bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Internal Capital Markets and Capital Structure: Bank Versus Internal Debt
Authors: Dewaelheyns Nico , Van Hulle Cynthia 
Published: July 2008

Abstract We argue that domestic business groups are able to actively optimise the internal/external debt mix across their subsidiaries. Novel to the literature, we use bi‐level data (i.e. data from both individual subsidiary financial statements and consolidated group level financial statements) to model the bank and internal debt concentration of non‐financial Belgian private business group affiliates. As a benchmark, we construct a size and industry matched sample of non‐group affiliated (stand‐alone) companies. We find support for a pecking order of internal debt over bank debt at the subsidiary level which leads to a substantially lower bank debt concentration for group affiliates as compared to stand‐alone companies. The internal debt concentration of a subsidiary is mainly driven by the characteristics of the group's internal capital market. The larger its available resources, the more intra‐group debt is used while bank debt financing at the subsidiary level decreases. However, as the group's overall debt level mounts, groups increasingly locate bank borrowing in subsidiaries with low costs of external financing (i.e. large subsidiaries with important collateral assets) to limit moral hazard and dissipative costs. Overall, our results are consistent with the existence of a complex group wide optimisation process of financing costs.
Fluctuations in abundance of large herbivore populations: insights into the influence of dry season rainfall and elephant numbers from long‐term data
Authors: Valeix M. , Fritz H. , Chamaillé‐Jammes S. , Bourgarel M. , Murindagomo F. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractIn some African protected areas, elephant populations have reached high densities causing concern about their influence on other forms of biodiversity, and in particular, other large herbivores. This has led to a debate whether management of elephant populations might need to be implemented. Surprisingly, few studies have focused on the influence of elephants on other herbivores and the existing results are conflicting. We investigated such influence in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, where elephants were culled and maintained at low density up to 1986, and have more than doubled since then, thus providing the opportunity to explore their possible influence on other herbivore species. Trends of different herbivore populations were obtained using long‐term waterhole census data, with these results also being correlated to changes in dry season rainfall, as another fundamental determinant of herbivore population fluctuations. While our study did not allow us to properly disentangle the role of elephants and rainfall, it provided valuable insights. For five out of the 13 herbivore species studied, the population increased between 1973 and 1986 (high dry season rainfall; relatively low elephant abundance), then decreased between 1987 and 1995 (extremely low dry season rainfall; increase in the elephant population), and finally have increased since 1996 (high dry season rainfall; high elephant abundance). These results are consistent with an important role of dry season rainfall on herbivore population dynamics. Additionally, for four other species, the population increased between 1973 and 1986 and has decreased since then. As most herbivore declines occurred simultaneously with increase in the elephant population in the 1987–1995 period, and with the recent increase in most populations happening at a lower rate than the 1973–1985 period, our results suggest the possible existence of a negative influence of high elephant densities on other herbivores. We discuss what the possible underlying mechanisms can be and how to investigate them.
Sound Level of Environmental Music and Drinking Behavior: A Field Experiment With Beer Drinkers
Authors: Guéguen Nicolas , Jacob Céline , Le Guellec Hélène , Morineau Thierry , Lourel Marcel 
Published: July 2008

Objective:  It had been found that environmental music was associated with an increase in alcohol consumption. The presence versus absence of music, high versus slow tempo and the different styles of environmental music is associated with different level of alcohol consumption. However, the effect of the level of the environmental music played in a bar still remained in question.Methods:  Forty male beer drinkers were observed in a bar. According to a random distribution, patrons were exposed to the usual level of environmental music played in 2 bars where the experiment was carried out or were exposed to a high level.Results:  The results show that high level volume led to increase alcohol consumption and reduced the average amount of time spent by the patrons to drink their glass.Conclusions:  The impact of environmental music on consumption was discussed and the “arousal” hypothesis and the negative effect of loud music on social interaction were used to explain our results.
A Study of the Effectiveness of Web‐Based Homework in Teaching Undergraduate Business Statistics
Authors: Palocsay Susan W. , Stevens Scott P. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTWeb‐based homework (WBH) Technology can simplify the creation and grading of assignments as well as provide a feasible platform for assessment testing, but its effect on student learning in business statistics is unknown. This is particularly true of the latest software development of Web‐based tutoring agents that dynamically evaluate individual students' skill level and purport to respond with appropriate, targeted teaching to improve learning efficiency. In this article, we compare traditional, textbook‐based homework assignments with three systems of WBH for undergraduate business statistics courses: ALEKS, PH Grade Assist, and custom‐made online quizzes in Blackboard. These systems represent a range of media from artificial intelligence–based tutoring to instructor‐controlled objective testing. Using a common assessment test, we compare the performance of students taught with these different systems. Our study finds, as we anticipated, that student performance depends significantly upon teacher experience and student academic competence. Once these factors are controlled for, however, the technique used to deliver homework makes little difference in student success. In contrast to other published research, we do not find any advantage to automated tutoring and identify some limitations of this approach based on both instructor and student feedback.
