bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are IPO underwriters paid for the services they provide?
Authors: Meoli Michele , Signori Andrea , Vismara Silvio
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to relate the fees paid to IPO underwriters to the nature and quality of the services they provide.

Design/methodology/approach

– Controlling for the characteristics of the firm going public, the risk associated with the offering, and the reputation of the underwriter, the authors study on a sample of Italian IPOs whether a formal commitment by underwriters to provide ancillary services allows them to charge higher fees.

Findings

– The authors document that asking underwriters to stabilize stock price is costly to the issuer, while to support liquidity is not. The authors’ also show that underwriters stabilize IPOs that really need it, whereas the provision of liquidity support does not seem to be always aligned with the issuer’s interest.

Originality/value

– Investigating the Italian underwriting market is instructive for two main reasons. First, the institutional setting in IPOs is similar to most continental European countries, but significantly different from the US market. For instance, allocation policies in US IPOs are discretionary for both retail and institutional investors, while in Europe shares cannot be discretionarily allocated to retail investors. Second, the Italian market offers the opportunity to study the going-public decision outside the typical Anglo-Saxon financial systems. This is of interest because while both the UK and the USA have well-developed equity markets and a related industry of financial intermediation centered on providing equity, our analysis sheds light on financial intermediation of IPOs in a bank-centered system.
CEO inside debt, asset tangibility, and investment
Authors: Lu-Andrews Ran , Yu-Thompson Yin
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The authors intend to perform empirical analysis to test the theory proposed by Edmans and Liu (2011) that CEOs with more debt-like compensations care more about the liquidation value of the firm. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relations between CEO inside debt ratios and tangible assets (i.e. asset tangibility, liquidation value, and fixed asset investment).

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) contemporaneous and lead-lag regression analyses. They also use two-stage least-square (2SLS) regression analysis for robustness check.

Findings

– The findings are fourfold: first, CEO inside debt has a positive effect on asset tangibility of the firm; second, CEO inside debt has a positive effect on the liquidation value of the firm; third, CEO inside debt has a positive effect on the tangible asset investment (as measured by capital expenditures) of the firm; and fourth, these positive effects are found in both the contemporaneous year and the subsequent year and in both OLS and 2SLS frameworks. The research provides further evidence that CEOs with higher inside debt holdings exhibit safety-seeking behavior. The authors document direct proof for the theory proposed by Edmans and Liu (2011) that these CEOs, like any creditors, care a great deal of the asset tangibility and liquidation value of the firm.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the existing literature by providing further empirical evidence to support that CEO inside debt holdings have impacts on firm investment decisions and capital allocations. Inside debt does help align the executive managers’ personal incentive with firms’ value, and mitigate the agency conflicts between managers and debt holders. This study provides significant empirical evidence to support the theory suggested by Edmans and Liu (2011) that CEOs with higher level of inside debt holdings do care a greater deal about the asset liquidation value of the firm, and these firms tend to invest more in tangible assets to preserve the liquidation value.
Corporate governance disclosure and share price accuracy
Authors: ElKelish Walaa Wahid , Hassan Mostafa Kamal
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of corporate governance disclosure on share price accuracy of listed companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Design/methodology/approach

– Data on corporate governance disclosure were obtained from the financial statements of companies listed in the UAE stock market, and share price accuracy indices were crafted from each company’s weekly share price returns between 2008 and 2009, using generalized least squares regression analysis. Multiple regression analysis with fixed effects was then implemented to test the study hypotheses.

Findings

– Voluntary corporate governance disclosure has a significant positive impact on share price accuracy. There is also evidence that mandatory corporate governance disclosure plays an important positive role on share price accuracy in the UAE business environment.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper covers a two-year transitional period during implementation of a new corporate governance code in the emerging market of the UAE.

Practical implications

– This paper encourages corporate managers in the UAE, as well as in other countries with similar business conditions, to review their voluntary corporate governance disclosure policies in accordance with international good practice. The authors suggest that regulators and accounting standard setters should extend mandatory corporate governance disclosure rules for the benefit of stock market participants and the overall welfare of the economy.

Originality/value

– This paper extends the literature on the relationship between accounting disclosure and share price accuracy to include corporate governance disclosure in emerging market economies such as the UAE. It also shows the importance of both voluntary and mandatory corporate governance disclosure.
What is an author now? Discourse analysis applied to the idea of an author
Authors: Martínez-Ávila Daniel , Smiraglia Richard , Lee Hur-Li , Fox Melodie
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss and shed light on the following questions: What is an author? Is it a person who writes? Or, is it, in information, an iconic taxonomic designation (some might say a “classification”) for a group of writings that are recognized by the public in some particular way? What does it mean when a search engine, or catalog, asks a user to enter the name of an author? And how does that accord with the manner in which the data have been entered in association with the names of the entities identified with the concept of authorship?

