bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Child Custody Evaluations
Authors: Hill Allison B.
Published: June 2017

Families going through a divorce involving children and custody issues often cannot reach agreement on custody and visitation issues on their own. When they seek resolution through the legal system, courts frequently order comprehensive child custody evaluations by mental health professionals who are competent in this niche area of practice. This chapter reviews the education and training needed to competently perform child custody evaluations. It explains the business aspects of this practice and reviews the joys and challenges of this type of practice. Resources are provided for mental health practitioners interested in developing this niche area of practice.
Personal Injury Evaluations
Authors: Foote William E.
Published: June 2017

Often, personal injury claims are settled through the legal process in the courts. Appropriately trained mental health clinicians may play an important role in this process by providing comprehensive evaluations that assist the judge or jury to determine if the defendant in the case has caused injury or harm through his or her action or inaction by breaching his or her duty to the defendant. This chapter provides information on how to develop a niche practice involving providing personal injury evaluations. It reviews the education and training needed, describes the joys and challenges of this type of work, and offers guidance on the business aspects of this niche practice. Resources are shared to assist those with an interest in developing expertise in this area of practice.
Presurgical Bariatric Evaluations
Authors: Bongo Caroljean
Published: June 2017

The assessment of candidates for metabolic and bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery to treat obesity and related diseases) is an important area of niche practice for mental health professionals. With the appropriate training, mental health practitioners can offer these much-needed services to bariatric surgery candidates. This chapter describes this niche area of practice and how the author developed an interest in it. The author discusses the joys and challenges and the business aspects of conducting these evaluations and gives guidance on developing this niche area of practice. A list of resources to assist in this process is provided.
Treating Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Winston Sally , Shearer Steven
Published: June 2017

Specializing in anxiety disorders and the obsessive-compulsive spectrum can be a route to a successful group niche practice. This chapter describes the evolution of a practice model that emerged in the context of advances in treatment, from the time of earliest attempts to treat panic and agoraphobia with Claire Weekes’ acceptance-based model to current integrative models. The authors often see rapid improvement among many who have struggled with anxiety for decades, despite traditional psychotherapy and/or medications, before seeking specialists. This chapter provides guidance on how to develop this niche area of practice, the education and training needed, the joys and challenges of this niche area of practice, and business aspects of this type of practice. A list of resources is provided for practitioners interested in developing expertise in this area of practice.
Beyond Lesbian and Gay
Authors: Weitzman Geri D.
Published: June 2017

This chapter provides an introduction to the themes that psychotherapists should be aware of when working with bisexual, transgender, polyamorous, and kinky clients. The author describes her experiences in creating a thriving practice where people from diverse sexual subcultures feel welcomed and “seen.” This chapter describes the challenges and joys that are inherent in small community work where personal, political, and professional milieus intersect. The author discusses how to develop this type of niche practice. A list of resources is given for readers who are seeking more in-depth training in these areas.
Treating Chronic Physical Illness
Authors: Spencer Katherine S.
Published: June 2017

Psychological treatment for individuals and families with chronic physical illness is known to improve overall healthcare outcomes and is an important area of niche practice for mental health professionals. With the appropriate training, mental health practitioners can offer these much-needed services in a range of practice settings. The author, who works in a private practice and in hospitals, describes her journey into this niche area of practice. She covers the challenging yet gratifying work in this area and discusses the business of developing skills and a practice in this area. Resources are provided to facilitate this process for other mental health professionals.
The Importance of Assessment in Supporting Bereaved Students
Authors: Woahn Catherine B. , Fernandez Benjamin S.
Published: June 2017

This chapter provides a framework allowing school-based mental health practitioners to assess and track characteristics of grief in bereaved students. Several types of assessments and tools (observations, structured interviews, and a range of rating scales) are discussed as a part of a three-tiered support framework to assess and monitor student progress over time. Current approaches to assisting bereaved students vary widely and may over-serve or under-serve students based on limited understanding of grief. There are also individual differences in the grieving process. School-based professionals must conduct assessments that enable them to identify individual needs and potential symptoms of complicated grief that may affect a child’s functioning at school.
Using Grief Support Groups to Support Bereaved Students
Authors: Garcia Renée Bradford
Published: June 2017

