bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Birds see the true colours of fruits to live off the fat of the land
Authors: Schaefer H. Martin , Valido Alfredo , Jordano Pedro
Published: January 2014

Communication is a characteristic of life, but its reliability and basic definition are hotly debated. Theory predicts that trade among mutualists requires high reliability. Here, we show that moderate reliability already allows mutualists to optimize their rewards. The colours of Mediterranean fleshy-fruits indicate lipid rewards (but not other nutrients) to avian seed dispersers on regional and local scales. On the regional scale, fruits with high lipid content were significantly darker and less chromatic than congeners with lower lipid content. On the local scale, two warbler species (
Sylvia atricapilla
and
Sylvia borin
) selected fruit colours that were less chromatic, and thereby maximized their intake of lipids—a critical resource during migration and wintering. Crucially, birds were able to maximize lipid rewards with moderate reliability from visual fruit colours (
r
2
= 0.44–0.60). We suggest that mutualisms require only that any association between the quality and sensory aspects of signallers is learned through multiple, repeated interactions. Because these conditions are often fulfilled, also in social communication systems, we contend that selection on reliability is less intense than hitherto assumed. This may contribute to explaining the extraordinary diversity of signals, including that of plant reproductive displays.
Specialist versus generalist life histories and nucleotide diversity inCaenorhabditisnematodes
Authors: Li Shuning , Jovelin Richard , Yoshiga Toyoshi , Tanaka Ryusei , Cutter Asher D.
Published: January 2014

Species with broad ecological amplitudes with respect to a key focal resource, niche generalists, should maintain larger and more connected populations than niche specialists, leading to the prediction that nucleotide diversity will be lower and more subdivided in specialists relative to their generalist relatives. This logic describes the specialist-generalist variation hypothesis (SGVH). Some outbreeding species ofCaenorhabditisnematodes use a variety of invertebrate dispersal vectors and have high molecular diversity. By contrast,Caenorhabditis japonicalives in a strict association and synchronized life cycle with its dispersal host, the shield bugParastrachia japonensis, itself a diet specialist. Here, we characterize sequence variation for 20 nuclear loci to investigate howC. japonica's life history shapes nucleotide diversity. We find thatC. japonicahas more than threefold lower polymorphism than other outbreedingCaenorhabditisspecies, but that local populations are not genetically disconnected. Coupled with its restricted range, we propose that its specialist host association contributes to a smaller effective population size and lower genetic variation than host generalistCaenorhabditisspecies with outbreeding reproductive modes. A literature survey of diverse organisms provides broader support for the SGVH. These findings encourage further testing of ecological and evolutionary hypotheses with comparative population genetics inCaenorhabditisand other taxa.
Early growth trajectories affect sexual responsiveness
Authors: Lee Who-Seung , Metcalfe Neil B. , Réale Denis , Peres-Neto Pedro R.
Published: January 2014

The trajectory of an animal's growth in early development has been shown to have long-term effects on a range of life-history traits. Although it is known that individual differences in behaviour may also be related to certain life-history traits, the linkage between early growth or development and individual variation in behaviour has received little attention. We used brief temperature manipulations, independent of food availability, to stimulate compensatory growth in juvenile three-spined sticklebacksGasterosteus aculeatus. Here, we examine how these manipulated growth trajectories affected the sexual responsiveness of the male fish at the time of sexual maturation, explore associations between reproductive behaviour and investment and lifespan and test whether the perceived time stress (until the onset of the breeding season) influenced such trade-offs. We found a negative impact of growth rate on sexual responsiveness: fish induced (by temperature manipulation) to grow slowest prior to the breeding season were consistently quickest to respond to the presence of a gravid female. This speed of sexual responsiveness was also positively correlated with the rate of development of sexual ornaments and time taken to build a nest. However, after controlling for effects of growth rate, those males that had the greatest sexual responsiveness to females had the shortest lifespan. Moreover, the time available to compensate in size before the onset of the breeding season (time stress) affected the magnitude of these effects. Our results demonstrate that developmental perturbations in early life can influence mating behaviour, with long-term effects on longevity.
‘Progressive’ Turns in Post-1945 Conservative Social Policy
Authors: Page Robert M.
Published: January 2014

This paper explores the diverse ways in which the Conservative Party has responded to the notion of progress in relation to social policy during its periods in government since the Second World War. It identifies three distinctive approaches – one nation progressive conservatism (1945–74), neo-liberal (anti-progressive) conservatism (1979–97) and progressive neo-liberal conservatism (2010–present), highlighting the dilemmas and difficulties the party has faced in engaging with a concept that it has always found to be problematic.
Progressivism: An Idea Whose Time has Gone?
Authors: Blaazer David
Published: January 2014

