bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ER stress sensor PERK luminal domain functions as a molecular chaperone to interact with misfolded proteins
Authors: Wang Peng , Li Jingzhi , Sha Bingdong
Published: November 2016

PERK is one of the major sensor proteins which can detect the protein-folding imbalance generated by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. It remains unclear how the sensor protein PERK is activated by ER stress. It has been demonstrated that the PERK luminal domain can recognize and selectively interact with misfolded proteins but not native proteins. Moreover, the PERK luminal domain may function as a molecular chaperone to directly bind to and suppress the aggregation of a number of misfolded model proteins. The data strongly support the hypothesis that the PERK luminal domain can interact directly with misfolded proteins to induce ER stress signaling. To illustrate the mechanism by which the PERK luminal domain interacts with misfolded proteins, the crystal structure of the human PERK luminal domain was determined to 3.2 Å resolution. Two dimers of the PERK luminal domain constitute a tetramer in the asymmetric unit. Superimposition of the PERK luminal domain molecules indicated that the β-sandwich domain could adopt multiple conformations. It is hypothesized that the PERK luminal domain may utilize its flexible β-sandwich domain to recognize and interact with a broad range of misfolded proteins.
N′-[(E)-4-Methoxybenzylidene]-2-(4-methylphenoxy)acetohydrazide
Authors: Samshuddin Seranthimata , Naveen S. , Arunkumar Dandavathi , Mahesha A. , Lokanath N. K. , Abdoh Muneer
Published: November 2016

The title compound, C17H18N2O3, crystallizes with two independent molecules (AandB) in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angle between the 4-methoxyphenyl ring and the toluene ring is 88.13 (10)° in moleculeAand 61.47 (10)° in moleculeB. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviapairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds, formingA–AandB–Binversion dimers withR22(8) ring motifs. TheB–Bdimers are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along the [110] direction. The molecules are also linked by a series of C—H...π interactions, forming a three-dimensional structure.
2,3-Dibromo-3-phenylpropanoic acid: a monoclinic polymorph
Authors: Howard Trent R. , Mendez-deMello Kaleh A. , Cardenas Allan Jay P.
Published: November 2016

Bromination oftrans-cinnamic acid resulted in the formation of 2,3-dibromo-3-phenylpropanoic acid, C9H8Br2O2. Crystallization from ethanol–water (1:1) gave crystals of different shapes. One is in the form of rods, that crystallized as the orthorhombic polymorph (Pnma), and whose structure has been described [Thonget al.(2008).Acta Cryst.E64, o1946]. The other are thin plate-like crystals which are the monoclinic polymorph (P21/n). The structure of this monoclinic polymorph is similar to that of the orthorhombic polymorph; here the aliphatic C atoms are disordered over three sets of sites (occupancy ratio 0.5:0.25:0.25). In the crystal, molecules are linked by pairs of O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers with anR22(8) ring motif. The dimers are linked by weak C—H...Br hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along thea-axis direction.
Asperger syndrome, internet and fantasy versus reality – a forensic case study
Authors: Higham Lorraine , Piracha Imran , Crocombe Juli
Published: November 2016

Purpose

People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are known to have difficulties in their social communication and interaction. The internet is a twenty-first century phenomenon that provides such individuals with a world in which they can exist without the awkwardness of face-to-face contact. The purpose of this paper is to start to illustrate the high risks that can occur when the internet is used as the main forum for interaction in individuals who are socially impaired.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a brief summary of literature in relation to ASD and risk of offending behaviour followed by a case study of a young man with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome who was convicted of conspiracy to murder.

Findings

This paper concludes that possible deficits in central coherence, theory of mind and social skills, combined with extensive periods of time spent alone on the internet forums and a late diagnosis of ASD, may place individuals at risk of committing a serious offence.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the difficulties that people with Autism may have in separating fantasy from reality and the high level of risk that can occur as a result.
Improving healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities: the development of an evidence-based teaching programme
Authors: Watkins Lance Vincent , Colgate Robert
Published: November 2016

Purpose

To develop and implement an educational programme to improve medical students’ attitudes towards intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to improve the healthcare outcomes for individuals with intellectual disability.

Design/methodology/approach

The development of an educational programme involving actors with an intellectual disability as simulated patients. Scenarios were developed involving basic healthcare interactions. The programme was piloted in three sessions with 45 students. A qualitative analysis of student feedback was then used to develop a student attitude questionnaire for completion pre- and post-educational intervention.

