bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analytical model for performance measurement in healthcare sector of Punjab
Authors: Bhatti Simrandeep K. , Singh Raminder Pal , Singh Irrenpreet
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to develop a model for analyzing the performance of health care service providers using analytical modeling.

Design/methodology/approach

– It is a questionnaire-based work where data were collected using the survey tools. Data were moderated after taking into consideration the opinion of medical practitioners and academia professionals. They were also asked to give their suggestions so that more parameters could be added.

Findings

– The underlying factors will help to measure the performance of hospitals and service providers in this area.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper focuses only on private multi-specialty hospitals. Public sector hospitals may be incorporated in future work to ascertain their effect on the selection issues.

Practical implications

– This paper offers insight into various parameters which will lead to better patient–doctor–hospital relationships.

Originality/value

– Being on the map of the emerging “health tourism” sector in Asia, very few studies have been conducted in the state of Punjab. This paper attempts to comprehensively examine the factors which will depict the performance of hospitals.
Interpretation problems: general mechanism and fundamental limitations of classical methods
Authors: Volchenkov Evgeny
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investige the general computing mechanisms of solving the system information problems of interpretation and its fundamental limitations, due to physical basis Turing machine.

Design/methodology/approach

– For creation of theoretical base of methodology, the authors make an attempt to demonstrate the possibility of a constructive building of Turing machine as meta-ontological basis of computing. In the course of this building the role of the operator of atomic implicative transition if-then as generic operator of recognition/decision-making is shown. In order to substantiate the thesis about the determinative role of implicative transition in the interpretation mechanisms, the authors will carry out the comparative analysis methods of interpretation in systems of pattern recognition and expert systems interpretation type.

Findings

– The carried-out analysis allows to formulate a common mechanism underlying the classical methods of solving problems of interpretation and to concretize the fundamental limitations of these methods, caused computational basis of their actualization. The cybernetic interpretation of this mechanism is offered.

Originality/value

– The fundamental limitations of classical methods of solving problems of interpretation sets the boundaries of the cybernetic approach and allows to outline a way out beyond it. In this context, the authors put forward knowledge-based mechanism of perceptual modeling of dynamics of system visual environment – autonomous agent.
Quantitative analysis of viable systems model on software projects in the ICT sector in Castilla y León
Authors: Puche Regaliza Julio César
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to detect the degree of influence between applying the Viable Systems Model (VSM), developed by Stafford Beer, on a software project and its viability or success.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors performed a quantitative analysis in which it was necessary to identify theoretical constructs of the VSM (Systems One to Five) and of the viability or success of the software project, measuring each of the indicators together. These indicators have been included in a questionnaire or standardised measurement tool, which was subsequently used for data collection by a number of companies in the information and communications technology sector in Castilla y León. The obtained data served as the basis for a number of results through the definition of a structural equation model.

Findings

– The results support the particular importance of Systems One and Four in a software project. In other words, software projects need to clearly define their operational elements (e.g. organisational units, business units, working environments, and working teams) and the relationships that appear between them. Additionally, in software projects it is necessary to determine the appropriate prevention actions to be able to observe the changes that take place in their environment and thus make decisions that allow the project to adapt to these changes.

Originality/value

– The originality is based on the VSM application in software projects organisation. The value is based on VSM formalisation and practical application, to overcome the criticism about its abstract nature.
How to reduce local government decision-making competition in China’s new urbanization process
Authors: Wang Dong , Xu Hengzhou , Li Xiaoyan
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of local government decision-making competition new urbanization, further to seek measures to weaken the negative effect of local government decision-making competition.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper first puts forward the three paths which make local government decision-making competition: construction of new-style urbanization, economic development and construction of people’s livelihood and take China’s new-style urbanization as an example, the authors analyzed the internal mechanism of decision making of local government competition which caused by above three paths. Second, using the prospect theory, risk aversion theory and Cournot duopoly model, the authors analyzed how to avoid the local government decision-making competition and how to reduce the harm caused by local government decision-making competition.

Findings

– The central government can curb the appearance of local government competition strategy through regulating and controlling the effectiveness of local government protective-investment policy, improving the degree of market competition and punishment coefficient of government decision-making failure and further, the authors can reduce the detriment of decision-making competition between local governments through adjusting the revenue function of local government in the process of new-style urbanization.

