bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Balancing of life cycle carbon and cost appraisal on alternative wall and roof design verification for residential building
Authors: Tighnavard Balasbaneh Ali , Bin Marsono Abdul Kadir , Kasra Kermanshahi Emad 
Published: April 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to describe life cycle cost (LCC) and life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluation for single story building house in Malaysia. Two objective functions, namely, LCA and LCC, were evaluated for each design and a total of 20 alternatives were analyzed. Two wall schemes that have been adopted from two different recent studies toward mitigation of climate change require clarification in both life cycle objectives.

Design/methodology/approach
For this strategic life cycle assessment, Simapro 8.3 tool has been chosen over a 50-year life span. LCC analysis was also used to determine not only the most energy-efficient strategy, but also the most economically feasible one. A present value (PV)-based economic analysis takes LCC into account.

Findings
The results will appear in present value and LC carbon footprint saving, both individually and in combination with each other. Result of life cycle management shows that timber wall−wooden post and beam covered by steel stud (W5) and wood truss with concrete roof tiles (R1) released less carbon emission to atmosphere and have lower life cycle cost over their life span. W5R1 releases 35 per cent less CO2 emission than the second best choice and costs 25 per cent less.

Originality/value
The indicator assessed was global warming, and as the focus was on GHG emissions, the focus of this study was mainly in the context of Malaysian construction, although the principles apply universally. The result would support the adoption of sustainable building for building sector.
Robustness of geography as an instrument to assess impact of climate change on agriculture
Authors: Husnain Muhammad Iftikhar Ul , Subramanian Arjunan , Haider Azad 
Published: April 2018

Purpose
The empirical literature on climate change and agriculture does not adequately address the issue of potential endogeneity between climatic variables and agriculture, which makes their estimates unreliable. This paper aims to investigate the relationships between climate change and agriculture and test the potential reverse causality and endogeneity of climatic variables to agriculture.

Design/methodology/approach
This study introduces a geographical instrument, longitude and latitude, for temperature to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture by estimating regression using IV-two-stage least squares method over annual panel data for 60 countries for the period of 1999-2011. The identification and F-statistic tests are used to choose and exclude the instrument. The inclusion of some control variables is supposed to reduce the omitted variable bias.

Findings
The study finds a negative relationship between temperature and agriculture. Surprisingly, the magnitude of the coefficient on temperature is mild, at least 20 per cent, as compared to previous studies, which may be because of the use of the instrumental variable (IV), which is also supported by an alternative robust measure when estimated across different regions.

Practical implications
The study provides strong implications for policymakers to confront climate change, which is an impending danger to agriculture. In designing effective policies and strategies, policymakers should focus not only on crop production but also on other agricultural activities such as livestock production and fisheries, in addition to national and international socio-economic and geopolitical dynamics.

Originality/value
This paper contributes to the growing literature in at least four aspects. First, empirical settings introduce an innovative geographical instrument, Second, it includes a wider set of control variables in the analysis. Third, it extends previous studies by involving agriculture value addition. Finally, the effects of temperature and precipitation on a single aggregate measure, agriculture value addition, are separately investigated.
First party fraud management: framework for the retail industry
Authors: Amasiatu Chioma Vivian , Shah Mahmood Hussain 
Published: April 2018

Purpose
First party fraud in which consumers commit fraud against retailers is a growing problem. Research in this area is very limited which means that there is almost no guidance available to mitigate this problem. Existing fraud management frameworks focus on the management of other fraud, such as identity theft or employee instigated fraud. Due to the different nature of these frauds, these frameworks do not adequately address first party fraud. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose an adapted version of the fraud management lifecycle framework which is specific to first party fraud management.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a systematic literature review and compared/contrasted a number of existing fraud management frameworks in related domains to see which one would be most suitable for first party fraud management.

Findings
The authors found Wilhelm’s fraud management framework the most promising for adaptation and application to the first party fraud context. By modifying an existing framework according to the contextual requirements, the authors make the framework much more relevant to first party fraud management.

Practical implications
The framework could help retail managers better understand and manage this growing business problem and open new streams for further research.

Originality/value
This research also makes an important contribution by proposing a framework and by helping bridge a glaring and problematic gap in existing literature and opening up new streams of research.
Legal models beyond the corporation in Australia: plugging a gap or weaving a tapestry?
Authors: Morgan Bronwen 
Published: April 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to explore the availability of new legal models for social enterprise development in Australia, asking the question: what does a distinctive focus on legal form add to the scholarly exploration of social enterprise? The paper has a dual purpose: firstly, to present a general empirical review of the fact, possible causes and implications of the absence of new legal models for social enterprise in Australia; and secondly, to make a polemical argument highlighting some of the advantages of developing a distinctive legal structure for social entrepreneurs in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper reconciles two contending accounts. One would stress the absence of new legal models (the “gap” analysis). The other would acknowledge the absence of new legal models, while stressing the relevance of existing legal models for pursuing social enterprise goals. Both accounts are descriptively true, but the tension between them relates in part to the level of analysis (legal-political, collective voluntary action or bottom-up individual actors) and, in part, to longstanding tensions in the conceptualisation of social enterprise.

