bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Action of Multiple Cell Wall–Degrading Enzymes Is Required for Elicitation of Innate Immune Responses During Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae Infection in Rice
Authors: Tayi Lavanya , Maku Roshan , Patel Hitendra Kumar , Sonti Ramesh V.
Published: June 2016

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae secretes a number of plant cell wall–degrading enzymes (CWDEs) whose purified preparations induce defense responses in rice. These defense responses are suppressed by X. oryzae pv. oryzae using type 3 secretion system (T3SS) effectors and a type 3 secretion system mutant (T3SS−) of X. oryzae pv. oryzae is an inducer of rice defense responses. We assessed the role of individual CWDEs in induction of rice defense responses during infection, by mutating them in the genetic background of a T3SS−. We mutated the genes for five different plant CWDEs secreted by X. oryzae pv. oryzae, including two cellulases (clsA and cbsA), one xylanase (xyn), one pectinase (pglA), and an esterase (lipA), singly in a T3SS− background. We have demonstrated that, as compared with a T3SS− of X. oryzae pv. oryzae, a cbsA−T3SS−, a clsA−T3SS−, and a xyn−T3SS− are deficient in induction of rice immune responses such as callose deposits and programmed cell death. In comparison, a lipA− T3SS− and a pglA−T3SS− is as efficient in induction of host defense responses as a T3SS−. Overall, these results indicate that the collective action of X. oryzae pv. oryzae–secreted ClsA, CbsA, and Xyn proteins is required for induction of rice defense responses during infection.
Sources and Genetics of Spot Blotch Resistance to a New Pathotype of Cochliobolus sativus in the USDA National Small Grains Collection
Authors: Leng Yueqiang , Wang Rui , Ali Shaukat , Zhao Mingxia , Zhong Shaobin
Published: June 2016

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus, is one of the important barley diseases in the northern Great Plains of the United States and the Prairie Provinces of Canada. The disease has been under control for almost five decades due to the use of durable spot blotch resistance derived from the barley line ND B112. However, the emergence of isolate ND4008 with virulence on ND B112 prompted us to identify new sources of resistance to this new pathotype. In this study, we screened 2,062 barley accessions from the United States Department of Agriculture National Small Grains Collection for spot blotch resistance, and identified 40 barley accessions exhibiting a high level of resistance to isolate ND4008 at the seedling stage. In all, 24 of the barley accessions with seedling resistance also exhibited moderate to high adult plant resistance to ND4008 in greenhouse tests. Seven of the ND4008-resistant barley accessions showed seedling resistance to two other pathotypes (1 and 2) of the pathogen. Genetic study of resistant barley accessions PI 235186, PI 592275, and PI 643242 indicated that a single major dominant gene controls spot blotch resistance to ND4008 in each of these three accessions. These resistant sources are useful for developing barley cultivars with spot blotch resistance to all pathotypes of C. sativus.
On the optimal response vigor and choice under variable motivational drives
Authors: Dezfouli Amir
Published: June 2016

Within a rational framework, a decision-maker selects actions based on the reward-maximisation principle, i.e., acquiring the highest amount of reward with the lowest cost. Action selection can be divided into two dimensions: (i) selecting an action among several alternatives, and (ii) choosing the response vigor, i.e., how fast the selected action should be executed. Previous works have addressed the computational substrates of such a selection process under the assumption that outcome values are stationary and do not change during the course of a session. This assumption does not hold when the motivational drive of the decision-maker is variable, because it leads to changes in the values of the outcomes, e.g., satiety decreases the value of the outcome. Here, we utilize an optimal control framework and derive the optimal choice and response vigor under different experimental conditions. The results imply that, in contrast to previous suggestions, even under conditions that the values of the outcomes are changing during the session, the optimal response rate in an instrumental conditioning experiment is a constant response rate rather than decreasing. Furthermore, we prove that the uncertainty of the decision-maker about the duration of the session explains the commonly observed decrease in response rates within a session. We also show that when the environment consists of multiple outcomes, the model explains probability matching as well as maximisation choice strategies. These results, therefore, provide a quantitative analysis of optimal choice and response vigor under variable motivational drive, and provide predictions for future testing.
Extending Levelt’s Propositions to perceptual multistability involving interocular grouping
Authors: Jacot-Guillarmod Alain , Wang Yunjiao , Pedroza Claudia , Ogmen Haluk , Kilpatrick Zachary , Josić Krešimir
Published: June 2016

