bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histological Clot Composition Is Associated With Preinterventional Clot Migration in Acute Stroke Patients
Authors: Sporns Peter B. , Jeibmann Astrid , Minnerup Jens , Broocks Gabriel , Nawabi Jawed , Schön Gerhard , Fiehler Jens , Wildgruber Moritz , Heindel Walter , Kemmling André , Hanning Uta
Published: June 2019

Background and Purpose—

The introduction of stent retrievers allows for a complete extraction and histological analysis of human clots. Initial studies describe an impact of preinterventional clot migration on technical and clinical success of thrombectomy and an association with worse clinical outcome. We, therefore, performed a large study of consecutive patients whose clots have been histologically analyzed and tried to determine whether clot composition influences the rates of clot migration and thereby interventional and clinical outcome.

Methods—

We retrospectively evaluated data of a prospectively collected cohort of 198 consecutive patients with occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. We investigated the relationship between clot histology expressed as percentage of the main components (fibrin, erythrocytes [red blood cell], and white blood cells), the preinterventional computed tomography attenuation of the emboli, embolus length, and clot migration. We defined a binary outcome (clot migration versus no clot migration). The impact of embolus composition and computed tomography features was assessed in univariable and multivariable logistic regression models.

Results—

One hundred sixty-three patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which 36 (22.1%) showed a clot migration. Patients with proven clot migration had significantly higher levels of red blood cells than patients without clot migration (median 50% versus 26%,
P
<0.001). Lower amounts of fibrin were significantly more often observed in patients in the clot migration group as compared to the no clot migration group (43.5% versus 62.0%,
P
<0.001). Stroke cause did not differ between migrated and stable emboli. Multivariable analysis identified a higher amount of erythrocytes (adjusted odds ratio, 1.03 per median percentage,
P
<0.001) and a shorter embolus length (adjusted odds ratio, 0.90 per mm,
P
<0.008) as independent predictors of clot migration.

Conclusions—

Erythrocyte-rich clots and a shorter embolus length are independent reliable predictors for clot migration. This finding is clinically important as clot migration might have a negative impact on technical and clinical outcomes of patients suffering from emergent vessel occlusions of the middle cerebral artery undergoing endovascular therapy.
Taxonomic revision of the genus Ononis (Trifolieae, Fabaceae) in Egypt, with the first record of Ononis viscosa subsp. breviflora
Authors: FAYED ABDEL AZIZ A. , EL-HADIDY AZZA H. , FARIED AHMED M. , OLWEY ASMAA O.
Published: June 2019

The genus Ononis comprises 86 species worldwide distributed in temperate regions. It is represented in Egypt by ten species. During recent excursions to the mountains of southern Sinai Peninsula, a newly recorded species, namely O. viscosa subsp. breviflora, was collected. This new record was previously confused with O. sicula. These two species can be differentiated by corolla length and shape. This study provides a full taxonomic revision of the genus for the flora of Egypt, updated nomenclature for all taxa, amended descriptions, detailed hand drawings, and a diagnostic key to the species. The most valuable diagnositic characters in the taxonomy of the genus in Egypt are discussed. After critical examination and literature study, we found that two names (O. serrata and O. vaginalis) needed to be lectotypified.
Three new species of Senegalia (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae) from the Atlantic Forest domain, Brazil
Authors: TERRA VANESSA , GARCIA FLÁVIA CRISTINA PINTO
Published: June 2019

We describe, illustrate and compare three new Brazilian species of Senegalia from the Atlantic Forest domain: Senegalia atlantica, from Rio de Janeiro State; Senegalia rafinesqueana, from the state of Paraná; and Senegalia cupuliformis, from Bahia State. These species are morphologically most similar to S. tenuifolia and S. multipinnata, S. velutina, and S. kuhlmannii, respectively. Additionally, we provide an identification key to all Senegalia species that are morphologically similar to S. atlantica, S. rafinesqueana and S. cupuliformis and occur in the Atlantic Forest domain; we also provide comments on the geographic distribution and the flowering and fruiting period of S. atlantica, S. rafinesqueana and S. cupuliformis.
The Korean species of the genus Thinodromus Kraatz (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae)
Authors: LEE SEUNG-IL , AHN KEE-JEONG
Published: June 2019

A taxonomic study of the genus Thinodromus Kraatz in Korea is presented. Four species are recognized, two of which are new to Korea: Thinodromus (T.) bernhaueri (Klima) and T. (T.) deceptor (Sharp). Males of Thinodromus (T.) deceptor (Sharp) are described for the first time. A key, illustrations of the habitus, and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided.
A review of the genus Genyocerus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae), with new synonyms and keys to species
Authors: BEAVER R. A. , LIU L.-Y.
Published: June 2019

