bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge representation for missing persons investigations
Authors: Taylor Mark , Reilly Denis
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to present the application of situation calculus for knowledge representation in missing persons investigations.

Design/methodology/approach

The development of a knowledge representation model for the missing persons investigation process based upon situation calculus, with a demonstration of the use of the model for a missing persons example case.

Findings

Situation calculus is valuable for knowledge representation for missing persons investigations, as such investigations have state changes over time, and due to the complexity of the differing investigation activities applicable to different situations, can be difficult to represent using simpler approaches such as tables or flowcharts.

Research limitations/implications

Situation calculus modelling for missing persons investigations adds formalism to the process beyond that which can be afforded by the current use of text, tables or flowcharts. The additional formalism is useful in dealing with the uncertainty present in such investigations.

Practical implications

The implications are a simplification of the application of the current police guidelines, and thoroughness in the application of such guidelines for missing persons investigations via situation calculus modelling.

Social implications

This paper supports the management of missing person investigations, by using the most critical variables in a missing persons investigation to determine relevant investigation and search activities applicable to the circumstances of a given case.

Originality/value

The novelty of the knowledge representation approach is the application of situation calculus via state and action vectors and a matrix of fluents to the process of missing persons investigations.
Does family ownership reduce corporate tax avoidance? The moderating effect of audit quality
Authors: Gaaya Safa , Lakhal Nadia , Lakhal Faten
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the effect of family ownership on corporate tax avoidance. It also investigates whether audit quality affects tax avoidance practices by family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of 55 Tunisian listed companies from 2008 to 2013, the authors use GLS regression models estimated with robust standard errors, clustered at the firm level.

Findings

The results show that family ownership is positively associated with corporate tax avoidance practices, suggesting that families expropriate minority interests by extracting rents from tax-saving positions. These practices are less prominent after the 2011 Tunisian revolution, suggesting that the pressure from governments and non-governmental organizations against corruption and unethical behavior has increased after the revolution. However, the findings show that audit quality curbs the incentives of family firms to engage in aggressive tax positions, supporting the moderating effect of audit quality on the relation between family ownership and tax avoidance.

Research limitations/implications

These findings suggest that Tunisian family firms are likely to expropriate minority interests by extracting rents from tax-saving positions. However, in presence of high-quality audit, the relation turns negative, suggesting that external audit quality is an efficient corporate governance device that is likely to monitor family corporate decisions.

Originality/value

This paper extends previous research by investigating the moderating effect of external audit quality on the relation between tax avoidance and family ownership. It also examines tax avoidance by family firms in a unique setting: Tunisia, a transitioning economy subsequently to the 2011 revolution, where investors’ rights are weakly protected and the financial market is not well-developed as in more developed countries.
Visualizing information in the records and archives management (RAM) disciplines
Authors: Joseph Pauline , Hartel Jenna
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the concept of information in records and archives management (RAM) from a fresh, visual perspective by using arts-informed methodology and the draw-and-write technique.

Design/methodology/approach

Students and practitioners of RAM in Australia were asked to answer the question, “what is information?” in a drawing and then to describe the drawing in words. This produced a data set of 255 drawings of information or “iSquares”, for short. Compositional interpretation and a framework of graphic representations by Engelhardt were applied to determine how participants envision information and what the renderings imply for RAM.

Findings

The images reveal an overwhelming recognition in RAM of the diversity of media formats of information and the hyperconnectivity of information in networked information systems; and illustrate the central place of human beings within these systems. These findings offer striking, accessible illustrations of major concepts in RAM and enable new understandings through the construction of stories.

Practical implications

There are both pedagogical applications and practical implications of this work for students, practitioners and knowledge workers. The graphical representations of information in this research deepen the understanding of textual definitions of information. The data set of iSquares provides opportunities to create new storyboards to explain information definitions, practices and phenomena in RAM disciplines, and, to explain related concepts such as data, information, knowledge and wisdom hierarchy.

Originality/value

This is the first study in RAM disciplines to provide visual illustrations of information using graphical image representations.
Freedom of access to government information in Africa: trends, status and challenges
Authors: Asogwa Brendan Eze , Ezema Ifeanyi Jonas
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Agitation for adoption of freedom of access to government information is an emerging issue in Africa and has gathered momentum since 2000 when South Africa passed the first freedom of information (FoI) law in the continent. This paper aims to discuss the extent of passage of FoI laws in Africa, the reality of their implementation in some of the countries and the critical challenges and recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

A document analysis approach was adopted for gathering vital information on the realities and challenges of FoI implementation in Africa. Literature on the concepts, principles and practice of FoI were reviewed, and relevant facts and figures were extracted to buttress the authors’ argument.

