bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects on stock investments of information about short versus long price series
Authors: Andersson Maria , Gärling Tommy , Hedesström Martin , Biel Anders
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether stock price predictions and investment decisions improve by exposure to increasing price series.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted three laboratory experiments in which undergraduates were asked to role‐play being investors buying and selling stock shares. Their task was to predict an unknown closing price from an opening price and to choose the number of stocks to purchase to the opening price (risk aversion) or the closing price (risk taking). In Experiment 1 stock prices differed in volatility for increasing, decreasing or no price trend. Prices were in different conditions provided numerically for 15 trading days, for the last 10 trading days, or for the last five trading days. In Experiment 2 the price series were also visually displayed as scatter plots. In Experiment 3 the stock prices were presented for the preceding 15 days, only for each third day (five days) of the preceding 15 days, or as five prices, each aggregated for three consecutive days of the preceding 15 days. Only numerical price information was provided.

Findings

The results of Experiments 1 and 2 showed that predictions were not markedly worse for shorter than longer price series. Possibly because longer price series increase information processing load, visual information had some influence to reduce prediction errors for the longer price series. The results of Experiment 3 showed that accuracy of predictions increased for less price volatility due to aggregation, whereas again there was no difference between five and 15 trading days. Purchase decisions resulted in better outcomes for the aggregated prices.

Research limitations/implications

Investorś performance in stock markets may not improve by increasing the length of evaluation intervals unless the quality of the information is also increased. The results need to be verified in actual stock markets.

Practical implications

The results have bearings on the design of bonus systems.

Originality/value

The paper shows how stock price predictions and buying and selling decisions depend on amount and quality of information about historical prices.
Measuring the (un‐)sustainability of industrial biomass production and use
Authors: Burritt Roger L. , Schaltegger Stefan
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the scope of applications and benefits of sustainability accounting for the production and industrial use of biomass as an energy source and substitute for fossil‐fuel use. As environmental degradation and unacceptable social impacts not only increase from the production and use of fossil‐fuel based energy, but also from alternative energy sources, the monitoring, controlling and measuring of the (un‐)sustainability of alternative energy production and use emerges as an area in critical need of research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a review of the issues surrounding the accounting for the (un‐)sustainability of industrial biomass production and use, considering what biomass is, the current and forecast importance of industrial biomass, different approaches to its production, and the subsequent measurement and monitoring of its potential (un‐)sustainability.

Findings

The paper finds that it is insufficient to conclude in general terms, as is often done or assumed in policy documents and statements, that industrial production and use of biomass is sustainable (or unsustainable) and that accounting for biomass must recognise the broader ecological and social system of which the production and use form a part. A further finding of the paper is that from agricultural or industrial production of biomass through to consumption and industrial use of biomass, the accounting issues surrounding biomass production and use are essential to determining its (un‐)sustainability.

Originality/value

The paper provides an overview of the importance of and problems with the production of biomass for industrial use, and related sustainability issues. It discusses possibilities for and limitations of accounting to address these sustainability issues as well as the need for and the challenges in measuring the (un‐)sustainability of biomass production for industrial use and the accounting for sustainability improvements.
Auditors' unqualified opinions on internal controls and accrual quality
Authors: Li Liuchuang , Tian Gaoliang , Qi Baolei
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine whether auditor's unqualified opinion on internal control (ARIC) is a powerful proxy for the effectiveness of internal control in Chinese context. A rich body of research conducts their designs on an assumption that companies have more effectiveness of internal controls if they disclose ARICs. This study argues that the ARICs are not always reliable, because audit market is well characterized by excessive competition and market supervision is poorer in China compared to developed countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses 2008 and 2009 years Chinese listed‐firms data and the Tobit regression to test the relationship between ARIC and accrual quality. The paper employs the Heckman model for self‐selection bias, which are possibly introduced by choice in disclosing ARICs.

Findings

The paper finds that firms disclose ARICs do not report lower abnormal accruals relative the non‐ARIC firms, and firms with ARICs issued by dominant auditors show more reliable accruals relative to non‐ARIC firms and firms that disclose ARICs but fail to be issued by dominant auditors. The results are robust to additional accrual quality measure, additional audit quality measure, and the correction of self‐selection bias by using the inverse Millo ratio approach.

Originality/value

The results suggest that implementing Chinese‐SOX could be facilitated by improving audit quality.
An empirical study on continual usage intention of microblogging: the case of Sina
Authors: Zhao Zhanbo , Cao Qun
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Sina Microblog is the most popular microblog in China. The purpose of this research is to explore the factors that influence Sina microbloggers' intention to continue using this platform.

Design/methodology/approach

This research proposes the effects of user satisfaction based on perceived usefulness, experiential value and knowledge sharing motivation and community norm on continual usage intention.

Findings

The results suggest that continual usage intention is directly affected by perceived usefulness, experiential value, egoism, satisfaction and community norm. Theoretical and practical implications are considered.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the earliest empirical studies in China to explore why Chinese consumers intend to rather than actually use Sina Microblog.
Assessment and management of risk in autism
Authors: Gunasekaran Santhana
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the issues in risk assessment and management of autism spectrum disorders in secure hospital settings with reference to best practice guidance.

Design/methodology/approach

The author undertook a review of the current literature on risk management in autism spectrum disorders and has drawn on clinical experience to highlight key issues.

Findings

Risk assessment and management needs to be tailored to individuals. Characteristics of offences differ compared to other mental disorders. Underlying factors for offending differ from other mental disorders and may be misinterpreted.

Practical implications

Risk assessment in autism spectrum disorders should take into account individual characteristics and be informed by specialist assessments. Management should be based on a formulation informed by assessments and by recognising individual characteristics.

Originality/value

The paper highlights important issues in risk assessment and management of patients with autism spectrum disorders particularly in secure hospital settings.
The value of design strategies applied to energy efficiency
Authors: Clevenger Caroline M. , Haymaker John R.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Advanced design strategies supported by iterative engineering performance calculations expand the number of alternatives designers can analyze by orders of magnitude. Yet, in the face of vast, under‐constrained design challenges with wide ranging and sometimes ill‐defined implications related to sustainability, it is not possible to replace building design with automated search. The purpose of this paper is to assist designers in their selection of strategies that have been shown to be effective in promoting sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies and extends the design exploration assessment methodology (DEAM) to compare the value of distinct design strategies. The authors use DEAM to demonstrate that designers face non‐trivially distinct challenges, even in the well‐defined arena of design for energy efficiency. They next evaluate and compare the effectiveness of strategies such as point‐analysis, screening, trend analysis, and optimization. They identify associated process costs, and extend DEAM to assess the relative value of information that each strategy provides for a given challenge.

Findings

Findings empirically rank six strategies for two challenges and demonstrate the relatively high value of trend analysis for energy‐efficient design.

Originality/value

The implication of the findings is that advanced computer analysis strategies should be pursued to support high performance, energy‐efficient design. Such conclusions motivate future research to assess the value of various strategies in the context of the broad and qualitative fields of sustainable design and development.
Teacher induction and mentorship policies: the pan‐Canadian overview
Authors: Kutsyuruba Benjamin
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory article is to address the questions of teacher attrition and retention by examining the policies supporting beginning teachers in different jurisdictions (provinces and territories) in Canada through teacher induction and mentorship programs.

Design/methodology/approach

This research study relied on the collection of documents as the primary method of data collection. Both policy documents as means of external communication and the informal responses to formal policies by various stakeholders were analyzed in a complementary fashion in this study. The study examined numerous government documents, websites, program/policy memoranda, newsletters, as well as academic reviews pertaining to beginning teacher induction programs across Canada.

Findings

Data analysis revealed significant policy variability across the provinces and localities, with comprehensive induction programs instituted only by the educational authorities in New Brunswick, Ontario, and Northwest Territories. A fundamental building‐block of the induction programs was the creation of a formal mentoring program that matched experienced teachers with teachers who were new to the profession and/or to the province/territory.

Research limitations/implications

Policy makers should consider the implementation of structured induction programs that successfully inculcate new teachers into school cultures and result in decreased teacher attrition and increased retention of beginning teachers. Mentoring is at the core of successful induction programs. Evident in all policy‐mandated induction programs under study was the importance of the school principal's role in effective functioning of mentoring programs. This aspect of the principal's role should be further examined and researched to understand the administrator role in the implementation and functioning of effective induction and mentoring programs for beginning teachers not only in Canada but worldwide.

Practical implications

In considering implementation of teacher induction programs, policymakers need to be aware that comprehensive, intensive support programs for new educators are both an effective and an efficient public investment. If mandated by policies at the macro levels as part of formal induction programs, mentoring programs have the potential to transform schools into collaborative places by establishing a culture of mentoring in schools.

