bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inside the Youth Justice Board: ambiguity and influence in New Labour's youth justice
Authors: Souhami Anna 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe Youth Justice Board (YJB) was established in 1998 as a central part of the Labour government's radical programme of youth justice reform. Yet while it has had a central role in directing the culture, organisation and activities of youth justice in England and Wales, it is poorly understood. As its future hangs in the balance, this paper seeks to draw on a unique empirical study of the operation of the YJB to explore what it is, what it does and why it is so difficult to describe.Design/methodology/approachThe research involved 18 months' ethnographic fieldwork. For one calendar year (2006‐2007), research focused on the internal operation of the YJB including observations of meetings, depth interviews and documentary analysis. A second strand of research explored the regional operation of the YJB. This involved observations of regional monitors and assessment processes and interviews and focus groups with Youth Offending Teams staff.FindingsThe research shows that the YJB is an inherently ambiguous organisation. This ambiguity has made it simultaneously highly insecure and extremely productive, enabling it to extend its influence and activities beyond those initially envisaged in New Labour's reforms. However, the difficulty in defining the YJB also suggests the full effect of its activities will only become clear once it has gone.Originality/valueWhile there has been much academic interest in the YJB, this research is the only empirical study of it. It, therefore gives a unique insight into the organisation and culture of the English and Welsh youth justice system.
International business curriculum design: identifying the voice of the customer using QFD
Authors: Gonzalez Marvin E. , Quesada Gioconda , Mueller James , Mueller Rene D. 
Published: August 2011

PurposeCurriculum development in higher education must be continuously evaluated in this dynamic business environment, where business needs change day‐to‐day. The literature on the application of quality function deployment (QFD) to curriculum design is increasing, with student opinion representing the sole voice of the customer. The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative approach to QFD curriculum design by using a survey of employers, not students, to represent the voice of the customer.Design/methodology/approachThis paper applies the widely used quality management process of QFD to the curriculum development process of a major international business program.FindingsThe findings illustrate the application of QFD's house of quality in international business curriculum development and best practices benchmarking.Practical implicationsThe results of this study are useful to any university to revise or design new academic programs. It presents a methodology to design curriculum based on the voice of the real customer: industry, without forgetting about the expertise of academicians.Originality/valueThis study is intended to be one of the first in defining the customer as the industry, instead of just students or academic experts. The combination of all stakeholders in the curriculum design of international business will help universities make better decisions regarding international business programs.
Building global competencies through experiential coursework in international travel and tourism
Authors: Vance Charles M. , Sibeck Gary , McNulty Yvonne , Hogenauer Alan 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine strengths and limitations of current experiential approaches for enhancing international business education, and propose a new, particularly cost‐effective approach grounded in the travel and tourism industry and specific context of international cruises.Design/methodology/approachThis study combines an analysis of current literature with an examination of actual case experience.FindingsA particularly successful short‐term experiential learning approach was used at a private university in southern California that is focused on the specific international business context of the international cruise industry within travel and tourism. The authors believe that this approach has significant merit to be included as a viable option for helping students develop important international business competencies required to compete in an increasingly global marketplace. With its specific focus on the international cruise industry and experiential travel agency operational design, this approach provides not only the opportunity to learn about general culture and business environments in the areas of travel, but also allows the practical application of many international and domestic business concepts and skills within a specific global industry context.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study is limited to a very few experiences and within the international cruise industry. Future applied research in international business education should provide more rigorous analyses for verifying intended student learning outcomes, as well as examine applications within other contexts within the growing field of international travel and tourism.Practical implicationsThe approach described here provides practical information for developing similar experiential coursework for enhancing international business education, and is particularly useful for smaller educational institutions that may lack the ability to offer and participate fully in more extensive options such as study abroad and international internships.Originality/valueThe approach described in the paper provides a highly relevant context for international business experiential education that is economical for students and schools alike.
