bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
It’s just not fair: exploring the effects of firm customization on unfairness perceptions, trust and loyalty
Authors: Nguyen Bang , “Phil” Klaus Philipp , Simkin Lyndon
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to (a) develop a conceptual framework exploring the relationships between perceived negative firm customization, unfairness perceptions, and customer loyalty intentions, and (b) investigate the moderating effects of trust in these relationships. The study explores how customizing offers to match customers’ individual needs and how treating customers differentially provoke unfairness perceptions among those not being considered most important. While the literature discusses unfairness perceptions of pricing, promotion, and service, less is known about unfairness in customization practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a survey approach, 443 completed questionnaires we collected. Following validation of our item measures, a hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to test the conceptual model and hypothesized linkages between our constructs.

Findings

– The results demonstrate that customers’ negative perceptions of customization increase their unfairness perceptions. Unfairness perceptions drastically reduce customer loyalty intentions with trust acting as a significant moderator. Trust increases loyalty intentions even when unfairness perceptions are present. Our findings provide a foundation for understanding how firms may improve their perceived fairness. This increase in perceived fairness creates positive attributions, reduces negative customer experience perceptions and increases loyalty intentions.

Originality/value

– Key contribution is the development and validation of a conceptual model explaining the linkages between firm customization and unfairness perceptions, firm customization and customer loyalty intentions and the moderating role of trust between these relationships. This study extends the understanding of how customization practices impact unfairness perceptions and, subsequently, influence consumers’ perceptions, intentions and behavior.
Sustainable consumption and the UK’s leading retailers
Authors: Jones Peter , Hillier David , Comfort Daphne
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to offer an exploratory case study of how the UK’s leading retailers are addressing sustainable consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper begins with a discussion of the growing awareness of the importance of sustainable consumption and of the role that retailers can play in promoting more sustainable patterns of consumption. This is followed by a short literature review of current thinking on sustainable consumption. The paper draws its empirical information from the top ten UK retailers’ corporate websites and from an observational survey conducted in these retailers’ largest stores in the town of Cheltenham in the UK. The paper concludes with some reflections on how the UK’s leading retailers are addressing sustainable consumption and on how the concept fits into their business models.

Findings

– The findings reveal that the UK’s top ten retailers make very limited public corporate commitments to sustainable consumption and that while some of these retailers were offering customers some information which might encourage more sustainable shopping behaviour, such information was systematically undermined by marketing messages which were designed to encourage rather than restrict consumption. More critically the paper concludes that the leading retailers’ commitments to sustainable consumption are couched within existing business models centred on continuing growth and that as such they are effectively ignoring the fact that present levels of consumption are not sustainable.

Originality/value

– This paper provides an accessible review of the extent to which the UK’s leading food retailers are addressing sustainable consumption and communicating sustainable consumption agendas to their customers within stores, and, as such, it will be of value to academics, practitioners, consumer organizations and policymakers interested in the role retailers can play in promoting sustainable consumption.
Cause-related marketing (CaRM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Authors: Jahdi Khosro
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to investigate the basis of conveying a socially responsible image of organisations through a cause-related marketing (CaRM) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was conducted mainly through the evaluation and review of material on the subject area, i.e. secondary research.

Findings

– The findings of the research indicate that CaRM has the potential to improve an organisation’s stance in the society and depict it as a socially responsible entity. One major finding of the research is that without an appropriate and relevant “strategic fit”, time and effort invested in CaRM might prove futile.

Research limitations/implications

– The limited material on the subject of CaRM in general and its relationship with CSR in particular makes the task of preparing such a paper something of a challenge.

Practical implications

– The results show that the quality of an organisation’s image and reputation in the eyes of its stakeholders can be influenced by its CSR-related initiatives. However, the firm should invest time and money to make this feasible.

Social implications

– The absence of a strategic fit between a firm and its cause could prove to be counter-productive in the societyvis-à-visits corporate image and reputation.

Originality/value

– This paper adds to previous CSR- and marketing-related research and publications and aims to provide an insight into the dynamics of CaRM.
Forecasting Inflation Using Constant Gain Least Squares
Authors: Antipin Jan‐Erik , Boumediene Farid Jimmy , Österholm Pär
Published: October 2014

This paper assesses the usefulness of constant gain least squares when forecasting inflation. An out‐of‐sample forecast exercise is conducted, in which univariate autoregressive models for inflation in Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States are used. The results suggest that it is possible to improve the forecast accuracy by employing constant gain least squares instead of ordinary least squares. In particular, when using a gain of 0.05, constant gain least squares generally outperforms the corresponding autoregressive model estimated with ordinary least squares. In fact, at longer forecast horizons, the root mean square forecast error is reliably lowered for all four countries and for all lag lengths considered in the study.
Free Trade and Economic Growth
Authors: Kuo Kuo‐Hsing , Lee Cheng‐Te , Fang Chen
Published: October 2014

This paper extends the Das (2005) model to set up an equilibrium growth model with heterogeneous labor to analyse the growth effects after trade openness. We prove that if the terms of trade large enough before opening trade, then it is more likely that opening trade would accelerate economic growth for a small open country, vice versa.
Quantifying invasion risk: the relationship between establishment probability and founding population size
Authors: Duncan Richard P. , Blackburn Tim M. , Rossinelli Silvia , Bacher Sven
Published: October 2014

Invasive species usually start out as small colonizing populations that are prone to extinction through demographic stochasticity and Allee effects, leading to a positive relationship between establishment probability and founding population size. However, establishment success also depends on the environment to which species are introduced: for a given species, some locations will be more favourable for establishment than others.

