bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moral identity centrality and cause-related marketing
Authors: He Hongwei , Zhu Weichun , Gouran Dennis , Kolo Olivia
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine how consumer moral identity (MI) affects the impact of cause-related marketing (CRM). CRM is a popular hybrid marketing tool that incorporates charitable initiatives and sales promotion. CRM has strength in simultaneously encouraging consumer purchases and doing something good for the society. Drawing on the moral identity (MI)-based motivation model, this research examines how consumer MI influences consumer behavioural response to CRM.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two field experiments were conducted to test a series of hypotheses relating to the conditional effect of MI on behavioural response to CRM.

Findings

– Brand social responsibility image and emotional brand attachment positively moderated the relationship between consumer MI centrality and intention to purchase CRM sponsor brand.

Originality/value

– Findings contribute to the literature on CRM, MI-based motivation of consumer behaviour and emotional brand attachment.
Evidence-based advertising using persuasion principles
Authors: O'Keefe Daniel
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide commentary on Armstrong, Du, Green and Graefe’s (this issue) article.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on reading and thinking about Armstronget al.’s article.

Findings

– One appealing way that advertising practice can be evidence-based is by applying dependable generalizations about what makes for effective ads. Armstronget al.’s article offers data concerning the application of Armstrong’s persuasive advertising: Evidence-Based Principles (2010) persuasion principles. The article does not provide convincing evidence for the predictive validity of the principles, but it does offer a clear proof-of-concept demonstration of the feasibility of principles-based advertising assessment.

Originality/value

– The paper’s value lies in its clarification of what claims Armstronget al.’s data do and do not underwrite.
Predicting advertising execution effectiveness: scale development and validation
Authors: Woodside Arch G.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a commentary on the Armstronget al.(2015) proposals to use checklists of Armstrong’s “advertising principles” to predict the effectiveness of alternative advertising executions and their tests of validity using paired ads with day-after recall scores.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper discusses literature from anecdotal business journalism, cognitive science and behavioral economics that attempt to explain and accurately predict high-impact advertising. The commentary considers the value of using checklists and the relevancy complexity theory for examining whether or not checklists versus other tools are useful for accurately predicting advertising effectiveness.

Findings

– Anecdotal reports and scientific studies using true experiments support the practical benefits of advertising executives referring to advertising principles in the form of checklists when deciding which advertisement to run. Armstrong, Du, Green and Graefe (ADGG) provide a useful early warning tool that is useful for indicating ads that will not be effective, but their checklist method is unlikely to indicate which ads will have high impact. Researchers and executives should create and test the efficacy of configurations of content and design for identifying highly effective ads; testing should be done in clutter and using behavioroid measures (not seven-point scales); recall measures are inadequate proxies for behavior.

Practical implications

– By calling attention to the possibilities of using the persuasive advertising principles to test the ability to select specific ads that will most influence behavior such as purchases, ADGG offer a valuable contribution. Too often, advertisers and other decision makers ignore useful readily available information; creating tools useful for improving the quality of decision-making is missing in many marketing management contexts. ADGG indicate that such a tool is possible avoiding ads that are likely to be poor performing, advertising executions.

Originality/value

– This paper serves to emphasize the substantial value in using rigorous checklists as a step in making complex decisions such as advertising execution selections to avoid undesirable outcomes.
Leadership styles and organizational commitment: literature review
Authors: Yahaya Rusliza , Ebrahim Fawzy
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between Bass’s (1985) leadership dimensions (transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire) and several outcome variables (employee extra effort, employee satisfaction with leader, leadership effectiveness) and organizational commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a systematic literature review.

Findings

– This review briefly discusses the conceptual framework and the Full Range Leadership Model (Bass, 1985) which include transformational leadership, transactional leadership, and laissez-faire leadership. Also discussed in this section were the abilities and the characteristics of transformational leaders. The leadership section was concluded with discussion on previous researches on transformational leadership. This review also provides a literature review on organizational commitment.

Originality/value

– Described in this paper are the various definitions of organizational commitment and the three-component model of commitment. This paper also described the antecedents and outcomes of organizational commitment obtained from previous researches. This paper concluded with a discussion on the impact of transformational leadership on employee organizational commitment.
Analyzing the influence of learning orientation and innovativeness on performance of public organizations
Authors: Tajeddini Kayhan
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– There is growing concern about the performance of public organizations (POs) in developing countries. Despite the fact that the advantages of innovation and learning orientation to organizations have been evidently documented in Western economies and private owned enterprises, there has been little research into these practices and their impact on enhancing competitive advantages in POs in transitional economies such as Iran. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of innovation and learning orientation on performance of POs in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws on theory from innovation and learning orientation in conjunction with a strategic-centered model to carry out a survey-based study of 127 senior level managers (e.g. CEOs, planning, finance, HR and marketing managers) of POs and/or their cluster companies in six major developed and developing cities of Iran.

