bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unit conversions between LOINC codes
Authors: Hauser Ronald G , Quine Douglas B , Ryder Alex , Campbell Sheldon
Published: May 2017

Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) is the most widely used controlled vocabulary to identify laboratory tests. A given laboratory test can often be reported in more than 1 unit of measure (eg, grams or moles), and LOINC defines unique codes for each unit. Consequently, an identical laboratory test performed by 2 different clinical laboratories may have different LOINC codes. The absence of unit conversions between compatible LOINC codes impedes data aggregation and analysis of laboratory results. To develop such conversions, a computational process was developed to review the LOINC standard for potential conversions, and multiple expert reviewers oversaw and finalized the conversion list. In all, 285 bidirectional conversions were identified, including conversions for routine clinical tests such as sodium, magnesium, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Unit conversions were applied to the aggregation of laboratory test results to demonstrate their usefulness. Diverse informatics projects may benefit from the ability to interconvert compatible results.
Signal peptide hydrophobicity modulates interaction with the twin-arginine translocase
Authors: Huang Qi , Palmer Tracy
Published: May 2017

The general secretory pathway (Sec) and twin-arginine translocase (Tat) operate in parallel to export proteins across the cytoplasmic membrane of prokaryotes and the thylakoid membrane of plant chloroplasts. Substrates are targeted to their respective machineries by N-terminal signal peptides that share a common tripartite organization, however Tat signal peptides harbor a conserved and almost invariant arginine pair that are critical for efficient targeting to the Tat machinery. Tat signal peptides interact with a membrane-bound receptor complex comprised of TatB and TatC components, with TatC containing the twin-arginine recognition site. Here we isolated suppressors in the signal peptide of the Tat substrate, SufI, that restored Tat transport in the presence of inactivating substitutions in the TatC twin-arginine binding site. These suppressors increased signal peptide hydrophobicity, and co-purification experiments indicated that they restored binding to the variant TatBC complex. The hydrophobic suppressors could also act incisto suppress substitutions at the signal peptide twin-arginine motif that normally prevent targeting to the Tat pathway. Highly hydrophobic variants of the SufI signal peptide containing four leucine substitutions retained the ability to interact with the Tat system. The hydrophobic signal peptides of two Sec substrates, DsbA and OmpA, containing twin lysine residues, were shown to mediate export by the Tat pathway and to co-purify with TatBC. These findings indicate that there is unprecedented overlap between Sec and Tat signal peptides and that neither the signal peptide twin-arginine motif nor the TatC twin-arginine recognition site are essential mechanistic features for operation of the Tat pathway.

Importance

Protein export is an essential process in all prokaryotes, The Sec and Tat export pathways operate in parallel, with the Sec machinery transporting unstructured precursors and the Tat pathway transporting folded proteins. Proteins are targeted to the Tat pathway by N-terminal signal peptides that contain an almost invariant twin-arginine motif. Here we make the surprising discovery that the twin-arginines are not essential for recognition of substrates by the Tat machinery, and that this requirement can be bypassed by increasing the signal peptide hydrophobicity. We further show that signal peptides ofbona fideSec substrates can also mediate transport by the Tat pathway. Our findings suggest that key features of the Tat targeting mechanism have evolved to prevent mis-targeting of substrates to the Sec pathway rather than being a critical requirement for function of the Tat pathway.
The origin of striation in the metastable β phase of titanium alloys observed by transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Fan Jiangkun , Li Jinshan , Zhang Yudong , Kou Hongchao , Ghanbaja Jaafar , Gan Weimin , Germain Lionel , Esling Claude
Published: May 2017

For the β phase of Ti-5553-type metastable β-Ti alloys, striations in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) bright- and dark-field images have been frequently observed but their origin has not been sufficiently investigated. In the present work, this phenomenon is studied in depth from the macroscopic scale by neutron diffraction to the atomic scale by high-resolution TEM. The results reveal that the β phase contains homogeneously distributed modulated structures, intermediate between that of the β phase (cubic) and that of the α phase or the ω phase (hexagonal), giving rise to the appearance of additional diffraction spots at 1/2, 1/3 and 2/3 β diffraction positions. The intermediate structure between β and α is formed by the atomic displacements on each second {110}β plane in the \langle 1{\overline 1}0\rangle_{\beta} direction, whereas that between β and ω is formed by atomic displacements on each second and third {112}β plane in the opposite \langle 11{\overline 1}\rangle_{\beta } direction. Because of these atomic displacements, the {110}β and {112}β planes become faulted, resulting in the streaking of β diffraction spots and the formation of extinction fringes in TEM bright- and dark-field images, the commonly observed striations. The present work reveals the origin of the striations and the intrinsic correlation with the additional electron reflections of the β phase.
X-ray dynamical diffraction in amino acid crystals: a step towards improving structural resolution of biological moleculesviaphysical phase measurements
Authors: Morelhão Sérgio L. , Remédios Cláudio M. R. , Calligaris Guilherme A. , Nisbet Gareth
Published: May 2017

