bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of exposure to mass media on female empowerment: evidence from India
Authors: Dasgupta Shatanjaya
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if women’s exposure to mass media, i.e. television, radio, and print media, is a determinant of female empowerment in India. Indicators of empowerment include female autonomy in domestic decision-making, freedom of movement, financial knowledge and independence, attitudes regarding acceptability of violence against women, actual and desired fertility and use and decisions about contraception.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the analysis come from two rounds of the National Family and Health Survey, a large-scale nationally representative household survey. First, ordinary least squares estimation is used to obtain the parameter estimates. To overcome endogeneity concerns, instrumental variables estimation is also used.

Findings

The results reveal a strong positive effect of exposure to mass media on women’s status in India.

Research limitations/implications

These findings highlight the effectiveness of mass media in influencing women positively.

Originality/value

This paper captures the cumulative effects of three types of media: television, radio and print media. It also takes advantage of the most recent data available together with using instrumental variables estimation to overcome endogeneity concerns.
Entirely possible overruns: how people think and talk about probabilistic cost estimates
Authors: Teigen Karl Halvor , Andersen Bjørn , Alnes Sigurd Lerkerød , Hesselberg Jan-Ole
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine people’s understanding and evaluation of uncertainty intervals produced by experts as part of a quality assurance procedure of large public projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Three samples of educated participants (employees in a large construction company, students attending courses in project management and judgment and decision making, and judges of district and appeal courts) answered questionnaires about cost estimates of a highway construction project, presented as a probability distribution.

Findings

The studies demonstrated additivity neglect of probabilities that are graphically displayed. People’s evaluations of the accuracy of interval estimates revealed a boundary (a “cliff”) effect, with a sharp drop in accuracy ratings for outcomes above an arbitrary maximum. Several common verbal phrases (what “can” happen, is “entirely possible” and “not surprising”) which might seem to indicate expected outcomes were regularly used to describe unlikely values near or at the top of the distribution (an extremity effect).

Research limitations/implications

All judgments concerned a single case and were made by participants who were not stakeholders in this specific project. Further studies should compare judgments aided by a graph with conditions where the graph is changed or absent.

Practical implications

Experts and project managers cannot assume that readers of cost estimates understand a well-defined uncertainty interval as intended. They should also be aware of effects created by describing uncertain estimates in words.

Originality/value

The studies show how inconsistencies in judgment affect the understanding and evaluation of uncertainty intervals by well-informed and educated samples tested in a maximally transparent situation. Readers of cost estimates seem to believe that precise estimates are feasible and yet that costs are usually underestimated.
Bottled water versus tap water
Authors: Graydon Ryan Christopher , Gonzalez Paola Andrea , Laureano-Rosario Abdiel Elias , Pradieu Guillermo Reginald
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Bottled water consumption continues to break records worldwide and its environmental impact is often underestimated by the consumer. Many factors affect individuals’ choices to consume tap water and bottled water including perceived health risks and water quality. The University of South Florida (USF) has joined a nationwide initiative to become carbon-neutral, and reducing bottled water consumption was a chosen strategy. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk perceptions and drinking water choices of the USF-Tampa campus community.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 561 students, faculty and staff members responded to an online survey. The survey contained questions about the use of bottled water and tap water, reusable water bottles, risk perceptions and demographics.

Findings

The results revealed that certain groups – undergraduate students and ethnic/racial minorities (e.g. black/African American, Hispanic/Latino) – drank significantly more bottled water. Among political ideologies, Liberals drank the least bottled water. Females and minorities had significantly greater risk perceptions of the tap water on campus. Important perceived benefits were tap water being less expensive and better for the environment than bottled water. Important perceived barriers were poor tasting tap water and the desire for filtered water.

Originality/value

The findings suggest the need for public health campaigns to increase awareness of health, environmental and financial consequences of bottled water consumption. Such campaigns should aim to discourage bottled water and any potential increased sugar-sweetened beverage consumption while promoting tap water consumption.
Numerical study on steady state performance enhancement of partial textured hydrodynamic journal bearing
Authors: Sharma Sanjay , Jamwal Gourav , Awasthi R.K.
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide the various steady state parameters of hydrodynamic journal bearings have been determined to get maximum performance enhancement ratio. For this, the bearings inner surface is textured with triangular shape with different texture depths and a number of textures in pressure increasing region. The textured region acts as a lubricant reservoir, which provides additional film-thickness and reduce friction. Therefore, enhance the overall performance of bearing.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present study, the effect of triangular shaped texture on the static performance characteristics of a hydrodynamic journal bearing has been studied. Different values of texture depths and a number of textures have been numerically simulated in pressure developing region. The static performance characteristics have been calculated by solving the fluid flow governing Reynolds equation using the finite element method, assuming iso-viscous Newtonian fluid. The performance enhancement ratio, which is the ratio of load carrying capacity (LCC) to the coefficient of friction (COF) has been calculated from results to finalized optimum design parameters.

