bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Paravertebral Muscle Quality on Treatment Efficacy of Epidural Steroid Infiltration or Surgical Decompression in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis—Analysis of the Lumbar Spinal Outcome Study (LSOS) Data
Authors: Betz Michael , Burgstaller Jakob M. , Held Ulrike , Andreisek Gustav , Steurer Johann , Porchet Francois , Farshad Mazda
Published: May 2017

Study Design.

Prospective multicenter cohort study.

Objective.

To study the question whether paravertebral muscle quality may affect the clinical outcome of epidural steroid infiltration (ESI) or surgical decompression in patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Summary of Background Data.

To the present, the impact of paravertebral muscle quality on clinical outcome of ESI or surgical decompression in patients with LSS has not been clarified.

Methods.

The Lumbar Stenosis Outcome Study was used as database. Patients with symptomatic LSS who received an ESI (group I) or lumbar decompression surgery (group II), had a follow-up of at least 12 months and a pretreatment lumbar magnetic resonance imaging were included (n = 205). Paravertebral muscle quality was quantified by the degree of fatty degeneration (according to Goutallier) on the level L3. Clinical outcome was assessed using the Spinal Stenosis Measure, Numeric Rating Scale, Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire, and EQ-5D-3L sum score. Reinfiltration, surgery following infiltration, or revision was defined as treatment failure.

Results.

ESI (group I) and surgical treatment (group II) were associated with a failure rate of 60% and 12.7%, respectively. In group I, there was a tendency for the rate of reintervention to be less in patients with bad muscle quality (P = 0.22). In group II, improvements in the clinical outcomes up to 12 months did not differ between Goutallier stage ≤1 and ≥2. Patients with Goutallier stage ≤1 had more improvement in Spinal Stenosis Measure symptoms (P = 0.04).

Conclusion.

Relevant fatty degeneration of the paravertebral musculature, as a sign of low muscle quality, has low impact on clinical outcome and the high failure rates with conservative treatment by ESI compared to surgical decompression. Therefore fatty degeneration has no relevant prognostic value for LSS treatment.

Level of Evidence: 2
Increasing Health Portal Utilization in Cardiac Ambulatory Patients
Authors: Shaw Carmen L. , Casterline Gayle L. , Taylor Dennis , Fogle Maureen , Granger Bradi
Published: May 2017

Increasing health portal participation actively engages patients in their care and improves outcomes. The primary aim for this project was to increase patient health portal utilization. Nurses used a tablet-based demo to teach patients how to navigate the health portal. Assigning health videos to the portal was a tactic used to increase utilization. Each patient participant was surveyed about health portal utilization at initial nurse navigator appointment, day of procedure, and 30 days after discharge. Seventy-three percent (n = 14) of the 19 selected patients received the intervention; 36% (n = 4) of patients reported using a health portal feature; meaningful use metric preintervention increased from 12% to 16% after the intervention; 16% and 18% of patients viewed assigned videos in their health portal prior to procedure and after hospital discharge. Patients need a reason to access their health portal. Education alone is not enough to motivate patient portal use. Further research is needed to specify what tactics are required to motivate patients to use their health portals.
Validity of Postmortem Glycated Hemoglobin to Determine Status of Diabetes Mellitus in Corneal Donors
Authors: Soper Mark C. , Marcovina Santica M. , Hoover Caroline K. , Calhoun Peter M. , McCoy Kristen E. , Stoeger Christopher G. , Schmidt Gregory A. , Arafah Baha M. , Price Marianne O. , Szczotka-Flynn Loretta B. , Lass Jonathan H.
Published: May 2017

Purpose:

To examine the stability of postmortem glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement and its relationship to premortem glycemia.

Methods:

Postmortem blood samples were obtained from 32 donors (8 known diabetic) and shipped on ice to a central laboratory to examine the stability of HbA1c measurements during the first 9 postmortem days. Thirty-nine other suspected diabetic donors underwent comparison of premortem and postmortem HbA1c measurements.

Results:

Postmortem HbA1c measurements remained stable after 9 postmortem days (all measurements within ±0.2% from baseline with a mean difference of 0.02% ± 0.10%). Of the premortem measurements obtained within 90 days before death, 79% were within ±1.0% of the postmortem measurements compared with 40% for measurements more than 90 days apart. Three of the postmortem HbA1c measurements exceeded 6.5% (considered a threshold for diabetes diagnosis), although the medical histories did not indicate any previous diabetes diagnosis.

