bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PROJECT EVALUATION AND RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY
Authors: Mikesell RAYMOND F. 
Published: January 2010

This paper outlines a procedure for embodying the principle of resource sustainability in evaluating projects that use significant amounts of natural resources. In this analysis, sustainability requires maintaining the productivity of the resource used over time, either by renewing the resource or by investing its depletion in other capital assets. The basis of a project's evaluation is its net present social value (NPSV), including resource depletion as a social cost. The social cost of depletion is the amount that must be saved and reinvested annually to accumulate a fund that will yield a perpetual annual income equal to the net output lost by resource depletion. By treating resource depletion as a social cost in calculating NPSV, projects causing a high rate of resource depletion receive a relatively low valuation compared with projects causing less resource depletion. Resource depletion includes environmental damage caused by constructing and operating a project, as well as the direct consumption of natural resources.Several problems arise in reinvesting depletion to preserve the value of a resource base. One major problem relates to the substitutability of man‐made capital for natural resources. The conclusion of the analysis here is that society must invest a substantial amount of resource depletion in: (i) replenishing renewable resources, (ii) increasing product output per unit of resource used, or (Hi) increasing the end‐use efficiency of resource‐intensive products.
SOME ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF ANTICIPATING TECHNICAL ADVANCE
Authors: KAMIEN MORTON I. , SCHWARTZ NANCY L. 
Published: January 2010

SummaryUsing a simple model of a long run profit maximizing firm, we investigated the consequences of foreseeing future technical advance upon the adoption of new technology, scrapping of old, and for price and output of the firm's product. To simplify the analysis and highlight the conclusions, we assumed all technologies embodied in equipment and all equipment infinitely durable. It was shown that the often‐used formulas for the unit cost of using capital over a finite (rkj/(l — aT)) or infinite (rkj) life are appropriate only if the equipment does not become outmoded during its economic life and if there are no demand shifts in that time interval. Otherwise, the current cost of using capital (ex ante) must reflect future lesser or greater earning power of that capital due to outmodedness or demand shifts.Anticipation of technical advance tends to delay scrapping of old equipment and retard installation of new, with current output smaller and price higher than if technology is stagnant. Selection among currently competing technologies is also affected by the course future technical advance is expected to follow.The economic lifetime of capital equipment is independent of the elasticity of demand for the firm's output. On the other hand anticipation of demand expansion tends to partially or wholly offset the effect of anticipating future technical advance, while expected demand decline tends to reinforce it.Uncertainty about when improved technology will appear tends to retard adoption of current best practice technology, to retard scrapping of outmoded technology, restrict output and elevate price, in comparison with pptimal policy when the time of availability is believed known.The optimal policy is unaffected when it is the magnitude of the improvement rather than its timing which is unknown.
Chloroplast‐derived enzyme cocktails hydrolyse lignocellulosic biomass and release fermentable sugars
Authors: Verma Dheeraj , Kanagaraj Anderson , Jin Shuangxia , Singh Nameirakpam D. , Kolattukudy Pappachan E. , Daniell Henry 
Published: January 2010

