bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment and change leadership in an academic library department: a case study
Authors: M. Carter Toni 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to report an academic library's efforts to introduce course-integrated assessment into its library instruction program. Applying a leadership change model to the process allows for a step-by-step examination of both organizational change and the creation of cultures of assessment.Design/methodology/approach– Over a period of three years, course-integrated assessment was introduced into an academic library's instruction program. Rather than implementing rapid, superficial change, the process focused on transforming librarians' thoughts and feelings about their teaching and student learning. Dr John P. Kotter's eight-step process for leading organizational change is applied to explain the methodology.Findings– Kotter's leadership change model provides a suitable framework for organizing and implementing organizational change within an academic library. However, the use of his method to create and sustain cultures of assessment proves questionable. This may not be fault of his method, but a combination of a less than perfect application of his process and unrealistic expectations of how cultures of assessment develop and function.Research limitations/implications– The paper focuses on one unit within an academic library, rather than an academic library as a whole.Practical implications– Changing organizational culture, creating cultures of assessment, and/or implementing course-integrated assessment exemplify some of the challenging tasks academic libraries face in their mission to prove value. This case study provides a candid discussion of both successes and obstacles encountered in using a change leadership model to address each of these. It may also inspire other possible uses of such a model within academic libraries.Originality/value– According to Meredith Farkas, investigations into the application of leadership change models to build and sustain cultures of assessment within academic libraries do not exist in the literature.
Promoting lifelong learning through government document information literacy
Authors: Jane Scales B. , Von Seggern Marilyn 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– The aim of this paper is to report on the development and assessment of a government document information literacy curriculum by librarians at Washington State University. The pedagogical and assessment goals are described, and the learning outcomes by participating sophomore and junior English composition students are explored.

Design/methodology/approach
– Instruction librarians adopted ACRL standards to government information in order to address difficulties undergraduates have in identifying and evaluating common federal government resources. Learning outcomes are measured with a mixed-methods approach including pre- and post-tests, in-class worksheets, and student bibliographies.

Findings
– Overall, the project improved government document information literacy in the student groups that participated.

Research limitations/implications
– There are many questions the project raises that the authors cannot address. Does the curriculum have any long-term impact on the students? Will it make students who participated more likely to use government information when job seeking, or when making important decisions?

Originality/value
– The project uniquely targets a population for which there has been little research on regarding government information literacy – undergraduates who have already received introductory library instruction, but who are not yet researching upper-division, discipline-specific topics.
Using employee surveys to attract and retain the best talent
Authors: Pritchard Kate 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– This feature seeks to demonstrate the importance of organizations understanding how they are perceived externally as an employer, and how regularly tracking the opinions of staff can ensure the best talent are engaged and stay with an organization.

Design/methodology/approach
– ORC International is an expert in employee engagement research. This article incorporates findings from its global HR survey “HR Reflections”, and includes two case studies that demonstrate how regular tracking and deep analysis of staff opinions can help organizations to boost their employer brand and retain their best talent.

Findings
– Advanced analysis of employee surveys can predict how employees are feeling to help organizations retain their most valuable staff.

Practical implications
– This is a practical paper designed to give ideas and good practice to readers facing similar situations.

Originality/value
– The paper combines findings from a global survey with case study content to help employers to understand how to improve engagement and retention of staff through effective use of regular employee surveys.
Enhanced isotropic gradient operator
Authors: Alfaraj Mohammed , Wang Yuchun , Luo Yi 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTWe present a two‐dimensional (2D) gradient operator that produces more accurate results than known traditional operators such as Ando, Sobel and the so‐called Isotropic operator. We further extend the derivation to three‐dimensional (3D), a powerful feature missing in all conventional operators.We start by constructing a parameterized formula that generically represents all 2D numerical gradient operators. We then solve for the required parameter by equating this numerical gradient with that obtained analytically from a single Fourier harmonic (or, equivalently here, a stationary plane wave). As this parameter is frequency‐ and direction‐dependent (by virtue of the underlying Fourier harmonic), we construe a pragmatic version of it that is independent of these two variables yet capable of significantly reducing the error associated with traditional operators. Extension to 3D is achieved similarly; it requires dealing with two parameters as opposed to only one in the 2D case. Synthetic and real‐data results confirm higher accuracy from this operator than from traditional ones.
Pre‐therapy relationship adjustment, gender and the alliance in couple therapy
Authors: Halford Tyler C. , Owen Jesse , Duncan Barry L. , Anker Morten G. , Sparks Jacqueline A. 
Published: March 2014

