bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Household food insecurity among people living with HIV in Sagamu, Nigeria: A preliminary study
Authors: Sholeye Oluwafolahan O , Animasahun Victor J , Salako Albert A , Oyewole Bankole K
Published: April 2017

Background:

Household food insecurity has been associated with increased risk of transmission of HIV infection and poor treatment outcomes. This study therefore determined the prevalence of household food insecurity and its associated factors among people living with HIV in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Methods:

A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 244 adult clients accessing care and support at the teaching hospital in Sagamu, Nigeria, selected via systematic sampling. Data was collected with the aid of a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.0. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Informed consent was obtained and strict confidentiality was ensured.

Results:

The mean age of respondents was 38.8 ± 9.2 years; 84% of respondents were female; 69.3% were married, 12.9% had lost their partners. About 12% spent more than three-quarters of the household income on food. The prevalence of household food insecurity was 71.7%. Food insecurity was associated ( p < 0.05) with educational status; occupation; type of housing; availability of toilet facilities; benefiting from food assistance; delaying drugs to prevent hunger; skipping drugs; vegetable consumption pattern; and exchanging sex for food.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of household food insecurity in this study was high. Living conditions were significantly associated with food insecurity. Socio-economic conditions need to be improved, to optimize the health and food security status of people living with HIV in Sagamu.
Infidelity’s aftermath: Appraisals, mental health, and health-compromising behaviors following a partner’s infidelity
Authors: Shrout M. Rosie , Weigel Daniel J.
Published: April 2017

Guided by transactional stress theory, this research investigated the role of appraisals in noninvolved partners’ mental health and health-compromising behaviors after infidelity. Responses from 232 college students who were recently cheated on revealed that negative appraisals (partner blame, self-blame, and causal attribution) had indirect effects on health-compromising behaviors through mental health (depression, anxiety, and distress). Moderated mediation analyses revealed that gender altered the indirect effect of partner and self-blame on health-compromising behaviors through mental health. Men’s health-compromising behaviors did not differ based on their appraisals or mental health. However, women who reported negative appraisals and high levels of mental health consequences engaged in more health-compromising behaviors. These findings suggest that perceptions of a partner’s infidelity are important, and that those perceptions affect noninvolved partners’ mental health and physical health behaviors.
Urban informality and confinement: Toward a relational framework
Authors: Pasquetti Silvia , Picker Giovanni
Published: April 2017

In the 21st century, a growing number of people live ‘informal’ lives within fissures between legality and informality. Concomitantly, power relations are increasingly expressed through devices of confinement. While urban informality and confinement are on the rise often occurring simultaneously, scholars have so far studied them separately. By contrast, this article proposes a new framework for analysing urban informality and confinement relationally. It generates new insights into the role of informality in the (re)production of confinement and, vice versa, the role of confinement in shaping informal practices. While these insights are valuable for urban studies in general, the article charts new lines of research on urban marginality. It also discusses how the six articles included in this special issue signal the heuristic potential of this relational framework by empirically examining distinct urban configurations of ‘confined informalities’ and ‘informal confinements’ across the Global North and the Global South.
Developing indicators of appropriate and inappropriate end-of-life care in people with Alzheimer’s disease, cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for population-level administrative databases: A RAND/UCLA appropriateness study
Authors: De Schreye Robrecht , Houttekier Dirk , Deliens Luc , Cohen Joachim
Published: April 2017

Background:

A substantial amount of aggressive life-prolonging treatments in the final stages of life has been reported for people with progressive life-shortening conditions. Monitoring appropriate and inappropriate end-of-life care is an important public health challenge and requires validated quality indicators.

Aim:

To develop indicators of appropriate and inappropriate end-of-life care for people with cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or Alzheimer’s disease, measurable with population-level administrative data.

Design:

modified RAND/UCLA appropriateness method.

Setting/participants:

Potential indicators were identified by literature review and expert interviews and scored in a survey among three panels of experts (one for each disease group). Indicators for which no consensus was reached were taken into group discussions. Indicators with consensus among the experts were retained for the final quality indicator sets.

Results:

The final sets consist of 28 quality indicators for Alzheimer’s disease, 26 quality indicators for cancer and 27 quality indicators for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The indicator sets measure aspects of aggressiveness of care, pain and symptom treatment, specialist palliative care, place of care and place of death and coordination and continuity of care.

