bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FOREWORD: WHAT DOES CHRISTIANITY OFFER TO THE WORLD OF LAW?
Authors: Witte John
Published: March 2017

“CLS” was an acronym with two very different meanings when I was a fledgling law student some thirty-five years ago. For most, it meant “critical legal studies,” a burgeoning new movement of sundry neo-Marxist jurists and philosophers collectively bent on exposing the fallacies and false equalities of modern law. Many of my first-year law professors were the high priests of this CLS movement. They were making serious waves at the time with their denunciation of much that was considered sound and settled in the law. The best CLS professors taught black letter doctrine—and then shredded it with rhetorical and analytical power. That instruction appealed to my native ethic of semper reformanda—always reforming and working to improve our traditions. Other professors simply taught their pet critical topics, sending us students scrambling to the bookstore in search of study guides that would acquaint us with the legal basics. After a year of such CLS instruction, I could not wait to take the upper-level electives that would no doubt unveil the new and better legal system CLS had in mind. Little was on offer. The “crits,” I soon learned, were better at deconstruction than reconstruction of the law. Not surprisingly, this movement has now faded and fractured into sundry special interest groups.
Leishmania infantum in domestic cats from the municipality of Teresina, state of Piauí, Brazil
Authors: DE MENDONÇA IVETE L. , BATISTA JOILSON F. , RIBEIRO IULIANA M. M. , ROCHA FERNANDA S. B. , SILVA SORAIA O. , MELO MARIA N.
Published: March 2017

Feline leishmaniasis has been reported in various parts of the world in recent years, occurring mainly in areas where zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic. The purpose of this study was to assess the occurrence of natural infection byLeishmaniaspp. in domestic cats (Felis catus) in the municipality of Teresina, Piauí state, Brazil, an endemic area of VL in Brazil. The prevalence of infection byLeishmaniaspp. in the population under study was 4% (3/83) in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 4% (3/83) by smear observation and isolation in a culture medium, using popliteal lymphnode sample. Only one of the three infected cats was positive for ELISA, also being positive for feline immunodeficiency virus. In the haematologic parameters, normocytic normochromic anaemia was the most common change, being present in the three infected animals. In the biochemical measurements also were observed alterations in infected animals. TheLeishmaniaspp. strains isolated from the culture medium were characterized asL. infantum. The presence ofL. infantuminfection in cats in the city of Teresina, an area endemic for VL, suggests the possible involvement of these animals in the epidemiological chain ofL. infantumin high-transmission areas.
WHAT’S IN A NAME? DELIA IN TIBULLUS 1.1
Authors: Kennedy Duncan F.
Published: March 2017

Delia, the name given to Tibullus’ mistress in five of the poems in the first book of his elegies (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6), has long inspired curiosity. Two approaches have dominated discussion. The biographical approach takes its cue from theApologyof Apuleius (10), which regards Delia as a pseudonym:

eadem igitur opera accusent C. Catullum, quod Lesbiam pro Clodia nominarit, et Ticidam similiter, quod quae Metella erat Perillam scripserit, et Propertium, qui Cynthiam dicat, Hostiam dissimulet, et Tibullum, quod ei sit Plania in animo, Delia in uersu.
Microstructure and Quantitative Micromechanical Analysis of Wood Cell–Emulsion Polymer Isocyanate and Urea–Formaldehyde Interphases
Authors: Qin Lizhe , Lin Lanying , Fu Feng , Fan Mizi
Published: March 2017

Emulsion polymer isocyanate (EPI) and urea-formaldehyde (UF) were selected as typical resin systems to investigate the microstructure of wood–adhesive interphases by fluorescence microscopy (FM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Further, a quantitative micromechanical analysis of the interphases was conducted using nanoindentation. The FM results showed that the UF resin could penetrate the wood to a greater extent than the EPI resin, and that the average penetration depth for these two resin systems was higher in the case of latewood. CLSM allowed visualization of the resin distribution with contrasting colors, showing that the EPI resin could not penetrate the cell wall, whereas UF resin could enter the cell walls. The micromechanical properties of the cell walls were almost unaffected by EPI penetration but were significantly affected by UF penetration, especially in the first cell wall from the glueline. This further confirmed that only cell walls with resin penetration can improve the mechanical properties of the interphase regions.
A Discussion of Alexander Cooley and Jack Snyder's Ranking the World: Grading States as a Tool for Global Governance
Authors: Rothstein Bo
Published: March 2017

