bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BROKERAGE ANALYSTS' RATIONALE FOR INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: MARKET RESPONSES TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFORMATION
Authors: Ho Michael J. , Harris Robert S.
Published: August 2014

We examine the rationales provided when sell‐side analysts change investment recommendations. Although most changes in investment advice cite company fundamentals, analysts justify one in eight recommendation changes solely on the basis of price movements. Although markets react to price‐basis recommendations, these reactions are smaller and less prolonged than to recommendations citing company fundamentals, consistent with investors' giving more weight to recommendations conveying fundamental information. Our results also suggest that sell‐side analysts' incentives are tilted against downgrades. Price responses to downgrades are more pronounced than to upgrades, even controlling for the rationale. Moreover, the language justifying an upgrade is more likely to cite a general change in business prospects. In contrast, downgrades are more likely accompanied by an explicit reduction in the analyst's earnings forecast.

JEL classification: G24, G14, G12.
ALTERNATIVE TESTS OF THE ZERO‐BETA CAPM
Authors: Chou Pin‐Huang
Published: August 2014

In this paper I develop an analytical Wald test of the zero‐beta capital asset pricing model (CAPM) in a simple iid (independent and identically distributed) setting and extend the Wald test to the generalized method of moments (GMM) framework that allows for a general form of serial correlation and conditional heteroskedasticity. The size and power of these tests, along with some existing tests, are investigated under normal errors and other alternative distributional specifications. The results show that, under alternative distributional assumptions for the error terms, the proposed Wald and GMM tests have reliable sizes for medium‐size samples, whereas the likelihood ratio test (LRT) rejects the efficiency too often, especially when the error terms significantly deviate from normality. However, the LRT is more powerful than both the Wald and GMM tests.

JEL classification: C13, C53, G14.
THE VALUE OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING BY ORGANIZATIONS: EVIDENCE FROM INTERNATIONAL JOINT VENTURES
Authors: Gupta Atul , Misra Lalatendu
Published: August 2014

We use a sample of international joint venture announcements to test the hypothesis that organizations learn from experience, such that prior learning enhances the value of later ventures. We find that experience with ventures in the same foreign location, as well as experience with international joint ventures in general, is valued by the market. In contrast, experience in the same type of joint venture activity does not add any incremental value. These findings suggest the market recognizes and values some, although not all, forms of organizational learning.
NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS AND VOLATILITY: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY USING HIGH‐FREQUENCY DATA FROM NASDAQ STOCKS
Authors: Gopinath Saji , Krishnamurti Chandrasekhar
Published: August 2014

Our empirical evidence based on transactions data of a sample of Nasdaq stocks indicates that trades of large firms are related to the proxies of marketwide and firm‐specific information. For large firms, an increase in the number of trades seems to have a beneficial effect on liquidity as measured by bid‐ask spreads. On the other hand, trades of small and medium firms are associated with firm‐specific information and are not related to marketwide information. For small and medium firms, the frequency of trades is positively associated with bid‐ask spreads, apparently because of the adverse information content of trades.

JEL classification: G10, G12, G13
THE PROPOSED INTRODUCTION OF FUTURES‐STYLE MARGINING IN THE UNITED STATES: AN AUSTRALIAN COMPARISON
Authors: Kutner George W. , Porter David C. , Thatcher John G.
Published: August 2014

We extend the quadratic approximation method to examine American‐style options traded using futures‐style margining and show that an early exercise premium can exist when the cost of carry is negative. Empirical results based on a reduced form of the model using futures‐style call options traded on the Australian All Ordinaries Share Price Index are consistent with previous research: call option early exercise premiums are economically zero. Full option prices are examined by comparing observed futures‐style with theoretical stock‐style values. We find futures‐style values exceed stock‐style values and argue that the increase results from improvements in liquidity. The findings are particularly relevant given the pending decision at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to introduce a futures‐style system in the United States.

JEL classification: G13, C13
MARGINAL CONDITIONAL STOCHASTIC DOMINANCE, STATISTICAL INFERENCE, AND MEASURING PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE
Authors: Chow K. Victor
Published: August 2014

A simple statistical test is developed for marginal conditional stochastic dominance (MCSD). The MCSD is an extension of second‐degree stochastic dominance. As such, without specification of the return‐generating process, it can rank securities according to marginal changes of return distributions conditionally to the distribution of the market proxy, thereby proving a powerful technique for measuring portfolio performance. Although the MCSD test is asymptotic and conservative, under both the hypotheses of homoskedasticity and heteroskedasticity, it has power to detect the dominance alternative for samples with more than 300 observations. For an illustration, the MCSD test is applied to international equity markets. The test is able to show that nine of twenty‐eight equity markets are dominated by the world market.

JEL classification: G11, C49
A MULTIFACTOR ANALYSIS OF COUNTRY FUND RETURNS
Authors: Anderson Seth C. , Coleman B. Jay , Frohlich Cheryl J. , Steagall Jeffrey W.
Published: August 2014

Previous closed‐end country fund research concludes that returns behave more like the U.S. market than like their target markets. We argue this finding may be biased by model misspecification and inappropriate estimation techniques. We propose a single‐equation model containing five hypothesized factors of fund returns. We estimate this model for nineteen pooled seasoned funds using a time‐series cross‐section regression that corrects for two types of autocorrelation. We show that returns are strongly related to target markets. Returns are also related to changes in discounts, exchange rates, and other countries' markets, but are only weakly related to the U.S. market.

