bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficiency in the Indian iron and steel industry – an application of data envelopment analysis
Authors: Mitra Debnath Roma , Sebastian V.J.
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper applies to Indian steel manufacturing industries to evaluate the technical and scale efficiency (SE).

Design/methodology/approach

– Data envelopment analysis (DEA) has been employed to calculate the relative efficiency of the steel manufacturing units. The selection criteria for the inclusion of a steel manufacturing unit in the analysis has been annual income of more than 50 crores and units manufacturing pig iron, steel and sponge iron. Within the DEA framework, the output-oriented model with constant returns to scale and variable returns to scale were studied. Four input variables, namely, gross fixed assets, total energy cost, total number of employees and currents assets were considered. Among the output variables, the four variables considered are income, sales, PBIT and PAT.

Findings

– The result of the efficiency scores have been categorized into three parts. The pure technical efficiency represents local efficiency and the reason of inefficiency is due to inefficient operations. Technical efficiency indicates that the respective decision-making units are globally efficient in case the efficiency is 100 per cent. The SE explains that the inefficiency is caused by disadvantageous conditions. As the result shows, that public sector undertaking (PSUs) are operating under disadvantageous conditions as compared to private manufacturing units. One of the possible reasons of location disadvantage condition is manufacturing units for PSUs are scattered throughout India. Some of the units are located in such places where, the raw material, supply chain could be difficult. It has been found that 45 per cent of the private manufacturing units are technically as well as scale inefficient units.

Practical implications

– The result of the study would benefit the steel industry to develop a performance benchmarking as steel companies must be profitable in the long term to ensure sustainable achievements.

Originality/value

– This is an original study to apply DEA to get insights on productivity efficiency of the steel manufacturing units in India. Though the manufacturing units were selected on the basis of annual income, the analysis of productivity does not reflect any impact of income on the efficiency of the manufacturing firms.
Value appropriation in business exchange – literature review and future research opportunities
Authors: Ellegaard Chris , J. Medlin Christopher , Geersbro Jens
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Value appropriation is a central, yet neglected aspect in business exchange research. The purpose of the paper is to generate an overview of research on active value appropriation in business exchange and provide the foundation for further research into value appropriation, as well as some initial guidance for managers.

Design/methodology/approach

– Literatures investigating value appropriation were identified by the means of a systematic review of the overall management literature.

Findings

– The authors provide an overview and comparison of the literatures and find that they apply diverse understandings of the value appropriation process and emphasize different mechanisms and outcomes of value appropriation.

Research limitations/implications

– Based on the literature comparison and discussion, in combination with inspiration from alternative business exchange literature, the authors propose four areas with high potential for future research into value appropriation: network position effects, appropriation acts and behaviors, buyer-seller relationship effects, and appropriation over time.

Practical implications

– Boundary spanning managers acting in industrial markets must master the difficult balance between value creation and appropriation. This review has provided an overview of the many managerial options for value appropriation and created knowledge on the effects of the various appropriation mechanisms enabling managers to secure company rents while not jeopardizing value creation.

Originality/value

– To the authors' knowledge, this paper represents the first attempt at reviewing the management literature on value appropriation in business exchange. The authors provide overview, details, comparisons, and frame a research agenda as a first step towards establishing value appropriation as a key phenomenon in business exchange research.
Development and validation of the School Leaders’ Self-Efficacy Scale
Authors: Petridou Alexandra , Nicolaidou Maria , S. Williams Julian
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Efficacy has been broadly analyzed and explored in depth in various fields. However, in the field of educational leadership, empirical studies and research evidence are weak. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a new School Leaders’ Self-Efficacy Scale (SLSES).

Design/methodology/approach

– Two studies were undertaken. In the first study, the extant literature was critiqued and an initial form of the SLSES was developed; it was then administered to 233 school leaders in Cyprus. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to identify the structure of the scale. The second study aimed at validating the proposed model by employing confirmatory factor analysis. For this purpose, a revised SLSES was administered for a second time to 289 school leaders.

Findings

– EFA suggested an eight-factor structure, namely:Creating an appropriate organizational structure,Leading and managing the learning organization,School Self-Evaluation for School Improvement,Developing a positive climate and managing conflicts,Evaluating classroom practices,Adhering to community and policy demands,Monitoring learning,and Leadership of Continuing Professional Development. Confirmatory model fit indices, factor pattern and structure coefficients, and reliability analyses provided robust evidence for the construct validity of the SLSES.

