bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Les pluriels internes féminins de l’arabe tunisien
Authors: Dali Myriam , Mathieu Éric
Published: March 2017

L’objectif de cet article est de rendre compte des pluriels simples et doubles de l’arabe dans le cadre de la théorie des nominaux et de l’individuation deBorer (2005). En particulier, nous étudions ces pluriels dans les constructions où l’accord entre le verbe et le pluriel est déviant et faisons quatre propositions  1) les pluriels internes sont féminins (et singuliers) à un niveau sous-jacent dans les contextes où l’accord est déviant, ne représentant donc pas, contrairement aux apparences, d’échec d’appariement ; 2) lorsque les pluriels internes s’accordent avec le verbe, une interprétation distributive ou collective est établie, et lorsque les pluriels internes ne s’accordent pas avec le verbe, seule l’interprétation collective peut être générée, résultat de la fonction atomisante du féminin que l’on retrouve indépendamment dans le contexte du singulatif ; 3) le pluriel interne féminin constitue la base des doubles pluriels, si bien que ces derniers font surface à un niveau supérieur dans la structure nominale, offrant donc un deuxième type de pluriel, pourvu d’une fonction comptable, alors que celui généré sous la tête Div a une fonction atomisante ; 4) les règles que nous décrivons sont tout à fait prévisibles et productives, ce qui laisse supposer que les pluriels étudiés dans notre article ne sont pas des pluriels lexicaux.
Literary reading and critical thinking
Authors: Koek Martijn , Janssen Tanja , Hakemulder Frank , Rijlaarsdam Gert
Published: March 2017

Previous research suggests that literary reading may involve critical thinking. This involvement may facilitate critical literary understanding (CLU), i.e. understanding the literary text in a reconstructive, de-automatized manner. However, little is known about the cognitive processes this involvement entails. This study aims: (1) to conceptualize CLU, by relating dual process theory to concepts from the domain of literary studies (foregrounding, defamiliarization); (2) to test CLU in an educational context. An instrument to measure CLU was designed. A prospective cohort study was conducted (N = 271, grades 10–12, pre-university education, ages 14–19) at a Dutch secondary school. CLU, critical thinking skills (CTS) and dispositions (CTD) were measured one month after the start of the academic year, CLU was measured again four months later. Results show that students improve in CLU. This improvement is mediated by CTD and moderated by CTS. These results suggest that critical thinking can be engaged in the literature classroom.
Rethinking peace-building practices through the Somaliland experience
Authors: Fernández y Garcia Marta Regina
Published: March 2017

Reflecting on the Somali case, the article argues that the systematic failures of international interventions in the country have largely derived from the modernising orientation underlying UN peace-building practices. Following this logic, the solution to the Somali problem becomes dependent upon the construction of a centralised authority. Resisting an alternative romanticisation of the Somaliland experiment, the article suggests that the multiple attempts to build asui generismodel of democracy, which combines Western and local forms of governance, are giving way to a hybrid political order that may, in turn, help us to rethink UN peace-building practices in less ethnocentric terms.
Apoptosis-inducing activity and antiproliferative effect of Paeoniflorigenone from moutan cortex
Authors: Huang Ying , Ohno Osamu , Suenaga Kiyotake , Miyamoto Kenji
Published: March 2017

Ninety samples from the extracts of plants from traditional Chinese medicines were screened for antitumor activity. Paeoniflorigenone (PFG) was isolated as an active ingredient from the root of moutan cortex, which showed the strongest activity. In addition, our data indicated that PFG was cytotoxic and induced apoptosis selectively in the cancer cell lines. These effects were cancelled by the addition of caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, suggesting that it was mediated by caspase-3 activation.
Evaluation of body composition with bioimpedence. A comparison between athletic and non‐athletic children
Authors: Meleleo Domenico , Bartolomeo Nicola , Cassano Liliana , Nitti Alessandro , Susca Giovanna , Mastrototaro Giuseppina , Armenise Umberto , Zito Annapaola , Devito Fiorella , Scicchitano Pietro , Ciccone Marco Matteo
Published: March 2017

