bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Core Genome Multi Locus Sequence Typing and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Analysis in the Epidemiology of Brucella melitensis Infections
Authors: Janowicz Anna , Massis Fabrizio De , Ancora Massimo , Cammà Cesare , Patavino Claudio , Battisti Antonio , Prior Karola , Harmsen Dag , Scholz Holger , Zilli Katiuscia , Sacchini Lorena , Giannatale Elisabetta Di , Garofolo Giuliano
Published: April 2018

The use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) using next generation sequencing (NGS) technology has become a widely accepted method for microbiology laboratories in the application of molecular typing for outbreak tracing and genomic epidemiology. Several studies demonstrated the usefulness of WGS data analysis through Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) calling from a reference sequence analysis for Brucella melitensis, whereas gene-by-gene comparison through core-genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (cgMLST) has not been explored so far. The current study developed an allele-based method cgMLST and compared its performance to the genome-wide SNP approach and the traditional MLVA on a defined sample collection. The dataset comprised of 37 epidemiologically linked animal cases of brucellosis as well as 71 epidemiologically unrelated human and animal isolates collected in Italy. The cgMLST scheme generated in this study contained 2,687 targets of the B. melitensis 16M reference genome (75.4% of the complete genome). We established the potential criteria necessary for inclusion of an isolate into a brucellosis outbreak cluster to be ≤4 loci in the cgMLST and ≤10 in WGS SNP analysis. CgMLST and SNP analysis provided much higher phylogenetic distance resolution than MLVA, particularly for strains belonging to the same lineage thus allowing diverse and unrelated genotypes to be identified with greater confidence. The application of this cgMLST scheme to the characterization of B. melitensis strains provided insights into the epidemiology of this pathogen and it is a candidate to be a benchmark tool for outbreak investigations in human and animal brucellosis.
Effect of stimulus polarity on detection thresholds in cochlear implant users: relationships with average threshold, gap detection, and rate discrimination
Authors: Carlyon Robert P. , Cosentino Stefano , Deeks John M. , Parkinson Wendy , Arenberg Julie A.
Published: April 2018

Previous psychophysical and modelling studies suggest that cathodic stimulation by a cochlear implant (CI) may preferentially activate the peripheral processes of the auditory nerve, whereas anodic stimulation may preferentially activate the central axons. Because neural degeneration typically starts with loss of the peripheral processes, lower thresholds for cathodic than for anodic stimulation may indicate good local neural survival. We measured thresholds for 99-pulse-per-second trains of triphasic (TP) pulses where the central high-amplitude phase was either anodic (TP-A) or cathodic (TP-C). Thresholds were obtained in monopolar mode from four or five electrodes and a total of eight ears from subjects implanted with the Advanced Bionics CI. When between–subject differences were removed, there was a modest but significant correlation between the polarity effect (TP-C threshold minus TP-A threshold) and the average of TP-C and TP-A thresholds, consistent with the hypothesis that a large polarity effect corresponds to good neural survival. When data were averaged across electrodes for each subject, relatively low thresholds for TP-C correlated with a high “upper limit” (the pulse rate up to which pitch continues to increase) from a previous study [Cosentino S, Carlyon RP, Deeks JM, Parkinson W, Bierer JA (2016) Rate discrimination, gap detection and ranking of temporal pitch in cochlear implant users. J Assoc Otolaryngol 17:371– 382]. Overall the results provide modest indirect support for the hypothesis that the polarity effect provides an estimate of local neural survival.
Nucleolar stress causes the entry into replicative senescence in budding yeast
Authors: Morlot Sandrine , Jia Song , Léger-Silvestre Isabelle , Matifas Audrey , Gadal Olivier , Charvin Gilles
Published: April 2018

The accumulation of Extrachromosomal rDNA Circles (ERCs) and their asymmetric segregation upon division have been hypothesized to be responsible for replicative senescence in mother yeasts and rejuvenation in daughter cells. However, it remains unclear by which molecular mechanisms ERCs would trigger the irreversible cell cycle slow-down leading to cell death. We show that ERCs accumulation is concomitant with a nucleolar stress, characterized by a massive accumulation of pre-rRNAs in the nucleolus, leading to a loss of nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio, decreased growth rate and cell-cycle slow-down. This nucleolar stress, observed in old mothers, is not inherited by rejuvenated daughters. Unlike WT, in the long-lived mutant fob1∆, a majority of cells is devoid of nucleolar stress and does not experience replicative senescence before death. Our study provides a unique framework to order the successive steps that govern the transition to replicative senescence and highlights the causal role of nucleolar stress in cellular aging.
Leveraging DNA methylation quantitative trait loci to characterize the relationship between methylomic variation, gene expression and complex traits
Authors: Hannon Eilis , Gorrie-Stone Tyler J , Smart Melissa C , Burrage Joe , Hughes Amanda , Bao Yanchun , Kumari Meena , Schalkwyk Leonard C , Mill Jonathan
Published: April 2018