In this work, experimental and data analysis procedures were developed and applied for studying amino acid crystals by means of X-ray phase measurements. The results clearly demonstrated the sensitivity of invariant triplet phases to electronic charge distribution in D-alanine crystals, providing useful information for molecular dynamics studies of intermolecular forces. The feasibility of using phase measurements to investigate radiation damage mechanisms is also discussed on experimental and theoretical grounds.
Digital native or digital immigrant? Using intraorganizational resources to develop technological competence among older employees
Authors: Evans Robert D.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this viewpoint article is to demonstrate that firms can utilize intraorganizational resources to aid in helping older workers become technologically competent. Through the use of these intraorganizational resources, firms can benefit from the transfer of technological knowledge between younger and older workers. A further benefit is cost savings associated with utilization of internal as opposed to external resources.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a viewpoint article which demonstrates and raises awareness of some elementary internal resources which can aid in the development of older workers’ technological competence.

Findings

There exists a marked difference between younger and older workers and the associated technological competence of each. Implementing a mentoring process which matches recent college graduates or younger workers, digital natives, with older workers, digital immigrants, who are either returning to the workforce or transitioning to jobs which require technological skills, can aid in knowledge transfer of proprietary and public software programs and has the potential to lead to improved employee relationships.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the development and utilization of internal as opposed to external resources in aiding older workers gaining technological competence. These workers may be returning to the workforce or transitioning to jobs which require more technological knowledge, and, by providing a system to support this transition, both, firms and employees can benefit.
Early success experience as a predictor of fast-track career growth
Authors: Pandya Saurabh
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to recommend an approach which can help ensure the fast-track career progression of employees.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses data from a larger study on leadership development practices in the context of rapid growth organizations. This was based on semi-structured interviews with 43 senior managers from medium-sized organizations in the Indian software services industry.

Findings

The study suggests that many respondents, who were from a pool of fast-track employees, had experienced some kind of success early on in their careers or particular roles. This was due to various reasons such as exciting opportunities, proximity to top management, a supportive boss, or challenging assignments.

Originality/value

The paper can be of immense help to organizations by helping them to plan their induction and onboarding activities more effectively, so as to provide new recruits with early success experience of some sort, which in turn will help them to fast-track their career growth.
Establishing yourself as a thought leader? Seven simple ideas to improve the quality of your thinking
Authors: Gibbins-Klein Mindy
Published: May 2017

Purpose

To establish ourselves as true thought leaders, we need to develop our skills so that we hone and shape our thinking before communicating with others. This paper aims toexplore the importance of pushing your own thinking further and offers seven simple practices that will help take it to the next level.

Design/methodology/approach

The author draws on 18 years of experience as a thought leader strategist.

Findings

Seven tactics are presented which if followed can sharpen thinking and help establish someone as a thought leader in their field.

Originality/value

The organizational world is now connected on a minute-by-minute basis through technology, and particularly social media. All leaders need to focus on the quality of their thinking, how they share their thinking and how this sharing shapes their global reputation.
Financial inclusion, biometric identification and mobile: unlocking the JAM trinity
Authors: Ghosh Saibal
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to understand the interlinkage with financial inclusion and how it interacts with biometric identification. To investigate this in detail, the authors employ household-level data on India to examine the interlinkage among Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) account, Aadhaar card and mobile telephony.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the survey data, the authors employ 3 stage least squares (3SLS) methodology to explore the association among these key variables, while controlling for other household, district and economy-wide factors.

Findings

The findings provide strong evidence of complementarity among these variables, with each tending to reinforce the other. This complementarity is reflected primarily in respect of PMJDY and Aadhaar, but much less so with regard to mobile telephony. Additionally, this complementarity is manifest more prominently in the long run, although it is much less so in the short run.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the earliest studies for India to systematically examine the Jan-Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity.
Paying for education among households in Ghana
Authors: Iddrisu Abdul Malik , Danquah Michael , Quartey Peter
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Using data from the sixth round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey, this paper aims to take a critical look at issues relating to the demand for education in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

In doing this, the paper develops a model for the determinants of household’s educational expenditure using the full sample of data and an income-quintile disaggregated model of the determinants of household’s educational expenditures. The study adopts robust empirical estimation techniques to estimate the model.