Conclusions:

Postmortem HbA1c testing is feasible with current eye bank procedures and is reflective of glycemic control of donors during 90 days before death. HbA1c testing could potentially be a useful adjunct to review of the medical history and records for donor assessment for endothelial keratoplasty suitability and long-term graft success.
Ciclovia in a Rural Latino Community: Results and Lessons Learned
Authors: Perry Cynthia K. , Ko Linda K. , Hernandez Lidia , Ortiz Rosa , Linde Sandra
Published: May 2017

Context:

Ciclovias involve the temporary closure of roads to motorized vehicles, allowing for use by bicyclists, walkers, and runners and for other physical activity. Ciclovias have been held in urban and suburban communities in the United States and Latin America.

Objective:

We evaluated the first ciclovia held in a rural, predominantly Latino community in Washington State.

Setting:

Three blocks within a downtown area in a rural community were closed for 5 hours on a Saturday in July 2015.

Outcome Measures:

The evaluation included observation counts and participant intercept surveys.

Results:

On average, 200 participants were present each hour. Fourteen percent of youth (younger than 18 years) were observed riding bikes. No adults were observed riding bikes. A total of 38 surveys were completed. Respondents reported spending on average 2 hours at the ciclovia. Seventy-nine percent reported that they would have been indoors at home involved in sedentary activities (such as watching TV, working on computer) if they had not been at the ciclovia.

Conclusion:

Regularly held ciclovias, which are free and open to anyone, could play an important role in creating safe, accessible, and affordable places for physical activity in rural areas. Broad community input is important for the success of a ciclovia.
Total Abdominal Wall Transplantation: An Anatomical Study and Classification System
Authors: Light David , Kundu Neilendu , Djohan Risal , Quintini Cristiano , Gandhi Namita , Gastman Brian R. , Drake Richard , Siemionow Maria , Zins James E.
Published: May 2017

Background:

Candidates for multivisceral transplantation present with complex defects often beyond traditional reconstructive options. In this study, the authors describe a dissection technique for a total abdominal wall vascularized composite flap. In addition, the authors suggest a classification system for complex abdominal wall defects.

Methods:

Forty fresh, cadaveric hemiabdomens were dissected, with care taken to preserve the iliofemoral, deep circumflex iliac, superficial circumflex iliac, deep inferior epigastric, and superficial inferior epigastric arteries and corresponding veins. Perfusion patterns of the flaps were then studied using computed tomographic angiography.

Results:

The deep circumflex iliac, superficial circumflex iliac, deep inferior epigastric, and superficial inferior epigastric arteries were identified along a 5-cm cuff of the iliofemoral artery centered on the inguinal ligament. Perfusion with an intact deep circumflex iliac artery yielded improvement in lateral perfusion based on computed tomographic angiography.

Conclusions:

The authors propose an algorithm for abdominal wall reconstruction based on defect size and abdominal wall perfusion, and their technique for harvesting a total vascularized composite abdominal wall flap for allotransplantation. Total abdominal wall transplantation should be considered in the subset of patients already receiving visceral organ transplants who also have concomitant abdominal wall defects.
The Split Pectoralis Flap: Combining the Benefits of Pectoralis Major Advancement and Turnover Techniques in One Flap
Authors: Brown Rodger H. , Sharabi Safa E. , Kania Katarzyna E. , Hollier Larry H. , Izaddoost Shayan A.
Published: May 2017

Background:

The pectoralis major is a versatile flap used as an advancement or turnover flap for sternal wound treatment. The advancement flap provides suboptimal inferior sternal coverage and poorly fills mediastinal dead space. The turnover flap covers the inferior sternum and fills dead space but requires disinsertion of the muscle from the humerus, resulting in functional loss and cosmetic deformity.

Methods:

The authors describe a new technique of splitting the pectoralis muscle along its fibers, using the superior portion as an advancement flap and the inferior portion as a turnover flap.

Results:

Eleven patients underwent the described technique. Nine patients healed without complications or repeated operations. One patient had a recurrent aortic graft infection requiring reoperation. One patient had a postoperative seroma requiring incision and drainage.

Conclusion:

Using the pectoralis as an advancement and turnover flap allows inferior sternum and mediastinum coverage using one donor site and maintaining the function of the muscle and preventing cosmetic deformity.
Breast Cancer after Augmentation: Oncologic and Reconstructive Considerations among Women Undergoing Mastectomy
Authors: Cho Eugenia H. , Shammas Ronnie L. , Phillips Brett T. , Greenup Rachel A. , Hwang E. Shelley , Hollenbeck Scott T.
Published: May 2017

Background:

Breast augmentation with subglandular versus subpectoral implants may differentially impact the early detection of breast cancer and treatment recommendations. The authors assessed the impact of prior augmentation on the diagnosis and management of breast cancer in women undergoing mastectomy.

