bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anti‐social behaviour law and policy in the United Kingdom
Authors: Hoffman Simon , Mackie Peter K. , Pritchard John 
Published: April 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of enforcement action on individuals and families living in social housing as a mode of intervention for dealing with anti‐social behaviour.Design/methodology/approachRelevant housing legislation and policy documents are reviewed. The paper then draws on empirical data from Shelter Cymru's case file records of households in social housing who have been subject to enforcement action following an allegation of anti‐social behaviour. Evidence obtained from other studies on housing intervention projects is used to contrast the position of the households studied with those in similar situations who have been provided with support as an alternative to enforcement action.FindingsThe legislative framework favours enforcement as a means of dealing with anti‐social behaviour. A number of remedies utilise the management role of social landlords, and the framework of housing tenure, to introduce the concept of “conditionality” into housing entitlement. This approach to the management of anti‐social behaviour compounds the social disadvantage of already vulnerable households by undermining long‐term security of tenure and thereby increasing the risk of homelessness and social exclusion. These outcomes contrast with those from studies of similar households in receipt of support within housing intervention projects which have been shown to deliver reductions in anti‐social behaviour and sustainable outcomes for families, communities, and landlords.Social implicationsThe findings provide important lessons for the future direction of anti‐social behaviour policy throughout the UK and beyond. In the context of devolved polity in the UK the paper argues for the Welsh Assembly Government to take a lead in developing policies and legal responses which recognize the housing rights of marginalised groups, and for the introduction of support into social housing to counter the trend toward punitive treatment of social tenants as a response to anti‐social behaviour.Originality/valueThe unique nature of the empirical data set from Shelter Cymru's case file records provides an important insight into the social impact of anti‐social behaviour law and policy on some of the most vulnerable members of society.
Building control systems of European Union countries
Authors: Branco Pedro João , Meijer Frits , Visscher Henk 
Published: April 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare the tasks and responsibilities of public and private parties in the building control systems of the 27 European Union (EU) countries.Design/methodology/approachTo gather the necessary information, a questionnaire on building regulatory systems was distributed to experts in each country, and the major legal documents in each jurisdiction were reviewed. The information was organized into thematic tables that describe all the countries studied. The themes within the tables are: regulatory framework, application, plan approval, site inspection, completion, and supervision.FindingsThe paper finds that there are many similarities between the building control systems of the various EU countries. Public parties in all countries set the regulatory framework, check planning applications, issue building permits, conduct final inspections, grant completion certificates, and supervise the operation of the system. The main difference between them concerns the nature of the involvement of private parties in checking technical requirements, and in site inspections. Three basic types of building control systems are identified: public, mixed, and dual. The majority of the countries have mixed systems. Although several variations are found among the mixed systems, the most common situation is for public parties to check the technical requirements and private parties to be involved in site inspections.Originality/valueThe analysis provides a global picture of the building control systems of all EU countries. The results can be useful for situating the systems of each country within the European panorama, assessing the main trends and developments and guiding strategic choices on possible improvements in each country.
The two Ws of Islamic accounting research
Authors: Haniffa Roszaini , Hudaib Mohammad 
Published: April 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce the new journal and articles in the first issue.Design/methodology/approachThe paper attempts to introduce the journal by answering the two “W” questions – what is Islamic accounting and why Islamic accounting research is important. In doing so, it indirectly highlights the need for a specialist journal like Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research (JIABR) and the potential research areas.FindingsIslamic accounting research is still at the infancy stage compared to Islamic banking and finance. One of the reasons is due to lack of exposure of research conducted in the area at international level, ending up with only a few issues getting attention. Similarly, the lack of a platform where researchers interested in the area could showcase the diverse range of research as well as network and get support on their research hindered the progress of research in this area. Hence, JIABR could be the leading journal in the area of Islamic accounting and business research if all papers related to it are channeled in this specialist journal. In this way, researchers in the areas of accounting and business would be more aware of the development and contemporary issues to take the research forward.Originality/valueThis paper is useful to new readers of the journal around the world who are interested but have limited knowledge in the area, and also those who wish to submit to the journal, in that it highlights some potential areas for research.
