bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Student engagement
Authors: Robinson Carol 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider recent developments in student engagement practices within higher education institutions (HEIs) and to reflect upon the practical reality and challenges faced by HEIs as they develop such practices.Design/methodology/approachConsideration is given to theoretical understandings around institutional and social power relations and to the influence such relationships can have on the development of student engagement practices within HEIs. The work of Giroux, Freire and Foucault is drawn upon to help develop and deepen understanding of the power relationships at play within HEI student engagement practices.FindingsIt is argued that the power imbalance ingrained within student‐tutor relationships serves to constrain how students act and respond in the presence of tutors, and this can have significant implications in terms of the extent to which student engagement practices genuinely capture the perspectives, interests and visions of students.Practical implicationsThought needs to be given to how HEIs will balance student engagement with academic work. The historical hierarchical staff‐student relationship will need to be challenged and re‐defined as some staff and students move outside of their comfort zones in order to work as partners and develop mutual understandings around, for example, practices of assessment, curriculum and teaching, and seek to improve the quality of student's HEI experiences.Originality/valueThe paper develops and deepens our understanding of the power relationships at play within HEI student engagement practices and opens up debates about the potential of student engagement practices in HEIs and the related dilemmas which surround the development of such practices.
What makes a good university lecturer? Students’ perceptions of teaching excellence
Authors: Su Feng , Wood Margaret 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to argue that, in order to achieve teaching excellence, student engagement in dialogue on this important matter is needed. Students’ conceptualisations of good teaching are fundamental when building an understanding of what this is and how it can be developed.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reports on findings of a qualitative study of undergraduate students’ perceptions of a good university lecturer. The paper draws on the secondary dataset collected by four subject centres of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).FindingsThe interpretive analysis of the data shows that, from students’ perspectives, a combination of the lecturer's subject knowledge, willingness to help and inspirational teaching methods makes a good university lecturer. Being humorous and able to provide speedy feedback were also perceived as important factors. These findings have some important implications for academic practice.Originality/valueThe key thesis advanced is that definitions of teaching excellence cannot be adequately obtained from typologies and descriptions of techniques and skills. The authors’ contention is that deeper understandings are built through engaging students in meaningful dialogue about pedagogy. This may uncover more profound layers of understanding of what makes good teaching at university and so probe the more elusive aspects which defy measurement via scales or performance indicators.
Principles in halal supply chain management
Authors: Tieman Marco , van der Vorst Jack G.A.J. , Che Ghazali Maznah 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce a new framework to optimise the design of halal food supply chains, called the “Halal Supply Chain Model”. In this research the main logistics business processes are defined, which are the determinants for the halal supply chain performance.Design/methodology/approachNext to an extensive literature review, a large discussion group and various focus group sessions conducted in Malaysia, The Netherlands and China have been used to identify halal control activities and assurance activities in logistics business processes, with a focus on transportation, warehousing and terminal operations.FindingsThe findings show that product characteristics (bulk versus unitised, ambient versus cool chain) and market requirements (Muslim or non‐Muslim country) determine the supply chain vulnerability to halal contamination, for which halal control activities and assurance activities are put in place to reduce supply chain vulnerability. More empirical research is needed to further refine the Halal Supply Chain Model for different product–market combinations. Second, qualitative research is recommended for halal cosmetics and pharmaceutical supply chains.Practical implicationsThis study shows that halal supply chain management is different from conventional supply chain management, which requires a halal policy and specific design parameters for supply chain objectives, logistics control, supply chain network structure, supply chain business processes, supply chain resources and supply chain performance metrics.Originality/valueThe Halal Supply Chain Model can be an important instrument to design and manage halal food supply chains in extending halal integrity from source to point of consumer purchase. As there is an evident lack of academic research in the field of halal supply chain management, it provides an important reference for halal logistics and supply chain management. The large discussion group and focus group sessions resulted in the publication of the International Halal Logistics Standard (IHIAS 0100:2010) by IHI Alliance in 2010.