Purpose: Conventional Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) or Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) can provide direct evaluations of body composition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate lean and fat mass (FM), and hydration of children involved in daily competitive sports. Methods: 190 non‐athletic [8.2–10.5 years] and 29 competitive children [8.0–10.5 years] were enrolled. They were evaluated: at baseline (t0), 6 months (t1) and one year (t2). Anthropometric, BIA and BIVA, lean and FM, and hydration evaluations were performed. Results: Resistance (R/h) and reactance (Xc/h) were lower at t0 in competitive individuals when compared to controls. Xc/h (+3.28) significantly increases in competitive when compared to non‐competitive individuals (+0.66, p for difference: 0.011), while phase angle (PA) was lower at t0 (5.72 vs. 6.17, p < .001) and after 6 months (p = .001). Total body water adjusted for height (TBW/h) significantly increased only in non‐athletes (+0.50 ± 0.13, p < .001) between t0 and t1. At t1, extracellular water (ECW) significantly decreased (p = .026) in the two groups: −0.45 ± 0.19% in non‐competitive, −1.63 ± 0.49% in competitive subjects, while intracellular water (ICW) increased. At one‐year follow‐up (t2), there were no statistically significant differences in R/h, Xc/h and PA in competitive individuals when compared to baseline and t1. Furthermore, we observed at t2 that hours/week of training, age, male gender and body mass index can influence FFM/h and FM/h in both competitive and non‐competitive subjects. In particular, a direct correlation was for hours/week and FFM/h, inverse for hours/week and FM/h. Conclusions: Body mass index does not allow evaluating differences in lean body mass and FM between athletes and non‐athletes. BIA and BIVA can give more reliable details about body composition differences in competitive adolescents and non‐competitive, outlining a progressive decline in ECW and increase in ICW without affecting TBW composition of athletes.
Aozan: an automated post-sequencing data-processing pipeline
Authors: Perrin Sandrine , Firmo Cyril , Lemoine Sophie , Le Crom Stéphane , Jourdren Laurent
Published: March 2017

Motivation

Data management and quality control of output from Illumina sequencers is a disk space- and time-consuming task. Thus, we developed Aozan to automatically handle data transfer, demultiplexing, conversion and quality control once a run has finished. This software greatly improves run data management and the monitoring of run statistics via automatic emails and HTML web reports.

Availability and Implementation

Aozan is implemented in Java and Python, supported on Linux systems, and distributed under the GPLv3 License at: http://www.outils.genomique.biologie.ens.fr/aozan/. Aozan source code is available on GitHub: https://github.com/GenomicParisCentre/aozan.
Trends in the Purchase of Surgical Care in the Community by the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Rosen Amy K. , O’Brien William , Chen Qi , Shwartz Michael , Itani Kamal F.M. , Gunnar William
Published: March 2017

Background:

The 2014 implementation of the Veterans Choice Program increased opportunities for Veterans to receive care in the community. Although surgical care is a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) priority, little is known about the types of surgeries provided in the VHA versus those referred to community care (CC), and whether Veterans are increasing their use of surgical care through CC with these additional opportunities.

Objectives:

To examine national trends across VHA facilities in the frequencies and types of surgeries provided in the VHA and through CC, and explore the association between facilities’ purchase of care with rurality and surgical complexity designation.

Research Design:

Retrospective study using Veterans Administration (VA) outpatient and CC data from the VA’s Corporate Data Warehouse (October 1, 2013–September 30, 2016).

Measures:

Veterans’ demographics, outpatient surgeries, facility rurality, and surgical complexity.

Results:

Our sample included 525,283 outpatient surgeries; 79% occurred in the VHA over the study timeframe. The proportion of CC surgeries increased from 16% in October 2013 to 29% in December 2014, and then subsequently declined, leveling off at 21% in June 2016 (trend, P<0.05). These trends varied by surgery type. Increases in CC surgeries were evident for 4 surgery types: cardiovascular, digestive, eye and ocular, and male genital surgeries (all trends, P<0.05). Rural and low-complexity facilities were more likely to purchase surgical CC than their urban and high-complexity counterparts (P<0.0001).

Conclusions:

Although the VHA remains the primary provider of surgical care for Veterans, Veterans Choice Program implementation increased Veterans’ use of CC relative to the VHA for certain types of surgeries, potentially bringing challenges to the VHA in delivering and coordinating surgical care across settings.
Translating biomarkers from research to clinical use in pediatric neurocritical care: focus on traumatic brain injury and cardiac arrest
Authors: Prout Andrew J. , Wolf Michael S. , Fink Ericka L.
Published: March 2017

Purpose of review

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cardiac arrest are important causes of morbidity and mortality in children. Improved diagnosis and outcome prognostication using validated biomarkers could allow clinicians to better tailor therapies for optimal efficacy.

Recent findings

Contemporary investigation has yielded plentiful biomarker candidates of central nervous system (CNS) injury, including macromolecules, genetic, inflammatory, oxidative, and metabolic biomarkers. Biomarkers have yet to be validated and translated into bedside point-of-care or cost-effective and efficient laboratory tests. Validation testing should consider developmental status, injury mechanism, and time trajectory with patient-centered outcomes.