Originality/value

Despite the perceived and actual benefits, government‐instituted induction programs for new teachers are not very common in Canada. While the discussions of such programs are certainly present in the educational literature, this exploratory pan‐Canadian review of induction and mentoring policies has the ability to inform provincial and territorial policymakers about the variability in institutionalizing those programs.
Yeast ratio is a critical factor for sequential fermentation of papaya wine by Williopsis saturnus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Lee Pin‐Rou , Kho Stephanie Hui Chern , Yu Bin , Curran Philip , Liu Shao‐Quan
Published: November 2012

The growth kinetics and fermentation performance of Williopsis saturnus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae at ratios of 10:1, 1:1 and 1:10 (W.:S.) were studied in papaya juice with initial 7‐day fermentation by W. saturnus, followed by S. cerevisiae. The growth kinetics of W. saturnus were similar at all ratios, but its maximum cell count decreased as the proportion of S. cerevisiae was increased. Conversely, there was an early death of S. cerevisiae at the ratio of 10:1. Williopsis saturnus was the dominant yeast at 10:1 ratio that produced papaya wine with elevated concentrations of acetate esters. On the other hand, 1:1 and 1:10 ratios allowed the coexistence of both yeasts which enabled the flavour‐enhancing potential of W. saturnus as well as the ethyl ester and alcohol‐producing abilities of S. cerevisiae. In particular, 1:1 and 1:10 ratios resulted in production of more ethyl esters, alcohols and 2‐phenylethyl acetate. However, the persistence of both yeasts at 1:1 and 1:10 ratios led to formation of high levels of acetic acid. The findings suggest that yeast ratio is a critical factor for sequential fermentation of papaya wine by W. saturnus and S. cerevisiae as a strategy to modulate papaya wine flavour.
Anti‐β2 glycoprotein I antibodies and pregnancy outcome in antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Liu Xin Li , Xiao Jing , Zhu Fufan
Published: November 2012

The relation between pregnancy outcome and single‐ or double‐positivity of anticardiolipin (aCL) and β2 glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has yet to be clearly documented. In this article, a total of 191 lupus anticoagulant‐negative pregnant women with primary APS were retrospectively divided into three groups: aCL+/aβ2GPI−; aCL+/aβ2GPI+; aCL−/aβ2GPI+. All women had received medical therapy consisting of prednisone (10–15 mg/day), low‐dose aspirin (50 mg/day), and low molecular weight heparin (40 mg/day). The miscarriage rate in the double‐positive group was significantly higher than that in the aCL+/aβ2GPI− group (46.2% vs. 22.1%, p < 0.05); the miscarriage rate in the aCL−/aβ2GPI+ group (36.4%) was not significantly different from the rates of the other two groups (p > 0.05). Thus, double‐positivity may be a risk factor for pregnancy loss and aβ2GPI antibody may be a better prognostic marker than aCL antibody for pregnancy outcome.
Association of nucleated red blood cells and severity of encephalopathy in normothermic and hypothermic infants
Authors: Walsh BH , Boylan GB , Dempsey EM , Murray DM
Published: November 2012

Aim

To determine whether hypothermia alters the discriminative ability of postnatal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) to distinguish between mild and moderate/severely encephalopathic infants.

Methods

A prospective cohort study recruited full‐term neonates with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) from 2003 to 2012 (prehypothermic and hypothermic eras). The NRBC count was analysed in the first 24 h in all infants and compared between normothermic and hypothermic cohorts. The severity of encephalopathy was categorized using both clinical Sarnat score and continuous multichannel EEG.

Results

Eighty‐six infants with HIE were included: in the normothermic group, 19 were clinically mild, 24 moderate/severe; in the hypothermic group, 22 were mild, 21 moderate/severe encephalopathy. NRBC count discriminated between mild and moderate/severe Sarnat scores in the normothermic group (p = 0.03) but not in the hypothermic group (p = 0.9). This change was due to a decrease in NRBCs among moderately encephalopathic infants in the hypothermic cohort.

Conclusion

Postnatal NRBCs distinguished between mild and moderate/severe encephalopathy in normothermic infants but not in infants undergoing therapeutic hypothermia. We advise caution when using postnatal blood samples to study diagnostic biomarkers for HIE without first analysing the potential impact of hypothermia upon these markers.
Antecedents and Outcomes of Volunteer Work–Family Conflict and Facilitation in Australia
Authors: Cowlishaw Sean , Birch Adrian , McLennan Jim , Hayes Peter
Published: November 2012

Unpaid volunteers occupy many roles and provide crucial services in countries around the world. In Australia, for example, volunteers provide emergency response capabilities to most communities outside of major population centres. Despite the valuable function of this volunteer workforce, evidence indicates declining numbers of volunteer emergency service workers, and suggests that interactions between volunteering and family are implicated in falling numbers. The current study considered volunteering as one component of the community microsystem, and examined volunteering‐related Work–Family Conflict (WFC) and Work–Family Facilitation (WFF) in N = 682 Australian volunteer firefighters. Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis indicated that brigade operational demands had a negative indirect effect on intention to remain through volunteer WFC, as well as a concurrent positive effect on satisfaction. Two volunteering resources were considered (training opportunities and effective leadership), and had positive impacts on volunteer WFF through perceived developmental gain. Although developmental gain had a large positive impact on volunteer satisfaction, volunteer WFF did not. Results indicate that theoretical models of interactions between paid work and family can inform understanding of interactions between voluntary work and family, and thus links between community and family roles. Implications for volunteer emergency services organisations are discussed.
Complements or Substitutes? Private Codes, State Regulation and the Enforcement of Labour Standards in Global Supply Chains
Authors: Locke Richard M. , Rissing Ben A. , Pal Timea
Published: November 2012

