bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chronic Binge Alcohol Administration Dysregulates Hippocampal Genes Involved in Immunity and Neurogenesis in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Macaques
Authors: Maxi John , Dean Matt , Zabaleta Jovanny , Reiss Krzysztof , Bagby Gregory , Nelson Steve , Winsauer Peter , Peruzzi Francesca , Molina Patricia
Published: November 2016

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) exacerbate neurocognitive dysfunction in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV+) patients. We have shown that chronic binge alcohol (CBA) administration (13–14 g EtOH/kg/wk) prior to and during simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection in rhesus macaques unmasks learning deficits in operant learning and memory tasks. The underlying mechanisms of neurocognitive alterations due to alcohol and SIV are not known. This exploratory study examined the CBA-induced differential expression of hippocampal genes in SIV-infected (CBA/SIV+; n = 2) macaques in contrast to those of sucrose administered, SIV-infected (SUC/SIV+; n = 2) macaques. Transcriptomes of hippocampal samples dissected from brains obtained at necropsy (16 months post-SIV inoculation) were analyzed to determine differentially expressed genes. MetaCore from Thomson Reuters revealed enrichment of genes involved in inflammation, immune responses, and neurodevelopment. Functional relevance of these alterations was examined in vitro by exposing murine neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to ethanol (EtOH) and HIV trans-activator of transcription (Tat) protein. EtOH impaired NPC differentiation as indicated by decreased βIII tubulin expression. These findings suggest a role for neuroinflammation and neurogenesis in CBA/SIV neuropathogenesis and warrant further investigation of their potential contribution to CBA-mediated neurobehavioral deficits.
Design of Efficient Molecular Catalysts for Synthesis of Cyclic Olefin Copolymers (COC) by Copolymerization of Ethylene and α-Olefins with Norbornene or Tetracyclododecene
Authors: Zhao Weizhen , Nomura Kotohiro
Published: November 2016

Selected results for the synthesis of cyclic olefin copolymers (COCs)—especially copolymerizations of norbornene (NBE) or tetracyclododecene (TCD) with ethylene and α-olefins (1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-dodecene)—using group 4 transition metal (titanium and zirconium) complex catalysts have been reviewed. Half-titanocenes containing an anionic ancillary donor ligand, Cp’TiX2(Y) (Cp’ = cyclopentadienyl; X = halogen, alkyl; Y = anionic donor ligand such as aryloxo, ketimide, imidazolin-2-iminato, etc.), are effective catalysts for efficient synthesis of new COCs; ligand modifications play an important role for the desired copolymerization. These new COCs possess promising properties (high transparency, thermal resistance (high glass transition temperature), low water absorption, etc.), thus it is demonstrated that the design of an efficient catalyst plays an essential role for the synthesis of new fine polyolefins with specified properties.
The Coupling Fields Characteristics of Cable Joints and Application in the Evaluation of Crimping Process Defects
Authors: Yang Fan , Liu Kai , Cheng Peng , Wang Shaohua , Wang Xiaoyu , Gao Bing , Fang Yalin , Xia Rong , Ullah Irfan
Published: November 2016

The internal defects of cable joints always accelerate the deterioration of insulation, until finally accidents can arise due to the explosion of the joints. The formation process of this damage often involves changes in the electromagnetic, temperature and stress distribution of the cable joint, therefore, it is necessary to analyze the electromagnetic-thermal-mechanical distribution of cable joints. Aiming at solving this problem, the paper sets up a 3-D electromagnetic-thermal-mechanical coupling model of cable joints under crimping process defects. Based on the model, the electromagnetic losses distribution, temperature distribution and stress distribution of a cable joint and body are calculated. Then, the coupling fields characteristics in different contact coefficient k, ambient temperature Tamb and load current I were analyzed, and according to the thermal-mechanical characteristics of a cable joint under internal defects, the temperature difference ΔTf and stress difference Δσf of cable surface are applied to evaluate the internal cable joint defects. Finally, a simplified model of the cable joint is set up to verify the accuracy of the coupling field model proposed in this paper, which indicates that the model can be used to analyze the coupling fields characteristics of cable joints and the method can be applied to evaluate crimping process defects of cable joints.
Application of Hybrid Genetic Algorithm Routine in Optimizing Food and Bioengineering Processes
Authors: Tumuluru Jaya , McCulloch Richard
Published: November 2016

Optimization is a crucial step in the analysis of experimental results. Deterministic methods only converge on local optimums and require exponentially more time as dimensionality increases. Stochastic algorithms are capable of efficiently searching the domain space; however convergence is not guaranteed. This article demonstrates the novelty of the hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA), which combines both stochastic and deterministic routines for improved optimization results. The new hybrid genetic algorithm developed is applied to the Ackley benchmark function as well as case studies in food, biofuel, and biotechnology processes. For each case study, the hybrid genetic algorithm found a better optimum candidate than reported by the sources. In the case of food processing, the hybrid genetic algorithm improved the anthocyanin yield by 6.44%. Optimization of bio-oil production using HGA resulted in a 5.06% higher yield. In the enzyme production process, HGA predicted a 0.39% higher xylanase yield. Hybridization of the genetic algorithm with a deterministic algorithm resulted in an improved optimum compared to statistical methods.
The Implications of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease on Public Health Policy and Health Promotion in South Africa
Authors: Reddy Sasiragha , Mbewu Anthony
Published: November 2016

The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis states that environmental influences in utero and in early life can determine health and disease in later life through the programming of genes and/or altered gene expression. The DOHaD is likely to have had an effect in South Africa during the fifty years of apartheid; and during the twenty years since the dawn of democracy in 1994. This has profound implications for public health and health promotion policies in South Africa, a country experiencing increased prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and risk factors and behaviours for NCDs due to rapid social and economic transition, and because of the DOHaD. Public health policy and health promotion interventions, such as those introduced by the South African Government over the past 20 years, were designed to improve the health of pregnant women (and their unborn children). They could in addition, through the DOHaD mechanism, reduce NCDs and their risk factors in their offspring in later life. The quality of public health data over the past 40 years in South Africa precludes the possibility of proving the DOHaD hypothesis in that context. Nevertheless, public health and health promotion policies need to be strengthened, if South Africa and other low and middle income countries (LMICs) are to avoid the very high prevalence of NCDs seen in Europe and North America in the 50 years following the Second World War, as a result of socio economic transition and the DOHaD.
The Physical Density of the City—Deconstruction of the Delusive Density Measure with Evidence from Two European Megacities
Authors: Taubenböck Hannes , Standfuß Ines , Klotz Martin , Wurm Michael
Published: November 2016

Density is among the most important descriptive as well as normative measures in urban research. While its basic concept is generally understandable, approaches towards the density measure are manifold, diverse and of multidimensional complexity. This evolves from differing thematic, spatial and calculative specifications. Consequently, applied density measures are often used in a subjective, non-transparent, unspecific and thus non-comparable manner. In this paper, we aim at a systematic deconstruction of the measure density. Varying thematic, spatial and calculative dimensions show significant influence on the measure. With both quantitative and qualitative techniques of evaluation, we assess the particular influences on the measure density. To do so, we reduce our experiment setting to a mere physical perspective; that is, the quantitative measures building density, degree of soil sealing, floor space density and, more specifically, the density of generic structural classes such as open spaces and highest built-up density areas. Using up-to-date geodata derived from remote sensing and volunteered geographic information, we build upon high-quality spatial information products such as 3-D city models. Exemplified for the comparison of two European megacities, namely Paris and London, we reveal and systemize necessary variables to be clearly defined for meaningful conclusions using the density measure.
What Has Limited the Impact of UK Disability Equality Law on Social Justice?
Authors: Harwood Rupert
Published: November 2016

The literature indicates that disabled workers in the UK experience more social injustice than UK workers as a whole, including in relation to employment rates and wage levels. Drawing on the author’s 2015 qualitative study of 265 disabled workers, this paper considers how successful the Equality Act 2010 Reasonable Adjustments Duty has been in tackling this social injustice. It finds that in the context of the “flexible” labour force (consisting of insecure jobs), and the “reformed” welfare state, the Reasonable Adjustments Duty is ill-equipped to achieve its original purpose of reducing the substantial disadvantage that disabled workers face. As regards the “flexible” labour force, there appeared, for example, to be a strong reluctance to make reasonable adjustments for workers on zero hours contracts; while, as regards the impact of welfare reform, fear of being dismissed and facing benefit sanctions discouraged zero hours workers from pushing for adjustments which had been refused. The paper goes on to suggest a possible wording for a strengthened Reasonable Adjustments Duty. It concludes, however, that, without changes to unfair dismissal, and other labour laws, to address the wider iniquities of the flexible labour market, a strengthened duty will not be able to prevent a long term increase in social injustice for disabled workers.
Kinematics and Dynamics of a Translational Parallel Robot Based on Planar Mechanisms
Authors: Garcia-Murillo Mario , Sanchez-Alonso Roger , Gallardo-Alvarado Jaime
Published: November 2016

In this contribution, a novel translational parallel robot composed of an arrangement of mechanisms with planar motion is presented. Its mobility is analyzed and the position analysis is solved by using equations derived from mechanical constraints. Furthermore, the analysis of velocity and acceleration are solved by means of the screw theory. For completeness, the inverse dynamics are also presented and solved by means of an interesting combination of the screw theory and the virtual work principle. Finally, a numerical example is included to show the application of the kinematic model, which is verified with the aid of a commercially available software.
Sugar Composition Analysis of Fuzi Polysaccharides by HPLC-MSn and Their Protective Effects on Schwann Cells Exposed to High Glucose
Authors: Wang Bei-Bei , Wang Jia-Li , Yuan Jiang , Quan Qing-Hua , Ji Rui-Fang , Tan Peng , Han Jing , Liu Yong-Gang
Published: November 2016

Fuzi has been used to treat diabetic complications for many years in china. In a previous study, we have shown that Fuzi aqueous extract can attenuate Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in rats and protect Schwann cells from injury. Thus, the protective effect of Fuzi polysaccharides (FPS) on high glucose-induced SCs and the preliminary mechanism were investigated. Firstly, the FPS were obtained and their monose composition was analyzed by the combination of pre-column derivatization and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization multi-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MSn). The results witnessed the efficiency of this method and seven monosaccharides were tentatively identified, among which fucose was first reported. Simultaneously, m/z 215 can be considered as diagnostic ions to confirm the number of monosaccharides. Next, high glucose-induced SC model was applied and divided into model group, treated group of FPS, normal and osmotic control group. After treatment for 48 h, the data showed FPS could significantly decrease the intracellular ROS and apoptosis, which were determined by the corresponding fluorescent probes. Then, the expression of oxidative stress-related proteins in SCs were measured by Western blot. Furthermore, the protein tests found that FPS markedly up-regulated superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) protein level, but down-regulated NADPH oxidase-1 (Nox1) protein level. Moreover, FPS could also increase AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation significantly. Hence, we preliminary deduced that AMPK-PGC-1α pathway may play an important role in the protective effect of FPS against high glucose-induced cell damage.
Resveratrol and Coumarin: Novel Agricultural Antibacterial Agent against Ralstonia solanacearum In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Chen Juanni , Yu Yanmei , Li Shili , Ding Wei
Published: November 2016

Bacterial wilt is a destructive disease caused by the phytopathogen Ralstonia solanacearum (R. solanacearum), which is widely found in various tobacco-growing areas all over the world. Botanical bactericidal substances have gradually emerged as a hot topic in modern pesticide research. In this study, the antibacterial activities of two phytochemicals (resveratrol and coumarin) against R. solanacearum and their in vivo and in vitro efficacy for controlling tobacco bacterial wilt were evaluated. We rule out significant biological effects of both phytochemicals using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and fluorescence microscope, which suppressed the growth of R. solanacearum. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the toxicity mechanisms mainly involved damaging bacterial cell membrane and preventing swarming motility and biofilm formation. A further pot experiment demonstrated that coumarin and resveratrol significantly inhibited early adhesion and colonization of R. solanacearum in tobacco plants and the corresponding control efficacies were 68% and 85% after incubation for 13 days, respectively. The findings of this study suggest that both resveratrol and coumarin have potential as non-toxic antimicrobial strategies for controlling tobacco bacterial wilt disease.
Unraveling the Roots of Selectivity of Peptide Affinity Reagents for Structurally Similar Ribosomal Inactivating Protein Derivatives
Authors: Sarkes Deborah , Hurley Margaret , Stratis-Cullum Dimitra
Published: November 2016

Peptide capture agents have become increasingly useful tools for a variety of sensing applications due to their ease of discovery, stability, and robustness. Despite the ability to rapidly discover candidates through biopanning bacterial display libraries and easily mature them to Protein Catalyzed Capture (PCC) agents with even higher affinity and selectivity, an ongoing challenge and critical selection criteria is that the peptide candidates and final reagent be selective enough to replace antibodies, the gold-standard across immunoassay platforms. Here, we have discovered peptide affinity reagents against abrax, a derivative of abrin with reduced toxicity. Using on-cell Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) assays, we show that the peptides are highly selective for abrax over RiVax, a similar derivative of ricin originally designed as a vaccine, with significant structural homology to abrax. We rank the newly discovered peptides for strongest affinity and analyze three observed consensus sequences with varying affinity and specificity. The strongest (Tier 1) consensus was FWDTWF, which is highly aromatic and hydrophobic. To better understand the observed selectivity, we use the XPairIt peptide–protein docking protocol to analyze binding location predictions of the individual Tier 1 peptides and consensus on abrax and RiVax. The binding location profiles on the two proteins are quite distinct, which we determine is due to differences in pocket size, pocket environment (including hydrophobicity and electronegativity), and steric hindrance. This study provides a model system to show that peptide capture candidates can be quite selective for a structurally similar protein system, even without further maturation, and offers an in silico method of analysis for understanding binding and down-selecting candidates.
cDNA Isolation and Functional Characterization of UDP-d-glucuronic Acid 4-Epimerase Family from Ornithogalum caudatum
Authors: Yin Sen , Sun Yu-Jia , Liu Ming , Li Li-Na , Kong Jian-Qiang
Published: November 2016

d-Galacturonic acid (GalA) is an important component of GalA-containing polysaccharides in Ornithogalum caudatum. The incorporation of GalA into these polysaccharides from UDP-d-galacturonic acid (UDP-GalA) was reasonably known. However, the cDNAs involved in the biosynthesis of UDP-GalA were still unknown. In the present investigation, one candidate UDP-d-glucuronic acid 4-epimerase (UGlcAE) family with three members was isolated from O. caudatum based on RNA-Seq data. Bioinformatics analyses indicated all of the three isoforms, designated as OcUGlcAE1~3, were members of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) and shared two conserved motifs. The three full-length cDNAs were then transformed to Pichia pastoris GS115 for heterologous expression. Data revealed both the supernatant and microsomal fractions from the recombinant P. pastoris expressing OcUGlcAE3 can interconvert UDP-GalA and UDP-d-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA), while the other two OcUGlcAEs had no activity on UDP-GlcA and UDP-GalA. Furthermore, expression analyses of the three epimerases in varied tissues of O. caudatum were performed by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Results indicated OcUGlcAE3, together with the other two OcUGlcAE-like genes, was root-specific, displaying highest expression in roots. OcUGlcAE3 was UDP-d-glucuronic acid 4-epimerase and thus deemed to be involved in the biosynthesis of root polysaccharides. Moreover, OcUGlcAE3 was proposed to be environmentally induced.
Plant Mediated Green Synthesis of CuO Nanoparticles: Comparison of Toxicity of Engineered and Plant Mediated CuO Nanoparticles towards Daphnia magna
Authors: Saif Sadia , Tahir Arifa , Asim Tayyaba , Chen Yongsheng
Published: November 2016

Research on green production methods for metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) is growing, with the objective to overcome the potential hazards of these chemicals for a safer environment. In this study, facile, ecofriendly synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles was successfully achieved using aqueous extract of Pterospermum acerifolium leaves. P. acerifolium-fabricated CuO nanoparticles were further characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Plant-mediated CuO nanoparticles were found to be oval shaped and well dispersed in suspension. XPS confirmed the elemental composition of P. acerifolium-mediated copper nanoparticles as comprised purely of copper and oxygen. DLS measurements and ion release profile showed that P. acerifolium-mediated copper nanoparticles were more stable than the engineered CuO NPs. Copper oxide nanoparticles are used in many applications; therefore, their potential toxicity cannot be ignored. A comparative study was performed to investigate the bio-toxic impacts of plant-synthesized and engineered CuO nanoparticles on water flea Daphnia. Experiments were conducted to investigate the 48-h acute toxicity of engineered CuO NPs and plant-synthesized nanoparticles. Lower EC50 value 0.102 ± 0.019 mg/L was observed for engineered CuO NPs, while 0.69 ± 0.226 mg/L was observed for plant-synthesized CuO NPs. Additionally, ion release from CuO nanoparticles and 48-h accumulation of these nano CuOs in daphnids were also calculated. Our findings thus suggest that the contribution of released ions from nanoparticles and particles/ions accumulation in Daphnia needs to be interpreted with care.
Nutraceuticals and Their Potential to Treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Separating the Credible from the Conjecture
Authors: Woodman Keryn , Coles Chantal , Lamandé Shireen , White Jason
Published: November 2016

In recent years, complementary and alternative medicine has become increasingly popular. This trend has not escaped the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy community with one study showing that 80% of caregivers have provided their Duchenne patients with complementary and alternative medicine in conjunction with their traditional treatments. These statistics are concerning given that many supplements are taken based on purely “anecdotal” evidence. Many nutraceuticals are thought to have anti-inflammatory or anti-oxidant effects. Given that dystrophic pathology is exacerbated by inflammation and oxidative stress these nutraceuticals could have some therapeutic benefit for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This review gathers and evaluates the peer-reviewed scientific studies that have used nutraceuticals in clinical or pre-clinical trials for DMD and thus separates the credible from the conjecture.
A Generic Framework for Assessing the Performance Bounds of Image Feature Detectors
Authors: Ehsan Shoaib , Clark Adrian , Leonardis Ales , Ur Rehman Naveed , Khaliq Ahmad , Fasli Maria , McDonald-Maier Klaus
Published: November 2016

Since local feature detection has been one of the most active research areas in computer vision during the last decade and has found wide range of applications (such as matching and registration of remotely sensed image data), a large number of detectors have been proposed. The interest in feature-based applications continues to grow and has thus rendered the task of characterizing the performance of various feature detection methods an important issue in vision research. Inspired by the good practices of electronic system design, a generic framework based on the repeatability measure is presented in this paper that allows assessment of the upper and lower bounds of detector performance and finds statistically significant performance differences between detectors as a function of image transformation amount by introducing a new variant of McNemar’s test in an effort to design more reliable and effective vision systems. The proposed framework is then employed to establish operating and guarantee regions for several state-of-the art detectors and to identify their statistical performance differences for three specific image transformations: JPEG compression, uniform light changes and blurring. The results are obtained using a newly acquired, large image database (20,482 images) with 539 different scenes. These results provide new insights into the behavior of detectors and are also useful from the vision systems design perspective. Finally, results for some local feature detectors are presented for a set of remote sensing images to showcase the potential and utility of this framework for remote sensing applications in general.
Dynamic Mapping of Rice Growth Parameters Using HJ-1 CCD Time Series Data
Authors: Wang Jing , Huang Jingfeng , Gao Ping , Wei Chuanwen , Mansaray Lamin
Published: November 2016

The high temporal resolution (4-day) charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras onboard small environment and disaster monitoring and forecasting satellites (HJ-1A/B) with 30 m spatial resolution and large swath (700 km) have substantially increased the availability of regional clear sky optical remote sensing data. For the application of dynamic mapping of rice growth parameters, leaf area index (LAI) and aboveground biomass (AGB) were considered as plant growth indicators. The HJ-1 CCD-derived vegetation indices (VIs) showed robust relationships with rice growth parameters. Cumulative VIs showed strong performance for the estimation of total dry AGB. The cross-validation coefficient of determination ( R C V 2 ) was increased by using two machine learning methods, i.e., a back propagation neural network (BPNN) and a support vector machine (SVM) compared with traditional regression equations of LAI retrieval. The LAI inversion accuracy was further improved by dividing the rice growth period into before and after heading stages. This study demonstrated that continuous rice growth monitoring over time and space at field level can be implemented effectively with HJ-1 CCD 10-day composite data using a combination of proper VIs and regression models.
Emergence at the Fundamental Systems Level: Existence Conditions for Iterative Specifications
Authors: Zeigler Bernard , Muzy Alexandre
Published: November 2016

Conditions under which compositions of component systems form a well-defined system-of-systems are here formulated at a fundamental level. Statement of what defines a well-defined composition and sufficient conditions guaranteeing such a result offers insight into exemplars that can be found in special cases such as differential equation and discrete event systems. For any given global state of a composition, two requirements can be stated informally as: (1) the system can leave this state, i.e., there is at least one trajectory defined that starts from the state; and (2) the trajectory evolves over time without getting stuck at a point in time. Considered for every global state, these conditions determine whether the resultant is a well-defined system and, if so, whether it is non-deterministic or deterministic. We formulate these questions within the framework of iterative specifications for mathematical system models that are shown to be behaviorally equivalent to the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism. This formalization supports definitions and proofs of the afore-mentioned conditions. Implications are drawn at the fundamental level of existence where the emergence of a system from an assemblage of components can be characterized. We focus on systems with feedback coupling where existence and uniqueness of solutions is problematic.
Influence of biological and social‐historical variables on the time taken to describe an angiosperm
Authors: Cavallin Evelin K. S. , Munhoz Cássia B. R. , Harris Stephen A. , Villarroel Daniel , Proença Carolyn E. B.
Published: November 2016

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

By convention, scientific naming of angiosperm species began in 1753; it is estimated that 10–20% of species remain undescribed. To complete this task before rare, undescribed species go extinct, a better understanding of the description process is needed. The South American Cerrado biodiversity hotspot was considered a suitable model due to a high diversity of plants, habitats, and social history of species description.

METHODS:

A randomized sample of 214 species (2% of the angiosperm flora) and 22 variables were analyzed using multivariate analyses and analysis of variance.

KEY RESULTS:

Plants with wide global distributions, recorded from many areas, and above 2.6 m were described significantly earlier than narrowly distributed, uncommon species of smaller stature. The beginning of the career of the botanist who first collected the species was highly significant, with an average delay between first collection and description of 29 yr, and between type collection and description 19 yr; standard deviations were high and rose over time. Over a third of first collections were not cited in descriptions. Trends such as scientific specialization and decline of undescribed species were highlighted. Descriptions that involved potential collaboration between collectors and authors were significantly slower than those that did not.

CONCLUSIONS:

Results support four recommendations to hasten discovery of new species: (1) preferential collecting of plants below 2.6 m, at least in the Cerrado; (2) access to undetermined material in herbaria; (3) fieldwork in areas where narrow‐endemic species occur; (4) fieldwork by knowledgeable botanists followed by descriptive activity by the same.
A dataset of fishes in and around Inle Lake, an ancient lake of Myanmar, with DNA barcoding, photo images and CT/3D models
Authors: Kano Yuichi , Musikasinthorn Prachya , Iwata Akihisa , Tun Sein , Yun LKC , Win Seint , Matsui Shoko , Tabata Ryoichi , Yamasaki Takeshi , Watanabe Katsutoshi
Published: November 2016

Inle (Inlay) Lake, an ancient lake of Southeast Asia, is located at the eastern part of Myanmar, surrounded by the Shan Mountains. Detailed information on fish fauna in and around the lake has long been unknown, although its outstanding endemism was reported a century ago.

Based on the fish specimens collected from markets, rivers, swamps, ponds and ditches around Inle Lake as well as from the lake itself from 2014 to 2016, we recorded a total of 948 occurrence data (2120 individuals), belonging to 10 orders, 19 families, 39 genera and 49 species. Amongst them, 13 species of 12 genera are endemic or nearly endemic to the lake system and 17 species of 16 genera are suggested as non-native. The data are all accessible from the document “A dataset of Inle Lake fish fauna and its distribution (http://ipt.pensoft.net/resource.do?r=inle_fish_2014-16)”, as well as DNA barcoding data (mitochondrial COI) for all species being available from the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank (Accession numbers: LC189568–LC190411). Live photographs of almost all the individuals and CT/3D model data of several specimens are also available at the graphical fish biodiversity database (http://ffish.asia/INLE2016; http://ffish.asia/INLE2016-3D). The information can benefit the clarification, public concern and conservation of the fish biodiversity in the region.
Knockin' on Digital Doors
Authors: Costa Rosalina Pisco
Published: November 2016

This chapter aims at presenting and discussing credible online recruitment eliciting techniques targeting scientific purposes adjusted to the digital age. Based on several illustrations conducted by the author within the framework of both quantitative and qualitative inquiries, this chapter critically explores the digital ethos in three main challenges faced when dealing with online recruitment for scientific purposes: entering the normality of the everyday life, entering the idiosyncrasy of multicultural lives, and entering the chaos of busy lives. By the end, a toolbox for establishing and evaluating (dis)credibility within online recruitment strategies is presented. Moreover, it is argued that success of data collection at the present time in online environments seems to rely as ever on internal factors of the communication process vis-à-vis e-mail content, design and related strategies.
Credible to Whom?
Authors: Rodriguez Nathan
Published: November 2016

This chapter adopts a case study approach to examine the echo chamber effect online. Individuals cobble together personalized newsfeeds by active choice and those choices are often accompanied by subtle manipulations in social media and online search engine algorithms that may shape and constrain the parameters of information on a given topic. In this chapter, the author studied vaccine-hesitant discourse in an online forum over a five-year period. Those conversations exhibited characteristics of what would be considered an echo chamber, as defined by Jamieson and Cappella (2008). The implications of this case study suggest that the echo chamber within the realm of vaccination can lead individuals toward content and information of dubious veracity, with significant implications for public health.
Social Media as Social Customer Relationship Management Tool
Authors: Al-Rabayah Wafaa A.
Published: November 2016

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is the process of managing a business's interaction with current and future potential customers. This instrumental case study aims to study and explain the role of social media as Electronic Customer Relationship Management tool (ECRM) in health care and tourism context by using Jordan Medical Directory company as a case study, we identified how using social media in communicating and managing customer's requirements as eCRM technique affects institution efficiency, the result proved the significant positive role of social media in managing customers relation starting from acquisition, passing by retention, and finally termination, data collected through personal and phone interviews in a time frame of one month.
The Impact of Social Media on Customer Engagement with U.S. Banks
Authors: Haro-de-Rosario Arturo , Saraite Laura , Sáez-Martin Alejandro , Caba-Pérez María del Carmen
Published: November 2016

This chapter has two main aims. First, to investigate the Facebook practices used in the U.S. banking sector with the aim of enhancing customer engagement; second, to perform a comparative analysis of the use of Facebook in this respect, among different U.S. banks. In this comparative analysis, we apply the Federal Reserve charter classification (Nationally chartered member bank, State-chartered member bank and State-chartered nonmember bank). The findings of this study contribute significantly to our understanding of the influence of social media in enhancing customer engagement. Banks, and their community managers in particular, can make use of the conclusions drawn in this study to develop future strategies to foster citizen engagement via Facebook.
Social Networks Impact on Potential Customers' Buying Decisions and Current Customer Loyalty
Authors: Al-Rabayah Wafaa A.
Published: November 2016

Social networks are fundamentally changing the way we communicate, collaborate, consume, and create. They represent one of the most transformative impacts of information technology on business and daily life. This chapter will explain set of social network concepts and its influences in social interaction and decision making, and to determine whether individual's decision to consume a product, service, or attend an event are influenced by their interaction on social network, by studying three characteristics: Contagion, Connection, and Virtual Word of mouth. The results of this research can be used by business to enhance their relation and opportunities with their current and potential customers.
Developing Student-Driven Learning
Authors: Watkins Chris
Published: November 2016

The aim of this chapter is to introduce some contextual and conceptual matters which can affect the development of student-driven learning strategies. There are four sections. The first connects the rationale for student-driven learning strategies with what we know about dominant patterns in the classroom. The second offers a multi-level view of key issues in the context that can help or hinder development. The third makes suggestions about the process of development of student-driven learning strategies. A final section considers definitions.
Reflective Learning and the Growth of Intellect and Identity
Authors: Baba Jamiah , Abdullah Nabilah
Published: November 2016

Reflection in learning is crucial as it provides learners with the chance to think about what they do, clarify what they understand by their actions, and adapt ways of working towards achieving goals. The continuous doing and posing inquiries about personal experiences is key to learners' intellectual growth and understanding of professional identity. This chapter outlines how content and professional knowledge of student-teachers in a Malaysian university progress through engagement in research process, and how involvement in research shapes their teacher personality and qualities as they become more critical and open-minded during the learning process. The study shows that reflection can promote self-regulation of learning habits that enhance growth of intellect and professional identity. The findings have implications on the provision of teacher education in higher education. It is imperative that teaching and learning activities help learners to recognise, understand, appreciate and reflect on their personal, social and professional development.
Enhancing Student-Driven Learning Strategies by Examining the Faculty Conceptions of Teaching
Authors: Marouchou Despina Varnava
Published: November 2016

Despite the extensive interest demonstrated by academics and policy makers, and the vast amount of information written, during the past twenty years or so, in the area of student learning, very little of what has been written has been transformed into solid policies and practices, “the discourse advocates for learning, but seldom gets down to the level of detail” (Weimer 2002, p. xii). By making instructors aware of their own conceptions of teaching they will be informed of how such conceptions influence their teaching practices. Thus, a critical examination of the conceptions of teaching can initiate adjustments directed towards a reform-based perspective, leading to student driven learning strategies. In this chapter the findings of the conceptions of teaching identified by a group of lecturers in a small university are discussed, secondly, the possibility of a relation between the lecturers' conceptions of teaching and student-driven learning strategies are outlined and thirdly, the importance of taking these issues into consideration, when exploring learning environments, learning outcomes, curriculum design and the professional development of academics.
Supporting Student-Driven Learning
Authors: Djoub Zineb
Published: November 2016

Within an information driven society, knowledge is no more limited to a given source, context or pace of time. Indeed, the 21st century demands have called for more skills and competences which go beyond drills and memorizing. Learning is, indeed, not merely a process of accumulating and processing information, but it has to do more with constructing and negotiating meaning, problem solving, reflection and creativity. This chapter intends to clarify these skills, focusing more on students' reflection, collaboration, and creativity in learning. In addition to defining these skills and discussing their importance to students' learning, one's concern is to help teachers enhance them. This is through clarifying the teacher's role and putting forward a set of teaching techniques that can help develop students' reflection, collaboration and creativity. Besides, since “assessment frames learning, creates learning activity and orients all aspects of learning behaviors,” this chapter also suggests assessment activities targeting that objective (Gibbs, 2006, p. 23).
Mental Health and Addictions Workforce Development
Authors: Roche Ann M. , Nicholas Roger S.
Published: November 2016

This chapter addresses changes in the conceptualization of workforce development and its implications for mental health and addiction1 workers, services, and sectors. First we provide an overview of the background, historical and contextual factors impacting current approaches to workforce development. Next, an examination of systems thinking, service delivery models and goals, workforce planning, leadership and worker recruitment, retention and wellbeing are provided. Finally, theories of knowledge and innovation dissemination, learning models and theories, and emerging use of technology are examined.
Key Initiatives in New Zealand's Adult Mental Health Workforce Development
Authors: Smith Mark , Jury Angela F.
Published: November 2016

This chapter describes a nationally led approach to workforce development by analyzing three workforce development initiatives within the adult mental health and addiction sector in New Zealand. New Zealand has been on an important and critical journey with regards workforce development over the past 15 years, one which has significantly altered the way services are delivered. In order to understand this journey, some background information relevant to New Zealand will be provided covering the context of mental health, epidemiology of mental health illness, service delivery, use of evidence based treatments, as well as funding and investment in workforce development. The three workforce development initiatives are then described: 1) key knowledge, skills, values and attitudes for all people working in mental health and addiction services, 2) development of an outcomes culture, and 3) post graduate clinical training for nurses and allied health professionals.
A Critique on the Factors that Influence Mental Health Workforce Training in Developing Countries
Authors: Billington Rex
Published: November 2016

This chapter will discuss the training of the mental health workforce in developing countries and make comparison with the developed world from where many of the systems and practices originate. All countries are different in the various factors that affect mental health care, mental health promotion, and mental health personnel training. But there are common themes. The relevancy of mental health workforce training is affected by treatment theory, the prevalence and burden of disorders in the country, the types of personnel available and involved in caring for the disabled, and the environments and resources available at country level. The realities and limitations of each country influences the types of people available for workforce training, the training approaches that are practical and can be sustained, the type of educational technologies available, and the retention of personnel once trained. These are the major themes addressed in this chapter with particular reference to the least developed countries.
Supporting People Who Experience Co-Existing Mental Health and Addiction Problems
Authors: Koning Ashley , Poole Suzette Janet
Published: November 2016

Meeting the needs of people with co-existing mental health and addiction problems is a challenge faced by many mental health and addiction services and providers. A compounding factor has been the separation of mental health and addiction services which has meant that many people with co-existing mental health and addiction problems have fallen through the cracks between services or had issues not recognized or responded to, leading to poor health outcomes. This chapter describes the approach taken by New Zealand's workforce development centers to support services to improve responsiveness and workforce capability to work with people with co-existing mental health and addiction problems. International research on implementation is briefly summarized before discussion about the impact of the national approach and the barriers to implementation that have emerged. Recommendations for next steps conclude this chapter.
Validating a measurement scale for entrepreneurial actions for sustainable corporate entrepreneurship using confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Mungule Charles M. , Van Vuuren Jurie J.
Published: November 2016

Orientation: Sustainable corporate entrepreneurship, which is achieved through entrepreneurial actions, has become a useful strategy for enhancing organisational performance. However, there seems to be no psychometrically sound and valid measurement instrument for such entrepreneurial actions.Research purpose: The study aimed at addressing this issue by proposing and empirically assessing a measurement instrument for entrepreneurial actions to determine its validity and psychometric attributes.Motivation for the study: Since entrepreneurial actions have been identified as an essential vehicle for translating management’s entrepreneurial intentions into meaningful organisational achievements, a measurement instrument for entrepreneurial actions with acceptable psychometric attributes would greatly benefit the field of sustainable corporate entrepreneurship.Research design, approach and method: The study used data from Zambia with a sample of 646 managers from organisations in eight different economic sectors. Zambia was chosen for the study because such a study was never undertaken in the country thereby making a valuable contribution to the country’s body of entrepreneurship knowledge. Data analysis and measurement were mainly conducted using Confirmatory Factor Analysis.Main findings: The study findings indicated that the postulated four-item measurement instrument was relatively stable and psychometrically sound with acceptable content and construct validity.Practical/managerial implications: The study findings amplified the role of managers in instigating entrepreneurship within established organisations through their entrepreneurial actions for the purposes of ensuring achievement of sustainable corporate entrepreneurship and sustained performance.Contribution/value-add: The findings of this study contributed immensely to the literature on sustainable corporate entrepreneurship useful for research and teaching.
Association of PTP1B with Outcomes of Breast Cancer Patients who Underwent Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Franco Monica M. Rivera , Rodriguez Eucario Leon , Benitez Braulio Martinez , Rodriguez Luisa G. Villanueva , De La Luz Sevilla Gonzalez Maria , Alonso Alejandra Armengol
Published: November 2016

PTP1B is involved in the oncogenesis of breast cancer. In addition, neoadjuvant therapy has been widely used in breast cancer; thus, a measurement to assess survival improvement could be pathological complete response (pCR). Our objective was to associate PTP1B overexpression with outcomes of breast cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Forty-six specimens were included. Diagnostic biopsies were immunostained using anti-PTP1B antibody. Expression was categorized as negative (<5%) and overexpression (≥5%). Patients' responses were graded according to the Miller-Payne system. Sixty-three percent of patients overexpressed PTP1B. There was no significant association between PTP1B overexpression and pCR (P = 0.2). However, when associated with intrinsic subtypes, overexpression was higher in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive-enriched specimens (P = 0.02). Ten-year progression-free survival showed no differences. Our preliminary results do not show an association between PTP1B overexpression and pCR; however, given the limited sample and heterogeneous treatment in our cohort, this hypothesis cannot be excluded.