bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Docetaxel induces moderate ovarian toxicity in mice, primarily affecting granulosa cells of early growing follicles
Authors: Lopes Federica , Smith Rowena , Anderson Richard A. , Spears Norah
Published: July 2014

Advances in cancer therapy have focused attention on the quality of life of cancer survivors. Since infertility is a major concern following chemotherapy, it is important to characterize the drug-specific damage to the reproductive system to help find appropriate protective strategies. This study investigates the damage on neonatal mouse ovary maintained in vitro for 6 days, and exposed for 24 h (on Day 2) to clinically relevant doses of Docetaxel (DOC; low: 0.1 µM, mid: 1 µM, high: 10 µM). Furthermore, the study explores the putative protective action exerted by Tri-iodothyronine (T3; 10−7 M). At the end of culture, morphological analyses and follicle counts showed that DOC negatively impacts on early growing follicles, decreasing primary follicle number and severely affecting health at the transitional and primary stages. Poor follicle health was mainly due to effects on granulosa cells, indicating that the effects of DOC on oocytes were likely to be secondary to granulosa cell damage. DOC damages growing follicles specifically, with no direct effect on the primordial follicle reserve. Immunostaining and western blotting showed that DOC induces activation of intrinsic, type II apoptosis in ovarian somatic cells; increasing the levels of cleaved caspase 3, cleaved caspase 8, Bax and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, while also inducing movement of cytochrome C from mitochondria into the cytosol. T3 did not prevent the damage induced by the low dose of DOC. These results demonstrated that DOC induces a gonadotoxic effect on the mouse ovary through induction of somatic cell apoptosis, with no evidence of direct effects on the oocyte, and that the damaging effect is not mitigated by T3.
Fecal Short‐Chain Fatty Acids of Very‐Low‐Birth‐Weight Preterm Infants Fed Expressed Breast Milk or Formula
Authors: Pourcyrous M. , Nolan V.G. , Goodwin A. , Davis S.L. , Buddington R.K.
Published: July 2014

Objectives:

In preterm infants, the metabolic responses of gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria to different diets are poorly understood despite the possible effects on GI health. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that diet influences bacterial metabolism by measuring short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in stool samples from very‐low‐birth‐weight (VLBW) preterm infants without GI disorder as surrogate biomarkers of bacterial metabolism.

Methods:

Ion chromatography was used to measure fecal SCFAs (acetate, formate, propionate, butyrate, and isobutyrate), lactate, and chloride in fresh stool samples collected from 32 preterm infants (without major congenital anomalies, GI disorders, or a recent history of antibiotic administration and on full feed of either expressed maternal breast milk [EBM; n = 13] or a formula for preterm infants [Similac Special Care Formula; preterm formula, PTF; n = 19]).

Results:

The mean birth weight was 972 g, the mean gestational age was 27 weeks, and the mean postnatal age at first stool sample was 36 days. When adjusted for gestational age, the stools of EBM infants had higher concentrations (micromoles per gram of stool) of total SCFA (128 vs 68; P = 0.002), acetate (41 vs 13; P = 0.005), propionate (15.1 vs 4.4; P = 0.003), and chloride (21,814 vs 10,652; P = 0.02). Interactions between postnatal age and diet were detected for lactate (P = 0.05), propionate (P = 0.03), and butyrate (P = 0.03).

Conclusions:

Diets fed to VLBW preterm infants influence fecal SCFA profiles, and hence the metabolism of the GI bacteria, and potentially the health of preterm infants. The responses of bacterial metabolism to diet are influenced with postnatal age and gestational age at birth.
Computer simulations reveal complex distribution of haemodynamic forces in a mouse retina model of angiogenesis
Authors: Bernabeu Miguel O. , Jones Martin L. , Nielsen Jens H. , Krüger Timm , Nash Rupert W. , Groen Derek , Schmieschek Sebastian , Hetherington James , Gerhardt Holger , Franco Claudio A. , Coveney Peter V.
Published: July 2014

There is currently limited understanding of the role played by haemodynamic forces on the processes governing vascular development. One of many obstacles to be overcome is being able to measure those forces, at the required resolution level, on vessels only a few micrometres thick. In this paper, we present an
in silico
method for the computation of the haemodynamic forces experienced by murine retinal vasculature (a widely used vascular development animal model) beyond what is measurable experimentally. Our results show that it is possible to reconstruct high-resolution three-dimensional geometrical models directly from samples of retinal vasculature and that the lattice-Boltzmann algorithm can be used to obtain accurate estimates of the haemodynamics in these domains. We generate flow models from samples obtained at postnatal days (P) 5 and 6. Our simulations show important differences between the flow patterns recovered in both cases, including observations of regression occurring in areas where wall shear stress (WSS) gradients exist. We propose two possible mechanisms to account for the observed increase in velocity and WSS between P5 and P6: (i) the measured reduction in typical vessel diameter between both time points and (ii) the reduction in network density triggered by the pruning process. The methodology developed herein is applicable to other biomedical domains where microvasculature can be imaged but experimental flow measurements are unavailable or difficult to obtain.
Characterization and complete genome sequence analysis of novel bacteriophage IME-EFm1 infecting Enterococcus faecium
Authors: Wang Yahui , Wang Wei , Lv Yongqiang , Zheng Wangliang , Mi Zhiqiang , Pei Guangqian , An Xiaoping , Xu Xiaomeng , Han Chuanyin , Liu Jie , Zhou Changlin , Tong Yigang
Published: July 2014

We isolated and characterized a novel virulent bacteriophage, IME-EFm1, specifically infecting multidrug-resistantEnterococcus faecium. IME-EFm1 is morphologically similar to members of the familySiphoviridae. It was found capable of lysing a wide range of ourE. faeciumcollections, including two strains resistant to vancomycin. One-step growth tests revealed the host lysis activity of phage IME-EFm1, with a latent time of 30 min and a large burst size of 116 p.f.u. per cell. These biological characteristics suggested that IME-EFm1 has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent. The complete genome of IME-EFm1 was 42 597 bp, and was linear, with terminally non-redundant dsDNA and a G+C content of 35.2 mol%. The termini of the phage genome were determined with next-generation sequencing and were further confirmed by nuclease digestion analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a complete genome sequence of a bacteriophage infectingE. faecium. IME-EFm1 exhibited a low similarity to other phages in terms of genome organization and structural protein amino acid sequences. The coding region corresponded to 90.7 % of the genome; 70 putative ORFs were deduced and, of these, 29 could be functionally identified based on their homology to previously characterized proteins. A predicted metallo-β-lactamase gene was detected in the genome sequence. The identification of an antibiotic resistance gene emphasizes the necessity for complete genome sequencing of a phage to ensure it is free of any undesirable genes before use as a therapeutic agent against bacterial pathogens.
Epitope mapping of the 2009 pandemic and the A/Brisbane/59/2007 seasonal (H1N1) influenza virus haemagglutinins using mAbs and escape mutants
Authors: Retamal Miguel , Abed Yacine , Corbeil Jacques , Boivin Guy
Published: July 2014

mAbs constitute an important biological tool for influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA) epitope mapping through the generation of escape mutants, which could provide insights into immune evasion mechanisms and may benefit the future development of vaccines. Several influenza A (H1N1) pandemic 2009 (pdm09) HA escape mutants have been recently described. However, the HA antigenic sites of the previous seasonal A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1) (Bris07) virus remain poorly documented. Here, we produced mAbs against pdm09 and Bris07 HA proteins expressed in human HEK293 cells. Escape mutants were generated using mAbs that exhibited HA inhibition and neutralizing activities. The resulting epitope mapping of the pdm09 HA protein revealed 11 escape mutations including three that were previously described (G172E, N173D and K256E) and eight novel ones (T89R, F128L, G157E, K180E, A212E, R269K, N311T and G478E). Among the six HA mutations that were part of predicted antigenic sites (Ca1, Ca2, Cb, Sa or Sb), three (G172E, N173D and K180E) were within the Sa site. Eight escape mutations (H54N, N55D, N55K, L60H, N203D, A231T, V314I and K464E) were obtained for Bris07 HA, and all but one (N203D, Sb site) were outside the predicted antigenic sites. Our results suggest that the Sa antigenic site is immunodominant in pdm09 HA, whereas the N203D mutation (Sb site), present in three different Bris07 escape mutants, appears as the immunodominant epitope in that strain. The fact that some mutations were not part of predicted antigenic sites reinforces the necessity of further characterizing the HA of additional H1N1 strains.
Functional Diversification within the Family of B-GATA Transcription Factors through the Leucine-Leucine-Methionine Domain
Authors: Behringer Carina , Bastakis Emmanouil , Ranftl Quirin L. , Mayer Klaus F.X. , Schwechheimer Claus
Published: July 2014

