bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge management measures: an empirical investigation of Indian cement industry
Authors: Dave Manish , Singh Kanhaiya , Kumar Arya , Kumar Sachin
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop knowledge management constructs comprising of KM processes and KM practices through marketing and sales to derive competitive advantage (CA) in the cement industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A thorough and detailed analysis of the literature was carried out to develop the measures for KM practices, KM processes and their impact on CA. A total of 65 variables affecting competitiveness in the form of questionnaire were developed. The questionnaire was administered through e-mail to 962 territory sales managers (TSM) and equivalent employed in the marketing and sales function of the cement organizations in India. A total of 121 valid and complete responses were received, representing a response rate of 12.6 percent. The factor analysis was carried out on the data collected to establish reliability and validity of the measures.

Findings

A total of seven constructs pertaining to knowledge management practices and processes and competitiveness that comprises of 65 variables have been developed. The statistical results establish that the constructs and the variables considered in the study are reliable and valid.

Research limitations/implications

The sample of respondents for developing constructs consisted of TSM and equivalent employed in the marketing and sales function of cement companies in India. Research scope can be enhanced in the future study by including middle and senior level managers in cement companies to better diagnose and understand perception of KM initiatives across different levels in the cement industry. The work can also be extended to incorporate inbound logistics and procurement that directly contributes to the overall value chain to have a holistic perspective.

Practical implications

The measures developed in this study would be effective management tools for the implementation of knowledge management initiatives in the marketing and sales function to ascertain their level of implementation and impact on the competitiveness.

Originality/value

This study is probably the first of its kind in India to provide KM measures combined for practices and processes to understand the relationship with competitiveness in cement companies pertaining to marketing and sales function. It provides valuable insights as a strategic tool for investing in KM initiatives.
Supplier selection problem in IoT solutions
Authors: Agarwal Sonal , Sharma Vidushi , Pughat Anuradha
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The use of Internet of Things (IoT) and networks has built a potential impact on the product cost and time in a company’s manufacturing process. These IoT solutions provide end-to-end visibility and faster introduction of merchandise and supplier in the market. The main aim of this research paper is to supply products with improved quality and cheaper price, whereas the rising response and quality of the client service.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper designs and develops two cases for selecting the most efficient vendor while keeping in mind the profit and cost constraints in optimization.

Findings

Outsourcing is a vital parameter to cut back the price and maximize the profit of the manufacturer. Therefore, the integration of supply chain with IoT can provide a solution to the cost optimization and supplier/vendor selection problems in supply chain management.

Research limitations/implications

The results show that the models are quite realistic and can help the IoT-based manufacturing units to make strategic decisions regarding product manufacturing and distribution.

Practical implications

The authors can further extend the model to derive the retailer’s profit function and develop the end product cost to the consumers and hence make it a n-level multi-vendor selection model for IoT-based systems.

Originality/value

The right choice of vendor for IoT-enabled business is a crucial concern. In this paper, the authors designed and developed multi-vendor models with in-house production and outsourcing decisions to meet the demand along with the vendor selection. The variable demands and designed variable unit cost function and batch order are set to make vendor selection more realistic.
Multilateral trade liberalization and developing countries’ economic exposure to shocks
Authors: Gnangnon Sena Kimm
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of multilateral trade policy (MTP) liberalization on developing countries’ economic exposure to shocks.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is conducted on a panel data set comprising 120 countries over the period 1996–2013 and uses the within fixed effects estimator.

Findings

The empirical results suggest that over the entire sample as well as sub-samples of least developed countries (LDCs) and non-LDCs, multilateral trade liberalization have a negative and significant impact on economic exposure to shocks. Interestingly, LDCs appear to experience the highest magnitude of the reducing impact of multilateral trade liberalization on countries’ economic exposure to shocks.

Research limitations/implications

These findings suggest that a greater cooperation among countries in the world, including among WTO members to further liberalize trade would surely contribute to reducing developing countries’ economic exposure to shocks.

Practical implications

The current study shows that the current backlash against trade and the consequent strong appeal for domestic trade protectionist measures would likely to undermine the likelihood of further multilateral trade liberalization. One implication of this could be a rise in countries’ economic exposure to shocks.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is first the study on this matter.
The effectiveness of development aid for agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Ssozi John , Asongu Simplice , Amavilah Voxi Heinrich
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Agriculture is the major source of livelihood for the majority of population in Sub-Saharan Africa but its productivity is not only low it has started showing signs of decline since 2012. The purpose of this paper is to find out whether official development assistance for agriculture is effective.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for development assistance for agriculture are broken down into the major agricultural sectors in receiving countries. The empirical evidence is based on the two-step system, i.e. generalized method of moments, to assess the degree of responsiveness of agricultural productivity to development assistance.