Characterizing the complex relationship between genetic, epigenetic and transcriptomic variation has the potential to increase understanding about the mechanisms underpinning health and disease phenotypes. In this study, we describe the most comprehensive analysis of common genetic variation on DNA methylation (DNAm) to date, using the Illumina EPIC array to profile samples from the UK Household Longitudinal study. We identified 12,689,548 significant DNA methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) associations (P < 6.52x10-14) occurring between 2,907,234 genetic variants and 93,268 DNAm sites, including a large number not identified using previous DNAm-profiling methods. We demonstrate the utility of these data for interpreting the functional consequences of common genetic variation associated with > 60 human traits, using Summary data–based Mendelian Randomization (SMR) to identify 1,662 pleiotropic associations between 36 complex traits and 1,246 DNAm sites. We also use SMR to characterize the relationship between DNAm and gene expression, identifying 6,798 pleiotropic associations between 5,420 DNAm sites and the transcription of 1,702 genes. Our mQTL database and SMR results are available via a searchable online database (http://www.epigenomicslab.com/online-data-resources/) as a resource to the research community.
Hierarchical Cognition causes Task Related Deactivations but not just in Default Mode Regions
Authors: Farooqui Ausaf A , Manly Tom
Published: April 2018

Abstract

The well-known deactivation of the Default Mode Network (DMN) during external tasks is usually thought to reflect the suppression of internally directed mental activity during external attention. In 3 experiments with human participants we organized sequences of task events identical in their attentional and control demands into larger task episodes. We found that DMN deactivation across such sequential events was never constant, but was maximum at the beginning of the episode, then decreased gradually across the episode, reaching baseline towards episode completion, with the final event of the episode eliciting an activation. Crucially, this pattern of activity was not limited to a fixed set of DMN regions but, across experiments, was shown by a variable set of regions expected to be uninvolved in processing the ongoing task. This change in deactivation across sequential but identical events showed that the deactivation cannot be related to attentional/control demands which were constant across the episode, instead it has to be related to some episode related load that was maximal at the beginning and then decreased gradually as parts of the episode got executed. We argue that this load resulted from cognitive programs through which the entire episode was hierarchically executed as one unit. At the beginning of task episodes, programs related to their entire duration is assembled, causing maximal deactivation. As execution proceeds, elements within the program related to the completed parts of the episode dismantle, thereby decreasing the program load and causing a decrease in deactivation.

Significance Statement

We prepare breakfasts and write emails, and not individually execute their many component acts. The current study suggests that cognitive entities that enable such hierarchical execution of goal-directed behavior may cause the ubiquitously seen deactivation during external task execution. Further, while this deactivation has previously been associated with a defined set of the so called default mode regions, current study demonstrates that deactivation is shown by any region not currently involved in task execution, and in certain task episodes can even include attention related fronto-parietal regions as well as primary sensory and motor regions.
FAVITES: simultaneous simulation of transmission networks, phylogenetic trees, and sequences
Authors: Moshiri Niema , Ragonnet-Cronin Manon , Wertheim Joel O. , Mirarab Siavash
Published: April 2018

Motivation

The ability to simulate epidemics as a function of model parameters allows insights that are unobtainable from real datasets. Further, reconstructing transmission networks for fast-evolving viruses like HIV may have the potential to greatly enhance epidemic intervention, but transmission network reconstruction methods have been inadequately studied, largely because it is difficult to obtain “truth” sets on which to test them and properly measure their performance.

Results

We introduce FAVITES, a robust framework for simulating realistic datasets for epidemics that are caused by fast-evolving pathogens like HIV. FAVITES creates a generative model to produce contact networks, transmission networks, phylogenetic trees, and sequence datasets, and to add error to the data. FAVITES is designed to be extensible by dividing the generative model into modules, each of which is expressed as a fixed API that can be implemented using various models. We use FAVITES to simulate HIV datasets and study the realism of the simulated datasets. We then use the simulated data to study the impact of the increased treatment efforts on epidemiological outcomes. We also study two transmission network reconstruction methods and their effectiveness in detecting fast-growing clusters.

