bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finance-seeking behaviour and outcomes for small- and medium-sized enterprises
Authors: Xiang Dong , Worthington Andrew
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Model finance-seeking behaviour and outcomes by Australian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using firm-level panel data. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using firm-level three-year panel data for more than 2,000 SMEs from the Business Longitudinal Database compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the authors estimate separate models for the seeking of finance (debt and/or equity) and the outcomes of finance seeking (successful or unsuccessful). Key explanatory variables include declared business focus (on financial, cost, operational, quality, innovation, and human resource measures), presence of business plans and other documentation related to successful finance seeking, innovation, indicators for family and foreign-owned businesses, and profitability. Control variables include sales, the number of employees, length of operations, export and import activity, government financial assistance, and industry classification.

Findings

– Business objectives together with a large number of firm-level characteristics, including firm age, size, industry and sales, profits, growth and exports, significantly affect both finance-seeking behaviour and outcomes. The authors find evidence that the pecking-order and agency cost theories of capital structure at least partly explain the financial behaviour of Australian SMEs.

Research limitations/implications

– Several of the responses in the underlying survey data are qualitative so the authors are unable to assess how the strength of these relationships varies by the levels of sales and profitability.

Practical implications

– The findings show that business objectives significantly affect SME finance-seeking decisions and outcomes. SMEs that focus on profitability or growth have a strong willingness to seek additional finance; in comparison, SMEs that focus on the quality of their products or services are less likely to apply for additional finance. As only half of the SMEs in the sample considered profitability or growth to be a major business focus, core business objectives greatly affect SME financing decisions. Further, pecking-order theory not trade-off theory better explains the financial behaviour of SMEs, yielding evidence that SMEs continue to face financial constraints when pursuing growth. Some evidence also of agency cost theory in the positive effects of family ownership on debt seeking.

Originality/value

– One of very few studies to examine finance seeking by SMEs, especially in Australia. Further, only study known to include declared business strategy, presence of business plans and other finance-related documentation and innovation in addition to the usual focus on growth and profitability to explain financing behaviour. Very large panel of longitudinal data used to explain financial decision making over time.
The role of documents in the U.S.
Authors: Choksy Carol E.B.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– How documents pour l’action organize and bind US society. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– Manuel Zacklad’s concept of documents pour l’action are examined as highly embedded social objects using cultural anthropology and the robotics concept of stigmergy. Pragmatic literacy as opposed to scholarly or recreational literacy is used to inform the discussion.

Findings

–Documents pour l’action are more than memory devices that explain or describe. They function within highly structured social contexts to organize and bind US society.

Research limitations/implications

– Research on documents has been limited to their role as memory devices. Documents pour l’action are deeply embedded social objects. A new focus on pragmatic literacy could create many breakthroughs in the understanding of documents generally.

Originality/value

– This is the first study of the role of documents as a binding force in a society, particularly with an understanding of how they can be understood through stigmergy.
Is it money laundering
Authors: Huang Zeyu
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to, inspired by the media report concerning the misuse of China UnionPay cards, examine the elements of money laundering offence in Macau SAR through a case study, which also calls for the mutual legal assistance between mainland China and Macau.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper provides the case study of China UnionPay scandal in accordance with Macau law and comparative analysis of legislation and regulations in mainland China and Macau. Relevant suggestions are presented.

Findings

– Despite the lack of actually discovered money laundering cases involving China UnionPay, the methods of smuggling money from mainland China across the border to Macau implied a “risk exposure” of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) mechanism of Macau SAR. The risk of money laundering therein makes it necessary to establish and enforce the inter-regional mutual legal assistance for AML. Sensitive issues thereof shall be handledipso jureand reasonably.

Practical implications

– This paper is a good attempt to touch upon the long-term puzzle in inter-regional mutual legal assistance in Greater China. The specific case study may act as an ice-breaker about how to develop inter-regional mutual legal assistance in specific criminal matters.

Originality/value

– This paper, first, reacts to the legal problem caused by China UnionPay scandal, which also will be beneficial for the legal debates and policy-making upon the establishment and enforcement of mutual legal assistance in Greater China.
Clickjacking: a study on popular websites in India
Authors: Dharmavaram Vijaya Geeta
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to assess the precautionary measures adopted by the popular websites in India, and, thus, find out how vulnerable the Indian Web users are to this form of attack. Today almost all work is done through the Internet, including monetary transactions. This holds true even for developing countries like India, thus making secure browsing a necessity. However, an attack called “clickjacking” can help Internet scammers to carry out fraudulent tasks. Even though researchers had proposed different techniques to face this threat, it remains a question on how effectively they are deployed in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

– To carry out the study, top 100 Indian and global websites in India were identified and were divided into static and dynamic websites based on the level of interaction they offer to the users. These websites were checked to see whether they offer any basic protection against clickjacking and, if so, which defence technique is used. A comparison between Indian websites and global websites is done to see where India stands in terms of providing security.

Findings

– The results show that 86 per cent of Indian websites offer no protection against clickjacking, in contrast to 51 per cent of global websites. It is also observed that in the case of dynamic websites, only 18 per cent of Indian websites offer some form of protection, when compared to 63 per cent of global websites. This is quite alarming, as dynamic websites such as social networking and banking websites are the likely candidates for clickjacking, resulting in serious consequences such as identity and monetary theft.

