bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using deep neural networks to detect complex spikes of cerebellar Purkinje Cells
Authors: Markanday Akshay , Bellet Joachim , Bellet Marie E. , Hafed Ziad M. , Thier Peter
Published: April 2019

One of the most powerful excitatory synapses in the entire brain is formed by cerebellar climbing fibers, originating from neurons in the inferior olive, that wrap around the proximal dendrites of cerebellar Purkinje cells. The activation of a single olivary neuron is capable of generating a large electrical event, called “complex spike”, at the level of the postsynaptic Purkinje cell, comprising of a fast initial spike of large amplitude followed by a slow polyphasic tail of small amplitude spikelets. Several ideas discussing the role of the cerebellum in motor control are centered on these complex spike events. However, these events are extremely rare, only occurring 1-2 times per second. As a result, drawing conclusions about their functional role has been very challenging, as even few errors in their detection may change the result. Since standard spike sorting approaches cannot fully handle the polyphasic shape of complex spike waveforms, the only safe way to avoid omissions and false detections has been to rely on visual inspection of long traces of Purkinje cell recordings by experts. Here we present a supervised deep learning algorithm for rapidly and reliably detecting complex spikes as an alternative to tedious visual inspection. Our algorithm, utilizing both action potential and local field potential signals, not only detects complex spike events much faster than human experts, but it also excavates key features of complex spike morphology with a performance comparable to that of such experts.

Significance statement

Climbing fiber driven “complex spikes”, fired at perplexingly low rates, are known to play a crucial role in cerebellum-based motor control. Careful interpretations of these spikes require researchers to manually detect them, since conventional online or offline spike sorting algorithms (optimized for analyzing the much more frequent “simple spikes”) cannot be fully trusted. Here, we present a deep learning approach for identifying complex spikes, which is trained on local field and action potential recordings from cerebellar Purkinje cells. Our algorithm successfully identifies complex spikes, along with additional relevant neurophysiological features, with an accuracy level matching that of human experts, yet with very little time expenditure.
Co-crystallization of a neutral molecule and its zwitterionic tautomer: structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 5-methyl-4-(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-one 5-methyl-4-(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-2-ium-3-yl)-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-ide monohydrate
Authors: Asiri Abdullah M. , Alzahrani Khalid A. H. , Faidallah Hassan M. , Alamry Khalid A. , Jotani Mukesh M. , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: April 2019

The title compound, 2C14H14N4O·H2O, comprises a neutral molecule containing a central pyrazol-3-one ring flanked by an N-bound phenyl group and a C-bound 5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl group (at positions adjacent to the carbonyl substituent), its zwitterionic tautomer, whereby the N-bound proton of the central ring is now resident on the pendant ring, and a water molecule of crystallization. Besides systematic variations in geometric parameters, the two independent organic molecules have broadly similar conformations, as seen in the dihedral angle between the five-membered rings [9.72 (9)° for the neutral molecule and 3.32 (9)° for the zwitterionic tautomer] and in the dihedral angles between the central and pendant five-membered rings [28.19 (8) and 20.96 (8)° (neutral molecule); 11.33 (9) and 11.81 (9)°]. In the crystal, pyrazolyl-N—H...O(carbonyl) and pyrazolium-N—H...N(pyrazolyl) hydrogen bonds between the independent organic molecules give rise to non-symmetric nine-membered {...HNNH...NC3O} and {...HNN...HNC3O} synthons, which differ in the positions of the N-bound H atoms. These aggregates are connected into a supramolecular layer in the bc plane by water-O—H...N(pyrazolide), water-O—H...O(carbonyl) and pyrazolyl-N—H...O(water) hydrogen bonding. The layers are linked into a three-dimensional architecture by methyl-C—H...π(phenyl) interactions. The different interactions, in particular the weaker contacts, formed by the organic molecules are clearly evident in the calculated Hirshfeld surfaces, and the calculated electrostatic potentials differentiate the tautomers.
Comparison of the C—H...O bonding in two crystalline phases of 1,4-dithiane 1,1,4,4-tetraoxide
Authors: Harlow Richard L. , Oliver Allen G. , Baker Jonathan M. , Marshall William J. , Sammes Michael P.
Published: April 2019

