bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Students’ acceptance and satisfaction of learning through course websites
Authors: Kumar Sharma Sujeet , Kumar Chandel Jyoti , Madhumohan Govindaluri Srikrishna
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to understand the interrelationships between the various factors that affect the use of course Web sites by university students in a developing country. The factors considered for the purpose of studying these interrelationships include perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived Web site credibility and Web site learning acceptance and satisfaction. Furthermore, a comparative study of the potential differences in perceptions between Indian and Omani students with respect to the aforementioned factors is also presented.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey instrument was used to collect data from students. Based on an extensive literature review, this paper uses empirical research to analyze student satisfaction in relation to learning through course Websites. Data were analyzed using factor analysis, structural equation modeling and a t-test.

Findings

– Under the newly proposed construct, Web site credibility was found to be an important predictor of Web site learning acceptance and satisfaction, whereas perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were mediating variables. In the extended study that compared the relative perceptions of Indian and Omani students, a statistically significant difference in Indian and Omani students was observed for Web site learning acceptance and satisfaction.

Practical implications

– This study can provide valuable insights for decision-makers that will aid the development of more user-friendly course Web sites for higher education institutions and also promote higher levels of learning, satisfaction and greater course web site usage.

Originality/value

– This study is probably the first attempt made to observe students’ perceptions of learning via course Web sites in Oman. Furthermore, the use of perceived Web site credibility as a factor in understanding perceptions regarding course Web site learning is a unique feature presented by this paper that is seldom seen in the existing research literature.
A conceptual framework to address barriers to knowledge management in project-based organizations
Authors: Akhavan Peyman , Reza Zahedi Mohammad , Hosein Hosein Seyed
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purposes of this study are to identify, classify and prioritize knowledge management (KM) barriers in an Iranian project-based organization (PBO) and to present a conceptual framework for improving attitudes to KM in the Iranian context.

Design/methodology/approach

– After studying previous literature on the topic, initial barriers of KM in PBOs were extracted. Then, a list of barriers of KM in the aforementioned organizations was finalized by interviewing experts in KM. After that, the barriers were prioritized using a questionnaire. Finally, a conceptual framework for successfully tackling KM barriers was presented.

Findings

– In this article, barriers of KM in PBOs have been divided into five categories: individual, organizational, technological, contextual, and inter-project. Then a three-layered conceptual framework has been presented which describes how the barriers of KM in PBOs may be removed progressively.

Practical implications

– The prepared and prioritized list of barriers of KM in PBOs is a stepping stone and a guideline for managers in PBOs which will enable them to identify barriers of KM in their own organizations and resolve them and improve KM in their organizations. It also serves as a useful base for researchers to expand further research concerning barriers of KM in PBOs.

Originality/value

– This article is probably the first article which has identified barriers of KM via interviews and questionnaires carried out in 50 active PBOs which had a KM section. The article also presents a three-layered framework for lowering barriers of KM, which can be applied step by step after considering the level of importance of each one identified.
Development of a cohesive zone model for three-dimensional simulation of joint de-bonding/delamination under mixed-mode I/II fatigue loading
Authors: Pirondi A. , Giuliese G. , Moroni F.
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– In this work, the cohesive zone model (CZM) developed by some of the authors to simulate the propagation of fatigue defects in two dimensions is extended in order to simulate the propagation of defects in 3D. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– The procedure has been implemented in the finite element (FE) solver (Abaqus) by programming the appropriate software-embedded subroutines. Part of the procedure is devoted to the calculation of the rate of energy release per unit, G, necessary to know the growth of the defect.

Findings

– The model was tested on different joint geometries, with different load conditions (pure mode I, mode II pure, mixed mode I/II) and the results of the analysis were compared with analytical solutions or virtual crack closure technique (VCCT).

Originality/value

– The possibility to simulate the growth of a crack without any re-meshing requirements and the relatively easy possibility to manipulate the constitutive law of the cohesive elements makes the CZM attractive also for the fatigue crack growth simulation. However, differently from VCCT, three-dimensional fatigue de-bonding/delamination with CZM is not yet state-of-art in FE softwares.
A robot assisted assembly system for small components in aircraft assembly
Authors: Jin Zhangjun , Yu Cijun , Li Jiangxiong , Ke Yinglin
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a robot-assisted assembly system (RAAS) for the installation of a variety of small components in the aircraft assembly system. The RAAS is designed to improve the assembly accuracy and increase the productive efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

– The RAAS is a closed-loop feedback system, which is integrated with a laser tracking system and an industrial robot system. The laser tracking system is used to evaluate the deviations of the position and orientation of the small component and the industrial robot system is used to locate and re-align the small component according to the deviations.

Findings

– The RAAS has exhibited considerable accuracy improvement and acceptable assembly efficiency in aircraft assembly project. With the RAAS, the maximum position deviation of the component is reduced to 0.069 mm and the maximum orientation deviation is reduced to 0.013°.