Findings

– The research findings show that learning orientation and innovativeness leads to better PO performance and should be encouraged. More specifically, the results suggest that higher levels of learning orientation and innovativeness led these organizations to higher levels of delivery speed, cost improvement, and quality confidence in firm future PO performance.

Research limitations/implications

– Data were gathered via a questionnaire administered to senior level managers of some POs and/or their clusters in some cities in Iran. Further research is required to understand the contextual factors that influence internal company culture. For example, there are relatively few women in managerial positions in Iranian companies; and the impact of a restricted business environment appears to vary from service to retail and manufacturing industries.

Practical implications

– This study is important for managers of public sectors. From empirical evidence, the authors found that PO managers must consider innovativeness and learning as two crucial strategic capabilities for a superior and sustainable performance.

Originality/value

– The study provides insights into the types of activities that PO management should undertake in order to enhance economic performance.
Developing leadership skills and resilience in turbulent times
Authors: Holmberg Robert , Larsson Magnus , Bäckström Martin
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a leadership program in a way that captures leadership self-efficacy, political skills (PS) and resilience in the form of indicators of health and well-being that would have relevance for leadership roles in turbulent organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The design was quasi-experimental with pre- and post-measurement with unequal controls. Measurement was made through a mail survey before and after the leadership development program. n=107.

Findings

– Program participants differed from the control group in the post-measurement in that they reported higher levels on leadership self-efficacy and had better health compared to a year earlier.

Research limitations/implications

– Concepts like leadership self-efficacy, PS and measures of health and well-being can be used to operationalize and measure broad and contextually relevant outcomes of leadership development.

Practical implications

– Evaluation of leadership development can benefit from including these more psychologically relevant and generic outcomes.

Originality/value

– The study illustrates how psychologically based concepts can help to elucidate key outcomes of leadership development that can be critical for meeting the challenges in the turbulent and fluid work situation managers currently meet.
Technological change, today and yesterday
Authors: Frederick Donna E
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The inaugural installment of the column data deluge and open knowledge comes at the close of a year which saw changes, developments and new beginnings for libraries in the areas of linked data, open data, metadata, open access publishing and other related movements.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology adopted is a literature review.

Findings

– Sometimes, changes in the information environment present themselves like towering waves crashing into rugged cliffs and librarians stand at the edge in awe of the spectacle. At other times, despite the crashing waves, librarians lead massive projects to build the standards and infrastructure to capture the water and direct its flow.

Practical implications

– The overall trend for the latter librarians is toward developing and adopting new ideas, methods, approaches and services to support finding and sharing data in an increasingly large and complex online context. As many of author’s colleagues have commented in recent years, “now is an exciting time to be a librarian”.

Originality/value

– The author heartily agree and look forward to sharing, through this column, the highlights of these exciting times.
Financial firms’ social activities and how they influence their customers’ preference structure
Authors: García-Gallego José Manuel , Chamorro Mera Antonio , Barroso-Méndez María Jesús
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine the importance that customers give to social investment activities in their region when selecting a financial entity compared to other features directly related to the service that these institutions provide, namely the origin, the treatment by employees, office location and electronic banking services.

Design/methodology/approach

– The technique of conjoint analysis is applied via a survey of 427 customers to determine customers’ preference structure when choosing a financial entity.

Findings

– The results show the importance that customers give to the financial entities’ social activities carried out in the region. Moreover, a buyer segment representing 35 per cent of the sample was identified that assigns greater value to these social activities than to the average customer.

Originality/value

– The development of corporate social responsibility policies has been a common practice in Spain’s financial sector. However, there is a lack of studies focused on analysing the impact of these policies on customers’ decisions. The authors test this idea by proposing that social initiatives carried out by financial entities strongly influence the preferences of consumers towards these banks compared to other attributes.
Does the stakeholders – corporate social responsibility (CSR) relationship exist in emerging countries? Evidence from China
Authors: Li Dongwei , Lin Han , Yang Ya-wen
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This study aims to examine whether the association between stakeholders and corporate social responsibility (CSR) documented in developed countries exists in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study tests the hypothesis and examines the impact of the central government, political connection, shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees and foreign investors on CSR practices by estimating the ordinary least squares regressions.

Findings

– Using the CSR indexes developed by the Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS), this study finds that the central government, supplier concentration and foreign investors are positively associated with CSR, whereas shareholder concentration and customer concentration are negatively associated with CSR in China. Inconsistent with findings documented in developed countries, the result indicates that employee power is not associated with CSR.