Findings

Only 14 (25.5 per cent) of the 55 countries in Africa had signed FoI law as on January 31, 2015; 16 (29.0 per cent) are still lobbying, while 25 (45.5 per cent) of the states had no significant plan yet. Political factors like colonial legacy, poor leadership, inexperienced record managers for the implementation of FoI Acts (FoIA), corruption and hydra-headed clauses such as “national security, and other privacy rights” impede access to government records in Africa. The paper recommended among others that African countries should amend restrictive laws that continue to impede full implantation of FoI laws.

Practical implications

Implementation of the provisions in the FoIA in Africa will not be realistic unless those restrictive clauses that hinder citizens from freely accessing government information are reviewed in line with free access to information.

Originality/value

This paper appears to be the first to review the status of FoIA in Africa since the first right to information laws were signed in the continent.
Islam and capital, mortared by trust: the case of Sri Lanka
Authors: Patel Geeta H.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to trace the history and legacy of Islamic finance (IF) in Sri Lanka in the context of the emergence of life finance. It tracks the social life of finance through a genealogy of trust and capital.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used is qualitative. It is an extended case study using conversations, company documents and newspaper archival research.

Findings

Trust, transparency and ethics must be understood locally to have salience. The implicit effect of locally understood ideas of trust that have been built into the movement of capital (via ethical branding and transparency in IF, education and social awareness) can reconfigure relationships between communities in a country that has been ravaged by war.

Research limitations/implications

There have been few studies on IF in Sri Lanka; this study will enrich those offerings. However, they must be understood in relation to the emergence of life finance.

Practical implications

This study presents a new viewpoint on the relationship between finance and social well-being and new categories through which to understand finance.

Social implications

The implicit effect of locally understood ideas of trust which have been built into movements of capital (via ethical branding and transparency in IF, education, socially aware) can reconfigure relationships between communities in a country that has been ravaged by war.

Originality/value

There have been few studies on Islamic Finance in Sri Lanka; this study will enrich those offerings. But they must be understood in relation to the emergence of life-finance in South Asia.
Value-at-risk and expected shortfall using the unbiased extreme value volatility estimator
Authors: Kumar Dilip , Maheswaran Srinivasan
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a framework based on the unbiased extreme value volatility estimator (namely, the AddRS estimator) to compute and predict the long position and the short position value-at-risk (VaR) and stressed expected shortfall (ES). The precise prediction of VaR and ES measures has important implications toward financial institutions, fund managers, portfolio managers, regulators and business practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed framework is based on the Giot and Laurent (2004) approach and incorporates characteristics like long memory, fat tails and skewness. The authors evaluate its VaR and ES forecasting performance using various backtesting approaches for both long and short positions on four global indices (S&P 500, CAC 40, Indice BOVESPA [IBOVESPA] and S&P CNX Nifty) and compare the results with that of various alternative models.

Findings

The findings indicate that the proposed framework outperforms the alternative models in predicting the long and the short position VaR and stressed ES. The findings also indicate that the VaR forecasts based on the proposed framework provide the least total loss for various long and short position VaR, and this supports the superior properties of the proposed framework in forecasting VaR more accurately.

Originality/value

The study contributes by providing a framework to predict more accurate VaR and stressed ES measures based on the unbiased extreme value volatility estimator.
Valuation of the worldwide commodities sector
Authors: Bianconi Marcelo , Yoshino Joe Akira
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically investigate the market-to-book/return on equity valuation model.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a worldwide commodities sector panel of 6,323 firms from 69 countries with annual observations from 1999 to 2010 to estimate panel ordinary least squares (OLS), instrumental variables (IV) and quantile regressions. They also measure the impact of return on equity on market-to-book uncovering value versus growth and positive versus negative profitability dimensions.

Findings

The new evidence is that the impact of return on equity on market-to-book is time-varying and declining across the years in the sample. There is positive and strong persistence in the market-to-book of companies in this sector worldwide, but value stocks are more persistent than growth stocks. The coefficient of return on equity is positive at the 10th percentile of the market-to-book, but it becomes negative for growth stocks at 90th percentiles. Conditional on negative profitability, the coefficient of return on equity on market-to-book is negative for growth stocks. The effect of the S&P500 volatility index (VIX) is negative, significant and large in magnitude, but declines in absolute value, as the quantiles increase toward the upper 90th percentile.

Practical implications

The commodities sector is important for countries that depend on it for development.

Originality/value

The paper provides a rich panel data approach, and the market-to-book/return on equity valuation model is naturally applied to the commodities sector, as this sector tends to have more tangibles relative to intangibles.
Asynchronous ADRs: overnight vs intraday returns and trading strategies
Authors: Kang Jamie , Leung Tim
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the overnight and intraday returns of the most traded American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) of Asian companies, understand the different levels of volatilities realized in these asynchronous markets and develop trading strategies based on empirical findings.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents an empirical analysis on the overnight and intraday returns of Asian ADRs. The authors propose a measure to quantify the relative contributions of the intraday and overnight returns to the ADR's total volatility. Furthermore, the return difference between S&P500 index and each ADR is fitted to an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck model via maximum-likelihood estimation.

