bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adoption of internet-enabled supply chain management systems
Authors: Pu Xiaodie , Chan Felix T.S. , Tsiga Zayyad , Niu Ben
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Based on the factors derived from the structural embeddedness theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the antecedents to the adoption intention for eSCM from two perspectives: buyer and supplier. The six factors examined in this study are product complexity, product specificity, the number of partners, relationship duration, dependence disadvantage and dependence advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was designed to collect data from Mainland China with 206 valid data received. Regression analysis was employed to test the hypotheses proposed.

Findings

The differences in the results show that product specificity and dependence disadvantage are significant determinants of eSCM adoption for buyers’ perspective, but not from that of suppliers. In addition, product complexity and dependence advantage (although negatively associated with eSCM adoption) are significant for suppliers, but not for buyers. Number of partners and relationship duration are significant determinants from both perspectives.

Originality/value

This research contributes to understanding on how the factors embedded in an exchange structure influence the adoption of eSCM from the angles of both the buyers and suppliers. We fill the research gap in the existing literature by recognizing the differences in the roles of the buyer and supplier regarding the antecedents to eSCM adoption.
Talk it (Racism) out: race talk and organizational learning
Authors: Irby Decoteau J. , P. Clark Shannon
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether race-specific language use can advance organizational learning about the racialized nature of school problems. The study addressed two questions: first, is teacher use of racial language associated with how they frame school discipline problems during conversational exchanges? Second, what do patterns of associations suggest about racial language use as an asset that may influence an organization’s ability to analyze discipline problems?

Design/methodology/approach

Co-occurrence analysis was used to explore patterns between racial language use and problem analysis during team conversational exchanges regarding school discipline problems.

Findings

When participants used race-specific and race-proxy language, they identified more problems and drew on multiple frames to describe school discipline problems.

Research limitations/implications

This paper substantiates that race-specific language is beneficial for organizational learning.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that leading language communities may be an integral, yet overlooked lever for organizational learning and improvement. Prioritizing actions that promote race-specific conversations among school teams can reveal racism/racial conflict and subsequently increase the potential for change.

Originality/value

This paper combines organizational change and race talk research to highlight the importance of professional talk routines in organizational learning.
Examining the impact of e-government service process on user satisfaction
Authors: Sachan Amit , Kumar Rajiv , Kumar Ritu
Published: August 2018

Purpose

A government website is considered as an electronic government service delivery system (eGSDS). The authors look at this eGSDS from its process point of view. This study aims to expand the existing knowledge of e-government adoption, and to identify the significance of eGSDS process to user satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a quantitative technique using data collected from 197 respondents. Structure equation modeling has been used to test the model and the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The findings indicate that as the eGSDS process improves, a user’s perception of the government website’s ease of use increases, leading to increased perceived usefulness, which increases user satisfaction. The findings also indicate that eGSDS process has a significant impact on perceived usefulness and user satisfaction. This study provides evidence that the technological capabilities embedded in the government website processes are an important factor in determining e-government service quality and ultimately e-government user satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The sample used was sufficient for this study and allowed reasonable conclusions to be drawn, but cannot be considered representative of all e-government users in India. Further research may help to validate the findings and generalize the results to a wider population. This study extends the current literature that looks at e-government adoption. Academicians and information systems researchers may use these findings for further research.

Practical implications

The research provides evidence that the technological capabilities embedded in the eGSDS process are critical in adopting e-government services. Government or concerned agencies may consider eGSDS process attributes (e.g. navigation, searching and transacting) while designing e-government service to give improved experience to its user.

Originality/value

E-government websites have become an important point of contact with citizens for many public services. However, more study is needed to understand how Web-based technological capabilities of e-government services affect user satisfaction. This study is an attempt to explore the impact of the eGSDS process on e-government user satisfaction.
Determinants of good and poor quality as perceived by US health care managers
Authors: Amati Rebecca , Kaissi Amer A. , Hannawa Annegret F.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The scientific literature evidences that the quality of care must be improved. However, little research has focused on investigating how health care managers – who are responsible for the implementation of quality interventions – define good and poor quality. The purpose of this paper is to develop an empirically informed taxonomy of quality care as perceived by US managers – named the Integrative Quality Care Assessment Tool (INQUAT) – that is grounded in Donabedian’s structure, process and outcome model.

Design/methodology/approach

A revised version of the critical incident technique was used to collect 135 written narratives of good and poor quality care from 74 health care managers in the USA. The episodes were thematically analyzed.

