bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personnel capability and customer satisfaction as predictors of customer retention in the banking sector
Authors: Darzi Mushtaq Ahmad , Bhat Suhail Ahmad
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a study undertaken to understand customer satisfaction and customer retention in business-to-consumer markets. The study investigates the effect of personnel capability and customer satisfaction on customer retention in the banking sector. The influence of the control variable (gender) on customer retention and mediating role of customer satisfaction has also been examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has used structural equation modeling (SEM) for data analysis across a sample of 409 bank customers of a private bank operating in Jammu and Kashmir state of India. Questionnaires were distributed and respondents were selected through a cluster sampling technique.

Findings

The empirical analysis through SEM has confirmed that personnel capability and customer satisfaction have a significant positive impact on customer retention. Customer satisfaction partially mediates the effect of personnel capability on customer retention. Moderation analysis was performed and established that gender moderates the effect of personnel capability on customer satisfaction. It was also found that gender has no effect on other relations. Furthermore, the study shows that personnel capability has a stronger impact on customer retention as compared to customer satisfaction. However, the relationship between personnel capability and customer satisfaction is significant.

Research limitations/implications

The study has been conducted on the customers of a private bank in India. Therefore, generalizations may be limited. As personnel capability is the predictor of satisfaction and retention, individuals with proper social and technical skills – in addition to other skills – should be hired for managing relationships with customers.

Originality/value

The study has added to the understanding of the relationship which exists among the following variables: gender, personnel capability, customer satisfaction and customer retention. These variables have not been studied together previously.
Predicting customer experience and discretionary behaviors of bank customers in India
Authors: Wasan Pratibha
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Banks in India are underperforming on customer-centric measures. The existing mechanisms used by Indian banks for evaluating their customer interface are efficiency measures which are limited in deciphering bank’s success in fulfilling customer needs. The purpose of this paper is to build a case for banks to evaluate their processes on the dimension of customer experience (CE).

Design/methodology/approach

The study performs in-depth review of literature to identify the factors of CE and uses confirmatory factor analysis to confirm these factors in Indian retail banking context. Post factor confirmation, it uses discriminant analysis to test the predictive strength of the CE factors for discretionary behaviors of customers.

Findings

CE factors are categorized as functional clues (convenience and credibility), humanic clues (employee competence and compassion) and mechanic clues (service context). The study finds that the functional clues are the most significant predictors of customers’ discretionary behaviors followed by humanic clues while the mechanic clues are only hygiene factors for customer behaviors.

Practical implications

The study highlights CE factors which could be developed into potential competitive advantages for banks. Banks can prioritize their investments in these factors for improved economic performance.

Originality/value

There is no clear definition of CE in the extant literature particularly, in the context of retail banking. A factor-level study of CE for discretionary behaviors of bank customers is an attempt to provide specific inputs to those banks which are looking forward to use CE as a means to win and retain customers in markets characterized by intense competition.
Health investments and economic growth: a quantile regression approach
Authors: Rosendo Silva Francisca , Simões Marta , Sousa Andrade João
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the relationship between health human capital and economic growth for a maximum sample of 92 countries over the period 1980-2010 taking into account countries’ heterogeneity by assessing how health variables affect different countries according to their position on the conditional growth distribution.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper estimates a growth regression applying the methodology proposed by Canay (2011) for regression by quantiles (Koenker, 1978, 2004, 2012a, 2012b) in a panel framework. Quantile regression analysis allows us to identify the growth determinants that present a non-linear relationship with growth and determine the policy implications specifically for underperforming versus over achieving countries in terms of output growth.

Findings

The authors’ findings indicate that better health is positively and robustly related to growth at all quantiles, but the quantitative importance of the respective coefficients differs across quantiles, in some cases, with the sign of the relationship greater for countries that recorded lower growth rates. These results apply to both positive (life expectancy) and negative (infant mortality rate, undernourishment) health status indicators.

Practical implications

Given the predominantly public nature of health funding, cuts in health expenditure should be carefully balanced even in times of public finances sustainability problems, particularly when growth slowdowns, as a decrease in the stock of health human capital could be particularly harmful for growth in under achievers. Additionally, the most effective interventions seem to be those affecting early childhood development that should receive from policymakers the necessary attention and resources.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature by answering the question of whether the growth effects of health human capital can differ in sign and/or magnitude depending on a country’s growth performance. The findings may help policymakers to design the most adequate growth promoting policies according to the behaviour of output growth.
Exploring the normative context for women’s entrepreneurship in Pakistan: a critical analysis
Authors: Roomi Muhammad Azam , Rehman Sumaira , Henry Colette
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The role of women in Pakistani society – largely embedded in its patriarchal socio–cultural environment – has important implications for women’s entrepreneurial activity in the country. This study aims to investigate and analyse the influence of informal institutional factors on women’s entry into entrepreneurship in Pakistan, and determine how women exercise agency to cope with the constraints posed by such factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach is used to explore the normative context and lived experiences of women entrepreneurs in relation to the influence of socio–cultural beliefs and attitudes on their entrepreneurial career choices.

