The Moderating Role of Context in Determining Unethical Managerial Behavior: A Case Survey

We examine the moderating role of the situational and organizational contexts in determining unethical managerial behavior, applying the case-survey methodology. On the basis of a holistic, multiple-antecedent perspective, we hypothesize that two key constructs, moral intensity and situational strength, help explain contextual moderating effects on relationships between managers’ individual characteristics and unethical behavior. Based on a quantitative analysis of 52 case studies describing occurrences of real-life unethical conduct, we find empirical support for the hypothesized contextual moderating effects of moral intensity and situational strength. By examining these complex contextual moderators, we aim to contribute to organizational ethics research as we shed light on the critical role that context may play in influencing unethical managerial behavior

Evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of bioactive glass (S53P4) in the treatment of non-unions of the tibia and femur: study protocol of a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial

Background: Treatment of non-union remains challenging and often necessitates augmentation of the resulting defect with an autologous bone graft (ABG). ABG is limited in quantity and its harvesting incurs an additional surgical intervention leaving the risk for associated complications and morbidities. Therefore, artificial bone graft substitutes that might replace autologous bone are needed. S53P4-type bioactive glass (BaG) is a promising material which might be used as bone graft substitute due to its osteostimulative, conductive and antimicrobial properties. In this study, we plan to examine the clinical effectiveness of BaG as a bone graft substitute in Masquelet therapy in comparison with present standard Masquelet therapy using an ABG with tricalciumphosphate to fill the bone defect. Methods/design: This randomized controlled, clinical non-inferiority trial will be carried out at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at Heidelberg University. Patients who suffer from tibial or femoral non-unions with a segmental bone defect of 2–5 cm and who are receiving Masquelet treatment will be included in the study. The resulting bone defect will either be filled with autologous bone and tricalciumphosphate (control group, N = 25) or BaG (S53P4) (study group, N = 25). Subsequent to operative therapy, all patients will receive the same standardized follow-up procedures. The primary endpoint of the study is union achieved 1year after surgery. Discussion: The results from the current study will help evaluate the clinical effectiveness of this promising biomaterial in non-union therapy. In addition, this randomized trial will help to identify potential benefits and limitations regarding the use of BaG in Masquelet therapy. Data from the study will increase the knowledge about BaG as a bone graft substitute as well as identify patients possibly benefiting from Masquelet therapy using BaG and those who are more likely to fail, thereby improving the quality of non-union treatment. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), ID: DRKS00013882 . Registered on 22 January 2018

Statistical upscaling of ecosystem CO2 fluxes across the terrestrial tundra and boreal domain: Regional patterns and uncertainties

The regional variability in tundra and boreal carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes can be high, complicating efforts to quantify sink-source patterns across the entire region. Statistical models are increasingly used to predict (i.e., upscale) CO2 fluxes across large spatial domains, but the reliability of different modeling techniques, each with different specifications and assumptions, has not been assessed in detail. Here, we compile eddy covariance and chamber measurements of annual and growing season CO2 fluxes of gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (ER), and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) during 1990-2015 from 148 terrestrial high-latitude (i.e., tundra and boreal) sites to analyze the spatial patterns and drivers of CO2 fluxes and test the accuracy and uncertainty of different statistical models. CO2 fluxes were upscaled at relatively high spatial resolution (1 km(2)) across the high-latitude region using five commonly used statistical models and their ensemble, that is, the median of all five models, using climatic, vegetation, and soil predictors. We found the performance of machine learning and ensemble predictions to outperform traditional regression methods. We also found the predictive performance of NEE-focused models to be low, relative to models predicting GPP and ER. Our data compilation and ensemble predictions showed that CO2 sink strength was larger in the boreal biome (observed and predicted average annual NEE -46 and -29 g C m(-2) yr(-1), respectively) compared to tundra (average annual NEE +10 and -2 g C m(-2) yr(-1)). This pattern was associated with large spatial variability, reflecting local heterogeneity in soil organic carbon stocks, climate, and vegetation productivity. The terrestrial ecosystem CO2 budget, estimated using the annual NEE ensemble prediction, suggests the high-latitude region was on average an annual CO2 sink during 1990-2015, although uncertainty remains high

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km2 resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e. offset) between in situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km2 pixels (summarized from 8519 unique temperature sensors) across all the world\u27s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (−0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km² resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e., offset) between in-situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km² pixels (summarized from 8500 unique temperature sensors) across all the world’s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (-0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in-situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications

Global maps of soil temperature.

