bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Apprenticeships in England: an overview of current issues
Authors: Lee Dionne 
Published: September 2012

PurposeApprenticeships in England are currently experiencing a revival. The purpose of this paper is to provide a general overview of apprenticeships in England, examine current government policy, and explore current issues around the further development of apprenticeships.Design/methodology/approachDesk research, including reviewing other research articles and labour market intelligence has been carried out to provide a general overview of the issues.FindingsApprenticeships have traditionally been regarded as the vocational route to stable employment. Although they have sometimes suffered from a poor reputation they are now becoming an increasingly popular option for both younger and older people. The knowledge economy is driving up the demand for higher level skills and concurrent with this is the notion that, in today's competitive labour market, experience is vital. Not only has this impacted on the popularity of apprenticeships but also upon more traditional “academic” routes such as higher education (HE). In addition it has raised questions about higher level skills and vocational education. The introduction of Higher Apprenticeships and work experience/real world interactions built into HE courses are establishing synergies between the two elements of the skills/education system; however, developing these synergies further is a critical issue for future consideration.Originality/valueThere is a proliferation of publications tracking the nature and value of apprenticeships. This paper traces apprenticeships and their evolution and examines how practices adopted can be applied to newer vocational options being integrated into HE. The paper considers apprenticeships and other vocational options, building on the author's own discussions with employers and recent graduates.
The role of universities in higher apprenticeship development
Authors: Anderson Adrian , Bravenboer Darryll , Hemsworth David 
Published: September 2012

PurposeTo date, few universities have been involved in the Government‐funded drive to expand higher apprenticeships across England. Universities have a track record of expertise and innovation in professional and work‐based learning that can significantly contribute to the higher‐level skills agenda and could have a pivotal role in the rapidly growing initiative to develop higher apprenticeship programmes. The purpose of this paper is to outline the potential contribution universities could make to higher apprenticeship and the potential barriers to university engagement.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides an analysis of skills and higher education policy, initiatives and related research in England as the context for university involvement in higher apprenticeship. A case study is used to illustrate the benefits of and barriers to university involvement, including an uneven funding policy playing field for universities and misconceptions regarding professional competence and practice‐based higher‐level learning.FindingsThe paper illustrates the potential benefits university involvement in higher apprenticeship could deliver for employers and learners by supporting individual career progression and social mobility, and by providing employers and employees with clear and cost effective work‐based pathways to management roles. It concludes that the current barriers to university involvement may result in a missed opportunity to maximise value from public investment in the workforce development expertise of universities, redeployed to realise higher apprenticeship innovation.Originality/valueThe authors believe this paper is the only academic analysis of the value of and barriers to university involvement in the current Westminster Government flagship Higher Apprenticeship programme. The case study included has not featured in any other academic journal.
Developing local processing technology for black and green tea and evaluation of conformance to ISO standard
Authors: Aroyeun Olusegun , Iremiren Gerald , Omolaja Samuel , Abiodun Okelana Feyisara , Olubamiwa Olayiwola , Ipinmoroti R.R. , Oloyede Amos , Ogunwolu Olalekan Semiu , Andrew Daniel , Olayinka Jayeola Christiana , Abiola Sowunmi Fatai , Ola Odumbaku Lukman 
Published: September 2012

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to describe a project designed with the aim of developing a black and green tea processing technology for Nigerian farmers and evaluate the conformance of the quality of the processed tea to the recommended international standard.

Design/methodology/approach
– Locally processed and graded black teas were collected from Kakara and Bangoba for analysis. Different grades analyzed were Dust 1, Pekoe fanning (PF), broken pekoe (BP) and Fibre. Green tea was also processed from 21 tea clones selected from the Cocoa Research Institute, Kusuku Station tea plantation located at 1,840 m above mean sea level and analyzed for quality characteristics. The methods used for the quality of black and green teas analysis were in accordance with ISO standard: ISO 9768 method (revised) was used for determining % water extract, ISO 5498 for crude fibre, ISO 1575 for % total ash, and ISO 1577 for acid insoluble ash. Other additional quality parameters evaluated for black tea were theaflavins (TF), thearubigins (TR) and colour brightness (C Br) from another set of 17 clones using flavonost methods. Conformance to ISO standard were assessed in all tea locally processed by the farmers, in comparison to the ones processed under controlled conditions.

