bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring integrated thinking in integrated reporting – an exploratory study in Australia
Authors: Feng Tianyuan , Cummings Lorne , Tweedie Dale
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Integrated thinking is central to the International Integrated Reporting Council’s (IIRC’s) integrated reporting (IR) framework, which is in turn is related to a potential resurgence of intellectual capital (IC) reporting. However, it remains unclear how key IR stakeholders understand this concept in theory or practice. The purpose of this paper is to explore how key stakeholders interpret integrated thinking; and how pilot organizations are applying integrated thinking in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved in-depth semi-structured interviews with key IR stakeholders in Australia, including two IR pilot organizations, one professional association, an accounting professional body, an accounting firm and two IIRC officials.

Findings

First, the IIRC has not fully defined and articulated the concept of integrated thinking, and there is no shared consensus among practitioners. Second, there is evidence of an evolving understanding of integrated thinking within practice. What remains unclear is how this understanding will develop over time.

Research limitations/implications

Since interviews were conducted with a relatively small sample of participants in Australia, the results may not be generalizable across different contexts. The study emphasizes the need to interpret carefully IR’s potential contribution to organizational practice through either reporting in general, or IC reporting in particular.

Originality/value

Despite the centrality of integrated thinking to IR, there has been limited research to date on the concept. Clarifying what integrated thinking means in practice can improve our understanding of a key IR concept, and can advance our understanding of IR’s potential to improve IC reporting and research.
Alliance portfolios and firm performance: the moderating role of firms’ strategic positioning
Authors: Martynov Aleksey
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to fill the theoretical void in the discussion of effects of alliance portfolios on firm performance by studying the moderating role of a firm’s strategic positioning.

Design/methodology/approach

A fixed effects, autoregressive panel model on a comprehensive, longitudinal sample of large and medium-sized publicly traded companies in the USA.

Findings

The effect of alliance portfolios on firm performance is conditional on the firm’s strategic positioning.

Research limitations/implications

The results may not be applicable to firms outside the USA or small firms.

Practical implications

Executives should craft their alliance portfolios while considering the strategic positioning of their firms.

Originality/value

This paper presents the first study of alliance portfolios that uses a comprehensive, multi-industry sample while considering firms’ strategic positioning. The paper is the first to jointly study characteristics of alliance portfolios and firm strategies.
Examining the association between government-sponsored product ratings and firm political participation
Authors: Cavazos David E. , Rutherford Matthew
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply firm aspiration theory to explore how firms respond to government product ratings.

Design/methodology/approach

Longitudinal examination of nine automobile manufacturers during National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration crash tests in the USA.

Findings

Firms take specific external actions to influence the political mechanisms that support ranking schemes when product ratings are below those of rivals and when previously highly rated products decline. In addition, firms receiving rankings above those of their competitors are found to be less likely to take such action, even when their overall ratings declined. Similarly, firms seeing improvements in previously low-rated products will take fewer actions aimed at influencing the political mechanisms that support rating schemes.

Originality/value

The primary contribution of this research is in establishing when firm product ratings will result in actions to influence external ratings criteria. Previous research has shown that firms respond to organizational ratings by taking action aimed at improving subsequent performance. The current research builds on such work by applying aspiration theory in an effort to predict and explain when and why certain ratings will attract firm attention to the external mechanisms that support such ratings.
Executive compensation
Authors: Kline William , Kotabe Masaaki , Hamilton Robert D. , Balsam Steven
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how executive pay schemes influence managerial efficiency, which the authors measure as the risk-adjusted firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors utilized hierarchical regression to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The authors find that as options constitute a higher percentage of total compensation packages, subsequent firm risk-adjusted performance declines. The authors also find an inverse relationship between TMT stock ownership and risk-adjusted performance.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest that the firm stakeholders should reconsider the likely influence of option-based incentives and equity holdings on the risk-adjusted performance.

Originality/value

Most executive compensation research focuses on either the pay-to-performance or pay-to-risk links. However, in this paper, the authors combine both the performance and risk dimensions simultaneously.
How to measure impacts of work environment changes on knowledge work productivity – validation and improvement of the SmartWoW tool
Authors: Palvalin Miikka
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Measuring productivity in changing environment is a challenging task for most of the organizations. However, it is very important for managers to measure how the changes in work environment impact on knowledge work productivity. SmartWoW is proving to be a useful tool for this type of productivity measurement, and organizations are using it to make changes in the work environment. As organizations become more interested in its uses, studies with more accurate results are needed. The purpose of this paper is to validate and improve the use of the SmartWoW tool.

Design/methodology/approach

The SmartWoW tool was used in nine organizations, which formulates the research data. Convergent validity, divergent validity and reliability are tested with SPSS and AMOS. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are applied.