Findings

The paper provides numerically obtained results indicate that surface texturing can improve bearing performance if the textured region is placed in the pressure increasing region. Moreover, surface texturing is the most effective at bearing performance enhancement when the bearing operates at lower eccentricity ratios and texture depth. The performance enhancement ratio, which is the ratio of LCC to the COF is found to be a maximum value of 2.198 at texture depth of 1.5, eccentricity ratio of 0.2 and the textured region located in the increasing pressure region.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is based on a numerical based research approach, which has its limitations. So, researchers are encouraged to investigate the same work experimentally.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications to be beneficial for designers for designing better hydrodynamic journal bearings.

Originality/value

For the triangular shaped texture, considered in the present study, the optimum values of texture depth and texture distribution region have also been determined. While designing, designers should focus on those values of texture depth, texture region and a number of textures, which give the maximum value of performance enhancement ratio, which represents maximum LCC at the lowest value of the COF.
Experimental comparison of CuAl10Fe3 journal bearings sliding against two different coatings
Authors: Wang Xinbo , Yin Zhongwei , Li Hulin , Gao Gengyuan , Cao Jun
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the frictional behaviors of CuAl10Fe3 journal bearings sliding against chromium electroplated 42CrMo shafts and diamond-like carbon-coated 42CrMo shafts, respectively, under two different conditions and to compare the two kinds of friction pairs.

Design/methodology/approach

All journal bearing samples underwent 24 h running-in and repeatability verification. Then, the journal bearing friction experiments were carried out under two different conditions. After testing, the torques, friction coefficients, power consumptions and other parameters were obtained.

Findings

The pair of CuAl10Fe3 journal bearing and diamond-like carbon–coated shaft could drive greater load to start up than the pair of CuAl10Fe3 journal bearing and chromium electroplated 42CrMo shaft, but it had greater power consumption during the steady running period under the identical condition. With the changing of specific pressure or rotational speed, the friction coefficients had different variations. The frictional oscillations appeared at 32 rotations per minute under heavy loads for both kinds of pairs, the oscillation frequencies were equal to rotational frequency of the test shaft and the oscillation amplitude for diamond-like carbon coating was much greater.

Originality/value

These results have guiding significance for practical industrial applications.
Tribological behavior of laser textured nodular cast iron surface
Authors: Zhu Yongmei , Chen Junjie , Du Jiajun , Fan Yujie , Zheng Jifei
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Previous publications were mainly focused on the effect of textures under lubrication. Under dry sliding, area ratio of surface texturing (pit area ratio) and diameter of pit affect the tribological behavior. This paper aims to investigate the effect of laser surface texturing on tribological behavior of nodular cast iron under dry sliding.

Design/methodology/approach

Pit-like textures with different diameters and spaces were fabricated by laser on nodular cast iron (QT600-3). Using nodular cast iron (QT600-3) as the disc specimen and resin matrix composites (UCV018) as the pad specimen, the tribological test was performed with pin-on-disk reciprocating tribo-tester.

Findings

The coefficient of friction (COF) of the non-textured specimen was larger than that of the textured one. For the same pit diameter, a larger pit area ratio induced a slight decrease of COF, while wear volume decreased significantly. The pit diameter induced a slight decrease of COF as the pit area ratio, but its effect was weaker.

Practical implications

The experimental studies will help to improve the brake system such as structure modeling of brake disc. Predicting the performance and life of the brake disc in vehicle based on tribological behavior checked in test, it was proved that pit-like texture had application value in vehicle brake system.

Originality/value

This paper showed that the effect of pit area ratio on friction and wear was greater than that of pit diameter. The experimental results will be useful to the design on safety brake disc.
Collision detection method for industrial robot based on envelope-like lines
Authors: Zhang Tie , Hong JingDong
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Successful sensorless collision detection by a robot depends on the accuracy with which the external force/torque can be estimated. Compared with collaborative robots, industrial robots often have larger parameter values of their dynamic models and larger errors in parameter identification. In addition, the friction inside a reducer affects the accuracy of external force estimation. The purpose of this paper is to propose a collision detection method for industrial robots. The proposed method does not require additional equipment, such as sensors, and enables highly sensitive collision detection while guaranteeing a zero false alarm rate.

Design/methodology/approach

The error on the calculated torque for a robot in stable motion is analyzed, and a typical torque error curve is presented. The variational characteristics of the joint torque error during a collision are analyzed, and collisions are classified into two types: hard and soft. A pair of envelope-like lines with an effect similar to that of the true envelope lines is designed. By using these envelope-like lines, some components of the torque calculation error can be eliminated, and the sensitivity of collision detection can be improved.