Findings
– The results obtained in this study revealed that 59.2 per cent of the tea analyzed conformed to ISO 9768, 81.5 per cent to ISO 5498, 77.8 per cent to ISO 1575 and 96.3 per cent to ISO 1576 and 100 per cent conformed to ISO 1577 and 85.2 per cent to ISO 1578 respectively. In all, only 33 per cent of the processed tea conformed to international standard for black or green tea physical parameters. As for black tea, clones which conformed to correct TF, TR, CBR are UNK, 367, 19, 74, 354, 368, 369, 353, 357, 143, 14 and 108 respectively.

Practical implications
– The paper shows that production of green tea and black tea can be done locally without loss of quality if good manufacturing practices and hygiene practices are followed.

Originality/value
– The use of clonal materials sourced locally that conformed to ISO standard from Nigeria could create new products (black and green tea) with high economic values to the farmers.
Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 June 2012–31 July 2012
Authors:   Molecular Ecology Resources Primer Development Consortium, Barat Ashoktaru , Bravo S. P. , Chandra Suresh , Corrêa A. S. , Giombini M. I. , Guedes R. N. C. , Huailei Ma , Lal Kuldeep K. , Liang Lu , Matura Rakesh , Mohindra Vindhya , Oliveira L. O. , Patangia Ruchi , Qiyong Liu , Sah Rama Shankar , Singh Akanksha , Singh Birender Kumar , Singh Rajeev K. , Tosto D. S. , Tripathi Ratnesh K. , Vinson C. C. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis article documents the addition of 96 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Clarias batrachus, Marmota himalayana, Schizothorax richardsonii, Sitophilus zeamais and Syagrus romanzoffiana. These loci were cross‐tested on the following species: Clarias dussumeri, Clarias gariepinus, Heteropneustus fossilis, Sitophilus granarius and Sitophilus oryzae.
DNA barcoding reveals taxonomic conflicts in the Herichthys bartoni species group (Pisces: Cichlidae)
Authors: León‐Romero Yatzil , Mejía Omar , Soto‐Galera Eduardo 
Published: September 2012

AbstractFishes of the genus Herichthys are the only representatives of the family Cichlidae to have colonized the Neartic region. In this study, we used DNA barcode of 64 individuals of the Herichthys bartoni species group to test the monophyly of the species and the efficiency of this tool to discriminate among species. The Bayesian phylogenetic tree and the neighbour joining (NJ) tree obtained from the Kimura two‐parameter model (K2P) give similar topologies. DNA barcoding resolution was very poor (25%). Additionally, the low levels of genetic divergence among taxa preclude the use of threshold values as has been suggested in earlier studies.
HIV‐1 Imposes Rigidity on Blood and Semen Cytokine Networks
Authors: Lisco Andrea , Introini Andrea , Munawwar Arshi , Vanpouille Christophe , Grivel Jean‐Charles , Blank Paul , Singh Sarman , Margolis Leonid 
Published: September 2012