This chapter provides a template for conducting school-based grief support groups for elementary and secondary students. The template supplies school-based mental health professionals with an easy-to-replicate structure for hosting psychoeducational strengths-based grief support group sessions. Guidance is provided on how to ensure a smooth-running group in the school setting and how to handle sensitive issues such as student confidentiality. Special considerations for different age groups are offered. School-based bereavement groups educate students about grief, normalize the grief process, teach healthy coping skills for managing grief reactions, and facilitate connections with other students who are experiencing similar losses.
Using Music Therapy-Based Songwriting to Support Bereaved Students
Authors: Dalton Thomas A. , Krout Robert E.
Published: June 2017

This chapter focuses on therapeutic songwriting approaches and techniques for supporting bereaved students. Music therapy-based songwriting offers grieving students a myriad of opportunities to validate, identify, normalize, and express thoughts and emotions, as well as to understand, feel, remember, integrate, and grow. An overview of the “VINE principle” (validation, identification, normalization, and expression of feelings and emotions) is provided as a useful way to support healthy grieving. The Grief Process Scale is an evidence-based measure of five grief process areas (understanding, feeling, remembering, integrating, and growing) and has been used in music therapy to document changes in core behaviors, thoughts and feelings regarding a child’s loved one, and how the child is coping since the death. Recommendations for those leading music interventions are included, as well as song resources and tips for non-music therapists.
Temporal orientation and mindfulness
Authors: MacLeod Andrew
Published: June 2017

Individuals can differ in how much they have a tendency to think about the future, as opposed to the present or the past. Findings from many different areas of prospection point to the value of being future-minded, and its value is inherent in how well-being is sometimes defined (e.g. having goals and a sense of purpose). On the other hand, mindfulness, which has become prominent in ideas about well-being and treatment of mental health difficulties, appears to point to the value of a present focus. Chapter 9 reviews evidence related to both of these questions, critically evaluating evidence on the relationship of well-being to self-report measures of both mindfulness and future orientation. A distinction is also made between the temporal present and the experienced present, which helps to resolve the apparent contradiction between being mindful and thinking about the future.
The Underlying Nature and Structure of the Emotional Disorders
Authors: Watson David , O’Hara Michael W.
Published: June 2017

This chapter examines the nature and structure of the emotional disorders, which include five adjacent diagnostic classes within the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: bipolar and related disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders. It reviews the pervasive problem of comorbidity—that is, the co-occurrence of two or more disorders within the same person—that characterizes these disorders, and it discusses several influential models (including the tripartite model and the integrative hierarchical model) that have been developed to account for these data. It then examines several problems associated with diagnosis-based approaches to psychopathology; these include hierarchical exclusion rules, low prevalence rates, diagnostic unreliability, and the heterogeneity of many disorders. Finally, it proposes an alternative approach to studying psychopathology, namely, examining the specific symptom dimensions that make up the major syndromes within the emotional disorders.
Anger and Psychopathology
Authors: Watson David , O’Hara Michael W.
Published: June 2017

This chapter explores how individual differences in anger and hostility are linked to a broad range of psychopathology. An examination of this topic is complicated by the fact that measures of anger/hostility correlate strongly with other types of negative affect, such as fear/anxiety and sadness/depression; it therefore is important to control for the influence of these other negatively valenced emotions when examining relations with psychopathology. The reviewed data indicate that anger/hostility scales tend to show weak to moderate associations with internalizing psychopathology; however, these relations essentially disappear after controlling for other types of negative affect. In contrast, anger/hostility displays somewhat stronger associations with externalizing that remain significant after controlling for anxiety and depression. Finally, anger/hostility scales exhibit relatively strong and specific relations with paranoia/suspiciousness and social anhedonia/withdrawal—which persist after controlling for the other negative emotions—but are not consistently linked to other forms of psychoticism.
Suicide in the Army National Guard
Authors: Griffith James
Published: June 2017

The Army National Guard (ARNG) has increasingly become an important part of US national defense and at times, during the recent Iraq and Afghanistan wars, comprised from 30% to 40% of the Army’s fighting strength. The use of reservists in these wars has resulted in behavioral health and related problems among reservists, including suicide. Questions were posed regarding the demographic characteristics of suicides, factors associated with suicides, similarities and differences of ARNG suicides compared to those observed in other Army components and in the civilian population, and whether ARNG suicides represented one homogenous group or several groups different from one another. Several studies were initiated, relying on several data sets. This chapter summarizes findings of these analyses, responding to broad questions of major policy importance. The chapter concludes by offering possible directions for future practice and policy concerning suicide prevention.
Managing Suicide in the Older Veteran
Authors: Vyas Bavna B. , Brown Lisa M. , Dosa David , Elmore Diane L.
Published: June 2017

