bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The prevalence of ill-treatment and bullying at work in Ireland
Authors: Hogan Victoria , Hodgins Margaret , Lewis Duncan , Maccurtain Sarah , Mannix-McNamara Patricia , Pursell Lisa 
Published: February 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of ill-treatment and bullying experienced by Irish workers and to explore individual and organisational predictors. The most recent national figures available are specific to bullying and predate the economic recession; therefore, this study is timely and investigates a broader range of negative behaviours.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey study on a national probability sample of Irish employees was conducted (N = 1,764). The study design replicated the methodology employed in the British workplace behaviour study.FindingsThe results showed that 43% of Irish workers had experienced ill-treatment at work over the past two years, with 9% meeting the criteria for experiencing workplace bullying. A number of individual and organisational factors were found to be significantly associated with the experience of ill-treatment at work.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides national-level data on workplace ill-treatment and bullying that are directly comparable to British study findings.Practical implicationsThe findings indicate that a significant number of Irish workers experience ill-treatment at work, and that workplace bullying does not appear to have decreased since the last national study was conducted in Ireland.Social implicationsThis study is of use to the Irish regulator and persons responsible for managing workplace bullying cases, as it identifies high-risk work situations and contributing individual factors.Originality/valueThis study provides national Irish data on workplace behaviour and ill-treatment following a severe economic recession.
Exploring the effect of an enhanced e-commerce institutional mechanism on online shopping intention in the context of e-commerce poverty alleviation
Authors: Han Feiyan , Li Bo 
Published: February 2020

PurposeE-commerce poverty alleviation (EPA) is an innovative poverty alleviation model in China. The institutional mechanisms of the e-commerce platform improve the effect of EPA and exert online shopping purchase power in rural China. From a socio-technical perspective, this paper used adoption readiness of farmers and perceived risk to construct an integrated model to discern the effect of enhanced e-commerce institutional mechanisms on farmers' online shopping intention in the context of EPA.Design/methodology/approachThe survey included 832 valid samples from rural farmers in Shanxi province. This study analyses using structural equation modelling (SEM) and bootstrap methods used to empirically test the model.FindingsFindings suggest that enhanced e-commerce institutional mechanisms have significant direct and indirect positive impacts on farmers' online shopping intention; adoption readiness and perceived risk play partial mediation roles in determining the relationship between farmers' online shopping intention and enhanced e-commerce institutional mechanisms; and the indirect mediation effect of adoption readiness is greater than that of perceived risk.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the proposed model was supported in the questionnaire survey, the investigation method was not completely excluded. Future research can combine the method of panel data and apply the framework to other e-commerce platforms, as well as to other cultural settings.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that enhanced e-commerce institutional mechanisms that are based on the needs of farmers from poverty-stricken areas change the shopping habits of farmers. Moreover, enhanced e-commerce institutional mechanisms should allow farmers' perceived adoption readiness to play its promoting role and reduce the impeding role of perceived risk. The results of this study are conducive to the intensive implementation of the ‘Three Rural Issues’ strategy in China.Originality/valueA new model to generate a two-factor mediation effect model by integrating the perceived effectiveness of enhanced e-commerce institutional mechanisms with farmers, farmers' adoption readiness, perceived risk and online shopping intention. The study explored the relationship between enhanced e-commerce institutional mechanisms and farmers' online shopping intention, bridging the gap in related empirical studies. Besides, this study first proposed farmers' adoption readiness and clarifies the mediating role of farmers' adoption readiness and perceived risk, which highlights the previously unnoticed role of farmers' adoption readiness.
Macroeconomic and macro-financial factors as leading indicators of non-performing loans
Authors: Staehr Karsten , Uusküla Lenno 
Published: February 2020

PurposeLarge or increasing stocks of non-performing loans in the banking sector constitute threats to financial stability. This paper considers to which extent various macroeconomic and macro-financial factors may serve as leading indicators for the dynamics of the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans.Design/methodology/approachThe paper estimates panel data models for all EU countries and two groups of EU countries using quarterly data over approximately 20 years.FindingsThe estimations show that many macroeconomic and macro-financial variables are leading indicators for non-performing loans in the EU countries, even years ahead. Higher GDP growth, lower inflation and lower debt are robust leading indicators of a lower ratio of non-performing loans in the future. The current account balance and real house prices are important indicators for the Western European group but not for the Central and Eastern European group.Research limitations/implicationsThe estimations are carried out for panels of EU countries and the effects may hence be seen as averages for the countries in the particular panel and may not apply for individual countries.Practical implicationsNational and international authorities have brought in systems to detect and address imbalances and emerging problems in the financial sectors. Many of the measures operate with long lags, and so it is important to assess whether various macroeconomic and macro-financial variables may serve as leading indicators for future developments of non-performing loans.Originality/valueThe main contribution of the paper is that it estimates models meant expressly for predicting non-performing loans several years ahead. The results are thus of practical use for national and international authorities which typically have access to measures that operate with a long delay. The analysis also includes more macroeconomic and macro-financial variables as leading indicators than have typically been used in earlier studies.
