bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Soft skills: toward a sanctimonious discipline
Authors: Rao M.S. 
Published: September 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to achieve sanctimonious status to the soft skills discipline. It explores soft skills in global organizations and educational institutions.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper explains the significance of soft skills and the methods to acquire these. It differentiates between soft and hard skills with examples and illustrations. It draws a blueprint to offer soft skills program. It unveils expository strategy, guided strategy and active strategy for teaching and training soft skills.

Findings
The finding of this study reminds that the world is shifting from knowledge economy to self-knowledge economy and of the importance of soft skills with the advent of artificial intelligence. It enlightens that a judicious blend of hard and soft skills is essential for achieving professional and leadership success. It implores not only to build hard skills but also mind soft skills. It concludes that soft skills are essential for everyone from janitors to chief executives to achieve the desired outcomes.

Research limitations/implications
This paper explains from the academic and organizational perspectives only.

Practical implications
This methodology can be applied in any industry and in any size of organization globally.

Social implications
The social implications of this research suggest that educational institutions and global organizations can adopt these methods and strategies to impart and improve soft skills.

Originality/value
This research explores tools and techniques to measure soft skills. It encourages experiential learning to impart soft skills. It coins an innovative evaluation tool – Meka’s five-level model – to measure soft skills training. It outlines a few sample questions to measure soft skills training. It crafts course curriculum for soft skills. It unveils a list of soft skills essential for leaders.
Factors influencing service quality
Authors: Ojekalu Samson Oluseun , Ojo Olatoye , Oladokun Timothy Tunde , Olabisi Sumoila Aremu 
Published: September 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine factors influencing service quality of the property managers to the occupiers of shopping complexes in Ibadan, Nigeria. This was with a view to providing information that could enhance property management practice.

Design/methodology/approach
Primary data were used for the study. The study area was stratified into five axes using major roads where shopping complexes were highly concentrated. Systematic sampling technique was used to select 139 out of 276 shopping complexes in the study area. The data obtained were analyzed using mean ranking and principal component analysis.

Findings
The study found that ineffective employee’s compensation, high employee turnover, lack of continuous improvement culture, inadequate use of employee empowerment, inadequate staff, lack of teamwork, inability to see tenants as customer, lack of motivation, education and training of the property managers and poor planning among others were the most significant factors influencing service quality of the property managers using mean ranking. The study further found that professional and empowerment factor, teamwork and motivation factor, customer related factor, work volume and operation factor, skills and job satisfaction factor, top-management commitment factor, experience and communication factor as well as financial factor were the factors influencing service quality of the property managers using principal component analysis.

Practical implications
This study will aid the property managers of shopping complexes in identifying areas which needed to be improved upon in order to provide quality service to occupiers thereby enhancing tenant retention and loyalty.

Originality/value
Previous studies on factors influencing service quality have been focusing on hospitality, healthcare, real estate agency and library industries. This study is one of the very few studies that examined factors influencing service quality of property managers of shopping complex. Also, the paper underlines the need for property managers of shopping complexes to give required attention to factors influencing service quality for enhanced property management practice.
Targeted metagenomics demonstrates the ecological role of IS1071in bacterial community adaptation to pesticide degradation
Authors: Dunon Vincent , Bers Karolien , Lavigne Rob , Top Eva M. , Springael Dirk 
Published: September 2018

SummaryIS1071, an insertion element that primarily flanks organic xenobiotic degradation genes in cultured isolates, is suggested to play a key role in the formation and distribution of bacterial catabolic pathway gene clusters. However, in environmental settings, the identity of the IS1071genetic cargo and its correspondence to the local selective conditions remain unknown. To respond, we developed a long‐range PCR approach amplifying accessory genes between two IS1071copies from community DNA followed by amplicon sequencing. We applied this method to pesticide‐exposed environments, i.e. linuron‐treated agricultural soil and on‐farm biopurification systems (BPS) treating complex agricultural wastewater, as to non‐treated controls. Amplicons were mainly recovered from the pesticide‐exposed environments and the BPS matrix showed a higher size diversity compared to the agricultural soil. Retrieved gene functions mirrored the main selection pressure as (i) a large fraction of the BPS amplicons contained a high variety of genes/gene clusters related to the degradation of organics including herbicides present in the wastewater and (ii) in the agricultural soil, recovered genes were associated with linuron degradation. Our metagenomic analysis extends observations from cultured isolates and provides evidence that IS1071is a carrier of catabolic genes in xenobiotica stressed environments and contributes to community level adaptation towards pesticide biodegradation.
Sample Selection for Medicare Risk Adjustment Due to Systematically Missing Data
Authors: Bergquist Savannah L. , McGuire Thomas G. , Layton Timothy J. , Rose Sherri 
Published: September 2018

