bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of a Balloon Catheter With Intraoperative C-Arm Fluoroscan for Reduction of Zygomatic Arch Fractures
Authors: Noh Woon Jae , Park Tae Jung , Kim Joo Yeon , Kwon Jae Hwan
Published: September 2017

Background and Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of C-arm fluoroscan with a balloon catheter in patients undergoing closed reduction of zygomatic arch fractures.

Subjects and Methods:

All patients who had zygomatic arch reduction surgery between 2006 and 2015 were identified and classified into 2 groups. Group A included those patients who underwent closed reduction of zygomatic arch fractures. Group B included those who underwent zygomatic arch reduction surgery with a C-arm fluoroscan and supporting balloon. A balloon catheter was used to stabilize the zygomatic bone after reduction. Results were scored from 1 (poor) to 3 (good) to assess surgical outcomes based on 3 criteria: alignment of the zygomatic arch on a postoperative computed tomography scan, facial asymmetry in photography, and the patient's subjective satisfaction.

Results:

The authors enrolled 32 patients with zygomatic arch fractures. 18 patients underwent closed reduction for zygomatic arch fractures (group A), while 14 patients underwent closed reduction with C-arm fluoroscan and balloon support (group B). The average score for group A was 2.00 for alignment, 2.56 for facial asymmetry, and 2.67 for subjective satisfaction compared with 2.64 for alignment, 2.86 for facial asymmetry, and 2.79 for subjective satisfaction in group B. There were statistically significant differences in the alignment and facial asymmetry scores between the 2 groups.

Conclusion:

The authors suggest that C-arm fluoroscan with balloon support is a useful modality for reduction of zygomatic arch fractures that provides better surgical outcomes than conventional closed reduction surgery.
Nasal Deviation in Patients With Asymmetric Mandibular Prognathism
Authors: Shin Young-Min , Lee Sung-Tak , Nam Ki-Young , Kwon Tae-Geon
Published: September 2017

Purpose:

This study was aimed to evaluate the nasal deviation in patients with asymmetric mandibular prognathism.

Materials and Methods:

Thirty-five patients with skeletal class III malocclusion were included in the study. Significant mandibular asymmetry of >4 mm menton deviation in three-dimensional (3D) reformatted cone beam computed tomography images was defined as asymmetry group (n = 20). Patients without mandibular asymmetry served as control group (n = 15). The mandibular asymmetry was evaluated pre- and postoperatively.

Results:

Nasal tip was significantly shifted to the deviated side of the mandible (short side) in the asymmetry group, as compared to the control group (1.5 ± 0.9 degree, P < 0.01). Alar base angle (ABA) was significantly narrower in nondeviated side (long side) than in the deviated side in asymmetry group. However, control group showed no bilateral difference in ABA. Correction of deviated mandibular prognathism by isolated mandibular surgery resulted in change in the ABA but not the columella base position or nasal asymmetry. ABA on nondeviated side significantly decreased in proportion to the amount of transverse menton movement by surgery (r = −0.560, P < 0.01).

Conclusion:

Our results showed that mandibular chin deviation was accompanied by nasal deviation. Isolated mandibular surgery can potentially influence the alar base position on the contralateral side of deviation but not the nasal tip asymmetry. Therefore, clinicians should inform patients preoperatively of the fundamental limitation of mandibular surgery in cases with preexisting nasal asymmetry.
Removal of Hazardous Surgical Smoke Using a Built-in-Filter Trocar: A Study in Laparoscopic Rectal Resection
Authors: Hahn Koo Yong , Kang Dong Woo , Azman Zairul Azwan Mohd , Kim Se-Young , Kim Seon-Hahn
Published: September 2017

Background:

Surgical smoke containing potentially carcinogenic and harmful materials is an inevitable consequence of surgical energy devices, and constitutes a substantial occupational hazard in the operating room. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a built-in-filter trocar in eliminating hazardous surgical smoke during laparoscopic and robotic rectal surgery.

Methods:

Ten patients who underwent rectal cancer resection were enrolled. Five patients underwent surgery utilizing a nonfiltered trocar, and the remaining 5 utilized a built-in-filter trocar. Gas samples were aspirated from the peritoneal cavity over 30 minutes of electrocauterization and collected in a Tedlar bag. Concentrations of surgical smoke were measured using ultraperformance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography.

Results:

Eleven hazardous chemical compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, and valeraldehyde) were identified in the surgical smoke. With the built-in-filter trocar, removal rates of 69% for benzene (P=0.028), 72% for toluene (P=0.009), 67% for butyraldehyde (P=0.047), 46% for ethylbenzene (P=0.092), 44% for xylene (P=0.086), 35% for styrene (P=0.106), 39% for formaldehyde (P=0.346), and 33% for propionaldehyde (P=0.316) were achieved.

