bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The implementation of Lean Six Sigma for operational excellence in digital emerging technology companies
Authors: Lameijer Bart A. , Pereira Wilmer , Antony Jiju 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding of the hurdles in implementing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) for operational excellence in digital emerging technology companies.Design/methodology/approachWe have conducted case studies of LSS implementations in six US-based companies in the digital emerging technology industry.FindingsCritical success factors (CSF) for LSS implementations in digital emerging technology companies are: (1) organizational leadership that is engaged to the implementation, (2) LSS methodology that is rebranded to fit existing shared values in the organization, (3) restructuring of the traditional LSS training program to include a more incremental, prioritized, on-the-job training approach and (4) a modified LSS project execution methodology that includes (a) condensing the phases and tools applied in LSS projects and (b) adopting more iterative project management methods compared to the standard phased LSS project approach.Research limitations/implicationsThe qualitative nature of our analysis and the geographic coverage of our sample limit the generalizability of our findings.Practical implicationsImplications comprise the awareness and knowledge of critical success factors and LSS methodology modifications specifically relevant for digital emerging technology companies or companies that share similarities in terms of focus on product development, innovation and growth, such as R&D departments in high-tech manufacturing companies.Originality/valueResearch on industry-specific enablers for successful LSS implementation in the digital emerging technology industry is virtually absent. Our research informs practitioners on how to implement LSS in this and alike industries, and points to aspects of such implementations that are worthy of further attention from the academic community.
Safety first: extending UTAUT to better predict mobile payment adoption by incorporating perceived security, perceived risk and trust
Authors: Widyanto Hanif Adinugroho , Kusumawardani Kunthi Afrilinda , Yohanes Helmy 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the antecedents of behavioral intention to use (BIU) mobile payment in Indonesia by extending unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) with user privacy constructs, namely, perceived security (PS), perceived risk (PR) and trust (Tr).

Design/methodology/approach
This is a quantitative research using the covariance-based structural equation modeling method, whereby the researchers conducted an online survey and distributed online questionnaires to users of mobile payment from all over Indonesia to obtain the data. The sample in this study consisted of 358 respondents.

Findings
This study found that social influence, facilitating conditions, PS, performance expectancy and Tr have a significant and direct influence on BIU mobile payment. PR was not found to have a significant and direct relationship with BIU, but it was indirectly affecting the latter through Tr as the mediating variable.

Originality/value
The researchers modified UTAUT by incorporating PS, PR and Tr to create a more comprehensive model in predicting mobile payment adoption, especially considering the risky nature of digital transactions in emerging economies like Indonesia. This extended model has never been thoroughly explored in previous studies.
The Academic Reading Format International Study (ARFIS): final results of a comparative survey analysis of 21,265 students in 33 countries
Authors: Mizrachi Diane , Salaz Alicia M. , Kurbanoglu Serap , Boustany Joumana 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThis paper presents the complete findings from the Academic Reading Format International Study (ARFIS), the world's largest study of tertiary students' format preferences and behaviors. The analysis of ARFIS proceeded in two stages. This paper reveals results from the second stage for the first time and compares them with the earlier results. The authors then present and discuss the results from the combined datasets of 21,266 students in 33 countries.Design/methodology/approachA total of 44 members in the ARFIS research team distributed an online survey composed of 22 Likert-style, multiple choice and open-ended questions to tertiary students on their format preferences and behaviors. Inferential statistical analysis was used on participant responses, and descriptive statistics analysis was used on the combined amalgamated dataset.FindingsMajorities of students in all countries consistently show preference for reading their academic texts in print. However, variations of preferences do occur between countries. Overall, the language of a reading does not affect reading format preferences, but national scores on this question are greatly diverse.Originality/valueARFIS is the largest study of its kind created through a collaboration of researchers in countries on six continents, collecting data in more than 20 languages. The sample size, rigorous statistical analysis and consistency of results strengthen the reliability of the findings. Analysis of the first dataset has received widespread recognition, but this paper is the first to publish the second dataset and the complete amalgamated results.
Characterization of EDARADD gene mutations responsible for hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia
Authors: Asano Nobuyuki , Yasuno Shuichiro , Hayashi Ryota , Shimomura Yutaka 
Published: July 2021

AbstractHypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a genetic disorder characterized by hypohidrosis, hypodontia, and hypotrichosis. Autosomal forms of the disease are caused by mutations in either EDAR or EDARADD. To date, the underlying pathomechanisms for HED resulting from EDARADD mutations have not fully been disclosed. In this study, we performed detailed in vitro analyses in order to characterize three dominantly inherited missense mutations, p.D120Y, p.L122R, and p.D123N, and one recessively inherited missense mutation, p.E152K, in the EDARADD gene. Nuclear factor (NF)‐κB reporter assays demonstrated that all the mutant EDARADD showed reduction in activation of NF‐κB. Importantly, p.D120Y‐, p.L122R‐, and p.D123N‐mutant EDARADD slightly reduced the NF‐κB activity induced by wild‐type EDARADD in a dominant negative manner. Co‐immunoprecipitation assays showed that all of the mutant EDARADD were capable of binding to EDAR and wild‐type EDARADD. Additional co‐immunoprecipitation assays revealed that p.D120Y‐, p.L122R‐, and p.D123N‐mutant EDARADD markedly prevented the interaction between EDAR and wild‐type EDARADD, which further indicated a dominant negative effect by these mutations. Finally, we found that p.D120Y‐, p.L122R‐, and p.D123N‐mutant EDARADD completely lost the ability to bind with TRAF6, while p.E152K‐mutant EDARADD showed a mild reduction in the affinity. Our findings will provide crucial information toward unraveling the molecular mechanisms how EDARADD gene mutations cause the disease.
Recurrent erythema multiforme: A therapeutic proposal for a chronic disease
Authors: Dias de Oliveira Natasha Favoretto , Miyamoto Denise , Maruta Celina Wakisaka , Aoki Valeria , Santi Claudia Giuli 
Published: July 2021

AbstractRecurrent erythema multiforme is a chronic relapsing disease that represents a therapeutic challenge. Our objective was to retrospectively evaluate the clinical–epidemiological characteristics and therapeutic response of patients with recurrent erythema multiforme and suggest a therapeutic protocol. We included patients with recurrent erythema multiforme diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2019. Clinical symptoms and a positive serology for herpes simplex virus were the inclusion criteria to initiate acyclovir in monotherapy or a combined treatment with dapsone, thalidomide, or immunosuppressants in refractory cases. Thirty‐five patients were included and 71.4% were female. The median disease onset age was 35.7 years and the mean follow‐up was 7.58 years. The skin was the most affected site (91.4%). Herpes simplex virus immunoglobulin (Ig)G serology was positive in 91.1% of cases. Acyclovir treatment was used in 33 of 35 patients, and complete remission was achieved in 22 of 33 after the first therapeutic course; 16 of 22 relapsed and required a second acyclovir cycle. Combined treatment with dapsone was required in nine of 33 due to partial response to acyclovir; thalidomide was an adjuvant drug in four of 33 due to adverse effects to dapsone. After the first cycle of acyclovir with or without combined therapy, 19 of 33 patients relapsed and received 2–6 additional cycles. Our results suggest that recurrent erythema multiforme presents a good response to acyclovir in monotherapy or in combined therapy with dapsone or thalidomide in the majority of patients. We propose a long‐term therapeutic protocol to enable disease remission.
Prosecutors, court communities, and policy change: The impact of internal DOJ reforms on federal prosecutorial practices*
Authors: Lynch Mona , Barno Matt , Omori Marisa 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe current study examines how key internal U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) policy changes have been translated into front‐line prosecutorial practices. Extending courts‐as‐communities scholarship and research on policy implementation practices, we use U.S. Sentencing Commission data from 2004 to 2019 to model outcomes for several measures of prosecutorial discretion in federal drug trafficking cases, including the use of mandatory minimum charges and prosecutor‐endorsed departures, to test the impact of the policy changes on case processing outcomes. We contrast prosecutorial measures with measures that are more impervious to discretionary manipulation, such as criminal history, and those that represent judicial and blended discretion, including judicial departures and final sentence lengths. We find a significant effect of the policy reforms on how prosecutorial tools are used across DOJ policy periods, and we find variation across districts as a function of contextual conditions, consistent with the court communities literature. We also find that a powerful driver of changes in prosecutorial practices during our most recent period is the confirmation of individual Trump‐appointed U.S. Attorneys at the district level, suggesting an important theoretical place for midlevel actors in policy translation and implementation.
The association between birth by caesarean section at term and offspring cognitive and academic performance: A birth cohort study
Authors: Blake Julie A. , Pelecanos Anita , Najman Jake M. , Callaway Leonie , Scott James G. 
Published: July 2021

