bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two types of bone necrosis in the Middle TriassicPistosaurus longaevusbones: the results of integrated studies
Authors: Surmik Dawid , Rothschild Bruce M. , Dulski Mateusz , Janiszewska Katarzyna
Published: July 2017

Avascular necrosis, diagnosed on the basis of either a specific pathological modification of the articular surfaces of bone or its radiologic appearance in vertebral centra, has been recognized in many Mesozoic marine reptiles as well as in present-day marine mammals. Its presence in the zoological and paleontologic record is usually associated with decompression syndrome, a disease that affects secondarily aquatic vertebrates that could dive. Bone necrosis can also be caused by infectious processes, but it differs in appearance from decompression syndrome-associated aseptic necrosis. Herein, we report evidence of septic necrosis in the proximal articular surface of the femur of a marine reptile,Pistosaurus longaevus, from the Middle Triassic of Poland and Germany. This is the oldest recognition of septic necrosis associated with septic arthritis in the fossil record so far, and the mineralogical composition of pathologically altered bone is described herein in detail. The occurrence of septic necrosis is contrasted with decompression syndrome-associated avascular necrosis, also described inPistosaurus longaevusbone from Middle Triassic of Germany.
Gamma-ray bursts and their use as cosmic probes
Authors: Schady Patricia
Published: July 2017

Since the launch of the highly successful and ongoingSwiftmission, the field of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) has undergone a revolution. The arcsecond GRB localizations available within just a few minutes of the GRB alert has signified the continual sampling of the GRB evolution through the prompt to afterglow phases revealing unexpected flaring and plateau phases, the first detection of a kilonova coincident with a short GRB, and the identification of samples of low-luminosity, ultra-long and highly dust-extinguished GRBs. The increased numbers of GRB afterglows, GRB-supernova detections, redshifts and host galaxy associations has greatly improved our understanding of what produces and powers these immense, cosmological explosions. Nevertheless, more high-quality data often also reveal greater complexity. In this review, I summarize some of the milestones made in GRB research during theSwiftera, and how previous widely accepted theoretical models have had to adapt to accommodate the new wealth of observational data.
Interferometric visibility and coherence
Authors: Biswas Tanmoy , García Díaz María , Winter Andreas
Published: July 2017

Recently, the basic concept of quantum coherence (or superposition) has gained a lot of renewed attention, after Baumgratz
et al.
(
Phys. Rev. Lett.
113
, 140401. (doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.140401)), following Åberg (
http://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0612146
), have proposed a resource theoretic approach to quantify it. This has resulted in a large number of papers and preprints exploring various coherence monotones, and debating possible forms for the resource theory. Here, we take the view that the operational foundation of coherence in a state, be it quantum or otherwise wave mechanical, lies in the observation of interference effects. Our approach here is to consider an idealized multi-path interferometer, with a suitable detector, in such a way that the visibility of the interference pattern provides a quantitative expression of the amount of coherence in a given probe state. We present a general framework of deriving coherence measures from visibility, and demonstrate it by analysing several concrete visibility parameters, recovering some known coherence measures and obtaining some new ones.
Disentangling sources of variation in SSU rDNA sequences from single cell analyses of ciliates: impact of copy number variation and experimental error
Authors: Wang Chundi , Zhang Tengteng , Wang Yurui , Katz Laura A. , Gao Feng , Song Weibo
Published: July 2017

Small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) is widely used for phylogenetic inference, barcoding and other taxonomy-based analyses. Recent studies indicate that SSU rDNA of ciliates may have a high level of sequence variation within a single cell, which impacts the interpretation of rDNA-based surveys. However, sequence variation can come from a variety of sources including experimental errors, especially the mutations generated by DNA polymerase in PCR. In the present study, we explore the impact of four DNA polymerases on sequence variation and find that low-fidelity polymerases exaggerate the estimates of single-cell sequence variation. Therefore, using a polymerase with high fidelity is essential for surveys of sequence variation. Another source of variation results from errors during amplification of SSU rDNA within the polyploidy somatic macronuclei of ciliates. To investigate further the impact of SSU rDNA copy number variation, we use a high-fidelity polymerase to examine the intra-individual SSU rDNA polymorphism in ciliates with varying levels of macronuclear amplification:Halteria grandinella,Blepharisma americanumandStrombidium stylifer. We estimate the rDNA copy numbers of these three species by single-cell quantitative PCR. The results indicate that: (i) sequence variation of SSU rDNA within a single cell is authentic in ciliates, but the level of intra-individual SSU rDNA polymorphism varies greatly among species; (ii) rDNA copy numbers vary greatly among species, even those within the same class; (iii) the average rDNA copy number ofHalteria grandinellais about 567 893 (s.d. = 165 481), which is the highest record of rDNA copy number in ciliates to date; and (iv) based on our data and the records from previous studies, it is not always true in ciliates that rDNA copy numbers are positively correlated with cell or genome size.
Dissecting the contributions of time and microbe density to variation in immune gene expression
Authors: Tate Ann T. , Graham Andrea L.
Published: July 2017

Widespread differential expression of immunological genes is a hallmark of the response to infection in almost all surveyed taxa. However, several challenges remain in the attempt to connect differences in gene expression with functional outcomes like parasite killing and host survival. For example, temporal gene expression patterns are not always monotonic (unidirectional slope), yielding results that qualitatively depend on the time point selected for analysis. They may also be correlated to microbe density, confounding the strength of an immune response and resistance to parasites. In this study, we analyse these relationships in an mRNA-seq time series ofTribolium castaneuminfected withBacillus thuringiensis. Our results suggest that many extracellular immunological components with known roles in immunity, like antimicrobial peptides and recognition proteins, are highly correlated to microbe load. On the other hand, intracellular components of immunological signalling pathways overwhelmingly show non-monotonic temporal patterns of gene expression, despite the underlying assumption of monotonicity in most ecological and comparative transcriptomics studies that rely on cross-sectional analyses. Our results raise a host of new questions, including to what extent variation in host resistance, infection tolerance and immunopathology can be explained by variation in the slope or sensitivity of these newly characterized patterns.
Pollen tube growth and guidance: Occam’s razor sharpened on a molecular AGP Rosetta Stone
Authors: Lamport Derek T. A. , Tan Li , Held Michael , Kieliszewski Marcia J.
Published: July 2017

Occam’s Razor suggests a new model of pollen tube tip growth based on a novel Hechtian oscillator that integrates: (1) a periplasmic AGP-Ca2+calcium capacitor with tip-localised arabinogalactan glycoproteins (AGPs); (2) tip-focussed cytosolic Ca2+oscillations; (3) Hechtian strands evidence of adhesion between the plasma membrane and the cell wall of the growing tip. Thus Hechtian adhesion, as a piconewton force transducer, couples the internal stress of a rapidly growing wall to the plasma membrane. Such Hechtian transduction via stretch-activated Ca2+channels and H+-ATPase proton efflux dissociating periplasmic AGP-Ca2+, creates a Ca2+influx that activates exocytosis of wall precursors. In effect a highly simplified primary cell wall regulates its own synthesis and a Hechtian growth oscillator regulates overall tip growth. By analogy with the Rosetta Stone that translates trilingual inscriptions as a single identical proclamation, the Hechtian Hypothesis translates classical AGPs and their roles as a Ca2+capacitor, pollen tube guide and wall plasticiser into a simple but widely applicable model of tip growth. Even wider ramifications of the Hechtian oscillator may implicate AGPs in osmosensing or gravisensing and other tropisms, leading us yet further towards the Holy Grail of plant growth.
The cytoplasmic DNA sensor cGAS promotes mitotic cell death
Authors: Zierhut Christian , Funabiki Hironori
Published: July 2017

The cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase cGAS counteracts infections by detecting and binding foreign cytoplasmic DNA1. DNA-induced synthesis of cGAMP activates innate immune signalling and apoptosis through the cGAMP receptor STING and the downstream effector IRF31–7. During interphase the nuclear envelope protects chromosomal self-DNA from cGAS, but the consequences of exposing chromosomes to cGAS following mitotic nuclear envelope disassembly are unknown. Here we demonstrate that cGAS associates with chromosomes during mitosis and binds nucleosomes with even higher affinity than naked DNA in vitro. Nucleosomes nevertheless competitively inhibit the DNA-dependent stimulation of cGAS, and accordingly, chromosomal cGAS does not affect mitotic progression under normal conditions. This suggests that nucleosomes prevent the inappropriate activation of cGAS during mitosis by acting as a signature of self-DNA. During prolonged mitotic arrest, however, cGAS becomes activated to promote cell death, limiting the fraction of cells that can survive and escape mitotic arrest induced by the chemotherapeutic drug taxol. Induction of mitotic cell death involves cGAMP synthesis by cGAS, as well as signal transduction to IRF3 by STING. We thus propose that cGAS plays a previously unappreciated role in guarding against mitotic errors, promoting cell death during prolonged mitotic arrest. Our data also indicate that the cGAS pathway, whose activity differs widely among cell lines, impacts cell fate determination upon treatment with taxol and other anti-mitotic drugs. Thus, we propose the innate immune system may be harnessed to selectively target cells with mitotic abnormalities.
FaStore – a space-saving solution for raw sequencing data
Authors: Roguski Łukasz , Ochoa Idoia , Hernaez Mikel , Deorowicz Sebastian
Published: July 2017

The affordability of DNA sequencing has led to the generation of unprecedented volumes of raw sequencing data. These data must be stored, processed, and transmitted, which poses significant challenges. To facilitate this effort, we introduce FaStore, a specialized compressor for FASTQ files. The proposed algorithm does not use any reference sequences for compression, and permits the user to choose from several lossy modes to improve the overall compression ratio, depending on the specific needs. We demonstrate through extensive simulations that FaStore achieves a significant improvement in compression ratio with respect to previously proposed algorithms for this task. In addition, we perform an analysis on the effect that the different lossy modes have on variant calling, the most widely used application for clinical decision making, especially important in the era of precision medicine. We show that lossy compression can offer significant compression gains, while preserving the essential genomic information and without affecting the variant calling performance.
An updated infrageneric classification of the oaks: review of previous taxonomic schemes and synthesis of evolutionary patterns
Authors: Denk Thomas , Grimm Guido W. , Manos Paul S. , Deng Min , Hipp Andrew
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we review major classification schemes proposed for oaks by John Claudius Loudon, Anders Sandøe Ørsted, William Trelease, Otto Karl Anton Schwarz, Aimée Antoinette Camus, Yuri Leonárdovich Menitsky, and Kevin C. Nixon. Classifications of oaks (Fig. 1) have thus far been based entirely on morphological characters. They differed profoundly from each other because each taxonomist gave a different weight to distinguishing characters; often characters that are homoplastic in oaks. With the advent of molecular phylogenetics our view has considerably changed. One of the most profound changes has been the realisation that the traditional split between the East Asian subtropical to tropical subgenusCyclobalanopsisand the subgenusQuercusthat includes all other oaks is artificial. The traditional concept has been replaced by that of two major clades, each comprising three infrageneric groups: a Palearctic-Indomalayan clade including Group Ilex (Ilex oaks), Group Cerris (Cerris oaks) and Group Cyclobalanopsis (cycle-cup oaks), and a predominantly Nearctic clade including Group Protobalanus (intermediate or golden cup oaks), Group Lobatae (red oaks) and Group Quercus (white oaks, with most species in America and some 30 species in Eurasia). The main morphological feature characterising these phylogenetic lineages is pollen morphology, a character overlooked in traditional classifications. This realisation, along with the now available (molecular-)phylogenetic framework, opens new avenues for biogeographic, ecological and evolutionary studies and a re-appraisal of the fossil record. We provide an overview about recent advances in these fields and outline how the results of these studies contribute to the establishment of a unifying systematic scheme of oaks. Ultimately, we propose an updated classification ofQuercusrecognising two subgenera with eight sections. This classification considers morphological traits, molecular-phylogenetic relationships, and the evolutionary history of one of the most important temperate woody plant genera.
Text Mining of Disease-lifestyle Associations to Explain Comorbidities in Electronic Health Registries
Authors: Jensen Lars Juhl
Published: July 2017

Mining of electronic health registries can reveal vast numbers of disease correlations (from hereon referred to as comorbidities for simplicity). However, the underlying causes can be hard to identify, in part because health registries usually do not record important lifestyle factors such as diet, substance consumption, and physical activity. To address this challenge, I developed a text-mining approach that uses dictionaries of diseases and lifestyle factors for named entity recognition and subsequently for co-occurrence extraction of disease–lifestyle associations from Medline. I show that this approach is able to extract many correct associations and provide proof-of-concept that these can provide plausible explanations for comorbidities observed in Swedish and Danish health registry data.
AKT isoforms have distinct hippocampal expression and roles in synaptic plasticity
Authors: Levenga Josien , Wong Helen , Milstead Ryan A. , Keller Bailey N. , Laplante Lauren E. , Hoeffer Charles A.
Published: July 2017

AKT is a kinase that regulates numerous cellular processes in the brain and mutations inAKTare known to affect brain function. AKT is indirectly implicated in synaptic plasticity, but its direct role has not been studied. Moreover, three highly related AKT isoforms are expressed in the brain, but their individual roles are poorly understood. We find that each AKT isoform has a unique expression pattern in the hippocampus, with AKT1 and AKT3 primarily in neurons but displaying local differences, while AKT2 is in astrocytes. We also find isoform-specific roles for AKT in multiple paradigms of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. AKT1, but not AKT2 or AKT3, is required for L-LTP through regulating activity-induced protein synthesis. Interestingly, AKT activity inhibits mGluR-LTD, with overlapping functions for AKT1 and AKT3. In summary, our studies identify distinct expression patterns and roles in synaptic plasticity for AKT isoforms in the hippocampus.
Objective, Quantitative, Data-Driven Assessment of Chemical Probes
Authors: Antolin Albert A. , Tym Joe E. , Komianou Angeliki , Collins Ian , Workman Paul , Al-Lazikani Bissan
Published: July 2017

Chemical probes are essential tools for understanding biological systems and for target validation, yet selecting tools for biomedical research is largely biased and subjective. Here we describe the Probe Miner: Chemical Probes Objective Assessment resource – capitalising on the plethora of public medicinal chemistry data to empower quantitative, objective, Big Data-driven assessment of chemical probes. We assess >1.8m compounds for their suitability as chemical tools against 2,220 human targets and dissect their biases and limitations.
The evolution of duplicate gene expression in mammalian organs
Authors: Guschanski Katerina , Warnefors Maria , Kaessmann Henrik
Published: July 2017

Gene duplications generate genomic raw material that allows the emergence of novel functions, likely facilitating adaptive evolutionary innovations. However, global assessments of the functional and evolutionary relevance of duplicate genes in mammals were until recently limited by the lack of appropriate comparative data. Here, we report a large-scale study of the expression evolution of DNA-based functional gene duplicates in three major mammalian lineages (placental mammals, marsupials, egg-laying monotremes) and birds, on the basis of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data from nine species and eight organs. We observe dynamic changes in tissue expression preference of paralogs with different duplication ages, suggesting differential contribution of paralogs to specific organ functions during vertebrate evolution. Specifically, we show that paralogs that emerged in the common ancestor of bony vertebrates are enriched for genes with brain-specific expression and provide evidence for differential forces underlying the preferential emergence of young testis- and liver-specific expressed genes. Further analyses uncovered that the overall spatial expression profiles of gene families tend to be conserved, with several exceptions of pronounced tissue specificity shifts among lineage-specific gene family expansions. Finally, we trace new lineage-specific genes that may have contributed to the specific biology of mammalian organs, including the little-studied placenta. Overall, our study provides novel and taxonomically broad evidence for the differential contribution of duplicate genes to tissue-specific transcriptomes and for their importance for the phenotypic evolution of vertebrates.
Evaluation of grain-average stress tensor in a tensile-deformed Al–Mn polycrystal by high-energy X-ray diffraction
Authors: Renversade Loïc , Borbély András
Published: July 2017

Three-dimensional X-ray diffraction was applied to characterize the strain/stress evolution in individual grains of an Al–0.3 wt% Mn polycrystal deformedin situat a synchrotron source. Methodological aspects concerning the calibration of the geometrical setup and the evaluation of the strain/stress tensors are discussed. A two-step calibration method separately treating the detector and the rotation axis allows one to determine the centre-of-mass position and crystallographic orientation of grains with standard errors of about 1.5 µm and 0.02°, respectively. Numerical simulations indicate that the error of normal strain components (about 1 × 10−4) is mainly caused by calibration errors, while the error of shear components (about 0.5 × 10−4) is largely influenced by counting statistics and random spot-centre errors due to detector distortion. The importance of monitoring the beam energy is emphasized.
Bent Bragg–Laue monochromator for high-energy X-rays
Authors: Shi Xianbo , Xu Wenqian , Yakovenko Andrey , Halder Gregory , Liu Zunping , Kurtz Charles , Ribaud Lynn , Beyer Kevin , Chapman Karena , Chupas Peter
Published: July 2017

A bent Bragg–Laue monochromator (BLM) is proposed for high-energy X-ray (∼25–60 keV) beamlines. The BLM has the unique feature of bi-directional focusing. A sagittally bent Laue crystal can focus the large horizontal fan of a bending magnet or wiggler source. A meridionally bent Bragg crystal focuses the beam vertically and corrects for the anticlastic bending effects of the Laue crystal. This monochromator geometry relies on the crystal orientations being optimized. It is shown that the focusing condition and Rowland condition can be simultaneously satisfied at a given energy. Detailed ray tracings indicate that a BLM can provide similar energy resolution and higher flux density compared to a sagittally bent double-Laue monochromator configuration. A prototype BLM with a symmetric Bragg crystal and an asymmetric Laue crystal was tested. Matching of the bend radii of the two crystals in the meridional direction was demonstrated. In general, the horizontal acceptance of the sagittally bent Laue crystal is limited by the large curvature. This horizontal BLM acceptance could be increased by translating the Laue crystal along its sagittal bending axis.
Production, biophysical characterization and crystallization ofPseudomonas putidaGraA and its complexes with GraT and thegraTAoperator
Authors: Talavera Ariel , Tamman Hedvig , Ainelo Andres , Hadži San , Garcia-Pino Abel , Hõrak Rita , Konijnenberg Albert , Loris Remy
Published: July 2017

ThegraTAoperon fromPseudomonas putidaencodes a toxin–antitoxin module with an unusually moderate toxin. Here, the production, SAXS analysis and crystallization of the antitoxin GraA, the GraTA complex and the complex of GraA with a 33 bp operator fragment are reported. GraA forms a homodimer in solution and crystallizes in space groupP21, with unit-cell parametersa= 66.9,b = 48.9,c= 62.7 Å, β = 92.6°. The crystals are likely to contain two GraA dimers in the asymmetric unit and diffract to 1.9 Å resolution. The GraTA complex forms a heterotetramer in solution. Crystals of the GraTA complex diffracted to 2.2 Å resolution and are most likely to contain a single heterotetrameric GraTA complex in the asymmetric unit. They belong to space groupP41orP43, with unit-cell parametersa=b= 56.0,c= 128.2 Å. The GraA–operator complex consists of a 33 bp operator region that binds two GraA dimers. It crystallizes in space groupP31orP32, with unit-cell parametersa=b= 105.6,c= 149.9 Å. These crystals diffract to 3.8 Å resolution.
Methylation, crystallization and SAD phasing of the Csu pilus CsuC–CsuE chaperone–adhesin subunit pre-assembly complex from Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Pakharukova Natalia , Tuittila Minna , Paavilainen Sari , Zavialov Anton
Published: July 2017

Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most difficult Gram-negative bacteria to control and treat. This pathogen forms biofilms on hospital surfaces and medical devices using Csu pili assembled via the archaic chaperone–usher pathway. To uncover the mechanism of bacterial attachment to abiotic surfaces, it was aimed to determine the crystal structure of the pilus tip adhesin CsuE. The CsuC–CsuE chaperone–subunit pre-assembly complex was purified from the periplasm of Escherichia coli overexpressing CsuC and CsuE. Despite the high purity of the complex, no crystals could be obtained. This challenge was solved by the methylation of lysine residues. The complex was crystallized in 0.1 M bis-tris pH 5.5, 17% PEG 3350 using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals diffracted to a resolution of 2.31 Å and belonged to the triclinic space group P1, with unit-cell parameters a = 53.84, b = 63.85, c = 89.25 Å, α = 74.65, β = 79.65, γ = 69.07°. Initial phases were derived from a single anomalous diffraction experiment using a selenomethionine derivative.
1.12 Å resolution crystal structure of the catalytic domain of the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance determinant MCR-2
Authors: Coates Katie , Walsh Timothy R. , Spencer James , Hinchliffe Philip
Published: July 2017

MCR-2 confers resistance to colistin, a `last-line' antibiotic against extensively resistant Gram-negative pathogens. It is a plasmid-encoded phosphoethanolamine transferase that is closely related to MCR-1. To understand the diversity in the MCR family, the 1.12 Å resolution crystal structure of the catalytic domain of MCR-2 was determined. Variable amino acids are located distant from both the di-zinc active site and the membrane-proximal face. The exceptionally high resolution will provide an accurate starting model for further mechanistic studies.
An investigation of corrosion resistance of HVOF coated ASME SA213 T91 boiler steel in an actual boiler environment
Authors: Sidhu Varinder Pal Singh , Goyal Khushdeep , Goyal Rakesh
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to use the high-velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) spraying process for depositing 93(WC–Cr3C2)–7Ni, 75Cr3C2–25NiCr, 83WC–17CO and 86WC–10CO–4Cr coatings on ASME SA213 T91 to study the corrosion resistance of these coatings in an actual boiler environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The HVOF spraying process was used for depositing 93(WC–Cr3C2)–7Ni, 75Cr3C2–25NiCr, 83WC–17CO and 86WC–10CO–4Cr coatings on ASME SA213 T91. All the coatings obtained are found to be uniform, dense and having thickness between 200 and 250 μm. All the coatings were exposed in an actual boiler environment at 900°C temperature for 10 cycles. Each cycle consisted of 100 h heating followed by 1 h cooling at ambient conditions. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy techniques were used to analyse corrosion products.

Findings

All the coated samples were found to be having higher corrosion resistance than the uncoated samples. Among coated specimens, 93(WC–Cr3C2)–7Ni coating has shown maximum and 75Cr3C2–25NiCr coating has shown minimum resistance to corrosion.

Originality/value

This paper is original research.
Characterization and hot corrosion behavior of D-gun sprayed Cr2O3-75% Al2O3 coated ASTM-SA210-A1 boiler steel in molten salt environment
Authors: Rani Amita , Bala Niraj , Gupta C.M.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Hot corrosion is the major degradation mechanism of failure of boiler and gas turbine components. The present work aims to investigate the hot corrosion resistance of detonation gun sprayed (D-gun) Cr2O3-75 per cent Al2O3 ceramic coating on ASTM-SA210-A1 boiler steel.

Design/methodology/approach

The coating exhibits nearly uniform, adherent and dense microstructure with porosity less than 0.8 per cent. Thermogravimetry technique is used to study the high temperature hot corrosion behavior of bare and coated boiler steel in molten salt environment (Na2SO4-60 per cent V2O5) at high temperature 900°C for 50 cycles. The corrosion products are analyzed by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission scanning electron microscope/energy-dispersive analysis (EDAX) to reveal their microstructural and compositional features for elucidating the corrosion mechanisms.

Findings

During investigations, it was found that the Cr2O3-75 per cent Al2O3 coating on Grade A-1 boiler steel is found to be very effective in decreasing the corrosion rate in the molten salt environment at 900°C. The coating has shown lesser weight gains along with better adhesiveness of the oxide scales with the substrate till the end of the experiment. Thus, coatings serve as an effective diffusion barrier to preclude the diffusion of oxygen from the environment into the substrate boiler steel.

Research limitations/implications

Therefore, it is concluded that the better hot corrosion resistance of the coating is due to the formation of desirable microstructural features such as very low porosity, uniform fine grains and the flat splat structures in the coating; as compared to the bare substrate under cyclic conditions.

Practical implications

This research is useful for coal-fired boilers and other power plant boilers.

Social implications

This research is useful for power generation plants.

Originality/value

There is no reported literature on hot corrosion behavior of Cr2O3-75 per cent Al2O3 coating deposited on the selected substrates by D-gun spray technique. The present work has been focused to study the influence of the Cr2O3-75 per cent Al2O3 coating developed with D-gun spraying technique on high temperature corrosion behavior of ASTM-SA210-A-1 boiler steel in an aggressive environment of Na2SO4-60 per cent V2O5 molten salt at 900°C under cyclic conditions.
Adsorption and corrosion inhibition behavior of aluminium by 2,6-di methyl pyridine in distilled water
Authors: Padash Rahman , Jamalizadeh Effat , Jafari Abdol Hamid
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Chemical and electrochemical measurements were used to study the corrosion inhibition of aluminium in distilled water using one of pyridine derivatives as corrosion inhibitor.

Design/methodology/approach

Corrosion inhibition of aluminum in distilled water was investigated in the absence and presence of different concentrations of 2,6-di methyl pyridine (DMP). Potentiodynamic polarization, open circuit potential and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy were employed.

Findings

Inhibition efficiency of 86 per cent is reached with 0.0187 M of DMP at 25°C. Potentiodynamic polarization showed that DMP behaves as mixed type inhibitor. The inhibitor obeyed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The value of ΔG°ads suggests physico-chemical adsorption of the inhibitor molecule on the aluminium surface.

Originality/value

This paper indicates DMP could be used as corrosion inhibitor to prevent the corrosion of aluminium in in distilled water.
Making the mission visible: altmetrics and nontraditional publishing
Authors: Bonnet Jennifer L. , Méndez-Brady Marisa
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Whereas traditional book and journal publishing remain the gold standard for many post-secondary institutions, nontraditional publishing is just as prolific at the flagship university in Maine. The university has strong land and sea grant missions that drive a broad research agenda, with an emphasis on community outreach and engagement. However, the impact of researchers’ contributions outside of academe is unlikely to be accurately reflected in promotion, tenure or review processes. Thus, the authors designed a series of altmetrics workshops aimed at seeding conversations around novel ways to track the impact of researchers’ diverse scholarly and creative outputs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a case study of the instructional approach taken at the University of Maine library to facilitate discussions of alternative impact assessments that reach beyond traditional publications.

Findings

Evaluations revealed an increased awareness of, and interest in, impact tracking tools that capture both traditional scholarship, like journal articles, and nontraditional scholarly and creative outputs, such as videos, podcasts and newsletters. The authors learned that altmetrics provides an entry point into a broader conversation about scholarly impact, and was best received by those whose scholarly output is not always captured by traditional metrics.

Practical implications

Scholars are equipped with novel methods for describing the value of their work and discovering a broader audience for their research. Future initiatives will target the needs identified through initial conversations around altmetrics.

Originality/value

Altmetrics workshops provide spaces to explore the potential for new tools that capture a range of previously unconsidered measures of impact, and to discuss the implications of those measures.
Perceptions, preferences of scholarly publishing in Open Access journals
Authors: Bosah Gabriel , Okeji Chuma Clement , Baro Ebikabowei Emmanuel
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to know the various factors librarians consider while selecting Open Access (OA) journal for publication and to identify the challenges librarians face with OA journal publishing.

Design/methodology/approach

Online questionnaire was designed to collect data from 402 academic librarians in 87 universities in Africa using SurveyMonkey software.

Findings

The study found that academic librarians are aware of the “green” and “gold” routes but not familiar with the “diamond” route. The study revealed that a large number of the academic librarians have published only one paper in OA journals, followed by those who have not published any paper in OA journals. The study also revealed that reputation of journal and impact factor of journal were seen as very important among the factors that inform them of choosing OA. The majority of the respondents agreed that author fees, and lack of stable internet connectivity are the major barriers to publishing in OA journals.

Practical implications

The study recommends that academic libraries in institutions of higher learning in Africa should organize seminars periodically on the need for their librarians to research and publish in OA journals.

Social implications

Identifying factors involved in author decisions to publish in OA journals will help illuminate issues that may encourage or discourage author support of OA publishing models. Further understanding of these issues can assist the efforts to improve author perceptions of and confidence in OA publications.

Originality/value

It is believed that this study of African librarians publishing in OA journals is the first study in the region.
Implementing IT governance: a primer for informaticians
Authors: Cervone H. Frank
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the relevance of information technology (IT) governance to informaticians. In most organizations, informatics is part of the IT function. Therefore, an understanding of IT governance is of benefit to informaticians in their day-to-day work. In addition, while IT governance is not data governance, informaticians often are responsible for data governance efforts. Understanding the larger picture of IT governance can be useful to informaticians, as it provides a solid context and many models that can be used or adapted for data governance efforts.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a general review of IT governance based on industry best practice and the author’s experience.

Findings

IT governance is critical to success in IT as it helps ensure all stakeholders have a voice and appropriate decision-making rights in guiding the IT efforts across the organization. Implementing and maintaining an IT governance structure requires commitment from the organization at all levels and requires time and resources for management and implementation.

Originality/value

This paper provides an overview and introduction to IT governance concepts specifically for the informatics professional.
Mapping the cybersecurity institutional landscape
Authors: Kuerbis Brenden , Badiei Farzaneh
Published: July 2017

Purpose

There is growing contestation between states and private actors over cybersecurity responsibilities, and its governance is ever more susceptible to nationalization. The authors believe these developments are based on an incomplete picture of how cybersecurity is actually governed in practice and theory. Given this disconnect, this paper aims to attempt to provide a cohesive understanding of the cybersecurity institutional landscape.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from institutional economics and using extensive desk research, the authors develop a conceptual model and broadly sketch the activities and contributions of market, networked and hierarchical governance structures and analyze how they interact to produce and govern cybersecurity.

Findings

Analysis shows a robust market and networked governance structures and a more limited role for hierarchical structures. Ex ante efforts to produce cybersecurity using purely hierarchical governance structures, even buttressed with support from networked governance structures, struggle without market demand like in the case of secure internet identifiers. To the contrary, ex post efforts like botnet mitigation, route monitoring and other activities involving information sharing seem to work under a variety of combinations of governance structures.

Originality/value

The authors’ conceptual framework and observations offer a useful starting point for unpacking how cybersecurity is produced and governed; ultimately, we need to understand if and how these governance structure arrangements actually impact variation in observed levels of cybersecurity.
Rural seed sector development through participatory varietal selection
Authors: Wilkus Erin Lynn , Francesconi Gian Nicola , Jäger Matthias
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This impact assessment provides empirical evidence from household producer surveys to test the assumptions surrounding the contribution of participatory varietal selection (PVS) activities on seed sector development. The purpose of this paper is to focus on household access and adoption of common bean varieties from seed provision services and local markets to determine if, and under what social conditions, PVS activities stimulated seed uptake and market participation.

Design/methodology/approach

The propensity score matching technique and simple regression analysis were used to estimate the impact and compare household performance across three farmer groups located in Hoima, Uganda.

Findings

PVS increased access to and adoption of improved varieties and supported additional intermediate development outcomes when farmer group characteristics were aligned with PVS efforts. Specifically, PVS was more likely to stimulate market purchases of newly introduced varieties in the farmer group located closest to markets. The project did not however, improve all the development objectives that were evaluated. PVS most critically, did not increase the probability that households received the specific varieties they desired.

Research limitations/implications

This study found that PVS can support the key pillars of seed sector development. In addition to increasing household access to new varieties, free seed dissemination promoted market participation and stimulated local seed market development.

Originality/value

This study addressed the need to consider intermediate development outcomes in impact assessments of development interventions. The findings clarified the contribution of PVS in the context of broader development goals and identified farmer group dynamics associated with enhanced impacts among rural producers in Uganda.
The effects of psychological capital and work engagement on nurses’ lateness attitude and turnover intentions
Authors: Karatepe Osman M. , Avci Turgay
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate work engagement (WE) as a mediator of the influence of psychological capital (PsyCap) on lateness attitude and turnover intentions. It also examines lateness attitude as a mediator between WE and turnover intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling was employed to gauge the relationships using data gathered from nurses in public hospitals in Northern Cyprus.

Findings

The results underscore the role WE plays as a mediator between PsyCap and the previously stated outcomes. The results also highlight the role lateness attitude plays as a mediator in the relationship between WE and turnover intentions.

Originality/value

What is known about the effects of PsyCap and WE on nurses’ lateness attitude and turnover intentions is scarce. There is also limited empirical evidence regarding the underlying mechanism linking PsyCap to lateness attitude and turnover intentions.
FINRA releases guidance on social media and digital communications
Authors: Wirig Matthew T. , Poorbaugh Kate S.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

To summarize recent FINRA guidance on social media and digital communications published in Regulatory Notice 17-18.

Design/methodology/approach

The intention was to provide a brief summary of the recent FINRA guidance on social media and digital communications published in Regulatory Notice 17-18 along with previous guidance in Regulatory Notices 10-06 and 11-39.

Findings

The new guidance focuses on a number of areas of digital communications including text messaging, personal communications, hyperlinks and sharing, native advertising, testimonials and endorsements, correction of third-party content and BrokerCheck links.

Practical implications

Firms should review this new guidance alongside existing FINRA guidance and their current social media and digital communications practices. Where firms observe deficiencies in their existing practices, adjustments should be made before they find themselves the subject of a FINRA investigation, examination or enforcement action.

Originality/value

Practical explanation by experienced financial services lawyers.
The Private Fund Limited Partnership: a new fund vehicle for the UK
Authors: Gibson Sally , Kittredge Geoffrey , Witney Simon
Published: July 2017

Purpose

To explain the UK government’s long-awaited reforms to limited partnership law.

Design/methodology/approach

This article discusses the key updates to limited partnership law in the UK that the reforms represent and draws some conclusions as to what may lay ahead.

Findings

The article concludes that the new regime is a welcome step and one that should help the United Kingdom to remain competitive as a jurisdiction for global fund formation in the face of competition from other jurisdictions.

Originality/value

This article contains key details on the new limited partnership regime in the UK and guidance from experienced lawyers with specialties in investment management and public and private funds.
Cross border master-feeder arrangements: SEC staff slightly expands utility of offshore feeders for global investment management firms, but tax and other challenges remain
Authors: Amorosi Mark , Zornada George , Gibson Todd , Almquist Joel , Man Pablo J.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

To analyze the recent SEC no-action relief allowing a non-US investment company to invest as a feeder fund in a US registered open-end management investment company without complying with all of the conditions of Section 12(d)(1)(E) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Design/methodology/approach

This article discusses the various conditions that a non-US investment company investing as a foreign feeder in a US registered open-end management investment company must satisfy in order to avoid complying with certain provisions of Section 12(d)(1)(E) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. In addition, the article analyzes certain potential tax and regulatory challenges facing firms seeking to rely on the relief.

Findings

This article concludes that the SEC no-action relief is an incremental step in reducing barriers to global distribution of US registered funds and may marginally increase the use of cross-border master-feeder arrangements as contemplated by the no-action letter. Nevertheless, this article cautions that significant impediments to global distribution of US registered funds remain, including tax withholding and non-US law issues.

Originality/value

This article contains valuable information about the regulatory impediments to global distribution of US registered funds, as well as learned assessments of the impact of recent developments in this space by experienced securities lawyers.
iPad and android tablets: wonder pills or placebo for academic library staff?
Authors: Reyes Betsaida M. , Giullian Jon , Devlin Frances
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper describes the creation and work of a collaborative learning community, consisting of library staff from a variety of library departments. The purpose of this paper is to build proficiency in using tablet devices and to explore the potential application of tablets to various types of library work.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from discussion sessions, journals, and a survey, which documented participants’ experiences in learning how to use tablets and how they applied them to work-related tasks.

Findings

The project helped increase participants’ awareness of different types of work across the library, encouraged inter-departmental communication, and provided an open environment for asking questions, trouble-shooting, and sharing tips about using tablets. Participants mastered basic functions and navigation and explored ways to use tablets in their work. Portability was the top advantage of the tablet.

Originality/value

Although participants found tablets to be convenient and portable for some tasks, they are not ready to entirely replace office computers for library work. Laptops remain a more flexible and powerful option at this time.
Factors influencing service innovation of MSNs in China: a theoretical and empirical research
Authors: Zhao Yang , Zhou Ruoxin , Ci Yinping
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the key factors influencing the service innovation of mobile social networks (MSNs), figure out the mechanism of all factors in different stages of service innovation and help mobile social application developers promote better service innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

From previous research, this paper adopted nine initial factors that influence the service innovation of MSNs, and divide the service innovation process into three stages (i.e. demand analysis, service design and innovation implementation). On that basis, the authors constructed a model, and then collected data from 184 managers from 20 leading MSN corporates in China through questionnaires to examine the model. Furthermore, factor analysis was used to extract key factors influencing the service innovation of MSNs, correlation analysis was employed to discuss the relationship among factors and regression analysis was applied to explore their specific roles in different stages in the service innovation process.

Findings

The empirical results show that the service innovation of MSNs is mainly influenced by five key factors: user, developer, market environment, social environment and technology. The authors found that different factors played remarkably different roles in the three stages. In specific, all factors but technology are important in the demand analysis stage; all factors but social environment are critical to service design; and all factors but user contribute to the implementation of service innovation.

Practical implications

The results of this study can help mobile social application developers and mobile social service providers in China to better understand the driving force of service innovation and what should be emphasized in different stages, and then find the optimal path to implement service innovation, improve their service quality and user experience and facilitate the development of Chinese MSNs.

Originality/value

This is the first research that comprehensively explores factors influencing the service innovation of Chinese MSNs from multi-dimensional perspectives, which provides profound theoretical guidance to the practice of service innovation in China. Also, it contributes to the development of innovation theory of traditional web services.