Findings

This study finds that ADRs' overnight returns are more volatile, whereas the intraday returns are significantly more strongly correlated with the US market returns. The return spreads between the S&P500 and ADRs are found to be a mean-reverting time series and motivate a pairs trading strategy.

Research limitations/implications

The methodology used in this study is not limited to Asian ADRs and can be adapted to analyze the overnight and intraday returns of other non-Asian ADRs and stocks.

Practical implications

Investors should be aware of the overnight price fluctuations while intraday traders may consider strategies that capture the mean-reverting return spread between an ADR (or an Exchange-Traded Funds [ETF] of Asian stocks) and the S&P500 index ETF (SPY).

Social implications

ADRs are among the most popular securities for investing in foreign (non-US) companies. The total global investments in ADRs are estimated to be close to US$1tn. Understanding the risks of ADRs is important to not only individual/institutional investors but also regulators.

Originality/value

This study provides a new measure to quantify and compare the relative contributions of volatility by overnight and intraday returns. Optimized pairs trading strategies involving ADRs and ETFs are developed and backtested.
Stress test of banks in India across ownerships: a VAR approach
Authors: Banerjee Sreejata , Murali Divya
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine whether the Indian banking system is robust to withstand unexpected shocks from external and domestic macroeconomic factors after financial liberalization in 1992. As proposed by Demirgüç-Kunt and Detragiache (1998) and Kaminsky and Reinhart (1999) banking crisis follows financial liberalization. India embarked financial deregulation from 1992, whereas the ongoing global financial crisis (GFC) could jeopardize bank portfolios.

Design/methodology/approach

Stress test is undertaken through the vector auto regressive (VAR) model to examine if decline in GDP, exchange rate volatility and foreign capital portfolio funds adversely impact bank asset quality through higher defaults. The VAR model is run for banks belonging to public, private or foreign ownership. Soundness of banks is measured by the non-performing assets (NPAs) with quarterly data from 1997 to 2014. Post-VAR estimation technique, Granger causality test (GC) and impulse response function (IRF) are used to check for robustness of the VAR model findings.

Findings

The authors found that there is little divergence among banks of different ownership in responding to the shocks from REER, foreign capital flows and GDP output gap. IRF shows that GDP shock to NPA of public and private banks takes more than nine and eight quarters to stabilize. Foreign banks are impacted by the same macroeconomic factors. The stress test exhibits that public banks are more vulnerable and need recapitalization. Moreover, domestic banks are not adversely affected by the GFC, and credit for this could be attributed to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) regulatory policy.

Research limitations/implications

Surprisingly, capital market indices do not influence banks’ NPA, and this needs further investigation. The limitation arises from the fact that stock market index for banks was launched only in the early 2000. Missing data and limited number of banks shares traded in the market could explain the trivial results.

Practical implications

Findings of this study will be useful to RBI policymakers and bank managers. The exchange-rate risk faced by borrowers that lead to increased NPAs is an issue that the RBI would be interested to examine. The impact of foreign capital flows, adversely influencing the NPAs of banks, is a significant issue that the RBI is concerned with.

Social implications

Banking sector crisis has serious repercussions, causing loss of household savings and decline in confidence in the banking sector.

Originality/value

This topic was explored in India only by Bhattacharya and Roy in (2008). No other similar work has been done to the authors’ knowledge in stress test of banks in India across different ownership. The authors’ study period covers the GFC and shows that it has not caused devastation as it has in developed countries.
Earthworms affect plant growth and resistance against herbivores: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Xiao Zhenggao , Wang Xie , Koricheva Julia , Kergunteuil Alan , Le Bayon Renée‐Claire , Liu Manqiang , Hu Feng , Rasmann Sergio
Published: August 2017

Subterranean detritivores such as earthworms can increase soil nutrient availability through their burrowing and casting activities. A number of recent studies have explored whether these changes caused by earthworms may in turn affect plant performance and resistance to herbivores, but no formal synthesis of this literature has been conducted to date.

We tested for the effects of earthworms on plant growth, resistance and chemical defences against insect herbivores by performing a meta‐analysis of the existing literature up to 2016. We also explored ecological factors that might explain among‐studies variation in the magnitude of the earthworm effects on plant growth and resistance.

We found that earthworm presence increases plant growth (by 20%) and nitrogen content (by 11%). Overall, earthworms did not affect plant resistance against chewing herbivores (caterpillars, slugs and rootworms), and even led to a 22% decrease in plant resistance against phloem‐feeding herbivores (aphids). However, earthworm presence increased production of chemical defences by 31% when plants where attacked by cell‐feeders (thrips), and resulted in an 81% increase in resistance against thrips. The magnitude of earthworm effects was stronger when earthworm inoculations consisted of a mix of species and ecological types, and when densities of earthworms were high.