Findings

The SmartWoW tool structure was found to be valid. It follows the structure described in previous literature, with slight changes in two dimensions. Four variables were added to increase tool consistency, and their wording was harmonized.

Practical implications

SmartWoW is useful for evaluating an organization’s current work environment and practices, as well as for measuring the effects of work environment changes. This study’s results also suggest SmartWoW would be useful for research by, for example, evaluating how dimensions affect each other.

Originality/value

This study provides a better understanding of the unique features and uses of SmartWoW. The findings not only validate through statistical analysis the tool’s structure but also improve it and offer a broader scope of its uses.
An empirical examination of firm financial performance along dimensions of supply chain resilience
Authors: Li Xun , Wu Qun , Holsapple Clyde W. , Goldsby Thomas
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of three critical dimensions of supply chain resilience, supply chain preparedness, supply chain alertness and supply chain agility, all aimed at increasing a firm’s financial outcomes. In a turbulent environment, firms require resilience in their supply chains to prepare for potential changes, detect changes and respond to actual changes, thus providing superior value.

Design/methodology/approach

Using survey data from 77 firms, this study develops scales for preparedness, alertness and agility. It then tests their hypothesized relationships with a firm’s financial performance.

Findings

The results reveal that the three dimensions of supply chain resilience (i.e. preparedness, alertness and agility) significantly impact a firm’s financial performance. It is also found that supply chain preparedness, as a proactive resilience capability, has a greater influence on a firm’s financial performance than the reactive capabilities including alertness and agility, suggesting that firms should pay more attention to proactive approaches for building supply chain resilience.

Originality/value

First, this study develops a comparatively comprehensive definition for supply chain resilience and explores its dimensionality. Second, this study provides empirically validated instruments for the dimensions of supply chain resilience. Third, this study is one of the first to provide empirical evidence for direct impact of supply chain resilience dimensions on a firm’s financial performance.
Learning processes and job satisfaction in the Spanish wine sector
Authors: Gil Alfonso J. , Mataveli Mara
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between learning processes (LP) – group learning (GL) and training processes – and job satisfaction (JS), by taking into consideration the mediating role of organizational size (OZ) and employees’ educational level (EEL).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from the Spanish wine sector. The survey was addressed to the workers, and 230 valid questionnaires were obtained. The authors have proven their model of research through a model of structural equations, that is, by means of the partial least squares technique.

Findings

This paper proposes that LP play a significant role in determining the effects on JS, and OZ and EEL mediate the relationship between GL and JS.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to certain features of the sample and the use of measurement scales, the final results should be considered with caution. Further research in other contexts using qualitative methods is needed to validate these findings.

Practical implications

When seeking to improve employee JS, practitioners should take into account the link between LP and JS. It is especially necessary to consider the diversity in learning groups.

Originality/value

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the relationship between LP and JS and checks the mediation of OZ and worker education of workers between group learning and JS.
Moderators of the personality-performance relationship
Authors: Muldoon Jeffrey , Kisamore Jennifer L. , Liguori Eric W. , Jawahar I.M. , Bendickson Joshua
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether job meaning and job autonomy moderate the relationship between emotional stability and organizational citizenship behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 190 supervisor-subordinate dyads completed three surveys. Linear and curvilinear analyses were used to assess the data.

Findings

Results indicate emotionally stable individuals are more likely to perform OCBOs in low autonomy and/or low job meaning situations than are employees low in emotional stability. Conversely, individuals who have high autonomy and/or high meaning jobs are likely to engage in OCBOs regardless of personality.

Research limitations/implications

As a survey-based research study, causal conclusions cannot be drawn from this study. Results suggest future research on the personality-performance relationship needs to more closely consider context and the potential for curvilinear relationships.

Practical implications

Managers should note that personality may significantly affect job performance and consider placing individuals in jobs that best align with their personality strengths.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on factors which may have led to erroneous conclusions in the extant literature that the relationship between personality and performance is weak.
Regulatory foci and expatriate adjustment
Authors: Lee Chun-Han , Hung Chao-Chih , Chien Chi-Sheng , Zhuang Wen-Long , Hsu Carol Ying-Yu
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between regulatory foci and expatriate adjustment and further compares the differences in the aforementioned relationship between promotion focus and prevention focus.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a convenient sampling method to survey expatriates who work for multinational enterprises and have been expatriated for at least six months.

Findings

Based on an analysis of 158 Taiwanese expatriates in Mainland China, Thailand, India, Saudi Arabia, and so forth, this study found that promotion focus was positively related to the expatriates’ office interaction adjustment and work adjustment; and prevention focus was positively related to the expatriates’ general adjustment, office interaction adjustment, and work adjustment. Moreover, expatriates’ prevention focus accounted for more variance in the expatriates’ general adjustment, office interaction adjustment, and work adjustment than did that of expatriates’ promotion focus.