Social implications

– The RAAS is applied successfully in one of the aircraft final assembly projects in southwest China.

Originality/value

– By integrating the laser tracking system, the RAAS is constructed as a closed-loop feedback system of both the position and orientation of the component. With the RAAS, the installation a variety of small components can be dealt with by a single industrial robot.
Design of a myoelectric prosthetic hand implementing postural synergy mechanically
Authors: Li Shunchong , Sheng Xinjun , Liu Honghai , Zhu Xiangyang
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to describe the design of a multi-degree of freedom (DOF) prosthetic hand prototype implementing postural synergy mechanically, which is actuated by two motors via a transmission unit, and is controlled using surface electromyography (sEMG) signal.

Design/methodology/approach

– First, an anthropomorphic robotic hand is designed to imitate the human hand. The robotic hand has 18 DOF, 12 of which are actively driven by Bowden cables. Next, a set of different grasp modes are performed on a “full actuation” robotic hand, and principal component analysis (PCA) method is used to extract the first two postural synergies. Then, they are used to design a differential pulley-based transmission unit using two independent inputs to drive 12 output tendons. Finally, two control signals extracted from six channels of sEMG signals are used to proportionally control the two motors for achieving hand posture synthesis.

Findings

– Using a differential pulley-based mechanical transmission unit to implement the synthesis of the first two postural synergies can make the prosthetic hand achieve different grasps by two motors, such as power, precision and lateral grasps. It is also feasible to control this “two actuation” prosthetic hand by relating the two-dimensional sEMG inputs with the first two postural synergies.

Originality/value

– Mechanical implantation of postural synergies reduces the number of independent actuators without sacrificing the prosthetic hand’s versatility and simplifies its controller. Two-dimensional control extracted from sEMG is mapped into the combination coefficients of postural synergy synthesis. It shows potential application in the practical prosthetic hand.
Robot ethics and law
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This is the second part of a two-part paper which aims to provide an insight into the ethical and legal issues surrounding certain classes of robot. This part is concerned with law.

Design/methodology/approach

– Following an introduction, this paper first describes the European RoboLaw project and then considers legal issues and activities relating to civilian airborne drones, driverless road vehicles and assistive robots. It concludes with a short discussion.

Findings

– The legal issues associated with many classes of robot are the topic of much debate, and efforts are underway to create appropriate legislative frameworks. A project is presently seeking to create a framework for the development of a Europe-wide “Robolaw” and in certain cases, laws are already being formulated to accommodate recent robotic developments. These deliberations are rapidly gaining pace and are now also considering future generations of highly autonomous and intelligent robots.

Originality/value

– This paper provides an insight into the highly topical and complex issue of robot law.
Advanced swarm robots addressing innovative tasks such as assembly, search, rescue, mapping, communication, aerial and other original applications
Authors: Bloss Richard
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review some of the various worldwide projects to develop and apply innovative swarm-type robots to many challenging applications.

Design/methodology/approach

– An in-depth review of published information and interviews with researchers and developers of swarm robot technology were conducted.

Findings

– Swarm robots continue to be developed to match an ever-increasing number of interesting and innovative applications.

Practical implications

– Readers may be very surprised at the tasks that autonomous swarm robots can address and the developments that are underway to further extend the abilities of swarm robots.

Originality/value

– This paper is a review of a wide range of the latest swarm robot developments, innovations and applications.
Public versus private broadcasters’ management
Authors: Vila Natalia , Küster Inés
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to prove the existence of significant differences between private and public corporate credibility antecedents and effects.

Design/methodology/approach

– Totally, 816 Spanish viewers’ valuations were obtained (408 for the public television network and 408 for four private first generation broadcasters). Results show that some corporate reputation antecedents (perceived quality) and effects (attitudes) are stronger when private broadcasters are considered.

Findings

– Result show that proposed credibility reputation antecedents and effects are significant and that some differences between private and public entities really do exist.

Research limitations/implications

– To enhance a television network's reputation managers can follow two different but related paths: improve the quality and improve the consistency of the network's visual identity. That is, they should act on both content and form. However, public or private commercial broadcasters should emphasize different ways.

Practical implications

– The general impressions subsumed under the concept of corporate credibility are used to easily and automatically evaluate particular offers.

Originality/value

– Show, in the broadcasting industry, that new challenges and responsibilities for public broadcasting services in this new digital era of liberalization do really exist compared to private companies.
How does cooperation affect innovation in micro-enterprises?
Authors: Tu Chiayu , Hwang Shiuh-Nan , Wong Jehn-Yih
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This research investigates how micro-enterprises cooperate with external parties in order to promote innovation and entrepreneurial success. The purpose of this paper is to describe supplier and consumer cooperation and analyzes how these two behavioral modes influence the product and service innovations of micro-enterprises. Based on the resource-based view of the firm, the authors show that micro-enterprises help the source of innovation by tapping into the resources and abilities of suppliers.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research used a questionnaire to randomly sample micro-entrepreneurs that run stalls at night markets. Before distributing the final questionnaire, the authors in-depth interviewed ten micro-entrepreneurs and asked them to openly describe their entrepreneurial processes and success stories.