Findings

There is a positive relationship between development assistance and agricultural productivity in general. However, when broken down into the major agricultural recipient sectors, there is a substitution effect between food crop production and industrial crop production. Better institutions and economic freedom are found to enable agricultural productivity growth, and to increase the effectiveness of development assistance. The structural economic transformation associated with agricultural development assistance is also found to be weak.

Practical implications

Allocation of development assistance for agriculture is primarily determined by need, although expected effectiveness also increases the assistance receipts. Agricultural assistance policies could focus more on building productive capacity to reduce the need while boosting effectiveness.

Originality/value

Breaking down data into agricultural recipient sectors and controlling for the potential spurious correlation under the assumption that more development assistance could be allocated, where agricultural productivity is already increasing due to some other factors.
Workopolis or The Pirate Bay: what does Google Trends say about the unemployment rate?
Authors: Dilmaghani Maryam
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use data mined from Google Trends, in order to predict the unemployment rate prevailing among Canadians between 25 and 44 years of age.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a theoretical framework, this study argues that the intensity of online leisure activities is likely to improve the predictive power of unemployment forecasting models.

Findings

Mining the corresponding data from Google Trends, the analysis indicates that prediction models including variables which reflect online leisure activities outperform those solely based on the intensity of online job search. The paper also outlines the most propitious ways of mining data from Google Trends. The implications for research and policy are discussed.

Originality/value

This paper, for the first time, augments the forecasting models with data on the intensity of online leisure activities, in order to predict the Canadian unemployment rate.
Promoting adolescents’ mental health and wellbeing: evidence synthesis
Authors: Kuosmanen Tuuli , Clarke Aleisha M. , Barry Margaret M.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Evidence on implementing effective adolescent mental health promotion and prevention interventions in the European context is underdeveloped. The purpose of this paper is to identify evidence-based mental health promotion and prevention interventions for adolescents that have been developed and/or implemented across the school, community and digital settings in Europe. This review also sought to identify the relevant implementation processes in relation to what works, for whom and under what circumstances.

Design/methodology/approach

A narrative synthesis of the evidence was conducted which included two stages: a systematic search of studies assessing adolescent mental health promotion and prevention interventions; and a selection of interventions with the most robust evidence base, using pre-defined criteria, that have been either developed and/or implemented in Europe.

Findings

A total of 16 interventions met the inclusion criteria. The majority of interventions were school-based programmes. The review findings support the delivery of interventions aimed at enhancing young people’s social and emotional learning (SEL) and preventing behavioural problems. Results indicate that the effective delivery of SEL interventions on a school-wide basis could provide an important platform on which other universal interventions such as anxiety and bullying prevention, and targeted depression prevention could be developed in a multi-tiered fashion. There were a limited number of studies providing robust evidence on the effectiveness of suicide prevention, digital and community-based interventions.

Originality/value

This review identifies a number of robust evidence-based promotion and prevention interventions for promoting adolescent mental health. While the interventions have been implemented in Europe, the majority has not been evaluated rigorously and few included detailed information on the quality of programme implementation. Evidence of the effective cross-cultural transferability of these interventions needs to be strengthened, including more systematic research on their implementation across diverse country contexts.
Exploring the barriers to the implementation of cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp)
Authors: Switzer Fiona , Harper Sean , Peck David
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers for people with psychotic spectrum disorders accessing CBTp in NHS Lothian. Despite national guidelines recommending CBT for the treatment of schizophrenia (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Guidelines 2014) and (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network Guidelines 2013), levels of access to CBTp remain low. The overall goal of the study is to uncover emergent themes regarding barriers to access to CBT for patients with psychosis. In addition, the influence of psychosocial skills intervention (PSI) training for psychosis (Brooker and Brabban, 2006) will be explored and if completion of this training effects referral behaviours and attitudes to CBTp.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a quantitative service evaluation project which uses a questionnaire design to explore the factors that influence a clinician’s decision to refer a patient for CBTp. Three qualitative questions are included for thematic analysis to allow the respondents to elaborate on their views on potential barriers. All appropriate Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) staff in adult mental health in NHS Lothian were invited to participate in the study.

Findings

CMHT staff in NHS Lothian hold favourable views of CBTp and would support an increase in access for patients with psychosis. Key barriers to access for CBTp identified in this study comprise of, little or no access to CBTp, lack of integration of services and unclear referral pathways. Further themes emerging from the study also included, improving multi-disciplinary communication and increasing CMHT staff knowledge and confidence in CBTp. PSI training was shown to have a significant effect on referral rates. Further research would be warranted to explore the influence of PSI training on CMHT staff confidence and knowledge in CBTp.

