bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beam-induced redox transformation of arsenic during AsK-edge XAS measurements: availability of reducing or oxidizing agents and As speciation
Authors: Han Young-Soo , Jeong Hoon Young , Hyun Sung Pil , Hayes Kim F. , Chon Chul-Min
Published: March 2018

During X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements of arsenic (As), beam-induced redox transformation is often observed. In this study, the As species immobilized by poorly crystallized mackinawite (FeS) was assessed for the susceptibility to beam-induced redox reactions as a function of sample properties including the redox state of FeS and the solid-phase As speciation. The beam-induced oxidation of reduced As species was found to be mediated by the atmospheric O2and the oxidation products of FeS [e.g.Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides and intermediate sulfurs]. Regardless of the redox state of FeS, both arsenic sulfide and surface-complexed As(III) readily underwent the photo-oxidation upon exposure to the atmospheric O2during XAS measurements. With strict O2exclusion, however, both As(0) and arsenic sulfide were less prone to the photo-oxidation by Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides than NaAsO2and/or surface-complexed As(III). In case of unaerated As(V)-reacted FeS samples, surface-complexed As(V) was photocatalytically reduced during XAS measurements, but arsenic sulfide did not undergo the photo-reduction.
Influence of the core-hole effect on optical properties of magnesium oxide (MgO) near the MgL-edge region
Authors: Sinha Mangalika , Modi Mohammed H. , Ghosh Haranath , Yadav P. K. , Gupta R. K.
Published: March 2018

The influence of the core-hole effect on optical properties of magnesium oxide (MgO) is established through experimental determination of optical constants and first-principles density functional theory studies. Optical constants (δ and β) of MgO thin film are measured in the spectral region 40–300 eV using reflectance spectroscopy techniques at the Indus-1 synchrotron radiation source. The obtained optical constants show strong core exciton features near the MgL-edge region, causing significant mismatch with Henke's tabulated values. On comparing the experimentally obtained optical constants with Henke's tabulated values, an edge shift of ∼3.0 eV is also observed. Distinct evidence of effects of core exciton on optical constants (δ and β) in the near MgL-edge absorption spectra are confirmed through first-principles simulations.
Supramolecular arrangement and photophysical properties of a dinuclear cyanophenylboronic acid ester
Authors: Cárdenas-Valenzuela A. Jaquelin , Baldenebro-López Jesús , Guerrero-Álvarez Jorge A. , Höpfl Herbert , Glossman-Mitnik Daniel , Campos-Gaxiola José J. , Cruz-Enríquez Adriana
Published: March 2018

Boronic esters are useful building blocks for crystal engineering and the generation of supramolecular architectures, including macrocycles, cages and polymers (one-, two- and three-dimensional), with potential utility in diverse fields such as separation, storage and luminescent materials. The novel dinuclear cyanophenylboronic ester described herein, namely 4,4′-(2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diboraspiro[5.5]undecane-3,9-diyl)dibenzonitrile, C19H16B2N2O4, was prepared by condensation of 4-cyanophenylboronic acid and pentaerythritol and fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR (1H and 11B) spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and TG-DSC (thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry) studies. In addition, the photophysical properties were examined in solution and in the solid state by UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations with ethanol as solvent reproduced reasonably well the HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) of the title compound. Hirshfeld surface and fingerprint plot analyses are presented to illustrate the supramolecular connectivity in the solid state.
The fundamentals of crystal orientation
Authors: Dragoi Danut
Published: March 2018

The method described in this paper improves the old methods of crystal orientation, applies new parametric equations for crystallography, and increases the precision and accuracy of measurements. The method applies to inorganic and organic crystals. A breakthrough in crystal orientation happened about 25 years ago when two equations dependent on the Bragg angle and an arbitrary direction in the crystal were developed. Unfortunately, they were analytically insolvable and their unique solution was found numerically. Finding the numerical solution of crystal orientation is challenging from a mathematical point of view. In these conditions the numerical solution was found using the Newton method. The Newton method required a specific programming that limits the full benefit of the method in the laboratory. In recent years, a new numerical technique called GRG (generalized reduced gradient), which can be run on many inexpensive computers, was found to be a good fit for these equations. The solutions that can be found with the GRG method are now completed with additional parametric equations; they are easy to use with computers in many laboratories. In this way, parametrization of nonlinear equations for X-ray crystal orientation determines the positions of a reference surface of the single crystal relative to its crystallographic system and to a goniometer setting with two perpendicular axes of rotation. This approach was successfully validated and checked for different Si wafers with (111) and (004) orientation. The paper shows an innovative approach through the parametric equations in conjunction with exact solutions found with a GRG subroutine. The results of the method demonstrate the potential for new applications in industry and research.
Dependence of X-ray plane-wave rocking curves on the deviation from exact Bragg orientation in and perpendicular to the diffraction plane for the asymmetrical Laue case
Authors: Balyan Minas K.
Published: March 2018