The Oriental genus Genyocerus Motschulsky is reviewed and distinguished from the closely related genus Diapus Chapuis.  The following new synonyms are proposed:  Genyocerus biporus Schedl (=Diacavus intermedius Browne); Genyocerus diaphanus (Schedl) (= Diacavus abdominalis Schedl,  =Diacavus philippinensis Schedl, = Diacavus sexporus Schedl); Genyocerus frontalis (Strohmeyer) (= Diacavus longicollis Browne); Genyocerus multiporus (Schedl) (= Diacavus decemspinatus Schedl); Genyocerus pendleburyi (Schedl) (= Diapus albipennis Strohmeyer nec Motschulsky, = Genyocerus strohmeyeri Wood); Genyocerus puer (Schedl) (= Genyocerus puer trispinatus (Browne); Genyocerus quadriporus (Schedl) (= Diacavus compactus Schedl, = Diacavus compactus dubiosus Schedl,= Diacavus quadridens Browne, =Diacavus quadrifoveolatus Schedl); Genyocerus talurae (Stebbing) (= Genyocerus dipterocarpi Browne).  Keys are provided to males and females.  The previously unknown females of G. borneensis (Schedl) and G. frontalis are described.  The species are almost entirely restricted in their hosts to trees of the family Dipterocarpaceae.
Discovery of the genus Plethodontohyla (Anura: Microhylidae) in dry western Madagascar: description of a new species and biogeographic implications
Authors: GLAW FRANK , KÖHLER JÖRN , BORA PARFAIT , RABIBISOA NIRHY H.C. , RAMILIJAONA OLGA , VENCES MIGUEL
Published: June 2019

The cophyline anuran genus Plethodontohyla is considered to be restricted to humid eastern and central Madagascar. Recent surveys of the herpetofauna in the karstic limestone massif "Tsingy de Bemaraha" revealed a distinctive new species which constitutes the first record of this genus in central-western Madagascar. Plethodontohyla fonetana sp. nov. is characterized by large size (snout-vent length up to 65 mm in females), enlarged fingertips, sinuous dorsal folds, and a reticulated dorsal coloration. It is probably closely related to the other Plethodontohyla species with enlarged fingertips. The discovery of the new species suggests the existence of forest corridor between the eastern rainforest stretch and the relatively dry Tsingy de Bemaraha massif during a period of more humid climate. A continuous strip of gallery forest along a river running from the central high plateau to the west might have been sufficient to allow dispersal to the Bemaraha plateau.
Description of the immature and adult stages of the jujube tube spittlebug, Machaerota planitiae Distant (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Machaerotidae) in Bangladesh
Authors: PRAMANIK M.E.A. , LIANG AI-PING
Published: June 2019

The immatures and adults of the jujube tube spittlebug, Machaerota planitiae Distant (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Machaerotidae) are described and illustrated. A key to nymphal instars is included. Recently introduced to Bangladesh, most likely from adjacent South and Southeast Asian countries, this species has become a serious pest of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill., Rhamnaceae) causing severe damages to jujube production in Bangladesh.
Remarkable new fossil species of Schistostoma Becker (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Microphorinae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber
Authors: BROOKS SCOTT E. , CUMMING JEFFREY M. , GRIMALDI DAVID A.
Published: June 2019

Two closely related and distinctive species of Schistostoma Becker, i.e. Schistostoma burmanicum sp. nov. and Schistostoma foliatum sp. nov., are described from two male specimens preserved in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber and recorded as the first known fossil representatives of this extant genus of Microphorinae. Both species possess greatly enlarged lamellate fore tibiae and modified leg chaetotaxy that are presumably male secondary sexual features. The generic limits of Schistostoma are briefly discussed and a rationale for the inclusion of these new species is provided.
Variability of the Cold Season Climate in Central Asia. Part II: Hydroclimatic Predictability
Authors: Gerlitz Lars , Steirou Eva , Schneider Christoph , Moron Vincent , Vorogushyn Sergiy , Merz Bruno
Published: June 2019

Central Asia (CA) is subjected to a large variability of precipitation. This study presents a statistical model, relating precipitation anomalies in three subregions of CA in the cold season (November–March) with various predictors in the preceding October. Promising forecast skill is achieved for two subregions covering 1) Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and southern Kazakhstan and 2) Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. ENSO in October is identified as the major predictor. Eurasian snow cover and the quasi-biennial oscillation further improve the forecast performance. To understand the physical mechanisms, an analysis of teleconnections between these predictors and the wintertime circulation over CA is conducted. The correlation analysis of predictors and large-scale circulation indices suggests a seasonal persistence of tropical circulation modes and a dynamical forcing of the westerly circulation by snow cover variations over Eurasia. An EOF analysis of pressure and humidity patterns allows separating the circulation variability over CA into westerly and tropical modes and confirms that the identified predictors affect the respective circulation characteristics. Based on the previously established weather type classification for CA, the predictors are investigated with regard to their effect on the regional circulation. The results suggest a modification of the Hadley cell due to ENSO variations, with enhanced moisture supply from the Arabian Gulf during El Niño. They further indicate an influence of Eurasian snow cover on the wintertime Arctic Oscillation (AO) and Northern Hemispheric Rossby wave tracks. Positive anomalies favor weather types associated with dry conditions, while negative anomalies promote the formation of a quasi-stationary trough over CA, which typically occurs during positive AO conditions.
Contrastive Influence of ENSO and PNA on Variability and Predictability of North American Winter Precipitation
Authors: Li Xiaofan , Hu Zeng-Zhen , Liang Ping , Zhu Jieshun
Published: June 2019

