bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of ethical leadership on organizational citizenship behavior
Authors: Yang qi , Wei hua 
Published: November 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between ethical leadership and employee organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), specifically the mechanisms through which ethical leadership impacts employee OCB, and the moderating role of workplace ostracism.Design/methodology/approachThe study used the survey-based dyad data collected from middle management team members and their immediate subordinates in Chinese companies. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the research hypothesis.FindingsThe empirical findings indicate that ethical leadership positively influences employee OCB. Organizational commitment mediates the relationship between ethical leadership and employee OCB. Furthermore, the effect of ethical leadership on employee OCB directly and indirectly (via organizational commitment) is moderated by workplace ostracism.Originality/valueThis paper adds to knowledge about the relationship between ethical leadership and employee OCB and contributes to better understand workplace ostracism.
COO effect: business opportunities for Middle Eastern entrepreneurs
Authors: Supramaniam Sivakumari , Gaur Sanjaya S. , Idris Izian , Cheng Boon Liat 
Published: November 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the potential business opportunities for Middle Eastern entrepreneurs by understanding the Malaysian Muslim’s ways of experiencing and realising value of products originating from Middle Eastern countries.

Design/methodology/approach
Phenomenography approach has been used to identify the variations among the Muslim consumers’ ways of experiencing Middle Eastern products.

Findings
The authors reported that Muslim consumers considered the country of origin as an important cue that affects their knowing, understanding, judging and acting on products originating from Middle Eastern countries.

Originality/value
Understanding developed from the Malaysian Muslim consumers enabled authors to suggest business opportunities for Middle Eastern entrepreneurs to enter and expand their operations in other leading Islamic countries.
Relationships among social capital, self-efficacy, and new venture creations
Authors: M. Kannadhasan , Charan Parikshit , Singh Pankaj , N. Sivasankaran 
Published: November 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of social capital with new venture creation, and whether self-efficacy plays a role in mediating the association between social capital and new venture creation.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 375 entrepreneurs through cross-sectional survey in India. The study used partial least square path modeling to assess the relationships among the variables.FindingsFindings reveal that social capital is positively related to new venture creation. The association of social capital and new venture creation is fully mediated by entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy.Originality/valueThe role of social capital in the success of new venture creations through self-efficacy is useful to the potential entrepreneurs and people who facilitate new venture creation in Indian context.
Considering heterogeneity within assumed homogenous generational cohorts
Authors: Stark Ernie , Poppler Paul 
Published: November 2017

Purpose
This study aims to address demographic variables believed likely to restrain or modify homogeneous attitudes and values purported as inherent in each generational cohort and associated with divergence of workplace preferences and expectations.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a subsample of data collected from a larger study conducted as part of the General Social Survey and supported by the National Science Foundation, this study contributes to the emerging generational differences in literature by using Kruskal–Wallis tests in the analysis of five generational research questions.

Findings
In one sense, the results of this study appear to reflect the mixed and confusing disarray of evidence regarding the influence of generational differences on job preferences and workplace behaviors. On only two of the five job characteristics in this study did generational cohort membership demonstrate beyond random chance divergence in generational preference. However, the analysis of the interaction of cohort membership and demographic covariates on these two job characteristics points toward merit in further examination of relationship of subgroup differences relative to overarching assumptions about generational attitudes and norms of behavior.

Research limitations/implications
A number of limitations to the interpretation of this study merit reflection. First, given that the data for this study were cross-sectional in nature, the relationships in our study may be subject to temporal change. Second, the data were secured by self-report and is subject to all the limitations of self-reported data. Third, some of the demographic variables in this study were the result of aggregation in an attempt to secure adequate observations in each cell, and as such, important variance may have been concealed. Fourth, the study did not control for the confounding influence of age difference on cohort preferences.

Practical implications
In a rush to adapt and develop different approaches to human resource management in hope of meeting the needs of successive generational cohorts, it behooves scholars and practitioners alike to acknowledge the confused state of research on generational cohorts and to question the assumed monolithic model of generational cohort job-related likes and dislikes.

Social implications
This study would suggest that the assumed homogeneity of generational values and attitudes and their influence on the US workplace frequently fails to consider the heterogeneity evolving from the rural/urban characteristics where cohort members experienced adolescence.

Originality/value
Scholars will appreciate the broad perspective presented in this study and the potential new avenues for research. For practitioners, the study provides valuable insights into the three dominant generational cohorts currently in the workplace, thus enabling practitioners to understand the underpinnings of performance and work climate with greater depth and breadth of perspective.
Learning from within: a longitudinal case study of an education research group
Authors: Burt Brian A. , Lundgren Kathryn , Schroetter Joshua 
Published: November 2017

Purpose
Professionals in higher education are expected to be informed consumers of knowledge who seek out scholarship, critical evaluators of the applicability of extant knowledge, and contributors who build new knowledge for higher education practice. Despite the understood importance of developing research competencies, many have limited opportunities to develop these skills. This study aims to explore one way individuals develop research competencies: through participation in team-based research experiences.