All three main parties at the 2010 British election attempted to describe themselves as ‘progressive’. While this term has generally been reserved for left-of-centre politics, such claims compel some re-examination in order to establish whether the term still has any meaning or analytical value. The author's earlier study of the progressive tradition during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century located it in a range of organisations, and especially in the shifting boundary between the Liberal and Labour Parties. Progressivism in this period was characterised by profound commitments to anti-imperialism and anti-sectionalism, combined with an empirical approach to the possible benefits of state intervention in the economy, and an open and fluid attitude to organisational affiliations. Progressive principles have enjoyed little success in recent years, especially with respect to the Iraq War and government support of the City's sectional interests. While these defeats do not in themselves signify the disappearance of progressive principles or even the progressive tradition, which are clearly manifest in many contemporary movements, the constellation of beliefs that characterised ‘progressivism’, together with its underlying moral purpose, has disappeared, as has the specific political context that gave rise to it.
The consequences of private equity acquisitions for employees: new evidence on the impact on wages, employment and productivity
Authors: Goergen Marc , O'Sullivan Noel , Wood Geoffrey
Published: January 2014

There is growing controversy on the HR consequences of private equity acquisitions, especially when the existing management team is replaced. Much of the debate thus far has centred on the use of limited panels of case studies and industry surveys. This article, in contrast, uses both in‐depth interviews with relevant stakeholders and objective company data to compare firms subject to private equity acquisitions against a control group of non‐acquired firms. Our interviews provide insights into key issues that are investigated in the subsequent empirical analysis. Our core findings are that firms subject to a specific type of private equity acquisition – institutional buyouts – are associated with job losses, lower wages and lower productivity. This evidence is consistent with the notion that this type of private equity acquisition has negative employment consequences without any corresponding improvement in productivity.
Set‐valued dynamic treatment regimes for competing outcomes
Authors: Laber Eric B. , Lizotte Daniel J. , Ferguson Bradley
Published: January 2014

Dynamic treatment regimes (DTRs) operationalize the clinical decision process as a sequence of functions, one for each clinical decision, where each function maps up‐to‐date patient information to a single recommended treatment. Current methods for estimating optimal DTRs, for example Q‐learning, require the specification of a single outcome by which the “goodness” of competing dynamic treatment regimes is measured. However, this is an over‐simplification of the goal of clinical decision making, which aims to balance several potentially competing outcomes, for example, symptom relief and side‐effect burden. When there are competing outcomes and patients do not know or cannot communicate their preferences, formation of a single composite outcome that correctly balances the competing outcomes is not possible. This problem also occurs when patient preferences evolve over time. We propose a method for constructing DTRs that accommodates competing outcomes by recommending sets of treatments at each decision point. Formally, we construct a sequence of set‐valued functions that take as input up‐to‐date patient information and give as output a recommended subset of the possible treatments. For a given patient history, the recommended set of treatments contains all treatments that produce non‐inferior outcome vectors. Constructing these set‐valued functions requires solving a non‐trivial enumeration problem. We offer an exact enumeration algorithm by recasting the problem as a linear mixed integer program. The proposed methods are illustrated using data from the CATIE schizophrenia study.
Obesity, sex and pubertal status affect appetite hormone responses to a mixed glucose and whey protein drink in adolescents
Authors: Patel Barkha P. , Anderson G. Harvey , Vien Shirley , Bellissimo Nick , McCrindle Brian W. , Hamilton Jill K.
Published: January 2014

Background and Objectives

Little information is available on how food intake regulatory hormones may be altered during pubertal development and across the weight spectrum in adolescents. Therefore, the effect of obesity, sex and pubertal status on subjective appetite and appetite hormones in response to a mixed glucose and whey protein drink was determined in 8–18 year old adolescents.

Patients and Methods

A cross‐sectional cohort study was conducted at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. After a 12 h fast, normal weight (n = 5 female, 4 male) and obese (n = 5 female, 4 male) adolescents (Experiment 1), and pre‐early pubertal (n = 10) and mid‐late pubertal (n = 10) obese male adolescents (Experiment 2) consumed a 250 ml glucose (30 g) and whey protein (30 g) beverage. Insulin, PYY, ghrelin and subjective appetite were measured over 120 min.

Results

Obese adolescents (Experiment 1) have higher insulin, PYY and lower ghrelin (P < 0·006) than normal weight controls, with a more pronounced effect in males (P < 0·037). Puberty (Experiment 2) did not affect insulin (P = 0·305), but the change in PYY in response to the drink was greater (P = 0·032) and ghrelin was lower (P = 0·026) in mid‐late pubertal than pre‐early pubertal obese males. Average appetite 60 min post‐drink was higher in obese and mid‐late pubertal adolescents, but not related to hormone changes.

