bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The potential of future light sources to explore the structure and function of matter
Authors: Weckert Edgar
Published: February 2015

Structural studies in general, and crystallography in particular, have benefited and still do benefit dramatically from the use of synchrotron radiation. Low-emittance storage rings of the third generation provide focused beams down to the micrometre range that are sufficiently intense for the investigation of weakly scattering crystals down to the size of several micrometres. Even though the coherent fraction of these sources is below 1%, a number of new imaging techniques have been developed to exploit the partially coherent radiation. However, many techniques in nanoscience are limited by this rather small coherent fraction. On the one hand, this restriction limits the ability to study the structure and dynamics of non-crystalline materials by methods that depend on the coherence properties of the beam, like coherent diffractive imaging and X-ray correlation spectroscopy. On the other hand, the flux in an ultra-small diffraction-limited focus is limited as well for the same reason. Meanwhile, new storage rings with more advanced lattice designs are under construction or under consideration, which will have significantly smaller emittances. These sources are targeted towards the diffraction limit in the X-ray regime and will provide roughly one to two orders of magnitude higher spectral brightness and coherence. They will be especially suited to experiments exploiting the coherence properties of the beams and to ultra-small focal spot sizes in the regime of several nanometres. Although the length of individual X-ray pulses at a storage-ring source is of the order of 100 ps, which is sufficiently short to track structural changes of larger groups, faster processes as they occur during vision or photosynthesis, for example, are not accessible in all details under these conditions. Linear accelerator (linac) driven free-electron laser (FEL) sources with extremely short and intense pulses of very high coherence circumvent some of the limitations of present-day storage-ring sources. It has been demonstrated that their individual pulses are short enough to outrun radiation damage for single-pulse exposures. These ultra-short pulses also enable time-resolved studies 1000 times faster than at standard storage-ring sources. Developments are ongoing at various places for a totally new type of X-ray source combining a linac with a storage ring. These energy-recovery linacs promise to provide pulses almost as short as a FEL, with brilliances and multi-user capabilities comparable with a diffraction-limited storage ring. Altogether, these new X-ray source developments will provide smaller and more intense X-ray beams with a considerably higher coherent fraction, enabling a broad spectrum of new techniques for studying the structure of crystalline and non-crystalline states of matter at atomic length scales. In addition, the short X-ray pulses of FELs will enable the study of fast atomic dynamics and non-equilibrium states of matter.
On the number ofk-faces of primitive parallelohedra
Authors: Zhilinskii Boris
Published: February 2015

Dehn–Sommerville relations for simple (simplicial) polytopes are applied to primitive parallelohedra. New restrictions on numbers ofk-faces of non-principal primitive parallelohedra are explicitly formulated for five-, six- and seven-dimensional parallelohedra.
Color groups arising from index-nsubgroups of symmetry groups
Authors: Felix René P. , Junio Allan O.
Published: February 2015

One of the main goals in the study of color symmetry is to classify colorings of symmetrical objects through their color groups. The term color group is taken to mean the subgroup of the symmetry group of the uncolored symmetrical object which induces a permutation of colors in the coloring. This work looks for methods of determining the color group of a colored symmetric object. It begins with an indexnsubgroupHof the symmetry groupGof the uncolored object. It then considersH-invariant colorings of the object, so that the color groupH*will be a subgroup ofGcontainingH. In other words,H≤H*≤G. It proceeds to give necessary and sufficient conditions for the equality ofH*andG. IfH*≠Gandnis prime, thenH*=H. On the other hand, ifH*≠Gandnis not prime, methods are discussed to determine whetherH*isG,Hor some intermediate subgroup betweenHandG.
Crystal structure ofcatena-poly[silver(I)-μ-L-tyrosinato-κ2O:N]
Authors: Yousaf Aqsa , Tahir Muhammad Nawaz , Rauf Abdul , Awan Shafique Ahmad , Ahmad Saeed
Published: February 2015

The title compound, [Ag(C9H10NO3)]n, is a polymeric silver(I) complex of L-tyrosine. The AgIatom is connected to N and O atoms of two different L-tyrosine ligands in an almost linear arrangement, with an Ni—Ag—O1 bond angle of 173.4 (2)° [symmetry code: (i)x + 1,y,z]. The Ag—Niand Ag—O bond lengths are 2.156 (5) and 2.162 (4) Å, respectively. The polymeric chains extend along the crystallographicaaxis. Strong hydrogen bonds of the N—H...O and O—H...O types and additional C—H...O interactions connect these chains into a double-layer polymeric network in theabplane.
Crystal structure ofrac-3-hydroxy-2-(p-tolyl)-2,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydro-1H-4,7-methanoisoindol-1-one
Authors: Aslantaş Mehmet , Çelik Cumali , Çelik Ömer , Karayel Arzu
Published: February 2015

