bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lattice filter for processing image data of three-dimensional protein nanocrystals
Authors: van Genderen E. , Li Y.-W. , Nederlof I. , Abrahams J. P.
Published: December 2015

When 300 kV cryo-EM images at Scherzer focus are acquired from ∼100 nm thick three-dimensional protein nanocrystals using a Falcon 2 direct electron detector, Fourier transformation can reveal the crystalline lattice to surprisingly high resolutions, even though the images themselves seem to be devoid of any contrast. Here, it is reported how this lattice information can be enhanced by means of a wave finder in combination with Wiener-type maximum-likelihood filtering. This procedure paves the way towards full three-dimensional structure determination at high resolution for protein crystals.
The effect of perceived risk dimensions on purchase intention
Authors: Bhukya Ramulu , Singh Sapna
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the dimensions of perceived risk, which influence consumers’ purchase intention toward the retailers’ private labels. Based upon the previous literature, majorly four dimensions of the perceived risk have been considered for the study. These include – perceived functional risk, perceived financial risk, perceived physical risk and perceived psychological risk.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data have been collected by proceeding with mall intercept method and approached shoppers with the questionnaire at the outlets of large Indian retailers – Reliance retail, Aditya Birla’s More, Big Bazaar and Spencer’s. A total of 352 valid questionnaires were obtained, wherein responses were recorded on Likert-type scale anchoring five-points where 1 indicates strongly disagree and 5 indicates strongly agree. Then, the analysis was carried out by using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis.

Findings

– Findings of this study revealed that perceived functional risk, perceived financial risk, perceived physical risk and perceived psychological risk have the direct negative and significant effects on consumers’ intention to purchase retailers’ private labels. Thus, all the hypotheses were accepted and all the findings of this study were in line with previous studies.

Research limitations/implications

– A limited set of product categories and brands were analyzed.

Practical implications

– This study is of great interest for large retailers who wish to increase their private labels’ value proposition, with an in-depth understanding of these risks it could alter their value proposition accordingly and create more successful private labels in the market place.

Originality/value

– This study is one among the very few studies which addressed the research on purchase intention toward private labels in Indian context.
A career success model for academics at Malaysian research universities
Authors: Abu Said Al-Mansor , Mohd Rasdi Roziah , Abu Samah Bahaman , Silong Abu Daud , Sulaiman Suzaimah
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a career success model for academics at the Malaysian research universities.

Design/methodology/approach

– Self-administered and online surveys were used for data collection among 325 academics from Malaysian research universities.

Findings

– Based on the analysis of structural equation modeling, the proposed model explained 48 per cent of the variance of academics’ career success. Specifically, the result shows that there are positive significant effects between organizational support, extraversion personality, person-job fit and academics’ career success. A full mediation effect of proactive behavior was established on the relationship between organizational support and career success. Overall, the results confirmed that the proposed model succinctly explains career success among academics in Malaysian research universities.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors present a career success model for academics at Malaysian research universities. The study represents an important extension of previous research of which it tested the applicability of the career success theories and identified the key factors related to career success of academics based on the context of Malaysian research universities. Most current career success studies were conducted in the context of the Western culture or developed countries; therefore, the results based on the Malaysian sample provide strong evidence of cross-cultural comparability of the career success construct and model.

Practical implications

– The findings provide implications to both individuals and human resource development practitioners on career success among academics. Practical interventions are suggested to assist individuals and organizations toward achieving career success. This study sheds some light on the effective management of the academics.

Originality/value

– The authors propose a model of academics’ career success based on the context of Malaysian research universities.
Revenue efficiency analysis of scheduled commercial banks in a dynamic environment
Authors: Bhatia Aparna , Mahendru Megha
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The paper aims to analyze the revenue efficiency (RE) of Scheduled Commercial Banks in India. The study also determines the nature of Return to Scale (RTS) of banks and thereby identifies the leaders and laggards in the Indian Banking Sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– RE of banks is calculated by using the non-parametric approach, namely, data envelopment analysis. Further, the efficiency scores are decomposed into technical and allocative efficiency.

Findings

– Public Sector Banks have higher RE as compared to their counterparts in private and foreign sectors. The choice of operating on incorrect scale is identified as the primary reason of inefficiency. It is suggested that banks should expand their business by opening new branches and also try to increase their customer base. Overall, it is seen that trends in RE are somewhat affected by the dynamism in the environment along with the bank-specific factors.