Findings

The paper finds that household resources importantly influence children’s educational expenditures with wealthier households spending proportionately more in educating their children than poorer households; large-sized households spend more in terms of educational expenses than small-sized households reflecting largely the quantity of education purchased, given that quality and contextual factors matters for educational investments. Strikingly, the findings show that female headship is a significant positive predictor of households’ demand for education. These findings provide valuable policy options relating to the goal of ensuring inclusive and quality education for all and promoting a lifelong learning by 2030.

Originality/value

While literature on the determinants of households’ educational expenditures abound, very few of this literature focuses on sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, this study makes an important contribution to the literature by providing evidence on the determinants of households’ educational expenditure in the context of sub-Saharan Africa.
The influence of strategy and concurrent engineering on design for procurement
Authors: Arnette Andrew , Brewer Barry
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of strategy and concurrent engineering (CE) in driving design for procurement (DFP) actions and results via the role of procurement professionals in new product development (NPD). The strategies of cost leadership, differentiation, and a hybrid approach are compared, and sequential NPD is compared to a CE approach within a DFP context.

Design/methodology/approach

ANOVA was applied to survey data collected for a series of items capturing the activities and characteristics relating to procurement for a new product design, as well as the performance of the product compared to other design events in the firm.

Findings

Several major findings were supported through the analysis. Product-level strategy played a limited role, at best, in driving the implementation of procurement activities and product performance. In contrast, high CE intensity was shown to improve procurement activity and product performance. The results were analyzed along the three dimensions of sustainability, and were especially strong for both environmental and economic-focused activities and performance.

Practical implications

Managers should work to integrate procurement early into NPD activities, ensure procurement uses strategy to drive decisions, and can use DFP initiatives from this research to implement a DFP program.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first attempts to empirically test design-for (DFX) approaches in NPD. It creates one of the first theoretical frameworks for DFX-related research.
Towards more efficient logistics: increasing load factor in a shipper’s road transport
Authors: Santén Vendela
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Increasing load factor is crucial for transport efficiency and may benefit shippers because of its potential to reduce both environmental impact and transportation costs. The purpose of this paper is to explore how shippers can increase load factor in their road transport by identifying opportunities for logistics action and influences on load factor performance measures created by such opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study is performed of the outgoing goods flow from the central warehouse of a large retailer in Sweden. Data are collected from interviews with the shipper and its contracted freight forwarder, as well as from archival sources and visual observations, and applied to produce a framework.

Findings

Logistics actions that can increase load factor are identified and categorised according to packaging efficiency, loading efficiency and booking efficiency, all of which are linked to logistics variables and specific performance measures in the framework. Visual observations of volumetric load factor in vehicles indicate room for improvement via, for example, making lead times more flexible.

Practical implications

The framework’s principles can be used to support shippers in finding opportunities to increase load factor.

Originality/value

The framework clarifies the concept of load factor as a whole by explaining each logistics action’s contribution to increasing load factor, as well as the actions’ combined effect in the context of a shipper and its purchased transport share.
Improving supply chain flexibility and agility through variety management
Authors: Um Juneho
Published: May 2017

Purpose

A trade-off exists between product variety and supply chain (SC) performance. To help mitigate the impact on SC of increased product variety, the purpose of this paper is to examine how variety management activities including variety management strategy (VMS), supplier partnerships and close customer relationships affect SC flexibility and agility at different levels of customisation.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey-research methodology is employed using data from 363 manufacturing firms from the UK and South Korea. In particular, cluster analysis and structural equation modelling were used to evaluate the proposed model according to the level of customisation.

Findings

The results suggest that internal variety management strategy and external SC integration have a positive influence on SC flexibility and agility. Customer relationships and variety management strategies influence SC flexibility more than partnerships with suppliers whereas variety management strategies and partnerships with suppliers influence SC agility more than customer relationships. In fact, for external integration in particular, customer relationships influence SC flexibility (i.e. reaction capability) rather than agility (i.e. reaction time) whereas partnerships with suppliers influence SC agility rather than flexibility. In a high-customisation context, close customer relationships are the most effective way to increase SC flexibility, whereas partnerships with suppliers are the most effective way to increase SC agility. In a low-customisation context, a VMS and customer relationships are the most effective way to increase both SC flexibility and agility.