Conclusion:

We developed a comprehensive set of quality indicators of appropriate and inappropriate end-of-life care in people with Alzheimer’s disease, cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, to be used in population-level research. Our focus on administrative healthcare databases limits us to treatment and medication, excluding other important quality aspects such as communication, which can be monitored using complementary approaches. Nevertheless, our sets will enable an efficient comparison of healthcare providers, regions and countries in terms of their performance on appropriateness of end-of-life care.
ZO-1 expression is suppressed by GM-CSF via miR-96/ERG in brain microvascular endothelial cells
Authors: Zhang Hu , Zhang Shuhong , Zhang Jilin , Liu Dongxin , Wei Jiayi , Fang Wengang , Zhao Weidong , Chen Yuhua , Shang Deshu
Published: April 2017

The level of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) increases in some disorders such as vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. We previously reported that in Alzheimer’s disease patients, a high level of GM-CSF in the brain parenchyma downregulated expression of ZO-1, a blood–brain barrier tight junction protein, and facilitated the infiltration of peripheral monocytes across the blood–brain barrier. However, the molecular mechanism underlying regulation of ZO-1 expression by GM-CSF is unclear. Herein, we found that the erythroblast transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factor ERG cooperated with the proto-oncogene protein c-MYC in regulation of ZO-1 transcription in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). The ERG expression was suppressed by miR-96 which was increased by GM-CSF through the phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Inhibition of miR-96 prevented ZO-1 down-regulation induced by GM-CSF both in vitro and in vivo. Our results revealed the mechanism of ZO-1 expression reduced by GM-CSF, and provided a potential target, miR-96, which could block ZO-1 down-regulation caused by GM-CSF in BMECs.
Giving your organisation SPIRIT: an overview and call to action for directors on issues of corporate governance, corporate reputation and corporate responsibility
Authors: Macmillan Keith , Money Kevin , Downing Steve , Hillenbrand Carola
Published: April 2017

This paper links Corporate Governance, Corporate Reputation and Corporate Responsibility through an examination of stakeholder relationships. It argues that a focus on relationships will allow directors to manage the issues relating to these complex areas in a practical way. Definitions are as follows: governance is seen to be concerned with the mechanism by which businesses’ relationships are directed and controlled. Reputation is concerned with stakeholder views of a business in key relationships and in terms of key relationship issues. Responsibility is concerned with the way a business conducts its activities and in particular how it relates to its primary and secondary stakeholders. A tool to analyse relationships in these three ways is then presented. The tool is known as a Stakeholder Performance Indicator, Relationship Improvement Tool or SPIRIT, for short.
Gaining goodwill: developing stakeholder approaches to corporate governance
Authors: Wheeler David , Davies Rachel
Published: April 2017

In this paper we describe evidence for the increasing salience of intangible assets to the economic performance of firms and we attach special significance to the importance of relationship-based goodwill (social capital) and the effect of corporate governance practices in building and maintaining the confidence of social networks and capital markets. We present evidence from a small study conducted in Canada that good corporate governance practices as currently assessed by expert analysts do not necessarily correlate with stock price performance in the short term. And we postulate that goodwill of stakeholders arises from two socially constructed resources: (i) enhanced social capital and (ii) enhanced reputation, defined here as the perception of legitimacy or prestige of managements and boards. Both are linked to a perception by stakeholders of value creation by the firm. We propose a model for explaining the links between goodwill and value creation and conclude that if we accept the socially constructed nature of key drivers of value, there are significant implications for corporate governance theory and practice. These implications lend further support to the potential value of stakeholder-inclusive approaches to corporate governance.
Beyond CSR: organisational learning for global responsibility
Authors: Antal Ariane Berthoin , Sobczak André
Published: April 2017

This contribution argues that it is time to move beyond corporate social responsibility (CSR) to ‘global responsibility.’ As long as the field retains its old label, the learning agenda for organisations will be too narrow to address the full range of challenges for a sustainable world. It sets too small a stage, invites too few actors to participate and restricts the types of roles they can play. Global responsibility reframes the way issues are defined and the paths along which solutions may be found. After building the argument for the term, the contribution draws on research about organisational learning to identify the kinds of learning that organisations must become skilled at in order to tackle global responsibility. It then illustrates learning processes in a co-operative bank and an international non-governmental association, a multinational corporation, and a multi stakeholder platform created by the United Nations. These cases show how organisations are combining various types of learning and using physical and virtual learning spaces to generate knowledge for action. The contribution concludes by discussing how to increase the number of organisations engaging in such global responsibility and how to speed up their learning. To this end, lessons are drawn from experiences with the diffusion of voluntary and mandatory approaches to corporate social reporting over the past forty years.
The chameleon: a metaphor for the Chief Information Officer
Authors: Remenyi Dan , Grant Kenneth A. , Pather Shaun
Published: April 2017

The role of CIO has been around for a little more than 20 years. In that time it has evolved significantly. Much has been written about the specific challenges faced by incumbents, describing the characteristics needed to be a business-focused executive leading a technology-intensive function.

