bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A model for differentiating school shooters characteristics
Authors: Ioannou Maria , Hammond Laura , Simpson Olivia
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential for developing a model for differentiating school shooters based on their characteristics (or risk factors) before the attack took place.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data on 40 school shootings was compiled from the National School Safety Center’s Report on School Associated Violent Deaths and media accounts. Content analysis of the cases produced a set of 18 variables relating to offenders’ characteristics (or risk factors). Data were subjected to Smallest Space Analysis (SSA), a non-metric multidimensional scaling procedure.

Findings

– Results revealed three distinct themes: Disturbed School Shooter, Rejected School Shooter and Criminal School Shooter. Further analysis identified links between these themes with the family background of the offender.

Research limitations/implications

– These findings have both significant theoretical implications in the understanding of school shooters and the crime in general. They offer potential for practical applications in terms of prevention and intervention strategies. A key limitation relates to the quality of data.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to develop a model for differentiating school shooter characteristics.
Global talent management
Authors: King Karin A.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Despite the widely acknowledged relevance of global talent management (GTM) to business strategy, its activity and scope are not well understood. The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for GTM and specifies the main components: strategy, practices, experiences and systems. Complementing the framework, a multiple-actors model is introduced identifying actors participant in the talent system. Specification of the GTM system frames future research of components and outcomes, informs management practice and is of particular relevance to management of global mobility (GM) by multiple actors.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper introduces a strategic framework for GTM and corresponding multiple-actors model extending the GTM, strategic human resource management (SHRM) and GM literatures. A systems view of GTM is presented, founded on social exchange amongst actors. System components and actor roles are specified.

Findings

– GTM is articulated as a coherent set of activities within an integrated system. Actors centrally involved in co-creation of the talent system are identified.

Research limitations/implications

– Presenting an internal view, the framework excludes external influences such as talent markets. Empirical study is required. An approach is outlined.

Practical implications

– The framework and model provide management with a strategic approach to GTM and a tool for management enquiry in their challenge to operationalise GTM.

Originality/value

– The framework deepens the understanding of GTM, extends the GM literature debate of managing expatriate talent to a wider system perspective and sheds light on the intended-actual gap noted in SHRM literature. The multiple-actors model re-positions the employee at the centre of talent management.
The management of Chinese MNEs’ expatriates
Authors: Zhong Yifan , Zhu Cherrie Jiuhua , Zhang Mingqiong Mike
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Expatriate management is a popular topic in international human resource management (IHRM) because expatriates play a critical role in a firm’s international business operations. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the existing studies that often examine the expatriate management of developed country multinational enterprises (MNEs), aiming to help them identify, employ, prepare and retain expatriates and address challenges these MNEs may face, while how MNEs from emerging countries manage their expatriates is understudied.

Design/methodology/approach

– The knowledge of expatriate management from emerging market MNEs (EMNEs) may help us understand whether there is anything new for IHRM theory and practice. This conceptual paper aims to address this research gap by selecting China, a leading emerging economy, and reviewing the existing literature in both English and Chinese to examine the status quo of the expatriate management in Chinese MNEs to highlight challenges facing these MNEs in managing their expatriates when conducting outward foreign direct investment (FDI).

Findings

– This paper aims to make theoretical contributions by generating research propositions to address an under-researched area, i.e., how EMNEs manage their expatriates and the role of their expatriates in the outward FDI.

Originality/value

– No other person’s work has been used in the main text of the paper. This paper has not been submitted for the award of any other degree or diploma in this or any other tertiary institution.
Employer perceptions of self-initiated expatriate employability in China
Authors: Makkonen Paula
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to offer an employer perceptive on the employability of self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) by contrasting SIEs with other identified staffing groups available for the staffing of MNC subsidiaries in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– This qualitative study is based on in-depth interviews with 24 Westerners with direct staffing responsibilities in subsidiaries of western MNCs located in China. The employability of each identified staffing group was assessed using the person-to-environment fit approach from four-fit perspectives (person-to-job and to-group, organisation and cultural context).

Findings

– The study revealed how from the employer perspective SIEs do not form a heterogeneous group, but instead there are two groups with different fit profiles. The study illustrates how western SIEs are an uncommon and under-used staffing group in cross-cultural staffing settings in China due to their low employability in comparison to alternative staffing groups. The study also revealed the prevalent bipolarity (the Westerners vs the Chinese) and heterogeneity within the identified staffing groups.

Research limitations/implications

– The study recognises the lack of employer perspective in SIE literature and also that SIEs are an under-represented group in the staffing literature.

