bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heuristic algorithms for the Internet shopping optimization problem with price sensitivity discounts
Authors: Józefczyk Jerzy , Ławrynowicz Mirosław
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Rapid advancements in internet technology have made it possible to develop electronic commerce in general and internet shopping in particular. Easy access to a vast number of existing internet stores enables buyers to customize their shopping processes to minimize the total purchase cost. This paper aims to investigate a novel internet shopping problem, which consists of the diversification of a given list of products to buy among many stores and to use discounts offered by the stores.

Design/methodology/approach

The adequate discrete optimization problem referred to as internet shopping optimization problem with price sensitivity discounts (ISOPwD) is investigated, which turned out to be strongly nondeterministic polynomial (NS)-hard. Two heuristic solution algorithms have been derived using the tabu search (TS) and the simulated annealing (SA) metaheuristics for having a solution in a reasonable time. The algorithms have been assessed via computational experiments, and they have been compared with another algorithm known from the literature that has been elaborated for a simpler version of ISOPwD.

Findings

The conducted evaluation has shown the advantage of both heuristic algorithms on the algorithm known from the literature. Moreover, the TS-based algorithm outperformed the other one in terms of the total cost incurred by customers and the computational time.

Research limitations/implications

The special primary piecewise linear discounting function is only taken into account. Other possible discounts connected, for example, with bundles of products and (or) coupons are not considered.

Practical implications

The elaborated algorithms can be recommended for internet shopping providers who want to introduce the ability to search a cost-optimized set of products in their databases or for applications that combine offers from various online retailers, e.g. internet price comparison services and auction sites.

Originality/value

The novelty of considered ISOPwD, in comparison with similar problems discussed in the literature, deals with an arbitrary number of purchased products, the possibility to buy an identical product in different stores and the consideration of the weight, the amount and the availability of goods as parameters of ISOPwD.
Getting to green: Niche-driven or government-led entrepreneurship and sustainability in the wine industry
Authors: Frederking Lauretta
Published: January 2018

Through the framework of Michael Porterʼs five forces, this article compares sustainability in the Oregon and British Columbia wine industries. After describing the contrasting characteristics of the green niche model and the government-led model of environmental change, the article analyzes the emerging challenges for each type of change.The distinct sources for profitability and future innovation suggests diversity within the sustainability movement and two very different processes of translating environmental values into entrepreneurial practice.
KaBloom!: Revolution in the flower industry
Authors: Vega Gina , Dumas Collette , Kahn Beverly , Mana Jafar
Published: January 2018

David Hartstein started KaBloom in 1998 with the goal of creating “the Starbucks of Flowers.” He successfully built brand recognition for the gardenlike shops, but problems plagued the young organization. Nearly three years and one recession later, KaBloom failed to live up to Hartsteinʼs forecast of exponential growth. This case has been designed for a graduate-level course in entrepreneurship/innovation. Students can compare franchising with other business models, examine the impact of organizational structure and leadership styles on business effectiveness, relate issues of supply chain management and logistics to environmental changes, and recognize the impact of innovation on business sustainability.
Adjustment strategies and business success in minority-owned family firms
Authors: Lee Yoon G. , Fitzgerald Margaret A. , Bartkus Kenneth R. , Lee Myung-Soo
Published: January 2018

With data from the 2003 and 2005 National Minority Business Owners Survey, we examined the extent to which minority business owners differ from nonminority business owners in their reported use of adjustment strategies, and the relationship between the use of adjustment strategies and perceived business success. The sample consisted of 193 African American, 200 Mexican American, 200 Korean American, and 210 white business owners. Mexican American and Korean American business owners reported higher levels of adjustment strategy use than African American and white business owners. The ordinary least squares show that reallocating family resources to meet business needs and reallocating business resources to meet family needs were negatively associated with perceived business success, whereas hiring paid help was positively associated with perceived business success.
Entrepreneurial behavior during industry emergence: An unconventional study of discovery and creation in the early PC industry
Authors: Gupta Alka , Streb Christoph , Gupta Vishal K. , Markin Erik
Published: January 2018

Acting entrepreneurially in nascent industries is a complex endeavor characterized by uncertainty and ambiguity. Nevertheless, entirely new industries do emerge, often as a direct result of entrepreneurial behavior. We extend and apply discovery and creation approaches to study entrepreneurial behavior during industry emergence by means of qualitative analysis of a film about the personal computer (PC) industry℉s formative years. We find that discovery and creation behavior are fundamentally interrelated and share a common element: bricolage. Moreover, ideological activism is a major component of entrepreneurial behavior in a new industry℉s formative years during both creation and discovery processes. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Does Management℉s Attention to Different Facets of Entrepreneurial Orientation Create Value for the Firm? A Longitudinal Study of Large Retailer
Authors: Gupta Alka , Chen Jerry , Gupta Vishal K.
Published: January 2018

