bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A convention for international trade (based on Islamic Sufi teachings)
Authors: Bidabad Bijan
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to propose a procedure to remove international trade barriers globally. Trade is confronting various barriers in the present world, and this is due to the policies of governments to protect interests of their own citizens. Experience shows that trade barriers end up with incurring losses for both sides (traders) in practice, but a look at history of polemics on trade barriers removal in World Trade Organization (WTO) shows that countries are unable to overcome the obstacles they have created. Trade partners understand that removal of counter barriers is advantageous for both parties. In the meantime, being concerned of other party’s response impedes the benefits of free trade for all parties.

Design/methodology/approach

– This proposition is based upon Islamic Sufism teachings. The propounded principles and goals are in accordance with high understanding of social and economic subtleties of humankind’s life. The authors try to form and formalize Islamic Sufi teachings to establish a base for compiling new international convention that facilitates international trade in all aspects.

Findings

– To facilitate and promote international trade relations in short run, interested countries may accept a convention to remove all trade barriers among themselves all at once.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed convention does not go against General Agreement on Tariff and Trade and WTO, but it is complementary to both.

Practical implications

– The proposed principles are actually shortcuts to what WTO may access in far futures.

Social implications

– Islamic Sufism teachings can lead us to solve current international problems.

Originality/value

– WTO has taken important steps to facilitate international trade. To reach the main goal of trade liberalization of WTO, a shortcut solution is proposed here.
Ultrasonic measurement of oil film thickness between the roller and the inner raceway in a roller bearing
Authors: Zhang Kai , Meng Qingfeng , Chen Wei , Li Junning , Harper Phil
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to measure the oil film thickness between the roller and the inner ring in roller bearings by the ultrasonic method. The oil film thickness between the roller and the inner ring in roller bearings is a key performance indicator of the bearing lubrication condition. As the oil film is very thin and the contact region is very narrow, measurement of this film thickness is very challenging. A promising ultrasonic method was used to measure this film thickness, and this method was expected to overcome some drawbacks in other methods.

Design/methodology/approach

– A simplified roller bearing only configured one roller, and an inner ring was built up to investigate this measurement. A miniature piezoelectric element is bonded on the inner surface of the inner ring to measure the reflection coefficient from the layer of oil between the roller and the inner raceway. As the width of the line contact region is smaller than the width of the piezoelectric element, a ray model is used to calibrate the reflection coefficient measured. The quasi-static spring model is then used to calculate oil film thickness from the corrected reflection coefficient data.

Findings

– The results measured by this method agree reasonably well with predictions from elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) theory. Also, a dynamic displacement of the rig caused by the skid of the roller versus the inner ring was found under light-load and high-speed conditions.

Originality/value

– This work shows that the oil film between the roller and the inner raceway in roller bearings can be measured accurately by ultrasound and shows a deal method when the contact width is smaller than the piezoelectric element width.
Combined effects of piezo – viscous coupled stress lubricant and rotational inertia upon squeeze film performance of rough circular discs
Authors: Daliri M. , Jalali-Vahid D.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate squeezing and rotating motions between two rough parallel circular discs lubricated by piezo – viscous couple stress lubricant with pressure-dependent viscosity variation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based upon the Stokes couple stress theory, Barus viscosity-pressure dependency relation and Christensen rough surfaces model, squeeze film characteristics between two rough parallel circular discs are obtained.

Findings

– According to the results, it is found that, the combined effects of couple stresses and viscosity-pressure dependency increases squeeze film performance with respect to the classical Newtonian iso-viscous (constant viscosity) lubricant. However, increasing the rotational inertia parameter reduces squeeze film characteristics. On the other hand, depending on the structure of surface roughness, the squeeze film characteristics can be increased or decreased. Furthermore, results show that the surface roughness with circular pattern increases squeeze film characteristics, while the surface roughness with radial pattern will decrease it.

Originality/value

– This paper is relatively original and describes the squeeze film characteristics between two parallel circular discs with viscosity-pressure dependency, rotational inertia, couple stresses and surface roughness effects.
Lubrication properties of modified lard and rapeseed oil greases with sodium and lithium thickeners
Authors: Padgurskas Juozas , Rukuiža Raimundas , Kupcinskas Arturas , Kreivaitis Raimondas
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to conduct research on the possibility of improving the tribological and utilization properties of lard and rapeseed oil bio-based greases by mixing it with ethanol and selection of thickener and modification with special biological additives.

Design/methodology/approach

– Rapeseed oil- and lard-based greases with sodium and lithium soap thickeners were mixed with either water or ethanol and modified with a special biological anti-wear additive. Tribological properties of modified lubricants evaluated on a four-ball machine.

