bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decomposing the Farmer's Share of the Food Dollar
Authors: Kelly Jessica , Canning Patrick , Weersink Alfons
Published: November 2014

The Canadian farm share for five crop‐based products and seven livestock‐based products from 1997 to 2010 is calculated using a supply chain IO analysis. Significant differences exist in farm shares across food commodities with higher farm shares for livestock products and lower farm shares for grain‐based products. The decline in the Canadian farm share for food consumed at home is driven in large part by the food purchasing habits of consumers. This paper also addresses the hypothesis that the decline in the Canadian farm share could be partially driven by rising input costs in post‐farmgate processes or rising input costs that have greater impact on downstream sectors than primary agricultural producers. Three experiments were conducted to assess the impact of an increase in the cost of corn, energy, and farm labor would have on commodity output prices, farm returns, food expenditure, and farm share. In all three cases, the overall farm share increases, albeit by a small amount, suggesting that these shocks have a larger relative impact on the prices of agricultural commodities than the prices of marketing commodities used in post‐farmgate activities. A two‐period comparison of these simulations shows that energy (corn and farm labour) price shocks would have had a greater (lower) impact on the farm share in 2007 than 1997.
Intrafamilial Aggregation and Heritability of Left Ventricular Geometric Remodeling Is Independent of Cardiac Mass in Families of African Ancestry
Authors: Peterson Vernice R. , Norton Gavin R. , Redelinghuys Michelle , Libhaber Carlos D. , Maseko Muzi J. , Majane Olebogeng H.I. , Brooksbank Richard , Woodiwiss Angela J.
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND

Whether left ventricular (LV) geometric remodeling, as indexed by relative wall thickness (RWT), aggregates in families and is inherited independent of LV mass (LVM) and additional confounders is uncertain.

METHODS

We determined whether RWT as assessed from 2D targeted M-mode echocardiography shows intrafamilial aggregation and heritability independent of LVM in 181 nuclear families (73 spouse pairs, 403 parent–child pairs, and 177 sibling–sibling pairs) with 16 families including 3 generations from an urban developing community of black Africans. Intrafamilial aggregation and heritability estimates (S.A.G.E. software) were assessed independent of confounders, including central aortic systolic blood pressure (SBPc) (radial applanation tonometry and SphygmoCor software).

RESULTS

Independent of confounders including SBPc, LV RWT was correlated in parent–child (r = 0.32, P < 0.0001) and sibling–sibling (r = 0.29, P < 0.0001), but not in spouse (r = 0.11, P = 0.33) pairs. The relationships between parent–child (r = 0.28, P < 0.0001) and sibling–sibling (r = 0.24, P < 0.001) pairs persisted with further adjustments for LVM or LVM indexed to height2.7 (LVMI). Similarly, independent of confounders, LV RWT showed significant heritability (h2 ± SEM = 0.56±0.09, P < 0.0001) and this persisted with further adjustments for LVM (h2 ± SEM = 0.48±0.09, P < 0.0001) or LVMI (h2 ± SEM = 0.49±0.09, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

In a group of African ancestry, independent of LVM, LV geometric remodeling shows significant intrafamilial aggregation and heritability. Genetic factors may in-part determine the LV geometric remodeling process independent of the extent of cardiac hypertrophy.
Transatlantic Transformations: Visualizing Change Over Time in the Liverpool–New York Trade Network, 1763–1833
Authors: Buchnea Emily
Published: November 2014

In the early modern Atlantic world, trade brought communities and commodities closer together and, as a result, many merchants became linked in expansive networks of exchange. The unstable nature of long-distance trade meant that these networks were continually being transformed. The Liverpool–New York trade network, in particular, underwent many changes between 1763 and 1833. The article aims to demonstrate how the use of network visualizations over three distinct phases (1760–1790, 1790–1815, and 1815–1833) can elucidate these changes and provide a different approach for studying the development of this trading community. These visualizations will serve to illustrate the extent to which this network was dynamic and further our understanding of how merchant networks sustained longevity and coped with risks in the ever-changing Atlantic world.
Fuzzy Sets on Shaky Ground: Parameter Sensitivity and Confirmation Bias in fsQCA
Authors: Krogslund Chris , Choi Donghyun Danny , Poertner Mathias
Published: November 2014

Scholars have increasingly turned to fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to conduct small- and medium-N studies, arguing that it combines the most desired elements of variable-oriented and case-oriented research. This article demonstrates, however, that fsQCA is an extraordinarily sensitive method whose results are worryingly susceptible to minor parametric and model specification changes. We make two specific claims. First, the causal conditions identified by fsQCA as being sufficient for an outcome to occur are highly contingent upon the values of several key parameters selected by the user. Second, fsQCA results are subject to marked confirmation bias. Given its tendency toward finding complex connections between variables, the method is highly likely to identify as sufficient for an outcome causal combinations containing even randomly generated variables. To support these arguments, we replicate three articles utilizing fsQCA and conduct sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulations to assess the impact of small changes in parameter values and the method's built-in confirmation bias on the overall conclusions about sufficient conditions.
Concordant Parent–Child Reports of Anxiety Predict Impairment in Youth With Functional Abdominal Pain
Authors: Cunningham Natoshia R. , Cohen Mitchell B. , Farrell Michael K. , Mezoff Adam G. , Lynch‐Jordan Anne , Kashikar‐Zuck Susmita
Published: November 2014

Background:

Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is associated with significant anxiety and impairment. Prior investigations of child anxiety in youth with FAP are generally limited by small sample sizes, based on child report, and use lengthy diagnostic tools. It is unknown whether a brief anxiety‐screening tool is feasible, whether parent and child reports of anxiety are congruent, and whether parent and child agreement of child anxiety corresponds to increased impairment. The purpose of this investigation was to examine anxiety characteristics in youth with FAP using parent and child reports. Parent–child agreement of child anxiety symptoms was examined in relation to pain and disability.

Methods:

One hundred patients with FAP (8–18 years of age) recruited from pediatric gastroenterology clinics completed measures of pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale) and disability (Functional Disability Inventory). Patients and caregivers both completed a measure of child anxiety characteristics (Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Disorders).

Results:

Clinically significant anxiety symptoms were more commonly reported by youth (54%) than their parents (30%). Panic/somatic symptoms, generalized anxiety, and separation anxiety were most commonly endorsed by patients, whereas generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, and school avoidance were most commonly reported by parents. The majority (65%) of parents and children agreed on the presence (26%) or absence (39%) of clinically significant anxiety. Parent–child agreement of clinically significant anxiety was related to increased impairment.

Conclusions:

A brief screening instrument of parent and child reports of anxiety can provide clinically relevant information for comprehensive treatment planning in children with FAP.
Viewing images of snakes accelerates making judgements of their colour in humans: red snake effect as an instance of ‘emotional Stroop facilitation’
Authors: Shibasaki Masahiro , Isomura Tomoko , Masataka Nobuo
Published: November 2014

One of the most prevalent current psychobiological notions about human behaviour and emotion suggests that prioritization of threatening stimuli processing induces deleterious effects on task performance. In order to confirm its relevancy, 108 adults and 25 children were required to name the colour of images of snakes and flowers, using the pictorial emotional Stroop paradigm. When reaction time to answer the colour of each stimulus was measured, its value was found to decrease when snake images were presented when compared with when flower images were presented. Thus, contrary to the expectation from previous emotional Stroop paradigm research, emotions evoked by viewing images of snakes as a biologically relevant threatening stimulus were found to be likely to exert a facilitating rather than interfering effect on making judgements of their colour.
Remote sensing and conservation of isolated indigenous villages in Amazonia
Authors: Walker Robert S. , Hamilton Marcus J. , Groth Aaron A.
Published: November 2014

The vast forests on the border between Brazil and Peru harbour a number of indigenous groups that have limited contact with the outside world. Accurate estimates of population sizes and village areas are essential to begin assessing the immediate conservation needs of such isolated groups. In contrast to overflights and encounters on the ground, remote sensing with satellite imagery offers a safe, inexpensive, non-invasive and systematic approach to provide demographic and land-use information for isolated peoples. Satellite imagery can also be used to understand the growth of isolated villages over time. There are five isolated villages in the headwaters of the Envira River confirmed by overflights that are visible with recent satellite imagery further confirming their locations and allowing measurement of their cleared gardens, village areas and thatch roofed houses. These isolated villages appear to have population densities that are an order of magnitude higher than averages for other Brazilian indigenous villages. Here, we report on initial results of a remote surveillance programme designed to monitor movements and assess the demographic health of isolated peoples as a means to better mitigate against external threats to their long-term survival.
Phyllobacterium sophorae sp. nov., a symbiotic bacterium isolated from root nodules of Sophora flavescens
Authors: Jiao Yin Shan , Yan Hui , Ji Zhao Jun , Liu Yuan Hui , Sui Xin Hua , Zhang Xiao Xia , Wang En Tao , Chen Wen Xin , Chen Wen Feng
Published: November 2014

Two novel Gram-stain-negative strains (CCBAU 03422T and CCBAU 03415) isolated from root nodules of Sophora flavescens were classified phylogenetically into the genus

Phyllobacterium

based on the comparative analysis of 16S rRNA and atpD genes. They showed 99.8 % rRNA gene sequence similarities to

Phyllobacterium brassicacearum

LMG 22836T, and strain CCBAU 03422T showed 91.2 and 88.6 % atpD gene sequence similarities to strains

Phyllobacterium endophyticum

LMG 26470T and

Phyllobacterium brassicacearum

LMG 22836T, respectively. Strain CCBAU 03422T contained Q-10 as its major quinone and showed a cellular fatty acid profile, carbon source utilization and other phenotypic characteristics differing from type strains of related species. DNA–DNA relatedness (lower than 48.8 %) further confirmed the differences between the novel strains and the type strains of related species. Strain CCBAU 03422T could nodulate and fix nitrogen effectively on its original host plant, Sophora flavescens. Based upon the results mentioned above, a novel species named Phyllobacterium
sophorae is proposed and the type strain is CCBAU 03422T ( = A-6-3T = LMG 27899T = HAMBI 3508T).
Chitinophaga longshanensis sp. nov., a mineral-weathering bacterium isolated from weathered rock
Authors: Gao Shan , Zhang Wen-Bin , Sheng Xia-Fang , He Lin-Yan , Huang Zhi
Published: November 2014

