bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychometric sifting to efficiently select the right service employees
Authors: E.G. Bateson John , Wirtz Jochen , Burke Eugene , Vaughan Carly
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Service employees in subordinate service roles are crucial for operational efficiency and service quality. However, the stressful nature of these roles, inappropriate hire selection, and the proliferation of job boards have created massive recruitment problems for HR departments. The purpose of this paper is to highlights the growing costs of recruiting the right candidates for service roles while offering an alternative approach to recruitment that is more efficient and effective than the traditional approach.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study offers empirical evidence of five instances in which the use of psychometric sifting procedures reduced recruitment costs, while improving the quality of the resultant hires.

Findings

– By standing the traditional recruitment process “on its head” and using psychometric tests at the start of the selection process, the recruitment process can be significantly improved. Such tests efficiently weed out unsuitable candidates before they even enter the recruitment process, leaving a smaller, better-qualified pool for possible recruitment.

Practical implications

– Firms can safely use the psychometric sifts to select applicants according to their operational efficiency, customer orientation, and overall performance. This paper illustrates the use of both traditional questionnaire measures and situational judgment tests to remove unsuitable applicants at the start of the selection process. A real-life case study suggests that such an approach increases the hiring success rate from 6:1 to 2:1. In the opening of a new supermarket by a UK group, this process saved 73,000 hours of managers’ time, representing $1.8 million savings in opening costs.

Originality/value

– The paper offers a viable cost-saving alternative to a growing problem for HR departments in service firms and provides directions for further research.
The mediating role of alliance marketing program creativity on the relationship between alliance orientation and market performance in the services industry
Authors: Kang Seongho , Hur Won-Moo , Kim Minsung
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the validity of the already suggested positive relationship between marketing alliance orientation and market performance in a service context, and to investigate the mediating role of alliance marketing program creativity (AMPC) in the relationship in detail.

Design/methodology/approach

– To empirically test the hypotheses, a mail survey was conducted among firms with experience of service alliances in South Korea. A 725 research sample was selected (128 responded) from a database compiled by the Korea Investors Service-Financial Analysis System which provides comprehensive corporate and financial information on firms listed on the Korea Stock Exchange. partial least squares analysis was performed to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– Alliance orientation positively associated with market performance (H1), alliance orientation had a significantly positive effect on alliance marketing program meaningfulness and novelty (H2), and in turn, alliance marketing program meaningfulness and novelty had a significantly positive effect on market performance (H3). In terms of the determination of mediation type, full, or partial, the authors confirmed that the relationship between alliance orientation and market performance was fully mediated by AMPC (novelty and meaningfulness), by finding that the significantly reduced direct effect from alliance orientation to market performance in the mediation model.

Research limitations/implications

– Alliance marketing program meaningfulness and novelty perform the role of full mediators, implying that the meaningfulness, and novelty of AMPC are absolutely indispensable conditions in order for alliance orientation to lead market performance. Moreover, different from the previous studies, the research suggests that alliance marketing program meaningfulness and novelty are equally important antecedents of market performance.

Originality/value

– The positive relationship between alliance orientation and market performance in the service context was empirically tested, and the full mediating role of AMPC was confirmed. The importance of AMPC in the service context is highlighted.
Understanding the role of natural cheese calcium and phosphorous content, residual lactose and salt‐in‐moisture content on block‐type processed cheese functional properties: Cheese hardness and flowability/meltability
Authors: Biswas Ananya C , Muthukumarappan Kasiviswanathan , Marella Chenchaiah , Metzger Lloyd E
Published: September 2014

Four treatments of natural Cheddar cheese with two levels (high and low) of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), and two levels (high and low) of residual lactose were manufactured. Each treatment was subsequently split prior to the salting step of cheese manufacturing processed and salted at two levels (high and low) for a total of eight treatments. The eight treatments included: high Ca and P, high lactose, high salt‐in‐moisture (S/M) content (HHH); high Ca and P, high lactose, low S/M (HHL); high Ca and P, low lactose, high S/M (HLH); high Ca and P, low lactose, low S/M (HLL); low Ca and P, high lactose, high S/M (LHH); low Ca and P, high lactose, low S/M (LHL); low Ca and P, low lactose, high S/M (LLH); and low Ca and P, low lactose, low S/M (LLL). After 2 months of ripening, each treatment of natural Cheddar cheese was used to manufacture processed cheese using a twin‐screw Blentech processed cheese cooker. All of the processed cheese food formulations were balanced for moisture, fat and salt. Texture and melt‐flow characteristics of the processed cheese were evaluated with different techniques, including texture profile analysis (TPA) for hardness and melt profile analysis. There was a considerable increase in cheese hardness for the processed cheeses prepared from high Ca and P content, and high S/M natural cheeses compared with low Ca and P content and low S/M natural cheeses. Moreover, definite decrease in flow rate and extent of flow was observed for processed cheeses manufactured from high Ca and P content, and high S/M natural cheeses than that of low Ca and P content and low S/M natural cheeses. No considerable trend was observed in hardness and melt‐flow characteristics for the processed cheeses manufactured from high and low residual lactose content natural Cheddar cheeses. This study strongly demonstrates that the characteristics of natural cheese (calcium and phosphorus content, lactose content and salt‐in‐moisture content) used in processed cheese manufacture have a significant impact on processed cheese functionality.
Performance of partial statistics in individual‐based landscape genetics
Authors: Kierepka E. M. , Latch E. K.
Published: September 2014