Effectiveness of a Qigong program on sleep quality among community-dwelling older adults with mild to moderate depression
Authors: Phansuea Phenphop , Tangwongchai Sookjaroen , Rattananupong Thanapoom , Lohsoonthorn Vitool , Lertmaharit Somrat 
Published: February 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a Qigong program on older adults in the Thai community suffering from mild to moderate depression.Design/methodology/approachA randomized controlled trial study was conducted in a public health service (PHS) center setting. Sixty-six older adults aged 60–90 years with mild to moderate depressive symptoms measured by the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale (TGDS: scores 13–24) were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. The subjective sleep quality was assessed using the Thai version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (TPSQI). The Qigong program group was given 12 weeks of Qigong training including three sessions per week, while the control group followed normal PHS activities (singing and praying). The outcome measure was the change in the TGDS from baseline to 12 weeks.FindingsParticipants in the Qigong program group had a significantly improved TPSQI global score (p < 0.001), subjective sleep quality (p < 0.001), and sleep latency (p < 0.05) after 12 weeks of intervention, while those in the control group showed no significant difference in sleep quality. Compared with the control group, the Qigong program group reported significantly better sleep quality throughout the 12-week period. The prevalence of poor sleep quality in this population was 82 percent.Originality/valueThis study confirmed that the Qigong program could improve sleep quality in older adults with mild to moderate depressive symptoms as the Qigong program conferred more significant improvements than the usual program.
An interpretive structural modeling of drivers and barriers of sustainable supply chain management
Authors: Soni Gunjan , Prakash Surya , Kumar Himanshu , Singh Surya Prakash , Jain Vipul , Dhami Sukhdeep Singh 
Published: February 2020

PurposeThe Indian marble and stone industry has got the potential to contribute well to the development of the emerging economy. However, unlike the other Indian industries, stone and marble industries are highly underrated sectors, which may become a critical factor for development. This paper analyses the sustainability factors in supply chain management practices.Design/methodology/approachA literature review is used to identify the barriers and drivers in sustainable supply chain management practices. Interpretive structural modeling has been used to obtain a hierarchy of barriers and drivers along with driving power and dependence power analysis. Further, MICMAC analysis is used for segregating the barriers and drivers in terms of their impact on sustainability.FindingsThe findings of the work of this research are that the attention of society, government, and commercial banks should be more toward the unorganized condition of stone and marble sector. There should be an increase in the commitment of stakeholders to reduce pollution and install safety, by enforcing more relevant laws and regulations and creating the importance of environmental awareness.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this research is to identify the barriers and drivers of sustainable supply chain management in a stone and marble industry. The paper proposes a sound mathematical model to prioritize the critical factors for responsible production and consumption of resources from sustainability perspectives of stone industry.
Optimization of design variables for carbon/glass hybrid composites laminates using the Taguchi Technique
Authors: Patil Sagar Dnyandev , Bhalerao Yogesh J. , Takale Adik 
Published: February 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the significance of disparate design variables on the mechanical properties of the composite laminate. Four design variables such as stacking sequence, stacking angle, types of resins and thickness of laminate have been chosen to analyze the impact on mechanical properties of the composite laminate. The detailed investigation is carried out to analyze the effect of a carbon layer in stacking sequence and investigate the impact of various resins on the fastening strength of fibers, stacking angles of the fibers and the thickness of the laminate.

Design/methodology/approach
The Taguchi approach has been adopted to detect the most significant design variable for optimum mechanical properties of the hybrid composite laminate. For this intend, L16 orthogonal array has been composed in statistical software Minitab 17. To investigate an effect of design variables on mechanical properties, signal to noise ratio plots were developed in Minitab. The numerical analysis was done by using the analysis of variance.

Findings
The single parameter optimization gives the optimal combination A1B1C4D2 (i.e. stacking sequence C/G/G/G, stacking angle is 00, the type of resin is newly developed resin [NDR] and laminate thickness is 0.3 cm) for tensile strength; A4B2C4D2 (i.e. stacking sequence G/G/G/C, stacking angle is 450, the type of resin is NDR and laminate thickness is 0.3 cm) for shear strength; and A2B3C4D2 (i.e. stacking sequence G/C/G/G, stacking angle is 900, the type of resin is NDR and thickness is 0.3 cm) for flexural strength. The types of resins and stacking angles are the most significant design variables on the mechanical properties of the composite laminate.

