bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Actual and intended growth in family firms and non-family-owned firms: are they different?
Authors: Saridakis George , Lai Yanqing , Muñoz Torres Rebeca I. , Mohammed Anne-Marie
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Drawing on the motivation theory and family business literature, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of family effect in growth behaviour of small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first compare the actual and expected growth of family and non-family-owned SMEs. The authors then compare the growth behaviour of small family firms managed by owner-directors and small family businesses co-managed by family and non-family directors with the non-family-owned SMEs.

Findings

The authors find a negative effect of family ownership on actual and intended small business growth behaviours. In addition, the findings also suggest that small family firms co-managed by non-family and family directors are no different from non-family-owned firms, in terms of reporting past actual growth in employment size and turnover as well as expecting growth in workforce size and turnover. The authors also observe a significant difference in anticipating sales growth between family-controlled and non-family-controlled firms. However, this difference is not explained by the heterogeneity of a top management team.

Practical implications

The study has important implications for managerial practice to family firms and on policies that improve the growth of SMEs. Specifically, the competence of managers and decision makers matters considerably in evaluating the efficient operation of the business and maximising the economic growth in SMEs.

Originality/value

The study makes two important theoretical contributions to small business growth literature. First, the findings underline a negative family effect in the actual and expected growth behaviour of SMEs. Second, the mode of family ownership alone may not sufficiently capture family effect and offer a thorough understanding of growth behaviour in SMEs.
An analytical framework for the management and reform of public procurement
Authors: Schapper Paul R. , Veiga Malta João N. , Gilbert Diane L.
Published: December 2017

Public procurement frameworks in developed and developing countries alike are recognised as being characterised by an unstable tension between the public expectations of transparency and accountability, and of efficiency and effectiveness of resource management. This conformance - performance tension, manifest throughout a complex procurement environment, is further destabilised by conflicting stakeholder interests at the political, business, community and management levels and exacerbated by competing claims between executives, lawyers, technologists and politicians for lead roles in this arena. The application of new technology in this discipline offers a qualified potential to substantially resolve these tensions. However, the application of technology is itself at risk from a lack of understanding about the nature of its impact and the wider political dimensions of professionalism in public procurement.
Cash management practices in Louisiana municipalities
Authors: Onwujuba Christie C. , Lynch Thomas D.
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we examine the cash management practices in the State of Louisiana and contrasted those practices with the rate of return on investment income due to cash management practices. Essentially, we framed various model hypotheses from the literature, which tells us that if those practices exist then we should see an increased rate of return due to cash management. In general, our research supported the literature but there were some interesting exceptions that merit attention.
Exploratory study on employees’ motivation in the omani private banking sector
Authors: Al Araimi Ahmed A.
Published: December 2017

There are clear evidences that organizations are focusing on retaining motivated employees. Although motivation is a well-discussed topic in academic literature, motivation of employees in the Omani private banking sector is not fully discussed. The purpose of this exploratory study is to find some insights on the predictors of employees’ motivation in the Omani private banking sector. A cross-sectional method was used to collect data from 105 employees from the Omani private banking sector. Furthermore, to collect the primary data, a questionnaire with 23 items was designed and distributed for that purpose. In order to analyze the gathered data, correlational methods were used. This exploratory study shed some light on the importance of the relationship that the employees have with their colleagues on their motivation and on the employees’ salaries to their motivation. The study found these two variables as significant and positive predictors of employees’ motivation.
Beyond the public hearing: citizen participation in the local government budget process
Authors: Ebdon Carol
Published: December 2017

This study explores the use and effects of citizen participation in city budgeting. Interviews were conducted with budget directors in 28 midwestern cities. Participation was found to affect budget decisions, but the public hearing remains the primary formal opportunity for input in most cities. Technology is increasingly being used to expand the budget information available to the public. Budget complexity and citizen disinterest were cited as the major barriers to participation. However, a number of cities have successfully used participation mechanisms in the budget development process that can serve as models for other cities.
An examination of rating agency explanations for credit rating changes in the hospital sector
Authors: Danvers Kreag
Published: December 2017

This study examines rating agency explanations that accompany changes in credit ratings for nonprofit hospitals. A national sample of Standard & Poor’s revision announcements is used to identify hospital characteristics that purportedly motivate credit rating changes. Significant differences in agency-cited performance dimensions, such as profitability, liquidity, service-mix, capital structure and market share, are observed across upward and downward revisions. The relative usefulness of these citations for explaining and classifying credit changes is also evaluated. The results suggest that agency explanations provide limited value relative to conventional, multivariate information sets.
Personal social media usage and its impact on administrative accountability: an exploration of theory and practice
Authors: Bezboruah Karabi C. , Dryburgh Martinella M.
Published: December 2017

