bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-merger changes in bank credit risk: 1991-2006
Authors: Knapp Morris , Gart Alan
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the post-merger changes in the credit risk profile of merging bank holding companies and tests whether there is an increase in credit risk after a merger due to changes in the mix of loans in the portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use the expected variability of the credit risk of a loan portfolio based on the mix of loan types in the portfolio and the variability of the industry credit losses of each type following the standard Markowitz procedure for finding the standard deviation of an investment portfolio. The authors then test to see whether there has been a significant change in the expected variability (the credit risk profile) after a merger.

Findings

– The authors find that there are significant differences in both the level and variability of loan charge-offs and non-performing loans (NPL) among the various loan categories. The authors also find significant changes in the mix of loan categories in the loan portfolio after a merger. In addition, the authors find that the expected variability in both the charge-off rate and the NPL rate rises significantly after a merger.

Research limitations/implications

– This is the first of two papers looking at post-merger changes in credit risk based simply on the changes in the mix of loan types; it does not consider the actual post-merger credit performance of the specific mergers. That will be addressed in a subsequent paper.

Practical implications

– Financial analysts evaluating banking merger announcements may wish to include the impact of the likely shifts in loan mix and credit risk shown in this paper as they project the likely impact of the merger.

Originality/value

– This paper addresses an aspect of bank mergers that has not been addressed in the literature, the impact of mergers on credit risk. The results are likely to be useful to investors, financial analysts and regulators.
Can the correlation among Dow 30 stocks predict market declines?
Authors: S. Jones Jeffrey , Kincaid Brian
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the relationship between the correlation among the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and overall returns on the broader market from 1950 to 2008.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper computes historical correlation of the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and future returns on the S&P 500 index over various windows and examines the relationship between these two items using linear regression analysis. In addition, the paper develops a trading strategy based on the results.

Findings

– The paper finds that increased equity correlation serves as a leading indicator of overall market decline. Regression analysis shows that equity correlations are a statistically significant predictor of market decline, as measured by subsequent returns of the S&P 500 index. The significance of the results increases as the time horizon of the calculation is increased. With the exception of the 1990s, the findings are robust within decades.

Originality/value

– This is the first study that examines the relationship between the historical correlations among the Dow 30 stocks with future returns for the S&P 500 index. In addition, the paper develops an original trading strategy that achieves superior returns to a buy-and-hold strategy. The paper's findings are useful to portfolio managers, practitioners, and policymakers.
A conceptual framework for the quality evaluation of sustainability reports
Authors: Freundlieb Michael , Gräuler Matthias , Teuteberg Frank
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to outline a conceptual framework for the quality evaluation of web-based sustainability reports (SRs) aiding managers in determining and evaluating quality criteria for the sustainability report of their company.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reviews quality criteria in existing standards and guidelines on sustainability reporting and identifies research gaps. A conceptual framework including a multi-method approach for the quality evaluation of SRs is developed and evaluated.

Findings

– Existing standards and guidelines on sustainability reporting mainly focus on the content of the reports and neglect common information systems (IS) acceptance criteria such as ease of use and visual appeal. The proposed framework directly involves different stakeholder groups and research methodologies into the quality evaluation process.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitations of the research approach offer a number of starting points for future research. The proposed framework needs to be further evaluated by a larger number of test users in a more natural use setting.

Practical implications

– The application of a multi-method approach as well as the direct involvement of the stakeholders allows for an in-depth quality evaluation of SRs, enabling reporting companies to meet the readers' demand for information on economic, environmental and social activities of the reporting company. Common acceptance factors from the field of IS should be integrated into existing standards and guidelines on sustainability reporting. Coaching of the users through help functions, wizards, instructional videos or avatars is desirable.

Originality/value

– The proposed framework applies innovative technologies such as eye-tracking and software-supported attention analysis. By applying the framework to a set of sample reports, its usefulness and applicability are demonstrated.
Leader-member exchange and intent to turnover
Authors: M. Abu Elanain Hossam
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– Previous studies on leadership quality – staff turnover relationship – have been performed mainly in Western contexts. More empirical evidence is needed to understand the nature of the relationship between the quality of leadership and staff turnover in a non-Western context in general and in the Middle East in particular. Thus, this study has two objectives: to examine the impact of leader-member exchange (LMX) on staff turnover intentions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to test the mediating impact of role conflict, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment on the LMX-turnover intentions relationship. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from 241 employees working in 15 different service and industrial product organizations operating in Dubai. A structured questionnaire containing standard scales of LMX, role conflict, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and some demographic variables was used. After testing scales reliability and validity, the proposed hypotheses were tested using a series of separate hierarchical regression analyses.

Findings

– Consistent with Western studies, the study revealed that LMX played a functional impact on staff turnover intentions. Moreover, role conflict was found to play a partial role in mediating the influence of LMX on turnover intentions. Similarly, job satisfaction and organizational commitment were found to partially mediate the relationship between LMX and turnover intentions.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitations of common method variance and same source bias are discussed in light of implications for future research. Nevertheless, the results show that leaders need to monitor the quality of exchange between themselves and their followers to ensure high-quality relationships are maintained.

Practical implications

– The study has implications for reducing staff turnover. In general, enhancing LMX can result in lower level of employee turnover intentions. Also, managers should improve staff job satisfaction and organizational commitment in order to enhance the impact of LMX on reducing turnover intention. In addition, UAE managers should reduce role conflict in order to improve the impact of LMX on turnover intention.

Originality/value

– Previous studies on leadership quality – staff turnover relationship – have been performed mainly in Western contexts. This study is considered to be the first study to examine the mediating role of role conflict, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment on the relationship between LMX and turnover intentions in the Middle East.
An application of conjoint analysis to explore user perceptions on management information systems
Authors: Lee EunSu , Rhim Hosun
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate user preferences for the information systems in order to achieve user satisfaction by using conjoint analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

– Conjoint analysis is applied for the measurement of user preferences on information systems by seven properties and three levels for each property. To apply the approach, two surveys were designed: the first survey investigates the main properties affecting the end-users' satisfaction for using the current information systems based upon literature review and expert interview in Phase I. The second survey weighed the preferences by the virtual profiles of the information systems, which represent the ideal systems.

Findings

– The results show that speed-related properties are critical to achieve the end-user satisfaction. The next important property group is related to the access control and system integration between various business modules. From the measurements, the best system file should be constructed with the highly weighed levels of the key attributes.

Research limitations/implications

– The virtual profiles are complex for respondents to understand the attributes and the compounds of the virtual products. Moreover, the respondents were overwhelmed by the number of virtual profiles. The attributes were required to enable communication between researchers and respondents.

Practical implications

– Information system designers can achieve user satisfaction by combining the highest utility levels of all attributes. Nonetheless, the trade-offs between attributes and their levels should be considered in order to apply the results to the business, depending on the system environments and business practices, by updating the importance of the determinants regularly.

Originality/value

– This study applied the conjoint analysis to information management systems in order to design and maintain user satisfaction for the targeted company. This paper will provide alternative ways for the system engineers and developers of the case company by considering the critical attributes, which will affect both user performance and satisfaction.
The components of abstracts
Authors: Jamar Nina , Šauperl Alenka , Bawden David
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to examine whether the logical structure of abstracts in the areas of materials science and technology and library and information science comply with the ISO 214 or IMRAD formats, while also suggesting guidelines for components of abstracts.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the first part of the research the components of abstracts are analysed. The results showed that not all the proposed structural elements are present in the abstracts. Therefore also the improved prototypes and recommended abstracts are developed to examine the satisfaction of readers with different forms of abstracts. According to the results of satisfaction of readers with different forms of abstracts, uniform guidelines for the components of abstracts in accordance with the IMRAD format are proposed.

Findings

– The introduction (I) should include three sentences of background information. The method (M) should include three sentences of method. The results (R) should include three sentences of results. The discussion (D) should include two sentences of conclusions. The conclusions should present the implications of the results on subjects that were not part of the study, suggestions for possible application of the findings, suggestions for further research work and an evaluation of the research.

Originality/value

– It is important to emphasize that even if the guidelines for writing abstracts by the individual journal exist, authors do not always take them into account. Therefore, it is important that the abstracts that are actually published in journals were analysed. It is also important that the opinion of researchers was taken into account.
Who is policing the Police and Crime Commissioners?
Authors: J. Chambers Sophie
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how the Police and Crime Commissioners have been scrutinised in their first nine months in office, focusing primarily on one particular force area.

Design/methodology/approach

– A brief analysis of the most current writing on this topic, including official documents such as minutes of police and crime panel meetings and Home Affairs Committee and Welsh Affairs Committee evidence sessions, as well various online news sources are provided. Academic literature spanning 30 years is also drawn upon.

Findings

– In considering particular major events in the first nine months of the implementation of Police and Crime Commissioners, central government have been required to take a more prominent role in scrutiny in certain regions than first envisaged, due to ambiguity of legislative guidelines.

Research limitations/implications

– As an exploratory paper, one force area (Gwent) is the primary focus, sampled because of the issues faced in that area and its widespread coverage in the media.

Practical implications

– Problems with the legislative guidance for Police and Crime Commissioners, Police and Crime Panels and other involved agencies and individuals are highlighted.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the body of research investigating how the new policing governance framework in England and Wales is unfolding in practice. It is informed by both academic perspectives and real life examples.
The path to Police and Crime Commissioners
Authors: Davies Matthew
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the key political factors behind the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and attempt to address some of the major tensions in the democratic governance of the police.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a literature review, the paper examines the changing face of police accountability in England and Wales over the last 50 years.

Findings

– Three critical insights emerge from this analysis. First, the politicization of the police began in the 1980s – well before the introduction of PCCs – and was in fact one of the key antecedents behind the introduction of PCCs. Second, the paper finds that the simultaneous growth of managerialist practices further enabled politicians to interfere with policing in ways which eventually laid the foundation for PCCs. Lastly, the investigation illustrates how the policy architecture then drew inspiration from models of police governance from the USA, which chimed well with a new generation of Conservatives intent on police reform.

Originality/value

– The paper offers a unique policy history which helps to better understand the political rationale behind PCCs and helps to clarify the underlying trajectory of the policy.
Entrepreneurial orientation and performance: the interaction effect of customer capital
Authors: Jalali Alireza , Jaafar Mastura , Ramayah Thurasamy
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to advance research on entrepreneurial orientation (EO), resource-based view (RBV), customer (relational) capital, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by examining how the interaction effect of customer capital shapes the relationship between EO and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research is considered as a correlational rather than a casual study with 150 questionnaire returned from manufacturing SMEs. This cross-sectional study tested all hypotheses that are related to the research questions and use statistical software SPSS 17 to analyze data.

Findings

– The study found that a high customer capital strengthens the link between two dimensions of EO (innovativeness and risk taking) and weakens the link between another dimension of EO (proactiveness) and firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

– First, future studies would benefit from an enhanced development in the measurement of EO dimensions, which relies on richer and more refined conceptualizations. Second, a single informant who was asked to evaluate EO may potentially increase the degree of subjectivity and bias in the responses. Obtaining more than one respondent for the survey from each organization is always highly desirable.

Practical implications

– The results of the current study cover the limitation of the previous study by independently examining the moderating effect of customer capital as an intangible resource in the relationship between innovativeness and risk taking on firm performance. The paper expands this line of work by adding the idea that the intangible resources of a firm are more likely to contribute to sustaining superior firm performance when they are used with other factors simultaneously.

Social implications

– Environmental factors, such as government financial aid and protection of organizations outside the industry, may affect the relationship between SMEs and the agents. Establishing extra ties between Iranian firms and agents may be expensive for Iranian manufacturing firms, and they may not be able to create these ties without government support.

Originality/value

– A research gap exists in understanding how customer capital operates and endows benefits to firms that are beyond their start-up phase and are embarking on international activities. The current study tries to overcome a number of limitations of the previous framework by combining RBV and customer capital. Particularly, “the RBV's lack of specificity have raised questions as to its status as a legitimate theory, and make it difficult to design and test empirically.”
When should plant population models include age structure?
Authors: Chu Chengjin , Adler Peter B.
Published: December 2013

Most population models for plants are structured exclusively by size or stage. However, the assumption that age can be safely ignored has not been rigorously tested.

We used an unprecedented data set from western North America on age‐specific demography of 19 populations of perennial grasses to determine when age structure can alter model behaviour.

Based on the Akaike Information Criterion, the best statistical models included both size and age for 14 and 18 of the 19 populations for the growth and survival function, respectively. The inclusion of age reduced the sums of squared residuals by 0.1–5.6% for growth rates and reduced the residual deviance by 0.06–8.2% for survival rates. When we compared observed per capita growth rates with predictions from individual‐based models, we found that in eleven populations, models with age explained 1.3–45.8% (with a mean of 12.8%) more variance than size‐only models.

Density‐dependent integral projection models showed that the inclusion of age had strong effects on equilibrium cover for some species but not others. When equilibrium cover differed, it was almost always higher in models with age.

The population consequences of incorporating age were best predicted by the shape of a species' survival curve: equilibrium cover was most sensitive to inclusion of age structure for species with very hollow (Type III) survivorship curves. We speculate that age serves as a proxy for high individual‐level heterogeneity, which is known to generate Type III survivorship curves and can increase equilibrium abundance.

Synthesis. Our results indicate that including age structure in models is most important for populations with strong Type III survivorship curves. For such populations, which are likely to contain high individual heterogeneity, models that ignore age could underestimate population growth rates and equilibrium cover. More research is needed to test whether our results, based on data from perennial grasses, also apply to other plant growth forms.
Implementation of an advanced occupational therapy assistant‐led groups programme in aged care rehabilitation
Authors: Cox Ruth J. , Mills Vickie J. , Fleming Jennifer , Nalder Emily
Published: December 2013

Background/aim

The use of support workers such as occupational therapy assistants is emerging as a strategy to enhance the health workforce, but there has been little evaluation of the feasibility of expanding support worker roles and responsibilities. This study aimed to implement an advanced occupational therapy assistant‐led groups programme in a subacute aged care rehabilitation setting and to evaluate the impact on the clinical outcomes of group participants.