In this work, the roles of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the variability and predictability of the Pacific–North American (PNA) pattern and precipitation in North America in winter are examined. It is noted that statistically about 29% of the variance of PNA is linearly linked to ENSO, while the remaining 71% of the variance of PNA might be explained by other processes, including atmospheric internal dynamics and sea surface temperature variations in the North Pacific. The ENSO impact is mainly meridional from the tropics to the mid–high latitudes, while a major fraction of the non-ENSO variability associated with PNA is confined in the zonal direction from the North Pacific to the North American continent. Such interferential connection on PNA as well as on North American climate variability may reflect a competition between local internal dynamical processes (unpredictable fraction) and remote forcing (predictable fraction). Model responses to observed sea surface temperature and model forecasts confirm that the remote forcing is mainly associated with ENSO and it is the major source of predictability of PNA and winter precipitation in North America.
Examining the North Atlantic Oscillation, East Atlantic Pattern, and Jet Variability since 1685
Authors: Mellado-Cano Javier , Barriopedro David , García-Herrera Ricardo , Trigo Ricardo M. , Hernández Armand
Published: June 2019

Recent studies have stressed the key role of the east Atlantic (EA) pattern and its interactions with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in Euro-Atlantic climate variability. However, instrumental records of these leading patterns of variability are short, hampering a proper characterization of the atmospheric circulation beyond the mid-nineteenth century. In this work, we present the longest (1685–2014) observational-based records of winter NAO and EA indices as well as estimates of the North Atlantic eddy-driven jet stream speed and latitude for the same period. The time series display large variability from interannual to multidecadal time scales, with, for example, positive (negative) EA (NAO) phases dominating before 1750 (during much of the nineteenth century). By identifying winters with different combinations of NAO/EA phases in the twentieth century, our results highlight the additional role of EA in shaping the North Atlantic action centers and the European climate responses to NAO. The EA interference with the NAO signal is stronger in precipitation than in temperature and affects areas with strong responses to NAO such as Greenland and the western Mediterranean, which prevents simplistic relationships of natural proxies with NAO. The last three centuries uncover multidecadal periods dominated by specific NAO/EA states and substantial interannual-to-centennial variability in the North Atlantic jet stream, thus providing new evidence of the dynamics behind some outstanding periods. Transitions in the NAO/EA phase space have been recurrent and pin down long-lasting anomalies, such as the displacement of the North Atlantic action centers in the late twentieth century, besides some disagreements between NAO indices.
Experimental study on the bond behavior of the CFRP-steel interface under the freeze–thaw cycles
Authors: Pang Yu-Yang , Wu Gang , Wang Hai-Tao , Su Zhi-Long , He Xiao-Yuan
Published: June 2019

The bond–slip degradation relationship between carbon fiber-reinforced polymer and steel in a freeze–thaw environment is crucial to evaluate the long-term service performance of steel structures strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer plates. However, limited studies on the durability and long-term performance of the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer-steel-bonded interface are the major obstacle for the application of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer plates in strengthening steel structures. This paper reports an experimental study to investigate the effects of the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer bond length and the freeze–thaw cycles on the bond behavior of the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer-steel-bonded interface. The three-dimensional digital image correlation technique is applied to obtain displacements and strains on the surface of the single-shear specimen. The experimental results present herein include the failure mode, the ultimate load, the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer strain distribution, the displacement distribution, and the bond–slip relationship. The results show that the ultimate load increases with increasing bond length until a certain bond length value is reached, after which the ultimate load remained approximately constant, and the ultimate loads of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer-steel interface decrease gradually under freeze–thaw cycles. The bond–slip parameters degradation models are proposed, and the bond–slip degradation relationship under the freeze–thaw cycles is established. Finally, the bond–slip degradation relationship is confirmed through comparisons with the experimental results.
The Impact of Racial Discrimination and School Composition on Latinx Adolescents’ Social Status Insecurity and Aggression
Authors: Wright Michelle F. , Harper Bridgette D.
Published: June 2019