Originality/value

This is the first paper of its kind to investigate the potential barriers to access to CBTp in Scotland. The paper has highlighted some key barriers and potential strategies to overcome the barriers identified will be discussed.
‘It has to become true genetics’: tumour genetics and the division of diagnostic labour in the clinic
Authors: Beaudevin Claire , Peerbaye Ashveen , Bourgain Catherine
Published: January 2019

Tumour genetics is currently turning into a massive clinical approach. This paper is an enquiry into its practices as they expand beyond expert and experimental contexts and become routinised in clinical hospital settings. Studying a French university hospital, we unpack the content and everyday organization of diagnostic labour in this context. Exploring the sociotechnical frictions that arise in the process, we describe the ways in which they are collectively controlled, and stabilized through organizational fictions, that are instrumental in making tumour genetics doable in the hospital, at a large scale. We further show that the new role of external regulations in the production of clinical values for mutations has a strong impact on diagnostic work, making it possible to be performed locally without resorting to expert bioclinical collectives, and outside the professional jurisdiction of clinical geneticists. This division of labour appears as a necessary condition for the rise in clinical productivity required by a new function assigned to genetics: to guide the prescription of drugs for common diseases. This turn in the way genetics is embedded in the clinic calls for a thorough reassessment of its impacts on clinical discourses, practices and decisions.
Linkage between Utah All Payers Claims Database and Central Cancer Registry
Authors: Garvin Jennifer Hornung , Herget Kimberly A. , Hashibe Mia , Kirchhoff Anne C. , Hawley Charles W. , Bolton Dan , Sweeney Carol
Published: January 2019

Objective

To evaluate the linkage of claims from the Utah All Payers Claims Database (APCD) and Utah Cancer Registry (UCR).

Data Sources

Secondary data from 2013 and 2014 Utah APCD and 2013 UCR cases.

Study Design

This is a descriptive analysis of the quality of linkage between APCD claims data and cancer registry cases.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

We used the LinkPlus software to link Utah APCD and UCR data.

Principal Findings

We were able to link 82.4 percent (9441/11 453) of the UCR reportable cancer cases with APCD claims. Of those linked, 66 percent were perfect matches.

Conclusions

The quality of identifiers is high, evidence that claims data can potentially supplement cancer registry data for use in research.
Human‐Centered Data Science: A New Paradigm for Industrial IoT
Authors: YAPCHAIAN MATTHEW
Published: January 2019

Few professions appear more at odds, at least on the surface, than ethnography and data science. The first deals in qualitative “truths,” gleaned by human researchers, based on careful, deep observation of only a small number of human subjects, typically. The latter deals in quantitative “truths,” mined through computer‐executed algorithms, based on vast swaths of anonymous data points. To the ethnographer, “truth” involves an understanding of how and why things are truly the way they are. To the data scientist, “truth” is more about designing algorithms that make guesses that are empirically correct a good portion of the time. Data science driven products, like those that Uptake builds, are most powerful and functional when they leverage the core strengths of both data science and ethnographic insights: what we call Human‐Centered Data Science. I will argue that data science, including the collection and manipulation of data, is a practice that is in many ways as human‐centered and subjective in nature as ethnographic‐based practices. I will explore the role of data, along with its generation, collection, and manipulation by data science and ethnographic practices embedded within organizations developing Industrial IOT software products (i.e. Department of Defense, rail, wind, manufacturing, mining, etc.).
Regarding the Pain of Users: Towards a Genealogy of the “Pain Point”
Authors: PLATZER DAVID
Published: January 2019

This essay offers an analysis of the “pain point,” a commonplace figure of speech in UX design and contemporary business contexts more broadly. By situating this everday trope within a wider discourse of pain, and its politiciztion in the United States, I seek to problematize the modes of relationality and forms of care entailed in the practice of design research. Ultimately, I will argue, while the “pain point” can be an effective tool for communicating with stakeholders and fomenting alignment about research objectives, it also implicates the more troubling ethical dimensions of applied practice. Through a narrative account of an innovation focused ethnographic research project conducted within the design unit of a major tech company, I argue that questions of solidarity, and its contemporary aporias, can be obscured by the humanitarian rhetoric of contemporary design praxis; a rhetoric of which the “pain point” is a prime example.
When Customer Insights Meet Business Constraints: Building a Go‐to‐Market Strategy for a Smart Home Offering in a Regulated Space
Authors: KELLEY ELIZABETH A. , DWELLEY AMANDA E.
Published: January 2019