Suicide among older adults and Veterans is increasingly recognized as a serious and rapidly growing public health problem. Older adults (age >65 per medicare), are more likely to die by suicide than any other adult age group, due to more lethal methods of suicide attempt. Suicide ideation and behaviors are the most common clinical emergency faced by mental health professionals. Despite sustained research efforts and the introduction of evidence-based practices into clinical practice, older individuals’ risk for suicide remains difficult to predict and treat, even with thorough assessment and competent intervention. US Department of Veterans Affairs. and Veterans Health Administration has designated Suicide Prevention Teams at all of its hospitals and is committed to the development and implementation of strategies designed to better identify and treat Veterans who are in emotional crisis and to the promotion of change in the environment, culture, and health care through clinical and public health programs that directly target suicide prevention.
Incident Trichomonas vaginalis Is Associated With Partnership Concurrency: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Kenyon Chris R. , Buyze Jozefien , Klebanoff Mark , Brotman Rebecca M.
Published: June 2017

Background

Sexual partner concurrency (PC) has been shown to be a risk factor for a number of sexually transmitted infections but it is unknown if it is a risk factor for Trichomonas vaginalis (TV).

Objective

We assess if there is an association between PC and incident TV infection.

Study Design

We used mixed effects logistic regression to assess the association between PC and incident TV in the Longitudinal Study of Vaginal Flora, a cohort study of 3620 women followed quarterly for 5 visits.

Results

Trichomonas vaginalis was more common in those reporting definite/possible/unknown PC (15.6%/15.0%/18.3%) than those reporting no PC (5.2%; P < 0.001 for all 3 comparisons). After controlling for a range of confounders, incident TV remained associated with reporting that one's partner definitely (adjusted odds ratio, 5.4; 95% confidence interval, 3.7–8.0) and possibly (adjusted odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.2–5.1) engaged in PC in the preceding period.

Conclusions

Partner concurrency was associated with incident TV infection.
A Single Question to Examine the Prevalence and Protective Effect of Seroadaptive Strategies Among Men Who Have Sex With Men
Authors: Khosropour Christine M. , Dombrowski Julia C. , Katz David A. , Golden Matthew R.
Published: June 2017

Background

Seroadaptive behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) are common, but ascertaining behavioral information is challenging in clinical settings. To address this, we developed a single seroadaptive behavior question.

Methods

Men who have sex with men 18 years or older attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Seattle, WA, from 2013 to 2015, were eligible for this cross-sectional study. Respondents completed a comprehensive seroadaptive behavior questionnaire which included a single question that asked HIV-negative MSM to indicate which of 12 strategies they used in the past year to reduce their HIV risk. HIV testing was performed per routine clinical care. We used the κ statistic to examine agreement between the comprehensive questionnaire and the single question.

Results

We enrolled HIV-negative MSM at 3341 (55%) of 6105 eligible visits. The agreement between the full questionnaire and single question for 5 behaviors was fair to moderate (κ values of 0.34–0.59). From the single question, the most commonly reported behaviors were as follows: avoiding sex with HIV-positive (66%) or unknown-status (52%) men and using condoms with unknown-status partners (53%); 8% of men reported no seroadaptive behavior. Men tested newly HIV positive at 38 (1.4%) of 2741 visits. HIV test positivity for the most commonly reported behaviors ranged from 0.8% to 1.3%. Men reporting no seroadaptive strategy had a significantly higher HIV test positivity (3.5%) compared with men who reported at least 1 strategy (1.3%; P = 0.02).

Conclusions

The single question performed relatively well against a comprehensive seroadaptive behaviors assessment and may be useful in clinical settings to identify men at greatest risk for HIV.
Classifying Adverse Events in the Dental Office
Authors: Kalenderian Elsbeth , Obadan-Udoh Enihomo , Maramaldi Peter , Etolue Jini , Yansane Alfa , Stewart Denice , White Joel , Vaderhobli Ram , Kent Karla , Hebballi Nutan B. , Delattre Veronique , Kahn Maria , Tokede Oluwabunmi , Ramoni Rachel B. , Walji Muhammad F.
Published: June 2017

Background

Dentists strive to provide safe and effective oral healthcare. However, some patients may encounter an adverse event (AE) defined as “unnecessary harm due to dental treatment.” In this research, we propose and evaluate two systems for categorizing the type and severity of AEs encountered at the dental office.

Methods

Several existing medical AE type and severity classification systems were reviewed and adapted for dentistry. Using data collected in previous work, two initial dental AE type and severity classification systems were developed. Eight independent reviewers performed focused chart reviews, and AEs identified were used to evaluate and modify these newly developed classifications.