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, yellow-pigmented, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strain, Z29T, was isolated from the surface of weathered rock (potassic trachyte) from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, PR China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that strain Z29T belongs to the genus

Chitinophaga

in the family

Chitinophagaceae

. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain Z29T and the type strains of recognized species of the genus

Chitinophaga

ranged from 92.7 to 98.2 %. The main fatty acids of strain Z29T were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. It also contained menaquinone 7 (MK-7) as the respiratory quinone and homospermidine as the main polyamine. The polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylethanolamine, unknown aminolipids, unknown phospholipids and unknown lipids. The total DNA G+C content of strain Z29T was 51.3 mol%. Phenotypic properties and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain Z29T with the genus

Chitinophaga

. The low level of DNA–DNA relatedness (ranging from 14.6 to 29.8 %) to the type strains of other species of the genus

Chitinophaga

and differential phenotypic properties demonstrated that strain Z29T represents a novel species of the genus

Chitinophaga

, for which the name Chitinophaga longshanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Z29T ( = CCTCC AB 2014066T = LMG 28237T).
Muriicola marianensis sp. nov., isolated from seawater
Authors: Hu Jing , Zhang Wei-Yan , Zhang Xin-Qi , Hong-Cheng  , Zhu Xu-Fen , Wu Min
Published: November 2014

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, orange-pigmented, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterium, designated strain A6B8T, was isolated from seawater of the Mariana Trench. The isolate grew at 4–50 °C (optimum 30–35 °C), at pH 6.5–8.0 (optimum pH 7.5) and with 0.5–4.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1.0–2.0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain A6B8T was related most closely to the genus

Muriicola

and shared highest sequence similarity of 97.7 % with

Muriicola jejuensis

EM44T. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed menaquinone 6 (MK-6) was the predominant isoprenoid and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH were the major cellular fatty acids. The polar lipid profile of strain A6B8T included phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids and four unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 47.1 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness value (23.3 %) clearly demonstrated that strains A6B8T and

M. jejuensis

EM44T were representatives of two different species. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characterizations, A6B8T ( = CGMCC 1.12606T = KCTC 32436T) is considered to be the type strain of a novel species of the genus

Muriicola

, for which the name Muriicola marianensis sp. nov. is proposed.
Resolving microbial microdiversity with high accuracy full length 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing
Authors: Burke Catherine , Darling Aaron E
Published: November 2014

We describe a method for sequencing full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicons using the high throughput Illumina MiSeq platform. The resulting sequences have about 100-fold higher accuracy than standard Illumina reads and are chimera filtered using information from a single molecule dual tagging scheme that boosts the signal available for chimera detection. We demonstrate that the data provides fine scale phylogenetic resolution not available from Illumina amplicon methods targeting smaller variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene.
Identifying highly-penetrant disease causal mutations using next generation sequencing: Guide to whole process
Authors: Erzurumluoglu Mesut
Published: November 2014

Recent technological advances have created challenges for geneticists and a need to adapt to a wide range of new bioinformatics tools and an expanding wealth of publicly available data (e.g. mutation databases, software). This wide range of methods and a diversity of file formats used in sequence analysis is a significant issue, with a considerable amount of time spent before anyone can even attempt to analyse the genetic basis of human disorders. Another point to consider is although many possess ‘just enough’ knowledge to analyse their data, they do not make full use of the tools and databases that are available and also do not know how their data was created. The primary aim of this review is to document some of the key approaches and provide an analysis schema to make the analysis process more efficient and reliable in the context of discovering highly penetrant causal mutations/genes. This review will also compare the methods used to identify highly penetrant variants when data is obtained from consanguineous individuals as opposed to non-consanguineous; and when Mendelian disorders are analysed as opposed to common-complex disorders.
Phase transitions in tumor growth: II prostate cancer cell lines
Authors: Llanos-Pérez J.A. , Betancourt-Mar A. , De Miguel M. P. , Izquierdo-Kulich E. , Royuela-García M. , Tejera E. , Nieto-Villar J.M.
Published: November 2014

We propose a mechanism for prostate cancer cell lines growth, e.g., LNCaP and PC3 based on a Gompertz dynamics. This growth exhibits a multifractal behavior and a “second order” phase transition. Finally, it was found that the cellular line PC3 exhibits a higher value the entropy production rate compared to LNCaP, which is indicative of the robustness of PC3, over to LNCaP and may be a quantitative index of metastatic potential tumors.

Highlights

Cancer is an open, complex, dynamic and self-organizing system.