Findings

The proposed collision detection method based on envelope-like lines can detect hard and soft collisions during the motion of industrial robots. In repeated experiments without collisions, the false alarm rate was 0 per cent, and in repeated experiments with collisions, the rate of successful detection was 100 per cent. Compared with collision detection method based on symmetric thresholds, the proposed method has a smaller detection delay and the same detection sensitivity for different joint rotation directions.

Originality/value

A collision detection method for industrial robots based on envelope-like lines is proposed in this paper. The proposed method does not require additional equipment or complex algorithms, and highly sensitive collision detection can be achieved with zero false alarms. The proposed method is low in cost and highly practical and can be widely used in applications involving industrial robots.
Market transparency and international real estate investment
Authors: Sadayuki Taisuke , Harano Kei , Yamazaki Fukuju
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide new empirical evidence on the important role of market transparency in international real estate investment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply the augmented panel regression method (or the correlated random effects approach) by using national panel data from 44 countries from 2004 to 2016.

Findings

Countries with better accessibility to market information and higher enforceability of regulations have less information asymmetry and attract more inward real estate investment. In contrast, the accounting quality of corporate governance is negatively correlated with investment, indicating the possibility that foreign investors enjoy high excess returns by investing in real estate in countries with poor accounting quality.

Practical implications

Countries lacking market transparency can increase inward investments by providing richer market information to foreign investors and by boosting enforceability of regulation to mitigate the uncertainty of returns on investment. Investors and public sectors in countries facing a saturated real estate market may expand investment by investigating less-explored markets and by seeking bilateral negotiations to secure higher predictability of return on investment in targeted countries.

Originality/value

The authors utilize updated multiple transparency indices instead of a conventional aggregate index to examine how the investment is attributed to different aspects of market transparency and employ the augmented panel regression method for investigation of the intra- and international determinants of the investment.
Study of lamination quality of solar modules with PMMA front layer
Authors: Drabczyk Kazimierz , Sobik Piotr , Starowicz Zbigniew , Gawlińska Katarzyna , Pluta Anna , Drabczyk Bogusław
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The photovoltaic modules with front glass as a protective layer are the most popular type in the industry, but for some applications it can be considered as too heavy. One of the approaches is to laminate the cells using PMMA [Poly(methyl methacrylate)] as the front layer. This polymer has good mechanical strength and optical properties but exhibits low adhesion to lamination foil. To increase adhesion between these two materials, PMMA surface treatment may be required.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the PMMA treatment influence on the sample, adhesion samples’ surfaces were modified by grinding and laser cutting. Also two types of PMMA available in the market were tested, namely, smooth and satin types. The quality of lamination was determined using two methods, namely, tear test with recorded maximal tear force achieved for the samples, and environment chamber tests, in which the system resistance against the cyclic temperature variation was evaluated.

Findings

Additional treatment of the PMMA surface lead to increased adhesion of the lamination foil used. Ethylene-vinyl acetate foil in the PMMA system is sensitive to temperature variation, which can lead to system delamination, whereas polyvinyl butyral foil exhibits better environmental performance and even its adhesion to PMMA is lower.

Originality/value

This paper presents atypical surface modification methods that contributed to higher adhesion of lamination systems in glass-free solar modules. Glass front sheet and polymeric backsheet were replaced with PMMA. As the adhesion mechanism in the PMMA-lamination foil system differs from that in the traditional glass system, different PMMA surface treatments need to be evaluated.
Customers as “partial” employees of organizations: good or bad?
Authors: Zhuang Weiling , Babin Barry J. , Borges Adilson
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to address the following research questions: How do customer input and service provider (in this study, the terms firm and service provider are used interchangeably) input coproduce customer experience and response? Do different components of customer input influence customer experience differently?

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling (SEM) was adopted to conduct tests of the measurement model and the main hypotheses represented in Figure 1. LISREL 8.80 (Jöreskog and Sörbom, 1993) was applied for data analysis in the current study. A survey instrument was designed and used to gather data for use in this study. Data were collected using an online survey administration tool (www.qualtrics.com).

Findings

The results indicate that two dimensions of customer participation – information resource and codeveloper activities – demonstrate distinct impacts on customers’ responses. Specifically, customer participation (information resource) is negatively related to customer shopping values and satisfaction. However, another dimension of customer participation (codeveloper activities) is positively related to the same outcomes.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to integrate customer participation and customer orientation to understand the phenomenon of customer co-creation. The study applies for a two-dimensional customer input construct and empirically tests their impacts on customer experience. Both utilitarian value and hedonic value are included in the research framework to assess customer value experience.
Transformation leadership and creativity
Authors: Al Harbi Jaithen Abdullah , Alarifi Saud , Mosbah Aissa
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the effect of transformational leadership on followers’ inventiveness and organizational innovation. It studies transformational leadership and innovation at the organizational level and creativity at the individual level.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model was created, which entailed the development of variables and hypotheses. A survey instrument was used to obtain data, through a self-completion questionnaire. The final sample was made up of 503 individuals, recruited using a random sampling technique.