Practical implications

– The findings help explain how MNC staffing is culturally bound and how the staffing process should incorporate more than just an assessment of job-related qualifications. The findings also help explain the challenges SIEs can experience in cross-cultural career settings.

Originality/value

– The study is one of the first to provide an employer perspective on SIE careers and contrast SIEs to the other alternative staffing groups available to MNC subsidiaries in China.
Sectoral decision making: structures, processes and trust
Authors: Henderson Sybil S. , Smith-King Erma Jean
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to synthesize multi-sector, cross-sector, and other interorganizational alliance structures and processes with particular focus on their saliency in partnership/alliance decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a conceptual paper focusing primarily on management and public administration literature that examines decision making in multi-sector, cross-sector, and other interorganizational alliances.

Findings

– The paper identified that decision making takes place at every stage of the partnership process, with complexity being dependent on organizational structure and design, i.e. dyad or network. Organization structures and key processes including coordination, cooperation, and trust are critical elements that impact decision making. Trust is foundational for the development and sustainability of collaborative alliances. Many of these same characteristics are also found in strategic alliance structures and processes.

Practical implications

– This analysis of selected literature on decision making and trust has the capacity to enhance awareness and expectation-setting for those entering a collaborative partnership. Trust is an integral and enduring component at every stage.

Originality/value

– This study crosses the boundary between sectoral partnerships and other interorganizational alliances in the analysis of decision-making structures and processes.
The role of psychological distance in value creation
Authors: Holmqvist Jonas , Guest Duncan , Grönroos Christian
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The field of service research has devoted considerable attention to the customer’s role as value creator, but there is a lack of research on understanding customers’ psychological processes in value creation. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of psychological distance in value-creation processes. Psychological distance is the customer’s perceived distance from service interactions in terms of spatial distance, temporal distance, social distance and hypothetical distance. Critically, psychological distance influences cognitive processes and can influence how customers think and feel about the service interaction. An appreciation of psychological distance within service contexts can help managers to tailor the interaction in order to facilitate value creation.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this conceptual paper, the authors build on psychology research and service research to develop seven propositions that explore how psychological distance can operate within service interactions and how this might influence value creation.

Findings

– The authors divide the propositions into three sections. The first concerns how perceived psychological distance from the service interaction can act as a barrier to entering a service interaction. In particular, the authors consider the influence of social distance and spatial distance within the context of service interactions. The second section examines how psychological distance to the expected point of service use can influence how customers construe the service and the value creation. The third aspect addresses customer-specific characteristics that can impact on value creation by influencing perceived psychological distance toward the service.

Research limitations/implications

– Existing research suggests that customers ultimately decide if value is created in the interaction. This paper proposes that perceived psychological distance influences customers’ value creation by examining the service interaction from the customer perspective. The authors suggest that complex context-specific features of the service interaction can be understood by considering psychological distance from the service interaction and from the service itself and evaluating how this impacts on value-creation processes.

Practical implications

– From a practical point of view, the paper helps managers to better understand how to manage the service interaction with customers by identifying psychological antecedents of customer value creation.

Originality/value

– The paper introduces the notion of psychological distance into service research about value, proposing that the customer’s role in creating value in interactions with the service provider is influenced by the psychological distance to the interaction and to the service offered in this interaction.
The state of opportunities: clarifying the transitions between opportunity types
Authors: Welter Chris , Alvarez Sharon
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe how discovery and creation opportunities transition from one to the other and thereby clarify the relationship between opportunity types. This theoretical work will offer insight for studying opportunities and clarify the different practical implications of different opportunity types.

Design/methodology/approach

– To further the understanding of opportunity types, the paper employs Dubin’s (1978) theory building methodology focussing specifically on the concepts of system states. Approaching opportunity types as system states clarifies the relationship between discovery and creation opportunities.

Findings

– This research argues that opportunities transition from creation opportunities to discovery opportunities. Furthermore, understanding the opportunity state can clarify the practical implications for entrepreneurs. In particular, entrepreneurs in discovery states employ different processes regarding human resources, strategy, financing, planning, leadership, and potential competitive advantage than entrepreneurs pursuing creation states.