Findings

The findings suggest that women’s entrepreneurial career choices both revolve around and are shaped by a complex interplay of socio–cultural influences. Pakistani women entrepreneurs exercise their agency as a means of negotiating gender roles within both household and society, using religious descriptions as a means to justify their entrepreneurial activity.

Research limitations/implications

While every effort has been made to ensure that the data were objectively interpreted, and the derived findings were robustly analysed, the research team acknowledges the many difficulties associated with adopting a social constructionist approach. As articulated by Fletcher (2011), the key issues of contextual objectivity (i.e. where the researcher judges what is important), reflexive turn (the need for the researcher to constantly reconnect with the subject) and potential multiplicity of contexts (the various contextual and potentially conflicting influences on the researcher) presents ongoing challenges for researchers in this field.

Originality/value

This study offers valuable insights into the impact of the informal (socio–cultural) institutional factors on women’s entrepreneurial activity, opening up new avenues for further research. The study also contributes to the women’s entrepreneurship literature from the perspective of an Islamic developing country.
Buyers’ switching intentions in a manufacturing supply chain: a migration theory perspective
Authors: Suh Chang Juck , Kim Jong-Hoon
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the negative impact of an incumbent supplier pushing out a buyer, the positive effect of an alternative supplier pulling a buyer, and the mooring impact that prevents a buyer from switching to a supplier in terms of the push-pull-mooring (PPM) model of migration theory. In this context, this study considers a buyer as the immigrant, an incumbent supplier as the origin, an alternative supplier as the destination, and inertia as the hesitance to migrate.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected survey data from 148 end-product manufacturers and first-tier suppliers. It tested whether the PPM model fit in a supply chain relationship (SCR) using the partial least squares structural equation modelling approach and SmartPLS package version 2.0.M3.

Findings

The results support all hypotheses for causal relationships among factors of cognitive, affect, and behavioural intentions of each PPM effect. This study identifies the relative importance of each effect on a buyer’s intention of switching an existing supplier.

Originality/value

This study presents a new perspective that enhances the understanding of a buyer’s behaviour towards a supplier by applying the PPM model of migration to a manufacturing SCR. It promotes interdisciplinary and integrated views as well as broadens the diversity of the results in the business-to-business context.
Enhancing librarianship students’ awareness of preservation at the learning resource center of a Mekong Delta university
Authors: Huynh Trang Thi , Lam Cuc Hong
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the rate of print material deterioration at the Learning Resource Center – a university at the Mekong Delta and identify users’ behaviors that may harm library materials, thereby presenting some potential solutions to enhance librarianship students’ awareness of preservation.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on Walker’s (2003) conceptual framework of preservation and that of education and propaganda from awareness development. Using a quantitative approach, 25-item questionnaire was delivered to 133 sophomores and seniors and analyzed by SPSS software. Qualitative data from the open-ended question were recorded and analyzed by themes.

Findings

The findings from this study show that the rate of print material deterioration at the Learning Resource Center was relatively low compared to that of other libraries in the nation and in the world. In addition, students’ knowledge about how to make the photocopies, as well as how much to open the book, is limited. The most important reason is because of lack of education from school and the library. The research also proposed some effective and realizable solutions to enhance librarianship students’ awareness of preservation of the materials at Learning Resource Center of a Mekong Delta university, Vietnam.

Practical implications

This research provides library staff and users, especially librarianship students, with an awareness of the important role of book preservation, human behavior of library collections and potential preventive ways of book damage. This study also specifies evidence that library lecturers should include ethical issues in their lectures because librarianship students still have limited knowledge of book preservation. By doing so, these actions may motivate librarianship students to continue to learn and apply their knowledge of preservation into library materials and their own documents. Furthermore, the finding of the library work punishment contributes to better understanding of library labor force and students’ personality education. The findings can serve as a reference to educating other users in Vietnam and globally.