Ranking the World: Grading States as a Tool of Global Governance, edited by Alexander Cooley and Jack Snyder, assembles an impressive group of political scientists to critically discuss “the important analytical, normative, and policy issues associated with the contemporary practice of ‘grading states.’” The volume addresses a topic of importance to a wide range of political scientists in comparative politics, international relations, and political theory, and raises some fundamental questions about the role of political science at the nexus of theory and practice. We have thus invited a number of colleagues to discuss the volume and its broader implications for political science inquiry.
Es hat viel Zeit für persönliches Wachstum und Entwicklung gegeben
Authors: Hahn Sabine
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung. Toon Walravens ist Sozialpädagoge und arbeitet als Peer-Arbeiter in der forensischen Klinik De Woenselse Poort in der Nähe von Eindhoven in den Niederlanden. Als Psychiatrie-Erfahrener ist er selber in dieser Maßregelvollzugsklinik untergebracht gewesen. Walravens hat ein bewegtes Leben hinter sich, bei dem die Startbedingungen alles andere als hoffnungsvoll gewesen sind. Hoffnung ist für ihn ein zentraler Begriff in der forensischen Psychiatrie – egal, auf welcher Seite er sich bewegt.
Stressing the Advantages of Female Leadership Can Place Women at a Disadvantage
Authors: Lammers Joris , Gast Anne
Published: March 2017

Abstract. Women are still underrepresented in management and men hold the majority of higher positions. Nonetheless, one often-heard claim in popular media is that female people-centered leadership skills (empathy, communication, etc.) are a better match for the business world – especially in the future. Furthermore, a related idea is that women may use this advantage to take over men’s dominant position in leadership. Four studies show that such claims paradoxically maintain gender inequality, by undermining support for affirmative action to reduce female underrepresentation in leadership. Where earlier research shows that positive stereotypes can hurt women by suggesting that they are unqualified for leadership, the current findings show that even positive stereotypes that claim that women are particularly well qualified for leadership can hurt women in their chances for gaining leadership positions. Although it is good to highlight the advantages of female leadership, exaggerated and sensationalist claims contribute to a perpetuation of gender inequality.
Proposal for dark exciton based chemical sensors
Authors: Feierabend Maja , Berghäuser Gunnar , Knorr Andreas , Malic Ermin
Published: March 2017

The rapidly increasing use of sensors throughout different research disciplines and the demand for more efficient devices with less power consumption depends critically on the emergence of new sensor materials and novel sensor concepts. Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides have a huge potential for sensor development within a wide range of applications. Their optimal surface-to-volume ratio combined with strong light–matter interaction results in a high sensitivity to changes in their surroundings. Here, we present a highly efficient sensing mechanism to detect molecules based on dark excitons in these materials. We show that the presence of molecules with a dipole moment transforms dark states into bright excitons, resulting in an additional pronounced peak in easy accessible optical spectra. This effect exhibits a huge potential for sensor applications, since it offers an unambiguous optical fingerprint for the detection of molecules—in contrast to common sensing schemes relying on small peak shifts and intensity changes.
A comparison study of Zika virus outbreaks in French Polynesia, Colombia and the State of Bahia in Brazil
Authors: He Daihai , Gao Daozhou , Lou Yijun , Zhao Shi , Ruan Shigui
Published: March 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV) disease outbreaks occurred in French Polynesia in 2013–2014 and in Brazil and Colombia in 2015–2016, respectively. Using our recently developed ZIKV disease model, we simulated the reported ZIKV infection cases from French Polynesia, Colombia and the State of Bahia of Brazil. Moreover, we estimated that the infection attack rates were 78.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 63.5–86.3%) in French Polynesia which closely matches a previous serological study; 20.8% (95% CI: 1.1–50.0%) in Colombia which suggests that the attack rate was most likely less than 50%; and 32.4% (95% CI: 2.5–94.2%) in the State of Bahia in Brazil which suggests that the attack rate is unidentifiable with monthly data in Bahia. Furthermore, we found that the association of precipitation and ZIKV outbreak was more evident in Colombia than the other two places. These results are helpful for us to understand the possible evolution, to control the on-going outbreaks, to prevent the potential geographic spread, and to study the ecological and epidemiological characteristics of ZIKV.
Network analysis reveals crosstalk between autophagy genes and disease genes
Authors: Wang Ji-Ye , Yao Wei-Xuan , Wang Yun , Fan Yi-lei , Wu Jian-Bing
Published: March 2017

Autophagy is a protective and life-sustaining process in which cytoplasmic components are packaged into double-membrane vesicles and targeted to lysosomes for degradation. Accumulating evidence supports that autophagy is associated with several pathological conditions. However, research on the functional cross-links between autophagy and disease genes remains in its early stages. In this study, we constructed a disease-autophagy network (DAN) by integrating known disease genes, known autophagy genes and protein-protein interactions (PPI). Dissecting the topological properties of the DAN suggested that nodes that both autophagy and disease genes (inter-genes), are topologically important in the DAN structure. Next, a core network from the DAN was extracted to analyze the functional links between disease and autophagy genes. The genes in the core network were significantly enriched in multiple disease-related pathways, suggesting that autophagy genes may function in various disease processes. Of 17 disease classes, 11 significantly overlapped with autophagy genes, including cancer diseases, metabolic diseases and hematological diseases, a finding that is supported by the literatures. We also found that autophagy genes have a bridging role in the connections between pairs of disease classes. Altogether, our study provides a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying human diseases and the autophagy process.
Tunable Twin Matching Frequency (fm1/fm2) Behavior of Ni1−xZnxFe2O4/NBR Composites over 2–12.4 GHz: A Strategic Material System for Stealth Applications
Authors: Saini Lokesh , Patra Manoj Kumar , Jani Raj Kumar , Gupta Goutam Kumar , Dixit Ambesh , Vadera Sampat Raj
Published: March 2017

The gel to carbonate precipitate route has been used for the synthesis of Ni1−xZnxFe2O4 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75) bulk inverse spinel ferrite powder samples. The optimal zinc (50%) substitution has shown the maximum saturation magnetic moment and resulted into the maximum magnetic loss tangent (tanδm) > −1.2 over the entire 2–10 GHz frequency range with an optimum value ~−1.75 at 6 GHz. Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4- Acrylo-Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) composite samples are prepared at different weight percentage (wt%) of ferrite loading fractions in rubber for microwave absorption evaluation. The 80 wt% loaded Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/NBR composite (FMAR80) sample has shown two reflection loss (RL) peaks at 5 and 10 GHz. Interestingly, a single peak at 10 GHz for 3.25 mm thickness, can be scaled down to 5 GHz by increasing the thickness up to 4.6 mm. The onset of such twin matching frequencies in FMAR80 composite sample is attributed to the spin resonance relaxation at ~5 GHz (fm1) and destructive interference at λm/4 matched thickness near ~10 GHz (fm2) in these composite systems. These studies suggest the potential of tuning the twin frequencies in Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/NBR composite samples for possible microwave absorption applications.
Three dimensional approach to investigating biological effects along energetic ion beam pathways
Authors: Li Xinglin , Sun Shuguang , Wang Shanying , Li Wenjian , Qu Ying , Cui Weidong , Sun Tianren , Zhang Jian , Wang Jufang , Zhou Guangming , Man Shuli , Chen Yi , Lu Fuping , Wei Zengquan , Jin Genming
Published: March 2017

Heavy ion beams have many exciting applications, including radiotherapy of deep-seated tumors and simulation tests of space irradiation for astronauts. These beams often use a feature that concentrates the energy deposition largely along the end of the energy pathway, leading to different distributions of biological effects along the axial direction. Currently, there is relatively little information regarding the radial directional difference of biological effects along the heavy ion paths. This study utilized a filter membrane that was quantatively applied with cells to demonstrate a 3D distribution model of irradiation on biological effects in living organisms. Some results have indicated that there is excitatory effect on the non-irradiated regions with energetic ions, which may give new insights into the distribution of biological effects along the paths of heavy ion beams with mid-high energy.
TFET‐based well capacity adjustment in active pixel sensor for enhanced high dynamic range
Authors: Fernández‐Berni J. , Niemier M. , Hu X.S. , Lu H. , Li W. , Fay P. , Carmona‐Galán R. , Rodríguez‐Vázquez Á.
Published: March 2017

A tunnel field‐effect transistor (TFET)‐based pixel circuit for well capacity adjustment that does not require subthreshold operation on the part of the reset transistor is presented. In CMOS, this subthreshold operation leads to temporal noise, distortion and fixed pattern noise, becoming a primary limiting performance factor. In the proposed circuit, the asymmetric conduction associated with TFETs is exploited. This property, arising from the inherent physical structure of the device, provides the selective well adjustments during photo‐integration which are demanded for achieving high dynamic range. A GaN‐based heterojunction TFET has been designed according to the specific requirements for this application.
Fast joint sorting and reduction algorithm for MIMO SIC detection
Authors: Ding Liqin , Wang Yang , Zhang Jiliang
Published: March 2017

A fast joint sorting and reduction (FJSR) algorithm is proposed, which involves elementary column operations only, to assist the successive interference cancellation (SIC) detection for multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) systems. Simulation results show that the FJSR‐aided SIC detector achieves good error performance especially when the system scales up, yet requires only a few extra basis updates over the optimal‐ordered SIC detector regardless of the system size. This suggests that FJSR is particularly advantageous to small‐to‐medium scale MIMO systems with strict delay constraints.
Compact microstrip lowpass filter with ultra‐wide stopband based on dual‐plane structure
Authors: Jiang Shu , Xu Jinping
Published: March 2017

A microstrip lowpass filter (LPF) with ultra‐wide stopband suppression and compact size based on dual‐plane structure is presented. The LPF is composed of high‐impedance resonators loaded by folded patches on the topside plane, combined with hybrid slot and step‐impedance resonators on the ground plane. Multiple transmission zeros are created in the stopband region by different resonators. Thus, an ultra‐wide stopband with 11th‐harmonic suppression is achieved. A demonstration filter with 3 dB cutoff frequency (fc) at 2.45 GHz has been designed, fabricated and measured. Results show that the relative stopband bandwidth is 163.8% with attenuation level of 20 dB. The insertion loss is lower than 0.3 dB and the return loss is better than 17 dB in the passband. The size of the LPF is only 8.90 mm × 8.93 mm, which corresponds to 0.115λg × 0.116λg (λg is the guided wavelength at fc).
Modified classification and regression tree for facial expression recognition with using difference expression images
Authors: Du Lingshuang , Hu Haifeng
Published: March 2017