Availability and implementation

FAVITES is available at https://github.com/niemasd/FAVITES, and a Docker image can be found on DockerHub (https://hub.docker.com/r/niemasd/favites).
Quick X-ray reflectivity using monochromatic synchrotron radiation for time-resolved applications
Authors: Joress H. , Brock J. D. , Woll A. R.
Published: April 2018

A new technique for the parallel collection of X-ray reflectivity (XRR) data, compatible with monochromatic synchrotron radiation and flat substrates, is described and applied to thein situobservation of thin-film growth. The method employs a polycapillary X-ray optic to produce a converging fan of radiation, incident onto a sample surface, and an area detector to simultaneously collect the XRR signal over an angular range matching that of the incident fan. Factors determining the range and instrumental resolution of the technique in reciprocal space, in addition to the signal-to-background ratio, are described in detail. This particular implementation records ∼5° in 2θ and resolves Kiessig fringes from samples with layer thicknesses ranging from 3 to 76 nm. The value of this approach is illustrated by showingin situXRR data obtained with 100 ms time resolution during the growth of epitaxial La0.7Sr0.3MnO3on SrTiO3by pulsed laser deposition at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). Compared with prior methods for parallel XRR data collection, this is the first method that is both sample-independent and compatible with the highly collimated, monochromatic radiation typical of third-generation synchrotron sources. Further, this technique can be readily adapted for use with laboratory-based sources.
Linking protean career orientation to well-being: the role of psychological capital
Authors: Li Yongzhan
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of protean career orientation (PCO) and psychological capital (PsyCap) on well-being among knowledge workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The author adopted a two-wave cross-lagged design. In total, 518 knowledge workers at three enterprises in China were sampled to complete the Direnzoet al.’s (2015) Protean Career Orientation Questionnaire, Luthanset al.’s (2007) Psychological Capacity Questionnaire, and Ryff and Keyes’ (1995) Psychological Well-Being Scale. The main statistical methods involved descriptive statistics, structural equation modeling, and bootstrapping analysis.

Findings

The findings of the study were as follows: PCO positively predicted PsyCap among knowledge workers; both PCO and PsyCap positively contributed to knowledge workers’ well-being; and knowledge workers’ PsyCap partially mediated the relationship between their PCO and well-being.

Originality/value

Rare empirical studies were conducted on the relationship between PCO and psychological well-being. The previous findings are inconsistent on whether PCO is an antecedent of PsyCap, or PsyCap is an antecedent of PCO. The author conducted a cross-lagged survey to examine the above relationships; to certain extent, the present study addresses the research gap and contributes to the burgeoning literature.
Governance structures, cash holdings and firm value on the Ghana Stock Exchange
Authors: Asante-Darko Disraeli , Adu Bonsu Bright , Famiyeh Samuel , Kwarteng Amoako , Goka Yayra
Published: April 2018

Purpose

There is an existing relationship among shareholders, boards of directors and management of companies. Corporate governance practices of companies are expected to ensure that this relationship maximises the wealth of shareholders. Differences exist among corporate governance of companies listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. Companies, for purposes of liquidity, hold cash, but cash holdings also add to the cost of financing, according to working capital theories. The study, thus, sought to examine the relationship between corporate governance practices, ownership structure, cash holdings and firm value.

Design/methodology/approach

The study deployed the seemingly unrelated regression to reduce the problem of multicollinearity resulting from the strong relationship between cash reserves and some control variables.

Findings

The study found no significant relationship between board size and firm value. Similar findings were also made on the relationship between proportion of non-executive directors on the board and firm value. However, firms audited by the big four audit firms are valued higher by the capital market. Cash holdings of firms negatively affect performance, and this is statistically significant. A positive relationship arises between a firm’s cash holdings and its value as a result of debt financing, even though this is not significant.

Originality/value

The study is the first of its kind that deploys Tobin’s Q as a measure of firms’ value to reflect investors’ valuation of firms in Ghana. The study is also the first of its kind to test the interactive effect of debt financing and cash holdings on firm value in Ghana.
Master degree under crisis
Authors: Khalifa Bayan , Dukhan Osama , Mouselli Sulaiman
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore why students decide to enrol in a business postgraduate programme at Damascus University in the current Syrian crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploration of students’ motives was generated in this study using semi-structured interviews. On the basis of saturation sampling, 11 interviews took place in the leading Syrian university providing postgraduate programmes, Damascus University.

Findings

The results from the interviews indicate the existence of six different motives for students to enrol in a postgraduate study: self-motives, professional motives, social motives, academic motives, lack of vision, and delaying military service, which is directly caused by the current war conditions in Syria.

Practical implications

Understanding postgraduates’ motives is essential at the national level, the institutional level, and also at the individual level to make better future plans related to opening new programmes or altering admission criteria. Recommendations to higher education policy makers are highlighted in the study.

