bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SMCH – the innovative pediatric care hospital from India
Authors: Mohanty Ragini N. , Shah Richa
Published: September 2016

Subject area

The subject area is entrepreneurship.

Study level/applicability

Graduate and executive education level in leadership, entrepreneurship and strategic management are used to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship and strategy in health services.

Case overview

This case talks about the passionate journey of a pediatrician practicing in the Mumbai city of India, who as an individual private practitioner is contributing to the fulfilment of the global health agenda and the fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) – “reduce child mortality”. His vision is to make quality and affordable expert pediatric care accessible to all the individuals, right from pre-birth to adulthood. Surya Mother and Child Care Hospital (SMCH) is being strengthened as a nation-wide network of mother and child hospital offering patient/consumer-centric integrated collaborative quality care, and it needs to be seen how this model can be made sustainable as it enlarges in scale for the future.

Expected learning outcomes

The case is structured to achieve the following learning outcomes: to understand about effectuation as a logic for entrepreneurial success through the lens of Dr Avasthi and his venture SMCH; To understand and apply Porter’s Principles of value transformation that essentially focus on outcome-driven cost-efficient work practices in a collaborative integrative fashion, where transformation must come from within (some practices suggested can be applied to the Indian Healthcare Services Delivery systems); to critically analyze the overall strategic position of SMCH as an organization and its competitive environment; to discuss the factors influencing health-care delivery capacity build up, given the MDGs 2015, Every Newborn Action Plan and Indian Newborn Action Plan framework, as applicable to India; and to discuss and analyze mechanisms for future sustainable service delivery options for SMCH. Although each of these principles is important, possibly, the instructor could emphasize and encourage more discussions on potential models of shared partnerships that can help quality health-care services reach the unreached and the incorporation of technology in achieving this. The learning process can also facilitate discussions about leadership qualities in the creation of health-care entrepreneurs, for the “Change That They Would Want To See”.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS:3 Entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurial motives and their antecedents of men and women in North Africa and the Middle East
Authors: Bastian Bettina Lynda , Zali Mohammad Reza
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how educational attainment and entrepreneurial competencies affect entrepreneurial motives of women (vs men) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This study shows that education has a more positive effect on women’s entrepreneurial motives compared with men. On the other hand, there is a greater positive effect of competencies on men’s motives. Moreover, the moderating effects of culture are compared. The results of the multiple regression analysis show that, within the MENA region, the cultural value of self-expressionism engenders increased opportunity-motivated entrepreneurship by men. Yet, it has no significant effect on women’s entrepreneurial motives.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyses survey data using multiple regression analysis, relationship between independent variables, educational attainment and entrepreneurial competencies, as well as culture, and the dependent variable, entrepreneurial motivation. The present study focuses on data records concerning 13 MENA countries, notably, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The sample includes early-stage and established female entrepreneurs, a total of 1,551 respondents, for all countries for the entire period.

Findings

Entrepreneurs with higher levels of education and competencies are more likely to exploit market opportunities. However, effects from educational attainments and competencies are significantly stronger for men. Moreover, the increasing introduction of liberal or post-modern values in MENA societies has significant effects on men but no effect on women, suggesting that men tend to benefit much more than women in the Arab world with regards to their entrepreneurial behaviour.

Originality/value

The study is one of the few attempts to clarify the relationship between individual factors, here represented by education and competencies, and environmental factors, here represented by culture (post-modern values) and entrepreneurial motivation. Moreover, it addresses the MENA region, which is a politically and economically important and challenging environment, and which, to date, has received relatively little attention in entrepreneurship research.
Psychological and structural bias in civil jury awards
Authors: Girvan Erik , Marek Heather J.
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it proposes a basic organizing framework for when a plaintiff’s race, ethnicity, or sex may impact civil jury awards. The framework takes into account psychological and structural sources of bias and the ways in which they may interact when jurors have more or less discretion. Second, the paper employs a methodological innovation to overcome one of the primary barriers to empirical field research on bias in civil legal decisions: the absence of plaintiff demographic information.

Design/methodology/approach

The data set is comprised of jury verdicts in tort cases combined with information from the US Census Bureau regarding race and ethnicity. Statistical tests measure the relationships between race, ethnicity, sex, and awards for economic damages and pain and suffering.

Findings

Overall, the results were consistent with the psycho-structural framework. Where jurors had discretion (i.e. pain and suffering damages), they awarded less to black plaintiffs than to white plaintiffs, indicating potential psychological bias. Where jurors had little discretion (i.e. lost income) they awarded less to female plaintiffs and more to Asian plaintiffs than to male and white plaintiffs, respectively, a potential reflection of structural income disparities. Thus, the framework and method have promise for exploring relationships between structural and psychological bias and differential civil jury awards.