Findings

The student attitude questionnaire was completed by 23 different medical students. Two domains were analysed: affect and understanding domain scores, mean difference (95% CI) 3.17(2.41-3.94)p<0.001, knowledge and skills domain scores, mean difference (95% CI) 4.22(3.3-5.14)p<0.001.

Social implications

Student feedback reveals significant positive changes in affect and understanding, and an improvement in knowledge and skill levels when interacting with people with an intellectual disability following the educational intervention. Some major institutions now offer comprehensive programmes involving people with intellectual disabilities as tutors, and in the role of simulated patients. However, more needs to be done to encourage the increased participation and good practice for all of tomorrow’s doctors to benefit.

Originality/value

Following the publication of recent enquiries into the deaths of people with intellectual disabilities. We know that many of these deaths are premature and potentially preventable. The main failing identified repeatedly is that healthcare staff lack of awareness of the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. This emanates from poor quality and limited curricula time dedicated to intellectual disabilities. There is a need to drastically change the approach to teaching about intellectual disabilities to medical students. All the evidence promotes the involvement of people with intellectual disabilities and their careers in designing and delivering this teaching.
Simulation training to support healthcare professionals to meet the health needs of people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Billon Grégoire , Attoe Chris , Marshall-Tate Karina , Riches Samantha , Wheildon James , Cross Sean
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of education and training in addressing health inequalities in intellectual disabilities, before examining innovative approaches to healthcare education. Preliminary findings of a simulation training course to support healthcare professionals to work with people with intellectual disability are then presented.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a mixed methods design to assess the impact of the simulation course. Quantitative data were collected using the Healthcare Skills Questionnaire and a self-report confidence measure; qualitative data were collected using post-course survey with free text responses to open questions.

Findings

Healthcare skills and confidence showed statistical improvements from pre- to post-course. Qualitative analyses demonstrated that participants perceived improvements to: attitudes, communication skills, reasonable adjustments, interprofessional and multi-disciplinary working, knowledge of key issues in working with people with intellectual disabilities.

Practical implications

Encouraging findings imply that simulation training to address health inequalities in intellectual disabilities is a valuable resource that merits further development. This training should be rolled out more widely, along with ongoing longitudinal evaluation via robust methods to gauge the impact on participants, their workplaces, and people with intellectual disabilities.

Originality/value

The authors believe this paper to be the first to assess an interprofessional, high-fidelity simulation course, using actors as simulated patients to address the mental and physical health needs of people with intellectual disabilities. The rigorous use of co-production and co-delivery, alongside promising findings for this training method, represent a useful contribution to the literature.
The future of petroleum business at RIL – to stay or to exit
Authors: Heggde Githa , Shyam Deepak
Published: November 2016

Subject area

Subject areas are strategic management and marketing management.

Study level/applicability

This case can be used in strategic management and marketing management courses for MBA students.

Case overview

This case discusses the future of petroleum business at Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) – whether to stay or exit. This scenario took place between 2001 and 2008. The volatility in the external environment was beyond their control. Or was it so? This case encapsulates the characteristics of innovative strategy formulation, leading to successful differentiation in a regulated and commoditized industry. This case portrays two significant aspects of business strategy by RIL. First is to comprehend the pioneering strategies formulation and implementation by RIL in the petroleum retailing business. Second is the severe impact of external forces on the company’s current and future prospects and what contingency plans could have been made.

Expected learning outcomes

This study enables to understand how innovative and differentiation strategies can be successfully applied in a commoditized business; to comprehend the effective application of forward integration and brand extension in a complex, scale-driven industry; and to understand the implication of external threats severely disrupting a growing business.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy
Chronic conditions and barriers to care: exploring the health of migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Indiana
Authors: Sandoval-Rosario Michelle , Hunter Theresa Marie , Durnham Adrienne , Holt Antoniette , Pontones Pam , Perry Geraldine
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) have many health challenges due to the nature of their work, low wages, living conditions, mobility, and lack of health insurance. The purpose of this paper is to assess the availability of health services, barriers to accessing health care, and the prevalence of chronic conditions among MSFWs in Indiana.

Design/methodology/approach

A site-based convenience sample of MSFWs aged 14 years and older completed a cross-sectional survey. A total of 97 participants who currently or previously identified as farmworkers completed the questionnaire.

Findings

Almost one-third of the respondents reported no access to a health care provider. Of those, 43 percent reported that cost prevented them from seeking care. Of those who reported chronic conditions (
n=22), over 50 percent did not have access to a health care provider. These findings highlight the need to further investigate the magnitude of the problem and begin exploring ways to improve affordable health care access among MSFWs in Northeastern Indiana.