Prostate cancer cell lines growth follows a Gompertz dynamics

Prostate cancer cell lines exhibit a multifractal behavior

The entropy production rate may be considered as metastatic potential marker
Annotating RNA motifs in sequences and alignments
Authors: Gardner Paul P. , Eldai Hisham
Published: November 2014

RNA performs a diverse array of important functions across all cellular life. These functions include important roles in translation, building translational machinery and maturing messenger RNA. More recent discoveries include the miRNAs and bacterial sRNAs that regulate gene expression, the thermosensors, riboswitches and other cis-regulatory elements that help prokaryotes sense their environment and eukaryotic piRNAs that suppress transposition. However, there can be a long period between the initial discovery of a RNA and determining its function. We present a bioinformatic approach to characterise RNA motifs, which are the central building blocks of RNA structure. These motifs can, in some instances, provide researchers with functional hypotheses for uncharacterised RNAs. Moreover, we introduce a new profile-based database of RNA motifs - RMfam - and illustrate its application for investigating the evolution and functional characterisation of RNA.

All the data and scripts associated with this work is available from:https://github.com/ppgardne/RMfam
Cupid: simultaneous reconstruction of microRNA-target and ceRNA networks
Authors: Chiu Hua-Sheng , Llobet-Navas David , Yang Xuerui , Chung Wei-Jen , Ambesi-Impiombato Alberto , Iyer Archana , Kim Hyunjae Ryan , Seviour Elena G. , Luo Zijun , Sehgal Vasudha , Moss Tyler , Lu Yiling , Ram Prahlad , Silva José , Mills Gordon B. , Califano Andrea , Sumazin Pavel
Published: November 2014

We introduce a method for simultaneous prediction of microRNA–target interactions and their mediated competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) interactions. Using high-throughput validation assays in breast cancer cell lines, we show that our integrative approach significantly improves on microRNA–target prediction accuracy as assessed by both mRNA and protein level measurements. Our biochemical assays support nearly 500 microRNA–target interactions with evidence for regulation in breast cancer tumors. Moreover, these assays constitute the most extensive validation platform for computationally inferred networks of microRNA–target interactions in breast cancer tumors, providing a useful benchmark to ascertain future improvements.
Decreasing Electron Flux through the Cytochrome and/or Alternative Respiratory Pathways Triggers Common and Distinct Cellular Responses Dependent on Growth Conditions
Authors: Kühn Kristina , Yin Guangkun , Duncan Owen , Law Simon R. , Kubiszewski-Jakubiak Szymon , Kaur Parwinder , Meyer Etienne , Wang Yan , Small Catherine Colas des Francs , Giraud Estelle , Narsai Reena , Whelan James
Published: November 2014

Diverse signaling pathways are activated by perturbation of mitochondrial function under different growth conditions.Mitochondria have emerged as an important organelle for sensing and coping with stress in addition to being the sites of important metabolic pathways. Here, responses to moderate light and drought stress were examined in different Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutant plants lacking a functional alternative oxidase (alternative oxidase1a [aox1a]), those with reduced cytochrome electron transport chain capacity (T3/T7 bacteriophage-type RNA polymerase, mitochondrial, and plastidial [rpoTmp]), and double mutants impaired in both pathways (aox1a:rpoTmp). Under conditions considered optimal for growth, transcriptomes of aox1a and rpoTmp were distinct. Under adverse growth conditions, however, transcriptome changes in aox1a and rpoTmp displayed a highly significant overlap and were indicative of a common mitochondrial stress response and down-regulation of photosynthesis. This suggests that the role of mitochondria to support photosynthesis is provided through either the alternative pathway or the cytochrome pathway, and when either pathway is inhibited, such as under environmental stress, a common, dramatic, and succinct mitochondrial signal is activated to alter energy metabolism in both organelles. aox1a:rpoTmp double mutants grown under optimal conditions showed dramatic reductions in biomass production compared with aox1a and rpoTmp and a transcriptome that was distinct from aox1a or rpoTmp. Transcript data indicating activation of mitochondrial biogenesis in aox1a:rpoTmp were supported by a proteomic analysis of over 200 proteins. Under optimal conditions, aox1a:rpoTmp plants seemed to switch on many of the typical mitochondrial stress regulators. Under adverse conditions, aox1a:rpoTmp turned off these responses and displayed a biotic stress response. Taken together, these results highlight the diverse signaling pathways activated by the perturbation of mitochondrial function under different growth conditions.
Crystal structure of betulinic acid methanol monosolvate
Authors: Tang Wei , Chen Neng-Hua , Li Guo-Qiang , Wang Guo-Cai , Li Yao-Lan
Published: November 2014

The title compound [systematic name: 3β-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid methanol monosolvate], C30H48O3·CH3OH, is a solvent pseudopolymorph of a naturally occurring plant-derived lupane-type pentacyclic triterpenoid, which was isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal plantSyzygium jambos(L.) Alston. The dihedral angle between the planes of the carboxylic acid group and the olefinic group is 12.17 (18)°. TheA/B,B/C,C/DandD/Ering junctions are alltrans-fused. In the crystal, O—H...O hydrogen bonds involving the hydroxy and carboxylic acid groups and the methanol solvent molecule give rise to a two-dimensional network structure lying parallel to (001).
Crystal structure of {3-[3,5-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-1,2-phenylene]-1-(2,6,2′′,6′′-tetramethyl-1,1′:3′,1′′-terphenyl-5′-yl)imidazol-2-ylidene}chlorido(η6-p-cymene)ruthenium(II) benzene disolvate
Authors: Sase Shohei , Ikehara Yuriko , Goto Kei
Published: November 2014

