bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of oil price shocks on capital spending in the oil and gas industry
Authors: Iqbal Zahid , Shetty Shekar
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of oil price shocks on capital spending in relation to the following firm characteristics: firm size, debt ratio, growth prospects, earnings and key sectors of the oil and gas industry.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the impact of oil price changes on each of the sample firm’s capital spending, the authors utilize a vector autoregressive (VAR) framework which requires that the oil price and the firm’s capital spending series are stationary. The authors employ the Augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) procedure to test if these series are stationary in levels or in their first difference. Since the results show that the ADF values for adjusted oil price and for all but one capital spending series are stationary, the authors perform VAR analysis using the level data.

Findings

The impulse response results show that there is a positive relationship between oil price shocks and capital spending by the oil and gas firms. In other words, the oil and gas firms reduce (increase) capital spending when oil prices fall (rise). The responses are highest around q3. Additionally, the responses are stronger for the exploration and production, drilling, and oil services firms, and weaker for the refining firms (oil majors). Also, the small, low-earnings and low p/e firms exhibit the highest responses to oil price shocks. The impulse response results for the debt quartiles are inconclusive.

Practical implications

The findings shed light into the impact of oil price shocks on capital spending in relation to firm characteristics. The impulse response results that capital spending of the E&P, drilling and oil services firms, and the small firms in general, have a higher positive impact of oil shocks lend support to the argument that these firms more likely reduce capital spending because of financial constraints in the capital markets. A higher positive response by the low return on assets firms indicates that firms with low earnings and cash flow problems are more likely to reduce their capital spending when oil price drops. With regard to growth prospects, it appears that shocks in oil price dampen the outlook for the low p/e firms, which leads to a cut in their capital spending. On the other hand, the high p/e firms seem to rely more on their growth prospects and downplay the adverse impact of oil price shocks.

Originality/value

Unlike previous studies in this area, the study focuses on firm-level data in detail, uses quarterly data and uses firm-specific variables that explain impact of oil price shocks on capital spending in oil and gas industry.
Gendered messages in police recruitment
Authors: Aiello Michael Francis
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Prior research established several important influences on the representation of women in policing, using a variety of secondary and primary data. The purpose of this paper is to examine how experimental manipulation of online recruitment materials impacts potential applicants.

Design/methodology/approach

The study relied on a census of 11 criminal justice courses taught at a public university, asking students to respond to an experimental vignette instrument (n=174). The 3×2 experimental vignette involved manipulation of two variables: the identification of recruits with diversity language (“individuals,” “women and men” or “a diverse group of individuals”) and mention or absence of discussion of physical fitness requirements.

Findings

Results largely run counter to prior research concerning women in policing, with women actually indicating increased probability of providing their contact information when encountering vignettes with physical fitness requirements.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that small manipulations of recruitment content can have significant and gendered impact on potential applicants. This paper provides a foundation for empirical study of how changes in online recruitment materials impact a variety of relevant outcomes relating to applicant behaviors.
Tree-trimming impact on local government property management
Authors: Boogaerdt Humphrey , Brown Alistair
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the monetary valuation implications arising from local government tree trimming, by calculating the loss of local government authority’ monetary tree value arising from trimming trees under power lines.

Design/methodology/approach

A city council model of estimation of the monetary value of city trees in a sample of three streets in a suburb of the Perth Metropolitan Area in Western Australia is applied to ascertain the loss of monetary value to the local government authority arising from tree trimming.

Findings

Using a sample of 274 city trees, the results of the study show that 156 city trees did not get trimmed thus incurring no monetary loss. However, the average loss of monetary value from 118 city trees that were trimmed was AU$2,816 per tree, suggesting a substantial loss of value to the council.

Research limitations/implications

The use of monetary tree valuation should be treated with caution as there is a focus on monetary calculations rather than non-monetary evaluations of trees. Further, the analysis does not take into account increases in value of city trees resulting from their growth.

Practical implications

In trimming trees, monetary value and canopy cover of trees may be reduced. In terms of property management, it may be helpful for the city council to take into account loss of city tree value from tree trimming when considering a cost-benefit analysis of the above ground/underground trade-off of power line installation.

Social implications

With increasing populations and demand on services, local government authorities may use monetary valuation techniques of trees to provide an accountability to ratepayers.

Originality/value

The results highlight the value loss of trimming a tree. The study’s originality rests in providing local government authority a valuation.
Analysis of Brazilian fashion sectorial brand identity
Authors: Lourenção Marina Toledo de Arruda , Giraldi Janaina de Moura Engracia , Maheshwari Vish
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to propose identifying similar characteristics and managerial actions of the sector brand identity elements among the associations that compound the Brasil Fashion System (BFS) brand.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory qualitative research was developed through in-depth interviews conducted with associations of the Brazilian fashion sector.

