bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coping with customer aggression
Authors: Goussinsky Ruhama 
Published: April 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to investigate the direct and moderating effect of negative affectivity (NA) (Study 1) and self‐efficacy (Study 2) on the relationship between customer verbal aggression and three forms of emotion‐focused coping strategies: behavioral disengagement, seeking emotional support, and venting negative emotions.Design/methodology/approachTwo samples of service workers were recruited from northern Israel in 2007‐2008 (n=178 and n=516), and data were collected using self‐reported questionnaires. Research hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression analyses.FindingsThe results show that under high levels of exposure to customer aggression, employees with high NA were more likely to use behavioral disengagement than low‐NA individuals, employees with low NA were less likely to vent negative emotions than high‐NA individuals, and employees with high self‐efficacy were less likely to use venting and emotional support than employees with low self‐efficacy. In addition, self‐efficacy was found to reduce the negative impact of customer aggression on emotional exhaustion.Practical implicationsThrough appropriate training programs, service organizations can foster their employees' sense of trust in their own ability to cope with customer misbehavior and consequently reduce reliance on dysfunctional coping strategies.Originality/valueWhile it has been established that verbal abuse from customers constitutes a common experience for many service workers, little is known about the manner in which workers cope with this particular job stressor and even less about the individual differences that may explain coping behaviors in this context. The present paper begins to bridge this gap and contributes to existing literature by showing that in addition to being predictors of dysfunctional coping strategies, both NA and self‐efficacy may play a moderating role in the relationship between customer aggression and coping behaviors.
A rolling stone gathers no moss: prevent your strategic plan from stagnating
Authors: Myrna John W. 
Published: April 2012

PurposeThis article explains the critical importance of actually using and implementing your company's strategic plan, and offers practical tips for avoiding the most four common traps that keep a strategic plan sitting, ignored, on a shelf.Design/methodology/approachThe examples cited all stem from the author's extensive experience helping companies engage in more effective strategic planning and successful implementation of the shared strategic vision.FindingsCompanies can effectively implement a strategic plan by understanding why a team may not implement as asked, encouraging personal motivation and “ownership” of the strategic goals, maintaining momentum in the face of daily distractions, and understanding how the “real world” works.Practical implicationsExecutives must understand how to make their strategic plan a “living document”, and then take specific steps to keep the implementation of that plan on track.Originality/valueThe value of this article to corporate executives lies in its reality‐based perspective on specific techniques and tactics to use for successful implementation of a strategic plan.
Development of sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of Cronobacter muytjensii (formerly called Enterobacter sakazakii)
Authors: Park Sunhyun , Shukla Shruti , Kim Younghoan , Oh Sejong , Hun Kim Sae , Kim Myunghee 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to produce a polyclonal antibody against Cronobacter muytjensii (C. muytjensii, formerly called Enterobacter sakazakii) and to develop an immunoassay for its detection. The optimum production of rabbit anti‐C. muytjensii immunoglobulin G (IgG) and chicken anti‐C. muytjensii IgY was reached in weeks 8 and 9, respectively. Purification of rabbit anti‐C. muytjensii IgG from immunized rabbit sera was accomplished using the caprylic acid and ammonium sulfate precipitation method. As a result, sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis produced two bands around 25 and 50 kDa, corresponding to a light and a heavy chain, respectively. The optimized conditions for sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay were using rabbit anti‐C. muytjensii IgG (1 μg/mL) as a detection antibody and chicken anti‐C. muytjensii IgY (10 μg/mL) as a capture antibody. In this assay, no cross‐reactivity was observed with the other genera of pathogenic bacteria tested, which included Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes. The developed assay did not show cross‐reactivity with other tested species of Cronobacter and Enterobacter genera such as C. turicensis, C. sakazakii, E. aerogenes, E. pulveris and E. helveticus. The detection limit of sandwich ELISA for C. muytjensii was found to be 2.0 × 104 colony forming units (CFU)/mL. In addition, detection of C. muytjensii in infant formula powder showed a low matrix effect on the detection curve of sandwich ELISA for C. muytjensii, the detection limit being found to be 6.3 × 104 CFU/mL. These findings demonstrate that the developed method is able to detect all strains of C. muytjensii. Hence, this ELISA technique has potent application for the rapid and accurate detection of C. muytjensii in dietary foods.
