bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can Shareholder Activism Improve Gender Diversity on Corporate Boards?
Authors: Marquardt Carol , Wiedman Christine 
Published: April 2016

AbstractManuscript typeEmpiricalResearch question/issueWe empirically examine the antecedents of shareholder activism related to increasing the gender diversity of corporate boards of directors and whether such activism is an effective mechanism for achieving this goal. Because campaigns for increased gender diversity may be driven by either economic efficiency or social legitimacy concerns, we condition our analysis on activists' motivations for achieving their objectives.Research findings/insightsBased on a sample of US S&P 1500 firms over 1997–2011, we find that female board representation and board independence are negatively associated with the likelihood of being targeted by a shareholder proposal related to gender diversity. We further document that financially motivated activists are more likely to target firms with extremely low female board representation than are socially motivated activists. Targeted firms significantly increase their female board representation in the two‐year period following proposal initiation, relative to that of a matched sample of non‐targeted firms, with no significant differences observed across activist motivations.Theoretical/academic implicationsOur findings provide empirical support for the effectiveness of shareholder activism in shaping corporate governance. Our work also suggests that shareholder activists' underlying motivations are an important conditioning variable in governance research, with both agency theory and institutional theory providing insight into differing motivations.Practitioner/policy implicationsOur findings suggest that shareholder proposals are an effective mechanism for increasing board diversity, irrespective of activist motivations. However, we note that mean female board representation for both targeted and non‐targeted firms remains far below the level of representation sought by various activist groups. For policy‐makers, this suggests that legislative action may be necessary to achieve these corporate board diversity goals in the US.
A method to generate conformal finite‐element meshes from 3D measurements of microstructurally small fatigue‐crack propagation
Authors: Spear A. D. , Hochhalter J. D. , Cerrone A. R. , Li S. F. , Lind J. F. , Suter R. M. , Ingraffea A. R. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIn an effort to reproduce computationally the observed evolution of microstructurally small fatigue cracks (MSFCs), a method is presented for generating conformal, finite‐element (FE), volume meshes from 3D measurements of MSFC propagation. The resulting volume meshes contain traction‐free surfaces that conform to incrementally measured 3D crack shapes. Grain morphologies measured using near‐field high‐energy X‐ray diffraction microscopy are also represented within the FE volume meshes. Proof‐of‐concept simulations are performed to demonstrate the utility of the mesh‐generation method. The proof‐of‐concept simulations employ a crystal‐plasticity constitutive model and are performed using the conformal FE meshes corresponding to successive crack‐growth increments. Although the simulations for each crack increment are currently independent of one another, they need not be, and transfer of material‐state information among successive crack‐increment meshes is discussed. The mesh‐generation method was developed using post‐mortem measurements, yet it is general enough that it can be applied to in‐situ measurements of 3D MSFC propagation.
A multi‐geochronological study of the Hakusan volcano, central Japan
Authors: Hasebe Noriko , Nakano Yasuyuki , Miyamoto Hikaru , Higashino Toshio , Tamura Akihiro , Arai Shoji , Kim Ju‐Yong 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe Hakusan volcano, central Japan, is located in a region where two subducting plates (the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate) overlap near the junction of four plates adjacent to the Japanese Islands (the Pacific Plate, the Philippine Sea Plate, the Eurasia Plate, and the North American Plate). The Hakusan volcano consists of products from four major volcanic episodes: Kagamuro, Ko‐hakusan, and Shin‐Hakusan I and II. To date the eruption events of the Hakusan volcano we applied thermoluminescence and fission track methods. 238U(234U)–230Th disequilibrium and 206Pb/238U methods were applied to date the zircon crystallization ages for estimating the magma residence time before the eruptions. The eruption ages we obtained are ca 250 ka for Kagamuro, ca 100 ka and ca 60 ka for Ko‐Hakusan, ca 50 ka for Shin‐Hakusan I, and <10 ka for Shin‐Hakusan II. They are concordant with previous reports based on K–Ar dating. Some of the pyroclastic rocks, possibly originating from Shin‐Hakusan II activities, are dated to be ca 36 ka or 50 ka, and belong to the Shin‐Hakusan I activity. The zircon crystallization ages show several clusters prior to eruption. The magma residence time was estimated for each volcanic activity by comparing the major crystallization events and eruption ages, and we found a gradual decrease from ca. 500 ky for the Kagamuro activity to ca. 5 ky for the Shin‐Hakusan II activity. This decrease in residence time may be responsible for the decrease in volume of erupted material estimated from the current topography of the region. The scale of volcanic activity, which was deduced from the number of crystallized zircons, is more or less constant throughout the Hakusan volcanic activity. Therefore, the decrease in magma residence time is most likely the result of stress field change.
Elimination of cetirizine following administration of multiple doses to exercised thoroughbred horses
Authors: Knych H. K. , Stanley S. D. , Arthur R. M. , McKemie D. S. 
Published: April 2016