Originality/value

– This paper offers value to researchers by clarifying the differences between opportunity types. To date, there has been little to no investigation into how opportunity types change from one type to another. This research offers to clarify the debate about the existence of different opportunity types and move the discussion forward theoretically. Additionally, this manuscript offers practical insights for entrepreneurs pursuing different types of opportunities.
Firm performance and alliance capability: the mediating role of culture
Authors: Luvison Dave , de Man Ard-Pieter
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Extant literature has looked at the effect of alliance capability and organizational culture on alliance portfolio performance, but the relationship between the two has not been explored. The purpose of this paper is to explore the hypothesis that an alliance supportive culture is not only fostered by a firm’s alliance capabilities, but that it mediates the relationship between capabilities and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey responses from 190 alliance managers, collected using a two-stage process, were analyzed to investigate the interrelationship of firm-level alliance capability, alliance supportive culture and portfolio performance.

Findings

– Alliance supportive culture was found to mediate the relationship between alliance capability and alliance portfolio performance. This finding suggests that in order to effectively manage a firm’s portfolio of alliances, the benefits of alliance capability must be transferred broadly into the organization’s cultural orientation toward alliances.

Research limitations/implications

– Further research may extend this analysis to explore the effect of subcomponents of alliance capability and alliance culture to better understand fine-grained influences on alliance performance. The findings of this study also may be extended to inform how supportive culture orientation affects partner selection, negotiation and time to performance.

Practical implications

– Managers should utilize culture-building actions as a way of extending the value of their firms’ alliance capabilities in order to improve their effectiveness across the portfolio.

Originality/value

– Extant studies have considered the discrete effects of capability and cultural orientation on alliance portfolio success, but the mediation effect has not previously been investigated. The findings also identify a boundary condition for the benefit of alliance capabilities on portfolio performance.
Prevalent concealed ignorance of low-moral careerist managers
Authors: Shapira Reuven
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Organizational research missed managerial ignorance concealment (MIC) and the low-moral careerism (L-MC) it served, leaving a lacuna in managerial stupidity research: MIC serving L-MC was not used to explain this stupidity. The purpose of this paper is to remedy this lacuna.

Design/methodology/approach

– A semi-native longitudinal multi-site ethnography of automatic processing plants, their parent inter-kibbutz co-operatives (I-KC-Os) and their kibbutz field context enabled a Strathernian ethnography that contextualized the prevalence of MIC and L-MC.

Findings

– I-KC-Os’ oligarchic context encouraged outsider executives’ MIC and L-MC that caused vicious distrust and ignorance cycles, stupidity and failures. A few high-moral knowledgeable mid-managers prevented total failures by vulnerable involvement that created virtuous trust and learning cycles. This, however, furthered dominance by ignorant ineffective L-MC executives and furthered use of MIC.

Practical implications

– As managerial know-how portability is often illusory and causes negative dominance of ignorant outsider executives, new CEO succession norms and new yardsticks for assessing fitness of potential executives are required, proposed in the paper.

Social implications

– Oligarchic contexts encourage MIC and L-MC, hence democratization is called for to counter this negative impact and promote efficiency, effectiveness and innovation.

Originality/value

– Untangling and linking the neglected topics of MIC and L-MC explains, for the first time, the prevalence of these related phenomena and their unethical facets, particularly among outsider executives and managers, emphasizing the need for their phronetic ethnographying to further explain the resulting mismanagement.
Financial effects of open innovation in the manufacturing industry
Authors: Noh Yonghwi
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the long-term financial effects of open innovation in the manufacturing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– Drawing upon an open innovation literature, this study examined 671 open innovation announcements made by firms listed on the New York Stock Exchange and National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations during 2003-2012. By employing the event study, the long-term financial performances of the firms that announced open innovation were measured using six dependent performance variables (ROA, ROS, Tobin’sQ, Cost ratio, Sales growth, Asset turnover).

Findings

– The results indicate that open innovation in the manufacturing industry may lead to long-term improvements in firm profitability, triggering a positive reaction by stockholders. Open innovation also decreased production costs and increased sales volume over the long run. In all, open innovation was found to be beneficial to the firm in terms of profitability, production process improvement, and market benefits.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first longitudinal empirical study to investigate the long-term effects of open innovation in terms of US manufacturing financial performance. It contributes to the body of knowledge by complementing previous open innovation studies, which generally focus on context-specific issues.
Determination of fixed expenses in central heating costs allocation
Authors: Gelegenis John Joachim , Harris Douglas , Diakoulaki Danae , Lampropoulou Helen , Giannakidis George
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the reduction in efficiency of central heating systems of multi-family buildings when independent heating capability is offered to each apartment, to access the impact of the applied heating cost allocation (HCA) on this deterioration and suggest highly cost-effective ways (operation, control strategy, alternative HCA) of overcoming them at minimum cost.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reveals the problem of reduced efficiency in centrally heated multi-family dwellings through two case studies in real buildings, where data-loggers were installed and performance curve analysis was performed, in combination with detailed simulation.

