bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IS ECONOMIC RECOVERY A MYTH? ROBUST ESTIMATION OF IMPULSE RESPONSES
Authors: Teulings Coen N. , Zubanov Nikolay 
Published: June 2013

SUMMARYWe estimate the impulse response function (IRF) of GDP to a banking crisis using an extension of the local projections method. We demonstrate that, though robust to misspecifications of the data‐generating process, this method suffers from a hitherto unnoticed bias which increases with the forecast horizon. We propose a correction to this bias and show through simulations that it works well. Applying our corrected local projections estimator to the data from a panel of 99 countries observed between 1974 and 2001, we find that an average banking crisis yields a GDP loss of just under 10% in 10 years, with little sign of recovery. Like the original local projections method, our extension of it is widely applicable. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advanced glycation end products impair glucose‐induced insulin secretion from rat pancreatic β‐cells
Authors: Hachiya Hiroyuki , Miura Yoshikazu , Inoue Ken‐ichi , Park Kyung Hwa , Takeuchi Masayoshi , Kubota Keiichi 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundAdvanced glycation end products (AGEs) are derivative compounds generated from non‐enzymatic glycosylation and oxidation. In comparison with glucose‐derived AGEs (Glu‐AGEs), glyceraldehyde‐derived AGEs (Glycer‐AGEs) have stronger toxicity to living systems. In this study, we compared the effects of Glu‐AGE and Glycer‐AGE on insulin secretion.MethodRat pancreatic islets were isolated by collagenase digestion and primary‐cultured in the presence of 0.1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA) or 0.1 mg/ml Glu‐AGE or Glycer‐AGE‐albumin. After 24 h of culture, we performed an insulin secretion test and identified the defects by a battery of rescue experiments. Also, mRNA expression of genes associated with insulin secretion was measured.ResultsInsulin secretion induced by a high glucose concentration was 164.1 ± 6.0, 124.4 ± 4.4 (P < 0.05) and 119.8 ± 7.1 (P < 0.05) μU/3 islets/h in the presence of BSA, Glu‐AGE, and Glycer‐AGE, respectively. Inhibition of insulin secretion by Glu‐AGE or Glycer‐AGE was rescued by a high extracellular potassium concentration, tolbutamide and α‐ketoisocaproic acid, but not by glyceraldehyde, dihydroxacetone, methylpyruvate, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 and acetylcholine. Glu‐AGE or Glycer‐AGE reduced the expression of the malate dehydrogenase (Mdh1/2) gene, which plays a critical role in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) shuttle.ConclusionDespite its reported cytotoxicity, the effects of Glycer‐AGE on insulin secretion are similar to those of Glu‐AGE.
The selection of predictors in a regression‐based method for gap filling in daily temperature datasets
Authors: Tardivo Gianmarco , Berti Antonio 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTThe presence of gaps in meteorological time series is a very common problem for long term studies, for example when computer activity is needed to carry out general climatological analysis. This problem can be solved through a method to reconstruct missing data; the method must be adapted to the density of the suitable stations and the climate zone which they belong to. Regression‐based ones are among the most important methods used to carry out such reconstructions. A suitable search strategy for identifying the best reconstructing stations is a basic requisite for the proper implementation of this class of methods. In this article a detailed analysis of the effects of the number of predictors for a regression‐based approach and their search strategy is presented. The multiple correlation between stations, related to the distance from the target station, was studied checking performances with a recently published regression model. This study was carried out for daily data of minimum, mean and maximum temperature of a dense network (111 stations within an area of a ∼76.5 km radius, on average). For the density of this network and comparing the system through different values of distance from target station, a better performance was achieved when the maximum radius within which to start searching for predictors was equal to or greater than 40 km. As a consequence it can be deduced that stations used to reconstruct gaps do not strictly need to be close to the target station. Setting the maximum number of predictors at four, and the maximum radius at exactly 40 km significantly reduces the number of the cases in which the reconstructed values present a reversing of the natural order: minimum < mean < maximum temperature.
Predicting the effects of a high‐energy diet on fatty liver and hippocampal‐dependent memory in male rats
Authors: Darling J.N. , Ross A.P. , Bartness T.J. , Parent M.B. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractObjective:In rodents, diets exceeding nutritional requirements (i.e., high‐energy diets; HED) impair hippocampal‐dependent memory. Our research suggests that the effects likely involve HED‐induced increases in liver lipids. In this experiment, rats were provided with diet choices to test whether voluntary consumption of a HED impairs spatial memory, whether differences in initial weight gain predict memory deficits, and whether increases in liver lipids are associated with the memory deficits.Design and Methods:Adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were given a control diet or cafeteria‐style HED for 8 weeks. Weight gain during the first 5 days on the diet was used to divide rats into a HED‐Lean group and a HED‐Obese group. Spatial water maze memory was tested 8 weeks later and postmortem liver lipid concentrations were quantified.Results:Compared with the HED‐Lean and control rats, the HED‐Obese rats had impaired spatial memory and met the human diagnostic criterion of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (>5% liver lipids relative to liver weight). Moreover, liver lipids were correlated with memory deficits.Conclusions:These findings show that voluntary consumption of a HED impairs memory, that initial weight gain predicts fatty liver and memory deficits, and that fatty liver may contribute to the memory‐impairing effects of obesity.
Nonlinear d10‐ML2 Transition‐Metal Complexes
Authors: Wolters Lando P. , Bickelhaupt F. Matthias 
Published: June 2013

