bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Way We Learn: A Plan for Success
Authors: Lovejoy Larry 
Published: July 2015

Do adult learners participate in discussions differently than non-adult learners? This is a question that can only be defined through the eyes of the learner. Of course, there are conclusions that can be drawn but the learner should start the thinking process by asking the following questions: Are the questions to be addressed accurate and well-defined? Is the situation one where the conclusion can be assessed and determined by the learner? This article will take a look at how adult learners learn and will focus on some thoughts and ideas regarding how a person learns. The key factors that will be addressed are: the environment, the decision-making process, and the leadership process. These factors will be used as part of the process for an adult learner to develop or nurture his or her leadership style.
Motivating Personnel at Russian Nuclear Power Plants: A Case-Study of Motivation Theory Application
Authors: Katsva Masha , Condrey Stephen E. 
Published: July 2015

The article examines the case of personnel management at the facilities of the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom). The data are derived from surveys of nuclear facility employees conducted by Minatom Professional Training Institute Atomenergo. This analysis compares the survey's findings on personnel motivation with the findings of a major Russian polling organization, and uses motivation theory to develop recommendations for personnel management strategies at Russian nuclear power plants (NPPs). The study has important implications as increased scrutiny is focused on the safety and security of Russia's nuclear stockpile and ultimately on the role that personnel management systems will play in positively or negatively influencing nuclear security. The article also draws upon the authors' experience in teaching and consulting with the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy since 1999. Additionally, one of the authors is a Russian citizen.
Looking for Loyalty in All the Wrong Places: A Study of Union and Organization Commitments
Authors: Carson Paula Phillips , Carson Kerry D. , Birkenmeier Betty , Toma Alfred G. 
Published: July 2015

Unionized public employees were divided into those who were (a) committed to the union, (b) committed to the organization, (c) committed to both the organization and the union, and (d) uncommitted. ANCOVA was used to assess the effect of differential impacts of commitment on organizational outcomes. It was found that two groups (the dually committed and the organizationally committed) generally had higher positive outcomes that the other two groups (the uncommitted and the unionists). For example, the dually committed and the organizationally committed report higher job satisfaction, supervisory effectiveness, occupational identity, and control over work as compared to the other two groups. However, when comparing those who were dually committed to those who were organizationally committed, it was found that there was only one significant positive outcome—enhanced union-management relations. In contrast, those who were dually committed compared to those who were unionists report higher job satisfaction, promotion satisfaction, occupational identity, community support, supervisory trust, supervisory effectiveness, enhanced control and improve morale. Therefore, from the organizational perspective, there may be some marginal value in fostering dual commitment. More importantly however, it would be counterproductive to use resources to compete against the union for employee loyalty. From the union perspective, it appears that their members would greatly benefit from being dually committed.
The Micromanagement Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Cure
Authors: White Richard D. 
Published: July 2015

“The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done,” Theodore Roosevelt once observed, “and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” Unfortunately, many managers have not heeded TR's century-old advice to practice self restraint, but instead needlessly over-manage, over-scrutinize, and over-frustrate employees. Such meddlesome bosses now are called micromanagers. A micromanager can be much more than just a nuisance in today's complex organization. The bothersome boss who second guesses every decision a subordinate makes, frets about the font size of the latest progress report, or inspects all of his employees emails not only frustrates and demoralizes his harassed workers, but seriously damages the productivity of the organization and, over the long run, may jeopardize the organization's survival. Unfortunately, micromanagement is a fact of management life. Why do so many people hate to be micromanaged, yet so many managers continue to do it? Why have we all worked for micromanagers—but have never been one ourselves? But have we? Maybe the noted management consultant and cartoon icon, Pogo, had it right when he quipped, “We have met the enemy…and he is us.” Micromanagement now commonly refers to the control of an enterprise in every particular and to the smallest detail, with the effect of obstructing progress and neglecting broader, higher-level policy issues. Micromanagement has been practiced and recognized well before we labeled it as an organizational pathology. In 1946, Peter Drucker called for a “democracy of management” whereby organizations need to decentralize and delegate more decision making authority to employees. In 1960, Douglas McGregor described a Theory X manager as one possessing many of the characteristics of the modern micromanager, one who is poor at proper delegating but one who believes he delegates well. While micromanagement has always disrupted organizational life, it only recently has entered the workplace vocabulary, with the first mention of the term appearing in 1975 in an article in the Economist. Since then, increasing concern has been focused on the impact of picayune bosses.
The Challenges of Competency Testing in a Divided Society
Authors: Bissessar Ann Marie 
Published: July 2015

