bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality of teachers in technical higher education institutions in India
Authors: Sharma Payal , Pandher Jagwinder Singh
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The quality of education depends upon the quality of teachers, i.e. professional competence. The purpose of this paper is to empirically identify the state of faculty’s quality in technical higher education institutions of Punjab (India) in terms of their competences. Later, differences in the quality of the faculty of both public (government funded) and private (partially or not funded by government) technical institutions were examined.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 35 technical institutes were selected to conduct a field survey and total 594 respondents including teachers, students and administrators had responded to the present study from different departments of engineering and management. The state of faculty’s quality in terms of their competences has been examined through confirmatory factor analysis in AMOS 20.0. Discriminant analysis in SPSS 20.0 has been performed to find the differences in faculty of both the public and private sectors.

Findings

This paper provides a broader picture of the poor quality of teachers in technical institutions of Punjab (India) in terms of lacking most of the competencies. The study also reveals significant differences in the faculty of both public and private sector institutes in terms of select competences.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates an alarming stage of poor-quality state of teachers. Therefore, educational administrators and policy makers need to show their concern for the improvement of teachers’ quality in technical higher education institutions of Punjab (India).
Knowledge sharing serves as a mediator between collaborative culture and innovation capability: an empirical research
Authors: Yang Zhi , Nguyen Van Thithuy , Le Phong Ba
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the correlation between collaborative culture, knowledge sharing and innovation capabilities in Chinese firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used structural equation modeling to examine the level of how collaborative culture and knowledge sharing impact on two types of innovation capabilities (product innovation and process innovation) based on using data collected from 77 Chinese firms.

Findings

The research findings show that knowledge sharing plays a mediating role between collaborative culture and two specific types of innovation, namely, product innovation and process innovation. The paper first confirms the moderating role of ownership form in the relationships between knowledge sharing and innovation capabilities. The results underline the necessity of building a collaborative culture to stimulate employees’ knowledge sharing behavior, which in turn positively promotes innovation capabilities in an organization.

Research limitations/implications

The paper has not evaluated the relationship between latent variables under the condition of moderating variables of individual characteristics (such as optimism and self-efficacy) or firm characteristics (such as industry type, firm size and firm age). Further research should examine the moderating effects of these variables to have clearer relationship between the constructs.

Practical implications

This paper offers leaders a deeper understanding of the effects of ownership forms and potential factors to promote innovation capabilities in their firms.

Originality/value

The paper has contributed to theoretical and practical initiatives on the theory of innovation management which enable firms to identify the necessary factors and mechanism to enhance firm capabilities for innovation.
A psychoacoustical approach to resolving office noise distraction
Authors: Oseland Nigel , Hodsman Paige
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether noise is affected by psychological factors rather than simply by physical metrics. For example, personality type, age, perceived control and screening ability were explored, as well as the choice of primary workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted which resulted in 517 valid responses. The survey included the personality profiling along with questions related to noise and personal circumstances. The key noise metrics were perceived performance, ability to work, well-being and stress plus three noise indices: concentration, distraction and speech interference.

Findings

The survey revealed that personality type does affect noise perception, in particular extroversion and neuroticism. Perceived control, screening ability, age, workplace, design and focused work are also factors. Personal variables accounted for 25 per cent of the variance in the ability to carry out work, and for 40 per cent of the variance in concentration and speech interference.

Research limitations/implications

Whilst statistically significant differences were found for most of the psychological and personal variables, the size of effect was smaller than anticipated. This is likely because the survey was carried out across a range or workplaces, rather than in a laboratory, with a number of uncontrolled extraneous factors.

Practical implications

The research has resulted in the development of a design guidance document for controlling noise distractions based on more psychoacoustic, people-centred, principles than purely physical ones.

Originality value

Most acoustics research is conducted in the laboratory and focuses on the physical sound properties. This research took a psychoacoustic approach focusing more on psychological and personal factors, and was carried out in the real world.
Key factors in the engineering process for systems for aging in place contributing to low usability and success
Authors: Hallewell Haslwanter Jean D. , Fitzpatrick Geraldine , Miesenberger Klaus
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Digital systems for independent aging, support and care are not being adopted as hoped. The purpose of this paper is to examine the results of three studies to derive key factors during the development and engineering process of care and support systems for older people that can impact acceptance and uptake to provide support to future projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzed the results of three qualitative studies, including two detailed case studies and a further study with 35 participants, to derive key factors. Methods for deriving factors are based on thematic analysis to identify common factors across cases and participants.

Findings

The findings point to a broad set of interconnected factors that give developers of these types of systems specific recommendations. These highlight what makes these projects complex and identify implications for the development process. Furthermore, they show way the needed user-centered and iterative methods may be in conflict with funding processes.

