bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial risk analysis of Cambodia Kamchay hydropower BOT project
Authors: Jun Zhuo , Chanvicheka Phan , Shuai Gao
Published: February 2017

Subject area

Management science, operational and financial risk of overseas enterprises.

Study level/applicability

This case is mainly applicable to international business course and project management course.

Case overview

Since 1992, the Great Mekong sub-regional economic cooperation between China and ASEAN countries was officially launched and set free economic zone. Hydropower is starting to develop in recent years in Cambodia, and it is a good significance to Cambodia's industry. Furthermore, most of hydropower plants in Cambodia are built by Chinese companies. Thus, this paper will analyze the current risk and condition of Kamchay hydropower, as well as the development of Chinese enterprise for Cambodia economic and social development.

Expected learning outcomes

This case study provides students concepts on international business, project management, and operational risk of overseas enterprises. The principle of project contracting, labor cooperation, and project financial in international process are considered together with the implications they have for advancing understanding of the problem of the host country's government interests and the various risk of enterprises in international BOT projects.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Employability and innovation: development of a scale
Authors: Singh Rupali , Chawla Ginni , Agarwal Sonal , Desai Avani
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore the antecedents of employability from the employer’s perspective to provide sustainable employment and to develop a measurement scale.

Design/methodology/approach

In the study, the survey-based approach has been adopted. The authors developed an instrument following extensive literature review and further pre-tested the instrument with experts drawn from the academics. The data collection was monitored following Dillman’s (2007) total design test method. Finally, 114 usable responses were collected. The data were further tested for normal assumptions. Orthogonal and parsimonious constructs were derived following exploratory factor analysis, and the construct validity was checked using confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

The following antecedents of employability were obtained: innovative skills and innovative abilities along with the knowledge, innovative abilities, personality factors, career-building traits, emotional intelligence and efficacy beliefs.

Research limitations/implications

The authors observed that the present study like other survey-based research has its own limitations. Currently, cross-sectional data were used, which inherit some serious limitations like endogeneity and common method bias. However, utmost care was taken to minimize the effects of endogeneity and common method bias using some suggested measures in the existing literature.

Social implications

The findings and conclusions are expected to aid students, academicians and practitioners in developing an understanding of employability. Moreover, these antecedents can be developed in graduates along with their higher education as per the requirements of the industry.

Originality/value

This paper is an attempt to develop a scale for measurement of employability in the education sector.
Agent-based modeling of availability for complex multiple units systems
Authors: Wang Ling , Xu Hong , Wu Jinjin , Chen Xiai , Na Wenbo
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an availability modeling method of complex multiple units system (CMUS) based on the multi-agent technique.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the multi-agent technique, this paper describes the availability model structure for CMUS and develops agent-based models of components, maintenance policies, maintenance tools, maintenance fields, and maintenance staff, as well as the communication method among the different agents. On the basis of the agent-based availability modeling theory, the availability simulation scheme of CMUS is given using MATLAB. Thus, the availability modeling theory of CMUS and its simulation method are developed. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed availability modeling method, a numerical example is given.

Findings

The proposed agent-based modeling method is applicable to availability modeling of CMUS, including the modeling of component failure, maintenance tools/fields/staff, maintenance policy, and structural/economic dependence among components.

Practical implications

As a bottom-top, modular, expandable, and reusable modeling theory, the agent-based modeling method might be useful for availability modeling of different CMUSs in reality.

Originality/value

The multi-agent technique is introduced into availability modeling of multi-component systems in this paper. Thus, it is possible to model failure of many components, maintenance policies, maintenance tools, maintenance fields, and maintenance staff together for availability analysis of complex systems of equipment.
Does the soft aspects of TQM influence job satisfaction and commitment? An empirical analysis
Authors: Arunachalam Thiruchelvi , Palanichamy Yogesh
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Previous studies that have attempted to link TQM and employees’ satisfaction are either theoretical without empirical evidence or had limited outcome in scope as they link only few elements of TQM with employees’ job satisfaction and commitment. This study is warranted due to the paucity of insights into the impact of soft strategies on determining job satisfaction and commitment. Despite the considerable body of TQM literature that has evolved to examine the relationship between TQM and employees’ job satisfaction in various countries as well as industries there is no existing literature that recognizes the soft aspects of TQM within the context of the Indian manufacturing industry. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of the proposed hypotheses a conceptual model was proposed and tested. A questionnaire survey was employed for data collection. The participants were 450 shop floor employees of three Indian manufacturing organizations.