Individual‐based landscape genetic methods have become increasingly popular for quantifying fine‐scale landscape influences on gene flow. One complication for individual‐based methods is that gene flow and landscape variables are often correlated with geography. Partial statistics, particularly Mantel tests, are often employed to control for these inherent correlations by removing the effects of geography while simultaneously correlating measures of genetic differentiation and landscape variables of interest. Concerns about the reliability of Mantel tests prompted this study, in which we use simulated landscapes to evaluate the performance of partial Mantel tests and two ordination methods, distance‐based redundancy analysis (dbRDA) and redundancy analysis (RDA), for detecting isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by landscape resistance (IBR). Specifically, we described the effects of suitable habitat amount, fragmentation and resistance strength on metrics of accuracy (frequency of correct results, type I/II errors and strength of IBR according to underlying landscape and resistance strength) for each test using realistic individual‐based gene flow simulations. Mantel tests were very effective for detecting IBD, but exhibited higher error rates when detecting IBR. Ordination methods were overall more accurate in detecting IBR, but had high type I errors compared to partial Mantel tests. Thus, no one test outperformed another completely. A combination of statistical tests, for example partial Mantel tests to detect IBD paired with appropriate ordination techniques for IBR detection, provides the best characterization of fine‐scale landscape genetic structure. Realistic simulations of empirical data sets will further increase power to distinguish among putative mechanisms of differentiation.
Ecologists overestimate the importance of predictor variables in model averaging: a plea for cautious interpretations
Authors: Galipaud Matthias , Gillingham Mark A. F. , David Morgan , Dechaume‐Moncharmont François‐Xavier
Published: September 2014

Information‐theory procedures are powerful tools for multimodel inference and are now standard methods in ecology. When performing model averaging on a given set of models, the importance of a predictor variable is commonly estimated by summing the weights of models where the variable appears, the so‐called sum of weights (SW). However, SWs have received little methodological attention and are frequently misinterpreted.

We assessed the reliability of SW by performing model selection and averaging on simulated data sets including variables strongly and weakly correlated to the response variable and a variable unrelated to the response. Our aim was to investigate how useful SWs are to inform about the relative importance of predictor variables.

SW can take a wide range of possible values, even for predictor variables unrelated to the response. As a consequence, SW with intermediate values cannot be confidently interpreted as denoting importance for the considered predictor variable. Increasing sample size using an alternative information criterion for model selection or using only a subset of candidate models for model averaging did not qualitatively change our results: a variable of a given effect size can take a wide range of SW values.

Contrary to what is assumed in many ecological studies, it seems hazardous to define a threshold for SW above which a variable is considered as having a statistical effect on the response and SW is not a measure of effect size. Although we did not consider every possible condition of analysis, it is likely that in most situations, SW is a poor estimate of variable's importance.
Information diffusion and the predictability of New Zealand stock market returns
Authors: Lin Hai , Quill Daniel
Published: September 2014

This paper examines the impact of international predictors from liquid markets on the predictability of excess returns in the New Zealand stock market using data from May 1992 to February 2011. We find that US stock market return and VIX contribute significantly to the out‐of‐sample forecasts at short horizons even after controlling for the effect of local predictors, while the contribution by Australian stock market return is not significant. We further demonstrate that the predictability of New Zealand stock market returns using US market predictors could be explained by the information diffusion between these two countries.
Therapeutic value of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with portal vein embolization for primary hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: A pilot study
Authors: Tan Xuefen , Xie Peng , Liu Jibing , Wu Huiyong , Xie Yinfa
Published: September 2014

Aim

To compare clinical outcome and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) + portal vein embolization (PVE) with TACE alone in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT).

Methods

We retrospectively collected patients of HCC with PVTT treated with TACE (5‐FU, oxaliplatin and mitomycin) or TACE + PVE (doxorubicin) between October 2000 and July 2008. Outcomes evaluated include overall survival, response to treatment and side effects.

Results

One hundred and sixteen patients were assessed. The median follow‐up of TACE group and TACE + PVE group was 83 and 85 months, respectively. The tumor response rates were respectively 48/64 and 49/52. The 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year overall survival rates for the TACE and TACE + PVE groups were 39/64, 16/64, 0/64 and 42/52, 19/52, 6/52 respectively (P = 0.015, 0.046 and 0.002, respectively). Three factors were shown as the risk factors which affect the survival of patients: treated by TACE + PVE or TACE; type of PVTT; and absence of cirrhosis.

