bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Talent development environment and workplace adaptation
Authors: Kunasegaran Mageswari , Ismail Maimunah , Mohd Rasdi Roziah , Arif Ismail Ismi , Ramayah T.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between talent development environment (TDE) variables of job focus and long-term development with the
and workplace adaptation (WA) of Malaysian professional returnees as mediated by the organisational support.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 130 respondents who are Malaysian professional returnees participated in this study. The hypotheses formulated for this study were tested using partial least square-structural equation modelling version 3.

Findings

The mediation analysis has revealed a significant relationship between job focus and long-term development on WA via organisational support. Six out of seven hypotheses were accepted. The finding also indicates that the long-term development construct has a strong impact on the WA of Malaysian professional returnees.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused only on professional returnees from selected sectors of the National Key Economic Areas in Malaysia.

Practical implications

Organisational support mediating WA should be capitalised on by human resource development practitioners in public and private sectors to assist professional returnees in their WA through the talent development approach specifically on job focus and long-term development.

Originality/value

The findings from this study extend the knowledge of WA in the context of professional returnees in a developing country, Malaysia. The integration between the selected TDE variables and WA with the mediating function of organisational support adds new insights into the process of WA.
The link between training satisfaction, work engagement and turnover intention
Authors: Memon Mumtaz Ali , Salleh Rohani , Baharom Mohamed Noor Rosli
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the casual relationship between training satisfaction, work engagement (WE) and turnover intention and the mediating role of WE between training satisfaction and turnover intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 409 oil and gas professionals using an email survey questionnaire. Structural equation modelling, using Analysis of Moment Structures (IBM AMOS) 22.0, was performed to test the hypothesized model.

Findings

The results suggest that training satisfaction is significantly positively related to employees’ level of WE and is negatively related to turnover intention. The results also reveal that WE mediates the relationship between training satisfaction and turnover intention.

Practical implications

Training has long been thought to play an important role in achieving positive attitudinal and behaviours outcomes among employees. This study reconfirms these ideas and highlights the importance of training satisfaction as being key to achieving greater WE and reducing voluntary turnover. Therefore, the finding of this study have a number of implications for research and human resource development practitioners.

Originality/value

This study makes a significant theoretical contribution to the literature as this is the first study to demonstrate the significance of training satisfaction and the mediating effects of WE in reducing the turnover intention of employees.
Training and developing non-Irish workers
Authors: Prendergast Mary
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the challenges facing Irish organisations in the training and development of non-Irish workers. It analyses the importance of fluency in the host country’s language and the approach taken by organisations in relation to language training. In-depth semi-structured interviews provide significant insights for the policies and practices of multiple stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical research comprised 33 in-depth interviews conducted with employers, employees, trade unions and regulatory bodies, and an objective content analysis provided insights into the challenges Irish organisations face in the training and development of non-Irish workers.

Findings

The results indicate that Irish organisations are given little advice or support regarding the development of non-Irish workers. The study concludes that organisations should re-consider current approaches to cultural diversity training and development of these workers, prioritising the provision of English language training for these workers. The study maintains that an understanding of cultural differences is a vital component in the training of this cohort of workers.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is required in this area. This could include an investigation into the levels of transfer of learning upon completion of training programmes for non-Irish workers, and an evaluation of the understanding of cultural learning styles among trainers.

Practical implications

Learning and development (L&D) initiatives are dependent on English language supports, which will ultimately be central to the successful training and development of non-Irish workers, and provision of affordable high-quality English language classes is crucial. An understanding of cultural differences, diversity and inclusion is equally important if this cohort of workers is to thrive in an Irish working environment.

Social implications

The government's role must be considered a priority, assisting organisations in relation to their strategies for L&D.

Originality/value

There has been a paucity of research on the issue of L&D for migrant workers in an Irish context. This paper contributes to the discussion and provides guidelines for employers and opinions for policymakers.
Labour resistance and worker attitudes towards trade union reform in China
Authors: Wang Kan
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– Drawing its arguments and conclusion from a ten-year survey on workers’ experiences of labour disputes, along with anticipation of trade union reform, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the interaction between labour resistance and its potential for institutional change in the field of labour relations in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses a longitudinal cohort study carried out between 2006 and 2015. The survey was conducted every two years, specifically in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2015, in Guangdong Province, China. Questionnaire and interview methods were used; 2,166 valid sample questionnaires were collected, and 215 interviews were carried out over the research period.