These results suggest that earthworm presence is an important factor underlying natural variation in plant defences against herbivores, and call for a better integration of the soil fauna in the studies of plant‐herbivore interaction, both for applied and fundamental research.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Radial variation of wood functional traits reflect size‐related adaptations of tree mechanics and hydraulics
Authors: Rungwattana Kanin , Hietz Peter
Published: August 2017

Wood serves for mechanical support, water transport and storage. These functions are provided for by different cells with a large variation in wood anatomy among species but also within individual trees. The latter often reflects ontogenetic adjustments, related to tree size or age, which can be studied by looking at patterns of radial variation in wood.

We quantified radial variation in wood density (WD) and wood anatomy and ask how ontogenetic changes of wood functions are controlled in five canopy tree species in western Thailand. We ask if there are trade‐offs between these main functions of wood, how ontogenetic trends are linked to differences in growth trajectories and shade tolerance among tree species and if wood properties are mainly controlled by tree age or by size.

In all species studied, vessel fraction, vessel size, theoretical hydraulic conductivity (Kh) and fibre wall thickness significantly increased with tree diameter. While the ray fraction also increased in all species except Neolitsea, axial parenchyma changed significantly only in Afzelia, the species with by far the largest axial parenchyma fraction. The average WD and Kh reflect the phenology, with deciduous and shade‐intolerant Toona and Melia having low WD and high Kh, and shade‐tolerant brevi‐deciduous Chukrasia and evergreen Neolitsea having higher WD and low Kh. Deciduous Afzelia, however, had the lowest Kh and second‐highest WD. The radial gradients in WD and Kh also reflect within‐species differences in growth rates during ontogeny.

The relationship between WD and its underlying anatomical components varied substantially among species. Modulating fibre wall thickness and vessel size enables growing trees to increase water transport capacity and mechanical strength at the same time. Across species, tree diameter had a stronger effect than age on all parameters except for fibres.

Given the very substantial within‐tree size‐related variation in wood traits, tree size is an essential parameter to include in comparative studies on the functional ecology of wood. Analysing ontogenetic changes in wood can advance our understanding of the different ecological strategies of trees.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Life stage and species identity affect whether habitat subsidies enhance or simply redistribute consumer biomass
Authors: Keller Danielle A. , Gittman Rachel K. , Bouchillon Rachel K. , Fodrie F. Joel
Published: August 2017

Quantifying the response of mobile consumers to changes in habitat availability is essential for determining the degree to which population‐level productivity is habitat limited rather than regulated by other, potentially density‐independent factors.

Over landscape scales, this can be explored by monitoring changes in density and foraging as habitat availability varies. As habitat availability increases, densities may: (1) decrease (unit‐area production decreases; weak habitat limitation); (2) remain stable (unit‐area production remains stable; habitat limitation) or (3) increase (unit‐area production increases; strong habitat limitation).

We tested the response of mobile estuarine consumers over 5 months to changes in habitat availability in situ by comparing densities and feeding rates on artificial reefs that were or were not adjacent to neighbouring artificial reefs or nearby natural reefs.

Using either constructed or natural reefs to manipulate habitat availability, we documented threefold density decreases among juvenile stone crabs as habitat increased (i.e. weak habitat imitation). However, for adult stone crabs, density remained stable across treatments, demonstrating that habitat limitation presents a bottleneck in this species’ later life history. Oyster toadfish densities also did not change with increasing habitat availability (i.e. habitat limitation), but densities of other cryptic fishes decreased as habitat availability increased (i.e. weak limitation). Feeding and abundance data suggested that some mobile fishes experience habitat limitation, or, potentially in one case, strong limitation across our habitat manipulations.

These findings of significant, community‐level habitat limitation provide insight into how global declines in structurally complex estuarine habitats may have reduced the fishery production of coastal ecosystems.
Invasive earthworms erode soil biodiversity: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Ferlian Olga , Eisenhauer Nico , Aguirrebengoa Martin , Camara Mariama , Ramirez‐Rojas Irene , Santos Fábio , Tanalgo Krizler , Thakur Madhav P.
Published: August 2017

Biological invasions pose a serious threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning across ecosystems. Invasions by ecosystem engineers, in particular, have been shown to have dramatic effects in recipient ecosystems. For instance, invasion by earthworms, a below‐ground invertebrate ecosystem engineer, in previously earthworm‐free ecosystems alters the physico‐chemical characteristics of the soil. Studies have shown that such alterations in the soil can have far‐reaching impacts on soil organisms, which form a major portion of terrestrial biodiversity.

Here, we present the first quantitative synthesis of earthworm invasion effects on soil micro‐organisms and soil invertebrates based on 430 observations from 30 independent studies.