Originality/value

The results from this study highlight the need for the development and implementation of community health education programs that target MSFWs in Indiana. The findings, although not generalized, offer important insights into health care challenges and barriers to access in Indiana. The authors recommend that assistance programs should be implemented for providing affordable health care services for Hispanic MSFWs.
Development of in-pipe robots for inspection and cleaning tasks
Authors: Deepak B.B.V.L. , Bahubalendruni M.V.A. Raju , Biswal B.B.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the reviews of past research work on various in-pipe robotic systems and their operations. This investigation has been focussed on the implemented methodologies for performing in-pipe cleaning and inspection tasks.

Design/methodology/approach

This work has been concentrated on review of various sensors used in robots to perform in-pipes inspection operation for determining flaws/cracks, corrosion-affected areas, blocks and coated paint thickness. Various actuators like DC motors, servo motors, pneumatic operated and hydraulic operated are discussed in this review analysis to control the motion of various mechanical components of the robot.

Findings

In the current analysis, categorisation of various pipe cleaning robots according to their mechanical structure has been addressed. A lot of information has been gathered regarding the control of in-pipe robots for performing inspection and cleaning tasks.

Originality/value

In this paper, various in-pipe cleaning and inspection techniques have been studied. Necessary information provided regarding different types of in-pipe robots like PIG, wall-pressed, walking, wheel and inchworm. This investigation provides a through literature on various types of sensors like ultrasonic, magnetic, touch, light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, X-ray, etc., that have been used for inspection and detection of flaws in the pipe.
Hardware-in-the-loop simulation for real-time software verification of an autonomous underwater robot
Authors: Sarhadi Pouria , Nad Ali Niachari Reza , Pouyan Rad Morteza , Enayati Javad
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a software engineering procedure for real-time software development and verification of an autonomous underwater robotic system. High performance and robust software are one of the requirements of autonomous systems design. A simple error in the software can easily lead to a catastrophic failure in a complex system. Then, a systematic procedure is presented for this purpose.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper utilizes software engineering tools and hardware-inthe-loop (HIL) simulations for real-time system design of an autonomous underwater robot.

Findings

In this paper, the architecture of the system is extracted. Then, using software engineering techniques a suitable structure for control software is presented. Considering the desirable targets of the robot, suitable algorithms and functions are developed. After the development stage, proving the real-time performance of the software is disclosed.

Originality/value

A suitable approach for analyzing the real-time performance is presented. This approach is implemented using HIL simulations. The developed structure is applicable to other autonomous systems.
Human resource and customer benefits through sustainable operations
Authors: Longoni Annachiara , Cagliano Raffaella
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Sustainable operations are increasingly part of firms’ competitive strategies. Research widely investigates the relationship between sustainable operations and competitive advantage, considering financial performance as a dependent variable, and shows controversial results. The purpose of this paper is to operationalize competitive advantage as internal and external intangible benefits, such as human resource (HR) and customer benefits. HR benefits concern the deployment of a workforce pursuing a firm’s goals and strategy; customer benefits concern the improvement of a firm’s relationship with its customers.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical results are provided in an analysis of data from a survey conducted on a sample of 107 Italian firms in the food industry. A single industry and country are selected to avoid possible differences in regulations and in operations processes. Structural equation modelling is used to test hypotheses relating sustainable operations to HR and customer benefits.

Findings

The authors distinguish between green and social operations practices. Green operations practices directly impact customer benefits but not HR benefits. Social sustainable operations practices do not directly impact customer benefits but instead have a direct impact on HR benefits. Hence, through HR benefits, they have an indirect impact on customer benefits.

Practical implications

The authors provide results showing to operations managers that both green operations and social operations are crucial to obtaining customer benefits. Social operations do this by enhancing HR benefits. Green operations instead are not positively related to HR benefits.

Originality/value

This research serves as an original contribution to the sustainable operations literature in two ways. First, from a resource-based perspective, the relationship between sustainable operations, HR benefits, and customer benefits is proposed and tested. Such benefits are also shown to be interrelated based on the service profit chain model. Second, green and social operations practices are analysed separately providing a nuanced view of benefits related to sustainable operations.
Analyzing perceived healthcare service quality on patient related outcomes
Authors: Turan Aygül , Bozaykut-Bük Tuba
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Through the lens of a total quality management approach, this paper aims to examine the effects of health-care service quality on patient satisfaction, repatronage intention (RI) and positive word-of mouth (PWOM) at a public hospital specialized in women and children’s diseases. The contribution is to measure and compare patient expectations and perceptions related to the public health service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire was distributed to in-patients who stayed at a public training and research hospital for at least three days. To analyze the relationship between variables, multiple regression analysis was used. To test the difference between expected and perceived service quality, the paired-sample t-test was used.