Findings

– Rapeseed oil- and lard-based greases suspended in ethanol and modified with bio-additive have the same wear resistance as the industrial non-biological lubrication grease and much higher wear resistance as bio-based reference grease. The tribological efficiency of the additives is higher in greases of rapeseed oil and less efficient in lard-based greases. Oxidation and wear tests show that investigated bio-based greases have comparatively stable tribological properties also after their aging. Modified greases have sufficient consistence according penetration measurements and high thermal resistance according drop-point temperature measurements. All produced experimental greases pass within the category of the easily degradable materials.

Originality/value

– The greases mixed with the ethanol make possible to form more homogeneous and stable grease mixture. Modified bio-based greases have significantly higher wear resistance as bio-based reference grease, their lubrication properties are stable also after the aging and are categorized as easily degradable materials.
Sustainability labelling as a challenge to legitimacy: spillover effects of organic Fairtrade coffee on consumer perceptions of mainstream products and retailers
Authors: Anagnostou Angela , Ingenbleek Paul T.M. , van Trijp Hans C.M.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to better understand the impact of norm-challenging products on consumers’ perceptions of mainstream products and retailers. By showing that sustainable market offerings are feasible, products with sustainability labels, such as Fairtrade and organic products, implicitly question the legitimacy of mainstream brands in the market.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses an experiment, based on scenarios that portray the consumer in a shopping situation for their usual coffee brand when they encounter an organic Fairtrade coffee. The paper distinguishes a situation in which the sustainable and the mainstream products compete, from a situation in which the two brands collaborate.

Findings

– The results show that norm-challenging products deteriorate perceptions of mainstream products and the companies that produce them but improve the image of retailers that include these products in their assortment. If labelled products are sold under the heading of mainstream brands, they still spill over negatively to other products of that brand but positively to the brand company.

Practical implications

– The spillover effects of norm-challenging products to mainstream companies are an incentive for mainstream firms to enhance the sustainability of their activities.

Originality/value

– Whereas much literature has focused on the first steps of creating awareness among consumers for sustainability, this paper is the first that tries to understand how typical consumers of mainstream brands develop preferences for products that are more sustainable.
Satisfaction with service recovery: moderating effect of age in word-of-mouth
Authors: Moliner-Velázquez Beatriz , Ruiz-Molina María-Eugenia , Fayos-Gardó Teresa
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is, first, to analyze the direct effects of the relationship chain “causal attributions and recovery efforts → satisfaction with service recovery → conventional and online word-of-mouth intentions” and, second, to study the moderating role of age in the relationship between satisfaction and subsequent word-of-mouth. Consumer assessment and behavior associated with service recovery is a topic of considerable interest for both academics and practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

– From an empirical perspective, this paper uses a sample of 336 individuals who experienced service failure at a retail store to estimate a structural equation model. Additionally, a multigroup analysis allows testing the existence of a moderating effect of age on the hypothesized relations.

Findings

– Results allow to confirm the direct effects of causal attributions and recovery efforts on satisfaction with service recovery, and the impact of the latter, in turn, on conventional and online word-of-mouth intentions. Furthermore, the multigroup analysis reveals that age moderates the relationship between satisfaction and online word-of-mouth.

Practical implications

– In service recovery situations, retailers should concentrate their efforts at providing evidence of the failure as temporary and inevitable as well as offering material or economic compensation.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the identification of the most relevant variables influencing customer satisfaction with service recovery in a retail context. In addition to this, these results provide support to the importance of age on online word-of-mouth behavior.
Antecedents and outcomes of brand prominence on willingness to buy luxury brands
Authors: Cheah Isaac , Phau Ian , Chong Calvin , Shimul Anwar Sadat
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of brand prominence on willingness to buy luxury brands. It also aims to investigate the direct and moderating roles of luxury brand values, social influence and vanity on willingness to buy luxury brands.

Design/methodology/approach

– A convenience sampling method was employed. Survey questionnaires were distributed by mall intercept to quasi-random samples in downtown Perth, Western Australia for completion and return. The return yielded 779 usable questionnaires, the data from which were analysed using SPSS 22.

Findings

– The findings support the influence of brand prominence on purchase intention for luxury brands. It has also been found that social influence has a significant influence on physical vanity and willingness to buy luxury brands. However, some relationships with and isolations from the earlier studies have been identified.