This case draws on work in the energy efficiency industry where many utilities rely on data‐driven insights and decision‐making to encourage consumers to adopt energy‐saving products and behaviors. In this highly regulated industry, utility staff must show value through big data, and studies often rely exclusively on quantitative data analytics to create behavioral models to explain or predict behavior. However, purely data‐driven research often fails to answer questions about why customers behave a certain way, and what product or program managers and marketers can do about it. In this case study, the team from ILLUME Advising LLC (ILLUME), a research consultancy in the clean energy industry, illustrates how their cross‐functional team paired qualitative and quantitative research on residential home energy use. The case study draws on an exploratory market and segmentation study for an electric utility interested in engaging customers through a smart home product offering. The team used a mixed‐methods, hybrid research approach, cycling between quantitaive and qualitative methods, and refining the project concept and hypotheses before each stage of research. This approach set the stage for market and consumer insights that showed opportunities beyond the clients’ original concept.
ReHumanizing Hospital Satisfaction Data: Text Analysis, the Lifeworld, and Contesting Stakeholders’ Beliefs in Evidence
Authors: WIGNALL JULIA , BARRY DWIGHT
Published: January 2019

Declining clinician engagement, increasing rates of burnout, and stagnant patient and family experience scores have led hospital leadership at Seattle Children's Hospital to submit requests to a data scientist and an anthropologist to identify key themes of survey comments and provide recommendations to improve experience and satisfaction. This study explored ways of understanding satisfaction as well as analytic approaches to textual data, and found that various modes of evidence, while seemingly ideal to leaders, are hard pressed to meet their expectations. Examining satisfaction survey comments via text mining, content analysis, and ethnographic investigation uncovered several specific challenges to stakeholder requests for actionable insights. Despite its hype, text mining struggled to identify actionable themes, accurate sentiment, or group distinctions that are readily identified by both content analysis and end users, while more insightful ethnographic results were sometimes discounted for lack of quantitative results or perceived implementation difficulty. Unfortunately, institutional contexts and preferences for specific types of data can lead to unnecessary requests and wasted efforts. Through including the subjective lifeworld, how an individual's lived experiences impact interactions with others, the authors were able re‐humanize satisfaction. Cross‐discipline collaboration can enhance the quality, validation, and advocacy of evidence from both qualitative and quantitative data. Co‐developing a “Return on Method” (ROM) of satisfaction data can help improve analytic requests and expectations by end users. Ultimately, a lifeworld‐informed combination of data science and ethnography can provide contextual and culturally situated insights that are both meaningful and actionable.
Operationalizing Ethnographic Research to Grow Trust in Digital Financial Services
Authors: HEITMANN SOREN , BURI SINJA , DAVICO GISELA , REITZUG FABIAN
Published: January 2019

Trust motivates people's uptake and use of digital financial services (DFS). Understanding the socio‐cultural determinants of DFS trust are needed to scale financial access and drive financial inclusion. These are core components of international development strategies, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Universal Financial Access (UFA2020). The IFC‐Mastercard Foundation Partnership for Financial Inclusion (the Partnership) conducted ethnographic research to understand factors that impact people's attitudes and perceptions of DFS. Nine months of field work each in Cameroon, DRC, Senegal and Zambia were conducted, in collaboration with local research institutes’ Anthropology departments and the African Studies Center at the University of Leiden. The results of the ethnographic research produced a framework for understanding drivers and barriers to people growing trust in digital financial services.

This paper analyzes the quantitative and qualitative application of the framework for understanding digital financial services perceptions and uptake propensities for a specific market segment: micro, small to medium‐sized enterprises (MSMEs). The framework guided the design of focus groups and survey instruments, whose data provide a classification of issues business owners face for adopting DFS and the degree to which the socio‐cultural determinants of these issues may drive or hinder DFS adoption. Further, the survey data provide ground‐truth observations that are applied to transactional big data sets toward the development of a model to identify business from individual customers. Identifying MSMEs enables providers to deliver business‐specific DFS services at scale and further enable financial inclusion.

It was found that MSMEs could be successfully identified using the big data analytics model, and that the classification of small‐medium (and micro) segments could be further identified by application of the survey data. Using the framework throughout all stages of the analysis further demonstrates the business value that can be obtained by employing the ethnographic approach. Doing so ensured that salient DFS issues relevant to business owners were inherent in survey questions ex‐ante, thereby yielding meaningful results that can be used to engage MSMEs, design relevant products and advance financial inclusion.
The Root Cause is Capitalism… and Patriarchy
Authors: WALLACE LINDSEY , MELNYK JENNA
Published: January 2019

The authors used anthropology and other design research methods to develop a new kind of study to capture the world of professional creatives and the people they work with. To uncover core collaboration challenges for professional creatives the authors asked asked them to walk through past projects, who they interacted with at different points, and discuss their affective experiences.

