bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How schedule issues affect drug logistics operations: an empirical study in hospitals in China
Authors: Law Kris M. Y. 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The drug logistics play a crucial role in the hospital service performance. It has been proved that modern logistics concept is a valid access to competitiveness. In order to enhance the comprehensive capability and core competence of hospitals, including the internal support system, there is a great need to have an in-depth and systematic study on the drug logistics system in hospitals. The purpose of this paper is to explore the current situation of the drug logistics and the drug centres operations in public hospitals in China; specifically how the organizational partnerships with the supply chain partners can affect the operational performance.

Design/methodology/approach
– In this study, the possibility of correlations between schedule instability, partnerships with supply chain partners, and internal drug logistics operation is investigated by modelling, with reference to the previous work of Law et al. (2009), in which collective efficacy of the performance is incorporated into the model.

Findings
– The findings of this study show that the drug logistics working teams in public hospitals in China have a high level of efficacy and self-confidence, while they perceive they provide good operations even at a low level of schedule nervousness. The study also reinforces the significant correlation between internal operation and partnership with customers. This is definitely useful for the development of an appropriate framework for drug logistics operation improvement in the long run.

Originality/value
– The study thus offers a good reference for the administrators and practitioners who are keen on improving the service operations in the healthcare sector in the region.
A resource-based view on enablers of supplier integration: evidence from China
Authors: Wang Zhiqiang , Huo Baofeng , Qi Yinan , Zhao Xiande 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of human resource (HR) and manufacturing plant information technology (MP-IT) resource on companies’ internal integration capabilities and how these resources/capabilities influence supplier integration.Design/methodology/approach– Using data collected from 604 Chinese manufacturers, the authors empirically test the effects of different types of resources/capabilities on supplier integration.Findings– The results show that HR has both direct and indirect effects on supplier integration through their effects on internal integration capabilities. MP-IT resource only has significant indirect effects on supplier integration through internal integration capabilities. The results also indicate that HR is more important than MP-IT resource in improving internal integration capabilities and supplier integration.Originality/value– This study empirically investigates enablers of supplier integration in China, contributing to supply chain integration literature and practices.
A dynamic Stackelberg game model for portfolio procurement
Authors: Shi Yuan , Qu Ting , Chu LK 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to propose a portfolio procurement framework to response to uncertain customer demand and purchasing price volatility in a simultaneous manner. Then it aims to obtain optimal procurement and production decisions under the portfolio framework to maximize profit.

Design/methodology/approach
– The portfolio procurement problem is modeled as a dynamic Stackelberg game and Nash equilibrium solutions are obtained. The portfolio procurement framework is analyzed in the settings, with both risk-neutral objective and downside risk constraints measure of contract prices.

Findings
– By obtaining the Nash equilibrium solutions for both the buyer’s ordering decisions and the supplier’s optimum production decisions, Stackelberg game model for portfolio procurement is proved to be feasible. Additionally, downside risk constrains are proposed to help supply chain participants’ to evaluate the profitability and risk probabilities of the designed procurement contracts under the uncertain customer demand and spot market.

Research limitations/implications
– This paper assumes the supplier is risk averse and the buyer is risk neutral, and it would be interesting to examine the performances of portfolio procurement strategy with different risk attitudes participants.

Practical implications
– This research could help the buyer respond to not only demand uncertainty but also the volatile spot price in the procurement process. Related optimal portfolio procurement strategy can be carried out to improve the enterprise’ procurement plan by adjusting the order of long-term contract, option contract and the spot market. The proposed framework could also help suppliers design and evaluate contracts for buyers with different risk preference, and on the other hand help the buyers decide if she should accept the contracts from the supplier.

Social implications
– This research should also increase awareness in both academia and industry on the opportunities of using the dynamic portfolio procurement approach to enhance flexibility and to mitigate the inventory as well as price risks in the procurement process. Effective downside risk constrains on contract prices could also help to protect the bottom line of companies with different risk preference.