Results

A total of 958 charts were independently reviewed. Among the reviewed charts, 118 prospective AEs were found and 101 (85.6%) were verified as AEs through a consensus process. At the end of the study, a final AE type classification comprising 12 categories, and an AE severity classification comprising 7 categories emerged. Pain and infection were the most common AE types representing 73% of the cases reviewed (56% and 17%, respectively) and 88% were found to cause temporary, moderate to severe harm to the patient.

Conclusions

Adverse events found during the chart review process were successfully classified using the novel dental AE type and severity classifications. Understanding the type of AEs and their severity are important steps if we are to learn from and prevent patient harm in the dental office.
Evaluating a Collaborative Approach to Improve Prior Authorization Efficiency in the Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus
Authors: Dunn Emily E. , Vranek Kathryn , Hynicka Lauren M. , Gripshover Janet , Potosky Darryn , Mattingly T. Joseph
Published: June 2017

Objective:

A team-based approach to obtaining prior authorization approval was implemented utilizing a specialty pharmacy, a clinic-based pharmacy technician specialist, and a registered nurse to work with providers to obtain approval for medications for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the time to approval for prescribed treatment of HCV infection.

Methods:

A retrospective observational study was conducted including patients treated for HCV infection by clinic providers who received at least 1 oral direct-acting antiviral HCV medication. Patients were divided into 2 groups, based on whether they were treated before or after the implementation of the team-based approach. Student t tests were used to compare average wait times before and after the intervention.

Results:

The sample included 180 patients, 68 treated before the intervention and 112 patients who initiated therapy after. All patients sampled required prior authorization approval by a third-party payer to begin therapy. There was a statistically significant reduction (P = .02) in average wait time in the postintervention group (15.6 ± 12.1 days) once adjusted using dates of approval.

Conclusions:

Pharmacy collaboration may provide increases in efficiency in provider prior authorization practices and reduced wait time for patients to begin treatment.
Exploring the Relationship Between Volume and Outcomes in Hospital Cardiovascular Care
Authors: Langabeer James R. , Kim Junghyun , Helton Jeffrey
Published: June 2017

Background:

Management theories of learning and experience curve effects state that greater levels of scale produce learnings and improved performance. In cardiovascular care, guidelines suggest that high-volume facilities produce better patient outcomes; yet, there are contradictory findings from the few studies conducted. Our goals were to assess the volume-outcome relationship for interventional cardiovascular care.

Methods:

We examined 9360 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who underwent percutaneous intervention (PCI). We analyzed 6 years of data (2010-2015) using systematic extracts provided by 33 PCI-capable hospitals in the Dallas Texas region from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry. We stratified hospitals into 3 procedural volume categories (low, intermediate, and high) to identify changes in 2 key outcome metrics (ie, door-to-balloon times and mortality). Multivariate analyses and tests of differences were utilized.

Results:

Door-to-balloon performance outcome was significantly different between volume categories, with the highest-volume hospitals performing significantly better than intermediate- and low-volume hospitals (47, 60, and 75 minutes, respectively; P < .001). Mortality followed a similar pattern, with a 3.3% unadjusted absolute lower mortality rate for the high-volume hospitals. Multivariate regressions confirm that volume is statistically significant in both mortality and treatment times.

Conclusions:

Higher-volume PCI hospitals have 37% shorter treatment times and 53% lower mortality rates than smaller facilities. This study provides evidence of a positive volume-outcome relationship in interventional cardiovascular care.
Intracranial Aneurysms of Neuro-Ophthalmologic Relevance
Authors: Micieli Jonathan A. , Newman Nancy J. , Barrow Daniel L. , Biousse Valérie
Published: June 2017

Background:

Intracranial saccular aneurysms are acquired lesions that often present with neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and signs. Recent advances in neurosurgical techniques, endovascular treatments, and neurocritical care have improved the optimal management of symptomatic unruptured aneurysms, but whether the chosen treatment has an impact on neuro-ophthalmologic outcomes remains debated.

Evidence Acquisition:

A review of the literature focused on neuro-ophthalmic manifestations and treatment of intracranial aneurysms with specific relevance to neuro-ophthalmologic outcomes was conducted using Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Cavernous sinus aneurysms were not included in this review.