Conclusion

TACE + PVE may be better than TACE alone to treat primary HCC with PVTT.
On the combination of species cover values from different vegetation layers
Authors: Fischer Hagen S.
Published: September 2014

Phytosociological relevés consist of lists of species occurring on certain plots and their cover values in different vegetation layers. When combining the cover values of two layers into a unique value, the overlap between the layers must be taken into account. With two layers this can easily done by subtracting the product of the cover values from their sum. A general formula to estimate the combined cover for any number of layers, assuming independence of the layers, is presented. This is especially useful for large databases where rich data sets have to be compiled that were originally recorded from different numbers of vegetation layers.
Sharp Teeth or Empty Mouths? European Institutional Diversity and the Sector‐Level Minimum Wage Bite
Authors: Garnero Andrea , Kampelmann Stephan , Rycx François
Published: September 2014

The article explores the link between different institutional features of minimum wage systems and the minimum wage bite. We notably address the striking absence of studies on sectoral‐level minima and exploit unique data covering 17 European countries and information from more than 1,100 collective bargaining agreements. Results provide evidence for a neglected trade‐off: systems with bargained sectoral‐level minima are associated with higher Kaitz indices than systems with statutory floors, but also with more individuals actually paid below prevailing minima. Higher collective bargaining coverage can, to some extent, reduce this trade‐off between sharp teeth (high wage floors) and empty mouths (non‐compliance/non‐coverage).
Association between metabolic syndrome and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS): an observational study in a 4666 European men cohort
Authors: Pashootan Pourya , Ploussard Guillaume , Cocaul Arnaud , de Gouvello Armaury , Desgrandchamps François
Published: September 2014

Objectives

To evaluate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the frequency and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Patients and Methods

In all, 4666 men aged 55–100 years consulting a general practitioner during a 12‐day period in December 2009 have been included in this observational study. LUTS were defined according to the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and metabolic syndrome with the National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III definition. We studied the correlation between metabolic syndrome and its individual components, and the severity of LUTS (IPSS and treatment for LUTS). Analyses were adjusted for body mass index, age, and prostate‐specific antigen level.

Results

Metabolic syndrome was reported in 51.5% of the patients and 47% were treated for LUTS. There was a significant link between metabolic syndrome and treated LUTS (P < 0.001). The risk of being treated for LUTS also increased with an increasing number of metabolic syndrome components present. Metabolic syndrome was positively correlated with the severity of the LUTS (P < 0.001) for overall IPSS and both voiding and storage scores (P < 0.001). Each component of the metabolic syndrome (except high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol) appeared as an independent risk factor of high IPSS and of LUTS treatment in multivariate analysis. Metabolic syndrome was positively correlated with prostate volume.

Conclusions

Our results suggest a significant relationship between LUTS linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia and metabolic syndrome, in terms of frequency and severity. The risk of being treated for LUTS also increased with an increasing number of metabolic syndrome components present. The prevention of such modifiable factors by the promotion of dietary changes and regular physical activity practice may be of great importance for public health.
The drainage of Lake Ojibway in glaciolacustrine sediments of northern Ontario and Quebec, Canada
Authors: Daubois Virginie , Roy Martin , Veillette Jean J. , Ménard Maxime
Published: September 2014

Physical evidence for the drainage of glacial lakes remains relatively rare in depositional records, giving rise to much debate on the location of outlets and discharge pathways, as well as on the climate impact of the attendant meltwater forcing. Lake Ojibway developed following the withdrawal of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in northern Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The late‐stage evolution of this large ice‐dammed lake was influenced by the complex dynamics of the retreating ice margin, which highly complicates the identification of the termination of Lake Ojibway in glaciolacustrine sediment records. Here, we document the composition of sections of rhythmites that contain in their upper part an anomalously thick and whitish bed (10–15 cm) that is in turn overlain by ∼1 m of faintly bedded rhythmites. Grain‐size analyses showed that the thick whitish bed consists primarily of fine to coarse silt (2–63 μm), contrasting with the lower and upper rhythmites that are largely dominated by clay (<2 μm). The detrital carbonate content of the thick silt bed is characterized by consistently high values (2.5 to 2.8%), whereas the bounding rhythmites show lower and highly variable values. Oxygen isotope measurements further show a marked change going from typical glacial meltwater values (∼ −29.6 to −27.7‰; VSMOW) for the lower rhythmites and the silt bed to modern‐like meteoric values (−18.4 to −14.6‰) for the uppermost rhythmites. These data suggest that this marker bed may be associated with a major drawdown event that possibly corresponds to the final drainage of Lake Ojibway. AMS radiocarbon dating of ostracods extracted from the drainage bed also documents an important hardwater effect within the Ojibway basin.
BNIP3 Interacting with LC3 Triggers Excessive Mitophagy in Delayed Neuronal Death in Stroke
Authors: Shi Ruo‐Yang , Zhu Sheng‐Hua , Li Victor , Gibson Spencer B. , Xu Xing‐Shun , Kong Ji‐Ming
Published: September 2014

Introduction

A basal level of mitophagy is essential in mitochondrial quality control in physiological conditions, while excessive mitophagy contributes to cell death in a number of diseases including ischemic stroke. Signals regulating this process remain unknown. BNIP3, a pro‐apoptotic BH3‐only protein, has been implicated as a regulator of mitophagy.

Aims

Both in vivo and in vitro models of stroke, as well as BNIP3 wild‐type and knock out mice were used in this study.

Results

We show that BNIP3 and its homologue BNIP3L (NIX) are highly expressed in a “delayed” manner and contribute to delayed neuronal loss following stroke. Deficiency in BNIP3 significantly decreases both neuronal mitophagy and apoptosis but increases nonselective autophagy following ischemic/hypoxic insults. The mitochondria‐localized BNIP3 interacts with the autophagosome‐localized LC3, suggesting that BNIP3, similar to NIX, functions as a LC3‐binding receptor on mitochondria. Although NIX expression is upregulated when BNIP3 is silenced, up‐regulation of NIX cannot functionally compensate for the loss of BNIP3 in activating excessive mitophagy.

Conclusions

NIX primarily regulates basal level of mitophagy in physiological conditions, whereas BNIP3 exclusively activates excessive mitophagy leading to cell death.
Practical realisation of ozone clearing after disperse dyeing of polyester
Authors: Gundogan Seda , Eren Hüseyin Aksel
Published: September 2014

In this study, a novel system utilising ozone in jet dyeing machines is introduced, and the results of ozone‐clearing treatments of disperse dyed polyester on the prototype modified machine are reported. A Venturi injector was mounted on the liquor circulation pipe of the jet dyeing machine to feed ozone gas into the machine. Ozone was generated via an ozone generator by feeding conditioned air into the generator. The ozone gas entering the pipe partly dissolved in the treatment liquor; the dissolved portion and the gaseous ozone interacted via the fabric in the pipe, especially in the nozzle and also at the bottom of the autoclave (machine body). Disperse dyed polyester fabrics of textile‐company mass production were ozone cleared in this prototype. Ozone clearing was achieved in cold water (room temperature), and no other chemicals were used. The colour of the samples, wet fastness properties, and the chemical oxygen demand of the effluent were investigated, and costs were compared with those of conventional reduction clearing of ozone. Results were outstanding: an 83% cost reduction, 67% timesaving, and an 88% COD reduction were achieved.
Labour Market Relevance of European University Education. From Enrolment to Professional Employment in 12 Countries
Authors: Kivinen Osmo , Nurmi Jouni
Published: September 2014

In accordance with the education policy which puts human capital at its heart, higher education is expected to produce marketable competent professionals in response to the needs of an expansive knowledge‐based economy. In one reading, to support competitive knowledge‐based economy, higher education students should graduate as young and fast as possible. The article asks whether it is credible that the young & fast principle as an objective for university education would provide a feasible way of enhancing professional labour force to serve knowledge economies. The analysis of study careers of 17,000 European second cycle university graduates shows that transitions from school to higher education to professional employment vary considerably in the 12 countries. The key finding is that countries with rather slow progression in the initial part of the transition tend to do better in the end, and vice versa. Belgium (Flanders) is the most obvious example of young and fast‐graduating students that need a relatively long period after graduation to start their professional careers. In Finland, Austria, and Norway, relatively old and experienced graduates are employed rapidly. The time before professional employment after graduation is short for students who have acquired relevant work experience and acquainted themselves with professional fields. The youngest professionals are found in France where they tend to have access to opportunities for professionally relevant training. However, professional employment cannot be fostered by simply trying to recruit student populations as young as possible, but rather by enriching the labour market relevance of their student careers.
GABAB modulation of dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core
Authors: Pitman Kimberley A. , Puil Ernest , Borgland Stephanie L.
Published: September 2014

