bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ownership structure, ongoing related party transactions and corporate performance: evidence from Chinese listed firms
Authors: Cheng Mei-Ai , Leung Noel W.
Published: February 2017

This paper is to review the association of the magnitudes of ongoing related party transactions with the largest shareholders (ORPTs) on the ownership structure and their impact on corporate performance of Chinese listed firms after substantial reform of Chinese corporate governance framework in 2005. Previous literature found that the largest shareholders used related party transactions to tunnel or prop up their controlled firms for their own benefits. Based on a sample of 6657 firm-year observations from 2007 to 2011, the authors find that there is still a positive association between ownership of the largest shareholders and ORPTs, but no significant association between ORPTs and corporate performance, and therefore, there is no evidence that the largest shareholders use ORPTs to tunnel or prop-up their listed firms. This study also finds that there is an endogenous effect of ownership of the largest shareholders on ORPTs, and the authors suggest that the largest shareholders still have to retain the control of Chinese listed firms because in economic reality, those listed firms are still an integral part of business operations of the largest shareholders (business groups), i.e. alignment effect.
IFRS and international differences: an empirical analysis on their application worldwide
Authors: Fiori Giovanni , di Donato Francesca , Macciocchi Daniele
Published: February 2017

This study is based on the analysis of Nobes (2006) and Zeff (2007), demonstrating that different countries tend to adopt IFRS through the implementation of the options that are closely related to their culture. In a sample of 189 publicly traded firms from 7 different countries, we provide a first evidence of the application of some specific IAS/IFRS standards worldwide. IFRS, like any other set of accounting standards, offer firms substantial discretion (different options) in applying the standards. Our descriptive statistics show that, on average, countries tend to implement the options more suitable for their accounting, legal and tax culture, making international differences within IFRS survive. This study wants to be a call for future research regarding the IAS/IFRS adoption worldwide.
The effect of corporate board characteristics on loan monitoring decisions
Authors: Day Judy F. , Mather Paul R. , Taylor Peter
Published: February 2017

Motivated by a paucity of research into the impact of corporate governance from a debtholder perspective, we examine the impact of corporate governance on loan monitoring decisions. The active and close involvement of a major UK bank facilitated the development of extremely realistic experimental scenarios with a great deal of accurate institutional detail. The results show that the likelihood of loan officers increasing the level of monitoring in the context of a debt covenant breach is associated with board independence, director financial expertise and the presence of a blockholder. A two-way interaction between financial expertise and board independence is also documented. Since likelihood of debt covenant breaches continues to be an important variable in studies of accounting choice and corporate finance the paper provides insights into associated debt contracting costs and their determinants. Apart from extending the academic literature, this study provides additional evidence on the efficacy of good corporate governance in reducing debt contracting costs that should also be of interest to regulators and practitioners
Large shareholders and market discipline in a regulated industry: A clinical study of Mellon bank
Authors: Haubrich Joseph G. , Thomson James B.
Published: February 2017

The change in control at Mellon bank in 1987 sheds a unique light on several aspects of corporate control, as Mellon was one of few banks with a large shareholder. The bank underwent a management change earlier than most peer banks; contrary to some theoretical models, this happened without the large shareholder acquiring a majority stake to effect the change. Mellon’s rapid recovery relative to peer banks reveals the inability of regulatory intervention to fully substitute for market based forms of corporate control.
Corporate governance, capital theory, and corporate finance theory: An approach from property theory
Authors: Ellerman David
Published: February 2017

An analysis of the corporate governance debate is developed using a descriptive theory about the system of private property and contract in a market economy. There are strong implications for capital theory and corporate finance theory. The structure of the main results is that what often appears as being an owned property right is upon analysis seen to be only a contractual position—and contractual positions only extend a few years into the future. An enterprise could be described concretely as specific people working with specific machines producing a certain product or it could be described more abstractly using the economists’ notion of a production function. But either way, it is not determined who is legally undertaking the enterprise until the contracts between the factor suppliers are given. Thus the determination of who undertakes an enterprise is contractually determined; it is not an owned property right. In this sense, there is no such thing as the "ownership of the firm" since the party undertaking an enterprise, the residual claimant, is determined by the direction of the hiring contracts. There is the ownership of a conventional joint stock corporation, but a corporation does not "own" the enterprise that it is currently undertaking by virtue of its contractual position. For another party to take over the enterprise, it is sufficient to redo the contracts, not "buy the firm." Since a corporation’s paid contracts at best extend only a few years into the future, there is no basis for the common assumption in capital theory or corporate finance theory that the corporation "owns" the future enterprise cash flows in perpetuity. This simple result thus has rather strong implications for considerations of enterprise governance as well as for capital theory and corporate finance theory. Many of the "ownership" assertions that fuel the debate about enterprise governance are groundless, and the discounting of future enterprise net returns beyond the horizon of current contracts does not represent the valuation of current property rights.
On investment performance, value creation, management and corporate governance: The French case
Authors: Bellalah Mondher
Published: February 2017