JEL classification: G10, G12
THE PERFORMANCE OF BANK‐MANAGED MUTUAL FUNDS
Authors: Frye Melissa B.
Published: August 2014

The ability of banks to offer proprietary mutual funds has expanded over recent years, and the mutual fund industry has been a significant growth area for banks. I examine the growth and performance of bank proprietary bond mutual funds. The empirical results show no evidence that bank‐managed mutual funds underperform nonbank funds. I find some evidence that bank managers are more conservative than nonbank managers in terms of investment strategy and that banks appear more likely to target individual rather than institutional investors. Also, I find that abnormal fund performance does not appear to be a significant determinant of the net asset flows into and out of bank‐managed mutual funds. Rather, the results suggest bank investors rely mainly on past marketing information and the general reputation of the bank.

JEL classification: G11, G21
BOOK REVIEW
Authors: McNeil Chris R.
Published: August 2014

Spreadsheet Modeling in the Fundamentals of Investments, by Craig W. Holden, Prentice‐Hall, 2002, 140 pages, with CD‐ROM, estimated retail price $20.
INFLUENCES AND TRENDS IN MUTUAL FUND EXPENSE RATIOS
Authors: LaPlante Michele
Published: August 2014

A common question for the mutual fund industry, which has experienced a fivefold increase in assets over the last few years, is whether it shows declining production costs. Prior studies on fund expenses give conflicting results because several factors, from asset size to management style to share class, affect costs. Controlling for these and other factors shows the average stock fund expense ratio declined 1 basis point per year and bond fund ratios decreased 1 to 3 basis points per year, depending on the investment objective, from 1994 to 1998. Funds participating in no‐transaction‐fee supermarkets are more expensive than equivalent nonparticipants.

JEL classification: G20, G28
ADVERSE SELECTION, INVENTORY‐HOLDING COSTS, AND DEPTH
Authors: Heflin Frank , Shaw Kenneth W.
Published: August 2014

We examine whether specialist depth quotes are related to the adverse‐selection and inventory‐holding‐cost components of the spread. Consistent with theory that predicts an inverse relation between depths and informed trading risk, we find that depth quotes are strongly inversely related to the adverse‐selection component of the spread. We also find that depth quotes are inversely related to the inventory‐holding‐cost component, though this relation is weaker than the relation between depths and adverse selection. Our evidence suggests cross‐sectional variation in depths is driven primarily by variation in informed trading risk, as proxied for by the adverse‐selection component, rather than by inventory concerns.

JEL classification: G10, G14
MARKET SEGMENTATION AND INTERNATIONAL ASSET PRICES: EVIDENCE FROM THE LISTING OF WORLD EQUITY BENCHMARK SHARES
Authors: Patro Dilip Kumar
Published: August 2014

This article provides an empirical analysis of the announcement effect of the listing of the seventeen World Equity Benchmark Shares (WEBS) on the returns of the corresponding market index returns and closed‐end country fund premiums. I find that the announcement of the listing of the WEBS resulted in a positive market price reaction for the market indexes. Furthermore, there was a significant decline in premiums for closed‐end country funds. The findings are consistent with models of international asset pricing under market segmentation and they illustrate that the listing of internationally tradable securities is an effective mechanism for integrating international capital markets.

JEL classification: G14, G15
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION STRUCTURE AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CHOICES
Authors: Harvey Keith D. , Shrieves Ronald E.
Published: August 2014

Using data that reflect the significant growth in incentive compensation during the last decade, we extend research in this area by specifying a more complete model that addresses both corporate governance and risk‐sharing factors that theory suggests should influence compensation policy. We find that the extent of incentive compensation is systematically related to other features of corporate governance, as well as to factors affecting managerial risk aversion. The results support the following conclusions: (a) the presence of outside directors and blockholders facilitates the use of incentive compensation, (b) incentive compensation is inversely related to use of leverage, and (c) the incentive pay component of compensation is lower for CEOs near or at retirement age and is decreasing in the percentage of firm stock already owned by the CEO.

JEL classification: G34
STOCK RETURNS AND VOLATILITY ON CHINA'S STOCK MARKETS
Authors: Lee Cheng F. , Chen Gong‐meng , Rui Oliver M.
Published: August 2014

We examine time‐series features of stock returns and volatility, as well as the relation between return and volatility in four of China's stock exchanges. Variance ratio tests reject the hypothesis that stock returns follow a random walk. We find evidence of long memory of returns. Application of GARCH and EGARCH models provides strong evidence of time‐varying volatility and shows volatility is highly persistent and predictable. The results of GARCH‐M do not show any relation between expected returns and expected risk. Daily trading volume used as a proxy for information arrival time has no significant explanatory power for the conditional volatility of daily returns.