We present equations for modelling the expected relationship between establishment probability and founding population size when demographic stochasticity, Allee effects and, for the first time, environmental heterogeneity are operating.

We show that heterogeneity in environmental conditions can change the shape of the relationship between establishment probability and founding population size through a disproportionate decline in the probability of establishment in larger populations, the opposite of an Allee effect. This outcome is likely in most empirical data sets relating founding population size to establishment probability, and highlights that unfavourable environments are often the major cause of establishment failures. It also emphasizes the insights that can be gained from applying models with a theoretical underpinning.
Linking aquatic and terrestrial environments: can beaver canals serve as movement corridors for pond‐breeding amphibians?
Authors: Anderson N. L. , Paszkowski C. A. , Hood G. A.
Published: October 2014

BeaversCastor canadensisare well known as ecosystem engineers for creating ponds by damming streams. However, in wetlands with soft substrates and shallow banks, beavers often dig networks of foraging canals, the ecological effects of which have received little study. We examined how canals are used by pond‐breeding amphibians during dispersal and migration between aquatic and terrestrial habitat, focusing on the wood frogLithobates sylvaticus, inMiquelonLakeProvincialPark,Alberta,Canada. In late summer, the number of emigrating young‐of‐the‐year (YOY) wood frogs encountered at drift fences in riparian zones was highest at beaver canals and declined with distance from canal edges. On visual encounter surveys along the pond perimeter,YOYand adult wood frogs were up to nine times more abundant on beaver canals than along shorelines not modified by beavers. Beaver canals provided habitat for adult wood frogs and also functioned as movement corridors for emigratingYOYfrogs, with possible implications for survival to maturity, meta‐population dynamics and nutrient transfer between aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Association between serrated polyps and the risk of synchronous advanced colorectal neoplasia in average‐risk individuals
Authors: Ng S. C. , Ching J. Y. L. , Chan V. C. W. , Wong M. C. S. , Tang R. , Wong S. , Luk A. K. C. , Lam T. Y. T. , Gao Q. , Chan A. W. H. , Wu J. C. Y. , Chan F. K. L. , Lau J. Y. W. , Sung J. J. Y.
Published: October 2014

Background

Serrated polyps of the colorectum have distinct histological features and malignant potential.

Aim

To assess the association between the presence of serrated polyps and synchronous advanced colorectal neoplasia.

Methods

Among 4989 asymptomatic Chinese individuals aged 50–70 years who underwent screening colonoscopy, 281 cases with advanced neoplasia (adenoma ≥1 cm, with tubulovillous/villous histology, with high‐grade dysplasia, or invasive adenocarcinoma) were compared with 4708 controls without advanced neoplasia for age, sex, smoking history, body mass index, family history of colorectal cancer and the presence of serrated polyps. Independent predictors of advanced neoplasia were determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

The prevalence of advanced neoplasia and serrated polyps (excluding small distal hyperplastic polyps) was 5.7% and 5.6%, respectively. 3.7% and 0.4% subjects had proximal and large (≥10 mm) serrated polyps, respectively. Independent predictors of synchronous advanced colorectal neoplasia were the presence of sessile serrated adenomas (OR: 4.52; 95% CI: 2.40–8.49), proximal serrated polyps (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.38–3.60), large serrated polyps (OR: 59.25; 95% CI: 18.85–186.21), hyperplastic polyps (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.03–2.67), three or more serrated polyps (OR: 4.86; 95% CI: 1.24–19.15) and one or more non‐advanced tubular adenomas (OR: 3.58, 95% CI: 2.59–4.96).

Conclusion

Detection of proximal, sessile and/or large serrated polyps at screening colonoscopy is independently associated with an increased risk for synchronous advanced neoplasia.
Regression Analysis of Mixed Recurrent-Event and Panel-Count Data with Additive Rate Models
Authors: Zhu Liang , Zhao Hui , Sun Jianguo , Leisenring Wendy , Robison Leslie L.
Published: October 2014