Findings

– An increase in collectivized disputes in China has given rise to an escalation of labour action, characterized by wildcat strikes. Joint action has strengthened the bonds among work colleagues, and it has become more important for workers to pay attention to their rights and interests. In terms of organization, two viewpoints towards union reform were revealed: the pragmatist and the idealist perspectives. Workers with greater experience of resistance were more modest in terms of demands for union reform, while workers with some experience called for their union’s independence from the party-state.

Research limitations/implications

– The data contained industry bias, as too many respondents were from electronics-manufacturing and textile and apparel plants.

Originality/value

– This paper is original, and increases awareness of the development of the labour movement in China.
Does Investors in People affect organisational performance: a relevant question?
Authors: de Waal Andre
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– Ever since the introduction of Investors in People (IiP), a management framework for high performance invented by the UK Government aimed at improving the UK’s industrial performance, there has been indistinctness about whether IiP actually improved organisational performance. The academic literature gives conflicting evidence and almost 25 years after the first exposure to IiP this issue has not been settled yet. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper the literature on the effects of IiP on organisational performance is collected and discussed, to try to give a definitive answer on the question what the effect of IiP is or should be.

Findings

– After reviewing the evidence, the paper raises the question whether asking the question if IiP increases organisational performance is actually a relevant one. This is because IiP was originally intended to be the standard against which organisation could be evaluated and subsequently rewarded for excellent human resource management (HRM) practices. In the core this means that IiP consist of a set of by experts agreed upon indicators related to HRM practices which together form the yardstick against which organisations are measured.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first one to actually create clarity of what the IiP standard actually is and how it should be perceived and applied by organisations and academics alike.
Exploring performance management in four UK trade unions
Authors: Thursfield Denise , Grayley Katy
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore performance management in four UK trade unions. Specifically, the extent to which managers in the four unions accept or dismiss the unitarist, disciplinary and performative values that arguably characterise performance management practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative research design was adopted to investigate trade union managers’ interpretations of performance management. Managers were targeted because they held the power to shape performance management practices in their specific areas. The research employed qualitative semi-structured interviews.

Findings

– Performance management in trade unions is linked to the structure, purpose and orientation of different types of trade union. It is also linked to the wider environmental context. The trade union managers’ interpretations of performance management are linked to disciplinary and performative values. As such they are comparable to the unitarist forms of performance management described in the literature. There are moreover, similarities and differences between the approaches to performance management between trade unions and for profit or public sector organisations.

Originality/value

– The paper adds to the emerging literature on internal trade union management by highlighting a particular aspect of human resource management.
Affective and normative forces between HCHRM and turnover intention in China
Authors: Lu Xinxin , Tu Yidong , Li Yanping , Ho Chiang-Chun
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the affective and normative mechanisms linking high-commitment human resource management (HCHRM) to employee turnover intention. Accordingly, the authors hypothesize that positive affect and group job satisfaction mediate the relationship between HCHRM and turnover intention.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a sample of 471 employees and their supervisors from 53 assembly lines in China, the hypotheses were tested with hierarchical linear modeling.

Findings

– The results suggested that both positive affect and group job satisfaction significantly mediated the negative relationship between HCHRM and turnover intention. Moreover, the indirect effect of HCHRM on turnover intention via group job satisfaction was larger than that via positive affect.

Practical implications

– In the Chinese context, HCHRM practices are effective in reducing turnover intention of the first-line employees on assembly lines. Organizations should show concerns for front-line workers’ positive affect and group job satisfaction to reduce their turnover intention.

Originality/value

– The present research contributes to the extant literatures by uncovering the affective and normative mechanisms of the HCHRM-turnover intention association.
Understanding the causes and consequences of work-family conflict
Authors: Adisa Toyin Ajibade , Osabutey Ellis L.C. , Gbadamosi Gbolahan
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– An important theme for a twenty-first century employee is a desire for work and family balance which is devoid of conflict. Drawing on detailed empirical research, the purpose of this paper is to examine the multi-faceted causes and consequences of work-family conflict (WFC) in a non-Western context (Nigeria).

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses qualitative data gleaned from the semi-structured interviews of 88 employees (44 university lecturers and 44 medical doctors) in cities in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

Findings

– The findings showed that work pressure, heavy familial duties, poor infrastructural facilities, and a lack of suitable and practicable work-family balance policies are the main causes of WFC in Nigeria. Juvenile delinquencies, broken marriages/families, and an unhappy workforce are among the grave consequences of WFC among Nigerian employees.