Conclusions:

This study confirmed the presence of harmful materials in surgical smoke. Evacuation of surgical smoke through a disposable built-in-filter trocar is a simple and effective way in reducing volatile organic compounds concentrations.
The MtrAB two-component system controls antibiotic production in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)
Authors: Som Nicolle F. , Heine Daniel , Holmes Neil , Knowles Felicity , Chandra Govind , Seipke Ryan F. , Hoskisson Paul A. , Wilkinson Barrie , Hutchings Matthew I.
Published: September 2017

MtrAB is a highly conserved two-component system implicated in the regulation of cell division in the Actinobacteria. It coordinates DNA replication with cell division in the unicellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis and links antibiotic production to sporulation in the filamentous Streptomyces venezuelae. Chloramphenicol biosynthesis is directly regulated by MtrA in S. venezuelae and deletion of mtrB constitutively activates MtrA and results in constitutive over-production of chloramphenicol. Here we report that in Streptomyces coelicolor, MtrA binds to sites upstream of developmental genes and the genes encoding ActII-1, ActII-4 and RedZ, which are cluster-situated regulators of the antibiotics actinorhodin (Act) and undecylprodigiosin (Red). Consistent with this, deletion of mtrB switches on the production of Act, Red and streptorubin B, a product of the Red pathway. Thus, we propose that MtrA is a key regulator that links antibiotic production to development and can be used to upregulate antibiotic production in distantly related streptomycetes.
Temporal dissociation of salience and prediction error responses to appetitive and aversive taste
Authors: Hird E. , El-Deredy W. , Jones A. , Talmi D.
Published: September 2017

The feedback-related negativity, a frontocentral event-related potential (ERP) occurring 200350 milliseconds (ms) after emotionally-valued outcomes, has been posited as the neural correlate of reward prediction error, a key component of associative learning. Recent evidence challenged this interpretation and has led to the suggestion that this ERP expresses salience, instead. Here we distinguish between utility prediction error and salience by delivering or withholding hedonistically matched appetitive and aversive tastes, and measure ERPs to cues signalling each taste. We observed a typical FRN (computed as the loss-minus-gain difference wave) to appetitive taste, but a reverse-FRN to aversive taste. When tested axiomatically, frontocentral ERPs showed a salience response across tastes, with a particularly early response to outcome delivery, supporting recent propositions of a fast, unsigned and unspecific response to salient stimuli. ERPs also expressed aversive prediction error peaking at 285ms, which conformed to the logic of an axiomatic model of prediction error. With stimuli that most resemble those used in animal models we did not detect any frontocentral ERP signal for utility prediction error, in contrast with dominant views of the functional role of the feedback-related negativity ERP. We link the animal and human literature and present a challenge for current perspectives on associative learning research using ERPs.
Characterising undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Johnson Kate M. , Bryan Stirling , Ghanbarian Shahzad , Sin Don D. , Sadatsafavi Mohsen
Published: September 2017

Background

A significant proportion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain undiagnosed. Characterising these patients can increase our understanding of the ‘hidden’ burden of COPD and the effectiveness of case detection interventions.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare patient and disease risk factors between patients with undiagnosed persistent airflow limitation and those with diagnosed COPD. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for observational studies of adult patients meeting accepted spirometric definitions of COPD. We extracted and pooled summary data on the proportion or mean of each risk factor among diagnosed and undiagnosed patients (unadjusted analysis), and coefficients for the adjusted association between risk factors and diagnosis status (adjusted analysis). This protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017058235).

Findings

2,083 records were identified through database searching and 16 articles were used in the meta-analyses. Diagnosed patients were less likely to have mild (v. moderate to very severe) COPD (odds ratio [OR] 0·30, 95% CI 0·24-0·37, 6 studies) in unadjusted analysis. This association remained significant but its strength was attenuated in the adjusted analysis (OR 0·72, 95% CI 0·58-0·89, 2 studies). Diagnosed patients were more likely to report respiratory symptoms such as wheezing (OR 3·51, 95% CI 2·19-5·63, 3 studies) and phlegm (OR 2·16, 95% CI 1·38-3·38, 3 studies), had more severe dyspnoea (modified Medical Research Council scale mean difference 0·52, 95% CI 0·40-0·64, 3 studies) and slightly greater smoking history than undiagnosed patients. Patient age, sex, current smoking status, and the presence of coughing were not associated with a previous diagnosis.

Interpretation

Patients with undiagnosed persistent airflow limitation had less severe airflow obstruction and fewer respiratory symptoms than diagnosed patients. This indicates that there is lower disease burden among undiagnosed patients compared to those with diagnosed COPD, which may significantly delay the diagnosis of COPD.

Funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Declaration of interests

We declare no competing interests.

Author Contributions

MS, SB, and KJ formulated the study idea and designed the study. KJ and SG performed all data analyses and MS, SB and DS contributed to interpretation of findings. KJ wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors critically commented on the manuscript and approved the final version. MS is the guarantor of the manuscript.
CPdock: The Complementarity Plot for Docking of Proteins: Implementing Multi-dielectric Continuum Electrostatics
Authors: Basu Sankar
Published: September 2017

The Complementarity plot (CP) is an established validation tool for protein structures, applicable to both, globular proteins (folding) as well as protein-protein complexes (binding). It computes the shape and electrostatic complementarities (Sm, Em) for amino acid side-chains buried within the protein interior or interface and plots them in a two-dimensional plot having knowledge-based probabilistic quality estimates for the residues as well as for the whole structure. The current report essentially presents an upgraded version of the plot with the implementation of the advanced multi-dielectric functionality (as in Delphi version 6.2 or higher) in the computation of electrostatic complementarity to make the validation tool physico-chemically more realistic. The two methods (single‐ and multi-dielectric) agrees decently in their resultant Emvalues and hence, provisions for both methods have been kept in the software suite. So to speak, the global electrostatic balance within a well-folded protein and / or a well-packed interface seems only marginally perturbed by the choice of different internal dielectric values. However, both from theoretical as well as practical grounds, the more advanced multi-dielectric version of the plot is certainly recommended for potentially producing more reliable results. The report also presents a new methodology and a variant plot, namely, CPdock, based on the same principles of complementarity, specifically designed to be used in the docking of proteins. The efficacy of the method to discriminate between good and bad docked protein complexes have been tested on a recent state-of-the-art docking benchmark. The results unambiguously indicate that CPdockcan indeed be effective in the initial screening phase of a docking scoring pipeline before going into more sophisticated and computationally expensive scoring functions. CPdockhas been made available athttps://github.com/nemo8130/CPdock
Or22 allelic variation alone does not explain differences in discrimination of yeast-produced volatiles byD. melanogaster
Authors: Elya Carolyn , Quan Allison S. , Schiabor Kelly M. , Eisen Michael B.
Published: September 2017

Different lines of the fruit flyDrosophila melanogastershow variation in the ability to discriminate between volatiles produced by the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaeunder natural (nitrogen-limiting, YVN) or laboratory (sugar-limiting, YVL) conditions. Previous work in our laboratory uncovered a strong correlation between heightened sensitivity to YVN wildD. melanogasterlines that harbored a chimeric variant of the highly variable odorant receptor 22 (Or22) locus ofD. melanogaster. We sought to determine if this trend held for an extended set ofD. melanogasterlines, if observed variation within chimeric and non-chimeric lines could be explained by nucleotide polymorphisms and if replacing Or22 with a chimeric allele in a non-chimeric background could confer the enhanced ability to detect YVN. In parallel, we performed crosses of chimeric and non-chimeric fly lines and assayed the behavior of their progeny for enhanced sensitivity to YVN to assess the heritability of the Or22 locus. Ultimately, we found that, while the overall trend of increased sensitivity to YVN in chimeric lines persists, there are exceptions and variation that cannot be explained by sequence variation at the Or22 locus. In addition, we did not observe increased sensitivity for YVN upon replacing the Or22 allele in a non-chimeric line (OreR) with that from our most YVN-sensitive, chimeric line (ME). Though our results do not support our hypothesis that Or22 is the primary driver of sensitivity to YVN, Or22 remains an interesting locus in the context of fly-yeast ecology.
4-Cyano-3,5-bis(phenyl)pyrazole
Authors: Zhao Ningfeng , Adeyemi Aanuoluwapo , Pompilius Arielle
Published: September 2017

There are two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C16H11N3. The molecules are linked by pairs of N—H...N hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers with anR22(6) ring motif.
Hiring ex-offenders? The case of Ban the Box
Authors: Griffith Jakari N. , Young Nicole C. Jones
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that affect how managers assess the importance of criminal history for job seekers with criminal records in Ban the Box states.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a phenomenological investigative approach to examine narrative interview data obtained from 18 human resource (HR) professionals in organizations in five Ban the Box states.

Findings

Contrary to previous research, the findings presented in this paper show that managers are inclined to hire applicants with a criminal history. However, study findings indicate that those hiring decisions are positively influenced by: perceived value of criminal history; concerns about safety and cost; characteristics of the offense; motivation to hire; and evidence of applicant growth. Furthermore, a lack of systematic evaluation processes among hiring managers may present a barrier to employment.