Originality/value

The majority of previous studies concentrate on students’ motives to pursue postgraduate studies during financial crisis. However, very little is known on why students decide to enrol in a business postgraduate programme in a war context.
Strengthening school management committees: a framework for process and outcome
Authors: Adil Nauman , Rashidi Zaki , Frooghi Reema
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the existing mechanism of school management committees (SMCs) and to propose an improved framework for strengthening its process and outcomes. In 2005, the Education and Literacy department, Government of Sindh decentralizes the administrative and operational authorities to school level in the form of SMCs. These committees have been vested with several roles and responsibilities in accordance with the objective of SMCs set in by government in assistance with different international donor agencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The purposively selected respondent that includes 35 stakeholders among which 25 stakeholders has been interviewed individually while other ten has been interviewed in the form of two focused groups consisting of five members each. The findings based on the interviews are analyzed using the thematic analysis. This study analyzes the formation of SMCs, roles and responsibilities of members, Allocation SMC funds and its utilization methods. The study includes the challenges faced by these committees in school administration and operations with their recommendations for overcoming such challenges. Some common challenges include limited financial resources, interference of landlords and potential people of the community, limited administrative authorities and lack of interest of government toward government schools.

Findings

The recommendations have been categorized into three broad themes: strengthening of mechanism, strengthening through functions, roles and responsibilities and revising SMC fund allocation and its utilization.

Originality/value

The study proposed an improved framework for strengthening the process and outcomes of SMC.
Examining the relationship between school principals’ instructional leadership behaviors, teacher self-efficacy, and collective teacher efficacy
Authors: Cansoy Ramazan , Parlar Hanifi
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between school principals’ instructional leadership behaviors, teacher self-efficacy, and collective teacher efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The participants were a total of 427 teachers working in elementary, middle, and high schools located in the Cekmekoy district of Istanbul. The data were gathered through the “Effective School Leadership Scale,” the “Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale,” and the “Collective Efficacy Scale.” Arithmetic mean, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis were used in the data analysis.

Findings

The results revealed positive and significant relationships between school leadership, teacher self-efficacy, and collective teacher efficacy. In addition, effective school leadership behaviors and teacher self-efficacy perceptions were found to be positive and significant predictors of collective teacher efficacy perceptions.

Originality/value

School principals can implement practices to enhance teachers’ competence, to make them feel more effective and competent as a group. In this sense, teachers who do not feel competent can be guided by those who have more experience in the profession. Additionally, opportunities through which they can experience success can be created for these teachers.
Marketisation, managerialism and high-stake testing
Authors: Mutereko Sybert
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Using a South African district of education as a case study, the purpose of this paper is to explore how high-stake assessments informed by marketisation and managerialism have been embedded in the South African education system.

Design/methodology/approach

This papers draws on data that were collected through a mixed method approach in the secondary schools of the uMgungundlovu District, which is in Kwazulu-Natal province (KZN) in the eastern part of South Africa. This paper emerged from multiple sources of data, that is, from documents, interviews, questionnaires, and observation as well as secondary sources.

Findings

The paper demonstrates how the pincer movement of markets and managerialism have used high-stake testing as a mechanism of performativity. It illustrates how test scores are published in newspapers to provide consumers with information that is needed for full participation in the marketised education system.

Practical implications

The insights from this paper have profound implications for school managers and policy makers. While high-stake tests are logically consistent and theoretically defensible, overdependence on them portends the replacement of traditional values of schools by the market value of the education.

Originality/value

The study contributes profound insights into how the high-stake testing serves the purpose of social control and subjugation mechanisms for students, schools, and teachers by the state and the invisible arm of the markets. The problem with the use of high-stakes testing as performativity mechanisms is not just that they hinders learning and teaching, but it changes the work of schools and teachers who are at the chalkface of education system.
Training autonomous managers for a dynamic environment
Authors: Santos M. Valle , Mayoral Rosa M.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore self-regulated learning among university students, the role played by motivation and its impact on academic performance. This paper presents a teaching strategy aimed at self-regulation which draws on the educational value provided by the evaluation system.

Design/methodology/approach

This research includes a quantitative analysis to examine the dependency relation between self-regulation, motivational orientation and academic performance. The impact of the teaching strategy on the relation between self-regulation and academic performance is also explored.

Findings

The findings indicate that self-regulation is closely linked to motivational orientation and is a determining factor in academic performance. In addition, implementing a teaching strategy focussing on self-regulation alters said relation.

Practical implications

This research reflects the value of fostering the level of student self-regulation with a view to enhancing not only their current learning, but also the self-directed learning that will ensure professional success. The research also evidences the potential of the evaluation system for encouraging the development of self-regulation.