AbstractInvited for this month′s cover is the group of Prof. F. Matthias Bickelhaupt. The cover picture illustrates the authors′ quantum chemical finding that π electrons can significantly bend otherwise linear d10‐ML2 complexes through backbonding. For more details, see the Full Paper on p. 106 ff.
Facile synthesis of pH‐responsive glycopolypeptides with adjustable sugar density
Authors: Mildner Robert , Menzel Henning 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTWell‐defined pH‐responsive glycopolypeptides were prepared by polymer‐analogous aqueous amide coupling of d‐glucosamine to poly(α,l‐glutamic acid) (PGA) using the coupling agent 4‐(4,6‐dimethoxy‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl)‐4‐methylmorpholinium chloride (DMT‐MM) without any organic solvents, additives, or buffers. Degrees of substitution (DS) up to 80% can be achieved, and the DS is adjustable by the molar ratio of DMT‐MM to PGA repeating units. Successful glycosylation of both low MW and high MW PGA was confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy as well as by an enhanced solubility at low pH. CD spectroscopy revealed that glycosylated PGAs with a DS up to 0.63 are able to undergo a pH‐responsive and reversible helix‐coil transition. However, for polymers with higher DS no transition occurs. A comparison with PGAs functionalized with monoethanolamine showed that the low helicity at high DS is not a steric effect due to the bulky sugar moieties, but a solvation effect. Preliminary turbidimetric tests with the lectin Concanavalin A indicate a biological activity of these glycosylated polypeptides. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3925–3931
E-Shariah: Information and Communication Technologies for Shariah Court Management
Authors: Wan Mohd Saman Wan Satirah , Haider Abrar 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis paper, written by Wan Satirah Wan Mohd Saman and Abrar Haider, presents a case study of E-Shariah and discusses the application of information and communication technologies in the administration of Shariah Courts in Malaysia. The technologies have two roles in the administration of Shariah courts; firstly, these technologies enable the workflow of the courts and facilitate information management, and secondly they are used to integrate State Shariah Courts in various jurisdictions of Malaysia. The case study highlights the issues and challenges faced during implementation of this initiative and provides an appreciation of how effectively technology has been used to help Shariah Courts dispense speedy justice.
Computer-mediated and face-to-face communication in metastatic cancer support groups
Authors: Vilhauer Ruvanee P. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractObjective:To compare the experiences of women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in computer-mediated and face-to-face support groups.Method:Interviews from 18 women with MBC, who were currently in computer-mediated support groups (CMSGs), were examined using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The CMSGs were in an asynchronous mailing list format; women communicated exclusively via email. All the women were also, or had previously been, in a face-to-face support group (FTFG).Results:CMSGs had both advantages and drawbacks, relative to face-to-face groups (FTFGs), for this population. Themes examined included convenience, level of support, intimacy, ease of expression, range of information, and dealing with debilitation and dying. CMSGs may provide a sense of control and a greater level of support. Intimacy may take longer to develop in a CMSG, but women may have more opportunities to get to know each other. CMSGs may be helpful while adjusting to a diagnosis of MBC, because women can receive support without being overwhelmed by physical evidence of disability in others or exposure to discussions about dying before they are ready. However, the absence of nonverbal cues in CMSGs also led to avoidance of topics related to death and dying when women were ready to face them. Agendas for discussion, the presence of a facilitator or more time in CMSGs may attenuate this problem.Significance of results:The findings were discussed in light of prevailing research and theories about computer-mediated communication. They have implications for designing CMSGs for this population.
Acoustic and Semantic Enhancements for Children With Cochlear Implants
Authors: Smiljanic Rajka , Sladen Douglas 
Published: June 2013

Purpose
In this study, the authors examined how signal clarity interacts with the use of sentence context information in determining speech-in-noise recognition for children with cochlear implants and children with normal hearing.