The crystal structures of two crystalline phases of 1,4-dithiane 1,1,4,4-tetraoxide, C4H8O4S2, have been determined in order to examine the nature of possible intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Phase 1 is monoclinic, space group C2/m, with unit-cell dimensions of a = 9.073 (8), b = 7.077 (6), c = 5.597 (5) Å and β = 105.89 (1)°. The molecule adopts 2/m symmetry and all of the molecules are related by translation and thus have the same orientation. Phase 2 is also monoclinic but in space group P21/n with unit-cell dimensions of a = 7.1305 (5), b = 5.7245 (4), c = 8.3760 (6) Å and β = 91.138 (2)°. In this phase, the molecule sits on an inversion center and the molecules within the unit cell adopt quite different orientations. In both phases, examination of the potential C—H...O hydrogen bonds around each of the independent oxygen atoms (one axial and the other equatorial) shows the general O...H patterns to be quite similar with each oxygen atom in contact with four neighboring H atoms, and each H atom contacting two neighboring O atoms. While none of the H...O contacts is particularly short (all are greater than 2.5 Å), each molecule has 32 such contacts that form an extensive intermolecular network. A 1H NMR spectrum of the compound dissolved in DMSO shows a singlet of 8H at δ 3.677 which indicates that the C—H bonds are only moderately polarized by the single adjacent –SO2– moiety: strongly polarized C—H bonds have δ values in the 5–6 range [Li & Sammes (1983). J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1, pp. 1303–1309]. The phase 1 crystal studied was non-merohedrally twinned.
Nitrosative stress sensing in Porphyromonas gingivalis: structure of and heme binding by the transcriptional regulator HcpR
Authors: Belvin B. Ross , Musayev Faik N. , Burgner John , Scarsdale J. Neel , Escalante Carlos R. , Lewis Janina P.
Published: April 2019

Although the HcpR regulator plays a vital step in initiation of the nitrosative stress response in many Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, the molecular mechanisms that it uses to mediate gas sensing are not well understood. Here, a 2.6 Å resolution crystal structure of the N-terminal sensing domain of the anaerobic periodontopathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis HcpR is presented. The protein has classical features of the regulators belonging to the FNR-CRP family and contains a hydrophobic pocket in its N-terminal sensing domain. It is shown that heme bound to HcpR exhibits heme iron as a hexacoordinate system in the absence of nitric oxide (NO) and that upon nitrosylation it transitions to a pentacoordinate system. Finally, small-angle X-ray scattering experiments on full-length HcpR reveal that the C-terminal DNA-binding domain of HcpR has a high degree of interdomain flexibility.
4-Methyl-2-phenylpent-2-enal thiosemicarbazone
Authors: Anitha L. , Saritha S. R. , Layana S. R. , Sithambaresan M. , Sudarsanakumar M. R.
Published: April 2019

In the title compound, C13H17N3S, the dihedral angle between the thiosemicarbazone moiety [maximum deviation = 0.055 (2) Å] and the phenyl ring is 53.15 (12)°. In the crystal, N—H...S hydrogen bonds generate (100) layers, with the S atom accepting two such bonds.
2,8-Dimethyl-5,11-bis[3-(methylsulfanyl)propyl]-1H,7H-diimidazo[c,h][1,6]diazecine
Authors: Gasque Laura , Zermeño Edgar , Bernès Sylvain
Published: April 2019

The refinement of the crystal structure of the title compound, C20H34N6S2, was challenging, as a consequence of three issues: crystals are twinned, disordered, and include large empty voids corresponding to ca 8% of the unit-cell volume. A satisfactory model was obtained using data collected at 153 K. The diazecine ring is centrosymmetric, and displays the expected boat–chair–boat conformation. The 3-(methylsulfanyl)propyl chain is disordered over two sites with equal occupancies, and different conformations, i.e. trans–gauche–gauche for the first chain [Ndiaz—Cmeth—Cmeth—Cmeth torsion angles: 169.9 (4), 66.8 (5), 62.4 (5)°; diaz = diazecine and meth = methylene] and trans–trans–gauche for the second component [torsion angles: 169.9 (4), −177.6 (4), 64.4 (5)°]. In the crystal, N—H...N hydrogen bonds between imidazole rings are evident; weak intermolecular C—H...S contacts are also noted. The crystal studied was modelled as a two-component twin.
High-precision navigation and positioning of celestial exploration rover based on depth camera
Authors: Bai Chengchao , Guo Jifeng , Zheng Hongxing
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to verify the correctness and feasibility of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm based on red-green-blue depth (RGB-D) camera in high precision navigation and localization of celestial exploration rover.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a positioning algorithm based on depth camera is proposed. Second, the realization method is described from the five aspects of feature detection method, feature point matching, point cloud mapping, motion estimation and high precision optimization. Feature detection: taking the precision, real-time and motion basics as the comprehensive consideration, the ORB (oriented FAST and rotated BRIEF) features extraction method is adopted; feature point matching: solves the similarity measure of the feature descriptor vector and how to remove the mismatch point; point cloud mapping: the two-dimensional information on RGB and the depth information on D corresponding; motion estimation: the iterative closest point algorithm is used to solve point set registration; and high precision optimization: optimized by using the graph optimization method.