Method

A prospective quasi‐experimental cohort study was conducted comparing outcomes of 30 patients receiving a groups programme led by an advanced occupational therapy assistant with a historical control group of 40 patients receiving the groups programme led by an occupational therapist. The groups programme comprised up to six groups per week and included meal preparation groups and domestic training groups. Outcomes were Functional Independence Measure scores, Australian Therapy Outcome Measures, discharge destination, length of stay and patient satisfaction.

Results

Discharge outcomes of patients participating in the assistant‐led groups programme were not significantly different to patients who participated in the therapist‐led groups programme. Patient satisfaction levels were not significantly different between groups.

Conclusion

The introduction of an advanced occupational therapy assistant to replace an occupational therapist in facilitating a groups programme in aged care rehabilitation did not result in a decline in patient outcomes. However, the results should be interpreted tentatively given the study limitations and the advanced skills of the assistant involved. Further more rigorous longer term research with a larger sample is required.
Are Dual Eligibles Admitted to Poorer Quality Skilled Nursing Facilities?
Authors: Rahman Momotazur , Grabowski David C. , Gozalo Pedro L. , Thomas Kali S. , Mor Vincent
Published: December 2013

Background

Dual eligibles, persons who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid coverage, often receive poorer quality care relative to other Medicare beneficiaries.

Objectives

To determine whether dual eligibles are discharged to lower quality post‐acute skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) compared with Medicare‐only beneficiaries.

Research Design

Following the random utility maximization model, we specified a discharge function using a conditional logit model and tested how this discharge rule varied by dual‐eligibility status.

Subjects

A total of 692,875 Medicare fee‐for‐service patients (22% duals) who were discharged for Medicare paid SNF care between July 2004 and June 2005.

Measures

Medicare enrollment and the Medicaid Analytic Extract files were used to determine dual eligibility. The proportion of Medicaid patients and nursing staff characteristics provided measures of SNF quality.

Results

Duals are more likely to be discharged to SNFs with a higher share of Medicaid patients and fewer nurses. These results are robust to estimation with an alternative subsample of patients based on primary diagnoses, propensity of being dual eligible, and likelihood of remaining in the nursing home.

Conclusions

Disparities exist in access to quality SNF care for duals. Strategies to improve discharge planning processes are required to redirect patients to higher quality providers, regardless of Medicaid eligibility.
Narratives of Modernity, Masculinity, and Citizenship Amid Crisis in Abidjan's Sorbonne
Authors: Matlon Jordanna
Published: December 2013

In this article I relate prominent depictions of the African urban crisis, particularly informality, and its implications for masculine subjectivity in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Drawing on five months of ethnographic fieldwork I conducted in 2008 and 2009, I consider the Sorbonne, a nationalist space in Abidjan, where partisans of former President Laurent Gbagbo contested the crisis narrative and their place in it. Literally and ideologically, Sorbonne orators and spectators moved themselves and their country from the periphery to the urban and global core.
Anthropology and Traditional Ecological Knowledge: A Summary of Quantitative Approaches to Traditional Knowledge, Market Participation, and Conservation
Authors: Olson Elizabeth Anne
Published: December 2013

In this paper, I summarize some of the current trends in quantitative anthropological investigations of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and political–economic systems. I first provide an overview of the quantitative studies of TEK, focusing on the various research methods commonly employed in ethnoecology. Anthropologists use techniques such as freelists, pile sorts, objective tests, and semi‐structured interviews with key informants to elicit TEK. Indices or cultural consensus models are constructed from the data to identify patterns of distribution of TEK in cultural groups. Key variables that are associated with the patterns of distribution of TEK include gender, age, social class, and mode of subsistence. Next, I contextualize current understandings of the nature and distribution of TEK in the context of political–economic systems. Ways of studying market participation and market integration of indigenous people are discussed in relationship to explaining patterns in TEK. Finally, I suggest some possible connections between TEK, economic market integration, and biodiversity conservation.
Pathogenicity of Spanish isolates of Heterobasidion annosum s. s. in Pinus pinaster seedlings
Authors: Prieto‐Recio C. , Martín‐García J. , Diez J. J.
Published: December 2013

