bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determining improvement needs in higher education benchmarking
Authors: Asif Muhammad 
Published: January 2015

Purpose– A critical step in all benchmarking methodologies is “to determine what to benchmark.” Although benchmarking methodologies have been noted in the literature, the need has arisen for the development of structured approaches to determine priority improvement needs. The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for determining improvement needs in higher education benchmarking.Design/methodology/approach– The paper makes use of the analytic hierarchy process to develop a framework. The application of the framework is demonstrated through a case study.Findings– The framework discussed in this paper is consensus-based, allows different viewpoints to be integrated, and promotes input to and ownership of the decision making process and its outcomes. The feedback of the participants confirmed the usefulness of the approach.Practical implications– The previous research has established that determining improvement needs in benchmarking was mostly unsystematic and ad hoc based. And failures in precisely determining improvement needs can result in a lack of alignment between processes to be benchmarked and strategic priorities of higher education institutions (HEIs). The developed framework can help determine priority improvement needs aligned with the strategic priorities of the HEI.Originality/value– Since continual improvement is an essential element of all quality initiatives, the framework provides a starting point for benchmarking as well as other improvement initiatives such as total quality management.
Interrelations of service quality and service loyalty dimensions in medical tourism
Authors: Debata Bikash Ranjan , Patnaik Bhaswati , Mahapatra Siba Sankar , Sree Kumar 
Published: January 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to identify the dimensions of service quality as well as of service loyalty in the context of medical tourism. It seeks to demonstrate the conceptualization of medical tourism service loyalty (MTSL) construct. This research also attempts to examine the effect of service quality dimensions on service loyalty dimensions of medical tourism.

Design/methodology/approach
– The dimensions of service quality as well as of service loyalty are identified using an exploratory factor analysis. Next, the reliability and validity of the quality factors and loyalty factors are established through confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS 18.0 version. The related hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings
– The paper identifies eight-factor construct for medical tourism service quality and three-factor construct for MTSL. It is found that the treatment satisfaction dimension of service quality has positive and significant impact on MTSL. It is also observed that, overall, medical tourism service quality has positive impact on MTSL.

Practical implications
– These dimensions of service quality should be viewed as the levers of improving perceived service quality with respect to medical tourism. Examining the service quality dimensions’ impact on customer loyalty for medical tourism sector can offer the industry valuable insights regarding which aspects of the service to focus on in order to improve medical tourist’s satisfaction and loyalty toward the firms.

Originality/value
– This paper introduces the concept of service quality and service loyalty in medical tourism sector. In conceptualizing MTSL, the authors propose an integration of behavioral measures, attitudinal measures and cognitive measures. The interrelationship between the service quality construct and medical loyalty construct was established using SEM. This is useful for the healthcare manager to measure the medical tourist’s perceptions of service quality on these dimensions as related to medical tourism performance.
Durable product review mining for customer segmentation
Authors: Jiang Shimiao , Cai Shuqin , Olle Olle Georges , Qin Zhiyong 
Published: January 2015

Purpose– More and more e-commerce web sites are using online customer reviews (OCRs) for customer segmentation. However, for durable products, customer purchases, and reviews only once for a long time, as while the product review score may highly affected by service factors or be “gently” evaluated. Existing regression or machine learning-based methods suffer from low accuracy when applied to the OCRs of durable products on e-commerce web sites. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach for customer segment analysis base on OCRs of durable products.Design/methodology/approach– The research proposes a two-stage approach that employs latent class analysis (LCA): the feature-mention matrix construction stage and the LCA-based customer segmentation stage. The approach considers reviewers’ mention on product features, and the probability-based LCA method is adopted upon the characteristics of online reviews, to effectively cluster reviewers into specified segmentations.Findings– The research finding is that, using feature-mention instead of feature-opinion records makes segment analysis more effective. The research also finds that, LCA method can better explain the characteristics of the OCR data of durable products for customer segmentation.Practical implications– The research proposes a new approach to durable product review mining for customer segmentation analysis. The segment analysis result can provide supports for new product design and development, repositioning of existing products, marketing strategy development and product differentiation.Originality/value– A new approach for customer segmentation analysis base on OCRs of durable products is proposed.
Decision fusion for signalized intersection control
Authors: Elkosantini Sabeur , Frikha Ahmed 
Published: January 2015