Findings

The results indicate that there are characteristics of the elements of brand identity that are similar between the associations that compound the BFS brand. However, there are also several distinct characteristics among them, which makes it difficult, in large part, to consolidate the brand identity of the Brazilian fashion industry abroad.

Research limitations/implications

Moreover, it was indicated that for sectorial brand cases with a great divergence among brand partners, the creation of sub-sectorial brand specific for each partner could bring better results, as in this way, brands could be created with more suitable attributes for each partner, which will better suit their target audiences.

Practical implications

A practical contribution is also obtained, as the study can help in elaborating upon improvements for the sectorial brands that represent a large partners group.

Originality/value

An empirical evidence of how to identify common attributes between sectorial brand partners was presented to have a consolidated brand image in the external market.
Tax increment financing in the UK and USA: its prospects for urban regeneration in Nigeria
Authors: Olayinka Agboola Alirat , Ayodele Timothy Oluwafemi , Olofa Aderemi
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential of tax increment financing (TIF) as a viable financial mechanism for urban regeneration programmes in Nigeria. This is with a view to engendering a sustainable, productive and competitive urban land market towards enhancing the economic development of the country.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a desk-based study approach and review of secondary literature on urban regeneration and TIF to examine the usefulness of TIF for funding local infrastructure development. It then examines the key requirements for the successful application of TIF as a financial instrument for urban regeneration in an emergent economy like Nigeria.

Findings

A number of key requirements for a successful TIF programme particularly in the context of an emergent economy are identified. These are: a functional urban land market with well-developed and documented market indices on performance measurement to serve as reliable benchmarks for investors; an established land use planning system consisting of clear rules and effective decision-making processes; an active capital market that is accessible to institutional and private developers; a viable tax administration system and most importantly an efficient institutional framework with clearly defined formal property rights and sound enforcement mechanisms to monitor contractual agreements and to police deviations.

Originality/value

This paper represents a pioneering attempt at examining the prospects of the application of TIF to urban regeneration in the specific context of an emergent Sub-Saharan African country.
The social imperative in sustainable urban development
Authors: Randeree Kasim , Ahmed Nadeem
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine social sustainability effectiveness of eco-cities through the case of Masdar City’s strategy for urban sustainability in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a case study approach, the paper is an exploratory, qualitative analysis, which investigates the social, environmental and economic performance of Masdar City, a purported carbon-neutral, zero-waste urban development.

Findings

Though Masdar City substantively contributes to innovation in sustainable urban development within environmental and economic contexts and has been effective in capital circulation in green technology markets, the impetus as a commercially driven enterprise is most evident. Successful sustainable urban development requires greater consideration for the social imperative.

Practical implications

Eco-city mega-projects, such as Masdar City, have the potential to fuse achievements in innovation, technology and economic enterprise with the social imperative of functional urban habitats.

Originality/value

Eco-cities are of increasing interest given the growing need for sustainable, energy-efficient living. This paper contributes through a novel case study, exploring how the concept of the eco-city has been developed and understood in the Masdar City context and discusses successes and deficits in its strategic implementation.
A systemic approach to processes of power in learning organizations
Authors: Flood Robert L. , Romm Norma R.A.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give practical insights into the systemic approach to organizational learning “triple loop learning” (TLL; introduced in Part I) by reflecting on a facilitated research-and-intervention undertaken in South Africa as part of the “500 Schools Project”.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors reflect on one of the many researcher-assisted interventions in the “500 Schools Project” by retrospectively reflecting on the case through the principles of TLL.

Findings

The authors show that researcher-assisted intervention can be genuinely transformative given two conditions: The principles of TLL are embraced, and researchers are committed to such principles and passionate about social transformation. In particular, the case study illustrates how we might address processes of power in processes of design and in processes of debate. The focus on power arguably helped to shift “power over” (power as domination) to “power to” enact empowering designs, “power to” co-develop responsible decision-making and “power to” transform relations with each other and with life on Earth.

Originality/value

The authors introduce an original approach to TLL that directly addresses issues relating to processes of power. The value of the TLL is that it encourages researchers, learning facilitators and practitioners of the learning organization to engage with processes of power without neglecting other important organizational and environmental issues.
Output cost of gender discrimination in the Korean labour market
Authors: Lee Hanol
Published: October 2018

This study constructs and calibrates a macroeconomic model that explains Korea's glass ceiling and examines the output cost of gender discrimination. The model is based on the span‐of‐control framework in Lucas (1978). It is assumed that the source of the glass ceiling is women requiring more managerial skill than men to be considered for promotion. According to simulation results, without the glass ceiling, besides an increase in the share of female managers, aggregate output also increases by 8.4%. The output gain from a glass ceiling removal policy is monotonic because the number of workers continues to decline while the number of managers increases gradually. This implies that the more effective the policy implementation, the greater the increase in output.
Academic performance in adolescents aged 15–16 years born after frozen embryo transfer compared with fresh embryo transfer: a nationwide registry‐based cohort study
Authors: Spangmose AL , Malchau SS , Henningsen AA , Forman JL , Rasmussen S , Loft A , Schmidt L , Pinborg A
Published: October 2018

Objective

To assess academic performance in singletons aged 15–16 years conceived after frozen embryo transfer (FET) compared with singletons born after fresh embryo transfer (ET) in Danish cohorts born from 1995 to 2001.