Supervisory, regulatory, and capital adequacy implications of profit‐sharing investment accounts in Islamic finance
Authors: Archer Simon , Ahmed Abdel Karim Rifaat , Sundararajan Venkataraman 
Published: April 2010

PurposeThe aims of this paper are: first, to draw attention to the issues of displaced commercial risk (DCR) which arise as a result of the risk characteristics of profit‐sharing investment accounts (PSIA), the main source of funding of Islamic banks in most jurisdictions; and, second, to present a value‐at‐risk approach to the estimation of DCR and the associated adjustments in capital requirements.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on empirical research into the characteristics of PSIA in practice, which vary to a greater or lesser extent from what one would expect them to be in principle, on an analysis of the capital adequacy and risk management implications that flow from this, and on an econometric formulation whereby the extent of DCR in Islamic banks may be estimated.FindingsThe findings are, first, that the characteristics of PSIA can vary from being a deposit like product (fixed return, capital certain, all risks borne by shareholders) to an investment product (variable return, bearing the risk of losses in underlying investments), depending upon the extent to which the balance sheet risks get shifted (“displaced”) from investment account holders to shareholders through various techniques available to Islamic banks' management. Second, the paper finds that this DCR has a major impact on Islamic bank's economic and regulatory capital requirements, asset‐liability management, and product pricing. Finally, it proposes an econometric approach to estimating DCR but report that individual Islamic banks generally lack the data needed to apply this approach, in the absence of which panel data for a population of Islamic banks may be used to estimate DCR for that population.Research limitations/implicationsEmpirically, the paper is thus limited by the lack of data just mentioned. Furthermore, the application of the proposed panel data approach has been left for future research.Originality/valueThe analysis of the issues and the development of the econometric model represent in themselves an original research contribution of some significance.
Form versus substance: AAOIFI projects and Islamic fundamentals in the case ofsukuk
Authors: Maurer Bill 
Published: April 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of standard‐setting bodies and rating agencies which compete for authority in Islamic finance. It does so through a consideration of a recent debate over the permissibility ofsukukfinancing.Design/methodology/approachThe methods used are a combination of archival and bibliographic research, coupled with the author's previous research on Islamic banking and finance.FindingsWhile the debate oversukukhinged on whether the structures areshari'acompliant in form only, not in substance, the role ofsukukin neoliberal reform and the privatization of state resources reveal a deeper potential conflict between Islamic standard‐setting bodies and global neoliberal projects more broadly.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications are significant for other Islamic finance contractual forms and modes of finance. They are also significant in light of the global financial crisis, and the recent debt crisis in Dubai. The research limitations have to do with the fact that this is a fast‐moving field and the global financial crisis has destabilized many institutions – both conventional and Islamic – in structured finance.Originality/valueFew scholars have consideredsukuk's legitimacy, or the competition between Islamic standard‐setting bodies and non‐Islamic global rating agencies.
Accentuating the positive: governance of Islamic investment funds
Authors: Lewis Mervyn K. 
Published: April 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the nature and structure of Islamic investment funds and evaluate their governance.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology employed is the conceptual framework of Islamic economics.FindingsIt is found that Islamic investment funds have grown rapidly this decade: in Malaysia alone, the number ofshari'a‐compliant funds has grown from 17 in 2000 to 149 in 2008, and at a global level there are 650 funds in operation. However, the industry has developed in a particular way, by focusing on negative screens, and removing from investments those activities deemed to be unacceptable to Islamic precepts, rather than pursuing as well the implementation of other aspects of the Islamic ethos.Originality/valueThe conclusion reached is that, if the Islamic investment fund industry is to provide more completely for the religious and financial aspirations of investors, it needs to go beyond the negatives and to also accentuate the positive and, drawing upon Islamic governance guidelines, actively seek out investments that have a positive impact on society and the environment and promote the welfare of the community. These issues hitherto have been largely unexplored.
