bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Interocular Asymmetry of Visual Field Defects and Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow in Patients With Glaucoma
Authors: Yamada Yutaro , Higashide Tomomi , Udagawa Sachiko , Takeshima Satoshi , Sakaguchi Kimikazu , Nitta Koji , Sugiyama Kazuhisa
Published: January 2019

Purpose:

To investigate the association between asymmetry of visual field (VF) defects and optic nerve head (ONH) blood flow in patients with glaucoma using laser speckle flowgraphy.

Methods:

In total, 170 eyes of 85 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were included. Intraocular pressure, VF (Humphrey 24-2, SITA program), mean blur rate in the tissue area (MBR-T) of the ONH measured by laser speckle flowgraphy, axial length, circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (cpRNFLT), disc area, cup/disc area ratio, and parapapillary atrophy (PPA) area was measured in each eye. The paired eyes were divided into better and worse eyes according to the mean deviation (MD) of VF, and intereye differences of various parameters (better MD eye minus worse MD eye) were examined. Factors associated with MD difference, MBR-T difference, or cpRNFLT difference were investigated.

Results:

MD of the VF in better and worse eyes were −10.2±7.3 dB and −16.8±7.4 dB, respectively. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, MBR-T differences, cpRNFLT differences and sex (male) were significantly correlated with MD differences (β, 0.26, 0.21, 0.20; P=0.01, 0.04, 0.047, respectively). MD differences were significantly associated with MBR-T differences (β, 0.28; P=0.01). For cpRNFLT differences, differences in β-PPA area and MD differences were identified as significant factors (β, −0.26, 0.22; P=0.02, 0.04, respectively).

Conclusions:

Asymmetry of ONH blood flow is significantly associated with asymmetry of visual field defects in patients with glaucoma independently of cpRNFLT.
Prevalence of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Adolescents With Esophageal Atresia
Authors: Lardenois Emilie , Michaud Laurent , Schneider Anne , Onea Mihaela , Rebeuh Julie , Gottrand‐Aumar Madeleine , Renaud Florence , Gottrand Frederic , Leteurtre Emmanuelle
Published: January 2019

Background and Objective:

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an increasingly recognized childhood disease. Esophageal atresia (EA) is the most frequent congenital malformation of the esophagus. Recently, cases of EoE occurring in patients with EA have been reported, although the exact prevalence of EoE in EA remains unknown. The aim is to investigate the prevalence of EoE among EA in adolescents and to describe these patients’ characteristics.

Methods:

Systematic upper gastrointestinal endoscopies with multistage esophageal biopsies were prospectively performed in 63 adolescents with EA. A standardized form was used to collect clinical and endoscopic data. Diagnosis of EoE was made as ≥15 intraepithelial eosinophils/high power field, whatever the response on proton pump inhibitors therapy.

Results:

Six patients (9.5%) presented an EoE (17–100 eosinophils/high power field). An atopic condition was reported more frequently in the eosinophil ≥15 group than in patients with no EoE (66% vs 16%; P = 0.014). Except for chest pain, symptoms and endoscopic features were similar in patients with EoE and patients with no EoE.

Conclusion:

In our series of 63 patients born with EA, mainly distal tracheoesophageal fistula, the prevalence of EoE is increased, and therefore should be considered in adolescents with EA.
Early Functional Outcomes After Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Schaeffer Christine V. , Dassoulas Kasandra R. , Thuman Jenna , Campbell Chris A.
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Staged, tissue expander-based implant reconstruction continues to be the most common mode of breast reconstruction after mastectomy and has evolved significantly for the past 60 years. Prepectoral acellular dermal matrix (ADM)-assisted breast reconstruction is gaining popularity with complication rates similar to total submuscular and ADM-assisted partially submuscular reconstruction. Ours is among the first reports comparing postoperative pain and early functional outcomes between 2-stage ADM-assisted prepectoral and partial submuscular breast reconstruction.

Methods

Patients reconstructed with a 2-stage, ADM-assisted prepectoral approach were case matched with patients who had undergone ADM-assisted, partial submuscular reconstruction. Demographics and complication rates were compared. Primary outcomes included postoperative pain, number of days until full active shoulder range of motion was achieved, and postoperative days until drain removal.

Results

Forty-five breasts among 24 patients were reconstructed with ADM-assisted prepectoral tissue expanders after mastectomy and 90 breasts among 48 patients were reconstructed with ADM-assisted partial submuscular placement. There was a similarly acceptable complication profile between the 2 groups. The prepectoral group had significantly lower inpatient pain scores, required significantly less intravenous opioids and less oral opioids as outpatients. The prepectoral group saw a return to full active range of shoulder motion in half the number days of the partial submuscular group. Drain duration was similar between groups.

Conclusions

Prepectoral ADM-assisted breast reconstruction can be performed safely and with significantly less pain and earlier return to function than partial submuscular expander placement. Expander placement exclusively in the prepectoral pocket did not result in increased drain duration while affording patients the benefits of avoiding surgical elevation of the pectoralis muscle.
A Prospective Evaluation of the Utility of a Hybrid Operating Suite for Severely Injured Patients
Authors: Carver David , Kirkpatrick Andrew W. , D’Amours Scott , Hameed S. Morad , Beveridge Julie , Ball Chad G.
Published: January 2019

Objective:

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the utility, clinical impact, and work flow of a new trauma hybrid operating theater.

Summary Background Data:

The potential utility and clinical benefit of hybrid operating theaters are increasingly postulated. Unfortunately, the clinical outcomes and efficiencies of these environments remain unclear.

Methods:

All severely injured patients who were transferred to the hybrid suite for emergent intervention between 2013 and 2017 were compared to consecutive prehybrid patients. Standard statistical methodology was employed (P < 0.05 = significant).

Results:

One hundred sixty-nine patients with severe injuries (mean ISS = 23; hemodynamic instability = 70%; hospital/ICU stay = 12 d; mortality = 14%) were transferred urgently to the hybrid suite. Most were young (38 yrs) males (84%) with blunt injuries (51%). Combined hybrid trauma procedures occurred in 18% of cases (surgery (82%) and angiography (11%) alone). Procedures within the hybrid suite included: laparotomy (57%), extremity (14%), thoracotomy/sternotomy (12%), angioembolization of the spleen/pelvis/liver/other (9%), neck (9%), craniotomy (4%), and aortic endostenting (6%). Compared with historical controls, use of the hybrid suite resulted in shorter arrival to intervention and total procedure times (P < 0.05). A clear benefit for survival was evident (42% vs. 22%).

Conclusions:

Availability of a hybrid environment for severely injured patients reduces time to intervention, total procedural duration, blood product transfusion and salvages a small subset of patients who would not otherwise survive. The cost associated with a hybrid suite remains prohibitive for many centers.
Shadows Behind Using Simple Risk Models in Selection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients for Liver Transplantation
Authors: Grąt Michał , Stypułkowski Jan , Morawski Marcin , Wronka Karolina M. , Wasilewicz Michał , Lewandowski Zbigniew , Grąt Karolina , Wójcik Zofia , Patkowski Waldemar , Zieniewicz Krzysztof
Published: January 2019

Objective:

To assess the potential influence of replacing Milan criteria with simple risk scores on outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Summary Background Data:

Several risk scores combining morphological and biological features were recently proposed for precise selection of HCC patients for transplantation.

Methods:

This retrospective study included 282 HCC liver transplant recipients. Recurrence-free survival (RFS), the primary outcome measure, was evaluated according to Metroticket 2.0 model and French AFP model with Milan criteria serving as benchmark.

Results:

Patients were well stratified with respect to RFS by Milan criteria, Metroticket 2.0 criteria, and AFP model cut-off ≤2 points (all P < 0.001) with c-statistics of 0.680, 0.695, and 0.681, respectively. Neither Metroticket 2.0 criteria (0.014, Z = 0.023; P = 0.509) nor AFP model (−0.014, Z = −0.021; P = 0.492) provided significant net reclassification improvement. Both patients within the Metroticket 2.0 criteria and AFP model ≤2 points exhibited heterogeneous recurrence risk, dependent upon alpha-fetoprotein (P = 0.026) and tumor number (P = 0.024), respectively. RFS of patients beyond Milan but within Metroticket 2.0 criteria (75.3%) or with AFP model ≤2 points (74.1%) was inferior to that observed for patients within Milan criteria (87.1%; P = 0.067 and P = 0.045, respectively). Corresponding microvascular invasion rates were 37.2% and 50.0%, compared with 13.6% in patients within Milan criteria (both P < 0.001). Moreover, Milan-out status was associated with significantly higher recurrence risk in subgroups within Metroticket 2.0 criteria (P = 0.021) or AFP model ≤2 points (P = 0.014).

Conclusion:

Utilization of simple risk scores for liver transplant eligibility assessment leads to selection of patients at higher risk of posttransplant HCC recurrence.
Transverse motion instability of a submerged moored buoy
Authors: Orszaghova J. , Wolgamot H. , Draper S. , Eatock Taylor R. , Taylor P. H. , Rafiee and A.
Published: January 2019

Wave energy converters and other offshore structures may exhibit instability, in which one mode of motion is excited parametrically by motion in another. Here, theoretical results for the transverse motion instability (large sway oscillations perpendicular to the incident wave direction) of a submerged wave energy converter buoy are compared to an extensive experimental dataset. The device is axi-symmetric (resembling a truncated vertical cylinder) and is taut-moored via a single tether. The system is approximately a damped elastic pendulum. Assuming linear hydrodynamics, but retaining nonlinear tether geometry, governing equations are derived in six degrees of freedom. The natural frequencies in surge/sway (the pendulum frequency), heave (the springing motion frequency) and pitch/roll are derived from the linearized equations. When terms of second order in the buoy motions are retained, the sway equation can be written as a Mathieu equation. Careful analysis of 80 regular wave tests reveals a good agreement with the predictions of sub-harmonic (period-doubling) sway instability using the Mathieu equation stability diagram. As wave energy converters operate in real seas, a large number of irregular wave runs is also analysed. The measurements broadly agree with a criterion (derived elsewhere) for determining the presence of the instability in irregular waves, which depends on the level of damping and the amount of parametric excitation at twice the natural frequency.
Multi-scale analysis for concentration distribution in an oscillatory Couette flow
Authors: Barik Swarup , Dalal D. C.
Published: January 2019

This study presents an analytical attempt to explore the two-dimensional concentration distribution in an oscillatory Couette flow. Mei's homogenization technique is used to find the concentration distribution up to third-order approximation. Analytical expressions of mean and transverse concentration distributions up to third order are derived in this study, which may be regarded as the novelty of this work. Most of the necessary transverse distribution functions are also found analytically. It is well known that the Taylor dispersion model predicts the longitudinal distribution of mean concentration only and the previous research works have mainly focused on this. Nevertheless, the transverse concentration distribution is important from environmental and industrial application points of view. Concentration variation rate over the cross-section is found to be higher for thicker Stokes boundary layers. It is also found that the dispersion of solute in the flowing fluid increases with the increase in Stokes boundary layer thickness. The present study propounds that a time scale 10 
h
2
/
D
(where
h
is the channel depth and
D
is the molecular diffusivity) would be more appropriate to characterize the initial transition stage of the transport process to approach transverse uniformity.
Sparse low-rank separated representation models for learning from data
Authors: Audouze Christophe , Nair Prasanth B.
Published: January 2019

We consider the problem of learning a multivariate function from a set of scattered observations using a sparse low-rank separated representation (SSR) model. The model structure considered here is promising for high-dimensional learning problems; however, existing training algorithms based on alternating least-squares (ALS) are known to have convergence difficulties, particularly when the rank of the model is greater than 1. In the present work, we supplement the model structure with sparsity constraints to ensure the well posedness of the approximation problem. We propose two fast training algorithms to estimate the model parameters: (i) a cyclic coordinate descent algorithm and (ii) a block coordinate descent (BCD) algorithm. While the first algorithm is not provably convergent owing to the non-convexity of the optimization problem, the BCD algorithm guarantees convergence to a Nash equilibrium point. The computational cost of the proposed algorithms is shown to scale linearly with respect to all of the parameters in contrast to methods based on ALS. Numerical studies on synthetic and real-world regression datasets indicate that the proposed SSR model structure holds significant potential for machine learning problems.
Patterned surface charges coupled with thermal gradients may create giant augmentations of solute dispersion in electro-osmosis of viscoelastic fluids
Authors: Mukherjee Siddhartha , Dhar Jayabrata , DasGupta Sunando , Chakraborty Suman
Published: January 2019

Augmenting the dispersion of a solute species and fluidic mixing remains a challenging proposition in electrically actuated microfluidic devices, primarily due to an inherent plug-like nature of the velocity profile under uniform surface charge conditions. While a judicious patterning of surface charges may obviate some of the concerning challenges, the consequent improvement in solute dispersion may turn out to be marginal. Here, we show that by exploiting a unique coupling of patterned surface charges with intrinsically induced thermal gradients, it may be possible to realize giant augmentations in solute dispersion in electro-osmotic flows. This is effectively mediated by the phenomena of Joule heating and surface heat dissipation, so as to induce local variations in electrical properties. Combined with the rheological premises of a viscoelastic fluid that are typically reminiscent of common biofluids handled in lab-on-a-chip-based micro-devices, our results demonstrate that the consequent electro-hydrodynamic forcing may open up favourable windows for augmented hydrodynamic dispersion, which has not yet been unveiled.
A conserved energy for axially symmetric Newman–Penrose–Maxwell scalars on Kerr black holes
Authors: Gudapati Nishanth
Published: January 2019

We show that there exists a 1-parameter family of positive-definite and conserved energy functionals for axially symmetric Newman–Penrose–Maxwell scalars on the maximal space-like hypersurfaces in the exterior of Kerr black holes. It is also shown that the Poisson bracket within this 1-parameter family of energies vanishes on the maximal hypersurfaces.
The effect of insularity on avian growth rates and implications for insular body size evolution
Authors: Sandvig Erik M. , Coulson Tim , Clegg Sonya M.
Published: January 2019

Island populations often differ in consistent ways from their mainland counterparts with respect to their ecology, behaviour, morphology, demography and life-history characteristics; a set of changes referred to as the ‘island syndrome’. To understand the ecological and evolutionary drivers of the island syndrome requires characterization of suites of interacting traits. While patterns in some types of traits, e.g. body size, are well characterized across a range of taxa, key gaps remain. Growth rate is one such trait, being an important determinant of both increases and decreases in body size, and can vary with changes in predation pressure and food limitation; two factors that are known to differ between mainland and island environments. Using a phylogenetic meta-analytic approach, we characterize differences in growth rates among mainland and island altricial bird populations, controlling for environmental factors. We found a trend towards slower growth on islands in small-bodied (less than 1 kg) bird species. This is consistent with the idea that the pattern of body size increases in small-bodied island colonists is associated with the evolution of slower growth combined with shifts in age and size at maturity in relaxed predation regimes.
Ocean acidification and warming affect skeletal mineralization in a marine fish
Authors: Di Santo Valentina
Published: January 2019

Ocean acidification and warming are known to alter, and in many cases decrease, calcification rates of shell and reef building marine invertebrates. However, to date, there are no datasets on the combined effect of ocean pH and temperature on skeletal mineralization of marine vertebrates, such as fishes. Here, the embryos of an oviparous marine fish, the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), were developmentally acclimatized to current and increased temperature and CO2conditions as expected by the year 2100 (15 and 20°C, approx. 400 and 1100 µatm, respectively), in a fully crossed experimental design. Using micro-computed tomography, hydroxyapatite density was estimated in the mineralized portion of the cartilage in jaws, crura, vertebrae, denticles and pectoral fins of juvenile skates. Mineralization increased as a consequence of high CO2in the cartilage of crura and jaws, while temperature decreased mineralization in the pectoral fins. Mineralization affects stiffness and strength of skeletal elements linearly, with implications for feeding and locomotion performance and efficiency. This study is, to my knowledge, the first to quantify a significant change in mineralization in the skeleton of a fish and shows that changes in temperature and pH of the oceans have complex effects on fish skeletal morphology.
Quantifying spatio-temporal variation of invasion spread
Authors: Goldstein Joshua , Park Jaewoo , Haran Murali , Liebhold Andrew , Bjørnstad Ottar N.
Published: January 2019

—

The spread of invasive species can have far-reaching environmental and ecological consequences. Understanding invasion spread patterns and the underlying process driving invasions are key to predicting and managing invasions.

—

We combine a set of statistical methods in a novel way to characterize local spread properties and demonstrate their application using simulated and historical data on invasive insects. Our method uses a Gaussian process fit to the surface of waiting times to invasion in order to characterize the vector field of spread.

—

Using this method, we estimate with statistical uncertainties the speed and direction of spread at each location. Simulations from a stratified diffusion model verify the accuracy of our method.

—

We show how we may link local rates of spread to environmental covariates for two case studies: the spread of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), and hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) in North America. We provide an R-package that automates the calculations for any spatially referenced waiting time data.
Urban environment and cancer in wildlife: available evidence and future research avenues
Authors: Sepp Tuul , Ujvari Beata , Ewald Paul W. , Thomas Frédéric , Giraudeau Mathieu
Published: January 2019

While it is generally known that the risk of several cancers in humans is higher in urban areas compared with rural areas, cancer is often deemed a problem of human societies with modern lifestyles. At the same time, more and more wild animals are affected by urbanization processes and are faced with the need to adapt or acclimate to urban conditions. These include, among other things, increased exposure to an assortment of pollutants (e.g. chemicals, light and noise), novel types of food and new infections. According to the abundant literature available for humans, all of these factors are associated with an increased probability of developing cancerous neoplasias; however, the link between the urban environment and cancer in wildlife has not been discussed in the scientific literature. Here, we describe the available evidence linking environmental changes resulting from urbanization to cancer-related physiological changes in wild animals. We identify the knowledge gaps in this field and suggest future research avenues, with the ultimate aim of understanding how our modern lifestyle affects cancer prevalence in urbanizing wild populations. In addition, we consider the possibilities of using urban wild animal populations as models to study the association between environmental factors and cancer epidemics in humans, as well as to understand the evolution of cancer and defence mechanisms against it.
Arid1aprotects against hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance via PPARα-mediated fatty acid oxidation
Authors: Qu Yu-Lan , Deng Chuan-Huai , Luo Qing , Shang Xue-Ying , Wu Jiao-Xiang , Shi Yi , Lan-Wang  , Han Ze-Guang
Published: January 2019

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) have become a worldwide health concern because of lifestyle changes, but it is still lack of specific therapeutic strategies as the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our previous study indicated that deficiency ofArid1a, a key component of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, initiated mouse steatohepatitis, implying thatArid1amight be essentially required for the integrity of hepatic lipid metabolism. However, the exact mechanisms of the pathological process due toArid1aloss are unclear. In the present work, we show that hepatocyte-specific deletion ofArid1asignificantly increases susceptibility to develop hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD), along with the aggravated inflammatory responses marked by increment of serum alanine amino transferase (AST), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and TNFα. Mechanistically,Arid1adeficiency leads to the reduction of chromatin modification characteristic of transcriptional activation on multiple metabolic genes, especiallyCpt1a andAcox1, two rate-limiting enzyme genes for fatty acid oxidation. Furthermore, our data indicated thatArid1aloss promotes hepatic steatosis by downregulating PPARα, thereby impairing fatty acid oxidation which leads to lipid accumulation and insulin resistance. These findings reveal that targeting ARID1a might be a promising therapeutic strategy for NAFLD, NASH and insulin resistance.
Meta-analysis identifies microbial signatures of disease in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Saha Sudipta , Martin Alberto , Navarre William Wiley
Published: January 2019

The gut microbiota plays a central role in modulating intestinal inflammation, but the identification of specific inflammation-associated microbes has remained elusive. Here, we perform a meta-analysis on metagenomic data from 12 different studies of murine colitis triggered by a variety of genetic and environmental factors with the goal of finding bacterial taxonomic groups that can act as signatures of health or disease across studies, and that can be used to discriminate between healthy and diseased mice. We leveraged recent developments in 16S analysis tools to identify amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) instead of the traditional Operational Taxonomic Units, and used the EZTaxon reference database that distinguishes between currently unnamed and uncharacterized 16S phylotypes. Random Forest model and differential abundance analysis were used to detect microbial signatures that could consistently differentiate healthy from diseased mice, and a ‘dysbiosis index’ was constructed from these. This dysbiosis index was able to correctly distinguish samples derived from inflamed and non-inflamed mice in the majority of studies and significantly outperformed other frequently used metrics of dysbiosis including alpha-diversity, proteobacterial abundance, and the ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes. 10 of 12 bacteria we identify as associated with the diseased state are members of the order Bacteroidales, including several species from the abundant but poorly understood S24-7 family. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Interactions between dosage compensation complex components Msl-1, Msl-2 and NURF component NURF301 with long non-coding RNA genehsrω
Authors: Chaturvedi Deo Prakash
Published: January 2019

Hyperactivity of the single X-chromosome in maleDrosophilais achieved by establishing a ribonucleoprotein complex, called Dosage Compensation Complex (DCC), on the male X chromosome. Msl-1 and Msl-2 proteins, involved in the initiation and establishing of DCC on male X chromosome, are very crucial component of this complex. In the present study, it has been found here that a long non-coding RNA genehsrωgenetically interacts with Msl-1 as well as Msl-2 and suppresses the lethal phenotype of Msl-1 or Msl-2 down-regulation in its up-regulated background. Additionally, it is also found here that an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler, NURF301, also interacts withhsrωin same manner. General lethality caused byAct-GAL4driven global expression ofNURF301-RNAiand the male-specific lethality followingMsl-1-RNAiorMsl-2-RNAitransgene expression were partially suppressed by over-expression ofhsrω, but not by down regulation throughhsrω-RNAi. Likewise, eye phenotypes followingey-GAL4driven down-regulation ofNURF301orMsl-1orMsl-2were also partially suppressed by over-expression ofhsrω.Act-GAL4driven global over-expression ofhsrωalong withMsl-1-RNAiorMsl-2-RNAitransgene substantially restored levels of MSL-2 protein on the male X chromosome. Similarly, levels and distribution of Megator protein, which was reduced and distribution at nuclear rim and in nucleoplasm was affected in the MT and SG nuclei, is also restored when hsrω transcripts are down-regulated inAct-GAL4drivenMsl-1-RNAiorMsl-2-RNAigenetic background. NURF301, a known chromatin remodeler, when down-regulated shows decondensed X chromosome in male larvae. Down-regulation of hsrω results in restoration of chromosome architecture without affecting the level of ISWI protein-another chromatin remodeler protein, known to interacting with hsrω.
Integrative methylome and transcriptome analysis of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) skeletal muscle during development
Authors: Zhang Jingru , Wu Shuxian , Huang Yajuan , Wen Haishen , Zhang Meizhao , Li Jifang , Li Yun , Qi Xin , He Feng
Published: January 2019

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification in vertebrate and is essential for epigenetic gene regulation in skeletal muscle development. We showed the genome-wide DNA methylation profile in skeletal muscle tissue of larval 7dph (JP1), juvenile 90dph (JP2), adult female 24 months (JP3) and adult male 24 months (JP4) Japanese flounder. The distribution and levels of methylated DNA within genomic features (1stexons, gene body, introns, TSS200, TSS1500 and intergenic) show different developmental landscapes. We also successfully identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and different methylated genes (DMGs) through a comparative analysis, indicating that DMR in gene body, intron and intergenic regions were more compared to other regions of all DNA elements. A gene ontology analysis indicated that the DMGs were mainly related to regulation of skeletal muscle fiber development process, Axon guidance, Adherens junction, and some ATPase activity. Methylome and transcriptome clearly revealed a exhibit a negative correlation. And integration analysis revealed a total of 425, 398 and 429 negatively correlated genes with methylation in the JP2_VS_JP1, JP3_VS_JP1 and JP4_VS_JP1 comparison groups, respectively. And these genes were functionally associated with pathways including Adherens junction, Axon guidance, Focal adhesion, cell junctions, Actin cytoskeleton and Wnt signaling pathways. In addition, we validated the MethylRAD results by bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) in some of the differentially methylated skeletal muscle growth-related genes (Myod1, Six1 and Ctnnb1). In this study, we have generated the genome-wide profile of methylome and transcriptome in Japanese flounder for the first time, and our results bring new insights into the epigenetic regulation of developmental processes in Japanese flounder. This study contributes to the knowledge on epigenetics in vertebrates.

Author summary

Epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation have recently reported as vital regulators of some species skeletal muscle development through the control of genes related to growth. To date, although genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of many organisms have been reported and the Japanese flounder reference genome and whole transcriptome data are publically available, the methylation pattern of Japanese flounder skeletal muscle tissue remains minimally studied and the global DNA methylation data are yet to be known. Here we investigated the genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in Japanese flounder, throughout its development. These findings help to enrich research in molecular and developmental biology in vertebrates.
How knowledge sharing connects interpersonal trust and innovation capability
Authors: Lei Hui , Nguyen Thuong Thi , Le Phong Ba
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Knowledge sharing (KS) and innovation are generally believed as the antecedents of key outcomes that help firms to attain and sustain competitive advantage in long term. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the mechanism of how interpersonal trust and leader support affect KS and improve firm’s innovation capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a research paper which is built using empirical data collected from 68 manufacturing and service firms in China.

Findings

First, the findings show that leader supports moderate the correlation between interpersonal trust and KS. Second, KS serves as mediator in the relationship between interpersonal trust and firm’s innovation capabilities.

Research limitations/implications

KS plays a crucial role in stimulating innovation capabilities for both manufacturing and service firms. Future research should explore the effects of the motivational factors (such as positive psychological state, perceived benefits and costs) on KS and firm’s innovation capabilities.

Practical implications

The paper provides the evidence for the positive effects of interpersonal trust on KS, which in turn is significantly associated with product innovation and process innovation. It highlights the important role of leader supports in promoting the degree of sharing knowledge among individuals to enhance innovation capabilities for firms.

Originality/value

This study puts the theory of innovation forward based on exploring the key factors that have potential and positive impacts on two specific types of innovation capability, namely, product innovation and process innovation, for both manufacturing and service firms.
The effects of finishing processes on the dynamic drape of wool fabrics
Authors: Eryuruk Selin Hanife , Kursun Bahadir Senem , Saricam Canan , Kalaoglu Fatma
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse dynamic drape behaviour of eight different types of woollen fabrics each treated by three different finishing processes.

Design/methodology/approach

A new apparatus was used to evaluate the dynamic drape formation process of woollen fabrics during the rotation of the samples at different speed grades of 0 (static drape), 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 rev/min for each sample. The computerised image analysis method was used to measure the drape coefficients (DCs).

Findings

As a result of experiments, it was found that shearing, calendaring, pressing processes affected the drapability and drape behaviour negatively, but belt pressing treatment and decatising process improved the drapability and the drape behaviour for all fabrics. Furthermore, there is a reverse relationship between fabric weight and drape behaviour. As the fabric weight increases, DC value increases due to the increase of fabric tightness.

Originality/value

To date, although many researchers have studied the static draping behaviour, the studies regarding the dynamic drape behaviour of the fabrics are quite limited to an extent. Besides, none of these studies regarding the drape behaviour have investigated the effects of different finishing processes on the drape behaviour of wool fabrics.
On the economic consequences of automation and robotics
Authors: Gomes Orlando , Pereira Sónia
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The academic literature is currently placing significant attention on the study of the socio-economic consequences of the observable fast automation of all sectors of economic activity. The purpose of this paper is to systematize meaningful ideas on the economic impact of the rise of the robots.

Design/methodology/approach

With the goal of evaluating the channels through which the current wave of fast technological change affects the organization and performance of the economy and the behavior of agents, the paper is structured into two parts. The first part assesses the state of knowledge regarding the potential revolutionary role of robot use in production. The second part designs a model aimed at exposing the interplay between the most prominent features associated with the new economic reality.

Findings

The current wave of innovation has implications that escape conventional economic thinking. The evaluation and prediction of what the new phenomena brings is fundamental to design policies that prevent income inequality to widen and growth to slow down.

Research limitations/implications

The full macroeconomic impact of the fast, pervasive and irreversible automation of production is far from being completely assimilated. At this level, no benchmark model should be interpreted as a definitive framework of analysis, and economic thought should evolve alongside with empirically observed evidence.

Originality/value

We are facing an automation convulsion that replaces humans by machines at an unprecedented fast rate. This paper systematizes ideas about this process and offers a novel conceptual model to better understand what really is at stake.
Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of earthquake preparedness amongst the elderly in risk areas
Authors: Songlar Tanika , Pussadee La-or Nicharuch Panjaphothiwat , Chomchoe Chalitar , Khunthason Siriyaporn
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Chiang Rai being an earthquake-prone city, it is essential to raise awareness about earthquake safety and readiness, especially amongst the elderly population who spend most of their time at home. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the earthquake preparedness of elders in relation to knowledge, attitude and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This was an analytic cross-sectional study. Research data were collected from 480 elders of 60 years old and above. The research instruments were questionnaires about knowledge, attitude and self-assessment of practices in earthquake situations. Data were analyzed by number, percentage and aχ2test.

Findings

Of participants interviewed, 39.4 percent were aged between 60 and 66 years old. Overall, 94.0 percent of them had already experienced an earthquake, with 79.4 percent having experienced it in 2014. Participants had a good level of knowledge and attitude toward earthquake safety. Their practices toward earthquake readiness, however, were insufficient due to the lower practice scores (<12), especially found in the high seismic zone. The score level of knowledge, attitude and self-assessment of practice in earthquake situations showed that there is a difference in statistical significance (p<0.05).

Originality/value

This study focuses attention on the need to increase levels of preparedness. Safety instructions and earthquake drills should be promoted and supported in order to prepare elders for an earthquake in the study area. Research findings identified in this study will help to address the specific needs of the elderly when implementing an earthquake disaster risk reduction plan.
A resource-based framework for strategically managing identity
Authors: Rockwell Sam
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to blend a resource-based view of the firm with the 5R Model of Organizational Identity Processes to offer a new Strategic Identity Management Framework to help organizations uncover, analyze and optimize their identity as a resource for creating sustainable competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper relied upon an examination of literature about sustainable competitive advantage, the resource-based view of the firm and the 5R Model of Organizational Identity Processes.

Findings

Synergies were found between the VRIO model and the 5R Model of Organizational Identity Processes. A new Strategic Identity Management Framework was created and a case study was used to illustrate its application.

Research limitations/implications

Research is needed to validate, confirm and extend the use and application of the new framework within organizations.

Practical implications

The framework is anticipated to be particularly useful for middle managers because they are tasked with translating high-level strategies into action and leading lower level employees toward enacting the new or adapted identity claims.

Originality/value

Although ample organizational identity research exists, a framework for assessing identity claims for the purpose of achieving competitive advantage was lacking.
On becoming an organizational autoethnographer
Authors: Armstrong-Gibbs Fiona
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the process and challenges of applying an autoethnographic research method to a professional doctoral thesis ethics application. It examines the traditional university ethical approval process and if it is appropriate for this evolving qualitative research method within an organizational context.

Design/methodology/approach

A short introduction to the literature on ethics prefaces an autoethnographic account of the author’s experience as doctor of business administration candidate tackling the application process for ethical approval of primary research. The account is a reflection of the review process and critiques with reference to the existing literature.

Findings

The majority of the literature relating to ethics has focused on the private, personal and largely evocative accounts of autoethnography. This paper highlights some of the differences and potential for organizational autoethnography and ethical conduct. It highlights the ethical implications of obtaining consent from one’s colleagues, developing and maintaining dependent relationships, risk and reward to one’s own professional reputation and becoming equipped to create both personal and organizational change through a process of reflexivity.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the discussion about ethical conduct when undertaking new forms of organizational ethnographic research. For those interested or involved in the university institutional ethics review committees and for professional doctoral students who are developing an emancipatory insider research approach.
Analysis of the association between economic growth, environmental quality and health standards in the Gulf Cooperation Council during 1980-2012
Authors: Bader Yasmeen , Ganguli Subhadra
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and environmental indicators in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Additionally, this paper also explores the relationship between health and income levels in the GCC to identify whether higher incomes necessarily affect overall health metrics.

Design/methodology/approach

The first part of this paper studies the relationship between GDP per capita and the greenhouse gases (GHGs) – carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) (all per capita data). The second part of this paper explores the relationship between GDP per capita and the following health variables: life expectancy, infant mortality and child mortality – for GCC countries during 1980–2012. Unit root tests were conducted, followed by cointegration analysis, leading to Granger causality test and vector error correction model.

Findings

GCC states are highly dependent on fossil fuel production and hence depend on hydrocarbons for GDP growth. Most of the GCC states demonstrate lack of the EKC curve. However, there is evidence of U-shaped relationship between environmental pollutants and GDP per capita in kingdoms like Bahrain and Saudi Arabia (KSA). United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the other hand, demonstrates EKC, though not significantly. The study then explores the existence of potential relationship between health and GDP in the GCC, where it has been found that higher incomes have driven a better standard of living resulting in improved health metrics and higher life expectancy rates. Thus, growing incomes have played a positive role by improving health parameters and by offsetting some of the negative impacts from lack of environmental improvement as demonstrated by the absence of EKC in general in GCC.

Originality/value

GHG emissions data are individually and empirically examined for each country in the GCC. Furthermore, the study delves into the environmental problems that lead to health issues, which were initially caused by pollution. The results of the empirical analysis provide strong evidence that GCC countries need to rely less on fossil fuels, as lower productivity due to higher pollution reduces income and economic growth in most countries.
Form and function of tropical macroalgal reefs in the Anthropocene
Authors: Fulton Christopher J. , Abesamis Rene A. , Berkström Charlotte , Depczynski Martial , Graham Nicholas A. J. , Holmes Thomas H. , Kulbicki Michel , Noble Mae M. , Radford Ben T. , Tano Stina , Tinkler Paul , Wernberg Thomas , Wilson Shaun K.
Published: January 2019

Tropical reefs have been subjected to a range of anthropogenic pressures such as global climate change, overfishing and eutrophication that have raised questions about the prominence of macroalgae on tropical reefs, whether they pose a threat to biodiversity, and how they may influence the function of tropical marine ecosystems.

We synthesise current understanding of the structure and function of tropical macroalgal reefs and how they may support various ecosystem goods and services. We then forecast how key stressors may alter the role of macroalgal reefs in tropical seascapes of the Anthropocene.

High levels of primary productivity from tropical canopy macroalgae, which rivals that of other key producers (e.g., corals and turf algae), can be widely dispersed across tropical seascapes to provide a boost of secondary productivity in a range of biomes that include coral reefs, and support periodic harvests of macroalgal biomass for industrial and agricultural uses. Complex macroalgal reefs that comprise a mixture of canopy and understorey taxa can also provide key habitats for a diverse community of epifauna, as well as juvenile and adult fishes that are the basis for important tropical fisheries.

Key macroalgal taxa (e.g., Sargassum) that form complex macroalgal reefs are likely to be sensitive to future climate change. Increases in maximum sea temperature, in particular, could depress biomass production and/or drive phenological shifts in canopy formation that will affect their capacity to support tropical marine ecosystems.

Macroalgal reefs can support a suite of tropical marine ecosystem functions when embedded within an interconnected mosaic of habitat types. Habitat connectivity is, therefore, essential if we are to maintain tropical marine biodiversity alongside key ecosystem goods and services. Consequently, complex macroalgal reefs should be treated as a key ecological asset in strategies for the conservation and management of diverse tropical seascapes.

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A view from above: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provide a new tool for assessing liana infestation in tropical forest canopies
Authors: Waite Catherine E. , van der Heijden Geertje M. F. , Field Richard , Boyd Doreen S.
Published: January 2019

Tropical forests store and sequester large quantities of carbon, mitigating climate change. Lianas (woody vines) are important tropical forest components, most conspicuous in the canopy. Lianas reduce forest carbon uptake and their recent increase may, therefore, limit forest carbon storage with global consequences for climate change. Liana infestation of tree crowns is traditionally assessed from the ground, which is labour intensive and difficult, particularly for upper canopy layers.

We used a lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to assess liana infestation of tree canopies from above. It was a commercially available quadcopter UAV with an integrated, standard three‐waveband camera to collect aerial image data for 150 ha of tropical forest canopy. By visually interpreting the images, we assessed the degree of liana infestation for 14.15 ha of forest for which ground‐based estimates were collected simultaneously. We compared the UAV liana infestation estimates with those from the ground to determine the validity, strengths, and weaknesses of using UAVs as a new method for assessing liana infestation of tree canopies.

Estimates of liana infestation from the UAV correlated strongly with ground‐based surveys at individual tree and plot level, and across multiple forest types and spatial resolutions, improving liana infestation assessment for upper canopy layers. Importantly, UAV‐based surveys, including the image collection, processing, and visual interpretation, were considerably faster and more cost‐efficient than ground‐based surveys.

Synthesis and applications. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image data of tree canopies can be easily captured and used to assess liana infestation at least as accurately as traditional ground data. This novel method promotes reproducibility of results and quality control, and enables additional variables to be derived from the image data. It is more cost‐effective, time‐efficient and covers larger geographical extents than traditional ground surveys, enabling more comprehensive monitoring of changes in liana infestation over space and time. This is important for assessing liana impacts on the global carbon balance, and particularly useful for forest management where knowledge of the location and change in liana infestation can be used for tailored, targeted, and effective management of tropical forests for enhanced carbon sequestration (e.g., REDD+ projects), timber concessions, and forest restoration.