bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contact sensitivity in patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis
Authors: Tamagawa‐Mineoka Risa , Masuda Koji , Ueda Sachiko , Nakamura Naomi , Hotta Eri , Hattori Junko , Minamiyama Rina , Yamazaki Akiko , Katoh Norito
Published: March 2015

Patients with atopic dermatitis are usually responsive to conventional treatment such as topical steroids; however, they are sometimes refractory to the treatment. The influence of contact sensitivities on the course of patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate whether contact sensitivities affect the course of patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis. We evaluated 45 patients with atopic dermatitis who had failed conventional therapy. Patch testing was performed with the Japanese standard series, metal series and/or suspected items. A total of 15 patients had a positive patch test reaction to at least one allergen. The most common allergens were nickel, topical drugs and rubber accelerators. Avoidance of products or food containing allergic substances greatly or partially improved skin symptoms in nine patients. These results suggest that contact allergens and metals may be critical factors causing eczematous lesions in patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis.
Convergence of three mangrove species towards freeze‐tolerant phenotypes at an expanding range edge
Authors: Cook‐Patton Susan C. , Lehmann Michael , Parker John D.
Published: March 2015

Climate change is dramatically altering the distribution and abundance of many species. An examination of traits may elucidate why some species respond more strongly to climate change than others, particularly when ecophysiological thresholds set range limits.

Mangrove forests are expanding polewards. Although multiple environmental factors influence mangrove distributions, freeze tolerance is hypothesized to determine their poleward extent. To investigate how trait variation influences mangroves’ responses to a warming climate, we examined how freeze tolerance and associated traits varied along a latitudinal cline for three co‐occurring mangrove species.

We sampled individuals along >200 km of Florida, USA's eastern coast, from the mangroves’ most northern populations, where freeze events were historically common, to southern populations where freeze events continue to be rare.

We measured a suite of traits in field‐collected adults and their garden‐reared offspring, and assessed their responses to an experimentally imposed freeze event. We asked whether freeze tolerance and other traits varied predictably among species, with latitude, and between life stages.

Species and populations varied dramatically in freeze tolerance, with the highest freeze tolerance in the northernmost species and populations, and the lowest freeze tolerance in the southernmost species and populations. Additionally, leaves of all three species were drier, tougher, thicker and more freeze‐tolerant at the range edge.

Tolerance to freezing appears to set the range limits for these mangrove species. All three species converged on a similar phenotype at the range edge, but species‐level variation in freezing resistance was conserved. Thus, these species are likely to continue migrating at different rates in response to climate warming, potentially leading to the dissolution of typically co‐occurring species and creating ‘no analogue’ coastal mangrove–marsh communities.
Investigating isotopic functional indices to reveal changes in the structure and functioning of benthic communities
Authors: Rigolet Carinne , Thiébaut Eric , Brind'Amour Anik , Dubois Stanislas F.
Published: March 2015

With the use of stable isotopes, new concepts have emerged based on the idea that the ecological niche can be approximated by the isotopic niche defined as a δ‐space area with isotopic δ values as coordinates. This study aims to (i) redefine functional indices originally based on quantitative biological traits of species and demonstrate the ecological significance of newly defined isotopic functional indices (IFI) in a δ‐isotopic space, (ii) compare IFI using biomass data with existing unweighted isotopic indices using only isotopic compositions.

Using a community‐wide approach, we tested IFI using isotopic compositions of a large set of associated species from two marine benthic communities widely reported in coastal shallow waters: the common Amphiura filiformis muddy‐sand community and the engineered Haploops nirae sandy‐mud community. Biomass and isotopic composition (13C and 15N) of all species were measured during four seasons.

IFI were calculated in the isotopic space defined by the two communities, and variations were analysed: (i) isotopic functional richness indices measure the overall extent of the community trophic niche. They are higher in the Haploops community due to a higher diversity in food sources but also to longer food chains. (ii) isotopic functional evenness indices quantify the regularity in species distribution and the density in species packing. They showed that the biomass is concentrated at the edges of the food web in the Haploops community, outside the isotopic range of the main food source. (iii) isotopic functional divergence indices quantify the degree to which species distribution maximizes the divergence. They showed a larger utilization of secondary food sources in the Haploops community.

The IFI variations responded according to expectations overall, based on the extensive knowledge of those communities. Results highlighted that IFI weighted with species biomass provide new insights into how the structure of energy accumulation as biomass between species is likely to underpin community structure and the interplay between structural components of richness, diversity and evenness of biomass distribution.
Bacterial diversity amplifies nutrient‐based plant–soil feedbacks
Authors: Weidner Simone , Koller Robert , Latz Ellen , Kowalchuk George , Bonkowski Michael , Scheu Stefan , Jousset Alexandre
Published: March 2015

Plants foster diverse assemblages of bacteria in the rhizosphere serving important functions which may result in enhanced plant growth. Microbial diversity is increasingly recognized to shape the functionality of microbial communities. This leads to the assumption that there is a positive relationship between rhizosphere diversity and plant growth. Here we investigate how bacterial diversity affects the mineralization of organic matter and plant nutrient acquisition.