BackgroundCaesarean section (CS) is associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes for both mothers and offspring. The evidence for an association between CS and reduced offspring cognitive and academic performance has been inconsistent, with considerable limitations.AimThe aim of this study is to compare cognitive and academic performance in childhood and early adulthood in offspring delivered by CS with those delivered vaginally at term.Materials and methodsData on 4327 mothers and offspring from a longitudinal birth cohort study were analysed. Offspring cognitive performance was measured by the Picture Peabody Vocabulary Test‐Revised (PPVT‐R) at ages five and 21 and the Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices at age 14. Academic achievement was assessed using the Wide Range Achievement Test at age 14.ResultsAfter adjustment for confounding factors, there was no statistically significant association between cognitive performance and offspring birth mode at age five (P = 0.11). The adjusted difference of mean scores at five years on the PPVT‐R for elective CS birth compared to those born by vaginal delivery was −2.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) −4.3 to −0.2), whereas for emergency CS it was 0.0 (95% CI −2.0 to 2.0). There were no differences in cognitive or academic performance at ages 14 and 21.ConclusionBirth mode was not significantly associated with offspring cognitive or academic performance. Our study does not support concerns that CS is associated with a reduction in cognitive performance.
COVID‐19 response by New Zealand general surgical departments in tertiary metropolitan hospitals
Authors: Toh Karen Hui Qi , Barazanchi Ahmed , Rajaretnam Nigel S. , Tan Jeffrey , Linton Tara , Murray Mark , Fagan Paul , Koea Jonathan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundWorldwide, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has significantly challenged the delivery of healthcare. New Zealand (NZ) faced similar potential challenges despite being geographically isolated. Given the rapid change in the COVID‐19 pandemic, hospitals in NZ were tasked with formulating their own COVID‐19 responses based on the Ministry of Health's (MoH) recommendations.MethodsThis paper evaluates how six metropolitan general surgical departments in NZ had responded to COVID‐19 in terms of changes made to rosters, theatres, clinics, acute admissions as well as additional measures taken to reduce the risk of staff exposure. It also explores how NZ fared in comparison with international guidelines and recommendations. Data from each centre were provided by an appointed clinician.ResultsAll centres had adapted new rosters and a restructuring of teams. Handovers, multidisciplinary team meetings and educational sessions were held virtually. Different strategies were implemented to ration hospital resources and reduce the risk of staff exposure. Non‐urgent operations, endoscopies and clinics were deferred with allocation of dedicated COVID‐19 operating theatres. Potential COVID‐19 suspects were screened prior to admission and treated separately. Various admission and imaging pathways were utilised to increase efficiency.ConclusionGeneral surgical departments in NZ had implemented a comprehensive COVID‐19 response but there is room to work towards a more unified national response. Our analysis shows that these centres across NZ had taken a similar approach which was aligned with international practices.
The effect of socioeconomic deprivation on presentation stage and long‐term outcomes in patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection in Western Sydney
Authors: MacDermid Ewan , Pasch James , Fok Kar Yin , Pasch Lachlan , Premaratne Chatika , Kotecha Krishna , Barto Walid , El Khoury Toufic 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundWhile socioeconomic deprivation has been shown to affect survival in colorectal cancer, other factors such as global region of birth and ethnicity also exert an effect. We wished to ascertain the influence of socioeconomic deprivation on stage of presentation and cancer survival in an ethnically diverse Australian population.MethodsCases from a database of resections in Western Sydney (n = 1596) were stratified into cohorts of socioeconomic quintiles. Univariate analysis was used to compare demographics, AJCC stage and histopathological details between the least and most socioeconomically deprived groups. Kaplan–Meier analysis and log‐rank testing were used to compare cancer‐specific and all‐cause 5‐year survival between the most deprived quintile and all others, after case–control matching for age and overseas birth.ResultsA total of 322 (20.2%) patients from the most socioeconomically deprived centile, and 275 (17.2%) from the least were compared. The most deprived were significantly more likely to be aged under 70 (54.1% vs. 44.4%, p = 0.019), born overseas (54.3% vs. 38.6%, p = 0.003), present with stage III disease (37.4% vs. 26.7%, p = 0.005), perforated (12.5% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.005) or circumferential tumours (37% vs. 24.3%, p = 0.043). There was no significant difference in proportions presenting with metastatic disease, or 5‐year survival between the most deprived quintile and all others after correction for age and foreign birth.ConclusionsSocioeconomic deprivation is associated with unfavourable colorectal cancer presentation stage but not poorer 5‐year survival in our Western Sydney population. The reasons for this are unclear and demand further attention.
Followership at a distance: Follower adjustment to distal leadership during COVID‐19
Authors: Carsten Melissa , Goswami Ashita , Shepard Agnieszka , Donnelly Lilah I. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractLeader distance theory has received scant empirical attention in the extant literature; however, the “work from home” orders associated with COVID‐19 have made this theory and its empirical findings highly relevant for organizations. Our study integrates leader distance theory and followership theory to understand how follower role beliefs affect follower effort, performance, and withdrawal under physical leader distance and varying conditions of leader interaction frequency. Using a three‐wave survey methodology with 260 adults working remotely, our study finds that followers' levels of effort, performance, and withdrawal were contingent on leader interaction frequency. Specifically, followers with a coproduction role orientation, who see their role as more collaborative, reported higher levels of effort under conditions of high leader interaction. Furthermore, the indirect effect of coproduction on follower performance and withdrawal via effort was moderated by leader interaction frequency. The results for followers with passive role orientations, however, were in the opposite direction. These followers reported less effort when leader interaction was high, and the mediational chain predicting performance and withdrawal was contingent on leader interaction frequency. Our study contributes to the ongoing conversation about the positive and negative effects of leader distance and positions followership characteristics as important boundary conditions of distal leadership.
Social exchange relationships and exchange ideologies of employees and supervisors: A three‐way interaction toward employee creativity
Authors: Lee Soojin , Han Soojung , Byun Gukdo , Son Seung Yeon 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis study aims to better understand the effects of social exchange relationships between employees and their organizations (perceived organizational support [POS]), and their leaders (leader–member exchange [LMX]) on their creativity. To this end, we investigated how exchange ideologies of employees and supervisors affect the relationship between POS/LMX and employee creativity using a three‐way interaction test. Building on the social exchange theory, the results from our sample of 254 leader–employee dyads indicated that the relationship between POS/LMX and employee creativity is significantly more positive for an employee with strong exchange ideology than for an employee with weak exchange ideology. Moreover, POS and LMX had the strongest positive relationships with creativity when both employees and supervisors had higher levels of exchange ideology. The implications of our results and future research directions are discussed.
Shaping classroom social experiences through collaborative small‐group discussions
Authors: Lin Tzu‐Jung , Kraatz Elizabeth , Ha Seung Yon , Hsieh Ming‐Yi , Glassman Michael , Nagpal Manisha , Sallade Rebecca , Shin Sangin 
Published: July 2021