JEL classification: G15
PRICING CURRENCY OPTIONS UNDER STOCHASTIC INTEREST RATES AND JUMP‐DIFFUSION PROCESSES
Authors: Doffou Ako , Hilliard Jimmy E.
Published: August 2014

We investigate the effects of stochastic interest rates and jumps in the spot exchange rate on the pricing of currency futures, forwards, and futures options. The proposed model extends Bates's model by allowing both the domestic and foreign interest rates to move around randomly, in a generalized Vasicek term‐structure framework. Numerical examples show that the model prices of European currency futures options are similar to those given by Bates's and Black's models in the absence of jumps and when the volatilities of the domestic and foreign interest rates and futures price are negligible. Changes in these volatilities affect the futures options prices. Bates's and Black's models underprice the European currency futures options in both the presence and the absence of jumps. The mispricing increases with the volatilities of interest rates and futures prices.

JEL classification: G13
Cardiopulmonary Effects of Laparoscopic Ovariectomy of Variable Duration in Cats
Authors: Shih Andre C. , Case J. Brad , Coisman James G. , Isaza Natalie M. , Amora‐Junior Dorli , Maisenbacher Herbert W.
Published: August 2014

Objective

To evaluate the cardiopulmonary effects of low‐pressure (6 mmHg) peritoneal insufflation of varying duration in healthy cats during ovariectomy (OVE).

Study Design

Prospective, randomized study.

Animals

Female cats (n = 24).

Methods

After anesthesia induction, cats had short (Short LAP; n = 8) or long duration (Long LAP; n = 8) laparoscopic ovariectomy, or Open OVE (Open; n = 8) for comparison. Hemodynamic and pulmonary measurements were recorded after induction of anesthesia (T0), 5 minutes after abdominal insufflation had reached 6 mmHg of pressure (T1), after the 2nd ovary had been resected (T2), after abdominal decompression (T3), and at the end of anesthesia, after abdominal closure (T4). Hemodynamic and pulmonary variables were compared between groups.

Results

Low‐pressure abdominal insufflation caused cardiopulmonary changes in cats. At T1 and T2, Long LAP and Short LAP caused a significant change in PvCO2 and RC when compared with Open. During T3, RC was lower only in Long LAP. At T2, there was decrease in SV, but not CO for Long LAP when compared with Open.

Conclusions

Duration of insufflation was associated with worsening of negative cardiopulmonary effects; however, these effects were reversible and resolved by the end of the procedure.
Sr2−XLaXMgMoO6 and Sr2−XLaXMgNbO6 for Use as Sulfur‐Tolerant Anodes Without a Buffer Layer
Authors: Howell Thomas G. , Kuhnell Cory P. , Reitz Thomas L. , Eigenbrodt Bryan C. , Singh Raj N.
Published: August 2014

The objective of this effort is to synthesize and characterize a series of lanthanum‐(La) doped Sr2MgMoO6 (SMMO) and La‐doped Sr2MgNbO6 (SMNO) anode materials which can be used in combination with lanthanum‐containing electrolytes to mitigate the effects of lanthanum poisoning in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Currently, an La0.4Ce0.6O1.8 (LDC) buffer layer is used with many perovskite‐based anode materials to prevent La diffusion into the anode from the La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O2.8 (LSGM) electrolyte which can create a resistive La species that impedes electrochemical performance. The LDC buffer layer, with diminished electronic conductivity, adds an extra level of complexity in the SOFC manufacturing process. Further, this extraneous layer presents an added experimental challenge when assessing anode material performance. Overall electrochemical performance could be improved if the resistive buffer layer could be removed, thereby allowing the anode material to have direct contact with the electrolyte. To accomplish this, a new class of anode materials was synthesized with the goal of balancing “La” chemical potential between these neighboring materials. La‐doped SMMO and SMNO were prepared and studied. It was hypothesized that by incorporating La into the anode, the gradient of chemical activity between the anode and electrolyte would decrease, which would prevent La diffusion. These anode materials were synthesized via a sol–gel methodology and characterized with X‐ray diffraction to assess phase purity. The conductivity of the materials was analyzed in the presence of both H2 and 100 ppm H2S/H2 to determine the stability and performance of these materials during device operation. The stability experiments demonstrated that 40% La‐doped SMNO is stable in all pertinent environments while not reacting with the LSGM electrolyte.
Plasma growth hormone‐binding protein levels in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar during smoltification and seawater transfer
Authors: Einarsdóttir I. E. , Gong N. , Jönsson E. , Sundh H. , Hasselberg‐Frank L. , Nilsen T. O. , Stefansson S. O. , Sundell K. , Björnsson B. Th.
Published: August 2014

Specific growth hormone (GH)‐binding protein (Ghbp) was purified from Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss plasma with immunoprecipitation and characterized in cross‐linking studies using autoradiography and western blots. The size of the Ghbp was estimated to be c. 53 kDa. A radioimmunoassay was established to measure Ghbp in salmonids, using antibodies specific against the extracellular segment of the S. salar growth hormone receptor 1 (grh1; GenBank AY462105). Plasma Ghbp levels were measured in S. salar smolts in fresh water and after transfer to seawater (SW; experiments 1 and 2), and in post‐smolts kept at different salinities (0, 12, 22 and 34) for 3 months (experiment 3). A transient increase in plasma Ghbp, which lasted for 1 month or less, was noted in smolts after transfer to SW. Concomitantly, plasma GH and gill Na+–K+–ATPase activity increased during smoltification (in experiment 2). No difference in plasma Ghbp was evident between post‐smolts kept at different salinities, although the fish kept at salinity 34 had higher plasma GH than the group kept at salinity 22 and higher hepatic ghr1 expression than post‐smolts kept at salinity 12. This suggests that plasma Ghbp regulation may respond to salinity changes in the short term. The lack of correlation between Ghbp, plasma GH and hepatic ghr1 expression in the long‐term post‐smolt experiment indicates that Ghbp levels may be regulated independently of other components of the endocrine GH system in salmonids.
Acute kidney injury and hepatorenal syndrome in cirrhosis
Authors: Egerod Israelsen Mads , Gluud Lise Lotte , Krag Aleksander
Published: August 2014