In the title compound, C16H17NO2, the cyclohexene ring adopts a boat conformation, and the five-membered rings have envelope conformations with the bridging atom as the flap. Their mean planes are oriented at a dihedral angle of 86.51 (7)°. The molecular structure is stabilized by a short intramolecular C—H...O contact. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds forming chains propagating along [100]. The chains are linked by C—H...π interactions, forming slabs parallel to (001).
Crystal structure of (3S)-3-acetoxy-17-(pyridin-3-yl)androsta-5,16-diene
Authors: Zhou Shengjun , Huang Huaqi , Huang Rongbin
Published: February 2015

In the title compound, C26H33NO2[systematic name: (3S,8R,9S,10R,13S,14S)-10,13-dimethyl-17-(pyridin-3-yl)-2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl acetate], the steroidA,B,CandDrings adopt chair, half-chair, chair and envelope conformations, respectively. The flap atom of the envelope is the methine C atom fused with the C ring. In the crystal, adjacent molecules, generated by a 21screw axis, are linked by weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming aC(16) helical chain running along thec-axis direction.
Crystal structure of ethyl 1′,1′′-dimethyl-2′′,3-dioxo-3H-dispiro[benzo[b]thiophene-2,3′-pyrrolidine-2′,3′′-indoline]-4′-carboxylate
Authors: Savithri M. P. , Suresh M. , Raghunathan R. , Raja R. , SubbiahPandi A.
Published: February 2015

In the title compound, C23H22N2O4S, the pyrrolidine ring has an envelope conformation with the spiro C atom, shared with the indoline ring system, as the flap. The mean planes of the benzothiophene and indoline ring systems are inclined to the mean plane of the pyrrolidine ring by 88.81 (8) and 79.48 (8)°, respectively, and to each other by 68.12 (5)°. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviaC—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along [001].
Champions of gender equality: female and male executives as leaders of gender change
Authors: de Vries Jennifer Anne
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine male and female executives as leaders “championing” gender change interventions. It problematizes current exhortations for male leaders to lead gender change, much as they might lead any other business-driven change agenda. It argues that organizational gender scholarship is critical to understanding the gendered nature of championing.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws on a feminist qualitative research project examining the efficacy of a gender intervention in a university and a policing institution. Interviews with four leaders have been chosen from the larger study for analysis against the backdrop of material from interviewees and the participant observation of the researcher. It brings a social constructionist view of gender and Acker’s gendering processes to bear on understanding organizational gender change.

Findings

– The sex/gender of the leader is inescapably fore-fronted by the gender change intervention. Gendered expectations and choices positioned men as powerful and effective champions while undermining the effectiveness of the woman in this study.

Research limitations/implications

– Further research examining male and female leaders capacity to champion gender change is required.

Practical implications

– This research identifies effective champion behaviors, provides suggestions for ensuring that gender equity interventions are well championed and proposes a partnership model where senior men and women play complementary roles leading gender change.

Originality/value

– This paper is of value to practitioners and scholars. It draws attention to contemporary issues of leadership and gender change, seeking to bridge the gap between theory and practice that undermines our change efforts.
Work-family balance through border theory lens: the case of a company “driving in the fast lane”
Authors: Karassvidou Eleonora , Glaveli Niki
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to seek to provide support and extend work-family Border Theory (BT) in order to investigate organizational and individual factors that determine the complex nature of work-family balance (WFB).

Design/methodology/approach

– Qualitative research was conducted in a company in Greece. In total, 20 in-depth interviews were conducted. Data analysis was guided by interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

– The key findings illustrate that strong borders protect the investigated, powerful, work domain and expand only to accommodate its’ needs. In congruence with BT, employees choose to be central participants in the powerful, highly impermeable and inflexibly bordered, work domain. The deeply entrenched organizational culture, as well as leaders’ behavior and leadership style, support the development of an array of positive work attitudes which boost central participation in the work domain. Due to the strongly bordered work setting, employees were found to choose segmentation as a WFB cope strategy; however, shifts in the participants’ life phase, as well as unfulfilled expectations, lead them to reset priorities and reevaluate their central participation in the dominant work domain.