Originality/value

This paper suggests key variety management activities to aid managers to better manage product variety ambitions in SC under varying customisation profiles through internal and external approaches.
The past and future of supply chain collaboration: a literature synthesis and call for research
Authors: M. Ralston Peter , Richey R. Glenn , J. Grawe Scott
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide scholarly and practical benefits by detailing the past and suggesting a future research agenda for supply chain (SC) collaboration. A literature review is utilized to examine what has been investigated prior, and what remains to be analyzed, in order to assist today’s managers and researchers. The research expands the understanding of SC collaboration from a focal firm perspective while providing boundaries for future investigation and at the same time detailing the current state of collaboration to practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

The current research utilizes a systematic review of the literature to shape a proposed research agenda on the topic of SC collaboration.

Findings

The paper provides insights into gaps in the literature as it pertains to SC collaboration. Specifically, the paper suggests investigating SC collaboration as it relates to perceived and real performance, understanding what know-how and commitment a focal firm must make to SC collaboration, and how to successfully navigate collaboration termination.

Research limitations/implications

This manuscript makes four specific contributions to the literature. First, it provides the first holistic graphic depiction of the central constructs employed in extant SC collaboration research. Next it examines three specific factor areas influencing collaboration. Overlooked issues are then revealed as suggestions for future research in SC collaboration. Finally, the method employed to conduct the systematic literature review can be used as a blueprint for future researchers in performing a similar exercise.

Practical implications

The current research seeks to provide a research agenda which meets the needs of today’s business managers.

Originality/value

The paper provides a suggested research agenda for SC collaboration.
Do corporate sustainable management activities improve customer satisfaction, word of mouth intention and repurchase intention? Empirical evidence from the shipping industry
Authors: Shin Youngran , Thai Vinh Van , Grewal Devinder , Kim Yulseong
Published: May 2017

Purpose

As the concept of corporate sustainable management activities (CSMA) has become an increasingly important element of corporate management, much attention has been paid to its impact on customer relationship. Although there exists many studies concentrating mainly on the environment aspect of CSMA, only a few address the three dimensions of CSMA (environmental, social and economic) and examine their comprehensive impact on relationship marketing. In an attempt to fill this gap, the purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the influence of CSMA on customer satisfaction (CS), word of mouth intention (WOMI) and repurchase intention (RI).

Design/methodology/approach

The data come from 214 shipping industry practitioners (shippers, freight forwarders and third party logistics service providers in South Korea). Structural equation modeling (SEM) is employed to test the impact of CSMA on CS, WOMI and RI.

Findings

Based on a survey conducted in South Korea, the findings indicate that environmental and economic aspects of CSMA play a significant role in enhancing CS and the enhanced CS positively affects WOMI and RI.

Research limitations/implications

As the field data were obtained from only one industry, future replication of the findings to other industries should consider industry-specific factors, if applicable.

Practical implications

The results highlight several implications for shipping industry practitioners to consider when establishing the strategy for effective corporate sustainable management to enhance CS.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first empirical attempts to explore how CSMA affects CS in the shipping industry. In addition, this paper empirically investigates the influence of CS on WOMI and RI.
Larger and better
Authors: Spielmann Nathalie
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Wineries today are faced with the prospect of having to include environmental sustainability into their practices but implementation can be hard, complicated or even undesired. This research aims to examine firm features, specifically winery size and foreign direct investment, as potential sources of variability regarding environmental sustainability attitudes and practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were administered via telephone interviews with 63 wineries in France. Production surface and wine activities in other countries were the independent variables examined as potentially predicting environmental sustainability attitudes and practices, leading to competitive positioning and perceived firm success.

Findings

The findings clearly show that bigger wineries are more likely to practice environmental sustainability, but they do not necessarily have more positive attitudes toward environmental sustainability. For winery managers, firm size and environmental sustainability practices interact because they are perceived to lead to competitive advantages such as augmented product quality and better innovations. Larger firms are also more sensitive to micro pressures emanating from customers, competitors and distributors regarding environmental sustainability. Finally, wineries engaging in foreign direct investments have more positive attitudes toward and engage in more environmental sustainability practices than firms that remain domestic.

Originality/value

Rather than comparing firms that are environmentally sustainable versus firms that are not, this research examined actual firm characteristics that may influence management’s propensity to engage in environmental sustainability practices. This research provides explanations for why there are augmented environmental sustainability practices by larger wineries and the sources of subjective norms encouraging larger wineries, versus smaller wineries, to practice environmental sustainability.
Beyond autism and technology: lessons from neurodiverse populations
Authors: Brosnan Mark , Holt Samantha , Yuill Nicola , Good Judith , Parsons Sarah
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the sixth seminar in a seven-seminar series entitled, Innovative Technologies for Autism: Critical Reflections on Digital Bubbles, funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council. The aim of this particular seminar was to reflect upon the implications from neurodiverse communities for the development of technology for autism.