Studies of entrepreneurial orientation tend to merge its three components‐proactiveness, risk-taking, and innovativeness‐into a monolithic construct and analyze its relationship with firm outcomes at one point in time. This has resulted in knowledge voids related to the relative importance of the different components, their specific effect on value created by the firm, and their evolution over time. The present study links each component of entrepreneurial orientation to economic value creation using a longitudinal dataset. Results provide support for hypothesized relationships. Implications and avenues for future research are discussed.
The impact of ISO quality management systems on primary and secondary schools in Spain
Authors: Arribas Díaz Jorge Antonio , Martínez-Mediano Catalina
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the application of quality management systems (QMS) based on international standards of quality in education (ISO 9001:2008) and ascertain the influence of this quality model on primary and secondary schools in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted in 26 publicly funded, private schools in Spain. The research design was a three-phase, mixed-methods evaluation. In all, 809 teachers answered the main survey questionnaire in Phase 3, which was validated through expert reviews and exploratory factor analysis against two theoretically derived dimensions of quality. The total scores of the two dimensions demonstrated Cronbach’s alpha reliability estimate > 0.95. A discriminant function analysis was applied next to compare three groups of schools based on teachers’ QMS ratings, using students’ achievement and other school quality indicators as predictors.

Findings

The QMS model was perceived to have contributed to improvements in documentation and management through evaluation, continuous improvement processes, the schools’ external image, management of resources and user satisfaction levels. Some of the improvements lasted over time. The schools rated as “high” by teachers on QMS implementation levels had better educational outcomes, as well as user perception and satisfaction levels, as compared to schools rated as “low”. Drawbacks of the QMS model were perceived as high bureaucratic workloads and a top–down management culture.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that ISO standards of QMS can be adopted in primary and secondary education institutions successfully, and that they are suitable for improving schools and educational systems overall.

Originality/value

The study’s originality lies in the demonstrated outcomes of the QMS approach, originally created for industrial environments, in a large Spanish primary and secondary education institution using a three-phase, mixed-methods design.
A philosophical discussion of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research in social science
Authors: Baškarada Saša , Koronios Andy
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Much of the contemporary methodological literature tends to be self-referential and frequently ignorant of the breadth and depth of philosophical assumptions underpinning various methodological positions. Without a clear understanding of the philosophical underpinnings, logically deriving applicable validity criteria becomes very difficult (if not impossible). As a result, the purpose of this paper is to present a critical review of historical and more recent philosophical arguments for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research in social science.

Design/methodology/approach

A targeted review of seminal philosophy of science papers dealing with ontological and epistemological assumptions of, and relation between, natural and social science.

Findings

The paper highlights the link between ontological/epistemological assumptions and methodological choices in social science. Key differences between the natural and social science are discussed and situated within the main paradigms.

Originality/value

The paper draws attention to a range of difficulties associated with the adoption of the natural sciences and the related positivist approaches as a role model for work in the social sciences. Unique contributions of interpretive and critical approaches are highlighted. The paper may be of value to scholars who are interested in the historical context of the still-ongoing qualitative-quantitative debate.
Fabrication and performance evaluation of two multi-layer passive micromixers
Authors: Chen Xueye , Shen Jienan , Hu Zengliang
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide a micromixer for achieving effective mixing of two liquids. The mixing of two liquids is difficult to achieve in microfluidic chips because they cannot form turbulence at small dimensions and velocities.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, four kinds of passive micromixers based on splitting–recombination and chaotic convection are compared. First, a better E-shape mixing unit based on the previous F-shape mixing unit has been designed. Then, the E-shape mixing units are further combined to form three micromixers (i.e. E-mixer, SESM and FESM).

Findings

Finally, the mixing experimental results show that the mixing indexes of E-mixer, SESM and FESM are more than those of F-mixer when the Reynolds number range is from 0.5 to 100. And at Re = 15, the lowest mixing index of E-mixer is 71%, which is the highest of the four micromixers.

Originality/value

At Re = 80, the highest mixing index of F-mixer and E-mixer is 92 and 94 per cent, respectively, and then it begins to decrease. But the mixing index of SESM and FESM remains close to 100 per cent.
A review on in-tire sensor systems for tire-road interaction studies
Authors: Xiong Yi , Yang Xiaoguang
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The aim of this paper is threefold: first, to review the technological state of the art on tire sensor systems; second, to summarize basic methodologies and explore the potential of tire sensing for intelligent vehicle developments and third, to address challenges in the development of tire sensing systems and inspire future research in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

Nowadays, automotive industry is moving toward an intelligent and autonomous driving era with the assistance of sensing technology development, whereas tire-road conditions sensing and utilization are of great interest from the point of view of vehicle dynamics control, vehicle safety and vehicle performance evaluation.

Findings

Tire sensing is an emerging technology whereby sensor systems are installed on the tire to provide fundamental insights into tire-road interactions for ground vehicles and wheel robots. In the past two decades, tire sensing systems based on various sensor types have been proposed to offer the possibility to investigate tire-road interactions.