This study examined the relationship between racial discrimination by peers (RDPS) and aggression across 1 year through the mediation of insecurity regarding peer status (i.e., social status insecurity [SSI]) among Latinx adolescents who were part of a school in which they were (a) the majority, (b) the minority, or (c) part of the majority. Participants were 606 Latinx adolescents (60% girls; M = 14.36 years, SD = 0.46 years). RDPS was positively associated with SSI for minority and part-of-the-majority adolescents. For part-of-the-majority adolescents, SSI was positively associated with self-reported aggression and peer-nominated overt aggression. Only SSI and self-reported overt aggression were associated for majority adolescents. Aggressive behaviors were associated with SSI among minority adolescents. SSI mediated the association between RDPS and aggression for minority adolescents. For part-of-the-majority adolescents, self-reported overt aggression and RDPS were mediated by SSI. These findings indicate that RDPS affects minority and part-of-the-majority adolescents’ insecure feelings regarding their peer status, which contributes to aggressive behaviors 1 year later.
Collaboration, Physical Proximity and Serendipitous Encounters: Avoiding collaboration in a collaborative building
Authors: Irving Gemma Louise , Ayoko Oluremi B. , Ashkanasy Neal M.
Published: June 2019

Despite the adoption of collaborative buildings and office spaces to improve collaboration, the expected benefits of spatial interventions often fail to materialize. In a study of an ostensibly ‘collaborative building’, we identified strategies that employees use to avoid collaborating (i.e. ‘focusing on existing collaborations’, ‘reinforcing group boundaries’, ‘enacting legacy policies’ and ‘minimizing social interactions’). These strategies combined to minimize serendipitous encounters, which led to the avoidance of new collaborations. Our findings address a theoretical tension in the literature as to whether proximity facilitates or inhibits collaboration. We also show that, while it is often difficult to facilitate serendipitous encounters in an ostensibly collaborative building, serendipity nonetheless plays a central role in the development of new collaborative partnerships.
Building NGO-Corporate Partnership for Social Development
Authors: Bhatt Anil
Published: June 2019

There is considerable discussion and action in recent years on building partnership between voluntary organizations and corporates for social development. This paper discusses the arguments for and against corporate involvement in social development and the rationale for building partnership with voluntary organizations. It also discusses the difficulties involved in building such partnerships and examines the trends and issues.
Erhardt+Leimer India Limited: Strategic Transformation through ERP
Authors: Madhavan S Kaushika
Published: June 2019

The July-September 2000 (Vol 25, No 3) issue of Vikalpa had published a Management Case titled Erhardt+ Leimer India Limited by S Kaushika Madhavan. In this issue, we feature 11 responses from Mahima Balakrishnan, Sujith Kumar Chandrasekaran and Bharat B Lalwani; Somya Bhatnagar, Samrat Chanda, Abbey Thomas and Sanchali Chakraborty; Anindita Ghosh, A Preeti, Y Mallikarjuna Reddy and Piyush Goyal; Mohit Kumar Jakhodia, Harry Jose, Saurabh Mittal, Yashpal Krishna Das and Abhishek Bansal; Pavan Jolly, Nidhi Gupta, Purvi Modi, Sheel Shah, Shantanu Mazumdar and Santosh Kurian T; Neeraj Kaushlendra, Sptarshi Ganguly and Sushmita Biswas; S Rajaram; V Venkata Rao; Dipankar Roy, Somnath Bondopadhaya, Maulik Singhal and Rajat Shrivastava; Anand Sridharan, V T Bharadwaj and N Ravichandran; and C Venkat.

Erhardt+Leimer India Limited (ELIL), in the business of textile and related equipment manufacturing, is facing increased competition, stagnation in revenue, and eroded profitability. ELIUs parent company in Germany had implemented Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions to enhance its effectiveness and had offered ELIL some licences free of cost. Mr S Rajaram, Vice President (Operations) of ELIL, though excited about the possibility of adopting ERP solutions is also concerned about implementation issues. They are: inadequate computing infrastructure, need for substantial investment, need to improve process orientation, data discipline, the prevailing organizational culture, and the high rate of failure in ERP implementation. Considering that he has to make a recommendation to the Board on ERP implementation, he is wondering whether ELIL is prepared for this change.
Strategic Thinking: A Neuronal Architectural View
Authors: Srinivasan N S , Balasubramanian G
Published: June 2019

The customer-centric digital economy needs business leaders and strategic thinkers to develop a new skill-set of delving within the deeper regions of consciousness and precognize the evolving future in order to make critical decisions that will set the future direction of the organization. As change accelerates to a never before recorded level, sustaining the precognitive capability of collective intelligence of the organization is fast becoming a pre-requisite for survival in the context of hyper-competition.

This capacity has to be learnt, understood, and successfully internalized in every strategic thinker. In a business environment where executive functions and passion- driven processes are given greater attention, the precognitive capability gradually begins to wane as either the need for catering to existing demand or anticipation for rewards or both become predominant drivers.

