bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The problems facing the agricultural sector in Nigeria and the prospect of Muzara’ah and supply chain model
Authors: Oladokun Nafiu Olaniyi , Larbani Moussa , Mohammed Mustafa Omar 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to develop a Muzara’ah–supply chain model for the purpose of enhancing agricultural financing and productivity in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach
– In this paper, an expert survey approach was employed to validate the newly developed model.

Findings
– A survey result on the model reveals that majority of the respondents agreed with the Muzara’ah–supply chain model and preferred it to the existing models.

Research limitations/implications
– The main limitation of this study is limited number of respondents.

Practical implications
– With this newly developed financing model that is based risk sharing principles, the application of this model could help to reduce moral hazard and enhance agricultural productivity.

Originality/value
– To the best knowledge of the researchers, such kind of study for financing agriculture does not exists in the case of Nigeria.
Shock events and corporate announcements
Authors: Ferretti Marco , Profumo Giorgia , Tutore Ilaria 
Published: February 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to verify if, in case of a shock event, there are types of corporate announcement that may influence stock price behaviour better than others. The authors also try to determine if the communication strategy may be affected by the type of shock event.Design/methodology/approach– Using the event study analysis, the authors estimate the Cumulative Abnormal Returns associated to the stocks of the selected firms hit by a shock event, in order to visualise the effectiveness of different types of corporate announcements after the event.Findings– The research confirms the negative effect of shock events on corporate stocks’ value. Moreover, the study envisages that financial market rewards companies that assume consistent and reassuring announcements during the event window. The authors also find that the effectiveness of corporate announcements is related to the shock’s typology.Research limitations/implications– The study employs a small and unbalanced sample of shock events. Moreover, it does not exist a generally accepted criterion to define and classify corporate announcements and the authors cannot exclude the influence of the media in the categorisation process of the announcements.Practical implications– Since shock events may threat firms’ survival, by knowing which response strategy fits better a shock situation, a manager can assess the potential effect of his communication options and choose the right type of announcement.Originality/value– There is a lack of literature on this theme, in particular on the effects that the different corporate announcements following a shock event may have on shareholders’ value.
Collusion with denial: leadership development and its evaluation
Authors: King Elizabeth , Nesbit Paul 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate ways to gain deeper understanding of the evaluation challenge by reporting on insights about the impact of a leadership development program. It focusses on participants’ reflective post-course analysis of their learning, comparing this to a traditional evaluative analysis. Recently there has been a greater focus on programs to develop leaders who have the requisite cognitive and behavioral complexity to lead in challenging environments. However models for the evaluation of such programs often rely on methodologies that assume learning of specific skills rather than assessment of how well participants are able to cognitively and behaviorally adapt to uncertain and complex environments.

Design/methodology/approach
– The leadership development program was evaluated in two stages and the findings compared. Stage 1 elicited responses to the program using a traditional evaluation approach. Stage 2 involved 30 semi-structured interviews with the participants exploring the connections made between their development experience, work environment and approach to challenge.

Findings
– Evaluation approaches which focus on assessing reflection about personal learning provide greater detail on learning experience than traditional approaches to evaluation and can increase our understanding of the broader impact of leadership development programs. Current evaluation practices are mostly traditional despite dissatisfaction with outcomes. There are functional and financial benefits flowing from this practice suggesting collusion with denial between the suppliers and purchasers of leadership development and posing a question of causation.

Originality/value
– This study supports the use of qualitative evaluation techniques and in particular a focus on post-learning reflection to increase understanding of the impact of leadership development programs. The increased understanding provided by this type of evaluation can play a significant role in both the design of leader development programs and the creation of strategic alignment between business strategy, the purpose of leadership development interventions, learning objectives, program design and program evaluation.
Chemical characterization of the lipid fractions of pumpkin seeds
Authors: Veronezi Carolina Médici , Jorge Neuza 
Published: February 2015