Originality/value

– With specific reference to India, less empirical work has been carried out with respect to RE. None of the studies has identified that revenue inefficiency is caused either by mispricing of outputs or giving wrong choice of outputs.
Maternal involvement and outcomes in nurse home visiting
Authors: Flemington Tara , Waters Donna , Fraser Jennifer A
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– Home visiting is a strategy widely implemented to support families following the birth of a baby. There is a broad consensus that home visiting programmes are successful. But there is little understanding of factors moderating this success. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between maternal involvement in a nurse home visiting programme, maternal depression, and adjustment to the parenting role.

Design/methodology/approach

– A retrospective design was employed in which the medical records of 40 mothers who had been enroled in a nurse home visiting programme were examined. The number of nurse home visits from birth to six months, maternal depressive symptoms, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) and responsivity scores were examined. Mothers had been selected for the programme if they had a history of mental illness, were in a violent relationship, or reported drug or alcohol problems.

Findings

– A significant, positive relationship was found between maternal involvement, positive HOME environment and maternal responsivity scores. Furthermore, the mothers with the highest scores for HOME environment and responsivity to their infant ' s cues at six months were mothers experiencing deteriorating symptoms of depression. These mothers had the highest levels of involvement with the programme. Despite their mothers’ deteriorating mental health, infants whose mothers received the greatest number of visits from a nurse received the greatest benefit ameliorating their risk for developing poor attachment and impaired behavioural, emotional and cognitive development.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to examine the relationship between changes in maternal depression and programme outcomes in a home visiting programme. It is one of the first explorations of the relationship between maternal involvement and programme outcomes in a targeted nurse home visiting programme to prevent child maltreatment. The findings from this study are critical to future home visiting programme development and evaluation.
Developing a process for assessment of the emotional and behavioural needs of “looked after” children: the Five Rivers model
Authors: Beckett Celia , Cross Richard , Hewitt-Taylor Jaqui , McConnell Pam
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the development process of building an assessment model to assess the emotional and behavioural needs of “looked after children”.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is a technical paper developing and evaluating a process for comprehensively assessing children ' s needs using a combination of three existing tools.

Findings

– The paper identifies a model to assess “looked after” children and highlights some of the early benefits and challenges which have been encountered using this model.

Practical implications

– This paper suggests a model and timeframe to ensure that detailed assessments of the mental health of “looked after” children are effectively carried out.

Social implications

– There is a potential for an improvement in assessment of looked after children that will lead to the identification of appropriate interventions and services.

Originality/value

– The paper is new in identifying a combination of assessment measures and a timeline to complete these.
Young offenders
'
and their families
'
experiences of mental health interventions
Authors: Jack Anna , Lanskey Caroline , Harvey Joel
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relevance of young people
'
s experiences of mental health interventions with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) before and during their time with youth offending services.

Design/methodology/approach

– This qualitative interpretive study involved 14 interviews with young people who had offended, five of their carers and five CAMHS professionals from one local authority.

Findings

– The paper identifies understanding, recognition, respect and trust as key principles in the practitioner-young person relationship, and in the intervention process more broadly, and suggests that systematic consultation with young people and their caregivers about their experience of mental health interventions would be beneficial. It notes important similarities and differences in the views of the different parties which shed further light on reasons why a young person may or may not engage with mental health services.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is based on a small sample of young people from one service, but it is hoped that the findings will be a useful springboard for other services to reflect upon.

Practical implications

– The paper proposes the importance of recognising young people
'
s agency in the intervention process and the value of systematic consultation with young people and their caregivers for securing their engagement in interventions.

Originality/value

– The study takes a multi-perspective approach (of young people, their carers and practitioners) to capture the synergies and tensions in the expectations of and interactions between young people, practitioners and caregivers.
Screening for post-traumatic stress symptoms in looked after children
Authors: Morris Lottie , Salkovskis Paul , Adams Joanna , Lister Andrew , Meiser-Stedman Richard
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– Many children who are looked after by the state have experienced adverse and traumatic life circumstances prior to being removed from their biological parents. Previous research has highlighted that many of them experience barriers to accessing psychological therapies. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of assessing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms using a screening tool, and through this to determine the prevalence of PTSD-like symptoms in looked after children presenting with emotional and/or behavioural problems.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Child Revised Impact of Events Scale (CRIES-8) was identified as a suitable screening tool for PTSD-like symptoms. This measure was piloted for three months, and the prevalence of PTSD-like symptoms amongst respondents (n=27) was recorded.

Findings

– Prevalence of PTSD-like symptoms was found to be high 75 per cent amongst respondents. The psychometric properties of the CRIES-8 were similar to those found in a previous study assessing PTSD following a single-incident trauma. Health care professionals reported finding the CRIES-8 to be a clinically useful measure.