Originality/value

– The paper describes the construction and validation of a new scale measuring school leaders’ self-efficacy. The SLSES provides practitioners and researchers with a promising tool, with implications for measuring the outcomes of the professional development of school leaders and for school improvement studies.
Emotional intelligence in family firms
Authors: Gómez Betancourt Gonzalo , C. Botero Isabel , Bernardo Betancourt Ramirez Jose , Piedad López Vergara Maria
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Although researchers have highlighted the importance of relational and family factors for the sustainability of a family firm, there is not much empirical research exploring how emotions and the management of emotions play a role in the interpersonal dynamics of family business owners. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the way family members manage their emotions affects the interpersonal dynamics in the family, business, and ownership subsystems of a family firm.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper presents an in-depth case study from a family firm in Colombia-South America.

Findings

– The results indicate that the capability that family members have to manage their emotions influences the interpersonal dynamics that take place in the family firm at the individual and group level. In this case, the paper found that although emotional intelligence (EI) affected interpersonal relationships in a firm, this effect was based on the individual's willingness to use their EI capabilities, previous history between people, and the goals individuals have within each subsystem in a family firm. The paper also found that interpersonal dynamics, in turn, influence how family members work together.

Research limitations/implications

– Because this study uses an in-depth case study, the intention of the paper is to provide an initial picture of how EI can play a role in the interpersonal interactions between family business owners. The authors hope that this study can be used as a building block to enhance the understanding of the role of EI in family firms.

Practical implications

– EI represents an individual's capability to perceive, understand, manage, and regulate self and other's emotions. For family firms, this means that family business owners can use this capability to determine how to enact their roles in the family firm and how to interact with other to ensure harmony in their relationships.

Originality/value

– This paper builds on previous work on emotions in family firms to explore the role of EI in family firms, and provides an empirical exploration of the role of management of emotions in family firms.
Successors in Dutch family businesses: gender differences
Authors: Remery Chantal , Matser Ilse , Hans Flören Roberto
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate gender differences among (potential) successors of Dutch family firms with respect to education, self-perceived capabilities and ownership ambition.

Design/methodology/approach

– The empirical analysis – which includes correlations, t-test and logistic regression analysis – is inspired by several theoretical perspectives used in previous studies and based on a sample of 232 (potential) successors who filled in a questionnaire.

Findings

– The results show that there is a clear gender difference regarding ownership; men strive more often for full ownership, whereas women opt for shared ownership, even when controlling for relevant variables such as the presence of children.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research should address the precise reasons why female successors prefer shared ownership. Particularly, it would be interesting to include the impact of the institutional environment, for example the specific Dutch working culture, where the majority of women works part-time.

Practical implications

– Shared ownership might be more complicated in terms of governance and management than full ownership.

Social implications

– Opportunities for shared ownership might stimulate more women to take over the family firm, and therefore contribute to more diversity among family business owners.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the still limited knowledge on gender differences among successors of family firms.
Tunisia Islamic finance: overview and future prospects
Authors: Boulila Taktak Neila , Ben Slama Zouari Sarra
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to better understand the current state of the Islamic financial system in Tunisia. In addition, it is aimed at discussing the preconditions that can help exploit the potential development of Tunisia's Islamic finance and expand the banked population.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper describes the regulatory and legal framework governing the Tunisian Islamic banks. It provides a mapping of Islamic banks, mutual funds, Takaful institutions and a potential Sukuk market. The paper also relates recent developments including academic qualifications and training in Islamic finance.

Findings

– The paper concludes with various recommendations for the successful transition from a niche position to a critical mass. It argues the need to establish a specific regulatory framework, supervisory standards and rules of accounting for this kind of institutions. It suggests the development of Islamic financial education to strengthen the role played by the Islamic financing Ecosystem and to help Tunisia promote local and exportable expertise to other countries. Finally, authorities should focus more on promoting market Sukuk, Takaful and microcredit to fund SME.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the assessment of the current situation of Islamic finance in Tunisia by performing a full scan of the Islamic financial landscape instead of being limited only to Islamic banks. It proposes some prerequisites to benefit from the opportunities offered by the Islamic finance industry in Tunisia to take advantage of its future potential and ensure its promotion.
Assessing credit risk of mortgage lending using MACBETH: a methodological framework
Authors: A.F. Ferreira Fernando , P. Santos Sérgio , S.E. Marques Carla , Ferreira João
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Considered the largest investment for most households, buying a house requires careful and transparent analysis by all parties involved in the transaction. The aim of this paper is to propose a methodological framework allowing for the readjustment of trade-offs among risk evaluation criteria, considered of extreme importance in the lending decision process of mortgage loans.