Originality/value

– In this paper, vulnerability of Indian websites to clickjacking is presented, which was not addressed before. This will help in creating awareness among the Indian Web developers as well as the general public, so that precautionary measures can be adopted.
Atypical pemphigus with immunoglobulin G autoantibodies against desmoglein 3 and desmocollin 3
Authors: Kamiya Koji , Aoyama Yumi , Wakashima Chie , Kudo Tomoko , Nakajima Kimiko , Sano Shigetoshi , Ishii Norito , Teye Kwesi , Hashimoto Takashi , Iwatsuki Keiji , Tokura Yoshiki
Published: September 2015

In patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV), pathogenic immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies are most commonly directed against desmoglein 3 (Dsg3). It has recently been reported, however, that IgG anti‐desmocollin 3 (Dsc3) antibodies are detected in some cases of pemphigus with or without IgG anti‐Dsg3 antibodies. We present a case of pemphigus with IgG antibodies against Dsg3 and Dsc3. Subsequent studies showed that the cell surface distribution pattern of Dsc3 but not Dsg3 was altered, suggesting that suprabasal acantholytic blisters were induced by IgG anti‐Dsc3 antibodies rather than IgG anti‐Dsg3 antibodies. Our case suggests that anti‐Dsc3 antibodies may be pathogenic in cases positive for the dual cadherin autoantibodies.
Macronutrient balance mediates the growth of sexually selected weapons but not genitalia in male broad‐horned beetles
Authors: House Clarissa M. , Jensen Kim , Rapkin James , Lane Sarah , Okada Kensuke , Hosken David J. , Hunt John
Published: September 2015

Condition is defined as the pool of resources available to an individual that can be allocated to fitness‐enhancing traits. Consequently, condition could influence developmental trade‐offs if any occur. Although many studies have manipulated diet to demonstrate condition‐dependent trait expression, few studies have determined the contribution of specific nutrients to condition or trade‐offs.

We used nutritional geometry to quantify the effects of dietary protein and carbohydrate content on larval performance and the development of adult morphology including body size as well as a primary and secondary sexually selected trait in male broad‐horned beetles, Gnatocerus cornutus.

We found that offspring survival, development rate and morphological traits were highly affected by dietary carbohydrate content and to a lesser extent by protein content and that all traits were maximized at a protein‐to‐carbohydrate ratio around 1:2. The absolute size of a secondary sexual character, the mandibles, had a heightened response to the increased availability and ratio of both macronutrients. Male genitalia, in contrast, were relatively insensitive to the increased availability of macronutrients.

Overall, while nutrition influenced trait expression, the nutritional requirements of development rate and morphological traits were largely the same and resource acquisition seems to implement only weak trade‐offs in this species.

This finding contrasts with some resource constraint predictions, as beetles seem able to simultaneously meet the nutritional requirements of most traits.
Investment Treaty Law and the Fear for Sovereignty: Transnational Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Kleinheisterkamp Jan
Published: September 2015

This article addresses the vagueness, and the interpretative challenges associated with, international investment agreements (IIAs) and develops a new normative framework for interpreting these treaties. It focuses on the historical embedding of investment protection as a means of facilitating economic development as well as upon its synthetic public law nature. The analysis shows that a teleological approach to interpretation imposes boundaries on the meaning of substantiveIIAprovisions. The article then elaborates how the transnational dimension ofIIAs provides a benchmark, which is the level of protection offered to economic actors against interference by the state in countries with the highest rule of law standards. The article then shows how the resulting challenges of comparative public law could be addressed through the methodology of re‐ and pre‐statement of transnational uniform ‘principles’: sophisticated and detailed rules striking the proper balance between private economic interests and the public regulatory interest, so as to provide more legal certainty for both investors and host states.
Okun's Law in Australia
Authors: Valadkhani Abbas
Published: September 2015

This paper examines the dynamic behaviour of the Okun coefficient using quarterly data (1980Q3–2014Q1). It is found that a rise in labour productivity and a fall in output can increase unemployment. A 1 per cent reduction in the unemployment rate requires only a 2.4 per cent increase in real output growth above the average growth rate, but during recessions this figure increases to 4.53 per cent. The probability of observing a higher coefficient was limited to recessionary periods. Given that recessions are now less frequent, Okun's law continues to be a useful rule of thumb in Australia.
Host evolution in Mastomys natalensis (Rodentia: Muridae): An integrative approach using geometric morphometrics and genetics
Authors: LALIS Aude , EVIN Allowen , JANIER Marc , KOIVOGUI Lamine , DENYS Christiane
Published: September 2015

The commensal rodent Mastomys natalensis is the natural reservoir of Lassa arenavirus (LASV), which causes hemorrhagic fever in West Africa. To study a possible effect of the virus on phenotypic and genotypic variation of its persistently infected host, we compared LASV‐positive and non‐infected wild‐caught M. natalensis. The LASV effects on the phenotypic variation were explored using standard external morphometric measurements, geometric morphometric analyses of the cranial size and shape, and brain case volume. The genetic variability of M. natalensis specimens was assessed using 9 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Independent of sex and age, LASV‐infected animals had smaller external body measurements, reproductive organs, skull size and brain case volume. Cranial shape differences between the 2 groups are represented by a lateral constriction of the entire skull. The genetic variability revealed consanguinity only among the LASV‐positive rodents. We hypothesize that growth impairment may result in a selective disadvantage for LASV‐infected M. natalensis, leading to a preferably commensal lifestyle in areas where the LAVS is endemic and, thereby, increasing the risk of LASV transmission to humans.
Social dominance‐related major urinary proteins and the regulatory mechanism in mice
Authors: GUO Huifen , FANG Qi , HUO Ying , ZHANG Yaohua , ZHANG Jianxu
Published: September 2015