Critical collaborative problems for participants in this study stemmed from two factors: ever‐increasing corporate demands to do more with less, and concurrent attempts to automate feminized administrative coordination tasks. To communicate actionable findings, the authors balanced systems‐level thinking with the identification of the kinds of problems Adobe could and would solve. While large scale social change was outside the scope of actionable recommendations for a product design team, the implications of social structures on individual experience provided insights that widened our lens beyond the individual.
Feeding behavior, life history, and virus transmission ability of Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean species (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) under elevated CO2
Authors: Peñalver‐Cruz Ainara , Garzo Elisa , Prieto‐Ruiz Inés , Díaz‐Carro Miguel , Winters Ana , Moreno Aránzazu , Fereres Alberto
Published: January 2019

The continuous rise of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere is reducing plant nutritional quality for herbivores and indirectly affects their performance. The whitefly (Bemisia tabaci, Gennadius) is a major worldwide pest of agricultural crops causing significant yield losses. This study investigated the plant‐mediated indirect effects of elevated CO2 on the feeding behavior and life history of B. tabaci Mediterranean species. Eggplants were grown under elevated and ambient CO2 concentrations for 3 weeks after which plants were either used to monitor the feeding behavior of whiteflies using the Electrical Penetration Graph technique or to examine fecundity and fertility of whiteflies. Plant leaf carbon, nitrogen, phenols and protein contents were also analyzed for each treatment. Bemisia tabaci feeding on plants exposed to elevated CO2 showed a longer phloem ingestion and greater fertility compared to those exposed to ambient CO2 suggesting that B. tabaci is capable of compensating for the plant nutritional deficit. Additionally, this study looked at the transmission of the virus Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (Begomovirus) by B. tabaci exposing source and receptor tomato plants to ambient or elevated CO2 levels before or after virus transmission tests. Results indicate that B. tabaci transmitted the virus at the same rate independent of the CO2 levels and plant treatment. Therefore, we conclude that B. tabaci Mediterranean species prevails over the difficulties that changes in CO2 concentrations may cause and it is predicted that under future climate change conditions, B. tabaci would continue to be considered a serious threat for agriculture worldwide.
Evaluating the cost‐effectiveness of existing needle and syringe programmes in preventing hepatitis C transmission in people who inject drugs
Authors: Sweeney Sedona , Ward Zoe , Platt Lucy , Guinness Lorna , Hickman Matthew , Hope Vivian , Maher Lisa , Iversen Jenny , Hutchinson Sharon J. , Smith Josie , Ayres Rachel , Hainey Ingrid , Vickerman Peter
Published: January 2019

Aim

To evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) compared with no NSPs on hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission in the United Kingdom.

Design

Cost‐effectiveness analysis from a National Health Service (NHS)/health‐provider perspective, utilizing a dynamic transmission model of HCV infection and disease progression, calibrated using city‐specific surveillance and survey data, and primary data collection on NSP costs. The effectiveness of NSPs preventing HCV acquisition was based on empirical evidence.

Setting and participants

UK settings with different chronic HCV prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID): Dundee (26%), Walsall (18%) and Bristol (45%)

Interventions

Current NSP provision is compared with a counterfactual scenario where NSPs are removed for 10 years and then returned to existing levels with effects collected for 40 years.

Measurements

HCV infections and cost per quality‐adjusted life year (QALY) gained through NSPs over 50 years.

Findings

Compared with a willingness‐to‐pay threshold of £20 000 per QALY gained, NSPs were highly cost‐effective over a time‐horizon of 50 years and decreased the number of HCV incident infections. The mean incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was cost‐saving in Dundee and Bristol, and £596 per QALY gained in Walsall, with 78, 46 and 40% of simulations being cost‐saving in each city, respectively, with differences driven by coverage of NSP and HCV prevalence (lowest in Walsall). More than 90% of simulations were cost‐effective at the willingness‐to‐pay threshold. Results were robust to sensitivity analyses, including varying the time‐horizon, HCV treatment cost and numbers of HCV treatments per year.

Conclusions

Needle and syringe programmes are a highly effective low‐cost intervention to reduce hepatitis C virus transmission, and in some settings they are cost‐saving. Needle and syringe programmes are likely to remain cost‐effective irrespective of changes in hepatitis C virus treatment cost and scale‐up.
Prurigo successfully treated with duloxetine hydrochloride
Authors: Hashimoto Takashi , Satoh Takahiro , Yokozeki Hiroo
Published: January 2019

Prurigo is a common skin disease characterised by erythematous macules and papules/nodules with severe pruritus. We report here two cases with treatment‐resistant prurigo that were successfully treated with duloxetine hydrochloride, a serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. In vivo experiments with a mouse model of prurigo‐like inflammation showed that duloxetine hydrochloride ameliorated not only scratching behaviours, but also skin inflammation. Duloxetine hydrochloride appears to be useful for treating prurigo via modulating itch signals and immune responses.
INCOME‐GENERATING ACTIVITY: AN AVENUE TO IMPROVE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SHGs
Authors: DHAKE Saroj Pravinchandra , NARKHEDE Sameer P.
Published: January 2019

Self‐help groups (SHGs) are formed to work for increased income through collective effort and use of banking facilities by initiating some income‐generating activities taking advantage of the financial strength of a group. Taking into consideration the significance of SHGs to economic growth, the present study analyzes and compares the management of the income‐generating activities of SHGs in rural and urban areas. It also explores the extent of resource mobilization through various income‐generating activities, and the constraints faced by the SHGs while undertaking these activities. It is an exploratory research in which a multi‐stage stratified cluster random sampling technique was used for the selection of SHGs. Data were collected at group level and member level through purposely developed interview schedules and focused group discussions.