Findings

– The results of this study show that cooperation with consumers does not improve product and service innovations. By contrast, the cooperation of micro-enterprises with suppliers was found to increase the generation of product and service innovations in the present study. And the findings show that the effect of innovation approaches on entrepreneurial success indicates that product innovation positively improves firm performance. Last, from the perspective of cooperation behavior, product innovation mediates entrepreneurial success through cooperation with suppliers.

Research limitations/implications

– Because of respondents were night market vendors and thus the results are not necessarily generalizable to other types of micro-enterprises. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test multiple types of micro-enterprises. Second, this research aimed to differentiate the relationships between innovation approaches and entrepreneurial success by focussing exclusively on product and service innovations. Therefore, other variables should be included in future studies.

Practical implications

– As for practical implications in the field of cooperation behavior, the authors have shown that it is crucial to maintain long-term cooperative relations with trusted suppliers.

Social implications

– As for practical implications in the field of cooperation behavior, the authors have shown that it is crucial to maintain long-term cooperative relations with trusted suppliers.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfills an identified need to study how innovation in micro-enterprises.
Effects of aging on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high-temperature Zn-4Al-3Mg solder
Authors: Wang Huan , Liu Yongchang , Gao Huixia , Gao Zhiming
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the transformations during aging at 200°C for different periods on microstructure and mechanical properties of high-temperature Zn-4Al-3Mg solders.

Design/methodology/approach

– The solder was melted in a resistance furnace, and different cooling rates were obtained by changing the cooling medium. Subsequently, all the specimens were aged at 200°C for 20 h and 50 h. A scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector and X-ray diffraction were used for the observation of microstructures and the determination of phase composition. Tensile tests and Rockwell hardness tests were also performed.

Findings

– After aging, Zn atoms precipitated from the supersaturated α-Al and the (α-Al + η-Zn)eutectoid phase with the original fine lamellar structure coarsened and spheroidized to minimize the system energy. Among these solders, the furnace-cooled alloys exhibited the highest thermal stability, largely retaining their original morphology after aging, whereas the collapse and spheroidization of the η-Zn phase and the coarsening of the η-Zn dendrites took place in the air-cooled and water-cooled samples, respectively. Furthermore, a decrease in tensile strength during aging was attributed to the thermal softening effect. The variation of macro-hardness was mainly associated with the microstructural alterations in terms of quantity, morphology and distribution of soft η-Zn phase and hard intermetallic compounds induced by the aging treatment.

Originality/value

– The structural stability of eutectic Zn-4Al-3Mg solders solidified at different cooling rates and the effect of aging on mechanical properties were investigated.
Intergenerational trade‐off for water may induce a mother–offspring conflict in favour of embryos in a viviparous snake
Authors: Dupoué Andréaz , Brischoux François , Angelier Frédéric , DeNardo Dale F. , Wright Christian D. , Lourdais Olivier
Published: September 2014

Parent–offspring conflicts are likely to occur when resources are limiting either at pre‐ or post‐natal stages due to intergenerational trade‐offs over resources. Current theory posits that such conflicts may influence the evolution of parental allocation as well as reproductive modes. While energy allocation to the offspring has received considerable attention, the distribution of water – another potentially limited vital resource to both the mother and offspring – and the resulting outcomes remain grossly understudied.

Here, we explored the intergenerational trade‐off related to water resources in the viviparous aspic viper (Vipera aspis) by examining the effects of water deprivation on female physiology (body mass, haematocrit and osmolality), water transfer to developing embryos and reproductive performance.

As a result of water deprivation, females became dehydrated, with the effects more pronounced in pregnant compared to nonreproductive females. Among pregnant females, the impacts of water deprivation on water balance were correlated with fecundity. In contrast, water deprivation had no effect on water transfer to the offspring or on reproductive performance.