Findings

– The paper finds that the enforcement of a suitable HCA regulation is a prerequisite to achieving energy savings in centrally heated multi-family dwellings. In addition the effects of dissimilarly heated apartments on the total energy demand and the significance of indirect heating and how these should be charged, are assessed. It is found that convenient operation of the central heating system may lead to high energy cost savings and higher efficiency at no cost.

Research limitations/implications

– HCA adopted more than three decades ago should be revised according to the present situation, namely, increasing fuel costs, existence of many low income families, energy poverty, availability of alternative (or supplementary) heating devices and better building envelopes.

Practical implications

– Occupants of multi-family dwellings should be appropriately educated and agree on rational use of the common heating system of the building.

Originality/value

– The paper identifies weak points of valid HCA regulation, reveals inefficiencies in centrally heated multi-family dwellings and measures the actual effectiveness of remedying measures. Detailed simulation contributes to the scientific documentation of the findings.
Sustainable municipal solid waste management decision making
Authors: Ak Hacer , Braida Washington
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess a comprehensive model that computes a single score in order to evaluate the sustainability of the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) system of a given city. The model was applied to calculate the sustainability index for the MSWM of Istanbul, Turkey as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

– Different sustainability indicators (including environmental, economical, and social parameters) along with exergy analysis were integrated to utilize an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) under a life cycle perspective.

Findings

– The Istanbul case study helped to verify that AHP is an effective and efficient decision-making tool. According to the analysis, the current MSWM system of Istanbul is sustainable, and the sustainability can be improved only by changing the amounts to be treated by the current system without any new technological investments.

Research limitations/implications

– The Municipal Solid Waste Management Sustainability Index (MSWMSI) in this study allowed to integrate large amount of information on interrelated parameters and the sustainability indicators in the whole life cycle into one value that is useful for a general or a comparative judgment and helpful in MSWM decision making.

Originality/value

– The fact that the weighting assigned to each component in the model is dependent on the decision makers’ evaluations enables the model to be tailored to any city of concern. The model allows the user to readily determine the relative contribution of each criterion or sub-criterion to the final MSWM selection. It is convenient to use and the computations can be run utilizing available specialized software as well as computing by hand.
An energy retrofitting methodology of Mediterranean historical buildings
Authors: Fatiguso Fabio , De Fino Mariella , Cantatore Elena
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop and discuss a methodological approach for energy assessment and retrofitting of envelope systems in Mediterranean historical buildings, in order to ensure the desirable balance between improvement requirements and preservation principles.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology is based on the assessment of historical districts at the site, building and component scales, the development of energy models of building-types that are highly representative, in terms of materials, construction techniques, typologies and performances, the identification of intervention priorities and the validation of compatible retrofitting solutions.

Findings

– The methodology, applied to a representative Adriatic sea town in South Italy, shows the potentialities of innovative materials and technologies (aerogel, PCMs, etc.) as tools to achieve the improvement of the energy performances and the preservation of the original characters. Nevertheless, it shows how the preliminary qualification of the environmental, architectural, constructional and technological characteristics is paramount to support the identification of the current behavior of the building system and the transformation boundaries from the historical values.

Originality/value

– The paper proves how assessment and intervention methods and tools, besides effective, compatible, low invasive and durable, should be geocluster oriented and performance based, thus with general reliability for the whole local context and suitable flexibility to be tailored to different specific situations, toward the definition of retrofitting micro-scale measures and macro-scale strategies that are replicable and scalable.
Assessing emerging wastewater regulations to minimize the risk from pharmaceuticals and personal care products
Authors: Blair Benjamin , Kehl Jenny , Klaper Rebecca
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and phosphorus are pollutants that can cause a wide array of negative environmental impacts. Phosphorus is a regulated pollutant in many industrial countries, while PPCPs are widely unregulated. Many technologies designed to remove phosphorus from wastewater can remove PPCPs, therefore the purpose of this paper is to explore the ability of these technologies to also reduce the emission of unregulated PPCPs.

Design/methodology/approach

– Through meta-analysis, the authors use the PPCPs’ risk quotient (RQ) to measure and compare the effectiveness of different wastewater treatment technologies. The RQ data are then applied via a case study that uses phosphorus effluent regulations to determine the ability of the recommended technologies to also mitigate PPCPs.