Recent research on regulation and governance suggests that a mixture of public and private interventions is necessary to improve working conditions and environmental standards within global supply chains. Yet less attention has been directed to how these different forms of regulation interact in practice. The form of these interactions is investigated through a contextualized comparison of suppliers producing for Hewlett‐Packard, one of the world's leading global electronics firms. Using a unique dataset describing Hewlett‐Packard's supplier audits over time, coupled with qualitative fieldwork at a matched pair of suppliers in Mexico and the Czech Republic, this study shows how private and public regulation can interact in different ways — sometimes as complements; other times as substitutes — depending upon both the national contexts and the specific issues being addressed. Results from our analysis show that private interventions do not exist within a vacuum, but rather these efforts to enforce labour and environmental standards are affected by state and non‐governmental actors.
TIMELESS is overexpressed in lung cancer and its expression correlates with poor patient survival
Authors: Yoshida Kenya , Sato Mitsuo , Hase Tetsunari , Elshazley Momen , Yamashita Ryo , Usami Noriyasu , Taniguchi Tetsuo , Yokoi Kohei , Nakamura Shigeo , Kondo Masashi , Girard Luc , Minna John D. , Hasegawa Yoshinori
Published: November 2012

TIMELESS (TIM) is a mammalian homolog of a Drosophila circadian rhythm gene, but its circadian properties in mammals have yet to be determined. TIM appears to be essential for replication protection and genomic stability. Recently, the involvement of TIM in human malignancies has been reported; therefore, we investigated the role of TIM in lung cancer. Microarray expression analysis of lung cancer cell lines showed that TIM expression was elevated 3.7‐fold (P < 0.001) in non‐small cell lung cancer cell lines (n = 116) compared to normal lung controls (n = 59). In addition, small cell lung cancer cell lines (n = 29) expressed TIM at levels 2.2‐fold (P < 0.001) higher than non‐small cell lung cancer. Western blot analysis of 22 lung cancer cell lines revealed that all of them expressed TIM protein and that 20 cell lines (91%) expressed TIM protein at higher levels than a normal control line. Remarkably, immunohistochemistry of 30 surgically resected lung cancer specimens showed that all lung cancer specimens but no matched normal lung tissues were positive for TIM expression. Moreover, immunohistochemistry of surgically resected specimens from 88 consecutive patients showed that high TIM protein levels correlated with poor overall survival (P = 0.013). Mutation analysis for TIM in 23 lung cancer cell lines revealed no mutation. TIM knockdown suppressed proliferation and clonogenic growth, and induced apoptosis in H157 and H460 cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that TIM could be useful as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for lung cancer and targeting it would be of high therapeutic value for this disease.
Dense mapping of IL2RA shows no association with Graves' disease in Chinese Han population
Authors: Song Zhi‐Yi , Liu Wei , Xue Li‐Qiong , Pan Chun‐Ming , Wang Hai‐Ning , Gu Zhao‐Hui , Yang Shao‐Ying , Cao Huang‐Ming , Zuo Chun‐Lin , Zhang Xiao‐Na , Jiang He , Liu Bing‐Li , Bi Ya‐Xin , Zhang Xiao‐Mei , Zhao Shuang‐Xia , Song Huai‐Dong
Published: November 2012

Objective

Associations between IL2RA and various autoimmune diseases have been reported in Caucasians. We investigated whether genetic polymorphisms at the IL2RA locus were associated with Graves' disease (GD) in the Chinese Han population.

Design

We performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) in 1 536 GD patients and 1 516 controls. The 1000 Genomes Project data were adopted as references for imputation analysis. After forward and conditional logistic regressions, we found that rs11256313 was the major risk variant in the CD25/IL2RA region. Thus, we further genotyped rs11256313 in a replication cohort with 3 694 GD patients and 3 510 controls using ABI 7900HT TaqMan Real‐Time PCR System.

Results

Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL2RA block were nominally associated with GD in our GWAS (0·01 < P < 0·05). After imputation analysis, 13 imputed SNPs in the IL2RA block were weakly associated with GD (P ≤ 0·05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the imputed rs11256313 could represent the IL2RA block (P = 0·003). However, we failed to replicate the association of rs11256313 in a larger cohort (P = 0·145). A subphenotype analysis of rs11256313 on thyroid hormone receptor antibody (TRAb) and gender showed that there was no association in any of the subphenotype groups (P > 0·05).

