bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Excessive daytime sleepiness and antipathogen drug consumption in the elderly: a test of the immune theory of sleep
Authors: Berticat Claire , Thomas Frédéric , Dauvilliers Yves , Jaussent Isabelle , Ritchie Karen , Helmer Catherine , Tzourio Christophe , Raymond Michel , Artero Sylvaine 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe evolutionary reasons for sleep remain controversial. The immune theory of sleep suggests that sleep is essential to the immune system, allowing organisms to allocate more energy to their immunity. This hypothesis was tested by exploring the links between excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and vulnerability to infectious diseases in a large (n = 9294) cohort of elderly individuals, with information on socio-demographics, daily habits, and medical characteristics. At the two-year and four-year follow-ups, we obtained individual data from the national healthcare insurance about all medications prescribed to the participants between 2001 and 2003 (n = 2865). We found an independent positive association between EDS and the consumption of some anti-pathogen drugs. This relationship was mostly explained by fungal and parasitic infections rather than by viral and bacterial ones. These results, although based on correlations, are consistent with the idea that EDS as a proxy of altered sleep quality/quantity may affect the efficiency of the immune system, and hence vulnerability to infections.
High‐power bidirectional resonant DC–DC converter with equivalent switching frequency doubler
Authors: Zong Sheng , Luo Haoze , Li Wuhua , Deng Yan , He Xiangning 
Published: March 2016

A high‐power double frequency bidirectional symmetrical DC–DC resonant converter is proposed to reduce the sizes of the passive components and increase the cost‐effectiveness. Inspired by the bipolar and unipolar modulations for the single‐phase inverter, an asymmetrical duty cycle double frequency modulation is originated for high‐power bidirectional resonant converters whose switching frequency and power density are significantly limited by the high‐power devices. The equivalent operating frequency of the resonant tank becomes twice of the switching frequency, which effectively reduces the volumes and costs of the passive components, especially for high‐power high‐voltage applications. Moreover, the proposed converter has the same output characteristics for the two power flow directions, which not only symmetrises the bidirectional frequency control, but also simplifies the design of the resonant components. The converter operation principle is illustrated and the converter performances are analysed including the principle of the double frequency modulation, output characteristics and soft switching condition. Finally, a 5 kW prototype is built to verify the analysis, and the resonant components for the conventional bidirectional resonant converter are also designed and compared to illustrate the advantages of the proposed converter.
Lightning back flashover tripping patterns on a 275/132 kV quadruple circuit transmission line in Malaysia
Authors: Abd Halim Syahirah , Abu Bakar Ab Halim , Illias Hazlee Azil , Nor Hassan Nor Hidayah , Mokhlis Hazlee , Terzija Vladimir 
Published: March 2016

Severe lightning environment has been the major cause of overhead transmission line outages. In order to minimise the impact of lightning overvoltage, it is necessary to further evaluate lightning performance of any line before implementing specific protection methods. Therefore, in this work, a thorough study on back flashover tripping patterns of a 275/132 kV quadruple steel monopole towers in Malaysia is presented. Several design parameters such as lightning current magnitude, tower footing resistance and power frequency voltage were varied to investigate their influences on the line performance associated with lightning events. The results show that each parameter gives a significant effect on the flashover patterns. For each case, no flashover was recorded on the higher voltage circuits (275 kV), even though the line consists of tall structures, which might be more susceptible to lightning strikes at the upper part. Regardless of the effect of tower height, flashovers occur mainly on 132 kV circuits due to difference in the line insulation level. The results obtained were then used in designing appropriate protection scheme to further improve the transmission line lightning performance, mainly in terms of reducing the double circuit line outages.
Diosgenin effectively suppresses skin inflammation induced by phthalic anhydride in IL-4/Luc/CNS-1 transgenic mice
Authors: Kim Ji Eun , Go Jun , Koh Eun Kyoung , Song Sung Hwa , Sung Ji Eun , Lee Hyun Ah , Kim Dong Seob , Son Hong Joo , Lee Hee Seob , Lee Chung Yeoul , Hong Jin Tae , Hwang Dae Youn 
Published: March 2016

AbstractTo quantitatively evaluate the therapeutic effects of diosgenin (DG) and investigate the role of IL-4 on skin inflammation, alterations in luciferase-derived signal and general phenotype biomarkers were measured in IL-4/Luc/CNS-1 transgenic mice with phthalic anhydride (PA)-induced skin inflammation after treatment with DG for 4 weeks. High levels of luciferase-derived signal detected in the abdominal region and submandibular lymph node (SL) of the PA treated group was significantly decreased by 67–88% in the PA + DG cotreated group. Furthermore, the weight of the lymph node and spleen, IgE concentration, epidermis thickness, and number of infiltrated mast cells were lower in the PA + DG treated group than the PA + Vehicle treated group. Moreover, expression of IL-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) also decreased in the PA + DG cotreated group. These results suggest that PA-induced skin inflammation could be successfully suppressed by DG treatment in IL-4/Luc/CNS-1 Tg mice through attenuation of IL-4 and IL-6 expression, as well as decreased IgE concentration and mast cells infiltration.