Cross‐cultural negotiations and power distance
Authors: Graf Andrea , Koeszegi Sabine T. , Pesendorfer Eva‐Maria 
Published: September 2012

PurposeNegotiators from Asia are increasingly confronted with exchange partners from other regions, particularly Europe. The European culture differs from the Asian culture in many regards, one major aspect being distinct levels of power distance (hierarchy versus egalitarianism). The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of power distance in electronic negotiations between Asia and Europe.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes an experimental study with a sample of 126 participants investigating the impact of power distance on strategies applied by Asian and European buyers and sellers in computer‐mediated negotiations.FindingsSignificant effects of power distance in electronic negotiations were identified. Culture confirms to play a significant role in negotiations. The results indicate that negotiation schemes differ depending on the cultural dimension power distance in Asia and Europe. In the hierarchical (Asian) culture, sellers show more efforts in negotiations, while buyers apply more power‐related negotiation strategies but also tend to take more responsibility. In contrast, in the egalitarian (European) culture, buyers prefer negotiation behavior spreading power.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, use of a student sample engaging in a negotiation simulation might restrain the generalizability of the findings. Second, the authors investigated only two cultures in Asia and Europe.Originality/valueThe paper describes an experimental study comparing negotiators from Asia and Europe in order to analyze whether culture plays a significant role in electronic negotiations between Asia and Europe. The authors focus on power distance as the main cultural dimension.
Have I got it wrong or is it them? Difficulties in access to specialist brain injury social work services
Authors: Wurr Judy 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to highlight the challenges that case managers face in accessing appropriate statutory services and funding for young brain injured adults.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses aggregate case material, based on two years of case management with young adults with an acquired brain injury.FindingsThere is a need for separate, dedicated acquired brain injury services within local authority adult services. There should be a greater emphasis on assessments of functioning and decision‐specific mental capacity for clients with acquired brain injury rather than simplistic assumptions of capacity. Health and social welfare professionals in this field need a knowledge of the law related to benefits disregard and mental capacity, including recent case law. The statutory complaints system can provide redress where statutory services have been wrongly withheld.Practical implicationsCase managers need to keep up to date with the case law and application of health, social welfare and mental capacity legislation in order to ensure clients' rights and access to statutory services and funding.Originality/valueThis paper provides a subjective account, and analysis, of the reality of independent case managers working proactively, pragmatically and intensively across multidisciplinary and multiagency settings in the pursuit of clients' statutory rights.
A Chick Embryo With a yet Unclassified Type of Cephalothoracopagus Malformation and a Hypothesis for Explaining its Genesis
Authors: Maurer B. , Geyer S. H. , Weninger W. J. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryCephalothoracopagus embryos are conjoined twins, who share parts of their heads, necks and bodies. Our study aims at presenting a detailed morphological analysis of a cephalothoracopagus chick embryo of developmental stage 31. Because none of the existing theories can explain the genesis of the phenotype of this embryo, we also suggest a hypothesis, which explains it. Beside the cephalothoracopagus embryo, we investigated five control embryos. With the aid of the high‐resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) technique, we created digital volume data and three‐dimensional (3D) computer models of the organs and arteries of the embryos. We used the 3D models for topological analysis and for measuring the diameters of the great intrathoracic arteries. The malformed embryo showed two body backs, each containing a notochord, spinal cord and dorsal aorta. The body backs continued into separated lower bodies. The embryo had a single, four‐chambered heart, single respiratory tract and single upper alimentary tract. The topology of the pharyngeal arch arteries was normal, and the diameters of these arteries were similar to that of the control embryos. We classified the embryo we investigated as a yet unknown malformation and suggest a hypothesis explaining its genesis.
Herd composition, kinship and fission–fusion social dynamics among wild giraffe
Authors: Bercovitch Fred B. , Berry Philip S. M. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractA variety of social systems have evolved as a consequence of competition and cooperation among individuals. Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalissp.) societies are an anomaly because the dearth of long‐term data has produced two polar perspectives: a loose amalgamation of non‐bonded individuals that sometimes coalesce into a herd and a structured social system with a fission–fusion process modifying herd composition within a community. We analysed 34 years of data collected from a population ofThornicroft's giraffe (G. c. thornicrofti,Lydekker 1911) residing inSouthLuangwa,Zambia, to establish the nature of giraffe society. Our sample consisted of 52 individually recognized animals. We found that giraffe herd composition is based upon long‐term social associations that often reflect kinship, with close relatives significantly more likely than non‐relatives to establish herds. Mother/offspring dyads had the strongest associations, which persisted for years. Giraffe live in a complex society characterized by marked flexibility in herd size, with about 25% of the variance in herd composition owing to kinship and sex. We suggest that giraffe herds share many characteristics of fission–fusion social systems and propose that sophisticated communication systems are a crucial component regulating subgroup dynamics.