Originality/value

– This paper extends prior research by including stakeholders, such as government and foreign investors, who have a unique impact on CSR activities in emerging markets in addition to other stakeholders. The findings have implications in other countries where state ownership is also prevalent (Claessenset al., 2000; Faccio and Lang, 2002). While the issue of CSR has attracted growing research interest in recent years, most empirical results are based on the US data. This paper contributes to the empirical CSR research by examining determinants of CSR in an emerging market. Interestingly, some of the findings are contrary to those documented in developed countries. The contradiction suggests the danger in generalizing CSR–stakeholder research findings in developed countries to emerging economies.
Framing green consumer behaviour research: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Narula Sapna A. , Desore Anupriya
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate existing research in green marketing with special reference to consumer behaviour and identify challenges both in practice and research, offering valuable insights for both the communities. While reviewing the existing literature in the paper, the authors define the scope of green marketing as a standalone discipline and discuss all aspects of green consumer behaviour and present opportunities for researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

– A thorough literature search in leading academic journals related to the scope of this paper was conducted through leading databases. An analysis of literature review comprising 140 relevant articles has been carried out and presented in the paper.

Findings

– Green consumer behaviour research is one area which is very well researched but studies are found to be generic in nature. the authors stress that research needs to be advanced in relation to addressing gaps between consumer perceptions and designing green products, identification of green segments, positioning green products and also inclusion of stakeholders in green marketing process. More insights into consumers willingness to pay for green attributes Vis -a Vis conventional attributes need to be worked out.

Originality/value

– In spite of plenty of reviews available in green marketing, there is no review which solely covers the consumer behaviour aspects of green marketing. Consumer being the most important stakeholder in green marketing domain deserves special attention from the researchers’ perspective. The review is unique in providing all aspects of green consumer behaviour research.
Organizational accountability relations:de factoorde jure?
Authors: Sabadoz Cameron , McShane Lindsay
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to bring the concept of “meeting the gaze of the other” into conversation with the organizational accountability literature. This is done by integrating “the gaze” phenomenon with Darwall’s (2006) distinction betweende jureandde factoauthority. In the context of accountability, onlyde jureaccountability entails meeting the gaze of the stakeholder, in that it requires organizations to grant stakeholders the moral authority to hold them to account. Drawing on this work, this paper aims to critically examine the distinction betweende jureandde factoin current organizational accountability theorizing and in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

– A content analysis of the “letters to the stakeholders” from the Global 100 firms’ accountability/social responsibility reports. Specifically, this paper examines the frequency with which leading companies acknowledgede factovsde jureaccountability, the nature of these statements and toward which stakeholder group they are directed.

Findings

– Most firms acknowledgede factoaccountability, but few grantde jurestanding, making it more likely that firms will ignore claimants they prefer not to morally engage.De jurerelationships that are acknowledged tend to be restricted to certain stakeholders such as employees, customers and shareholders. In addition, there are differences in the granting ofde jureaccountability across industry sectors.

Social implications

– This work highlights the importance of acknowledgingde jureaccountability when engaging with stakeholders, and importantly, it highlights how to integrate consideration forde jureaccountability into theorizing on organizational accountability. This analysis suggests that acknowledgingde jureaccountabilityvis-a-visstakeholders can lead to more positive ethical decision-making and stronger relationships. Organizations are encouraged to strengthen their ethical decision-making by granting moral standing to their stakeholders.

Originality/value

– Organizational accountability is typically treated as a single construct, yetde jureaccountability (vs simplyde factoaccountability) has been linked to particularly powerful moral effects. This paper examines the critical distinction betweende factoandde jureaccountability. It makes a compelling case for the importance of acknowledging the gaze of organizational stakeholders.
Modeling of a Fast Plate Type Hydraulic Check Valve
Authors: Leati Eugenio , Gradl Christoph , Scheidl Rudolf
Published: February 2016

Check valve dynamics plays an important role in many fluid systems, such as in compressors, hydraulic pumps, and hydraulic switching converters. Plate type check valves are a frequently employed valve type in dynamically challenging cases. Despite the relevancy of plate valve dynamics, only few exhaustive works can be found in the literature, focusing on the behavior of hydraulic check valves for high-frequency applications. This paper presents an in-depth characterization of a plate valve designed as rectifier of a high-frequency oscillation pump working at 300 Hz. The aim is to identify a sufficiently simple mathematical model, which permits to optimize the design of the valve for the considered application. The paper analyses the different phenomena contributing to the dynamics of such a valve and presents the results of simulation and experimental activity. The results show how small details in the design and manufacturing of those valves (namely, the contact surfaces) have important consequences on the dynamics of the pump system. In general, a good agreement between model and reality is achieved.
Enhanced field emission properties from oxygen-deficient α-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays
Authors: Liao Ai-Zhen , Chen Jian-Biao , Wang Cheng-Wei , Su Xiao-Feng , Li Yan , Wang Jian
Published: February 2016

