bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Norwegian Police Force: a learning organization?
Authors: Thea Wathne Christin
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine what decisions to prosecute, sent to the local police districts from the Norwegian Bureau for the Investigation of Police Affairs (the body responsible for investigated charges against the police), can tell us about the challenges the police face in becoming a learning organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this paper were collected in connection with the subproject that studied how the police districts handled the cases they received from the Bureau for Administrative Evaluation. This project was carried out in 2008‐2009 and is based methodically on a study of 33 (of a total of 35) different cases from 2007, which ensures a broad thematic scope.

Findings

The willingness of the leadership to take responsibility for the organization's systematic ability – and liberty – to ask fundamental questions about dominant values and norms, and thus to promote experiential learning, varied greatly. Whether the administrative cases were perceived to belong on the individual or the organizational level had great impact on how the cases were defined when they came back to the local police district, which again decided how the cases were handled. This had consequences for the degree to which the cases were the subject of individual or collective learning processes in the police district.

Research limitations/implications

The role of the police as custodians of law and order may paradoxically limit the organization's ability to learn from potentially criminal events and cases that come from the Bureau for Administrative Evaluation. This contributes to a weak system focus and a strong individual focus, where individual shame bearers are created and double‐loop learning is avoided.

Practical implications

To ensure that the learning systems are actually used and function as intended, it might be apposite to have regular litmus tests of the development by analyzing the handling of concrete events and patterns which emerge over time. An important element in this connection is to observe how leaders deal with potentially shameful incidents, both internally and in the public light, and thus constitute the police organization's boundaries to the outside world.

Originality/value

The paper argues that the police's role as custodians of law and order paradoxically may contribute towards limiting the organization's ability to learn from potentially criminal events and cases that come from the Bureau for Administrative Evaluation.
The distribution of water‐monitoring organizations across states
Authors: Lynch Michael J. , Stretesky Paul B.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw upon concepts in community‐oriented policing in order to explore the distribution of citizen water‐monitoring organizations and their role in community environmental policing, in order to address the issue of environmental justice. The empirical portion of the analysis examines the distribution of these organizations across states, and the relationship of this distribution to social inequity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study design is cross‐sectional in nature and examines the distribution and density of 1,308 citizen water‐monitoring organizations across states. Ordinary least squares regression is used to examine the relationship between the density and social disadvantage while controlling for environmental enforcement patterns, rates of non‐compliance, water quality, region of the country, water area, and coastal states.

Findings

Race and ethnicity are negatively correlated with the density of water‐monitoring organizations across states. Median household income is positively correlated with water‐monitoring organizations across states.

Practical implications

This paper suggests that community environmental policing is a response to ecological disorganization. More specifically, in the case of citizen‐led water‐monitoring organizations it is critical that states with relatively large proportions of low income, black and Hispanic residents help provide resources to encourage the development of these community groups.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to draw upon the ideas found in the community‐oriented policing literature to examine water‐monitoring organizations. While the literature suggests that collaborative efforts between state law enforcement agencies and water‐monitoring organizations may help combat ecological disorganization, it is also the first study to suggest that environmental injustice could be an unintended drawback of community environmental policing.
Police suicide: prevalence, risk, and protective factors
Authors: Chae Mark H. , Boyle Douglas J.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore risk and protective factors associated with suicidal ideation among law enforcement personnel.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology employed is based on the “Best Evidence Synthesis” approach, whereby researchers systematically examine and integrate the most empirically sound available research on the topic under investigation.

Findings

Results of studies showed that the interaction of multiple risk factors had a cumulative effect in increasing the risk for suicidal ideation. In total, five prominent aspects of policing were associated with risk for suicidal ideation: organizational stress; critical incident trauma; shift work; relationship problems; and alcohol use and abuse. Studies also indicated that protective factors and preventative measures had stress‐buffering effects which decreased the impact of police stressors.

Research limitations/implications

The model is limited because few studies have employed methodologically‐sound research designs to test risk and protective factors related to police suicide. This conceptual overview may facilitate theory development and provide directions for future research.

Practical implications

Law enforcement agencies which implement programs that assist police personnel in developing active coping styles, identify and access available social support systems, as well as utilize community‐based services may decrease risk for suicidal ideation. This review provides practical applications for law enforcement training, education, and program development.