Design

Danish national registry‐based cohort study.

Setting

Danish national registries.

Population

All 6495 singletons conceived after assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment in Denmark from 1995 to 2001 [FET (n) = 423; fresh ET (n) = 6072].

Methods

Mean test scores on a national standardised and international comparable grading‐scale. Comparisons of test score were first made in univariate analysis (Model 1) and secondly in a multivariate linear model (Model 2) adjusting for relevant reproductive and socio‐demographic covariates such as the occupational and educational level of the parents. Sensitivity analyses on FET‐IVF (in vitro fertilisation) versus fresh ET‐IVF and FET‐ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) versus fresh ET‐ICSI were made. Linear mixed models were used to account for the correlation in test scores of siblings for continuous outcome.

Main outcome measures

Mean overall test score and test score in Danish, mathematics, English, and physics/chemistry.

Results

Crude and adjusted mean test scores were similar for adolescents conceived after FET compared with fresh ET. The crude mean difference was +0.11 (95% CI −0.11; 0.34), and the adjusted mean difference was +0.12 (95% CI −0.09; 0.34).

Conclusions

Adolescents conceived after FET had similar academic performance at 15–16 of years of age compared with children conceived after fresh ET.

Tweetable abstract

Using frozen embryos in fertility treatment does not affect school performance in Danish adolescents aged 15–16 years.
Searching for Kin Amidst Tragedy—Disaster Victim Identification Operations for US Bangla Flight 211
Authors: Shrestha Rijen , Acharya Jenash , Shakya Arbin , Acharya Jemish
Published: October 2018

The nature of air disasters includes factors that exacerbate challenges in the identification process. Of the 49 deceased in the US Bangla air crash in Kathmandu, Nepal, four were intact, 11 presented with burn injuries, another 11 presented with partial charring, and 23 were completely charred. Personal belongings were useful in the identification phases for all types of victims. Fingerprints were obtainable and useful in intact victims and victims with less severe burn injuries; medical and surgical information was useful in bodies with burn injuries; finally, dental findings were useful in cases of extensive charring. Other useful methods in the process included marks of identification, physical features, and exclusion. In certain resource‐limited settings, especially in closed population disasters, where scientific identification (DNA, dental records, etc.) is not currently available, personal belongings, clothing, and physical findings analyzed by an identification team using a structured organization may be cautiously used as the primary means of identification.
Genetic analyses of differences between solid and nonsolid predominant lung adenocarcinomas
Authors: Luo Jizhuang , Ma Ke , Shi Yu , Chen Zongwei , Zhao Mengnan , Huang Yiwei , Wang Shuai , Xi Junjie , Zhan Cheng , Xu Songtao , Wang Qun
Published: October 2018

Background

Solid predominant lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD) have distinct histopathological and clinical characteristics compared with nonsolid subtypes. A comprehensive comparison of altered genes found in solid and nonsolid subtypes has not previously been performed. In this study, we analyzed differences in gene expression, genetic mutations, and DNA methylation to better understand the risk factors for these two subtypes of LUAD.

Methods

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially mutated genes (DMGs) were analyzed from RNA‐seq data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Broad Institute database. To understand the functional significance of molecular changes, we examined the DEGs and DMGs with Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis.

Results

A total of 184 patients in the TCGA cohort and 140 patients in the Broad Institute cohort were included in this study. We identified 75 DEGs, of which 15 were upregulated and 56 downregulated in the solid group relative to the nonsolid group. The DEGs were mainly involved in the regulation of water and fluid transport. We discovered 38 significantly differentially expressed genes that overlapped in the two groups. The DMGs were mainly enriched for pathways involved in cell–cell adhesion, cell adhesion, biological adhesion, and hemophilic cell adhesion. We additionally discovered nine significantly methylated genes between solid and nonsolid LUAD.

Conclusions

Our study identified distinct DEGs, DMGs, and methylation genes for solid and nonsolid LUAD subtypes. These findings improve our understanding of the different carcinogenesis mechanisms in LUAD and will help to develop new therapeutic strategies.
Improving postpartum screening after diabetes in pregnancy: Results of a pilot study in remote Australia
Authors: Kirkham Renae , MacKay Diana , Barzi Federica , Whitbread Cherie , Kirkwood Marie , Graham Sian , Van Dokkum Paula , McIntyre H. David , Shaw Jonathan E. , Brown Alex , O'Dea Kerin , Connors Christine , Oats Jeremy , Zimmet Paul , Boyle Jacqueline , Maple‐Brown Louise
Published: October 2018

Background

The postpartum period is a critical time to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal women, particularly for those who have chronic conditions.