Our results demonstrate that, under water‐constraining conditions, female water balance is compromised in favour of the developing embryos, highlighting a significant intergenerational trade‐off for water. Although ectothermic reptiles are particularly tolerant in water balance perturbations, our results suggest that, like energy, water can be a conflicting resource between mother and offspring. Parent–offspring conflict over water should therefore be further investigated to better understand reproductive modes and reproductive trade‐offs in terrestrial organisms.
The composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in the roots of a ruderal forb is not related to the forest fragmentation process
Authors: Grilli Gabriel , Urcelay Carlos , Galetto Leonardo , Davison John , Vasar Martti , Saks Ülle , Jairus Teele , Öpik Maarja
Published: September 2014

Land‐use changes and forest fragmentation have strong impact on biodiversity. However, little is known about the influence of new landscape configurations on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community composition. We used 454 pyrosequencing to assess AMF diversity in plant roots from a fragmented forest. We detected 59 virtual taxa (VT; phylogenetically defined operational taxonomic units) of AMF – including 10 new VT – in the roots of Euphorbia acerensis. AMF communities were mainly composed of members of family Glomeraceae and were similar throughout the fragmented landscape, despite variation in forest fragment size (i.e. small, medium and large) and isolation (i.e. varying pairwise distances). AMF communities in forest fragments were phylogenetically clustered compared with the global, but not regional and local AMF taxon pools. This indicates that non‐random community assembly processes possibly related to dispersal limitation at a large scale, rather than habitat filtering or biotic interactions, may be important in structuring the AMF communities. In this system, forest fragmentation did not appear to influence AMF community composition in the roots of the ruderal plant. Whether this is true for AMF communities in soil and the roots of other ecological groups of host plants or in other habitats deserves further study.
The paradox of the modernisation of urban water systems in Europe: Intrinsic institutional limits for sustainability
Authors: Bolognesi Thomas
Published: September 2014

This article assesses the sustainability potential of the urban water systems in Europe (UWSE) following their modernisation. A decade after implementation and close to the first deadlines, modernisation efforts seem to have not been (totally) successful. This article examines the ability of governance to achieve sustainability and poses the question of how modernisation develops a particular “terrain” more or less favourable to sustainability. We use the Institutional resource regimes framework which has been dedicated to determining the potential for sustainability of natural resources regulation. Conclusions show that the modernisation of UWSEs offers a path for progress which though necessary is insufficient due to a lack of coherence between policy design and the regulatory system. Globally, the development of regulation goes hand in hand with increasing inconsistencies that reduce the efficiency of the reform.
Expression of p63 and CK5/6 in early‐stage lung squamous cell carcinoma is not only an early diagnostic indicator but also correlates with a good prognosis
Authors: Ma Yunfan , Fan Mengying , Dai Liang , Kang Xiaozheng , Liu Yiqiang , Sun Yu , Xiong Hongchao , Liang Zhen , Yan Wanpu , Chen Keneng
Published: September 2014

Background

Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of lung cancers, and lung squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) is one of the main types. Advances in the treatment of lung SQCC are lacking when compared to lung adenocarcinoma. The main treatment for early‐stage SQCC is surgery. However, factors affecting the efficacy of surgical treatments for early‐stage lung SQCC remain unclear. In this study, we examined the significance of commonly used lung SQCC diagnostic markers p63, p40, and cytokeratin (CK)5/6 in prognosis.

Methods

Seventy‐six cases of early‐stage lung SQCC (N0) were obtained from our lung cancer database (January 2000 to December 2009). Tissue microarray and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were used to detect the expression of p63, p40, and CK5/6. The effect of the expression level of each marker on patients' survival was examined.

Results

Sensitivity and specificity of each marker for detecting lung SQCC was 87.0% and 81.0% for p63, 75.9% and 97.9% for p40, and 78.9% and 97.7% for CK5/6. Survival rates of patients with high expression levels of p63 or CK5/6 or both were higher than in patients with low expression levels (P < 0.05). Expression levels of p40 had no effect on survival (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that high levels of p63 expression p63+CK5/6 co‐expression were independent prognostic factors for good survival.

Conclusion

IHC staining detection of p63 and CK5/6 in specimens should be routinely performed in postoperative early‐stage lung SQCC patients. Its significance lies not only in differential diagnosis, but also in determining prognosis.
Alternative method for jejunostomy in Ivor‐Lewis esophagectomy
Authors: Gong Liqun , Yan Bo , Chen Yulong , Wang Meng , Zhang Qiang , Hui Chen , Wang Changli
Published: September 2014

Background

To supplement nutrition, jejunostomy has been widely adopted as an adjunct surgical procedure for Ivor‐Lewis esophagectomy. Most Chinese surgeons have a preference for parenteral nutrition even though it has some disadvantages compared with jejunostomy. In this report, we describe a new approach that allows the quick insertion of a feeding tube in Ivor‐Lewis esophagectomy. We retrospectively analyze cases that have applied this approach and compare the advantages and disadvantages of jejunostomy.

Methods

Between January 2010 and December 2012, 131 patients underwent Ivor‐Lewis esophagectomy in our hospital. These patients were divided into three groups: the total parenteral nutrition (PN) group, the jejunostomy (JT) group and the feeding tube (FT) group. The effect and safety of the procedure were compared.