Findings

– The tertiary membrane bioreactor and nanofiltration processes recommended to remove phosphorus can reduce the median RQ from PPCPs by 71 and 81 percent, respectively. The ultrafiltration technology was estimated to reduce the median RQ from PPCPs by 28 percent with no cost in addition to the costs expected under the current phosphorus effluent regulations. RQ reduction is expected with a membrane bioreactor and the cost of upgrading to this technology was found to be $11.76 per capita/year.

Practical implications

– The authors discuss the management implications, including watershed management, alternative PPCPs reduction strategies, and water quality trading.

Originality/value

– The evaluation of the co-management of priority and emerging pollutants illuminates how the removal of regulated pollutants from wastewater could significantly reduce the emission of unregulated PPCPs.
Investigation on the modification to solvent-containing two-component polyurethane coating by carbon nanotubes
Authors: Jiang X. , Lin L. , Bai X. , Wang S. , Wang C.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical, thermal and colour properties of solvent-containing two-component polyurethane (PU) coating.

Design/methodology/approach

– Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and observation of dispersion stability were used to assess the effects of acid treatment on CNTs. The CNTs and PU composite coating was synthesised by in situ polymerisation and bending polymerisation, and the mechanical, thermal and colour appearance properties of coating were characterised.

Findings

– It was found that desirable modifications to CNTs occurred after acid treatment; thus, mainly carboxylic acid groups were introduced onto the surface of CNTs. And the acid-treated CNTs could improve the mechanical and thermal properties of PU coating, and the properties of composite coating was improved more successfully by in situ polymerisation than by blending polymerisation.

Practical implications

– The investigation established a method to synthesise CNTs and PU composite coating. The mechanical and thermal properties of PU coating could be improved by the inclusion of CNTs.

Originality/value

– This study established a method to synthesise CNTs and PU composite coating by in situ polymerisation and blending polymerisation; the effects of CNTs on modifying mechanical, thermal and colour properties of PU coating were investigated and compared in detail.
Polyurethane-tetraaniline conducting composites: synthesis and their anti-corrosion performance
Authors: Ravi A. , Praveen T. , Rao Chepuri R.K , Narayan Ramanuj , Raju K.V.S.N.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to get the insulating polyurethane (PU) as conductive type polymer by compositing with oligoanilines, namely, tetraaniline (TANi) with an implication of its use as anti-corrosion coating material.

Design/methodology/approach

– Water dispersion of PU was prepared and used as a host material for TANi for composite formulation.

Findings

– The composites are very useful as anti-corrosion coating on mild steel as evident from Tafel polarisation studies.

Research limitations/implications

– The solubility of TANi is limited in other organic solvents; because of this, a high-boiling solvent like N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is used.

Practical implications

– It can be used as a good anti-corrosion coating on mild steel. Apart from anti-corrosion material, this can be used as conductive-based sensor material and also electrostatic dissipation (ESD) or electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield.

Originality/value

– The work is original.
CmpacC regulates mycoparasitism, oxalate degradation and antifungal activity in the mycoparasitic fungus Coniothyrium minitans
Authors: Lou Yi , Han Yongchao , Yang Long , Wu Mingde , Zhang Jing , Cheng Jiasen , Wang Moying , Jiang Daohong , Chen Weidong , Li Guoqing
Published: August 2015

The PacC/Rim101 pH‐responsive transcription factor is an important pathogenicity element for many plant‐pathogenic fungi. In this study, we investigated the roles of a PacC homologue, CmpacC, in the mycoparasitic fungus Coniothyrium minitans. CmpacC was confirmed to have the transcriptional activation activity by the transcriptional activation test in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Disruption of CmpacC resulted in impaired fungal responses to ambient pH. Compared to the wild‐type, the CmpacC‐disruption mutant ΔCmpacC‐29 was significantly suppressed for activities of chitinase and β‐1,3‐glucanase at pH 5 and 7, consistent with reduced expression levels of Cmch1 and Cmg1 coding for the two enzymes respectively. However, the mutant displayed acidity‐mimicking phenotypes such as improved oxalate degradation and increased antifungal activity at pH 6 or higher. Improved efficacy in oxalate degradation by ΔCmpacC‐29 was consistent with the enhanced expression level of Cmoxdc1 coding for oxalate decarboxylase. CmpacC transcriptional activation of Cmch1 and Cmg1 and repression of Cmoxdc1 were verified by the presence of the PacC/Rim101 consensus binding‐motifs in gene promoter regions and by the promoter DNA‐binding assays. This study suggests that CmpacC plays an activator role in regulation of C. minitans mycoparasitism, whereas plays a repressor role in regulation of oxalate degradation and possibly antifungal activity of C. minitans.
Lignin‐modifying processes in the rhizosphere of arid land grasses
Authors: Hudson Corey M. , Kirton Edward , Hutchinson Miriam I. , Redfern Joanna L. , Simmons Blake , Ackerman Eric , Singh Seema , Williams Kelly P. , Natvig Donald O. , Powell Amy J.
Published: August 2015