Originality/value

The level of print material deterioration at the Learning Resource Center of a Mekong Delta university, Vietnam and library work punishment were observed to be the most important findings with regard to library preservation in a particular library in Southeast Asian country. These findings provide insights into students’ awareness of preservation, not yet discussed in the literature.
Corporate governance and firm performance: an empirical evidence from Syria
Authors: Mardnly Zukaa , Mouselli Sulaiman , Abdulraouf Riad
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of aggregate and individual corporate governance provisions on firm performance on all firms listed at Damascus Securities Exchange (DSE) for the period between 2011 and 2015. In addition, it disentangles ownership structure provision to ownership concentration and foreign ownership and investigates which component of ownership structure stands behind the significance of ownership structure in explaining firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses multiple linear regression models to analyze the relationship between aggregate corporate governance index and its provisions and firm performance. A corporate governance index is built on the basis of four mechanics (i.e. board of directors, audit, disclosure and ownership structure) for all firms listed at DSE. On the other hand, the dependent variable (firm performance) is measured using Earnings Per Share (EPS) and Return On Assets (ROA). The authors capture current war conditions using political stability and absence of violence indicator, one of Worldwide Governance Indicators accumulated by the World bank.

Findings

This study finds that ownership structure is the only significant corporate governance provision in determining Syrian firms’ performance, as it loads positively and significantly on firm performance proxies (ROA and EPS). Moreover, the analysis of ownership structure items shows that foreign ownership is the main source of this positive and significant impact. This result is robust for both measures of firm performance and in the presence of political stability indicator.

Originality/value

This paper provides evidence on corporate governance measures from Syrian Arab Republic, a developing country with an emerging stock exchange. It examines board structure, ownership structure, audit committee and disclosure in a period of crisis because of the war in this country. Moreover, it uncovers that foreign ownership is the only influential provision affecting firm performance at DSE. Furthermore, it combines firm-level governance indicators with country governance indicator of political stability and absence of violence.
US unconventional monetary policy and Islamic equity indices
Authors: Ziaei Sayyed Mahdi
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to constitute to the first empirical work that investigated the effects of US unconventional monetary policy shocks on Islamic equities.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used the spread between sovereign (term spread) and corporate (corporate spread) yields as proxies of unconventional monetary policy in times that FED implemented different rounds of large-scale asset purchasing programs.

Findings

This paper demonstrates that monetary policy shocks have significant effects on Islamic equities. The analysis showed substantial evidence that the corporate spread innovation was reflected as a positive signal in Islamic equity markets and has a larger impact on Islamic low leverage equities than term spread.

Originality/value

The objective of this paper is to shed some insight into the effects of US unconventional monetary policy on low leverage financial assets. It is hypothesized that during this period, specifically from November 2008, unconventional monetary policy and zero bound interest rates have been implemented in the US economy. However, the strength of effects of this range of policies on Islamic financial products is unidentified.
Vernacular and historic underground urban facilities and sustainability of cities case study
Authors: Attarian Koorosh , Safar Ali Najar Behnaz
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the underground levels of a city to explore how vernacular and historic underground urban facilities help traditional cities to be sustainable. Therefore, the authors look at how culture, climate and economy affect those facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focuses on vernacular and local underground urban facilities in historic cities to find more sustainable processes of urban development that integrate cultural, climatic and economical concerns into design planning. The paper is based on a case study of the underground infrastructure of Dezful, Iran.

Findings

There are several vernacular building styles around the world, especially in Iran, with different shapes, materials, arrangements and concepts. Building construction has significant impacts on the environment and natural resources. Dezful is a city in Iran with a lot of potential in terms of its architecture. Vernacular cities possess infrastructure that helped them thrive in harsh climates. For instance, Dezful takes advantage of a systematic infrastructure termed the “Underground City.”

Originality/value

The traditional architecture of Dezful plays an important role in creating underground spaces, especially urban and architectural elements with thermal isolation properties that can be used as housing and as food storage. In this century, building construction could adopt these environmental properties, which could lead to low energy consumption in urban environments. Considering traditional and contextual elements in urban planning and design could revive sustainable community practices in urban environments.
Performance indicators for public private partnership (PPP) projects in Malaysia
Authors: Mohamad Rosnani , Ismail Suhaiza , Mohd Said Julia
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to identify the important performance indicators used in assessing public private partnership (PPP) performance in terms of the two aspects of PPP which are “financing and markets” and “innovation and learnings”; and second, to investigate the differences in the perception between public and private sectors on the importance of performance indicators in terms of the two aspects of PPP.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a questionnaire survey, 237 completed questionnaires were received representing 51.52 per cent response rate. In examining the importance of performance indicators, the descriptive statistical tests of mean, standard deviation and mean score ranking were used. The independent t-tests were conducted to investigate the differences in the perceptions between the two respondents’ groups on the importance of performance indicators.

Findings

In relation to the two areas of indicators used in assessing PPP performance, the findings show that the top three important performance indicators for financing and markets are: “Operational cost”, “Construction cost” and “Construction period”. While the top three important performance indicators for innovation and learning are: “Technology innovation”, “Employee training” and “Financial innovation”. In terms of the differences in the perceptions between the public and private sector groups, the test results indicate that there is only one significant statistical difference for each aspect of performance indicators.