Practical implications

– The present study has implications for HR practitioners. Communication and open discussions on work-family themes reveal issues that can positively contribute to WFB. Further to this, organizations need to consider individual differences when they deal with WFB issues and frame interventions to facilitate this process.

Originality/value

– This paper adds to current thinking in BT by illustrating that organizational culture, leadership and work attitudes have a strong impact on the nature of the work domain and its borders, as well as on employees’ central participation in the work setting and the attained WFB.
Individual and society in an Islamic ethical framework
Authors: Furqani Hafas
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The paper aims to produce new key terminologies for the microfoundations of Islamic economics. The paper attempts to investigate the microfoundations of Islamic economics by exploring new perspective in the key concepts and key terminologies that would explain the behavior of individual and society in an Islamic ethical framework.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is a conceptual paper that attempts to explore the microfoundations of Islamic economics from the primary sources of Qur’anic texts. Literature on the topics, from an Islamic and mainstream economics perspective, are reviewed critically in a comparative perspective.

Findings

– The key concepts of self-interest, utility maximization and rationality are critically evaluated in an Islamic perspective and new key concepts ofhuquq,maslahahmaximization andtaqwaare proposed as alternatives. Those new key terminologies will broaden the horizon in understanding of economic realities of man and society and their relationship and well-being.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper is based on conceptual explorations of literature in the microfoundations of economics in the mainstream economics and Islamic economics. This is a conceptual paper, so it did not use any empirical analysis.

Practical implications

– The findings of this paper will give insights of the microfoundations of Islamic economics as a discipline. Those unique key terminologies derived from the textual source of Islam (nusus) and intellectual tradition (turath) are important in the attempt to develop a solid body of knowledge.

Originality/value

– The paper proposes new key concepts and terminologies to be the microfoundations of Islamic economics as a discipline. It is a new approach in understanding behavior of individual and society in Islamic perspective which are different from the other approach, which modifies the conventional terminologies by adding “Islamic” prefix, such as “Islamic” utility or “Islamic” rationality.
Land management in the Conata Basin: a free market approach
Authors: Bahun Joseph , Block Walter E.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the viability of free market environmentalism. This is the philosophy that has as its basic premise the view that laissez faire capitalism and concomitant private property rights, far from being an impediment to the well-functioning of the environment, are actually the last best hope for this desiderata.

Design/methodology/approach

– The prairie dog and the ferret are not the species usually associated with concern over endangerment. Typically, it is the whale, the elephant and the rhino that are subjected to such an analysis. The authors approach this issue through the “eyeglasses” of the economist who sees value in our free enterprise institutions.

Findings

– The authors found that the tragedy of the commons works in this case as it does in all other relevant venues: if land is not privately held, but rather open to all, a tragedy occurs: there is economics misallocation and a too swift use of resources compared to the optimal situation.

Originality/value

– The authors know of no other examination of the prairie dog and the ferret in the Conata Basin. This is an important case in point in amassing evidence of the workings of the private property systemvis-à-visthe environment.
Tetra Pak Italy’s ingredient branding: an exploratory case of strategic communication
Authors: Siano Alfonso , Palazzo Maria
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the role ingredient branding (IB) plays in shaping the strategic communications created by public relations/corporate communication departments of large organizations when managing crises.

Design/methodology/approach

– Starting from a literature review on strategic communication and IB the role of this activity is studied within the Italian context. In order to reach the aim of the paper, primary and secondary sources were exploited generating qualitative and quantitative data. The primary data were gathered though in-depth interviews with key management personnel while the secondary data were sourced from reports made available by Tetra Pak Italy.

Findings

– The study confirmed the contribution of the strategic proactive role played by Tetra Pak Italy managers of External Relations and Marketing Departments and the communication agency manager during a challenging period of crisis for the company. The main implication of the paper lies in the analysis of the important strategic work implemented by the external consultant of communication together with the External Relations and Marketing managers as members of the dominant coalition.

Originality/value

– The paper analyses a Tetra Pak Italy case study, as an exploratory case that could demonstrate how strategic communication – based on an IB campaign – is of fundamental importance during a period of crisis. Moreover, the research studied how proactive and effective the role played by the communication consultant and managers of External Relations and Marketing Departments was as a determinant of resulting outcomes.
The German plagiarism crisis
Authors: Fähnrich Birte , Danyi Claudia Janssen , Nothhaft Howard
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– Rising public scrutiny has? brought new demands for science communication. Especially, incidents of falsification, fabrication, and plagiarism have recently come to question academic integrity and legitimacy in Germany. Focussing on a prominent plagiarism case that revolved around the former Minister of Science and Education’s dissertation, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the communication strategies of the Düsseldorf University as it navigated the complex challenges of the crisis situation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The analysis is based on a rhetorical analysis of the public discourse of the University Düsseldorf in the context of the plagiarism crisis.

Findings

– The study finds that the university responded to the crisis by focussing on legitimating the legal and administrative process by which it evaluated Schavan’s dissertation and revoked the degree. In turn, this focus neglected restoring the threatened reputation of graduate education and of scholarship itself. Ultimately, the crisis communication of the university worked to undermine the premises and goals of science communication.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research should focus on case studies of crisis communication by academic and research organizations as well as on investigating the effects of crisis rhetoric on public trust in and on understanding of academic research. The study suggests that it is worthwhile for crisis and science communication scholars to work to develop distinct frameworks for science communication in crisis and crisis communication in science that account for the unique tensions and duality of needs in this arena.

Originality/value

– The study contributes to the understanding of the intersections between crisis communication and science communication. Especially, it underlines the importance of developing distinct frameworks for science communication in crisis and crisis communication in science that account for the unique tensions and duality of needs in this arena.
Measuring coaching: behavioral and skill-based managerial coaching scales
Authors: Hagen Marcia S , Peterson Shari L
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is two-fold: to identify the reliability and content validity of two popular managerial coaching scales – the Ellinger Behavioral Scale and the Park Skills-based Scale – to determine the extent to which the construct, coaching, is more accurately measured as a behavioral construct or a skill-based construct from the perspective of the coach, and from that of his or her direct reports using a single data set.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research utilized survey research which tested the reliability and validity of two existing coaching scales. Analyses included correlation matrices, principle axis factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

– Results of this research indicate that neither scale is perfectly reliable and valid. However, given the results of the analysis, the authors recommend the Park scale for leaders and the Ellinger scale for team members.

Research limitations/implications

– This research indicates that investment in valid scales for use by direct reports to measure the coaching expertise of their managers is warranted.

Practical implications

– There are several implications that are evident as a result of this research. First, there are implications for the training and development of employees. Too, many organizations look to coaching and coaching skills as a benchmark for selecting future leaders – the understanding of how current scales are able to identify coaching expertise is important to the manager selection process.

Originality/value

– This research offers one of the first comparative analyses of currently available coaching scales. It contributes to the literature on coaching by providing a clear and thorough review and analysis of scales currently available for testing managerial coaching expertise. Practitioners and scholars can benefit from this research by developing a better understanding of the contexts in which these two coaching scales are most reliable and valid.
Managing conflict with emotional intelligence: abilities that make a difference
Authors: Hopkins Margaret M. , Yonker Robert D.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the critical relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) abilities and conflict management styles in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

– Totally, 126 participants completed a measure of EI and an assessment of conflict management styles. Regression analyses were then performed.

Findings

– Results of regression analyses indicate several significant relationships between EI abilities and participants’ conflict management styles. The EI abilities of problem solving, social responsibility, and impulse control were the most directly related to how participants managed conflict at the workplace.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research should attempt to replicate these findings in other samples. In addition, researchers should investigate other significant variables that explain people’s choices in conflict management styles.

Practical implications

– Implications of these findings suggest that for management development purposes, people should attempt to improve on the EI abilities of problem solving, social responsibility, and impulse control in order to manage workplace conflict effectively.

Originality/value

– This investigation contributes to the literature by identifying specific EI abilities, rather than a macro measure of EI, that are associated with different styles of conflict management.
Don’t rock the boat
Authors: Loi Natasha M. , Loh Jennifer M.I. , Hine Donald W.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– There is a vast array of literature which investigates the concept and impact of workplace incivility. Evidence suggests that compared to male employees, female employees tend to experience and put up more with workplace incivility. However, there is limited research on how this affects female employee’s willingness to complete work-related tasks. The purpose of this paper is to set out to examine whether gender moderates the role between tolerance for workplace incivility and those behaviours characterised by work withdrawal.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 317 employees from a range of business industries and governmental agencies completed a quantitative survey of measures relating to their work withdrawal behaviour and their perception of their workplaces’ tolerance for uncivil behaviours.

Findings

– Results revealed that when females perceived high levels of tolerance for workplace incivility, they decreased their work withdrawal behaviour. No relationship between tolerance for workplace incivility and work withdrawal was found for males.

Research limitations/implications

– The homogeneity of the sample, that is, the sample comprised predominantly of white-collar, White Australian workers.

Practical implications

– Improve managers and organisations’ knowledge and understanding about deviant workplace behaviours – especially between male and female employees.

Originality/value

– The paper adds to the work in the workplace incivility, diversity-gender and equity research area. Specifically, it highlights how male and female employees react when they perceive that their workplace tolerates deviant behaviours. This knowledge will inform managers and their organisations of a more effective way of managing conflict.
Forgotten contributions to scientific management: work and ideas of Karol Adamiecki
Authors: Debicki Bart J.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to present the work and contributions of Karol Adamiecki in comparison with Frederick Winslow Taylor and discusses the various contexts in which both scholars conducted their research. The purpose of this study is bring to light some of the main accomplishments of Adamiecki and contribute to the discussion of reasons why the work of some scholars draws wide acclaim, while similar work of others remains unnoticed.

Design/methodology/approach

– The background for the discussion is the work and ideas of Karol Adamiecki, a Polish engineer and manager, whose methods and findings were similar to those of Frederick Taylor and are contemporary, and, in some cases, precede those of the Father of Scientific Management. The methodology used in this study is a review of the original work of Adamiecki and Taylor to find the true meaning and purpose behind their writings, as well as a review of relevant literature regarding the context of the realities in which both scholars constructed their research.

Findings

– The concepts and inventions of Karol Adamiecki are, in many aspects, similar to those of Frederick Taylor and his followers. Several factors are identified and discussed which may have influenced the varied level of recognition of conceptually similar ideas evolved in different parts of the world. These factors are, among others, the socio-political reality of Eastern Europe and Poland under the influence of Russia and the Soviets as compared to that of the USA and the Western World and the support of various interest groups and government institutions, as well as the impact of the academic circles.

Research limitations/implications

– In today’s world of globalization reaching all aspects of life, it is necessary to recognize and acknowledge the developments emerging in different settings, regions and cultures. Furthermore, the social and political realities in which research is constructed may impact the future acceptance, dissemination and popularity of the findings and authors.

Originality/value

– Although some research exists outlining the work of Adamiecki, this study contributes to the body of historical management knowledge by focusing on the main accomplishments of Adamiecki based on his original writings and placing his accomplishments in a historical context in comparison to Taylor, thus analyzing the reasons for the lack of wider acclaim for Adamiecki’s contribution to scientific management.
Successful turnarounds: the role of appropriate entrepreneurial strategies
Authors: Panicker Sunitha , Manimala Mathew J.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on a research study aimed at comparing the causes of organisational decline and turnaround strategies involved in cases of successful and unsuccessful turnarounds, with a view to identifying the differences, if any, between the two groups, which in turn is expected to provide useful information to academics, practitioners and policy makers.

Design/methodology/approach

– Since turnaround is a business phenomenon of general interest, their stories are often published in business periodicals, which are a rich source of data on them. In order to tap this data source, the present paper employed a method of content analysis for the proposed investigation on the cause of organisational decline and turnaround strategies used. In order to quantify the data, a three-point scale was developed, where the presence of a cause/strategy is rated as “3”, its ambivalence as “2” and its absence as “1”, whose validity was assessed through the inter-rater agreement indices. The data thus generated are amenable to statistical analyses, using which the more commonly prevalent causes of organisational decline and the strategies commonly employed for turnaround by the successful and unsuccessful companies are identified.

Findings

– The findings of the present study have generated a few useful insights. First, the primary causes for organisational decline are the internal weaknesses of the organisation; in fact the external changes can adversely affect the organisation only if it is internally weak. Second, organisational decline caused by multiple factors (which is usually the case) can be managed effectively by adopting a variety of strategies; hence a single-pronged strategy is often found to be ineffective. Third, the more successful turnarounds had a diverse portfolio of strategies including those of institution-building, often employed in a phased manner, consistent with the stage theories of turnaround.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitations of this research arise mainly from the generation of data from published sources and the consequent biases, which can be managed, to a large extent, by using multiple sources for the same case for reducing the publishers’ biases as well as by having multiple raters for identifying the researcher’s biases, if any.

Originality/value

– The study has highlighted the need for addressing the internal causes of organisational decline on a priority-basis rather than blaming the external factors, besides pointing to the need for adopting a variety of strategies for dealing with the diversity of causes affecting the organisation’s health, particularly the need for institutionalising the changes. These findings can be of help especially to turnaround managers and policy-makers in dealing with organisational decline and thus contribute to the creation and enhancement of economic value.
Developing a scale for measuring high performance partnerships
Authors: de Waal André , Goedegebuure Robert , Hinfelaar Eveline
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The importance of partnerships to organizational success has increased considerably the past decennia and many organizations strive at creating high-performance partnerships (HPPs). For this to happen, organizations in the partnerships have to be of high quality and their collaborations should be world-class. Whereas the factors that create high-performance organizations (HPO) are by now reasonably well established, the HPP factors are still unclear. The purpose of this paper is to develop a scale for measuring the factors of importance for creating and maintaining HPPs, and relates these factors to the factors of the HPO framework and to the success of the partnership.

Design/methodology/approach

– During a literature study ten potential factors of importance for creating and maintaining HPPs were identified. These potential factors were put in a questionnaire, together with the factors that create the HPO and the factor that measures the success of the partnership. This questionnaire was administered to a cable company, which was working on becoming an HPO, and four of its main suppliers. The data were subjected to a factor analysis which yielded a HPP framework consisting of three factors and 19 underlying characteristics. In addition, these HPP factors were put in a regression analysis with the factors of the HPO framework and the success of the partnership factor.

Findings

– The research results show a strong relationship between three HPP factors, the five HPO factors, and the success of a partnership factor.

Research limitations/implications

– This research adds to the literature by extending the concept of HPOs to the value chain these HPOs operate in. Thus the research into the factors of successful partnerships has been brought forward. The practical benefit of the research is that organizations can use the HPP factors to increase the quality of the partnerships they have with their suppliers and customers.

Originality/value

– There is much literature on partnerships but not so much on partnerships between organizations which strive to become a HPOs, and in the process need to create partnership of high quality.
Effect of sorghum bicolour and clove oil on the quality characteristics and storage quality of aerobically packaged chevon cutlets
Authors: Singh Pramod Kumar , Kumar Sunil , Bhat Z. F. , Kumar Pavan
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to focus on the effect of Sorghum bicolour on the quality characteristics of chevon cutlets and to evaluate the effect of clove oil on the storage quality of aerobically packaged chevon cutlets.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three levels of sorghum flour, namely, 2, 4 and 6 per cent, were incorporated in the formulation, and the products developed were assessed for various physicochemical, sensory, texture and colour parameters. Chevon cutlets containing optimum level of sorghum flour were treated with clove oil (100 ppm) and evaluated for storage quality for 15 days under refrigerated conditions (4 ± 1°C). The products were analysed for various physicochemical, microbiological and sensory parameters.

Findings

– Crude fibre, texture parameters, i.e. hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness, chewiness, gumminess and product redness value, showed significant (p < 0.05) increasing trend, whereas moisture per cent, fat content and overall acceptability decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of incorporation. Chevon cutlets containing 6 per cent sorghum flour were optimized as best. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance value (mg malonaldehyde/kg), total plate count (cfu/g) and psychrophillic count (cfu/g) showed a significant increasing trend (p < 0.05), whereas all the sensory parameters decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing days of storage. The products were successfully stored for 10 days under refrigerated conditions (4 ± 1°C) without marked loss in quality.

Originality/value

– The paper has demonstrated the potential of sorghum as a fibre source in the development of designer chevon cutlets and effect of clove oil on the storage quality of aerobically packaged chevon cutlets.
Expanding the theory of planned behavior to predict healthy eating behaviors
Authors: Brouwer Amanda M , Mosack Katie E.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to test whether overall and specific healthy eating behaviors and intentions could be better predicted by expanding the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to include a healthy eater identity. Major health organizations suggest increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains to address the growing number of overweight and obese individuals, yet researchers have questioned the degree to which existing behavioral intervention programs sufficiently explain healthy eating behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

– Adult women (N = 79) completed questionnaires related to TPB components and healthy eater identity. Participants then recorded food consumption for four days using food diaries and food frequency questionnaires.

Findings

– Using hierarchical multiple regressions, the authors demonstrated that identity as a healthy eater was a significant predictor of healthy eating intentions beyond the TPB components and a significant predictor of fruit and low-fat dairy consumption and overall healthy eating behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

– Despite the limitation of correlational data from a homogenous population, results support previous research and add to existing literature by demonstrating the unique contribution identity has in predicting specific healthy diet behaviors of fruit and low-fat dairy consumption.

Originality/value

– Findings advance our understanding of how young women think about nutrition and underscore which healthy eating behaviors might need to be directly targeted in interventions if such behaviors fall outside of the scope of common conceptions of what it means to be a “healthy eater”.
Child weight and parental feeding practices: a child-responsive model
Authors: Melbye Elisabeth Lind , Hansen Håvard
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The majority of previous studies on parental feeding practices have focused on the effect of controlling feeding strategies on child eating and weight (i.e. parental influence on children). The present study turns the arrow in the opposite direction, and it aims to test a child-responsive model by exploring the process in which child weight status might influence parental feeding practices, addressing potential mediating effects of parental concern for child weight (i.e. child influence on parents).

Design/methodology/approach

– A cross-sectional survey was performed among parents of 10- to 12-year olds (n= 963). The survey questionnaire included measures of parental feeding practices and parents’ reports of child weight and height. Stepwise regressions were performed to reveal potential mediating effects of parental concern for child weight status on the associations between child BMI and a wide range of parental feeding practices.

Findings

– Our results suggest a mediating effect of parental concern for child overweight on the associations between child body mass index and controlling feeding practices such as restriction for weight and health purposes and responsibility for determining child portion sizes.

Originality/value

– This study provides an extension of previous research on parental feeding–child weight relationship. It includes a wider spectrum of feeding variables, and integrates parental concern for both child who is overweight and child who is underweight as potential mediators of the associations between child weight and parental feeding practices. Moreover, it has its focus on preadolescent children, while previous studies have focused on infants and young children.
Plant identity drives the expression of biocontrol factors in a rhizosphere bacterium across a plant diversity gradient
Authors: Latz Ellen , Eisenhauer Nico , Scheu Stefan , Jousset Alexandre
Published: February 2015

Plant performance is influenced by root‐associated bacteria that provide important services to the host plant, such as pathogen suppression. Suppression of pathogens is known to be context‐dependent and to vary between plant species, yet the significance of plant identity in shaping rhizosphere bacterial functioning in multi‐species communities is largely unknown.

We questioned whether the activity of a rhizosphere bacterium in producing biocontrol compounds varies with plant identity in a plant diversity gradient. We set up a gnotobiotic microcosm experiment with the model rhizosphere bacterium Pseudomonas protegens CHA0, an important biocontrol agent, and investigated the effects of plant identity and diversity on its production of biocontrol compounds. Using GFP‐based reporter fusions, we assessed gene expression linked to the production of the biocontrol compounds 2,4‐diacetylphloroglucinol, pyrrolnitrin and hydrogen cyanide.

The expression of genes coding for biocontrol compounds was driven to a large extent by plant identity and this effect persisted along the plant species richness gradient for all tested genes. Notably, the effect of certain plant identities varied between the three tested genes, indicating a selective impact of plant species on bacterial gene expression. However, some plant species, such as Lolium perenne, consistently stimulated bacterial gene expression irrespective of the diversity of the plant community.

Our results indicate that the presence of certain plant species within a community disproportionately impacts biocontrol traits expressed by rhizosphere bacteria, providing new insight into the patterns driving plant health and productivity.
A global analysis of water and nitrogen relationships between mistletoes and their hosts: broad‐scale tests of old and enduring hypotheses
Authors: Scalon Marina C. , Wright Ian J.
Published: February 2015

Mistletoes use far more water per unit carbon fixed during photosynthesis than their hosts (i.e. they have lower ‘water use efficiency’,WUE). The widely cited ‘nitrogen‐parasitism hypothesis’ posits that N is the most limiting resource for mistletoes and that they use their faster transpiration rates to acquire sufficient N from the host xylem. In a rather different context, the ‘mimicry hypothesis’ arose in the literature suggesting that some mistletoes mimic the morphology of host leaves in order to deploy higher N leaves without suffering higher levels of herbivory. These two non‐exclusive hypotheses share the common goal of trying to explain patterns of mistletoe leaf N concentration.

We set out to test the generality of both hypotheses at broad geographic scale using data for 168 mistletoes–host pairs, from 39 sites, encompassing all continents except Antarctica. We drew together data from published literature and our own field data on two key plant functional traits, leaf N concentration (Nmass) and leaf carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) (representing long‐termWUEand degree of stomatal control over photosynthesis).

Key findings included (i) little or no support for the N‐parasitism hypothesis: differences in mistletoe and host Nmassexplained only 3% variation in differences in leaf δ13C, and mistletoe–host differences in leaf δ13C were unrelated to whether or not the hosts were N‐fixers (presumed to have higher N concentration in xylem sap); (ii) partial support for the mimicry hypothesis: mimic mistletoes generally had higher Nmasswhen associated with N‐fixing hosts (but, on non‐N‐fixing hosts there was no such pattern); and (iii) more broadly, mistletoes showed similar trait responses as their hosts to environmental drivers; for example, they showed similar‐magnitude shifts in Nmassand δ13C in relation to site aridity.

Contrary to current belief, our findings suggest that nitrogen is not the limiting nutrient for mistletoes, at least not the main component driving the faster transpiration rates. Our results also give insight into the evolution of mimicry in mistletoes and show, for the first time, that mistletoes are also constrained by local water availability, exhibiting clear trait adaptations to environmental gradients. By reconsidering these issues at broad geographic scale and across a large number of species, our findings substantially modify current knowledge on the ecology and physiology of mistletoes and their hosts.
Interspecific variation in the structural properties of flight feathers in birds indicates adaptation to flight requirements and habitat
Authors: Pap Péter L. , Osváth Gergely , Sándor Krisztina , Vincze Orsolya , Bărbos Lőrinc , Marton Attila , Nudds Robert L. , Vágási Csongor I.
Published: February 2015

The functional significance of intra‐ and interspecific structural variations in the flight feathers of birds is poorly understood. Here, a phylogenetic comparative analysis of four structural features (rachis width, barb and barbule density and porosity) of proximal and distal primary feathers of 137 European bird species was conducted.

Flight type (flapping and soaring, flapping and gliding, continuous flapping or passerine type), habitat (terrestrial, riparian or aquatic), wing characteristics (wing area, S and aspect ratio, AR) and moult strategy were all found to affect feather structure to some extent. Species characterized by low wing‐beat frequency flight (soaring and gliding) have broader feather rachises (shafts) and feather vanes with lower barb density than birds associated with more active flapping modes of flight. However, the effect of flying mode on rachis width disappeared after controlling for S and AR, suggesting that rachis width is primarily determined by wing morphology.

Rachis width and feather vane density are likely related to differences in force distribution across the wingspan during different flight modes. An increase in shaft diameter, barb density and porosity from the proximal to distal wing feathers was found and was highest in species with flapping flight indicating that aerodynamic forces are more biased towards the distal feathers in flapping flyers than in soarers and gliders.

Habitat affected barb and barbule density, which was greatest in aquatic species, and within this group, barb density was greater in divers than non‐divers, suggesting that the need for water repellency and resistance to water penetration may influence feather structure. However, we found little support for the importance of porosity in water repellency and water penetration, because porosity was similar in aquatic, riparian and terrestrial species and among the aquatic birds (divers and non‐divers). We also found that barb density was affected by moult pattern.

Our results have broad implications for the understanding of the selection pressures driving flight feather functional morphology. Specifically, the large sample size relative to any previous studies has emphasized that the morphology of flight feathers is the result of a suite of selection pressures. As well as routine flight needs, constraints during moulting, habitat (particularly aquatic) and migratory requirements also affect flight feather morphology. Identifying the exact nature of these trade‐offs will perhaps inform the reconstruction of the flying modes of extinct birds.
Habitat traits and species interactions differentially affect abundance and body size in pond‐breeding amphibians
Authors: Ousterhout Brittany H. , Anderson Thomas L. , Drake Dana L. , Peterman William E. , Semlitsch Raymond D.
Published: February 2015

In recent studies, habitat traits have emerged as stronger predictors of species occupancy, abundance, richness and diversity than competition. However, in many cases, it remains unclear whether habitat also mediates processes more subtle than competitive exclusion, such as growth, or whether intra‐ and interspecific interactions among individuals of different species may be better predictors of size.

To test whether habitat traits are a stronger predictor of abundance and body size than intra‐ and interspecific interactions, we measured the density and body size of three species of larval salamanders in 192 ponds across a landscape.

We found that the density of larvae was best predicted by models that included habitat features, while models incorporating interactions among individuals of different species best explained the body size of larvae. Additionally, we found a positive relationship between focal species density and congener density, while focal species body size was negatively related to congener density.

We posit that salamander larvae may not experience competitive exclusion and thus reduced densities, but instead compensate for increased competition behaviourally (e.g. reduced foraging), resulting in decreased growth. The discrepancy between larval density and body size, a strong predictor of fitness in this system, also highlights a potential shortcoming in using density or abundance as a metric of habitat quality or population health.