Our meta‐analysis shows a significant decline of the diversity and density of soil invertebrates in response to earthworm invasion with anecic and endogeic earthworms causing the strongest effects. Earthworm invasion effects on soil micro‐organisms were context‐dependent, such as depending on functional group richness of invasive earthworms and soil depth. Microbial biomass and diversity increased in mineral soil layers, with a weak negative effect in organic soil layers, indicating that the mixing of soil layers by earthworms (bioturbation) may homogenize microbial communities across soil layers.

Our meta‐analysis provides a compelling evidence for negative effects of a common invasive below‐ground ecosystem engineer on below‐ground biodiversity of recipient ecosystems, which could potentially alter the ecosystem functions and services linked to soil biota.
Early‐ and late‐flowering guilds respond differently to landscape spatial structure
Authors: Miller Jesse E. D. , Ives Anthony R. , Harrison Susan P. , Damschen Ellen I.
Published: August 2017

Species with unique phenologies have distinct trait syndromes and environmental affinities, yet there has been little exploration of whether community assembly processes differ for plants with different phenologies. In this study, we ask whether early‐ and late‐blooming species differ in the ways that dispersal, persistence and resource acquisition traits shape plant occurrence patterns in patchy habitats.

We sampled plant communities in 51 Ozark dolomite glade grasslands, which range in size from <1 ha to >100 ha. We modelled the occurrence of 71 spring‐ and 43 summer‐blooming grassland species in these patches, using as predictors both environmental variables (landscape structure, soil resources) and plant traits related to dispersal, longevity and resource acquisition. We were especially interested in how the environmental variables and plant traits interacted to determine the occurrence of phenological strategies in habitats that vary in size and isolation.

Summer‐blooming species with better persistence and dispersal abilities had higher relative frequencies in smaller, more isolated habitat patches, and summer‐blooming species with higher specific leaf area—suggesting fast growth and low stress tolerance—were more likely to occur in patches with greater soil organic matter and clay content. However, spring‐blooming species showed much weaker interactions between functional traits and environmental gradients, perhaps because environmental conditions are less harsh in spring than in summer.

Synthesis. Several axes of plant life‐history variation may simultaneously influence community responses to habitat connectivity. In this case, explicitly considering plant phenology helped identify generalizable relationships between functional traits and landscape spatial structure.
Bipolar transurethral enucleation and resection of the prostate versus bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate for prostates larger than 80 g: Comparison of early postoperative outcome
Authors: Cho Chak‐Lam , Mak Christy Wing‐Hin , Chan Wayne Kwun‐Wai , Chu Ringo Wing‐Hong , Law In‐Chak
Published: August 2017

Aim

The aim of the present study was to compare the safety and early postoperative outcomes of bipolar transurethral enucleation and resection of the prostate (TUERP) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in patients with prostates larger than 80 g.

Patients and Methods

Between January 2014 and December 2016, 41 and 61 patients had bipolar TUERP and bipolar TURP performed at our unit for the treatment of prostates larger than 80 g. All patients were evaluated preoperatively by digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography and laboratory studies, including measurement of haemoglobin and prostate‐specific antigen levels. Patients were reassessed postoperatively at 3 months.

Results

The preoperative parameters between bipolar TUERP and TURP were comparable. Bipolar TUERP is more efficient in tissue removal, with more tissue retrieved per minute of theatre time (0.73 g/min vs 0.64 g/min, P = 0.022). The hospitalization time between the groups was comparable. Bipolar TUERP achieved a lower serum prostate‐specific antigen level (1 ng/mL vs 1.8 ng/mL, P < 0.001), lower transrectal ultrasonography volume (18.3 cm3 vs 23.8 cm3, P < 0.001) and higher peak flow rate (23.1 mL/s vs 16.9 mL/s, P = 0.026) compared with bipolar TURP at 3 months postoperatively. Postoperative complications due to urinary tract infection were more common in the bipolar TURP group, while the readmission rate due to transient haematuria was higher among bipolar TUERP patients. The transfusion rate was low in both groups, and postoperative urethral stricture was uncommon.

Conclusions

Bipolar TUERP is a safe technique for the surgical treatment of large prostates. More complete removal of adenoma can be achieved without an increase in theatre time. Bipolar TUERP results in better early postoperative functional outcomes in terms of higher peak flow rate compared with bipolar TURP. The complication rate is not increased with bipolar TUERP.
When invasive ants meet: effects of outbreeding on queen performance in the tramp ant Cardiocondyla itsukii
Authors: Heinze Jürgen , Frohschammer Sabine , Bernadou Abel
Published: August 2017