Recent investigation of biomarkers of CNS injury may soon improve diagnosis, management, and prognostication in children with traumatic brain injury and cardiac arrest.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus decontamination: is ultraviolet radiation more effective than vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide?
Authors: Cobb Travis C.
Published: March 2017

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an increasing problem for patients, clinicians, and epidemiologists. Patients risk MRSA colonization upon admittance in areas not properly disinfected. As high-level decontaminants, both ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the UV-C waveband as well as vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide (VHP) have been utilized to limit nosocomial infection cost and concomitant disease. In order to determine whether UV irradiation is more effective than VHP in the control and prevention of MRSA infection, 12 studies with N = 20 discrete data points were analyzed to determine efficacy based on log10 reductions in MRSA colonies on medically relevant surfaces reported in colony forming unit per unit area achieved within reported decontamination times. The search retrieved studies searching all databases of the Web of Science using the terms ‘hydrogen peroxide∗ AND MRSA∗’ and ‘ultraviolet AND MRSA∗’ within all time periods. A Student's t test determined a statistically significant difference in log reductions of MRSA achieved by each treatment (P = 0.0117), with a rejection of the null hypothesis of no statistical difference. A second t test determined no significant difference between reduction rates when decontamination time was factored into the analysis (P = 0.1701), supporting the null. Provisionally, the results indicate VHP having greater amounts of MRSA reduction than UV, with no difference between treatment reduction rates. However, each is considered effective in MRSA sterilization. Practical significance should be determined by biosafety officers and individual hospital policy as related to sterilization cutoffs. Further investigation and direct experimental comparisons are warranted considering the limitations of this study.
Gut microbiota and depression: from pathogenesis to new therapeutic strategies
Authors: Kang Yongbo , Cai Yue
Published: March 2017

Depression is a common mental disorder, which can be long lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing an individual's ability to function in their daily life. The complex interplay of biological, genetic, and environmental factors is important on the development of the disease. Accumulating evidence shed light on the association of dysbiosis of gut microbiota with depression. Gut microbiota may play an important role in central nervous system function, namely through inflammation, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, and by affecting neurotransmission. Certain gut microbial strains have been shown to may play either a pathogenic or protective role in the development of depression. Oral intake of probiotics/prebiotic can, therefore, represent a therapeutic approach for depression treatment. However, the relevant scientific work has only just begun, and the available data in this field remain limited. Fortunately, utilization of new sequencing technologies allows the attempt to an expanded research on the association of intestinal bacterial flora and human diseases. In this review, we summarize the role of gut microbiota in depression progression. Probiotics/prebiotic in the treatment of depression was also discussed in other threads.
Anaplastic Variant of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Displays Intricate Genetic Alterations and Distinct Biological Features
Authors: Li Mingyang , Liu Yixiong , Wang Yingmei , Chen Gang , Chen Qiongrong , Xiao Hualiang , Liu Fang , Qi Chubo , Yu Zhou , Li Xia , Fan Linni , Guo Ying , Yan Qingguo , Guo Shuangping , Wang Zhe
Published: March 2017

Anaplastic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (A-DLBCL) is a rare morphologic variant characterized by the presence of polygonal, bizarre-shaped tumor cells. However, the clinicopathologic and genetic features of this variant are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated 35 cases of A-DLBCL with regard to their clinical, pathologic, and genetic characteristics. The age of the patients ranged from 23 to 89 years (median age, 62 y) with a male to female ratio of 23:12. Twenty-two of 26 (85%) patients had Ann Arbor stage III or IV disease, and 17/26 (65%) patients had a high-intermediate or high International Prognostic Index score. For the 24 patients treated with aggressive chemotherapy regimens, the median overall survival (OS) was 16 months, and the 2-year OS rate was 36%. Immunophenotypically, 30/35 (86%) cases had a non–germinal center B-cell immunophenotype. CD30 expression was present in 18/35 (51%) cases, and the p53 protein stain was positive in 28/35 (80%) cases. Fifteen of 35 (43%) cases expressed both BCL2 and MYC (double expressor). Twenty-nine of 32 (91%) cases tested positive for RELA, RELB, or c-Rel in the nucleus, indicating activation of the NFκB signaling pathway. Cytogenetically, 11/27 (41%) cases had concurrent MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 abnormalities (translocation or extra copy), including 5 cases with triple abnormalities. TP53 mutation was found in 17/30 (57%) cases, whereas the MYD88 L265P, CD79B, and CARD11 mutations were found in 7/35, 4/30, and 5/30 cases, respectively. We compared the A-DLBCL group with 50 patients with DLBCL without anaplastic features (common DLBCL). The OS of patients with A-DLBCL was significantly worse than that of patients with DLBCL without anaplastic features (P=0.004). Cases of A-DLBCL more often had a high International Prognostic Index score and a non–germinal center B-cell immunophenotype, more frequently expressed CD30 and p53, and more often had mutations of TP53 and concurrent abnormalities of MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 (P<0.05). In conclusion, A-DLBCL displays clinicopathologic features that distinguish it from ordinary DLBCL. Most patients follow an aggressive clinical course and have a poor outcome. Cases of A-DLBCL have a high frequency of TP53 mutation and genetic abnormalities of MYC, BCL2, and BCL6.
Autogenic Drainage in Children With Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Corten Lieselotte , Morrow Brenda M.
Published: March 2017