Originality/value

Because demographic information is not easily available, there is very little research on race and gender bias in civil cases. This study introduces and provides a conceptual test of a novel framework for when bias is most likely to impact damage awards in these cases and tests it using advances in social demography that can help researchers overcome this barrier.
Functional traits in red flour beetles: the dispersal phenotype is associated with leg length but not body size nor metabolic rate
Authors: Arnold Pieter A. , Cassey Phillip , White Craig R.
Published: September 2016

Individuals vary in their ability to disperse. Much of this variation can be described by covarying phenotypic traits that are related to dispersal (constituting the ‘dispersal phenotype’ or ‘dispersal syndrome’), but the nature of the associations among these traits is not well understood. Unravelling the associations among traits that potentially constitute the dispersal phenotype provides a foundation for understanding evolutionary trade‐offs due to variation in dispersal.

Here, we tested five predictions pertaining to the relationships among physiological, morphological and movement traits that are associated with dispersal, using a species with a long history as a laboratory model for studying ecological phenomena, red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum).

We identified a dominant axis of movement ability that describes variation in dispersal‐related movement traits. Individuals that scored positively on this axis moved at higher speed, travelled longer distances, had lower movement intermittency and dispersed quicker to a specified area.

Relative leg length, but not body size nor routine metabolic rate related positively with movement ability, indicating a likely mechanistic relationship between increased stride length and movement ability.

Our data suggest that the dispersal phenotype may be more strongly linked to morphological traits than physiological ones. We demonstrate that associations among many functional traits do not necessarily conform to a priori expectations, and predict that the substantial intraspecific variation in trait values may be important for selection. Movement is a complex behavioural trait, but it has a mechanistic basis in locomotor morphology that warrants further exploration.

A lay summary is available for this article.
Influenza and Voter Turnout
Authors: Urbatsch R.
Published: September 2016

Disease makes performing civic obligations more difficult both for the afflicted and those around them. Elections held when infectious diseases are locally prevalent are therefore likely to see lower voter turnout than are those held in healthier times. This is especially notable given the strongly seasonal incidence of influenza, which coincides with election season in some countries. This article examines the relationship between regional turnout rates in Finland and the United States from 1995 to 2015 with measures of local influenza prevalence. In both countries, regression models suggest influenza outbreaks associate with lower voting rates. This may suggest another mechanism limiting the political representation of people and communities vulnerable to ill health.
Neotypification of Dothistroma septosporum and epitypification of D. pini, causal agents of Dothistroma needle blight of pine
Authors: Barnes I. , van der Nest A. , Mullett M. S. , Crous P. W. , Drenkhan R. , Musolin D. L. , Wingfield M. J.
Published: September 2016

Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) is one of the most devastating needle diseases on Pinus spp. worldwide. Ever since the description of the causal agent of the disease in Europe in 1911 as Cytosporina septospora, and independently in the USA in 1941 as Dothistroma pini, there has been considerable taxonomic discordance regarding the name of the pathogen used in literature. This was compounded both by the proposal of different varieties of the pathogen based on differences in spore size and the application of dual nomenclature where three names, Scirrhia pini, Eruptio pini and Mycosphaerella pini, were used to describe the sexual morph of the fungus. More recent studies using sequence‐based methods revealed that DNB can be caused by either one of two distinct species, that is D. septosporum and D. pini. These important species have not been adequately typified, and this perpetuates lack of stability for their names. In this study, these names are fixed to reference sequences linked to living cultures representing type specimens. To achieve this goal, we designate an epitype for D. pini and a neotype for D. septosporum. The known polymorphism in the ITS region, the barcoding gene for these fungi, is characterized and a complete taxonomic history is provided for the genus Dothistroma.
Biodiversity monitoring by community‐based restoration groups in New Zealand
Authors: Sullivan Jon J. , Molles Laura E.
Published: September 2016

In recent decades, community groups have transformed habitat restoration, pest control and species translocations in New Zealand. Large areas of wild New Zealand benefit hugely from ongoing management by community‐based restoration groups. Areas near cities and towns have especially good access to pools of keen volunteers. Community groups are involved in monitoring progress with their work, as well as monitoring biodiversity changes in general at their project sites. New tools powered by modern technologies are creating the opportunity for New Zealand's community volunteers to play a transformative role in biodiversity monitoring for either purpose. These tools are reducing the resources and expertise required for species detection and identification. Smartphones with cameras, GPS, audio recorders and data apps make it easier than ever to record species observations. Crowd‐sourced identification of species in photographs and sounds loaded onto NatureWatch NZ allow volunteers to make observations of a much wider range of taxa than just common birds and trees. Realising this potential requires community groups, scientists and their institutions to collaborate in building and maintaining simple, accessible monitoring systems that (i) require and promote standard monitoring methods, (ii) provide efficient data entry in standard formats, (iii) generate automated results of use to community groups and (iv) facilitate public sharing of data to contribute to regional, national and global biodiversity monitoring. Some New Zealand monitoring systems developed recently to assist community‐based restoration groups with monitoring mammalian predator control are good examples of this approach. Making this happen at a large scale across many community groups and taxa requires increased and coordinated long‐term institutional support for monitoring systems and training.
Is the experience of pain in patients with temporomandibular disorder associated with the presence of comorbidity?
Authors: Visscher Corine M. , van Wesemael‐Suijkerbuijk Erin A. , Lobbezoo Frank
Published: September 2016