Event-history studies of recurrent events are often conducted in fields such as demography, epidemiology, medicine, and social sciences (Cook and Lawless, 2007, The Statistical Analysis of Recurrent Events. New York: Springer-Verlag; Zhao et al., 2011, Test  20, 1–42). For such analysis, two types of data have been extensively investigated: recurrent-event data and panel-count data. However, in practice, one may face a third type of data, mixed recurrent-event and panel-count data or mixed event-history data. Such data occur if some study subjects are monitored or observed continuously and thus provide recurrent-event data, while the others are observed only at discrete times and hence give only panel-count data. A more general situation is that each subject is observed continuously over certain time periods but only at discrete times over other time periods. There exists little literature on the analysis of such mixed data except that published by Zhu et al. (2013, Statistics in Medicine  32, 1954–1963). In this article, we consider the regression analysis of mixed data using the additive rate model and develop some estimating equation-based approaches to estimate the regression parameters of interest. Both finite sample and asymptotic properties of the resulting estimators are established, and the numerical studies suggest that the proposed methodology works well for practical situations. The approach is applied to a Childhood Cancer Survivor Study that motivated this study.
A Comparison of Maternal Attitudes to Breastfeeding in Public and the Association with Breastfeeding Duration in Four European Countries: Results of a Cohort Study
Authors: Scott Jane A. , Kwok Yin Ying , Synnott Kate , Bogue Joe , Amarri Sergio , Norin Elizabeth , Gil Angel , Edwards Christine A. ,   Other Members of the INFABIO Project Team
Published: October 2014

Background

There is wide variation in the duration of breastfeeding across Europe which may in part be due to the between‐country differences in mothers' and societal attitudes towards breastfeeding in public. The objective of this study was to quantify and compare the maternal attitudes to, and practice of, breastfeeding in public in four European centers and investigate the association with duration of breastfeeding.

Methods

Participants (n = 389) were mothers recruited from maternity wards of hospitals in Glasgow (Scotland), Stockholm (Sweden), Granada (Spain), and Reggio‐Emilia (Italy).

Results

Among those who had breastfed, Scottish (adjOR 0.25 [95% CI 0.12–0.50]) and Italian mothers (adjOR 0.30 [95% CI 0.14–0.63]) were significantly less likely than Swedish mothers to have ever breastfed in public. Mothers who had a negative attitude toward breastfeeding in public were less likely to have ever breastfed in public (adjOR 0.05 [95% CI 0.02–0.17]), and those who had never breastfed in public were in turn more likely to discontinue breastfeeding earlier.

Conclusions

Perceived social norms may exert a stronger influence on breastfeeding outcomes than a woman's breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge. Differences between European countries in the duration of breastfeeding may be explained in part by differences in societal attitudes to breastfeeding in public.
Hypogonadal symptoms in young men are associated with a serum total testosterone threshold of 400 ng/dL
Authors: Scovell Jason M. , Ramasamy Ranjith , Wilken Nathan , Kovac Jason R. , Lipshultz Larry I.
Published: October 2014

Objective

To investigate the association between hypogonadal symptoms and serum total testosterone (TT) levels in young men (aged <40 years), in an attempt to determine whether there exists a clear‐cut discriminatory threshold of TT below which hypogonadal symptoms become more prevalent.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 352 men who presented to an outpatient Men's Health Clinic with chief complaint of ‘low testosterone’. Sexual, psychological and physical symptoms were evaluated using the Androgen deficiency in Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaire. Serum levels of TT were collected on the same day that men completed their ADAM questionnaires. We subsequently performed univariate (t‐test, chi‐square) and multivariate analyses (ordinal logistic regression) to evaluate factors that predicted a low TT level.

Results

The probability of hypogonadal symptoms increased at a serum TT level of 400 ng/dL. A cluster of symptoms: two psychological (‘decreased energy’, ‘sadness’), and three physical (‘decreased strength and endurance’, ‘decreased ability to play sports’, and ‘deterioration in work performance’) were most strongly associated with serum TT levels of <400 ng/dL. On multivariable analysis, only ‘lack of energy’ predicted a TT level of <400 ng/dL.

Conclusions

Hypogonadal symptoms in men aged <40 years can be associated with a TT level of <400 ng/dL. Of the hypogonadal symptoms evaluated with the ADAM questionnaire, ‘lack of energy’ appears to be the most important symptom that predicts a TT level of <400 ng/dL.
Emotions as Constraining and Facilitating Factors for Creativity: Companionate Love and Anger
Authors: Yang Jen‐Shou , Hung Ha Viet
Published: October 2014

Generally the literature has favoured the notion that positive affect facilitates creative performance. However, a recent critical review has demonstrated that negative affect can enhance cognitive performance and improve motivation. Moreover, with a few exceptions, previous research comparing positive and negative affect as either a facilitator of or a constraint on creativity factors has rested primarily on the valence approach. Unfortunately, the results were mixed. This paper explores the effects of two common specific emotions elicited in work team processes, anger and companionate love, on individual creativity, with the cognitive‐activation and the functions‐of‐emotions perspectives. The results from our experiment demonstrate that positive emotions can constrain and negative emotions can foster creative performance. More specifically, we found that companionate love constrains creativity, whereas anger facilitates it. Furthermore, our qualitative analyses of interviews with employees justify the implications of the experimental results in an organizational context. Our findings suggest that nurturing a moderate degree of hostility towards opposing ideas from others in an idea‐generation process while concurrently encouraging thoughtfulness in an idea‐implementation process can facilitate managing organizational innovation processes.
Substance‐dependent women becoming mothers: breaking the cycle of adverse childhood experiences
Authors: Wiig Eli Marie , Haugland Bente Storm Mowatt , Halsa Astrid , Myhra Siv Merethe
Published: October 2014