This silent change is very slow, hidden, and is not noticed until strategic decisions begin to miscarry. Most of the time, the person's general behaviour could still be in confirmation with the culture of the organization, yet it is possible to identify minor anomalies that occur with a better understanding of how the neuronal circuitry is built in the brain and the underpinning motivational drivers that incite their change.

New scientific evidence in the field of Cognitive Science gives us some pointers into hitherto enigmatic queries. The latest research in this field shows that it is possible today to decide on an individual's capability to deliver future results not merely based on past achievements but on his continuing ability to change based on underpinning motivational drivers. This paper presents a neuronal architectural framework to evaluate the future potential of a top management performer based on scientific evidence rather than depend on either the past performances or probability of future success without considering the individual's ability to align with the organizational bionetwork.

The paper also addresses every CEO's cup of woe – motivating people to change and ensuring constant growth. Corporate training has to address the following three dilemmas: overcoming the problem of habituation activating the Supervisory Attentional System (SAS) ensuring that inputs given to each individual possess the appropriate degree of novelty and complexity.
Business Ethics: The Next Frontier for Globalizing Indian Companies
Authors: Seshadri D V R , Raghavan Achal , Hegde Shobitha
Published: June 2019

Nowhere is the fast changing nature of the global business landscape more perceptible than on the ethics front. With a spate of recent unethical behaviours by large corporations in the Western world, especially in USA, their societies have become intolerant to businesses that manifest unethical behaviour. Legal and regulatory frameworks in these countries have been swift to respond through stringent laws such as the Sarbanes Oxley Corporate Reform Act. Consequently, most businesses based in these countries have become extremely risk averse on the ethics front. Few of them would like to have anything to do with any unethical company in any part of the world. This changed mindset has significant ramifications for Indian companies that have global aspirations. No Indian company that hopes to globalize in any manner can afford to ignore these changes sweeping the global business arena on the ethics front.

Business ethics encompasses much more than mere compliance with laws and regulations. It is about every individual in the organization acting ethically, about creating an ethically sound working environment within the organization and about modeling ethical behaviour by leadership at all levels. Research suggests that it makes good long-term business sense to be ethical.

For a company's ethics policy to be successfully implemented, it is essential that: The code of ethics is clearly communicated to employees. Employees are formally trained in it. They are told how to deal with ethical challenges. The code is implemented strongly. The code is contemporary. The company leadership adheres to the highest ethical standards.

When an employee gets no clear answers from the organization while dealing with decisions that have inherent ethical dilemmas, he tends to chart his own course of action by drawing on his intuition, conviction, and beliefs, and assessing the pressures of the situation at hand, putting the organization at considerable risk.

Globalizing Indian companies essentially have two options. One is to sit back and wait for the tightening of regulatory and societal screws on them, forcing them into ethical behaviour in a reactive mode. The other approach is for them to proactively herald the new era of business ethics by becoming torch bearers of the new order of things. It is in the organization's selfinterest to take a proactive posture on the ethics issue, and be well-prepared for the shape of things to come. We also show how this can be done and what challenges must be addressed for success on this journey.
A Study on Return on Investment of Training Programme in a Government Enterprise in India
Authors: Subramanian K S , Sinha Vinita , Gupta Priya D
Published: June 2019

Return on investment (ROI) has become one of the most challenging and intriguing issues facing the human resources development (HRD) and performance improvement fields. With ROI, decision makers evaluate investments by comparing the magnitude and timing of expected gains to the magnitude and timing of investment costs. A good ROI means that investment returns compare favourably to investment costs.

This study is aimed at testing the feasibility of a Return on Investment (ROI) model in the context of a training programme in the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), a government organization, to see whether the success of a training programme can be measured more accurately in monetary terms. It is meant to enable the management to understand the direct impact on the business bottom-line as a causal effect of the training imparted and to decide whether to continue or discontinue the programmes. IOC conducted in-house training programmes in 2004 which included a blend of behavioural and functional training. The programmes conducted at this organization were evaluated using the most comprehensive evaluation models and discussed in terms of return on investment. The two programmes chosen for the study were: The Threshold Programme and the Excellence in Project Management, each having 30 participants.

The ROI analysis plan document captures information on several key issues necessary to develop the actual ROI calculation: Significant data items The method for isolating the effects of the training and education programme The method for converting data into monetary values The cost categories, noting how certain costs should be prorated The anticipated intangible benefits The communication targets to receive the information Other issues or events that might influence programme implementation.