Tensions and fissures: the politics of standardised testing and accountability in Ontario, 1995–2015
Authors: Pinto Laura Elizabeth 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTWhile Ontario has received international accolades for its enactment of province‐wide standardised testing upon the formation of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), a closer look at provincial assessments over a 20‐year span reveals successes as well as systemic tensions and fissures. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it offers a socio‐historical account of EQAO policy and programme enactment. Second, it offers insight into the less‐publicised politics of enactment within systems with respect to principles and methods of accountability and their link to instructional systems. Data and findings from various sources shed light on the realities of struggles, tensions in macro‐political consensus and dissensus among various stakeholders, and the micro‐politics at the school and district levels.
School curriculum in Japan
Authors: Nakayasu Chie 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTThis article examines Japanese education system especially relevant to the school curriculum, which might support Japanese high performance in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), mainly through Japanese policy documents. The Japanese education systems have been constructed by the local context of society and politics, and it is hard to analyse the reasons why Japan has seen better results in the previous PISA assessments than other OECD countries. However, the 2008–2009 revision of the Course of Study (the national curriculum in Japan) shows that the Japanese government was really concerned about the decline of Japan's ranking in the previous PISA assessments and revised the Course of Study in response to children's skills which the PISA aimed to measure (key competencies). The Japanese government has placed importance on the cultivation of human resources which are necessary to compete within the international community, and the PISA has had a large effect on the direction of Japanese education.
Learning not borrowing from the Queensland education system: lessons on curricular, pedagogical and assessment reform
Authors: Mills Martin , McGregor Glenda 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTThis paper provides a detailed account of the Queensland education system's engagement with reforming curriculum, pedagogies and assessment. In so doing, it responds to the University College London's Institute of Education report on ‘high‐performing’ jurisdictions, of which Queensland, Australia, was identified as one. In this report, nine issues and choices in relation to ‘instructional systems’ confronting a new education minister (or secretary) are considered. This paper details the strengths of the Queensland education system in relation to curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, whilst acknowledging that particular aspects of the global and national Australian contexts, alongside internal Queensland politics, can inhibit the ongoing work of the very processes that led to Queensland being identified in the Institute of Education report as a ‘high‐performing jurisdiction’. We conclude by arguing that minsters of education need to take a longer view of educational reform than is currently the case and that quick fixes determined by electoral policy cycles need to be avoided. Learning about and from one's own system as well as from others requires a depth of analysis and time that is often not conducive to such policy cycles.
Impact attenuation of protective boxing and taekwondo headgear
Authors: O'Sullivan David M. , Fife Gabriel P. 
Published: March 2016

This study aimed to compare the impact attenuation performance of boxing and taekwondo headgear in terms of peak linear and rotational acceleration. To measure the impact attenuation of headgear, a standardized (American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F‐2397) martial arts headgear striker was used to impart impacts to a 50th Percentile Male Hybrid III Crash Test Dummy head and neck complex. Two boxing (Adidas and Greenhill) and two taekwondo (Adidas and Nike) headgear, approved by the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), were selected. Each of the selected headgear was fitted to the Hybrid III head and subsequently subjected to five impacts at the front and side with a maximum impact interim time of 60 seconds by the rotating striker at 8 ± 0.3 m/s. Linear and rotational acceleration were recorded at 10,000 Hz. There were significant interactions of the impact location and brand on the rotational acceleration, F(3,40) = 6.7, p < .05. There were significant main effects of both impact location F(1,40) = 9.07, p < .05 and headgear brand F(3,40) = 9.9, p < .05 on the linear acceleration. Pairwise comparisons show significant differences between the front and side for both linear and rotational acceleration. The headgear tested failed the ASTM high impact test requirement to reduce the linear acceleration to below a threshold of 150 g. Further development of headgear to reduce impact linear and rotational acceleration magnitudes should be called for by the relevant sport governing bodies and initiated by headgear manufactures.