Design/methodology/approach
A longitudinal case study approach was used to investigate what participants in an education research group learn, and how their participation in the group changes the ways in which they think about themselves as researchers and scholars. Four group members participated in two focus group interviews (at the end of the fall 2015 and spring 2016 academic semesters). Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings
Study participants report gaining knowledge about research, developing an identity as a researcher, and learning about faculty roles. Particular group practices and activities (e.g. full group meetings, subgroup meetings, professional development moments) helped mediate members’ learning and identity development.

Originality/value
Research groups should be considered valuable contexts where teaching and learning take place. By learning – and integrating what we learn – from research group participation, the higher education and student affairs fields may become better able to generate innovative practices and activities that provide students and professionals with opportunities to develop important research competencies.
Validation of the quality in PhD processes questionnaire
Authors: Herrmann Kim Jesper , Wichmann-Hansen Gitte 
Published: November 2017

Purpose
Increasing interest in PhD processes calls for valid and reliable survey instruments that cover key aspects of the PhD experience. Based on recent research, existing questionnaires and interviews with PhD students, the Quality in PhD Processes Questionnaire (QPPQ) was developed to cover a range of influential factors such as perceptions of the research environment and psychological well-being. This paper aims at validating the QPPQ for measuring quality in PhD processes.

Design/methodology/approach
This study assesses the validity of the QPPQ’s scales with special attention to factorial, convergent and discriminatory validity. Six scales were developed based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses applied to 23 items in a sample of 1,670 PhD students representing various academic disciplines.

Findings
Results were promising concerning the scales’ psychometric properties and indicators of validity.

Originality/value
The QPPQ offers itself as a theoretically grounded and thoroughly tested instrument for the purposes of evaluating and developing PhD programs at a local level or for researching PhD processes in general.
Implementing Six Sigma within Kaizen events, the experience of AIDC in Taiwan
Authors: Cheng Lang Jung 
Published: November 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore a Six Sigma implementation within a Kaizen mechanism, how the Kaizen events and methodology evolved, as well as the critical success factors as the methodology developed.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper begins with a review of the literature on Six Sigma and its Kaizen factors, followed by an empirical study a Kaizen event framework that was developed for a Taiwanese firm.

Findings
The results of the Six Sigma system proposed in this paper show that each organization used a unique Kaizen mechanism when initiating a Six Sigma project. A Kaizen event within a Kaizen mechanism can be used to obtain valuable insights about Six Sigma implementations. Firms should be able to achieve better management decisions after conducting self-assessments using the model.

Originality/value
This paper provides documented evidence of Six Sigma implementations with Kaizen events flow units, representative of aerospace industry. This study should prove to be of a great value to academics, consultants, researchers, and practitioners of Six Sigma.
How does ICT-use improve the environment? The case of Turkey
Authors: Gonel Feride , Akinci Atakan 
Published: November 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the effects of ICT-use on environmental problems in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach
The study focuses on the effects of ICTs on finding the solutions to environmental problems. Inspired by specific classification, these categories that the authors used are as follows: the consumption of material sources; the transportation of people and goods; office spaces and smart building; using data communication and monitoring; ICT equipment (the last category involves the negative effects of ICT equipment itself; since we focus on “by ICT” issues, the authors will not examine this category in detail).

Findings
First of all, as a developing country, Turkey has an ability to monitor and control data on environment and the country is working to improve on it successfully in cooperation with international-related institutions. At the same time, using ICTs, smart buildings are increasingly becoming popular in Turkey with the help of some regulations. Transportation is another area that uses ICT.