With a proper planning around a proven framework, realistic evaluation targets, and shared responsibilities for major steps, the ROI process can be implemented in a costeffective, systemic manner and can assist the resource-constrained training function to reap financial benefits that leaders understand and have come to expect. It is now strategically imperative that training be conducted with the clear understanding that if people are truly the organization�s greatest asset, then training is beyond doubt, the greatest investment and must hence be utilized wisely.
Underpricing of Initial Public Offerings in Indian Capital Market
Authors: Jain Neeta , Padmavathi C
Published: June 2019

This paper is an attempt to empirically explore the determinants of underpricing of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in the Indian Capital Market. IPOs are one of the largest sources of capital for the firms to invest in the growth opportunities. It encourages investment activities in the economy by mobilizing funds from low growth opportunities to high growth opportunities. It has been observed that IPOs are underpriced in most of the countries (Loughran, Ritter and Rydqvist 1994). Underpricing is the pricing of the issue at lesser price than the true value of the issue. The degree of underpricing varies from country to country and issue to issue in the same country. The underpriced IPO leaves money on the table which is a cost (loss of capital) for the company and the same becomes a gain for the investors in the form of positive initial returns on the underpriced shares. Though underpricing is a cost for the issuing company, the issuing company underprices the issue.

There are many theoretical explanations for underpricing of IPOs. This is an empirical study which aims to find out the factors which are causing underpricing in India. The underpricing of IPOs is a serious problem for any economy. On the one hand, high underpricing tendency in the primary market discourages IPOs issued by those companies which cannot afford or do not want underpricing (leaving money on the table). On the other hand, it creates arbitrage activities in the secondary market and in the grey market. The underpricing of IPOs thus hampers the growth opportunities and creates instability in the secondary market.

In India, introduction of book building mechanism of IPOs in 1998 aimed to reduce underpricing because in the book building mechanism, offer price of the issue is determined on the basis of market feedback. The present study on 227 book-built IPOs for the period of 2004 to 2009 found that the average underpricing during this period was 28 per cent while the maximum underpricing was around 242 per cent. Thus underpricing of IPOs is still an issue of concern.
Catching feelings: Exploring commitment (un)readiness in emerging adulthood
Authors: LeFebvre Leah E. , Carmack Heather J.
Published: June 2019

This exploratory study investigates how emerging adults (EAs) experience catching feelings. Applying the Stages of Change Model and Relational Receptivity Theory, this study investigates how EAs understand the cognitive and behavior changes leading up to commitment and how they process precontemplation surrounding catching feelings. Using focus group interviews, collegiate EAs ( N = 17) define catching feelings as the unintentional, unexpected, and surprisingly desirable development of romantic feelings for another person (commonly beginning face-to-face). When confronted with catching feelings, EAs must delineate their preconditions for catching feelings and work through decision-making processes. Implications for relationship readiness, communication, and commitment are discussed.
Family members’ experiences of assisted dying: A systematic literature review with thematic synthesis
Authors: Gamondi Claudia , Fusi-Schmidhauser Tanja , Oriani Anna , Payne Sheila , Preston Nancy
Published: June 2019

Background:

Families’ experiences of assisted dying are under-investigated and families are rarely considered in clinical guidelines concerning assisted dying.

Aim:

To systematically review family experiences of assisted dying.

Design:

A systematic literature review using thematic synthesis.

Data sources:

MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine) and PsycINFO databases (January 1992 to February 2019). Studies investigating families’ experiences on the practice of legalised assisted dying were included. We excluded studies prior to legalisation within the jurisdiction, secondary data analysis and opinion papers.

Results:

Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Publications were derived from four countries: The Netherlands, United States (Oregon, Washington and Vermont), Canada and Switzerland. Dutch studies predominately investigated family involvement in euthanasia, while Swiss and American studies only reported on assisted suicide. Eleven studies had a qualitative design, using predominately in-depth interviews; seven were retrospective surveys. Five analytical themes represented families’ experiences in assisted dying: (1) context of the decision, (2) grounding the decision, (3) cognitive and emotional work, (4) experiencing the final farewell and (5) grief and bereavement. The results showed that families can be very involved in supporting patients seeking assisted dying, where open communication is maintained. Family involvement appeared to be influenced by the type of legislation in their country and the families’ perception of the social acceptability of assisted dying.

Conclusion:

Our data confirm that families across all jurisdictions are involved in assisted suicide decision and enactment. Family needs are under-researched, and clinical guidelines should incorporate recommendations about how to consider family needs and how to provide them with evidence-based tailored interventions.
Resting-state dynamics as a neuromarker of dopamine administration in healthy female adults
Authors: Bellucci Gabriele , Münte Thomas F , Park Soyoung Q
Published: June 2019

Background:

Different neuromarkers of people’s emotions, personality traits and behavioural performance have recently been identified. However, not much attention has been devoted to neuromarkers of neural responsiveness to drug administration.

Aims:

We investigated the predictive neuromarkers of acute dopamine (DA) administration.