In the internet era, the boundaries between public and private lives of government employees are often blurred, resulting in enhanced concerns about administrative accountability and effectiveness. By adopting a multi-step qualitative methodology involving internet survey and analysis of illustrative examples, this research explores and examines how social media policies could assist in keeping the public and private lives of civil servants distinct. We find that very few public sector agencies have adopted social media policies in an attempt to regulate employee behavior. We conclude that social media sites, both private and official, could be an effective administrative tool if harnessed properly. We offer certain recommendations and strategies based on our findings that could assist in accomplishing the principles of ethical administration.
Accounting for hybridity: accrual budgeting in the dutch central government
Authors: Mol Nico P. , de Kruijf Johan A.M.
Published: December 2017

In the Dutch central government (following countries like New Zealand, Australia and the UK) a system of resource budgeting is being developed as a substitute for its present dual system of cash/commitment budgeting for core departments and accrual accounting for executive agencies. Advocates of this approach claim that resource budgeting will improve the allocation of government spending and increase efficiency in government production. A basic flaw of the reform proposals is the failure to acknowledge the hybridity of government activities and the need to accommodate these hybridities in the accounting system. We argue that the present dual system, with some minor revisions, will be superior to the proposed resource budgeting system.
Beyond the property tax: local government revenue diversification
Authors: Bartle John R. , Ebdon Carol , Krane Dale
Published: December 2017

Local governments in the U.S. rely less on the property tax than they have historically. This long-term trend has been accompanied by important shifts in the composition of local revenues. While the property tax still serves as one primary source of local government revenue, increasingly other sources are used to pay for local government. This paper first examines that trend, the forces behind it, and its regional impact. We then explore trends in three central states - - Iowa, Nebraska, and Arkansas -- that have experienced substantial revenue shifts in recent years. A concluding section discusses the options for the future.
Competition and economic development efforts in the garden state: perceptions of municipal public officials
Authors: Robbins Donijo
Published: December 2017

Competition for private investment, it has been argued, is often the fiercest between neighboring cities or cities within the same region. One result of maintaining a competitive edge (stimulating private investment) over other localities, is that local public officials rely on tax and non-tax incentive packages. If this is true, it seems that municipal public officials in New Jersey would perceive this competition and offer incentive packages given their location near major cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. This article explores the perceptions of local public officials in New Jersey about competition and the impact of tax and non-tax incentives in the context of population, unemployment, income, geographic location, and government structure.
Measuring the impact of casino proceeds on total per pupil expenditures for education in Mississippi
Authors: French P. Edward , Stanley Rodney E.
Published: December 2017

The Mississippi Legislature adopted casino gaming in 1990 for the purpose of curing financial ills that have long plagued the Magnolia state. Local policy makers were given the opportunity to tax the casino industry at 3.2 percent of gaming wins, with an additional .8 percent if these local government stakeholders deemed it necessary to extract additional supplemental revenue from the casino industry. One program designated as a beneficiary of this revenue-generating source was education. This paper borrows research techniques from the lottery literature in an effort to measure the impact of casino gaming dollars on per pupil spending in Mississippi. The conclusions reached by this research suggests that the thirteen school districts receiving casino proceeds for education are significantly benefiting from this supplemental source of revenue.
Qualifications, diversity and workplace practices: an investigation of higher education internal audit departments
Authors: Fischer Mary , Montondon Lucille
Published: December 2017

Internal audit is getting recognition thanks to media coverage of alleged fraudulent activities and new regulations that require the evaluation of internal controls. Given this attention, Harrington (2004) identified what organizations should look for when hiring a director of internal audit. This paper reports an investigation of college and university internal audit departments that determines if the directors hold the suggested qualifications and if the qualifications differ based on gender. Differences among the directors of internal auditor include demographic information such as salary, experience and number of staff members as well as who hires the director, and whether the institution has a governing board audit committee. Even with the differences, college and university internal audit directors are very much alike.
The dynamics of government revenue forecasting from an organizational perspective: a review of the literature
Authors: Sun Jinping
Published: December 2017

Over a decade ago, Bretschneider and Gorr proposed two directions for future research in government forecasting: one was to extend the research on developing and evaluating alternative forecasting methods and the other, to look at forecasting as a human activity and examine how organizational factors affect forecasting. What has happened since then? To see partially what has been done and what remains to be done, this paper provides a review of the literature on government revenue forecasting with a primary focus on the state level and identifies areas for future research in government revenue forecasting.
The determinants of perceived audit quality and auditee satisfaction in local government
Authors: Samelson Donald , Lowensohn Suzanne , Johnson Laurence E.
Published: December 2017

