bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pregabalin Has Analgesic, Ventilatory, and Cognitive Effects in Combination with Remifentanil
Authors: Myhre Marianne , Diep Lien My , Stubhaug Audun
Published: November 2015

AbstractAbstract

In a crossover study in 12 volunteers not undergoing surgery, pregabalin, 150 mg twice a day, alone did not affect endtidal carbon dioxide, but it mildly reduced pain report in a cold pressor test. Pregabalin was additive with remifentanil for analgesia and potentiated respiratory depression from remifentanil. The combination of these drugs adversely affected all cognitive tests, whereas each alone did not.

Background

Pregabalin is widely used perioperatively. The authors explored the effects of pregabalin, remifentanil, and their combination on experimental pain, ventilatory, and cognitive function.

Methods

In a randomized, double-blinded crossover study, 12 volunteers received (1) pregabalin + placebo, (2) placebo + remifentanil, (3) pregabalin + remifentanil, and (4) placebo + placebo. Pregabalin 150 mg/placebo was administered twice orally. After baseline, remifentanil/placebo was given as effect-site target-controlled infusion (TCI): 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 ng/ml. Pain during cold pressor test was scored on visual analog scale (0 to 100 mm). Ventilation was measured by spirometry and cognition tested with Color-Word Interference and Rapid Information Processing tests.

Results

Pain intensity after placebo was (mean) 72 mm (95% CI, 62 to 83). Pregabalin reduced pain score by −10 mm (−14 to −7, P < 0.001). Remifentanil had dose-dependent analgesic effect, reducing pain score by −47 mm (−54 to −39, P < 0.001) on highest TCI level, whereas pregabalin + remifentanil exerted additive effect, reducing pain score by −57 mm (−64 to −50, P < 0.001). Respiratory depression was potentiated by adding pregabalin to remifentanil; end-tidal carbon dioxide was 39.3 mmHg (37.2 to 41.3) with placebo, increased 1.8 mmHg (−0.9 to 4.6, P = 0.4) with pregabalin, 10.1 mmHg (4.9 to 15.4, P < 0.001) with remifentanil, and 16.4 mmHg (11.3 to 21.5, P < 0.001) with pregabalin + remifentanil on highest TCI level. The combination pregabalin + remifentanil, but not either drug alone, adversely affected all cognitive tests.

Conclusions

The combination of pregabalin and remifentanil had additive analgesic effects, pregabalin potentiated remifentanil ventilatory depression, and the combination adversely affected cognition. These results question the clinical benefit of the combination compared with higher doses of opioids.
Morbidity and Risk Factors of Laparoscopic‐Assisted Ileostomies in Children With Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Prato Alessio Pini , Pio Luca , Leonelli Lorenzo , Pistorio Angela , Crocco Marco , Arrigo Serena , Gandullia Paolo , Mazzola Cinzia , Sanfilippo Fabio , Barabino Arrigo , Mattioli Girolamo
Published: November 2015

Introduction:

Laparoscopic‐assisted ileostomy (LAI) represents a cornerstone for the staged approach to ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim is to determine stoma morbidity in a series of pediatric patients and possibly identify specific risk factors.

Methods:

All of the patients who underwent LAI for UC between January 2008 and December 2014 were included. The following data were collected: patient demographics, preoperative medical treatment, body mass index (BMI) at surgery, Pediatric UC Index (PUCAI), and stoma‐related complications. In this series of patients, a staged approach has been adopted (subtotal colectomy + ileostomy; restorative proctocolectomy with J‐pouch ileo‐rectal anastomosis + ileostomy; ileostomy closure).

Results:

Seventy‐two LAIs were fashioned in 37 pediatric patients with UC. Median age at surgery was 12 years (range 5–14.8 years). Boy to girl ratio was 0.85:1. Mortality was zero. Complications occurred after 8 procedures after a median of 31 days postoperatively (range 8–60 days). Those were significantly more frequent in the case of BMI‐z score >−0.51 (deleted in revised manuscript, ie, relatively overweight patients) and in the case of preoperative azathioprine administration. Pediatric UC Index score, sex, number of preoperative medications, and other preoperative parameters did not correlate with the incidence of complications.

Conclusions:

Our study suggests to keep a prudent behavior in the case of patients with a BMI‐z score >−0.51 and received preoperative azathioprine administration. Parents should be adequately acknowledged on this regard.
Revisiting Pathological Criteria for Earlier Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease
Authors: Kaur Bilkhoo Harpreet , Ducruet Thierry , Marchand Valérie , Deslandres Colette , Djemli Anissa , Dal Soglio Dorothée , Patey Natalie
Published: November 2015

Objectives:

The diagnosis of coeliac disease (CD) remains sometimes difficult because the histological criteria are not fully met. The aim of this study was to refine histological diagnostic criteria of CD.