Genes associated with elevated oxidative enzyme activities in arid systems have not been well characterized. To link measured oxidative activities with specific enzymes, we assembled protein‐coding reads from the rhizospheres (RHZ) of two arid land grasses. Targeted gene scans for open reading frames, encoding genes potentially involved in lignin modification, resulted in 127 distinct assembly products. The putative genes included those significantly similar to Class II secretory fungal peroxidases. These genes are expressed at sufficiently high levels for assembly, annotation and differentiation across experimental conditions, and they demonstrate the interplay of root systems, environment and plant microbiomes. The genes assembled also included copper‐dependent lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases. We detail the enzymes in the host grass RHZs and present a preliminary taxonomic microhabitat characterization. Our findings provide support for biologically mediated Fenton chemistry in the root zones of desert grasses, and provide insight into arid land carbon flow. These results also demonstrate a hyperdiverse microbial community. Both ribosomal RNA and messenger RNA sequences were dominated by bacteria, followed by fungal sequence abundance. Among the notable fungal sequences were those from the members of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota), which though abundant in this study, we rarely observed in previous PCR‐based surveys.
Ultrafast STR Separations on Short‐Channel Microfluidic Systems for Forensic Screening and Genotyping
Authors: Aboud Maurice J. , Gassmann Marcus , McCord Bruce
Published: August 2015

There are situations in which it is important to quickly and positively identify an individual. Examples include suspects detained in the neighborhood of a bombing or terrorist incident, individuals detained attempting to enter or leave the country, and victims of mass disasters. Systems utilized for these purposes must be fast, portable, and easy to maintain. DNA typing methods provide the best biometric information yielding identity, kinship, and geographical origin, but they are not portable and rapid. This study details the development of a portable short‐channel microfluidic device based on a modified Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer for applications in forensic genomics. The system utilizes a denaturing polymer matrix with dual‐channel laser‐induced fluorescence and is capable of producing a genotype in 80 sec. The device was tested for precision and resolution using an allelic ladder created from 6 short tandem repeat (STR) loci and a sex marker (amelogenin). The results demonstrated a precision of 0.09–0.21 bp over the entire size range and resolution values from 2.5 to 4.1 bp. Overall, the results demonstrate the chip provides a portable, rapid, and precise method for screening amplified short tandem repeats and human identification screening.
Estimating the Costs and Benefits of Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change
Authors: Wreford Anita , Moran Dominic , Moxey Andrew , Andy Evans K. , Fox Naomi , Glenk Klaus , Hutchings Mike , McCracken Davy I. , McVittie Alistair , Mitchell Malcolm , Topp Cairistiona F. E. , Wall Eileen
Published: August 2015

A changing climate will inevitably impact on the natural environment, including agriculture. Anticipatory adaptation is necessary to minimise the negative impacts of climate change, to take advantage of opportunities, and to ensure that food and fibre production is maintained. More detailed information is required as to which adaptation measures will yield relatively greater social rates of return. Such information would help define an efficient adaptation agenda in the agricultural sector. This article identifies key adaptation strategies across England's agricultural sector, and applies cost–benefit analysis to these to determine their net present values, highlighting where the greatest returns can be made, and the role for policy. The results span a wide range, with some soil management activities indicating a negative NPV of £122 million over the course of this century, to a positive NPV of £3,279 million in the case of some livestock adaptations to heat stress. Animal disease surveillance and peatland restoration also generated high NPVs of £1,850 million and £1,840 million, respectively. Adaptations addressing crop disease, water storage measures and managed coastal realignment generated more modest values ranging from £1 million to £61 million. Direct comparison of the numbers is misleading however as some refer to the national level while others are site‐specific. The analysis provides a basis for a discussion on priorities and planning for adaptation in the agricultural sector.
Mitigating Climate Change and the Role of Innovation and Productivity: An American Perspective
Authors: Salois Matthew Jude
Published: August 2015