This paper studies corporate governance, investment, value creation and their effects on corporate performance in some European countries and in particular in France. It accounts for specific aspects of investment performance, governance, management and entrepreneurship. Corporate governance systems can be identified by the degree of ownership and control and the identity of controlling shareholders. In outsider systems characterized by wide dispersed ownership as in the U.S and UK, the main specificity is the conflict of interest between strong managers and widely-dispersed weak shareholders. In insider systems characterized by concentrated ownership or control as in Germany and Japan, the main specificity is the conflict of interest between controlling shareholders (or block holders) and weak minority shareholders. There are several models of corporate governance since each country has developed a variety of mechanisms to overcome agency problems arising from the separation of ownership and control. Some results are reported using a data base conceived by IPAG students.
Strategic corporate governance in family business: A study on the board of directors’ roles and responsibilities
Authors: Martins Henrique Cordeiro , Gonçalves Carlos Alberto , de Sousa Neto ose Antonio , Gonçalves Marcio Augusto , Muniz Reynaldo Maia
Published: February 2017

The goal of this article is to analyze the constitution of the directors boards, based on their attributes, and the impact of this configuration on the roles and responsibilities of the board members in Brazilian Family Businesses. A research of a qualitative nature was carried out in 10 big family companies in Brazil. The results found point to the strategic roles as being the most relevant, but as a practical activity focused on the role of control. The Board has been more active at some moments, but is inactive at others, especially, when the concentration of capital is greater in some companies than in others.
The impact of industry specialist audit firms on pricing of discretionary accruals and earnings management: Australian evidence
Authors: Singh Harjinder , Khoo May Sze
Published: February 2017

This paper examines the relationship between the capital market pricing of Australian publicly listed firms and earnings management (proxied by discretionary accruals) during a three-year pooled time-frame of 2008 to 2010. More importantly, the role of industry specialist audit firms on market returns and earnings management relationship is investigated. Main results indicate a significant negative relationship between firm returns and earnings management. However, there is no significance in the role of industry specialist audit firms on the firm returns and earnings management linkage. On the other hand, sensitivity tests indicate that industry specialist audit firms play in significant monitoring role for audit committees with less than fifty percent of their members classified as independent. One major contribution is for regulators (aiming to improve audit quality) to strengthen key firm-level corporate governance mechanisms. Specifically, by placing the consequences from this paper into perspective, there may be a greater likelihood of increased audit quality by altering audit committee’s structure, composition and authority levels.
Financial considerations when making capital investments abroad
Authors: Conrad Adeeb , Mostert Frederik J.
Published: February 2017

There are many financial considerations which enterprises should take into account when they are contemplating the possibility to make capital investments abroad. The long-term nature of capital investments emphasizes the importance of the financial decisions as enterprises are often not in a position to opt out easily. This research paper focuses on the financial considerations only and other considerations, such as political, economic and technological matters do not receive any attention. The objective of this research focuses on the improvement of financial decision-making when enterprises are contemplating capital investments abroad. This objective is achieved by paying attention to the impact of following aspects: taxation, inflation rates, foreign exchange rates, interest rates, the capital structure and the cost of capital, capital and labour intensity, labour productivity, as well as the cash flow, liquidity, solvency and profitability considerations. An empirical study which has 29 top companies in South Africa as the respondents provided detailed information concerning capital investments made abroad. As South Africa is a developing country with an emerging market economy, the empirical results should be valuable to enterprises in other countries with emerging market economies.
Corporate governance applicability and theories within not-for-profit sport management
Authors: O’Boyle Ian
Published: February 2017

This paper examines the role of corporate governance in non-profit sport organisations. Governance within the traditional business environment is a crucial issue for the ultimate success or failures of an entity. This study analyses if the structures and systems of governance within traditional business can be transferred to a sport organisation. The various governance theories are examined to assess their applicability within a sport organisation and the role of the board is also analyzed within the study. Finally, this paper examines areas of conflict which may arise relating to governance and concludes by offering a best practice approach to this integral issue within any modern sport organisation.
Inclusivity for ethical public sector governance in South Africa
Authors: Dorasamy Nirmala , Balkaran Rishi
Published: February 2017

Public sector organisations have moral obligations to a diverse range of stakeholders. The governance of ethics as an integral part of sound governance in the public sector. This necessitates the application of principles of accountability, responsibility, fairness and transparency inclusively to all stakeholders. The South African Constitution of 1996 identifies these core principles as underpinning sound public sector management in a democratic dispensation. The landscape of public sector governance constitutes various control measures to ensure that the interest of all stakeholders is acknowledged. This article focuses on the contribution of inclusive ethics to sound ethical governance in the public sector. While there is no universally accepted best practice of corporate governance, the governance of inclusive ethics in new democratised states like South Africa is vital which embodies a complex system in which individuals, public sector departments and societal characteristics dynamically interact and converge or diverge.
The role of personal income tax reforms in the transition to a democratic and egalitarian Egypt
Authors: Abdel-Baki Monal A. , Dorasamy Nirmala
Published: February 2017

The efficacy of the 2005-Personal Income Tax (PIT) reform in enhancing the macroeconomic performance in Egypt is tested using a structural vector autoregressive model. The results reveal that PIT reforms have successfully generated jobs and accelerated GDP growth. The reforms may cause mild inflation in the short-run, but their long-term effects are non-inflationary. This is the first effort to assess the PIT reforms in Egypt, with the aim of helping the new government to assess preceding policies and pursue the successful ones. The research is also an important lesson for the leaders of emerging economies encountering similar circumstances to enact reforms and to perpetuate economic growth and sociopolitical stability.
Does social responsibility matter for firm performance? Evidence from Brazil
Authors: Emmanuel Thiago , Carvalhal da Silva Andre , Avila Marcos
Published: February 2017

This paper analyses the relationship between social responsibility and financial performance of Brazilian companies. This subject has been largely studied and presents many discussions and different points of view. There are a considerably number of research that tries to link social responsibility and financial performance. However, there is not a fully established consensus about the issue. Despite a great number of empirical researches regarding this subject, there are few studies in the Brazilian market. We analyze 515 Brazilian companies listed on BM&FBovespa from 2001 to 2007 and check which companies have disclosed the IBASE social report, which proposes a standardized methodology for social reporting and allows us to compare companies in different sectors over time. Our results indicate that companies that disclose social information have a superior performance when compared with companies that do not disclose. Moreover, financial performance is positively related with social investments. Interestingly, the "voluntary" social investments, which are not mandatory by law, have a strong effect on firm value and performance.
The role of effective audit committee in strengthening the financial reporting: Evidence from Jordanian listed companies
Authors: Al-Sa’eed Mo’taz Amin , Al-Mahamid Soud M.
Published: February 2017

This study aims to understand the features of an effective audit committee and its role in strengthening financial reporting. A questionnaire based survey was circulated to public listed companies on the Amman Stock Exchange (Banking, insurance, and financial institutions). The study was aimed at internal audit managers and finance managers. Out of 156 questionnaires, we received 110 back which represents a 71% response rate. The study results show that the research respondents have a good level of education and experience. In addition, there is a relationship between internal controls, international standards on auditing, institute of internal audit; Jordan securities commission requirements, external audit, understanding of audit committee functions, and financial reporting. Furthermore, the internal control, international standard on auditing and institute of internal audit, Jordan securities commission requirements, External audit, understanding of audit committee functions can explain a significant amount of the variability in financial reporting. Finally, the research results also show that age and gender make a difference for our respondents when they evaluate financial reporting. The study like other cross sectional studies is not free of limitations. Managerial implications and new avenues of future research are supplied. Future research also can borrow the research model and apply a longitudinal study to solve the cross sectional study problems.
Amorphous-crystalline Ni-Fe powder mixture: Hydrogenation and annealing effects on microstructure and electrical and magnetic properties
Authors: Milincic Radovan , Spasojevic Miroslav , Spasojevic Milica , Maricic Aleksa , Randjic Sinisa
Published: February 2017

The hydrogenation of a crystalline Ni-Fe (80 wt.% Ni, 20 wt.% Fe) powder
mixture leads to the formation of a mixture of Face Centered Cubic (FCC)-Ni
and FCC-Fe phase nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous matrix. The magnetic
susceptibility of the nanostructured powder is 2.1 times higher than that of
the as-produced crystalline mixture. Heating in the temperature range 420-590
K causes structural relaxation in the hydrogenated powder, resulting in an
increase of the magnetic susceptibility and a decrease of the electrical
resistivity. During the heating procedure, the reorientation of magnetic
domains in nickel and iron takes place in the temperature range 580-650 K and
790-850 K, respectively. In the pressed sample from the powder mixture, the
crystallization of the amorphous phase of nickel and its FCC lattice
crystalline grain growth occurs in the temperature range 620-873 K causing a
decrease in the magnetic susceptibility of the nickel FCC phase and a sudden
drop in the electrical resistivity. Prolonged heating of the mixed powders at
873K results in the formation of a Ni-Fe solid solution with higher magnetic
susceptibility than the starting mixture.
Comparison of morphological parameters of ceramic materials surface damage exposed to thermal shock and cavitation erosion
Authors: Dimitrijevic Marija , Dojcinovic Marina , Trifunovic Dejan , Volkov-Husovic Tatjana , Jancic-Hainneman Radmila
Published: February 2017

The surface defects on the samples, which are based on alumina, exposed to
thermal shocks and cavitations erosion were analyzed using image analysis.
For both types of experimental testing, the samples are made of the same
shape and size. The specimens contain different amounts of alumina fibers
(samples without fiber and with of 1 and 2 wt.% of the fibers). The surface
defects were characterized by their morphological parameters determined using
image analysis procedure. Sixteen parameters are used for the image analysis.
The results show that the damage caused by thermal shocks and cavitations
were different and the greatest difference was in roundness and fractal
dimension.
Business Strategy, Internal Control over Financial Reporting, and Audit Reporting Quality
Authors: Bentley-Goode Kathleen A. , Newton Nathan J. , Thompson Anne M.
Published: February 2017

This study examines whether a company's business strategy is an underlying determinant of the strength of its internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) and auditors' internal control reporting quality. Organizational theory suggests that companies following an innovative “prospector” strategy are likely to have weaker internal controls than companies following an efficient “defender” strategy. Consistent with theory, we find that firms with greater prospector-like characteristics are more likely to report and less likely to remediate material weaknesses, incremental to known determinants of material weaknesses. We also find that auditors' internal control reporting quality is lower among clients with greater prospector-like characteristics when measured using the timeliness of reported material weaknesses. Our findings indicate that business strategy is a useful summary indicator for evaluating companies' internal control strength and suggest that internal control reporting is an important area for audit quality improvement among prospector-like clients.

JEL Classifications: D21; 21; M41.

Data Availability: Data are obtained from public sources as indicated in the text.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON CANINE PARVOVIRUS INFECTION OF DOG IN BANGLADESH AND INDIA
Authors: Hasan M. M. , Jalal M. S. , Bayzid M. , Sharif M. A. M. , Masuduzzaman M.
Published: February 2017

A comparative study on Canine Parvovirus (CPV) infection among the hospitalized dogs at Central Veterinary Hospital (CVH) in Bangladesh and Veterinary College and Research Institute-Madras Veterinary College (VCRI-MVC) in India was conducted during a period of January and July 2015. A total of 270 (80 at CVH and 190 at VCRI-MVC) hospitalized dogs of different breeds were clinically examined. The key clinical signs observed among the CPV infected dogs were bloody diarrhoea (90.4%), vomition (94.5%) and dehydration (severe 85.7%, moderate 10.0% and mild 7.6%). The overall prevalence of CPV infection was higher in VCRI-MVC (42.7%) than CVH (31.2%). The prevalence of CPV was varied significantly (P<0.05) among different age groups, vaccinated and non-vaccinated dogs. Highest prevalence was found 1-3 months (48.7%) old dogs, in compare with 4-6 months (17.2%) and over 6 months (8.3%) old dogs. Highest prevalence was also found in non-vaccinated than vaccinated dogs at CVH, Bangladesh. In VCRI-MVC, India  rate of infection also varied significantly (P<0.05) in different age groups (57.4%, 28.9%, 10.0% among 1-3 months, 4-6 months and> 6 months respectively) and 13.2% in vaccinated and 64.4% in non-vaccinated groups. Significant (P<0.05) variation in prevalence of CPV also observed in different breeds- indigenous (50.0%), Spitz (28.2%), Lhasa (18.1%), Doberman (40.0%) and German Shepherd (46.6%).
Aesthetic Patterns with Symmetries of the Regular Polyhedron
Authors: Ouyang Peichang , Wang Liying , Yu Tao , Huang Xuan
Published: February 2017

A fast algorithm is established to transform points of the unit sphere into fundamental region symmetrically. With the resulting algorithm, a flexible form of invariant mappings is achieved to generate aesthetic patterns with symmetries of the regular polyhedra.
Fate of Neural Progenitor Cells Transplanted into Jaundiced and Nonjaundiced Rat Brains
Authors: Yang Fu-Chen , Riordan Sean M. , Winter Michelle , Gan Li , Smith Peter G. , Vivian Jay L. , Shapiro Steven M. , Stanford John A.
Published: February 2017

High levels of bilirubin in infants can cause kernicterus, which includes basal ganglia damage and dystonia. Stem cell transplantation may be an effective treatment for this disease. In this study, we transplanted human neural progenitor cells differentiated toward propriospinal interneurons into the striatum of 20-day-old spontaneously jaundiced (jj) Gunn rats and nonjaundiced (Nj) littermates. Using immunohistochemical methods, we found that grafted cells survived and grew fibers in jj and Nj brains 3 weeks after transplantation. Grafted cells had a higher survival rate in jj than in Nj brains, suggesting that slightly elevated bilirubin may protect graft survival due to its antioxidative and immunosuppressive effects. Despite their survival, only a small portion of grafted neurons expressed GAD-6 or ChAT, which mark GABAergic and cholinergic neurons, respectively, and are the cells that we are attempting to replace in kernicterus. Thus, NPCs containing large populations of GABAergic and cholinergic neurons should be used for further study in this field.
Impulsively Generated Wave Trains in Coronal Structures. I. Effects of Transverse Structuring on Sausage Waves in Pressureless Tubes
Authors: Yu Hui , Li Bo , Chen Shao-Xia , Xiong Ming , Guo Ming-Zhe
Published: February 2017