One aspect that has not been given enough consideration is that, because of the specific nature of role and use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in organisations and the different strategic and tactical issues faced by a CIO, the most needed characteristics may vary according to time and circumstance. Eight specific challenges that make the role difficult are identified and different perspectives on the competencies needed are reviewed.

This paper, through literature review and discussion, examines the specific challenges faced by ICT leaders and suggests that a range of personal characteristics are needed for long term success and that these can be compared to key features of the humble chameleon: 1. The ability to change 2. The ability to see in multiple directions 3. The ability to strike fast when required, and 4. The ability to hang on when the going gets tough!
Cross-border acquisitions of European multinationals
Authors: Jagersma Pieter Klaas
Published: April 2017

This article presents the results of an extensive study on cross-border/international acquisitions of European multinationals in the period 1976–2000. The most common motives for cross-border acquisitions are market entry, increase in scale and economies of skills. There is a manifest preference for the United States of America. As yet, the influence of the (integrated) European Union is barely noticed. Two important preconditions for cross-border acquisitions are a unique competence that makes a company stand out from the competition and deep financial pockets.
Choice of market entry mode in China: the influence of firm-specific factors
Authors: Claver Enrique , Quer Diego
Published: April 2017

One of the issues attracting wider attention within research into corporate internationalisation is the choice of mode of entry into a foreign country. At present, China is one of the destinations which is acquiring greater importance in the international expansion of firms from various countries around the world. In this context, by combining the traditional theory on foreign direct investment with the resource-based view of the firm, this paper will analyse the influence of various tangible and intangible corporate factors on the degree of commitment towards direct investment in China.
Board involvement in strategy and organisational performance
Authors: Siciliano Julie I.
Published: April 2017

In firms where oversight by a regulatory body within the industry exists and where new core competencies must be developed to offset aggressive competition, there is evidence that a larger role for board of director involvement in strategic activities occurs. Within this context, survey data from board members and CEOs reveal that in organisations where financial soundness scores are less favourable, the odds of the board being more involved in a formal strategic planning process increase. Regarding a strategy role that consists of the board collaborating with management in making new strategic decisions, it is less likely that the board will take on this role when the organisation's financial soundness scores are not at the optimal level.

For many years, boards of directors have been encouraged in theory and in practice to take on an active strategy role. However, in much of the literature the nature and extent of board involvement in strategy is undifferentiated. Most empirical studies dealing with corporate governance issues focus on board composition and structure variables and do not examine the level of involvement from a decision making perspective. Capturing this particular perspective is not only of interest to researchers but also is of practical importance, as general management seeks to realise the board's full potential in the strategic arena.

This paper reports on the involvement of boards in a five-step strategic planning process and also examines board participation relative to that of senior management in strategic decision-making and evaluation. The first section examines the limited empirical findings of board involvement in strategic activities and outlines three viewpoints on possible participation levels. The paper then describes an empirical study that shows board involvement varies in relation to the organisation's financial performance.
Conflict resolution mechanisms, trust and perception of conflict in contractual agreements
Authors: Delerue Hélène
Published: April 2017

Given that conflict is inevitable in inter-firm relationships, an important question then arises: how is this conflict best managed? This research is interested in determining which conflict resolution mechanisms are constructive and which are destructive, through analysing perception of managers of European Biotechnology SMEs.
International joint ventures: an examination of the core dimensions
Authors: Glaister Keith W. , Husan Rumy , Buckley Peter J.
Published: April 2017

Increasingly, competitive advantage depends both on a firm's capabilities and its collaborative relationships with other firms, with inter-firm collaboration having a significant effect on practising managers. This article examines the core dimensions of international joint ventures (IJVs) which are identified as: strategic motives for IJV formation, partner selection criteria, management control and IJV performance. The findings are based on personal interviews and self-administered questionnaires. Data was obtained from senior managers in all the elements of the IJV: UK parent, European parent and IJV management. Each data source supports the findings of the other, providing confidence in the reliability of the evidence reported.
Towards a manager's model for e-business strategy decisions
Authors: Perrott Bruce
Published: April 2017

There is a high level of interest and debate among academics and the business community regarding the future of electronic business. In recent times there has been considerable disillusionment with the losses and negative returns associated with many e-business investments. However, the move towards e-business enablement seems inevitable for reasons of efficiency and effectiveness. Developments in e-business should be of considerable interest to marketing strategists, as they impact on business networks and affect the nature of relationships between organisations and between an organisation and its customers.