Trade‐Offs, Biases, and Uncertainty in Project Planning and Execution: A Problem‐Based Simulation Exercise
Authors: Smith‐Daniels Dwight E. , Smith‐Daniels Vicki L. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTThe ability to plan and execute projects is a fundamental skill required among managers and business school graduates. In the opening phase of a project, the project team makes decisions about the relative priority of project time, cost, and performance objectives, oftentimes without complete information about customer and stakeholder requirements. Existing project management curriculum assists in developing skills to decide among these priorities in the abstract through paradigms such as the time–cost–performance triangle, with limited attention to the improvement of skills required to develop solutions to these trade‐offs, particularly in uncertain and ambiguous project environments. Further, there is often an underlying bias in project teams toward consideration of the project task and project deliverables and reduced attention to time and cost objectives. This study demonstrates the benefits of a balanced approach to setting project time, cost, and performance objectives using a goal‐based simulation exercise entitled “The Bridge to Project Leadership.” Results for 124 project teams illustrate the tendency to ignore this balanced approach, resulting in reduced project performance, even among experienced project managers.
An Evaluation of Factors Regarding Students’ Assessment of Faculty in a Business School*
Authors: Peterson Richard L. , Berenson Mark L. , Misra Ram B. , Radosevich David J. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTStudent faculty ratings are used at most institutions of higher learning for three important reasons. First, the ratings provide direct feedback to the faculty, and this enables faculty to adjust their teaching styles. Second, the ratings provide the administration with information intended to assist in guiding and mentoring faculty toward more effective pedagogical performance in the classroom. Third, the ratings also provide the administration with information to be used in the reappointment, tenure, and promotion processes, as well as for assignment of salary range adjustments and teaching awards. To be of real value, however, all of this is predicated on the use of a valid and reliable faculty‐rating instrument along with a system designed to provide both the faculty and the administration with norming reports that allow for appropriate comparisons of ratings. This article reports such a study conducted within a large department of a business school and recommends that the process used be adapted by other business school departments and other academic units across the university and at other universities to ensure a more universally appropriate usage of students’ ratings.
Persistently raised C‐reactive protein levels are associated with advanced periodontal disease
Authors: Linden Gerard J. , McClean Kathy , Young Ian , Evans Alun , Kee Frank 
Published: July 2008

AbstractObjective: The aim was to investigate whether there was an association between periodontitis or tooth loss in a homogeneous group of 60–70‐year‐old Western European men and either a sustained high or low level of C‐reactive protein (CRP).Material and Methods: Men enrolled in a cohort study of cardiovascular disease in Northern Ireland were screened in 1990–1994 and rescreened in 2001–2004, when a periodontal examination was completed. High‐sensitivity CRP was measured from fasting blood samples. There were 806 men with six or more teeth who had either a high level (>3 mg/l) or a lower level of CRP at both time points. Multivariate analysis was carried out using logistic regression with adjustment for possible confounders. Models were constructed with the CRP level as the outcome variable and various measures of periodontal status (low and high threshold periodontitis) or tooth loss as predictor variables. Confounders included in the analysis were known cardiovascular risk factors of age, smoking, diabetes, BMI and socioeconomic status.Results: There were 67 men who had a high value of CRP (>3 mg/l) and 739 men who had a CRP value 3 mg/l at both time points. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for advanced periodontitis to be associated with high CRP was 3.62, p=0.0003. The association was somewhat attenuated but remained significant (OR=2.49, p=0.02) after adjustment for confounders. A high level of tooth loss was also associated with high CRP with an adjusted OR of 2.17, p=0.008. Low threshold periodontitis was not associated with the level of CRP.Conclusion: There was an association between advanced periodontitis and elevated CRP levels as measured at two time points at a 10‐year interval in the 60–70‐year‐old European males investigated. This association was adjusted for various cardiovascular risk factors. There was also an association between high levels of tooth loss and high CRP in the men studied.
Periodontal health status and smoking among young adults
Authors: Vered Yuval , Livny Alon , Zini Avi , Sgan‐Cohen Harold D. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAim: Our aim was to evaluate the periodontal status and present smoking habits among a representative sample of young adult Israelis and to investigate possible associations.Material and Methods: A representative sample of young adult Israelis was examined and interviewed on the day of release from compulsory military service. Collected data included demographic background (gender, education level, family size and father's country of origin) and current smoking habits. Clinical examination included the recording of periodontal health status according to the Community Periodontal Index (CPI).Results: Seven thousand and fifty‐six young adults were examined. Sixteen per cent were classified as CPI 0, 78% as CPI 1–2 and 6% as CPI 3–4. In total, 36% of the sample reported a current smoking habit. Periodontal status was significantly improved among non‐smokers, females and children of fathers born in Israel or Western countries.Conclusion: Only 7% of the participants demonstrated signs of periodontitis and most young adults did not smoke; a dose–response association was revealed between present smoking habits and periodontal disease.