We hypothesized that altered bacterial diversity will affect nitrogen mineralization, uptake by plants and ultimately plant growth. We set up a controlled model system with Arabidopsis thaliana colonized by defined assemblages of fluorescent pseudomonads, a well‐characterized plant‐beneficial rhizosphere taxon. The growth substrate contained casein as sole nitrogen source, making the plant nitrogen uptake dependant on breakdown by bacterial enzymes.

Bacterial diversity was associated with a higher enzyme activity which increased nitrogen mineralization and enhanced plant growth. The effect of bacterial diversity on plant growth increased with time, pointing to a positive feedback between bacteria and plants: bigger plants associated with species‐rich bacterial communities supported more bacterial growth, which further enhanced the impact of bacteria on plant growth.

We demonstrate that plant–soil feedbacks establish rapidly during one single growth season and that bacterial diversity modulates this interaction. Preserving soil microbial diversity therefore may improve positive plant–soil feedbacks and thereby plant growth.
Informed herbivore movement and interplant communication determine the effects of induced resistance in an individual‐based model
Authors: Rubin Ilan N. , Ellner Stephen P. , Kessler André , Morrell Kimberly A.
Published: March 2015

Plant induced resistance to herbivory affects the spatial distribution of herbivores, as well as their performance. In recent years, theories regarding the benefit to plants of induced resistance have shifted from ideas of optimal resource allocation towards a more eclectic set of theories that consider spatial and temporal plant variability and the spatial distribution of herbivores among plants. However, consensus is lacking on whether induced resistance causes increased herbivore aggregation or increased evenness, as both trends have been experimentally documented.

We created a spatial individual‐based model that can describe many plant–herbivore systems with induced resistance, in order to analyse how different aspects of induced resistance might affect herbivore distribution, and the total damage to a plant population, during a growing season.

We analyse the specific effects on herbivore aggregation of informed herbivore movement (preferential movement to less‐damaged plants) and of information transfer between plants about herbivore attacks, in order to identify mechanisms driving both aggregation and evenness. We also investigate how the resulting herbivore distributions affect the total damage to plants and aggregation of damage.

Even, random and aggregated herbivore distributions can all occur in our model with induced resistance. Highest levels of aggregation occurred in the models with informed herbivore movement, and the most even distributions occurred when the average number of herbivores per plant was low. With constitutive resistance, only random distributions occur. Damage to plants was spatially correlated, unless plants recover very quickly from damage; herbivore spatial autocorrelation was always weak.

Our model and results provide a simple explanation for the apparent conflict between experimental results, indicating that both increased aggregation and increased evenness of herbivores can result from induced resistance. We demonstrate that information transfer from plants to herbivores, and from plants to neighbouring plants, can both be major factors in determining non‐random herbivore distributions.
Optimal population prediction of sandhill crane recruitment based on climate‐mediated habitat limitations
Authors: Gerber Brian D. , Kendall William L. , Hooten Mevin B. , Dubovsky James A. , Drewien Roderick C.
Published: March 2015

Prediction is fundamental to scientific enquiry and application; however, ecologists tend to favour explanatory modelling. We discuss a predictive modelling framework to evaluate ecological hypotheses and to explore novel/unobserved environmental scenarios to assist conservation and management decision‐makers. We apply this framework to develop an optimal predictive model for juvenile (<1 year old) sandhill craneGrus canadensisrecruitment of the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP). We consider spatial climate predictors motivated by hypotheses of how drought across multiple time‐scales and spring/summer weather affects recruitment.

Our predictive modelling framework focuses on developing a single model that includes all relevant predictor variables, regardless of collinearity. This model is then optimized for prediction by controlling model complexity using a data‐driven approach that marginalizes or removes irrelevant predictors from the model. Specifically, we highlight two approaches of statistical regularization, Bayesian least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and ridge regression.

Our optimal predictive Bayesian LASSO and ridge regression models were similar and on average 37% superior in predictive accuracy to an explanatory modelling approach. Our predictive models confirmeda priorihypotheses that drought and cold summers negatively affect juvenile recruitment in the RMP. The effects of long‐term drought can be alleviated by short‐term wet spring–summer months; however, the alleviation of long‐term drought has a much greater positive effect on juvenile recruitment. The number of freezing days and snowpack during the summer months can also negatively affect recruitment, while spring snowpack has a positive effect.

Breeding habitat, mediated through climate, is a limiting factor on population growth of sandhill cranes in the RMP, which could become more limiting with a changing climate (i.e. increased drought). These effects are likely not unique to cranes. The alteration of hydrological patterns and water levels by drought may impact many migratory, wetland nesting birds in the Rocky Mountains and beyond.