Purpose
– Traffic congestion is becoming a serious problem that has adverse consequences on the socio-economy, environment, and public health of various cities worldwide. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the continuous search for new alternative solutions to prevent or alleviate these concerns. It particularly deals with the development of decision support system based on a data fusion for the management and control of traffic at signalized intersections. The role of such systems is to manage the existing infrastructure to ease congestion and respond to crises. The proposed system is based on multi-detector data fusion, a data processing function that combines imperfect information collected from systems involving several detectors. The developed system is then tested on a virtual junction, and the results obtained are reported and discussed.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper presents a new traffic light control based on multi-detectors data fusion theory. The system uses a new multi-detectors data fusion method for traffic data analysis. Moreover, the system integrates a method for the estimation of the reliability degree of different detectors taking into account their imperfection and the conflict between them. These estimated reliability degrees are combined using Dempster’s rule of combination.

Findings
– The paper provides a decision support system for traffic regulation at intersection based on multi-sensors. It suggests the fusion of captured data by many sensors for measuring information. The system use the Belief Functions Theory for information fusion and decision making using combination and decision rules.

Originality/value
– The paper proposes a new Adaptive Traffic Control System based on a new data fusion approach that include a method for the estimation of the reliability degree of different detectors taking into account their imperfection and the conflict between them. These estimated reliability degrees are combined using Dempster’s rule of combination.
Life‐stage‐specific physiology defines invasion extent of a riverine fish
Authors: Lawrence David J. , Beauchamp David A. , Olden Julian D. 
Published: January 2015

Summary

Many ecologists have called for mechanism‐based investigations to identify the underlying controls on species distributions. Understanding these controls can be especially useful to construct robust predictions of how a species range may change in response to climate change or the extent to which a non‐native species may spread in novel environments.

Here, we link spatially intensive observations with mechanistic models to illustrate how physiology determines the upstream extent of the aquatic ectotherm smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in two headwater rivers.

Our results demonstrate that as temperatures become increasingly cold across a downstream to upstream gradient, food consumption in age 0 bass becomes increasingly constrained, and as a result, these fish become growth limited. Sufficient first summer growth of age 0 bass is essential for overwinter survival because young bass must persist from energy reserves accumulated during the summer, and those reserves are determined by body size.

Our field data reveal the upstream extent of adult bass reproduction corresponds to a point in the downstream/upstream gradient where cold temperatures impair growth opportunities in young bass. This pattern was repeated in both study streams and explained why bass positioned nests twice as far upstream in the warm compared to the cold stream in the same basin. Placement of spawning nests by adult bass is likely subject to strong evolutionary selection in temperate systems: if bass spawn too far upstream, their young are unlikely to grow large enough to survive the winter. Consumption and growth in older bass (age 3–4) was far less sensitive to temperature. Based on these data, we suggest that temperature‐sensitive age 0 bass constrain the upstream distribution limits of bass within temperate streams.

In this study, we investigated how temperature‐dependent physiology changed through the life history of a species and, in doing so, identified a climate‐sensitive life‐history stage that likely sets the distributional limits of all other life‐history stages. We anticipate the framework developed here could be employed to identify how similar stage‐specific environmental sensitivity determines distribution in many other ectothermic species.
Environmental heterogeneity leads to higher plasticity in dry‐edge populations of a semi‐arid Chilean shrub: insights into climate change responses
Authors: Lázaro‐Nogal Ana , Matesanz Silvia , Godoy Alice , Pérez‐Trautman Fernanda , Gianoli Ernesto , Valladares Fernando 
Published: January 2015

Summary

Interannual variability in climatic conditions should be taken into account in climate change studies in semi‐arid ecosystems. It may determine differentiation in phenotypic plasticity among populations, with populations experiencing higher environmental heterogeneity showing higher levels of plasticity.