Originality/value

While others have reported on single projects or looked at acceptance, these studies were the first to explore aspects of the development process that may contribute to the lack of success to date of these types of systems. The results here support more successful outcomes in the future, both by helping people involved in the development of these systems to avoid some of the issues others face and providing input to improve the performance of the engineering process.
Biological properties in relation to health promotion effects of Garcinia mangostana (queen of fruit)
Authors: Karim Naymul , Tangpong Jitbanjong
Published: October 2018

Purpose

For the prevention and cure of disease, patient use various types of chemical and drug agents. Along with their curative effect, almost all drugs have some destructive effects and side-effects. Due to the minimal and/or none of unwanted side-effect, recently, the use of herbal remedy as the drug of choice becomes the preference choice. The mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, contains various types of polyphenols. It has been used as a traditional medicine from the ancient times till present days. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the biological properties of mangosteen in relation to health promotion effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Several research papers from well-known database (such as PubMed, Google scholar, Scopus and Sciencedirect) were reviewed without considering publication-times to understand the biological properties of mangosteen.

Findings

Mangosteen and its xanthone exerted diverse biological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, anti-bacteria, anti-fungal, anti-malaria, anticancer and anti-diabetes.

Originality/value

Based on these studies, mangosteen is beneficial dietary supplement of overall human health.
Social capital, knowledge integration and learning in project-based organizations: a CEO-based study
Authors: Prieto-Pastor Isabel , Martín-Pérez Víctor , Martín-Cruz Natalia
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how the different dimensions of project members’ intra-organizational social capital – cognitive, affective and relational – facilitate knowledge integration in project-based organizations, and how knowledge integration, in turn, impacts explorative and exploitative learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an analysis of 129 R&D Spanish organizations, the study analyzes the interconnections between the different dimensions of social capital and how they affect to knowledge integration as antecedent of explorative and exploitative learning in project-based organizations.

Findings

Results confirm that knowledge integration is beneficial for both exploratory and exploitive learning and thus that R&D organizations may be thus ambidextrous in their knowledge management. Related to the three dimensions of social capital, only the cognitive dimension (shared vision) has a significant impact on knowledge integration. However, the analysis confirms the interconnections between the three dimensions of social capital: the relational dimension (social interaction ties) and the cognitive dimension (shared vision) have significant effect on the relational one (trust), and the relational dimension also has an influence on the cognitive dimension. The model proposed in this study thus shows an acceptable capacity to discern the different influence of the dimensions of internal social capital on knowledge integration and, subsequently, ambidextrous learning.

Originality/value

This paper examines the importance of intra-organizational social capital, in terms of their cognitive (shared vision), relational (trust) and structural (social interaction ties) dimensions, for explorative and exploitative learning in project-based organizations. The analysis takes the baton of previous literature where is suggested that the three dimensions of social capital are interlocked and not just need to be considered simultaneously.
A bibliometric services workshop for subject librarians
Authors: Powell Kimberly R. , Elder Jennifer J.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the development and analysis of an internal bibliometric services workshop for subject librarians. Primary goals of the workshop were to create an opportunity for collegial knowledge and skill sharing, and to identify discipline specific gaps and future support requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

Two campus librarians who typically offer bibliometric support services used pre- and post-surveys to plan and assess the workshop for subject liaison librarians.

Findings

Subject librarians from across the university expressed interest in developing bibliometric support services. The 12 workshop participants (30 percent of subject librarians) support diverse areas including the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, education and outreach, and the school of business. Post-workshop survey respondents highlighted the contextualization of available measures and the appropriate application of metrics in different disciplines to be the most helpful topics covered. Finally, while the institution subscribes to several citation analysis databases, more familiarity with Google Scholar citations was requested to address user needs and preferences across the various disciplines. Most participants expressed interest in attending additional workshops.

Originality/value

This study showcases the experience of campus librarians working together across academic schools and disciplines to respond to the increasing demand for bibliometric and scholarly impact support services. While services such as citation analysis have typically been siloed in specific job descriptions or subject areas within the library, these are service areas that can benefit from internal library-collaboration opportunities and knowledge sharing.
Relevance of big data to forensic accounting practice and education
Authors: Rezaee Zabihollah , Wang Jim
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relevance of Big Data to forensic accounting practice and education by gathering opinions from a sample of academics and practitioners in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a survey of academics and practitioners regarding the desired demand, importance and content of Big Data educational skills and topics for forensic accounting education to effectively respond to challenges and opportunities in the age of Big Data.