Findings

The results have shown that six out of the nine soft aspects of TQM played a role in determining job satisfaction and commitment. The results have also shown that the predictors of both job satisfaction and commitment were the same except for the strength of prediction. The proposed model showed an acceptable fit.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine the impact of soft aspects of TQM in determining job satisfaction and commitment in the Indian manufacturing organizations.
Culture driven regeneration (CDR): a conceptual business improvement tool
Authors: Mahadevan Kumaraguru
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the research carried out on a conceptual approach in business improvement termed as culture driven regeneration (CDR). The research positions CDR as business improvement tool that leverages organizational learning, organization culture and corporate knowledge in implementing changes. The CDR concept is positioned half way between business process re-engineering (BPR) that thrives on radical design and process changes, and total quality management (TQM) that takes the slow and incremental approach to improvement. CDR regenerates the processes in the journey to business improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured and a comprehensive literature review were carried out on BPR and TQM in the context of leadership, organization learning, organizational learning and corporate knowledge. The review confirmed that TQM and BPR are connected to the four areas. This connection led to the conceptualization that organizations deploy culture and corporate knowledge to drive business improvement. Organization culture and knowledge was quantified based on previous research in this area and methods applied in other research studies relating to benchmarking. There are no empirical analyses included in this paper, however knowledge and culture were given scores in illustrating the CDR concept.

Findings

This conceptual paper has pointed out that organization culture, knowledge, organizational learning and leadership are important components of a business improvement tool such as BPR and TQM. The CDR concept leverages those components and draws on the organization’s corporate culture to enable change.

Research limitations/implications

Additional empirical studies are required on various types of industries, organization cultures, organization structures and professions to establish more robust scores for knowledge and culture applied in the CDR concept. The concept could be further expanded into a framework that could be applied across a number of industries.

Originality/value

The CDR concept is a business improvement tool that enables organizations to leverage their existing culture in driving change. The concept is built up on the existing relationship BPR and TQM has with organization learning, organization culture, corporate knowledge and the quantification of culture and knowledge.
Intra‐ and interspecific niche variation as reconstructed from stable isotopes in two ecologically different Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes
Authors: Lemmens Pieter , Teffera Fassil E. , Wynants Maarten , Govaert Lynn , Deckers Jozef , Bauer Hans , Woldeyes Feleke , Brendonck Luc , Bouillon Steven , De Meester Luc
Published: February 2017

The concept of species niches has enhanced our understanding of community assembly and food web structure in a variety of ecosystem types. Niche‐based species sorting profoundly determines community composition along strong environmental gradients, while interspecific interactions tend to be more important within habitats at local spatial scales. The role of intraspecific niche variation in community assembly and ecosystem functioning has only recently been highlighted.

The present study undertakes a quantitative comparison of the trophic structure of fish communities in two iconic Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes, Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo, which are biodiversity hotspots with high societal importance. The lakes differ strongly in ecology: whereas Lake Abaya is turbid due to a very high sediment loading, Lake Chamo is a clear‐water lake, which in recent years is, however, rapidly becoming more turbid. Using stable isotopes, we compare the structure of the food web in both lakes, and investigate the degree to which differences in trophic structure between the two lakes are mediated by changes in species composition with fixed within‐species niches or rather by flexibility in food acquisition within species.

Different food web compartments, including fish and the main basal sources, were sampled in both lakes. We used Bayesian stable isotope mixing models and Bayesian community‐wide metrics for a quantitative comparison of the food web structure between the two lakes.

We demonstrate that the isotopic niche of the fish community in Lake Abaya is larger and more diversified compared to that in Lake Chamo. Sediment organic material seems to be a major energy source for fish in Abaya, while zooplankton is a dominant source for fish in Chamo. This is consistent with the different ecology of the two lakes, where high turbidity impedes primary and secondary production in Abaya. Differences in trophic structure between the two lakes resulted from intraspecific isotopic niche variation rather than from compositional variation between fish communities.

Our results point to the importance of intraspecific variation in feeding ecology of fish communities inhabiting two large Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes with distinct environmental conditions. We anticipate that the approach we used has strong potential to explore large‐scale patterns in food web organization in relation to niche variation across different types of ecosystems.

lay summary is available for this article.
Developmental trajectories of amphibian microbiota: response to bacterial therapy depends on initial community structure
Authors: Davis Leyla R. , Bigler Laurent , Woodhams Douglas C.
Published: February 2017