Design/methodology/approach

– Multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) has proved over the years to be effective and versatile in handling compensations among criteria. Measuring attractiveness is applied by a categorical based evaluation technique (MACBETH) to a pre-established structure of credit-scoring criteria for mortgage lending risk evaluation. This pre-established structure is currently used by one of the largest banks in Portugal.

Findings

– The framework allowed the authors to provide the credit experts who participated in the study with a more informed, transparent and accurate mortgage-lending risk-evaluation system. The sensitivity and robustness analyses carried out also helped in promoting discussion and supporting the readjustments made.

Research limitations/implications

– The study shows the usefulness of using the MACBETH approach to assist credit analysts in making better informed decisions, and opens avenues for further research. However, due to the dependence on the participants involved, extrapolations without proper caution are discouraged.

Practical implications

– The credit analysts who participated in this study considered the framework more discerning in terms of Basel directives.

Originality/value

– The integration of MACBETH and credit-scoring mechanisms holds great potential for risk assessment and decision support. No prior work reporting the application of MACBETH in terms of mortgage-lending risk-evaluation is known.
How much does innovation matter for economic growth?
Authors: Colino Alberto , Benito-Osorio Diana , Rueda Armengot Carlos
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to gain new insight on the determinants of economic growth. More precisely, it disentangles the contribution of an increase in the stock of ideas that exceeds the rate of growth in the steady state and the growth inherent to the steady state.

Design/methodology/approach

– Following Romer (1990) and Jones (2000, 2002) this paper uses an aggregate production function. The paper also models the evolution of the stock of ideas following the generalisation of Jones (1995). The analysis decomposes growth utilising the estimated parameters inherent to the ideas function.

Findings

– This article presents a growth accounting exercise that estimates total factor productivity for three Southern European economies. Systematic comparison of the countries illustrates the importance of innovation for economic growth. This exercise shows the main growth patterns over the last 50 years, and highlights the principal determinants by specifying an ideas function.

Originality/value

– This study yields recent timeframe for explaining per capita income variations within economies and observed differences across economies.
Contribution of stakeholder theory in the management of environmental quality of Algerian firms
Authors: Boubaker Leila , Djebabra Mebarek , Saadi Saadia
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the environmental behaviour of the Algerian firms, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, showing how the involvement of stakeholders may change this behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to set the environmental quality management (EQM), the paper has first been inspired by a mobilisation grid which has allowed the authors to evaluate the degree of dialogue between the stakeholders and the SONATRACH Group which constitutes the case study. Then, the various interviews held at the six sites of this group have allowed to determine the percentage rate of the stakeholders’ mobilisation.

Findings

– The suggested approach highlights two field studies. First, the aim was to check the mobilisation of the stakeholders of the SONATRACH Group. Then, in order to confirm the importance of mobilising the stakeholders for a better environmental integration, the authors had to evaluate the EQM by measuring the response rate of these stakeholders in percentages.

Research limitations/implications

– The contribution makes it possible to emphasise the contribution of stakeholder theory in environmental construction based on the mobilisation of stakeholders.

Practical implications

– In Algeria, some production sites are ranked as polluting. For this research work, the paper has chosen the sites of the SONATRACH multinational. Being conscious of the importance of integrating the environmental dimension, the group has carried out real changes by involving all stakeholders.

Originality/value

– The objective of this paper is to show the importance of mobilising the stakeholders who play a role in resolving economic and/or environmental issues to help the Algerian firms improve their environmental situation.
An assessment of the uncertainties related to bioenergy applications
Authors: Kainiemi Laura , Eloneva Sanni , Järvinen Mika
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the most significant uncertainties for bioenergy applications, in order to identify factors determining the success of introducing bioenergy into the current energy system.

Design/methodology/approach

– A framework is built for identifying the most significant uncertainties based on studies exploring the positive potentials as well as possible negative effects of bioenergy. The framework is applied to explore uncertainties of bioenergy-based transport fuels and heat and power generation through two real life case studies.

Findings

– The results indicate that the most significant uncertainties are environmental and economic. Bioenergy applications have potential to mitigate climate change, but also come with negative environmental effects. Case studies show that operations in developing nations contain higher political/institutional and social uncertainty than those in developed countries, due to weaker regulations and enforcement.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper is part of an on-going research project. Results will be verified with stakeholder interviews and analysis. Further institutional analysis of the country settings is necessary.

Practical implications

– The use of a feedstock with high environmental, social and institutional uncertainties will lower public acceptance. Acting in accordance to the law is not sufficient to ensure sustainability and additional, voluntary measures should be undertaken.