Cirrhosis is the eighth leading cause of “years of lost life” in the United States and accounts for approximately 1% to 2% of all deaths in Europe. Patients with cirrhosis have a high risk of developing acute kidney injury. The clinical characteristics of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) are similar to prerenal uremia, but the condition does not respond to volume expansion. HRS type 1 is rapidly progressive whereas HRS type 2 has a slower course often associated with refractory ascites. A number of factors can precipitate HRS such as infections, alcoholic hepatitis, and bleeding. The monitoring, prevention, early detection, and treatment of HRS are essential. This paper reviews the value of early evaluation of renal function based on two new sets of diagnostic criteria. Interventions for HRS type 1 include terlipressin combined with albumin. In HRS type 2, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) should be considered. For both types of HRS patients should be evaluated for liver transplantation.
Preventive use of hepatoprotectors yields limited efficacy on the liver toxicity of anti‐tuberculosis agents in a large cohort of Chinese patients
Authors: Wu Shanshan , Xia Yinyin , Lv Xiaozhen , Tang Shaowen , Yang Zhirong , Zhang Yuan , Wang Xiaomeng , Hu Daiyu , Liu Feiying , Yuan Yanli , Tu Dehua , Sun Feng , Zhou Lin , Zhan Siyan
Published: August 2014

Background and Aims

We aimed to explore the effectiveness of preventive usage of hepatoprotectors in patients with tuberculosis (TB) receiving anti‐TB treatment.

Methods

With stratified cluster sampling strategy, a prospective cohort with 4488 sputum smears positive pulmonary TB patients was established from 52 counties of four regions in China. During anti‐TB treatment, prescriptions of hepatoprotectors were documented in detail, and liver enzymes were routinely monitored. Anti‐TB drug‐induced liver injury (ATLI) was assessed based on liver enzymes following the criteria of American Thoracic Society. The incidence of ATLI between the preventive usage group and reference group was compared by propensity score adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis. Preexisting diseases, history of liver disease, hepatitis B surface antigen status, primary/re‐treatment of TB, income per year, and liver enzymes before anti‐TB treatment were included in the propensity score model.

Results

After 6–9 months of follow‐up and monitoring, 4304 patients sustained in our cohort. Two thousand seven hundred fifty‐two (63.9%) patients preventively took hepatoprotectors with a median course of 183 days. Most frequently used drugs were Hu Gan Pian, silymarin, glucurone, and inosine. Two thousand one hundred forty‐four (77.9%) patients took those drugs more than 6 months. Sixty‐nine (2.4%) patients of preventive usage group and 37 (2.5%) of reference group experienced ATLI, respectively. Statistical significances were not found by propensity score analysis for the association between using hepatoprotectors (hazard ratio[HR] = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65–1.52), using hepatoprotectors in the whole course (HR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.60–1.48), using Hu Gan Pians, silymarin, glucurone, and inosine with ATLI occurrence.

Conclusions

No preventive effect of hepatoprotectors was observed in patients receiving anti‐TB treatment.
Drawing ability in typical and atypical development; colour cues and the effect of oblique lines
Authors: Farran E. K. , Dodd G. F.
Published: August 2014

Background

Individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) have poor drawing ability. Here, we investigated whether colour could be used as a facilitation cue during a drawing task.

Method

Participants with WS and non‐verbal ability matched typically developing (TD) children were shown line figures presented on a 3 by 3 dot matrix, and asked to replicate the figures by drawing on an empty dot matrix. The dots of the matrix were either all black (control condition), or nine different coloured dots (colour condition). In a third condition, which also used coloured dots, participants were additionally asked to verbalise the colours of the dots prior to replicating the line drawings (colour‐verbal condition).

Results

Performance was stronger in both WS and TD groups on the two coloured conditions, compared with the control condition. However, the facilitation effect of colour was significantly weaker in the WS group than in the TD group. Replication of oblique line segments was less successful than replication of non‐oblique line segments for both groups; this effect was reduced by colour facilitation in the TD group only. Verbalising the colours had no additional impact on performance in either group.