Hydrothermally grown FeOOH nanorods were successfully transformed into oxygen-deficient α-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays (HNAs) with a pure phase by annealing in an Ar atmosphere at the temperatures of 300–550 °C. It was found that the oxygen-deficient HNAs exhibited an increased oxygen vacancy (Fe2+ site) concentration with the increase in annealing temperature. On the basis of the experimental results, a possible mechanism for the formation of the oxygen-deficient HNAs is hypothesized. In particular, the turn-on field of oxygen-deficient HNAs can be optimized to 1.45 V/μm, which is much smaller than that of pristine HNAs. The emission current density can reach 3.37 mA/cm2 at 4.86 V/μm for the oxygen-deficient HNAs. Such excellent field emissions properties are the best performances reported till date for a pristine α-Fe2O3 field emitter and are mainly attributed to the increased conductivity and decreased work function resulting from the introduced oxygen vacancies.
TLR-7 activation enhances IL-22–mediated colonization resistance against vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
Authors: Abt Michael C. , Buffie Charlie G. , Sušac Bože , Becattini Simone , Carter Rebecca A. , Leiner Ingrid , Keith James W. , Artis David , Osborne Lisa C. , Pamer Eric G.
Published: February 2016

A synthetic TLR-7 agonist restores immune defenses to an antibiotic-resistant pathogen lost due to antibiotic use.
Buying cures versus renting health: Financing health care with consumer loans
Authors: Montazerhodjat Vahid , Weinstock David M. , Lo Andrew W.
Published: February 2016

Health care loans—the equivalent of mortgages for large health care expenses—are a practical way to increase patient access to costly transformative therapies.
Exploiting evolutionary principles to prolong tumor control in preclinical models of breast cancer
Authors: Enriquez-Navas Pedro M. , Kam Yoonseok , Das Tuhin , Hassan Sabrina , Silva Ariosto , Foroutan Parastou , Ruiz Epifanio , Martinez Gary , Minton Susan , Gillies Robert J. , Gatenby Robert A.
Published: February 2016

Using evolutionary principles to guide drug administration, monotherapy with paclitaxel can maintain prolonged stability of breast cancer in preclinical models.
Can prenatal infection contribute to psychiatric disease in offspring?
Authors: Brennand Kristen
Published: February 2016

Immune activation in pregnant mice leads to both impaired GABAergic transmission and increased anxiety-like behaviors in adult offspring.
Infections with benefits
Authors: Shaw Tanya J.
Published: February 2016

Gastric
Helicobacter pylori
infection, which has paradoxical effects on human health, alters the immune environment and microbiota.
Congenital laryngomalacia is related to exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction in adolescence
Authors: Hilland Magnus , Røksund Ola Drange , Sandvik Lorentz , Haaland Øystein , Aarstad Hans Jørgen , Halvorsen Thomas , Heimdal John-Helge
Published: February 2016

Objectives

Congenital laryngomalacia (CLM) is the major cause of stridor in infants. Most cases are expected to resolve before 2 years of age, but long-term respiratory prospects are poorly described. We aimed to investigate if CLM was associated with altered laryngeal structure or function in later life.

Methods

Twenty of 23 (87%) infants hospitalised at Haukeland University Hospital during 1990–2000 for CLM without comorbidities and matched controls were assessed at mean age 13 years. Past and current respiratory morbidity was recorded in a questionnaire, and spirometry performed according to standard quality criteria. Laryngoscopy was performed at rest and continuously throughout a maximal treadmill exercise test (continuous laryngoscopy exercise test (CLE-test)), and scored and classified in a blinded fashion according to preset criteria.

Results

In the CLM group, laryngeal anatomy supporting CLM in infancy was described at rest in nine (45%) adolescents. Eleven (55%) reported breathing difficulties in relation to exercise, of whom 7 had similarities to CLM at rest and 10 had supraglottic obstruction during CLE-test. Overall, 6/20 had symptoms during exercise and similarities to CLM at rest and obstruction during CLE-test. In the control group, one adolescent reported breathing difficulty during exercise and two had laryngeal obstruction during CLE-test. The two groups differed significantly from each other regarding laryngoscopy scores, obtained at rest and during exercise (p=0.001 or less).

