bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surgical Treatment of Neuromas Improves Patient-Reported Pain, Depression, and Quality of Life
Authors: Domeshek Leahthan F. , Krauss Emily M. , Snyder-Warwick Alison K. , Laurido-Soto Osvaldo , Hasak Jessica M. , Skolnick Gary B. , Novak Christine B. , Moore Amy M. , Mackinnon Susan E. 
Published: October 2016

Background:Surgical management of neuromas is difficult, with no consensus on the most effective surgical procedure to improve pain and quality of life. This study evaluated the surgical treatment of neuromas by neurectomy, crush, and proximal transposition on improvement in pain, depression, and quality of life.Methods:Patients who underwent neuroma excision and proximal transposition were evaluated. Preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale scores for pain (worst and average), depression, and quality of life were assessed using linear regression, and means were compared using pairedttests. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire score was calculated preoperatively and postoperatively for upper extremity neuroma patients. Patients with long-term follow-up were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance comparing preoperative, postoperative, and long-term visual analogue scale scores.Results:Seventy patients (37 with upper extremity neuromas and 33 with lower extremity neuromas) met inclusion criteria. Statistically significant improvements in visual analogue scale scores were demonstrated for all four patient-rated qualities (p< 0.01) independent of duration of initial clinical follow-up. The change in preoperative to postoperative visual analogue scale scores was related inversely to the severity of preoperative scores for pain and depression. Neuroma excision and proximal transposition were equally effective in treating lower and upper extremity neuromas. Upper extremity neuroma patients had a statistically significant improvement in Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire scores after surgical treatment (p< 0.02).Conclusions:Surgical neurectomy, crush, and proximal nerve transposition significantly improved self-reported pain, depression, and quality-of-life scores. Surgical intervention is a viable treatment of neuroma pain and should be considered in patients with symptomatic neuromas refractory to nonoperative management.CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Therapeutic, IV.
Origins and Global Context of Brucella abortus in Italy
Authors: Garofolo Giuliano , Giannatale Elisabetta Di , Platone Ilenia , Zilli Katiuscia , Sacchini Lorena , Abass Anna , Ancora Massimo , Cammà Cesare , Donato Guido Di , Massis Fabrizio De , Calistri Paolo , Drees Kevin P. , Foster Jeffrey T. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBackgroundBrucellosis is a common and chronic disease of cattle and other bovids that often causes reproductive disorders. Natural infection in cattle is caused by Brucella abortus and transmission typically occurs during abortions, calving, or nursing. Brucellosis is also a major zoonotic disease due to contamination of dairy products or contact with the tissues of infected animals. Brucellosis has been eradicated from most of the developed world in the last forty years but persists in many regions; B. abortus remains prevalent in portions of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Central and South America, as well as in the Mediterranean basin. Specifically, B. abortus has persisted in southern Italy in both cattle and water buffalo. Previous attempts at analyzing the genetic structure of B. abortus in Italy have been challenging due to the limited genetic variability and unresolved global population structure of this pathogen.ResultsWe conducted genome-wide phylogenetic analysis on 11 representative strains of B. abortus from Italy, and compared these sequences to a worldwide collection of publically available genomes. Italian isolates belong to three clades basal to the global B. abortus lineage. Using six assays designed to identify substructure within the Italian clades in a collection of 261 isolates, one clade predominates throughout endemic districts in the country, while the other two clades are more geographically restricted to southern Italy.ConclusionsAlthough related strains exist worldwide, B. abortus isolates from Italy are substantially different than those found in much of the rest of Europe and North America, and are more closely related to strains from the Middle East and Asia. Our assays targeting genetic substructure within Italy allowed us to identify the major lineages quickly and inexpensively, without having to generate whole genome sequences for a large isolate collection. These findings highlight the importance of genetic studies to assess the status and the history of pathogens.
OER impact study perceived by faculty within ODL framework
Authors: Sembiring Maximus Gorky 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is, first, to scrutinize the determinants of key benefits of open educational resources (OER) to faculty. Second, it is to expose how, in which routines the variables involved, are interrelated.

Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory design is used in this study. Qualitatively, key benefits include integration, opportunity, efficiency, enrichment, and collaboration. These benefits have direct impacts on enhancing student learning, augmenting teaching practice, improving productivity, catalyzing changes in teaching practice, and supporting non-traditional learners. Quantitatively, the key benefit is moderating the variables. Integration, opportunity, efficiency, enrichment, and collaboration are independent variables. Variables like enhancing student learning, enriching teaching practice, improving productivity, catalyzing changes, and supporting non-traditional learners are the dependent variables. The study population comprised the 721 Universitas Terbuka (UT) faculty members. The respondents were chosen randomly by distributing 450 questionnaires. Only 203 questionnaires were completed. Importance performance analysis and customer satisfaction index (IPA-CSI) were used to measure the importance level of variables involved and their benefits. Structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the ten hypotheses developed so that the author could understand the significance level and relations power among variables engaged with reference to the qualitative outcomes previously obtained.

Findings
Six hypotheses were validated by the analysis. Statistically, efficiency and integration affect key benefits. Likewise, moderating variables affect teaching practice enhancement, productivity improvement, catalyzing changes, and supporting non-traditional learners. Conversely, key benefits were neither interrelated by opportunity, enrichment, and collaboration nor learning enhancement.

Practical implications
This study highlighted that adoption, integration, and implementation of OER in the UT milieu do take place.

Originality/value
This study recognized the variation of qualitative vs quantitative outcomes. An auxiliary inquiry is needed with broader perspective by increasing the respondents sample in order to minimize the difference between qualitative and quantitative results.
Adoption of technology in recruitment of library professionals and faculty members
Authors: Yuvaraj Mayank 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to attempt to study the adoption of social media technologies in the process of recruitment and selection process of library professionals and faculty members in India.

Design/methodology/approach
Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model was used for the study. Two additional constructs, namely, impact of the position of recruiters and level of education were added for the study. Data were collected from 230 recruiters for the study.

Findings
Results of the study highlighted that the hypotheses of UTAUT model were supported. The constructs were performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence as well as facilitating conditions that triggered the behavioral intention of recruiters to adopt social media.

Originality/value
Till date, no any study has been carried out on the application of social media in the process of recruitment of faculty members and library professionals.
Internal audience segmentation and diversity in internal communication
Authors: Suh Taewon , Lee Jaehun 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
Workforce diversity is becoming a crucial matter in the area of internal communication. Realizing that there are multiple brackets within the body of a workforce (i.e. internal audience), the purpose of this paper is to develop an intermediate approach to manage diversity by segmenting the internal audience.

Design/methodology/approach
Developing a segmentation approach for managing diversity, the authors recommended the use of a few mathematical methodologies, including the expectation-maximization algorithm, partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) methodology, and Chow test, on a surveyed data set collected from 1,236 nurses of the US healthcare system. A PLS-SEM model, including employees’ mission awareness, management’s mission fulfillment, employees’ mission fulfillment, and turnover intention, was examined with respect to two internal segments.

Findings
Using a simple set of demographic variables, the authors demonstrated a practical approach to segmenting an internal audience and showed that causal relationships in a nomological network of variables regarding mission integration are significantly different between internal segments. Based on the segmentation approach, the authors proved that managers, in an effort to gain maximum diversity, can mix and match both the centrifugal force of diversity and the centripetal force of diversity to value individuals and for mission integration in their practices, respectively.

Research limitations/implications
The authors highlighted a practical matter of internal communication by connecting the concepts of diversity and internal audience segmentation. However, the generalizability of the results must be assessed in other settings.

Practical implications
While managing diversity involves valuing employees as individuals, the segmentation concept can function as a practical and useful intermediate tool for managing diversity. Practitioners can utilize varied sets of segmented variables according to their contexts.

Social implications
The authors emphasized valuing employees as individuals and developed a managerial way to make personal differences an asset to the productivity of an organization and society.

Originality/value
Introducing a segmentation approach to internal communication and adopting a set of useful statistical techniques, the authors attempted to develop a unique managing model of diversity. The authors suggested a dynamic and substantial segmentation of an internal audience with a smaller set of appropriate variables in each context.
Corporate governance and corporate social responsibility disclosure: evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Javaid Lone Ehtazaz , Ali Amjad , Khan Imran 
Published: October 2016

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether there is any change in corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in Pakistani companies after the introduction of CSR voluntary guidelines in 2013 by Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and determine the effect of corporate governance (CG) elements on CSR disclosure.Design/methodology/approachContent analysis was applied to measure CSR disclosure from annual and sustainability reports of 50 companies from eight different sectors from 2010 to 2014. Paired-samples t-test was applied to examine the difference in CSR disclosure. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between CG elements and CSR disclosure.FindingsPaired-samples t-test shows an increase in the extent of CSR disclosure after the introduction of CSR voluntary guidelines in 2013. The one-way ANOVA test reveals that the extent of CSR disclosure is different across various sectors. Multiple regression results prove that independent directors, women directors and board size positively affect the extent of CSR disclosure.Practical implicationsSECP should enforce medium-sized firms to start producing CSR reports. Voluntary guidelines of 2013 moderately improved CSR reporting. Therefore, enforcement of the SECP rule of independent directors may enhance the extent of CSR disclosure.Originality/valueThis study is the first to examine the effect of CSR voluntary guidelines issued by SECP in 2013 and CG elements on CSR disclosure in Pakistan.
Corporate governance, financial crises and bank performance: lessons from top Russian banks
Authors: Orazalin Nurlan , Mahmood Monowar , Jung Lee Keun 
Published: October 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of different dimensions of corporate governance practices such as board characteristics, ownership structure, corporate disclosure and CEO education on the operating performance of Russian banks before, during and after financial crises. Based on the findings, it proposes some policy measures for improved governance practices to protect banks from future financial crisis or economic downturns.Design/methodology/approachThe study comprises data from the largest publicly traded Russian banks listed on the Russian Stock Exchange RST for the period. Operating performance data were collected from financial statements, while corporate governance mechanisms were collected from annual reports available on the banks’ websites. Because panel data were used, the panel regression model was used to control unobserved time-constant heterogeneity.FindingsThe findings revealed a positive impact of corporate governance on bank performance before and after the financial crisis. The financial crisis enforced Russian banks to improve their corporate governance practices, resulting in better operating performance after the crisis. Surprisingly, the results for the during-crisis period show that better governance did not yield higher operating performance in Russian banks.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to provide empirical results regarding the relationship between corporate governance practices and bank performance in Russia across different financial crisis periods. The findings revealed the uniqueness of corporate governance scenarios of Russia which could provide important guidelines for other transition economies and emerging markets.
Validating a triple bottom line construct and reasons for implementing sustainable business practices in companies and their business networks
Authors: Padin Carmen , Ferro Carlos , Wagner Beverly , Valera Juan Carlos Sosa , Høgevold Nils M. , Svensson Göran 
Published: October 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to validate a triple bottom line (TBL) construct, as well as to describe the TBL reasons for implementing sustainable business practices in companies and their business networks.Design/methodology/approachThis study reports on the validation of a TBL construct, in a Spanish context, of a study originally conducted in Norway. In this validation study, 230 companies were selected for participation. A total of 89 usable questionnaires were returned, generating a response rate of 38.5 per cent.FindingsThe empirical findings indicate major similarities and minor differences between organizations in Spain and Norway across two studies. By extension, the empirical findings appear to be valid and reliable across contexts and through time.Research limitations/implicationsThis study explains the structural properties of the main reasons for business sustainability (economic, social and environmental) and business sustainability efforts in companies and the supply chains or business networks.Practical implicationsBusiness sustainability efforts need to be assessed in a systematic manner, and the validated TBL construct offers a foundation for doing this, though it needs to be complemented with other elements and details in connection with business sustainability.Originality/valueBusiness sustainability efforts have been evolving over time and are increasingly seen to consider economic viability, as well as environmental sustainability and social responsibility. This study deals with how these elements of TBL are interrelated with respect to business sustainability.
Board structure-performance relationship in microfinance institutions (MFIs) in an emerging economy
Authors: Thrikawala Sujani , Locke Stuart , Reddy Krishna 
Published: October 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between board structure, financial performance and outreach of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Sri Lanka, using unbalanced panel data for 300 MFI-year observations for the period 2007 to 2012.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical research relating to governance practices in MFIs is still in its infancy, and further studies are needed to determine how improved governance practices may enhance sustainability and outreach of MFIs, especially in emerging economies. The authors use regression techniques to examine whether board structure has an influence on MFI performance.FindingsAfter controlling for internal corporate governance variables, regulatory status, size, age, leverage and year effects, the authors report that board structure does contribute to the financial performance and outreach of MFIs in Sri Lanka.Research limitations/implicationsThe availability of data in the public domain captures the major MFIs but does constrain the generalisability of findings.Practical implicationsThis study enables individual MFIs to evaluate potential restructuring of their boards to promote a dual mission and achieve a more accelerated economic development.Social implicationsThe findings may encourage policy makers to promulgate policy guidelines to deepen MFI outreach to the poorest people.Originality/valueInconsistent findings in prior studies and a general lack of empirical results for the microfinance industry have led to an unclear message regarding corporate governance and MFI performance. This study fills the research gap, contributing to the existing corporate governance literature in the microfinance sector and providing evidence from an emerging economy.
Modeling housing supply and demand using system dynamics
Authors: Marzouk Mohamed , Hosny Ismail 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
The housing sector in Egypt represents a considerable share of the gross domestic product (GDP) and accordingly the economy. Further, it is considered vital for any population around the world, because it provides the shelter needed by people. Egyptian housing market is facing many problems which need to be solved. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
This research reviews and analyzes the Egyptian public and private housing market’s key variables. As such, it highlights the importance of informed decision making through detailed analysis and study of the market, especially when planning for the future by any housing market stakeholder. The research proposes the use of system dynamics (SD) modeling to analyze the market by creating a stock and flow model using STELLA modeling and simulation software.

Findings
The results reveal that the expected newly established families will be nearly 800,000 families in year 2015/2016. Out of these numbers, 600,000 families require economic housing units, while the expected supply is nearly 300,000 units.

Originality/value
A study is made for the economic housing market, which is a very big housing market and population segment that has been suffering from negligence for years.
Effects of economic conditions and other factors on hotel sale prices
Authors: Lee Seoki , O’Neill John W. , McGinley Sean 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
This study aims to examine previously identified hotel automated valuation models (AVMs) using a more extensive and updated sample of hotel sale transaction data, introduce economic conditions as a new determinant for hotel market value and test the moderating role of economic conditions on the relationship between the previously identified indicators and market value, operationalized as sale transaction price.

Design/methodology/approach
This study performs simple and multiple regression analyses to examine the proposed relationships. The sample period is from 2000 to 2012, because the economy prior to 2000 is likely to have been a less-relevant economic environment for the contemporary business world.

Findings
As hypothesized, there is an insignificant main effect of economic conditions on hotel sale prices. A moderating role of economic conditions on the relationship between average daily rate (and net operating income) and market value was found, while no moderating effect was found for occupancy rate and hotel size. Results also find certain support for AVMs previously presented in the literature, as described herein.

Originality/value
This study attempts to make contributions to the existing lodging and real estate literature by investigating a main effect of economic conditions on hotel sale prices and a moderating role of economic conditions on the relationship between various hotel performance indicators and hotel sale prices. In addition, this study operationalizes a relatively extensive (large base sample size of 2,441 hotel sale transactions) and recent (since 2000) database compared to previous studies.