For the asymmetrical Laue case the X-ray plane-wave transmission and reflection coefficients and rocking curves are analysed as a function of the deviation angles from the exact Bragg orientation in the diffraction plane and in the direction perpendicular to the diffraction plane. New peculiarities of the rocking curves are obtained. The peculiarities of both the effective absorption coefficient and rocking curves in thick crystals are also investigated.
Chronic health and lifestyle problems for people diagnosed with autism in a student-led clinic
Authors: Tolchard Barry , Stuhlmiller Cynthia
Published: March 2018

Purpose

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at greater risk of developing chronic health and risky lifestyle problems. This is exaggerated further for people living in rural settings and from cultural backgrounds traditionally underserved by healthcare services. The purpose of this paper is to describe an evaluation of health and behavioural lifestyle outcomes of people diagnosed with ASD in a student-led clinic in rural/regional Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

Routine clinical outcomes and lifestyle measures were routinely collected at a primary acre student-led Clinic in rural/regional Australia. Participants were all attending the clinic who provided consent for their routine date to be reported. Participants ranged in age from new born to 100 years and were representative of the local community.

Findings

The results indicate there is an increased risk for people with ASD developing chronic conditions compared to those without a diagnosis. This also resulted in higher body mass index and blood sugar levels linked to diabetes and hypertension. Mental health problems were common in people diagnosed with ASD especially anxiety disorders. Smoking was problematic for people with ASD but mainly in non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Alcohol use was not an increase risk in ASD.

Originality/value

Little is reported on the health and lifestyle experiences of people with ASD in rural/regional settings, especially from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This paper gives an initial insight to the presentation of chronic conditions and harmful lifestyle choices. Possible insights into adapting or modifying care for people with ASD in rural/regional Australia are given.
The role of directors: unravelling the effects of boards on corporate outcomes
Authors: Bravo Francisco , Reguera-Alvarado Nuria , del Pilar Pérez María
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse whether the theoretical relationship between the board composition and the cost of capital (CC) is mediated by risk disclosure (RD) practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Partial least squares techniques are used, and a sample of all the companies belonging to manufacturing industry listed on Standard and Poor’s 500 for the year 2009 is studied. In relation to board composition, several recommendations issued by US governance codes are considered: board independence, board size, CEO duality, gender diversity, ethnic diversity, and financial expertise. Content analysis techniques are employed to measure RDs.

Findings

The results show that boards that follow governance codes recommendations lead to a reduction in the CC through the disclosure of information on risks.

Research limitations/implications

These results provide encouraging opportunities for future research about the real role of the board of directors and suggest the need for the analysis of the participation of directors in firm strategy to better understand the effect of boards on the corporate outcome.

Practical implications

This evidence must help regulators and owners to set up adequate corporate governance mechanisms regarding the composition of boards. This evidence also presents direct implications for managers, who can better understand the value-relevance of RDs.

Originality/value

This paper provides new insight into the literature, which highlights that the effect of boards of directors on firm outcomes must be mediated by the involvement of boards in specific strategies.
Readiness assessment of leagility supply chain based on fuzzy cognitive maps and interpretive structural modeling: a case study
Authors: Kalantari Taher , Khoshalhan Farid
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The evaluation of readiness provides insight into the readiness of its individual components for successful accomplishment of tasks. This study aims to evaluate readiness in leagility of supply chains based on the design and analysis of fuzzy cognitive maps (FCM) and interpretive structural modeling (ISM).

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of the purpose of this study, data are gathered via the Delphi method. Moreover, FCM and ISM are also used to evaluate readiness.

Findings

Findings initially demonstrate a categorization of factors influencing leagility into static and dynamic variables according to the degree of their influence derived from the resultant behavior of FCM and ISM. It is also found that evaluating readiness in leagility of supply chains with ISM and FCM was done with respect to the type and role of the study variables, which were determined within the minimum and maximum ranges of 20 to 100 per cent, respectively.

Originality/value

The evaluation of the readiness using the FCM and ISM is proved to be more efficient than other classical methods. Experimental results of the study contribute to improve readiness of leagility of supply chain as well as develop functional areas of business.
The cooperation-competition interplay in the ICT industry
Authors: Leite Emilene , Pahlberg Cecilia , Åberg Susanne
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Building on a business network perspective, the paper addresses the following question: Why do firms move between cooperation and competition in the context of high-tech industry? Hence, the purpose of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the complex cooperation–competition interplay between actors in a business network.

Design/methodology/approach

A single case study within the information and communication technology industry is undertaken and illustrates the cooperation–competition interplay in projects of technology.

Findings

The authors discuss the implications of interdependence on relationship dynamics. The main argument is that business relationships survive despite periods of competition if interdependence is high. Thus, firms move between a state of cooperation and a state of competition within business relationships, rather than ending the relationships when starting to compete.