Originality/value

This study offers empirical evidence on key financial performance indicators for PPP projects as perceived by two key parties in a PPP contract that are public and private sectors.
Examining entrepreneurial orientation’s dimensions – performance relationship in Saudi family businesses
Authors: Aloulou Wassim J.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to family firm and entrepreneurship literature by providing an examination of how family involvement in management (FIM) moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO)’s dimensions and family firm performance (FFP).

Design/methodology/approach

Through a survey study, the research was developed using a sample of 175 family firms in Saudi Arabia to test the proposed hypotheses using hierarchical linear regression.

Findings

The findings revealed a strong positive and significant linkage of proactiveness and FIM with FFP, but, no significant relationship between innovativeness and risk-taking with FFP. However, when FIM contingencies were hypothesized, a new significant influence from the interaction between risk-taking and FIM on FFP was found.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation lies in the fact that it is not possible to claim generalization of findings to family firms in other emerging or transitional countries as the research is focused on Saudi family firms. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in order to produce new knowledge on EO of family firms and to help these firms not consider FIM as an impediment to the development of resources and capabilities necessary to the promotion of entrepreneurial activities within their operations.

Originality/value

There is a contribution to the literature on EO by showing that EO construct and its dimensions have great generality within family firms in a transitional context.
Food tourism and events as tools for social sustainability?
Authors: de Jong Anna , Varley Peter
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Food tourism and events are often prefaced as tools for sustainability within national and intra-national food and agricultural policy contexts. Yet, the realities of enhancing sustainability through food tourism and events are problematic. Sustainability itself is often conceived broadly within policy proclaiming the benefits of food tourism and events, with a need for further deconstruction of the ways each dimension of sustainability – economic, environmental, social and cultural – independently enhances sustainability. The lack of clarity concerning the conceptual utilisation of sustainability works to compromise its value and utilisation for the development of food tourism and events in peripheral areas. In recognition, this paper aims to turn attention to social sustainability within the context of a local food festival, to ask the following: in what ways is social sustainability enhanced through a local food festival, who benefits from this sustainability, and how?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the development of a local food festival in a rural coastal community on Scotland’s west coast. The concept of social capital is used to examine the unfolding power relations between committee members, as well as the committee and other social groups. Observant participation undertaken over a 10-month period, between December 2015 and September 2016, renders insights into the ways event planning processes were dependent on the pre-existing accruement of social capital by certain individuals and groups.

Findings

Local food festivals have the potential to enhance social sustainability, in offering opportunity to bridge relations across certain diverse groups and foster an environment conducive to cohabitation. Bridging, however, is dependent on preconceived social capital and power relations, which somewhat inhibits social integration for all members of a community. The temporally confined characteristics of events generates difficulties in overcoming the uneven enhancement of social sustainability. Care, thus, needs to be upheld in resolutely claiming enhancement of social sustainability through local food events. Further, broad conceptualisations of “community” need to be challenged during event planning processes; for it is difficult to develop a socially inclusive approach that ensures integration for diverse segments without recognising what constitutes a specific “community”.

Originality/value

This paper is situated within the context of a peripheral yet growing body of literature exploring the potential of events to develop social sustainability. In extending work examining events and social sustainaility the paper turns attention to the gastronomic – examining the extent to which social sustainability is enhanced through a local food festival, for a rural coastal community – Mallaig, on Scotland’s west coast.
The impact of positive emotional experiences on eWOM generation and loyalty
Authors: Serra-Cantallops Antoni , Ramon-Cardona José , Salvi Fabiana
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role that positive emotional experiences play in the generation of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) and the influence both variables have, together with customer satisfaction and brand reputation, on customer loyalty in the context of hospitality services.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey has been conducted including customers of an important hotel chain in the holiday up-market segment. The study sample is composed of 878 customers from Germany and the UK. The model has been tested using partial least squares technique.

Findings

Results indicate that positive emotional experiences have a positive effect on satisfaction, eWOM generation and company reputation. This study identifies the provision of emotional experiences as a powerful generator of positive eWOM in the hospitality context and it states that customer satisfaction, in itself, does not guarantee positive eWOM generation.

Practical implications

Designing unique, tailor-made, memorable experiences can become a key element to increase loyalty and, particularly, to foster the generation of recommendations, that is positive eWOM, in the hotel industry.