Originality/value

This paper explores a poorly understood area of the HR management and employment inclusion literatures – the identification of factors that influence evaluations of applicants with a criminal history.
Contemporary UK wage floors and the calculation of a living wage
Authors: Hirsch Donald
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how the voluntary living wage (LW) in the UK is set. It examines how this calculation relates to contemporary approaches to setting wage floors, both in relation to their goal of supporting adequate living standards and in relation to the place of wage floors in the labour mark.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines how compulsory and voluntary wage floors are being determined, in the UK and in particular the role of public consensus in contributing to the calculation and adoption of a LW. It then reflects on the future sustainability of a system of wage floors in which the concept of the LW plays a significant role.

Findings

The central finding is that widespread support for wages delivering socially acceptable minimum living standards has transformed the context in which low pay is being addressed in the UK. The LW idea has stimulated more decisive efforts to do so; however, if a compulsory version of a LW were to reach a level shown to be harming jobs, this could seriously undermine such efforts. Moreover, the extent to which adequate wages are compatible with high employment levels can also be influenced by state support for households, especially tax credits and Universal Credit.

Originality/value

The paper clarifies how the setting of the UK LW contributes to objectives related both to living standards and to labour markets, and critically addresses some key issues raised.
Community and union-led Living Wage campaigns
Authors: Prowse Peter , Lopes Ana , Fells Ray
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate different approaches to effective campaigning in support of the Living Wage and so this paper contributes to the broader debate over the nature of the union movement’s engagement with community groups in pursuit of workplace and social issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a systematic comparison of a union-led and a community-led campaign, drawing primarily upon interview and survey data.

Findings

Though different, both campaigns met with a measure of success in improving employee pay and in increasing union membership suggesting a pragmatic approach to the building of union-community relationships.

Practical implications

The paper shows the need for campaigners to adopt a strategic approach in identifying the target for their campaign, and also the importance of shaping a persuasive argument.

Originality/value

The paper reaffirms the importance of traditional union-led campaigning alongside campaigning through engagement with community groups and so offers a broader framework for exploring the relationships between union and community groups.
A new living contract: cases in the implementation of the Living Wage by British SME retailers
Authors: Werner Andrea , Lim Ming
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence for the motivations of SMEs for introducing the Living Wage (LW), focussing on retail as one specific sector. It develops understanding of the strategic benefits and challenges these employers face in balancing financial, ethical and social considerations in small businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed mixed methods: a survey and semi-structured interviews. The interviews are presented as part of three case studies.

Findings

Findings indicate that employers were, for the most part, motivated by personal ethics and beliefs about fair wages and social justice. They suggest that SME accrue benefits from LW accreditation such as reputational benefits and higher employee morale, but that there are also potential pitfalls of LW adoption related to pay structure and incentives. The sustainability of the LW emerged as an issue in terms of the long-term strategy and brand positioning of the companies involved.

Research limitations/implications

The nature of the research was exploratory and thus the study only allows for limited generalisation. Recommended avenues for further research include gathering data from different levels of organisations and from different stakeholders.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to investigate the drivers for, and implementation of, the LW in SMEs. The specific characteristics of SMEs – their ethos, low visibility, reliance on trusting relationships and limited resources, among others – make the study of why and how they choose to implement the LW very interesting. This study is the first to gather and analyse data from SME retailers and wholesalers that have implemented the LW.
Future proofing child protection social work
Authors: Shemmings David
Published: September 2017

Purpose

How might the profession of child protection social work be “future proofed”, i.e. remain intact and of value beyond its present existence? The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a discussion/“think piece” paper, in which the author argues that foregrounding the art and science of helping relationships is a way forward. Recognising and promoting the centrality of helping relationships is the direction in which the author believes (or is it hopes?) social work should head, because “more of the same” is not, in the author’s view, possible to sustain for much longer. Treading the well-worn but pot-holed path of box-ticking, endless risk assessment and perfunctory statutory visiting is likely to lead to continuing problems retaining social workers and, for those who do stay, increased burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary trauma, each of which interrupts or delays the development of working alliances with family members.

Findings

Growing reliance on thresholds and checklists to assess risk has served to increase referrals. As a result, social workers spend much of their time on triaging and filtering rather than working with the children and families that most need help and protection. Further, it is not what is in the practitioner’s toolkit that matters: rather, it is a defined set of personal skills and qualities that tips the balance to achieve lasting change. Thus, in order to “future proof” social work, we would do well to deepen our understanding of how helping relationships can lead to lasting change. Supporting social workers in this work is not just the responsibility of individual practitioners and their professional bodies, action also needs to be taken at governmental and managerial levels.