Originality/value

Personality traits are regarded as among the most important antecedents of expatriate cross-cultural adjustment. This study suggests that expatriates’ regulatory foci could perhaps explain their adjustment issues in the host country. However, it seems no study has explored the role played by expatriates’ regulatory foci in expatriate adjustment.
Interactive effects of perceived time pressure, satisfaction with work-family balance (SWFB), and leader-member exchange (LMX) on creativity
Authors: Aleksić Darija , Mihelič Katarina Katja , Černe Matej , Škerlavaj Miha
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Drawing on role theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate a curvilinear relationship between employee’s perceived overall time pressure and creativity. Apart from this, it explores a three-way interaction of perceived time pressure, satisfaction with work-family balance (SWFB), and leader-member exchange (LMX) on creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports a quantitative study of 251 employees from a European company. An online survey was used to collect data. The proposed hypotheses were tested using moderated hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

Results demonstrate a U-shaped curvilinear relationship between perceived time pressure and creativity. Results further confirm the proposed three-way interaction of perceived time pressure, SWFB, and LMX as joint predictors of creativity.

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional research design limits the ability to demonstrate causality. Moreover, the data were collected from a single source causing concern for common method bias. Nonetheless, recent research suggests that common method bias cannot create an artificial interaction effect.

Originality/value

This study is one of the rare attempts to examine a curvilinear relationship between perceived time pressure and creativity. Moreover, it contributes to the work-family literature by providing the first empirical examination of the linkage between SWFB and creativity. Furthermore, the authors find a three-way interaction between time pressure, SWFB and LMX, and creativity. These findings broaden our understanding of how personal and contextual factors interact to foster creativity.
Perceptions of discrimination and distributive injustice among people with physical disabilities
Authors: Villanueva-Flores Mercedes , Valle Ramon , Bornay-Barrachina Mar
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This study examines whether disabled workers perceive negative workplace experiences in terms of discrimination. The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of perceived distributive injustice at work, regarding three dimensions – job assignment, compensation and career development opportunities – on perceived discrimination and explore the mediation role of perceived discrimination in the relationship between perceived distributive injustice and the job dissatisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Research hypotheses are tested with a questionnaire administered to 107 disabled employees working in public and private Spanish organisations.

Findings

The results indicate that physically disabled people perceive distributive injustice and discrimination at work regarding job assignment, compensation and career development opportunities in Andalusian organisations, and this perception of discrimination leads to feel dissatisfaction. This study confirms the triple dimensionality of two of the variables studied: perceived distributive injustice at work and perceived discrimination at work.

Originality/value

Few studies have focussed on disability-related issues from a human resource management viewpoint. This study focusses on job assignments, compensation and career development and shows that the perception of discrimination mediates the relation between the perception of distributive injustice at work, and job dissatisfaction. That is, perceived distributive injustice in the organisation leads physically disabled employees to compare their situation with that of their non-disabled peers and thus to perceive discrimination regarding job assignment, compensation and career development opportunities. As a result, they become dissatisfied with their jobs. The results obtained allow us to extend the organisational justice framework, achieving a more thorough understanding of the perception of both injustice and discrimination.
A conservation of resources study of standard and contingent employees
Authors: Madden Laura , Kidder Deborah , Eddleston Kimberly , Litzky Barrie , Kellermanns Franz
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the differential effects of workplace stress and the use of social support by contingent vs standard employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Conservation of resources (COR) theory is used to frame research questions. Using content analysis of 40 interviews from individuals in the hospitality industry, differences between the levels of stress reported by contingent and standard employees as well as differences in their use of social support networks to offset stress is examined.

Findings

Contingent employees report experiencing more stress than do standard employees in the same profession. Furthermore, contingent employees seek out more social support than do standard employees. There was no difference between the two groups with respect to the desire for social support from three sources: vertical, horizontal, and customer groups.

Originality/value

This study extends the literature on contingent workers, the literature on how different types of employees deal with stress, as well as adding to the COR literature by showing that contingent employees experience and assuage their stress differently than do standard employees.
When innovation requirements empower individual innovation: the role of job complexity
Authors: Audenaert Mieke , Vanderstraeten Alex , Buyens Dirk
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the field’s understanding of how to raise individual innovation. Specifically, the authors aim to contribute to an understanding of the interplay of job characteristics and intrinsic motivation for individual innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses time-lagged survey data of a public service organization in Belgium. The analyses are based on more than 80 jobs and more than 1,000 employees. Hierarchical linear modeling was adopted to test cross-level hypotheses.

Findings

Innovation requirements influence individual innovation efforts by psychologically empowering employees, but the extent to which psychological empowerment translates into individual innovation depends on job complexity.