Methods:

Breast cancer diagnosis and management were retrospectively analyzed in all women with prior augmentation undergoing therapeutic mastectomy at the authors’ institution from 1993 to 2014. Comparison was made to all women with no prior augmentation undergoing mastectomy in 2010. Subanalyses were performed according to prior implant placement.

Results:

A total of 260 women with (n = 89) and without (n = 171) prior augmentation underwent mastectomy for 95 and 179 breast cancers, respectively. Prior implant placement was subglandular (n = 27) or subpectoral (n = 63) (For five breasts, the placement was unknown). Breast cancer stage at diagnosis (p = 0.19) and detection method (p = 0.48) did not differ for women with and without prior augmentation. Compared to subpectoral augmentation, subglandular augmentation was associated with the diagnosis of invasive breast cancer rather than ductal carcinoma in situ (p = 0.01) and detection by self-palpation rather than screening mammography (p = 0.03). Immediate two-stage implant reconstruction was the preferred reconstructive method in women with augmentation (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

Breast cancer stage at diagnosis was similar for women with and without prior augmentation. Among women with augmentation, however, subglandular implants were associated with more advanced breast tumors commonly detected on palpation rather than mammography. Increased vigilance in breast cancer screening is recommended among women with subglandular augmentation.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, III.
The Six-Step Lower Blepharoplasty: Using Fractionated Fat to Enhance Blending of the Lid-Cheek Junction
Authors: Rohrich Rod J. , Pezeshk Ronnie A. , Sieber David A.
Published: May 2017

Lower lid blepharoplasty is one of the most complex procedures performed by plastic surgeons and may cause significant long-term sequelae, including inadequate aesthetic outcomes if not performed with a thorough understanding of anatomy and proper technique. The authors’ practice is consistently evolving to deliver the highest quality results for their patients. The purpose of this article is to introduce an additional sixth step to the lower lid blepharoplasty procedure involving the targeted injection of fractionated fat to better blend the lid-cheek junction. This added step will enhance overall facial rejuvenation, is reproducible, and will provide patients with exceptional outcomes.
Brief Report: Dapivirine Vaginal Ring Use Does Not Diminish the Effectiveness of Hormonal Contraception
Authors: Balkus Jennifer E. , Palanee-Phillips Thesla , Reddy Krishnaveni , Siva Samantha , Harkoo Ishana , Nakabiito Clemensia , Kintu Kenneth , Nair Gonasangrie , Chappell Catherine , Kiweewa Flavia Matovu , Kabwigu Samuel , Naidoo Logashvari , Jeenarain Nitesha , Marzinke Mark , Soto-Torres Lydia , Brown Elizabeth R. , Baeten Jared M. ,   on behalf of the MTN-020/ASPIRE Study Team
Published: May 2017

Objective:

To evaluate the potential for a clinically relevant drug–drug interaction with concomitant use of a dapivirine vaginal ring, a novel antiretroviral-based HIV-1 prevention strategy, and hormonal contraception by examining contraceptive efficacies with and without dapivirine ring use.

Design:

A secondary analysis of women participating in MTN-020/ASPIRE, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the dapivirine vaginal ring for HIV-1 prevention.

Methods:

Use of a highly effective method of contraception was an eligibility criterion for study participation. Urine pregnancy tests were performed monthly. Pregnancy incidence by arm was calculated separately for each hormonal contraceptive method and compared using an Andersen–Gill proportional hazards model stratified by site and censored at HIV-1 infection.

Results:

Of 2629 women enrolled, 2310 women returned for follow-up and reported using a hormonal contraceptive method at any point during study participation (1139 in the dapivirine arm and 1171 in the placebo arm). Pregnancy incidence in the dapivirine arm versus placebo among women using injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate was 0.43% vs. 0.54%, among women using injectable norethisterone enanthate was 1.15% vs. 0%, among women using hormonal implants was 0.22% vs. 0.69%, and among women using oral contraceptive pills was 32.26% vs. 28.01%. Pregnancy incidence did not differ by study arm for any of the hormonal contraceptive methods.

Conclusions:

Use of the dapivirine ring does not reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives for pregnancy prevention. Oral contraceptive pill use was associated with high pregnancy incidence, potentially because of poor pill adherence. Injectable and implantable methods were highly effective in preventing pregnancy.
Toward precision medicine: tailoring interventional strategies based on noninvasive brain stimulation for motor recovery after stroke
Authors: Koch Philipp J. , Hummel Friedhelm C.
Published: May 2017

Purpose of review

To support the recovery of disability and the reduced functional capacity influencing the independence of daily life after focal brain lesions like stroke, the application of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial electric stimulation has been found useful in the last decades. Still, a positive influence on the recovery seems to be restricted to specific subgroups of patients. Therefore, a closer look on individual parameters influencing the recovery course and the effect of NIBS is needed.