Findings
The paper provides evidence of the rising salience of existing cooperative legal forms, rising diversity in the legal model choices of individual social enterprises and the emergence of two significant bottom-up developments in voluntary model rules. The legal-political bottleneck that remains is related to the constitutional structure of federal and state power, key macro-political policy trends in the late 1990s and the distinctive nature of the Australian “wage-earners” welfare state settlement.

Originality/value
The paper highlights that what may appear as a “gap” in the legal landscape of Australian social enterprise is more nuanced. Despite the striking absence of any distinct new legislated legal models, the overall situation is a complex landscape providing multiple threads for weaving together diverse forms of social enterprise. Although legal frameworks may not be as salient as governance design choices, they generate three important second-order effects: signalling, legitimation and professional networks. Taken together, these may support a case for the distinctive value of a specific hybrid legal model for social enterprise.
Review shows that Icelandic society is taking firmer steps to tackle the diverse forms of child abuse and neglect that its children are exposed to
Authors: Gunnlaugsson Geir , Einarsdóttir Jónína 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAimThis review examined and summarised the research published on child abuse in Iceland, which was mainly in the country's native language, to make the findings more accessible to English speakers. It specifically focused on child rearing and the physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect and intrafamilial conflicts suffered by children at the hands of their parents and other carers.MethodThe review drew on published research, books and reports and compared the findings with Nordic research and global estimates of child abuse.ResultsQualitative and quantitative research revealed that the prevalence of different forms of child abuse, child neglect and intra‐familial conflicts in Iceland was similar to, or higher than, global and Nordic estimates. Younger respondents reported less physical abuse than older respondents, but higher levels of emotional abuse. Legislation, greater awareness, public debates and research on child abuse in Iceland have contributed to the growing recognition of the negative consequences of child abuse and strengthened support for prevention strategies.ConclusionIcelandic children have reportedly experienced diverse forms of child abuse and neglect from their parents and other carers. Diverse initiatives have been put in place that underline the urgent need to tackle such behaviour.
Deployment of carboxymethyl cellulose sheets to prevent esophageal stricture after full circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection: A porcine model
Authors: Tang Jian , Ye Shufang , Ji Xueliang , Liu Feng , Li Zhaoshen 
Published: April 2018

Background and AimEsophageal stricture is a serious adverse event secondary to extensive endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) sheets for the prevention of esophageal stricture after full circumferential ESD in an animal model.MethodsFourteen porcine models were randomized into a control group (n = 7) and a CMC group (n = 7). Five‐centimeter‐long circumferential esophageal ESD was carried out at a distance of 40 to 45 cm from the incisors in all models. In the CMC group, CMC sheets were placed over the mucosal defect completely after ESD, whereas the control group underwent routine ESD only. Endoscopic examination was conducted after the first and second week post‐ESD. Esophageal specimens were harvested during post‐mortem and were evaluated for macroscopic and histological appearance. Blood serum levels of four pro‐inflammatory or profibrotic cytokines were measured quantitatively.ResultsThe CMC group had better food tolerability during the second week post‐ESD. The CMC group showed a significantly lower esophageal mucosal stricture rate compared to the control group. Histological assessments showed less fibrosis in the submucosal layer, milder damage to the muscularis propria, and enhanced re‐epithelization in the CMC group. Serum transforming growth factor beta 1 levels were significantly lower in the CMC group post‐ESD.ConclusionDeployment of CMC sheets on the mucosal defect appears to be a promising method for preventing esophageal strictures after extensive ESD.
Melatonin levels in human diabetic dental pulp tissue and its effects on dental pulp cells under hyperglycaemic conditions
Authors: Milosavljević A. , DJukić Lj. , Toljić B. , Milašin J. , DŽeletović B. , Brković B. , Roganović J. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAimTo investigate melatonin (MEL) levels in human dental pulp tissue (hDP) in type 2 diabetic (T2D) participants and the underlying molecular mechanisms of its effects in human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) under hyperglycaemia.MethodologyThe study included 16 healthy and 16 T2D participants who underwent vital pulp extirpation for hDP and four healthy participants undergoing third molar extraction for hDPCs analyses. MTT and NRU were used as tests for cytotoxicity. The pulp tissue levels of MEL, inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, as well as iNOS, histone acetyltransferase p300 (p300) and SOD activity levels in hDPCs incubated with MEL (0.1 and 1.0 mmol L−1) under normoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Comparisons between the two groups were made by unpaired t‐tests or Mann–Whitney test whilst the chi‐square test was used for dichotomous variables. To compare more groups, the Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn's multiple comparison was used, whilst Spearman correlation was used to assess association between two variables.ResultsMelatonin was decreased (124.30 ± 21.6 vs. 240.0 ± 19.1 pg mL−1, P < 0.01), whilst iNOS levels increased (0.92 ± 0.08 vs. 0.32 ± 0.09 ng mL−1, P < 0.01) in hDP from T2D compared to nondiabetic participants. In hDPCs, MEL (0.1 and 1.0 mmol L−1) had no cytotoxicity. Incubation with 1.0 mmol L−1 of MEL (24 h) decreased hyperglycaemia‐induced increases of iNOS (0.34 ± 0.01 ng mL−1 vs. 0.40 ± 0.01 ng mL−1, P < 0.01) and p300 (11.59 ± 0.58 ng mL−1 vs. 16.12 ± 0.39 ng mL−1, P < 0.01), and also, increased SOD activity (87.11 ± 3.10% vs. 68.56 ± 3.77%, P < 0.01) to the levels comparable to the normoglycaemic; iNOS and p300 protein expression levels showed strong positive correlation under hyperglycaemia (Spearman r = 0.8242, P < 0.001).ConclusionType 2 diabetic participants had decreased MEL in hDP. At pharmacological concentrations, MEL is not cytotoxic for hDPCs and normalizes iNOS and SOD activity levels in hyperglyceamic hDPCs suggesting its antioxidant and protective effects in human dental pulp tissue under hyperglycaemia.
Direct binding and internalization of diverse extracellular nucleic acid species through the collagenous domain of class A scavenger receptors
Authors: Baid Kaushal , Nellimarla Srinivas , Huynh Angela , Boulton Stephen , Guarné Alba , Melacini Giuseppe , Collins Susan E , Mossman Karen L 
Published: April 2018

AbstractNucleic acids are potential pathogen‐associated or danger‐associated molecular patterns that modulate immune responses and the development of autoimmune disorders. Class A scavenger receptors (SR‐As) are a diverse group of pattern recognition receptors that recognize a variety of polyanionic ligands including nucleic acids. While SR‐As are important for the recognition and internalization of extracellular dsRNA, little is known about extracellular DNA, despite its association with chronic infections and autoimmune disorders. In this study, we investigated the specificity of and requirement for SR‐As in binding and internalizing different species, sequences and lengths of nucleic acids. We purified recombinant coiled‐coil/collagenous and scavenger receptor cysteine‐rich (SRCR) domains that have been implicated as potential ligand‐binding domains. We detected a direct interaction of RNA and DNA species with the coiled‐coil/collagenous domain, but not the SRCR domain. Despite the presence of additional surface receptors that bind nucleic acids, SR‐As were found to be sufficient for nucleic acid binding and uptake in A549 human lung epithelial cells. Moreover, these findings suggest that the coiled‐coil/collagenous domain of SR‐As is sufficient to bind nucleic acids independent of species, sequence or length.
Antigen‐specific Helios−, Neuropilin‐1− Tregs induce apoptosis of autoreactive B cells via PD‐L1
Authors: Gotot Janine , Dhana Ermanila , Yagita Hideo , Kaiser Romina , Ludwig‐Portugall Isis , Kurts Christian 
Published: April 2018

AbstractRegulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain self‐tolerance and prevent autoimmunity by controlling autoreactive T cells. We recently demonstrated in vivo that Tregs can directly suppress auto‐reactive B cells via programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) that ligated PD‐1 on B cells and caused them to undergo apoptosis. Here, we asked whether this mechanism is utilized by thymus‐derived natural Tregs and/or by peripheral lymphoid tissue‐induced Tregs. We first demonstrated that antigen‐specific PD‐L1‐expressing Tregs were induced in the draining lymph node of autoantigen‐expressing tissue and characterized them by their lack of the transcription factor Helios and of the surface marker Neuropilin‐1 (Nrp‐1). Next, we established an in vitro co‐culture system to study the interaction between B cells and Treg subsets under controlled conditions. We found that Nrp− Treg, but not Nrp+ Treg suppressed autoreactive B cells, whereas both were able to suppress T‐helper cells. Such suppression was antigen‐specific and was facilitated by PD‐L1/PD‐1‐induced apoptosis. Furthermore, it required physical cell contact and was MHC II‐restricted, providing an explanation for the antigen‐specificity of peripherally‐induced Tregs. These findings identify a role for peripherally induced Helios− Nrp‐1− inducible Treg in controlling peripheral B‐cell tolerance against tissue auto‐antigens.
Sesquiterpene Synthase–3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Synthase Fusion Protein Responsible for Hirsutene Biosynthesis in Stereum hirsutum
Authors: Flynn Christopher M. , Schmidt-Dannert Claudia 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