Originality/value
– The portfolio procurement framework proposed in this research can mitigate inventory and price risks simultaneously. Also, instead of solving the portfolio procurement planning problem in computational simulation experiments as in previous research, this paper proposed a dynamic game model for this portfolio-based procurement problem and obtained its Nash equilibrium solutions for both the buyer’s ordering decisions and the supplier’s optimum production decisions. Finally, an innovative and simple downside risk constraints has been designed to help the buyer evaluate supplier’s contract prices according to their individual risk preference.
Creating employable graduates: the case of ethnic minority students in Greece
Authors: Panagiotakopoulos Antonios 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore the main barriers to employability skills development of ethnic minority students in the context of higher education (HE) in Greece and recommends strategies to help higher education institutions (HEIs) overcome those barriers.

Design/methodology/approach
– The study draws on a series of in-depth interviews conducted with 20 ethnic minority students and ten “traditional” students studying at three institutions of HE in Greece.

Findings
– The study shows that there are many barriers facing ethnic minority students in HE including: poor self-esteem; lack of good advice about HE courses; isolation once in HE; discrimination by staff in HE; and unresponsive curriculum to ethnic diversity in HE. In this context, it is argued that there is an immediate need for decision makers in HEIs to develop policies that target ethnic minority students in order to help them secure employment. It is suggested that HEIs should: provide opportunities for students to discuss concerns with teachers and counsellors; address issues of motivation, self-perception and self-efficacy; encourage teaching staff to adopt various teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles; decrease competitive, norm-referenced environments; use multicultural education and counselling techniques and strategies; and provide work placement opportunities.

Practical implications
– The paper suggests ways that can help HEIs embrace diversity and promote graduate employability among ethnic minority students in the context of widening participation agenda.

Originality/value
– The study fills a significant knowledge gap in the existing literature in relation to the measures that HEIs can take to enhance graduate employability among ethnic minority students particularly in less developed countries like Greece.
The impact of recent employment-discrimination decisions
Authors: McMullen Anthony Lamar 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to inform small business owners about recent Supreme Court rulings interpreting Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Design/methodology/approach
– A review of recent Supreme Court rulings.

Findings
– Recent Supreme Court rulings have increased the plaintiff’s burden of proof in employment-discrimination cases in the USA.

Practical implications
– Assuming that Congress does not legislatively overrule these decisions, business owners (including small business owners) should find it easier to shield themselves from employment-discrimination claims. However, this change should not be considered license to be less vigilant when it comes to preventing employment discrimination.

Originality/value
– While there have been numerous reports on this law in the legal community, the primary audience for this piece is the business owner. The author’s goal is to provide a combination of background information and practical advice, making this valuable to business owners who are not versed in the law.
Drying behaviour and microbial load after water damage
Authors: Zegowitz Andreas , Renzl Anna , Hofbauer Wolfgang , Meyer Joerg , Kuenzel Hartwig 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The water damage in buildings because of leaking pipes and increasingly because of floods and severe weather require professional help. Methods for improved repair and remediation techniques have to be developed. The water damage in buildings because of leaking pipes and increasingly because of floods and severe weather require professional help. Methods for improved repair and remediation techniques have to be developed. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– Therefore, large scale laboratory tests with four rooms, each with three types of masonry walls (Figure 2 and Plate 1) and typical floors for intermediate storeys with insulation were performed within a climate simulator. Artificial water damage was provoked through watering the floors, and the dispersion of water in the floors and the rising damp in the walls was measured. In the follow-up to the watering of the floors, a company specialized in drying wet buildings, installed systems for under floor drying and wall drying.

Findings
– The drying process of the different components and layers of the floor construction and walls was monitored by a measuring system with more than 300 sensors for moisture content, relative humidity and temperature accompanied by thermography and demonstrated so the advantages and disadvantages of the different tested drying systems. After providing an initial contamination that is typical for construction sites, the microbial load (mould infestation) within the wet components was monitored at different times by experienced biologists. So after three weeks under floor drying no mould growth could be asserted but more bacteria than expected were found.