Prior research addresses relationships between audit attributes and perceptions of both audit quality and auditee satisfaction in the private sector. This study extends such research to local government audits, where audit quality has been questioned. Additionally, this study investigates the effect of auditor size on perceived audit quality and satisfaction. 302 finance directors surveyed positively associated auditor expertise, responsiveness to client, professionalism, understanding of client systems, and study of internal controls with perceived audit quality. Furthermore, auditee satisfaction was positively related to auditor expertise, responsiveness to client, audit manager involvement, understanding of client systems and study of internal controls. Big 5 firms were not associated with higher levels of perceived audit quality or auditee satisfaction, despite charging significantly higher audit fees.
The accessibility of financial reporting of u.s. municipalities on the internet
Authors: Styles Alan K. , Tennyson Mack
Published: December 2017

In recent years accounting standard setters and professional bodies have issued directives aimed at improving the transparency and accessibility of financial reports compiled by government agencies. This study examines the availability and accessibility of local government financial reports on the Internet for a sample of 300 U.S. municipalities of varying size. Results indicate that provision of financial reports is more prominent among larger cities. Cities with higher income per capita and higher levels of accounting disclosure are also more likely to provide financial reports on the Internet. The accessibility of the financial data reported on the Internet is positively related to the number of residents, resident income per capita, and level of debt and financial position of the municipality.
The taxpayer-shareholder fallacy and private finance initiatives
Authors: de Vries Piet
Published: December 2017

There is a growing support for the view that the private sector is at least as efficient as the public sector in managing investment risks of large projects. Governments forget that it is the taxpayer who bears all the risks in a public finance scenario of investments. So, it seems unfounded that governments should neglect the cost of investment risk in obtaining finance as the taxpayer might be seen as a shareholder in (public) investments, which by definition are risky. It is this taxpayer-is-shareholder perspective that will be criticized in this paper. This taxpayer approach neglects the variety of funding and financing positions that might be taken by the various actors in investment projects. The paper concludes that some prudence is recommended in supporting private finance initiatives
Out with the old, in with the new? a case study of procurement practices in new york state school districts
Authors: Duncombe William , Searcy Cynthia S.
Published: December 2017

School business officials procure goods and services through a variety of methods to deliver educational services in a timely and cost-effective way. Recommended practices by professional procurement organizations have changed in recent years to include new technologies aimed at streamlining and cutting costs of traditional procurement methods. Little is known, however, about what procurement practices school districts adopt-new or old. To partially fill this gap, we describe results from a survey of procurement practices of New York State school districts. Our results reveal that despite the potential for new technologies to make certain practices common among all types of districts, competitive bidding laws and enrollment size dictate the procurement methods used most frequently by school districts.
The changing federal grant structure and its potential effects on state and local community development efforts
Authors: Hall Jeremy L.
Published: December 2017

Changing political landscape often renews the call for dramatic changes to federal community and economic development grant-in-aid programs. The most dramatic proposal in recent years was President Bush’s 2006 call to consolidate federal assistance programs for communities into a new block grant known as the Strengthening America’s Communities Initiative (SACI). This conceptual study reviews key characteristics of intergovernmental transfers including grant types, features, changes in the intergovernmental fiscal environment, the fungibility/flypaper debate, and the symmetry/asymmetry response of governments to declining intergovernmental revenue. The effects of intergovernmental transfers on state and local governments are connected to differences in grant design features. Potential fallout from proposed or similar changes to grant structure is discussed using the SACI proposal as an example.
Communicating performance: the extent and effectiveness of performance reporting by u.s. colleges and universities
Authors: Gordon Teresa P. , Fischer Mary
Published: December 2017

Performance measures have long been a topic of interest in higher education although no consensus on the best way to measure performance has been achieved. This paper examines the extent and effectiveness of service efforts and accomplishment reporting by public and not-for-profit U.S. colleges and universities using survey data provided by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Effectiveness is evaluated using the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) suggested criteria. Regression analysis suggests an association between the extent of disclosure and size, leverage, level of education provided, and regional accreditation agency. Private institutions rate themselves as more effective communicators. Effectiveness of communication is also associated with the extent of disclosure, level of education provided and accreditation region.
The disclosure of financial information via the internet by the 100 “most wired” healthcare systems
Authors: Styles Alan K. , Koprowski William R.
Published: December 2017

U.S. hospitals face calls for accountability from regulators, professionals, academics and consumers. Transparency and wider dissemination in reporting of financial performance is an integral component of accountability. This paper investigates the extent to which U.S. hospitals have used the Internet to disseminate financial information and demonstrate accountability to the communities they purport to serve. The authors examine the availability of financial information on the websites of the American Hospital Association’s 100 Most Wired healthcare systems. Results of this investigation indicate that the vast majority of the most technically competent U.S. hospitals have yet to embrace the Internet as a tool for financial disclosure. The findings highlight a lack of transparency and an accountability gap for U.S. healthcare systems.
Exploring the marketing potential of location-based mobile games
Authors: Wu Linwan , Stilwell Matthew A.
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Location-based mobile games, like Pokémon GO, have been tremendously prevalent in recent years. Marketing professionals have considered this type of game as a promising marketing platform. The purpose of this study is to explore the marketing potential of location-based mobile games by examining players’ responses to sponsors featured in Pokémon GO.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted among gamers of Pokémon GO to examine the psychological process of the gameplay, and how it influences some marketing outcomes. A conceptual model was built based on the survey results.