ProblemAlthough it is established that the levels of individual cytokines are altered by HIV‐1 infection, the changes in cytokine interrelations that organize them into networks have been poorly studied. Here, we evaluated these networks in HIV‐infected and HIV‐uninfected individuals in fluid compartments that are critical for HIV‐1 pathogenesis and transmission, namely blood and semen.Method of StudyIn samples collected from therapy‐naïve HIV‐1‐infected and HIV‐1‐uninfected individuals, we measured HIV‐1‐load, CD4 cell count, and levels of 21 cytokines using a multiplex bead assay.ResultsCytokine networks in blood and semen were different for HIV‐1‐infected and HIV‐1‐uninfected individuals. In both compartments of HIV‐1‐infected individuals, the cytokine networks were more interlocked than in controls: HIV‐1 infection resulted in the establishment of new correlations and in the strengthening of pre‐existing correlations between different cytokines. In blood and semen of HIV‐infected patients, there were, respectively, 68 and 72 statistically significant correlations between cytokines, while in uninfected individuals, there were 18 and 21 such correlations.ConclusionHIV‐1 infection reorganizes the cytokine networks, establishing new strong correlations between various cytokines and thus imposes a high rigidity on the cytokine network. This rigidity may reflect the impairment of the ability of the immune system to respond to microbial challenges.
Anaphylaxis in an emergency setting – elicitors, therapy and incidence of severe allergic reactions
Authors: Beyer K. , Eckermann O. , Hompes S. , Grabenhenrich L. , Worm M. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundAnaphylaxis is a severe potentially life‐threatening hypersensitivity reaction with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 0.5–2.0%. The prevalence and incidence of anaphylactic reactions in Germany are unknown. We therefore assessed anaphylactic patients seen by emergency physicians in the Berlin area covering 4 million people.MethodsA standardised questionnaire was filled from 2008 to 2010 by the emergency physicians.ResultsA total of 333 cases of anaphylaxis were reported. 295 of these met the inclusion criteria for severity and were analysed. 13.9% (n = 41) were reactions with respiratory symptoms, 25.4% (n = 75) with cardiovascular, and in 60.7% (n = 179) of cases, respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms were reported. Two reactions were fatal. The most common elicitors were food products (32.2%), drugs (29.2%) and insect venom (19.3%). The most frequently given drugs were corticoids and antihistamines, but not adrenaline. For 2008, the calculated incidence was 4.5 per 100 000.ConclusionsOur data show that food products are frequent elicitors of severe allergic reactions in the general population including children and adults. It unravels a strong underuse of adrenaline by emergency physicians, not reflecting treatment protocols according to the current guidelines. As data obtained from allergists reveal a different rank order of elicitors, this study suggests that food‐allergic adult patients may present a risk population and should receive more attention by allergists.
Loss of caveolin‐1 from bronchial epithelial cells and monocytes in human subjects with asthma
Authors: Bains S. N. , Tourkina E. , Atkinson C. , Joseph K. , Tholanikunnel B. , Chu H. W. , Riemer E. C. , Martin R. , Hoffman S. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundCaveolin‐1 has emerged as a critical regulator of signaling pathways involved in lung fibrosis and inflammation.MethodsTherefore, we investigated whether caveolin‐1 is deficient in asthmatic patients and in a murine model of asthma.ResultsImmunohistochemical analyses of endobronchial biopsies showed a remarkable loss of caveolin‐1 in the lungs of asthmatic patients compared with controls. This loss was most evident in bronchial epithelial cells and associated with an increase in the expression of extracellular matrix proteins: collagen I, tenascin, and periostin. Cultured primary bronchial epithelial cells of asthmatics had lower caveolin‐1 expression compared with control cells. In addition, caveolin‐1 expression was significantly decreased in peripheral blood monocytes from asthma patients. The loss of caveolin‐1 was also observed in a mouse model for asthma (mice sensitized and challenged with aspergillus fumigatus).ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that the regulatory protein caveolin‐1 is reduced in patients with asthma.
Neonatal protein kinase C zeta expression determines the neonatal T‐Cell cytokine phenotype and predicts the development and severity of infant allergic disease
Authors: D'Vaz N. , Ma Y. , Dunstan J. A. , Lee‐Pullen T. F. , Hii C. , Meldrum S. , Zhang G. , Metcalfe J. , Ferrante A. , Prescott S. L. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated that reduced T‐cell protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ) expression is associated with allergy development in infants born to atopic mothers. This study examined whether this relationship extends to a general population and addressed the basis for the association.MethodsA flow cytometry assay was developed for the measurement of T‐cell PKCζ levels in PBMC, cord blood mononuclear cell and whole blood. Cord blood T‐cell PKCζ levels were measured in 135 neonates, and allergic disease was evaluated by skin prick test and clinical examination at 12 months of age.ResultsAllergic children (particularly those with eczema) had significantly lower neonatal T‐cell PKCζ expression than nonallergic children (P < 0.001). PKCζ levels predicted allergic disease with optimal specificity of 86% and sensitivity of 54%. The sensitivity was increased in the children of allergic mothers, who had significantly lower PKC levels than the children of nonallergic mothers. Cord blood PKCζ levels did not affect T‐cell maturation in culture as assessed by CD45RA/RO expression, but low PKCζ expression was associated with reduced capacity for IFNγ production by matured T cells. Low cord blood PKC expression was further associated with increased IL‐13 responses at 6 months.ConclusionsThe findings suggest a potential role for the use of PKCζ levels in cord blood T cells as a presymptomatic test to predict allergy risk in children, particularly offspring of allergic mothers, and that the basis of this relationship is related to cytokine patterns in mature T cells.