Originality/value

– Prevalence of PTSD-like symptoms may be high amongst looked after children, and the CRIES-8 appears to have good psychometric properties when used with this population. It is likely that this highly treatable condition is under-detected: thus, recommendations are made for clinical practice and further research.
Measuring humanitarian supply chain performance in a multi-goal context
Authors: Haavisto Ira , Goentzel Jarrod
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to deepen the understanding of supply chain performance objectives in the humanitarian context by striving to understand the underlying goals and conceptual variables behind the measurement of performance, such as efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research is an in-depth case study with one humanitarian organization. The data are gathered with mixed methods over a two-year period. Interviews were conducted in August 2010 and April 2012, and a survey conducted in October 2012.

Findings

– Misalignments are detected among different groups in humanitarian operations and between their goals and processes. These misalignments could possibly be corrected through long-term thinking in short-term operations by considering sustainability aspects throughout humanitarian assistance, for example. In addition, efficiency was a commonly identified objective in the case organization, although the definition varied widely and extended beyond the traditional definition of productivity to include planning, accountability and quality.

Practical implications

– Better communication and definition of terms is necessary to align goals and the power hierarchy in humanitarian supply chains, where operations seem to be structured more according to donor requirements then beneficiary needs.

Originality/value

– This is an in-depth case study, applying goal-setting theory to study supply chain performance. The study further responds to the public “aid efficiency” discussion by striving to recognize how efficiency is understood and how it can be measured in a humanitarian supply chain.
The WTO at 20: an economist’s perspective
Authors: Prusa Thomas J
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to clarify the role that economic methodology and approach can help the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body (AB)make better decisions. The author discusses two prominent disputes to demonstrate how economics could have resulted in improved AB decision. First, there is the question of whether countervailing duties can continue to be imposed subsequent to privatization of state-owned enterprises. Second, there is the frequently challenged zeroing issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author uses a case study method. He reviews the details of specific disputes and explains how standard microeconomic methods would have produced greater clarity in the determinations and hence promoted a more efficient dispute resolution process.

Findings

– In this commentary, however, the author addresses a frustration with the AB, namely, the reluctance of the AB to embrace economics in its decision-making. He argues that economic methods would produce superior determinations.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfils an identified need to document how economic methods would have led to better AB decisions.
WTO dispute settlement and the study of compliance
Authors: Elsig Manfred
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this research note is to draw on the concept of compliance as developed in international relations theory to point to future avenues of research. It is widely understood that the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system has worked well in the past 20 years. Surprisingly, however, systematic research on compliance with WTO law is still in its infancy.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research note draws a distinction between first-order and second-order compliance and discusses limitations of existing work and possible ways forward.

Findings

– This note suggests that more work, both conceptually as well as empirically, needs to be carried out.

Originality/value

– Very little systematic research has been carried out on compliance with WTO law.
Does R
&
D create or resolve uncertainty?
Authors: Blazenko George , Yeung Wing Him
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate two related questions on business research and development (R
&
D) simultaneously. First, does R
&
D create or resolve uncertainty? Second, does uncertainty encourage or discourage business R
&
D?

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses the three-stage least squares regression method and a system of simultaneous equations to examine the two research questions simultaneously. Instrumental variables overcome the econometric endogeneity problem.

Findings

– The results are consistent with the hypothesis that R
&
D creates rather than resolves uncertainty. Why then do risk-averse business managers undertake R
&
D? This paper argues that in creating uncertainty, R
&
D also creates “shadow options” for supplementary business investment not envisaged by business managers in the original objective for R
&
D. Rather, managers unexpectedly uncover shadow options in R
&
D’s inherent knowledge discovery process, which encourages business R
&
D in the first instance. Consistent with this real options interpretation, this paper reports evidence that volatility encourages R
&
D.

Originality/value

– This paper differs from the current literature in the sense that it investigates the two related R
&
D questions simultaneously rather than individually. The authors argue that the two related questions are inextricably interrelated, and investigating the two questions simultaneously would provide results that can possibly solve conflicting empirical results in the current literature. The results are also particularly useful for business managers who make decisions on whether to undertake R
&
D projects or not.
Bad assets options and bank resolution in Europe
Authors: Paetzmann Karsten
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– This paper analyzes the new EU Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) to determine the level of guidance on instruments to wind-down bad asset portfolios of asset management vehicles. In the absence of such detailed guidance stipulated by the BRRD, the aim is to provide certain practical guidance to future resolution planning and execution.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws upon experience from portfolio reduction strategies applied at European bad banks in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. For illustration purposes, the paper use case study data from a bad bank located in the eurozone.

