bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of insulin and insulin-like growth factors on hippocampus- and amygdala-dependent long-term memory formation
Authors: Stern Sarah A. , Chen Dillon Y. , Alberini Cristina M.
Published: September 2014

Recent work has reported that the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) promotes memory enhancement. Furthermore, impaired insulin or IGF1 functions have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration and cognitive impairments, hence implicating the insulin/IGF system as an important target for cognitive enhancement and/or the development of novel treatments against cognitive disorders. Here, we tested the effect of intracerebral injections of IGF1, IGF2, or insulin on memory consolidation and persistence in rats. We found that a bilateral injection of insulin into the dorsal hippocampus transiently enhances hippocampal-dependent memory and an injection of IGF1 has no effect. None of the three peptides injected into the amygdala affected memories critically engaging this region. Together with previous data on IGF2, these results indicate that IGF2 produces the most potent and persistent effect as a memory enhancer on hippocampal-dependent memories. We suggest that the memory-enhancing effects of insulin and IGF2 are likely mediated by distinct mechanisms.
A role for histone deacetylases in the cellular and behavioral mechanisms underlying learning and memory
Authors: Mahgoub Melissa , Monteggia Lisa M.
Published: September 2014

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a family of chromatin remodeling enzymes that restrict access of transcription factors to the DNA, thereby repressing gene expression. In contrast, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) relax the chromatin structure allowing for an active chromatin state and promoting gene transcription. Accumulating data have demonstrated a crucial function for histone acetylation and histone deacetylation in regulating the cellular and behavioral mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. In trying to delineate the roles of individual HDACs, genetic tools have been used to manipulate HDAC expression in rodents, uncovering distinct contributions of individual HDACs in regulating the processes of memory formation. Moreover, recent findings have suggested an important role for HDAC inhibitors in enhancing learning and memory processes as well as ameliorating symptoms related to neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we focus on the role of HDACs in learning and memory, as well as significant data emerging from the field in support of HDAC inhibitors as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of cognitive disorders.
BBX19 Interacts with CONSTANS to RepressFLOWERING LOCUS TTranscription, Defining a Flowering Time Checkpoint inArabidopsis
Authors: Wang Chang-Quan , Guthrie Cade , Sarmast Mostafa Khoshhal , Dehesh Katayoon
Published: September 2014

The timely transition of vegetative to reproductive development is coordinated through quantitative regulation of floral pathway genes in response to physiological and environmental cues. Here, we show that the circadian-controlled expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana floral transition regulators FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and CONSTANS (CO) is antiphasic to that of BBX19, a transcription factor with two B-Box motifs. Diminished expression of BBX19 by RNA interference accelerates flowering, and constitutive expression of BBX19 delays flowering under inductive photoperiods. This delay is not accompanied by the alteration of CO expression levels but rather by a reduction of transcript levels of FT and the FT-regulated genes SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1, LEAFY, and FRUITFUL. Similar to CO, BBX19 is expressed in vasculature. BBX19 and CO colocalize in the nucleus and interact physically in vivo. In transient assays, coinfiltration of 10-fold more CO overcomes the BBX19-mediated repression of FT activation. Substitution of the conserved Cys-25 to Ser in the BBX19 Box1 motif abolishes the BBX19–CO interaction and eliminates the negative regulation of flowering time, while the analogous C76S substitution in the Box2 motif is ineffective. Together, these results implicate BBX19 as a circadian clock output that depletes the active CO pool to accurately monitor daylength and precisely time FT expression.
A Root-Expressed l-Phenylalanine:4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Aminotransferase Is Required for Tropane Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Atropa belladonna
Authors: Bedewitz Matthew A. , Góngora-Castillo Elsa , Uebler Joseph B. , Gonzales-Vigil Eliana , Wiegert-Rininger Krystle E. , Childs Kevin L. , Hamilton John P. , Vaillancourt Brieanne , Yeo Yun-Soo , Chappell Joseph , DellaPenna Dean , Jones A. Daniel , Buell C. Robin , Barry Cornelius S.
Published: September 2014

The tropane alkaloids, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, are medicinal compounds that are the active components of several therapeutics. Hyoscyamine and scopolamine are synthesized in the roots of specific genera of the Solanaceae in a multistep pathway that is only partially elucidated. To facilitate greater understanding of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis, a de novo transcriptome assembly was developed for Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna). Littorine is a key intermediate in hyoscyamine and scopolamine biosynthesis that is produced by the condensation of tropine and phenyllactic acid. Phenyllactic acid is derived from phenylalanine via its transamination to phenylpyruvate, and mining of the transcriptome identified a phylogenetically distinct aromatic amino acid aminotransferase (ArAT), designated Ab-ArAT4, that is coexpressed with known tropane alkaloid biosynthesis genes in the roots of A. belladonna. Silencing of Ab-ArAT4 disrupted synthesis of hyoscyamine and scopolamine through reduction of phenyllactic acid levels. Recombinant Ab-ArAT4 preferentially catalyzes the first step in phenyllactic acid synthesis, the transamination of phenylalanine to phenylpyruvate. However, rather than utilizing the typical keto-acid cosubstrates, 2-oxoglutarate, pyruvate, and oxaloacetate, Ab-ArAT4 possesses strong substrate preference and highest activity with the aromatic keto-acid, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate. Thus, Ab-ArAT4 operates at the interface between primary and specialized metabolism, contributing to both tropane alkaloid biosynthesis and the direct conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine.
Prediction of possible CaMnO3modifications using anab initiominimization data-mining approach
Authors: Zagorac Jelena , Zagorac Dejan , Zarubica Aleksandra , Schön J. Christian , Djuris Katarina , Matovic Branko
Published: September 2014

We have performed a crystal structure prediction study of CaMnO3focusing on structures generated by octahedral tilting according to group–subgroup relations from the ideal perovskite type (Pm\overline 3 m), which is the aristotype of the experimentally known CaMnO3compound in thePnmaspace group. Furthermore, additional structure candidates have been obtained using data mining. For each of the structure candidates, a local optimization on theab initiolevel using density-functional theory (LDA, hybrid B3LYP) and the Hartree-–Fock (HF) method was performed, and we find that several of the modifications may be experimentally accessible. In the high-pressure regime, we identify a post-perovskite phase in the CaIrO3type, not previously observed in CaMnO3. Similarly, calculations at effective negative pressure predict a phase transition from the orthorhombic perovskite to an ilmenite-type (FeTiO3) modification of CaMnO3.
Solid-state transformation of nanocrystalline phyllomanganate into tectomanganate: influence of initial layer and interlayer structure
Authors: Grangeon Sylvain , Lanson Bruno , Lanson Martine
Published: September 2014

In surficial environments, the fate of many elements is influenced by their interactions with the phyllomanganate vernadite, a nano-sized and turbostratic variety of birnessite. To advance our understanding of the surface reactivity of vernadite as a function of pH, synthetic vernadite (δ-MnO2) was equilibrated at pH ranging from 3 to 10 and characterized structurally using chemical methods, thermogravimetry and modelling of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. With decreasing pH, the number of vacant layer sites increases in the octahedral layers of δ-MnO2(from 0.14 per layer octahedron at pH 10 to 0.17 at pH 3), whereas the number of layer Mn3+is, within errors, equal to 0.12 per layer octahedron over the whole pH range. Vacant layer sites are capped by interlayer Mn3+sorbed as triple corner-sharing surface complexes (TC sites). The increasing number of interlayer Mn3+with decreasing pH (from 0.075 per layer octahedron at pH 10 to 0.175 at pH 3) results in the decrease of the average Mn oxidation degree (from 3.80 ± 0.01 at pH 10 to 3.70 ± 0.01 at pH 3) and in the lowering of the Na/Mn ratio (from 27.66 ± 0.20 at pH 10 to 6.99 ± 0.16 at pH 3). In addition, in-plane unit-cell parameters are negatively correlated to the number of interlayer Mn at TC sites and decrease with decreasing pH (fromb= 2.842 Å at pH 10 tob= 2.834 Å at pH 3), layer symmetry being systematically hexagonal witha=b× 31/2. Finally, modelling of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicates that crystallite size in theabplane and along thec* axis decreases with decreasing pH, ranging respectively from 7 nm to 6 nm, and from 1.2 nm to 1.0 nm (pH 10 and 3, respectively). Following their characterization, dry samples were sealed in polystyrene vials, kept in the dark, and re-analysed 4 and 8 years later. With ageing time and despite the dry state, layer Mn3+extensively migrates to the interlayer most likely to minimize steric strains resulting from the Jahn–Teller distortion of Mn3+octahedra. When the number of interlayer Mn3+at TC sites resulting from this migration reaches the maximum value of ∼ 1/3 per layer octahedron, interlayer species from adjacent layers share their coordination sphere, resulting in cryptomelane-like tunnel structure fragments (with a 2  × 2 tunnel size) with a significantly improved layer stacking order.
Succinate esters: odd–even effects in melting points
Authors: Joseph Sumy , Sathishkumar Ranganathan
Published: September 2014

Dialkyl succinates show a pattern of alternating behavior in their melting points, as the number of C atoms in the alkane side chain increases, unlike in the dialkyl oxalates [Josephet al.(2011).Acta Cryst.B67, 525–534]. Dialkyl succinates with odd numbers of C atoms in the alkyl side chain show higher melting points than the immediately adjacent analogues with even numbers. The crystal structures and their molecular packing have been analyzed for a series of dialkyl succinates with 1−4 C atoms in the alkyl side chain. The energy difference (ΔE) between the optimized and observed molecular conformations, density, Kitaigorodskii packing index (KPI) and C—H...O interactions are considered to rationalize this behavior. In contrast to the dialkyl oxalates where a larger number of moderately strong C—H...O interactions were characteristic of oxalates with elevated melting points, here the molecular packing and the density play a major role in raising the melting point. On moving from oxalate to succinate esters the introduction of the C2 spacer adds two activated H atoms to the asymmetric unit, resulting in the formation of stronger C—H...O hydrogen bonds in all succinates. As a result the crystallinity of long-chain alkyl substituted esters improves enormously in the presence of hydrogen bonds from activated donors.
Experimental and theoretical investigation on the compression mechanism of FeF3up to 62.0 GPa
Authors: Zhu Feng , Lai Xiaojing , Wu Xiang , Li Yanchun , Qin Shan
Published: September 2014