Generalizable predictive models (trained by out‐of‐sample fit and based on ecological hypotheses) are needed by conservation and management decision‐makers. Statistical regularization improves predictions and provides a general framework for fitting models with a large number of predictors, even those with collinearity, to simultaneously identify an optimal predictive model while conducting rigorous Bayesian model selection. Our framework is important for understanding population dynamics under a changing climate and has direct applications for making harvest and habitat management decisions.
REVIEW: Towards a risk register for natural capital
Authors: Mace Georgina M. , Hails Rosemary S. , Cryle Philip , Harlow Julian , Clarke Stewart J.
Published: March 2015

Natural capital is essential for goods and services on which people depend. Yet pressures on the environment mean that natural capital assets are continuing to decline and degrade, putting such benefits at risk. Systematic monitoring of natural assets is a major challenge that could be both unaffordable and unmanageable without a way to focus efforts. Here we introduce a simple approach, based on the commonly used management tool of a risk register, to highlight natural assets whose condition places benefits at risk.

We undertake a preliminary assessment using a risk register for natural capital assets in the UK based solely on existing information. The status and trends of natural capital assets are assessed using asset–benefit relationships for ten kinds of benefits (food, fibre (timber), energy, aesthetics, freshwater (quality), recreation, clean air, wildlife, hazard protection and equable climate) across eight broad habitat types in the UK based on three dimensions of natural capital within each of the habitat types (quality, quantity and spatial configuration). We estimate the status and trends of benefits relative to societal targets using existing regulatory limits and policy commitments, and allocate scores of high, medium or low risk to asset–benefit relationships that are both subject to management and of concern.

The risk register approach reveals substantial gaps in knowledge about asset–benefit relationships which limit the scope and rigour of the assessment (especially for marine and urban habitats). Nevertheless, we find strong indications that certain assets (in freshwater, mountain, moors and heathland habitats) are at high risk in relation to their ability to sustain certain benefits (especially freshwater, wildlife and climate regulation).

Synthesis and applications. With directed data gathering, especially to monitor trends, improve metrics related to asset–benefit relationships, and improve understanding of nonlinearities and thresholds, the natural capital risk register could provide a useful tool. If updated regularly, it could direct monitoring efforts, focus research and protect and manage those natural assets where benefits are at highest risk.
Contrasting patterns in species and functional‐trait diversity of bees in an agricultural landscape
Authors: Forrest Jessica R. K. , Thorp Robbin W. , Kremen Claire , Williams Neal M.
Published: March 2015

Land‐use change frequently reduces local species diversity. Species losses will often result in loss of trait diversity, with likely consequences for community functioning. However, the converse need not be generally true: management approaches that succeed in retaining species richness could nevertheless fail to maintain trait diversity. We evaluated this possibility using bee communities in a California agroecosystem.

We examined among site patterns in bee species diversity and functional‐trait diversity in a landscape composed of a mosaic of semi‐natural habitat, organic farms and conventional farms. We sampled bees from all three habitat types and compiled a data base of life‐history (‘functional’) traits for each species.

Although species richness was higher on organic farms than conventional farms, functional diversity was lower in both farm types than in natural habitat. Nesting location (below‐ground vs. above‐ground) was the primary trait contributing to differences in functional diversity between farms and natural habitat, reflecting observed differences in availability of nesting substrates among habitat types. Other traits, including phenology and sociality, were also associated with species' occurrences or dominance in particular site types. These patterns suggest that management practices common to all farms act as environmental filters that cause similarly low functional diversity in their bee communities.

Synthesis and applications. Although our results support the value of organic farming in maintaining abundant and species‐rich bee communities, components of bee functional diversity are not well supported in farmed landscapes, regardless of farming practice. Maintenance of natural habitat, and/or the addition of natural habitat elements to farms, is therefore important for the retention of functionally diverse bee assemblages in agroecosystems.
Species‐specific plant–soil feedback effects on above‐ground plant–insect interactions
Authors: Kos Martine , Tuijl Maarten A. B. , de Roo Joris , Mulder Patrick P. J. , Bezemer T. Martijn
Published: March 2015

Plant–soil feedback (PSF) effects on plant performance strongly depend on the plant species that conditioned the soil. Recent studies have shown that PSF can change above‐ground plant–insect interactions via soil‐mediated changes in plant quality, but whether these effects depend on species‐specific soil conditioning is unknown. We examined how PSF effects of several plant species influence above‐ground plant–aphid interactions.

We grew ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) in field soil conditioned specifically by 10 plant species, belonging to three functional groups (grasses, forbs and legumes), in a multispecies mixture of the conditioned soils and in control (unconditioned) field soil. We measured plant biomass, concentrations of primary (amino acids) and secondary (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) metabolites in phloem exudates, and performance of the generalist aphid Brachycaudus cardui and the specialist Aphis jacobaeae.

We observed that plant species, via species‐specific effects on soil fungal communities, exerted unique plant–soil effects on J. vulgaris biomass, amino acid concentrations in phloem exudates and aphid performance. The direction and magnitude of the species‐specific PSF effects on aphid performance differed between both aphid species. PSF effects on soil fungal communities, plant biomass and A. jacobaeae performance also differed between grasses, forbs and legumes, with soil conditioning by forbs resulting in lowest plant biomass and aphid performance.