Findings

The findings provided empirical evidence that perceived service quality significantly influenced patient satisfaction, RI and PWOM. The “responsiveness and reliability” factor was found to be the most influential on patient RI and PWOM. The “tangibility” dimension had the strongest influence on patient satisfaction.

Practical implications

The results reveal that a reliable and responsive service, empathic personnel behaviors and appropriate tangibles are the outstanding factors for high levels of patient satisfaction, RI and PWOM.

Originality/value

Although the concepts of perceived service quality, patient satisfaction, RI and PWOM are explored frequently in service literature, there are few researches that focus on specialized health services for women and children’s diseases. By evaluating the service quality, it is hoped to provide an insight to health-care managers about the service quality dimensions and their relationship with patient satisfaction, RI and PWOM, specifically based on women patients.
Website quality and internal business factors
Authors: Galati Antonino , Crescimanno Maria , Tinervia Salvatore , Siggia Dario
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is dual. The first is to assess the quality of websites of Italian wineries, using the Web Assessment Index (WAI), and compare e-commerce and e-marketing websites. The second is to verify the existence of a relationship between the website quality and business revenue, on one hand, and the characteristics of managers, on the other.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-step survey was carried out to respond to the aims of the study. First, a sample of wineries was contacted to capture information on both the wineries and managerial characteristics. On the basis of the observed data, a second step of the analysis was performed taking into consideration 84 wineries having a website. The website quality has been evaluated by WAI, and afterwards, it has been related to the internal business factors previously identified.

Findings

Findings show that the website quality is higher in e-commerce websites than in e-marketing websites, and that business revenue and the education level of managers have a positive influence on the websites’ quality.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the study need to be interpreted within the context for which this research was designed and cannot be applied generally to all businesses.

Practical implications

Findings have some theoretical and practical implications. From a theoretical point of view, this study validates the WAI model in the wine sector. From a managerial perspective, results are useful both for wineries creating an online presence for the first time, and for those already existing which, and for system designers of websites.

Originality/value

Very few empirical studies have been conducted on the relationship between website quality, business performance and managerial characteristics.
Corporate governance, CEO compensation and tax aggressiveness
Authors: Halioui Khamoussi , Neifar Souhir , Ben Abdelaziz Fouad
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of corporate governance structure and CEO compensation on the level of tax aggressiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This work analyzes a sample of 471 observations of 100 companies listed on the NASDAQ 100 for the period 2008-2012. It uses a fixed-effect panel model to analyze the effect of different model variables on the tax aggressiveness level.

Findings

The main finding of this study is the great influence of corporate governance structure and CEO compensation on reducing tax aggressiveness. Indeed, it finds a significant negative relation between board size, CEO salary, CEO stock options and tax aggressiveness. In addition, the study reveals that there is a direct negative relation between CEO duality, tax fees and tax aggressiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted using robust methods to test the effect of corporate governance structure and CEO compensation on tax aggressiveness level. The generalized least squares method was used to fit panel data and overcome heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation problems. The aim of the study was to prove the great effect of both corporate governance structure and CEO compensation on reducing tax aggressiveness. As this study was based on data from American companies, the results cannot be generalized to all contexts.

Originality/value

This paper differs from previous work and tests the effect of corporate governance structure, CEO compensation, CEO characteristics and audit fees on tax aggressiveness. The findings of this study will enrich the literature on tax aggressiveness by suggesting that corporate governance structure and CEO compensation can significantly limit tax aggressiveness behavior. Therefore, shareholders must be aware of these two variables. They need to limit tax aggressiveness behavior, as it is usually accompanied by rent diversion, as reported by Desai and Dharmapala (2006). Therefore, these findings will be helpful to investors, managers and regulators because they have implications for the interactive decision-making process.
Ex-post stock return behaviour of corporate restructurings and corporate control
Authors: Kim Dongnyoung , Tan Tih Koon
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the correlation between stock returns of the parent and newly created entity and the degree of return skewness in parents in the three different corporate restructurings.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of spin-offs, equity carve-outs and tracking stocks, ordinary least squares regression is used to test the relationship between stock return correlation as well as stock return skewness and the type of corporate restructurings.

Findings

Tracking stock offering has the largest correlation in stock returns, whereas spin-off has the least correlation in stock returns. Also, the result from the skewness test is not consistent with the hypothesis that the stock returns skewness is positively related to the degree of ownership and control.