Levelt’s Propositions have been a touchstone for experimental and modeling studies of perceptual multistability. We asked whether Levelt’s Propositions extend to perceptual multistability involving interocular grouping. To address this question we used split-grating stimuli withcomplementary halves of the same color. As in previous studies, subjects reported four percepts in alternation: the two stimuli presented to each eye (single-eye percepts), as well as two interocularly grouped, single color percepts (grouped percepts). Most subjects responded to increased color saturation by more frequently reporting a single color image, thus increasingthe predominance of grouped percepts (Levelt’s Proposition I). In these subjects increased predominance was due to a decrease in the average dominance duration of single-eye percepts, while that of grouped percepts remained largely unaffected. This is in accordance with generalized Levelt’s Proposition II which posits that the average dominance duration of the stronger (in this case single-eye) percept is primarily affectedbychanges in stimulus strength. In accordance with Proposition III, thealternation rate increased as the difference in the strength of the percepts decreased. To explain the mechanism behind these observations, we introduce a hierarchical model consisting of low-level neural populations, eachresponding to input at a visual hemifield, and higher-level populations representing the percepts. The model exhibits the changes in dominance durationobserved in the data, and conforms to all of Levelt’s Propositions.
Issues affecting decisions on mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Japan
Authors: Tsunogaya Noriyuki
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore whether there are differences in either the level of support for the mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards or the arguments made by various stakeholder groups within Japan’s Business Accounting Council (BAC) during different time periods from 2009 to 2013.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a content analysis of related BAC meetings and referring to Gernon and Wallace’s (1995) accounting ecology framework, this study provides rigorous and holistic insights into the debates concerning the adoption of IFRS in Japan. Time-series analyses are specifically applied to unravel continuous or discontinuous patterns of BAC members’ statements.

Findings

– The results indicated significantly higher levels of disapproval of mandatory adoption of IFRS by representatives from accounting academics, manufacturing industry, and the Financial Services Agency than by those from the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Also, a lower level of disapproval of mandatory adoption of IFRS was found in 2009 than in 2012 and 2013. The results further demonstrated that diversity of opinions and arguments existed in different stakeholder groups as well as in different time periods.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings of this study suggest that accounting research will be enhanced by an objective and critical examination of the sociological context of the globalization (convergence) process.

Originality/value

– The results of this study will provide answers related to the possible, probable, and desirable aspects of the globalization (convergence) process by unraveling the causes and consequences of certain patterns presented in BAC members’ statements.
An analysis of internally funded learning and teaching project evaluation in higher education
Authors: Huber Elaine , Harvey Marina
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– In the higher education sector, the evaluation of learning and teaching projects is assuming a role as a quality and accountability indicator. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how learning and teaching project evaluation is approached and critiques alignment between evaluation theory and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

– The emergent realism paradigm provides the theoretical framework with a pragmatic approach to mixed-methods data collection. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts of interviews with 15 project leaders.

Findings

– Four key themes on project evaluation emerged: how evaluation is conceptualized, particularly the overlap, even conflation, between evaluation and research; capability building within the sector; resourcing in terms of time and money; and the role of an action-oriented approach to evaluation. The authors conclude that misalignment exists between evaluation theory and the practice of project evaluation and that this relationship can be further inhibited by a project leader’s perception of evaluation.

Practical implications

– A series of strategies for developing capacity across the higher education sector for project evaluation are presented. These include the development and provision of: a time allocation for evaluation in future and ongoing project plans with procedures to revisit the project and assess impact; models of how to incorporate evaluation into the research cycle; constructive feedback on evaluation reports from the university funding body; and networking opportunities to disseminate learnings from project evaluations.

Originality/value

– This study focusses on the under-researched area of evaluation of learning and teaching projects in higher education, providing research-based evidence for strategies to develop sector capacity.
New educational services development
Authors: Abou- Warda Sherein Hamed
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The overall objective of the current study is to explore how universities can better developing new educational services. The purpose of this paper is to develop framework for technology entrepreneurship education (TEPE) within universities.

Design/methodology/approach

– Qualitative and quantitative research approaches were employed. This study passes through four phase: reviewing of good practices; a survey of academics (n=150 respondents); semi-structured interviews with leaders of Ministry of Higher Education, the Social Fund for Development, and the ILO Sub-regional Office (n=30 respondents); and two workshop with expert group and stakeholders (n=65 respondents).

Findings

– This study developed framework for TEPE within universities from three aspects (center for innovation and entrepreneurship (CIE), technology entrepreneurship professors/educators, and technology entrepreneurship programs/courses).

Research limitations/implications

– TEPE will have an impact at the individual and enterprise. It prepares students to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become entrepreneurs, enhances life skills and life learning experiences and contributes to economic development and sustainable communities; at the enterprise level, this education is expected to create and operate a new venture, help innovation, enhance the level of competitiveness, and develop a more practical entrepreneurial environment.

