bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The efficiency of Jordan insurance companies and its determinants using DEA, slacks, and logit models
Authors: Jaloudi Mutasem Mahmoud 
Published: March 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the technical efficiency in the Jordan insurance market and examine the internal and external determinants that appear to affect the technical efficiency of the insurance companies.

Design/methodology/approach
The study used panel data for 22 insurance companies operating inside Jordan over the period 2000–2016. The author used the data envelopment analysis to evaluate the technical efficiency scores, slacks-based and logit models to examine the efficiency determinants.

Findings
The study found that there is a slight development of technical efficiency for the Jordanian insurance companies during the study period. In addition, there is a substantial efficiency difference among insurance companies each year, and there is a variation at the level of efficiency for each company in each year. The results also showed that owners’ equities are among the most important internal determinants of companies’ efficiency, and there is a significant correlation between type, size and return on assets of the insurer and its efficiency.

Originality/value
This study provides insurance management with relevant indicators that would guide them to make efficient use of the resource base. The period of study also covers the period following the adoption of the insurance law and the issuance of most of the legislation related to the work of insurance companies.
From sense-making to perceived organizational performance: looking for the best way
Authors: Mas-Machuca Marta , Marimon Frederic 
Published: March 2019

PurposeMission statements (SMs) are a frequent strategic tool, yet little is known about their effects on economic performance. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to model and assess the relationships among the sense-making of the SM, employee mission engagement (EME), organizational mission fulfillment (OMF) and perceived organizational performance (PER) and, second, to determine the path that best explains these connections.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reports the results of an empirical investigation drawn from a sample of 132 managers at different levels in two Spanish companies. The data analysis was performed in two steps: the first was to assess the reliability of the measurement scales and the second was to build a causal model using structural equation modeling analysis.FindingsThe findings suggest that the best path to explain the relationships between the SM and perceived organizational performance (PER) is SM, EME, OMF, PER, with a full mediation effect for EME and OMF. These findings are consistent with previous research.Practical implicationsThe managerial implications of these results are that just having a good mission and effective communication of the mission is not enough. The mission has to be related to employee engagement and, at the same time, the organization needs to be mission driven.Originality/valueThis research provides a new paradigm for understanding the relationships between sense-making around the SM, EME, OMF and PER, and helps to adjudicate among possible outcome paths and better explain the inter-relationships among these constructs.
A taxonomy for Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA)
Authors: Rodriguez Barbara X. , Simonen Kathrina , Huang Monica , De Wolf Catherine 
Published: March 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of common parameters in existing tools that provide guidance to carry out Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) and proposes a new taxonomy, a catalogue of parameters, for the definition of the goal and scope (G&S) in WBLCA.

Design/methodology/approach
A content analysis approach is used to identify, code and analyze parameters in existing WBLCA tools. Finally, a catalogue of parameters is organized into a new taxonomy.

Findings
In total, 650 distinct parameter names related to the definition of G&S from 16 WBLCAs tools available in North America, Europe and Australia are identified. Building on the analysis of existing taxonomies, a new taxonomy of 54 parameters is proposed in order to describe the G&S of WBLCA.

Research limitations/implications
The analysis of parameters in WBLCA tools does not include Green Building Rating Systems and is only limited to tools available in English.

Practical implications
This research is crucial in life cycle assessment (LCA) method harmonization and to serve as a stepping stone to the identification and categorization of parameters that could contribute to WBLCA comparison necessary to meet current global carbon goals.

Social implications
The proposed taxonomy enables architecture, engineering and construction practitioners to contribute to current WBLCA practice.

Originality/value
A study of common parameters in existing tools contributes to identifying the type of data that is required to describe buildings and contribute to build a standardized framework for LCA reporting, which would facilitate consistency across future studies and can serve as a checklist for practitioners when conducting the G&S stage of WBLCA.
Determinants of predation success: How to survive an attack from a rattlesnake
Authors: Whitford Malachi D. , Freymiller Grace A. , Higham Timothy E. , Clark Rulon W. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

The selection pressures that arise from capturing prey and avoiding predators are some of the strongest biotic forces shaping animal form and function. Examining how performance (i.e., athletic ability) affects the outcomes of encounters between free‐ranging predators and prey is essential for understanding the determinants of predation success rates and broad scale predator–prey dynamics, but quantifying these encounters in natural situations is logistically challenging.

The goal of our study was to examine how various metrics of predator/prey performance determine predation success by studying natural predator–prey interactions in the field with minimal manipulation of the study subjects.

We used high‐speed video recordings of free‐ranging sidewinder rattlesnakes (predator, Crotalus cerastes) and desert kangaroo rats (prey, Dipodomys deserti) to study how performance at various stages of their encounters alters the outcome of their interactions.

We found that predation success depends on (a) whether the rattlesnake struck accurately, (b) if the rattlesnake strike was accurate, the reaction time and escape manoeuvres of the kangaroo rat, and (c) if the kangaroo rat was bitten, the ability of the kangaroo rat to use defensive manoeuvres to avoid subjugation by the snake.

The results of our study suggest that the role of performance in predator–prey interactions is complex, and the determinants of predation success are altered by both predator and prey at multiple stages of an interaction in ways that may not be apparent in many experimental contexts.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
The Impact of Information Processing Costs on Firm Disclosure Choice: Evidence from the XBRL Mandate
Authors: BLANKESPOOR ELIZABETH 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the effect of market participants’ information processing costs on firms’ disclosure choice. Using the recent eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) regulation, I find that firms increase their quantitative footnote disclosures upon implementation of XBRL detailed tagging requirements designed to reduce information users’ processing costs. These results hold in a difference‐in‐difference design using matched nonadopting firms as controls, as well as two additional identification strategies. Examination of the disclosure increase by footnote type suggests that both regulatory and nonregulatory market participants play a role in monitoring firm disclosures. Overall, these findings suggest that the processing costs of market participants can be significant enough to impact firms’ disclosure decisions.
Controls and Cooperation in Interactive and Non‐Interactive Settings
Authors: Garrett Jace B. , Livingston Jeffrey A. , Tayler William B. , Cade Nicole L. , McVay Sarah E. 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTPrior research finds that controls that induce cooperation among collaborators on a project increase trust, and that this increased trust increases subsequent cooperation among collaborators. We extend this work by investigating how controls influence cooperative behavior in two settings. The first is an interactive setting where people work together and can benefit from each other's work. The second is a non‐interactive setting where people do not work together directly but where behavior can be observed. We propose that because controls are likely to engender greater trust and reciprocity in interactive settings than in non‐interactive settings, the effect of controls on future cooperative behavior will be greater for controls in interactive settings than for controls in non‐interactive settings. We find that controls in both settings increase future cooperative behavior, but the effect is significantly greater in interactive settings (where reciprocity and trust are more likely to develop). Furthermore, this increased cooperation is observed in an uncontrolled task, suggesting that the control fosters trust in others rather than trust in the control. These findings suggest that the benefits of controls are more substantial in work environments characterized by extensive teamwork and where employees benefit from each other's work.
Heart valve inspired and multi‐stream aortic cannula: Novel designs for cardiopulmonary bypass improvement in neonates
Authors: Rasooli Reza , Pekkan Kerem 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIn a typical open‐heart surgery, the blood flow through the aortic cannula is a critical element of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedure. Especially for the neonatal and pediatric CPB flow conditions, the need for small hydraulic diameter and large blood flow results confined turbulent jet flow regimes that exacerbate blood damage and platelet activation. Simultaneously, the confined jet wake leads to complex stagnation and recirculating flows that cause considerable thrombosis, blood, and endothelial cell damage through the aorta. Thus, an ideal neonatal CPB cannula should be able to generate optimal jet expansion so that sufficient cerebral perfusion is achieved through the head‐neck vessels to avoid postoperative neurological complications and developmental defects in children. To address these challenges, a formal bio‐inspired design framework is conducted to reach the desired cannula function through novel analogous biological components, first‐time in literature. Among the biological jet flow regimes studied, the ventricle filling‐jet generated through the atrio‐ventricle (AV) valves are found to be the most promising. Inspired from human AV valve shapes, 8 different novel cannula designs, considering the size constrains of neonatal and pediatric patients are built via high‐accurate micro stereo‐lithography. Using 2‐dimensional time‐resolved particle image velocimetry the turbulent jet wake characteristics are measured and compared. The proposed designs have exhibited a significant improvement as compared to standard circular cannula by around 30% reduction in maximum outflow velocity and more than 80% reduction in potential core length and spatial energy dissipation which results in a lower risk of cardiovascular and blood damage.
A comparison of common practices for identifying substance use during pregnancy in obstetric clinics
Authors: Klawans Michelle R. , Northrup Thomas F. , Villarreal Yolanda R. , Berens Pamela D. , Blackwell Sean , Bunag Tiffany , Stotts Angela L. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundSubstance use during pregnancy has been linked to adverse birth and other outcomes. Screening and intervention in the prenatal clinic are recommended, and reliance on patient reports or selective urine drug screening is inadequate. The aim of this prospective project was to determine substance use identification rates associated with common screening practices, compared to universal screening, among pregnant women seeking care at an urban, academic obstetric clinic.MethodsWomen attending their first prenatal visit (N = 275) completed a self‐report questionnaire on lifetime and current substance use. A urine drug screening was also conducted, the results of which were not reported to providers. Participants’ charts were reviewed to obtain the results of provider‐ordered screens.ResultsThe sample was primarily African‐American and Latino, with Medicaid insurance. Ten women (4.6%) reported current marijuana use, while more than double that number (n = 27; 11.6%) screened positive for marijuana via universal screening. The majority of women who screened positive via universal screening did not have a provider‐ordered urine drug screening, and less than one‐third (29.3%) of clinician‐ordered screens were positive for at least one substance. Finally, 90% of women who reported they were using marijuana were not selected by providers for a screen.DiscussionData demonstrate the high proportion of women using marijuana and the limitations of patient self‐report and selective, nonroutine screening to identify substance use during pregnancy. Effective, standardized, clinic‐wide strategies are needed to support providers in identifying pregnant women who use substances in order to increase the frequency of education and intervention.
Twin‐based heritability of actimetry traits
Authors: Gehrman Philip R. , Ghorai Arpita , Goodman Matthew , McCluskey Richard , Barilla Holly , Almasy Laura , Roenneberg Till , Bucan Maja 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThere is a critical need for phenotypes with substantial heritability that can be used as endophenotypes in behavioral genetic studies. Activity monitoring, called actimetry, has potential as a means of assessing sleep and circadian rhythm traits that could serve as endophenotypes relevant to a range of psychopathologies. This study examined a range of actimetry traits for heritability using a classic twin design. The sample consisted of 195 subjects from 45 monozygotic (MZ) and 50 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs aged 16‐40 years. Subjects wore both a research‐grade actimeter (GENEActiv) and a consumer‐oriented device (FitBit) for 2 weeks. Sleep and circadian traits were extracted from GENEActiv data using PennZzz and ChronoSapiens software programs. Sleep statistics for a limited number of FitBit‐collected traits were generated by its accompanying mobile app. Broad sense heritability was computed on a set of 33 MZ and 38 DZ twin pairs with complete data using both OpenMX and SOLAR software. These analyses yielded a large number of actimetry‐derived traits, 20 of which showed high heritability (h2 > 0.6), seven of which remain significant after Bonferroni correction. These results indicate that actimetry enables assessing a range of phenotypes with substantial heritability that may be useful as endophenotypes for genetic studies.
“What would you recommend doctor?”—Discourse analysis of a moment of dissonance when sharing decisions in clinical consultations
Authors: Sherlock Rebecca , Wood Fiona , Joseph‐Williams Natalie , Williams Denitza , Hyam Joanna , Sweetland Helen , McGarrigle Helen , Edwards Adrian 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundProven benefits of Shared Decision Making (SDM) include improved patient knowledge, involvement and confidence in making decisions. Although widely advocated in policy, SDM is still not widely implemented in practice. A common patient‐reported barrier is feeling that “doctor knows best”; thus, patients often defer decisions to the clinician.ObjectiveTo examine the nature of the discourse when patients ask clinicians for a treatment recommendation during consultations when treatment decisions are being shared and to examine clinicians’ strategies used in response.Design, Setting and ParticipantsTheme‐orientated discourse analysis was performed on eight audio‐recordings of breast cancer diagnostic consultations in which patients or their partners attempted to defer treatment decisions to the clinician. Clinicians were trained in SDM.ResultsTension was evident in a number of consultations when treatment recommendations were requested. Clinicians responded to recommendation requests by explaining why the decision was being shared (personal nature of the decision, individual preferences and equivalent survival outcomes of treatment options). There was only one instance where a clinician gave a treatment recommendation.Discussion and ConclusionsStrategies for clinicians to facilitate SDM when patients seem to defer decisional responsibility include being clear about why the decision is being shared, acknowledging that this is difficult and making patients feel supported. When patients seek guidance, clinicians can provide a recommendation if grounded in an understanding of the patient's values.
Re‐evaluation of physical interaction between plant peroxisomes and other organelles using live‐cell imaging techniques
Authors: Oikawa Kazusato , Hayashi Makoto , Hayashi Yasuko , Nishimura Mikio 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe dynamic behavior of organelles is essential for plant survival under various environmental conditions. Plant organelles, with various functions, migrate along actin filaments and contact other types of organelles, leading to physical interactions at a specific site called the membrane contact site. Recent studies have revealed the importance of physical interactions in maintaining efficient metabolite flow between organelles. In this review, we first summarize peroxisome function under different environmental conditions and growth stages to understand organelle interactions. We then discuss current knowledge regarding the interactions between peroxisome and other organelles, i.e., the oil bodies, chloroplast, and mitochondria from the perspective of metabolic and physiological regulation, with reference to various organelle interactions and techniques for estimating organelle interactions occurring in plant cells.
Simultaneous correction of breast hypertrophy and vaginal agenesis: Aesthetic surgery to the aid of reconstructive surgery
Authors: Gentileschi Stefano , Pino Valentina , Albanese Roberta , Salgarello Marzia , Scambia Giovanni , Ercoli Alfredo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMayer‐Rokitansky‐Küster‐Hauser syndrome is characterized by aplasia of the uterus and the upper ⅔ of the vagina, with normal female genotype (46,XX) and the development of secondary sexual characters. One of the most popular surgical treatment is the McIndoe procedure, which major drawbacks are the scar of split thickness skin graft (STSG)harvesting, and risk of vaginal stenosis for graft retraction. We report the case of a patient, operated modifying the McIndoe technique, by harvesting a full thickness skin grafts (FTSG) from patient's breasts, undergone simultaneous reduction mammoplasty. The FTSG provided a complete lining of the reconstructed neovagina. At 6 months, we observed complete mucinous metaplasia of the vaginal walls and 1 year after surgery no sign of stenosis, without the use of the mold. The advantages of this technique are reduced donor site morbidity, when compared with traditional McIndoe technique, and reduced risk of neovagina retraction ensured by FTSG, compared with STSG. If future patients’ series confirm the good results achieved, we could consider it as a first‐line option in patients undergoing neovagina reconstruction, seeking breasts or body contouring surgery.
School Health Program: Impacting Physical Activity Behaviors Among Disadvantaged Students
Authors: Dai Chia‐Liang 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDChildren from disadvantaged backgrounds are more apt to experience lower availability of nutritious foods, lack opportunities to exercise, and lack access to recreational facilities, and thus, are more likely to be obese and at greater risk for developing chronic diseases. We review school health education programs' impact on physical activity behaviors among disadvantaged students.METHODSThe inclusion criteria of the study were articles: published in English with full text between 2011 and 2017; focused on school health education programs for disadvantaged school‐aged students; assessed programs including a physical activity component; examined school‐aged children and adolescents' physical activity behaviors; and assessed programs with comparison groups.RESULTSThere were 13 studies matching inclusion criteria in this review. The results of this review indicated that school‐based health education programs which included culturally appropriate physical activity, parent involvement, and enhanced student motivation and choice of activities appeared to increase physical activity levels among disadvantaged school‐aged students. Health education programs should also emphasize behavioral change skills, such as goal setting and self‐motivation, to positively impact on students' physical activity behaviors.CONCLUSIONSSchool‐based health education programs may help increase access to physical activity among disadvantaged populations.
Integration of congenital cytomegalovirus screening within a newborn hearing screening programme
Authors: Beswick Rachael , David Michael , Higashi Hideki , Thomas Delene , Nourse Clare , Koh Guan , Koorts Pieter , Jardine Luke A , Clark Julia E 
Published: March 2019

AimTargeted screening by a salivary cytomegalovirus (CMV) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of infants who ‘refer’ on their newborn hearing screen has been suggested as an easy, reliable and cost‐effective approach to identify and treat babies with congenital CMV (cCMV) to improve hearing outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and cost‐effectiveness of introducing targeted salivary cCMV testing into a newborn hearing screening programme.MethodsThe study included three tertiary maternity hospitals in Queensland, Australia between August 2014 and April 2016. Infants who ‘referred’ on the newborn hearing screen were offered a salivary swab for CMV PCR at the point of referral to audiology. Swabs were routinely processed and tested for CMV DNA by real‐time quantitative PCR. Parents of babies with a positive CMV PCR were notified, and the babies were medically assessed and, where appropriate, were offered treatment (oral valganciclovir).ResultsOf eligible infants, the parents of 83.0% (234/283) consented to the cCMV screen. Of these, 96.6% returned a negative result (226/234), and 3.4% (8/234) returned a positive result (three true positive; five false positive). The prevalence of cCMV for infants with confirmed hearing loss was 3.64% (P = 2/55; confidence interval = 0.44–12.53%). The cost comparison suggests the cost implementation of cCMV screening (and subsequent potential treatment benefits and management over time), compared to non‐screening (and subsequent management), to be negligible.ConclusionIncorporating cCMV testing into Universal Newborn Hearing Screening within Queensland is realistic and achievable, both practically and financially.