bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developing a psychological approach: learning from a housing association pilot
Authors: Edwards Aileen 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThis paper seeks to offer a commentary on Psychologically Informed Services: A Good Practice Guide, a recently published operational guidance document on developing psychologically informed environments (PIEs) in services for homeless people.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is an invited opinion piece and comment, based on the specialist experience and viewpoint of the author as Chief Executive of Second Step, a housing association providing support to a range of vulnerable people.FindingsThe new operational guidance is welcomed. The author outlines the use of the concept of a psychologically informed environment, as developed in practice through an initial pilot service run by Second Step. This practice learning was then spread and developed more broadly through other Second Step services.Originality/valueOn the basis of their experience, the author makes observations on what was found most useful, to “inform” their service. The agency has now agreed a Psychological Therapies Strategy, which focuses on developing training for staff on interventions that can be effectively used within the staff role. Reflective practice is promoted throughout the service.
Intellectual capital disclosure trends: some Malaysian evidence
Authors: Ahmed Haji Abdifatah , Mohd Ghazali Nazli A. 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the trend of intellectual capital disclosures (ICD) over a three‐year period (2008‐2010), when the Malaysian business environment was characterized by a number of major events such as the recent 2008/2009 global financial crisis and corporate governance restructuring.Design/methodology/approachA checklist was constructed to measure the extent and quality of ICD in Malaysian corporate annual reports. The extent of ICD was measured on a dichotomous basis (0, 1) while the quality of ICD was measured using a four‐point scale (0‐3).FindingsThe results showed an increasing trend of the ICD and a significant overall increase by the sample Malaysian companies. The results also revealed that there are significant differences between the categories of the IC disclosures, with external capital related information accounting for the largest portion. However, only human capital disclosures significantly increased over time.Practical implicationsThe time series analysis carried out in this study observed that, despite the general ICD increasing trend, item‐specific analysis showed inconsistent results. Hence, the regulators may want to devise reporting guidelines for IC for Malaysian public listed companies.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the few which investigate trends in ICD following significant changes in the business environment in an attempt to determine if those changes have some impact on ICD practices.
A call for collaborative academic and practitioner efforts to address remote‐access voting methods
Authors: Rosacker Robert E. , Rosacker Kirsten 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a timely discussion of the important topic of remote‐access voting technology.Design/methodology/approachFirst, an introduction to the topic is offered; second the existing state of the art is considered; third, a brief history of electronic and internet voting methods is presented; and fourth, a short list of critical success factors for remote‐access voting is presented. Finally, a conclusion is offered surrounding how academics and practitioners can collaboratively proceed to address the salient issues and barriers that currently prohibit the advancement of remote‐access voting.FindingsThere is a brief and largely successful history involving applications of information communication technologies (ICTs) and computer technology to assist in data capture and tabulation of democratic elections. While several critical issues have been identified, none has been so significant that an end‐game strategy should be invoked rather than continued innovation. Concurrently, the business world has witnessed an expanding use of computer‐based infrastructures and enhanced ICTs to facilitate the processing of remote‐access commercial transactions. These advancements have provided a rich opportunity to seek out, identify, and address the substantive operational issues permitting the successful expansion of a variety of business methods, models, and processes. While these successes have provided a solid foundation upon which e‐government voting systems can be attempted, such a process improvement has been elusive to this date with many of the real issues and concerns seeming to be too large to resolve.Originality/valueThe paper considers the important issue of remote‐access voting as a means for supporting the expansion and refinement of democratic processes across the world through increased citizen participation.
Factors influencing e‐government adoption in Pakistan
Authors: Rehman Mariam , Esichaikul Vatcharaporn , Kamal Muhammad 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify critical factors that enable citizens to adopt e‐Government services in a society which is at a rudimentary stage of e‐Government adoption. To achieve the objective of the research study, an integrated conceptual model has been proposed and validated which is based on sound theoretical conditions, keeping in view the local context of Pakistani society.Design/methodology/approachAn integrated conceptual model is proposed highlighting a comprehensive set of potential factors influencing the adoption of e‐Government services. The conceptual model was developed using related literature review and also by conducting expert reviews with government officials, academic researchers and software engineers in Pakistan.FindingsFrom expert reviews, the results indicate that awareness, trust in the internet and trust in the government are the significant variables specific to the context of Pakistani society. The results of this study prove that awareness is a significant variable having influence on the citizens' intention to use e‐Government services, either to get information or to perform a transaction using the government web site. Information quality is found to be a significant variable when getting information from the government website. Perceived ease of use, service quality and transaction security are significant variables which influence the citizens' intention to perform transactions with the government.Research limitations/implicationsAn integrated conceptual model is a robust way to explore the key factors that have great influence on e‐Government adoption. The target respondents for this study are internet users. In future, the research work will be extended by including technology divide citizens called offline respondents, i.e. less frequent internet users. The results of online and offline respondents are compared so that the perception of technology divide citizens may also be included to identify the factors influencing the adoption of e‐Government services.Practical implicationsThe key findings are useful for policy makers and decision makers, for a real understanding of the needs of the citizens. The proposed model can be used as a guideline for e‐Government strategy formulation and implementation for the Government of Pakistan.Originality/valueTo address the originality, an integrated conceptual model is proposed to overcome the shortcomings of the previous models by adding factors and their respective variables to make the model more comprehensive. Later, the proposed conceptual model is customized and also validated according to the local context of Pakistani society.