Most disturbed habitats in the tropics and subtropics harbor numerous species of invasive ants, and occasionally the same species has been introduced repeatedly from multiple geographical sources. We examined how experimental crossbreeding between sexuals from different populations affects the fitness of queens of the tramp ant Cardiocondyla itsukii, which is widely distributed in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Eggs laid by queens that mated with nestmate males had a higher hatching rate than eggs laid by queens mated to males from neighboring (Hawaii × Kauai) or distant introduced populations (Hawaii/Kauai × Okinawa). Furthermore, inbreeding queens had a longer lifespan and produced a less female‐biased offspring sex ratio than queens from allopatric mating. This suggests that the genetic divergence between different source populations may already be so large that in case of multiple invasions eventual crossbreeding might negatively affect the fitness of tramp ants.
American Association of Diabetes Educators 2017
Authors: Carracher Ann M. , Marathe Payal H. , Close Kelly L.
Published: August 2017

Ann M. Carracher, Payal H. Marathe, and Kelly L. Close are of Close Concerns (http://www.closeconcerns.com), a healthcare information company focused exclusively on diabetes and obesity care. Close Concerns publishes Closer Look, a periodical that brings together news and insights in these areas. Each month, the Journal of Diabetes includes this News feature, in which Carracher, Marathe, and Close review the latest developments relevant to researchers and clinicians.
Negotiating Sustained Action for Sustainable Development – Application to Students in South Sudan
Authors: Mugisha Frederick
Published: August 2017

The global agenda on sustainable development will require a process to inspire individual and organization SDG‐related actions and commit to report progress on until 2030. It will be powerful for example to know how actions of university students will change as they become leaders, and how universities will align their actions to the challenges of communities and governments. This commentary characterizes a 5‐stage process to inspire individual, collective and institutional actions for sustainable development. In 2016, over 500 students in seven universities in South Sudan underwent the first four stages. They reviewed milestones and took the journey into the future to 2030 and 2063. They articulated the future South Sudan they want as ‘one that is peaceful, inclusive and prosperous, with strong institutions that prioritize the interest of her citizens’. They then prioritized the SDGs that resonate to that future as Goals 16, 4 and 1 in that order. Finally they pledged to ‘undertake inter‐university dialogue, research and innovation for Sustainable Development’. In 2017, the leadership of universities and students will commit to SDG‐actions and to report on progress as a basis for sharing and learning each year until the year 2030 when the agenda is concluded.
First‐aid training in school: amount, content and hindrances
Authors: Bakke H. K. , Bakke H. K. , Schwebs R.
Published: August 2017

Background

To increase knowledge and competence about first aid in the population, first‐aid instruction is included in primary and secondary school curricula. This study aimed to establish how much time is spent on first‐aid training, which first‐aid measures are taught, and which factors prevent teachers from providing the quantity and quality of first‐aid training that they wish to give.

Methods

A questionnaire was distributed to teachers in physical education in primary and secondary schools and to teachers in vocational subjects in higher secondary schools.

Results

The teachers taught a median of two lessons in first aid per year. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was taught by 64% of teachers, free airway and recovery position by 69% and stopping severe bleeding by 51%. Recognising heart attack and stroke was taught by 25% and 23%, respectively. The main factors that the teachers perceived as limiting the amount and quality of first‐aid training were insufficient learning objective specifications in the curriculum, too many other competence aims, lack of CPR mannequins and lack of training as first‐aid instructors.

Discussion

Norwegian teachers provide an appreciable amount of first‐aid training to their students. However, several potential life‐saving measures are poorly covered. The curriculum needs to contain first aid but also should specify what first‐aid measures to be taught. First‐aid training of teachers should adequately prepare them to be first‐aid instructors.
Spontaneous breathing trials after prolonged mechanical ventilation monitored by electrical impedance tomography: an observational study
Authors: Zhao Z. , Peng S.‐Y. , Chang M.‐Y. , Hsu Y.‐L. , Frerichs I. , Chang H.‐T. , Möller K.
Published: August 2017

Background

The study objective was to examine the correlation between regional ventilation distribution measured with electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and weaning outcomes during spontaneous breathing trial (SBT).

Methods

Fifteen patients received 100% automatic tube compensation (ATC) during the first and 70% during the second hour. Another 15 patients received external continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 5 and 7.5 cmH2O during the first and second hours, respectively. Regional ventilation distributions were monitored with EIT.

Results

Tidal volume and tidal variation of impedance correlated significantly during assist‐control ventilation and ATC in all patients (r2 = 0.80 ± 0.18, P < 0.001). Higher support levels resulted in similar ventilation distribution and tidal volume, but higher end‐expiratory lung impedance (EELI) (P < 0.05). Analysis of regional intratidal gas distribution revealed a redistribution of ventilation towards dorsal regions with lower support level in 13 of 30 patients. These patients had a higher weaning success rate (only 1 of 13 patients failed). Eight of 17 other patient failed (P < 0.05). The number of SBT days needed for weaning was significantly lower in the former group of 13 patients (13.1 ± 4.0 vs. 20.9 ± 11.2 days, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Regional ventilation distribution patterns during inspiration were associated with weaning outcomes, and they may be used to predict the success of extubation.
Bronchial wheezing predicts inflammation and respiratory failure in fire smoke victims
Authors: Nakstad E. R. , Aass H. C. D. , Opdahl H. , Witsø A. , Borchsenius F. , Heyerdahl F. , Skjønsberg O. H.
Published: August 2017

Background

Acute fire smoke inhalation injury involves inflammatory mediators whose roles are poorly understood. We carried out a prospective observational study of fire smoke victims to identify clinical and biochemical markers that may predict pulmonary dysfunction and investigated possible correlations between dysfunction and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and blood.