Business and marketing strategists would benefit from a better understanding of the incentives and inhibitors accruing at each stage of the evolutionary path to an e-business enabled future. Based on recent research, this paper proposes the use of two frameworks that may be used to stimulate management discussion, aid management decision-making and plan progressive moves into e-business.
Cross-country Business Engagement between China and India
Authors: Sardana Deepak , Zhu Ying
Published: April 2017

In recent years, there has been increasing argument for studying the business environment through a research design focused on international business. Given the importance of China and India to the global economy and the lack of studies on Chinese and Indian multinational companies (MNCs) operating in each other's country, this paper aims to contribute by extending knowledge of the contextual factors that support or inhibit ventures, operations and growth of Chinese and Indian MNCs operating in each other's country. Meaningful implications include: first, the ‘context’ becomes the subject of investigation, instead of being just one of the elements in the research design; and second, Chinese and Indian business environments are mapped and analysed with reference to multiple contextual dimensions (i.e. market context, institutional context and organisational context) and illustrate the impact of these factors on the functioning and performance of the subsidiaries of Chinese and Indian MNCs.
Re-conceptualising Knowledge Transfer Approach
Authors: Law Kuok Kei , Kamoche Ken
Published: April 2017

Knowledge transfer approach (KTA) denotes how knowledge is transferred from the source to the seeker in a typical sender-receiver communication framework. The selection of an appropriate KTA largely determines the success of knowledge transfer. However, the existing literature fails to provide managers and employees with a clear conceptualisation of what constitutes a KTA and how different KTAs are distinguished. This paper aims to address this inadequacy by developing a two-dimensional framework for constructing the KTA. A clearer conceptualisation of KTA can help managers and employees improve their knowledge transfer efficacy as they will know how to better plan the knowledge transfer process. Hence, this paper creates value for both researchers and organisations. Theoretically, the framework enhances our understanding of the construct of KTA as well as its operationalisation and reinforces the role of KTA in knowledge transfer studies. In practical terms, the framework can inform organisations of the strategic considerations they need to take into account when planning knowledge transfers, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different KTA choices.
Special Issue: International Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Michelson Grant , Waring Peter , Naudé Piet
Published: April 2017

This conceptual paper seeks to explain the study of corporate social responsibility (CSR) against its recent historical past, in part by examining major factors giving rise to CSR and its diffusion in contemporary corporate practice. In doing so, it highlights some of the principal arguments for and against CSR, as well as identifies some of the tensions and dilemmas facing managers seeking to implement more socially responsible practices in the midst of common pressures to ensure firm financial performance. While many of these challenges are arguably shared across different national settings, there is far less awareness of how these realities are experienced in developing countries. This collection of papers provides some empirical evidence to address this gap.
Perceived Regulatory Burden, Institutional Ties, Financial Resource Capability and Corporate Social Performance in a Sub-Saharan African Economy
Authors: Adomako Samuel , Obeng George Dankwah , Opoku Robert Ankomah , Danso Albert
Published: April 2017

This study adopts the institutional, slack resource and social capital theories to examine the perceived regulatory burden-corporate social performance (CSP) link and the moderating effects of this relationship. The theoretical model was validated using confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical regression on survey data from 287 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana. The empirical findings suggest that perceived regulatory burden is negatively related to CSP and that the level of institutional ties and financial resource capability amplify the perceived regulatory burden-CSP relationship such that the relationship is more negative and significant for higher institutional ties and financial resource capability.
Corporate Social Responsibility in CLP Group
Authors: Poon Teresa Shuk-Ching
Published: April 2017