Synthesis. Our study provides novel evidence that PSF effects on above‐ground plant–insect interactions are highly species specific. Our results add a new dimension to the rapidly developing research fields of PSF and above‐below‐ground interactions, and highlights that these fields are tightly linked.
Activation of the signalling mucin MoMsb2 and its functional relationship with Cbp1 in Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Wang Guanghui , Li Guotian , Zhang Shijie , Jiang Cong , Qin Jun , Xu Jin‐Rong
Published: March 2015

Various surface signals are recognized by Magnaporthe oryzae to activate the Pmk1 MAP kinase that is essential for appressorium formation and invasive growth. One of upstream sensors of the Pmk1 pathway is the MoMsb2 signalling mucin. However, the activation of MoMsb2 and its relationship with other sensors is not clear. In this study, we showed that the cleavage and transmembrane domains are essential for MoMsb2 functions. Cleavage of MoMsb2 was further confirmed by western blot analysis, and five putative cleavage sites were functionally characterized. Expression of the extracellular region alone partially rescued the defects of Momsb2 in appressorium formation and virulence. The cytoplasmic region of MoMsb2, although dispensable for appressorium formation, was more important for penetration and invasive growth. Interestingly, the Momsb2 cbp1 double mutant deleted of both mucin genes was blocked in Pmk1 activation. It failed to form appressoria on artificial surfaces and was non‐pathogenic. In addition, we showed that MoMsb2 interacts with Ras2 but not with MoCdc42 in co‐immunoprecipitation assays. Overall, results from this study indicated that the extracellular and cytoplasmic regions of MoMsb2 have distinct functions in appressorium formation, penetration and invasive growth, and MoMsb2 has overlapping functions with Cbp1 in recognizing environmental signals for Pmk1 activation.
Auregnais: Insular Norman's Invisible Relative
Authors: Jones Mari C.
Published: March 2015

Insular Norman was, for the most part, the main everyday language of the Channel Islands until the twentieth century. Today, the Norman dialects spoken in Jersey, Guernsey and Sark are all severely endangered. The dialect of Alderney (Auregnais) is extinct and has disappeared with very little trace. This study explores the reason why the Channel Island geographically closest to the Norman mainland was the first to lose its Norman tongue. It considers the sources that can be examined for Auregnais in the nineteenth century, when it was still a living language, in order to determine what linguistic information can be uncovered about this seemingly invisible variety of Insular Norman and attempts to provide an outline of some of the linguistic features of Auregnais set alongside those of other varieties of Norman.
Voter polarisation and party responsiveness: Why parties emphasise divided issues, but remain silent on unified issues
Authors: Spoon Jae‐Jae , Klüver Heike
Published: March 2015

How does voter polarisation affect party responsiveness? Previous research has shown that political parties emphasise political issues that are important to their voters. However, it is posited in this article that political parties are not equally responsive to citizen demands across all issue areas. The hypothesis is that party responsiveness varies considerably with the preference configuration of the electorate. More specifically, it is argued that party responsiveness increases with the polarisation of issues among voters. To test these theoretical expectations, party responsiveness is analysed across nine West European countries from 1982 until 2013. Data on voter attention and voter preferences with regard to specific policy issues from a variety of national election studies is combined with Comparative Manifestos Project data on parties' emphasis of these issues in their election manifestos. The findings have major implications for understanding party competition and political representation in Europe.
Public support for European defence: Does strategic culture matter?
Authors: Irondelle† Bastien , Mérand Frédéric , Foucault Martial
Published: March 2015

This article identifies previously ignored determinants of public support for the European Union's security and defence ambitions. In contrast to public opinion vis‐à‐vis the EU in general, the literature on attitudes towards a putative European army or the existing Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) suggests that the explanatory power of sociodemographic and economic variables is weak, and focuses instead on national identity as the main determinant of one's support. This article explores the possible impact of strategic culture, and argues that preferences vis‐à‐vis the EU's security and defence ambitions are formed in part through pre‐existing social representations of security. To test this proposition, ‘national’ strategic cultures are disaggregated and a typology is produced that contains four strategic postures: pacifism, traditionalism, humanitarianism and globalism. Applying regression analysis on individual‐level Eurobarometer survey data, it is found that strategic postures help explain both the general level of support for CSDP and support for specific Petersberg tasks.
Commuting with Lost Housing Services as the Opportunity Cost
Authors: Williams Joseph
Published: March 2015

In American metropolitan areas, households are highly mixed by income with higher average incomes at greater distances from downtown. Also, suburbs attract families with children, while poor households and small households with young heads select sites close to the commercial core. These empirical observations and others are predicted by this standard model of a monocentric city with three major modifications. Time at work is controlled by employers, not employees. Households with more members at home consume in the same house more housing services. Finally, lot prices need not be proportional to area. In the resulting equilibrium, households are mixed by income and separated by family size. This contrasts with classic urban models where households are separated only by their workers' wage rates.
Identification of Missing Norwegian World War II Soldiers, in Karelia Russia
Authors: Morild Inge , Hamre Stian S. , Huel Rene , Parsons Thomas J.
Published: March 2015