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km2 resolution for 0-5 and 5-15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e. offset) between in situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km2 pixels (summarized from 8519 unique temperature sensors) across all the world's major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (-0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications

Complications and risk management in the use of the reaming-irrigator-aspirator (RIA) system: RIA is a safe and reliable method in harvesting autologous bone graft.

Autologous bone grafting (ABG) remains the gold standard for augmentation of bone defects. The RIA system has become more prevalent, but evidence regarding risk management and complications remain scarce. This study presents the risk management and complications associated with RIA in the largest single-center case series to date.All records, operative notes, lab data and radiographs of patients receiving a RIA procedure at Heidelberg´s University Hospital between 01/01/2010 and 31/12/2016 were reviewed. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusting for clinically relevant covariates were used to examine the respective relevance regarding the presence and absence of prolonged postoperative pain (PPP).A total of 341 RIA procedures on 306 patients were performed at our level-1 trauma center. The femur was the main donor site (98.53%; N = 336) whereas only in 1.47% (N = 5) the tibia was utilized. A total of 11 patients showed a relevant loss of hemoglobin requiring blood transfusion. A total of 22 patients suffered from PPP directly associated with the RIA procedure resulting in prevalence of 6.45%. The 6 major complications in our study were of diverse origin and all intraoperative complications took place in the early phase of the RIA procedure in our center (2010-2013). Our data revealed influence of sex (p = 0.0459) and age (p = 0.0596) on the criterion PPP. The favored model including sex and age resulted in an AUC of 66.2% (CI: 55.5%-76.9%).Perioperative blood loss remains a prevalent complication during RIA reaming. In addition, PPP occurs with a prevalence of 6.45%. This study showed a complication rate of 1.76%, emphasizing RIA´s overall safety and furthermore highlighting the need for vigilance in its application and prior extensive hands-on training of surgeons. Level of Evidence: II

Does Age Influence the Outcome of Lower Limb Non-Union Treatment? A Matched Pair Analysis

Background: Fractures in elderly patients are common and have severe implications on a socioeconomic level, as musculoskeletal integrity and competence is crucial for independence. Changes in both composition and biology of bones during aging potentially affect fracture healing adversely. The current study sought to determine the influence of age on the outcome of non-union therapy of atrophic and hypertrophic non-unions based on the “diamond concept”, as well as to evaluate the well-known risk factors impairing bone healing. Patients and Methods: All medical records, operative notes, lab data, and radiological imaging of patients that received surgical treatment of both atrophic and hypertrophic non-unions of the femur or tibia between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2016 were thoroughly reviewed and analyzed. Patients who participated in our standardized follow-up for at least 12 months were included into a database. Patients older than 60 years were matched with patients younger than 60 based on five established criteria. The study was approved by the local ethics committee (S-262/2017). According to our inclusion criteria, a total of 76 patients older than 60 years were eligible for analysis. Via matching, two groups were formed: study group (SG; >60 years; n = 45) and control group (CG; <60 years; n = 45). Results: Twelve months subsequent to treatment, the consolidation rate was equivalent in both groups (SG: 71% vs. CG: 67%). The consolidation for all patients before matching was 73%. The clinical results for the complete collective were no pain or pain with high or medium strain for 62.5%, whereas 29.6% had pain with low strain or constant pain. 7.87% had no pain levels given. Logistic regression modeling showed no influence of age >60 years on radiological or clinical outcome, whereas a significant negative correlation was revealed between patients aged 40–49 years and radiological non-union consolidation (b = −1.145 and p = 0.048). In addition, diabetes had a negative influence on non-union therapy (b = −1.145 and p = 0.048). As expected, the clinical outcome correlated significantly with the radiological outcome (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Surgeons should optimize both modifiable risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, as well as surgical treatment in order to achieve the best possible outcome in elderly patients. Elderly patients benefit from osseous consolidation by enabling and maintaining musculoskeletal competence due to the close correlation between clinical and radiological outcome. Advanced age alone does not negatively influence the outcome of non-union therapy and should, therefore, not be considered a risk factor. In contrast, patients in their fifth decade suffering from lower limb non-unions should be considered as high-risk patients and treatment should be modified accordingly