Purpose:

Airway clearance is an essential part of the management of cystic fibrosis (CF) as it facilitates clearance of viscous pulmonary secretions. This review aimed to determine the effect of autogenic drainage (AD) and assisted autogenic drainage (AAD) compared with no, sham, or other types of airway clearance in children with CF.

Summary of Key Points:

Two pediatric randomized cross-over trials were identified on the use of AD in children with CF; no studies were available on the use of AAD. In one study AD had a positive influence on the Huang score, and is preferred over postural drainage in this population.

Conclusions and Recommendations:

We could not determine the efficacy of AD and AAD in children with CF. We recommend the implementation of pediatric-specific randomized controlled trials with adequate sample sizes, appropriate clinical outcome measures, and analysis of adverse effects.
Focused and Corrective Feedback Versus Structured and Supported Debriefing in a Simulation-Based Cardiac Arrest Team Training
Authors: Kim Ji-Hoon , Kim Young-Min , Park Seong Heui , Ju Eun A , Choi Se Min , Hong Tai Yong
Published: March 2017

Objective

The aim of the study was to compare the educational impact of two postsimulation debriefing methods—focused and corrective feedback (FCF) versus Structured and Supported Debriefing (SSD)—on team dynamics in simulation-based cardiac arrest team training.

Methods

This was a pilot randomized controlled study conducted at a simulation center. Fourth-year medical students were randomly assigned to the FCF or SSD group, with each team composed of six students and a confederate. Each team participated in two simulations and the assigned debriefing (FCF or SSD) sessions and then underwent a test simulation. Two trained raters blindly assessed all of the recorded simulations using checklists. The primary outcome was the improvement in team dynamics scores between baseline and test simulation. The secondary outcomes were improvements before and after training in team clinical performance scores, self-assessed comprehension of and confidence in cardiac arrest management and team dynamics, as well as evaluations of the postsimulation debriefing intervention.

Results

In total, 95 students participated [FCF (8 teams, n = 47) and SSD (8 teams, n = 48)]. The SSD team dynamics score during the test simulation was higher than at baseline [baseline: 74.5 (65.9–80.9), test: 85.0 (71.9–87.6), P = 0.035]. However, there were no differences in the improvement in the team dynamics or team clinical performance scores between the two groups (P = 0.328, respectively).

Conclusions

There was no significant difference in improvement in team dynamics scores during the test simulation compared with baseline between the SSD and FCF groups in a simulation-based cardiac arrest team training in fourth-year Korean medical students.
Resveratrol induces mitochondrial dysfunction and decreases chronological life span ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaein a glucose-dependent manner
Authors: Ramos-Gomez Minerva , Olivares-Marin Ivanna Karina , Canizal-García Melina , González-Hernández Juan Carlos , Nava Gerardo M. , Madrigal-Perez Luis Alberto
Published: March 2017

A broad range of health benefits have been attributed to resveratrol (RSV) supplementation in mammalian systems, including the increases in longevity. Nonetheless, despite the growing number of studies performed with RSV, the molecular mechanism by which it acts still remains unknown. Recently, it has been proposed that inhibition of the oxidative phosphorylation activity is the principal mechanism of RSV action. This mechanism suggests that RSV might induce mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in oxidative damage to cells with a concomitant decrease of cell viability and cellular life span. To prove this hypothesis, the chronological life span (CLS) ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaewas studied as it is accepted as an important model of oxidative damage and aging. In addition, oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) release were measured in order to determine the extent of mitochondrial dysfunction. The results demonstrated that the supplementation ofS. cerevisiaecultures with 100 μM RSV decreased CLS in a glucose-dependent manner. At high-level glucose, RSV supplementation increased oxygen consumption during the exponential phase yeast cultures, but inhibited it in chronologically aged yeast cultures. However, at low-level glucose, oxygen consumption was inhibited in yeast cultures in the exponential phase as well as in chronologically aged cultures. Furthermore, RSV supplementation promoted the polarization of the mitochondrial membrane in both cultures. Finally, RSV decreased the release of H2O2with high-level glucose and increased it at low-level glucose. Altogether, this data supports the hypothesis that RSV supplementation decreases CLS as a result of mitochondrial dysfunction and this phenotype occurs in a glucose-dependent manner.
p53 is not necessary for DUX4 pathology
Authors: Bosnakovski Darko , Toso Erik A. , Recht Olivia O. , Cucak Anja , Jain Abhinav K , Barton Michelle C. , Kyba Michael
Published: March 2017

