bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultural, external and behavioral factors in claims negotiations
Authors: Fazliani Hassan , Charoenngam Chotchai
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to investigate the factors affecting the claim negotiations in Iranian oil and gas construction projects. The findings of this paper give better understanding of claim negotiations in Iranian oil and gas projects.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research methodology for this study involved the use of Delphi technique, conducted with non-Iranian stakeholders being involved in Iranian oil and gas construction projects more than five years and determined the major factors, affecting claims negotiations. Subsequently, factors’ weightings were derived using analytic hierarchy process (AHP).

Findings

– In total, 13 affecting factors identified in three categories of: external, cultural and personal behavioral. Finally, the weights of factors were identified.

Research limitations/implications

– This research was conducted in the context of Iranian oil and gas projects. This industry has high standards and its employees are well chosen and have frequent in job training. All these affect the organization, working and people’s culture and behavior compared to other sectors of construction business. Therefore, the results of this research are specific to the oil and gas industry.

Practical implications

– The findings of this paper can be considered as a practical guide for dealing with Iranian counterparts during claims negotiations to ensure amicable settlement. Also, it is useful for Iranian stakeholders to have better understanding of concerns of non-Iranian stakeholders.

Originality/value

– The paper is the original work of the authors, and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper has for the first time introduced the factors affecting claims negotiations. The findings of this paper provide useful insight into effective claims negotiations of Iranian oil and gas projects.
Exploring residential energy consumers’ willingness to accept and pay to offset their CO2 emission
Authors: Yang Yingkui , Solgaard Hans Stubbe
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– Voluntary carbon offsets have the potential to contribute to reduce carbon emission and thereby meet the national and international target of carbon emission. However, the public support for such scheme in the energy sector is unclear. The purpose of this paper was to invest whether and why residential energy consumers are willing to pay to offset the CO2 emission from electricity consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected using a self-administrated online questionnaire. A sample of size 1,022 respondents with useable questionnaires was received. Contingent valuation method is used to measure the willingness to pay (WTP) for carbon offset. Finally, the ordered logit model is used in modeling willing to pay for carbon offset.

Findings

– The results show that there is significant support from residential energy consumers to offset their CO2 emission from electricity consumption. The WTP is motivated by consumers’ perceptions toward carbon offset, moral obligation and individual’s social-demographic backgrounds.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes a new insight on whether and why residential energy consumers would be willing to pay to offset carbon emission from electricity consumption.
Combined heat and power dispatch by grey wolf optimization
Authors: Jayakumar N , Subramanian S , Ganesan S , Elanchezhian E. B.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The combined heat and power dispatch (CHPD) aims to optimize the outputs of online units in a power plant consisting thermal generators, co-generators and heat-only units. Identifying the operating point of a co-generator within its feasible operating region (FOR) is difficult. This paper aims to solve the CHPD problem in static and dynamic environments.

Design/methodology/approach

– The CHPD plant operation is formulated as an optimization problem under static and dynamic load conditions with the objectives of minimizations of cost and emissions subject to various system and operational constraints. A novel bio-inspired search technique, grey wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm is used as an optimization tool.

Findings

– The GWO-based algorithm has been developed to determine the preeminent power and heat dispatch of operating units within the FOR region. The proposed methodology provides fuel cost savings and lesser pollutant emissions than those in earlier reports. Particularly, the GWO always keeps the co-generator’s operating point within the FOR, whereas most of the existing methods fail.

Originality/value

– The GWO is applied for the first time to solve the CHPD problems. New dispatch schedules are reported for 7-unit system with the objectives of total fuel cost and emission minimizations, 24-unit system for economic operation and 11-unit system in dynamic environment. The simulation experiments reveal that GWO converges quickly, consistent and the statistical performance clears its applicability to CHPD problems.
Aberration detection in electricity consumption using clustering technique
Authors: Sharma Desh Deepak , Singh S.N.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to detect abnormal energy uses which relate to undetected consumption, thefts, measurement errors, etc. The detection of irregular power consumption, with variation in irregularities, helps the electric utilities in planning and making strategies to transfer reliable and efficient electricity from generators to the end-users. Abnormal peak load demand is a kind of aberration that needs to be detected.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper proposes a Density-Based Micro Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBMSCAN) clustering algorithm, which is implemented for identification of ranked irregular electricity consumption and occurrence of peak and valley loads. In the proposed algorithm, two parameters, a and ß, are introduced, and, on tuning of these parameters, after setting of global parameters, a varied number of micro-clusters and ranked irregular consumptions, respectively, are obtained. An approach is incorporated with the introduction of a new term Irregularity Variance in the suggested algorithm to find variation in the irregular consumptions according to anomalous behaviors.

