bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Randomized Feasibility Trial of a New Lifestyle Referral Assessment Versus Usual Assessment in an Acute Cardiology Setting
Authors: Hill Kate , Walwyn Rebecca , Camidge Diana , Murray Jenni , Meads David , Reynolds Greg , Farrin Amanda , House Allan
Published: September 2015

Background:

A healthy diet, taking exercise, and not smoking or consuming alcohol in excess are important to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease either alone or in combination with statin medication. Health education, including providing information to patients on healthy living and guidance on how to achieve it, is a key nursing function.

Objectives:

This study aims first to assess the feasibility of conducting a full-scale trial of lifestyle referral assessment as shown by recruitment rate, data collection, and follow-up and second to assess proof of concept and explore possible mechanisms of change.

Methods:

This was a single-center, randomized, 2-arm, parallel-group, unblinded feasibility trial conducted in an acute teaching hospital trust. Participants were followed up at 3 and 6 months after randomization.

Results:

Eight hundred eighty-seven patients were screened for eligibility, of whom 132 (15%) were randomized into the trial. Of the patients allocated to the individualized assessment, 27% accepted referral or self-referred by 3 months in comparison to 5% allocated to the usual assessment.

Conclusions:

We demonstrated that a full-scale trial is feasible and that an individualized approach increased the number of patients accepting referral to a formal program and initiating lifestyle change. However, we should consider the aim of the assessment and ways in which the process of change can be optimized in order to produce long-term benefit for patients.

Trial registration: current controlled trials ISRCTN41781196.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis Is Not Associated With Sequence Variants in Antioxidant Response Genes in Premature Infants
Authors: Sampath Venkatesh , Helbling Daniel , Menden Heather , Dimmock David , Mulrooney Neil P. , Murray Jeffrey C. , Dagle John M. , Garland Jeffery S.
Published: September 2015

Reactive oxygen species mediate intestinal injury in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and yet the contribution of antioxidant response (ARE) gene polymorphisms to NEC risk remains unknown. Premature infants recruited in a multicenter study were genotyped for 6 ARE variants. Among 637 infants, 52 had NEC, and 22 developed surgical NEC. Gestational age <28 weeks (P < 0.02) and African American race (P = 0.03) were associated with NEC. The NFE2L2 (rs6721961), SOD2 (rs4880), GSTP1 (rs1695), NQO1 (rs1800566), GCLC (rs17883901), and HMOX1 (rs2071747) variants were not associated with medical or surgical NEC. This study does not support a role for common deleterious ARE variants in NEC.
Artificial fish skin of self-powered micro-electromechanical systems hair cells for sensing hydrodynamic flow phenomena
Authors: Asadnia Mohsen , Kottapalli Ajay Giri Prakash , Miao Jianmin , Warkiani Majid Ebrahimi , Triantafyllou Michael S.
Published: September 2015

Using biological sensors, aquatic animals like fishes are capable of performing impressive behaviours such as super-manoeuvrability, hydrodynamic flow ‘vision’ and object localization with a success unmatched by human-engineered technologies. Inspired by the multiple functionalities of the ubiquitous lateral-line sensors of fishes, we developed flexible and surface-mountable arrays of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) artificial hair cell flow sensors. This paper reports the development of the MEMS artificial versions of superficial and canal neuromasts and experimental characterization of their unique flow-sensing roles. Our MEMS flow sensors feature a stereolithographically fabricated polymer hair cell mounted on Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3micro-diaphragm with floating bottom electrode. Canal-inspired versions are developed by mounting a polymer canal with pores that guide external flows to the hair cells embedded in the canal. Experimental results conducted employing our MEMS artificial superficial neuromasts (SNs) demonstrated a high sensitivity and very low threshold detection limit of 22 mV/(mm s−1) and 8.2 µm s−1, respectively, for an oscillating dipole stimulus vibrating at 35 Hz. Flexible arrays of such superficial sensors were demonstrated to localize an underwater dipole stimulus. Comparative experimental studies revealed a high-pass filtering nature of the canal encapsulated sensors with a cut-off frequency of 10 Hz and a flat frequency response of artificial SNs. Flexible arrays of self-powered, miniaturized, light-weight, low-cost and robust artificial lateral-line systems could enhance the capabilities of underwater vehicles.
Optics of cone photoreceptors in the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
Authors: Wilby David , Toomey Matthew B. , Olsson Peter , Frederiksen Rikard , Cornwall M. Carter , Oulton Ruth , Kelber Almut , Corbo Joseph C. , Roberts Nicholas W.
Published: September 2015

Vision is the primary sensory modality of birds, and its importance is evident in the sophistication of their visual systems. Coloured oil droplets in the cone photoreceptors represent an adaptation in the avian retina, acting as long-pass colour filters. However, we currently lack understanding of how the optical properties and morphology of component structures (e.g. oil droplet, mitochondrial ellipsoid and outer segment) of the cone photoreceptor influence the transmission of light into the outer segment and the ultimate effect they have on receptor sensitivity. In this study, we use data from microspectrophotometry, digital holographic microscopy and electron microscopy to inform electromagnetic models of avian cone photoreceptors to quantitatively investigate the integrated optical function of the cell. We find that pigmented oil droplets primarily function as spectral filters, not light collection devices, although the mitochondrial ellipsoid improves optical coupling between the inner segment and oil droplet. In contrast, unpigmented droplets found in violet-sensitive cones double sensitivity at its peak relative to other cone types. Oil droplets and ellipsoids both narrow the angular sensitivity of single cone photoreceptors, but not as strongly as those in human cones.
In vitro
degradability, bioactivity and primary cell responses to bone cements containing mesoporous magnesium–calcium silicate and calcium sulfate for bone regeneration
Authors: Ding Yueting , Tang Songchao , Yu Baoqing , Yan Yonggang , Li Hong , Wei Jie , Su Jiacan
Published: September 2015

Mesoporous calcium sulfate-based bone cements (m-CSBC) were prepared by introducing mesoporous magnesium–calcium silicate (m-MCS) with specific surface area (410.9 m² g
−1
) and pore volume (0.8 cm³ g
−1
) into calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CSH). The setting time of the m-CSBC was longer with the increase of m-MCS content while compressive strength decreased. The degradation ratio of m-CSBC increased from 48.6 w% to 63.5 w% with an increase of m-MCS content after soaking in Tris–HCl solution for 84 days. Moreover, the m-CSBC containing m-MCS showed the ability to neutralize the acidic degradation products of calcium sulfate and prevent the pH from dropping. The apatite could be induced on m-CSBC surfaces after soaking in SBF for 7 days, indicating good bioactivity. The effects of the m-CSBC on vitamin D
3
sustained release behaviours were investigated. It was found that the cumulative release ratio of vitamin D
3
from the m-CSBC significantly increased with the increase of m-MCS content after soaking in PBS (pH = 7.4) for 25 days. The m-CSBC markedly improved the cell-positive responses, including the attachment, proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells, suggesting good cytocompatibility. Briefly, m-CSBC with good bioactivity, degradability and cytocompatibility might be an excellent biocement for bone regeneration.
Purification, characterization and crystallization of the F-ATPase from
Paracoccus denitrificans
Authors: Morales-Rios Edgar , Watt Ian N. , Zhang Qifeng , Ding Shujing , Fearnley Ian M. , Montgomery Martin G. , Wakelam Michael J. O. , Walker John E.
Published: September 2015

The structures of F-ATPases have been determined predominantly with mitochondrial enzymes, but hitherto no F-ATPase has been crystallized intact. A high-resolution model of the bovine enzyme built up from separate sub-structures determined by X-ray crystallography contains about 85% of the entire complex, but it lacks a crucial region that provides a transmembrane proton pathway involved in the generation of the rotary mechanism that drives the synthesis of ATP. Here the isolation, characterization and crystallization of an integral F-ATPase complex from the α-proteobacterium
Paracoccus denitrificans
are described. Unlike many eubacterial F-ATPases, which can both synthesize and hydrolyse ATP, the
P. denitrificans
enzyme can only carry out the synthetic reaction. The mechanism of inhibition of its ATP hydrolytic activity involves a ζ inhibitor protein, which binds to the catalytic F
1
-domain of the enzyme. The complex that has been crystallized, and the crystals themselves, contain the nine core proteins of the complete F-ATPase complex plus the ζ inhibitor protein. The formation of crystals depends upon the presence of bound bacterial cardiolipin and phospholipid molecules; when they were removed, the complex failed to crystallize. The experiments open the way to an atomic structure of an F-ATPase complex.
A phylogenomic analysis of the role and timing of molecular adaptation in the aquatic transition of cetartiodactyl mammals
Authors: Tsagkogeorga Georgia , McGowen Michael R. , Davies Kalina T. J. , Jarman Simon , Polanowski Andrea , Bertelsen Mads F. , Rossiter Stephen J.
Published: September 2015

Recent studies have reported multiple cases of molecular adaptation in cetaceans related to their aquatic abilities. However, none of these has included the hippopotamus, precluding an understanding of whether molecular adaptations in cetaceans occurred before or after they split from their semi-aquatic sister taxa. Here, we obtained new transcriptomes from the hippopotamus and humpback whale, and analysed these together with available data from eight other cetaceans. We identified more than 11 000 orthologous genes and compiled a genome-wide dataset of 6845 coding DNA sequences among 23 mammals, to our knowledge the largest phylogenomic dataset to date for cetaceans. We found positive selection in nine genes on the branch leading to the common ancestor of hippopotamus and whales, and 461 genes in cetaceans compared to 64 in hippopotamus. Functional annotation revealed adaptations in diverse processes, including lipid metabolism, hypoxia, muscle and brain function. By combining these findings with data on protein–protein interactions, we found evidence suggesting clustering among gene products relating to nervous and muscular systems in cetaceans. We found little support for shared ancestral adaptations in the two taxa; most molecular adaptations in extant cetaceans occurred after their split with hippopotamids.
Comparison of dogs and humans in visual scanning of social interaction
Authors: Törnqvist Heini , Somppi Sanni , Koskela Aija , Krause Christina M. , Vainio Outi , Kujala Miiamaaria V.
Published: September 2015