The behavior of the axial group speeds of trapped sausage modes plays an important role in determining impulsively generated wave trains, which have often been invoked to account for quasi-periodic signals with quasi-periods of the order of seconds in a considerable number of coronal structures. We conduct a comprehensive eigenmode analysis, both analytically and numerically, on the dispersive properties of sausage modes in pressureless tubes with three families of continuous radial density profiles. We find a rich variety of the dependence on the axial wavenumber k of the axial group speed

. Depending on the density contrast and profile steepness as well as on the detailed profile description, the

curves either possess or do not possess cutoff wavenumbers, and they can behave in either a monotonical or non-monotonical manner. With time-dependent simulations, we further show that this rich variety of the group speed characteristics heavily influences the temporal evolution and Morlet spectra of impulsively generated wave trains. In particular, the Morlet spectra can look substantially different from the “crazy tadpoles” found for the much-studied discontinuous density profiles. We conclude that it is necessary to re-examine available high-cadence data to look for the rich set of temporal and spectral features that can be employed to discriminate between the unknown forms of the density distributions transverse to coronal structures.
Spectroscopic Evidence of Alfvén Wave Damping in the Off-limb Solar Corona
Authors: Gupta G. R.
Published: February 2017

We investigate the off-limb active-region and quiet-Sun corona using spectroscopic data. The active region is clearly visible in several spectral lines formed in the temperature range of 1.1–2.8 MK. We derive the electron number density using the line ratio method, and the nonthermal velocity in the off-limb region up to the distance of 140 Mm. We compare density scale heights derived from several spectral line pairs with expected scale heights per the hydrostatic equilibrium model. Using several isolated and unblended spectral line profiles, we estimate nonthermal velocities in the active region and quiet Sun. Nonthermal velocities obtained from warm lines in the active region first show an increase and then later either a decrease or remain almost constant with height in the far off-limb region, whereas nonthermal velocities obtained from hot lines show consistent decrease. However, in the quiet-Sun region, nonthermal velocities obtained from various spectral lines show either a gradual decrease or remain almost constant with height. Using these obtained parameters, we further calculate Alfvén wave energy flux in both active and quiet-Sun regions. We find a significant decrease in wave energy fluxes with height, and hence provide evidence of Alfvén wave damping. Furthermore, we derive damping lengths of Alfvén waves in the both regions and find them to be in the range of 25–170 Mm. Different damping lengths obtained at different temperatures may be explained as either possible temperature-dependent damping or by measurements obtained in different coronal structures formed at different temperatures along the line of sight. Temperature-dependent damping may suggest some role of thermal conduction in the damping of Alfvén waves in the lower corona.
The Transfer of Resonance Line Polarization with Partial Frequency Redistribution in the General Hanle–Zeeman Regime
Authors: Ballester E. Alsina , Belluzzi L. , Bueno J. Trujillo
Published: February 2017

The spectral line polarization encodes a wealth of information about the thermal and magnetic properties of the solar atmosphere. Modeling the Stokes profiles of strong resonance lines is, however, a complex problem both from a theoretical and computational point of view, especially when partial frequency redistribution (PRD) effects need to be taken into account. In this work, we consider a two-level atom in the presence of magnetic fields of arbitrary intensity (Hanle–Zeeman regime) and orientation, both deterministic and micro-structured. Working within the framework of a rigorous PRD theoretical approach, we have developed a numerical code that solves the full non-LTE radiative transfer problem for polarized radiation, in one-dimensional models of the solar atmosphere, accounting for the combined action of the Hanle and Zeeman effects, as well as for PRD phenomena. After briefly discussing the relevant equations, we describe the iterative method of solution of the problem and the numerical tools that we have developed and implemented. We finally present some illustrative applications to two resonance lines that form at different heights in the solar atmosphere, and provide a detailed physical interpretation of the calculated Stokes profiles. We find that magneto-optical effects have a strong impact on the linear polarization signals that PRD effects produce in the wings of strong resonance lines. We also show that the weak-field approximation has to be used with caution when PRD effects are considered.
Mystifying moments in Bible interpretation: An exploration of some implied backgrounds to three kinds of unusual Bible readings
Authors: Lombaard Christoffel
Published: February 2017