Abstracts

FSHD is a genetically dominant myopathy caused by mutations that cause expression of the normally silent DUX4 gene. This transcription factor has been shown to interfere with myogenesis when misexpressed at very low levels in myoblasts, and to cause cell death when overexpressed at high levels. A previous report using adeno-associated virus to deliver high levels of DUX4 to mouse skeletal muscle demonstrated severe pathology that was suppressed on a p53 knockout background, implying that DUX4 acted through the p53 pathway. Here, we investigate the p53-dependence of DUX4 using both in vitro cellular and the transgenic iDUX4[2.7] mouse models. We find that inhibiting p53 has no effect on the cytoxicity of DUX4 in vitro. When crossed onto the p53 null background, we find no suppression of the male-specific lethality or skin phenotypes of the DUX4 transgene, and find that primary myoblasts from this mouse are still killed by DUX4 expression. These data challenge the notion that the p53 pathway is central to the pathogenicity of DUX4.

Summary Statement

DUX4 is thought to mediate cytopathology through p53. Here, DUX4 is shown to kill primary myoblasts and promote pathological phenotypes in the iDUX4[2.7] mouse model on the p53-null background, calling into question this notion.
Advances in testing the effect of acceleration on time dilation using a synchrotron Mössbauer source
Authors: Friedman Y. , Nowik I. , Felner I. , Steiner J. M. , Yudkin E. , Livshitz S. , Wille H.-C. , Wortmann G. , Chumakov A. I.
Published: March 2017

New results, additional techniques and know-how acquired, developed and employed in a recent HC-1898 experiment at the Nuclear Resonance Beamline ID18 of ESRF are presented, in the quest to explore the acceleration effect on time dilation. Using the specially modified Synchrotron Mössbauer Source and KB-optics together with a rotating single-line semicircular Mössbauer absorber on the rim of a specially designed rotating disk, the aim was to measure the relative spectral shift between the spectra of two states when the acceleration of the absorber is anti-parallel and parallel to the source. A control system was used for the first time and a method to quantify the effects of non-random vibrations on the spectral shift was developed. For several runs where the effect of these vibrations was negligible, a stable statistically significant non-zero relative shift was observed. This suggests the influence of acceleration on time.
Is “transforming care” failing people with autism?
Authors: Marshall-Tate Karina , Chaplin Eddie , McCarthy Jane
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to comment on the development and implementation of transforming care (TC) and whether it has failed people with autism.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a commentary.

Findings

The number of people with autism being admitted to assessment and treatment units is increasing despite the aims of TC. The authors argue that TC, in serving such a diverse group of people, may have failed to identify the heterogeneity of such groups or recognise the different needs of people with mental illness and people with behaviours that challenge; and that TC could be regarded as a policy that only affects people with an intellectual disability.

Originality/value

Policymakers, policy implementers and health and social care staff may consider reviewing their practice to ensure that TC works for people with autism and their family and carers.
Maintainability analysis in shaving blades industry: a case study
Authors: Tsarouhas Panagiotis , Besseris George
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide results for a complete maintainability analysis utilizing data sets from a production system in a shaving blades division of a large high-tech razor manufacturer. Through the illustrated case study, the authors demonstrate how to spot improvement points for enhancing availability by carrying out an equipment effectiveness analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive statistics of the repair data and the best fitness index parameters were computed. Repair data were collected from departmental logs, and a preliminary screening analysis was conducted to validate their usefulness for the indicated period of 11 months. Next, the maintainability and repair rate modes for all the machines of the production system were calculated. Maintainability and availability estimations for different time periods that took in account the overall system were obtained by trying out and selecting an optimum statistical model after considering of several popular distributions.

Findings

Out of the five considered machines in the system, two particular units received about half of the repairs (M2 and M3). The time to repair follows a loglogistic distribution and subsequently the mean time to repair is estimated at 25 minutes at the machine level. Repair time performance is approximated at 55 minutes if the availability of the system is to attain a 90 percent maintainability.