Middle managers in elderly care under demands and expectations
Authors: Ekholm Bodil 
Published: July 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this project was to study how middle managers look on and shape their work and leadership with regard to the demands and expectations that exist from different participants within the home help service operation. The participants are politicians, officials at central level, nursing staff, persons receiving care and their relatives.Design/methodology/approachThe participants are eight managers in eight different home‐help service units. The units are spread out in four districts with high socioeconomic status and four districts with low. Four managers are at public units and four are at units with private executor. The majority of the managers had worked as leaders between three and eight years. The study is based on individual interviews and observations of the managers and of staff meetings. The data were subjected to content analysis. Two main categories and five subcategories were generated.FindingsThere were large similarities in how the managers perceived the demands and expectations, but there were differences when it came to how they handled them. Three of the managers experienced that they could handle the demands and expectations through organizing and structuring the operation and prioritizing the assignments, while five of the managers experienced difficulties to handle them and they conveyed that they suffered from stress. The managers who could handle the demands combine a professional and an organizational perspective in their leadership.Originality/valueThe knowledge from the study may be of great value in recruiting new managers in elderly care but also in creating programs of competence development for managers.
Finding, training, and keeping best service workers
Authors: Dandira Martin 
Published: July 2012

Subject area
Organisational behaviour, business reengineering and management of change, human resources management.

Study level/applicability
This case study is intended for undergraduate and post-graduate management degrees. It includes courses on organizational behaviour, human resources management, marketing, business management, travel and tourism and strategic management.

Case overview
Zim-Zum Welcome Hotel is a hotel in Zimbabwe in the travel and tourism sector. It was facing high turnover of employees and this was affecting the business through continuous hiring and training. The organization decided to introduce changes completely changing the way it does things, focusing on satisfying employees as well as customers. The new approach yielded favourable results, labour turnover dropped significantly and business improved greatly. In an effort to improve service, and increase profit, Zim-Zum has begun radically changing the way it hires, trains and deploys frontline workers. Management also examined how waiters and waitress do their job and concluded that there was supposed to be a division of labour between them and culinary staff. Management of Zim-Zum believe that companies that excel at managing frontline workers understand that excellent service is more than just a transaction.

Expected learning outcomes
Students can focus on: the importance of redesigning work so that superior service satisfies both the employee and the customer; human resources management is an important factor in improving employee performance and business performance; the importance of external and internal customers in improving company performance.
Mesenteric phlebosclerosis associated with long‐term oral intake of geniposide, an ingredient of herbal medicine
Authors: Hiramatsu K. , Sakata H. , Horita Y. , Orita N. , Kida A. , Mizukami A. , Miyazawa M. , Hirai S. , Shimatani A. , Matsuda K. , Matsuda M. , Ogino H. , Fujinaga H. , Terada I. , Shimizu K. , Uchiyama A. , Ishizawa S. , Abo H. , Demachi H. , Noda Y. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryBackgroundIdiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis (IMP) is a rare disease, characterised by thickening of the wall of the right hemicolon with calcification of mesenteric veins. However, the aetiology remains unknown.AimTo investigate the possible association of herbal medicines with IMP.MethodThe clinical data of four of our own patients were collected. Furthermore, we searched for previous reports about similar patients with detailed descriptions of herbal prescriptions that they had taken. We compared herbal ingredients to identify the toxic agent as a possible aetiological factor.ResultsClinical data on a total of 25 patients were summarised. Mean age was 61.8 years and there was female predominance (6 men and 19 women). The used Kampo prescription, the number of cases, and the mean duration of use were as follows: kamisyoyosan in 12 cases for 12.8 years, inshin‐iseihaito in 5 cases for 13.4 years, orengedokuto in 4 cases for 14.3 years, inchinkoto in 1 case for 20 years, kamikihitou in 1 case for 19 years, seijobofuto in 1 case for 10 years and gorinsan in 1 case for an unknown duration. Only one ingredient, sansisi, was common to the herbal medicines of all 25 patients. This crude drug called geniposide in English is a major constituent of the Gardenia fruits.ConclusionThe long‐term use of geniposide in herbal medicines appears to be associated with mesenteric phlebosclerosis.