The transcription of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) GATA transcription factors GATA, NITRATE-INDUCIBLE, CARBON METABOLISM-INVOLVED (GNC) and GNC-LIKE (GNL)/CYTOKININ-RESPONSIVE GATA FACTOR1 is controlled by several growth regulatory signals including light and the phytohormones auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin. To date, GNC and GNL have been attributed functions in the control of germination, greening, flowering time, floral development, senescence, and floral organ abscission. GNC and GNL belong to the 11-member family of B-class GATA transcription factors that are characterized to date solely by their high sequence conservation within the GATA DNA-binding domain. The degree of functional conservation among the various B-class GATA family members is not understood. Here, we identify and examine B-class GATAs from Arabidopsis, tomato (Solanum lycopersicon), Brachypodium (Brachypodium distachyon), and barley (Hordeum vulgare). We find that B-class GATAs from these four species can be subdivided based on their short or long N termini and the presence of the 13-amino acid C-terminal leucine-leucine-methionine (LLM) domain with the conserved motif LLM. Through overexpression analyses and by complementation of a gnc gnl double mutant, we provide evidence that the length of the N terminus may not allow distinguishing between the different B-class GATAs at the functional level. In turn, we find that the presence and absence of the LLM domain in the overexpressors has differential effects on hypocotyl elongation, leaf shape, and petiole length, as well as on gene expression. Thus, our analyses identify the LLM domain as an evolutionarily conserved domain that determines B-class GATA factor identity and provides a further subclassification criterion for this transcription factor family.
Composition-dependent magnitude of atomic shuffles in Ti–Nb martensites
Authors: Bönisch Matthias , Calin Mariana , Giebeler Lars , Helth Arne , Gebert Annett , Skrotzki Werner , Eckert Jürgen
Published: July 2014

In this work the structural characteristics of martensitic phases in the Ti–Nb system are studied in detail. While the distortion of the orthorhombic unit cell of α′′-martensite by the addition of β-stabilizing atoms is well documented in the literature, comprehensive experimental data on the detailed atomic positions and how they vary with chemical composition are missing. For this study, a series of binary Ti–Nb alloys were prepared by casting techniques, followed by homogenization treatment and water quenching. Rietveld-based analyses of X-ray diffraction data were used to study the gradual structural changes of α′- and α′′-martensites effected by the addition of Nb, and their compositional boundaries were determined. In the case of orthorhombic α′′, it was established that, besides the lattice parameters, the positions of the atoms on the (002)α′′ planes respond very sensitively to the amount of Nb present.
A new approach for probing matter in periodic nanoconfinements using neutron scattering
Authors: Ashkar Rana , Pynn Roger , Dalgliesh Robert , Lavrik Nickolay V. , Kravchenko Ivan I.
Published: July 2014

The efficacy of spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering (SESANS) combined with an exact dynamical theory (DT) model in resolving the arrangement of spherical colloidal particles in planar confinements, such as the channels of a rectangular diffraction grating, is reported. SESANS data obtained with a suspension of charge-stabilized 180 nm silica particles in contact with a silicon diffraction grating, with ∼650 nm-wide channels, show clear deviations from the signal expected from a homogenous distribution of the suspension. DT fits to the data indicate that the colloidal particles are almost twice as concentrated in the channels as they are in the neighboring bulk suspension, consistent with a structure in which the particles are arranged in close-packed sheets parallel to the walls of the confining channels.
Comparison between a near-field and a far-field indexing approach for characterization of a polycrystalline sample volume containing more than 1500 grains
Authors: Nervo Laura , King Andrew , Wright Jonathan P. , Ludwig Wolfgang , Reischig Péter , Quinta da Fonseca Joao , Preuss Michael
Published: July 2014

A comparison of the performance of X-ray diffraction tomography, a near-field diffraction technique, and a far-field diffraction technique for indexing X-ray diffraction data of polycrystalline materials has been carried out by acquiring two sets of diffraction data from the same polycrystalline sample volume. Both approaches used in this study are variants of the three-dimensional X-ray diffraction (3DXRD) methodology, but they rely on different data-collection and analysis strategies. Previous attempts to assess the quality of 3DXRD indexing results from polycrystalline materials have been restricted to comparisons with two-dimensional electron backscatter diffraction cross sections containing a limited number of grains. In the current work, the relative performance of two frequently used polycrystalline-material indexing algorithms is assessed, comparing the indexing results obtained from a three-dimensional sample volume containing more than 1500 grains. The currently achievable accuracy of three-dimensional grain maps produced with these algorithms has been assessed using a statistical analysis of the measurement of the size, position and orientation of the grains in the sample. The material used for this comparison was a polycrystalline commercially pure titanium grade 2 sample, which has a hexagonal close-packed crystal structure. The comparison of the two techniques shows good agreement for the measurements of the grain position, size and orientation. Cross-validation between the indexing results shows that about 99% of the sample volume has been indexed correctly by either of these indexing approaches. The remaining discrepancies have been analysed and the strengths and limitations of both approaches are discussed.
The correlation functions of the regular tetrahedron and octahedron
Authors: Ciccariello Salvino
Published: July 2014