This study presents a modified classification and regression tree (M‐CRT) framework based on difference expression images, to address the facial expression recognition (FER) problem. The authors firstly obtain facial expressional details by calculating the difference between the images of basic expressions and images of neutral expression, which reflect the information irrelevant to identities. Local binary patterns and supervised descent method are, respectively, used to obtain the global and local features from difference expression images. M‐CRT model is developed for FER, which uses recursive segmentation to find the best classification decision according to the attributes of the global and local features, respectively. Compared with traditional methods, M‐CRT can simultaneously maximise intra‐class purity and distance between classes, which improves the discriminating power for classification. Experimental results on Japanese Female Facial Expression and CK+ database verify the effectiveness of their method.
On the beat signal synchronisation of interferometric FMCW radars
Authors: Tudose Mihai , Anghel Andrei , Cacoveanu Remus , Datcu Mihai
Published: March 2017

The authors present several beat signal synchronisation methods developed in the framework of interferometric frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radars. Their purpose is to determine by post‐processing the start moment of the beat signal repetition interval. An uncertainty in computing the beginning of the repetition intervals is translated in a phase error, which limits the radar's interferometric capabilities. The performances of the proposed methods are tested on real data acquired with an FMCW radar platform.
Optimum acoustic sensor placement for partial discharge allocation in transformers
Authors: Hekmati Arsalan , Hekmati Rasoul
Published: March 2017

Partial discharges (PDs) are a cause of degradation of insulation system and its permanent activity monitoring is used as a tool for insulation condition assessment in power transformers. Information on PD position can be used by plant monitors to diagnose the cause of PD and can help to identify type and severity of an insulation fault for maintenance strategies. The acoustic PD detection system, with great advantages relative to other methods, contains inaccuracies in PD localisation, such as the multipath interferences due to reflections within transformer tank, improper acoustic coupling between sensor and tank surface, mechanical vibrations and inherent sensor inaccuracies, which can severely limit the accuracy of the positioning system and make locating the exact positions of PD difficult. In this study, a method has been proposed for calculation of position measurement sensitivity for different PD origins within transformer tank. Different possible cases have been considered for placement of acoustic emission (AE) sensors. For each case, sensitivity of PD location to the time measurement errors has been calculated. The optimum arrangement of AE sensors has been chosen as the configuration yielding lowest error in the PD localisation. A test setup has been organised and the experimental results have justified the theoretical analysis.
Total Synthesis of Camptothecins: An Update
Authors: Chen Fen-Er , Chen Lei
Published: March 2017

Over the last few decades, considerable research efforts have been directed toward the development of effective chemical syntheses of camptothecin and its analogs. The last comprehensive review of this area was published in 2003 and many effective new methods have since been reported for the stereoselective synthesis of the camptothecin alkaloids. In this account, we have summarized most of the novel synthetic approaches developed for the synthesis of camptothecins during the last decade. We have focused on strategies for the construction of the pentacyclic ring system and the different methods used to install the chiral quaternary center on the E ring of camptothecin.

1 Introduction

2 Synthesis of Racemic Camptothecins

3 Enantioselective Synthesis of Camptothecins

3.1 Sharpless Asymmetric Dihydroxylation

3.2 Catalytic Asymmetric Cyanosilylation

3.3 Auxiliary-Induced Asymmetric Carbonyl Addition

3.4 Catalytic Asymmetric Ethylation

3.5 Asymmetric Hydroxylation

4 Conclusion
The effect of nitrate supplementation on arterial blood gases, haemoglobin fractions and heart rate in Bos indicus cattle after exercise
Authors: Benu I. , Fitzpatrick L. A. , Callaghan M. J. , Tomkins N. , Parker A. J.
Published: March 2017

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nitrate treatment on the arterial blood gas and haemoglobin fractions from Bos indicus steers after exercise. Bos indicus steers (n = 12; mean bodyweight ± s.e.m., 397 kg ± 10.84 kg) were used in this experiment to investigate the effects of three dose rates of nitrate salts (0, 30 or 50 g of nitrate/day) on arterial blood gases, methaemoglobin concentration, carboxyhaemoglobin concentration, oxyhaemoglobin concentration, total haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, heart rate, and respiratory rate after exercise. Increasing the dose rate of nitrate resulted in a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen (P = 0.004) in blood. Steers treated with 50 g nitrate/day had a decrease in oxyhaemoglobin concentration (P = 0.001) and a concomitant increase in methaemoglobin (P = 0.001) and carboxyhaemoglobin (P = 0.001) compared with steers treated with 0 or 30 g nitrate/day. Steers dosed with 50 g of nitrate had greater heart rates immediately after the exercise regimen compared with the steers dosed with 30 g of nitrate (P = 0.043) or no nitrate (P = 0.018). There was no difference between treatments for respiratory rate (P = 0.673) or rectal temperature (P = 0.207) after the exercise regimen. Feeding nitrate to Bos indicus cattle results in a decrease in the oxygen carrying capacity of their blood. It is likely that doses of nitrate greater than 50 g per day for this class of animal could induce hypoxaemic trauma if cattle have exercise imposed after consuming a nitrate supplement.
Grazing management: setting the table, designing the menu and influencing the diner
Authors: Gregorini Pablo , Villalba Juan J. , Chilibroste Pablo , Provenza Frederick D.
Published: March 2017

