bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An extended cold gas absorber in a central cluster galaxy
Authors: Smith Russell J. , Edge Alastair C.
Published: July 2017

We present the serendipitous discovery of an extended cold gas structure projected close to the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) of the z = 0.045 cluster Abell 3716, from archival integral field spectroscopy. The gas is revealed through narrow Na D line absorption, seen against the stellar light of the BCG, which can be traced for ∼25 kpc, with a width of 2–4 kpc. The gas is offset to higher velocity than the BCG (by ∼100 km s−1), showing that it is infalling rather than outflowing; the intrinsic linewidth is ∼80 km s−1 (FWHM). Very weak H α line emission is detected from the structure, and a weak dust absorption feature is suggested from optical imaging, but no stellar counterpart has been identified. We discuss some possible interpretations for the absorber: as a projected low-surface-brightness galaxy, as a stream of gas that was stripped from an infalling cluster galaxy or as a ‘retired’ cool-core nebula filament.
Testing Differences Between Pathogen Compositions with Small Samples and Sparse Data
Authors: Soubeyrand Samuel , Garreta Vincent , Monteil Caroline , Suffert Frédéric , Goyeau Henriette , Berder Julie , Moinard Jacques , Fournier Elisabeth , Tharreau Didier , Morris Cindy E. , Sache Ivan
Published: July 2017

The structure of pathogen populations is an important driver of epidemics affecting crops and natural plant communities. Comparing the composition of two pathogen populations consisting of assemblages of genotypes or phenotypes is a crucial, recurrent question encountered in many studies in plant disease epidemiology. Determining whether there is a significant difference between two sets of proportions is also a generic question for numerous biological fields. When samples are small and data are sparse, it is not straightforward to provide an accurate answer to this simple question because routine statistical tests may not be exactly calibrated. To tackle this issue, we built a computationally intensive testing procedure, the generalized Monte Carlo plug-in test with calibration test, which is implemented in an R package available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.635791 . A simulation study was carried out to assess the performance of the proposed methodology and to make a comparison with standard statistical tests. This study allows us to give advice on how to apply the proposed method, depending on the sample sizes. The proposed methodology was then applied to real datasets and the results of the analyses were discussed from an epidemiological perspective. The applications to real data sets deal with three topics in plant pathology: the reproduction of Magnaporthe oryzae, the spatial structure of Pseudomonas syringae, and the temporal recurrence of Puccinia triticina.
The prevalence of neuropathic pain is high after treatment for breast cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Ilhan Emre , Chee Edwin , Hush Julia , Moloney Niamh
Published: July 2017

Pain is common, but often poorly managed after breast cancer treatment. Screening questionnaires and the Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group (NeuPSIG) criteria are 2 clinical approaches used to determine whether pain has neuropathic components, which may enable better pain management. The aims of this review were (1) to synthesise data from the literature on neuropathic pain prevalence in women after breast cancer treatment; (2) to investigate whether the prevalence of neuropathic pain differed between studies using screening questionnaires and the NeuPSIG criteria. We searched for studies that administered a validated neuropathic pain screening questionnaire and/or the NeuPSIG criteria to women treated for early-stage (I-III) breast cancer. Thirteen studies using screening questionnaires (N = 3792) and 3 studies using components of the NeuPSIG criteria (N = 621) were included. Meta-analyses were conducted for questionnaire data but not for NeuPSIG criteria data because of inadequate homogeneity. Among all participants treated for early-stage breast cancer, pooled prevalence estimates (95% confidence interval) ranged between 14.2% (8.3-21.4) and 27.2% (24.7-88.4) for studies using screening questionnaires; studies using NeuPSIG criteria reported prevalence rates from 24.1% to 31.3%. Among those who reported pain after treatment, the pooled prevalence estimate (95% confidence interval) of neuropathic pain from screening questionnaires ranged from 32.6% (24.2-41.6) to 58.2% (24.7-88.4); studies using NeuPSIG criteria reported prevalence rates from 29.5% to 57.1%. These prevalence estimates are higher than those reported for other types of cancer, and emphasise the need to assess the contribution of neuropathic pain after breast cancer treatment. Trial registration: PROSPERO registration CRD42015029987.
Elevated Serum Triglycerides in the Prognostic Assessment of Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Wang Qian , Wang Gang , Qiu Zhaoyan , He Xianli , Liu Chaoxu
Published: July 2017

Background:

Hypertriglyceridemia has been positively associated with the risk of acute pancreatitis (AP), but whether increased triglyceride (TG) levels are associated with the severity of AP remains unknown. To this, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effect of elevated serum TG on the prognosis of AP.

Methods:

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library to identify all eligible studies (up to September 2016). We pooled the odds ratios (ORs) or standardized mean difference from individual studies using a random-effects model to investigate associations between levels of TG and the prognosis of AP.