Originality/value
The novelty in this study is the development of new resin called NDR from polyethylene and polyurea group. The comparative study was carried out between NDR and three conventional resins (i.e. polyester, vinyl ester and epoxy). The NDR gives higher fastening strength to the fibers. Field emission scanning electron microscope images illustrate the better fastening ability of NDR compared with epoxy. The NDR provides an excellent strengthening effect on the RCC beam structure along with carbon fiber (Figure 2).
Association between radiographic anterior cruciate ligament tear and joint symptoms: Data from the osteoarthritis initiative
Authors: Johnson Victoria L. , Guermazi Ali , Roemer Frank W. , Hunter David J. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIntroductionSymptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) in the knee is defined as the presence of OA radiographic features in combination with knee symptoms. Pain has not been shown to correlate meaningfully to radiographic severity. We aimed to determine the relationship between a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with knee symptoms and radiographic OA.MethodsA within‐person, between‐knee cross‐sectional study of 37 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) with a complete or partial ACL tear detected on magnetic resonance imaging in 1 knee (index knee) were included. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and radiographs of both knees, 1 with an ACL tear and one without (control knee) were scored for OA severity (Kellgren‐Lawrence Grading) and symptoms. A generalized estimating equation with linear regression was used to compare symptom scores within individuals as well as to radiographic severity.ResultsThirty‐seven individuals (40% female, average age = 60.7years, body mass index = 31.0 kg/m2) reported no difference in knee symptoms (WOMAC pain odds ratio [OR] =1.92, 95%CI 0.699‐5.248, P = .21; KOOS symptoms OR = 2.12, 95%CI 0.740‐6.065, P = .09), stiffness (OR = 1.67, 95%CI 0.653‐5.583, P = .35) or functional disability (OR = 1 0.97, 95%CI 0.515‐7.508, P = .32) in the knee that exhibited an ACL tear compared to the control knee. Only knee function and disability (WOMAC Disability OR = 1.12, 95%CI 1.003‐1.249, P = .04) were associated with radiographic severity between index and control knees.ConclusionIndividuals did not report an increase in knee pain, stiffness or disability in their ACL‐deficient knee. Only disability was associated with worsening severity of radiographic OA in ACL‐deficient knees.
Association between COX‐2 and 15‐PGDH polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility
Authors: Sandoughi Mahnaz , Saravani Mohsen , Rokni Mohsen , Nora Mehrangiz , Mehrabani Mehrnaz , Dehghan Azizallah 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAimsSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Prostaglandins E2 (PGE2), the product of the cyclo‐oxygenase 2 (COX‐2) enzyme, has critical roles in the etiology of autoimmune diseases. PGE2 level is controlled by a balance between its synthesis mediator (COX‐2 enzyme) and its catabolic key enzyme (15‐hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase [15‐PGDH] enzyme). In the present study, the associations of genotypic polymorphisms in COX‐2 and 15‐PGDH with SLE were investigated.MethodsOne hundred and sixty SLE patients and 160 healthy controls participated in the study. The polymerase chain reaction ‐ restriction fragments length polymorphism method was used for genotyping. The COX‐2 rs2745557 G/A and 15‐PGDH rs8752 G/A polymorphisms were investigated.ResultsRegarding the COX‐2 rs2745557 single nucleotide polymorphism, there was no significant association between COX‐2 rs2745557 polymorphism and SLE. However, the dominant models showed a marginally significant relation (P = .048, odds ratio = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.4‐1.0). Regarding GA genotype of 15‐PGDH rd8752 polymorphism, there was a significant difference between two groups with a 4.5‐fold increase in SLE development (P = .0001). The frequency of the A allele was higher in SLE patients than that in controls, showing a 1.4‐fold increase in SLE development (P = .018).ConclusionAll results showed the protective effects of the dominant model of COX‐2 rs2745557 polymorphism and risk factor of 15‐PGDH rs8752 polymorphism on SLE development.