The ability of populations to evolve key functional traits and plasticity may determine the survival of plant populations under the drier and more variable climate expected for semi‐arid ecosystems.

Working with populations of the semi‐arid Chilean shrub Senna candolleana along its entire distribution range, we assessed inter‐ and intra‐population variation in functional traits as well as in their plasticity in response to water availability. We measured morphological and physiological traits related to drought resistance in both field conditions and in a greenhouse experiment, where drought response was evaluated under two water availability treatments.

All populations responded plastically, but higher precipitation heterogeneity in dry‐edge populations seemed to have selected for more plastic genotypes compared to populations growing at mesic sites and with more homogeneous environmental conditions.

Synthesis. Our results suggest adaptive plasticity since higher levels of phenotypic plasticity were positively associated with plant performance. However, we did not find evidence for genetic variation for plasticity within populations. To the extent that phenotypic plasticity may play a key role in future persistence, populations at mesic sites may be more vulnerable to climate change due to their lower plasticity and their current limitations to evolve novel norms of reaction. Conversely, although Senna candolleana populations at the dry edge are exposed to higher levels of stress, they may be less susceptible to climate change in view of their greater plasticity. We highlight the need to consider population differentiation in both mean traits and their plasticity to model realistic scenarios of species distribution under climate change.
Impact of formal teaching on medical documentation by interns in an emergency department in a Queensland teaching hospital
Authors: Isoardi Jonathon , Spencer Lyndall , Sinnott Michael , Eley Robert 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjectivesThis study's objective was to determine whether tuition in medical documentation enhanced the ability of emergency medicine interns to produce effective medical records.MethodsThe study adopted a case control design, using a retrospective document audit methodology, following an education intervention during the ‘More Learning for Interns in Emergency’ (MoLIE) programme. It was conducted in a tertiary hospital that supports five 10 week rotations of 12 interns each year (n = 60). Controls were drawn from records written in March 2012 and cases from March 2013. A total of 250 medical records written by interns were audited, 125 from each year.ResultsThree categories of documentation were investigated: patient characteristics, clinical impressions and management plan using a purpose‐designed score sheet. Three individual items (differential diagnosis [DDX], Support and Impressions [Impress]) showed significant improvement. The proportion of excellent scores for DDX increased by 50% from 40.8% to 61.6%. A χ2 test for independence (with Yates continuity correction) indicated a significant association between the intervention and subsequent score (X2[1, n = 250] = 10.006, P < 0.001, phi −0.208). For Impress, a 48% increase in excellent scores was seen (39.2% to 58.4%). A χ2 test for independence indicated a significant association between the intervention and subsequent score (X2[2, n = 250] = 11.249, P = 0.004, Cramer's V 0.212). The variable Support also improved (X2[2, n = 250] = 8.297, P = 0.012, Cramer's V 0.189) with the number of excellent scores increasing from 37.6% to 48.0%.ConclusionThe study demonstrated that documentation of clinical notes by interns can be enhanced by formal tuition.
Predicting the number of emergency department presentations in Western Australia: A population‐based time series analysis
Authors: Mai Qun , Aboagye‐Sarfo Patrick , Sanfilippo Frank M , Preen David B , Fatovich Daniel M 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo predict the number of ED presentations in Western Australia (WA) in the next 5 years, stratified by place of treatment, age, triage and disposition.MethodsWe conducted a population‐based time series analysis of 7 year monthly WA statewide ED presentation data from the financial years 2006/07 to 2012/13 using univariate autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and multivariate vector‐ARIMA techniques.ResultsED presentations in WA were predicted to increase from 990 342 in 2012/13 to 1 250 991 (95% CI: 982 265–1 519 718) in 2017/18, an increase of 260 649 (or 26.3%). The majority of this increase would occur in metropolitan WA (84.2%). The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in metropolitan WA in the next 5 years was predicted to be 6.5% compared with 2.0% in the non‐metropolitan area. The greatest growth in metropolitan WA would be in ages 65 and over (CAGR, 6.9%), triage categories 2 and 3 (8.3% and 7.7%, respectively) and admitted (9.8%) cohorts. The only predicted decrease was triage category 5 (−5.3%).ConclusionsED demand in WA will exceed population growth. The highest growth will be in patients with complex care needs. An integrated system‐wide strategy is urgently required to ensure access, quality and sustainability of the health system.
Effects of Ultraviolet Light (UV‐C) and Heat Treatment on the Quality of Fresh‐Cut Chokanan Mango and Josephine Pineapple
Authors: George Dominic Soloman , Razali Zuliana , Santhirasegaram Vicknesha , Somasundram Chandran 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe effects of ultraviolet (UV‐C) and medium heat (70 °C) treatments on the quality of fresh‐cut Chokanan mango and Josephine pineapple were investigated. Quality attributes included physicochemical properties (pH, titratable acidity, and total soluble solids), ascorbic acid content (vitamin C), antioxidant activity, as well as microbial inactivation. Consumers’ acceptance was also investigated through sensory evaluation of the attributes (appearance, texture, aroma and taste). Furthermore, shelf‐life study of samples stored at 4 ± 1 °C was conducted for 15 d. The fresh‐cut fruits were exposed to UV‐C for 0, 15, 30, and 60 min while heat treatments were carried out at 70 °C for 0, 5, 10 and 20 min. Both UV‐C and medium heat treatments resulted in no significant changes to the physicochemical attributes of both fruits. The ascorbic acid content of UV‐C treated fruits was unaffected; however, medium heat treatment resulted in deterioration of ascorbic acids in both fruits. The antioxidants were enhanced with UV‐C treatment which could prove invaluable to consumers. Heat treatments on the other hand resulted in decreased antioxidant activities. Microbial count in both fruits was significantly reduced by both treatments. The shelf life of the fresh‐cut fruits were also successfully extended to a maximum of 15 d following treatments. As for consumers’ acceptance, UV‐C treated fruits were the most accepted as compared to their heat‐treated counterparts. The results obtained through this study support the use of UV‐C treatment for better retention of quality, effective microbial inactivation and enhancement of health promoting compounds for the benefit of consumers.
Magnesium‐induced recurarisation after reversal of rocuronium‐induced neuromuscular block with sugammadex
Authors: UNTERBUCHNER C. , ZIEGLEDER R. , GRAF B. , METTERLEIN T. 
Published: January 2015

