bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrating search engine capacity and gender preference within a social media captured authority locus of control
Authors: Smith-Ditizio Amber A. , Smith Alan David , R. Kendall Walter
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide useful insights underlying the popularity of search engine technologies within a social media-intensive environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The degree of social interaction for social media platforms that integrate search engine technologies as part of the homepage and related experience is very mixed on part of its users. Through Barnard’ theory of authority acceptance, social media and its popularity may be examined by the ability of its users to create effective messages that can be broadcasted to many, yet controlled by individual. The hypotheses tested the interaction of social media and search engine with gender and technological ease-of-use factors.

Findings

The statistical evidence suggested that significant technological and ease-of-use aspects of search engines are not meaningful, based on gender alone. Males may slightly be prone to take advantage of such technologies, but their search and use patterns are not much varied from their female counterparts. Social media, generally more fully captured authority in individual search patterns, and a number of interactions among gender status, search engine characteristics, and social media were found to be significant and profound. The testing of these hypotheses directly reflect the complexities of unique needs among users of search engines within a social media environment.

Practical implications

Search engine technologies with a social media context has allowed for the development of a modern, user-driven internet experience that has been powered by users’ imagination and is designed to at least partially satisfy users’ need for self-directed engagement. Organizations are well advised to provide a mindful, less controlled, and more interactive presence of potential users, especially through an increasingly mobile presence.

Originality/value

Individuals as well as organizations are rapidly discovering that it is becoming easier to share and distribute their content, especially for more creative and innovative content, among all of its users. As businesses continue to focus on the quality of one’s own content, individuals are increasingly taking advantage of some tools to exert more control over their experiences and what they are willing to share, resulting in more user-based partnerships will formulate. As the transition of traditional forms of marketing to newer forms of integrated marketing, the future for search engines as marketing tools by social media users appears to be very promising in adding contextual content within users’ homepage.
Analysis of competencies for effective virtual team leadership in building successful organisations
Authors: Maduka Nnamdi Stanley , Edwards Helen , Greenwood David , Osborne Allan , Babatunde Solomon Olusola
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Global competition and advances in technology have enhanced the growing trend of virtual teams in order to execute business strategies. Thus, understanding the competencies needed for virtual leadership effectiveness is essential and vital to organisational success. The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse the required competencies for virtual team leadership and its effectiveness in an organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted case study methodology to undertake an exploratory study of a manufacturing organisation. Using a questionnaire that was designed following a focussed literature review to identify the specific virtual leadership competencies, structured interviews were conducted face-to-face with 14 respondents from two major virtual team groups. The interviews were designed to elucidate the opinions and perceptions of virtual team members with respect to selected characteristics of their virtual team leaders (VTLs). The responses obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

Findings

The study identified the competencies required for effective leadership in virtual teams in order to achieve the organisational project success. The performance of the two VTLs in the organisation was then assessed in the light of these identified competencies. The study also identified transformational leaders as important to be considered when selecting VTLs because they are known to achieve high-performing team. However, the study found that considering the virtual leadership competencies, the two VTLs were found to have not, on the whole, performed well because they are lacking in some of the leadership competencies required for effective leadership in a virtual team and this has led to their organisation not achieving the required success in virtual teams.

Practical implications

The study has implications for organisations’ virtual team project leaders. The identification of specific leadership competencies for virtual team leadership will enable organisations to be more informed when looking for effective leaders in their virtual teams in order to achieve high-performing virtual teams, which will lead to organisational growth and success. The study is expected to enhance the success rate of any typical organisation using virtual teams.

Originality/value

The study would be highly beneficial to both the potential and current stakeholder organisations considering virtual teams to execute business strategies. This study has also added to the body of knowledge by further exploring the leadership competencies needed for virtual teams.
Investigating the impact of knowledge flow enablers on SC performance in Indian manufacturing organizations
Authors: Bhosale Vishal Ashok , Kant Ravi , Shankar Ravi
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between supply chain knowledge flow enablers (SCKFEs), knowledge flow performance and supply chain (SC) performance (operational performance, customer satisfaction, and financial performance) for Indian manufacturing organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured survey was used to collect the necessary data within the Indian manufacturing industry. Construct validity was conducted using convergent validity, reliability, and discriminant validity. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model.

Findings

The results of the study are tested based on data from 269 respondents from an Indian manufacturing organizations show positive influence: from SCKFEs to knowledge flow performance; knowledge flow performance to SC performance. In essence, the research reveals that the awareness to implement SCKFEs will increase the knowledge flow performance and SC performance.

