bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revenue management in road-based freight transportation
Authors: Schönberger Jörn , Kopfer Herbert
Published: May 2012

Purpose

– Freight carriers operating in a spot-market environment are faced with uncertain future capacity demand, actual revenues, and properties of freight items. They require information about the expected future consumption of limited capacity to derive suitable request acceptance decisions. The purpose of this paper is to present a new idea to improve the handling of inaccurate information on the weight and volume of upcoming requests.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors start with the definition of a new mathematical optimization model as the backbone of a capacity control system. This model is embedded within a rolling-horizon decision-making process involving consecutively arriving requests. Computational simulation experiments are carried out to evaluate the applicability and efficiency of the proposed decision support system. The authors investigate how the new model contributes towards keeping the negative impacts of inadequate forecasts of the expected volume of future requests as low as possible.

Findings

– In traditional application fields of capacity control (airline ticketing or hotel reservations) the physical extent of a request is always 1 (set/bed/room). In road-based freight transportation the variety of the physical extent of requests is much more complicated and complex. The major finding is that existing capacity control approaches are unable to meet the special requirements of road-haulage. Innovative capacity control features are necessary in order to cope with the higher request portfolio complexity.

Originality/value

– This paper addresses the requirements of a capacity control system for road-based freight transportation. An innovative decision support system is evaluated. For the first time, the authors present a comprehensive quantitative simulation study dedicated to this complicated decision-making situation.
Post secondary education: are we lemmings?
Authors: Abeles Tom P.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this editorial is to describe a current and recurring problem in post‐secondary education and a path out of it.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a viewpoint paper.

Findings

Education has to change direction. Badging and the world of multiplayer games provides one path to change the institutions and how to prepare, primarily, undergraduates as education moves from pre‐K‐12 to pre‐K‐16 and towards lifelong learning

Originality/value

The paper provides a viewpoint into one way in which post‐secondary education can move forwards.
Style of information usage and use of accounting information: a Malaysian study
Authors: Azrina bt Mohd Yusof @ Ghani Nor , Shu Hui Wee , Kamal Abdul Rahman Ibrahim , Omar Shah Alam Normah , Tse Michael S.C.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Since the 1990s, there has been a growing interest in style of information usage. However, most studies on style of information usage are conducted in developed countries. There is limited research on style of information usage in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in the existing literature by examining relationships between style of information usage and use of financial and non‐financial information in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted a survey method, for which a written questionnaire was prepared and mailed out to companies in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Terengganu and Pulau Pinang.

Findings

Findings of the study show that diagnostic style of information usage is positively associated with use of financial information, while interactive style of information usage is positively associated with use of non‐financial information. Further analysis on types of non‐financial information used by managers who adopt interactive style of information usage reveals that customer‐related non‐financial information such as quality, customer satisfaction and flexibility play a more important role in their decision‐making processes.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights into relationships between style of information usage on and use of accounting information in developing countries. Findings of the study can be applied to assist management accountants in meeting managers’ information requirements.
A critique of the official discourse on drug and sex trafficking by organised crime using data on asset recovery
Authors: Sproat Peter
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The article aims to describe the role of asset recovery in combating drug and people trafficking within the UK and the different means by which the proceeds of crime can be taken away from such organised criminals.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses official data on asset recovery to critically analyse both the policing of drug trafficking in the UK and the official discourse on the extent, value and costs to the country of the trafficking of women for sex by organised crime.

Findings

The article raises important questions about the credibility of the official estimates of the scale of drug trafficking by organised crime and/or the management and funding of those tasked with policing it within the UK.

Originality/value

The work provides either a more accurate guide on the extent, value and costs to the country of the trafficking of women for sex or a much needed antithesis to the official discourse on the topic.
Perceptions of fair trade labelling and certification: three case studies
Authors: Jones Angelina R.W. , Williams Gloria
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The fair trade system was established as an alternative to the free trade system. In the case of fair trade apparel, certification standards are nascent and there is no consistent logo or labelling to aid consumers in their quest to purchase fairly‐made garments. The purpose of this paper is to examine the practices and marketing strategies of three fair trade apparel businesses based in a metropolitan city in the USA, where there are no clear standards to follow. The interviews taken for these case studies were conducted before the launching of a certification program for fair trade apparel by TransFair USA.

Design/methodology/approach

This research comprised three case study fair trade apparel companies – two wholesale and one retail. The case studies are based on in‐depth interviews, the examination of documents provided by business owners, and publicly available information on each of the companies.

Findings

These three case studies revealed differences in fair trade practices. The wholesalers communicated that they perceived a hierarchy of importance in fair trade practices, placing an emphasis on labour standards and workers’ rights and considering environmental standards to be secondary. The lack of a standardized logo for labels on fair trade apparel has meant that the businesses have had to find creative ways to communicate their fair trade practices to consumers. None of the participants felt that this lack of standardization negatively impacted their businesses.