Modulation of the concentration of dopamine (DA) released from dopaminergic terminals in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) influences behaviours such as the motivation to obtain drugs of abuse. γ‐Aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) receptors are expressed throughout the mesolimbic circuit, including in the NAc, and baclofen, an agonist of GABAB receptors, can decrease drug‐seeking behaviours. However, the mechanism by which GABAB receptors modulate terminal DA release has not been well studied. We explored how baclofen modulates the concentration of DA released from terminals in the NAc core using fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry in brain slices from adult male C57BL/6J mice. We found that baclofen concentration‐dependently decreased single pulse‐evoked DA release. This effect was blocked by the GABAB antagonist, CGP 52432, but not by a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. Suppression of DA release by a saturating concentration of baclofen was sustained for up to 1 h. The effect of baclofen was reduced with electrical stimulations mimicking burst firing of DA neurons. Similar to the D2 receptor agonist, quinpirole, baclofen reduced the probability of DA release, supporting a mechanistic overlap with D2 receptors. Baclofen‐mediated suppression of DA release persisted after a locomotor‐sensitizing cocaine treatment, indicating that GABAB receptors on DA terminals were not altered by cocaine exposure. These data suggest that baclofen‐mediated suppression of terminal DA release is due to GABAB activation on DA terminals to reduce the probability of DA release. This effect does not readily desensitize, and persists regardless of chronic cocaine treatment.
Mate Preference for Novel Phenotypes: A Fresh Face Matters
Authors: Graber Robin E. , Senagolage Madhavi , Ross Elizabeth , Houde Anne E. , Hughes Kimberly A.
Published: September 2014

Conspicuous polymorphism in sexually selected traits is usually attributed to processes such as frequency‐dependent selection that can maintain genetic variation. Recent evidence indicates that dramatic variation of male coloration in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) is promoted by a form of frequency‐dependent selection in which males bearing rare or novel color patterns achieve higher mating success than males bearing common patterns. Active female preference for unfamiliar or rare color patterns has been implicated in generating this rare‐phenotype advantage, but the behavioral processes responsible for the preference remain unclear. To determine whether familiarity that is developed over a very short timescale can lead to a rare‐male mating advantage, we measured female response to courtship by males with color patterns that were the same as or different from that of the previous male to court. Females showed two types of short‐term preference variation in this experiment. On the first trial day, females shifted their preferences on a timescale of minutes, showing strong preference for males bearing a color pattern different from that of the immediately previous male to court. Twenty‐four hours later, females were less responsive to male courtship overall, and there was no difference in females’ response to different‐ and same‐morph males. Females also preferred males with more orange coloration on both trial days, but this color preference was independent of the preference for ‘different’ color patterns. These data suggest that the behavioral process underlying rare‐male advantage in guppies is that females prefer males bearing unfamiliar color patterns and that familiarity is determined over a very short timescale.
Social Dominance in a Gregarious Bird is Related to Body Size But not to Standard Personality Assays
Authors: Funghi Caterina , Leitão Ana V. , Ferreira André C. , Mota Paulo G. , Cardoso Gonçalo C.
Published: September 2014

The recent growth of research on animal personality could provide new insights into our understanding of sociality and the structure of animal groups. Although simple assays of the type commonly used to study animal personality have been shown to correlate with social aggressiveness in some bird species, conflicting empirical results do not yet make it clear when such assays, typically using isolated individuals, predict behaviour within social groups. We measured aggressiveness in groups of a very gregarious species, the common waxbill (Estrilda astrild), and performed five commonly used behavioural assays on the same individuals: tonic immobility, mirror test, novel object test, open‐field test and a variant of the latter in an enriched environment. We found that larger individuals were more dominant and that differences in aggressiveness were repeatable. None of the traditional behavioural assays were related to aggressiveness or dominance. Standard personality assays may fail to capture individual differences relevant to predict social behaviour, and we discuss biological and methodological explanations for these results, such as social behaviour being in part an emergent property of groups rather than an intrinsic property of individuals, or gregarious species being particularly sensitive to the conditions of standard personality assays that test individuals alone.
Trait‐based community assembly of aquatic macrophytes along a water depth gradient in a freshwater lake
Authors: Fu Hui , Zhong Jiayou , Yuan Guixiang , Xie Ping , Guo Longgen , Zhang Xiaolin , Xu Jun , Li Zhongqianng , Li Wei , Zhang Meng , Cao Te , Ni Leyi
Published: September 2014

Trait‐based approaches provide a framework for integrating the distribution of functional traits associated with ecological strategies into the responses of plant community dynamics along environmental gradients. We used a trait‐based approach to unravel the processes governing macrophyte community assembly along a water depth gradient. We sampled 42 plots and 1513 individual plants and measured 12 functional traits and abundance of 17 macrophyte species.

The results showed significant evidences of habitat filtering (i.e. a significant reduction in the range and variance of trait values) and of niche differentiation (i.e. trait values distributed more evenly than expected), both of which affected the functional responses of macrophyte communities associated with different sets of traits in significant different patterns along the gradient.

Habitat filtering effects increased significantly for specific leaf area and leaf carbon content along the gradient. Niche differentiation effects increased significantly for leaf dry mass content, but decreased for ramet size, shoot height and leaf carbon content with increasing water depth, implying that the relative strength of biotic competition in a specific functional niche would vary with water depth.

Intraspecific trait variability promoted significantly the detection of habitat filtering effects on stem diameter, lamina thickness and stem dry mass content, and niche differentiation effects on specific leaf area, leaf dry mass content, shoot height, stem diameter, stem dry mass content and ramet size.