Originality/value

This is a discussion/“think piece”.
Online video supervision for statutory youth caseworkers – a pilot study
Authors: Birkholm Antczak Helle , Mackrill Thomas , Steensbæk Signe , Ebsen Frank
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel online video-based approach to supervision for statutory caseworkers. Caseworkers recorded a video of their meetings with their clients and sent the video to their supervisor. The supervisor selected clips in the video. They held an online meeting where they reviewed the clips, and the supervisor gave feedback and they reflected together. The caseworker then used what they had learnt in their future practice. The caseworker then recorded a new meeting, and the supervision cycle restarted.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 11 statutory caseworkers from three municipalities in the Copenhagen area participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews. The interviews focused on the professional learning and challenges caseworkers faced in relation to participating in the supervision process.

Findings

The caseworkers reported that they used the method to assess their own practice in a more realistic way as the use of video gave a more accurate image than merely recalling what had occurred. They reflected about and developed their relationship with clients, their conversational style and use of communication techniques, skills in relation to running meetings, and skills in relation to eliciting the young person’s perspective. The caseworkers were anxious when they received their first feedback from supervisors, but this diminished. The focus on supporting clients in their personal development challenged caseworkers who identified as having an administrative rather than interventional role. Some found the online meeting technology difficult to master.

Originality/value

This study presents and explores the use of a novel approach to statutory casework supervision.
The end of false choices
Authors: MacAlister Josh
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expose and dispel some outdated dilemmas and straw men that have drawn attention away from debates of substance in social work. The paper presents what Frontline believes to be the substantive dilemmas facing the social work profession, as it looks into the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the insights and experiences of the past four years during which Frontline has been innovating in the field of social work education and leadership development.

Findings

Building a better social work system requires addressing several important questions, namely, whether social work; first, is a practical or intellectual task; second, is a generic or specialist profession; third, focuses on social or therapeutic change; fourth, requires bureaucrats or change agents; and fifth, involves measuring inspections or measuring outcomes.

Originality/value

The paper sets out the key dilemmas facing the social work profession, which must be debated and addressed in order to build a better social work system.
Linking procedural memory with organizational learning through knowledge corridors
Authors: Cegarra-Navarro Juan-Gabriel , Wensley Anthony , Jimenez-Jimenez Daniel , Sotos-Villarejo Antonio
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This paper argues that the combination of factors that facilitate focal and peripheral vision represent two distinct types of knowledge corridors. While focal vision may help detect signals that relate to the current objectives of the firm, peripheral vision is directed to non-central issues that may provide signals that relate to emerging trends in the external environment. Ambidexterity vision refers to the tension between these two different business visions within the same organization. This paper aims to examine the significance of procedural memory to an organization’s ambidexterity vision, along with investigating the impact procedural memory has on organizational learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The research conducted in this study addresses the following two questions: Does the enhancement of procedural memory result in the development of superior ambidexterity vision? Does the simultaneous development of both focal and peripheral vision enhance organizational learning? These research questions are studied by conducting an empirical investigation involving data provided by 203 banking employees. These data are analysed using a structural equation modelling approach.

Findings

Analysis of the data provides support for the existence of a relationship between ambidexterity vision and organizational learning.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that the re-direction of managers’ perceptions to supporting and enhancing an ambidexterity vision is likely to result in an improvement in their ability to identify emerging trends, new and emerging customers and potential shifts in customer needs and tastes.

Originality/value

This work suggests that the re-direction of managers’ perceptions to supporting and enhancing an ambidexterity vision is likely to result in an improvement in their ability to identify emerging trends, new and emerging customers and potential shifts in customer needs and tastes.
How does individuals’ exchange orientation moderate the relationship between transformational leadership and knowledge sharing?
Authors: Xiao Yuting , Zhang Xi , Ordóñez de Pablos Patricia
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This study aims to explore the complex relationship between leadership and organizational knowledge sharing by investigating the moderating role of exchange ideology on the relation between transformational leadership in attributed charisma and knowledge sharing and the influence of attributed charisma and knowledge sharing on task performance. The influence of leadership in organizational knowledge sharing process has been gradually highlighted.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the review of relevant literature and survey, a structural equation model considering four factors in the model together is now constructed and provides four hypotheses which can be verified. Self-completed questionnaires were collected from 163 students in the context of a graduate class in China.

Findings

The findings illustrate the relationship between leadership theory and knowledge sharing from a perspective of social exchange theory. In particular, results show that both transformational leadership and knowledge sharing have positive impacts to task performance and for individuals with low exchange ideology the positive influence from attributed charisma to knowledge sharing is stronger.