Integrated pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of epoprostenol in healthy subjects
Authors: Nicolas Laurent B. , Krause Andreas , Gutierrez Marcelo M. , Dingemanse Jasper 
Published: April 2012

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN• Continuous infusion with synthetic prostacyclin (epoprostenol) is generally regarded as the most effective treatment against severe cases of primary pulmonary arterial hypertension, associated with decreased pulmonary vascular resistance, increased cardiac index (CIn), and survival benefits. To date, the pharmacokinetics (PK) of epoprostenol have not been fully characterized due in part to the instability of epoprostenol.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• The present study provides the first characterization of the PK of epoprostenol in man via assessment of 6‐keto‐prostacyclin F1α and another primary metabolite, 6,15‐diketo‐13,14‐dihydro‐prostacyclin F1α. Overall, PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) modelling showed that CIn relates proportionally and linearly to the plasma concentrations of 6‐keto‐prostacyclin F1α suggesting that this major metabolite represents a suitable surrogate marker of plasma concentrations of epoprostenol.AIM The aim of the study was to report the first thorough characterization of the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of epoprostenol in an integrated manner.METHOD Twenty healthy male subjects received two formulations of i.v. epoprostenol, in a crossover design, in sequential infusions of 2, 4, 6 and 8 ng kg−1 min−1 for 2 h each. A sensitive assay was developed which allowed accurate PK characterization of epoprostenol via analysis of the concentration–time profiles of its two primary metabolites, 6‐keto‐prostacyclin F1α and 6,15‐diketo‐13,14‐dihydro‐prostacyclin F1α. PD parameters included cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CIn) and heart rate (HR).RESULTS The pharmacokinetics of epoprostenol deviated slightly from dose‐proportionality, probably due to a food effect. After infusion of the two formulations of epoprostenol, the t1/2 values expressed as geometric mean (95% confidence interval) were 0.25 h (0.14, 0.46) and 0.22 h (0.13, 0.38) for 6‐keto‐prostacyclin F1α, and 0.32 h (0.22, 0.45) and 0.34 h (0.26, 0.46) for 6,15‐diketo‐13,14‐dihydro‐prostacyclin F1α. A single compartment infusion model with first order elimination adequately described the PK of 6‐keto‐prostacyclin F1α. This model also characterized the food effect. Stepwise infusions with epoprostenol resulted in a progressive increase in CO, CIn and HR.CONCLUSION Of the two metabolites analyzed, the appearance of 6‐keto‐prostacyclin F1α in plasma was more closely associated with the haemodynamic effects of i.v. epoprostenol. PK and PD profiles showed that CIn relates proportionally and linearly to the plasma concentrations of 6‐keto‐prostacyclin F1α. These results suggest that 6‐keto‐prostacyclin F1α is a suitable surrogate marker of plasma concentrations of epoprostenol.
Acute haemodynamic response in relation to plasma vardenafil concentrations in patients with pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Henrohn Dan , Sandqvist Anna , Hedeland Mikael , Egeröd Hanna , Bondesson Ulf , Wikström Gerhard 
Published: April 2012

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE5) inhibitor therapy is effective in the treatment of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). All available PDE5 inhibitors, sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil have been reported to cause pulmonary vasodilation acutely in patients with PH. There is a lack of information on the haemodynamic effects in relation to plasma concentrations for the available PDE5 inhibitors and the drug concentration to obtain optimal clinical effect is unknown.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• This study provides information on the correlation between vardenafil plasma drug concentration and the acute changes in haemodynamics in patients with PH after a single oral dose of vardenafil.AIMS To evaluate the acute haemodynamic effects of a single oral dose of vardenafil and to study the drug concentration in relation to haemodynamic effects in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).METHODS Sixteen patients with PH (aged 29–85\ years), received one single oral dose of vardenafil (5, 10 or 20 mg). The haemodynamic effect was assessed over a 60 min period. Vardenafil plasma concentrations were measured after 15, 30, 45 and 60 min using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.RESULTS At 60 min a reduction in mPAP with a median % decrease of −20.3% (range −48.3 to 3.0; P < 0.001) and an increase in cardiac output and the cardiac index with a median % change of 10.6% (range −25.0 to 88.1; P = 0.015) and 12.1% (range −24.0 to 94.4; P = 0.01) respectively was observed. The pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was reduced with a median % decrease of −28.9% (range −61.5 to −5.9; P < 0.001), and pulmonary selectivity was reflected by a median percent reduction of −16.9% (range −49.0 to 16.5; P = 0.002; n = 14) in the PVR/systemic vascular resistance ratio. There was a correlation between the plasma concentrations of vardenafil and change in mPAP (r = −0.579, P = 0.019) and between vardenafil concentrations and change in PVR (r = −0.662, P = 0.005).CONCLUSIONS Vardenafil causes rapid changes in cardiopulmonary haemodynamics and there is a correlation between plasma vardenafil drug concentration and the acute changes in mPAP as well as PVR in patients with PH.
Finding out what matters: validity of quality of life measurement in young people with ASD
Authors: Tavernor L. , Barron E. , Rodgers J. , McConachie H. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground  Compared with other conditions there has been a lack of focus on quality of life (QoL) as an outcome measure for children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This pilot study aimed to evaluate the validity of existing QoL questionnaires for use with children with ASD aged 8–12 years.Methods  A literature review (1990–2011) identified the PedsQL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) and Kidscreen as robust measures used with children with neurodevelopmental disorders. These measures were completed by 10 children and 11 parents. In addition semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 10 parents and four children to explore their experience of completing the QoL questionnaires.Results  Young people with ASD, and their parents, report lower child QoL compared with a normative sample. Framework analysis of the data highlighted six key themes which may affect the validity of generic QoL measures when administered within an ASD sample and which warrant further investigation.Conclusions  Our results indicate that a new condition‐specific measure of QoL, grounded in ASD children's own perspectives of their lives, is needed and that such a measure should assess experiences of anxiety and access to special interests when measuring QoL of children with ASD. Active involvement of young people and their families is critical for the development of a theoretical framework for QoL within ASD, and any future development of an ASD‐specific measure.
The effectiveness of local child weight management programmes: an audit study
Authors: Upton P. , Taylor C. E. , Peters D. M. , Erol R. , Upton D. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground  Many different child weight management programmes exist, with varying degrees of evaluation to provide evidence of their success. The purpose of this research was to use a standardized approach to audit the effectiveness of weight management intervention programmes in the West Midlands region of the UK, specifically to assess the benefits to participating children in terms of health improvement and behaviour change.Methods  An audit of seven family‐based intervention programmes currently in place in the West Midlands. Programmes were audited against the Standard Evaluation Framework.Results  The programmes provided a partial data set relating to a change in weight from the baseline to the end of the programme; none of the programmes provided all of the measures indicated by the Standard Evaluation Form as being essential for evaluation. Weight change ranged from an increase in group mean of 0.4 kg to a decrease of 0.9 kg. Body Mass Index SD decreased by 0.1–0.2 points in four programmes and remained unchanged in two programmes. Four programmes collected long‐term follow‐up data at 6 months. This was often limited because of participant dropout. Improvement in diet and exercise were reported by participants in all programmes which measured these behaviours.Conclusions  Ongoing evaluation of all programmes, using a standard approach, is essential in order to improve the evidence base and support future commissioning.