Findings

In total, 804 units were coded under the 135 written narratives of care. They were grouped under structure (9 percent, n=69), including organizational, staff and facility resources; process (52 percent, n=419), entailing communication, professional diligence, timeliness, errors, and continuity of care; outcomes (32 percent, n=257), embedding process- and short-term outcomes; and context (7 percent, n=59), involving clinical and patient factors. Process-related categories tended to be described in relation to good quality (65 percent), while structure-related categories tended to be associated with poor quality (67 percent). Furthermore, the data suggested that managers did not consider their actions as important factors influencing quality, but rather tended to attribute the responsibility for quality care to front-line practitioners.

Originality/value

The INQUAT provides a theoretically grounded, evidence-based framework to guide health care managers in the assessment of all the components involved with the quality of care within their institutions.
Considerations for Asian fund managers under the US New partnership audit regime
Authors: Godfrey Anne-Marie , Leblang Stuart , Grabov-Nardini Ron , Jackel Monte
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explain how the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, as modified by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, changes the way the US Internal Revenue Service will conduct audits of collective investment vehicles treated as partnerships for US tax purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study explains the entities covered by the new partnership audit regime, the effective dates of the new regime and steps to be taken by funds covered by the new audit regime.

Findings

The results show that the new regime creates a liability at the partnership level for any unpaid tax, placing the tax burden on current-year partners.

Practical implications

A fund manager should determine whether the new audit regime is applicable to any of the funds he or she is managing and, if so, amend the fund documents to accommodate the new audit rules, providing a mechanism to elect and supervise a partnership representative, a mechanism to allocate the economic burden of the tax to the appropriate partners and a procedure for selecting the method to calculate the amount of the fund’s tax liability attributable to an audit.

Originality/value

This study provides practical guidance from experienced investment, fund and tax lawyers.
Blockchain and virtual currency regulation in the EU
Authors: Miseviciute Jurgita
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explain the current stage of blockchain and virtual currency regulation in the EU.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the current state of blockchain and virtual currency regulation in the EU, presenting the EU institutions’ main policy and regulatory initiatives on, and approaches to, blockchain and virtual currency.

Findings

Though the EU is looking seriously at the potential of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, many European institutions are of the opinion that it is still too early to regulate in this field. As far as virtual currencies are concerned, Member States’ central banks do not consider them to be equivalent to money or legal tender. However, with the current high profile of and interest in virtual currencies, one can expect the European Commission to at least consider what regulation might be called for.

Originality/value

This study provides practical guidance on and introduction to the current regulatory and policy landscape of blockchain and virtual currency in the EU.
Financial concerns and symptom distress among psychiatric outpatients
Authors: Kealy David , Spidel Alicia , Sandhu Sharan , Kim Dan , Izbicki Andrew
Published: August 2018

Purpose

While epidemiological studies have linked economic hardship and financial difficulties with psychological distress and suicide, investigation of financial concerns among users of public mental health services has been limited. Moreover, empirical data regarding a relationship between financial difficulties and mental health symptoms are lacking. The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of financial difficulties among patients attending community mental health clinics, and to examine the relationship between such difficulties and psychological distress and suicidality.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants attending three community mental health clinics in British Columbia, Canada provided demographic information, including annual income, and completed brief measures of personal financial management, psychological distress and suicidal behavior.

Findings

Although more than half of participants reported good-to-excellent ability to pay their bills on time, nearly half indicated poor long-range saving and financial planning. Lower annual income was directly related to suicidality. Financial management difficulties were associated with psychological distress, and were significantly related to suicidality after controlling for the effects of income and psychological distress.

Originality/value

The findings highlight the need for attention to distress and suicidality as potential sequelae of financial management difficulties, and carry implications for further research, clinical intervention and social policy. The findings confirm the need to address financial needs and money management abilities among users of public mental health services.
Read into the lines: the positive effects of queues
Authors: Tu Rungting , Feng Wenting , Lin Cheryl , Tu Pikuei
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Companies work hard to reduce queue lengths due to the common belief that queues in general are undesirable. Extant literature mainly has focused on the negative consequences of queues and overlooked the potential positive effects. The purpose of this paper is to address the benefits of queues by examining how consumers of different segments may read into the lines (queues) as well as why and when positive effects occur.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying and integrating psychology and marketing theories, the study develops a model with several propositions to identify and explain the mechanism and conditions under which queues have positive effects.

Findings

Contrary to conventional belief, queues may serve as positive signs. In certain segments, consumers can perceive a queue as a reflection of superior service/product quality, an opportunity to fulfill the need(s) for self-uniqueness or social inclusion or an avenue to avoid social exclusion. In addition, the benefits of long queues may come from consumers’ joining a line to seek desirable outcomes/gains based on their attribution of the queue, and consumers’ prefactual thinking that regards “not joining” the queue as potential losses. Furthermore, the magnitude of such effects depends on queue distinctiveness, choice heterogeneity, consumption hedonism and performance uncertainty.