Originality/value

– New-style urbanization is the main driving force of China’s future economic development, however, in the process of new-style urbanization, because of the “principle-agent” relationship between central government and local government, officials achievements appraisal mechanism and promotion game, they all cause competition between local government decision making, and this will weaken the positive effect of urbanization. Although, there are many researches on horizontal and intergovernmental competition, most researches devoted to how to avoid it from the angle of institutional economics, and the suggestions put forward by these researches are hardly applied. Anyone interested in how to avoid local government decision-making competition and reduce the negative influences of it from the angle of unitary government state’s reality will find this paper valuable.
A comparison of the different versions of popular technology acceptance models
Authors: Rondan-Cataluña Francisco Javier , Arenas-Gaitán Jorge , Ramírez-Correa Patricio Esteban
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a complete and chronological view of the evolution of the main acceptance and use of technology models, from the 1970s to the present day.

Design/methodology/approach

– A comparison of partial least squares (linear model) and WarpPLS (non-linear model) has been run for each acceptation of technology model: TRA, TAM0, TAM1, TAM2, TAM3, UTAUT, UTAUT2. The data set collects the information of mobile internet users.

Findings

– The authors have concluded that UTAUT2 model obtains a better explanation power than the rest of technology acceptance models (TAMs) in the sample of mobile internet users. Furthermore, all models have a better explanation power using non-linear relationships than the traditional linear approach.

Originality/value

– The vast majority of research published to date with regard to the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) are based on structural equation models assuming linear relationships between variables. The originality of this study is that it incorporates non-linear relationships and compares the same models using both approaches.
Transaction tax, heterogeneous traders and market volatility
Authors: LI Hongquan , Cheng Gang , Wang Shouyang
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The securities transaction tax (STT) has been theoretically considered as an important regulation device for decades. However, its role and effectiveness in financial markets is still not well understood both theoretically and empirically. By use of agent-based modeling method, the purpose of this paper is to present a new artificial stock market model with self-adaptive agents, which allows the assessment of the impacts from various levels of STTs in distinctive market environments and thus a comprehensive understanding of the effects of STTs is achieved.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the model, agents are allowed to employ the strategies used by the following five types of investors: contrarians, random traders, momentum traders, fundamentalists and exit strategy holders. Specifically, the authors start with the investigation of the dynamics of a tax free benchmark market; then the patterns of market behaviors and the behaviors of various types of investors are discussed with different levels of STTs in markets with mild and high fluctuations.

Findings

– The simulation results consistently show that a moderate transaction tax does contribute to market stabilization in terms of reducing market volatility while with a price of mild decrease of market efficiency and liquidity. The findings suggest that a balance between market stability and efficiency could be reached if regulatory authorities introduce STTs to markets discreetly.

Originality/value

– This paper enriches the comprehensive understanding of the effects of STT, and gives good explanation about the controversy between Tobin’s proponents and anti-Tobin group.
A double decoupling postponement approach for integrated mixed flow production systems
Authors: Ni Yanting , Wang Yi
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– In a mixed flow production environment, interactions between production planning and scheduling are critical for mixed flow distributed manufacturing management. The purpose of this paper is to assist manufacturers in achieving real-time ordering and obtaining integrated optimization of shop floor production planning and scheduling for mixed flow production systems.

Design/methodology/approach

– A double decoupling postponement (DDP) approach is presented for production dispatch control, and an integrated model is designed under an assemble to order (ATO) environment. To generate “optimal” lots to fulfil real-time customer requests, constant work in progress (CONWIP) and days of inventory dispatching algorithms are embedded into the proposed DDP model, which can deal with real-time ordering and dynamic scheduling simultaneously. Subsequently, a case study is conducted, and experiments are carried out to verify the presented method.

Findings

– The proposed DDP model is designed to upgrade a previous CONWIP method in the case study company, and the proposed model demonstrates better performance for the integration of production planning and scheduling in mixed flow manufacturing. As a result, the presented operation mechanism can reflect real-time ordering information to shop floor scheduling and obtain performance metrics in terms of reliability, availability and maintainability.

Research limitations/implications

– The presented model can be further proliferated to generic factory manufacturing with the proposed logic and architecture.

Originality/value

– The DDP model can integrate real-time customer orders and work in process information, upon which manufacturers can make correct decisions for dispatch strategies and order selection within an integrated system.
Effects of technological innovation on eco-efficiency of industrial enterprises in China
Authors: Wan Liang , Luo Biao , Li Tieshan , Wang Shanyong , Liang Liang
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the relation between technological innovation modes and their impact on eco-efficiency of industrial enterprises in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper first constructs a model to evaluate and measure the eco-efficiency of industrial enterprises in China from 2006 to 2010. Second, this paper compares the role of technological innovation modes – specifically, domestic independent innovation, foreign technology import and domestic technology transfer – in improving eco-efficiency of industrial enterprises in the Eastern, Central and Western regions of China by logarithmic regression.