Originality/value

– This paper suggests that the availability of basic infrastructural facilities, more governmental support, practicable work-family policies, inter alia, will reduce the level of WFC for Nigerian employees and will also results in positive spill-over from the work domain to the family domain and vice-versa.
The pathway to security – mitigating user negligence
Authors: Kennedy Sarah Elizabeth
Published: July 2016

Purpose

Through the use of effective training techniques and exercises, employees and users can be educated on how to make safe information security decisions. It is critical to the success of a total information security program that users are trained properly as they are a major layer of defense against malicious intent. The current methods of training people about information security are failing, and the number of user-related breaches increases every year.

Design/methodology/approach

By researching and observing current methods and comparing other fields of study, this paper describes the best methodology for modifying user behavior as it pertains to information security.

Findings

Through effective training practices, user negligence can be mitigated and controlled, and the information security program can be better practiced throughout entire organizations.

Originality/value

By using an effective training method to teach employees about information security, employees become an invaluable part of a company’s overall information security strategy. By using this method, employees are no longer the weak link in information security.
Enhancing collaborative intrusion detection networks using intrusion sensitivity in detecting pollution attacks
Authors: Li Wenjuan , Meng Weizhi
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to propose and evaluate an intrusion sensitivity (IS)-based approach regarding the detection of pollution attacks in collaborative intrusion detection networks (CIDNs) based on the observation that each intrusion detection system may have different levels of sensitivity in detecting specific types of intrusions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, the authors first introduce their adopted CIDN framework and a newly designed aggregation component, which aims to collect feedback, aggregate alarms and identify important alarms. The authors then describe the details of trust computation and alarm aggregation.

Findings

The evaluation on the simulated pollution attacks indicates that the proposed approach is more effective in detecting malicious nodes and reducing the negative impact on alarm aggregation as compared to similar approaches.

Research limitations/implications

More efforts can be made in improving the mapping of the satisfaction level, enhancing the allocation, evaluation and update of IS and evaluating the trust models in a large-scale network.

Practical implications

This work investigates the effect of the proposed IS-based approach in defending against pollution attacks. The results would be of interest for security specialists in deciding whether to implement such a mechanism for enhancing CIDNs.

Originality/value

The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach is more effective in decreasing the trust values of malicious nodes and reducing the impact of pollution attacks on the accuracy of alarm aggregation as compare to similar approaches.
Evaluating the effect of multi-touch behaviours on Android unlock patterns
Authors: Meng Weizhi
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the effect of multi-touch behaviours on creating Android unlock patterns (AUPs) by realising that users can perform more actions in touch-enabled mobile phones.

Design/methodology/approach

The author conducted two user studies with a total of 45 participates and performed two major experiments in the main user study.

Findings

The user study indicates that the multi-touch behaviours can have a positive impact on creating patterns; however, there are only nine touchable points for the original AUPs, which may reduce the usability when performing a multi-touch movement.

Research limitations/implications

An even larger user study could be conducted to further analyse the patterns generated by users, that is, to analyse the specific password space by integrating the behaviours of multi-touch and to involve more types of multi-touch behaviours in creating an AUP.

Practical implications

This work explores the effect of multi-touch movement on creating AUPs. The results should be of interest for software developers and security researchers for exploring the effect of multi-touch behaviours on the creation of graphical passwords on mobile phones.

Originality/value

The author conducts two user studies with a total of 45 participants to investigate the impact of multi-touch behaviours on creating AUPs. In addition, to address the issue of usability, the author proposes two ways: increasing the number of touchable points and improve the rules of pattern creation.
Gesture-based animated CAPTCHA
Authors: Shumilov Artem , Philippovich Andrey
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the development of a new experimental CAPTCHA (completely automated public turing test to tell computers and humans apart), which is supposed to provide better protection against spam bots compared to the existing captcha solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

In the new CAPTCHA, the authors are using animated images of hand gestures to represent letters and numbers. A lot of people use sign language as their primary means of communication, but an automatic algorithm able to reliably recognize such gestures from videos without any additional data has yet to be developed.

Findings

The experiment showed that at first, it takes time for people who do not use sign languages in their everyday lives to adapt to the new CAPTCHA, but after several successful recognitions, they have no more trouble with it than with a typical captcha implementation.

Originality/value

The paper shows that people with little to no knowledge of sign languages can still recognize gestures on video relatively fast. Therefore, a gesture-based implementation can be used not only on websites aimed at sign language speakers but also as a general-purpose captcha service.
Political behavior in family- and founder-controlled firms
Authors: Clark Muntean Susan
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The political behavior of founders, families and their firms in the form of campaign contributions has not been explored by family business scholars. Yet partisan and ideological campaign contributions raise a range of governance issues and hold implications for myriad stakeholders, including investors, employees, customers and the public. The purpose of this paper compares and contrasts the campaign contributions of founder- and family-controlled firms relative to managerially governed firms and develops theoretical explanations for observed differences.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper develops a “principal owner” hypothesis based upon a typology of firm ownership characteristics (founder/family control or not; publicly traded or privately held). This hypothesis is tested by multivariate empirical analyses of the campaign contributions of 251 firms across 14 industries with four types of ownership structures.