Practical implications

– This study provides some meaningful insights for marketing managers regarding brands prominence that they can use in better understanding the consumers’ intention to buy luxury products. A luxury goods manufacturer may want to be cautious to not over popularize its trademark for short-term gains. There must be a delicate balance between the uses of prominent and subtle signals in luxury branding in order to maintain value as a prestigious label.

Originality/value

– Previous studies have mainly focused on the antecedents of willingness to buy luxury brands, whereas this paper incorporates the construct of brand prominence, adding new insights into the construct.
Brand luxury index: a reconsideration and revision
Authors: Kim Jieun , Johnson Kim K.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to improve the original Brand Luxury Index (BLI) developed by Vigneron and Johnson to provide a practical tool for assessing consumer’s perception of the luxurious of a brand.

Design/methodology/approach

– The original BLI was revised through three stages: an initial scale-item generation employing a qualitative method (i.e. focus group interviews), scale purification process using statistical techniques (i.e. exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)), and scale verification process using CFA. Data (249 for scale purification, 253 for scale validation) were collected with the help of E-rewards, a marketing research company.

Findings

– The modified BLI contains five dimensions (i.e. quality, extended-self, hedonism, accessibility, and tradition). The number of the dimensions remained the same as the original conceptualization (i.e. conspicuousness, uniqueness, quality, hedonism, extended-self), however, the contents of those dimensions differed.

Practical implications

– The modified BLI can be used to monitor and manage a prestige brand in the market place. Not only can marketers of prestige brands use the index to assess consumers’ perception of the luxuriousness of their brands but also to position their brand along the desired dimension of luxuriousness.

Originality/value

– The modified BLI can be used to measure marketing performance of luxury brands.
Web atmospheric qualities in luxury fashion brand web sites
Authors: Kim Hyeonsoo , Choi Yun Jung , Lee Yuri
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between atmospheric qualities with different levels of task relevance in luxury fashion brand web sites and their impact on consumer attitude toward the site and brand, which is essential to build valid strategies for e-retailing.

Design/methodology/approach

– An empirical study was conducted and quantitative analyses of 292 respondents’ shopping experiences yielded findings that confirm the impact of atmospherics upon the shopper’s views of the web site and the brand. Structural equation modeling was used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

– Both low task-relevant atmospherics (web site design, responsive customer service) and high task-relevant atmospherics (product information, convenience) affect the consumers’ revisit intentions toward the web site, while web site design directly affected brand attitude. The study also illustrates the mediating roles of product information and convenience to the relationships between web site design and responsive customer service and the consumers’ revisit intentions toward the site.

Practical implications

– This study provides insights for luxury e-tailing. Luxury e-tailers should understand the different effects depending upon the types of web atmospheric qualities and use them strategically.

Originality/value

– The main contribution of the study is to highlight the unique aspects of luxury online shopping in the Korean context. This study also contributes to e-commerce research by providing an expanded understanding of the interrelationship between types of web atmospheric qualities.
Online behaviour of luxury fashion brand advocates
Authors: Parrott Guy , Danbury Annie , Kanthavanich Poramate
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Over the past few years online fashion communities have proliferated becoming an increasingly powerful forum for user-generated content, and consequently, the fashion industry has shown great interest in such communities. The purpose of this paper is to review and analyse brand advocacy behaviour within luxury brand accessory forums: to analyse the role these communities play in influencing purchase intention; assessing their contribution to fashion brand love.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study adopted a netnographic approach to the phenomenon of online luxury accessory communities. The research reports observational data including blog texts and audience comments for four popular forums: The Purse Forum, The Fashion Spot, The Bag Forum (TBF) and Shoe Forum (SF). Although the forums are open to all and are designed to be internationally relevant; the observations were conducted from a base in the UK.

Findings

– Findings indicate that informants display some unifying characteristics clustered around engagement, involvement, self-concept and self-connection, brand love and hedonic values. Informants however, display some discernible differences as they “rally” to two distinctive totems: first, active luxury brand advocates and second, passive brand advocates. Although subtle, these differences suggest significant possibilities for fashion brand owners.

Research limitations/implications

– Further research could include the measurement of brand advocacy to distinguish more clearly between high and low levels of advocacy and the resulting consumer behaviour intentions. One sub-group that would be interesting to explore is that of brand evangelists and their relationship with fashion brands: what are the reasons for treating brands as religious artefacts and can this extreme level of advocacy be developed by marketing? The study focused on observing online posts by self-selected brand advocates. A worthwhile comparison could be made with fashion communities where brand marketers are active participants and how this influences the discourse and actions of brand advocates.

Practical implications

– The findings indicate that all forum members are incredibly attached to their brands, but will still consider purchasing several brands as their “evoked set”. Additionally, even when demonstrating involvement, they can operate as passive observers in the online community.

Originality/value

– Social media, especially online forums, play an important role in contemporary luxury fashion branding. This study addresses the role these forums play in supporting brand love and the contribution they make to luxury brand advocacy. Membership and influence dynamics are reported; which have resonance to both practitioners and researchers.
Luxury consumption moves East
Authors: Khan Omera
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The literature contains relatively little prescriptive guidance for establishing supply chain strategies in the luxury fashion marketplace. The focus has been on fashion rather than luxury fashion and the purpose of this paper is to identify and explore the critical supply chain success factors to consider when entering the Chinese luxury fashion marketplace.

Design/methodology/approach

– Given the lack of research in this area an exploratory and in-depth case study was conducted with a niche UK textile manufacturer.

Findings

– Findings from the case study suggest there are four critical success factors to consider when developing a business strategy to enter the Chinese luxury fashion marketplace.

Practical implications

– The findings could guide managers that are developing a business case for entering the Chinese luxury fashion marketplace.

Originality/value

– This case study provides novel insights to transformations in global supply chain strategy as luxury consumption is moving towards the east, which creates new challenges and demands for European manufacturers to respond, to sustaining a competitive advantage.
The use of section 135(1) of the Mental Health Act in a London borough
Authors: Watson James , Daley Stephanie
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine the incidence of the use of section 135(1) of the Mental Health Act 1983 in a London borough and describe the main features of the population subject to that section.

Design/methodology/approach

– Uses of section 135(1), hospital stay, and demographic data were gathered from service and patient records over one year. Means, medians, modes and standard deviation were calculated for interval data. Nominal data were cross-tabulated and the chi square test applied where appropriate. Study data were compared to census and national hospital data; the significance of proportional population differences were calculated using the Z-test.

Findings

– In total, 63 uses of section 135(1) were recorded. It was primarily used with people with psychotic diagnoses (79 per cent), and was used predominantly in black populations, and among people aged 40-54. People admitted to hospital after section 135(1) use who had psychosis diagnoses had median spells in hospital that were double the corresponding national median.

Research limitations/implications

– Total uses of section 135(1) in the borough equated to 25 per cent of the national total for all section 135 admissions recorded in 2012/2013. Hospital statistics in England focusing on admissions alone may fail to reflect a more widespread use of this section. Further research is required to confirm and develop the findings of this small scale study.

Practical implications

– The repeated use of this section is suggested as a marker for reviewing practice and resource allocation to prevent or shorten hospital admissions for people with psychosis diagnoses.

Originality/value

– This paper highlights gaps in NHS data collection in England relevant to policy makers, mental health service providers, and the police service.
Doing and rethinking. Building resilience with men
Authors: Robinson Mark , Robertson Steve , Steen Mary , Raine Gary , Day Rhiannon
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present findings from an evaluation of a mental health resilience intervention for unemployed men aged 45-60. The focus is on examining the place of activities within a multi-dimensional men’s mental health programme, and exploring interactions between social context factors and models of change.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws on before and after survey data and qualitative interviews, to report results concerning effectiveness in changing men’s perceived resilience, to consider project processes concerning activities, social support and coping strategies, and to situate these within wider environments.

Findings

– The programme significantly raised the perceived resilience of participants. Activities were engaging for men, while the complex intersection between activities, social networking, and coping strategies course provided opportunities for men to develop resilience in contexts resonant with their male identities.

Research limitations/implications

– A limitation is that the evaluation could not measure longer term impacts.

Practical implications

– The paper discusses emerging considerations for resilience building, focusing on gender-sensitive approaches which can engage and retain men by focusing on doing and talking, in the contexts of men’s life-course, highlighting embodied (male) identities not disembodied “mental states”, and facilitating social support. There are challenges to recruit men despite stigma, support men to speak of feelings, and facilitate progression.

Social implications

– Potential exists for gender-aware programmes to sustain salutogenic change, co-producing social assets of peer support, male-friendly activities, and context sensitive course provision.

Originality/value

– The paper adds fresh evidence of gendered intervention approaches, including effects on male resilience. Application of a context-sensitive change model leads to multi-component findings for transferring and sustaining programme gains.
Power and logics in Scottish football: the financial collapse of Rangers FC
Authors: Morrow Stephen
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the implications of power imbalance and over-emphasis on commercial logic on the structure and governance of Scottish football.

Design/methodology/approach

– An in-depth analysis of secondary sources is used to identify the logics at play in Scottish football and to explore implications of the liquidation of Rangers for the structure of the game.