Originality/value

The conclusions to emerge from this research will help educators gain an awareness of the usefulness of strengthening student self-regulation and the potential offered by the evaluation system as a teaching resource. This research also merges extremely interesting elements – student self-regulation and the evaluation system – which to date have not been explored jointly.
Leadership style in the madrasah in Tulungagung: how principals enhance teacher’s performance
Authors: Shulhan Muwahid
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the leadership styles of principals of State Islamic Senior High Schools (MAN), specifically how well the principals motivate, mobilize, direct, and evaluate teachers’ performance to achieve students’ academic attainment.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study with a multi-site case study was conducted at three MAN in Tulungagung, East Java, Indonesia. Principals of MAN were interviewed, as were administrators and teachers to confirm the principals’ performances and the results of their leadership on professional management, school policies, procedures, and on the implementation of the schools’ dynamic and students’ academic attainments.

Findings

This study revealed that MAN principals are the central figures in the Islamic schools. In particular, implementation of leadership styles is specified as: motivating: intensive communications, incentives, and transparent administrative management; mobilizing: giving opportunities to study for higher degrees, workshops, internet facilities, and rewards; directing: additional teaching hours, scholarships, briefings, and cooperation with other agencies; and evaluating: class visits, personal meetings, encouraging participation, communicating with madrasah committees, collaborating with foreign universities, and conducting research to improve learning. Effective leadership styles evidently increase students’ academic attainments.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations are shown in the sites that are in an area of restricted technologies in a developing country.

Originality/value

This study develops its setting and orientation by integrating Islamic and global values in education management. It shows the prominent role of MAN principals, as the specific cases exemplify leadership and management at secondary schools.
A pilot study on education for sustainable development in the Romanian economic higher education
Authors: Novo-Corti Isabel , Badea Liana , Tirca Diana Mihaela , Aceleanu Mirela Ionela
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to emphasize how economics courses offered at higher education institutions can influence sustainable development, in general, and Romania’s sustainable development, in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

The conclusions are based on a pilot questionnaire conducted by the authors on the level of Romanian students enrolled in public and private economic faculties. The results were based on a sample of 1,250 respondents – students, master and PhD – from the economic faculties of some prestigious Romanian universities. To identify differences between some groups,t-test analysis and ANOVA were conducted.

Findings

Education is an important pillar for ensuring sustainable development because through education, people understand and learn how to become more responsible toward the environment. Studies conducted in the twenty-first century are showing a direct link between the investment in education and economic, social and human development. The present study revealed that the economic higher education system in Romania has started with small steps to adapt to the environmental requirements. Unfortunately, the efforts still required to be made are significant, since it is observed that all undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD require a change of attitude and mentality. Romanian public universities are more involved than private universities in the implementation of programs, projects, debates and courses on sustainable development and students’ reactions are positive.

Originality/value

This paper provides useful insights, allowing a better understanding of the role of universities in fostering sustainable development. This research is useful to find solutions for developing education for sustainable development in Romania and it can be a starting point for ESD programs and policies.
Understanding social media advertising effect on consumers’ responses
Authors: Hamouda Manel
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This study aims to deepen the current understanding of social media advertising by using the Ducoffe’s advertising value model. The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents of advertising value and its consequences on consumers’ attitude and behavior in the specific context of tourism advertising on Facebook.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey was conducted on a quota sample of 352 Tunisian Facebook users. Web-based questionnaires were used to collect the data which was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.

Findings

Findings indicate that there is a significant relationship between informativeness, entertainment, credibility and social media advertising value. This positive value will affect favorably consumers’ attitude toward social media advertising and their behavioral responses. The moderator effect of corporate reputation was also confirmed in this relationship.

Practical implications

Tourism marketers should focus not only on developing information-rich and entertaining social media advertisements but also a credible content of the ads. Furthermore, Facebook should be systematically integrated by tourism practitioners in their communication strategy as it affects the attitude and consequently the behavior of the consumers especially when the company using social media advertising has a good corporate reputation.

Originality/value

In the tourism context, the effectiveness of social media advertising remains little known to practitioners and scholars despite the frequent use of social media by tourism customers and companies in recent years. So, this research study contributes to a better understanding of the use of social media advertising on Facebook regarding tourism products and services.
Preparers’ and users’ perception of intellectual capital information usefulness
Authors: Loulou-Baklouti Salma , Triki Mohamed
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore preparers’ and users’ perception of intellectual capital (IC) usefulness and to examine the significant differences in the usefulness perceptions of IC information and its categories according to sex, age, function, educational level, specialty and professional experience of respondents.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study drew on a questionnaire survey sent to five groups of preparers and users who were asked to provide their usefulness perception about information on IC and its categories.

Findings

This paper found that the five preparers and users groups perceive information on IC as well as its three categories as useful for their decision-making purposes. In addition, it concluded that the usefulness perception of IC information does not differ by sex, age, function, educational level and specialty of the respondents, but it differs according to the professional experience.