Methods:

One hundred seventy‐five duodenal bulb D1 (n = 79) and duodenal D2 (n = 96) biopsies of 96 patients with CD (58 girls, mean age 7 years), 135 normal D2 biopsies (69 girls, mean age 12 years), and 64 D2 biopsies of other digestive disorders (DDs) (39 girls, mean age 13 years) obtained from children during a period of 4 years were reviewed.

Results:

Interobserver agreement was greater for the classification of Corazza‐Villanacci than for Marsh‐Oberhuber (κ = 0.812 vs κ = 0.409, respectively). Between 40 and 70 intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) per 100 epithelial cells (ECs), 32% of patients were CD, whereas 50% had other DD. Above 70 IELs per 100 EC, 53% were CD, and only 6% had other DD. In CD, IELs were significantly located above EC nuclei compared with other DD, (12 IELs/100 EC vs 2 IELs/100 EC, respectively). In 21% of CD cases, D2 were normal and the diagnosis could only be made on D1. Finally, 6% of CD cases showed isolated increase of IELs in D1 without architectural modification.

Conclusions:

D1 allowed diagnosis of CD in 21% of cases and IEL >70 per 100 EC correlated strongly with CD. Between 40 and 70 IELs per 100 EC, CD is very likely but other DD must be considered. Finally, the preferential localisation of IELs above EC nuclei favours CD, and increased IEL in D1 may be the sole abnormality.
Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Pediatric Scorpion Stings
Authors: Dehghankhalili Maryam , Mobaraki Hossein , Akbarzadeh Armin , Yazdani Reza , Nazemi Abdolmajid , Ghaffarpasand Fariborz , Mohammadi Zahra , Shahrzad Mohammad Esmaeil , Mohmudi Forugh , Taghavi Mohsen , Dehghankhalili Saeed
Published: November 2015

Objective

Scorpion stings are a major public health problem in many countries, particularly in pediatrics. Children are more susceptible to severe clinical manifestations of envenomation. The aim of this study is to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric scorpionism in Hormozgan province of Iran during 2012.

Method

This was a cross-sectional study being conducted during 2010 in Hormozgan, the southern province of Iran. We included 350 patients admitted to emergency unit of the hospitals of 8 cities of Hormozgan with impression of scorpion envenomation. The clinical and epidemiological characteristics as well as the treatment and outcome were recorded.

Results

The prevalence rate of pediatric scorpion stings in the province was 1.8 in 1000 children. The mean age of the patients was 5.75 ± 4.54 (range, 1–18) years. There were 208 (59.5%) boys and 142 (40.5%) girls among the patients. The most common site of sting was sole to knee in 94 (26.8%) followed by hand in 61 (17.4%) and fingers in 47 (13.4%). The most common presenting symptom was vomiting in 236 (67.4%) followed by localized pain in 131 (37.3%), erythema in 120 (34.2%), and edema in 119 (33.9%). The highest and lowest frequency occurred in July (17.7%) and January (3.2%), respectively. Nocturnal envenomations (53.7%) were more common than diurnal (46.3%). Most of scorpionism were mild (83.4%) that all evolved to cure, without any deaths.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate the pediatric scorpionism is a public health problem in Hormozgan province of Iran, and special attention should be paid to prevention and treatment.
A symbolic information approach to determine anticipated and delayed synchronization in neuronal circuit models
Authors: Montani Fernando , Rosso Osvaldo A. , Matias Fernanda S. , Bressler Steven L. , Mirasso Claudio R.
Published: November 2015

The phenomenon of synchronization between two or more areas of the brain coupled asymmetrically is a relevant issue for understanding mechanisms and functions within the cerebral cortex. Anticipated synchronization (AS) refers to the situation in which the receiver system synchronizes to the future dynamics of the sender system while the intuitively expected delayed synchronization (DS) represents exactly the opposite case. AS and DS are investigated in the context of causal information formalism. More specifically, we use a multi-scale symbolic information-theory approach for discriminating the time delay displayed between two areas of the brain when they exchange information.
Classification of complex Wishart matrices with a diffusion–reaction system guided by stochastic distances
Authors: Gomez Luis , Alvarez Luis , Mazorra Luis , Frery Alejandro C.
Published: November 2015