Previous studies have demonstrated similarities in gazing behaviour of dogs and humans, but comparisons under similar conditions are rare, and little is known about dogs' visual attention to social scenes. Here, we recorded the eye gaze of dogs while they viewed images containing two humans or dogs either interacting socially or facing away: the results were compared with equivalent data measured from humans. Furthermore, we compared the gazing behaviour of two dog and two human populations with different social experiences: family and kennel dogs; dog experts and non-experts. Dogs' gazing behaviour was similar to humans: both species gazed longer at the actors in social interaction than in non-social images. However, humans gazed longer at the actors in dog than human social interaction images, whereas dogs gazed longer at the actors in human than dog social interaction images. Both species also made more saccades between actors in images representing non-conspecifics, which could indicate that processing social interaction of non-conspecifics may be more demanding. Dog experts and non-experts viewed the images very similarly. Kennel dogs viewed images less than family dogs, but otherwise their gazing behaviour did not differ, indicating that the basic processing of social stimuli remains similar regardless of social experiences.
Concordance between RNA-sequencing data and DNA microarray data in transcriptome analysis of proliferative and quiescent fibroblasts
Authors: Trost Brett , Moir Catherine A. , Gillespie Zoe E. , Kusalik Anthony , Mitchell Jennifer A. , Eskiw Christopher H.
Published: September 2015

DNA microarrays and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) are major technologies for performing high-throughput analysis of transcript abundance. Recently, concerns have been raised regarding the concordance of data derived from the two techniques. Using cDNA libraries derived from normal human foreskin fibroblasts, we measured changes in transcript abundance as cells transitioned from proliferative growth to quiescence using both DNA microarrays and RNA-seq. The internal reproducibility of the RNA-seq data was greater than that of the microarray data. Correlations between the RNA-seq data and the individual microarrays were low, but correlations between the RNA-seq values and the geometric mean of the microarray values were moderate. The two technologies had good agreement when considering probes with the largest (both positive and negative) fold change (FC) values. An independent technique, quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), was used to measure the FC of 76 genes between proliferative and quiescent samples, and a higher correlation was observed between the qRT-PCR data and the RNA-seq data than between the qRT-PCR data and the microarray data.
Somatic cell nuclear transfer: origins, the present position and future opportunities
Authors: Wilmut Ian , Bai Yu , Taylor Jane
Published: September 2015

Nuclear transfer that involves the transfer of the nucleus from a donor cell into an oocyte or early embryo from which the chromosomes have been removed was considered first as a means of assessing changes during development in the ability of the nucleus to control development. In mammals, development of embryos produced by nuclear transfer depends upon coordination of the cell cycles of donor and recipient cells. Our analysis of nuclear potential was completed in 1996 when a nucleus from an adult ewe mammary gland cell controlled development to term of Dolly the sheep. The new procedure has been used to target the first precise genetic modification into livestock; however, the greatest inheritance of the Dolly experiment was to make biologists think differently. If unknown factors in the recipient oocyte could reprogramme the nucleus to a stage very early in development then there must be other ways of making that change. Within 10 years, two laboratories working independently established protocols by which the introduction of selected transcription factors changes a small proportion of the treated cells to pluripotent stem cells. This ability to produce ‘induced pluripotent stem cells’ is providing revolutionary new opportunities in research and cell therapy.
Present and future challenges of induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Ohnuki Mari , Takahashi Kazutoshi
Published: September 2015

Growing old is our destiny. However, the mature differentiated cells making up our body can be rejuvenated to an embryo-like fate called pluripotency which is an ability to differentiate into all cell types by enforced expression of defined transcription factors. The discovery of this induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has opened up unprecedented opportunities in regenerative medicine, disease modelling and drug discovery. In this review, we introduce the applications and future perspectives of human iPSCs and we also show how iPSC technology has evolved along the way.
From gristle to chondrocyte transplantation: treatment of cartilage injuries
Authors: Lindahl Anders
Published: September 2015

This review addresses the progress in cartilage repair technology over the decades with an emphasis on cartilage regeneration with cell therapy. The most abundant cartilage is the hyaline cartilage that covers the surface of our joints and, due to avascularity, this tissue is unable to repair itself. The cartilage degeneration seen in osteoarthritis causes patient suffering and is a huge burden to society. The surgical approach to cartilage repair was non-existing until the 1950s when new surgical techniques emerged. The use of cultured cells for cell therapy started as experimental studies in the 1970s that developed over the years to a clinical application in 1994 with the introduction of the autologous chondrocyte transplantation technique (ACT). The technology is now spread worldwide and has been further refined by combining arthroscopic techniques with cells cultured on matrix (MACI technology). The non-regenerating hypothesis of cartilage has been revisited and we are now able to demonstrate cell divisions and presence of stem-cell niches in the joint. Furthermore, cartilage derived from human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells could be the base for new broader cell treatments for cartilage injuries and the future technology base for prevention and cure of osteoarthritis.
Cell-based therapy technology classifications and translational challenges
Authors: Mount Natalie M. , Ward Stephen J. , Kefalas Panos , Hyllner Johan
Published: September 2015