Conclusions

Obesity, sex and pubertal status affect macronutrient‐stimulated appetite hormone secretion and these factors may alter food intake in obese children during pubertal development.
The relative contributions of the abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat depots to cardiometabolic risk in youth
Authors: Kelly A. S. , Dengel D. R. , Hodges J. , Zhang L. , Moran A. , Chow L. , Sinaiko A. R. , Steinberger J.
Published: January 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat, independent of total body fat, with cardiometabolic risk factors and insulin resistance among youth. Visceral and subcutaneous fat, percentage total body fat, insulin resistance (adjusted for lean body mass: Mlbm), blood pressure, glucose, insulin and lipids were obtained in 472 youth ages 6–18 years. Linear regression, adjusted for age, sex, race, Tanner stage and percentage total body fat, was used to evaluate associations of visceral and subcutaneous fat with cardiometabolic risk factors. Visceral fat was associated inversely with Mlbm (P = 0.003) and positively with fasting insulin (P = 0.002) and triglycerides (P = 0.002). Visceral fat levels above the mean were associated inversely with high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P = 0.002), and positively with systolic blood pressure (P < 0.0001) and non‐HDL cholesterol (P < 0.0001). Subcutaneous fat was associated inversely with Mlbm (P = 0.003) and HDL cholesterol (P < 0.05), and positively with fasting glucose (P < 0.05), fasting insulin (P = 0.0003), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.005) and triglycerides (P = 0.003). Subcutaneous fat levels above the mean were associated with non‐HDL cholesterol (P = 0.0002). These findings suggest that there may be a threshold level of visceral and subcutaneous fat (regardless of total body fat), that when exceeded in childhood, is more likely to be associated with many cardiometabolic risk factors. Triglycerides and insulin resistance appear to be associated with these fat depots at even lower thresholds of abdominal adiposity.
Medical management of refractory epilepsy—Practical treatment with novel antiepileptic drugs
Authors: Ben‐Menachem Elinor
Published: January 2014

The ultimate treatment goal in epilepsy therapy is always freedom from seizures with as few treatment adverse effects as possible. If seizures persist with the first monotherapy, alternative monotherapy with another antiepileptic drug (AED) should be considered. Continuing seizures should lead to a reevaluation of differential diagnosis and adherence. Epilepsy surgery as an alternative therapy may be suitable in selected cases. If the diagnosis of epilepsy is established and epilepsy surgery is not appropriate, AED treatment should be optimized. Evidence for how to proceed is lacking. Concepts such as rational polytherapy have been advocated but remain speculative concerning better efficacy based on the use of AEDs with differing modes of action. A variety of new AEDs including rufinamide, lacosamide, vigabatrin, perampanel, and retigabine have been recently introduced in the United States. They are briefly characterized in this update review.
Dispersion of Boron Nitride Powders in Aqueous Suspensions with Cellulose
Authors: Bouville Florian , Deville Sylvain
Published: January 2014

The dispersion of nitride and carbide ceramic particles in water is difficult, due to the absence of hydroxyl groups on their surface. Boron nitride (BN) is not an exception and despite its numerous applications, no effective dispersant has been identified so far. We demonstrate here the dispersion properties of two cellulose derivatives for hexagonal BN powders, hydroxyl ethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose. The effect of particle size and cellulose concentration was investigated. The adsorption of cellulose onto the surface of the BN particles was confirmed by isotherm adsorption. Zeta potential measurements show a charge screening effect of the cellulose The suspensions obtained were highly loaded and stable versus pH, and thus could lead to homogeneous codispersion of BN particles and sintering additives.
Developing DNA barcodes for species identification in Podophylloideae (Berberidaceae)
Authors: MAO Yun‐Rui , ZHANG Yong‐Hua , NAKAMURA Koh , GUAN Bi‐Cai , QIU Ying‐Xiong
Published: January 2014

Species of Podophyllum, Dysosma, Sinopodophyllum, and Diphylleia, genera from Podophylloideae of Berberidaceae, have long been used in traditional herbal medicine in East Asia and/or North America. Accurate identification of the species of these four genera is crucial to their medicinal uses. In this study, we tested the utility of nine barcodes (matK, rbcL, atpH‐atpI, rpl32‐trnLUAG, rps18‐clpp, trnL‐trnF, trnL‐ndhJ, trnS‐trnfM, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)) to discriminate different species of Podophylloideae. Thirty‐six individuals representing 12 species of Podophylloideae were collected from different locations in China, Japan, and North America. We assessed the feasibility of amplification and sequencing of all markers, examined the levels of the barcoding gap based on DNA sequence divergence between ranges of intra‐ and interspecific variation using pairwise distances, and further evaluated successful identifications using each barcode by similarity‐based and tree‐based methods. Results showed that nine barcodes, except rps18‐clpp, have a high level of primer universality and sequencing success. As a single barcode, ITS has the most variable sites, greater intra‐ and interspecific divergences, and the highest species discrimination rate (83%), followed by matK which has moderate variation and also high species discrimination rates. However, these species can also be discriminated by ITS alone, except Dysosma versipellis (Hance) M. Cheng ex T. S. Ying and D. pleiantha (Hance) Woodson. The combination of ITS + matK did not improve species resolution over ITS alone. Thus, we propose that ITS may be used as a sole region for identification of most species in Podophylloideae. The failure of ITS to distinguish D. versipellis and D. pleiantha is likely attributed to incomplete lineage sorting due to recent divergence of the two species.
Effect of Trilostane and Mitotane on Aldosterone Secretory Reserve in Dogs with Pituitary‐Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism
Authors: Reid L.E. , Behrend E.N. , Martin L.G. , Kemppainen R.J. , Ward C.R. , Lurye J.C. , Donovan T.C. , Lee H.P.
Published: January 2014

Background

Maximal aldosterone secretion in healthy dogs occurs 30 minutes postadrenocorticotropin (ACTH; 5 μg/kg IV) stimulation. The effect of trilostane and mitotane on aldosterone at that time is unknown.