Recent findings

Neuroimaging studies investigated alterations in neuronal network settings during the recovery process from stroke and can explain a relevant amount of variance in residual motor function. In this regard for instance, the microstructural integrity of the corticospinal tract and its influence on cortical and subcortical functional and structural connectivity alterations shows a relevant impact on individual recovery from the acute to the chronic state.

Based on this understanding, a ‘one-suits-all’ NIBS strategy for clinical application appears insufficient and understanding of therapeutic susceptibility to NIBS gained from structural and functional imaging studies will help to develop patient-tailored NIBS-based interventional strategies towards precision medicine, as a promising future prospective within this field.
Bayesian selection of grammar productions for the language of thought
Authors: Romano S. , Salles A. , Amalric M. , Dehaene S. , Sigman M. , Figueria S.
Published: May 2017

Probabilistic proposals of Language of Thoughts (LoTs) can explain learning across different domains as statistical inference over a compositionally structured hypothesis space. While frameworks may differ on how a LoT may be implemented computationally, they all share the property that they are built from a set of atomic symbols and rules by which these symbols can be combined. In this work we show how the set of productions of a LoT grammar can be effectively selected from a broad repertoire of possible productions by an inferential process starting from experimental data. We then test this method in thelanguage of geometry, a specific LoT model (Amalric et al., 2017). Finally, despite the fact of the geometrical LoT not being a universal (i.e. Turing-complete) language, we show an empirical relation between a sequence’sprobabilityand itscomplexityconsistent with the theoretical relationship for universal languages described by Levin’s Coding Theorem.
Physical and mental health status inToxoplasma-infected women before and three years after they learn about their infection: The role of Rh factor
Authors: Šebánková Blanka , Flegr Jaroslav
Published: May 2017

Latent toxoplasmosis is known to be associated with specific changes in animal and human behavior and human personality. Many toxoplasmosis-associated shifts, such as an extroversion-introversion shift or a trust -suspicion shift, go in opposite directions in men and women. The stress coping hypothesis suggests that such behavioral effects of toxoplasmosis are side effects of chronic stress caused by lifelong parasitosis and associated health disorders. Several studies have searched for, and typically found, indices of impaired health in infected subjects. However, subjects were always aware of their toxoplasmosis status, which could influence obtained data and cause false-positive results of the studies. Here we searched for differences in physical and mental health status among 39Toxoplasma-infected and 40Toxoplasma-free female university students who completed identical questionnaires (N-70, and anamnestic questionnaire), before and 3 years after they were informed of their toxoplasmosis status. Our results showed that infected women showed indices of poorer health status, not only after, but also before they were informed of their infection. In accordance with previously published data, these indices were more numerous and stronger in Rh-negative than in Rh-positive women. Present results suggest that observed indices of poorer health and symptoms of chronic stress inToxoplasma-infected subjects are real. Due to its high (30%) prevalence, toxoplasmosis could represent an important factor for public health.
Crystallographic texture of straight-rolled α-uranium foils via neutron and X-ray diffraction
Authors: Einhorn J. R. , Steiner M. A. , Vogel S. C. , Garlea E. , Agnew S. R.
Published: May 2017

The texture of recrystallized straight-rolled α-uranium foils, a component in prospective irradiation target designs for medical isotope production, has been measured by neutron diffraction, as well as X-ray diffraction using both Cu and Mo sources. Variations in the penetration depth of neutron and X-ray radiation allow for determination of both the bulk and surface textures. The bulk α-uranium foil texture is similar to the warm straight-rolled plate texture, with the addition of a notable splitting of the (001) poles along the transverse direction. The surface texture of the foils is similar to the bulk, with an additional (001) texture component that is oriented between the rolling and normal directions. Differences between the surface and bulk textures are expected to arise from shear forces during the rolling process and the influence that distinct strain histories have on subsequent texture evolution during recrystallization.
Crystal structure of theThermoplasma acidophilumprotein Ta1207
Authors: Pathare Ganesh Ramnath , Nagy István , Hubert Ágnes , Thomas Dennis R. , Bracher Andreas
Published: May 2017