VF3-type FeF3is generally considered as a perovskite with a completely vacantAsite. The high-pressure structural evolution of FeF3has been studied by both X-ray diffraction and theoretical simulation up to 62.0 GPa. Experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that VF3-type FeF3is stable up to 50 GPa. The structural evolution presents three features at different pressure ranges. AtP< 10 GPa, the volume reduction is dominated by the FeF6octahedral rotation, and a small octahedral strain develops upon compression, which represents an elongation of FeF6octahedra along thecaxis. Between 10 and 25 GPa, the volume reduction is mainly attributed to the Fe—F bond length decreasing, and the octahedral strain gradually disappears. Between 25 and 50 GPa, an octahedral elongation along theaaxis quickly develops, resulting in a substantial structural distortion. Structural instability is predicted atP> 51 GPa on the basis of a soft mode occurring in phonon calculations. The pressure–volume relationship is described by a third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation-of-state withB0= 14 (1) GPa,B0′ = 17 (1) by experiment andB0= 10.45 (1) GPa,B′10= 12.13 (1) by calculation.
The trimorphic structure ofN,N′-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine
Authors: Kaczmarek Małgorzata T. , Kubicki Maciej
Published: September 2014

The new Schiff base ligand,N,N′-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine (H2L), has been prepared by condensation of 5-methylsalicylaldehyde with 4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine. It was found that this ligand crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupP21/c, withZ′ = 1. Further studies showed that – as a result of the one-pot metal-promoted reactions – three different polymorphic forms of H2L were obtained, with different numbers (1, 3 or 4) of symmetry-independent molecules depending on the lanthanide metal ion present in the reaction media: La (Z′ = 3), Nd (Z′ = 4), Sm, Tb, Ho and Yb (allZ′ = 1); the last form is identical with that obtained by crystallization of the ligand itself. The geometrical features of all eight independent molecules of H2L are very similar. The relatively strong intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bonds stabilize almost co-planar conformations of terminal rings and C—C=N—C linkers, at the same time strong hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors involved in these interactions cannot take part in the determination of supramolecular architecture. Therefore, weak intermolecular interactions are important and this can be regarded as one of the reasons for packing conflicts that lead to the presence of polymorphic forms and multiple molecules. The pseudosymmetries are observed in both forms withZ′ > 1 and the degree of pseudosymmetry is described by the values of appropriate combinations of the coordinates. In order to elucidate the differences in crystal structures the Hirshfeld surface method was applied. It shows that there are only small differences in the surface shape and in the fingerprint plots; however, the volumes of voids in three structures are significantly different.
XPAD X-ray hybrid pixel detector for charge density quality diffracted intensities on laboratory equipment
Authors: Wenger Emmanuel , Dahaoui Slimane , Alle Paul , Parois Pascal , Palin Cyril , Lecomte Claude , Schaniel Dominik
Published: September 2014

The new generation of X-ray detectors, the hybrid pixel area detectors or `pixel detectors', is based on direct detection and single-photon counting processes. A large linearity range, high dynamic and extremely low noise leading to an unprecedented high signal-to-noise ratio, fast readout time (high frame rates) and an electronic shutter are among their intrinsic characteristics which render them very attractive. First used on synchrotron beamlines, these detectors are also promising in the laboratory, in particular for pump-probe or quasi-static experiments and accurate electron density measurements, as explained in this paper. An original laboratory diffractometer made from a Nonius Mach3 goniometer equipped with an Incoatec Mo microsource and an XPAD pixel area detector has been developed at the CRM2 laboratory. MoKα accurate charge density quality data up to 1.21 Å−1resolution have been collected on a sodium nitroprusside crystal using this home-made diffractometer. Data quality for charge density analysis based on multipolar modelling are discussed in this paper. Deformation electron densities are compared to those already published (based on data collected with CCD APEXII and CAD4 diffractometers).
Distance context based PCB film image alignment
Authors: Zheng Chengyong , Li Hong , Li Guokuan
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper presents a novel printed circuit board (PCB) film image alignment method based on distance context of image components, which can be directly used for PCB film inspection. PCB film inspection plays a very important role in PCB production.