This contribution is part of a series on Methodology and Biblical Spirituality. In this, the fourth contribution, the scope is widened; more practical-analytically oriented, three thoroughly different but nevertheless all unusual kinds of interpretations of the Bible are described, characterised and contextualised. Namely:• In order to explain what are perceived as textual anomalies, some Old Testament authors have been described by US-based medical practitioners as having suffered psychiatric dysfunctions.• The Garden of Eden from Genesis 2 and further has been located by a recently diseased Nigerian scholar as having been in her home country, with a Nigerian race having been the predecessors of biblical Adam and Eve.• Rastafarians, primarily Jamaica-based, regard marijuana as a holy herb and find direct support for their religious use of this plant in the Bible.However strange such ‘mystifying’ interpretations may seem within the theological mainstreams of Judeo-Christianity, there is more to these kinds of interpretations than simple whim. Certain cultural conditions along with personal, particularly spiritual, commitments enable these interpretations, which must be taken seriously in order to come to a fuller understanding of the text–interpreter dynamic. These then can cast at least some form of reflective light on the more usual current biblical-interpretative mainstreams within Judeo-Christianity, posing in a new light the question of what constitutes legitimate interpretations, also within mainstream interpretations, as religiously inclined people try to live their lives in the light of Scripture.
Musculoskeletal problems among string instrumentalists in South Africa
Authors: Ajidahun Adedayo T. , Mudzi Witness , Wood Wendy-Ann , Myezwa Hellen
Published: February 2017

Background: Musicians who play string instruments are affected more by musculoskeletal injuries when compared to other instrument playing groups. Musculoskeletal problems are commonly found in the upper extremities and trunk. Several risk factors such as gender, practice hours and instrument played are associated with the prevalence and distribution of musculoskeletal problems among string instrumentalists. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, distribution, severity and risk factors for musculoskeletal problems among string instrumentalists. Method: A cross-sectional study design using both online and paper-based questionnaires were used to collect data from string instrumentalists playing in both amateur and professional orchestras in South Africa. Results: A total of 114 string instrumentalists participated in the study, of which 86 (77%) reported problems in one or more anatomic regions while 39 (35%) were currently experiencing musculoskeletal problems that affected their performance. The trunk and both shoulders were the most commonly affected body regions. The majority of the participants reported the severity of the complaints as mild to moderate with aching, soreness, tingling and fatigue being the most commonly used descriptors of the symptoms of playing-related musculoskeletal problems. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems that affect performance is high among string instrumentalists in South Africa. An evaluation of associated risk factors with the aim of reducing injuries may be important in improving performance.
The Effect of Smart Boards on the Cognition and Motivation of Students
Authors: Davidovitch Nitza , Yavich Roman
Published: February 2017

In recent years the research literature has explored technological developments in varied areas that measure change. The current study focuses on the smart board, and its purpose is to examine its effect on the school system. The study was conducted via a questionnaire completed by 130 respondents (boys and girls) in the fifth and sixth grades of two elementary schools in Jerusalem—Efrata and Tali Gilo. Smart boards were introduced in these two schools in recent years.We hypothesized that smart boards improve teaching, based on the teaching measures developed by Nira Hativa of Tel Aviv University: order and organization, level of clarity, interest, and general level of satisfaction. The study’s significant finding is that the greatest improvement since the introduction of smart boards is in the variable of clarity, and a significant difference was found in the favor of sixth grade students. Additionally, a significant difference was found in the variable of interest, in favor of the girls. All four variables appear to be interrelated, and each contributes to the student’s success and to improving the student’s learning process.The research findings illuminate the contribution of technology to teaching, through a case study of smart boards, in the dimension of clarity, found by the study to be a significant criterion of good teaching. Examination of the various technological tools in light of their contribution to the research-proven dimensions of outstanding teaching might enhance the pedagogical contribution of technological developments to teaching.
RETRACTED: Effect of pretreatment temperature on catalytic performance of the catalysts derived from cobalt carbonyl cluster in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis
Authors: O Byambasuren , D Ulziibayar , D Chiibaatar
Published: February 2017

On 3rd March 2018, the Editorial Board of the Mongolian Journal of Chemistry decided to retract the article entitled "Effect of pretreatment temperature on catalytic performance of the catalysts derived from cobalt carbonyl cluster in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis" because of an authorship dispute. The article was originally published in Vol.17 No.43 2016 pp.38-41. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjc.v17i43.745
Characterization of Mongolian natural minerals and their application for heavy metal adsorbent
Authors: D Munkhbat , Shiomori K , B Ochirkhuyag
Published: February 2017