Cetirizine is an antihistamine used in performance horses for the treatment of hypersensitivity reactions and as such a withdrawal time is necessary prior to competition. The objective of the current study was to describe the disposition and elimination of cetirizine following oral administration in order to provide additional serum concentration data upon which appropriate regulatory recommendations can be established. Nine exercised thoroughbred horses were administered 0.4 mg/kg of cetirizine orally BID for a total of five doses. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to drug administration and at various times postadministration. Serum cetirizine concentrations were determined and selected pharmacokinetic parameters determined. The serum elimination half‐life was 5.83 ± 0.841 h. Average serum cetirizine concentrations were still above the LOQ of the assay (0.05 ng/mL) at 48 h (final sample collected) postadministration of the final dose.
Individualized Dosing of Oral Oxybutynin for the Treatment of Primary Focal Hyperhidrosis in Children and Teenagers
Authors: del Boz Javier , Millán‐Cayetano José Francisco , Blázquez‐Sánchez Nuria , de Troya Magdalena 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackground/ObjectivesOral anticholinergic drugs, such as oxybutynin, are often used in the treatment of hyperhidrosis, but few studies have focused on dosing strategies for children. The objective was to assess the effectiveness and safety of individualized dosing regimens of oral oxybutynin for treating primary focal hyperhidrosis (PFH) in children and teenagers.MethodsA prospective study was performed including patients who initiated treatment for hyperhidrosis between November 2011 and November 2014. Response to treatment and adverse effects were evaluated using the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale at baseline and at 3 and 12 months.ResultsOf 16 patients included in the study, 15 (93.8%) had responded to treatment at the 3‐month follow‐up (62.5% with excellent response). At the 12‐month follow‐up, the 11 patients who continued the treatment were still responding (63.6% with excellent response). Adverse effects were reported for 68.8% of the patients at 3 months and 54.5% at 12 months, with a predominance of oropharyngeal xerosis. No serious adverse effects were observed.ConclusionDose individualization of oral oxybutynin according to clinical response and tolerance observed in each patient is a useful management strategy in children and teenagers.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Giant Sea Perch Iridovirus in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Authors: Wen Chiu-Ming , Hong Jiann-Ruey 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT

We report here the complete genome sequence of a megalocytivirus strain, GSIV-K1, isolated from a farmed giant sea perch (
Lates calcarifer
) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. GSIV-K1 causes mortality in farmed marine fish, including giant sea perch and groupers. The genome sequence is nearly identical to the genome of the orange-spotted grouper iridovirus.
β1-Blockade increases maximal apnea duration in elite breath-hold divers
Authors: Hoiland Ryan L. , Ainslie Philip N. , Bain Anthony R. , MacLeod David B. , Stembridge Mike , Drvis Ivan , Madden Dennis , Barak Otto , MacLeod Douglas M. , Dujic Zeljko 
Published: April 2016