Practical implications

There is need for a standardized label to make fair trade apparel easily identifiable for consumers and for the further development of standards for fair trade apparel and the marketing of fair trade apparel.

Originality/value

Standards for fair trade apparel are currently being developed and the paper provides valuable information about the process by which fair trade standards are formed and marketed in practice.
Adult learning and the compilation and retrieval of data
Authors: Montague Alan
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline a process to assist adult learners and researchers to capture, streamline and retrieve data for the analysis of content from various resources of information encountered in research.

Design/methodology/approach

The system is described, including a rationale for its benefit to qualitative researchers utilising multiple sources of data.

Findings

The system is designed mainly to assist the academic expedition of postgraduate students predominantly engaged in qualitative research. It covers theoretical aspects of adult learning principles combined with a systematic method for managing qualitative data.

Originality/value

Working from the assumption that adult learners are time‐poor and likely to be working full‐time, the paper discusses these learners’ need for an efficient method of recording and retrieving information and provides a straightforward, cataloguing process which the author developed when conducting postgraduate research.
Green buildings, environmental awareness, and organizational image
Authors: Rashid Mahbub , Spreckelmeyer Kent , Angrisano Neal J.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The study seeks to investigate the mechanisms for the effects of environmental design features of a green building on occupants' environmental awareness (EA) and organizational image (OI).

Design/methodology/approach

One mechanism investigated the direct effects of environmental design features of a green building on occupants' EA and OI. The other mechanism investigated the indirect effects on occupants' EA and OI resulting from the direct effects of environmental design features on occupants' workplace satisfaction. The data were collected from 175 occupants of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)‐certified green building using a questionnaire instrument.

Findings

Based on frequency, correlational, and regression analyses of the data, the study found no evidence for direct effects of environmental design features on occupants' EA and OI. The study, however, found some evidence for indirect effects, indicating that individual workspace and departmental space features affected occupants' satisfaction with individual workspaces and the building, which then affected occupants' EA and OI.

Research limitations/implications

The study involved only the employees of an organization who occupy a single LEED‐certified green building. Future studies should involve a larger sample of green buildings. Future studies should also involve other stakeholders of these buildings.

Practical implications

The study is important for the long‐term market growth of green buildings, because it provides supporting evidence for the organizational leaders who want to use green buildings to enhance organizational values and benefits.

Originality/value

The study makes an original contribution to the field, because studies focusing on the potential links between green buildings and organizational benefits and values, and the mechanisms that may help explain these links are still rare.
Difficulties in changing existing leases – one explanation of the “energy paradox”?
Authors: Bonde Magnus
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if a green lease could eliminate the split incentive problem in two office buildings located in Stockholm, Sweden. It aims to provide a theoretical overview concerning the “energy paradox” and to describe a case study in which a green lease was to be implemented in the legal framework for two office buildings in the Stockholm region.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper documents a case study, in which a green lease was to be implemented in the legal framework for two office buildings, to promote a more active engagement in the buildings energy performance. In order to accomplish this, a project group was formed which consisted of representatives from the building owners, tenant, property manager, energy consultants and KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.

Findings

This paper reveals that it is very hard to alter already legally binding agreements. Furthermore, it shows that the separation of ownership and usage of a building may not be optimal from an energy efficiency point of view.

Originality/value

The paper gives an empirical explanation as to why at times energy efficiency measures are not undertaken, even though the investments themselves bring about a positive net present value. In addition, the paper analyses the situation where property maintenance is outsourced to a property management firm, which is a common but seldom discussed situation in the literature.
Will mobile virtual network operators succeed in Korea?
Authors: Shin Donghee , Chung Sungeun
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This study aims to analyze how the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) market in Korea will evolve, the opportunities and/or threats of network operators and how the MVNO market will be forged in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides competitive analysis, market evaluation and current regulatory assessment of the Korean MVNO marketplace.

Findings

While there are many positive prospects of MVNO in Korea, a series of complicated techno‐economic issues arise.

Practical implications

The current development of MVNO sheds light on the growing challenges of the dynamics of industry, regulation and technology.

Social implications

While MVNOs continue to flourish in some markets, their diffusion in other regions is often very limited and continues to drastically decrease.

Originality/value

The results suggest a sustainable ecosystem of MVNO and propose an appropriate policy to promote MVNO diffusion.
The production and distribution of audiovisual works via new media in the light of European media policy: constraints and opportunities
Authors: Werkers Evi , Valcke Peggy
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Audiovisual works – especially cinematographic works – are at the heart of the changes resulting from the development of the information society. Media convergence radically changed the way traditional audiovisual content is produced, distributed, consumed and eventually archived. Film producers slowly started to experiment with new ways of digital production such as the shortening of release windows to favor new on demand services. How does this translate to European film policy? Due to the unique double nature of cinematographic works which are both economic and cultural goods at the same time, the European film policy is at the crossing point of media, culture, competition and heritage. This paper seeks to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research paper the authors assessed to what extent the adoption of digital technologies is stimulated throughout the value chain of film making and more precisely to what degree the distribution of a European culturally diverse catalogue of films is encouraged.