Conclusions

CLM had left footprints that increased the risk of later exercise-induced symptoms and laryngeal obstruction. The findings underline the heterogeneity of childhood respiratory disease and the importance of considering early life factors.
Burkholderia ginsengisolibacteraemia: emergence of a novel pathogen
Authors: Marks Laura R , Dodd Hema , Russo Thomas A , Berenson Charles S
Published: February 2016

Burkholderia ginsengisoliis a non-pathogenic Gram-negative bacterium that ordinarily serves as a plant endosymbiont. We report the first case of human infection withB. ginsengisolipresenting as bacteraemia in a young man with severe Crohn's disease. Definitive identification of the pathogen could not be accomplished with conventional techniques and required DNA sequencing. The bacteraemia may have been related to ingestion of organic vegetables and compromised gastrointestinal mucosa, coupled with treatment with tumour necrosis factor α inhibitors. Although there are no standard antibiotics to treat this pathogen, we devised a successful treatment regimen.
Nitrofurantoin-induced interstitial pneumonitis: albeit rare, should not be missed
Authors: Syed Haamid , Bachuwa Ghassan , Upadhaya Sunil , Abed Firas
Published: February 2016

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a rare adverse effect of nitrofurantoin and can range from benign infiltrates to a fatal condition. Nitrofurantoin acts via inhibiting the protein synthesis in bacteria by helping reactive intermediates and is known to produce primary lung parenchymal injury through an oxidant mechanism. Stopping the drug leads to complete recovery of symptoms. In this report, we present a case of nitrofurantoin-induced ILD with the recovery of symptoms and disease process after stopping the drug.
Inguinal hernia containing bladder and ureteroneocystostomy: a rare cause for acute renal graft dysfunction
Authors: Coelho Hugo , Nunes Pedro , Canhoto Carolina , Temido Paulo
Published: February 2016

A 77-year-old man presented with acute graft dysfunction 25 years after a renal transplant in the left iliac fossa. He also had an asymptomatic left inguinal hernia. Renal ultrasound showed a significant pyelocalicial dilation of the kidney graft and the patient was submitted to a percutaneous nephrostomy. An antegrade nephrostogram was performed, which showed a dilated ureter and the bladder included in the left inguinal hernia that caused the obstructive uropathy. Concomitant retrograde cystography also showed a significant portion of the bladder in the hernia sac. The patient was submitted to inguinal hernia repair, which resolved the obstruction. We present a rare and potentially curable cause of obstructive uropathy in a transplant recipient; it is possible to revert graft dysfunction and prevent graft loss if the condition is recognised early.
Does exposure to cigarette brands increase the likelihood of adolescent e-cigarette use? A cross-sectional study
Authors: Best C , van der Sluijs W , Haseen F , Eadie D , Stead M , MacKintosh AM , Pearce J , Tisch C , MacGregor A , Amos A , Miller M , Frank J , Haw S
Published: February 2016

Objective

To examine the relationship between tobacco cigarette brand recognition, and e-cigarette use in adolescents.

Design

Cross-sectional observational study.

Setting

High schools in Scotland.

Participants

Questionnaires were administered to pupils in Secondary 2 (S2 mean age: 14.0 years) and Secondary 4 (S4 mean age: 15.9 years) across 4 communities in Scotland. An 86% response rate with a total sample of 1404 pupils was achieved.

Main outcome measures

Self-reported previous use of e-cigarettes and self-reported intention to try e-cigarettes in the next 6 months.

Results

75% (1029/1377) of respondents had heard of e-cigarettes (69.5% S2, 81.1% S4), and of these, 17.3% (10.6% S2, 24.3% S4 n=1020) had ever tried an e-cigarette. 6.8% (3.7% S2, 10.0% S4 n=1019) reported that they intended to try an e-cigarette in the next 6 months. Recognition of more cigarette brands was associated with greater probability of previous e-cigarette use (OR 1.20, 99% CI 1.05 to 1.38) as was having a best friend who smoked (OR 3.17, 99% CI 1.42 to 7.09). Intention to try e-cigarettes was related to higher cigarette brand recognition (OR 1.41, 99% CI 1.07 to 1.87), hanging around in the street or park more than once a week (OR 3.78, 99% CI 1.93 to 7.39) and living in areas of high tobacco retail density (OR 1.20, 99% CI 1.08 to 1.34). Never having smoked was a protective factor for both future intention to try, and past e-cigarette use (OR 0.07, 99% CI 0.02 to 0.25; and OR 0.10, 99% CI 0.07 to 0.16, respectively).