Improving host health through microbial manipulation requires untangling factors that shape the microbiome. There is currently little understanding of how initial community structure may drive the microbiota trajectory across host development or influence bacterial therapy outcomes. Probiotic baths of surface symbionts,Pseudomonas fluorescensandFlavobacterium johnsoniaewere administered to 240 tadpoles of the midwife toad,Alytes obstetricansin semi‐natural outdoor mesocosms originating from geographically and genetically distinct populations in Switzerland. Host bacterial and fungal assemblages were compared in tadpoles from the pond of origin, across metamorphosis, and in toadlets via microbial fingerprinting. Bacterial and fungal community structures differed significantly among populations and a microbial population signature persisted from the tadpole stage, through metamorphosis, and following probiotic treatment. A minimal core surface microbiota is described by persistence through development and by shared membership across populations. The impact ofF. johnsoniaeon the tadpole surface microbiome was assessed with shotgun metagenomics. Bacterial therapy reduced abundance, diversity, and functional repertoire compared to untreated controls. A correlation between host skin peptides and microbiota suggests a mechanism of host‐directed symbiosis throughout development. Early developmental stages are ideal targets for amphibian bacterial therapy that can govern a microbiome trajectory at critical timepoints and may impact susceptibility to disease.
W. E. B. Du Bois at the center: from science, civil rights movement, to Black Lives Matter
Authors: Morris Aldon
Published: February 2017

I am honoured to present the 2016 British Journal of Sociology Annual Lecture at the London School of Economics. My lecture is based on ideas derived from my new book, The Scholar Denied: W.E.B. Du Bois and the Birth of Modern Sociology.

In this essay I make three arguments. First, W.E.B. Du Bois and his Atlanta School of Sociology pioneered scientific sociology in the United States. Second, Du Bois pioneered a public sociology that creatively combined sociology and activism. Finally, Du Bois pioneered a politically engaged social science relevant for contemporary political struggles including the contemporary Black Lives Matter movement.
Designing Biosecurity Inspection Regimes to Account for Stakeholder Incentives: An Inspection Game Approach
Authors: Rossiter Anthony , Hester Susan M
Published: February 2017

We investigate the potential for biosecurity regulators to design inspection regimes that reduce intervention and encourage importers to decrease the likelihood of biosecurity risk material being present in consignments. The interaction between a biosecurity regulator and a vertically integrated importer is framed as an inspection game. Our principal focus is a dynamic version of the game, which we use to assess whether regimes based on past compliance can encourage behaviours consistent with the regulatory objective. Our results suggest appropriate candidates for compliance‐based inspection regimes are goods where there is access to cost‐effective ‘fixed’ abatement technologies, and those with high costs associated with being inspected or failing inspection.
Diagnosing Crime and Diagnosing Disease: Bias Reduction Strategies in the Forensic and Clinical Sciences
Authors: Lockhart Joseph J. , Satya‐Murti Saty
Published: February 2017

Cognitive effort is an essential part of both forensic and clinical decision‐making. Errors occur in both fields because the cognitive process is complex and prone to bias. We performed a selective review of full‐text English language literature on cognitive bias leading to diagnostic and forensic errors. Earlier work (1970–2000) concentrated on classifying and raising bias awareness. Recently (2000–2016), the emphasis has shifted toward strategies for “debiasing.” While the forensic sciences have focused on the control of misleading contextual cues, clinical debiasing efforts have relied on checklists and hypothetical scenarios. No single generally applicable and effective bias reduction strategy has emerged so far. Generalized attempts at bias elimination have not been particularly successful. It is time to shift focus to the study of errors within specific domains, and how to best communicate uncertainty in order to improve decision making on the part of both the expert and the trier‐of‐fact.
Sex Assessment from the Volume of the First Metatarsal Bone: A Comparison of Linear and Volume Measurements
Authors: Gibelli Daniele , Poppa Pasquale , Cummaudo Marco , Mattia Mirko , Cappella Annalisa , Mazzarelli Debora , Zago Matteo , Sforza Chiarella , Cattaneo Cristina
Published: February 2017

Sexual dimorphism is a crucial characteristic of skeleton. In the last years, volumetric and surface 3D acquisition systems have enabled anthropologists to assess surfaces and volumes, whose potential still needs to be verified. This article aimed at assessing volume and linear parameters of the first metatarsal bone through 3D acquisition by laser scanning. Sixty‐eight skeletons underwent 3D scan through laser scanner: Seven linear measurements and volume from each bone were assessed. A cutoff value of 13,370 mm3 was found, with an accuracy of 80.8%. Linear measurements outperformed volume: metatarsal length and mediolateral width of base showed higher cross‐validated accuracies (respectively, 82.1% and 79.1%, raising at 83.6% when both of them were included). Further studies are needed to verify the real advantage for sex assessment provided by volume measurements.
Molecular identification and distribution of leatherjackets (Diptera: Tipulidae) in U.K. agricultural grassland
Authors: Benefer Carly M. , D'Ahmed Karzan S. , Murray Philip J. , Blackshaw Rod P.
Published: February 2017

DNA barcoding is useful for the identification of morphologically cryptic invertebrates. An important application is for pest species, for which it is critical to determine the distribution, biology and ecology of damaging life stages in order to target management effectively.

