bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Value creation disclosure in CSR reports: evidence from Poland
Authors: Fijałkowska Justyna , Macuda Małgorzata
Published: September 2017

Value creation disclosure in CSR reports: evidence from Poland

Nowadays, many companies are involved in the idea of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and they perceive it as a source of value creation. But the question arises if companies measure and report the value created via CSR engagement or whether they present mainly descriptive information concerning their actions and activities within CSR. The aim of this paper is to present what the CSR reporting prac- tices in Poland are concerning value creation measurement and disclosure. The theoretical concept of value creation via CSR activities is analyzed and confronted with a practical disclosure in all the CSR reports published by Polish companies in the years 2013-2015. To achieve the research aim, a literature review, content analysis of source documents (CSR reports), synthesis, and the deductive method were used. In the paper, the descriptive approach to accounting is applied.
A performance measurement system for small enterprises – a case study
Authors: Waśniewski Piotr
Published: September 2017

A performance measurement system for small enterprises – a case study

The performance measurement system is one of the determinants which creates an enterprise’s value, and is supposed to leading to an enterprise maintaining or improving its performance in the long-term per-spective. Small enterprises do not understand the need to measure their performance or the potential benefits that come from this measurement. The aim of the article is to present a framework of a perfor-mance measurement system for small enterprises with a practical verification of its assumptions. The basis of the study was an analysis of existing proposals of models and frameworks for small and medium enterprises and the results of a study into the performance measurement solutions applied in practice by Polish small enterprises. As a result of the research conducted, a 4-step process of continuous perfor-mance measurement for small enterprises is presented, and practical verification is conducted on the example of a small legal firm, considering the strategy map and the measures of the set of aims. The construction of a performance measurement system is unique to every enterprise due to its condition, the business sector, the environment, and other factors, so a featured case study provides only a specific example of model usage in practice. The study provides an original contribution of the author. There has been no such research in this field so far in the Polish literature.
The relevance of segments reports – measurement methodology
Authors: Zimnicki Tomasz
Published: September 2017

The segment report is one of the areas of financial statements, and it obliges a company to provide infor-mation about the economic situation in each of its activity areas. The article evaluates the change of segment reporting standards from IAS14R to IFRS8 in the context of feature relevance. It presents the construction of a measure which allows the relevance of segment disclosures to be determined. The created measure was used to study periodical reports published by companies listed on the main market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange from three reporting periods – 2008, 2009 and 2013. Based on the re-search results, it was found that the change of segment reporting standards from IAS14R to IFRS8 in the context of relevance was legitimate.
Is Camino Francés still Pilgrimage or is it already Tourism? An Attempt at Answering based on the Memories of Polish Camino Men
Authors: Plichta Paweł
Published: September 2017

Purpose. The main purpose of the article is the answer the question: ‘Is Camino Francés still seen as pilgrimage or maybe as tourism?’ The author proves that mythical ideas are a ground for valuing the duality present in various types of statements by Polish authors of memories of the caminos.

Method. In this article, the analytical approach to varied source materials has been adopted, either literature or popular and scientific texts, created by authors that walk through Camino de Santiago themselves. Also, other materials that were collected by the authors during their pilgrimages and participants’ observations were used. Finally, Manifesto of Villafraca del Bierzo was examined. It is a document analysing issues discussed in the article in a formal way.

Findings. Camino Francés is perceived as a pilgrimage by people who experienced it by walking or riding a bike. The term ‘tourism’ is used in their statements as a clear contradiction. Moreover, the dichotomy pilgrimage – tourism (pilgrim – tourist) has a valuing dimension, which is also noticed by authors of the scientific studies.

Research and conclusion limitations. Due to the formal requirements regarding the text volume, the analysis has been limited to printed sources available in the Polish language. For the same reasons, it was only one of the most important (the same for camino men and researchers trying to determine the nature of modern Camino) aspect found in these works.

Originality. Until now, none of the articles about Camino Francés have been published in the context of the pilgrimage–tourism dichotomy and its mythical grounds. Neither was the evaluation of this phenomenon has been described regarding the Polish authors of memories. Even the quoted article by Krystyna Zabawa: The phenomenon of the pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela in the latest Polish relations and research was called by its author ‘a short and sketchy diagnosis of recent Polish literature concerning the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela’. It has been limited, however, to selected works only published before 2009. Agnieszka Jaworska – in her book – again, drew attention to the lack of interest on this issue. Nonetheless, she pointed out and analyzed the main features of this type of literature. Adam Kucharski recently proposed typologies of Polish memories concerning the Camino.

Type of paper. This is an analytical study.
Virtual Pilgrimage as a Result of the Application of New Technologies in Promotion. Case Study of the World Centre of Divine Merci in Cracow-Łagiewniki
Authors: Kryczka Małgorzata
Published: September 2017

Purpose. The impact of modern technologies on promotional activities supporting the development of Veneration of the Image of Divine Mercy and St Faustina carried out by Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Łagiewniki and effects of this action manifesting itself in new ways and forms of pilgrimage.

Method. This article presented data analysis concerning the development of the pilgrimage movement of the Sanctuary dating back to its beginning until today, and it also confronts traditional pilgrimage with the virtual one.

Findings. The research showed that thanks to employing new media and computer tools, there has been a significant increase in the number of so-called ‘virtual’ pilgrimages in recent years. The carried out promotional activities remain true to the charisma of the place and in line with the mission of spreading the proclamation of the Divine Mercy. Intense and consistent actions in favour of promoting worship, cause many visits, both actual and cybernetic, from all continents to the World Centre of Veneration of the Image of Divine Mercy in Cracow Łagiewniki today. This worship has now reached a global range.

Research and conclusion limitations. No systematic, comparable data.

Practical implications. Research studies in promotional activities and new technologies being used for that purpose by the place of veneration are extremely significant in identifying the transformation of different forms of pilgrimage which have their consequences in the size of the tourist area attendance.

Originality. Rarely performed analysis of the impact of modern technologies on promotional activities of the worship place.

Type of paper. Case study.
Stridor as one of the symptoms of 5p deletion syndrome in a five-month-old child
Authors: Krawczyk Przemysław Hubert , Kaczmarczyk Dariusz
Published: September 2017

The 5p deletion syndrome (5p-, Cri-du-chat syndrome, CdCS) is a genetic disorder which results from a partial deletion
of the short arm of chromosome 5. It was first described by Lejeune et al. in 1963. The incidence ranges from
1:15 000 to 1:50 000 live births. The 5p- is usually diagnosed in the first days of life because of the characteristic monotonous
high pitched cat-like cry and relatively constant dysmorphic features. Other symptoms often present in
the neonatal period include low birth weight, muscle hypotonia, asphyxia and feeding difficulties due to impaired
suction and swallowing, which may all lead to failure to thrive. Organ malformations, with various larynx abnormalities,
although not very frequent, can also be present. Symptoms that are prevalent in later life include severe
motor delay and intellectual disability with significant speech impairment, as well as behavioral problems. The
case report presents a female infant in her 5th month of life in whom, despite the typical symptoms of 5p-, stridor
and episodes of choking were the main problems. Laryngotracheal endoscopy revealed the type I laryngeal cleft.
Genetic analysis confirmed the diagnose of 5p- syndrome. The presented case shows that it is critically important
to perform a further investigation and refer a child with laryngological problems coexisting with dysmorphic features
to a clinical geneticist.
Stridor as one of the symptoms of 5p deletion syndrome in a five-month-old child
Authors: Malicka Katarzyna , Grochowska-Bohatyrewicz Ewa , Pietrzyk Aleksandra , Iwona Stecewicz , Jaworowska Ewa , Giżewska Maria
Published: September 2017

The 5p deletion syndrome (5p-, Cri-du-chat syndrome, CdCS) is a genetic disorder which results from a partial deletion
of the short arm of chromosome 5. It was first described by Lejeune et al. in 1963. The incidence ranges from
1:15 000 to 1:50 000 live births. The 5p- is usually diagnosed in the first days of life because of the characteristic monotonous
high pitched cat-like cry and relatively constant dysmorphic features. Other symptoms often present in
the neonatal period include low birth weight, muscle hypotonia, asphyxia and feeding difficulties due to impaired
suction and swallowing, which may all lead to failure to thrive. Organ malformations, with various larynx abnormalities,
although not very frequent, can also be present. Symptoms that are prevalent in later life include severe
motor delay and intellectual disability with significant speech impairment, as well as behavioral problems. The
case report presents a female infant in her 5th month of life in whom, despite the typical symptoms of 5p-, stridor
and episodes of choking were the main problems. Laryngotracheal endoscopy revealed the type I laryngeal cleft.
Genetic analysis confirmed the diagnose of 5p- syndrome. The presented case shows that it is critically important
to perform a further investigation and refer a child with laryngological problems coexisting with dysmorphic features
to a clinical geneticist.
Impact of Horizontal Curves and Percentage of Heavy Vehicles on Right Lane Capacity at Multi-lane Highways
Authors: Semeida Ahmed Mohamed
Published: September 2017

In the present research, the influence of road geometric properties and traffic characteristics on the right lane capacity value is explored for horizontal curves. The non-traditional procedure (artificial neural networks - ANNs), is adopted for modelling. The research utilizes 78 horizontal curves that provide the traffic and road geometry data, of which55 curves are classified as four-lane and the rest as six-lane ones. Two types of models are introduced to explore the right lane capacity as capacity at curves, and the capacity loss between curves and tangents. The results show that, for horizontal curves, the most effective variables affecting both road types are the percentage of heavy vehicles in traffic composition (HV) followed by radius of curve (R), and the lane width (LW). Furthermore, the capacity loss is also highly affected by R followed by HV. The derived outcomes present a remarkable move towards the beginning of an Egyptian highway design guide.
Multiple Conceptual Modelling of Perceived Quality of In-flight Airline Services
Authors: Šebjan Urban , Tominc Polona , Širec Karin
Published: September 2017

Despite growing literature on the different aspects of airline service quality in relation to behavioural intentions, less attention has been paid to some specific aspects of in-flight services. The focus of the present research is, therefore, on a multiple conceptual model of the quality of in-flight services in relation to passengers’ perception of value, followed by recommendations (word of mouth - WOM) of airlines, as well as the quality and comfort of airline seats. The study is performed using two databases of reviewers’/passengers’ opinions regarding the quality of in-flight airline services and airline seat comfort. Our research results reveal that the perceived comfort of the airplane seat is the most important factor of passengers’ perceived quality of in-flight airline services, which also considerably affects the passengers’ perception of value, and consequently moderates behavioural intentions (in our research, expressed through positive WOM). The analysis of the relative importance of the components of perceived airline seats’ comfort shows that seat width is the most significant factor that contributes to the overall perceived comfort of the airline seat.
Distinct stages of synapse elimination are induced by burst firing of CA1 neurons and differentially require MEF2A/D
Authors: Chang Chia-Wei , Wilkerson Julia R , Hale Carly F , Gibson Jay R , Huber Kimberly M
Published: September 2017

Experience and activity refine cortical circuits through synapse elimination, but little is known about the activity patterns and downstream molecular mechanisms that mediate this process. We used optogenetics to drive individual mouse CA1 hippocampal neurons to fire in theta frequency bursts to understand how cell autonomous, postsynaptic activity leads to synapse elimination. Brief (1 hr) periods of postsynaptic bursting selectively depressed AMPA receptor (R) synaptic transmission, or silenced excitatory synapses, whereas more prolonged (24 hr) firing depressed both AMPAR and NMDAR EPSCs and eliminated spines, indicative of a synapse elimination. Both synapse silencing and elimination required de novo transcription, but only silencing required the activity-dependent transcription factors MEF2A/D. Burst firing induced MEF2A/D-dependent induction of the target gene Arc which contributed to synapse silencing and elimination. This work reveals new and distinct forms of activity and transcription-dependent synapse depression and suggests that these processes can occur independently.
Calcitonin receptor expression in medullary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Cappagli Virginia , Potes Catarina Soares , Ferreira Luciana Bueno , Tavares Catarina , Eloy Catarina , Elisei Rossella , Sobrinho-Simões Manuel , Wookey Peter J. , Soares Paula
Published: September 2017

Background

Calcitonin expression is a well-established marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC); yet the role of calcitonin receptor (CTR), its seven-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor, remains to be established in C-cells derived thyroid tumors. The aim of this work was to investigate CTR expression in MTC and to correlate such expression with clinicopathological features in order to evaluate its possible role as a prognostic indicator of disease aggressiveness and outcome.

Methods

Calcitonin receptor expression was analyzed in a series of 75 MTCs by immunohistochemistry, and by qPCR mRNA quantification in specimens from four patients. Statistical tests were used to evaluate the correlation between CTR expression and the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of patients and tumors.

Results

Calcitonin receptor expression was detected in 62 out of 75 samples (82.7%), whereas 13 of the 75 samples (17.3%) were completely negative. CTR expression was significantly associated with expression of cytoplasmatic phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 and osteopontin, as well as with wild typeRET/RASgenes and absence of tumor stroma, suggesting that CTR expression do not associate with clinicopathological signs of worse prognosis.

Discussion

Calcitonin receptor expression appears to be associated in MTC with more differentiated status of the neoplastic cells.
Juntas de Vecinos: Características y alcances de la participación social en organizaciones comunitarias territoriales.
Authors: Rojas Dunlop Ignacio José
Published: September 2017

El presente artículo consiste en la exposición de los resultados de una investigación etnográfica acerca de las características y alcances de la participación social que se da a partir de la membresía en organizaciones comunitarias territoriales: las juntas de vecinos. Previa exposición de los resultados propiamente tales, cabe señalar, se presenta una problematización, a modo de introducción, de los temas a tratar, una discusión conceptual y una breve referencia metodológica.
Se sostiene que existen dos objetivos que tendrían las juntas de vecinos: uno explícito, relativo a la solución de problemas que aquejen al territorio que representan, y sus habitantes, y otro implícito, relacionado a un rol integrador que cumplirían en él. Para darles cumplimiento realizan distintos modos de participación ciudadana y comunitaria. En el primer caso, se da, mayormente, una participación instrumental, y en el segundo una participación pasiva, no precisamente comunitaria.
Aun así, no se cree que exista modo unívoco de caracterizar la participación en juntas de vecinos, ya que esta adquiere diversas formas y alcances según diversos factores, tales como las actividades que realicen, las voluntades, capacidades, etc., de sus dirigentes, de las autoridades comunales, de sus socios, etc. Lo cierto es que dadas las condiciones estructurales actuales existen pocas posibilidades de que sea una participación empoderada y convocante.
Chile: Neoliberalismo y subdesarrollo económico
Authors: Concha Monardes Raúl
Published: September 2017

Se expone que el Régimen Militar que gobernó a Chile entre 1973 y 1990 ejecutó reformas  económicas y sociales con el objetivo declarado de crear una nueva economía. Presentado como  el modelo que terminaría con los atrasos del país hasta convertirlo en uno plenamente desarrollado, los gobiernos democráticos que le sucedieron, han mantenido vigente la fórmula hasta el día de hoy. Este artículo esboza algunas de las causas que podrían explicar el bloqueo chileno hacia el desarrollo económico.
Antropología y campesinado: la pertinencia de lo persistente. Reflexiones antropológicas en torno al internacionalismo campesino
Authors: Contreras Román Raúl Hernán
Published: September 2017

En el presente artículo se elabora una discusión inicial respecto de la persistencia del  campesinado en la antropología como objeto incómodo, que desde su irrupción en la disciplina ha obligado a ésta a rediscutir su identidad disciplinaria y a repensar su cuerpo teórico. Se parte de  la idea que tanto la emergencia como el ocaso de los estudios campesinos en la disciplina se corresponden con contextos sociales, intelectuales y políticos localizables. Por ello se presenta la actual lucha del internacionalismo campesino, representado por el movimiento transnacional Vía Campesina, en torno a la soberanía alimentaria y el reconocimiento internacional de los derechos de los campesinos y campesinas. Se considera que estas luchas constituyen un espacio  políticamente novedoso y potencialmente generador de oportunidades políticas para las reivindicaciones campesinas frente al despojo neoliberal. Finalmente, se reflexiona en torno a cómo estas luchas vuelven a presentar al campesinado como un objeto incómodo para la  a reclamar la discusión disciplinaria sobre este sector.antropología y
«Tan verídica como patriota»: La pugna sobre traducción entre Rodolfo Lenz y Manuel Manquilef
Authors: Payas Puigarnau Gertrudis
Published: September 2017

En este trabajo pretendemos problematizar el discurso etnográfico de fines del siglo XIX y comienzos del siglo XX en Chile desde la perspectiva de los estudios de traducción. Se analizará el pensamiento sobre la traducción y las estrategias de traducción empleadas por Rodolfo Lenz y Manuel Manquilef, caracterizando las diferencias entre traducción etnográfica y autoetnográfica a partir de la definición propuesta por Pratt (1991). Se expondrán sus implicaciones para la representación de la lengua y la cultura mapuches y para la constitución de un relato sobre el pueblo mapuche que pudiera haber contribuido al discurso nacional.
La obra testimonial de Pascual Coña: arte verbal, documentación lingüística y cultural, luchas metadiscursivas
Authors: Golluscio Lucía A.
Published: September 2017

Texto cultural construido sobre la base de acentos sociales profundamente en pugna, la obra testimonial de Pascual Coña ha interpelado a distintas generaciones de lectores-destinatarios y lo sigue haciendo, requiriendo de cada uno de ellos –y de nosotros− una toma de posición, una interpretación que estará siempre históricamente situada.
A la luz de otras lecturas, este artículo examina los distintos posicionamientos del protagonista en tres contextos diferentes, aunque relacionados: la situación de producción discursiva, los nütram ‘historias’ narrados por Coña y el circuito de la obra publicada. Desde una perspectiva que reconoce en esta obra la interacción de múltiples voces, el análisis incorpora la noción de zona de contacto, entendida como “el espacio social en que pueblos geográfica e históricamente separados entran en contacto y establecen relaciones duraderas basadas en la coerción, la inequidad y el conflicto” (Pratt 1997 [1992]), Se concluye que la obra de Coña, por un lado, logra subvertir desde el “no poder” el rol de autor que Moesbach se (auto)adjudica en la primera edición y, por otro, cobra su sentido más profundo en el marco de la saga de discursos circulantes en el área sobre los destinos trágicos sufridos por destacados longko mapuches a ambos lados de los Andes, luego de la derrota.
“Respeto”, “irrespeto” y policía desde la mirada de los vecinos de favelas
Authors: Cardoso Marcus
Published: September 2017

Las narrativas de los vecinos de dos favelas brasileras sobre ciertas prácticas de agentes de seguridad pública, revelan la experiencia de un insulto moral. Ellas nos permiten avanzar en la reflexión sobre cómo ciertas categorías comúnmente empleadas por los habitantes de las favelas permiten acceder a la trama de significados, que revelan visiones de mundo, centrales para la comprensión de lo que está en juego cuando ellos se refieren a la policía. Tomar las categorías locales y los contextos en los cuales ellas surgen como objeto de análisis, nos permite vislumbrar por qué determinados episodios y comportamientos son significados como gestos de desconsideración, una ofensa a la dignidad de determinado “tipo de persona” que vive en esta región.
Nación Mapuche: concepto, historia y desafíos presentes en Gulumapu-Araucanía
Authors: San Juan Rebolledo Samuel
Published: September 2017

Este artículo aborda la problemática de la nación mapuche como concepto —visión histórica en contrapunto con la nación política chilena— y los desafíos actuales del movimiento mapuche. El análisis se realiza en tres tiempos. En primer lugar, abordaremos la importancia de la historia conceptual como método historiográfico para acceder de manera más prolija a las categorías conceptuales en sincronía con el tiempo histórico, sus alcances y significados. En segundo lugar, realizaremos un barrido bibliográfico por los distintos significados del concepto nación, por las distintas corrientes de interpretación que existen sobre él y por los aportes teóricos para abordan la problemática de la nación mapuche, específicamente a este lado de la cordillera, en el Gulumapu-Araucanía. Por último, revisaremos algunos planteamientos de intelectuales mapuches que abordan la problemática de la nación mapuche, incluyendo lecturas de etnicidad y colonialismo, y realizaremos un balance sobre sus aportes teóricos al movimiento mapuche.
Metabolic orchestration of T lineage differentiation and function
Authors: Yong Carmen S. , Abba Moussa Daouda , Cretenet Gaspard , Kinet Sandrina , Dardalhon Valérie , Taylor Naomi
Published: September 2017

T cells are stimulated by the engagement of antigen, cytokine, pathogen, and hormone receptors. While research performed over many years has focused on deciphering the molecular components of these pathways, recent data underscore the importance of the metabolic environment in conditioning responses to receptor engagement. The ability of T cells to undergo a massive proliferation and cytokine secretion in response to receptor signals requires alterations to their bioenergetic homeostasis, allowing them to meet new energetic and biosynthetic demands. The metabolic reprogramming of activated T cells is regulated not only by changes in intracellular nutrient uptake and utilization but also by nutrient and oxygen concentrations in the extracellular environment. Notably, the extracellular environment can be profoundly altered by pathological conditions such as infections and tumors, thereby perturbing the metabolism and function of antigen‐specific T lymphocytes. This review highlights the interplay between diverse metabolic networks and the transcriptional/epigenetic states that condition T‐cell differentiation, comparing the metabolic features of T lymphocytes with other immune cells. We further address recent discoveries in the metabolic pathways that govern T‐cell function in physiological and pathological conditions.
Transcriptional repression in macrophages—basic mechanisms and alterations in metabolic inflammatory diseases
Authors: Treuter Eckardt , Fan Rongrong , Huang Zhiqiang , Jakobsson Tomas , Venteclef Nicolas
Published: September 2017

Macrophage differentiation and signal responses are coordinated by closely linked transcriptional and epigenomic mechanisms that trigger gene expression. In contrast to well‐characterized transcriptional activation pathways in response to diverse metabolic and inflammatory signals, we just begin appreciating that transcriptional repression is equally important. Here, we will highlight macrophage pathways that are controlled by multifaceted repression events, along with a discussion of underlying regulatory mechanisms and components. We will particularly discuss pro‐ versus anti‐inflammatory action of a fundamental corepressor complex, transcription factor cross‐talk, repression at enhancers and during elongation, and diverse corepressor knockout mouse models. We will finally emphasize how alterations of macrophage repression pathways in humans contribute to, or even cause, metabolic inflammatory diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Using Paired In Situ High Frequency Nitrate Measurements to Better Understand Controls on Nitrate Concentrations and Estimate Nitrification Rates in a Wastewater‐Impacted River
Authors: Kraus T. E. C. , O'Donnell K. , Downing B. D. , Burau J. R. , Bergamaschi B. A.
Published: September 2017

We used paired continuous nitrate (
) measurements along a tidally affected river receiving wastewater discharge rich in ammonium (
) to quantify rates of change in
concentration (
) and estimate nitrification rates.
sensors were deployed 30 km apart in the Sacramento River, California (USA), with the upstream station located immediately above the regional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). We used a travel time model to track water transit between the stations and estimated
every 15 min (October 2013 to September 2014). Changes in
concentration were strongly related to water temperature. In the presence of wastewater,
was generally positive, ranging from about 7 µM d−1 in the summer to near zero in the winter. Numerous periods when the WWTP halted discharge allowed the
to be estimated under no‐effluent conditions and revealed that in the absence of effluent, net gains in
were substantially lower but still positive in the summer and negative (net sink) in the winter. Nitrification rates of effluent‐derived NH4 (
) were estimated from the difference between
measured in the presence versus absence of effluent and ranged from 1.5 to 3.4 µM d−1, which is within literature values but tenfold greater than recently reported for this region.
was generally lower in winter (∼2 µM d−1) than summer (∼3 µM d−1). This in situ, high frequency approach provides advantages over traditional discrete sampling, incubation, and tracer methods and allows measurements to be made over broad areas for extended periods of time. Incorporating this approach into environmental monitoring programs can facilitate our ability to protect and manage aquatic systems.
An O2 Self‐Supplementing and Reactive‐Oxygen‐Species‐Circulating Amplified Nanoplatform via H2O/H2O2 Splitting for Tumor Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Zhang Chi , Chen Wei‐Hai , Liu Li‐Han , Qiu Wen‐Xiu , Yu Wu‐Yang , Zhang Xian‐Zheng
Published: September 2017

Conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT) has limited applications in clinical cancer therapy due to the insufficient O2 supply, inefficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and low penetration depth of light. In this work, a multifunctional nanoplatform, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)@TiO2@MnO2 core/shell/sheet nanocomposites (UTMs), is designed and constructed to overcome these drawbacks by generating O2 in situ, amplifying the content of singlet oxygen (1O2) and hydroxyl radical (•OH) via water‐splitting, and utilizing 980 nm near‐infrared (NIR) light to increase penetration depth. Once UTMs are accumulated at tumor site, intracellular H2O2 is catalyzed by MnO2 nanosheets to generate O2 for improving oxygen‐dependent PDT. Simultaneously, with the decomposition of MnO2 nanosheets and 980 nm NIR irradiation, UCNPs can efficiently convert NIR to ultraviolet light to activate TiO2 and generate toxic ROS for deep tumor therapy. In addition, UCNPs and decomposed Mn2+ can be used for further upconversion luminescence and magnetic resonance imaging in tumor site. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that this nanoplatform can significantly improve PDT efficiency with tumor imaging capability, which will find great potential in the fight against tumor.
Graphene in the Design and Engineering of Next‐Generation Neural Interfaces
Authors: Kostarelos Kostas , Vincent Melissa , Hebert Clement , Garrido Jose A.
Published: September 2017

Neural interfaces are becoming a powerful toolkit for clinical interventions requiring stimulation and/or recording of the electrical activity of the nervous system. Active implantable devices offer a promising approach for the treatment of various diseases affecting the central or peripheral nervous systems by electrically stimulating different neuronal structures. All currently used neural interface devices are designed to perform a single function: either record activity or electrically stimulate tissue. Because of their electrical and electrochemical performance and their suitability for integration into flexible devices, graphene‐based materials constitute a versatile platform that could help address many of the current challenges in neural interface design. Here, how graphene and other 2D materials possess an array of properties that can enable enhanced functional capabilities for neural interfaces is illustrated. It is emphasized that the technological challenges are similar for all alternative types of materials used in the engineering of neural interface devices, each offering a unique set of advantages and limitations. Graphene and 2D materials can indeed play a commanding role in the efforts toward wider clinical adoption of bioelectronics and electroceuticals.
Solvent‐Templated Block Ionomers for Base‐ and Acid‐Gas Separations: Effect of Humidity on Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide Permeation
Authors: Ansaloni Luca , Dai Zhongde , Ryan Justin J. , Mineart Kenneth P. , Yu Qiang , Saud Keara T. , Hägg May‐Britt , Spontak Richard J. , Deng Liyuan
Published: September 2017

As energy needs continue to drive the development of biogas and fossil‐fuel technologies, methods by which to selectively remove basic (NH3) and acidic (CO2) gases are becoming increasingly important, especially in light of global climate change. Block copolymers are considered as suitable membrane candidates in gas separations due to the ability of such copolymers to microphase‐separate and spontaneously form nanoscale morphologies that exhibit spatially modulated chemical specificity. Incorporation of charged moieties along the midblock of a thermoplastic elastomeric multiblock copolymer yields an amphiphilic block ionomer possessing a flexible molecular network stabilized by rigid endblocks. The presence of hydrophilic microdomains introduces an important consideration regulating molecular transport: humidity. In this study, solvent‐templating paradigms are employed to control the morphologies of midblock‐sulfonated pentablock ionomers, as discerned by electron microscopy and X‐ray scattering. The effect of humidity on the permeation of NH3, CO2, and N2is then investigated through the resulting membranes. As expected, NH3permeates significantly faster than N2, especially under humid conditions. Although not as pronounced, similar behavior is observed for CO2, thereby establishing that this block ionomer is generally selective to humidified polar gases.
Fabrication of Polybenzimidazole/Palladium Nanoparticles Hollow Fiber Membranes for Hydrogen Purification
Authors: Villalobos Luis Francisco , Hilke Roland , Akhtar Faheem Hassan , Peinemann Klaus‐Viktor
Published: September 2017

A novel scheme to fabricate polybenzimidazole (PBI) hollow fiber membranes with a thin skin loaded with fully dispersed palladium nanoparticles is proposed for the first time. Palladium is added to the membrane during the spinning process in the form of ions that coordinate to the imidazole groups of the polymer. This is attractive for membrane production because agglomeration of nanoparticles is minimized and the high‐cost metal is incorporated in only the selective layer—where it is required. Pd‐containing membranes achieve three orders of magnitude higher H2 permeances and a twofold improvement in H2/CO2 selectivity compared to pure PBI hollow fiber membranes.
Laser‐Initiated Radical Trifluoromethylation of Peptides and Proteins: Application to Mass‐Spectrometry‐Based Protein Footprinting
Authors: Cheng Ming , Zhang Bojie , Cui Weidong , Gross Michael L.
Published: September 2017

Described is a novel, laser‐initiated radical trifluoromethylation for protein footprinting and its broad residue coverage. .CF3 reacts with 18 of the 20 common amino acids, including Gly, Ala, Ser, Thr, Asp, and Glu, which are relatively silent with regard to .OH. This new approach to footprinting is a bridge between trifluoromethylation in materials and medicinal chemistry and structural biology and biotechnology. Its application to a membrane protein and to myoglobin show that the approach is sensitive to protein conformational change and solvent accessibility.
Time‐Dependent Changes in the Structure of Calcified Fibrocartilage in the Rat Achilles Tendon–Bone Interface With Sciatic Denervation
Authors: Takahashi Hideaki , Tamaki Hiroyuki , Oyama Mineo , Yamamoto Noriaki , Onishi Hideaki
Published: September 2017

The enthesis transmits a physiological load from soft to hard tissue via fibrocartilage. The histological alterations induced by this physiological loading remain unclear. This study was performed to examine the histomorphological alterations in the collagen fiber bundle alignment and depth of collagen interdigitation between the calcified fibrocartilage and the bone. We examined the Achilles enthesis of rats with sciatic denervation to explore the mechanical effects of structural changes in the enthesis. The parallelism of the collagen fiber bundles was significantly reduced 8 weeks after denervation. However, the depth of collagen interdigitation significantly increased at 2 and 4 weeks after denervation and then significantly decreased 8 weeks after denervation. In conclusion, a lack of muscle loading induced structural alterations in the distal calcified fibrocartilage. These findings suggest that while structural changes in the enthesis are necessary for the development of physiological loading, structural deformities are required in the long term. Anat Rec, 300:2166–2174, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Representing transmedia fictional worlds through ontology
Authors: Branch Frank , Arias Theresa , Kennah Jolene , Phillips Rebekah , Windleharth Travis , Lee Jin Ha
Published: September 2017

Currently, there is no structured data standard for representing elements commonly found in transmedia fictional worlds. Although there are websites dedicated to individual universes, the information found on these sites separate out the various formats, concentrate on only the bibliographic aspects of the material, and are only searchable with full text. We have created an ontological model that will allow various user groups interested in transmedia to search for and retrieve the information contained in these worlds based upon their structure. We conducted a domain analysis and user studies based on the contents of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the Marvel Universe, and Star Wars in order to build a new model using Ontology Web Language (OWL) and an artificial intelligence‐reasoning engine. This model can infer connections between transmedia properties such as characters, elements of power, items, places, events, and so on. This model will facilitate better search and retrieval of the information contained within these vast story universes for all users interested in them. The result of this project is an OWL ontology reflecting real user needs based upon user research, which is intuitive for users and can be used by artificial intelligence systems.
Local vector pattern with global index angles for a content‐based image retrieval system
Authors: Brahmaiah Naik Jatothu , Srinivasarao Chanamallu , Babu Kande Giri
Published: September 2017

This article proposes a content‐based image retrieval (CBIR) system that employs an informative pattern‐based descriptor. Recent literature has reported the development of efficient local‐pattern‐based descriptors, including the local vector pattern (LVP). This article extends the LVP formulation by making it more computationally efficient and informative. In the extended LVP‐based extraction process, the global index angles are determined using the mutual information between the patterns, which are obtained from a pair of indexed angles. Thus, the Proposed LVP (PLVP) no longer requires a step to identify patterns in every indexed angle found in the querying phase of the CBIR system. A CBIR system with the PLVP is developed in this article, and the system and its associated methods are tested using data from a benchmark texture database and a natural image database. A performance comparison of the PLVP and traditional patterns, such as the local binary pattern (LBP), completely modeled local binary pattern (CLBP) and local tetra pattern (LTrP), is conducted using the CBIR system. The experimental results reveal the superiority of the PLVP in terms of precision, recall, F‐score and computational efficiency.
Toward effective automated weighted subject indexing: A comparison of different approaches in different environments
Authors: Lu Kun , Mao Jin , Li Gang
Published: September 2017

Subject indexing plays an important role in supporting subject access to information resources. Current subject indexing systems do not make adequate distinctions on the importance of assigned subject descriptors. Assigning numeric weights to subject descriptors to distinguish their importance to the documents can strengthen the role of subject metadata. Automated methods are more cost‐effective. This study compares different automated weighting methods in different environments. Two evaluation methods were used to assess the performance. Experiments on three datasets in the biomedical domain suggest the performance of different weighting methods depends on whether it is an abstract or full text environment. Mutual information with bag‐of‐words representation shows the best average performance in the full text environment, while cosine with bag‐of‐words representation is the best in an abstract environment. The cosine measure has relatively consistent and robust performance. A direct weighting method, IDF (Inverse Document Frequency), can produce quick and reasonable estimates of the weights. Bag‐of‐words representation generally outperforms the concept‐based representation. Further improvement in performance can be obtained by using the learning‐to‐rank method to integrate different weighting methods. This study follows up Lu and Mao (Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 66, 1776–1784, 2015), in which an automated weighted subject indexing method was proposed and validated. The findings from this study contribute to more effective weighted subject indexing.
NIR‐Absorbing Donor–Acceptor Based 1,1,4,4‐Tetracyanobuta‐1,3‐Diene (TCBD)‐ and Cyclohexa‐2,5‐Diene‐1,4‐Ylidene‐Expanded TCBD‐Substituted Ferrocenyl Phenothiazines
Authors: Poddar Madhurima , Misra Rajneesh
Published: September 2017

A series of unsymmetrical (D‐A‐D1, D1‐π‐D‐A‐D1, and D1‐A1‐D‐A2‐D1; A=acceptor, D=donor) and symmetrical (D1‐A‐D‐A‐D1) phenothiazines (4 b, 4 c, 4 c′, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, 5 d′, 5 e, 5 e′, 5 f, and 5 f′) were designed and synthesized by a [2+2] cycloaddition–electrocyclic ring‐opening reaction of ferrocenyl‐substituted phenothiazines with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) and 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ). The photophysical, electrochemical, and computational studies show a strong charge‐transfer (CT) interaction in the phenothiazine derivatives that can be tuned by varying the number of TCNE/TCNQ acceptors. Phenothiazines 4 b, 4 c, 4 c′, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, 5 d′, 5 e, 5 e′, 5 f and 5 f′ show redshifted absorption in the λ=400 to 900 nm region, as a result of a low HOMO–LUMO gap, which is supported by TD‐DFT calculations. The electrochemical study exhibits reduction waves at low potential due to strong 1,1,4,4‐tetracyanobuta‐1,3‐diene (TCBD) and cyclohexa‐2,5‐diene‐1,4‐ylidene‐expanded TCBD acceptors. The incorporation of cyclohexa‐2,5‐diene‐1,4‐ylidene‐expanded TCBD stabilized the LUMO energy level to a greater extent than TCBD.
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins and Desiccation Tolerance: Elucidating Functional and Mechanistic Underpinnings of Anhydrobiosis
Authors: Boothby Thomas C. , Pielak Gary J.
Published: September 2017

Over 300 years ago the father of microscopy, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, observed dried rotifers (tiny animals) “coming back to life” upon rehydration. Since then, scientists have been fascinated by the enduring mystery of how certain organisms survive losing essentially drying out completely. Historically sugars, such as the disaccharide trehalose, have been viewed as major functional mediators of desiccation tolerance. However, some desiccation tolerant organisms do not produce this sugar, hinting that additional mediators, and potentially novel mechanisms exist. It has become apparent that a common theme among such organisms is the production and use of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) to mediate survival in this dry state. However, the basic biology of these proteins – which unlike globular proteins lack persistent three‐dimensional structure – is poorly understood, as are the functional mechanisms utilized by these enigmatic proteins that allow them to mediate desiccation tolerance. We purpose that probing the biochemical and biophysical nature of stress‐related IDPs will provide mechanistic insights into these fascinating proteins.
Implementing a web‐based introductory bioinformatics course for non‐bioinformaticians that incorporates practical exercises
Authors: Vincent Antony T. , Bourbonnais Yves , Brouard Jean‐Simon , Deveau Hélène , Droit Arnaud , Gagné Stéphane M. , Guertin Michel , Lemieux Claude , Rathier Louis , Charette Steve J. , Lagüe Patrick
Published: September 2017

A recent scientific discipline, bioinformatics, defined as using informatics for the study of biological problems, is now a requirement for the study of biological sciences. Bioinformatics has become such a powerful and popular discipline that several academic institutions have created programs in this field, allowing students to become specialized. However, biology students who are not involved in a bioinformatics program also need a solid toolbox of bioinformatics software and skills. Therefore, we have developed a completely online bioinformatics course for non‐bioinformaticians, entitled “BIF‐1901 Introduction à la bio‐informatique et à ses outils (Introduction to bioinformatics and bioinformatics tools),” given by the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bioinformatics of Université Laval (Quebec City, Canada). This course requires neither a bioinformatics background nor specific skills in informatics. The underlying main goal was to produce a completely online up‐to‐date bioinformatics course, including practical exercises, with an intuitive pedagogical framework. The course, BIF‐1901, was conceived to cover the three fundamental aspects of bioinformatics: (1) informatics, (2) biological sequence analysis, and (3) structural bioinformatics. This article discusses the content of the modules, the evaluations, the pedagogical framework, and the challenges inherent to a multidisciplinary, fully online course. © 2017 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 46(1):31–38, 2018.
Institutional Pressures and Environmental Management Practices: The Moderating Effects of Environmental Commitment and Resource Availability
Authors: Wang Shanyong , Li Jun , Zhao Dingtao
Published: September 2017

With the deterioration of the environment and the shortage of natural resources, firms are facing increasing pressures to implement environmental management practices in their daily operation management. Drawing on institutional theory and environmental management literatures, this research tries to explore how institutional pressures motivate firms to implement environmental management practices, and how such effects are moderated by firms' environmental commitment and resource availability. The results of a survey of 188 Chinese firms suggest that regulatory pressures and normative pressures are positively and significantly related to firms' propensity to implement environmental management practices. Moreover, the results indicate that firms' environmental commitment positively moderates the relationships between institutional pressures and environmental management practices, while firms' resource availability plays different roles depending on the types of pressure (regulatory or normative pressures). Implications and suggestions for future research are provided. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment