bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure of 2,4-diamino-7-(hydroxymethyl)pteridin-1-ium nitrate
Authors: Sivajeyanthi Palaniyappan , Balasubramani Kasthuri , Jeevaraj Muthaiah , Thanigaimani Kaliyaperumal , Khalib Nuridayanti Che , Razak Ibrahim Abdul
Published: May 2015

In the crystal of the title molecular salt, C7H9N6O+·NO3−, the cations and anions are linkedviaN—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming sheets parallel to (100). Within the sheets there are numerous hydrogen-bonding ring motifs.
Human resource risk and succession planning
Authors: Staehr A Edward
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the benefits of utilizing teams of personal and financial consultants to work with farm families in New York State on issues affecting farm business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Program experience in implementing an integrated consulting model provides a framework for illustrating how such a model may be utilized on farms and other family businesses for succession planning.

Findings

– An integrated personal and financial consulting model is effective in producing lasting business results such as business growth, improved profitability, and reduced interpersonal conflict on farms in New York State.

Originality/value

– Farmers employ a multitude of risk management tools, such as crop insurance, to reduce various types of risk affecting their farm businesses in New York State, but an area often overlooked by farmers is managing human resource risk, namely succession risk. As the average age of farmers in the USA continues to increase, employing new tools and strategies is critical when developing an effective business succession plan for farmers.
Robust correntropy ICA based blind channel estimation for MIMO-OFDM systems
Authors: Alaghbari Khaled Abdulaziz , Siong Lim Heng , Tan Alan W.C.
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a robust correntropy assisted blind channel estimator for multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) for improved channel gains estimation and channel ordering and sign ambiguities resolution in non-Gaussian noise channel.

Design/methodology/approach

– The correntropy independent component analysis with L1-norm cost function is used for blind channel estimation. Then a correntropy-based method is formulated to resolve the sign and order ambiguities of the channel estimates.

Findings

– Simulation study on Gaussian noise scenario shows that the proposed method achieves almost the same performance as the conventional L2-norm based method. However, in non-Gaussian noise scenarios performance of the proposed method significantly outperforms the conventional and other popular estimators in terms of mean square error (MSE). To solve the ordering and sign ambiguities problems, an auto-correntropy-based method is proposed and compared with the extended cross-correlation-based method. Simulation study shows improved performance of the proposed method in terms of MSE.

Originality/value

– This paper presents for the first time, a correntropy-based blind channel estimator for MIMO-OFDM as well as simulated comparison results with traditional correlation-based methods in non-Gaussian noise environment.
Measuring the quality of banking services targeting student population
Authors: Ozretic-Dosen Durdana , Zizak Ines
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the quality of the banking services in a rather neglected context, i.e. quality of banking services that target the student population. The goals were: to highlight the importance of student population as in the long run profitable market for personal banking services, to determine whether there are significant differences between student perceptions of and expectations from the quality of banking services as well as which dimensions students find to be the most significant and which the least significant in assessing the quality of banking services.

Design/methodology/approach

– A summary of the theoretical framework is followed by the results of a research using the SERVQUAL instrument.

Findings

– Despite a steady increase in the number of students over the past few years, bank managers have not yet realized their full potential. The results point to a gap in the quality of the banking services on all five dimensions of the SERVQUAL model. It is necessary to improve the banking service on all dimensions, and particularly with regard to “reliability,” “assurance” and “responsiveness,” in which the gap was observed to be the largest.

Research limitations/implications

– The research used a convenient sample. Therefore, it is impossible to generalize research findings based on the data processed, but only point to their being indicative.

Practical implications

– Banks should by no means neglect the student population that possesses information knowledge, essential for the use of modern banking services. Bank managers should pay more attention to the needs of this growing segment of potential highly profitable customers.

Originality/value

– The necessity to provide a more flexible response to the needs and requirements of students as a target market segment is discussed, along with potential importance of this segment for banks’ future business operations.
Income return versus capital appraisal for real estate funds during the financial crisis
Authors: Mattarocci Gianluca , Siligardos Georgios
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The overall performance of real estate funds can be ascribed to capital appreciation and/or income return. The Italian property funds market has grown significantly over the past few years; however, little is known about the key drivers of property fund performance. The purpose of this paper is to measure the impact of two sources of funds’ performance and identify their relevance during the financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper considers the Italian market in the last decade and analyses the annual reports of public real estate funds, separating appraisal returns from income returns. By considering a wide time horizon, it evaluates if the roles of income returns and capital gains with respect to overall performance are more or less influenced by fund characteristics, such as asset diversification, concentration, and leverage.

Findings

– The contribution of income return and capital growth are not strictly related to the overall performance of Italian real estate funds, with a significantly lower correlation during the global financial crisis. Furthermore, the main drivers of the two income sources are not strictly comparable.

