bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Making culture visible: reflections on corporate ethnography
Authors: Fayard Anne-Laure , Van Maanen John 
Published: February 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to describe and reflect on the experience as corporate ethnographers working in (and for) a large, multinational company with a remit to study and articulate “the culture of the firm.”Design/methodology/approach– The research relied heavily on interviews and some (participant) observation carried out periodically – in North America, Europe and Asia – over an eight-year period.Findings– The authors discuss how the studies were produced, received, and occasionally acted on in the firm and the realization over time of the performativity of the work as both expressive and constitutive of firm’s culture.Research limitations/implications– The increasing entanglement in the organization raises questions regarding emic and etic perspectives and the possibility (or impossibility) of “enduring detachment” or “going native” and the associated, often unintended consequences of being both outsiders and insiders.Practical implications– The authors start with the premise that ethnography is about producing a written text and conclude by arguing that ethnography is not fully realized until the writing is read.Social implications– The ethnographic reports, when read by those in the company, made visible a version of Trifecta culture that was interpreted, framed and otherwise responded to in multiple ways by members of the organization.Originality/value– Corporate ethnography is a growing pursuit undertaken by those inside and outside firms. This paper focusses on how and in what ways corporate ethnography sponsored by and written for those in the company shifts the positioning of the ethnographer in the field, the kinds of texts they produce, and the meanings that readers take away from such texts.
Context‐dependent survival, fecundity and predicted population‐level consequences of brucellosis inAfrican buffalo
Authors: Gorsich Erin E. , Ezenwa Vanessa O. , Cross Paul C. , Bengis Roy G. , Jolles Anna E. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryChronic infections may have negative impacts on wildlife populations, yet their effects are difficult to detect in the absence of long‐term population monitoring.Brucella abortus, the bacteria responsible for bovine brucellosis, causes chronic infections and abortions in wild and domestic ungulates, but its impact on population dynamics is not well understood.We report infection patterns and fitness correlates of bovine brucellosis in African buffalo based on (1) 7 years of cross‐sectional disease surveys and (2) a 4‐year longitudinal study in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. We then used a matrix population model to translate these observed patterns into predicted population‐level effects.Annual brucellosis seroprevalence ranged from 8·7% (95%CI = 1·8–15·6) to 47·6% (95%CI = 35·1–60·1) increased with age until adulthood (>6) and varied by location withinKNP. Animals were on average in worse condition after testing positive for brucellosis (F = −5·074,P < 0·0001), and infection was associated with a 2·0 (95%CI = 1·1–3·7) fold increase in mortality (χ2 = 2·039,P = 0·036). Buffalo in low body condition were associated with lower reproductive success (F = 2·683,P = 0·034), but there was no association between brucellosis and pregnancy or being observed with a calf.For the range of body condition scores observed in the population, the model‐predicted growth rate was λ = 1·11 (95%CI = 1·02–1·21) in herds without brucellosis and λ = 1·00 (95%CI = 0·85–1·16) when brucellosis seroprevalence was 30%.Our results suggest that brucellosis infection can potentially result in reduced population growth rates, but because these effects varied with demographic and environmental conditions, they may remain unseen without intensive, longitudinal monitoring.
A spatially explicit model for flowering time in bamboos: long rhizomes drive the evolution of delayed flowering
Authors: Tachiki Yuuya , Makita Akifumi , Suyama Yoshihisa , Satake Akiko 
Published: February 2015

Summary

Clonal plants produce semi‐autonomous modules (ramets). The spatial distribution of ramets affects lifetime reproductive success via self‐pollination, kin competition and competition among genotypes over space and nutrients. These, in turn, influence the evolution of the timing of flowering in monocarps (flowering is fatal), such as bamboos.

The vegetative growth period (flowering interval) in bamboos shows a geographic cline from tropical (short‐interval) to temperate (long‐interval) regions. However, the mechanisms underlying the emergence of this geographic trend in flowering interval remain elusive.