Originality/value

This is one of the few papers looking at the three corporate restructurings and their return skewness.
Impact of company level information on auditor conservatism
Authors: Desai Naman
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Auditors tend to focus more on income-increasing items compared to income-decreasing items because they are trained to be conservative and also because the risk of litigation is significantly higher for failing to detect material income-increasing items compared to material income-decreasing items. Auditors’ consideration of transaction-level items is also affected by their evaluation of company-level information. Therefore, this study aims to examine how the interaction between company-level information and sign of the material items affects auditors’ evaluation of income-increasing and income-decreasing items.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-treatment between-subjects experiment was conducted to investigate the research questions.

Findings

The results indicate that in the absence of company-level information, auditors intuitively associate a higher risk and audit effort to income-increasing items. When the company-level information indicates that management is under pressure to inflate earnings, auditors’ conservatism associated with income-increasing items gets amplified. This leads to an increase in the difference in assessed risk and audit effort between income-increasing and income-decreasing items. However, when the company-level information indicates that management is not under pressure to inflate earnings, there are no significant differences in assessed risk and audit effort between income-increasing and income-decreasing items. These results indicate that auditor conservatism is affected by company-level information.

Originality/value

The findings indicate how an analysis of company-level information (as prescribed by auditing standards) and inherent auditor conservatism could potentially affect audit procedures and have important implications for the audit profession.
Who owns the past? The politics of religious heritage in contemporary India
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Ranjan
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This conceptual paper aims to contribute to the growing literature around the “politics of heritage” by focusing on India which has a multifaceted society with several layers of religious culture and history.

Design/methodology/approach

The work is based on an extensive review of the literature and philosophical discussions relating to the politics of heritage tourism and the political dimensions of nationalism and ethnicity from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Findings

The main purpose of this conceptual paper is to develop hypotheses. Hence, the study asks: How does postcolonial India reconstruct its past and how are religions represented as part of the national image and for the purpose of tourism promotion? How tourism and religious heritage support a broader secular dreamscape of harmonious cultural nationalism in India? Considering all allegations for supporting the Hindutva movement (who considers Hinduism to be the source of India’s “essential” identity and believes it alone can provide national cohesiveness) by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in India, it is worth examining if there are any subtle changes to the tourism agenda created by the new government and the ambivalence surrounding it. Is there any place for the “foreigners” (Muslims and Christians) in Hindutva political ideology? Future scholars can analyze how tourism promotional material represents three major religions in the country by the current Indian Government (i.e. BJP) in its official tourism website: www.incredibleindia.org. This will take “politics of heritage” studies to a different trajectory, as analysis of web media has emerged as a critical medium in understanding numerous social processes.

Research limitations/implications

The paper draws on a wide range of seminal work by scholars of nationalism and ethnicity over the past few decades, but it cannot be comprehensive.

Originality/value

The paper’s originality lies in its novel approach to an understudied aspect in tourism studies (i.e. politics of heritage) and providing suggestions for future research.
WhaleWatch: a dynamic management tool for predicting blue whale density in the California Current
Authors: Hazen Elliott L. , Palacios Daniel M. , Forney Karin A. , Howell Evan A. , Becker Elizabeth , Hoover Aimee L. , Irvine Ladd , DeAngelis Monica , Bograd Steven J. , Mate Bruce R. , Bailey Helen
Published: November 2016

Management of highly migratory species is reliant on spatially and temporally explicit information on their distribution and abundance. Satellite telemetry provides time‐series data on individual movements. However, these data are underutilized in management applications in part because they provide presence‐only information rather than abundance information such as density.

Eastern North Pacific blue whales are listed as threatened, and ship strikes have been suggested as a key factor limiting their recovery. Here, we developed a satellite‐telemetry‐based habitat model in a case–control design for Eastern North Pacific blue whales Balaenoptera musculus that was combined with previously published abundance estimates to predict habitat preference and densities. Further, we operationalize an automated, near‐real‐time whale density prediction tool based on up‐to‐date environmental data for use by managers and other stakeholders.

A switching state‐space movement model was applied to 104 blue whale satellite tracks from 1994 to 2008 to account for errors in the location estimates and provide daily positions (case points). We simulated positions using a correlated random walk model (control points) and sampled the environment at each case and control point. Generalized additive mixed models and boosted regression trees were applied to determine the probability of occurrence based on environmental covariates. Models were used to predict 8‐day and monthly resolution, year‐round density estimates scaled by population abundance estimates that provide a critical tool for understanding seasonal and interannual changes in habitat use.