Practical implications

– It is important for practitioners and policy makers to gain insights on how academic entrepreneurship support works elsewhere as inspiration for the further development of their approaches.

Social implications

– TEPE can assist in obtaining higher economic growth and sustainable development, in keeping up with the fast pace of an open-market capitalist society and in promoting self-employment and training, which all lead to the reduction of unemployment.

Originality/value

– This study offers three principal contributions: first, development of framework for the TEPE from all perspectives within universities as TEPE differentiates from other entrepreneurship education types; second, development of an uncommon concept of new educational services in the marketing literature that is incoherent and lacks theoretical models that reflect good practice of entrepreneurship education; third, identification best practices of TEPE in universities by reviewing and analyzing policy and continuing to experiment.
Clustering or interacting for knowledge?
Authors: Eklinder-Frick Jens Ola
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The European Union has an ambition to become the world’s most competitive and knowledge-based economy, which entails investments in cluster initiatives. Most researchers, however find that such investments have had limited impact. The notion of creating industrial clusters is influenced by the discourse within new economic geography in which research interests are geared toward facilitating knowledge exchange between industry, university and government. In order to understand how knowledge is created and enacted within a cluster initiative the purpose of this paper is to investigate the interactions between actors participating in a specific innovation process.

Design/methodology/approach

– The studied cluster initiative is one of the 55 clusters designated as demonstrating highly sophisticated cluster management by European Union officials, making it an interesting case study for knowledge creation in such environments. The case study entails semi-structured in-depth interviews of 24 respondents.

Findings

– The cluster approach encourages a “disentangled” view of knowledge where knowledge is seen as universal and cognitive and therefore possible to disentangle from the context in which it was initially produced. However, my findings suggest that in practice knowledge is “entangled” in the specific context in which it is enacted and produced.

Originality/value

– Thus, in practice knowledge is a contextually limited and practical activity that is being enacted when heterogeneous resources interact in producer-user interfaces. This mismatch between strategy and outcome may subsequently help to explain the limited impact of policy on regional growth.
Interactive resource development: implications for innovation policy
Authors: Gadde Lars-Erik , Lind Frida
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– Previous studies of innovation policy claim that there is a mismatch between the underlying assumptions of these policies and the reality of how firms involved in innovation operate. The purpose of this paper is to deepen the knowledge of actual innovation processes in order to contribute to the modification of innovation policies.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on: a literature study focusing on the criticism and suggestions for revision of mainstream policy; and two empirical illustrations of innovation through interactive resource development. The framework is rooted in the industrial marketing and purchasing (IMP) approach to innovation, implying that a potential innovation needs to be embedded in three network settings – the developing, the producing and the using settings.

Findings

– The study shows that effective policy requires a modified perspective on the basic mechanisms behind innovation. First, the paper emphasises the central role of inter-organisational interaction for the outcome of innovation processes. Second, it shows that the embedding of an innovation in its business context requires the joint efforts of several organisations. Third, implementation of a potential innovation is a time-demanding process.

Practical implications

– The implementation of a potential innovation requires close connections in relationships and networks. Policy practitioners therefore increasingly need to take these constellations into account. Furthermore, time frames must be extended to take long-term effects into consideration.

Originality/value

– The framing of innovation as “interactive resource development” reflects the criticism of innovation policy identified in the literature study. The IMP approach applied in the empirical illustrations of these phenomena was useful for providing suggestions for modifications of current innovation policy.
To be independent or balance interdependence?
Authors: Ratajczak-Mrozek Milena , Herbeć Magdalena
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify in what way micro and small firms from low-technology industries which are dependent on foreign companies can ensure that they derive benefits from these relationships and what is more, in what way government policy should support this.

Design/methodology/approach

– A longitudinal study of a furniture company has been used. The company’s relationship with its large foreign customer is analysed from the perspective of the market-oriented power dependence and the IMP interdependence concept. Additionally the secondary sources of information about Polish furniture industry have been used in order to present its international specificity.

Findings

– The analysis shows that micro and small firms may derive benefits from their relationships with foreign entities due to their flexibility and the creation of heavy resources based on the standards of cooperation. Policies supporting exports and internationalisation cannot be isolated activities which end with the creation of foreign contacts and initiating transactions. Policy makers should concentrate on the support of the knowledge and experience exchange in terms of maintaining contacts with foreign entities as well as creation of a favourable framework of conditions for companies.

Practical implications

– The recommendations may be applied to design a policy supporting micro and small enterprises representing low-technology industries from economies with a limited internal market.