Conclusions

Higher cigarette brand recognition was associated with increased probability of previous use and of intention to use e-cigarettes. The impact of tobacco control measures such as restricting point-of-sale displays on the uptake of e-cigarettes in young people should be evaluated.
Impact of fixed implant supported prostheses in edentulous patients: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: López Carolina S , Saka Constanza H , Rada Gabriel , Valenzuela Daniela D
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Edentulism is a debilitating and irreversible condition described as the ‘final marker of disease burden for oral health’. Therapy with dental implants is being used on a large scale to replace missing teeth and to rehabilitate edentulous patients with overdentures and implant supported fixed dentures as a method of solving the problem of instability and lack of retention associated with conventional removable prostheses. Fixed implant supported prostheses are an alternative for implant rehabilitation treatment that allow patients to have new fixed teeth. They can be indicated in partial or total edentulous patients, and they can replace single teeth, or teeth and supporting tissues (hybrid prosthesis). They overcome the limitations of conventional dentures, increasing stability and retention, providing functional and psychological advantages for the patients.

Methods and analysis

We will electronically search for randomised controlled trials evaluating the effects of fixed implant supported prostheses in edentulous patients in the following databases: Pubmed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We will also try to obtain literature screening references of included studies, searching for trial protocols in the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, reviewing International Team for Implantology conference proceedings and searching for non-published studies through Open Gray. Two researchers will independently undertake selection of studies, data extraction and assessment of the quality of the included studies. Data synthesis and subgroup analyses will be performed using special Review Manager software. Data will be combined in a meta-analysis using a random effects model.

Results

The results will be presented as risk ratios for dichotomous data, and as mean difference or standardised mean difference for continuous data.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethics approval is considered necessary. The results of this study will be disseminated via peer reviewed publications and social networks.

Trial registration number

CRD42015022086.
Long-term exposure to ambient ozone and mortality: a quantitative systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence from cohort studies
Authors: Atkinson R W , Butland B K , Dimitroulopoulou C , Heal M R , Stedman J R , Carslaw N , Jarvis D , Heaviside C , Vardoulakis S , Walton H , Anderson H R
Published: February 2016

Objectives

While there is good evidence for associations between short-term exposure to ozone and a range of adverse health outcomes, the evidence from narrative reviews for long-term exposure is suggestive of associations with respiratory mortality only. We conducted a systematic, quantitative evaluation of the evidence from cohort studies, reporting associations between long-term exposure to ozone and mortality.

Methods

Cohort studies published in peer-reviewed journals indexed in EMBASE and MEDLINE to September 2015 and PubMed to October 2015 and cited in reviews/key publications were identified via search strings using terms relating to study design, pollutant and health outcome. Study details and estimate information were extracted and used to calculate standardised effect estimates expressed as HRs per 10 ppb increment in long-term ozone concentrations.

Results

14 publications from 8 cohorts presented results for ozone and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. We found no evidence of associations between long-term annual O3concentrations and the risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, or lung cancer. 4 cohorts assessed ozone concentrations measured during the warm season. Summary HRs for cardiovascular and respiratory causes of death derived from 3 cohorts were 1.01 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.02) and 1.03 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.05) per 10 ppb, respectively.

Conclusions

Our quantitative review revealed a paucity of independent studies regarding the associations between long-term exposure to ozone and mortality. The potential impact of climate change and increasing anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors on ozone levels worldwide suggests further studies of the long-term effects of exposure to high ozone levels are warranted.
Discrimination in the workplace, reported by people with major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional study in 35 countries
Authors: Brouwers E P M , Mathijssen J , Van Bortel T , Knifton L , Wahlbeck K , Van Audenhove C , Kadri N , Chang Ch , Goud B R , Ballester D , Tófoli LF , Bello R , Jorge-Monteiro M F , Zäske H , Milaćić I , Uçok A , Bonetto C , Lasalvia A , Thornicroft G , Van Weeghel J
Published: February 2016

Objective

Whereas employment has been shown to be beneficial for people with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) across different cultures, employers’ attitudes have been shown to be negative towards workers with MDD. This may form an important barrier to work participation. Today, little is known about how stigma and discrimination affect work participation of workers with MDD, especially from their own perspective. We aimed to assess, in a working age population including respondents with MDD from 35 countries: (1) if people with MDD anticipate and experience discrimination when trying to find or keep paid employment; (2) if participants in high, middle and lower developed countries differ in these respects; and (3) if discrimination experiences are related to actual employment status (ie, having a paid job or not).

Method

Participants in this cross-sectional study (N=834) had a diagnosis of MDD in the previous 12 months. They were interviewed using the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC-12). Analysis of variance and generalised linear mixed models were used to analyse the data.

Results

Overall, 62.5% had anticipated and/or experienced discrimination in the work setting. In very high developed countries, almost 60% of respondents had stopped themselves from applying for work, education or training because of anticipated discrimination. Having experienced workplace discrimination was independently related to unemployment.