Results:

Surgical clipping vs endovascular coiling for aneurysms causing third nerve palsies was compared in 13 retrospective studies representing 447 patients. Complete recovery was achieved in 78% of surgical patients compared with 44% of patients treated with endovascular coiling. However, the complication rate, hospital costs, and days spent in intensive care were reported as higher in surgically treated patients. Retrospective reviews of surgical clipping and endovascular coiling for all ocular motor nerve palsies (third, fourth, or sixth cranial nerves) revealed similar results of complete resolution in 76% and 49%, respectively. Improvement in visual deficits related to aneurysmal compression of the anterior visual pathways was also better among patients treated with clipping than with coiling. The time to treatment from onset of visual symptoms was a predictive factor of visual recovery in several studies. Few reports have specifically assessed the improvement of visual deficits after treatment with flow diverters.

Conclusions:

Decisions regarding the choice of therapy for intracranial aneurysms causing neuro-ophthalmologic signs ideally should be made at high-volume centers with access to both surgical and endovascular treatments. The status of the patient, location of the aneurysm, and experience of the treating physicians are important factors to consider. Although a higher rate of visual recovery was reported with neurosurgical clipping, this must be weighed against the potentially longer intensive care stays and increased early morbidity.
Analyzing technical and super efficiency of aluminium firms in India
Authors: Kundi Mini , Sharma Seema
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of aluminium firms in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Different data envelopment analysis (DEA) models have been employed to calculate the various efficiency scores of aluminium firms in India.

Findings

The major findings of the DEA analysis suggest that 62 per cent firms are found to be technically efficient. Overall, the industry shows good performance with mean technical efficiency levels of 0.936 and 0.911 for VRS and CRS frameworks, respectively. Further, five firms show decreasing returns to scale, signifying the overutilization of plant capacities. Six firms exhibit increasing returns to scale implying underutilization of plants. The results show that domestic firms are more efficient than the foreign firms, young firms are more efficient than young firms and small- and medium-scale firms are more efficient than large-scale firms.

Practical implications

The results of this study would help the aluminium firms to formulate an appropriate strategy to cautiously use their resources to increase their efficiency levels.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, no earlier studies seem to have ranked the aluminium firms based on their super-efficiency scores. Further, no previous studies seem to have examined the efficiency differences among aluminium firms across different size, age and ownership groups.
Clarity of CSR orientation and firm performance: case of Japanese SMEs
Authors: Park YeJin , Park YoungWon , Hong Paul C. , Yang Soye
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how clarity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) orientation of Japanese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) achieves constructive firm performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of the literature review, the authors present a research model that defines key constructs and provide propositions that explain the interrelationships with theoretical rationale and practical implications. Using careful selection criteria, the authors have further conducted the in-depth interviews of the executives of two prominent Japanese SMEs.

Findings

The results suggest that CEOs with strong CSR orientation are more likely to influence their firms to achieve effective firm performance. If CSR philosophy is strategically formulated, clearly communicated, and widely accepted, then such firm is more likely to attain desirable business performance outcomes for larger stakeholders. Furthermore, CSR implementation of SMEs is not necessarily too costly; in fact, the long-term rate of return on SMEs’ CSR investment, with proper priority and prudent focus, is quite competitive.

Research limitations/implications

In spite of the specificity of the two case studies, the research model and the study findings give valuable insight on the role of CEO’s philosophy on CSR implementation in the international market. The linkage mechanism between business operation and CSR by these SMEs is applicable to many innovative entrepreneurial firms that target beyond domestic markets.

Originality/value

The authors highlight how the clarity of CSR philosophy in terms of firm orientation and linkage mechanism aids SMEs in overcoming their resource constraints. Furthermore, well-implemented CSR activities may become instrumental in achieving long-term desirable performance in the form of customer loyalty, employee’s sense of pride, and corporate socio-economic reputation.
Analysis and design of lector-based dual-Vt domino logic with reduced leakage current
Authors: Gupta T.K. , Pandey A.K. , Meena O.P.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a new lector-based domino and examine it with inputs and clock signal combination in a 45-nm dual-threshold footerless domino circuit for reduced leakage current.

Design/methodology/approach

In this technique, p-type and n-type leakage control transistors (LCTs) are introduced between pull-up and pull-down networks, and the gate of one is controlled by the source of the other. A high-threshold transistor is used in the input for reducing gate oxide leakage current, which becomes dominant in nanometre technology. Simulations were based on a 45-nm BISM 4 model using an HSPICE simulator for proposed domino circuits.

