bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
13. Unregistered land and priorities
Authors: McFarlane Ben , Hopkins Nicholas , Nield Sarah
Published: August 2017

All books in this flagship series contain carefully selected substantial extracts from key cases, legislation, and academic debate, providing able students with a stand-alone resource.
This chapter explores the defences against pre-existing property rights that are available to a purchaser of unregistered land. It is concerned with priority rules in unregistered land. The fundamental distinction in unregistered land is between legal and equitable rights. Generally, there is no defence against pre-existing legal rights. In respect of equitable rights, a defence is available for a bona fide purchaser for value without notice of the right. The defence is founded on equity's ideas of acting in good conscience. The Land Charges Act 1925 (LCA 1925) provided a system for the registration of a limited number of interests in unregistered land. It had been replaced by the LCA 1972. The 1972 Act enables a number of equitable interests, and one legal interest, to be recorded on a register against the name of the holder of the legal estate. In respect of property rights registrable as land charges a purchaser may have a defence of non-registration. The doctrine of notice does not apply in respect of such rights..
30. Lender’s rights and remedies
Authors: McFarlane Ben , Hopkins Nicholas , Nield Sarah
Published: August 2017

All books in this flagship series contain carefully selected substantial extracts from key cases, legislation, and academic debate, providing able students with a stand-alone resource.
This chapter concentrates on the rights and powers conferred upon the lender to enforce its security over land. A lender's rights and remedies arise from the nature of its security, the powers implied by the Law of Property Act 1925, and any express powers. The lender's right to take possession originated at common law but is now conferred by s87(1) of the 1925 Act. The lender's power of sale and to appoint a receiver are implied by s 101(1)(i) and s101(1)(iii) of the 1925 Act respectively and can only be exercised if the borrower has defaulted. The duties that a lender and receiver owes when selling the mortgaged property are explained as well as the position of a purchaser from a lender or receiver where there has been a breach of duty.
1. The nature and attraction of mooting
Authors: Snape John , Watt Gary
Published: August 2017

This chapter explains the basics of a moot and mooting. It distinguishes a moot from other law school activities, such as a seminar and a mock trial, and distinguishes a moot court from a real court. It discusses the origins of mooting; why law students should moot; in which courts are moots set; and how a moot is structured.
5. Performance – the basics
Authors: Snape John , Watt Gary
Published: August 2017

This chapter discusses the various performance aspects of mooting. It provides answers to the following questions: Why can't points outside the grounds of appeal be argued? Can there be any discussion with colleague during the moot? How can pronunciation of English words generally be improved upon? How can the pronunciation of English (and Welsh) names be improved upon? Do the facts of the moot problem need to be outlined to the moot judge? Is it ever possible to put an interpretation on the facts in order to favour a hypothetical client? Should the law be expressly applied to the facts of the moot problem? Is not being able to act a problem? How should the submission be introduced and concluded?
7. Style
Authors: Snape John , Watt Gary
Published: August 2017

This chapter outlines ways in which style can be improved to make the moot presentation more persuasive. It provides answers to the following questions: following questions: How should the moot judge be addressed? Should the identity, character, and standing of the moot judge be considered? How should judges be referred to? What should the style of presentation be like?
8. Judge and judgment
Authors: Snape John , Watt Gary
Published: August 2017

This chapter deals with the moot judge and judgment. It addresses the following questions: How is the moot judge's assessment divided between the moot and the law? Is it possible to lose on the law and win on the moot? What actions should be taken if the moot judge has misunderstood a point? What actions should be taken if a moot judge's manner is rude? Can the moot judge and my opponents be interrupted or corrected? What actions should be taken if the moot judge's question is misunderstood? How can judicial questions be turned to an advantage? Will a moot judge make a ruling on the arguments before the conclusion of the moot?
9. Authorities – advanced considerations
Authors: Snape John , Watt Gary
Published: August 2017

This chapter discusses what it means to ‘handle precedent’, to ‘interpret statutes’, and to do justice ‘fitted to the needs of the times in which we live’. It provides answers to the following questions: When and how should policy arguments be used? How should foreign case names be pronounced in a moot? What is the correct way to refer to a case? Is it acceptable to give a personal view of the relevant law? When is an authority binding on a moot court? How can one escape from an inconvenient authority? In what circumstances can a case be overruled? How and when can a case be distinguished in law from another? How and when can a case be distinguished on its facts from another? What is the distinction between a judge's finding of fact and his or her decision on the law? What is the status of a judgment of the Divisional Court? Is a ‘Jessel’ better than a ‘Kekewich’? When is a change in the law a matter for Parliament and when is it a matter for the courts?
10. Competitions
Authors: Snape John , Watt Gary
Published: August 2017