Originality/value

A more nuanced understanding is developed of when innovation requirements empower individual innovation, by acknowledging the role of job complexity in this relationship. The current findings contribute to a multilevel integrative understanding of the interplay of the job context and intrinsic motivation.
Examining the effects of corporate social responsibility and ethical leadership on turnover intention
Authors: Lin Chieh-Peng , Liu Min-Ling
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply the self-concept theory and conservation of resources theory to develop a model that explains how both corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethical leadership influence turnover intention through work engagement and burnout.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of employees from banking industry in Taiwan and the research hypotheses were empirically tested by two-step structural equation modeling (SEM) and regression analysis.

Findings

The empirical findings indicate that CSR and ethical leadership are both related to work engagement positively and burnout negatively. Turnover intention is affected by work engagement negatively and burnout positively. While the relationship between CSR and work engagement is positively moderated by ethical leadership, the relationship between burnout and turnover intention is negatively moderated by self-efficacy.

Research limitations/implications

This study confirms that both CSR and ethical leadership play critical roles for influencing turnover intention through the mediation of work engagement and burnout. The moderating effects of ethical leadership and self-efficacy are also presented in this study.

Practical implications

The authors’ findings bring some suggestions for managers who want to prevent high turnover intention from spreading all over their organization. Specifically, CSR and ethical leadership should be taken into account when managers develop their strategies to reduce turnover intention.

Originality/value

This study analyzes how turnover intention takes shape from ethical perspectives and through which work-related state of mind (such as burnout, work engagement) can turnover intention be eventually affected.
The two faces of envy: perceived opportunity to perform as a moderator of envy manifestation
Authors: Khan Abdul Karim , Bell Chris M. , Quratulain Samina
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate, with a Pakistani sample, the destructive and constructive behavioral intentions associated with benign and malicious envy in the context of perceived opportunity to perform.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted two cross-sectional studies to test the hypotheses. In Study 1, data were obtained from students (n=90), whereas in Study 2, the authors used an executive sample (n=83).

Findings

The primary motivation of benign envy was to bring oneself up by improving performance on the comparison dimension, whereas the primary motive of malicious envy was to pull the envied other down. The relationship between malicious envy and behavioral “pulling down” intentions of derogating envied other was conditional on perceived opportunity on the comparison dimension. Consistent with a motive to improve self-evaluation, this study also found that perceived opportunity to perform interacted with benign envy to promote performance intentions on an alternative dimension. Furthermore, malicious envy was also associated with self-improving performance intentions on the comparison dimension, conditional upon perceived opportunity to perform.

Practical implications

Envy, depending on its nature, can become a positive or negative force in organizational life. The pattern of effects for opportunity structure differs from previous findings on control. The negative and positive effects of malicious envy may be managed by attention to opportunity structures.

Originality/value

This study supports the proposition that benign envy and malicious envy are linguistically and conceptually distinct phenomena, and it is the first to do so in a sample from Pakistan, a non-western and relatively more collectivistic culture. The authors also showed that negative and hostile envy-based behaviors are conditional upon the perceived characteristics of the context.
The energy landscape predicts flight height and wind turbine collision hazard in three species of large soaring raptor
Authors: Péron Guillaume , Fleming Christen H. , Duriez Olivier , Fluhr Julie , Itty Christian , Lambertucci Sergio , Safi Kamran , Shepard Emily L. C. , Calabrese Justin M.
Published: March 2017

Collisions of large soaring raptors with wind turbines and other infrastructures represent a growing conservation concern. We describe a way to leverage knowledge about raptor soaring behaviour to forecast the probability that raptors fly in the rotor‐swept zone. Soaring raptors are theoretically expected to select energy sources (uplift) optimally, making their flight height dependent on uplift conditions. This approach can be used to forecast collision hazard when planning or operating wind farms. Empirical investigations of the factors influencing flight height have, however, so far been hindered by observation error.

We propose a two‐pronged approach. First, we fitted state‐space models to z‐axis GPS tracking data to filter heavy‐tailed observation error and estimate the relationship between vertical movement parameters and weather variables describing the energy landscape (thermal and orographic uplift potential). Second, we fitted a mechanistic model of flight height above ground based on aerodynamics and resource selection theories. The approach was replicated for five GPS‐tracked Andean condors Vultur gryphus, eight griffon vultures Gyps fulvus, and six golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos.

In all individuals, movement parameters correlated with thermal uplift potential in the expected direction. In all species, collision hazard was lowest for high thermal uplift potential values. Species specificities in the presence of a peak in collision hazard for medium values of thermal uplift potential could be explained by differences in wing loading and aspect ratio.