Findings

– No set of global parameters in DBSCAN is found in clustering of load pattern data of a practical system as the data. The proposed DBMSCAN approach finds clustering results and ranked irregular consumption such as different types of abnormal peak demands, sudden change in the demand, nearly zero demand, etc. with computational ease without any iterative control method.

Originality/value

– The DBMSCAN can be applied on any data set to find ranked outliers. It is an unsupervised approach of clustering technique to find the clustering results and ranked irregular consumptions while focusing on the analysis of and variations in anomalous behaviors in electricity consumption.
Public value as a framework for reforming publicly funded museums
Authors: Herguner Burak
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– In recent years, New Public Management (NPM) has been used as the major framework for administrative reforms to redesign the public museums in many countries. However, some scholars argue that this market-based transformation results in professional corrosion or shortcomings about the public museums’ capacity to fulfill their traditional missions. In this regard, this paper maintains that the concept of public value provides a useful way of thinking about the objectives of public services. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a new framework for administrative reforms in the sector to keep efficiency without falling into professional corrosion or inefficiency problem.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses the data collected through 178 questionnaire surveys.

Findings

– The conclusion of the paper is that, for reforming publicly funded museums, public value offers a balance between efficiency and the primary roles of the museums.

Research limitations/implications

– In the paper, the analysis is based on the views of museum professionals. Thus, further researches based on different sources of data are required to further explain the administrative peculiarities of public museums.

Originality/value

– There is a scarcity of literature on the administrative issues in public museums. This paper fulfills an identified need to study on this issue.
Tracing the future of reporting in the public sector: introducing integrated popular reporting
Authors: Cohen Sandra , Karatzimas Sotirios
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to debate the future form of reporting in the public sector by examining alternative forms of reporting, and more specifically the frameworks of integrated reporting and popular reporting. Moreover, the paper explores whether and how these reports could be related to each other in order for the needs of a pillar user group, that of the citizens, to be addressed.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors analyze the frameworks of integrated reporting and popular reporting, and by combining their characteristics the authors propose a creative synthesis suitable for the public sector.

Findings

– The analysis leads to the conclusion that governmental entities need to take the next step on reporting in two parallel levels: the first would require the publication of information encountered in integrated reports containing various information elements that are not confronted to the traditional financial ones. The second would result in the provision of this information in a concise and easily comprehensive way. The merger of these two streams will give rise to the publication of “Integrated Popular Reports – IPR.”

Originality/value

– This move would result to useful and meaningful reporting with potential strategic advantages. The integrated reporting dimension of the reports combined to the popular reporting dimension would provide an adequate information matrix for citizens and other user groups (e.g. politicians, public executives), that are interested to understand the “whole picture” of public sector entities but at the same time they neither possess advanced accounting knowledge nor they are familiar with technical terminology.
Innovation and alliances in international management programmes; redefining and extending the model
Authors: Thomas Mark , O'Sullivan Patrick , Zahner Martin , Silvestre Joelle
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe an innovative international management programme that has been developed across four countries for Master-level students. It first analyses the advantages and disadvantages of two of the most common forms of internationalisation in higher education; the student exchange and full-scale offshore campus model. It then shows how one programme at Grenoble Ecole de Management (GEM) has been designed to capture the best parts of both models in the creation of a hybrid, transcontinental programme. This has resulted in the creation of high quality international education for a large number of students whilst further developing a stronger alliance network between faculties and the business community.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper analyses the advantages and disadvantages of two forms of internationalisation. From there, it draws upon a case study of a hybrid programme based on discussions with faculty and students from four internationally accredited business schools in Vancouver, New York, Grenoble and Beijing. It is supplemented with research on the development of international higher education.

Findings

– International exchange programmes and offshore international campuses can enrich the learning experience for students. However, there are limitations to both models. A hybrid model, though more complex to develop may have a much deeper impact on student learning and faculty development while also offering graduates a greater number of international employment opportunities. The paper outlines some best practices and preliminary learning outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

– The transcontinental project is relatively new being in its third year. Initial results are very positive, but the full implications will be understood in the coming years.

Practical implications

– The paper outlines a framework for joint academic programmes overseas. It demonstrates that by assessing the pros and cons of different forms of international development, a third way can be designed to ensure a richer experience for students, faculty and the business community.