Purpose– This paper aims to characterize the pumpkin (Cucurbita sp) seed oil from the varieties Nova Caravela, Mini Paulista, Menina Brasileira (Cucurbita moschata) and Moranga de Mesa (Cucurbita maxima) as to their physicochemical properties, vitamins and fatty acid and triacylglycerols profiles.Design/methodology/approach– The oils were extracted from oilseeds by the Bligh and Dyer (1959) method, and chemical characterization was performed by using standard methods for oils and fats. The vitamin A and E content, fatty acid profile and triacylglycerols profile also were determined.Findings– About the chemical properties, the oils showed values within the range for edible vegetable oils. The oil from variety Nova Caravela stood out for presenting better quality, as it showed lower values of free fatty acids, acidity and peroxides. However, it was found that the Moranga de Mesa oil was the most unsaturated, due to the high refractive and iodine index, and was also reported to have lower oxidative stability. Among the unsaturated fatty acids, ranging from 70 to 78 per cent of the total obtained, linoleic and oleic acids stood out, while among the saturated ones, palmitic and stearic did.Practical implications– These seeds are rich in high-quality lipids; therefore, their use could help to reduce the amount of waste produced in the industries, and consequently reduce environmental contamination. This study showed that the seeds could be used as a raw material for oil extraction, and also could be used for developing functional foods instead of being discarded.Originality/value– This study provides valuable information about the quality and fatty acid contents of pumpkin seed oils consumed in Brazil.
Effect of Aloe vera on the lipid stability and storage quality of chicken nuggets
Authors: Bhat Z. F. , Kumar Sunil , Kumar Pavan 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of Aloe vera as a novel source of natural antioxidant and preservative in the muscle foods and to evaluate the effect of Aloe vera on the storage quality of aerobically packaged chicken nuggets.

Design/methodology/approach
– The Aloe vera pulp was incorporated at various levels, namely, 0, 5, 10 and 15 per cent, replacing lean meat in the formulation. The products were analyzed for proximate composition, physicochemical and sensory parameters. Chicken nuggets incorporated with optimum level of Aloe vera (10 per cent) along with control nuggets (0 per cent Aloe vera) were aerobically packaged and assessed for lipid oxidation, physicochemical and microbiological characteristics under refrigerated (4°C) conditions.

Findings
– pH, crude protein, ether extract and ash content of the nuggets showed significant (p < 0.05) decreasing trend with increasing levels of Aloe vera; however, there was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the moisture content, emulsion stability and cooking yield. Aloe vera-enriched nuggets showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower values than control nuggets for almost all the lipid oxidation and microbiological parameters, i.e. free fatty acid, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances value, total plate count, psychrophillic count and yeast and mould count. No significant (p > 0.05) difference was observed in the sensory parameters of the Aloe vera-enriched nuggets and the control samples throughout the period of storage.

Originality/value
– The paper has demonstrated the use of Aloe vera as a potential natural antioxidant without any marginal decline in the sensorial characteristics and nutritive value of the muscle foods.
Chemical and functional properties of fermented, roasted and germinated tamarind (Tamarindus indica) seed flours
Authors: Oluseyi Ezekiel Olufunke , Temitayo Oyesiku Morenike 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to focus on the effect of fermentation, roasting and germination on tamarind seed flour.

Design/methodology/approach
– Tamarind seeds were treated using three different methods, namely, fermentation, roasting and germination. Fermentation was allowed for four days, roasting was carried out at 180°C at three time regimens of 10, 15 and 20 min and germination was done at 10, 15 and 20 days. Samples were analysed at intervals for proximate composition, antinutritional factors and functional properties using standard methods.

Findings
– Protein, crude fat, crude fibre contents and pH increased significantly (p < 0.05) as fermentation progressed, while ash content and carbohydrate reduced. Protein, crude fat and crude fibre contents decreased significantly (p < 0.05) as roasting progressed, while ash content, carbohydrate and pH increased. Protein and crude fibre contents increased significantly (p < 0.05) as germination progressed, while crude fat, ash content, carbohydrate and pH reduced. Processing resulted in significant reduction of the phytate, tannin and trypsin inhibitor.

Practical implications
– Processed seeds of Tamarindus indica can be used to fortify local cereals (millet/maize) with other ingredients to produce complementary foods with good nutritional quality and consequently as a tool for meeting community nutritional needs.

Originality/value
– The paper has demonstrated effect of fermentation, roasting and germination in enhancement of functional and nutritional properties of tamarind seed flour for utilization as a food ingredient.
A landscape triage approach: combining spatial and temporal dynamics to prioritize restoration and conservation
Authors: Rappaport Danielle I. , Tambosi Leandro R. , Metzger Jean P. 
Published: February 2015

Summary

The spatial and temporal dynamics of landscape structure yield ecological constraints that may limit or promote the recovery of functioning habitat within human‐modified ecosystems. In planning restoration and conservation measures to optimize outcomes for biodiversity, such constraints should be evaluated at multiple scales.

This study presents a multi‐scale methodology based on the concept of triage that incorporates landscape and regional spatial context and temporal dynamics to prioritize restoration and conservation.

In applying the framework to a large Brazilian Atlantic forest study site that underwent substantial forest cover changes between 1990 and 2002, our results demonstrate the utility of this framework for navigating between different trade‐offs inherent to biodiversity conservation.

Landscapes are ranked in accordance with indicators that evaluate the relative urgency of intervention, feasibility of recovery and importance for broader‐scale biotic flows.