Originality/value

– The paper compares the perspective of a market-orientated power-dependency concept with the IMP interdependency approach. This sheds a light by adding an analysis of how to best utilise interdependencies on both sides of the supplier-customer interface. Both opportunities and hindrances resulting from the relationship between small firms and larger foreign companies are highlighted. Thanks to this approach a discussion is conducted in order to illustrate the policy implications of supporting micro and small enterprises from low-technology industries.
The role of owners in industrial networks – the case of a steel producer
Authors: Axelsson Bjorn , Håkansson Håkan
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– In this paper, the authors will argue that owners as one type among many other types of actors is essential to bring into the picture when analyzing developments in industrial and other kinds of business networks. The direct relationship between owners and the business unit, the firm, is one type of relationship. But owners, as well as the firm as such, also possess several indirect relationships that could be highly relevant in many business network situations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate both direct and indirect relationships when analyzing the role of owners.

Design/methodology/approach

– The empirical base is coming from an earlier Swedish investigation of the development of a steel company in the course of 75 years. In this study the authors mapped ownership and the role owners had in financial and other terms. The authors also made a detailed investigation of the development of the company in terms of important customers and suppliers, i.e. its business network. In total it means that the empirical data give us a quite multidimensional picture of the role and importance of ownership over a substantial time period.

Findings

– The owners were for this company not at all important as financers. The monetary flow went, during the whole period, from the company to the owners. The owners, however, played a far more important role in an indirect way, affecting the way the company designed single business relationships as well as the combined network of those relationships. The owners were more important as network designers than as financial contributors. The analysis focusses on two topics: the ways in which owners contributed to the development of the firm during several phases of its development and similarities and differences between the various types of ownership (an entrepreneur – owner, a customer firm, a bank, a family industrial sphere).

Originality/value

– The results indicate that the existence and importance of indirect relationships is of vital importance when analyzing the importance of owners in business networks. These indirect relationships are usually not analyzed in contemporary research about ownership. This an interesting and important topic and the authors hope that this study will be followed by many more. The addressed topic is especially relevant for the policy implications.
New ICTs for Knowledge Management in Organizations
Authors: Soto-Acosta Pedro , Cegarra-Navarro Juan-Gabriel
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this special issue is to point out the possibilities of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) for knowledge management (KM) in organizations, offering different perspectives on and approaches for the role of new ICTs for KM, as well as measuring the impact and diffusion of new ICTs for KM within organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The selection of the papers included in this special issue is largely based on the work of the conference “7th European Conference on Intellectual Capital - ECIC” (April 2015, Cartagena, Spain), where the special issue editors organized a track on “New ICTs for Knowledge Management in Organizations”. The conference gathered leading scholars in the fields of intellectual capital and KM, dealing with the acquisition, creation and sharing of collective intelligence and how to utilize increased academic knowledge and networking in promoting economic and organizational innovations and changes.

Findings

The collection of papers covered in this special issue identifies challenging problems on the role of new ICTs for KM and their role in the design and implementation of innovative products, services or processes in organizations.

Research limitations/implications

The special issue tries to offer some new relevant advances for the academic and practice communities in the growing body of research analyzing new ICTs for KM. However, the theoretical and empirical advances showed represent only a partial view, which corresponds to the impact of new ICTs for KM at the organizational level of analysis.

Practical implications

The nature of new ICTs, such as social networking tools, wikis, internal blogging and the way they are used, suggest that nowadays they may differ from traditional organizational systems in two critical ways: the voluntary (typically not mandatory) use and their lack of activity or process orientation.

Originality/value

The special issue explores the phenomena by integrating different perspectives and approaches, including qualitative and quantitative empirical. This integration overcomes some limitations about the understanding of the issues under investigation.
ERP as an organizational innovation: key users and cross-boundary knowledge management
Authors: Maas Jan-Bert , van Fenema Paul C. , Soeters Joseph
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide more insight in the ways key users act as knowledge managers and boundary spanners during the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system usage phase. Despite the recognized importance of key users during the implementation phase of an ERP system, little is known about their role in the ERP usage phase.

Design/methodology/approach

To provide rich insight in the boundary-spanning mechanisms utilized by key users to share knowledge, a qualitative approach was applied. In this study, “abductive” theme coding for 58 interviews with key users, end-users and managers has been used. This paper found six mechanisms and characterized them as “crossing” structural, social or cognitive boundaries.

Findings

Six boundary-spanning mechanisms have been distinguished which have been applied by key users to overcome several knowledge management issues. Subsequently, these mechanisms lead to a model which describes three different roles that key users may fulfill to efficiently share and transfer knowledge during the ERP usage phase.