Effect of Carbon Monoxide on Bacteria‐Stimulated Cytokine Production by Placental Explants
Authors: Peltier Morgan R. , Arita Yuko , Gurzenda Ellen M. , Klimova Natalia , Koo Hschi‐Chi , Murthy Amitasrigowri , Hanna Nazeeh 
Published: September 2012

ProblemPreterm birth is frequently caused by an inflammatory response to ascending infections of the reproductive tract. Carbon monoxide (CO) has potent anti‐inflammatory properties at subtoxic concentrations. Whether or not CO can modulate inflammatory responses by placental tissues is unclear.MethodsPlacental explant cultures were incubated with heat‐killed Escherichia coli or Ureaplasma parvum in the presence or absence of 250 ppm CO for 24 hr. Concentrations of cytokines relative viability of the cultures were quantified.ResultsEscherichia coli‐ and U. parvum‐stimulated IL‐1β production was significantly inhibited by CO supplementation. Escherichia coli‐stimulated, but not U. parvum‐stimulated, IFN‐γ production was inhibited by CO. While CO inhibited PGE2 production by unstimulated cells, no effects on bacteria‐stimulated prostaglandin production were detected. CO had no effect on basal or E. coli‐stimulated TNF‐α production but enhanced TNF‐α production by cultures stimulated with U. parvum. In addition, CO tended to improve the viability of the placental cultures.ConclusionsLow concentrations of CO tended to reduce proinflammatory cytokines and to promote the production of anti‐inflammatory cytokines in a pathogen‐specific manner. These properties suggest that CO may be useful for promoting a pro‐pregnancy cytokine milieu by placental explants and may reduce the consequences of intrauterine infections.
A hypoallergenic variant of the major birch pollen allergen shows distinct characteristics in antigen processing and T‐cell activation
Authors: Kitzmüller C. , Wallner M. , Deifl S. , Mutschlechner S. , Walterskirchen C. , Zlabinger G. J. , Ferreira F. , Bohle B. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundBM4 is a novel genetically engineered variant of the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 that lacks the typical Bet v 1‐like fold and displays negligible IgE‐binding but strong T cell–activating capacity. The aim of this study was to elucidate possible differences between BM4 and Bet v 1 in internalization, antigen processing, and presentation.MethodsProliferative responses to BM4 and Bet v 1 of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and Bet v 1‐specific T‐cell clones were compared. Fluorescently labeled BM4 and Bet v 1 were used to study surface binding, endocytosis, and intracellular degradation by monocyte‐derived DC (mdDC). Both proteins were digested by endolysosomal extracts of mdDC. BM4‐ and Bet v 1‐pulsed mdDC were employed to assess the kinetics of activation of Bet v 1‐specific T‐cell clones and the polarization of naïve T cells.ResultsBM4 displayed a significantly stronger T cell–activating capacity than Bet v 1. Furthermore, BM4 showed increased surface binding and internalization as well as faster endolysosomal degradation compared with Bet v 1. BM4‐pulsed mdDC induced enhanced proliferative responses at earlier time‐points in Bet v 1‐specific T‐cell clones and promoted less IL‐5 production in T cells than Bet v 1‐pulsed mdDC.ConclusionThe loss of the Bet v 1‐fold changes the protein's interaction with the human immune system at the level of antigen‐presenting cells resulting in altered T‐cell responses. By combining low IgE‐binding with strong and modulating T cell–activating capacity, BM4 represents a highly interesting candidate for specific immunotherapy of birch pollen allergy.
Honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom induces AIM2 inflammasome activation in human keratinocytes
Authors: Dombrowski Y. , Peric M. , Koglin S. , Kaymakanov N. , Schmezer V. , Reinholz M. , Ruzicka T. , Schauber J. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundFollowing allergen exposure, cytokines and other pro‐inflammatory signals play an important role in the immunological cascade leading to allergic sensitization. Inflammasomes sense exogenous and endogenous danger signals and trigger IL‐1β and IL‐18 activation which in turn shape Th2 responses. Honey bee venom (BV) allergies are very common; however, the local inflammatory cascade leading to the initiation of allergic sensitization is poorly understood. In this study, the local inflammatory cascades in skin after exposure to BV were investigated.MethodsThe mechanisms of inflammasome activation in human skin and in cultured keratinocytes upon BV exposure were analyzed by ELISA, Western blot, flow cytometry, siRNA techniques, and immunofluorescence.ResultsIn an ex vivo bee sting model, BV induced IL‐1β release suggesting the activation of inflammasomes. Indeed, in cultured keratinocytes, the BV component melittin triggered IL‐1β and IL‐18 release via the AIM2 inflammasome. AIM2 is a cytosolic DNA receptor, and mitochondrial as well as genomic DNA was detected in the cytosol of melittin‐treated keratinocytes as triggers of inflammasome activation. As a mechanism, melittin mediated destruction of mitochondrial membranes leading to the leakage of mitochondrial DNA into the cytosolic compartment.ConclusionThese data suggest that upon BV exposure, keratinocytes are involved in an innate immune response by the activation of the AIM2 inflammasome and subsequent IL‐1β and IL‐18 release triggered by endogenous DNA. As IL‐1β and IL‐18 are involved in Th2‐ and IgE‐mediated immune reactions, these results could add to the understanding of the role of the tissue microenvironment to subsequent allergic responses.