Results:

A total of 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis, including a total of 1564 patients with triglyceride-related acute pancreatitis (TGAP) and 5721 patients with nontriglyceride-related acute pancreatitis (NTGAP). The occurrence of renal failure [OR=3.18; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.92, 5.27; P<0.00001], respiratory failure (OR=2.88; 95% CI: 1.61, 5.13; P<0.0001), and shock (OR=3.78; 95% CI: 1.69, 8.44; P<0.0001) was statistically significantly higher in TGAP group than in NTGAP group. Furthermore, mortality (OR=1.90; 95% CI: 1.05, 3.45; P<0.01), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (OR=2.03; 95% CI: 1.49, 2.75; P<0.00001), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE-II) scores (standardized mean difference=2.72; 95% CI: 1.00, 4.45; P<0.001) were also statistically significantly higher in TGAP group than in NTGAP group.

Conclusion:

Elevated serum TGs are related to a worse prognosis of AP.
Mice as stowaways? Colonization history of Danish striped field mice
Authors: Andersen Liselotte Wesley , Jacobsen Magnus , Vedel-Smith Christina , Jensen Thomas Secher
Published: July 2017

Species from the steppe region of Eastern Europe likely colonized northwestern Europe in connection with agriculture after 6500 BP. The striped field mouse (
Apodemus agrarius
Pallas, 1783), is a steppe-derived species often found in human crops. It is common on the southern Danish islands of Lolland and Falster, which have been isolated from mainland Europe since approximately 10 300–8000 BP. Thus, this species could have been brought in with humans in connection with agriculture, or it could be an earlier natural invader. We sequenced 86 full mitochondrial genomes from the northwestern range of the striped field mouse, analysed phylogenetic relationships and estimated divergence time. The results supported human-induced colonization of Denmark in the Subatlantic or Subboreal period. A newly discovered population from Central Jutland in Denmark diverged from Falster approximately 100–670 years ago, again favouring human introduction. One individual from Sweden turned out to be a recent introduction from Central Jutland.
Distinct developmental pathways underlie independent losses of flight in ratites
Authors: Faux Cynthia , Field Daniel J.
Published: July 2017

Recent phylogenetic studies question the monophyly of ratites (large, flightless birds incorporating ostriches, rheas, kiwis, emus and cassowaries), suggesting their paraphyly with respect to flying tinamous (Tinamidae). Flightlessness and large body size have thus likely evolved repeatedly among ratites, and separately in ostriches (Struthio) and emus (Dromaius). Here, we test this hypothesis with data from wing developmental trajectories in ostriches, emus, tinamous and chickens. We find the rate of ostrich embryonic wing growth falls within the range of variation exhibited by flying taxa (tinamous and chickens), but that of emus is extremely slow. These results indicate flightlessness was acquired by different developmental mechanisms in the ancestors of ostriches (peramorphosis) and the emu–cassowary clade (paedomorphosis), and corroborate the hypothesis that flight loss has evolved repeatedly among ratites.
A cell-based mechanical model of coronary artery tunica media
Authors: Melnikova N. B. , Svitenkov A. I. , Hose D. R. , Hoekstra A. G.
Published: July 2017

A three-dimensional cell-based mechanical model of coronary artery tunica media is proposed. The model is composed of spherical cells forming a hexagonal close-packed lattice. Tissue anisotropy is taken into account by varying interaction forces with the direction of intercellular connection. Several cell-centre interaction potentials for repulsion and attraction are considered, including the Hertz contact model and its neo-Hookean extension, the Johnson–Kendall–Roberts model of adhesive contact, and a wormlike chain model. The model is validated against data from
in vitro
uni-axial tension tests performed on dissected strips of tunica media. The wormlike chain potential in combination with the neo-Hookean Hertz contact model produces stress–stretch curves which represent the experimental data very well.
Signatures of the collapse and incipient recovery of an overexploited marine ecosystem
Authors: Pedersen Eric J. , Thompson Patrick L. , Ball R. Aaron , Fortin Marie-Josée , Gouhier Tarik C. , Link Heike , Moritz Charlotte , Nenzen Hedvig , Stanley Ryan R. E. , Taranu Zofia E. , Gonzalez Andrew , Guichard Frédéric , Pepin Pierre
Published: July 2017

The Northwest Atlantic cod stocks collapsed in the early 1990s and have yet to recover, despite the subsequent establishment of a continuing fishing moratorium. Efforts to understand the collapse and lack of recovery have so far focused mainly on the dynamics of commercially harvested species. Here, we use data from a 33-year scientific trawl survey to determine to which degree the signatures of the collapse and recovery of the cod are apparent in the spatial and temporal dynamics of the broader groundfish community. Over this 33-year period, the groundfish community experienced four phases of change: (i) a period of rapid, synchronous biomass collapse in most species, (ii) followed by a regime shift in community composition with a concomitant loss of functional diversity, (iii) followed in turn by periods of slow compositional recovery, and (iv) slow biomass growth. Our results demonstrate how a community-wide perspective can reveal new aspects of the dynamics of collapse and recovery unavailable from the analysis of individual species or a combination of a small number of species. Overall, we found evidence that such community-level signals should be useful for designing more effective management strategies to ensure the persistence of exploited marine ecosystems.
Population structure and connectivity of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) across the Indo-Pacific Ocean basin
Authors: Holmes Bonnie J. , Williams Samuel M. , Otway Nicholas M. , Nielsen Einar E. , Maher Safia L. , Bennett Mike B. , Ovenden Jennifer R.
Published: July 2017

Population genetic structure using nine polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci was assessed for the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) at seven locations across the Indo-Pacific, and one location in the southern Atlantic. Genetic analyses revealed considerable genetic structuring (FST > 0.14,p < 0.001) between all Indo-Pacific locations and Brazil. By contrast, no significant genetic differences were observed between locations from within the Pacific or Indian Oceans, identifying an apparent large, single Indo-Pacific population. A lack of differentiation between tiger sharks sampled in Hawaii and other Indo-Pacific locations identified herein is in contrast to an earlier global tiger shark nDNA study. The results of our power analysis provide evidence to suggest that the larger sample sizes used here negated any weak population subdivision observed previously. These results further highlight the need for cross-jurisdictional efforts to manage the sustainable exploitation of large migratory sharks likeG. cuvier.
Rapid evolution mitigates the ecological consequences of an invasive species (Bythotrephes longimanus) in lakes in Wisconsin
Authors: Gillis Michael K. , Walsh Matthew R.
Published: July 2017

Invasive species have extensive negative consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem health. Novel species also drive contemporary evolution in many native populations, which could mitigate or amplify their impacts on ecosystems. The predatory zooplanktonBythotrephes longimanusinvaded lakes in Wisconsin, USA, in 2009. This invasion caused precipitous declines in zooplankton prey (Daphnia pulicaria), with cascading impacts on ecosystem services (water clarity). Here, we tested the link betweenBythotrephesinvasion, evolution inDaphniaand post-invasion ecological dynamics using 15 years of long-term data in conjunction with comparative experiments. Invasion byBythotrephesis associated with rapid increases in the body size ofDaphnia. Laboratory experiments revealed that such shifts have a genetic component; third-generation laboratory-rearedDaphniafrom ‘invaded’ lakes are significantly larger and exhibit greater reproductive effort than individuals from ‘uninvaded’ lakes. This trajectory of evolution should accelerateDaphniapopulation growth and enhance population persistence. We tested this prediction by comparing analyses of long-term data with laboratory-based simulations, and show that rapid evolution inDaphniais associated with increased population growth in invaded lakes.
Action potential counting at giant mossy fiber terminals gates information transfer in the hippocampus
Authors: Chamberland Simon , Timofeeva Yulia , Evstratova Alesya , Volynski Kirill , Tóth Katalin
Published: July 2017

Hippocampal mossy fibers have long been recognized as conditional detonators owing to prominent short-term facilitation, but the patterns of activity required to fire postsynaptic CA3 pyramidal neurons remain poorly understood. We show that mossy fibers count the number of spikes to transmit information to CA3 pyramidal cells through a distinctive interplay between presynaptic calcium dynamics, buffering and vesicle replenishment. This identifies a previously unexplored information coding mechanism in the brain.
Anti-HIV activity prediction and enrichment identify novel human targets for Anti-HIV therapy
Authors: Dai Shao-Xing , Li Wen-Xing , Li Hui-Juan , Liu Jia-Qian , Zheng Jun-Juan , Wang Qian , Chen Bi-Wen , Gao Yue-Dong , Li Gong-Hua , Huang Jing-Fei
Published: July 2017

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) relies heavily on the host proteins to facilitate its entry and replication. Currently, more than 4000 human proteins are recorded to be involved in the HIV-1 life cycle. Identifying appropriate anti-HIV targets from so many host proteins is crucial to anti-HIV drug development, but a challenging work. Here we combined anti-HIV activity prediction and enrichment analysis to identify novel human targets for anti-HIV therapy. We firstly developed an accurate prediction tool named Anti-HIV-Predictor (AUC>0.96) to predict the anti-HIV activity of given compounds. Using this tool, we predicted 10488 anti-HIV compounds from ChEMBLdb. Then, based on this result and relationships of targets and compounds, we inferred 73 anti-HIV targets that enriched with anti-HIV compounds. The functional annotation and network analysis revealed that they directly or indirectly interact with 20 HIV proteins through neuropeptide signaling, GPCR signaling, cell surface signaling pathway, and so on. Nearly half of these targets overlap with the NCBI HIV dataset. However, the percentage of known therapeutic targets in these targets is significantly higher than that in the NCBI HIV dataset. After a series of feature analysis, we identified 13 novel human targets with high potential as anti-HIV targets, the inhibitors of which have experimentally confirmed anti-HIV activity. It is noteworthy that the inhibitors of REN and CALCA have better anti-HIV activity than CCR5 inhibitors. Taken together, our findings provide novel human targets for the host-oriented anti-HIV drug development and should significantly advance current anti-HIV research.
C3G dynamically associates with Nuclear speckles and regulates mRNA splicing
Authors: Shakyawar Dhruv Kumar , Muralikrishna Bhattiprolu , Radha Vegesna
Published: July 2017

C3G (RapGEF1), essential for mammalian embryonic development, is ubiquitously expressed and undergoes regulated nucleo-cytoplasmic exchange. Here we show that C3G localizes to SC35 positive nuclear speckles, and regulates splicing activity. Reversible association of C3G with speckles was seen upon inhibition of transcription and splicing. C3G shows partial colocalization with SC35, and is recruited to a chromatin and RNase sensitive fraction of speckles. Its presence in speckles is dependent on intact cellular actin cytoskeleton, and is lost upon expression of the kinase, Clk1. Rap1, a substrate of C3G, is also present in nuclear speckles and inactivation of Rap signalling by expression of GFP- Rap1GAP, alters speckle morphology and number. Enhanced association of C3G with speckles is seen upon GSK3β inhibition, or differentiation of C2C12 cells to myotubes. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knockdown of C3G resulted in decreased splicing activity and reduced staining for SC35 in speckles. C3G knockout clones of C2C12 as well as MDA-MB- 231 showed reduced protein levels of several splicing factors compared to control cells. Our results identify C3G and Rap1 as novel components of nuclear speckles and a role for C3G in regulating cellular RNA splicing activity.

Nuclear speckles are sites for pre-mRNA splicing. We provide evidence for localization and function of a Ras family GTPase, Rap1 and its exchange factor C3G in nuclear speckles.
SParticle, an algorithm for the analysis of filamentous microorganisms in submerged cultures
Authors: Willemse Joost , Büke Ferhat , van Dissel Dino , Grevink Sanne , Claessen Dennis , van Wezel Gilles P.
Published: July 2017

Streptomycetes are filamentous bacteria that produce a plethora of bioactive natural products and industrial enzymes. Their mycelial lifestyle typically results in high heterogeneity in bioreactors, with morphologies ranging from fragments and open mycelial mats to dense pellets. There is a strong correlation between morphology and production in submerged cultures, with small and open mycelia favoring enzyme production, while most antibiotics are produced mainly in pellets. Here we describe SParticle, aStreptomycesParticle analysis method that combines whole slide imaging with automated image analysis to characterize the morphology of submerged grownStreptomycescultures. SParticle allows the analysis of over a thousand particles per hour, offering a high throughput method for the imaging and statistical analysis of mycelial morphologies. The software is available as a plugin for the open source software ImageJ and allows users to create custom filters for other microbes. Therefore, SParticle is a widely applicable tool for the analysis of filamentous microorganisms in submerged cultures.
Morphology-driven downscaling of Streptomyces lividans to micro-cultivation
Authors: van Dissel Dino , van Wezel Gilles P.
Published: July 2017

Actinobacteria are prolific producers of secondary metabolites and industrially relevant enzymes. Growth of these mycelial microorganisms in small culture volumes is challenging due to their complex morphology. Since morphology and production are typically linked, scaling down culture volumes requires better control over morphogenesis. In larger scale platforms, ranging from shake flasks to bioreactors, the hydrodynamics play an important role in shaping the morphology and determining product formation. Here, we report on the effects of agitation on the mycelial morphology ofStreptomyces lividansgrown in microtitre plates (MTP). Our work shows that at the proper agitation rates cultures can be scaled down to volumes as small as 100 μl while maintaining the same morphology as seen in larger scale platforms. Using image analysis we compared the morphologies of the cultures; when agitated at 1400 rpm the mycelial morphology in microcultures approached that obtained in shake flasks, while product formation was also maintained. Our study shows that the morphology of actinobacteria in microcultures can be controlled in a similar manner as in larger scale cultures by carefully controlling the mixing rate. This could facilitate high-throughput screening and upscaling.
Preparing Plasmid Subclones for Capillary Sequencing
Authors: Mardis Elaine , McCombie W. Richard
Published: July 2017

This protocol describes the preparation of plasmid DNA from bacterial cultures or from archived cultures, based on the standard miniprep method. The resulting DNA is suitable in quantity and quality for use as template in capillary DNA sequencing. The protocol relies on the use of the Biomek automated liquid handling system.
Naive portfolios, Brazilian stock funds, and individual investors
Authors: Carneiro Alexandre , Leal Ricardo
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contrast three investment choices within the reach of individual investors: naive portfolios of Brazilian stocks; actively managed stock funds; and the Ibovespa index, which represents passive management as well as to offer insights on the performance of professional asset managers in this large emerging market.

Design/methodology/approach

Equally weighted portfolios contained between 5 and 30 stocks to keep transaction costs low. Stock selection used the Ibovespa constituents and considered value (dividend yield (DY) and price-to-book ratio), momentum (past returns), and liquidity, as well as the Sharpe ratio (SR) over the 2003-2012 period, rebalancing three times a year.

Findings

Cumulative returns of naive portfolios are large. They frequently outperform the index for all values of n. They also outperform stock funds, particularly when the invested amount exceeds US$25,000, due to transaction costs. Yet, expected out-of-sample SRs corrected for errors in estimates are very low, suggesting that one should not count on this historical performance in the future. Naive portfolios may simply be more exposed to additional value, size, and momentum risks. Results are sensitive to time period selection.

Practical implications

Naive portfolios may be attractive to individual investors in Brazil relative to stock funds, which seem to strive to keep volatility low and may be better when the investment amount is low. There may be merit for value or momentum stock selection strategies when forming small equally weighted portfolios.

Originality/value

The paper contrasts realistic stock investing alternatives for individuals, it provides a view of stock fund performance in Brazil, and offers practical implications that may be pertinent in other emerging stock markets.
Art as an investment alternative: the case of Argentina
Authors: Garay Urbi , Vielma Gwendoline , Villalobos Edward
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the formulation of the first exhaustive price index for Argentinian (and other Latin American countries) visual artists using 5,069 works sold in auctions by 71 Argentinian artists during the years 1980-2014.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors estimated a regression of hedonic prices using the ordinary least squares method. When the regression was run and the results were analysed, the authors then estimated the annual price index of Argentinian artists’ work to then compare them with different financial and economic variables.

Findings

The average annual nominal arithmetic rate of return in dollars for Argentinian art during this period was 6.81 per cent, with a 29.11 per cent standard deviation. Argentinian art shows a low correlation with Argentinian and US companies’ shares and a slightly negative correlation with US bonds. This is the reason for artworks to be included in investors’ portfolios despite the relatively high volatility.

Research limitations/implications

Valuating works of art in Argentina can be explained by a series of their attributes. The benefits of art as an investment should be contrasted with factors including illiquidity and high transaction costs that are inherent when investing in works of art.

Practical implications

Argentinian artists’ works have higher prices when, ceteris paribus, they are dated; they are auctioned in either Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Galería Arroyo, Roldan & Cia, Meeting Art, or Naon & Cia; they are oil or acrylic paintings; they are larger in size – although the price increase is decreasing when the size of the painting increases; and when the artist dies before their work is auctioned.

Originality/value

This work presents the first rigorous price index of Argentinian artists’ works. Additionally, and as far as the authors have been able to observe, the time-period in this article is the longest that has been used in studies on art as an investment in emerging markets.
Robustness and flexibility of human resource management practices
Authors: Gurkov Igor , Morgunov Evgeny , Saidov Zokirzhon
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to retrace the sources of robustness of the operations of Russian manufacturing subsidiaries of western multinational corporation (MNC) during the downturn, from the point of view of applied human resource management (HRM) practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A repeated survey of heads of Russian manufacturing plants of western MNCs was implemented. The same respondents aswered the similar questions in 2014 and in 2016.

Findings

The current evolution of HRM arrangements in the Russian manufacturing subsidiaries of MNCs can be explained by an attempt for ambidexterity. On the one hand, managers of the Russian manufacturing subsidiaries of MNCs attempt to prevent employee alienation. Thus, they retain permanent contracts and preserve guarantees of home-take pay. On the other hand, there is the elimination of several social benefits. In the author’s opinion, the cost-minimization approach has been used excessively. The authors speculate that the system of social benefits will need to be adjusted again to transform the system from one that is “crisis-proof” to one that is “stagnation adapted.”

Originality/value

The findings provide a basis for a broader discussion on mutation of HRM systems in manufacturing subsidiaries of MNCs facing deteriorating market conditions.
Mediator analysis of job embeddedness
Authors: Thakur Shweta Jaiswal , Bhatnagar Jyotsna
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating effect of job embeddedness on the relationship between work-life balance practices (WLBP), which include accessibility (AWLBP), current utilisation (CWLBP) and perceived future use (FWLBP) of these practices, as well as employees’ intentions to stay (ITS). This research is based on conservation of resources theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a survey method and a structured questionnaire to collect data from people working in diverse industries. A regression analysis is used to measure the direct effects of the hypothesised relationships. The Sobel test and Baron and Kenny mediation analysis were used to measure the indirect effects of the hypothesised relationship.

Findings

AWLBP, CWLBP and FWLBP are found to foster job embeddedness and turnover intention. Job embeddedness fully mediates the relationship between AWLBP, CWLBP, FWLBP and ITS.

Practical implications

Human resources (HR) managers should introduce WLBP to create a web of contextual and perceptual forces that embed employees in the organisation and encourage them to stay. Factors that affect employee attraction and retention change with time, career and life stage; therefore, it is important to assess the future needs of employees to augment retention. HR managers should proactively attempt to enhance embeddedness by offering customised WLBP and by dealing with the signs of low embeddedness before it results in voluntary turnover.

Originality/value

This study attempts to integrate two streams of research (job embeddedness and WLBP), which, despite being similar in focus, have developed independently of each other. This is one of the first studies to incorporate access to, utilisation and perceived future use of these practices in a single study. It also adds to the literature by investigating antecedents of job embeddedness and analysing it as a mediator between WLBP and ITS, which has been highlighted as a gap in the literature.
Key determinants of waste separation intention: empirical application of TPB
Authors: Ayob Siti Fadzilah , Sheau-Ting Low , Abdul Jalil Rohaya , Chin Hon-Choong
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This study aims to identify the key determinants of waste separation intention among the students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as the fundamental framework. The key determinants of waste separation behaviour are attitude, subjective norm (SN) and perceived behavioural control. An elicitation survey has been conducted to explore the students’ beliefs relative to waste separation behaviour. The empirical data collected were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) assisted by SmartPLS software.

Findings

The result shows that only two determinants are significant towards intention, attitude and perceived behavioural control, while SN is not. The results of the study are significant to the organisation, as an identification of the determinants that influence waste separation intention contributes to a more focused waste separation programme aligned to Malaysia’s objective towards a sustainable developing country.

Originality/value

There are few studies on solid waste separation compared to food waste and industrial waste separation. The authors focus on the identification of the key determinants of solid waste separation intention among students. This study serves as an initial attempt to adopt the TPB in solid waste separation context, hence contributing to existing literature.
A decision support system for retail assortment planning
Authors: Hübner Alexander
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Because increasing product variety in retail conflicts with limited shelf space, managing assortment and shelf quantities is a core decision in this sector. A retailer needs to define the assortment size and then assign shelf space to meet consumer demand. However, the current literature lacks not only information on the comprehensive structure of the decision problem, but also a decision support system that can be directly applied to practice in a straightforward manner. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings were developed and evaluated by means of explorative interviews with grocery retail experts. An optimization model is proposed to solve the problem of assortment planning with limited shelf space for data sets of a size relevant in real retail practice.

Findings

The author identifies the underlying planning problems based on a qualitative survey of retailers and relates the problems to each other. This paper develops a pragmatic approach to the capacitated assortment problem with stochastic demand and substitution effects. The numerical examples reveal that substitution demand has a significant impact on total profit and solution structure.

Practical implications

The author shows that the model and solution approach are scalable to problem sizes relevant in practice. Furthermore, the planning architecture structures the related planning questions and forms a foundation for further research on decision support systems.

Originality/value

The planning framework structures the associated decision problems in assortment planning. An efficient solution approach for assortment planning is proposed.
Paint thickness simulation for painting robot trajectory planning: a review
Authors: Chen Yan , Chen Wenzhuo , Li Bo , Zhang Gang , Zhang Weiming
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purposes of this paper are to review the progress of and conclude the trend for paint thickness simulation for painting robot trajectory planning.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper compares the explicit function-based method and computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based method used for paint thickness simulation. Previous research is considered, and conclusions with the outlook are drawn.

Findings

The CFD-based paint deposition simulation is the trend for paint thickness simulation for painting robot trajectory planning. However, the calculation of paint thickness resulting from dynamically painting complex surface remains to be researched, which needs to build an appropriate CFD model, study approaches to dynamic painting simulation and investigate the simulation with continuously changing painting parameters.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates that the CFD-based method is the trend for the paint thickness simulation for painting robot trajectory planning. Current studies have been analyzed, and techniques of CFD modeling have also been summarized, which is vital for future study.
Peg-In-Hole search using convex optimization techniques
Authors: Sharma Kamal , Shirwalkar Varsha , Pal Prabir K.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a solution to the first phase of a force-controlled circular Peg-In-Hole assembly using an industrial robot. The paper suggests motion planning of the robot’s end-effector so as to perform Peg-In-Hole search with minimum a priori information of the working environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper models Peg-In-Hole search problem as a problem of finding the minima in depth profile for a particular assembly. Thereafter, various optimization techniques are used to guide the robot to locate minima and complete the hole search. This approach is inspired by a human’s approach of searching a hole by moving peg in various directions so as to search a point of maximum insertion which is same as the minima in depth profile.

Findings

The usage of optimization techniques for hole search allows the robot to work with minimum a priori information of the working environment. Also, the iterative nature of the techniques adapts to any disturbance during assembly.

Practical implications

The techniques discussed here are quite useful if a force-controlled assembly needs to be performed in a highly unknown environment and also when the assembly setup can get disturbed in between.

Originality/value

The concept is original and provides a non-conventional use of optimization techniques, not for optimization of some process directly but for an industrial robot’s motion planning.
Developing an empirical typology of diversity-oriented human resource management practices
Authors: Meena Kavita , Vanka Sita
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The significance of human resource management in managing workforce diversity has been emphasized by researchers and various practices have been identified and prescribed in literature. However, there is lack of HR typologies to understand different diversity management alternatives. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to develop a typology of diversity-oriented human resource management (DHRM) practices for clear understanding.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs factor analysis approach for developing typology. In total, 31 human resource management practices covering the five functions of HR, i.e. recruitment, selection, performance evaluation, compensation and training were identified from literature. These practices were analyzed to investigate whether and how these 31 practices cluster into higher order DHRM practices categories.

Findings

From factor analysis, seven categories of DHRM practices emerged. The findings showed marked differences in these seven DHRM practices categories aimed at managing diversity.

Research limitations/implications

Future, survey researchers can use this typology of DHRM practices to design instruments that allow a more in-depth and differentiating analysis of role of HRM in managing diversity than those that have been carried out in previous research.

Practical implications

Managers can use the seven types of DHRM practices identified as criteria to choose an adequate pattern for HRM practices to manage diversity.

Originality/value

The typology developed in the study has foundations in specific diversity-related HRM practices rather than based on generic HRM typologies.
From request to assess: using cloud-based tools for the library instruction lifecycle
Authors: Parrigin James
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The author first gained experience with library instruction scheduling at a large research university library as an Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) graduate assistant.

Design/methodology/approach

The author would occasionally shadow the faculty librarians as they received instruction requests, which were vetted by an administrative assistant and entered into some mystical technology that would facilitate the reservations and populate a library staff calendar.

Findings

The author remembers it as a fairly mundane process that he did not think much of at the time.

Social implications

The author soon became an instruction librarian who was put in charge of orchestrating the multitudes of course-integrated one-shots at a small, private four-year liberal arts college.

Originality/value

The author thinks back to this experience and marvels at the humble instructional requests (e.g. “just show them JSTOR”) and the primitive tool that their library used for scheduling their sessions: a spreadsheet on our network drive.
Predator exposure improves anti‐predator responses in a threatened mammal
Authors: West Rebecca , Letnic Mike , Blumstein Daniel T. , Moseby Katherine E.
Published: July 2017

Incorporating an understanding of animal behaviour into conservation programmes can influence conservation outcomes. Exotic predators can have devastating impacts on native prey species and thwart reintroduction efforts, in part due to prey naïveté caused by an absence of co‐evolution between predators and prey. Attempts have been made to improve the anti‐predator behaviours of reintroduced native prey by conducting laboratory‐based predator recognition training but results have been varied and have rarely led to improved survival in reintroduction programmes.

We investigated whether in situ predator exposure could improve anti‐predator responses of a predator‐naïve mammal by exposing prey populations to low densities of introduced predators under controlled conditions. We reintroduced 352 burrowing bettongs to a 26‐km2 fenced exclosure at the Arid Recovery Reserve in South Australia and exposed them to feral cats (density 0.03–0.15 cats/km2) over an 18‐month period. At the same time, we translocated a different group of bettongs into an exclosure free of introduced predators, as a control. We compared three behaviours (flight initiation distances, trap docility and behaviour at feeding trays) of cat‐exposed and control bettongs before the translocations, then at 6, 12 and 18 months post‐translocation.

Cat‐exposed bettongs displayed changes in behaviour that suggested increased wariness, relative to control bettongs. At 18 months post‐reintroduction, cat‐exposed bettongs had greater flight initiation distances and approached feed trays more slowly than control bettongs. Cat‐exposed bettongs also increased their trap docility over time.

Synthesis and applications. Translocation is recommended as a conservation tool for many threatened species yet success rates are generally low. We demonstrate that controlled levels of in situ predator exposure can increase wariness in the behaviour of naïve prey. Our findings provide support for the hypothesis that in situ predator exposure could be used as a method to improve the anti‐predator responses of predator‐naïve threatened species populations.
Hypertonic saline inhibits airway smooth muscle contraction by inhibiting Ca2+ sensitization
Authors: Liu Xiao‐Cao , Wang Qian , She Yu‐Shan , Chen Shu , Luo Xi , Xu Hao , Zang Dun‐An , Zhang Wen‐Jing , Qiu Jun‐Ying , Liu Bei‐Bei , Shen Jinhua , Peng Yong‐Bo , Zhao Ping , Xue Lu , Chen Weiwei , Ma Li‐Qun , Fu Xiangning , Chen Jingyu , Liu Qing‐Hua , Yu Meng‐Fei
Published: July 2017

The effects of hypertonic solution on airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. We found that hypertonic saline (HS) inhibited acetylcholine (ACh)‐induced contraction of ASM from the mouse trachea and human bronchi. In single mouse ASM cells (ASMCs), ACh induced an increase in intracellular Ca2+ that was further enhanced by 5% NaCl, indicating that the HS‐induced inhibition of ASM contraction was not mediated by a decrease in cytosolic Ca2+. The Rho‐associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y‐27632 relaxed ACh‐induced precontraction of mouse tracheal rings. However, such inhibition was not observed after the relaxation induced by 5% NaCl. Moreover, the incubation of mouse tracheal rings with 5% NaCl decreased ACh‐induced phosphorylation of myosin light chain 20 and myosin phosphatase target subunit 1. These data indicate that HS inhibits the contraction of ASM by inhibiting Ca2+ sensitization, not by decreasing intracellular Ca2+.
Dominance‐function relationships in the amphibian skin microbiome
Authors: Walke Jenifer B. , Becker Matthew H. , Hughey Myra C. , Swartwout Meredith C. , Jensen Roderick V. , Belden Lisa K.
Published: July 2017

Some amphibian skin bacteria inhibit growth of a fungal amphibian pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), but it is unclear how dominant these anti‐Bd bacteria are in skin communities. Using in vitro co‐culture challenge assays, we quantified Bd inhibition by bacterial isolates collected from the skin of four amphibian species: bullfrogs, Eastern newts, spring peepers and American toads. The 16S rRNA sequences for each isolate were matched to culture‐independent amplicon sequences from the same individuals to assess inhibitory function versus relative abundance. Dominant bacteria had higher Bd inhibition than rare bacteria in bullfrog and newt populations, in which Bd was prevalent (> 25%). Dominant and rare bacteria did not differ in Bd inhibition in spring peeper and toad populations, in which Bd was absent or at low prevalence (< 7%). In addition, over half of the relative abundance of cultured bacteria on bullfrogs and newts was comprised of inhibitory bacteria, while only 25% and 37% of the relative abundance was inhibitory on spring peepers and toads, respectively. These results suggest that the dominant members of the amphibian skin bacterial community may be functionally important in terms of disease‐resistance, and that Bd prevalence and/or host species identity may impact the relative abundance and inhibitory properties of skin bacteria.
Genes essential for phototrophic growth by a purple alphaproteobacterium
Authors: Yang Jianming , Yin Liang , Lessner Faith H. , Nakayasu Ernesto S. , Payne Samuel H. , Fixen Kathryn R. , Gallagher Larry , Harwood Caroline S.
Published: July 2017

Tn‐seq was used to identify genes essential for phototrophic growth by the purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris. About 167 genes required for anaerobic growth on acetate in light were identified, 35 of which are annotated as photosynthesis genes. The essentiality of many of these genes by analysing the phenotypes of independently generated mutants that had altered pigmentation was verified. Three genes were identified, two possibly involved in biogenesis of the membrane‐bound photosynthetic apparatus and one for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, that were not known to be essential for phototrophic growth. Site‐directed mutagenesis was used to show that the NADH:quinone oxidoreductase complex IE was essential for phototrophic growth under strictly anaerobic conditions and appeared to play a role in reverse electron transport to generate NADH. A homologous NADH:quinone oxidoreductase complex IA likely operates in the opposite direction to oxidize NADH. The operation of the two enzymes in opposition would allow R. palustris to maintain redox balance. As a complement to the genetic data, proteomics experiments were carried out in which it was found that 408 proteins were present in significantly higher amounts in cells grown anaerobically in light compared with aerobically. Among these were proteins encoded by subset of the phototrophic growth‐essential genes.
Risk of persistent or recurrent cervical neoplasia in patients with ‘pure’ adenocarcinoma‐in‐situ (AIS) or mixed AIS and high‐grade cervical squamous neoplasia (cervical intra‐epithelial neoplasia grades 2 and 3 (CIN 2/3)): a population‐based study
Authors: Codde E , Munro A , Stewart CJR , Spilsbury K , Bowen S , Codde J , Steel N , Leung Y , Tan J , Salfinger SG , Mohan GR , Cohen PA
Published: July 2017

Objective

To compare outcomes of patients with pure adenocarcinoma‐in‐situ (AIS) and mixed AIS/CIN 2/3 lesions including the incidence of AIS persistence, recurrence and progression to adenocarcinoma.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Statewide population in Western Australia.

Population

Women diagnosed with AIS between 2001 and 2012.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, population‐based cohort study.

Main outcome measures

De‐identified linked data were utilised to ascertain the association between patient age at excisional treatment, margin status, lesion type, lesion size, and risk of persistent AIS (defined as the presence of AIS <12 months from treatment), recurrent AIS (≥12 months post‐treatment), and adenocarcinoma.

Results

636 patients were eligible for analysis. The mean age was 32.3 years and median follow‐up interval was 2.5 years. Within the study cohort, 266 patients (41.8%) had pure AIS and 370 (58.2%) had mixed AIS/CIN 2/3. Overall, 47 patients (7.4%) had AIS persistence/recurrence and 12 (1.9%) had adenocarcinoma. Factors associated with persistence/recurrence were pure AIS (hazard ratio (HR) 2.3; 95%CI 1.28–3.94; P = 0.005), age >30 years (HR 2.1; 95%CI 1.16–3.81; P = 0.015), positive endocervical margins (HR 5.8; 95%CI 3.05–10.92; P = <0.001) and AIS lesions >8 mm (HR 2.5; 95%CI 1.00–6.20; P = 0.049). A histologically positive AIS ectocervical margin was not associated with persistence/recurrence.

Conclusion

In this study, pure AIS was associated with greater risk of persistence/recurrence than was mixed AIS/CIN 2/3. AIS lesions >8 mm and positive endocervical margins were significant predictors for persistent or recurrent disease.

Tweetable Abstract

Pure cervical adenocarcinoma‐in‐situ (AIS) may have greater risk of recurrence than AIS co‐existing with CIN 2/3.