We hypothesized that differences in flowering interval are determined by ecological features that affect the spatial arrangement of ramets and the degree of kin competition. Using a spatially explicit mathematical model, we examined the effects of rhizome elongation, seed and pollen dispersal ranges and inbreeding depression on the evolution of flowering interval.

Flowering interval became longer as rhizome length increased but was shorter as seed dispersal range increased. However, flowering interval was less affected when these ranges were extremely large. These results could be caused by intragenet competition due to the spatial structure of genets. If the rhizome is short, each genet forms a clumping structure by vegetative growth and is subject to high intragenet competition. Early flowering may reduce this competition. When seed dispersal range is shorter, kin competition among seeds becomes greater and delayed flowering is a better strategy. When these parameters are extremely large, the effects of this type of competition are reduced, and flowering interval does not change.

The effect of inbreeding depression depends on the spatial distribution of ramets formed by vegetative growth. Inbreeding depression reduces reproductive success, and hence, delayed flowering is selected for when both rhizome length and pollen dispersal range are short, and inbreeding with neighbouring siblings is unavoidable.

Synthesis. The evolutionary consequences of flowering interval in clonal plants are affected by the spatial distribution of genets. Geographic patterns in flowering interval of bamboos can be explained by differences in rhizome length. Interspecific comparisons among species with different rhizome lengths should be examined by collecting long‐term demographic data on the spatial arrangement of ramets.
Properties of Gelatin Film from Horse Mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) Scale
Authors: Le Thuy , Maki Hiroki , Takahashi Kigen , Okazaki Emiko , Osako Kazufumi 
Published: February 2015

AbstractOptimal conditions for extracting gelatin and preparing gelatin film from horse mackerel scale, such as extraction temperature and time, as well as the protein concentration of film‐forming solutions were investigated. Yields of extracted gelatin at 70 °C, 80 °C, and 90 °C for 15 min to 3 h were 1.08% to 3.45%, depending on the extraction conditions. Among the various extraction times and temperatures, the film from gelatin extracted at 70 °C for 1 h showed the highest tensile strength and elongation at break. Horse mackerel scale gelatin film showed the greatly low water vapor permeability (WVP) compared with mammalian or fish gelatin films, maybe due to its containing a slightly higher level of hydrophobic amino acids (total 653 residues per 1000 residues) than that of mammalian, cold‐water fish and warm‐water fish gelatins. Gelatin films from different preparation conditions showed excellent UV barrier properties at wavelength of 200 nm, although the films were transparent at visible wavelength. As a consequence, it can be suggested that gelatin film from horse mackerel scale extracted at 70 °C for 1 h can be applied to food packaging material due to its lowest WVP value and excellent UV barrier properties.
A lithotrophic microbial fuel cell operated with pseudomonads‐dominated iron‐oxidizing bacteria enriched at the anode
Authors: Nguyen Thuy Thu , Luong Tha Thanh Thi , Tran Phuong Hoang Nguyen , Bui Ha Thi Viet , Nguyen Huy Quang , Dinh Hang Thuy , Kim Byung Hong , Pham Hai The 
Published: February 2015

SummaryIn this study, we attempted to enrich neutrophilic iron bacteria in a microbial fuel cell (MFC)‐type reactor in order to develop a lithotrophic MFC system that can utilize ferrous iron as an inorganic electron donor and operate at neutral pHs. Electrical currents were steadily generated at an average level of 0.6 mA (or 0.024 mA cm–2 of membrane area) in reactors initially inoculated with microbial sources and operated with 20 mM Fe2+ as the sole electron donor and 10 ohm external resistance; whereas in an uninoculated reactor (the control), the average current level only reached 0.2 mA (or 0.008 mA cm–2 of membrane area). In an inoculated MFC, the generation of electrical currents was correlated with increases in cell density of bacteria in the anode suspension and coupled with the oxidation of ferrous iron. Cultivation‐based and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analyses both show the dominance of some Pseudomonas species in the anode communities of the MFCs. Fluorescent in‐situ hybridization results revealed significant increases of neutrophilic iron‐oxidizing bacteria in the anode community of an inoculated MFC. The results, altogether, prove the successful development of a lithotrophic MFC system with iron bacteria enriched at its anode and suggest a chemolithotrophic anode reaction involving some Pseudomonas species as key players in such a system. The system potentially offers unique applications, such as accelerated bioremediation or on‐site biodetection of iron and/or manganese in water samples.
A generalised random encounter model for estimating animal density with remote sensor data
Authors: Lucas Tim C. D. , Moorcroft Elizabeth A. , Freeman Robin , Rowcliffe J. Marcus , Jones Kate E. 
Published: February 2015

