bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification and modeling of process barriers
Authors: T. Ramadas , K.P. Satish 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to present factors associated with process barriers in implementing lean manufacturing within the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach
This study was conducted to identify the process barriers in implementing lean manufacturing in SMEs. Moreover, by a thorough and detailed analysis, process barriers of high rejection rate, employee absenteeism and frequent breakdown with 29 associated variables were identified as the most critical process barriers and were used to develop the questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to build the measurement model by drawing on samples of 128 SMEs in Kerala, a state in India. Later, the model was validated using statistical estimates. Data analysis helps to determine whether to accept or reject the hypothesis on the basis of the measurement model.

Findings
Several process barriers that prevent the successful implementation of lean manufacturing within SMEs are identified. These are lack of a training program, lack of periodical maintenance, low-quality standard materials from suppliers, bad vendor inspection, wear and tear of machines, communication gap between supervisors and workers, non-maintenance of a good employee–employer relationship, boredom on the job, overrunning machines beyond the capability, carelessness in work, not replacing worn damage parts periodically, ignoring warning signals of the machine classified as the most critical process barrier among the high rejection rate, employee absenteeism, frequent breakdown factors.

Research limitations/implications
First, the sample size of the study was relatively small (128). Second, data collection was restricted to one geographical area in India, i.e. Kerala, a state in India, giving rise to operational constraints. Third, the study was cross-sectional; a longitudinal study must be performed to reinforce the findings.

Practical implications
The present study has explored an unfocused area of lean implementation in SMEs. The results are expected to help researchers, academics and professionals in the domain of lean manufacturing.

Social implications
Governments of many countries around the world are helping and encouraging the implementation and understanding of the lean manufacturing system by providing financial assistance for training professionals and establishing professional associations. However, many industries have not been successful in lean implementation. This research aims to develop a strategy to tackle process barriers for successful lean implementation.

Originality/value
Very little research has been carried out in exploring process barriers in implementing lean manufacturing in SMEs. This paper will provide value to academics, researchers and practitioners of lean by providing insight into significant process barriers for lean implementation, especially in Indian industries.
Shaping community support for vigilantism: a Nigerian case study
Authors: I. Badiora Adewumi 
Published: July 2018

PurposeIn Nigeria, vigilantism appears to be a common response to dissatisfaction about the state police in the recent time. Using survey data of residents in Lagos, Nigeria, the purpose of this paper, therefore, is to explore whether what is already known about perceptions of procedural (in) justice of state police also applies to self-help security groups in Nigeria. This is with a view to influencing community support for and satisfaction with non-state policing in the country.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a case study approach. Lagos, Nigeria was stratified into the high, medium and low densities. Systematic sampling technique was used in selecting 1 out of every 20 buildings (5 percent) in each area. Household representative person on each floor of the selected building who had contact with vigilante corps in the last 12 months were targeted. Of 768 copies of questionnaires administered, a sample of 386 was effectively returned (representing 50 percent response rate). Six categories of variables were analyzed. These are procedural justice, distributive justice, vigilante corps’ performance, legitimacy, residents’ satisfaction with vigilante corps activities and socio-economic characteristics.FindingsResults reveal that respondents are not primarily instrumental in their support for vigilantisms. Instead, their support is associated with their basic communal values. More than effectiveness in controlling crime, vigilantisms receive community support provided they use procedural justice in dealings with the public. Respondents who perceive vigilantisms use procedural justice also view them as legitimate, and as well satisfy with their activities and services. Besides, results show that support for and satisfaction with vigilantisms are associated with environmental, social and economic characteristics of the residents in the community they serve. The thesis supported in this research paper is that public support for and satisfaction with vigilantisms can be influenced significantly through policing strategies that builds legitimacy.Originality/valueVigilantism pervades contemporary policing strategies. It is supported by national crime prevention policies, according to the logic that the use of community self-help security strategies could contribute to sustainable crime prevention. This study extends research on legitimacy, with an empirical focus on Nigerian vigilantism. Understanding factors that shape public support for vigilantism may enhance safer communities.
GAL3 receptor knockout mice exhibit an alcohol‐preferring phenotype
Authors: Genders Shannyn G. , Scheller Karlene J. , Jaehne Emily J. , Turner Bradley J. , Lawrence Andrew J. , Brunner Susanne M. , Kofler Barbara , van den Buuse Maarten , Djouma Elvan 
Published: July 2018