In this study, the structural characteristic and the adsorption properties of heavy metals on Mongolian natural minerals were investigated. The natural samples were confirmed as Heulandite group of Clinoptilolite type zeolite and clay sample that contains albite and quartz by X-ray diffraction analysis. According to BET surface analysis, natural zeolites have mesoporous type of pore. The results of adsorption study showed that adsorption ability of natural zeolite is high effective for lead ion in acidic aqueous solution and the order of heavy metal selectivity was Pb2+>>Zn2+>Cd2+. The adsorption performance of Arsenic(V) is significantly increased by modification with magnesium oxide on natural zeolite.
Comparison Analysis of Autologous Conditioned Plasma
Authors: Lebiedziński Radosław , Borowski Andrzej , Synder Marek , Grzegorzewski Andrzej , Marciniak Marek
Published: February 2017

Background. Autologous Conditioned Plasma (ACP) has a wide range of potential uses in modern orthopaedics. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of proprietary ACP and compare them with those of ACP produced using a commercially available kit.
Material and methods. In the hospital laboratory, 20 samples of ACP taken from patients and prepared according to the commercially available kit protocol with a double syringe system were compared with 40 ACP preparations made using disposable sterile equipment available in the hospital.
Results. The mean platelet concentration in the ACP samples prepared according to the Arthrex protocol was 2.02 (range 1.16 to 2.64) times greater than in peripheral blood, while the concentration in the proprietary preparation was 1.61 (range 0.82 to 2.52) times higher. However, the mean platelet density in the proprietary preparation (n = 24) was 1.98 (range 1.48 to 2.52) times that of peripheral blood within 20 minutes of collection, and 1.41 (range 0.84 - 1.87) times after 20 minutes (n = 16). Therefore, the proprietary method of producing ACP is comparable to that of the commercial kit with regard to platelet density (p>0.05).
Conclusion. Using disposable hospital equipment and with a relatively short time between ACP preparation and testing, it is possible to obtain a suitable proprietary platelet-rich preparation comparable to one produced using a commercial system.
The Impact of New Technologic and Molecular Advances in the Daily Practice of Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Pathology
Authors: Xue Yue , Farris Alton Brad , Quigley Brian , Krasinskas Alyssa
Published: February 2017

The practice of anatomic pathology, and of gastrointestinal pathology in particular, has been dramatically transformed in the past decade. In addition to the multitude of diseases, syndromes, and clinical entities encountered in daily clinical practice, the increasing integration of new technologic and molecular advances into the field of gastroenterology is occurring at a fast pace. Application of these advances has challenged pathologists to correlate newer methodologies with existing morphologic criteria, which in many instances still provide the gold standard for diagnosis. This review describes the impact of new technologic and molecular advances on the daily practice of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pathology. We discuss new drugs that can affect the gastrointestinal tract and liver, new endoluminal techniques, new molecular tests that are often performed reflexively, new imaging techniques for evaluating hepatocellular carcinoma, and modified approaches to the gross and histologic assessment of tissues that have been exposed to neoadjuvant therapies.
Deconstrucción del “buen profesor”. Análisis de las características formales y no formales de la docencia universitaria
Authors: Casero-Martínez, Antonio Antonio
Published: February 2017

Antecedentes: la evaluación de la calidad del profesorado universitario, desde el punto de vista del alumnado, se ha centrado principalmente en los aspectos más formales del ejercicio docente, desatendiendo así otros factores de tipo personal. Objetivo: identificar y analizar las cargas de cada uno de los distintos factores que conforman la idea de la buena docencia según el alumnado. Es decir, detectar la ecuación que da lugar al esquema mental  de “buen profesor” o “buena profesora”. Método: encuesta transversal, elaborada a partir de los resultados de revisiones e investigaciones propias que permitieron conocer la identidad de los distintos factores implicados en la evaluación de la docencia por parte del alumnado. La muestra es de 885 alumnos de la Universitat de les Illes Balears, obtenidos mediante un procedimiento de muestreo mixto y polietápico. Resultados: la solución factorial de cuatro elementos, que en orden de mayor a menor varianza explicada son: cualidades personales, competencia formal, cumplimiento, y materia. El análisis de regresión determina que cada uno de los 4 factores presenta un efecto estadísticamente significativo sobre la consideración de buen docente, donde el primero y el segundo son, en suma, responsables del 93% de toda la varianza explicada por el modelo. Conclusiones: el gran peso que las características no formales presentan en la ecuación resultante abre la discusión en torno a la importancia de las cualidades personales del profesorado como elementos que pueden estar modulando, más allá de la satisfacción del alumnado, el propio proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje.
The Triply Deprotonated Acetonitrile Anion CCN3− Stabilized in a Solid
Authors: Jach Franziska , Brückner Stephan Ingmar , Ovchinnikov Alexander , Isaeva Anna , Bobnar Matej , Groh Matthias Friedrich , Brunner Eike , Höhn Peter , Ruck Michael
Published: February 2017