Findings

Results indicated that gamers of Pokémon GO experienced spatial presence, which positively influenced their attitudes toward and intentions to visit the sponsors. Moreover, spatial presence was positively influenced by players’ game engagement, perceived mobility and contextual perceived value. Some motives of playing Pokémon GO were also identified, including the entertainment motive and social motive.

Originality/value

This study is the first one to analyze the marketing potential of Pokémon GO, which is a successful location-based mobile game. The results are meaningful to marketing professionals who are interested in this innovative media platform. This study is also the first one to apply the theory of spatial presence to the investigations of this type of game. It showcases the power of this theory in guiding the research of interactive marketing with mobile gaming.
Leveraging medium-sized sport events to attract club participants
Authors: Hoskyn Katharine , Dickson Geoff , Sotiriadou Popi
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Sport participation is the lifeblood of community sport clubs. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how sport clubs can leverage participation from local, medium-sized, elite sport events.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an action research approach where researchers, along with representative stakeholders from two elite tennis tournaments and 23 local tennis organizations, collaborated to develop and implement a series of interventions as part of a wider leveraging plan. The interventions were developed and evaluated in one cycle of action research that incorporated predominantly qualitative research methods.

Findings

The interventions stimulated the interest of event spectators by offering a free tennis lesson at a participating club. However, the conversion from interest to club participation was limited.

Practical implications

Key recommendations for clubs to leverage participation from a medium-sized event include: a leveraging plan should consider the resources and capacity of local community sport clubs; clubs should act collectively and collaboratively; and clubs should have a strong physical presence at the event(s).

Originality/value

Regional sports organizations can utilize existing collaborative networks to enable community clubs to design and implement event-leveraging initiatives. This study also highlights the limited capacity of community sport clubs to leverage participation outcomes from medium-sized annual events. The use of collaborative networks may ameliorate the organizational capacity deficiencies of clubs.
Comparison of three kinds of sensors used to identify the incipient cavitation
Authors: Kang Yang Zi , Feng Chi , Liu Liang Zhi , Gao Shan , Cang Yan
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Hydroelectric power is widely used because it is environmental friendly, renewable and green. The cavitation is an inevitable phenomenon during the operation of hydro turbine, which is related to the efficiency and service life of the unit. This paper aims to discriminate the phenomenon of the incipient cavitation, prevent the early destruction and avoid the irreversible damage to hydro turbine.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper tries to find out the characteristics of cavitation entirely through a variety of features. The method comprises collection of the signals using a hydrophone, acceleration sensor and acoustic emission sensor; analyzing cavitation signal by using the way of wavelet time-frequency, peak factor and power spectral density; and comparing the different wavelet basis for analyzing signals and find the most suitable one.

Findings

The analyzed results show that the wavelet basis of morlet is more suitable for the cavitation signals. The hydrophone can distinguish the different operating conditions and discriminate the difference between the phenomenon of incipient cavitation and the other state of cavitation. The results show that when the hydrophone and acceleration sensors are used, the accuracy rate goes up to 75 per cent, which meets the requirements for the detection for incipient cavitation.

Originality/value

This paper focuses on finding the best sensor to discriminate the operating state of incipient cavitation to prevent early destruction.
Long-period fiber grating cascaded to thin-core fiber for simultaneous measurement of liquid refractive-index and temperature
Authors: Jiang Meng , Wang Ze-Ming , Zhao Zhong-Ze , Li Kun , Yang Fu
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a simple fiber sensor for simultaneous measurement of liquid refractive-index (RI) and temperature.

Design/methodology/approach

The sensor structure is formed by a long period fiber grating cascaded with a section of thin-core fiber. The long period fiber grating is fabricated on single mode fiber, followed by a section of 20-mm length thin-core fiber which is a modal interferometer.

Findings

Cladding mode interference between long period fiber grating and thin-core fiber modal interferometer is weak in the experimental investigation. Both of these two cladding mode type fiber devices are sensitive to surrounding RI and temperature. So the RI and temperature can be measured simultaneously by monitoring the spectral characteristics of the compound sensor. The sensitivity is calibrated and sensor matrix is provided in the experiment.