Objectives

To assess the effect of trilostane and mitotane in dogs with pituitary‐dependent hyperadrenocorticism on aldosterone secretory reserve. To determine if aldosterone concentration correlates with electrolyte concentrations.

Animals

Serum collected from 79 client‐owned dogs and 33 stored samples.

Methods

Client‐owned dogs hadACTHstimulation tests with cortisol concentrations measured at 0 and 60 minutes and aldosterone concentrations measured at 0, 30, and 60 minutes. Stored samples had aldosterone concentrations measured at 0 and 60 minutes. Ten historical clinically healthy controls were included. All had basal sodium and potassium concentrations measured.

Results

The aldosterone concentrations in the mitotane‐ and trilostane‐treated dogs at 30 and 60 minutes post‐ACTHwere significantly lower than in clinically healthy dogs; no significant difference was detected in aldosterone concentration between 30 and 60 minutes in treated dogs. However, a significantly higher percentage of dogs had decreased aldosterone secretory reserve detected at 30 minutes than at 60 minutes. At 30 minutes, decreased secretory reserve was detected in 49% and 78% of trilostane‐ and mitotane‐treated dogs, respectively. No correlation was detected between aldosterone and serum electrolyte concentrations.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Decreased aldosterone secretory reserve is common in trilostane‐ and mitotane‐treated dogs; it cannot be predicted by measurement of serum electrolyte concentrations. Aldosterone concentration at 30 minutes post‐ACTHstimulation identifies more dogs with decreased aldosterone secretory reserve than conventional testing at 60 minutes.
Structural insights into the specific recognition of N‐heterocycle biodenitrogenation‐derived substrates by microbial amide hydrolases
Authors: Wu Geng , Chen Duoduo , Tang Hongzhi , Ren Yiling , Chen Qihua , Lv Yang , Zhang Zhenyi , Zhao Yi‐Lei , Yao Yuxiang , Xu Ping
Published: January 2014

N‐heterocyclic compounds from industrial wastes, including nicotine, are environmental pollutants or toxicants responsible for a variety of health problems. Microbial biodegradation is an attractive strategy for the removal of N‐heterocyclic pollutants, during which carbon–nitrogen bonds in N‐heterocycles are converted to amide bonds and subsequently severed by amide hydrolases. Previous studies have failed to clarify the molecular mechanism through which amide hydrolases selectively recognize diverse amide substrates and complete the biodenitrogenation process. In this study, structural, computational and enzymatic analyses showed how the N‐formylmaleamate deformylase Nfo and the maleamate amidase Ami, two pivotal amide hydrolases in the nicotine catabolic pathway of Pseudomonas putida S16, specifically recognize their respective substrates. In addition, comparison of the α‐β‐α groups of amidases, which include Ami, pinpointed several subgroup‐characteristic residues differentiating the two classes of amide substrates as containing either carboxylate groups or aromatic rings. Furthermore, this study reveals the molecular mechanism through which the specially tailored active sites of deformylases and amidases selectively recognize their unique substrates. Our work thus provides a thorough elucidation of the molecular mechanism through which amide hydrolases accomplish substrate‐specific recognition in the microbial N‐heterocycles biodenitrogenation pathway.
Implications of the changes in serum neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin and cystatin C in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Shen Shui‐Juan , Hu Zuo‐Xiang , Li Qing‐Hua , Wang Shi‐Min , Song Chun‐Jiao , Wu Dong‐Dong , He Jian‐Ling , Guan Ji‐Chao , Shan Juan‐Ping
Published: January 2014

Aim

Early intervention in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) significantly improves the prognosis. The present widely used markers of renal function, such as serum creatinine (sCr), fail to reflect early renal damage and predict the progression of disease. The authors aimed to evaluate whether neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL), a novel specific biomarker of acute kidney injury, could predict the progression of CKD.

Methods

We identified 92 patients with stage 2–4 CKD caused by primary chronic glomerulonephritis. The patients were followed for 2 years, the changes in NGAL levels in the progressive and non‐progressive groups were compared.

Results

First, the serum NGAL levels of patients with stage 2–4 CKD were significantly increased compared with the control group. Second, based on Pearson correlation analysis, positive correlations existed between NGAL and cystatin C levels and between NGAL and sCr levels. Third, bounded by the progress of renal function, the area under the curve of serum NGAL was 0.872 (95% confidence interval, 0.786–0.933), which suggests a blood NGAL cut‐off level of 246 ng/mL (sensitivity 85.19%, specificity 81.54%). Fourth, Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis showed that the serum NGAL level was closely related to the end‐point of renal function in patients with CKD. Fifth, Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that the estimated glomerular filtration rate and blood NGAL are associated with progression of CKD.