Originality/value

The study makes a contribution on the antecedents of customer satisfaction, eWOM engagement and loyalty in the specific context of hotel services.
Lean production, Toyota Production System and Kaizen philosophy
Authors: Chiarini Andrea , Baccarani Claudio , Mascherpa Vittorio
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare principles from the original Toyota Production System (TPS), the Toyota Way 2001 and Kaizen philosophy with principles derived from Japanese Zen Buddhism. The paper would also like to enlarge the debate concerning some lessons learnt from Japanese culture in order to avoid Lean implementation failures.

Design/methodology/approach

The original English version of Taiichi Ohno’s book dedicated to the TPS, the Toyota Way 2001 and other relevant papers regarding Kaizen were reviewed and analyzed. The principles that emerged from the review of this literature were then compared with similar philosophical principles from Japanese Soto Zen Buddhism. The literature concerning Zen philosophy was methodically analyzed and categorized using the content analysis.

Findings

The results of this research show many theoretical parallelisms as well as lessons for practitioners, in particular referring to principles such as Jidoka, just-in-time, waste identification and elimination, challenge, Kaizen, Genchi Genbutsu, respect for people and teamwork.

Research limitations/implications

Analysis and results are mainly based on the literature that was found, reviewed and categorized, along with the knowledge of authors on Zen philosophy. Results could differ depending on the literature reviewed and categorized.

Practical implications

The results of this research bring food for thought to practitioners in terms of lessons learnt from Japanese culture, Toyota principles and management style in order to avoid Lean implementation failures.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers which compares Lean-TPS and Kaizen principles with the Zen philosophy to try to learn lessons for succeeding in Lean implementation.
A study on the street food dimensions and its effects on consumer attitude and behavioural intentions
Authors: Gupta Vikas , Khanna Kavita , Gupta Raj Kumar
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This study aims to find out various dimensions of the risk and benefit perceptions of the consumers of street food vendors. It will identify the reasons which affect consumer’s attitude and consumption patterns towards street foods, which bring about changes in their behavioural intentions (repurchase intention and word of mouth intention).

Design/methodology/approach

Five risk and two benefit factors were tested on a factor model by exploratory factor analysis using 26 constructs. Two-step approach was followed in which measurement model, having six constructs with 17 measurement items, were assessed, followed by the structural model. This study explained that the consumer attitude is affected by perceived risks and benefits. Further, the risk perception negatively affects the behavioural intentions. A conceptual model was framed to depict the relationships among variables and was empirically tested.

Findings

The results indicate that risk and benefit perception of consumers are not only inter-related but also responsible for their changes in attitudes towards the street foods. In the factorial analysis, it was found that perceived benefit factors, i.e. convenience and value, are responsible for positively influencing the attitude of consumers towards street food. The findings indicate that reducing risk perception and increasing benefit perception will positively change the patron’s attitude.

Originality/value

The data collection was done through a structured questionnaire specifically drafted to collect the relevant data for the study from the 658 street food consumers in Delhi. To examine the factorability of 26 items of risk/benefit perception, 586 observations were used.
Conversion of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Quality Indicators from ICD‐9‐CM to ICD‐10‐CM/PCS: The Process, Results, and Implications for Users
Authors: Utter Garth H. , Cox Ginger L. , Atolagbe Oluseun O. , Owens Pamela L. , Romano Patrick S.
Published: May 2018

Objective

To convert the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Quality Indicators (QIs) from International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) specifications to ICD, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification and Procedure Classification System (ICD‐10‐CM/PCS) specifications.

Data Sources

ICD‐9‐CM and ICD‐10‐CM/PCS classifications, General Equivalence Maps (GEMs).

Study Design

We convened 77 clinicians and coders to evaluate ICD‐10‐CM/PCS codes mapped from ICD‐9‐CM using automated GEMs. We reviewed codes to develop “legacy” specifications resembling those in ICD‐9‐CM and “enhanced” specifications addressing enhanced capabilities of ICD‐10‐CM/PCS.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

We tabulated the numbers of mapped codes, added nonmapped codes, and deleted mapped codes to achieve the specifications.

Principal Findings

Of 212 clinical concepts (sets of codes) that comprise the QI specifications, we either added nonmapped codes to or deleted mapped codes from 115 (54 percent). The legacy and enhanced specifications differed for 46 sets (22 percent), affecting 67 of the 101 QIs (66 percent). Occasionally, concepts that defied conversion required reformulation of indicators.