The study revealed that, because of various financial and marketing‐related problems occurring while initiating and conducting the activities, very few SHG members actually started new income‐generating activities. Testing of hypotheses indicated that SHGs do not fulfil all the requirements of income‐generating activities carried out by its members. An overall low to medium level of resource mobilization by a majority of the SHGs presented a poor picture of SHGs in generating resources for undertaking entrepreneurial activities.
Review article: unanswered clinical and research questions in autoimmune hepatitis‐conclusions of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group Research Workshop
Authors: Dyson Jessica K. , De Martin Eleonora , Dalekos George N. , Drenth Joost P.H. , Herkel Johannes , Hubscher Stefan G. , Kelly Deirdre , Lenzi Marco , Milkiewicz Piotr , Oo Ye H. , Heneghan Michael A. , Lohse Ansgar W. ,   the IAIHG Consortium
Published: January 2019

Background

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease that results in substantial morbidity and mortality with many unanswered clinical and research questions. Improved understanding of disease pathogenesis, including the extra‐hepatic manifestations of AIH, may allow targeted treatments with greater efficacy and fewer associated adverse events.

Aim

To identify the spectrum of unanswered clinical and research questions facing care providers in the management of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Methods

The International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group initiated a series of research workshops to start to address these questions. Key issues were discussed in small group sessions with collation of all discussions to be summarised in this manuscript.

Results

Key issues were identified as: the need for better understanding of disease pathogenesis, standardisation of the methods and assays used to evaluate autoantibodies in AIH, refinement of the histopathological criteria for “typical” or “compatible” AIH, focus on the interaction with non‐alcohol related fatty liver disease, how to treat acute severe AIH, better assessment of quality of life in adults and paediatrics, standardising use of standard, third‐line and experimental therapies in AIH and search for biomarkers early in the disease course that predict outcome.

Conclusion

This workshop has outlined the key unanswered clinical and research questions to help to define the research agenda in AIH.
Ensuring continuity of patient care across the healthcare interface: Telephone follow‐up post‐hospitalization
Authors: Odeh Mohanad , Scullin Claire , Fleming Glenda , Scott Michael G. , Horne Robert , McElnay James C.
Published: January 2019

Aims

To implement pharmacist‐led, postdischarge telephone follow‐up (TFU) intervention and to evaluate its impact on rehospitalization parameters in polypharmacy patients, via comparison with a well‐matched control group.

Method

Pragmatic, prospective, quasi‐experimental study. Intervention patients were matched by propensity score techniques with a control group. Guided by results from a pilot study, clinical pharmacists implemented TFU intervention, added to routine integrated medicines management service.

Results

Using an intention to treat approach, reductions in 30‐ and 90‐day readmission rates for intervention patients compared with controls were 9.9% [odds ratio = 0.57; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36–0.90; P < 0.001] and 15.2% (odds ratio = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.36–0.79; P = 0.021) respectively. Marginal mean time to readmission was 70.9 days (95% CI: 66.9–74.9) for intervention group compared with 60.1 days (95% CI: 55.4–64.7) for controls. Mean length of hospital stay compared with control was (8.3 days vs. 6.7 days; P < 0.001). Benefit: cost ratio for 30‐day readmissions was 29.62, and 23.58 for 90‐day interval. Per protocol analyses gave more marked improvements. In intervention patients, mean concern scale score, using Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire, was reduced 3.2 (95% CI: –4.22 to −2.27; P < 0.001). Mean difference in Medication Adherence Report Scale was 1.4 (22.7 vs. 24.1; P < 0.001). Most patients (83.8%) reported having better control of their medicines after the intervention.