Culture clash
Authors: Rajaram Kumaran , Bordia Sarbari 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate a new trend of training mainland Chinese students in Western‐style business education in Singapore. The paper examines the influence of the inferred learning effectiveness and cultural dislocation variables when measured across ten commonly used instructional techniques.Design/methodology/approachThe use of consensual qualitative research allowed the data to be qualitatively analysed. The random selection of 20 participants represents mainland Chinese students, from the northern, southern, eastern and western regions. The study reports the level of knowledge acquisition, the relationship between comfort and knowledge acquired and the differences between the active and passive instructional techniques on students' learning effectiveness.FindingsRote‐learning styles of instructional techniques may not be the Chinese students' only preferred choice in terms of acquisition of knowledge and how they learn most effectively.Research limitations/implicationsThe present exploratory study provides a starting‐point for further research into understanding how to teach Western‐based business education to mainland Chinese students in Singapore.Practical implicationsThe findings will give institutions conducting Western‐based education programs in Singapore an advantage in providing effective learning pedagogies, and will assist in increasing their quality, which will enable them to nurture well‐qualified business professionals.Social implicationsThe quality of the educational standard and its compatibility with the Asian client base are further enhanced both in terms of contents' intensity and educational services provided to students.Originality/valueThe paper offers practical help from the perspective of the curriculum design and development of an effective business educational framework to sustain profitability by offering tailor‐made, superior quality course programs.
Research watch
Authors: Holttum Sue 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThis paper is one in a series of quarterly reflections on recent research in mental health and social inclusion.Design/methodology/approachTwo papers are summarised here, representing two sides of a coin: one reviewing research on tackling stigma against people with experience of mental distress; the other illustrating how people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (or 'manic‐depression'), can manage to continue in work and other valued social roles.FindingsThe first paper suggests that some approaches to tackling stigma work better than others, and people researching them need to use measures that accurately capture change. Community‐based participatory research allows researchers and people with experience of mental distress to collaborate and capture outcomes that will really make a difference to people's lives. The second paper illustrates how people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder can not only continue to work but also participate in other socially valued roles.However, it was important to have support for developing self‐understanding and for discovering which strategies were most helpful personally for managing stressors. To conclude: people with severe mental health conditions can and do continue to live well in society, but this requires, in addition to personal coping strategies, continued attention to reducing stigma and discrimination and to understanding what works in achieving this.Originality/valueThis paper summarises a recent review paper on research into effective ways of tackling stigma against people experiencing mental distress, and a recent paper illustrating how people can live well in the community with bipolar disorder.
Historical recovery heroes – Isaac Newton
Authors: Wakely Elizabeth , Carson Jerome 
Published: August 2011

PurposeIsaac Newton has been described as the father of modern science. What is less well known is that he had mental health problems. Here, the authors aim to review the literature on his problems and life to see if he was a mental health recovery hero.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviewed all the published papers on Newton's mental health problems, as well as many of the biographies written on him.FindingsScholars of Newton have focussed most of their attention on Newton's breakdown of 1693. This has been attributed to mercurialism or paranoid psychosis. The more likely explanation is depression or bipolar disorder. Personality factors are also critical in understanding Newton; he had a troubled upbringing and problems in relating to others. The latter enabled him to focus exclusively on his research and experiments and may have contributed to his greatness.Originality/valueThe authors have brought to bear their insights as a professional historian and as a clinical psychologist, giving this paper a unique perspective from previous uni‐disciplinary reviews.
Painting outside the lines
Authors: Prendergast Carol , Swan Poonam 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to share the empowering journey of Kim Noble, an artist who has Dissociative Identity Disorder, a condition formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder.Design/methodology/approachAn overview of the social inclusion aspects of Kim Noble's artistic projects are explored via a detailed interview.FindingsFar from being just a creative tool for self‐expression, art is a powerful means of regaining control as a service user and of connecting members of the public who would not ordinarily unite.Originality/valueValuable for commissioners and service users to see how arts can promote recovery, all other material on this artist has concentrated only on her condition and not how art has promoted social inclusion.
Recovery, social inclusion and the practice of psychiatrists
Authors: Currie Alan 
Published: August 2011

PurposeBeing excluded blights the lives of the mentally ill. Exclusion is both cause and consequence of mental ill‐health and extends beyond material deprivation to exclusion from the activities which give meaning to life. Promoting inclusion is central to the work of all mental health practitioners and the purpose of this paper is to advance the practices which support this.Design/methodology/approachThe literature on what supports social inclusion and the related concept of recovery is reviewed. The working practices and prevailing theoretical models in psychiatry are also considered in the context of understanding how these practices and models can support socially inclusive and recovery‐orientated ways of working.FindingsSocial inclusion and recovery interact dynamically. Central to being “in recovery” is the experience of being included. Social inclusion is also a platform on which to participate in life's activities and to learn to “live well” again. The practices which support these approaches are consistent with medical models of care, with the bio‐psychosocial model that prevails in psychiatric practice and with existing guidelines on the nature and purpose of the therapeutic relationship.Originality/valueObstacles are described that impede adopting new practices and these include creating additional work, increased risk in a risk averse environment, and incompatibility with current models of medical practice. This paper seeks to describe the cost of exclusion, the value of inclusion, the practices which support recovery and social inclusion and to refute the arguments for not adopting these ways of working.