The telemetry‐based habitat model predicted known blue whale hot spots and had seasonal agreement with sightings data, highlighting the skill of the model for predicting blue whale habitat preference and density. We identified high interannual variability in occurrence emphasizing the benefit of dynamic models compared to multiyear averages.

Synthesis and applications. This near‐real‐time tool allows a more accurate examination of the year‐round spatio‐temporal overlap of blue whales with potentially harmful human activities, such as shipping. This approach should also be applicable to other species for which sufficient telemetry data are available. The dynamic predictive product developed here is an important tool that allows managers to consider finer‐scale management areas that are more economically feasible and socially acceptable.
Recreational harvest and incident‐response management reduce human–carnivore conflicts in an anthropogenic landscape
Authors: Raithel Jarod D. , Reynolds‐Hogland Melissa J. , Koons David N. , Carr Patrick C. , Aubry Lise M.
Published: November 2016

Conserving viable large carnivore populations requires managing their interactions with humans in increasingly anthropogenic landscapes. Faced with declining budgets and escalating wildlife conflicts, agencies in North America continue to grapple with uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of socially divisive management actions such as harvest to reduce conflict.

We used multistate capture–reencounter methods to estimate cause‐specific mortality for a large sample (>3500) of American black bears Ursus americanus in north‐western New Jersey, USA over a 33‐year period. Specifically, we focused on factors that might influence the probability of bears being harvested, lethally managed, or dying from other causes. We further analysed temporal correlations between >26 000 human–black bear incidents reported between 2001 and 2013 and estimates of total mortality rates, and specifically, rates of harvest from newly implemented public hunts and lethal management.

Adult females were twice as likely (0·163 ± 0·014) as adult males (0·087 ± 0·012) to be harvested during the study period. Cubs (0·444 ± 0·025) and yearlings (0·372 ± 0·022) had a higher probability of dying from other causes, primarily vehicle strikes, than adults (0·199 ± 0·008). Reports of nuisance behaviours in year t + 1 declined with increasing mortality resulting from harvest plus lethal management in year t (P = 0·028, R2 = 0·338). Adult bears previously designated as a nuisance and/or threat were more likely to be harvested (0·176 ± 0·025) than those never identified as a problem (0·109 ± 0·010). Across age classes, individuals assigned problem status, were significantly more likely to be lethally controlled.

Synthesis and applications. Given continuing failures in conserving exploited carnivores, their recreational harvest and lethal management remain polarizing. Within this social‐ecological system, the well‐regulated harvest of carefully monitored black bear populations represents a pragmatic approach to achieve population objectives. Furthermore, the integration of harvest and incident‐response management (both lethal and non‐lethal practices) with educational programmes aimed at reducing anthropogenic attractants can result in subsequent reductions in problem behaviours reported.
Development of yoghurt from ovine milk with enhanced texture and flavour properties
Authors: Asensio‐Vegas Carmen , Tiwari Brijesh , Gredilla Ana E , Bueno Francisco , Delgado David , Martín‐Diana Ana B
Published: November 2016

Six commercial starter cultures, all blends of Streptococcus thermophilus sp. and Lactobacillus bulgaricus sp., were compared for enhanced texture and flavour in yoghurt prepared from ovine milk. The fermentation patterns differed between starters, with YF‐L903 (E) showing the fastest fermentation but slower post‐acidification. YC‐X11 (A) produced the slowest acidification, while YC‐380 (B) resulted in the fastest post‐acidification. Textural and colour properties were affected significantly by the culture used. YF‐L903 (E) enhanced the firmness and luminosity of the yoghurt over storage, increasing mouthfeel and creaminess, as compared to yoghurts prepared with the other starter cultures starters studied.
High performance computation of landscape genomic models including local indicators of spatial association
Authors: Stucki S. , Orozco‐terWengel P. , Forester B. R. , Duruz S. , Colli L. , Masembe C. , Negrini R. , Landguth E. , Jones M. R. ,   The NEXTGEN Consortium, Bruford M. W. , Taberlet P. , Joost S.
Published: November 2016