Findings

– For the new European Commission, implementation and enforcement of the Banking Union within the eurozone is currently a key priority. Present efforts are mainly directed towards minimum technical standards. However, the fundamental question of how to orderly unwind a bad assets portfolio without the usage of public funds remains partly addressed only. While a uniform approach to any bad asset does not seem to be applicable, certain lessons learned from previous financial crises may contribute to a selection of reduction strategies.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper draws upon experience from portfolio reduction strategies applied at European bad banks in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. It includes case study data from the wind-down of a eurozone bad bank detailing the asset reduction strategies achieved so far. Such per asset class wind-down patterns have not been published and commented on in academia so far.
Greenstone Digital Library Management System – a functional review based on selected criteria
Authors: Parichi Ramesh , Nisha Faizul
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide a functional review of Greenstone based on selected criteria, viz., user friendliness, administration, customization, international metadata standards and interoperability, search and browse capabilities, security aspects, statistical reports, unique features and limitations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is solely based on secondary information collected from different sources like books, articles from national and international journal articles, reports of various organizations and local newspapers as well as the resources available in various websites.

Findings

– It was observed that the Greenstone on Windows is less robust than the other operating systems such as Linux. It was reported that during the collection building process of some documents, the system hangs and the user has to turn off the browsers and the interfaces, and no alternate method is available to restore normalcy. The software has been reviewed on selected criteria, and it is suggested to use Greenstone Digital Library Management System (DLMS) system as the most suitable and convenient for installation, uploading of documents and usage for small- and medium-type organizations.

Practical implications

– This paper would be of great help for library professionals to learn about diverse features available in the software and in selecting the best DLMS.

Originality/value

– The Greenstone DLMS is functionally reviewed and analysed based on selected broad criteria, viz., user friendliness, administration, customization, international metadata standards and interoperability, search and browse capabilities, security aspects and statistical functions.
What’s trending in cloud computing from the internet cybersphere
Authors: Oyelude Adetoun A
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the following question: What is cloud computing?

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper surveys the current literature.

Findings

– Cloud computing is described in many ways.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the first pieces to examine the nature of cloud computing.
The impact of dwelling renovation on spatial quality
Authors: Acre Fernanda , Wyckmans Annemie
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– Non-technical dimensions such as spatial quality are just as relevant for energy efficiency as technical and economic dimensions in the renovation of dwellings. However, the significance of non-technical dimensions is often neglected in the energy renovation of dwellings. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the renovation of dwellings for energy efficiency influences spatial quality in the MS-1 building in the neighbourhood of Arlequin, Grenoble, France. The Arlequin case study is part of the ZenN project, nearly zero energy neighbourhoods, funded by the European 7th Framework Programme (Grant Agreement No. 314363).

Design/methodology/approach

– The impact of the renovation on spatial quality is analysed by crossing technical measures, applied in the energy renovation of dwellings with the definition of spatial quality proposed by Acre and Wyckmans (2014). The spatial quality definition results from a literature review on quality of design and urban life, wherein works of Weber (1995) and Gehl (2010, 2011) are related to the residential use in the scales of the building and block. The impact of renovation on spatial quality is further evaluated by using the spatial quality assessment developed by Acre and Wyckmans (2015). The impact on spatial quality is observed by considering all the renovation measures, instead of only considering the measures primarily related to energy performance. This emphasises the need for a cross-disciplinary approach between technical and non-technical dimensions in the energy renovation of dwellings.

Findings

– The results display both negative and positive impacts of the energy renovation on spatial quality in the dwellings and emphasise the potential of non-technical dimensions in promoting renovation. The impact on spatial quality is primarily negative when only measures adopted in order to improve energy efficiency are considered in the evaluation.

Originality/value

– This paper consists of a novel crossing of technical and non-technical dimensions in energy renovation of dwellings. The work aligns with the current European trend of nurturing energy-deep renovation to reach Europe’s 2050 energy-efficiency targets (Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) 2011).
Climate modulates the effects of tree diversity on forest productivity
Authors: Jucker Tommaso , Avăcăriței Daniel , Bărnoaiea Ionuț , Duduman Gabriel , Bouriaud Olivier , Coomes David A.
Published: December 2015

Despite growing evidence that, on average, diverse forests tend to be more productive than species‐poor ones, individual studies often report strongly contrasting relationships between tree species richness and above‐ground wood production (AWP). In the attempt to reconcile these apparently inconsistent results, we explored whether the strength and shape of AWP–diversity relationships shifts along spatial and temporal environmental gradients in forests across Europe.

We used tree ring data from a network of permanent forest plots distributed at six sites across Europe to estimate annual AWP over a 15‐year period (1997–2011). We then tested whether the relationship between tree species richness and AWP changes (i) across sites as a function of large‐scale gradients in climatic productivity and tree packing density and (ii) among years within each sites as a result of fluctuating climatic conditions.