Originality/value

This paper explains how, why and when a long queue can be read as positive cues and benefits both the firms and target/potential consumers. The authors demonstrate the psychological mechanisms of joining a queue based on attribution and prefactual thinking, and identify conditions under which positive queue effects are most likely to occur.
Collateral, mutual guarantees and the entrepreneurial orientation of SMEs
Authors: Beltrame Federico , Floreani Josanco , Grassetti Luca , Mason Michela Cesarina , Miani Stefano
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether guarantees characterised by different degrees of relationship lending (particularly referring to collateral and guarantees provided by Mutual Loan Guarantee Institutions) are able to convey some entrepreneurial orientation (EO) dimensions from firms to banks.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploiting data from a survey of Austrian and Italian SMEs, the empirical analysis is based on a sample of 328 small business firms. To test the signalling hypothesis, the authors used logistic regressions to assess the explanatory power of EO dimensions on the presence of several types of guarantees.

Findings

The analyses suggest that collateral cannot signal any EO dimension, even when controlling for the strength of the bank – firm relationship. Furthermore, SMEs are able to mitigate their financial risk through collateral only in a multiple bank – firm relationship. Lastly, innovativeness, competitive energy and aggressiveness allow SMEs to obtain external guarantees (mutual guarantees, bank guarantees and public guarantees, respectively), helpful in order to promote credit access.

Research limitations/implications

The mediation role of collateral and external guarantees on EO – credit access relation should be analysed in future research. Since the role of guarantees can change among different bank lending technologies, further studies should carefully consider lender’s characteristics. Lastly, the use of loan data in respect of the firm data can help to better separate the effect of loan and firm attributes on the collateral.

Practical implications

The study suggests how managers and entrepreneurs should manage the financial risk through collateral in different situations (one–to–one and multiple bank – firm relationship). Furthermore, depending on the level of innovativeness, competitive energy and aggressiveness, a firm should request a specific type of external guarantees in order to increment the credit availability, to maximise the possibility of success and to improve its performance.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to analyse whether EO affects the request for guarantees instead of credit access. This can be helpful especially when the banks involved in the relation apply a transaction lending technology.
Participatory arts, recovery and social inclusion
Authors: Sayers Tim , Stickley Theodore
Published: August 2018

Purpose

There is growing evidence of the contribution participatory arts practice may make towards mental health recovery. The purpose of this paper is to examine this phenomenon by critically reviewing the relevant literature in the light of the CHIME theoretical framework that identifies the components and processes of mental health recovery.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a critical realist review method, the study draws upon foundational social and psychological theories offering an analysis of the identified mental health recovery processes in relation to participatory arts activities for people that use mental health services.

Findings

This review identifies themes that permeate the categories of CHIME and are widely delivered by participatory arts in mental health projects. These themes define the essence of a recovery approach of care and are delivered, sometimes uniquely, through arts in mental health work.

Originality/value

Whilst mental health outcomes are frequently sought in participatory arts projects, there is sparse theoretical evidence to under-pin such work. This review provides potential recovery outcomes through a theoretical inquiry into participatory arts and psychosocial theories.
Beyond the single story of Brown
Authors: An Sohyun
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which an intervention lesson could help with elementary pre-service teachers’ critical racial knowledge around school segregation.

Design/methodology/approach

The author, an Elementary Social Studies Methods Instructor, developed and modeled lessons of “doing race” in social studies as one of the ways to assist elementary pre-service teachers with critical racial knowledge and commitment to do race in their future classrooms. This paper focuses on one of the modeled lessons, which centered on the topic of school segregation.

Findings

Based on the analysis of class discussion and student work, the author documented the ways in which the modeled lesson engaged pre-service teachers in disrupting the dominant discourses and teaching practices on the topic of school segregation and developing the critical understandings needed to successfully teach about race and racism in elementary classrooms.

Originality/value

The paper details actions meant to demonstrate to elementary pre-service teachers the benefits of an elementary social studies topic viewed and taught through a critical race lens. In doing so, it calls attention to the possibilities and limitations of a single lesson that targets antiracist practices.
Pedagogical conditions that promote historical empathy with “The Elizabeth Jennings Project”
Authors: Perrotta Katherine
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether or not the implementation of an instructional unit about an underrepresented historical figure, specifically Elizabeth Jennings, titled “The Elizabeth Jennings Project” (EJP) creates conditions conducive for middle and secondary social studies students to demonstrate historical empathy.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study methodology was selected for this study because the researcher implemented the EJP at one school with a small sample size of participants to assess which pedagogical factors, if any, fostered historical empathy through analysis of an underrepresented historical figure among middle and secondary social studies students.