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use several cases as bases of phenomenological discourse analysis, combining as best the authors can components of eidetic bracketing (a Husserlian technique for isolating noetic reduction) with Foucauldian discourse analysis. The two approaches are not sympathetic or together cogent, so the authors present them instead as alternative explanations alongside empirical evidence. In this way the authors are able to isolate components of iconic “authorship” and then subsequently engage them in discourse.

Findings

– An “author” is an iconic name associated with a class of works. An “author” is a role in public discourse between a set of works and the culture that consumes them. An “author” is a role in cultural sublimation, or a power broker in deabstemiation. An “author” is last, if ever, a person responsible for the intellectual content of a published work. The library catalog’s attribution of “author” is at odds with the Foucauldian discursive comprehension of the role of an “author.”

Originality/value

– One of the main assets of this paper is the combination of Foucauldian discourse analysis with phenomenological analysis for the study of the “author.” The authors turned to Foucauldian discourse analysis to discover the loci of power in the interactions of the public with the named authorial entities. The authors also looked to phenomenological analysis to consider the lived experience of users who encounter the same named authorial entities. The study of the “author” in this combined way facilitated the revelation of new aspects of the role of authorship in search engines and library catalogs.
Augmenting Dublin Core digital library metadata with Dewey Decimal Classification
Authors: Khoo Michael John , Ahn Jae-wook , Binding Ceri , Jones Hilary Jane , Lin Xia , Massam Diana , Tudhope Douglas
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe a new approach to a well-known problem for digital libraries, how to search across multiple unrelated libraries with a single query.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach involves creating new Dewey Decimal Classification terms and numbers from existing Dublin Core records. In total, 263,550 records were harvested from three digital libraries. Weighted key terms were extracted from the title, description and subject fields of each record. Ranked DDC classes were automatically generated from these key terms by considering DDC hierarchies via a series of filtering and aggregation stages. A mean reciprocal ranking evaluation compared a sample of 49 generated classes against DDC classes created by a trained librarian for the same records.

Findings

– The best results combined weighted key terms from the title, description and subject fields. Performance declines with increased specificity of DDC level. The results compare favorably with similar studies.

Research limitations/implications

– The metadata harvest required manual intervention and the evaluation was resource intensive. Future research will look at evaluation methodologies that take account of issues of consistency and ecological validity.

Practical implications

– The method does not require training data and is easily scalable. The pipeline can be customized for individual use cases, for example, recall or precision enhancing.

Social implications

– The approach can provide centralized access to information from multiple domains currently provided by individual digital libraries.

Originality/value

– The approach addresses metadata normalization in the context of web resources. The automatic classification approach accounts for matches within hierarchies, aggregating lower level matches to broader parents and thus approximates the practices of a human cataloger.
A modification of the FRAD model for personal names in non-Roman languages
Authors: Kimura Maiko
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a modification of the Functional Requirements for Authority Data (FRAD) model to accommodate names in non-Roman languages with diverse writing systems.

Design/methodology/approach

– The model modifies and clarifies the attributes and relationships regarding non-Roman languages of the current FRAD model, based on the definitions of transliteration, transcription, and Romanization in ISO 5127:2001. The modified model overcomes the problems inherent in the current FRAD model when handling writing systems in non-Roman languages.

Findings

– The proposed model clearly shows the hierarchy of Controlled Access Points (CAPs). CAPs are either based directly on names or derived from other CAPs. For name or person identification, a CAP and its derivations should be treated as a set. The proposed model also resolves ambiguity in the definition of the word transliteration in the current FRAD model.

Originality/value

– By establishing new relationships and amending the attributes of the FRAD model, the proposed model better expresses personal names in non-Roman languages as well as names in western languages. It also organizes complex writing systems of non-Roman languages. The proposed model could lead to an improved format for authority data and will facilitate international sharing of data.
Understanding the costing decisions behind terror attacks – an analytical study
Authors: Balasubramaniyan V.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the various theories related to low cost terrorist attacks and factors which act as the key determinants to the costing decision. This research is an endeavour to bring about the factors influencing costing decisions of low cost and high cost terror attacks.

Design/methodology/approach

– Methodology adopted is a descriptive one which conducts a content analysis on existing theories, based on materials derived from primary as well secondary source data.