AbstractGalanin is a neuropeptide which mediates its effects via three G‐protein coupled receptors (GAL1–3). Administration of a GAL3 antagonist reduces alcohol self‐administration in animal models while allelic variation in the GAL3 gene has been associated with an increased risk of alcohol use disorders in diverse human populations. Based on the association of GAL3 with alcoholism, we sought to characterize drug‐seeking behavior in GAL3‐deficient mice for the first time. In the two‐bottle free choice paradigm, GAL3‐KO mice consistently showed a significantly increased preference for ethanol over water when compared to wildtype littermates. Furthermore, male GAL3‐KO mice displayed significantly increased responding for ethanol under operant conditions. These differences in alcohol seeking behavior in GAL3‐KO mice did not result from altered ethanol metabolism. In contrast to ethanol, GAL3‐KO mice exhibited similar preference for saccharin and sucrose over water, and a similar preference for a high fat diet over a low fat diet as wildtype littermates. No differences in cognitive and locomotor behaviors were observed in GAL3‐KO mice to account for increased alcohol seeking behavior. Overall, these findings suggest genetic ablation of GAL3 in mice increases alcohol consumption.
Advances in managing COPD related to α1‐antitrypsin deficiency: An under‐recognized genetic disorder
Authors: Craig Timothy J. , Henao Maria Paula 
Published: July 2018

Abstractα1‐Antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) predisposes individuals to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and liver disease. Despite being commonly described as rare, AATD is under‐recognized, with less than 10% of cases identified. The following is a comprehensive review of AATD, primarily for physicians who treat COPD or asthma, covering the genetics, epidemiology, clinical presentation, screening and diagnosis, and treatments of AATD. For patients presenting with liver and/or lung disease, screening and diagnostic tests are the only methods to determine whether the disease is related to AATD. Screening guidelines have been established by organizations such as the World Health Organization, European Respiratory Society, and American Thoracic Society. High‐risk groups, including individuals with COPD, nonresponsive asthma, bronchiectasis of unknown etiology, or unexplained liver disease, should be tested for AATD. Current treatment options include augmentation therapy with purified AAT for patients with deficient AAT levels and significant lung disease. Recent trial data suggest that lung tissue is preserved by augmentation therapy, and different dosing schedules are currently being investigated. Effective management of AATD and related diseases also includes aggressive avoidance of smoking and biomass burning, vaccinations, antibiotics, exercise, good diet, COPD medications, and serial assessment.
The end of the Great Khersonian Drying of Eurasia: Magnetostratigraphic dating of the Maeotian transgression in the Eastern Paratethys
Authors: Palcu Dan Valentin , Vasiliev Iuliana , Stoica Marius , Krijgsman Wout 
Published: July 2018

AbstractCentral Eurasia underwent significant palaeoclimatic and palaeogeographic transformations during the middle to late Miocene. The open marine ecosystems of the Langhian and Serravallian seas progressively collapsed and were replaced in the Tortonian by large endorheic lakes. These lakes experienced major fluctuations in water level, directly reflecting the palaeoclimatic conditions of the region. An extreme lowstand of the Eastern Paratethys lake (−300 m) during the regional Khersonian stage reveals a period of intensely dry conditions in Central Eurasia causing a fragmentation of the Paratethys region. This period of “Great Drying” ended by a climate change towards more humid conditions at the base of the Maeotian stage, resulting in a large transgressive event that reconnected most of the Paratethyan basins. The absence of a robust time frame for the Khersonian–Maeotian interval hampers a direct correlation with the global records and complicates a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Here we present a new chronostratigraphic framework for the Khersonian and Maeotian deposits of the Dacian Basin of Romania, based on integrated magneto‐biostratigraphic studies on long and continuous sedimentary successions. We show the dry climate conditions in the Khersonian start at 8.6–8.4 Ma. The Khersonian/Maeotian transition is dated at 7.65–7.5 Ma, several million years younger than previous estimates. The Maeotian transgression occurs later (7.5–7.4 Ma) in more marginal and shallower basins, in agreement with the time transgressive character of the flooding. In addition, we date a sudden water level drop of the Eastern Paratethys lake, the Intra‐Maeotian Event (IME), at 6.9 Ma, and hypothesize that this corresponds to a reconnection phase with the Aegean basin of the Mediterranean. Finally, we discuss the potential mechanisms explaining the particularities of the Maeotian transgression and conclude that the low salinity and the seemingly “marine influxes” most likely correspond to episodes of intrabasinal mixing in a gradual and pulsating transgressive setting.
Across‐axis variations in petrophysical properties of the North Porcupine Basin, offshore Ireland: New insights from long‐streamer traveltime tomography
Authors: Prada Manel , Lavoué François , Saqab Muhammad Mudasar , O'Reilly Brian M. , Lebedev Sergei , Walsh John J. , Childs Conrad 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe Porcupine Basin is a Mesozoic failed rift located in the North Atlantic margin,SWof Ireland, in which a postrift phase of extensional faulting and reactivation of synrift faults occurred during the Mid–Late Eocene. Fault zones are known to act as either conduits or barriers for fluid flow and to contribute to overpressure. Yet, little is known about the distribution of fluids and their relation to the tectono‐stratigraphic architecture of the Porcupine Basin. One way to tackle this aspect is by assessing seismic (Vp) and petrophysical (e.g., porosity) properties of the basin stratigraphy. Here, we use for the first time in the Porcupine Basin 10‐km‐long‐streamer data to perform traveltime tomography of first arrivals and retrieve the 2DVpstructure of the postrift sequence along a ~130‐km‐longEWprofile across the northern Porcupine Basin. A newVp–density relationship is derived from the exploration wells tied to the seismic line to estimate density and bulk porosity of the Cenozoic postrift sequence from the tomographic result. TheVpmodel covers the shallowest 4 km of the basin and reveals a steeper vertical velocity gradient in the centre of the basin than in the flanks. This variation together with a relatively thick Neogene and Quaternary sediment accumulation in the centre of the basin suggests higher overburden pressure and compaction compared to the margins, implying fluid flow towards the edges of the basin driven by differential compaction. TheVpmodel also reveals two prominent subvertical low‐velocity bodies on the western margin of the basin. The tomographic model in combination with the time‐migrated seismic section shows that whereas the first anomaly spatially coincides with the western basin‐bounding fault, the second body occurs within the hangingwall of the fault, where no major faulting is observed. Porosity estimates suggest that this latter anomaly indicates pore overpressure of sandier Early–Mid Eocene units. Lithological well control together with fault displacement analysis suggests that the western basin‐bounding fault can act as a hydraulic barrier for fluids migrating from the centre of the basin towards its flanks, favouring fluid compartmentalization and overpressure of sandier units of its hangingwall.
Effects of a responsible retailing mystery shop intervention on age verification by servers and clerks in alcohol outlets: A cluster randomised cross‐over trial
Authors: Grube Joel W. , DeJong William , DeJong Maureen , Lipperman‐Kreda Sharon , Krevor Brad S. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIntroduction and AimsClerks and servers at alcohol establishments often fail to verify age. Using mystery shoppers to provide performance feedback is one approach to improving age verification. Few controlled studies have evaluated mystery shop interventions. This paper reports on a cluster randomised cross‐over trial of a mystery shop intervention in 16 communities in four US states.Design and MethodsThe intervention comprised monthly mystery shops after which clerks and servers received immediate feedback to reinforce age verification. Managers received monthly reports. Communities in each state were matched into pairs and, following a 3‐month baseline, were randomly assigned within each pair to receive the intervention beginning after the fourth (Early Intervention) or the tenth (Delayed Intervention) mystery shop. On average, 17 (range = 14–20) randomly selected on‐premises and 18 (range = 11–23) off‐premises outlets participated in each community (N = 557).ResultsFixed effects multi‐level logistic regressions indicated that the intervention led to a two‐fold increase in the odds of age verification, odds ratio (OR) = 2.05; P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.76, 2.39. Overall, ID‐checking increased from an average of 80% pre‐intervention to 94–96% by the end of the program. Significant effects were found for on‐premises, OR = 1.79; P < 0.001; 95% CI 1.43, 2.24, and off‐premises establishments, OR = 2.29; P < 0.001; 95% CI 1.86, 2.82.Discussion and ConclusionsMystery shop interventions can increase age verification for alcohol purchases and may be an effective supplement to compliance checks and responsible beverage service programs.
The distribution of the Capital Purchase Program funds: Evidence from bank internal capital markets
Authors: Mukherjee Tarun , Pana Elisabeta 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe investigate the role played by the internal capital markets of bank holding companies in the distribution of the Capital Purchase Program funds to subsidiaries. We find that while all banks used a similar internal capital allocation to support their subsidiaries, program participants transferred more capital to their subsidiaries than nonparticipants. Smaller bank subsidiaries with lower capital and earnings received more capital than other subsidiaries. Our results support the argument that the distribution of capital was done in accordance with regulatory requirements that mandate bank holding companies to act as a source of strength for their subsidiaries.
Analyzing the Efficiency of County Road Production – Evidence from Eastern German Counties
Authors: Fritzsche Carolin 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis study analyzes the efficiency of the road production by local governments using data envelopment analysis. The production of roads is a costly public service, which makes an efficiency analysis in this field an interesting subject. I enhance the previous literature, first, by examining the differences in the efficiencies of eastern German counties while considering the deformation of the pavement and foundation of roads, which previous studies have not included due to data limitations. Second, I use a unique dataset on road quality for my efficiency analysis and show that the efficiency levels differ from those in studies that apply proxies, such as the number of accidents, to capture the quality of roads. These findings indicate that there is a great need to develop reliable variables to describe government services. Additionally, I show that the correlations between efficiency levels and county characteristics vary greatly depending on the quality indicator used.
Interest‐Rate Pegs in New Keynesian Models
Authors: EVANS GEORGE W. , MCGOUGH BRUCE 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe conventional policy perspective is that lowering the interest rate increases output and inflation in the short run, while maintaining inflation at a higher level requires a higher interest rate in the long run. In contrast, it has been argued that a Neo‐Fisherian policy of setting an interest‐rate peg at a fixed higher level will increase the inflation rate. We show that adaptive learning argues against the Neo‐Fisherian approach. Pegging the interest rate at a higher level will induce instability and most likely lead to falling inflation and output over time. Eventually, this would precipitate a change of policy.
Diagnosis, assessment, and management of surgical complications following esophagectomy
Authors: Grimminger Peter P. , Goense Lucas , Gockel Ines , Bergeat Damien , Bertheuil Nicolas , Chandramohan Servarayan M. , Chen Ke‐neng , Chon Seung‐hon , Denis Collet , Goh Khean‐lee , Gronnier Caroline , Liu Jun‐feng , Meunier Bernard , Nafteux Phillippe , Pirchi Enrique D. , Schiesser Marc , Thieme René , Wu Aaron , Wu Peter C. , Buttar Navtej , Chang Andrew C. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractDespite improvements in operative strategies for esophageal resection, anastomotic leaks, fistula, postoperative pulmonary complications, and chylothorax can occur. Our review seeks to identify potential risk factors, modalities for early diagnosis, and novel interventions that may ameliorate the potential adverse effects of these surgical complications following esophagectomy.
The predictive power of industrial electricity usage revisited: evidence from non‐parametric causality tests
Authors: Bonato Matteo , Demirer Riza , Gupta Rangan 
Published: July 2018