The title compound, [Ru(C47H43N2)Cl(C10H14)]·2C6H6, crystallized with two independent molecules of benzene. One of theN-aryl moieties of theN-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand underwent cyclometallation to form a five-membered ruthenacycle. The complex has a three-legged piano-stool structure with two C atoms incorporated in the five-membered ruthenacycle and a Cl atom as legs. The ruthenacycle is essentially coplanar with the imidazole ring of the NHC ligand, making a dihedral angle of 0.85 (8)°.
Crystal structure of bis(propane-1,3-diaminium) hexafluoridoaluminate diaquatetrafluoridoaluminate tetrahydrate
Authors: Abdi Insaf , Al-Sadhan Khulood , Ben Ali Amor
Published: November 2014

The title compound, (C3H12N2)2[AlF6][AlF4(H2O)2]·4H2O, was obtained by a solvothermal method in ethanol as solvent and with aluminium hydroxide, HF and 1,3-diaminopropane as educts. The asymmetric unit contains a quarter each of two crystallographically independent propane-1,3-diammonium dications, [AlF6]3−and [AlF4(H2O)2]−anions and four water molecules. The cations, anions and three of the independent water molecules are situated on special positionsmm, while the fourth water molecule is disordered about a mirror plane. In the crystal, intermolecular N—H...F and O—H...F hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions into a three-dimensional framework with the voids filled by water molecules, which generate O—H...O hydrogen bonds and further consolidate the packing.
Crystal structure of 2-[12-methyl-14-phenyl-10,13,14,16-tetraazatetracyclo[7.7.0.02,7.011,15]hexadeca-1(16),2,4,6,9,11(15),12-heptaen-8-ylidene]propandinitrile
Authors: Mague Joel T. , Mohamed Shaaban K. , Akkurt Mehmet , El-Kashef Hussein M. S. , Albayati Mustafa R.
Published: November 2014

In the title molecule, C22H12N6, the fused tetracyclic core shows a small lengthwise twist as indicated by the dihedral of 2.7 (2)° between the outer rings. In the crystal, molecules stack along theb-axis directionviaoffset π-stacking [centroid–centroid distances = 3.5282 (13) and 3.5597 (14) Å] with the stacks weakly associated through C—H...N hydrogen bonds. The phenyl ring is rotationally disordered over two orientations with an occupancy ratio of 0.516 (4):0.484 (4).
Crystal structure of the ternary silicide Gd2Re3Si5
Authors: Fedyna Vitaliia , Kozak Roksolana , Gladyshevskii Roman
Published: November 2014

A single crystal of the title compound, the ternary silicide digadolinium trirhenium pentasilicide, Gd2Re3Si5, was isolated from an alloy of nominal composition Gd20Re30Si50synthesized by arc melting and investigated by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Its crystal structure belongs to the U2Mn3Si5structure type. All atoms in the asymmetric lie on special positions. The Gd site has site symmetrym..; the two Mn atoms have site symmetriesm.. and 2.22; the three Si atoms have site symmetriesm.., ..2 and 4.. . The coordination polyhedra of the Gd atoms have 21 vertices, while those of the Re atoms are cubooctahedra and 13-vertex polyhedra. The Si atoms are arranged as tricapped trigonal prisms, bicapped square antiprisms, or 11-vertex polyhedra. The crystal structure of the title compound is also related to the structure types CaBe2Ge2and W5Si3. It can be represented as a stacking of Gd-centred polyhedra of composition [GdSi9]. The Re atoms form infinite chains with an Re—Re distance of 2.78163 (5) Å and isolated squares with an Re—Re distance of 2.9683 (6) Å.
Diamond structure cannot be stable in nm-sized particles
Authors: Batsanov Stepan S.
Published: November 2014

The observed and calculated densities of nanodiamond cannot be reconciled, and the stability of diamond structure explained, if nanodiamond is regarded as a form ofpurecarbon. The surface-terminating hydrogen and functional groups are an integral part in the stability of these particles which therefore need not be as inert and non-toxic as bulk diamond, with important implications for nanomedicine.
Model structures for C-(A)-S-H(I)
Authors: Richardson Ian G.
Published: November 2014

C-(A)-S-H(I) is a calcium silicate hydrate that is studied extensively as a model for the main binding phase in concrete. It is a structurally imperfect form of 14 Å tobermorite that has variable composition and length of (alumino)silicate anions. New structural–chemical formulae are presented for single- and double-chain tobermorite-based phases and equations are provided that can be used to calculate a number of useful quantities from29Si NMR data. It is shown that there are no interlayer calcium ions when the silicate chains are of infinite length and that one is added for each tetrahedral `bridging' site that is vacant. Preparations that have Ca/Si greater than about 1.4 include an intermixed Ca-rich phase. It is not possible to generate a structural model for a dimer that is crystal-chemically consistent with known calcium silicate hydrates if the starting structure is an orthotobermorite,i.e.of the type that has been used in all previous studies. Crystal-chemically plausible models are developed that are based instead on clinotobermorite. A number of models that represent different mean chain lengths are developed using crystal-chemical and geometrical reasoning. The models account for experimental observations, including variations in Ca/Si, H2O/Si, (alumino)silicate anion structure and layer spacing.
Private equity investment and real estate development
Authors: Rajan Annamalai Thillai , Bansal Bharat , Gemson Josephine
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the trends and contribution of private equity (PE) investors in real estate development in India because the real estate sector in India had witnessed significant investments from PE firms in recent years.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study focused on residential segment of real estate development, as it is the largest among all the segments. Two types of analyses have been done in this paper: first was to compare residential projects with PE investment with those that did not have any PE investment. The results were based on an analysis of 453 residential projects. The second was an analysis of only those projects that had PE investment. This paper studied if there were differences in investment patterns between domestic and foreign PE investors, and dedicated and diversified PE investors.

Findings

– Projects with PE investment were larger, as compared to projects that did not have any PE investment. The results of this paper also showed that PE firms preferred to invest with developers who had significant experience in undertaking larger-sized projects. PE investments significantly happened in projects that were located in metro cities. While PE firms as a whole preferred to invest in project mode, domestic investors were more inclined to invest in a project structure as compared to foreign PE firms. Though foreign PE firms invested more amounts per deal on average, there was a negative relationship between foreign PE firms and the extent of their shareholding in the investment.

Practical implications

– Encouraging PE investment in real estate projects would contribute toward to increasing the transparency in the sector. Strengthening the domestic PE industry would increase investment flow for real estate projects. PE investors who are able to add value to their investments are able to obtain higher shareholding.

Originality/value

– Empirical research on Indian real estate industry is scarce because of the lack of transparency and availability of reliable data. This is one of the initial studies on the Indian real estate sector based on a robust dataset.
Rationales for public private partnership (PPP) implementation in Malaysia
Authors: Ismail Suhaiza , Azzahra Haris Fatimah
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to, first, examine the rationale for implementation of public private partnerships (PPP) in Malaysia. Second, it investigates the differences among perceptions of the public and private sectors, in relation to the rationales for implementing PPP in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire survey captured the perceptions of the public and private sectors concerning the rationales for PPP implementation in Malaysia. Of 250 questionnaires distributed, 122 usable responses were obtained and analysed using SPSS to rank the importance of the rationales and to examine differences in perceptions between the government and private sectors.

Findings

– Results show that “to enhance private sector involvement in economic development” is the only rationale that was rated as most important by all respondents. While other rationales were perceived as important, “to reduce the role of the Government in providing public services and facilities” was regarded as the least important rationale by both parties. The results also reveal significant differences between public and private perceptions for the least important rationales.

Originality/value

– This paper offers empirical evidence on the concept and the rationales for implementing PPP in Malaysia, and also provides evidence on the differences in the perceptions of the public and private sectors in relation to these rationales.
Agency theory, capital structure and firm performance: some Indian evidence
Authors: Dawar Varun
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– Based on the agency theory, the purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the impact of capital structure choice on firm performance in India as one of the emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Fixed effect panel regression model is used to analyse ten years of data (2003-2012) on the sample units, to find the relation between leverage and firm performance after controlling for factors such as size, age, tangibility, growth, liquidity and advertising.

Findings

– Empirical results suggest that leverage has a negative influence on financial performance of Indian firms, which is in contrast with the assumptions of agency theory as commonly received and accepted in other developed as well as emerging economies. Consequently, postulates of agency theory have to be seen with different perspective in India given the underdeveloped nature of bond markets and dominance of state-owned banks in lending to corporate sector.

Practical implications

– The findings of the paper will enable the practitioners and analysts to understand as to why, in the bank-dominated debt financing system in India, leverage is negatively associated with firm performance.

Originality/value

– The results of the study enrich the literature on capital structure and agency costs issues in several ways.
Spatial risk factors of felonious battery to police officers
Authors: M. Caplan Joel , Marotta Phillip , L. Piza Eric , W. Kennedy Leslie
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the spatial influence of features of the physical environment on the risk of aggression toward law enforcement.

Design/methodology/approach

– The spatial analytic technique, risk terrain modeling was performed on felonious battery data provided by the Chicago Police Department.

Findings

– Out of the 991 batteries against law enforcement officers (LEOs) in Chicago, 11 features of the physical environment were identified as presenting a statistically significant spatial risk of battery to LEOs. Calls for service within three blocks of foreclosures and/or within a dense area of problem buildings pose as much as two times greater risk of battery to police officers than what is presented by other significant spatial factors in the model.