The expressions of the autocorrelation functions (CFs) of the regular tetrahedron and the regular octahedron are reported. They have an algebraic form that involves the arctangent function and rational functions of r and (a + br
2)1/2, a and b being appropriate integers and r a distance. The CF expressions make the numerical determination of the corresponding scattering intensities fast and accurate even in the presence of a size dispersion.
FemtoSpeX: a versatile optical pump–soft X-ray probe facility with 100 fs X-ray pulses of variable polarization
Authors: Holldack Karsten , Bahrdt Johannes , Balzer Andreas , Bovensiepen Uwe , Brzhezinskaya Maria , Erko Alexei , Eschenlohr Andrea , Follath Rolf , Firsov Alexander , Frentrup Winfried , Le Guyader Loïc , Kachel Torsten , Kuske Peter , Mitzner Rolf , Müller Roland , Pontius Niko , Quast Torsten , Radu Ilie , Schmidt Jan-Simon , Schüßler-Langeheine Christian , Sperling Mike , Stamm Christian , Trabant Christoph , Föhlisch Alexander
Published: July 2014

Here the major upgrades of the femtoslicing facility at BESSY II (Khanet al., 2006) are reviewed, giving a tutorial on how elliptical-polarized ultrashort soft X-ray pulses from electron storage rings are generated at high repetition rates. Employing a 6 kHz femtosecond-laser system consisting of two amplifiers that are seeded by one Ti:Sa oscillator, the total average flux of photons of 100 fs duration (FWHM) has been increased by a factor of 120 to up to 106 photons s−1(0.1% bandwidth)−1on the sample in the range from 250 to 1400 eV. Thanks to a new beamline design, a factor of 20 enhanced flux and improvements of the stability together with the top-up mode of the accelerator have been achieved. The previously unavoidable problem of increased picosecond-background at higher repetition rates, caused by `halo' photons, has also been solved by hopping between different `camshaft' bunches in a dedicated fill pattern (`3+1 camshaft fill') of the storage ring. In addition to an increased X-ray performance at variable (linear and elliptical) polarization, the sample excitation in pump–probe experiments has been considerably extended using an optical parametric amplifier that supports the range from the near-UV to the far-IR regime. Dedicated endstations covering ultrafast magnetism experiments based on time-resolved X-ray circular dichroism have been either upgraded or, in the case of time-resolved resonant soft X-ray diffraction and reflection, newly constructed and adapted to femtoslicing requirements. Experiments at low temperatures down to 6 K and magnetic fields up to 0.5 T are supported. The FemtoSpeX facility is now operated as a 24 h user facility enabling a new class of experiments in ultrafast magnetism and in the field of transient phenomena and phase transitions in solids.
Business process management system and activities
Authors: Margherita Alessandro
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Business process management (BPM) is still mostly associated with methods and software tools for process modeling, automation and redesign/performance analysis, with limited effort toward building and applying interdisciplinary approaches which capture the real complexity of business processes. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate a system view of BPM and presents an actionable body of knowledge to enhance process-related decisions and actions within organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– A design science approach is used to build a conceptual contribution based on extended process management literature and a multi-year author experience in the area of business process engineering in both research and education contexts.

Findings

– A business process management system includes strategy, model, execution and performance dimensions whereas the management of a process involves activities related to scope, structure, resource, systems, dependency, exception, performance and external integration.

Research limitations/implications

– The frameworks and related definitions need further theoretical development and refinement in terms of the components and reciprocal relations among system and activity elements. In this vein, the study would also benefit from real-life applications and empirical analysis.

Practical implications

– The paper can support process implementation, maturity assessment and competence development efforts within organizations as well as be a foundational work to advance the creation of a global body of knowledge on process management.

Originality/value

– The paper proposes a holistic perspective on BPM as a system of components and a bundle of activities, thus providing a twofold strategic and operational tool for process analysts and managers at different levels.
The influence of neoliberalism and its absence from management research
Authors: Styhre Alexander
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The paper aims to address the recent debate over the “relevance lost” of business school research and points to the establishment of neoliberal economic policy during the past three decades as an example of social change that has not been thoroughly theorized in business school research.

Design/methodology/approach

– The literature on neoliberalism is reviewed and, more specifically, its implications for the financialization of industry and the widespread use of financial theory in corporate governance. The paper outlines some of the consequences of neoliberalism, pointing out the connections between the growth of the finance industry and the 2008 financial crisis.

Findings

– The paper demonstrates that the financialization of industry and the institutionalization of finance theory, as the guiding corporate governance model used in the new millennium, have led to a concentration of capital in the finance industry. As a consequence, other productive investments have been postponed. Despite such shifts in corporate governance and economic policy more broadly, neoliberalism is a relatively marginal topic of discussion in business school research.