Findings

Results indicate that the demand for and interest in Big Data/data analytics and forensic accounting will continue to increase; Big Data/data analytics and forensic accounting should be integrated into the business curriculum; many of the suggested Big Data topics should be integrated into forensic accounting education; and some attributes and techniques of Big Data are important in improving forensic accounting education and practice.

Research limitations/implications

Readers should interpret the results with caution because of the sample size (95 academics and 103 practitioners) and responses obtained from academics and practitioners in one country (China) that may not be representative of the global population.

Practical implications

The results are useful in integrating Big Data topics into the forensic accounting curriculum and in redesigning the forensic accounting courses/programs.

Social implications

The results have implications for forensic accountants in effectively fulfilling their responsibilities to their profession and society by combating fraud.

Originality/value

This study provides educational, research and practical implications as Big Data and forensic accounting are advancing.
Relative importance and priority of TBL elements on the corporate performance
Authors: Høgevold Nils M. , Svensson Göran , Rodriguez Rocio , Eriksson David
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine to what extent that a selection of economic, social and environmental factors is taken into corporate consideration (importance and priority) the longitudinal aspects of sustainable business practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on an inductive approach taking into account the longitudinal aspects and an in-depth case study of a Scandinavian manufacturer recognized for its initiatives and achievements of sustainable business practices.

Findings

The key informants indicated that economic factors are always important when it comes to sustainable business practices, social factors are to some extent important, and the environmental factors are generally important.

Research limitations/implications

The planning, implementation and follow-up of sustainable business practices and related efforts require a consideration of economic, social and environmental factors.

Practical implications

The framework of a triple bottom line (TBL) dominant logic for business sustainability applied may guide the corporate assessment to plan, implement and follow-up the importance and priority of the longitudinal aspects of sustainable business practices.

Originality/value

A TBL dominant logic for sustainable business practices adequately frames corporate efforts regarding importance and priority making a relevant contribution addressing the longitudinal aspects to complement existing theory and previous studies.
The internal determinants of bank profitability and stability
Authors: Ali Muhammad , Puah Chin Hong
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the internal determinants of bank profitability and stability in Pakistan banking sector. Because of specific research objectives, this study excludes the external factors of profitability and stability to find the role of bank internal determinants in achieving high performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A panel regression analysis is built on a balanced panel data using 24 commercial banks over the sample period of 2007-2015. The authors performed a separate analysis of bank profitability and stability. Both models used a comprehensive set of bank internal determinants.

Findings

The results that were obtained from profitability model indicated that bank size, credit risk, funding risk and stability have statistically significant impacts on profitability, while liquidity risk showed the statistically insignificant impact on profitability. Regression findings from stability model reveal that bank size, liquidity risk, funding risk and profitability have statistically significant impacts on stability, while credit risk had an insignificant effect on stability. However, the effect of the financial crisis is uniform and showed statistically insignificant impact in both models.

Practical implications

Overall, the authors’ findings bring some new but useful insights to the banking literature. Some recommendations may be functional for the sustainable performance of banks.

Originality/value

In view of study results, the authors provide interesting insights into the practices and characteristics of banks in Pakistan. This study also highlights significant bank internal determinants to improve understanding in the existing literature.
Prevalence and knowledge of anemia among pregnant women enrolled in Women, Infants and Children supplemental food program
Authors: Zhang Qingyi , Rojhani Arezoo , Gulló-Rivera Angel , Kwak Sunmin
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Although anemia during pregnancy is common in the USA, socio-demographic factors make pregnant women enrolled in Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program more vulnerable than the general population. The purpose of this study was to examine the socio-demographic characteristics, blood hemoglobin concentrations, nutrition knowledge and potential associations among these factors in a sample of pregnant women participating in the WIC program.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study using survey methodology was conducted. In total, 60 pregnant women who were between 12 and 24 weeks of gestation and were carrying a single fetus were recruited from two WIC clinics. Overall nutrition knowledge was assessed with 42 questions arranged into three subscales. Participants’ scores were transformed into tertiles. WIC program records were used to record blood hemoglobin values. Principal component analysis was used to validate the knowledge subscales. Correlational and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship among variables.

Findings

Prevalence of anemia among the participants was higher than the national averages. Only 10 per cent of participants scored in the high tertile for nutrition knowledge. Anemia-during-pregnancy knowledge score was positively correlated with blood hemoglobin concentrations (r = 0.23, p < 0.05), and it was also a predictor of blood hemoglobin levels (R2 = 0.364, p = 0.02).