Findings

– Founder- and family-controlled firms are more partisan and ideological relative to other firms in their industry and this finding is consistent across industries. Founders and family members influence political behavior, including in publicly traded firms.

Practical implications

– Given potential controversies raised by ideological and partisan campaign contributions and the unpredictable returns on political investment, it behooves founders and their family members to assess the impact of their political behavior on the business and on key stakeholders.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first to raise governance issues related to founders’ and families’ political spending and develops original insights into the ideological and political behavior of these businesses.
The influence of family involvement on tax aggressiveness of family firms
Authors: Sánchez-Marín Gregorio , Portillo-Navarro María-José , Clavel José G.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the tax aggressiveness among family firms considering their different levels of family involvement. Based on the family influence on power, experience, and culture approach proposed by Astrachanet al.(2002), this study examines to what extent the heterogeneity among family firms generates distinctive (and unique resource) combinations of family involvement that explain different levels of tax aggressiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sample of 282 small and medium-sized family enterprises and a structural equation modeling approach have been used to study simultaneously the effects of family influence through the power, experience, and culture dimensions of tax aggressiveness in family firms.

Findings

– The family influences the business’ tax aggressiveness in different ways. As such, the greater the family experience, by the incorporation of second and subsequent generations, the greater the tax aggressiveness; in contrast, greater family power in terms of firm ownership and management negatively affects tax aggressiveness. Additionally, greater alignment of the family and business culture does not exert a significant effect on tax behaviors of family firms.

Practical implications

– Tax aggressiveness is a complex activity that should be managed from a global point of view in family firms. Managers should compensate for the negative influence of family governance on tax aggressiveness with the positive effect of the family generations in order to obtain proper and balanced tax management that contributes to the sustainability of family firms.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the understanding of tax behavior heterogeneities among family firms by going further than most research (usually based mainly on comparative ownership aspects between large, publicly quoted family and non-family firms), considering some other more representative factors of family small and medium-sized enterprises, where the influence of characteristics of family management, family generation, and family values can be the main determinants of the firm taxation policies.
Influence of the honeybee and trait similarity on the effect of a non‐native plant on pollination and network rewiring
Authors: Montero‐Castaño Ana , Vilà Montserrat
Published: July 2016

Introduced entomophilous non‐native plants usually become well integrated into the diet of generalist pollinators. This integration can affect the entire recipient plant–pollinator network. Effects vary from facilitative to competitive, and understanding the factors that govern such variability is one of the fundamental goals in invasion ecology. Species traits determine the linking patterns between plant and pollinator species. Therefore, trait similarity among plants or among pollinators might modulate how they affect each other.

We conducted a flower removal experiment to investigate the effects of the non‐native entomophilous legumeHedysarum coronariumon the pollination patterns of a Mediterranean shrubland plant–pollinator network. Specifically, we explored whether effects were influenced by similarity with the resident plant species in flower morphology (papilionate vs. non‐papilionate), and whether effects on the pollinator community were influenced by similarity in functional group with its main visitor species (bees vs. non‐bees). In addition, we explored whetherHedysarumhad an effect on the identity of interactions. For this purpose, we calculated the interaction rewiring, that is the number of plant–pollinator interactions that were gained or lost after invasion.

Hedysarumwas well integrated into the diet of 15 generalist pollinators having the honeybee as its main visitor species. Such integration did not affect visitation rates, normalized degree (i.e. proportion of pollinators they are visited by) nor niche overlap (i.e. proportion of plant species they share pollinators with) of plants, irrespective of their flower morphology. Only the proportion of honeybee visits to resident plants decreased with invasion. On the other hand,Hedysarumreduced visitation rates and niche overlap of pollinators, mainly those of bee species. Finally, we observed that changes in the foraging behaviour of the honeybee were positively associated with the interaction rewiring involving the rest (92 taxa) of pollinators.

In conclusion, pollinators show a plastic use of floral resources, responding to the presence of non‐native plants. When the non‐native attracts highly competitive pollinators such as the honeybee, plasticity is especially significant in pollinators that are functionally close to that competitive pollinator. The result is an interaction rewiring, probably due to pollinators avoiding competition with the honeybee. Though this plasticity might not quantitatively affect the pollination of plants, consequences on their reproduction and the functioning of the network can derive from the interaction rewiring.