Method
One hundred and twenty sentences in which the final word varied in predictability (high vs. low semantic context) were produced in conversational and clear speech. Nine children with cochlear implants and 9 children with normal hearing completed the sentence-in-noise listening tests and a standardized language measure.

Results
Word recognition in noise improved significantly for both groups of children for high-predictability sentences in clear speech. Children with normal hearing benefited more from each source of information compared with children with cochlear implants. There was a significant correlation between more developed language skills and the ability to use contextual enhancements. The smaller context gain in clear speech for children with cochlear implants is in accord with the effortfulness hypothesis (McCoy et al., 2005) and points to the cumulative effects of noise throughout the processing system.

Conclusion
Modifications of the speech signal and the context of the utterances through changes in the talker output hold substantial promise as a communication enhancement technique for both children with cochlear implants and children with normal hearing.
Semantic process benchmarking to improve process performance
Authors: Teuteberg Frank , Kluth Martin , Ahlemann Frederik , Smolnik Stefan 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to illustrate and evaluate the semantic process benchmarking concept.Design/methodology/approachThe authors' approach includes the use of metamodels and ontologies, which make the process models syntactically and semantically comparable. Furthermore, a software prototype is presented to analyze and compare individual process models and their performance information. Thereafter, the technical, conceptual, and economic perspectives of the approach's evaluation are aligned with their respective outcomes.FindingsThe evaluation proves that this approach is generally suitable to generate novel and useful information on different process models and their performance within the same problem domain. However, the initial set‐up costs are high and will only pay off once process models are used regularly.Practical implicationsThe proposed approach depends strongly on the availability of appropriate metrics and ontologies, as well as on the annotation of these ontologies to process models, which is a time‐consuming task. If large benchmarking clearing centers are established, the approach will be more cost‐effective. The developed SEMAT prototype, that demonstrates and proves the proposed approach's general viability, supports cost‐effective ontology engineering and annotation in the context of semantic process benchmarking initiatives.Originality/valueTo date, process benchmarking has primarily been a manual process. In this article, the authors suggest an approach that allows time‐consuming and costly process analysis to be partially automated, which makes the performance indicators, as well as qualitative differences between processes, apparent.
Performance evaluation of e‐government services using balanced scorecard
Authors: Alhyari Salah , Alazab Moutaz , Venkatraman Sitalakshmi , Alazab Mamoun , Alazab Ammar 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to emphasise on a balance between quantitative and qualitative measures, and examine the use of Balanced Scorecard to evaluate and estimate the performance of information and communication technologies (ICT) in delivering valuable e‐government services through the internet.Design/methodology/approachThis study tests the hypotheses of e‐government effectiveness using Balanced Scorecard technique by incorporating qualitative measures within a quantitative research methodology with data collected by means of a survey questionnaire. The survey sample of 383 stakeholders includes common customers, employees of e‐government, and employees from the IT sector. The survey data were analysed to test the hypothesis in measuring e‐government effectiveness from Balanced Scorecard's four dimensions: customer perspective, financial perspective, internal business process perspective, and innovation and learning perspective.FindingsThe results show that the Balanced Scorecard factors fit very well with monitoring and measuring the performance of e‐government in Jordan, and also in evaluating their success in IT project investments.Originality/valueThis study attempts to address this gap in the literature and would benefit future studies in applying Balanced Scorecard for performance evaluation of various IT projects that are gaining huge investments from governments and organisations.
Survey of GPs’ understanding of tobacco and nicotine products
Authors: Ramesh Patwardhan Sudhanshu , Murphy Marina A. 
Published: June 2013