Originality/value

This is the first study to report on the knowledge of anemia, anemia during pregnancy and preventive measures among pregnant women enrolled in the WIC program.
Effect of build orientation and part thickness on dimensional distortion in material jetting processes
Authors: Khoshkhoo Ali , Carrano Andres L. , Blersch David M.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the effect of part thickness and build orientation upon the type and magnitude of distortion in material jetting processes.

Design/methodology/approach

Specimens with high (10:1) aspect ratio were printed in two orientations (XY and YX) and three thickness values (1, 3 and 6 mm) and scanned with a white-light profilometer to quantify distortion.

Findings

The results of this paper indicate that 1-mm thick specimens always distorted following a wavy edge type, while thicker specimens (3- and 6-mm) always distorted following a reverse coil set. The factor thickness, when measured with the indices height of the highest peak (H) and profile radius (R), was shown to be statistically significant, with 3-mm specimens experiencing distortions of 57 and 51 per cent, respectively, more severe than those in 6-mm specimens. The thickness effect is attributed to the percentage of build layers that receive maximum energy exposure (61-72 per cent in 1-mm, 87-91 per cent in 3-mm and 93-95 per cent in 6-mm specimens). With respect to the thinner 1-mm specimens, the factor orientation was found to be statistically significant with distortion 114 per cent less severe in the YX orientation when measured by the H index.

Originality/value

This paper provides the first known description of build orientation and part thickness effects on dimensional distortion as a pervasive consequence of the curing process in photopolymerization and explores one of the most common defects encountered in additive manufacturing. In addition to the characterization of the type and magnitude of distortion, the contributions of this paper also include establishing the foundation for design guidelines aiming at minimizing distortion in material jetting.
Empowering corporate social responsibility (CSR): insights from service learning
Authors: Huda Miftachul , Mulyadi Dedi , Hananto April Lia , Nor Muhamad Nasrul Hisyam , Mat Teh Kamarul Shukri , Don Abdul Ghafar
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore service learning with its insights in empowering corporate responsibility awareness. Attempts to build corporate responsibility widely in incorporating into the sustainability engagement could be demonstrated in fostering the transformative experiential learning with extensive evaluation and reconfiguration of existing programs. The focus on enhancing the learning experience in emphasizing the community engagement would be applied with strengthening the actual performance in encompassing the ability raising awareness about the environmental issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach used in this paper refers to develop the conceptual framework about the service learning with various strategies to give insight on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Incorporating the approach of conceptualizing the basis of service learning, key consideration was generated into particular enhancement of service learning in contributing to the CSR.

Findings

The finding reveals that getting benefit to serving into the community engagement may take beneficial outcomes with its valuable insight to assist in the progress of program designed with associating to enhance corporate responsibility and sustainability awareness. The advancement of the social control among the companies would be deployed within empowering service learning for CSR where sustainability awareness-based community service as embodiment of CSR should be enhanced through nurturing corporate responsibility-based transformative experiential learning. Moreover, this initiative refers to an attempt to strengthen the basis of corporate responsibility and sustainability awareness-based experiential learning, which could enlarge creative thinking with envisioning sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Originality/value

This study is expected to contribute to the experiential learning to enhance the sustainability within the learning setting engaged in achieving what to contribute to the environmental concern. In creating the situation where the balance between serving and learning can be achieved, attempts to encourage them in joining the service learning program should be collaborated with orienting both personal and social community oriented comprehensively in underlying the responsibility awareness, the sustainability-based moral values. These aim to enhance the understanding stage about the care for protecting the environmental concern within learning experience with the goal to produce responsible awareness especially by economic agents such as shareholders, managers, regulators and active participants to promote sustainable benefits.
Measuring shared value in multinational corporations
Authors: Laudal Thomas
Published: October 2018

Purpose

According to the paper “Creating shared value” (CSV) (Porter and Kramer, 2011), three specific strategies will expand the firm’s pool of available economic and social values and improve businesses’ competitive position over time. However, firms’ performances are not systematically compared to validate this claim. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a path towards delineating CSV to validate the claim and to contribute to the foundation of an industry-specific ranking based on CSV.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper attempts to delineate CSV based on relevant literature, including the critique of CSV, to measure CSV empirically. The suggested indicators of CSV are based on an interpretation of Porter and Kramer (2011) referring to a market-centric approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Findings

None of the CSV strategies proposed by Porter and Kramer (2011) are new to the academic literature, though several scholars argue that these strategies, taken together, characterize prosperous multinational corporations (MNCs).

Research limitations/implications

The relevance and usefulness of the indicators presented here will vary among industries.

Practical implications

CSV indicators may be the source for an industry-specific ranking of MNCs. An index based on these indicators may reveal systematic differences between industries.