Originality/value

The paper represents the most recent review of risk and protective factors related to suicidal ideation among police personnel. This integration of research provides police practitioners with an evidence‐based ecological framework that can be applied universally in police management settings.
Intellectual capital disclosure in the UK biotechnology IPO prospectuses
Authors: Cordazzo Michela , Vergauwen Philip G.M.C.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent of intellectual capital (IC) disclosure on the UK biotechnology initial public offering (IPO) prospectuses. The study is based on companies going public on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the London Alternative Investment Market (AIM) over the period 2005‐2007.

Design/methodology/approach

The extent of IC disclosure is collected and measured by using the IC disclosure index and the framework proposed by Bukh et al. The differences in the level of IC disclosure are analysed by modelling some firm‐specific determinants such as size, maturity, age and independence of the board.

Findings

It is shown that primary listing companies on the LSE disclose more IC information than those on the London AIM. Maturity and independence of the board are associated with IC disclosure, while size and age are not related, showing the importance of corporate communication as a signal of credibility to possible investors at IPO stage.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the paper is to analyse IC disclosure in the UK biotechnology IPO prospectuses. Previous literature does not focus on this reporting genre as an important corporate communication tool, as most research investigates IC disclosure only in annual reports and country regulation settings.
Intellectual capital accounting: an alignment between the motive and the accounting approach
Authors: Liu Gloria H.W. , Wang Eric T.G.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to reflect upon applicability of different intellectual capital (IC) accounting techniques with considerations of accounting motives. This has been achieved by comparing major foci and measurement issues related to two generic accounting motives, namely internal management and external reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the taxonomy of accounting approaches reported by Fincham and Roslender and is an appreciation of the importance of this taxonomy in the field of IC accounting, as well as an illustration of how the organization decides on applicable accounting approaches.

Findings

The paper concludes that there is no universally applicable accounting technique or approach. For internal management, the scorecard and narrative approaches help generate actionable plans, whereas the hard valuation and scorecard approaches help generate comparable and methodologically reliable reports for external reporting.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to IC management literature by offering an alignment perspective and a critical evaluation of the generic accounting motives and existent accounting approaches. Implications for the practitioner, the policy maker, and the academic are provided.
Is there happiness therein? BM and HRCA for self‐employed
Authors: Björke Andreas
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the philosophical baseline of two popular business schemes, the business model and a latter variation of human resource costing and accounting (HRCA). The aim is to identify crucial assumptions inherent in the models that may influence attempts of creating a symbiosis between them.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a conceptual perspective on the two models. Data for the paper were gathered during a case study on the usefulness of HRCA for small and medium‐sized enterprises (SME) as well as from extensive literature readings. These data have been compiled and analysed under the influence of Weick's method for generating theory.

Findings

While the business model and HRCA share a common purpose they try to provide different qualities to the organisation. Whereas the former seeks to realise dreams and ambitions, the latter supports displacements of threats towards organisations and managers. This difference is a potential source of friction that may result in a harmful organisational behaviour.

Practical implications

The paper also expands on the theoretical baseline of two popular business schemes. By identifying crucial differences, amendments and adaptions are possible to make within organisation or among business consultants that could override the problems. Some suggestions are made on this issue.

Originality/value

The paper expands the theoretical and philosophical understanding of popular business schemes. By introducing a theory of happiness a new perspective providing crucial information of the function of the two business schemes is revealed.
Downsizing decisions, intellectual capital, and accounting information
Authors: Flint Douglas , Maher Elin , Wielemaker Martin
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new method to account for investments in human capital, which the authors have named investment capitalization. This method uses investments in training and hiring of employees as a surrogate for their intellectual capital, capitalizing and amortizing the investment over its useful life. Investment capitalization is compared to the more conventional Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the newer intellectual capital accounting methods.

Design/methodology/approach

Scenarios comparing the effects of downsizing or organizational performance are used to demonstrate the effects of decisions based on intellectual capitalization and GAAP.

Findings

Results of the scenario analysis show that the investement capitalization method causes less destruction of intellectual capital during downsizing decisions than does GAAP.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new method of accounting for intellectual capital and demonstates the benefits of this method when making downsizing decsions.
Beyond a common title: the formation of a professional identity among energy advisers
Authors: Granath Malin , Westelius Alf
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore if and how a professional identity can be formed in the wake of the foundation of a new public service. In the article, the authors focus on how different forces, regulative and emergent, interact and contribute to a development of a coherent understanding of a professional identity in a decentralised service. The case of local authority energy and climate consultancy is an illustrative example of a nascent service occupation in Sweden where the individuals holding the job title are geographically dispersed.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper has a qualitative approach and relies on three different data sources: participatory observations, written documents, and in‐depth interviews with energy and climate advisers working in a particular region in Sweden. The study covers the years 2005 to 2010.