Importance of commitment in encouraging employees’ innovative behaviour
Authors: Hakimian Fatemeh , Farid Hadi , Ismail Mohd Nazari , Nair Pradeep Kumar 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The extremely competitive and globalized business environment directs organizations to rely on human capital to be innovative. Committed employees are needed for organizations to foster innovative behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between three forms of commitment and employees’ innovative behavior.Design/methodology/approach– Adopted questionnaire from previous studies were distributed among employees of Malaysian Small and Medium Enterprises. A total of 219 questionnaires were analyzed via partial least square.Findings– Statistical results revealed significant relationships between affective and normative commitment and employees’ innovative behavior.Originality/value– This study offers a theoretical contribution by adding an insight into the relationship between commitment and innovative behavior. The study also provides a practical guideline for managers of Malaysian SMEs who aim to increase innovative behavior among employees by considering their level of commitment.
Employee trust dynamics during organizational change: a context of mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Bansal Anjali 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship of employees’ element of organizational trust with the processes and practices of the merged organization during post-M & A integration post-merger integration (PMI) phase. Specifically the variables of employees’ perceptions of effectiveness of HR initiatives, communication, and cultural convergence were studied as important determinants of employees’ trust.Design/methodology/approach– A mixed method research design was adopted, where quantitative data were collected through questionnaires, and the qualitative support has been gained asking open ended elaborated questions. The analysis was performed on the data obtained from 117 respondents having experienced merger or acquisition in past two to three years. Univariate and bivariate analysis were performed on the data using SPSS.Findings– The results of the study indicated the significant positive relationship amongst the variables understudy. It has been found that the poor management of the underlined processes and practices during PMI phase would negatively impact the employees’ phenomenon of trust in the merged organization.Practical implications– This research has significant implications for researchers and practitioners. This study contributes to the understanding of the psychological outcomes of M & A survivors as an imperative for strategic human resource management.Originality/value– This research is an extension of M & A performance research in terms of psychological variables, and is an initiative to discuss M & A cases from the context of a fast developing economy.
Leadership in Vietnamese state owned enterprises (SOEs)
Authors: Tran Dong Mai , Fallon Wayne , Vickers Margaret H. 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore multiple stakeholders’ perceptions of leadership in Vietnamese state-owned enterprises (SOEs).Design/methodology/approach– The paper presents findings from semi-structured interviews that were conducted in Vietnam, with seven different stakeholders who had varying understandings of Vietnamese business leadership within the Vietnamese business context. All interviews were transcribed, then translated into English, and thematic analysis of the interview data undertaken.Findings– The paper suggests that there was a significant variation in Vietnamese leadership perceptions when compared to Western leadership practices, especially when considering the perceptions of those stakeholders with regard to business leadership in the Vietnamese collectivist cultural context. The themes presented include: SOE decision making and responsibility; SOE promotions and appointments; and SOE performance.Research limitations/implications– In the absence of studies of leadership in Vietnamese SOEs, and leadership studies in the Vietnamese culture in general, this research was deliberately exploratory and qualitative. Future mixed methods or quantitative studies are recommended to offer more generalizable conclusions.Practical implications– Implications are discussed that point to leadership changes in Vietnamese organizations, and at the individual level, to assist the Vietnamese government, SOEs, and future leaders. Recommendations are also made that are intended to assist foreign business investors and multinational companies operating in Vietnam, now and in the future, to improve their leadership capacity within this context.Social implications– Vietnam is a country in social and economic transition. Understanding the leadership practices and perceptions, especially how that might differ from leadership in Western nations, is critical for the success of organizations in Vietnam and, in turn, for the economic and social prosperity of the Vietnamese people.Originality/value– The paper contributes perceptions of business leadership in Vietnamese SOEs that have not previously been explored and should be, especially given this critical time of economic and social transition for the Vietnamese nation and economy.