AWP–species richness relationships varied markedly among sites. As predicted by theory, the relationship shifted from strongly positive at sites where climate imposed a strong limitation on wood production and tree packing densities were low, to weakly negative at sites where climatic conditions for growth were most suitable. In contrast, we found no consistent effect of interannual fluctuations in climate on the strength of AWP–species richness relationships within sites.

Synthesis. Our results indicate that the shape and strength of the relationship between tree diversity and forest productivity depends critically on environmental context. Across Europe, tree diversity shows the greatest potential to positively influence forest productivity at either end of the latitudinal gradient, where adverse climatic conditions limit productivity and lead to the development of less densely packed stands.
Investigation of long chain omega‐3 PUFAs on arterial blood pressure, vascular reactivity and survival in angiotensin II‐infused Apolipoprotein E‐knockout mice
Authors: Bürgin‐Maunder Corinna S , Nataatmadja Maria , Vella Rebecca K , Fenning Andrew S , Brooks Peter R , Russell Fraser D
Published: December 2015

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an inflammatory vascular disease. Long chain omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n‐3 PUFAs) decrease inflammation and oxidative stress in an angiotensin II‐infused apolipoprotein E‐knockout (ApoE−/−) mouse model of AAA. This study investigated the effects of LC n‐3 PUFAs on blood pressure and vascular reactivity in fourteen angiotensin II‐infused ApoE−/− male mice. Blood pressure was obtained using a non‐invasive tail cuff method and whole blood was collected by cardiac puncture. Vascular reactivity of the thoracic aorta was assessed using wire myography and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was determined by immunohistochemistry. A high LC n‐3 PUFA diet increased the omega‐3 index and reduced the n‐6 to n‐3 PUFA ratio. At day 10 post‐infusion with angiotensin II, there was no difference in systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure in mice fed the high or low n‐3 PUFA diets. The high LC n‐3 PUFA diet resulted in a non‐significant trend for delay in time to death from abdominal aortic rupture. Vascular reactivity and eNOS activation remained unchanged in mice fed the high compared to the low LC n‐3 PUFA diet. This study argues against direct improvement in vascular reactivity in ApoE−/− mice that were supplemented with n‐3 PUFA for 8 weeks prior to infusion with angiotensin II.
Beneficial cilostazol therapeutic effects in mdx dystrophic skeletal muscle
Authors: Hermes Túlio de Almeida , Macedo Aline Barbosa , Fogaça Aline Reis , Moraes Luis Henrique Rapucci , de Faria Felipe Meira , Kido Larissa Akemi , Cagnon Valéria Helena Alves , Minatel Elaine
Published: December 2015

This study evaluated the possible protective effects of cilostazol against myonecrosis in dystrophic diaphragm muscle in vivo, focusing on oxidative stress, the inflammatory response and angiogenesis. Young mdx mice, the experimental animal for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, received cilostazol for 14 days. A second group of mdx mice and a control group of C57BL/10 mice received a saline solution. In the mdx mice, cilostazol treatment was associated with reduced loss of muscle strength (−34.4%), decreased myonecrosis, reduced creatine kinase levels (−63.3%) and muscle fibres stained for immunoglobulin G in dystrophic diaphragm muscle (−81.1%), and a reduced inflammatory response, with a decreased inflammatory area (−22%), macrophage infiltration (−44.9%) and nuclear factor‐κB (−24%) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (−48%) content in dystrophic diaphragm muscle. Furthermore, cilostazol decreased oxidative stress and attenuated reactive oxygen species production (−74%) and lipid peroxidation (−17%) in dystrophic diaphragm muscle, and promoted the up‐regulation of angiogenesis, increasing the number of microvessels (15%). In conclusion, the present results show that cilostazol has beneficial effects in dystrophic muscle. More research into the potential of cilostazol as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of dystrophinopathies is required.
Coupling citizens and elites in deliberative systems: The role of institutional design
Authors: HENDRIKS CAROLYN M.
Published: December 2015