Originality/value

This proposed fiber sensor is simple, tough, cost-effective and suitable for discriminate the liquid RI and temperature with high sensitivity.
House of Bounce
Authors: Cox Tod , Subramanian Ram
Published: December 2017

Synopsis

Tom Feldman took a buyout from a large technology company and used part of the money to enroll in the MBA program of a reputed university in the metropolitan Houston, Texas area. While in the MBA program, Tom began evaluating potential businesses with the objective of identifying one that would suit his needs. As part of an MBA course in marketing, Tom put together a student team to conduct marketing research on an opportunity to open a party center in Houston. After his team completed the study, Tom had both financial and marketing data to make a decision about the launch.

Research methodology

Teaching case based on the primary research.

Relevant courses and levels

This case is suited for a marketing course at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Social behaviour and gut microbiota in red‐bellied lemurs (Eulemur rubriventer): In search of the role of immunity in the evolution of sociality
Authors: Raulo Aura , Ruokolainen Lasse , Lane Avery , Amato Katherine , Knight Rob , Leigh Steven , Stumpf Rebecca , White Bryan , Nelson Karen E. , Baden Andrea L. , Tecot Stacey R.
Published: December 2017

Vertebrate gut microbiota form a key component of immunity and a dynamic link between an individual and the ecosystem. Microbiota might play a role in social systems as well, because microbes are transmitted during social contact and can affect host behaviour.

Combining methods from behavioural and molecular research, we describe the relationship between social dynamics and gut microbiota of a group‐living cooperative species of primate, the red‐bellied lemur (Eulemur rubriventer). Specifically, we ask whether patterns of social contact (group membership, group size, position in social network, individual sociality) are associated with patterns of gut microbial composition (diversity and similarity) between individuals and across time.

Red‐bellied lemurs were found to have gut microbiota with slight temporal fluctuations and strong social group‐specific composition. Contrary to expectations, individual sociality was negatively associated with gut microbial diversity. However, position within the social network predicted gut microbial composition.

These results emphasize the role of the social environment in determining the microbiota of adult animals. Since social transmission of gut microbiota has the potential to enhance immunity, microbiota might have played an escalating role in the evolution of sociality.
Experimentally simulating warmer and wetter climate additively improves rangeland quality on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Xu Wei , Zhu Mengyao , Zhang Zhenhua , Ma Zhiyuan , Liu Huiying , Chen Litong , Cao Guangmin , Zhao Xinquan , Schmid Bernhard , He Jin‐Sheng
Published: December 2017

The vast expanses of rangeland on the Tibetan Plateau, which support the livelihood of c. 9.8 million local inhabitants, have experienced rapid climate warming over the past 50 years. At the same time, precipitation has increased in large parts of the Plateau but decreased in other parts, particularly in the northwest. These trends are predicted to continue into the future. However, their potential effects on rangeland quality remain unclear.

We conducted a two‐factor field experiment in which we manipulated temperature (control or warming by 1.5–1.8°C) and precipitation (control or 50% reduction or increase in rainfall) in an alpine grassland on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, starting in 2011. From 2014 to 2016, we measured forage production and community composition, and in 2015 forage quality (crude protein, cell‐soluble contents, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin and digestibility) was represented by seven abundant species.

Overall, warming did not change total forage production at plant community level, but increased legume production and decreased non‐legume forb production. Increased and reduced precipitation enhanced and decreased forage production by 18.2% and 12.9% respectively. Increased precipitation in particular increased grass and sedge production, but not legume production.

Forage quality showed species‐specific responses to the simulated climate changes. At community level, warming and reduced precipitation improved forage quality, which were mainly caused by a shift in community composition towards more legumes, rather than the direct effects of simulated climate changes. Meanwhile, increased precipitation did not reduce forage quality, despite the precipitation‐induced increase in forage production.

Integrating forage production and quality into nutrient production as a measure of rangeland quality, we found that warming and increased precipitation additively improved rangeland quality, while reduced precipitation decreased it.

Synthesis and applications. Rangeland quality, an important ecosystem provisioning service, will benefit from a warmer climate on the Tibetan Plateau in the regions with a predicted increase in precipitation, but not in those regions where precipitation might be reduced in the future. We suggest management strategies, including reseeding native legumes, establishing sustainable pastures and assisting the exchange of harvested forage, to cope with the challenges posed by these different climate change scenarios.
Local biodiversity erosion in south Brazilian grasslands under moderate levels of landscape habitat loss
Authors: Staude Ingmar R. , Vélez‐Martin Eduardo , Andrade Bianca O. , Podgaiski Luciana Regina , Boldrini Ilsi I. , Mendonça Milton , Pillar Valério D. , Overbeck Gerhard E.
Published: December 2017

Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, exerting negative effects on the ecological viability of natural vegetation remnants. The south Brazilian grasslands belong to one of the largest temperate grassland regions in the world, but have lost 50% of their natural extent in the past 35 years. To date, there is no empirical evidence for the effects of habitat loss on these grasslands' biological diversity, undermining their conservation.

Using data from a large‐scale biodiversity survey, we asked if local plant communities respond to levels of habitat loss representative of the entire region (≤50%). Vegetation in grassland remnants was sampled in 24 landscapes at three localities each, using nine plots per locality. To investigate whether species losses were a consequence of stochastic or nonrandom local extinctions and whether plant communities became more homogenized, we evaluated species richness, beta‐diversity components (spatial turnover and nestedness), and phylogenetic diversity, in respect to landscape change. In part of the landscapes, arthropods were sampled to investigate if loss of plant diversity had a cascading effect on other trophic levels. We evaluated generic richness of ants, an omnivore group with high levels of plant associations, in respect to a plant community's phylogenetic diversity.

Local plant communities in landscapes with less grassland cover had fewer species, less spatial turnover, increased nestedness and lower phylogenetic diversity. Our results suggest that the observed species loss can be linked to taxonomic homogenization and is nonrandom, decreasing evolutionary diversity within the community. Furthermore, ant richness declined by 50% in plant communities with the lowest phylogenetic diversity, suggesting that effects of habitat loss propagate to higher trophic levels.

Policy implications. We conclude that the biological diversity of south Brazilian grasslands, at the producer and consumer level, is at risk under the current rate of land‐use conversion, even at habitat losses below 50%. To avoid substantial biodiversity loss, conservation and more restrictive policies for conversion of native grasslands to different land uses in South Brazil are urgently needed.
Clinical relevance of deferasirox trough levels in β‐thalassemia patients
Authors: Allegra Sarah , Massano Davide , De Francia Silvia , Longo Filomena , Piccione Francesca , Pirro Elisa , Cusato Jessica , D'Avolio Antonio , Piga Antonio
Published: December 2017

We evaluated the role of deferasirox therapeutic drug monitoring in order to avoid toxicity or treatment failure. Plasma concentrations, measured between two consecutive liver iron determinations, were determined at the end of dosing interval. Fifty‐four β‐thalassemic adult patients were enrolled: 50% were males; median age was 32.3 years (IQR 19.1‐41.7 years) and median body mass index was 22.25 kg/m2 (IQR 20.24‐23.75 kg/m2). The mean deferasirox dose was 28.6 ± 6.3 mg/kg/d and mean plasma concentration was 17.3 ± 16.8 μg/mL. Drug levels showed lower results in males. Deferasirox concentration was significantly correlated with serum creatinine levels (P = .01) and serum ferritin (P < .0001). The assessment of deferasirox therapeutic drug monitoring could help clinicians to predict patient responses and to optimize the therapy.
Anti‐inflammatory and anticancer activities of water‐soluble peptide extracts of buffalo and cow milk Cheddar cheeses
Authors: Rafiq Saima , Huma Nuzhat , Rakariyatham Kanyasiri , Hussain Imtiaz , Gulzar Nabila , Hayat Imran
Published: December 2017

This article aimed to assess the anti‐inflammatory and anticancer potential of water‐soluble peptide (WSP) extracts from buffalo and cow milk Cheddar cheeses. Anti‐inflammatory activity was evaluated on the basis of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated macrophage (RAW‐264.7) cells. A cell viability assay, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were performed to explore anticancer activity in a colon cancer model (HT‐29). The WSP extracts of both Cheddar cheeses effectively inhibited NO production in activated macrophages. Maximum growth inhibition was observed in the HT‐29 cells at concentrations of 400 and 500 μg/mL. A significant increase in cell population at G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle was observed. Moreover, the WSP extracts also induced extensive apoptosis in colon cancer cells.
Evidence‐Based Medicine and State Health Care Coverage: The Washington Health Technology Assessment Program
Authors: Rothman David J. , Blackwood Kristy L. , Adair Whitney , Rothman Sheila M.
Published: December 2017

Objective

To evaluate the Washington State Health Technology Assessment Program (WHTAP).

Study Setting

Washington State Health Technology Assessment Program proceedings in Seattle, Washington.

Data Collection and Study Design

We assessed the program through observation of its proceedings over a 5‐year period, 2009–2014. We conducted detailed analyses of the documents it produced and reviewed relevant literature.

Principal Findings

Washington State Health Technology Assessment Program is unique compared to other state and federal programs. It has successfully applied evidence‐based medicine to health care decision making, limited by the strength of available data. It claims cost savings, but they are not substantiated.

