bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postmenopausal Fracture History and Survival After Reproductive Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Newcomb Polly A , Adams Scott V , Mayer Sophie , Passarelli Michael N , Tinker Lesley , Lane Dorothy , Chlebowski Rowan T , Crandall Carolyn J
Published: February 2018

Background

Postmenopausal bone fracture's have been proposed as a marker of lifetime estrogen exposure and have been associated with decreased risk of breast and endometrial cancer. It is plausible that prediagnostic fractures may be related to survival of estrogen-sensitive cancers.

Methods

We evaluated a cohort of breast (n = 6411), endometrial (n = 1127), and ovarian (n = 658) cancer cases diagnosed between 1992 and 2010 while participating in the Women’s Health Initiative. Postmenopausal fracture history was assessed from baseline reports of fractures after age 55 years and incident fractures that occurred at least one year prior to cancer diagnosis during study follow-up. Using Cox regression, we compared women with and without a history of fractures with respect to overall and cancer-specific survival. Estimates were adjusted for participant factors, including hormone therapy use; hormone receptor status was not included in our analysis.

Results

Among women with breast cancer, a history of prediagnostic fractures at any site was associated with poorer overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05 to 1.43). A history of hip, forearm, or spine fractures, or hip fracture alone, was associated with increased risk of mortality (HR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.58, and HR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.27 to 3.32, respectively). Fracture history was associated neither with cancer-specific survival among breast cancer survivors, nor with overall or disease-specific mortality among endometrial and ovarian cancer survivors.

Conclusions

Postmenopausal breast cancer patients with a history of fractures, especially of the hip, are more likely to die of any cause than breast cancer survivors without a fracture history. Identifying and intervening in fracture risk factors should be standard of care for all women diagnosed with breast cancer.
‘They embrace you virtually’: The internet as a tool for social support for people with ALS
Authors: Wicks Paul
Published: February 2018

People with ALS may feel lonely, isolated, and bereft of information. Although professionals provide support, their time is in short supply and patients only see them periodically. For many decades there has been a tradition of face-to-face support groups to offer help to patients and caregivers in their local communities, but these have limitations. In recent years a new form of community has arisen, the online community. A relatively small evidence base suggests they may help patients and caregivers to be better informed, receive psychosocial support, and regain a peer network even as their ability to communicate and be physically active in the world diminishes. There are risks, however, such as misinformation, vulnerability to scams, and harms that might arise from becoming too involved in the disease at the exclusion of other facets of their lives. As mainstream social networks such as Facebook become dominant, the landscape will evolve rapidly.
Preanesthesia concerns in a patient with a thyroid mass
Authors: Bodner Gayle B. , Talbott Ashley L.
Published: February 2018

Preoperative evaluation helps identify patient comorbidities and surgical characteristics that increase perioperative risk, and also can help identify patients with potentially difficult airways. Identifying patients with difficult airways before surgery lets clinicians plan appropriate perioperative management and prepare for potential complications. This article focuses on management of a difficult airway in a patient undergoing surgery for a thyroid mass.
Flight range, fuel load and the impact of climate change on the journeys of migrant birds
Authors: Howard Christine , Stephens Philip A. , Tobias Joseph A. , Sheard Catherine , Butchart Stuart H. M. , Willis Stephen G.
Published: February 2018

Climate change is predicted to increase migration distances for many migratory species, but the physiological and temporal implications of longer migratory journeys have not been explored. Here, we combine information about species' flight range potential and migratory refuelling requirements to simulate the number of stopovers required and the duration of current migratory journeys for 77 bird species breeding in Europe. Using tracking data, we show that our estimates accord with recorded journey times and stopovers for most species. We then combine projections of altered migratory distances under climate change with models of avian flight to predict future migratory journeys. We find that 37% of migratory journeys undertaken by long-distance migrants will necessitate an additional stopover in future. These greater distances and the increased number of stops will substantially increase overall journey durations of many long-distance migratory species, a factor not currently considered in climate impact studies.
The ELENA facility
Authors: Bartmann Wolfgang , Belochitskii Pavel , Breuker Horst , Butin Francois , Carli Christian , Eriksson Tommy , Oelert Walter , Ostojic Ranko , Pasinelli Sergio , Tranquille Gerard
Published: February 2018

The CERN Antiproton Decelerator (AD) provides antiproton beams with a kinetic energy of 5.3 MeV to an active user community. The experiments would profit from a lower beam energy, but this extraction energy is the lowest one possible under good conditions with the given circumference of the AD. The Extra Low Energy Antiproton ring (ELENA) is a small synchrotron with a circumference a factor of 6 smaller than the AD to further decelerate antiprotons from the AD from 5.3 MeV to 100 keV. Controlled deceleration in a synchrotron equipped with an electron cooler to reduce emittances in all three planes will allow the existing AD experiments to increase substantially their antiproton capture efficiencies and render new experiments possible. ELENA ring commissioning is taking place at present and first beams to a new experiment installed in a new experimental area are foreseen in 2017. The transfer lines from ELENA to existing experiments in the old experimental area will be installed during CERN Long Shutdown 2 (LS2) in 2019 and 2020. The status of the project and ring commissioning will be reported.

This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Antiproton physics in the ELENA era’.
Prospects for testing Lorentz and CPT symmetry with antiprotons
Authors: Vargas Arnaldo J.
Published: February 2018

A brief overview of the prospects of testing Lorentz and CPT symmetry with antimatter experiments is presented. The models discussed are applicable to atomic spectroscopy experiments, Penning-trap experiments and gravitational tests. Comments about the sensitivity of the most recent antimatter experiments to the models reviewed here are included.

This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Antiproton physics in the ELENA era’.
Response to Therapeutic Sleep Deprivation: A Naturalistic Study of Clinical and Genetic Factors and Post-Treatment Depressive Symptom Trajectory
Authors: Trautmann Nina , Foo Jerome C. , Frank Josef , Witt Stephanie H. , Streit Fabian , Treutlein Jens , von Heydendorff Steffen Conrad , Gilles Maria ,   Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Forstner Andreas J. , Ebner-Priemer Ulrich , Nöthen Markus M. , Deuschle Michael , Rietschel Marcella
Published: February 2018

Research has shown that therapeutic sleep deprivation (SD) has rapid antidepressant effects in the majority of depressed patients. Investigation of factors preceding and accompanying these effects may facilitate the identification of the underlying biological mechanisms. This exploratory study aimed to examine clinical and genetic factors predicting response to SD and determine the impact of SD on illness course. Mood and tiredness during SD were also assessed via visual analogue scales (VAS). Depressed inpatients (n = 78) and healthy controls (n = 15) underwent ~36hrs of SD. Response to SD was defined as a score of ≤2 on the Clinical Global Impression Scale for Global Improvement. Depressive symptom trajectories were evaluated for up to a month using self/expert ratings. Impact of genetic burden was calculated using polygenic risk scores for major depressive disorder. 72% of patients responded to SD. Responders and nonresponders did not differ in baseline self/expert depression symptom ratings, but mood subjectively measured by VAS scale differed. Response was associated with lower age (p= 0.007) and later age at life-time disease onset (p= 0.003). Higher genetic burden of depression was observed in non-responders than healthy controls. Up to a month post-SD, depressive symptoms decreased in both patients groups, but more in responders, in whom effects were sustained. The present findings suggest that re-examining SD with a greater focus on biological mechanisms will lead to better understanding of mechanisms of depression.
Octadecaneuropeptide prevents toxicity induced by 6-hydroxydopamine in cultured rat astrocyte: involvement of the endogenous antioxidant systems and the intrinsic apoptotic pathway
Authors: Kaddour Hadhemi , Hamdi Yosra , Vaudry David , Leprince Jérôme , Vaudry Hubert , Tonon Marie-Christine , Amri Mohamed , Masmoudi-Kouki Olfa
Published: February 2018

Oxidative stress, associated with various neurodegenerative diseases, induces imbalance in ROS generation, impairs cellular antioxidant defences and finally triggers both neurons and astroglial cell death by apoptosis. Astrocytes specifically synthesize and release endozepines, a family of regulatory peptides, including the octadecaneuropeptide (ODN). We have previously reported that ODN is a potent neuroprotective agent that prevents 6-OHDA-induced apoptotic neuronal death. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the potential glioprotective effect of ODN on 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress and cell death in cultured rat astrocytes. Incubation of astrocytes with graded concentrations of ODN (10−14to 10−8M) inhibited 6-OHDA-evoked cell death in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, ODN prevented the decrease of mitochondrial activity and caspase-3 activation induced by 6-OHDA. Toxin-treated cells exhibited high level of ROS associated with a generation of H2O2and O2°-and a reduction of both SOD and catalase activities. Co-treatment of astrocytes with low concentrations of ODN dose dependently blocked 6-OHDA-evoked ROS production and inhibition of antioxidant enzymes activities. Taken together, these data demonstrate that ODN is a potent glioprotective agent that prevents 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death. ODN is thus a potential candidate to delay neuronal damages in various pathological conditions involving oxidative neurodegeneration.
The plasma biomarker soluble SIGLEC-1 is associated with the type I interferon transcriptional signature, ethnic background and renal disease in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Oliveira João J. , Karrar Sarah , Rainbow Daniel B. , Pinder Christopher L. , Clarke Pamela , Rubio García Arcadio , Al-Assar Osama , Burling Keith , Vyse Tim J. , Wicker Linda S. , Todd John A. , Ferreira Ricardo C.
Published: February 2018

The molecular heterogeneity of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases has been one of the main obstacles to the development of safe and specific therapeutic options. Here we have evaluated the diagnostic and clinical value of a robust, inexpensive, immunoassay detecting the circulating soluble form of the monocyte-specific surface receptor sialic acid binding Ig-like lectin 1 (sSIGLEC-1).

We developed an immunoassay to measure sSIGLEC-1 in small volumes of plasma/serum from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and healthy donors. Plasma concentrations of sSIGLEC-1 strongly correlated with expression of SIGLEC-1 on the surface of blood monocytes and with type I interferon (IFN)-regulated gene (IRG) expression in SLE patients. In addition, we identified marked ancestry-related differences in sSIGLEC-1 concentrations in SLE patients, with patients of non-European ancestry showing higher levels compared to patients of European ancestry. Higher sSIGLEC-1 concentrations were associated with lower serum complement component 3 and increased frequency of renal complications in European patients, but not with the SLEDAI clinical score.

Our sSIGLEC-1 immunoassay provides a specific and easily-assayed marker for monocyte-macrophage activation, and interferonopathy in SLE and other diseases. Further studies can extend its clinical associations and its potential use to stratify patients and as a secondary endpoint in trials.
Does a poor childhood associate with higher and steeper inflammation trajectories in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing?
Authors: Tampubolon Gindo , Fajarini Maria
Published: February 2018

Inflammation has been implicated in many diseases in later life of older Britons. Moreover, health outcomes in later life have also been markedly affected by childhood poverty. But no study has established whether childhood poverty has the effect of upregulating inflammation throughout later life. Using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2004 – 2013) life history information and longitudinal observations of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen as inflammatory biomarkers, we studied the association between childhood condition and trajectories of inflammation for people aged 50 to 97 years. Retrospective childhood poverty some four to eight decades in the past was treated as a latent construct; attrition in longitudinal observations is addressed using inverse proportional to attrition weighting. The analytis revealed significantly higher levels of both biomarkers throughout later life among those with a poor childhood, though there is no evidence of a steeper inflammation trajectory among them. We discussed possible epigenetic changes underlying this strong and long arm of childhood condition. The results suggest that eliminating child poverty can prove to be a wise investment with the prospect of a lifelong reward.
Habitat choice stabilizes metapopulation dynamics through increased ecological specialisation
Authors: Mortier Frederik , Jacob Staffan , Vandegehuchte Martijn L. , Bonte Dries
Published: February 2018

Dispersal is a key trait responsible for the spread of individuals and genes among local populations, thereby generating eco-evolutionary interactions. Especially in heterogeneous metapopulations, a tight coupling between dispersal, population dynamics and the evolution of local adaptation is expected. In this respect, current theory predicts dispersal to counteract ecological specialisation by redistributing locally selected phenotypes (i.e. migration load). However, in nature we observe that some specialists exhibit a strong dispersal capacity.

Habitat choice following informed dispersal decisions, provides a possible mechanism for individuals to match the environment to their phenotype, thereby enabling the persistence of evolved ecological specialisation. How such informed decisions affect the evolution of dispersal and ecological specialisation and how these, in turn, influence metapopulation dynamics is yet to be determined.

By means of individual-based modelling, we show that informed decisions on both departure and settlement decouples the evolution of dispersal and generalism, favouring highly dispersive specialists. Choice at settlement decouples dispersal from ecological specialisation most effectively. Additionally, habitat choice stabilizes local and metapopulation demography because of the maintenance of ecological specialisation at all levels of dispersal propensity.

We advocate considering habitat choice in spatially structured ecological models to improve demographic predictions in the face of environmental change.
Data-driven clustering reveals a link between symptoms and functional brain connectivity in depression
Authors: Maglanoc Luigi A. , Landrø Nils Inge , Jonassen Rune , Kaufmann Tobias , Cordova-Palomera Aldo , Hilland Eva , Westlye Lars T.
Published: February 2018

Background

Depression is a complex disorder with large inter-individual variability in symptom profiles that often occur alongside symptoms of other psychiatric domains such as anxiety. A dimensional and symptom-based approach may help refine the characterization and classification of depressive and anxiety disorders and thus aid in establishing robust biomarkers. We assess the brain functional connectivity correlates of a symptom-based clustering of individuals using functional brain imaging data.

Methods

We assessed symptoms of depression and anxiety using Beck’s Depression and Beck’s Anxiety inventories in individuals with or without a history of depression, and high dimensional data clustering to form subgroups based on symptom profiles. To assess the biological relevance of this subtyping, we compared functional magnetic resonance imaging-based dynamic and static functional connectivity between subgroups in a subset of the total sample.

Results

We identified five subgroups with distinct symptom profiles, cutting across diagnostic boundaries and differing in terms of total severity, symptom patterns and centrality. For instance, inability to relax, fear of the worst, and feelings of guilt were among the most severe symptoms in subgroup 1, 2 and 3, respectively. These subgroups showed evidence of differential static brain connectivity patterns, in particular comprising a fronto-temporal network. In contrast, we found no significant associations with clinical sum scores, dynamic functional connectivity or global connectivity measures.

Conclusion

Adding to the ongoing pursuit of individual-based treatment, the results show subtyping based on a dimensional conceptualization and unique constellations of anxiety and depression symptoms is supported by distinct brain static functional connectivity patterns.
Cryo-EM structure of the adenosine A2A receptor coupled to an engineered heterotrimeric G protein
Authors: García-Nafría Javier , Lee Yang , Bai Xiaochen , Carpenter Byron , Tate Christopher G.
Published: February 2018

The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) is a prototypical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that couples to the heterotrimeric G protein GS. Here we determine the structure by electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) of A2AR at pH 7.5 bound to the small molecule agonist NECA and coupled to an engineered heterotrimeric G protein, which contains mini-GS, the βγ subunits and nanobody Nb35. Most regions of the complex have a resolution of ~3.8 Å or better. Comparison with the 3.4 Å resolution crystal structure shows that the receptor and mini-GS are virtually identical and that the density of the side chains and ligand are of comparable quality. However, the cryo-EM density map also indicates regions that are flexible in comparison to the crystal structures, which unexpectedly includes regions in the ligand binding pocket. In addition, an interaction between intracellular loop 1 of the receptor and the β subunit of the G protein was observed.
Familiarity and Face-Inversion Effect in Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) during the Preferential Looking Task
Authors: Tomonaga Masaki
Published: February 2018

Four young laboratory-born Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) looked at the photographs of familiar and unfamiliar persons presented at upright and inverted orientations by pressing the lever under the conjugate schedule of sensory reinforcement (successive preferential looking procedure). Three types of photographs were prepared: photographs with persons taken in front view, those taken in back, and those without persons. The monkeys looked longer when the face was upright than inverted only for the pictures containing unfamiliar person with front view. The other types of photographs did not cause inversion effect. Familiarity weakened the face-specific inversion effect in monkeys. This difference may be due to in part the lower preference for familiar faces and the difference in processing mode between familiar and unfamiliar faces.
Neuronal correlations in MT and MST impair population decoding of opposite directions of random dot motion
Authors: Chaplin Tristan A. , Hagan Maureen A. , Allitt Benjamin J. , Lui Leo L.
Published: February 2018

The study of neuronal responses to random-dot motion patterns has provided some of the most valuable insights into how the activity of neurons is related to perception. In the opposite directions of motion paradigm, the motion signal strength is decreased by manipulating the coherence of random dot patterns to examine how well the activity of single neurons represents the direction of motion. To extend this paradigm to populations of neurons, studies have used modelling based on data from pairs of neurons, but several important questions require further investigation with larger neuronal datasets. We recorded neuronal populations in the middle temporal (MT) and medial superior temporal (MST) areas of anaesthetized marmosets with electrode arrays, while varying the coherence of random dot patterns in two opposite directions of motion (left and right). Using the spike rates of simultaneously recorded neurons, we decoded the direction of motion at each level of coherence with linear classifiers. We found that the presence of correlations had a detrimental effect to decoding performance, but that learning the correlation structure produced better decoding performance compared to decoders that ignored the correlation structure. We also found that reducing motion coherence increased neuronal correlations, but decoders did not need to be optimized for each coherence level. Finally, we showed that decoder weights depend of left-right selectivity at 100% coherence, rather than the preferred direction. These results have implications for understanding how the information encoded by populations of neurons is affected by correlations in spiking activity.

Significance Statement

Many studies have examined how the spiking activity of single neurons can encode stimulus features, such the direction of motion of visual stimuli. However, majority of such studies to date have only recorded from a small number of neurons at the same time, meaning that one cannot adequately account for the trial-to-trial correlations in spiking activity between neurons. Using multi-channel recordings, we were able to measure the neuronal correlations, and their effects on population coding of stimulus features. Our results have implications on the way which neural populations must be readout in order to maximize information.
Application of the Mesolens for sub-cellular resolution imaging of intact larval and whole adult Drosophila
Authors: McConnell Gail , Amos William B.
Published: February 2018

In a previous paper (McConnell et al., 2016) we showed a new giant lens called the Mesolens and presented performance data and images from whole fixed and intact fluorescently-stained 12.5-day old mouse embryos. Here we show that using the Mesolens we can image an entire Drosophila larva or adult fly in confocal epifluorescence and show sub-cellular detail in all tissues. By taking several hundreds of optical sections through the entire volume of the specimen, we show cells and nuclear details within the gut, brain, salivary glands and reproductive system that normally require dissection for study. Organs are imaged in situ in correct 3D arrangement. Imaginal disks are imaged in mature larvae and it proved possible to image pachytene chromosomes in cells within ovarian follicles in intact female flies. Methods for fixing, staining and clearing are given.
Lifestyle activities in mid-life contribute to cognitive reserve in late-life, independent of education, occupation and late-life activities
Authors: Chan D , Shafto M , Kievit RA , Matthews FE , Spinks M , Valenzuela M ,   Cam-CAN, Henson RN
Published: February 2018

Introduction

This study tested the hypothesis that mid-life intellectual, physical and social activities contribute to cognitive reserve (CR).

Methods

205 individuals (196 with MRI) aged 66-88 from the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience (www.cam-can.com) were studied, with cognitive ability and structural brain health measured as fluid IQ and total grey matter volume, respectively. Mid-life activities were measured using the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire.

Results

Multivariable linear regression found that mid-life activities (MA) made a unique contribution to late-life cognitive ability independent of education, occupation and late-life activities. Crucially, MA moderated the relationship between late-life cognitive ability and brain structure, with the cognitive ability of people with higher MA less dependent on their brain structure, consistent with the concept of CR.

Conclusions. Mid-life intellectual, physical and social activities contribute uniquely to CR. The modifiability of these activities has implications for public health initiatives aimed at dementia prevention.
High precision wavefront control in point spread function engineering for single emitter localization
Authors: Siemons M. , Hulleman C. N. , Thorsen R. Ø. , Smith C. S. , Stallinga S.
Published: February 2018

Point spread function (PSF) engineering is used in single emitter localization to measure the emitter position in 3D and possibly other parameters such as the emission color or dipole orientation as well. Advanced PSF models such as spline fits to experimental PSFs or the vectorial PSF model can be used in the corresponding localization algorithms in order to model the intricate spot shape and deformations correctly. The complexity of the optical architecture and fit model makes PSF engineering approaches particularly sensitive to optical aberrations. Here, we present a calibration and alignment protocol for fluorescence microscopes equipped with a spatial light modulator (SLM) with the goal of establishing a wavefront error well below the diffraction limit for optimum application of complex engineered PSFs. We achieve high-precision wavefront control, to a level below 20 mλ wavefront aberration over a 30 minute time window after the calibration procedure, using a separate light path for calibrating the pixel-to-pixel variations of the SLM, and alignment of the SLM with respect to the optical axis and Fourier plane within 3 µm (x/y) and 100 µm (z) error. Aberrations are retrieved from a fit of the vectorial PSF model to a bead z-stack and compensated with a residual wavefront error comparable to the error of the SLM calibration step. This well-calibrated and corrected setup makes it possible to create complex ‘3D+λ’ PSFs that fit very well to the vectorial PSF model. Proof-of-principle bead experiments show precisions below 10 nm in x, y, and λ, and below 20 nm in z over an axial range of 1 µm with 2000 signal photons and 12 background photons.
Pleiotropic and Epistatic Network-Based Discovery: Integrated Networks for Target Gene Discovery
Authors: Weighill Deborah , Jones Piet , Shah Manesh , Ranjan Priya , Muchero Wellington , Schmutz Jeremy , Sreedasyam Avinash , Macaya-Sanz David , Sykes Robert , Zhao Nan , Martin Madhavi Z. , DiFazio Stephen , Tschaplinski Timothy J. , Tuskan Gerald , Jacobson Daniel
Published: February 2018

Biological organisms are complex systems that are composed of functional networks of interacting molecules and macromolecules. Complex phenotypes are the result of orchestrated, hierarchical, heterogeneous collections of expressed genomic variants. However, the effects of these variants are the result of historic selective pressure and current environmental and epigenetic signals, and, as such, their co-occurrence can be seen as genome-wide correlations in a number of different manners. Biomass recalcitrance (i.e., the resistance of plants to degradation or deconstruction, which ultimately enables access to a plant’s sugars) is a complex polygenic phenotype of high importance to biofuels initiatives. This study makes use of data derived from the re-sequenced genomes from over 800 different Populus trichocarpa genotypes in combination with metabolomic and pyMBMS data across this population, as well as co-expression and co-methylation networks in order to better understand the molecular interactions involved in recalcitrance, and identify target genes involved in lignin biosynthesis/degradation. A Lines Of Evidence (LOE) scoring system is developed to integrate the information in the different layers and quantify the number of lines of evidence linking genes to lignin-related lignin-phenotypes across the network layers. The resulting Genome Wide Association Study networks, integrated with Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) correlation, co-methylation and co-expression networks through the LOE scores are proving to be a powerful approach to determine the pleiotropic and epistatic relationships underlying cellular functions and, as such, the molecular basis for complex phenotypes, such as recalcitrance.
Measurement of myofilament calcium in living cardiomyocytes using a targeted genetically encoded indicator
Authors: Robinson Paul , Sparrow Alexander J , Broyles Connor N , Sievert Kolja , Chang Yu-Fen , Brook Frances A , Zhang Xiaoyu , Watkins Hugh , Abassi Yama A , Geeves Michael A , Redwood Charles , Daniels Matthew J
Published: February 2018

Visualising when and where calcium appears and disappears in cardiomyocytes is a major goal of cardiovascular research. Surprisingly we find that the chemical dyes widely used for this purpose disrupt cell contractility, due at least in part due to direct inhibition of the acto-myosin ATPase required to generate force. In order to improve calcium detection methods, we have developed a genetically encoded indicator that sits within the myofilament to directly visualise the changes occurring at the sarcomere. This tool improves on established chemical dyes and untargeted genetically encoded indicators for analysing small molecule modulators of myofilament-based calcium signalling. Importantly this is achieved without any measurable change in contractile function.
Efflux Pumps Represent Possible Evolutionary Convergence onto the Beta Barrel Fold
Authors: Franklin Meghan Whitney , Nepomnyachiy Sergey , Feehan Ryan , Ben-Tal Nir , Kolodny Rachel , Slusky Joanna S.G.
Published: February 2018

There are around 100 types of integral outer membrane proteins in each Gram negative bacteria. All of these proteins have the same fold—an up-down β-barrel. It has been suggested that all membrane β-barrels other than lysins are homologous. Here we suggest that β-barrels of efflux pumps have converged on this fold as well. By grouping structurally-solved outer membrane β-barrels (OMBBs) by sequence we find evidence that the membrane environment may have led to convergent evolution of the barrel fold. Specifically, the lack of sequence linkage to other barrels coupled with distinctive structural differences, such as differences in strand tilt and barrel radius, suggest that efflux pumps have evolutionarily converged on the barrel. Finally, we find a possible ancestor for the OMBB efflux pumps as they are related to periplasmic components of the same pumps.
Head-direction cells escaping attractor dynamics in the parahippocampal region
Authors: Kornienko Olga , Latuske Patrick , Kohler Laura , Allen Kevin
Published: February 2018

Navigation depends on the activity of head-direction (HD) cells. Computational models postulate that HD cells form a uniform population that reacts coherently to changes in landmarks. We tested whether this applied to HD cells of the medial entorhinal cortex and parasubiculum, areas where the HD signal contributes to the periodic firing of grid cells. Manipulations of the visual landmarks surrounding freely-moving mice altered the tuning of HD cells. Importantly, these tuning modifications were often non-coherent across cells, refuting the notion that HD cells form a uniform population constrained by attractor-like dynamics. Instead, examination of theta rhythmicity 1revealed two types of HD cells, theta rhythmic and non-rhythmic cells. Larger tuning alterations were observed predominantly in non-rhythmic HD cells. Moreover, only non-rhythmic HD cells reorganized their firing associations in response to visual land-mark changes. These findings reveal a theta non-rhythmic HD signal whose malleable organization is controlled by visual landmarks.
Experimental and mathematical approaches to quantify recirculation kinetics of lymphocytes
Authors: Ganusov Vitaly V. , Tomura Michio
Published: February 2018

One of the properties of the immune system that makes it different from nervous and en-docrine systems of mammals is the ability of immune cells to migrate between different tissues. Lymphocytes such as T and B cells have the ability to migrate from the blood to secondary lymphoid tissues such as spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyer’s patches, and then migrate back to the blood, i.e., they can recirculate. Recirculation of lymphocytes has been a subject of intensive investigation decades ago with wealth of data on the kinetics of lymphocyte recirculation available. However, these data have not been widely used to estimate the kinetics of recirculation of different lymphocyte subsets in naive and immunized animals. In this paper we review pioneering studies addressing the question of lymphocyte recirculation, overview quantitative approaches that have been used to estimate the kinetics of lymphocyte recirculation, and provide currently published estimates of the residence times of resting lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid tissues of mammals.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 7-ethoxy-5-methyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)-11,12-dihydro-5,11-methano[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c][1,3,5]benzoxadiazocine
Authors: Aydemir Ercan , Kansiz Sevgi , Gumus Mustafa Kemal , Gorobets Nikolay Yu. , Dege Necmi
Published: February 2018

The title compound, C19H19N5O2, was prepared by the reaction of 3-amino-5-(pyridin-3-yl)-1,2,4-triazole with acetone and 2-hydroxy-3-ethoxybenzaldehyde. It crystallizes from ethanol in a tetragonal space group, with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The 1,2,4-triazole five-membered ring is planar (maximum deviation = 0.0028 Å). The pyridine and phenyl rings are also planar with maximum deviations of 0.0091 and 0.0094 Å, respectively. In the crystal, N—H...N hydrogen bonds link the molecules into supramolecular chains propagating along thec-axis direction. Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots have been used to analyse the intermolecular interactions present in the crystal.
The evolution of lean thinking at K-Way: where to next?
Authors: Hamdulay Fatima , Vidhani Himanshu
Published: February 2018

Subject area

Lean thinking and organizational culture

Study level/applicability

MBA, Executive Education, Post Graduate Diploma

Case overview

The case details the adoption of lean thinking at K-Way, a contemporary technical textile manufacturer of outdoor apparel and accessories. The case covers the 12-year journey at K-Way, detailing the process and cultural improvements the company underwent. The case closes as Bobby, the General Manager at K-Way, thinks about his new challenges. The CEO of K-Way’s parent company, Cape Union Mart, wants Bobby to start devolving the lean thinking approach to other units within Cape Union Mart, in particular a newly acquired and under-performing children’s clothing business. Bobby is excited at the prospect, but simultaneously anxious about the work that still needs to happen at K-Way and more importantly, whether the organization is ready for his, and his key consultant-coach’s withdrawal as the primary “voices” of lean thinking. Would there be a reversal of progress in their absence and how can they counter this?

Expected learning outcomes

Understanding lean thinking as a management system and not a mere set of tools for waste reduction, while recognizing the importance of waste reduction. An understanding of how to entrench lean thinking in an organization after initial adoption with specific emphasis on the following: Kata and scientific thinking – what it is and how it can be employed; Hoshin Kanri/Strategy Deployment – what it is and how it can be used; Leader Standard Work, what it is and how it can be used. Consider responses for a company that has been on a lean journey for 10 years, with a focus on how (or if) lean leaders can withdraw from the operation.

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: 9: Operations and logistics
Structuring servitization-related research
Authors: Rabetino Rodrigo , Harmsen Willem , Kohtamäki Marko , Sihvonen Jukka
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to organize and connect past research from different servitization-related scholarly communities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviews more than 1,000 articles by combining author co-citation and qualitative content analyses.

Findings

The structure and boundaries of the field are mapped, and the characteristics of the three identified servitization-related communities are assessed qualitatively. These three communities are product-service systems, solution business, and service science. The findings demonstrate that a narrow range of theories and qualitative methods dominate in existing research.

Originality/value

Through the lens of the sociology of science, this review critically evaluates servitization-related research and offers a list of themes that are considered important to the future development of the field. Regarding future research, the main recommendations are as follows: increasing the use of well-established theories from adjacent mature fields, borrowing ideas from different research communities to stimulate knowledge accumulation within and across communities, and reducing the level of description while increasing the number of confirmatory, quantitative, and longitudinal research designs. Finally, the development of formal structures for socialization (e.g. conferences and special issues) could allow the field to achieve a greater degree of scientific maturity and would influence the direction and pace of the development of servitization-related research.
The performance effects of complementary management control mechanisms
Authors: Nielsen Henrik , Kristensen Thomas Borup , Grasso Lawrence P.
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study management control mechanisms (social, behavioral, and output control mechanisms) and their complementary effects on firm performance in lean manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses second-order structural equation modeling to analyze survey data from 368 different lean manufacturing facilities.

Findings

The paper finds that the complementary effects of management control mechanisms in lean manufacturing firms outweigh their additive effects on firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

Applying isolated lean management control mechanisms leads to inferior performance, as these management control mechanisms are complementary. Thus, to realize the full potential of lean manufacturing, this paper suggests that lean management control mechanisms should be implemented as an integrated control system.

Practical implications

Firms seeking to benefit from the implementation of lean manufacturing should understand the complementarity among the management control mechanisms, as the performance effects of lean management control mechanisms when applied together are greater than their isolated additive effects.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to provide empirical evidence of the superior firm performance effects of complementary lean management control mechanisms compared with their additive effects. This paper also expands the understanding of how to conceptualize lean management control mechanisms. Specifically, this is the first paper to distinguish between social cultural control and social visual control mechanisms as well as between non-financial and financial control mechanisms. This paper is also the first to use a second-order structural equation model to properly test and account for the complementary effects on firm performance that stem from multiple control mechanisms.
Effects of carbon soot from the combustion of diesel fuels on the tribological properties of lubricating oil and diesel fuels
Authors: Shi Bin , Guo Jian Hua , Cao Xing An , Hu En Zhu , Hu Kun Hong
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the effects of mineral diesel fuel carbon soot (MCS) and biodiesel carbon soot (BCS) on the lubrication of polyalphaolefin (PAO) and diesel fuels.

Design/methodology/approach

Two styles of carbon soot were prepared from the natural combustion of mineral diesel fuel oil (MDO) and biodiesel oil (BDO). Tribological tests were conducted on a high-frequency reciprocating rig. Friction surfaces were characterized using three-dimensional laser scanning confocal microscopy and Raman spectroscopy.

Findings

The addition of MCS and BCS to PAO could reduce friction in most cases. MCS had a negligible effect on the wear for contents not exceeding 1.0 per cent. By contrast, BCS exhibited a considerable negative influence on the wear resistance even at low contents. For diesel fuels, MCS reduced both friction and wear, whereas BCS substantially deteriorated the lubrication of BDO. MCS formed a Fe3O4/C composite lubricating film on the friction surface. BCS also entered the contact region, but it did not form an effective Fe3O4/C composite lubricating film.

Originality/value

This work compared MDO and BDO from a different perspective, i.e. the effects of their combustion carbon soot on the lubrication of lubricating oil and fuel oil. The significant negative effect of BCS on the lubrication of lubricating oil and BDO is a problem that could occur in the industrial application of BDO.
Tribological and electrical behavior of Cu-based composites with addition of Ti-doped NbSe2nanoplatelets
Authors: Li Jian Feng , Shi Qin , Zhu HeJun , Huang ChenYu , Zhang Shuai , Peng Weixiang , Li ChangSheng
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to clarify the size and morphology of transition metal dichalcogenides has an impact on lubrication performance of Cu-based composites. This study is intended to show that Cu-based electrical contact materials containing Nb0.91Ti0.09Se2have better electrical and tribological properties than those containing NbSe2. The tribological properties of Cu-based with different Ti-dopped NbSe2content were also discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The NbSe2and Nb0.91Ti0.09Se2particles were fabricated by thermal solid state reaction method. The powder metallurgy technique was used to fabricate composites with varying Nb0.91Ti0.09Se2mass fraction. The phase composition of Cu-based composites was identified by X-ray diffraction, and the morphology of NbSe2/Nb0.91Ti0.09Se2and the worn surface of composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the tribological properties of composites were appraised using a ball-on-disk multi-functional tribometer. The data of friction coefficient and resistivity were analyzed and the corresponding conclusion was drawn.

Findings

In comparison with the pure copper, Cu-based composites containing Nb0.91Ti0.09Se2/NbSe2had a lower friction coefficient, illustrating the Nb0.91Ti0.09Se2with nano-size particles prepared in this work is a perfect choice for the fabrication of excellent electrical contact composites. Compared to composites with NbSe2, composites containing Nb0.91Ti0.09Se2have better tribological and electrical properties.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the use of thermal solid state reaction method, the size of NbSe2and Nb0.91Ti0.09Se2is relatively large. Therefore, the fabrication of finer particles of Nb0.91Ti0.09Se2is encouraged.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors discuss the tribological and electrical properties of Cu-based composites, and the value of optimum obtained as Nb0.91Ti0.09Se2content is 15 Wt.%.
Effect of thermal activation on the tribological behaviors of muscovite particles as lubricant additives in lithium grease
Authors: Du Pengfei , Chen G.X. , Song Shiyuan , Wu Jiang , Gu Kechen , Zhu Dachuan , Li Jin
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The tribological properties of muscovite and its thermal-treated products as lubricant additives in lithium grease were investigated. The effect of thermal temperature on the crystal structure and tribological properties of muscovite was studied. This study aims to explore the tribological mechanism of muscovite and optimize a proper thermal activation temperature, thus further improving the tribological properties.

Design/methodology/approach

The crystal structure of muscovite samples was characterized by SEM, TG-DSC, XRD and FTIR. The tribological properties of grease samples were investigated using a four-ball tribotester and the worn surface was analyzed by SEM and EDS.

Findings

The excellent tribological properties of muscovite can be ascribed to the layer structure and lubricant film formed on the worn surface. Thermal temperature at 500-600°C increases the surface activity and oxygen releasing capability, and thus favors the formation of lubricant film and accordingly further improves the tribological properties. However, the layer structure is destroyed and hard phases such as alumina and amorphous appear after thermal temperature activated beyond 1000°C, as it results in the aggravation of friction and wear.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, it is the first to study the effect of thermal temperature on the crystal structure and tribological properties of muscovite. The tribological mechanism of muscovite particle and its thermal-treated products was disclosed.
Wearable health information systems intermittent discontinuance
Authors: Shen Xiao-Liang , Li Yang-Jun , Sun Yongqiang
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Wearable health information systems (IS) open up a new era for personal health self-management, and bring about disruptive changes to individual lives. However, prior studies on IS post-adoptive behavior primarily focused on either continuance or discontinuance, neglecting the mutual transformation process between IS usage and rejection behavior. This behavior is expressed as intermittent discontinuance in the current study. By revising and extending the expectation-disconfirmation model, the purpose of this paper is to understand the factors affecting information system intermittent discontinuance in the context of wearable eHealth.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes a revised expectation-disconfirmation model by incorporating four new theoretical constructs, i.e. neutral disconfirmation, attitudinal ambivalence, neutral satisfaction, and intermittent discontinuance. An online survey was used to validate the research model, and 428 wearable health device users were recruited in this study.

Findings

Empirical results demonstrate that neutral disconfirmation exerts positive effects on neutral satisfaction and attitudinal ambivalence, both of which further have positive effects on intermittent discontinuance. In addition, attitudinal ambivalence also has a positive and significant effect on neutral satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study extends the current understanding on IS post-adoption usage behavior by introducing a new concept, i.e., intermittent discontinuance. In particular, post-adoption usage behavior is viewed as a dynamic process within a changing environment in this study. Some unique features specific to intermittent discontinuance are also identified. In this regard, neutral and conflicting constructs further add new values to IS adoption and diffusion literature. In addition, the integration of eHealth and wearable devices provides a fruitful research context for future research, and this study represents one of the first attempts to empirically explore the intermittent usage problems encountered within this emerging phenomenon.