This article presents the multidisciplinary effort in trying to identify the skeletal remains of 100 Norwegian soldiers serving in the German army, killed in Karelia Russia in 1944, from the recovery of the remains through the final identification using DNA. Of the 150 bone samples sent for DNA testing, 93 DNA profiles were obtained relating to 57 unique individuals. The relatives could not be directly contacted as the soldiers were considered as traitors to Norway; therefore, only 45 reference samples, relating to 42 cases of the missing, were donated. DNA matches for 14 soldiers and 12 additional body part re‐associations for these individuals were found. Another 24 bone samples were re‐associated with 16 individuals, but no familial match was found. More than six decades after the end of WWII, DNA analysis can significantly contribute to the identification of the remains.
Sensory Perception, Nutritional Role, and Challenges of Flavored Milk for Children and Adults
Authors: Li Xiaomeng E. , Drake MaryAnne
Published: March 2015

Milk and milk products provide essential nutrients for both adults and children. However, overall milk consumption of both adults and children does not meet the recommendations from Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Flavored milk can increase milk consumption for children and adolescents, but the added sugar content raises concern. Since the removal or reduction of flavored milk decreases milk consumption for children, it is important to understand all aspects of flavored milk in order to increase milk consumption while minimizing sugar intake. This review will address adult and children perception of flavored milk as well as its nutrition, regulations in school meal programs, and challenges. Understanding the sensory perception of both adults and children for flavored milk can help food developers and manufacturers to address attractive attributes while reducing the sugar content to meet the needs of a healthy diet.
Formation of Vitamin E Emulsion Stabilized by Octenylsuccinic Starch: Factors Affecting Particle Size and Oil Load
Authors: Qiu Dan , Yang Lei , Shi Yong‐Cheng
Published: March 2015

Vitamin E (VE) emulsions were formed by adding VE acetate in an octenylsuccinic (OS) starch solution with distilled water and homogenizing with a microfluidizer at 20000 psi. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of total concentration of starch and oil, ratio of oil to starch, pH value, and free OS content on emulsion properties. A method using HPLC was developed to analyze VE in emulsion, and the results were used to estimate the amount of surface VE oil. Lower total concentration of starch and oil and lower ratio of oil to starch resulted in more stable emulsions, whereas differences in the pH between 3 and 8 had little effect. Free OS content increased with greater particle size and decreased oil load. Increasing the number of passes reduced the initial particle size of the emulsion but increased free OS content.
Characterizing Patients with Chronic Heart Failure in Community Care After Hospitalization: A Potential Role for Ivabradine
Authors: Elder Douglas H. , Mohan Mohapradeep , Cochrane Lynda , Charles Helena , Lang Chim C.
Published: March 2015

Aims

To identify the prevalence and characteristics of recently hospitalized chronic heart failure (CHF) patients in community care who meet the indication for ivabradine.

Methods

A retrospective clinical audit of CHF patients recently hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and subsequently referred to the Tayside Heart Failure Nurse Liaison Service (THFNLS), a Scottish nurse‐led community heart failure liaison service. Inclusion criteria were previous hospitalization with ADHF, subsequent referral to the THFNLS, data for ≥2 nurse visits, and a recorded pulse. The main outcome measure was the proportion of patients who meet the indicated criteria for ivabradine.

Results

In the UK, ivabradine is indicated for CHF with systolic dysfunction in patients in sinus rhythm, with a heart rate ≥75 bpm, and NYHA class II–class IV. After up‐titration of a beta‐blocker, 19.0% of patients in the full dataset (158 of 830) met the indication for ivabradine at the last visit. Of these “ivabradine‐suitable” patients, 101 of 158 (63.9%) received bisoprolol “at any time” during the study period; 20 of 158 (12.7%) achieved the target dose (10 mg daily); 52 of 158 (32.9%) received 5 mg or 7.5 mg daily; and 93 of 158 (58.9%) received <5 mg daily.

Conclusions

In this group of Scottish patients previously hospitalized with ADHF and under the care of a protocol‐driven clinic, 19% met the indication for ivabradine and may benefit from the increased control of CHF that ivabradine can provide. Among these “ivabradine‐suitable” patients, <15% achieved the target dose of beta‐blockers, illustrating the substantial clinical need for a well‐tolerated and effective therapy such as ivabradine.
On the Conditional Success of International Conditionality Policies (With Evidence from Greece and Spain During the Eurozone Crisis)
Authors: Karagiannis Yannis , Konstantinidis Nikitas
Published: March 2015

Does conditionality always work? If, as it appears, the answer is negative, why do certain externally incentivized countries comply while others do not? To answer these questions we rely on cognitive psychology and dynamic Bayesian principal‐agent games to develop a theory of downwards‐sloping long‐run supply curves. More specifically, we explain how, when applied to an intrinsically motivated agent, external incentives imposed by an informed principal carry an informative signal which in the long run crowds out the agent's intrinsic motivation. To probe the plausibility of the ensuing hypotheses we compare the reformist pace of two centre‐left governments of financially distressed Southern European countries during the eurozone crisis, namely Greece's Papandreou administration and Spain's Rodríguez Zapatero administration. Based on the analysis of more than 400 newspaper reports and 12 expert interviews we find positive support for our theory: while Papandreou quickly admitted the need for far‐reaching and politically costly reforms, Zapatero initially delayed all kinds of measures. But as European incentives kicked in, the strongly incentivized Papandreou went into irreversible reform fatigue, while the softly incentivized Zapatero dedicated his last months in office to bring about unprecedented reforms. We conclude with some indications about future research in this direction.
The Value of Political Ties Versus Market Credibility: Evidence from Corporate Scandals in China
Authors: Hung Mingyi , Wong T. J. , Zhang Fang
Published: March 2015

This paper compares the value of political ties and market credibility in China by examining the consequence of corporate scandals. We categorize Chinese corporate scandals by whether the scandal is primarily associated with the destruction of (i) the firm's political networks (political scandals), (ii) the firm's market credibility (market scandals), or (iii) both (mixed scandals). Consistent with our hypothesis that scandals signaling the destruction of political ties are associated with greater losses in firm value than scandals signaling the destruction of market credibility, we find that the stock market reacts more negatively to political and mixed scandals than to market scandals. In addition, the greater negative market reactions associated with political and mixed scandals are primarily driven by firms that rely more on political networks. We also find that, compared to market scandals, political and mixed scandals lead to larger decreases in operating performance, greater reduction in loans from state‐owned banks, and higher departure of political directors.
Making Sense of One Dollar CEO Salaries
Authors: Hamm Sophia J. W. , Jung Michael J. , Wang Clare
Published: March 2015

We examine the determinants and outcomes of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) accepting a $1 salary, a compensation practice that occurs relatively frequently in high‐profile firms and is debated by regulators, investors, and the media. Using a hand‐collected sample of 93 CEOs from 91 firms between 1993 and 2011, we examine the triggers preceding the $1 salary decision, the factors associated with the decision, subsequent stock returns, and the outcomes for the CEOs. Our evidence is consistent with two explanations for the phenomenon: (i) it is a gesture of sacrifice by CEOs of firms in crisis, and (ii) it is a signal of better future performance by CEOs of growing firms. Our analyses highlight the two different circumstances and shed light on an interesting debate that has thus far been supported only by anecdotal evidence.
SMALL DATA
Authors: Coomber Steve
Published: March 2015

It really is a numbers business
A RISKY APPROACH TO BANK REGULATION
Authors: Coomber Steve
Published: March 2015

New research suggests that we may need to radically rethink banking regulation
HOLD THE FRONT PAGE
Authors: Coomber Steve
Published: March 2015

Research examines whether news releases from corporations can game the investment system
ACHIEVING CHANGE THAT LASTS
Authors: Markides Costas , McGahan Anita
Published: March 2015

True and long‐lasting change only happens if the structure of the underlying system is changed. Costas Markides and Anita McGahan explain why.
PLAYING FOR THE WINNING TEAM
Authors: Dewan Torun , Myatt David P
Published: March 2015

What are the constituents of a winning team? Research by Torun Dewan and David P Myatt provides a unique perspective
HAIER CALLING
Authors: Crainer Stuart
Published: March 2015

The world's biggest white goods manufacturer has become a benchmark of innovative management. Stuart Crainer ventures inside the world of Haier
OFFICE SPACE
Authors: Correia Tiago
Published: March 2015

Tiago Correia, of the growth consultancy Bow & Arrow, opens his office doors
WHY SHOULD ANYONE BANK WITH YOU?
Authors: MacDonald Andrew
Published: March 2015

From increased complexity in compliance to intensified competition, banks face numerous challenges. None is more pressing than achieving excellence in the client experience. Bankers, says Andrew MacDonald, need to revisit a simple but far reaching question: why should anyone bank with you?
THE CONDITIONING TENSE
Authors: Peltin Scott
Published: March 2015

Scott Peltin calls on executives to spend time conditioning themselves for peak performance
SUCCESS
Authors: Syed Nayeem
Published: March 2015

Want to create strategies that work? Nayeem Syed champions the power of a single, potent question: is the why greater than the how?
ON THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS
Authors: Khurana Ajeet
Published: March 2015

Ajeet Khurana is an author, mentor and one of India's best known angel investors. He surveys the art of angel investing and India's nascent entrepreneurial world
Emergency Physician Perceptions of Medically Unnecessary Advanced Diagnostic Imaging
Authors: Kanzaria Hemal K. , Hoffman Jerome R. , Probst Marc A. , Caloyeras John P. , Berry Sandra H. , Brook Robert H.
Published: March 2015

Objectives

The objective was to determine emergency physician (EP) perceptions regarding 1) the extent to which they order medically unnecessary advanced diagnostic imaging, 2) factors that contribute to this behavior, and 3) proposed solutions for curbing this practice.