Tipula paludosa (Meigen) and Tipula oleracea (Linnaeus) leatherjackets, the larvae of crane flies (Diptera: Tipulidae), are pests of agricultural grassland in Europe and the U.S.A. and are difficult to distinguish morphologically.

We used cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcoding to identify leatherjackets from 19 permanent grassland fields over 2 sampling seasons on the Rothamsted Research North Wyke Farm Platform, south west UK, to assess species-level distribution and genetic diversity.

Most larvae (94%) were found to be T. paludosa, comprising 18 haplotypes that were spread across the sampling site in a panmictic population. However, T. oleracea were found in low abundance (3% of larval samples) and only in the second year of sampling. Other morphologically similar Dipteran larvae (3%) were also found.

This dominance of one species suggests that there may be underlying differences in species biology, such as choice of oviposition site and dispersal ability, which is in agreement with other studies and has implications for monitoring and management.
The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Denmark 1980–2013: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Lophaven S. N. , Lynge E. , Burisch J.
Published: February 2017

Background

Globally, the incidence rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are increasing; however, data from high‐incidence areas are conflicting. Previous studies in Denmark have assessed incidence rates of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) using short observation periods.

Aim

To investigate trends in IBD incidence in Denmark over a thirty‐year period using nationwide data.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with CD or UC in Denmark between 1980 and 2013 were identified in the Danish National Patient Registry (NPR) and included in a nationwide cohort. Incidence rates estimated using different numbers of National Patient Registry records (≥1, 2, 3 or 4) required for case definition were compared.

Results

From 1980 to 2013 the incidence of CD increased from 5.2 (95% CI: 5.0–5.4) per 100 000 to 9.1 (95% CI: 8.7–9.5) per 100 000 and the incidence of UC increased from 10.7 (95% CI: 10.4–11.0) per 100 000 to 18.6 (95% CI: 18.0–19.2) per 100 000. The increased incidence in CD and UC was independent of gender. The annual increase in incidence rate was greatest in patients aged <15 years for CD and those older than 15 years for UC. For both CD and UC the incidence rates for females were significantly higher than for males. The number of registry records chosen to define IBD cases greatly influenced incidence estimates.

Conclusions

The incidence of IBD in Denmark continues to increase and is among the highest in the world. Using at ≥2 records of IBD diagnosis in the Danish National Patient Registry will result in more valid incidence estimates.
Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease among participants of the Millennium Cohort: incidence, deployment‐related risk factors, and antecedent episodes of infectious gastroenteritis
Authors: Porter C. K. , Welsh M. , Riddle M. S. , Nieh C. , Boyko E. J. , Gackstetter G. , Hooper T. I.
Published: February 2017

Background

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are two pathotypes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with unique pathology, risk factors and significant morbidity.

Aim

To estimate incidence and identify IBD risk factors in a US military population, a healthy subset of the US population, using information from the Millennium Cohort Study.

Methods

Incident IBD was identified from medical encounters from 2001 to 2009 or by self‐report. Our primary risk factor of interest, infectious gastroenteritis, was identified from medical encounters and self‐reported post‐deployment health assessments. Other potential risk factors were assessed using self‐reported survey responses and military personnel files. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox proportional hazards analysis.

Results

We estimated 23.2 and 21.9 diagnoses per 100 000 person‐years, respectively, for CD and UC. For CD, significant risk factors included [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 95% confidence interval]: current smoking (aHR: 2.7, 1.4–5.1), two life stressors (aHR: 2.8, 1.4–5.6) and prior irritable bowel syndrome (aHR: 4.7, 1.5–15.2). There was no significant association with prior infectious gastroenteritis. There was an apparent dose–response relationship between UC risk and an increasing number of life stressors. In addition, antecedent infectious gastroenteritis was associated with almost a three‐fold increase in UC risk (aHR: 2.9, 1.4–6.0). Moderate alcohol consumption (aHR: 0.4, 0.2–0.6) was associated with lower UC risk.

Conclusions

Stressful conditions and the high risk of infectious gastroenteritis in deployment operations may play a role in the development of IBD in military populations. However, observed differences in risk factors for UC and CD warrant further investigation.
A General Instrumental Variable Framework for Regression Analysis with Outcome Missing Not at Random
Authors: Tchetgen Tchetgen Eric J. , Wirth Kathleen E.
Published: February 2017