Practical implications

This study suggests that managers need to pay attention to how different degrees of interdependence lead firms to be embedded in cooperative or competitive forms of relationships.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the ongoing debate about cooperation, competition and coopetition within international business and industrial marketing literature. An interesting aspect in the paper is the cooperation–competition interplay, which is associated with positioning. A centrally positioned actor will choose who to bring into the partnership, with positioning concomitantly changing from project to project. The willingness of being a central actor, i.e. a project leader, places traditional buyer–supplier partners in competition. Thus, cooperation and/or competition becomes contextual.
Do brand communities benefit objectively under-performing products?
Authors: Thompson Scott A. , Kaikati Andrew M. , Loveland James M.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of brand community participation on new product adoption when the new product is the one which clearly under-performed compared to industry standards.

Design/methodology/approach

The data on participation behavior, membership duration and adoption behavior of 5,893 members of three different online communities (two brand forums, one general product forum) were gathered and assessed using a Cox PH model.

Findings

Results show that higher participation in a brand community leads to a greater likelihood of adopting objectively under-performing products, while also reducing the likelihood of purchasing rivals’ products. This occurs despite the higher levels of product knowledge possessed by these consumers. The findings also identify a key limiting condition for oppositional loyalty, that it is driven by membership duration, rather than by active participation in the brand community.

Originality/value

Prior research on the impact of brand community participation on product adoption has tended to focus on the adoption of products that are objectively superior to competing products. Unfortunately, only one product can be the performance leader in a given market at any time. Thus, managers do not know if brand communities are powerful enough to enhance the likelihood of adopting objectively under-performing products. This manuscript thus provides important insights for managers wishing to launch new products in categories where there are active brand communities.
The influence of collaborative competence and service innovation on manufacturers’ competitive advantage
Authors: Liu Feng-Hsu , Huang Tseng-Lung
Published: March 2018

Purpose

While service innovation is an important issue for manufacturers, relatively little research lends empirical support to the perspective that service innovation enhanced by collaborative competence may impact the competitive advantage of original equipment manufacturing (OEM) suppliers. This study aims to advance a service-dominant logic by empirically investigating the linkage between collaborative competence, service innovation and competitive advantage for OEM suppliers.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys were completed by representatives of 142 Taiwanese OEM suppliers in the electronics industry.

Findings

The results of path analysis suggest that information competence and coordination competence have positive effects on both exploitative service innovation and explorative service innovation. There only appears to be a significant relationship between joint innovation competence and explorative service innovation. Furthermore, two-pronged service innovations contribute to a supplier’s internal and external competitive advantage.

Originality/value

The empirical findings have important research and practical implications that help elucidate the antecedents and outcomes of OEM suppliers’ service innovation.
A novel memetic algorithm with a deterministic parameter control for efficient berth scheduling at marine container terminals
Authors: Dulebenets Maxim A.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The volumes of international containerized trade substantially increased over the past years. In the meantime, marine container terminal (MCT) operators are facing congestion issues at their terminals because of the increasing number of large-size vessels, the lack of innovative technologies and advanced handling equipment and the inability of proper scheduling of the available resources. This study aims to propose a novel memetic algorithm with a deterministic parameter control to facilitate the berth scheduling at MCTs and minimize the total vessel service cost.

Design/methodology/approach

A local search heuristic, which is based on the first-come-first-served policy, is applied at the chromosomes and population initialization stage within the developed memetic algorithm (MA). The deterministic parameter control strategy is implemented for a custom mutation operator, which alters the mutation rate values based on the piecewise function throughout the evolution of the algorithm. Performance of the proposed MA is compared with that of the alternative solution algorithms widely used in the berth scheduling literature, including a MA that does not apply the deterministic parameter control strategy, typical evolutionary algorithm, simulated annealing and variable neighborhood search.

Findings

Results demonstrate that the developed MA with a deterministic parameter control can obtain superior berth schedules in terms of the total vessel service cost within a reasonable computational time. Furthermore, greater cost savings are observed for the cases with high demand and low berthing capacity at the terminal. A comprehensive analysis of the convergence patterns indicates that introduction of the custom mutation operator with a deterministic control for the mutation rate value would provide more efficient exploration and exploitation of the search space.

Research limitations/implications

This study does not account for uncertainty in vessel arrivals. Furthermore, potential changes in the vessel handling times owing to terminal disruptions are not captured.

Practical implications

The developed solution algorithm can serve as an efficient planning tool for MCT operators and assist with efficient berth scheduling for both discrete and continuous berthing layout cases.