We propose a new method for polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) imagery classification based on stochastic distances in the space of random matrices obeying complex Wishart distributions. Given a collection of prototypes

and a stochastic distance
d
(.,.), we classify any random matrix
X
using two criteria in an iterative set-up. First, we associate
X
with the class which minimizes the weighted stochastic distance
w

m

d
(
X
,
Z

m

), where the positive weights
w

m

are computed to max- imize the class discrimination power. Second, we improve the result by embedding the classification problem into a diffusion–reaction partial differential system where the diffusion term smooths the patches within the image, and the reaction term tends to move the pixel values towards the closest class prototype. In particular, the method inherits the benefits of speckle reduction by diffusion-like methods. Results on synthetic and real PolSAR data show the performance of the method.
First human case of severe septicaemia associated with Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum infection
Authors: Heller Martin , Schwarz Rosemarie , Noe Gerhard , Jores Joerg , Fischer Anne , Schubert Evelyn , Sachse Konrad
Published: November 2015

Introduction:

The bacterium Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum is known as a pathogen in goats. There have been no reports on a zoonotic potential so far.

Case presentation:

A case of septicaemia and meningoencephalitis in a 62-year-old patient has been associated with infection by M. capricolum subsp. capricolum. No other infectious agent could be detected.

Conclusion:

Although it was impossible to identify the source of infection, coincidental contact with small ruminants or consumption of food products from goats during a tourist trip may have played a role.
Crystal structure of 2,2′′-bis(2,7-dichloro-9-hydroxy-9H-fluoren-9-yl)-1,1′:4′,1′′-terphenyl triethylamine trisolvate
Authors: Klien Henrik , Seichter Wilhelm , Weber Edwin
Published: November 2015

In the title solvate, C44H26Cl4O2·3C6H15N, the asymmetric part of the unit cell comprises two halves of the diol molecules, 2,2′′-bis(2,7-dichloro-9-hydroxy-9H-fluoren-9-yl)-1,1′:4′,1′′-terphenyl, and three molecules of triethylamine,i. e. the diol molecules are located on crystallographic symmetry centres. Two of the solvent molecules are disordered over two positions [occupancy ratios of 0.567 (3):0.433 (3) and 0.503 (3):0.497 (3)]. In the diol molecules, the outer rings of the 1,1′:4′,1′′-terphenyl elements are twisted with reference to their central arene ring and the mean planes of the fluorenyl moieties are inclined with respect to the terphenyl ring to which they are connected, the latter making dihedral angles of 82.05 (8) and 82.28 (8)°. The presence of two 9-fluoren-9-ol units attached at positions 2 and 2′′ of the terphenyl moiety induces a `folded' geometry which is stabilized by intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions, the latter formed between the fluorenyl units and the central ring of the terphenyl unit [centroid–centroid distances = 3.559 (1) and 3.562 (1) Å]. The crystal is composed of 1:2 complex units, in which the solvent molecules are associated with the diol moleculesviaO—H...N hydrogen bonds, while the remaining solvent molecule is linked to the host by a C—H...N hydrogen bond. The given pattern of intermolecular interactions results in formation of chain structures extending along [010].
Crystal structure of 2-[2-phenyl-1-(phenylsulfonyl)ethyl]-1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-indole
Authors: Umadevi M. , Raju Potharaju , Yamuna R. , Mohanakrishnan Arasambattu K. , Chakkaravarthi G.
Published: November 2015

In the title compound, C28H23NO4S2, the indole ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.007 Å) subtends dihedral angles of 78.69 (13) and 38.97 (13)° with the planes of the N- and C-bonded sulfonylbenzene rings, respectively, and these two benzene rings are inclined to each other at an angle of 65.45 (16)°. The methylene-linked phenyl ring is twisted at an angle of 81.80 (13)° from the indole ring. The molecular structure features two short intramolecular C—H...O contacts, which both generateS(6) rings. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds and C—H...π interactions, generating a three-dimensional network.
Crystal structure of 2-{[(E)-(4-anilinophenyl)iminiumyl]methyl}-5-(diethylamino)phenolate
Authors: Faizi Md. Serajul Haque , Ohui Kateryna A. , Golenya Irina A.
Published: November 2015

The title compound, C23H25N3O, crystallized with one single molecule in the asymmetric unit and is present in the zwitterionic form. There is an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond in the molecule with the phenol ring being inclined to the central benzene ring by 20.67 (14)°. The terminal aminophenyl ring forms a dihedral angle of 54.21 (14)° with the central benzene ring. The two outer aromatic rings are inclined to one another by 74.54 (14)°. In the crystal, the molecules are connected by N—H...O hydrogen bonds, with adjacent molecules related by a 21screw axis, generating–A–B–A–B–zigzag chains extending along [010]. The chains are linkedviaC—H...π and π–π interactions [with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.444 (3) Å] between the benzene ring and the imino group of symmetry-related molecules, forming slabs lying parallel to (100).
Mixed convection over an inclined wavy surface embedded in a nanofluid saturated porous medium
Authors: Srinivasacharya D. , Vijay Kumar P.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the mixed convection in a nanofluid along an inclined wavy surface embedded in a porous medium.