Conclusions

Pharmacist‐led postdischarge structured TFU intervention can reduce 30‐ and 90‐day readmission rates. Positive impacts were noted on time to readmission, length of hospital stay upon readmission, healthcare costs, patient beliefs about medicines, patient self‐reported adherence and satisfaction.
Social categorization and individuation in the own‐age bias
Authors: Craig Belinda M. , Thorne Emily M.
Published: January 2019

Young adults recognize other young adult faces more accurately than older adult faces, an effect termed the own‐age bias (OAB). The categorization‐individuation model (CIM) proposes that recognition memory biases like the OAB occur as unfamiliar faces are initially quickly categorized. In‐group faces are seen as socially relevant which motivates the processing of individuating facial features. Outgroup faces are processed more superficially with attention to category‐specific information which hinders subsequent recognition. To examine the roles of categorization and individuation in the context of the OAB, participants completed a face recognition task and a speeded age categorization task including young and older adult faces. In the recognition task, half of the participants were given instructions aimed to encourage individuation of other‐age faces. An OAB emerged that was not influenced by individuation instructions, but the magnitude of the OAB was correlated with performance in the categorization task. The larger the categorization advantage for older adult over young adult faces, the larger the OAB. These results support the premise that social categorization processes can affect the subsequent recognition of own‐ and other‐age faces, but do not provide evidence for the effectiveness of individuation instructions in reducing the OAB.
BST1 rs4698412 allelic variant increases the risk of gait or balance deficits in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Shen Yu‐Ting , Wang Jian‐Wei , Wang Min , Zhi Yan , Li Jun‐Yi , Yuan Yong‐Sheng , Wang Xi‐Xi , Zhang Hui , Zhang Ke‐Zhong
Published: January 2019

Aims

We aimed to explore effects of bone marrow stromal cell antigen‐1 (BST1) rs4698412 allelic variant on brain activation and associative clinical symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Methods

A total of 49 PD patients and 47 healthy control (HC) subjects were recruited for clinical evaluations, blood samples collection for genotypes, and resting‐state functional MRI (rs‐fMRI) scans. Based on BST1 rs4698412 allelic variant (G → A), participants were further divided into 18 PD‐GG, 31 PD‐GA/AA, 20 HC‐GG, and 27 HC‐GA/AA carriers, which respectively indicated subjects carrying ancestral or risk allele in that locus in PD or HC. Two‐way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to investigate main effects and interactions between PD and BST1 rs4698412 allelic variant on brain function via amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations (ALFF). Spearman’s correlations were then utilized to detect associations between interactive brain regions and clinical symptoms.

Results

Compared to HC subjects, PD patients exhibited increased ALFF values in left cerebellum_8 and cerebellum_9. Significant interaction was in right lingual gyrus, where there were the lowest ALFF values and ALFF values were only negatively associated with Timed Up and Go (TUG) test time in PD‐GA/AA subgroup.

Conclusion

BST1 rs4698412‐modulated lingual gyrus functional alterations could be related to gait and balance dysfunction in PD.
Validation of French versions of the Facial Disability Index and the Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale, specific quality of life scales for peripheral facial palsy patients
Authors: Barry Pauline , Mancini Julien , Alshukry Abdullah , Salburgo Florent , Lavieille Jean‐Pierre , Montava Marion
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To translate and validate French versions of two health‐related quality of life questionnaires for patients with peripheral facial palsy: Facial Disability Index (FDI) and Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) scale.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

University tertiary referral centre.

Participants

A pilot test was performed on 10 subjects (5 patients with facial palsy of more than 1‐month duration and 5 normal subjects), and then 67 adult patients with facial palsy were enrolled in the validation study.

Main outcome measures

Translation of the original questionnaires has followed international guidelines using a forward‐backward translation method. A pilot test and a validation study based on the translated questionnaires were performed. Internal consistency, test‐retest reliability, validity and responsiveness were assessed. Validity was assessed by comparing to SF‐36 and Sunnybrook/House‐Brackmann grading systems. Subjects answered scales twice within a one‐week interval.

Results

Sixty‐seven patients were enrolled, among which 63 completed scales one week later (retest). For physical and social functions of FDI and FaCE scores, Cronbach's α representing internal consistency was 0.88, 0.70 and 0.89, and test‐retest reliability by intra‐class correlation coefficients was 0.81, 0.86 and 0.89, respectively. The correlation of facial movement score of FaCE scale was good with Sunnybrook/House‐Brackmann grading systems (0.73 and −0.75, P < 0.01). The correlation of social function of FaCE scale was excellent with social function of SF‐36 (0.8, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

French versions of FDI and FaCE scale are psychometrically valid. Both questionnaires can be used for clinical studies to assess the quality of life of patients with peripheral facial palsy.
Malaligned bioprosthetic valve causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction
Authors: Christia Panagiota , Lee Samantha , Lyuba Olha , Silbiger Jeffrey J.
Published: January 2019

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction resulting from strut impingement upon the interventricular septum is a rare complication of bioprosthetic mitral valve insertion. Obstruction is more likely to develop when a small, high profile prosthetic valve is inserted into a patient with a small outflow tract. The likelihood of this complication may be reduced by appropriate modification of surgical technique.
UNIVERSITY STARTUP INTENSITY AND FACULTY QUALITY
Authors: Showalter Dean , Jensen Richard
Published: January 2019