Findings

The findings suggest that identity formation among geographically dispersed individuals in a nascent service occupation is possible. The development of collective understanding of the professional identity is influenced both by regulative and emergent forces, which interact.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited to one particular service occupation in Sweden, from which generalisations are limited.

Practical implications

The findings may serve as useful input for management in order to understand facilitation of identity building among professionals in decentralised functions.

Originality/value

The value of this study lies in the comprehensive approach to how different pertinent forces interact with each other in order for a cohesive understanding of a work‐related identity to develop in newly‐established service occupations.
Human resource measurement and reporting in manufacturing and service sectors in Sri Lanka
Authors: Wickramasinghe Vathsala , Fonseka Nayana
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare current practice of the measurement and reporting of human resource (HR) information by firms belonging to the manufacturing and service sectors in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey methodology was used and 30 firms belonging to the manufacturing and service sectors responded. For the data analysis descriptive statistics, χ2 test, principal component factor analysis and independent sample t‐test were used.

Findings

There were sectoral differences in reporting some of the HR indicators. HR indicators were mainly collated internally and a limited number of indicators were externally disclosed. A majority of firms, irrespective of business sector, maintained records of HR indicators in the manual form. Three main factors that inhibit the measurement and reporting of HR were identified as “Insufficient resource allocation”, “Lack of knowledge in human resource measurement and reporting”, and “Negative impact on organization”.

Research limitations/implications

The research was conducted using survey research methodology as a pilot study to establish baseline data and to be a source of general guidance in stimulating future research.

Practical implications

The findings suggested that firms in Sri Lanka need to have more effective systems for the measurement and reporting of HR.

Originality/value

The majority of past studies on the measurement and reporting of HR were conducted on the voluntary disclosure of information in annual reports. Firms were selected on the basis of the market capitalization, and data were analysed using content analysis. Yet, the literature suggests that the content analysis of disclosed annual report information is mainly based on a non‐random sample of firms and many firms do not disclose all the available information. The current empirical survey‐based study explored and compared HR measurement and reporting practices of firms belonging to the manufacturing and service sectors in Sri Lanka.
“Double burden”: a qualitative study of HIV positive prisoners in Italy
Authors: Esposito Maurizio
Published: March 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to consider the influence of imprisonment on the health of prisoners with the HIV virus or AIDS and their perceptions of their quality of life.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study involving adult male prisoners in three Italian prisons. A total of 19 individual semi‐structured interviews were conducted.

Findings

Life in prison for HIV positive detainees is experienced as a kind of “double burden,” due to the connection between the loss of freedom and the limitations imposed by their health status. The experience of being ill and sick in prison results in the prisoner exhibiting fatalism towards the future, having a sense of alienation and marginalisation as well as being afraid of the consequences of living with HIV or AIDS.

Social implications

Prison can be considered as a “total institution” where prisoners are cut off from every role except the negative one of a prisoner deprived of freedom, and this situation greatly contributes to apathy and reinforces the inmates' antisocial behaviour.

Originality/value

This paper gives a voice to the needs and views of Italian prisoners who are HIV positive or who have AIDS and presents these in the context of the international situation.
Cross examination of clinicians at coroners' inquests following deaths in custody
Authors: Wright Nat , Tompkins Charlotte N.E. , Mohammed Zanib
Published: March 2013

Purpose

This article draws upon the international literature to focus on the investigation of prisoner deaths in England and Wales, concentrating on clinician involvement in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a viewpoint paper regarding clinician involvement in coroner investigations of prisoner deaths in England and Wales.

Findings

Compared to colleagues practising in the community, the authors suggest that there is a higher burden of investigation upon clinicians practicing in secure environments and recommend improved training for prison clinicians regarding expectations of the coroner's inquest and also a system whereby questioning in coroners' courts is directed through the coroner.

Originality/value

This paper provides an updated perspective on the issue of coroner investigations following a death in prison custody, from the position of practising prison clinicians.
Independent review of clinical health services for prisoners
Authors: Greifinger Robert B.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the parameters for the development of performance measurement of the quality of medical care behind bars, drawing from widely‐published free‐world clinical guidelines and aspects of care that are unique to the criminal justice arena.