Exploring the relationship between reflexivity and reflective practice through lesson study within initial teacher education
Authors: Lamb Penny , Aldous David 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– A priority for initial teacher education (ITE) is the development of reflection by pre-service teachers (PSTs) in preparation for transition towards qualified teacher status. Whilst much literature exists on the practice of reflection, little attention has been placed on under-standing and developing the processes that inform this practice. Drawing upon the concepts of strong structuration theory (SST), the purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the role Lesson Study can play in developing PSTs’ processes of reflexivity whilst enhancing their reflective practice.Design/methodology/approach– Participants were two cohorts of Secondary Physical Education PSTs (n=40), completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education course (PGCE). Action research methodology was adopted during school placements, when PST dyads engaged in cycles of Lesson Study. Data obtained through group discussion boards, questionnaires, group and individual interviews, were subjected to inductive analysis, comparing key patterns to locate themes.Findings– Drawing upon illustrations collated when exploring the enhancement of their reflective practice, the findings illustrate how PSTs (agents-in-focus) were able to pre-reflectively and critically draw upon embodied dispositions and practices to engage with the external structural elements of their training programme. Such interactions enabled them to demonstrate enhanced forms of active agency and knowledge, developing practices beyond traditional support structures of the training programme.Originality/value– In drawing upon these illustrations, this paper explores how the application of SST further enhances understanding of the underlying reflexive processes that shape PST’s interaction with the structures of ITE. Furthermore, it draws attention to the part Lesson Study can play in developing creative, confident and reflective pedagogy by PSTs. In doing so this paper contributes to the growing body of literature that illuminates how Lesson Study may enhance the experiences and professional development of PSTs.
Lesson study in field practice: a time-lagged experiment in initial teacher education in Norway
Authors: Munthe Elaine , Bjuland Raymond , Helgevold Nina 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to describe the background for, the design of, and the implementation of Lesson Study in a teacher education program in Norway. Lesson Study was chosen as an intervention in an attempt to shift pre-service teachers’ focus from themselves to their pupils, attempting to strengthen their possibilities to learn more about the consequences of their instructional decisions for their pupils.Design/methodology/approach– The study used a time-lagged experiment where one group of second year pre-service teachers took part in their three-week field practice as usual (business-as-usual-condition), and one group, the following year, took part in Lesson Study cycles during their three-week field practice period. The students were recruited from four subject areas in both conditions: Math, Physical Education, Science, and English.Findings– The use of Lesson Study created more collaborative inquiry among the pre-service teachers. At its best, the pre-service teachers formulated research questions, took active part in observations, and used data (pupils’ work, interviews and observations) to inform their choices about how to create improved learning for their pupils.Research limitations/implications– The study is a small scale study due to the need to test before upscaling.Practical implications– The paper includes a description of how Lesson Study was implemented in a Teacher Education Department, and this can be valuable information for others who are attempting the same.Originality/value– This paper fulfills an identified need to learn more about pre-service teachers\ learning and lesson study in teacher education.
Somewhere over the rainbow: sexual orientation and earnings in Germany
Authors: Humpert Stephan 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to observe sexual orientation-based differences in German incomes. Gay men and lesbian women sort themselves into different occupations and sectors than their heterosexual counterparts.Design/methodology/approach– Analysis of German Mikrozensus data for 2009. Mincer-style OLS income regerssions.Findings– The author finds evidence that cohabiting gay men have an income penalty of 5-6 per cent compared with married men, while lesbian women have a premium of about 9-10 per cent compared with married women. Lesbians in a registered same-sex union have an income gain of about 12-16 per cent, while the effect for men is not statistically significant.Originality/value– This is the first paper using German data to analyse income differentials based on sexual orientation (gays and lesbians).
Ethnic concentration and economic outcomes of natives and second-generation immigrants
Authors: Neuman Emma 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between childhood neighbourhood ethnic composition and short- and long-run economic outcomes of second-generation immigrants and natives in Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach
– The author uses Swedish longitudinal register data and apply regression analysis methods to investigate the correlation between three ethnic neighbourhood variables(share of immigrants, share of immigrants with the same ethnic background and share of immigrants with other descent) in childhood with short- and long-run economic outcomes (earnings, unemployment, reliance on social assistance and educational attainment).

Findings
– The results show that second-generation immigrants raised in immigrant-dense neighbourhoods have a lower probability to continue to higher education, whereas, their earnings, unemployment and social assistance tendencies are unaffected. On the contrary, natives’ earnings and educational attainment are negatively correlated with, and the probability of social assistance and unemployment are positively associated with a high immigrant concentration. Moreover, the social assistance and unemployment of non-Nordic second-generation immigrants appears to be negatively correlated with the neighbourhood share of co-ethnics and positively correlated with the neighbourhood proportion of other ethnic groups. Overall, the author finds that the results are very similar in the short and long run.

Originality/value
– This paper expands the literature on children and ethnic segregation and in contrast to earlier research in this context, it focuses on second-generation immigrants and their performance in comparison to natives. This study contributes to this research area by investigating a large variety of outcomes, looking at both immigrant, own ethnic group and other ethnic group concentration and including both short- and long-run correlations.