Methods

Forty patients with respiratory and/or neurological symptoms following acute fire smoke inhalation had pulmonary function tests and blood gas analyses performed on admission, at discharge, and after 3 months. Cytokines were measured using BioPlex/XMap technology.

Results

On admission, 30 (75%) patients had dyspnea. Patients presenting with bronchial wheezing (n = 14) had significantly lower PEF (201 l/min, 82–360) than non‐wheezing patients (406 l/min, 100–683) (n = 16, P = 0.03). Bronchial wheezing predicted need for ICU treatment with OR = 93.3 at 95% CI (P < 0.001) and was associated with gas exchange impairment, with mean paO2/FiO2 ratio 34.4 (11.8–49.8) kPa on admission and 21.3 (8.3–44.5) kPa 48 h later. Blood HbCO also predicted ICU treatment, with OR = 1.58 at 95% CI (P < 0.001). Serum CRP, IL‐6, IL‐8, and MCP‐1 were significantly higher in wheezing patients after 12–24 h compared with non‐wheezing patients and study controls. Cytokine levels were still elevated after 3 months. BAL fluid had significantly higher levels of IL‐8, MCP‐1, IL‐1β, and G‐CSF compared with healthy controls.

Conclusion

In victims of fire smoke inhalation, pulmonary wheezing predicts inflammation, pulmonary dysfunction, respiratory failure, and need for intensive care.
Development and application of an economic model (EQUIPTMOD) to assess the impact of smoking cessation
Authors: Coyle Kathryn , Coyle Doug , Lester‐George Adam , West Robert , Nemeth Bertalan , Hiligsmann Mickael , Trapero‐Bertran Marta , Leidl Reiner , Pokhrel Subhash ,   on behalf of the EQUIPT Study Group
Published: August 2017

Background and Aims

Although clear benefits are associated with reducing smoking, there is increasing pressure on public health providers to justify investment in tobacco control measures. Decision‐makers need tools to assess the Return on Investment (ROI)/cost‐effectiveness of programmes. The EQUIPT project adapted an ROI tool for England to four European countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Hungary). EQUIPTMOD, the economic model at the core of the ROI tool, is designed to assess the efficiency of packages of smoking cessation interventions. The objective of this paper is to describe the methods for EQUIPTMOD and identify key outcomes associated with continued and cessation of smoking.

Methods

EQUIPTMOD uses a Markov model to estimate life‐time costs, quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) and life years associated with a current and former smoker. It uses population data on smoking prevalence, disease prevalence, mortality and the impact of smoking combined with associated costs and utility effects of disease. To illustrate the tool's potential, costs, QALYs and life expectancy were estimated for the average current smoker for five countries based on the assumptions that they continue and that they cease smoking over the next 12 months. Costs and effects were discounted at country‐specific rates.

Results

For illustration, over a life‐time horizon, not quitting smoking within the next 12 months in England will reduce life expectancy by 0.66, reduce QALYs by 1.09 and result in £4961 higher disease‐related health care costs than if the smoker ceased smoking in the next 12 months. For all age–sex categories, costs were lower and QALYs higher for those who quit smoking in the 12 months than those who continued.

Conclusions

EQUIPTMOD facilitates assessment of the cost effectiveness of smoking cessation strategies. The demonstrated results indicate large potential benefits from smoking cessation at both an individual and population level.
Clinical and histological responses of human dental pulp to MTA and combined MTA/treated dentin matrix in partial pulpotomy
Authors: Mehrvarzfar Payman , Abbott Paul V. , Mashhadiabbas Fatemeh , Vatanpour Mehdi , Tour Savadkouhi Sohrab
Published: August 2017

The aim of this study was to compare the responses of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and combined MTA/treated dentin matrix (TDM) as direct pulp capping material. In this clinical trial study, 33 intact third molars in 11 healthy volunteers (three molars in each) were included. Partial pulpotomies were performed in a split mouth manner in two of the third molars in each patient randomly and the third tooth had used as TDM source. The coronal dentin was chopped to dentine chips and transformed to TDM using different concentrations of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution. Pulps were directly capped by MTA alone or using a combination layering of MTA/TDM. Following 6‐week clinical and radiological evaluations, each tooth was extracted and prepared for histological evaluation. There were no significant differences in the clinical and radiographic responses or in the quality of dentin bridges (P > 0.05). However, the dentin bridge was significantly thicker in MTA/TDM group than MTA group (P = 0.003). Using the combination of MTA/TDM as a pulp‐dressing agent may form a thicker dentin bridge compared to MTA alone.
Pretreatment ethyl glucuronide levels predict response to a contingency management intervention for alcohol use disorders among adults with serious mental illness
Authors: McDonell Michael Gerard , Leickly Emily , McPherson Sterling , Skalisky Jordan , Hirchak Katherine , Oluwoye Oladunni , Srebnik Debra , Roll John Michael , Ries Richard Kirkland
Published: August 2017