The crystal structure of the Ta1207 protein fromThermoplasma acidophilumis reported. Ta1207 was identified in a screen for high-molecular-weight protein complexes inT. acidophilum. In solution, Ta1207 forms homopentamers of 188 kDa. The crystal structure of recombinant Ta1207 solved by Se-MAD at 2.4 Å resolution revealed a complex with fivefold symmetry. In the crystal lattice, calcium ions induce the formation of a nanocage from two pentamers. The Ta1207 protomers comprise two domains with the same novel α/β topology. A deep pocket with a binding site for a negatively charged group suggests that Ta1207 functions as an intracellular receptor for an unknown ligand. Homologues of Ta1207 occur only in Thermoplasmatales and its function might be related to the extreme lifestyle of these archaea. The thermostable Ta1207 complex might provide a useful fivefold-symmetric scaffold for future nanotechnological applications.
Cultivating entrepreneurial behaviour: entrepreneurship education in secondary schools
Authors: Kirkley William W.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the degree to which Entrepreneurship Education (EE) was being provided to secondary school students following changes to the Secondary School Curriculum in 2010 by the New Zealand Ministry of Education. Under these changes, secondary schools were charged with following an “entrepreneurial” approach to school instruction that would develop entrepreneurial behaviors in students.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a qualitative methodology focused on gauging the reaction by teachers, students and their parents to this new teaching approach. The sample comprised ten secondary schools situated in Northland, New Zealand. A series of focus groups were used to solicit data among three levels under study in each school, i.e. teachers, students and parents. Individual semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from school principals to determine overall reactions to EE by the rest of the school.

Findings

Teachers reported benefits in terms of reduced direct teaching workload, increased participation from students and significantly improved scholastic results compared to targets set in the curriculum. Students reported positively on the greater degree of flexibility allowed under this teaching approach, while parents reported changes in attitude and more engagement in school activities and projects.

Research implications

The continuing evolution of classroom education at secondary school level has long-term repercussions for student learning, engagement and retention as we move to the digital age. Similarly, there are also consequences for the evolving role of teaching, curriculum design and delivery.

Originality/value

The value of this research lies in a closer examination of the effects traditional teaching practices have had on secondary students entering the digital age. Furthermore, it investigates an alternative teaching approach through EE and the impact it has on student learning, retention and engagement.
Examining the existence of double jeopardy and negative double jeopardy within Twitter
Authors: Rogers Andrew , Daunt Kate L. , Morgan Peter , Beynon Malcolm
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The theory of double jeopardy (DJ) is shown to hold across broad ranging geographies and physical product categories. However, there is very little research appertaining to the subject within an online environment. In particular, studies that investigate the presence of DJ and the contrasting view point to DJ, namely, that of negative double jeopardy (NDJ), are lacking. This study aims to contribute to this identified research gap and examines the presence of DJ and NDJ within a product category, utilising data from Twitter.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 354,676 tweets are scraped from Twitter and their sentiment analysed and allocated into positive, negative and no-opinion clusters using fuzzy c-means clustering. The sentiment is then compared to the market share of brands within the beer product category to establish whether a DJ or NDJ effect is present.

Findings

Data reveal an NDJ effect with regards to original tweets (i.e. tweets which have not been retweeted). That is, when analysing tweets relating to brands within a defined beer category, the authors find that larger brands suffer by having an increased negativity amongst the larger proportion of tweets associated with them.

Research limitations/implications

The clustering approach to analyse sentiment in Twitter data brings a new direction to analysis of such sentiment. Future consideration of different numbers of clusters may further the insights this form of analysis can bring to the DJ/NDJ phenomenon. Managerial implications discuss the uncovered practitioner’s paradox of NDJ and strategies for dealing with DJ and NDJ effects.

Originality/value

This study is the first to explore the presence of DJ and NDJ through the utilisation of sentiment analysis-derived data and fuzzy clustering. DJ and NDJ are under-explored constructs in the online environment. Typically, past research examines DJ and NDJ in separate and detached fashions. Thus, the study is of theoretical value because it outlines boundaries to the DJ and NDJ conditions. Second, this research is the first study to analyse the sentiment of consumer-authored tweets to explore DJ and NDJ effects. Finally, the current study offers valuable insight into the DJ and NDJ effects for practicing marketing managers.
Questioning the theory-praxis gap in marketing – types and drivers of research implementation
Authors: Möller Kristian
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to present a commentary and reflection on Nenonen et al.’s paper on theorizing with managers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a conceptual reflection.

Findings

The author finds much to agree with Nenonen et al.’s work, but finds some aspects where greater breadth could be added to further strengthen it. The author further suggest that the alleged gap should be critically examined.