Originality/value

– An abundance of existing research on aggression toward law enforcement is situated from the perspective of characteristics of the suspect or officer. The research advances the field of violence studies by illustrating the importance of incorporating physical features of the environment into empirical studies of aggression.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards: complexity, confusion and case law – a commentary
Authors: Lennard Chris
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– As a healthcare professional caring for people who lack capacity, the author has noted a wide variation in knowledge and awareness by staff of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The purpose of this paper is to examine the DoLS and the background to their coming into being, describes their operation and qualifying requirements, and the continuing problems with their application nationwide.

Design/methodology/approach

– Utilising a literature search of government papers, official reports of statutory bodies, and critical studies, it examines the central criticisms of DoLS, particularly the lack of a clear statutory definition of deprivation of liberty, and reports on the wide variation in knowledge of the legislation by staff in health and social care, and uneven application of the safeguards nationwide.

Findings

– It cites evidence from studies showing that even professionals with high levels of expertise in the field find the legislation confusing, and presents testimony from legal experts that case law has failed to clarify the issues for professionals.

Originality/value

– Finally, it argues that the legislation is now too complex to successfully amend, and tentatively suggests that, pending a government review to make the process more understandable, health care professionals make ‘precautionary’ applications for DoLS. The author argues that, notwithstanding its faults, the process is a worthwhile exercise in care planning and ensuring that people's care is in their best interests and the least restrictive available.
Density‐ and trait‐mediated effects of a parasite and a predator in a tri‐trophic food web
Authors: Banerji Aabir , Duncan Alison B. , Griffin Joanne S. , Humphries Stuart , Petchey Owen L. , Kaltz Oliver
Published: November 2014

Despite growing interest in ecological consequences of parasitism in food webs, relatively little is known about effects of parasites on long‐term population dynamics of non‐host species or about whether such effects are density or trait mediated.

We studied a tri‐trophic food chain comprised of (i) a bacterial basal resource (Serratia fonticola), (ii) an intermediate consumer (Paramecium caudatum), (iii) a top predator (Didinium nasutum) and (iv) a parasite of the intermediate consumer (Holospora undulata). A fully factorial experimental manipulation of predator and parasite presence/absence was combined with analyses of population dynamics, modelling and analyses of host (Paramecium) morphology and behaviour.

Predation and parasitism each reduced the abundance of the intermediate consumer (Paramecium), and parasitism indirectly reduced the abundance of the basal resource (Serratia). However, in combination, predation and parasitism had non‐additive effects on the abundance of the intermediate consumer, as well as on that of the basal resource. In both cases, the negative effect of parasitism seemed to be effaced by predation.

Infection of the intermediate consumer reduced predator abundance. Modelling and additional experimentation revealed that this was most likely due to parasite reduction of intermediate host abundance (a density‐mediated effect), as opposed to changes in predator functional or numerical response.

Parasitism altered morphological and behavioural traits, by reducing host cell length and increasing the swimming speed of cells with moderate parasite loads. Additional tests showed no significant difference in Didinium feeding rate on infected and uninfected hosts, suggesting that the combination of these modifications does not affect host vulnerability to predation. However, estimated rates of encounter with Serratia based on these modifications were higher for infected Paramecium than for uninfected Paramecium.

A mixture of density‐mediated and trait‐mediated indirect effects of parasitism on non‐host species creates rich and complex possibilities for effects of parasites in food webs that should be included in assessments of possible impacts of parasite eradication or introduction.
Hot flushes and night sweats are associated with coronary heart disease risk in midlife: a longitudinal study
Authors: Herber‐Gast GCM , Brown WJ , Mishra GD
Published: November 2014

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between vasomotor menopausal symptoms (VMS), i.e. hot flushes and night sweats, and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD).

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting and population

11 725 women, aged 45–50 years at baseline in 1996, were followed up at 3‐year intervals for 14 years.

Methods

Self‐reported VMS and incident CHD were measured at each survey.

Main outcome measure

We determined the association between VMS and CHD at the subsequent survey, using generalised estimating equation analysis, adjusting for time‐varying covariates.

Results

At baseline, 14% reported rarely, 17% reported sometimes, and 7% reported often having night sweats. During follow‐up, 187 CHD events occurred. In the age‐adjusted analysis, women who reported their frequency of experiencing hot flushes and night sweats as ‘often’ had a greater than two‐fold increased odds of CHD (OR hot flushes 2.18, 95% CI 1.49–3.18; OR night sweats 2.38, 95% CI 1.62–3.50) compared with women with no symptoms (P trend < 0.001 for frequency of symptoms). Adjustment for menopausal status, lifestyle factors, body mass index, diabetes, and hypertension attenuated the associations (OR hot flushes 1.70, 95% CI 1.16–2.51, P trend = 0.01; OR night sweats 1.84, 95% CI 1.24–2.73), P trend = 0.004).