The aim of this study was to test the pathogenicity of two Spanish isolates of Heterobasidion annosum sensu stricto in 2‐year‐old Pinus pinaster seedlings. Two types of inocula (woodchips and sawdust) were used to infect the seedlings by two different routes (stem inoculation and soil infestation). The mortality rates of the stem‐inoculated seedlings differed significantly from controls, but those of the seedlings infected via soil infestation did not differ. For both types of inoculation, the lesions were longer, and wilting symptoms were more severe in the seedlings inoculated with H. annosum than in control seedlings. For stem inoculation, biomass allocation did not differ significantly between the infected and control seedlings. However, the percentage of fine roots was lower in seedlings infected via soil infestation than in the control seedlings. To our knowledge, this is the first pathogenicity test with H. annosum isolates and P. pinaster.
Rapid remineralization of multiple disseminated bone lesions after high‐dose cytarabine in a patient with isolated myeloid sarcoma
Authors: Brähler Sebastian , Thielen Indra , Schwabe Hendrik , Engels Marianne , Kreuzer Karl‐Anton , Wolf Jürgen , Ansén Sascha
Published: December 2013

Isolated myeloid sarcoma is a rare presentation of acute myeloid leukemia. There are limited data available concerning the prognostic relevance and the right treatment strategy for this clinical scenario. Here, we report a case of acute myeloid leukemia with extensive lesions and fractures in multiple bones in a 64‐yr‐old male patient. Remarkably, treatment with a high‐dose cytarabine regimen led to rapid remineralization of all bone lesions and recovery of the patient's mobility within a few weeks. Thereby, surgical treatment and radiotherapy could be avoided, supporting the role of intensive induction and standard consolidation chemotherapy as first‐line treatment for myeloid sarcoma.
Functional link between Rab GTPase‐mediated membrane trafficking and PI4,5P2 signaling
Authors: Li Cuifang , Kita Ayako , Hashimoto Yuuka , Ihara Misako , Kato Ayaka , Ogura Naoya , Doi Akira , Oku Masahide , Itoh Toshiki , Sakai Yasuyoshi , Sugiura Reiko
Published: December 2013

Fission yeast its3+ encodes an essential phosphatidylinositol‐4‐phosphate 5‐kinase (PI4P5K) that regulates cell integrity and cytokinesis. We performed a genetic screen to identify genes that function in PI4P5K‐mediated signaling, and identified gyp10+ encoding a Rab GTPase‐activating protein (GAP), a negative regulator for Rab GTPase signaling. Its3 overproduction caused growth defects and abnormal cytoplasmic accumulation of the Its3 protein, which can be stained by calcofluor. Notably, Its3 overproducing cells displayed abnormal membranous structures, multilamella Golgi and fragmented vacuoles showed by Electron microscopy. Furthermore, the excess cytoplasmic Its3 structure partly colocalized with the fluorescence of FM4‐64. Gyp10 rescued both growth defects and abnormal Its3 localization when it was over‐expressed. Gyp10 functionally interacted with the Rab GTPases Ypt3 and Ryh1, both of which regulate Golgi membrane trafficking. Consistently, mutation or deletion of Ypt3 and Ryh1 suppressed phenotypes associated with Its3 overproduction. Importantly, the plasma membrane localization of Its3 was also affected by the impairment of the Ypt3/Ryh1 Rab membrane trafficking, thus suggesting that membrane trafficking events regulated by two Rab GTPases functionally interacts with PI4,5P2 signaling. These results suggest a mechanism whereby PI4P5K signaling/localization is affected by Golgi membrane trafficking, thus provide a functional link between the PI4,5P2 signaling and Rab‐mediated trafficking.
Effect of filling ingredient on the quality of canned yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)
Authors: Mohan Chitradurga O. , Remya Sasikala , Ravishankar Chandragiri N. , Vijayan Punnathil K. , Srinivasa Gopal Teralandur K.
Published: December 2013

In this study, the effect of different vegetables baby corn, green pea, broccoli as filling ingredients along with yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) on the heat penetration characteristics and quality changes were assessed. Heating and cooling lag factors (Jh and Jc) were least for tuna with broccoli and tuna without vegetables, respectively. Heating rate index was in the range of 13.5–19.3 min with least value for tuna with broccoli. Heat processing increased the hardness and chewiness of tuna significantly (P < 0.05), whereas cohesiveness decreased. Thermal processing resulted in higher L*and hue (h) value for tuna. Substantial decrease in a* value was observed for tuna with broccoli and peas where as b* value showed an increase for tuna with baby corn. Tuna packed with green pea and baby corn was rated better sensorily, whereas tuna with broccoli was rated least.
Effects of meat pH and the initial numbers of spores of Clostridium estertheticum on the development of blown pack spoilage of vacuum‐packaged beef
Authors: Yang Xianqin , Wang Hui , Badoni Madhu
Published: December 2013