BackgroundStudents form interpersonal and intrapersonal classroom social experiences with peers. While diverse intervention programmes have been developed, few have integrated social‐emotional learning into academic activities to maximize the potential for learning and development.AimsThis study examined the effects of collaborative small‐group discussions on students’ classroom social experiences at the interpersonal and intrapersonal levels.SampleThe study included 250 students (Mage = 10.98, female = 52%) and six teachers from 12 English language arts fifth‐grade classrooms in two public schools in the United States.MethodsStudents were assigned to one of three conditions: Collaborative Social Reasoning (CSR), Read‐Aloud (RA), or Regular Instruction (RI). Students in the CSR condition participated in recurrent collaborative small‐group discussions about stories related to complex social‐moral issues, including friendship, social exclusion, ethics of care, and responsibility. Students in the RA condition read the same stories without discussions.ResultsCollaborative Social Reasoning students were more socially accepted by peers and were less aggressive to others compared to students in the other conditions. RA students revealed more aggressive behaviour than other groups. In a post‐intervention interview, CSR students reported improved communication and group work strategies, ability to maintain harmonious relationships, and class participation. A higher proportion of CSR students in the CSR than the other conditions reported experiencing positive change in classroom relationships. Teacher interviews were used in conjunction with student interviews to triangulate conclusions from qualitative interview data.ConclusionFindings suggest effective ways to structure collaborative small‐group discussions to foster positive classroom social experiences with peers.
Resistance to first‐generation somatostatin receptor ligands does not impair the results of gamma knife radiosurgery in acromegaly
Authors: Losa Marco , Resmini Eugenia , Barzaghi Lina R. , Albano Luigi , Bailo Michele , Webb Susan M. , Mortini Pietro 
Published: July 2021

AbstractObjectiveGamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has proven to be an effective adjuvant treatment for patients with acromegaly. We performed the present study to investigate, which would be the outcome of GKRS, independently on the response to somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL).DesignRetrospective, observational study.PatientsNinety‐six patients with active acromegaly were included.MeasurementsThe cumulative probability of normalisation of insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) levels after GKRS was assessed by the Kaplan–Meier method. The association of several clinical characteristics with GKRS outcomes was explored with the use of a Cox proportional‐hazard model with the relative hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsResistance to SRL occurred in 39 of the 96 patients (40.6%). After GKRS, patients resistant to SRL had a 5‐ and 10‐year probability of remission of 40.7% (95% CI: 23.7%–57.7%) and 75.9% (95% CI: 57.9%–93.9%), respectively. Patients responding to SRL had a 5‐ and 10‐year probability of remission of 46.8% (95% CI: 32.2%–61.4%) and 58.1% (95% CI: 41.5%–74.7%), respectively. The difference was not significant (p = .48 by the log‐rank test). Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed that the only independent variables associated with GKRS outcome were basal growth hormone (GH; p = .001) and IGF‐1 multiple of the upper limit of normal levels before GKRS (p = .013).ConclusionWe demonstrate for the first time that the responsiveness to SRL has no effect on the probability to obtain remission of acromegaly after GKRS. The remission of disease occurred more frequently in patients who had lower GH and IGF‐1 levels before GKRS.