Social implications

A CSV index would include synergies between commercial and CSR-related performances of firms. If a CSV index attracts international attention, the rank of an MNC would indicate to what degree MNCs succeed in integrating their commercial and CSR-related strategies and influence the valuation of firms.

Originality/value

A CSV index based on these indicators enables to rank MNCs according to both commercial, social and environmental criteria, and thereby transcend the divide between CSR indexes and commercial indexes.
Feed use intensification and technical efficiency of dairy farms in New Zealand
Authors: Ma Wanglin , Bicknell Kathryn , Renwick Alan
Published: October 2018

In recent years, the traditionally pasture‐based dairy farms in New Zealand have become more intensive by using higher proportions of supplementary feed. This trend has been attributed to a range of factors, such as productivity enhancement, overcoming pasture deficits and the improvement of body condition scores. However, there is a lack of knowledge as to how feed use intensification affects the technical efficiency of dairy farms in New Zealand. This paper addresses the research gap by estimating the impact of feed use intensification on the technical efficiency of New Zealand dairy farms, using a fixed effects stochastic production frontier model and a balanced panel of 257 farms from 2010 to 2013. The empirical results show that technical efficiency on New Zealand dairy farms is positively and significantly influenced by feed use intensification, herd size and milking frequency.
Five‐year follow up of a low glycaemic index dietary randomised controlled trial in pregnancy—no long‐term maternal effects of a dietary intervention
Authors: O'Brien EC , Geraghty AA , O'Sullivan EJ , Riordan JA , Horan MK , Larkin E , Donnelly J , Mehegan J , Twomey PJ , McAuliffe FM
Published: October 2018

Objective

To determine whether a dietary intervention in pregnancy had a lasting effect on maternal outcomes of diet, HbA1c and weight retention 5 years post‐intervention; and to establish whether modifiable maternal behaviours were associated with these outcomes.

Design

Randomised control trial of low glycaemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy with longitudinal follow up to 5 years post‐intervention.

Setting

Dublin, Ireland (2007–2016).

Population

In all, 403 women of 759 (53.1%) were followed up at 5 years. A total of 370 (intervention n = 188; control n = 182) were included in this analysis.

Methods

Fasting glucose was measured at 13 and 28 weeks’ gestation and HbA1c (mmol/mol) at 5‐year follow up. Weight retention (kg) from early pregnancy to 5 years post‐intervention was calculated. Dietary intakes, anthropometry, and lifestyle factors were measured in pregnancy and 5 years post‐intervention. Multiple linear regression models, controlling for confounders, were used for analysis.

Outcome

Maternal diet, HbA1c, and weight retention at 5 years post‐intervention.

Results

There was no difference between the intervention and control at 5 years post‐intervention for any long‐term maternal outcomes measured. HbA1c at 5 years post‐intervention was associated with early‐pregnancy fasting glucose (B 1.70, 95% CI 0.36–3.04) and parity ≥3 (B 1.04, 95% CI 0.09–1.99). Weight retention was associated with change in well‐being from pregnancy to 5 years (B −0.06, 95% CI −0.11 to −0.02), gestational weight gain (B 0.19, 95% CI 0.00–0.38), and GI (B 0.26, 95% CI 0.06–0.46) at 5 years.

Conclusions

The ROLO low‐GI dietary intervention in pregnancy had no impact on maternal dietary intakes, HbA1c or body composition 5 years post‐intervention. Maternal factors and lifestyle behaviours in pregnancy have long‐term effects on glucose metabolism and weight retention up to 5 years later.

Tweetable abstract

Pregnancy factors are associated with maternal glucose metabolism and weight retention 5 years later—findings from the ROLO Study.
Chlorate and Other Oxychlorine Contaminants Within the Dairy Supply Chain
Authors: McCarthy William P. , O'Callaghan Tom F. , Danahar Martin , Gleeson David , O'Connor Christine , Fenelon Mark A. , Tobin John T.
Published: October 2018

The presence of chlorate in milk and dairy products can arise from the use of chlorinated water and chlorinated detergents for cleaning and sanitation of process equipment at both farm and food processor level. Chlorate and other oxychlorine species have been associated with inhibition of iodine uptake in humans and the formation of methemoglobin, with infants and young children being a high‐risk demographic. This comprehensive review of chlorate and chlorine derivatives in dairy, highlights areas of concern relative to the origin and/or introduction of chlorate within the dairy supply chain. This review also discusses the associated health concerns, regulations, and chemical behavior of chlorate and chlorine‐derived by‐products, and provides a summary of mechanisms for their detection and removal.
Employee‐centered philosophy, high‐commitment work practices, and performance: moderating roles of market environments and strategies
Authors: Park Rhokeun , Park Hyunhee
Published: October 2018

While previous studies have found high‐commitment work practices (HCWPs) to have an intimate relationship with organizational performance, little is currently known about what affects the adoption of HCWPs and which factors change the relationship between HCWPs and organizational performance. This study focuses on employee‐centered philosophy as a predictor of HCWPs and on competitive market environments and market strategies as moderators in the relationship between HCWPs and organizational performance. Using a nationally representative and longitudinal dataset, this study demonstrates that HCWPs mediate the relationship between employee‐centered philosophy and labor productivity. The findings also support the hypotheses that HCWPs are more strongly related to organizational performance in organizations under a more competitive environment and with a more innovative market strategy. The results provide implications on how employee‐centered philosophy affects organizational performance and which organizations benefit more from adopting HCWPs.
Developing an automated iterative near‐term forecasting system for an ecological study
Authors: White Ethan P. , Yenni Glenda M. , Taylor Shawn D. , Christensen Erica M. , Bledsoe Ellen K. , Simonis Juniper L. , Ernest S. K. Morgan
Published: October 2018

Most forecasts for the future state of ecological systems are conducted once and never updated or assessed. As a result, many available ecological forecasts are not based on the most up‐to‐date data, and the scientific progress of ecological forecasting models is slowed by a lack of feedback on how well the forecasts perform.

Iterative near‐term ecological forecasting involves repeated daily to annual scale forecasts of an ecological system as new data becomes available and regular assessment of the resulting forecasts. We demonstrate how automated iterative near‐term forecasting systems for ecology can be constructed by building one to conduct monthly forecasts of rodent abundances at the Portal Project, a long‐term study with over 40 years of monthly data. This system automates most aspects of the six stages of converting raw data into new forecasts: data collection, data sharing, data manipulation, modelling and forecasting, archiving, and presentation of the forecasts.

The forecasting system uses R code for working with data, fitting models, making forecasts, and archiving and presenting these forecasts. The resulting pipeline is automated using continuous integration (a software development tool) to run the entire pipeline once a week. The cyberinfrastructure is designed for long‐term maintainability and to allow the easy addition of new models. Constructing this forecasting system required a team with expertise ranging from field site experience to software development.

Automated near‐term iterative forecasting systems will allow the science of ecological forecasting to advance more rapidly and provide the most up‐to‐date forecasts possible for conservation and management. These forecasting systems will also accelerate basic science by allowing new models of natural systems to be quickly implemented and compared to existing models. Using existing technology, and teams with diverse skill sets, it is possible for ecologists to build automated forecasting systems and use them to advance our understanding of natural systems.
Description and genetic variation of a distinct species of Potyvirus infecting saffron (Crocus sativus L.) plants in major production regions in Iran
Authors: Parizad Shirin , Dizadji Akbar , Koohi Habibi Mina , Winter Stephan , Kalantari Siamak , Movi Shahrbanoo , García‐Arenal Fernando , Ayllón Maria A.
Published: October 2018

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), a highly valuable crop famous for the unique taste, aroma, colour and medicinal properties of the stigmas, is widely cultivated in Iran. During 2011–2016, a total of 965 samples were randomly collected from six important saffron growing provinces of Iran to test for the presence of viruses. Assays revealed the presence of a distinct species of the genus Potyvirus, which has been tentatively named saffron latent virus (SaLV). Phylogenetic analysis of the SaLV complete genome sequence, 9,693 nucleotides (nt) excluding poly(A) tail, revealed that this virus grouped into Bean common mosaic virus subgroup in the genus Potyvirus with the closest relative being Bean common mosaic necrosis virus. A number of distinct plant species were evaluated for the host range of SaLV; Chenopodium amaranticolor and Chenopodium quinoa were found to be systemic hosts of SaLV. There were no nucleotide sites that indicated any recombination events, and the analysis of the coat protein (CP) sequence of 50 samples, collected from different geographical origins, did not show spatially structured diversity. Overall, our data shows strong negative selection pressure in CP, estimated by nucleotide sequences. The relevance of SaLV for saffron production in Iran remains to be established.
Mermithid parasitism of shoot borer (Conogethes punctiferalis) infesting ginger and turmeric and its biocontrol potential
Authors: C. M. Senthil Kumar , Thuruthumkara Kurian Jacob , Selvakaran Devasahayam , Vasudevan Hariharan , D'Silva Sharon
Published: October 2018