Originality/value

This paper extends Nenonen et al. by proposing a broader framework for viewing the relevance and implementability of academic marketing research.
The effect of an equine assisted therapy (EAT) programme on children’s occupational performance – a pilot study
Authors: Heffernan Kim
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) uses the horse and its environment to achieve therapeutic goals as designed by an allied health professional (Taylor, 2010). The benefits of these interventions affect areas such as motor skills (Bass et al., 2009; Silkwood-Sherer et al., 2012), sensory processing (Ward et al., 2013), learning, social interaction and socioemotional development (Bracher, 2000). It was felt that occupational therapists could offer valuable input in this area. This paper aims to investigate the impact of a specific six-week EAT programme on six participants’ occupational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Mixed methods were used in this pilot study, consisting of a pre- and post-design with two follow-up periods. Participants were aged between 5 and10 years with a diagnosis of a visual impairment, and some had additional diagnoses. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was administered to parents pre-programme, post-programme and approximately six week after the programme ceased. Additional information from notes that contained children’s and parents’ reports was analysed thematically.

Findings

Five of the six children were rated as having clinically significant changes in their occupational performance. Analysis of parents’ and children’s reports on their experience of the programme showed the main themes to be: peer interaction, taking on new challenges, feelings towards EAT and change.

Originality/value

Although there are many practitioners of EAT in Ireland, there is little research, and none was found in relation to the role of occupational therapists within this context. These results indicate that EAT may be effective in assisting some children to reach a variety of goals. This pilot study not only suggests that EAT is worth further research but also begins to explore the role of occupational therapy in this form of intervention.
An investigation of government employees’ support for public-private partnerships
Authors: Shakirova Razilya
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that may influence support of public-private partnerships (PPPs) by government employees potentially involved in designing and implementing cross-sectoral collaborations.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an original survey of government employees in the USA, this study explores the impact of individual, organizational and environmental factors on their support for PPPs by employing ordinary least squares regression.

Findings

Among the individual factors, involvement in PPPs and concerns for efficiency have been identified as factors having positive impact on government employees’ support for PPPs. Male government employees seem to be less supportive of PPPs than female government employees. Environmental factors such as public opinion and appointed agency heads positively influence government employees’ views of PPPs. No evidence for the significant impact of organizational factors on government employee perceptions of PPPs was found.

Research limitations/implications

Factors influencing government employees’ attitudes may also have an effect on employees’ behaviors when involved in PPPs. Further studies may clarify how attitudes are translated into behaviors and how they influence the performance of PPPs. Investigations into government employees’ views of PPPs before and after their actual involvement in partnerships may allow for identifying changes in employees’ support for PPPs and their possible causes.

Originality/value

This study investigates the impacts of individual, organizational and environmental factors on government employees’ support for partnerships with the private sector that remain under-researched in the literature.
Critical factors in public sector collaboration in Malaysia
Authors: Ramadass Shila Devi , Sambasivan Murali , Xavier John Antony
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Collaboration in a public sector is a key to solving complex social problems. This research studies the mandated public sector collaboration in Malaysia. The purpose of this paper is to identify the success factors that are critical to effective collaboration outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The factors identified were transformational leadership, interdependence, and community. A questionnaire was constructed and distributed to 500 government officers involved in public sector collaboration in Malaysia. An integrated framework was developed and analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach.

Findings

The key findings of this study are transformational leadership that drives interdependence and collaboration outcomes and community that plays a critical role in influencing interdependence, and collaboration outcomes. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings have been discussed. The limitations of this research have been highlighted.

Originality/value

This study through the integrated model has identified the key success factors of public sector collaboration. The empirical results lend credibility to the governance of public sector collaboration.
Towards an everyday life information literacy mind-set: a review of literature
Authors: Martzoukou Konstantina , Sayyad Abdi Elham
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Information literacy (IL) within the everyday life context is regarded as an important condition for civic participation and engagement, informed citizenship, health and well-being. However, compared to the significant amount of IL research within educational and workplace settings, there has been relatively little research in relation to the value of IL within everyday life situations. The purpose of this paper is to explore existing empirical research that addresses aspects of IL within the context of everyday life, identifying current gaps in the literature, highlighting key theoretical positions, and mapping trends.

Design/methodology/approach

The review has been conducted in the form of a scoping study that aims to map the key concepts underpinning this research area and the main sources and types of evidence available. It is based on journal literature reporting primary research, published from 2000 to 2016 and sourced from a range of different databases covering IL research.

Findings

IL practices take place within diverse everyday life contexts. The key research directions have been categorised into four broad contextual areas, encompassing leisure and community activities, citizenship and the fulfilment of social roles, public health and critical life situations. These point to the need for developing an IL mind-set which is discussed as an adaptive, transferable and ongoing activity that transgresses the boundaries of prescribed skills within the specific contexts of work and education.