Originality/value

– The programmes are designed to include a greater number of stakeholders and involve teaching, research and corporate participation. This contrasts with many international ventures in higher education institutions that may deal with only one aspect. The paper gives a clear framework for the creation of such programmes. It will be of value to academics, administrators and directors wishing to innovate in their international development for the benefit of their students and faculty.
Exploring culture-specific learning styles in accounting education
Authors: Sikkema Seth E , Sauerwein Joshua A
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review whether culture affects accounting students’ learning processes to identify practical guidance for accounting educators facing a culturally diverse classroom. In spite of a significant literature thread in accounting education on student learning, relatively, little emphasis has been placed on culture-specific learning differences. The literature gap is particularly acute with respect to practical culture-specific guidance for accounting educators. This paper is organized along three primary inquiries into the role of culture in accounting education: first, do we know if culture impacts learning? Second, how much do we know about culture-specific learning styles in the accounting field? Third, what implications do culture-specific learning styles carry for accounting educators?

Design/methodology/approach

– Initially, the author surveys culture-specific learning styles literature, after which a more in-depth analysis of accounting-specific literature is conducted. The author then provides a synthesis of the literature followed by a discussion of the implications for accounting educators.

Findings

– Culture-specific learning styles carry several implications for educators such as problems associated with overloading short-term memory, the importance of prior experience and the role of visual prompts and motivation among students and educators.

Research limitations/implications

– It is an opportunity for accounting educators to explore practical teaching techniques that address differences in learning styles that result from culture.

Practical implications

– Culture-specific learning styles carry several implications for educators. Problems with culture may ultimately be associated with overloading short-term memory. Likewise, prior experience is an important aspect of culture-specific learning and should be recognized by accounting educators. Last, not all motivation need be sourced from the student, and instructors may explore the role of visual prompts when teaching international students.

Originality/value

– This paper highlights the importance of culture-specific learning styles research in accounting education and the need for accounting educators to carefully consider cultural implications, as international accounting education standards are pursued. The dearth of research into culture-specific learning styles in accounting education is addressed.
Does the stress‐gradient hypothesis hold water? Disentangling spatial and temporal variation in plant effects on soil moisture in dryland systems
Authors: Butterfield Bradley J. , Bradford John B. , Armas Cristina , Prieto Ivan , Pugnaire Francisco I.
Published: October 2015

The nature of the relationship between water limitation and facilitation has been one of the most contentious debates surrounding the stress‐gradient hypothesis (SGH), which states that plant‐plant interactions shift from competition to facilitation with increasing environmental stress.

We take a closer look at the potential role of soil moisture in mediating plant‐plant interaction outcomes by assessing effects of climate and soil texture on plant modulation of soil moisture.

Using an empirically‐parameterized soil moisture model, we simulated soil moisture dynamics beneath shrubs and in un‐vegetated coarse and fine soils for 1000 sites in the Western United States with <700 mm mean annual precipitation. This threshold reflects the transition from dryland (<600 mm precipitation) to mesic ecosystems.

Positive effects of shrubs on shallow soil moisture (i.e. the difference between shrub and interspace soil moisture) decreased along the aridity gradient when long‐term average conditions were considered, contrary to expectations based on the SGH. Negative effects of shrubs on deeper soil moisture also increased with aridity.

However, when extreme years were considered, positive effects of shrub on soil moisture were greatest at intermediate points along the spatial aridity gradient, consistent with a hump‐backed model of plant‐plant interactions.

When viewed through time within a site, shrub effects on shallow soil moisture were positively related to precipitation, with more complex relationships exhibited in deeper soils

Taken together, the results of this simulation study suggest that plant effects on soil moisture are predictable based on relatively general relationships between precipitation inputs and differential evaporation and transpiration rates between plant and interspace microsites that are largely driven by temperature. In particular, this study highlights the importance of differentiating between temporal and spatial variation in weather and climate, respectively, in determining plant effects on available soil moisture. Rather than focusing on the somewhat coarse‐scale predictions of the SGH, it may be more beneficial to explicitly incorporate plant effects on soil moisture into predictive models of plant‐plant interaction outcomes in drylands.
Influence of soil microbiota in nurse plant systems
Authors: Rodríguez‐Echeverría Susana , Lozano Yudi M. , Bardgett Richard D.
Published: October 2015

Facilitation by nurse plants is a key process involved in the organization of plant communities and maintenance of biodiversity, particularly in harsh environments. Nurse plants increase plant diversity and productivity in these ecosystems, but our knowledge on the mechanisms through which such facilitation operates is still expanding.

Despite growing evidence that soil microbiota impact plant fitness and community dynamics, their role in plant facilitation has been little explored. Here, we synthesize available evidence on the effect of nurse plants on the abundance, composition and activity of soil microbial communities, and the effect of these soil communities on beneficiary plant species.