Conclusion

Serum NGAL is an effective biomarker for detecting early‐stage renal damage in CKD patients. Serum NGAL was significantly correlated with the severity of renal damage and the progression of renal function deterioration.
Short mandible – a possible risk factor for cleft palate with/without a cleft lip
Authors: Hermann N. V. , Darvann T. A. , Ersbøll B. K. , Kreiborg S.
Published: January 2014

Structured Abstract

Objectives

To estimate the influence of a short mandible on the risk of developing a cleft palate with/without a cleft lip (CP).

Setting and sample population

The retrospective sample consisted of 115 2‐month‐old Danish infants with CP, and 70 control infants with unilateral incomplete cleft lip (UICL).

Material and Methods

Cephalometric X‐rays were obtained. Mandibular length (Lm) was measured and corrected for body length (Lb) to remove influence of varying body length in the sample. Logistic regression was applied to the corrected mandibular length (Lmc) to calculate the risk of having a cleft palate.

Results

The mean mandibular length in the group with CP was about 4 mm shorter than in the control group. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated to be 0.58 (95% confidence interval 0.48–0.68), implying that an individual's risk of cleft palate with/without a cleft lip increases about 50% per mm decrease in mandibular length.

Conclusions

A special facial type including a short mandible is a possible risk factor for cleft palate, and it was found that the risk of cleft palate increases 58% per mm decreases in mandibular length.
Genetic basis of coaggregation receptor polysaccharide biosynthesis in Streptococcus sanguinis and related species
Authors: Yang J. , Yoshida Y. , Cisar J.O.
Published: January 2014

Interbacterial adhesion between streptococci and actinomyces promotes early dental plaque biofilm development. Recognition of coaggregation receptor polysaccharides (RPS) on strains of Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus oralis by Actinomyces spp. type 2 fimbriae is the principal mechanism of these interactions. Previous studies of genetic loci for synthesis of RPS (rps) and RPS precursors (rml, galE1 and galE2) in S. gordonii 38 and S. oralis 34 revealed differences between these strains. To determine whether these differences are strain‐specific or species‐specific, we identified and compared loci for polysaccharide biosynthesis in additional strains of these species and in several strains of the previously unstudied species, S. sanguinis. Genes for synthesis of RPS precursors distinguished the rps loci of different streptococci. Hence, rml genes for synthesis of TDP‐L‐Rha were in rps loci of S. oralis strains but at other loci in S. gordonii and S. sanguinis. Genes for two distinct galactose epimerases were also distributed differently. Hence, galE1 for epimerization of UDP‐Glc and UDP‐Gal was in galactose operons of S. gordonii and S. sanguinis strains but surprisingly, this gene was not present in S. oralis. Moreover, galE2 for epimerization of both UDP‐Glc and UDP‐Gal and UDP‐GlcNAc and UDP‐GalNAc was at a different locus in each species, including rps operons of S. sanguinis. The findings provide insight into cell surface properties that distinguish different RPS‐producing streptococci and open an approach for identifying these bacteria based on the arrangement of genes for synthesis of polysaccharide precursors.
Variability in the decision process leading to saccades: A specific marker for schizophrenia?
Authors: Theleritis Christos , Evdokimidis Ioannis , Smyrnis Nikolaos
Published: January 2014

In a previous study, deviance in the reaction time (RT) distribution of saccades for patients with schizophrenia was explained using an oculomotor decision model. Here, RTs of visually guided saccades in young healthy men, healthy children, older adults, patients with schizophrenia, and patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) were modeled to study the specificity of this decision process deviance for schizophrenia. The mean decision rate to saccade decreased with age in children and increased in older adults while the decision rate intrasubject variability (ISV) was not modulated by age. A significant increase in ISV of the decision rate was confirmed for patients with schizophrenia but not OCD compared to healthy controls. There was no effect of medication on model parameters in the OCD patient group. These results confirm the specificity of the deviance in a simple oculomotor decision process in schizophrenia.
Including arm exercise during a cold water immersion recovery better assists restoration of sprint cycling performance
Authors: Crampton D. , Egaña M. , Donne B. , Warmington S. A.
Published: January 2014