Design/methodology/approach

– The complex wavy surface is transformed to a smooth surface by employing a coordinate transformation. Using the similarity transformation, the governing equations are transformed into a set of ordinary differential equations and then lineralized using the successive linearization method. The Chebyshev pseudo spectral method is then used to solve linearized differential equations.

Findings

– The effects of Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis parameter, amplitude of the wavy surface, angle of inclination of the wavy surface for aiding and opposing flows on the non-dimensional velocity, temperature, nanoparticle volume fraction, heat and nanoparticle mass transfer rates are studied and presented graphically.

Originality/value

– This is the first instance in which mixed convection, inclined wavy surface and nanofluid is employed to model fluid flow.
Numerical study for transport of water based nanofluids through an asymmetric channel with wavy walls
Authors: Hayat Tasawar , Abbasi Fahad Munir , Ahmad Bashir
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a model for the peristaltic transport of water-based nanofluids and to analyze the impact of nanoparticles on the heat transfer characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

– Numerical solutions are obtained using the shooting method.

Findings

– Pressure gradient decreases whereas the peristaltic pumping region increases with an increase in nanoparticle volume fraction. Silver-water nanofluid experiences greater frictional force at the wall. Temperature of the nanofluid decreases with an increase in nanoparticle volume fraction. Nanoparticles largely increase the heat transfer rate at the boundary. Such increase is maximum when is varied between zero and 0.1.

Originality/value

– This paper first time develops a model to examine the peristaltic flow of water-based nanofluids. Enhancement of heat transfer in the peristaltic flows due to addition of nanoparticles is investigated.
Integrated assessment of water resources vulnerability under climate change in Haihe River Basin
Authors: Yang Xiao-Hua , Di Chong-Li , He Jun , Zhang Jian , Li Yu-Qi
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the water resources vulnerability (WRV) rationally in Haihe River Basin (HRB) using set pair analysis (SPA) theory.

Design/methodology/approach

– An improved intelligent set pair analysis (IISPA) model is established, in which intelligent SPA theory is introduced and the weights are determined by use of the maximum entropy principle and the improved analytic hierarchy process method. The index systems and criteria of WRV assessment in terms of water cycle, socio-economy, and ecological environment are established based on the analysis of sensibility and adaptability.

Findings

– The authors apply IISPA to the WRV assessment of seven administrative divisions in HRB. Results show IISPA can fully take advantage of certain and uncertain information compared with fuzzy assessment and topsis assessment models. For present situation, Shanxi, Shandong, Tianjing, Inner Mongolia, Hebei are higher, Henan and Beijing are the middle vulnerability. But Henan will become worse under climate change scenario II and IV.

Research limitations/implications

– The analysis results may be affected by the limited climate change data.

Practical implications

– It is helpful for further research to the complexity analysis of water resources system.

Social implications

– This paper will have an important impact on water resources sustainable utilization.

Originality/value

– This is the first time to utilize IISPA method to analyze the WRV of seven administrative divisions in HRB. This paper provides an important theoretical support for water resources management.
A parallel partition of unity method for the time-dependent convection-diffusion equations
Authors: Du Guangzhi , Hou Yanren
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a parallel partition of unity method to solve the time-dependent convection-diffusion equations.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper opted for the time-dependent convection-diffusion equations using the finite element method and the partition of unity method.

Findings

– This paper provides one efficient parallel algorithm which reaches the same accuracy as the standard Galerkin method (SGM) but saves a lot of computational time.

Originality/value

– In this paper, a parallel partition of unity method is proposed for the time-dependent convection-diffusion equations. At each time step, the authors only need to solve a series of independent local sub-problems in parallel instead of one global problem.
Analysis of unsteady mixed convection in lid-driven cavity included circular cylinders motion using an incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics method
Authors: Aly Abdelraheem M. , Asai Mitsuteru , Chamkha Ali J.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to model mixed convection in a square cavity included circular cylinders motion using an incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) technique.

Design/methodology/approach

– The problem is solved numerically by using the ISPH method.

Findings

– The SPH tool shows robust performance to simulate the rigid body motion in the mixed convective flow with heat transfer, and it may apply easily to complicated problems in 2D and 3D problem without difficulties.

Originality/value

– The application of the SPH method to mixed convective flow with heat transfer and its potential application easily to complicated 3D problems is original.
Effect of curvature and magnetic field on MHD flow of a liquid metal in a curved annular duct
Authors: Bakalis Panteleimon A. , Hatzikonstantinou Pavlos M.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The steady laminar quasi-3D fully developed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a liquid metal in a curved annular channel is studied in order to determine the effect of the magnetic field on the velocity distribution. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– Due to the fluid motion under the effect of the applied transverse external magnetic field, an additional magnetic field and an electric current density are induced. A hybrid formulation is used for the induced electric current density, implementing for its axial component the Ohm’s law and for its transverse components the Ampere’s law. The suggested formulation (denominated h-formulation) is combined with the extended Continuity Vorticity Pressure numerical variational method for MHD flows.

Findings

– Results are obtained for different values of curvature ratios and Hartmann numbers. It is proved that as the strength of the magnetic field increases, two side regions of velocity jets are formulated in the right and in the left half sides of the inner cylinder in a direction parallel to the external magnetic field. The magnitude of the axial velocity at each region is determined by the balance of the centrifugal and the electromagnetic forces. The results help to better understand the MHD flow in toroidal ducts.

Originality/value

– The results aim to help to a better understanding of the MHD flow in curved ducts.
Information security in supply chains: a management control perspective
Authors: P N Sindhuja , Kunnathur Anand S.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to discuss the need for management control system for information security management that encapsulates the technical, formal and informal systems. This motivated the conceptualization of supply chain information security from a management controls perspective. Extant literature on information security mostly focused on technical security and managerial nuances in implementing and enforcing technical security through formal policies and quality standards at an organizational level. However, most of the security mechanisms are difficult to differentiate between businesses, and there is no one common platform to resolve the security issues pertaining to varied organizations in the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper was conceptualized based on the review of literature pertaining to information security domain.

Findings

– This study analyzed the need and importance of having a higher level of control above the already existing levels so as to cover the inter-organizational context. Also, it is suggested to have a management controls perspective for an all-encompassing coverage to the information security discipline in organizations that are in the global supply chain.

Originality/value

– This paper have conceptualized the organizational and inter-organizational challenges that need to be addressed in the context of information security management. It would be difficult to contain the issues of information security management with the existing three levels of controls; hence, having a higher level of security control, namely, the management control that can act as an umbrella to the existing domains of security controls was suggested.
User-centred authentication feature framework
Authors: Forget Alain , Chiasson Sonia , Biddle Robert
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to propose that more useful novel schemes could develop from a more principled examination and application of promising authentication features. Text passwords persist despite several decades of evidence of their security and usability challenges. It seems extremely unlikely that a single scheme will globally replace text passwords, suggesting that a diverse ecosystem of multiple authentication schemes designed for specific environments is needed. Authentication scheme research has thus far proceeded in an unstructured manner.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper presents the User-Centred Authentication Feature Framework, a conceptual framework that classifies the various features that knowledge-based authentication schemes may support. This framework can used by researchers when designing, comparing and innovating authentication schemes, as well as administrators and users, who can use the framework to identify desirable features in schemes available for selection.

Findings

– This paper illustrates how the framework can be used by demonstrating its applicability to several authentication schemes, and by briefly discussing the development and user testing of two framework-inspired schemes: Persuasive Text Passwords and Cued Gaze-Points.

Originality/value

– This framework is intended to support the increasingly diverse ecosystem of authentication schemes by providing authentication researchers, professionals and users with the increased ability to design, develop and select authentication schemes better suited for particular applications, environments and contexts.
Automatic custom pattern generation using width-height independent grading
Authors: Han Hyun-Sook , Kim Sungmin , Park Chang Kyu
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop an automated custom-pattern-making system using the width-height independent grading method for semi-customized clothing.

Design/methodology/approach

– The system reads basic patterns and graded large patterns and calculates the grading ratio of independent horizontal and vertical values on all points in a pattern. The custom pattern is automatically generated by calculating the horizontal and vertical grading amount according to individual body measurements. The system does not follow any complicated alteration rules.

Findings

– The width-height independent grading method can provide custom-pattern fitted primary body circumference and length and helps to quickly produce semi-customized clothing.

Originality/value

– There are few studies on automated custom-pattern-making systems without an alteration rule. This study developed an automatic custom-pattern-making system using the width-height independent grading method.
Development of individualized pattern prototype based on classification of body features
Authors: Su Junqiang , Liu Guolian , Xu Bugao
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to concentrate on the development of individualized prototype of apparel patterns for young females from 3D body scanning data.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors presented a new pattern-making approach that is composed of three major steps: to establish the relationships between body features and corresponding elements in a prototype (e.g. curve or a point); to classify the relationship into grades that provide alternatives to fit a variety of bodies; and to assemble each individual element into a personalized prototype.

Findings

– The experiment demonstrated that this method could be used for customized prototype development from 3D body scanning in a relatively easy way.

Research limitations/implications

– Currently, the subjects of this study included only Chinese young females, and the regression models were just suitable for the similar body types though, the research method could be extended to other somatotypes and age groups.