Findings

For the first time in history, European producers have the tools at their disposal to collaborate, promote and distribute internationally, at lower transaction costs and at a higher speed, and to look beyond their national market. The fast‐evolving technological developments provided the European legislator with the opportunity to strengthen and support the promotion of the European cultural identity in all its diversity. But is this also reflected in the current legislative framework? It is clear that different hurdles still need to be tackled.

Originality/value

In this research paper an overview is given of the regulatory steps that have been taken so far in the field of European film policy to stimulate the digital production and distribution of European film productions. In the context of new unfolding alliances between stakeholders and experiments with premium video‐on‐demand or shorter cinema release windows, the relevance of digital production and distribution schemes can no longer be neglected. The emergence of web‐based services including cloud computing is likely to accelerate this trend.
Development of computerized decision support system for leanness assessment using multi grade fuzzy approach
Authors: Vinodh Sekar , Dinesh Kumar C.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a decision support system (DSS) for multi grade fuzzy leanness assessment (MGFLA) (DSS‐MGFLA).

Design/methodology/approach

The assessment of leanness gains vital importance. Due to the drawbacks associated with conventional approaches, fuzzy methods are gaining importance. In this context, multi‐grade fuzzy method has been used for leanness assessment. Since the computation is time consuming and error‐prone, a computerized DSS known as DSS‐MGFLA has been developed.

Findings

DSS‐MGFLA enables the accurate evaluation of leanness. Besides assessing leanness, DSS also enables the identification of improvement areas. The DSS has been validated in an Indian relays manufacturing organization. Based on the validation, its practical feasibility has been ensured.

Research limitations/implications

DSS‐MGFLA has been validated in a single manufacturing organization for its working feasibility. But the findings could be extended to similar manufacturing organizations.

Originality/value

The idea of developing DSS for leanness assessment is novel, original and unique contribution of authors.
Creating a sustainable national index for social, environmental and economic productivity
Authors: Burgess Thomas F. , Heap John
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to create a social, environmental and economic (SEE) index for countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology in the OECD handbook on building composite indicators is followed. The data are taken from UN data sources.

Findings

An index is created that describes each of 194 countries. The countries were clustered in three groups, i.e. high, medium and low performing. The country positions matched intuitively those expected. A more focused grouping of the 35 most populous countries was examined. The method was felt to be rigorous and successful in creating an informative measure of SEE.

Research implications/limitations

Future research could include identifying factors that determine a country's SEE productivity. A similar index could be envisaged at more local level.

Practical implications

The SEE index offers a standard method for benchmarking the SEE productivity of countries, regions and the globe.

Social implications

It is hoped that this research could have an important contribution to make in enabling society, government, business and policy makers to focus their discussions and actions on areas that will lead to substantial environmental improvement and improved quality of life.

Originality/value

A SEE index is created using a rigorous methodology. The authors believe this to be a unique and valuable contribution.
Multiplicity and reflexivity in organizational research
Authors: Steyaert Chris , Marti Laurent , Michels Christoph
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is, first, to assess the potential of the visual to enact multiplicity and reflexivity in organizational research, and second, to develop a performative approach to the visual, which offers aesthetic strategies for creating future research accounts in organization and management studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews existing visual research in organization and management studies and presents an in‐depth analysis of two early, almost classical, and yet very different endeavors to create visual accounts based on ethnography: the multi‐media enactments by Bruno Latour, Emilie Hermant, Susanna Shannon, and Patricia Reed, and the filmic and written work by Trinh T. Minh‐ha and her collaborators.

Findings

The authors’ analysis of how the visual is performed in both cases identifies a repertoire of three distinct and paradoxical aesthetic strategies: de/synchronizing, de/centralizing, and dis/covering.

Originality/value

The authors analyze two rarely acknowledged but ground‐breaking research presentations, identify aesthetic strategies to perform multiplicity and reflexivity in research accounts, and question the ways that research accounts are written and published in organization and management studies by acknowledging the consequences of a performative approach to the visual.
Productivity, efficiency and structural problems in Chinese dairy farms
Authors: Yu Xiaohua
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the structural problem in the Chinese dairy sector. There exists a large number of low‐efficiency, small‐scale farms, and productivity inequality between small and large farms keeps increasing, which is a possible driving force behind the Melamine scandal in 2008.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the stochastic frontier production function, this paper estimates and compares the changes in technology and technical efficiency between backyard, small‐scale, medium‐scale and large‐scale dairy farms in China over the period between 2004 and 2008.