Conclusion

We suggest that colour acted as a cue to individuate the dots, thus enabling participants to better ascertain the spatial relationships between the parts of each figure, to determine the start and end points of component lines, and to determine the correspondence between the model and their replication. The reduced facilitation in the WS group is discussed in relation to the effect of oblique versus non‐oblique lines, the use of atypical drawing strategies, and reduced attention to the model when drawing the replication.
THE FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH NEXUS: A META‐ANALYSIS
Authors: Arestis Philip , Chortareas Georgios , Magkonis Georgios
Published: August 2014

We conduct a meta‐analysis of the literature of financial development and economic growth. We cover a large number of empirical studies and estimations that have been published in journal articles. We measure the degree of heterogeneity and identify the causes of the observed differentiation. Among the most significant factors behind this heterogeneity is the choice of financial‐variable proxies, the kind of data used as well as whether a study takes into account the issue of endogeneity. Our results suggest that the empirical literature on the finance–growth nexus is not free from publication bias. Also, a genuine positive effect exists between financial development and economic growth.
Do mechanical properties of human fetal membrane depend on strain rate?
Authors: Faturechi Rahim , Hashemi Ata , Fatouraee Nasser
Published: August 2014

Aim

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of strain rate on the mechanical properties of human fetal membranes.

Methods

Different strain rates were employed to quantify the stress–strain relation of the chorioamnion membrane. The mechanical properties of nine human amnion membranes, four collected from cesarean delivery and five collected from normal vaginal delivery, were examined in uniaxial tension tests under strain rates of 0.1, 1 and 10%/min.

Results

Statistical analysis revealed significant (P < 0.05) correlation between the change in strain rate and the elastic modulus as well as failure strain of amnion samples. The rupture stress, though, did not show dependency on strain rates.

Conclusion

Human chorioamnion is strongly viscoelastic. By increasing the rate of the test, the stiffness of amnion increases considerably.
First molar cross‐bite is more closely associated with a reverse chewing cycle than anterior or pre‐molar cross‐bite during mastication
Authors: Tomonari H. , Ikemori T. , Kubota T. , Uehara S. , Miyawaki S.
Published: August 2014

A posterior cross‐bite is defined as an abnormal bucco‐lingual relationship between opposing molars, pre‐molars or both in centric occlusion. Although it has been reported that patients with unilateral posterior cross‐bite often show unique chewing patterns, the relationship between the form of cross‐bite and masticatory jaw movement remains unclear in adult patients. The objective of this study was to investigate masticatory jaw movement among different forms of cross‐bite. One hundred and one adults were recruited in this study: 27 had unilateral first molar cross‐bite (MC group); 28, unilateral pre‐molar cross‐bite (PC group); 23, anterior cross‐bite (AC group); and 23, normal occlusion (control group). Masticatory jaw movement of the lower incisor point was recorded with six degrees of freedom jaw‐tracking system during unilateral mastication. Our results showed that the reverse chewing ratio during deliberate unilateral mastication was significantly larger in the MC group than in the PA (P < 0·001), AC (P < 0·001) and control (P < 0·001) groups. These findings suggest that compared to the anterior or pre‐molar cross‐bite, the first molar cross‐bite is more closely associated with a higher prevalence of a reverse chewing cycle.
Analysis of brain activity involved in chewing‐side preference during chewing: an fMRI study
Authors: Jiang H. , Liu H. , Liu G. , Jin Z. , Wang L. , Ma J. , Li H.
Published: August 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the activation characteristics of cerebral cortex in participants with CSP during rhythmic chewing movement. Sixteen right‐handed participants with left (two males: 29·0 ± 8·4 years old, six females: 32·3 ± 4·8 years old) or right (four males: 31·0 ± 6·1 years old, four females: 30·8 ± 4·7 years old) CSP were scanned by functional magnetic resonance imaging during rhythmic chewing. The on‐off sequence of scanning was 30 s of rhythmic chewing and 30 s of rest (off) a total of five times. The results showed that blood oxygen level‐dependent signals in the contralateral (to the CSP) primary sensorimotor cortex increased more than in the ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex in participants with both left and right CSP (P ≤ 0·001). Moreover, the BOLD signal within the right substantia nigra of midbrain, brainstem was more significantly (P ≤ 0·001) activated than its left counterpart in participants with left CSP, while no activation was observed in those with right CSP. The similar activation of the cerebellum was in participants with right CSP. The inferior parietal lobule, inferior frontal gyrus and left insular cortex were significantly (P ≤ 0·001) activated in participants with CSP. These findings suggest a relationship between hemispheric dominance and CSP in the primary sensorimotor cortex responsible for rhythmic chewing movement. The brainstem and the cerebellum might also play important role in the regulation of CSP. Furthermore, the IFG, IPL and insular may contribute to higher cognitive information processing for participants with CSP.
No Evidence of QoI Resistance in Apple Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha)
Authors: Koch Andreas , Felsenstein Friedrich , Stammler Gerd
Published: August 2014

Sensitivity monitoring studies using detached leaf tests with isolates of Podosphaera leucotricha showed no adaptation to pyraclostrobin in the last years. Sequence analysis of the target gene of QoIs, cytochrome b, of different isolates of P. leucotricha showed the presence of an intron directly after codon 143. This makes the occurrence of the G143A mutation unlikely. On the other hand, intron sequences have not been detected in immediate vicinity to the codons 129 and 137; therefore, the occurrence of those two mutations cannot be excluded. As the effects of these mutations on field performance on QoI fungicides are rather low, the overall resistance risk of P. leucotricha to this fungicide class is estimated to be low. The amplified cytochrome b gene fragments (exons and introns) for samples from different European countries and Australia were highly conserved.
Molecular Characterization of Aster Yellows Subgroup 16SrI‐B Phytoplasma in Verbena × hybrida
Authors: Přibylová Jaroslava , Petrzik Karel , Fránová Jana , Špak Josef
Published: August 2014