This study examined gender differences in session one alliances and in the trajectory of the alliance over the course of couple therapy. Additionally, this study examined the association between men and women's pre‐therapy relationship adjustment and alliance at session one and over the course of therapy. A total of 316 couples seeking outpatient couple therapy were given the Locke–Wallace marital adjustment test at pre‐therapy to measure relationship adjustment and the session rating scale after each session to measure alliance with the therapist. The results showed that men had lower alliance ratings after session one than women. Men's pre‐therapy relationship adjustment was positively associated with their own session one alliance as well as their own alliance trajectory over the course of therapy. Men's pre‐therapy relationship adjustment was also positively associated with their partner's session one alliance. Women's pre‐therapy relationship adjustment showed no significant relationship with their own alliance or their partners at session one or the alliance trajectory over the course of therapy. The implications for how these gender differences may impact on the process of couple therapy with heterosexual couples are discussed.Practitioner points
Initial alliances may differ for men and women in heterosexual couples and attending to reasons for seeking help may be instrumental.
Partners’ pre‐therapy relationship distress can negatively impact on early alliance establishment; thus, more attention to the alliance may be needed for more distressed couples.
Therapists may want to monitor the alliances in couple therapy to develop a better understanding of each partner's engagement in the process.
Industry concentration, excess returns and innovation in Australia
Authors: Gallagher David R. , Ignatieva Katja , McCulloch James 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis paper examines market concentration and stock returns on the Australian Securities Exchange. We find that dominant companies operating in concentrated industries in Australia are able to generate significant risk‐adjusted excess stock returns. Our results for Australian data are opposite to that found by Hou and Robinson (2006) for United States market data. Hou and Robinson reason that United States firms which operate in concentrated industries are insulated from competitive pressures, have lower levels of innovation (Arrow, 1962) and therefore experience lower profitability and stock returns. By contrast, the Australian data show a significant and positive relationship between concentration and innovation expenditure. Therefore, the excess stock returns of dominant companies in Australia are consistent with previous research linking innovation expenditure with excess stock returns. We hypothesize that the apparent contradiction of our results compared with Hou and Robinson (2006) for the United States market is resolved by an examination of the differences in size and competition in United States and Australian industries and the consequent differential ability of dominant companies in the two countries to generate monopoly rents and invest in ‘Schumpeterian’ (Schumpeter, 1942) innovation.
Simulation‐based training for prostate surgery
Authors: Khan Raheej , Aydin Abdullatif , Khan Muhammad Shamim , Dasgupta Prokar , Ahmed Kamran 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesTo identify and review the currently available simulators for prostate surgery and to explore the evidence supporting their validity for training purposes.Materials and MethodsA review of the literature between 1999 and 2014 was performed. The search terms included a combination of urology, prostate surgery, robotic prostatectomy, laparoscopic prostatectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), simulation, virtual reality, animal model, human cadavers, training, assessment, technical skills, validation and learning curves. Furthermore, relevant abstracts from theAmericanUrologicalAssociation,EuropeanAssociation ofUrology,BritishAssociation ofUrologicalSurgeons andWorldCongress ofEndourology meetings, between 1999 and 2013, were included. Only studies related to prostate surgery simulators were included; studies regarding other urological simulators were excluded.ResultsA total of 22 studies that carried out a validation study were identified. Five validated models and/or simulators were identified forTURP, one for photoselective vaporisation of the prostate, two for holmium enucleation of the prostate, three for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and four for robot‐assisted surgery. Of theTURPsimulators, all five have demonstrated content validity, three face validity and four construct validity. TheGreenLight laser simulator has demonstrated face, content and construct validities. The Kansai HoLEP Simulator has demonstrated face and content validity whilst the UroSim HoLEP Simulator has demonstrated face, content and construct validity. All three animal models forLRPhave been shown to have construct validity whilst the chicken skin model was also content valid. Only two robotic simulators were identified with relevance to robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, both of which demonstrated construct validity.ConclusionsA wide range of different simulators are available for prostate surgery, including synthetic bench models, virtual‐reality platforms, animal models, human cadavers, distributed simulation and advanced training programmes and modules. The currently validated simulators can be used by healthcare organisations to provide supplementary training sessions for trainee surgeons. Further research should be conducted to validate simulated environments, to determine which simulators have greater efficacy than others and to assess the cost‐effectiveness of the simulators and the transferability of skills learnt. With surgeons investigating new possibilities for easily reproducible and valid methods of training, simulation offers great scope for implementation alongside traditional methods of training.
Cannabinoids: clearing the smoke on pain, inflammation and neurodegeneration
Authors: Downer E J , Finn D P 
Published: March 2014

Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed section on Cannabinoids 2013.To view the other articles in this section, see Fagan and Campbell (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12492, Ignatowska‐Jankowska et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12298, Ligresti et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12410, Lopez‐Rodriguez et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12519, Murataeva et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12411, Okine et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12540, Rodríguez‐Cueto et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12283, Stanley and O'Sullivan (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12560, Toguri et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12545, Wu et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12500.Linked articles are: Avraham et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12478, Machado et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12488, Ward et al. (2014) DOI: 10.1111/bph.12439.
Alanine analogues of [D‐Trp]CJ‐15,208: novel opioid activity profiles and prevention of drug‐ and stress‐induced reinstatement of cocaine‐seeking behaviour
Authors: Aldrich J V , Senadheera S N , Ross N C , Reilley K A , Ganno M L , Eans S E , Murray T F , McLaughlin J P 
Published: March 2014