Ethnic disparities in the risk of adverse neonatal outcome after spontaneous preterm birth
Authors: SCHAAF JELLE M. , MOL BEN‐WILLEM J. , ABU‐HANNA AMEEN , RAVELLI ANITA C.J. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjective. To describe ethnic disparities in the risk of spontaneous preterm birth and related adverse neonatal outcome. Design. Nationwide prospective cohort study. Setting. The Netherlands, 1999–2007. Population. Nine hundred and sixty‐nine thousand, four hundred and ninety‐one singleton pregnancies with a spontaneous onset of labor. Methods. We investigated ethnic disparities in perinatal outcome for European white, African, South‐Asian, Mediterranean and East‐Asian women. We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and confidence intervals (CIs) of spontaneous preterm birth and the risk of subsequent neonatal morbidity and mortality. Main outcome measures. The primary outcome measure was spontaneous preterm birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation. Secondarily, we investigated subsequent adverse neonatal outcome, which was a composite outcome of intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, infant respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal sepsis or neonatal mortality within 28 days after birth. Results. Compared with European whites, the aOR of delivering preterm was 1.33 (95% CI 1.26–1.41) for African women, 1.58 (95% CI 1.47–1.69) for South‐Asians, 0.88 (95% CI 0.84–0.91) for Mediterraneans and 1.04 (95% CI 0.98–1.11) for East‐Asians. Subsequent odds of adverse neonatal outcome were significantly lower for African (aOR 0.51; 95% CI 0.41–0.64) and Mediterranean women (aOR 0.86; 95% CI 0.75–0.99) when compared with European whites. Conclusions. African and South‐Asian women are at higher risk for preterm birth than European white women. However, the harmful effect of preterm birth on neonatal outcome is less severe for these women.
On the potential of metformin to prevent preterm delivery in women with polycystic ovary syndrome – an epi‐analysis
Authors: VANKY ESZTER , DE ZEGHER FRANCIS , DÍAZ MARTA , IBÁÑEZ LOURDES , CARLSEN SVEN M. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractOur aim was to re‐evaluate whether metformin may reduce late miscarriage/preterm delivery, pre‐eclampsia and gestational diabetes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We performed an epi‐analysis of two randomized controlled trials. The participants were 313 women aged 18–42 years with PCOS who had singleton pregnancies. They were randomized to metformin or placebo treatment from first trimester until delivery. We analysed the prevalence of late miscarriage/preterm delivery, pre‐eclampsia and gestational diabetes according to both the intention‐to‐treat principle and per protocol analysis. The metformin‐treated patients had less late miscarriage/preterm delivery; five (3%) vs. 18 (11%) in the placebo group (p < 0.01). There was no difference in the prevalence of gestational diabetes and pre‐eclampsia between the metformin and the placebo group. In this epi‐analysis, metformin treatment during pregnancy seems to reduce early delivery in women with PCOS. We believe that further randomized studies should be performed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Oral xylose isomerase decreases breath hydrogen excretion and improves gastrointestinal symptoms in fructose malabsorption – a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Komericki P. , Akkilic‐Materna M. , Strimitzer T. , Weyermair K. , Hammer H. F. , Aberer W. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryBackgroundIncomplete resorption of fructose results in increased colonic hydrogen production and is a frequent cause of abdominal symptoms. The only treatment available is diet.AimTo study whether orally administered xylose isomerase (XI), an enzyme that catalyses the reversible isomerisation of glucose and fructose, can decrease breath hydrogen excretion in patients with fructose malabsorption.MethodsPatients received 25 g fructose in 100 mL water together with either placebo or XI capsules. Primary endpoint was the reduction in breath hydrogen excretion, as assessed by the area under the breath hydrogen curve over 4 h (AUC). A secondary endpoint was the reduction in abdominal pain, bloating and nausea assessed on a visual analogue scale (VAS, range: 0–10). A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsSixty‐five patients in whom fructose malabsorption had been diagnosed by positive breath hydrogen test within the previous year, were included in the study [15 males, 50 females; mean age 43.3 (s.d. = 14.4), range: 21–73 years]. The median AUC was 885 ppm/240 min in the XI group compared to 2071 ppm/240 min in the placebo group (P = 0.00). Median scores for abdominal pain (0.7 vs. 1.3) and nausea (0.2 vs. 0.6), but not for bloating (P = 0.053), were significantly improved after XI (P = 0.009 and P = 0.005) as compared with placebo.ConclusionsOral administration of xylose isomerase significantly decreased breath hydrogen excretion after ingestion of a watery fructose solution. Nausea and abdominal pain were significantly improved by xylose isomerase.
Comparative proteomic study for profiling differentially expressed proteins between Chinese left‐ and right‐sided colon cancers
Authors: Shen Hong , Huang Jinlin , Pei Haiping , Zeng Shan , Tao Yiming , Shen Liangfang , Zeng Liang , Zhu Hong 
Published: September 2012

