bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does better e-readiness induce more use of e-government? Evidence from the Korean central e-government
Authors: Park Sangin , Choi Yeon-Tae , Bok Hong-Seok 
Published: December 2013

The e-readiness indexes measured by accessibility and content have typically been employed in e-government website evaluations. We present empirical evidence from four e-readiness indexes (such as accessibility, e-information, e-petition and e-participation) and the clickstream website usage data of the Korean central government units from 2003 to 2005 to evaluate whether better e-readiness induces more use of e-government websites. We find that only the e-information index was significantly correlated with website usage, and the majority of usage variations were attributable to the unit-specific effects including the nature of each unit’s public service. Our findings also indicate that the accessibility index should not be considered a key factor to evaluate e-government websites any longer, and the traditional supply-side e-government content evaluations may provide misleading information on e-government evolution. Points for practitioners Traditional supply-side e-government evaluations may not reflect citizens’ actual needs and use of e-government services. The e-government deployment across different units should take account of each unit’s nature of public services.
When subordinates feel supported by managers: investigating the relationships between support, trust, commitment and outcomes
Authors: Paillé Pascal , Grima François , Bernardeau Denis 
Published: December 2013

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between managers and their subordinates. The framework of social exchange theory was used in order to examine whether subordinates demonstrate effort at work and remain in exchange of support by their manager. Using a sample of employees ( N = 704) working for a provincial government in Canada, the results indicate that perceived supervisor support, trust in the supervisor reduce the likelihood that a public sector employee will leave their job or procrastinate at work, through commitment to their supervisor. The results are discussed in the light of public management research. Points for practitioners The ability of managers to create a healthy work environment based on the capacity to recognize the efforts of their subordinates requires the professionalization of the role by providing managers with greater autonomy to manage the resources at their disposal.
Direct control of cultural events as a means of leveraging the sustainable attractiveness of the territory? Analysis of the managerial conditions for success
Authors: Soldo Edina , Arnaud Charlène , Keramidas Olivier 
Published: December 2013

One of the problems inherent to management within today’s devolved public authorities is the far-reaching change in their modes of action ( Divay and Mazouz, 2008 ). We observe in particular an ever-greater integration of cultural policies and actions in their strategies, prompted by the territories’ desire to secure their sustainable attractiveness. To achieve this strategic objective, an increasing number of territories are opting for the organization of events, particularly cultural, that are considered to be medium-term goals. This ambition to become a festive city boasting a rich programme of events marks a change in territorial management that is moving more and more towards project management and at the same time raises questions about the definition of the strategy around the event and its implementation within the organization and within the territory. The case of the ‘Picasso-Aix 2009’ season makes it possible here, through a unique and exemplary case study, to consider the managerial conditions that make it possible to maximize the potential of the cultural event as a means of leveraging the sustainable attractiveness of the territory. Points for practitioners This research highlights the risks of an ‘eventization’ of culture and territories and raises questions about the methods used to manage a cultural event at the intercommunal level (elements relating to the territorial strategy) that is produced under the direct control of the intercommunal departments (elements relating to internal management methods). More than a monograph to shed light on the issue, this article proposes a toolkit of generic key success factors on which practitioners can draw to build their portfolio of cultural events at territorial level and touches on strategic development as well as project management and stakeholders.
Auditing defence procurement contracts in the European context: an inter-country analysis
Authors: Aguado-Romero José , López-Hernández Antonio Manuel , Vera-Ríos Simón 
Published: December 2013

The contract audit is an instrument facilitating the evaluation of prices offered and costs incurred in non-competitive defence contracts. In this study we analyse the degree of harmonization of contract auditing models among four European countries by means of a comparative analysis of the characteristics of contract auditing in these countries. We identify similarities and differences among the contract auditing models applied in these countries, and conclude that they do not present a high degree of harmonization of defence contract cost evaluation. Points for practitioners This comparative study highlights the similarities and differences among the audit models for defence contracts in four European countries (the UK, France, Spain and Norway). The authors present the main characteristics of each model and systematize the features inherent to a possible common model that could be achieved by harmonizing audit practices and the rules applicable to the corresponding cost calculations. Finally, the authors recommend further progress be made in harmonizing the audit practices applied in NATO countries for defence contracts.
Computed Tomography Scans as an Objective Measure of Disease Severity in Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Likness Micah M. , Pallanch John F. , Sherris David A. , Kita Hirohito , Mashtare Terry L. , Ponikau Jens U. 
Published: December 2013