In 2005, in the small twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies, the government in a radical departure from the old method of promotion based primarily on seniority introduced competency testing in order to fill the newly established positions of deputy permanent secretaries. This new method of promotion, however, has been fraught with a number of problems such as charges of cultural bias, and allegations that there was inadequate time to prepare for these tests. One of the more pressing complaints leveled against the new method of promotion, however, was that while it was supposed to allow for transparency and impartiality, this did not occur. It was also suggested that the lack of transparency was an indication that the method of competency testing was merely a façade by which the government ensured that its supporters maintained top positions in the public service. This paper has a number of objectives. Firstly, it looks at some of the factors that were responsible for the change from promotion based on seniority to that of competency. Secondly, it examines the problems that were experienced in introducing such a system. It also investigates the extent to which the charges of patronage were valid. This paper looks at the introduction of competency testing for the first time in the public services of Trinidad and Tobago. This new mechanism was introduced in order to fill the newly established positions of deputy permanent secretaries. However, a number of officers have filed claims for judicial review claiming that the process of selection intended to promote supporters of the ruling party to top-level positions. This paper, using an old model proposed by Fred Riggs in the 1966, suggests that while a new model may be applied as a result of either ideological or global pressures, what actually emerges is that it may prove to be unsuccessful because the old attitudes, beliefs, values and mistrust are still prevalent in that society. In addition, while the trappings of the “new” fads are imposed, it is not accompanied by the basic culture to support its introduction. Inevitably a brief background to the country will first set the stage for the discussion which follows.
Should Personnel Selection Tests Be Used on a Pass-Fail, Grouping, or Ranking Basis?
Authors: Sproule Charles F. 
Published: July 2015

The Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures contain provisions on “Method of Use” of selection procedures. These provisions indicate that tests should be used on a ranking, grouping, or pass-fail basis depending on a number of criteria. This article reviews legal requirements and professional testing standards as they pertain to method of use; describes a trend in merit system cerfitication practices, which represents one method of controlling how test scores are used; provides guidance and procedures which can be used to help decide on the appropriate method of use; provides guidance on the use of score grouping; and gives examples of how to explain grouping to applicants, legislators and others. The information in this article is a summary of information and concepts presented in a pre-conference workshop on this topic at the 1983 Annual Conference of the International Personnel Management Association Assessment Council.
Retirement Income for Surviving Spouses
Authors: Nielson Norma L. , Beehr Terry A. 
Published: July 2015

This paper reports on a study of married participants in the Oregon Public Employes Retirement System (PERS) to gain information about their retirement decisions. The study used four mail-in questionnaires in conjunction with computerized participant data. This study looks beyond the status of the couple immediately following retirement and attempts to forecast the well-being of the household, i.e., the surviving spouse, when and if a retiree predeceases the spouse. As indicated by research in labor economics, all income streams are converted to an asset or wealth variable for analysis. The results indicate that, assuming no depletion of savings by long-term illness, 65 percent of the couples can expect adequate monthly income during their retirements. Only about one-third of the participants elected any form of joint-and-survivor payout that assures lifetime income to the spouse. Significant drops in income are expected to occur in these households following the death of the retiree as average life insurance holdings are not adequate to replace the predicted drops in pension and social security payments. Overall the spouses of those who purchased life insurance could expect equivalent levels of income after the death of the retiree; however, the variance was higher among this population. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for the pension plan and its sponsors when a high level of popularity is observed for private alternatives. The changes spurred in Oregon's Public Employee Retirement System as a result of this investigation also are reported.
Ethics Challenges: Health, Safety and Accessibility in International Travel and Tourism
Authors: Richter Linda K. , Richter William L. 
Published: July 2015

Enormous increases in international travel by public sector employees and others, along with incidents of terrorism, accidents, and disease, raise a variety of ethical issues not normally covered in the training of public personnel administrators or in the standard administrative ethics course. Issues of accessibility for individuals with disabilities may be familiar to personnel administrators and students of ethics, but take on vast new dimensions when those individuals travel abroad. Travel-related ethics issues involved in health, safety, and accessibility may include identification of individual and institutional responsibilities, informed consent, contingency planning, emergency response mechanisms, fairness, and equal treatment. This study provides an overview of trends and issues, explores their ethical dimensions, and identifies relevant strategies to prepare public administrators to deal appropriately with these concerns. The study treats both tourist and educational travel abroad, and considers risks to host societies as well as to travelers.
A novel method of consensus pan-chromosome assembly and large-scale comparative analysis reveal the highly flexible pan-genome of Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Chan Agnes P. , Sutton Granger , DePew Jessica , Krishnakumar Radha , Choi Yongwook , Huang Xiao-Zhe , Beck Erin , Harkins Derek M. , Kim Maria , Lesho Emil P. , Nikolich Mikeljon P. , Fouts Derrick E. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Background
Infections by pan-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii plague military and civilian healthcare systems. Previous A. baumannii pan-genomic studies used modest sample sizes of low diversity and comparisons to a single reference genome, limiting our understanding of gene order and content. A consensus representation of multiple genomes will provide a better framework for comparison. A large-scale comparative study will identify genomic determinants associated with their diversity and adaptation as a successful pathogen.

