bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determining quantitative targets for performance measures in the balanced scorecard method using response surface methodology
Authors: Farokhi Sorour , Roghanian Emad 
Published: May 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a quantitative methodology for setting targets in the framework of Balanced Scorecard (BSC) in order to achieve vision and goals.

Design/methodology/approach
Response Surface Methodology is proposed to find the significant relationships that should be included in the strategy map and the optimal values of performance measures are assessed by using the desirability function-based approach of RSM. The proposed method was created by reviewing the existing literature, modeling the problem, and applying it in an oil company. In fact, RSM is used to execute the design matrix, analyze the collected data, extract models, analyze the results, and optimize the procedures that generate multiple responses.

Findings
By applying this methodological design, a clearer picture of the relationships between strategic objectives is obtained and the influence of strategic objectives on one another is determined. Afterward, optimal values for performance measures are determined.

Research limitations/implications
This paper proposes a framework for constructing a strategy map and setting quantitative targets to translate the goals and strategies into corresponding performance measures and targets. Also, this paper presents a case study to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach. However, RSM-based techniques require a greater amount of data to generate more accurate results. Although the advent of the Information Age has forced organizations’ decision makers to provide sufficient information and data for business analysis, the data requirements of RSM-based techniques are met.

Practical implications
In practice, the process of setting targets for performance measures can be challenging in terms of reaching a consensus between managers and decision makers. The findings of this paper can offer a new approach for performance evaluation based on the BSC which allows the organization’s decision makers to reach a more accurate picture of the relationship model between organization goals and those objectives within the BSC. It also demonstrates how decision makers can be guided in the process of defining performance target values in the BSC method.

Originality/value
Reviewing the literature on setting quantitative targets within the framework of the BSC showed no prior study in which RSM is used. This approach has two main contributions: the associations among strategic objectives are investigated and obtained in an effective way which analytically identifies the direction and degree of the relations among the performance measures. Considering the performance evaluation structure based on the BSC, quantitative targets have been determined to help in achieving the long-term goals of the organization. The application of the proposed method in a company showed that the contributions of this research are not only theoretical, but practical as well.
Commonality, conflict, and absorptive capacity
Authors: Rafique Muhammad , Hameed Shafqat , Agha Mujtaba Hassan 
Published: May 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the roles of middle managers (MM) in the knowledge-intensive environment as perceived by the employees, MM and principal decision makers (DM) in the context of the absorptive capacity process.Design/methodology/approachIn this qualitative study, the data were collected from pharmaceutical companies of Pakistan by using purposive sampling and the results were analyzed based on the thematic analysis approach.FindingsThe results show that employees and principal DM have a strong agreement between them regarding the roles of MM; however, MM have contrasted views. Some of the roles were agreed to by all the respondents.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has focused on the roles of MM (common and conflicting) in knowledge-intensive pharmaceutical companies of Pakistan. The results of other studies on the roles of MM in the context of traditional and hybrid organizations may differ from this study.Practical implicationsThe results of this study show the importance of role specificity of MM for the smooth absorptive capacity process. While dealing with complex knowledge structures in pharmaceutical companies, this study gives strong input to HR mangers and consultants and practitioners as they continuously handle complex knowledge process activities.Originality/valueThe study has explored the specific roles of MM by using the thematic analysis approach.
Trait selection and community weighting are key to understanding ecosystem responses to changing precipitation regimes
Authors: Griffin‐Nolan Robert J. , Bushey Julie A. , Carroll Charles J. W. , Challis Anthea , Chieppa Jeff , Garbowski Magda , Hoffman Ava M. , Post Alison K. , Slette Ingrid J. , Spitzer Daniel , Zambonini Dario , Ocheltree Troy W. , Tissue David T. , Knapp Alan K. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Plant traits can be used to predict ecosystem responses to environmental change using a response–effect trait framework. To do this, appropriate traits must be identified that explain a species' influence on ecosystem function (“effect traits”) and the response of those species to environmental change (“response traits”). Response traits are often identified and measured along gradients in plant resources, such as water availability; however, precipitation explains very little variation in most plant traits globally. Given the strong relationship between plant traits and ecosystem functions, such as net primary productivity (NPP), and between NPP and precipitation, the lack of correlation between precipitation and plant traits is surprising.

We address this issue through a systematic review of >500 published studies that describe plant trait responses to altered water availability. The overarching goal of this review was to identify potential causes for the weak relationship between commonly measured plant traits and water availability so that we may identify more appropriate “response traits.”

We attribute weak trait–precipitation relationships to an improper selection of traits (e.g., nonhydraulic traits) and a lack of trait‐based approaches that adjust for trait variation within communities (only 4% of studies measure community‐weighted traits). We then highlight the mechanistic value of hydraulic traits as more appropriate “response traits” with regard to precipitation, which should be included in future community‐scale trait surveys.

Trait‐based ecology has the potential to improve predictions of ecosystem responses to predicted changes in precipitation; however, this predictive power depends heavily on the identification of reliable response and effect traits. To this end, trait surveys could be improved by a selection of traits that reflect physiological functions directly related to water availability with traits weighted by species relative abundance.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Exploring novel pharmacotherapeutic applications and repurposing potential of sodium glucose CoTransporter 2 inhibitors
Authors: Madaan Tushar , Husain Ibraheem , Akhtar Mohamad , Najmi Abul Kalam 
Published: May 2018

SummarySodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a relatively new class of anti‐hyperglycaemic drugs with a distinctive mechanism of action focusing on renal absorption of glucose. Apart from its anti‐hyperglycaemic effects, a multitude of research studies on this class have revealed that these drugs have far more versatile and comprehensive pharmacological effects than previously believed. Approximately 30% of FDA approved drugs are repurposed and used for indications other than those for which they were initially intended. Repurposing already approved drugs leads to significant reduction in pre‐clinical and clinical R&D costs as well as minimizing the burden with respect to obtaining regulatory approval. SGLT2 inhibitors have been found to exhibit cardioprotective, renoprotective, anti‐hyperlipidaemic, anti‐atherosclerotic, anti‐obesity, anti‐neoplastic, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective effects in in vitro, pre‐clinical, and clinical studies. The pleiotropic effects of this class have been attributed to a variety of its pharmacodynamic actions such as natriuresis, haemoconcentration, deactivation of RAAS, ketone body formation, alterations in energy homeostasis, glycosuria, lipolysis, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐oxidative actions. These favourable observations encourage further research on this multifaceted class in order to effectively explore and harness its full potential and consequently lead to clinical outcomes.
Effect of type of language therapy on expressive language skills in patients with post‐stroke aphasia
Authors: Vuksanović Jasmina , Milovanović Tanja , Konstantinović Ljubica , Filipović Saša R. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundConstraint‐induced (language) aphasia therapy (CIAT), based on constraint usage of the language channel only, massed practice and shaping through therapeutic language games, has been suggested as a more efficient therapy approach than traditional aphasia therapies.AimsTo examine the comparative efficacy of CIAT and a traditional therapy approach on expressive language ability, with the intensity of therapy controlled and matched, in the treatment of post‐stroke aphasia.Methods & ProceduresTwo successive 4‐week blocks of intense (1 h, 5 days a week) of aphasia therapy programmes were delivered in a randomized within‐subject crossover design: one therapy block consisted of stimulation aphasia therapy (SAT, a common traditional therapy approach), another of CIAT. Twenty consecutive patients, up to 1 year after stroke, were randomly assigned either to have SAT followed by CIAT (S1C2 group) or to have CIAT followed by SAT (C1S2 group). Measurements of naming (Boston Naming Test) and spontaneous sentence production (Cookie Theft Picture description task) were carried at the baseline, following the first therapy block, following the second therapy block and 4 weeks following the last therapy block.Outcomes & ResultsBoth groups of patients significantly improved in all variables of expressive language skills; the improvement was maintained 1 month post‐treatment. However, patients who started with CIAT and continued with SAT (C1S2 group) tended to have higher final improvement than the patients who started with SAT and continued with CIAT (S1C2 group). This was particularly pronounced for naming. Moreover, when CIAT was the first therapy (the C1S2 group) the improvement achieved in naming following CIAT significantly exceeded the improvements achieved following SAT, not only in the same group (when SAT was the second) but also in the S1C2 group (when SAT was the first). In addition, the improvement in naming following CIAT in the C1S2 group exceeded the one in the S1C2 group, too. Similarly, the improvement in the total number of sentences produced following each therapy was quite clear and significant in the C1S2 group (when CIAT was the first), while in the S1C2 group it was much more modest and not significant.Conclusions & ImplicationsResults suggest that the maximization of quantity and frequency of language therapy have a significant impact on the improvement of expressive language ability. Moreover, if practised early in aphasia therapy, the constrained usage of the language modality, as practised in CIAT, confers an additional benefit to massed practice, particularly on naming ability.
Transcriptional responses of the marine green alga Micromonas pusilla and an infecting prasinovirus under different phosphate conditions
Authors: Bachy Charles , Charlesworth Christina J. , Chan Amy M. , Finke Jan F. , Wong Chee‐Hong , Wei Chia‐Lin , Sudek Sebastian , Coleman Maureen L. , Suttle Curtis A. , Worden Alexandra Z. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryPrasinophytes are widespread marine algae for which responses to nutrient limitation and viral infection are not well understood. We studied the picoprasinophyte, Micromonas pusilla, grown under phosphate‐replete (0.65 ± 0.07 d−1) and 10‐fold lower (low)‐phosphate (0.11 ± 0.04 d−1) conditions, and infected by the phycodnavirus MpV‐SP1. Expression of 17% of Micromonas genes in uninfected cells differed by >1.5‐fold (q < 0.01) between nutrient conditions, with genes for P‐metabolism and the uniquely‐enriched Sel1‐like repeat (SLR) family having higher relative transcript abundances, while phospholipid‐synthesis genes were lower in low‐P than P‐replete. Approximately 70% (P‐replete) and 30% (low‐P) of cells were lysed 24 h post‐infection, and expression of ≤5.8% of host genes changed relative to uninfected treatments. Host genes for CAZymes and glycolysis were activated by infection, supporting importance in viral production, which was significantly lower in slower growing (low‐P) hosts. All MpV‐SP1 genes were expressed, and our analyses suggest responses to differing host‐phosphate backgrounds involve few viral genes, while the temporal program of infection involves many more, and is largely independent of host‐phosphate background. Our study (i) identifies genes previously unassociated with nutrient acclimation or viral infection, (ii) provides insights into the temporal program of prasinovirus gene expression by hosts and (iii) establishes cell biological aspects of an ecologically important host‐prasinovirus system that differ from other marine algal‐virus systems.
INTRODUCTION to Special Edition of JAP on the ‘Who is My Jung?’ conference held at the British Library in October 2017 to mark the 40th Anniversary of the foundation of the Association of Jungian Analysts (AJA)
Authors: Williams Ruth 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe paper reviews the processes which went into the creation of an exceptionally comprehensive conference on Jungian analysis and psychology. The conference brought together all five of the constituent societies based in London of the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP). The personal nature of the conference contributions is highlighted together with observations about the passage from spoken to written modes. The idea of ‘conference space’ is reviewed and this leads to a discussion of the often overlooked benign role of conferences in professional life.
Who is my Jung? Memories, Reflections, Prospects
Authors: Stone Martin 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe author describes his personal and professional journey in relation to the subject of the AJA 40th anniversary conference, ‘Who is my Jung?’ The first part of the paper covers his early life and his attempt to bring together two opposing parts within him: valuation of a scientific approach, and an interest in the inner world, dreams and the paranormal. Discussion of his professional life follows, including his relationship with Gerhard Adler, past problems and splits within the Jungian community and the author's attempts to heal these. The value of both remembering and forgetting is questioned. This leads onto ideas that bring value and meaning to his work and life, and which bridge the inner divisions he felt in his early life: notably Jung's focus on applying scientific theory to the mystery of the psyche, his relational attitude (exemplified by the dialectical process and his interest in countertransference) and his theory of synchronicity. Recent discussion in Jungian writing has questioned the nature of synchronistic experiences and explored how they may emerge naturally from complex systems. The paper ends the author's continuing journey with two personal vignettes describing how meaning may emerge from the unconscious.
‘Who is my Jung?’ The progressive, though sometimes ambivalent, expansion of Jung's idea of the collective unconscious: from an ‘unconscious humanity’ to – in all but name – the soul of the world
Authors: Cashford Jules 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis paper discusses Jung's idea of myth as a projection of the collective unconscious, suggesting that the term ‘projection’ separates human beings from nature, withdrawing nature's life into humanity. Jung's discovery of a realm independent of consciousness – in conversations with his soul in The Red Book, and in synchronicity, began a dialogue which finally brought him, through the Alchemical Mercurius, closer to the idea of a world‐soul.
‘Thank God I’m not a Jungian’
Authors: Shearer Ann 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis article focuses less on the content of Jung's ideas than on ways in which they act as both invitation and challenge to engage with psyche. It explores the mythic framework of Jung's approach and how this can enable individuals to live in psychological and mundane worlds in which there can be no final certainties. It elaborates three particular aspects of Jung's thinking that I have found personally valuable: his generosity of vision, his insistence that individuals engage for and with themselves rather than relying on someone else's ideas, and his ponderings on the relationship between the individual and the collective. All three aspects seem to be important elements of the work of individuation.
Outside‐In: Jung's myth of interiority ambiguated. Or ‐ Knowing me, Knowing Jung – ahah!
Authors: Saban Mark 
Published: May 2018

AbstractGiven his lifelong battle against one‐sidedness Jung's persistent prioritising of the ‘inner life’ over the ‘outer’ can seem problematic. The question is raised as to whether an approach that seems to verge uncomfortably close to solipsism can sometimes render Jung blind to the intuition that psychic life is constituted by an on‐going interplay between inner and outer, self and other (an intuition that he himself sometimes articulated so brilliantly). The ‘ambiguation’ of Jung's work offers an opportunity to confront this problem by utilising a critical dynamic that is consistent with Jung's psychological insights.
Coinfection of the secondary symbionts,Hamiltonella defensaandArsenophonussp. contribute to the performance of the major aphid pest,Aphis gossypii(Hemiptera: Aphididae)
Authors: Ayoubi Aida , Talebi Ali Asghar , Fathipour Yaghoub , Mehrabadi Mohammad 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBacterial endosymbionts play important roles in ecological traits of aphids. In this study, we characterize the bacterial endosymbionts ofA. gossypiicollected in Karaj, Iran and their role in the performance of the aphid. Our results indicated that besideBuchnera aphidicola,A. gossypii, also harbors bothHamiltonella defensaandArsenophonussp. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) results revealed that the populations of the endosymbionts increased throughout nymphal development up to adult emergence; thereafter, populations ofBuchneraandArsenophonuswere diminished while the density ofH. defensaconstantly increased.Buchnerareduction caused prolonged development and no progeny production. Furthermore, secondary symbiont reduction led to reduction of the total life span and intrinsic rate of natural increase as well as appearance of the deformed dead offspring in comparison with the control insects. Reduction of the secondary symbionts did not affect parasitism rate of the aphid by the parasitic waspAphidius matricariae. Together these findings showed thatH. defensaandArsenophonuscontributed to the fitness ofA. gossypiiby enhancing its performance, but not through parasitoid resistance.
Influence of Blood Purification and Differential Injection Sites of Cold Saline on Transpulmonary Thermodilution Values
Authors: Kawaji Takahiro , Sakai Toshikazu , Moriyama Kazuhiro , Hara Yoshitaka , Nakamura Tomoyuki , Kuriyama Naohide , Shimomura Yasuyo , Kato Yu , Komura Hidefumi , Yamashita Chizuru , Kurimoto Yasuyoshi , Hasegawa Daisuke , Nishida Osamu 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe aimed to investigate the effects of blood purification and cold saline injection sites on the transpulmonary thermodilution values. We measured the cardiac output of eight pigs in every combination of cold saline injection (left jugular and femoral veins) and blood purification sites (right jugular and femoral veins), with or without blood purification. We examined the influence of the difference between the presence and absence of blood purification, vascular sites for blood purification, and sites for cold saline injection on the transpulmonary thermodilution values. Cardiac output measured during blood purification using transpulmonary thermodilution was underestimated; however, there was no difference between vascular sites. Cardiac output measured via injection of cold saline into the femoral vein was higher than that obtained through injection of cold saline into the jugular vein, with or without blood purification.
Historical and Future Stream Temperature Change Predicted by a Lidar‐Based Assessment of Riparian Condition and Channel Width
Authors: Seixas Gustav B. , Beechie Timothy J. , Fogel Caleb , Kiffney Peter M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractRiparian forests attenuate solar radiation, thereby mediating an important component of the thermal budget of streams. Here, we investigate the relationship between riparian degradation, stream temperature, and channel width in the Chehalis River Basin, Washington State. We used lidar data to measure canopy opening angle, the angle formed between the channel center and trees on both banks; we assumed historical tree heights and calculated the change in canopy angle relative to historical conditions. We then developed an empirical relationship between canopy angle and water temperature using existing data, and simulated temperatures between 2002 and 2080 by combining a tree growth model with climate change scenarios from the NorWeST regional prediction. The greatest change between historical and current conditions (~7°C) occurred in developed portions of the river network, with the highest values of change predicted at channel widths less than ~40 m. Tree growth lessened climate change increases in maximum temperature and the length of river exceeding biologically critical thresholds by ~50%–60%. Moreover, the maximum temperature of channels with bankfull widths less than ~50 m remained similar to current conditions, despite climate change increases. Our findings are consistent with a possible role for the riparian landscape in explaining the low sensitivity of stream temperatures to air temperatures observed in some small mountain streams.