Findings

The proposed high-precision SLAM algorithm is very effective for solving high precision navigation and positioning of celestial exploration rover.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, the simulation validation is based on an open source data set for testing; the physical verification is based on the existing unmanned vehicle platform to simulate the celestial exploration rover.

Practical implications

This paper presents a RGB-D camera-based navigation algorithm, which can be obtained by simulation experiment and physical verification. The real-time and accuracy of the algorithm are well behaved and have strong applicability, which can support the tests and experiments on hardware platform and have a better environmental adaptability.

Originality/value

The proposed SLAM algorithm can deal with the high precision navigation and positioning of celestial exploration rover effectively. Taking into account the current wide application prospect of computer vision, the method in this paper can provide a study foundation for the deep space probe.
Comparative analysis of lunar capture braking method based on particle swarm optimization
Authors: Bai Chengchao , Guo Jifeng , Zhang Wenyuan , Liu Tianhang , Guo Linli
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to verify the feasibility of lunar capture braking through three methods based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and compare the advantages and disadvantages of the three strategies by analyzing the results of the simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes three methods to verify capture braking based on PSO. The constraints of the method are the final lunar orbit eccentricity and the height of the final orbit around the Moon. At the same time, fuel consumption is used as a performance indicator. Then, the PSO algorithm is used to optimize the track of the capture process and simulate the entire capture braking process.

Findings

The three proposed braking strategies under the framework of PSO algorithm are very effective for solving the problem of lunar capture braking. The simulation results show that the orbit in the opposite direction of the trajectory has the most serious attenuation at perilune, and it should consume the least amount of fuel in theoretical analysis. The methods based on the fixed thrust direction braking and thrust uniform rotation braking can better ensure the final perilune control accuracy and fuel consumption. As for practice, the fixed thrust direction braking method is better realized among the three strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The process of lunar capture is a complicated process, involving effective coordination between multiple subsystems. In this article, the main focus is on the correctness of the algorithm, and a simplified dynamic model is adopted. At the same time, because the capture time is short, the lunar curvature can be omitted. Furthermore, to better compare the pros and cons of different braking modes, some influence factors and perturbative forces are not considered, such as the Earth’s flatness, light pressure and system noise and errors.

Practical implications

This paper presents three braking strategies that can satisfy all the constraints well and optimize the fuel consumption to make the lunar capture more effective. The results of comparative analysis demonstrate that the three strategies have their own superiority, and the fixed thrust direction braking is beneficial to engineering realization and has certain engineering practicability, which can also provide reference for lunar exploration orbit design.

Originality/value

The proposed capture braking strategies based on PSO enable effective capture of the lunar module. During the lunar exploration, the capture braking phase determines whether the mission will be successful or not, and it is essential to control fuel consumption on the premise of accuracy. The three methods in this paper can be used to provide a study reference for the optimization of lunar capture braking.
Cognition differences and improvement countermeasures of non-technical medical services based on grey correlation analysis
Authors: Liu Hangyu , Liu Saina , Duan Lizhong , Zhang Chongxu , Yin Lili , Zhang Yinran , Lu Qi
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the rationality differences of cognition of non-technical medical services in different groups, and to provide countermeasures for improving non-technical medical services.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature analysis, expert interviews, questionnaire survey and frequency analysis were taken to reveal the influencing factors of non-technical medical services. Grey correlation methods were taken to compare the rationality differences of cognition of non-technical medical services by analysis influencing factors’ scores marked by different groups.

Findings

A total of 12 influencing factors of non-technical medical services were obtained, including “doctor’s working career”, “doctor’s strict implementation of medical treatment norms and medication guidelines”, “doctor’s service awareness”, etc. And rationality differences of cognition of non-technical medical services were confirmed as follows: the doctors’ cognition was more reasonable compared with patients; the women’s cognition was more reasonable compared with men; the lower aged groups’ cognition was more reasonable compared with higher aged groups; and people with doctoral degree had a less reasonable cognition compared with others.

Originality/value

The authors systematically discussed the cognition differences of non-technical medical services among different people, and provided some countermeasures reasonably.
The effects of 2015 El Nino on smallholder maize production in the transitional ecological zone of Ghana
Authors: Owusu Kwadwo , Emmanuel Ayisi Kofi , Musah-Surugu Issah Justice , Yankson Paul William Kojo
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to provide empirical evidence on the El Nino and its effects on maize production in three municipalities: Ejura, Techiman and Wenchi in the transitional zone of Ghana. Using a mixed approach, the study details the effects of the El Nino on rainy season characteristics, particularly, rainfall amounts and distribution, onset and cessation of rains, duration of the rainy season and total seasonal rainfall and how it impacted smallholder maize production.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a mixed method approach in collecting and analyzing data. For stronger evidence building, (Creswell, 2013) the authors combined interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) to collect the qualitative data. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to extension officers, management information system officers and other relevant personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture in the three municipalities. Six FGD’s were held for maize farmers in six communities in all three municipalities.