What parents find important in the support of a child with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities
Authors: Jansen S. L. G. , van der Putten A. A. J. , Vlaskamp C. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground  The importance of a partnership between parents and professionals in the support of children with disabilities is widely acknowledged and is one of the key elements of ‘family‐centred care’. To what extent family‐centred principles are also applied to the support of persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) is not yet known.Aim  The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine what parents with a child with PIMD find important in the support of their child. In addition, we examined which child or parent characteristics influence these parental opinions.Method  In total, 100 parents completed an adapted version of the Measure of Processes of Care. Mean unweighted and weighted scale scores were computed. Non‐parametric tests were used to examine differences in ratings due to child (gender, age, type and number of additional disabilities, type of services used and duration of service use) and parent characteristics (gender, involvement with support and educational level).Results  Parents rated situations related to ‘Respectful and Supportive Care’ and ‘Enabling and Partnership’ with averages of 7.07 and 6.87 respectively on a scale from 1 to 10. They were generally satisfied with the services provided, expressed in a mean score of 6.88 overall. The age of the child significantly affected the scores for ‘Providing Specific Information about the Child’. Parents of children in the ‘6–12 years’ age group gave significantly higher scores on this scale than did parents of children in the ‘≥17 years’ age group (U = 288, r = −0.34).Conclusion  This study shows that parents with children with PIMD find family‐centred principles in the professional support of their children important. Although the majority of parents are satisfied with the support provided for their children, a substantial minority of the parents indicated that they did not receive the support they find important.
Screening for attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): can high‐risk children be identified in first grade?
Authors: Holmberg K. , Sundelin C. , Hjern A. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAim  Recent studies have demonstrated the beneficial long‐term effects of an indicated parent support programme for acting out behaviour in pre‐school children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits. In this study we wanted to assess different thresholds for screening with the Conners scale for hyperactive–inattentive behaviours in first grade for ADHD in grade four.Method  The study population consisted of 422 first graders (6‐ to 7‐year‐olds) in one municipality in Stockholm County who were screened with Conners 10‐item scale and followed up by ADHD assessment in grade four. Sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and positive predictive value (PPV) of the screening by parents and teachers in first grade for being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade were calculated.Results  The prevalence of pervasive and situational ADHD was 5.7% and 5.9% respectively. A score ≥10 on the Conners scale in first grade in teachers' reports identified 63% [95% confidence interval (CI): 43–79] of children diagnosed with pervasive ADHD in grade four (P < 0.001) with a PPV of 29% and a positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 6.72. Parental reports of a score ≥10 yielded a lower sensitivity (29%; 95% CI: 15–49), PPV of 20% and LR+ of 4.24 for pervasive ADHD. The best predictor was a combination of parent and teacher scores ≥10 with a PPV of 50% and LR+ of 16.63. Associations with situational ADHD were weak with LR+ of 1.81 and 2.49, respectively, for teachers' and parental scores ≥10.Conclusions  This study indicates a strong association between a teacher's report of a score ≥10 on the Conners scale in first grade and pervasive ADHD in grade four, while parental reports were less predictive.