Community assembly processes shape the functional trait distribution within communities along environmental gradients through hierarchical effects of habitat filtering and niche differentiation. Our study highlights that niche differentiation plays a structuring role in macrophyte community assembly and that intraspecific trait variability is an important factor influencing macrophyte community dynamics.
An Application ofTaylor'sPowerLaw to Measure Overdispersion of the Unemployed inEnglish Labor Markets
Authors: Greig Alastair , Dewhurst John , Horner Malcolm
Published: September 2014

Taylor's power law (TPL) is the power relation between mean densities and variance of natural populations, and described as one of ecology's few ubiquitous laws. Although the power model has been increasingly applied in social systems modeling, including economics, this article, usingEnglish andWelsh economic data as an applied example, suggests thatTPLought to be imported more carefully. The article seeks to convince readers that ecological population methodologies can have an important role in analysis of human spatial behavior, and that this function should not be diminished in pursuit of quick interdisciplinary results. Through the production of “scale‐adjusted dispersion indicators,” the article proposes an application ofTPLthat is quite different from its use in ecological modeling.
Palaeo‐formation water evolution in the Latrobe aquifer, Gippsland Basin, south‐eastern Australia continental shelf
Authors: Bourdet J. , Kempton R. , Michael K.
Published: September 2014

Offshore fresh or brackish groundwater has been observed around the globe and represents an interesting but unusual freshwater reserve. Formation waters in sedimentary basins evolve at geological time through fluid–rock interactions and water movements in aquifers. However, the mechanism and timing of freshwater displacing and mixing with pre‐existing formation water offshore under the seafloor has not been investigated in many cases. The growing need for developing freshwater resources in deeper parts of sedimentary basins that have not been economic or technically feasible in the past, may potentially lead to an increasing conflict with petroleum production or injection of carbon dioxide. For being able to assess and mitigate possible impacts of fluid production or injection on groundwater flow and quality, a better understanding of the natural history of the interaction between fresh meteoric water and deep basin formation water is necessary. A low‐salinity wedge of meteoric origin with less than 5000 ppm currently extends to about 20 km offshore in the confined Latrobe aquifer in the Gippsland Basin (Australia). The Latrobe aquifer is a freshwater resource in the onshore, hosts major petroleum reservoirs and has been considered for carbon dioxide storage in the offshore parts of the basin. The objective of this study is to constrain the evolution of formation water in the Latrobe aquifer by investigating the water naturally trapped in fluid inclusions during burial. The measured palaeo‐salinities from onshore and offshore rock samples have a minimum of about 12 500 ppm (NaCl equivalent) and a maximum of about 50 000 ppm. Most of the salinities are in the 32 000–35 000 ppm range. There is no evidence for freshwater in fluid inclusions and the variation in palaeo‐salinity across the basin is consistent with the palaeogeography of deposition of the sedimentary rocks. The current low‐salinity water wedge must have started to form recently after most of the diagenetic processes that led to the trapping of water in fluid inclusions happened. The minimum homogenisation temperatures (Th) recorded are consistent with current formation temperature. However, they are generally higher than present day suggesting that hotter temperatures were attained in the past. The Th and salinity data together suggest that the fluid inclusions record the diagenetic modification of connate water to higher salinities over a time period that was accompanied by an increase in temperature, consistent with a westward palaeo‐fluid flow from the deeper part of the basin through the aquifer. Subsequent pore‐water evolution from palaeo‐ to current day conditions is consistent with an influx of fresher and cooler meteoric water into the Latrobe Group. The meteoric recharge originates from the area of the Baragwanath anticline in the onshore part of the basin where the Latrobe Group subcrops at high elevations.
Gleason drift in the NIHR ProtecT study
Authors: Oxley Jon , Simpkin Andrew , Goepel John , Varma Murali , Griffiths David , Grigor Ken , Mayer Nick , Warren Anne , Deshmukh Nayneeta , Bhattarai Selina , Dormer John , Hounsome Luke , Adamczyk Lukasz A , Metcalfe Christopher , Lane J Athene , Davis Michael , Donovan Jenny L , Neal David E , Hamdy Freddy C , Robinson Mary C ,   the ProtecT Study Group
Published: September 2014

Aims

There is increasing evidence of Gleason score (GS) drift in prostatic core biopsies during the last two decades. The ProtecT study is a randomized controlled study and provides an excellent cohort to study the effect of time, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level, perineural invasion, tumour length and age on GS.

Methods and results

The ProtecT study recruited men in the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2010. The Gleason scores were grouped into four categories ≤3 + 3, 3 + 4, 4 + 3 and ≥4 + 4 for analysis. Data from England between 2000 and 2012 were also available. A total of 3282 biopsies containing cancer were analysed. For each year of the ProtecT study, the odds of being diagnosed with a higher GS category increased by 4.9%. Higher GS was also associated with perineural invasion, increasing tumour length, age and PSA level. While biopsy GS from England was incomplete, it also showed a marked decrease in GS five and six tumours during the same period.