ObjectiveTo assess the issue of nonrepresentative sampling in Medicare Advantage (MA) risk adjustment.Data SourcesMedicare enrollment and claims data from 2008 to 2011.Data ExtractionRisk adjustment predictor variables were created from 2008 to 2010 Part A and B claims and the Medicare Beneficiary Summary File. Spending is based on 2009–2011 Part A and B, Durable Medical Equipment, and Home Health Agency claims files.Study DesignA propensity‐score matched sample of Traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries who resembled MA enrollees was created. Risk adjustment formulas were estimated using multiple techniques, and performance was evaluated based on R2, predictive ratios, and formula coefficients in the matched sample and a random sample of TM beneficiaries.Principal FindingsMatching improved balance on observables, but performance metrics were similar when comparing risk adjustment formula results fit on and evaluated in the matched sample versus fit on the random sample and evaluated in the matched sample.ConclusionsFitting MA risk adjustment formulas on a random sample versus a matched sample yields little difference in MA plan payments. This does not rule out potential improvements via the matching method should reliable MA encounter data and additional variables become available for risk adjustment.
Risk factors of lymph node metastasis in 734 early gastric carcinoma radical resections in a Chinese population
Authors: Du Ming Zhan , Gan Wen Juan , Yu Jie , Liu Wei , Zhan Sheng Hua , Huang Shan , Huang Ren Peng , Guo Ling Chuan , Huang Qin 
Published: September 2018

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in early gastric carcinoma (EGC) in a Chinese population.METHODSThe data were analyzed to determine risk factors of LNM. The patients’ characteristics, the tumor's location, gross features, histological type, differentiation, invasive depth, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), perineural invasion and the numbers of lymph nodes retrieved and involved were statistically analyzed.RESULTSA total of 734 patients with EGC were finally enrolled in the study, and LNM was present in 14.2% (104/734) of them. By univariate analysis, significant risk factors for LNM included depressed or excavated gross patterns, size ≥1.0 cm, SM2, moderate/poor differentiation, histological type of hepatoid or micropapillary adenocarcinoma, LVI, perineural invasion and tumor necrosis. By multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for LNM were size ≥3.0 cm (odds ratio [OR] 4.9), SM2 (OR 2.4), moderate (OR 3.6) and poor (OR 5.0) differentiation, LVI (OR 3.1) and tumor necrosis (OR 1.7). Early gastric cardiac carcinoma (OR 0.3) had a significantly lower risk than non‐cardiac carcinoma. No LNM was identified in 67 EGC of <1.0 cm in size and without poor differentiation, in 142 intramucosal EGC cases of smaller than 2.0 cm and without poor differentiation, in 129 cases of well‐differentiated EGC without deep SM2 submucosal invasion, or in 54 intramucosal EGC located in the gastric cardia.CONCLUSIONIndependent risk factors for LNM in EGC include tumor size ≥3.0 cm, SM2 invasion, moderate/poor differentiation, LVI and tumor necrosis. Early cardiac carcinoma had a significantly lower risk of LNM than non‐cardiac EGC.
Hot off the Press: SGEM #226. I Want a New Drug—One That Doesn't Cause an Adverse Drug Event
Authors: Bond Christopher , Morgenstern Justin , Heitz Corey , Milne William K. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAdverse drug events (ADEs) are a significant cause of emergency department (ED) visits in North America and are frequently misdiagnosed. Despite evidence supporting improved health care outcomes for ED patients who have a pharmacist‐led medication review, EDs do not have sufficient clinical pharmacists to perform medication reviews on all patients. The study reviewed in this article aimed to validate clinical decision rules for use by clinical pharmacists and physicians to prioritize ED patients with ADEs.
Effect of shade and eutrophication on the biological control of Salvinia molesta (Salviniaceae) by the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae (Coleoptera: Erirhinidae)
Authors: Maseko Zolile , Coetzee Julie A , Hill Martin P 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSalvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell (Salviniaceae), a floating aquatic weed, is a menace in many water bodies, disrupting the ecological balance wherever it invades, with wide ranging economic and health impacts. Biological control using the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder & Sands has been an effective control method globally, although some infestations persist, in particular in shaded waterbodies. This study thus aimed to determine the effect of shade on the efficacy of biological control of S. molesta. Plants were grown in a greenhouse at high and low nutrients, in three varying shade levels, and half of the experiment subjected to herbivory by C. salviniae. Plant biomass was significantly greater in high‐nutrient conditions, in the absence and presence of herbivory at all levels of shade tested. Under shade and high‐nutrient conditions, plants were significantly higher in quality (i.e. lower carbon:nitrogen ratio) compared with those exposed to full sun. Plants in the shade sustained less damage, possibly due to the high insoluble nitrogen concentrations, which may have deterred herbivory by C. salviniae. However, when exposed to full sun, plants were of lower quality and consequently sustained more damage from the weevils despite lower populations. The results therefore suggest that nutrient supply is pivotal in plant growth compared with light (amount of PAR). The results from this study add to the growing body of literature that plant quality is a major factor in determining the success of aquatic weed biological control programmes.
Prognostic value of retrieved lymph node counts in patients with node‐negative perihilar cholangiocarcinomas
Authors: Lin Huapeng , Wu Yu‐Shen , Li Zhongyi , Jiang Yicheng 
Published: September 2018

BackgroundThis study aimed to find out the prognostic value and optimal cut‐off value of retrieved lymph node (LN) counts in patients with node‐negative perihilar cholangiocarcinomas.MethodsThe Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database was used to screen out patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. The cut‐off number of retrieved LNs was determined by the X‐tile programme. Kaplan–Meier methods with log‐rank tests and Cox regression analysis were used for survival analysis.ResultsA total of 778 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (2004–2014) met the inclusion criteria for this research, and there were 403 patients without LN metastases (N0) among them. The cut‐off numbers of retrieved LNs, which were determined using the X‐tile programme, were 8 and 18. Both results of univariate and multivariate survival analyses in N0 patients showed that patients with ≥18 retrieved LNs had a significantly better survival rate than patients with 1–7 retrieved LNs and patients with 8–17 retrieved LNs. In the subgroup of patients with early‐stage tumours, patients with at least 13 retrieved LNs had a significantly better overall and cancer‐specific survival than patients with fewer retrieved LNs.ConclusionsThe retrieved LN counts are an independent prognostic factor for patients with node‐negative perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Patients with at least 18 retrieved LNs had a better overall and cancer‐specific survival than patients with fewer retrieved LNs. The minimum requirement for retrieving of LNs should reach 18 in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Role of post‐operative serum C‐reactive protein levels as a predictor of complications in upper gastrointestinal surgery
Authors: Späth Christoph , Srinivasa Sanket , Walsh Michael , Singh Parry , Rodgers Michael , Koea Jonathan 
Published: September 2018