Parenting may be particularly challenging for substance‐dependent mothers who have grown up with parents who themselves had substance use disorders (SUDs). The aim of this study was to explore how substance‐dependent mothers describe their childhood experiences with substance‐abusing parents and the association between these earlier experiences and their own role as caregivers. Using purposeful sampling, mothers admitted for 1 year to a family ward at a substance abuse clinic were approached. Through in‐depth, qualitative interviews, nine substance‐dependent mothers described their lives in the form of present, past and future tense. The findings indicate that substance‐dependent women, who have experienced SUDs in their families of origin, face several major challenges when they become mothers. Some describe having lived their whole lives ‘on the edge of society'. This makes their rehabilitation process more complex. All mothers work to abstain from substances, process traumatic experiences and integrate their family into society. They need help to build supportive social networks and to establish a safe and predictable family environment for themselves and their children. The therapeutic implications of these findings will be discussed.
Factors Associated With Emergency Department Visits for Migraine: An Observational Study
Authors: Minen Mia T. , Loder Elizabeth , Friedman Benjamin
Published: October 2014

Objective/Background

This study aims to determine why patients with migraine present to an emergency department (ED). While migraine accounts for over 800,000 ED visits annually, no prospectively gathered data characterize patients' reasons for presenting to an ED.

Methods

We prospectively interviewed 309 consecutive patients presenting to an urban ED for headache. Patients were asked 100 closed‐ended questions regarding sociodemographics, headache history, and current headache attack. We performed descriptive analyses on patients fulfilling International Classification of Headache Disorders 2 migraine criteria.

Results

Of 186 patients who met migraine criteria, 77% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 71, 83%) had a primary care provider (PCP), 87% (95% CI: 82, 92%) had medical insurance, and 83% (95% CI: 77, 88%) had drug coverage. Fifty‐three percent (95% CI: 46, 60%) reported that they previously visited a doctor for headache. Fifty‐five percent (95% CI: 48, 62%) previously received a migraine diagnosis. Twenty‐two percent (95% CI: 16, 28%) sought medical care for the current headache prior to ED presentation. Fifty‐five percent (95% CI: 48, 63%) took abortive medication for migraine on the day of the ED visit. Median headache duration was 24 hours (IQR: 12‐72). Forty‐nine percent (95% CI: 42, 57%) screened positive for depression. The most common reason for visiting the ED was a perceived emergency condition or referral by a physician (33.3% [95% CI: 27, 40%]). Other commonly cited reasons related to access to care.

Conclusions

Most migraineurs presenting to the ED have a PCP and health insurance. ED visits commonly result from an inability to access care elsewhere and because patients consider pain to be an emergency condition. Missed opportunities for diagnosis and treatment likely contribute to ED visits.
Chronic bladder ischemia and oxidative stress: New pharmacotherapeutic targets for lower urinary tract symptoms
Authors: Nomiya Masanori , Andersson Karl‐Erik , Yamaguchi Osamu
Published: October 2014

Chronic bladder ischemia is potentially a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms in the elderly. Epidemiological studies have shown a close association between lower urinary tract symptoms and vascular risk factors for atherosclerosis, and investigations using transrectal color Doppler ultrasonography have shown a negative correlation between decreased lower urinary tract perfusion and International Prostate Symptom Score in elderly patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. Bladder blood flow is also known to decrease in men with bladder outlet obstruction as a result of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Studies in animal models suggest that chronic bladder ischemia and repeated ischemia/reperfusion during a micturition cycle might produce oxidative stress, leading to denervation of the bladder and the expression of tissue‐damaging molecules in the bladder wall, which could be responsible for the development of bladder hyperactivity progressing to bladder underactivity. The effects of drugs with different mechanisms of action; for example, α1‐adrenoceptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, free radical scavengers and β3‐adrenoceptor agonist, have been studied in animal models of chronic bladder ischemia. The drugs, representing different treatment principles for increasing blood flow and decreasing oxidative stress, showed protective effects not only on urodynamic parameters, but also on negative effects on muscle contractility and on detrimental structural bladder wall changes. Improvement of lower urinary tract perfusion and control of oxidative stress can be considered new therapeutic strategies for treatment of bladder dysfunction induced by chronic ischemia.
Coarsened Propensity Scores and Hybrid Estimators for Missing Data and Causal Inference
Authors: Zhou Jie , Zhang Zhiwei , Li Zhaohai , Zhang Jun
Published: October 2014