Findings

The study shows that the 2015 El Nino had dire consequences on farm yields, subsequently affecting farmer’s incomes and livelihoods. The study further finds that complex socio-cultural factors, some unrelated to the El Nino, aggravated the effects on maize farmers. These include the lack of adequate climatic information, predominance of rain-fed farming, a lack of capacity to adapt and existing levels of poverty.

Originality/value

The study recommends inter alia, appropriate use of seasonal rainfall forecasting to enhance better farming decision-making and the development of elaborate climate variability interventions by national and local agencies.
The emerging role of coopetition within inter-firm relationships
Authors: Zacharia Zach , Plasch Michael , Mohan Usha , Gerschberger Markus
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Increasing environmental uncertainty, more demanding customers, rapid technological growth and rising capital costs have all forced firms to evolve from collaborating with buyers and suppliers to collaborating with their competitors and that is called coopetition. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the antecedents and outcomes associated with coopetition.

Design/methodology/approach

Building from the existing literature and three theoretical foundations, resource-based theory, resource dependence theory and game theory, the authors develop a model showing the antecedents and outcomes of coopetition and associated propositions of coopetition. Using a semi-structured interview process of 21 industry executives, the authors offer empirical support for the proposed coopetition model and propositions.

Findings

Firms are increasingly dependent on the knowledge and expertise in external organizations to innovate, solve problems and improve supply chain performance. This research suggests that there is a value for firms to consider coopetition as a part of their inter-firm strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The semi-structured interview process used in this research provided a wealth of information and executive experiences in coopetition. The interviews, however, only provide a single perspective of collaborative engagements with competitors. Multiple perspectives of each project would add value to this research.

Originality/value

Collaboration among buyers and suppliers have been well researched; however, there has not been as much research on coopetition. This research provides a new area for future research for academics and offers suggestions for managers to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their coopetition projects.
Identification and prioritization of factors influencing organization risk tolerance level
Authors: Khalilzadeh Mohammad , Masoumi Shiba , Masoumi Isa
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Identifying and prioritizing the risks are considered as critical issues in risk management; otherwise, non-considering the risks will lead to the problems such as delays in project implementation, increased costs, loss of reputation, loss of clients, reduced revenue and liquidity and even bankruptcy. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the factors influencing the organization risk tolerance level were identified. Then, the factors increasing and decreasing the risk tolerance level were determined by a decision-making model. Finally, a comprehensive model was considered for risk measuring and preparing a risk failure structure chart, in order to determine the factors influencing it as well as the measurement criteria and then they were ranked using the taxonomy method. In this study, the size of the statistical population was 130 (six small and medium manufacturer and service provider companies). Based on Cochran’s sample size formula, 97 questionnaires containing 30 questions were randomly distributed among the population. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed. The data were analyzed by SPSS 22.

Findings

Given the hypotheses of this study, the first hypothesis was rejected and the other hypotheses were accepted. The final ranking was done using the taxonomy method; the personality of the project manager was ranked at first; income, credit and capital were ranked second and the number of personnel was ranked third. Moreover, the TOPSIS method was used for ranking to compare the results.

Originality/value

In this research, the identification and ranking of these factors have taken place in several small- and medium-sized organizations; in addition, the rankings are conducted using the taxonomy decision-making method.
Reforming government public accountability: the case of Thailand
Authors: Keerasuntonpong Prae , Manowan Pavinee , Shutibhinyo Wasatorn
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Public accountability was formally imposed on the Thai Government in 1997 when the World Bank compelled public sector reforms as a condition for bailing the country from bankruptcy. Despite regulating to promote public accountability for 20 years, the public accountability of Thai Government is still criticized as poor. However, the specific areas of public accountability needing improvement have not been clearly identified in Thailand. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the Thai Government discharges its public accountability.

Design/methodology/approach

Prior literature supported annual reports as essential means by which public sector entities discharge their public accountability, and addressed the desirable aspects of reporting which permit the public’s monitoring of their government’s performance. That is: the account must be publicly accessible, timely, reliable and adequate. This paper evaluates the 2016 annual reports of the Thai Central Government departments against these aspects in tandem with the reporting regulations.

Findings

The results show that reliability and timeliness of annual report disclosures are the most problematic, followed by accessibility and adequacy. It was also found that the existing regulations provide only mild sanctions on government officers for their non-compliance. Further, statistical evidence suggests that larger departments report better on voluntary items than departments with smaller revenue.