BackgroundThis study was undertaken to assess the value of C‐reactive protein (CRP) in predicting infective complications after elective upper gastrointestinal surgery.MethodsDemographic data, clinical outcomes and serial CRPs preoperatively to post‐operative day (POD) 7 were collected for patients undergoing pancreatectomy, hepatectomy and oesophago‐gastrectomy between 2005 and 2016. Areas under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate diagnostic accuracy per day of measurement.ResultsOf the 249 patients, 63 (25.3%) developed infective complications and 25 (10%) developed severe infective complications (≥Clavien–Dindo Grade III). Patients with infective complications trended towards higher CRP levels on POD1–POD4 and had significantly higher CRP levels on POD5 (156 versus 114 mg/dL; P = 0.03), POD6 (146 versus 93 mg/dL; P < 0.01) and POD7 (135 versus 84.6 mg/dL; P < 0.01). CRP had the best diagnostic accuracy for severe infective complications on POD6 (AUC: 0.73) and POD7 (AUC: 0.63). A CRP cut‐off of 120 mg/dL on POD6 had a negative predictive value of 96.1% and a CRP cut‐off of 80 mg/dL on POD7 had a negative predictive value of 94.9%.ConclusionCRP measurements can be used as a negative predictive marker of infective complications in the first post‐operative week after major elective upper gastrointestinal surgery.
Totally Endoscopic Robotic‐Assisted Cardiac Surgery in Children
Authors: Onan Burak , Aydin Unal , Kadirogullari Ersin , Onan Ismihan Selen , Sen Onur 
Published: September 2018

AbstractRobotic surgery for intracardiac pathologies in children is relatively uncommon. This study presents our initial experience with robotic‐assisted cardiac surgery in children. We also present the feasibility and safety of robotic surgery in children. From May 2013 to June 2018, 30 children underwent totally endoscopic robotic atrial septal defect closure (n = 22), right‐sided (n = 5) or left‐sided (n = 1) partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair, tricuspid valve annuloplasty (n = 4), and mitral valve replacement (n = 2, due to Barlow and rheumatic diseases). The mean age of the patients was 16.1 ± 1.1 years (range, 13–17) and the mean weight was 56.7 ± 0.1 kg (range, 42–77). Associated anomalies included left persistent superior vena cava (n = 2) and the absence of innominate vein (n = 1). All procedures were completed uneventfully. Operation time was 4.1 ± 0.6 h. No patient was converted to thoracotomy or sternotomy. Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic clamping times were 90.6 ± 28.0 (range, 45–136) and 48.6 ± 24.9 (range, 15–94) min, respectively. The mean ventilation time was 3.7 ± 1.2 h and hospital stay time was 3.3 ± 0.7 days. No right phrenic nerve injury, hemorrhage, or blood transfusion were noted. One patient had postoperative pneumothorax, and 1 had supraventricular arrhythmia. Follow‐up was a mean of 1.7 years (range, 1–52 months). Patients were healthy and no residual intracardiac defect was observed on echocardiography examinations. There was no operative or follow‐up mortality. Robotically assisted cardiac surgery is a feasible and safe approach in selected pediatric patients. In the future, new generation robotic devices may offer an alternative surgical approach in cardiac surgery for younger children with lower body weight.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: conditioned pain modulation in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Albusoda Ahmed , Ruffle James K. , Friis Kathrine A. , Gysan Maximilian R. , Drewes Asbjørn M. , Aziz Qasim , Farmer Adam D. 
Published: September 2018

SummaryBackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common and is characterised by recurrent abdominal pain, which is a major contributor to healthcare seeking. The neurobiological basis of this pain is incompletely understood. Conditioned pain modulation is a neuromodulatory mechanism through which the brain inhibits the nociceptive afferent barrage through the descending pathways. Reduced conditioned pain modulation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of IBS, although to date only in studies with relatively small sample sizes.AimTo clarify the relationship between conditioned pain modulation and IBS by undertaking a systemic review and meta‐analysisMethodsA systematic review of MEDLINE and Web of Science databases was searched (up to 10 May 2018). We included studies examining conditioned pain modulation in adults with IBS and healthy subjects. Data were pooled for meta‐analysis to calculate the odds ratio and effect size of abnormal conditioned pain modulation in IBS, with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsThe search strategy identified 645 studies, of which 13 were relevant and 12 met the inclusion criteria. Conditioned pain modulation in IBS patients vs healthy subjects was significantly reduced, odds ratio 4.84 (95% CI: 2.19‐10.71, P < 0.0001), Hedges’ g effect size of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.42‐1.28, P < 0.001). There was significant heterogeneity in effect sizes (Q‐test χ2 = 52, P < 0.001, I2 = 78.8%) in the absence of publication bias.ConclusionConditioned pain modulation is significantly diminished in patients with IBS vs healthy controls. These data suggest that abnormal descending pathways may play an important pathophysiological role in IBS, which could represent an investigation and a therapeutic target in IBS.
Children's Experiences of Bullying Victimization and the Influence on Their Subjective Well‐Being: A Multinational Comparison
Authors: Savahl Shazly , Montserrat Carme , Casas Ferran , Adams Sabirah , Tiliouine Habib , Benninger Elizabeth , Jackson Kyle 
Published: September 2018