New buffer operators with variable weight based on average tempo and their optimization
Authors: Dai Wen‐zhan , Wu Zi‐heng , Yang Ai‐ping 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to solve the problem existing in the forecast of impact disturbance grey system.Design/methodology/approachUnder the axiomatic system of buffer operator in grey system theory, a novel kind of buffer operators with variable weight λ based on the principle of average tempo of time sequence and using new information is proposed. The optimization solution for variable weight λ is obtained by using genetic algorithm. It is proved that the new buffer operators are effective.FindingsThe results show that the new buffer operators accord with the buffer operator's three axioms and the monotonicity non‐variable axiom. It is proved theoretically and in practice that the new buffer operators are more useful than other buffer operators in grey modeling for sequence with impact disturbance.Practical implicationsThe novel buffer operators can reduce the randomness of grey sequence distorted by impact factors, and the forecast accuracy of a model which is built through the process with a novel buffer operator is significantly increased.Originality/valueThe paper succeeds in constructing two novel buffer operators with variable weight and the properties of novel operators are studied. The method to solve optimization value of weight is proposed. The method widens the scope of grey model application.
Principle and method of comprehensive evaluation for breeding target character value shown as an interval number
Authors: Ruilin Guo , Qiufang Wu , Yafei Liu , Yanzhen Liu , Guangzhi Mao , Jinshun Wang 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe paper seeks to attempt to solve a decision‐making problem for breeding target character shown as an interval number.Design/methodology/approachA new comprehensive evaluation method is proposed based on similarity‐difference theory and interval number theory. Data from Winter Wheat Group I Variety Regional Test in Henan Province in 2009‐2010 were analysed using the proposed method.FindingsThe results showed that Zhou 99233 was a good variety; Yuxhan No. 7, An 05‐28, Xun K8, Jinyumai 378 and Zhoumai 18 were better ones; 08 luo 36,and Xuke 718 ordinary ones, and others worse ones. Based on this, the feasibility of the method was discussed. It showed that the proposed method had some obvious merits, such as simple arithmetic, convenient operation, flexible and practical, fast and effective.Practical implicationsThe application of a live example indicated that its evaluation effect was satisfactory.Originality/valueThe paper succeeds in solving a decision‐making problem for breeding target character shown as an interval number.
Propionic acid affects immune status and metabolism in adipose tissue from overweight subjects
Authors: Al‐Lahham Sa’ad , Roelofsen Han , Rezaee Farhad , Weening Desiree , Hoek Annemieke , Vonk Roel , Venema Koen 
Published: August 2011

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (4): 357–364AbstractBackground  Adipose tissue is a primary site of obesity‐induced inflammation, which is emerging as an important contributor to obesity‐related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Dietary fibre consumption appears to be protective. Short‐chain fatty acids, e.g. propionic acid, are the principal products of the colonic fermentation of dietary fibre and may have beneficial effects on adipose tissue inflammation.Materials and methods  Human omental adipose tissue explants were obtained from overweight (mean BMI 28·8) gynaecological patients who underwent surgery. Explants were incubated for 24 h with propionic acid. Human THP‐1 monocytic cells were differentiated to macrophages and incubated with LPS in the presence and absence of propionic acid. Cytokine and chemokine production were determined by multiplex‐ELISA, and mRNA expression of metabolic and macrophages genes was determined by RT‐PCR.Results  Treatment of adipose tissue explants with propionic acid results in a significant down‐regulation of several inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as TNF‐α and CCL5. In addition, expression of lipoprotein lipase and GLUT4, associated with lipogenesis and glucose uptake, respectively, increased. Similar effects on cytokine and chemokine production by macrophages were observed.Conclusion  We show that propionic acid, normally produced in the colon, may have a direct beneficial effect on visceral adipose tissue, reducing obesity‐associated inflammation and increasing lipogenesis and glucose uptake. Effects on adipose tissue as a whole are at least partially explained by effects on macrophages but likely also adipocytes are involved. This suggests that, in vivo, propionic acid and dietary fibres may have potential in preventing obesity‐related inflammation and associated diseases.