Background and Objectives

This study investigated if pretreatment ethyl glucuronide (EtG) levels corresponding to light (100 ng/mL), heavy (500 ng/mL), and very heavy (1,000 ng/mL) drinking predicted longest duration of alcohol abstinence (LDA) and proportion of EtG‐negative urine tests in outpatients receiving a 12‐week EtG‐based contingency management (CM) intervention for alcohol dependence.

Methods

Participants were 40 adults diagnosed with alcohol use disorders and serious mental illness who submitted up to 12 urine samples for EtG analysis during a 4‐week observation period and were then randomized to 12‐weeks of CM for alcohol abstinence and addiction treatment attendance. Alcohol use outcomes during CM as assessed by EtG and self‐report were compared across those who did and did not attain a pre‐treatment average EtG level of 500 ng/mL—a level that equates to frequent heavy drinking.

Results

Only the 500 ng/mL cutoff was associated with significant differences in LDA and proportion of EtG‐negative samples during CM. Those with a pre‐treatment EtG < 500 ng/mL attained a LDA 2.3 (alcohol) to 2.9 (drugs) weeks longer than pre‐treatment heavy drinkers.

Discussion and Conclusions

The EtG biomarker can be used to determine who will respond to a CM intervention for alcohol use disorders and could inform future trials that are designed to be tailored to individual patients.

Scientific Significance

Results suggest pre‐treatment EtG cutoffs equivalent to heavy and very heavy drinking predict outcomes in CM. (Am J Addict 2017;26:673–675)
Nonmedical versus medical marijuana use among three age groups of adults: Associations with mental and physical health status
Authors: Choi Namkee G. , DiNitto Diana M. , Marti Carl Nathan
Published: August 2017

Background and Objective

Given that 29 U.S. states now have laws allowing medical marijuana use, this study examined mental and physical health correlates of medical versus nonmedical marijuana use among three age groups of adults (18–29, 30–49, and 50+).

Methods

Data came from the 2012–2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (N = 36,309 respondents aged 18+). Logistic regression models were used to examine age group differences in associations of substance use and mental disorders and health conditions with medical versus nonmedical marijuana use.

Results

Of all respondents, 9.74% (N = 3,784) reported past‐year marijuana use. Of all past‐year marijuana users, 11.03% (n = 445) reported medical use. Medical marijuana use rates were higher among the 50–64 age group (17.95%) than younger adults, and 32.88% of medical users, compared to 25.25% of nonmedical users, had past‐year marijuana use disorder. The odds of medical marijuana use were higher among those with marijuana use disorder (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.40–2.50) and personality disorder (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.03–1.94), with no age group differences. However, older adults with alcohol use disorder and sleep problems and middle‐age adults with arthritis had diminished odds of having used medical marijuana relative to young adults.

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

Given the high rates of marijuana use disorder among medical users, physicians should exercise caution in recommending marijuana for medical purposes, especially for younger adults. More research is needed on medical marijuana's safety and efficacy for patients at risk of marijuana use disorder. (Am J Addict 2017;26:697–706)
Wildlife crime promoted by weak governance
Authors: Salum Juma , Eustace Abraham , Malata Pius F. , Mbangwa Obeid F.
Published: August 2017

Wildlife crime such as illegal hunting of elephants and rhinos is currently one of the major issues in conservation. In order to combat poaching, law enforcement is essential. Here, we reviewed wildlife cases from the Northern Zone Anti‐Poaching Unit, Arusha, Tanzania (APU‐Arusha), focusing on the types of wildlife offence committed, prosecution outcomes and the sentences awarded to the offenders who were found guilty by the courts. Eighty‐two registered cases were thoroughly reviewed. The majority of wildlife offences committed were unlawful possession of, and failure to report, government trophies. It was found that only 16% of the accused were found guilty, 6% were acquitted, 30% of the charges were withdrawn, and 48% of the cases were discharged by the director of public prosecution (DPP) or magistrate. The poor conviction rate was attributed to weak evidence, failure of the prosecution to prove cases beyond reasonable doubt, lack of cooperation between the zonal game office and the DPP, and in some cases, the accused jumped their bails. Understanding the factors which allow individuals to continue to engage in poaching and the factors that promote the practice of good governance is vital in trying to stop wildlife crimes.