Practical implications

The findings of this study are beneficial for decision-making authorities in the organization to know the importance of SCKFEs and their influence on knowledge flow performance and SC performance.

Originality/value

This is the unique study, which provides the theoretical framework which shows the relationship among SCKFEs, knowledge flow performance and SC performance and validates the framework with the help of an empirical study with Indian organizations.
Green supply chain management initiatives and operational competitive performance
Authors: Famiyeh Samuel , Kwarteng Amoako , Asante-Darko Disraeli , Dadzie Samuel Ato
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Manufacturing organizations have begun to implement green supply chain management (GSCM) practices in response to customer demand for products and services that are environmentally sustainable and that are created through environmentally sustainable practices and in response to governmental environmental regulations. Despite rising concerns about green management, there seem to be few studies investigating GSCM and its impacts on the operational competitive capabilities from a developing economy. The purpose of this paper is to understand the extent of GSCM practices’ implementation in Ghana and how such practices impact firms’ operational competitive capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling was used to study the relationship between GSCM practices and firm operational competitive performance in terms of cost, quality, flexibility, and delivery time using a survey of informants.

Findings

Using data from Ghana, the work demonstrates that GSCM practices such as environmental management systems (EMSs) and green purchasing (GP) practices will have a positive relationship with firm’s operational competitive performance in terms of cost, quality, and flexibility, but seems to have no positive relationship with delivery time. Further moderation analysis indicates that the paths from environmental management practices to reduced cost and flexibility were significant, indicating that the effect of environmental management practices on operational efficiency differs among services, manufacturing, construction and mining. The paths from Green purchase to improved quality, delivery time, flexibility, and reduced cost were insignificant.

Research limitations/implications

The results indicate the relevance and the implications of GSCM practices such as implementing comprehensive EMSs and GP on operational competitive performance on firms from a developing country such as Ghana. Specifically, the results indicate that when organizations invest in GSCM practices, they are likely to achieve cost reductions, improved quality, and flexibility. The relationship between GSCM practices is moderated by various industrial sectors.

Practical implications

The research shows how GSCM practices such as EMSs implementation and GP practices can enhance firm’s operational competitive performance.

Originality/value

The work illustrates and provides some insights and build on the literature in the area of green supply chain and firms’ operational competitiveness from a developing country’s environment.
3D printing objects as knowledge artifacts for a do-it-yourself approach in clinical practice
Authors: Cabitza Federico , Locoro Angela , Ravarini Aurelio
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the phenomenon of the digital do-it-yourself (DiDIY) in the medical domain. In particular, the main contribution of the paper is the analysis and discussion of a questionnaire-based user study focused on 3D printing (3DP) technology, which was conducted among clinicians of one of the most important research hospital group in Lombardy, Italy.

Design/methodology/approach

A general reflection on the notion of knowledge artifacts (KAs) and on the use of 3DP in medicine is followed by the research questions and by a more detailed analysis of the specialist literature on the usage of 3DP technology for diagnostic, training and surgical planning activities for clinicians and patients. The questionnaire-based user study design is then emerging from the conceptual framework for DiDIY in healthcare. To help focus on the main actors and assets composing the 3DP innovation roles in healthcare, the authors model: the DiDIY-er as the main initiator of the practice innovation; the available technology allowing the envisioning of new practices; the specific activities gaining benefits from the innovative techniques introduced; and the knowledge community continuously supporting and evolving knowledge practices.

Findings

The authors discuss the results of the user study in the light of the four main components of our DiDIY framework and on the notion of KA. There are differences between high expertise, or senior, medical doctors (MDs) and relatively lower expertise MDs, or younger MDs, regarding the willing to acquire 3DP competences; those who have seen other colleagues using 3DP are significantly more in favor of 3DP adoption in medical practices, and those who wish to acquire 3DP competence and do-by-themselves are significantly more interested in the making of custom-made patient-specific tools, such as cutting guides and templates; there are many recurrent themes regarding how 3DP usage and application may improve medical practice. In each of the free-text questions, there were comments regarding the impact of 3DP on medical knowledge practices, such as surgical rehearsal, surgery, pathology comprehension, patient-physician communication and teaching.

Originality/value

The 3DP adoption in healthcare is seen favorably and advocated by most of the respondents. In this domain, 3DP objects can be considered KAs legitimately. They can support knowledgeable practices, promote knowledge sharing and circulation in the healthcare community, as well as contribute to their improvement by the introduction of a new DiDIY mindset in the everyday work of MDs.
Creating and implementing organizational innovation
Authors: Pauget Bertrand , Wald Andreas
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Research on organizational innovation remains relatively scarce, particularly with respect to social structures and processes. In contrast to product innovation, organizational innovation relies more on informal processes and relationships among members of the organization than on formal processes. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of these processes at the micro level.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on a process model of organizational innovation, the authors study the case of a dermatology department of a large hospital in France and conceptualize organizational innovation as the outcome of a social system represented by networks of relationships, professional identities and formal structures.