With increasing global demand for animal protein, strategies for mitigating climate change are paramount to policymakers as well as the dairy and livestock industries. This article examines the role of technology and innovation in animal production as a strategy towards climate change mitigation and feeding a growing and wealthier world population. It focuses on the ability to produce more food with fewer resources as a means of reducing the environmental impact of the dairy and livestock industries. Environmental sustainability can be maintained and increased through an agricultural system that is highly productive through efficient use of natural resources. But the key to harnessing the societal and environmental benefits of an efficient and sustainable agri‐food sector is addressing political and media impediments, often advanced on the basis of inaccurate information and data. Safe, regulated and proven innovations in the form of products, practices and genetics are currently available to farmers to produce livestock foods more sustainably. The main policy challenge is the enabling of this innovation, so as to expand choices in the adoption of agricultural technology. This will involve the public and private sector confronting and correcting the misleading biases that persist in the media on agricultural and food technology.
What is the Meat and Livestock Industry Doing to Reduce its Impact on Climate Change?
Authors: Guinot Caroline , Huang Hsin , Legg Wilfrid
Published: August 2015

The meat and livestock industry is frequently criticised for its greenhouse gas emissions, directly from livestock production itself and indirectly from animal feed production, part of which is linked to deforestation undertaken to produce livestock feed. One of the most influential critiques was in FAO's Livestock's Long Shadow: Environmental issues and options. FAO has since revised downwards its estimate of livestock's share of GHG emissions from 18 to 14.5% and the organisation now argues that livestock can be part of the solution to climate change. The meat and livestock industry is actively involved in multi‐stakeholder actions to design cost effective mitigation strategies tailored to the diversity and complexity of the sector and the broad range of services that livestock provides. Improving environmental performance is a high priority for the meat and livestock industry. Greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production have fallen through implementing more climate‐friendly practices and by continually exploring new initiatives meat products provide. The meat and livestock industry is a vital global industry and it has been estimated that 1 billion poor people derive part of their livelihood from livestock production.
Regional Blue and Green Water Balances and Use by Selected Crops in the U.S.
Authors: White Michael , Gambone Marilyn , Yen Haw , Arnold Jeff , Harmel Daren , Santhi Chinnasamy , Haney Richard
Published: August 2015

The availability of freshwater is a prerequisite for municipal development and agricultural production, especially in the arid and semiarid portions of the western United States (U.S.). Agriculture is the leading user of water in the U.S. Agricultural water use can be partitioned into green (derived from rainfall) and blue water (irrigation). Blue water can be further subdivided by source. In this research, we develop a hydrologic balance by 8‐Digit Hydrologic Unit Code using a combination of Soil and Water Assessment Tool simulations and available human water use estimates. These data are used to partition agricultural groundwater usage by sustainability and surface water usage by local source or importation. These predictions coupled with reported agricultural yield data are used to predict the virtual water contained in each ton of corn, wheat, sorghum, and soybeans produced and its source. We estimate that these four crops consume 480 km3 of green water annually and 23 km3 of blue water, 12 km3 of which is from groundwater withdrawal. Regional trends in blue water use from groundwater depletion highlight heavy usage in the High Plains, and small pockets throughout the western U.S. This information is presented to inform water resources debate by estimating the cost of agricultural production in terms of water regionally. This research illustrates the variable water content of the crops we consume and export, and the source of that water.
RANZCOG CREI Consensus Statement on treatment of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
Authors: Kwik Michele , Karia Sonal , Boothroyd Clare
Published: August 2015

Background

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an uncommon but important iatrogenic condition associated with considerable morbidity and a small risk of mortality.

This document gathers the consensus of a group of fertility subspecialists to aid health professionals in the development of protocols and guidelines for the management of women with OHSS.

Aim

To produce evidence‐based consensus statements on the treatment of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

Methods

The CREI Consensus Group met in 2013 and 2014 and identified issues for inclusion and review. Review of the available evidence was conducted and consensus statements prepared. Areas of dissent of expert opinion and for further research were noted.

Results

There is a paucity of good data regarding the treatment of this condition, and much of the treatment is supportive in nature. Most of the management recommendations are based on good clinical practice points, rather than evidence from randomised trials.

Conclusion

OHSS is an uncommon but serious condition for which there are a number of proven preventative strategies. Once OHSS is present, the treatment of OHSS is mainly supportive, and more research is required to elucidate treatment options targeted specifically at the main causative factors, to better treat the condition.
Lamellar changes in the keratoconic cornea
Authors: Mathew Jessica H. , Goosey John D. , Söderberg Per G. , Bergmanson Jan P. G.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify ultrastructural changes associated with ectasia and to determine the association between lamellar count and corneal thinning.