A 61‐year‐old woman (57 kg, 171 cm) underwent surgery under general anaesthesia with desflurane 5.8–6.1 vol. % end‐tidal, remifentanil 0.2–0.4 μg/kg/min and rocuronium 35 mg (0.61 mg/kg). On return of the second twitch in the train‐of‐four (TOF) stimulation measured by acceleromyography, sugammadex 120 mg (2.1 mg/kg) was given. After complete neuromuscular recovery, magnesium sulphate 3600 mg (60 mg/kg) was injected intravenously over 5 min to treat atrial fibrillation. This was associated with recurarisation with a nadir [first twitch = 25%, TOF ratio (TOFR) = 67%] 7 min after the start of the magnesium sulphate infusion (magnesium plasma level: 2.67 mM). A spontaneous twitch value and a TOFR of > 90% were observed 45 min after the beginning of the magnesium sulphate infusion under general anaesthesia.Rapid infusion of magnesium sulphate may re‐establish a sugammadex‐reversed, rocuronium‐induced neuromuscular block during general anaesthesia, probably because of the high plasma level of magnesium (2.67 mM). Desflurane and a small fraction of unbound rocuronium may amplify the known muscle relaxing effects of magnesium. Intravenous injection of magnesium sulphate is not recommended in patients after general anaesthesia with neuromuscular relaxants, particularly after sugammadex reversal. Quantitative neuromuscular monitoring should be used for reversing aminosteroid muscle relaxants with sugammadex − particularly in combination with magnesium injection − to prevent post‐operative residual curarisation.
Persistent palatable food preference in rats with a history of limited and extended access to methamphetamine self‐administration
Authors: Caprioli Daniele , Zeric Tamara , Thorndike Eric B. , Venniro Marco 
Published: January 2015