Conclusions

Washington State Health Technology Assessment Program is a useful model for other states considering implementation of technology assessment programs. We provide key lessons for improving WHTAP's process.
Classification Improvements in Automated Gunshot Residue (GSR) Scans
Authors: Mandel Micha , Israelsohn Azulay Osnat , Zidon Yigal , Tsach Tsadok , Cohen Yaron
Published: December 2017

Classification of particles as gunshot residues (GSRs) is conducted using a semiautomatic approach in which the system first classifies particles based on an automatic elemental analysis, and then, examiners manually analyze particles having compositions which are characteristic of or consistent with GSRs. Analyzing all the particles in the second stage is time consuming with many particles classified by the initial automated system as being potentially GSRs excluded as such by the forensic examiner. In this paper, a new algorithm is developed to improve the initial classification step. The algorithm is based on a binary tree that was trained on almost 16,000 particles from 43 stubs used to sample hands of suspects. The classification algorithm was tested on 5,900 particles from 23 independent stubs and performed very well in terms of false positive and false negative rates. A routine use of the new algorithm can reduce significantly the analysis time of GSRs.
Targeted in situ metatranscriptomics for selected taxa from mesophilic and thermophilic biogas plants
Authors: Stolze Yvonne , Bremges Andreas , Maus Irena , Pühler Alfred , Sczyrba Alexander , Schlüter Andreas
Published: December 2017

Biogas production is performed anaerobically by complex microbial communities with key species driving the process. Hence, analyses of their in situ activities are crucial to understand the process. In a previous study, metagenome sequencing and subsequent genome binning for different production‐scale biogas plants (BGPs) resulted in four genome bins of special interest, assigned to the phyla Thermotogae, Fusobacteria, Spirochaetes and Cloacimonetes, respectively, that were genetically analysed. In this study, metatranscriptome sequencing of the same BGP samples was conducted, enabling in situ transcriptional activity determination of these genome bins. For this, mapping of metatranscriptome reads on genome bin sequences was performed providing transcripts per million (TPM) values for each gene. This approach revealed an active sugar‐based metabolism of the Thermotogae and Spirochaetes bins and an active amino acid‐based metabolism of the Fusobacteria and Cloacimonetes bins. The data also hint at syntrophic associations of the four corresponding species with methanogenic Archaea.
Politeness, Hypocrisy and Protestant Dissent in England after the Toleration Act, c.1689‐c.1750
Authors: Brown Carys
Published: December 2017

The concept of politeness has been central to studies of eighteenth‐century England; less attention has been given to its impact on religious coexistence. This article argues that, while politeness has typically been associated with rejection of the religious divisions of the previous century, it could also be used to perpetuate them. Focusing on the position of Protestant Dissenters in relation to wider society after the Toleration Act of 1689, it argues that cultures of politeness complicated, rather than eased, their social integration. Furthermore, it highlights the centrality of religious questions to social and cultural change in eighteenth‐century England.
Measuring the gut microbiome in birds: Comparison of faecal and cloacal sampling
Authors: Videvall Elin , Strandh Maria , Engelbrecht Anel , Cloete Schalk , Cornwallis Charlie K.
Published: December 2017

The gut microbiomes of birds and other animals are increasingly being studied in ecological and evolutionary contexts. Numerous studies on birds and reptiles have made inferences about gut microbiota using cloacal sampling; however, it is not known whether the bacterial community of the cloaca provides an accurate representation of the gut microbiome. We examined the accuracy with which cloacal swabs and faecal samples measure the microbiota in three different parts of the gastrointestinal tract (ileum, caecum, and colon) using a case study on juvenile ostriches, Struthio camelus, and high‐throughput 16S rRNA sequencing. We found that faeces were significantly better than cloacal swabs in representing the bacterial community of the colon. Cloacal samples had a higher abundance of Gammaproteobacteria and fewer Clostridia relative to the gut and faecal samples. However, both faecal and cloacal samples were poor representatives of the microbial communities in the caecum and ileum. Furthermore, the accuracy of each sampling method in measuring the abundance of different bacterial taxa was highly variable: Bacteroidetes was the most highly correlated phylum between all three gut sections and both methods, whereas Actinobacteria, for example, was only strongly correlated between faecal and colon samples. Based on our results, we recommend sampling faeces, whenever possible, as this sample type provides the most accurate assessment of the colon microbiome. The fact that neither sampling technique accurately portrayed the bacterial community of the ileum nor the caecum illustrates the difficulty in noninvasively monitoring gut bacteria located further up in the gastrointestinal tract. These results have important implications for the interpretation of avian gut microbiome studies.
Role of intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of Kawasaki disease
Authors: Lo Mindy S. , Newburger Jane W.
Published: December 2017

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is a purified plasma product that is used for many immune‐deficient conditions and autoimmune conditions. Use of IVIg for treatment for Kawasaki disease (KD) is critical for control of inflammation. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a single infusion of 2 g/kg preferably given during the first 10 days of illness. In this review, we have discussed the possible mechanisms of action of IVIg in KD and its clinical usage in this condition.
Dosing down and then discontinuing biologic therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a review of the literature
Authors: Chen Der‐Yuan , Lau Chak Sing , Elzorkany Bassel , Hsu Ping‐Ning , Praprotnik Sonja , Vasilescu Radu , Marshall Lisa , Llamado Lyndon
Published: December 2017

Aim

To review the published studies that dose down and then discontinue biologic therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly concerning the criteria for such dosing and the impact on clinical outcomes.