ALay Summaryis available for this article.
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome following burns is mediated by brain natriuretic peptide/natriuretic peptide A receptor‐induced shock factor 1 signaling pathway
Authors: Xu Yang‐Cheng , Luo Cheng‐Qun , Li Xiong
Published: July 2016

The aim of this study was to determine whether systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in burn patients is mediated by the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)/natriuretic peptide A receptor (NPRA)‐induced heat shock factor 1 (HSF‐1) signalling pathway. Mononuclear cells (MNCs) that were isolated from patients with burn injuries and SIRS mouse models and a RAW264.7 cell line were treated with normal serum or serum obtained from animals with burn injuries. In parallel, small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) against BNP or NPRA were transfected in both cell types. Western blotting (WB) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect protein expression and inflammatory factor levels, respectively. We found that interleukin (IL)‐12, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and BNP levels were increased and IL‐10 levels were decreased in the plasma and MNCs in vivo in the animal model of SIRS. Additionally, NPRA was upregulated, whereas HSF‐1 was downregulated in monocytes in vivo. Treatment of RAW264.7 cells with burn serum or BNP induced IL‐12, TNF‐α, and CRP secretion as well as HSF‐1 expression. Finally, silencing BNP with shRNA interrupted the effect of burn serum on RAW264.7 cells, and silencing NPRA blocked burn serum‐ and BNP‐mediated changes in RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that the interaction of NPRA with BNP secreted from circulatory MNCs as well as mononuclear macrophages leads to inflammation via HSF‐1 during SIRS development following serious burn injury.
Plant defense against leaf herbivory based on metal accumulation: examples from a tropical high altitude ecosystem
Authors: Ribeiro Sérvio P. , Londe Vinícius , Bueno Amauri P. , Barbosa Juliana S. , Corrêa Tatiana L. , Soeltl Tatiana , Maia Márcia , Pinto Victor D. , de França Dueli Grazieli , de Sousa Hildeberto Caldas , Kozovits Alessandra R. , Nalini Hermínio A.
Published: July 2016

Species that evolved in high‐altitude grasslands, where soils are dystrophic and metal rich, developed adaptations for these extreme conditions, such as metal accumulation and sclerophyllous leaves, and these adaptations may secondarily affect insect herbivory activity. The present study investigates the hypothesis that costs related to accumulation of certain metals may be evolutionarily compensated for by decreasing leaf herbivory in some plant species from rupestrian fields. Studies were conducted in different locations at the Ferriferous Quadrangle, a metal‐rich region in south‐east Brazil, with four species adapted to high‐altitude grasslands: Eremanthus erythropappus, Eremanthus incanus, Lychnophora ericoides and Byrsonima variabilis. Sample design varied according to population sizes and spatial distribution of individuals. We found that concentrations of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) significantly reduced the herbivory in the leaves of E. erythroppapus and E. incanus, whereas aluminum (Al) reduced herbivory in L. ericoides, and Mn affected negatively the herbivory in B. variabilis. These results support the hypothesis that metal‐accumulating plants, as a response to the harsh environment in which they evolved, are protected against foliar damage caused by insect herbivores in rupestrian fields.
Pineapple Waste Extract for Preventing Oxidation in Model Food Systems
Authors: Segovia Gómez Francisco , Almajano Pablos María Pilar
Published: July 2016

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is consumed in the form of chunks (canned), cubes, fruit salad, and also in juices, concentrates, and jams. In the processes to produce these products, the waste generated represents a high percentage of the total fruit. Some studies have shown that residues of certain fruits, such as pineapple, have the same antioxidant activity as the fruit pulp. So although these residues are discarded, they could be used as an alternative source of polyphenols, as natural antioxidants. This study is focused on the antioxidant activity of wastes obtained in the production of pineapple products and their application. The polyphenols’ scavenging activity was determined by the oxygen radical antioxidant capacity assay. The antioxidant potential was determined in emulsions (o/w) and in muffins, where the primary oxidation products (by peroxide value, PV) and the secondary oxidation products (by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) were analyzed. In addition the muffins were analyzed by means of a triangular sensory test. The PV method showed that pineapple waste extracts caused a reduction in oxidation products of 59% in emulsions and 91% in the muffins. The reduction in TBARs values for emulsions were 27% and for muffins were 51%. The triangular sensory test showed that the samples containing the extract were not distinguished from the control (α = 0.05).
Study on the Influence of Tea Extract on Probiotics in Skim Milk: From Probiotics Propagation to Metabolite
Authors: Li Sha , Gong Guangyu , Ma Chengjie , Liu Zhenmin , Cai Jie
Published: July 2016