Synthesis and applications. Efforts to enhance biodiversity through restoration and/or conservation may be hampered when decisions are based exclusively on contemporary landscape structure, and not made through a historical perspective. In making such trade‐offs explicit, this framework can aid practitioners in defining the most appropriate set of restoration or conservation strategies given the ecological constraints, biodiversity goals and available budget.
Long‐term plant responses to climate are moderated by biophysical attributes in a North American desert
Authors: Munson Seth M. , Webb Robert H. , Housman David C. , Veblen Kari E. , Nussear Kenneth E. , Beever Erik A. , Hartney Kristine B. , Miriti Maria N. , Phillips Susan L. , Fulton Robert E. , Tallent Nita G. 
Published: February 2015

Summary

Recent elevated temperatures and prolonged droughts in many already water‐limited regions throughout the world, including the southwestern United States, are likely to intensify according to future climate‐model projections. This warming and drying can negatively affect perennial vegetation and lead to the degradation of ecosystem properties.

To better understand these detrimental effects, we formulate a conceptual model of dryland ecosystem vulnerability to climate change that integrates hypotheses on how plant species will respond to increases in temperature and drought, including how plant responses to climate are modified by landscape, soil and plant attributes that are integral to water availability and use. We test the model through a synthesis of fifty years of repeat measurements of perennial plant species cover in large permanent plots across the Mojave Desert, one of the most water‐limited ecosystems in North America.

Plant species ranged in their sensitivity to precipitation in different seasons, capacity to increase in cover with high precipitation and resistance to decrease in cover with low precipitation.

Our model successfully explains how plant responses to climate are modified by biophysical attributes in the Mojave Desert. For example, deep‐rooted plants were not as vulnerable to drought on soils that allowed for deep‐water percolation, whereas shallow‐rooted plants were better buffered from drought on soils that promoted water retention near the surface.

Synthesis. Our results emphasize the importance of understanding climate–vegetation relationships in the context of biophysical attributes that influence water availability and provide an important forecast of climate‐change effects, including plant mortality and land degradation in dryland regions throughout the world.
Deictic motion verbs as passive auxiliaries: the case of italian andare ‘go’ (and venire ‘come’).
Authors: Sansò Andrea , Giacalone Ramat Anna 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe two deictic motion verbs ‘go’ and ‘come’ serve as passive auxiliaries in a handful of languages, in combination with non‐finite participial forms of the main verb. Some passive constructions involving deictic motion verbs as auxiliaries are infused with special aspectual or modal meanings, even in the absence of overt aspectual or modal operators. The aim of this paper is to provide an in‐depth account of the emergence of the Italian passive with andare (‘go’) + past participle, and to explore the possible crosslinguistic implications of the proposed analysis, with a view to identifying the regularities in the diachronic processes leading to the emergence of passive constructions with deictic motion verbs as auxiliaries. On the basis of a large historical corpus of Italian, we will show that the Italian motion verbs andare ‘go’ and venire ‘come’ develop into passive auxiliaries passing through a stage in which they are used as semi‐copulas (with aspectual or modal values), and that this diachronic pathway appears to be valid for other languages in which such a construction type is attested.
Physiochemical, textural, sensory properties and probiotic survivability of Chinese Laosuan Nai (protein‐fortified set yoghurt) using polymerised whey protein as a co‐thickening agent
Authors: Wang Cuina , Gao Feng , Zhang Tiehua , Wang Yulong , Guo Mingruo 
Published: February 2015

A new Chinese Laosuan Nai (protein‐fortified set yoghurt) was developed using polymerised whey protein (PWP, 0.4%, w/v) as a co‐thickening agent. The prototype was analysed for physiochemical, textural, sensory properties and probiotic survivability and compared with a commercial sample. Experimental yoghurts were significantly higher in pH, protein content, hardness and viscosity (P < 0.01). Microstructure indicated a uniform and denser protein network. Probiotics remained stable for Bifidobacterium during a 10‐week storage period. Results indicated that polymerised whey protein may be a novel protein‐based co‐thickening agent for making Chinese Laosuan Nai.
Determining Neu5Ac in infant formula with ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Li Chun , Liu Libo , Xie Honglei , Liu Ning 
Published: February 2015