AbstractRecent studies have shown that when given a mutually exclusive choice between cocaine and palatable foods, most rats prefer the non‐drug rewards over cocaine. Here, we used a discrete choice procedure to assess whether palatable food preference generalizes to rats with a history of limited (3 hours/day) or extended (6 or 9 hours/day) access to methamphetamine self‐administration. On different daily sessions, we trained rats to lever‐press for either methamphetamine (0.1–0.2 mg/kg/infusion) or palatable food (five pellets per reward delivery) for several weeks; regular food was freely available. We then assessed food‐methamphetamine preference either during training, after priming methamphetamine injections (0.5–1.0 mg/kg), following a satiety manipulation (palatable food exposure in the home cage) or after 21 days of withdrawal from methamphetamine. We also assessed progressive ratio responding for palatable food and methamphetamine. We found that independent of the daily drug access conditions and the withdrawal period, the rats strongly preferred the palatable food over methamphetamine, even when they were given free access to the palatable food in the home cage. Intake of methamphetamine and progressive ratio responding for the drug, both of which increased or escalated over time, did not predict preference in the discrete choice test. Results demonstrate that most rats strongly prefer palatable food pellets over intravenous methamphetamine, confirming previous studies using discrete choice procedures with intravenous cocaine. Results also demonstrate that escalation of drug self‐administration, a popular model of compulsive drug use, is not associated with a cardinal feature of human addiction of reduced behavioral responding for non‐drug rewards.
Effects of cognitive bias modification training on neural signatures of alcohol approach tendencies in male alcohol‐dependent patients
Authors: Wiers Corinde E. , Ludwig Vera U. , Gladwin Thomas E. , Park Soyoung Q. , Heinz Andreas , Wiers Reinout W. , Rinck Mike , Lindenmeyer Johannes , Walter Henrik , Bermpohl Felix 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAlcohol‐dependent patients have been shown to faster approach than avoid alcohol stimuli on the Approach Avoidance Task (AAT). This so‐called alcohol approach bias has been associated with increased brain activation in the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. Cognitive bias modification (CBM) has been used to retrain the approach bias with the clinically relevant effect of decreasing relapse rates one year later. The effects of CBM on neural signatures of approach/avoidance tendencies remain hitherto unknown. In a double‐blind placebo‐controlled design, 26 alcohol‐dependent in‐patients were assigned to a CBM or a placebo training group. Both groups performed the AAT for three weeks: in CBM training, patients pushed away 90 percent of alcohol cues; this rate was 50 percent in placebo training. Before and after training, patients performed the AAT offline, and in a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The relevant neuroimaging contrast for the alcohol approach bias was the difference between approaching versus avoiding alcohol cues relative to soft drink cues: [(alcohol pull > alcohol push)  > (soft drink pull > soft drink push)]. Before training, both groups showed significant alcohol approach bias‐related activation in the medial prefrontal cortex. After training, patients in the CBM group showed stronger reductions in medial prefrontal cortex activation compared with the placebo group. Moreover, these reductions correlated with reductions in approach bias scores in the CBM group only. This suggests that CBM affects neural mechanisms involved in the automatic alcohol approach bias, which may be important for the clinical effectiveness of CBM.