ObjectivesA truly objective method of measuring disease severity in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has only recently existed. We evaluated computed tomography (CT) scans of CRS patients using this novel objective 3D computerized system and compared results with a novel 2D computerized analysis of a single coronal slice through the osteomeatal complex (OMC) and subjective methods including Lund‐Mackay and Zinreich's modified Lund‐Mackay.Study DesignProspective multicenter study.SettingTwo academic tertiary referral centers.Subjects and MethodsForty‐six adults with a diagnosis of CRS underwent CT examination and received an intramuscular triamcinolone injection, dosage weight dependent, followed by CT scan 4 to 5 weeks later. Recruitment lasted 21 months. Scans were evaluated with all 4 scoring methods over 5 months.ResultsThe Lin's concordance class correlation (CCC) of the OMC method revealed the best correlation to the 3D volumetric computerized values (0.915), followed by the Zinreich (0.904) and Lund‐Mackay methods (0.824). Posttreatment results demonstrated that both the OMC (0.824) and Zinreich's (0.778) methods had strong agreement with the 3D volumetric methods and were very sensitive to change, whereas the Lund‐Mackay (0.545) had only moderate agreement.ConclusionComputerized CT analysis provides the most comprehensive, objective, and reproducible method of measuring disease severity and is very sensitive to change induced by treatment intervention. A 2D coronal image through the OMC provides a valid, user‐friendly method of assessing CRS and is representative of CRS severity in all sinuses. Zinreich's subjective method correlated well overall, but the Lund‐Mackay method lagged behind in disease representation and sensitivity to change.
Improving End-of-Life Care in Hospitals
Authors: Bussmann Sonja , Muders Pia , Zahrt-Omar Corinna Aruna , Escobar Pinzon Luis Carlos , Claus Matthias , Schildmann Jan , Weber Martin 
Published: December 2013

Objectives: To explore and document the experiences and expectancies of bereaved family members concerning the end-of-life (EOL) care of their deceased relative in a general hospital setting. Methods: Cross-sectional study using a questionnaire that included open-ended questions. Free-text answers were evaluated with qualitative content analysis. A total of 270 family members provided information about improvements in inpatient care. Results: Families described structural deficiencies. Furthermore, they requested a more holistic patient health care beyond medical treatment and expressed the wish for more professional support for families. Discussion: The view of bereaved families confirmed the need for improvement in general hospital EOL care. The results underline the importance of a more holistic EOL care. The application of communication skills training, structured family meetings, and integrated pathways is recommended.
Experiences of hypoglycaemia unawareness amongst people with Type 1 diabetes: A qualitative investigation
Authors: Rankin D , Elliott J , Heller S , Amiel S , Rogers H , DeZoysa N , Lawton J 
Published: December 2013

Objectives To explore the experiences of people who have hypoglycaemia unawareness and its impact on their everyday lives. Methods In-depth interviews with 38 people with Type 1 diabetes who have hypoglycaemia unawareness. Data analysis used an inductive, thematic approach. Results Participants reported imposed and self-imposed changes to their lives following onset of hypoglycaemia unawareness including: leaving employment, curtailing pastimes and spending more time at home or being supervised by others. However, some reported getting on with life by downplaying the significance and impact of their condition, which could put their health and safety at risk. Many relied on frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose and/or prompting from others to detect hypoglycaemia. Some expressed concerns about becoming a burden on family and/or responding in irrational and aggressive ways to others’ suggestions to test for and treat hypoglycaemia. Participants reported responding best to composed and directive prompts from family. Health professionals mainly advised on clinical aspects, and did not enquire about the emotional and psychosocial impact of hypoglycaemia unawareness. Discussion Hypoglycaemia unawareness can have a profound impact on people’s confidence, careers and personal relationships. Healthcare professionals should pay more attention during consultations to the emotional and social aspects of living with hypoglycaemia unawareness.
Circular cone convexity and some inequalities associated with circular cones
Authors: Zhou Jinchuan , Chen Jein-Shan , Hung Hao-Feng 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe study of this paper consists of two aspects. One is characterizing the so-called circular cone convexity offby exploiting the second-order differentiability offLθ; the other is introducing the concepts of determinant and trace associated with circular cone and establishing their basic inequalities. These results show the essential role played by the angleθ, which gives us a new insight when looking into properties about circular cone.MSC:26A27, 26B05, 26B35, 49J52, 90C33, 65K05.
Status quo of annotation of human disease variants
Authors: Venselaar Hanka , Camilli Franscesca , Gholizadeh Shima , Snelleman Marlou , Brunner Han G , Vriend Gert 
Published: December 2013

Abstract

Background
The ever on-going technical developments in Next Generation Sequencing have led to an increase in detected disease related mutations. Many bioinformatics approaches exist to analyse these variants, and of those the methods that use 3D structure information generally outperform those that do not use this information. 3D structure information today is available for about twenty percent of the human exome, and homology modelling can double that fraction. This percentage is rapidly increasing so that we can expect to analyse the majority of all human exome variants in the near future using protein structure information.

Results
We collected a test dataset of well-described mutations in proteins for which 3D-structure information is available. This test dataset was used to analyse the possibilities and the limitations of methods based on sequence information alone, hybrid methods, machine learning based methods, and structure based methods.

Conclusions
Our analysis shows that the use of structural features improves the classification of mutations. This study suggests strategies for future analyses of disease causing mutations, and it suggests which bioinformatics approaches should be developed to make progress in this field.
The Clostridium small RNome that responds to stress: the paradigm and importance of toxic metabolite stress in C. acetobutylicum
Authors: Venkataramanan Keerthi P , Jones Shawn W , McCormick Kevin P , Kunjeti Sridhara G , Ralston Matthew T , Meyers Blake C , Papoutsakis Eleftherios T 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundSmall non-coding RNAs (sRNA) are emerging as major components of the cell’s regulatory network, several possessing their own regulons. A few sRNAs have been reported as being involved in general or toxic-metabolite stress, mostly in Gram-prokaryotes, but hardly any in Gram+prokaryotes. Significantly, the role of sRNAs in the stress response remains poorly understood at the genome-scale level. It was previously shown that toxic-metabolite stress is one of the most comprehensive and encompassing stress responses in the cell, engaging both the general stress (or heat-shock protein, HSP) response as well as specialized metabolic programs.ResultsUsing RNA deep sequencing (RNA-seq) we examined the sRNome ofC. acetobutylicumin response to the native but toxic metabolites, butanol and butyrate. 7.5% of the RNA-seq reads mapped to genome outside annotated ORFs, thus demonstrating the richness and importance of the small RNome. We used comparative expression analysis of 113 sRNAs we had previously computationally predicted, and of annotated mRNAs to set metrics for reliably identifying sRNAs from RNA-seq data, thus discovering 46 additional sRNAs. Under metabolite stress, these 159 sRNAs displayed distinct expression patterns, a select number of which was verified by Northern analysis. We identified stress-related expression of sRNAs affecting transcriptional (6S, S-box &solB) and translational (tmRNA & SRP-RNA) processes, and 65 likely targets of the RNA chaperone Hfq.ConclusionsOur results support an important role for sRNAs for understanding the complexity of the regulatory network that underlies the stress response inClostridiumorganisms, whether related to normophysiology, pathogenesis or biotechnological applications.
Three types of dermal grafts in rats: the importance of mechanical property and structural design
Authors: You Chuangang , Wang Xingang , Zheng Yurong , Han Chunmao 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundTo determine how the mechanical property and micro structure affect tissue regeneration and angiogenesis, three types of scaffolds were studied. Acellular dermal matrices (ADM), produced from human skin by removing the epidermis and cells, has been widely used in wound healing because of its high mechanical strength. Collagen scaffolds (CS) incorporated with poly(glycolide-co-L-lactide) (PLGA) mesh forms a well-supported hybrid dermal equivalent poly(glycolide-co-L-lactide) mesh/collagen scaffolds (PMCS). We designed this scaffold to enhance the CS mechanical property. These three different dermal substitutes—ADM, CS and PMCSs are different in the tensile properties and microstructure.MethodsSeveral basic physical characteristics of dermal substitutes were investigated in vitro. To characterize the angiogenesis and tissue regeneration, the materials were embedded subcutaneously in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. At weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8 post-surgery, the tissue specimens were harvested for histology, immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).ResultsIn vitro studies demonstrated ADM had a higher Young’s modulus (6.94 MPa) rather than CS (0.19 MPa) and PMCS (3.33 MPa) groups in the wet state. Compared with ADMs and CSs, PMCSs with three-dimensional porous structures resembling skin and moderate mechanical properties can promote tissue ingrowth more quickly after implantation. In addition, the vascularization of the PMCS group is more obvious than that of the other two groups. The incorporation of a PLGA knitted mesh in CSs can improve the mechanical properties with little influence on the three-dimensional porous microstructure. After implantation, PMCSs can resist the contraction and promote cell infiltration, neotissue formation and blood vessel ingrowth, especially from the mesh side. Although ADM has high mechanical strength, its vascularization is poor because the pore size is too small. In conclusion, the mechanical properties of scaffolds are important for maintaining the three-dimensional microarchitecture of constructs used to induce tissue regeneration and vascularization.ConclusionThe results illustrated that tissue regeneration requires the proper pore size and an appropriate mechanical property like PMCS which could satisfy these conditions to sustain growth.
Cost-effectiveness of health-related lifestyle advice delivered by peer or lay advisors: synthesis of evidence from a systematic review
Authors: Pennington Mark , Visram Shelina , Donaldson Cam , White Martin , Lhussier Monique , Deane Katherine , Forster Natalie , Carr Susan M 
Published: December 2013

Abstract

Background
Development of new peer or lay health-related lifestyle advisor (HRLA) roles is one response to the need to enhance public engagement in, and improve cost-effectiveness of, health improvement interventions. This article synthesises evidence on the cost-effectiveness of HRLA interventions aimed at adults in developed countries, derived from the first systematic review of the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, equity and acceptability of different types of HRLA role.

Methods
The best available evidence on the cost-effectiveness of HRLA interventions was obtained using systematic searches of 20 electronic databases and key journals, as well as searches of the grey literature and the internet. Interventions were classified according to the primary health behaviour targeted and intervention costs were estimated where necessary. Lifetime health gains were estimated (in quality-adjusted life years, where possible), based on evidence of effectiveness of HRLAs in combination with published estimates of the lifetime health gains resulting from lifestyle changes, and assumptions over relapse. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios are reported.

Results
Evidence of the cost-effectiveness of HRLAs was identified from 24 trials included in the systematic review. The interventions were grouped into eight areas. We found little evidence of effectiveness of HRLAs for promotion of exercise/improved diets. Where HRLAs were effective cost-effectiveness varied considerably: Incremental Cost effectiveness Ratios were estimated at £6,000 for smoking cessation; £14,000 for a telephone based type 2 diabetes management; and £250,000 or greater for promotion of mammography attendance and for HIV prevention amongst drug users. We lacked sufficient evidence to estimate ICERs for breastfeeding promotion and mental health promotion, or to assess the impact of HRLAs on health inequalities.

Conclusions
Overall, there is limited evidence suggesting that HRLAs are cost-effective in terms of changing health-related knowledge, behaviours or health outcomes. The evidence that does exist indicates that HRLAs are only cost-effective when they target behaviours likely to have a large impact on overall health-related quality of life. Further development of HRLA interventions needs to target specific population health needs where potential exists for significant improvement, and include rigorous evaluation to ensure that HRLAs provide sufficient value for money.
Influence of lateral cephalometric radiographs on extraction decision in skeletal class I patients
Authors: Dinçer Banu , Yetkiner Enver , Aras Isil , Attin Thomas , Attin Rengin 
Published: December 2013

Abstract

Background
Radiographic examination is considered ‘justified’ only when detection of a condition that would change the mechanisms and timing of treatment is possible. Radiographic safety guidelines have restricted the indication of lateral cephalometric radiographs (LCRs) to presence of distinct skeletal Class II or Class III. However, they are taken routinely in clinical practice and considered to be part of the ‘gold’ standard for orthodontic diagnosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that lateral cephalometric radiograph (LCR) evaluation would not alter the extraction/non-extraction decision in orthodontic treatment planning of skeletal Class I patients.

Materials and methods
Intraoral and extraoral photographs, dental casts and extraoral radiographs of 60 skeletal Class I patients were prepared digitally for assessment using a presentation software. One experienced (EO) and inexperienced orthodontist (IO) was asked to decide on extraction or non-extraction on a Likert-type linear scale for treatment planning. This procedure was repeated 4 weeks later with a mixed order of patients and the LCRs being omitted. Kappa, Weighted Kappa (WK) and McNemar scores were computed to test decision consistency and Bland-Altman plots together with 95% limits of agreement were used to determine measurement accuracy and presence of systematic bias.

Results
Both EO (WK = 0.67) and IO (WK = 0.64) had good level of decision agreement with and without LCR evaluation. EO did not present a shift towards extraction nor non-extraction with LCR evaluation (McNemar = 0.999) whereas IO showed a tendency to extraction (McNemar = 0.07) with LCR data. Including LCR evaluation created a systematic inconsistency between EO and IO (Line of equality = 0.8, Confidence interval = 0.307-0.707).

Conclusions
Lateral cephalometric radiograph evaluation did not influence the extraction decision in treatment planning of skeletal Class I patients. Reconsidering the necessity of lateral cephalograms in orthodontic treatment of skeletal Class I patients may reduce the amount of ionizing radiation. Key words: Lateral cephalometric radiograph, extraction, treatment planning, skeletal Class I.