A mermithid nematode parasitic to larvae ofConogethes punctiferalis, a serious pest of ginger and turmeric was recorded under field conditions during 2015 at Peruvannamuzhi (Kerala, India). The infection reached epizootic levels during July to September 2015 exceeding 50% mortality in host insect populations and the parasitism ranged from 18.2 to 80.6% and 17.9 to 66.7% inC. punctiferaliscollected from ginger and turmeric, respectively. The level of host parasitism by the mermithid was positively correlated with rainfall and negatively influenced by maximum temperature. Molecular analysis of the partial 18S small ribosomal subunit gene region and phylogenetic analysis with other mermithid sequences available in the GenBank indicated that the present nematode clustered with other nematodes belonging to different genera and hence could not be attributed to a specific genus. The pairwise Kimura 2‐parameter (K2P) distance revealed that the closest taxon to the study nematode was an undescribed mermithid species reported to infect slugs with a K2P distance of 0.009. The epizootics caused by this mermithid nematode in the natural populations ofC. punctiferalissuggest its potential as a biocontrol agent against a polyphagous pest of international importance. The results of our studies provide a basis for using this nematode as a biocontrol agent for developing integrated pest management strategies againstC. punctiferalis.
Shoot tip cryotherapy for efficient eradication of grapevine leafroll‐associated virus‐3 from diseased grapevine in vitro plants
Authors: Bi Wen‐Lu , Hao Xin‐Yi , Cui Zhen‐Hua , Pathirana Ranjith , Volk Gayle M. , Wang Qiao‐Chun
Published: October 2018

We describe a droplet‐vitrification cryotherapy method for the eradication of grapevine leafroll‐associated virus‐3 (GLRaV‐3) from diseased in vitro shoots of Vitis plants. The procedure involved pre‐culture of 1.0‐mm shoot tips containing five to six leaf primordia (LPs) for 3 days with a pre‐culture medium containing 0.3 M sucrose, 0.16 mM glutathione and 0.14 mM ascorbic acid, treatment of the pre‐cultured shoot tips for 20 min at room temperature with a loading solution composed of 2 M glycerol and 0.4 M sucrose and exposure to plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2), prior to freezing in liquid nitrogen of dehydrated shoot tips contained in 2.5‐μL PVS2 droplets on aluminium foil strips. Virus localisation showed GLRaV‐3 was not present in apical dome (AD) and LPs 1–4, but it was detected in the basal shoot tip region, approximately 0.5 mm from the AD, as well as in LP 5 and more mature tissues. Histological observations identify that only freezing in liquid nitrogen results in the death of all cells in areas of shoot tips harbouring virus, whereas PVS2 treatment does not. Thus, freezing in liquid nitrogen is a necessary step that eradicates GLRaV‐3. This cryotherapy procedure produced shoot regrowth levels that ranged from 43% to 59%, and all plants recovered after cryotherapy were free of GLRaV‐3 in two wine, one table and one rootstock cultivars. Thus, this procedure can be considered to be efficient and wildly applicable for eradication of GLRaV‐3 from Vitis spp.
Effects of removing sheep grazing on soil chemistry, plant nutrition and forage digestibility: Lessons for rewilding the British uplands
Authors: Marrs Robert H. , Sánchez Raúl , Connor Leslie , Blackbird Sabena , Rasal Jennifer , Rose Rob
Published: October 2018

Rewilding is currently being proposed as a means of enhancing the conservation value of marginal land in many parts of the world. This is especially true in the British uplands where rewilding will almost certainly involve either a reduction in livestock grazing, or its complete removal. The aim of reducing stock numbers would be to reverse the degradation of these ecosystems that has been caused by past over‐grazing. However, little is known about the likely outcomes, or the time‐scales over which such ecosystem recovery might occur. Here, we report preliminary results from a recent study of eight sites at Moor House NNR in the north‐Pennines, where permanent plots with‐ and without‐sheep grazing were established between 1954 and 1967 on a range of typical upland plant communities. Soils and vegetation were sampled, and their chemical properties analysed; for vegetation an assessment of the herbage quality for animal nutrition was also made. No significant differences in soil properties, above‐ground biomass and nutritional status of the vegetation was detected that could be attributed to sheep grazing removal. The only significant effect associated with grazing removal was a reduced digestibility of the vegetation (greater acid detergent fibre concentration) where sheep were removed. These results show that a rewilding strategy that relies only on reducing sheep numbers will have very little impact on ecosystem recovery in terms of soil or herbage chemistry over short‐ to medium‐term time‐scales. Rewilding policies, therefore, attempting to restore ecosystems degraded by over‐grazing must, therefore, be viewed as long‐term (>50 y).
Osteoporosis and low bone mineral density (osteopenia) in rural and remote Queensland
Authors: Macgregor Campbell Bruce , Meerkin Jarrod D. , Alley Stephanie Jade , Vandelanotte Corneel , Reaburn Peter John
Published: October 2018

Objective

To report that prevalence rates of osteoporosis and osteopenia differ according to different levels of remoteness in Queensland, Australia.