Cell therapies offer the promise of treating and altering the course of diseases which cannot be addressed adequately by existing pharmaceuticals. Cell therapies are a diverse group across cell types and therapeutic indications and have been an active area of research for many years but are now strongly emerging through translation and towards successful commercial development and patient access. In this article, we present a description of a classification of cell therapies on the basis of their underlying technologies rather than the more commonly used classification by cell type because the regulatory path and manufacturing solutions are often similar within a technology area due to the nature of the methods used. We analyse the progress of new cell therapies towards clinical translation, examine how they are addressing the clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and reimbursement requirements, describe some of the remaining challenges and provide perspectives on how the field may progress for the future.
Tying down loose ends in the Chlamydomonas genome
Authors: Cross Frederick R.
Published: September 2015

TheChlamydomonasgenome has been sequenced, assembled and annotated to produce a rich resource for genetics and molecular biology in this well-studied model organism. The annotated genome is very rich in open reading frames upstream of the annotated coding sequence (‘uORFs’): almost three quarters of the assigned transcripts have at least one uORF, and frequently more than one. This is problematic with respect to the standard ‘scanning’ model for eukaryotic translation initiation. These uORFs can be grouped into three classes: class 1, initiating in-frame with the coding sequence (cds) (thus providing a potential in-frame N-terminal extension); class 2, initiating in the 5UT and terminating out-of-frame in the cds; and class 3, initiating and terminating within the 5UT. Multiple bioinformatics criteria (including analysis of Kozak consensus sequence agreement and BLASTP comparisons to the closely relatedVolvoxgenome, and statistical comparison to cds and to random-sequence controls) indicate that of ~4000 class 1 uORFs, approximately half are likelyin vivotranslation initiation sites. The proposed resulting N-terminal extensions in many cases will sharply alter the predicted biochemical properties of the encoded proteins. These results suggest significant modifications in ~2000 of the ~20,000 transcript models with respect to translation initiation and encoded peptides. In contrast, class 2 uORFs may be subject to purifying selection, and the existent ones (surviving selection) are likely inefficiently translated. Class 3 uORFs are remarkably similar to random sequence expectations with respect to size, number and composition and therefore may be largely selectively neutral; their very high abundance (found in more than half of transcripts, frequently with multiple uORFs per transcript) nevertheless suggests the possibility of translational regulation on a wide scale.
Genetic structure of island and mainland populations of a Neotropical bumble bee species
Authors: Francisco Flavio O , Santiago Leandro R , Mizusawa Yuri M , Oldroyd Benjamin P , Arias Maria C
Published: September 2015

Biodiversity loss is a global problem and island species/populations are particularly vulnerable to such loss. Low genetic diversity is one of the factors that can lead a population to extinction. Loss of bee populations is of particular concern because of the knock-on consequences for the pollination guilds that the lost bees once serviced. Here we evaluate the genetic structure of the bumble beeBombus moriopopulations on the mainland of South East Brazil and on nearby islands. We analyzed a total of 659 individuals from 24 populations by sequencing two mitochondrial genes (COI and Cytb) and using 14 microsatellite loci. Levels of diversity were high in most of populations and were similar on islands and the mainland. Furthermore, genetic diversity was not significantly correlated with island area, although it was lower in populations from distant islands. Our data suggest that long-term isolation on islands is not affecting the population viability of this species. This may be attributed to the high dispersal ability ofB. morio, its capacity to suvive in urban environments, and the characteristics of the studied islands.
Automated discovery of relationships, models and principles in ecology
Authors: Cardoso Pedro , Borges Paulo A. V. , Carvalho José C. , Rigal François , Gabriel Rosalina , Cascalho José , Correia Luís
Published: September 2015

Ecological systems are the quintessential complex systems, involving numerous high-order interactions and non-linear relationships. The most commonly used statistical modelling techniques can hardly reflect the complexity of ecological patterns and processes. Finding hidden relationships in complex data is now possible through the use of massive computational power, particularly by means of Artificial Intelligence methods, such as evolutionary computation.

Here we use symbolic regression (SR), which searches for both the formal structure of equations and the fitting parameters simultaneously, hence providing the required flexibility to characterize complex ecological systems.

First, we demonstrate how SR can deal with complex datasets for: 1) modelling species richness; and 2) modelling species spatial distributions. Second, we illustrate how SR can be used to find general models in ecology, by using it to: 3) develop species richness estimators; and 4) develop the species-area relationship and the general dynamic model of oceanic island biogeography.