This chapter deals with the next and necessary step towards the completion of apprenticeship in moot advocacy — the step into the world of competitive mooting. It provides answers to the following questions: What further information is there out there about mooting? What are inter-university competitive moots?
Infliximab Biosimilars: A Promising but Unusual Treatment for Mycobacterial Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients
Authors: Troya Jesús , Cuevas Guillermo , Ryan Pablo , Díez Victorino , Izquierdo Elsa , Escobar Ismael , Solís Javier
Published: August 2017

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome can present as a paradoxical reaction after initiation of antiretroviral treatment in patients with severe immunosuppression and underlying infections. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome has often been associated with mycobacteria, and the clinical response to traditional treatment with corticosteroids is not always satisfactory. Consequently, administration of an infliximab biosimilar could lead to an improvement in the clinical status of these patients.
MentaLiST – A fast MLST caller for large MLST schemes
Authors: Feijao Pedro , Yao Hua-Ting , Fornika Dan , Gardy Jennifer , Hsiao Will , Chauve Cedric , Chindelevitch Leonid
Published: August 2017

MLST (multi-locus sequence typing) is a classic technique for genotyping bacteria, widely applied for pathogen outbreak surveillance. Traditionally, MLST is based on identifying sequence types from a small number of housekeeping genes. With the increasing availability of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data, MLST methods have evolved toward larger typing schemes, based on a few hundred genes (core genome MLST, cgMLST) to a few thousand genes (whole genome MLST, wgMLST). Such large-scale MLST schemes have been shown to provide a finer resolution and are increasingly used in various contexts such as hospital outbreaks or foodborne pathogen outbreaks. This methodological shift raises new computational challenges, especially given the large size of the schemes involved. Very few available MLST callers are currently capable of dealing with large MLST schemes.

We introduce MentaLiST, a new MLST caller, based on ak-mer voting algorithm and written in the Julia language, specifically designed and implemented to handle large typing schemes. We test it on real and simulated data to show that MentaLiST is faster than any other available MLST caller while providing the same or better accuracy, and is capable of dealing with MLST scheme with up to thousands of genes while requiring limited computational resources. MentaLiST source code and easy installation instructions using a Conda package are available athttps://github.com/WGS-TB/MentaLiST.
Replicability of time-varying connectivity patterns in large resting state fMRI samples
Authors: Abrol Anees , Damaraju Eswar , Miller Robyn L. , Stephen Julia M. , Claus Eric D. , Mayer Andrew R. , Calhoun Vince D.
Published: August 2017

The past few years have seen an emergence of approaches that leverage temporal changes in whole-brain patterns of functional connectivity (the chronnectome). In this chronnectome study, we investigate the replicability of the human brain's inter-regional coupling dynamics during rest by evaluating two different dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) analysis frameworks using 7500 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) datasets. To quantify the extent to which the emergent functional connectivity (FC) patterns are reproducible, we characterize the temporal dynamics by deriving several summary measures across multiple large, independent age-matched samples. Reproducibility was demonstrated through the existence of basic connectivity patterns (FC states) amidst an ensemble of inter-regional connections. Furthermore, application of the methods to conservatively configured surrogate datasets establishes that the correlation structures in the data do not arise by chance. This extensive testing of reproducibility of similarity statistics also suggests that the estimated FC states are robust against variation in data quality, analysis, grouping, and decomposition methods. We conclude that future investigations probing the functional and neurophysiological relevance of time-varying connectivity assume critical importance.
Multi-allelic Exact tests for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium that account for gender
Authors: Graffelman Jan , Weir Bruce
Published: August 2017

Statistical tests for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium are important elementary tools in genetic data analysis. X-chromosomal variants have long been tested by applying autosomal test procedures to females only, and gender is usually not considered when testing autosomal variants for equilibrium. Recently, we proposed specific X-chromosomal exact test procedures for bi-allelic variants that include the hemizygous males, as well as autosomal tests that consider gender. In this paper we present the extension of the previous work for variants with multiple alleles. A full enumeration algorithm is used for the exact calculations of tri-allelic variants. For variants with many alternate alleles we use a permutation test. Some empirical examples with data from the 1000 genomes project are discussed.
Three zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes containing 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole and polynitrile ligands: synthesis, molecular and supramolecular structures, and photoluminescence properties
Authors: Setifi Zouaoui , Zambon Daniel , Setifi Fatima , El-Ghozzi Malika , Mahiou Rachid , Glidewell Christopher
Published: August 2017