Methods

Published studies conducted in patients with RA that sequentially decreased the dose and then discontinued therapy were included if one or more of the following biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) was evaluated: abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, rituximab or tocilizumab.

Results

Five studies qualified for inclusion. The populations of patients with RA were heterogeneous among the studies; patients were required to have low disease activity (LDA) or to be in remission prior to dose titration. Approximately 25–65% of patients successfully decreased and in some cases, discontinued the bDMARD. However, the flare rate was higher than for the patients who remained on a standard dose. The only variable that predicted relapse in more than one study was down‐titration of the bDMARD dose.

Conclusion

In patients who have achieved LDA or remission, down‐titration and discontinuation of bDMARD therapy may be attempted, with careful monitoring. However, it is likely that some patients will flare, and it is not known how to predict these patients.
Agenda Entrance Complexity in International Accounting Standard Setting: The Case of IFRS for SMEs
Authors: Ram Ronita , Newberry Susan
Published: December 2017

Features of rational decision making (such as agenda entrance criteria and statement of jurisdiction) barely conceal the complexity of international accounting standard setting. In 2003, when the International Financial Reporting Standard for Small and Medium‐sized Entities (IFRS for SMEs) project achieved agenda entrance, the International Accounting Standards Board's (IASB) jurisdiction was to develop, ‘a single set of … accounting standards … to help participants in the world's capital markets’. Drawing on interviewees' recollections and other material, this study of how the project achieved agenda entrance finds within‐IASB opposition to the project, arguing it was outside the IASB's jurisdiction that dissolved with the realisation that the IASB's jurisdiction would be changed to encompass the project.
Effects of Long‐Term Alcohol Drinking on the Dopamine D2 Receptor: Gene Expression and Heteroreceptor Complexes in the Striatum in Rats
Authors: Feltmann Kristin , Borroto‐Escuela Dasiel Oscar , Rüegg Joëlle , Pinton Luca , de Oliveira Sergio Thatiane , Narváez Manuel , Jimenez‐Beristain Antonio , Ekström Tomas J. , Fuxe Kjell , Steensland Pia
Published: December 2017

Background

Reduced dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) ligand binding has repeatedly been demonstrated in the striatum of humans with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The attenuated D2R binding has been suggested to reflect a reduced D2R density, which in turn has been proposed to drive craving and relapse. However, results from rodent studies addressing the effects of alcohol drinking on D2R density have been inconsistent.

Methods

A validated alcohol drinking model (intermittent access to 20% alcohol) in Wistar rats was used to study the effects of voluntary alcohol drinking (at least 12 weeks) on the D2R in the striatum compared to age‐matched alcohol‐naïve control rats. Reverse transcriptase quantitativePCRwas used to quantify isoform‐specificDrd2gene expression levels. Using bisulfite pyrosequencing,DNAmethylation levels of a regulatory region of theDrd2gene were determined. In situ proximity ligation assay was used to measure densities of D2R receptor complexes: D2R‐D2R, adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR)‐D2R, and sigma1 receptor (sigma1R)‐D2R.

Results

Long‐term voluntary alcohol drinking significantly reducedmRNAlevels of the long D2R isoform in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) but did not alter CpG methylation levels in the analyzed sequence of theDrd2gene. Alcohol drinking also reduced the striatal density of D2R‐D2R homoreceptor complexes, increased the density of A2AR‐D2R heteroreceptor complexes in theNAc shell and the dorsal striatum, and decreased the density of sigma1R‐D2R heteroreceptor complexes in the dorsal striatum.

Conclusions

The present results on long‐term alcohol drinking might reflect reduced D2R levels through reductions in D2R‐D2R homoreceptor complexes and gene expression. Furthermore, based on antagonistic interactions between A2ARand D2R, an increased density of A2AR‐D2R heteroreceptor complexes might indicate a reduced affinity and signaling of the D2R population within the complex. Hence, both reduced striatal D2R levels and reduced D2R protomer affinity within the striatal A2AR‐D2R complex might underlie reduced D2R radioligand binding in humans withAUD. This supports the hypothesis of a hypodopaminergic system inAUDand suggests the A2AR‐D2R heteroreceptor complex as a potential novel treatment target.