Social implications

– The study stresses the need for broadening the scope of business school research and addressing more long-term institutional changes in economic policy and corporate governance.

Originality/value

– The paper emphasizes the need, not only for promoting practitioner relevance in business school research, but also for enacting an ambitious research agenda of broader social relevance.
An extensive study of the e-learning practices within Cyprus universities
Authors: Amirkhanpour Monaliz , Ruediger Kaufmann Hans , Garcia-Gallego Ana
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a holistic view on e-learning-related concepts as a basis for an e-learning strategy. Furthermore, it aims to shed light on the level of application of existing open-source learning management systems (LMS) by the public and private universities of Cyprus. Due to a currently existing information gap in the field, the study should rather be seen as an exploratory descriptive snapshot to create initial awareness based on which further hypotheses can be derived for future studies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Quantitative research has been conducted in this study with an online questionnaire distributed to all the public and private universities in Cyprus.

Findings

– The conducted research analysis results clearly illustrate the comparisons among different features and services of an e-learning platform. Additionally, the analysis results highlighted the tendency of the participants toward a social learning environment which was considerably high in using social networks and other collaboration platforms, as students were more attracted to those e-learning platforms that integrate social learning elements such as various social media tools.

Research limitations/implications

– The only data collection method used was the online questionnaire. Even though it provided the researchers with sound and useful outcomes in a considerably short time, the validity of the results was not properly justified. The findings cannot claim to be representative. The main reason of selecting only one type of data collection method, i.e. questionnaire was the limited time of completing the research. Another significant limitation was the very low co-operation level of some of the universities under study which resulted in having less reliable results, as the response rates of some universities were merely 1 per cent.

Originality/value

– This research study provides a comprehensive body of knowledge about LMS and e-learning, in general, within the public and private universities in Cyprus. In other terms, the results of this study enhance the existing knowledge about the e-learning features as well as demonstrating the tendency of the students toward social learning within an LMS.
Control and the emotional rollercoaster of organizational change
Authors: Kark Smollan Roy
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The aim of the study is to identify the emotions that arise over issues of control over organizational change, to explore why they occur and what their consequences are for the organizational member.

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of 24 people from different industries, organizations, hierarchical levels and functional departments were interviewed on their experiences of change and the emotional reactions they produced.

Findings

– Negative emotions were evoked when members sensed a lack of control, a loss of control or the possibilities of mismanaging control in an organizational change. Positive emotions were reported for those able to exert control over processes and outcomes. The metaphor of the rollercoaster effect of positive and negative emotions was specifically used by a number of participants, while several others referred to an associated metaphor, the grief cycle.

Research limitations/implications

– Participants were not asked what control over change they preferred, and dispositional and cultural issues were not specifically explored. The limitations of the rollercoaster metaphor are addressed. Research implications include examining the role of traits like locus of control and self-efficacy from a qualitative perspective and identifying the part ethnic or national culture plays in perceptions of control over change.

Practical implications

– Management needs to allow participation in decision making wherever possible to fortify perceptions of control over change and to develop in members feelings of self-efficacy and well-being.

Originality/value

– The study demonstrates how control over organizational change produces emotional responses that influence commitment and resistance to change.
A holistic cyber security implementation framework
Authors: Atoum Issa , Otoom Ahmed , Abu Ali Amer
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a holistic cyber security implementation framework (HCS-IF) that lays out the ground for a conceptual, coherent, systematic, overarching and consolidated approach to implement cyber security strategies (CSSs).

Design/methodology/approach

– The HCS-IF is conceptually proposed to address the actual needs that are extracted from literature review. The HCS-IF uses and integrates a set of high-level conceptual security controls, solutions, processes, entities, tools, techniques or mechanisms that are already known in the domains of information security management, software engineering and project management to address the identified needs.

Findings

– The HCS-IF components and controls collectively interact and cooperate to implement CSSs. The proposed framework is compared with other related frameworks, and the results show that the HCS-IF outperforms other frameworks on most of the suggested comparison criteria.

Originality/value

– From a practical standpoint, governments and practitioners alike stand to gain from the findings of this research. Governments who want to implement CSSs on a national level will find the proposed framework useful in overseeing cyber security implementation. Practitioners will be prepared to address the anticipated cyber security implementation challenges and the required controls needed to facilitate cyber-security implementation in a holistic overarching manner.
The 2012 Italian anti-corruption law in light of international best practices
Authors: Canestri Daniele
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare a new anti-corruption law approved by the Italian Parliament in November 2012 with Italian treaty obligations, the international evaluation reports on the Italian anti-corruption regime elaborated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Council of Europe, the best practice guidelines and other European models. The year 2012 has marked a turning point in Italian anti-corruption policy. In response to the low ranking that Italy has in all international anti-corruption indices, the critiques expressed in international reports on its anti-corruption regime, and the increasing pressure of public opinion, the Italian parliament approved the new anti-corruption law.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Law was preceded by critiques in the mass media and has been labelled as a token act. To evaluate the effectiveness of the steps undertaken by the Italian Parliament, this paper compares the new law with Italian treaty obligations, the international evaluation reports on the Italian anti-corruption regime elaborated by the OECD and the Council of Europe, the best practice guidelines and other European models (i.e. the UK Bribery Act).