Originality/value

The majority of studies on berth scheduling rely on the stochastic search algorithms without considering the specific problem properties and applying the guided search heuristics. Unlike canonical evolutionary algorithms, the developed algorithm uses a local search heuristic for the chromosomes and population initialization and adjusts the mutation rate values based on a deterministic parameter control strategy for more efficient exploration and exploitation of the search space.
An evaluation of mid-stream operation in Hong Kong
Authors: Lau Yui-yip , Ng Adolf K.Y.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Mid-stream operation has had a significant role in Hong Kong’s economic development since the 1960s. Prior to the building of container terminals in Hong Kong, cargo was mainly loaded onto and discharged from ocean-going vessels by mid-stream operations and then shipped to Europe and North America. This paper aims to reinforce mid-stream operation is considered a “must” in supporting the substantial growth of maritime industry and strengthening Hong Kong’s role as an entrepôt.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors undertake a historical review of the evolution of Hong Kong’s mid-stream operation over the past half-century and investigate the future of mid-stream operation in light of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s policy of allocating Public Cargo Working Areas through an open auction process. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews are also undertaken in this study.

Findings

The emergence of container terminals generated competition for cargo between container terminals and mid-stream operators. In addition, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s policy of allocating Public Cargo Working Areas to mid-stream operators through an open auction process intensified negative influences on the survival of the mid-stream operation sector.

Originality/value

To date, mid-stream operation has been abandoned nearly everywhere except in Hong Kong. Yet, Hong Kong’s container system has become the most advanced in the world. The authors explain how and why mid-stream operation still plays such a key role in Hong Kong and how to enhance its sustainability. The authors also discuss the academic and managerial implications of their findings.
Cold supply chain of longline tuna and transport choice
Authors: Yang Yi-Chih , Lin Han-Yu
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The four purposes of this study are to understand the development and the current status of Taiwan’s far seas longline tuna fisheries through a review of the literature and interviews; to investigate the attitude of Taiwanese fishing vessel operators fishing in the Indian Ocean concerning the use of transportation under the influence of various factors; to analyze the relationship between changes in the transportation behavior of Taiwanese fishing vessel operators and various factors; and to provide suggestions to government and industry associations concerning the development of viable response strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses methods including factor analysis and the analytic hierarchy process to analyze questionnaires collected from industry personnel and governmental personnel involved in the supply chain system of the longline tuna fishery in the Indian Ocean.

Findings

It is found that 16 assessment criteria in four major dimensions have major influence on the choice of cold chain transport. An assessment of all dimensions indicates that reefer ships are still the preferred means of transshipping frozen catch.

Originality/value

This paper seeks to investigate factors affecting choice of cold chain mode of transport from the perspective of Taiwanese companies operating longline tuna fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean, which are chiefly motivated by the need to reduce operating costs, and also looks at their choices of means of transport.
Leader-member exchange, safety climate and employees’ safety organizational citizenship behaviors in container terminal operators
Authors: Lu Chin-Shan , Weng Hsiang-Kai , Lee Chih-Wen
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Container terminal operation is one of the most risky industries. Many of the accidents that occurred were found to be caused by human errors. However, it seems relatively little research has been conducted to examine the influence of leader-member exchange (LMX) relationship on employee safety behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of leader-member exchange and safety climate on employees’ safety organizational citizenship behaviors (SOCB) in the container terminal context based on the social exchange theory.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equation modeling was used with confirmatory factor analysis, and survey data are collected from 265 employees in major container terminals in Taiwan.

Findings

Results indicated that LMX is positively associated with safety climate, whereas safety climate positively influences employees’ safety citizenship behavior. Specifically, results indicated that safety climate mediates the effect of LMX on employees’ SOCB.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited to LMX dimensions adapted from the studies of Li and Liao (2014) and Vidyarthiv et al. (2014). Future research could examine the linkages between LMX, ethical climate, safety performance and supervisor leadership influence. Furthermore, this research focused specifically on employees from the container terminal operators in Taiwan. It would be valuable to collect data from employees from other countries to obtain a balanced view of the relationship between LMX, team-member exchange (TMX), safety climate and employee SOCB in container terminal operations.

Practical implications

This research provides a useful implication for container terminal operators to enhance LMX qualities and employee safety behavior through organizational participation, employee-helping behaviors and informing workers to obey safety rule and regulation.

Originality/value

Given the prevalence of accidents and unsafe behavior in container terminal operations, this research sought to examine the relationships among LMX, safety climate and employee SOCB in the container terminal context. Theoretically, this study highlights the importance of LMX and safety climate in explaining the SOCB of employees.
Challenging toxic masculinity in schools and society
Authors: Elliott Kathleen
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the contours and consequences of simplified, toxic forms of masculinity in schools and society.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a lens influenced by a feminist cultural critique, the author situates concerns about gender, power and inequality in current events in the American culture.

Findings

The author argues that toxic masculinity supports and is supported by gendered patterns of power that perpetuate broad inequalities and that schools have an important role to play in challenging these inequalities.