Originality/value

This study is anticipated to serve as an illuminating effort in conducting a complete maintainability analysis in the much advertised field of shavers, for which on the contrary so little has been published on operational availability and equipment effectiveness. The case study augments the available pool of sources where executing maintainability studies is highlighted usually under the direction of combined total quality management and total productive maintenance programs.
Optimum modified ramp-stress ALT plan with competing causes of failure
Authors: Srivastava Preeti Wanti , Gupta Tanu
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Accelerated life test is undertaken to induce early failure in high-reliability products likely to last for several years. Most of these products are exposed to several fatal risk factors and fail due to one of them. Examples include solar lighting device with two failure modes: capacitor failure, and controller failure. It is necessary to assess each risk factor in the presence of other risk factors as each one cannot be studied in isolation. The purpose of this paper is to explore formulation of optimum time-censored accelerated life test model under modified ramp-stress loading when different failure causes have independent exponential life distributions.

Design/methodology/approach

The modified ramp-stress uses one test chamber in place of the various chambers used in the normal ramp-stress accelerate life test thus saving experimental cost. The stress-life relationship is modeled by inverse power law, and for each failure cause, a cumulative exposure model is assumed. The method of maximum likelihood is used for estimating design parameters. The optimal plan consists in finding out relevant experimental variables, namely, stress rate and stress rate change point(s).

Findings

The optimal plan is devised using D-optimality criterion which consists in finding out optimal stress rate and optimal stress rate change point by maximizing logarithm of determinant of Fisher information matrix to the base 10. This criterion is motivated by the fact that the volume of joint confidence region of model parameters is inversely proportional to square root of determinant of Fisher information matrix. The results of sensitivity analysis show that the plan is robust to small deviations from the true values of baseline parameters.

Originality/value

The model formulated can help reliability engineers obtain reliability estimates quickly of high-reliability products that are likely to last for several years.
Prioritising the enablers for the successful implementation of Kaizen in China
Authors: Ma Jie , Lin Zhibin , Lau Chi Keung
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a better understanding of how Sino-Japanese joint ventures implemented the three Japanese improvement methods, i.e. Kaizen, Kaikaku and Kaizen Blitz. The specific objectives of this study are to identify the key enablers for the three improvement methods; and to identify the most selected improvement method.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to pairwise-compare the three improvement methods. Data are collected from 28 industry experts from Sino-Japanese joint ventures. The study then adopts extent analysis approach for pairwise comparisons and extent analysis to obtain synthetic extent values for priority weights.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that personnel (humanware) factor enablers are the most important factor for Kaizen, whilst software factor enablers (essential rules, policies and institutional arrangements) weight second and hardware factor enablers (physical, measurable hard facts or resources) weight last. The study also reviews that Kaizen is the most selected improvement method among the three.

Research limitations/implications

The sample of this study is limited to Sino-Japanese ventures in Guangzhou, China. This study only identifies the key improvement enablers based on interviews with shop floor managers and improvement experts.

Practical implications

Practical implications are threefold: the improvement implementations should be based on factors such as regular training, incentives for motivations and shop floor management; improvement methods are transferable and standard operations may only have small effects on collecting improvement ideas; and Kaizen is the appropriate method to support long-term and process-oriented improvements.

Originality/value

This study is the first to specifically pairwise-compare the three Japanese improvement methods and to identify priorities of their key enablers in Sino-Japanese joint ventures.
Legitimization as a rhetorical process in a regulatory agency
Authors: Berry Alison
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify how the US Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) communicatively engaged in legitimization concerning accreditation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized the rhetorical analysis approach outlined by Hoffman and Ford (2010) to explore the accreditation-related texts from an online source created by CHEA, Information About Accreditation.

Findings

The analysis identified three overarching approaches to include: isomorphism to address regulatory legitimacy, organizational identity management to address pragmatic legitimacy, and a dialogic approach to address normative legitimacy. This analysis also developed a new theoretical model for the rhetorical construction of legitimacy, “A Model for the Rhetorical Construction of Legitimacy,” that can be summarized as: organizations foster a type of legitimacy through a legitimizing strategy by demonstrating how the purpose of the legitimizing strategy is achieved by the implementation of the legitimizing strategy.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include that data were gathered only from online, web-based texts during a period in which the rhetorical situation was ongoing.

Practical implications

This study expands research concerning the rhetorical approach to issues management in that it examines the way legitimacy is negotiated through the various rhetorical strategies of an organization. Additionally, information is offered about the rhetorical structure of texts when an organization seeks to legitimize certain ideas.