Findings

There are compensating effects between technology and technical efficiency. However, low yield for backyard farms is mainly caused by traditional low‐yield varieties, even though the technical efficiency is very high, which cannot compensate for the low technology.

Research limitations/implications

The author put the assumption of constant return to scale mainly due to the data availability. Such an assumption implies that there are no scale‐effects between the different scales in productivity, and the productivity difference is explained by technology and technical efficiency.

Practical implications

In order to solve the structural problems, Chinese governments should help small‐scale farmers to adopt new high‐yield varieties, to subsidize small‐scale farmers, and to train farmers to master the complicated skills for raising high‐yield varieties.

Originality/value

The paper gives another possible explanation for the Melamine scandal of milk powder in 2008. If the structural problem cannot be solved, similar food safety scandals could happen once again.
Behaviour of fish by‐catch in the mouth of a crustacean trawl
Authors: Queirolo D. , Gaete E. , Montenegro I. , Soriguer M. C. , Erzini K.
Published: May 2012

The behaviour of fish by‐catch was recorded and characterized by in situ observations in the mouth of a crustacean trawl using an underwater camera system with artificial light, at depths between 106 and 461 m, along the central coast of Chile. The groups or species studied were rattails (family Macrouridae), Chilean hake Merluccius gayi gayi, sharks (orders Carcharhiniformes and Squaliformes), skates (family Rajidae), flatfishes (genus Hippoglossina) and small benthopelagic and demersal fishes (orders Osmeriformes, Stomiiformes, Gadiformes, Ophidiiformes and Perciformes). The fish behaviour was categorized in terms of (1) position in the water column, (2) initial orientation with respect to the trawl, (3) locomotion and (4) swimming speed with respect to the trawl. Rattails, sharks, skates and flatfishes were passive in response to the trawl and showed similar behavioural patterns, with most fishes observed sitting or touching the bottom with no swimming or other activity. Merluccius gayi gayi was the most active species, displaying a wide combination of behavioural responses when the trawl approached. This species showed several behavioural patterns, mainly characterized by swimming forward at variable speed. A fraction of small bentho‐pelagic and demersal fishes also showed an active behaviour but always at lower speed than the trawl. The species‐specific differences in behaviour in the mouth of the trawl suggest that improvements at the level of the footrope can be made to reduce by‐catch, especially of passive species.
Indel information eliminates trivial sequence alignment in maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis
Authors: Denton John S.S. , Wheeler Ward C.
Published: May 2012

Although there has been a recent proliferation in maximum‐likelihood (ML)‐based tree estimation methods based on a fixed sequence alignment (MSA), little research has been done on incorporating indel information in this traditional framework. We show, using a simple model on a single character example, that a trivial alignment of a different form than that previously identified for parsimony is optimal in ML under standard assumptions treating indels as “missing” data, but that it is not optimal when indels are incorporated into the character alphabet. We show that the optimality of the trivial alignment is not an artefact of simplified theory assumptions by demonstrating that trivial alignment likelihoods of five different multiple sequence alignment datasets exhibit this phenomenon. These results demonstrate the need for use of indel information in likelihood analysis on fixed MSAs, and suggest that caution must be exercised when drawing conclusions from software implementations claiming improvements in likelihood scores under an indels‐as‐missing assumption.

© The Willi Hennig Society 2012.
Fluid balance monitoring by cuff‐occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure in haemodialysis patients
Authors: Pikwer A. , Bergenzaun L. , Sterner G. , Krite Svanberg E. , Åkeson J.
Published: May 2012

Cuff‐occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure has been proposed to reflect volume changes in experimental studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in cuff‐occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure associated with fluid removal by haemodialysis in six adult patients with chronic renal failure on intermittent haemodialysis. Measurements were carried out before and after each haemodialysis session. The volume of fluid removed (indexed to body surface area) linearly correlated with changes in cuff‐occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure (r = 0.84; r2 = 0.70; p = 0.037). Cuff‐occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure may be feasible for future clinical monitoring of individual fluid balance.
The IGF1 pathway genes and their association with age of puberty in cattle
Authors: Fortes Marina R. S. , Li Yutao , Collis Eliza , Zhang Yuandan , Hawken Rachel J.
Published: May 2012