Conclusions

Converting the AHRQ QIs to ICD‐10‐CM/PCS required a detailed, thorough process beyond automated mapping of codes. Differences between the legacy and enhanced versions of the QIs are frequently minor but sometimes substantive.
Estimating the Gains from New Rail Transit Investment: A Machine Learning Tree Approach
Authors: Chin Seungwoo , Kahn Matthew E. , Moon Hyungsik Roger
Published: May 2018

Urban rail transit investments are expensive and irreversible. As people differ with respect to their demand for trips, their value of time, and the types of real estate they live in, such projects are likely to offer heterogeneous benefits to residents of a city. Defining the opening of a major new subway in Seoul as a treatment for apartments close to the new rail stations, we contrast hedonic estimates based on multivariate hedonic methods with a machine learning (ML) approach. This ML approach yields new estimates of these heterogeneous effects. While a majority of the “treated” apartment types appreciate in value, other types decline in value. We cross‐validate our estimates by studying what types of new housing units developers build in the treated areas close to the new train lines.
The Impact of Cooling Rate on the Safety of Food Products as Affected by Food Containers
Authors: Coorey Ranil , Ng Denise Sze Hu , Jayamanne Vijith S. , Buys Elna M. , Munyard Steve , Mousley Carl J. , Njage Patrick M. K. , Dykes Gary A.
Published: May 2018

In recent decades, the demand for ready‐to‐eat (RTE) food items prepared by the food catering sector has increased together with the value of cook‐serve, cook‐chill, and cook‐freeze food products. The technologies by which foods are cooked, chilled, refrigerated for storage, and reheated before serving are of prime importance to maintain safety. Packaging materials and food containers play an important role in influencing the cooling rate of RTE foods. Food items that are prepared using improper technologies and inappropriate packaging materials may be contaminated with foodborne pathogens. Numerous research studies have shown the impact of deficient cooling technologies on the survival and growth of foodborne pathogens, which may subsequently pose a threat to public health. The operating temperatures and cooling rates of the cooling techniques applied must be appropriate to inhibit the growth of pathogens. Food items must be stored outside the temperature danger zone, which is between 5 and 60 °C, in order to inhibit the growth of these pathogens. The cooling techniques used to prepare potentially hazardous foods, such as cooked meat, rice, and pasta, must be properly applied and controlled to ensure food safety. This paper critically reviews the effects of cooling and its relationship to food containers on the safety of RTE foods produced and sold through the food service industry.
Peripheral Blood Cells, a Transcriptomic Tool in Nutrigenomic and Obesity Studies: Current State of the Art
Authors: Reynés Bàrbara , Priego Teresa , Cifre Margalida , Oliver Paula , Palou Andreu
Published: May 2018

Gene expression profile of peripheral blood cells (PBC) is able to reflect useful aspects of the whole body metabolic status. Therefore, and favored by the huge development of “omic” technologies, blood cells and, particularly, the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) fraction, are emerging as a potent source of transcriptomic biomarkers of health and disease. In this review we describe and discuss the available information concerning the use of the PBC and the PBMC fraction as a crucial tool for nutrigenomic studies. Results of these studies reveal, as these cells are good indicators of metabolic adaptations to diet and, moreover, as they allow us to monitor from early stages on, the metabolic alterations associated with dietary imbalances. In this way, blood cells present the capacity of reflecting higher risks of suffering from diet‐related pathologies, such as obesity and its medical complications. What is more, different studies also show how PBMC are able to evidence the metabolic recovery associated with weight loss or dietary interventions. Besides, recent research points to the utility of ex vivo systems of blood cells to test the efficacy of food bioactives. All in all, PBC constitutes an easily obtainable source of predictive biomarkers of metabolic imbalance and disease related to diet and obesity, and also of metabolic recovery, which appears as highly relevant for developing nutritional preventive strategies in dietetics. Moreover, they could serve to perform relatively simple and economic in vitro tests to assess food bioactive compounds, promoting in this way functional food research and related industry developments.
Sieve element occlusion provides resistance against Aphis gossypii in TGR‐1551 melons
Authors: Peng Hsuan‐Chieh , Walker Gregory P.
Published: May 2018