Conclusions

Across different countries and cultures, people with MDD very frequently reported discrimination in the work setting. Effective interventions are needed to enhance work participation in people with MDD, focusing simultaneously on decreasing stigma in the work environment and on decreasing self-discrimination by empowering workers with MDD.
Effectiveness of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation programmes on clinical outcomes at hospital transitions: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mekonnen Alemayehu B , McLachlan Andrew J , Brien Jo-anne E
Published: February 2016

Objectives

Pharmacists play a role in providing medication reconciliation. However, data on effectiveness on patients’ clinical outcomes appear inconclusive. Thus, the aim of this study was to systematically investigate the effect of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation programmes on clinical outcomes at hospital transitions.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, IPA, CINHAL and PsycINFO from inception to December 2014. Included studies were all published studies in English that compared the effectiveness of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation interventions to usual care, aimed at improving medication reconciliation programmes. Meta-analysis was carried out using a random effects model, and subgroup analysis was conducted to determine the sources of heterogeneity.

Results

17 studies involving 21 342 adult patients were included. Eight studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Most studies targeted multiple transitions and compared comprehensive medication reconciliation programmes including telephone follow-up/home visit, patient counselling or both, during the first 30 days of follow-up. The pooled relative risks showed a more substantial reduction of 67%, 28% and 19% in adverse drug event-related hospital revisits (RR 0.33; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.53), emergency department (ED) visits (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.92) and hospital readmissions (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.70 to 0.95) in the intervention group than in the usual care group, respectively. The pooled data on mortality (RR 1.05; 95% CI 0.95 to 1.16) and composite readmission and/or ED visit (RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.90 to 1.00) did not differ among the groups. There was significant heterogeneity in the results related to readmissions and ED visits, however. Subgroup analyses based on study design and outcome timing did not show statistically significant results.

Conclusion

Pharmacist-led medication reconciliation programmes are effective at improving post-hospital healthcare utilisation. This review supports the implementation of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation programmes that include some component aimed at improving medication safety.
Six-year trajectories of post-traumatic stress and severe psychological distress symptoms and associations with timing of trauma exposure, ongoing adversity and sense of injustice: a latent transition analysis of a community cohort in conflict-affected Timor-Leste
Authors: Tay AK , Rees S , Steel Z , Tam N , Soares Z , Soares C , Silove DM
Published: February 2016

Objectives

To identify the 6-year trajectories of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and psychological distress symptoms, and examine for associations with timing of trauma exposure, ongoing adversity and with the sense of injustice in conflict-affected Timor-Leste.

Setting

A whole-of-household survey was conducted in 2004 and 2010 in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste.

Participants

1022 adults were followed up over 6 years (retention rate 84.5%). Interviews were conducted by field workers applying measures of traumatic events (TEs), ongoing adversity, a sense of injustice, PTS symptoms and psychological distress.

Results

Latent transition analysis supported a 3-class longitudinal model (psychological distress, comorbid symptoms and low symptoms). We derived 4 composite trajectories comprising recovery (20.8%), a persisting morbidity trajectory (7.2%), an incident trajectory (37.2%) and a low-symptom trajectory (34.7%). Compared with the low-symptom trajectory, the persistent and incident trajectories reported greater stress arising from poverty and family conflict, higher TE exposure for 2 historical periods, and a sense of injustice for 2 historical periods. The persistent trajectory was unique in reporting greater TE exposure in the Indonesian occupation, whereas the incident trajectory reported greater TE exposure during the later internal conflict that occurred between baseline and follow-up. Compared with the low-symptom trajectory, the incident trajectory reported a greater sense of injustice relating to the periods of the Indonesian occupation and independence. The persistent trajectory was characterised by a sense of injustice relating to the internal conflict and contemporary times. The recovery trajectory was characterised by the absence of these risk factors, the only difference from the low-symptom trajectory being that the former reported a sense of injustice for the period surrounding independence.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the timing of both TE exposure and the focus of a sense of injustice may differentiate those with persisting and new-onset mental health morbidity in settings of recurrent conflict.
Implications of aligning full registration of doctors with medical school graduation: a qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives
Authors: Mattick K L , Kaufhold K , Kelly N , Cole J A , Scheffler G , Rees C E , Bullock A , Gormley G J , Monrouxe L V
Published: February 2016

Objectives

The Shape of Training report recommended that full registration is aligned with medical school graduation. As part of a General Medical Council-funded study about the preparedness for practice of UK medical graduates, we explored UK stakeholders’ views about this proposal using qualitative interviews (30 group and 87 individual interviews) and Framework Analysis.

Setting

Four UK study sites, one in each country.

Participants

185 individuals from eight stakeholder groups: (1) foundation year 1 (F1) doctors (n=34); (2) fully registered trainee doctors (n=33); (3) clinical educators (n=32); (4) undergraduate/postgraduate Deans, and Foundation Programme Directors (n=30); (5) other healthcare professionals (n=13); (6) employers (n=7); (7) policy and government (n=11); (8) patient and public representatives (n=25).