Spiradenoma reminiscent of thymoma: report of a case and review of the literature
Authors: Levidou Georgia , Lazaris Andreas , Androulaki Athina 
Published: July 2008

Background:  Spiradenoma (Sp) is a rare adnexal cutaneous tumor with a prominent vasculature. There are few reports in the literature suggesting that the majority of the cases contain perivascular spaces with numerous lymphocytes, a feature that is characteristic in thymus neoplasms. However, there is little information available about the nature and maturity of the lymphocytes comprising these spaces.Methods:  We report a case of a Sp that presented as a palpable painless mass in a 45‐year‐old woman and had histological similarities with thymomas. Furthermore, we compare these two entities in detail, discussing the differences and possible similarities between them.Results:  On histological grounds, the lesion consisted of epithelial lobules with prominent ductal differentiation admixed with conspicuous perivascular spaces containing numerous lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that perivascular spaces contained mostly T lymphocytes (CD3 positive), which in contrast with those seen in most thymomas were mature (CD99, CD1a and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Tdt) negative). A detailed comparison between Sps and thymomas shows that there exist several important clinicopathological and cytological differences between these two tumors.Conclusions:  We suggest that the resemblance between Sps and thymomas is strictly architectural, and we raise some questions regarding the role of these perivascular spaces in tumor development.
A 20-yr radio light curve for the young supernova remnant G1.9+0.3
Authors: Murphy T. , Gaensler B. M. , Chatterjee S. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
The radio source G1.9+0.3 has recently been identified as the youngest known Galactic supernova remnant, with a putative age of ∼100 yr. We present a radio light curve for G1.9+0.3 based on 25 epochs of observation with the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope, spanning 20 yr from 1988 to 2007. These observations are all at the same frequency (843 MHz) and comparable resolutions (43 × 91 or 43 × 95 arcsec2) and cover one fifth of the estimated lifetime of the supernova remnant. We find that the flux density has increased at a rate of 1.22 ± 0.240.16 per cent yr−1 over the last two decades, suggesting that G1.9+0.3 is undergoing a period of magnetic field amplification.
Stakeholder involvement and public participation: a critique of Water Framework Directive arrangements in the United Kingdom
Authors: Woods David 
Published: July 2008

AbstractExpert consensus regarding public consultation and participation on environmental matters favours a multilevel approach: the process is much more likely to succeed when those consulted can relate to the boundaries, scale and the local nature of the issues. The Water Framework Directive requires those with the responsibility for river basin management planning to engage with stakeholders and the general public when such plans are being developed. Examination of the arrangements for public participation in the regions of the United Kingdom shows a marked variation in the interpretation of the Directive that may leave the general public residing in England and Wales at a significant disadvantage. In both Scotland and Northern Ireland involvement by the general public is planned at a much more local level through groups established specifically for that purpose. Arrangements at local level in England and Wales are focused on narrower existing liaison arrangements in place before the implementation of the Directive.
Neonatal survival of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus)
Authors: Kaplan Christopher C. , White Gary C. , Noon Barry R. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractNeonatal survival of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) are often considered inconsequential to their population dynamics. However, observations of dead animals on rookeries and in surrounding waters suggest that early mortality is not uncommon. This study used the natural markings of adult females in a mark and resighting framework to estimate the apparent survival (φ) of pups with the Cormack–Jolly–Seber model at two sites on Lowrie Island, Alaska from birth to 3 wk old. Estimates varied greatly by site and year; 2002 Area 5:(95% CI: 0.199, 0.684;n= 21), 2002 Area 1:(0.437, 0.916;n= 21), 2003 Area 5:(0.414, 0.738;n= 56), and 2003 Area 1:(0.695, 0.997;n= 32). The mean estimate across the four area × year combinations was(0.569, 0.772). Survival was lowest on the first day of life and then leveled off at a higher rate. None of the four environmental covariates we considered (swell height, interaction of tide and swell heights, density, or birth date) were significantly related to neonatal survival. Our results suggest that estimates of first‐year survival that do not account for mortality prior to dispersal from the natal rookery may significantly overestimate survival rate.