Findings

– The study finds that domestic independent innovation has a positive significant influence in improving eco-efficiency of industrial enterprises in the Eastern region; domestic technology transfer has a positive significant role in the Central region; and foreign technology import and domestic technology transfer positively affect the Western region.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first to identify the role of technological innovation modes in improving eco-efficiency. The findings can help enterprises in the three regions adopt the most effective technological innovation mode. In addition, the results provide valuable insights into policy development to improve China’s overall eco-efficiency and to balance economic and industrial development among the three regions.
Effect of HR practice on NPD performance
Authors: Zhang Huiying , Lv Shuang
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the moderating effects of contextual factors which are environmental uncertainty on the relationship between human resource (HR) exploitation and HR exploration with new product development (NPD) performance and the mediating role of cross-functional integration between them. The main question this study wants to answer is how a firm implements HR practices to gain better performance under different environment factors. This study is the first empirical research which testifies the influence of HR exploitation and HR exploration on NPD performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses regression analysis to examine the moderating effect of environment uncertainty and structural equation modeling to test mediating effect of cross-functional integration.

Findings

– The result shows that HR exploitation influences NPD performance to a higher degree when environmental uncertainty is low than high. And HR exploration plays a more important role when environmental uncertainty is high; HR exploitation influences internal integration significantly, and the effect of HR exploration on external integration is significant; and internal integration and external integration mediate the relationship between HR exploitation/exploration and NPD performance, respectively.

Originality/value

– These findings not only contribute to the literature but also provide a view for organizations in making the right decision of exploitative or explorative practices under the giving environment factor which organization facing and achieving better performance.
Nutrient foraging behaviour of four co‐occurring perennial grassland plant species alone does not predict behaviour with neighbours
Authors: McNickle Gordon G. , Deyholos Michael K. , Cahill James F.
Published: July 2015

The spatial arrangement of nutrients and neighbours in soil influences plant growth and reproduction. Plants often respond to such stimuli through plasticity in root proliferation (root mass per soil volume), or the breadth of their root system.

Here, we asked how plants adjust nutrient foraging strategies when grown alone or with neighbours. We asked (i) Does root proliferation into nutrient‐rich patches when plants are grown alone predict root proliferation when plants are grown with neighbours? (ii) What factors (nutrients or neighbours) best predict the probability of root placement at different soil locations? (iii) How does the spatial distribution of nutrients alter the degree to which neighbours suppress plant growth?

To answer these questions, we grew four grassland species either as individual plants or in competition, in patchy or patch‐free soil, in a factorial design. We used genomic DNA to identify the spatial distribution of roots of each species when plants were grown in mixtures.

The root foraging behaviour of individuals grown alone did not consistently predict behaviour in mixture. Specifically, (i) the behaviour of individually grown plants predicted behaviour of competing plants inside patches, but not in background soil. We observed over‐proliferation of roots in background soil relative to what was expected from plants grown alone. (ii) Neighbours were consistently the most important variable for predicting the placement of roots in soil and caused either an increase in root system breadth, or no change relative to alone. (iii) If a species experienced growth suppression when grown in competition, individuals experienced this more severely in patchy soil compared to patch‐free soil.

Synthesis. Game theoretic models have predicted that under interspecific competition, over‐proliferation of roots in the presence of neighbours might occur for some species but not others. Our data are consistent with these predictions but more work is needed. Nutrient foraging studies have primarily focused on plants grown alone or assumed that plants do not respond separately to neighbours and nutrients. Our data call these practices into question and contribute to a growing understanding that plants integrate information about both nutrients and neighbours when placing roots in soil.
Word production inconsistency of Singaporean‐English‐speaking adolescents with Down Syndrome
Authors: Wong Betty , Brebner Chris , McCormack Paul , Butcher Andy
Published: July 2015

Background

The nature of speech disorders in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) remains controversial despite various explanations put forth in the literature to account for the observed speech profiles. A high level of word production inconsistency in children with DS has led researchers to query whether the inconsistency continues into adolescence, and if the inconsistency stems from inconsistent phonological disorder (IPD) or childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Of the studies that have been published, most suggest that the speech profile of individuals with DS is delayed, while a few recent studies suggest a combination of delayed and disordered patterns. However, no studies have explored the nature of word production inconsistency in this population, and the relationship between word production inconsistency, receptive vocabulary and severity of speech disorder.

Aims

To investigate in a pilot study the extent of word production inconsistency in adolescents with DS and to examine the correlations between word production inconsistency, measures of receptive vocabulary, severity of speech disorder and oromotor skills in adolescents with DS.

