

A total of 79 high school students participated in Study 1; 75 high school students participated in Study 2.

Methods

Two experimental studies with a 2 justice valence (just, unjust) × 2 social comparison processes (autonomous judgements, comparative judgements) between‐participants design were conducted. Study 1 addressed distributive justice and Study 2 addressed procedural justice. The dependent variable was teachers' legitimacy.

Results

In both studies, situations perceived as just led to higher teachers' legitimacy than situations perceived as unjust. For the distributive injustice conditions, teachers' legitimacy was equally lower for autonomous judgement and comparative judgement conditions. For procedural injustice, teachers' legitimacy was lower when the peer was treated justly and the participant was treated unfairly, compared with the condition when the participants did not know how the teacher treated the peer.

Conclusions

We conclude that teachers' injustice affects teachers' legitimacy, but it does it differently according to the social comparisons involved and the type of justice involved. Moreover, these results highlight that social comparisons are an important psychological process and, therefore, they should be taken into account in models of justice.
Jurassic rifting to post‐rift subsidence analysis in the Central High Atlas and its relation to salt diapirism
Authors: Moragas Mar , Vergés Jaume , Saura Eduard , Martín‐Martín Juan‐Diego , Messager Grégoire , Merino‐Tomé Óscar , Suárez‐Ruiz Isabel , Razin Philippe , Grélaud Carine , Malaval Manon , Joussiaume Rémi , Hunt David William
Published: October 2016

The subsidence evolution of the Tethyan Moroccan Atlas Basin, presently inverted as the Central High Atlas, is characterized by an Early Jurassic rifting episode, synchronous with salt diapirism of the Triassic evaporite‐bearing rocks. Two contrasting regions of the rift basin – with and without salt diapirism – are examined to assess the effect of salt tectonics in the evolution of subsidence patterns and stratigraphy. The Djebel Bou Dahar platform to basin system, located in the southern margin of the Atlas Basin, shows a Lower Jurassic record of normal faulting and lacks any evidence of salt diapirism. In contrast, the Tazoult ridge and adjacent Amezraï basin, located in the centre of the Atlas Basin, reveals spectacular Early Jurassic diapirism. In addition, we analyse alternative Central High Atlas post‐Middle Jurassic geohistories based on new thermal and burial models (GENEX® 4.0.3 software), constrained by new vitrinite reflectance data from the Amezraï basin. The comparison of the new subsidence curves from the studied areas with published subsidence curves from the Moroccan Atlas, the Saharan Atlas (Algeria) and Tunisian Atlas show that fast subsidence peaks were diachronous along the strike, being younger towards the east from Early–Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous. This analysis also evidences a close relationship between these high subsidence rate episodes and salt diapirism.
Identification of ginkgolide targets in brain by photoaffinity labeling
Authors: Kawamura Akira , Washington Ilyas , Mihai Doina M. , Bartolini Francesca , Gundersen Gregg G. , Mark Milica Tesic , Nakanishi Koji
Published: October 2016

Ginkgolides are terpene trilactones in Ginkgo biloba, a popular medicinal herb for memory disorders. Although ginkgolides are known for various neurobiological effects, their macromolecular target in brain is unknown. In this work, we employed benzophenone derivatives of ginkgolides to identify their binding target in brain. Photolabeling of bovine hippocampus homogenates identified a series of α‐tubulin isotypes. Selective photolabeling of α‐tubulin over β‐tubulin, which is equally abundant in brain, suggested that ginkgolides might modulate microtubule biology differently than typical microtubule‐binding agents, such as taxol. In fact, ginkgolide A did not affect microtubule polymerization or cell proliferation; instead, it inhibited detyrosination of α‐tubulin and reorientation of microtubule‐organizing centers. Taken together, the current findings indicate that ginkgolides constitute a new class of microtubule‐binding agents with distinct effects on α‐tubulin biology.
Development of eosinophilic inflammation is independent of B–T cell interaction in a chronic house dust mite‐driven asthma model
Authors: Vroman H. , Bergen I. M. , Li B. W. S. , van Hulst J. A. C. , Lukkes M. , van Uden D. , Hendriks R. W. , Kool M.
Published: October 2016

Background

Chronic exposure to environmental triggers, such as house dust mite (HDM), drives T helper 2 (Th2) cell‐mediated asthma. Recent evidence has shown that B–T cell interaction, and in particular germinal centre reactions and follicular T helper (Tfh) cells are required for the development of eosinophilic airway inflammation in HDM‐driven models containing a sensitization and challenge phase. Whether B–T cell interactions are essential for pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation following chronic allergen provocation remains unknown.

Aims

In this study, we investigated the importance of B–T cell interaction in the development of eosinophilic airway inflammation and pulmonary remodelling in a chronic HDM‐driven asthma model.