Findings

– Over-emphasis on commercial logic has led to power being concentrated in two clubs, Celtic and Rangers, and to other clubs and the league itself becoming financially dependent on those clubs. The collapse of Rangers thus threatened the stability of other clubs and the league. The case highlights the challenge of reconciling competing logics and the role played by previously peripheral actors in bringing about change in the field.

Research limitations/implications

– The on-going nature of the case, related investigations and legal process meant that it was not possible to supplement the secondary source material with primary evidence.

Practical implications

– It demonstrates the multi-faceted nature of elite contemporary football and of the challenges faced by leagues and governing bodies in accommodating logics and multiple stakeholder interests. It also highlights the need for more effective financial regulation of corporate football clubs and their officials and emphasises the importance of inclusive stakeholder governance.

Originality/value

– It highlights the risks inherent in football business in small markets dominated by one or a few clubs. It highlights the role that previously peripheral actors can play in bringing about change within a field.
Merchandise sales rank in professional sport
Authors: O'Reilly Norm , Foster George , Murray Ryan , Shimizu Carlos
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purchase drivers of merchandise sales rank in professional sport are examined at both a conceptual and an empirical level. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A database was constructed for all 30 clubs in the National Hockey League based on a conceptual model of relevant variables. Both public and private data sources were accessed, covering an extensive 12-season period (1999-2011), including the 2004-2005 lockout when the season was cancelled. Principal-components analysis was used to reduce the number of variables for regression analysis to distinguish relatedness and to gauge the influence of those variables on merchandise sales rank.

Findings

– The results reveal that six club-based factors impact merchandise sales rank: Overall Fan Satisfaction, Media Exposure, On-Field Performance, Strength of a Club’s Brand, Local Market Dynamics, and Fan Capacity to Pay. These six categories of purchase drivers form a strong predictive model of merchandise sales rank in the National Hockey League.

Research limitations/implications

– The resulting model could be extended in future research by adding extra categories to the conceptual framework and by developing alternative or better measures of the variables the authors use. It could also be tested with other sales data as the dependent variable since the study was limited to ranking data on merchandise data for the National Hockey League clubs for each year. Future research could use the actual merchandise dollars for each club in a league to test the model. A further extension would be to model subparts of merchandise (such as jersey sales, impacts of brand changes, etc.). A similar area of future research would be to look at the role of individual athletes as opposed to clubs in driving merchandise sales rank or volume.

Practical implications

– For managers in professional sport, the results suggest that there are steps that can be taken to improve merchandise sales rank (and, by extension, merchandise sales volume). Practitioners can develop and follow strategies in this regard. Results also suggest that practitioners should put the achievement of high Regional Television Ratings – the strongest influencing variable on merchandise sales rank – as a priority.

Social implications

– The results confirm that brand is important when attempting to increase merchandise sales rank. Club managers need to be cognizant of their brand and its impact on merchandising in all decisions.

Originality/value

– The business of professional sport is evolving globally with new sources of revenue, including merchandising increasing in prominence. This research explores the drivers of merchandise sales rank in professional sport and provide direction on key antecedents. The study proposes and tests a conceptual model.
The financial viability of the fitness industry in Belgium
Authors: Breesch Diane , Vos Steven , Scheerder Jeroen
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether the fitness industry in Belgium is financially viable in its position as a growing commercial player within the framework of the European sport model where non-profit and public sport providers still have a strong impact.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors evaluate the financial performance of the Belgian fitness industry using a time-trend analysis applying a cross-sectional research design for the years 2002 through 2007.

Findings

– The analysis shows that the Belgian fitness industry is not able to generate positive income figures despite large increases in sales revenues. In particular fitness chains generally accumulate losses. However, the Belgian fitness industry pursues an active investment policy resulting in high noncash expenses in depreciations negatively influencing accounting profit numbers. The operating cash flow generated by the Belgian fitness industry is, nevertheless, largely positive. Although no immediate liquidity problem exists, the fitness industry needs to improve its profitability in the long run in order to stay in business.

Research limitations/implications

– This study can be a starting point for further and more in depth financial performance evaluations of commercial actors in the field of sport. Differences and similarities between European countries should be investigated in order to generalize the findings.

Practical implications

– The conclusions could support regulators in policy decisions and business managers in strategic decisions relying on financial information in order to pilot their organization.