Design/methodology/approach

– First, image components of reference film image and inspected film image are extracted. Then, local distance context (LDC) and global distance context (GDC) are computed for each image component. Using LDC and GDC, the similarity of each pair of components between the reference film image and the inspected film image are computed, the component correspondences can be established accordingly and the parameters for aligning these two images can be eventually estimated.

Findings

– LDC and GDC act as the local spatial distribution descriptor and the global relative position descriptor of the current component, and they are invariant to translation, rotating and scale. Experimental results on aligning real PCB film images against various rotations and scaling transformation show that the proposed algorithm is fast and accurate and is very suitable for PCB film inspection.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed algorithm is suitable for aligning those images that have some isolated connected components, such as the PCB film images. It is not suitable for general image alignment.

Originality/value

– We put forward to use LDC and GDC as the local descriptor and global descriptor of an image component, and designed a PCB film image alignment algorithm that can overcome the shortcomings of that image alignment algorithm that was based on local feature descriptors such as Fourier descriptor.
Managing pain in prison: staff perspectives
Authors: Walsh Elizabeth , Butt Christine , Freshwater Dawn , Dobson Rachael , Wright Nat , Cahill Jane , Briggs Michelle , Alldred David
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of one part of a larger study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, which explored the management of pain in adult male prisoners in one large category B prison in England. In this paper, the authors focus on the attitudes and perceptions of prison staff towards pain management in prison.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative design was utilised to explore the staff perceptions of pain and pain management in one adult male prison. Questionnaires were provided for all staff with prisoner contact, and a follow up focus group was undertaken to further explore questionnaire data.

Findings

– The questionnaire and focus group findings demonstrated that staff had a good awareness of pain and pain management in prison, with both physical and emotional pain identified. The frequency of approaches by prisoners to staff for pain relief was noted to be high, whilst awareness of how the prison environment could potentially exacerbate pain was discussed. The acquisition of analgesia by prisoners for secondary gain was identified as a challenge to both assessing levels of pain and providing pain relief in prison, illustrating the complexity of providing care within a custodial culture. The effect on staff of caring for prisoners found to be confrontational and deceitful was significant for participants, with feelings of anger and frustration reported.

Research limitations/implications

– This study was undertaken in one adult male category B prison with a very high turnover of prisoners. Staff working in other types of prison, for example, higher security or those more stable with longer sentenced prisoners could provide alternative views, as may staff caring for younger offenders and women. The challenges to undertaking research in prison with staff who can understandably be reluctant to engage in reflection on their practice cannot be underestimated and impact significantly on available methodologies.

Originality/value

– This qualitative research is the first of its kind to offer the perspectives of both health care professionals and prison staff working with prisoners complaining of pain in an English prison. It provides the groundwork for further research and development.
Relationships between intra-organizational resources, supply chain integration and business performance
Authors: Xu Dehui , Huo Baofeng , Sun Linyan
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of intra-organizational resources, including top management support (TMS) and information technology (IT), on inter-organizational capabilities including supply chain integration (SCI, with a focus on supplier integration (SI) and customer integration (CI)) and on business performance via a resource-based view (RBV), socio-technical systems theory and an extended resource-based view (ERBV).

Design/methodology/approach

– Partial least squares is used to analyze a sample of 176 manufacturers in China.

Findings

– TMS and IT are two vital enablers of SCI and have different roles in improving SCI. In addition, SI has a significant effect on business performance, and CI has a marginally significant effect.

Originality/value

– Based on the RBV/ERBV, this study explores the enablers of SCI and their effects on business performance, ultimately contributing to both SCI theories and practices.
Performance-based logistics – an illusive panacea or a concept for the future?
Authors: Holmbom Martin , Bergquist Bjarne , Vanhatalo Erik
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to summarize previously reported benefits, drawbacks and important aspects for implementation of performance-based logistics (PBL), and to identify knowledge gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a literature review based on 101 articles. The reviewed articles are relevant to PBL in particular, but also to performance contracting, product-service systems (PSS) and servitization in general. The research method involved database searches, filtering results and reviewing publications.

Findings

– PBL is a business concept that aims to reduce the customer's total costs for capital-intensive products and increase the supplier's profit. The design of the contract, performance measurements and payment models are important aspects for successful implementation. However, the authors find a reason for concern to be the lack of empirical evidence of the profitability of PBL for the customer and the supplier.

Originality/value

– This literature review of PBL also includes publications from the related research areas: performance contracting, PSS and servitization. Developing PBL can benefit from results in these research areas.
An evaluation of input and output of expert systems for selection of material handling equipment
Authors: M.D. Hassan Mohsen
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate expert systems (ES) for selection of material handling (MH) equipment on their use of information and generation of equipment, and provide guidelines that can enhance developing them in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to evaluate efficiency of ES on their use of information and generation of equipment. Characteristics of benchmark ES are identified to serve as guidelines in developing future ES.

Findings

– Results of DEA indicate that most ES use a large amount of information that does not commensurate with the number and variety of equipment they generate.

Research limitations/implications

– The ideal MH equipment for a situation is not known whether it is selected by ES or other procedures. Therefore, this study focusses on efficiency of ES in using information to generate MH equipment without regard to whether ES produce the right equipment for a situation or not.

Practical implications

– Developers of future ES should consider the efficiency of an ES in using information and generation of equipment, in addition to considering its functions and methodologies. They should utilize means similar to those employed by benchmark methodologies and other ones that can be thought of to economize information and generate more number and variety of equipment, and thus render ES more useful to facility designers and manufacturing managers.

Originality/value

– The paper presents the first evaluation of ES for selection of MH equipment. The evaluation performed should enhance development of future ES in this field, and can be extended to ES in other application domains.
Open Source Software solutions in Indian libraries
Authors: Hanumappa Anilkumar , Dora Mallikarjun , Navik Viral
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the Open Source Software (OSS) market relevant to Indian libraries and more specifically, to review the existing library automation, i.e. Integrated Library Management System (ILMS) and Digital Library (DL) software solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey method was adopted to collect data for this study and the sample population for this study included 356 library professionals.

Findings

– The study findings indicate presence of OSS like Koha and NewGenLib in the ILMS category and Dspace, Eprints and Greenstone in the DL software category in India. The study also indicates that there is considerable interest among Indian libraries to adopt or migrate to OSS.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample included largely, more than 80 percent, responses from the academic library segment and hence the results and analysis maybe more skewed to the academic library segment. However the implications of this study could be extended to other type of libraries and facilitate library professionals to make software choices with respect to library automation.

Originality/value

– In addition to exploring the opportunities of OSS implementation in Indian libraries, the study includes issues related to migration, implementation, budget, training, etc. The study would have value for library professionals and OSS vendors to understand the Indian library market in the context of OSS.
Web services to link interlibrary software with OCLC WorldShare
Authors: Rodríguez-Gairín Josep-Manuel , Somoza-Fernández Marta
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of web services to interconnect the GTBib interlibrary loan (ILL) program with the OCLC WorldShare platform.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors describe the current problem of duplication of procedures in libraries that have added their collections to the OCLC WorldCat catalog in recent years and are therefore more likely to receive ILL requests through the WorldShare platform.

Findings

– A solution that uses web services to insert and retrieve requests between the two systems is presented. Autonomous agents periodically check the status of the requests and keep them updated and synchronized. These agents also inform the library staff of any variation or inconsistency that is detected.

Practical implications

– This technology reduces process management time by making it unnecessary to introduce the request data in both systems. Agents are used to check the consistency of statuses between the two systems, thus avoiding errors and omissions and improving the efficiency of the whole ILL process.

Originality/value

– This paper describes in detail the technical aspects of the development as a reference for the development of future applications.
What if expatriates decide to leave? The mediation effect of the psychological contract fulfilment
Authors: Santos Cesário Francisco , José Chambel Maria , Guillén Carlos
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships among expatriates’ perceived human resource management practices (HRMP), psychological contract fulfilment (PCF) and turnover intention (TI).

Design/methodology/approach

– The study sampled 100 expatriates from a Portuguese company through a survey questionnaire. The paper used structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses to explore relationships between the variables and to test its hypotheses.

Findings

– Data showed that expatriates’ perceived fulfilment of their psychological contracts was negatively related to TI. The study also finds a positive relationship between HRMP and the fulfilment of psychological contract. Moreover, expatriates’ perceived fulfilment of psychological contract was found to be a mediator between HRMP and TI. Thus, a subjective perception of PCF is an important predictor of TI, but this perception is related with the HRMP developed by the organisation during the mission.

Research limitations/implication

– First, the study is limited due to the sample nature and the lack of longitudinal design not allowing causal relationships to be established between the variables. Second, all variables were measured using self-reported data, raising the question of whether the results may have been contaminated by common method variance.

Practical implications

– An important implication from this research is that organisations should develop appropriate HR practices during the mission and maintain open communications with their expatriates to ensure clear understanding of the agreement existing about the international mission.

Originality/value

– Few research studies are available to the authors’ knowledge to assess HRM practices with specific measure to expatriation context and with a Portuguese sample.
“Care … about physical activity” in care homes in Scotland
Authors: A. Macintosh Edith , Laventure Bob
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to outline an approach being taken, to improve opportunities and increase levels of physical activity amongst residents in care homes in Scotland, which has the potential to make a significant difference to the quality of lives. The approach is designed to raise awareness about the importance of physical activity, increase skills, knowledge and capacity amongst the workforce.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper describes the reasons for promoting physical activity in care homes. It describes the challenge to this, associated issues and introduces you to a resource pack which offers solutions to care homes through a self-improvement process. It provides a case study which exemplifies how the ideas can be applied on a day-to-day basis.

Findings

– The paper provides insights into the challenges in the care home sector to promoting physical activity and offers some ways round these. It describes two strategies within the new resource pack to support care home residents to make person centred physical activity choices.

Practical implications

– This paper suggests that to promote physical activity in a care home the choices and needs of an individual must be the starting point. It requires partnership working and good leadership where staff have the permission to work in a new way. It suggests that risk enablement is key and the benefits of physical activity outweigh the risks even with frail older people.

Originality/value

– This paper promotes a new resource pack for care homes in Scotland for promoting an active life based on a self-improvement process.
Asset based community development – enriching the lives of older citizens
Authors: Klee Deborah , Mordey Marc , Phuare Steve , Russell Cormac
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how asset-based community development (ABCD) can be used to build inclusive, connected communities that intentionally value the contribution of older citizens.

Design/methodology/approach

– ABCD was used as an approach to enable older people to transform their neighbourhood and make them a better place to live for all ages. The paper describes this approach and goes on to illustrate how it has been applied in three neighbourhoods using case studies.

Findings

– The case studies show that by using ABCD, connections can be made between people, associations/clubs, businesses and services, to achieve the aspirations the citizens have for their neighbourhood. The contribution of older citizens to community life is valued and the risk of isolation and loneliness reduced.

Originality/value

– The three case studies presented in this paper are unique in that they have applied ABCD with older people taking on the role of community builders and connectors.
A Bounds Analysis of World Food Futures: Global Agriculture Through to 2050
Authors: Pardey Philip G. , Beddow Jason M. , Hurley Terrance M. , Beatty Timothy K.M. , Eidman Vernon R.
Published: September 2014

The notion that global agricultural output needs to double by 2050 is oft repeated. Using a new International Agricultural Prospects (iAP) Model, to project global agricultural consumption and production, we find in favour of a future where aggregate agricultural consumption (in tonnes) increases more modestly, by around 69 per cent (1.3 per cent per year) from 2010 to 2050. The principal driver of this result is a deceleration in population growth in the decades ahead. Per capita income growth and changing demographics (generally ageing population) have significant but secondary roles in spurring growth in agricultural consumption, as does our projected growth in the use of agricultural feedstocks to meet the growth we envisage in biofuel demand. Worldwide (but not equally everywhere), crop yield growth has generally slowed over the past decade or so. Notwithstanding a projected continuance of this slowdown, the prospective improvements in crop productivity are still sufficient to reduce per capita cropland use, such that land devoted to crops would need to increase by less than 10 per cent. Even in our upper‐bound (high‐consumption) scenario, we estimate that there remains sufficient productive agricultural land to more than meet the demand without ploughing‐in additional forest‐dominated lands.
Right‐sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a decade of fetal surgery
Authors: DeKoninck P , Gomez O , Sandaite I , Richter J , Nawapun K , Eerdekens A , Ramirez JC , Claus F , Gratacos E , Deprest J
Published: September 2014

Objective

To report a recent update on fetuses with right‐sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (RCDH) in the era of fetal surgery.

Design

Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

Setting

Fetal treatment centres in Leuven and Barcelona.

Population

Consecutive cases of RCDH between 2002 and 2012.

Methods

Data on prenatal imaging, genetic testing, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were extracted from our databases, including structural and genetic anomalies, candidate outcome predictors such as lung size, liver herniation ratio, polyhydramnios, cervical length, preterm prelabour rupture of membranes and gestational age at birth.

Main outcome measures

Survival and oxygen dependency at discharge.

Results

Ten out of 86 fetuses with RCDH had associated abnormalities. Of 76 isolated pregnancies, eight women opted for termination of pregnancy, most with severe hypoplasia and one was lost to follow up. Nineteen pregnancies were expectantly managed and delivered at a mean gestational age of 36.0 ± 3.0 weeks. Survival at discharge was 53% (10/19), one being oxygen dependent. In the fetal surgery group (n = 48), mean gestational age at delivery was 34.5 ± 3.0 weeks. In our recent experience not previously published (n = 23) survival rate was 52 and 39% were oxygen dependent at discharge. Pooling these data with earlier reported observations by our group we observed a 42% survival rate in 57 fetuses. Lung size on magnetic resonance imaging and an interval of >24 hours between reversal of tracheal occlusion and delivery were predictors of outcome.

Conclusions

Right‐sided CDH seems to have a poorer outcome than that reported for fetuses with left‐sided CDH with similar lung size before birth. Survival rates after expectant management with observed/expected lung‐to‐head ratio values ≤45 and ≤30% were 17 and 0%, respectively. In those undergoing fetal surgery (observed/expected lung‐to‐head ratio ≤45%) there was an apparent increase (42%).
The impact of fire regimes on populations of an endangered lizard in montane south‐eastern Australia
Authors: Gorissen Sarsha , Mallinson Jacqueline , Greenlees Matthew , Shine Richard
Published: September 2014

The Blue Mountains water skink (Eulamprus leuraensis; Scincidae) is restricted to less than 40 fragmented swamp sites, all within the Blue Mountains and Newnes Plateau areas of New South Wales, Australia. Climate change is expected to increase fire frequency in the area, potentially degrading habitat quality for this endangered reptile. We quantified lizard abundances in 12 swamps using standardized surveys, and constructed a Global Information System (GIS) database to determine fire‐histories for each swamp since 1967. The abundance of Blue Mountains water skinks was negatively correlated with fire frequency, but not with time since fire. Indirect impacts of fire (mediated via shifts in vegetation density, moisture levels, prey availability and post‐fire predation) may be more important than direct effects in these cool, moist habitats. Although lizards were less common in swamps close to urban areas, and less common in frequently burnt areas, viable populations of this endangered reptile still persist even in anthropogenically disturbed swamps and in swamps that have experienced up to four fires in 20 years. Future research could usefully extend these analyses to other swamps in the locality, and explore the broader impacts of fire regimes on the distinctive flora and fauna of this threatened ecological community.
The value relevance of SAM's corporate sustainability ranking and GRI sustainability reporting in the European stock markets
Authors: Kaspereit Thomas , Lopatta Kerstin
Published: September 2014

This paper investigates whether relative corporate sustainability as measured by the SAM sustainability ranking and sustainability reporting in terms of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) application levels are associated with a higher market valuation. We conduct a value relevance study for the 600 largest European companies with the Feltham and Ohlson valuation model as a reference point. Our results indicate that for the observation period 2001 to 2011, the association between corporate sustainability and market value is positive. The empirical evidence of a positive relationship between GRI reporting and market value is statistically significant in some but not all of the model specifications. We find no evidence of interaction between the value relevance of corporate sustainability and sustainability reporting, nor do we find any positive effect of external assurance on the capital market perception of GRI application levels. Our results support the notion that conducting business in accordance with ethical norms is also a shareholder value‐increasing business strategy. However, it is not possible to verify the information given in sustainability reports through external assurance.
Low‐dose paclitaxel improves the therapeutic efficacy of recombinant adenovirus encoding CCL21 chemokine against murine cancer
Authors: Chen Ping , Luo Shan , Wen Yan‐Jun , Li Yu‐Hua , Li Jiong , Wang Yong‐Sheng , Du Li‐Cheng , Zhang Ping , Tang Jiao , Yang Da‐Bing , Hu Huo‐Zhen , Zhao Xia , Wei Yu‐Quan
Published: September 2014

Secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC/CCL21), one of the CC chemokines, exerts potent antitumor immunity by co‐localizing T cells and dendritic cells at the tumor site and is currently tested against human solid tumors. Here, we investigated whether the combination of recombinant adenovirus encoding murine CCL21 (Ad‐mCCL21) with low‐dose paclitaxel would improve therapeutic efficacy against murine cancer. Immunocompetent mice bearing B16‐F10 melanoma or 4T1 breast carcinoma were treated with either Ad‐mCCL21, paclitaxel, or both agents together. Our results showed that Ad‐mCCL21 + low‐dose paclitaxel more effectively reduced the growth of tumors as compared with either treatment alone and significantly prolonged survival time of the tumor‐bearing animals. These antitumor effects of the combined therapy were linked to altered cytokine network at the tumor site, enhanced apoptosis of tumor cells, and decreased formation of new vessels in tumors. Importantly, the combined therapy elicited a strong therapeutic antitumor immunity, which could be partly abrogated by the depletion of CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocytes. Collectively, these preclinical evaluations may provide a combined strategy for antitumor immunity and should be considered for testing in clinical trials.
Carboplatin‐induced severe hypersensitivity reaction: Role of IgE‐dependent basophil activation and FcεRI
Authors: Iwamoto Takuya , Hirai Hiroyuki , Yamaguchi Nozomi , Kobayashi Natsuki , Sugimoto Hiroko , Tabata Tsutomu , Okuda Masahiro
Published: September 2014

Basophil activation was observed in patients with a history of carboplatin‐induced severe hypersensitivity reaction (HR). However, the precise mechanism by which carboplatin induces basophil activation and the associated surrogate markers remains to be elucidated. To investigate whether IgE‐dependent mechanisms, including the overexpression of FcεRI, participate in carboplatin‐induced basophil activation, 13 ovarian cancer patients were enrolled: 5 with a history of carboplatin‐induced severe hypersensitivity reaction within the past 2 years, and 8 with no such history. The expression levels of FcεRI, IgE, and CD203c on basophils were measured using a flow cytometer. Immunoglobulin E‐dependent basophil activation was evaluated by testing for IgE passive sensitization using lactic acid, and by testing for phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase inhibition, using wortmannin. In three patients positive for carboplatin hypersensitivity, pretreatment with wortmannin almost completely inhibited carboplatin‐induced basophil activation (P < 0.05). In a healthy control subject, whose own IgE showed no response to carboplatin, acquired reactivity to carboplatin when exposed to plasma from patients positive for carboplatin hypersensitivity. This did not occur when the same experiment was carried out using plasma from the patients negative for carboplatin hypersensitivity. Moreover, pretreatment with omalizumab, a monoclonal anti‐IgE antibody, almost completely blocked carboplatin‐induced basophil activation in the plasma of patients positive for carboplatin hypersensitivity. On further investigation, the HR‐positive group had significantly higher levels of FcεRI compared with the negative group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, an IgE‐dependent mechanism incorporating FcεRI overexpression participates in carboplatin‐induced severe HR. These results establish the relevance of monitoring the pharmacodynamic changes of basophils to prevent carboplatin‐induced severe HR.
Gene silencing of non-obese diabetic receptor family (NLRP3) protects against the sepsis-induced hyper-bile acidaemia in a rat model
Authors: Wu Y , Ren J , Zhou B , Ding C , Chen J , Wang G , Gu G , Wu X , Liu S , Hu D , Li J
Published: September 2014

