bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computational Pan-genome Mapping and pairwise SNP-distance improve Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Transmission Clusters
Authors: Jandrasits Christine , Kröger Stefan , Haas Walter , Renard Bernhard Y.
Published: September 2019

Next-generation sequencing based base-by-base distance measures have become an integral complement to epidemiological investigation of infectious disease outbreaks. This study introduces PANPASCO, a computational pan-genome mapping based, pairwise distance method that is highly sensitive to differences between cases, even when located in regions of lineage specific reference genomes. We show that our approach is superior to previously published methods in several datasets and across different Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineages, as its characteristics allow the comparison of a high number of diverse samples in one analysis - a scenario that becomes more and more likely with the increased usage of whole-genome sequencing in transmission surveillance.

Author summary

Tuberculosis still is a threat to global health. It is essential to detect and interrupt transmissions to stop the spread of this infectious disease. With the rising use of next-generation sequencing methods, its application in the surveillance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has become increasingly important in the last years. The main goal of molecular surveillance is the identification of patient-patient transmission and cluster detection. The mutation rate of M. tuberculosis is very low and stable. Therefore, many existing methods for comparative analysis of isolates provide inadequate results since their resolution is too limited. There is a need for a method that takes every detectable difference into account. We developed PANPASCO, a novel approach for comparing pairs of isolates using all genomic information available for each pair. We combine improved SNP-distance calculation with the use of a pan-genome incorporating more than 100 M. tuberculosis reference genomes for read mapping prior to variant detection. We thereby enable the collective analysis and comparison of similar and diverse isolates associated with different M. tuberculosis strains.
Neural representation of current and intended task sets during sequential judgements on human faces
Authors: Díaz-Gutiérrez Paloma , Gilbert Sam J. , Arco Juan E. , Sobrado Alberto , Ruz María
Published: September 2019

Engaging in a demanding activity while holding in mind another task to be performed in the near future requires the maintenance of information about both the currently-active task set and the intended one. However, little is known about how the human brain implements such action plans. While some previous studies have examined the neural representation of current task sets and others have investigated delayed intentions, to date none has examined the representation of current and intended task sets within a single experimental paradigm. In this fMRI study, we examined the neural representation of current and intended task sets, employing sequential classification tasks on human faces. Multivariate decoding analyses showed that current task sets were represented in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and fusiform gyrus (FG), while intended tasks could be decoded from lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC). Importantly, a ventromedial region in PFC/OFC contained information about both current and delayed tasks, although cross-classification between the two types of information was not possible. These results help delineate the neural representations of current and intended task sets, and highlight the importance of ventromedial PFC/OFC for maintaining task-relevant information regardless of when it is needed.
Correlation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity during rest and acute stress tasks
Authors: Weissman David G. , Mendes Wendy Berry
Published: September 2019

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is a core and central component of emotion. The myriad social and cognitive challenges faced by humans require flexible modulation of ANS activity for different contexts. In this study, simultaneous activity of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system was measured using respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and pre-ejection period (PEP), respectively. Samples combined four previous studies (N=325) in which RSA and PEP were collected continuously during a resting baseline and an acute stressor, the Trier Social Stress Task. The concurrent relation between RSA and PEP responses was modeled in order to determine the extent to which SNS and PNS activity is correlated across the task within and between participants, and whether this correlation was moderated by age, race, sex, or baseline RSA and PEP. Overall, RSA and PEP were reciprocally coupled, perhaps reflecting shared regulatory mechanisms in the brain. However, recovery from a stressor was characterized by coactivation. Individuals also vary in the extent to which their SNS and PNS are reciprocally coupled; women, younger adults, and individuals with higher baseline RSA showed more reciprocal coupling than men, older adults, and those with lower baseline RSA, respectively, reflecting greater coordination of physiological responding in the former group.
Adjusting ADJUST: Optimizing the ADJUST Algorithm for Pediatric Data Using Geodesic Nets
Authors: Leach Stephanie C. , Morales Santiago , Bowers Maureen E. , Buzzell George A. , Debnath Ranjan , Beall Daniel , Fox Nathan A.
Published: September 2019

A major challenge for electroencephalograph (EEG) studies on pediatric populations is that large amounts of data are lost due to artifacts (e.g., movement and blinks). Independent component analysis (ICA) can separate artifactual and neural activity, allowing researchers to remove such artifactual activity and retain a greater percentage of EEG data for analyses. However, manual identification of artifactual components is time consuming and requires subjective judgment. Automated algorithms, like ADJUST and ICLabel, have been validated on adults using the international 10-20 system, but to our knowledge no such algorithms have been optimized for the geodesic sensor net, which is often used with infants and children. Therefore, in an attempt to automate artifact selection for pediatric data collected with geodesic nets, we modified ADJUST’s algorithm. Our “adjusted-ADJUST” algorithm was compared to the “original-ADJUST” algorithm and ICLabel in adults, children, and infants on three different performance measures: respective classification agreement with expert coders, the number of trials retained following artifact removal, and the reliability of the EEG signal after pre-processing with each algorithm. Overall, the adjusted-ADJUST algorithm performed better than the original-ADJUST algorithm and no ICA correction with adult and pediatric data. Moreover, it performed better than ICLabel for pediatric data. These results indicate that optimizing existing algorithms for data collected with a geodesic net improves artifact classification and retains more trials, potentially facilitating EEG studies with pediatric populations.
A key role for phosphorylation of PsbH in the biogenesis and repair of photosystem II in Chlamydomonas
Authors: Riché Alexis , Lefebvre-Legendre Linnka , Goldschmidt-Clermont Michel
Published: September 2019

Phosphorylation of the core subunits of photosystem II (PSII) is largely governed by a protein kinase and an antagonistic protein phosphatase. In plants the respective mutants show alterations in the architecture of thylakoid membranes and in the repair of PSII after photo-inhibition. However the protein kinase targets several subunits of PSII, as well as other proteins. To specifically investigate the role of phosphorylation of the different PSII subunits, we used site-directed mutagenesis and chloroplast transformation inChlamydomonas reinhardtii. Major, evolutionarily-conserved sites of phosphorylation in three components of PSII (CP43, D2 and PsbH) were mutated to replace the corresponding serine or threonine residues with alanine. The alanine substitution mutant of D2 had no apparent phenotype, while the mutant of CP43 presented a minor delay in recovery from photo-inhibition. Alanine substitutions of the phosphorylation sites in PsbH had significant effects on the accumulation of PSII or on its recovery from photo-inhibition. When mutations in two of the target subunits were combined through a second cycle of chloroplast transformation, the strongest phenotype was observed in the mutant lacking phosphorylation of both PsbH and CP43, which showed delayed recovery from photo-inhibition. Surprisingly this phenotype was reversed in the mutant defective for phosphorylation of all three subunits. Our analysis indicates a prominent role for the N-terminus of PsbH in the stable accumulation of PSII and of PsbH phosphorylation in its repair cycle.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

To specifically investigate the role of PSII phosphorylation, alanine-substitution mutants of the major phospho-sites in the subunits of PSII were generated individually or in combinations using chloroplast transformation. PSII assembly was defective in some of the PsbH mutants. PSII repair after photo-inhibition was delayed most strongly in the mutant lacking phosphorylation of both PsbC (CP43) and PsbH.
Impact of peripheral mutations on the access channels of human cytochrome P450 1A2
Authors: Ying Beili , Zhong Yang , Wang Jingfang
Published: September 2019

As an important member of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, human CYP1A2 is associated with the metabolism of caffeine and melatonin and the activation of precarcinogens. Besides, this CYP protein also involves in metabolizing 5-10% of clinical medicines. Some peripheral mutations in CYP1A2 (P42R, I386F, R431W, and R456H) significantly decrease the enzyme activities, resulting in a vital reduction in substrate metabolisms. To explore the effects of these peripheral mutations, we constructed a membrane-binding model for the full-length human CYP1A2 and studied their dynamic behaviors on lipid membranes. Free energy calculations indicate that the peripheral mutations donot influence substrate binding. P42R is located in the N-terminal anchor, and its positive charged sidechain is adverse to membrane binding. I386F enhances the van der Waals contacts of the water channel bottleneck and R456H breaks the hydrogen bonding interactions that function to position the BC loop, both of which result in a significant inhibition on the water channel. R431W causes a sidechain conformational rearrangement for aromatic residues around the substrate channel, making it in a closed state in most cases. Our computational simulations demonstrate that pi-pi stacking interactions are essential for substrate binding and channel opening. We hope that these findings may be of general relevance to the mutation-induced activity changes for CYP proteins, providing useful information for understanding the CYP-mediated drug metabolism.
Three-dimensional chromatin interactions remain stable upon CAG/CTG repeat expansion
Authors: Buendía Gustavo A. Ruiz , Leleu Marion , Marzetta Flavia , Vanzan Ludovica , Tan Jennifer Y. , Marques Ana C. , Baubec Tuncay , Murr Rabih , Xenarios Ioannis , Dion Vincent
Published: September 2019

Expanded CAG/CTG repeats underlie thirteen neurological disorders, including myotonic dystrophy (DM1) and Huntington’s disease (HD). Upon expansion, CAG/CTG repeat loci acquire heterochromatic characteristics. This observation raises the hypothesis that repeat expansion provokes changes to higher order chromatin folding and thereby affects both gene expression in cis and the genetic instability of the repeat tract. Here we tested this hypothesis directly by performing 4C sequencing at the DMPK and HTT loci from DM1 and HD patient-derived cells. Surprisingly, chromatin contacts remain unchanged upon repeat expansion at both loci. This was true for loci with different DNA methylation levels and CTCF binding. Repeat sizes ranging from 15 to 1,700 displayed strikingly similar chromatin interaction profiles. Our findings argue that extensive changes in heterochromatic properties are not enough to alter chromatin folding at expanded CAG/CTG repeat loci. Moreover, the ectopic insertion of an expanded repeat tract did not change three-dimensional chromatin contacts. We conclude that expanded CAG/CTG repeats have little to no effect on chromatin conformation.
Insights into the dynamic control of breathing revealed through cell-type-specific responses to substance P
Authors: Baertsch Nathan A , Ramirez Jan-Marino
Published: September 2019

The rhythm generating network for breathing must continuously adjust to changing metabolic and behavioral demands. Here, we examine network-based mechanisms in the mouse preBӧtzinger complex using substance P, a potent excitatory modulator of breathing frequency and stability, as a tool to dissect network properties that underlie dynamic breathing. We find that substance P does not alter the balance of excitation and inhibition during breaths or the duration of the resulting refractory period. Instead, mechanisms of recurrent excitation between breaths are enhanced such that the rate that excitation percolates through the network is increased. Based on our results, we propose a conceptual framework in which three distinct phases, the inspiratory phase, refractory phase, and percolation phase, can be differentially modulated to influence breathing dynamics and stability. Unravelling mechanisms that support this dynamic control may improve our understanding of nervous system disorders that destabilize breathing, many of which are associated with changes in brainstem neuromodulatory systems.
High photosynthesis rate in the selected wild rice is driven by leaf anatomy mediating high Rubisco activity and electron transport rate
Authors: Mathan Jyotirmaya , Singh Anuradha , Jathar Vikram , Ranjan Aashish
Published: September 2019

The importance of increasing photosynthetic efficiency for sustainable crop yield increases to feed the growing world population is well recognized. The natural genetic variation for leaf photosynthesis in crop plants is largely unexploited for increasing genetic yield potential. The genus Oryza, including cultivated rice and wild relatives, offers tremendous genetic variability to explore photosynthetic differences, and underlying biochemical, photochemical, and developmental bases. We quantified leaf photosynthesis and related physiological parameters for six cultivated and three wild rice genotypes, and identified photosynthetically efficient wild rice accessions. Fitting A/Ci curves and biochemical analyses showed that the leaf photosynthesis in cultivated rice varieties, IR64 and Nipponbare, was limited due to leaf nitrogen content, Rubisco activity, and electron transport rate compared to photosynthetically efficient accessions of wild rice Oryza australiensis and Oryza latifolia. The selected wild rice accessions with high leaf photosynthesis per unit area had striking anatomical features, such as larger mesophyll cells with more chloroplasts, fewer mesophyll cells between two consecutive veins, and higher mesophyll cell and chloroplast surface area exposed to intercellular space. Our results show the existence of desirable variations in Rubisco activity, electron transport rate, and leaf anatomical features in the rice system itself that could be targeted for increasing the photosynthetic efficiency of cultivated rice varieties.

Highlight

Distinct leaf biochemical, photochemical, and developmental features contribute to efficient photosynthesis in the selected wild rice accessions that could potentially be exploited to increase rice leaf photosynthesis.
Concomitant phytonutrient and transcriptome analysis of mature fruit and leaf tissues of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Oregon Spring) grown using organic and conventional fertilizer
Authors: Sharpe Richard M , Gustafson Luke , Hewitt Seanna , Kilian Benjamin , Crabb James , Hendrickson Christopher , Jiwan Derick , Andrews Preston , Dhingra Amit
Published: September 2019

Enhanced levels of antioxidants, phenolic compounds, carotenoids and vitamin C have been reported for several crops grown under organic fertilizer, albeit with yield penalties. As organic agricultural practices continue to grow and find favor it is critical to gain an understanding of the molecular underpinnings of the factors that limit the yields in organically farmed crops. Concomitant phytochemical and transcriptomic analysis was performed on mature fruit and leaf tissues derived from Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Oregon Spring’ grown under organic and conventional fertilizer conditions to evaluate the following hypotheses. 1. Organic soil fertilizer management results in greater allocation of photosynthetically derived resources to the synthesis of secondary metabolites than to plant growth, and 2. Genes involved in changes in the accumulation of phytonutrients under organic fertilizer regime will exhibit differential expression, and that the growth under different fertilizer treatments will elicit a differential response from the tomato genome. Both these hypotheses were supported, suggesting an adjustment of the metabolic and genomic activity of the plant in response to different fertilizers. Organic fertilizer treatment showed an activation of photoinhibitory processes through differential activation of nitrogen transport and assimilation genes resulting in higher accumulation of phytonutrients. This information can be used to identify alleles for breeding crops that allow for efficient utilization of organic inputs.

Significance statement

Organic fertilizer changes the expression of the tomato genome, induces photosynthetic stress which elicits higher production of secondary metabolites.
Experience-dependent development of dendritic arbors in mouse visual cortex
Authors: Richards Sarah E.V. , Moore Anna R. , Nam Alice Y. , Saxena Shikhar , Paradis Suzanne , Van Hooser Stephen D.
Published: September 2019

Despite the importance of dendritic arbors for proper neuronal function, our knowledge of how sensory experience influences these structures during postnatal cortical development is incomplete. We present a large-scale dataset of 849 three-dimensional reconstructions of pyramidal neuron basal arbors collected across early postnatal development in the mouse visual cortex. We found that the basal arbor underwent a 45% increase in total length between postnatal day 7 (P7) and P30. Surprisingly, comparisons of dark-reared and typically-reared mice revealed that only 15% of arbor length could be attributed to visual experience. Furthermore, we characterized the role of the activity-regulated small GTPase Rem2, showing that Rem2 is an experience-dependent negative regulator of dendritic segment number during the visual critical period. These data establish a detailed, quantitative analysis of the basal arbor that has high utility for understanding circuit development and providing a framework for computationalists wishing to generate anatomically accurate neuronal models.
Experimental Evidence for Constraints in Amplitude-Timescale Co-variation of a Biomolecular Pulse Generating Circuit Design
Authors: Patel Abhilash , Sen Shaunak
Published: September 2019

Understanding constraints on the functional properties of biomolecular circuit dynamics, such as the variation of amplitude and timescale of pulse, is an important part of biomolecular circuit design. While the amplitude-timescale co-variations of the pulse in an incoherent feedforward loop have been investigated computationally using mathematical models, experimental support for such constraints is relatively unclear. Here, we address this using experimental measurements of an existing pulse generating incoherent feedforward loop circuit realization in the context of a standard mathematical model. We characterize the trends of co-variation in the pulse amplitude and rise time computationally by randomly exploring the parameter space. We experimentally measured the co-variation by varying inducers and found that larger amplitude pulses have slower rise time. We discuss the gap between the experimental measurements and predictions of the standard model, highlighting model additions and other biological factors that might bridge the gap.
The ESCRT-III Isoforms CHMP2A And CHMP2B Display Different Effects On Membranes Upon Polymerization
Authors: Alqabandi Maryam , de Franceschi Nicola , Miguet Nolwenn , Maity Sourav , Bally Marta , Roos Wouter H. , Weissenhorn Winfried , Bassereau Patricia , Mangenot Stéphanie
Published: September 2019

ESCRT-III proteins are involved in many membrane remodeling processes including multivesicular body biogenesis as first discovered in yeast. In humans, CHMP2 exists as two potential isoforms, CHMP2A and CHMP2B, but their physical characteristics have not been compared yet. Here, we use a combination of technics on biomimetic systems and purified proteins to study their affinity and effects on membranes. We establish that CHMP2B binding is enhanced in the presence of PI(4,5)P2 lipids. In contrast, CHMP2A does not display lipid specificity and requires CHMP3 for binding significantly to membranes. On the micrometer scale and at moderate bulk concentrations, CHMP2B forms a reticular structure on membranes whereas CHMP2A (+CHMP3) binds homogeneously. Eventually, CHMP2A and CHMP2B unexpectedly induce different mechanical effects to membranes: CHMP2B strongly rigidifies them while CHMP2A (+CHMP3) has no significant effect. Altogether, we conclude that CHMP2B and CHMP2A cannot be considered as isoforms and might thus contribute differently to membrane remodeling processes.
Structural studies of MMP-3 interaction with triple-helical collagen introduce the enzyme’s new roles in tissue remodelling
Authors: Manka Szymon W. , Bihan Dominique , Farndale Richard W.
Published: September 2019

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3 or stromelysin 1) participates in normal extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover during embryonic development, organ morphogenesis and wound healing, and in tissue-destructive diseases, such as aneurysm, cancer, arthritis and heart failure. Despite its ability to hydrolyse numerous proteins in the ECM, MMP-3 fails to cleave the triple helix of interstitial fibrillar collagens. Nonetheless, it can still bind to these collagens although the mechanism, location and role of binding are not known. We used the Collagen Toolkits, libraries of triple-helical peptides that embrace the entire helical domains of collagens II and III, to map MMP-3 interaction sites. The enzyme recognises five sites on collagen II and three sites on collagen III. They share a glycine-phenylalanine-hydroxyproline/alanine (GFO/A) motif that is recognised by the enzyme in a context-dependent manner. Neither MMP-3 zymogen (proMMP-3) nor the individual catalytic (Cat) and hemopexin (Hpx) domains of MMP-3 interact with the peptides, revealing cooperative binding of both domains to the triple helix. The Toolkit binding data combined with molecular modelling enabled us to deduce the putative collagen-binding mode of MMP-3, where all three collagen chains make contacts with the enzyme in the valley running across both Cat and Hpx domains. The observed binding pattern casts light on how MMP-3 could regulate collagen turnover and compete with various collagen-binding proteins regulating cell adhesion and proliferation.
Decrypting noncoding RNA interactions, structures, and functional networks
Authors: Fabbri Muller , Girnita Leonard , Varani Gabriele , Calin George A.
Published: September 2019

The world of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) is composed of an enormous and growing number of transcripts, ranging in length from tens of bases to tens of kilobases, involved in all biological processes and altered in expression and/or function in many types of human disorders. The premise of this review is the concept that ncRNAs, like many large proteins, have a multidomain architecture that organizes them spatially and functionally. As ncRNAs are beginning to be imprecisely classified into functional families, we review here how their structural properties might inform their functions with focus on structural architecture–function relationships. We will describe the properties of “interactor elements” (IEs) involved in direct physical interaction with nucleic acids, proteins, or lipids and of “structural elements” (SEs) directing their wiring within the “ncRNA interactor networks” through the emergence of secondary and/or tertiary structures. We suggest that spectrums of “letters” (ncRNA elements) are assembled into “words” (ncRNA domains) that are further organized into “phrases” (complete ncRNA structures) with functional meaning (signaling output) through complex “sentences” (the ncRNA interactor networks). This semiotic analogy can guide the exploitation of ncRNAs as new therapeutic targets through the development of IE-blockers and/or SE-lockers that will change the interactor partners’ spectrum of proteins, RNAs, DNAs, or lipids and consequently influence disease phenotypes.
Bis(μ2-benzoato-κ2
O,O′)bis(benzoato-κO)bis(ethanol-κO)bis(μ3-hydroxido)hexakis(μ-pyrazolato-κ2
N,N′)hexacopper(II) ethanol disolvate
Authors: Ledezma-Gairaud Marisol , Pineda Leslie W.
Published: September 2019

Trinuclear copper–pyrazolate entities are present in various Cu-based enzymes and nanojar supramolecular arrangements. The reaction of copper(II) chloride with pyrazole (pzH) and sodium benzoate (benzNa) assisted by microwave radiation afforded a neutral centrosymmetric hexanuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu6(C7H5O2)4(OH)2(C3H3N2)6(C2H5OH)2]·2C2H5OH. Half a molecule is present in the asymmetric unit that comprises a [Cu3(μ3-OH)(pz)3]2+ core with the copper(II) atoms arranged in an irregular triangle. The three copper(II) atoms are bridged by an O atom of the central hydroxyl group and by three bridging pyrazolate ligands on each of the sides. The carboxylate groups show a chelating mode to one and a bridging syn,syn mode to the other two CuII atoms. The coordination environment of one CuII atom is square-planar while it is distorted square-pyramidal for the other two. Two ethanol molecules are present in the asymmetric unit, one binding to one of the CuII atoms, one as a solvent molecule. In the crystal, stabilization arises from intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions.
A framework for electrified propulsion architecture and operation analysis
Authors: Cinar Gokcin , Garcia Elena , Mavris Dimitri N.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to create a generic and flexible framework for the exploration, evaluation and side-by-side comparison of novel propulsion architectures. The intent for these evaluations was to account for varying operation strategies and to support architectural design space decisions, at the conceptual design stages, rather than single-point design solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, main propulsion subsystems were categorized into energy, power and thrust sources. Two types of matrices, namely, the property and interdependency matrices, were created to describe the relationships and power flows among these sources. These matrices were used to define various electrified propulsion architectures, including, but not limited to, turboelectric, series-parallel and distributed electric propulsion configurations.

Findings

As a case study, the matrices were used to generate and operate the distributed electric propulsion architecture of NASA’s X-57 Mod IV aircraft concept. The mission performance results were acceptably close to the data obtained from the literature. Finally, the matrices were used to simulate the changes in the operation strategy under two motor failure scenarios to demonstrate the ease of use, rapidness and automation.

Originality/value

It was seen that this new framework enables rapid and analysis-based comparisons among unconventional propulsion architectures where solutions are driven by requirements.
Financial statement analysis
Authors: Mbona Reginald Masimba , Yusheng Kong
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The Chinese Telecoms Industry has been rapidly growing over the years since 2001. An analysis of financial performance of the three giants in this industry is very important. However, it is difficult to know how many ratios can be used best with little information loss. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 18 financial ratios were calculated based on the financial statements for three companies, namely, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom for a period of 17 years. A principal component analysis was run to come up with variables with significance value above 0.5 from each component.

Findings

At the end, the authors conclude how financial performance can be analysed using 12 ratios instead of the costly analysis of too many ratios that may be complex to interpret. The results also showed that ratios are all related as they come from the same statements, hence, the authors can use a few to represent the rest with limited loss of information.

Originality/value

This study will help different stakeholders who are interested in the financial performance of each company by giving them a shorter way to analyse performance. It will also assist those who do financial reporting on picking the ratios which matter in reflecting the performance of their companies. The use of PCA gives unbiased ratios that are most significant in assessing performance.
Integral and differential nonlocal micromorphic theory
Authors: Norouzzadeh Amir , Faraji Oskouie Mohammad , Ansari Reza , Rouhi Hessam
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to combine Eringen’s micromorphic and nonlocal theories and thus develop a comprehensive size-dependent beam model capable of capturing the effects of micro-rotational/stretch/shear degrees of freedom of material particles and nonlocality simultaneously.

Design/methodology/approach

To consider nonlocal influences, both integral (original) and differential versions of Eringen’s nonlocal theory are used. Accordingly, integral nonlocal-micromorphic and differential nonlocal-micromorphic beam models are formulated using matrix-vector relations, which are suitable for implementing in numerical approaches. A finite element (FE) formulation is also provided to solve the obtained equilibrium equations in the variational form. Timoshenko micro-/nano-beams with different boundary conditions are selected as the problem under study whose static bending is addressed.

Findings

It was shown that the paradox related to the clamped-free beam is resolved by the present integral nonlocal-micromorphic model. It was also indicated that the nonlocal effect captured by the integral model is more pronounced than that by its differential counterpart. Moreover, it was revealed that by the present approach, the softening and hardening effects, respectively, originated from the nonlocal and micromorphic theories can be considered simultaneously.

Originality/value

Developing a hybrid size-dependent Timoshenko beam model including micromorphic and nonlocal effects. Considering the nonlocal effect based on both Eringen’s integral and differential models proposing an FE approach to solve the bending problem, and resolving the paradox related to nanocantilever.
A reconfigurable model for implementation in the closing phase of a wind turbines project construction
Authors: Zohrehvandi Shakib , Vanhoucke Mario , Soltani Roya , Javadi Mehrdad
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a reconfigurable model that is a combination of a schedule model and a queuing system M/M/m/K to reduce the duration of the wind turbine construction project closure phase and reduce the project documentation waiting time in the queue.

Design/methodology/approach

This research was implemented in a wind farm project. The schedule model deals with reducing the duration of the turbines closure phase by an activity overlapping technique, and the queuing system deals with reducing the turbine documentation waiting time in the queue, as well as reducing the probability of server idleness during the closure phase.

Findings

After the implementation of the model, the obtained results were compared to those of similar previously conducted projects in terms of duration, and the model was found effective.

Research limitations/implications

Project closure is an important and mandatory process in all projects. More often than not, this process is faced with problems including prolonged project duration, disputes, lawsuits, and also in projects like the implementation of wind farms, a queue of documents at closing stage may also cause difficulties in project closure phase.

Originality/value

The contributions of this research are twofold: first, a combination of project management and queuing system is presented, and second, a reconfigurable model is introduced to enhance the performance and productivity of the closure phase of the project through reducing the implementation time and reducing the turbine documentation waiting time in the queue, as well as reducing the probability of server idleness during the closure phase of the wind farm project.
Conformance or evasion
Authors: Najeeb Ali , Barrett Mary
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how resort managers respond to employment legislation (Law No. 02/2008).

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative case study data from seven self-contained tourist resorts in the Maldives were used to investigate the managerial responses to employment legislation.

Findings

Resort managers’ responses ranged from passive compliance to active resistance, with decoupling through opportunism as the dominant strategy used to circumvent the legislation. Some human resource management (HRM) practices emerged from resort managers’ interactions with external stakeholders and employees. Strategic responses and HRM practices were driven by a search for legitimacy or efficiency and sometimes both. The findings show that there are differences between strategic responses and HRM practices by organisational subfield, local resorts and international hotel chains. The resorts’ market orientation also influenced resort managers’ responses and HRM practices.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this paper have limitations because it was limited to a single industry/sector and to a particular piece of legislation. However, it demonstrates the complexity of the relationship between institutional context and HRM.

Originality/value

This paper shows that responding to employment legislation entails a high level of interplay between the institutional environment and HR actors, and between stakeholders (e.g. employees) and HR actors. It demonstrates the difficulty of reconciling institutional requirements with the preferences of different stakeholders and organisational interests. HR actors actively make sense of institutional requirements and modify HRM practices to accommodate stakeholders’ varying perspectives and preferences. This suggests that in countries such as the Maldives, uneven institutional coverage (e.g. incomplete employment legislation) allows room for organisations to innovate – for better or worse.
Identification of temperature-dependent boundary conditions using MOR
Authors: Frank Tobias , Wieting Steffen , Wielitzka Mark , Bosselmann Steffen , Ortmaier Tobias
Published: September 2019

Purpose

A mathematical description of temperature-dependent boundary conditions is crucial in manifold model-based control or prototyping applications, where accurate thermal simulation results are required. Estimation of boundary condition coefficients for complex geometries in complicated or unknown environments is a challenging task and often does not fulfill given accuracy limits without multiple manual adaptions and experiments. This paper aims to describe an efficient method to identify thermal boundary conditions from measurement data using model order reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

An optimization problem is formulated to minimize temperature deviation over time between simulation data and available temperature sensors. Convection and radiation effects are expressed as a combined heat flux per surface, resulting in multiple temperature-dependent film coefficient functions. These functions are approximated by a polynomial function or splines, to generate identifiable parameters. A formulated reduced order system description preserves these parameters to perform an identification. Experiments are conducted with a test-bench to verify identification results with radiation, natural and forced convection.

Findings

The generated model can approximate a nonlinear transient finite element analysis (FEA) simulation with a maximum deviation of 0.3 K. For the simulation of a 500 min cyclic cooling and heating process, FEA takes a computation time of up to 13 h whereas the reduced model takes only 7-11 s, using time steps of 2 s. These low computation times allow for an identification, which is verified with an error below 3 K. When film coefficient estimation from literature is difficult due to complex geometries or turbulent air flows, identification is a promising approach to still achieve accurate results.

Originality/value

A well parametrized model can be further used for model-based control approaches or in observer structures. To the knowledge of the authors, no other methodology enables model-based identification of thermal parameters by physically preserving them through model order reduction and therefore derive it from a FEA description. This method can be applied to much more complex geometries and has been used in an industrial environment to increase product quality, due to accurate monitoring of cooling processes.
The effects of elastane and finishing properties on wicking, drying and water vapour permeability properties of denim fabrics
Authors: Eryuruk Selin Hanife
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The liquid water and water vapour transfer properties of fabrics play an important and decisive role in determining thermal comfort properties of clothing systems. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effects of fabric composition (98 percent cotton–2 percent elastane and 100 percent cotton) and finishing treatments (rigid, resin, bleaching and softening) on the wicking, drying and water vapour permeability (WVP) properties of denim fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design for this study consists of experimental study. Two fabric compositions (98 percent cotton–2 percent elastane and 100 percent cotton) and four finishing treatments (rigid, resin, bleaching and softening) were evaluated to see the effects of elastane and finishing treatments on wicking, drying and WVP properties of woven denim fabrics. Results were analysed statistically.

Findings

Experimental results showed that the transfer wicking, drying and WVP values of denim fabrics were significantly influenced by fabric weight, fibre composition and finishing treatments.

Practical implications

The wicking ability of sweat from the skin to the outer environment of a skin contact fabric layer is the primary requirement.

Originality/value

As a result of the literature review, it was seen that there are some studies in the literature about comfort properties of denim fabrics, but there is no study concerning the water vapour transmission, wicking and drying properties of denim fabrics.
Monaco’s struggle to become a smart destination
Authors: Fabry Nathalie , Blanchet Cyril
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Monaco is a simultaneously a destination, a state and a city, which belongs to the long list of places that aims to become smart. The purpose of this paper is to present Monaco’s transformation strategy from October 2017 to May 2019. It will present Monaco’s smart urban ecosystem as a meeting point between the destination and the smart city.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop the methodology as an exploratory observation of the state transformations. The methodology relies on an understanding of smart cities policy from an insider perspective, as one of the co-authors participates in the “Matrice Smart-City Monaco” program (Season 1: Tourism), on a media coverage analysis and in a semi-directive interview with a stakeholder of the digital transformation in Monaco.

Findings

The paper empirically and theoretically explores the following three hypotheses: H1 – being a smart city/destination is less a status than a process; H2 – a permeable state city challenges the boundaries between the city and the smart destination; and H3 – the conceptualization of the smart city requires a broader definition of who its engaged stakeholders are.

Research limitations/implications

The case of Monaco helps us to understand the role of tourism in a smart city and to deepen the link between “smart city” and “smart destination” from a theoretical point of view. Monaco offers us the opportunity to reinforce our understanding of the relationship between the smart city and the smart destination.

Originality/value

The study concerns a micro-state that aims to become smart using a top–down strategy. However, for a city to become smart, stakeholders including citizens must be able to support the process.
“The right information”: perceptions of information bias among Black Wikipedians
Authors: Ju Boryung , Stewart Brenton
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine motivators that drive Black Wikipedia contribution. The authors explore motivations around content contribution, effects of gender on motivations and self-perceptions of Black Wikipedia labor.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 318 Black American Wikipedia contributors completed an online survey. The authors employed both quantitative and qualitative methods in the study including descriptive statistics, multivariate (MANOVA) and univariate (ANOVA) analysis of variance to examine gender differences in Wikipedia content contribution. In addition, open-ended responses were evaluated, through content analysis, to make inferences on their perceptions of Wikipedia labor.

Findings

This paper identifies racial identity and perceptions of information quality as strong motivators in content contribution among Black Wikipedians. Motivators are gender variant; men are more motivated than women with the lone exception being racial identity. Additionally, the study identifies Wikipedia as a contested space among Black contributors and is a site of resistance.

Originality/value

Black Wikipedians information activity is a relatively new and understudied phenomenon. This paper presents new insight and a deeper understanding of Black Wikipedians’ motivations for information sharing behaviors in the most popular encyclopedia on the internet.
The vascular endothelium plays a role in insulin action
Authors: Kolka Cathryn M.
Published: September 2019

The endocrine system relies on the vasculature for delivery of hormones throughout the body, and the capillary microvasculature is the site where the hormones cross from the blood into the target tissue. Once considered an inert wall, various studies have now highlighted the functions of the capillary endothelium to regulate transport and therefore affect or maintain the interstitial environment. The role of the capillary may be clear in areas where there is a continuous endothelium, yet there also appears to be a role of endothelial cells in tissues with a sinusoidal structure. Here we focused on the most common endocrine disorder, diabetes, and several of the target organs associated with the disease, including skeletal muscle, liver and pancreas. However, it is important to note that the ability of hormones to cross the endothelium to reach their target tissue is a component of all endocrine functions. It is also a consideration in organs throughout the body and may have greater impact for larger hormones with target tissues containing a continuous endothelium. We noted that the blood levels do not always equal interstitial levels, which is what the cells are exposed to, and discussed how this may change in diseases such as obesity and insulin resistance. The capillary endothelium is, therefore, an essential and understudied aspect of endocrinology and metabolism that can be altered in disease, which may be an appropriate target for treatment.
Disease burden in offspring is associated with changing paternal demographics in the United States
Authors: Greenberg D. R. , Khandwala Y. S. , Lu Y. , Stevenson D. K. , Shaw G. M. , Eisenberg M. L.
Published: September 2019

Background

Average paternal age in the United States has increased substantially in the last few decades. Children of advanced age fathers have a higher incidence of early onset cancer and neuropsychiatric disease.

Objectives

To quantify the number of population adjusted cases of early‐onset cancer and neuropsychiatric disease in children attributable to increasing paternal age in the United States.

Methods

Paternal age in the United States from 1972 to 2015 was collected using the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). Population attributable fraction and paternal age‐specific cumulative incidence rates of several cancers and neuropsychiatric disorders were obtained from peer‐reviewed publications. Paternal age‐specific birth rates were correlated with paternal age‐specific cumulative incidence rates to determine the number of attributable cases of disease caused by advancing age of fathers in the United States.

Results

The 2015 birth cohort in the United States is estimated to expect 9.2% more cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) diagnosed before 16 years of age (157 additional cases), 13.2% more cases of embryonal tumors in children <5 years of age (209 additional cases), and 13.0% more cases of breast cancer in females younger than 40 years old (424 additional cases) compared to the 1972 birth cohort. We can estimate to expect 10.5% more cases of schizophrenia diagnosed before 21 years of age (2864 additional cases), 6.3% more cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adolescents <17 years of age (2934 additional cases), 4.5% more cases of anorexia nervosa (AN) in females 8–30 years old (620 additional cases), and 9.2% more cases of bipolar disorder in young patients 16–25 years old (252 additional cases) in the 2015 birth cohort compared to the 1972 birth cohort.

Conclusion

Increasing paternal age in the United States is associated with a substantial increase in the number of cases of early‐onset cancer and neuropsychiatric disease in offspring.
Systemic predictors of adverse events in a national surgical mortality audit: analysis of peer‐review data from Australia and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality
Authors: Turner Richard C. , Simpson Jr Steve , Bhalerao Mrunmayee
Published: September 2019

Background

Peer review of surgical deaths can identify deficits in individual and systemic delivery of healthcare, ultimately informing quality improvement.

Methods

From 2008 to 2016, cases reported to the Australia and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality were analysed. Variables associated with peer‐judged adverse events were sought.

Results

Of 21 045 cases evaluated, 24.8% incurred at least one adverse event judgement. The proportion of cases with reported adverse event significantly decreased over time. Following adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics, significant negative patient‐related associations were advanced age, greater American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, and neurological and malignant comorbidities. Significant associations were also found with systemic or organizational factors, including state/territory, surgical specialty and hospital regionality.

Conclusion

Examination of this peer‐reviewed database revealed systemic or organizational predictors of adverse events that may have implications for quality improvement at an institutional or jurisdictional level. The extent to which these associations are due to the peer‐review process itself should be the focus of further research.