Conclusions

The results suggested that common genetic polymorphisms at IL2RA do not exert a significant genetic effect on the development of GD in the Chinese Han population. Previously reported associations between CD25/IL2RA and autoimmune diseases including GD in Caucasians again imply that heterogeneity exists in different ethnic populations.
Are significant numbers of abnormal cells lost on the discarded ThinPrep® broom when used for cervical cytology?
Authors: Umana A. , Dunsmore H. , Herbert A. , Jokhan A. , Kubba A.
Published: November 2012

A. Umana, H. Dunsmore, A. Herbert, A. Jokhan and A. Kubba  Are significant numbers of abnormal cells lost on the discarded ThinPrep® broom when used for cervical cytology?

Background:  In view of a study with SurePath® showing that cells were lost on the broom if it was discarded, we decided to investigate whether cells were lost on the ThinPrep® (TP) broom, which is discarded according to the manufacturer’s protocol.

Aim:  To determine whether significant amounts of cellular material are lost on the discarded TP broom, and whether the loss is operator dependent.

Methods:  Three hundred and six women attending the Guy’s Hospital Colposcopy Unit gave their consent for TP liquid‐based cytology samples to be taken and the broom immersed in a second vial instead of being discarded. The cellularity of the first and second vials was compared by counting cells in 10 ×40 high‐power fields (HPFs). The significance of cell loss was ascertained by correlating the likelihood of abnormal cells and transformation zone (TZ) material being present with the degree of cellularity of the two vials.

Results:  More than 10 cells per HPF were seen in 3.2%, 19.4% and 35.8% of slides from the second vial taken by three experienced colposcopists, which was significantly different between them (P < 0.001); cellularity of the first vial was not significantly different between colposcopists but the one with highest cellularity in the first vial discarded most in the second. Abnormal cells were more likely to be seen in slides with more than 10 cells per HPF (P < 0.001) and with evidence of TZ sampling (P < 0.001), but there was no preferential loss of TZ material in the second vial. Of 126 slides with abnormal cells on the slides from the second vial, 113 (89.7%) were also present on the significantly more cellular first vial (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:  Abnormal cells were potentially lost on the broom, but were usually represented in the first vial. The likelihood of abnormal cells being discarded was operator dependent in this small study, but this did not affect the quality of the initial preparation. The likelihood of abnormal cells being seen on TP slides was dependent on their cellularity, which provided our laboratory with a criterion for the assessment of sample adequacy.
On Abortion: Exploring Psychological Meaning and Attitudes in a Sample of Mexican Gynecologists
Authors: Luisa Marván Ma. , Álvarez del Río Asunción , Campos Zaira
Published: November 2012

Elective abortion has become an issue of ethical and political debate in many countries including Mexico. As gynecologists are directly involved in the practice of abortion, it is important to know the psychological meaning that the term ‘elective abortion’ has for them. This study explores the psychological meaning and attitudes toward elective abortion of one hundred and twenty‐three Mexican gynecologists. We used the semantic networks technique, which analyzed the words the participants associated with the term ‘elective abortion’.

The defining words most frequently used by participants implied a negative sanction. There were important differences by gender and religiosity: male gynecologists, as well as those with strong religious beliefs (mainly Catholics), revealed a more negative psychological meaning and more negative attitudes than females or physicians with weak religious beliefs. A contribution of the present study is that it highlights the importance of psychology to enhancing understanding of the issue of elective abortion.
Colored medaka and zebrafish: Transgenics with ubiquitous and strong transgene expression driven by the medaka β‐actin promoter
Authors: Yoshinari Nozomi , Ando Kazunori , Kudo Akira , Kinoshita Masato , Kawakami Atsushi
Published: November 2012

Conditional cell labeling, cell tracing, and genetic manipulation approaches are becoming increasingly important in developmental and regenerative biology. Such approaches in zebrafish research are hampered by the lack of an ubiquitous transgene driver element that is active at all developmental stages. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of the medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) β‐actin (Olactb) promoter, which drives constitutive transgene expression during all developmental stages, and the analysis of adult organs except blood cell types. Taking advantage of the compact medaka promoter, we succeeded in generating a zebrafish transgenic (Tg) line with unprecedentedly strong and widespread transgene expression from embryonic to adult stages. Moreover, the Tg carries a pair of loxP sites, which enables the reporter fluorophore to switch from DsRed2 to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). We induced Cre/loxP recombination with Tg(hsp70l: mCherry‐t2a‐CreERt2) in the double Tg embryo and generated a Tg line that constitutively expresses EGFP. We further demonstrate the powerful application of Olactb‐driven Tgs for cell lineage tracing using transplantation experiments with embryonic cells at the shield stage and adult cells of regenerating fin. Thus, the use of promoter elements from medaka is an alternative approach to generate Tgs with stronger and even novel expression patterns in zebrafish. The Olactb promoter and the Tg lines presented here represent an important advancement for the broader use of Cre/loxP‐based Tg applications in zebrafish.
Movement patterns of southern redbelly dace, Chrosomus erythrogaster, in a headwater reach of an Ozark stream
Authors: Walker Richard H. , Adams Ginny L. , Reid Adams S.
Published: November 2012