The aim of this work was to measure N‐acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) in milk‐based infant formulas. The analysis was performed by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS). The total Neu5Ac were released using trichloroacetic acid and hydrochloric acid and purified using a HLB column. The linearity from 0.05 to 5.0 μg/mg Neu5Ac was adequate. Sialic acid recoveries ranged from 91.8% to 112.4%. The detection and quantification limits (limit of detection, 0.01 μg Neu5Ac/mg; limit of quantitation, 1.08 μg Neu5Ac/mg) were low enough to determine the sialic acid in infant formulas. The validated method is highly reproducible and sensitive, and it is easy to perform.
Use of electroporation as an option to transform the horn fly, Haematobia irritans: a species recalcitrant to microinjection
Authors: Xu Qiang , Guerrero Felix D. , Palavesam Azhahianambi , Pérez de León Adalberto A. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe horn fly, Haematobia irritans, is a serious pest of cattle in North America. The control of horn flies has primarily relied on insecticides. However, the heavy use of insecticides has led to the development of insecticide resistance in horn flies. Novel methods to control horn flies are greatly needed. Transgenic technology is an effective tool to genetically modify insects and may lead to novel methods of pest control based on genomic approaches. Here we report a piggyBac‐mediated transformation of the horn fly via electroporation. Transformation with a DsRed fluorescent marker protein coding region was verified by PCR analysis of individual fly bodies and pupal cases and sequencing of PCR products. However, Southern blot analysis failed to indicate the DsRed gene was integrated into the horn fly genome. Thus, the electroporation protocol may have caused the DsRed gene to be integrated into bacterial symbionts of the horn fly.
An unusual case of osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with dengue fever and periodontitis
Authors: Indurkar MS , Sethi R 
Published: February 2015

AbstractOsteonecrosis is a disorder rarely occurring in the jaw. Dengue fever is a common mosquito‐borne disease prevalent in many countries including India. The following report presents an interesting case of maxillary osteonecrosis in a middle aged male with a history of dengue infection. We also diagnosed symptoms of chronic periodontitis, which may have potentiated the necrosis. This case report will describe a novel clinical presentation and management of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) of unknown origin and a possible pathogenesis explaining the association of ONJ with dengue fever and periodontitis.
Comprehensive metabolomics identifies the alarmin uric acid as a critical signal for the induction of peanut allergy
Authors: Kong J. , Chalcraft K. , Mandur T. S. , Jimenez‐Saiz R. , Walker T. D. , Goncharova S. , Gordon M. E. , Naji L. , Flader K. , Larché M. , Chu D. K. , Waserman S. , McCarry B. , Jordana M. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundFood allergy, in particular peanut allergy, is a growing concern in Western countries. The prevalence of allergy to peanut, which currently stands at 1.4%, nearly tripled between 1997 and 2008. Allergic sensitization is a particularly difficult process to study as it is clinically silent.We sought to identify key pathways and mediators critically involved in the induction of allergic sensitization to peanut.MethodsComprehensive metabolomics analysis with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to detect metabolite changes in mice (C57BL/6) undergoing sensitization. Loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function studies were performed in mice subjected to two models of peanut sensitization and anaphylaxis that involved either oral or epicutaneous sensitization. Flow cytometric analyses on dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro and in vivo were used to investigate the mechanisms of immune activation.ResultsElevated levels of uric acid (UA) were detected in mice undergoing sensitization as well as in peanut‐allergic children who were not challenged with peanut. In mice, the depletion of UA during sensitization prevented the development of peanut‐specific immunoglobulins IgE and IgG1 as well as anaphylaxis while exogenous delivery of UA crystals (monosodium urate, MSU) restored the allergic phenotype. Monosodium urate enhanced CD86 and OX40L expression on DCs, independent of Toll‐like receptors 2 and 4, the NLRP3 inflammasome, and IL‐1β, via a PI3K signaling pathway.ConclusionOverproduction of the UA alarmin in the local microenvironment plays a critical role in the induction of peanut‐allergic sensitization, likely due to its ability to activate DCs. These finding suggest that cellular damage or tissue injury may be an essential requisite for the development of allergic sensitization to foods.
Social equity in perinatal survival: a case–control study at hospitals in Kigali, Rwanda
Authors: Musafili Aimable , Essén Birgitta , Baribwira Cyprien , Selling Katarina Ekholm , Persson Lars‐Åke 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimRwanda has invested heavily in improving maternal and child health, but knowledge is limited regarding social equity in perinatal survival. We analysed whether perinatal mortality risks differed between social groups in hospitals in the country's capital.MethodsA case–control study was carried out on singleton births aged at least 22 weeks of gestation and born in district or tertiary referral hospitals in Kigali from July 2013 to May 2014. Perinatal deaths were recorded as they occurred, with the next two surviving neonates born in the same hospital selected as controls. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine social determinants of perinatal death after adjustments for potential confounders.ResultsWe analysed 234 perinatal deaths and 468 controls. Rural residence was linked to an increased risk of perinatal death (OR = 3.31, 95% CI 1.43–7.61), but maternal education or household asset score levels were not. Having no health insurance (OR = 2.11, 95% CI 0.91–4.89) was associated with an increased risk of perinatal death, compared to having community health insurance.ConclusionLiving in a rural area and having no health insurance were associated with an increased risk of perinatal mortality rates in the Rwandan capital, but maternal education and household assets were not.