Originality/value

This research introduces exchange ideology as a moderator and explains the complex relationship between transformational leadership and knowledge sharing with sufficient proof. Transformational leadership in attributed charisma is more effective to those individuals with low exchange ideology in facilitating their knowledge effort. This paper can be theoretically and practically helpful to researchers and enterprise leaders in organizational knowledge management.
The rhetoric of “knowledge hoarding”: a research-based critique
Authors: Trusson Clive , Hislop Donald , Doherty Neil F.
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This paper responds to a recent trend towards reifying “knowledge hoarding” for purposes of quantitative/deductive research, via a study of information technology (IT) service professionals. A “rhetorical theory” lens is applied to reconsider “knowledge hoarding” as a value-laden rhetoric that directs managers towards addressing assumed worker dysfunctionality.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study of practicing IT service professionals (assumed within IT service management “best practice” to be inclined to hoard knowledge) was conducted over a 34-day period. Twenty workers were closely observed processing IT service incidents, and 26 workers were interviewed about knowledge-sharing practices.

Findings

The study found that IT service practice is characterized more by pro-social collegiality in sharing knowledge/know-how than by self-interested strategic knowledge concealment.

Research limitations/implications

The study concerns a single occupational context. The study indicates that deductive research that reifies “knowledge hoarding” as a naturally occurring phenomenon is flawed, with clear implications for future research.

Practical implications

The study suggests that management concern for productivity might be redirected away from addressing assumed knowledge-hoarding behaviour and towards encouraging knowledge sharing via social interaction in the workplace.

Originality/value

Previous studies have not directly examined the concept of knowledge hoarding using qualitative methods, nor have they considered it as a rhetorical device.
Absorptive capacity in virtual teams: examining the influence on diversity and innovation
Authors: Batarseh Fadi S. , Usher John M. , Daspit Joshua J.
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to empirically extend and validate a measure of absorptive capacity (ACAP) and examine its role in leveraging the benefits of diversity on innovation within global virtual teams (GVTs). This study validates a multidimensional measure of ACAP for use within the GVT. GVTs are increasingly utilized in industry given their ability to bring together diverse knowledge and experience from geographically dispersed individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses of this research were tested using a field survey to collect real world knowledge about GVTs. The survey method is a research technique in which data is collected from a sample of individuals using a questionnaire.

Findings

Using a sample of GVT members, the authors find that ACAP significantly mediates the relationships between diversity (deep-level diversity, functional-level) and innovation.

Practical implications

The implications for the study of GVTs is discussed and recommendations are offered. GVTs, as investigated in this study, include members that use electronic media for some or all of their interactions and collaboration with other team members.

Originality/value

This study validates and operationalizes the multi-dimensional ACAP construct at the GVT level: its relationship with diversity and its influence on GVT innovation.
Knowledge collaboration between organizations and online communities: the role of open innovation intermediaries
Authors: Randhawa Krithika , Josserand Emmanuel , Schweitzer Jochen , Logue Danielle
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This research paper aims to examine how open innovation (OI) intermediaries facilitate knowledge collaboration between organizations and online user communities. Drawing on a Community of Practice (CoP) perspective on knowledge, the study lays out a framework of the knowledge boundary management mechanisms (and associated practices) that intermediaries deploy in enabling client organizations to engage in online community-based OI.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on an exploratory case study of an OI intermediary and 18 client organizations that engage with online user communities on the intermediary’s platform. Results incorporate both the intermediary and clients’ perspective, based on analysis of intermediary and client interviews, clients’ online community projects and other archival data.

Findings

Results reveal that OI intermediaries deploy three knowledge boundary management mechanisms – syntactic, semantic and pragmatic – each underpinned by a set of practices. Together, these mechanisms enable knowledge transfer, translation and transformation, respectively, and thus lead to cumulatively richer knowledge collaboration outcomes at the organization–community boundary. The findings show that the pragmatic mechanism reinforces both semantic and syntactic mechanisms, and is hence the most critical to achieving effective knowledge collaboration in community-based OI settings.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that OI intermediaries have to implement all three boundary management mechanisms to successfully enable knowledge collaboration for community-based OI. More specifically, intermediaries need to expand their focus beyond the development of digital platforms, to include nuanced efforts at building organizational commitment to community engagement.