Major urinary proteins (MUPs) have been proven to be non‐volatile male pheromones in mice. Here, we aimed to elucidate the relationship between MUPs and dominance hierarchy, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Dominance–submission relationship was established by chronic dyadic encountering. We found that at the urinary protein level and hepatic mRNA level, the expression of major MUPs, including Mup20, was enhanced in dominant males compared with subordinate males, indicating that MUPs might signal the social status of male mice. Meanwhile, the mRNA level of hepatic corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) was higher in subordinate male mice than in dominant male mice. Castration also enhanced the expression of CRHR2, but suppressed that of MUPs. CRHR2 agonist treatment reduced the expression of MUPs in liver. However, male social status failed to exert significant influence on serum testosterone and corticosterone as well as the mRNA expression of their receptors. These findings reveal that some MUPs, especially Mup20, might constitute potential dominance pheromones and could be downregulated by hepatic CRHR2, which is possibly independent of androgen or corticosterone systems.
Is gallstone disease associated with inflammatory bowel diseases? A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Fen Ming , Xu Cheng Fu , Shan Guo Dong , Chen Hong Tan , Xu Guo Qiang
Published: September 2015

Objective

To investigate the association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and gallstone disease (GD) by performing a meta‐analysis.

Methods

PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant articles published between January 1980 and February 2015. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA 12.0. A fixed‐effects model was adopted; heterogeneity was evaluated by χ2 test and I2 statistic; publication bias was assessed by Begg's and Egger's tests.

Results

Five studies qualified for inclusion in the meta‐analysis. Patients with IBD had a significantly higher prevalence of GD than those in the control group [odds ratio (OR) 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40–2.12, P < 0.0001]. Subgroup analyses showed a significantly higher prevalence of GD in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.61–2.63, P < 0.0001). However, no significant difference in the prevalence of GD was observed between patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and controls (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.75–1.68, P = 0.585). Studies from Italy, Sweden and the UK revealed a higher prevalence of GD in patients with IBD. No heterogeneity (I2 = 25.2%, P = 0.228) or publication bias was observed in our meta‐analysis (Begg's test, P = 0.711; Egger's test, P = 0.805).

Conclusions

Our meta‐analysis suggests there is a trend towards higher prevalence of GD in IBD patients, and especially in patients with CD. More rigorous, large‐scale multi‐center studies are required to investigate the association between GD and IBD.
H‐Type hypertension, stroke and diabetes in China: Opportunities for primary prevention
Authors: Qin Xianhui , Huo Yong
Published: September 2015

1969年,McCully 首次发现同型半胱氨酸水平即使轻度升高也可加速动脉粥样硬化的发展,由此提出“同型半胱氨酸‐动脉粥样硬化学说”1。接下来的一些前瞻性队列研究提出,同型半胱氨酸水平每降低3 µmol/L可以使脑卒中风险下降24%2。然而,考察降低同型半胱氨酸治疗对脑卒中影响的一些随机、对照临床研究并未观察到明确的结果3。需要注意的是,流行病学研究与临床试验存在诸多重要的不同之处。一般队列研究多关注相对健康人群,而大多数临床研究入组的则是患有心脑血管疾病的受试者;此外,很多临床研究入组的是本身叶酸摄入较多或已经在食物中强化补充叶酸的人群3,因而缺乏足够的效能检测出补充叶酸的明显疗效。因此,在血同型半胱氨酸水平升高且未经食物强化补充叶酸的人群中降低同型半胱氨酸是否可以获益目前尚不明确。鉴别出可以显著受益于降低同型半胱氨酸治疗的人群不仅可以进一步解释疾病的发病机理,同时具有非常重要的临床和公共卫生价值。

既往研究表明高血压是脑卒中的重要可干预危险因素4。更为重要的是,高血压和同型半胱氨酸升高对脑卒中风险升高显示出了交互效应。与无高血压且同型半胱氨酸水平正常人群相比,同时有高血压和同型半胱氨酸水平升高(≥ 10 µmol/L)的人群(我们将该人群定义为“H型高血压”)的脑卒中风险显著升高(男性:OR,12,95% CI:6‐23;女性:OR,17,95% CI:10‐29)5。同型半胱氨酸水平升高多源于叶酸摄入不足,或叶酸及同型半胱氨酸代谢过程中关键酶的基因缺陷6,7。有研究表明,使用降压药,尤其是血管紧张素转化酶抑制剂与叶酸联合,可以有效控制H型高血压的风险8,9。例如,Albert等研究发现ACEI与补充叶酸疗法在降低心脑血管疾病方面具有显著的交互作用(P = 0.03)9。

同型半胱氨酸升高对血管有多重不良效应,包括损伤内皮细胞、促进氧化应激及改变DNA甲基化等10。同时,同型半胱氨酸水平升高是叶酸缺乏的重要指标;除了降低同型半胱氨酸外,叶酸具有直接抗氧化及内皮细胞保护效应(作用于内皮细胞一氧化氮合成酶)11。

我们前期一项meta分析表明,降低同型半胱氨酸的治疗(主要是补充叶酸)能够显著降低脑卒中风险3;另一项meta分析则发现补充叶酸可以显著降低慢性肾脏病患者的心脑血管疾病风险12;同时,补充叶酸可以降低颈动脉内膜中膜厚度的进展(CIMT;加权平均差异:‐0.04 mm;95%可信区间:‐0.07至‐0.02;P < 0.001),且同型半胱氨酸的降低程度与CIMT的降低呈现剂量效应关系(P < 0.001)13。然而,尽管有这些令人兴奋的结果,在中国脑卒中一级预防研究(China Stroke Primary Trial,CSPPT;ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT00794885)8之前,只有Supplémentation en Folates et Omega‐3(SU.FOL.OM3)研究和Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation(HOPE)2研究14,15提示补充叶酸对降低脑卒中有积极作用,并且脑卒中的发生在这两项研究中仅为次要终点。

从2008年5月19日至2013年8月24日,我们在中国高血压人群中组织进行了CSPPT研究。我们预期中国高血压人群可以最大程度受益于降压和补充叶酸降低同型半胱氨酸的同时治疗。中国未进行食物强化补充叶酸的措施,未广泛使用叶酸补充剂,同时具有极高的脑卒中疾病负担。脑卒中是目前中国人群的首位死因;从1984年至2004年,年龄标化的缺血性脑卒中的发病率仍以每年8.7%(95% CI:4.3‐8.9,P < 0.05)的速率逐年上升16。中国人群同时具有很高的高血压患病率;基于一项全国调查,2009‐2010年中国高血压患病率为29.6%,男性(31.2%)高于女性(28.0%)17。非常值得关注的是,约75%的高血压人群伴有血同型半胱氨酸水平的升高(H型高血压)18。H型高血压的高发可能是我国高血压人群的脑卒中患病即使在良好控制血压后依然居高不下的重要原因之一。

可以预期,同时干预脑卒中的这两项主要危险因素(高血压和高同型半胱氨酸血症)将比单独干预其中一项更加有效。CSPPT研究希望证实上述假设,其主要研究目的是考察与单独使用依那普利片相比,依那普利叶酸片(单片复方制剂)治疗是否可以进一步有效降低不伴脑卒中或心肌梗死病史的原发性高血压患者的脑卒中发生风险。

CSPPT研究总共纳入20702例高血压患者,是目前评估降压药物合并降低同型半胱氨酸治疗对脑卒中一级预防疗效的样本量最大的一项随机、对照临床试验。研究结果发现,在不伴脑卒中或心肌梗死病史的高血压患者中,与单用依那普利治疗相比,依那普利联合叶酸治疗(叶酸0.8 mg/天)能够显著降低脑卒中的发病率达21%(HR,0.79;95% CI:0.68‐0.93)8。更重要的是,校正年龄、性别、研究中心、基线收缩压、舒张压和过程收缩压、舒张压后,H型高血压患者(占本研究人群的80.3%,HR,0.78;95% CI:0.66‐0.93)较非H型高血压患者获益更为充分(HR,0.94;95% CI:0.62‐1.42)。

越来越多的证据表明,高同型半胱氨酸血症和2型糖尿病的发生密切相关。2010年中国2型糖尿病的患病率约为11.6%(95% CI:11.3%‐11.8%)19。近期一项对病例对照研究的meta分析报道,2型糖尿病患者的同型半胱氨酸水平显著高于非2型糖尿病患者(平均差异为0.94 µmol/L;95% CI:0.40‐1.48)20。同型半胱氨酸水平升高可能促进2型糖尿病患者的胰岛素抵抗,增加死亡风险21。然而,尚有很多关键问题有待解决。

首先,补充叶酸是否能够预防2型糖尿病的发生或发展?Women's Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study(WAFACS)研究发现,在有心脑血管疾病病史或3项以上心血管危险因素的40岁及以上女性,经过7年的治疗,每日补充叶酸和维生素B6、B12并不能够降低2型糖尿病的发生风险22。然而,WAFACS的所有受试者均来自食物中强化补充叶酸的国家。强化叶酸很可能降低了最可能受益的人群的比例,即同型半胱氨酸水平升高或叶酸水平较低的患者数量大幅减少。

其次,之前一项meta分析表明,补充叶酸降低同型半胱氨酸能够有效预防慢性肾脏病患者的心血管疾病风险;然而,其疗效受到基线糖尿病患者比例的显著影响(P = 0.007)12。需要更多的研究去评估基线空腹血糖和/或糖化血红蛋白水平对补充叶酸一级预防2型糖尿病及血管性并发症的疗效的影响程度。

总之,CSPPT研究以其大样本及独特的设计,为补充叶酸合并降压治疗对脑卒中一级预防作用的有效性提供了确切的答案。补充叶酸合并降压治疗对2型糖尿病的发生发展及其血管性并发症的作用尚需更多的研究来进行探讨;目前尤其缺乏在未强化补充叶酸的人群中的相关证据。如果能够阐明这些关系及其相关的机制,将对临床和公共卫生实践产生巨大的影响。
The association between alcohol outlet density and alcohol use among urban and regional Australian adolescents
Authors: Azar Denise , White Victoria , Coomber Kerri , Faulkner Agatha , Livingston Michael , Chikritzhs Tanya , Room Robin , Wakefield Melanie
Published: September 2015

Aims

While recent evidence suggests that higher alcohol outlet density is associated with greater alcohol use among adolescents, influence of the four main outlet types on youth drinking within urban and regional communities is unknown. This study provides the first investigation of this relationship.

Design

Repeated cross‐sectional surveys with random samples of secondary students clustered by school. Mixed‐effects logistic regression analyses examined the association between each outlet type and the drinking outcomes, with interaction terms used to test urban/regional differences.

Setting

Australia, 2002–11.

Participants

Respondents participating in a triennial survey (aged 12–17 years); 44 897 from urban settings, 23 311 from regional settings.

Measurements

The key outcome measures were past month alcohol use, risky drinking among all students and risky drinking among past week drinkers. For each survey year, students were assigned a postcode‐level outlet density (number of licences per 1000 population) for each outlet type (general, on‐premise, off‐premise, clubs).

Findings

Interaction terms revealed a significant association between off‐premises outlet density and risky drinking among all adolescents in urban (odds ratio = 1.36, 95% confidence interval CI = 1.05–1.75, P < 0.05) but not regional areas. Similarly, club density was associated with the drinking outcomes in urban communities only. General and on‐premises density was associated with alcohol use and risky drinking among all adolescents.

Conclusions

Higher densities of general, on‐ and off‐premises outlets in an adolescent's immediate neighbourhood are related to increased likelihood of alcohol consumption among all adolescents. The density of licensed clubs is associated more strongly with drinking for urban than for regional adolescents.
Profile of internet access in active cocaine users
Authors: Strickland Justin C. , Wagner Frances P. , Stoops William W. , Rush Craig R.
Published: September 2015

Background and Objectives

Web‐based interventions have received attention for substance abuse treatment. Few studies have examined Internet use among substance users.

Methods

Internet‐use data were examined for 66 participants screened to participate in behavioral pharmacology studies.

Results

A majority of active cocaine users reported regular Internet use. Demographic profiles generally did not impact Internet use, but Internet users were more likely to be younger and report other drug use.

Discussion and Conclusions

Active cocaine users have similar rates of Internet access as the general population.

Scientific Significance

Our findings contribute to the limited data on Internet use in active drug users by demonstrating Internet access in cocaine‐using populations, supporting the use of this medium to conduct research and clinical interventions. (Am J Addict 2015;XX:XX –XX)
Finding Common Ground in Transnational Peace Movements
Authors: Kirchhof Astrid Mignon
Published: September 2015

These concepts are discussed through the example of two globally significant mediators, Helen Caldicott and Petra Kelly. Drawing on ecofeminism and difference theory, both activists argued that women were, by nature, more peaceful than men, which meant that women provided the ideal model for humanity. Thus, they interpreted differential feminism as an emancipatory force that strengthened women's position in society. On the one hand both women found a powerful language that reached millions of people through these concepts; on the other hand, it can be argued that because their own “difference feminist” politics publicly emphasised qualities and aptitudes consistent with traditional views of women, Caldicott's and Kelly's influence was eventually weakened within their respective movements.
Intersubjective Affect and Embodied Emotion: Feeling the Supernatural in Thailand
Authors: Cassaniti Julia L.
Published: September 2015

In this article I argue for increased attention to the supernatural as a site for inquiry into, and elaboration of, affect. In attending to how and when people encounter ghosts in Thailand, affect is approached as a moving, interpersonal field of wishes and desires. These wishes and desires circulate within intersubjective spaces, and are sometimes experienced as coalesced, embodied emotions. In highlighting such an orientation, affect (at least in Thailand) can be understood as not just an intersubjective project but also a spiritual one. I suggest that we pay special attention to this quality of the supernatural as an affective force and to the intersubjective, affective currents of emotion.
Valuing Affect: The Centrality of Emotion, Memory, and Identity in Garage Sale Exchange
Authors: Herrmann Gretchen M.
Published: September 2015

This article draws upon affect theory to analyze transformations of garage sale sellers through the exchange of their affectively charged possessions. Garage sales are awash with human emotion; they feature used personal belongings suffused with identities, histories, stories, and memories that are moved along with affect. The objects for sale are “sticky” in that they act as vessels and glue for strands of sentiment to reflexively pass between sellers and buyers, transmitting affective orientations, whether positive or negative. The affective elements of garage sale goods are contagious as they can intersubjectively leap from one body to another.
Evidence quality in clinical guidelines: a comparison of two methods
Authors: Cooper Natalie A.M. , Khan Khalid S. , Clark Thomas J.
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Guidelines report the quality of the evidence used when formulating recommendations to ensure transparency and allow end‐users to assess the estimates of effect that underlie the recommendation. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in grading of evidence quality between the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) model and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) method.

Materials and methods

The GRADE system was used to create evidence profiles for recommendations from a guideline that used the SIGN method to assess the quality of evidence. Scores were allocated to the quality assessment in its GRADE and SIGN forms, so that the difference between the two methods could be quantified.

Results

The SIGN grading system led to quality ratings of the evidence of high and moderate but using the GRADE system, the majority of ratings were graded as low or very low. All of the recommendations were graded as higher quality by SIGN than by GRADE. The points' difference ranged from one to three points (maximum difference possible was four points). The most common reasons for downgrading evidence were “study limitations”, “imprecision”’ and “publication bias”. “Indirectness” and “inconsistency” were rarely selected as reasons to downgrade the evidence.

Conclusions

The GRADE and SIGN methods produce varying estimates of the quality of evidence.
Creation of micro‐topographic features: a new tool for introducing specialist species of calcareous grassland to restored sites?
Authors: Wagner Markus , Bullock James M. , Hulmes Lucy , Hulmes Sarah , Peyton Jodey , Amy Sam R. , Savage Joanna , Tallowin Jerry B. , Heard Matthew S. , Pywell Richard F.
Published: September 2015

Questions

What types of pre‐sowing disturbance are most suitable to establish specialist forbs of calcareous grassland at previously agriculturally improved restored sites? What impact does management regime have on post‐establishment abundance‐dynamics?

Location

PegsdonHills,Bedfordshire,UK.

Methods

We set up a 4‐yr experiment using a split‐plot design to combine pre‐sowing disturbance treatments at sub‐plot level (undisturbed control, glyphosate spraying, harrowing, and creation of ridge‐and‐furrow features) with three post‐establishment management regimes applied at main plot level in years 2–4, involving either summer cutting or summer cattle grazing, and presence or absence of spring sheep grazing, along with autumn cattle grazing in all regimes. After disturbance application, we sowed a seed mixture containing ten specialist species of calcareous grassland. Using quadrat‐based methods, we monitored first‐year establishment and subsequent dynamics, including reproductive status of species at quadrat level. Initial establishment and subsequent dynamics were analysed separately usingLMM.

Results

Initial establishment of sown species was promoted both by harrowing and by ridge‐and‐furrow creation. While some species were about equally promoted by both, several other species benefited more strongly or exclusively from ridge‐and‐furrow creation. Effects of disturbance largely persisted in subsequent years, but for some species, different dynamics were observed for harrowed and ridge‐and‐furrow treatments.Thymus pulegioidesandHippocrepis comosagradually achieved higher abundances in the ridge‐and‐furrow treatment, in which notable levels of bare ground persisted for much longer than in the harrowed treatment. In contrast,Filipendula vulgarisandPimpinella saxifragaachieved higher abundance in the harrowed treatment. Sown species tended to reach reproductive stage faster in the ridge‐and‐furrow treatment than in the harrowed treatment. By the end of the study, management regimes had resulted in few effects on species dynamics.

Conclusions

Establishment of specialist species of calcareous grassland crucially depended on bare ground creation prior to sowing. Ridge‐and‐furrow creation resulted in more persistent reduction of competition than the standard practice of harrowing, provided more suitable conditions for low‐statured specialist species, and generally enabled faster transition of introduced specialist species to reproductive stage. Our results thus illustrate potential benefits of using more severe disturbance when introducing specialist species of calcareous grassland at restored sites.
They Reap but Do Not Sow: How Multinational Corporations Are Putting an End to Virtuous Capitalism
Authors: Callanan Gerard A.
Published: September 2015

The actions of “world‐based” multinational corporations (MNCs) have effectively decoupled the revenue generation and the production sides of the business equation. This decoupling has led to an end of “virtuous capitalism,” which has widespread ramifications for the societies within highly developed countries as well as those in developing and underdeveloped nations. This article presents an overview of the defining aspects of virtuous corporations and the linkages to virtuous capitalism. It then describes the actions of Apple Computer as emblematic of an MNC that is nonvirtuous in its practices. The article then discusses how the encouragement of globalized trade has prompted the shift away from virtuous capitalism and closes with a summary of possible actions that could reverse the decline in corporate virtue.
The Impact of Stakeholder Management on Corporate International Diversification
Authors: Gao Jijun , Slawinski Natalie
Published: September 2015

This article explores the relationship between stakeholder management and international diversification. We differentiate between strengths and concerns in stakeholder management to demonstrate the differential effects of the two aspects of stakeholder management. Previous research on stakeholder theory often focuses on the importance of stakeholder relations, trying to build a business case of relational capital that results from strong stakeholder management. Such a relational approach, however, overlooks the process of managing stakeholders, a process that allows firms with strengths in stakeholder management to develop an important capability of managing tensions. In this study, we argue that this capability, an inherent part of stakeholder management, can be critical when firms face increased complexity during the process of international diversification. We therefore propose that strengths in stakeholder management are positively related to international diversification, while concerns in stakeholder management are negatively related to international diversification. Using panel data for 169 US multinational firms over a 10‐year period, we find support that strengths in stakeholder management facilitate international diversification. We discuss the contributions of our findings to stakeholder theory and international business research.
Does celecoxib improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer?
Authors: Hou Leng‐Chen , Huang Fang , Xu Hong‐Bin
Published: September 2015

Aims

Clinical trials have reported conflicting results about whether celecoxib plus chemotherapy improves outcomes over chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer.

Methods

We performed a meta‐analysis comparing the primary and secondary endpoints of treatment with celecoxib plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer.

Results

Six eligible trials (1181 patients) were selected from the 206 studies that were identified initially. A significant difference, favouring celecoxib plus chemotherapy over chemotherapy alone, was observed in the overall response rate [odds ratio (OR) 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08, 1.67; P = 0.009). However, there was no difference in the 1‐year survival rate (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.86, 1.35; P = 0.512), clinical benefit (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.88, 1.25; P = 0.613), complete response (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.39, 1.51; P = 0.446) or partial response (OR 1.22; 95% CI 0.92, 1.63; P = 0.163). Toxicity did not differ significantly with the exception of the occurrence of leucopenia and thrombocytopenia.

Conclusions

Celecoxib plus chemotherapy appeared to improve the overall response rate compared with chemotherapy alone in the treatment of patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer. Further prospective randomized controlled trials are now needed.
Incidence and risk of severe infections associated with aflibercept in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Xi , Ran Yuge , Shao Yongjie , Wang Kunjie , Zhu Yuanxue
Published: September 2015

Aims

Aflibercept is an engineered humanized vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐targeted agent. Severe infections are serious adverse event associated with aflibercept. However, the contribution of aflibercept to infection is still unknown. We thus conducted this meta‐analysis to investigate the overall incidence and risk of developing severe infections in cancer patients treated with aflibercept.

Methods

Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase and abstracts presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting were searched. Eligible studies were phase II and III prospective clinical trials of aflibercept in cancer patients with toxicity profile on infections. Summary incidences, relative risk (RR), odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated by using either random effects or fixed effect models according to the heterogeneity of included studies.

Results

A total of 4310 patients with a variety of solid tumours from 10 prospective clinical trials were included in the meta‐analysis. The incidence of high grade infections associated with aflibercept was 7.3% (95% CI 4.3, 12.0%), with a mortality of 2.2% (95% CI 1.5, 3.1%). In addition, patients treated with aflibercept had a significantly increased risk of developing high grade (RR 1.87, 95% CI 1.52, 2.30; P < 0.001) and fatal (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.14, 4.11; P = 0.018) infections. No evidence of publication bias was observed. Furthermore, the risk of infections with aflibercept was substantially higher than bevacizumab.

Conclusions

Aflibercept is associated with a significant increased risk of developing severe infections in patients with solid tumours. Frequent clinical monitoring and appropriate management for infections should be emphasized during aflibercept treatment.
Deriving a typology of Web 2.0 learning technologies
Authors: Bower Matt
Published: September 2015

This paper presents the methods and outcomes of a typological analysis of Web 2.0 technologies. A comprehensive review incorporating over 2000 links led to identification of over 200 Web 2.0 technologies that were suitable for learning and teaching purposes. The typological analysis involved development of relevant Web 2.0 dimensions, grouping cases according to observed regularities and construction of types based on meaningful relationships. Characterisation of the constructed types incorporated descriptions based on attributes, examples of representative instances and typical pedagogical use cases. The analysis resulted in a typology of 37 types of Web 2.0 technologies that were arranged into 14 clusters. Results of this study imply that educators typically have a narrow conception of Web 2.0 technologies and there is a wide array of Web 2.0 tools and approaches yet to be fully harnessed by learning designers and educational researchers.
Student interactions and the development of ideas in multi‐touch and paper‐based collaborative mathematical problem solving
Authors: Mercier Emma , Vourloumi Georgia , Higgins Steven
Published: September 2015

Multi‐touch technology is increasingly being used to support collaborative learning activities. However, to know how this technology can be used most effectively, we need to understand if collaborative interactions differ when groups are using multi‐touch technology compared with other tools. In this paper, we compare the interactions of groups of 10 to 11‐year‐old students working collaboratively to solve three math problems in either a multi‐touch or paper condition. The number of ideas raised, who proposed them and whether they were responded to, were coded to identify differences in idea development and interactions across conditions. Responses by students to ideas proposed by other students were coded. Results indicate that similar numbers of ideas were raised across conditions; student responses to ideas raised by other students were more likely to elaborate on the idea or combine it with other ideas in the multi‐touch condition than in the paper condition. These results reinforce prior findings that show higher levels of collaborative engagement around ideas when using multi‐touch than paper and extend our understanding of how this occurs.
A clinically attainable dose of L‐asparaginase targets glutamine addiction in lymphoid cell lines
Authors: Sugimoto Koichi , Suzuki Hiroshi I. , Fujimura Tsutomu , Ono Asami , Kaga Naoko , Isobe Yasushi , Sasaki Makoto , Taka Hikari , Miyazono Kohei , Komatsu Norio
Published: September 2015

L‐asparaginase (L‐ASNase) is an important branch of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and some types of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, including natural killer (NK)‐cell lymphoma. Although it mediates hydrolysis of asparagine (Asn) and glutamine (Gln), which are variably required for cancer cell survival, the relative contribution of Asn and Gln depletion to the anti‐tumor activity in therapeutic doses is unclear in ALL and malignant lymphoma. Here we demonstrate that L‐ASNase exerts cytotoxicity through targeting the Gln addiction phenotype in lymphoid cell lines. A clinically attainable intermediate dose of L‐ASNase induced massive apoptosis in ALL Jurkat and mantle cell lymphoma Jeko cell lines, while a low dose of L‐ASNase effectively killed NK‐cell lymphoma cells. In the lymphoid cell lines Jurkat and Jeco, deprivation of Gln but not Asn specifically suppressed cell growth and survival, and phenocopied the action of L‐ASNase. L‐ASNase treatment and Gln deprivation dramatically disrupted the refilling of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle by intracellular glutamate (Glu) and disturbed the mitochondrial integrity, which were alleviated by various anaplerotic TCA cycle intermediates, suggesting a direct contribution of glutaminase activity of L‐ASNase. The action of L‐ASNase differs between Jurkat cells and NK‐cell lymphoma cells, according to their dependence on Gln and Asn. Furthermore, we observed that high expression of glutaminase GLS1 is associated with increased sensivity to L‐ASNase in pediatric B lineage ALL. Our results redefine L‐ASNase as a therapeutic agent targeting Gln addiction in certain lymphoid cells and offer an additional basis for predicting L‐ASNase sensitivity and engineering selective L‐ASNase derivatives for leukemia and lymphoma.
Abnormal expression of miR‐1 in breast carcinoma as a potent prognostic factor
Authors: Minemura Hiroyuki , Takagi Kiyoshi , Miki Yasuhiro , Shibahara Yukiko , Nakagawa Saki , Ebata Akiko , Watanabe Mika , Ishida Takanori , Sasano Hironobu , Suzuki Takashi
Published: September 2015

Metastatic breast cancer remains a highly lethal disease, and it is very important to evaluate the biomarkers associated with the distant metastasis. MicroRNA (miRNA) are small non‐protein coding RNA that regulate various cellular functions. Recent investigations have demonstrated the importance of some miRNA in breast cancer, but the significance of the great majority of miRNA remains largely unclear in breast cancer metastasis. Therefore, in this study, we first examined expression profiles of miRNA in stage IV breast carcinoma tissues, comparing stage I–III cases by miRNA PCR array, and identified miR‐1 as the miRNA which was the most associated with the distant metastasis. However, miR‐1 has not yet been examined in breast carcinoma tissue, and its significance remains unknown. Therefore, we further examined miR‐1 expression in breast carcinoma using in situ hybridization (ISH). miR‐1 was localized in carcinoma cells in 20% of breast carcinoma cases, but it was negligible in non‐neoplastic mammary glands or stroma. miR‐1 ISH status was significantly associated with stage, pathological T factor, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, histological grade, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and Ki‐67 in breast carcinoma. Moreover, the miR‐1 status was demonstrated using multivariate analysis as an independent worse prognostic factor for both disease‐free and breast cancer‐specific survival. These findings suggest that abnormal miR‐1 expression is associated with an aggressive phenotype of breast carcinoma and that miR‐1 status is a potent prognostic factor in human breast cancer patients.
Pathways From Toddler Information Processing to Adolescent Lexical Proficiency
Authors: Rose Susan A. , Feldman Judith F. , Jankowski Jeffery J.
Published: September 2015

This study examined the relation of 3‐year core information‐processing abilities to lexical growth and development. The core abilities covered four domains—memory, representational competence (cross‐modal transfer), processing speed, and attention. Lexical proficiency was assessed at 3 and 13 years with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) and verbal fluency. The sample (N = 128) consisted of 43 preterms (< 1750 g) and 85 full‐terms. Structural equation modeling indicated concurrent relations of toddler information processing and language proficiency and, independent of stability in language, direct predictive links between (a) 3‐year cross‐modal ability and 13‐year PPVT and (b) 3‐year processing speed and both 13‐year measures, PPVT and verbal fluency. Thus, toddler information processing was related to growth in lexical proficiency from 3 to 13 years.
Autocorrelation Descriptor for Efficient Co‐Alignment of 3D Shape Collections
Authors: Averkiou Melinos , Kim Vladimir G. , Mitra Niloy J.
Published: September 2015

Co‐aligning a collection of shapes to a consistent pose is a common problem in shape analysis with applications in shape matching, retrieval and visualization. We observe that resolving among some orientations is easier than others, for example, a common mistake for bicycles is to align front‐to‐back, while even the simplest algorithm would not erroneously pick orthogonal alignment. The key idea of our work is to analyse rotational autocorrelations of shapes to facilitate shape co‐alignment. In particular, we use such an autocorrelation measure of individual shapes to decide which shape pairs might have well‐matching orientations; and, if so, which configurations are likely to produce better alignments. This significantly prunes the number of alignments to be examined, and leads to an efficient, scalable algorithm that performs comparably to state‐of‐the‐art techniques on benchmark data sets, but requires significantly fewer computations, resulting in 2–16× speed improvement in our tests.
China's endemic vertebrates sheltering under the protective umbrella of the giant panda
Authors: Li Binbin V. , Pimm Stuart L.
Published: September 2015

The giant panda attracts disproportionate conservation resources. How well does this emphasis protect other endemic species? Detailed data on geographical ranges are not available for plants or invertebrates, so we restrict our analyses to 3 vertebrate taxa: birds, mammals, and amphibians. There are gaps in their protection, and we recommend practical actions to fill them. We identified patterns of species richness, then identified which species are endemic to China, and then which, like the panda, live in forests. After refining each species' range by its known elevational range and remaining forest habitats as determined from remote sensing, we identified the top 5% richest areas as the centers of endemism. Southern mountains, especially the eastern Hengduan Mountains, were centers for all 3 taxa. Over 96% of the panda habitat overlapped the endemic centers. Thus, investing in almost any panda habitat will benefit many other endemics. Existing panda national nature reserves cover all but one of the endemic species that overlap with the panda's distribution. Of particular interest are 14 mammal, 20 bird, and 82 amphibian species that are inadequately protected. Most of these species the International Union for Conservation of Nature currently deems threatened. But 7 mammal, 3 bird, and 20 amphibian species are currently nonthreatened, yet their geographical ranges are <20,000 km2 after accounting for elevational restriction and remaining habitats. These species concentrate mainly in Sichuan, Yunnan, Nan Mountains, and Hainan. There is a high concentration in the east Daxiang and Xiaoxiang Mountains of Sichuan, where pandas are absent and where there are no national nature reserves. The others concentrate in Yunnan, Nan Mountains, and Hainan. Here, 10 prefectures might establish new protected areas or upgrade local nature reserves to national status.
Reactivity to sorbitan sesquioleate affects reactivity to fragrance mix I
Authors: Geier Johannes , Schnuch Axel , Lessmann Holger , Uter Wolfgang
Published: September 2015

Background

Fragrance mix I (FM I) and its single constituents contain 5% and 1% sorbitan sesquioleate (SSO), respectively. SSO is a rare sensitizer and a potential irritant.

Objectives

To determine whether the outcome of the FM I breakdown test is affected by positive patch test reactivity to SSO.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of data from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, 1998–2013, was performed.

Results

The full FM I breakdown test including SSO was tested in 2952 patients. Of these, 154 (5.2%) had a positive patch test reaction to SSO 20% pet. and 2709 (91.8%) had a negative patch test reaction. Positive reactions to one or more of the single fragrances contained in the mix were significantly more common (82.5% versus 57.3%) in SSO‐positive patients, who also had more multiple reactions than FM I‐positive patients with negative SSO reactions (61.5% versus 21.3% patients with reactions to two or more fragrances).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that reactivity to SSO markedly affects the outcome of patch testing with FM I and its single constituents. SSO must be an obligatory part of the full FM I breakdown test, and should ideally be included in the baseline series.