Originality/value
To make a connection between ICT and environmental problems, it is a very new issue in developing countries. It is also new for Turkey. Therefore, as the authors know, this is the first general review on this subject.
Evaluation of Francisella tularensis ΔpdpC as a candidate live attenuated vaccine against respiratory challenge by a virulent SCHU P9 strain of Francisella tularensis in a C57BL/6J mouse model
Authors: Tian Deyu , Uda Akihiko , Park Eun‐sil , Hotta Akitoyo , Fujita Osamu , Yamada Akio , Hirayama Kazuhiro , Hotta Kozue , Koyama Yuuki , Azaki Mika , Morikawa Shigeru 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTFrancisella tularensis, which causes tularemia, is an intracellular gram‐negative bacterium. F. tularensis has received significant attention in recent decades because of its history as a biological weapon. Thus, development of novel vaccines against tularemia has been an important goal. The attenuated F. tularensis strain ΔpdpC, in which the pathogenicity determinant protein C gene (pdpC) has been disrupted by TargeTron mutagenesis, was investigated as a potential vaccine candidate for tularemia in the present study. C57BL/6J mice immunized s.c. with 1 × 106 CFUs of ΔpdpC were challenged intranasally with 100× the median lethal dose (LD50) of a virulent SCHU P9 strain 21 days post immunization. Protection against this challenge was achieved in 38% of immunized C57BL/6J mice administered 100 LD50 of this strain. Conversely, all unimmunized mice succumbed to death 6 days post challenge. Survival rates were significantly higher in vaccinated than in unimmunized mice. In addition, ΔpdpC was passaged serially in mice to confirm its stable attenuation. Low bacterial loads persisted in mouse spleens during the first to tenth passages. No statistically significant changes in the number of CFUs were observed during in vivo passage of ΔpdpC. The inserted intron sequences for disrupting pdpC were completely maintained even after the tenth passage in mice. Considering the stable attenuation and intron sequences, it is suggested that ΔpdpC is a promising tularemia vaccine candidate.
The effect of allogeneic cardiac stem cells in left ventricular geometry and function in a rat model of myocardial infarction
Authors: Weng Yinlun , Zhang Xueyuan , Liu Anmin , Cai Wangqing , Li Fangcheng , Wang Tong 
Published: November 2017

SummaryBackgroundThe development of heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (MI) was related to left ventricular (LV) pathological remodeling and dysfunction. Cardiac stem cells (CSCs) provided a new option to treat acute MI. This study was to investigate the effects of CSCs on structural and functional alteration in acute MI.MethodsAcute MI was induced in 20 Sprague‐Dawley rats by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Two weeks after MI, animals were randomized into CSCs or control group. LV geometry and function were echocardiographically measured at baseline, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after MI. After measuring hemodynamics at 6 weeks after MI, hearts were harvested for tracing CSCs stained by PKH26 and testing expression of VEGF‐α/TGF‐β1 by RT‐PCR and ELISA.ResultsTwo weeks after MI, there were significant decreases in interventricular septal systolic and diastolic thickness (IVSTs/d), while increases in LV systolic and diastolic dimension (LVDs/d). Consequently, this contributed to decreases in ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shorting (FS). With the treatment of CSCs for 4 weeks, significant better ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shorting (FS) were achieved in CSCs group accompanied by the reduction in LV systole and diastole dimension (LVDs/d). Besides, a significant improvement in the maximal rate of LV pressure development and decline (peak +dP/dt and ‐dP/dt, respectively) was observed. Moreover, significantly higher VEGF‐α was expressed in CSCs group rather than TGF‐β1.ConclusionCSCs significantly prevented structural and functional deterioration after MI with increasing expression of VEGF‐α.
Land degradation affects shrub growth responses to precipitation in a semiarid rangeland of north‐eastern Patagonia (Argentina)
Authors: Campanella María Victoria , Rostagno César Mario , Videla Lina Sonia , Bisigato Alejandro Jorge 
Published: November 2017