Findings

The result shows that CHIL (clock high and input low) state is ineffective for lowering leakage current and the conventional CHIH (clock high and input high) state is only effective to suppress the leakage at low temperature for wide fan-in domino circuits. At high temperature, CLIL (clock low and input low) state is preferable to reduce the leakage current for low fan-in domino, but for high fan-in domino, CHIH state is preferred. The proposed circuit technique for AND2, OR2, OR4 and OR8 circuits reduces the active power consumption by 50.94 to 75.68 per cent and by 64.85 to 86.57 per cent at low and high die temperatures, respectively, when compared to the standard dual-threshold voltage domino logic circuits.

Originality/value

The research proposes a new leakage reduction technique used in domino circuits and also evaluates the state for leakage reduction which can be used for low-power dynamic circuits.
Europe’s 5G field of dreams: if we build it, will they come?
Authors: Forge Simon , Blackman Colin
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Proponents of 5G predict a huge market for 5G goods and services with millions of new jobs being created. The purpose of this paper is to make a realistic assessment of the 5G initiative, with a focus on Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the technical, economic and policy literature to analyse the case for 5G in Europe.

Findings

The 5G initiative in Europe, as well as globally, has so far failed to assess objectively the future needs of its customers, whether consumer or business, to articulate a set of sound business cases.

Originality/value

There is little independent assessment of 5G in the academic literature. The paper makes an original contribution through questioning the dominant supply-driven industry perspective.
The impact of board composition on firm performance in the restaurant industry
Authors: Song Sujin , Van Hoof Hubert B. , Park Sungbeen
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the impact of the board composition on financial performance in the restaurant industry from a stewardship theory perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The composition of board was measured as the ratio of inside and outside directors. Firm performance was operationalized as return on assets (operational performance) and Tobin’s q (market-based performance). Panel regression analysis tested the research hypotheses.

Findings

Using data from 25 restaurant firms from 2007 to 2013, the study found an insignificant impact of board composition on operational performance. However, a higher proportion of inside board members increases market-based performance. A higher proportion of outside board members decreases market-based performance.

Practical implications

Supporting the basic tenets of stewardship theory, restaurant companies may consider changing the current practice of having a super-majority of outside directors and increase the inside board members. Because inside board member have greater experience with the organization and the industry, they have a better understanding of the status quo and are better able to respond to opportunities and threats in the environment.

Originality/value

Considering the scarcity of research on how the board composition affects firm performance in the hospitality context, the present study is a forerunner in its exploration of the impact of inside and outside directors on restaurant firms’ performance.
Intersectoral local development in Italy: the cultural, creative and tourism industries
Authors: Della Lucia Maria , Segre Giovanna
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of intersectoriality within the cultural, creative and tourism industries in Italian local development.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design builds on the literature on culture-led development and adapts the established body of empirical research on industrial districts to tourism and cultural development. The quantitative analysis of intersectoral specialization and the clustering of cultural, creative and tourism industries in Italian local labour systems (LLSs) combines specialization indexes with principal component analysis and cluster analysis.

Findings

About 50 per cent of Italian LLSs specialize in the economy of culture and tourism, mostly in material culture, although tourism has the highest level of specialization. There are three main patterns of agglomeration and clustering. The largest cluster is that of the cultural heritage and content and information industries, which coincides with the systems of medium-sized and large cities, followed by systems of tourism monoculture. The smallest is made up of material culture, typically made-in-Italy sectors. The tourism and material culture industries are monocultures – where tourism agglomerates, but material culture does not.

Research limitations/implications

The analytical approach is quantitative and based on Istat’s Industry and Trade (2012) data set. Further studies are needed on the interaction between agglomerated specialized industries.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the theoretical and political debate on the value generation and innovation potential of culture and creativity, and bridges the knowledge domains of local development and managerial studies. Novel statistical evidence on intersectoral specialization and the clustering of the cultural, creative and tourism sectors in Italy at the inter-municipal level is provided. This study helps to identify an Italian model of the economy of culture and tourism.
Using, spending, wasting and killing time in airports
Authors: Blichfeldt Bodil Stilling , Pumputis Aurimas , Ebba Kiya
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Travelers are both surrounded by and perform places, thus making places ambiguous sites that “come alive” when travelers use them and engage in various performances. A place many travelers pass through is the airport. Airports are places where travelers’ performances are restricted in many ways and waiting is a key element of the airport experience. This paper contributes with knowledge on what airport terminals “are”, not as designs or material objects but as places enacted by travelers. In doing so, the paper aims to emphasize on both how travelers “see” airports and how they use them.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses different qualitative methods and notions of time and waiting. Sources of data are small-scale netnography, focus group interviews, observations done at airports and qualitative interviews.