Results
We determine draft-level genomic sequence of 50 diverse military isolates and conduct the largest bacterial pan-genome analysis of 249 genomes. The pan-genome of A. baumannii is open when the input genomes are normalized for diversity with 1867 core proteins and a paralog-collapsed pan-genome size of 11,694 proteins. We developed a novel graph-based algorithm and use it to assemble the first consensus pan-chromosome, identifying both the order and orientation of core genes and flexible genomic regions. Comparative genome analyses demonstrate the existence of novel resistance islands and isolates with increased numbers of resistance island insertions over time, from single insertions in the 1950s to triple insertions in 2011. Gene clusters responsible for carbon utilization, siderophore production, and pilus assembly demonstrate frequent gain or loss among isolates.

Conclusions
The highly variable and dynamic nature of the A. baumannii genome may be the result of its success in rapidly adapting to both abiotic and biotic environments through the gain and loss of gene clusters controlling fitness. Importantly, some archaic adaptation mechanisms appear to have reemerged among recent isolates.
Egg cell-specific promoter-controlled CRISPR/Cas9 efficiently generates homozygous mutants for multiple target genes in Arabidopsis in a single generation
Authors: Wang Zhi-Ping , Xing Hui-Li , Dong Li , Zhang Hai-Yan , Han Chun-Yan , Wang Xue-Chen , Chen Qi-Jun 
Published: July 2015

AbstractArabidopsis mutants produced by constitutive overexpression of the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system are usually mosaics in the T1 generation. In this study, we used egg cell-specific promoters to drive the expression of Cas9 and obtained non-mosaic T1 mutants for multiple target genes with high efficiency. Comparisons of 12 combinations of eight promoters and two terminators found that the efficiency of the egg cell-specific promoter-controlled CRISPR/Cas9 system depended on the presence of a suitable terminator, and the composite promoter generated by fusing two egg cell-specific promoters resulted in much higher efficiency of mutation in the T1 generation compared with the single promoters.
ESCOLHA DE SUB-AREA PARA IMPLANTAÇÃO DE SISTEMA DE CONTROLE SEMAFÓRICO CENTRALIZADO POR COMPUTADOR: UMA METODOLOGIA DE BAIXO CUSTO
Authors: Arruda João Bosco Furtado , Moreira Maria Elizabeth Pinheiro 
Published: July 2015

<p>Este artigo reporta uma metodologia de baixo custo para definição de sub-áreas de sistemas de controle de semáforos centralizados por computador (sistemas CTA).A utilização da técnica DELPHI de geração de consenso com um grupo de especialistas em Transportes e Uso do Solo, atuando cotidianamente na área de estudo, em conjunto com ações simplificadoras do cálculo dos benefícios advindos do controle centralizado de semáforos, bem como a utilização tanto de conceitos de vinculação de interseções interdependentes operacionalmente quanto de dados secundários da área de estudo, servem de base à definição das interseções que deverão compor o sistema CTA naquela área.O artigo ilustra uma aplicação da metodologia reportada para a definição das interseções que irão compor a primeira etapa do sistema CTA ora em projeto na cidade de Fortaleza, Ceará.</p><p> Abstract:</p><p>This paper reports a simplified methodology built with the aim of choosing intersections which must form an Area Traffic Control (ATC) system. The intersections which make up the ATC system are determined using a DELPHI technique - with a group of traffic engineering and land-use experts working daily in the study area as well as simplifying the process of working out tile benefits of synchronization for the intersections which comprise that area. Also, concepts of intersections linkage, in terms of operational interdependence, are used conjointly with secondary data gathered in the study area to find the intersections most appropriated for the ATC system under consideration. Finally, an application of the methodology for the case of Fortaleza, a two-million inhabitants city in North-eastern Brazil, is illustrated in the paper.</p>
Low Temperature, Digital Control, Fast Synthesis of 2-D BNNSs and Their Application for Deep UV Detectors
Authors: Aldalbahi Ali , Yang Renyauan , Li Eric Yiming , Sajjad Muhammad , Chen Yihau , Feng Peter 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTThis paper reports low temperature, digital control, fast synthesis of high-quality boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) and their electronic device application. Raman scattering spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are used to characterize the BNNSs. With the synthesized various BNNSs, two prototypic types of deep UV photodetectors have been fabricated, and sensitivity, response and recovery times, as well as repeatability have been characterized. Effects of period and thickness of BNNSs on the properties of prototypic photodetectors are also discussed.
Pre‐exposure prophylaxis for men and transgender women who have sex with men in Brazil: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Veloso Valdilea G , Mesquita Fabio , Grinsztejn Beatriz 
Published: July 2015