Methods

We exposed C57BL/6, Cd40l−/−, and Mb1−/− mice to HDM three times a week for five consecutive weeks.

Results

Chronic HDM exposure induced a pronounced eosinophilic allergic airway inflammation in broncho‐alveolar lavage fluid (BALf) and lung tissue, associated with the formation of immunologically active inducible bronchus‐associated lymphoid tissue (iBALT) in the lungs. The absence of B cells or lack of CD40L signalling did not hamper eosinophilic inflammation in the airways, although the number of Tfh and Th2 cells was substantially reduced in the lungs. Importantly, type 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2) numbers in BALf and lung were not affected by the absence of B cells or B–T cell interaction. Furthermore, eosinophilic airway inflammation is not sufficient to induce pulmonary remodelling and airway hyperresponsiveness.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

From these findings, we conclude that B–T cell interaction is required for robust Tfh and Th2 cell induction, but not essential for eosinophilic airway inflammation during a chronic HDM‐driven asthma model.
FBXL4 defects are common in patients with congenital lactic acidemia and encephalomyopathic mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome
Authors: Dai H. , Zhang V.W. , El‐Hattab A.W. , Ficicioglu C. , Shinawi M. , Lines M. , Schulze A. , McNutt M. , Gotway G. , Tian X. , Chen S. , Wang J. , Craigen W.J. , Wong L.‐J.
Published: October 2016

Mutations in FBXL4 have recently been recognized to cause a mitochondrial disorder, with clinical features including early onset lactic acidosis, hypotonia, and developmental delay. FBXL4 sequence analysis was performed in 808 subjects suspected to have a mitochondrial disorder. In addition, 28 samples from patients with early onset of lactic acidosis, but without identifiable mutations in 192 genes known to cause mitochondrial diseases, were examined for FBXL4 mutations. Definitive diagnosis was made in 10 new subjects with a total of 7 novel deleterious variants; 5 null and 2 missense substitutions. All patients exhibited congenital lactic acidemia, most of them with severe encephalopathic presentation, and global developmental delay. Overall, FBXL4 defects account for at least 0.7% (6 out of 808) of subjects suspected to have a mitochondrial disorder, and as high as 14.3% (4 out of 28) in young children with congenital lactic acidosis and clinical features of mitochondrial disease. Including FBLX4 in the mitochondrial diseases panel should be particularly important for patients with congenital lactic acidosis.
The combination of vestibular impairment and congenital sensorineural hearing loss predisposes patients to ocular anomalies, including Usher syndrome
Authors: Kletke S. , Batmanabane V. , Dai T. , Vincent A. , Li S. , Gordon K.A. , Papsin B.C. , Cushing S.L. , Héon E.
Published: October 2016

The co‐occurrence of hearing impairment and visual dysfunction is devastating. Most deaf‐blind etiologies are genetically determined, the commonest being Usher syndrome (USH). While studies of the congenitally deaf population reveal a variable degree of visual problems, there are no effective ophthalmic screening guidelines. We hypothesized that children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and vestibular impairment were at an increased risk of having USH. A retrospective chart review of 33 cochlear implants recipients for severe to profound SNHL and measured vestibular dysfunction was performed to determine the ocular phenotype. All the cases had undergone ocular examination and electroretinogram (ERG). Patients with an abnormal ERG underwent genetic testing for USH. We found an underlying ocular abnormality in 81.81% (27/33) of cases; of which 75% had refractive errors, and 50% of those patients showed visual improvement with refractive correction. A total of 14 cases (42.42%; 14/33) had generalized rod–cone dysfunction on ERG suggestive of Usher syndrome type 1, confirmed by mutational analysis. This work shows that adding vestibular impairment as a criterion for requesting an eye exam and adding the ERG to detect USH increases the chances of detecting ocular anomalies, when compared with previous literature focusing only on congenital SNHL.
Soft tissue changes and crestal bone loss around platform‐switched implants placed at crestal and subcrestal levels: 36‐month results from a prospective split‐mouth clinical trial
Authors: Al Amri Mohammad D. , Al‐Johany Sulieman S. , Al Baker Abdulaziz M. , Al Rifaiy Mohammad Q. , Abduljabbar Tariq S. , Al‐Kheraif Abdulaziz A.
Published: October 2016

Objective

The aim of the present 36‐month prospective split‐mouth clinical trial was to investigate the peri‐implant soft tissue changes and crestal bone loss (CBL) around delayed loaded platform‐switched implants placed at crestal and subcrestal levels.