Findings

Major findings highlight that active learning pedagogies, such as in-class debate, were effective strategies that promote historical empathy when middle and secondary students examined documents about an underrepresented historical figure. Analysis of the implementation of “The EJP” provides insights about how historical empathy pedagogies can connect to national standards and initiatives such as the Common Core Standards for History/Social Studies and the National Council for the Social Studies College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for middle and secondary social studies.

Originality/value

Historical empathy refers to deep inquiry in which intellectual and affective responses to content are shaped through source analysis of the actions, motives, perspectives and beliefs of people in the past. Although there are several studies that address pedagogies that promote historical empathy through examinations of famous historical figures, there is limited research concerning whether students display historical empathy by investigating underrepresented historical figures such as Elizabeth Jennings.
Critical geographic inquiry: teaching AP Human Geography by examining space and place
Authors: Clouse Thomas Christopher
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Advanced Placement Human Geography continues to grow in popularity at the secondary level, but not without its supporters and critics. The purpose of this paper is to examine one critique, the lack of critical geography and then give two examples how teachers could incorporate it using inquiry.

Design/methodology/approach

Critical geography examines the praxis between space, place and identity, exposing power imbalances constructed within space and place. Critical geographers also consider how to transform space and place to be more equitable. This paper provides two examples of how critical geography can be infused into content covered in AP Human Geography using the C3 Framework and the Inquiry Design Model. By infusing critical geographic perspectives into AP Human Geography students practice asking questions about inequities in space and place with an opportunity to become agents of transformation.

Findings

There is a gap in AP Human Geography when it comes to incorporating critical geography. This paper looks to redress that by providing two examples on how critical geography could be used in an AP Human Geography curriculum.

Originality/value

This collection of two inquiries is given as ways that AP Human Geography instructors could incorporate critical geography into their classrooms.
The Board Value Protection Function in Young, Mature and Family Firms
Authors: Hülsbeck Marcel , Meoli Michele , Vismara Silvio
Published: August 2018

Next to value creation, the value protection function of the Board of Directors is a widely accepted fact. Nevertheless, the current literature struggles to show a positive impact of the Board Value Protection (BVP) on firm performance. We use the decision rights model of board functions and argue the difference between board member roles (insider vs independent) and functions, to isolate the BVP from other director functions. By using the German context as a natural setting, we can isolate the BVP and show how it evolves with the firm lifecycle and owner motivations. Based on a sample of 446 initial public offerings (IPOs) from 1995 to 2015, our results show that the importance of BVP in young firms decreases with age, increases in mature firms and that this effect is stronger in family firms.
The contribution of cognitive flexibility to children's reading comprehension – the case for Danish
Authors: Søndergaard Knudsen Hanne B. , Jensen de López Kristine , Archibald Lisa M. D.
Published: August 2018

Multiple cognitive skills support the acquisition of proficient reading skills. Higher order processing abilities allowing the engagement and integration of multiple ideas collectively referred to as executive functions may be particularly important in reading comprehension. In the present study, 39 Danish school age children completed executive function tasks tapping cognitive flexibility and working memory, as well as measures of reading comprehension, nonword reading, receptive language and nonverbal intelligence. Results revealed that unique variance in children's sentence reading comprehension was explained by their abilities in the cognitive flexibility tasks even after differences in age, decoding, naming speed, receptive language, working memory and nonverbal intelligence were taken into account. The results are discussed in relation to the generalisability of the relationship between cognitive flexibility and reading comprehension across different languages and future research investigating the potential of these findings for reading intervention.
Sudden Death Due to Recent Hemorrhage From an Intrathoracic Chronic Expanding Hematoma
Authors: Yaguchi Daizo , Ichikawa Motoshi , Kimura Hayata , Ito Masao , Watanabe Kazuko
Published: August 2018

Chronic expanding hematoma (CEH) is a rare disease that can develop in any region of the body, but it most frequently develops in the thorax. When intrathoracic CEH is left untreated, gradually expanding hematoma can be life‐threatening, leading to respiratory failure or hemoptysis. We encountered an 89‐year‐old man with cardiopulmonary arrest on arrival. He had been healthy, and it was unclear whether CEH had previously been detected. A very large mass was observed on chest computed tomography (CT), but the cause of death could not be determined. In the autopsy, this mass was identified as CEH and no malignant findings were noted. A fresh hemorrhage had occurred in the hematoma and perforated the bronchial lumen, which caused airway obstruction/asphyxia and resulted in sudden death. CEH should be suspected when a very large tumorous lesion occupying the entire hemithorax is observed on chest imaging, and it is important to recognize that sudden death can occur in the natural course of CEH.
Fostering workplace creativity: examining the roles of job design and organizational context
Authors: Yoo Sangok , Jang Soebin , Ho Yedam , Seo Jaekyo , Yoo Min Hee
Published: August 2018