Previous research on fish movement has focused primarily on recreationally important fishes in perennial streams; however, fewer studies have examined movement patterns of small‐bodied fishes in intermittent streams where abiotic and biotic conditions can be extreme compared with perennial systems. Using mark–recapture, we examined movement patterns of southern redbelly dace, Chrosomus erythrogaster, in an intermittent Ozark stream having both permanently connected and temporally isolated sections. Juvenile (60–88%) and adult (55–83%) residency rates were not significantly different for any mark–recapture sample, and movement was primarily within a section for both groups. Ontogenetic differences were detected for kurtosis, distance moved and population spread, with adults exhibiting greater variability in movement, moving more often and further. When considering only adults, there was a significantly higher number of individuals that exhibited intermovement from isolated sections compared with connected sections. In addition, a higher proportion of adults exhibiting intermovement moved to connected stream sections in May and July compared to January and March. Dace exhibited upstream bias in July, with 76% of emigrates moving to an upstream connected section. Although there were no statistically significant associations between the proportion of intermovers from connected and isolated sections and measured water quality and habitat variables, noteworthy trends were observed, and these trends were always stronger for connected sections. Understanding the factors that influence population dynamics in headwater streams is important for the survival and persistence of stream fish populations, especially considering the anticipated expansion of intermittent headwater streams as a result of future climatic changes.
Metabolic approaches to understanding climate change impacts on seasonal host‐macroparasite dynamics
Authors: Molnár Péter K. , Kutz Susan J. , Hoar Bryanne M. , Dobson Andrew P.
Published: November 2012

Climate change is expected to alter the dynamics of infectious diseases around the globe. Predictive models remain elusive due to the complexity of host–parasite systems and insufficient data describing how environmental conditions affect various system components. Here, we link host–macroparasite models with the Metabolic Theory of Ecology, providing a mechanistic framework that allows integrating multiple nonlinear environmental effects to estimate parasite fitness under novel conditions. The models allow determining the fundamental thermal niche of a parasite, and thus, whether climate change leads to range contraction or may permit a range expansion. Applying the models to seasonal environments, and using an arctic nematode with an endotherm host for illustration, we show that climate warming can split a continuous spring‐to‐fall transmission season into two separate transmission seasons with altered timings. Although the models are strategic and most suitable to evaluate broad‐scale patterns of climate change impacts, close correspondence between model predictions and empirical data indicates model applicability also at the species level. As the application of Metabolic Theory considerably aids thea prioriestimation of model parameters, even in data‐sparse systems, we suggest that the presented approach could provide a framework for understanding and predicting climatic impacts for many host–parasite systems worldwide.
Knowledge transfer in offshore outsourcing software development projects: an analysis of the challenges and solutions from German clients
Authors: Betz Stefanie , Oberweis Andreas , Stephan Rolf
Published: November 2012

Knowledge transfer is a critical factor in ensuring the success of offshore outsourcing software development projects and is, in many cases, neglected. Compared to in‐house or co‐located projects, however, such globally distributed projects feature far greater complexity. In addition to language barriers, factors such as cultural differences, time zone variance, distinct methods and practices, as well as unique equipment and infrastructure can all lead to problems that negatively impact knowledge transfer, and as a result, a project's overall success. In order to help minimise such risks to knowledge transfer, we conducted a research study based on expert interviews in six projects. Our study used German clients and focused on offshore outsourcing software development projects. We first identified known problems in knowledge transfer that can occur with offshore outsourcing projects. Then we collected best‐practice solutions proven to overcome the types of problems described. Afterward, we conducted a follow‐up study to evaluate our findings. In this subsequent stage, we presented our findings to a different group of experts in five projects and asked them to evaluate these solutions and recommendations in terms of our original goal, namely to find ways to minimise knowledge‐transfer problems in offshore outsourcing software development projects. Thus, the result of our study is a catalog of evaluated solutions and associated recommendations mapped to the identified problem areas.
High‐resolution in vivo imaging of regenerating dendrites of Drosophila sensory neurons during metamorphosis: local filopodial degeneration and heterotypic dendrite–dendrite contacts
Authors: Satoh Daisuke , Suyama Ritsuko , Kimura Ken‐ichi , Uemura Tadashi
Published: November 2012