Research limitations/implications

Knowledge barriers during an ERP implementation and their accompanying six boundary-crossing mechanisms have been distinguished.

Practical implications

The recognition of the essential role that key users can fulfill during the usage phase of an ERP system is an important implication. Management has to take into account that tasks and responsibilities of key users have to be clear from the start and they may cautiously select employees who are suited to become key users.

Originality/value

The main contribution is the importance of the impact of key users on the effectivity of knowledge management during the ERP usage phase.
IT and relationship learning in networks as drivers of green innovation and customer capital: evidence from the automobile sector
Authors: Leal-Millán Antonio , Roldán Jose Luis , Leal-Rodríguez Antonio L. , Ortega-Gutiérrez Jaime
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Despite the positive effects of customer capital (CC), questions remain over how managers enable CC growth by applying their skills and capabilities through managerial actions and strategies, such as developing information technology (IT) capability, fostering relationship learning (RL) activities and developing green innovation performance (GIP) with clients. These questions are especially pertinent in small and medium-sized enterprises and automotive industry companies that operate through supply chains, where knowledge about customers is likely to result from personal contact between customers and organisational members. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the extent to which these managerial actions were more likely to lead to the successful creation of CC.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the partial least squares technique, this paper studies how these three managerial actions impact on CC. To do so, data from 140 companies in the Spanish automotive components manufacturing sector have been used.

Findings

The findings support the influence of RL on both GIP and CC. RL is a key managerial action in exploiting customer information and knowledge advantages, enabling firms to structure and reconfigure resources to produce new ways to compete and to satisfy stakeholders. In addition, results show that GIP is a determinant of CC because of its contribution to achieving sustainable competitive advantage, with GIP performing a mediating role in the relationship between RL and CC. A second contribution shows that IT is not in itself able to yield a competitive advantage, thereby validating the existence of complementary or co-focused strategic assets such as RL and GIP, which enhance IT’s influence on CC.

Research limitations/implications

The authors were unable to explore the subtleties of the processes over time. Future research should include a longitudinal study.

Practical implications

This study considers RL an essential factor in achieving both GIP and CC. Consequently, managers should seek to build strong RL cultures. In addition, this study shows that IT is not in itself able to yield a competitive advantage, thereby validating the existence of complementary or co-focused strategic assets such as RL and GIP.

Originality/value

No study has ever examined these three antecedent variables (IT, RL and GIP) together, with the aim to examine their effects on CC.
Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of organic extra virgin olive oil from Iran
Authors: Hatami Samane , Mohamadi Sani Ali , Yavarmanesh Masoud
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of original extra virgin olive oil in Iran on some food borne pathogens.

Design/methodology/approach

Microbial analysis tests including disk diffusion and detections of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were used. Also the chemical composition analysis of the oil was determined by GC-MS. Results of disk diffusion test confirmed antimicrobial activity for the oil in which S.aureus and E. coli were more resistant than L. innocua.

Findings

The MIC and MBC of organic extra virgin olive oil on the studied pathogens were in the range of 12.5-25 and 100 per cent v/v, respectively. The GC-MS analysis showed Z-9-Octadecenal (32.75 per cent), Oleic acid (15.78 per cent), Squalene (11.856 per cent), Phenol (8.392 per cent), Palmitic acid (1.884 per cent) as the main compounds (>0.7 per cent) in organic extra virgin olive oil, which have functional role in the biological activities.

Originality/value

This is the first study on organic extra virgin olive oil from Iran. According to the results, extra virgin olive oil has antimicrobial activity on foodborne pathogens.
Relation between probiotic properties of isolates isolated from breast milk and infants’ stools
Authors: Sallam Marwa , Wali Iman , Attia Abd El Fattah , Lotfy Wael , El Taweel Amal , Mehanna Nayra Shaker
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Breast milk has been hypothesized to be a source of bacteria for the infant gut. This paper aims to search for probiotic bacteria among 415 isolates belonging to the Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium genera recovered from breast milk of 50 lactating mothers and their respective infant stools, and then, determine whether their levels in stools vary with different modalities of breast feeding.

Design/methodology/approach

To prove that the isolates were probable probiotics, subtractive screening was done using three major selection criteria, namely, resistance to low pH, tolerance against bile salts and testing for their antimicrobial activity.

Findings

The three criteria were fulfilled by 31.7 and 31 per cent of the isolates recovered from mothers’ breast milk and infants’ stool specimens, respectively. The majority of probiotic strains, isolated from milk and infants’ stools were phenotypically identical, suggesting breast milk as their probable source. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between exclusive breast milk feeding and the number of probiotics in the infants’ stools.