Practical implications

The paper includes concrete steps that educators can take to interrupt and teach against toxic masculinity and to involve young men and boys in this work as allies.

Social implications

The author argues that these steps have powerful social implications given schools’ influence as socializing institutions.

Originality/value

In this way, the paper’s value lies in highlighting how, by including discussions of masculinity and involving men and boys, schools can build on previous successes in fighting gender inequality that were aimed at girls and young women to effect a broad cultural transformation and help create a more just and equitable society.
Accounts of the future
Authors: Palermo Tommaso
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the design and use of scenarios in planning and management control processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on an exploratory case-study approach. Qualitative data have been collected between 2008 and 2011 from three energy companies operating in Italy.

Findings

The paper sheds light on three styles of designing and using scenarios. In the first (called “reactive”), scenarios provide a means for corporate actors to analyse past performance in the light of future expected performance. In the second (“proactive”), scenarios contribute to envision different future states of the world. In the third (“disciplined”), scenarios contribute to develop plausible, if not accurate, narratives about future outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

The study is comparative and exploratory. Possible areas for further work based on in-depth studies of scenarios within planning and control processes are identified.

Practical implications

The comparative analysis of the case-study material has implications for the ways in which flexible forms of management control can be mobilised by managers as a resource of action. It is shown that choices around the design and use of scenarios can mitigate some concerns with traditional planning and management control processes focused on the achievement of a single set of targets, but also raise new ones.

Originality/value

The paper sheds light on a scenario-based approach – called “disciplined flexibility” – that avoids the restrictive nature of budgetary controls without losing the benefits of setting a plan and a target for the future. The paper outlines elements that may support the use of “disciplined flexibility”, but also its potential limitations.
Comparison and optimization of PVD and CVD method on surface roughness and flank wear in hard-machining of DIN 1.2738 mold steel
Authors: Kara Fuat , Öztürk Burak
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the performance of the machining parameters used in the hard-turning process of DIN 1.2738 mold steel and identify the optimum machining conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Experiments were carried out via the Taguchi L18 orthogonal array. The evaluation of the experimental results was based on the signal/noise ratio. The effect levels of the control factors on the surface roughness and flank wear were specified with analysis of variance performed. Two different multiple regression analyses (linear and quadratic) were conducted for the experimental results. A higher correlation coefficient (R2) was obtained with the quadratic regression model, which showed values of 0.97 and 0.95 for Ra and Vb, respectively.

Findings

The experimental results indicated that generally better results were obtained with the TiAlN-coated tools, in respect to both surface roughness and flank wear. The Taguchi analysis found the optimum results for surface roughness to be with the cutting tools of coated carbide using physical vapor deposition (PVD), a cutting speed of 160 m/min and a feed rate of 0.1 mm/rev, and for flank wear, with cutting tools of coated carbide using PVD, a cutting speed of 80 m/min and a feed rate of 0.1 mm/rev. The results of calculations and confirmation tests for Ra were 0.595 and 0.570 µm, respectively, and for the Vb, 0.0244 and 0.0256 mm, respectively. Developed quadratic regression models demonstrated a very good relationship.

Originality/value

Optimal parameters for both Ra and Vb were obtained with the TiAlN-coated tool using PVD. Finally, confirmation tests were performed and showed that the optimization had been successfully implemented.
The Impact of the 1918 Reform Act on the Politics of the West Midlands
Authors: Cawood Ian
Published: March 2018

Despite the impact of the Representation of the People Act of 1918 on the political culture of the west midland region in the interwar years, the elements of continuity in the politics of the region are striking. The Labour Party failed to dislodge the Unionists’ political control in the region (with the exception of the Black Country) for most of the 1920s and 1930s, notwithstanding the presence of a significant industrial working‐class population in the bulk of the region's constituencies. The essay argues that the lack of a significant redistribution of seats in the region, in spite of wartime growth in all urban areas, enabled the well‐organised and well‐funded Unionist organisations controlled by Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain to adapt their cross‐class, non‐denominational message to appeal to the newly‐enlarged electorate. Although the Labour Party appeared on the brink of a breakthrough in the west midlands, owing to this ‘franchise factor’, the Unionists adapted better to the new age of mass communications and political sloganeering which replaced the Edwardian politics of confrontation and public meetings. The Representation of the People Act of 1918 may have changed the political culture of elections in Britain, but, in the west midlands at least, it did not alter the Unionists’ ability to manage the outcomes of the elections.
The Impact of the 1918 Reform Act in Ireland
Authors: Coakley John
Published: March 2018