Summary

Wildlife monitoring technology is advancing rapidly and the use of remote sensors such as camera traps and acoustic detectors is becoming common in both the terrestrial and marine environments. Current methods to estimate abundance or density require individual recognition of animals or knowing the distance of the animal from the sensor, which is often difficult. A method without these requirements, the random encounter model (REM), has been successfully applied to estimate animal densities from count data generated from camera traps. However, count data from acoustic detectors do not fit the assumptions of the REM due to the directionality of animal signals.

We developed a generalised REM (gREM), to estimate absolute animal density from count data from both camera traps and acoustic detectors. We derived the gREM for different combinations of sensor detection widths and animal signal widths (a measure of directionality). We tested the accuracy and precision of this model using simulations of different combinations of sensor detection widths and animal signal widths, number of captures and models of animal movement.

We find that the gREM produces accurate estimates of absolute animal density for all combinations of sensor detection widths and animal signal widths. However, larger sensor detection and animal signal widths were found to be more precise. While the model is accurate for all capture efforts tested, the precision of the estimate increases with the number of captures. We found no effect of different animal movement models on the accuracy and precision of the gREM.

We conclude that the gREM provides an effective method to estimate absolute animal densities from remote sensor count data over a range of sensor and animal signal widths. The gREM is applicable for count data obtained in both marine and terrestrial environments, visually or acoustically (e.g. big cats, sharks, birds, echolocating bats and cetaceans). As sensors such as camera traps and acoustic detectors become more ubiquitous, the gREM will be increasingly useful for monitoring unmarked animal populations across broad spatial, temporal and taxonomic scales.
Spatial factor analysis: a new tool for estimating joint species distributions and correlations in species range
Authors: Thorson James T. , Scheuerell Mark D. , Shelton Andrew O. , See Kevin E. , Skaug Hans J. , Kristensen Kasper 
Published: February 2015

Summary

Predicting and explaining the distribution and density of species is one of the oldest concerns in ecology. Species distributions can be estimated using geostatistical methods, which estimate a latent spatial variable explaining observed variation in densities, but geostatistical methods may be imprecise for species with low densities or few observations. Additionally, simple geostatistical methods fail to account for correlations in distribution among species and generally estimate such cross‐correlations as a post hoc exercise.

We therefore present spatial factor analysis (SFA), a spatial model for estimating a low‐rank approximation to multivariate data, and use it to jointly estimate the distribution of multiple species simultaneously. We also derive an analytic estimate of cross‐correlations among species from SFA parameters.

As a first example, we show that distributions for 10 bird species in the breeding bird survey in 2012 can be parsimoniously represented using only five spatial factors. As a second case study, we show that forward prediction of catches for 20 rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) off the U.S. West Coast is more accurate using SFA than analysing each species individually. Finally, we show that single‐species models give a different picture of cross‐correlations than joint estimation using SFA.