Insulin‐like growth factor I (somatomedin C) (IGF1) influences gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons during puberty, and GnRH release guides pubertal development. Therefore, genes of the IGF1 pathway are biological candidates for the identification of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting age of puberty. In a genome‐wide association study, genotyped heifers were Tropical Composite (TCOMP, n = 866) or Brahman (BRAH, n = 843), with observation of age at first corpus luteum defining puberty. We examined SNPs in or near genes of the IGF1 pathway and report seven genes associated with age at puberty in cattle: IGF1R, IGFBP2, IGFBP4, PERK (HUGO symbol EIF2AK3), PIK3R1, GSK3B and IRS1. SNPs in the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) showed the most promising associations: two SNPs were associated with puberty in TCOMP (P < 0.05) and one in BRAH (P = 0.00009). This last SNP explained 2% of the genetic variation (R2 = 2.04%) for age of puberty in BRAH. Hence, IGF1R was examined further. Additional SNPs were genotyped, and haplotypes were analysed. To test more SNPs in this gene, four new SNPs from dbSNP were selected and genotyped. Single SNP and haploytpe analysis revealed associations with age of puberty in both breeds. There were two haplotypes of 12 IGF1R SNPs associated with puberty in BRAH (P < 0.05) and one in TCOMP (P < 0.05). One haplotype of two SNPs was associated (P < 0.01) with puberty in BRAH, but not in TCOMP. In conclusion, the IGF1 pathway appeared more relevant for age of puberty in Brahman cattle, and IGF1R showed higher significance when compared with other genes from the pathway.
A multicentre retrospective study of 66 Italian children with food protein‐induced enterocolitis syndrome: different management for different phenotypes
Authors: Sopo S. Miceli , Giorgio V. , Iacono I. Dello , Novembre E. , Mori F. , Onesimo R.
Published: May 2012

Background

Food Protein‐Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) is a non‐IgE‐mediated paediatric disorder triggered by the ingestion of specific food proteins. Many features of this syndrome are not yet well defined.

Objective

The aim of our study was to describe demographic features, causative agents, clinical features, treatments and outcomes of children suffering from acute FPIES at three Italian of Pediatric Allergology Centers.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed over a 7‐year period (2004–2010). Hospital medical record databases and hospital outpatient electronic charts were screened for the diagnosis of FPIES. Information on the first and subsequent FPIES' episodes was collected.

Results

We diagnosed 66 children with FPIES. The number of diagnoses significantly increased between 2008 and 2010 (P < 0.001). We collected a total of 165 FPIES episodes (median per child 2, range 1–10). Cow's milk was the most common trigger food (65%), followed by fish, egg, rice, soy, corn, poultry and goat's milk. Fifty‐six (85%) children reacted to a single food. Mean documented time from ingestion to symptom onset was 2.4 h (SD 0.7 h). Vomiting was the most common symptom (98%). Among patients diagnosed with OFC, 78% reacted after eating a whole serving size of the trigger food per age. Skin prick tests (SPT) for trigger foods were negative in 97% of cases. Thirty‐two/66 children (48%) achieved tolerance at a mean age of 29 months (SD 17 months). Age of achieved tolerance for cow's milk was significantly lower compared to that of other foods (24 ± 8 vs. 53 ± 17 months, P < 0.0006).

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

This article provides new insights on FPIES in Italy by describing its largest series, and shows how a significant increase in the FPIES diagnosis has been observed in the last few years. We also discussed selected management aspects of this syndrome where different phenotypes can be found.
Highly conserved CDR3 region in circulating CD4+Vβ5+ T cells may be associated with cytotoxic activity in Chagas disease
Authors: Menezes C A S , Sullivan A K , Falta M T , Mack D G , Freed B M , Rocha M O C , Gollob K J , Fontenot A P , Dutra W O
Published: May 2012

Human infection with Trypanosoma cruzi leads to Chagas disease, which presents as several different clinical conditions ranging from an asymptomatic form to a severe dilated cardiomyopathy. Several studies have demonstrated that T cells play a critical role in the development of cardiac pathology, as well as in immunoregulation during chronic disease. However, the mechanisms that drive protective or pathogenic T cell response are not known. We have shown that CD4+ T cells from chagasic patients preferentially express T cell receptor (TCR) β-chain variable region (Vβ) 5. The aim of this work was to determine whether T cells expressing this particular Vβ region displayed variable or restricted CDR3 sequences, as an indicator of the nature of the stimulus leading to the activation of these T cells in vivo. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate phenotypic characteristics of these cells that might be associated with pathology. CDR3 junctional region sequencing of Vβ5·1 expressing CD4+ T cells revealed the occurrence of a highly homologous CDR3 region with conserved TCR Jβ region usage among patients with cardiac, but not indeterminate, Chagas disease. Moreover, correlation analysis indicated that the frequency of CD4+Vβ5·1+ cells is associated with granzyme A expression, suggesting that these cells might display cytotoxic function. Together these results provide new insight into T cell recognition of antigens involved in Chagas disease and suggest that these cells may be implicated in the pathogenesis of chagasic cardiomyopathy.
An economic comparison of systems of dairy production based on N‐fertilized grass and grass‐white clover grassland in a moist maritime environment
Authors: Humphreys J. , Mihailescu E. , Casey I. A.
Published: May 2012