Design

Retrospective analysis of bone mineral density scans undertaken between April 2015 and April 2016.

Setting

Mobile laboratory housing a dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry in rural and remote Queensland.

Participants

Four‐thousand‐four‐hundred‐and‐twenty‐seven referred individuals 70 years of age or older.

Main outcome measures

Bone mineral density (g cm−2) at two sites was used to measure the level of bone health as per the World Health Organization criteria for osteoporosis.

Results

A slightly higher percentage of women was screened and the percentage screened in both men and women decreased as levels of remoteness increased. Women in outer regional areas had significantly higher odds of having osteopenia over normal bone mineral density, compared to women in an urban setting.

Conclusion

As the level of remoteness increased, there was a decrease in the percentage of men and women being screened to determine their risk of osteoporosis. Furthermore, the current data suggest that women in more remote areas have significantly lower bone density, compared to an urban female population. Finally, men and women have similar levels of osteopenia across Queensland, Australia.
A reduction in compliance or activation level reduces residual force depression in human tibialis anterior
Authors: Raiteri Brent J. , Hahn Daniel
Published: October 2018

Aim

We investigated if residual force depression (rFD) is present during voluntary fixed‐end contractions of human tibialis anterior (TA) and whether reducing TA's activation level after active shortening could reduce rFD.

Methods

Ten participants performed fixed‐end dorsiflexion contractions to a low, moderate or high level while electromyography (EMG), dorsiflexion force and TA ultrasound images were recorded. Contractions were force‐ or EMG‐matched and after the low or high contraction level was attained, participants respectively increased or decreased their force/EMG to a moderate level. Participants also performed moderate level contractions while the TA muscle‐tendon unit (MTU) was lengthened during the force/EMG rise to the reference MTU length.

Results

Equivalent fascicle shortening over moderate and low to moderate level contractions did not alter EMG (P = 0.45) or dorsiflexion force (P = 0.47) at the moderate level. Greater initial fascicle shortening magnitudes (1.7 mm; P ≤ 0.01) to the high contraction level did not alter EMG (P = 0.45) or dorsiflexion force (P = 0.30) at the subsequent moderate level compared with moderate level contractions. TA MTU lengthening during the initial force/EMG rise reduced TA fascicle shortening (−2.5 mm; P ≤ 0.01), which reduced EMG (−3.9% MVC; P < 0.01) and increased dorsiflexion force (3.7% MVC; P < 0.01) at the moderate level compared with fixed‐end moderate level contractions.

Conclusion

rFD is present during fixed‐end dorsiflexion contractions because fascicles actively shorten as force/EMG increases and rFD can be reduced by reducing the effective MTU compliance. A reduction in muscle activation level also reduces rFD by potentially triggering residual force enhancement‐related mechanisms as force drops and some fascicles actively lengthen.
Inhibitory effects of cycloastragenol on abdominal aortic aneurysm and its related mechanisms
Authors: Wang Yunxia , Chen Cong , Wang Qinyu , Cao Yini , Xu Lu , Qi Rong
Published: October 2018

Background and Purpose

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a degenerative disease affecting human health, but there are no safe and effective medications for AAA therapy. Cycloastragenol (CAG), derived from Astragali Radix, has various pharmacological effects. However, whether CAG can protect against AAA remains elusive. In this study, we investigated whether CAG has an inhibitory effect on AAA and its related mechanism.

Experimental Approach

The AAA mouse model was induced by incubating the abdominal aorta with elastase. CAG was administered by gavage at different doses beginning on the same day or 14 days after inducing AAA to explore its preventive or therapeutic effects respectively. The preventive effects of CAG on AAA were verified in another AAA mouse model induced by angiotensin II in ApoE−/− mouse. In vitro experiments were implemented on rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by TNF‐α.

Key Results

Compared to the control AAA model group, CAG (125 mg·kg−1 body weight day−1) reduced the incidence of AAA, the dilatation of aorta and elastin degradation in media in both mouse models of AAA. CAG suppressed the inflammation, oxidation, phenotype switch and apoptosis in TNF‐α‐stimulated VSMCs, ameliorated the expression and activity of MMPs and decreased the activation of the ERK/JNK signalling pathway. CAG also inhibited the degradation of elastin in TNF‐α‐stimulated VSMCs.

Conclusion and Implications

CAG presents protective effects against AAA through down‐regulation of the MAPK signalling pathways and thus attenuates inflammation, oxidation, VSMC phenotype switch and apoptosis and the expression of MMPs as well as increasing elastin biosynthesis.