Methods

As part of a larger study to engage physicians in the delivery of high‐value health care, two multispecialty focus groups were conducted to explore the topic of decision‐making around resource utilization, after which qualitative analysis was used to generate survey questions. The survey was extensively pilot‐tested and refined for emergency medicine (EM) to focus on advanced diagnostic imaging (i.e., computed tomography [CT] or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). The survey was then administered to a national, purposive sample of EPs and EM trainees. Simple descriptive statistics to summarize physician responses are presented.

Results

In this study, 478 EPs were approached, of whom 435 (91%) completed the survey; 68% of respondents were board‐certified, and roughly half worked in academic emergency departments (EDs). Over 85% of respondents believe too many diagnostic tests are ordered in their own EDs, and 97% said at least some (mean = 22%) of the advanced imaging studies they personally order are medically unnecessary. The main perceived contributors were fear of missing a low‐probability diagnosis and fear of litigation. Solutions most commonly felt to be “extremely” or “very” helpful for reducing unnecessary imaging included malpractice reform (79%), increased patient involvement through education (70%) and shared decision‐making (56%), feedback to physicians on test‐ordering metrics (55%), and improved education of physicians on diagnostic testing (50%).

Conclusions

Overordering of advanced imaging may be a systemic problem, as many EPs believe a substantial proportion of such studies, including some they personally order, are medically unnecessary. Respondents cited multiple complex factors with several potential high‐yield solutions that must be addressed simultaneously to curb overimaging.
The health consequences of injecting tablet preparations: foreign body pulmonary embolization and pulmonary hypertension among deceased injecting drug users
Authors: Darke Shane , Duflou Johan , Torok Michelle
Published: March 2015

Aims

To determine: (1) the characteristics of cases presenting to the Department of Forensic Medicine Sydney (1997–2013) with foreign body pulmonary embolization; (2) the extent and locations of embolization; and (3) the relationship between extent, and use of other injection sites, with pathology.

Design

Analysis of consecutive case presentations with foreign body pulmonary embolization.

Setting/participants

Sydney, Australia, with a total of 373 cases (271 males, 102 females).

Measurements

Full autopsy reports, microscopy of tissue samples, and full toxicology. The extent and locations of embolization, inflammatory responses, clinical signs of pulmonary hypertension and signs of right‐sided heart failure were examined.

Findings

Cases increased from three (1997) to 58 (2013). In 43.4%, foreign particles were moderate–abundant in extent. Cases with moderate–abundant emboli were more likely to have injection sites other than the cubital fossa [odds ratio (OR) = 2.4]. In 6.9% of cases emboli were also found in other organs. A foreign body inflammatory response was present in 45.3%, vascular scarring in 8.0%, signs of pulmonary hypertension in 10.2% and signs of right‐sided heart pathology in 5.4%. Cases with moderate–abundant deposition were more likely to have emboli in other organs (OR = 7.9), a foreign body inflammatory response (OR = 5.3), vascular scarring (OR = 3.4), signs of pulmonary hypertension (OR = 5.4) and right‐sided heart pathology (OR = 5.3).

Conclusions

Cases of foreign body pulmonary embolization (resulting from injecting crushed tablets meant for oral use, such as benzodiazepines and pharmaceutical opioids) in Sydney, Australia increased markedly from 1997 to 2013. In a large proportion there were clinical consequences. More extensive embolization was associated with higher levels of pulmonary hypertension and right‐sided heart pathology.
4‐Fluoroamphetamine in the Netherlands: more than a one‐night stand
Authors: Linsen Felix , Koning Raoul P. J. , van Laar Margriet , Niesink Raymond J. M. , Koeter Maarten W. , Brunt Tibor M.
Published: March 2015

Aims

To investigate the temporal pattern of appearance of a new psychoactive substance (4‐fluoroamphetamine) on the Dutch drug market, as well as its patterns of use and effects.

Design

Data from the Drug Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) was used to investigate the emergence of 4‐fluoroamphetamine on the Dutch drug market. An on‐line questionnaire was used to study its patterns of use and effects.

Setting

Dutch drug‐related websites and social media.

Participants

A convenience sample of 249 life‐time 4‐fluoroamphetamine users was recruited through the internet.

Measurements

Samples containing 4‐fluoroamphetamine were extracted from the DIMS database for further investigation. Patterns of use, settings of use and the subjective effects of 4‐fluoroamphetamine, amphetamine and 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) were investigated with the on‐line questionnaire.

Findings

4‐Fluoroamphetamine was first encountered on the Dutch drug market, sold mainly as amphetamine or ecstasy (MDMA), between 2007 and 2009. These misrepresented drug samples declined when the MDMA and amphetamine markets recovered after a period of shortage, whereas purposefully bought 4‐fluoroamphetamine samples showed an increase. Survey results showed that 4‐fluoroamphetamine is used predominantly [77.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 72.0–82.3] for its specific effects, rather than its legal status (17.7%, 95% CI = 10.7–22.1). The subjective effects of 4‐fluoroamphetamine were compared with those of amphetamine and MDMA. Subjective effect scores of 4‐fluoroamphetamine ranged between those of amphetamine and MDMA.