Methods:

In a double-blind, within-subject study, we administrated a DA agonist (pramipexole) or placebo to 27 healthy female subjects. Using multivariate classification and prediction analyses, we examined whether dopaminergic modulations of task-free resting-state brain dynamics predict individual differences in pramipexole’s modulation of facial attractiveness evaluations.

Results:

Our results demonstrate that pramipexole’s effects on brain dynamics could be successfully discriminated from resting-state functional connectivity (accuracy: 78.9%; p < 0.0001). On the behavioural level, pramipexole increased facial attractiveness evaluations ( t(39) = 4.44; p < 0.0001). In particular, pramipexole administration enhanced connectivity strength of the cinguloopercular network ( t(23) = 3.29; p = 0.003) and increased brain signal variability in subcortical and prefrontal brain areas ( t(13) = 3.05, p = 0.009). Importantly, multivariate predictive models reveal that pramipexole-dependent modulation of resting-state dynamics predicted the increase of facial attractiveness evaluations after pramipexole (connectivity strength: standardized mean squared error, smse = 0.65; p = 0.0007; brain signal variability: smse = 0.94, p = 0.015).

Conclusion:

These results demonstrate that modulations of resting-state brain dynamics induced by a DA agonist predict drug-related effects on evaluation processes, providing a neuromarker of the neural responsiveness of specific brain networks to DA administration.
Reverse traffic flows: Visualizing a new trend in Spring Festival travel rush in China
Authors: Yin Zhenxuan , Ouyang Linxin , Wang De
Published: June 2019

Traditionally, Chinese would go back to their hometowns to reunite with their families during the Chinese Lunar New Year. In the last 30 years, due to the uneven development of regions, Spring Festival travel rush were mainly from large cities to small cities or rural areas. However, in recent years, an increasing number of migrants prefer to stay in larger cities and have their families visit them during the Spring Festival. To map the reverse migrations and explore their influence, we collected and processed data on passenger travel in 2017 and 2018 from Tencent Location Big Data and GDP in 2017 at the prefectural level. The visuals based on the data indicate that the volume of reverse migration was mainly concentrated in regional centers, with great variation across cities. Besides, with increasing reverse traffic flows, large cities are shifting from being empty to vibrant cities during the Spring Festival, while small cities and rural areas are losing their vibrancy.
Capacity of Urban Arterial Weaving Sections under Lane Signal Control Strategy
Authors: Liu Wei , Chen Kequan , Tian Zong Z. , Yang Guangchuan
Published: June 2019

An urban arterial weaving section has been considered a bottleneck in urban roadway systems, which is one of the key contributing factors to the occurrence of the capacity-drop phenomenon. This paper proposes a novel lane signal control method to regulate the weaving traffic flow at urban arterial weaving sections. With consideration of the operational characteristics of the weaving section and the imbalance of traffic at each entrance lane, a reduction coefficient of the weaving traffic was adopted. A capacity calculation model for weaving traffic under lane signal control was developed. The optimization model was established to derive the optimal lane signal control scheme. The objective function was to maximize the weaving section’s capacity, and the constraints were the safe time headway between two adjacent phases. The proposed capacity estimation model was validated using field data collected at a representative urban arterial weaving section in Chongqing City, China; it was found that the mean absolute percent error was 4.7%. Modeling results demonstrate that the actual capacity of the weaving section significantly increased after adopting the lane signal control strategy. During the morning peak period, the actual capacity was 3,265 pcph (passenger cars per hour), which improves by 28.14% under the optimal scheme of two-phase lane signal control. The weaving capacity improvement for the three-phase lane single control is found to be 3,458 pcph, which improves by 35.71% under the three-phase control strategy. This paper used capacity reduction as index to test the robust of entrance lane, facing the increasing demand for traffic.
Built Environment Factors Affecting Bike Sharing Ridership: Data-Driven Approach for Multiple Cities
Authors: Duran-Rodas David , Chaniotakis Emmanouil , Antoniou Constantinos
Published: June 2019

Identification of factors influencing ridership is necessary for policy-making, as well as, when examining transferability and aspects of performance and reliability. In this work, a data-driven method is formulated to correlate arrivals and departures of station-based bike sharing systems with built environment factors in multiple cities. Ridership data from stations of multiple cities are pooled in one data set regardless of their geographic boundaries. The method bundles the collection, analysis, and processing of data, as well as, the model’s estimation using statistical and machine learning techniques. The method was applied on a national level in six cities in Germany, and also on an international level in three cities in Europe and North America. The results suggest that the model’s performance did not depend on clustering cities by size but by the relative daily distribution of the rentals. Selected statistically significant factors were identified to vary temporally (e.g., nightclubs were significant during the night). The most influencing variables were related to the city population, distance to city center, leisure-related establishments, and transport-related infrastructure. This data-driven method can help as a support decision-making tool to implement or expand bike sharing systems.
Nutrient Cost-Effectiveness of Fortified Blended Food Aid Products
Authors: Regier Gregory K. , Lindshield Brian L. , Lilja Nina K.
Published: June 2019

Background:

Sorghum-Soy Blend (SSB) and Sorghum-Cowpea Blend (SCB) fortified blended food aid porridge products were developed as alternatives to Corn-Soy Blend Plus (CSB+) and Super Cereal Plus (SC+), the most widely used fortified blended food aid products. However, the cost and nutrient cost-effectiveness of these products procured from different geographical areas have not been determined.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to determine the nutrient cost-effectiveness of SSB and SCB compared to existing fortified blended foods.