Findings

– This comparison gives the author the opportunity not only to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the law but also to suggest efficient solutions that the Italian legislator could have adopted.

Originality/value

– So far, this is the only analysis in English of the changes introduced in the Italian anti-corruption regime in 2012. Several international colleagues and practitioners have asked the author about the new regime and it was therefore deemed appropriate to address the issue in an academic article.
Implications of Shariah on the voluntary disclosure of Indonesian listed companies
Authors: Nugraheni Peni , Azlan Anuar Hairul
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate and compare the extent of voluntary disclosure in the annual reports of Shariah- and non–Shariah-compliant companies in Indonesia. Further, the study examines the relationship between voluntary disclosure and company characteristics (i.e. size of company, profitability, type of auditor, type of industry and ownership structure).

Design/methodology/approach

– Voluntary disclosure was measured using a disclosure index with 30 items and content analysis of the 2009 annual report. Statistical analysis included descriptive, Mann–Whitney U and regression.

Findings

– The result revealed that there is a statistically significant difference in the quantity and quality of voluntary disclosure value of Shariah- and non–Shariah-compliant companies. For regression results, the company size significantly influences the quantity of voluntary disclosure while the quality of voluntary disclosure is affected by company size and type of industry.

Research limitations/implications

– Although this study only analyses voluntary disclosure in the annual report for a single year (2009), it is hoped to provide a description of the voluntary disclosure in Shariah- and non–Shariah-compliant companies.

Practical implications

– The findings might be used by regulators to set regulations that encourage the quantity and quality of disclosure practice of Shariah-compliant companies to expand the scope of disclosure related to religious activities.

Originality/value

– This study measures voluntary disclosure using the disclosure index based on Indonesian regulations and the quantity and quality measurement of Shariah-compliant companies, which may differ from previous Indonesian studies.
Identification and measurement of brand identity and image gap: a quantitative approach
Authors: Roy Dilip , Banerjee Saikat
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to offer a quantitative methodology to identify and measure the gap between the communicated brand identity and perceived brand image by channel members and the consumers. Brand marketers communicate with their target consumers to make them aware of brand identity and communicate the same way to the channel members directly. Channel members, in turn, convey the same to the end-users. Thus, a proper alignment of these three crucial nodes, namely, brand marketers, channel members and consumers, is inevitable for the efficient transfer of brand identity. However, in reality, not all are successful to synchronize communicated brand identity and image perception. So, the identification and measurement of identity-image gap is essential.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on the literature review, the authors propose a conceptual model for the study and generate the basic research questions. In this study, Kapferer’s brand identity prism has been taken as the focal point of study to measure brand identity. So far as the vector measure is concerned, a p-dimensional setup is present, each dimension representing each facet of Kapferer’s brand identity prism. Now, given these sets of observations, the authors introduce for each set, a multivariate distributional setup to represent the underlying population behavior.

Findings

– In this study, a theoretical framework is proposed to identify and measure brand identity and image consistency. To minimize the problem associated with subjective decisions, an objective procedure has been proposed to measure the brand knowledge structure of company personnel, consumers and channel members about the considered brands. The results of this study show that brand knowledge consistency is missing among marketers, consumers and channel members for considered brands. The proposed methodology may help marketers to measure the identity-image gap in a more objective manner with pinpoint accuracy by adopting a quantitative approach.

Practical implications

– The proposed methodology may help marketers to measure the identity-image gap in a more objective manner with pinpoint accuracy by adopting a quantitative approach. Once a gap is identified, it will be easy for marketers to adopt possible measures to bridge the gap. This helps brand marketers to understand the branding process more objectively.

Originality/value

– To the best of the authors' knowledge, there is a lack of concrete quantitative approach, attempting to discuss the methodology to measure the gap between brand identity facets and brand image. In this backdrop, this might be the first paper offering a quantitative methodology to identify and measure the gap between the communicated brand identity and perceived brand image by channel members and the consumers.
High Street research agenda: identifying High Street research priorities
Authors: Parker Cathy , Ntounis Nikos , Quin Simon , Grime Ian
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this short article is to outline a research agenda to further our understanding of how retail areas are influenced by, and adapt to, change. This is part of an Economic and Social Research Council-funded project High Street UK 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

– We outline a research agenda – containing factors which High Street stakeholders in Alsager, Altrincham, Ballymena, Barnsley, Bristol, Congleton, Holmfirth, Market Rasen, Morley and Wrexham have identified as influencing the vitality and viability of their retail areas. Currently, there is little or no academic evidence available to support these factors; therefore, they are worthy of further research.