Findings

The findings suggest that informal networks support the early phase of the invention and development of organizational innovation. However, the later phases depend more on the formal structure. A mismatch between professional identities and formal roles and positions can prevent the institutionalization and legitimation of organizational innovation in the final phases of the innovation process.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to one case, a department in a French hospital. The authors call for future research to study different industry/country contexts.

Practical implications

Professional organizations such as hospitals should encourage better interactions between actors of different professional identities to support the development and implementation of organizational innovation. Reducing the perceived hierarchy of different professional identities may also be useful.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate micro-level processes in organizational innovation by combining the concept of professional identity and network analysis.
Improved wall boundary conditions in the incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics method
Authors: Nguyen Tuan Minh , Aly Abdelraheem M. , Lee Sang-Wook
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the 2D incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) method by working on the wall boundary conditions in ISPH method. Here, two different wall boundary conditions in ISPH method including dummy wall particles and analytical kernel renormalization wall boundary conditions have been discussed in details.

Design/methodology/approach

The ISPH algorithm based on the projection method with a divergence velocity condition with improved boundary conditions has been adapted.

Findings

The authors tested the current ISPH method with the improved boundary conditions by a lid-driven cavity for different Reynolds number 100 ≤ Re ≤ 1,000. The results are well validated with the benchmark problems.

Originality/value

In the case of dummy wall boundary particles, the homogeneous Newman boundary condition was applied in solving the linear systems of pressure Poisson equation. In the case of renormalization wall boundary conditions, the authors analytically computed the renormalization factor and its gradient based on a quintic kernel function.
Transient natural convection in a partially open trapezoidal cavity filled with a water-based nanofluid under the effects of Brownian diffusion and thermophoresis
Authors: Bondareva Nadezhda S. , Sheremet Mikhail A. , Öztop Hakan F. , Abu-Hamdeh Nidal
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study about the natural convection of water-based nanofluid in a partially open trapezoidal cavity under the influence of Brownian diffusion and thermophoresis.

Design/methodology/approach

Governing equations formulated in dimensionless stream function – vorticity variables – have been solved by finite difference method with a homemade code C++. Effects of Rayleigh number (Ra = 50-1,000), Lewis number (Le = 10-1,000), buoyancy-ratio parameter (Nr = 0.1-5.0), Brownian motion parameter (Nb = 0.1, 1.0) and thermophoresis parameter (Nt = 0.1, 1.0) on nanofluid flow and heat transfer have been studied.

Findings

It is found that high values of Rayleigh and Lewis numbers lead to the homogenization of nanoparticles distributions. For high values of Nt and Nb, heating is more essential and the cavity average temperature rises.

Originality/value

The originality of this work is to analyze natural convection in an open-sided trapezoidal cavity with Brownian diffusion and thermophoresis.
A gamification design for the classroom
Authors: Hitchens Michael , Tulloch Rowan
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The research described here presents an approach to gamification for the classroom. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether students would perceive the gamification activities in a positive light. Previous research has contended that students need a positive mental attitude for effective learning. The core question was to examine student attitudes to gamification, not the success of the gamification itself.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a survey of the gamification literature, and particularly drawing on the work of Groh (2012), this system is designed with three key principles in mind: relatedness, competence and autonomy. Classroom activities and associated software were designed and implemented. Almost 200 students were surveyed to determine their attitude to the gamification. The survey included both Likert-scale and qualitative responses.

Findings

A majority of the students reported that they found the gamification useful and enjoyable, only a minority of students (around 15 per cent) disagreeing with such statements. However, only a minority of students perceived a relationship between the gamification activities and games. The authors conclude that well-designed gamification systems can be well-received by students and suggest that the success of gamification projects may not lie in their ability to recreate the experience of a video game, but in the strength of the relatedness, competence and autonomy of the student experience.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by the nature of the participants, who were drawn from videogame and media units and who may be predisposed to game-like activities.

Originality/value

This research demonstrates that students are able to perceive value in gamification in the classroom.
Purchasing manages and optimises existing product variance
Authors: Nabhani Farhad , Uhl Christian Josef , Kauf Florian , Shokri Alireza
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new optimisation approach for product variance from the purchasing perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a case study of a collaboration with a global acting automotive Tier 1 supplier, who produces steering systems for cars and commercial vehicles. A total of 116 different variants of three components of a car automotive steering system were analysed and evaluated. The data were gathered from 13 sub-suppliers for three different types of a steering system.