Conclusion

There was GS drift from 3 + 3 to 3 + 4 with time in the ProtecT study, but there appeared to be no significant change in percentage of GS 4 + 3 or higher. This drift was less dramatic when compared to GS in the rest of England.
The physical chemistry of the stratum corneum lipids
Authors: Boncheva M.
Published: September 2014

Synopsis

The extracellular matrix of stratum corneum (SC) participates actively in the defensive performance of human skin. Understanding its physicochemical properties is essential for understanding the skin homoeostasis, for the development of efficient therapies for skin disorders and diseases and for ensuring the safety of products designed for topical application. This article summarizes the current knowledge of the composition, self‐assembly and molecular organization of the SC lipids, reviews the evidence connecting these parameters and the barrier properties of human skin, and outlines the immediate issues in the field of SC lipid research.
A dual role for β1 integrin in an in vitro Streptococcus mitis/human gingival fibroblasts co‐culture model in response to TEGDMA
Authors: Di Nisio C. , De Colli M. , di Giacomo V. , Rapino M. , Di Valerio V. , Marconi G. D. , Gallorini M. , Di Giulio M. , Cataldi A. , Zara S.
Published: September 2014

Aim

To evaluate the effect of TEGDMA on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) in vitro co‐cultured with Streptococcus mitis, focusing on the signalling pathways underlying cell tissue remodelling and inflammatory response processes.

Methodology

β1 integrin expression was evaluated by means of imaging flow cytometry. The Western blot technique was used to investigate the expression of protein kinase C (PKC), extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and 3 (MMP3). RT‐PCR was performed to quantify nuclear factor‐kb subunits (Nf‐kb1, ReLa), IkB kinase β (IkBkB), cyclooxygenase II (COX‐2) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) mRNA levels. Statistical analysis was performed using the analysis of variance (anova).

Results

When HGFs are co‐cultured with S. mitis, β1 integrin intensity, phosphorylated PKC (p‐PKC), activated ERK (p‐ERK), IkBkB mRNA level and MMP9 expression increased (for all molecules P < 0.05 HGFs versus HGFs co‐cultured with S. mitis). A higher level of MMP3 in HGFs treated with TEGDMA was recorded (P < 0.05 HGFs versus HGFs exposed to TEGDMA). COX‐2 inflammatory factor mRNA level appeared higher in HGFs exposed to 1 mmol L−1 TEGDMA (P < 0.01 HGFs versus HGFs exposed to TEGDMA), whereas TNF‐α gene expression was higher in HGFs co‐cultured with S. mitis (P < 0.05 HGFs versus HGFs co‐cultured with S. mitis).

Conclusions

β1 integrin triggered the signalling pathway, transduced by p‐PKCα and involving ERK 1 and 2 and MMPs. This pathway resulted in an unbalanced equilibrium in tissue remodelling process, along with inflammatory response when HGFs are exposed to bacteria or biomaterial alone. On the contrary, the TEGDMA/S. mitis combination restored the balance between extracellular matrix deposition and degradation and prevented an inflammatory response.
Enteral tube feeding of patients with acute stroke: when does the risk of diarrhoea increase?
Authors: Arevalo‐Manso J. J. , Martinez‐Sanchez P. , Juarez‐Martin B. , Fuentes B. , Ruiz‐Ares G. , Sanz‐Cuesta B. E. , Parrilla‐Novo P. , Diez‐Tejedor E.
Published: September 2014

Background/Aim

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the length of time acute stroke patients underwent enteral tube feeding (ETF) and episodes of diarrhoea, and to investigate the temporal cut‐off point at which diarrhoea risk increases.

Methods

An observational, retrospective study was conducted on patients with acute stroke admitted to a Stroke Centre. Patients undergoing ETF (ETF group) and those not undergoing ETF (control group) were analysed and matched by age and stroke severity. Data regarding demographic and clinical variables were recorded. The analysis was conducted using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and multivariate analyses.

Results

A total of 130 inpatients was included (age 75.08 ± 11.53 years, 56.2% men). The ETF group had higher diarrhoea frequency (27.7% vs 6.2%, P = 0.001). The length of time on ETF was associated with diarrhoea development (odds ratio (OR), 1.12 increment per day; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–1.18; P < 0.001), after adjusting for confounders. The ROC curve showed 7 days on ETF as a cut‐off point for diarrhoea risk. Seven days or more on ETF was independently associated with diarrhoea (OR, 6.26; 95% CI 1.66–23.62; P = 0.007), whereas less than 7 days was not when compared with the control group (OR, 0.38; 95% CI 0.04–3.91; P = 0.413).