This study compared the profitabilities of systems of dairy production based on N‐fertilized grass (FN) and grass‐white clover (WC) grassland and assessed sensitivity to changing fertilizer N and milk prices. Data were sourced from three system‐scale studies conducted in Ireland between 2001 and 2009. Ten FN stocked between 2·0 and 2·5 livestock units (LU) ha−1 with fertilizer N input between 173 and 353 kg ha−1 were compared with eight WC stocked between 1·75 and 2·2 LU ha−1 with fertilizer N input between 79 and 105 kg ha−1. Sensitivity was confined to nine combinations of high, intermediate and low fertilizer N and milk prices. Stocking density, milk and total sales from WC were approximately 0·90 of FN. In scenarios with high fertilizer N price combined with intermediate or low milk prices, WC was more (P < 0·05) profitable than FN. Based on milk and fertilizer N prices at the time, FN was clearly more profitable than WC between 1990 and 2005. However, with the steady increase in fertilizer N prices relative to milk price, the difference between FN and WC was less clear cut between 2006 and 2010. Projecting into the future and assuming similar trends in fertilizer N and milk prices to the last decade, this analysis indicates that WC will become an increasingly more profitable alternative to FN for pasture‐based dairy production.
Extracellular ATP‐stimulated macrophages produce macrophage inflammatory protein‐2 which is important for neutrophil migration
Authors: Kawamura Hiroki , Kawamura Toshihiko , Kanda Yasuhiro , Kobayashi Takahiro , Abo Toru
Published: May 2012

Macrophages are the major source of the chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein‐2 (MIP‐2) and keratinocyte‐derived chemokine (KC), which play a major role in neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation. Although extracellular ATP from inflammatory tissues induces several immune responses in macrophages, it is unclear whether ATP‐stimulated macrophages affect neutrophil migration. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of ATP‐induced MIP‐2 production by macrophages. When ATP was injected intraperitoneally into mice, the number of neutrophils within the peritoneal cavity markedly increased, along with the levels of MIP‐2 and KC in the peritoneal lavage fluid. Consistent with this, ATP induced MIP‐2 production, but not that of KC, by peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEMs) in vitro. This occurred via interactions with the P2X7 receptor and P2Y2 receptor. Furthermore, treatment of PEMs with ATP led to the production of reactive oxygen species. The ATP‐induced MIP‐2 production was inhibited by treatment with the antioxidant N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine. Also, MIP‐2 production was inhibited by pre‐incubating PEMs with inhibitors of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 or p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase. The MIP‐2 neutralization reduced the increase in neutrophil numbers observed in ATP‐treated mice. Taken together, these results suggest that increased production of reactive oxygen species by ATP‐stimulated macrophages activates the signalling pathways that promote MIP‐2 production which, in turn, induces neutrophil migration.
The CD19/CD81 complex physically interacts with CD38 but is not required to induce proliferation in mouse B lymphocytes
Authors: Vences‐Catalán Felipe , Rajapaksa Ranjani , Levy Shoshana , Santos‐Argumedo Leopoldo
Published: May 2012

In B lymphocytes, the cell surface receptor CD38 is involved in apoptosis of immature B cells, proliferation and differentiation of mature B cells. Although CD38 has been establish as a receptor, its signaling has been only partially characterized. As a result of the lack of signaling motifs in the cytoplasmic domain, CD38 must use a co‐receptor to induce signaling within the cell. Accordingly, CD38 has been associated with different receptors such as the T‐cell receptor/CD3 complex on T cells, CD16 on natural killer cells and MHC class II molecules on monocytes. The CD19/CD81 complex has been proposed as a co‐receptor for CD38 in human B lymphocytes, but little or no characterization has been performed in mice. In this study the contribution of the CD19/CD81 complex in murine CD38 signaling was evaluated. Proliferation assays were performed using CD19−/− or CD81−/− deficient mice; CFSE‐labeled B lymphocytes from wild‐type mice and CD19−/−, CD81−/− and CD38−/− deficient mice were stimulated with agonistic antibodies against CD38. Immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence were also performed to detect protein–protein interactions. Our results indicate that the CD19/CD81 complex interacts with CD38 but this interaction is not required to induce proliferation in mouse B lymphocytes, suggesting that other receptors may contribute to the proliferation induced by CD38 in B lymphocytes.
Modifying the ‘Positive Parenting Program’ for parents with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Glazemakers I. , Deboutte D.
Published: May 2012

Background  Many parents with intellectual disabilities (ID) want and/or need professional guidance and support to learn skills and strategies to prevent and manage child behaviour problems. However, the available support is rarely suitable, and suitable support is rarely available. The aim of this study was to determine whether a popular mainstream parenting training programme, known as ‘Group Triple P’ (Positive Parenting Program), could be successfully modified for this parent group.

Method  A pilot study was undertaken to determine whether a modified version of Group Triple P would engage and retain parents with ID. A non‐experimental, pre‐test post‐test study, involving a total of 30 parents with ID, was then undertaken to obtain preliminary efficacy data.