To understand how the initial numbers of Clostridium estertheticum spores on, and the concentration of glucose in meat affect the development of blown pack spoilage, beef of pH ≤5.6 and of pH ≥5.8 was inoculated with the spores at various numbers, vacuum‐packaged and stored at 2 °C. For beef of pH ≤5.6, the volumes of packs inoculated with ≤10 spores did not change; and packs inoculated with ≥30 spores started swelling after 35 days, and the rate of volume increase increased with increasing number of inoculated spores. For beef of pH ≥5.8, packs inoculated 0, three or ten spores slackened, and packs inoculated with ≥30 spores became swollen at the end of storage, but to a much lesser degree than the corresponding packs of beef of pH ≤5.6. Glucose was reduced by 21 mm and depleted in the rinse fluids from swollen packs of beef of pH ≤5.6 and of pH ≥5.8, respectively.
Determinantes de la oferta y la demanda de trabajo informal en Alemania
Authors: HAIGNER Stefan D. , JENEWEIN Stefan , SCHNEIDER Friedrich , WAKOLBINGER Florian
Published: December 2013

Los autores investigan empíricamente las motivaciones individuales para ofrecer o aceptar trabajo informal con datos de una encuesta a alemanes residentes realizada en 2010. Según sus hallazgos, el desempleo, presente o pasado, incrementa significativamente la probabilidad de trabajar informalmente. La insatisfacción con respecto a la posición social y el malestar por la ineficacia gubernamental también parecen incrementar de forma significativa la oferta de trabajo informal por parte de los hombres. La demanda de trabajo informal no parece influida por estos factores.
Inclusión de los trabajadores por cuenta propia en el régimen de previsión social en el Brasil
Authors: NAGAMINE COSTANZI Rogério , DUARTE BARBOSA Edvaldo , DA SILVA BICHARA Julimar
Published: December 2013

Los trabajadores por cuenta propia del Brasil constituyen un grupo en gran parte excluido del régimen de previsión social. El artículo presenta dos programas iniciados en el decenio de 2000 que han logrado muy buenos resultados en términos de formalización y protección de estos trabajadores. Los programas ofrecen trámites de declaración simplificados, ventajas comerciales (acceso al crédito y emisión de facturas) y un nivel de cotización adaptado a la capacidad de pago de los pequeños empresarios y trabajadores independientes. Los datos que ofrecen los autores convencen acerca de la eficacia de los programas y facilitan su potencial aplicación en otros contextos.
Density dependence in forests is stronger in tropical and subtropical climates among closely related species
Authors: Shuai Fangmin , Wang Yongfan , Yu Shixiao
Published: December 2013

Density dependence has long been considered an important mechanism for species coexistence in forests. Density‐dependent processes can be important mechanisms driving differences in species diversity across latitudes. Here we examined the decline in strength of density dependence with increasing latitude, and particularly how density dependence affected both conspecifics and heterospecifics.

Conspecific individuals within a species were predominantly aggregated at the three different latitudes of the three study sites in China. The percentage of aggregated species declined with increasing spatial scale and growth stages, which confirmed the overall importance of density dependence. Compared with a latitudinal gradient, the intensity of aggregation in the most northerly temperate (Changbaishan) plot was significantly higher than that in the tropical (Bawangling) or subtropical (Heishiding) plots. This showed that the strength of density dependence among conspecific individuals at low latitudes was stronger than that for high latitudes. We found that the more closely related species were more spatially adjacent in the temperate plot, while the opposite was true in the tropical and subtropical plots at most scales. After calculating the recruitment probability of all species of mature trees, we found that 19 of the 32 species in the tropical plot and 7 of the 12 species in the subtropical plot were less likely to recruit near closely related species. In the northern temperate plot, only one species demonstrated this phenomenon. These results therefore suggest that latitudinal variation in the intensity of negative density‐dependent recruitment resulting from specialist natural enemies (the Janzen–Connell hypothesis) may contribute to the latitudinal gradient of diversity in trees.

The strength of density dependence at low latitudes was stronger than at high latitudes, regardless of whether this dependence was measured between only conspecific individuals or between individuals of closely related species.
Vector preference and host defense against infection interact to determine disease dynamics
Authors: Zeilinger Adam R. , Daugherty Matthew P.
Published: December 2013