The role of allergy in severe asthma
Authors: Kennedy J. L. , Heymann P. W. , Platts‐Mills T. A. E. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThe classification of asthma to identify forms which have different contributing causes is useful for all cases in which the disease requires regular treatment, but it is essential for the management of severe asthma. Many forms of the disease can occur, and complex mixtures are not uncommon; here we artificially separated the cases into four groups: (i) inhalant allergy, (ii) fungal sensitization with or without colonization (including ABPA); (iii) severe sinusitis with or without aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), and (iv) non‐inflammatory cases, including those associated with severe obesity and vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). The reason for focusing on these groups is because they illustrate how much the specific management depends upon correct classification. Inhalant allergy can present as chronically severe asthma. However, severe attacks of asthma requiring hospital admission can occur in cases which are generally only mild or moderate. The best recognized and probably the most common cause of these acute episodes is acute infection with a rhinovirus. Recent evidence suggests that high titre IgE, particularly to dust mite, correlates to exacerbations of asthma related to rhinovirus infection. Although it is well recognized that the fungus Aspergillus can colonize the lungs and cause severe disease, it is less well recognized that those cases may not have full criteria for diagnosis of ABPA or may involve other fungi. Identifying fungal cases is important, because treatment with imidazole antifungals can provide significant benefit. Taken together, specific treatment using allergen avoidance, immunotherapy, anti‐IgE, or antifungal treatment is an important part of the successful management of severe asthma, and each of these requires correctly identifying specific sensitization.
Metabolic syndrome and all‐cause mortality in older men and women
Authors: Forti Paola , Pirazzoli Gian L. , Maltoni Benedetta , Bianchi Giampaolo , Magalotti Donatella , Muscari Antonio , Mariani Erminia , Ravaglia Giovanni , Zoli Marco 
Published: April 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (9): 1000–1009AbstractBackground  Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases with age, but its association with all‐cause mortality in older persons remains uncertain. This study investigated the association of all‐cause mortality with MetS and its individual components in older men and women.Methods  A total of 917 men and 1043 women aged 65 years and older from two Italian population‐based cohorts were included in the study. MetS was defined according to four different definitions: National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), NCEP revised according to the American Heart Association and National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NCEP‐R), International Diabetes Organization (IDF) and Joint Interim Statement (JIS). All of these definitions include abdominal obesity, hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and hypertension. Hazard Ratios (HR) and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI) estimated from multivariable‐adjusted Cox regression models were used to investigate the associations of all‐cause mortality with baseline MetS status and individual MetS components.Results  After 6·5 ± 1·8 years of follow‐up, there were 179 deaths among women and 193 among men. Mortality risk was increased in women with MetS by any definition, regardless of individual components, but limited to age 70–79 years (NCEP, HR = 2·02, 95%CI, 1·16–3·53; NCEP‐R, HR = 2·51, 95%CI, 1·45–4·34; IDF, HR = 2·16, 95%CI, 1·26–3·72; JIS, HR = 2·16, 95%CI, 1·26–3·72). Mortality risk of men was associated with hypertriglyceridaemia below age 70 years (HR = 2·50, 95%CI, 1·19–5·25), but unrelated to MetS status.Conclusions  Metabolic Syndrome is associated with all‐cause mortality in older women but not in men. The association, however, is limited to a narrow age range.
Do landscape barriers affect functional connectivity of populations of an endangered damselfly?
Authors: KELLER DANIELA , VAN STRIEN MAARTEN J. , HOLDEREGGER ROLF 
Published: April 2012

Summary1. Landscape genetic approaches were used to assess functional connectivity of populations of the endangered damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale in a fragmented agricultural landscape in Switzerland. Spatial genetic clustering methods combined with interpolation by kriging and landscape genetic corridor analysis were applied to identify landscape elements that enhance or hinder dispersal and gene flow.2. Spatial genetic clustering analysis divided the sampled populations into a northern and a southern genetic group. The boundary between the two groups coincided with a hill ridge intersecting the study area. Landscape corridor analysis identified five landscape elements that significantly affected gene flow. Elevation change, Euclidian distance, patches of forest and flowing waterbodies acted as barriers, whereas open agricultural land enhanced gene flow between populations of C. mercuriale.3. This study showed that movement of C. mercuriale was not restricted to its preferred habitat (i.e. streams). Populations linked via continuous open agricultural land were functionally well connected if they were not more than about 1.5–2 km apart. In contrast, substantial elevation change and larger forest patches separated populations. These findings may serve as a basis to define conservation units and should be considered when planning connectivity measures, such as determining the locations of stepping stones, or the restoration of streams.