Effects of phosphates and citrate on sediment formation in UHT goats' milk

Sediment formation was investigated during UHT treatment of goats' milk, subjected to indirect treatment at 140 degrees C for 2 s, with upstream homogenisation. Stabilisers evaluated were sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), trisodium citrate (TSC), disodium hydrogen orthophosphate (DSHP), and sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate (SDHP). With no added stabiliser, goats' milk produced a heavy sediment on UHT treatment. Addition of SDHP reduced pH, had little effect on ionic calcium and did not substantially reduce sediment. However, addition of SHMP, DSHP and TSC each reduced ionic calcium, increased ethanol stability and reduced sediment. Following stabiliser additions, there was a good correlation between ethanol stability and ionic calcium (R-2=0.85) but not between ethanol stability and pH (R-2=0.08). Overall, reducing ionic calcium reduced the amount of sediment formed for all these three stabilisers, although there was no single trend line between sediment formation and ionic calcium concentration. Sediment formation was not well correlated with pH for TSC or for SHMP, but it was for DSHP, making it the only stabiliser where sediment formation correlated well both with ionic calcium and pH, which might account for its effectiveness at higher ionic calcium levels. Sediment was much reduced when the temperature was reduced from 140 degrees C to 125 degrees C and 114 degrees C. There were no further changes in sediment on storage for two weeks. Analysis of the sediment showed that it was predominantly fat and protein, with a mass ratio ranging between 1.43:1 and 1.67:1. Its mineral content was usually less than 5% of dry weight. The maximum amounts of P and Ca were found to be 2.32% and 1.63%, respectively.

Understanding the long term success of UK construction firms: the extent and role of 'hidden' corporate social responsibility

The construction sector is often described as lagging behind other major industries. At first this appears fair when considering the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It is argued that CSR is ill-defined, with firms struggling to make sense of and engage with it. Literature suggests that the short-termism view of construction firms renders the long-term, triple-bottom-line principle of CSR untenable. This seems to be borne out by literature indicating that construction firms typically adopt a compliance-based approach to CSR instead of discretionary CSR which is regarded as adding most value to firms and benefiting the broadest group of stakeholders. However, this research conducted in the UK using a regional construction firm offers a counter argument whereby discretionary CSR approaches are well embedded and enacted within the firms’ business operations even though they are not formally articulated as CSR strategies and thus remain 'hidden'. This raises questions in the current CSR debate. First, is ‘hidden’ CSR relevant to the long term success of construction firms? and to what extent do these firms need to reinvent themselves to formally take advantage of the CSR agenda?

The legitimacy of foreign investors: individual attitudes toward the impact of multinational enterprises

Purpose – This article aims to analyze individual attitudes toward the impact of multinational enterprises (MNEs) on local businesses. These individual attitudes are important in understanding voters' preferences, which studies show to affect governmental policies. MNEs' market entry location decisions are conditioned by the host's political environment. Moreover, MNEs' attempts to attain legitimacy in their host contexts ultimately affect their bottom line, so how the public perceive MNEs matters. Design/methodology/approach – Using a large-scale data set, the paper carefully delineates between a set of potential mechanisms influencing individual attitudes to globalization in the context of individuals' attitudes toward the impact of MNEs on local businesses. Findings – The article demonstrates that there is remarkable heterogeneity and complexity in individual attitudes toward the impact of MNEs on local businesses and that these attitudes differ across regions and across countries. It is found that better educated individuals, those employed in the private sector, and those who do not have nationalistic tendencies are more likely to consider that MNEs are not harming local firms, while the opposite holds for those who are employed in “less skilled” occupations, such as those working in plants or in elementary occupations. The article also provides evidence that individuals' attitudes are determined by more than the labor market calculations these individuals might have. In fact, the socializing influence of education and the socializing impact of the individuals' type/sector of occupation also significantly determine the individual attitudes under study. Originality/value – This area of research remains substantially under-developed in the literature that analyzes individual attitudes toward globalization, which focuses on individual attitudes toward trade and immigration. Thus, the article not only aims to broaden the work on individual attitudes toward globalization, but it also aims to facilitate further discussion on the specific topic of individual attitudes toward MNEs.