Design/methodology/approach

One way to help assure that prisoners receive timely and appropriate health care is through independent review of health care services, to identify strengths of programs and opportunities for improvement. This is a quality of medical care assessment. When done in a systematic way, this has the potential to reduce risk of harm and enhance the personal health of the prisoner and improve the public health. Independent external review provides the best opportunity to identify and remedy opportunities for improvement. “External” can mean wholly independent or “corporate,” that is, review by agency staff that has no vested interest in the findings at the individual facility. Recently, the methodology for assessment of the quality of medical care in the community has blossomed, yet there is little guidance on how to adapt this methodology to the prison setting.

Findings

This paper introduces a prison‐oriented method for assessing clinical performance. To the extent possible, the author cites references to the scientific basis for the recommendations. Where there is no science, the author relies as much as possible on consensus, and in a few cases resorts to “wisdom and experience,” as unreliable as this might be. This is a conceptual paper with a viewpoint.

Originality/value

The paper provides guidance on reducing risk of harm and promoting improved health and health care for prisoners.
The impact of an Integrated Financial System implementation on accounting profiles in a public administration
Authors: Equey Balzli Catherine , Morard Bernard
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of an Integrated Financial System implementation on accountant profiles in a Swiss public administration. The authors observe the following variables: accountants' skills, accountants' functions, and accountants' educational backgrounds. Each variable was studied before and after the implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is an empirical research based on a case study using interviews. The authors designed a questionnaire that they discussed with participants in order to determine how they perceive accountants' job profiles.

Findings

The main finding concerned accountants' educational backgrounds. In the public administration that was studied, accountants tended overall to lack the specialized knowledge necessary to work with the complex tools in an Integrated Financial System. The paper also confirmed other authors' findings, that the necessary skill sets change when an Integrated Financial System is implemented. Actually, it was found that job descriptions did not change after the implementation as much as it was expected that they would.

Research limitations/implications

These findings are based only on participants' perceptions, because documentation was difficult to obtain. The small sample size also did not allow for generalizable results.

Practical implications

Public administrations must carefully determine the skills necessary for the accounting staff to work within an Integrated Financial System. Job descriptions must be adapted and prospective new hires should have higher qualifications as well as better accounting and ERP knowledge.

Originality/value

This research was conducted using an ethnographic approach that compared and analysed perceptions from a diverse sample of government employees. The sample population was chosen from among different departments and functions.
Thai public universities: modernisation of accounting practices
Authors: Upping Phetphrairin , Oliver Judy
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the transition of the accounting systems from cash based to accrual based, in Thai public universities. The focus is on the factors both influencing and affecting the accounting change.

Design/methodology/approach

This study takes a quantitative approach with data collected through a mail survey to the Chief Financial Officer of each of the 78 Thai public universities. Statistical analysis included both descriptive analysis and ANOVA to analyse differences between universities.

Findings

The main catalysts for change have come from both external and internal sources. The Thai government requires public agencies to adapt their accounting practices in line with New Public Management (NPM) and university management need improved information for planning and control purposes. The most important change has been to the financial accounting system with the adoption of computerised accrual accounting practices. The major factor influencing the change process is low institutional capacity of some Thai universities which is evidenced by the lack of technological resources and staff with knowledge of private sector accounting practices. Universities that either have or intend to become autonomous have given more importance to accounting system changes; and universities that have achieved more success in the change process note the importance of external consultants, and staff having an understanding and knowledge of data requirements.

Practical implications

This paper adds to the literature on accounting change in the public sector in less developed countries by highlighting factors influencing accounting change and factors that can be barriers to and facilitators of change. The findings provide further evidence of the issues confronted by public agencies in developing countries adopting new accounting practices and highlights the importance of training of local staff before the change process commences. Training is critical for knowledge transfer to enable staff to gain the knowledge and skills needed to assist in the change of accounting practices.

Originality/value

This paper presents a contribution to the government accounting change literature by highlighting public sector agencies in a developing country, Thailand. In both developed and developing countries, public universities are now operating in an environment of decreased government funding coupled with university management taking more responsibility for financial management. This study provides an insight into the changes taking place in Thai public universities in relation to the accounting system to support this new operating environment.
The rise of the balanced scorecard! Relevance regained?
Authors: Nørreklit Hanne , Nørreklit Lennart , Mitchell Falconer , Bjørnenak Trond
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the contribution made by the balanced scorecard (BSC) in regaining the practice relevance of management accounting research.