Findings

The results showed that transformational leadership has a significant positive relationship with both followers’ creativity and organizational innovation. Furthermore, a significant positive relationship was found between followers’ creativity and organizational innovation. In addition, the relationship between transformational leadership and followers’ creativity, through the mediating role of employees’ psychological empowerment, support for innovation, workplace relationships and employee learning, was also found to be both positive and significant. However, the data showed that intrinsic motivation does not significantly affect the relationship between transformational leadership and creativity.

Practical implications

The study provides guidance to organizations that need to change their leadership style and approach, as well as their innovation and creativity mechanisms, at a strategic level. The resulting guidance provides organizations with insight into how they can improve the creativity of their employees through motivating, supporting and inspiring them.

Originality/value

This study is an attempt to illustrate the extent to which transformational leadership can affect organizational innovation in Saudi Arabia, specifically in the public sector, and to explore how employees’ creativity can be improved. This research is beneficial for academics, organizations and policy makers, especially in the Gulf countries.
Value-added innovation in infrastructure systems, lessons learned from wastewater treatment plants
Authors: Jamshidi Shervin
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are evolving toward sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how innovation can develop these mission-based service industries to value-added manufacturing enterprises. Here, innovation is embedded in altering the understanding of stakeholders toward the objectives and managerial systems of these infrastructures.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses multidisciplinary principles in management, economics and engineering to assess the integration of innovation and quality management with different perspectives. It initially compares the conventional and innovative approach for operating WWTPs. Subsequently, it emphasizes the contribution of the tailor-made managerial system of wastewater treatment enterprises through prospective markets, customers’ preferences, probable competitions and shared values.

Findings

The tailor-made managerial system for wastewater treatment can add economic values by manufacturing multiple demand products for local markets. Water, green energy, organic fertilizers and raw materials are the main products that can be simultaneously recovered according to the customers’ demand. The Kano model also verifies that the new managerial system has this potential to turn the conventional must-be treatment systems into delightful enterprises. It can provide different stakeholders with shared social and environmental values. Accordingly, locals and customers can be engaged in monitoring the quality of products to consider their feedback for decision making and upgrading. This indirectly defines shared values among operators and society to reinforce localization and ecosystem protection. Additionally, this research reveals that the market of the aforementioned strategic products is promising as a blue ocean for set sail due to the lack of competitors.

Originality/value

This study introduces wastewater treatment as a promising enterprise for integrating innovation and quality management.
Common‐offset common‐reflection‐surface attributes estimation with differential evolution
Authors: Barros Tiago , Lopes Renato , Krummenauer Rafael , Chauris Hervé
Published: June 2019

Common‐reflection surface is a method to describe the shape of seismic events, typically the slopes (dip) and curvature portions (traveltime). The most systematic approach to estimate the common‐reflection surface traveltime attributes is to employ a sequence of single‐variable search procedures, inheriting the advantage of a low computational cost, but also the disadvantage of a poor estimation quality. A search strategy where the common‐reflection surface attributes are globally estimated in a single stage may yield more accurate estimates. In this paper, we propose to use the bio‐inspired global optimization algorithm differential evolution to estimate all the two‐dimensional common‐offset common‐reflection surface attributes simultaneously. The differential evolution algorithm can provide accurate estimates for the common‐reflection surface traveltime attributes, with the benefit of having a small set of input parameters to be configured. We apply the differential evolution algorithm to estimate the two‐dimensional common‐reflection surface attributes in the synthetic Marmousi data set, contaminated by noise, and in a land field data with a small fold. By analysing the stacked and coherence sections, we could see that the differential evolution based common‐offset common‐reflection surface approach presented significant signal‐to‐noise ratio enhancement.
Host migration strategy is shaped by forms of parasite transmission and infection cost
Authors: Shaw Allison K. , Craft Meggan E. , Zuk Marlene , Binning Sandra A.
Published: June 2019

Most studies on the evolution of migration focus on food, mates and/or climate as factors influencing these movements, whereas negative species interactions such as predators, parasites and pathogens are often ignored. Although infection and its associated costs clearly have the potential to influence migration, thoroughly studying these interactions is challenging without a solid theoretical framework from which to develop testable predictions in natural systems.

Here, we aim to understand when parasites favour the evolution of migration.

We develop a general model which enables us to explore a broad range of biological conditions and to capture population and infection dynamics over both ecological and evolutionary time‐scales.

We show that when migration evolves depends on whether the costs of migration and infection are paid in reduced fecundity or survival. Also important are the parasite transmission mode and spatiotemporal dynamics of infection and recovery (if it occurs). Finally, we find that partial migration (where only a fraction of the population migrates) can evolve but only when parasite transmission is density‐dependent.