Originality/value

Drawing on the CoP view, this study integrates the knowledge management literature into the OI literature to conceptualize the role of OI intermediaries in shaping knowledge collaboration between organizations and communities. In engaging with the interactive nature of knowledge exchange in such multi-actor settings, this research extends the firm-centric theorization of knowledge that currently dominates the existing OI research.
Social media, an entrepreneurial opportunity for agriculture-based enterprises
Authors: Morris Wyn , James Penri
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the current use of social media in agriculture. The primary focus of the research is to understand the messages and compare social media adopters with non-adopters. The paper addresses wider questions of the use of social media to support on farm entrepreneurship and business and considers what barriers to take up exist within the industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a case study approach utilising qualitative and quantitative methodology; combining survey data on Welsh farms and semi-structured interviews to gain a deeper understanding of social media use. The research is further informed by online documentary evidence gathered from agricultural Facebook pages and Twitter accounts. The discussion section develops a conceptual model that provides a novel perspective on social media usage in agriculture-based enterprises and discusses the potential for further uptake.

Findings

The paper identifies barriers to adoption of social media by agriculture-based enterprises. In conclusion, although there are barriers and objections to social media use, its mass influence provides opportunities to engage with stakeholders and develop more entrepreneurial activity. The risk aversion of some users prevents them from moving from the observational mode into one of engagement.

Originality/value

This paper brings an insight into social media’s potential to assist agriculture-based enterprises in dealing with the tensions between pressures to improve core farming practice and other entrepreneurial activity. The paper raises important implications for policy approaches that might seek to promote a complementary approach to farm technology adoption and entrepreneurial stance.
Influences on the intention to buy organic food in an emerging market
Authors: Mainardes Emerson Wagner , Araujo Diana Von Borell de , Lasso Sarah , Andrade Daniel Modenesi
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between personal values and attitudes in an emerging market. And the authors verified whether the attitude plays a mediating role between personal values and the intention to purchase these products in the same market.

Design/methodology/approach

Two surveys were conducted with consumers of organic food in Brazil. The first study was conducted at two organic products fairs and obtained 385 responses. The second study was conducted on the internet and obtained 270 responses. The Portrait Values Questionnaire 21, plus attitude scales and purchase intent regarding organic food, was used. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

Significant relationships were found between personal values, such as openness to change (positive influence), conservation (positive), self-promotion (positive) and self-transcendence (negative). Significant relationships were also found between three personal values and the purchase intention of organic food (conservation – positive, self-promotion – positive and self-transcendence – negative), with all of them being mediated by attitude. The effect of openness to change on purchase intention was indirect, being mediated by attitude.

Originality/value

The authors noticed two theoretical gaps. The first involves the need to explore the attitude as a mediator in the relationship between the human values proposed by Schwartz (1992, 1994) and the intention to purchase organic food. Another perceived gap was pointed out by Steenkamp et al. (1999), Burgess and Steenkamp (2006) and Sheth (2011). These authors argue that consumption is different in emerging markets to that in more mature markets. This limits the ability to generalise consumer studies conducted in developed countries. This reasoning also applies to organic food.
An experimental test of the physiological consequences of avian malaria infection
Authors: Schoenle Laura A. , Kernbach Meredith , Haussmann Mark F. , Bonier Frances , Moore Ignacio T.
Published: September 2017

Chronic, low‐intensity parasite infections can reduce host fitness through negative impacts on reproduction and survival, even if they produce few overt symptoms. As a result, these parasites can influence the evolution of host morphology, behaviour and physiology. The physiological consequences of chronic infection can provide insight into the processes underlying parasite‐driven natural selection.

Here, we evaluate the physiological consequences of natural, low‐intensity infection in an avian host–parasite system: adult male red‐winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) infected with haemosporidian parasites. Chronic haemosporidian infection has previously been shown to reduce both reproductive success and survival in several avian species.

We used antimalarial medications to experimentally reduce haemosporidian parasitaemia (the proportion of blood cells infected with haemosporidian parasites) and measured the effect of treatment on body condition, haematology, immune function, physiological stress and oxidative state.

Treatment with an antimalarial medication reduced parasitaemia for the most prevalent haemosporidian parasites from the genus Plasmodium. Treatment also increased haemoglobin and haematocrit, and decreased red blood cell production rates. We detected no effect of treatment on body condition, immune metrics, plasma corticosterone concentrations, total antioxidant capacity or reactive oxygen metabolites.