The wood-rotting mushroom
Stereum hirsutum
is a known producer of a large number of namesake hirsutenoids, many with important bioactivities. Hirsutenoids form a structurally diverse and distinct class of sesquiterpenoids. No genes involved in hirsutenoid biosynthesis have yet been identified or their enzymes characterized. Here, we describe the cloning and functional characterization of a hirsutene synthase as an unexpected fusion protein of a sesquiterpene synthase (STS) with a C-terminal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA) synthase (HMGS) domain. Both the full-length fusion protein and truncated STS domain are highly product-specific 1,11-cyclizing STS enzymes with kinetic properties typical of STSs. Complementation studies in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
confirmed that the HMGS domain is also functional
in vivo
. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the hirsutene synthase domain does not form a clade with other previously characterized sesquiterpene synthases from Basidiomycota. Comparative gene structure analysis of this hirsutene synthase with characterized fungal enzymes reveals a significantly higher intron density, suggesting that this enzyme may be acquired by horizontal gene transfer. In contrast, the HMGS domain is clearly related to other fungal homologs. This STS-HMGS fusion protein is part of a biosynthetic gene cluster that includes P450s and oxidases that are expressed and could be cloned from cDNA. Finally, this unusual fusion of a terpene synthase to an HMGS domain, which is not generally recognized as a key regulatory enzyme of the mevalonate isoprenoid precursor pathway, led to the identification of additional HMGS duplications in many fungal genomes, including the localization of HMGSs in other predicted sesquiterpenoid biosynthetic gene clusters.

IMPORTANCE
Hirsutenoids represent a structurally diverse class of bioactive sesquiterpenoids isolated from fungi. Identification of their biosynthetic pathways will provide access to this chemodiversity for the discovery and synthesis of molecules with new bioactivities. The identification and successful cloning of the previously elusive hirsutene synthase from the
S. hirsutum
provide important insights and strategies for biosynthetic gene discovery in Basidiomycota. The finding of a terpene synthase-HMGS fusion, the discovery of other sesquiterpenoid biosynthetic gene clusters with dedicated HMGS genes, and HMGS gene duplications in fungal genomes give new importance to the role of HMGS as a key regulatory enzyme in isoprenoid and sterol biosynthesis that should be exploited for metabolic engineering.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Vibrio cholerae in Turbid Alkaline Lakes as Determined by Quantitative PCR
Authors: Bliem Rupert , Reischer Georg , Linke Rita , Farnleitner Andreas , Kirschner Alexander 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

In recent years, global warming has led to a growing number of
Vibrio cholerae
infections in bathing water users in regions formerly unaffected by this pathogen. It is therefore of high importance to monitor
V. cholerae
in aquatic environments and to elucidate the main factors governing its prevalence and abundance. For this purpose, rapid and standardizable methods that can be performed by routine water laboratories are prerequisite. In this study, we applied a recently developed multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) strategy (i) to monitor the spatiotemporal variability of
V. cholerae
abundance in two small soda pools and a large lake that is intensively used for recreation and (ii) to elucidate the main factors driving
V. cholerae
dynamics in these environments.
V. cholerae
was detected with qPCR at high concentrations of up to 970,000 genomic units 100 ml
−1
during the warm season, up to 2 orders of magnitude higher than values obtained by cultivation. An independent cytometric approach led to results comparable to qPCR data but with significantly more positive samples due to problems with DNA recovery for qPCR. Not a single sample was positive for toxigenic
V. cholerae
, indicating that only nontoxigenic
V. cholerae
(NTVC) was present. Temperature was the main predictor of NTVC abundance, but the quality and quantity of dissolved organic matter were also important environmental correlates. Based on this study, we recommend using the developed qPCR strategy for quantification of toxigenic and nontoxigenic
V. cholerae
in bathing waters with the need for improvements in DNA recovery.

IMPORTANCE
There is a definitive need for rapid and standardizable methods to quantify waterborne bacterial pathogens. Such methods have to be thoroughly tested for their applicability to environmental samples. In this study, we critically tested a recently developed multiplex qPCR strategy for its applicability to determine the spatiotemporal variability of
V. cholerae
abundance in lakes with a challenging water matrix. Several qPCR protocols for
V. cholerae
detection have been developed in the laboratory, but comprehensive studies on the application to environmental samples are extremely scarce. In our study, we demonstrate that our developed qPCR approach is a valuable tool but that there is a need for improvement in DNA recovery for complex water matrices. Furthermore, we found that nontoxigenic
V. cholerae
is present in very high numbers in the investigated ecosystems, while toxigenic
V. cholerae
is apparently absent. Such information is of importance for public health.