Findings

– The towns assert that the following factors influence High Street performance (either positively or negatively) and need further research: business support; engagement and engaged businesses; fragmentation; information; Internet connectivity; local knowledge; measuring economic impact/value; media coverage; networking; public sector dependency and risk aversion.

Research limitations/implications

– Only 10 towns have taken part in the research. Nevertheless, they are representative of the research-user community for retail centre research.

Practical implications

– This research agenda will enable researchers to respond to a clear gap in our knowledge about High Street performance, as identified by towns themselves.

Social implications

– By undertaking the research that people that manage retail areas need, it will enable practitioners to make better informed decisions and manage these important areas more effectively to the benefit of their local communities.

Originality/value

– By allowing town centre managers, traders, council members/officials and “concerned citizens” to set the agenda for research production in the area of retail centre change, we anticipate forthcoming research in this area will be more highly valued by practitioners and have more impact in “the real world”.
Balancing between thick and thin regional identities
Authors: Hofstede Henk
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to assess the thinning notion in a case study while acknowledging the hybrid nature of regional identities with the past. In The Netherlands, a process can be observed in which regions actively claim their uniqueness to ensure their development and relevance. It seems that regions adopt similar modern labels in their regional marketing, suggesting a so-called thinning of identities away from traditional thick identities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on a content analysis of promotional texts and interviews with politicians to analyse the context, aims and perceptions of the regional marketing. It stresses an approach which sees identities as balanced between the present and the past.

Findings

– In line with the thinning notion, this case study shows indeed a creation of new thin elements and an exclusion of traditional thick elements in the regional marketing. However, it was also found that the marketing entails creative links between both characteristics, which suggest a tempering of the thinning notion.

Practical implications

– The results show that linking traditional with utilitarian elements might capacitate traditional regions to allocate the resources for regional marketing more effectively.

Originality/value

– Despite the fact that studies acknowledge identities as neither thick nor thin, the thinning notion seems to examine both elements as a dichotomy within regions, which does not follow the nature of identities as interconnected in time. Then, the value of this study must be found in the way it goes behind such a dichotomy by presenting an integrative analysis of thin and thick characteristics.
The integration of crime analysis into police patrol work
Authors: Boba Santos Rachel , Taylor Bruce
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine national survey data of police agencies in the USA to explore the current state of crime analysis integration to patrol crime reduction work.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data examined in this paper are from a national quantitative survey which sought to understand how crime analysis results are used by officers as well as higher ranking personnel in the patrol division and what types of strategies are implemented using crime analysis.

Findings

– The findings show that the routine use of crime analysis is not well integrated. Despite the low integration, however, some differences were found. Management uses crime analysis the most overall, but officers and first-line supervisors use tactical crime analysis more routinely than management, where management personnel use evaluation most routinely. Tactical crime analysis is used most often for directed patrol, strategic for both directed patrol and general information, and evaluation for both general information and crime prevention. Analysis of using analysis proactively shows that agencies use tactical crime analysis most proactively, followed by the strategic crime analysis, then evaluation.

Research limitations/implications

– The study relies on self-report surveys, so the results may suffer from some of the general limitations of self-reports. Also, the study resulted in a lower response rate than surveys of police agencies typically achieve. Although responding and non-responding agencies were comparable in terms of population size, number of officers, and region of the country, the response rate was about 55 percent. However, it is a possibility based on the analysis results that non-responses may reflect a disinterest in the topic or the lack of integration of crime analysis.

Originality/value

– This is the first national survey that focussed specifically on crime analysis integration in patrol work for crime reduction. The value of the results presented here are in the description of the current state of crime analysis integration in the USA which has not been investigated in such depth before and the identifications of gaps in both research in practice.
Evaluating Crisis Intervention Teams: possible impediments and recommendations
Authors: R. Blevins Kristie , Lord Vivian , Bjerregaard Beth
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Extant literature resoundingly praises Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs for the multitude of benefits they provide for law enforcement agencies and individuals with mental illnesses. The majority of CIT research is based on perceived benefits of this approach. Most of the goals of CIT programs are readily amenable to empirical study, yet there are few outcome evaluations of the programs. The purpose of this paper is to examine why empirical studies examining the effectiveness of CIT programs are nominal.