This study investigates the actor–context interaction effects of job characteristics and organizational context on individual creativity in the South Korean context. Specifically, we examined the relationship among three job characteristics (i.e. skill variety, autonomy and feedback), three organizational context factors (i.e. organizational climate, resources and extrinsic rewards), and individual creativity. Our findings indicated that all job characteristics positively affected individual creativity. Only extrinsic rewards had a significant moderating effect on the job characteristics and individual creativity relationship; extrinsic rewards negatively moderated the relationship between skill variety and individual creativity, while it positively affected the relationship between autonomy and individual creativity. Our study extends and contributes to the actor–context interactionist view in creativity scholarship and provides several important implications for creativity research and practice.
Organizational culture, leaders’ vision of talent, and HR functions on career changers’ commitment: the moderating effect of training in South Korea
Authors: Park Sunyoung , Kim Eun‐Jee
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among organizational culture, leaders’ vision of talent, HR functions, training, and organizational commitment of employees who have experienced a career change. A total of 484 responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling based on data obtained from the Human Capital Corporate Panel (HCCP) survey in South Korea. The findings indicated that organizational culture positively influenced HR functions and organizational commitment. Additionally, HR functions directly affected organizational commitment while the leaders’ vision of talent indirectly affected their organizational commitment via HR functions. Furthermore, training practices positively moderated the relationship between HR functions and organizational commitment. Discussion, implications, and recommendations are elaborated.
Dietary underreporting in women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome: A pilot study
Authors: De Giuseppe Rachele , Braschi Valentina , Bosoni David , Biino Ginevra , Stanford Fatima C. , Nappi Rossella E. , Cena Hellas
Published: August 2018

Aim

The first‐line therapy for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is weight loss focussing on diet and regular exercise; measurement of diet and energy intake (EI) is important to determine associations between nutrients and health in women with PCOS. The EI underreporting (UR) is a condition characterised by reports of habitual EI that is implausibly low, compared with estimated requirements. This case–control study aims to evaluate UR in women with PCOS.

Methods

Thirty‐six women with PCOS were enrolled according to the Rotterdam criteria; 37 healthy women were enrolled as controls. Inclusion criteria: age range 18–45 and body mass index ≥18.5 kg/m2 in subjects without eating disorders and/or diabetes mellitus. Nutritional assessment included: anthropometry, basal metabolic rate (BMR), weight history and physical activity assessment. Subjects completed a non‐consecutive three‐day dietary diary to identify energy and macronutrient intake. UR was calculated (Goldberg Index: EI/BMR).

Results

Although women with PCOS reported a significantly higher mean BMR than controls (P < 0.0001), their EI was lower (P < 0.001), suggesting an UR in 47.2% of women with PCOS versus 2.7% of controls (P < 0.0001). The EI from simple sugars was lower in women with PCOS than controls (P < 0.01). The protein intake was increased in controls than women with PCOS (P < 0.0001). Weight cycling was more frequent in women with PCOS (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis identified UR associated with PCOS (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Women with PCOS underreport foods rich in simple sugars rather than underreport their total dietary intake. These results may have implications for the interpretation of diet and health correlations in this patient population.
Simultaneous Enrichment and Separation of Four Flavonoids from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Leaves by Ultrasound‐Assisted Extraction and Macroporous Resins with Evaluation of Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Wu Zhaochen , Wang Wei , He Fengyuan , Li Dengwu , Wang Dongmei
Published: August 2018

Quercitrin, hyperoside, rutin, and afzelin are the dominant flavonoids compounds from Zanthoxylum bungeanum leaves, and they play major roles in the antioxidant activity. Macroporous adsorption resin (MAR) treatment, a simple, low‐cost and efficient method, was combined with ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE) to enrich and purify these four flavonoids from Z. bungeanum leaves efficiently. The optimal conditions for UAE based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were determined to be an ethanol concentration of 60%, leaves size of 40 mesh, temperature of 50 °C and ultrasonic power of 400 W with four flavonoids contents of 120.84 mg/g. After the extraction process, five kinds of MARs (D4020, D‐101, NKA‐9, AB‐8, and X‐5) were tested through static adsorption/desorption to enrich and purify the ultrasonic‐assisted extracts, and D‐101 was selected as the most suitable resin. The optimal adsorption conditions were 5 bed volumes (BV) of sample solution with an initial concentration of 7.5 mg/mL and pH 5.0. Meanwhile, the optimal desorption parameters were 5 BV each of deionized water and 30% ethanol, then 10 BV 70% ethanol, and a flow rate of 2 BV/hr. Under the optimized conditions, the contents of quercitrin, hyperoside, rutin, and afzelin increased by 276.39%, 187.46%, 221.81%, and 288.45%, respectively, and the recovery yields were 85.47%, 73.53%, 81.35%, and 65.06%. In addition, laboratory preparative‐scale separation indicated that the preparative separation of four flavonoids was feasible and easy. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of the purified products were significantly increased after enrichment. In conclusion, all of the results indicated that these methods are highly efficient, low cost, environmentally friendly and easy to scale up.