The instrumental variable (IV) design is a well-known approach for unbiased evaluation of causal effects in the presence of unobserved confounding. In this article, we study the IV approach to account for selection bias in regression analysis with outcome missing not at random. In such a setting, a valid IV is a variable which (i) predicts the nonresponse process, and (ii) is independent of the outcome in the underlying population. We show that under the additional assumption (iii) that the IV is independent of the magnitude of selection bias due to nonresponse, the population regression in view is nonparametrically identified. For point estimation under (i)–(iii), we propose a simple complete-case analysis which modifies the regression of primary interest by carefully incorporating the IV to account for selection bias. The approach is developed for the identity, log and logit link functions. For inferences about the marginal mean of a binary outcome assuming (i) and (ii) only, we describe novel and approximately sharp bounds which unlike Robins–Manski bounds, are smooth in model parameters, therefore allowing for a straightforward approach to account for uncertainty due to sampling variability. These bounds provide a more honest account of uncertainty and allows one to assess the extent to which a violation of the key identifying condition (iii) might affect inferences. For illustration, the methods are used to account for selection bias induced by HIV testing nonparticipation in the evaluation of HIV prevalence in the Zambian Demographic and Health Surveys.
Ontology‐Based Representation and Modelling of Synthetic 3D Content: A State‐of‐the‐Art Review
Authors: Flotyński Jakub , Walczak Krzysztof
Published: February 2017

An indispensable element of any practical 3D/VR/AR application is synthetic three‐dimensional (3D) content. Such content is characterized by a variety of features—geometry, structure, space, appearance, animation and behaviour—which makes the modelling of 3D content a much more complex, difficult and time‐consuming task than in the case of other types of content. One of the promising research directions aiming at simplification of modelling 3D content is the use of the semantic web approach. The formalism provided by semantic web techniques enables declarative knowledge‐based modelling of content based on ontologies. Such modelling can be conducted at different levels of abstraction, possibly domain‐specific, with inherent separation of concerns. The use of semantic web ontologies enables content representation independent of particular presentation platforms and facilitates indexing, searching and analysing content, thus contributing to increased content re‐usability. A range of approaches have been proposed to permit semantic representation and modelling of synthetic 3D content. These approaches differ in the methodologies and technologies used as well as their scope and application domains. This paper provides a review of the current state of the art in representation and modelling of 3D content based on semantic web ontologies, together with a classification, characterization and discussion of the particular approaches.
Multi‐Variate Gaussian‐Based Inverse Kinematics
Authors: Huang Jing , Wang Qi , Fratarcangeli Marco , Yan Ke , Pelachaud Catherine
Published: February 2017

Inverse kinematics (IK) equations are usually solved through approximated linearizations or heuristics. These methods lead to character animations that are unnatural looking or unstable because they do not consider both the motion coherence and limits of human joints. In this paper, we present a method based on the formulation of multi‐variate Gaussian distribution models (MGDMs), which precisely specify the soft joint constraints of a kinematic skeleton. Each distribution model is described by a covariance matrix and a mean vector representing both the joint limits and the coherence of motion of different limbs. The MGDMs are automatically learned from the motion capture data in a fast and unsupervised process. When the character is animated or posed, a Gaussian process synthesizes a new MGDM for each different vector of target positions, and the corresponding objective function is solved with Jacobian‐based IK. This makes our method practical to use and easy to insert into pre‐existing animation pipelines. Compared with previous works, our method is more stable and more precise, while also satisfying the anatomical constraints of human limbs. Our method leads to natural and realistic results without sacrificing real‐time performance.
Express or repress? The transcriptional dilemma of damaged chromatin
Authors: Capozzo Ilaria , Iannelli Fabio , Francia Sofia , d'Adda di Fagagna Fabrizio
Published: February 2017

The fine modulation of transcriptional activity around DNA lesions is essential to carefully regulate the crosstalk between the activation of the DNA damage response, DNA repair and transcription, particularly when the lesion occurs next to actively transcribed genes. Recently, several studies have been carried out to investigate how DNA lesions impact on local transcription, but the emerging model remains incomplete. Transcription of genes around damaged DNA is actively downregulated by the DNA damage response through different mechanisms, which appear specific to the chromatin context, the type of DNA damage or its complexity. Intriguingly, emerging evidence also indicates that transcription of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) is induced at sites of DNA damage, producing small ncRNAs that are, in turn, required for a full DNA damage response activation. We discuss here these recent findings, highlighting the major unresolved questions in the field, and propose ways to reconcile these apparently contradictory observations.
EU Mediation as an Assemblage of Practices: Introducing a New Approach to the Study of EU Conflict Resolution
Authors: Brandenburg Natalie C.
Published: February 2017