Design/methodology/approach

Using discourse analysis, the paper investigates the speech genre in use in main BSC texts.

Findings

The authors' analysis reveals that the BSC is defined in a way that can provide management with a type of general overarching model. However, the model lacks realistic scholarly characteristics and instead it exhibits characteristics of a myth speech genre. This is especially so in the presentation of the central concern with cause‐effect statements in the BSC.

Research limitations/implications

The authors' analysis, therefore, suggests that methodological issues relating to the usage of cause and effect statements must be solved if research, such as that carried out in the BSC development, is to become more relevant to practice. To overcome this problem and regain research relevance, the paper recommends a more scholarly speech genre, giving more attention to various usages of inferential statements and specifically a pragmatic constructivist perspective for analyzing construct causalities.

Originality/value

The paper advocates a scholarly methodological basis as a requirement for accounting innovation to enable it to solve practice problems in a way that improves practice and hence increases relevance of research.
Effect of Temperature on Bone Tissue: Histological Changes
Authors: Fernández Castillo Rafael , Ubelaker Douglas H. , Acosta José Antonio Lorente , de la Rosa Rafael José Esteban , Garcia Inmaculada Garcia
Published: March 2013

The analysis of burned human remains has been of great interest among forensic anthropologists largely due to the difficulty that their recovery, classification, reconstruction, and identification present. The main purpose of this analysis is to present histological methodology for the interpretation of bones altered by thermal processes. We include analyses of the microscopic changes among bones exposed to different temperatures, with the goal of establishing categories of histological morphology in relation to fire temperature. Samples of bone (ilium) were exposed systematically to controlled temperatures. Analysis of the resulting histological changes has allowed the formation of a clear four‐stage classification of the alterations observed. This classification should prove useful in assessing bone changes in relation to temperature of exposure, particularly in cases where this temperature was previously not known.
An Evaluation of Standardized Software for Processing GC/MS Data from Different Vendors' Instruments in a Forensic Laboratory
Authors: McGee Eamonn , MacDonald Scott , McGibbon Graham A. , Moser Arvin
Published: March 2013

Forensic science laboratories perform analyses on a variety of materials using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Instruments from different vendors may be used, requiring analysts to be proficient in the use of multiple proprietary software packages for collecting and processing data. There is no standardized GC/MS software available that can acquire data from different vendors' instruments. However, there are third‐party processing software products that can import data files in different formats. The Centre of Forensic Sciences compared the data processing performance of one such product, ACD/MS Manager Suite, with three instrument vendors' software used for casework analysis. This product was tested for its compatibility with the existing software, its capability to load and present data, and to initiate searches of commercial libraries. The study shows that the MS Manager module provides a means for the forensic analyst to view, process, and report on data from different sources in one software package.
Jasmonate‐ and salicylate‐induced defenses in wheat affect host preference and probing behavior but not performance of the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae
Authors: Cao He‐He , Wang Su‐Hua , Liu Tong‐Xian
Published: March 2013

Jasmonate‐ and salicylate‐mediated signaling pathways play significant roles in induced plant defenses, but there is no sufficient evidence for their roles in monocots against aphids. We exogenously applied methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) on wheat seedlings and examined biochemical responses in wheat and effects on the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fab.). Application of MeJA significantly increased levels of wheat's polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase and proteinase inhibitor 1, 2 and 6 days after treatment. In two‐choice tests, adult aphids preferred control wheat leaves to MeJA‐ or SA‐treated leaves. Electrical penetration graph (EPG) recordings of aphid probing behavior revealed that on MeJA‐treated plants, the duration of aphid's first probe was significantly shorter and number of probes was significantly higher than those on control plants. Also total duration of probing on MeJA‐treated plants was significantly shorter than on control plants. Total duration of salivation period on SA‐treated plants was significantly longer, while mean phloem ingestion period was significantly shorter than on control plants. However, no significant difference in total duration of phloem sap ingestion period was observed among treatments. The EPG data suggest that MeJA‐dependent resistance factors might be due to feeding deterrents in mesophyll, whereas the SA‐mediated resistance may be phloem‐based. We did not observe any significant difference of MeJA and SA application on aphid development, daily fecundity, intrinsic growth rate and population growth. The results indicate that both MeJA‐ and SA‐induced defenses in wheat deterred S. avenae colonization processes and feeding behavior, but had no significant effects on its performance.
Technological Approaches to Minimize Industrial Trans Fatty Acids in Foods
Authors: Menaa Farid , Menaa Abder , Tréton Jacques , Menaa Bouzid
Published: March 2013