Findings

– This paper argues that the terminology of “low cost terrorism” is ambiguous. This paper states that the nature of attack and the type of attack play an important part in determining the funding levels of terror operations. The decision to taper or increase the cost is more of a “choice” in larger groups but a matter of “compulsion” in smaller groups.

Practical implications

– In the process, it attempts to enlighten the counter terrorism community on the need to target the criminal fund raising mechanisms of homegrown groups which act as the main funding resource for low cost terror attacks. It also attempts to enlighten the concerned institutions, to increase physical security measures instead of attempting to sever the funding for this low cost terror attacks which is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.

Originality/value

– The key findings of this research lies in its originality of presentation of facts in a systematic fashion.
Effectiveness of US anti-money laundering regulations and HSBC case study
Authors: Huang Jimmy Yicheng
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide a macro analysis of the USA’s anti-money laundering (AML) legislation. In examining the context and consequences of these regulations, a general determination can be made on the effectiveness of the current US AML legislation. The major AML regulations in the USA are covered under the Bank Secrecy Act, USA Patriot Act and the Office of Foreign Assets Control. It is difficult to determine what constitutes as implementation and maintenance of effective AML Compliance Programs because US federal AML requirements remain largely dynamic. This paper will provide some context to why certain major AML regulations were established as well as the reasoning behind their implementation. This paper will then attempt to determine the effectiveness of current AML regulations, particularly on the banking sector, by looking at several cases of alleged failure to maintain effective AML Compliance Programs. An examination will be conducted on HSBC’s $1.9 billion settlement in 2012 to the US government, as HSBC failed to establish a reasonable AML program according to the US Department of Justice press releases.

Design/methodology/approach

– A brief description of major US AML regulations pertaining to the 2012 HSBC case is first made. Also, a look into the frequency of suspicious activity report (SAR) filings as well as initiated money laundering investigations is made. The paper critically analyzes the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s evaluation of US AML regulations.

Findings

– It is evident that the FATF held an accurate evaluation of US AML regulations being both very comprehensive and severely enforced. The main criticism is with the implementation of these regulations driving adverse economic and social effects. Financial institutions fear being charged with not having a proper AML program; this causes banks to be more inclined to inflate SARs as well as engage in financial exclusion. It is difficult to prevent these adverse effects, as they directly result from having strict and comprehensive AML legislation, which is necessary to prevent and detect money being laundered.

Practical implications

– A determination as to whether US AML regulations need strengthening or is too strict in that it causes adverse effects.

Originality/value

– A macro analysis of America’s AML legislation is severely needed. Many papers on the issue lack a thorough description of the large-scale socio-economic effects of the AML programs of American financial institutions.
Shell companies, Latvian-type correspondent banking, money laundering and illicit financial flows from Russia and the former Soviet Union
Authors: Stack Graham
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The paper aims to examine the role played by international shell companies in Latvian-type correspondent banking, who creates the shell companies according to what criteria and the resulting money laundering operations for financial flows from Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws on journalist and non-governmental organisations investigations, financial intelligence unit reports, interviews with participants, whistleblower reports and public domain databases to research financial activities shrouded in secrecy with connections to corruption and organised crime.

Findings

– Latvian-type correspondent banking generates for its clients from the former Soviet Union anonymous shell companies en masse across diverse onshore and offshore jurisdictions. The shell companies are vehicles for moving white, grey and black funds from Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet countries through international correspondent banking relations to offshore savings accounts and business suppliers. The creation and administration of the shell companies is handled by para-bank “business introducer” structures that dilute customer documentation.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper does not address the specifics of Latvia’s domestic anti-money laundering (AML) legislation and enforcement thereof.

Practical implications

– Attempts to eradicate shell companies in individual jurisdictions, for instance, by introducing registers of beneficial ownership of companies, may merely displace the phenomenon to other jurisdictions, and thus treat the symptom not the disease.

Originality/value

– This is the first scholarly study of mass use of international shell companies by Latvian-type banking in connection with financial flows from Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet Union.
Tropical to subpolar gradient in phospholipid composition suggests adaptive tuning of biological membrane function in drosophilids
Authors: Slotsbo Stine , Sørensen Jesper G. , Holmstrup Martin , Kostal Vladimir , Kellermann Vanessa , Overgaard Johannes
Published: September 2015

Variation in thermal tolerance among ectotherms has often been associated with a set of structural modifications in their cell membrane that modify the membrane's physical properties to secure appropriate fluidity at different temperatures. These adaptive mechanisms have been found in some insects, including some Drosophila species, but adaptation in phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition has never been examined comprehensively in a large multispecies approach that includes appropriate phylogenetic analysis.

Drosophila species are found in tropical, subtropical and temperate environments and display considerable interspecific variation in thermal tolerance. Here, we measured the PLFA composition of 55 Drosophila species that have previously been characterized for their critical thermal minima (CTmin) which represents a powerful correlate of drosophilids' distribution across thermal clines. All species were reared under common garden conditions, and interspecific variance in CTmin could therefore be related to the metrics of membrane PLFA composition without confounding effects of acclimation or rearing. We hypothesized that cold‐adapted species would have PLFA's with (i) shorter chain length; (ii) higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acid; (iii) higher degree of unsaturation and (iv) lower mean melting point than warm‐adapted species.

Following phylogenetic correction, the data support a highly significant correlation between cold tolerance and both the proportion of unsaturated fatty acid and the degree of unsaturation. Accordingly, we also found a highly significant negative correlation with the estimated mean melting point of PLFAs. Although there was no significant correlation between PLFA length and cold tolerance, the phylogenetically corrected model found PLFA parameters to explain >20% of the variation in cold tolerance when PLFA melting point and length were included. However, further functional assays are still needed to establish how these differences in chemical composition translate into functional differences of cells at low temperature.

The tropical to subpolar gradient in PLFA composition found in this study suggests adaptive tuning of biological membrane function. It is noteworthy that a single measure such as PLFA composition explains more than 20% of the interspecific variance in cold tolerance. Even though PLFA composition is only one of several important physiological characteristics that relate to interspecific differences in cold tolerance, modification of membrane composition is likely an important adaptive trait in insects and perhaps invertebrates in general.
Mapping basement structures in the northwestern offshore of Abu Dhabi from high‐resolution aeromagnetic data
Authors: Salem Ahmed , Ali Mohammed Y.
Published: September 2015

This paper presents a case study of mapping basement structures in the northwestern offshore of Abu Dhabi using high‐resolution aeromagnetic data. Lineament analysis was carried out on the derivatives of the reduced‐to‐the‐pole magnetic data, along with supporting information from published geologic data. The lineament analysis suggests three well‐defined basement trends in the north–south, northeast–southwest, and northwest–southeast directions. The reduced‐to‐the‐pole magnetic data reveal high positive magnetic anomalies hypothesized to be related to intra‐basement bodies in the deep seated Arabian Shield. Depth to basement was estimated using spectral analysis and Source Parameter Imaging techniques. The spectral analysis suggests that the intruded basement blocks are at the same average depth level (around 8.5 km). The estimated Source Parameter Imaging depths from gridded reduced‐to‐the‐pole data are ranged between 4 km and 12 km with a large depth variation within small distances. These estimated depths prevent a reliable interpretation of the nature of the basement relief. However, low‐pass filtering of the horizontal local wavenumber data across two profiles shows that the basement terrain is characterized by a basin‐like structure trending in the northeast–southwest direction with a maximum depth of 10 km. Two‐dimensional forward magnetic modelling across the two profiles suggests that the high positive magnetic anomalies over the basin could be produced by intrusion of mafic igneous rocks with high susceptibility values (0.008 to 0.016 SI.
REVIEW: Ants as tools in sustainable agriculture
Authors: Offenberg Joachim
Published: September 2015

With an expanding human population placing increasing pressure on the environment, agriculture needs sustainable production that can match conventional methods. Integrated pest management (IPM) is more sustainable, but not necessarily as efficient as conventional non‐sustainable measures.

Being predatory and organized as superorganisms, ants possess traits making them suitable agents in IPM. Recent works on weaver ants Oecophylla spp. showcase ants as highly efficient pest controllers. A synthesis shows that weaver ants can reduce pest numbers and their damage and increase yields in multiple crops. Their efficiency is comparable to chemical pesticides or higher, while at lower costs. They provide a rare example of documented efficient conservation biological control.

Weaver ants share beneficial traits with almost 13 000 other ant species and are unlikely to be unique in their properties as control agents. A synthesis of applied work on other ant species illustrates potentials for control of arthropod pests, weeds and plant diseases in orchards, forestry and arable crops.

Synthesis and applications. By showing that ant biocontrol can match synthetic pesticides in a wide setting of agricultural systems, this review emphasizes the potential of managing ants to achieve sustainable pest management solutions. The synthesis suggests future directions and may catalyse a research agenda on the utilization of ants, not only against arthropod pests, but also against weeds and plant diseases. Lastly, it may stimulate implementation of already proven ant‐based integrated pest management techniques.
Systematic site selection for multispecies monitoring networks
Authors: Carvalho Silvia B. , Gonçalves João , Guisan Antoine , Honrado João P.
Published: September 2015

The importance of monitoring biodiversity to detect and understand changes throughout time and to inform management is increasingly recognized. Monitoring schemes should be globally unified, spatially integrated across scales, long term, and cost‐efficient.

We propose a framework to design optimized multispecies‐targeted monitoring networks over large areas. The method builds upon previous developments on systematic conservation planning in terms of optimizing resource allocation in space, and comprises seven steps: (a) determine which questions will be addressed, (b) define species to be monitored, (c) compile occurrence data for all defined species, (d) predict the overall distribution of each species, (e) collect relevant environmental data and identify homogeneous strata, (f) set targets for the minimum number of monitoring sites per species and/or stratum and (g) identify optimal monitoring sites.

We tested whether the monitoring networks designed with our framework have increased performance when compared to networks obtained with simple‐random or stratified‐random sampling by using a set of different indicators. To that end, we designed monitoring networks using optimized and non‐optimized sampling schemes, applied to a case study in Portugal, where the goal was to design a monitoring network for amphibians and reptiles, to complement the one currently established in Spain.

Results allowed us to conclude that monitoring networks designed with our method tend to outperform the non‐optimized ones, in terms of higher species diversity (i.e. higher number of species and equity across monitoring sites), higher representation of environmental strata, and particularly higher coverage of rare species, with less survey effort.

Synthesis and applications. We developed a framework to allocate monitoring sites for multiple species at broad scales using predictive models and optimization algorithms currently applied in systematic conservation planning. This framework presents field survey cost‐efficiency advantages when compared to other standard sampling designs and can significantly contribute to improving the design of monitoring schemes. Thus, we recommend its application to design new multispecies monitoring networks or to extend existing ones.
Strategies for a successful plant invasion: the reproduction of Phragmites australis in north‐eastern North America
Authors: Albert Arnaud , Brisson Jacques , Belzile François , Turgeon Julie , Lavoie Claude
Published: September 2015

Knowing the relative contribution of vegetative propagation and sexual reproduction to the dispersal and establishment of exotic plants is crucial for devising efficient control strategies. This is particularly true for the common reed (Phragmites australis), one of the most invasive species in North America.

For the first time, we combined in situ field observations and genetic evidence, based on two genotyping techniques, that is microsatellite markers (SSR) and genotyping by sequencing (GBS), to determine the propagation strategies of this invader at its northern distribution limit in North America and especially in roadside ditches.

Field observations revealed that, in a region where the common reed is already abundant, both seeds and plant fragments contributed to the establishment of new populations. Newly established individuals originated mostly (84%) from seeds rather than fragments, but a larger proportion of individuals originating from fragments survived the second year compared to seedlings.

High genetic diversity among marsh and roadside common reed stands indicated the prime role of sexual reproduction for dispersal. The vast majority of genotypes were found in only one stand; such high genetic variability can only be explained by sexual reproduction. Half the surveyed stands comprised a single clone, suggesting that local expansion mainly occurred vegetatively. As the small proportion of SSR genotypes initially thought to be common between distant stands proved to be distinct (as revealed by GBS data), it is likely that all the stands examined were initially founded by genetically distinct individuals.

Synthesis. Our study suggests that long‐distance dispersal by seeds is important for the common reed, in marshes and roadsides, while both seeds and plant fragments contribute to short‐distance dispersal along roads, at least in regions where the species is already abundant. The success of this invader in North America seems to be attributable to a reproduction strategy combining the advantages of sexuality with those of vegetative propagation. Moreover, this study shows that the GBS approach strongly reduces uncertainties associated with the use of a limited number of markers. This approach is especially valuable for ecologists dealing with an ever‐increasing number of invaders, of which few have identified microsatellite markers.
Quantifying direct vs. indirect effects of nectar robbers on male and female components of plant fitness
Authors: Irwin Rebecca E. , Howell Paige , Galen Candace
Published: September 2015

Plants interact simultaneously with both mutualists and antagonists. While webs of plant–animal interactions in natural systems can be highly complex, most interactions can be simplified into those that are either direct (mediated through pairwise interactions) or indirect (mediated through third‐party species). Mechanistic studies of the direct and indirect pathways by which foliar herbivores affect plants have been well explored; however, mechanistic explorations of how floral herbivores, such as nectar robbers, affect total plant fitness via direct vs. indirect pathways have received less attention.

The goal of this study was to assess the importance of direct vs. pollinator‐mediated indirect effects of a floral antagonist on female and male components of plant fitness. We focused on the hummingbird‐pollinated plant scarlet gilia,Ipomopsis aggregata, which is nectar‐robbed by the bumblebeeBombus occidentalis. Prior studies have found evidence for pollinator‐mediated indirect effects of robbing on female and male components ofI. aggregatafitness, but the mechanisms by which these indirect effects occur, and experimental evidence supporting or refuting direct effects of robbing, have been lacking.

We found no evidence for direct effects of robbing on plant fitness. Robbers did not act as pollinators ofI. aggregatanor did they directly affect seed production by making nectar‐robber holes or removing nectar in hand‐pollinated flowers. Moreover, robbing had no direct effect on pollen production per flower or the ability of pollen from robbed flowers to sire seeds in hand pollinations.

However, nectar robbing had indirect effects on plant reproduction mediated through per‐visit pollinator effectiveness at depositing pollen in robbed vs. unrobbed flowers. A simple model of a plant‐robber‐pollinator system suggested that robbing effects in general may occur through more indirect mechanisms when nectar removal by robbers is high relative to nectar replenishment, and that compensation for robbing is then more profitable through the production of additional flowers.

Synthesis. Our results highlight the importance of indirect effects in mediating the fitness consequences of species interactions.
Poly(ADP‐ribose)polymerase 1 inhibition protects against age‐dependent endothelial dysfunction
Authors: Zhang Guang‐hao , Chao Min , Hui Long‐hua , Xu Dong Ling , Cai We‐li , Zheng Jie , Gao Min , Zhang Ming‐xiang , Wang Juan , Lu Qing‐hua
Published: September 2015

Age‐related endothelial dysfunction is closely associated with the local production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within and in the vicinity of the vascular endothelium. Oxidant‐induced DNA damage can activate the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP‐1), leading to endothelial dysfunction in various pathophysiological conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the role of PARP‐1 in age‐dependent changes in endothelial cell function and its underlying mechanism. Wild‐type (WT) and PARP‐1−/− mice were divided into young (2 months) and old (12 months) groups. Isolated aortic rings were suspended to record isometric tension to assess endothelial function. Nitric oxide (NO) production and content in plasma were detected by spectrophotometry. Superoxide ( production was detected by dihydroethidium. Expression of PARP‐1, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and arginase‐2 (Arg2) was assessed by western blot analysis. Endothelium‐dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine was lost in old WT, but not PARP‐1−/−, mice. Endothelium‐independent vasodilation was not impaired in aging mice. Production of was greater in aging WT mice than young or aging PARP‐1−/− mice. eNOS expression was not affected by aging in WT or PARP‐1−/− mice, but p‐eNOS expression decreased and iNOS and Arg2 levels were upregulated only in aging WT mice. In conclusion, PARP‐1 inhibition may protect against age‐dependent endothelial dysfunction, potentially by regulating NO bioavailability via iNOS. Inhibition of PARP‐1 may help in vascular aging prevention.
Justifying Exceptions to Proof of Causation in Tort Law
Authors: Steel Sandy
Published: September 2015

This article defends a set of exceptions to the general rule in tort law that a claimant must prove that a particular defendant's wrongful conduct was a cause of its injury on the balance of probabilities in order to be entitled to compensatory damages in respect of that injury. The basic rationale for each exception is that it provides a means of enforcing the defendant's secondary moral duty to its victim. The article further demonstrates that the acceptance of this set of exceptions does not undermine the general rule.
The Devilish Details: Key Legal Issues in the 2015 Climate Negotiations
Authors: Rajamani Lavanya
Published: September 2015

The ongoing UN negotiations for a 2015 climate agreement have yet to resolve two fundamental legal issues on which its effectiveness will hinge. The first is the precise legal form this agreement will take. Parties had agreed to work towards a ‘protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties’. This leaves scope for a range of possible legal forms, only some of which are legally binding. Second, they have yet to determine the legal nature of the ‘nationally determined contributions’ submitted by Parties. This article addresses these two critical issues: on ‘legal form’, it identifies the instruments that could form part of the Paris package, focussing on their legal status, significance and influence; and on the ‘legal nature’ of nationally determined contributions, it considers their nature and scope, the range of options for ‘housing’ these contributions as well as their relationship to the core 2015 agreement.
Could SecondaryDNATransfer Falsely Place Someone at the Scene of a Crime?,
Authors: Cale Cynthia M. , Earll Madison E. , Latham Krista E. , Bush Gay L.
Published: September 2015

The occurrence of secondaryDNAtransfer has been previously established. However, the transfer ofDNAthrough an intermediary has not been revisited with more sensitive current technologies implemented to increase the likelihood of obtaining results from low‐template/low‐quality samples. This study evaluated whether this increased sensitivity could lead to the detection of interpretable secondaryDNAtransfer profiles. After two minutes of hand to hand contact, participants immediately handled assigned knives. Swabbings of the knives with detectable amounts ofDNAwere amplified with the Identifiler®Plus Amplification Kit and injected on a 3130xl.DNAtyping results indicated that secondaryDNAtransfer was detected in 85% of the samples. In five samples, the secondary contributor was either the only contributor or the major contributor identified despite never coming into direct contact with the knife. This study demonstrates the risk of assuming thatDNArecovered from an object resulted from direct contact.
Position Effect on Facial Soft Tissue Depths: A Sonographic Investigation
Authors: Baillie Louisa J. , Muirhead Jillian C. , Blyth Phil , Niven Brian E. , Dias George J.
Published: September 2015

The head is positioned erect for an approximation; yet most facial soft tissue depths (FSTD) used are measured from supine subjects. Depth difference might be significant, but there is a paucity of data to verify. This study compared erect and supine values for 17 landmarks from 30 healthy New Zealand (European population affinity) women (18–30 or 40–55 years) in erect then supine positions. Height, weight, and sonographicFSTDdata, totaling 1020 measurements, were obtained. Three midline and seven averaged bilateral values were compared usingANOVA,pvalues, and Pearson's correlations. Correlative strength of age and body mass index,BMI(kg/m2), was determined by values. Results showed averaged erect and supine differences were significant for four of tenFSTDs. Between individuals, difference was various and not unidirectional. In conclusion, depth differences were observed but not all significant or unidirectional,BMIsignificantly influenced nineFSTDvalues, but age group did not.
If the British left: Agricultural policy outside the CAP?
Authors: Swinbank Alan
Published: September 2015

If the Conservative party wins Britain's General Election in 2015 the incoming Government intends to negotiate a new settlement with the EU, and then hold an in–out referendum. Opinion polls suggest a narrow majority would vote to leave. To exercise an informed choice the electorate would need to know what feasible alternatives are available, so that these can be assessed and debated. Furthermore, in the event of a No vote the Government must be ready to implement its alternative strategy: Plan B. This implies that both a new EU settlement, and Plan B, need to be negotiated concurrently. There has been no serious attempt to explain what Plan B would mean for UK farm policy. Would, for example, British farmers continue to receive the level of support that they currently enjoy; would support be more focussed on environmental objectives? WTO rules on most‐favoured‐nation treatment and regional trade agreements would apply. Could a WTO compatible agri‐food trade agreement be negotiated with its former EU partners, or would Irish and Brazilian beef face the same tariff barriers on imports into the British market? For the EU, the loss of a major net contributor to EU finances could result in a re‐examination of the CAP budget.
Integrating small mammal community variables into aircraft–wildlife collision management plans at Namibian airports
Authors: HAUPTFLEISCH Morgan L. , AVENANT Nico L.
Published: September 2015

Understanding ecosystems within and around airports can help to determine the causes and possible mitigation measures for collisions between aircraft and wildlife. Small mammal communities are an important component of the semi‐arid savanna ecosystems of Namibia, its productivity and its ecosystem integrity. They are also a major direct attractant for raptors at airports. The present study compared the abundance and diversity of small mammals between Namibia's 2 main airport properties (Hosea Kutako International Airport and Eros Airport), and among areas of land used for various purposes surrounding the airports. A total of 2150 small mammals (3 orders, 11 species) were captured over 4 trapping seasons. Small mammal abundance was significantly higher at the end of the growing season than during the non‐growing season. The grass mowing regimen in current management plans at the airports resulted in a significant reduction of small mammal abundance at Hosea Kutako during the non‐growing season only, thus indicating that annual mowing is effective but insufficient to reduce the overall abundance of mammal prey species for raptors. Small mammal numbers were significantly higher at Hosea Kutako Airport compared to the cattle and game farming land surrounding the airport, while no differences in small mammal densities or diversity were found for areas with different land uses at and surrounding Eros. The study suggests that the fence around Hosea Kutako provides a refuge for small mammals, resulting in higher densities. It also indicates that different surrounding land use practices result in altered ecosystem function and productivity, an important consideration when identifying wildlife attractants at airports.
A functional model for characterizing long‐distance movement behaviour
Authors: Buderman Frances E. , Hooten Mevin B. , Ivan Jacob S. , Shenk Tanya M.
Published: September 2015

Advancements in wildlife telemetry techniques have made it possible to collect large data sets of highly accurate animal locations at a fine temporal resolution. These data sets have prompted the development of a number of statistical methodologies for modelling animal movement.

Telemetry data sets are often collected for purposes other than fine‐scale movement analysis. These data sets may differ substantially from those that are collected with technologies suitable for fine‐scale movement modelling and may consist of locations that are irregular in time, are temporally coarse or have large measurement error. These data sets are time‐consuming and costly to collect but may still provide valuable information about movement behaviour.

We developed a Bayesian movement model that accounts for error from multiple data sources as well as movement behaviour at different temporal scales. The Bayesian framework allows us to calculate derived quantities that describe temporally varying movement behaviour, such as residence time, speed and persistence in direction. The model is flexible, easy to implement and computationally efficient.

We apply this model to data from Colorado Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and use derived quantities to identify changes in movement behaviour.
Rat‐strain dependent changes of dendritic and spine morphology in the hippocampus after cocaine self‐administration
Authors: Selvas Abraham , Coria Santiago M. , Kastanauskaite Asta , Fernaud‐Espinosa Isabel , DeFelipe Javier , Ambrosio Emilio , Miguéns Miguel
Published: September 2015

We previously showed that cocaine self‐administration increases spine density in CA1 hippocampal neurons in Lewis (LEW) but not in Fischer 344 (F344) rats. Dendritic spine morphology is intimately related to its function. Thus, we conducted a 3D morphological analysis of CA1 dendrites and dendritic spines in these two strains of rats. Strain‐specific differences were observed prior to cocaine self‐administration: LEW rats had significantly larger dendritic diameters but lower spine density than the F344 strain. After cocaine self‐administration, proximal dendritic volume, dendritic surface area and spine density were increased in LEW rats, where a higher percentage of larger spines were also observed. In addition, we found a strong positive correlation between dendritic volume and spine morphology, and a moderate correlation between dendritic volume and spine density in cocaine self‐administered LEW rats, an effect that was not evident in any other condition. By contrast, after cocaine self‐administration, F334 rats showed decreased spine head volumes. Our findings suggest that genetic differences could play a key role in the structural plasticity induced by cocaine in CA1 pyramidal neurons. These cocaine‐induced alterations could be related to differences in the memory processing of drug reward cues that could potentially explain differential individual vulnerability to cocaine addiction.
Separating Spheres: Paul Sarasin and his Global Nature Protection Scheme
Authors: Wöbse Anna‐Katharina
Published: September 2015

In November 1913 the Swiss scientist Paul Sarasin delivered his speech to the first International Conference on Nature Protection in Berne in which he outlined his vision of a future global nature protection scheme. This article argues that Sarasin's assumptions were paradigmatic for the scientific ideal, patronising style and spatial concept of separated spheres in conservation at that time. His sanctuaries were not only presented as oases for flora and fauna; they were intended to include Indigenous people, and were also to become spheres where the rationales of free enterprise and capitalism were to be brought to a halt. Fostering this reserve system implied that the interpretational sovereignty of science would be extended to space. Legacies of Sarasin's assumptions remain in transnational projects of environmental conservation.
Changes in the management of deep sternal wound infections: a 12‐year review
Authors: Lonie Sarah , Hallam Jane , Yii Michael , Davis Philip , Newcomb Andrew , Nixon Ian , Rosalion Alexander , Ricketts Sophie
Published: September 2015

Background

Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a rare but life‐threatening complication following cardiac surgery associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Management of these patients has evolved over the years and can include sternal rewiring, mediastinal irrigation, negative‐pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressing or repair with flaps. We reviewed changes in our management of DSWI and outcomes.

Methods

Using the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons database, 5472 underwent cardiac surgery at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, and 42 were identified as developing DSWI requiring re‐operation between June 2002 and September 2014. Data were collected pertaining to risk factors for DSWI, management strategies and outcomes. Patients were compared from a period prior to NPWT dressing use (June 2002–February 2006, n = 14) and since the NPWT has been used regularly in the management of DSWI (from March 2006, n = 28). Patients were also compared based on the requirement for flap closure of their sternal wound.

Results

Because of the widespread use of NPWT dressings, there is a trend towards fewer sternal infections requiring flap closure (25 versus 42.8%) and less post‐operative complications after definitive closure (7.1 versus 28.6%). Before and after widespread NPWT use, patients require similar number of re‐operations before closure and have no significant differences in time to definitive closure or length of hospital stay.

Conclusion

The use of NPWT dressings as a bridge to definitive closure may reduce the need for more burdensome flap reconstruction, does not delay definitive reconstruction or prolong hospital stay and may reduce post‐reconstruction complications requiring re‐operation.