Results

It took approximately 20 minutes longer to perform jejunostomy compared to placing a feeding tube (P < 0.05). The nutrition cost of the JT group was higher than the FT group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the FT and JT groups (P > 0.05) in the ratio of body weight loss seven days post‐surgery. The anal exsufflation time of the FT group was similar to the JT group (P > 0.05). The incidence of intestinal adhesion and obstruction in the JT group was 26.3%, which is much higher than in the FT and PN groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Placing the feeding tube after Ivor‐Lewis esophagectomy can decrease operative damage and bring sufficient nutrition. We believe it can be an alternative to jejunostomy in Ivor‐Lewis esophagectomy.
Forest expansion or fragmentation? Discriminating forest fragments from natural forest patches through patch structure and spatial context metrics
Authors: Matte Ana Luiza Leichter , Müller Sandra Cristina , Becker Fernando Gertum
Published: September 2014

In forest–grassland mosaics, patches can result from two processes: forest expansion over grassy ecosystems and forest fragmentation. We tested the hypothesis that patches produced by these processes differed in structure and spatial context in a forest–grassland mosaic in the southern Brazilian highlands. We compared a present‐day land cover map with a past vegetation map to identify natural forest patches and forest fragments. Patches were described according to structure (size, core area and shape metrics) and spatial context (distance from roads and urban areas, edge contrast). Principal component analyses were used to examine gradients of patch types, and differences were tested by analysis of variance with randomization test. We found 878 natural patches and 214 fragments. Natural forest patches, riparian forest patches and forest fragments differed in structure and spatial context. In comparison to natural forest patches, fragments tend to be larger, with larger core areas, and more irregular and complex in shape. Fragments are situated in a different spatial context, tending to be closer to roads and urban areas and to present higher edge contrast. Riparian natural forest patches are similar to natural forest patches, except for shape. The smaller area and regular shape of natural patches probably result from the mechanisms involved in nucleus formation in the grassland matrix and from current grassland management. Natural patches are less exposed to some anthropogenic stresses, since most of them remain in a native grassland matrix context. Our results show that inferring process from pattern is not trivial, because different processes – forest expansion and forest fragmentation – may lead to either distinct or similar patterns of patch shape and spatial context. Studying patch structure and spatial context may then provide further insight into understanding changes in vegetation pattern at landscape scale, and in disentangling the effects of concurrent processes.
Epiphyseal osteosarcoma revisited: four illustrative cases with unusual histopathology and literature review
Authors: Chow Louis Tsun Cheung , Wong Simon Kwok Chuen
Published: September 2014

Osteosarcomas arising in the epiphysis are extremely rare and easily missed in the diagnostic consideration of epiphyseal tumors. It is the purpose of this study to delineate the clinical pathological characteristics of ‘epiphyseal osteosarcoma’ under the definition of ‘a solitary long bone osteosarcoma radiographically considered an epiphyseal tumor for which the main radiologic differential diagnosis would encompass giant cell tumor, chondroblastoma and clear cell chondrosarcoma’.

Four such cases with unusual histopathology were retrieved among 110 cases of osteosarcoma. Their clinical, radiological and pathological features, together with all 10 reported cases, were analyzed.

The radiographic diagnoses of our four cases include two giant cell tumors, one chondroblastoma and one clear cell chondrosarcoma but turn out to be fibroblastic, giant cell rich, telangiectatic and epithelioid variant of epiphyseal osteosarcoma. Including our patients, the 14 reported epiphyseal osteosarcomas comprise 8 males and 6 females, the age at presentation ranges from 11 to 39 years, two‐third in the second decade, 71.4% affect the femur. Due to their epiphyseal locations, many carry benign radiological diagnoses notably giant cell tumor and chondroblastoma.

Epiphyseal osteosarcomas may not only masquerade as benign radiological bony lesions but also assume many histological patterns; orthopedic surgeons, radiologists and pathologists should be aware of such possibility. Their behavior and prognosis are dictated by the histologic types, grading and staging rather than location.
Calcifying fibrous tumor: an unrecognized IgG4—related disease?
Authors: Larson Brent K. , Balzer Bonnie , Goldwasser Jerome , Dhall Deepti
Published: September 2014

Calcifying fibrous tumor is a rare benign mass lesion characterized by bland spindle cells embedded in abundant collagenous matrix, interspersed dystrophic or psammomatous calcifications, and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. It shares several clinical and morphologic features with IgG4‐related disease, a newly recognized fibroinflammatory disorder. Characteristic histologic features of IgG4‐related lesions include dense fibrosis and abundant lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, similar to calcifying fibrous tumor. They contain high numbers of IgG4‐positive plasma cells in the tissue. Patients also often have elevated serum IgG4 levels. We report the case of a patient with an ileal calcifying fibrous tumor that contained 69 IgG4‐positive plasma cells per high‐power field and an IgG4‐to‐IgG ratio of 56% in lesional plasma cells. The patient's serum IgG4 level was 185 mg/dL, more than double the normal value. Altogether, these features suggest that calcifying fibrous tumor could be an unrecognized lesion of IgG4‐related disease.
Peatlands and plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia: Complex realities for resource governance, rural development and climate change mitigation
Authors: Thorburn Craig C. , Kull Christian A.
Published: September 2014