Feeding behavior and plant response to feeding were studied for the aphid Aphis gossypii Glover on susceptible and resistant melons (cv. Iroquois and TGR‐1551, respectively). Average phloem phase bout duration on TGR‐1551 was <7% of the duration on Iroquois. Sixty‐seven percent of aphids on TGR‐1551 never produced a phloem phase that attained ingestion (EPG waveform E2) in contrast to only 7% of aphids on Iroquois. Average bout duration of waveform E2 (scored as zero if phloem phase did not attain E2) on TGR‐1551 was <3% of the duration on Iroquois. Conversely, average bout duration of EPG waveform E1 (sieve element salivation) was 2.8 times greater on TGR‐1551 than on Iroquois. In a second experiment, liquid nitrogen was used to rapidly cryofix leaves and aphids within a few minutes after the aphids penetrated a sieve element. Phloem near the penetration site was then examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Ninety‐six percent of penetrated sieve elements were occluded by protein in TGR‐1551 in contrast to only 28% in Iroquois. Usually in TGR‐1551, occlusion was also observed in nearby nonpenetrated sieve elements. Next, a calcium channel blocker, trivalent lanthanum, was used to prevent phloem occlusion in TGR‐1551, and A. gossypii feeding behavior and the plant's phloem response were compared between lanthanum‐treated and control TGR‐1551. Lanthanum treatment eliminated the sieve element protein occlusion response and the aphids readily ingested phloem sap from treated plants. This study provides strong evidence that phloem occlusion is a mechanism for resistance against A. gossypii in TGR‐1551.
Evaluation of Patients in a Smoking Cessation Support Group Using the Nursing Outcomes Classification
Authors: Monteiro Mantovani Vanessa , Rodríguez Acelas Alba Luz , Klockner Boaz Solange , Cañon‐Montañez Wilson , Lucena Amália de Fátima , Echer Isabel Cristina
Published: May 2018

PURPOSE

To evaluate patients in a smoking cessation support group using the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC).

METHODS

Prospective observational cohort study conducted with 21 patients participating in a smoking cessation support group. Data were collected using an instrument consisting of 2 NOC outcomes and 20 indicators, applied during each of the six support group meetings.

FINDINGS

The two NOC outcomes, Smoking Cessation Behavior (1625) and Substance Withdrawal Severity (2108), showed statistically significant differences over time in many of their indicators.

CONCLUSIONS

The NOC outcomes demonstrated the clinical evolution and behavioral improvement of patients during the smoking cessation process.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The findings highlight important elements of the evaluation of behavioral change and severity of withdrawal symptoms.
College Students’ Underestimation of Blood Alcohol Concentration from Hypothetical Consumption of Supersized Alcopops: Results from a Cluster‐Randomized Classroom Study
Authors: Rossheim Matthew E. , Thombs Dennis L. , Krall Jenna R. , Jernigan David H.
Published: May 2018

Background

Supersized alcopops are a class of single‐serving beverages popular among underage drinkers. These products contain large quantities of alcohol. This study examines the extent to which young adults recognize how intoxicated they would become from consuming these products.

Methods

The study sample included 309 undergraduates who had consumed alcohol within the past year. Thirty‐two sections of a college English course were randomized to 1 of 2 survey conditions, based on hypothetical consumption of supersized alcopops or beer of comparable liquid volume. Students were provided an empty can of 1 of the 2 beverages to help them answer the survey questions. Equation‐calculated blood alcohol concentrations (BACs)—based on body weight and sex—were compared to the students’ self‐estimated BACs for consuming 1, 2, and 3 cans of the beverage provided to them.

Results

In adjusted regression models, students randomized to the supersized alcopop group greatly underestimated their BAC, whereas students randomized to the beer group overestimated it. The supersized alcopop group underestimated their BAC by 0.04 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.034, 0.053), 0.09 (95% CI: 0.067, 0.107), and 0.13 g/dl (95% CI: 0.097, 0.163) compared to the beer group. When asked how much alcohol they could consume before it would be unsafe to drive, students in the supersized alcopop group had 7 times the odds of estimating consumption that would generate a calculated BAC of at least 0.08 g/dl, compared to those making estimates based on beer consumption (95% CI: 3.734, 13.025).

Conclusions

Students underestimated the intoxication they would experience from consuming supersized alcopops. Revised product warning labels are urgently needed to clearly identify the number of standard drinks contained in a supersized alcopop can. Moreover, regulations are needed to limit alcohol content of single‐serving products.
Chronic Ethanol Administration Prevents Compensatory Cardiac Hypertrophy in Pressure Overload
Authors: Ninh Van K. , El Hajj Elia C. , Mouton Alan J. , El Hajj Milad C. , Gilpin Nicholas W. , Gardner Jason D.
Published: May 2018

Background

Alcohol is among the most commonly abused drugs worldwide and affects many organ systems, including the heart. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is characterized by a dilated cardiac phenotype with extensive hypertrophy and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. We have previously shown that chronic ethanol (EtOH) administration accelerates the progression to heart failure in a rat model of volume overload. However, the mechanism by which this decompensation occurs is unknown. For this study, we hypothesized that chronic EtOH administration would prevent compensatory hypertrophy and cardiac remodeling in a rodent model of pressure overload (PO).

Methods

Abdominal aortic constriction was used to create PO in 8‐week‐old male Wistar rats. Alcohol administration was performed via chronic intermittent EtOH vapor inhalation for 2 weeks prior to surgery and for the duration of the 8‐week study. Echocardiography measurements were taken to assess ventricular functional and structural changes.