The unprecedented, fully deprotonated form of acetonitrile, the acetonitriletriide anion CCN3−, is experimentally realized for the first time in the stabilizing bulk host framework of the Ba5[TaN4][C2N] nitridometalate via a one‐pot synthesis from the elements under moderate conditions (920 K). The molecular structure of this long‐sought acetonitrile derivative is confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, as well as NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy. The anion is isoelectronic to the CO2 molecule, and, in contrast to acetonitrile (H3C−C≡N), the electron pairs are shifted towards two double bonds, that is, [C=C=N]3−.
Mapping‐Out Catalytic Processes in a Metal–Organic Framework with Single‐Crystal X‐ray Crystallography
Authors: Burgun Alexandre , Coghlan Campbell J. , Huang David M. , Chen Wenqian , Horike Satoshi , Kitagawa Susumu , Alvino Jason F. , Metha Gregory F. , Sumby Christopher J. , Doonan Christian J.
Published: February 2017

Single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography is employed to characterize the reaction species of a full catalytic carbonylation cycle within a MnII‐based metal–organic framework (MOF) material. The structural insights explain why the Rh metalated MOF is catalytically competent toward the carbonylation of MeBr but only affords stoichiometric turn‐over in the case of MeI. This work highlights the capability of MOFs to act as platform materials for studying single‐site catalysis in heterogeneous systems.
Batch and Fed‐Batch Degradation of Enrofloxacin by the Fenton Process
Authors: Frade Verônica M. F. , Converti Attilio , Arni Saleh Al , Silva Milena F. , Palma Mauri S. A.
Published: February 2017

Enrofloxacin is a synthetic second‐generation fluoroquinolone used as an antimicrobial agent exclusively in veterinary medicine. To simulate the treatment of wastewater contaminated by enrofloxacin, four‐day long fed‐batch runs were carried out according to the Fenton process with an enrofloxacin solution as model, to which hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ion were added twice a day. The residual enrofloxacin concentration was practically coincident to that detected at the end of the batch tests. Hydrogen peroxide was almost completely consumed after each feeding period, while the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration decreased gradually within three days, corresponding to a reduction > 58 %. From the third day on, the TOC falling rate was quite low. A yellow sludge settled due to the precipitation of both Fe(OH)3 and a complex formed by ferric ion with adsorbed enrofloxacin and/or its oxidation products.
Introgressive hybridization and morphological transgression in the contact zone between two MediterraneanSoleaspecies
Authors: Souissi Ahmed , Gagnaire Pierre‐Alexandre , Bonhomme François , Bahri‐Sfar Lilia
Published: February 2017

Hybrid zones provide natural experiments where new combinations of genotypes and phenotypes are produced. Studying the reshuffling of genotypes and remodeling of phenotypes in these zones is of particular interest to document the building of reproductive isolation and the possible emergence of transgressive phenotypes that can be a source of evolutionary novelties. Here, we specifically investigate the morphological variation patterns associated with introgressive hybridization between two species of sole,Solea senegalensisandSolea aegyptiaca. The relationship between genetic composition at nuclear loci and individual body shape variation was studied in four populations sampled across the hybrid zone located in northern Tunisia. A strong correlation between genetic and phenotypic variation was observed among all individuals but not within populations, including the two most admixed ones. Morphological convergence between parental species was observed close to the contact zone. Nevertheless, the samples taken closest to the hybrid zone also displayed deviant segregation of genotypes and phenotypes, as well as transgressive phenotypes. In these samples, deviant body shape variation could be partly attributed to a reduced condition index, and the distorted genetic composition was most likely due to missing allelic combinations. These results were interpreted as an indication of hybrid breakdown, which likely contributes to postmating reproductive isolation between the two species.
Is parental competitive ability in winter negatively affected by previous springs’ family size?
Authors: Fokkema Rienk W. , Ubels Richard , Tinbergen Joost M.
Published: February 2017

Reproductive behavior cannot be understood without taking the local level of competition into account. Experimental work in great tits (Parus major) showed that (1) a survival cost of reproduction was paid in environments with high levels of competition during the winter period and (2) experimentally manipulated family size negatively affected the ability of parents to compete for preferred breeding boxes in the next spring. The fact that survival was affected in winter suggests that the competitive ability of parents in winter may also be affected by previous reproductive effort. In this study, we aim to investigate whether (1) such carryover effects of family size on the ability of parents to compete for resources in the winter period occurred and (2) this could explain the occurrence of a survival cost of reproduction under increased competition. During two study years, we manipulated the size of in total 168 great tit broods. Next, in winter, we induced competition among the parents by drastically reducing the availability of roosting boxes in their local environment for one week. Contrary to our expectation, we found no negative effect of family size manipulation on the probability of parents to obtain a roosting box. In line with previous work, we did find that a survival cost of reproduction was paid only in plots in which competition for roosting boxes was shortly increased. Our findings thus add to the scarce experimental evidence that survival cost of reproduction are paid under higher levels of local competition but this could not be linked to a reduced competitive ability of parents in winter.