Practical implications

To the extent that users perceive IC information as useful, managers are encouraged to disclose more information about this hidden capital in order to improve their transparency. As there are no generally accepted IC reporting guidelines and in order to fill informational gaps between companies and their stakeholders, accounting standards bodies could regulate the IC information disclosure by developing relevant communication standards in accordance with stakeholders’ expectations. They may identify information items that should be considered as a priority by making them mandatory for disclosure purposes, and other items voluntary.

Originality/value

The paper can be regarded as the first exploratory study to investigate the IC information usefulness from the perspectives of five preparers and users groups in Tunisia, as an example of a developing economy in Africa.
Creativity and economic growth: theory, measures, and potentials for Morocco
Authors: Nakamura Leonard
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The current era of globalization is dominated by the rise of investments in intangible capital rather than tangible capital – the ascendance of creativity over plant and equipment. This brief paper is motivated by the possibility that emerging market economies such as Morocco might take greater advantage of new tools and policies designed for this new era. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

To begin, the author discusses the transformation of the global economy and the consequences of the transformed global economy for economic thinking and measurement. The author refers to both old and new literature on the measurement of intangible investment and capital.

Findings

Then, the author discusses the rising role of creativity and cultural difference in the development of these new economic forces, using the example of the Harry Potter book series.

Originality/value

The author then considers how cultural enhancement serves multiple purposes for a nation. Finally, the author turns to some of the possible implications of these economic forces for Morocco, stressing that these implications are speculative.
Creating digital transformation: strategies and steps
Authors: Shaughnessy Haydn
Published: April 2018

Purpose

To facilitate the cultural and technical changes that are a hallmark of successful digital transformation, a few leading-edge firms have adopted the principles of FLOW-Agile. 10; 10; 10;

Design/methodology/approach

The FLOW framework formalizes a visual representation of a company’s adaptive value-seeking process being implemented by Agile teams. 10;

Findings

In FLOW-Agile, the aim is to make all processes visible on the walls of operating units and to allow employees to collaborate in constant process redesign so they are continuously defining the best way to get work done.

Practical implications

A case example shows how Paddy Power Betfair, an online betting site, initiated a completely new system of open, visual and collaborative project and process design that now serves more than 3.5 billion application program interface (API) requests every day.

Originality/value

For leaders to guide their companies through the transition to digital culture, a sea change for established businesses, they must be able to understand and explain that culture in the context of the values and the flows of work that make digital-age companies successful. To facilitate the cultural and technical changes that are a hallmark of successful digital transformation, a few leading-edge firms have adopted the principles of FLOW-Agile, an adaptation of the Agile framework designed to enable small teams to accomplish rapid iterations of customer-focused projects in a networked system. The FLOW framework formalizes a visual representation of a company’s adaptive value-seeking process being implemented by Agile teams.
Racialised prescribing: enacting race/ethnicity in clinical practice guidelines and in accounts of clinical practice
Authors: Smart Andrew , Weiner Kate
Published: April 2018

This article examines the articulation and enactment of racialised classifications in clinical practice guidelines and in accounts of clinical practice. It contributes to debates about racialisation in medicine and its consequences. The research centred on the case study of prescribing guidelines for hypertension in England and Wales, drawing on documentary sources and semi‐structured expert interviews. We found that conceptual and socio‐political uncertainties existed about how to interpret the designation ‘Black patients’ and about the practices for identifying patients’ race/ethnicity. To ‘close’ uncertainties, and thus produce the guidelines and treat patients, respondents drew authority from disparate elements of the ‘topologies of race’. This has implications for understanding processes of racialisation and for the future use of racialised clinical practice guidelines. We argue that clinical practice guidelines play a ‘nodal’ role in racialisation by forming an authoritative material connection that creates a path for translating racialised research into racialised healthcare practice, and that they carry with them implicit conceptual and socio‐political uncertainties that are liable to create inconsistencies in healthcare practice.
The ED95 of Nalbuphine in Outpatient‐Induced Abortion Compared to Equivalent Sufentanil
Authors: Chen Limei , Zhou Yamei , Cai Yaoyao , Bao Nana , Xu Xuzhong , Shi Beibei
Published: April 2018