The aim of the present study is to profile differentially expressed protein markers between left‐sided colon cancer (LSCC) and right‐sided colon cancer (RSCC). Fresh tumor tissue samples from LSCC (n = 7) and RSCC (n = 7) groups were analyzed by two‐dimensional electrophoresis coupled with MALDI‐TOF‐MS, followed by Western blotting. In 50 paraffin embedded samples from each group, levels of four differentially expressed proteins (identified by proteomics analysis) were measured by tissue microarray with immunohistochemistry staining to compare the different protein markers between LSCC and RSCC. Sixteen proteins were found to be differentially expressed between LSCC and RSCC. Ten proteins including HSP‐60 and PDIA1 were identified to be highly expressed in LSCC (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), while the expression of six proteins including EEF1D and HSP‐27 were higher in RSCC (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Virtually all of the indentified proteins were involved in cellular energy metabolism, protein folding/unfolding, and/or oxidative stress. Human colon tumors at various locations have different proteomic biomarkers. Differentially expressed proteins associated with energy metabolism, protein folding/unfolding and oxidative stress contribute to different tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and prognosis between left‐ and right‐sided colon cancer. (Cancer Sci 2013; 104: 141–135)
What goes around comes around: revisiting the hypothesized vicious cycle of dental fear and avoidance
Authors: Armfield Jason M. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjectivesA vicious cycle is believed to operate in the maintenance of dental fear, whereby greater dental fear leads to the delay or avoidance of dental visiting, deteriorated oral health and problem‐oriented treatment, which then serves to reinforce the fear. The current study sought to uncover the existence of this vicious cycle pattern and to investigate the role of both dental fear and avoidance in terms of their hypothesized effect on treatment needs and visiting for problems.MethodsStudy participants were 1036 (response rate = 71.6%) dentate Australians (aged 15+) from all Australian states and territories.ResultsDental fear was associated with avoidance, treatment need and problem‐oriented visiting. For people with moderate to high dental fear, 38.5% fit the hypothesized vicious cycle pattern of avoiding dental visiting because of fear, having treatment need and visiting for a problem. This compared with only 0.9% of people with no dental fear. Avoiding going to the dentist was an important predictor of treatment need and problem‐oriented visiting independent of dental fear. Dental fear was a statistically significant predictor of treatment need and problem‐oriented visiting and also acted as an effect modifier on avoidance because of fear.ConclusionThe results support the premises underlying the vicious cycle model of dental fear maintenance. Dental fear appears to act as a determinant of avoiding or delaying dental visit, which has flow‐on effects in terms of greater treatment need and problem‐oriented visiting.