Neuronal circuits that are formed in early development are reorganized at later developmental stages to support a wide range of adult behaviors. At Drosophila pupal stages, one example of this reorganization is dendritic remodeling of multidendritic neurons, which is accomplished by pruning and subsequent regeneration of branches in environments quite distinct from those in larval life. Here, we used long‐term in vivo time‐lapse recordings at high spatiotemporal resolution and analyzed the dynamics of two adjacent cell types that remodel dendritic arbors, which eventually innervate the lateral plate of the adult abdomen. These neurons initially exhibited dynamic extension, withdrawal and local degeneration of filopodia that sprouted from all along the length of regenerating branches. At a midpupal stage, branches extending from the two cell types started fasciculating with each other, which prompted us to test the hypothesis that this heterotypic contact may serve as a guiding scaffold for shaping dendritic arbors. Unexpectedly, our cell ablation study gave only marginal effects on the branch length and the arbor shape. This result suggests that the arbor morphology of the adult neurons in this study can be specified mostly in the absence of the dendrite–dendrite contact.
Serum tumor necrosis factor‐alpha level in hepatitis E virus‐related acute viral hepatitis and fulminant hepatic failure in pregnant women
Authors: Salam Gyaneshwori Devi , Kumar Ashok , Kar Premashis , Aggarwal Sarita , Husain Akhtar , Sharma Shashi
Published: November 2012

Aim

The host response in hepatitis E virus (HEV)‐related liver disease of pregnant women is unclear. This study was carried out to evaluate the serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α in HEV‐related acute viral hepatitis (AVH) and fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) in pregnant women in relation to pregnancy outcome.

Methods

The study included 262 pregnant and 158 non‐pregnant women with jaundice. There were 160 healthy asymptomatic pregnant women and 124 healthy asymptomatic non‐pregnant women as controls. The jaundiced patients were classified as AVH or FHF. Serum TNF‐α level was assayed by commercially available enzyme‐linked immunoassay kits.

Results

A significantly higher level of TNF‐α was observed in HEV‐infected pregnant women than non‐HEV pregnant women (P < 0.001). TNF‐α level was significantly higher in AVH and FHF of HEV‐infected pregnant women compared with AVH and FHF of HEV infected non‐pregnant women (P = 0.036 and P = 0.010, respectively). The HEV‐infected pregnant FHF expired group had significantly higher levels of TNF‐α than the non‐pregnant FHF expired group (P = 0.025). TNF‐α levels were significantly higher in AVH of HEV‐infected pregnant women than healthy pregnant controls (P < 0.001). Higher TNF‐α levels were observed in HEV‐infected women having preterm delivery and low birthweight newborns compared with non‐HEV and healthy pregnant women.

Conclusion

Higher serum concentration of TNF‐α observed in HEV infected AVH and FHF pregnant cases shows that pregnancy with HEV infection increases TNF‐α secretion. TNF‐α may be an important factor in the outcomes of pregnancy due to HEV infection.
Academic Workload and Working Time: Retrospective Perceptions Versus Time‐Series Data
Authors: Kyvik Svein
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this article is to examine the validity of perceptions by academic staff about their past and present workload and working hours. Retrospective assessments are compared with time‐series data. The data are drawn from four mail surveys among academic staff in Norwegian universities undertaken in the period 1982–2008. The findings show that many academic staff retrospectively perceive that expectations of their work and task performance have increased and hence that they now work longer hours. In contrast, when time‐ series data are used to measure changes in time use (on an aggregate level) no empirical evidence is found in support of this claim; instead, a slight decline in the average number of weekly working hours can be observed. Two possible reasons for this disparity are discussed. First, that heavier workloads do not necessarily imply that academic staff work longer hours. Second, that younger generations of academic staff may report fewer work hours than previous counterparts.
The vulnerable healthcare consumer: an interpretive synthesis of the patient experience literature
Authors: Hare Caroline , Law James , Brennan Carol
Published: November 2012

The increased policy emphasis on the ‘patient experience’ places the health consumer in centre stage as the driver for healthcare delivery. This poses challenges for service providers to meet the needs of more vulnerable groups, notably those with disabilities, who are often more likely to be both in greater need of services and, at the same time, less able to access them. This paper reports an interpretive synthesis of qualitative research studies in the UK and US on the experience of vulnerable patient groups using a broad range of health services. An interpretive review method was adopted to capture the complexity of the data. Eighteen papers were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria for the review. Seven key themes were identified: life experience, service design, point of delivery, accessibility, availability, specialist education/training and consumer typology. Although policy makers and providers often refer to the need for greater consumerism in the development of health services, our review suggests that it may be appropriate to consider a model of ‘mediated consumerism’ for some groups of service users. While some concerns are common to both mainstream and vulnerable consumers, others such as accessibility of services, and the resulting experience of health care, are particular to specific vulnerable groups. Accessing the experiences of these more vulnerable groups therefore warrants close attention in the development of both policy and practice in health service delivery.
The adoption of sustainable laundry technologies by US consumers
Authors: Hustvedt Gwendolyn , Ahn Mira , Emmel JoAnn
Published: November 2012