Peatlands play a crucial role in Indonesia's economic development, and in its stated goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Improved peatland management – including a national moratorium on the granting of any new conversion licenses – forms a cornerstone of Indonesia's climate change mitigation commitment. At the same time, rapid expansion of the plantation sector is driving wide‐scale drainage and conversion of peat swamp ecosystems. The province of Riau, in central Sumatra, finds itself at the crossroads of these conflicting agendas. This essay presents a case study of three islands on Riau's east coast affected by industrial timber plantation concessions. It examines the divergent experiences, perceptions and responses of communities on the islands. A mix of dramatic protests, localised everyday actions and constructive dialogue has succeeded in delaying or perhaps halting one of the concessions, while negotiations and contestation with the other two continue. With the support of regional and national non‐governmental organisations and local government, communities are pursuing alternative development strategies, including the cultivation of sago, which requires no peat drainage. While a powerful political economy of state and corporate actors shapes the contours of socio‐environmental change, local social movements can alter trajectories of change, promoting incremental improvements and alternative pathways.
An International Comparative Study on Women's Pension Rights and Their Economic Risks
Authors: Kim Soo‐Wan
Published: September 2014

This article examined the theoretical meanings of pension rights and analyzed their effects on women's economic risks in developed countries. First, based on the status of a citizen, worker, parent, and spouse, this study investigated how pension benefits are guaranteed as a citizen regardless of work history, the degree to which women's disadvantageous situations in the labor market and unpaid work are compensated by public pension as workers and parents, and how marital status is treated in the different pension systems. Second, analysis of the effect of pension rights showed that individual rights is a significant factor to prevent economic risks of elderly women. Derived rights did not seem to secure the economic welfare of elderly women, at least in a comparative context. This finding suggested that developing individual rights, rather than derived rights, is the way to guarantee long‐term elderly women's economic welfare.
Prevalence and risk factors for gastroschisis in a public hospital from west México
Authors: Robledo‐Aceves Mireya , Bobadilla‐Morales Lucina , Mellín‐Sánchez Estrella Lizbeth , Corona‐Rivera Alfredo , Pérez‐Molina J. Jesús , Cárdenas‐Ruiz Velasco Juan José , Corona‐Rivera Jorge Román
Published: September 2014

Mexico is recognized as a country with a high prevalence of gastroschisis, although the cause of this remains unclear. We define the prevalence and potential risk factors for gastroschisis in a public hospital from west México. A case‐control study was conducted among 270 newborns, including 90 patients with nonsyndromic gastroschisis (cases) and 180 infants without birth defects (controls), born all during the period 2009 to 2013 at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara “Dr. Juan I. Menchaca” (Guadalajara, Mexico), from a total of 51 145 live births. Potential maternal risk factors for gastroschisis were compared using multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the deviance explained by different variables of interest. The overall prevalence of gastroschisis in live births was 17.6 per 10 000 births (95% confidence interval [CI] 14.0–21.2), whereas in offspring of women ≤19 years old was 29.9 per 10 000 births (95% CI 21.9–38.0). Mothers ≤19 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.8: 95% CI 1.5–5.1), anemia during pregnancy (aOR 10.7; 95% CI 2.0–56.9), first‐trimester exposure to hormonal contraceptives (aOR 3.7; 95% CI 1.0–13.0), and first‐trimester alcohol consumption (aOR 3.4; 95% CI 1.6–7.3), were associated with gastroschisis. Contrarily, adjusted OR for pre‐pregnancy body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 has protective odds (aOR 0.2; 95% CI 0.1–0.5). Our results suggest an increased risk for gastroschisis among mothers under the age of 20, with anemia during pregnancy, and those who used hormonal contraceptives or consumed alcohol during early pregnancy, whereas, pre‐pregnancy overweight has a protective OR, and they are discussed as clues in its pathogenesis.
Modified right colon inversion technique as a salvage procedure for colorectal or coloanal anastomosis
Authors: Kontovounisios C. , Baloyiannis Y. , Kinross J. , Tan E. , Rasheed S. , Tekkis P.
Published: September 2014

Aim

A tension‐free well vascularized colorectal or coloanal anastomosis is not always possible following rectal or sigmoid resection. The study reports on the short‐term and long‐term outcome of a modified right colon inversion technique as a means of facilitating a low colorectal or coloanal anastomosis.

Method

All patients who underwent right colonic inversion, a modified Deloyers’ procedure, were identified retrospectively from the prospective database of the Colorectal Department of the Royal Marsden Hospital from October 2008 to December 2013.

