bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Are Modic Changes Able to Help Us in Our Clinical Practice? A Study of the Modic Changes in Young Adults During Working Age
Authors: Martínez-Quiñones José V. , Aso-Escario José , González-García Laura , Consolini Fabián , Arregui-Calvo Ricardo 
Published: October 2014

Study Design:
Modic changes [vertebral endplate spinal changes (VESC)] have been related to degenerative disk disease, and in past decades it was thought that their presence justified the surgical treatment, in particular spinal fusion.

Objective:
The aim of the present study is to investigate its prevalence and features in a population of young workers suffering from low back pain, and explore the eventual relationship with the treatment applied in each case.

Background Data:
We conducted a retrospectively review of 450 magnetic resonance images from our hospital, in patients with low back pain or sciatica and age below 40.

Materials and Methods:
Age, sex, symptoms predominance, concurrence with other spine disease, VESC type, evolution, level/s of involvement and placement, affected disk location and extent of the disease, disk height, and status of the endplate were recorded. The applied treatment was divided in groups according to the degree of invasiveness of the procedure.

Results:
Prevalence of VESC was 13.05% predominant in patients over 30 years, and 100% associated to disk degenerative changes. Most frequent features were: type I (54%), lower lumbar region (98%), along with a decreased disk height (68%), and distortion of the disk endplates (98%, P<0.01). The patients with VESC presented a favorable outcome with conservative treatment, but were more frequently associated with invasive treatment, compared with non-VESC patients (P<0.024).

Conclusions:
VESC prevalence increases with age, underlying the degenerative causative etiology. Surgical indication should not be stated on the basis of the VESC findings alone, the main factor for indicating surgery depends more on other associated degenerative spinal changes.
Wave energy devices with compressible volumes
Authors: Kurniawan Adi , Greaves Deborah , Chaplin John 
Published: October 2014

We present an analysis of wave energy devices with air-filled compressible submerged volumes, where variability of volume is achieved by means of a horizontal surface free to move up and down relative to the body. An analysis of bodies without power take-off (PTO) systems is first presented to demonstrate the positive effects a compressible volume could have on the body response. Subsequently, two compressible device variations are analysed. In the first variation, the compressible volume is connected to a fixed volume via an air turbine for PTO. In the second variation, a water column separates the compressible volume from another volume, which is fitted with an air turbine open to the atmosphere. Both floating and bottom-fixed, axisymmetric, configurations are considered, and linear analysis is employed throughout. Advantages and disadvantages of each device are examined in detail. Some configurations with displaced volumes less than 2000 m
3
and with constant turbine coefficients are shown to be capable of achieving 80% of the theoretical maximum absorbed power over a wave period range of about 4 s.
What motivates consumers to buy traditional food products? Evidence from Croatia and Austria using word association and laddering interviews
Authors: Cerjak Marija , Haas Rainer , Brunner Florian , Tomić Marina 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences between consumer motives regarding purchase of traditional food in two European countries (Croatia and Austria) with a different history and development in regards to traditional and/or regional food.Design/methodology/approach– A word association test and soft laddering interviews were used to elicit consumers’ perception and purchasing motives for traditional food. Additionally, the questionnaire contained socio-demographics and questions about shopping habits concerning traditional food. Semi-structured, individual, face-to-face interviews were performed with 31 Croatian and 28 Austrian respondents.Findings– The most frequent associations/definition in both countries refers to heritage (food of generations) and elaboration (traditional receipt). The meaning of traditional food is for both samples positive. Hierarchical value maps for both countries contain ladders standing for health or support of local farmers. Additionally, the Austrians connect traditional food with environmental friendly production while for the Croatians sentimental hedonism ladder starts with perception of traditional food as a mean to connect with the childhood.Practical implications– The findings can be used by traditional food producers in order to better understand consumers’ motives and accordingly adapt their marketing strategies.Originality/value– This is the first work which uses free association test and laddering interviews to reveal consumers perception and motives for purchase of traditional food both in Croatia as well as in Austria.
Comparative multi criteria analysis and dependent optimisation through integrated supply chain
Authors: Sharma Sanjay , Sisodia Akshat 
Published: October 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to compare various inventory policies and their effect on various performance metrics at different levels of a multi stage supply chain. Later the model is integrated to include optimization of entire supply chain through implementation of collaborative supply chain model.

Design/methodology/approach
– Alternative inventory policies have been developed at different echelons and a comparison reflecting the usability on various factors such as inventory level, inventory cost and service level is presented so as to support the decision-making process. Various inventory policies such as economic order quantity, periodic ordering (T, M) and stock to demand have been considered. Along with the basic assumptions; lead time, demand variability, variability in demand during lead time, stock out costs have also been included to make the model more applicable to practical situations.

Findings
– After the selection of most appropriate inventory policy at each level through a decision matrix, the total cost of operating such a supply chain is calculated along with other parameters such as service level and inventory turns. The approach is of aggregating the optimized value at each echelon referred to as aggregated supply chain in the paper. Then the concept of integrated supply chain is introduced which optimizes the supply chain as a whole, rather than aggregating local optima. The comparison is made between the two approaches that prove the integrated supply chain's superiority. Furthermore, dependent optimization is run as it is not practically possible for each echelon to optimize at the same time.

Originality/value
– Each echelon is allowed to optimize at a time and other echelons assume corresponding values. This final comparative multi criterion analysis is based on the three factors, i.e. inventory cost, customer service level and inventory turnover with different weights assigned to each factor at different levels of a supply chain. Finally a consolidation of results is made to reflect the overall preference which proves that an integrated supply chain best serves all the parameters combined together.
Supervisor conflict management, justice, and strain: multilevel relationships
Authors: A. Way Kirsten , L. Jimmieson Nerina , Bordia Prashant 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to test a multilevel model of the main and mediating effects of supervisor conflict management style (SCMS) climate and procedural justice (PJ) climate on employee strain. It is hypothesized that workgroup-level climate induced by SCMS can fall into four types: collaborative climate, yielding climate, forcing climate, or avoiding climate; that these group-level perceptions will have differential effects on employee strain, and will be mediated by PJ climate.Design/methodology/approach– Multilevel SEM was used to analyze data from 420 employees nested in 61 workgroups.Findings– Workgroups that perceived high supervisor collaborating climate reported lower sleep disturbance, job dissatisfaction, and action-taking cognitions. Workgroups that perceived high supervisor yielding climate and high supervisor forcing climate reported higher anxiety/depression, sleep disturbance, job dissatisfaction, and action-taking cognitions. Results supported a PJ climate mediation model when supervisors’ behavior was reported to be collaborative and yielding.Research limitations/implications– The cross-sectional research design places limitations on conclusions about causality; thus, longitudinal studies are recommended.Practical implications– Supervisor behavior in response to conflict may have far-reaching effects beyond those who are a party to the conflict. The more visible use of supervisor collaborative CMS may be beneficial.Social implications– The economic costs associated with workplace conflict may be reduced through the application of these findings.Originality/value– By applying multilevel theory and analysis, we extend workplace conflict theory.
Linking pre-meeting communication to meeting effectiveness
Authors: A. Allen Joseph , Lehmann-Willenbrock Nale , Landowski Nicole 
Published: October 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the importance of communication that occurs just before workplace meetings (i.e. pre-meeting talk). The paper explores how four specific types of pre-meeting talk (small talk, work talk, meeting preparatory talk, and shop talk) impact participants’ experiences of meeting effectiveness. Moreover, the authors investigate the role of participants’ personality in the link between pre-meeting talk and perceived meeting effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach
– Data were obtained using an online survey of working adults (n=252). Because pre-meeting talk has not been studied previously, a new survey measure of meeting talk was developed.

Findings
– Pre-meeting small talk was a significant predictor of meeting effectiveness, even while considering good meeting procedures. Extraversion was identified as a moderator in this context, such that the relationship between pre-meeting talk and perceived meeting effectiveness was stronger for less extraverted participants.

Research limitations/implications
– The findings provide the first empirical support for the ripple effect, in terms of meetings producing pre-meeting talk, and suggest that pre-meeting talk meaningfully impact employees’ meeting experiences and perceptions of meeting effectiveness. To address limitations inherent in the cross-section correlational design of the study, future research should experimentally test whether pre-meeting talk actually causes changes in meeting processes and outcomes.

Practical implications
– Managers should encourage their employees to arrive in time to participate in pre-meeting talk. Side conversations before a scheduled meeting starts can have beneficial effects for meeting outcomes and should be fostered.

Originality/value
– There is very limited research on the role of pre-meeting talk. The authors identify that small talk is a predictor of meeting effectiveness even after considering previously studied good meeting procedures.
How interpersonal leadership relates to employee engagement
Authors: Hansen Anne , Byrne Zinta , Kiersch Christa 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine organizational identification as an underlying mechanism for how perceptions of interpersonal leadership are related to employee engagement, and its relationship with commitment and job tension.Design/methodology/approach– A sample of 451 full-time employees at an international firm completed a web-based survey.Findings– Organizational identification mediated the relationship between perceived interpersonal leadership and engagement, which mediated the relationship between perceived interpersonal leadership and commitment. Engagement mediated the relationship between identification and job tension.Research limitations/implications– Limitations include cross-sectional data. Strengths include a large field sample. Implication is that leaders who encourage employees’ identification with the organization may also encourage their engagement.Practical implications– Interpersonal leadership characteristics can be developed, and are positively related to employees’ identification, commitment, and engagement, which are negatively related to job tension.Social implications– Interpersonal leaders are positively associated with employees’ engagement; high engagement has been related to positive employee health and well-being. A healthy workforce translates into a healthy society.Originality/value– This study is one of the few to examine the underlying mechanisms through which leadership relates to engagement.
The linkage between status-leveling symbols and work attitudes
Authors: Zhang Lu , Morand David 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between status-leveling symbols (i.e. the symbols used by organizations to remove, blur, or downplay hierarchical distinctions) and employees’ work attitudes, as mediated through perceptions of trust, justice, and leader-member exchange. The study intends to provide some empirical support relative to the role of symbolic-leveling symbols as a social influence process in the workplace.Design/methodology/approach– In this study, the authors developed a measure of organizational status leveling by focussing on three symbols – physical space, dress, and forms of address. Data were collected from 147 employees who were enrolled in a part-time MBA program. The paper used path analysis to test the hypotheses.Findings– Results fully supported the theoretical model except the mediating role of justice perceptions in the relationship between status-leveling symbols and affective commitment.Practical implications– The results of the study provide guidance for design of physical workspaces and setting or reinforcing norms regarding forms of address and dress codes. Such practices need to be integrated with other high-involvement HR practices so as to create and sustain the culture desired by the organization.Originality/value– The paper is the first to measure status-leveling symbols in organizations, and the first to investigate the linkages between symbolic-leveling symbols and relevant work-related outcomes.
Different actors’ roles in small companies service innovation
Authors: Gottfridsson Patrik 
Published: October 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of the study is to create an initial understanding of how various internal and external actors contribute to the development of new services based on the research question considering “which different actor takes part in small companies’ service development processes in order giving access to the resources needed and what roles do they play?”

Design/methodology/approach
– Due to the lack of previous studies within the area, the focus in this study has been to use a qualitative method to reach a deeper insight about how small companies’ service development could be described, as seen from an actor’s perspective.

Findings
– Based on the empirical analysis, the study identifies seven main categories of actors who were involved in the service-development process that contributes with different types of resources and their role varies during the development process. The actors and their roles are presented in a model giving initial understanding how various internal and external actors contribute to the development of new services.

Research limitations/implications
– Using a qualitative approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Instead, the findings should be seen as an initial starting point for further studies.

Practical implications
– The paper’s highlight a number of actor roles that need to be handled to create possibilities for small companies’ service development.

Originality/value
– The paper fills a research gap in the service innovation research. Traditionally, this research has been focused on larger companies, with a focus on what happens inside the companies.
The differentiated effects of CSR actions in the service industry
Authors: B. Casado-Díaz Ana , L. Nicolau-Gonzálbez Juan , Ruiz-Moreno Felipe , Sellers-Rubio Ricardo 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this study is to attempt to explain why the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives may be different and/or more important in service firms compared to manufacturing firms. CSR is becoming a common strategy, hence its extensive research. Central to it is the analysis of the effect of CSR on a firm’s performance, whose outcome depends on firm-specific and industry-related factors.Design/methodology/approach– The event study methodology is applied to all the 248 companies that have ever traded on the Spanish Stock Market between 1990 and 2007. A regression analysis examines potential different effects of CSR on service and goods firms.Findings– The results show that CSR activities have a positive impact on firm performance that is higher for service firms than for manufacturing firms. Actions related to the environment, responsible labor relationships and good corporate governance are especially important in the service context.Research limitations/implications– This research is focused on shareholders’ performance, but it does not consider other stakeholders, such as real consumer behavior or employees’ commitment and productivity.Practical implications– Service firms are likely to gain from focusing on some CSR activities (environment, employees and good corporate governance) and should use their responsible behavior as a valuable tool for public relations and differentiation in the market.Originality/value– This article is the first attempt to empirically test and explain why the relationship between CSR and firm performance may be different (more positive) for service vs manufacturing firms.
PPP for public infrastructure in Italy: opportunity and challenges
Authors: Carbonara Nunzia , Pellegrino Roberta 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in Italy in order to highlight challenges and opportunities for a more effective adoption of PPP in Italy. In particular we analyze three key aspects that affect the PPP adoption and implementation, namely the institutional, organizational, and financial ones, and their changes over time.Design/methodology/approach– To reach the aim, we have conducted an empirical research, gathering qualitative and quantitative relevant information, to characterize three key dimensions affecting the PPP adoption and its effective implementation, namely the institutional, organizational, and financial dimension.Findings– The analysis of PPP in Italy reveals that, although it is a relatively recent practice, its use is widely spread in delivering public infrastructures. Nevertheless, there are still some shortcomings, related to administrative, financial, and legal issues, that make the application and use of PPP, although considerable in size, less effective and efficient in Italy than in some other countries. In order to overcome these limitations, different interventions are required in order to strength the practices and advance the body of knowledge.Practical implications– The study formulates useful recommendations for an effective implementation of PPP based on the analysis of the main constraints for the PPP's development in Italy.Originality/value– The study overcomes the gap of the existing literature on the Italian PPP that have analyzed the phenomenon under two different approaches. Some researchers have investigated the key aspects characterizing PPPs, by adopting a mono-dimensional perspective. Other studies have analyzed the extent of adoption and diffusion of PPP in Italy, by presenting data on PPP projects by sector and/or by types. This paper contributes to fill this gap by providing both a comprehensive analysis of PPP, based on three key dimensions characterizing the PPP adoption and implementation, as well as by presenting an updated picture of the PPP in Italy.
PPPs as strategic alliances: from technocratic to multidimensional risk governance
Authors: d'Alessandro Laura , Bailey Stephen J. , Giorgino Marco 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are characterised by contracts which are necessarily incomplete due to the complexity of their contractual specifications for the contracted services combined with the long-term legal obligations they create. This creates high transaction costs including sharing (and so bearing) risks. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between risk sharing and governance, providing a new perspective for analysis with less emphasis on transaction costs and more on PPPs as strategic alliances.Design/methodology/approach– Three main issues are analysed. First, the definition of PPP in terms of both the type of arrangements and the actors involved, structures varying from one country to another and between contracts. Second, the definition of strategic alliance, identifying which form(s) of PPP is a strategic partnership. Third, reconsideration of incomplete contract theory to identify the circumstances where a strategic alliance can accommodate high transaction costs.Findings– The paper concludes that establishing PPPs as strategic alliances could rectify problems of incomplete contracts by implementing a multidimensional (rather than technocratic) approach to risk governance.Originality/value– The contribution to knowledge provided by this study is rooted in the conceptualization of PPPs as strategic alliances by distinguishing the tangible characteristics of strategic alliance related to the letter of the contract from the intangible characteristics related to the spirit of the contract with the main purpose being to create both public and private value.
Theory of value co-creation: a systematic literature review
Authors: Galvagno Marco , Dalli Daniele 
Published: October 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to summarize and classify extant research and to better understand the past, present, and future state of the theory of value co-creation. Its main objectives are: to identify the different theoretical perspectives and research streams that characterize and define the co-creation literature, and to highlight the connections between them; to look for emerging trends and gaps in the literature by comparing the most recent papers with those representing the field's core.Design/methodology/approach– The paper relies on bibliometric data: co-citation techniques were employed to select, analyze, and interpret citation patterns within the co-creation literature.Findings– The paper identified two main clusters, as well as specific research streams and common themes, representing scholarly journals’ publications on co-creation over the past years. These research streams and themes apply three different theoretical perspectives: service science, innovation and technology management, and marketing and consumer research. Data from the most recent publications has been used to verify if and how the original streams and themes are reflected in the contemporary debate.Research limitations/implications– Inevitably, the findings of the analysis have limitations related to the research design, the databases, and the applied bibliometric methods.Practical implications– From a practical perspective, the research impacts on theory building, management decision making, and teaching.Originality/value– This study depicts the remarkable development of the literature on co-creation and shows the latent structure underlying its different research streams. To the best knowledge, this study is the first to determine co-citation frequencies from both the SSCI and Scopus databases.