Methods:

Nutritional data as well as ingredient, processing, and transportation cost for SSB, SCB, and existing fortified blended foods were compiled. Using the omega value, the ratio of the fortified blended food’s Nutrient Value Score to the total cost of the fortified blended food divided by an identical ratio of a different fortified blended food or the same fortified blended food produced in a different country and the nutrient cost-effectiveness of each of the fortified blended foods procured in the United States and several African countries were determined.

Results:

Both CSB+ and SC+ are less expensive than SSB and SCB, but they also have lower Nutrient Value Scores of 7.7 and 8.6, respectively. However, the omega values of CSB+ and SC+ are all above 1 when compared to SSB and SCB, suggesting that the existing fortified blended foods are more nutrient cost-effective.

Conclusions:

Comparing the nutrient cost-effectiveness of various food aid products could provide valuable information to food aid agencies prior to making procurement decisions.
Literature Review of Francophone Psychometric Tests of Creativity: Guiding School Psychologists
Authors: Valois Philippe , Forget Jacques , Ponton Carolanne
Published: June 2019

Creativity is viewed as a trait of essential use in many contexts. The need for creative people in different domains implies that school should develop and evaluate creativity in their curriculum. Runco identified more than 80 creativity tests in English. No equivalent compendium exists for creativity tests in French. Thus, francophone students are not well deserved by the current state of creativity’s testing. The first objective of this article is to identify existing French tests of creativity with children and adolescent subjects that were identified in different databases using a systematic literature review method. The second objective is to present the key components and psychometric values of each identified test. Eight instruments for francophones were identified as being validated or being used in research setting with children or adolescent. Different theories of creativity associated with each test are also presented to guide the reader in selecting the most appropriate test for his school curriculum or his research.
Real-time identification of dry-clutch frictional torque in automated transmissions at launch condition
Authors: Sharifzadeh Mojtaba , Pisaturo Mario , Senatore Adolfo
Published: June 2019

In this work, a new methodology for online identification of the dry-clutch torque characteristics model in vehicular transmission systems is presented. The proposed approach provides a tool with capability to estimate the clutch torque model parameters directly, using the measurable signals of engine torque and speed within a multiple model predictive control loop, in real time. The first step is to calculate the clutch torque which includes some degree of uncertainty. Then, it is presented an advanced identification approach which is based on trust region and has enough robustness to cover the uncertainty of calculated torque. The structure aims to ensuring a comfortable clutch lock-up by keeping reasonable engagement period and avoiding engine stall. Real-time model simulations in various conditions are also presented to illustrate the superior performance and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm. The identification method has also been tested on real vehicle equipped with 1.3 L turbocharged diesel engine and six-speed automated manual transmission. Different launch maneuvers have been considered to demonstrate the methodology and promising results have been achieved.
Reflections upon the need for and approaches to enhance membership engagement in the RANZCP: a fellowship better together
Authors: Looi Jeffrey CL , Allison Stephen , Bastiampillai Tarun
Published: June 2019

Objective:

We outline reflections on the problem of decreasing membership engagement in the RANZCP (the ‘College’) and propose approaches to enhance membership engagement.

Conclusion:

We propose approaches to improve membership engagement based on the sociological concepts of social capital, addressing the pressures of psychiatric practice and the medico-political environment. We also propose harnessing the CPD program to enhance RANZCP volunteering.
The Changing Role of Libraries: How Social Workers Can Help
Authors: Wahler Elizabeth A. , Provence Mary A. , Helling John , Williams Michael A.
Published: June 2019

Public libraries in the United States are visited daily by vast numbers of people experiencing unmet psychosocial needs including poverty, homelessness, immigration concerns, mental health, substance abuse, and health problems. While some libraries have begun to hire or partner with social service personnel, many library staff are facing patron psychosocial crises without adequate training or resources. Various studies examine different facets of this issue; however, none examine how library staff perceive their role, patron psychosocial needs, library responsibility to address psychosocial needs, and policy and program recommendations. This study addresses that gap and presents needs assessment results from a large metropolitan public library system. Recommendations are included for how social workers can help libraries meet patron psychosocial needs.