Methods & Procedures

The participants were 32 native speakers of Singaporean‐English adolescents, comprising 16 participants with DS and 16 typically developing (TD) participants. The participants completed a battery of standardized speech and language assessments, including The Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology (DEAP) assessment. Results from each test were correlated to determine relationships. Qualitative analyses were also carried out on all the data collected.

Outcomes & Results

In this study, seven out of 16 participants with DS scored above 40% on word production inconsistency, a diagnostic criterion for IPD. In addition, all participants with DS performed poorly on the oromotor assessment of DEAP. The overall speech profile observed did not exactly correspond with the cluster symptoms observed in children with IPD or CAS.

Conclusions & Implications

Word production inconsistency is a noticeable feature in the speech of individuals with DS. In addition, the speech profiles of individuals with DS consist of atypical and unusual errors alongside developmental errors. Significant correlations were found between the measures investigated, suggesting that speech disorder in DS is multifactorial. The results from this study will help to improve differential diagnosis of speech disorders and individualized treatment plans in the population with DS.
Economic Ideas and the Political Construction of the Financial Crash of 2008
Authors: Baker Andrew , Underhill Geoffrey R. D.
Published: July 2015

This article is a short introduction to a special section on economic ideas and the political construction of the financial crash. It begins by explaining why economic ideas and the politics of appeals to certain ideas are so integral to the historical significance of the crash of 2008 and the question of whether it can be considered a crisis at all. The first section covers the literature on ideas and economic crisis. The second section highlights that the contribution of the special section is to engage in a stock-taking exercise of the empirical and conceptual patterns concerning the politics of ideational change underway in the areas of: comparative fiscal policy; monetary policy and Euro zone debt management; capital controls; and financial and securities market regulation and standard setting. The final section outlines the structure and content of the contents of the section articles.
Increased familiarity, knowledge and confidence with Nutrition Care Process Terminology following implementation across a statewide health‐care system
Authors: Vivanti Angela , Ferguson Maree , Porter Jane , O'Sullivan Therese , Hulcombe Julie
Published: July 2015

Aim

Information on attitudes and knowledge of practising dietitians regarding the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and International Dietetics and Nutrition Terminology (IDNT) would be useful to inform effective implementation. The present study aimed to: (i) explore dietitians' expectations, perceptions and anticipated benefits of NCP/IDNT pre and post implementation; (ii) identify perceived implementation barriers and enablers; and (iii) develop and assess a train‐the‐trainer NCP/IDNT implementation approach.

Methods

All Queensland Government State hospitals from metropolitan, regional and remote areas were included in the study. Dietitian champions (n = 17) attended one face‐to‐face, train‐the‐trainer day, then led 14 one‐hour educational sessions to 279 district dietitians tailored to local situations, facilities and resources. NCP/IDNT were embedded into local processes and chart audits completed. Pre‐/post‐implementation surveys were completed by 86 dietitians.

Results

Pre‐implementation results showed positive attitudes regarding the value of NCP/IDNT (mean 1.89, SD 0.67, 1 = strongly agree, 5 = strongly disagree). Dietitians identified management support; practice, tutorials and workshops; mentor support; and follow up audits as important for successful implementation. Most attendees (81%) completed ≥10/13 tutorials and 86% (415/480) of audited charts included Nutritional Diagnosis statements. Post‐implementation familiarity, confidence and knowledge of NCPT (Nutrition Care Process Terminology) significantly improved (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Prior to implementation, respondents viewed the NCP/IDNT as applicable to their practice areas. The train‐the‐trainer program with frequent teleconference and email support was effective in improving knowledge, confidence, preparedness for implementing NCPT and charting behaviour. Although training was positively received and has achieved good results, dietitians identified the need for ongoing training and support to further increase confidence following implementation.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting and the Safeguarding of Corporate Resources: Evidence from the Value of Cash Holdings
Authors: Gao Xinghua , Jia Yonghong
Published: July 2015

We test whether internal control weaknesses (ICWs) endanger cash resources that manifests in a lower value of cash. Our results indicate that investors value liquid assets in ICW firms substantially less than they do in non‐ICW firms. The negative valuation effect of weak internal control mainly concentrates on ICWs related to the control environment or overall financial reporting process. While firms remediating ICWs reverse the value loss from holding cash, firms whose internal control deteriorates or remains ineffective exhibit a lower value of cash. The marginal effect of ICWs on the value of cash remains significant after controlling for existing governance mechanisms and accounting conservatism, highlighting a unique governance role of internal control in mitigating unresolved agency problems and safeguarding corporate resources.
Microcirculatory dysfunction and tissue oxygenation in critical illness
Authors: Østergaard L. , Granfeldt A. , Secher N. , Tietze A. , Iversen N. K. , Jensen M. S. , Andersen K. K. , Nagenthiraja K. , Gutiérrez‐Lizardi P. , Mouridsen K. , Jespersen S. N. , Tønnesen E. K.
Published: July 2015