Originality/value

Viable bacteria could be retrieved from breast milk of healthy women, not suffering from mastitis, by using different types of media and different cultivation conditions. Up to five different species belonging to the same genus could be isolated in the same specimen of whether milk or stools. Breast milk could be a source of probiotic bacteria for intestinal microflora of infants, which help improvement of infants’ gut and growth.
Use and influence of nutrition labelling: an emerging market experience
Authors: Gupta Ketki , Dharni Khushdeep
Published: June 2016

Purpose

An attempt was made to explore the use of nutrition labelling in the Indian context. The purpose of this paper is to study the determinants of healthier food choices, as well as the role of label use in this context.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 150 respondents using the survey method and field experiment. The respondents were enquired about various aspects of label use and were asked to make a choice, from two products in three food product categories, on the basis of real information. Multivariate probit models were built for product choice situations.

Findings

Moderate to low use of nutrition labelling was found. Significant differences in label use were found on the basis of gender (Sugar (p = 0.011), Additives (p = 0.014), Proteins (p = 0.03)) and education (Additives (p = 0.002), Colouring agents (p = 0.003), Transfats (p < 0.001)). Higher label use was leading (p = 0.031) to more likelihood of choosing healthier potato chips. Women reported higher label use (p = 0.004) but were choosing relatively unhealthier health supplement (p = 0.003). Effect of price was not unidirectional in terms of making healthier food choices. It was observed that label use is not solely responsible for aiding the choice of healthier food products. Individual characteristics were playing important role in choice of food products.

Practical implications

Findings indicate that merely provision of label information is not adequate for the choice of better food options. Provision of labelling information in simple format and equipping the consumers to make effective use of the same carry importance.

Originality/value

The paper is original and makes an attempt to study the effect of label use, along with the individual characteristics, on healthier food choices. Given the availability of few studies in the domain from the emerging markets, the paper adds to the existing body of knowledge.
Lesser yam (dioscorea esculenta) based cookies improves lipid profile in overweight/obese adults with an ad libitum diet via glucagon like peptide 1
Authors: Luglio Harry Freitag , Fitria Anisa Lailatul , Kusumawardhani Dewi Ayu , Amalia Rinta , Hapsari Desy Dwi , Susilowati Rina , Sunarti Sunarti
Published: June 2016

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of lesser yam-based cookies on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), blood glucose and lipid profile in overweight and obese individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

This was an experimental study on overweight or obese adults aged 21-50 years old. The intervention was done by giving 87g of cookies made with lesser yam flour in combination with wheat flour (80 and 20 per cent, respectively) for six weeks. Anthropometric measures, fasting plasma glucose, lipid and GLP-1 were measured before and after the intervention.

Findings

There were no changes in anthropometric measurements and glucose level after the intervention (p > 0.05). However, plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol decreased after the intervention (p = 0.033 and p = 0.035, respectively). Although fasting GLP-1 level (p = 0.121) was unchanged, we found that the slight changes in GLP-1 concentration was associated with changes in LDL and total cholesterol (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively).

Originality/value

The lesser yam-based cookies reduced fasting plasma LDL and total cholesterol, but not glucose level after six weeks of intervention. Additionally, reduction of LDL and total cholesterol level was negatively associated with the changes in GLP-1 level.
Preference mappings for gluten-free chocolate cookies
Authors: Silva Tatiane Ferreira da , Conti-Silva Ana Carolina
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to replace totally the wheat flour for rice flour, whole soy flour and cassava starch in the formulation of chocolate cookies.

Design/methodology/approach

Chocolate cookies with wheat flour, rice flour, whole soy flour and cassava starch were produced, and compared to a commercial chocolate cookie regarding to physical properties and sensory acceptability.

Findings

The chocolate cookie made with rice flour instead of wheat flour was as liked as the cookie with wheat flour, and the greater acceptability scores received by the rice flour cookies correlated with less colour intensity and a lower specific volume thereof. The cookie with cassava starch stood out because of the intensities of its parameters, its more intense colour, and its acceptability scores among the consumers. The cookie with whole soy flour had lower sensory acceptability scores, and the commercial cookie stood out for its high cutting force (instrumental texture).

Originality/value

Celiac consumers desire products with adequate sensory characteristics. This study presents a new gluten-free product, the chocolate cookie made with rice flour, that has the potential to be produced, as this product is as accepted as a cookie made with wheat flour, and even more accepted than a commercial one also made with wheat flour. Therefore, this study offers subsidies for improving the diet of celiac consumers.
Effect of chicken breeds on quality characteristics of meat nuggets
Authors: Singh Veer Pal , Pathak Vikas , Bharti Sanjay Kumar , Sharma Sushant , Ojha Sadhana
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of chicken breeds on quality characteristics of meat nuggets.