Pastoral livestock-production systems are under increasing environmental, social and consumer pressures to reduce environmental impacts and to enhance biodiversity and animal welfare. At the same time, farmers face the challenge of managing grazing, which is intimately linked with profitability. Recent advances in understanding grazing patterns and nutritional ecology may help alleviate such pressures. For instance, by managing grazing to (1) manipulate links between ingestive–digestive decisions and temporal patterns of nutrient excretion, (2) provide phytochemically diverse diets at appropriate temporal (the menu) and spatial (the table) scales and (3) influence the behaviour of animals (the diners) on the basis of their specific ‘personalities’ and needs, to overcome or enhance animal differences, thereby enhancing their and farm productivity and welfare, as well as our health. Under pastoral systems, synergies between animals’ and farmers’ grazing decisions have the potential to offer greater benefits to the animal, the environment and the farm than does simple and parsimonious grazing management based on a single component of the system. In the present review, we look at grazing and its management through an alternate lens, drawing ideas and hypotheses to stimulate thinking, dialogue and discussions that we anticipate will evolve into innovative research programs and grazing strategies. To do so, we combined experimental and observational studies from a wide range of disciplines with simulation-modelling exercises. We envisage a more holistic approach to manage grazing based on recent advances in the understanding of the nutritional ecology of grazing animals, and propose management practices that may enable pastoral livestock-production systems to evolve continually as complex creative systems.
Yeast as a model organism for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries
Authors: Macreadie Ian
Published: March 2017

Considerable knowledge about how we function has come through the use of the unicellular microbe yeast. Yeasts are eukaryotes like us and the similarity between us and yeasts is readily visible at the molecular level. This places yeast as an important tool for industries involved in health research, including pharmaceutical and nutraceutical discovery.
Tissue-specific inhibition of urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression in the testes of mice by inducible lentiviral RNA interference causes male infertility
Authors: Zhao Kai , Liu Yan , Xiong Zhe , Hu Lian , Xiong Cheng-liang
Published: March 2017

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is involved in many physiological processes, including male infertility. To explore the effects of uPA in male reproduction, we constructed an inducible uPA short hairpin RNA (shRNA) system expressed by lentiviral vectors. After proving inhibition of uPA expression in the mouse Sertoli cell line TM4 by 1 μg mL−1 doxycycline (Dox), two lentivirus (pLenti4-shRNA and pLenti6/TR) were co-microinjected into mouse testes to produce TetR&shuPA mice model. Though oral gavage by 0.75 mg mL−1 Dox each day for 1 week, the Plau mRNA expression, uPA protein level and uPA enzyme activity in mice testis decreased significantly in TetR&shuPA mice model. After Dox induction of 1 week, the TetR&shuPA mice mated with female mice. Our results show that the pregnancy rate was reduced by approximately 40% and the sperm motility also decreased significantly. These data indicated that downregulation of uPA could decrease the fertility of male mice, which may be caused by a reduction in sperm motility. To investigate the reversible effect and safety of the inducible uPA shRNA system, we withdraw Dox and found the mating rate and sperm motility gradually recovered after 2 weeks. The histopathology structure of the testis, epididymis, and main organs was not altered significantly. The results of the present study indicating that uPA may be regarded as a novel target for the regulation of male fertility.
Australian gay and bisexual men’s online preferences about sex with HIV-positive partners
Authors: Prestage Garrett , Bavinton Benjamin , Callander Denton , Philpot Steven P. , Zablotska Iryna , Kolstee Johann , Keen Phillip , Bradley Jack , Jin Fengyi
Published: March 2017