Ironically, the Representatiion of the People Act of 1918, the penultimate measure in democratising the electoral franchise in the United Kingdom, had the effect not of modernising and consolidating political structures there but rather of paving the way for the kingdom's break‐up. The near‐threefold increase in the size of the Irish electorate opened the door to radical political forces, permitting the newly‐minted republican‐nationalist Sinn Féin party to win an overwhelming majority of Irish seats. Since the Sinn Féin members refused to attend parliament in Westminster and instead sought to establish an Irish republic, this effectively ended southern Irish representation in the house of commons. The act also facilitated a tightening of the Unionist grip in the northern part of the island, leading to the partition of Ireland in 1921: Northern Ireland continued as a near‐independent component of the United Kingdom, while the rest of Ireland left the United Kingdom in 1922. The essay explores the dynamics of this process, considering five matters in turn: the Irish political context within which the 1918 Reform Act was located; the nature of the act's provisions as they applied to Ireland; the outcome in Ireland of the first general election under the act; the extent to which this outcome was conditioned by the terms of the Reform Act; and the longer‐term consequences of the act. It concludes that the significance of the act for Ireland lay more in the domain of ideology than of constitutional law, given its symbolic importance for later generations of Irish nationalist activists.
A new permutation test statistic forK‐sample multivariate designs
Authors: Samonenko I. , Robinson J.
Published: March 2018

We consider permutation tests based on a likelihood ratio like statistic for the one way ork‐sample design where the observations arel‐dimensional vectors. This generalizes both the univariatek‐sample case and the two sample multivariate case used in the examples of Kolassa and Robinson. We also give a saddlepoint approximation for the permutation test. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the accuracy of the saddlepoint approximation and the improvement in the power of the tests compared to the classical statistics in the case of long tailed error distributions and no loss of power for normal error distributions.
Tail sums of Wishart and Gaussian eigenvalues beyond the bulk edge
Authors: Johnstone Iain M.
Published: March 2018

Consider the classical Gaussian unitary ensemble of size N and the real white Wishart ensemble with N variables and n degrees of freedom. In the limits of large N and n, with positive ratio γ in the Wishart case, the expected number of eigenvalues that exit the upper bulk edge is less than one, approaching 0.031 and 0.170 respectively, the latter number being independent of γ. These statements are consequences of quantitative bounds on tail sums of eigenvalues outside the bulk which are established here for applications in high dimensional covariance matrix estimation.
Perceiving Truth and Ceasing Doubts: What Can We Learn from 40 Years of China's Reform and Opening up?
Authors: Cai Fang
Published: March 2018

China's reform, opening up and resultant economic growth in the past 40 years have led to the accumulation of an immense array of experiences, which economists are obligated to look into, analyze and theorize upon. In fact, the rich literature in this area has positively assessed and documented China's successful experiences. However, theories that were established in Western countries have been applied as doctrine to judge China's experiences. By adopting an analytical framework unifying historical logic and theoretical logic, the purpose of this paper is to reveal the unique Chinese experience and its relevance to the general laws of economic development. Based on the experiences of and in reference to research findings about China, this paper chronicles the process of reform, opening up and economic growth, and analyzes the nexus between them. The study demystifies how the incentive mechanism, the factor accumulation and allocation system, market development, and macro policy environment reforms have spurred China's economic growth, structural changes and the increase in productivity. The changes in development stage are examined and policy implications for further reform are discussed.
Birt‐Hogg‐Dubé syndrome: an underdiagnosed genetic tumor syndrome
Authors: Steinlein Ortrud K. , Ertl‐Wagner Birgit , Ruzicka Thomas , Sattler Elke C.
Published: March 2018

Birt‐Hogg‐Dubé syndrome (BHD, also referred to as Hornstein‐Knickenberg syndrome) is an autosomal dominant tumor syndrome caused by mutations in the FLCN gene located on chromosome 17. Depending on their age, patients with BHD may exhibit various clinical signs and symptoms. Disease severity can vary greatly among members of the same family. Early symptoms include basal lung cysts, which can lead to recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces. The majority of patients (> 90 %) develop multiple fibrofolliculomas, especially on the face and upper trunk, in the second or third decade of life. Given the 12–34 % lifetime risk of developing benign or malignant renal tumors, targeted screening programs are prognostically crucial. While these renal tumors may belong to various histological subtypes, common variants include multifocal – sometimes bilateral – chromophobe and oncocytic hybrid tumors. Early diagnosis and adequate long‐term care of families with BHD require interdisciplinary cooperation.
Birt‐Hogg‐Dubé‐Syndrom: ein zu selten diagnostiziertes erbliches Tumorsyndrom
Authors: Steinlein Ortrud K. , Ertl‐Wagner Birgit , Ruzicka Thomas , Sattler Elke C.
Published: March 2018