In the areas of missing data and causal inference, there is great interest in doubly robust (DR) estimators that involve both an outcome regression (RG) model and a propensity score (PS) model. These DR estimators are consistent and asymptotically normal if either model is correctly specified. Despite their theoretical appeal, the practical utility of DR estimators has been disputed (e.g. Kang and Schaffer, Statistical Science 2007; 22: 523–539). One of the major concerns is the possibility of erratic estimates resulting from near‐zero denominators due to extreme values of the estimated PS. In contrast, the usual RG estimator based on the RG model alone is efficient when the RG model is correct and generally more stable than the DR estimators, although it can be biased when the RG model is incorrect. In light of the unique advantages of the RG and DR estimators, we propose a class of hybrid estimators that attempt to strike a reasonable balance between the RG and DR estimators. These hybrid estimators are motivated by heuristic arguments that coarsened PS estimates are less likely to take extreme values and less sensitive to misspecification of the PS model than the original model‐based PS estimates. The proposed estimators are compared with existing estimators in simulation studies and illustrated with real data from a large observational study on obstetric labour progression and birth outcomes.
Narratives of family transition during the first year post‐head injury: perspectives of the non‐injured members
Authors: Whiffin Charlotte Jane , Bailey Christopher , Ellis‐Hill Caroline , Jarrett Nickey , Hutchinson Peter J.
Published: October 2014

Aim

To explore the narratives created by non‐injured family members in relation to themselves and their family in the first year after head injury.

Background

A head injury is a potentially devastating injury. The family responds to this injury by supporting the individual and their recovery. While the perspective of individual family members has been well documented, there is growing interest in how the family as a whole makes sense of their experiences and how these experiences change over time.

Design

Longitudinal narrative case study using unstructured in‐depth interviews.

Methods

Data were collected during an 18‐month period (August 2009–December 2010). Nine non‐injured family members from three families were recruited from an acute neurosurgical ward and individual narrative interviews were held at one, three and 12 months postinjury where participants were asked to talk about their experience of head injury. Analysis was completed on three levels: the individual; the family and between family cases with the aim of identifying a range of interwoven narrative threads.

Findings

Five interwoven narratives were identified: trauma, recovery, autobiographical, suffering and family. The narrative approach emphasized that the year posthead injury was a turbulent time for families, who were active agents in the process of change.

Conclusion

This study has shown the importance of listening to people's stories and understanding their journeys irrespective of the injured person's outcome. Change postinjury is not limited to the injured person: family members need help to understand that they too are changing as a result of their experiences.
Design of Finned Pipe Network to Improve Efficiency of Butter Melter
Authors: Warrier A.S. , Sawhney I.K. , Minz P.S.
Published: October 2014

This study was undertaken to improve the efficiency of industrial butter melter. Butter is generally kept in cold storage at −18 to −20C in 20–25 kg blocks. Butter blocks are melted in a vat/kettle before being further processed or mixed with other food ingredients. The equipment comprised of a network of pipes with longitudinal plate fins, melting tank and hot water system. The improved piping system was designed using Matlab programming. The effect of fins and application of pressure (0, 750 and 1,500 Pa) for butter block pressing were studied. The equipment was evaluated in terms of cutting capacity, heat utilization efficiency, melted butter percentage, volumetric reduction ratio, overall heat transfer coefficient (U‐value) and average temperature gradient in pipe network. It was observed that the finned pipe network was better than network without fins. The combination of a network with fins and application of pressure (1,500 Pa) improved the butter block cutting capacity by three times.

Practical Applications

An improved butter melter was designed and developed using finned pipe network. This study gives insight into use of fins to improve heat transfer for food processing application such as thawing, melting, etc.
Comparison of Fatty Acid Analysis with Serotype and Pulsed‐Field Gel Electrophoresis for Typing Salmonella Isolated from Retail Foods and Human
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Xing Xiaonan , Wang Xin , Yang Baowei , Fu Chengyu , Liu Dehao , Guo Chunfeng
Published: October 2014

Whole‐cell fatty acid analysis by pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was compared with pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and serotyping to determine the best suited method for identification of Salmonella strains. Forty‐two isolates were analyzed and 10 fatty acids were identified in all of the tested strains. The main fatty acid component was n‐hexadecanoic acid (C16:0), followed by cis‐9‐hexadecenoic acid (C16:1ω‐7c), cis‐10‐heptadecenoic acid (C17:1ω‐7c), tetradecanoic acid (C14:0), cis‐10‐nonadecenoic acid (C19:1ω‐9c), trans‐2‐dodecenoic acid (C12:1ω‐10t), cis‐vaccenic acid (C18:1ω‐8c), dodecanoic acid (C12:0), octadecanoic acid (C18:0) and 2‐tridecanoic acid (E)‐(C13:0). Whole‐cell fatty acid analysis, PFGE and serotyping yielded 38, 35 and 29 types, respectively. Simpson's diversity indices of the three typing methods were 0.994, 0.985 and 0.943, respectively. PFGE grouped all the strains into 27 clusters based on 80% similarity. Fatty acid analysis was grouped into four clusters based on r = 0.8. Our findings indicate that whole‐cell fatty acid analysis was found to help with rapid identification of Salmonella strains. Whole‐cell fatty acid analysis was not only as portable as PFGE and serotyping but also more rapid and cost‐effective.