Symptoms resembling phytoplasma disease were observed on Verbena × hybrida in Alanya, Turkey, during October 2013. Infected plants were growing as perennials in a flower border and showed symptoms of discoloured flowers, poor flower clusters, inflorescences with a small number of developed flowers and thickened fruit stalks. Electron microscopy examination of the ultra‐thin sections revealed polymorphic bodies in the phloem tissue of leaf midribs. The phytoplasma aetiology of this disease was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction of the 16S rRNA gene, the 16–23S rRNA intergenic spacer region and the start of the 23S rRNA gene using universal phytoplasma‐specific primer pair P1A/P7A, two ribosomal protein (rp) genes (rpl22 and rps3) (the group‐specific primer pair rp(I)F1A/rp(I)R1A) and the Tuf gene (group‐specific fTufAy/rTufAy primers) generating amplicons of 1.8 kbp, 1.2 kbp and 940 bp, respectively. Comparison of the amplified sequences with those available in GenBank allowed classification of the phytoplasma into aster yellows subgroups 16SrI‐B, rpI‐B and tufI‐B. This is the first report about molecular detection and identification of natural infection of the genus Verbena by phytoplasma and occurrence of the aster yellows group phytoplasma on an ornamental plant in Turkey.
Partial Coalescence in Cream‐Like Emulsions Prepared with Alternative Fats: Effect of Controlled Stirring and Temperature Cycles
Authors: Pérez María P. , Tesei María F. , Wagner Jorge R. , Márquez Andrés L.
Published: August 2014

The objective was to study the partial coalescence as a consequence of controlled stirring and temperature cycles in oil‐in‐water emulsions prepared with skimmed cow milk and nondairy fats: low trans vegetable fat (LT), bovine fat (BF), partially hydrogenated soybean oil (HS) and sunflower oil as control. The partial coalescence rates (%/min) of the stirred emulsions were LT, 89.8 ± 4.3; BF, 29.7 ± 3.1; HS, 23.8 ± 3.1. This result was attributed to the lower solid fat content (%) of emulsion LT (19.2 ± 1.2 versus 25.9 ± 1.1 in BF and 56.8 ± 1.1 in HS). A temperature cycle with partial melting of fats led to hardening of texture in emulsions BF and HS due to partial coalescence, favored by the recrystallization of the fat at the interface. Emulsion LT did not show changes after the same treatment, probably because its lower solid fat content did not favor partial coalescence in the absence of mechanical work.

Practical Applications

This article deals with the formulation and characterization of cream‐like emulsions prepared with skimmed cow milk and different fats as an alternative lipid phase instead of dairy fat. The partial coalescence process was analyzed after application of controlled stirring (where the phenomenon is desired) and temperature cycles (where it must be avoided). This research can be useful as a starting point for the elaboration of a healthier product than dairy cream without losing its characteristic rheological behavior during whipping/stirring. This work also points to control some desired and undesired properties by the selection of the lipid phase. Promising results were obtained using a particular vegetable fat with low content of trans fatty acids; this may open the door for further investigations in order to obtain a healthy edible cream with favorable response to whipping/stirring and good stability against thermal fluctuations.
Gender Unemployment Dynamics: Evidence from Ten Advanced Economies
Authors: Koutentakis Franciscos
Published: August 2014

The paper investigates gender unemployment dynamics in 10 advances economies applying a recent methodology on widely available Labour Force Surveys data. We calculate the job finding and separation rates for each gender and use them to construct the steady‐state unemployment gap as well as two counterfactual gender unemployment gaps: one generated by differences only in job finding rates and the other by differences only in separation rates. We find that in all countries the gender unemployment gap attributed to differences in the job finding rate is lower than the gap attributed to differences in the separation rate, suggesting that gender differences in the separation rate are the major factor behind the gender unemployment gap.
Restorative Justice, Policing and Insurgency: Learning from Pakistan
Authors: Braithwaite John , Gohar Ali
Published: August 2014

Pakistan state law and Taliban rule of Sharia law are at different ends of a politico-legal spectrum. They share advocacy of one system of law and attraction to eradication of alternatives. Muslahathi Committees in Pakistan are used to explore legal pluralism, hybrid institutions that allow deliberative democracy to seek workable responses to injustice. Formal and traditional systems can show mutual respect and check each other. On the basis of purely qualitative evidence, it is argued that Muslahathi Committees are restorative justice programs that sustainably reduce revenge violence, make a contribution to preventing Pakistan from spiraling into civil war, and assist a police force with low legitimacy to become somewhat more accountable to local civil society. These contributions are limited, but could be more significant with modest investment in human rights and gender awareness training to control abuses and increase accountability. The ruthless, murderous, divisive politics of policing and restorative justice in Pakistan seems a least likely case for deliberative democracy to work. In limited ways it does.
How Do Cause Lawyers Decide When and Where to Litigate on behalf of Their Cause?
Authors: Barclay Scott , Chomsky Daniel
Published: August 2014