Using a theoretical model of university technology transfer and licensing survey data from 1991 to 2013, we show that greater faculty quality and venture capital availability is positively associated with licenses to startups. We employ a two‐stage game of licensing terms (royalty rate and fixed fee) and development efforts to show that under reasonable conditions, licensing to a startup rather than an established firm will be more attractive to a technology transfer office (TTO) because the inventor's ownership share in a startup firm will increase total development efforts by the inventor and licensee. TTOs will be more likely to target startup licensees when the marginal effect of the faculty inventor's additional development effort on the probability of success is large relative to that of the venture capitalist or established firm. Empirical evidence supports the results of the model; using Associated University Technology Data licensing survey data and employing panel and cross‐sectional analyses, we show that an increase in the quality of engineering faculty has roughly twice the positive impact on startup licenses than on established firm licenses. Startup licensing is also strongly impacted by venture capital availability within institutions over time. (JEL L24, L26, D86)
Emperors, bishops, art and jurisprudence: the transformation of law in Eusebius of Caesarea
Authors: Corke‐Webster James
Published: January 2019

This article analyses the collection and repurposing of legal documents in the early fourth‐century historical writings of Eusebius of Caesarea. Some of these individual documents have been the object of repeated study; others are still largely neglected. But they are even more interesting, I suggest, when considered as a collective, as Eusebius’ careful editing reveals they were intended to be. This mobilization of collated and embedded law was, I argue, the meeting of two separate wider trends that took off in this early fourth‐century watershed moment – the so‐called late antique artistic aesthetic, and the gradually changing legal dynamic between government and governed. Eusebius used both as strategies to resist imperial dominance in the uncertain times in which he wrote, constructing an image of the bishop capable of going toe to toe with emperors. In doing so, he anticipated not just the growing conflict between church and state in the centuries to come, but the rhetorical strategies that would come to be employed.
The pronunciation teaching practices of university‐level graduate teaching assistants of French and Spanish introductory language courses
Authors: Huensch Amanda
Published: January 2019

This study combined evidence from survey, interview, and classroom observation data to better understand the amount and type of pronunciation instruction and corrective feedback practices in French and Spanish introductory language courses (i.e., the first four semesters) at the university level in the United States. Data consisted of responses (n = 142) to a national survey and audiorecorded interviews (6 hours) and classroom observations (22 hours) of seven graduate teaching assistants (TAs) of French or Spanish from two different large (i.e., more than 15,000 students) public universities. Survey results indicated that TAs believed that when they correct pronunciation, they should prioritize mistakes that impede comprehension or change meaning. Classroom observations demonstrated that on average, 2% of instructor talk was pronunciation focused, with a majority of pronunciation episodes categorized as corrective feedback in the form of recasts. In addition, only one instance of preplanned pronunciation teaching occurred in the data. The findings suggest that current pronunciation teaching practices in this context are rare and largely reactive.
Vitamin A‐coupled liposomal Rho‐kinase inhibitor ameliorates liver fibrosis without systemic adverse effects
Authors: Okimoto Sho , Kuroda Shintaro , Tashiro Hirotaka , Kobayashi Tsuyoshi , Taogoshi Takanori , Matsuo Hiroaki , Ohdan Hideki
Published: January 2019

Aim

Rho‐kinase (ROCK) inhibitor could ameliorate liver fibrosis by suppressing hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. However, because systemic administration of ROCK inhibitor causes serious adverse effects, we developed a drug delivery system selectively delivering ROCK inhibitor to HSCs. Here, we examined whether our developed vitamin A (VA)‐coupled liposomal ROCK inhibitor reduced liver fibrosis in rats without causing systemic adverse effects.

Methods

LX‐2 HSCs were analyzed for morphological changes and the expression of profibrotic proteins. The inhibitory effects of VA‐coupled liposomal ROCK inhibitor on liver fibrosis were confirmed in a rat model of liver fibrosis induced by i.p. injection of carbon tetrachloride. The degree of liver fibrosis, biochemical changes, and survival rates were also investigated.

Results

Vitamin A‐coupled liposomal ROCK inhibitor had an effect at approximately 1/100 the amount of the free ROCK inhibitor for inhibiting the activation of LX‐2 cells and caused significant decreases in the expression levels of α‐smooth muscle actin (SMA) and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1. The degree of liver fibrosis was suppressed by treatment with VA‐coupled liposomal ROCK inhibitor, and the expression of α‐SMA and TGF‐β1 in liver tissues was also significantly suppressed. In addition, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and hyaluronic acid were significantly reduced, and there was no decline in kidney function, which has been noted as a systemic adverse effect of ROCK inhibitor. Furthermore, VA‐coupled liposomal ROCK inhibitor improved survival rates in rats with liver fibrosis.

Conclusion

Vitamin A‐coupled liposomal ROCK inhibitor efficiently suppressed liver fibrosis without causing systemic adverse effects.