Our results suggest that the damage and replacement of red blood cells during infection could be important costs of chronic haemosporidian infection. Strong links between parasitaemia and the physiological consequences of infection indicate that even for relatively low‐intensity infections, measuring parasitaemia rather than only presence/absence could be important when evaluating the role of infection in influencing hosts’ behaviour, physiology or fitness.
An Improved Version of a Tool Mark Comparison Algorithm
Authors: Hadler Jeremy R. , Morris Max D.
Published: September 2017

Chumbley et al. (2010) described a statistically based algorithm for comparing pairs of tool marks. They presented empirical evidence that the algorithm produces well‐separated similarity score values for “matching” and “non‐matching” pairs of tool marks. However, the algorithm has two substantial weaknesses. First, it is “uncalibrated” in the sense that error rates can be determined only through empirical investigation. Second, it relies on a randomized test and can lead to different similarity scores when the algorithm is repeatedly applied to the same pair of tool marks. We present an improved version of the procedure, which eliminates the randomized scores and yields more consistent and predictable error rate control. This is accomplished by replacement of a random sampling step from the original algorithm with a deterministic process. We demonstrate the improved algorithm and compare its performance to the original by applying to known “matching” and “non‐matching” pairs of tool marks.
Bartonellosis in Chronic Kidney Disease: An Unrecognized and Unsuspected Diagnosis
Authors: Shamekhi Amiri Fateme
Published: September 2017

Systemic cat scratch disease or bartonellosis is a clinical entity caused by Bartonella henselae, which manifests with necrotizing granulomas in visceral organs. The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, is the vector responsible for horizontal transmission of the disease from cat to cat, and its bite can also infect humans. In immunocompromised patients including chronic kidney disease and renal transplant recipients, it can cause persistent and disseminated cat scratch disease. The aim of this paper is to perform a systematic review of the studies that have addressed the diagnostic methods of cat scratch disease in chronic kidney disease and renal transplant recipients. This review was searched via electronic PubMed and Google scholar databases. Few qualitative full‐text original articles in chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant were extracted. At this paper, 19 articles identified including six articles in chronic kidney disease and 13 articles in renal transplant recipients. Of these six identified case reports in chronic kidney disease, serology via immunofluorescence antibody test was led to diagnosis of cat scratch disease in five patients and a one patient showed nonreactive serologic test. Polymerase chain reaction usage to detect deoxyribonucleic acid in tissue biopsy and bone marrow biopsy was led to diagnosis. Cat scratch disease diagnosis in 13 renal transplant recipients was attained more by combining serology and polymerase chain reaction to detect deoxyribonucleic acid in tissue specimens. These selected studies demonstrate that serology and polymerase chain reaction via deoxyribonucleic acid extraction of tissue specimens yield the best outcome in diagnostic field of bartonellosis.
Halloysite Nanocapsules Containing Thyme Essential Oil: Preparation, Characterization, and Application in Packaging Materials
Authors: Jang Si‐hoon , Jang So‐ri , Lee Gyeong‐min , Ryu Jee‐hoon , Park Su‐il , Park No‐hyung
Published: September 2017

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), which are natural nanomaterials, have a hollow tubular structure with about 15 nm inner and 50 nm outer diameters. Because of their tubular shape, HNTs loaded with various materials have been investigated as functional nanocapsules. In this study, thyme essential oil (TO) was encapsulated successfully in HNTs using vacuum pulling methods, followed by end‐capping or a layer‐by‐layer surface coating process for complete encapsulation. Nanocapsules loaded with TO were mixed with flexographic ink and coated on a paper for applications as food packaging materials. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of the nanocapsules and to confirm the TO loading of the nanocapsules. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses analysis were used to complement the structural information. In addition, the controlled release of TO from the nanocapsules showed sustained release properties over a period of many days. The results reveal that the release properties of TO in these nanocapsules could be controlled by surface modifications such as end‐capping and/or surface coating of bare nanocapsules. The packaging paper with TO‐loaded HNT capsules was effective in eliminating against Escherichia coli during the first 5 d and showed strong antibacterial activity for about 10 d.
Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Persimmon Byproducts and Incorporation in Biodegradable Sodium Alginate Thin Film
Authors: Ramachandraiah Karna , Gnoc Nguyen Trong Bao , Chin Koo Bok
Published: September 2017

Fruit industrial wastes such as persimmon seed, peel, and calyx were used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their antioxidant activities were compared with byproduct powders having different granularities. The AgNPs were incorporated in sodium alginate thin films and transparency and mechanical properties of the films was analyzed. Persimmon byproduct AgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The byproduct AgNPs displayed higher antioxidant activities than powders of different granularities (P < 0.05). Fabrication of alginate thin films incorporating byproduct AgNPs resulted in improved transparency (P < 0.05). The incorporation of persimmon byproduct AgNPs with excellent antioxidant activities into sodium alginate thin films did not diminish the mechanical properties of the thin films. Therefore, fruit industrial waste such as persimmon byproducts could be used to derive AgNPs and could be incorporated into biodegradable alginate thin films, with numerous applications including food packaging.

Practical Application

Fruit industrial wastes such as persimmon seed, peel, and calyx were used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) which were incorporated in sodium alginate thin films. This study evaluated the antioxidant activities and mechanical properties of the films that could be useful in the manufacture of food packaging using biodegradable films.