PurposeDespite substantial declines in cigarette smoking in England since the 1970s, around 20 per cent of the adult population still smokes. In Sweden, 10 per cent of adult males and 12 per cent of adult females smoke cigarettes, while snus use is prevalent among 19 per cent of adult males and 4 per cent of adult females. Traditional cessation‐only approaches may need to be supplemented with broader tobacco harm reduction measures to reduce smoking prevalence further. General practitioners (GPs) are well placed to give patients advice on tobacco harm reduction. This paper seeks to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe authors administered an online survey to assess knowledge, perceptions and attitudes to tobacco and nicotine products to 220 GPs (100 in England and 120 in Sweden).FindingsMost GPs (96 [96 per cent] England, 115 [98 per cent] Sweden) addressed smoking cessation with patients as part of their regular practice. Most GPs (87 [87 per cent] England, 102 [85 per cent] Sweden) felt extremely or fairly knowledgeable about the risks associated with cigarettes, but less so about nicotine in tobacco products and pharmaceutical nicotine. When asked to rank various products on a risk continuum, GPs rated cigarettes as riskiest and tobacco cessation and nicotine‐containing products as least risky. However, when asked to rank components of cigarettes based on their health risks, GPs ranked nicotine as the third riskiest (74 [74 per cent] England, 104 [87 per cent] Sweden), after tar and carbon monoxide, but before smoke or tobacco. When asked questions about a hypothetical nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product that looks like a cigarette and is licensed for harm reduction, GPs perceived that sensory experience and tobacco harm reduction could be benefits to patients, but perceived appeal to children and risk for abuse could be drawbacks.Originality/valueMost respondent GPs are well informed about the relative risks of nicotine and tobacco, but more research needs to be done to investigate their concerns over the long‐term substitution of cigarettes with alternative nicotine products.
Gender and change drivers: an exploratory study
Authors: Whelan‐Berry Karen S. 
Published: June 2013

PurposeChange drivers are events, activities, or behaviors that facilitate the individual adoption of change initiatives and the implementation of organizational change. The purpose of this paper is an exploratory study of whether gender differences exist for change drivers.Design/methodology/approachThis paper involves a three‐year study of an organizational change in the banking industry, and uses survey and interview data.FindingsData show that the mean perceived significance of change drivers to the understanding and adoption of change initiatives by male and female employees is similar and does not vary at a statistically significant level. Statistically significant gender differences do exist in terms of the relationship between change drivers and employees' reported individual adoption of change initiatives. Qualitative data from the interviews support those quantitative findings, showing gender differences in how change drivers are perceived; differences in change‐related vision, leadership, communication and positive outcomes as drivers are discussed.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an exploratory study and needs to be replicated with other organizational changes in a variety of industries with varied employee demographics and differences in change leadership gender.Practical implicationsChange drivers are a form of resource allocation. Better understanding of gender differences in terms of the perception of and significance of change drivers to individual employees' understanding and adoption of change initiatives can result in more effective allocation of resources by change leaders.Originality/valueVery limited prior research explores gender or other demographic differences for change drivers. This research provides an empirical study of gender and change drivers and extends prior research on change drivers and the change process.
Detecting and assessment of tsunami building damage using high‐resolution satellite images with GIS data
Authors: Dinesh Chandana P. , Bari Abdul U. , Dissanayake Ranjith P.G. , Tamura Mazayuki 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a method and results of evaluating damaged building extraction using an object recognition task in pre‐ and post‐tsunami event. The advantage of remote sensing and its applications made it possible to extract damaged building images and vulnerability easement of wide urban areas due to natural disasters.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed approach involves several advanced morphological operators, among which are adaptive transforms with varying size, shape and grey level of the structuring elements. IKONOS‐2 satellite images consisting of pre‐ and post‐2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami site of the Kalmunai area on the East coast of Sri Lanka were used. Morphological operation using structural element are applied for segmented images, then extracted remaining building foot print using random forest classification method. This work extended further the road lines extraction using Hough transform.FindingsThe result was investigated using geographic information system (GIS) data and global positioning system (GPS) ground survey in the field and it appeared to have high accuracy: the confidence measures produced of a completely destroyed structure give 86 percent by object‐based, respectively, after the tsunami in one segment of Maruthamune GN Division.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has also identified significant limitations, due to the resolution and clearness of satellite images and vegetation canopy over the building footprint.Originality/valueThe authors develop an automated method to detect damaged buildings and compare the results with GIS‐based ground survey.
Police leadership roles: empirical study of management attitudes
Authors: Dean Geoff , Gottschalk Petter 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to present empirical results from a study of attitudes of police managers to different leadership roles in their jobs in two police districts in Norway.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was developed and administered among police managers in two police districts in Norway. Participants in leadership programs were selected for this survey research carried out in March and April 2010. Follo police district and Hedmark police district had a total of 130 participants in these programs with 60 managers from Follo and 70 managers from Hedmark.FindingsThe personnel leader role was found to be most important, followed by the resource allocator role. Responding police managers reported that they felt least competent in the liaison role.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations were that the relatively small sample size restricted the use of sophisticated statistical tools and the generalisability of results to police services other than Norway.Practical implicationsKey implications are the necessary shift from resource allocation to personnel leadership and potential for role conflict.Social implicationsA well‐regarded police service is a prerequisite for the positive perception of law enforcement and justice. Leadership is a key element for ensuring integrity and accountability in policing.Originality/valueThis is the first survey of its kind of Norwegian police managers.