Practical Applications

Foodborne diseases caused by Salmonella enterica represent an important public health problem worldwide. Therefore, tracing sporadic cases and outbreaks of Salmonella infection is important for epidemiological purposes. In this context, fatty acid analysis is a rapid and cost‐effective method for identification and classification of Salmonella strains, and it can help expedite the process of foodborne outbreak investigation.
A Rapid Multiplex PCR‐DHPLC Method of Detection and Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria in Aquatic Products
Authors: Zhan Xiaowei , Zheng Qiuyue , Fu Junfan , Xu Junyi , Cao Jijuan
Published: October 2014

In this study, we established a multiplex polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography (MPCR‐DHPLC) method for rapid detection of the aquatic‐associated pathogens Vibrio cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. mimicus, V. alginolyticus and Listeria monocytogenes. Specific primer sets targeting the dnaJ gene of the Vibrio species and the hly gene of L. monocytogenes were used. We also defined the optimal primer concentrations to detect each Vibrio species. We used the MPCR‐DHPLC method to identify target bacteria in aquatic products. Performance characteristics of the MPCR‐DHPLC system showed that it is specific for six common pathogenic bacterial species and can be used for the practical detection of these pathogens in aquatic products. Furthermore, two practical applications of two environmental water samples were tested according to this method by MPCR‐DHPLC, then the results of detection were consistent with conventional tests but faster. It showed that this method proved to be a fast, sensitive and specific tool for V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. mimicus, V. alginolyticus and L. monocytogenes detection in a routine microbiological laboratory.

Practical Applications

Various bacterial species can be simultaneously detected with the same PCR reaction. A MPCR‐DHPLC method of identification of various bacterial species was established. This method improves test efficiency and minimizes test time.
The Effects of the Specialist Schools Education Policy on School and Post‐School Outcomes in England
Authors: Bradley Steve , Migali Giuseppe
Published: October 2014

We investigate the effects of the specialist schools policy, introduced in 1994 in England, on test scores and truancy for pupils during compulsory schooling. We also assess the effects on labour market status and post‐secondary test score performance. We use matching models and data from the Youth Cohort Surveys for pupils who left school in either 2002 or 2004. We find that the policy did raise test scores, as well as increase the probability of employment. The evidence on post‐secondary test scores is mixed insofar as the policy increased the number of A levels studied but reduced average points scores.
Vacation Leave, Work Hours, and Wages: New Evidence from Linked Employer–Employee Data
Authors: Fakih Ali
Published: October 2014

This paper provides new evidence on the determinants of vacation leave and its relationship to hours worked and hourly wages by examining the case of Canada. Previous studies from the USA, using individual‐level data, have revealed that annual work hours fall by around 53 hours for each additional week of vacation used. Exploiting a linked employer–employee dataset that allows to control for detailed observed demographic, job, and firm characteristics, we find instead that annual hours of work fall by only 29 hours for each additional week of vacation used. Our findings support the hypothesis that pressure at work may lead employees to use more vacation days but also causes them to work for longer hours.
Long‐term evaluation of combined prolonged‐release oxycodone and naloxone in patients with moderate‐to‐severe chronic pain: pooled analysis of extension phases of two Phase III trials
Authors: Blagden M. , Hafer J. , Duerr H. , Hopp M. , Bosse B.
Published: October 2014

Background

While opioids provide effective analgesia, opioid‐induced constipation (OIC) can severely impact quality of life and treatment compliance. This pooled analysis evaluated the maintenance of efficacy and safety during long‐term treatment with combined oxycodone/naloxone prolonged‐release tablets (OXN PR) in adults with moderate‐to‐severe chronic pain.

Methods

Patients (N = 474) received open‐label OXN PR during 52‐week extension phases of two studies, having completed 12‐week, double‐blind, randomized treatment with oxycodone prolonged‐release tablets (Oxy PR) or OXN PR. Analgesia and bowel function were assessed at each study visit using ‘Average pain over last 24 h scale and Bowel Function Index (BFI), respectively. Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication was assessed at study end only.

Key Results

Improvement in bowel function was particularly marked in patients who switched from Oxy PR in the double‐blind phase to OXN PR during the extension phase, resulting in a clinically meaningful reduction (≥12 points) in BFI score: at the start of the extension phases, mean (SD) BFI score was 44.3 (28.13), and was 29.8 (26.36) for patients who had received OXN PR in the double‐blind phase. One week later, BFI scores were similar for the two groups (26.5 [24.40] and 27.5 [25.60], respectively), as was observed throughout the following months. Fewer than 10% of patients received laxatives regularly. Mean 24‐h pain scores were low and stable throughout the extension phases. No unexpected adverse events were observed.