Established in Hong Kong in 1901, China Light and Power (CLP) has developed to become one of the largest investor-owned energy firms in the Asia-Pacific. Operating in Hong Kong for 115 years, CLP now runs a vertically-integrated electricity supply business covering power generation, transmission and distribution, as well as retail service, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd. With a strong operating base in Hong Kong, CLP gradually expanded its operations, initially to mainland China towards the end of late 1970s when China started its economic reform, and later to Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, and India from the 1990s onwards, mirroring the economic development trajectory of the region. CLP has also begun to embrace gas, nuclear, wind, hydro, and solar (renewables) in its portfolio. By mid-2015, CLP possessed over 70 assets with more than 22,000MW of capacity (from generation and purchase), six different sources of energy and over five million customer accounts. With its business spanning across many countries and different types of assets and services, CLP Holdings Ltd was formed in 1998 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. At June 2015, CLP has grown to become a sizeable multinational enterprise (MNE) employing some 7,200 staff across the Asia Pacific region, with a market capitalisation of over US$21 billion.
Post-acquisition Integration Management and Takeover Performance
Authors: Gerpott Torsten J. , Neubauer Fenna B.
Published: April 2017

In spite of a multitude of prior empirical investigations on factors explaining variance in company performance after a takeover each single study has typically incorporated only a narrow range of post-acquisition integration (PAI) design subfields. This paper applies a more comprehensive approach by developing hypotheses with regard to correlations between employee perceptions of six PAI subfields and their assessments of two acquisition performance dimensions. The hypotheses are empirically tested using data obtained in two standardised written employee surveys conducted about one year apart after a horizontal takeover in the information and communication technology industry in Germany. Responses were collected from 570 and 534 employees who worked for the merged organisation. PLS structural equation modeling results show that paths from employee perceptions of the quality of executive leadership in the PAI process, the degree of integration of business processes and corporate cultures as well as adequacy of integration speed to two performance constructs (internal reorganisation success, achievement of strategic objectives) are significantly positive. The results support the view that PAI investigations perform well with attempts combining various lenses of scholarly corporate acquisition research. Implications of the findings are discussed for future studies on PAI measures and for PAI management practice.
A Strategic Perspective of Social Enterprise Sustainability
Authors: Sabella Anton R. , Eid Niveen L.
Published: April 2017

In a constrained environment, social enterprise sustainability is trapped in a'survival and maintenance' mode characterised by obscurity. The purpose of this paper is to explore the phenomenon of sustainability from a strategic perspective by looking at two case studies that managed to thrive and grow. Drawing on ∥ in-depth interviews, the paper explores how the phenomenon plays out and how strategic practices are carried out in their local exchange contexts, rising above mundane challenges, and ending up improving the economic and social capacities of their communities. The paper contends that social enterprise sustainability is grounded in understanding the impact of contextual, organisational and individual spheres that correspond to three strategic ex-ante enablers: stakeholder orientation, relationship-oriented organisation, and entrepreneurial behaviour; all of which have had valuable contributions towards the upkeep of the enterprise. The study demonstrates that sustainability of social enterprises in a constrained environment is a function of a continuous entrepreneurial activity and the effective use of social and business models. Beyond its direct contribution to the literature on social enterprise in developing countries, the paper offers a practical framework that underlines the dynamism of a sustainable social enterprise while emphasising key managerial and marketing concepts. It concludes with a number of recommendations for policy and practice as to how to enhance the contribution of management and marketing concepts to sustainable social enterprises.
The moderating effect of organisational culture on the commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the performance of SMEs in Nigeria
Authors: Gorondutse Abdullahi Hassan , Hilman Haim
Published: April 2017

This research note examines the commitment of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the performance of SMEs in Nigeria, and also examines the moderating effect of an innovative and supportive organisational culture. Commitment in all activities and programmes is assumed to be one of the most imperative requirements for business to survive and flourish in a volatile environment. This study assesses commitment of CSR and organisational performance among SMEs. The data were collected from managers/owners in Kano State Nigeria and draw on 486 usable questionnaires. Consistent with previous literature the effect of commitment of CSR on the performance of SMEs was statistically insignificant. An innovative and supportive organisational culture was however found to be significantly related to performance, and moderated the relationship between commitment to CSR and SME performance.
From practice to structures
Authors: Löfsten Hans
Published: April 2017

This paper addresses the important topic of how project-level processes of knowledge creation result in firm-level routines for information storage and knowledge dissemination. Using data from 99 Swedish medium-sized technology firms pursuing R&D and product innovation activities, the study finds that project-level knowledge creation is significantly linked to firm-level routines for knowledge storage and dissemination. Building on the established SECI (Socialisation, Externalisation, Combination, and Internalisation) model, the study shows that project-level knowledge creation processes and firm-level knowledge dissemination routines are closely related though conceptually distinct. Moreover, while studies on the SECI model have implicitly assumed that all four knowledge-creation modes are equally important, this study's findings indicate that modes related to tacit knowledge creation (i.e. socialisation) are related to firm-level knowledge routines more closely than are modes related to explicit knowledge creation. These findings offer important contributions to the literature on knowledge creation in firms and helpful guidance for managers seeking to systematise information.
Homestead Food Production and Maternal and Child Dietary Diversity in Nepal: Variations in Association by Season and Agroecological Zone
Authors: Dulal Bishnu , Mundy Gary , Sawal Rojee , Rana Pooja Pandey , Cunningham Kenda
Published: April 2017

Background:

Suaahara, a large-scale integrated program, aimed to improve diets and nutritional status among women and children, in part by facilitating enhanced homestead food production (EHFP).

Objective:

This study examines associations between EHFP and maternal and child dietary diversity and variations by season and agroecological zone (AEZ): mountains and terai.

Methods:

We used data from household monitoring surveys (n = 2101 mothers; n = 994 children, 6-23 months), which included a 7-day dietary recall and maternal report on participation in 5 EHFP activities—received vegetable seeds, chicks, and technical support and participated in training and EHFP groups. We constructed binary variables for each activity and a scale (0-5) summing participation. For dietary diversity, we used the Women’s Dietary Diversity Score using 10 food groups and 7 food groups for child diets. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess associations between EHFP participation and dietary diversity by season and AEZ, controlling for potential confounders and clustering.

Results:

In adjusted models, we found positive associations between dietary diversity and chicks, technical support, and EHFP beneficiary groups; the magnitude of the associations varied by season and AEZ. The degree of participation in 5 EHFP activities was positively associated with maternal dietary diversity in the terai (β = .24, P < .001) and mountains (β = .12, P = .01) and child dietary diversity in the terai (β = .35, P < .001) during the winter. No associations were found in the rainy season.

Conclusion:

Our findings highlight the potential for EHFP to address dietary diversity constraints among this population. Variation by subnational setting and seasonality suggest that policies and programs should be contextualized.
Thalamic Hemorrhagic Stroke in the Term Newborn: A Specific Neonatal Syndrome With Non-uniform Outcome
Authors: Merlini Laura , Hanquinet Sylviane , Fluss Joel
Published: April 2017

Background:

Neonatal thalamic hemorrhagic stroke is related to cerebral sinus venous thrombosis and associated with neurological sequelae. Predicting factors are however lacking.

Methods:

Clinical and radiological findings at onset and on follow-up of 5 neonates with thalamic hemorrhage stroke are described.

Results:

All neonates presented with abrupt lethargy, ophistotonos, irritability and/or seizures. The thalamic hemorrhagic stroke was most often unilateral (4/5), involving the posterior/entire thalamus in 3 cases and the anterior thalamus in 2. Cerebral venous thrombosis was identified in a single patient. At follow-up, children with unilateral anterior thalamic hemorrhagic stroke demonstrated thalamic atrophy without neurological symptoms, whereas children whose thalamus lesion was extensive exhibit a porencephalic cavity and presented with late-onset epilepsy.

Discussion:

Although deep cerebral venous thrombosis is probably the cause of neonatal thalamic hemorrhagic stroke, its radiological evidence is challenging. Outcome seems dependent of the size and location of thalamic hemorrhagic stroke. Epilepsy is a frequent morbidity after thalamic hemorrhagic stroke.
Are Competitive Materialism and Female Employment Related to International Homicide Rate?
Authors: Chon Don Soo
Published: April 2017

The institutional anomie theory is a proposal that states competitive materialism, an intense cultural pressure for economic success at any costs, and increased female employment may be related to a high homicide rate. The current work tested this proposition by utilizing homicide data collected from 45 developed and developing countries. Regression results did not support the proposition. Competitive materialism and female employment were not significantly related to the cross-national variation of homicide rates.
Investigation of physical properties and morphology of compatibilized EPDM/EVA blends
Authors: Khalaf Aman I , Ward Azza A , Rozik Nehad N
Published: April 2017

The main aim is to investigate the effect of adding of 5% hydrolyzed poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVAOH), itaconic anhydride (naturally obtained during fermentation of sugars (It.anhydride)), and mercapto-modified ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVASH) as compatibilizers on the mechanical properties before and after thermal oxidative aging at 90°C for different time periods up to 7 days, electrical properties, and morphology of ethylene propylene diene monomer/ethylene vinyl acetate (EPDM/EVA) blends of different compositions (75/25, 60/40, 50/50, and 25/75, respectively). Stress at yield, tensile strength, and elongation at break of EPDM/EVA were improved markedly by the addition of 5% compatibilizers (EVAOH, It.anhydride, and EVASH). The micrographs of fractured surfaces obtained from the scanning electron microscope demonstrated further the enhancement of compatibility between EPDM and EVA by the addition of reactive compatibilizers. Further, the blends permittivity ε′ and dielectric loss ε″ have been measured at specific temperatures. The dielectric properties revealed that It.anhydride and EVASH/EPDM/EVA compositions are promising materials for insulation purposes. Finally, aging resistance was improved by the use of compatibilizers.
Photo and Video Methods in Organizational and Managerial Communication Research
Authors: Wilhoit Elizabeth D.
Published: April 2017

In this article, I introduce photo and video methods (PVM) to organizational communication. PVM have rarely been used in organizational communication research but offer advantages through providing a shared anchor around which researchers and participants can communicate, adding meaning through the framing and act of taking pictures or videos, and incorporating more senses. These additions to the research process offer new ways for participants and researchers to communicate. I detail two specific methods (photo-elicitation interviews and participant viewpoint ethnography) to illustrate some of the advantages of PVM relative to other methods. Through these examples, my goal is to inspire other scholars to see where PVM might be applicable to their research, adding differently supported theorizing to organizational communication.
Cognition and Context: Rural–Urban Differences in Cognitive Aging Among Older Mexican Adults
Authors: Saenz Joseph L. , Downer Brian , Garcia Marc A. , Wong Rebeca
Published: April 2017

Objective: To describe differences in cognitive functioning across rural and urban areas among older Mexican adults. Method: We include respondents aged 50+ in the 2012 Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). Cognitive functioning by domain is regressed as a function of community size. The role of educational attainment in explaining rural/urban differences in cognitive functioning is examined. Results: Respondents residing in more rural areas performed worse across five cognitive domains. The majority, but not all, of the association between community size and cognitive functioning was explained by lower education in rural areas. Discussion: Respondents residing in more rural areas were disadvantaged in terms of cognitive functioning compared with those residing in more urban areas. Poorer cognitive functioning in late life may be the result of historical educational disadvantage in rural areas or selection through migration from rural to urban regions for employment.
Educational Differences in Health Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Brazil and Mexico
Authors: Andrade Flavia C. D. , López-Ortega Mariana
Published: April 2017

Objective: This study examines educational differences in health conditions among middle-aged and older adults in Brazil and Mexico. Method: Cross-sectional data from the 2013 Brazilian National Health Survey and the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey were used in the analyses. We used multivariate Poisson regressions to examine the relationship between educational level and prevalence of common health conditions (obesity, abdominal obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and hearing and visual impairments). Results: Socioeconomic and sex inequalities persist in both countries. In general, low levels of education were associated with higher risk for having health conditions. However, men of lower education had a smaller risk of abdominal obesity and hypertension. Discussion: Brazil and Mexico have expanded public health actions aimed at improving health behaviors, diagnosis, and access to treatment of chronic conditions. However, important social disparities remain. Improving lifestyle behaviors, such as physical activity and dietary habits, could benefit both countries.
What’s in it for industry? A case study on collaborative doctoral education in Sweden
Authors: Assbring Linda , Nuur Cali
Published: April 2017

The knowledge economy and the changing nature of knowledge production, the increased interaction between public agencies, industry and universities, and the changing labour market for doctoral degree holders are forces that together have led to an increased interest in the organization of doctoral education – particularly the role of collaborative doctoral education. Models like the Triple Helix have become important frameworks for conceptually capturing the interactions and dynamics of industry, government and university collaborations at various levels. Yet, empirical research on the motivations of and outcomes for the industrial partners in collaborative PhD education remains scanty. Through a case study conducted in Sweden, this article discusses the perceived industrial benefits of participating in collaborative doctoral education. The analysis shows that the outcomes of industrial participation are highly connected to the organization of the collaboration, and the authors identify four important criteria that are key to ensuring industrial relevance. The article also highlights significant policy implications for encouraging and supporting collaborative doctoral training, as the authors conclude that it is a powerful tool in addressing skills gaps in industry.
Surface integrity in electrochemical machining processes: An analysis on material modifications occurring during electrochemical machining
Authors: Klocke Fritz , Harst Simon , Ehle Lisa , Zeis Markus , Klink Andreas
Published: April 2017