Findings

Unnecessary time, money, quality and technology can be saved through a greater understanding of such product variances. The results of the case study lead to a general method to optimise existing product variance and present cost improvements and a new key performance indicator to manage product variance out of the purchasing department.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on a purchasing case study at a Tier 1 supplier of the automotive branch. The approach can be used for other company departments, e.g. logistics and for different industries than automotive.

Practical implications

A company can be successful and competitive when it meets the customer needs with a maximum on satisfaction without generating of waste. Unnecessary existing product variance is a kind of waste. The insights of this paper support the operative user and the strategic company management to reduce and improve unnecessary variance in different sections.

Originality/value

The structured analysis of product variance from the purchasing perspective and the key performance indicator “variance share” are new to company management. The research focuses on the management of existing variance out of the purchasing department which is a segment that has received limited academic attention in research to date.
Performance vs prospectus = transparency in German closed-ended real estate funds?
Authors: Nadler Michael
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to close the transparency gap by comparing ex ante and ex post performance disclosure, thus providing important conclusions regarding the transparency of this important German market segment.

Design/methodology/approach

Closed-ended real estate funds (CEREFs) are one of the biggest segments of unlisted private equity funds in Germany. CEREFs have a central “profitability promise” that is based on ex ante forecasts given in the prospectus. Typically, equity is tied to these investments for up to 20-30 years, leaving investors highly insecure whether their expectations will be fulfilled and fund managers actually achieve prospected performances ex post.

Findings

The performance variance analysis of all German CEREFs outstanding during the global financial crisis reveals that prospect-performance disclosures as well as prospect-performance variances cause substantial problems in Germany due to overestimation biases of many fund managers.

Research limitations/implications

As typical for the recent scholarly debate, also the past disclosure practice in Germany prohibits a long-term performance analysis, unless researchers apply instruments of modern investment analysis like comprehensive financial plans (“Visualisation of Financial Implications)”.

Practical implications

The transparency developments in CEREF-reporting of the last decade deliver precise recommendations regarding the internal and external performance variance analysis, risk-profiles and stress tests for the future fund management.

Social implications

The introduced methodology would increase transparency in the segment of CEREF and, thus, improve investor protection. Since private households in Germany mainly acquire these funds, this is a contribution to sustainability in private asset management.

Originality/value

The paper develops a new methodological framework for performance measurement of unlisted funds. It then assesses for the first time the impact of transparency and trust on fund performances by applying a performance variance analysis.
Is institutional investor a supervisor or cooperator?
Authors: Li Yuedong , Liu Xianbing , Yan Qing
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether top management will assume their liabilities especially when financial restatement occurs, and,based on the “effective supervision theory” and “strategic cooperation theory,” to examine whether an institutional investor is a supervisor or a cooperator considering the management turnover caused by financial restatement in the companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of the A-share-listed companies from year 2010 to year 2014 and dividing financial restatement into fraudulent financial restatement and other financial restatement, the authors examine the relationship between financial restatement and abnormal management turnover, which usually is related to the management integrity or capacity. By using group test methods, the authors test the influence of the institutional investors’ shareholding on the relation between financial restatements and management turnover.

Findings

This paper finds that financial restatement can result in abnormal management turnover, especially the fraudulent financial restatement. The institutional investors usually are supervisors but when the shareholding of institutional investor is too high and the management turnover results from fraudulent financial restatement, the institutional investors may become cooperators with management in the companies. Besides, the institutional investors play the supervisory function more significantly in non-state-owned enterprises.

Originality/value

This paper expands literature of the institutional investors in the corporate governance area and provides a basis for future research in the area of the institutional investors’ governance effect. It divides financial restatements into fraudulent financial restatement and other financial restatement and examines the relationship between financial restatement and abnormal management turnover so as to provide evidence about whether the management will assume their responsibilities when there is financial restatement in the company. It also tests whether the institutional investors will play supervisor’s or cooperator’s function in state-owned and non-state-owned enterprises.
Aesthetic reconstruction of retroauricular keloid: Creating a keystone flap from the mastoid‐helix area
Authors: Park Tae Hwan , Kim Chan Woo , Chang Choong Hyun
Published: January 2018