Vector preference based on host infection status has long been recognized for its importance in disease dynamics. Prior theoretical work has assumed that all hosts are uniformly susceptible to the pathogen. Here we investigated disease dynamics when this assumption is relaxed using a series of vector–host epidemiological compartment models with variable levels of host resistance or tolerance to infection – collectively termed defense. In our models, vectors cannot acquire the infection from resistant hosts but can acquire from tolerant hosts. Specifically, we investigated the interacting effects of vector preference and host defense in a series of single‐ and two‐patch models. Results indicate that resistant host types generally reduce disease prevalence and pathogen spillover, independent of vector preference. The epidemiological consequences of host tolerance, however, depended on vector preference. When vectors preferred diseased hosts, tolerance reduced incidence compared to susceptible hosts; when vectors avoided diseased hosts, tolerance enhanced disease prevalence. Finally, a variation of the model that included preference‐based vector patch leaving rates suggests that both resistance and tolerance can promote pathogen spillover if vectors prefer diseased hosts, because of increased vector dispersal into susceptible patches. Collectively, we found complex, context‐dependent effects of vector preference and host defense on disease dynamics. In the context of management programs for vector‐borne diseases, managers should consider both the precise form of host defense present in a population, breed, or cultivar, as well as vector feeding behavior.
Immediate Placement and Restoration of Dental Implants in the Esthetic Region: Clinical Case Series
Authors: Khzam Nabil , Mattheos Nikos , Roberts David , Bruce William L , Ivanovski Saso
Published: December 2013

Aim

The objective of this study was to assess the hard and soft tissue changes following immediate placement and provisional restoration of single‐tooth implants in the aesthetic zone.

Methods

Thirteen patients with immediately placed and restored implants were included in this study. All participating patients underwent the same treatment strategy that involved removal of the failed tooth, flapless surgery, immediate implant placement, and connection of a screw‐retained provisional restoration. Three months following implant placement, the temporary crowns were replaced by the definitive restorations. Implant survival rates, and hard and soft tissue changes were measured using periapical X‐rays and photographs. The range of the observation period was between 12 and 37 months with a mean period of 23.2 ± 7.6 months.

Results

At the time of follow‐up, all implants were present with no complications. Radiographic evaluation revealed a mean mesial bone gain of 1.20 ± 1.01 mm and a mean distal bone gain of 0.80 ± 1.14 mm, which reached statistical significance. The mean mid‐buccal recession was 0.20 ± 0.78 mm, whereas the mesial and distal papillae height loss was 0.50 ± 1.26 mm and 0.30 ± 0.82 mm, respectively. The changes in the soft tissues did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

Notwithstanding the limitation of a small sample size, this study shows that immediate implant placement and provisional restoration in the maxillary aesthetic zone can result in favorable treatment outcomes with regards to soft and hard tissues changes over a follow‐up period of 23.2 ± 7.6 months.

Clinical Significance

Most clinical trials investigating immediate implant placement and immediate restoration in the maxillary anterior zone have focused on implant survival and implant success, with particular emphasis on radiographically assessed hard tissues changes. However, this study assesses the soft tissue changes associated with this procedure, which is an important area of study given the esthetic demands of implant therapy in the maxillary anterior region.
A new approach for the automatic evaluation of the solidification structure in steel using orientational entropy filtering
Authors: GRIESSER S. , O'LEARY P.
Published: December 2013

We present a new method for the automatic evaluation of the dendritic solidification structure in metallurgical micrographs of solidified steel. The evaluation of the microstructural parameters such as the primary dendrite arm spacing and the primary grain size are of high importance due to their direct relationship with the internal quality and mechanical properties of the cast product. Given the repeated geometric features in the micrographs and the regular pattern in colour intensity, we applied a filter mask to determine the local entropies within the masks in order to detect the centre coordinates of each individual dendrite. The orientation of the dendrites was determined by rotating the filter mask over each pixel to find the orientation which corresponds to the lowest entropy value. The segmentation of the microstructure was then performed via Delaunay tessellation and subsequent transformation of the triangular mesh into a rectangular grid, enabling the determination of the desired microstructural parameters.
Basic Nursing Care: Retrospective Evaluation of Communication and Psychosocial Interventions Documented by Nurses in the Acute Care Setting
Authors: Juvé‐Udina Maria‐Eulàlia , Pérez Esperanza Zuriguel , Padrés Núria Fabrellas , Samartino Maribel Gonzalez , García Marta Romero , Creus Mònica Castellà , Batllori Núria Vila , Calvo Cristina Matud
Published: December 2013

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of psychosocial aspects of basic nursing care, as e‐charted by nurses, when using an interface terminology.

Methods

An observational, multicentre study was conducted in acute wards. The main outcome measure was the frequency of use of the psychosocial interventions in the electronic nursing care plans, analysed over a 12 month retrospective review.

Findings

Overall, 150,494 electronic care plans were studied. Most of the intervention concepts from the interface terminology were used by registered nurses to illustrate the psychosocial aspects of fundamentals of care in the electronic care plans.

Conclusions and Implications

The results presented help to demonstrate that the interventions of this interface terminology may be useful to inform psychosocial aspects of basic and advanced nursing care.