The role of NOD-like receptor family (NLRP3) has been confirmed in various inflammatory diseases. The association between NLRP3 and hyper-bileacidaemia during the sepsis remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether NLRP3 silencing protects against the sepsis-induced hyper-bileacidaemia. Sepsis was induced by caecum ligation and puncture (CLP). Gene silencing of NLRP3 was performed by injecting rats with NLRP3 short hairpin RNA plasmids (NLRP3 shRNA) 48 h before surgery. Rats were divided into four groups: group 1: sham; group 2: sepsis; group 3: NLRP3 shRNA + sepsis (called the ‘NLRP3 shRNA’ group); and group 4: scrambled shRNA + sepsis (called the ‘scrambled shRNA’ group). The serum levels of bile acids, hepatic expression of hepatocyte membrane transporters, hepatic cytokine levels and behaviours of immune cells were compared among the groups. Hepatic NLRP3 expression was increased dramatically during the sepsis, but was suppressed by pretreatment with NLRP3 shRNA. Compared with rats in the sepsis and the scrambled shRNA groups, rats in the NLRP3 shRNA group exhibited significantly decreased serum levels of glycine and taurine conjugated-bile acids, with rehabilitated expression of hepatocyte transporters, suppressed hepatic cytokine levels, decreased hepatic neutrophils infiltration and attenuated macrophages pyroptosis. Gene silencing of NLRP3 ameliorates sepsis-induced hyper-bileacidaemia by rehabilitating hepatocyte transporter expression, reducing hepatic cytokine levels, neutrophil infiltration and macrophages pyroptosis. NLRP3 may be a pivotal target for sepsis management.
Prediction of recipes for cotton cationisation and reactive dyeing to shade match conventionally dyed cotton
Authors: Farrell Matthew J , Ankeny Mary A , Hauser Peter J
Published: September 2014

Cationisation allows cotton to be dyed with anionic dyestuffs (including anionic pigment dispersions) without the need for salt, and with decreased usage of dye, water, and energy. Appropriate cationisation levels play a part in dyeing properties such as fabric levelness, in fastness properties such as lightfastness, and in the overall cost of the cationisation treatment. The objective of this work is to assess whether it is possible simultaneously to predict a dye recipe and cationisation treatment level for cotton to yield a colourless or nearly colourless dyebath at the completion of the dyeing to match the shade of conventional fibre reactive dyeing of cotton. It has been shown that it is possible to model a cold pad batch cationisation process, relate the colour yield data and cationisation level for individual dyes, and finally predict a dyeing recipe and the required corresponding cationisation treatment to match the shade of conventional fibre reactive dyeing of cotton. The predicted dye recipe and cationisation amount yield colourless or nearly colourless dyebaths at the conclusion of the dyeing process.
Differential dyeing of wool fabric with metal‐complex dyes after ultraviolet irradiation
Authors: Migliavacca Gianluca , Ferrero Franco , Periolatto Monica
Published: September 2014

Experiments were conducted to investigate the ultraviolet irradiation of wool fabric as a pretreatment for differential dyeing. Wool fabric was irradiated using a medium‐pressure mercury lamp in order to obtain, on the irradiated area, increased dye uptake under the same dyeing conditions as untreated wool. The chemical modification of the fibre surface as a result of ultraviolet irradiation was confirmed by an increase in metal ion absorption and hydrophilicity, in agreement with Fourier Transform‐infrared–attenuated total reflectance spectra, although scanning electron microscopy showed that the fibre morphology was unaffected. A selection of 1:1 metal‐complex dyes was used to show the maximum colour difference between irradiated and untreated areas of the fabric. The experiments focused on two effects: a double face with the same shade but different depths (greater depth on the treated side), and a double face with different shades. The latter effect was achieved by dyeing the irradiated fabrics with mixtures of acid and metal‐complex dyes. Rubbing and washing fastness evaluations at 50 °C confirmed that the dyeings after irradiation with the selected 1:1 metal‐complex dyes scored identically to conventional dyeings.