Originality/value

These weaknesses of the reporting and regulations provide immediate suggestions for public policy regulators as to how to improve the Thai Government’s public accountability. These results are also expected to be useful to international lending institutions to be aware of particular issues when considering their foreign aid programs. Theoretically, the paper supports the necessity of public accountability mechanisms, in particular public sanctions, which need to be strong enough to motivate governments’ public accountability. It also highlights that public accountability aspects can be useful to measure or evaluating public sector reporting in emerging countries such as Thailand.
Financial information transfer in municipal government
Authors: Jones Janet R. , Holmes Amy Foshee , Fischer Mary , Cole Brooklyn
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how trust, honesty and transparency impact the willingness and timeliness of communicating financial information between Government Finance Officers (GFOs) and members of the municipal boards they serve.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data was collected from professionals who work with municipalities to ensure government resources are properly managed. Nonparametric local-linear regression was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Evidence suggests that trust in the board, GFO preference for honesty and greater transparency of the municipality influence the timeliness of communication. There is evidence that when the GFO and board members have a working relationship built on trust and the GFO has a preference for honesty, the GFO is more willing to share positive information with the board. In addition, there is evidence that with greater transparency and trust in the board, there is a reduction in the time of sharing positive information in situations where there is little discretion in disclosing and less willingness to share information.

Research limitations/implications

A principal limitation of this study is the small sample size. In addition, the study was conducted using only participants from the pool of members of the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas. As an exploratory study, the survey included a minimal number of questions to gather data from actual GFOs and included only six possible scenarios. The time constraint resulted in a reduced number of questions related to the models used. Other limitations include the potential of missing variables, factors or perceptions related to scenarios not presented in the survey instrument.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that with greater transparency, there is less time between the event and the GFO communication to the board providing the opportunity to improve the effectiveness of the decision-making process.

Originality/value

This study is the first to explore the effects of increased transparency on the level of communication between the GFO and the board.
Actors’ dynamics toward performance-based budgeting: a mix of change and stability?
Authors: Mauro Sara Giovanna , Cinquini Lino , Sinervo Lotta-Maria
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the under-investigated role played by different key organizational actors engaged in the practice of performance-based budgeting (PBB) (e.g. Ministry of Finance, National Audit Office, Sectoral Agencies) to explore how they influence the practice of PBB, contributing to lead the change or create resistance toward it.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical evidence has been collected through a multiple case study based on semi-structured interviews and document analysis in Sweden and Finland, which have long traditions with PBB, and has been interpreted through the lens of institutional and organizational change theory.

Findings

The results show that, despite the lengthy experiences with PBB, the lack of sound dynamics across key actors makes the budgetary use of performance information limited and partial, placing the reform in a “gray area” between the complete implementation of the practice and the total resistance toward it.

Originality/value

The knowledge obtained from the exploratory analysis has relevant implications for understanding differences and similarities across key organizational actors and underlining their crucial role in making a change feasible. Indeed, PBB may represent a radical change even in presence of embedded performance management systems.
The role of crisis typology and cultural belongingness in shaping consumers’ negative responses towards a faulty brand
Authors: Baghi Ilaria , Gabrielli Veronica
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Previous research on brand crisis has introduced the difference between a values-related crisis and a performance-related crisis. However, little remains known regarding consumers’ varying negative responses towards these two different types of brand misconduct. This paper aims to investigate and compare consumers’ affective and behavioural negative reactions (i.e. negative word of mouth and purchase intention) towards a faulty brand during a values-related crisis and a performance-related crisis by testing the mediation of negative emotions and introducing the moderating role of cultural belongingness (collectivistic vs individualistic).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors tested a model of moderated mediation in a cross-cultural investigation on a sample of 229 Italian and Asian consumers. The study is a 2 (cultures: collectivistic vs individualistic) × 2 (crisis: performance-related vs values-related) between-subjects experimental design. The moderated mediation model shows that consumers’ negative reactions (negative word of mouth and negative purchase intention) towards a faulty brand involved in different crisis typologies is explained by the mediating role of negative emotions, and that this mediation depends on a consumer’s cultural belongingness.

Findings

The results suggest that consumers belonging to a collectivistic culture (e.g. Asian culture) tend to react in a more severe and strict manner when faced with a values-related brand crisis event then when faced with a performance-related crisis. The arousal of negative emotion towards a brand represents the mediating variable in behavioural responses (i.e. negative word of mouth and purchase intention).

Originality/value

The present study extends current knowledge in the field of consumers’ negative response to brand irresponsibility behaviours while introducing the role of crisis typology and cultural belongingness. In particular, individualistic people are more sensitive to a values-related crisis in comparison with a performance-related one. The findings of this study have strong managerial implications for defining effective response strategies to negative events involving brands in different markets.
Looking forward: anticipation enhances service experiences
Authors: Polegato Rosemary , Bjerke Rune
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the nature and relationships among the dimensions that constitute expectations, anticipation and post-experience assessment of cultural events, before and after an aesthetic experience, namely, a live Norwegian opera or ballet performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A triangulation approach is used to combine qualitative and quantitative analyses. Quantitative data collection was conducted at the site before and after a performance experience.

Findings

Expectations, anticipation and post-experience assessment are found to be multi-dimensional. Expectations and anticipation are identified as distinct constructs. Three dimensions of expectations of quality are extrinsic cues: building and functional attributes, available services and level of employee service. In addition, two dimensions of pre-experience anticipation are identified: anticipation of information gathering activities and anticipation of the event. Post-experience assessment has two dimensions: satisfaction and pride in the building. Two post-experience associations are enthusiasm and inclusiveness. Anticipation of the event and enthusiasm, not expectations, are found to be predictors of satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

An understanding of the role of anticipation in consumer engagement and satisfaction with aesthetic experiences could be broadened and enriched by studies that include other service or arts disciplines and within a more complex model of consumer engagement.

Originality/value

Anticipation is a significant pre-experience phenomenon. Enthusiasm is identified as a post-experience association.
Creating social value through entrepreneurship: the social business model of La Paranza
Authors: Canestrino Rossella , Ćwiklicki Marek , Di Nauta Primiano , Magliocca Pierpaolo
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key factors for successful creation of social value using the social business model (SBM) as an explanatory framework.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows the Krippendorff and Gioia’s methodology seeking the rigor while examining the selected case study – a social cooperative named La Paranza, in the city of Naples in the south of Italy. In doing so, the SBM canvas is used to present the research’s results in a systematic way.

Findings

The existence of a strong “identity” with the local context, the “enthusiasm and the wish to change things”, the presence of a “visionary”, acting as an orchestrator and the ability to provide for responses to the local needs were identified as key factors in the successful creation of social value in the examined case.

Research limitations/implications

The main research limits stem from the single case study methodology approach, which embodies the researchers’ subjectivity. A comparative study based on the collection of multiple successful case studies is therefore suggested to develop a generalization of the key drivers underlying the process of social value creation.

Originality/value

The study’s originality results from its use of the SBM framework in presenting a successful example of social value creation. The examined empirical evidence is also original in itself, mainly because of its inner uniqueness as a new and innovative formula: this allows an in-depth investigation and the inspiration for new ideas in the ground of SBM and, in a broader sense, in the field of social innovation and social value creation.
Characterisation of lactic acid bacteria isolated from the Georgian, yoghurt‐like Matsoni
Authors: Kakabadze Elene , Zago Miriam , Rossetti Lia , Bonvini Barbara , Tidona Flavio , Carminati Domenico , Chanishvili Nina , Giraffa Giorgio
Published: April 2019

Matsoni is a traditional Caucasian fermented milk product, characterised by a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) microbiota. Objectives of the present study were to isolate and identify the LAB of Matsoni samples collected from various Georgian areas and to study their technological characteristics. About 300 LAB from 71 samples of Matsoni were isolated and characterised. The species most representatives were Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. This study highlighted a high degree of biodiversity and a specific geographical distribution of the dominant LAB present in artisanal Matsoni. Some strains showed technological features useful to design a multistrain starter culture for Matsoni.
Communication networks, externalities, and the price of information
Authors: Polanski Arnold
Published: April 2019

Information goods (or information for short) play an essential role in modern economies. We consider a setup where information has some idiosyncratic value for each consumer, exerts externalities, and can be freely replicated and transmitted in a communication network. Prices paid for information are determined via the (asymmetric) Nash Bargaining Solution with endogenous disagreement points. This decentralized approach leads to unique prices and payoffs in any exogenous network. We use these payoffs to find connection structures that emerge under different externality regimes in pre‐trade network formation stage. An application to citation graphs results in eigenvector‐like measures of intellectual influence.
How can the public trust charities? The role of performance accountability reporting
Authors: Yang Cherrie , Northcott Deryl
Published: April 2019

Charities rely on public trust to exist. However, that trust has diminished, with a perceived lack of accountability seen as a key reason. This study draws on case studies of two New Zealand charities to examine their performance accountability reporting practices and potential implications for public trust. The findings surface the day‐to‐day agency of charity actors in shifting performance accountability practices towards modes of disclosure that are relevant and accessible to the public. This paper contributes to the literature by extending understandings of how charities produce accountability information that can enhance public trust and, thus, support their mission achievement.
Identification of disease‐causing variants in the EXOSC gene family underlying autosomal recessive intellectual disability in Iranian families
Authors: Beheshtian Maryam , Fattahi Zohreh , Fadaee Mahsa , Vazehan Raheleh , Jamali Payman , Parsimehr Elham , Kamgar Mahboubeh , Zonooz Mehrshid Faraji , Mahdavi Shokouh Sadat , Kalhor Zahra , Arzhangi Sanaz , Abedini Seyedeh Sedigheh , Kermani Farahnaz Sabbagh , Mojahedi Faezeh , Kalscheuer Vera M. , Ropers Hans‐Hilger. , Kariminejad Ariana , Najmabadi Hossein , Kahrizi Kimia
Published: April 2019

Neurodevelopmental delay and intellectual disability (ID) can arise from numerous genetic defects. To date, variants in the EXOSC gene family have been associated with such disorders. Using next‐generation sequencing (NGS), known and novel variants in this gene family causing autosomal recessive ID (ARID) have been identified in five Iranian families. By collecting clinical information on these families and comparing their phenotypes with previously reported patients, we further describe the clinical variability of ARID resulting from alterations in the EXOSC gene family, and emphasize the role of RNA processing dysregulation in ARID.
SOX‐10 staining in dermal scars
Authors: Behrens Emily L. , Boothe William , D'Silva Nerissa , Walterscheid Brooke , Watkins Philip , Tarbox Michelle
Published: April 2019

Background

Positive staining for SOX10 and the S100 protein are often used in the evaluation of challenging melanocytic neoplasms including melanoma in patient samples. SOX‐10 positivity of non‐melanocytes in re‐excision specimen could complicate the evaluation of invasive melanoma with an invasive desmoplastic component. Therefore, quantifiable data regarding the positivity of SOX‐10 in scars will help dermatopathologists to better identify false positive staining.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on 50 re‐excision specimens from 2013 to 2017, with a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS). Blocks of re‐excision specimens containing scars were stained for SOX‐10; results were evaluated by a board‐certified dermatopathologist. The sum of the five highest numbers of high‐power field (HPF) counts as a proxy for “SOX‐10 stain factor,” and cell morphological features were analyzed. MART‐1 and CD68 immunohistochemical staining was performed to study possible lineage of these SOX‐10 positive cells.

Results

All 50 specimens showed varying degrees of SOX‐10 positivity for histiocytes. SOX‐10 positive histiocytes were present in 86% of re‐excision scar tissues, of which 71.3% had spindle‐shaped or angulated nuclei, and 61.8% had nuclear sizes larger than typical lymphocytes (7 μm). Within the same area of scars, CD68 staining was floridly positive, where as MART‐1 staining was overwhelmingly negative.

Conclusions

This study illustrates a potential diagnostic pitfall of using SOX‐10 to evaluate re‐excision specimens of melanocytic neoplasms and also suggests a previously undescribed staining pattern in scars of SOX‐10 positive cells that are not melanocytes. We postulate that such SOX‐10 positive cells may represent a small fraction of histiocytes routinely found in scar tissue.
Corporations at a crossroads: How multilevel governance interactions shape participation and effort in private governance regimes
Authors: Hsueh Lily
Published: April 2019

This article argues that the interactions between firm agency in corporate management and the multilevel governance structures in which firms operate condition firms' participation and effort in private governance regimes. Empirically, I examine the Fortune Global 500 firms' decisions about participation and the extent of participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project during 2011–2015. Given firms' strategic considerations, the efficacy of corporate management structures and practices is conditioned by domestic regulatory and global regime contexts, and this efficacy varies across developed and developing countries. In developed countries, corporate, domestic, and global governance positively reinforce each other as drivers of private regulation on climate change. These governance levels are complements not substitutes. By contrast, the main drivers of participation and effort in developing countries are corporate management structures and practices, the stringency of domestic regulatory institutions, and their interactions. This article's results are robust to alternative specifications, including an alternative modeling approach.
SDF‐1/CXCR4 signalling is involved in blood vessel growth and remodelling by intussusception
Authors: Dimova Ivanka , Karthik Swapna , Makanya Andrew , Hlushchuk Ruslan , Semela David , Volarevic Vladislav , Djonov Valentin
Published: April 2019