Severe sepsis is defined by organ failure, often of the kidneys, heart, and brain. It has been proposed that inadequate delivery of oxygen, or insufficient extraction of oxygen in tissue, may explain organ failure. Despite adequate maintenance of systemic oxygen delivery in septic patients, their morbidity and mortality remain high.

The assumption that tissue oxygenation can be preserved by maintaining its blood supply follows from physiological models that only apply to tissue with uniformly perfused capillaries. In sepsis, the microcirculation is profoundly disturbed, and the blood supply of individual organs may therefore no longer reflect their access to oxygen.

We review how capillary flow patterns affect oxygen extraction efficacy in tissue, and how the regulation of tissue blood flow must be adjusted to meet the metabolic needs of the tissue as capillary flows become disturbed as observed in critical illness. Using the brain, heart, and kidney as examples, we discuss whether disturbed capillary flow patterns might explain the apparent mismatch between organ blood flow and organ function in sepsis. Finally, we discuss diagnostic means of detecting capillary flow disturbance in animal models and in critically ill patients, and address therapeutic strategies that might improve tissue oxygenation by modifying capillary flow patterns.
Mitochondrial DNA variation of Nigerian domestic helmeted guinea fowl
Authors: Adeola Adeniyi C. , Ommeh Sheila C. , Murphy Robert W. , Wu Shi‐Fang , Peng Min‐Sheng , Zhang Ya‐Ping
Published: July 2015

We analyzed genetic diversity of 215 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D‐loop sequences from seven populations of domesticated helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) in Nigeria and compared that with results of samples collected in Kenya (n = 4) and China (n = 22). In total, 241 sequences were assigned to 22 distinct haplotypes. Haplotype diversity in Nigeria was 0.693 ± 0.022. The network grouped most matrilines into two main haplogroups: A and B. There was an absence of a geographic signal, and two haplotypes dominated across all locations with the exception of the Kebbi population in the northwest of the country; AMOVA also confirmed this observation (FST = 0.035). The low genetic diversity may be a result of recent domestication, whereas the lack of maternal genetic structure likely suggests the extensive genetic intermixing within the country. Additionally, the differentiation of the Kebbi population may be due to a certain demographic history and/or artificial selection that shaped its haplotype profile. The current data do not permit us to make further conclusions; therefore, more research evidence from genetics and archaeology is still required.
Transcriptome comparison in the pituitary–adrenal axis between Beagle and Chinese Field dogs after chronic stress exposure
Authors: Luo Wei , Fang Meixia , Xu Haiping , Xing Huijie , Nie Qinghua
Published: July 2015

Chronic stress can induce a series of maladjustments, and the response to stress is partly regulated by the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic mechanisms of this axis regulating stress responsiveness. The pituitary and adrenal cortex of Beagle and Chinese Field Dog (CFD) from a stress exposure group [including Beagle pituitary 1 (BP1), CFD pituitary 1 (CFDP1), Beagle adrenal cortex 1 (BAC1), CFD adrenal cortex 1 (CFDAC1)] and a control group [including Beagle pituitary 2 (BP2), CFD pituitary 2 (CFDP2), Beagle adrenal cortex 2 (BAC2), CFD adrenal cortex 2 (CFDAC2)], selected to perform RNA‐seq transcriptome comparisons, showed that 40, 346, 376, 69, 70, 38, 57 and 71 differentially expressed genes were detected in BP1 vs. BP2, CFDP1 vs. CFDP2, BP1 vs. CFDP1, BP2 vs. CFDP2, BAC1 vs. BAC2, CFDAC1 vs. CFDAC2, BAC1 vs. CFDAC1 and BAC2 vs. CFDAC2 respectively. NPB was a gene common to BAC1 vs. BAC2 and CFDAC1 vs. CFDAC2, indicating it was a potential gene affecting response to chronic stress, regardless of the extent of chronic stress induced. PLP1 was a gene common to BP1 vs. CFDP1 and BP2 vs. CFDP2, suggesting its important roles in affecting the stress‐tolerance difference between the two breeds, regardless of whether there was stress exposure or not. Pathway analysis found 12, 4, 11 and 1 enriched pathway in the comparisons of BP1 vs. CFDP1, BP2 vs. CFDP2, CFDP1 vs. CFDP2 and BAC1 vs. BAC2 respectively. Glutamatergic synapse, neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, GABAergic synapse, calcium signaling pathway and dopaminergic synapse were the most significantly enriched pathways in both CFDP1 vs. CFDP2 and BP1 vs. CFDP1. GO, KEGG pathway and gene network analysis demonstrated that GRIA3, GRIN2A, GRIN2B and NPY were important in regulating the stress response in CFD. Nevertheless, ADORA1, CAMK2A, GRM1, GRM7 and NR4A1 might be critical genes contributing to the stress‐tolerance difference between CFD and Beagle when subjected to stress exposure. In addition, RGS4 and SYN1 might play important roles both in regulating the stress response in CFD and in affecting the stress‐tolerance difference in different breeds. These observations clearly showed that some genes in the adrenal cortex and pituitary could regulate the stress response in Beagle and CFDs, whereas some others could affect the stress‐tolerance difference between these two breeds. Our results can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the genetic mechanisms of response to chronic stress.
Sherds on the Edge: Characterization of 16th Century Colonial Spanish Pottery Recovered from the Solomon Islands
Authors: Kelloway S. J. , Ferguson T. J. , Iñañez J. G. , Vanvalkenburgh P. , Roush C. C. , Gibbs M. , Glascock M. D.
Published: July 2015