Design/methodology/approach

The formulation of meat nuggets prepared from meat of Cobb-400, Vanraja, Aseel and Kadaknath separately consisted of 60 per cent lean meat. The emulsion was prepared by standard method and moulded into nuggets. Cooking was performed under pressure (120°C/15 Psi for 30 min).

Findings

Emulsion and cooked nuggets both showed no significant differences in pH values among the breeds. Higher moisture and fat content was observed in emulsion and nuggets prepared from Cobb-400, while respective protein and ash was maximum in Kadaknath and Vanraja meat-based emulsions and nuggets. The per cent emulsion stability (87.04 ± 0.45) and cooking yield (85.24 ± 0.06) was reported highest in Cobb-400, which indicates the better water holding capacity and suitability of Cobb-400 meat for the development of nuggets at six weeks of age. The mean sensory scores for colour and appearance (7.12 ± 0.28), as well as flavour (7.00 ± 0.04), were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in Cobb-400 nuggets and lowest in Kadaknath (6.21 ± 0.03 and 6.65 ± 0.06). However, no significant differences were noticed in other sensory attributes among treatments.

Research limitations/implications

The fatty acid and amino acid profile analysis may be helpful to understand the original nutritional difference in prepared nuggets.

Practical implications

The study will be off immense help in optimum utilization of meat of locally available chicken breeds for breed-specific and cost-effective product formulations.

Social implications

The products will be acceptable to all commodities because it is made up of chicken meat.

Originality/value

The effect of chicken breeds on meat nuggets is relatively new aspect and essential to establish suitability of meat of locally available chicken breeds for product development.
Phenological mismatch and ontogenetic diet shifts interactively affect offspring condition in a passerine
Authors: Samplonius Jelmer M. , Kappers Elena F. , Brands Stef , Both Christiaan
Published: June 2016

Climate change may cause phenological asynchrony between trophic levels, which can lead to mismatched reproduction in animals. Although indirect effects of mismatch on fitness are well described, direct effects on parental prey choice are not. Moreover, direct effects of prey variation on offspring condition throughout their early development are understudied.

Here, we used camera trap data collected over 2 years to study the effects of trophic mismatch and nestling age on prey choice in pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). Furthermore, we studied the effect of mismatch and variation in nestling diet on offspring condition.

Both experimentally induced and natural mismatches with the caterpillar peak negatively affected absolute and relative numbers of caterpillars and offspring condition (mass, tarsus and wing length) and positively affected absolute and relative numbers of flying insects in the nestling diet. Feeding more flying insects was negatively correlated with nestling day 12 mass.

Both descriptive and experimental data showed preferential feeding of spiders when nestlings were <7 days old. Receiving more spiders during this phase was positively correlated with tarsus growth.

These results highlight the need for a more inclusive framework to study phenological mismatch in nature. The general focus on only one prey type, the rarity of studies that measure environmental abundance of prey, and the lack of timing experiments in dietary studies currently hamper understanding of the actual trophic interactions that affect fitness under climate change.
Fuelwood sustainability revisited: integrating size structure and resprouting into a spatially realistic fuelshed model
Authors: Twine Wayne C. , Holdo Ricardo M.
Published: June 2016

Much concern has been expressed about the sustainability of fuelwood harvesting in Africa. Most models predict that demand will outstrip supply within a few decades, resulting in severe deforestation. However, despite substantial impacts of harvesting on woody vegetation structure, the ‘fuelwood crisis’ predicted since the 1970s has not materialized. We propose that this is at least partially because regeneration through coppicing has been poorly accounted for in most models.

We developed a local fuelwood model that is demographically and spatially explicit, and that incorporates coppice dynamics. The model simulates the dynamics of multiple stem size classes (seedling, sapling, pole and adult), the harvesting decisions of villagers based on fuelwood availability and village demand across the landscape. Importantly, we specify size‐dependent coppice production of cut stems, and the probability of progression of coppice shoots into larger size classes, after accounting for self‐thinning of shoots.

In general, our model projections for a rural South African savanna system suggest that current levels of harvesting (barring changes in human population size) are relatively sustainable. Declines in total woody biomass were predicted to be modest (˜20%), and the loss of intact stems of sapling size was predicted to be more than offset by increases in coppiced stems.