Originality/value

– The paper identifies the most significant uncertainties for bioenergy. Uncertainties from social acceptance and institutional settings are higher in developing countries and acceptability requires more than following regulations.
Building a sustainable greenhouse gases inventory system in Macedonia
Authors: Zdraveva Pavlina , Obradovic Grncarovska Teodora , Markovska Natasa , Gavrilova Elena , Poposka Emilija , Ristovski Igor
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the lessons learned and good practices regarding the greenhouse inventory system in the Republic of Macedonia.

Design/methodology/approach

– A comparative analysis for the preparation of the three national communications (NCs) to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Republic of Macedonia.

Findings

– The findings reveal the shift from a project approach, based on external consultants, towards a more process-oriented approach, where a multi-disciplinary national team has been established to prepare the inventory. Also, notable results include improvements in the technical capacity of the inventory team, communications with data sources and other stakeholders, quality assurance/quality control procedures, documenting and archiving, regional cooperation, as well as, the reliability of data series for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Practical implications

– The study may serve well for countries with similar national circumstances and priorities for preparation of greenhouse inventory systems.

Originality/value

– Developing national database (inventory) of GHGs is an essential first step towards managing better climate change policy planning. A complete and transparent national greenhouse inventory is an essential tool for understanding emissions and trends, projecting future emissions and identifying sectors for cost-effective emission reduction opportunities. It is also a core element of national climate change reports to the UNFCCC (NCs). This case study shows the development of a sustainable system for preparation of GHG inventories and it describes the data collection and analysis procedures within that system.
A study of the application of the physical hydronomics methodology to assess environmental costs of European rivers
Authors: Uche Javier , Martínez Amaya , Carrasquer Beatriz
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to check out the status of collected data in European water-related information tools, with the final aim of analyzing the cost to reach the good environmental status in European rivers, from recorded physical and chemical data, within the second law of thermodynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is especially focussed in an economical assessment to account for the environmental costs of water bodies according to the Water Framework Directive. The Catchments and Rivers Network System, the most important information tool in Europe nowadays, constitutes the support of this work. This study shows a methodology to estimate the cost to restore water bodies in energy terms with the help of an aggregated indicator, from physical and chemical characteristics of rivers. More over, energy results are converted later into an economic value. This work presents diverse case studies, starting from Garonne, Rhone, Rhine, Danube, Ebro and Seine rivers.

Findings

– Figures show that total environmental costs in rivers with higher flows are more important due to the more quantity of water to be restored. Making a contrast among years with different hydrological behavior, total environmental costs are higher in wet years due to the more availability of water to be supplied that consequently implies higher withdrawals. However, rivers with higher total environmental cost are not necessarily the most polluted ones. Regarding to the availability of data, although European monitoring and reporting is in progress, homogeneity of data and consensus in the management of basins are needed.

Originality/value

– Authors make an estimation of costs to reach the good status of European rivers. This work proposes the Exergy as an aggregate indicator to assess cost for water restoration in monetary values. This paper gives a reference of environmental cost as an important instrument to establish costs recovery prices, to be used in the management of water resources as a complement of other kind of indicators.
Do I matter?
Authors: Little John
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to consider whether a common process linking seemingly disparate phenomena could explain how men from a low-secure unit (LSU) could stabilise, progress and return to their community.

Design/methodology/approach

– Reflective practice and a re-consideration of an LSU unknowingly operating as a therapeutic community.

Findings

– The Hawthorne Effect, social psychiatry and Bowman LSU share a common humanity whereby people matter. As a result, LSU's can offer more than containment.

Originality/value

– Therapeutic community principles can function in LSU's.
Interrelationship of PTSD, perceived health, and treatment satisfaction
Authors: Astone-Twerell Janetta , Morgen Keith , Hsiao Chu
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The residential therapeutic community (TC) treatment modality has been shown to effectively reduce drug use and improve psychiatric/medical health among clients who are often disproportionately impacted by medical conditions and have a co-occurring psychiatric disorder such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Yet not much is known regarding how clients’ health may impact their treatment satisfaction. Using path analysis, the interrelationship between PTSD, perceived health, and treatment satisfaction was examined. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey including the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Specific (PCL-S), a perceived health rating, and a Treatment Satisfaction Scale was collected from 303 clients at three comparable long-term residential TC treatment programs in New York City.

Findings

– Findings indicated that clients with PTSD rated their health significantly worse than those without PTSD. Although no direct relationship between PTSD and treatment satisfaction was found, there was a significant positive correlation between perceived health and treatment satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

– Findings likely constitute a regional sample thus generalizability is limited.

Practical implications

– Simultaneously addressing addiction, PTSD, and medical issues can improve clients’ treatment satisfaction, consequently increasing treatment retention and producing greater positive post-treatment outcomes.