Trans fatty acids (TFAs) mainly arise from 2 major sources: natural ruminal hydrogenation and industrial partial catalytic hydrogenation. Increasing evidence suggests that most TFAs and their isomers cause harmful health effects (that is, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases). Nevertheless, in spite of the existence of an international policy consensus regarding the need for public health action, several countries (for example, France) do not adopt sufficient voluntary approaches (for example, governmental regulations and systematic consumer rejections) nor sufficient industrial strategies (for example, development of healthier manufacturing practices and innovative processes such as fat interesterifications) to eliminate deleterious TFAs from processed foods while ensuring the overall quality of the final product (for example, nutritional value and stability). In this manuscript, we first review the physical–chemical properties of TFAs, their occurrence in processed foods, their main effects on health, and the routine analytical methods to characterize TFAs, before emphasizing on the major industrial methods (that is, fat food reformulation, fat interesterification, genetically modified FAs composition) that can be used worldwide to reduce TFAs in foods.
Characterization of Cucumber Fermentation Spoilage Bacteria by Enrichment Culture and 16S rDNA Cloning
Authors: Breidt Fred , Medina Eduardo , Wafa Doria , Pérez‐Díaz Ilenys , Franco Wendy , Huang Hsin‐Yu , Johanningsmeier Suzanne D. , Kim Jae Ho
Published: March 2013

Commercial cucumber fermentations are typically carried out in 40000 L fermentation tanks. A secondary fermentation can occur after sugars are consumed that results in the formation of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, concomitantly with the loss of lactic acid and an increase in pH. Spoilage fermentations can result in significant economic loss for industrial producers. The microbiota that result in spoilage remain incompletely defined. Previous studies have implicated yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, enterobacteriaceae, and Clostridia as having a role in spoilage fermentations. We report that Propionibacterium and Pectinatus isolates from cucumber fermentation spoilage converted lactic acid to propionic acid, increasing pH. The analysis of 16S rDNA cloning libraries confirmed and expanded the knowledge gained from previous studies using classical microbiological methods. Our data show that Gram‐negative anaerobic bacteria supersede Gram‐positive Fermincutes species after the pH rises from around 3.2 to pH 5, and propionic and butyric acids are produced. Characterization of the spoilage microbiota is an important first step in efforts to prevent cucumber fermentation spoilage.

Practical Application An understanding of the microorganisms that cause commercial cucumber fermentation spoilage may aid in developing methods to prevent the spoilage from occurring.
H+/K+ ATPase expression in human parietal cells and gastric acid secretion in elderly individuals
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zheng Song Bai , Zhuang Yan , Xiang Ping , Xiao Li , Li Bo , Ji Da Nian , Xia Shi Jin , Yu Zhang , Shi Dong Yun
Published: March 2013

Objective

To investigate whether the ultrastructure and hydrogen potassium adenosine triphosphate (H+/K+ ATPase) expression of human parietal cells were associated with aging.

Methods

In all, 50 participants who underwent gastroscopy due to dyspepsia were divided into two age groups, with 19 in the younger group (YG, aged 20–59 years) and 31 in the elder group (EG, aged ≥60 years). The ultrastructure of their parietal cell was determined by electron microscopy (EM), and the expressions of H+/K+ ATPase α‐subunit mRNA and β‐unit protein were detected. Furthermore, 24‐h esophageal pH monitoring was performed in the two groups.

Results

EM images showed no distinct difference in the morphology and distribution of parietal cells or the acid secretion‐related organelle between the two groups. There were no differences between YG and EG in the proportion of mitochondria and the tubulovesicular system area. The expressions of H+/K+ ATPase α‐subunit mRNA and β‐subunit protein showed no age‐related alteration between YG and EG. The expression of H+/K+ ATPase α‐subunit mRNA in EG was higher than that in YG, whereas the expression of β‐subunit protein was significantly higher in those aged ≥80 years than in the YG. No significant difference was found in the 24‐h esophageal pH monitoring between YG and EG.