Aims

To assess enhanced support methods (for women following diabetes in pregnancy (DIP)) to improve completion rates of recommended postpartum health checks.

Materials and Methods

Fifty‐three Aboriginal women in the Northern Territory (NT) were contacted in the postpartum period to encourage medical check‐ups. Messages were delivered through phone (call or text messages) or other methods (Facebook or email). The primary outcome was postpartum blood glucose testing (oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT), random or fasting glucose and HbA1c).

Results

Establishing contact with women was difficult. Of 137 messages sent to 52 women, 22 responded (42%). Phone was the most common contact method with successful contact made from 16 of 119 (13%) attempts. Rates of postpartum OGTT completion were higher in the group successfully contacted (32% vs 7%). However, for any postpartum glucose testing (including OGTT and HbA1c) rates were 25 of 42 (60%) and neither success in making contact nor the contact method was associated with higher rates.

Conclusions

The small sample size limits our conclusions; however, results highlight that engaging remote women postpartum is difficult. While rates of postpartum OGTT completion differed according to successful contacts, rates of any postpartum blood glucose testing did not. Further research is needed to explore feasible intervention methods to improve postpartum screening after a pregnancy complicated by diabetes.
Lower respiratory tract infections appear to be the most important risk factor for current asthma in subarctic schoolchildren
Authors: Hansen Tonje Elisabeth , Evjenth Bjørg , Holt Jan
Published: October 2018

Aim

The aim of this study was to identify possible risk factors for current asthma revealed by two studies in Northern Norway in 1985 and 2008 and to evaluate these factors contributing to the increased prevalence of asthma over these 23 years.

Methods

As part of the ‘Asthma and allergy study among schoolchildren in Nordland county’ we performed a case–control study (70.0% attendance) comparing 153 children with current asthma (cases) to their non‐asthmatic controls. The results from this 2008 study were compared to a similar case–control study (93.2% attendance) performed in 1985 based on 62 current asthmatics.

Results

In 1985, the most important risk factors for current asthma were repeated lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 52.11, together with urticaria ever and atopic disease in the family. In 2008, the most important risk factors were food allergy with aOR 7.06, LRTIs during the first three years of life with aOR 5.80 and hospitalisation caused by LRTIs.

Conclusion

In both studies, LRTI was the most important risk factor for current asthma. Whether or not LRTIs have contributed to the increased asthma prevalence in this population over 23 years remains unresolved.
Real‐Time Human Shadow Removal in a Front Projection System
Authors: Kim Jaedong , Seo Hyunggoog , Cha Seunghoon , Noh Junyong
Published: October 2018

When a person is located between a display and an operating projector, a shadow is cast on the display. The shadow on the display may eliminate important visual information and therefore adversely affect the viewing experiences. There have been various attempts to remove the human shadow cast on a projection display by using multiple projectors. While previous approaches successfully removed the shadow region when a person moderately moves around or stands stationary in front of the display, there is still an afterimage effect due to the lack of consideration of the limb motion of the person. We propose a new real‐time approach to removing the shadow cast by a person who dynamically interacts with the display, making limb motions in a front projection system. The proposed method utilizes a human skeleton obtained from a depth camera to track the posture of the person which changes over time. A model that consists of spheres and conical frustums is constructed based on the skeleton information in order to represent volumetric information of the person being tracked. Our method precisely estimates the shadow region by projecting the volumetric model onto the display. In addition, employment of intensity masks that are built based on a distance field helps suppress the afterimage of the shadow that appears when the person moves abruptly. It also helps blend the projected overlapping images from different projectors and show one smoothly combined display. The experiment results verify that our approach removes the shadow of a person effectively in a front projection environment and is fast enough to achieve real‐time performance.
The release of the blue biological pigment C‐phycocyanin through calcium‐aided cytolysis of live Spirulina sp.
Authors: Pott Robert W. M.
Published: October 2018

C‐phycocyanin is a light‐harvesting phycobiliprotein found in, amongst other species, the cyanobacterium Spirulina sp. C‐phycocyanin is bright blue in colour and can be used as a natural blue colorant for a variety of applications. Various cell disruption methods exist to cause the lysis of the cyanobacterial cells and release of phycocyanin, but these methods have significant drawbacks, such as cost, difficulty in scale‐up, bacterial contamination, or risk of degrading the protein. This article outlines an alternative method for cell disruption based on the use of Ca(II), which lyses live Spirulina biomass, releasing phycocyanin at a range of concentrations (0.1–0.8 m) over varying time periods, depending on the conditions. In comparison with other ionic species tested, Ca(II) performed best by a significant margin. Bead milling of biomass was used to quantify the maximum phycocyanin in the biomass, and the greatest was found to be ca. 90% released into solution after 48 h under 0.5 m Ca(II) in a 0.35 m acetate buffer at pH 6. Exposing Spirulina to sodium azide revealed that the mechanism of Ca(II) ion‐aided cytolysis is likely based on a metabolically driven process. This study demonstrates a potential processing option for the release of phycocyanin from live Spirulina, paving the way for the development of a novel bioprocess for the industrial production of the biological pigment.
Effects of a school teacher‐led 45‐minute educational program for mental health literacy in pre‐teens
Authors: Ojio Yasutaka , Foo Jerome C. , Usami Satoshi , Fuyama Taruto , Ashikawa Megumi , Ohnuma Kumiko , Oshima Norihito , Ando Shuntaro , Togo Fumiharu , Sasaki Tsukasa
Published: October 2018

Aim

A concise teacher‐led program for mental health literacy (MHL), suitable for schools with tight schedules was developed, and its effects were examined in pre‐teens.

Methods

Participants comprised 662 grade 5 to 6 students from nine Japanese elementary schools. The program consisted of a 45‐minute session, delivered by school teachers using a 10‐minute animated film. Program focuses included: mental health problems are common, can be associated with lifestyle and that seeking help from reliable adults is a key to finding solutions. Participants filled out self‐report questionnaires before, immediately after and 3 months post‐intervention. Changes in MHL were analyzed using multilevel models.

Results

Knowledge about mental health/illnesses, recognition of mental health state and intention to help peers/seek help when suffering from mental health problems, were significantly improved immediately and 3 months post‐intervention.

Conclusions

Concise teacher‐led programs administered in schools can have positive and lasting effects on MHL in pre‐teens.
General practitioners' views towards diagnosing and treating depression in five southeastern European countries
Authors: Duric Predrag , Harhaji Sanja , O'May Fiona , Boderscova Larisa , Chihai Jana , Como Ariel , Hranov Georgi L. , Mihai Adriana , Sotiri Eugjen
Published: October 2018

Aim

To assess and compare general practitioners' (GPs’) views of diagnosing and treating depression in five southeastern European countries.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted in Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, and Serbia. The sample included 467 GPs who completed a hard‐copy self‐administered questionnaire, consisting of self‐assessment questions related to diagnosing and treating depression.

Results

The most common barriers to managing depression in general practice reported by GPs were: patients’ unwillingness to discuss depressive symptoms (92.3%); appointment time too short to take an adequate history (91.9%), barriers for prescribing appropriate treatment (90.6%); and patients' reluctance to be referred to a psychiatrist (89.1%). Most GPs (78.4%) agreed that recognizing depression was their responsibility, 71.7% were confident in diagnosing depression, but less than one‐third (29.6%) considered that they should treat it.

Conclusions

Improvements to the organization of mental healthcare in all five countries should consider better training for GPs in depression diagnosis and treatment; the availability of mental healthcare specialists at primary care level, with ensured equal and easy access for all patients; and the removal of potential legal barriers for diagnosis and treatment of depression.
Limits to species richness in terrestrial communities
Authors: Alroy John
Published: October 2018

Are communities limited by biotic interactions, or are they random draws from regional species pools? One way to tell is to compare total species counts in geographic regions to average counts in ecological samples falling within those regions. If species richness is limited regionally, then the relationship should be curvilinear even in a log‐log space. Global sets of samples including trees and 10 groups of animals are analysed to test this hypothesis. Most relationships are indeed curvilinear. To explain these patterns, a simple model is proposed that invokes biotic interaction‐limited speciation or immigration rates combined with extinction or extirpation rates that fall as the number of occupied patches increases. Local and regional richness come into balance as the rates trade off, causing global richness to also be limited. Surprisingly, however, the data for trees break the pattern, suggesting that the great adaptive radiation of seed plants may still be unfolding.
A Time to Scatter Stones, and a Time to Gather Them: The Annual Cycle in Hedge Fund Risk Taking
Authors: Kolokolova Olga , Mattes Achim
Published: October 2018

Analyzing a sample of hedge fund daily returns from Bloomberg, we find a seasonal pattern in their risk taking. During earlier months of a year, poorly performing funds reduce risk. The reduction is stronger for funds with higher management fees, shorter redemption periods, and recently deteriorating performance, consistent with a managerial aversion to early fund liquidation. Toward the end of a year, poorly performing funds gamble for resurrection by increasing risk. It is largely achieved by increasing exposure to market factors, and can be linked to stronger indirect managerial incentives during the second half of a year.
Spearfishing in Portugal: A baseline study on spearfishers’ profiles, habits and perceptions towards management measures
Authors: Assis Jorge , Gonçalves Jorge M. S. , Veiga Pedro , Pita Cristina
Published: October 2018

Despite the relatively high number of spearfishing practitioners in Portugal, scientific information on spearfishing is limited. A web‐based survey was conducted to obtain socio‐economic information on Portuguese spearfishers, identify the most common fishing habitats, target species, fishing effort, and evaluate their perceptions towards management and conservation measures. Results suggest that spearfishing is essentially seen as promoting well‐being, escaping the daily routine and outdoor enjoyment. Favourable environmental conditions and habitat availability seem to play an important role in the fishing effort, with warmer, less exposed rocky bottoms covered with algae being the most appreciated for spearfishing. Spearfishers reported targeting mostly two species: European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax and the white seabream Diplodus sargus. The added fishing mortality caused by spearfishers should be included in stock assessment of these species. Most respondents felt that the management measures in place were inappropriate and unfair for the spearfishing activity.
The effects of empathy, perceived injustice and group identity on altruistic preferences: Towards compensation or punishment
Authors: Lu Tiezhan , McKeown Shelley
Published: October 2018

Previous research supports that both empathic concern and perspective‐taking are predictors of altruistic behaviours in dictator games. Less is known, however, about how the identity of the victim and the perpetrator and the strength of ingroup identity of the observer in such games impacts upon preferences for altruistic compensation and punishment. Focusing on gender identity, the present research aimed to examine the effects of empathy, perceived injustice and ingroup identity strength on preferences for altruistic compensation and punishment. Female adult participants (n = 116) were recruited through an online survey conducted in the United Kingdom. Using a dictator‐style game, participants were randomly assigned to observe either a male or female distributing resources to a female victim, after which they were asked to rate their feelings of injustice and then completed a series of measures including empathic concern, perspective‐taking and strength of gender identity. Results demonstrate that empathic concern and perspective‐taking predicted third‐party altruistic preferences but there was no effect of experimental condition (perpetrator identity). Results have implications for promoting perspective‐taking‐focused empathy intervention in occasions where distributive inequality or intergroup bias frequently occurs. These are also the insight to female’s awareness of gender equality and a novel enforce of norm violations.
Burden of Restricted Activity and Associated Symptoms and Problems in Late Life and at the End of Life
Authors: Gill Thomas M. , Allore Heather G. , Gahbauer Evelyne A. , Murphy Terrence E.
Published: October 2018

Objectives

To compare rates of restricted activity and associated symptoms and problems in the last 6 months of life with those in the period before the last 6 months of life.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Greater New Haven, Connecticut.

Participants

Community‐living persons aged 70 and older (N=754).

Measurements

The occurrence of restricted activity (staying in bed for at least half the day or cutting down on usual activities) and 24 prespecified symptoms and problems leading to restricted activity was ascertained monthly for nearly 19 years.

Results

Rates of restricted activity per 100 person‐months were 36.5 in the last 6 months of life versus 16.1 in the period before the last 6 months of life (P<.001). Of 737 participants with 1 month or more of restricted activity, rates of restricting symptoms per 100 person‐months of restricted activity ranged from 8.0 for frequent or painful urination to 65.6 for been fatigued, and rates of restricting problems ranged from 0.1 for problem with alcohol to 23.4 for been afraid of falling. Rates were significantly higher in the last 6 months of life than in the prior period for 13 of the 24 restricting symptoms and problems (P<.05), most notably for shortness of breath (38.6 vs 21.8), weakness (37.3 vs 18.9), and confusion (31.2 vs 9.8). Mean (standard error) number of restricting symptoms and problems was significantly higher in the last 6 months of life (6.1 (0.1)) than in the prior period (4.7 (0.03)) (P<.001).

Conclusion

Rates of restricted activity and associated symptoms and problems are substantially greater in the last 6 months of life than in the period before the last 6 months of life. Enhanced palliative care strategies may be needed to diminish the burden of distressing symptoms and problems at the end of life. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2282–2288, 2018.
Financiers in the forests on Vancouver Island, British Columbia: On fixes and colonial enclosures
Authors: Ekers Michael
Published: October 2018

Starting in the mid 2000s, a financial asset management company and institutional investors began to invest in timberlands in British Columbia, Canada's most western province. In a period of political economic crisis, investors looked to real assets—“dirt and trees” in the words of one research participant—as a means of accumulating capital through securing access to huge parcels of the most productive and valuable forestland in North America. This article analyses these investments as a socioecological fix for finance capital suggesting that investments in land represent a means for capital and the state to negotiate moments of crisis. The article complicates existing accounts of fixes by demonstrating how the survival of capital in a settler context is fully dependent on an ongoing settler‐colonial project of separating Indigenous people from their land base. The article focuses on the explicitly “private” nature of the land under examination and how this is central to the strategies of investors, the state's deregulation of forest policies, and the marginalization of First Nations' claims to land. The article demonstrates that in settler contexts, discussions of fixes need to be much more attentive to the historic and enduring colonial threads woven through investments in land.
Human omental adipose‐derived stem cells from donors with different body mass index had similar effects on proliferation and migration of endometrial cancer cells in vitro
Authors: Li Mingxia , Li Xiaoping , Zhao Lijun , Zhou Jingyi , Cheng Yuan , Wang Jianliu , Wei Lihui
Published: October 2018

Aim

This study aimed to confirm whether human omental adipose‐derived stem cells (O‐ASC) from donors with varying body mass index (BMI, calculated in kg/m2) exert different effects on proliferation and migration of endometrial cancer (EC) cells.

