bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns and biases in climate change research on amphibians and reptiles: a systematic review
Authors: Winter Maiken , Fiedler Wolfgang , Hochachka Wesley M. , Koehncke Arnulf , Meiri Shai , De la Riva Ignacio
Published: September 2016

Climate change probably has severe impacts on animal populations, but demonstrating a causal link can be difficult because of potential influences by additional factors. Assessing global impacts of climate change effects may also be hampered by narrow taxonomic and geographical research foci. We review studies on the effects of climate change on populations of amphibians and reptiles to assess climate change effects and potential biases associated with the body of work that has been conducted within the last decade. We use data from 104 studies regarding the effect of climate on 313 species, from 464 species–study combinations. Climate change effects were reported in 65% of studies. Climate change was identified as causing population declines or range restrictions in half of the cases. The probability of identifying an effect of climate change varied among regions, taxa and research methods. Climatic effects were equally prevalent in studies exclusively investigating climate factors (more than 50% of studies) and in studies including additional factors, thus bolstering confidence in the results of studies exclusively examining effects of climate change. Our analyses reveal biases with respect to geography, taxonomy and research question, making global conclusions impossible. Additional research should focus on under-represented regions, taxa and questions. Conservation and climate policy should consider the documented harm climate change causes reptiles and amphibians.
A novelMC1Rallele for black coat colour reveals the Polynesian ancestry and hybridization patterns of Hawaiian feral pigs
Authors: Linderholm Anna , Spencer Daisy , Battista Vincent , Frantz Laurent , Barnett Ross , Fleischer Robert C. , James Helen F. , Duffy Dave , Sparks Jed P. , Clements David R. , Andersson Leif , Dobney Keith , Leonard Jennifer A. , Larson Greger
Published: September 2016

Pigs (Sus scrofa) have played an important cultural role in Hawaii since Polynesians first introduced them in approximately AD 1200. Additional varieties of pigs were introduced following Captain Cook's arrival in Hawaii in 1778 and it has been suggested that the current pig population may descend primarily, or even exclusively, from European pigs. Although populations of feral pigs today are an important source of recreational hunting on all of the major islands, they also negatively impact native plants and animals. As a result, understanding the origins of these feral pig populations has significant ramifications for discussions concerning conservation management, identity and cultural continuity on the islands. Here, we analysed a neutral mitochondrial marker and a functional nuclear coat colour marker in 57 feral Hawaiian pigs. Through the identification of a new mutation in theMC1Rgene that results in black coloration, we demonstrate that Hawaiian feral pigs are mostly the descendants of those originally introduced during Polynesian settlement, though there is evidence for some admixture. As such, extant Hawaiian pigs represent a unique historical lineage that is not exclusively descended from feral pigs of European origin.
Why Darwin would have loved evolutionary game theory
Authors: Brown Joel S.
Published: September 2016

Humans have marvelled at the fit of form and function, the way organisms' traits seem remarkably suited to their lifestyles and ecologies. While natural selection provides the scientific basis for the fit of form and function, Darwin found certain adaptations vexing or particularly intriguing: sex ratios, sexual selection and altruism. The logic behind these adaptations resides in frequency-dependent selection where the value of a given heritable phenotype (i.e. strategy) to an individual depends upon the strategies of others. Game theory is a branch of mathematics that is uniquely suited to solving such puzzles. While game theoretic thinking enters into Darwin's arguments and those of evolutionists through much of the twentieth century, the tools of evolutionary game theory were not available to Darwin or most evolutionists until the 1970s, and its full scope has only unfolded in the last three decades. As a consequence, game theory is applied and appreciated rather spottily. Game theory not only applies to matrix games and social games, it also applies to speciation, macroevolution and perhaps even to cancer. I assert that life and natural selection are a game, and that game theory is the appropriate logic for framing and understanding adaptations. Its scope can include behaviours within species, state-dependent strategies (such as male, female and so much more), speciation and coevolution, and expands beyond microevolution to macroevolution. Game theory clarifies aspects of ecological and evolutionary stability in ways useful to understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics, niche construction and ecosystem engineering. In short, I would like to think that Darwin would have found game theory uniquely useful for his theory of natural selection. Let us see why this is so.
Learned parasite avoidance is driven by host personality and resistance to infection in a fish–trematode interaction
Authors: Klemme Ines , Karvonen Anssi
Published: September 2016

Cognitive abilities related to the assessment of risk improve survival. While earlier studies have examined the ability of animals to learn to avoid predators, learned parasite avoidance has received little interest. In a series of behavioural trials with the trematode parasiteDiplostomum pseudospathaceum, we asked whether sea trout (Salmo trutta trutta) hosts show associative learning in the context of parasitism and if so, whether learning capacity is related to the likelihood of infection mediated through host personality and resistance. We show that animals are capable of learning to avoid visual cues associated with the presence of parasites. However, avoidance behaviour ceased after the likely activation of host resistance following consecutive exposures during learning, suggesting that resistance to infection outweighs avoidance. Further, we found a positive relationship between learning ability and boldness, suggesting a compensation of risky lifestyles through increased investment in cognitive abilities. By contrast, an increased risk of infection due to low resistance was not balanced by learning ability. Instead, these traits were positively related, which may be explained by inherent physiological qualities controlling both traits. Overall, the results demonstrate that parasitism, in addition to other biological interactions such as predation, is an important selective factor in the evolution of animal cognition.
Genome-wide binding of posterior HOXA/D transcription factors reveals subgrouping and association with CTCF
Authors: Jerković Ivana , Ibrahim Daniel M. , Andrey Guillaume , Haas Stefan , Hansen Peter , Janetzki Catrin , Navarrete Irene González , Robinson Peter N. , Hecht Jochen , Mundlos Stefan
Published: September 2016

Homeotic genes code for key transcription factors (HOX-TFs) that pattern the animal body plan. During embryonic development, Hox genes are expressed in overlapping patterns and function in a partially redundant manner.In vitrobiochemical screens probing the HOX-TF sequence specificity revealed largely overlapping sequence preferences, indicating that co-factors might modulate the biological function of HOX-TFs. However, due to their overlapping expression pattern, high protein homology, and insufficiently specific antibodies, little is known about their genome-wide binding preferences. In order to overcome this problem, we virally expressed tagged versions of limb-expressed posterior Hox genes (Hoxa9-13, andHoxd9-13) in primary mesenchymal limb progenitor cells (micromass). We determined the effect of each HOX-TF on cellular differentiation (chondrogenesis) and gene expression and found that groups of HOX-TFs induce distinct regulatory programs. We used ChIP-seq to determine their individual genome-wide binding profiles and identified between 12,540 and 27,466 binding sites for each of the nine HOX-TFs. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of binding profiles revealed that the HOX-TFs are clustered in two subgroups (Group 1: HOXA/D9, HOXA/D10, HOXD12, and HOXA13 and Group 2: HOXA/D11 and HOXD13), which are characterized by differences in their sequence specificity and by the presence of cofactor motifs. Specifically, we identified CTCF binding sites in Group 1, indicating that this subgroup of HOX-proteins cooperates with CTcf. We confirmed this interaction by an independent biological assay (proximity ligation assay) and showed that CTCF is a novel HOX cofactor that specifically associates with Group 1 HOX-TFs, pointing towards a possible interplay between HOX-TFs and chromatin architecture.
Integrative classification of human coding and non-coding genes based on RNA metabolism profiles
Authors: Mukherjee Neelanjan , Calviello Lorenzo , Hirsekorn Antje , de Pretis Stefano , Pelizzola Mattia , Ohler Uwe
Published: September 2016

The pervasive transcription of the human genome results in a heterogeneous mix of coding and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Only a small fraction of lncRNAs possess demonstrated regulatory functions, making it difficult to distinguish functional lncRNAs from non-functional transcriptional byproducts. This has resulted in numerous competing classifications of human lncRNA that are complicated by a steady increase in the number of annotated lncRNAs.

To address these challenges, we quantitatively examined transcription, splicing, degradation, localization and translation for coding and non-coding human genes. Annotated lncRNAs had lower synthesis and higher degradation rates than mRNAs, and we discovered mechanistic differences explaining the slower splicing of lncRNAs. We grouped genes into classes with similar RNA metabolism profiles. These classes contained both mRNAs and lncRNAs to varying degrees; they exhibited distinct relationships between steps of RNA metabolism, evolutionary patterns, and sensitivity to cellular RNA regulatory pathways. Our classification provides a behaviorally-coherent alternative to genomic context-driven annotations of lncRNAs.

Highlights

High-resolution 4SU pulse labeling of RNA allows for quantifying synthesis, processing and decay rates across thousands of coding and non-coding transcripts.

Synthesis and processing rates of lncRNAs are lower than mRNAs, while degradation rates were substantially higher

Differences in the splicing efficiency between slow/lncRNA and fast/mRNA introns are explained by GC-content, splicing regulatory elements and unphosphorylated RNA poll II.

A new annotation-agnostic classification of RNAs reveals seven clusters of lncRNAs and mRNAs with unique metabolism patterns that provides behaviorally coherent subsets of lncRNAs.

Classes are distinguished by evolutionary patterns and sensitivity to cellular RNA regulatory pathways.
Predicting the impact of non-coding variants on DNA methylation
Authors: Zeng Haoyang , Gifford David K.
Published: September 2016

DNA methylation plays a crucial role in the establishment of tissue-specific gene expression and the regulation of key biological processes. However, our present inability to predict the effect of genome sequence variation on DNA methylation precludes a comprehensive assessment of the consequences of non-coding variation. We introduce CpGenie, a sequence-based framework that learns a regulatory code of DNA methylation using a deep convolutional neural network and uses this network to predict the impact of sequence variation on proximal CpG site DNA methylation. CpGenie produces allele-specific DNA methylation prediction with single-nucleotide sensitivity that enables accurate prediction of methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTL). We demonstrate that CpGenie prioritizes validated GWAS SNPs, and contributes to the prediction of functional non-coding variants, including expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and disease-associated mutations. CpGenie is publicly available to assist in identifying and interpreting regulatory non-coding variants.
SVScore: An Impact Prediction Tool For Structural Variation
Authors: Ganel Liron , Abel Haley J. , Hall Ira M.
Published: September 2016

Motivation

Structural variation (SV) is an important and diverse source of human genome variation. Over the past several years, much progress has been made in the area of SV detection, but predicting the functional impact of SVs discovered in whole genome sequencing (WGS) studies remains extremely challenging. Accurate SV impact prediction is especially important for WGS-based rare variant association studies and studies of rare disease.

Results

Here we present SVScore, a computational tool forin silicoSV impact prediction. SVScore aggregates existing per-base single nucleotide polymorphism pathogenicity scores across relevant genomic intervals for each SV in a manner that considers variant type, gene features, and uncertainty in breakpoint location. We show that in a Finnish cohort, the allele frequency spectrum of SVs with high impact scores is strongly skewed toward lower frequencies, suggesting that these variants are under purifying selection. We further show that SVScore identifies deleterious variants more effectively than naïve alternative methods. Finally, our results indicate that high-scoring tandem duplications may be under surprisingly strong selection relative to high-scoring deletions, suggesting that duplications may be more deleterious than previously thought. In conclusion, SVScore provides pathogenicity prediction for SVs that is both informative and meaningful for understanding their functional role in disease.

Availability

SVScore is implemented in Perl and available freely at {{http://www.github.com/lganel/SVScore}} for use under the MIT license.

Contact

ihall@wustl.edu

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available atBioinformaticsonline.
Grana-Localized Proteins, RIQ1 and RIQ2, Affect the Organization of Light-Harvesting Complex II and Grana Stacking in Arabidopsis
Authors: Yokoyama Ryo , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Kondo Maki , Takeda Satomi , Ifuku Kentaro , Fukao Yoichiro , Kamei Yasuhiro , Nishimura Mikio , Shikanai Toshiharu
Published: September 2016

Grana are stacked thylakoid membrane structures in land plants that contain PSII and light-harvesting complex II proteins (LHCIIs). We isolated two Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, reduced induction of non-photochemical quenching1 (riq1) and riq2, in which stacking of grana was enhanced. The curvature thylakoid 1a (curt1a) mutant was previously shown to lack grana structure. In riq1 curt1a, the grana were enlarged with more stacking, and in riq2 curt1a, the thylakoids were abnormally stacked and aggregated. Despite having different phenotypes in thylakoid structure, riq1, riq2, and curt1a showed a similar defect in the level of nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (NPQ). In riq curt1a double mutants, NPQ induction was more severely affected than in either single mutant. In riq mutants, state transitions were inhibited and the PSII antennae were smaller than in wild-type plants. The riq defects did not affect NPQ induction in the chlorophyll b-less mutant. RIQ1 and RIQ2 are paralogous and encode uncharacterized grana thylakoid proteins, but despite the high level of identity of the sequence, the functions of RIQ1 and RIQ2 were not redundant. RIQ1 is required for RIQ2 accumulation, and the wild-type level of RIQ2 did not complement the NPQ and thylakoid phenotypes in riq1. We propose that RIQ proteins link the grana structure and organization of LHCIIs.
Allyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranoside
Authors: Curran Hannah , Zhang Chenyao , Piro Nicholas A. , Kassel W. Scott , Giuliano Robert M.
Published: September 2016

The protected glycoside of 2-amino-2-deoxyglucose (glucosamine), namely allyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranoside, C23H25NO10, was synthesized from the glycosyl bromide. Crystallographic analysis confirmed the β-anomeric configuration and showed an approximately orthogonal orientation of the phthalimido group with respect to the pyranose ring. The absolute configuration of the molecule was known from the synthetic route and assigned accordingly.
Gap analysis of green features in condominiums between potential homeowners and real estate agents
Authors: Low Sui Pheng , Gao Shang , Teo Ling Ling Grace
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The building sector is one of the main contributors to carbon dioxide emissions in Singapore. Over 90 per cent of life-cycle carbon emissions are due to the operations phase of buildings, and 90 to 98 per cent of the building cost is associated with operation, maintenance and personnel costs. Hence, occupants have a major role in achieving environmental sustainability objectives. This study aims to understand the awareness level of potential homeowners and real estate agents concerning environmental sustainability issues in the built environment, to identify the types of green features required by potential homeowners and to understand real estate agents’ perceptions of the types of green features required by the homeowners in a green condominium.