Initial returns of Malaysian IPOs and Shari'a‐compliant status
Authors: Abdul Rahim Ruzita , Yong Othman 
Published: April 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the initial return patterns of Malaysian initial public offerings (IPOs) and whether shari'a‐compliant status would alter such patterns.Design/methodology/approachThe effect of shari'a‐compliant status on the patterns of initial return of IPOs is analyzed using a sample of 386 IPOs issued between January 1999 and December 2007.FindingsThe preliminary results indicate that over the study period, the initial returns of Malaysian IPOs drop substantially from 94.91 percent reported from the pre‐crisis period of 1990‐1998 to 31.99 percent, a level more comparable to that reported in advanced markets. Since the initial returns do not revert to pre‐crisis levels, the new low IPO underpricing trend is more likely to be associated with the removal of pricing restraints. The results of regression analyses on the full sample, however, suggest that there is no drastic change with respect to factors that drive initial returns in Malaysian IPOs. With regards to shari'a‐compliant status, IPOs of this subsample show similar profiles to those of non‐shari'a counterparts. However, other than demand, the two subsamples are driven by different factors. Initial returns of shari'a‐compliant IPOs are driven by the size and type of offers, whereas those of the non‐shari'a IPOs are driven by risks.Research limitations/implicationsFuture studies should re‐examine the issue by taking into consideration the extensiveness of a firm's compliance to shari'a rules and other predictor variables.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first to examine the effect of shari'a‐compliant status on the performance of IPOs.
Changes in sublingual microcirculatory flow index and vessel density on ascent to altitude
Authors: Martin Daniel S. , Goedhart Peter , Vercueil Andre , Ince Can , Levett Denny Z. H. , Grocott Mike P. W. ,   for the Caudwell Xtreme Everest Research Group
Published: April 2010

We hypothesized that ascent to altitude would result in reduced sublingual microcirculatory flow index (MFI) and increased vessel density. Twenty‐four subjects were studied using sidestream dark‐field imaging, as they ascended to 5300 m; one cohort remained at this altitude (n= 10), while another ascended higher (maximum 8848 m; n= 14). The MFI, vessel density and grid crossings (GX; an alternative density measure) were calculated. Total study length was 71 days; images were recorded at sea level (SL), Namche Bazaar (3500 m), Everest base camp (5300 m), the Western Cwm (6400 m), South Col (7950 m) and departure from Everest base camp (5300 m; 5300 m‐b). Peripheral oxygen saturation
, heart rate and blood pressure were also recorded. Compared with SL, altitude resulted in reduced sublingual MFI in small (<25 μm; P < 0.0001) and medium vessels (26–50 μm; P= 0.006). The greatest reduction in MFI from SL was seen at 5300 m‐b; from 2.8 to 2.5 in small vessels and from 2.9 to 2.4 in medium‐sized vessels. The density of vessels <25 μm did not change during ascent, but those >25 μm rose from 1.68 (± 0.43) mm mm−2 at SL to 2.27 (± 0.57) mm mm−2 at 5300 m‐b (P= 0.005); GX increased at all altitudes (P < 0.001). The reduction in MFI was greater in climbers than in those who remained at 5300 m in small and medium‐sized vessels (P= 0.017 and P= 0.002, respectively). At 7950 m, administration of supplemental oxygen resulted in a further reduction of MFI and increase in vessel density. Thus, MFI was reduced whilst GX increased in the sublingual mucosa with prolonged exposure to hypoxia and was exaggerated in those exposed to extreme altitude.