Background
Among gay and bisexual men (GBM), ‘serosorting’ is common and involves restricting sex, or at least condomless sex, to partners of the same HIV status. The prevalence of men conveying their serosorting preferences regarding partners they meet online remains unclear. Methods: This study reviewed 57 178 Australian online profiles obtained directly from a popular gay website. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with preferences for meeting HIV-positive partners. Results: Men could indicate their preferences from a list of 22 types of partners; 4358 profiles (7.6%) indicated an interest in meeting HIV-positive men. There were 1959 profiles (3.4%) listing a preference for 21 of the 22 types of men, including 1498 men (2.6%) that specifically excluded HIV-positive men. Men who specifically excluded HIV-positive men on their profiles were younger (mean age 34.7 years), less likely to identify as gay (25.6%) and more likely to always prefer ‘safer sex’ (55.3%) than those who specifically included them (mean age 39.6 years; 62.8% gay-identified; 30.9% preferred safer sex; P < 0.001). Men who specifically excluded HIV-positive partners on their profiles were also more likely to live outside major capital cities (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Being younger, living outside major cities, not identifying as gay, always preferring safer sex and either Caucasian or Asian background were associated with excluding HIV-positive men as potential sex partners. These factors may reflect lower social and community engagement with the gay community. The disinclination to include HIV-positive men as potential sex partners may be due to fear of infection, stigma or poor information about HIV.
Strategies for preventing early-onset group B streptococcal infection: Physicians’ preferences and ratings of effectiveness and feasibility
Authors: ALLEN UPTON , MACDONALD NONI , NIMROD CARL , MARCHESSAULT VICTOR , KLASSEN TERRY
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the preferences of Canadian physicians for various strategies to prevent early-onset group B streptococcal (GBS) infection and the physicians’ ratings of the effectiveness and feasibility of these strategies.

DESIGN:

Questionnaire survey.

PARTICIPANTS:

Physicians working in primary or tertiary care settings in community-based and hospital-based practices.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Questionnaires were sent to infectious diseases/microbiology (ID/MICRO) specialists, neonatologists and obstetricians (OBs) across Canada between December 1, 1994 and January 31, 1995. Responses were accepted up to March 31, 1995.

RESULTS:

Responses were obtained from 257 physicians (37%), with the analyzable pool comprising 220 physicians. Significant differences in responses were documented. Antenatal GBS screening was indicated by 63% of 220 respondents. The majority of respondents (77%) indicated that antenatal screening occurred in the early third trimester at their centres. Seventy-two per cent of respondents (158 of 220) indicated that intrapartum penicillin was the standard of care for preventing GBS in their centres. ID/MICRO specialists and neonatologists were more likely to assign a top three preference ranking to the Canadian consensus option that involves screening at 26 to 28 weeks, compared with OB specialists (P<0.001, P=0.008, respectively). The three most preferred options were considered to have ‘fair’ effectiveness. The option with the highest score on the feasibility rating was the Canadian consensus option that involved no screening, but intrapartum prophylaxis for high risk women.

CONCLUSION:

Given the significant disparity in responses, further efforts at information sharing and consensus building regarding the prevention of early-onset GBS are needed.
Periconceptional folic acid and the prevention of neural tube defects: Some food for thought for Canadian paediatricians
Authors: DAVIS DEBORAH J
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To review the data supporting the periconceptional use of folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects and to explore how Canadian physicians can help foster preventive strategies.

DATA SOURCES:

Articles found through a MEDLINE search, 1990 to 1996, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 1995. Questionnaire survey of selected group of women of childbearing age (November 1994). Chart review of all children with newly diagnosed neural tube defects admitted to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, between 1989 and 1994.

DATA SELECTION:

Epidemiological studies and randomized trials of supplemental folic acid for prevention of neural tube defects. Epidemio-logical studies and randomized trials of dietary folic acid.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

An increased periconceptional folic acid intake can prevent the recurrence of and the first occurrence of neural tube defects. However, consumption of adequate folic acid as natural food folate is relatively ineffective. Furthermore, few women are aware of the need for increased folic acid intake, despite Health Canada recommendations, nor do physicians seem to discuss the prevention of neural tube defects with patients.

CONCLUSION:

Better physician awareness, public education and supplementation of a staple food with folic acid are necessary to make the preventive strategy against neural tube defects effective.
How paediatricians can improve developmental outcomes for children
Authors: Steinhauer Paul D
Published: March 2017

This paper outlines several reasons why poor development outcomes cost children, their families and society. The author outlines ways that these outcomes can be improved and provides selected resources for parents and paediatricians. Finally the author offers suggestions regarding how paediatricians can make a difference with patients and within the community.
Improved Discrimination of Myocardial Perfusion Defects at Low Energy Levels Using Virtual Monochromatic Imaging
Authors: Carrascosa Patricia , Deviggiano Alejandro , de Zan Macarena , Capunay Carlos , Campisi Roxana , Rodriguez-Granillo Gaston A.
Published: March 2017

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic performance of dual-energy computed tomography perfusion (DE-CTP) at different energy levels.

Methods

Patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease underwent stress and rest DE-CTP and single-photon emission computed tomography. Images were evaluated using monochromatic data, and perfusion defects were initially identified in a qualitative manner and subsequently confirmed using attenuation levels.

Results

Thirty-six patients were included. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of DE-CTP for the identification of perfusion defects were 84.1%, 94.2%, 77.3%, and 96.2%, respectively. Perfusion defects showed significantly lower attenuation than normal segments, with the largest differences among low energy levels (sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 98% using a cutoff value ≤ 153 Hounsfield units at 40 keV), progressively declining at the higher levels (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Dual-energy CTP at the lowest energy levels allowed improved discrimination of perfusion defects compared with higher energy levels.
Inhibitor concentration on the corrosion behaviour of X70 steel in CO2environments
Authors: Li Dongyang , Xu Lining , Feng Shaoguang , Lu Minxu
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the corrosion behaviour of X70 steel in the presence and absence of various concentrations of inhibitor N-(2-o-Tolyl azophenyl)-acetamide (NTAA) in a CO2environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The temperature was set at 80°C, and the flow velocity was 1.5 m/s. The inhibitor concentrations were 10, 20, 30, 60 and 80 ppm, and the CO2partial pressure was 0.8 MPa. Weight loss method, pitting depth measurement, scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical techniques were used to investigate the inhibitory effects of the inhibitor NTAA.

Findings

The results showed that a small peak emerged in the curve of the corrosion rate versus inhibitor concentration plot at 20-30 ppm. Polarisation studies revealed that the anodic Tafel slopes changed greatly in the presence of an inhibitor; NTAA behaved as an anode-type inhibitor. At concentrations of 20-30 ppm, the incomplete coverage of the metal surface by inhibitor molecules resulted in macroscopic galvanic corrosion.

Originality/value

Corrosion behaviour of X70 steel in the presence and absence of various concentrations of an anode-type inhibitor was assessed. Cathodic Tafel slopes are almost unchanged, while the anodic Tafel slopes change significantly with the increase in inhibitor concentration. The corrosion rates of 20 and 30 ppm are almost three times of that of 10 ppm, which is because of the macroscopic galvanic corrosion caused by the inadequate coverage of inhibitor on steel surface.
Pitting inhibition in fiber dyeing solutions by two oxyanions
Authors: Yilmaz A.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Pitting inhibition efficiency of SO4− and NO3− on AISI 316L stainless steel in contact with Cl−-containing fiber dyeing solutions together with the influence of the anions on absorption behavior of the solutions were investigated. The purpose of the study is to experimentally determine an optimized dyeing solution efficient on both – inhibition of the steel’s pitting and exhaustion of the dyes dissolved.

Design/methodology/approach

Methods such as electrochemical cyclic polarization, UV-visible range spectrophotometry and scanning electron microscopy have been used to assess the performance of two inhibitors on both pitting inhibition of the steel and dissolving ability over the reactive dyes. To find out a promising dyeing solution mixture in both aspects, Cl content of the original dyeing solution was replaced gradually with the inhibiting anions, where the total anionic content was kept constant to unchange the dye exhaustion potential of the solution. Then, those solutions came out with diverse pitting inhibition, and dye absorption levels were compared together for reducing/avoiding the pitting issues of the reactive dyeing vessels of the industry.

Findings

Rather high absorption levels detected by visible range spectrophotometry on the solutions showing sound inhibition levels indicated possibility of unaltered reactive dyeing qualities with an enhanced vessel lifetime as the inhibitive anions replace Cl−. Nitrate performed better than sulfate both on inhibition and absorption in the dyeing solutions. Also, 316L vessels became open to an extra anodic protection in inhibitor added solutions.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are valid for a certain group of reactive dyes and dyeing solutions held at 70°C. However, the testing methods are available to almost any dyeing solution and dyeing temperature.

Originality/value

The work presents a combined testing of pitting inhibition and absorption behavior of dyeing solutions involving Cl− that has not been reported so far. It shows that solution recipes least harmful to the steel vessels can be outlined for various reactive or other types of dye groups.
Influence of sour oil on calcareous deposit nucleation
Authors: Hoseinieh Morteza , Shahrabi Taghi , Farrokhi Rad Morteza , Ramezanzadeh Bahram
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of sour crude oil contaminant on the calcareous scale deposition under cathodic protection of carbon steel in artificial seawater.

Design/methodology/approach

Electrochemical and surface characterizations are carried out using chronoamperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy techniques.

Findings

Results showed that sour oil limited the deposit nucleation regarding its volume concentrations. The inhibition mechanism was examined to be simultaneous acts of pH reduction and mackinawite formation beside minor physical adsorption of oil molecules on steel electrode.

Originality/value

There is no paper concerning the proposed subject, and the idea of this work is fully novel which is of great significance because of the consequences of disastrous oil spill phenomena on the integrity of exposed offshore facilities in terms of optimum protection against probable corrosion mechanisms.
The collapse of unlisted mortgage companies: a regulatory dilemma
Authors: Keneley Monica , Wines Graeme , Jain Ameeta
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Policy issues associated with the regulation of the unlisted debenture market have been highlighted in recent times with the collapse of a number of regionally based mortgage companies. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the decline and demise of the unlisted debenture market between 2007-2013 with particular reference to the effectiveness of the regulatory regime in stabilising the industry and protecting investors’ interests.

Design/methodology/approach

A database was constructed which reflected the total population of unlisted mortgage companies in the financial sector. A snapshot approach was used to assess the extent to which these companies complied with regulatory provisions.

Findings

Findings suggest the regulatory process allowed these companies to continue operating despite not complying with the relevant Australian Securities and Investments Commission benchmarks. In the light of the current inquiry into the financial system, the research suggests that a re-evaluation of the regulatory approach is timely.

Research limitations/implications

This research is restricted to a study of one category of debenture issuers (issuers of mortgage finance). It is based on reports required by regulatory authorities. It does not provide an analysis of the motivations of investors in these companies.

Practical/implications

This research has implications for the implementation of regulatory change in respect to oversight of shadow banking activities. It suggested that a passive approach to regulation is not sufficient to ensure that the interests of investors are fully protected.

Originality/value

No prior research has systematically examined the unlisted mortgage and analysed the borrowing and lending activities of companies that have failed and those that have survived.
Assessing the sources of competitiveness of the US states
Authors: Akpinar Murat , Can Özge , Mermercioglu Melike
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This study aims to test the emerald model on the regional basis for the identification of the most important sources of competitiveness in the states of the US.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the emerald model and its assertions, data are collected over the period 1998-2013 from 47 states in the US. Multiple regression analysis is performed with a lag structure of four, six and eight years as alternative time intervals to explain the dependent variable.

Findings

The empirical results support the emerald model except for its R&D attractiveness dimension in its ability to explain competitiveness in the states of the US. In the longer term (eight-year lag), cluster attractiveness has the highest impact, followed by environmental attractiveness, ownership attractiveness, educational attractiveness and talent attractiveness. Comparison of regression models with different time lags indicates that once the very early phase is over, the impacts of most attractiveness dimensions become rather consistent across time and do not disappear.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature on the measurement of regional competitiveness by performing an overall assessment of the emerald model and by analyzing the impacts of the model’s dimensions on competitiveness over time. On the other hand, the identification of the sources of regional competitiveness paves the way for a more efficient allocation of resources regarding policies and improvement programs.
How HR can create competitive advantage for the firm
Authors: Davis Paul J.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate the practical application of resource-based theory to the work of HR practitioners and to show how employees can be a direct source of competitive advantage for the firm.

Findings

The popular models of competitive strategy seem to reduce employees to invisible units of production – an inconsequential, undifferentiated mass. Even criticisms of Porter’s model do not appear to notice that he forgot about the workers. The idea that a firm’s internal resources, especially its employees, could play a part in generating competitive advantage is not considered. This is despite a great deal of scholarly research demonstrating that employees do not just contribute to competitive advantage; they can themselves be a direct source of competitive advantage.

Originality/value

This paper is valuable to HR practitioners, HR consultants, organizational development specialists and strategic planners.
The puzzle of older workers’ employment: distance to retirement and health effects
Authors: Sabatier Mareva , Legendre Bérangère
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which the distance to retirement affects low employment rates among European older workers, taking into account a key but often neglected determinant: health status.

Design/methodology/approach

To begin, the study amends McCall’s job search model, in which the job search behavior is treated as age dependent. Agents are heterogeneous according to two attributes: distance to retirement and health. The authors complete this theoretical analysis with an econometric analysis based on a French survey.

Findings

This model leads to clear predictions, such that the closer the retirement, the greater the reservation wage and the lower people’s search effort. Older workers also exhibit lower exit rates from unemployment, an effect that gets enhanced by health problems. The empirical work, based on a French survey, confirms the existence of a distance effect but also puts the greater impact of health status into perspective. The distance effect explains only part of the puzzle of older workers’ employment.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a theoretical and empirical analysis of the retirement decisions. It studies the distance effect but taking into account a neglected factor in the literature: health. Results clearly confirm the distance effect but highlight the reader role of health in retirement decisions.
Drawing negative inferences from a positive country-of-origin image
Authors: Majid Kashef A.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how a positive country-of-origin image will impact consumer perceptions for a high-risk product when the price is unexpectedly low.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental approach was used with consumers from the USA and India. Consumers were divided into groups and given two scenarios that involved purchasing medicine that may have been counterfeit. In one scenario manufacturing took place in India, the other in Switzerland. They were asked to state the probability that certain goods could be counterfeit if they originated from the stated country and then make choices based on those perceived probabilities. An analysis of variance was conducted to test for differences between groups.

Findings

The authors found that in both samples consumers attached greater probabilities toward low-priced medicines if they originated from Switzerland vs India. Conversely, the higher priced medicines were more likely to be counterfeit if they originated from India vs Switzerland. When given a choice scenario consumers chose more versions of the cheaper products from India than from Switzerland.

Originality/value

When country-of-origin is salient then it is believed that a positive country-of-origin image will benefit products that are produced from that country. Consumers expect that more expensive products come from a country with a positive country-of-origin image. The results demonstrate that when there is a conflict between expectations of the country and the price of the product the outcome is lowered perceptions and consumption of the product. This holds true for consumers from a high-cost economy (USA) and consumers from a low-cost economy (India). The authors add to the literature on country-of-origin by demonstrating that a positive image can be a liability when consumers are wary of purchasing a high-risk product.