Design/methodology/approach

– Structural and practical impediments to the collection of empirical data for CIT programs were identified through including examinations of the types of data routinely collected, interviews with CIT participants, and the researchers’ own observations of hindrances to the data collection processes. By triangulating these methods, the authors were able to observe a number of impediments to the collection of empirical data on this topic.

Findings

– The multi-jurisdictional CIT program under review had several data problems. First, there was a lack of official data concerning CIT calls. Second, it was virtually impossible to follow a person with mental illness throughout the system from first contact to final disposition. Third, data sharing was hindered by a lack of memorandums of understanding. Fourth, important information was not being properly recorded.

Originality/value

– This manuscript provides recommendations to address data concerns for CIT evaluations. Suggestions are intended to help facilitate more robust data for analysis and evaluation purposes, helping to grow the literature on the effectiveness and efficiency of CIT programs.
Isolation of Enterococcus faecium NM113, Enterococcus faecium NM213 and Lactobacillus casei NM512 as novel probiotics with immunomodulatory properties
Authors: Mansour Nahla M. , Heine Holger , Abdou Sania M. , Shenana Mohamed E. , Zakaria Mohamed K. , El‐Diwany Ahmed
Published: July 2014

Probiotics, defined as living bacteria that are beneficial for human health, mainly function through their immunomodulatory abilities. Hence, these microorganisms have proven successful for treating diseases resulting from immune deregulation. The aim of this study was to find novel candidates to improve on and complement current probiotic treatment strategies. Of 60 lactic acid bacterial strains that were isolated from fecal samples of healthy, full‐term, breast‐fed infants, three were chosen because of their ability to activate human immune cells. These candidates were then tested with regard to immunomodulatory properties, antimicrobial effects on pathogens, required pharmacological properties and their safety profiles. To identify the immunomodulatory structures of the selected isolates, activation of specific innate immune receptors was studied. The three candidates for probiotic treatment were assigned Enterococcus faecium NM113, Enterococcus faecium NM213 and Lactobacillus casei NM512. Compared with the established allergy‐protective strain Lactococcus lactis G121, these isolates induced release of similar amounts of IL‐12, a potent inducer of T helper 1 cells. In addition, all three neonatal isolates had antimicrobial activity against pathogens. Analysis of pharmacological suitability showed high tolerance of low pH, bile salts and pancreatic enzymes. In terms of safe application in humans, the isolates were sensitive to three antibiotics (chloramphenicol, tetracycline and erythromycin). In addition, the Enterococcus isolates were free from the four major virulence genes (cylA, agg, efaAfs and ccf). Moreover, the isolates strongly activated Toll‐like receptor 2, which suggests lipopeptides as their active immunomodulatory structure. Thus, three novel bacterial strains with great potential as probiotic candidates and promising immunomodulatory properties have here been identified and characterized.
Ecological implications of reduced forage quality on growth and survival of sympatric geese
Authors: Richman Samantha E. , Leafloor James O. , Karasov William H. , McWilliams Scott R.
Published: July 2014

Allometric constraints associated with digesting leaves require relatively small avian herbivores to consume high‐quality forage. How such constraints are overcome during ontogeny when energy and nutrient requirements are relatively high has not been adequately explored.

We compared growth trajectories of Canada and lesser snow goose goslings raised on grass‐based diets that differed in protein (10%, 14% or 18%) and fibre (30% or 45%) with those of free‐living goslings on Akimiski Island, Canada. This common‐garden experiment allowed us to test the hypotheses that (i) smaller‐bodied geese are more negatively affected by reduced forage quality than larger‐bodied geese, and (ii) goslings from subarctic brood‐rearing areas have a limited capacity to slow growth in response to reduced forage quality.

Canada goose goslings fed low‐protein (10%) diets were on average 44% lighter in body mass, had slower growth rates and were delayed >20 days in reaching 90% of asymptotic size compared with Canada goose goslings fed 18% protein. In contrast, snow goose goslings were unable to survive on the low‐protein diets, and those fed high‐ or medium‐protein diets grew at a similar rate and achieved similar asymptotic size. Canada and snow goose goslings fed low‐protein diets had reduced growth rates of the tarsus and delayed emergence of the 9th primary.

Free‐ranging Canada goslings on Akimiski Island were similar in mass and structural size to captive‐reared goslings fed low‐protein diets. In contrast, snow goslings were similar in mass and structural size to the captive‐reared goslings fed the high‐ and medium‐protein diets. This suggests that degraded habitats with mostly low‐protein forage may be able to support Canada goslings better than snow goslings which require higher‐quality forage to survive.

Size‐related differences in gosling growth and survival in response to diminished diet quality may influence population size when available food reaches a lower threshold in protein content. However, goslings can avoid such density‐dependent population regulation if they are able to move their broods and find adequate quality and quantity of forage.