All the examples suggest that evolving free-form equations purely from data, often without prior human inference or hypotheses, may represent a very powerful tool for ecologists and biogeographers to become aware of hidden relationships and suggest general theoretical models and principles.
Design, development and first experiments on the X-ray imaging beamline at Indus-2 synchrotron source RRCAT, India
Authors: Agrawal A. K. , Singh B. , Kashyap Y. S. , Shukla M. , Sarkar P. S. , Sinha Amar
Published: September 2015

A full-field hard X-ray imaging beamline (BL-4) was designed, developed, installed and commissioned recently at the Indus-2 synchrotron radiation source at RRCAT, Indore, India. The bending-magnet beamline is operated in monochromatic and white beam mode. A variety of imaging techniques are implemented such as high-resolution radiography, propagation- and analyzer-based phase contrast imaging, real-time imaging, absorption and phase contrast tomographyetc. First experiments on propagation-based phase contrast imaging and micro-tomography are reported.
Effect of X-ray spot size on liquid jet photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Olivieri Giorgia , Goel Alok , Kleibert Armin , Brown Matthew A.
Published: September 2015

A 30 µm pinhole is introduced in the intermediate focus of the SIM beamline at the Swiss Light Source to improve the spot size at the second downstream focus, which is used here for liquid jet X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments. The 30 µm pinhole reduces the beam dimensions from 250 (v) × 100 (h) µm to 75 × 45 µm for a vertical exit slit of 100 µm. The smaller X-ray spot results in a substantial decrease in the gas-phase contribution of the spectra from 40% down to 20% and will help to simplify the interpretation and peak assignments of future experiments.
Agent-based risk management – a regulatory approach to financial markets
Authors: Theobald Thomas
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide market risk calculation for an equity-based trading portfolio. Instead of relying on the purely stochastic internal model method which banks currently apply in line with the Basel regulatory requirements, the author also propose including alternative price mechanisms from the financial literature in the regulatory framework.

Design/methodology/approach

– For this purpose, a financial market model with heterogeneous agents is developed, capturing the realistic feature that parts of the investors do not follow the assumption of no arbitrage, but are motivated by behavioral heuristics instead.

Findings

– Although both the standard stochastic and the behavioral model are restricted to a calibration including the last 250 trading days, the latter is able to capitalize possible turbulence on financial markets and likewise the well-known phenomenon of excess volatility – even if the last 250 days reflect a non-turbulent market.

Practical implications

– Thus, including agent-based models in the regulatory framework could create better capital requirements with respect to their level and counter-cyclicality.

Originality/value

– This in turn could reduce the extent to which bubbles arise, since market participants would have to anticipate comprehensively the costs of such bubbles bursting. Furthermore, a key ratio is deduced from the agent-based construction to lower the influence of speculative derivatives.
Understanding the reverse time migration backscattering: noise or signal?
Authors: Díaz Esteban , Sava Paul
Published: September 2015

Reverse time migration backscattered events are produced by the cross‐correlation between waves reflected from sharp interfaces (e.g., salt bodies). These events, along with head waves and diving waves, produce the so‐called reverse time migration artefacts, which are visible as low wavenumber energy on migrated images. Commonly, these events are seen as a drawback for the reverse time migration method because they obstruct the image of the geologic structure, which is the real objective for the process. In this paper, we perform numeric and theoretical analysis to understand the reverse time migration backscattering energy in conventional and extended images. We show that the reverse time migration backscattering contains a measure of the synchronization and focusing information between the source and receiver wavefields. We show that this synchronization and focusing information is sensitive to velocity errors; this implies that a correct velocity model produces reverse time migration backscattering with maximum energy. Therefore, before filtering the reverse time migration backscattered energy, we should try to obtain a model that maximizes it.
Environmental roles of microbial amino acid racemases
Authors: Hernández Sara B. , Cava Felipe
Published: September 2015

Enzymes catalysing the stereo‐chemical inter‐conversion of amino acids are known as amino acid racemases. In bacteria, these enzymes are fundamental to synthesize the D‐Ala and D‐Glu that are critical components of the peptidoglycan. In addition to this structural function in cell wall assembly, D‐amino acids produced by microbial amino acid racemases have been described as relevant constituents in other prokaryotic structures (e.g. capsule, non‐ribosomal peptides) and have been associated to growth fitness and to processes such as biofilm development, spore germination and signalling. The recent discovery of broad spectrum racemases able to produce and release several D‐amino acids to the environment suggests that these enzymes might have a great impact in microbial ecology. Consequently, new data on the biochemistry and regulation of racemases is key to understand the biological significance of D‐enantiomers in nature, in particular their effect on microbial social networks. This review summarizes current knowledge on the environmental roles of bacterial racemases with an emphasis on the potential roles of the new broad spectrum enzymes in natural environments.
Capitalisation of residential solar photovoltaic systems in Western Australia
Authors: Ma Chunbo , Polyakov Maksym , Pandit Ram
Published: September 2015

Due to government financial incentives and falling prices of photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar power has become the fastest growing renewable energy source in Australia. As financial incentives are being reduced or phased out, there is a possibility that adoption of this technology will slow down, thus creating a need for improved policy instruments targeted at adoption of residential PV systems. One of the factors affecting adoption of solar technology in the residential sector is its capitalisation in property values. Yet, the awareness of the capitalisation of PV investments in the Australian property market is limited. Our data indicate that homeowners who anticipate selling their properties in the near future are reluctant to adopt PV systems. This paper presents the first empirical estimate of the property price premiums associated with residential solar PV systems in Australia using residential property sales data from the Perth metropolitan area of Western Australia. An estimated 2.3–3.2 per cent property price premium associated with the PV systems suggests that homeowners fully recover the costs of PV investments upon the sale of their properties. Effective government policy could use this information to encourage adoption of residential PV systems by homeowners.
Investigation on the microstructural and textural properties of Lighvan cheese produced from bovine milk fortified with protein and gum tragacanth during ripening
Authors: Aminifar Mehrnaz , Emam‐Djome Zahra
Published: September 2015