Results

We identified four main themes: (1)The F1 year as a safety net: patients were protected by close trainee supervision and ‘sign off’ to prevent errors; trainees were provided with a safe environment for learning on the job; (2)Implications for undergraduate medical education: if the proposal was accepted, a ‘radical review’ of undergraduate curricula would be needed; undergraduate education might need to be longer; (3)Implications for F1 work practice: steps to protect healthcare team integration and ensure that F1 doctors stay within competency limits would be required; (4)Financial, structural and political implications:there would be cost implications for trainees; clarification of responsibilities between undergraduate and postgraduate medical education would be needed. Typically, each theme comprised arguments for and against the proposal.

Conclusions

A policy change to align the timing of full registration with graduation would require considerable planning and preliminary work. These findings will inform policymakers’ decision-making. Regardless of the decision, medical students should take on greater responsibility for patient care as undergraduates, assessment methods in clinical practice and professionalism domains need development, and good practice in postgraduate supervision and support must be shared.
Use of cannabis during pregnancy and birth outcomes in an Aboriginal birth cohort: a cross-sectional, population-based study
Authors: Brown Stephanie J , Mensah Fiona K , Ah Kit Jackie , Stuart-Butler Deanna , Glover Karen , Leane Cathy , Weetra Donna , Gartland Deirdre , Newbury Jonathan , Yelland Jane
Published: February 2016

Objectives

Indigenous women continue to experience rates of stillbirth, preterm birth and low birth weight, two to three times higher than other women in high-income countries. The reasons for disparities are complex and multifactorial. We aimed to assess the extent to which adverse birth outcomes are associated with maternal cannabis use and exposure to stressful events and social health issues during pregnancy.

Design/setting

Cross-sectional, population-based survey of women giving birth to Aboriginal babies in South Australia, July 2011–June 2013. Data include: maternal cannabis use, exposure to stressful events/social health issues, infant birth weight and gestation.

Participants

344 eligible women with a mean age of 25 years (range 15–43 years), enrolled in the study. Participants were representative in relation to maternal age, infant birth weight and gestation.

Results

1 in 5 women (20.5%) used cannabis during pregnancy, and 52% smoked cigarettes. Compared with mothers not using cannabis or cigarettes, mothers using cannabis had babies on average 565 g lighter (95% CI −762 to −367), and were more likely to have infants with a low birth weight (OR=6.5, 95% CI 3.0 to 14.3), and small for gestational age (OR=3.8, 95% CI 1.9 to 7.6). Controlling for education and other social characteristics, including stressful events/social health issues did not alter the conclusion that mothers using cannabis experience a higher risk of negative birth outcomes (adjusted OR for odds of low birth weight 3.9, 95% CI 1.4 to 11.2).

Conclusions

The findings provide a compelling case for stronger efforts to address the clustering of risk for adverse outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and point to the need for antenatal care to address broader social determinants of adverse perinatal outcomes. Integrated responses—collaboratively developed with Aboriginal communities and organisations—that focus on constellations of risk factors, and a holistic approach to addressing social determinants of adverse birth outcomes, are required.
Natural course of pain and disability following primary lumbar discectomy: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rushton A , Heneghan N , Heijmans M W , Staal J B , Goodwin P
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Knowledge about the natural clinical course is needed to improve understanding of recovery postsurgery as outcome is poor for some patients. Knowledge of the natural clinical course of symptoms and disability will inform optimal timing and the nature of rehabilitation intervention. The objective of this study is to provide first evidence synthesis investigating the natural clinical course of disability and pain in patients aged >16 years post primary lumbar discectomy.

Methods and analysis

A systematic review and data synthesis will be conducted. Prospective cohorts that include a well-defined inception cohort (point of surgery) of adult participants who have undergone primary lumbar discectomy/microdiscectomy will be included. Outcomes will include measurements reported on 1 or more outcomes of disability and pain, with a baseline presurgery measurement. Following development of the search strategy, 2 reviewers will independently search information sources, assess identified studies for inclusion, extract data and assess risk of bias. A third reviewer will mediate on any disagreement at each stage. The search will employ sensitive topic-based strategies designed for each database from inception to 31 January 2016. There will be no language or geographical restrictions. Risk of bias will be assessed using a modified QUality In Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool . Data will be extracted for time points where follow-up was at least 80%. Means and 95% CIs will be plotted over time for pain and disability. All results will be reported in the context of study quality.

Ethics and dissemination

This review will provide the first rigorous summary of the course of pain and disability across all published prospective cohorts. The findings will inform our understanding of when to offer and how to optimise rehabilitation following surgery. Results will be published in an open access journal. The study raises no ethical issues.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42015020806.