Findings

The study shows that airport terminals are heterogeneously enacted environments that are heavily inscribed with the mundane act of waiting and travelers use a series of different strategies to “use”, “spend” and “kill” time. Furthermore, whereas more affluent travelers spend waiting time using airports’ commercial offerings (shopping, restaurants, bars, etc.), less affluent travelers do not have the same options.

Research limitations/implications

The research points to airport terminals as not only “places of movement and mobility” but also “places of waiting” inscribed with boredom and travelers actively fight boredom by spending, using and killing time in a variety of ways. Furthermore, the study points to significant differences between affluent travelers and other travelers and differences between people travelling alone and in groups. Therefore, a call is made for research focusing on less affluent travelers, people traveling in groups and on waiting and waiting time.

Practical implications

The study suggests that airports are more than consumerscapes and places of movement, hereby questioning the current focus on commercial revenues.

Social implications

The study points to airport space as space “inhabited” not only by travelers willingly taking on the roles as consumers but also by travelers that kill, spend and use waiting time in other ways, hereby questioning the idea that airports are places for the “elite”.

Originality/value

Travelers associate airports with boredom and inscribe them with waiting. However, travelers “fight” boredom and waiting with performances and acts designed to use, spend, pass and “kill” time. Hereby, travelers not only accept but also construct the seemingly mundane act of waiting as restricted, negotiated and confined, but nevertheless meaningful performances.
How customer’s display of emotions relates to task performance: social interaction model in hospitality
Authors: Nam Seungmin , Shin Hong-Chul
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the emotional cycle of the relationship between service employees and customers using a social interaction model.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 22 five-star hotels in Seoul area are selected. The survey was conducted by a mixed mail and visiting format. Of 340 questionnaires distributed, 27 were incomplete and thus eliminated from the study. As a result, 313 questionnaires were accepted for the purpose of final analysis, representing a response rate of 92 per cent.

Findings

The study found that service employees’ orientation and emotions are critical for predicting customers’ display of emotions and ensuring employees’ mood. In addition, employees’ emotions and service orientation have positive relationships with customers’ display of emotions; customers’ display of emotions have positive relationships with employees’ moods and task performance; and employees’ moods have positive relationships with task performance.

Research limitations/implications

A key limitation of this study is that it is difficult to capture precisely the emotions of employees and customers using the five-point Likert scale. Second, there might be representative issue in his study because the survey was limited to brief encounter within in the hotel industry that focused only on five-star hotels in Seoul.

Practical implications

Through the study, to overcome the emotional labor, this study shows that an answer could lie in the connection between business outcomes and positive mood of employees. Managers should create a good environment for employee to work in a pleasant atmosphere. In addition, during the employee selection process, managers might hire talented and qualified front employees with friendly, courteous and extroverted characteristics.

Originality/value

The essential contribution of this study is that it provides initial empirical support for the social interaction model in an employee and customer service setting in the field of hospitality.
Bootstrap test for process capability indices
Authors: Sadeghpour Gildeh Bahram , Rahimpour Sedigheh , Ghanbarpour Gravi Fatemeh
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct a statistical hypotheses test for process capability indices and compare the pairs of them with a fixed sample size.

Design/methodology/approach

Since the sampling distribution of the estimators of pairs of two process capability indices (PCIs) is very complex, an exact statistical hypothesis test for them cannot be constructed. Therefore, the authors have proposed a bootstrap method to construct the hypothesis test for them on the basis of p-value.

Findings

The authors have shown that by increasing n, the bootstrap method has better output relative to other methods and it can be easily implemented. The authors have also demonstrated that sometimes an exact hypotheses test cannot be constructed and need some assumptions.

Originality/value

In the present paper, several methods to test of hypotheses about the difference between two process capability indices have been compared.
Classification of profit-sharing investment accounts
Authors: Suandi Aprilia Beta
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the classification of profit-sharing investment accounts (PSIAs) under various accounting standards, and determine whether Islamic banks maintain uniform practices when the same accounting standards are applied. It also aims to determine whether Islamic banks consider investment account holders (IAHs) important financial statement users by disclosing necessary information pertaining to PSIAs.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample composed of financial statements from 63 Islamic banks from 15 countries is compared with respect to the information related to PSIAs.