Background and PurposeThe novel macrocyclic peptide cyclo[Phe‐D‐Pro‐Phe‐D‐Trp] ([D‐Trp]CJ‐15,208) exhibits κ opioid (KOP) receptor antagonist activity in both in vitro and in vivo assays. The four alanine analogues of this peptide were synthesized and characterized both in vitro and in vivo to assess the contribution of different amino acid residues to the activity of [D‐Trp]CJ‐15,208.Experimental ApproachThe peptides were synthesized by a combination of solid phase peptide synthesis and cyclization in solution. The analogues were evaluated in vitro in receptor binding and functional assays, and in vivo with mice using a tail‐withdrawal assay for antinociceptive and opioid antagonist activity. Mice demonstrating extinction of cocaine conditioned‐place preference (CPP) were pretreated with selected analogues to evaluate prevention of stress or cocaine‐induced reinstatement of CPP.Key ResultsThe alanine analogues displayed pharmacological profiles in vivo distinctly different from [D‐Trp]CJ‐15,208. While the analogues exhibited varying opioid receptor affinities and κ and μ opioid receptor antagonist activity in vitro, they produced potent opioid receptor‐mediated antinociception (ED50 = 0.28–4.19 nmol, i.c.v.) in vivo. Three of the analogues also displayed KOP receptor antagonist activity in vivo. Pretreatment with an analogue exhibiting both KOP receptor agonist and antagonist activity in vivo prevented both cocaine‐ and stress‐induced reinstatement of cocaine‐seeking behaviour in the CPP assay in a time‐dependent manner.Conclusions and ImplicationsThese unusual macrocyclic peptides exhibit in vivo opioid activity profiles different from the parent compound and represent novel compounds for potential development as therapeutics for drug abuse and possibly as analgesics.
New disc excision procedure for low and mid rectal endometriosis nodules using combined transanal and laparoscopic approach
Authors: Roman H. , Tuech J.‐J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimColorectal resection in women with endometriosis involving the low and mid rectum may result in a poorer outcome than conservative procedures. In this technical note we present a new technique for transanal full thickness disc excision of endometriosis nodules involving the rectum.MethodThe procedure is performed by combined laparoscopic and transanal routes. The former involves paring the area of the rectum infiltrated by the nodule, which is then made amenable to endoluminal removal using the Contour Transtar stapler to carry out a large disc excision.ResultsThe technique can remove a specimen as large as 80 mm in diameter and can be applied to patients with infiltrating rectal endometrial nodules up to 10 cm from the anal margin and 50–60% of the rectal circumference. The procedure is probably less likely to lead to rectal stenosis and denervation than colorectal resection.ConclusionThis technique of transanal rectal disc excision using the Contour stapler is suitable in patients with infiltrating deep endometriosis nodules of the lower and mid rectum. It avoids a low rectal resection with its potential complications and unfavourable function.
Depth and lateral spread of microscopic residual rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiation: implications for treatment decisions
Authors: Smith F. M. , Wiland H. , Mace A. , Pai R. K. , Kalady M. F. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to determine the distribution of residual tumour within the bowel wall in relation to residual mucosal abnormalities (RMAs) and surrounding normal mucosa in patients with rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by curative surgery.MethodArchived pathological slides from a cohort of 60 patients with residual tumour were retrieved. The incidence, distance and depth of tumour spread (ypT) under RMAs and adjacent normal mucosa were reviewed and recorded.ResultsHistological sections containing both RMA and adjacent normal mucosa were available for 45 of 60 patients with ypT1 (n = 6), ypT2 (n = 18) and ypT3 (n = 21) disease. The maximal depth of invasion, as measured by ypT stage, was found underneath the RMA in 44 of 45 (98%) patients. Microscopic tumour spread lateral to the RMA and under adjacent normal mucosa was found in 32 of 45 (71%) patients. The median and maximum distances of lateral spread for ypT1 tumours were 0 and 4 mm; for ypT2 were 2.5 and 9 mm; and for ypT3 were 4 and 9 mm respectively.ConclusionLateral tumour spread under normal mucosa adjacent to RMAs is a common finding and extended up to 9 mm in this study. The epicentre for maximum depth of invasion was directly underneath the RMAs in nearly all cases. These data have clinical and technical implications if local excision is to be considered.
MTHFR C677T polymorphism: association with lymphoid neoplasm and effect on methotrexate therapy
Authors: Ayad Mona W. , El Naggar Amel A. , El Naggar Mostafa 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe aim of this study was to detect the possible role of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism (MTHFR C677T) in the pathogenesis of lymphoid neoplasms and to investigate the influence of this polymorphism on methotrexate toxicity in adult ALL patients treated with methotrexate maintenance therapy. There was a statistically significant increase in the risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma in patients with CT genotype (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3–6.3; P = 0.007) and combined CT + TT genotype (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.5–6.6; P = 0.006). While no significant association was found between this polymorphism and ALL risk. The patients with ALL treated with methotrexate during maintenance therapy were observed for signs of toxicity. MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism (CT + TT) was significantly overrepresented among cases with hepatic toxicity (OR = 15.6; 95% CI, 2.6–81.3; P = 0.001). In addition, they were overrepresented among cases with mucositis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. However, it did not reach statistical significance level. Further studies on larger number of subjects are necessary. Additional studies on the role of MTHFR gene polymorphism with environment (folate intake) interaction are needed to confirm the role of these genetic polymorphisms.
HCN channelopathy and cardiac electrophysiologic dysfunction in genetic and acquired rat epilepsy models
Authors: Powell Kim L. , Jones Nigel C. , Kennard Jeremy T. , Ng Caroline , Urmaliya Vijay , Lau Shannen , Tran Adora , Zheng Thomas , Ozturk Ezgi , Dezsi Gabi , Megatia Ika , Delbridge Lea M. , Pinault Didier , Reid Christopher A. , White Paul J. , O'Brien Terence J. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryObjectiveEvidence from animal and human studies indicates that epilepsy can affect cardiac function, although the molecular basis of this remains poorly understood. Hyperpolarization‐activated cyclic nucleotide‐gated (HCN) channels generate pacemaker activity and modulate cellular excitability in the brain and heart, with altered expression and function associated with epilepsy and cardiomyopathies. Whether HCN expression is altered in the heart in association with epilepsy has not been investigated previously. We studied cardiac electrophysiologic properties and HCN channel subunit expression in rat models of genetic generalized epilepsy (Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg, GAERS) and acquired temporal lobe epilepsy (post–status epilepticus SE). We hypothesized that the development of epilepsy is associated with altered cardiac electrophysiologic function and altered cardiac HCN channel expression.MethodsElectrocardiography studies were recorded in vivo in rats and in vitro in isolated hearts. Cardiac HCN channel messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression were measured using quantitative PCR and Western blotting respectively.ResultsCardiac electrophysiology was significantly altered in adult GAERS, with slower heart rate, shorter QRS duration, longer QTc interval, and greater standard deviation of RR intervals compared to control rats. In the post‐SE model, we observed similar interictal changes in several of these parameters, and we also observed consistent and striking bradycardia associated with the onset of ictal activity. Molecular analysis demonstrated significant reductions in cardiac HCN2 mRNA and protein expression in both models, providing a molecular correlate of these electrophysiologic abnormalities.SignificanceThese results demonstrate that ion channelopathies and cardiac dysfunction can develop as a secondary consequence of chronic epilepsy, which may have relevance for the pathophysiology of cardiac dysfunction in patients with epilepsy.
Agency‐Based Asset Pricing and the Beta Anomaly
Authors: Blitz David 
Published: March 2014