Clinical relevance

The identification of psychosocial elements of basic nursing care in the nursing documentation may lead to obtain a deeper understanding of those caring interventions nurses consider essential to represent nurse‐patient interactions. The frequency of psychosocial interventions may contribute to delineate basic and advanced nursing care.
Comparison of utility weighted DMFT with patient‐reported oral well‐being
Authors: Kay E. J. , Mills I. , Tredwin C. , Lambe P. , Nassani M. Z.
Published: December 2013

This study investigated a method of measuring oral health, as opposed to measuring disease. The objective was to compare DMF score and whole mouth utility scores to a patient‐reported outcome measure (PROM). Disutility values for lost and restored teeth were used to weight the decayed, missing and filled teeths(DMFTs) of 10 adult patients. This gave two whole mouth utility scores (WMU). These scores were then compared with a patient‐reported oral health outcome measure recorded by the use of a visual analogue scale (VAS). The anchors for the VAS were ‘my mouth could not be worse’ and ‘my mouth could not be better’. There was a positive correlation (r = 0·6457) between WMU1 and the patient‐reported outcome measure (P < 0·05) and a negative correlation (r = −0·8383) between WMU1 and DMFT which was significant at the P < 0·01 level. There was a statistically significant positive correlation of r = 0·7926 between WMU2 and the patient‐reported outcome measure (P < 0·01) and a negative correlation (r = −0·9393) between WMU2 and DMFT (P < 0·01). The Pearson's correlation between DMFT and the patient‐reported outcome measure was −0·8757, which was significant at the 0·01 level. Patient reports of their perceived level of health correlate well with DMFT scores. Weighting DMFT scores according to the differential values assigned to missing, or missing and filled, teeth does not increase the degree of correlation between the measure and the patients’ personal quantification of their oral health. Decayed, missing and filled teeth therefore seems to adequately capture the patient's sense of well‐being.
Effect of cerebral circulatory arrest on cerebral near‐infrared spectroscopy in pediatric patients
Authors: Blohm Martin E. , Obrecht Denise , Hartwich Jana , Singer Dominique
Published: December 2013

Background/Aims

The aim was to investigate whether cerebral transcutaneous near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) or two‐site NIRS is a suitable monitoring tool to detect or confirm a cerebral circulatory arrest in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients.

Methods

Prospective single‐center pediatric observational study. Simultaneous NIRS measurements over forehead (cNIRS, crS02) and kidney (rNIRS, rrSO2), at the same time, the cardiac output were determined by transthoracic echocardiography. Area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver‐operating curve (ROC) was analyzed for NIRS regarding cerebral circulatory arrest.

Results

There were two groups of patients (weight 2.1–73 kg): Group A: patients with intact cerebral perfusion (n = 36). Group B: patients with cerebral circulatory arrest (n = 8) proven by Doppler ultrasound scan or perfusion scintigraphy. There was no difference in cardiac output between the groups. PICU mortality for Group A was 3/36 (8.3%), for Group B 8/8, (100%). Mean cNIRS values were significantly higher with 68.92 (sem = 2.54, sd = 15.25) in Group A compared with 34.63 (sem = 5.36, sd = 15.15) in Group B (P < 0.001). ROC analysis for cNIRS detecting cerebral circulatory arrest was significant (AUC 0.948, 95% confidence interval 0.876–1.000, se = 0.037, P < 0.001). Discrimination was optimal at 46 for cNIRS, at 36.5 for the difference rNIRS‐cNIRS and at 0.5646 for the quotient cNIRS/rNIRS. The probability of a cerebral circulatory arrest was 77.8% (cNIRS) and 87.5% (combinations of cNIRS and rNIRS) at these cutoffs.

Conclusions

cNIRS did detect cerebral circulatory arrest with high sensitivity. Specificity was, however, not high enough to confirm a cerebral circulatory arrest.
Experimental Investigation of Net-Section-Collapse Criterion for Circumferentially Cracked Cylinders Subjected to Torsional Moment
Authors: Miura Naoki , Hoshino Katsuaki , Li Yinsheng , Hasegawa Kunio
Published: December 2013

When a crack-like-flaw is detected in piping during in-service inspection, the limit load criterion given in the codes such as JSME Rules on Fitness-for-Service for Nuclear Power Plants or ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI can be applied to evaluate the structural integrity of the piping. However, in-service piping is generally subjected to combined tensile, bending, and torsional loading, and a methodology to evaluate the limit moment for torsion has not yet been established because of inadequate experimental validation. In this study, fracture tests were conducted for circumferentially cracked cylinders subjected to torsional moment. The experimental maximum moments were compared with the limit moments, which were evaluated on the basis of the net-section-collapse criterion for torsional moment. The maximum moments can be conservatively predicted by the net-section-collapse criterion.