We hypothesized that the cardioselective β1-adrenoreceptor antagonist esmolol would improve maximal apnea duration in elite breath-hold divers. In elite national-level divers ( n = 9), maximal apneas were performed in a randomized and counterbalanced order while receiving either iv esmolol (150 μg·kg−1·min−1) or volume-matched saline (placebo). During apnea, heart rate (ECG), beat-by-beat blood pressure, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were measured (finger photoplethysmography). Myocardial oxygen consumption (MV̇o2) was estimated from rate pressure product. Cerebral blood flow through the internal carotid (ICA) and vertebral arteries (VA) was assessed using Duplex ultrasound. Apnea duration improved in the esmolol trial when compared with placebo (356 ± 57 vs. 323 ± 61 s, P < 0.01) despite similar end-apnea peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation (71.8 ± 10.3 vs. 74.9 ± 9.5%, P = 0.10). The HR response to apnea was reduced by esmolol at 10–30% of apnea duration, whereas MAP was unaffected. Esmolol reduced SV (main effect, P < 0.05) and CO (main effect; P < 0.05) and increased TPR (main effect, P < 0.05) throughout apnea. Esmolol also reduced MV̇o2 throughout apnea (main effect, P < 0.05). Cerebral blood flow through the ICA and VA was unchanged by esmolol at baseline and the last 30 s of apnea; however, global cerebral blood flow was reduced in the esmolol trial at end-apnea ( P < 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that, in elite breath-hold divers, apnea breakpoint is improved by β1-blockade, likely owing to an improved total body oxygen sparring through increased centralization of blood volume (↑TPR) and reduced MV̇o2. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The governing bodies for international apnea competition, the Association Internationale pour le Développment de l’Apnée and La Confédération Mondaile des Activités Subaquatiques, have banned the use of β-blockers based on anecdotal reports that they improve apnea duration. Using a randomized placebo-controlled trial, we are the first to empirically confirm that β-blockade improves apnea duration. This improvement in apnea duration coincided with a reduced myocardial oxygen consumption.
Iniciativas de Jornalismo Independente no Brasil e Argentina
Authors: Ramos Daniela Osvald 
Published: April 2016