Risk factors and outcome of HIV‐associated idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension
Authors: Schouten J. N. L. , Van der Ende M. E. , Koëter T. , Rossing H. H. M. , Komuta M. , Verheij J. , van der Valk M. , Hansen B. E. , Janssen H. L. A. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryBackgroundIdiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) has been reported increasingly in patients with HIV infection.AimTo evaluate the number of nationwide diagnosed HIV‐associated INCPH cases and to assess its clinical features, risk factors and outcome.MethodsAll HIV centres in the Netherlands were contacted and requested to notify INCPH cases diagnosed in their population. A case–control study was performed to identify the risk factors of INCPH. The cases were group‐matched for duration of follow‐up after HIV diagnosis to controls. Controls were selected from a database of HIV patients with negative screening for signs of portal hypertension on abdominal ultrasound. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses were performed.ResultsOn 1st of July 2011, 18.085 individuals were infected with HIV in the Netherlands. Within this population, sixteen patients with clinically overt INCPH were identified. At the time of INCPH diagnosis, cases had a lower platelet count and a higher ALT level. In univariate and multivariate analyses, didanosine [OR: 1.9 (1.3–2.8)], concomitant didanosine and stavudine treatment [OR: 6.3 (2.1–19.1)] and concomitant didanosine and tenofovir treatment [OR: 5.1 (1.2–22.6)] were independently associated INCPH. During follow‐up, 4 patients died [malignancy (n = 3), liver failure (n = 1)]. A significant decline in platelets was observed after didanosine discontinuation (P = 0.003).ConclusionsHIV‐associated clinically relevant idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension appears to be a rarely diagnosed disease. Long‐term exposure to didanosine and short‐term combination of didanosine and stavudine or tenofovir exposure are associated with idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension. Mortality in HIV‐associated idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension is mainly related to HIV‐associated disorders. Portal hypertension continues despite didanosine discontinuation.
Epidermal growth factor receptor activation and inhibition in 3D in vitro models of normal skin and human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Commandeur Suzan , van Drongelen Vincent , de Gruijl Frank R. , El Ghalbzouri Abdoelwaheb 
Published: September 2012

The transmembrane tyrosine kinase epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is considered a key player in the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is the second most common malignancy in white populations. Inhibition of EGFR with the small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib is currently under clinical investigation in cutaneous SCC patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of EGFR activation and inhibition on normal and malignant in vitro human skin equivalents (HSEs). In healthy HSEs, increasing EGF concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 ng/mL resulted in a dramatic decrease in epidermal proliferation as immunohistochemically assessed by Ki67 and increased epidermal stress as assessed by K17 after 2 weeks of air‐exposed culture. Also, higher concentrations of EGF induced remarkable epidermal disorganization with loss of proper stratification. Similar effects were observed in HSEs generated with cutaneous SCC cell lines SCC‐12B2 and SCC‐13. Treatment of both healthy and SCC‐HSEs with 10 μM erlotinib resulted in efficient reduction of epidermal thickness from 10 to 3 viable cell layers and counteracted EGF‐induced epidermal stress. Remarkably, erlotinib treatment caused severe desquamation in healthy HSEs, reminiscent of xerosis as a known side‐effect in patients treated with erlotinib. The presented three‐dimensional organotypic SCC models appear suitable for further investigations on the morphological and functional impacts of modifying EGFR signaling in cutaneous SCC, without burdening patients or mice. The effective inhibition of epidermal growth by erlotinib in our HSEs confirms the therapeutic potential of this tyrosine kinase inhibitor for cutaneous SCC patients.
Verbal definitions of familiar objects in blind children reflect their peculiar perceptual experience
Authors: Vinter A. , Fernandes V. , Orlandi O. , Morgan P. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of the present study was to examine to what extent the verbal definitions of familiar objects produced by blind children reflect their peculiar perceptual experience and, in consequence, differ from those produced by sighted children.MethodsNinety‐six visually impaired children, aged between 6 and 14 years, and 32 age‐matched sighted children had to define 10 words denoting concrete animate or inanimate familiar objects.ResultsThe blind children evoked the tactile and auditory characteristics of objects and expressed personal perceptual experiences in their definitions. The sighted children relied on visual perception, and produced more visually oriented verbalism. In contrast, no differences were observed between children in their propensity to include functional attributes in their verbal definitions.ConclusionsThe results are discussed in line with embodied views of cognition that postulate mandatory perceptuomotor processing of words during access to their meaning.