Das Birt‐Hogg‐Dubé‐Syndrom (BHD‐Syndrom, eigentlich Hornstein‐Knickenberg‐ Syndrom) ist ein autosomal dominant erbliches Tumorsyndrom, welches durch Mutationen im FLCN‐Gen auf Chromosom 17 verursacht wird. Patienten mit BHD‐Syndrom können altersabhängig verschiedene Symptome zeigen, deren Ausprägung auch innerhalb einer Familie unterschiedlich schwer sein kann. Ein frühes Symptom sind basal betonte Lungenzysten, welche Ursache wiederholter Spontanpneumothoraces sein können. Die Mehrheit der Patienten (> 90 %) entwickelt im mittleren Lebensalter zahlreiche Fibrofollikulome vor allem im Gesicht und am Oberkörper. Für die Prognose entscheidend ist eine gezielte Tumorvorsorge, da ein Lebenszeitrisiko von 12–34 % für benigne und maligne Nierentumoren besteht. Die Nierentumoren beim BHD‐Syndrom können verschiedenen histologischen Subgruppen angehören, wobei multifokale, auch bilaterale Hybridtumoren mit chromophoben und onkozytären Anteilen häufig sind. Die frühzeitige Diagnosestellung ebenso wie die langfristige Betreuung von Familien mit BHD‐Syndrom erfordern eine interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit.
Analyse der pharmazeutischen Versorgungssituation von Patienten mit Psoriasis‐Arthritis auf Basis von Routinedaten der Gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung
Authors: Sondermann Wiebke , Ventzke Julia , Matusiewicz David , Körber Andreas
Published: March 2018

Hintergrund

Die Psoriasis‐Arthritis (PsA) gehört zu den chronisch entzündlichen Gelenkerkrankungen. Trotz zahlreicher versorgungswissenschaftlicher Studien in Deutschland liegen zur pharmazeutischen Versorgungssituation von PsA‐Patienten bisher kaum aktuelle Ergebnisse vor.

Studienpopulation und Methodik

Mit Hilfe einer systematischen Literaturrecherche sowie anhand von Routinedaten der Allgemeinen Ortskrankenkasse (AOK) Rheinland/Hamburg wird ein aktueller Überblick über die pharmazeutische Versorgung von PsA‐Patienten in Deutschland gegeben. Selektiert wurden Versicherte aus dem ambulanten und stationären Bereich, die im 1. und 2. Quartal des Jahres 2014 die gesicherte Abrechnungsdiagnose Psoriasis‐Arthritis L40.5+ aufwiesen. Anschließend wurden auf Basis dieser „vorab definierten“ Kohorte die Arzneimitteldaten für 5 Jahre (01.01.2010‐31.12.2014) abgerufen.

Ergebnisse

Es konnten insgesamt n  =  3205 Versicherte (45 % männlich, 55 % weiblich) der AOK Rheinland/Hamburg mit einer gesicherten PsA‐Diagnose selektiert werden. Das Durchschnittsalter betrug 58,9 Jahre. 53,7 % der PsA‐Patienten wurden mit systemischen PsA‐relevanten Arzneimitteln versorgt. Nichtsteroidale Antirheumatika (NSAR) wurden am häufigsten verordnet, gefolgt von systemischen Glucocorticoiden. Von den selektierten PsA‐Patienten, die eine Systemtherapie erhielten, wurden 72,1 % mittels einer Disease‐modifying‐antirheumatic‐Drug (DMARD)‐Monotherapie behandelt, gefolgt von der Kombinationstherapie aus DMARDs und Biologika (20,9 %).

Schlussfolgerungen

Die pharmakologische Therapie der PsA muss eine Gewährleistung zwischen adäquater Versorgung der PsA mit Verhinderung der Krankheitsprogression und ökonomischer Verantwortung darstellen.
A House of Living Stones
Authors: Potter Philip
Published: March 2018

This report to the 6th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Vancouver in 1983 describes the church as a “House of Living Stones,” based on the First Letter of Peter. The ecumenical movement is the means by which the churches that form the house, the oikos of God, are seeking to live and witness before all peoples. The image of the house of living stones is a reminder that only as the churches relate to each other as living stones will they discover new realities about their essential calling to be the church, the house of the triune God, as a fellowship of confessing, learning, participating, sharing, healing, reconciliation, unity, and expectancy to the glory of God.
Reformation, Africa, and Diakonia
Authors: Phiri Isabel Apawo
Published: March 2018

What does the inheritance of Reformation mean for Africa in church and in society in the context of the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace of the World Council of Churches? This article argues that the commemoration of the Reformation provides important markers for the global and ecumenical context drawing from the three dimensions of the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace; namely, celebrating the gifts of the Reformation, visiting the wounds of injustices, and identifying areas that require transformation or have already showed signs of hope for transformation toward justice for all. Throughout the conversation, there is constant questioning of what the Reformation should look like in the context of Africa to reject distortion of truth and embrace the experience of justice for all. For the way forward, the proposal is made that focusing on action through diakonia will bring meaningful transformation in the church and society in a way that promotes ecumenism and life in fullness for all the children of God and God's creation.
Emilio Castro: A Passion for the Gospel
Authors: Sintado Carlos A.
Published: March 2018