A significant shortcoming in contemporary deliberative systems is that citizens are disconnected from various elite sites of public deliberation. This article explores the concept of ‘coupling’ as a means to better link citizens and elites in deliberative systems. The notion of ‘designed coupling’ is developed to describe institutional mechanisms for linking otherwise disconnected deliberative sites. To consider whether it is possible and indeed desirable to use institutional design to couple different sites in a deliberative system, the article draws on insights from a case study in which a mini‐public was formally integrated into a legislative committee. The empirical study finds that it is not only feasible to couple mini‐publics to legislative committees, but when combined, the democratic and deliberative capacity of both institutions can be strengthened. To be effective, ‘designed coupling’ requires more than establishing institutional connections; it also requires that actors to step outside their comfort zone to build new relationships and engage in new communicative spaces with different sets of ideas, actors and rules. This can be facilitated by institutional design, but it also requires leaders and champions who are well‐placed to encourage actors to think differently.
Thermal Processing Alters the Chemical Quality and Sensory Characteristics of Sweetsop (Annona squamosa L.) and Soursop (Annona muricata L.) Pulp and Nectar
Authors: Baskaran Revathy , Ravi Ramasamy , Rajarathnam Somasundaram
Published: December 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of thermal processing on the chemical quality and sensory characteristics of Annona squamosa L. and Annona muricata L. fruit pulps and nectar. The fruit pulps were pasteurized at 85 °C for 20 min and nectar prepared as per Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) specifications. The chemical composition of fresh and heated pulps of A. squamosa and A. muricata showed that compared to fresh, the chemical profile and sensory profile changed in heated samples and nectar. The free and bound phenolics of A. squamosa increased in heated pulp (127.61 to 217.22 mg/100 g and 150.34 to 239.74 mg/100 g, respectively), while in A. muricata, free phenolics increased very marginally from 31.73 to 33.74 mg/100 g and bound phenolics decreased from 111.11 to 86.91 mg/100 g. This increase in phenolic content may be attributed to the perception of bitterness and astringency in A. squamosa pulp on heating. In electronic tongue studies, principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that the fresh and heated pulps had different scores, as indicated by sensory analysis using qualitative descriptive analysis (QDA). E‐tongue analysis of samples discriminated the volatile compounds released from the heated A. squamosa and A. muricata fruit pulps and nectar in their respective PCA plots by forming different clusters.
Kinetics of Thermal Inactivation of Peroxidase and Color Degradation of African Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Leaves
Authors: Wawire Michael , Oey Indrawati , Mathooko Francis M. , Njoroge Charles K. , Shitanda Douglas , Hendrickx Marc
Published: December 2015

Cowpea leaves form an important part of the diet for many Kenyans, and they are normally consumed after a lengthy cooking process leading to the inactivation of peroxidase (POD) that could be used as an indicator for the potential shelf life of the vegetables. However, color degradation can simultaneously occur, leading to poor consumer acceptance of the product. The kinetics of POD in situ thermal (for thermal treatments in the range of 75 to 100 °C/120 min) inactivation showed a biphasic first‐order model, with Arrhenius temperature dependence of the rate constant. The kinetic parameters using a reference temperature (Tref) of 80 °C were determined for both the heat‐labile phase (kref = 11.52 ± 0.95 × 10−2 min−1 and Ea of 109.67 ± 6.20 kJ/mol) and the heat‐stable isoenzyme fraction (kref = 0.29 ± 0.07 × 10−2 min−1 and Ea of 256.93 ± 15.27 kJ/mol). Color degradation (L*, a*, and b* value) during thermal treatment was investigated, in particular as the “a*” value (the value of green color). Thermal degradation (thermal treatments between 55 and 80 °C per 90 min) of the green color of the leaves followed a fractional conversion model and the temperature dependence of the inactivation rate constant can be described using the Arrhenius law. The kinetic parameters using a reference temperature (TrefC = 70 °C) were determined as krefC = 13.53 ± 0.01 × 10−2 min−1 and EaC = 88.78 ± 3.21 kJ/mol.

The results indicate that severe inactivation of POD (as an indicator for improved shelf life of the cooked vegetables) is accompanied by severe color degradation and that conventional cooking methods (typically 10 min/100 °C) lead to a high residual POD activity suggesting a limited shelf life of the cooked vegetables.
Ustilago maydis produces itaconic acid via the unusual intermediate trans‐aconitate
Authors: Geiser Elena , Przybilla Sandra K , Friedrich Alexandra , Buckel Wolfgang , Wierckx Nick , Blank Lars M , Bölker Michael
Published: December 2015