Sprint (high‐intensity) exercise performance is reduced when immediately preceded by cold water immersion (CWI). We aimed to investigate whether this performance effect could be attenuated by combining an active recovery (arm exercise) with hip‐level CWI, and whether this attenuation may be related to an effect on core temperature (Tcore). Participants (n = 8) completed three Wingate tests before (Ex1) and after (Ex2) four different 30‐min recovery interventions: CWI at 15 °C (CW15), arm exercise during CWI at 15 °C (CW15+AE), arm exercise during thermoneutral immersion at 34 °C (TW34+AE) and non‐immersed arm exercise (AE). After AE and TW34+AE, performance during Ex2 was not different from Ex1; while after CW15+AE and CW15, performance was reduced by 4.9% and 7.6%, respectively. Arm exercise maintained Tcore during recovery in CW15+AE, while it declined to a larger extent upon commencement of Ex2 (−0.9 °C) when compared with CW15 (−0.6 °C). This suggests similar leg muscle cooling during recovery in CW15 and CW15+AE. Without any other significant effects (e.g., on blood lactate), these data suggest that the improvement in sprint performance following an active CWI recovery, over CWI alone, may be related to maintained Tcore and its effect on neurophysiological mechanisms that drive muscle activation, but not by reduced muscle cooling.
High Quality cDNA synthesis and Amplification of Chalcone Synthase Gene (CHS) from Justicia gendarussa Burm. F.
Authors: Babadi Arman Amani , Mohd Salleh Faezah
Published: January 2014

Chalcone synthase (CHS) (EC 2.3.1.74) catalyzes the first committed step of flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. It combines 4-coumaroyl-CoA with three C2 units from malonyl-CoA to produce naringenin chalcone which transforms to various numbers of flavonoids. In this work, we attempt to isolate the CHS gene from Gendarusa, which could serve as a preliminary study to elucidate the CHS gene regulation in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway of Malaysian medicinal plants generally, and in Justicia gendarussa Burm. F. species specifically. The total RNA was isolated from the mature leaves of Justicia gendarussa Burm. F. using the modified CTAB method. Extracted RNA, treated with RQ1 RNase-free DNasekit and cDNA synthesis in order to prepare the rich template of DNA for PCR by using M-MLV Reverse Transcriptase kit. High concentration of cDNA and A260/280 ratio reversely transcribed cDNAs guarantee the quality and quantity of synthesized cDNA. The CHS gene was amplified using the Phusion DNA Polymeraseand showed the same size of the previously amplified CHS gene from Melastoma, 1100bp.
Effect of Water on Electrical Properties of Refined, Bleached, and Deodorized Palm Oil (RBDPO) as Electrical Insulating Material
Authors: Ismail Nazera , Arief Yanuar Z. , Adzis Zuraimy , Azli Shakira A. , A. Jamil Abdul Azim , Mohd. Noor Khairin , Wen Huei Lim , Shoot Kian Yeong
Published: January 2014

This paper describes the properties of refined, bleached, deodorized palm oil (RBDPO) as having the potential to be used as insulating liquid. There are several important properties such as electrical breakdown, dielectric dissipation factor, specific gravity, flash point, viscosity and pour point of RBDPO that was measured and compared to commercial mineral oil which is largely in current use as insulating liquid in power transformers. Experimental results of the electrical properties revealed that the average breakdown voltage of the RBDPO sample, without the addition of water at room temperature, is 13.368 kV. The result also revealed that due to effect of water, the breakdown voltage is lower than that of commercial mineral oil (Hyrax). However, the flash point and the pour point of RBDPO is very high compared to mineral oil thus giving it advantageous possibility to be used safely as insulating liquid. The results showed that RBDPO is greatly influenced by water, causing the breakdown voltage to decrease and the dissipation factor to increase; this is attributable to the high amounts of dissolved water.
Evaluation of Lightning Induced Voltage due to the Effect of Design Parameters on Medium Voltage Distribution Line
Authors: Rameli N. , Ab Kadir M. Z. A. , Izadi M. , Gomes C. , Jasni J.
Published: January 2014

This paper investigates the effect of design parameters on the induced voltages on a distribution power line. This investigation is based on perfect ground conductivity, single stroke lightning and lightning without branches. The design of the parameters includes, d, the striking distance of the lightning, h, the height of the conductor, and r, the diameter of the conductor, all of which are elements that produce the variations in the induced voltage on a distribution power line with respect to a vertical or an inclined lightning channel. Thus, the outcome of this investigation can act as a guide for utility companies or other power engineers in order to plan an appropriate protection scheme for a distribution power line.
Modeling in An Optical Tomography System Using Different Pixel Configurations
Authors: Mohd Muji Siti Zarina , Sin Fah Yap , Justin Karim Randy , Abdul Rahim Ruzairi , Podari Norhidayati
Published: January 2014

Pixel resolution is important in forming an image. The aim of this paper is to compare the reconstructed image of an array infra-red sensor by using different configurations of pixels. The different number of objects will be tested in this simulation. The dimension of pixel that uses to reconstruct the image is important to form a clear and accurate image.
A Novel Cost Efficient Evaluation Model for Assessing Research-Based Technology Transfer between University and Industry
Authors: Iqbal Abeda Muhammad , Iqbal Saima , Khan Adnan Shahid , Senin Aslan Amat
Published: January 2014

Innovations and inventions are not outcomes of single activity of any organization. This is a result of collaboration of different partners. The evaluation of collaborated research between university and industry has created the greatest interest amongst the collaboration researchers as it can determine the feasibility and value of the collaboration. Despite the enormous importance of this collaboration, there have been certain problems in successful collaboration, for instance issues related to time, trainings, differences in their perceptions, orientations and goals, intellectual property right issues, some other technological competency and fund and financial matters are the key constraints that generates some how proportional to this collaboration. Thus to tackle the basis of these problems and to analyse the strength and weaknesses of these technological linkage, evaluation of such collaboration is highly demanded. This paper intends to illustrate an evaluation model to evaluate the university-industry collaboration and to enhance their technological linkage. For bridging the model, four important variables, constraints, evaluation parameter, success criteria and tangible outcome has been identified. The novelty of this model is, it is cost and time efficient and can be applied for any university-industry research collaboration.
A Modern Strategy for the Development of Academic Staff Based on University-Industry Knowledge Transfer Effectiveness & Collaborative Research
Authors: Iqbal Saima , Muhammad Iqbal Abeda , Khan Adnan Shahid , Senin Aslan Amat
Published: January 2014

University and industry has substantially contributed to enhancing the quality of life. As a result, trans-disciplinary scientific communities have come to play a vital role to produce new knowledge with effective applications for rapid technological change and innovation to be a competitive globally. For this purpose study provide a framework for the development of academic staff of higher education. We used University-Industry collaboration as the channel to develop and encourage teachers, doctors, professors and researchers with the help of research relationship. The paper contributes to the literature on university-industry interactions to improve applied knowledge, skills and practices of academic staff and enhancement on technology innovation and commercialization. Secondly, our aim to provide an efficient mechanism of knowledge transfer effectiveness (KTE) and collaborative research (CR) those are available to transfer and share knowledge and information from university to industry effectively and to eliminate major obstacles of knowledge transfer by using productive knowledge transfer indicators (KTIs). Research findings indicates the question is, how the process of university-industry interaction will be managed at different stages for the success of knowledge transfer and how knowledge gap is reduced through effective interactions. By adopting this framework any university or industry can easily cross the threshold in the grown-up academic and research collaborational community.
Drying Kinetics, Rehydration Characteristics and Sensory Evaluation of Microwave Vacuum and Convective Hot Air Dehydrated Jackfruit Bulbs
Authors: Taib Mohd Rozainee , Muhamad Ida Idayu , Ngo Chee Loong , Ng Pang Soon
Published: January 2014

Microwave vacuum and convective hot air dehydration of jackfruit (Artocarpus Heterophyllus) bulbs were carried out to study the effects of different dehydration treatments on drying characteristics, rehydration ability and quality attributes. Jackfruit bulbs were dehydrated by microwave power output of 58, 140, 220, and 321W respectively combined with vacuum level of -65 cmHg during microwave vacuum dehydration. Convective hot air dehydration was also conducted with the hot air temperature of 60, 70, and 80°C, respectively. Microwave vacuum dehydration with microwave power output of 321 W resulted in 133 times faster in drying time compared to convective hot air dehydration with hot air temperature of 60°C. All dehydration data were subjected to Newton and Page’s equation model fitting, where Page’s equation model was well fitted for all dehydration conditions with R2 > 0.994. Furthermore, microwave vacuum dehydration produced better quality of dehydrated jackfruit bulbs with higher rehydration ability and sensory attributes.
Blended Chitosan and Polyvinyl Alcohol Membrane for Pervaporation Separation Methanol/Methyl tert-Butyl Ether Mixture. (II) Effect of Operating Parameters
Authors: Mohd Nawawi M. G. , Zamrud Zafifah , Idham Z. , Hassan O. , Mohd Sakri N.
Published: January 2014

Blend chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite membranes were developed by mixing PVA and chitosan solutions at appropriate ratios. Pervaporation separation of the membrane was tested for methanol and MTBE mixture at different feed concentrations and temperature. The pervaporation performances were studied and evaluated and compared to the composite chitosan membrane. Flux increased with the increasing concentration of methanol in the feed. Separation factor was highest for the 20 wt% chitosan-containing blend membrane. The blend membrane containing 20-40 wt% of chitosan at feed temperature of 50⁰C exhibited permeation flux in between 52.28 g/m2.hr to 66.92 g/m2.hr with the separation factor of 53.22 to 81.00.
Conceptualising the Indicators of Walkability for Sustainable Transportation
Authors: Moayedi Farzaneh , Zakaria Rozana , Bigah Yeoh , Mustafar Mushairry , Che Puan Othman , Zin Irina Safitri , Klufallah Mustafa M. A.
Published: January 2014

Walkability is becoming a popular buzzword in planning cities that suffers high level of pollution due to, amongst others, emission from automobiles are embracing walkability in order to reap its benefits. In addition to that, walkability is the measure of how satisfactorily the transportation system meets the need of walking of the community. Several studies around the world have put great efforts to highlight the importance of walkability in urban as it is an important measure in determining a better environment. There is a strong relationship between walkability, sustainable transportation and the environment. In addition to that, walkability is a concept that is consistent with sustainable development and transportation system due to its economic, social and environmental benefits. Walkability satisfaction rating within a localized neighborhood can be measured at the macro level with the aid of GIS at the initial development stages. The methods and techniques used are varying and no single walkability assessment tool can be designed to suit different environmental conditions. Different groups of societies for whom the theoretical and practical perception of cities development vary, or different types of neighborhoods with different needs would warrant different approaches. Therefore, this paper examines the methods, techniques and indicators that have been used to measure walkability and highlights the important benefits of improving walkability in the built environment. Moreover it also describes the relationship between walkability, sustainable transportation and environment.
Energy Efficiency Criteria for Green Highways in Malaysia
Authors: Zakaria Rozana , Seng Foo Kian , Abd. Majid Muhd Zaimi , Mohamad Zin Rosli , Hainin Mohd Rosli , Che Puan Othman , Yaacob Haryati , Derin Noriha , Ainee Farinie , Hamzah Norlizah , Balubaid Saied Omar , Mazlan Ain Naadia , Ismail Mohd Affendi , Yazid Yazlin Shalfiza , Raja Mohd Rooshdi Raja Rafidah , Moayedi Farzaneh
Published: January 2014

Green highway is a roadway planned and designed with desires to integrate transportation functionality and ecological. A green highway takes high consideration on the approach of environment to the transportation system development, the ecosystem, urban growth, public health and also to surrounding communities. Reference to standard system such Green Roads Rating System becomes more popular being used to measure the classification of a green highway. This journal paper aimed to discuss on how important is the energy efficiency criteria to be measured in the green highway development. Energy is considered highly related to highway development due to it is the most infrastructures involves in massive construction activities from its construction up to the operation and maintenance process. Relevant energy criteria in green highway development had been figured out and a checklist of the comparison among the current relevant reference in the green highway is highlighted in this paper. These identified criteria for energy efficiency are importance to be considered in Malaysian Highway Index. The criteria include the consideration on Energy Plan for Green performance strategies, energy plan for maintenance, grey and green compound and car park, rest and service area (RSA), toll plaza and interchange.
Aggregate Degradation Characteristics of Stone Mastic Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Hainin Mohd. Rosli , Mohd Akhir Norliza , Putra Jaya Ramadhansyah , Md. Yusoff Nur Izzi , Yaacob Haryati , Ismail Che Ros , Abdul Hassan Norhidayah
Published: January 2014

Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) mixtures are designed to have a high coarse aggregate content and stone-on-stone contact, which results in more stress on the coarse aggregates during compaction and traffic loading. As a result, aggregates tend to break down more in SMA mixtures than in conventional dense graded mixtures. Aggregate degradation during compaction and traffic loading may cause changes in the original gradation and thus may also affect the volumetric parameters of SMA mixtures. Therefore, this  study was conducted to determine the degree of aggregate degradation in SMA mixtures due to the compaction process. Aggregates of two Nominal Maximum Aggregates Sizes (NMAS), designated as SMA14 and SMA20, were compacted using 50 blows of the Marshall Hammer and 100 gyrations of the Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC). The verified samples were then prepared and extracted using the Centrifuge Method. The relationship between aggregate degradation and influencing factors, such as compaction effort and volumetric properties were investigated. Aggregate degradation by the Marshall Hammer was found to be significantly higher than degradation by the SGC. Voids in the mineral aggregate (VMA) of either compaction method decrease or are almost the same when aggregate degradation is not significant. SGC method can be selected to represent the field roller that results in a similar trend of aggregate degradation.
Evaluation on Mix Design and Rutting Resistance of Dry Mixed Rubberised Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Abdul Hassan Norhidayah , Hainin Mohd Rosli , Yaacob Haryati , Ismail Che Ros , Mohd Yunus Nur Zurairahetty
Published: January 2014

This study presents a laboratory evaluation on the properties of crumb rubber modified asphalt mixture using a dry process method in which the fine crumb rubber is added to substitute the aggregates portion and acts as elastic aggregates within the mix. The effect of crumb rubber in the mixture was investigated in terms of the volumetric properties using Marshall Mix Design and rutting performance using Wheel Tracking Test. The crumb rubber was added between 1 to 3% in steps of 1% by weight of aggregates to modify a dense graded mix, Asphaltic Concrete (AC14) and a gap graded mix, Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA14) according to the Malaysian mix design. Based on the result, it was observed that the performance of the asphalt mixtures was significantly affected with the addition of crumb rubber. Rubberised asphalt mixtures for AC14 were found to have a greater resistance on rutting deformation compared to the conventional mixture. However, the use of fine rubber in SMA14 mixture with 80/100 bitumen cannot provide enough binder modification to perform as good as conventional SMA14 mixture with polymer modified bitumen. Furthermore, based on detailed review, a set of procedures for producing dry mixed rubberised asphalt mixture was identified and recommended for future studies.