Advances in aesthetic rhinoplasty using conchal cartilage grafts have led to a high occurrence of retroauricular keloids. The purpose of this study is to introduce our surgical experiences using a keystone flap in retroauricular keloids following conchal cartilage grafts. The present study is a retrospective review of patients with pathologically confirmed retroauricular keloids following conchal cartilage grafts. These cases were surgically excised and we covered the defect with a keystone flap followed by one‐time steroid injection at postoperative day 14 and silicone gel sheeting application for 3 months. Treatment outcome was recorded as recurrence or non‐recurrence. In all patients, a follow‐up period of minimum 12 months was required. Of these patients, 90.0% had successful treatment of their auricular keloids, whereas 10.0% had recurrences. The postoperative course was uneventful. In conclusion, our aesthetic reconstruction using a keystone flap created from the mastoid‐helix area is a useful treatment strategy in terms of retroauricular keloids following conchal cartilage grafts.
Making rewilding fit for policy
Authors: Pettorelli Nathalie , Barlow Jos , Stephens Philip A. , Durant Sarah M. , Connor Ben , Schulte to Bühne Henrike , Sandom Christopher J. , Wentworth Jonathan , du Toit Johan T.
Published: January 2018

Rewilding, here defined as “the reorganisation of biota and ecosystem processes to set an identified social–ecological system on a preferred trajectory, leading to the self‐sustaining provision of ecosystem services with minimal ongoing management,” is increasingly considered as an environmental management option, with potential for enhancing both biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Despite burgeoning interest in the concept, there are uncertainties and difficulties associated with the practical implementation of rewilding projects, while the evidence available for facilitating sound decision‐making for rewilding initiatives remains elusive.

We identify five key research areas to inform the implementation of future rewilding initiatives: increased understanding of the links between actions and impacts; improved risk assessment processes, through, for example, better definition and quantification of ecological risks; improved predictions of spatio‐temporal variation in potential economic costs and associated benefits; better identification and characterisation of the likely social impacts of a given rewilding project; and facilitated emergence of a comprehensive and practical framework for the monitoring and evaluation of rewilding projects.

Policy implications. Environmental legislation is commonly based on a “compositionalist” paradigm itself predicated on the preservation of historical conditions characterised by the presence of particular species assemblages and habitat types. However, global environmental change is driving some ecosystems beyond their limits so that restoration to historical benchmarks or modern likely equivalents may no longer be an option. This means that the current environmental policy context could present barriers to the broad implementation of rewilding projects. To progress the global rewilding agenda, a better appreciation of current policy opportunities and constraints is required. This, together with a clear definition of rewilding and a scientifically robust rationale for its local implementation, is a prerequisite to engage governments in revising legislation where required to facilitate the operationalisation of rewilding.
PI3K/AKT/JNK/p38 signalling pathway‐mediated neural apoptosis in the prefrontal cortex of mice is involved in the antidepressant‐like effect of pioglitazone
Authors: Li Jie , Xu Bing , Chen Zhi , Zhou Chanjuan , Liao Li , Qin Yinghua , Yang Chuangchuang , Zhang Xiaodong , Hu Zicheng , Sun Lin , Zhu Dan , Xie Peng
Published: January 2018

Numerous studies have reported that inflammation is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. Pioglitazone, a PPAR‐γ agonist, has potential anti‐inflammatory and antidepressive effects. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the antidepressant‐like effect of pioglitazone on an inflammation‐related mouse model of depression remain to be fully elucidated. Herein, we aimed to explore the effects of pioglitazone on depressive‐like behaviours of mice exposed to lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. We assessed behaviour changes of mice pretreated with pioglitazone exposed to LPS. Additionally, neural apoptosis, and the expression of apoptosis‐related (cleaved caspase‐3, Bax, Bcl‐2, cyt c) and signalling proteins (AKT, JNK, p38) were assessed in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of these mice. Furthermore, we assessed the influence of anisomycin, a JNK/p38 agonist, and LY294002, a PI3K/AKT inhibitor, on the antidepressant‐like effect of pioglitazone in mice. We show that pioglitazone pretreatment (20 mg/kg, intragastrically) attenuated LPS‐induced (10 ng/μL per site) depressive‐like behaviours. GW9662, a PPAR‐γ antagonist, significantly blocked the antidepressant‐like effect of pioglitazone. Furthermore, at the molecular level, pioglitazone significantly reversed, via PPAR‐γ‐dependent increase in neural apoptosis in the PFC of mice, accompanied by upregulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and down‐regulation of the JNK/p38 pathway. Moreover, both anisomycin and LY294002 abrogated the antidepressant‐like effect of pioglitazone.; In conclusion, our results showed that PI3K/AKT/JNK/p38 signalling pathway‐mediated neural apoptosis in the PFC of mice may be involved in the antidepressant‐like effect of pioglitazone. This provides novel insights into and therapeutic targets for inflammation‐related depression.
Fundamentals and Oil Price Behaviour: New Evidence from Co‐integration Tests with Structural Breaks and Granger Causality Tests
Authors: Al‐Yousef Nourah
Published: January 2018

As the world economy has undergone various changes and shocks, the oil market went through significant fluctuations during the period 1994–2015. This study focuses on discussing the possible factors that determine crude oil prices, which include world economic growth, market power of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), non‐OPEC supply and the value of dollar, taking into account the structural changes that influence the study period, which is quarterly data for the period of 1994.Q1–2015.Q3. For time series stationarity tests, Zivot and Andrews (1992) and Perron (1997) unit root test with structural break is used. To test the existence of a long relationship in the presence of structural changes, the Gregory and Hansen (1996a, 1996b) method of co‐integration is used. For long‐run coefficient, we proceed to estimate fully modified least squares. The result shows a significant influence of non‐OPEC supply, the dollar appreciation and world gross domestic product growth, but OPEC did not have a significant effect on the price of oil, which is indicated by the structural break for OPEC capacity utilisation at 2002.Q1, that indicates the starting point of the loss of OPEC power. Establishing the presence of co‐integration, we apply the evaluation of Granger causality for co‐integrated data, using vector error‐correction model.
Syntactic Echoes Of Pronominal Cliticization And Grammaticalization: The Case Of Old High German First‐Person Plural ‐Mes
Authors: Somers Katerina , Allison Mary , Boutilier Matthew , Howell Robert
Published: January 2018

The origin of first person plural (1PL) ‘long’ forms of the type faramês/‐mes ‘(we) go’ in Old High German (OHG) is one of the most intractable problems in the history of the Germanic languages. Because these forms are confined only to OHG and have no obvious parallel elsewhere in Germanic or Indo‐European, most of the tools of the comparative method are of little use, with the result that the many accounts put forward over the past two centuries rely on a series of unlikely and ad hoc assumptions. What is more, previous work has focused on the one aspect of the problem that scholars are least likely to solve given the array of texts we presently have at our disposal, while paying little attention to what we argue is the more promising line of inquiry. That is, existing studies discuss in detail the possible morphological sources of ‐mes and their phonological development and focus little on the syntactic environments in which verbs inflected with ‐mes occur. We intend to reverse this trend through a comprehensive examination of ‐mes across the OHG corpus, with a particular focus on two of its major monuments, the OHG Tatian and Otfrid’s Evangelienbuch; this analysis shows that the syntactic distribution of ‐mes‐inflected verbs point to the suffix being diachronically and synchronically pronominal. Thus, we conclude that ‐mes must have arisen as the result of pronominal cliticization, a suggestion first put forth by Kuhn () and Paul ().
Son of the Sixties: The Controversial Image of Bill Clinton
Authors: WHITE MARK
Published: January 2018

Bill Clinton's willingness to engage with popular culture, such as appearing on MTV, reinforced the claim he made that as a New Democrat he represented something new ideologically. With his 1963 meeting with John Kennedy, his admiration for Martin Luther King, and his association with (and controversial opposition to) the Vietnam War, he became a symbol of the 1960s. He was described as the first black president in terms of what he represented culturally and was strongly identified with the feminist agenda. His regional identification with the South was another ingredient in his image. Overall his image created a sense of Clinton as something new in American politics and this was a crucial ingredient in his political success.
Sudden Death from Cardiopulmonary Arrest on Arrival of a Patient with Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Case Diagnosed by Postmortem CT and Autopsy
Authors: Yaguchi Daizo , Ichikawa Motoshi , Inoue Noriko , Kobayashi Daisuke , Shizu Masato , Imai Naoyuki , Watanabe Kazuko
Published: January 2018

Sudden death due to massive hemoptysis during management of tuberculosis occurs in a considerable number of patients. However, when massive airway hemorrhage occurs in a patient in whom tuberculosis has not been confirmed and a blood is not apparent externally on the face/body, it is difficult to immediately identify the cause of death as airway obstruction by tuberculous bleeding in the airway. We encountered an 83‐year‐old Japanese woman with her medical history included treatment of tuberculosis in her 20s who was in cardiopulmonary arrest on arrival (CPAOA), and the cause of sudden death could not initially be identified. Postmortem CT (PMCT) and autopsy revealed that the cause of sudden death was airway obstruction/asphyxia by tuberculous massive airway hemorrhage. Identification of the cause of death facilitated a subsequent active contact investigation and led to prevention of secondary tuberculosis infection.
STUDYING CRIME TRENDS: NORMAL SCIENCE AND EXOGENOUS SHOCKS*
Authors: ROSENFELD RICHARD
Published: January 2018