Social implications

– This approach can be used in the field of made-to-measure, mass customization, and the quick response for apparel pattern making. The technology in this paper facilitates to generate an individualized pattern prototype from 3D body scanning data.

Originality/value

– Originated from the relationship between the features of a human body and the elements of a pattern prototype, the authors presented a new approach to develop an individualized pattern prototype by classifying the features into grades.
How does energy efficiency influence the Market Value of office buildings in Germany and does this effect increase over time?
Authors: Surmann Markus , Brunauer Wolfgang , Bienert Sven
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The paper aims to estimate the effect of energy efficiency on the Market Value of office buildings and consider whether this effect increases over time.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors analyze a dataset of office building valuations from 2009 to 2011, provided by the German Investment Property Database. The authors use hedonic regression models to determine the effect of energy efficiency and energy consumption on Market Values. Using generalized additive models (GAM) for modeling nonlinear covariate effects, the authors control for further building characteristics and location. Due to the small sample size, the authors introduce an innovative econometric approach that mitigates this problem.

Findings

– Mainly due to the small sample size, and in spite of the newly developed econometric methodology, the authors do not find clear evidence of the relationship between energy efficiency and the Market Value. However, the study nonetheless provides interesting insights into the composition of office building Market Values in Germany.

Originality/value

– In addition to the empirical results for the German office market, the main contribution of this paper lies in the econometric methodology. Beside the application of cutting-edge statistical techniques, the authors develop a method for handling datasets, for which the variable of interest is rarely observed, leveraging on the total available data. Thus, the methodology offers promising prospects for future research in similar settings.
Does asset liquidity matter? Evidence from real estate stock markets
Authors: Scholz Alexander , Rochdi Karim , Schaefers Wolfgang
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper in this context is to examine the impact of asset liquidity on real estate equity returns, after taking well-documented systematic risk factors into account. Due to their unique characteristics, real estate equities constitute an inherently low degree of underlying asset liquidity.

Design/methodology/approach

– Following the Fama-French time-series regression approach, the authors extend the conventional asset pricing model by a real estate-specific asset liquidity factor (ALF), using a sample of 244 real estate equities.

Findings

– The results, based on monthly data for the period 1999-2012, reveal that asset liquidity is a relevant pricing factor which contributes to explaining return variations in real estate equity markets. Accordingly, investors expect a risk premium from listed real estate companies with a low degree of asset liquidity, which is especially the case for companies facing financial constraints and during economic downturns. Furthermore, an investment strategy exploiting differences in the underlying asset liquidity yields considerable average excess returns of upto 8.04 per cent p.a.

Practical implications

– Considering the findings presented in this paper, asset liquidity should receive special attention from investors, as well as from the management boards of listed real estate companies. While investors who ignore the magnitude of asset liquidity may systematically misprice real estate equities, management can influence the firm’s cost of capital by adjusting the underlying asset liquidity.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to examine the role of an ALF in a real estate asset pricing framework.
Predicting the behaviour of Australian ESG REITs using Markov chain analysis
Authors: Siew Renard Yung Jhien
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the use of Markov chain to predict the behaviour of Australian real estate investment trusts (REITs) that are more highly valued in the areas of environmental, social and governance (ESG).

Design/methodology/approach

– For the empirical analysis, states is defined as the price interval between 10-day moving averages and daily closing prices. A total of 18 Australian ESG REITs were analysed.

Findings

– The results show that there is inconsistency in the probabilities obtained for REIT prices across all four states: 1 (= −$0.05), 2 ( < −$0.05 to < $0.05], 3 ($0.05 < to = $0.1] and 4 ( > $0.1). The findings suggest that price movements are occurring in a random fashion and that ESG REITs do not necessarily have more superior performance.

Research limitations/implications

– The scope of analysis is only from 2008 to 2014. This is attributed to the availability of the Experts in Responsible Investment Services dataset, which is used to determine the “greenness” of Australian REITs.

Originality/value

– This research is original, not just in terms of the scope of analysis but also the methodology presented has not been applied to analyse REITs data.
Road project termination and rebidding strategies in Nigeria
Authors: Udofia Wilson Udo , Hadikusumo B. H. W. , Santoso Djoen San
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to identify and examine valid project termination reasons and the rebidding strategies of road construction project. Rebidding strategies is one of the measures to restructure terminated/troubled road construction project.

Design/methodology/approach

– An instrument which comprised 82 items entitled “Project Termination and Rebidding Strategies in Road Construction Projects in Nigeria” (PTRS) was developed to evaluate 60 randomly sampled road projects using qualified project/site managers and engineers as project respondents for the purpose of securing valid information on the terminated and rebid road construction projects. Mean, standard deviation and factor analysis shall be used as analytical tools in identifying valid termination reasons and rebidding strategies and as well as the relationship between them through regression analysis.

Findings

– The paper’s findings revealed major project termination reasons and rebidding strategies. It further indicated significant relationship between variables which constitutes project termination reasons and rebidding strategies through regression analysis.

Practical implications

– The outcome of the paper could be of immense benefits during the procurement phase of public project, especially regarding road construction. Stakeholders involved in the road procurement should seek relevant information concerning the road project reprocurement from the expert prior to contractual obligations.

Originality/value

– Major challenges confronting the road construction project involve inappropriate procurement practices which frequently culminate into late deliveries of project. Rebidding strategies serve as a model through which cost, time and quality needs of the project client can be reassured in restructuring a terminated/troubled project.
Information seeking behaviour of traditional leaders in the Shai Osudoku District of Ghana
Authors: BUADI DONUS WORLANYO , DZANDZA PATIENCE EMEFA
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the information-seeking behaviour of traditional leaders in the Shai Osudoku District of Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

– The case study methodology was used. An interview schedule was designed to elicit information from 12 chiefs from the Shai Traditional Council.

Findings

– The findings of the study showed that traditional leaders sought information on issues that bordered on their community as well as information for their personal use. It also showed that they usually used informal sources such as the traditional council and their subjects but also exhibited similar information-seeking behaviour to that of professionals. They also used information dissemination or transfer methods that were in line with the oral culture of their traditional society. They had challenges in the use of information technology due to their low educational level, as well as challenges in having access to formal sources due to unavailability.

Practical implications

– The study brought to light the challenges traditional leaders encountered in executing their roles. It was therefore recommended that government agencies collaborate with them to enhance their work.

Originality/value

– Several studies have been conducted on information-seeking behaviour of different categories of people within different contexts. However, few studies have been conducted on the information-seeking behaviour of traditional leaders. This study thus sought to serve as a foundation research on the information-seeking behaviour of traditional leaders, with Shai Osudoku District of Ghana as the study area.
An investigation of the training needs on emotional intelligence of academic librarians
Authors: Khan Asad , Masrek Mohamad Noorman , Nadzar Fuziah Mohd
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to assess the training needs on emotional intelligence (EI) of librarians serving in the university libraries of Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

– A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from a randomly selected sample of Pakistani university librarians. A paired samplet-test was used to examine the significance of difference between the four indicators of EI. Further, descriptive statistics were used to assess the training needs on EI.

Findings

– The difference between all indicators of EI was found to be significant. The results showed less than 50 per cent of deficit, more than 50 per cent of surplus and 20 per cent of job best fit in terms of EI of university librarians. Further, results illustrated that librarians require training to cover the skill deficiencies. Similarly, top-down allocation of tasks is required to produce more person-job fit and control surplus or over utilisation of the skills.

Practical implications

– Findings of this study have several implications for university librarians, such as designing of training programs, incorporation of EI in the performance evaluation to investigate the causes of deficit and surplus in EI, etc.

Originality/value

– This study is a first attempt that extended the scope of EI towards librarianship in Pakistan. The findings probably motivate university librarians to improve the current level of their EI.
Reference service evaluation at an African academic library: the user perspective
Authors: Luo Lili , Buer Viscount B.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide a detailed discussion of a large-scale library reference evaluation study conducted at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in Ghana. The study seeks to evaluate the reference service from the user perspective, focusing on how users use and perceive the service.

Design/methodology/approach

– Self-administered survey was used as the data collection instrument. One thousand questionnaires were distributed to library users in a three-week period, and the response rate was 63.7 per cent.

Findings

– The reference service had a high non-use rate of 42.6 per cent, which was primarily attributed to library users’ self-sufficiency and lack of awareness of the service. The top three motivations for library users to use the reference service were class assignments, personal interests and using library facilities. Although their overall altitude was positive, users felt that reference librarians were more successful at exhibiting customer service qualities than performing tasks related to identifying users’ information needs and searching/locating relevant information to fulfill the needs.

Practical implications

– The knowledge gained from this study will deepen the understanding of how the reference service is utilised and perceived by library users and offer insights on how to enhance the services to optimise the user experience.

Originality/value

– This study yields an enriched view of reference service provision in the African context. Its findings will help other academic libraries in Africa successfully plan and implement their own reference evaluation efforts and ultimately encourage more evidence-based library practices in the developing world.
Application of knowledge management factors on customer relationship management process
Authors: Hasanian Ghazaleh , Chong Chin Wei , Gan Geok Chew
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the application of knowledge management (KM) factors on customer relationship management (CRM) process in Malaysian Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire survey was conducted on KM workers (customer service) in Malaysian MSC status organisations. Based on the extensive review of the current literature, eight KM factors were investigated to examine the application toward CRM process.