We present the results of instrumental neutron activation analysis of ceramics recovered from the Solomon Islands, associated with Alvaro de Mendaña y Neira's 16th century colonizing expedition to the region (c.1595–6). Based on the chemical and typological data and previously published petrological and geochronological research, this study assigns the provenance of the ceramics variously to Peru, Panama, Spain, China and Thailand. A comparison of the provenance results with historical records related to Mendaña's voyage also shows the value of the archaeological assemblage in providing a detailed picture of provisioned ceramic types and their provenance.
Costing governmental services in a reformed environment: Unreachable goal or unfinished business?
Authors: Gosselin Maurice , Henri Jean‐François , Laurin Claude
Published: July 2015

This article assesses the impact of New Public Management (NPM) reforms in the public sector from a cost consciousness perspective. Using an action‐research methodology, we analyze the intensity of the external pressures that influence the institutional logic under which public sector organizations manage their costs. The field work shows that even after decentralization, public sector organizations appear unable to move their costing function from expense control to cost management unless external pressures motivate managers to complete the reform. We propose that the probability of success of reforms is increased when organizations are subject to strong pressures that could take the form of individual incentives or external threats.
Twenty‐First Century Managers and Intuition: An Exploratory Example of Pedagogic Change for Business Undergraduates
Authors: Brown A. , Holtham C. , Rich M. , Dove A.
Published: July 2015

Throughout the 20th century, business organizations have been subject to and have contributed to enormous changes in the way they work and the situations with which they have to deal, from revolutionary technology developments to the changing competitive environment. Since 2007, business has changed following the financial crisis. Management education needs to take account of these changes when developing degree programs that prepare students for business life.

This article is based around a case study of the 1st year of a business studies degree in the United Kingdom. The degree was redesigned in the light of an understanding of what employers want from graduates, and the design was informed by pedagogic and organizational ideas ranging from Aristotle's concept of “phronesis,” to Grint's work on wicked problems, to the need to balance rational and intuitive aspects of management, as identified by Sadler‐Smith and Burke. Running through the new design was an intention to equip students to make effective and appropriate decisions in a complex and continually evolving environment. There is a recognition that changes in the business landscape have led to changes in decision science. Within the article, three modules which form part of the redesigned 1st year are discussed, and the contribution of each module to the overall pedagogic approach is analyzed.

Experience from delivering the three modules supported the view that it is possible to construct worthwhile learning experiences which take undergraduate students out of their comfort zone, and which build the competencies that can be expected to be valuable in their graduate employment. However, to achieve this required overcoming some resistance from a minority of students who were reluctant to accept any innovative approaches to learning.
Learning in the Fast Lane: The Freeway Game
Authors: Giraud‐Carrier François C. , Schmidt Glen M.
Published: July 2015