Results

There were 14 (nine male) patients of median age 58.7 (45–75) years. The main indication was extensive diverticular disease (50%) and previous colonic surgery (21.4%). A defunctioning stoma was performed in 64.3% which was reversed in all within 3–6 months. Three (21.4%) patients developed postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo 1–2) and none required reoperation. The median duration of follow‐up was 11 months. One (7.2%) patient had one bowel movement per day, 10 (71.4%) patients had two bowel movements per day and three (21.4%) patients had three per day.

Conclusion

The modified right colonic inversion technique is safe and achieves intestinal continuity with a tension‐free well vascularized anastomosis. Good function and low morbidity show that the procedure is a credible alternative to ileorectal or ileoanal anastomosis.
Social and Representational Cues Jointly Influence Spatial Perspective‐Taking
Authors: Galati Alexia , Avraamides Marios N.
Published: September 2014

We examined how social cues (the conversational partner's viewpoint) and representational ones (the intrinsic structure of a spatial layout) jointly shape people's spatial memory representations and their subsequent descriptions. In 24 pairs, Directors studied an array with a symmetrical structure while either knowing their Matcher's subsequent viewpoint or not. During the subsequent description of the array, the array's intrinsic structure was aligned with the Director, the Matcher, or neither partner. According to memory tests preceding descriptions, Directors who had studied the array while aligned with its structure were more likely to use its orientation as an organizing direction. Directors who had studied the array while misaligned with its structure used its orientation more frequently as an organizing orientation when knowing that the Matcher would be aligned with it, but used their own viewpoint more frequently as an organizing direction when not knowing the Matcher's viewpoint. Directors also adapted their descriptions strategically, using more egocentric expressions when aligned with the intrinsic structure and more partner‐centered expressions when their Matchers were the ones aligned with the structure, even when this information wasn't available in advance. These findings suggest that speakers are guided by converging social and representational cues to adapt flexibly the organization of their memories and the perspectives of their descriptions.
The Interplay of Cross‐Situational Word Learning and Sentence‐Level Constraints
Authors: Koehne Judith , Crocker Matthew W.
Published: September 2014

A variety of mechanisms contribute to word learning. Learners can track co‐occurring words and referents across situations in a bottom‐up manner (cross‐situational word learning, CSWL). Equally, they can exploit sentential contexts, relying on top–down information such as verb–argument relations and world knowledge, offering immediate constraints on meaning (word learning based on sentence‐level constraints, SLCL). When combined, CSWL and SLCL potentially modulate each other's influence, revealing how word learners deal with multiple mechanisms simultaneously: Do they use all mechanisms? Prefer one? Is their strategy context dependent? Three experiments conducted with adult learners reveal that learners prioritize SLCL over CSWL. CSWL is applied in addition to SLCL only if SLCL is not perfectly disambiguating, thereby complementing or competing with it. These studies demonstrate the importance of investigating word‐learning mechanisms simultaneously, revealing important characteristics of their interaction in more naturalistic learning environments.
Lamotrigine can be beneficial in patients with Dravet syndrome
Authors: Dalic Linda , Mullen Saul A , Roulet Perez Eliane , Scheffer Ingrid
Published: September 2014

Dravet syndrome, a severe infantile epilepsy syndrome, is typically resistant to anti‐epileptic drugs (AED). Lamotrigine (LTG), an AED that is effective for both focal and generalized seizures, has been reported to aggravate seizures in Dravet syndrome. Therefore, LTG is usually avoided in Dravet syndrome. We describe two adults and a child with Dravet syndrome in whom LTG resulted in decreased seizure duration and frequency. This benefit was highlighted in each patient when LTG was withdrawn after 6 to 15 years, and resulted in an increased frequency of convulsive seizures together with longer seizure duration. A 25‐year‐old male required hospital admission for frequent seizures for the first time in 7 years, 6 weeks after ceasing LTG. Reintroduction of LTG improved seizure control, suggesting that in some patients with Dravet syndrome, LTG may be beneficial.
THE HETEROGENEITY OF IMMIGRANTS, HOST COUNTRIES' INCOME AND PRODUCTIVITY: A CHANNEL ACCOUNTING APPROACH
Authors: Aleksynska Mariya , Tritah Ahmed
Published: September 2014

This article exploits changes in the distribution of immigrants across 20 Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development countries from 1960 to 2005 in order to assess their contribution to income of destination countries. The non‐random sorting of immigrants across countries is addressed by using an instrumental variable strategy. The instrument is built by estimating a bilateral migration model incorporating exogenous origin country determinants of migration. Aggregate results reveal that immigrants have a positive effect on income that works primarily through total factor productivity (TFP). We further construct a novel dataset from censuses and labor force surveys to explore the information on the age of immigrants. Contrasting income effects are found across age groups: a higher share of immigrants among the youth has a negative impact on aggregate income, while a higher share of immigrants among prime‐aged workers has a positive effect. We interpret this disparity as short‐term versus medium‐term effects. Adjustments over time involve changes in TFP but also in the human capital of the native‐born. (JEL F22, J24, J31, O31)
DOES NATION BUILDING SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH?
Authors: Creasey Ellyn , Rahman Ahmed S. , Smith Katherine A.
Published: September 2014

Nation building, the allocation of economic aid conditional on military assistance in conflict and post‐conflict environments, has cost the world trillions of dollars over the last half century. Yet few attempts have been made to quantify the potential economic growth effects for the recipient country from the provision of this aid. Using a 45‐year panel dataset, we construct a measure of nation building using a three‐way interaction term between military assistance, economic aid, and conflict regime. Considering that slow growing and problem‐prone countries may be less likely to receive aid, we instrument for economic aid by estimating donor‐to‐donee aid flows in a first‐stage procedure. Using this approach, we find that spending on nation building has positive growth effects during conflict periods, but that these effects disappear after conflict. (JEL F3, F4, O5)
A wavelet‐based approach to evaluate the roles of structural and functional landscape heterogeneity in animal space use at multiple scales
Authors: Ye Xinping , Wang Tiejun , Skidmore Andrew K. , Fortin Daniel , Bastille‐Rousseau Guillaume , Parrott Lael
Published: September 2014

The functional relationship between habitat utilization and landscape spatial heterogeneity is fundamental to understanding the spatial nature of animal distribution across scales. Although structural and functional properties of landscape spatial heterogeneity can have different consequences for animal species, few studies have explicitly considered both forms of heterogeneity, partly due to the lack of general methods for direct assessment of scale‐specific associations between variables. We present a wavelet‐based approach to evaluate the roles of structural and functional landscape spatial heterogeneity in animal space use at multiple spatial scales. As a case study, we examined scale‐specific space use patterns of American black bearsUrsus americanusin response to structural and functional spatial heterogeneity as well as spatial patterns of vegetation age‐classes in a Canadian boreal forest. We found strong differences in the effects of structural and functional spatial heterogeneity and the scales at which they are associated with the patterns of habitat use by black bears. Functional heterogeneity alone affected space use at 800 and 1600‐m scales, but had significant effects when interacting with structural heterogeneity at 400, 800, and 1600‐m scales. Compared with male bears, female black bears were most sensitive to patterns of forage abundance at intermediate scales, or more specifically, in young and regenerating forests that provide abundant soft mast in boreal forests. Our study highlights the importance of accounting for scale‐dependent properties of (structural and functional) spatial heterogeneity in assessing the ecological effects of landscape components and the effectiveness of the wavelet transform technique in identifying such scale‐specific relationships.
“Translated, it is: …” — An Ethics of Transreading
Authors: Zhang Huiwen (Helen)
Published: September 2014

Inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche's idea of philology and William Gass's concept of transreading, Huiwen (Helen) Zhang employs “transreader” to suggest the integration of four roles in one: reader, translator, writer, and scholar. “Transreader” recognizes that close reading, literary translation, creative writing, and cultural hermeneutics are interdependent activities with intertwined goals: to transfer, transvalue, transform, and transcend the canon. From this perspective, Lu Xun, China's Nietzsche, is a twentieth‐century transreader of the canon, and his prose poem “Revenge (The Second)” delivers a self‐referential ethics of transreading. Zhang's transreading of this poem shows why slow reading is today more necessary than ever, in what sense translation is a universal dilemma, how humanity grows when its expression grows more subtle, and that transreading opens a space for genuine communication.
Hunger games: or how the Allied blockade in the First World War deprived German children of nutrition, and Allied food aid subsequently saved them
Authors: Cox Mary Elisabeth
Published: September 2014

At the onset of the First World War, Germany was subject to a shipping embargo by the Allied forces. Ostensibly military in nature, the blockade prevented not only armaments but also food and fertilizers from entering Germany. The impact of that blockade on civilian populations has been debated ever since. Germans protested that the Allies had wielded hunger as a weapon against women and children with devastating results, a claim that was hotly denied by the Allies. The impact of what the Germans termed the Hungerblockade on childhood nutrition can now be assessed using a newly discovered dataset based on heights and weights of nearly 600,000 German schoolchildren measured between 1914 and 1924. Statistical analysis reveals a grim truth: German children suffered severe malnutrition due to the blockade. Social class impacted risk of deprivation, with working‐class children suffering the most. Surprisingly, they were the quickest to recover after the war. Their rescue was fuelled by massive food aid organized by the former enemies of Germany, and delivered cooperatively with both government and civil society. The ability of former belligerents to work together after an exceptionally bitter war to feed impoverished children may hold hope for the future.