The effect of 0.02% gum tragacanth, sodium caseinate or milk protein concentrate (MPC70) on the physiochemical, microstructural and textural properties of Lighvan cheese produced from bovine milk was investigated. The microstructure of cheese samples was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the SEM micrographs were analysed using 3D images, surface plots and binarised SEM images. The texture parameters of bovine Lighvan cheese containing sodium caseinate were similar to those of ovine Lighvan cheese, and the microstructure of the MPC‐containing bovine Lighvan cheese was closest to that of ovine Lighvan cheese.
Identification and characterisation of lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional Urfa cheese
Authors: Avnİ Kırmacı Huseyİn , Özer Barbaros Hamdİ , Akçelik Mustafa , Akçelİk Nefise
Published: September 2015

In this study, characterisation of dominant strains of lactic flora in traditional Urfa cheese made from sheep's milk was performed using biochemical, phenotypic and genotypic methods. According to the results obtained, the percentage distributions of the lactic acid bacteria isolated were as follows: 48.95% Enterococcus spp., 40.55% Lactococcus spp., 9.10% Lactobacillus spp., 0.69% Streptococcus spp. and 0.69% Leuconostoc spp. The majority of lactococcal isolates showed an atypical phenotype of growing in the presence of 6.5% NaCl. Acidification and bacteriocin production were also determined for each isolate. Four strains showed bacteriocin activity.
The Medical Care Costs of Mood Disorders: A Coarsened Exact Matching Approach
Authors: Schurer Stefanie , Alspach Michael , MacRae Jayden , Martin Gregory
Published: September 2015

We use the method of coarsened exact matching (CEM) and general practice patient‐record data from New Zealand to estimate the impact of mood disorders on medical care costs. The CEM model exploits a discretisation of the data to identify for each patient with a mood disorder a perfect statistical twin, which allows us to control for comorbidity‐related variations in medical care costs. CEM with perfect balancing of covariates yields lower annual cost estimates of mood disorders per patient (NZ$366) than regression or conventional matching methods (between $NZ372 and $413). National government expenditures on managing mood disorders are estimated to lie between 0.06 per cent and 0.10 per cent of GDP.
Femoral nerve blocks for fractured neck of femur patients: A ‘feel good solution’ but a ‘short‐term fix'?
Authors: Clothier Vanessa , Morphet Julia
Published: September 2015

Objective

Femoral nerve blocks (FNBs) are commonly administered to patients with a fractured neck of femur (NOF). FNBs reduce complications associated with opioids and are effective for up to 24 h. However, the recognised ‘gold standard’ time to definitive treatment (surgery) in the patient with a fractured NOF is within 48 h. This leaves a significant period of time in which the patient has no effective analgesia, and might require opioids to alleviate pain. The present study explored the number of NOF patients who received a FNB: their wait for definitive treatment (surgery) and how much opioid analgesia was administered in the preoperative phase.

Methods

A retrospective review of electronic patient records was conducted over a 6 month period in 2012. Patients who presented to the ED with a fractured NOF, received a FNB and were transferred to surgery in the same hospital were included in the sample.

Results

The median time from FNBs to surgery was 37.5 h. When patients waited more than 20 h for surgery, the volume of opioid received increased significantly (P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion

Even when patients' time to surgery was within the ‘gold standard’, patients received increasing doses of opioids 20 h after the administration of the FNB. While patients continue to wait extended periods for surgery, the practice of administering a single injection FNB needs to be challenged. ED clinicians might consider FNB infusions rather than single injection FNBs for patients with a fractured NOF.
Myocardial SPECT Images in Incident Hemodialysis Patients Without Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Koyama‐Nakamura Mari , Mizobuchi Masahide , Kaneko Kyoichi , Watanabe Makoto , Ogata Hiroaki , Koiwa Fumihiko , Akizawa Tadao , Akutsu Yasushi , Shibata Takanori
Published: September 2015