Originality/value

– Analyzing the financial performance of a sport industry at a national scale is challenging. However, this kind of analysis is not frequently performed for commercial sport providers such as the fitness industry. This is precisely where this paper wants to contribute.
The Institutional Effects of Incarceration: Spillovers From Criminal Justice to Health Care
Authors: SCHNITTKER JASON , UGGEN CHRISTOPHER , SHANNON SARAH K.S. , MCELRATH SUZY MAVES
Published: September 2015

Policy Points:

The steady increase in incarceration is related to the quality and functioning of the health care system. US states that incarcerate a larger number of people show declines in overall access to and quality of care, rooted in high levels of uninsurance and relatively poor health of former inmates.

Providing health care to former inmates would ease the difficulties of inmates and their families. It might also prevent broader adverse spillovers to the health care system.

The health care system and the criminal justice system are related in real but underappreciated ways.

Context

This study examines the spillover effects of growth in state‐level incarceration rates on the functioning and quality of the US health care system.

Methods

Our multilevel approach first explored cross‐sectional individual‐level data on health care behavior merged to aggregate state‐level data regarding incarceration. We then conducted an entirely aggregate‐level analysis to address between‐state heterogeneity and trends over time in health care access and utilization.

Findings

We found that individuals residing in states with a larger number of former prison inmates have diminished access to care, less access to specialists, less trust in physicians, and less satisfaction with the care they receive. These spillover effects are deep in that they affect even those least likely to be personally affected by incarceration, including the insured, those over 50, women, non‐Hispanic whites, and those with incomes far exceeding the federal poverty threshold. These patterns likely reflect the burden of uncompensated care among former inmates, who have both a greater than average need for care and higher than average levels of uninsurance. State‐level analyses solidify these claims. Increases in the number of former inmates are associated simultaneously with increases in the percentage of uninsured within a state and increases in emergency room use per capita, both net of controls for between‐state heterogeneity.

Conclusions

Our analyses establish an intersection between systems of care and corrections, linked by inadequate financial and administrative mechanisms for delivering services to former inmates.
Hands Tied with Bag Full of Books in Suicidal Hanging
Authors: Sikary Asit Kumar , Behera Chittaranjan , Murty Om Prakash , Rautji Ravi
Published: September 2015

Hanging deaths associated with binding of limbs, masking of a face, and gagging are always suspicious. In suicidal hanging, the victim uses these added techniques to prevent him from backing out of his decision and to ensure death. However, binding of limbs and adding extra weight to the suspension in hanging are not reported. Herein, we report a case where the victim tied a bag containing books weighing 7 kg (15.4 lbs) to both his hands during hanging. The forensic specialist must be aware of the unusual presentation of suicidal hanging which may suggest foul play. The manner of death must be established after detailed analysis of circumstantial evidence, information obtained from the witnesses, complete autopsy, and toxicological examination.
Metallic Limus‐Eluting Stents Abluminally Coated with Biodegradable Polymers: Angiographic and Clinical Comparison of a Novel Ultra‐Thin Sirolimus Stent Versus Biolimus Stent in the DESTINY Randomized Trial
Authors: Lemos Pedro A. , Abizaid Alexandre A. C. , Meireles George C. , Sarmento‐Leite Rogério , Prudente Mauricio , Cantarelli Marcelo , Dourado Adriano D. , Mariani Jose , Perin Marco A. , Costantini Costantino , Costa Ricardo A. , Costa José Ribamar , Chamie Daniel , Campos Carlos A. , Ribeiro Expedito
Published: September 2015

Aims

To evaluate the outcomes of patients treated with a new drug‐eluting stent formulation with low doses of sirolimus, built in an ultra‐thin‐strut platform coated with biodegradable abluminal coating.

Methods

This study is a randomized trial that tested the main hypothesis that the angiographic late lumen loss of the novel sirolimus‐eluting stent is noninferior compared with commercially available biolimus‐eluting stent. A final study population comprising 170 patients with one or two de novo lesions was randomized in the ratio 2:1 for sirolimus‐eluting stent or biolimus‐eluting stent, respectively. The primary endpoint was 9‐month angiographic in‐stent late lumen loss. Adverse clinical events were prospectively collected for 1 year.

Results

After 9 months, the novel sirolimus‐eluting stent was shown noninferior compared with the biolimus stent for the primary endpoint (angiographic in‐stent late lumen loss: 0.20 ± 0.29 mm vs. 0.15 ± 0.20 mm, respectively; P value for noninferiority <0.001). The 1‐year incidence of death, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, and stent thrombosis remained low and not significantly different between the groups.