Results

PO increased posterior wall thickness and the hypertrophic markers, atrial and B‐type natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP). With the added stressor of EtOH, wall thickness, ANP, and BNP decreased in PO animals. The combination of PO and EtOH resulted in increased wall stress compared to PO alone. PO also caused increased expression of collagen I and III, whereas EtOH alone only increased collagen III. The combined stresses of PO and EtOH led to an increase in collagen I expression, but collagen III did not change, resulting in an increased collagen I/III ratio in the PO rats treated with EtOH. Lastly, Notch1 expression was significantly increased only in the PO rats treated with EtOH.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that chronic EtOH may limit the cardiac hypertrophy induced by PO which may be associated with a Notch1 mechanism, resulting in increased wall stress and altered ECM profile.
What principles should guide visiting primary health care services in rural and remote communities? Lessons from a systematic review
Authors: Carey Timothy A. , Sirett David , Wakerman John , Russell Deborah , Humphreys John S.
Published: May 2018

Visiting health services are a feature of health care delivery in rural and remote contexts. These services are often described as ‘fly‐in fly‐out’ or ‘drive‐in drive‐out’. Posing the question ‘What are the different types of visiting models of primary health care being used in rural and remote communities?’, the objective of this article was to describe a typology of models of health services that visit remote communities. A systematic review of peer‐reviewed literature from established databases was undertaken. Data were extracted from 20 papers (16 peer‐reviewed papers and four from other sources), which met the inclusion criteria. From the available evidence, it was difficult to develop a typology of services. The central feature of service providers visiting rural and remote districts on a regular basis was consistent, although the service provider's geographical base varied and the extent to which the same service provider should be providing the service was not consistently endorsed. While a clear typology did not emerge from the systematic review, it became apparent that a set of guiding principles might be more helpful to service providers and planners. Focusing policy and decision‐making on important principles of visiting services, rather than their typological features, is likely to be of ultimately more benefit to the health outcomes of people who live in rural and remote communities.
Predictive value of the baseline electrocardiogram ST‐segment pattern in cardiogenic shock: Results from the CardShock Study
Authors: Javanainen Tuija , Tolppanen Heli , Lassus Johan , Nieminen Markku S. , Sionis Alessandro , Spinar Jindrich , Silva‐Cardoso José , Greve Lindholm Matias , Banaszewski Marek , Harjola Veli‐Pekka , Jurkko Raija
Published: May 2018

Background

The most common aetiology of cardiogenic shock (CS) is acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but even up to 20%–50% of CS is caused by other disorders. ST‐segment deviations in the electrocardiogram (ECG) have been investigated in patients with ACS‐related CS, but not in those with other CS aetiologies. We set out to explore the prevalence of different ST‐segment patterns and their associations with the CS aetiology, clinical findings and 90‐day mortality.

Methods

We analysed the baseline ECG of 196 patients who were included in a multinational prospective study of CS. The patients were divided into 3 groups: (a) ST‐segment elevation (STE). (b) ST‐segment depression (STDEP). (c) No ST‐segment deviation or ST‐segment impossible to analyse (NSTD). A subgroup analysis of the ACS patients was conducted.

Results

ST‐segment deviations were present in 80% of the patients: 52% had STE and 29% had STDEP. STE was associated with the ACS aetiology, but one‐fourth of the STDEP patients had aetiology other than ACS. The overall 90‐day mortality was 41%: in STE 47%, STDEP 36% and NSTD 33%. In the multivariate mortality analysis, only STE predicted mortality (HR 1.74, CI95 1.07–2.84). In the ACS subgroup, the patients were equally effectively revascularized, and no differences in the survival were noted between the study groups.

Conclusion

ST‐segment elevation is associated with the ACS aetiology and high mortality in the unselected CS population. If STE is not present, other aetiologies must be considered. When effectively revascularized, the prognosis is similar regardless of the ST‐segment pattern in ACS‐related CS.
Bayesian inference for a partially observed birth–death process using data on proportions
Authors: Boys Richard J. , Ainsworth Holly F. , Gillespie Colin S.
Published: May 2018

Stochastic kinetic models are often used to describe complex biological processes. Typically these models are analytically intractable and have unknown parameters which need to be estimated from observed data. Ideally we would have measurements on all interacting chemical species in the process, observed continuously in time. However, in practice, measurements are taken only at a relatively few time‐points. In some situations, only very limited observation of the process is available, for example settings in which experimenters can only observe noisy observations on the proportion of cells that are alive. This makes the inference task even more problematic. We consider a range of data‐poor scenarios and investigate the performance of various computationally intensive Bayesian algorithms in determining the posterior distribution using data on proportions from a simple birth‐death process.