Studies conducted mostly in arid and semi‐arid systems show that nurse plants promote the development of differentiated soil microbial communities characterized by a higher microbial abundance and activity, the dominance of competitive bacteria and larger mycorrhizal networks, compared to gaps and to coexisting non‐nurses. There is also evidence that differentiated soil microbiota associated with nurse plants has positive effects on the establishment, growth and fitness of beneficiary plant species, although the mechanisms involved remain unclear. We suggest that they include increased nutrient availability for plants, a better use of resources through functional complementarity in the microbial community, soil stabilization and also direct molecular signalling between soil microbes and plants that affect plant defence and plant interactions.

Evidence for the role of soil microbiota as mediators of facilitation by nurse plants is growing, but there are still too few studies on which to draw generalizable conclusions. Future studies are needed to assess the effect of plant ontogeny and environmental conditions on soil microbial communities under nurse plants and other coexisting species, and to determine the microbial groups and specific mechanisms involved in facilitation by nurse plants.
The complex net effect of reciprocal interactions and recruitment facilitation maintains an intertidal kelp community
Authors: Barner Allison K. , Hacker Sally D. , Menge Bruce A. , Nielsen Karina J.
Published: October 2015

Theoretical and empirical ecology has transitioned from a focus on the role of negative interactions in species coexistence to a more pluralistic view that acknowledges that coexistence in natural communities is more complex, and depends on species interactions that vary in strength, sign, and reciprocity, and such contexts as the environment and life‐history stage.

We used a whole‐community approach to examine how species interactions contribute to the maintenance of a rocky intertidal macroalgal canopy–understorey assemblage. We determined both the types of interactions in this network, and whether interactions were sensitive to environmental gradients.

Focusing on a structurally dominant canopy kelpSaccharina sessilis, and its diverse co‐occurring understorey assemblage, we evaluated the role of the understorey in controllingS. sessilisrecruitment and quantified the reciprocal effect of theS. sessiliscanopy and understorey on one another using a removal experiment replicated across 600 km of coastline. We determined the sensitivity of interactions to natural variation in light and nutrient availability (replicated among four regions on the N.E. Pacific coast), and under different wave conditions (three wave regimes).

Surprisingly, species interactions were similar across sites and thus not context‐dependent. Unexpectedly, the understorey community had a strong positive effect on theS. sessiliscanopy, whereby the adult canopy decreased dramatically following understorey removal. Additionally,S. sessilisrecruitment depended on the presence of understorey coralline algal turf. In turn, the canopy had a neutral effect on the coralline understorey, but a negative effect on non‐calcifying algal turfs, likely eventually generating positive indirect canopy effects on the coralline understorey. Density‐dependent intraspecific competition betweenS. sessilisadults and recruits may moderate this positive feedback between theS. sessiliscanopy and coralline understorey.

Synthesis. Our research highlights the importance of positive interactions for coexistence in natural communities, and the necessity of studying multiple life‐history stages and reciprocal species interactions in order to elucidate the mechanisms that maintain diversity.
Sources of funding for adult and paediatric CT procedures at a metropolitan tertiary hospital: How much do Medicare statistics really cover?
Authors: Hayton Anna , Wallace Anthony , Johnston Peter
Published: October 2015

Introduction

The radiation dose to the Australian paediatric population as a result of medical imaging is of growing concern, in particular the dose from CT. Estimates of the Australian population dose have largely relied on Medicare Australia statistics, which capture only a fraction of those imaging procedures actually performed. The fraction not captured has been estimated using a value obtained for a survey of the adult population in the mid‐1990s. To better quantify the fraction of procedures that are not captured by Medicare Australia, procedure frequency and funding data for adult and paediatric patients were obtained from a metropolitan tertiary teaching and research hospital.

Methods

Five calendar years of data were obtained with a financial class specified for each individual procedure. The financial classes were grouped to give the percentage of Medicare Australia billable procedures for both adult and paediatric patients. The data were also grouped to align with the Medicare Australia age cohorts.

Results

The percentage of CT procedures billable to Medicare Australia increased from 16% to 28% between 2008 and 2012. In 2012, the percentage billable for adult and paediatric patients was 28% and 33%, respectively; however, many adult CT procedures are performed at stand‐alone clinics, which bulk bill.

Conclusion

Using Medicare Australia statistics alone, the frequency of paediatric CT procedures performed on the Australian paediatric population will be grossly under estimated. A correction factor of 4.5 is suggested for paediatric procedures and 1.5 for adult procedures. The fraction of actual procedures performed that are captured by Medicare Australia will vary with time.
In vivo dosimetric impact of breast tissue expanders on post‐mastectomy radiotherapy
Authors: Gee Harriet E , Bignell Fiona , Odgers David , Gill Simran , Martin Darren , Toohey Joanne , Carroll Susan
Published: October 2015

Introduction

Temporary tissue expanders with metallic ports for gradual saline injection are increasingly employed to facilitate breast reconstruction after post‐mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). Treatment beams therefore pass through a high‐density rare‐earth magnet. Measurements ex vivo suggest attenuation of dose to the skin and chest wall at clinical risk of relapse. The purpose of the study was to quantify the resulting dose reduction in vivo, compared with treatment planning system (TPS).