Conclusions & Inferences

Pooled data demonstrate OXN PR is an effective long‐term therapy for patients with chronic non‐cancer pain, and can address symptoms of OIC. No new safety issues were observed which were attributable to the long‐term administration of OXN PR.
High‐energy diets: a threat for male fertility?
Authors: Rato L. , Alves M. G. , Cavaco J. E. , Oliveira P. F.
Published: October 2014

Male fertility is declining in developed countries, as well as in developing countries. External factors linked to lifestyle, such as eating disorders, negatively affect spermatogenesis, both at central and gonadal levels. The overconsumption of high‐energy diets (HED) alters the functioning of the male reproductive axis and consequently affects the testicular physiology, disrupting its metabolism and bioenergetic capacity. Testicular metabolism presents unique characteristics, partly because of its cellular heterogeneity and to the specific functions that each cell type plays within the testicular environment. Disruption of the tightly regulated metabolic pathways leads to adverse reproductive outcomes, such as inefficient energy supply to germ cells, sperm defects or spermatogenesis arrest. Testicular metabolic alterations induced by HED intake may also lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, which is closely associated to reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and oxidative stress. ROS easily target spermatozoa DNA and lipids, contributing to decreased sperm quality. Thus, understanding the detrimental effects of HED overconsumption on the pathways underlying testicular metabolism and sperm production is imperative; otherwise, one may favour a transgenerational amplification of subfertility. Herein, we present an up‐to‐date overview of the effects of HED on testicular metabolism, sperm parameters and the subsequent consequences for male fertility.
Impacts of alien plant invasion on native plant communities are mediated by functional identity of resident species, not resource availability
Authors: Gooden Ben , French Kris
Published: October 2014

Alien plant invasion and nutrient enrichment as a result of anthropogenic landscape modification seriously threaten native plant community diversity. It is poorly understood, however, whether these two disturbances interact with the functional identity of recipient native plants to drive community change. We performed a mesocosm experiment to examine whether the interactive effects of invasion by a stoloniferous turf‐grass Stenotaphrum secundatum and nutrient enrichment vary across different plant growth forms of an endangered coastal plant community. Communities contained 18 species (drawn without replacement from a pool of 31 species) with either runner, tufted or woody growth forms. Species were well‐established and reproductively mature prior to S. secundatum introduction. Species growth (% cover), reproductive output, soil temperature and light availability were monitored for two growing seasons. Invasion and nutrient enrichment (two levels: ‘natural control’ and ‘enriched’) had no effect on species richness, community composition, reproductive output, soil temperature or light penetration. There was no interactive effect of nutrients and invasion on community productivity (i.e. final biomass), such that invasion caused a reduction in community biomass at both natural and enriched nutrient levels. This was driven only by reduced biomass of functionally‐similar native runner species, which share similar root morphologies and nutrient‐acquisition strategies with S. secundatum. Our study indicates that impacts of invasion are dependent upon the functional identity of species within recipient communities, not the availability of resources. This shows that management cannot buffer invader effects by manipulating resource availability. Revegetation strategies should target functionally‐similar natives for replacement following invader control.
Persistence of Current‐account Disequilibria and Real Exchange‐rate Misalignments
Authors: Gnimassoun Blaise , Mignon Valérie
Published: October 2014

This paper aims at studying whether the persistence of the gap between the observed current‐account position and its equilibrium value nonlinearly depends on real exchange‐rate misalignments. Estimating a panel smooth transition regression model on a sample of 22 industrialized countries, we find evidence for this hypothesis, showing that persistence of current‐account imbalances strongly depends on the deviation of the real exchange rate from its long‐term equilibrium. More specifically, while there is no persistence in cases of currency undervaluation or weak overvaluation, persistence tends to augment for overvaluations higher than 11%. In addition, whereas disequilibria are persistent even for very low overvaluations in the euro area, persistence is observed only for overvaluations higher than 14% for non‐eurozone members.
Strong Formulation Finite Element Method Based on Differential Quadrature: A Survey
Authors: Tornabene Francesco , Fantuzzi Nicholas , Ubertini Francesco , Viola Erasmo
Published: October 2014

A survey of several methods under the heading of strong formulation finite element method (SFEM) is presented. These approaches are distinguished from classical one, termed weak formulation finite element method (WFEM). The main advantage of the SFEM is that it uses differential quadrature method (DQM) for the discretization of the equations and the mapping technique for the coordinate transformation from the Cartesian to the computational domain. Moreover, the element connectivity is performed by using kinematic and static conditions, so that displacements and stresses are continuous across the element boundaries. Numerical investigations integrate this survey by giving details on the subject.
New Relationship Between Resistivity Index and Relative Permeability
Authors: Ma Dong , Liu Changwei , Cheng Changhui
Published: October 2014