Originality/value

– Few if any studies have examined the extent to which PTSD and perceived health impact treatment satisfaction within residential substance abuse treatment programs.
Identifying the emerging human pathogenScedosporium prolificansby using a species‐specific monoclonal antibody that binds to the melanin biosynthetic enzyme tetrahydroxynaphthalene reductase
Authors: Thornton Christopher R. , Ryder Lauren S. , Le Cocq Kate , Soanes Darren M.
Published: March 2014

The dematiaceous (melanized) fungusScedosporium prolificansis an emerging and frequently fatal pathogen of immunocompromised humans and which, along with the closely related fungiPseudallescheria boydii,Scedosporium apiospermumandS. aurantiacumin thePseudallescheria–Scedosporiumcomplex, is a contributing aetiology to tsunami lung and central nervous system infections in near‐drowning victims who have aspirated water laden with spores. At present, the natural habitat of the fungus is largely unknown, and accurate detection methods are needed to identify environmental reservoirs of infectious propagules. In this study, we report the development of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) (CA4) specific toS. prolificans, which does not cross‐react with closely related fungi in thePseudallescheria–Scedosporiumcomplex or with a wide range of mould and yeast species pathogenic to humans. Using genome sequencing of a soil isolate and targeted gene disruption of theCA4 antigen‐encoding gene, we show that mAbCA4 binds to the melanin‐biosynthetic enzyme tetrahydroxynaphthalene reductase. Enzyme‐deficient mutants produce orange‐brown or green‐brown spore suspensions compared with the black spore suspension of the wild‐type strain. Using mAbCA4 and a mAb (HG12) specific to the related fungiP. boydii,P. apiosperma,S. apiospermumandS. aurantiacum, we demonstrate how the mAbs can be used in combination with a semiselective isolation procedure to track these opportunistic pathogens in environmental samples containing mixed populations of human pathogenic fungi. Specificity of mAbCA4 was confirmed by sequencing of the internally transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)‐5.8S‐ITS2 rRNA‐encoding regions of fungi isolated from estuarine muds.
The effects of using transglutaminase, exopolysaccharide‐producing starter culture and milk powder on the physicochemical, sensory and texture properties of low‐fat set yoghurt
Authors: Şanlı Tuba , Şenel Ebru , Sezgin Emel , Benli Mehlika
Published: March 2014

This study focused on the effects of transglutaminase (TGase), exopolysaccharide (EPS)‐producing starter culture or skim milk powder addition on some properties of low‐fat set yoghurt. The incorporation of TGase to yoghurt did not affect the acidity of the experimental samples. However, the proteolytic activity of the starter culture significantly decreased in TGase‐treated yoghurt. Addition of TGase to yoghurt with a low dry matter content (11.08%) resulted in low serum separation and gel firmness and viscosity close to those of yoghurt with a higher dry matter content (14.81%). According to the sensory results, it would be possible to produce an acceptable product with a low dry matter and low fat content using TGase. The results shown that the use of EPS‐producing starter cultures for the purpose of improving the texture properties of low dry matter content yoghurt could not be recommended.
Prevalence of obstetric fistula: a population‐based study in rural Pakistan
Authors: Jokhio AH , Rizvi RM , Rizvi J , MacArthur C
Published: March 2014

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of obstetric fistula, its duration and impact on women's daily life using robust data collection methods in a population‐based sample in rural Pakistan.

Design

A population‐based, cross‐sectional study.

Setting

A rural community in Sindh Province, Pakistan.

Population

Randomly selected women aged 15 years or older.

Methods

A multistage random sampling strategy was used to recruit the women. Lady Health Workers interviewed women in their own homes using a structured questionnaire to obtain symptom data. Women with symptoms of incontinence were then examined by female gynaecologists in their local health facilities to confirm obstetric fistula.

Main outcome measure

Obstetric fistula confirmed by gynaecological examination.

Results

Among the 5064 women interviewed (96% response rate), 20 women with obstetric fistula were identified, showing a prevalence of 0.39% of all women (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.22–0.57%) and 0.45% of parous women (95% CI 0.25–0.65%). Significantly more of the women with obstetric fistula compared with parous women without fistula were primiparae and aged <20 years. Of the women with obstetric fistula, 40% had had this for >5 years and 90% reported a major impact on their lives, yet only four had consulted a doctor, three of whom had failed repairs.