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in dialysis patients and is significantly associated with poor survival in incident dialysis patients. However, little is known about the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in these populations. 123I‐15‐(p‐iodophenyl)‐3(R,S)‐ methylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) imaging is useful for detection of ischemic heart disease. We examined imaging characteristics to identify potential pathologies of cardiac disease, other than ischemic heart disease. The subjects were 42 incident dialysis patients without histories of ischemic heart disease such as acute coronary syndrome. All the patients underwent BMIPP imaging in addition to a screening examination. Patients with positive findings in BMIPP imaging underwent myocardial perfusion imaging within 2 weeks after BMIPP imaging to evaluate the possibility of ischemic heart disease. Twenty‐two patients were BMIPP‐positive and 10 of these patients had negative findings on perfusion imaging and were defined as mismatch cases. Compared with patients who were BMIPP‐ and perfusion‐positive, the mismatch cases had higher parathyroid hormone (PTH), serum albumin, and alkaline phosphatase levels. The mismatch cases also formed the largest proportion in the highest PTH tertile. A histologic examination of a mismatch case with no stenotic lesions in the coronary artery revealed the presence of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. These findings suggest that a perfusion‐metabolism mismatch may be present in incident dialysis patients without a history of ischemic heart disease. This mismatch is associated with PTH, which suggests potential involvement of uremic cardiomyopathy in the pathology of cardiac disease in these patients.
Occurrence, activity and contribution of anammox in some freshwater extreme environments
Authors: Zhu Guibing , Xia Chao , Shanyun Wang , Zhou Leiliu , Liu Lu , Zhao Siyan
Published: September 2015

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) widely occurs in marine ecosystems, and it plays an important role in the global nitrogen cycle. But in freshwater ecosystems its occurrence, distribution and contribution, especially in extreme environments, are still not well known. In this study, anammox process was investigated in some extreme environments of freshwater ecosystems, such as those with high (above 75°C) and low (below −35°C) temperature, high (pH > 8) and low (pH < 4) pH and eutrophy (the concentration of NH4+‐N > 300 mg kg−1). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening results showed that anammox bacteria were widespread in the examined sediments from freshwater extreme environments. Quantitative PCR showed that the abundance of anammox bacteria ranged from 6.94 × 104 to 8.05 × 106 hydrazine synthase (hzsB) gene copies g−1 dry soil. 15N‐labelled incubation experiments indicated the occurrence of anammox in all examined sediments and the potential anammox rates ranged from 0.02 to 6.24 nmol N g−1 h−1, with a contribution of 3.45–58.74% of the total N2 production. In summary, these results demonstrate the occurrence of anammox in these extreme environments, inferring that anammox may harbour a wide ecological niche in the freshwater ecosystems.
In Silico Prediction of the Effects of Mutations in the Human Mevalonate Kinase Gene: Towards a Predictive Framework for Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency
Authors: Browne Claire , Timson David J.
Published: September 2015

Mevalonate kinase (MVK) catalyses the phosphorylation of mevalonate. Deficiency of MVK is associated with two rare periodic fever syndromes, mevalonic aciduria (MA), a severe form and hyper‐immunoglobulin‐D syndrome (HIDS), a milder form. An in silico approach was used to analyse the physicochemical and structural effects of 47 disease‐associated variants of MVK. A further 20 variants, which are present in human genome databases, were also analysed. Variants associated with MA are clustered into a “hotspot” consisting of residues 8–35 and 234–338 and tended to result in a prediction of severely reduced protein stability. Four of the uncharacterised variants, p.H24P, p.G198R, p. R253W, and p.G335S, were likely to be associated with MA. This method could be used as the basis for initial predictions of severity when new MVK variants are discovered.
Estimation of Recent and Ancient Inbreeding in a Small Endogamous Tunisian Community Through Genomic Runs of Homozygosity
Authors: Ben Halim Nizar , Nagara Majdi , Regnault Béatrice , Hsouna Sana , Lasram Khaled , Kefi Rym , Azaiez Hela , Khemira Laroussi , Saidane Rachid , Ammar Slim Ben , Besbes Ghazi , Weil Dominique , Petit Christine , Abdelhak Sonia , Romdhane Lilia
Published: September 2015

Runs of homozygosity (ROHs) are extended genomic regions of homozygous genotypes that record populations’ mating patterns in the past. We performed microarray genotyping on 15 individuals from a small isolated Tunisian community. We estimated the individual and population genome‐wide level of homozygosity from data on ROH above 0.5 Mb in length. We found a high average number of ROH per individual (48.2). The smallest ROH category (0.5–1.49 Mb) represents 0.93% of the whole genome, while medium‐size (1.5‐4.99 Mb) and long‐size ROH (≥5 Mb) cover 1.18% and 0.95%, respectively. We found that genealogical individual inbreeding coefficients (Fped) based on three‐ to four‐generation pedigrees are not reliable indicators of the current proportion of genome‐wide homozygosity inferred from ROH (FROH) either for 0.5 or 1.5 Mb ROH length thresholds, while identity‐by‐descent sharing is a function of shared coancestry. This study emphasizes the effect of reproductive isolation and a prolonged practice of consanguinity that limits the genetic heterogeneity. It also provides evidence of both recent and ancient parental relatedness contribution to the current level of genome‐wide homozygosity in the studied population. These findings may be useful for evaluation of long‐term effects of inbreeding on human health and for future applications of ROHs in identifying recessive susceptibility genes.
Regrouping of pigs by body weight at weaning does not affect growth performance, carcass quality or uniformity at slaughter of heavy weight pigs
Authors: Cámara Lourdes , Berrocoso Julio Díaz , Fuentetaja Alfonso , López‐Bote Clemente José , DE Blas Carlos , Mateos Gonzalo G.
Published: September 2015