The study of crime trends has proceeded along two paths: 1) normal science investigations of slow‐moving and tractable changes in crime rates and explanatory conditions and 2) research encounters with unexpected and abrupt changes in crime rates resulting from exogenous shocks. I draw from my research on the relationship between crime rates and changing macroeconomic conditions to illustrate the pains and pleasures of studying crime trends with the tools of normal science. I describe my exploratory investigations of the recent homicide rise in the United States to underscore the theoretical importance and methodological challenges of research on exogenous shocks to crime rates. Finally, I hope to convey to the next generation of criminologists the intellectual excitement that comes from the study of crime trends.
Effect of Thermostable α‐Amylase Addition on Producing the Porous‐Structured Noodles Using Extrusion Treatment
Authors: Li Jingpeng , Jiao Aiquan , Rashed Marwan M.A. , Deng Li , Xu Xueming , Jin Zhengyu
Published: January 2018

Problems with rehydration and palatability are considered as unacceptable quality characteristics for the noodles produced using high‐strength extrusion technique. Thus, the aim of this study was to solve these problems by designing a novel method to create a porous structure for the high‐strength extruded noodles (HENs). The quality indices of HENs were significantly improved after adding to them thermostable α‐amylase (TαA) at 0.05% to 0.10%. The microstructure graphs showed that a well‐developed porous structures was successfully created throughout noodle strands. This indicated that the TαA has effectively worked on starch granules in spite of the high‐strength performance of the extrusion process. MALLS‐GFC, X‐ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimeter investigations showed that the appearance of a porous structure was mainly attributed to the internal collapse of α‐1,4‐glycosidic bonds and the dissolution of water‐soluble degradation products, such as dextrin and oligosaccharides. Moreover, the slight inhibited effect of excess TαA on the starch gelatinization was because of the fact that the high enzyme concentration might cause TαA to adhere or overlay on it.

Practical Application

The rehydration and palatability properties of HENs were greatly improved by creating a well‐developed or honeycomb‐like porous structure using TαA at low concentration. The findings of this study could be applied to enhance the quality characteristics of HENs and to encourage the research and development in the noodle industry.
Adding a PECS II block for proximal arm arteriovenous access – a randomised study
Authors: Quek K. H. , Low E. Y. , Tan Y. R. , Ong A. S. C. , Tang T. Y. , Kam J. W. , Kiew A. S. C.
Published: January 2018

Background

Brachial plexus block is often utilised for proximal arm arteriovenous access creation. However, the medial upper arm and axilla are often inadequately anaesthetised, requiring repeated, intraoperative local anaesthetic supplementation, or conversion into general anaesthesia. We hypothesised that the addition of a PECS II block would improve anaesthesia and analgesia for proximal arm arteriovenous access surgery.

Methods

In this prospective, double‐blinded, randomised proof‐of‐concept study, 36 consenting adults with end‐stage renal disease aged between 21 and 90 years received either a combined supraclavicular and PECS II block (Group PECS, n = 18), or combined supraclavicular and sham block (Group SCB, n = 18) for proximal arm arteriovenous access surgery. Primary outcome was whether patients required intraoperative local anaesthetic supplementation by the surgeon.

Results

In Group PECS, 33.3% (6/18) needed local anaesthetic supplementation vs. 100% (18/18) in Group SCB. Group SCB had three times (RR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6–5.8; P < 0.001) the risk of requiring intraoperative local anaesthetic supplementation. Group PECS required lower volume of supplemental local anaesthetic compared to Group SCB (0.0 ml, IQR 0.0–6.3 ml vs. 15.0 ml, IQR 7.4–17.8 ml; P < 0.001). Group SCB had twice [RR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1–4.4; (P = 0.019)] the risk of needing additional sedation or analgesia. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to postoperative visual analogue scale pain scores, time to first rescue analgesia or patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

The results suggest that adding a PECS II block to a supraclavicular block improves regional anaesthesia for patients with end‐stage renal disease undergoing proximal arm arteriovenous access surgery.
Combining resource selection functions and home‐range data to identify habitat conservation priorities for brown bears
Authors: Pop M. I. , Iosif R. , Miu I. V. , Rozylowicz L. , Popescu V. D.
Published: January 2018