Results  Parent engagement and participation levels were high. No parent ‘dropped out’ of the programme. After completing the modified Group Triple P programme, parents reported a decrease in psychological distress, maladaptive parenting and child conduct problems. Parents reported high levels of satisfaction with the information and support they received.

Conclusion  Research‐informed adaptation of mainstream behavioural family interventions, such as Group Triple P, could make ‘suitable support’ more readily available, and more engaging for parents with ID.
What about us? Recent advances in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C threaten to leave some parts of the world behind
Authors: Ahmed F.
Published: May 2012

Summary.  Directly acting antiviral (DAA) agents are currently revolutionizing the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection. The first generation of these agents have significant limitations including cost issues that are of particular concern in the developing world and a lack of efficacy in genotype 3 patients. Both of these concerns are of particular relevance in Pakistan.
The conserved polarity factor PodJ1 impacts multiple cell envelope‐associated functions in Sinorhizobium meliloti
Authors: Fields Alexander T. , Navarrete Charlene S. , Zare Alaa Ziad , Huang Zhenzhong , Mostafavi Mina , Lewis Jainee C. , Rezaeihaghighi Yasha , Brezler Benjamin J. , Ray Shatarupa , Rizzacasa Anne L. , Barnett Melanie J. , Long Sharon R. , Chen Esther J. , Chen Joseph C.
Published: May 2012

Although diminutive in size, bacteria possess highly diverse and spatially confined cellular structures. Two related alphaproteobacteria, Sinorhizobium meliloti and Caulobacter crescentus, serve as models for investigating the genetic basis of morphological variations. S. meliloti, a symbiont of leguminous plants, synthesizes multiple flagella and no prosthecae, whereas C. crescentus, a freshwater bacterium, has a single polar flagellum and stalk. The podJ gene, originally identified in C. crescentus for its role in polar organelle development, is split into two adjacent open reading frames, podJ1 and podJ2, in S. meliloti. Deletion of podJ1 interferes with flagellar motility, exopolysaccharide production, cell envelope integrity, cell division and normal morphology, but not symbiosis. As in C. crescentus, the S. meliloti PodJ1 protein appears to act as a polarity beacon and localizes to the newer cell pole. Microarray analysis indicates that podJ1 affects the expression of at least 129 genes, the majority of which correspond to observed mutant phenotypes. Together, phenotypic characterization, microarray analysis and suppressor identification suggest that PodJ1 controls a core set of conserved elements, including flagellar and pili genes, the signalling proteins PleC and DivK, and the transcriptional activator TacA, while alternative downstream targets have evolved to suit the distinct lifestyles of individual species.
Gene‐specific requirement of RNA polymerase II CTD phosphorylation
Authors: Drogat Julie , Hermand Damien
Published: May 2012

The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, Rpb1, contains an unusual C‐terminal domain (CTD) composed of numerous repeats of the YSPTSPS consensus sequence. This sequence is the target of post‐translational modifications such as phosphorylation, glycosylation, methylation and transitions between stereoisomeric states, resulting in a vast combinatorial potential referred to as the CTD code. In order to gain insight into the biological significance of this code, several studies recently reported the genome‐wide distribution of some of these modified polymerases and associated factors in either fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) or budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The resulting occupancy maps reveal that a general RNA polymerase II transcription complex exists and undergoes uniform transitions from initiation to elongation to termination. Nevertheless, CTD phosphorylation dynamics result in a gene‐specific effect on mRNA expression. In this review, we focus on the gene‐specific requirement of CTD phosphorylation and discuss in more detail the case of serine 2 phosphorylation (S2P) within the CTD, a modification that is dispensable for general transcription in fission yeast but strongly affects transcription reprogramming and cell differentiation in response to environmental cues. The recent discovery of Cdk12 as a genuine CTD S2 kinase and its requirement for gene‐specific expression are discussed in the wider context of metazoa.
A novel role for cyanide in the control of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings response to environmental stress
Authors: XU FEI , ZHANG DA‐WEI , ZHU FENG , TANG HE , LV XIN , CHENG JIAN , XIE HUANG‐FAN , LIN HONG‐HUI
Published: May 2012

The effects of potassium cyanide (KCN) pretreatment on the response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants to salt, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cold stress were investigated in the present study. Here, we found that KCN pretreatment improved cucumber seedlings tolerance to stress conditions with maximum efficiency at a concentration of 20 µM. The results showed that pretreatment with 20 µM KCN alleviated stress‐induced oxidative damage in plant cells and clearly induced the activity of alternative oxidase (AOX) and the ethylene production. Furthermore, the structures of thylakoids and mitochondria in the KCN‐pretreated seedlings were less damaged by the stress conditions, which maintained higher total chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and photosystem II (PSII) proteins levels than the control. Importantly, the addition of the AOX inhibitor salicylhydroxamic acid (1 mm; SHAM) decreased plant resistance to environmental stress and even compromised the cyanide (CN)‐enhanced stress tolerance. Therefore, our findings provide a novel role of CN in plant against environmental stress and indicate that the CN‐enhanced AOX might contribute to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and the protection of photosystem by maintaining energy charge homoeostasis from chloroplast to mitochondria.
Fish and shellfish allergy in children: Review of a persistent food allergy
Authors: Tsabouri Sophia , Triga Maria , Makris Michael , Kalogeromitros Dimitris , Church Martin K. , Priftis Kostas N.
Published: May 2012