Three photoluminescent complexes containing either ZnII or CdII have been synthesized and their structures determined. Bis[4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole-κ2
N
1,N
5]bis(dicyanamido-κN
1)zinc(II), [Zn(C12H10N6)2(C2N3)2], (I), bis[4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole-κ2
N
1,N
5]bis(dicyanamido-κN
1)cadmium(II), [Cd(C12H10N6)2(C2N3)2], (II), and bis[4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole-κ2
N
1,N
5]bis(tricyanomethanido-κN
1)cadmium(II), [Cd(C12H10N6)2(C4N3)2], (III), all crystallize in the space group P\overline{1}, with the metal centres lying on centres of inversion, but neither analogues (I) and (II) nor CdII complexes (II) and (III) are isomorphous. A combination of N—H...N and C—H...N hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions generates three-dimensional framework structures in (I) and (II), and a sheet structure in (III). The photoluminescence spectra of (I)–(III) indicate that the energies of the π–π* transitions in the coordinated triazole ligand are modified by minor changes of the ligand geometry associated with coordination to the metal centres.
Quantifying the recurring nature of fitout to assist LCA studies in office buildings
Authors: Forsythe Perry
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to quantify fitout churn in office buildings to more accurately evaluate the recurrent embodied energy in life cycle assessment studies.

Design/methodology/approach

Three research methods were used in the context of Central Business District (CBD) office buildings in Sydney. Method 1 involved leasing records from 528 office buildings; method 2, a leasing history from a selective sample of three prime grade office buildings; method 3, a targeted survey of 21 property professionals concerning fitout churn cycle estimates.

Findings

Prime buildings are the area of most interest to fitout churn because they represent a large proportion of total office floor area. The churn rate differs according to office tenancy type (as defined by small, medium and large leased areas). Large tenants occupy the majority of floor space. Lease duration as obtained from Method 1, offers a reasonable proxy for predicting fitout churn. Using this method coupled with weighted-average calculations, the data indicate a fitout churn rate of 8.2 years.

Research limitations/implications

Variability concerning the situational context of Sydney CBD office buildings restricts broad generalisability of the findings. However, the research method used in this study would enable broad-based comparison and the potential for verification.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the research is to improve the ability to accurately predict fitout churn cycles as previous work only involves limited case studies and arbitrary estimates, thus lacking a strong evidence based.
Optimal contract design for dual-channel supply chains under information asymmetry
Authors: Yang Honglin , Cao Erbao , Lu Kevin Jiang , Zhang Guoqing
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of information asymmetry on revenue sharing contracts and performance in a dual-channel supply chain. First, the authors model the optimum revenue sharing contract in a dual-channel supply chain under both the full information case and the asymmetric information case. Second, they contrast the optimal decisions of a dual-channel supply chain between the full information case and the asymmetric information case. Third, they explore the impact of asymmetric cost information on the performance of a dual-channel supply chain and investigate the information value.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present two main issues associated with revenue sharing contracts to alleviate manufacturer–retailer conflicts in a dual-channel supply chain. In the first issue, a revenue sharing contract is designed in a dual-channel supply chain under asymmetric cost information conditions, based on the principal-agent model. In the second issue, an optimal revenue sharing contract under full information conditions, based on the Stackelberg game is discussed. They explore the impact of asymmetric cost information on the performance of a dual-channel supply chain and investigate the information value based on comparative static analysis.

Findings

First, the direct sale price is unchanged and independent of the retailer’s cost construct, but the wholesale price increases and the retail sale price does not decrease under asymmetric cost information. The information asymmetry leads to higher direct sale demand and lower retail sale demand. Second, information asymmetry is beneficial for the retailer, but imposes inefficiency on the manufacturer and the whole supply chain. Third, the performance of the dual-channel supply chain is improved if the retailer’s cost information is shared and the dual-channel supply chain reaches coordination. The retailer is willing to share its cost information if the lump sum side payment that the manufacturer offers can make up the retailer’s reduced profit due to sharing this information.

Originality/value

The authors proposed a contract menus design model in a dual-channel supply chain. They examine how information asymmetry affects optimal policies and performance. They compared the optimal policies under symmetric information and asymmetric information. Conditions under which the partners prefer sharing information are identified. They quantified the information value from the points of partners and the whole system.
Categorizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in B2B markets: the why, when and how
Authors: Blenkhorn David L. , MacKenzie H.F. (Herb)
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to address the questions of why, when and how business-to-business (B2B) firms engage in sustainability initiatives. The authors believe that this is the first attempt to address all three questions in a single paper, and one of the earliest to focus on these in B2B markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The sustainability initiatives of B2B firms throughout the value/supply chain were examined. Input data came from external sources and the firms themselves. Two conceptual frameworks were developed, illustrating why firms partake in sustainability initiatives and when and how they may do so.

Findings

This paper provides two conceptual frameworks that address why, when and how firms get involved in sustainability initiatives, and how they can better communicate their involvement to stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

To obtain a broader perspective of B2B firms’ involvement in sustainability initiatives, a variety of third-party sources were used, augmented with data from firm websites. Examples of firms the authors selected were constrained by the collection of firms described in student research papers.

Practical implications

This paper suggests useful guidelines for firms considering starting or expanding sustainability initiatives by providing frameworks that address why, when and how firms do so, with examples of firms illustrating engagement in each area. It also provides communication guidelines, necessary for enhancing stakeholder relations.

Social implications

Integrating environmental sustainability within a firm’s strategy can improve corporate image and increase efficiency, while contributing to a better world environment.

Originality/value

A review of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature indicated that most research has focused on business-to-consumer markets. This paper addresses CSR in B2B markets, examining players at all levels of the value/supply chain: manufacturers, channel intermediaries and end-users.
Service-dominant logic and supply chain management: a systematic literature review
Authors: Altuntas Vural Ceren
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This study aims to contribute to the scholarly fields of supply chain management (SCM) and service-dominant logic (SDL) by conducting a systematic literature review on business-to-business (B2B) marketing and SCM studies.

Design/methodology/approach

After the collection and refinement of 127 articles on SDL and SCM interface, descriptive and thematic analyses were applied to discover the current situation and the existing research streams in the literature.

Findings

The SDL-SCM literature focuses on five main research streams which are value co-creation and value-in-use, integration and relationship management, resource sharing, servitization and service supply chains. Each of them are explored in depth, and future research opportunities are proposed.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited with the selected articles. Future scholarly attention to the intersection between SDL and SCM will enhance the knowledge on these fields.

Originality/value

The study contributes to both of these fields by summarizing the existing scholarly research and proposing research opportunities for scholars. It is one of the first efforts to systematically review the interface between SCM and SDL.
Identifying the resource conditions that maximize the relationship between ambidexterity and new product performance
Authors: Heirati Nima , O’Cass Aron , Sok Phyra
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Organizational ambidexterity is argued to be a prerequisite for successful new product development, especially for firms operating in highly competitive emerging markets. Despite growing attention to the importance of ambidexterity, the conditions under which specific forms of ambidexterity are more or less beneficial to new product performance (NPP) remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the contingent value of two specific resource conditions that favor the pursuit of the balanced dimension versus combined dimension of ambidexterity to achieve superior NPP.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were drawn from a sample of 156 high-tech large firms operating in the Middle East and tested through a hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

This study highlights the important role of slack resources and social networking capability in enhancing the benefits of the combined dimension of ambidexterity over the balanced dimension of ambidexterity to drive NPP.

Originality/value

This study extends prior research which has mainly examined organizational characteristics that facilitates organizational ambidexterity and sheds light on the specific resource conditions under which high-technology firms operating in an emerging economy should pursue balanced dimension of ambidexterity or combined dimension of ambidexterity to achieve superior NPP.
Social media capability in B2B marketing: toward a definition and a research model
Authors: Wang Yun , Rod Michel , Ji Shaobo , Deng Qi
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore organizational social media capability in business-to-business (B2B) marketing, by focusing on what social media capability is in a B2B marketing context and how it is developed in firms engaged in B2B marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a thematic literature review, drawing on both B2B marketing and Information Systems literature. In total, 112 academic articles from nine journals were identified and analyzed. The findings were synthesized and compiled to provide answers to the predefined research questions.

Findings

The results suggest that organizational social media capability is dependent on a deep understanding of a firm’s technological capability, i.e. recognizing the key features and categories of social media and dynamically upgrading the recognition in response to the environmental change. A four-level Social Media Capability Maturity Model (technological, operational, managed and strategic level) that collectively transfers social media’s technological capability to dynamic organizational capability is proposed.

Originality/value

This study contributes to an understanding of the use of social media in the context of B2B marketing from an organizational dynamic capability perspective. The model is particularly relevant to organizations that have adopted or plan to adopt a B2B social media strategy and is relevant for B2B researchers who are interested in social media research.
Manifest conflict, customer orientation and performance outcomes in international buyer-seller relationships
Authors: Leckie Civilai , Widing Robert E. , Whitwell Gregory J.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the impact of manifest conflict on performance outcomes. In particular, this paper aims to examine the moderating effect of the supplier’s customer orientation (CO) as perceived by the buyer on the conflict-performance outcomes relationships in international channel relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 162 Australian importers was conducted to elucidate the associations among manifest conflict, CO and performance outcomes.

Findings

Manifest conflict was found to be negatively related to the importer’s evaluation of the exporter’s overall performance, which is consistent with previous work. However, CO was found to moderate the negative direct effect of manifest conflict on two outcome measures, “satisfaction with business outcomes” and the “evaluation of the exporter’s overall performance”. Moreover, it actually changed the effect from dysfunctional to functional for “evaluation of the exporter’s overall performance”. That is, CO changes the nature of the manifest conflict–outcome relationship by turning it from negative to positive.

Research limitations/implications

This research helps answer the appeal for research on the conditions in which conflict causes dysfunctional and functional outcomes. From a practical standpoint, providing the importer views the exporter as being customer-oriented, conflict should not be avoided if it stems from disagreements that arise due to the exporter acting in the best interests of the importer. The power of CO in affecting the functionality of outcomes resulting from conflict should be highlighted.

Originality/value

Conflict is a fact of life in channel relationships, but little is known about its functional and dysfunctional effects (Frazier, 1999; Skarmeas, 2006). The empirical evidence largely points to conflict being dysfunctional; however, research also indicates that context can play an important role in moderating the functionality of conflict. In this paper the authors ask: what role does CO play as a determinant of the functionality of manifest conflict in channel relationships? They argue that the exporter’s CO changes the context in which the importer and the exporter interact and, thereby, changes the way in which the importer interprets the supplier’s actions.
Experimental validation of the damage-plasticity modeling concept for normal strength concrete in fire
Authors: Neuenschwander Martin , Scandella Claudio , Knobloch Markus , Fontana Mario
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate with strain-rate controlled uniaxial cyclic compression tests the softening behavior of concrete and its elastic stiffness degradation with increasing plastic straining.

Design/methodology/approach

Such tests at ambient temperature show that concrete exhibits the phenomenon of elastic stiffness degradation, which can be captured by damage-plasticity models.

Findings

The experimentally derived evolutions of the elastic stiffness with plastic strain confirm the suitability of the damage-plasticity modeling concept for concrete in compression at elevated temperatures and provide novel calibration data.

Originality/value

Temperature-dependent concrete models implementing this modeling concept are often used presently in structural fire engineering, despite the lack of experiment-based validation data.
Lead adsorption and subsequent gasification with Pinus elliottii waste
Authors: Antonelli Jhonatas , Lindino Cleber Antonio , Bariccatti Reinaldo Aparecido , Souza Samuel Nelson Melegari , Lenz Anderson Miguel
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of Pinus wood waste in lead adsorption as a remediation technique in aqueous medium and its subsequent use in obtaining synthesis gas.

Design/methodology/approach

The capacity of the timber in the lead adsorption was studied in aqueous medium at various pH, determining the amount adsorbed in equilibrium. Then, the same timber was added in a fixed bed, co-current flow of two stage gasifier type, working temperature of 900°C, for obtaining synthesis gas. The synthesis gas composition was evaluated by the spectrophotometry in the infrared region and the gas chromatography and lead content in the ash and gas was determined by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Findings

In laboratory tests carried out, the optimal pH for lead removal was pH 4 with 96.15 percent removal rate, reaching equilibrium after 180 min. In pilot scale the lead removal after 72 hours was 96 percent. The average production of syngas was 11.09 m³h−1. For tests with the motor-generator, the best condition occurred with charge of 2.0 kW, wherein gas consumption per kW produced reached 4.86 m³ kW−1, resulting in a 14.81 percent efficiency rate. The gas analysis showed an average concentration of 14.85 percent H2, 30.1 percent CO2, and 50.49 percent of atmospheric air. The concentration of lead in the gas was below the limit established by law. Pinus elliottii waste proved to be an excellent adsorbent, with removing more than 96 percent of the Pb ion present in aqueous solution and a starting material in the gasifier to generate synthesis gas.

Research limitations/implications

This paper describes the waste wood application in the treatment of contaminated environments and for obtaining syngas providing a sustainable process.

Originality/value

This paper shows a process that combines the remediation of contaminated environmental with power generation systems, allowing efficient management of contaminated environments.
A methodology for minimizing LPG transportation impact
Authors: Guersola Mariana , Arns Steiner Maria Teresinha , Scarpin Cassius Tadeu
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transportation risks depend on aspects such as the total length of the trip and population density along the route. Choosing to deliver the product on non-busy days and reducing distances travelled may help to reduce these risks and lower the level of air pollution generated by the transportation trucks. The purpose of this paper is to reduce LPG delivery impact.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-stage methodology is proposed. First, rules are created in order to choose which clients have to be visited each day to avoid deliveries in downtown areas during business days. Second, an Iterated Local Search (ILS) metaheuristic is proposed for the capacitated p-median problem to group the chosen customers. Finally, another ILS is proposed to solve the Travelling Salesman Problem, for each truck to follow a better route while visiting its customers.