This article introduces a new approach to the study of EU mediation and conflict resolution. It argues that researchers have not fully accounted for the changes underway in the Union's take on mediation. By elucidating the differences between this approach and the already existing literature on EU mediation, the article advocates a practice turn and develops a framework for studying EU mediation as an assemblage of practices. It builds on Latourian assemblage thinking and complements it with the Foucauldian notion of political rationality and techne. This approach is then explored through examining the practices of EU mediation support in Myanmar, which draws attention to the contradictions and a specific set of knowledge claims on peace and conflict, and traces dissident voices and how they inform the use of mediation instruments. In so doing, it demonstrates how a practice‐oriented approach allows us to provide new insights into EU external action.
Dual effects of acidic electrolyzed water treatments on the microbial reduction and control of enzymatic browning for fresh‐cut lotus root
Authors: Li Huiying , Ren Yuanyuan , Hao Jianxiong , Liu Haijie
Published: February 2017

The disinfection efficacy of acidic electrolyzed water including slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) and strongly acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) on the fresh‐cut lotus roots and their effects on the appearance quality of fresh‐cut lotus root were evaluated in the present paper. The results showed that SAEW treatment could reduce the natural microbial flora populations as well as the inoculated populations of fresh‐cut lotus roots significantly. Also, our results obtained from the present study suggested that SAEW treatment could maintain the appearance quality and market values more effectively than acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) treatment. Considering that SAEW is environmentally friendly and has dual efficacy of disinfection and browning‐prevention, it may be a better choice in the processing of fresh‐cut lotus roots. The results implied that SAEW could inhibit the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, thus keep the overall visual quality. However, how SAEW treatments affect PPO activity of the fresh‐cut lotus roots is still unknown and further research is needed.

Practical applications

How to prevent the quality deterioration of fresh‐cut lotus root, which limited its safety and processing, had become a serious problem. In the past, the strong disinfection efficacy of acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) and its application in food industry including the disinfection of fruits and vegetables were widely reported. Due to its neutral pH and lower available chlorine concentration (10–30 mg/L), slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) showed a promising prospect in the agriculture and food industry. In the present study, the disinfection efficacy of SAEW on the fresh‐cut lotus roots was investigated. Moreover, the effect of SAEW treatment on the appearance quality of fresh‐cut lotus root was evaluated. This study confirmed that SAEW treatment might have a high potential for practical use in the processing fresh‐cut lotus roots processing.
A XANES and Raman investigation of sulfur speciation and structural order in Murchison and Allende meteorites
Authors: Bose M. , Root R. A. , Pizzarello S.
Published: February 2017

Insoluble organic matter (IOM) and hydrothermally treated IOM extracted from two carbonaceous chondrites, Murchison and Allende, was studied using sulfur K‐edge XANES (X‐ray absorption near edge structure) and μ‐Raman spectroscopy, with the aim to understand their IOM's sulfur speciation and structural order, and how aqueous alteration or thermal metamorphism may have transformed these materials. We found that the sulfur‐functional group chemistry of both the Murchison IOM and hydrothermally treated IOM samples have a large chemical variability ranging from oxidation states of S−2 to S+6, and exhibit a transformation in their oxidation state after the hydrothermal treatment (HT) to produce thiophenes and thiol compounds. Sulfoxide and sulfite peaks are also present in Murchison. Sulfates considered intrinsic to Murchison are most likely preaccretionary in nature, and not a result of reactions with water at high temperatures on the asteroid parent body. We argue that the reduced sulfides may have formed in the CM parent body, while the thiophenes and thiol compounds are a result of the HT. Micro‐Raman spectra show the presence of aliphatic and aromatic moieties in Murchison's material as observed previously, which exhibits no change after HT. Because the Murchison IOM was modified, as seen by XANES analysis, absence of a change observed using micro‐Raman indicated that although the alkyl carbons of IOM were cleaved, the aromatic network was not largely modified after HT. By contrast, Allende IOM contains primarily disulfide and elemental sulfur, no organic sulfur, and shows no transformation after HT. This nontransformation of Allende IOM after HT would indicate that parent body alteration of sulfide to sulfate is not feasible up to temperatures of 300°C. The reduced sulfur products indicate extreme secondary chemical processing from the precursor compounds in its parent body at temperatures as high as 624°C, as estimated from μ‐Raman D band parameters. The Raman parameters in Allende IOM that was interpreted in terms of amorphous carbon with regions of large clusters of benzene rings, was transformed after the HT to those with fewer benzene rings.
Sampling Strategies for Evaluating the Rate of Adventitious Transgene Presence in Non‐Genetically Modified Crop Fields
Authors: Makowski David , Bancal Rémi , Bensadoun Arnaud , Monod Hervé , Messéan Antoine
Published: February 2017