With the increasing availability of both molecular and topo‐climatic data, the main challenges facing landscape genomics – that is the combination of landscape ecology with population genomics – include processing large numbers of models and distinguishing between selection and demographic processes (e.g. population structure). Several methods address the latter, either by estimating a null model of population history or by simultaneously inferring environmental and demographic effects. Here we present samβada, an approach designed to study signatures of local adaptation, with special emphasis on high performance computing of large‐scale genetic and environmental data sets. samβada identifies candidate loci using genotype–environment associations while also incorporating multivariate analyses to assess the effect of many environmental predictor variables. This enables the inclusion of explanatory variables representing population structure into the models to lower the occurrences of spurious genotype–environment associations. In addition, samβada calculates local indicators of spatial association for candidate loci to provide information on whether similar genotypes tend to cluster in space, which constitutes a useful indication of the possible kinship between individuals. To test the usefulness of this approach, we carried out a simulation study and analysed a data set from Ugandan cattle to detect signatures of local adaptation with samβada, bayenv, lfmm and an FST outlier method (FDIST approach in arlequin) and compare their results. samβada – an open source software for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X available at http://lasig.epfl.ch/sambada – outperforms other approaches and better suits whole‐genome sequence data processing.
Temporal variability of bacterial communities in cryoconite on an alpine glacier
Authors: Franzetti Andrea , Navarra Federico , Tagliaferri Ilario , Gandolfi Isabella , Bestetti Giuseppina , Minora Umberto , Azzoni Roberto Sergio , Diolaiuti Guglielmina , Smiraglia Claudio , Ambrosini Roberto
Published: November 2016

Cryoconite holes, that is, small ponds that form on glacier surface, are considered the most biologically active environments on glaciers. Bacterial communities in these environments have been extensively studied, but often through snapshot studies based on the assumption of a general stability of community structure. In this study, the temporal variation of bacterial communities in cryoconite holes on the Forni Glacier (Italian Alps) was investigated by high throughput DNA sequencing. A temporal change of bacterial communities was observed with autotrophic Cyanobacteria populations dominating communities after snowmelt, and heterotrophic Sphingobacteriales populations increasing in abundance later in the season. Bacterial communities also varied according to hole depth and area, amount of organic matter in the cryoconite and oxygen concentration. However, variation in environmental features explained a lower fraction of the variation in bacterial communities than temporal variation. Temporal change along ablation season seems therefore more important than local environmental conditions in shaping bacterial communities of cryoconite of the Forni Glacier. These findings challenge the assumption that bacterial communities of cryoconite holes are stable.
Will digital technologies transform agriculture in developing countries?
Authors: Deichmann Uwe , Goyal Aparajita , Mishra Deepak
Published: November 2016

Mobile phones and the internet have significantly affected practically all sectors of the economy and agriculture is no exception. Building on a recent World Bank flagship report, this article introduces a concise framework for describing the main benefits from new information and communication technologies. They promote greater inclusion in the broader economy, raise efficiency by complementing other production factors, and foster innovation by dramatically reducing transaction costs. The article reviews the recent literature on corresponding technology impacts in the rural sector in developing countries. Digital technologies overcome information problems that hinder market access for many small‐scale farmers, increase knowledge through new ways of providing extension services, and they provide novel ways for improving agricultural supply chain management. While there are many promising examples of positive impacts on rural livelihoods—or “digital dividends”—these have often not scaled up to the extent expected. The main reason is that technology can always only address some, but not all of the barriers faced by farmers in poorer countries.
The promise (and pitfalls) of ICT for agriculture initiatives
Authors: Aker Jenny C. , Ghosh Ishita , Burrell Jenna
Published: November 2016

The widespread growth of information and telecommunication technologies (ICTs) in rural areas of developing countries offers new opportunities to provide more timely and low‐cost information services to farmers, as well as assist in coordinating agricultural agents. Over the past decade, the number of public and private sector initiatives in this space has increased substantially, with over 140 deployments worldwide in 2015. While there is substantial potential for such services to address farmers’ and traders’ information and credit market constraints, economic research suggests that the impacts of such services on agricultural adoption, behavior and welfare is mixed. While this can, in part, be explained by the degree of the information asymmetry and the presence of other market failures in different contexts, research from other disciplines provides additional insights into these findings. In particular, work in the domain of human–computer interaction (HCI) focuses heavily on users’ interaction and experience with a given technology, thus explaining why users may not fully engage with ICT‐based agricultural interfaces. Furthermore, sociological and anthropological approaches study the provision of information and trust and how these may be altered by ICT platforms. Drawing upon these disciplines, we suggest that future ICT for agriculture initiatives should first seek to better understand the information and complementary market failures in a given context, in order to better understand whether information is a binding constraint. Second, even if information is missing, the information services provided should be of high quality and from a trusted source, which can be a challenge with some ICT platforms. Finally, such services should be delivered via platforms that build upon local ICT access and usage, paying particular attention to the gender digital divide.
Climate change: scenarios, impacts, policy, and development opportunities
Authors: Carraro Carlo
Published: November 2016