Practical Application

This study provided an environmentally friendly, rapid, and highly productive method for the extraction and purification of four active compounds from Zanthoxylum bungeanum leaves. The results can be used for the utilization of Z. bungeanum leaves as a kind of food supplement in an industrial setting.
Novel Fortified Blended Foods: Preference Testing with Infants and Young Children in Tanzania and Descriptive Sensory Analysis
Authors: Chanadang Sirichat , Chambers Edgar IV , Kayanda Rosemary , Alavi Sajid , Msuya Wences
Published: August 2018

The preference of porridge made from extruded fortified blended foods (FBFs) compared to a current nonextruded product (corn soy blend plus [CSB+]) among infants and young children was studied in Mwanza region, Tanzania. Five extruded, fortified blends were chosen as novel FBFs in this study: (i) corn soy blend 14 (CSB14), (ii) white sorghumFontanelle 4525 soy blend (SSB), (iii) white sorghumFontanelle 4525 cowpea blend (WSC1), (iv) white sorghum738Y cowpea blend (WSC2), and (v) red sorghum217X Burgundy cowpea blend (RSC). Paired preference testing between CSB+ and each novel FBF was conducted using approximately 600 children for each pair. Results showed that infants and young children prefer CSB14 and SSB over CSB+. Children did not show a preference between CSB+ and any of the 3 sorghum cowpea blends (WSC1, WSC2, and RSC) probably because of a distinct beany flavor from cowpea that they were not familiar with. This study indicated that novel FBFs have potential to be used successfully as supplementary food with higher or comparable preference compared to FBFs currently used in food aid programs.

Practical Application

Successful novel fortified blended foods (FBFs) can be developed with appropriate nutrition and sensory appeal from indigenous and alternative food sources. Development of such foods requires an understanding not only of the nutritional composition, but also how ingredients impact sensory properties and how they can influence preferences. From this research, novel FBFs from sorghum and cowpea were shown to be equally or preferentially preferred and should be successful. Such information is important for creating new standards and alternative formulations for FBFs.
Antiobesity Effects of Purple Perilla (Perilla frutescens var. acuta) on Adipocyte Differentiation and Mice Fed a High‐fat Diet
Authors: Thomas Shalom Sara , Kim Mina , Lee Seung Je , Cha Youn‐Soo
Published: August 2018

Purple perilla (PE) is a medicinal plant that has several health benefits. In this study, the antiobesity effect of PE was studied in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes and C57BL/6J mice fed high‐fat diets. Triglyceride quantification and Oil Red O staining in matured adipocytes revealed that PE reduced lipid accumulation in differentiated adipocytes by downregulating adipogenic gene and upregulating lipolytic gene expressions. Mice were fed normal diet, high‐fat diet and high‐fat diet supplemented with different concentrations of PE. Treatment with PE significantly prevented body weight gain, improved serum lipids, hepatic lipids and reduced the epididymal fat. Furthermore, in the adipose tissue and liver, expression of genes related to lipolysis and fatty acid β‐oxidation were upregulated in PE‐ treated mice. Thus, our results suggested that PE has antiobesity effects in rodents and can be effective in obesity management.

Practical Application

Purple perilla, rich in polyphenols such as rosmarinic acid, showed lipid lowering in adipocyte cells and prevented body weight gain in mice. Therefore we conclude that purple perilla may be a potential candidate for the development of functional foods or nutraceuticals in managing obesity in humans.
Dielectric Properties of Beverages (Tamarind and Green) Relevant to Microwave‐Assisted Pasteurization
Authors: González‐Monroy Arnold David , Kaur Kataria Tejinder , Olvera‐Cervantes José Luis , Corona‐Chávez Alonso , Ozuna César , Rodríguez‐Hernández Gabriela , Sosa‐Morales María Elena
Published: August 2018

Dielectric properties (DPs) of two beverages, tamarind and a green drink (based on mix fruits of pineapple, guava, lemon, and nopal), were studied. The DPs were determined using the open‐ended coaxial probe method in the frequency range from 0.25 to 25 GHz at 10, 30, 50, and 70 °C. The dielectric constant decreased when both frequency and temperature increased above 1000 MHz. For both beverages, the dielectric loss factor increased with increasing frequency and increasing temperature. In addition, dielectric constant values ranged from 59.7 to 82.5, and the dielectric loss factors were between 5.8 and 31.1. The penetration depth (dp) of electromagnetic waves in the beverages increased proportionally to temperature at frequencies above 1000 MHz; dp values ranged from 0.2 to 7.5 cm. Because of its complexity and the amount of ingredients and the interactions between them, the green drink showed higher values of dielectric constants in comparison with the tamarind beverage.

Practical Application

The dielectric properties of the studied beverages, how they behave at different temperatures, and the penetration depth reached by microwave at the allocated frequencies, provide important parameters for further heating treatments, such as heating (microwave‐assisted pasteurization) and for modeling/simulation purposes.
Enhancing the Cancer Cell Growth Inhibitory Effects of Table Grape Anthocyanins
Authors: Grimes Karnell L. , Stuart Connor M. , McCarthy Justin J. , Kaur Baljinder , Cantu Emilio J. , Forester Sarah C.
Published: August 2018

The risk for breast and colon cancer may be lowered in part by high intake of fruits and vegetables. Fruits such as grapes are abundant in bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins. The potential anticancer activity of anthocyanins may be limited by their metabolism in the gut and liver. One metabolic transformation is due to the enzyme catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT), which methylates polyphenols such as anthocyanins. Entacapone is a clinically used inhibitor of COMT, and has been shown to modulate the methylation of food‐derived polyphenols. In this study, we compared the effect of entacapone on the cell viability of colon (Caco‐2 and HT‐29) and breast (MDA‐MB‐231) cancer cell lines treated with anthocyanins. Cells were treated with either cyanidin‐3‐glucoside, delphinidin‐3‐glucoside, or an anthocyanin‐rich grape extract, in the absence or presence of entacapone. Cell viability was assessed using the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Entacapone in combination with the anthocyanins had a greater than additive effect on growth inhibition of the Caco‐2 cells. In the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line, entacapone similarly enhanced the growth inhibitory activity of the anthocyanin extract. Entacapone also had antiproliferative effects when used as a single treatment. Total hydroperoxides was quantified in the cell culture media. Greater concentrations of the treatments resulted in higher levels of total hydroperoxides, indicating that oxidative stress may be an important mechanism for growth inhibition. In conclusion, the antiproliferative activity of fruit‐derived anthocyanins was improved in human cancer cell lines by the clinically used drug entacapone. The efficacy and mechanisms of entacapone/anthocyanin combinations should be carefully studied in vivo.

Practical Application

Chemical components of grapes are good for our health and have been shown to lower risk for certain cancers. Their beneficial health effects could also be enhanced by consuming other molecules that improve their bioavailability.
Sensory and Chemical Stabilities of High‐Oleic and Normal‐Oleic Peanuts in Shell During Long‐Term Storage
Authors: Martín María Paula , Grosso Antonella Luciana , Nepote Valeria , Grosso Nelson Rubén
Published: August 2018

Oxidative rancidity is one of the major causes of peanut quality deterioration. The in‐shell nut industry's greatest concern is to preserve high quality and extended the shelf life of these products. This research determined the sensory and chemical stabilities of raw in‐shell high‐oleic and normal‐oleic peanuts during long‐term storage. In‐shell peanuts samples of normal‐ and high‐oleic types were stored at room temperature (23 °C) for 675 days. The quality parameters, like the fatty acid composition, moisture content, free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV), conjugated dienes (CD), and p‐anisidine value (pAV), as well as sensory attributes, were analyzed every 45 days. High‐oleic samples showed a 4.36‐fold higher oleic acid/linolenic acid (O/L) ratio (O/L = 10.65) than normal‐oleic peanuts (O/L = 2.44). FFA, PV, CD, pAV, and oxidized and cardboard flavors increased in all stored samples but especially in normal‐oleic peanuts. Conversely, roasted peanutty flavor decreased in all samples during storage but in lower proportion in high oleic peanut samples. The sensory and chemical changes that occurred in unshelled normal‐ or high‐oleic peanut samples were not remarkable, suggesting that the shell may protect peanut kernels against deterioration. However, in‐shell high‐oleic samples show greater stability and shelf life than normal‐oleic peanuts under the studied storage condition.

Practical Application

Quality preservation of peanuts is important for the food industry using peanuts as an ingredient. Peanut processors are concerned as to the best ways to preserve peanut quality for long‐term storage. Raw high oleic peanuts kept in the shells show better preservation of their sensory and quality properties during storage. In‐shell peanuts constitute an appropriate alternative to preserve chemical and sensory properties of this product.
Application of CRISPR/Cas9 to Tragopogon (Asteraceae), an evolutionary model for the study of polyploidy
Authors: Shan Shengchen , Mavrodiev Evgeny V. , Li Riqing , Zhang Zhengzhi , Hauser Bernard A. , Soltis Pamela S. , Soltis Douglas E. , Yang Bing
Published: August 2018

Tragopogon (Asteraceae) is an excellent natural system for studies of recent polyploidy. Development of an efficient CRISPR/Cas9‐based genome editing platform in Tragopogon will facilitate novel studies of the genetic consequences of polyploidy. Here, we report our initial results of developing CRISPR/Cas9 in Tragopogon. We have established a feasible tissue culture and transformation protocol for Tragopogon. Through protoplast transient assays, use of the TragCRISPR system (i.e. the CRISPR/Cas9 system adapted for Tragopogon) was capable of introducing site‐specific mutations in Tragopogon protoplasts. Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation with Cas9‐sgRNA constructs targeting the phytoene desaturase gene (TraPDS) was implemented in this model polyploid system. Sequencing of PCR amplicons from the target regions indicated simultaneous mutations of two alleles and four alleles of TraPDS in albino shoots from Tragopogon porrifolius (2x) and Tragopogon mirus (4x), respectively. The average proportions of successfully transformed calli with the albino phenotype were 87% and 78% in the diploid and polyploid, respectively. This appears to be the first demonstration of CRISPR/Cas9‐based genome editing in any naturally formed neopolyploid system. Although a more efficient tissue culture system should be developed in Tragopogon, application of a robust CRISPR/Cas9 system will permit unique studies of biased fractionation, the gene‐balance hypothesis and cytonuclear interactions in polyploids. In addition, the CRISPR/Cas9 platform enables investigations of those genes involved in phenotypic changes in polyploids and will also facilitate novel functional biology studies in Asteraceae. Our workflow provides a guide for applying CRISPR/Cas9 to other nongenetic model plant systems.
Research on the value of the T cell spot test for tuberculosis for the diagnosis of lung cancer combined with pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Feng Binbin , Li Yajun , Guo Dong , Lin Meiying , Guo Qisen
Published: August 2018

Background

This study was conducted to investigate the value of the T cell spot test for tuberculosis (T‐SPOT.TB) for the diagnosis of patients with lung cancer combined with pulmonary tuberculosis (LCTB).

Methods

Thirty‐six patients diagnosed with LCTB who received treatment at Shandong Provincial Chest Hospital from September 2014 to 2017 were randomly chosen and enrolled as an observation group; 63 patients diagnosed with LC alone in the same period were included as the control. The T‐SPOT.TB results of the two groups were compared.

Results

The positive rate of T‐SPOT.TB in 36 patients with LCTB was 88.9% (32/36), and in 63 patients with LC was 23.8% (15/63). The median ESAT‐6 result in the LCTB group was 22 SFCs/2.5 × 105 peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) (interquartile range [IQR] 8–53), which was higher than in the LC group with a median of 1 spot‐forming cell (SFC)/2.5 × 105PBMC (IQR 0–5). The median CFP10 result in the LCTB group was 18 SFCs/2.5 × 105PBMC (IQR 7–30), which was significantly higher than in the LC group with a median of 0 SFC/2.5 × 105PBMC (IQR 0–4). The receiver operating characteristic curve of the two groups showed sensitivity of 88.9% and specificity of 84.4% when the positive value of T‐SPOT.TB was 11 SFCs/2.5 × 105PBMC.

Conclusions

T‐SPOT.TB has comparatively high value for diagnosing LCTB. The referential cutoff value is 11 SFCs/2.5 × 105PBMC, which warrants clinical application.
Nine reasons why tech markets are winner‐take‐all
Authors: BARWISE PATRICK
Published: August 2018

Once a tech company achieves market dominance, mutually reinforcing factors make it almost impossible to displace, says Patrick Barwise
Nonfinancial Risk Disclosure and the Costs of Private Ordering
Authors: Harper Ho Virginia
Published: August 2018

In 2016 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) considered for the first time whether financial disclosure reform should address information on sustainability matters and other sources of nonfinancial risk. The resulting debate over these issues raised fundamental questions about how well the federal disclosure regime addresses emerging risks and about how well private ordering, through shareholder engagement, the work of private standard‐setters, and corporate voluntary disclosure, can fill the gaps. This article argues that the current model of nonfinancial risk disclosure, based largely on private ordering, is ineffective and undermines the SEC's mission to protect investors, facilitate capital formation, and promote fair, orderly, and efficient markets. This conclusion rests on evidence that the current state of sustainability disclosure is inadequate for investment analysis and that these deficiencies are largely problems of comparability and quality that cannot readily be addressed by private ordering. This article also highlights the costs of agency inaction to investors and to public companies, which have been largely ignored in the debate over the future of financial reporting. It concludes by proposing avenues for disclosure reform.