Originality/value
– The aim of the research was to gain more confidence in selecting appropriate drying procedures and systems in order to identify the right moment for terminating the drying process. A further intent was to acquire data for computer simulations.
Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease presenting with prurigo: Circulating T‐helper 2 cells may be involved in the pathogenesis
Authors: Takamura Saori , Suyama Takayuki , Teraki Yuichi 
Published: March 2016

AbstractWe report a case of immunoglobulin G4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) which presented with prurigo on the trunk and extremities. A 66‐year‐old man had a 2‐month history of itchy erythematous papules on his trunk and extremities. Bilateral eyelid swelling and enlargement of the submandibular and parotid glands were also observed. Computed tomography revealed pleural thickening and diffuse pancreatic enlargement. Serum levels of IgG4 were markedly increased. A biopsy specimen obtained from an erythematous papule showed a perivascular inflammatory infiltrate of lymphocytes with eosinophils in the dermis, whereas a parotid gland biopsy revealed an infiltrate of abundant IgG4‐positive plasma cells. Treatment with prednisolone resulted in improvement of the skin and other lesions along with a decrease in IgG4 serum levels. A flow cytometric assay revealed that percentages of interleukin (IL)‐4‐ and IL‐13‐producing CD4+ T cells were markedly higher in the circulation of the IgG4‐RD patient than in that of healthy subjects. Moreover, those populations dramatically decreased after treatment. Thus, prurigo may be a skin manifestation of IgG4‐RD and T‐helper 2 cells may contribute to the pathogenesis.
Vaginal progesterone as maintenance treatment after an episode of preterm labour (PROMISE) study: a multicentre, double‐blind, randomised, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Palacio M , Cobo T , Antolín E , Ramirez M , Cabrera F , Mozo de Rosales F , Bartha JL , Juan M , Martí A , Oros D , Rodríguez À , Scazzocchio E , Olivares JM , Varea S , Ríos J , Gratacós E ,   the PROMISE Collaborative Group
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether maintenance treatment with vaginal progesterone after an arrested preterm labour reduces the incidence of preterm delivery.DesignMulticentre, randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial.SettingTwelve tertiary care centres in Spain.PopulationA total of 265 women with singleton pregnancy, preterm labour successfully arrested with tocolytic treatment, and cervical length of <25 mm.MethodsRandomisation was stratified by gestational age (from 24.0 to <31.0 weeks of gestation and from 31.0 to <34.0 weeks of gestation) and centre. Patients were randomly assigned, in a 1 : 1 ratio, to either daily vaginal capsules of 200 mg progesterone or placebo until delivery or 36.6 weeks of gestation, whichever occurred first.Main outcome measuresPrimary outcome was delivery before 34.0 and 37.0 weeks of gestation. Secondary outcomes were discharge‐to‐delivery time, readmissions because of preterm labour, emergency service use, and neonatal morbidity and mortality.ResultsFrom June 2008 through June 2012, 1419 women were screened: 472 met the inclusion criteria and 265 were randomised. The final analysis included 258 women: 126 in the progesterone group and 132 in the placebo group. There were no significant differences between the progesterone and placebo groups in terms of delivery at <34 weeks of gestation [9/126 (7.1%) versus 10/132 (7.6%), P = 0.91] or <37 weeks of gestation [36/126 (28.6%) versus 29/132 (22.0%), P = 0.22]. There were no differences observed between groups when considering the two strata of gestational age at inclusion.ConclusionsA maintenance treatment of 200 mg of daily vaginal progesterone capsules in women discharged home after an episode of arrested preterm labour did not significantly reduce the rate of preterm delivery.Tweetable abstractMaintenance progesterone in 258 women after arrested PTL showed no benefit.
Postcomparison of [18F]‐fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the brain after short‐term bright light exposure and no intervention
Authors: Kohno K. , Terao T. , Hatano K. , Kodama K. , Makino M. , Mizokami Y. , Kamei K. , Sakai A. , Shirahama M. , Hirakawa H. , Kashino G. , Matsumoto S. , Mori H. , Ohashi K. , Yano T. 
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveBright light therapy is widely used as the treatment of choice for seasonal affective disorder. Nonetheless, our understanding of the mechanisms of bright light is limited and it is important to investigate the mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to examine the hypothesis that bright light exposure may increase [18F]‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in olfactory bulb and/or hippocampus which may be associated neurogenesis in the human brain.MethodA randomized controlled trial comparing 5‐day bright light exposure + environmental light (bright light exposure group) with environmental light alone (no intervention group) was performed for 55 participants in a university hospital. The uptake of [18F]FDG in olfactory bulb and hippocampus using FDG positron emission tomography was compared between two groups.ResultsThere was a significant increase of uptake in both right and left olfactory bulb for bright light exposure group vs. no intervention group. After adjustment of log‐transformed illuminance, there remained a significant increase of uptake in the right olfactory bulb.ConclusionThe present findings suggest a possibility that 5‐day bright light exposure may increase [18F]FDG in the right olfactory bulb of the human brain, suggesting a possibility of neurogenesis. Further studies are warranted to directly confirm this possibility.