According to E.U. regulations, the maximum allowable rate of adventitious transgene presence in non‐genetically modified (GM) crops is 0.9%. We compared four sampling methods for the detection of transgenic material in agricultural non‐GM maize fields: random sampling, stratified sampling, random sampling + ratio reweighting, random sampling + regression reweighting. Random sampling involves simply sampling maize grains from different locations selected at random from the field concerned. The stratified and reweighting sampling methods make use of an auxiliary variable corresponding to the output of a gene‐flow model (a zero‐inflated Poisson model) simulating cross‐pollination as a function of wind speed, wind direction, and distance to the closest GM maize field. With the stratified sampling method, an auxiliary variable is used to define several strata with contrasting transgene presence rates, and grains are then sampled at random from each stratum. With the two methods involving reweighting, grains are first sampled at random from various locations within the field, and the observations are then reweighted according to the auxiliary variable. Data collected from three maize fields were used to compare the four sampling methods, and the results were used to determine the extent to which transgene presence rate estimation was improved by the use of stratified and reweighting sampling methods. We found that transgene rate estimates were more accurate and that substantially smaller samples could be used with sampling strategies based on an auxiliary variable derived from a gene‐flow model.
Insight into “Calculated Risk”: An Application to the Prioritization of Emerging Infectious Diseases for Blood Transfusion Safety
Authors: Neslo R. E. J. , Oei W. , Janssen M. P.
Published: February 2017

Increasing identification of transmissions of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) by blood transfusion raised the question which of these EIDs poses the highest risk to blood safety. For a number of the EIDs that are perceived to be a threat to blood safety, evidence on actual disease or transmission characteristics is lacking, which might render measures against such EIDs disputable. On the other hand, the fact that we call them “emerging” implies almost by definition that we are uncertain about at least some of their characteristics. So what is the relative importance of various disease and transmission characteristics, and how are these influenced by the degree of uncertainty associated with their actual values? We identified the likelihood of transmission by blood transfusion, the presence of an asymptomatic phase of infection, prevalence of infection, and the disease impact as the main characteristics of the perceived risk of disease transmission by blood transfusion. A group of experts in the field of infectious diseases and blood transfusion ranked sets of (hypothetical) diseases with varying degrees of uncertainty associated with their disease characteristics, and used probabilistic inversion to obtain probability distributions for the weight of each of these risk characteristics. These distribution weights can be used to rank both existing and newly emerging infectious diseases with (partially) known characteristics. Analyses show that in case there is a lack of data concerning disease characteristics, it is the uncertainty concerning the asymptomatic phase and the disease impact that are the most important drivers of the perceived risk. On the other hand, if disease characteristics are well established, it is the prevalence of infection and the transmissibility of the disease by blood transfusion that will drive the perceived risk. The risk prioritization model derived provides an easy to obtain and rational expert assessment of the relative importance of an (emerging) infectious disease, requiring only a limited amount of information. Such a model might be used to justify a rational and proportional response to an emerging infectious disease, especially in situations where little or no specific information is available.
A General Framework for the Assessment of Power System Vulnerability to Malicious Attacks
Authors: Piccinelli R. , Sansavini G. , Lucchetti R. , Zio E.
Published: February 2017

The protection and safe operations of power systems heavily rely on the identification of the causes of damage and service disruption. This article presents a general framework for the assessment of power system vulnerability to malicious attacks. The concept of susceptibility to an attack is employed to quantitatively evaluate the degree of exposure of the system and its components to intentional offensive actions. A scenario with two agents having opposing objectives is proposed, i.e., a defender having multiple alternatives of protection strategies for system elements, and an attacker having multiple alternatives of attack strategies against different combinations of system elements. The defender aims to minimize the system susceptibility to the attack, subject to budget constraints; on the other hand, the attacker aims to maximize the susceptibility. The problem is defined as a zero‐sum game between the defender and the attacker. The assumption that the interests of the attacker and the defender are opposite makes it irrelevant whether or not the defender shows the strategy he/she will use. Thus, the approaches “leader–follower game” or “simultaneous game” do not provide differences as far as the results are concerned. The results show an example of such a situation, and the von Neumann theorem is applied to find the (mixed) equilibrium strategies of the attacker and of the defender.
Yes, The Precautionary Principle Is Incoherent
Authors: Peterson Martin
Published: February 2017

This article is a reply to Thomas Boyer‐Kassem's discussion of my criticism of the precautionary principle published in this journal about a decade ago. Boyer‐Kassem does not question the logical validity of the theorem proved in my original article, but he brings up important questions about its scope. He also challenges the plausibility of some of the assumptions on which it is based. In this comment, I argue that each objection can be adequately dealt with. As a decision rule, the precautionary principle is (still) incoherent.
Self‐reported health‐enhancing physical activity recommendation adherence among 64,380 finnish adults
Authors: Bennie J. A. , Pedisic Z. , Suni J. H. , Tokola K. , Husu P. , Biddle S. J. H. , Vasankari T.
Published: February 2017