Design/methodology/approach

Presentations from key researchers and parental perspectives are reviewed, highlighting contemporary issues in neurodiverse populations that have important implications for autism.

Findings

Whilst there are many conditions associated with autism, most commonly intellectual disability (learning difficulties), this is not reflected in research. In addition, for child-based research, researchers are at least a generation older than participants and have had different digital-childhoods. Involving neurodiverse populations within participatory design sessions can address both of these issues. Understanding the context of the issues that the participatory design sessions address is crucial for developing participatory design principles that extend from one condition to another. This includes understanding when findings based upon verbal populations can be extended to non-verbal populations.

Originality/value

This paper offers up-to-date insights into how design principles from one condition extend to different conditions. Universal interaction and neurodiversity HCI are considered. This is important within neurodiverse populations, especially given the high rates of additional conditions that are associated with autism. Whilst the majority of autism research has involved verbal populations, the benefits of technology can extend to non-verbal populations.
Religious expatriates’ cultural intelligence and adaptation
Authors: Presbitero Alfred
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide new insights into religious expatriates’ cultural intelligence, adaptation and the role of motivation. Drawing mainly from the theory of intelligence (Sternberg, 1999) and theory of self-determination (Deci and Ryan, 2000), the study posits that cultural intelligence of a religious expatriate is positively and significantly related to his or her psychological and sociocultural adaptation. Moreover, the study hypothesizes that intrinsic motivation, as a type of motivation, plays a significant role in moderating the relationship between cultural intelligence and adaptation (both psychological and sociocultural).

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 110 religious expatriates from various religious communities were surveyed. They were asked to rate their cultural intelligence, intrinsic motivation and adaptation (i.e. psychological and sociocultural).

Findings

The results demonstrate that cultural intelligence is positively and significantly related to both psychological and sociocultural adaptation. Furthermore, results show that intrinsic motivation, as a type of motivation, moderates the relationship between cultural intelligence and adaptation (both psychological and sociocultural).

Originality/value

The study contributes to the limited studies on non-corporate expatriation focusing mainly on religious expatriation. In addition, it adds value by generating new insights into the importance not only of cultural intelligence but also of intrinsic motivation in ensuring high levels of psychological and sociocultural adaptation. It further offers a number of practical insights that can be relevant for both corporate and non-corporate expatriates.
Self-initiated expatriation (SIE) by older women: an exploratory study
Authors: Myers Barbara , Inkson Kerr , Pringle Judith K.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the SIE experiences of women over 50, its drivers, nature and outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on participant data from in-depth life story interviews with 21 women who had undertaken SIE from New Zealand and later returned. From this sample two subgroups (aid volunteers and contract carers) are utilized as “vignette” exemplars, and common factors elicited.

Findings

SIE provided a desirable liberation from pressing mid-life issues. It was transformational for all participants, sometimes through serendipitous career development, but more commonly, after return, through personal development, changes in values, decreased emphasis on paid work, and simpler lifestyle.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample size and qualitative methodology make the study exploratory rather than definitive and the specific location and small sample size limit transferability. The snowballing recruitment method may have disproportionately encouraged similar, and positively disposed, participants.

Practical implications

The availability and special characteristics of this expatriate and repatriate group for potential employing organizations are considered, as are the gains in human capital and individual well-being to society as a whole. The women studied provide excellent role models for older women considering independent overseas travel and employment.

Originality/value

By focusing on older women, this study extends the boundaries of the SIE literature. The findings highlight the limitations of work-centric theories of SIE, careers and older workers, the non-linear nature of women’s careers and the heterogeneity of later life pathways. The study is also original in demonstrating major positive transformational effects of expatriation on all its participants.
Consequences of intensive use of non-financial performance measures in Danish family farm holdings
Authors: Jakobsen Morten
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to analyse how the intensive use of non-financial performance measures and the lack of an economic reality among Danish farmers have contributed to a low economic performance despite high productivity. The research ambition of the paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the managerial decision-making made by family business managers, in this case farmers, and how these decisions may impact financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a case study including farmers, agricultural consultants and bankers. The analysis uses pragmatic constructivism to analyse the economic reality of the farmers included and the business topos among Danish farmers.

Findings

The main finding of the paper is that the dominating non-financial performance management techniques and a historically based strong emotional emphasis on size and production volume as the main success criteria for being a good farmer have led to a neglect of economic rationality. In addition, this practice has made the farmers blind to alternative possibilities for taking advantage of the resources available. The result has been an un-economic utopian reality.

Originality/value

The paper shows how the use of non-financial performance measures can lead to prolonging of a certain reality perception that may not be economically sustainable. Small family businesses such as family farms are likely to be more exposed to such risk because such businesses are run by a set of values that include more objectives that are more dominating than the profit objective. The paper concludes that family business managers must be open towards inputs from the society around the business, because family businesses may have a tendency to create their own reality that at some point may come in conflict with society of which the family business has to co-exist within.
Public Services after Austerity: Zombies, Suez or Collaboration?
Authors: Griffiths Simon , Kippin Henry
Published: May 2017

Public services—in the UK and elsewhere—are under considerable pressure, not just from austerity, but also from a variety of social, demographic and technological changes (in effect ‘austerity plus’). In this context, three broad options are open to policy‐makers: continue with tried‐and‐tested approaches while spending less money, which in the UK means a reliance on ‘New Public Management’ (NPM); withdraw completely from certain public services; or develop new approaches to public administration. We argue that all of these approaches have been attempted in recent years, but it is the final option that is most interesting and potentially the most beneficial. In this article, we examine experiments with these new approaches in responding to ‘austerity plus’. In particular, we examine various attempts at ‘collaboration’ in public services and discuss the risks associated with them. We conclude by setting out the extent to which policy‐makers have moved beyond NPM and suggesting some of the benefits that this could bring.
The rise of reindeer pastoralism in Northern Eurasia: human and animal motivations entangled
Authors: Stépanoff Charles
Published: May 2017

Explanatory models of how domestic animals entered human societies often focus on human choices and overlook the role of animal agency in this process. After discussing the dichotomy between nature and society in these models and in anthropology, this article examines the respective roles of animal and human motivations and agencies in the advent of reindeer pastoralism in the Eurasian Arctic. Based on recent multidisciplinary approaches, it hypothesizes an intensification process whereby reciprocal adaptations by reindeer and people gave rise to new hybrid herding socialities. It proposes a holist interpretation that takes account of the triadic nature of the ‘pastoral niche’, characterized by an interaction between humans, animals, and the landscape.
Further Evidence on the System‐Wide Effects of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
Authors: Demiralp Berna , He Fang , Koenig Lane
Published: May 2017

Objective

To investigate the potential spillover effects of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) on readmissions for nontargeted conditions and patient populations. We examine HRRP effects on nontargeted conditions separately and on non‐Medicare populations in Florida and California.

Data Sources

From 2007–2013, 100 percent Medicare inpatient claims data, 2007–2013 State Inpatient Database (SID) for Florida, and 2007–2011 SID for California.

Study Design

We conducted an interrupted time series analysis to estimate the change in 30‐day all‐cause unplanned readmission trends after the start of HRRP using logistic regression.

Principal Findings

Hospitals with the largest reductions in targeted Medicare readmissions experienced higher reductions in nontargeted Medicare readmissions. Among nontargeted conditions, reductions were higher for neurology and surgery conditions than for the cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory conditions, which are clinically similar to the targeted conditions. For non‐Medicare patients, readmission trends for targeted conditions in Florida and California did not change after HRRP.

Conclusions

Our findings are consistent with positive spillover benefits associated with HRRP. The extent of these benefits, however, varies across condition and patient groups. The observed patterns suggest a complex response, including a role of nonfinancial factors, in driving lower readmissions.
Source Determination of Red Gel Pen Inks using Raman Spectroscopy and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy combined with Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficients and Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Mohamad Asri Muhammad Naeim , Mat Desa Wan Nur Syuhaila , Ismail Dzulkiflee
Published: May 2017

The potential combination of two nondestructive techniques, that is, Raman spectroscopy (RS) and attenuated total reflectance–fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy with Pearson's product moment correlation (PPMC) coefficient (r) and principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the actual source of red gel pen ink used to write a simulated threatening note, was examined. Eighteen (18) red gel pens purchased from Japan and Malaysia from November to December 2014 where one of the pens was used to write a simulated threatening note were analyzed using RS and ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy, respectively. The spectra of all the red gel pen inks including the ink deposited on the simulated threatening note gathered from the RS and ATR‐FTIR analyses were subjected to PPMC coefficient (r) calculation and principal component analysis (PCA). The coefficients r = 0.9985 and r = 0.9912 for pairwise combination of RS and ATR‐FTIR spectra respectively and similarities in terms of PC1 and PC2 scores of one of the inks to the ink deposited on the simulated threatening note substantiated the feasibility of combining RS and ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy with PPMC coefficient (r) and PCA for successful source determination of red gel pen inks. The development of pigment spectral library had allowed the ink deposited on the threatening note to be identified as XSL Poppy Red (CI Pigment Red 112).
HyRAD‐X, a versatile method combining exome capture and RAD sequencing to extract genomic information from ancient DNA
Authors: Schmid Sarah , Genevest Rémi , Gobet Erika , Suchan Tomasz , Sperisen Christoph , Tinner Willy , Alvarez Nadir
Published: May 2017

Over the last decade, protocols aimed at reproducibly sequencing reduced‐genome subsets in non‐model organisms have been widely developed. Their use is, however, limited to DNA of relatively high molecular weight. During the last year, several methods exploiting hybridization capture using probes based on RAD‐sequencing loci have circumvented this limitation and opened avenues to the study of samples characterized by degraded DNA, such as historical specimens.

Here, we present a major update to those methods, namely hybridization capture from RAD‐derived probes obtained from a reduced eXome template (hyRAD‐X), a technique applying RAD sequencing to messenger RNA from one or few fresh specimens to elaborate bench‐top produced probes, that is, a reduced representation of the exome, further used to capture homologous DNA from a samples set. In contrast to previous hybridization capture methods, the reference catalogue on which reads are aligned does not rely on de novo assembly of anonymous RAD‐sequencing loci, but on an assembled transcriptome obtained from RNAseq data, thus increasing the accuracy of loci definition and single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) call, and targeting, specifically, expressed genes. Finally, the capture step of hyRAD‐X relies on RNA probes, increasing stringency of hybridization, making it well suited for low‐content DNA samples. As a proof of concept, we applied hyRAD‐X to subfossil needles from the coniferous tree Abies alba, collected in lake sediments (Origlio, Switzerland) and dating back from 7200 to 5800 years before present (bp). More specifically, we investigated genetic variation before, during and after an anthropogenic perturbation that caused an abrupt decrease in A. alba population size, 6500–6200 years bp.

HyRAD‐X produced a matrix encompassing 524 exome‐derived SNPs. Despite a lower observed heterozygosity was found during the 6500–6200 years bp time slice, genetic composition was nearly identical before and after the perturbation, indicating that re‐expansion of the population after the decline was most likely driven by local specimens.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a population genomic study incorporating ancient DNA samples of tree subfossils is conducted at a moderate cost using reproducible exome‐reduced complexity.
Management of recurrent bleeding after pancreatoduodenectomy
Authors: Staerkle Ralph F. , Gundara Justin S. , Hugh Thomas J. , Maher Richard , Steinfort Brendan , Samra Jaswinder S.
Published: May 2017

Background

Re‐bleeding after management of a first haemorrhage following pancreatic surgery is an ever‐present danger and often presents diagnostic and management dilemmas.

Methods

All cases of post‐pancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH) following pancreatoduodenectomy were identified from a tertiary referral, clinical database (April 2004–April 2013). Only those suffering a second re‐bleeding episode were included in the final case notes review.

Results

A total of 301 patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy during the study period (most common indication: pancreatic adenocarcinoma; 49.5%). Twenty‐two (7.3%) patients suffered a PPH (five early). Of these cases, three suffered a re‐bleeding event (one mortality). Endoscopy, interventional radiology and surgery were employed in each case.

Conclusion

PPH presents major clinical challenges and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Early detection of the site and type of bleeding are critical and multimodal therapy is usually required. Interventional radiology techniques are making a major contribution to overall management.
Anisometropia of spherical equivalent and astigmatism among myopes: a 23‐year follow‐up study of prevalence and changes from childhood to adulthood
Authors: Pärssinen Olavi , Kauppinen Markku
Published: May 2017

Purpose

To study anisometropia of spherical equivalent and astigmatism from the onset of myopia at school age to adulthood.

Methods

A total of 240 myopic schoolchildren (mean age 10.9 years), with no previous spectacles, were recruited during 1983–1984 to a randomized 3‐year clinical trial of bifocal treatment of myopia. Examinations with subjective cyclopedic refraction were repeated 3 years later (follow‐up 1) for 238 subjects and thereafter at the mean ages of 23.2 (follow‐up 2) and 33.9 years (follow‐up 3) for 178 and 134 subjects. After exclusions, the 102 subjects who attended all three follow‐ups were included in the analyses. Corneal refractive power and astigmatism and anterior chamber depth was measured with Pentacam topography and axial length with IOL master at study end. Prevalence and changes in anisometropia of spherical equivalent (AnisoSE) and astigmatism (AnisoAST) and their relationships with refractive and axial measures were studied.