Accuracy of Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Adult Community‐acquired Pneumonia: A Meta‐analysis
Authors: Ebell Mark H. , Bentivegna Michelle , Cai Xinyan , Hulme Cassie , Kearney Maggie 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundBiomarkers such as C‐reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin may help distinguish community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) from other causes of lower respiratory tract infection.MethodsWe performed a systematic review of the literature to identify prospective studies evaluating the accuracy of a biomarker in patients with acute cough or suspected CAP. We performed parallel abstraction of data regarding study inclusion, characteristics, quality, and test accuracy. Study quality was evaluated using QUADAS‐2. Bivariate meta‐analysis was performed using the mada package in R, and summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created.ResultsFourteen studies met our inclusion and exclusion criteria; three were at low risk of bias and four at moderate risk of bias, largely due to failure to prespecify diagnostic thresholds. Considering all studies regardless of the cutoff used, CRP was most accurate (area under the ROC curve = 0.802), followed by leukocytosis (0.777) and procalcitonin (0.771). Lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein and fibrinogen are promising, but were only studied in a single report. For CRP and procalcitonin, the positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR–, respectively) varied inversely based on the cutoff. For CRP, LR+ and LR− were 2.08 and 0.32 for a cutoff of 20 mg/L, 3.64 and 0.36 for a cutoff of 50 mg/L, and 5.89 and 0.47 for a cutoff of 100 mg/L. For procalcitonin, LR+ and LR− were 2.50 and 0.39 for a cutoff of 0.10 µg/L, 5.43 and 0.62 for a cutoff of 0.25 µg/L, and 8.25 and 0.76 for a cutoff of 0.50 µg/L. The combination of CRP >49.5 mg/L and procalcitonin >0.1 µg/L had LR+ of 2.24 and LR− of 0.44.ConclusionsThe best evidence supports CRP as the preferred biomarker for diagnosis of outpatient CAP given its accuracy, low cost, and point‐of‐care availability.
A Choice‐Based Measure of Issue Importance in the Electorate
Authors: Hanretty Chris , Lauderdale Benjamin E. , Vivyan Nick 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMeasuring how much citizens care about different policy issues is critical for political scientists, yet existing measurement approaches have significant limitations. We provide a new survey‐experimental, choice‐based approach for measuring the importance voters attach to different positional issues, including issues not currently contested by political elites. We combine information from (a) direct questions eliciting respondents' positions on different issues with (b) a conjoint experiment asking respondents to trade off departures from their preferred positions on those issues. Applying this method to study the relative importance of 34 issues in the United Kingdom, we show that British voters attach significant importance to issues like the death penalty that are not presently the subject of political debate and attach more importance to those issues associated with social liberal–conservative rather than economic left–right divisions.
Economic evaluation of a tertiary prevention program for occupational skin diseases in Germany
Authors: Andrees Valerie , John Swen M. , Nienhaus Albert , Skudlik Christoph , Brans Richard , Augustin Matthias , Krensel Magdalene ,   for the ROQ‐Study group
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundOccupational skin diseases (OSDs) are the most common work‐related diseases in Germany and responsible for a large individual and financial burden. Therefore, a tertiary individual prevention program (TIP) is offered to patients with severe OSD who are at increased risk of abandoning their profession.ObjectivesTo define cost of illness (COI) of OSD in Germany and to economically evaluate the TIP from a societal perspective.MethodsIn this study, data on patients taking part in the TIP (September 2005 to December 2009) were collected. Sociodemographic and medical data, costs, disease severity (Osnabrueck Hand Eczema Severity Index), and quality of life (QoL; Dermatology Life Quality Index) were assessed. COI and cost‐effectiveness analyses were performed with a simulated control group.ResultsIn the analysis, 1041 patients were included. Intervention costs per person were €15 009 with decreasing COI over time. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio revealed expenses per patient of €8942 for a reduction in severity level and €9093 for an improvement in QoL in the base case. Considering costs for retraining, the break‐even point is reached if the TIP prevents retraining in approximately 64% of participants.ConclusionsThe decreased COI in this long‐term evaluation indicates that the TIP is cost‐effective in patients with severe OSD.
Ecology and movement of juvenile salmonids in beaver‐influenced and beaver‐free tributaries in the Trøndelag province of Norway
Authors: Malison Rachel L. , Halley Duncan J. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThere is concern that expanding beaver (Castor fiber) populations will negatively impact the important economic, recreational and ecological resources of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and sea trout (Salmo trutta) populations in Europe. We studied how beaver dams influenced habitat, food resources, growth and movement of juvenile Atlantic salmon and trout on three paired beaver‐dammed and beaver‐free (control) tributaries of important salmon rivers in central Norway. Lotic reaches of beaver‐dammed and control sites were similar in habitat and benthic prey abundance, and ponds were small (<3,000 m2). Though few juvenile salmonids were detected in ponds, trout and salmon were present in habitats below and above ponds (comprising 9%–31% and 0%–57% of the fish collected respectively). Trout dominated control sites (79%–99%), but the greatest proportion of Atlantic salmon were upstream of beaver ponds (0%–57%). Growth rates were highly variable, with no differences in growth between lotic reaches of beaver‐dammed and control sites. The condition and densities of juvenile salmon and trout were similar in lotic reaches of beaver‐dammed and control sites, though one beaver‐dammed site with fine sediment had very few juvenile salmonids. Beaver dams did not block the movement of juvenile salmonids or their ability to use upstream habitats. However, the degree of repeated movements and the overall proportion of fish moving varied between beaver‐dammed and control sites. The small scale of habitat alteration and the fact that fish were able to move past dams makes it unlikely that beaver dams negatively impact the juvenile stage of salmon or trout populations.