The increased consumption of fish and shellfish has resulted in more frequent reports of adverse reactions to seafood, emphasizing the need for more specific diagnosis and treatment of this condition and exploring reasons for the persistence of this allergy. This review discusses interesting and new findings in the area of fish and shellfish allergy. New allergens and important potential cross‐reacting allergens have been identified within the fish family and between shellfish, arachnids, and insects. The diagnostic approach may require prick to‐prick tests using crude extracts of both raw and cooked forms of seafood for screening seafood sensitization before a food challenge or where food challenge is not feasible. Allergen‐specific immunotherapy can be important; mutated less allergenic seafood proteins have been developed for this purpose. The persistence of allergy because of seafood proteins’ resistance after rigorous treatment like cooking and extreme pH is well documented. Additionally, IgE antibodies from individuals with persistent allergy may be directed against different epitopes than those in patients with transient allergy. For a topic as important as this one, new areas of technological developments will likely have a significant impact, to provide more accurate methods of diagnosing useful information to patients about the likely course of their seafood allergy over the course of their childhood and beyond.
Current concepts in pediatric liver tumors
Authors: Emre Sukru , Umman Veysel , Rodriguez‐Davalos Manuel
Published: May 2012

Emre S, Umman V, Rodriguez‐Davalos M. Current concepts in pediatric liver tumors.

Abstract:  Liver tumors in children can be classified into benign or malignant; some of the benign lesions can have the potential of malignant transformation, and therefore the therapeutic approach may change. These neoplasms account for nearly 1–2% of all pediatric tumors and they have gained significant attention in the last decades due to data suggesting that the incidence may be increasing 5% annually. We know that with new and improved imaging modalities some of these lesions may be detected more often than before. Recent studies showed that liver cancer represented 2% of malignancies in infants by 1980s and this was doubled in incidence to 4% in the following 10 yr. In this review our aim is to discuss all primary liver tumors in children with attention to their clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features followed by the current standard of care.
Petrogenesis of anhydrous clinopyroxenite xenoliths and clinopyroxene megacrysts in alkali basalts from the Ganseong area of South Korea
Authors: CHOI SUNG HI , KIM NAK KYU
Published: May 2012

Late Cenozoic alkali basalts in the Ganseong area of South Korea contain abundant ultramafic xenoliths and clinopyroxene megacrysts. Anhydrous clinopyroxene‐rich wehrlite–clinopyroxenites make up the majority of the xenolith population and range from wehrlite through olivine clinopyroxenite to clinopyroxenite. This study investigates the petrogenesis of wehrlite–clinopyroxenite xenoliths and clinopyroxene megacrysts on the basis of petrography and mineral and whole‐rock chemistry. Observations such as an absence of carbonate or apatite, high Ti/Eu ratio, and clinopyroxene‐dominated mineralogy lead us to rule out peridotite–melt reactions as the origin of the Ganseong wehrlites– olivine clinopyroxenites. The whole‐rock compositions (e.g. high abundance of CaO at a given MgO content and low abundance of incompatible elements, such as U, K, P, and Ti compared with mafic melts) indicate that the pyroxenites do not represent crystallized magma itself, but are rather cumulates with a small amount of residual liquid. Anhydrous and orthopyroxene‐free mineral assemblages, crystallization sequence of olivine→clinopyroxene→plagioclase, and mineral chemistries (e.g. low Cr# and high TiO2 abundances in spinels and high TiO2 and Na2O abundances in clinopyroxenes at a given Mg#) suggest that relatively anhydrous intraplate alkaline basalt is the most likely candidate for the parent magma. Texture and compositions of the clinopyroxene megacrysts preclude a cognate origin via high‐pressure crystallization of the host magma. The clinopyroxene megacrysts occupy the Fe‐rich end of the compositional trends defined by wehrlite–pyroxenite clinopyroxenes. Progressive decreases in Mg# and an absence of significant compositional gaps between pyroxenite xenoliths and clinopyroxene megacrysts indicate fractionation and differentiation of a similar parental magma. We suggest that the clinopyroxene megacrysts represent fragments of pegmatitic clinopyroxenites crystallized from more advanced fractionation stages of the evolution of a series of magmatic liquids formed Ganseong wehrlite–clinopyroxenites.