SummaryIt is widely recognized that biofuel production from lignocellulosic materials is limited by inadequate technology to efficiently and economically release fermentable sugars from the complex multi‐polymeric raw materials. Therefore, endoglucanases, exoglucanase, pectate lyases, cutinase, swollenin, xylanase, acetyl xylan esterase, beta glucosidase and lipase genes from bacteria or fungi were expressed in Escherichia coli or tobacco chloroplasts. A PCR‐based method was used to clone genes without introns from Trichoderma reesei genomic DNA. Homoplasmic transplastomic lines showed normal phenotype and were fertile. Based on observed expression levels, up to 49, 64 and 10, 751 million units of pectate lyases or endoglucanase can be produced annually, per acre of tobacco. Plant production cost of endoglucanase is 3100‐fold, and pectate lyase is 1057 or 1480‐fold lower than the same recombinant enzymes sold commercially, produced via fermentation. Chloroplast‐derived enzymes had higher temperature stability and wider pH optima than enzymes expressed in E. coli. Plant crude‐extracts showed higher enzyme activity than E. coli with increasing protein concentration, demonstrating their direct utility without purification. Addition of E. coli extracts to the chloroplast‐derived enzymes significantly decreased their activity. Chloroplast‐derived crude‐extract enzyme cocktails yielded more (up to 3625%) glucose from filter paper, pine wood or citrus peel than commercial cocktails. Furthermore, pectate lyase transplastomic plants showed enhanced resistance to Erwina soft rot. This is the first report of using plant‐derived enzyme cocktails for production of fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass. Limitations of higher cost and lower production capacity of fermentation systems are addressed by chloroplast‐derived enzyme cocktails.
Immersion treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity: the first review of a promising intervention
Authors: Kelly K. P. , Kirschenbaum D. S. 
Published: January 2010

SummaryObese children have attended weight loss camps and residential programmes for more than 40 years. This paper provides the first systematic review of the effects of those programmes. Twenty‐two studies met inclusion criteria (targeted and assessed change in weight status, minimal stay of 10 days and nights). Similar components across programmes included controlled diet, activities, nutrition education, and therapy and/or education regarding behaviour change. Participants lost substantial amounts of weight in all 22 studies, as measured by reductions in per cent‐overweight during intervention. Eleven programmes included long‐term follow‐up evaluations. Compared with results highlighted in a recent meta‐analysis of out‐patient treatments, these immersion programmes produced an average of 191% greater reductions in per cent‐overweight at post‐treatment and 130% greater reduction at follow‐up. Furthermore, mean attrition rates were much lower when compared with standard out‐patient treatment. Inclusion of a cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) component seemed especially promising; follow‐up evaluations showed decreased per cent‐overweight at follow‐up by an average of 30% for CBT immersion programmes vs. 9% for programmes without CBT. Explanations for the potentially greater impact of immersion relative to out‐patient treatments are presented, including possibly differential effects on self‐efficacy for both children and their parents.
A rapid method to clinically assess the effect of an anti‐acne formulation
Authors: Muizzuddin N. , Maes D. H. , Mammone T. 
Published: January 2010

J. Cosmet. Sci., 60, 25–29 (January/February 2009) SynopsisHistorically, clinical evaluation of acne treatment has been based on direct visual assessment and the counting of lesions over a period of several weeks of treatment. However, with advancing technology there has been ever‐increasing speed in the effectiveness of these treatments. To successfully assess these faster treatments, acne pathology needs to be evaluated in a shorter time frame. The object of these studies was to develop techniques to evaluate individual acne lesions in a shorter time frame and to assess speedier treatment technologies. Ten healthy volunteers with acne lesions on their upper backs were recruited for the study. Two inflamed acne lesions were selected for each treatment, along with lesions to be left untreated, on each volunteer. Each lesion was marked, photographed, and visually graded. A skin surface microscope (Scopeman) was used to visualize size and to grade the lesions by two experts every day for five days. The sites were treated once a day for the course of the study. There was a remarkable reduction in the size and erythema of acne lesions after treatment with the acne formulation as compared to the untreated and vehicle‐treated lesions. Individual lesions, both treated and untreated, appeared resolved in 14 days. This resolution can be noticeably accelerated by topical treatments. We have developed a simple and faster clinical method to evaluate the effects of topical anti‐acne technology.
Dynamic mechanical study of hair viscoelasticity and softness
Authors: Gao T. 
Published: January 2010

IFSCC Magazine, 12 (2009) (2) 93–98Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) has been widely used to investigate material properties such as thermal transitions and complex modulus of polymers. Until now, only a few articles have been published to discuss applications of DMA in studying human hair and evaluating hair care products due to difficulties in handling hair samples. In DMA, a complex modulus (E*), an elastic (storage) modulus (E’) and an imaginary (loss) modulus (E’’) are determined which give a better characterization of viscoelastic properties of hair than regular tensile strength. A new DMA test methodology including a hair bundle preparation and sample clamping technique was developed and applied to study human hair samples. Effects of hair type (Caucasian vs. Asian), bleaching time, environmental relative humidity (RH), and cosmetic treatments on hair viscoelasticity and storage bending modulus/stiffness were investigated. Average complex modulus and Young's modulus of single hair fibers and storage bending modulus of hair bundles before and after cosmetic treatments at various relative humidity levels were determined. Subjective evaluations of hair soft feel by salon panelists were conducted and the results compared with those of objective measurements (changes in hair storage bending modulus). Keywords: Dynamic mechanical analysis, hair, viscoelasticity, softness, quaternium‐91This paper was presented at the 25th IFSCC Congress 2008, Barcelona, Spain
Sensitive skin syndrome in Portugal – A concise (social and demographic) Characterization of the Portuguese reality
Authors: Rodrigues L.M. , Diogo L. 
Published: January 2010

IFSCC Magazine, 12 (2009) (2) 107–110Reports from global markets suggest that the sensitive skin syndrome affects 50% of the population. Since there is currently no information on this condition in a small market like that in Portugal, the authors designed this descriptive cross‐sectional study to characterize this syndrome in this particular context. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire in the community pharmacies chosen for the study. A total of 333 questionnaires (n = 333) were validated, and 46% of the surveyed individuals described their skin as ‘sensitive’. Responders were predominantly women, the face was the most frequently mentioned area of the body affected, and environmental factors and contact were reported as the main causes of sensitivity. A wide variability in responses to irritation and in the relationship with previous pathological conditions was also found. Thus, the social and demographic pattern found here agrees with patient‐type profile previously reported for the sensitive skin syndrome.Keywords:  Sensitive skin, skin susceptibility, social‐demographic features, descriptive study, Portuguese market
Sodium dl‐α‐tocopheryl phosphate inhibits ultraviolet‐induced production of reactive nitrogen species in human keratinocytes
Authors: Nakama M. , Tanaka H. , Ishii I. , Nakata S. 
Published: January 2010

It has been well established that UV irradiation causes various kinds of photodamage in human skin. Skin photodamage is mainly caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, and singlet oxygen. Recently, it has been revealed that reactive nitrogen species (RNS), such as nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO−), are also an important consideration in UV‐irradiated human skin. Reactive nitrogen species cause several types of skin damage, for example erythema, darkening, disruption of epidermal barrier function, and psoriasis. Therefore, it is very important to control RNS production for beautiful skin to be maintained. However, RNS are indirectly measured by stable degradation products because their life is very short. In this present study, we attempted the direct observation of RNS production in human keratinocytes. As a result, we succeeded in direct measurement of real‐time UVB‐induced RNS production in human keratinocytes by using a RNS‐specific fluorescence probe. On the other hand, sodium dl‐α‐tocopheryl phosphate (VEP), a newly synthesized water‐soluble vitamin E derivative, inhibited UVB‐induced RNS production in human keratinocytes. Furthermore, we revealed that UVB‐induced neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) mediates RNS production in human keratinocytes. These results suggest that VEP is a useful ingredient for cosmetic products, and that VEP may protect the skin from several kinds of damage caused by UV‐induced RNS production.Key words:  sodium dl‐α‐tocopheryl phosphate (VEP), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite (ONOO−), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), RNS‐specific fluorescence probe, UV, keratinocytes, reactive oxygen species (ROS), skin photodamage.
A novel non‐invasive method for assessing interior skin damage caused by aging and photoaging
Authors: Kawabata (Kishi) M. , Tsuchiya J. , Yamakawa Y. , Miyamae Y. , Ozaki Y. 
Published: January 2010

The phenomenon of aging can broadly be categorized into photoaging caused by exogenous factors and physiological aging that is caused by endogenous factors. Our goal was to develop a non‐invasive way to assess changes taking place inside the skin for each type of aging, photoaging and physiological aging, by using near‐infrared diffuse reflectance (NIR‐DR) spectroscopy. For the photoaging and physiological aging effects, the outer forearm (sun‐exposed) and the inner upper arm (sun‐protected) skin areas were studied in eighty‐six females from twenty‐three to sixty‐nine years of age. Measurements were made using NIR‐DR and subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA); the results suggested the possibility of distinguishing and quantifying both types of aging taking place inside the skin by using the 1670–1820 nm and 2000–2230 nm regions of NIR‐DR spectra. In photoaging, structural changes in proteins occur which are reflected in the NIR‐DR spectra in the form of a peak shift near 2050 nm that is due to a combination of amide A and amide II. On the other hand, physiological aging is associated with a change in collagen quantity as is reflected in the portion of the NIR‐DR spectra assigned to protein. Using NIR‐DR and PCA, we discovered the possibility of using a non‐invasive method for assessing the degree of photoaging and physiological aging as degeneration and degradation.Key words:  photoaging, physiological aging, non‐invasive, NIR‐DR, PCA, peak shift, a combination of amide A and amide II, protein, degeneration, degradation.
Linkage Disequilibrium Pattern in Asthma Candidate Genes from 5q31‐q33 in the Singapore Chinese Population
Authors: Parate Pallavi N. , Wang De Yun , Chew Fook Tim 
Published: January 2010

SummaryStudies have shown linkage between microsatellite markers from the chromosome 5q31‐q33 region with asthma, atopy and total IgE levels in the Singapore Chinese population. However, subsequent case‐control studies failed to show association between the polymorphisms in the candidate genes from this region and asthma or related phenotypes. In this study, we investigated 20 asthma candidate genes from this region for all possible informative polymorphisms within our population, linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure and tagging SNP transferability from HapMap populations. We re‐sequenced these genes and identified 267 polymorphisms including 26 insertion‐deletions, four microsatellite markers and 237 single nucleotide polymorphisms. The region contained 17 distinct LD blocks with the largest within the serine peptidase inhibitor kazal type 5 (SPINK5) gene spanning 23 kb. Of the 267 polymorphisms identified, 40% are represented in HapMap Han Chinese from Beijing and 29% in Han Chinese from Denver. 72% of the polymorphisms can be represented by tagged SNPs from the HapMap Beijing Han Chinese population and are highly correlated in terms of minor allele frequencies and LD structure. Our data suggest that although the HapMap Han Chinese population from Beijing is very similar to the Singapore Chinese population, this similarity is insufficient to account for up to 28% of the polymorphisms in the local population.
Plant glutaredoxins: pivotal players in redox biology and iron–sulphur centre assembly
Authors: Rouhier Nicolas 
Published: January 2010

SummaryGlutaredoxins are small oxidoreductases structurally related to thioredoxins. They have two major proposed biochemical roles: the reduction of disulphide bonds and the binding of iron–sulphur clusters, both of which involve glutathione. The thiol‐disulphide reductase activity regulates the activity of target proteins, either metabolic enzymes or transcription factors, and also helps to regenerate thiol‐dependent antioxidant enzymes, namely thiol‐peroxidases and methionine sulphoxide reductases, which are key players for the plant response to environmental constraints. In photosynthetic organisms, glutaredoxins are distributed into six classes. Glutaredoxins from class II can exist either as apoforms, which display deglutathionylation activity, or as holoforms, which bind labile [2Fe–2S] clusters and seem to be required for iron–sulphur cluster assembly. This latter role is supported by the ability of the hologlutaredoxins to rapidly and efficiently transfer their clusters to apo‐proteins in vitro. It has been proposed that they can act either as scaffold proteins for the de novo synthesis of iron–sulphur clusters or as carrier proteins for the transfer and delivery of preassembled iron–sulphur clusters.
Online apparel shopping behaviour of South African professional women: the role of consumers' apparel shopping scripts
Authors: Jacobs Bertha , De Klerk Helena M. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the role that female consumers' apparel shopping scripts play in the adoption of the Internet for apparel purchasing from a social‐cognitive approach. In this study, the focus was on exploring the cognitive structures (shopping scripts) that consumers have and use to make decisions such as adopting the Internet for apparel purchasing. Rogers' adoption of an innovation model was used as theoretical framework for the study, and a social‐cognitive perspective theory (source) was incorporated into this model. A qualitative research strategy was adopted and 24 semi‐structured interviews were held with professional women living in a major city in South Africa. As a stimulus technique, the participants were asked to visit various apparel web sites. Data analysis was done according to the data analysis process proposed by Miles and Huberman. The participants explicitly mentioned that they currently value certain steps, actions and procedures such as touching and scrunching textiles as well as trying on the items before deciding to buy them. They indicated that their current purchasing practices played an important role in their considering whether to adopt the Internet or not. This study is one of the few that have used qualitative research methods to explore consumers' adoption of the Internet for apparel purchasing. The social‐cognitive approach used in this study enables retailers and marketers to study consumers' adoption processes from the consumer's perspective. A limitation of the study is that only professional women, from a homogeneous culture, residing in the same major city, were used as participants. This, however, does not give a representative view of South African online shopping behaviour or of that of a third world country. Future studies are needed, focusing on a more national as well as multicultural perspective.
A preliminary comparative analysis of 3D body scanner, manually taken girth body measurements and size chart measurements
Authors: Zwane Pinkie E. , Sithole Moses , Hunter Lawrance 
Published: January 2010

AbstractIn an attempt to provide a technological solution to the influx of cheap imports in South Africa and bridging the technology divide between Africa and the rest of the world, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research procured a three‐dimensional body scanner from the Textile and Clothing Technology Corporation, in the US. The pilot study was aimed at introducing the technology to the South African consumers, and to compare the scanned data with the manually taken measurements. A convenience sample of 56 females in South Africa was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Interviews were used to capture views on acceptance of the technology, prior to being scanned. Scanning garments made from a stretchy fabric were designed and sewn in four sizes of small, medium, large and extra large. A covariance, one sample t‐test and paired t‐ tests were used for data analyses. Almost all respondents felt comfortable with the designed scanning garments and the scanning process. The scanner measurements were generally more numerical in value than the manual measurements for a body part as expected, although the disparity was on the higher side than expected. The discernible difference between means of scanned data and standard values in the currently used sizing charts highlighted the long overdue need to update the sizing charts using a national anthropometric database generated locally.
Food choice: student consumers' decision‐making process regarding food products with limited label information
Authors: Van Der Merwe Daleen , Kempen Elizabeth L. , Breedt Sophia , De Beer Hanli 
Published: January 2010

AbstractFood label information theoretically facilitates consumer decision‐making and food choice, but the extent to which consumers actually use this information during decision‐making is a subject of considerable debate. Therefore, this study focused on the importance of label information in student consumers' decision‐making process when exposed to limited label information food in a cafeteria environment. Because of a paucity of research in this area, a qualitative research approach that was exploratory in nature was used, accompanied by semi‐structured interviewing and a vignette. Undergraduate students from the North‐West University, Potchefstroom Campus, in South Africa served as the target population. The findings suggest that internal and product‐related strategies are applied when food choices are made whereby the importance of label information only features in the latter strategy. Student consumers with a label interest were more inclined to use label information strategies in the absence of complete label information to base food choice on. Those with a lack of label interest made use of alternative strategies using product and personal‐related information, such as freshness and product knowledge to make decisions. The decision‐making process was more complex because of insufficient label information and product appearance, and thus previous experiences and habitual purchasing became more important to participants. Student consumers should be supported to make healthier food choices through food manufacturers supplying cafeteria products with more complete label information and by providing students with the knowledge to use label information correctly through educational programmes.