Recovery of large carnivores in the European human‐dominated landscapes has sparked a debate regarding the optimal landscape conditions in which carnivores can thrive and coexist with humans. Here, we use brown bears Ursus arctos in the Romanian Carpathians to test and develop a framework for identifying habitat conservation priorities based on a novel integration of resource selection functions, home‐range data and systematic conservation planning. We used a comprehensive GPS telemetry dataset from 18 individuals to (1) calculate sex‐specific seasonal home ranges and (2) characterize population‐level habitat selection. We then used systematic conservation planning software Zonation to identify contiguous areas of high conservation value for males and females using Manly's habitat selection ratios as weights for habitat layers, and home‐range information as a smoothing parameter for habitat connectivity. Home ranges were smallest during winter (median [IQR] for November–February: 28.2 km2 [9.8–42.4]), and largest during the intense‐feeding season (September–November: 127.3 km2 [62.2–288.5]), with males having larger home ranges across all seasons. Females consistently selected for mixed forest habitat during all seasons. Males selected mixed forest during winter; then switched to a rather generalist approach, selecting regenerating forest and mixed and coniferous forests during low‐feeding/reproduction and wild berries seasons. We identified large tracts of forest habitat (~14% of the landscape) that was selected across all seasons as key habitats for brown bear conservation in the Romanian Carpathians. Spatially, high‐value winter habitat was the most dissimilar for both males and females, suggesting that conservation actions should focus on protecting contiguous denning habitat. These key findings can inform the management and conservation of the brown bear population in the Romanian Carpathians by identifying critical intervention areas for maintaining landscape connectivity, enable transboundary management and contribute to maintaining Favourable Conservation Status, an important target of European Union Strategy for Biodiversity.
Antenatal corticosteroids: a retrospective cohort study on timing, indications and neonatal outcome
Authors: Frändberg Julia , Sandblom Johan , Bruschettini Matteo , Maršál Karel , Kristensen Karl
Published: January 2018

Introduction

An antenatal corticosteroid (ACS) delivery interval of 24 h to seven days is commonly referred to as optimal timing. We aimed to investigate whether the ACS delivery interval was associated with the obstetric indication for treatment and with neonatal complications.

Material and methods

The study was a retrospective chart review of clinical data from preterm neonates delivered at the Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden, from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2016. The ACS delivery intervals were compared between groups of women with various clinical scenarios and related to neonatal outcomes.

Results

The study included 498 preterm neonates from 431 women. One to seven days before delivery, 41% of the women received ACS. Women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes or vaginal bleeding had a median ACS delivery interval of 7.5 and eight days, respectively, compared with women with maternal/fetal indications or preterm labor (three and two days, respectively) (p < 0.001). Neonates with an ACS delivery interval of more than seven days were at a higher risk of respiratory distress syndrome [odds ratio (OR) 2.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–3.79] and moderate or severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.45–5.33) than were neonates with an ACS delivery interval of one to seven days.

Conclusion

Optimal timing of ACS treatment varied significantly based on the clinical indication. Women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes or vaginal bleeding were more likely to have an ACS delivery interval of more than seven days. A prolonged ACS delivery interval was associated with an increased risk of neonatal respiratory morbidity and a prolonged stay in the neonatal care unit, but not with neonatal mortality.
Low Apgar scores at both one and five minutes are associated with long‐term neurological morbidity
Authors: Leinonen Elina , Gissler Mika , Haataja Leena , Rahkonen Petri , Andersson Sture , Metsäranta Marjo , Rahkonen Leena
Published: January 2018

Aim

This study evaluated the associations between low Apgar scores at one and five minutes and long‐term neurological impairments.

Methods

This study used population‐based data on 399,815 singletons born in Finland in 2004‐2010 and multivariable logistic regression to examine any associations between low (0–3) and intermediate (4–6) Apgar scores and cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual disability and sensorineural defects by the age of four years.

Results

The odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) showed that low Apgar scores were associated with cerebral palsy at one and five minutes (ORs 2.08, 95% CI 1.32–3.26 and 5.19, 95% CI 3.06–8.80), epilepsy (ORs 1.62, 95% CI 1.13–2.33 and 4.79, 95% CI 3.03–7.56), and intellectual disability (ORs 2.46, 95% CI 1.45–4.16 and 6.21, 95% CI 3.33–11.58). Only a low five‐minute Apgar score was associated with sensorineural defects (OR 3.13, 95% CI 1.95–5.02). Neurological impairment risks were increased by low Apgar scores at both one and five minutes (OR 11.1, 95% CI 8.6–14.5), but 90.3% of children with persistent low Apgar scores had no impairment.

Conclusion

Low one‐minute and five‐minute Apgar scores were associated with long‐term neurological morbidity, especially when both scores were low.