Updated thresholds for serum alanine aminotransferase level in a large‐scale population study composed of 34 346 subjects
Authors: Wu W.‐C. , Wu C.‐Y. , Wang Y.‐J. , Hung H.‐H. , Yang H.‐I. , Kao W.‐Y. , Su C.‐W. , Wu J.‐C. , Chan W.‐L. , Lin H.‐C. , Lee F.‐Y. , Lee S.‐D. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryBackgroundThe sensitivity of current upper limit of normal (ULN) of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels for detecting chronic liver disease has been challenged recently.AimTo identify modulating factors for serum ALT levels and to refine its ULN threshold.MethodsWe enrolled 34 346 consecutive subjects who completed the health check‐up at Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2002 to 2009. ULN was set for healthy ALT level to the 95th percentile of the reference healthy population.ResultsA group of 21 282 subjects were used as a training set to define an ULN with the highest sensitivity; afterwards, this ULN was validated in another set of 13 064 subjects. A reference healthy population was selected from the training set after excluding subjects with any abnormalities in independent risk factors associated with elevated serum ALT level (>40 IU/L) by multivariate analysis like body mass index, waist circumference, glucose, cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, triglyceride, hepatitis B virus surface antigen, anti‐hepatitis C virus antibody and fatty liver. The new ULN of serum ALT level defined as the 95% percentile in the healthy population were 21 IU/L and 17 IU/L for men and women respectively. These cut‐off values had the highest Youden's index and areas under the corresponding receiver operating curves among four widely applied thresholds in both the training and validation sets.ConclusionsThe suggested threshold of upper limit of normal provides better discrimination between healthy and unhealthy status. Viral hepatitis, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver are the major risk factors of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase levels.
Cirrhotic patients at increased risk of peptic ulcer bleeding: a nationwide population‐based cohort study
Authors: Luo J.‐C. , Leu H.‐B. , Hou M.‐C. , Huang C.‐C. , Lin H.‐C. , Lee F.‐Y. , Chang F.‐Y. , Chan W.‐L. , Lin S.‐J. , Chen J.‐W. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryBackgroundFew large population‐based studies have compared the occurrence of peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients.AimsTo investigate if cirrhotic patients have higher risk of PUB than the general population and to identify possible risk factors of PUB in cirrhotic patients.MethodsUsing the National Health Insurance Research Database, a nationwide population‐based dataset in Taiwan and matching age, gender, comorbidities and ulcerogenic medication by propensity score, 4013 cirrhotic patients, 8013 chronic hepatitis patients and 7793 normal controls were compared. The log‐rank test was used to analyse differences in accumulated PUB‐free survival rates between the groups. Cox proportional hazard regressions were performed to evaluate independent risk factors for PUB in all patients and identified risk factors of PUB in cirrhotic patients.ResultsDuring the 7‐year follow‐up, cirrhotic patients had significantly higher incidences of PUB than chronic hepatitis patients and controls, respectively (P < 0.001 by log‐rank test). By Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, cirrhosis was independently associated with increased risk of PUB (hazard ratio: 4.22; 95% CI 3.37–5.29, P < 0.001) after adjusting for age, gender, economic status, underlying comorbidities and ulcerogenic medication. Age, male, diabetes, chronic renal disease, history of gastro‐oesophageal variceal bleeding and use of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs were risk factors for PUB in cirrhotic patients.ConclusionCirrhotic patients have a significantly higher risk of peptic ulcer bleeding after adjustments for possible confounding factors like age, gender, economic status, underlying comorbidities and ulcerogenic medication.