Conclusions

The prevalence of obstetric fistula is high in rural Pakistan. Appropriate provision is needed for fistula repair to reduce the burden of the condition. Alongside this, the improvement of maternity care services is urgently needed to prevent its continued occurrence.
Observational Case Series: An Algorithm Incorporating Multidetector Computed Tomography in the Medicolegal Investigation of Human Remains after a Natural Disaster
Authors: Berran Philip J. , Mazuchowski Edward L. , Marzouk Abubakr , Theodore Harcke H.
Published: March 2014

An algorithm incorporating multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), digital radiographs, and external examination was used to triage cases for noninvasive or complete autopsy after a natural disaster. The algorithm was applied to 27 individuals who died during or soon after the earthquake that struck the Republic of Haiti on January 12, 2010. Of the 27 cases reviewed, 7 (26%) required a complete autopsy to determine cause and manner of death. In the remaining 20 (74%), cause and manner of death were determined with a reasonable degree of medical certainty after review of circumstances, an external examination, and postmortem imaging by MDCT and digital radiography (noninvasive autopsy). MDCT was particularly useful in detecting skeletal fractures caused by blunt force injury which were not evident on digital radiographs. The algorithm incorporating postmortem MDCT can be useful in the triage of human remains for autopsy after a natural disaster.
Acute Aortic Dissection Diagnosed after Embalming: Macroscopic and Microscopic Findings
Authors: Savall Frédéric , Dedouit Fabrice , Piercecchi‐Marti Marie‐Dominique , Leonetti Georges , Rougé Daniel , Telmon Norbert
Published: March 2014

A 58‐year‐old man died suddenly in Madagascar and poisoning was suspected. The body was embalmed after death and the general state of preservation was good. We found a major aortic dissection with a large false lumen from the aortic root to the common iliac arteries and a hemopericardium with formalinized blood clot. The intimal tear was on the ascending aorta, and an intramural hemorrhage was noted at the right coronary artery, attesting to a retrograde dissection. Microscopic studies confirmed aortic dissection with extensive intramural hemorrhage and also confirmed the retrograde dissection to the right coronary artery with a reduction of 90% of the true lumen. Classically, aortic dissection occurs in individuals with hypertension and individuals with genetic disorders of collagen formation. The diagnosis is often first established at the postmortem examination. Aortic dissection is therefore dealt with largely in necropsy studies. The usual cause of death is rupture into the pericardial sac. One case of bloodless dissection has been reported but the sudden death was explained by acute myocardial ischemia secondary to dissection of the left coronary artery. In our case, we found major hemopericardium and also intramural hemorrhage at the right coronary artery. We were able to make the diagnosis of aortic dissection and exclude the suspicion of homicide 15 days after death and after embalming.
Comparison of short and long‐term results between sleeve resection and pneumonectomy in lung cancer patients over 70 years old: 10 years experience from a single institution in China
Authors: Pan Xufeng , Tantai Jicheng , Lin Ling , Cao Kejian , Zhao Heng
Published: March 2014

Background

The aim of this study was to compare the short and long‐term results between sleeve resection (SR) and pneumonectomy (PN) in lung cancer patients over 70 years of age.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 105 lung cancer patients over 70 years of age who had undergone SR or PN at Shanghai Chest Hospital from January 2003 to December 2012.

Results

The SR group showed a higher frequency of airway clearance via bronchoscopy (48.6% vs. 25.7%, P = 0.04), longer surgical time (162.7 vs. 140.9 minutes, P = 0.01), and shorter postoperative stay (13.7 vs. 18.1 days, P = 0.02) than the PN group. There was no difference in hospital mortality (P = 1.00) or morbidity (P = 0.40) between the two groups. A logistic regression model showed that preoperative predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second was the only independent risk factor for overall morbidity (P = 0.04). In survival analysis, SR showed better prognosis than PN (median 50.0 vs. 20.0 months, P < 0.01). In subgroup analysis, SR showed better survival in N0 (P = 0.03) and N1 (P < 0.01) cases, but not in N2 cases (P = 0.36). It also showed better survival in stage I + II patients (P = 0.03), but not in stage III patients (P = 0.10).

Conclusions

Although PN could be carried out as safely as SR in patients over 70 years of age with a good pulmonary reservoir, SR is still recommended as a less traumatic procedure, sparing lung parenchyma with better long‐term results.
Burning season does not affect post‐fire regeneration but fire alters the balance of the dominant species in a seeder‐dominated Mediterranean shrubland
Authors: Céspedes Blanca , Torres Iván , Pérez Beatriz , Luna Belén , Moreno José M.
Published: March 2014

Question

In a seeder‐dominated shrubland, does burning season affect post‐fire regeneration? Are herbs and shrubs similarly affected? Is the dominance of the main species modified by burning and its timing?

Location

Los Puntales, Sierra Morena (Córdoba, southern Spain).