Placebo‐controlled pilot trial testing dose titration and intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous routes for ketamine in depression
Authors: Loo C. K. , Gálvez V. , O'Keefe E. , Mitchell P. B. , Hadzi‐Pavlovic D. , Leyden J. , Harper S. , Somogyi A. A. , Lai R. , Weickert C. S. , Glue P. 
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveThis pilot study assessed the feasibility, efficacy and safety of an individual dose‐titration approach, and of the intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) routes for treating depression with ketamine.MethodFifteen treatment‐refractory depressed participants received ketamine or midazolam (control treatment) in a multiple crossover, double‐blind study. Ketamine was administered by IV (n = 4), IM (n = 5) or SC (n = 6) injection. Dose titration commenced at 0.1 mg/kg, increasing by 0.1 mg/kg up to 0.5 mg/kg, given in separate treatment sessions separated by ≥1 week, with one placebo control treatment randomly inserted. Mood, psychotomimetic and hemodynamic effects were assessed and plasma ketamine concentrations assayed.ResultsTwelve participants achieved response and remission criteria, achieved at doses as low as 0.1 mg/kg. All three routes of administration resulted in comparable antidepressant effects. Fewest adverse effects were noted with the SC route. Antidepressant response, adverse effects and ketamine concentrations were dose‐related.ConclusionAntidepressant response occurred at a range of doses and at <0.5 mg/kg. The dose‐titration approach is a practical method for optimizing the efficacy – side‐effects trade‐off on an individual patient basis. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence for SC injection as a practical, feasible and efficacious treatment approach.
Former charcoal kiln platforms as microhabitats affecting understorey vegetation in Mediterranean forests
Authors: Carrari Elisa , Ampoorter Evy , Verheyen Kris , Coppi Andrea , Selvi Federico 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAimProduction of wood charcoal is an ancient form of anthropogenic forest use that existed for millennia in Mediterranean countries and only vanished in the last century. As a result, thousands of abandoned charcoal kiln platforms still occur in present‐day woodlands. Because of peculiar light and soil properties, the understorey vegetation at these platforms may differ from the surrounding stands. Our study investigated, for the first time, the effects of abandoned kiln platforms on understorey vegetation diversity, composition and biomass production in forests of a Mediterranean area.LocationTuscany, central Italy.MethodsOne 3 × 3 m kiln plot on charcoal kiln area and one 3 × 3 m control plot in the surrounding stands were established in 59 representative sites located in three major forest types dominated by evergreen sclerophylls, deciduous oaks and beech. In each plot, diversity and composition of the understorey community were analysed, together with soil factors (content of C, N, C:N ratio, pH) and light conditions (PAR). A 50 × 50 cm frame was randomly placed in each plot to measure biomass production.ResultsThe charcoal kiln habitat positively affected understorey diversity and above‐ground biomass, as well as the content of C, C:N ratio, pH and light availability. Significant compositional differences between the two plot types occurred, although to a variable extent for the three forest types. Graminoids were more abundant on kiln plots, and 12 indicator species were found for this habitat in deciduous oak forests. Higher values of cover and biomass showed the lack of detrimental effects of wood charcoal accumulation on understorey productivity.ConclusionsLong‐term wood charcoal production in Mediterranean woodlands has caused long‐lasting effects on the understorey via persistent changes in abiotic factors. Hence, former kiln platforms represent anthropogenic microhabitats that increase biodiversity and fine‐scale heterogeneity of forest ecosystems. Conservation measures are advocated to preserve them against various external threats.
Validation of a rapid type 1 diabetes autoantibody screening assay for community-based screening of organ donors to identify subjects at increased risk for the disease
Authors: Wasserfall C , Montgomery E , Yu L , Michels A , Gianani R , Pugliese A , Nierras C , Kaddis J S , Schatz D A , Bonifacio E , Atkinson M A 
Published: March 2016