Methods

Sixteen patients receiving PMRT had in vivo dosimetry prospectively performed with ethics board approval. Port was located within the expanded chest wall using the planning CT scan. Strips of radiochromic film were laid on the skin surface underneath the bolus. To aid interpretation, ex vivo measurements were also performed, including comparison with TPS predictions.

Results

An average 7% reduction in dose to skin surface was measured in 15 of 16 patients. This was reproducibly located in the ‘shadow’ of the magnet, corresponding to each of the paths of the medial and lateral tangents. The average area was 1.07 cm2 (range 0.39 cm2 to 2.36 cm2). Ex vivo measurements confirmed attenuation of the beam in the shadow of the port. The surface area of the ‘cold‐spot’ varied with angle of the beam relative to the metallic port. Dose attenuation in vivo differed from that predicted by the TPS.

Conclusion

Dose is attenuated in the ‘shadow’ of the tissue expander port in patients receiving PMRT. This is likely to be clinically insignificant for most, but centres should undertake appropriate measurements before utilising TPS predictions.
Genomewide gene‐associated microsatellite markers for the model invasive ascidian, Ciona intestinalis species complex
Authors: Lin Yaping , Chen Yiyong , Xiong Wei , Zhan Aibin
Published: October 2015

The vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis species complex, has become a good model for ecological and evolutionary studies, especially those focusing on microevolution associated with rapidly changing environments. However, genomewide genetic markers are still lacking. Here, we characterized a large set of genomewide gene‐associated microsatellite markers for C. intestinalis spA (=C. robusta). Bioinformatic analysis identified 4654 microsatellites from expressed sequence tags (ESTs), 2126 of which successfully assigned to chromosomes were selected for further analysis. Based on the distribution evenness on chromosomes, function annotation and suitability for primer design, we chose 545 candidate microsatellites for further characterization. After amplification validation and variation assessment, 218 loci were polymorphic in at least one of the two populations collected from the coast of Arenys de Mar, Spain (N = 24–48), and Cape Town, South Africa (N = 24–33). The number of alleles, observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 2 to 11, 0 to 0.833 and 0.021 to 0.818, and from 2 to 10, 0 to 0.879 and 0.031 to 0.845 for the Spanish and African populations, respectively. When all microsatellites were tested for cross‐species utility, only 60 loci (25.8%) could be successfully amplified and all loci were polymorphic in C. intestinalis spB. A high level of genomewide polymorphism is likely responsible for the low transferability. The large set of microsatellite markers characterized here is expected to provide a useful genomewide resource for ecological and evolutionary studies using C. intestinalis as a model.
Australian employer usage of the practice of offering reduced working hours to workers close to retirement: Extent and determinants
Authors: Taylor Philip , Earl Catherine , McLoughlin Christopher
Published: October 2015

Aim

This study aimed to determine factors associated with the implementation by employers of the practice of offering reduced working hours for workers nearing retirement.

Methods

Data came from a survey of 2000 employers of more than 50 employees each (30% response rate).

Results

A minority (33%) of employers offered reduced working hours to older workers nearing retirement. Factors associated with offering reduced working hours were: expecting workforce ageing to cause a loss of staff to retirement; being a large employer; being a public/not‐for‐profit sector employer; not experiencing difficulties recruiting labourers; having a larger proportion of workers aged over 50; experiencing national competition for labour; not experiencing difficulties recruiting machinery operators/drivers; not expecting workforce ageing to increase workplace injuries; and experiencing difficulties with the quality of candidates.

Conclusion

A minority of employers were found to offer reduced working hours to those nearing retirement. Factors associated with their propensity to do so included industry sector, size of employer, concerns about labour supply and the effects of workforce ageing.
Haemophilus influenzae: a potent perinatal pathogen disproportionately isolated from Indigenous women and their neonates
Authors: Porter Michelle , Charles Adrian K. , Nathan Elizabeth A. , French Noel P. , Dickinson Jan E. , Darragh Helen , Keil Anthony D.
Published: October 2015

Background

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) bacteraemia in pregnant women is strongly associated with pregnancy loss and preterm delivery. However, the clinical significance of isolation of NTHi from nonsterile sites is unknown.