Findings

The results show heterogeneity of classification for PSIAs. Applying the same standards does not lead to the uniform classification of PSIAs when banks apply International Financial Reporting Standards, while financial statements applying Financial Accounting Standards by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions are more similar. The perplexity in classifying PSIAs brings obscurity on the treatment for PSIA-related accounts, particularly returns attributable to IAHs. The fact of fewer disclosures pertaining to PSIAs in Islamic banks – which apply accounting standards not specifically tailored to Islamic finance – suggests that IAHs receive less attention under those accounting standards.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation relates to the lack of financial statements available online and the possibility of sample selection bias toward larger Islamic banks.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the limited literature on accounting for PSIAs, and reveals the diversity of reporting methods for unique transactions in Islamic banks and the insufficiency of current accounting standards to guide them, which create possible challenges of comparability.
Brand skill: linking brand functionality with consumer-based brand equity
Authors: Mohan Mayoor , Jiménez Fernando R. , Brown Brian P. , Cantrell Caley
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the relationship between brand functionality and consumer-based brand equity.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods approach was adopted including a qualitative study and multiple survey-based studies. Mediation and moderated-mediation paths were tested using PROCESS and three-stage least squares simultaneous estimation models.

Findings

Study 1 finds that consumers perceive highly functional brands can enhance their self-competence to perform a task. This phenomenon is labelled brand skill and defined as the extent to which consumers perceive their own performance as emanating from their use of a particular brand. Study 2 finds that brand skill mediates the relationship between brand functionality, brand connection and consumer-based brand equity, while a post hoc study showed that these relationships are robust among private meaning brands. Study 3 demonstrates that these mediated relationships are moderated by the type of dominant benefit the brand provides (i.e. hedonic-versus utilitarian-dominant benefits).

Research limitations/implications

Based on self-determination theory, brand skill is posited as the link between brand functionality, brand connection and consumer-based brand equity.

Practical implications

Brand managers are urged to not overlook the role of brand functionality in favor of other non-functional brand dimensions. Brand functionality enhances consumers’ perceived self-competence and fosters brand connection, especially for brands that offer superior utilitarian benefits.

Originality/value

This is the first study that empirically examines the process by which brand functionality leads to consumer-based brand equity and the role brand skill plays in making that connection.
Consumer evaluations of trend imitation: brand equity, consumer attitudes and preference
Authors: Vogel Areti T. , Watchravesringkan Kittichai
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to uncover consumer evaluations of high-priced traditional retail luxury brands and more affordable neo-mass luxury retail brands when they imitate the innovative designs of one another.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a scenario inspired by a lawsuit involving admitted copying practices, this study used a one-way (time of product introduction: the traditional luxury brand launches the product design before the neo-mass luxury brand vs the neo-mass luxury brand launches the product design before the traditional luxury brand) between-subjects experimental design to examine the effect of time of product introduction (such that consumers are aware of imitation practices) on brand attitude, brand equity (measured via the dimensions of brand associations, brand image, brand credibility and brand leadership) and brand preference.

Findings

Results reveal that consumer awareness of imitation practices is important in determining changes in brand equity, brand attitude and brand preference, regardless of luxury brand type. The research also indicates that consumers evaluate traditional luxury brands that engage in imitation practices more negatively than neo-mass luxury brands that do so.

Research limitations/implications

This research provides a deeper understanding of consumer response to imitation practices, along with managerial insight for luxury brands operating in that sphere. Limitations and future research directions are also offered.

Originality/value

This study appears to be one of the first to investigate imitation practices by using stimuli inspired by a copycat case, and one of few that assesses consumer evaluations of imitation by existing brands.
Utilising Team Recovery Implementation Plan (TRIP): embedding recovery-focused practice in rehabilitation services
Authors: Vacher Geraldine
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an account of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Mental Health Rehabilitation Services’ experience of utilising Team Recovery Implementation Plan (TRIP) as a framework to embed recovery-focused practice. The paper explores the challenges to creating recovery-focused services in inpatient settings and sets out how using TRIP has enabled frontline staff to work in partnership with people who use services and coproduce changes in practice and service development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the process of utilising TRIP as a methodology to embed recovery-focused practice.

Findings

The account finds that using TRIP as a framework to embed recovery-focused practice supports frontline staff to work in partnership with people who use services and share responsibility for delivering recovery-oriented services, measure progress and drive change.

Originality/value

The paper provides an informative account of implementing TRIP as a framework to embed recovery-focused practice in mental health rehabilitation services. It explores the challenges faced by services in creating recovery-focused services and sets out how the TRIP has been used by teams as a methodology for coproducing, co-delivering and co-reviewing action plans. The paper gives practical examples of keeping the TRIP process alive and identifies several changes to practice and service developments achieved since TRIP’s implementation.