In this study, the influence of tea extract (TE) on the growth of probiotics in skim milk was examined. Lactobacillus plantarum ST‐III, Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb02, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG were used in this study. The introduction of TE in milk significantly stimulated the propagation and acidification of L. rhamnosus GG and L. acidophilus NCFM. The antioxidant capacities and the total free amino acid contents of all fermented milk products were enhanced by the addition of TE; however, there were different antioxidant properties and free amino acid contents of fermented milk samples fermented by different bacteria. With a 9% (w/w) level, the fermentation with L. rhamnosus GG and L. acidophilus NCFM showed larger numbers of viable cells and faster acidifying rates, as well as excellent antioxidant capacity and abundant free amino acids.  The stimulative effects of TE on probiotics can be considered for industrial purposes and has practical implications for commercial applications.
Stability and Oil Migration of Oil‐in‐Water Emulsions Emulsified by Phase‐Separating Biopolymer Mixtures
Authors: Yang Nan , Mao Peng , Lv Ruihe , Zhang Ke , Fang Yapeng , Nishinari Katsuyoshi , Phillips Glyn O.
Published: July 2016

Oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsions with varying concentration of oil phase, medium‐chain triglyceride (MCT), were prepared using phase‐separating gum arabic (GA)/sugar beet pectin (SBP) mixture as an emulsifier. Stability of the emulsions including emulsion phase separation, droplet size change, and oil migration were investigated by means of visual observation, droplet size analysis, oil partition analysis, backscattering of light, and interfacial tension measurement. It was found that in the emulsions prepared with 4.0% GA/1.0% SBP, when the concentration of MCT was greater than 2.0%, emulsion phase separation was not observed and the emulsions were stable with droplet size unchanged during storage. This result proves the emulsification ability of phase‐separating biopolymer mixtures and their potential usage as emulsifiers to prepare O/W emulsion. However, when the concentration of MCT was equal or less than 2.0%, emulsion phase separation occurred after preparation resulting in an upper SBP‐rich phase and a lower GA‐rich phase. The droplet size increased in the upper phase whereas decreased slightly in the lower phase with time, compared to the freshly prepared emulsions. During storage, the oil droplets exhibited a complex migration process: first moving to the SBP‐rich phase, then to the GA‐rich phase and finally gathering at the interface between the two phases. The mechanisms of the emulsion stability and oil migration in the phase‐separated emulsions were discussed.
Outcome of self‐expandable metallic stent deployment in patients with malignant gastroduodenal outlet obstruction and Niti‐S and WallFlex comparison: a multicenter retrospective clinical study
Authors: Kato Hironari , Kawamoto Hirofumi , Matsumoto Kazuya , Moriyama Ichiro , Kamada Hideki , Tsutsumi Koichiro , Goto Daisuke , Fukuba Nobuhiko , Kato Kiyohito , Sonoyama Hiroki , Isomoto Hajime , Okada Hiroyuki
Published: July 2016

Objectives

Several studies report on the outcomes of self‐expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) deployment for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). However, data was mostly based on the analysis of single‐center studies including only a small number of patients. This study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes after the deployment of SEMS in patients with malignant GOO and to compare the clinical outcomes of two metallic stents with different designs.

Methods

Altogether 125 consecutive patients from five institutions were included. Clinical outcomes were evaluated according to technical success, clinical success, stent patency period, survival period and complications. A comparison of clinical outcomes between Niti‐S pyloric/duodenal and WallFlex duodenal stents was also undertaken.

Results

Rates for clinical and technical success were 100% and 92.0%, respectively. The median stent patency and survival periods were 72.0 days (range 3–775 days) and 75.0 days (range 3–775 days), respectively. The rate of overall adverse events was 28.8%. The rate of stent dysfunction was 16.8%, and that of adverse events, except stent dysfunction was 12.0%. Massive bleeding occurred in two patients as a late complication. The clinical success rate for Niti‐S stent was significantly higher than that for WallFlex stent (96.2% vs 84.8%, P = 0.023).