In this article, we begin to respond to the deceptively simple question: How do cause lawyers decide when and where to litigate on behalf of their cause? We consider the choice of location and timing faced by cause lawyers when more than one jurisdiction evinces a suitable legal environment for pursuing litigation on their cause. To consider this choice, we use evidence from the timing and actions of cause lawyers in the marriage equality cases in the United States from January 1990 through December 2004. And, we show the value in utilizing methods that are relatively novel in cause lawyering research—statistical models—to consider the apparent commonalities, beyond a suitable legal environment, across locations and time periods that might prompt cause lawyers into action.
Impact of rheumatic diseases on oral health and quality of life
Authors: Ahola K , Saarinen A , Kuuliala A , Leirisalo‐Repo M , Murtomaa H , Meurman JH
Published: August 2014

Objective

We investigated the effects of rheumatic diseases on oral symptoms, health habits, and quality of life in subjects with and without rheumatic diseases. The hypothesis was that patients with rheumatic diseases have more oral symptoms impairing their quality of life than healthy controls.

Methods

A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 1500 members of the Finnish Rheumatism Association, including those with and without rheumatic diseases. We focused on symptoms of the mouth and temporomandibular area, and health habits. Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP14) was used to evaluate the oral health‐related quality of life. We analyzed differences between subjects with and without rheumatic diseases, controlled for age, gender, smoking, and non‐rheumatic chronic diseases.

Results

Completed questionnaires were received from 995 participants (response rate 66%). Of them, 564 reported rheumatic disease, 431 were used as controls. The patients reported significantly more all orofacial symptoms than controls. Severe dry mouth was reported by 19.6% of patients and 2.9% of controls (P < 0.001), and temporomandibular joint symptoms by 59.2% and 27.2% (P < 0.001), respectively. In the OHIP‐14 questionnaire, the mean total score was significantly higher in patients (8.80 ± 11.15) than in controls (3.93 ± 6.60; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The study hypothesis was confirmed by showing that the patients with rheumatic diseases reported oral discomfort and reduced quality of life more often when compared with controls.
Experiences of antidepressant medication and cognitive–behavioural therapy for depression: A grounded theory study
Authors: Bayliss Paul , Holttum Sue
Published: August 2014

Objectives

To develop a preliminary model of the experiences of people undergoing combined treatment with antidepressant medication and cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) for depression.

Design

The study used a qualitative methodology informed by grounded theory.

Methods

Participants were 12 adults who had received treatment with antidepressant medication and CBT for depression. Participants engaged in a semistructured interview about their experiences. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using components of grounded theory methodology.

Results

Medication was often seen as an initial aid to surviving a crisis. Staying on medication longer term resulted in some participants feeling caught in a ‘drug loop’. Feeling that medication was unhelpful or actively harmful could contribute to participants seeking CBT. Medics also offered information on CBT and acted as gatekeepers, meaning that negotiation was sometimes necessary. CBT was described as a process of being guided towards skilled self‐management. Occasionally, participants felt that medication had facilitated CBT at one or more stages. Conversely, developing skilled self‐management through CBT could reduce feelings of dependency on medication and affect several of the other elements maintaining the ‘drug loop’.

Conclusions

Antidepressant medication and CBT are perceived and experienced differently, with CBT often being seen as an alternative to medication, or even as a means to discontinue medication. Service users’ experiences and beliefs about medication may thus affect their engagement and goals in CBT, and it may be important for therapists to consider this.

Practitioner points

Practitioners who prescribe medication should ensure that they also provide information on the availability and appropriateness of CBT, and engage in an open dialogue about treatment options.

CBT practitioners should explore aspects of clients’ experiences and beliefs about medication. This would particularly include clients’ experiences of the effects of medication, their beliefs about dependency on medication, their relationships with prescribers, and their future wishes.

Practitioners should consider advocating for clients or supporting them to behave more assertively with prescribers.

All practitioners should ensure they have up‐to‐date knowledge of antidepressant medication.
Light intensity affects chlorophyll synthesis during greening process by metabolite signal from mitochondrial alternative oxidase in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhang Da‐Wei , Yuan Shu , Xu Fei , Zhu Feng , Yuan Ming , Ye Hua‐Xun , Guo Hong‐Qing , Lv Xin , Yin Yanhai , Lin Hong‐Hui
Published: August 2014

Although mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) has been proposed to play essential roles in high light stress tolerance, the effects of AOX on chlorophyll synthesis are unclear. Previous studies indicated that during greening, chlorophyll accumulation was largely delayed in plants whose mitochondrial cyanide‐resistant respiration was inhibited by knocking out nuclear encoded AOX gene. Here, we showed that this delay of chlorophyll accumulation was more significant under high light condition. Inhibition of cyanide‐resistant respiration was also accompanied by the increase of plastid NADPH/NADP+ ratio, especially under high light treatment which subsequently blocked the import of multiple plastidial proteins, such as some components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, the Calvin–Benson cycle enzymes and malate/oxaloacetate shuttle components. Overexpression of AOX1a rescued the aox1a mutant phenotype, including the chlorophyll accumulation during greening and plastidial protein import. It thus suggests that light intensity affects chlorophyll synthesis during greening process by a metabolic signal, the AOX‐derived plastidial NADPH/NADP+ ratio change. Further, our results thus revealed a molecular mechanism of chloroplast–mitochondria interactions.
A comprehensive analysis of root morphological changes and nitrogen allocation in maize in response to low nitrogen stress
Authors: GAO KUN , CHEN FANJUN , YUAN LIXING , ZHANG FUSUO , MI GUOHUA
Published: August 2014