Methods

Omental adipose‐derived stem cells were isolated from the omental adipose tissues of eight patients who were diagnosed with EC aged from 35 to 56 years. According to the patients’ BMI, the O‐ASC was divided into two groups: obesity group (BMI ≥ 30) and normal group (18.5 < BMI ≤ 24.9). A broad spectrum cytokine antibody array was used to measure 62 paracrine cytokines secreted by all the O‐ASC. MTS assays, direct and indirect co‐culture assays were used to assess the effects of O‐ASC on proliferation and migration of Hec‐1A (estrogen receptor−/progesterone receptor−) and Ishikawa (estrogen receptor+/progesterone receptor+) EC cells.

Results

Eight samples of O‐ASC were successfully isolated including four samples in obesity group and four in normal group. All the O‐ASC displayed typical characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells and possessed similar secretory functions as 26 cytokines were identified in condition medium of O‐ASC based on cytokine antibody array. The proliferation of Ishikawa cells was gently stimulated by O‐ASC from the two groups (P < 0.05) whereas without any effects on Hec‐1A cells. Both horizontal and vertical migrations of EC cells were promoted by O‐ASC (P < 0.01). However, there were no statistical differences between the two groups.

Conclusion

Human O‐ASC could influence the proliferation and migration of EC cells in vitro but the effects were not modified by donors’ BMI.
The Surprising Predictable Decline of Religion in the United States
Authors: Brauer Simon
Published: October 2018

Scholars over the past several decades have noted the resilience of religion in the United States (Chaves 2011; Gorski and Altınordu 2008; Hadden 1987:601–02; Presser and Chaves 2007), but many recognize that the youngest U.S. cohorts are significantly lower on several religious characteristics than older cohorts (Hout and Fischer 2014; Putnam and Campbell 2012; Voas and Chaves 2016). Scholars have proposed several explanations for this trend, disagreeing about whether it is the result of a particular cultural moment or an ongoing process leading to even greater religious decline. Voas (2009) proposed one such explanation. He used European data to show that the proportion of nonreligious people in each cohort only became significant when previous cohorts reached a critical mass of moderately religious people. Voas's model is novel and promising but has neither been examined statistically nor applied to U.S. data, which I take up here. I find that, surprisingly, the United States fits closely on the same trajectory of religious decline as European countries, suggesting a shared demographic process as opposed to idiosyncratic change. I conclude by discussing how these findings inform theories of self‐reinforcing religious decline and cross‐national patterns of religiosity.
Intention‐to‐treat analysis of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: The impact of pre‐existing diabetes mellitus
Authors: Li Zhiwei , Gao Zhenzhen , Xiang Jie , Zhou Jie , Yan Sheng , Hu Zhenhua
Published: October 2018

Background & Aims

Diabetes mellitus is known to negatively impact the outcome of liver transplant; however, data are scarce regarding risk of waitlist dropout and tumour recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. We examined the impact of diabetes mellitus on the outcomes of candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma on an intention‐to‐treat basis.

Methods

Our study included 15 776 candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis on the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database from 2008 to 2015 to evaluate the risk of waitlist dropout, hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence and overall survival.

Results

There were more patients dropped out from the waiting list owing to patient disease deterioration or tumour progression in the diabetes mellitus group (15.1% vs 13.7%, P = 0.024). The mean waiting time was similar in the two groups (233 days vs 230 days, P = 0.631). The recurrence rate was higher in the diabetes mellitus group (9.0% vs 6.2%, P < 0.001); however, the mean time to recurrence in the two groups was similar (23.7 months vs 22.6 months, P = 0.371). Diabetes mellitus, tumours exceeding Milan criteria, and AFP >400 ng/mL were independent predictive factors for recurrence. On an intention‐to‐treat basis, diabetes mellitus was also an independent poor prognostic factor for overall survival; however, the overall survival was comparable with tumours beyond Milan criteria.

Conclusions

Diabetes mellitus was associated with poor survival outcomes and an increased risk of waitlist dropout and tumour recurrence rates in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Those patients should be paid more attention to cardiovascular and oncological examination when determining waitlist and post‐transplant surveillance strategies.
Arrow–Debreu equilibria for rank‐dependent utilities with heterogeneous probability weighting
Authors: Jin Hanqing , Xia Jianming , Zhou Xun Yu
Published: October 2018