Conclusion

Acid secretion‐related organelles in parietal cells do not degenerate with aging, the expression of H+/K+ ATPase even shows a trend to increase, indicating the existence of intact molecular biological basis for acid secretion in healthy elderly individuals.
Novel therapies for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Part 1. Pramlintide and bromocriptine‐QR (2型糖尿病治疗新药：第1部分.普兰林肽与溴隐亭‐QR)
Authors: Grunberger George
Published: March 2013

Several classes of antidiabetic agents have been introduced into the market place over the past dozen years. As our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes has advanced, attempts have been made to address these defects specifically. This brief review focuses on our experience with two such pharmacological approaches: (i) a synthetic amylin analog addressing amylin deficiency; and (ii) a dopaminergic agonist, focused on enhancing the lowered dopaminergic tone in patients with type 2 diabetes. Importantly, the use of these agents is not associated with hypoglycemia or weight gain.
Validation of the 7th edition American Joint Committee on cancer staging system for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Tan Zihui , Chen Yuan , Ma Guowei , Meng Yuqi , Fu Jianhua , Zhang Lanjun , Long Hao , Rong Tiehua , Lin Peng
Published: March 2013

Background

The purpose of this study is to investigate the ability of the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor‐nodes‐metastasis (AJCC/TNM) staging system to distinguish between patients at higher risk and to predict the overall survival in patients who underwent surgical resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

Between 1998 and 2008, 560 patients with ESCC underwent R0 tri‐incisional esophagectomy at our center without neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to identify prognostic factors for survival.

Results

The five‐year overall survival rate was 44.1%, with a median survival of 44 months. Gender, pT status, pN status, and the retrieved lymph nodes (LNs) category (<15 vs. ≥15) were found to be significant prognostic factors, whereas histology grade and tumor location were not significant prognostic factors in our analysis. When classified as all eight sub‐stages, there were similar survival curves between stages IB and IIA (P = 0.799), and stages IIIC and IV (P = 0.635). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis indicated that gender, pT category, pN category, and the retrieved LNs category (<15 vs. ≥15) were significantly associated with patient survival.

Conclusion

The 7th edition AJCC staging system proposed a new descriptor for “N” classification. Further stratification of pN status according to number of positive LNs in the 7th edition is valuable. However, we did not find tumor location and histology grade were significant prognostic factors. Moreover, adding a substantially higher threshold of LNs retrieved in the next revision of the AJCC/TNM staging system for ESCC may be more valuable.
Canadian Evidence of Adherence to “Comply or Explain” Corporate Governance Codes: An International Comparison
Authors: Salterio Steven E. , Conrod Joan E. D. , Schmidt Regan N.
Published: March 2013

This study documents the rate of compliance by Canadian public firms with corporate governance recommendations imposed by the Canadian Securities Administrators. Canada uses a “comply or explain” governance structure in which harmonized provincial regulation establishes mandatory disclosure of governance practices. Firms can be compliant with these requirements either by voluntarily adopting the recommended best practices (i.e., adopt) or by explaining the alternative practices implemented to achieve the same governance principle (i.e., explain). Firms that fail to comply (i.e., neither adopt nor explain) are in violation of Canadian securities regulation with respect to governance. Using a hand‐collected sample of 742 Canadian public companies and 16 governance recommendations, our results show that an average of 82 percent of firms complied by adopting the best practice and an additional 4 percent complied by explanation. Our study also shows that 39 percent of Canadian publicly traded firms were completely compliant with all 16 recommendations examined in this study, either by adoption or explanation. To provide a broader context for these results, we compare rates of compliance in Canada to rates in Australia, a country broadly similar to Canada with comparable governance recommendations. The Australian Securities Exchange supplied data sample of 1334 Australian companies reports a complete compliance rate of 74 percent compared to Canada's 39 percent complete compliance rate. Our analysis shows that compliance by adoption of best practice is more common in Canada, whereas compliance by explanation is more common in Australia. In our analysis of compliance with individual recommendations, we find that half of the recommendations are more likely to be complied with in Australia, and the other half are more likely to be complied with in Canada.
Surnames in Albania: A Study of the Population of Albania through Isonymy
Authors: Mikerezi Ilia , Xhina Endrit , Scapoli Chiara , Barbujani Guido , Mamolini Elisabetta , Sandri Massimo , Carrieri Alberto , Rodriguez‐Larralde Alvaro , Barrai Italo
Published: March 2013

In order to describe the isonymic structure of Albania, the distribution of 3,068,447 surnames was studied in the 12 prefectures and their administrative subdivisions: the 36 districts and 321 communes. The number of different surnames found was 37,184. Effective surname number for the entire country was 1327, the average for prefectures was 653.3 ± 84.3, for districts 365.9 ± 42.0 and for communes 122.6 ± 8.7. These values display a variation of inbreeding between administrative levels in the Albanian population, which can be attributed to the previously published “Prefecture effect”.