This article reviews the role of Emilio Castro as general secretary of the World Council of Churches (1985–1992), highlighting his involvement in the Conciliar Process for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation; his appreciation for Orthodox spirituality and theology; and his commitment to strengthening relationships with Pentecostals and evangelicals.
Eugene Carson Blake: Renewal in Church and Society
Authors: Gill Theodore A.
Published: March 2018

This article reviews the ecumenical involvement of Eugene Carson Blake, the second general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) from 1966 to 1972, focusing on the support for the US civil rights movement and rejection of racism that he brought with him to the WCC. It also examines his role at the WCC's 4th Assembly, in Uppsala, which is often seen as a turning point in ecumenical history.
Willem A. Visser ‘t Hooft: The Future of Peace
Authors: Rein Gerhard
Published: March 2018

This is an edited translation of an address given on 20 July 2017, the 73rd anniversary of the bomb plot against Adolf Hitler, at the Adam von Trott Foundation in Imshausen, Germany. It recalls the contacts of Willem A. Visser 't Hooft, the first general secretary of the World Council of Churches, with the German resistance during the Second World War, discusses the relevance of their vision of the post‐war future to contemporary politics, and highlights the significance of Visser 't Hooft for the ecumenical movement.
The Mandate of the Ecumenical Movement
Authors: Visser 't Hooft Willem A.
Published: March 2018

This is the text of the address given by Willem A. Visser 't Hooft to the Uppsala Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 1968 after being named honorary president of the WCC, following his retirement as general secretary two years earlier. In this address, Visser 't Hooft reviews the 20th‐century history of the ecumenical movement and the contemporary mandate of the WCC, in which the central issue is the relationship between the church and the world, where the vertical dimension to God of the church's unity determines the horizontal dimension of its service to the world. The address concludes with four challenges: no horizontal advance without vertical orientation; the ecumenical movement and the churches need each other; church unity is important; and youth expects answers.
Understanding and managing fish populations: keeping the toolbox fit for purpose
Authors: Paris J. R. , Sherman K. D. , Bell E. , Boulenger C. , Delord C. , El‐Mahdi M. B. M. , Fairfield E. A. , Griffiths A. M. , Gutmann Roberts C. , Hedger R. D. , Holman L. E. , Hooper L. H. , Humphries N. E. , Katsiadaki I. , King R. A. , Lemopoulos A. , Payne C. J. , Peirson G. , Richter K. K. , Taylor M. I. , Trueman C. N. , Hayden B. , Stevens J. R.
Published: March 2018

Wild fish populations are currently experiencing unprecedented pressures, which are projected to intensify in the coming decades. Developing a thorough understanding of the influences of both biotic and abiotic factors on fish populations is a salient issue in contemporary fish conservation and management. During the 50th Anniversary Symposium of The Fisheries Society of the British Isles at the University of Exeter, UK, in July 2017, scientists from diverse research backgrounds gathered to discuss key topics under the broad umbrella of ‘Understanding Fish Populations’. Below, the output of one such discussion group is detailed, focusing on tools used to investigate natural fish populations. Five main groups of approaches were identified: tagging and telemetry; molecular tools; survey tools; statistical and modelling tools; tissue analyses. The appraisal covered current challenges and potential solutions for each of these topics. In addition, three key themes were identified as applicable across all tool‐based applications. These included data management, public engagement, and fisheries policy and governance. The continued innovation of tools and capacity to integrate interdisciplinary approaches into the future assessment and management of fish populations is highlighted as an important focus for the next 50 years of fisheries research.
Analysis of The Relationship Between Income Inequality snd Poverty Prevalence in Selected North Central States of Nigeria: 1991 – 2013
Authors: Shaba Ndako Yahaya , J. Obansa S. A. , Magaji Sule , Yelwa Mohammed
Published: March 2018

Poverty in Nigeria has been described as pervasive owing to the fact that the nation has witnessed a persistent increase in poverty level over the years despite various poverty alleviation programs. More so, it has been argued that income inequality is a manifestation as well as strong cause of poverty. The study therefore analyses the empirical relationship between income inequality and poverty prevalence among households in selected North Central States in Nigeria. This study employed survey method supported by time series data using regression analysis A representative sample of 600 respondents was planned for the survey in order to have at least 462 households responding. The result shows that dependency ratio, level of calorie intake, poverty per head counts are important factor influencing the level of poverty prevalence. Hence the study observes a substantial correlation between income inequality and poverty prevalence in the studied North Central Nigeria. The study therefore recommends a deliberate policy of reducing income inequality through equitable distribution of income and acceptable revenue sharing formula, need to campaign against large family size, providing subsidy and credit facilities for farmers and artisans true co-operatives, overhauling existing poverty alleviation programme and finally instituting good governance in every sphere of government activity which is a sine-qua-non for poverty reduction.