Spatial factor analysis complements a growing list of tools for jointly modelling the distribution of multiple species and provides a parsimonious summary of cross‐correlation without requiring explicit declaration of habitat variables. We conclude by proposing future research that would model species cross‐correlations using dissimilarity of species’ traits, and the development of spatial dynamic factor analysis for a low‐rank approximation to spatial time‐series data.
Modifications in stromal extracellular matrix of aged corneas can be induced by ultraviolet A irradiation
Authors: Gendron Sébastien P. , Rochette Patrick J. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryWith age, structural and functional changes can be observed in human cornea. Some studies have shown a loss of corneal transparency and an increase in turbidity associated with aging. These changes are caused by modifications in the composition and arrangement of extracellular matrix in the corneal stroma. In human skin, it is well documented that exposure to solar radiation, and mainly to the UVA wavelengths, leads to phenotypes of photoaging characterized by alteration in extracellular matrix of the dermis. Although the cornea is also exposed to solar radiation, the extracellular matrix modifications observed in aging corneas have been mainly attributed to chronological aging and not to solar exposure. To ascertain the real implication of UVA exposure in extracellular matrix changes observed with age in human cornea, we have developed a model of photoaging by chronically exposing corneal stroma keratocytes with a precise UVA irradiation protocol. Using this model, we have analyzed UVA‐induced transcriptomic and proteomic changes in corneal stroma. Our results show that cumulative UVA exposure causes changes in extracellular matrix that are found in corneal stromas of aged individuals, suggesting that solar exposure catalyzes corneal aging. Indeed, we observe a downregulation of collagen and proteoglycan gene expression and a reduction in proteoglycan production and secretion in response to cumulative UVA exposure. This study provides the first evidence that chronic ocular exposure to sunlight affects extracellular matrix composition and thus plays a role in corneal changes observed with age.
Accounting for Repeat Enrollments During an Emergency Clinical Trial: The Rapid Anticonvulsant Medications Prior to Arrival Trial (RAMPART)
Authors: Meurer William J. , Silbergleit Robert , Nicholas Katherine S. , Burke James F. , Durkalski Valerie 
Published: February 2015

AbstractObjectivesThe objectives were to describe the frequency of repeat enrollment within a specific exception from informed consent trial testing benzodiazepine treatment of prehospital status epilepticus and to estimate the effect of repeat enrollments on the analysis of the primary outcome.MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of data collected as part of the Rapid Anticonvulsant Medication Prior to Arrival Trial (RAMPART), a study comparing intramuscular midazolam to intravenous lorazepam given by paramedics to patients with prehospital status epilepticus. Subjects inRAMPARTachieved a successful primary outcome if they had cessation of seizures by the time of emergency department arrival. Data were collected on all subjects, but only the first enrollment for each individual was used in the primary analysis. The patterns of repeat enrollment are described, along with the demographics of these subjects. In addition, an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was estimated to assess the amount of within‐subject correlation and its effect on the estimated treatment effect when all enrollments are included in the analysis.ResultsA total of 1,023 enrollments occurred inRAMPARTamong 893 unique individuals (range of repeat enrollment observed = two to 14). TheICCfor seizure cessation within individual was low at 0.119; when excluding subjects with benzodiazepine crossover, theICCwas 0.094.ConclusionsIn clinical trials of emergency conditions with interval complete resolution, accounting for repeat enrollments is feasible. TheRAMPARTexperience demonstrated that in this setting the within‐subject correlation is low and can be accounted for at relatively low statistical cost.
Survival and movement of translocated houbara bustards in a mixed conservation area
Authors: Hardouin L. A. , Hingrat Y. , Nevoux M. , Lacroix F. , Robert A. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractFor endangered species that are hunted, the establishment of mixed conservation areas including both hunting zones and sanctuaries to complement translocation actions (i.e. reinforcement) can improve both hunting yields and population sustainability. However, the effects of this type of management on the demography of the exploited species are not well understood. We used multi‐event capture–recapture modelling in a population of captive‐bred houbara bustards Chlamydotis undulata translocated into a mixed conservation area in Morocco. The specific management practice of our system (hunting regime varying in time and space) led to a quasi‐experimental situation that allowed the differentiation of ‘natural’ from ‘hunting‐induced’ mortality and movement between areas. The analysis uncovered strong asymmetries in both movement and survival that were not only due to direct hunting effects. Firstly, movement probabilities were higher from the sanctuary to the hunting areas than vice versa, even in years without hunting. Secondly, in addition to a direct effect of hunting on mortality in hunting areas, our results uncovered permanent differences in both areas (even outside the hunting period). Overall, our results were consistent with predictions under a source–sink dynamic model but illustrated that mixed conservation areas should not merely be treated as homogeneous systems with spatially heterogeneous hunting pressure but rather as fully heterogeneous systems. The patterns observed may be related to (1) the choice and design of hunting and sanctuary areas by managers, which might not be neutral with respect to habitat quality, or (2) indirect consequences of hunting via an effect on local growth rate and density.
Improving Working Conditions in Garment Supply Chains: The Role of Unions in Cambodia
Authors: Oka Chikako 
Published: February 2015