The study used data from the second wave of the Children's Worlds Survey to explore the relation between children's experiences of bullying victimization (physical and psychological) and their subjective well‐being (SWB) across three age groups (8, 10, and 12) and 15 global geographical regions. The sample consists of 47,029 children randomly selected from 15 countries. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. The results show appropriate fit structure for the overall model, and that the combined influence of physical and psychological bullying made a significant contribution to SWB across age groups and geographical regions. The findings are interpreted using Cummins's (1995) Homeostasis Theory of SWB.
Shanghai Time Outside to Reduce Myopia trial: design and baseline data
Authors: He Xiangui , Sankaridurg Padmaja , Xiong Shuyu , Li Wayne , Zhang Bo , Weng Rebecca , Zhu Jianfeng , Naduvilath Thomas , Resnikoff Serge , Zou Haidong , Xu Xun 
Published: September 2018

ImportanceMyopia is a major public health concern worldwide, while outdoor time is indicated to be protective against the onset of myopia.BackgroundTo describe the methodology and baseline data of the Shanghai Time Outside to Reduce Myopia (STORM) trial.DesignA 2‐year, school‐based, prospective, cluster randomized trial.ParticipantsChildren from grade I and II classes of 24 schools from eight districts in Shanghai, China, were randomized to either a control group, a test group I (40‐min outdoor time/day) or test group II (80‐min outdoor time/day).MethodsAt baseline and annual intervals, cycloplegic autorefraction and axial length measurement will be performed. Time outdoors and light exposure will be monitored via parent/carer questionnaires and a wearable device.Main Outcome MeasuresSpherical equivalent, prevalence of myopia and time outdoors in each group.ResultsA total of 6295 eligible children (age 7.2 ± 0.7 y [6‐9 y]) were randomized to control (n = 2037), test group I (n = 2329) and test group II (n = 1929). At baseline, spherical equivalent was +0.98 ± 1.02D, +1.02 ± 1.02D and +1.00 ± 0.99D (P = 0.708), myopia prevalence was 8.9, 7.7 and 7.8% (P = 0.270) and time outdoors was 58.5 ± 35.8, 59.8 ± 34.7 and 58.5 ± 35.3 min/d (P = 0.886) for control, test groups I and II, respectively.Conclusions and RelevanceMyopia prevalence was high at nearly 8 to 9% in school children aged 7 years in Shanghai, China. The current trial will help evaluate if increased time outdoors has a role to play in reducing the incidence of myopia and/or slow the progression of myopia.
User‐Guided Lip Correction for Facial Performance Capture
Authors: Dinev D. , Beeler T. , Bradley D. , Bächer M. , Xu H. , Kavan L. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractFacial performance capture is the primary method for generating facial animation in video games, feature films and virtual environments, and recent advances have produced very compelling results. Still, one of the most challenging regions is the mouth, which often contains systematic errors due to the complex appearance and occlusion/dis‐occlusion of the lips. We present a novel user‐guided approach to correcting these common lip shape errors present in traditional capture systems. Our approach is to allow a user to manually correct a small number of problematic frames, and then our system learns the types of corrections desired and automatically corrects the entire performance. As correcting even a single frame using traditional 3D sculpting tools can be time consuming and require great skill, we also propose a simple and fast 2D sketch‐based method for generating plausible lip corrections for the problematic key frames. We demonstrate our results on captured performances of three different subjects, and validate our method with an additional sequence that contains ground truth lip reconstructions.