Our results highlight the critical, if overlooked, role of parasites in shaping long‐distance movement patterns, and suggest that infection should be considered alongside more traditional drivers of migration in both empirical and theoretical studies.
A thermostable mannitol‐1‐phosphate dehydrogenase is required in mannitol metabolism of the thermophilic acetogenic bacterium Thermoanaerobacter kivui
Authors: Moon Jimyung , Henke Laura , Merz Nadine , Basen Mirko
Published: June 2019

Acetogenic bacteria recently attracted attention because they reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) with hydrogen (H2) to acetate or to other products such as ethanol. Besides gases, acetogens use a broad range of substrates, but conversion of the sugar alcohol mannitol has rarely been reported. We found that the thermophilic acetogenic bacterium Thermoanaerobacter kivui grew on mannitol with a specific growth rate of 0.33 h−1 to a final optical density (OD600) of 2.2. Acetate was the major product formed. A lag phase was observed only in cultures pre‐grown on glucose, not in those pre‐grown on mannitol, indicating that mannitol metabolism is regulated. Mannitol‐1‐phosphate dehydrogenase (MtlD) activity was observed in cell‐free extracts of cells grown on mannitol only. A gene cluster (TKV_c02830–TKV_c02860) for mannitol uptake and conversion was identified in the T. kivui genome, and its involvement was confirmed by deleting the mtlD gene (TKV_c02860) encoding the key enzyme MtlD. Finally, we overexpressed mtlD, and the recombinant MtlD carried out the reduction of fructose‐6‐phosphate with NADH, at a high VMAX of 1235 U mg−1 at 65°C. The enzyme was thermostable for 40 min at 75°C, thereby representing the first characterized MtlD from a thermophile.
Constructing ‘exceptionality’: a neglected aspect of NHS rationing
Authors: Hughes David , Doheny Shane
Published: June 2019

In the British NHS the principle of exceptionality involves assessing whether a patient is sufficiently different from the generality of patients to justify providing a treatment, such as an expensive cancer drug, not approved for routine funding. In England, individual requests for certain high‐cost treatments are considered by local panels that examine exceptionality alongside treatment efficacy and cost as the main criteria for funding. This was also the case in Wales until September 2017. Our paper draws on audio recordings of panel meetings and interviews in a Welsh Health Board to investigate how exceptionality was constructed in discussions. It focuses on the problematic combination of different decision criteria in meeting talk, particularly regarding the discourses associated with efficacy and exceptionality. Exceptionality is a fluid category that raised questions about the evidence‐based nature of panel decision making. In particular, the paper discusses the use of subgroup data from RCTs and the difficulty of deciding how small a subgroup of patients should be before it is deemed exceptional. Determining exceptionality has been an important mechanism for deciding that a minority of NHS patients can still receive high‐cost treatments not routinely provided for all. As a neglected rationing mechanism it warrants sociological examination.
Antibacterial and anti‐inflammatory activities of the immune‐challenged silkworm (Bombyx mori) hemolymph with Lactobacillus cell wall extracts
Authors: Kim Seong Ryul , Hong Seung‐Jin , Choi Kwangho , Kim Seong Wan , Jeong Seong Tae , Park Seung‐Won
Published: June 2019

Insects have been used by humans as food and traditional medicines for many years. Their antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory activities are a main focus of medicinal insect research. In a previous study, hemocyte extracts prepared from Bombyx mori larvae were found to have anti‐inflammatory effects. Therefore, we injected Lactobacillus cell wall extracts dorsolaterally into the hemocoel to increase antimicrobial peptides produced by silkworm larva. The best overall antimicrobial activities were observed against E. coli after injection of 10 μL hemolymph from immune‐challenged larvae, although the tested extract did not affect the cell proliferation rate. The effects of the immune‐challenged B. mori hemolymph on anti‐inflammatory pathways were determined using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting to assess the expression of pro‐inflammatory molecules in macrophage‐like human monocytic leukemia THP‐1 cells following treatment with phorbol myristate acetate. The results demonstrated that the hemolymph of immune‐challenged silkworms had antibacterial and anti‐inflammatory effects. The effects of silkworms with immune‐challenged hemolymph could facilitate the development of new types of functional foods, feed additives, and biomaterials with antibacterial and anti‐inflammatory properties.
Acid Inhibition on Polyphenol Oxidase and Peroxidase in Processing of Anthocyanin‐Rich Juice and Co‐product Recovery from Purple‐Fleshed Sweetpotatoes
Authors: Truong An N. , Thor Yiwen , Harris G. Keith , Simunovic Josip , Truong Van‐Den
Published: June 2019

With high phytochemical and starch contents, purple‐fleshed sweetpotatoes (PFSP) have been processed into various functional ingredients and food products including juices and natural colorants. For juice processing, PFSP are usually subjected to heat treatment for inactivation of pigment‐degrading enzymes. However, heating of sweetpotatoes gelatinizes starch and produces thick slurry with cooked flavor, which are the drawbacks. Development of alternative processes to overcome the stated problems will be beneficial to sweetpotato processors. This study demonstrated that acidified water (≥3% w/v citric acid) was effective in inhibiting polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase in raw PFSP resulting in an attractive reddish juice. About 93% total phenolics (TP) and 83% total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA) in PFSP were extracted by two repeated extractions. The combined PFSP juice (3.2 L/kg PFSP) had high levels of TP (1,850 mg/L) and TMA (475 mg/L). With the developed process, 167 g dried starch, and 140 g dried high‐fiber pomace were obtained for each kg raw PFSP, besides the highly pigmented juice. Pasteurization of the PFSP juice samples (pH 3.2) at 80 °C for 12 s resulted in 15% loss in TMA and had no effect on TP. The results indicated an efficient process to produce sweetpotato juice with high bioactive compounds and recovery of starch and high dietary fiber pomace as co‐products.

Practical Application

Purple‐fleshed sweetpotatoes (PFSP) are rich in polyphenolics and antioxidant activities. In PFSP juice extraction, heat treatment to inactivate the pigment‐degrading enzymes results in starch gelatinization and cooked flavor. A nonthermal process using acidified water was developed for producing anthocyanin‐rich juice from PFSP and concurrently recovering native starch and dried pomace, which would increase the economic feasibility of the developed process. The results demonstrate an efficient process for the sweetpotato industry in producing PFSP pigmented juice and co‐products for various food applications.
Studies on the Anti‐Angiogenic Activities of Wild and Cultivated Orostachys japonicus Extracts in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Authors: Cho Hyun‐Dong , Lee Kwan‐Woo , Won Yeong‐Seon , Shin Dong‐Young , Seo Kwon‐Il
Published: June 2019

Orostachys japonicus has traditionally been used as a food product and a fork medicine in Asia to treat various diseases. Angiogenesis is a critical process that contributes to various chronic diseases via excessive delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Common anti‐angiogenic drugs have serious problems related to high costs and side effects; thus, natural products with low costs and no cytotoxicity have garnered increasing interest. In this study, we evaluated and compared the anti‐angiogenic effects and phenolic compound contents between wild (WOEs) and cultivated O. japonicus extracts (COEs) prepared under various extract conditions. WOEs and COEs suppressed cell proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor‐induced chemotactic migration, invasion, and capillary‐like tube formation in HUVECs. Among COEs, that prepared by 70% EtOH (70% CE) showed the most effective anti‐angiogenic activity in HUVECs. When compared to WOEs, total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents were 1.28 to 4.38 times higher in COEs, and 70% CE contained the greatest flavonoid contents (28.28 ± 0.93 mg%), as well as the highest levels of major phenolic compounds including gallic acid (21.84 µg/mL), epicatechin‐gallate (6.58 µg/mL), kaempferol (6.32 µg/mL), and quercetin (8.55 µg/mL). Although further studies are required to identify the molecular mechanisms behind these anti‐angiogenic effects, 70% CE could be used as an herbal medicine, functional food ingredient, and potent angiogenesis inhibitor.

Practical Application

Environmental factors such as altitude, nutrients, exposure to sunlight, and temperature can influence the type and quantity of bioactive components in plants. The advantage of cultivated plants is that the above‐mentioned factors can be artificially adjusted compared to wild plants. Based on economic efficiency, productivity, and consistent quality, anti‐angiogenesis activity of cultivated O. japonicus is of greater commercial value as a functional food than wild O. japonicus.
Norm‐making and the Global South: Attempts to Regulate Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Authors: Bode Ingvild
Published: June 2019

The international community has been debating lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) under the auspices of the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (UN‐CCW) since 2014. Here, a growing number of states from the Global South have been active participants and expressly support a preventive legal ban of fully autonomous systems. This is an interesting observation for two reasons: first, their vocal activism within a UN disarmament forum is noteworthy as these sites have often not been associated with significant representation from the Global South, not least due to financial pressures. Second, their engagement speaks to an evolving critical agenda in norm research, recognising developing states as norm‐makers rather than norm‐takers and thereby counteracting a long‐standing hierarchical depiction of norm promotion, development, and diffusion. The article therefore studies ongoing international deliberations on LAWS from the perspective of the Global South as potential norm‐makers.
Risk factors associated with subgaleal hemorrhage in neonates exposed to vacuum extraction
Authors: Levin Gabriel , Elchalal Uriel , Yagel Simcha , Eventov‐Friedman Smadar , Ezra Yossef , Sompolinsky Yishay , Mankuta David , Rottenstreich Amihai
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Subgaleal hemorrhage (SGH) is a life‐threatening neonatal condition that is strongly associated with vacuum assisted delivery (VAD). The factors associated with the development of SGH following VAD are not well‐established. We aimed to evaluate the factors associated with the development of SGH following attempted VAD.