Originality/value

Instrumenting the tire with sensors, especially accelerometers and optical sensors, can sense the tire-road interactions and enhance the vehicle performance. The harsh environment inside tire cavity requires reliable, accurate, low weight, modularized and inexpensive sensors. Challenges, such as the data transmission, power management, lack of physics-based tire models need to be solved before the tire sensor becomes commercially viable for production vehicles.
Sensing with terahertz radiation: a review of recent progress
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a technical insight into a selection of recent developments and applications involving terahertz sensing technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Following an introduction, the first part of this paper considers a selection of research activities involving terahertz radiation sources and detectors. The second part seeks to illustrate how the technology is exerting a commercial impact and discusses a number of product developments and applications.

Findings

Terahertz sensing is a rapidly developing field and a strong body of research seeks to develop sources and detectors with enhanced features which often exploit novel materials, phenomena and technologies. Commercialisation is gathering pace, and a growing number of companies are producing terahertz sensing and imaging products which are finding a diversity of applications.

Originality/value

This provides details of recent research, product developments and applications involving terahertz sensing technology.
Characteristics of destination image: visitors and non-visitors’ images of London
Authors: Stylidis Dimitrios , Cherifi Barbora
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the characteristics (i.e. complex, specific) of destination image as perceived by visitors and non-visitors to a tourist place.

Design/methodology/approach

Overall, 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Czech and Greek visitors and non-visitors to London, the UK. From the 21 interviews in each country, 11 conducted with visitors and 10 with non-visitors to London.

Findings

A number of characteristics of the image of London were identified that differed across visitors and non-visitors, irrespective of respondents’ nationality, including accuracy, specificity, completeness and complexity.

Research limitations/implications

The characteristics of image of different types of destinations (i.e. rural, seaside resorts) need to be assessed in the future, as this paper focused on a well-known urban destination.

Practical implications

This paper provides support for effective and innovative solutions to place marketing and branding of tourist destinations. For example, greater complexity and more specific images should be used to attract the repeating visitors market.

Originality/value

The paper’s originality lies in providing a better understanding of the characteristics of destination image, as perceived by visitors and non-visitors to a tourist place.
Increased interleukin‐36γ expression in skin and sera of patients with atopic dermatitis and mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome
Authors: Otobe Sayaka , Sugaya Makoto , Nakajima Rina , Oka Tomonori , Takahashi Naomi , Kabasawa Miyoko , Miyagaki Tomomitsu , Asano Yoshihide , Sato Shinichi
Published: January 2018

Interleukin (IL)‐36γ is expressed by keratinocytes and functions as a key initiator of inflammation in the skin. IL‐36γ expression is enhanced by tumor necrosis factor‐α and IL‐17A, having a strong association with psoriasis. In this study, we examined the role of IL‐36γ in atopic dermatitis (AD) and mycosis fungoides (MF)/Sézary syndrome (SS). Serum levels of IL‐36γ in AD patients and MF/SS patients were elevated compared with those of healthy controls. Importantly, serum IL‐36γ levels in AD patients positively correlated with Eczema Area and Severity Index and those of MF/SS patients positively correlated with serum soluble IL‐2 receptor levels. IL‐36γ mRNA levels in AD skin and MF/SS skin were significantly higher than those of normal skin. IL‐36γ mRNA levels in MF/SS skin positively correlated with IL‐17A mRNA levels. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that IL‐36γ was highly expressed in keratinocytes in lesional skin of AD and MF/SS. Taken together, our study demonstrated that IL‐36γ expression was increased in sera and skin of patients with AD and MF/SS as was reported in psoriatic patients.
Peritoneal Protein Losses Depend on More Than Just Peritoneal Dialysis Modality and Peritoneal Membrane Transporter Status
Authors: Yoowannakul Suree , Harris Lauren S , Davenport Andrew
Published: January 2018

Peritoneal protein clearance (PPCl) depends upon vascular supply and size selective permeability. Some previous reports suggested PPCl can distinguish fast peritoneal membrane transport due to local or systemic inflammation. However, as studies have been discordant, we wished to determine factors associated with an increased PPCl. Consecutive patients starting peritoneal dialysis (PD) who were peritonitis‐free were studied. Data included a baseline peritoneal equilibration test (PET), measurement of dialysis adequacy, 24‐h dialysate PPCl and body composition measured by multifrequency bioimpedance. 411 patients, mean age 57.2 ± 16.6 years, 60.8% male, 39.4% diabetic, 20.2% treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) were studied. Mean PET 4‐h Dialysate/Serum creatinine was 0.73 ± 0.13, with daily peritoneal protein loss 4.6 (3.3–6.4) g, and median PPCl 69.6 (49.1–99.6) mL/day. On multivariate analysis, PPCl was most strongly associated with CAPD (β 0.25, P < 0.001), extracellular water (ECW)/total body water (TBW) ratio (β 0.21, P < 0.001), skeletal muscle mass index (β 0.21, P < 0.001), log N‐terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) (β 0.17, P = 0.001), faster PET transport (β 0.15, P = 0.005), and normalized nitrogen appearance rate (β 0.13, P = 0.008). In addition to the longer dwell times of CAPD, greater peritoneal creatinine clearance and faster PET transporter status, we observed an association between increased PPCl and ECW expansion, increased NT‐proBNP, estimated dietary protein intake and muscle mass, suggesting a link to sodium intake and sodium balance, increasing both ECW and conduit artery hydrostatic pressure resulting in greater vascular protein permeability. This latter association may explain reports linking PPCl to patient mortality.
GPSit: An automated method for evolutionary analysis of nonculturable ciliated microeukaryotes
Authors: Chen Xiao , Wang Yurui , Sheng Yalan , Warren Alan , Gao Shan
Published: January 2018