Conclusions

The present randomized trial demonstrates that the tested novel sirolimus‐eluting stent was angiographically noninferior in comparison with a last‐generation biolimus‐eluting stent.
A Post‐GDP World? Rethinking International Politics in the 21st Century
Authors: Fioramonti Lorenzo
Published: September 2015

In contemporary politics, the power and status of a country are intimately connected with its economic wealth. In particular, GDP has become the benchmark by which the global pecking order is defined. Initially designed as a mere survey of a nation's income, GDP has become an ordering principle in international governance. Yet the convergence of socioeconomic, environmental and energy crises currently questions the sustainability of GDP maximization and its political relevance, strengthened by a growing consensus among policy makers and experts that GDP is an inadequate metric of economic success. As countries move beyond GDP and new indicators are introduced, the overall international political order may also change. In particular, some non‐G7 countries may emerge as global leaders in wellbeing, prosperity and sustainable development. We may be witnessing a gradual shift to a new Bretton Woods, possibly leading to a profound restructuring of globalization with the emergence of new forms of supranational regionalism in which more equitable and sustainable economies will play a leading role.
The discriminatory value of cardiorespiratory interactions in distinguishing awake from anaesthetised states: a randomised observational study
Authors: Kenwright D. A. , Bernjak A. , Draegni T. , Dzeroski S. , Entwistle M. , Horvat M. , Kvandal P. , Landsverk S. A. , McClintock P. V. E. , Musizza B. , Petrovčič J. , Raeder J. , Sheppard L. W. , Smith A. F. , Stankovski T. , Stefanovska A.
Published: September 2015

Depth of anaesthesia monitors usually analyse cerebral function with or without other physiological signals; non‐invasive monitoring of the measured cardiorespiratory signals alone would offer a simple, practical alternative. We aimed to investigate whether such signals, analysed with novel, non‐linear dynamic methods, would distinguish between the awake and anaesthetised states. We recorded ECG, respiration, skin temperature, pulse and skin conductivity before and during general anaesthesia in 27 subjects in good cardiovascular health, randomly allocated to receive propofol or sevoflurane. Mean values, variability and dynamic interactions were determined. Respiratory rate (p = 0.0002), skin conductivity (p = 0.03) and skin temperature (p = 0.00006) changed with sevoflurane, and skin temperature (p = 0.0005) with propofol. Pulse transit time increased by 17% with sevoflurane (p = 0.02) and 11% with propofol (p = 0.007). Sevoflurane reduced the wavelet energy of heart (p = 0.0004) and respiratory (p = 0.02) rate variability at all frequencies, whereas propofol decreased only the heart rate variability below 0.021 Hz (p < 0.05). The phase coherence was reduced by both agents at frequencies below 0.145 Hz (p < 0.05), whereas the cardiorespiratory synchronisation time was increased (p < 0.05). A classification analysis based on an optimal set of discriminatory parameters distinguished with 95% success between the awake and anaesthetised states. We suggest that these results can contribute to the design of new monitors of anaesthetic depth based on cardiovascular signals alone.
Researching the hybrid geographies of climate change: reflections from the field
Authors: Popke Jeff
Published: September 2015

This special section grew out of a series of sessions on ‘Mixed methods and hybrid epistemologies’ at the Association of American Geographers annual meetings in 2013 and 2014. The five papers that comprise it each examine climate change as a mixed or hybrid entity, and consider some of the theoretical and methodological tensions associated with contemporary climate change research. In so doing, the authors reflect on the challenges of field‐based observation and measurement, and they draw on a rich array of conceptual resources in attempting to capture climate's multidimensional character. In this brief introduction, I consider the contributions of the papers in the context of three areas of climate change scholarship: climate knowledge, ontologies of climate and the methodologies of climate change research. Taken as a whole, the collection suggests the value of a methodological and epistemological pluralism, one capable of registering the hybrid character of climate change and coping with the fact that multiple measurements, understandings and enactments of climate may be equally valid.
In‐parallel comparative evaluation between multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, prostate cancer antigen 3 and the prostate health index in predicting pathologically confirmed significant prostate cancer in men eligible for active surveillance
Authors: Porpiglia Francesco , Cantiello Francesco , De Luca Stefano , Manfredi Matteo , Veltri Andrea , Russo Filippo , Sottile Antonino , Damiano Rocco
Published: September 2015

Objective

To assess the performance capabilities of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), the prostate health index (PHI) and prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) in predicting the presence of pathologically confirmed significant prostate cancer (PCSPCa), according to the European Randomized Study of Screening Prostate Cancer definition, in a single cohort of patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) but who were eligible for active surveillance (AS).