Synthesis and applications. Our fitted models convert weather data (thermal uplift potential) into a prediction of collision hazard (probability to fly in the rotor‐swept zone), making it possible to prioritize different wind development projects with respect to the relative hazard they would pose to raptors. However, our model should be combined with post‐construction monitoring to document, and eventually account for turbine avoidance behaviours in collision rate predictions.
A national‐scale model of linear features improves predictions of farmland biodiversity
Authors: Sullivan Martin J. P. , Pearce‐Higgins James W. , Newson Stuart E. , Scholefield Paul , Brereton Tom , Oliver Tom H.
Published: March 2017

Modelling species distribution and abundance is important for many conservation applications, but it is typically performed using relatively coarse‐scale environmental variables such as the area of broad land‐cover types. Fine‐scale environmental data capturing the most biologically relevant variables have the potential to improve these models. For example, field studies have demonstrated the importance of linear features, such as hedgerows, for multiple taxa, but the absence of large‐scale datasets of their extent prevents their inclusion in large‐scale modelling studies.

We assessed whether a novel spatial dataset mapping linear and woody‐linear features across the UK improves the performance of abundance models of 18 bird and 24 butterfly species across 3723 and 1547 UK monitoring sites, respectively.

Although improvements in explanatory power were small, the inclusion of linear features data significantly improved model predictive performance for many species. For some species, the importance of linear features depended on landscape context, with greater importance in agricultural areas.

Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates that a national‐scale model of the extent and distribution of linear features improves predictions of farmland biodiversity. The ability to model spatial variability in the role of linear features such as hedgerows will be important in targeting agri‐environment schemes to maximally deliver biodiversity benefits. Although this study focuses on farmland, data on the extent of different linear features are likely to improve species distribution and abundance models in a wide range of systems and also can potentially be used to assess habitat connectivity.
Decay of the glycolytic pathway and adaptation to intranuclear parasitism within Enterocytozoonidae microsporidia
Authors: Wiredu Boakye Dominic , Jaroenlak Pattana , Prachumwat Anuphap , Williams Tom A. , Bateman Kelly S. , Itsathitphaisarn Ornchuma , Sritunyalucksana Kallaya , Paszkiewicz Konrad H. , Moore Karen A. , Stentiford Grant D. , Williams Bryony A. P.
Published: March 2017

Glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation are the fundamental pathways of ATP generation in eukaryotes. Yet in microsporidia, endoparasitic fungi living at the limits of cellular streamlining, oxidative phosphorylation has been lost: energy is obtained directly from the host or, during the dispersive spore stage, via glycolysis. It was therefore surprising when the first sequenced genome from the Enterocytozoonidae – a major family of human and animal‐infecting microsporidians – appeared to have lost genes for glycolysis. Here, we sequence and analyse genomes from additional members of this family, shedding new light on their unusual biology. Our survey includes the genome of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei, a major aquacultural parasite currently causing substantial economic losses in shrimp farming, and Enterospora canceri, a pathogen that lives exclusively inside epithelial cell nuclei of its crab host. Our analysis of gene content across the clade suggests that Ent. canceri's adaptation to intranuclear life is underpinned by the expansion of transporter families. We demonstrate that this entire lineage of pathogens has lost glycolysis and, uniquely amongst eukaryotes, lacks any obvious intrinsic means of generating energy. Our study provides an important resource for the investigation of host‐pathogen interactions and reductive evolution in one of the most medically and economically important microsporidian lineages.
Highly potent host external immunity acts as a strong selective force enhancing rapid parasite virulence evolution
Authors: Rafaluk Charlotte , Yang Wentao , Mitschke Andreas , Rosenstiel Philip , Schulenburg Hinrich , Joop Gerrit
Published: March 2017

Virulence is often under selection during host‐parasite coevolution. In order to increase fitness, parasites are predicted to circumvent and overcome host immunity. A particular challenge for pathogens are external immune systems, chemical defence systems comprised of potent antimicrobial compounds released by prospective hosts into the environment. We carried out an evolution experiment, allowing for coevolution to occur, with the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, which has a well‐documented external immune system with strong inhibitory effects against B. bassiana. After just seven transfers of experimental evolution we saw a significant increase in parasite induced host mortality, a proxy for virulence, in all B. bassiana lines. This apparent virulence increase was mainly the result of the B. bassiana lines evolving resistance to the beetles’ external immune defences, not due to increased production of toxins or other harmful substances. Transcriptomic analyses of evolved B. bassiana implicated the up‐regulation of oxidative stress resistance genes in the observed resistance to external immunity. It was concluded that external immunity acts as a powerful selective force for virulence evolution, with an increase in virulence being achieved apparently entirely by overcoming these defences, most likely due to elevated oxidative stress resistance.
A Prototype of Mathematical Treatment of Pen Pressure Data for Signature Verification
Authors: Li Chi‐Keung , Wong Siu‐Kay , Chim Lai‐Chu Joyce
Published: March 2017

A prototype using simple mathematical treatment of the pen pressure data recorded by a digital pen movement recording device was derived. In this study, a total of 48 sets of signature and initial specimens were collected. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to compare the data of the pen pressure patterns. From the 820 pair comparisons of the 48 sets of genuine signatures, a high degree of matching was found in which 95.4% (782 pairs) and 80% (656 pairs) had rPA > 0.7 and rPA > 0.8, respectively. In the comparison of the 23 forged signatures with their corresponding control signatures, 20 of them (89.2% of pairs) had rPA values < 0.6, showing a lower degree of matching when compared with the results of the genuine signatures. The prototype could be used as a complementary technique to improve the objectivity of signature examination and also has a good potential to be developed as a tool for automated signature identification.
Quality indicators for early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma
Authors: Roos Daniel E , Tee Hui C
Published: March 2017

Introduction

The purpose of this project was to devise simple, practicable quality indicators (QIs) for the treatment of early stage (I‐II) Hodgkin's lymphoma (ESHL), and to test their applicability retrospectively at a single large teaching hospital.

Methods

Of the available treatment guidelines, we chose the two eviQ (evidence and Quality, Cancer Institute New South Wales) documents first published in early 2012 (updated in 2015) for ESHL favourable and ESHL unfavourable (based upon German Hodgkin Study Group practice) as being most relevant to the Australian setting, and selected nine QIs from them viz. baseline staging investigations, discussion in a multi‐disciplinary meeting, chemotherapy type and number of cycles, radiotherapy (RT) planning technique, use of dose volume histograms, dose, treatment volume and timing. We identified all patients with ESHL treated radically with chemotherapy and/or RT at the Royal Adelaide Hospital between July 2009 and July 2014, and extracted relevant data from hospital records. QI score for each item was defined as the percentage of patients who received care as recommended in the eviQ guidelines, and improvement potential as an indicator score <90%.

Results

Raw QI scores varied between 74–100%. When corrected for clinical circumstances legitimising deviation from the guidelines, the range was 83–100%. Only number of chemotherapy cycles (87% corrected) and RT dose (83% corrected) had improvement potential. However, compliance after publication of the eviQ guidelines was virtually perfect for each item.

Conclusions

The chosen QIs for ESHL proved to be practicable to apply in this single centre review where overall compliance was high, and excellent in the latter half of the study period. We would encourage reporting of raw and corrected QI scores.
Effects from changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule in 2014 on cone beam computed tomography and panoramic radiography scans across Australia
Authors: Zhang Alyssa , Brown Louise F , Monsour Paul A
Published: March 2017

Introduction

This study examines the effects of the new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) operating from 1st November 2014 on the number of Medicare rebated panoramic radiography (PR) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans.

Methods

Data for rebated PR and CBCT scans were extracted from Medicare Australia Statistics online for four 12‐month periods: November 2011–October 2012, November 2012–October 2013, November 2013–October 2014 and December 2014–November 2015.

Results

There was a reduction in the number of CBCT scans rebated across Australia under the new MBS. Nationally, December 2014–November 2015 showed a 65.3% reduction in the number of CBCT scans when compared to the peak in the previous 12 months under the old MBS. The number of rebated PR scans remained constant.

Conclusion

The new MBS implemented on 1st November 2014 resulted in a reduction in the number of rebated CBCT scans, but had no effect on rebated PR scans. Overall, there has been considerable cost savings for Medicare due to the change in MBS. Additionally, the reduction in the number of rebated CBCT scans has resulted in a substantial reduction in the ionising radiation load to the Australian community as a whole, but especially the younger age groups.
Diagnosing neonatal transphyseal fractures of the distal humerus
Authors: Kay Matthew , Simpkins Carly , Shipman Peter , Whitewood Colin
Published: March 2017

A traumatic birth can cause significant upper limb injury; the presenting features are non‐specific and the differential diagnosis long. Transphyseal fractures of the distal humerus are a rare but clinically important birth injury. This injury has typical radiographic findings, which due to the un‐ossified nature of the distal humeral epiphysis can easily be misinterpreted. This article presents the radiographic appearance correlated with arthrography, ultrasound and MRI obtained from four cases of neonatal transphyseal fracture of the distal humerus. We hope that by demonstrating the appearances for each of these imaging techniques in relation to the underlying pathology will reduce errors of interpretation that may lead to inappropriate diagnosis and management of these children.
Micro X‐ray computed tomography suggests cooperative feeding among adult invasive bugs Leptoglossus occidentalis on mature seeds of stone pine Pinus pinea
Authors: Farinha Ana O. , Branco Manuela , Pereira Manuel F. C. , Auger‐Rozenberg Marie‐Anne , Maurício António , Yart Annie , Guerreiro Vera , Sousa Edmundo M. R. , Roques Alain
Published: March 2017

The consumption of edible pine seeds of stone pine by the invasive Leptoglossus occidentalis represents a major concern for producers in Mediterranean countries but, to date, little knowledge is available about its feeding process on these seeds.

In the present study, we tested whether L. occidentalis is capable of feeding upon mature pine seeds and also estimated the impact that they may induce.

Sound pine seeds were offered to bugs under laboratory conditions. Seed content was analyzed via a multitechnique approach using a stereomicroscope, X‐rays and microcomputed tomography, which was expected to better characterize the damage caused by this bug.

Adults of L. occidentalis were capable of feeding on mature seeds by piercing the hard and thick coat. However, the consumption was low and demonstrated a slow start, presumably as a result of the time and effort taken to drill a feeding hole.

A collaborative feeding process was suggested because all bugs in the same box appeared to have fed through the same hole in most cases.

Consumption was estimated to be approximately one‐fifth of a seed kernel per bug per month. Consumed kernels appeared skunked and wrinkled.
Effects of landscape cover and local habitat characteristics on visiting bees in tropical orchards
Authors: Tangtorwongsakul Pornpimon , Warrit Natapot , Gale George A.
Published: March 2017

Global population declines of insect pollinators highlight the need for a greater ecological understanding of the responses of wild pollinators to local management actions and to human alterations of landscapes, especially in the tropics where crops are highly dependent on wild pollinators.

We examined the effects of local and landscape factors on the richness and abundance of bees in farms around Bangkok, Thailand. Bee communities in 24 mango (Mangifera indica L.) orchards in heavily modified landscapes (61–99% anthropogenic land cover) were compared. We predicted that bees would be more species rich in orchards with higher flower diversity, whereas small‐sized bees with non‐eusocial and/or below‐ground nesting habits would be more sensitive to human disturbance, and hence rare.

Twenty‐eight species were caught and individuals of genus Apis comprised >92% of 3842 bees sampled and dominated all 24 sites.

Habitat effects on bee richness and abundance were stronger at the farm scale than at the landscape scale. At the farm scale, total bee richness and abundance, as well as small, non‐eusocial and below‐ground nesting bee richness and abundance, were negatively associated with field size and positively associated with flowering plant diversity. The percentage of urban land cover within a 1‐km radius was weakly but positively related to total bee richness and small‐sized bee richness; total bee abundance was positively associated with wetland cover.

A greater diversity of flowering plants retained in smaller fields maintained higher bee richness and abundances, particularly small‐sized bees. Farmers can enhance bee populations by maintaining small patches of flowers in their fields.
An evolving approach to delirium: A mixed‐methods process evaluation of a hospital‐wide delirium program in New Zealand
Authors: Alhaidari Abdullah AO , Allen‐Narker Rosalind AC
Published: March 2017

Objective

A process evaluation was carried out to assess and potentially improve the design and implementation of a hospital‐wide delirium program.

Methods

A mixed‐methods sequential‐explanatory design was used; retrospective chart reviews for 100 older (75+) medical inpatients were conducted to measure nurses’, doctors’ and coders’ adherence to key program processes following which interviews were conducted to identify potential barriers to implementation.

Results

Delirium occurred in 49% of patients. Chart reviews revealed suboptimal adherence to the delirium risk assessment (66%), the Short Confusion Assessment Method (50% on admission, 58% during admission), documentation of delirium in clinical records (80%) and discharge letters (38%) and coding for delirium (49%). The major barriers to implementation identified were failure to recruit non‐nursing staff, unclear goals and instructions, difficulties using the Short‐CAM, time constraints with competing priorities and lack of outcome expectancy.

Conclusion

A new delirium program was needed based on these findings.
Fatigue and training of obstetrics and gynaecology trainees in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Tucker Paige E. , Cohen Paul A. , Bulsara Max K. , Acton Jade
Published: March 2017

Background

Several studies have linked doctor fatigue with adverse patient events and an increase in risk to doctors' personal safety and wellbeing. The present study assesses the rostering structure of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) trainees and its association with trainees' reported fatigue levels, training opportunities and wellbeing, which were secondary outcomes of a larger study of trainee working hours which has been separately reported.

Methods

An anonymous, online survey of RANZCOG trainees was conducted. Demographic data collected included: age, gender, level of training and current rotation. Data were also collected on hours worked per week, long shifts (>12 h), self‐reported fatigue levels, and opinions regarding current rostering and training.

Results

A majority (72.9%) of respondents regularly felt fatigued, with higher fatigue levels being associated with more hours worked per week (P = <0.001) and working long shifts (>12 h) (P = 0.007). Fatigue was associated with an increased risk of dozing while driving (P = 0.028), with 56.1% of respondents reporting that this occurs. Trainees appeared to be less confident in achieving their technical skill requirements, with increasing hours not increasing confidence in achieving these skills (P = 0.594). Trainees who worked under 50 h per week were less likely to report fatigue (P = <0.001) and more likely to report greater work enjoyment (P = 0.043), and working hours being conducive to learning (P = 0.015).

Conclusion

Fatigue was frequently reported by RANZCOG trainees with increased working hours and long shifts being significant factors in fatigue levels. Strategies should be developed and trialled to enable trainees to obtain adequate case exposure and teaching without compromising patient and doctor safety.
Utility of βhCG monitoring in the follow‐up of medical management of miscarriage
Authors: Petersen Scott G. , Perkins Anneliese R. , Gibbons Kristen S. , Bertolone Julia I. , Mahomed Kassam
Published: March 2017

Objective

To evaluate the percentage change in total βeta‐unit human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) levels (%ΔβhCG) in the prediction of treatment outcomes following intravaginal misoprostol for missed miscarriage before 13 weeks.

Methods

A secondary analysis of a randomised controlled study of medical management of miscarriage was performed. Total βhCG levels were collected before misoprostol (baseline) and after a planned seven day interval (follow‐up), when a transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) reported a gestational sac as present or not. If no sac at TVUS, surgery was indicated on clinical criteria. %ΔβhCG ((baseline βhCG – follow‐up βhCG)/baseline βhCG × 100) was evaluated in the prediction of a sac at TVUS and surgery on clinical criteria.

Results

%ΔβhCG was calculated for cases with βhCG levels within two days of misoprostol and TVUS; calculation interval determined case number. The median %ΔβhCG for 24 cases with a persistent sac (6–9 day interval) was significantly lower than for 145 with no sac (58.75% (interquartile range (IQR): 37.59–76.69; maximum 86.54) vs 97.65% (IQR: 95.44–98.43); P < 0.0001). The median %ΔβhCG for eight cases needing surgery on clinical criteria (5–9 day interval) was significantly lower than for 140 cases with no sac not needing surgery (79.68% (IQR: 64.63–91.15; maximum 94.06) vs 97.68% (IQR: 95.61–98.50); P < 0.0001). The area under the receiver‐operator curve was 0.975 for prediction of a persistent sac and 0.944 for prediction of surgery on clinical criteria, respectively. %ΔβhCG > 87% predicted no sac at TVUS. %ΔβhCG > 94.5% predicted no surgery on clinical criteria.

Conclusion

%ΔβhCG calculation over one week reliably predicted treatment outcomes after medical management of missed miscarriage.
A nomogram for predicting prognostic value of inflammatory response biomarkers in decompensated cirrhotic patients without acute‐on‐chronic liver failure
Authors: Cai Y.‐J. , Dong J.‐J. , Dong J.‐Z. , Chen Y. , Lin Z. , Song M. , Wang Y.‐Q. , Chen Y.‐P. , Shi K.‐Q. , Zhou M.‐T.
Published: March 2017

Background

Inflammation plays a vital role in liver cirrhosis progression and prognosis.

Aim

To investigate the prognostic significance of inflammatory response markers in decompensated cirrhotic patients without acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF).

Methods

Independent predictors were identified using multivariate Cox model and then assembled into a nomogram to predict survival. Concordance index (C‐index) and time‐dependent receiver operating characteristics (td‐ROC) analysis were adopted to evaluate and compare the performance of nomogram, model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) scores, MELD‐Na and Chronic Liver Failure‐consortium score for acute decompensated (CLIF‐C ADs).

Results

A total of 902 decompensated cirrhotic patients with different aetiologies were enrolled, with 6‐month, 1‐year and 3‐year mortality of 18.6%, 24.4% and 34.8%, respectively. The cut‐off values for neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) determined by X‐tile program were 5.7 and 1.1 respectively. Patients with NLR>5.7 or LMR≤1.1 had significantly higher mortality (P < 0.001). Independent factors derived from multivariable Cox analysis of development cohort to predict mortality were age, NLR and LMR (hazard ratio (HR): 1.064, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.045–1.084, P < 0.001; HR: 1.124, 95%CI: 1.091–1.158, P < 0.001; HR: 0.794, 95%CI: 0.702–0.898, P < 0.001, respectively). The C‐indexes of nomogram were higher than that of MELD score, MELD‐Na and CLIF‐C ADs for predicting survival. The tdROC and decision curves showed that nomogram was superior to MELD score, MELD‐Na and CLIF‐C ADs. Similar results were observed in validation cohort.

Conclusion

The proposed nomogram with neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio resulted in accurate prognostic prediction for decompensated cirrhotic patients without ACLF.