Material and methods

A retrospective case‐control study of women who delivered at a tertiary university‐affiliated medical center in Jerusalem, Israel, during 2009‐2018. Cases comprised all parturients with singleton pregnancies for whom attempted VAD resulted in neonatal SGH. A control group of VAD attempts was established by matching one‐to‐one according to gestational age at delivery, parity and year of delivery. Fetal, intrapartum and vacuum procedure characteristics were compared between the groups.

Results

In all, 313 (89.5%) of the 350 attempted VAD were nulliparous. Baseline maternal and fetal characteristics were similar between the groups except for higher neonatal birthweight in the SGH group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only six independent risk factors were significantly associated with the development of SGH: second‐stage duration (for each 30‐minute increase, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.13; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.04‐1.25; P = .006), presence of meconium‐stained amniotic fluid (adjusted OR 2.61; 95% CI 1.52‐4.48; P = .001), presence of caput succedaneum (adjusted OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.11‐2.88; P = .01), duration of VAD (for each 3‐minute increase, adjusted OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.72, 2.38; P < .001), number of dislodgments (adjusted OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.66‐3.44; P < .001), and fetal head station (adjusted OR 3.57; 95% CI 1.42‐8.33; P = .006). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that VAD duration of ≥15 minutes had a 96.7% sensitivity and 75.0% specificity in predicting SGH formation, with an area under the curve equal to .849.

Conclusions

Vacuum duration, the number of dislodgments, the duration of second stage of delivery, fetal head station, the presence of caput succedaneum and the presence of meconium were found to be independently associated with SGH formation.
Long‐term functional and oncological outcomes of nerve‐sparing and prostate capsule‐sparing cystectomy: a single‐centre experience
Authors: Saad Mohamed , Moschini Marco , Stabile Armando , Macek Petr , Lanz Camille , Prapotnich Dominique , Rozet Francois , Cathala Nathalie , Mombet Annick , Sanchez‐Salas Rafael , Cathelineau Xavier
Published: June 2019

Objectives

To evaluate the technical feasibility, oncological and functional outcomes of nerve sparing cystoprostatectomy (NSCP) and prostate capsule‐sparing cystectomy (PCSC) for the treatment of organ‐confined bladder cancer at a single referral centre.

Patients and Methods

From April 2001 to June 2012, 60 patients underwent PCSC and 47 were treated with NSCP. Inclusion criteria for PCSC were: fully informed consent for the well‐motivated patient; negative transurethral resection of the bladder neck; normal prostatic specific antigen (PSA) level (defined as <4 ng/dL during the first year of the study, which was later lowered to 2.5 ng/dL); and normal transrectal ultrasonography, with biopsy for any suspicious nodule. Patients received a complete oncological and functional follow‐up. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to depict survival outcomes after surgery.

Results

After a median follow‐up of 73 and 62 months for PCSC and NSCP, respectively, the 5‐year cancer‐specific survival was 90% for the PCSC group and 78% for the NSCP group (P = 0.055). Considering complications within 30 days after surgery, 13% and 21% patients had Clavien ≥III complications in the PCSC and NSCP groups, respectively (P = 0.2). For functional outcomes, at 3 months after surgery, 54 (90%) and 24 (51%) patients reported full recovery of daytime urinary continence in the PCSC and NSCP groups, respectively (P < 0.001); and for erectile function recovery, 32 (53%) and four (9%) patients in the PCSC group and in the NSCP group were respectively potent without any treatment (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

NSCP and PCSC are appropriate for a subset of patients with bladder cancer, with excellent oncological and functional results. These surgical procedures should be proposed to well‐motivated patients.
Towards more effective integration of tropical forest restoration and conservation
Authors: Chazdon Robin L.
Published: June 2019

Conservation and restoration interventions can be mutually reinforcing and are converging through an increased focus on social dimensions. This paper examines how to more effectively integrate the complementary goals of conservation and restoration of tropical forests. Forest conservation and restoration interventions are integral components of a broad approach to forest ecosystem and landscape management that aims to maintain and restore key ecological processes and enhance human well‐being, while minimizing biodiversity loss. The forest transition model provides a useful framework for understanding the relative importance of forest conservation and restoration interventions in different regions. Harmonizing conservation and restoration presents serious challenges for forest policy in tropical countries, particularly regarding the use and management of secondary forests, fallow vegetation, and forests degraded by logging and fire. Research to implement restoration more effectively in tropical regions can be stimulated by transforming questions that initially focused on conservation issues. Examination of papers published in Biotropica from 2000–2018 shows that most studies relevant to tropical forest conservation do not address forest restoration issues. Forest restoration studies, on the other hand, show a consistent association with conservation issues. There is much scope for further integration of conservation and restoration in research, practice, and policy. Securing a sustainable future for tropical forests requires developing and applying integrated approaches to landscape management that effectively combine knowledge and tools from multiple disciplines with practical experience and engagement of local stakeholders.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Randomized phase II trial of survivin 2B peptide vaccination for patients with HLA‐A24‐positive pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Shima Hiroaki , Tsurita Giichiro , Wada Satoshi , Hirohashi Yoshihiko , Yasui Hiroshi , Hayashi Hiroshi , Miyakoshi Takashi , Watanabe Kazue , Murai Aiko , Asanuma Hiroko , Tokita Serina , Kubo Terufumi , Nakatsugawa Munehide , Kanaseki Takayuki , Tsukahara Tomohide , Nakae Yutaka , Sugita Osamu , Ito Yoichi M. , Ota Yasunori , Kimura Yasutoshi , Kutomi Goro , Hirata Koichi , Mizuguchi Toru , Imai Kohzoh , Takemasa Ichiro , Sato Noriyuki , Torigoe Toshihiko
Published: June 2019

The prognosis of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma is still extremely poor. This study sought to determine the efficacy of, and immunological response to, peptide vaccination therapy in patients with this disease. In this multicenter randomized phase II study, patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma after gemcitabine and/or tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil were randomly assigned to 3 groups that each received a 2‐step treatment course. In Step 1, the groups received treatments of: (i) survivin 2B peptide (SVN‐2B) plus interferon‐β (IFNβ); (ii) SVN‐2B only; or (iii) placebo until the patients show progression. In Step 2, all patients who consented to participate received 4 treatments with SVN‐2B plus IFNβ. The primary endpoint was progression‐free survival (PFS) after initiation of Step 1 treatment. Secondary endpoints included immunological effects assessed by analysis of PBMCs after Step 1. Eighty‐three patients were randomly assigned to receive SVN‐2B plus IFNβ (n = 30), SVN‐2B (n = 34), or placebo (n = 19). No significant improvement in PFS was observed. Survivin 2B‐specific CTLs were found to be increased in the SVN‐2B plus IFNβ group by tetramer assay. Among patients who participated in Step 2, those who had received SVN‐2B plus IFNβ in Step 1 showed better overall survival compared with those who had received placebo in Step 1. Patients vaccinated with SVN‐2B plus IFNβ did not have improved PFS, but showed significant immunological reaction after vaccination. Subgroup analysis suggested that a longer SVN‐2B plus IFNβ vaccination protocol might confer survival benefit. (Clinical trial registration number: UMIN 000012146).
L‐glutamine protects mouse brain from ischemic injury via up‐regulating heat shock protein 70
Authors: Luo Long‐Long , Li Yong‐Fang , Shan Hui‐Min , Wang Li‐Ping , Yuan Fang , Ma Yuan‐Yuan , Li Wan‐Lu , He Ting‐Ting , Wang Yu‐Yang , Qu Mei‐Jie , Liang Huai‐Bin , Zhang Zhi‐Jun , Yang Guo‐Yuan , Tang Yao‐Hui , Wang Yong‐Ting
Published: June 2019

Introduction

L‐glutamine is an antioxidant that plays a role in a variety of biochemical processes. Given that oxidative stress is a key component of stroke pathology, the potential of L‐glutamine in the treatment of ischemic stroke is worth exploring.

Aims

In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanisms of action of L‐glutamine after cerebral ischemic injury.

Results

L‐glutamine reduced brain infarct volume and promoted neurobehavioral recovery in mice. L‐glutamine administration increased the expression of heat‐shock protein 70 (HSP70) in astrocytes and endothelial cells. Such effects were abolished by the coadministration of Apoptozole, an inhibitor of the ATPase activity of HSP70. L‐glutamine also reduced oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis, and increased the level of superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor. Cotreatment with Apoptozole abolished these effects. Cell culture study further revealed that the conditioned medium from astrocytes cultured with L‐glutamine reduced the apoptosis of neurons after oxygen‐glucose deprivation.

Conclusion

L‐glutamine attenuated ischemic brain injury and promoted functional recovery via HSP70, suggesting its potential in ischemic stroke therapy.
THIRD‐PARTY CERTIFICATION AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VOLUNTARY POLLUTION ABATEMENT PROGRAMS: EVIDENCE FROM RESPONSIBLE CARE
Authors: Vidovic Martina , Delgado Michael S. , Khanna Neha
Published: June 2019

We analyze whether third‐party certification has been successful in improving the performance of voluntary pollution abatement in the Responsible Care (RC) program which made certification mandatory from 2005 onward. We use facility‐level panel data from 821 plants between 1996 and 2010, and exploit the change in the program requirements to estimate the causal impact of third‐party certification on participating facility emissions compared to non‐RC plants in the U.S. chemical industry. We address endogenous selection into RC via instrumental variables, and explore heterogeneity in the treatment effect. We find that, on average, there is no statistically discernible effect of third‐party certification on facility emissions, and that this result is robust to a variety of models that correspond to different assumptions related to identification. (JEL Q53, Q58, L60)