This prospective study evaluated the 95% effective dose (ED95) of nalbuphine in inhibiting body movement during outpatient‐induced abortion and its clinical efficacy versus the equivalent of sufentanil. The study was divided into two parts. For the first part, voluntary first‐trimester patients who needed induced abortions were recruited to measure the ED95 of nalbuphine in inhibiting body movement during induced abortion using the sequential method (the Dixon up‐and‐down method). In the second part, this was a double‐blind, randomized study. Sixty cases of first‐trimester patients were recruited and were randomly divided into two groups (n = 30), including group N (nalbuphine at the ED95 dose) and group S (sufentanil at an equivalent dose). Propofol was given to both groups as the sedative. The circulation, respiration and body movement of the two groups in surgery were observed. The amount of propofol, the awakening time, the time to leave the hospital and the analgesic effect were recorded. The ED95 of nalbuphine in inhibiting body movement during painless surgical abortion was 0.128 mg/kg (95% confidence intervals 0.098–0.483 mg/kg). Both nalbuphine and the equivalent dose of sufentanil provided a good intraoperative and post‐operative analgesic effect in outpatient‐induced abortion. However, the post‐operative morbidity of dizziness for nalbuphine was less than for sufentanil (p < 0.05), and the awakening time and the time to leave the hospital were significantly shorter than those of sufentanil (p < 0.05). Nalbuphine at 0.128 mg/kg was used in outpatient‐induced abortion as an intraoperative and post‐operative analgesic and showed a better effect compared with sufentanil.
Adjuvant radiation with androgen‐deprivation therapy for men with lymph node metastases after radical prostatectomy: identifying men who benefit
Authors: Gupta Mohit , Patel Hiten D. , Schwen Zeyad R. , Tran Phuoc T. , Partin Alan W.
Published: April 2018

Objectives

To perform a comparative analysis of three current management strategies for patients with lymph node metastases (LNM; pN1) following radical prostatectomy (RP): observation, androgen‐deprivation therapy (ADT), and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) + ADT.

Patients and Methods

Patients with LNM after RP were identified using the National Cancer Database (2004–2013). Exclusion criteria included any use of radiation therapy or ADT before RP, clinical M1 disease, or incomplete follow‐up data. Patients were categorised according to postoperative management strategy. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Kaplan–Meier curves and adjusted multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were employed. Sub‐analyses further evaluated patient risk stratification and time to receipt of adjuvant therapy.

Results

A total of 8 074 patients met the inclusion criteria. Postoperatively, 4 489 (55.6%) received observation, 2 065 (25.6%) ADT, and 1 520 (18.8%) ADT + EBRT. The mean (median; interquartile range) follow‐up was 52.3 (48.0; 28.5–73.5) months. Patients receiving ADT or ADT + EBRT had higher pathological Gleason scores, T‐stage, positive surgical margin rates, and nodal burden. Adjusted multivariable Cox models showed improved OS for ADT + EBRT vs observation (hazard ratio [HR] 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64–0.94; P = 0.008) and vs ADT (HR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63–0.93; P = 0.007). There was no difference in OS for ADT vs observation (HR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.87–1.18; P = 0.88). Findings were similar when restricting adjuvant cohorts for timing of adjuvant therapy. There was no difference in OS between groups for up to 2 549 (31.6%) patients lacking any of the following adverse features: ≥pT3b disease, Gleason score ≥9, three or more positive nodes, or positive surgical margin.

Conclusions

For patients with LNM after RP, the use of adjuvant ADT + EBRT improved OS in the majority of patients, especially those with adverse pathological features. Conversely, adjuvant therapy did not confer significant OS benefit in up to 30% of patients without high‐risk features, who may be managed with observation and forego the morbidity associated with immediate ADT or radiation.
Mother‐Stepfather Coparenting in Stepfamilies as Predictor of Child Adjustment
Authors: Favez Nicolas , Widmer Eric D. , Frascarolo France , Doan Minh‐Thuy
Published: April 2018

Coparenting between biological parents is a strong predictor of child adjustment. To date, however, little is known about the coparenting dynamics between parent and stepparent in stepfamilies. This study aimed at exploring the links between coparenting in the mother–stepfather dyad and child behavior in stepfamilies compared with the links between mother–father coparenting and child behavior in first‐marriage families. Two modes of coparenting were assessed: overt coparenting, that is, coparental behaviors in the presence of the child, and covert coparenting, that is, the way each parent speaks of the other parent to the child. The sample (N = 80) comprised 48 stepfamilies and 32 first‐marriage families with a child between 7 and 13 years old. Overt coparenting was assessed through direct observation in the standardized situation of the PicNic Game. Covert coparenting and child behavior were assessed through mother‐reported questionnaires. Results showed (a) more covert coparenting behaviors in first‐marriage families, (b) no differences in overt coparenting, (c) more child difficulties reported in stepfamilies, (d) less optimal overt coparenting being linked with more difficulties in children in both family structures, and (e) an interaction effect between family structure and coparenting, showing that overt coparenting is linked with child behavior mainly in stepfamilies.
Physiological and psychological effects of gardening activity in older adults
Authors: Hassan Ahmad , Qibing Chen , Tao Jiang
Published: April 2018

Aim

Gardening has long been one of most enjoyable pastimes among older adults. Whether gardening activities contribute to the well‐being of older adults is a major question. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to clarify the psychophysiological relaxing effects of gardening activities on older adults living in modern institutional care.