Findings

The methodology resulted in a 24.8 per cent reduction in distances travelled, representing an annual reduction of 32,716 kg in CO2 emissions. The average amount of product sold per kilometre travelled improved by 72 per cent.

Originality/value

The literature shows a clear need for companies to consider sustainability in their daily decisions. However, especially in developing countries, there is a fear that protecting the environment may cost money. This main contribution of this paper is that it presents a real solution, serving as a guide for companies to improve their transportation system, resulting in environmental and economic benefits.
CO2 emissions, urbanization and industrialization
Authors: Raheem Ibrahim Dolapo , Ogebe Joseph O.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of industrialization and urbanization on CO2 emissions in 20 African countries for the period 1980 to 2013.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to correct for cross-sectional dependence, this study adopts the use of pooled mean group. Also, the study contributes to the literature by estimating the direct, indirect and total effects of industrialization and urbanization on carbon emission.

Findings

The results show that industrialization and urbanization directly increase environmental degradation. Interestingly, industrialization and urbanization were also found to reduce environmental degradation through their indirect effects on per capita income. In general, the authors conclude that the indirect effect of industrialization will overcrowd the direct effect, and this will lead to a decline in the overall effect of industrialization on carbon emission. Also, the positive direct effect of urbanization outweighs the negative indirect effect, thus the overall effect of urbanization will endanger carbon emission in the long run.

Originality/value

The existing studies on emission, industrialization and urbanization have typically been biased toward Africa. This present study filled this gap. The choice of African countries is based on the notion that the continent is desirous of expanding her industrialization level. This has coincidentally led to the increase in urbanization growth rate as well as income level of former rural dwellers. The second contribution of this study is the “effects decomposition” into direct, indirect and total effects. This is to reveal some inherent information that might be missing.
Childcare by grandparents in married and cohabiting couples: evidence fromItaly
Authors: Meggiolaro Silvia
Published: August 2017

The process of union formation and the context of childrearing have profoundly changed with the spread of cohabitation in the last few decades. It is only recently that some attention has been paid to the implications of these changes for family ties. This study considers, with reference to Italy, a specific relationship between individuals in couples and their family of origin – childcare by grandparents. The aim of the paper is twofold. First, we investigate whether children of cohabiting couples are cared for by their grandparents to a lower extent compared to children of married couples. Second, the current study examines whether potential differences decrease over time. The data used are from two rounds of cross‐sectional and nationally representative survey conducted in Italy in 2003 and in 2009. Our results show that in 2003 both in the provision and the intensity of grandparents’ childcare, children of cohabiting parents were less likely to have their grandparents involved than children of married parents. However, the differences between marriages and cohabitations disappear in recent years.
Economic Analysis of the Policy for Accreditation of Dairy Farms Free of Bovine Brucellosis and Tuberculosis: Challenges for Small and Large Producers in Brazil
Authors: Leite Bruno M. , Lôbo José Ricardo , Mendes Ruas José Reinaldo , Ferreira Fernando , Geeverghese Cibele , Leão Freitas Mariane , Goncalves Vitor S. P.
Published: August 2017

One of the cornerstones of the National Program for Control and Eradication of Bovine Brucellosis and Tuberculosis in Brazil is the voluntary accreditation of free herds. We developed a stochastic cost–benefit analysis model for two types of dairy herds (high yield Holstein‐Zebu crossbred females and lower productivity smaller scale herds) to identify the technical and economic constraints of this process. The initial prevalence of infected animals and the impact of the disease in the structure and performance of the herd were derived from secondary data. Information on the costs and benefits of herd sanitation were compiled into a cost–benefit model at the herd level. The last step consisted of a scenario simulation to evaluate the impact of alternative policies to the certification process. For each scenario, we calculate the probability over time of a Benefit–Cost Ratio greater than 1 and of an Internal Rate of Return above 1% (the discount rate used in the model). Results show that larger and more intensive dairy farms, and also herds affected by brucellosis compared with tuberculosis‐positive herds, are more likely to achieve financial gains from the certification investment. The compensation for culled animals is important in the initial phase of herd sanitation and the premium payment on milk would help farmers to achieve a return on the investment over time. The model can be adapted to different and dynamic production, epidemiological and economic settings.
Relevance of ultrasonography in assessing disease activity in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
Authors: Sousa Neves Joana , Santos Faria Daniela , Cerqueira Marcos , Afonso Maria Carmo , Teixeira Filipa
Published: August 2017

Aim

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) comprise a group of rare and heterogeneous diseases difficult to diagnose and follow up. Precise measures for assessing disease activity are not available at the moment. Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography (US) as a monitoring tool in IIM.