Methods

The shrubland was 12 yr old, dominated by several species of Cistus, among the main seeders. Four blocks, each containing plots of 25 × 25 m, were burned in late May (early season, ES) and late September (late season, LS) with similar fire intensity. Woody plant density and woody and herbaceous cover and richness were monitored during the first three post‐fire years and compared to pre‐fire using ANOVA and ordination techniques.

Results

Burning season did not affect cover of the herbaceous or woody species in general, nor cover of the main groups (monocots, dicots, annuals and perennials) or density of the main woody species 3 yr after fire. Fire, however, differentially affected the relative abundance of the main shrub species. Ordination analysis showed that, while succession of herbaceous species was on track to convergence with the pre‐fire vegetation, this was not the case for the woody species.

Conclusions

Burning season was not a significant factor in altering the post‐fire regeneration in this seeder‐dominated shrubland. Thus, the temporal window for prescribed fires is large, and both seasons could equally be used for management purposes. However, changes in the relative dominance of species due to fire indicate that managers should be alert when this shrubland burns.
Measuring symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder in people with intellectual disabilities: The development and psychometric properties of the Impact of Event Scale‐Intellectual Disabilities (IES‐IDs)
Authors: Hall James C. , Jobson Laura , Langdon Peter E.
Published: March 2014

Background

The aims of the study were to (1) revise the Impact of Event Scale–Revised for use with people with intellectual disabilities (IDs), creating the Impact of Event Scale–Intellectual Disabilities (IES‐IDs), (2) assess the reliability of the IES‐IDs, and (3) compare the IES‐IDs to an existing measure trauma‐related symptomatology, namely the Lancaster and Northgate Trauma Scale (LANTS), along with measures of anxiety and depression.

Methods

Forty adults with IDs who had experienced at least one traumatic event were recruited and completed the IES‐IDs and the LANTS on two occasions, separated by 2 weeks. Participants also completed the Glasgow Depression Scale and the Glasgow Anxiety Scale, along with the Trauma Information Form which was used to collect information about trauma history.

Results

Fifteen per cent of the sample had encountered five or more traumatic events. The IES‐IDs and the LANTS had good to excellent internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Both measures correlated with self‐report measures of depression and anxiety, although the strength of this correlation was greater with the LANTS. There was a significant positive correlation between trauma frequency and the IES‐IDs, while trauma frequency did not correlate with the LANTS.

Conclusions

Both the IES‐IDs and the LANTS appear to have good reliability.

Practitioner points

There is a lack of well‐developed questionnaires that can be used to assess symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people with intellectual disabilities.

The Impact of Event Scale–Revised was augmented creating the Impact of Event Scale‐Intellectual Disabilities (IES‐IDs). The IES‐IDs was shown to have good psychometric properties.

The IES‐IDs was compared to the Lancaster and Northgate Trauma Scale (LANTS), but the LANTS did not correlate with trauma frequency.

However, this study had a small sample size, and a much larger study is needed to examine the factor structure of both the IES‐IDs and the LANTS. Future studies should attempt to recruit people with IDs who have a diagnosis of PTSD.
Impulsivity as a predictor of treatment outcome in substance use disorders: Review and synthesis
Authors: Loree Amy M. , Lundahl Leslie H. , Ledgerwood David M.
Published: March 2014

Issues

Impulsivity is a widely studied personality trait and research construct that has been implicated as a risk factor for substance use, including initiating and continuing use. However, relatively few studies have examined impulsivity as a predictor of treatment outcome. Because impulsivity has been operationalised in many different ways, cross‐comparisons of empirical studies have been difficult.

Approach

The PubMed database was searched in September 2013. Reference lists of papers retrieved from this search were also manually scanned for additional resources. Studies were included if they presented data that assessed impulsivity as a predictor of treatment outcomes.

Key Findings

The body of literature reviewed in this paper suggests that higher pretreatment impulsivity, regardless of how it is measured, usually is associated with poorer treatment outcomes. Recent data indicate that some psychosocial and pharmacological treatments may directly impact impulsivity and thus represent an interesting avenue for further research.

Conclusions

Impulsivity appears to be a key predictor of substance use treatment outcomes and warrants more attention in the improvement of treatment outcomes. Suggestions for future research on the role of impulsivity in substance use treatment are provided. [Amy M. Loree AM, Leslie H. Lundahl LH, David M. Ledgerwood DM. Impulsivity as a predictor of treatment outcome in substance use disorders: Review and synthesis. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015;34:119–34]
Effects of trichomes on the behavior and distribution of Platyprepia virginalis caterpillars
Authors: Eaton Kathy M. , Karban Richard
Published: March 2014

Trichomes are an important physical resistance mechanism of plants, as they reduce insect herbivore movement, feeding, and digestion. However, we know little about how trichomes influence herbivore distributions and populations. We conducted laboratory and field experiments to evaluate the preferences of Platyprepia virginalis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) caterpillars to natural and manipulated densities of trichomes on their primary food, Lupinus arboreus Sims (Fabaceae). We then conducted field surveys to determine whether variation in trichome density among lupine bushes affected caterpillar spatial distribution on the landscape. Platyprepia virginalis caterpillars preferred lupine leaves with fewer trichomes in choice and no‐choice experiments. In the field, caterpillar feeding damage was found more often on leaves with fewer trichomes. These preferences scaled up to the level of bushes in the landscape such that more caterpillars were found on bushes with lower trichome densities than on bushes with higher trichome densities. This is one of few studies to show the potential for trichome density to influence herbivore population size and distribution in a natural system at a landscape level. The results are consistent with trichomes functioning as a resistance mechanism with consequences for herbivore choice, performance, and distribution.
Law, ethnicity and taxes in Ostrogothic Italy: a case for continuity, adaptation and departure
Authors: Bjornlie Shane
Published: March 2014

This article considers the relationship between the social status of Goths and Romans in Italy and the legal and administrative regime of the Ostrogothic state. It is argued that the distinctions made between Goths and Romans by the Ostrogothic state were based primarily upon economic conditions and circumstances of land tenure in Italy, rather than upon ‘ethnicity’. It is furthermore argued that the social and economic conditions that produced the status landscape of late fifth‐ and early sixth‐century Italy were not innovations of the Amal rulers at Ravenna, but rather they represent adaptation to the previous imperial administration ongoing since the early fifth century. In examining this topic, the article touches upon issues of the legal difference between Goths and Romans, the manner of accommodating and administrating soldiers in Italy, and the fiscal resources available to the Ostrogothic court.
Flodoard, the will of St Remigius and the see of Reims in the tenth century
Authors: Roberts Edward
Published: March 2014

The ‘longer’ will of St Remigius of Reims, as preserved in the mid‐tenth‐century Historia Remensis ecclesiae of Flodoard of Reims, is widely agreed to be a forgery. But despite the fact that it is known almost exclusively from Flodoard's work, historians have never suggested that this document was produced in his day. This article contends that the longer will was indeed an original component of the Historia. Read in this context, the will can throw new light on the Historia itself, the career of Flodoard and the tumultuous history of the church of Reims in the first half of the tenth century.
Forest canopy cover determines invertebrate diversity and ecosystem process rates in depositional zones of headwater streams
Authors: de Nadaï‐Monoury Eve , Gilbert Franck , Lecerf Antoine
Published: March 2014

Previous studies of the ecological linkages between forest and headwater streams have focussed primarily on patterns and processes in erosional habitats, typically riffles. Depositional zones trap large amounts of sediments and particulate organic matter, suggesting that they may be important for forest–stream linkages.

We studied the invertebrate benthos and two key ecological processes, surface sediment reworking and leaf litter breakdown, in the depositional zones of streams bordered by contrasting riparian vegetation. We compared three stream reaches, draining open canopy forest regenerating after recent clearcut harvesting, with reaches on three different streams bordered by older forests with closed canopies. We also assessed whether, and to what extent, forest canopy cover determined abiotic factors at the reach scale (physicochemistry of stream water) and patch scale (sediment properties).

Depositional zones in both types of stream harboured a taxonomically and functionally diverse invertebrate community, including efficient sediment reworkers and specialised shredders. Higher diversity was found in open canopy than in closed canopy streams, despite similarities in habitat morphology and sediment properties.

Water temperature and sediment reworking rate were higher in open canopy forest than in closed canopy forest. As rates of sediment reworking, adjusted for temperature, did not differ between forest types, temperature was probably a key factor linking the forest canopy to stream depositional zones. The rates of leaf litter breakdown sometimes varied substantially between streams, but no consistent forest effect was detected for this process.

Temperature‐adjusted rates of surface sediment reworking and litter breakdown were positively correlated with the density of invertebrates that rework sediments and shredders, respectively. A relationship between these two ecological processes was found across depositional zones in closed canopy forest, but not in open canopy forest.

This study on depositional zones provides new evidence of the strong linkage between forest and headwater streams. By moderating stream summer temperature, riparian canopy cover has the potential to affect invertebrate metabolic rates and, indirectly, the intensity of surface sediment reworking. However, other factors, such as the quality and diversity of basal trophic resources, may also account for invertebrate diversity pattern across streams and the positive relationship between litter breakdown and sediment reworking in closed canopy forest.