Originality/value

– The paper presents the first analysis on the source of income return for the Italian real estate funds and it represents one of the few studies that considers the effect of the financial crisis on European indirect real estate investments, capital appreciation and income return.
Does gender specific decision making exist?
Authors: Alonso-Almeida María del Mar , Bremser Kerstin
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore management decisions during the ongoing financial crisis from a gender perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

– An empirical analysis was conducted using a sample of 132 personal surveys involving managers of independent small travel agencies. Findings were extracted using a logistic regression analysis.

Findings

– This paper finds some significant gender differences in strategic management decisions in crisis times and in strategic choices. Nevertheless, no differences were found in organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

– The research covers travel agencies in Madrid, Spain. Thus, findings might be restricted to this specific sector or geographic area.

Practical implications

– The findings provide useful empirical evidence for leadership development and strategic management that will enhance leadership effectiveness from a gender viewpoint and facilitate advances in women business management theory.

Originality/value

– This paper compares strategic managerial decisions in crisis times from a gender viewpoint and analyzes their impact on performance. According to our knowledge no study has currently been found that analyzes decision making in companies led by women and contrasts their actions to those taken by men faced with an identical situation.
An empirical investigation of the enablers in humanitarian supply chain management in India
Authors: Kabra Gaurav , Ramesh A.
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the perception of stakeholders, i.e. disaster victims, volunteers and managers, who were involved in relief activities, toward the enablers in humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) with special emphasis on heart wrenching and deadliest disaster, that occurred in the Uttarakhand (a northern state in India) on June 14, 2013.

Design/methodology/approach

– A detailed case study of the recently disaster, that occurred in the Uttarakhand has been carried out to investigate the enablers associated with the HSCM and the data were collected from published literature and newspaper articles, semi-structured interviews with academic experts and practitioners, hypothesis were formulated and tested using analysis of variance.

Findings

– The findings of the study indicate that, there is no significant difference in the perception of disaster victims, volunteers and managers toward the enablers in HSCM in India. There is a strong need for more effective and efficient monitoring of over-exploitation of the mountainous regions, Geographic Information Systems mapping of the state and a separate disaster communication network.

Research limitations/implications

– The scope of study is limited to flash floods that occurred in the Uttarakhand. Extending the research on other types of disaster could be considered as the scope for further research.

Practical implications

– The paper investigates some of the enablers of HSCM and discusses some of the emerging issues and lessons learned from the disaster that occurred in the Uttarakhand, in managing future disasters in India and the other world.

Originality/value

– This paper presents the first attempt in India with its combination of field-based qualitative research and survey analysis to investigate the enablers of HSCM in India.
Perceived environmental turbulence, strategic orientations and new product success
Authors: Zhang Jing , Jiang Yanxin , Zhu Miao
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the differences of relationship among perceived environmental turbulence, strategic orientations and new product success in export market by company size.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire survey was conducted among 281 small and medium-sized and 222 large manufacturing exporters in mainland China. Research hypotheses were examined by structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

– The research results show that: market orientation (MO) and innovation orientation (IO) are not significantly different between large exporters and SMEs, while new product performance of SMEs is significantly less satisfactory; for large exporters, perceived environmental uncertainties in terms of technology and customer demands are critical driving factors of strategic orientations, while environmental dynamics in terms of technology and competition have significant impacts upon strategic orientations among SMEs; while MO plays a stronger effect in product innovation performance for large exporters, IO has equally important impact upon new product success across SMEs and large exporters.

Originality/value

– The authors extend the established theory about industry environment, strategic orientations and product innovation performance from companies in developed countries and domestic market to firms from developing countries who are operating in export markets. Furthermore, it is first kind of study that comparatively examines the relationship among environmental turbulence, strategic orientations and product innovation performance by company size.
Beyond the c-suite: corporate communications’ power and influence
Authors: Neill Marlene S.
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine what formal executive-level committees senior corporate communications executives are members of and what value they contribute.

Design/methodology/approach

– The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 30 senior executives at four US companies who discussed corporate communications’ involvement in eight strategic issues.

Findings

– The focus on the C-Suite is too narrow as strategic issues arise at the division level and in executive-level committees. Corporate communications is often in competition with marketing for influence and coveted seats in the board rooms. Corporate communications is most likely to be included in decision making when issues are perceived as falling within their domain, when the function has support from the CEO, when working in industries with frequent crises or those focussing on reputation management, and in companies that utilize integrated decision teams.

Practical implications

– Corporate communicators need to enhance their research skills and educate other colleagues about their domain beyond media relations.

Originality/value

– Study includes the perspectives of executives outside of corporate communications such as marketing, sales, human resources, investor relations, finance, and operations as well as division presidents.
Contribution of cost-benefit analysis to optimization of eco-design plants
Authors: Mellal Leila , Djebabra Mébarek
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to interest the eco-design of the systems. This interest is justified by the need to reducing the environmental impacts in phase of the design plant.

Design/methodology/approach

– It consists of a proposal for a combined methodology of the industrial systems eco-design. This methodology is based on the simultaneous use of a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) method and dependability tools.

Findings

– In the developed approach, we use the dependability tools for modeling of the functional behavior of the industrial systems and the CBA method for optimization of the industrial system constraints which are in fact environmental constraints.

Practical implications

– Methodology suggested constitutes an invaluable help to ensure a better integration of the environment in production.

Originality/value

– Methodology suggested is tallied by the CBA method, which makes it possible to manage the conflict relation between production and environmental protection.
Grain refinement of C-Mn steel through thermo-mechanical processing
Authors: Rethinam Archana , Shivakumar Vinoo D. , Harish L. , Abhishek M.B. , Ramana G.V. , R. Madhusudana , Sah R. , Manjini S.
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The application of new technologies requires, however, modern rolling mills. Indeed, in manufacturing plants of older types, strict compliance with the developed rolling regimes is not always feasible. Improving the mechanical properties in such cases is possible only by means of cooling. Compressive deformation behavior of carbon–manganese (C-Mn) grade has been investigated at temperatures ranging from 800-900°C and strain rate from 0.01-50 s−1 on Gleeble-3800, a thermo-mechanical simulator. Simulation studies have been conducted mainly to observe the microstructural changes for various strain rate and deformation temperatures at a constant strain of 0.5 and a cooling rate of 20°C s−1.

Design/methodology/approach

– The project begins with simulation of a hot rolling condition using the thermo-mechanical simulator; this was followed by microstructural examination and identification of phases present by using an optical microscope for hot-rolled coil and simulated samples; grain size measurement and size distribution studies; and optimization of finishing temperature, coiling temperature and cooling rate by mimicking plant processing parameters to improve the mechanical properties.

Findings

– As the strain rate and temperature increase, pearlite banding decreases gradually and finally gets completely eliminated, thereby improving the mechanical properties. True stress–strain curves were plotted to extrapolate the effect of strain-hardening and strain rate sensitivity on austenite (γ) and austenite–ferrite (γ-a) regions. To validate the effect of strain rate and temperature over the grain size, the hardness of simulated samples was measured using the universal hardness tester and the corresponding tensile strength was found from the standard hardness chart.

Practical implications

– The results of the study carried out have projected a new technology of thermo-mechanical simulation for the studied C-Mn grade. These results were used to optimize the plant processing parameter like finishing and coiling temperature and finishing stands strain rate.

Originality/value

– By controlling the hot rolling conditions like finishing, coiling temperature and cooling rate, structures differing in mechanical properties can be obtained for the same material. Accurate understanding of a structure being formed when different temperatures are applied enables the control of the process that assures intended structures and mechanical properties are achieved.
Research study from industry-university collaboration on “No Fault Found” events
Authors: Khan Samir
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the successes and barriers from an industry-university partnership on studying the impact of No Fault Found (NFF) events. As a consequence, various opportunities are explored to engage with industry to investigate the problem. A comprehensive training is also outlined to ensure that experience and troubleshooting techniques can be disseminated as guidelines across businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study was performed by Cranfield University in collaboration with industrial partners on identifying the impact of the NFF problem within engineering services. This includes discussions with maintenance engineers, outcomes from a symposium organised specifically on NFF and the authors’ own experiences with the issue.

Findings

– The paper discusses the continuing serious problem with NFF events found at various maintenance echelons, and suggests a need for formal postgraduate training to be taught within the field of maintenance management. This includes not just technical issues, but also encompassing organisational structures, cultures and behaviours. Since focusing only on one issue at a time does not suffice in dealing with the NFF problem, an integrated approach is required for modern maintenance services and operations.

Research limitations/implications

– Higher education learning outcomes have been outlined for competent engineering personnel, to broaden their understanding on the subject area. This is based on discussions with industrial collaborators and recently published material.

Practical implications

– This paper emphasises the importance of the breath of interaction channels and demonstrates the opportunities for effective knowledge exchange by using the activities at Cranfield University to demonstrate their usefulness. The arguments clearly lead to the necessity of academia in this type of industrial problem. However, the presence of a university in this case is not as the sole problem solver, but the rather to act as a collaborative medium between various other outlets. Further ideas proposed, such as constructing guidelines for industries in handling NFF problems and benchmarking tools, can serve as real products that can be benefit industries. The study also aims to promote best practice in the field of maintenance management and outlines the foundations for NFF training material.

Originality/value

– The originality of the paper is that it presents a structured methodology for engaging with industry. It also outlines a curriculum for NFF training. It essentially serves as a road-map for research and offers a detailed account of areas that need to be taken into account in order to reduce the likely event of NFF.
Mechanization of static mechanical systems inspection planning process
Authors: Ratnayake R.M. Chandima
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review the evolution of inspection and maintenance (I&M) practices used for aging and newly built oil and gas (O&G) facilities. It also proposes a framework and an approach for mechanizing inspection planning to perform preventive maintenance (PM) activities, taking technical condition (TC) and relative degradation (RD) into consideration.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper systematically collects, categorizes, and analyzes the published literature of both researchers and practitioners. It also utilizes industrial experience that has been accrued and utilized from inspection planning practices for static mechanical equipment on aging O&G production plants.

Findings

– The paper defines significant issues in I&M of O&G assets related to: different philosophies; stakeholders’ requirements trade-off; dependability and asset deterioration challenges; items interacting with inspection planning mechanization processes and I&M optimization approaches. A framework is identified to mechanize the inspection planning process in order to reduce the effect arising from human involvement, while improving the effective utilization of data from different sources. The suggested approach improves the quality of an inspection program, while minimizing the variability and cost to the engineering contractors as well as to the owners of O&G facilities.

Practical implications

– The mechanization of inspection planning (MIP) is vital to have inspection programs with uniform quality. The currently employed inspection practices face challenges in maintaining uniform quality from one inspection program to another due to the variability present in the planning process, especially among the different inspection planning engineers. The suggested fuzzy logic-based MIP supports the minimization of the variability and increases the quality of inspection programs.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a comprehensive review of research contributions and industrial development efforts. These will be useful to the life cycle stakeholders in both academia and industry in understanding the inspection planning problem and solution space within the O&G asset I&M context.
Evidence for a new regional NW–SE fault and crustal structure in Tunisia derived from gravity data
Authors: Arfaoui Mohamed , Reid Alan , Inoubli Mohamed Hedi
Published: May 2015

A new Tunisian gravity map interpretation based on the Gaussian filtered residual anomaly, total horizontal gradient, and Moho discontinuity morphology established from gravity data exhibit a new regional northwest–southeast fault extending from Eastern Kairouan to Ghardimaou (Algeria–Tunisia Boundary). It presents a horizontal gradient maximum lineament that terminates the north–south Jurassic structures in the Kairouan plain. Further, this interpretation reveals other known fault systems and crustal structures in Tunisia. The new regional northwest–southeast fault constitutes with the north–south axis and Gafsa–Jefara faults the deepest faults coinciding with the Moho flexures, which had an important role in their initiation. They constitute the border intra‐continental crust faults of the Mesozoic rift. The newly recognized deep fault has critical implications for mineral and petroleum perspectives.
Identifying educational priorities for occupational therapy students to prepare for mental health practice in Australia and New Zealand: Opinions of practising occupational therapists
Authors: Scanlan Justin Newton , Pépin Geneviève , Haracz Kirsti , Ennals Priscilla , Webster Jayne S. , Meredith Pamela J. , Batten Rachel , Bowman Siann , Bonassi Marianne , Bruce Rosie
Published: May 2015

Background

The effective preparation of occupational therapy students for mental health practice is critical to facilitate positive consumer outcomes, underpin optimal practice and support new graduates' professional identity. This project was established to determine a set of ‘educational priorities’ for occupational therapy students to prepare them for current (and future) entry‐level practice in mental health, from the perspective of mental health occupational therapists in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods

The study included two phases. In Phase One, participants identified what they considered to be important educational priorities for occupational therapy students to prepare them for practice in mental health. For Phase Two, an ‘expert panel’ was assembled to review and rank these using a Policy Delphi approach.

Results

Eighty‐five participants provided educational priorities in Phase One. These were grouped into a total of 149 educational themes. In Phase Two, the expert panel (consisting of 37 occupational therapists from diverse locations and practice settings) prioritised these themes across three Delphi rounds. A final priority list was generated dividing educational themes into three prioritised categories: 29 ‘Essential’, 25 ‘Important’ and 44 ‘Optional’ priorities. Highest‐ranked priorities were: clinical reasoning, client‐centred practice, therapeutic use of self, functional implications of mental illness, therapeutic use of occupation and mental health fieldwork experience.

Conclusion

The priority list developed as part of this project provides additional information to support the review of occupational therapy curricula across Australia and New Zealand to ensure that new graduates are optimally prepared for mental health practice.
Two Jungs. Apropos a paper by Mark Saban
Authors: Giegerich Wolfgang
Published: May 2015

Jung's idea of the ‘personal equation’ amounts to the reflection that theoretical differences between the psychologies that people teach are rooted in their personalities, in other words, that they are due to the psychology each one ‘has’. This concept also applies to different interpretations of Jung's work. The serious difficulties that Mark Saban has with my psychology are a case in point. Recourse to the concept of the personal equation reveals that Saban has his Jung and I have mine. With his insistence on his Talmudic methodological principle of dream interpretation, that ‘the dream is its own interpretation’, according to Saban Jung means nothing but a rejection of Freudian free association. My Jung goes far beyond that. Jung understands this methodological principle above all in terms of what he calls ‘circumambulation’. The main part of this paper is devoted to an elucidation of what circumambulation involves as a mode of dream interpretation. The paper concludes with the distinction Jung himself introduced between two types of reading of his work, either as ‘paper’ and ‘dead nostrums’ or as ‘fire and wind’, and pleads for a reconstruction of Jung's psychology as a whole in terms of his most advanced, deepest insights, instead of a dogmatic reading mainly based on the early Jung, a reading for which his later revolutionary insights are at best negligible embellishments.
The impact of mentorship quality on mentors’ personal learning and work–family interface
Authors: Mao Yina , Kwan Ho Kwong , Chiu Randy K , Zhang Xiao
Published: May 2015

The present study represents the first efforts to empirically examine the impact of mentoring on mentors’ work–family interface. Drawing on work–family enrichment theory, this study investigates the impact of mentorship quality perceived by mentors on their personal learning (i.e. relational job learning and personal skill development) and work–family interface (i.e. work–family conflict and work–family enrichment). Results from a two‐phase field survey of 117 mentors inChina indicate that mentorship quality is positively associated with relational job learning but not personal skill development. Relational job learning was found to be positively related to work–family enrichment and negatively related to work–family conflict; it also mediates the relationships of mentorship quality with work–family conflict and work–family enrichment. Meanwhile, personal skill development positively relates to work–family enrichment, but does not relate to work–family conflict. These findings provide evidence that mentoring is beneficial for mentors’ family lives, thereby encouraging senior employees to become mentors.
Decoding the oak genome: public release of sequence data, assembly, annotation and publication strategies
Authors: Plomion Christophe , Aury Jean‐Marc , Amselem Joëlle , Alaeitabar Tina , Barbe Valérie , Belser Caroline , Bergès Hélène , Bodénès Catherine , Boudet Nathalie , Boury Christophe , Canaguier Aurélie , Couloux Arnaud , Da Silva Corinne , Duplessis Sébastien , Ehrenmann François , Estrada‐Mairey Barbara , Fouteau Stéphanie , Francillonne Nicolas , Gaspin Christine , Guichard Cécile , Klopp Christophe , Labadie Karine , Lalanne Céline , Le Clainche Isabelle , Leplé Jean‐Charles , Le Provost Grégoire , Leroy Thibault , Lesur Isabelle , Martin Francis , Mercier Jonathan , Michotey Célia , Murat Florent , Salin Franck , Steinbach Delphine , Faivre‐Rampant Patricia , Wincker Patrick , Salse Jérôme , Quesneville Hadi , Kremer Antoine
Published: May 2015

The 1.5 Gbp/2C genome of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) has been sequenced. A strategy was established for dealing with the challenges imposed by the sequencing of such a large, complex and highly heterozygous genome by a whole‐genome shotgun (WGS) approach, without the use of costly and time‐consuming methods, such as fosmid or BAC clone‐based hierarchical sequencing methods. The sequencing strategy combined short and long reads. Over 49 million reads provided by Roche 454 GS‐FLX technology were assembled into contigs and combined with shorter Illumina sequence reads from paired‐end and mate‐pair libraries of different insert sizes, to build scaffolds. Errors were corrected and gaps filled with Illumina paired‐end reads and contaminants detected, resulting in a total of 17 910 scaffolds (>2 kb) corresponding to 1.34 Gb. Fifty per cent of the assembly was accounted for by 1468 scaffolds (N50 of 260 kb). Initial comparison with the phylogenetically related Prunus persica gene model indicated that genes for 84.6% of the proteins present in peach (mean protein coverage of 90.5%) were present in our assembly. The second and third steps in this project are genome annotation and the assignment of scaffolds to the oak genetic linkage map. In accordance with the Bermuda and Fort Lauderdale agreements and the more recent Toronto Statement, the oak genome data have been released into public sequence repositories in advance of publication. In this presubmission paper, the oak genome consortium describes its principal lines of work and future directions for analyses of the nature, function and evolution of the oak genome.
The impact of sentiment on price discovery
Authors: Coulton Jeffrey J. , Dinh Tami , Jackson Andrew B.
Published: May 2015