Primary rectal lymphoma: an unusual treatment for a rare case
Authors: Unal B , Karabeyoglu M , Erel S , Bozkurt B , Kocer B , Cengiz O 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Lymphomas may be localised throughout the whole gastrointestinal tract, from oral cavity to rectum. The rectum is a fairly uncommon site for lymphoma compared to other gastrointestinal sites. Primary rectal lymphoma is the rarest disorder accounting for 0.1–0.6% of all colonic malignancies, and 0.05% of all primary rectal tumours. It is unclear whether surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or combinations of these treatments improve the prognosis and survival rate in such patients. The role of surgery in primary rectal lymphoma of the rectum is still controversial. A case of primary rectal lymphoma treated by a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is described.
Multifocal motor neuropathy: review of a treatable immune mediated disorder
Authors: Rajabally Y A 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Initially described only about 20 years ago, multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is a predominantly distal, mainly upper limb, asymmetrical, pure motor neuropathy. MMN is immune mediated, and frequently associated with antiganglioside antibodies to GM1 of IgM type. The hallmark of MMN is the presence of conduction block (CB) on motor nerve conduction studies. There are, however, forms of MMN where CBs are not present or cannot be detected with routinely available diagnostic techniques. MMN is a treatable disorder, with about 80% of patients responding to intravenous immunoglobulins. For that reason, it needs to be distinguished from motor neuron disease, which is much more common but remains untreatable. MMN also needs to be distinguished from other immune mediated neuropathies as it is unresponsive to plasma exchanges and steroids, which may both cause it to deteriorate. As treatment is less effective later in the course of MMN, early recognition is vital. Long term management is, however, frequently complicated by progressive axonal degeneration resulting in functional decline despite treatment.
Complex care by multiple medical and dental specialists of a patient with aggressive Gorlin–Goltz syndrome
Authors: Nagy K , Kiss E , Erdei C , Oberna F , Fejérdy P , Márton K , Vajo Z 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Gorlin–Goltz syndrome is a genetically predisposed disease characterised by multiple basal cell carcinomas, odontogenic keratocysts and ectopic calcifications. The aim of this study was to show successful treatment of a 37-year-old male patient by cooperation between different dental and medical specialists. Because of the recurrence of a large basal cell carcinoma after multiple operations and a total dose telecobalt irradiation of 66 Gy, the patient's nose was ablated, with resection of the upper lip and part of the maxilla. The intraoral prosthetic treatment helped to restore the subtotal edentulousness. In order to enhance the application of the dental prosthesis, an Abbe plasty was performed at the second stage of surgery. As previous irradiation of the area precluded the use of facial implants immediately after the intraoral treatment, a temporary artificial nose prosthesis was created. The patient tolerated the procedures well and is completely disease-free 12 months after the surgery. Besides presenting a rare and complicated case of Gorlin–Goltz syndrome, the main purpose of this report is to show that, if different specialists in a dental–clinical team (maxillofacial surgeon, oncologist, radiation oncologist, prosthodontist and psychiatrist) combine their skills and expertise, successful management is possible even in a challenging complex case.
Magma emplacement in a transfer zone: the Miocene mafic Orano dyke swarm of Elba Island, Tuscany, Italy
Authors: Dini A. , Westerman D. S. , Innocenti F. , Rocchi S. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Magmatic activity in the western part of Elba Island at the north end of the Tyrrhenian Sea lasted approximately 1.5 Ma during the Late Miocene, building a complex of nested Christmas-tree laccoliths, a 10 km-diameter pluton (Monte Capanne) and, finally, the steeply-dipping Orano dyke swarm (ODS). This igneous activity occurred as an extensional regime and followed the wake of eastward-migrating compression of the Apennine front. The ODS consists of hybridized mantle-derived magmas, constituting about 200 dykes totalling a length of approximately 90 km. These dykes intruded the northwestern part of the pluton (NW of the Pomonte–Procchio geomorphic lineament) and its contact aureole, as well as several kilometres of sedimentary rock above. The ODS intruded near the close of pluton crystallization, above a source region marked by a positive magnetic anomaly located NW of the Pomonte–Procchio lineament. Dyke orientations are dominated by a major system trending N78E, with dykes concentrated in belts that locally produced up to 15% extension; between these belts, a minor system of Orano dykes dominates with N38W and N22E trends.
ODS emplacement patterns preserve the strain that resulted in exploitation of Riedel fractures in a NE–SW dextral shear zone; local internal zones of sinistral shear account for one set of the minor system. This shearing occurred between offset segments of the Elba Ridge in the western Elba transfer zone, where strain concentrated magma flow to build the western Elba magmatic complex. This zone developed as a result of different extension rates that produced north-trending Neogene–Quaternary sedimentary basins north and south of the zone. Such basins are connected regionally by NE-trending lineaments previously active during the formation and destruction of the Tethys Ocean. All the magmatic centres in the northern Tyrrhenian–Tuscan area are distributed along such lineaments and developed as a wave moving northeastward across the region, suggesting that magmatism was focused by transfer zone development as back-arc extension migrated in that direction and reactivated former faults.