AbstractI argue that delegated portfolio management can cause the equilibrium relation between CAPM beta and expected stock returns to become flat, instead of linearly positive, and propose an alternative to the widely used Fama and French (1993) 3‐factor asset pricing model which incorporates this agency effect. An empirical comparison of the two models shows that the agency‐based 3‐factor model is much better at explaining the performance of portfolios sorted on beta or volatility, and at least as good at explaining the performance of various other test portfolios, including those the original 3‐factor model was designed to explain.
Detection and mapping of QTL for temperature tolerance and body size in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) using genotyping by sequencing
Authors: Everett Meredith V. , Seeb James E. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractUnderstanding how organisms interact with their environments is increasingly important for conservation efforts in many species, especially in light of highly anticipated climate changes. One method for understanding this relationship is to use genetic maps and QTL mapping to detect genomic regions linked to phenotypic traits of importance for adaptation. We used high‐throughput genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to both detect and map thousands of SNPs in haploid Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). We next applied this map to detect QTL related to temperature tolerance and body size in families of diploid Chinook salmon. Using these techniques, we mapped 3534 SNPs in 34 linkage groups which is consistent with the haploid chromosome number for Chinook salmon. We successfully detected three QTL for temperature tolerance and one QTL for body size at the experiment‐wide level, as well as additional QTL significant at the chromosome‐wide level. The use of haploids coupled with GBS provides a robust pathway to rapidly develop genomic resources in nonmodel organisms; these QTL represent preliminary progress toward linking traits of conservation interest to regions in the Chinook salmon genome.