This article is divided into three parts. First, it provides an overview of the main outcomes of the last IPCC assessment report, both in terms of economic drivers of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and in terms of impacts of climate change, in particular for the agriculture sector. Then, it focuses on policy options and their optimal design, taking into account technological availability, international cooperation, and above all the stringency of the remaining carbon budget. Finally, it analyzes the size and direction of investment decisions required to stabilize GHG emissions and their implications for economic development.
Payments for environmental services to promote “climate‐smart agriculture”? Potential and challenges
Authors: Engel Stefanie , Muller Adrian
Published: November 2016

Payments for environmental services (PES) have gained wide popularity as approaches to promote environmentally friendly land use or agricultural production practices. Yet academics have also voiced concerns against seeing PES as a panacea. This article discusses whether PES is an appropriate and promising approach to promote so‐called “climate‐smart agriculture” (CSA) practices, which we define as agricultural production practices that contribute to CO2 emission reductions and/or removals and provide benefits to farmers via increased productivity and profits and reduced vulnerability to climate change. PES appears most promising for the promotion of CSA practices in small‐scale farming contexts with low incomes. Effective design, however, requires solid estimates of cost and benefit flows from CSA adoption over time, accounting for differences in socioeconomic and ecological conditions, and addressing the risk of leakage. Funding for such PES will likely have to come from public sources, and seems most promising where synergies with other objectives such as agricultural development, food security, and climate adaptation or other environmental services exist. The potential of alternative approaches for CSA support such as taxation with rebates for CSA practices, CSA‐related investment support such as microcredits, and hybrid approaches such as conditional microcredit should be further investigated.
Africa's changing farm size distribution patterns: the rise of medium‐scale farms
Authors: Jayne T.S. , Chamberlin Jordan , Traub Lulama , Sitko Nicholas , Muyanga Milu , Yeboah Felix K. , Anseeuw Ward , Chapoto Antony , Wineman Ayala , Nkonde Chewe , Kachule Richard
Published: November 2016

This study assesses changes over the past decade in the farm size distributions of Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, drawing on two or more waves of nationally representative population‐based and/or area‐based surveys. Analysis indicates that much of Sub‐Saharan Africa is experiencing major changes in farm land ownership patterns. Among all farms below 100 hectares in size, the share of land on small‐scale holdings under five hectares has declined except in Kenya. Medium‐scale farms (defined here as farm holdings between 5 and 100 hectares) account for a rising share of total farmland, especially in the 10–100 hectare range where the number of these farms is growing especially rapidly. Medium‐scale farms control roughly 20% of total farmland in Kenya, 32% in Ghana, 39% in Tanzania, and over 50% in Zambia. The numbers of such farms are also growing very rapidly, except in Kenya. We also conducted detailed life history surveys of medium‐scale farmers in each of these four countries and found that the rapid rise of medium‐scale holdings in most cases reflects increased interest in land by urban‐based professionals or influential rural people. About half of these farmers obtained their land later in life, financed by nonfarm income. The rise of medium‐scale farms is affecting the region in diverse ways that are difficult to generalize. Many such farms are a source of dynamism, technical change, and commercialization of African agriculture. However, medium‐scale land acquisitions may exacerbate land scarcity in rural areas and constrain the rate of growth in the number of small‐scale farm holdings. Medium‐scale farmers tend to dominate farm lobby groups and influence agricultural policies and public expenditures to agriculture in their favor. Nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from six countries (Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia) show that urban households own 5–35% of total agricultural land and that this share is rising in all countries where DHS surveys were repeated. This suggests a new and hitherto unrecognized channel by which medium‐scale farmers may be altering the strength and location of agricultural growth and employment multipliers between rural and urban areas. Given current trends, medium‐scale farms are likely to soon become the dominant scale of farming in many African countries.
What farmers want: the “gustibus multiplier” and other behavioral insights on agricultural development
Authors: Carter Michael R.
Published: November 2016

Behavioral economic experiments have not only identified realms where human behavior systematically deviates from the predictions of the standard neoclassical model, they have also devised way to measure individuals’ deep preferences concerning risk and time. Preference measurement has in turn opened the door to two area of inquiries: preference heterogeneity as an explanation of fundamental choices concerning savings and investment; and endogenous preference mutations as an explanation for the surprising success or failure of policies and interventions. These new insights and measures allow economics to expand beyond its traditional reliance on variation in prices and incomes as the primary explanators of economic behavior. Drawing on recent work on technology adoption in the face of risk and uncertainty, as well as work on the evolution of hope and aspirations that shape what farmers want, this article articulates frontier issues in agricultural development economics where the tools and perspectives of behavioral economics promise new and important insights.