Conclusions

We successfully deployed a SEMS in malignant GOO. The selection of a SEMS with a lower axial force may be important for patients to resume the oral food intake. Additionally, consideration must be given to the appropriate management of fatal bleeding as a late complication.
Role of farnesoid X receptor in cholestasis
Authors: Yuan Zhi Qing , Li Ke Wei
Published: July 2016

The nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays an important role in physiological bile acid synthesis, secretion and transport. Defects of FXR regulation in these processes can cause cholestasis and subsequent pathological changes. FXR regulates the synthesis and uptake of bile acid via enzymes. It also increases bile acid solubility and elimination by promoting conjugation reactions and exports pump expression in cholestasis. The changes in bile acid transporters are involved in cholestasis, which can result from the mutations of transporter genes or acquired dysfunction of transport systems, such as inflammation‐induced intrahepatic cholestasis. The modulation function of FXR in extrahepatic cholestasis is not identical to that in intrahepatic cholestasis, but the discrepancy may be reduced over time. In extrahepatic cholestasis, increasing biliary pressure can induce bile duct proliferation and bile infarcts, but the absence of FXR may ameliorate them. This review provides an update on the function of FXR in the regulation of bile acid metabolism, its role in the pathophysiological process of cholestasis and the therapeutic use of FXR agonists.
Efficacy and safety of cTACE versus DEB‐TACE in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Zou Jing Huai , Zhang Lan , Ren Zheng Gang , Ye Sheng Long
Published: July 2016

Objective

Conflicting results of the efficacy and safety of conventional transarterial chemo‐embolization (cTACE) vs drug‐eluting bead (DEB)‐TACE have been reported. This meta‐analysis aimed to update and re‐evaluate the efficacy and safety of cTACE compared with those of DEB‐TACE in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Literature search was performed by two investigators independently in PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE to screen studies published from January 1990 to March 2015. Studies of parallel group designs comparing cTACE and DEB‐TACE for HCC were reviewed. Complete response, partial response, objective response, disease control, overall survival and survival time were collected to evaluate the efficacy of each therapy.

Results

DEB‐TACE increased the complete response rate [odds ratio (OR) 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.89], overall survival rate (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.01–1.98) and survival time [weighted mean difference (WMD) 6.65, 95% CI 6.15–7.14) with less common adverse events (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41–0.84). However, DEB‐TACE had a similar partial response rate (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.67–1.49), objective response rate (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.94–1.56), disease control rate (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.81–1.58) and serious adverse events (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.50–1.49) compared with cTACE.

Conclusions

DEB‐TACE has a higher complete response rate and a higher overall survival rate in patients with HCC than cTACE; however, the results should be interpreted with caution. Furthermore, DEB‐TACE is safer and has less common adverse events than cTACE.
Domestic dog exposure at birth reduces the incidence of atopic dermatitis
Authors: Thorsteinsdottir S. , Thyssen J. P. , Stokholm J. , Vissing N. H. , Waage J. , Bisgaard H.
Published: July 2016

Background

While the etiopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is complex and poorly understood, neonatal exposures are important for disease occurrence. However, the effect of dog exposure on the risk of atopic dermatitis is unresolved.

Objective

We investigated whether domestic dog exposure affected the risk of atopic dermatitis in children during the first 3 years of life.

Methods

Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC) are ongoing prospective clinical birth cohort studies. Data from 411 children born to mothers with asthma (COPSAC2000) and 700 unselected children (COPSAC2010) were analyzed following the same protocols at the same research site. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed prospectively according to the Hanifin–Rajka criteria. Parental history of asthma, eczema, or rhinitis was defined by self‐reported physician diagnosis. In the COPSAC2000, maternal specific serum IgE against eight inhalant allergens was sampled after the children's birth and at pregnancy week 24 in the COPSAC2010 cohort. Associations between dog exposure and atopic dermatitis were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard regression models and adjusted for lifestyle confounders.

Results

In the COPSAC2000 and COPSAC2010 cohorts, the risk of atopic dermatitis was significantly lower in children with domestic dog exposure (adjustedHR = 0.46 [0.25–0.87], P = 0.02; and adjustedHR = 0.58 [0.36–0.93], P = 0.03, respectively). The risk of atopic dermatitis decreased in a dose‐dependent manner with increasing number of dogs (adjustedHR = 0.58 [0.38–0.89], P = 0.01) in the COPSAC2010. The protective effect was restricted to children born to mothers with atopic disease in the unselected COPSAC2010 cohort (adjustedHR = 0.39 [0.19–0.82], P = 0.01), as no effect was observed in children born to mothers without atopic disease (adjustedHR = 0.92 [0.49–1.73], P = 0.79). Paternal atopic status did not affect the risk of atopic dermatitis. We found no significant interaction between the CD14 T/T genotype and domestic dog exposure in either cohort (COPSAC2000, P = 0.36; and COPSAC2010 cohort, P = 0.42).

Conclusion

Neonatal domestic dog exposure was associated with a strongly reduced risk of atopic dermatitis in two independent birth cohorts and in a dose‐dependent manner. While the mechanisms involved are unclear, our findings raise the question of whether in utero exposures may affect the risk of atopic dermatitis and emphasize the importance of the early environment for disease trajectory.
Sieve Estimation of Cox Models with Latent Structures
Authors: Cao Yongxiu , Huang Jian , Liu Yanyan , Zhao Xingqiu
Published: July 2016

This article considers sieve estimation in the Cox model with an unknown regression structure based on right-censored data. We propose a semiparametric pursuit method to simultaneously identify and estimate linear and nonparametric covariate effects based on B-spline expansions through a penalized group selection method with concave penalties. We show that the estimators of the linear effects and the nonparametric component are consistent. Furthermore, we establish the asymptotic normality of the estimator of the linear effects. To compute the proposed estimators, we develop a modified blockwise majorization descent algorithm that is efficient and easy to implement. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed method performs well in finite sample situations. We also use the primary biliary cirrhosis data to illustrate its application.
Adapting the Bayley Scales of infant and toddler development in Ethiopia: evaluation of reliability and validity
Authors: Hanlon C. , Medhin G. , Worku B. , Tomlinson M. , Alem A. , Dewey M. , Prince M.
Published: July 2016

Background

There is a need for valid and reliable observational measures of early child development in low‐income and middle‐income country settings.

Methods

The aims of the study were to adapt the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (Bayley III) for a rural Ethiopian setting and evaluate reliability and validity. The study was carried out between January 2008 and January 2009 in the Butajira demographic surveillance site, south central Ethiopia. The Bayley III was adapted to be socioculturally appropriate for a rural Ethiopian context. Nurses and high school graduates were trained in administration of the measure for 10 days. Inter‐rater reliability was evaluated (n = 60). Content, construct and convergent validity was then examined on a population‐based cohort of children at the ages of 30 (n = 440) and 42 months (n = 456). Mokken scale analysis was used to determine the scalability of items in unidimensional, hierarchical sub‐scales. The mean score was compared by age of child and by stunting status (less than −2 z scores below the standard height‐for‐age).

Results

The intra‐class correlations between raters were above 0.90 for all sub‐scales of the child development measure. Some scale items were not contextually relevant and showed poor scalability. However, the majority of items scaled onto the existing sub‐scales of the international measure to form adequate‐to‐strong hierarchical scales with good internal consistency (Cronbach's α above 0.70 except for gross motor and expressive language sub‐scales). Item‐scale coefficients were good. The mean score of all sub‐scales was significantly higher in the older group of children (33.02 higher total score; P < 0.001) and in the children who were stunted (total Bayley score 2.58 (95% confidence interval 0.07 to 5.10) points lower at 30 months and 3.87 (1.94 to 5.81) points lower at 42 months.

Conclusions

An adapted version of an international, observational measure of child development was found to be reliable, valid and feasible in a rural Ethiopian setting.
Evaluation of dental therapists undertaking dental examinations in a school setting in Scotland
Authors: O'Keefe Emma J. , McMahon Alex D. , Jones Colwyn M. , Curnow Morag M. , Macpherson Lorna M. D.
Published: July 2016

Objective

To measure agreement between dental therapists and the Scottish gold‐standard dentist undertaking National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) examinations.

Methods

A study of interexaminer agreement between 19 dental therapists and the national gold‐standard dentist was carried out. Pre‐calibration training used the caries diagnostic criteria and examination techniques agreed by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD). Twenty‐three 5‐year‐old children (Primary 1) and 17 11‐year‐old children (Primary 7) children were examined. Agreement was assessed using kappa statistics on d3mft and D3MFTfor P1 and P7 children, sensitivity and specificity values, and kappa statistics on d3t/D3T and ft/FT. Calibration data on P1 and P7 children from 2009–2012 involving dentists as examiners were used for comparison. Economic evaluation was undertaken using a cost minimization analysis approach.

Results

The mean kappa score was 0.84 (SD0.07) ranging from 0.69 to 0.94. All dental therapists scored good or very good agreement with the gold‐standard dentist. This compares with historicNDIPcalibration data with dentists, against the same gold‐standard dentist, where the mean kappa value was 0.68 (SD0.22) with a range of 0.35‐1.00. The mean sensitivity score was 0.98 (SD0.04) (range 0.88‐1.0) and mean specificity score was 0.90 (SD0.06) (range 0.78‐0.96). Health economic analysis estimated that salary costs would be 33.6% lower if dental therapists were substituted for dentists in the year 2013, with an estimated saving of approximately £103 646 per annum on the national budget.

Conclusion

We conclude that dental therapists show a high level of interexaminer agreement, and with the appropriate annual training and calibration, they could undertake dental examinations as part of theNDIPprogramme.