AbstractArid land degradation diminishes the proportion of precipitation conducted to infiltration and increases the proportion lost to run‐off and evaporation. Consequently, we expect that the effects of annual precipitation on shrub growth vary with land degradation as a result of changes in soil available water. Chuquiraga avellanedae is the dominant shrub and the main indicator of land degradation in semiarid rangelands of north‐eastern Patagonia. We chose two communities with a different degree of land degradation: an herbaceous steppe with shrubs (HSS) and a degraded shrub steppe (SS). Vegetative growth of C. avellanedae was determined nondestructively using a double‐sampling approach. Soil water content was estimated for the two communities using a soil water balance model. Linear regressions were used to evaluate the relationships between shrub growth and (i) annual precipitation and (ii) mean available water during the period of high vegetative growth in the soil layer that each plant community concentrates their roots. In SS, with elevated clay content, there were more roots of C. avellanedae in the upper layers of soil while in HSS, with coarse‐textured soil, C. avellanedae had more roots in deeper layers. Vegetative growth of C. avellanedae, both in HSS and SS communities, was positively related to annual precipitation but, for a given precipitation, C. avellanedae presented higher vegetative growth in HSS than in SS. We also found a positive relationship between vegetative growth and soil available water, and this relationship did not differ between communities. SS presented lower water availability because of lower infiltration rates. Our results showed that, irrespective of the degree of land degradation, plants respond directly to water content of the soil layers where most roots are present at a specific window of time.
Outcomes of Asian patients with localized prostate cancer treated with combined intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy: A single institution experience
Authors: Ng Ivy Wei Shan , Tey Jeremy Chee Seong , Soon Yu Yang , Tseng Michelle Shu Fen , Chen Desiree , Lim Keith Hsiu Chin 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAimExternal beam radiotherapy (EBRT) followed by high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy boost has demonstrated minimal toxicities and improved disease control rate compared with EBRT alone in observational and randomized studies with predominantly Caucasian patients. This study aims to report the outcomes of patients treated with this approach in our predominantly Asian population.MethodsMedical records for patients with localized prostate cancer who received combined EBRT delivered via intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) technique followed by HDR brachytherapy boost were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes evaluated included 5‐year biochemical recurrence‐free survival (per Phoenix definition), overall survival and treatment toxicities.ResultsFrom June 2009 to March 2015, 75 patients were treated with IMRT followed by HDR brachytherapy boost. Twenty patients (27%) had intermediate risk, 55 (74%) had high‐risk disease. Median follow up was 64 months. All patients received IMRT to a median dose of 45 Gy to the pelvis followed by HDR brachytherapy boost. Sixty, 10 and 5 patients received boost of 21 Gy in two fractions, 19 Gy in two fractions and 15 Gy in a single fraction, respectively. All patients met the planning criteria adapted from RTOG 0815. The 5‐year prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) control was 85.2% (80.3% and 100% for high‐risk and intermediate‐risk group, respectively). Cancer‐specific survival and overall survival are 97.3% and 92.0%, respectively. Eleven (15%) patients developed biochemical failure, six of which had distant metastasis. Three (4%) developed grade 3 genitourinary toxicity (urethral stricture and/or cystitis) and none developed grade 3 radiation proctitis.ConclusionOur outcomes are comparable to internationally published data and demonstrate reproducibility of this approach in our population.
Amphipoda and Isopoda diversity around Tunisian wetlands (North Africa) in relation to environmental conditions
Authors: Khemaissia Hajer , Jelassi Raja , Souty‐Grosset Catherine , Nasri‐Ammar Karima 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAmphipoda and Isopoda were sampled in 40 Tunisian wetlands, and their fauna were compared at four different types: lagoon, sebkhas, dams and hill reservoir. At each station, eight quadrates of 50 × 50 cm were randomly placed. Amphipoda and Isopoda were collected by hand. They were identified to species level. At each station, analyses of organic matter, sodium, calcium and heavy metals content from the soil collected in each station were performed. We recorded 19 and eight species for respectively Isopoda and Amphipoda and caught 3,035 specimens in total. The highest isopod's species richness (11 species) was noted around hill reservoirs and dams, a quite similar richness in the banks of lagoons (10 species) but only six species in the sebkhas. Eight amphipod species were recorded in the supralittoral zone of lagoons, three species around sebkhas but no amphipods were found in samples from dams and hill reservoirs. Isopod species richness was positively correlated with soil humidity. However, the distribution of the speciesOrchestia mediterranea,Orchestia gammarellus,Orchestia montagui,Orchestia stephenseniandPlatorchestia platensiswas related to soil metal concentrations.
Volume responsiveness assessed by passive leg raising and a fluid challenge: a critical review focused on mean systemic filling pressure
Authors: Cooke K. , Sharvill R. , Sondergaard S. , Aneman A. 
Published: November 2017

SummaryThis review applied cardiovascular principles relevant to the physiology of venous return in interpreting studies on the utility of a passive leg‐raising manoeuvre to identify patients who do (responders) or do not respond to a subsequent intravenous volume challenge with an increase in cardiac output. Values for cardiac output, mean arterial and central venous pressure, and the calculated cardiovascular variables mean systemic filling pressure analogue, heart efficiency, cardiac power indexed by volume state and volume efficiency, before and after passive leg raising as well as before and after fluid volume challenge, were extracted from published studies. Eleven studies including 572 patients and 52% responders were analysed. Cardiac output increased by 12% in responders during passive leg raising and by 22% following a volume challenge. No statistically significant differences were found between responders and non‐responders in cardiac output, mean arterial or central venous pressure before the passive leg‐raising manoeuvre or the volume challenge. In contrast, the calculated mean (SD) systemic filling pressure analogue, reflecting the intravascular volume, was significantly lower in responders (14.2 (1.8) mmHg) than non‐responders (17.5 (3.4) mmHg; p = 0.007) before the passive leg‐raising manoeuvre, as well as before fluid volume challenge (14.6 (2.2) mmHg vs. 17.6 (3.5) mmHg, respectively; p = 0.02). The scalar measure volume efficiency was higher in responders at 0.35 compared with non‐responders at 0.10. Non‐responders also demonstrated deteriorating heart efficiency of −15% and cardiac power of −7% when given an intravenous fluid volume challenge. The results demonstrate that the calculation of mean systemic filling pressure analogue and derived variables can identify patients likely to respond to a fluid volume challenge and provides scalar results rather than merely a dichotomous outcome of responder or non‐responder.