AbstractGiven the disappointing outcomes of private regulation of labour in global supply chains, worker organization is increasingly seen as the key to better working conditions. This article examines the extent to which unions impact different dimensions of labour standard compliance in Cambodia's garment export sector, where unions have grown considerably. Based on unique factory‐level data and field‐based interviews, this study shows that union presence improves factories’ compliance with wage, hours, and leave standards, although the impact is much less significant for health and safety. Moreover, having multiple unions in the workplace does not appear to improve labour conditions.
Endoscopic excision of synchronous large bowel polyps in the presence of colorectal carcinoma: is the fear of malignant cell implantation justified? A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Sheel A. R. G. , Artioukh D. Y. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimA systematic review of the literature was performed to establish evidence to support the practice that in the presence of a colonoscopically diagnosed colorectal cancer immediate endoscopic excision of synchronous polyps should not be performed due to the risk of malignant cell implantation at the polypectomy site.MethodA systematic literature search was performed using Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify studies comparing the rate of implantation of colorectal cancer cells in normal and damaged colonic mucosa and reports of colorectal cancer cells seeding into sites of damaged mucosa after polypectomy.ResultsNo randomized controlled trials were identified. Three studies involving mammalian models of colonic mucosal damage were included. Pooling relevant results revealed that out of 59 exposed mammals only one developed tumour cell implantation at a site of colonic mucosal damage. This equates to a mammalian in vivo experimental risk of malignant cell implantation of 1.6%.ConclusionThe topic of colorectal cancer seeding following endoscopic procedures has received little attention. This review suggests that in the presence of a proximal colonic carcinoma there is a negligible risk of malignant implantation if a more distal polyp is endoscopically excised.
Scoring the quality of total mesorectal excision for the prediction of cancer‐specific outcome
Authors: Leonard D. , Penninckx F. , Laenen A. , Kartheuser A. ,   PROCARE
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimA three‐grade system for macroscopic evaluation of the resection plane is used to describe the quality of total mesorectal excision (TME). In several studies, two of the three grades have been combined when analysing the outcome. The aim of our study was to compare the predictive value of the three‐graded with that of a two‐graded TME score.MethodThe quality of TME in 1382 patients who underwent elective resection for mid or low rectal adenocarcinoma was registered by 65 hospitals in PROCARE, a Belgian multidisciplinary improvement project. Prediction of outcome based on the classic three‐grade score was compared with a two‐grade scoring system in which intramesorectal resection (IMR) was combined with mesorectal (MRR) or with muscularis propria resection (MPR). End‐points included the local recurrence rate, distant metastasis rate (DMR), disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).ResultsAmong the 1382 resections, 63% were MRR, 27% IMR and 9% MPR. No significant differences were found in local recurrence between the different grades of TME. A two‐grade score distinguishing MRR from the others was found to predict DMR, DFS and OS as well as the three‐grade score.ConclusionThe discriminatory and predictive value of a two‐grade score, differentiating MRR from the combined IMR and MPR, was as good as the classic three‐grade score.