Matrices of isonymic distances between units within administrative levels were tested for correlation with geographic distances. The correlations were highest for prefectures (r = 0.71 ± 0.06 for Euclidean distance) and lowest for communes (r = 0.37 ± 0.011 for Nei's distance).

The multivariate analyses (Principal component analysis and Multidimensional Scaling) of prefectures identify three main clusters, one toward the North, the second in Central Albania, and the third in the South. This pattern is consistent with important subclusters from districts and communes, which point out that the country may have been colonised by diffusion of groups in the North‐South direction, and from Macedonia in the East, over a pre‐existing Illiryan population.
Circadian regulation of epithelial functions in the intestine
Authors: Pácha J. , Sumová A.
Published: March 2013

Many physiological functions exhibit a diurnal rhythmicity that is influenced by biological clocks and feeding rhythms. In this review, we discuss the growing evidence showing the important role of circadian rhythms in regulating intestinal mucosa. First, we introduce the molecular timing system and the interrelationship between the master biological clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the brain and the peripheral intestinal clock and provide evidence that the intestinal clock is entrained with the external environment. Second, we review the circadian rhythmicity of enterocyte proliferation and the largely unknown regulatory mechanisms behind these rhythms. Finally, we focus on the circadian clock control of food processing that functions by regulating the expression of digestive enzymes and intestinal nutrient and salt transporters. The concepts to be discussed highlight the ability of the intestinal epithelium to utilize self‐sustained clock signals together with signals associated with changes in the cellular environment and to use endogenous temporal control of the gastrointestinal functions to meet varying physiological and pathophysiological demands. The fact that internal de‐synchronizations within the body, such as those that occur in shift workers or with changes in food intake behaviour, are often associated with malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract indicates that more information about the connections between the circadian clock and intestinal mucosa/transporting enterocytes could provide clues for future therapies.
Reputational Penalties inJapan: Evidence from Corporate Scandals
Authors: Tanimura Joseph K. , Okamoto M. Gary
Published: March 2013

We examine incidents in which Japanese businesses are implicated in corporate scandals. Such firms suffer statistically significant losses in their market values. Given the negligible legal and regulatory penalties for Japanese companies, we interpret the results as convincing evidence on the magnitude of reputational losses. We also compare our results to those found inUSstudies. The average negative abnormal stock price reaction is larger inJapan than in theUSA. Moreover, they are negative and statistically significant even when it is not obvious that the firm violated an implicit or explicit contract with the damaged party.
The hepatic cannabinoid 1 receptor as a modulator of hepatic energy state and food intake
Authors: Cooper Martin E. , Regnell Simon E.
Published: March 2013

The cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) has a well‐established role in appetite regulation. Central CB1R antagonists, notably rimonabant, induced weight loss and improved the metabolic profile in obese individuals, but were discontinued due to psychiatric side‐effects. The CB1R is also expressed peripherally, where its effects include promotion of liver fat accumulation, which consumes ATP. Type 2 diabetes in obese subjects is linked to excess liver fat, whilst there is a negative correlation between hepatic ATP content and insulin resistance. A decreased hepatic ATP/AMP ratio increases food intake by signals via the vagus nerve to the brain. The hepatic cannabinoid system is highly upregulated in obesity, and the effects of hepatic CB1R activation include increased activity of lipogenic and gluconeogenic transcription factors. Thus, blockade of hepatic CB1Rs could contribute significantly to the weight‐reducing and insulin‐sensitizing effects of CB1R antagonists. Additionally, upregulation of the hepatic CB1R may contribute to chronic liver inflammation, fibrosis and cirrhosis from causes including obesity, alcoholism and viral hepatitis. Peripheral CB1R antagonists induce weight loss and metabolic improvements in obese rodents; however, as there is evidence that hepatic CB1Rs are predominately intracellular, due to high intrinsic clearance, many drugs may not effectively block these receptors and therefore have limited efficacy. Hepatoselective CB1R antagonists may be effective at reducing hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance and bodyweight in obese, diabetic patients, with far fewer side‐effects than first‐generation CB1R antagonists. Additionally, such compounds may be effective in treating inflammatory liver disease, such as non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis, reducing the likelihood of disease progression to cirrhosis or cancer.