Relative permeability as an important petrophysical parameter is often measured directly in the laboratory or obtained indirectly from the capillary pressure data. However, the literature on relationship between relative permeability and resistivity is lacking. To this end, a new model of inferring two-phase relative permeability from resistivity index data was derived on the basis of Poiseuille's law and Darcy's law. The wetting phase tortuosity ratio was included in the proposed model. The relative permeabilities computed from the capillary pressure data, as well as the experimental data measured in gas–water and oil–water flow condition, were compared with the proposed model. Both results demonstrated that the two-phase permeability obtained by proposed model were generally in good agreement with the data computed from capillary pressure and measured in the laboratory. The comparison also showed that our model was much better than Li model at matching the relative permeability data.
Study of Combustion Characteristics of Ethanol at Different Dilution With the Carrier Gas
Authors: Imteyaz Binash , Habib Mohamed A.
Published: October 2014

With the ever-rising concern of global warming, carbon capture is gaining the reputation of one of the most challenging fields of research. A very promising technology to capture CO2 is oxy-combustion. Oxy-combustion offers several advantages over conventional combustion technologies, such as flue–gas volume reduction, high combustion efficiency, low fuel consumption, and significant reduction in NOx emissions. Liquid fuel is available and it is the most widely used source of energy in the world. Easy handling and transporting, less storage volume and higher flame temperature are some of the features of liquid fuel which give it an upper hand over other sources. In this study, an experimental work on oxygen enriched combustion of ethanol in a vertical reactor by Lacas et al. (2005, “Experimental Study of Air Dilution in Oxy-Liquid Fuel Flames,” Proc. Combust. Inst., 30(2), pp. 2037–2045) has been modeled numerically. Nonpremixed model using probability density function (PDF) has been incorporated to simulate the combustion process of ethanol droplets. Predicted combustion characteristics are found to be in good compliance with the experimental data. In addition to this, effects of dilution of carbon dioxide in oxygen on the flame properties have also been presented. Combustion of ethanol in oxygen–carbon dioxide environment has been compared with that of the conventional air environment.
Research and Development of Drones for Peace—High Power High Energy Supply Required
Authors: Vincent Wong Kaufui
Published: October 2014

Drones are useful in climate science, space research, energy and environmental research, surveillance to protect sensitive areas. Drones, including land autonomous vehicles (AV), are being recognized as being very useful in the 21st century, and their beneficial peaceful functions is one focus of this article. The technology of drones depends mainly on many branches of engineering, including but not limited to robotics, computer technology, avionics, air and space research, mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy and the environment. This work is also focused on the research and development of drones including AVs. In the area of mass transport systems (which needs to be encouraged and optimized with respect to energy consumed in this age of energy awareness), automation has been achieved but much still needs to be done. Sensors and computers needs to be developed to a high enough level where they can duplicate the senses of an experienced pilot or operator, backed up by a huge database storage of scenarios and follow-up actions that would avert accidents and damage. Some futuristic beneficial uses for drones have also been identified, indicating some directions for research and development. The other hugely important subfield for further work is energy supply for the drones. High power and high energy supply for a long duration is required.
Thermofluid Dynamic Analysis of a Gas Turbine Transition-Piece
Authors: Da Soghe Riccardo , Bianchini Cosimo , Andreini Antonio , Mazzei Lorenzo , Riccio Giovanni , Marini Alessandro , Ciani Alessandro
Published: October 2014

The transition-piece of a gas turbine engine is subjected to high thermal loads as it collects high temperature combustion products from the gas generator to a turbine. This generally produces high thermal stress levels in the casing of the transition piece, strongly limiting its life expectations and making it one of the most critical components of the entire engine. The reliable prediction of such thermal loads is hence a crucial aspect to increase the transition-piece life span and to assure safe operations. The present study aims to investigate the aerothermal behavior of a gas turbine engine transition-piece and in particular to evaluate working temperatures of the casing in relation to the flow and heat transfer situation inside and outside the transition-piece. Typical operating conditions are considered to determine the amount of heat transfer from the gas to the casing by means of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Both conjugate approach and wall fixed temperature have been considered to compute the heat transfer coefficient (HTC), and more in general, the transition-piece thermal loads. Finally a discussion on the most convenient HTC expression is provided.
Trajectory Tracking Control of a Mobile Robot Through a Flatness-Based Exact Feedforward Linearization Scheme
Authors: Luviano-Juárez Alberto , Cortés-Romero John , Sira-Ramírez Hebertt
Published: October 2014

In this article, a multivariable control design scheme is proposed for the reference trajectory tracking task in a kinematic model of a mobile robot. The control scheme leads to time-varying linear controllers accomplishing the reference trajectory tracking task. The proposed controller design is crucially based on the flatness property of the system leading to controlling an asymptotically decoupled set of chains of integrators by means of a linear output feedback control scheme. The feedforward linearizing control scheme is invoked and complemented with the, so called, generalized proportional integral (GPI) control scheme. Numerical simulations, as well as laboratory experimental tests, are presented for the assessment of the proposed design methodology.