Achieving a clinically relevant composite outcome of an HbA1c of <7% without weight gain or hypoglycaemia in type 2 diabetes: a meta‐analysis of the liraglutide clinical trial programme
Authors: Zinman B. , Schmidt W. E. , Moses A. , Lund N. , Gough S. 
Published: August 2011

Aim: Effective type 2 diabetes management requires a multifactorial approach extending beyond glycaemic control. Clinical practice guidelines suggest targets for HbA1c, blood pressure and lipids, and emphasize weight reduction and avoiding hypoglycaemia. The phase 3 clinical trial programme for liraglutide, a human glucagon‐like peptide 1 analogue, showed significant improvements in HbA1c and weight with a low risk of hypoglycaemia compared to other diabetes therapies. In this context, we performed a meta‐analysis of data from these trials evaluating the proportion of patients achieving a clinically relevant composite measure of diabetes control consisting of an HbA1c <7% without weight gain or hypoglycaemia.Methods: A prespecified meta‐analysis was performed on 26‐week patient‐level data from seven trials (N = 4625) evaluating liraglutide with commonly used therapies for type 2 diabetes: glimepiride, rosiglitazone, glargine, exenatide, sitagliptin or placebo, adjusting for baseline HbA1c and weight, for a composite outcome of HbA1c <7.0%, no weight gain and no hypoglycaemic events.Results: At 26 weeks, 40% of the liraglutide 1.8 mg group, 32% of the liraglutide 1.2 mg group and 6–25% of comparators (6% rosiglitazone, 8% glimepiride, 15% glargine, 25% exenatide, 11% sitagliptin, 8% placebo) achieved this composite outcome. Odds ratios favoured liraglutide 1.8 mg by 2.0‐ to 10.5‐fold over comparators.Conclusions: As assessed by the composite outcome of HbA1c <7%, no hypoglycaemia and no weight gain, liraglutide was clearly superior to the other commonly used therapies. However, the long‐term clinical impact of this observation remains to be shown.
Shotgun Isotope Array for Rapid, Substrate-Specific Detection of Microorganisms in a Microbial Community
Authors: Tobino Tomohiro , Kurisu Futoshi , Kasuga Ikuro , Furumai Hiroaki 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACT
The shotgun isotope array method has been proposed to be an effective new tool for use in substrate-specific microbe exploration without any prior knowledge of the community composition. Proof of concept was demonstrated by detection of acetate-degrading microorganisms in activated sludge and further verified by independent stable isotope probing (SIP).
Spontaneous Gac Mutants of Pseudomonas Biological Control Strains: Cheaters or Mutualists?
Authors: Driscoll William W. , Pepper John W. , Pierson Leland S. , Pierson Elizabeth A. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACT

Bacteria rely on a range of extracellular metabolites to suppress competitors, gain access to resources, and exploit plant or animal hosts. The GacS/GacA two-component regulatory system positively controls the expression of many of these beneficial external products in pseudomonad bacteria. Natural populations often contain variants with defective Gac systems that do not produce most external products. These mutants benefit from a decreased metabolic load but do not appear to displace the wild type in nature. How could natural selection maintain the wild type in the presence of a mutant with enhanced growth? One hypothesis is that Gac mutants are “cheaters” that do not contribute to the public good, favored within groups but selected against between groups, as groups containing more mutants lose access to ecologically important external products. An alternative hypothesis is that Gac mutants have a mutualistic interaction with the wild type, so that each variant benefits by the presence of the other. In the biocontrol bacterium
Pseudomonas chlororaphis
strain 30-84, Gac mutants do not produce phenazines, which suppress competitor growth and are critical for biofilm formation. Here, we test the predictions of these alternative hypotheses by quantifying interactions between the wild type and the phenazine- and biofilm-deficient Gac mutant within growing biofilms. We find evidence that the wild type and Gac mutants interact mutualistically in the biofilm context, whereas a phenazine-defective structural mutant does not. Our results suggest that the persistence of alternative Gac phenotypes may be due to the stabilizing role of local mutualistic interactions.