The Finnish recommendations for health‐enhancing physical activity (PA) for adults (≥18 years) recommend: (i) ≥150 minutes of moderate‐to‐vigorous‐intensity physical activity (MVPA) and (ii) activities that develop muscle strength and balance ≥2 days/week. However, adherence to these recommendations among the Finnish adults is currently unknown. This study reports on the self‐reported adherence to the PA recommendations and associations with sociodemographic factors among Finnish adults. Data were used from the Finnish “Regional Health and Well‐being Study.” In 2013‐2014, postal questionnaires were sent to 132,560 persons, with 69,032 responding (response rate =52.1%). The weighted proportions adhering to the: (i) MVPA recommendation, (ii) sufficient muscle‐strengthening activity (≥2 days/week), (iii) sufficient balance training (≥2 days/week), and (iv) Finnish health‐enhancing PA recommendations (Finnish recommendations) were calculated. Associations with sociodemographic variables (eg, age, education level, self‐rated health) were assessed using multiple logistic regression analyses. Of 69,032 respondents, 92.6% (n=64,380, response rate =48.6%, 18‐98 years) reported on their physical activity levels. A total of 31.2% (95% CI: 30.8%‐31.6%) met the aerobic MVPA recommendation, 17.2% (95% CI: 16.9%‐17.6%) reported sufficient muscle‐strengthening activity, 6.7% (95% CI: 6.4%‐6.9%) reported sufficient balance training, and 10.8% (95% CI: 10.5%‐11.1%) met the Finnish recommendations. In the adjusted analysis, those with poorer self‐rated health, older age, lower education levels, and those classified overweight or obese were independently associated with lower odds of meeting the Finnish recommendations. The vast majority of Finnish adults do not meet the full PA recommendations. Public health action is needed to increase PA in Finland.
A single camera three‐dimensional digital image correlation system for the study of adiabatic shear bands
Authors: White T. G. , Patten J. R. W. , Wan K.‐H. , Pullen A. D. , Chapman D. J. , Eakins D. E.
Published: February 2017

We describe the capability of a high‐resolution three‐dimensional digital image correlation (DIC) system specifically designed for high strain‐rate experiments. Utilising open‐source camera calibration and two‐dimensional DIC tools within the MATLAB framework, a single camera three‐dimensional DIC system with submicron displacement resolution is demonstrated. The system has a displacement accuracy of up to 200 times the optical spatial resolution, matching that achievable with commercial systems. The surface strain calculations are benchmarked against commercially available software before being deployed on quasi‐static tests showcasing the ability to detect both in‐ and out‐of‐plane motion. Finally, a high strain‐rate (1.2×103 s−1) test was performed on a top‐hat sample compressed in a split‐Hopkinson pressure bar in order to highlight the inherent camera synchronisation and ability to resolve the adiabatic shear band phenomenon.
OsNLA1, a RING‐type ubiquitin ligase, maintains phosphate homeostasis in Oryza sativa via degradation of phosphate transporters
Authors: Yue Wenhao , Ying Yinghui , Wang Chuang , Zhao Yang , Dong Changhe , Whelan James , Shou Huixia
Published: February 2017

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) transporters (PTs) play vital roles in Pi uptake and translocation in plants. Under Pi sufficient conditions, PTs are degraded to prevent excess Pi accumulation. The mechanisms targeting PTs for degradation are not fully elucidated. In this study, we found that the Oryza sativa (rice) ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana nitrogen limitation adaptation (NLA), OsNLA1 protein, a RING‐type E3 ubiquitin‐ligase, was predominantly localized in the plasma membrane, and could interact with rice phosphate transporters OsPT2 and OsPT8. Mutation of the 265th cysteine residue in OsNLA1 that was required for ubiquitination prevented breakdown of OsPT2/PT8, suggesting OsNLA1 targeted OsPT2/PT8 for degradation. Mutation in OsNLA1 (osnla1) led to a significant increase of Pi concentration in leaves in a nitrate‐independent manner. Overexpression of OsNLA1 or repression of OsPT2/PT8 restored the high leaf Pi concentration in osnla1 mutants to a level similar to that of wild‐type plants. In contrast to what has been observed in Arabidopsis, the transcript abundance of OsNLA1 did not decrease under Pi limited conditions or in OsmiR827 (microRNA827)‐ or OsPHR2 (PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE 2)‐overexpressing transgenic lines. Moreover, there was no interaction of OsNLA1 and OsPHO2, an E2 ubiquitin‐conjugase, suggesting that OsPHO2 was not the partner of OsNLA1 involved in ubiquitin‐mediated PT degradation. Our results show that OsNLA1 is involved in maintaining phosphate homeostasis in rice by mediating the degradation of OsPT2 and OsPT8, and OsNLA1 differs from the ortholog in Arabidopsis in several aspects.