The plasticity of root architecture is crucial for plants to acclimate to unfavourable environments including low nitrogen (LN) stress. How maize roots coordinate the growth of axile roots and lateral roots (LRs), as well as longitudinal and radial cell behaviours in response to LN stress, remains unclear. Maize plants were cultivated hydroponically under control (4 mm nitrate) and LN (40 μm) conditions. Temporal and spatial samples were taken to analyse changes in the morphology, anatomical structure and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio in the axile root and LRs. LN stress increased axile root elongation, reduced the number of crown roots and decreased LR density and length. LN stress extended cell elongation zones and increased the mature cell length in the roots. LN stress reduced the cell diameter and total area of vessels and increased the amount of aerenchyma, but the number of cell layers in the crown root cortex was unchanged. The C/N ratio was higher in the axile roots than in the LRs. Maize roots acclimate to LN stress by optimizing the anatomical structure and N allocation. As a result, axile root elongation is favoured to efficiently find available N in the soil.
Lymphocele after pediatric kidney transplantation: Incidence and risk factors
Authors: Giuliani Stefano , Gamba Piergiorgio , Kiblawi Rim , Midrio Paola , Ghirardo Giulia , Zanon Giovanni F.
Published: August 2014

Lymphocele is a well‐known postoperative complication after kidney transplantation. The aim of this study was to analyze time trend incidence, risk factors, and outcome of post‐transplant lymphocele in a large pediatric cohort. This is a retrospective single institution review of 241 pediatric kidney transplants performed from 2000 to 2013. Etiology of end‐stage renal disease, recipient age and gender, transplant year, BMI percentile for age, type of dialysis, living/non‐living related donor, acute rejection, and multiple transplantations were analyzed in association with lymphocele formation. Fourteen of 241 (5.81%) children developed a postoperative lymphocele. There has been a reduction in the incidence of lymphocele after 2006 (3.22% vs. 8.55%, p < 0.05). Significant risk factors for lymphocele were older age (≥11 yr), transplant before 2006, male gender, BMI percentile for age ≥95%, and multiple transplantations (p < 0.05). The one‐yr graft survival was significantly reduced in the group with lymphocele compared with control (81.2% vs. 92.51%, p < 0.04). This is the first pediatric report showing the following risk factors associated with post‐transplant lymphocele: age ≥11 yr, male gender, BMI for age ≥95%, and multiple transplantations. A lymphocele can contribute to graft loss in the first‐year post‐transplant.
Widespread desert affiliation of trebouxiophycean algae (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) including discovery of three new desert genera
Authors: Fučíková Karolina , Lewis Paul O. , Lewis Louise A.
Published: August 2014

Unlike most other green algae, trebouxiophyceans are predominantly aerophytic and contain many symbiotic representatives. In recent years, a number of new terrestrial trebouxiophycean taxa were described from soils, tree bark, and lichens. The present phylogenetic study reveals three new lineages of free‐living trebouxiophyceans found in North American desert soil crusts and proposes new generic names to accommodate them: Desertella, Eremochloris, and Xerochlorella. This survey of desert isolates also led to discovery of representatives of seven existing genera of trebouxiophyceans. Two of these genera have never been reported to contain desert representatives and one was known previously only from aquatic habitats. Furthermore, we expand the known geographic range of the recently described genus Chloropyrula, heretofore only known from the Ural Mountains. We demonstrate that the diversity of trebouxiophyceans is still underestimated and poorly understood, and that most major trebouxiophycean lineages contain desert‐dwelling taxa.
Growth characteristics of Nostoc flagelliforme at intermittent elevated CO2 concentrations
Authors: Lv Hexin , Jia Shiru , Xiao Yupeng , Yuan Nannan , Dai Yujie
Published: August 2014

Algal cultivation is a potential candidate for CO2 mitigation. CO2 plays important roles in mass cultivation of algae, including supplying carbon source and adjusting medium pH. To assess the possibility of using edible cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme as carbon storage device, the growth characteristics of N. flagelliforme batch cultured under elevated CO2 concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 20, and 40%) were investigated in this study. Results showed that the net photosynthetic rate, efficiency and carbon sequestration rate at 20% CO2 were increased at a maximum of 121 μmol O2 (mg chla)−1 h−1 8.40% and 0.17 g CO2 L−1 day−1, and increased by 0.42, 1.03 and 1.13 folds compared with that of the control, respectively. Higher CO2 concentration resulted in the declines in photosynthetic rate, efficiency and carbon sequestration rate because of medium pH reduction. Accordingly, the dry cell weight, amount of exopolysaccharides and protein content of N. flagelliforme cells at 20% CO2 were obtained at a maximum of 1.45 g L−1, 54.98 mg L−1 and 57.75%, increased by 0.93, 0.29 and 0.8 folds compared with that of the control, respectively. These results provided important information for CO2 mitigation by N. flagelliforme and would shed more light on elucidating the mechanisms of CO2 tolerance in cyanobacterium.