IntroductionThe World Health Organization recently released guidelines on the use of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for prevention of HIV infection among men and transgender women (TGW) who have sex with men based on results of randomized clinical trials. The aim of this commentary is to discuss the opportunities and challenges of incorporating PrEP into the Brazilian continuum of HIV care and prevention for men who have sex with men (MSM) and TGW.DiscussionKey aspects of the AIDS epidemic among MSM and TGW in Brazil and the comprehensive Brazilian response to the epidemic are presented. The universal access to health care provided through the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and the range of prevention and care services already available countrywide to HIV‐positive individuals and at‐risk MSM and TGW are identified as the main facilitators for the implementation of PrEP. Limited PrEP awareness among MSM, TGW and health care providers, low HIV testing frequency and low HIV risk perception among MSM and TGW represent the core challenges to be addressed. Data generated by demonstration projects in Brazil will provide an important contribution to PrEP rollout in Brazil.ConclusionsThe implementation of PrEP in Brazil is feasible. A synergistic rollout of treatment as prevention and PrEP will maximize public health and individual benefits of the country's comprehensive response to the AIDS epidemic.
Repeatability and variability of myocardial perfusion imaging techniques in mice: Comparison of arterial spin labeling and first‐pass contrast‐enhanced MRI
Authors: Naresh Nivedita K. , Chen Xiao , Moran Eric , Tian Yikui , French Brent A. , Epstein Frederick H. 
Published: July 2015

PurposePreclinical imaging of myocardial blood flow (MBF) can elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease. We compared the repeatability and variability of two methods, first‐pass MRI and arterial spin labeling (ASL), for imaging MBF in mice.MethodsQuantitative perfusion MRI in mice was performed using both methods at rest, with a vasodilator, and one day after myocardial infarction. Image quality (score of 1–5; 5 best), between‐session coefficient of variability (CVbs), intra‐user coefficient of variability (CVintra‐user), and inter‐user coefficient of variability (CVinter‐user) were assessed. Acquisition time was 1–2 min for first‐pass MRI and approximately 40 min for ASL.ResultsImage quality was higher for ASL (3.94 ± 0.09 versus 2.88 ± 0.10; P < 0.05). Infarct zone CVbs was lower with first‐pass (17 ± 3% versus 46 ± 9%; P < 0.05). The stress perfusion CVintra‐user was lower for ASL (3 ± 1% versus 14 ± 3%; P < 0.05). The stress perfusion CVinter‐user was lower for ASL (4 ± 1% versus 17 ± 4%; P < 0.05).ConclusionFor low MBF conditions such as infarct, first‐pass MRI is preferred due to better repeatability and variability. At high MBF such as at vasodilation, ASL may be more suitable due to superior image quality and lower user variability. First‐pass MRI has a substantial speed advantage. Magn Reson Med 75:2394–2405, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Post-Outbreak Investigation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Faucet Contamination by Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction and Environmental Factors Affecting Positivity
Authors: Bédard Emilie , Laferrière Céline , Charron Dominique , Lalancette Cindy , Renaud Christian , Desmarais Nadia , Déziel Eric , Prévost Michèle 
Published: July 2015

OBJECTIVETo perform a post-outbreak prospective study of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa contamination at the faucets (water, aerator and drain) by culture and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and to assess environmental factors influencing occurrenceSETTINGA 450-bed pediatric university hospital in Montreal, CanadaMETHODSWater, aerator swab, and drain swab samples were collected from faucets and analyzed by culture and qPCR for the post-outbreak investigation. Water microbial and physicochemical parameters were measured, and a detailed characterization of the sink environmental and design parameters was performed.RESULTSThe outbreak genotyping investigation identified drains and aerators as the source of infection. The implementation of corrective measures was effective, but post-outbreak sampling using qPCR revealed 50% positivity for P. aeruginosa remaining in the water compared with 7% by culture. P. aeruginosa was recovered in the water, the aerator, and the drain in 21% of sinks. Drain alignment vs the faucet and water microbial quality were significant factors associated with water positivity, whereas P. aeruginosa load in the water was an average of 2 log higher for faucets with a positive aerator.CONCLUSIONSP. aeruginosa contamination in various components of sink environments was still detected several years after the resolution of an outbreak in a pediatric university hospital. Although contamination is often not detectable in water samples by culture, P. aeruginosa is present and can recover its culturability under favorable conditions. The importance of having clear maintenance protocols for water systems, including the drainage components, is highlighted.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(11):1283–1291