Findings

– The data, collected from 96 knowledge workers, suggest that KM process, organisational infrastructure and technology are three important predictors for effective CRM process.

Practical implications

– The practical implication of this paper could be useful for business managers who want to enhance organisational CRM through implementing KM practices to support their organisation’s KM efforts.

Originality/value

– This is one of the few papers to study the application of KM factors on CRM process in Malaysia.
Successful authors’ views on the editorial review processes of accounting journals
Authors: Adler Ralph W. , Liyanarachchi Gregory
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report successful authors’ views about the editorial review processes of a set of 42 accounting journals. The two main objectives are: to enlighten editors and journal publishers in their quest to improve their journals’ editorial review processes and to inform prospective authors about the past experiences successful authors have had with the 42 accounting journals.

Design/methodology/approach

– A Webmail survey was used to collect data about authors’ experiences with publishing in one of the 42 accounting journals. A total of 856 responses (40 per cent response rate) was received. Various statistical analyses were used to explore a range of editorial review process features, including the timeliness of editorial feedback, timeliness of publishing accepted manuscripts, quality of the feedback provided and performance of the editor.

Findings

– Authors were found to be generally quite satisfied with the editorial review processes of the journals in which they published. There were, however, notable leaders and laggards observed among the 42 journal titles. The survey findings also revealed that many journals use the practice of basing their editorial decisions on the comments of a single reviewer. In fact, this practice is most prevalent among the journals that are commonly perceived as the field’s “top” journals. These and other editorial review results – for example, comparisons between journal-tiers, geographical locations of editorial review offices and journal specialties – are discussed.

Originality/value

– This paper extends and moves well beyond Adler and Liyanarachchi (2011), by exploring such additional author perceptions of the editorial review process as the performance of journal editors, the use of multiple reviewers and reviewers’ reporting of the typical faults/weaknesses in the papers they read. Exposing to public scrutiny an academic discipline’s editorial review processes is quite common in some fields of research, most notably medicine. Doing so in the accounting discipline addresses a need that many of the respondents felt was highly necessary and long overdue. While authors will benefit from the paper’s insights, editors and publishers are expected to as well.
The incidence and perceived managerial merit of customer accounting in New Zealand
Authors: Tanima Farzana Aman , Bates Ken
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– Two prior survey papers on the use and perceived merit of customer accounting (CA) practices, one in Australia and one in New Zealand (NZ), disclosed contrasting results with confusing elements. The purpose of this paper is to replicate and extend previous survey research in order to update and clarify our understanding of CA practices in NZ.

Design/methodology/approach

– Within a contingency theory framework, a mail questionnaire survey is used to measure the use and perceived merit of CA practices in NZ and investigate their relationship with six contingent factors: competitive strategy, market orientation, environmental uncertainty, costing methodology, company size and industrial sector.

Findings

– Mean CA usage and perceived merit scores in NZ in 2009 are much higher than was found in NZ in 2007 and similar to those found in Australia in 2002. A significant gulf between usage rates of historical and forward-looking CA measures is now found in NZ. There is strong evidence for a positive contingent relationship between the marketing concept of marketing management and both the use and perceived merit of historical CA measures. Also found is a significant positive relationship between the customer concept of marketing management and the use and perceived merit of customer profitability analysis at the individual customer level.

Research limitations/implications

– The survey method used prevents follow-up questions and clarification of ambiguities, but the survey results do provide new insights and potential avenues for further research.

Originality/value

– This survey provides researchers, teachers and firms using or considering using CA practices, with an improved understanding of current usage and perceived merit of CA practices in NZ companies.
Political connections, managerial incentives and auditor choice: evidence from China
Authors: Cheng Chia-Ling , Hsu Chih-Shun , Kung Fan-Hua
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the political connections of firms, managerial incentives and auditor choice. Data from China were used to determine whether managers in firms with political connections are more likely to hire auditors of low quality to help them cover up earnings management and opportunistic behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– Cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data covering the period from 2003 to 2009 and the Top 10 auditors were used as a proxy to represent the demand for high-quality auditors. Three proxies were used to measure the political connectedness: state-owned enterprises (SOEs), politically connected CEOs and state ownership.

Findings

– This paper provides empirical evidence that firms with political connections do not demand stringency in the monitoring and information roles of auditing. Moreover, politically connected firms with high managerial incentives are likely to choose non-Top 10 auditors.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a unique focus on the role of managerial incentives in the appointment of auditors. This paper tests the managerial opportunism hypothesis in another context and results of this paper help to elucidate the effects of managerial incentives on the demand of audit quality.