Design/methodology/approach

The features of the Green Mark (GM)-awarded buildings, as well as the benefits derived by homeowners were identified from the literature. A survey of a group of potential homeowners and real estate agents was carried out in Singapore to analyse the gap, if any, between the potential homeowners’ needs and expectations and real estate agents’ perceptions of these needs and expectations with respect to the green features in the homes.

Findings

The results indicate that potential homeowners are more aware of environmental sustainability issues in the built environment than are real estate agents; potential homeowners seem to be more supportive of environmentally sustainable development than the real estate agents are aware of, despite the fact that the price of the apartment remains an important deciding factor; and potential homeowners are more concerned about the ease of maintaining green homes and paying greater attention to green features in the areas most heavily promoted by the government. However, green features do not constitute the main considerations of potential homeowners when making the decision to buy a green home.

Research limitations/implications

To close the gaps identified in the analysis, recommendations are suggested, including having public education and awareness campaigns to emphasize the long-term energy savings of green homes, conducting GM courses for real estate agents and involving real estate agents in the developers’ project consultancy team.

Originality/value

As there has been no prior research in this area, this study serves to provide fresh perspectives on how developers can better select the types of green features to be included in the green homes, so as to meet the potential homeowners’ needs and expectations and, at the same time, balance mandatory GM requirements with such demands. Choosing the right type of green features to incorporate in a residential development for homeowners to utilize increases the owners’ satisfaction level and allows them to reap the intended benefits of green features.
The critical factors of shopping malls in urban complexes in China
Authors: Hui Eddie C.M. , Ning Ning , Chan Ka Kwan Kevin
Published: September 2016

Purpose

As the Chinese Government is planning to transform the economy from an export-oriented economy into a consumption-oriented economy, the impact of Chinese consumers to the economy will become more and more important. However, there is a lack of literature on Chinese consumers’ behavior and the critical factors of shopping malls in China. Hence, this study aims to determine the critical factors of a shopping mall in an urban complex in China from customers’ perspective, using Nanjing Wanda Plaza as an example for our case study.

Design/methodology/approach

This study carries out ranking analysis and factor analysis to determine the critical factors of the shopping mall. Then cluster analysis is applied to divide the customers into three segments, showing the importance of each factor to different customer segments. Furthermore, correspondence analysis is conducted to investigate the relationship between customer segments and customer characteristics (gender, occupation, age and income). This method can show how customer characteristics affect the critical factors of the shopping mall.

Findings

Sensual enjoyable shoppers consider the “soft factors” to be superior to the “hard factors”, whereas the pragmatic shoppers are just the opposite.

Originality/value

This study can serve as a useful reference for developers in designing shopping malls in urban complexes to attract more customers.
Is sustainability knowledge half the battle?
Authors: Heeren Alexander John , Singh Ajay S. , Zwickle Adam , Koontz Tomas M. , Slagle Kristina M. , McCreery Anna C.
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of sustainability knowledge to pro-environmental behaviour. A common misperception is that unsustainable behaviours are largely driven by a lack of knowledge of the underlying societal costs and the contributing factors leading to environmental degradation. Such a perception assumes if individuals “only knew better” they would engage in more sustainable behaviours. The “knowledge deficit model” has been critiqued for not including social psychological research about how knowledge is incorporated into decision-making and its subsequent effect on human behaviour. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model has been used extensively to examine intention to engage in a variety of behaviours, therefore this model is applied to examine the effect knowledge has in predicting behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

To better understand these relationships, the authors examined the relationships between sustainability behaviours through an online survey of over 500 students at a large university in the USA.

Findings

Results indicate that knowledge had a significant, albeit weak, bivariate correlation with behaviour (r= 0.113,p< 0.001). However, when controlling for TPB variables (attitudes, norms and perceived behavioural control), knowledge was not a significant predictor of behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

The authors conclude with several implications to guide university sustainability programmes.

Originality/value

This study places sustainable knowledge in the context of other social psychological factors which also influence behaviour. The results show that as the students are educated about sustainability, fostering behaviour change will require education not only about how actions affect sustainability but also about social norms, attitudes towards sustainable behaviours and the level of self-efficacy in doing those behaviours.
Assessing sustainability teaching and learning in geography education
Authors: Widener Jeffrey M. , Gliedt Travis , Tziganuk Ashlee
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This study aims to understand if geographers, who teach in a new sustainability program, are conveying new knowledge, understanding, skills and competence about the integrated and holistic concept of “sustainability”, rather than individual human-environmental issues to the students. In other words, are geography professors creating effective sustainability courses in a department with a rich history in geography education?

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes the McKeown–Ice and Dendinger comprehensive assessment tool for sustainability teaching to examine how geographers teach sustainability from an integrated and holistic perspective. Surveys with students are used to evaluate and compare how effective three geography courses were at teaching sustainability.

Findings

The results suggest that each course was effective in teaching students the main concepts of sustainability. There were, however, differences in teaching practical solutions to achieve sustainability and in the coverage of the causes of sustainability problems. Geographers might consider altering their curriculum or pedagogy to build stronger interdisciplinary linkages to teach the integrated concepts of sustainability rather than its individual parts.

Research limitations/implications

This initial study focuses on one research university in the USA. Its proof of concept will be expanded to evaluate international sustainability education programs nested in existing departments and degree programs.

Originality/value

Sustainability education programs are being created across the globe and are often attached to existing degree programs exhibiting components of sustainability. How effective are they in teaching this interdisciplinary concept? This study validates a framework for assessing sustainability teaching and learning. It recommends changes to enhance the ability for integrated sustainability education programs to comprehensively teach sustainability.
A collaborative programme in sustainability and social responsibility
Authors: Albareda Tiana Silvia , Alférez Villarreal Azul
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to collect methodological strategies used in the training of future teachers to develop competences in sustainability and social responsibility (SSR). The proposal in this paper is to show how students learn and develop competences by performing practical activities and through a collaborative experience, conducted in a real-life context in the university campus.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper collects together a selection of competences and sub-competences in SSR, together with the methodological scenarios that allowed their implementation. The results in the acquisition of competences, as well as the efficiency of the methodological strategies employed, were obtained from the qualitative analysis of student questionnaires and of their final academic results.

Findings

Changing the teaching methods to include collaborative methodological strategies facilitates the acquisition of SSR competences.

Research limitations/implications

A methodological limitation of this study is the fact that it has taken place in one academic year. The authors realize that to provide evidence of a profound behavioural change (which goes beyond the improvement of a habit), there is a need to carry out a longer study, which is complex when working with final year students. The authors are suggesting that the University carry out prolonged studies on the implementation and assessment of competences in SSR in the University and afterwards in the work place.

Practical implications

At the start of the course year, a problem was identified, namely, that future teachers lacked sustainable habit patterns. This was turned into a learning opportunity that led to a collaborative SSR programme on the campus.

Social implications

Creating varied practical methodological scenarios has contributed to the development of SSR competences by the pupils. Students have questioned their lifestyles and have modified their consumption habits. Additionally, doing a transdisciplinary collaborative programme in our own campus has played a part in changing our organization for the better and has facilitated combining research and teaching.

Originality/value

This paper helps clarify how SSR competences can be developed in a local, real-life context.
Hospital discharge: lost opportunities to promote or maintain older people’s mental health
Authors: Macmillan Tarran Haskey
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of hospital discharge on the wider wellbeing of older people, drawing out implications this can have on mental health.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on research from the Healthwatch England Special Inquiry into hospital discharge. The paper focuses on the experiences of 1,300 older people, with the majority of the research being undertaken by the local Healthwatch network. The 58 local Healthwatch who submitted evidence on the experiences of older people as part of the inquiry were autonomous in how they were able to carry out the research, with results being analysed through use of a qualitative framework.

Findings

Older people often felt they were not ready for discharge due to not feeling involved in planning of their discharge, being discharged without the information they need and having difficulties accessing aftercare support. This paper examines the impact these issues can have on the mental health and wellbeing of older people, their carers and specifically patients with dementia both during and after discharge from hospital. Through examination of these issues the discharge process can be viewed from the perspective of the individual, and start to conceptualise where the hospital discharge process could further support older people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Research limitations/implications

This paper examines these issues in detail through case studies collected regarding older people, and exposes the impact poor discharge can have on physical and mental wellbeing for older patients. The paper presents a number of issues which have implications for policy and practice in both health and social care, and the integration of the two services.

Originality/value

This is the first Special Inquiry conducted by Healthwatch England in conjunction with the local Healthwatch network and presents a large scale piece of research led by the experiences of older people.
Using personal narratives to explore multiple identities in organisational contexts
Authors: Kourti Isidora
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and incorporate personal narratives as a new methodological tool into the qualitative research of complex organisational issues such as identity. Particularly, this study provides a fresh methodological perspective on organisational identity exploration by using personal narratives to examine multiple identities that occur in dynamic organisational contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to examine multiple identities, personal narratives found in the 43 semi-structured in-depth interviews collected were analysed. These narratives were examined following a textual and performative analysis.

Findings

The paper furthers methodological discussions in organisations in three ways. First, it responds to the need for a methodological approach that allows multiple identity exploration in organisations while it presents personal narratives as a valuable methodological perspective within organisational research. Second, it extends the methodological use of personal narratives for the in-depth qualitative study of complex organisational issues such as identity. Finally, the study stretches the boundaries of mainstream organisational research by illustrating that personal narratives can be used as a methodological approach to explore organisational identities.

Originality/value

This research integrates personal narratives as a methodological tool into the qualitative research of dynamic organisational issues. Employing personal narratives has allowed the exploration of multiple identities that take place in organisations in a manner not previously achieved in organisational studies. The study, therefore, challenges previous organisational research and expands the boundaries of organisational identity studies, offering a new qualitative methodological account for identity exploration in organisations.
Self-initiated expatriation: changing the ontological and methodological box
Authors: McKenna Steve , Richardson Julia
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer an ontological and methodological alternative to the functionalist paradigm which currently dominates study of the self-initiated expatriate (SIE). It argues conceptually, and with a practical example, that actor-network theory (ANT) offers an alternative way forward. While the functionalist study of SIE seeks to generate knowledge of value to organizations, ANT seeks to produce practical knowledge from the viewpoint of the SIE(s).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper critiques the dominant functionalist approach to the study of SIE through ANT. A case history of a geographically mobile professional is offered to support the use of ANT as an ontological and methodological alternative in this field.

Findings

By following the actors through their own stories of mobility the authors argue that it is possible to offer alternative ways of investigating and understanding mobility. In particular, actors enact mobility in unique ways as they move and are, therefore, not easily categorized and in singular classifications, such as the “SIE.”

Originality/value

The study of SIE is an important emerging field of expatriate research. It is currently dominated by the functionalist paradigm. The paper offers an alternative ontological and methodological approach to the study of this field through the use of ANT. In this sense the authors challenge the developing dominant discourse of functionalism currently driving research on this topic.
Treatment satisfaction, willingness to pay and quality of life in Japanese patients with psoriasis
Authors: Masaki Saori , Tatsukawa Ryoko , Uryu Miki , Takahara Masakazu , Furue Masutaka , Ohata Chika , Nakama Takekuni , Hino Ryosuke , Nakamura Motonobu , Nakayama Juichiro , Imafuku Shinichi
Published: September 2016

There is a range of psoriasis treatments available, from topical applications to biologic therapy, with corresponding cost variations. The efficacy of each treatment is usually evaluated by objective measures such as the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) or subjective measures such as the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). However, the social and economic impacts of psoriasis, including cost‐effectiveness, have not been assessed in Japan. The EuroQol 5‐Dimension (EQ‐5D) is a generic instrument used worldwide to calculate quality‐adjusted life years, on which calculations of treatment cost‐effectiveness are based. We conducted a pilot study to determine the cost‐effectiveness of psoriasis treatment in Japan. We administered a questionnaire to 133 patients with psoriasis (105 men and 28 women) who visited four university hospitals in Fukuoka Prefecture. The questionnaire covered medical costs, satisfaction and willingness to pay (WTP), and we investigated the relationships between these items. PASI was evaluated by physicians. More participants indicated satisfaction with treatment in the group paying less than ¥5000/month. WTP, PASI and EQ‐5D showed little correlation. However, the DLQI and EQ‐5D showed a moderate correlation (r = 0.472). WTP seemed more dependent on participants' economic backgrounds. We found that it was difficult to reflect the PASI with the EQ‐5D. However, the DLQI may be used to estimate the cost–benefit relationship in patients with psoriasis. This is the first study to evaluate the EQ‐5D in patients with psoriasis in Japan.
The impact of reservoir scale on amplitude variation with offset
Authors: Xu Chao , Wei Jianxin , Di Bangrang
Published: September 2016

To investigate the vertical and horizontal impact of reservoir scale on the amplitude‐versus‐offset characteristics, we conduct seismic numerical simulations on models containing spatially confined lithologic units with different scales. We find that the reservoir scale has a nonlinear effect on the amplitude‐versus‐offset intercepts and gradients. As the reservoir width increases, amplitude‐versus‐offset intercept and gradient both first increase, then decrease, and finally remain stable. The amplitude‐versus‐offset intercept is maximum when the reservoir width is 80% larger than the Fresnel zone radius, whereas the amplitude‐versus‐offset gradient peaks at 1.5 times the Fresnel zone radius. Both amplitude‐versus‐offset intercept and gradient are approximately proportional to the reservoir width prior to reaching their maxima. When the lateral extent of the reservoir is more than three times the Fresnel zone radius, the amplitude‐versus‐offset attributes are constant. Modelling the reservoir thickness shows that intercept and gradient behave in a manner similar to that of tuning of thin beds. Both the amplitude‐versus‐offset intercept and gradient first increase and then decrease with the thickness, peaking at the tuning thickness. The thickness contribution to amplitude‐versus‐offset variations is negligible when the thickness is larger than 1.6 times of the tuning thickness. Considering the magnitude of the changes in amplitude‐versus‐offset intercept and gradient caused by reservoir scale, the width causes a maximum 433% intercept increase and a 344% gradient increase, whereas the thickness causes a maximum 100% intercept increase and a 73% gradient increase. Cross‐plotting the amplitude‐versus‐offset intercept and gradient shows the reservoir scale change gives rise to an anti‐clockwise spiraling effect. In conclusion, the lateral and vertical extents of the reservoir both play an important role in amplitude variation with offset. Our analysis shows that the lateral reservoir extent has a larger impact on the amplitude variation with offset than the vertical tuning effect.
Physical Properties and Stabilization of Microcapsules Containing Thyme Oil by Complex Coacervation
Authors: Shen Lili , Chen Jiaping , Bai Youju , Ma Zhican , Huang Jing , Feng Wu
Published: September 2016

The aim of this study was to produce and characterize microcapsules of thyme oil and finally appraise the extent of stability improvement. The optimum process conditions obtained from orthogonal tests were as follows: ratio of core material to wall 0.5, temperature 40 °C, pH value 3.0 and time 20 min, where the practical encapsulation efficiency was 85.17±1.35%. The microcapsules belong to the nanometric range as the average particle diameter was 531.17±77.12 nm. The results from structural analysis indicated that no significant chemical bond occurred during the encapsulation process and the microcapsules remained stable when the encapsulation was conducted at a temperature below 53.1 °C. Especially, the retention rate of thyme oil in microcapsules remained 39.21% at 4 °C, 36.99% at 25 °C and 33.80% at 40 °C after 30 d of storage. Moreover, protection from light exposure presented a positive impact on the storage stability of thyme oil microcapsules.
High Protein Pasta is Not More Satiating than High Fiber Pasta at a Lunch Meal, Nor Does it Decrease Mid‐Afternoon Snacking in Healthy Men and Women
Authors: Korczak Renee , Timm Derek , Ahnen Rylee , Thomas William , Slavin Joanne L.
Published: September 2016

This study compared satiety after high protein pasta (16 g protein, 6 g fiber), high fiber pasta (11 g protein, 8 g fiber) or control pasta (11 g protein, 6 g fiber) in a randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind crossover trial. Participants were 36 healthy and men and women from the University of Minnesota campus. Fasted men and women ate calorie controlled, but macronutrient different pastas at 12:00 pm along with 500 mL of water. The primary outcome was satiety assessed by Visual Analogue Scales at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min daily after consuming the pastas. Secondary outcomes were calories consumed at an ad libitum snack at 3:00 pm, calories from food intake, gastrointestinal tolerance, and palatability.

No differences were found among the pasta treatments for satiety, snacking, or gastrointestinal tolerance. Men ate significantly more calories for the rest of the (P = 0.007) after the high protein pasta versus the high fiber pasta (1701 ± 154 compared with 1083 ± 154) with control pasta being intermediate to the other treatments. No significant differences were found for gastrointestinal tolerance, but the palatability ratings showed the high protein pasta was less tasty (P = 0.03) and less pleasant (P = 0.01) than the other 2 pastas. Satisfaction was positively associated with pleasantness and negatively associated with aftertaste.

Our results do not support the idea that high protein or high fiber pasta produces a greater satiety response compared to pasta with lower amounts of either nutrient. It is likely that since pasta is already a very satiating food, the subjects were unable to differentiate between the 3 conditions.
Quorum Quenching and Microbial Control through Phenolic Extract of Eugenia Uniflora Fruits
Authors: Rodrigues Adeline Conceição , Zola Flávia Guimarães , Ávila Oliveira Brígida D' , Sacramento Nayara Thais Barbosa , da Silva Elis Regina , Bertoldi Michele Corrêa , Taylor Jason Guy , Pinto Uelinton Manoel
Published: September 2016

We describe the characterization of the centesimal composition, mineral and phenolic content of Eugenia uniflora fruit and the determination of the antioxidant, antimicrobial and quorum quenching activities of the pulp phenolic extract. Centesimal composition was determined according to standard methods; trace elements were measured by total reflection X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The phenolic compounds were extracted by solid‐phase chromatography and quantified by spectrophotometry. Antioxidant activity was determined by using 3 different methods. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against a panel of foodborne microorganisms and antiquorum sensing activity in Chromobacterium violaceum was performed by measuring inhibition of quorum sensing dependent violacein production. The centesimal composition (per 100 g of pulp) was as follows: protein 3.68 ± 0.21 g, lipids 0.02 ± 0.03 g, carbohydrates 10.31 g and fiber 2.06 g. Trace elements (mg/g of pulp) were determined as: K 0.90, Ca 3.36, Fe 0.60, Zn 0.17, Cl 0.56, Cr 0.06, Ni 0.04, and Cu 0.07. The pulp is a source of phenolic compounds and presents antioxidant activity similar to other berries. The fruit phenolic extract inhibited all tested bacteria. We also found that the fruit phenolic extract at low subinhibitory concentrations inhibited up to 96% of violacein production in C. violaceum, likely due to the fruit's phenolic content. This study shows the contribution of E. uniflora phenolic compounds to the antioxidant, antimicrobial and the newly discovered quorum quenching activity, all of which could be used by the food and pharmaceutical industries to develop new functional products.
Antitumor, Antioxidant, and Nitrite Scavenging Effects of Chinese Water Chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) Peel Flavonoids
Authors: Zhan Ge , Pan Leiqing , Tu Kang , Jiao Shunshan
Published: September 2016

The preparation, quantification, and characterization of flavonoid compounds from Chinese water chestnut peel (CWCP) flavonoid extract and ethyl acetate fraction (EF), n‐butanol fraction, and water fraction were studied. Among these, EF showed the maximum free radical levels (IC50 values of 0.36, 0.40, and 0.37 mg/mL for DPPH•, ABTS•+, and •OH, respectively), nitrite scavenging effects (IC50 = 1.89 mg/mL), and A549 cell inhibitory activities (IC50 = 776.12 μg/mL) with the highest value of total flavonoid content (TFC, 421.32 mg/g). Moreover, the contents of 8 flavonoids in this fraction were quantified using high‐performance liquid chromatography, and fisetin, diosmetin, luteolin, and tectorigenin were the 4 major flavonoids with levels of 31.66, 29.91, 13.69, and 12.41 mg/g, respectively. Luteolin produced a greater inhibition of human lung cancer A549 cells (IC50 = 59.60 μg/mL) than did fisetin, diosmetin, and tectorigenin. Flow cytometry revealed that the cellular mechanisms of luteolin inhibition of A549 cells were achieved via the induction of cell proliferation arrest at G1 phase and apoptosis/necrosis. Our findings suggest that flavonoids are closely associated with antitumor, antioxidant, and nitrite scavenging effects of CWCP.
Novel application of four‐dimensional wide‐area detector computed tomographic angiography for investigation of median arcuate ligament syndrome
Authors: Cheng Kevin , Doyle Adam , Spilias Dean C , Lau Kenneth K
Published: September 2016

The median arcuate ligament syndrome is a rare disorder characterised by postprandial intestinal angina caused by compression of the coeliac artery by the median arcuate ligament. To date, the diagnosis and treatment of median arcuate ligament syndrome has remained controversial. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of coeliac artery compression demonstrated on the four‐dimensional wide‐area detector CT angiogram.
pcadapt: an R package to perform genome scans for selection based on principal component analysis
Authors: Luu Keurcien , Bazin Eric , Blum Michael G. B.
Published: September 2016

The R package pcadapt performs genome scans to detect genes under selection based on population genomic data. It assumes that candidate markers are outliers with respect to how they are related to population structure. Because population structure is ascertained with principal component analysis, the package is fast and works with large‐scale data. It can handle missing data and pooled sequencing data. By contrast to population‐based approaches, the package handle admixed individuals and does not require grouping individuals into populations. Since its first release, pcadapt has evolved in terms of both statistical approach and software implementation. We present results obtained with robust Mahalanobis distance, which is a new statistic for genome scans available in the 2.0 and later versions of the package. When hierarchical population structure occurs, Mahalanobis distance is more powerful than the communality statistic that was implemented in the first version of the package. Using simulated data, we compare pcadapt to other computer programs for genome scans (BayeScan, hapflk, OutFLANK, sNMF). We find that the proportion of false discoveries is around a nominal false discovery rate set at 10% with the exception of BayeScan that generates 40% of false discoveries. We also find that the power of BayeScan is severely impacted by the presence of admixed individuals whereas pcadapt is not impacted. Last, we find that pcadapt and hapflk are the most powerful in scenarios of population divergence and range expansion. Because pcadapt handles next‐generation sequencing data, it is a valuable tool for data analysis in molecular ecology.