A rapidez das transformações tecnológicas altera os processos de se produzir e consumir jornalismo em diversos fluxos midiáticos digitais. Estas mudanças estão gerando uma situação de crise em muitas empresas de comunicação, resultando em demissões em massa. Para reinventar novas frentes de trabalho fora das corporações midiáticas, jornalistas estão criando estratégias de negócio auto sustentáveis que reforcem os princípios investigativos da profissão ao informar sobre questões ligadas aos direitos dos cidadãos e tentar fortalecer a democracia na sociedade. Este artigo discorre sobre alguns projetos empreendedores que exemplificam estes modelos no jornalismo tanto no Brasil, representados pela Agência Pública e Ponte, como na Argentina, pelas iniciativas do El Puercoespín e Chequeado.
Remote Sensing of the Surface Wind Field over the Coastal Ocean via Direct Calibration of HF Radar Backscatter Power
Authors: Kirincich Anthony 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe calibration and validation of a novel approach to remotely sense surface winds using land-based high-frequency (HF) radar systems are described. Potentially available on time scales of tens of minutes and spatial scales of 2–3 km for wide swaths of the coastal ocean, HF radar–based surface wind observations would greatly aid coastal ocean planners, researchers, and operational stakeholders by providing detailed real-time estimates and climatologies of coastal winds, as well as enabling higher-quality short-term forecasts of the spatially dependent wind field. Such observations are particularly critical for the developing offshore wind energy community. An autonomous surface vehicle was deployed within the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area, located south of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, for one month, collecting wind observations that were used to test models of wind-wave spreading and HF radar energy loss, thereby empirically relating radar-measured power to surface winds. HF radar–based extractions of the remote wind speed had accuracies of 1.4 m s−1 for winds less than 7 m s−1, within the optimal range of the radar frequency used. Accuracies degraded at higher winds due to low signal-to-noise ratios in the returned power and poor resolution of the model. Pairing radar systems with a range of transmit frequencies with adjustments of the extraction model for additional power and environmental factors would resolve many of the errors observed.
Evaluating and Improving the Impact of the Atmospheric Stability and Orography on Surface Winds in the WRF Model
Authors: Lorente-Plazas Raquel , Jiménez Pedro A. , Dudhia Jimy , Montávez Juan P. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis study assesses the impact of the atmospheric stability on the turbulent orographic form drag (TOFD) generated by unresolved small-scale orography (SSO) focusing on surface winds. With this aim, several experiments are conducted with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model and they are evaluated over a large number of stations (318 at 2-m height) in the Iberian Peninsula with a year of data. In WRF, Jiménez and Dudhia resolved the SSO by including a factor in the momentum equation, which is a function of the orographic variability inside a grid cell. It is found that this scheme can improve the simulated surface winds, especially at night, but it can underestimate the winds during daytime. This suggests that TOFD can be dependent on the PBL’s stability. To inspect and overcome this limitation, the stability conditions are included in the SSO parameterization to maintain the intensity of the drag during stable conditions while attenuating it during unstable conditions. The numerical experiments demonstrate that the inclusion of stability effects on the SSO drag parameterization improves the simulated surface winds at diurnal, monthly, and annual scales by reducing the systematic daytime underestimation of the original scheme. The correction is especially beneficial when both the convective velocity and the boundary layer height are used to characterize the unstable conditions.
Analysis of Index Insurance Potential for Adaptation to Hydroclimatic Risks in the West African Sahel
Authors: Siebert Asher 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Index insurance has been viewed as a financial adaptation to climate risks with the potential for widespread application, especially in a developing world context. The potential for index insurance is explored in the context of hypothetical drought and flood contracts at the national level for farmers in the West African Sahel nations of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The region’s climatology and dynamics are discussed and multiple datasets are considered as potential indices.
Agricultural, precipitation, streamflow, remotely sensed vegetation, and Niño sea surface temperature indices were explored as potential bases for index insurance contract. Correlation analyses between the potential geophysical and agricultural indices are examined and two of the rainfall datasets are found to have robust positive correlations with millet production in all three nations, while a particular streamflow index is found to have a robust negative correlation with rice production in Niger. A methodological innovation of this research is the use of Gerrity skill score (GSS) analysis to analyze the indices of high correlation. The correlation and GSS analyses presented here indicate the potential for index insurance using two of the rainfall datasets for the millet crop (drought risk) of all three nations and the Niamey flood month streamflow dataset for the rice crop of Niger (flood risk).
Mokken analysis of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales in acute inpatient and community samples
Authors: Muncer Steven , Bass Malcolm , Dawkin Matt 
Published: April 2016

Objective: The structure and scoring of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) has been open to debate. Most studies have relied on factor analytic approaches to investigate HoNOS structure. Our aim is to investigate HoNOS using methods from item response theory. Methods: Completed HoNOS forms from patients receiving mental health treatment in the community and also inpatients were subjected to Mokken analysis, which is a non-parametric form of item response theory. Confirmatory factor analysis was then used to investigate these scales. Results: Two scales with the same items were found in both samples; however, the inpatient sample scored higher on both scales. The first scale contained three items (10, 11, 12) from the social scale, and the other was related to depression (2, 7, 8). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that a two scale structure had better fit statistics than other suggested structures. Conclusions: HoNOS might best be conceived as two scales measuring aspects of social adjustment and depression.
Gender difference in the response to valsartan/amlodipine single-pill combination in essential hypertension (China Status II): An observational study
Authors: Wang Huan , Chen Hui 
Published: April 2016