Methods

Five surgically removed keratoconic corneal buttons and four, non‐keratoconic, normal eye bank control corneas were processed for transmission electron microscopy using an established protocol, ensuring minimal tissue distortion. A sequence of overlapping digital images, spanning the full apical cone corneal thickness, was assembled. A seamless digital montage was printed at 5000× magnification. Lamellae were counted in the anterior–posterior orientation, along a linear line, using established criteria for identification of individual lamellae.

Results

The stromal thickness estimated as a 95% confidence interval for the mean, CI (0.95), in the keratoconic corneas was 372 ± 62 μm, while in the normal cornea, it was 446 ± 89 μm. All keratoconic corneas showed ultrastructural evidence of lamellar splitting and a loss of interweaving anterior lamellae. In the keratoconic corneas, the median total linear stromal lamellar absolute count tangential to the corneal surface was 362, (25th percentile; 75th percentile) = (355; 365) lamellae and in the normal cornea, 246, (25th percentile; 75th percentile) = (239; 251). The linear lamellar density in the keratoconic corneas was estimated as CI (0.95) 117 ± 22 and 86 ±19 lamellae per 100 μm in the anterior and posterior portion of the stroma, respectively. In normal cornea, the linear lamellar density was estimated as CI (0.95) 51 ± 8 and 80 ± 20 lamellae per 100 μm. The mean difference of linear lamellar count between the anterior and the posterior portion of the cornea was estimated as CI (0.95) 31 ± 23 for keratoconic corneas and −29 ± 28 for the normal corneas.

Conclusions

The current morphometric analysis of ultrastructural changes suggests that ectasia and thinning in keratoconus is associated with lamellar splitting into multiple bundles of collagen fibrils and loss of anterior lamellae. These structural changes, possibly in addition to lateral shifting of lamellae due to the pressure gradient over the cornea, are a potential explanation to the central loss of mass.
Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of parents regarding fever in children: a Danish interview study
Authors: Sahm Laura J. , Kelly Maria , McCarthy Suzanne , O'Sullivan Ronan , Shiely Frances , Rømsing Janne
Published: August 2015

Aim

Fever and febrile illness are some of the most common conditions managed by parents. The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of parents around fever in children under five years of age.

Methods

Between July and August 2014, a convenience sample of parents was invited to participate in this study in Copenhagen, Denmark. Results were analysed thematically using a constant comparison method.

Results

Twenty‐one parents participated in the study. Five themes emerged from the data: parental concern, help‐seeking behaviour, parental knowledge, parent fever management practices and initiatives. Parents used a range of information sources to obtain their knowledge on management of fever; however, due to issues of trust with these sources, reassurance was often sought from healthcare practitioners. There was a desire amongst most parents for initiatives to be introduced which provide general information on how to manage fever in children.

Conclusion

Parents were very concerned when their child was febrile and instigated practices obtained from accessible information sources. This study has identified a need for specific and reliable information initiatives to be introduced as a means of reducing parental concern and ensuring evidence‐based strategies for managing a child with fever.
Effects of grass forage species and long‐term period of low quality forage diet feeding on growth performance, nutrient utilization and microbial nitrogen yield in growing wether lambs
Authors: Kim Da‐Hye , Choi Ki‐Choon , Song Sang‐Houn , Ichinohe Toshiyoshi
Published: August 2015

Six growing lambs were used to evaluate the feeding value of two forage‐based diets in a long‐term feeding period by measuring body weight (BW) gain, digestibility, nitrogen (N) retention and microbial N (MBN) yield. The animals were fed imported low‐quality timothy hay (TH) with concentrate diet (THD) or imported low‐quality Italian ryegrass straw (IR) with concentrate diet (IRD) for 9 months. The forages were offered at 2% BW, and concentrate was fed at 40% of forage intake. The BW gain averaged 82.6 and 66.2 g/day for THD and IRD, respectively, without showing significant difference. Average forage intake (% BW) was significantly greater for IR than for TH, although it was not affected by feeding periods. The digestibility did not differ between diets or periods. The numerically greater (P = 0.06) ratio of retained N to absorbed N for IRD than that for THD was prominent. Neither diet nor period had significant effect on MBN supply and efficiency of MBN synthesis. The results suggest that the IR‐based diet can be also used for long‐term periods of feeding to growing ruminant animals as a grass hay‐based diet without any detrimental effects on nutrient utilization and growth performance.