Conclusions

Women who report having hot flushes or night sweats ‘often’ have an increased risk of developing CHD over a period of 14 years, even after taking the effects of age, menopause status, lifestyle, and other chronic disease risk factors into account.
Visualization of Latent Blood Stains Using Visible Reflectance Hyperspectral Imaging and Chemometrics
Authors: Edelman Gerda J. , van Leeuwen Ton G. , Aalders Maurice C.
Published: November 2014

The detection of latent traces is an important aspect of crime scene investigation. Blood stains on black backgrounds can be visualized using chemiluminescence, which is invasive and requires a darkened room, or near‐infrared photography, for which investigators need to change filters manually to optimize contrast. We demonstrated the performance of visible reflectance hyperspectral imaging (400–720 nm) for this purpose. Several processing methods were evaluated: single wavelength bands, ratio images, principal component analysis (PCA), and “SIMPLe‐to‐use Interactive Self‐modeling Mixture Analysis” (SIMPLISMA). Using these methods, we were able to enhance the contrast between blood stains and 12 different fabrics. On black cotton, blood dilutions were visible with a minimal concentration of 25% of whole blood. The hyperspectral camera system used in this study is portable and wireless, which makes it suitable for crime scene use. The described technique is noncontact and nondestructive, so all traces are preserved for further analysis.
Reduction of Powerplex® Y23 Reaction Volume for Genotyping Buccal Cell Samples on FTATM Cards
Authors: Raziel Aliza , Dell'Ariccia‐Carmon Aviva , Zamir Ashira
Published: November 2014

PowerPlex® Y23 is a novel kit for Y‐STR typing that includes new highly discriminating loci. The Israel DNA Database laboratory has recently adopted it for routine Y‐STR analysis. This study examined PCR amplification from 1.2‐mm FTA punch in reduced volumes of 5 and 10 μL. Direct amplification and washing of the FTA punches were examined in different PCR cycle numbers. One short robotically performed wash was found to improve the quality and the percent of profiles obtained. The optimal PCR cycle number was determined for 5 and 10 μL reaction volumes. The percent of obtained profiles, color balance, and reproducibility were examined. High‐quality profiles were achieved in 90% and 88% of the samples amplified in 5 and 10 μL, respectively, in the first attempt. Volume reduction to 5 μL has a vast economic impact especially for DNA database laboratories.
Bilateral First Rib Anomalous Articulations with Pseudarthroses Mimicking Healing Fractures in an Infant with Abusive Head Injury
Authors: Pasquale‐Styles Melissa A. , Crowder Christian M. , Fridie Jeannette , Milla Sarah S.
Published: November 2014

Bilateral symmetric bone nodules were observed in the anterolateral first ribs of an infant with shaking injuries at autopsy. The location prompted diagnostic considerations of healing fractures versus anomalous articulations with pseudarthroses. The forensic pathologist worked with forensic anthropologists and pediatric radiologists to evaluate autopsy findings and compare premortem and postmortem X‐rays. Gross examination of the bones by the pathologist and anthropologists confirmed bilateral, callus‐like bone nodules in first‐rib locations associated with pseudarthroses. Histologic examination of one of the bones further showed features most consistent with pseudarthrosis, not a healing fracture. Radiologists then compared multiple premortem and postmortem radiographs that showed no remodeling of the bone over a 2‐week interval between the time of injury and death, which would be unexpected for a healing fracture in an infant. This multidisciplinary approach resulted in the appropriate diagnosis of pseudarthroses due to anomalous articulations, an uncommon finding in forensic pathology.
Attachment Models in Incarcerated Sex Offenders: A Preliminary Italian Study Using the Adult Attachment Interview
Authors: Grattagliano Ignazio , Cassibba Rosalinda , Costantini Alessandro , Laquale Giovanni Michele , Latrofa Alessandra , Papagna Sonia , Sette Giovanna , Taurino Alessandro , Terlizzi Maria
Published: November 2014

A group of sex offenders (clinical group: n = 19) was compared to a nonclinical sample matched by age, years of education, and gender (control group A: n = 19) to verify a higher incidence of insecure attachment models among sex offenders. In addition, we tested whether sex offenders were characterized by specific childhood experiences, compared to control adults (control group B: n = 19) with the same secure/insecure attachment classification. Results showed significant differences between offenders and control adults on both the AAI continuous score and the distribution of the two‐way attachment classifications. Furthermore, sex offenders reported more intense experiences of rejection by the father figure and abuse in the family context during early childhood compared to not offenders subjects with the same attachment classification.
Analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a normalized cDNA library and isolation of EST simple sequence repeats from the invasive cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis
Authors: Li Hui , Lang Kun‐Ling , Fu Hai‐Bin , Shen Chang‐Peng , Wan Fang‐Hao , Chu Dong
Published: November 2014

The cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, is a serious and invasive pest. At present, genetic resources for studying P. solenopsis are limited, and this negatively affects genetic research on the organism and, consequently, translational work to improve management of this pest. In the present study, expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were analyzed from a normalized complementary DNA library of P. solenopsis. In addition, EST‐derived microsatellite loci (also known as simple sequence repeats or SSRs) were isolated and characterized. A total of 1107 high‐quality ESTs were acquired from the library. Clustering and assembly analysis resulted in 785 unigenes, which were classified functionally into 23 categories according to the Gene Ontology database. Seven EST‐based SSR markers were developed in this study and are expected to be useful in characterizing how this invasive species was introduced, as well as providing insights into its genetic microevolution.