Summary
The Network for Pancreatic Organ donors with Diabetes (nPOD) programme was developed in response to an unmet research need for human pancreatic tissue obtained from individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus and people at increased risk [i.e. autoantibody (AAb)-positive] for the disease. This necessitated the establishment of a type 1 diabetes-specific AAb screening platform for organ procurement organizations (OPOs). Assay protocols for commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisas) determining AAb against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), insulinoma-associated protein-2 (IA-2A) and zinc transporter-8 (ZnT8A) were modified to identify AAb-positive donors within strict time requirements associated with organ donation programmes. These rapid elisas were evaluated by the international islet AAb standardization programme (IASP) and used by OPO laboratories as an adjunct to routine serological tests evaluating donors for organ transplantation. The rapid elisas performed well in three IASPs (2011, 2013, 2015) with 98-100% specificity for all three assays, including sensitivities of 64–82% (GADA), 60–64% (IA-2A) and 62–68% (ZnT8A). Since 2009, nPOD has screened 4442 organ donors by rapid elisa; 250 (5·6%) were identified as positive for one AAb and 14 (0.3%) for multiple AAb with 20 of these cases received by nPOD for follow-up studies (14 GADA+, two IA-2A+, four multiple AAb-positive). Rapid screening for type 1 diabetes-associated AAb in organ donors is feasible, allowing for identification of non-diabetic, high-risk individuals and procurement of valuable tissues for natural history studies of this disease.
Biomechanical, micro‐computed tomographic and immunohistochemical analysis of early osseous integration at titanium implants placed following lateral ridge augmentation using extracted tooth roots
Authors: Becker Kathrin , Drescher Dieter , Hönscheid Ralf , Golubovic Vladimir , Mihatovic Ilja , Schwarz Frank 
Published: March 2016

AbstractObjectivesTo assess biomechanical, micro‐computed tomographic (micro CT) and immunohistochemical characteristics of early osseous integration at titanium implants placed following lateral ridge augmentation using autogenous extracted tooth roots.Material & MethodsThe roots of healthy maxillary premolars (PM) and retromolar cortical autogenous bone (AB) blocks were used for lateral ridge augmentation at chronic‐type defects in the lower quadrants of n = 16 foxhounds. At 12 weeks, titanium implants were inserted and left to heal for another 3 weeks. Osteocalcin (OC) antigen reactivity, removal torque values (RT) and the bone volume per tissue volume (micro CT‐ BV/TV) along the implants were assessed.ResultsMedian OC (PM: 6.71 vs. AB: 2.73%), RT (PM: 61.97 vs. AB: 44.8 Ncm) and BV/TV (PM: 0.34 vs. AB: 0.21) values were comparable in both PM and AB groups.ConclusionsPM and AB grafted sites equally supported the early stages of osseointegration.