bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
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

Summary

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

SummaryAbdominal 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

SummaryThis 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

AbstractA 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

AbstractThe 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

AbstractCowpea 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

SummaryItaconic 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

AbstractBackgroundEsophageal 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.MethodsAge‐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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionEsophageal 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

AbstractAimsTo 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.DesignThis 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.SettingScotland, in community settings and all prisons.InterventionBrief training and standardized naloxone supply became available to individuals at risk of opioid overdose.MeasurementsORDs 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.FindingsIn 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%).ConclusionsScotland'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

AbstractAimEndoplasmic 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.MethodsMale, 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.ResultsANG 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.ConclusionThe 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.