Aims

To examine the hypothesis that isolation of NTHi from any specimen is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and to investigate the impression that NTHi is disproportionately isolated from indigenous women and their neonates.

Materials and Methods

Cases where NTHi was isolated from maternal, fetal or neonatal specimens during the period from 1 July 1997 to 1 July 2009 were identified. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from case notes. Histopathological material was re‐reviewed by a perinatal pathologist. Demographic and clinical features of the affected group were compared with the hospital obstetric population.

Results

NTHi was isolated from maternal, fetal or neonatal specimens in 97 pregnancies. Two women had NTHi isolated during different pregnancies. Two mothers and 10 neonates were bacteraemic. Indigenous women comprised 28% of pregnancies where NTHi was isolated, compared with 6% of the hospital obstetric population (P < 0.001). Pregnancy loss occurred in six cases (6%). Median gestation at delivery was 33 weeks. Of 96 liveborn neonates, 88 (92%) required admission to a neonatal special care unit. Four liveborn neonates died (4%). Chorioamnionitis was confirmed by histology in 31/33 (93.9%) of placentas examined.

Conclusions

Isolation of NTHi occurred more commonly in indigenous women and neonates. Isolation of NTHi from any obstetric or neonatal specimen is associated with chorioamnionitis, preterm birth, pregnancy loss, early‐onset neonatal sepsis and neonatal death.
The impact of maternal factors on mortality rates among children under the age of five years in a rural Ugandan population between 2002 and 2012
Authors: Asiki Gershim , Newton Robert , Marions Lena , Seeley Janet , Kamali Anatoli , Smedman Lars
Published: October 2015

Aim

Accurately estimating child mortality in rural communities in Africa with poor vital registration is a challenge. We aimed to estimate mortality rates and risk factors for children under five years old in rural Uganda.

Methods

Age‐specific mortality rates were estimated using the synthetic cohort life‐table technique for 10 118 children under the age of five years, between 2002 and 2012. Calendar year‐specific hazard rates were calculated using five‐year moving averages, and risk factors were explored by Cox regression.

Results

The mortality rate was 92 per 1000 newborn infants from birth to five years, based on a total of 256 deaths. It was 40 for boys and 23 for girls in the neonatal period and 68 for boys and 42 for girls up to the age of one year. A substantial decline in mortality from 2002 to 2012 was observed between the ages of 28 days and 11 months. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that mortality increased with decreasing child age, home delivery, human immuno‐deficiency virus in the child, a birth interval of less than one year, having an unmarried mother and a maternal parity of more than four.

Conclusion

Under‐five mortality rates in rural Uganda are driven by maternal factors.
Surviving in Power: Japanese Prime Ministers and the 1994 Electoral Reform
Authors: Yamamoto Chika , Jamison J. Weston
Published: October 2015

How does the 1994 electoral reform affect the rapid turnover of Japanese prime ministers in recent years? This article explores possible ways that the electoral reform affects the duration of Japanese leadership tenure and empirically assesses three hypotheses regarding this effect. Statistical analysis from the late 1960s to the end of the 2000s suggests that the effect of the reform depends on a prime minister's popularity. The institutional structure enforces the negative effects of public disapproval on leadership duration but rarely affects popular leaders. In other words, under the new reform, only prime ministers with rapidly declining public support face a tremendous risk of being short‐lived leaders. This also means that public disapproval matters more for durability of administrations under the new electoral system than under the old system.
Effects of Trade Relations on South Korean Views of China
Authors: Chung Alec
Published: October 2015

Trade between China and South Korea has increased since the early 1990s, with South Korea becoming more and more economically dependent on China. At the same time, many regard China as a security threat to South Korea. This study investigates whether South Koreans view China positively or as a future threat within the context of this relationship. This article applies the Stolper–Samuelson theorem to test the proposition that individual South Koreans who benefit from trade with China view China positively, while those who do not benefit view it negatively. Using ordered logit models to analyze two survey data sources—the 2006 Public Opinion Survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Asia Society, and East Asia Institute, and the 2010 Asian Barometer Survey—the study concludes that South Koreans with high incomes, who are likely to be beneficiaries, are more likely to view China positively than those with low incomes.
Regulatory Regionalism, Political Projects, and State Transformation in the Asia‐Pacific
Authors: Jayasuriya Kanishka
Published: October 2015