Originality/value

This research area is still in its infancy and more varied contexts need to be explored to nurture a robust understanding of the use and impact of IL in people’s everyday lives. The paper also highlights the implications of the lack of IL and identifies the key players in the advocacy of IL within different everyday life settings.
Doing neoliberal things with words in libraries
Authors: Buschman John
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to flesh out a truncated line of analysis in library and information science (LIS) of language analyses of power in the field.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature-based conceptual analysis of the problems engendered by neoliberalism in LIS and the productive approach of language analysis of Austin, Habermas, and Smith that allows us to account for neoliberalism’s effects in language and practices – doing things with words.

Findings

LIS has engaged a productive postmodern analysis of power relations that reflects social and economic progress, but Austin, Habermas, and Smith offer a sensible, practical explanation for the operation of neoliberal hegemony on the practices of librarianship.

Originality/value

Postmodern analyses are now being deployed in portions of LIS, but they fail to account for the full implications of the dominant public language (and policy and practices) of neoliberalism for librarianship. This is productive exploration of those implications to correct and round out those analyses.
Accounting students’ perceptions of important business communication skills for career success
Authors: Oussii Ahmed Atef , Klibi Mohamed Faker
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the business communication skills that accounting students see as having the highest importance for career success. It also explores the current levels of development of these skills and analyzes them through a comparative study between three Tunisian business schools.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a questionnaire sent to180 students from three business schools to provide insights into the development of communication skills perceived important for a successful accounting career.

Findings

The results indicate that all students are conscious of the importance held by communication skills for career success in the accounting profession. However, they feel that their aptitudes are sometimes poorly developed, especially when it comes to proficiency in French (as a language of business in Tunisia) and written skills.

Practical implications

The paper’s findings offer important guidance concerning the communication skills that accounting students consider most needed by the Tunisian labor market. The findings of this study may be useful for curriculum development in local and international contexts.

Originality/value

This study is conducted in a developing country where the graduate unemployment rate is about 30 per cent. This high unemployment often affects service professions like accounting. Moreover, in Tunisia, accounting education focuses particularly on technical aspects. So far, no studies have been conducted to show whether students nowadays are aware of the increasing importance of generic skills in accounting practice. As a result, the conclusions of this study could provide Tunisian stakeholders with insights into ways of potentially improving accounting graduates’ employability.
Climate variability predicts thermal limits of aquatic insects across elevation and latitude
Authors: Shah Alisha A. , Gill Brian A. , Encalada Andrea C. , Flecker Alexander S. , Funk W. Chris , Guayasamin Juan M. , Kondratieff Boris C. , Poff N. LeRoy , Thomas Steven A. , Zamudio Kelly R. , Ghalambor Cameron K.
Published: May 2017

Janzen's extension of the climate variability hypothesis (CVH) posits that increased seasonal variation at high latitudes should result in greater temperature overlap across elevations, and favour wider thermal breadths in temperate organisms compared to their tropical counterparts.

We tested these predictions by measuring stream temperatures and thermal breadths (i.e. the difference between the critical thermal maximum and minimum) of 62 aquatic insect species from temperate (Colorado, USA) and tropical (Papallacta, Ecuador) streams spanning an elevation gradient of c. 2000 m.

Temperate streams exhibited greater seasonal temperature variation and overlap across elevations than tropical streams, and as predicted, temperate aquatic insects exhibited broader thermal breadths than tropical insects. However, elevation had contrasting effects on patterns of thermal breadth. In temperate species, thermal breadth decreased with increasing elevation because CTMAX declined with elevation while CTMIN was similar across elevations. In tropical insects, by contrast, CTMAX declined less sharply than CTMIN with elevation, causing thermal breadth to increase with elevation.

These macrophysiological patterns are consistent with the narrower elevation ranges found in other tropical organisms, and they extend Janzen's CVH to freshwater streams. Furthermore, because lowland tropical aquatic insects have the narrowest thermal breadths of any region, they may be particularly vulnerable to short‐term extreme changes in stream temperature.

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Demography alters carbon flux for a dominant benthic suspension feeder, the giant barrel sponge, on Conch Reef, Florida Keys
Authors: McMurray Steven E. , Pawlik Joseph R. , Finelli Christopher M.
Published: May 2017

A challenge to understanding ecosystem processes is that the functional roles of species are linked with the demography of populations. In many systems, and particularly on coral reefs, the dynamics and structure of populations of many functionally important species has significantly changed over recent decades due to a variety of disturbances, and the changes in the ecological processes mediated by them are poorly understood.