Methods

The study participants were 40 older women aged 79.5 ± 8.09 years (mean ± SD). A cross‐over study design was used to investigate the physiological and psychological responses to environments with and without plants. Physiological evaluation was carried out using blood pressure and electroencephalography, and psychological evaluation was carried out using the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory and Semantic Differential method.

Results

Blood pressure was significantly lower, and changes in brainwaves were observed. Psychological responses showed that participants were more “comfortable and relaxed” after the plant task than after the control task. In addition, total anxiety levels were significantly lower after carrying out the plant task than after the control task.

Conclusions

Our research suggests that gardening activities might enhance physiological and psychological relaxation in older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1147–1152.
MicroRNP‐mediated translational activation of nonadenylated mRNAs in a mammalian cell‐free system
Authors: Wakiyama Motoaki , Ogami Koichi , Iwaoka Ryo , Aoki Kazuma , Hoshino Shin‐ichi
Published: April 2018

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that regulate translation and mRNA stability by binding target mRNAs in complex with Argonaute (AGO) proteins. AGO interacts with a member of the TNRC6 family proteins to form a microRNP complex, which recruits the CCR4‐NOT complex to accelerate deadenylation and inhibits translation. MicroRNAs primarily repress translation of target mRNAs but have been shown to enhance translation of a specific type of target reporter mRNAs in various experimental systems: G0 quiescent mammalian cells, Xenopus laevis oocytes, Drosophila embryo extracts, and HeLa cells. In all of the cases mentioned, a common feature of the activated target mRNAs is the lack of a poly(A) tail. Here, we show let‐7‐microRNP‐mediated translational activation of nonadenylated target mRNAs in a mammalian cell‐free system, which contains over‐expressed AGO2, TNRC6B, and PAPD7 (TUTase5, TRF4‐1). Importantly, translation of nonadenylated mRNAs was activated also by tethered TNRC6B silencing domain (SD), in the presence of PAPD7. Deletion of the poly(A)‐binding protein (PABP) interacting motif (PAM2) from the TNRC6B‐SD abolished the translational activation, suggesting the involvement of PABP in the process. Similar results were also obtained in cultured HEK293T cells. This work may provide novel insights into microRNP‐mediated mRNA regulation.
Patient‐centred value framework for haemophilia
Authors: O'Mahony B. , Dolan G. , Nugent D. , Goodman C. ,   the International Haemophilia Access Strategy Council
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Growing budgetary demands have led to increased scrutiny of healthcare spending for rare diseases, leading to a unified goal within the haemophilia community to define objectively patient‐centred value in haemophilia care.

Aim

To develop a patient‐centred outcomes framework with global applicability for assessing value in haemophilia healthcare.

Methods

An international, multidisciplinary panel of experts convened to identify the range of patient impacts of haemophilia health care and organize these into a three‐tiered, patient‐centred outcomes framework based on Porter's model for assessing value.

Results

In addition to measures common to other chronic diseases (eg survival and quality of life), Tier 1, health status achieved or retained, includes haemophilia‐specific outcomes of bleeding frequency, musculoskeletal complications and life‐threatening bleeds, as well as measures of function or activity. Tier 2, process of recovery, includes such outcomes as time to initial treatment, time to recovery and time missed at education/work; also included are disutility of care, measured by inhibitor development, pathogen transmission/infections, orthopaedic intervention and difficult venous access. Tier 3, sustainability of health, is measured by bleed avoidance, maintenance of productive lives and good health over time; potential long‐term negative consequences include insufficient or inappropriate therapy and age‐related complications. The applicability of the outcomes framework for different types of haemophilia healthcare interventions is described.

Conclusion

Haemophilia health care can affect multiple patient‐centred outcomes across diverse patient types and healthcare systems. This framework organizes those outcomes for informing value‐based decision making by multiple stakeholders and provides the basis for further refinement and development of a standardized outcomes set.
Interim reviews and the association between partner rotations and audit fees
Authors: Grosse Matthew , Ma Nelson , Scott Tom
Published: April 2018

This paper considers whether the association between partner rotation and audit fees varies based on whether the partner is rotated before the interim review or annual report audit. Consistent with prior literature, there is some evidence of higher fees in the year of rotation, but we find this effect is driven by partner rotations that occur before the interim review, which are 7.14% higher on average. We argue that rotations before the annual report audit are less likely to be planned, and thus audit firms cannot pass on increased costs due to a weaker bargaining position. Supporting evidence is provided, as results only persist when client bargaining power is low, and in contrast there are lower fees for rotations that occur before the annual report audit when client bargaining power is high.