We study Arrow–Debreu equilibria for a one‐period‐two‐date pure exchange economy with rank‐dependent utility agents having heterogeneous probability weighting and outcome utility functions. In particular, we allow the economy to have a mix of expected utility agents and rank‐dependent utility ones, with nonconvex probability weighting functions. The standard approach for convex economy equilibria fails due to the incompatibility with second‐order stochastic dominance. The representative agent approach devised in Xia and Zhou (2016) does not work either due to the heterogeneity of the weighting functions. We overcome these difficulties by considering the comonotone allocations, on which the rank‐dependent utilities become concave. Accordingly, we introduce the notion of comonotone Pareto optima, and derive their characterizing conditions. With the aid of the auxiliary problem of price equilibria with transfers, we provide a sufficient condition in terms of the model primitives under which an Arrow–Debreu equilibrium exists, along with the explicit expression of the state‐price density in equilibrium. This new, general sufficient condition distinguishes the paper from previous related studies with homogeneous and/or convex probability weightings.
Frontal executive function and the bladder: A study of dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Haruta Hiroyuki , Sakakibara Ryuji , Ogata Tsuyoshi , Tateno Fuyuki , Kishi Masahiko , Aiba Yosuke , Uchiyama Tomoyuki , Yamamoto Tatsuya
Published: October 2018

Background

Pathophysiology of bladder dysfunction in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB, a disease that shares pathology with Parkinson's disease [PD]) is disturbed prefrontal‐basal ganglia pathway. Similarly, DLB/PD patients have frontal executive dysfunction by the same mechanism.

Aim

To study the relationship between executive function and bladder autonomic function in patients with DLB.

Methods

We recruited 45 patients with DLB (28 male, 17 female; age 73.3 years ± 6.8). Other neurologic, urologic, and systemic causes of cognitive and bladder dysfunctions were excluded. All patients underwent urodynamics tests and three sets of cognitive tasks (i.e. the mini‐mental state examination [MMSE], Alzheimer's disease assessment scale cognitive [ADAScog; general cognitive tasks], and the frontal assessment battery [FAB; frontal executive tasks]).

Results

The urinary questionnaire revealed urinary incontinence in 20 patients. Urodynamic testing revealed detrusor overactivity (DO) in 30 patients. Cognitive testing found patients’ mean MMSE score to be 22.6 ± 4.8, while their mean FAB score was 11.5 ± 2.6. There was no relationship between DO and total MMSE score. However, our analysis revealed a significant relationship between DO and total FAB score (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The results showed that performance on the FAB test decreased in DLB patients with bladder dysfunction.
CAD1 and CCR2 protein complex formation in monolignol biosynthesis in Populus trichocarpa
Authors: Yan Xiaojing , Liu Jie , Kim Hoon , Liu Baoguang , Huang Xiong , Yang Zhichang , Lin Ying‐Chung Jimmy , Chen Hao , Yang Chenmin , Wang Jack P. , Muddiman David C. , Ralph John , Sederoff Ronald R. , Li Quanzi , Chiang Vincent L.
Published: October 2018

Lignin is the major phenolic polymer in plant secondary cell walls and is polymerized from monomeric subunits, the monolignols. Eleven enzyme families are implicated in monolignol biosynthesis. Here, we studied the functions of members of the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) and cinnamoyl‐CoA reductase (CCR) families in wood formation in Populus trichocarpa, including the regulatory effects of their transcripts and protein activities on monolignol biosynthesis.

Enzyme activity assays from stem‐differentiating xylem (SDX) proteins showed that RNAi suppression of PtrCAD1 in P. trichocarpa transgenics caused a reduction in SDX CCR activity. RNAi suppression of PtrCCR2, the only CCR member highly expressed in SDX, caused a reciprocal reduction in SDX protein CAD activities. The enzyme assays of mixed and coexpressed recombinant proteins supported physical interactions between PtrCAD1 and PtrCCR2.

Biomolecular fluorescence complementation and pull‐down/co‐immunoprecipitation experiments supported a hypothesis of PtrCAD1/PtrCCR2 heterodimer formation.

These results provide evidence for the formation of PtrCAD1/PtrCCR2 protein complexes in monolignol biosynthesis in planta.
Archosauromorph extinction selectivity during the Triassic–Jurassic mass extinction
Authors: Allen Bethany J. , Stubbs Thomas L. , Benton Michael J. , Puttick Mark N.
Published: October 2018

Many traits have been linked to extinction risk among modern vertebrates, including mode of life and body size. However, previous work has indicated there is little evidence that body size, or any other trait, was selective during past mass extinctions. Here, we investigate the impact of the Triassic–Jurassic mass extinction on early Archosauromorpha (basal dinosaurs, crocodylomorphs and their relatives) by focusing on body size and other life history traits. We built several new archosauromorph maximum‐likelihood supertrees, incorporating uncertainty in phylogenetic relationships. These supertrees were then employed as a framework to test whether extinction had a phylogenetic signal during the Triassic–Jurassic mass extinction, and whether species with certain traits were more or less likely to go extinct. We find evidence for phylogenetic signal in extinction, in that taxa were more likely to become extinct if a close relative also did. However, there is no correlation between extinction and body size, or any other tested trait. These conclusions add to previous findings that body size, and other traits, were not subject to selection during mass extinctions in closely‐related clades, although the phylogenetic signal in extinction indicates that selection may have acted on traits not investigated here.