Conclusions

The length of time on ETF is associated with diarrhoea development in patients with acute stroke, demonstrating a temporal cut‐off point. Seven days or longer on ETF is related to the occurrence of diarrhoea, whereas less than 7 days on ETF does not show this effect.
Children's discomfort may vary among different treatments for initial approximal caries lesions: preliminary findings of a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Mattos‐Silveira Juliana , Floriano Isabela , Ferreira Fernanda R. , Viganó Maria Eduarda F. , Mendes Fausto M. , Braga Mariana M.
Published: September 2014

Background

Longer and more complex dental procedures could negatively affect patient's acceptability of minimal invasive techniques.

Aims and Methods

Therefore, this short communication aims to show the preliminary findings regarding children's discomfort reported after some minimal invasive treatments in treating initial caries lesions on approximal surfaces: flossing instruction, silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application and caries resin infiltration.

Results

Children allocated in the infiltration group showed higher levels of discomfort than those in the SDF and control groups.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the simplest interventions for approximal initial caries lesions cause less discomfort for children and should be applied where possible.
The deep structure of organizational online networking – an actor‐oriented case study
Authors: Trier Matthias , Richter Alexander
Published: September 2014

While research on organizational online networking recently increased significantly, most studies adopt quantitative research designs with a focus on the consequences of social network configurations. Very limited attention is paid to comprehensive theoretical conceptions of the complex phenomenon of organizational online networking. We address this gap by adopting a theoretical framework of the deep structure of organizational online networking with a focus on their emerging meaning for the employees. We apply and assess the framework in a qualitative case study of a large‐scale implementation of a corporate social network site (SNS) in a global organization. We reveal organizational online networking as a multi‐dimensional phenomenon with multiplex relationships that are unbalanced, primarily consist of weak ties and are subject to temporal change. Further, we identify discourse drivers and information retrievers as two mutually interdependent actor roles as an explanation for uneven levels of user contributions to the SNS. Based on our analysis, we elicit abstract order principles, such as topical discourses, and identify transactive memory theory as a potent explanation of the evolving interaction structures. We finally discuss how the deep structure framework can contribute to future research on organizational networks.
A DFT Study of Structural and Electronic Properties of ZnS Polymorphs and its Pressure‐Induced Phase Transitions
Authors: La Porta Felipe A. , Gracia Lourdes , Andrés Juan , Sambrano Júlio R. , Varela Jose A. , Longo Elson
Published: September 2014

A systematic first‐principles investigation, by using the density functional formalism with the nonlocal B3LYP approximation including a long‐range dispersion correction, has been performed to calculate the structural and electronic properties and phase transitions under pressure of the three phases of ZnS (cubic zinc blende, ZB, hexagonal wurtzite, W, and cubic rock salt, RS). Numerical and analytical fittings have been carried out to determine the equilibrium unit cell geometry and equation of state parameters for the ZnS phases. The band structures, energy gap, density of states, and vibrational frequencies and their pressure dependences are investigated. The present results illustrate that both phases, W and ZB, present very similar enthalpy and the RS phase becomes thermodynamically more stable than ZB and W structures at 15.0 and 15.5 GPa, respectively. These phase transitions are accompanied by an increase of the first shell coordination number of Zn atom and by a cell volume collapse of 13.9% and 14.3% for ZB and W phases, respectively. The atomic contributions of the conduction and valence bands, as well the binding energy for the Zn 3d orbital have been obtained.
Contemporary ecotypic divergence during a recent range expansion was facilitated by adaptive introgression
Authors: Lucek K. , Lemoine M. , Seehausen O.
Published: September 2014

Although rapid phenotypic evolution during range expansion associated with colonization of contrasting habitats has been documented in several taxa, the evolutionary mechanisms that underlie such phenotypic divergence have less often been investigated. A strong candidate for rapid ecotype formation within an invaded range is the three‐spine stickleback in theLakeGeneva region of centralEurope. Since its introduction only about 140 years ago, it has undergone a significant expansion of its range and its niche, now forming phenotypically differentiated parapatric ecotypes that occupy either the pelagic zone of the large lake or small inlet streams, respectively. By comparing museum collections from different times with contemporary population samples, we here reconstruct the evolution of parapatric phenotypic divergence through time. Using genetic data from modern samples, we infer the underlying invasion history. We find that parapatric habitat‐dependent phenotypic divergence between the lake and stream was already present in the first half of the twentieth century, but the magnitude of differentiation increased through time, particularly in antipredator defence traits. This suggests that divergent selection between the habitats occurred and was stable through much of the time since colonization. Recently, increased phenotypic differentiation in antipredator defence traits likely results from habitat‐dependent selection on alleles that arrived through introgression from a distantly related lineage from outside the Lake Geneva region. This illustrates how hybridization can quickly promote phenotypic divergence in a system where adaptation from standing genetic variation was constrained.