When deciding whether to get on the freeway during rush hour, did you ever stop to consider that if you did so, you would slow everybody ELSE down? When we ask our students that question, they typically laugh—their only consideration is how long their own trip will take. When a decision maker does not account for all the costs or benefits associated with a decision, there exists what economists call an “externality.” Externalities are commonplace, and can cause significant problems (or create significant benefits) for firms and society. This article describes an online simulation game that introduces students to the concept of externalities, and helps them understand and develop ways of at least partially neutralizing negative externalities and expanding positive externalities. The game is based on a common situation with which most if not all students will have familiarity, that of traffic congestion. The article introduces the game, presents the rationale behind using a simulation game for teaching the concept of externality, and discusses how the game contributes to analytical thinking, multiple framing, reflective exploration of meaning, and practical reasoning.
Design for Thinking: Engagement in an Innovation Project
Authors: Benson Joy , Dresdow Sally
Published: July 2015

This article discusses the use of design thinking in an undergraduate decision‐making course. The spaces of design are linked to the dimensions of liberal learning in a way that allows students to engage in the design of an organization that supports a new product created in a collaborative team. The article provides an overview of how the innovation project requires students to manage competing ideas, engage in multiple thinking styles, and use visualization tools. Reflections of the instructor and students about their learning from the experience are included. The results of a course survey and content analysis provide evidence of the effectiveness of the course.
Behavioral Ethics and Teaching Ethical Decision Making
Authors: Drumwright Minette , Prentice Robert , Biasucci Cara
Published: July 2015

Business education often renders students less likely to act ethically. An infusion of liberal learning in the form of behavioral ethics could improve this situation by prompting students to develop higher levels of professionalism that encompass ethics, social responsibility, self‐critical reflection, and personal accountability. More specifically, teaching behavioral ethics, which draws upon psychology, sociology, and related fields, can improve students’ ethical decision making in a manner that can lead to a more ethical climate in organizations and in society more generally. This article introduces key concepts of behavioral ethics, argues that teaching behavioral ethics can have a positive impact, discusses materials that can be used to teach those concepts, and addresses action‐research approaches to assessing the effectiveness of the instruction. There is significant evidence, though preliminary and incomplete, that teaching behavioral ethics is a promising new approach for improving the ethicality of students’ decisions and actions.
An Empirical Investigation of the Conception Focused Curriculum: The Importance of Introducing Undergraduate Business Statistics Students to the “Real World”
Authors: Burch Gerald F. , Burch Jana J. , Heller Nathan A. , Batchelor John H.
Published: July 2015

Continuing pressures are being placed on undergraduate business education to alter curriculum content and delivery. The anticipated product of these changes is a graduate that is capable of performing the higher order thinking skills needed to navigate a constantly changing, global business environment. This article describes the implementation of a conception‐focused curriculum in an undergraduate business statistics course that has guided students to become masters of the discipline through conception learning and real world problem solving. The sample of 125 students shows that students exposed to the conception‐focused curriculum perceived themselves as being higher order learners and global citizens. Recommendations are provided for other educators to implement this approach in their classrooms and suggestions made for future research.
Liberal Learning Through the Decision Sciences Curriculum
Authors: Venkataramanan M. A. , Ernstberger Kathryn W.
Published: July 2015

To formulate a plan for affecting the future, business schools must first understand their origins as well as the multitude of current pressures and demands they face. The fundamental philosophy that drives business education, namely the maximization of shareholder wealth, must now be coupled with an emphasis on societal value creation. Liberal learning principles are vital for students to recognize their role in society, have a sense of purpose, develop human acumen and sound judgment, and hold a holistic perspective. Decision sciences educators are called upon to redesign their curricula to embed connections between business applications and liberal learning principles in decision sciences coursework itself.
Patterns of mandible fracture in children under 12 years in a district trauma center in India
Authors: Namdev Ritu , Jindal Ayushi , Bhargava Smriti , Dutta Samir , Singhal Parul , Grewal Priyanka
Published: July 2015

Aim

This study aims to present the data of mandibular fracture among children in the age group of 0–12 years treated in a district trauma center in India.

Study design

Sixty‐two children younger than 12 years treated for mandibular fractures over two‐and‐a‐half‐year period were studied by age, gender, anatomic site, etiology, socioeconomic status, residing area, interval from trauma to reporting, and treatment performed. The cases were divided into three age groups, and the records of the patients were analyzed.

Results

The male to female ratio was 1.58:1. Common fall and fall from bike together was a cause for injury in 50% (31 patients), of total patients. Condylar fractures occurred in 25 patients (40.3%). Multiple fractures were seen in 13% of the patients. In 47 (75.8%) patients, associated injuries other than the mandibular fractures were also present. Most patients with mandibular fractures were treated by closed reduction (36 patients, 58%). Conservative treatment and open reduction were done in 18 (29%) and 8 (13%) patients, respectively.