Originality/value

This analysis developed a theoretical model for the rhetorical construction of legitimacy, “A Model for the Rhetorical Construction of Legitimacy,” that demonstrates important relationships between legitimizing strategies and types of legitimacy. Understanding these relationships may allow for a better interpretation of how legitimacy theory is represented within a communicative venture.
Reactive crisis strategies application of the corporate sector in Croatia
Authors: Jugo Damir
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the practices of strategic crisis communication of most successful Croatian companies and the perception of these practices from the perspective of media. A framework of reactive strategies is applied to determine how Croatian companies from five major industries would communicate during crisis situations and how their communication is interpreted within the media as a group that conveys and presents their behavior and communication to the broader public.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey among 60 individuals in charge of communications in Croatian companies was conducted to identify which strategies they are likely to use when in crisis situations. In-depth interviews with 20 journalists regularly reporting on these companies were undertaken to determine their perception and experiences regarding how these companies would communicate during crisis situations.

Findings

Croatian companies are likely to communicate un-strategically, passively and without any risk. Journalists see the communication of the companies even more passive and reactive which seriously influences the manner they report about these companies during crisis situations.

Research limitations/implications

Although 60 companies and 20 journalists both represent a significantly representative sample in Croatian terms, the study provides an insight into only Croatian corporate environment. Conducting the research in different surroundings and other countries could provide additional insight. Nevertheless, the analyzed variables that influenced the selection of strategies provide notable insight for drawing conclusions on this subject.

Originality/value

Besides showing how analyzed companies are likely to communicate during crises, this paper provides an insight into the media’s perception of this communication. The research has shown that the media sees their communication as more passive and reactive than it actually is, which implicates a serious need of shift in communication patterns if these companies want to strive to gain mutual understanding and remotely positive attitude from the media during crisis situations.
How do derivative securities affect bank risk and profitability?
Authors: Ghosh Amit
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Using data on 5,491 commercial banks in the USA that were operational between 2001 second quarter and 2016 first quarter, the present study aims to examine the impact of derivative securities and its different constituent categories on bank-specific risks and profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses panel data fixed effects model and Bayesian model averaging techniques.

Findings

This study finds aggregate derivatives and both interest-rate and exchange-rate derivatives and their different constituent categories to reduce banks insolvency risks for the entire time period and the pre-crisis era. Moreover, aggregate derivatives increase banks’ risk-adjusted return on assets that are driven by exchange-rate derivatives. Such findings are robust to the size of banks, the degree of derivative use and extent of profitability. However, in the post-crisis period, derivatives reduce bank profits.

Practical implications

While the results largely provide evidence of the beneficial effects of derivatives, the findings for the post-crisis period are rather concerning. It underscores a clear need to improve regulation and supervision across different categories of derivatives to ensure the benefits exceed their costs for banks.

Originality/value

Disaggregate analysis of derivatives can not only unmask important differences in how they affect banks risks, profits, etc. but also help banks mitigate risks arising from specific types of derivative securities banks hold. Furthermore, discerning the impact of derivatives on banks risks and profits in the post-crisis era vis-à-vis the pre-crisis one is extremely important to restore a sounder banking system and foster overall financial stability.
Designing medical expert system based on logical reduced rule for basic malaria diagnosis from malaria signs and symptoms
Authors: Selek Murat , Basçiftçi Fatih , Örücü Serkan
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Malaria is one of the most sinister life-threatening disease and generally transmitted by the bite of an Anopheles mosquito which was infected. These mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. Worldwide risk of malaria thread is very hard to deal, because of extreme temperature and climate changes which lead to uncontrolled changes in the mosquito population, as many deaths from malaria occur outside the healthcare system and other infections might be misdiagnosed as malaria unless a diagnostic test is done. The purpose of this study is creating a system which is early diagnosing malaria for settlements adequate healthcare units and non-immune travellers.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study’s system, the authors developed a new medical expert system (MES) process using the decreased rule base to detect malaria. The authors’ purpose was to successfully identify the illness by taking all symptoms of malaria into consideration in the MES (six basic signs, 64 different conditions). In the proposed MES process, in place of inspecting all the malaria-related signs, the authors used the decreased rule bases.

Findings

So as to take the lessen decreased bases, Boolean functions are used in a two-level simplification method. Using this method, decreased cases were evaluated by taking six symptoms of malaria into account instead of assessing 64 individual conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The system can be used in diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive respiratory disease.

Practical implications

The system can be used in absence of adequate healthcare units. Thus, malaria can be diagnosed early.

Originality/value

The authors hope that the system they have developed will be useful for settlements in the absence of adequate healthcare units and non-immune travellers.
A unique mathematical optimization approach for examination of failure effects on electric power transmission grids by combined environmental and economic indicators
Authors: Azadeh Ali , Sattarian Maryam , Arjmand Azadeh
Published: March 2017

Purpose

To achieve the optimum performance of electric transmission power system performance, the possibility of generators’ failure and the consequences are amongst the most important and real assumptions which should be taken into consideration. This paper aims to recognize the most influential factors on generators’ failures that can have a deep effect on the total cost and environmental issues. The integrated proposed approach is useful for investigating the generators’ failure effects on the performance of electric power transmission grids from the economic and environmental perspectives. In other words, the cost and pollution minimization policies are considered to decrease the unfavorable generators’ failure effects on electric power flow.

Design/methodology/approach

The data used in this study are gathered from a real case in USA in first step, the influential generator points that their failure has a significant effect on the objective function, have been recognized. Then, different failure scenarios are defined, and the optimum values in each of these scenarios through the GAMS modeling software are found. Consequently, by using a two-level factorial design approach, the critical generators across the power grid are determined.

Findings

The results show that by using such information, it is possible to detect the significant nodes in the power system grid and have a better maintenance plan. In addition, by means of this analysis and changing the capacity of main generators, it is possible to significantly reduce the operation costs. By comparing the indexes in case of the generator’s location, it seems that some of them are critical because of their capacity and position in the network (as their failure causes infeasibility in the model). Also, some of these deficiencies caused considerable index changes and critical consequences.

Practical implications

The integrated proposed approach is useful for investigating the generators’ failure effects on the performance of electric power transmission grids from the economic and environmental perspectives. In other words, the cost and pollution minimization policies are considered to decrease the unfavorable generators’ failure effects on electric power flow.

Social implications

This paper endeavors to recognize the most influential factors on generators’ failures that can have a deep effect on the total cost and environmental issues.

Originality/value

The integrated proposed approach is useful for investigating the generators’ failure effects on the performance of electric power transmission grids from the economic and environmental perspectives. In other words, the cost and pollution minimization policies are considered to decrease the unfavorable generators’ failure effects on electric power flow.
Enhancing plant diversity in agricultural landscapes promotes both rare bees and dominant crop‐pollinating bees through complementary increase in key floral resources
Authors: Sutter Louis , Jeanneret Philippe , Bartual Agustín M. , Bocci Gionata , Albrecht Matthias
Published: March 2017

Enhancing key floral resources is essential to effectively mitigate the loss of pollinator diversity and associated provisioning of pollination functions in agro‐ecosystems. However, effective floral provisioning measures may diverge among different pollinator conservation targets, such as the conservation of rare species or the promotion of economically important crop pollinators. We examined to what extent such diverging conservation goals could be reconciled.

We analysed plant–bee visitation networks of 64 herbaceous semi‐natural habitats representing a gradient of plant species richness to identify key resource plants of the three distinct conservation target groups: rare bees (of conservation concern), dominant wild crop‐pollinating bees and managed crop‐pollinating bees (i.e. honeybees).

Considering overall flower visitation, rare bees tended to visit nested subsets of plant species that were also visited by crop pollinators (46% and 77% nestedness in the dissimilarity between rare bees and wild crop pollinators or managed honeybees respectively). However, the set of preferred plant species, henceforth ‘key plant species’ (i.e. those species disproportionately more visited than expected according to their floral abundance) was considerably more distinct and less nested among bee target groups.

Flower visits of all bee target groups increased with plant species richness at a similar rate. Importantly, our analyses revealed that an exponential increase in the flower abundance of the identified key plant species and complementarity in the bee visitation pattern across plant species ─ rather than total flower abundance ─ were the major drivers of these relationships.

Synthesis and applications. We conclude that the multiple goals of preserving high bee diversity, conserving rare species and sustaining crop pollinators can be reconciled if key plant species of different target groups are simultaneously available. This availability is facilitated by a high floral resource complementarity in the plant community. The list of identified key resource plant species we provide here can help practitioners such as land managers and conservationists to better design and evaluate pollinator conservation and restoration measures according to their goals. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying and promoting such plant species for pollinator conservation in agricultural landscapes.
Outputs: the promises and perils of ethnographic engagement after the loss of faith in transnational dialogue
Authors: Riles Annelise
Published: March 2017

This essay investigates one important artefact of meeting knowledge production: outputs. It does so through the example of the activities of the members of Meridian 180, a community of Pacific Rim intellectuals collaborating on transnational legal and policy issues. For the members, the particular kind of knowledge production facilitated by Meridian 180 constitutes a response to the failures of international bureaucracy to generate and sustain a fabric of global relationality. The group's various attempts to address the imperative for ‘output’ illuminate both aspects of the meeting as an organizational form, and the challenges and opportunities meetings present for ethnography. The wider underlying theme of the essay concerns the ethical purposes and promises of ethnographic styles of engagement after the loss of faith in transnational dialogue.