We studied the influence of pen uniformity at weaning (7.5 ± 0.6 kg vs. 7.5 ± 1.2 kg body weight (BW ± SD)) and sex on growth performance during the nursery (7.5 to 27.3 kg BW) and the fattening (27.1 to 130.5 kg BW) phases and carcass quality of barrows and castrated females (CF). During the nursery phase, pigs from the more uniform pens had lower feed efficiency (P = 0.05) than pigs from the less uniform pens. Also, barrows had higher average daily feed intake (ADFI) (P < 0.05) and average daily gain (P < 0.001) and better feed efficiency (P < 0.001) than CF. During the fattening phase, initial pen uniformity did not affect growth performance of the pigs but barrows tended (P = 0.08) to have higher ADFI and worse feed efficiency than CF. Trimmed primal cut yield tended to be higher for the more uniform pigs and better for barrows than for CF (P = 0.09). It is concluded that regrouping of the pigs at weaning according to uniformity of BW did not affect growth performance or carcass quality of the pigs at slaughter. Castrated females might be used as an alternative to barrows for the production of carcasses destined to the dry‐cured industry.
Effects of cellulase supplementation to corn soybean meal‐based diet on the performance of sows and their piglets
Authors: Upadhaya Santi D. , Lee Sang In , Kim In Ho
Published: September 2015

A total of 15 primiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) and their litters were used in the current study to evaluate the efficacy of cellulase supplementation on the production performance of sows and piglets. Pigs were randomly allocated into one of three treatments with five replicates per treatment. The dietary treatments were as follows: (i) CON (corn‐soybean meal‐based control); (ii) EZ1 (CON + 0.05% cellulase); and (iii) EZ2 (CON + 0.10% cellulase). The supplementation of cellulase had no effect (P > 0.05) on body weight and feed intake of lactating sows. At weaning, back fat thickness loss decreased (P = 0.04) linearly in EZ1 and EZ2 treatments. The average daily gain (ADG) of piglets increased (linear P = 0.06, quadratic P = 0.04)) during days 14 to 21 as well as at days 21 to 25 (linear P = 0.03 and quadratic P = 0.01) with the increase in the level of supplemented enzyme. Dry matter and nitrogen digestibility increased (linear P = 0.01) in lactating sows fed EZ1 and EZ2 diet compared with CON. In conclusion, it is suggested that cellulase supplementation to corn‐soybean meal based diet exerts beneficial effects to sows in reducing their back fat thickness loss at weaning and also helps to improve nutrient digestibility. It also helped to improve the ADG of piglets.
Estimation of potassium and magnesium flows in animal production in Dianchi Lake basin, China
Authors: Amachika Yuta , Anzai Hiroki , Wang Lin , Oishi Kazato , Irbis Chagan , Li Kunzhi , Kumagai Hajime , Inamura Tatsuya , Hirooka Hiroyuki
Published: September 2015

The objectives of this study were to estimate and evaluate potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) budgets and flows of animal production in the basin of Dianchi Lake, China. Feed sampling and farmer interviews were conducted in field surveys. The supplies of K and Mg from local and external feeds and the retention, production and excretion of animals were calculated individually for dairy cows, fattening pigs, breeding sows, and broilers and laying hens. The K and Mg flows on a regional level were estimated using the individual budgets. At the individual level, in dairy cattle, the K and Mg supplied from local feeds accounted for large parts of the total nutrient intakes, whereas in the other animal categories most of the K and Mg in the feeds depended on external resources. Our findings also suggested that excessive Mg intake resulted in high Mg excretion and low use efficiency in dairy cattle and fattening pigs. At the regional level, the K and Mg amounts of manure produced and applied in the area (K: 339 and Mg: 143 t/year) exceeded those used as local feeds. Our results imply the animal production potentially increased the K and Mg loads in the regional agriculture system.
Business Groups and Corporate Governance: Review, Synthesis, and Extension
Authors: Colli Andrea , Colpan Asli M.
Published: September 2015

Manuscript Type

Review

Research Question/Issue

This article addresses the diverse and fragmented literature about the corporate governance of business groups. We collected scholarly work on the subject, proposed a conceptualization of the main research questions they addressed, classified them according to their research themes, and identified future research directions.

Research Findings/Insights

Academic research on corporate governance in business groups has been increasing but is still a developing field. Available analyses make use of the main theoretical frameworks in general in corporate governance research. However, there are several areas of analysis that still need stronger conceptualization and empirical work, leaving many opportunities for future studies and a pressing need to substantiate and extend the findings of previous studies.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

Our study identifies four avenues for future research on corporate governance in business groups. This includes the examination of the complex relationships and co‐evolutionary processes among corporate governance attributes and organizational and performance outcomes of business groups; the effects of ownership goals on groups' performance outcomes; the role and the actual functioning of boards inside business groups; and the analyses of cross‐national comparison and long‐term development of the governance of business groups.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

This research allows practitioners and policymakers to get a better understanding of the crucial areas regarding business groups and their governance, and offers pathways to examine inside the “black‐box” of business groups.