The precise mechanisms of SDF‐1 (CXCL12) in angiogenesis are not fully elucidated. Recently, we showed that Notch inhibition induces extensive intussusceptive angiogenesis by recruitment of mononuclear cells and it was associated with increased levels of SDF‐1 and CXCR4. In the current study, we demonstrated SDF‐1 expression in liver sinusoidal vessels of Notch1 knockout mice with regenerative hyperplasia by means of intussusception, but we did not detect any SDF‐1 expression in wild‐type mice with normal liver vessel structure. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of SDF‐1/CXCR4 signalling by AMD3100 perturbs intussusceptive vascular growth and abolishes mononuclear cell recruitment in the chicken area vasculosa. In contrast, treatment with recombinant SDF‐1 protein increased microvascular density by 34% through augmentation of pillar number compared to controls. The number of extravasating mononuclear cells was four times higher after SDF‐1 application and two times less after blocking this pathway. Bone marrow‐derived mononuclear cells (BMDC) were recruited to vessels in response to elevated expression of SDF‐1 in endothelial cells. They participated in formation and stabilization of pillars. The current study is the first report to implicate SDF‐1/CXCR4 signalling in intussusceptive angiogenesis and further highlights the stabilizing role of BMDC in the formation of pillars during vascular remodelling.
Aucubin inhibited lipid accumulation and oxidative stress via Nrf2/HO‐1 and AMPK signalling pathways
Authors: Shen Bingyu , Zhao Chenxu , Wang Yue , Peng Yi , Cheng Jiaqi , Li Zheng , Wu Lin , Jin Meiyu , Feng Haihua
Published: April 2019

Aucubin (AU) is the main active ingredient of Aucuba japonica which has showed many positive effects such as anti‐inflammation and liver protection. Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. In this research, we explored the effects of AU on the tyloxapol‐induced NAFLD in mice and apolipoprotein C‐III (apoC‐III) induced‐3T3L1 cells. Tyloxapol (300 mg/kg) was injected to C57BL/6 mice with aucubin. The differentiated 3T3‐L1 cells were treated with or without aucubin after stimulation of apoC‐III (100 μg/mL). In results, aucubin inhibited hyperlipidaemia, oxidative stress and inflammation by influencing the content of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumour necrosis factor receptor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and IL‐6 in blood. AU activated NF‐E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (PPARα), PPARγ and hemeoxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) and promoted the phosphorylation of adenosine 5′‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPKα), AMPKβ, acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) and protein kinase B (AKT). In conclusion, AU performed the function of hypolipidaemic by its obvious anti‐inflammation and antioxidant activity, which may become a kind of new drug targeting at NAFLD.
The role of insulin in transdifferentiated hepatocyte proliferation and function in serum‐free medium
Authors: Gu Ce , Li Panpan , Liu Wei , Zhou Yan , Tan Wen‐Song
Published: April 2019

Transdifferentiated hepatocytes are potential seeding cells for bioartificial liver (BAL) treatment, and it is important to obtain a sufficient number of functional hepatocytes in serum‐free medium (SFM). Although insulin plays an essential role in promoting cell proliferation and metabolism, the functions of insulin in transdifferentiated cells remain poorly understood. Here, we found that 1.0 mg/L insulin significantly increased human‐induced hepatocyte‐like cells (hiHeps) proliferation and viability in SFM. The pro‐proliferative effect of insulin on these cells occurred via augmented cyclin D1 expression that was mediated by activation of the Akt1/mTOR/p70S6K and Akt1/P53 pathways. Further studies revealed that insulin also enhanced the specific liver function of hiHeps in SFM. Additionally, Western blotting and siHNF1A transfection analysis showed that insulin increased the protein expression of Albumin (ALB) and UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase1A1 （UGT1A1 ） in hiHeps via HNF1A. Finally, hiHep proliferation and the expression of specific genes were maintained during long‐term passaging in SFM supplemented with 1.0 mg/L insulin. Collectively, our findings show that insulin promotes transdifferentiated hiHep proliferation and specific functional expression. These findings have important implications for the expansion of functional hiHeps prior to clinical applications of BALs.
The signature featureTM: A new concept in beauty
Authors: Shamban Ava
Published: April 2019

Signature FeatureTM (SF) is a universal, yet highly personalized treatment approach to aesthetic facial enhancement that applies to all patients, independent of age, gender, or ethnicity. Its philosophical basis maintains that a patient's beauty is anchored by their most distinctive invariant features (invariant features like eyes, nose, cheekbones, or jawline), and preservation of such signature features should be an essential consideration in any aesthetic treatment plan. The principles central to the SF concept include: (a) identifying the patient's most distinctive signature feature, (b) matching the patient's persona to their signature feature while preserving alignment with their cultural/ethnic aesthetic, and (c) highlighting the patient's signature feature by increasing the “signal‐to‐noise” ratio between the strength of the signature feature and those factors that may be interfering with it (lines, wrinkles, and sun damage). Every patient represents a new combination of treatment challenges which are not only related to the patient's physical baseline characteristics but also by their subjective self‐perceptions. This subjective gray area is where the SF treatment approach has the greatest contribution to the patient's positive self‐perception and self‐esteem, as the practitioner can help the patient realize their own personal brand through enhancement of their signature feature using an array of aesthetic options.