Synthesis and applications. The results from our local fuelwood model clearly demonstrate that the impact of deforestation and wood removal on tree populations and wood resources is strongly influenced by the resprouting ability of trees. This highlights the importance of considering coppice dynamics when assessing the sustainability of wood harvesting. Our model is not system specific, and can be transferred to other systems, with the relevant parameters and geographic information system layers specified. Because of the transferability of this model, it can help address key international concerns about deforestation and sustainable fuelwood management.
Introducing resprouters to enhance Mediterranean forest resilience: importance of functional traits to select species according to a gradient of pine density
Authors: Gavinet Jordane , Prévosto Bernard , Fernandez Catherine
Published: June 2016

Resprouter species are important for Mediterranean ecosystem resilience, but they are scarce in landscapes dominated by pioneer pines. Sound knowledge of resprouter seedling functional responses and establishment success across different pine habitats would help guide forest restoration efforts.

Four broadleaved resprouter species, that is two shrubs –Arbutus unedoandPistacia terebinthus– and two trees –Fraxinus ornusandSorbus domestica– were planted under an experimentally created gradient of pine cover from totally open conditions to dense pine cover.

Seedling survival and growth were monitored for 5 years. Phenological, physiological and morphological traits were measured to gain insight into the mechanisms of pine–seedling interaction.

Interaction outcomes varied according to species identity, pine cover treatment and time. Light‐to‐moderate pine cover induced greater height growth and little or no effects on diameter and survival of the two trees. Competition was always detected for shrubs, whereas competition and facilitation were noted for trees. Within pine stands, negative interactions increased with tree cover, making dense stands the most limiting. Interactions were only detectable after 2–3 years, but increased in intensity with time.

Functional responses to increasing pine cover indicated a seedling strategy of carbon gain optimization in the shade (increased specific leaf area and leaf area, decreased leaf dry matter content), particularly in tree species seedlings. Increasing pine cover induced higher water stress, but lower photochemical stress. The deciduous species had a longer vegetation season under pine canopies, whereas the evergreen shrubArbutus unedoshowed a lower polycyclism rate and flower production.

Synthesis and applications. Moderate pine cover facilitates the establishment of deciduous trees at the expense of shrubs. This pattern can be attributed to a higher shade tolerance of the trees than the shrubs combined with a low tolerance of trees to photoinhibition. We therefore recommend using evergreen shrubs for the restoration of open land and high‐specific‐leaf‐area deciduous trees for pine stand diversification. However, in dense forests, thinning is needed to increase light availability prior to seedling introduction.
Re‐imagining dementia in the fourth age: the ironic fictions of Alice Munro
Authors: Goldman Marlene
Published: June 2016

This paper analyses two stories by Alice Munro to explore how her fiction interrogates the prevailing social imaginary of the fourth age. Drawing on the theory of Gilleard and Higgs, I show how Munro's stories rely on irony and surreal imagery to subvert the logic that engenders and normalises the opposition between the third and fourth ages, and, by extension, the social death of people coping with later‐life dementia. Ultimately, I argue that Munro's fiction does not so much reveal the Truth about the fourth age, as expose the reader's complicity in the construction of the prevailing gothic social imaginary.
Political Violence, Violent Politics: Protestant Democrats and Republicans at War in Virginia, 1862
Authors: MATSUI JOHN H.
Published: June 2016

Northern Democrats desired to restore the American Union to the status quo antebellum, while Republicans sought to transform the United States, and especially the slave‐owning southern states, into a free labour, industrialized nation. So runs the traditional tale. This article argues that a new twist on the story of sectional politics may be found if one adds the religious dimension of millenarian belief to the well‐studied ideological flashpoints between Democratic and Republican combatants as they clashed in Virginia in the year leading up to the issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
‘A Most Gruesome Sight’: Colonial Warfare, Racial Thought, and the Question of ‘Radicalization’ during the First World War in German South‐West Africa (Namibia)
Authors: ROSENGARTEN ANDREA
Published: June 2016

This article examines an episode of German military violence against civilians during the First World War in Namibia (formerly German South‐West Africa). Placing the violence against the Rehoboth Baster community in April–May 1915 within a longer history of German and other European colonial violence on the African continent, I argue that the tactics employed by the German military in Rehoboth – namely, collective punishment, destruction of property, and the refusal to distinguish ‘civilians’ from fighters – were normal and practised forms of warfare for European armies facing African communities that challenged colonial powers. With this in mind, I question the geographical scope of the ‘radicalization’ concept – the debated idea of the First World War as a turning point in a world history of violence against civilians, when new tactics and ideologies of warfare ushered in an unprecedented breakdown of distinctions drawn by armies between enemy ‘civilians’ and ‘combatants’. The Rehoboth case provides an opportunity to explore the relationship of racial thought to the management and execution of violence during the First World War, at the level of complex local colonial entanglements.