Conclusion

In addition to factors such as age, gender, etiology, anatomic site, and treatment of mandibular fracture, this study also reported statistics regarding other factors such as residing area, socioeconomic status, and interval from trauma to reporting in Indian patients. It is hoped that the data presented here will be valuable to the government agencies and healthcare professionals for planning treatment, recommending preventive measures and encouraging research in this area.
Similar chemokine receptor profiles in lymphomas with central nervous system involvement – possible biomarkers for patient selection for central nervous system prophylaxis, a retrospective study
Authors: Lemma Siria A. , Pasanen Anna Kaisa , Haapasaari Kirsi‐Maria , Sippola Antti , Sormunen Raija , Soini Ylermi , Jantunen Esa , Koivunen Petri , Salokorpi Niina , Bloigu Risto , Turpeenniemi‐Hujanen Taina , Kuittinen Outi
Published: July 2015

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse occurs in around 5% of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases. No biomarkers to identify high‐risk patients have been discovered. We evaluated the expression of lymphocyte‐guiding chemokine receptors in systemic and CNS lymphomas. Immunohistochemical staining for CXCR4, CXCR5, CCR7, CXCL12, and CXCL13 was performed on 89 tissue samples, including cases of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), secondary CNS lymphoma (sCNSL), and systemic DLBCL. Also, 10 reactive lymph node samples were included. Immunoelectron microscopy was performed on two PCNSLs, one sCNSL, one systemic DLBCL, and one reactive lymph node samples, and staining was performed for CXCR4, CXCR5, CXCL12, and CXCL13. Chi‐square test was used to determine correlations between clinical parameters, diagnostic groups, and chemokine receptor expression. Strong nuclear CXCR4 positivity correlated with systemic DLBCL, whereas strong cytoplasmic CXCR5 positivity correlated with CNS involvement (P = 0.003 and P = 0.039). Immunoelectron microscopy revealed a nuclear CXCR4 staining in reactive lymph node, compared with cytoplasmic and membranous localization seen in CNS lymphomas. We found that CNS lymphoma presented a chemokine receptor profile different from systemic disease. Our findings give new information on the CNS tropism of DLBCL and, if confirmed, may contribute to more effective targeting of CNS prophylaxis among patients with DLBCL.
Phosphorylation of Tyr245 in the open‐inhibited state of Abelson kinase does not induce downstream signaling
Authors: Skora Lukasz , Kempf Dominique , Mestan Jürgen , D'Orazio Daniel , Jahnke Wolfgang
Published: July 2015

Binding of tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib was shown to induce a novel open‐inhibited conformation of BCR‐ABL, in which Tyr245 is exposed and prone to phosphorylation. To evaluate whether this leads to priming of the kinase in cellular systems, we probed activation of downstream signaling as a result of Tyr245 phosphorylation in a series of cellular washout experiments. While a spike in Tyr245 phosphorylation was observed both in overexpression and endogenous settings, no induction of downstream signaling was detected, showing that the priming hypothesis is not relevant for the therapeutic situation.
Decreased expression of vitamin D receptor may contribute to the hyperimmune status of patients with acquired aplastic anemia
Authors: Yu Wei , Ge Meili , Lu Shihong , Shi Jun , Feng Sizhou , Li Xingxin , Zhang Jizhou , Wang Min , Huang Jinbo , Shao Yingqi , Huang Zhendong , Zhang Jing , Nie Neng , Zheng Yizhou
Published: July 2015

Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is an immune‐mediated bone marrow failure syndrome. 1α,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D, is a critical modulator of immune response via binding with vitamin D receptor (VDR). Previous studies have established that 1,25(OH)2D3 and VDR were involved in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases. In this study, we evaluated the involvement of 1,25(OH)2D3 and VDR on T‐cell responses in AA. Plasma 25(OH)D3 levels were comparable between patients with AA and healthy controls. Surprisingly, VDR mRNA was significantly lower in untreated patients with AA than in healthy controls. Subsequent in vitro experiments revealed that 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment suppressed the proliferation of lymphocytes and inhibited the secretion of interferon‐γ, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and interleukin‐17A, meanwhile promoting the production of transforming growth factor‐β1 in patients with AA. Moreover, 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibited the differentiation of type 1 and Th17 cells but induced the differentiation of type 2 and regulatory T cells. Interestingly, VDR mRNA was elevated in healthy controls after 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment, but not in patients with AA. In conclusion, decreased expression of VDR might contribute to the hyperimmune status of AA and appropriate vitamin D supplementation could partly correct the immune dysfunction by strengthening signal transduction through VDR in patients with AA.