Benthic suspension feeders are allogenic ecosystem engineers that contribute to the flow of materials and energy in aquatic systems. There is increasing evidence that sponges dominate this functional group on Caribbean reefs. Using demographic data from 2000 to 2012 and measurements of filtration rates of particulate and dissolved organic carbon, we parameterized a stage‐based matrix model of population‐mediated carbon flux for the Caribbean giant barrel sponge Xestospongia muta on Conch Reef, Florida Keys, to investigate the demographic mechanisms that mediate changes in benthic‐pelagic coupling.

Population‐mediated carbon flux increased over time with increasing sponge density and volume, with the largest individuals making the greatest contribution. Elasticity analysis revealed that the growth of sponges in all stages, the survival of sponges in the two largest stages, and the production of new recruits by the largest sponges had the greatest influence on changes in population‐mediated carbon flux. We estimate the mean carbon flux over 2000–2012 for X. muta at Conch Reef was 1575 mg C days−1 m−2, a value that exceeds that of any other single‐species rate.

Projections indicated that population‐mediated carbon flux will continue to increase under present conditions; thus, X. muta is expected to play an even larger role in the transfer of carbon from the water column to the benthos on Caribbean coral reefs.

Rather than being fixed, the functional role of species within a community are often dynamic and influenced by the demography of populations. The general framework developed here, a conversion of the basic unit of measurement for population models (i.e. the individual) into quantifiable metrics of species traits or activities, may be more broadly applied by further efforts to examine interrelationships between population and ecosystem processes.

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Shallow size–density relations within mammal clades suggest greater intra‐guild ecological impact of large‐bodied species
Authors: Pedersen Rasmus Østergaard , Faurby Søren , Svenning Jens‐Christian
Published: May 2017

Population densities of species have a predictable relationship with their body mass on a global scale. This relationship is known as the size–density relationship (SDR). The relationship was originally found to be directly opposite of metabolic rate scaling, which led to the hypothesis of energetic equivalence. However, recent studies have suggested that the SDR varies between clades. Specifically, the SDR for certain mammal clades has been found to be less negative than the relationship across all mammals.

The aim of the present study is to estimate phylogenetic variation in the scaling relationship, using a data‐driven identification of natural phylogenetic substructure in the body size–density relation, and discuss its potential drivers. The classic model is often used to estimate natural population densities, and a further, practical aim is to improve it by incorporating variability among phylogenetic groups.

We expand the model for the SDR relation of mammals to include clade‐specific variation. We used a dataset with population and body mass estimates of 924 terrestrial mammal species, covering 97 families, and applied an algorithm identifying group‐specific changes in the relationship across a family‐level phylogeny.

We show increased performance in species density estimation is achieved by incorporating clade‐specific changes in the relationship compared to the classic model (increasing r2 from .56 to .74 and ΔAICc = 466). While the global SDR across clades was confirmed to be similar to previous findings (r = −.74), the relationship within all sub‐clades was less negative than the overall trend.

Our results show that data‐driven identification of phylogenetic substructure in the size–density relation substantially improves predictive accuracy of the model. The less negative relationship within clades compared to the overall trend and compared to within clade metabolic scaling suggest that the energetic equivalence rule does not hold. This relationship shows that large species within clades use proportionally more energy than smaller species. Therefore, our results are consistent with a greater intra‐guild ecological impact of large‐bodied species via partial monopolisation of resources by the largest species of a given guild, and hence size‐asymmetric intra‐guild competition.
Diverse responses of species to landscape fragmentation in a simple food chain
Authors: Liao Jinbao , Bearup Daniel , Blasius Bernd
Published: May 2017

Habitat destruction, characterized by habitat loss and fragmentation, is a key driver of species extinction in spatial extended communities. Recently, there has been some progress in the theory of spatial food webs, however to date practically little is known about how habitat configurational fragmentation influences multi‐trophic food web dynamics.

To explore how habitat fragmentation affects species persistence in food webs, we introduce a modelling framework that describes the site occupancy of species in a tri‐trophic system. We assume that species dispersal range increases with trophic level, exploiting pair‐approximation techniques to describe the effect of habitat clustering.

In accordance with the trophic rank hypothesis, both habitat loss and fragmentation generally cause species extinction, with stronger effects occurring at higher trophic levels. However, species display diverse responses (negative, neutral or positive) to habitat loss and fragmentation separately, depending on their dispersal range and trophic position.

Counter‐intuitively, prey species may benefit from habitat loss due to a release in top‐down control. Similarly, habitat fragmentation has almost no influence on the site occupancy of the intermediate consumer in the tri‐trophic system, though it decreases those of both basal species and top predator. Consequently, species’ responses to habitat destruction vary as other species become extinct.

Our results reiterate the importance of the interplay between bottom‐up and top‐down control in trophically linked communities, and highlight the complex responses occurring in even a simple food chain.