We study how investor sentiment affects the speed with which prices reflect information. Price discovery is more timely for firms with greater sensitivity to sentiment, as measured by a sentiment beta. Our research improves our understanding of the price formation process when sentiment is not assumed to be constant. Our research design is novel as it considers a sentiment beta as well as economy‐wide sentiment. This provides more comprehensive evidence on the impact of differing types of sentiment on the price formation process.
Angiogenesis in The Ovary – The Most Important Regulatory Event for Follicle and Corpus Luteum Development and Function in Cow – An Overview
Authors: Berisha B. , Schams D. , Rodler D. , Pfaffl M. W.
Published: May 2015

In the ovary, the development of new capillaries from pre‐existing ones (angiogenesis) is a complex event regulated by numerous local factors. The dominant regulators of angiogenesis in ovarian follicles and corpora lutea are the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), insulin‐like growth factor (IGF), angiopoietin (ANPT) and hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF) family members. Antral follicles in our study were classified according to the oestradiol‐17‐beta (E2) content in follicular fluid (FF) and were divided into five classes (E2 < 0.5, 0.5–5, 5–20, 20–180 and >180 ng/ml FF). The corresponding sizes of follicles were 5–7, 8–10, 10–13, 12–14 and >14 mm, respectively. Follicle tissue was separated in theca interna (TI) and granulosa cells (GC). The corpora lutea (CL) in our study were assigned to the following stages: days 1–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–12 13–16 and >18 of the oestrous cycle and months 1–2, 3–4, 6–7 and >8 of pregnancy. The dominant regulators were measured at mRNA and protein expression levels; mRNA was quantified by RT‐qPCR, hormone concentrations by RIA or EIA and their localization by immunohistochemistry. The highest expression for VEGF‐A, FGF‐2, IGF‐1 and IGF‐2, ANPT‐2/ANPT‐1 and HIF‐1‐alpha was found during final follicle maturation and in CL during the early luteal phase (days 1–4) followed by a lower plateau afterwards. The results suggest the importance of these factors for angiogenesis and maintenance of capillary structures for final follicle maturation, CL development and function.
Performance Federalism and Local Democracy: Theory and Evidence from School Tax Referenda
Authors: Kogan Vladimir , Lavertu Stéphane , Peskowitz Zachary
Published: May 2015

Federal governments are increasingly employing empirical measures of lower‐level government performance to ensure that provincial and local jurisdictions pursue national policy goals. We call this burgeoning phenomenon “performance federalism” and argue that it can distort democratic accountability in lower‐level elections. We estimate the impact of a widely publicized federal indicator of local school district performance—one that we show does not allow voters to draw valid inferences about the quality of local educational institutions—on voter support for school tax levies in a U.S. state uniquely appropriate for this analysis. The results indicate that a signal of poor district performance increases the probability of levy failure, a substantively large and robust effect that disproportionately affects impoverished communities. The analysis employs a number of identification strategies and tests for multiple behavioral mechanisms to support the causal interpretation of these findings.
Ethnography of corporeality: A carnal move in educational technology research
Authors: Enriquez‐Gibson Judith
Published: May 2015

Despite the increasing focus on non‐dualistic and materialist approaches in education technology studies, the materiality of the body has not been adequately examined. Because of the heavy orientation towards affordance, interaction, participation, inclusion and access at the interface or between various spatial and liminal settings, the subject's body has been addressed and analysed as a non‐corporeal construct, primarily at an abstract, theoretical or textual level. This paper intends to complement existing research by proposing a carnal move that would enact an ethnography of corporeality. It will do so by doing two things: first, by drawing from Don Ihde's human–technology relations to foreground the body in technology use; and secondly, by adapting Marcel Mauss's conceptualisation of body techniques for a carnal methodological move in investigating technology‐enhanced learning and digital literacies.
A crisis of visibility: The psychological consequences of false‐positive screening mammograms, an interview study
Authors: Bond Mary , Garside Ruth , Hyde Christopher
Published: May 2015

Objective

To understand the meaning of having a false‐positive screening mammogram.

Design

Qualitative interview study.

Methods

Twenty‐one women, who had experienced false‐positive screening mammograms, took part in semi‐structured interviews that were analysed with Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. This research took place in the United Kingdom.

Results

The analysis revealed a wide range of response to having a false‐positive mammogram, from nonchalance to extreme fear. These reactions come from the potential for the belief that one is healthy to be challenged by being recalled, as the worst is frequently assumed. For most, the image of the lesion on the X‐ray brought the reality of this challenge into sharp focus, as they might soon discover they had breast cancer. Waiting, whether for the appointment, at the clinic or for biopsy results was considered the worst aspect of being recalled. Generally, the uncertainty was quickly resolved with the pronouncement of the ‘all‐clear’, which brought considerable relief and the restoration of belief in the healthy self. However, for some, lack of information, contradictory information, or poor interpersonal communication meant that uncertainty about their health status lingered at least until their next normal screening mammogram. Mammography screening related anxiety lasted for up to 12 years.