Microeukaryotes are among the most important components of the microbial food web in almost all aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. In order to gain a better understanding their roles and functions in ecosystems, sequencing coupled with phylogenomic analyses of entire genomes or transcriptomes is increasingly used to reconstruct the evolutionary history and classification of these microeukaryotes and thus provide a more robust framework for determining their systematics and diversity. More importantly, phylogenomic research usually requires high levels of hands‐on bioinformatics experience. Here, we propose an efficient automated method, “Guided Phylogenomic Search in trees” (GPSit), which starts from predicted protein sequences of newly sequenced species and a well‐defined customized orthologous database. Compared with previous protocols, our method streamlines the entire workflow by integrating all essential and other optional operations. In so doing, the manual operation time for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships is reduced from days to several hours, compared to other methods. Furthermore, GPSit supports user‐defined parameters in most steps and thus allows users to adapt it to their studies. The effectiveness of GPSit is demonstrated by incorporating available online data and new single‐cell data of three nonculturable marine ciliates (Anteholosticha monilata, Deviata sp. and Diophrys scutum) under moderate sequencing coverage (~5×). Our results indicate that the former could reconstruct robust “deep” phylogenetic relationships while the latter reveals the presence of intermediate taxa in shallow relationships. Based on empirical phylogenomic data, we also used GPSit to evaluate the impact of different levels of missing data on two commonly used methods of phylogenetic analyses, maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. We found that BI is less sensitive to missing data when fast‐evolving sites are removed.
Long‐term efficacy and safety of add‐on tacrolimus for persistent, active rheumatoid arthritis despite treatment with methotrexate and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors
Authors: Naniwa Taio , Iwagaitsu Shiho , Kajiura Mikiko
Published: January 2018

Aim

To assess the long‐term efficacy and safety of adding tacrolimus for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite anti‐tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy with methotrexate.

Methods

Consecutive patients who were treated with adding tacrolimus onto anti‐TNF therapy with methotrexate for active RA despite anti‐TNF therapy with methotrexate, were retrospectively analyzed in terms of treatment response, achieving remission, subsequent treatment tapering and adverse events.

Results

Fifteen patients could be analyzed. Median symptom duration was 2.9 years and prior duration of anti‐TNF therapy was 40 weeks. Median value of Disease Activity Score in 28 joints was 4.6. Five, eight and two were on infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab at the onset of tacrolimus, respectively. At 2 years, the proportions of patients achieving responses of American College of Rheumatology 50, 70 and 90, were 80%, 73% and 40%, respectively, and those achieving remission as defined by Simplified Disease Activity Index ≤ 3.3 were 67%. All patients could discontinue oral glucocorticoids and 10 had been successfully withdrawn from anti‐TNF therapy for more than 1 year at the final observation.

Conclusion

Adding tacrolimus onto anti‐TNF therapy is a promising therapeutic option with sustained benefit for refractory RA patients despite treatment with anti‐TNF therapy combined with methotrexate.
Hospice care in Medicare patients with primary liver cancer: the impact on resource utilisation and mortality
Authors: Fukui N. , Golabi P. , Otgonsuren M. , de Avila L. , Bush H. , Younossi Z. M.
Published: January 2018

Background

Few studies have assessed the impact of hospice care in patients with primary liver cancer.

Aim

To examine the determinants of hospice care and its effects on resource utilisation and survival among Medicare beneficiaries with primary liver cancer.

Methods

We utilised the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End result Registry (SEER) database from 2002 to 2009 for this cross‐sectional study. A total of 3385 patients with primary liver cancer were included. We used logistic regression to discern variables associated with hospice and Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate one‐year mortality risk.

Results

Compared to patients who enrolled in a hospice, those patients who did not, were younger, non‐White and sicker (P < .05 for all). Half of all patients with primary liver cancer died within six months of diagnosis, and one‐year mortality was similar in both groups (P = .413). After adjusting for baseline characteristics [age at diagnosis, race, disease severity, tumour stage and treatment], shorter time to hospice care was associated with reduced mortality (HR per day: 0.99 [95% CI, 0.98‐0.99]). Older age, decompensated cirrhosis and advanced tumours stage were associated with decreased time to hospice, while Asian/Pacific Islander race and history of radiosurgery were associated with increased time to hospice (all P < .05).

Hospitalisations were more costly for those who never enrolled in a hospice compared to hospice enrollees (median $31 607 [$18 394‐$54 254] vs $22 316 [$13 741‐$36 170], P < .0001).

Conclusions

Hospice enrolment of patients with primary liver cancer provides survival and resource utilisation benefits. Some clinical and demographic factors may represent barriers to hospice enrolment. Further studies are needed to fully understand these barriers in patients with primary liver cancer.
The phosphorus‐rich signature of fire in the soil–plant system: a global meta‐analysis
Authors: Butler Orpheus M. , Elser James J. , Lewis Tom , Mackey Brendan , Chen Chengrong
Published: January 2018

The biogeochemical and stoichiometric signature of vegetation fire may influence post‐fire ecosystem characteristics and the evolution of plant ‘fire traits’. Phosphorus (P), a potentially limiting nutrient in many fire‐prone environments, might be particularly important in this context; however, the effects of fire on P cycling often vary widely. We conducted a global‐scale meta‐analysis using data from 174 soil studies and 39 litter studies, and found that fire led to significantly higher concentrations of soil mineral P as well as significantly lower soil and litter carbon:P and nitrogen:P ratios. These results demonstrate that fire has a P‐rich signature in the soil–plant system that varies with vegetation type. Further, they suggest that burning can ease P limitation and decouple the biogeochemical cycling of P, carbon and nitrogen. These effects resemble a transient reversion to an earlier stage of ecosystem development, and likely underpin at least some of fire's impacts on ecosystems and organisms.
Higher efficacy of pegylated interferon‐α2b add‐on therapy in hepatitis B envelope antigen‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients on tenofovir monotherapy
Authors: Jindal Ankur , Vyas Ashish Kumar , Kumar Devesh , Kumar Guresh , Sharma Manoj Kumar , Sarin Shiv Kumar
Published: January 2018

Aim

Monotherapy with pegylated interferon‐α (Peg‐IFNα) or the nucleos(t)ide analogs (NA) currently approved for treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has limited efficacy. Studies on the combination of Peg‐IFNα/NA have shown conflicting results. We investigated whether sequentially adding on Peg‐IFNα to tenofovir enhances serological response rates.

Methods

Treatment‐naïve, hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)‐positive CHB patients with moderately elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT; 48–200 IU/mL) were started on tenofovir (300 mg/day) and enrolled at week 12 in a 1:1 ratio to either receive Peg‐IFNα2b add‐on (1.5 μg/kg/week) from week 12 to 36 (n = 53) or continue tenofovir monotherapy (n = 53). Both treatment arms received tenofovir consolidation therapy until week 72. The primary end‐point was HBeAg loss at week 72.

Results

At week 72, the rate of HBeAg loss was higher in the Peg‐IFNα2b add‐on group (35.8%) compared to the tenofovir monotherapy group (17%) (P = 0.028; odds ratio, 2.73, 95% confidence interval, 1.09–6.79), and considerably higher in patients with a baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐DNA level >6 log IU/mL (32.6% vs 11.4%; P = 0.021). Rates of HBV‐DNA loss (77.4% vs 71.7%; P = 0.51), ALT normalization (62.3% vs 52.8%; P = 0.32), and sustained virologic response (20.8% vs 11.3%; P = 0.18) at week 72 were comparable between the two groups. Significantly more patients in the add‐on group had >3 log HBV‐DNA reduction at week 36 (92.5% vs 66%; P = 0.001). Four patients treated with Peg‐IFNα2b add‐on achieved hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss compared with one patient receiving tenofovir monotherapy. Decline of HBV‐DNA of >2 log at week 4 led to higher HBeAg loss at week 72, independent of treatment arm. No patient had treatment‐related adverse effects requiring treatment discontinuation.

Conclusions

Twenty‐four weeks of Peg‐IFNα2b as an add‐on sequential regimen to tenofovir is safe and resulted in greater loss of HBeAg and HBsAg compared to tenofovir monotherapy in selected HBeAg‐positive patients. Viral load reduction followed by immune modulation is a potentially useful approach.
Anti‐inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of ginseng extract bioconverted by Leuconostoc mesenteroides KCCM 12010P isolated from kimchi
Authors: Eom Su Jin , Hwang Ji Eun , Kim Hyun Suk , Kim Kee‐Tae , Paik Hyun‐Dong
Published: January 2018

A bioconversion technique using microorganisms has been applied to ginseng to increase content of bioactive ginsenoside and biofunctionality such as anticancer, anti‐obesity and antioxidant activities. The objective of this study was to screen lactic acid bacteria for bioconversion of ginsenosides and to evaluate anti‐inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of bioconverted ginseng extract. Strains isolated from kimchi were screened for their β‐glucosidase activities using esculin agar. Selected strain was identified based on 16S rRNA sequencing and carbohydrate fermentation. During ginseng fermentation, viable cell number and pH were determined. Bioconverted ginsenosides were analysed by HPLC. Anti‐inflammatory effects were evaluated using RAW 264.7 cells, and cytotoxic effects were determined by MTT assay. Among 166 isolates screened, Leuconostoc mesenteroides was selected for ginseng bioconversion, as it showed a higher β‐glucosidase activity and viable cell number than any of the other tested strains. After fermentation for 2 days, viable cell number was 8.8 log CFU mL−1 and final pH was 4.8. Ginsenoside Rb2 was bioconverted into ginsenoside Rg3 (Rb2 → Rd → Rg3) by L. mesenteroides. The nitric oxide contents of 2‐day‐fermented extract decreased by as much as 25%, compared to a non‐fermented extract. The cell viabilities of HepG2, HT‐29, HeLa and LoVo treated with fermented ginseng extract also decreased by 49.7%, 20.2%, 21.0% and 8.7%, respectively, compared to those of control cells treated with non‐fermented extract. Ginseng extract bioconverted by L. mesenteroides showed anti‐inflammatory and anticancer effects. Therefore, bioconverted ginseng extract might have applications in the pharmaceutical and/or functional food industry.
Oxidative enzymes and functional quality of minimally processed grape berries sanitised with ozonated water
Authors: Silveira Ana Cecilia , Oyarzún Dennise , Escalona Víctor
Published: January 2018

Thompson Seedless (TS) and Black (BS) grapes sanitised with 2, 4, 6, 8 mg L−1 O3 or NaOCl (100 mg L−1) were stored 21 days at 5 °C. Ozonated water stimulated the respiration rate, especially after 5 days of storage, and increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activity compared to NaOCl‐sanitised grapes. Total polyphenol content (TPC) was 23–50% higher in TS and 18.5–28% higher in BS samples sanitised with ozonated water. Twofold higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was registered in TS at all of the evaluated O3 doses while the doses of 6 and 8 mg L−1 increased TAC by 19–30% in BS. The use of ozonated water as a sanitising method, especially at 6 and 8 mg L−1 doses, improved the functional quality and maintained low microbial counts on fresh‐cut grapes being a good alternative for the industry.
Sensory evaluation and flavour analysis of soymilk produced from lipoxygenase‐free soya beans after modified processes and pulsed light treatment
Authors: Alhendi Abeer , Yang Wade , Goodrich‐Schneider Renee , Sims Charles , Marshall Sara , Sarnoski Paul J.
Published: January 2018

Conventional static pulsed light (PL) treatment completely inactivated lipoxygenase (LOX) in whole soya beans to prevent off‐flavours produced by LOX. However, the produced soymilk had inadequate values for total solid content. The fully soaked treatment (FST) and shaking treatment (SHT) were best in terms of increasing total solid content of soymilk from 3.7% for control soymilk to 4.6% and 4.3%, respectively; therefore, these treatments were chosen for soymilk sensory evaluation. No significant statistical differences in sensory evaluation scores existed between the control and soymilk produced from FST. The SHT for 130 s had higher overall liking (4.8) and flavour (4.6) scores compared with the control (4.1 and 3.9, respectively). Flavour analysis (purge and trap GC‐MS) of the soymilk revealed that the ethanol peak area was the biggest difference between the treatments. This study demonstrated soya beans treated with PL have no negative sensory effect in general. Producing lipoxygenase‐free soya bean is an important achievement to enhance soyfood products because lipoxygenase catalyses lipid oxidation, which takes place when lipoxygenase is released during soy milling.
Comparison of five specific assays for determination of dabigatran plasma concentrations in patients enrolled in the START‐Laboratory Register
Authors: Cini M. , Legnani C. , Cosmi B. , Testa S. , Dellanoce C. , Paoletti O. , Marcucci R. , Poli D. , Paniccia R. , Pengo V. , Tripodi A. , Palareti G. ,   for the START‐Laboratory Register
Published: January 2018

Introduction

Several specific assays are commercially available to determine dabigatran anticoagulant activity. Aims of this multicenter and multiplatform study were to compare five methods for dabigatran measurement and investigate their performances in the low concentration range.

Methods

Dabigatran levels were analyzed in 295 plasma samples from patients enrolled in the START‐Laboratory Register by the following methods using dedicated calibrators and controls: STA‐ECA II (Diagnostica Stago), standard and low range Hemoclot Thrombin Inhibitors (Hyphen BioMed), Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Assay (Instrumentation Laboratory), Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Assay (Siemens), Technoclot DTI (Technoclone).

Results

Methods showed variable agreement with the Hemoclot Thrombin Inhibitors assay used as reference test, with modest under‐ or overestimations (Bland‐Altman bias from −17.3 to 4.0 ng/mL). Limits of detection and quantification varied depending on the assay (4‐52 and 7‐82 ng/mL, respectively). Between‐run precision and accuracy were good for all methods for both quality control levels. Assay's repeatability assessed at very low dabigatran concentrations (from 10 to 60 ng/mL) was also acceptable, variability generally increased at lower drug levels.

Conclusion

The five dabigatran‐specific assays evaluated in this study provided reliable assessment of dabigatran plasma levels, although showing different performances.
Kant and Degrees of Responsibility
Authors: Saunders Joe
Published: January 2018

Kant views every human action as either entirely determined by natural necessity or entirely free. In viewing human action this way, it is unclear how he can account for degrees of responsibility. In this article, I consider three recent attempts to accommodate degrees of responsibility within Kant's framework, but argue that none of them are satisfying. In the end, I claim that transcendental idealism constrains Kant such that he cannot provide an adequate account of degrees of responsibility.
Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition attenuates myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion injury in hypertrophic heart
Authors: Ma Lei‐Lei , Ma Xin , Kong Fei‐Juan , Guo Jun‐Jie , Shi Hong‐Tao , Zhu Jian‐Bing , Zou Yun‐Zeng , Ge Jun‐Bo
Published: January 2018

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy aggravated myocardial infarction and is causally related to autophagy dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. Rapamycin is an inhibitor of serine/threonine kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) involved in the regulation of autophagy as well as oxidative/nitrative stress. Here, we demonstrated that rapamycin ameliorates myocardial ischaemia reperfusion injury by rescuing the defective cytoprotective mechanisms in hypertrophic heart. Our results showed that chronic rapamycin treatment markedly reduced the phosphorylated mTOR and ribosomal protein S6 expression, but not Akt in both normal and aortic‐banded mice. Moreover, chronic rapamycin treatment significantly mitigated TAC‐induced autophagy dysfunction demonstrated by prompted Beclin‐1 activation, elevated LC3‐II/LC3‐I ratio and increased autophagosome abundance. Most importantly, we found that MI/R‐induced myocardial injury was markedly reduced by rapamycin treatment manifested by the inhibition of myocardial apoptosis, the reduction of myocardial infarct size and the improvement of cardiac function in hypertrophic heart. Mechanically, rapamycin reduced the MI/R‐induced iNOS/gp91phox protein expression and decreased the generation of NO and superoxide, as well as the cytotoxic peroxynitrite. Moreover, rapamycin significantly mitigated MI/R‐induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial impairment demonstrated by reduced Caspase‐12 activity, inhibited CHOP activation, decreased cytoplasmic Cyto‐C release and preserved intact mitochondria. In addition, inhibition of mTOR also enhanced the phosphorylated ERK and eNOS, and inactivated GSK3β, a pivotal downstream target of Akt and ERK signallings. Taken together, these results suggest that mTOR signalling protects against MI/R injury through autophagy induction and ERK‐mediated antioxidative and anti‐nitrative stress in mice with hypertrophic myocardium.
European versus Asian differences for the associations between paraoxonase‐1 genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Luo Jian‐Quan , Ren Huan , Liu Mou‐Ze , Fang Ping‐Fei , Xiang Da‐Xiong
Published: January 2018

Many studies have examined the associations between paraoxonase‐1 (PON1) genetic polymorphisms (Q192R, rs662 and L55M, rs854560) and the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) across different ethnic populations. However, the evidence for the associations remains inconclusive. In this study, we performed a meta‐analysis to clarify the association of the two PON1 variants with T2DM risk. We carried out a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, CNKI and Wanfang databases for studies published before June 2017. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) for the association and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by a random‐ or fixed‐effect model. A total of 50 eligible studies, including 34 and 16 studies were identified for the PON1 Q192R (rs662) and L55M (rs854560) polymorphism, respectively. As for the PON1 Q192R polymorphism, the 192R allele was a susceptible factor of T2DM in the South or East Asian population (OR > 1, P < 0.05) but represented a protective factor of T2DM in European population (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.45–0.98) under a heterozygous genetic model. With regard to the PON1 L55M polymorphism, significant protective effects of the 55M allele on T2DM under the heterozygous (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61–0.97) and dominant (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.65–0.99) genetic models were found in the European population, while no significant associations in the Asian populations under all genetic models (P > 0.05). In summary, by a comprehensive meta‐analysis, our results firmly indicated that distinct effects of PON1 genetic polymorphisms existed in the risk of T2DM across different ethnic backgrounds.
A defense of holistic representationalism
Authors: Berger Jacob
Published: January 2018

Representationalism holds that a perceptual experience's qualitative character is identical with certain of its representational properties. To date, most representationalists endorse atomistic theories of perceptual content, according to which an experience's content, and thus character, does not depend on its relations to other experiences. David Rosenthal, by contrast, proposes a view that is naturally construed as a version of representationalism on which experiences’ relations to one another determine their contents and characters. I offer here a new defense of this holistic representationalism, arguing that some objections to atomistic views are best interpreted as supporting it.
Basic questions
Authors: Carruthers Peter
Published: January 2018

This paper argues that a set of questioning attitudes are among the foundations of human and animal minds. While both verbal questioning and states of curiosity are generally explained in terms of metacognitive desires for knowledge or true belief, I argue (following Whitcomb and Friedman) that each is better explained by a prelinguisticsui generistype of mental attitude ofquestioning. I review a range of considerations in support of such a proposal and improve on previous characterizations of the nature of these attitudes. I then broaden their explanatory scope to include a number of forms of exploratory search. The paper has three main goals: (a) to characterize the nature of the questioning attitudes, outlining their causal role and type of content; (b) to argue that they are fundamental components of the mind, being widespread among animals and not constructed during ontogeny out of other attitudes; and (c) to suggest that they explain a great deal more behavior (among both humans and animals) than one might think.
High-performance carbon-nanotube-based cold cathode electron beam with low-thermal-expansion gate electrode
Authors: Kang Jung Su , Hong Ji Hwan , Park Kyu Chang
Published: January 2018

The emission of a high-performance electron beam via a carbon nanotube cold cathode requires a higher electron transmission through the gate electrode. The transmittance of electrons through the gate mesh electrode strongly depends on the gate electrode structure and material properties. Therefore, thermal expansion of the gate electrode induced by the thermal load owing to the gate leakage current is a significant hurdle to be overcome. Using a high-thermal-expansion gate electrode comprised of SUS304 grid mesh, electron emission was brought to saturation when the mesh was bent upward, which was the result of a reduction of the effective electric field under the grid mesh. To mitigate the effect of this bending, a Mo grid mesh material possessing low thermal expansion introduced. The Mo grid material properties of low linear temperature expansion coefficient, high tensile strength, and low resistivity are necessary. With this grid mesh improvement, the electron emission current increased to ten times that of the SUS304 mesh grid.
Investing in Sports Stocks: A Case of Sportfolio Management Inc.
Authors: Chard Chris
Published: January 2018

Jordan Bourne is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sportfolio Management Inc. (SMI), a small hedge fund operating out of Boston, Mass. SMI provides prudent and profitable investment management services to clients through active investment in publicly traded companies operating in sport-related business endeavors. By employing both “long” and “short” investment management strategies, Bourne’s objective is to achieve a positive rate of return in the Sportfolio for her valued clients. Assistance from the firm’s Investment Analysts is vital to meet this objective.
Conducting a Market-Demand Analysis: A Case Study of Major League Soccer Expansion
Authors: Sattler Liz A. , Warren Clint , Achen Rebecca M.
Published: January 2018

Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced intentions to expand the league from 24 to 28 teams by 2022, with hints of further expansion to come. Expansion will allow the league to capitalize on the growing ticket and merchandise sales in new markets. League officials have 3 major considerations when choosing a city for expansion, which include a committed local ownership group with a passion for soccer and sufficient resources, a desirable geographic market with a history for supporting soccer and other sporting events, and a comprehensive stadium plan. Twelve cities across the country have submitted bids for expansion teams. Given the proposed bids, MLS needs to review the cities to determine which markets provide the highest likelihood of financial prosperity. As bid groups prepare their proposals for the committee, they will need to conduct a market-demand analysis. Each city will then be evaluated based on how well it meets the 3 criteria outlined by MLS, as well its ability to garner financial success.
Performance Sports Group: To Invest or Not to Invest
Authors: Jackson Erin P. , Ciulla Stefania , Ehlen Frederik , Ogunlana Ayobami , Dixon Jess C.
Published: January 2018

In August of 2015, Felix Farmer received notice that he would be inheriting a large sum of money from his great-uncle’s will. Farmer is contemplating investing $50,000 CAD ($38,251 USD) of his inheritance in the parent company of his favorite hockey brand, Bauer. Performance Sports Group (PSG) is a leading manufacturer in the global sporting goods industry that is publicly traded on both the Toronto and New York Stock exchanges, and the parent of such highly successful brands as Bauer and Easton. This case study challenges students to calculate financial ratios, apply various other financial analyses to understand the financial performance of PSG, and complete a Porter’s (2008) Five Forces industry analysis as a means of deciding whether Farmer should invest a portion of his inheritance with PSG.
Multiplexed gene synthesis in emulsions for exploring protein functional landscapes
Authors: Plesa Calin , Sidore Angus M. , Lubock Nathan B. , Zhang Di , Kosuri Sriram
Published: January 2018

Large-scale gene synthesis in tiny droplets

Gene synthesis technology is important for functional characterization of DNA sequences and for the development of synthetic biology. However, current methods are limited by their low scalability and high cost. Plesa
et al.
developed a gene synthesis method, DropSynth, which uses barcoded beads to concentrate oligos and subsequently assemble them into synthetic genes within picoliter emulsion droplets. DropSynth allows generation of large libraries of thousands of genes and functional testing of all possible mutations of a particular sequence.

Science
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