Auroral and plasma flow transients at magnetic noon

We present observations of a transient event in the dayside auroral ionosphere at magnetic noon. F-region plasma convection measurements were made by the EISCAT radar, operating in the beamswinging “Polar” experiment mode, and simultaneous observations of the dayside auroral emissions were made by optical meridian-scanning photometers and all-sky TV cameras at Ny Ålesund, Spitzbergen. The data were recorded on 9 January 1989, and a sequence of bursts of flow, with associated transient aurora, were observed between 08:45 and 11:00 U.T. In this paper we concentrate on an event around 09:05 U.T. because that is very close to local magnetic noon. The optical data show a transient intensification and widening (in latitude) of the cusp/cleft region, as seen in red line auroral emissions. Over an interval of about 10 min, the band of 630 nm aurora widened from about 1.5° of invariant latitude to over 5° and returned to its original width. Embedded within the widening band of 630 nm emissions were two intense, active 557.7 nm arc fragments with rays which persisted for about 2 min each. The flow data before and after the optical transient show eastward flows, with speeds increasing markedly with latitude across the band of 630 nm aurora. Strong, apparently westward, flows appeared inside the band while it was widening, but these rotated round to eastward, through northward, as the band shrunk to its original width. The observed ion temperatures verify that the flow speeds during the transient were, to a large extent, as derived using the beamswinging technique; but they also show that the flow increase initially occurred in the western azimuth only. This spatial gradient in the flow introduces ambiguity in the direction of these initial flows and they could have been north-eastward rather than westward. However, the westward direction derived by the beamswinging is consistent with the motion of the colocated and coincident active 557.7 nm arc fragment, A more stable transient 557.7 nm aurora was found close to the shear between the inferred westward flows and the persisting eastward flows to the North. Throughout the transient, northward flow was observed across the equatorward boundary of the 630 nm aurora. Interpretation of the data is made difficult by lack of IMF data, problems in distinguishing the cusp and cleft aurora and uncertainty over which field lines are open and which are closed. However, at magnetic noon there is a 50% probability that we were observing the cusp, in which case from its southerly location we infer that the IMF was southward and many features are suggestive of time-varying reconnection at a single X-line on the dayside magnetopause. This IMF orientation is also consistent with the polar rain precipitation observed simultaneously by the DMSP-F9 satellite in the southern polar cap. There is also a 25% chance that we were observing the cleft (or the mantle poleward of the cleft). In this case we infer that the IMF was northward and the transient is well explained by reconnection which is not only transient in time but occurs at various sites located randomly on the dayside magnetopause (i.e. patchy in space). Lastly, there is a 25% chance that we were observing the cusp poleward of the cleft, in which case we infer that IMF Bz was near zero and the transient is explained by a mixture of the previous two interpretations.

Second-life retailing: a reverse supply chain perspective

Purpose – The authors examine the role of entrepreneurial business models in the reverse supply chain of apparel/fashion retailers. The purpose of this paper is to offer an alternative approach to the “return to the point of origin” prevalent in the reverse chain of manufacturers but less technically and economically feasible in the case of apparel/fashion retailers. This approach, second-life retailing, not only reduces waste but also democratises consumption. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on an extensive literature review, semi-structured interviews with managers of two second-life retailers in Malaysia and observations of a number of stores. Findings – Using the Business Model Canvas, the authors demonstrate the essential characteristics of second-life retailers. Retailers in this study, unlike retailers in the developed world, combine traditional business models with off-price retailing. There is no clear demarcation between the forward and reverse supply chain used to manage first- and second-hand retailing. Practical implications – The paper demonstrates the potential of innovative business models in the reverse supply chain. It encourages managers to look beyond the “return to the point of origin” and seek imaginative alternatives. Such alternatives potentially could result in additional revenue, enhanced sustainability and democratisation of consumption meeting triple bottom line objectives. Originality/value – This paper highlights the importance and relevance of entrepreneurial business models in addressing the reverse supply chain, demonstrating this with the aid of two Malaysian off-price retailers. It also contributes to our nascent knowledge by focusing on emerging markets.

A GCSS model intercomparison for a tropical squall line observed during toga-coare. II: Intercomparison of single-column models and a cloud-resolving model

This paper presents single-column model (SCM) simulations of a tropical squall-line case observed during the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment of the Tropical Ocean/Global Atmosphere Programme. This case-study was part of an international model intercomparison project organized by Working Group 4 ‘Precipitating Convective Cloud Systems’ of the GEWEX (Global Energy and Water-cycle Experiment) Cloud System Study. Eight SCM groups using different deep-convection parametrizations participated in this project. The SCMs were forced by temperature and moisture tendencies that had been computed from a reference cloud-resolving model (CRM) simulation using open boundary conditions. The comparison of the SCM results with the reference CRM simulation provided insight into the ability of current convection and cloud schemes to represent organized convection. The CRM results enabled a detailed evaluation of the SCMs in terms of the thermodynamic structure and the convective mass flux of the system, the latter being closely related to the surface convective precipitation. It is shown that the SCMs could reproduce reasonably well the time evolution of the surface convective and stratiform precipitation, the convective mass flux, and the thermodynamic structure of the squall-line system. The thermodynamic structure simulated by the SCMs depended on how the models partitioned the precipitation between convective and stratiform. However, structural differences persisted in the thermodynamic profiles simulated by the SCMs and the CRM. These differences could be attributed to the fact that the total mass flux used to compute the SCM forcing differed from the convective mass flux. The SCMs could not adequately represent these organized mesoscale circulations and the microphysicallradiative forcing associated with the stratiform region. This issue is generally known as the ‘scale-interaction’ problem that can only be properly addressed in fully three-dimensional simulations. Sensitivity simulations run by several groups showed that the time evolution of the surface convective precipitation was considerably smoothed when the convective closure was based on convective available potential energy instead of moisture convergence. Finally, additional SCM simulations without using a convection parametrization indicated that the impact of a convection parametrization in forced SCM runs was more visible in the moisture profiles than in the temperature profiles because convective transport was particularly important in the moisture budget.

The influence of bottom topography on the decay of modeled Agulhas rings

The influence of a large meridional submarine ridge on the decay of Agulhas rings is investigated with a 1 and 2-layer setup of the isopycnic primitive-equation ocean model MICOM. In the single-layer case we show that the SSH decay of the ring is primarily governed by bottom friction and secondly by the radiation of Rossby waves. When a topographic ridge is present, the effect of the ridge on SSH decay and loss of tracer from the ring is negligible. However, the barotropic ring cannot pass the ridge due to energy and vorticity constraints. In the case of a two-layer ring the initial SSH decay is governed by a mixed barotropic–baroclinic instability of the ring. Again, radiation of barotropic Rossby waves is present. When the ring passes the topographic ridge, it shows a small but significant stagnation of SSH decay, agreeing with satellite altimetry observations. This is found to be due to a reduction of the growth rate of the m = 2 instability, to conversions of kinetic energy to the upper layer, and to a decrease in Rossby-wave radiation. The energy transfer is related to the fact that coherent structures in the lower layer cannot pass the steep ridge due to energy constraints. Furthermore, the loss of tracer from the ring through filamentation is less than for a ring moving over a flat bottom, related to a decrease in propagation speed of the ring. We conclude that ridges like the Walvis Ridge tend to stabilize a multi-layer ring and reduce its decay.

The isolation of a single spore isolate of Pasteuria penetrans and its pathogenicity on Meloidogyne javanica

We have obtained a single spore isolate of Pasteuria penetrans, derived by allowing a single spore to attach to a second-stage juvenile (J2) of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. By analysing DNA sequences at three different loci we have obtained evidence that the isolate is, indeed, genetically pure. We compared the ability of the single spore isolate and the parent population from which it was selected to attach to and parasitise both the original population of M. javanica on which it was isolated and a single egg mass line derived from it. There was no difference in the attachment of spores of the single spore isolate to juveniles compared to the parental population, although there were higher numbers of both attaching to J2 of the single egg mass line compared to its parental population. Judging from the numbers of egg masses and Pasteuria-infected females, the single spore isolate was less pathogenic to the parental population of M. javanica than was the parental spore population.

The kinetics of the 2π+2π photodimerisation reactions of single-crystalline derivatives of trans-cinnamic acid: a study by infrared microspectroscopy

The kinetics of the photodimerisation reactions of the 2- and 4-β-halogeno-derivatives of trans-cinnamic acid (where the halogen is fluorine, chlorine or bromine) have been investigated by infrared microspectroscopy. It is found that none of the reactions proceed to 100% yield. This is in line with a reaction mechanism developed by Wernick and his co-workers that postulates the formation of isolated monomers within the solid, which cannot react. β-4-Bromo and β-4-chloro-trans-cinnamic acids show approximately first order kinetics, although in both cases the reaction accelerates somewhat as it proceeds. First order kinetics is explained in terms of a reaction between one excited- and one ground-state monomer molecule, while the acceleration of the reaction implies that it is promoted as defects are formed within the crystal. By contrast β-2-chloro-trans-cinnamic acid shows a strongly accelerating reaction which models closely to the contracting cube equation. β-2-Fluoro- and β-4-fluoro-trans-cinnamic acids show a close match to first order kinetics. The 4-fluoro-derivative, however, shows a reaction that proceeds via a structural intermediate. The difference in behaviour between the 2-fluoro- and 4-fluoro-derivative may be due to different C–HF hydrogen bonds observed within these single-crystalline starting materials.

Comparison of bottom-up protein identification methods

With the rapid development of proteomics, a number of different methods appeared for the basic task of protein identification. We made a simple comparison between a common liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) workflow using an ion trap mass spectrometer and a combined LC-MS and LC-MS/MS method using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry and accurate peptide masses. To compare the two methods for protein identification, we grew and extracted proteins from E. coli using established protocols. Cystines were reduced and alkylated, and proteins digested by trypsin. The resulting peptide mixtures were separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography using a 4 h gradient from 0 to 50% acetonitrile over a C18 reversed-phase column. The LC separation was coupled on-line to either a Bruker Esquire HCT ion trap or a Bruker 7 tesla APEX-Qe Qh-FTICR hybrid mass spectrometer. Data-dependent Qh-FTICR-MS/MS spectra were acquired using the quadrupole mass filter and collisionally induced dissociation into the external hexapole trap. Proteins were in both schemes identified by Mascot MS/MS ion searches and the peptides identified from these proteins in the FTICR MS/MS data were used for automatic internal calibration of the FTICR-MS data, together with ambient polydimethylcyclosiloxane ions.

Rhythmic behavior of social insects from single to multibody

Revealing the evolution of well-organized social behavior requires understanding a mechanism by which collective behavior is produced. A well-organized group may be produced by two possible mechanisms, namely, a central control and a distributed control. In the second case, local interactions between interchangeable components function at the bottom of the collective behavior. We focused on a simple behavior of an individual ant and analyzed the interactions between a pair of ants. In an experimental set-up, we placed the workers in a hemisphere without a nest, food, and a queen, and recorded their trajectories. The temporal pattern of velocity of each ant was obtained. From this bottom-up approach, we found the characteristic behavior of a single worker and a pair of workers as follows: (1) Activity of each individual has a rhythmic component. (2) Interactions between a pair of individuals result in two types of coupling, namely the anti-phase and the in-phase coupling. The direct physical contacts between the pair of workers might cause a phase shift of the rhythmic components in individual ants. We also build up a simple model based on the coupled oscillators toward the understanding of the whole colony behavior.

Analysis and modeling of ants’ behavior from single to multi-body

In order to shed light on the collective behavior of social insects, we analyzed the behavior of ants from single to multi-body. In an experimental set-up, ants are placed in hemisphere without a nest and food. Trajectory of ants is recorded. From this bottom-up approach, we found that collective behavior of ants as follows: 1. Activity of single ant increases and decreases periodically. 2. Spontaneous meeting process is observed between two ants and meeting spot of two ants is localized in hemisphere. 3. Result on division of labor is obtained between two ants.

Heterozygosity and diversity analysis using mapped single nucelotide polymorphisms in a faba bean inbreeding programme

The aim of this study was to convert existing faba bean (Vicia faba L.) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from cleaved amplification polymorphic sequences and SNaPshot® formats, which are expensive and time-consuming, to the more convenient KBiosciences competitive allele‐specific PCR (KASP) assay format. Out of 80 assays designed, 75 were validated, though a core set of 67 of the most robust markers is recommended for further use. The 67 best KASP SNP assays were used across two generations of single seed descent to detect unintended outcrossing and to track and quantify loss of heterozygosity, a capability that will significantly increase the efficiency and performance of pure line production and maintenance. This same set of assays was also used to examine genetic relationships between the 67 members of the partly inbred panel, and should prove useful for line identification and diversity studies in the future.