Material and methods

Twenty‐three individuals with bilaterally missing either mandibular first or second molars were included. The test and control sites were defined as follows: (i) test sites: implants placed 2 mm below the alveolar crest (subcrestal); (ii) control sites: implants placed at bone level (crestal). Forty‐six implants (23 implants in test sites and 23 in control sites) were placed in the center of the healed alveolar ridge in the posterior mandible. Peri‐implant bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD ≥ 4 mm), and CBL was compared at 6, 18, and 36 months of follow‐up. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Sixteen males and seven females with a mean age of 43.5 years (29–50) were included. In the control group (n = 23), the highest mean percentage of sites that showed BOP and PD ≥ 4 mm were at 6 months (7.4% and 1.4%, respectively). In the test group (n = 23), the highest mean percentage of sites that showed BOP and PD ≥ 4 mm were at 6 months (2.4% and 1.2%, respectively). The total amount of CBL around crestal and subcrestal implants after 36 months of loading was 0.45 ± 0.2 and 0.3 ± 0.2 mm, respectively. At all follow‐up intervals, all intragroup and intergroup comparisons showed no significant differences in BOP, PD ≥ 4 mm, and CBL around implants placed at crestal and subcrestal levels.

Conclusion

Up to 36 months of follow‐up, soft tissue parameters and crestal bone levels can remain equally stable around dental implants placed at crestal and subcrestal levels. The need for long‐term follow‐up clinical trials is also emphasized.
Validation of administrative and clinical case definitions for gestational diabetes mellitus against laboratory results
Authors: Bowker S. L. , Savu A. , Donovan L. E. , Johnson J. A. , Kaul P.
Published: October 2016

Aim

To examine the validity of International Classification of Disease, version 10 (ICD‐10) codes for gestational diabetes mellitus in administrative databases (outpatient and inpatient), and in a clinical perinatal database (Alberta Perinatal Health Program), using laboratory data as the ‘gold standard’.

Methods

Women aged 12–54 years with in‐hospital, singleton deliveries between 1 October 2008 and 31 March 2010 in Alberta, Canada were included in the study. A gestational diabetes diagnosis was defined in the laboratory data as ≥2 abnormal values on a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test or a 50‐g glucose screen ≥10.3 mmol/l.

Results

Of 58 338 pregnancies, 2085 (3.6%) met gestational diabetes criteria based on laboratory data. The gestational diabetes rates in outpatient only, inpatient only, outpatient or inpatient combined, and Alberta Perinatal Health Program databases were 5.2% (3051), 4.8% (2791), 5.8% (3367) and 4.8% (2825), respectively. Although the outpatient or inpatient combined data achieved the highest sensitivity (92%) and specificity (97%), it was associated with a positive predictive value of only 57%. The majority of the false‐positives (78%), however, had one abnormal value on oral glucose tolerance test, corresponding to a diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy.

Conclusions

The ICD‐10 codes for gestational diabetes in administrative databases, especially when outpatient and inpatient databases are combined, can be used to reliably estimate the burden of the disease at the population level. Because impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy and gestational diabetes may be managed similarly in clinical practice, impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy is often coded as gestational diabetes.
Impact of diabetes mellitus on acute outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention in chronic total occlusions: insights from a US multicentre registry
Authors: Martinez‐Parachini J. R. , Karatasakis A. , Karmpaliotis D. , Alaswad K. , Jaffer F. A. , Yeh R. W. , Patel M. , Bahadorani J. , Doing A. , Nguyen‐Trong P.‐K. , Danek B. A. , Karacsonyi J. , Alame A. , Rangan B. V. , Thompson C. A. , Banerjee S. , Brilakis E. S.
Published: October 2016

Aim

To examine the impact of diabetes mellitus on procedural outcomes of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion.

Methods

We assessed the impact of diabetes mellitus on the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion among 1308 people who underwent such procedures at 11 US centres between 2012 and 2015.

Results

The participants’ mean ± sd age was 66 ± 10 years, 84% of the participants were men and 44.6% had diabetes. As compared with participants without diabetes, participants with diabetes were more likely to have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery (38 vs 31%; P = 0.006), and to have had previous heart failure (35 vs 22%; P = 0.0001) and peripheral arterial disease (19 vs 13%; P = 0.002). They also had a higher BMI (31 ± 6 kg/m2 vs 29 ± 6 kg/m2; P = 0.001), similar Japanese chronic total occlusion scores (2.6 ± 1.2 vs 2.5 ± 1.2; P = 0.82) and similar final successful crossing technique: antegrade wire escalation (46 vs 47%; P = 0.66), retrograde (30 vs 28%; P = 0.66) and antegrade dissection re‐entry (24 vs 25%; P = 0.66). Technical (91 vs 90%; P = 0.80) and procedural (89 vs 89%; P = 0.93) success was similar in the two groups, as was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (2.2 vs 2.5%; P = 0.61).

Conclusions

In a contemporary cohort of people undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion, nearly one in two (45%) had diabetes mellitus. Procedural success and complication rates were similar in people with and without diabetes.