In contrast to most other manufacturing technologies, in electrochemical machining processes only slight changes in material characteristics in the rim zone of workpieces are stated in the literature. Due to the physical active principle, no thermo-mechanically induced phase changes or the evolution of a so-called white layer were ever observed. Aside of this fact, a not inconsiderable number of smaller modifications in the rim zone were found in the past. The most common effects occurring during electrochemical machining are the generation of a passive layer on the surface by changing the local chemical composition of the material, the selective dissolution of one metallic phase, or the occurrence of flow marks. Consequently, the last two effects also change the surface roughness as the marks and dissolved phases represent ditches in the surface. Therefore, in this article, material modifications occurring during electrochemical machining are presented. Their influence on the surface integrity is exemplarily analyzed for the heat-treatable steel 42CrMo4. In addition, first steps for a correlation of material loadings that promote these changes, the so-called process signature, are made. Based on this, the influence of different machining parameters can be compared to set up rim zone properties purposefully.
A new computational model of large three-row roller slewing bearings using nonlinear springs
Authors: Wang Hua , He Peiyu , Pang Bitao , Gao Xuehai
Published: April 2017

In order to improve the computational efficiency of load distribution of large three-row roller slewing bearing, a new computational model using nonlinear springs is presented in this paper. In this model, each roller is simulated by a group of nonlinear springs, which has the same load-deformation performance with solid roller–raceway contacts. Thus, equivalent finite element roller–raceway contact models were built to acquire the load-deformation performance and the solid roller experiments were carried out to validate the computational results. Then, the computational accuracy and efficiency using the nonlinear spring-based model were analyzed from three aspects, the maximal contact load, the root mean square errors, and computation time. The results show that a group of parallel springs can be used to replace the solid roller and simulate the line contact performance between the roller and raceway, but an equivalent nonlinear spring is not recommended because of the low computational accuracy, the greater the spring number, the higher the computational accuracy, and the computation time of nonlinear spring-based models is just about 3–4% of time of solid roller-based model, but the model complexity and establishment time of a group of nonlinear springs will increase with the number of springs increasing.
Investigation on the multifactor reliability allocation method for CNC lathes based on modified criticality and objective information
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhang Yi-Min , Yang Zhou , Wang Wei
Published: April 2017

A multifactor reliability allocation method for CNC lathes is proposed in this paper based on the failure mode effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) modified criticality factor and objective information. Firstly, taking into consideration the cost of reducing subsystems’ failure rates, criticality in FMECA analysis is introduced into reliability allocation. By making severity value nonlinear and based on subsystems’ failure rate, mathematical model of the cost of reducing subsystems’ failure rates is established, and then computational formula for modified criticality is obtained. Secondly, according to the objective information in existence, failure frequency ratio, failure stopping time ratio, reliability influence degree and structure complexity are calculated respectively. The four sets of values above and modified criticality are combined together as allocation factors. Ratio matrix of each allocation factor is computed to get comprehensive allocation matrix and allocation vector. Finally, the method is applied to a case of reliability allocation of a certain type of CNC lathes, and practicability of the method is analyzed. According to the allocation results, reliability design can be improved to increase the mean time between failure (MTBF) of subsystems and the overall lathe. The proposed method together with the example serves appropriately to show the feedback effect of failure information on reliability design and role of cost reduction in the allocation process.
Calculation model of the vehicle – CRTS II coupling system with symplectic method
Authors: Wang Ping , Xu Jinhui , Wang Li , Wei Kai
Published: April 2017

In this paper, the vibrations of the vehicle – CRTS II (abbreviation for China Railway Track System II) slab ballastless track vertical coupling system for high-speed railways were studied. Based on the structural characteristics of the CRTS II ballastless track, a dynamic model of the CRTS II ballastless track was established, and an effective calculation method was applied to determine the frequency response of the system. In this method, the track structure was divided into innumerable substructures by fastener spacing. Four substructures under the wheel–rail force were chosen as the subject while the transmission of simple harmonic waves in such track substructures were solved using the symplectic method. In addition, the transfer function between the track irregularities and the dynamic response of the coupling system was solved, and with these results, the coupling system’s frequency response was obtained. Furthermore, the method was proven accurate and efficient (see examples in this paper). The effects of track parameters on the coupling system’s frequency response were also studied, which provide a basis for the optimization of the design of the CRTS II ballastless track. As shown in the study, with respect to the desired track geometry and dynamic displacement, the application of the fastening system featuring low stiffness and large damping can effectively reduce the frequency response of the coupling system, while the elastic modulus and damping of the cement asphalt mortar exert the least impact on the frequency response. In addition, the subgrade stiffness shall be managed at an appropriate level, and greater subgrade damping can effectively minimize the coupling system’s vibrations.