Minigenome-Based Reporter System Suitable for High-Throughput Screening of Compounds Able To Inhibit
Ebolavirus
Replication and/or Transcription
Authors: Jasenosky Luke D. , Neumann Gabriele , Kawaoka Yoshihiro 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACT

We describe an
Ebolavirus
minigenome-based system that is suitable for high-throughput screening of compounds able to impair
Ebolavirus
virus replication and/or transcription. The assay is robust (Z′ factor, >0.6) and can be carried out in low-biosafety containment. Results from a pilot screen of 960 compounds are presented.
Incidence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of
Escherichia coli
and
Klebsiella pneumoniae
with Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases in Community- and Hospital-Associated Intra-Abdominal Infections in Europe: Results of the 2008 Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART)
Authors: Hawser Stephen P. , Bouchillon Samuel K. , Hoban Daryl J. , Badal Robert E. , Cantón Rafael , Baquero Fernando 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACT

From 2002 to 2008, there was a significant increase in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-positive
Escherichia coli
isolates in European intra-abdominal infections, from 4.3% in 2002 to 11.8% in 2008 (
P
< 0.001), but not for ESBL-positive
Klebsiella pneumoniae
isolates (16.4% to 17.9% [
P
> 0.05]). Hospital-associated isolates were more common than community-associated isolates, at 14.0% versus 6.5%, respectively, for
E. coli
(
P
< 0.001) and 20.9% versus 5.3%, respectively, for
K. pneumoniae
(
P
< 0.01). Carbapenems were consistently the most active drugs tested.
Characterization of Variation in Rumen Methanogenic Communities under Different Dietary and Host Feed Efficiency Conditions, as Determined by PCR-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis Analysis
Authors: Zhou Mi , Hernandez-Sanabria Emma , Guan Le Luo 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACTUnderstanding ruminal methanogens is essential for greenhouse gas mitigation, as well as for improving animal performance in the livestock industry. It has been speculated that ruminal methanogenic diversity affects host feed efficiency and results in differences in methane production. This study examined methanogenic profiles in the rumen using culture-independent PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis for 56 beef cattle which differed in feed efficiency, as well as diet (the cattle were fed a low-energy diet or a high-energy diet). The methanogenic PCR-DGGE profiles detected were greatly affected by diet, and the major pattern changed from a community containing predominantlyMethanobrevibacter ruminantiumNT7 with the low-energy diet to a community containing predominantlyMethanobrevibacter smithii,Methanobrevibactersp. AbM4, and/orM.ruminantiumNT7 with the high-energy diet. For each diet, the methanogenic PCR-DGGE pattern was strongly associated with the feed efficiency of the host. Diet-associated bands forMethanobrevibactersp. AbM4 andM.smithiiSM9 and a feed efficiency-related band forM.smithiiPS were identified. The abundance of total methanogens was estimated by determining the numbers of copies of the 16S rRNA genes of methanogens. However, the size of the methanogen population did not correlate with differences in feed efficiency, diet, or metabolic measurements. Thus, the structure of the methanogenic community at the species or strain level may be more important for determining host feed efficiency under different dietary conditions.
Heptahelical Receptors GprC and GprD of
Aspergillus fumigatus
Are Essential Regulators of Colony Growth, Hyphal Morphogenesis, and Virulence
Authors: Gehrke Alexander , Heinekamp Thorsten , Jacobsen Ilse D. , Brakhage Axel A. 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACT

The filamentous fungus
Aspergillus fumigatus
normally grows on compost or hay but is also able to colonize environments such as the human lung. In order to survive, this organism needs to react to a multitude of external stimuli. Although extensive work has been carried out to investigate intracellular signal transduction in
A. fumigatus
, little is known about the specific stimuli and the corresponding receptors activating these signaling cascades. Here, two putative G-protein-coupled receptors, GprC and GprD, were characterized with respect to their cellular functions. Deletion of the corresponding genes resulted in drastic growth defects as hyphal extension was reduced, germination was retarded, and hyphae showed elevated levels of branching. The growth defect was found to be temperature dependent. The higher the temperature the more pronounced was the growth defect. Furthermore, compared with the wild type, the sensitivity of the mutant strains toward environmental stress caused by reactive oxygen intermediates was increased and the mutants displayed an attenuation of virulence in a murine infection model. Both mutants, especially the Δ
gprC
strain, exhibited increased tolerance toward cyclosporine, an inhibitor of the calcineurin signal transduction pathway. Transcriptome analyses indicated that in both the
gprC
and
gprD
deletion mutants, transcripts of primary metabolism genes were less abundant, whereas transcription of several secondary metabolism gene clusters was upregulated. Taken together, our data suggest the receptors are involved in integrating and processing stress signals via modulation of the calcineurin pathway.
Oral Bacteria as Potential Probiotics for the Pharyngeal Mucosa
Authors: Guglielmetti Simone , Taverniti Valentina , Minuzzo Mario , Arioli Stefania , Stuknyte Milda , Karp Matti , Mora Diego 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACT

The research described here was aimed at the selection of oral bacteria that displayed properties compatible with their potential use as probiotics for the pharyngeal mucosa. We included in the study 56 bacteria newly isolated from the pharynges of healthy donors, which were identified at the intraspecies level and characterized
in vitro
for their probiotic potential. The experiments led us to select two potential probiotic bacterial strains (
Streptococcus salivarius
RS1 and ST3) and to compare them with the prototype oral probiotic
S. salivarius
strain K12. All three strains efficiently bound to FaDu human epithelial pharyngeal cells and thereby antagonized
Streptococcus pyogenes
adhesion and growth. All were sensitive to a variety of antibiotics routinely used for the control of upper respiratory tract infections. Immunological
in vitro
testing on a FaDu layer revealed different responses to RS1, ST3, and K12. RS1 and ST3 modulated NF-κB activation and biased proinflammatory cytokines at baseline and after interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induction. In conclusion, we suggest that the selected commensal streptococci represent potential pharyngeal probiotic candidates. They could display a good degree of adaptation to the host and possess potential immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.
Plasmid Transduction Using Bacteriophage Φadh for Expression of CC Chemokines byLactobacillus gasseriADH
Authors: Damelin Leonard H. , Mavri-Damelin Demetra , Klaenhammer Todd R. , Tiemessen Caroline T. 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACTVaginal mucosal microfloras are typically dominated by Gram-positiveLactobacillusspecies, and colonization of vaginal mucosa by exogenous microbicide-secretingLactobacillusstrains has been proposed as a means of enhancing this natural mucosal barrier against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We asked whether an alternative strategy could be utilized whereby anti-HIV molecules are expressed within the cervicovaginal milieu by endogenous vaginalLactobacilluspopulations which have been engineeredin situvia transduction. In this study, we therefore investigated the feasibility of utilizing transduction for the expression of two HIV coreceptor antagonists, the CC chemokines CCL5 and CCL3, in a predominant vaginalLactobacillusspecies,Lactobacillus gasseri. Modifying a previously established transduction model, which utilizesL. gasseriADH and its prophage Φadh, we show that mitomycin C induction ofL. gasseriADH transformants containing pGK12-based plasmids with CCL5 and CCL3 expression and secretion cassettes (under the control of promoters P6 and P59, respectively) and a 232-bp Φadh cos site fragment results in the production of transducing particles which contain 8 to 9 copies of concatemeric plasmid DNA. High-frequency transduction for these particles (almost 6 orders of magnitude greater than that for pGK12 alone) was observed, and transductants were found to contain recircularized expression plasmids upon subsequent culture. Importantly, transductants produced CC chemokines at levels comparable to those produced by electroporation-derived transformants. Our findings therefore lend support to the potential use of transduction in vaginalLactobacillusspecies as a novel strategy for the prevention of HIV infection across mucosal membranes.