Itaconic acid is an important biomass‐derived chemical building block but has also recently been identified as a metabolite produced in mammals, which has antimicrobial activity. The biosynthetic pathway of itaconic acid has been elucidated in the ascomycetous fungus Aspergillus terreus and in human macrophages. In both organisms itaconic acid is generated by decarboxylation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediate cis‐aconitate. Here, we show that the basidiomycetous fungus Ustilago maydis uses an alternative pathway and produces itaconic acid via trans‐aconitate, the thermodynamically favoured isomer of cis‐aconitate. We have identified a gene cluster that contains all genes involved in itaconic acid formation. Trans‐aconitate is generated from cis‐aconitate by a cytosolic aconitate‐Δ‐isomerase (Adi1) that belongs to the PrpF family of proteins involved in bacterial propionate degradation. Decarboxylation of trans‐aconitate is catalyzed by a novel enzyme, trans‐aconitate decarboxylase (Tad1). Tad1 displays significant sequence similarity with bacterial 3‐carboxy‐cis,cis‐muconate lactonizing enzymes (CMLE). This suggests that U. maydis has evolved an alternative biosynthetic pathway for itaconate production using the toxic intermediate trans‐aconitate. Overexpression of a pathway‐specific transcription factor (Ria1) or a mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid transporter (Mtt1) resulted in a twofold increase in itaconate yield. Therefore, our findings offer new strategies for biotechnological production of this valuable biomass‐derived chemical.
Esophageal cancer statistics in China, 2011: Estimates based on 177 cancer registries
Authors: Zeng Hongmei , Zheng Rongshou , Zhang Siwei , Zuo Tingting , Xia Changfa , Zou Xiaonong , Chen Wanqing
Published: December 2015

Background

Esophageal cancer has been a common cancer in China for many years. Using the most recent data collected from the National Central Cancer Registry, we present estimates of the esophageal cancer burden in China in 2011.

Methods

Age‐specific incidence and mortality rates by gender and area for 18 age groups were calculated based on data from 177 qualified population‐based cancer registries. The number of new cases of esophageal cancer and cancer deaths were computed by multiplying these rates by the 2011 population. Crude incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer were estimated.

Results

The estimated number of new esophageal cancer cases and deaths were 291 238 and 218 957, respectively. The crude incidence and mortality rates for esophageal cancer were 21.62/100 000 and 16.25/100 000, respectively. The age‐standardized incidence and mortality rates by world population were 15.83/100 000 and 11.62/100 000, respectively. Both the incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer were higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and in men than in women. The age‐specific esophageal cancer incidence and mortality rates increased with age. In China, squamous cell cancer was the most common pathological type of the disease.

Conclusion

Esophageal cancer remains a major public health issue in China. Primary and secondary prevention are essential for disease control.
Effectiveness of Scotland's National Naloxone Programme for reducing opioid‐related deaths: a before (2006–10) versus after (2011–13) comparison
Authors: Bird Sheila M. , McAuley Andrew , Perry Samantha , Hunter Carole
Published: December 2015

Aims

To assess the effectiveness for Scotland's National Naloxone Programme (NNP) by comparison between 2006–10 (before) and 2011–13 (after NNP started in January 2011) and to assess cost‐effectiveness.

Design

This was a pre–post evaluation of a national policy. Cost‐effectiveness was assessed by prescription costs against life‐years gained per opioid‐related death (ORD) averted.

Setting

Scotland, in community settings and all prisons.

Intervention

Brief training and standardized naloxone supply became available to individuals at risk of opioid overdose.

Measurements

ORDs as identified by National Records of Scotland. Look‐back determined the proportion of ORDs who, in the 4 weeks before ORD, had been (i) released from prison (primary outcome) and (ii) released from prison or discharged from hospital (secondary). We report 95% confidence intervals for effectiveness in reducing the primary (and secondary) outcome in 2011–13 versus 2006–10. Prescription costs were assessed against 1 or 10 life‐years gained per averted ORD.

Findings

In 2006–10, 9.8% of ORDs (193 of 1970) were in people released from prison within 4 weeks of death, whereas only 6.3% of ORDs in 2011–13 followed prison release (76 of 1212, P < 0.001; this represented a difference of 3.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6–5.4%)]. This reduction in the proportion of prison release ORDs translates into 42 fewer prison release ORDs (95% CI = 19–65) during 2011–13, when 12 000 naloxone kits were issued at current prescription cost of £225 000. Scotland's secondary outcome reduced from 19.0 to 14.9%, a difference of 4.1% (95% CI = 1.4–6.7%).

Conclusions

Scotland's National Naloxone Programme, which started in 2011, was associated with a 36% reduction in the proportion of opioid‐related deaths that occurred in the 4 weeks following release from prison.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress in the brain subfornical organ contributes to sex differences in angiotensin‐dependent hypertension in rats
Authors: Dai S.‐Y. , Fan J. , Shen Y. , He J.‐J. , Peng W.
Published: December 2015

Aim

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the brain subfornical organ (SFO), a key cardiovascular regulatory centre, has been implicated in angiotensin (ANG) II‐induced hypertension in males; however, the contribution of ER stress to ANG II‐induced hypertension in females is unknown. Female hormones have been shown to prevent ER stress in the periphery. We tested the hypothesis that females are less susceptible to ANG II‐induced SFO ER stress than males, leading to sex differences in hypertension.