Background: The China STATUS II is a prospective, multicentre, open-label, post-marketing, observational study including Chinese adults (aged ⩾ 18 years) with essential hypertension who were prescribed once-daily valsartan/amlodipine (Val/Aml 80/5 mg) single-pill combination. In order to examine gender differences in treatment response to Val/Aml, we further analysed data from the China STATUS II study. Methods: A total of 11,312 patients (6456 (57%) men and 4856 (43%) women) received the Val/Aml treatment for 8 weeks. After the treatment, we compared the proportion of patients not achieving the target systolic blood pressure (SBP: < 140 mm Hg) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP: < 90 mm Hg) in different age groups (by Fisher exact probability test) and estimated the changes in blood pressure (BP) according to age and gender, using a mixed model. Results: At enrolment, mean SBP was higher in the female versus the male patients (160.0 ± 12.71 versus 159.3 ± 12.31 mm Hg; p = 0.003), whereas the mean DBP was higher in the male versus the female patients (96.4 ± 10.65 versus 94.5 ± 10.72 mm Hg; p < 0.001). The overall proportion of women not achieving the target BP was less than that of men (57.41% versus 59.59%; p < 0.05) at 4 weeks and (22.22% versus 23.78%; p < 0.05) at 8 weeks after the Val/Aml treatment. Among both men and women, the proportion of patients not achieving the target SBP increased with age; however, the proportion not achieving the target DBP decreased with age. The mixed-model analysis showed that the changes in SBP were closely related to gender, indicating that the SBP-lowering effect after Val/Aml treatment might be better in women. In addition, the changes in DBP were closely related to age. Conclusions: Gender might be a factor for consideration in the decision-making process of individualised antihypertensive therapy, in the future.
Housebound versus nonhousebound patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: Pendergrast Tricia , Brown Abigail , Sunnquist Madison , Jantke Rachel , Newton Julia L , Strand Elin Bolle , Jason Leonard A 
Published: April 2016

Objectives The objective of this study was to examine individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome who are confined to their homes due to severe symptomatology. The existing literature fails to address differences between this group, and less severe, nonhousebound patient populations. Methods Participants completed the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire, a measure of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome symptomology, and the SF-36, a measure of health impact on physical/mental functioning. ANOVAs and, where appropriate, MANCOVAS were used to compare housebound and nonhousebound patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome across areas of functioning, symptomatology, and illness onset characteristics. Results Findings indicated that the housebound group represented one quarter of the sample, and were significantly more impaired with regards to physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, fatigue, postexertional malaise, sleep, pain, neurocognitive, autonomic, neuroendocrine, and immune functioning compared to individuals who were not housebound. Discussion Findings indicated that housebound patients have more impairment on functional and symptom outcomes compared to those who were not housebound. Understanding the differences between housebound and not housebound groups holds implications for physicians and researchers as they develop interventions intended for patients who are most severely affected by this chronic illness.
Pregnancy and lactation advice: How does Australian Product Information compare with established information resources?
Authors: Brown Emma , Hotham Elizabeth , Hotham Neil 
Published: April 2016

Background Product information is a popular medicines information resource; however, there is some evidence that its pregnancy and lactation information is overconservative, which can lead to inadequate treatment of pregnant and lactating women. Methods A thorough analysis of pregnancy and lactation information within Australian Product Information and Consumer Medicines Information was performed. The statements within these resources were compared with established clinical resources: Australian Medicines Handbook, Therapeutic Guidelines, South Australian Perinatal Practice Guidelines, Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, LactMed, Motherisk and the Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Medicines Guide published by the Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne. Results Product Information was found to be the most cautious resource, with 44.5% of pregnancy recommendations and 69% of lactation recommendations reviewed being more conservative than other resources. Conclusion Product Information is an imperfect and often overconservative reference for pregnant and lactating women. Health professionals are urged to review established clinical resources to inform decision making.