Materials and Methods

An observational retrospective study was performed in 120 patients with prostate cancer (PCa), treated with robot‐assisted RP but eligible for AS according to Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance criteria. Blood and urine specimens were collected before initial prostate biopsy for PHI and PCA3 measurements, respectively. In addition, all patients underwent mpMRI, preoperatively and 6–8 weeks after biopsy, with a 1.5T scanner using a four‐to‐five‐channel phase array coil combined with an endorectal coin. mpMRI images were assessed and diagrams showing the prostate sextants were used to designate regions of abnormality within the prostate. Prostate findings were assigned to one of five categories according to Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System guidelines (PI‐RADS) and considered positive for PCa if final PI‐RADS score was >3 and negative if ≤3.

Results

Pathologically confirmed reclassification was observed in 55 patients (45.8%). mpMRI showed good specificity and negative predictive value (0.61 and 0.73, respectively) for excluding PCSPCa compared with the PHI and PCA3. On multivariate analyses and after 1 000 bootstrapping resampling, the inclusion of both mpMRI and the PHI significantly increased the accuracy of the base model in predicting PCSPCa. For the prediction of PCSPCa, in particular, the base model had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.71 which significantly increased by 4% with the addition of the PHI (AUC = 0.75; P < 0.01) and by 7% with the addition of mpMRI (AUC = 0.78; P < 0.01). Decision‐curve analysis showed that the multivariable model with mpMRI had the highest net benefit.

Conclusion

In a single cohort of patients who underwent RP but who were eligible for AS, mpMRI and, to a lesser extent, the PHI, had an important role in discriminating the presence of PCSPCa; both measures could therefore be useful in the selection and monitoring of patients undergoing AS.
Training in minimally invasive surgery in urology: European Association of Urology/International Consultation of Urological Diseases consultation
Authors: van der Poel Henk , Brinkman Willem , van Cleynenbreugel Ben , Kallidonis Panagiotis , Stolzenburg Jens‐Uwe , Liatsikos Evangelos , Ahmed Kamran , Brunckhorst Oliver , Khan Mohammed Shamim , Do Minh , Ganzer Roman , Murphy Declan G. , Van Rij Simon , Dundee Philip E. , Dasgupta Prokar
Published: September 2015

Objectives

To describe the progress being made in training for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in urology.

Methods

A group of experts in the field provided input to agree on recommendations for MIS training. A literature search was carried out to identify studies on MIS training, both in general and specifically for urological procedures.

Results

The literature search showed the rapidly developing options for e‐learning, box and virtual training, and suggested that box training is a relatively cheap and effective means of improving laparoscopic skills. Development of non‐technical skills is an integral part of surgical skills training and should be included in training curricula. The application of modular training in surgical procedures showed more rapid skills acquisition. Training curricula for MIS in urology are being developed in both the USA and Europe.

Conclusion

Training in MIS has shifted from ‘see‐one‐do‐one‐teach‐one’ to a structured learning, from e‐learning to skills laboratory and modular training settings.
Prognostic significance of Epstein–Barr virus DNA detection in pretreatment serum in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Okamoto Akinao , Yanada Masamitsu , Miura Hiroki , Inaguma Yoko , Tokuda Masutaka , Morishima Satoko , Kanie Tadaharu , Yamamoto Yukiya , Mizuta Shuichi , Akatsuka Yoshiki , Yoshikawa Tetsushi , Mizoguchi Yoshikazu , Nakamura Shigeo , Okamoto Masataka , Emi Nobuhiko
Published: September 2015

It is still a matter of debate whether detection of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA in pretreatment serum has clinical implications for diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma. For this study, we measured EBV DNA load in pretreatment serum from 127 diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma patients without any underlying immunodeficiency to evaluate its effects on clinical manifestations and prognosis. Anthracycline‐based chemotherapy in combination with rituximab was given as initial therapy for 119 patients (94%). Epstein–Barr virus DNA was detected in 15 patients (12%), who were older (P = 0.005) and tended to be at a more advanced disease stage (P = 0.053). They showed significantly worse progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than other patients (P < 0.001 each). This effect remained significant (P = 0.004 and P = 0.027, respectively) after adjustment for age, lactate dehydrogenase, performance status, stage, and extranodal sites. The status of EBV‐encoded small RNA in situ hybridization was known for 123 patients; 6 of 8 positive patients (75%) and 9 of 115 negative patients (8%) had detectable EBV DNA in pretreatment serum. While patients positive for EBV‐encoded small RNA had significantly worse PFS and OS than negative patients (P = 0.001 and P = 0.029, respectively), EBV DNA detection in pretreatment serum was associated with poorer PFS and OS even for the 115 patients negative for EBV‐encoded small RNA (P < 0.001 each). These findings suggest that EBV DNA detection in pretreatment serum may have an adverse prognostic impact for patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma.