bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of novel neuroprotective loci modulating ischemic stroke volume in a cross between wild-derived inbred mouse strains
Authors: Lee Han Kyu , Widmayer Samuel J. , Huang Min-Nung , Aylor David L. , Marchuk Douglas A.
Published: March 2019

To identify genes involved in cerebral infarction we have employed a forward genetic approach in inbred mouse strains, using quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for cerebral infarct volume after middle cerebral artery occlusion. We had previously observed that infarct volume is inversely correlated with cerebral collateral vessel density in the strains. In this study, we expanded the pool of allelic variation among classical inbred mouse strains by utilizing the eight founder strains of the Collaborative Cross and found a wild-derived strain, WSB/EiJ, that breaks this general rule that collateral vessel density inversely correlates with infarct volume. WSB/EiJ and another wild-derived strain, CAST/EiJ, show the highest collateral vessel densities of any inbred strain, but infarct volume of WSB/EiJ mice is 8.7-fold larger than that of CAST/EiJ mice. QTL mapping between these strains identified four new neuroprotective loci modulating cerebral infarct volume while not affecting collateral vessel phenotypes. To identify causative variants in genes we surveyed non-synonymous coding SNPs between CAST/EiJ and WSB/EiJ and found 96 genes harboring coding SNPs predicted to be damaging and mapping within one of the four intervals. In addition, we performed RNA sequencing for brain tissue of CAST/EiJ and WSB/EiJ mice and identified 79 candidate genes mapping in one of the four intervals showing strain-specific differences in expression. The identification of the genes underlying these neuroprotective loci will provide new understanding of genetic risk factors of ischemic stroke which may provide novel targets for future therapeutic intervention of human ischemic stroke.
Mitochondria supply ATP to the ER through a mechanism antagonized by cytosolic Ca2+
Authors: Yong Jing , Bischof Helmut , Siirin Marina , Murphy Anne , Malli Roland , Kaufman Randal J.
Published: March 2019

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) imports ATP and uses energy from ATP hydrolysis for protein folding and trafficking. However, little is known about this vital ATP transport process across the ER membrane. Here, using three commonly used cell lines (CHO, INS1 and HeLa), we report that ATP enters the ER lumen through a cytosolic Ca2+-antagonized mechanism, orCaATiER(Ca2+-AntagonizedTransport intoER) mechanism for brevity. Significantly, we observed that a Ca2+gradient across the ER membrane is necessary for ATP transport into the ER. Therefore Ca2+signaling in the cytosol is inevitably coupled with ATP supply to the ER. We propose that under physiological conditions, cytosolic Ca2+inhibits ATP import into the ER lumen to limit ER ATP consumption. Furthermore, the ATP level in the ER is readily depleted by oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) inhibitors, and that ER protein misfolding increases ATP trafficking from mitochondria into the ER. These findings suggest that ATP usage in the ER may increase mitochondrial OxPhos while decreasing glycolysis, i.e., an “anti-Warburg” effect.

Significance Statement

We report that ATP enters the ER lumen through an AXER-dependent, cytosolic Ca2+-antagonized mechanism, orCaATiER(Ca2+-Antagonized Transport into ER) mechanism. In addition, our findings suggest that ATP usage in the ER may render an “anti-Warburg” effect by increasing ATP regeneration from mitochondrial OxPhos while decreasing the portion of ATP regeneration from glycolysis.
Hierarchy of connectivity-function relationship of the human cortex revealed through predicting activity across functional domains
Authors: Wu Dongya , Fan Lingzhong , Song Ming , Wang Haiyan , Chu Congying , Yu Shan , Jiang Tianzi
Published: March 2019

Many studies showed that anatomical connectivity supports both anatomical and functional hierarchies that span across the primary and association cortices in the cerebral cortex. However, it remains unclear whether a hierarchy of connectivity-function relationship (CFR) exists across the human cortex as well as how to characterize the hierarchy of this CFR if it exists. We first addressed whether anatomical connectivity could be used to predict functional activations across different functional domains using multilinear regression models. Then we characterized the CFR by predicting activity from anatomical connectivity throughout the cortex. We found that there is a hierarchy of CFR across the human cortex. Moreover, this CFR hierarchy was correlated to the functional and anatomical hierarchy reflected in functional flexibility, functional variability, and the myelin map. Our results suggest a shared hierarchical mechanism in the cortex, a finding which provides important insights into the anatomical and functional organization of the human brain.
Inhibition of mTORC1 signaling in aged rats counteracts the decline in muscle mass and reverses multiple parameters of muscle signaling associated with sarcopenia
Authors: Joseph Giselle A. , Wang Sharon , Zhou Weihua , Kimble Garrett , Tse Herman , Eash John , Shavlakadze Tea , Glass David J.
Published: March 2019

There is a lack of pharmacological interventions available for sarcopenia, a progressive age-associated loss of muscle mass, leading to a decline in mobility and quality of life. We found mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1), a well-established critical positive modulator of mass, to be hyperactivated in sarcopenic muscle. Furthermore, inhibition of the mTORC1 pathway counteracted sarcopenia as determined by observing an increase in muscle mass and fiber type cross sectional area, surprising because mTORC1 signaling has been shown to be required for muscle mass gains in some settings. Additionally, several genes related to senescence were downregulated, while gene expression indicators of neuromuscular junction denervation were diminished using a low dose of a rapalog. Therefore mTORC1 inhibition may delay the progression of sarcopenia by directly and indirectly modulating multiple age-associated pathways, implicating mTORC1 as a therapeutic target to treat sarcopenia.
Modeling latent flows on single-cell data using the Hodge decomposition
Authors: Maehara Kazumitsu , Ohkawa Yasuyuki
Published: March 2019

Single-cell analysis is a powerful technique used to identify a specific cell population of interest during differentiation, aging, or oncogenesis. Individual cells occupy a particular transient state in the cell cycle, circadian rhythm, or during cell death. An appealing concept of pseudo-time trajectory analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data was proposed in the software Monocle, and several methods of trajectory analysis have since been published to date. These aim to infer the ordering of cells and enable the tracing of gene expression profile trajectories in cell differentiation and reprogramming. However, the methods are restricted in terms of time structure because of the pre-specified structure of trajectories (linear, branched, tree or cyclic) which contrasts with the mixed state of single cells.

Here, we propose a technique to extract underlying flows in single-cell data based on the Hodge decomposition (HD). HD is a theorem of vector fields on a manifold which guarantees that any given flow can decompose into three types of orthogonal component: gradient-flow (acyclic), curl-, and harmonic-flow (cyclic). HD is generalized on a simplicial complex (graph) and the discretized HD has only a weak assumption that the graph is directed. Therefore, in principle, HD can extract flows from any mixture of tree and cyclic time flows of observed cells. The decomposed flows provide intuitive interpretations about complex flow because of their linearity and orthogonality. Thus, each extracted flow can be focused on separately with no need to consider crosstalk.

We developed ddhodge software, which aims to model the underlying flow structure that implies unobserved time or causal relations in the hodge-podge collection of data points. We demonstrated that the mathematical framework of HD is suitable to reconstruct a sparse graph representation of diffusion process as a candidate model of differentiation while preserving the divergence of the original fully-connected graph. The preserved divergence can be used as an indicator of the source and sink cells in the observed population. A sparse graph representation of the diffusion process transforms data analysis of the non-linear structure embedded in the high-dimensional space of single-cell data into inspection of the visible flow using graph algorithms. Hence, ddhodge is a suitable toolkit to visualize, inspect, and subsequently interpret large data sets including, but not limited to, high-throughput measurements of biological data.

The beta version of ddhodge R package is available at:https://github.com/kazumits/ddhodge
A general mathematical framework for understanding the behavior of heterogeneous stem cell regeneration
Authors: Lei Jinzhi
Published: March 2019

Stem cell heterogeneity is essential for the homeostasis in tissue development. This paper established a general formulation for understanding the dynamics of stem cell regeneration with cell heterogeneity and random transitions of epigenetic states. The model generalizes the classical G0 cell cycle model, and incorporates the epigenetic states of stem cells that are represented by a continuous multidimensional variable and the kinetic rates of cell behaviors, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, that are dependent on their epigenetic states. Moreover, the random transition of epigenetic states is represented by an inheritance probability that can be described as a conditional beta distribution. This model can be extended to investigate gene mutation-induced tumor development. The proposed formula is a generalized formula that helps us to understand various dynamic processes of stem cell regeneration, including tissue development, degeneration, and abnormal growth.
Nitro-fatty acids formation in Virgin Olive Oil during gastric digestion and its relationship to cultivar and fruit ripening
Authors: Sánchez-Calvo Beatriz , Mastrogiovanni Mauricio , Conde-Innamorato Paula , Arias-Sibillotte Mercedes , Trostchansky Andrés , Rubbo Homero
Published: March 2019

Virgin olive oil (VOO) represents the main source of unsaturated lipids in the Mediterranean diet associated with low mortality. Health benefits of VOO rely on its composition, mainly fatty acids and minor components such as polyphenols. In addition, VOO contains nitro-fatty acids (NO2-FA), novel signaling mediators exhibiting pleiotropic anti-inflammatory responses. Previous work from our group reported the presence of nitro-oleic acid (NO2-OA), nitro-linoleic acid (NO2-LA) and nitro-conjugated linoleic acid (NO2-cLA) in extra virgin olive oil under gastric conditions. Herein, we analyzed the fatty acid profile, phenol, pigment and NO2-FA formation in two contrasting Uruguayan olive cultivars, Arbequina and Coratina at two ripening conditions. We demonstrate that VOO fatty acid nitration is dependent on olive cultivar as well as fruit ripening. Under gastric nitration conditions, the presence of polyphenols in Arbequina VOO promoted fatty acid nitration. In contrast, the absence of polyphenols favor lipid oxidation, decreasing fatty acid nitration. In Coratina, where the content of polyphenolic compounds is higher than in Arbequina, their absence did not affect the formation of NO2-FA. Coratina contains other bioactive constituents such as pigments that could play an important role in protection of VOO from lipid oxidation. Overall, we postulate that unsaponifiable constituents of VOO, e.g. polyphenols and pigments, contribute to the formation of NO2-FA in gastric conditions, thus potentiating their health beneficial
Apical transport of Crumbs maintains epithelial cell polarity
Authors: Aguilar-Aragon M , Fletcher G , Thompson BJ
Published: March 2019

Crumbs (Crb inDrosophila; CRB1-3 in mammals) is a transmembrane determinant of epithelial cell polarity and a regulator of Hippo signalling. Crb is normally localized to apical cell-cell contacts, just above adherens junctions, but how apical trafficking of Crb is regulated in epithelial cells remains unclear. We use theDrosophilafollicular epithelium to demonstrate that polarized trafficking of Crb is mediated by transport along microtubules by the motor protein Dynein and along actin filaments by the motor protein Myosin-V (MyoV). Blocking transport of Crb-containing vesicles by Dynein or MyoV leads to accumulation of Crb within Rab11 endosomes, rather than apical delivery. The final steps of Crb delivery and stabilisation at the plasma membrane requires the exocyst complex and three apical FERM domain proteins – Merlin, Moesin and Expanded – whose simultaneous loss disrupts apical localization of Crb. Accordingly, a knock-in deletion of the Crb FERM-binding motif (FBM) also impairs apical localization. Finally, overexpression of Crb challenges this system, creating a sensitized background to identify components involved in cytoskeletal polarization, apical membrane trafficking and stabilisation of Crb at the apical domain.
The long noncoding RNA Falcor regulates Foxa2 expression to maintain lung epithelial homeostasis and promote regeneration
Authors: Swarr Daniel T. , Herriges Michael , Li Shanru , Morley Mike , Fernandes Sharlene , Sridharan Anusha , Zhou Su , Garcia Benjamin A. , Stewart Kathleen , Morrisey Edward E.
Published: March 2019

Transcription factors (TFs) are dosage-sensitive master regulators of gene expression, with haploinsufficiency frequently leading to life-threatening disease. Numerous mechanisms have evolved to tightly regulate the expression and activity of TFs at the transcriptional, translational, and posttranslational levels. A subset of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is spatially correlated with transcription factors in the genome, but the regulatory relationship between these lncRNAs and their neighboring TFs is unclear. We identified a regulatory feedback loop between the TF Foxa2 and a downstream lncRNA, Falcor (Foxa2-adjacent long noncoding RNA). Foxa2 directly represses Falcor expression by binding to its promoter, while Falcor functions in cis to positively regulate the expression of Foxa2. In the lung, loss of Falcor is sufficient to lead to chronic inflammatory changes and defective repair after airway epithelial injury. Moreover, disruption of the Falcor–Foxa2 regulatory feedback loop leads to altered cell adhesion and migration, in turn resulting in chronic peribronchial airway inflammation and goblet cell metaplasia. These data reveal that the lncRNA Falcor functions within a regulatory feedback loop to fine-tune the expression of Foxa2, maintain airway epithelial homeostasis, and promote regeneration.
Structural basis of recognition and destabilization of the histone H2B ubiquitinated nucleosome by the DOT1L histone H3 Lys79 methyltransferase
Authors: Jang Seongmin , Kang Chanshin , Yang Han-Sol , Jung Taeyang , Hebert Hans , Chung Ka Young , Kim Seung Joong , Hohng Sungchul , Song Ji-Joon
Published: March 2019

DOT1L is a histone H3 Lys79 methyltransferase whose activity is stimulated by histone H2B Lys120 ubiquitination, suggesting cross-talk between histone H3 methylation and H2B ubiquitination. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of DOT1L complexes with unmodified or H2B ubiquitinated nucleosomes, showing that DOT1L recognizes H2B ubiquitin and the H2A/H2B acidic patch through a C-terminal hydrophobic helix and an arginine anchor in DOT1L, respectively. Furthermore, the structures combined with single-molecule FRET experiments show that H2B ubiquitination enhances a noncatalytic function of the DOT1L-destabilizing nucleosome. These results establish the molecular basis of the cross-talk between H2B ubiquitination and H3 Lys79 methylation as well as nucleosome destabilization by DOT1L.
New insights on the GeSe

x

Te1−x
phase diagram from theory and experiment
Authors: Herrmann Markus Guido , Stoffel Ralf Peter , Küpers Michael , Ait Haddouch Mohammed , Eich Andreas , Glazyrin Konstantin , Grzechnik Andrzej , Dronskowski Richard , Friese Karen
Published: March 2019

The high-pressure and low-temperature behaviour of the GeSe
x
Te1−x
system (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.75, 1) was studied using a combination of powder diffraction measurements and first-principles calculations. Compounds in the stability field of the GeTe structure type (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5) follow the high-pressure transition pathway: GeTe-I (R3m) → GeTe-II (f.c.c.) → GeTe-III (Pnma). The newly determined GeTe-III structure is isostructural to β-GeSe, a high-pressure and high-temperature polymorph of GeSe. Pressure-dependent formation enthalpies and stability regimes of the GeSe
x
Te1−x
polymorphs were studied by DFT calculations. Hexagonal Ge4Se3Te is stable up to at least 25 GPa. Significant differences in the high-pressure and low-temperature behaviour of the GeTe-type structures and the hexagonal phase are highlighted. The role of Ge...Ge interactions is elucidated using the crystal orbital Hamilton population method. Finally, a sketch of the high-pressure phase diagram of the system is provided.
Accurate geometrical restraints for Watson–Crick base pairs
Authors: Gilski Miroslaw , Zhao Jianbo , Kowiel Marcin , Brzezinski Dariusz , Turner Douglas H. , Jaskolski Mariusz
Published: March 2019

Geometrical restraints provide key structural information for the determination of biomolecular structures at lower resolution by experimental methods such as crystallography or cryo-electron microscopy. In this work, restraint targets for nucleic acids bases are derived from three different sources and compared: small-molecule crystal structures in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD), ultrahigh-resolution structures in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and quantum-mechanical (QM) calculations. The best parameters are those based on CSD structures. After over two decades, the standard library of Parkinsonet al.[(1996),Acta Cryst. D52, 57–64] is still valid, but improvements are possible with the use of the current CSD database. The CSD-derived geometry is fully compatible with Watson–Crick base pairs, as comparisons with QM results for isolated and paired bases clearly show that the CSD targets closely correspond to proper base pairing. While the QM results are capable of distinguishing between single and paired bases, their level of accuracy is, on average, nearly two times lower than for the CSD-derived targets when gauged by root-mean-square deviations from ultrahigh-resolution structures in the PDB. Nevertheless, the accuracy of QM results appears sufficient to provide stereochemical targets for synthetic base pairs where no reliable experimental structural information is available. To enable future tests for this approach, QM calculations are provided for isocytosine, isoguanine and the iCiG base pair.
Crystal structure and XANES investigation of petzite, Ag3AuTe2
Authors: Hongu Hidetomo , Yoshiasa Akira , Nespolo Massimo , Tobase Tsubasa , Tokuda Makoto , Sugiyama Kazumasa
Published: March 2019

Petzite, Ag3AuTe2, crystallizes in the space groupI4132, which is a Sohncke type of space group where chiral crystal structures can occur. The structure refinement of petzite reported long ago [Frueh (1959).Am. Mineral.44, 693–701] did not provide any information about the absolute structure. A new single-crystal X-ray diffraction refinement has now been performed on a sample from Lake View Mine, Golden Mile, Kalgoorlie, Australia, which has resulted in a reliable absolute structure [a Flack parameter of 0.05 (3)], although this corresponds to the opposite enantiomorph reported previously. The minimum Te–Te distance is 3.767 (3) Å, slightly shorter than the van der Waals bonding distance, which suggests a weak interaction between the two chalcogens. XANES spectra near the Au and TeLIIIedges suggest that the chemical-bonding character of Au in petzite is more metallic than in other gold minerals.
Investor attention is a risk pricing factor? Evidence from Chinese investors for self-selected stocks
Authors: Dong Dayong , Wu Keke
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine whether investor attention is a significant risk pricing factor.

Design/methodology/approach

Using investor attention data from Eastmoney.com, which provides for each stock the number of investors whose watch list includes that stock on a daily basis, this paper constructs a “heat” factor based on the change in investor attention and a “market exposure” factor based on the proportion of attention on a given stock over the attention to all stocks. Using the Fama−MacBeth two-step regression and a rolling analysis, this study examines the ability of the investor attention factor to explain market returns.

Findings

The empirical results show that there exists a risk premium for the “heat” factor and “market exposure” factor that is significantly different from zero. This finding shows that investor attention can systematically influence stock returns, making it a significant risk pricing factor.

Practical implications

This paper’s research on the risk pricing factors of investor attention can help investors to rationally build investment portfolios, avoid risks and form a sound investment concept, which will further reveal the information recognition mechanism of the capital market and standardize the information disclosure behavior of listed companies.

Originality/value

This paper provides evidence that investor attention is a risk pricing factor for the stock market. There are “heat” factors and “market exposure” factors in the Chinese stock market that significantly affect the purchasing behavior of individual investors.
Analytical modelling of the transient thermal field of a tubular bus in nominal rating
Authors: Gołębiowski Jerzy , Zaręba Marek
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the dynamics of a thermal field generated in a tubular bus with rated current by using two models of electrical resistivity of copper.

Design/methodology/approach

The boundary-initial problem of the modified heat equation was formulated for the tubular bus. Analytical solutions were obtained by means of Green’s functions as the kernels of the integral operator inverse to the corresponding differential operator. The results were presented graphically and verified using the finite element method. The calculations were made by considering the example of the Storm Power Components tubular bus (USA).

Findings

Analytical field models were used to determine time- and space-variable heating curves, time constants and steady-state current ratings.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is related to the structure of a hollow cylinder. Other bus sections can be taken into account by using the coordinate systems of different curvilinear orthogonal symmetry.

Originality/value

Using the analytical method, the influence of the variable (temperature dependent) electrical resistivity on some important parameters and characteristics of the tubular bus was investigated. The system was considered as an element with distributed parameters.
V-Xpress: B2B marketing in the logistics industry
Authors: Pandey Neeraj , Shinde Sandesha
Published: March 2019

Learning outcomes

The learning objectives of this case study are to understand business-to-business (B2B) marketing in a logistics organization; apply go-to-market (GTM) strategy in the logistics industry; design B2B distribution strategy so as to enhance geographic penetration; and develop digital marketing strategies in the logistics industry.

Case Overview/Synopsis

V-Xpress is a leading B2B player in the express cargo category in the Indian logistics industry. In March 2017, Sachin Nair, Head of V-Xpress Marketing, was presenting three different GTM strategies to the CEO for the new Assured Timely Movement services. He wanted CEO views on each of them so that he can choose the best one. Sachin was also trying to find a solution to backhaul problem in eastern India. The resolution of this problem would have helped V-Xpress to become a truly pan-India B2B logistics company. Sachin was also revamping the digital marketing strategy as part of ambitious V-Xpress marketing strategy. These initiatives were taken as part of CEO’s vision for reaching annual revenue of INR 10bn by 2020. Sachin was thinking about various options so as to implement these changes with least investments.

Complexity academic level

This case study can be used in B2B marketing, marketing management and marketing strategy course of an MBA program.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS: 8: Marketing
Articulating entrepreneurial competencies in the undergraduate curricular
Authors: Dinning Track
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the level enterprise language is articulated within programme level documentation, and then, using EntreComp (Bacigalupo et al., 2016) as a framework, investigate the extent by which curricula is underpinned by enterprise competencies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative approach firstly through a desk analysis of undergraduate programme documentation across one UK University (n=60), followed by face-to-face interviews with programme leaders (n=25).

Findings

Findings revealed a lack of reference to enterprise in programme documentation as well as a confusion of the language associated with enterprise and entrepreneurship. However, all participants in the study were able to articulate opportunities afforded to students within the programme to practise entrepreneurial competencies from the EntreComp framework.

Originality/value

Whilst the limitation of this study is that it has been carried out in just one university, the practical implication of these findings provide supporting evidence that the EntreComp framework can be used to build a whole programme approach to embedding enterprise. This remains to be tested in future research. As the EntreComp framework is relatively new, then this piece of research is original as it is amongst the first to report on the framework.
Do institutions matter?
Authors: Ibrahim Habiba
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Guided by the institutional theory of savings, the purpose of this study is to assess the institutional elements of rotating, savings and credit associations (ROSCAs) that enable participants to save.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used data from in-depth qualitative interviews (N= 10) conducted among the ROSCA group leaders from African immigrant communities in the USA.

Findings

The primary goal for joining the ROSCA group among participants is to achieve economic stability. The results of the study postulate that, through institutional mechanisms and social networks, ROSCAs create an environment for families to save and invest. The emphasis on the concept of “you cannot save alone” underscores the importance of supportive structures to enable low-income households to save. Although “alternative savings programs” such as ROSCAs are imagined as something that less well-to-do persons use, the findings from this study demonstrate that such strategies also appeal to some people with higher socioeconomic status. This appeal and utility speaks to the importance of ROSCAs as an institutional response, rather than just an informal arrangement among persons known to each other.

Research limitations/implications

It is prudent to bear in mind that the study sample is not nationally representative, and therefore, the results presented cannot be generalized to immigrants across the country. However, as one of the few ROSCA studies in the USA, the findings from this study make generous contributions to the immigrants’ savings and ROSCA practices literature.

Practical implications

ROSCAs could be used as a bridge to the formal financial institutions. Non-profit agencies working with these communities could work with these groups to report ROSCA payments to the major credit bureaus, to help them build a credit line in their new country.

Originality/value

Previous studies of ROSCAs have assessed ROSCAs as community support systems and social networks. The current study has analyzed ROSCAs from an institutional perspective by examining the institutional characteristics of ROSCAs comparable to the institutional determinants of savings that enable savings among the participants.
Post-tensioned concreting: its suitability for and acceptability in Sri Lanka
Authors: Madhubhashana Hewa Siliyange Athushla , Perera B.A.K.S. , Perera Colombapatabendige Savindi Ranthika
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Many countries have started to use post-tensioned (PT) concrete because of its sustainability and low cost. However, it is not quite popular in Sri Lanka as the required knowhow and technology are not available within the country. By introducing PT concrete to the country, unwanted costs and time overruns could be eliminated from the construction projects. This paper, therefore, aims to identify the suitability and acceptability of PT concreting for/in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review was first carried out to gather knowledge on PT concreting. The four case studies that followed it included eight semi-structured interviews and a document review. Ten expert interviews were conducted finally to strengthen the findings of the literature review and case studies. Cross-case analysis and NVivo 11 content analysis software were used to analyze the data gathered.

Findings

Findings reveal that PT concreting saves cost and time of construction and that it can have a control over the resources required for construction, which makes it environment-friendly. PT concreting allows thinner concrete sections, extended spans, stiffer walls that resist lateral loads and stiffer foundations that resist the effects of shrinking and swelling soils.

Originality/value

It is found that PT concreting is more suitable for the construction industry in Sri Lanka than traditional concreting.
Instagram Stories versus Facebook Wall: an advertising effectiveness analysis
Authors: Belanche Daniel , Cenjor Isabel , Pérez-Rueda Alfredo
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate advertising effectiveness in Instagram and Facebook, the two most important social media platforms. It helps to understand which should be chosen depending on the target audience of the campaign.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines advertising effectiveness in these social media in terms of ad attitude, ad intrusiveness and loyalty intentions. An online survey was conducted with 303 social media users. Age and gender are proposed as moderators.

Findings

The results indicate that Instagram Stories not only enhances consumer attitude toward ads but also increases perceived intrusiveness, compared to Facebook Wall. Millennials are more disturbed by Facebook Wall ads than non-millennial users. A triple interaction effect reveals that non-millennial men are more loyal toward Facebook Wall ads, whereas millennials of both genders and non-millennial women are more loyal to ads on Instagram Stories.

Practical implications

Advertisers should be aware of the differential features and segmentation possibilities in social media to better address their target audiences. More precisely, the research findings suggest that professionals should focus on Instagram Stories when targeting millennials and non-millennial women, and on Facebook Wall when targeting non-millennial men.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to contribute to the literature on Instagram Stories as an advertising platform and compare its differential features with those of more established social media, such as Facebook Wall.
Sex differences in pollinator behavior: Patterns across species and consequences for the mutualism
Authors: Smith Gordon P. , Bronstein Judith L. , Papaj Daniel R.
Published: March 2019

Intraspecific variation in floral visitor behaviour and pollination efficiency has been much less studied than interspecific variation. Nevertheless, it is clear that large differences in these traits exist within species, and in particular between sexes within species. With the exception of a few well‐studied interactions, however, the consequences of these differences in the pollinators and visited plants remain to be investigated.

In this review, we document large and consistent differences in the foraging patterns of male and female pollinators that have been demonstrated to directly affect plant reproduction or that have clear potential to do so.

Males and females differ in visitation frequency, type of flowers visited, and per‐visit pollen transfer. Females gather more and different resources from flowers compared to males, and males generally tend to show more mobile foraging patterns than females.

We argue that these sex‐associated patterns have broad generality across pollinators, and that sex‐associated differences can in some cases be larger than differences between species. We offer predictions about how these patterns will influence pollinator preference, specialization, and fidelity, as well as the cost, quality and quantity of pollination service to plants.

In the face of increasing threats to plant–pollinator interactions, understanding their basic functioning and the variation inherent in their component parts is critical. We advocate for more attention to sex‐based differences among pollinators in particular, and the consequences of intraspecific variation more broadly.
Executive control in language production by children with and without language impairment
Authors: Sikora Katarzyna , Roelofs Ardi , Hermans Daan , Knoors Harry
Published: March 2019

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that the updating, inhibiting and shifting abilities underlying executive control are important for spoken language production in adults. However, little is known about this in children.

Aims

To examine whether children with and without language impairment differ in all or only some of these executive abilities, and whether they show corresponding differences when these abilities are engaged in language production.

Methods & Procedures

Thirty‐three children with specific language impairment (SLI) and 41 typically developing (TD) children (age matched, aged 8–12 years) completed standard executive control tests that measure the updating, inhibiting and shifting abilities. All children were native speakers of Dutch. Moreover, they performed a noun–phrase production task involving picture description within a picture–word interference paradigm. We measured their production accuracy and speed to assess length, distractor and switch effects, which reflect the updating, inhibiting and shifting abilities underlying executive control.

Outcomes & Results

Compared with TD children, the children with SLI had lower scores on all executive control tests. Moreover, they were overall slower and made more errors in the noun–phrase production task. Additionally, the magnitude of the distractor and switch effects was larger for the SLI than for the TD group.

Conclusions & Implications

The results suggest that children with SLI have impaired language production and executive control abilities, and that some of the differences in the executive control abilities between SLI and TD groups were reflected in their language production.
Testing for pre‐committed quantities of Australian meat demand
Authors: Tighe Kara , Piggott Nicholas , Cacho Oscar , Mounter Stuart , Villano Renato
Published: March 2019

Pre‐committed consumption represents the portion of demand that is determined by non‐price and non‐income factors. This study uses quarterly data to estimate a Generalised Almost Ideal Demand System (GAIDS) to test for the existence of pre‐committed meat consumption in Australia. Two specifications are estimated to evaluate the impact of seasonal and time trend factors on pre‐committed demand. Evidence is found for the existence of pre‐committed chicken consumption when jointly estimated with seasonal and time trend factors. Results support improved demand modelling of Australian meat consumption using the GAIDS and provide insights into how Australian meat demand is affected by price, expenditures, pre‐committed consumption, seasonality, and trends.
Domestic Security: Defending the Evangelical Home in the Southern California Sunbelt
Authors: Neumann David J.
Published: March 2019

Historians have been eager to trace the roots of “family values” discourse as a political phenomenon linked to the rise of the Religious Right. But the sacralisation of the Christian family deserves attention in its own right as a cultural phenomenon. Southern California provides an obvious case study, as religious conservatism and a growing military‐industrial presence intersected there in the postwar era. A case study of this region also illumines larger trends, since the national experience and the Californian experience converged in this period. A popular set of 1950s advice booklets by Bible Institute of Los Angeles (Biola) Vice President William W. Orr provides crucial understanding of evangelical efforts to provide foolproof methods for enacting God’s design for family security. Evangelical visions of family order did occasionally represent real rifts with postwar mainstream culture. But more often, oppositional rhetoric served to symbolically preserve evangelicals’ distinctive identity even when cultural trends were largely consonant with their own. Their assumptions about gender, emphasis on sexual fulfilment within marriage, and guidelines on the roles of husbands and fathers, ostensibly grounded in timeless biblical principles, were deeply indebted to mainstream values of companionate marriage and affectionate parenting.
Sustainable financing for climate and disaster resilience in Atoll Islands: Evidence from Tuvalu and Kiribati
Authors: Taupo Tauisi
Published: March 2019

This paper examines the financing of disaster risk management. Future climate and disaster risks are predicted to impose increasing financial pressure on the governments of low‐lying atoll nations. The aftermath of a disaster, such as a cyclone, requires financial means for quick response and recovery. We quantify the appropriate levels of financial support for expected disasters in Tuvalu and Kiribati by building on the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI)‐calculated likely costs for disasters. To these, we add estimates of the potential effects of distant cyclones, droughts, sea‐level rise, climate change and large‐scale disaster shocks as they are predicted to affect low‐lying atoll islands. The present paper focuses on the potential contribution of the sovereign wealth funds (SWF) of Tuvalu and Kiribati in reducing reliance on foreign aid for ex‐post disaster risk management. We forecast the future size of SWF using Monte Carlo simulations. We examine the long‐term sustainability of SWF and the feasibility of extending their mandate for disaster recovery.
Constitutional Directives: Morally‐Committed Political Constitutionalism
Authors: Khaitan Tarunabh
Published: March 2019

About 37 state constitutions around the world feature non‐justiciable thick moral commitments (‘constitutional directives’). These directives typically oblige the state to redistribute income and wealth, guarantee social minimums, or forge a religious or secular identity for the state. They have largely been ignored in a constitutional scholarship defined by its obsession with the legitimacy of judicial review and hostility to constitutionalising thick moral commitments other than basic rights. This article presents constitutional directives as obligatory telic norms, addressed primarily to the political state, which constitutionalise thick moral objectives. Their full realisation—through increasingly sophisticated mechanisms designed to ensure their political enforcement—is deferred to a future date. They are weakly contrajudicative in that these duties are not directly enforced by courts. Functionally, they help shape the discourse over a state's constitutional identity, and regulate its political and judicial organs. Properly understood, they are a key tool to realise a morally‐committed conception of political constitutionalism.
Attitudes and beliefs of Australian emergency department clinicians on antimicrobial stewardship in the emergency department: A qualitative study
Authors: Goulopoulos Anne , Rofe Olivia , Kong David , Maclean Andrew , O'Reilly Mary
Published: March 2019

Objective

To explore the attitudes and beliefs of Australian ED clinicians towards antimicrobial stewardship in the ED.

Methods

Semi‐structured one‐to‐one interviews were conducted with ED clinicians between March and October 2015. Participants were identified via purposive and snowball sampling. Questionnaires were developed using the literature. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis via the framework approach. Two researchers coded independently, with one using QSR International's NVivo 10 software and the other manually. Emergent themes were identified and classified.

Results

Twenty‐two clinicians (eight doctors, eight nurses and six pharmacists) from seven institutions participated. Participants were aware and concerned about antimicrobial resistance. Clinicians were divided based on their opinion on whether antimicrobials are prescribed appropriately and judiciously in the ED, with many perceiving prescribing to be inappropriate. Prior knowledge of the term ‘Antimicrobial Stewardship’ was demonstrated by doctors and pharmacists, with a relative lack of awareness by nurses. Four main themes were identified as both barriers and facilitators to antimicrobial stewardship in the ED: individual healthcare provider, resource, organisational and cultural. Uncertainty of diagnosis, time and resource pressures, reliance on previous experience and lack of access to expert opinion were perceived barriers. To facilitate appropriate prescribing, clinicians emphasised the need for routine education and feedback, adequate staffing, robust guidelines, senior medical clinician advocacy and multidisciplinary support.

Conclusions

Australian ED clinicians were aware of antimicrobial resistance. Many perceive injudicious antimicrobial use as problematic. Consideration of ED clinicians’ perceived barriers and facilitators might enhance implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes in EDs.
Hedgehog promotes cell proliferation in the midgut of silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Zhu Shun‐Qin , Zhang Ya‐Jun , Abbas Muhammad Nadeem , Hao Xiang‐Wei , Zhao Yu‐Zu , Liang Hang‐Hua , Cui Hong‐Juan , Yang Li‐Qun
Published: March 2019

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is one of the major regulators of embryonic development and tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms. However, the role of this pathway in the silkworm, especially in the silkworm midgut, remains poorly understood. Here, we report that Bombyx mori Hedgehog (BmHh) is expressed in most tissues of silkworm larvae and that its functions are well‐conserved throughout evolution. We further demonstrate that the messenger RNA of four Hh signaling components, BmHh ligand, BmPtch receptor, signal transducer BmSmo and transcription factor BmCi, are all upregulated following Escherichia coli or Bacillus thuringiensis infection, indicating the activation of the Hh pathway. Simultaneously, midgut cell proliferation is strongly promoted. Conversely, the repression of Hh signal transduction with double‐stranded RNA or cyclopamine inhibits the expression of BmHh and BmCi and reduces cell proliferation. Overall, these findings provide new insights into the Hh signaling pathway in the silkworm, B. mori.
Clinicopathological characteristics, diagnosis, and prognosis of pregnancy‐associated breast cancer
Authors: Wang Bin , Yang Yanfang , Jiang Zhansheng , Zhao Jing , Mao Yiran , Liu Jun , Zhang Jin
Published: March 2019

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics, diagnosis, prognosis, and effective treatment modalities of pregnancy‐associated breast cancer (PABC).

Methods

From 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2015, 142 patients with PABC were identified in the Cancer Institute and Hospital of Tianjin Medical University database. The clinicopathological features, treatment methods, and outcomes were retrospectively evaluated.

Results

The median age at diagnosis was 30 years. All patients presented with a palpable mass in the breast. The sensitivity of ultrasound and mammography in PABC diagnosis was 86% and 83.3%, respectively, which increased to 91.3% when a combination of mammography and ultrasound was used. The median tumor size was 5.5 cm, and 63.1% of patients had associated axillary lymph node metastases. The proportions of ER negative, PR negative and HER2 positive were 45.7%, 45.7% and 30%, respectively. The five‐year overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rates were 76.8% and 63.5%, respectively. According to univariate analysis, T stage, N stage, and HER2 status were significant prognostic factors for OS and DFS. The time interval between the onset of the first symptom and the first meeting with a health professional was also significant for OS. Multivariate analysis showed that T stage and HER2 status were independent prognostic risk factors for OS and DFS.

Conclusion

PABC is an aggressive form of breast cancer associated with advanced stage at diagnosis. Despite the existing difficulties in diagnosis, imaging examinations are indispensable. Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary therapy, including anti‐HER2 targeted therapy, may be important to improve prognosis.
Favorable predictors for survival in advanced ALK‐positive non‐small cell lung cancer patients beyond crizotinib resistance
Authors: Xu Haiyan , Yang Guangjian , Yang Lu , Yang Yaning , Ma Di , Li Junling , Hao Xuezhi , Xing Puyuan , Wang Yan
Published: March 2019

Background

Crizotinib has demonstrated favorable efficacy in patients with advanced ALK‐positive non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unfortunately, the majority of ALK‐positive patients ultimately develop acquired resistance within one year after the initiation of crizotinib treatment; however, the estimation of overall survival (OS) beyond crizotinib resistance has not yet been fully demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to identify favorable predictors affecting survival outcome.

Methods

In this single‐center retrospective study, the data of 136 patients with advanced ALK‐positive NSCLC beyond crizotinib resistance were analyzed between January 2013 and December 2017. Patients were divided into two groups according to intracranial or extracranial progression on crizotinib, and sequential therapies including crizotinib continuation with local therapy, next‐generation ALK inhibitors, and chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was the median OS duration from the start of crizotinib resistance to death or the last follow‐up. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses of OS were carried out.

Results

At the time of analysis, 60 (41.1%) of the 136 patients had died. Median progression free survival (PFS) and OS from the metastatic diagnosis were 10.4 and 41.3 months, respectively. Sequential therapies administered beyond crizotinib treatment were: next‐generation ALK inhibitors (54 patients), chemotherapy (20 patients), and crizotinib continuation with local therapy (62 patients). Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that long PFS with crizotinib (≥ 10.4 months), intracranial progression, and next‐generation ALK inhibitors were significantly associated with a decreased risk of death.

Conclusion

Long PFS with crizotinib (≥10.4 months), intracranial progression, and use of next‐generation ALK inhibitors might be favorable predictors for OS in advanced ALK‐positive NSCLC patients.