Method

The study evaluated IIM patients diagnosed and followed up from 2005 to 2015 in our department. Fifteen patients with a mean age of 52.2 ± 22.09 years and mean disease duration of 4.6 ± 3.20 years were included. Physical examination including muscle strength tests, laboratorial analysis and a selective muscle US assessment were performed for each patient at a scheduled visit.

Results

Nine of the 15 patients were in clinical remission and US assessment revealed a preserved muscle pattern. Symmetrical proximal muscle atrophy was found on US in one patient with longstanding polymyositis (PM) with proximal weakness. Inflammation and focal or generalized muscle edema were present on US in the remaining five patients with muscular weakness suggesting active disease. One of these patients in acute flare presented with atrophy changes in addition to edema. Early untreated myositis presented in one patient with moderate power Doppler (PD) signal.

Conclusion

As far as muscle US assessment is concerned, a single specific pattern was not observed in our study. A mixture of muscle edema and atrophy was detected depending on disease activity and duration. US findings seem to correlate well with disease activity, suggested by clinical data, and may be a useful tool to complement patient evaluation.
Lower vs. higher fluid volumes in sepsis—protocol for a systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Meyhoff T. S. , Møller M. H. , Hjortrup P. B. , Cronhjort M. , Perner A. , Wetterslev J.
Published: August 2017

Background

Intravenous fluid administration with crystalloids is recommended in the initial management of sepsis. However, the quality of evidence supporting the recommendation on fluid volumes is low, and clinical equipoise exists. Potential benefits of restricting fluid volumes has been suggested, but the overall benefit or harm in patients with sepsis is unknown. Accordingly, we aim to assess patient‐important benefits and harms of lower vs. higher fluid volumes in resuscitation of adult patients with sepsis.

Methods/design

We will conduct a systematic review with meta‐analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomised clinical trials comparing different strategies to obtain separation in fluid volumes or balances during resuscitation of adult patients with sepsis. We will systematically search the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, BIOSIS and Epistemonikos for relevant literature. We will follow the recommendations by the Cochrane Collaboration and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The risk of systematic errors (bias) and random errors will be assessed, and the overall quality of evidence will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Discussion

The outlined systematic review will provide important data on how patient‐important outcomes are affected by higher vs. lower resuscitation fluid volumes in adults with sepsis. Using trial sequential analysis to assess the risk of random errors will increase the validity of the summary estimates calculated and help estimate the required information size for future trials.
In vivo imaging reveals mitophagy independence in the maintenance of axonal mitochondria during normal aging
Authors: Cao Xu , Wang Haiqiong , Wang Zhao , Wang Qingyao , Zhang Shuang , Deng Yuanping , Fang Yanshan
Published: August 2017

Mitophagy is thought to be a critical mitochondrial quality control mechanism in neurons and has been extensively studied in neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease. However, little is known about how mitochondria are maintained in the lengthy neuronal axons in the context of physiological aging. Here, we utilized the unique Drosophila wing nerve model and in vivo imaging to rigorously profile changes in axonal mitochondria during aging. We revealed that mitochondria became fragmented and accumulated in aged axons. However, lack of Pink1 or Parkin did not lead to the accumulation of axonal mitochondria or axonal degeneration. Further, unlike in in vitro cultured neurons, we found that mitophagy rarely occurred in intact axons in vivo, even in aged animals. Furthermore, blocking overall mitophagy by knockdown of the core autophagy genes Atg12 or Atg17 had little effect on the turnover of axonal mitochondria or axonal integrity, suggesting that mitophagy is not required for axonal maintenance; this is regardless of whether the mitophagy is PINK1‐Parkin dependent or independent. In contrast, downregulation of mitochondrial fission–fusion genes caused age‐dependent axonal degeneration. Moreover, Opa1 expression in the fly head was significantly decreased with age, which may underlie the accumulation of fragmented mitochondria in aged axons. Finally, we showed that adult‐onset, neuronal downregulation of the fission–fusion, but not mitophagy genes, dramatically accelerated features of aging. We propose that axonal mitochondria are maintained independently of mitophagy and that mitophagy‐independent mechanisms such as fission–fusion may be central to the maintenance of axonal mitochondria and neural integrity during normal aging.
Correlates of methamphetamine use among young Iranians: Findings of a population‐based survey in 2013
Authors: Bagheri Nahid , Mirzaee Moghaddameh , Jahani Yunes , Karamouzian Mohammad , Sharifi Hamid
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Methamphetamine use remains an important public health concern among young people across various international settings. The present study is aimed at investigating the correlates of methamphetamine use among young Iranians within the general population.

Materials and Methods

This study was carried out in 13 provinces of Iran in 2013. Through multistage sampling, 3,246 young adults (aged 19–29 years) were recruited in the study. Weighted multilevel logistic regression methods were applied to identify the correlates of methamphetamine use.

Results

The lifetime prevalence of methamphetamine use was 7.1% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 5.4, 8.8). In the multivariable logistic regression, gender (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.57, 95%CI: 1.37, 4.82), marital status (AOR: 4.91, 95%CI: 2.26, 10.7), education level (AOR: 2.56, 95%CI: 1.3, 5.06), profession (AOR: 2.64, 95%CI: 1.63, 4.29), overall knowledge level of methamphetamine use (AOR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.39, 0.76), knowing a methamphetamine user among family members or friends (AOR: 2.57, 95%CI: 1.71, 4.42), knowing an ecstasy user among family members or friends (AOR: 3.36, 95%CI: 1.92, 5.9), and extramarital sex (AOR: 6.29, 95%CI: 4.29, 9.22) were significantly associated with methamphetamine use.

Conclusions

The lifetime prevalence of methamphetamine use among young Iranian adults is concerning. Educational settings should be equipped with the required resources to take a proactive role in educating adolescents and young adults on substance use including methamphetamine.

Scientific Significance

This study was done on a national level and identified the factors that can correlate with methamphetamine use. Its results can be very useful for policy decision makers. (Am J Addict 2017;26:731–737)
The Influence of Feedback and Expert Status in Knowledge Sharing Dilemmas
Authors: Moser Karin S.
Published: August 2017

Groups and organisations set cooperative goals for their members, yet in reality some team members contribute more than others to these goals. Experts, in particular, face a social dilemma: from the group's perspective they should share their knowledge, whereas individually they are better off not sharing, because acquiring knowledge is costly and they would give up a competitive advantage. Two experiments (N1 = 96,N2 = 192) tested the hypothesis, derived from indirect reciprocity theory, that experts contribute more if their status is being recognised. Expert status was manipulated under different performance feedback conditions and the impact on people's contributions in two different knowledge sharing tasks was analysed. In both studies, experts contributed more when feedback was individualised and public, ensuring both individual status rewards and public recognition. In contrast, novices contributed more when performance feedback was collective, regardless of whether it was public or private feedback. Novices did not have to fear negative performance evaluations under group feedback and could gain in social status as members of a successful group. Social value orientation moderated expert contributions in Study 2, with proself‐oriented experts being particularly susceptible to reputation gains. The studies contribute to the neglected aspect of motivation in knowledge sharing dilemmas where collective and individual interests are not necessarily aligned.
Diversity of lowland hay meadows and pastures in Western and Central Europe
Authors: Rodríguez‐Rojo Maria Pilar , Jiménez‐Alfaro Borja , Jandt Ute , Bruelheide Helge , Rodwell John S. , Schaminée Joop H.J. , Perrin Philip M. , Kącki Zygmunt , Willner Wolfgang , Fernández‐González Federico , Chytrý Milan
Published: August 2017

Questions

Which are the main vegetation types of lowland hay meadows and pastures in Western and Central Europe? What are the main environmental gradients that drive patterns of species composition? Is it possible to classify these grasslands to phytosociological alliances that reflect management practices?

Location

Western and Central Europe (excluding the Alps and Carpathians).

Methods

A database of 21 400 vegetation plots of mesic grasslands across Western and Central Europe was compiled. After geographically stratified resampling, semi‐supervised classification based on the K‐means algorithm was applied to assign a subset of plots into 32 a priori association‐level vegetation types and to search for new types within the subset of non‐assigned plots. The vegetation plots assigned into the final vegetation types were submitted to another K‐means classification to show the grouping into higher‐level vegetation types.

Results

A total of 36 associations were distinguished in the resampled subset of 8277 vegetation plots and were grouped into four large groups: (1) eutrophic and intensively managed hay meadows and permanent pastures; (2) nutrient‐rich grasslands developed from recently abandoned fields or managed under irregular practices of mowing and manuring; (3) non‐eutrophic lowland and submontane hay meadows; (4) extensively managed pastures and Atlantic grazed hay meadows. A PCoA of the associations of these four groups showed that extensively managed pastures were floristically more similar to non‐eutrophic hay meadows than to permanent intensively managed pastures, which was more obvious in the Atlantic region than in Central Europe. Species composition of the lowland hay meadows was clearly differentiated according to biogeographic sectors. Other floristic differences were related to climate, altitude, soil base status and topography.

Conclusions

This analysis challenges the traditional concept of mesic grassland alliances separating hay meadows from pastures. New classification should be based mainly on the differences in management intensity rather than in management practice. Consequently, nutrient‐poor extensive pastures, which currently are not considered in the European Habitats Directive, should receive the same conservation attention as low‐intensive hay meadows, because both types of vegetation can be equally species‐rich and do not differ substantially in floristic composition from each other.