The aim of this study was to explore the association between the presence of comorbidities and the pain experience in individual patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). This clinical trial comprised 112 patients with TMD pain. For all participants the presence of the following comorbid factors was assessed: pain in the neck; somatization; impaired sleep; and depression. Pain experience was evaluated using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). For each subject the TMD‐pain experience was assessed for three dimensions – sensory, affective, and evaluative – as specified in the MPQ. The association between comorbid factors and these three dimensions of TMD‐pain experience was then evaluated using linear regression models. Univariable regression analyses showed that all comorbid factors, except for one factor, were positively associated with the level of pain, as rated by the sensory description of pain, the affective component of pain, and the evaluative experience of pain. The multivariable regression analyses showed that for all MPQ dimensions, depression showed the strongest associations with pain experience. It was found that in the presence of comorbid disorders, patients with TMD experience elevated levels of TMD pain. This information should be taken into consideration in the diagnostic process, as well as in the choice of treatment.
China's Hybrid Adaptive Bureaucracy: The Case of the 863 Program for Science and Technology
Authors: Zhi Qiang , Pearson Margaret M.
Published: September 2016

Portrayals of China's bureaucratic behavior tend to emphasize either streamlined central control via top‐down directives emanating from a Leninist system, or a highly fragmented organization characterized by continuous horizontal bargaining. While both views have merit, they miss important but little‐recognized dynamics of Chinese bureaucratic behavior. Examination of the 30‐year evolution of a single organization, China's 863 Program, allows us a unique look inside the “black box” of decision making. First, we highlight a largely unrecognized mechanism of top‐down control: a signal‐response process that fosters substantial uncertainty for officials in the system. Second, our case highlights a circumstance in which reformers made radical moves—deployed as a “band‐aid” layer of rational‐instrumentalism—to meet a perceived external security threat. These moves demonstrate efforts to incorporate Weberian norms, and suggest sources of dynamism and learning in a “hybrid adaptive” bureaucracy.
Headache Disorders May Be a Risk Factor for the Development of New Onset Hypothyroidism
Authors: Martin Andrew T. , Pinney Susan M. , Xie Changchun , Herrick Robert L. , Bai Yun , Buckholz Jeanette , Martin Vincent T.
Published: September 2016

Objective

To determine whether headache disorders are a risk factor for the development of new onset hypothyroidism.

Background

Past studies have reported associations between headache disorders and hypothyroidism, but the directionality of the association is unknown.

Methods

This was a longitudinal retrospective cohort study using data from the Fernald Medical Monitoring Program (FMMP). Residents received physical examinations and thyroid function testing every 3 years during the 20 year program. Residents were excluded from the cohort if there was evidence of past thyroid disease or abnormal thyroid function tests at the first office visit. A diagnosis of a headache disorder was established by self‐report of “frequent headaches,” use of any headache‐specific medication, or a physician diagnosis of a headache disorder. The primary outcome measure was new onset hypothyroidism defined as the initiation of thyroid replacement therapy or TSH ≥ 10 without thyroid medication. A Cox survival analysis with time dependent variables were used for the model. Headache disorders, age, sex, body mass index, income, smoking, narcotic use, and hypothyroidism‐producing medications were independent variables in the model.

Results

Data from 8412 residents enrolled in the FMMP were used in the current study. Headache disorders were present in about 26% of the residents and new onset hypothyroidism developed in ∼7%. The hazard ratio for the development of new onset hypothyroidism was 1.21 (95% CI = 1.001, 1.462) for those with headache disorders.

Conclusions

Headache disorders may be associated with an increased risk for the development of new onset hypothyroidism.
Technologie, délocalisations et tâches constitutives des professions au Royaume‐Uni
Authors: AKÇOMAK Semih , KOK Suzanne , ROJAS‐ROMAGOSA Hugo
Published: September 2016

Les auteurs examinent l'évolution des tâches accomplies par les travailleurs au Royaume‐Uni entre 1997 et 2006, qu'elle soit due à une reconfiguration des professions elles‐mêmes (marge intensive) ou à une variation de leur part respective dans l'emploi (marge extensive). Ils se fondent notamment dans cet examen sur des données de la Skills Survey, enquête britannique sur les compétences. Leur analyse montre que la variation à la marge intensive est notable et aussi importante que la variation à la marge extensive. Une analyse économétrique fait ressortir en outre que le progrès technique joue un rôle dans l'évolution à la marge intensive, mais pas les délocalisations.
TIC et gains de productivité en Afrique subsaharienne
Authors: WAMBOYE Evelyn , ADEKOLA Abel , SERGI Bruno
Published: September 2016

Les auteurs examinent les effets des TIC sur la productivité à partir d'un échantillon de 43 pays d'Afrique subsaharienne. Ils concluent que le développement des téléphonies fixe et mobile stimule la croissance de la productivité dans un processus à rendements croissants, confirmant l'existence d'un effet de réseau. Ainsi, la multiplication par deux du taux de pénétration des téléphonies fixe et mobile augmente les gains de productivité de 0,12 à 0,15 et 0,05 pour cent environ, respectivement. En outre, dans la région, l'accès facilité aux services bancaires et financiers serait l'un des vecteurs de l'effet de la téléphonie mobile sur la productivité.
Incidence des envois de fonds: une analyse à partir du cas de saisonniers mexicains employés au Canada
Authors: CARVAJAL GUTIÉRREZ Lidia , JOHNSON Thomas G.
Published: September 2016

À partir d'une enquête menée auprès de saisonniers mexicains au Canada, les auteurs construisent un modèle à équations simultanées reposant sur la méthode des triples moindres carrés. Ils montrent que les envois de fonds ont un effet positif sur l'investissement agricole, et donc sur le revenu agricole au Mexique. Cet effet s'étend au revenu non agricole du fait d'une diversification des activités et des investissements des migrants. Ces résultats confirment la thèse de la nouvelle économie de la migration de travail: les envois de fonds contribuent effectivement au développement économique en donnant aux petits exploitants les liquidités qui leur manquent pour investir.
The cultural beliefs of Jordanian women during childbearing: implications for nursing care
Authors: Bawadi H.A. , Al‐Hamdan Z.
Published: September 2016

Aims

To determine the cultural and religious beliefs and practices about childbirth among Jordanian women and to indicate how these beliefs and practices can be integrated into the maternity care of Muslim women in general, especially those immigrating to Western countries.

Background

The physiology of childbirth is similar for all women worldwide, but the surroundings in which it takes place makes it a unique experience for each woman. Every society has cultural practices and beliefs related to childbirth, and what is considered to be a vital practice in one culture may be seen as insignificant in another.

Methods

A qualitative research design with an interpretative phenomenological approach was used to conduct semi‐structured, audiotaped interviews with nine Jordanian mothers.

Results

Five main themes identified: childbearing is a blessing of Allah, a time for special maternal care, a time for maternal self‐renewal, a time for maternal spiritual purification and a time to prepare for the sacrifices of motherhood.

Discussion

The findings reflected the sensitivity of the grace of God in all the interviews, illustrating the permeating influence of religious beliefs on traditional Jordanian childbirth practices.

Policy implications

In planning policies, health services globally should acknowledge the diverse need of migrant women during childbirth, in order to gain women's trust in maternity services. To offer sensitive care, nurses need to address mothers’ cultural and spiritual needs and meet these needs respectfully.

Conclusions

To improve the childbearing experience, maternity staff should consider these themes to help build trust with mothers based on an appreciation of their spiritual and cultural beliefs.
Ingestible insecticides for spotted wing Drosophila control: a polyol, Erythritol, and an insect growth regulator, Lufenuron
Authors: Sampson B. J. , Werle C. T. , Stringer S. J. , Adamczyk J. J.
Published: September 2016

Bioassays tested insecticidal activity of Erythritol from the nutritive sweetener, Truvia, and an insect growth regulator, Lufenuron, against life stages (eggs, larvae, pupae, adults) of Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) and Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), the spotted wing Drosophila (SWD). These compounds were chosen for their demonstrated acute toxicity to adult and larval Drosophila and potential use on organic fruit farms. D. melanogaster fed on standard Drosophila diet media moistened with water containing known concentrations of Erythritol. Likewise, SWD consumed standard diet media as well as thawed host fruit (blackberries and blueberries) treated with solutions of Erythritol, Lufenuron or both. During the first bioassay, Erythritol at lower concentrations between 0 and 500 mm (~61 000 ppm) in water and mixed with instant diet media increased adult survival from ~80% to 97% for D. melanogaster and SWD. However, from aqueous concentrations ranging from 1750 (~414 000 ppm) to 2000 mm (~244 000 ppm), Erythritol killed 100% of adult Drosophila in culture vials. One hundred per cent mortality for SWD and D. melanogaster occurred at ≥0.5 m (~61 000 ppm) Erythritol added to diet media or topically applied to host fruit. In a second bioassay, 0.013–1.000 ppm of aqueous Lufenuron, a chitin synthase inhibitor, when added to dry diet media prevented 90–99% of SWD from reaching the pupal stage. In another assay, ~67% of SWD eggs or neonates (early first instars) died inside blackberries pre‐treated with (dipped in) a soapy solution of 10 ppm Lufenuron. Pre‐treating blackberry fruit with an Erythritol–Lufenuron mixture reduced SWD brood survival by 99%. Likewise, during our last fruit‐based bioassay, 98% of eggs and neonates died inside blueberries similarly pre‐treated. During the last experiment, Lufenuron in diet media also rendered adult females sterile. Sterility, however, dissipated over 7 days once females began feeding on a Lufenuron‐free diet media.
Percutaneous biliary approach as a successful rescue procedure after failed endoscopic therapy for drainage in advanced hilar tumors
Authors: Jang Sung Ill , Hwang Jin‐Hyeok , Lee Kwang‐Hun , Yu Jeong‐Sik , Kim Hee Wook , Yoon Chang Jin , Lee Yoon Suk , Paik Kyu Hyun , Lee Sang Hyub , Lee Dong Ki
Published: September 2016

Background and Aim

Palliative endoscopic or percutaneous biliary drainage is used for unresectable advanced hilar cancer (HC). The best option for drainage in Bismuth type III or IV HC has not been established. The aims of this study are to identify factors predictive of endoscopic stenting failure and evaluate the effectiveness of rescue percutaneous stenting in patients with advanced HC.

Methods

Data from 110 patients with inoperable advanced HC were retrospectively reviewed. All received bilateral self‐expandable metallic stents. Patients were divided into three groups: I, successful initial endoscopic stenting; II, unsuccessful initial endoscopic stenting, followed by percutaneous stenting; and III, initial percutaneous stenting. We analyzed clinical results and radiologic tumor characteristics.

Results

Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of all groups were similar, except the hospital stay was longer in group III than group I. Technical success rate was higher in groups II and III (100%) than in group I (72.4%). The functional success rate, stent patency time, patient survival time, and complication rate were similar between groups. Endoscopic stenting failed because of guide‐wire passage failure (n = 12) or stent passage failure (n = 7). The only factor significantly associated with endoscopic failure was a smaller left intrahepatic duct–common bile duct angle.

Conclusions

As clinical outcomes were generally similar between approaches, percutaneous stenting is recommended for patients with Bismuth type III or IV advanced HC. Acute left intrahepatic duct–common bile duct angulation predicts endoscopic stenting failure. If endoscopic stenting fails, immediate conversion to the percutaneous approach is a necessary and effective rescue method.
Resident‐Centered Care in 10 U.S. Nursing Homes: Residents’ Perspectives
Authors: Harrison Jill , Frampton Susan
Published: September 2016

Purpose

With increased focus on resident‐centered care (RCC) as an organizational imperative and a guiding principle of culture change for long‐term care communities, evaluation of its success has centered primarily on the organizational perspective.

Methods

For this case report, we examine resident perspectives of RCC in 10 nursing homes across the United States that had adopted RCC as a philosophy and model of care for at least 12 months with a maximum engagement of 3 years using a phenomenological approach.

Findings

Qualitative findings from 20 focus groups with residents in 10 nursing homes suggest that RCC has meaning in ways that are consistent with intentions at the national and state levels to advance culture change in nursing homes, including efforts to create a more homelike environment, increase resident decision making and direction of his or her lifestyle, and put residents first.

Clinical Relevance

Residents attribute increased choice in wake and bed times, being heard by organizational leaders, and consistent staff assignment as positive changes since RCC began. However, according to residents, aspects of institutional life in nursing homes, inconsistent with RCC, remain. Residents identified three areas of improvement that would make nursing homes more resident centered. The three areas are response time, access to nature, and transparency about illness and death in the community.
Formulation of orodispersible films for paediatric therapy: investigation of feasibility and stability for tetrabenazine as drug model
Authors: Senta-Loys Zoé , Bourgeois Sandrine , Pailler-Mattei Cyril , Agusti Géraldine , Briançon Stéphanie , Fessi Hatem
Published: September 2016

Objectives

Orodispersible films (ODF) were formulated to facilitate tetrabenazine (TBZ) administration to paediatric population for the treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders.

Methods

ODF were obtained by solvent casting/evaporation method using four different polymers (HPMC, PVP, pullulan and HEC). Physicochemical, mechanical and biopharmaceutical characterizations as well as API state in ODF by thermal analysis were investigated to define and compare formulations. ODF stability was also monitored during 6 months to follow evolution of properties.

Key findings

Analyses at T0 showed few differences between formulations: results of physicochemical and mechanical characterizations were almost similar for each formulation and TBZ appeared at the amorphous state in all cases. ODF delivery system allowed a major improvement of TBZ dissolution profile in buccal conditions compared with pure drug. However, after 3 and 6 months of stability, a TBZ recrystallization occurred for formulations based on PVP and HEC associated with a decrease of drug release in saliva conditions.

Conclusions

HPMC-ODF (F1) appeared as the best formulation. Indeed, physicochemical, mechanical and biopharmaceutical characteristic remained intact. In addition, TBZ remained in amorphous state during stability study.
Making sense of genetic estimates of effective population size
Authors: Waples Robin S.
Published: September 2016

The last decade has seen an explosion of interest in use of genetic markers to estimate effective population size, Ne. Effective population size is important both theoretically (Ne is a key parameter in almost every aspect of evolutionary biology) and for practical application (Ne determines rates of genetic drift and loss of genetic variability and modulates the effectiveness of selection, so it is crucial to consider in conservation). As documented by Palstra & Fraser (), most of the recent growth in Ne estimation can be attributed to development or refinement of methods that can use a single sample of individuals (the older temporal method requires at least two samples separated in time). As with other population genetic methods, performance of new Ne estimators is typically evaluated with simulated data for a few scenarios selected by the author(s). Inevitably, these initial evaluations fail to fully consider the consequences of violating simplifying assumptions, such as discrete generations, closed populations of constant size and selective neutrality. Subsequently, many researchers studying natural or captive populations have reported estimates of Ne for multiple methods; often these estimates are congruent, but that is not always the case. Because true Ne is rarely known in these empirical studies, it is difficult to make sense of the results when estimates differ substantially among methods. What is needed is a rigorous, comparative analysis under realistic scenarios for which true Ne is known. Recently, Gilbert & Whitlock () did just that for both single‐sample and temporal methods under a wide range of migration schemes. In the current issue of Molecular Ecology, Wang () uses simulations to evaluate performance of four single‐sample Ne estimators. In addition to assessing effects of true Ne, sample size, and number of loci, Wang also evaluated performance under changing abundance, physical linkage and genotyping errors, as well as for some alternative life histories (high rates of selfing; haplodiploids). Wang showed that the sibship frequency (SF) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) methods perform dramatically better than the heterozygote excess and molecular coancestry methods under most scenarios (see Fig. 1, modified from figure 2 in Wang ), and he also concluded that SF is generally more versatile than LD. This article represents a truly Herculean effort, and results should be of considerable value to researchers interested in applying these methods to real‐world situations.
The Veracity of Prophecy and Christ's Knowledge
Authors: Gaine Simon Francis
Published: September 2016

It is widely assumed by scholars that Christ was in error on such matters as an expectation that the final judgement and its accompanying events would occur within the timeframe of a generation. While accepting that Christ did indeed prophesy his return within this timeframe, a recent co‐authored work When the Son of Man Didn't Come aims to defend the veracity of his prophecy by drawing on the same historical‐critical method that has given rise to doubts about it. The authors propose a distinction between Mosaic and Jeremianic prophecy, arguing that Christ's was of the latter kind, which was present in the Ancient Near East, the Old and New Testaments, and other Jewish and Christian authors. Their argument, however, is at risk of reducing the truthfulness of a prophecy to its success. Hence this article explores a further distinction between two kinds of prophecy made in Thomas Aquinas's account of the truthfulness of prophecy, mapping it onto the Mosaic‐Jeremianic distinction, and arguing that, in view of this linking of Aquinas's understanding of prophecy to the argument of the book, the book certainly adds to the set of proposed theological explanations of how Christ's prophecy of his return was true.
Physiological and molecular responses to bariatric surgery: markers or mechanisms underlying T2DM resolution?
Authors: Hutch Chelsea R. , Sandoval Darleen A.
Published: September 2016

Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective treatment for obesity and associated comorbidities, including rapid resolution of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although the weight loss itself has substantial impact, bariatric surgery also has weight loss–independent effects on T2DM. Several variations of bariatric surgery exist, including the widely studied Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy. The success of both of these bariatric surgeries was originally attributed to restrictive and malabsorptive modes of action; however, mounting evidence from both human and animal studies implicates mechanisms beyond surgery‐induced mechanical changes to the gastrointestinal (GI) system. In fact, with bariatric surgery comes a spectrum of physiological responses, including postprandial enhancement of gut peptide and bile acids levels, restructuring of microbial composition, and changes in GI function and morphology. Although many of these processes are also essential for glucoregulation, the independent role of each in the success of surgery is still an open question. In this review, we explore whether these changes are necessary for the improvements in body mass and glucose homeostasis or whether they are simply markers of the physiological effect of surgery.
Steroid vs. Platelet‐Rich Plasma in Ultrasound‐Guided Sacroiliac Joint Injection for Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Singla Varun , Batra Yatindra K. , Bharti Neerja , Goni Vijay G. , Marwaha Neelam
Published: September 2016

Background

Despite widespread use of steroids to treat sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain, their duration of pain reduction is short. Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) can potentially enhance tissue healing and may have a longer‐lasting effect on pain.

Objectives

To assess the efficacy and safety of PRP compared with methylprednisolone in ultrasound‐guided SIJ injection for low back pain.

Study Design

Prospective randomized open blinded end point (PROBE) study.

Methods

Forty patients with chronic low back pain diagnosed with SIJ pathology were randomly allocated into 2 groups. Group S received 1.5 mL of methylprednisolone (40 mg/mL) and 1.5 mL of 2% lidocaine with 0.5 mL of saline, while Group P received 3 mL of leukocyte‐free PRP with 0.5 mL of calcium chloride into ultrasound‐guided SIJ injection. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) scores, Short Form (SF‐12) Health Survey scores, and complications (if any) were evaluated at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months.

Results

Intensity of pain was significantly lower in Group P at 6 weeks (median [interquartile range (IQR)] = 1 [1 to 1] vs. 3.5 [2 to 5]; P = 0.0004) and 3 months (Median [IQR] = 1 [1 to 3] vs. 5 [3 to 5]; P = 0.0002) as compared to Group S. The efficacy of steroid injection was reduced to only 25% at 3 months in Group S, while it was 90% in Group P. A strong association was observed in patients receiving PRP and showing a reduction of VAS ≥ 50% from baseline when other factors were controlled. The MODQ and SF‐12 scores were improved initially for up to 4 weeks but deteriorated further at 3 months in Group S, while both the scores improved gradually for up to 3 months in Group P.

Conclusion

The intra‐articular PRP injection is an effective treatment modality in low back pain involving SIJ.
Fertility suppression of some wildlife species in southern Africa—a review
Authors: Bertschinger HJ , Caldwell P
Published: September 2016

Contents

Generally speaking, southern Africa's wildlife populations in small‐to‐medium‐sized protected game reserves (10,000–65,000 ha) reproduce at rapid rates which often lead overpopulation of certain species. Most commonly these are large predators such as lions, African wild dogs and cheetahs, and elephants. Overpopulation of large predators leads to depletion of prey species, breakouts into neighbouring communities and increased risks for disease transmission. An overabundance of elephants leads to habitat destruction which is to the detriment of not only other herbivores but also certain bird species. By far, the most acceptable and effective method of population control is contraception. Another problem, particularly in South Africa, is the large numbers of large predators that are held in zoos, wildlife sanctuaries or captive breeding facilities. Once again, there is a need for contraception to control the rate of reproduction. In this review, we discuss the methods that have been most commonly used for some wildlife species in southern Africa. The methods include hormonal control and immunocontraception. We also address the problem of androgen‐related aggressive behaviours in elephant bulls and giraffe males and present solutions that have been used to ameliorate such behaviours.
Videovaginoscopy of the canine vagina
Authors: Lévy X
Published: September 2016

Contents

Endoscopy enables a rapid and non‐traumatic examination of the vaginal cavity of female dogs. Its implementation requires specific equipment as well as knowledge about the species‐specific vaginal anatomy and the procedure. Vaginoscopy is the diagnostic tool of choice for several vaginal conditions and diseases such as congenital abnormalities, neoplasia or ectopic ureter. Furthermore, vaginal inspection may provide additional information in cases of vulvar discharge or infertility. Vaginoscopy is a superior tool compared to other methods in assisted reproduction. Changes of the vaginal mucosa during the oestrous cycle can be observed to determine the hormonal actions and the time of ovulations in addition to other routine examinations, such as progesterone assay and vaginal cytology. Finally, intrauterine insemination, which is recommended for insemination with frozen–thawed semen, can be performed endoscopically by transcervical catheterization.
Evaluation of spermatozoal function—useful tools or just science
Authors: Niżański W , Partyka A , Prochowska S
Published: September 2016

Contents

Conventional microscopic semen analysis does not provide precise information on the fertilizing potential of a male. The traditional basis for semen evaluation is that male fertility is dependent on production of a “proper” concentration/number of motile, morphologically normal spermatozoa in excess to achieve conception. Many independent studies, especially in human medicine, have demonstrated that the absolute number of spermatozoa does not accurately determine fertility, but their functional competence. Many functional tests of spermatozoa are developed over the last decades. Computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry have become the gold standard for semen assessment in specialized andrology laboratories. Other functional assays, such as gamete interaction tests, provide additional information regarding the real fertilizing potential of sperm cells. From this point of view, such tests are valuable diagnostic tools in fertility disorders and may be helpful to make a decision which method of treatment to use: pharmacological therapy, intrauterine insemination, introduction of classic IVF, ICSI or exclusion from a breeding programme. The most useful gamete interaction tests include induced acrosome reaction, zona pellucida binding assay, oocyte penetration assay and hyaluronan binding assay. In recent years, andrology has entered into a new era of sophisticated OMICS methods. Genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics and proteomics brought high hopes for rapid progress in clinical diagnostics.
Just One Click Away: The Politics of E‐Commerce Sales Tax Policy
Authors: Bjorklund Eric
Published: September 2016

E‐commerce has altered the relationship between consumers, businesses, and U.S. states. E‐retailers are not required to collect sales tax from their customers, thus depriving fiscally insecure states of tax revenue, and providing a competitive advantage for e‐retailers, like Amazon Inc., in their struggle for market share with brick‐and‐mortar stores, like Walmart. Attempts at e‐commerce sales tax policy by state legislators and brick‐and‐mortar lobbyists failed until 2008 when New York successfully passed legislation. A subsequent wave of legislation ensued, and between 2008 and 2012, e‐commerce sales tax legislation left committee in fourteen states, each experiencing various levels of success. Existing explanatory efforts have not fully accounted for the combinatorial effect of political–institutional structure and market contestation in U.S. state‐level policy creation, as well as the likelihood of multiple pathways to passage. Embracing this framework, I use fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to uncover three sufficient pathways for successful passage of e‐commerce sales tax policy. Two paths highlight the confluence of large retailer pressure and a conductive political–institutional structure facing fiscal stress, while the third path reflects political–institutional forces. These findings corroborate, as well as build upon, our knowledge of fiscal sociology, policy domains, and corporate power in American politics.
Remarks on the Parameters of Argument Ellipsis: A New Perspective from Colloquial Singapore English
Authors: Sato Yosuke
Published: September 2016

In this paper, I investigate the nature of parameters responsible for the distribution of argument ellipsis (AE) from the perspective of Colloquial Singapore English (CSE). One recent theory by Saito (2007) suggests that this process, technically analyzed through LF‐Copy, is blocked by ϕ‐feature agreements of T with subject DPs and v with object DPs, respectively. I provide evidence from Case marking, VP‐ and CP‐ellipsis, and Exceptional Case‐Marking constructions that in CSE both functional heads possess abstract ϕ‐feature agreement, as in Standard English. The agreement theory predicts that neither the null subject nor null object position should permit AE in CSE. The fact, however, is that AE is blocked in subject positions but permitted in object positions. I propose that AE in CSE is controlled, instead, by the presence of an operator–variable topic chain, formed to reflect the language's topic‐prominent profile, as manifested in its definite subject preference. This analysis is supported by the observation that the null subject position allows AE in CSE as long as it is not linked to the topic position, as in the case of the hanging topic construction. The alternative analysis suggests that the cross‐linguistic distribution of AE is conditioned by (at least) two parameters: agreement and topichood.
Effects of planned, mistimed and unwanted pregnancies on the use of prenatal health services in sub‐Saharan Africa: a multicountry analysis of Demographic and Health Survey data
Authors: Amo‐Adjei Joshua , Anamaale Tuoyire Derek
Published: September 2016

Objectives

We analysed the extent of planned, mistimed and unwanted pregnancies and how they predict optimal use of prenatal (timing and number of antenatal) care services in 30 African countries.

Methods

We pooled data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 30 African countries between 2006 and 2015. We described the extent of mistimed and unwanted pregnancies and further used mixed effects logistic and Poisson regression estimation techniques to examine the impacts of planned, mistimed and unwanted pregnancies on the use of prenatal health services.

Results

In total, 73.65% of pregnancies in all countries were planned. Mistimed pregnancy ranged from 7.43% in Burkina Faso to 41.33% in Namibia. Unwanted pregnancies were most common in Swaziland (39.54%) and least common in Niger (0.74%). Timely (first trimester) initiation of ANC was 37% overall in all countries; the multicountry average number of ANC visits was optimal [4.1; 95% CI: 4.1–4.2] but with notable disparities between countries. Overall, mistimed and unwanted pregnancies were strongly associated with late ANC attendance and fewer visits women made in the pooled analysis.

Conclusions

Unintended pregnancies are critical risks to achieving improved maternal health in respect of early and optimal ANC coverage for women in Africa. Programmes targeted at advancing coverage of ANC in Africa need to deploy contextually appropriate mechanisms to prevent unintended pregnancies.
Comparative genomics and the diversity of life
Authors: Dunn Casey W. , Munro Catriona
Published: September 2016

In the last decade, genomics has come to play a central role in systematics and biodiversity research. In coming years, systematics and phylogenetics will come to play an increasingly important role in genomics. Here, we address the false dichotomy between descriptive‐ and hypothesis‐driven work, discuss the power of descriptive genomics to test questions of broad interest and explore the applications and challenges that arise as comparative genomic analyses come to include more species. Integrated phylogenetic analyses of genome sequences and organism phenotypes across many species will provide a powerful window on genome function that can be used to answer many questions that to date were only tractable in laboratory model systems. Many challenges will arise as the numbers of species in genomic analyses grow by orders of magnitude. In particular, our current nomenclatural systems for describing gene homology (orthology, paralogy and related terms) are breaking down, and the current focus on ‘strict orthologs’ in many comparative genome analyses will need to be replaced by more holistic approaches that better accommodate gene duplication and loss.
Enhancing the Cycling Stability of Tin Sulfide Anodes for Lithium Ion Battery by Titanium Oxide Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Guan Dongsheng , Yuan Chris
Published: September 2016

The poor cyclability problem of SnS2 anodes in Li-ion batteries (LIB) is tackled for the first time by surface coatings with TiO2 via atomic layer deposition (ALD). ALD is capable to achieve uniform, conformal nanoscale coatings onto entire SnS2 electrodes, and enhance their cycling stability and rate performance. From our study, we found that the bare electrode delivers capacities eventually down to 219.2 mA h g−1 over 50 cycles, while the ALD TiO2-coated gains a final capacity of 323.7 mA h g−1 (47.7% higher). Electrochemical impedance analyses reveal that the improvement is ascribed to the smaller charge transfer resistance and formation of thinner solid–electrolyte interfaces (SEI) in the coated electrode, thanks to its better structural integrity and less electrolyte decomposition in the presence of protective coatings.