I find in the Asia‐Pacific new modes of regulatory regional governance—regulatory regionalism. My approach suggests that a variety of regulatory regimes are located inside rather than outside the state. Hence an important implication of my argument is that my analysis of regional governance must be focused much more on the transformation of the state rather than on the creation of new regional institutions. Governance is regionalized within the state bringing with it new actors, forums, and procedures which go unrecognized in much of the literature on regional governance. In the latter half of the article, I examine the mobilization of regulatory governance projects via both the national and subnational state in China. These regulatory projects are in response to the interests and challenges faced by internationalization of state capital. The article concludes by focusing on the increasing contestation between U.S.‐ and Chinese‐led regulatory projects such as the Trans Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Hedging in the Middle East and China‐U.S. Competition1
Authors: Salman Mohammad , Pieper Moritz , Geeraerts Gustaaf
Published: October 2015

This article examines policies of both China and the United States in the Middle East. It evaluates the effectiveness of Beijing's strategic hedging behavior against Washington's “hard power” strategies by discussing several policy challenges in this region: energy security, the Iranian nuclear issue, terrorism, regional alliance structures, and the “Arab Spring.” The results of this study show that the gradual retreat of the United States from the Middle East coincides with a stronger Chinese presence in the region on several fronts. In examining Sino‐U.S. power competition in the Middle East, it contributes to the advancement of “strategic hedging” as a still underdeveloped concept in the International Relations literature.
Alopecia in four kittens caused by abnormal maternal licking behaviour
Authors: Fanton N , Michelazzi M , Cornegliani L
Published: October 2015

Case report

Abnormal maternal behaviour has been reported in cats, but is generally not included among the causes of alopecia in kittens. A litter of four kittens, 2 months old, was referred for evaluation of facial alopecia of differing severity. The 2‐year‐old queen was unaffected. Dermatological examination of the kittens did not find any infectious cause. Trichograms showed broken hair shafts with longitudinal splitting. Congenital alopecia was unlikely based on the clinical presentation. A behavioural consultation revealed abnormal grooming behaviour by the mother, who chewed and removed the hair from the kittens. The kittens were separated from the queen and alopecia resolved within a few weeks.

Conclusion

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of alopecia caused by abnormal maternal licking behaviour. Abnormal maternal behaviour should be considered in cases of alopecia affecting a litter of kittens, when infectious and congenital causes have been ruled out.
Coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) envenomation of a dog
Authors: Judge PR
Published: October 2015

Case report

An 8‐year‐old mixed‐breed dog was envenomed by a juvenile coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus). The dog presented initially with coagulopathy and weakness, then developed neuromuscular paralysis and respiratory failure. Progressive myopathy peaked 3 days following admission. Taipan antivenom administration, mechanical ventilation therapy and supportive patient care resulted in complete recovery. Symptoms of neuropathy began to resolve 3 days following envenomation, with the dog discharged 6 days following envenomation.

Conclusion

To the author's knowledge, this is the first reported case of coastal taipan envenomation of a dog.
Cattle movement patterns in Australia: an analysis of the NLIS database 2008–2012
Authors: Iglesias RM , East IJ
Published: October 2015

Objective

To identify patterns of cattle movement that could influence disease spread in the Australian cattle population.

Methods

Records from the National Livestock Identification System database for the period January 2008 to December 2012 were accessed and analysed. Postcodes were used to allocate each individual property to one of 12 livestock production regions. National movement patterns and the characteristics of each livestock production region were quantified in terms of the number of consignments and animals moved, and seasonality of movements.

Results

The majority of cattle movements remained within a single livestock production region, while those that did not, usually remained within the same state or territory. Producers were the most common source of cattle, and abattoirs and other producers the most common destinations, with approximately 40% of animals moving via a saleyard. The northern regions generally moved larger consignments than the southern regions and were less connected to other regions. The eastern and south‐eastern regions were very well connected by cattle movements. Seasonal patterns were seen for some regions, particularly the northern regions where weather patterns strongly influence the ability of producers to muster and transport stock.

Conclusions

The movement patterns observed provide quantitative support for previous information based on surveys and expert opinion, and capture more of the variability in Australian cattle production. This information may assist with management of animal disease risks, in particular exotic diseases, and in planning surveillance programs.
The mass action equation in pharmacology
Authors: Kenakin Terry
Published: October 2015