Conclusions

The stimulant 4‐fluoroamphetamine is increasingly popular in the Netherlands, which might be due to its subjective effects profile, which lies intermediate between amphetamine and MDMA.
Effects of density and predation risk on leaf litter processing by Phylloicus sp.
Authors: Rezende Renan de Souza , Leite Gustavo Figueiredo Marques , De‐Lima Anderson Kennedy Soares , Silva Filho Luis Antonio Braga Da , Chaves Camila Vilarinho Costa , Prette Ana Cecilia Holler , Freitas June Spriger , Gonçalves Júnior José Francisco
Published: March 2015

The allochthonous detritus that accumulates in the substrate of streams is used by aquatic invertebrate shredders for shelter and food. Shredders are considered rare in tropical systems, and little information is available about the role of density effects and predation risk (associated with the perception of predators by prey) in relationship to the resources used by these organisms. The aim of this study was to examine experimentally the effects of increased predation risk and of the density of Phylloicus sp. (i.e. of two types of biological relationships) on the processing of the leaf litter of Nectandra megapotamica (Spreng.) Mez. Phylloicus sp. can use leaf litter for case building and as a food resource. The density effect was measured using four treatments that differed only in the number of individuals (one, two, three or four). A second experiment with five treatments was performed to test the risk of non‐lethal predation on detritus consumption (shelter and food) by Phylloicus sp. (T1: Caddisfly; T2: Mayfly; T3: Astyanax sp./fish; T4: Damselflies; T5: Stonefly). A single Phylloicus and one other organism (a potential predator blocked with 0.5 mm fine mesh) were placed in each tank (0.002 m3 volume). We observed a negative effect of density on per capita litter consumption (experiment 1). The low density of Phylloicus may be a natural factor that decreases intraspecific competition. In the presence of fish, Phylloicus showed the lowest amount of litter processing observed in the experiment, indicating top‐down control (experiment 2). In treatments that involved the presence of invertebrates (non‐predatory and predatory), Phylloicus showed the highest amount and an intermediate amount of leaf litter processing, respectively (experiment 2). This observation also suggests that the predation effect is more probable for specific predator–prey pairs. Population density and predation risk in Phylloicus may be important factors controlling leaf litter processing.
Socio‐contextual factors are linked to differences in the course of problem drinking in midlife: A discordant‐twin study
Authors: M. Blonigen Daniel , Burroughs Thomas , Randolph Haber Jon , Jacob Theodore
Published: March 2015

Background

Course of alcohol use disorders (AUD) during midlife is understudied, and most research designs are unable to attribute an unambiguous environmental explanation to observed findings.

Objectives & Methods

Test whether socio‐contextual factors are linked to differences in the course of problem drinking during midlife. Participants were 163 monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs concordant for a history of AUD but discordant on problem drinking in the past 10 years.

Results

Frequency of drinking with spouse, and peer and emotional problems were associated with discordance.

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

Socio‐contextual factors are linked to differences in course of problem drinking in midlife and are not confounded by genetic effects. (Am J Addict 2015;24:193–196)
Precautionary allergen labelling: perspectives from key stakeholder groups
Authors: DunnGalvin A. , Chan C.‐H. , Crevel R. , Grimshaw K. , Poms R. , Schnadt S. , Taylor S. L. , Turner P. , Allen K. J. , Austin M. , Baka A. , Baumert J. L. , Baumgartner S. , Beyer K. , Bucchini L. , Fernández‐Rivas M. , Grinter K. , Houben G. F. , Hourihane J. , Kenna F. , Kruizinga A. G. , Lack G. , Madsen C. B. , Clare Mills E. N. , Papadopoulos N. G. , Alldrick A. , Regent L. , Sherlock R. , Wal J.‐M. , Roberts G.
Published: March 2015

Precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) was introduced by the food industry to help manage and communicate the possibility of reaction from the unintended presence of allergens in foods. However, in its current form, PAL is counterproductive for consumers with food allergies. This review aims to summarize the perspectives of all the key stakeholders (including clinicians, patients, food industry and regulators), with the aim of defining common health protection and risk minimization goals. The lack of agreed reference doses has resulted in inconsistent application of PAL by the food industry and in levels of contamination that prompt withdrawal action by enforcement officers. So there is a poor relationship between the presence or absence of PAL and actual reaction risk. This has led to a loss of trust in PAL, reducing the ability of consumers with food allergies to make informed choices. The result has been reduced avoidance, reduced quality of life and increased risk‐taking by consumers who often ignore PAL. All contributing stakeholders agree that PAL must reflect actual risk. PAL should be transparent and consistent with rules underpinning decision‐making process being communicated clearly to all stakeholders. The use of PAL should indicate the possible, unintended presence of an allergen in a consumed portion of a food product at or above any proposed action level. This will require combined work by all stakeholders to ensure everyone understands the approach and its limitations. Consumers with food allergy then need to be educated to undertake individualized risk assessments in relation to any PAL present.