Results

Mean (±SD) of spherical equivalent (SE), AnisoSE and AnisoAST increased from baseline to follow‐up end from −1.44 ± 0.57 D to −5.11 ± 2.23 D, from 0.28 ± 0.30 D to 0.68 ± 0.69 D and from 0.14 ± 0.18 D to 0.37 ± 0.36 D, respectively. Prevalence of AnioSE, ≥1 D, increased from 5% to 22.6% throughout follow‐up. Higher AnisoSE was associated with SE in the less myopic eye at baseline and at follow‐up 1, and with SE in the more myopic eye in follow‐ups 2 and 3 in adulthood. At study end, AnisoSE was associated with the interocular difference in axial length (AL) (r = 0.612, p < 0.001) but not with the interocular difference in corneal refraction (CR) (r = −0.122, p = 0.266). In cases of low AnisoSE(≤1.00 D), the negative correlation between the real interocular differences (value of right eye minus value of left eye) in CR and AL (r = −0.427, p < 0.001) decreased the influence of the interocular difference in AL on AnisoSE, causing emmetropization in AnisoSE. The interocular difference in corneal astigmatism was the main factor associated with AnisoAST (r = 0.231, p = 0.020). No significant relationship was found between AnisoAST and level of SE.

Conclusion

Anisometropia of the spherical equivalent (AnisoSE) increased along with the myopic progression and at study end was mainly associated with the interocular difference in AL. AnisoAST was mainly explained by the interocular difference in corneal astigmatism. In cases with low AnisoSE (≤1.0 D), the interrelationship between CR and AL decreased AnisoSE causing emmetropization in AnisoSE.
Contested understandings of yaks on the eastern Tibetan Plateau: market logic, Tibetan Buddhism and indigenous knowledge
Authors: Gaerrang (Kabzung)
Published: May 2017

The Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Tsetar rituals and practices, which direct many Tibetan pastoralists to either save or release livestock from being slaughtered in order to gain positive karma, has recently been popularised by Tibetan Nyingma masters in pastoral regions. The trend developed as they witnessed an increase in the slaughter of yaks and Tibetan sheep in the commercial meat market resulting from the growing integration of Tibetan pastoralists into the market economy. The contradictory visions of yaks as living beings, according to Tibetan Buddhist teachings, and as productive resources in accordance with market logic, have somehow worked together to shape pastoralists' understandings of, and relationships with, yaks in their everyday decision‐making. By examining the case of Khenpo Jigphun's Tsetar movement and ethnographic studies of Tibetan yak herding practices in the south‐eastern Tibetan Plateau, this paper examines how competing visions of yaks work together to produce a hybrid knowledge of Tibetan pastoralists that is simultaneously generated in their situated experiences in contemporary society. The paper suggests that the concept of situated knowledge has the potential to bring indigenous people from the margins into the centre where not only can they have meaningful conversations with actors possessing different forms of knowledge, but they can also find a space where the possibility of alternative development paths exist. Furthermore, I assert that conceptualising indigenous knowledge as situated does not uncritically celebrate hybridity, but rather allows for a view of indigenous peoples as contemporaries who should not be relegated to the ‘waiting room of history’, nor be viewed as romanticised models for an idealised future.
Hidden Markov Models for Extended Batch Data
Authors: Cowen Laura L. E. , Besbeas Panagiotis , Morgan Byron J. T. , Schwarz Carl J.
Published: May 2017

Batch marking provides an important and efficient way to estimate the survival probabilities and population sizes of wild animals. It is particularly useful when dealing with animals that are difficult to mark individually. For the first time, we provide the likelihood for extended batch-marking experiments. It is often the case that samples contain individuals that remain unmarked, due to time and other constraints, and this information has not previously been analyzed. We provide ways of modeling such information, including an open N-mixture approach. We demonstrate that models for both marked and unmarked individuals are hidden Markov models; this provides a unified approach, and is the key to developing methods for fast likelihood computation and maximization. Likelihoods for marked and unmarked individuals can easily be combined using integrated population modeling. This allows the simultaneous estimation of population size and immigration, in addition to survival, as well as efficient estimation of standard errors and methods of model selection and evaluation, using standard likelihood techniques. Alternative methods for estimating population size are presented and compared. An illustration is provided by a weather-loach data set, previously analyzed by means of a complex procedure of constructing a pseudo likelihood, the formation of estimating equations, the use of sandwich estimates of variance, and piecemeal estimation of population size. Simulation provides general validation of the hidden Markov model methods developed and demonstrates their excellent performance and efficiency. This is especially notable due to the large numbers of hidden states that may be typically required