AbstractRecent research shows that the industrial electricity usage growth rate carries predictive ability over stock market returns up to 1 year. Using the recently developed non‐parametric causality tests we show that the predictive power of industrial electricity usage can be explained by an ‘industry effect’ that is transmitted via the volatility channel. We argue that the countercyclical premium associated with industrial electricity usage growth is driven by the industry components that drive stock reversals, thus resulting in the negative relationship between today's industrial electricity usage and stock market returns in the future. The findings are in line with the notion that the returns on industry portfolios are informative about macroeconomic fundamentals and suggest that the informational value of industrial electricity usage as a business cycle variable may be an artefact of return reversals driven by past industry performance.
Validating the accuracy of an activity monitor in a visually impaired older population
Authors: Bajaj Rohan , Ramulu Pradeep , Dillon Lisa , Jakobsen Kirsten B , Tiedemann Anne , Rogers Kris , Keay Lisa 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPurposeActivity monitors have been used to objectively measure physical activity and its association with visual impairment in older adults. However, there is limited understanding of the accuracy of activity monitors in people with low vision. This study investigated the accuracy of an activity monitor compared with manual step counting in a low vision population and sought to find the most accurate placement location for the device.MethodsWe recruited 32 individuals aged 50 years and older with low vision. ActiGraph activity monitors were secured bilaterally on the wrists, ankles, and hips of each participant, who then walked a flat, linear course in their home at a comfortable pace for 4 min, using any necessary assistive device such as a long cane, support cane, or guide dog. Steps were counted using a hand‐held tally counter. ActiGraph‐measured step data from the 4‐min period were downloaded using the standard and low frequency filters at 1 epoch s−1 through ActiLife.ResultsOf the 32 participants, 20 (63%) were female, median visual acuity was 1.48 logMAR (6/180 Snellen), average age was 73 (standard deviation, S.D., 9) years, average body mass index was 28.9 (S.D. 7.0) kg m−2, and 47% of participants used an assistive device. Average distance for the test course was 10.9 (S.D. 3.4) m and participants completed an average of 368 (S.D. 68) steps during the 4 min. The number of steps recorded by the two, bilaterally‐worn devices at each location were averaged. Ankle, hip, and wrist activity monitors detected 85% (interquartile range, IQR 76–94%), 56% (IQR 39–85%), and 56% (IQR 43–69%), respectively, of directly‐observed steps when using the standard ActiGraph filter. Detected steps more closely matched directly observed steps for all placement sites when the low‐frequency ActiGraph filter was applied: 101% (IQR 99–104%) at the ankle, 94% (IQR 85–101%) at the hip, and 83% (IQR 72–94%) at the wrist. Bland‐Altman plots showed greater levels of agreement between ActiGraph‐recorded and directly‐observed steps at faster walking speeds.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that the most accurate location of activity monitor placement is the ankle and that when using the low‐frequency filter the level of agreement becomes more acceptable on the wrist and hip, in this population. Use of the low activity filter can help minimise inaccurate calculation of steps in people with low vision, particularly those who walk slowly.