Conclusion

Breast cancer screening produces a ‘crisis of visibility’. Accepting the screening invitation is taking a risk that you may experience unnecessary stress, uncertainty, fear, anxiety, and physical pain. Not accepting the invitation is taking a risk that malignant disease will remain invisible.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

More than 50,000 women a year in England have a false‐positive mammogram (FPM).

Having an FPM can cause anxiety compared with a normal mammogram.

The anxiety can last up to 35 months.

What does this study add?

Refocuses attention from the average response found in quantitative studies to the wide range of individual response.

Gives insight into the nature of the anxiety of having FPMs.

Highlights the role of uncertainty in provoking distress from an FPM.
Underwriting suburbanization: The National Housing Act and the Canadian city
Authors: Bélec John
Published: May 2015

An enduring theme in Canadian federal housing policy is promotion of home ownership through state‐supported institutional mortgage finance. This article studies National Housing Act (NHA) mortgage lending that occurred in Vancouver in 1951, at the outset of the post‐war era. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) archival mortgage files, which constitute the data source for this article, have rarely been used in academic scholarship and never previously for study of NHA lending patterns. The objective of this study is twofold: (1) to provide a detailed description of such lending in Vancouver for 1951, identify trends in the data, and make comparisons with the 1951 Census; and (2) evaluate a widespread view in the literature that the NHA promoted post‐war suburbanization. The article also demonstrates the potential utility of this unique data source for the study of Canadian urban geography.
“Don't Cry, You're Not a Baby!”: Emotion, Role and Hierarchy in Korean Language Socialisation Practice
Authors: Ahn Junehui
Published: May 2015

I examine how South Korean children learn culturally specific emotional knowledge, especially affective hierarchy and the association between emotional displays and social roles, through participation in peer talk. An analysis of children's and teachers’ everyday emotional discourses shows that children, rather than passively adopting adult emotional discourses, creatively employ a range of linguistic and communicative features regarding emotions to construct their own culture‐laden emotional world. Findings articulate the role children's peer talk has in cultural reproduction and dynamic aspects of the language socialisation processes.
Immediate Loading of Dental Implants in Edentulous Mandibles by Use of Locator® Attachments or Dolder® Bars: Two‐Year Results from a Prospective Randomized Clinical Study
Authors: Kappel Stefanie , Giannakopoulos Nikolaos Nikitas , Eberhard Lydia , Rammelsberg Peter , Eiffler Constantin
Published: May 2015

Purpose

The study aims to evaluate survival and incidence of complications for pairs of implants placed in the front region of edentulous mandibles and immediately loaded with either bar or Locator attachments.

Materials and Methods

Forty‐six patients with edentulous mandibles (mean age 69.4 years at inclusion in the study; 73.9% male) received two implants in the interforaminal area of the symphysis. Dolder bar or Locator attachments, allocated randomly, were then attached immediately, and both clips and a framework were fastened to the denture by the dental technician within 72 hours.

Results

During the first 3 months of the 2‐year period of observation, eight implants in five patients were lost, and were removed. Survival was 89.1% and 93.5% for the bar and Locator groups, respectively. During the entire period of observation, 38 prosthetic complications required aftercare. Five dentures had to be removed or reworked after implant failure, but no superstructure was lost or had to be remade for prosthetic reasons. Survival of the original dentures was 93.5% and 95.7% for the bar and Locator groups, respectively.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this study, results from immediate loading of two implants in the edentulous mandible with either Locator or bar attachments hardly differed. Prosthetic complications and aftercare measures in the Locator group were frequent but easy to handle. Ease of repair and cleaning, in particular, might be reasons for choosing the single‐attachment system.
Ileostomy closure in an enhanced recovery setting
Authors: Bracey E. , Chave H. , Agombar A. , Sleight S. , Dukes S. , Bryan S. , Branagan G.
Published: May 2015

Aim

Hospital stays of 5 days or more are not uncommon following ileostomy closure, yet within an enhanced recovery programme (ERP) it is possible for patients to be discharged on the first postoperative day following anterior resection. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the introduction of an ERP for ileostomy closure reduced hospital stay without affecting morbidity or readmission rates.

Method

Consecutive patients undergoing elective ileostomy closure from October 2000 to March 2013 were included in this study. The data were collected prospectively into a database. Enhanced recovery was introduced for all elective ileostomy closures in June 2010. Demographic data, length of stay (LOS), readmission, morbidity and mortality were compared between the two groups using the Mann–Whitney U‐test and Fisher's exact test.

Results

One hundred and forty‐five patients underwent elective ileostomy closure during the study period (37 ERP and 108 pre‐ERP). There were no differences between the two groups with respect to demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy, operative time, body mass index, antibiotic use or closure method. Readmission rates (5% vs 6.5%, P = 1.0), morbidity (8% vs 10%, P = 1.0) and mortality (0% vs 0%) were not significantly different. Median (2 vs 4 days, P < 0.0001) and mean (3.4 vs 5.6 days, P = 0.033) LOS were significantly shorter in the ERP group compared with the pre‐ERP group.

Conclusion

An ERP for closure of ileostomy significantly reduces LOS without adverse effects for patients.
If you don't use it you'll likely lose it
Authors: Power Geoffrey A. , Dalton Brian H. , Doherty Timothy J. , Rice Charles L.
Published: May 2015

This article is a commentary on the recently published manuscript by Drey et al. (2014). The age‐related loss of motor units (MU) is an immutable process and understanding the possible role of physical activity in maintaining functional MUs is an important topic. Dysfunctional remodelling of a MU is associated with denervation of the muscle and ultimate death of the spinal motoneurone. Conversely, in cross‐sectional studies, high levels of physical activity in humans report a maintenance in the number of functional MUs in older master runners. However, it seems that only those MUs directly associated with the elevated long‐term physical activity appear to benefit from any exercise‐induced neuroprotective effect.
Comparative Homing Behaviors in Two Species of Crayfish, Fallicambarus Fodiens and Orconectes Rusticus
Authors: Kamran Maryam , Moore Paul A.
Published: May 2015

Homing behaviors are seen across the animal kingdom, with the magnitude and scale of these movements varying to a great degree. Invertebrates, such as crayfish, prove to be excellent models for comparative research, with relatively simple nervous systems that have been extensively studied combined with a rich behavioral repertoire that has been well documented. Here we explore whether two crayfish species (a primary burrower and a tertiary burrower) can home to artificial burrows and if so, whether their homing abilities differ. The two species of crayfish, Orconectes rusticus and Fallicambarus fodiens, were examined for their ability to home to artificial burrows in a laboratory setting. Animals were placed in a homing arena, motivated to search by the presence of food, and subsequently return to the burrows. The movements of each individual crayfish were digitized and analyzed for changes in walking speed, velocity and heading angle relative to burrows, total distance travelled and path turning angles. Crayfish of both species successfully returned home, although F. fodiens had a higher homing success rate than O. rusticus. Detailed kinematic analysis showed that walking speeds almost doubled during homing to burrows and heading angles were significantly closer to zero than on the outward journeys for both species. Path turning angles were significantly lower for O. rusticus than for F. fodiens. These findings indicate that these species of crayfish can successfully home without the visual landmark of burrow chimneys and that the primary burrower (F. fodiens) appears to be more successful with straighter return paths. The differences in these two species to home and the underlying mechanisms of homing may be due to the differences in burrow use with primary burrowers showing more efficient homing than tertiary burrowers.
Forest biomass energy: assessing atmospheric carbon impacts by discounting future carbon flows
Authors: Timmons David S. , Buchholz Thomas , Veeneman Conor H.
Published: May 2015

Although forest biomass energy was long assumed to be carbon neutral, many studies show delays between forest biomass carbon emissions and sequestration, with biomass carbon causing climate change damage in the interim. While some models suggest that these primary biomass carbon effects may be mitigated by induced market effects, for example, from landowner decisions to increase afforestation due to higher biomass prices, the delayed carbon sequestration of biomass energy systems still creates considerable scientific debate (i.e., how to assess effects) and policy debate (i.e., how to act given these effects). Forests can be carbon sinks, but their carbon absorption capacity is finite. Filling the sink with fossil fuel carbon thus has a cost, and conversely, harvesting a forest for biomass energy – which depletes the carbon sink – creates potential benefits from carbon sequestration. These values of forest carbon sinks have not generally been considered. Using data from the 2010 Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences ‘Biomass sustainability and carbon policy study’ and a model of forest biomass carbon system dynamics, we investigate how discounting future carbon flows affects the comparison of biomass energy to fossil fuels in Massachusetts, USA. Drawing from established financial valuation metrics, we calculate internal rates of return (IRR) as explicit estimates of the temporal values of forest biomass carbon emissions. Comparing these IRR to typical private discount rates, we find forest biomass energy to be preferred to fossil fuel energy in some applications. We discuss possible rationales for zero and near‐zero social discount rates with respect to carbon emissions, showing that social discount rates depend in part on expectations about how climate change affects future economic growth. With near‐zero discount rates, forest biomass energy is preferred to fossil fuels in all applications studied. Higher IRR biomass energy uses (e.g., thermal applications) are preferred to lower IRR uses (e.g., electricity generation without heat recovery).