The adoption of sustainable laundry technologies by US consumers has lagged behind that of other countries and even behind the projections for adoption made by the US government. Most US household currently own and use the top‐loading vertical axis (v‐axis) agitator type washers, which use large amounts of water as well as additional energy to heat the water. More sustainable laundry practices include the use of energy‐ and water‐efficient front‐loading horizontal‐axis (h‐axis) washers. These washers have been demonstrated to use 38% less water and 58% less energy than the standard top‐loading v‐axis models. The adoption of more energy‐efficient washing technologies is of interest to many, including policy makers, because of their water‐ and energy‐saving potential. Little is known about the attributes and issues consumers use in their decision to adopt high‐efficiency washers for their home.

This study uses Roger's Diffusion of Innovations Theory to understand the adoption of h‐axis washers by US consumers. An online survey of 330 consumers who own washing machines found that 23% currently own h‐axis washers and 24% of consumers intend to purchase an h‐axis when they replace their top‐loading vertical (v‐axis) washers. Energy and water savings are the most frequently cited reasons overall for adopting the h‐axis washer and cost was the main reason for not adopting the technology. Other issues, such as dissatisfaction with cleaning power and problems with machine cleanliness and maintenance, did not play a major role in adoption. Specific marketing and education channels, where US consumers are looking for information about h‐axis washers, are also identified. Overall, the results suggest that the rate of h‐axis adoption in the US is accelerating, but that many of the benefits of the technology are not easily observed by non‐owners.
Coordinated employer bargaining and globalisation: a study of the men's clothing industry in Quebec, 1974–2012
Authors: Laroche Mélanie , Murray Gregor
Published: November 2012

This article looks at the political economy of employer coordination of collective bargaining in the clothing or apparel manufacturing industry in Canada over three phases of globalisation: from the Multi‐Fiber Agreement in 1974 to the impact of the entry of China in the WTO. Although prevailing accounts emphasise the force of exogenous change and the likely decentralisation of bargaining structures and demise of bargaining coordination by employers, this case highlights how unions and employers sought to preserve their institutional model. We find that actor strategies and their interrelations are a central part of the explanation of this apparent institutional stability, despite the real force of economic, organisational and public policy factors. However, it is a dynamic stability in which change processes, reflecting shifting power relations, are leading to important shifts in the nature of employer coordination.
Structuration bridging diffusion of innovations and gender relations theories: a case of paradigmatic pluralism in IS research
Authors: Pozzebon Marlei , Mackrell Dale , Nielsen Susan
Published: November 2012

This paper discusses the adoption of a pluralist theoretical framework – one that is also multiparadigmatic – for conducting and publishing information system (IS) research. The discussion is illustrated by a single case study involving the Australian cotton industry. The theoretical framework is informed by three sociological theories, each with its particular paradigmatic assumptions: structuration theory as a meta‐theory, and diffusion of innovations and gender relations as lower‐level theories from notionally opposing paradigms. Theoretical pluralism helped to produce rich findings, illuminating both the social nature of women farmers' roles, the materiality of the cotton farming context, the characteristics of the decision support systems in use and the recursive way in which human agency and institutional pressures shape each other. Because users of so‐called divergent paradigms often face criticism based on the incommensurability issue, one of the main contributions of this paper is to discuss the value of a pluralist and multiparadigmatic theoretical framework in dealing with complex IS social phenomena.
Demographic and Economic Consequences of Conflict
Authors: Kugler Tadeusz , Kang Kyung Kook , Kugler Jacek , Arbetman-Rabinowitz Marina , Thomas John
Published: November 2012

Research on conflict traditionally focuses on its initiation, duration, and severity, but seldom on its consequences. Yet, demographic and economic recovery from the consequences of war lasts far longer and may be more devastating than the waging war. Our concern is with war losses and post-war recovery leading to convergence with pre-war performance. To test this proposition, we choose the most severe international and civil wars after 1920. We find that all belligerents recover or overtake demographic losses incurred in war. Economic assessments differ. The most-developed belligerents recover like a “phoenix” from immense destruction in one generation. For less-developed societies, the outcomes are mixed. The less-developed belligerents recover only a portion of their pre-war performance. The least-developed societies suffer the most and fall into lasting poverty traps. The overlapping generation growth model accounts for such differences in recovery rates based on pre-war performance challenging arguments from Solow's neoclassical growth perspective. Our results imply that foreign aid is incidental to the post-war convergence for the most-developed societies, can prompt recovery for the less-developed societies, and is not effective—unless it is massive and sustained—for the least-developed societies. World War II may provide a poor guide to current post-war challenges in Iraq and in Afghanistan.