Methods

Male, intact and ovariectomized (OVX) female rats received a continuous 2‐week subcutaneous infusion of ANG II or saline. Additional male, intact and OVX female rats received intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of ER stress inducer tunicamycin.

Results

ANG II, but not saline, increased blood pressure (BP) in both males and females, but intact females exhibited smaller increase in BP and less depressor response to ganglionic blockade compared with males or OVX females. Molecular studies revealed that ANG II elevated expression of ER stress biomarkers and Fra‐like activity in the SFO in both males and females; however, elevations in these parameters were less in intact females than in males or OVX females. Moreover, ICV tunicamycin induced smaller elevation in BP and less increase in expression of ER stress biomarkers in the SFO in intact females compared with males or OVX females.

Conclusion

The results suggest that differences in ANG II‐induced brain ER stress between males and females contribute to sex differences in ANG II‐mediated hypertension and that oestrogen protects females against ANG II‐induced brain ER stress.
Spatial variation of fuel loading within varying aged stands of chaparral
Authors: Uyeda Kellie A. , Stow Douglas A. , O'Leary John F. , Schmidt Ian T. , Riggan Philip J.
Published: December 2015

Questions

How do stand‐level biomass and percentage of dead material in chaparral vary as a function of stand age? How do the landscape properties of aggregation index and patch size vary in each of the dominant species groups as a function of stand age?

Location

Stands of 7‐, 28‐ and 68‐yr‐old chaparral, San Diego County, CA, US.

Methods

We sampled and estimated above‐ground biomass in 8 m × 8 m field plots. Each stand was classified into species groups using high‐resolution imagery. After establishing coefficients for the average biomass per area for each species group and stand age using field data, we estimated biomass in 30 random plots in each stand age using the classified map. We also estimated biomass using pooled coefficients (average of the 28‐ and 68‐yr‐old biomass per area). We calculated landscape metrics in six 60 m × 60 m study sites for each stand age.

Results

While we found a statistically significant pattern of higher biomass in the older chaparral stands when using age‐specific biomass coefficients, there was no statistical difference between the 28‐ and 68‐yr‐old stands using the more conservative pooled coefficients. Both approaches revealed a wide range in biomass in all age classes. We were not able to map dead biomass with sufficient accuracy to measure age‐related differences, but no differences in the two older stands were obvious in the field. There were no significant differences in landscape metrics between the two older stands, and the differences observed in the younger stand might have been partially due to aspect differences.

Conclusions

Our approach of using a combination of field plots and classification of remote sensing imagery is a valuable method for enlarging the effective study area in chaparral, and allowed us to better measure how widely biomass varies across the study area. High spatial resolution measurements of fuel properties could help support more detailed models of fire behaviour.
Role of EP2 and EP4 receptors in airway microvascular leak induced by prostaglandin E2
Authors: Jones Victoria C , Birrell Mark A , Maher Sarah A , Griffiths Mark , Grace Megan , O'Donnell Valerie B , Clark Stephen R , Belvisi Maria G
Published: December 2015

Background and Purpose

Airway microvascular leak (MVL) involves the extravasation of proteins from post‐capillary venules into surrounding tissue. MVL is a cardinal sign of inflammation and an important feature of airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma. PGE2, a product of COX‐mediated metabolism of arachidonic acid, binds to four receptors, termed EP1–4. PGE2 has a wide variety of effects within the airway, including modulation of inflammation, sensory nerve activation and airway tone. However, the effect of PGE2 on airway MVL and the receptor/s that mediate this have not been described.

Experimental Approach

Evans Blue dye was used as a marker of airway MVL, and selective EP receptor agonists and antagonists were used alongside EP receptor‐deficient mice to define the receptor subtype involved.

Key Results

PGE2 induced significant airway MVL in mice and guinea pigs. A significant reduction in PGE2‐induced MVL was demonstrated in Ptger2−/− and Ptger4−/− mice and in wild‐type mice pretreated simultaneously with EP2 (PF‐04418948) and EP4 (ER‐819762) receptor antagonists. In a model of allergic asthma, an increase in airway levels of PGE2 was associated with a rise in MVL; this change was absent in Ptger2−/− and Ptger4−/− mice.

Conclusions and Implications

PGE2 is a key mediator produced by the lung and has widespread effects according to the EP receptor activated. Airway MVL represents a response to injury and under ‘disease’ conditions is a prominent feature of airway inflammation. The data presented highlight a key role for EP2 and EP4 receptors in MVL induced by PGE2.