A prognostic model for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma within the Milan criteria undergoing non‐transplant therapies, based on 1106 patients
Authors: Lee Y.‐H. , Hsu C.‐Y. , Hsia C.‐Y. , Huang Y.‐H. , Su C.‐W. , Lin H.‐C. , Chiou Y.‐Y. , Huo T.‐I. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryBackgroundThe Milan criteria are used to select candidates with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for liver transplantation. Due to severe shortage of donors, majority of patients within the Milan criteria need to seek alternative treatments.AimTo propose a prognostic model for these patients undergoing non‐transplant therapies.MethodsA total of 1106 HCC patients, who were within the Milan criteria and received non‐transplant therapies were retrospectively analysed. Patients were randomly assigned to the derivation and validation set according to treatments. A prognostic model was constructed from independent predictors of survival identified in the multivariate Cox model of the derivation set and was confirmed in the validation set.ResultsIn the Cox model, serum bilirubin ≥1.5 mg/dL [risk ratio (RR): 1.525, P = 0.016], α‐fetoprotein (AFP) ≥100 ng/mL (RR: 1.728, P < 0.001), mild ascites (RR: 1.705, P = 0.025) and moderate/severe ascites (RR: 4.163, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of poor survival in the derivation set (n = 553). A prognostic model with a total of 0–4 points was derived with the sum of three variables: 1 point each for bilirubin ≥1.5 mg/dL, AFP ≥100 ng/mL and mild ascites, and 2 points for moderate/severe ascites. This scoring system accurately predicted the survival in the validation set (n = 553; P < 0.001). The model consistently discriminated the survival in patients stratified by curative and noncurative treatments (both P values <0.001).ConclusionThe newly proposed prognostic scoring model, based on serum bilirubin and AFP level, and severity of ascites, is informative to predict the survival in non‐transplant HCC patients within the Milan criteria.
Engraftment defect of cytokine‐cultured adult human mobilized CD34+ cells is related to reduced adhesion to bone marrow niche elements
Authors: Kallinikou Konstantina , Anjos‐Afonso Fernando , Blundell Michael P. , Ings Stuart J. , Watts Michael J. , Thrasher Adrian J. , Linch David C. , Bonnet Dominique , Yong Kwee L. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryIn vitro exposure of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) to cytokines in expansion or gene therapy protocols reduces homing and engraftment in vivo. We have previously reported that this is related in part to altered tissue specificity of short‐term homing, leading to loss of cells in non‐haematopoietic tissues. Here we demonstrate that defective engraftment persists when cultured HSPC are transplanted by intrabone injection. Changes in engraftment function occur within 24 h of cytokine exposure, and are evident when engraftment is analysed solely in the injected bone. A novel ex vivo model of the bone marrow was developed, in which the attachment of infused HSPC in rodent long bones is reduced following culture with cytokines. Finally, cultured HSPC demonstrated reduced adhesion to N‐cadherin, osteopontin and vascular cell‐adhesion molecule‐1, ligands present in bone marrow niches. These changes in adhesive function occur rapidly, and are not related to downregulation of the relevant receptors. Our findings suggest that cytokine exposure of adult human HSPC results in altered adhesion within bone marrow niches, further leading to reduced engraftment potential in vivo.
High‐throughput sequencing analysis of the chromosome 7q32 deletion reveals IRF5 as a potential tumour suppressor in splenic marginal‐zone lymphoma
Authors: Fresquet Vicente , Robles Eloy F. , Parker Anton , Martinez‐Useros Javier , Mena Maria , Malumbres Raquel , Agirre Xabier , Catarino Susana , Arteta David , Osaba Lourdes , Mollejo Manuela , Hernandez‐Rivas Jesus M. , Calasanz Maria Jose , Daibata Masanori , Dyer Martin J.S. , Prosper Felipe , Vizcarra Esperanza , Piris Miguel‐Ángel , Oscier David , Martinez‐Climent Jose Angel 
Published: July 2012

SummaryUsing high‐resolution genomic microarray analysis, a distinct genomic profile was defined in 114 samples from patients with splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL). Deletion or uniparental disomy of chromosome 7q were detected in 42 of 114 (37%) SMZLs but in only nine of 170 (5%) mature B‐cell lymphomas (P < 0·00001). The presence of unmutated IGHV, genomic complexity, 17p13‐TP53 deletion and 8q‐MYC gain, but not 7q deletion, correlated with shorter overall survival of SMZL patients. Mapping studies narrowed down a commonly deleted region of 2·7 Mb in 7q32.1‐q32.2 spanning a region between the SND1 and COPG2 genes. High‐throughput sequencing analysis of the 7q32‐deleted segment did not identify biallelic deletions/insertions or clear pathogenic gene mutations, but detected six nucleotide changes in IRF5 (n = 2), TMEM209 (n = 2), CALU (n = 1) and ZC3HC1 (n = 1) not found in healthy individuals. Comparative expression analysis found a fourfold down‐regulation of IRF5 gene in lymphomas with 7q32 deletion versus non‐deleted tumours (P = 0·032). Ectopic expression of IRF5 in marginal‐zone lymphoma cells decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis in vitro, and impaired lymphoma development in vivo. These results show that cryptic deletions, insertions and/or point mutations inactivating genes within 7q32 are not common in SMZL, and suggest that IRF5 may be a haploinsufficient tumour suppressor in this lymphoma entity.