The mass action equation is the building block from which all models of drug–receptor interaction are built. In the simplest case, the equation predicts a sigmoidal relationship between the amount of drug–receptor complex and the logarithm of the concentration of drug. The form of this function is also the same as most dose–response relationships in pharmacology (such as enzyme inhibition and the protein binding of drugs) but the potency term in dose–response relationships very often differs in meaning from the similar term in the simple mass action relationship. This is because (i) most pharmacological systems are collections of mass action reactions in series and/or in parallel and (ii) the important assumptions in the mass action reaction are violated in complex pharmacological systems. In some systems, the affinity of the receptor R for some ligand A is modified by interaction of the receptor with the allosteric ligand B and concomitantly the affinity of the receptor for ligand B is modified to the same degree. When this occurs, the observed affinity of the ligand A for the receptor will depend on both the concentration of the co‐binding allosteric ligand and its nature. The relationships between drug potency in pharmacological models and the equilibrium dissociation constants defined in single mass action reactions are discussed. More detailed knowledge of efficacy has led to new models of drug action that depend on the relative probabilities of different states, and these have taken knowledge of drug–receptor interactions beyond Guldberg and Waage.
Prostaglandin E2 inhibits neutrophil extracellular trap formation through production of cyclic AMP
Authors: Shishikura Kyosuke , Horiuchi Takahiro , Sakata Natsumi , Trinh Duc‐Anh , Shirakawa Ryutaro , Kimura Tomohiro , Asada Yujiro , Horiuchi Hisanori
Published: October 2015

Background and Purpose

Upon stimulation, neutrophils release their nuclear contents called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which contain unfolded chromatin and lysosomal enzymes. NETs have been demonstrated to play a critical role in host defence, although the role of PGE2, a bioactive substance generated in inflammatory tissues, in the formation of NETs remains unclear.

Experimental Approach

The effects of PGE2, agonists and antagonists of its receptors, and modulators of the cAMP–PKA pathway on the formation of NETs were examined in vitro in isolated neutrophils and in vivo in a newly established mouse model.

Key Results

PGE2 inhibited PMA‐induced NET formation in vitro through EP2 and EP4 Gαs‐coupled receptors. Incubation with a cell‐permeable cAMP analogue, dibutyryl cAMP, or various inhibitors of a cAMP‐degrading enzyme, PDE, also suppressed NET formation. In the assay established here, where an agarose gel was s.c. implanted in mice and NET formation was detected on the surface of the gel, the extent of the NET formed was inhibited in agarose gels containing rolipram, a PDE4 inhibitor, and butaprost, an EP2 receptor agonist.

Conclusions and Implications

PGE2 inhibits NET formation through the production of cAMP. These findings will contribute to the development of novel treatments for NETosis‐related diseases.
Immigrants' perceptions of quality of life in three second‐ or third‐tier Canadian cities
Authors: Williams Allison M. , Kitchen Peter , Randall James , Muhajarine Nazeem , Newbold Bruce , Gallina Melissa , Wilson Kathi
Published: October 2015

Key Messages

The majority of immigrants in Canada live in the country's largest cities; however, many immigrants are choosing to reside in smaller centres, suggesting the need for further research regarding the immigrant experience in second‐ and third‐tier Canadian cities.

This study found that immigrants have lower perceptions of quality of life than Canadian‐born individuals, a finding that echoes research in first‐tier cities.

Issues of employment, income, and language barriers contribute to lower quality of life amongst immigrants.
ShrinkShape2: A FOSS toolbox for computing rotation‐invariant shape spectra for characterizing and comparing polygons
Authors: Remmel Tarmo K.
Published: October 2015

Key Messages

The ShrinkShape2 decomposition method provides scalable detail regarding planar shape characterization for polygons with or without holes.

The shape characterizations presented are rotation and translation invariant.

This method is fully implemented in a free and open source environment (FOSS).
Environmental justice: An exploratory snapshot through the lens of Canada's mainstream news media
Authors: Deacon Leith , Baxter Jamie , Buzzelli Michael
Published: October 2015

Key Messages

Disjunctures occur between what is covered by the Canadian news media and empirical studies of environmental threats to communities.

Canadian newspapers overtly ignore and subtly downplay through discourse environmental threats to marginalized local communities faced with pollution.

A wide array of avenues for future research are suggested to contrast different forms of news media and compare the scale of both coverage and discourse.
Recent Trends, Applications, and Perspectives in 3D Shape Similarity Assessment
Authors: Biasotti S. , Cerri A. , Bronstein A. , Bronstein M.
Published: October 2015

The recent introduction of 3D shape analysis frameworks able to quantify the deformation of a shape into another in terms of the variation of real functions yields a new interpretation of the 3D shape similarity assessment and opens new perspectives. Indeed, while the classical approaches to similarity mainly quantify it as a numerical score, map‐based methods also define (dense) shape correspondences. After presenting in detail the theoretical foundations underlying these approaches, we classify them by looking at their most salient features, including the kind of structure and invariance properties they capture, as well as the distances and the output modalities according to which the similarity between shapes is assessed and returned. We also review the usage of these methods in a number of 3D shape application domains, ranging from matching and retrieval to annotation and segmentation. Finally, the most promising directions for future research developments are discussed.