bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social behaviour and collective motion in plant-animal worms
Authors: Franks Nigel R. , Worley Alan , Grant Katherine A. J. , Gorman Alice R. , Vizard Victoria , Plackett Harriet , Doran Carolina , Gamble Margaret L. , Stumpe Martin C. , Sendova-Franks Ana B.
Published: February 2016

Social behaviour may enable organisms to occupy ecological niches that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Here, we test this major evolutionary principle by demonstrating self-organizing social behaviour in the plant-animal,Symsagittifera roscoffensis. These marine aceol flat worms rely for all of their nutrition on the algae within their bodies: hence their common name. We show that individual worms interact with one another to coordinate their movements so that even at low densities they begin to swim in small polarized groups and at increasing densities such flotillas turn into circular mills. We use computer simulations to: (i) determine if real worms interact socially by comparing them with virtual worms that do not interact and (ii) show that the social phase transitions of the real worms can occur based only on local interactions between and among them. We hypothesize that such social behaviour helps the worms to form the dense biofilms or mats observed on certain sun-exposed sandy beaches in the upper intertidal of the East Atlantic and to become in effect a super-organismic seaweed in a habitat where macro-algal seaweeds cannot anchor themselves.Symsagittifera roscoffensis, a model organism in many other areas in biology (including stem cell regeneration), also seems to be an ideal model for understanding how individual behaviours can lead, through collective movement, to social assemblages.
Nutritional composition of horsemeat compared to white meat (chicken and duck)
Authors: Kim Do-Hee , Kim Kyung-Won , Kim Young-Hoon , Kim Joo-Ah , Kim Jun , Moon Kwang-Deog
Published: February 2016

To enhance the consumption of horse meat, its nutritional composition was analyzed and compared to that of white meat (i.e., chicken and duck), which consumers consider healthy. Horse meat samples used in the experiment were classified by breed and grade as follows: Jeju horse (grade 1+ and 1), Jeju crossbred horse (grade 1 and 2), Thoroughbred (no grade), and cuts (loin, chuck roll, and arm picnic). In an analysis of general components and cholesterol, the horse meat was confirmed as a low-fat, high-protein, and low-cholesterol food material. In an amino acid analysis, horse meat contained a higher proportion of essential amino acids than white meat. The fatty acid compositions were also analyzed. The content of linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid, was significantly higher in all horse meat groups than in Ross chicken and Pekin duck meat. The content of palmitoleic acid showed similar results. In a mineral analysis, the levels of Fe and Zn in horse meat were higher than those of white meat. The mineral content was as follows except for the leg of shite meat: K > P > Na > Mg > Ca > Zn > Fe.
Quality characteristics of kimchi with Artemisia annua extracts
Authors: Lee Sang-Soo , Kwon Dong-Jin
Published: February 2016

The quality characteristics of kimchi with Artemisia annua extracts (1~2%; extracted with water or 70% ethanol), including the pH, acidity, reducing sugar content, total viable cell and lactic acid bacteria cell count, and sensory parameters, were investigated at 10 and 15°C for 20 days during aging. The pH, acidity, reducing sugar content, and lactic acid bacteria count of kimchi with Artemisia annua extract rapidly increased upto the 4~6th day, increasing slowly thereafter. The quality characteristics did not vary between kimchi with and without the extract. The optimal aging time for kimchi with the extract was 10 days at 10°C. The results of the sensory evaluation showed that kimchi with 1% Artemisia annua extract was superior to kimchi with 2% Artemisia annua extract; in particular, the color and taste of the latter were found to be black and bitter, respectively.
Effect of hot-air drying temperature on antioxidative activity of sweetpotato leaves
Authors: Jeong Da-Woon , Park Yang-Kyun , Nam Sang-Sik , Han Seon-Kyeong
Published: February 2016

To provide the basic data to dry vegetate the sweetpotato leaves, the total contents of tannin, flavonoid and polyphenol in the methanol extract from the hot- air dried sweetpotato leaves were analyzed and DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging ability, nitrite scavenging ability, and others were comparatively analyzed. The total tannin content was decreased from Shinmi of 10.87 mg/g at 40°C to 7.28 mg/g at 70°C and the total flavonoid was decreased from Hayanmi of 55.37 mg/g at 40°C to 39.63 mg/g at 70°C. That is, the low temperature drying contained more of these substances than in the high temperature drying. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was the highest in Shinmi and Hayanmi of 84.33% and 85.25% at 40°C, and the ABTS radical scavenging ability was a high value of over 80% in the treatment plot at 40°C. The nitrite scavenging ability was highest in Shinmi and Hayanmi of 76.15% and 73.74% at 40°C but low at 70°C. That is, the antioxidant effect of the hot-air dried sweetpotato leaves was high in the sample of 40°C and low in the sample of 70°C. Affected by the drying temperature, the high antioxidant effect is resulting from the little decrease of active ingredient when drying at low temperatures.
Antioxidant capacity and nutritive components from biji sub-micron suspension by ultra-high pressure homogenization process
Authors: Lee Seon-Ho
Published: February 2016

Biji is a tofu by-product made by squeezing the liquid out of the dregs left over from making tofu. The objectives of this research were to break the biji into sub-micron-scale particles and to prepare a biji sub-micron suspension having increased quality characteristics such as antioxidant capacity, polyphenol, dietary fiber, and soluble protein contents, in comparison with untreated biji. Disruption of biji by an ultra-high-pressure homogenization (UHPH) process was used to prepare the sub-micron suspension of biji. UHPH can be used to prepare emulsions or suspensions with extremely small particle sizes. The effect of the UHPH process on biji was studied at 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 bar. The extraction yield increased up to 1.64 times by breaking the biji to form a sub-micron suspension. The soluble dietary fiber, protein, and free amino acid contents were increased by the UHPH process (p<0.05), in comparison with those of untreated biji. Furthermore, the total sugar, free sugar, and total polyphenol contents of biji were augmented by the UHPH process. Antioxidant activity (ABTS) after exposure to UHPH (1,000-2,000 bar) was well retained (p<0.05). The extraction efficiencies and nutritive components were enhanced by increasing the pressure in the UHPH process.
Quality change of mini sweet pumpkins (suppress cultivation, fall planting) during storage at different conditions
Authors: Oh Bong-Yun , Jo Gyeong-Suk , Lee You-Seok , Kang Jeong-Hwa , Jang Mi-Hyang , Hwangbo In-Sik
Published: February 2016

We stored sweet pumpkins at 8°C, 12°C, 12°C plasma curing and room temperature (control) for 180 days. During this time, the quality characteristics were analyzed within the different groups. No spoiling occurred in either of the storage conditions for up to 120 days, and the marketability was good. After 120 days, spoiling sharply increased by over 70% in the control group, while in the 12°C group it decreased to 20~60%. Conversely, spoiling was completely absent in the 8°C and 12°C plasma curing groups during the overall 180 days of storage. The lowest moisture content was found in the 8°C group and the quality of the pumpkins was excellent during the entire storage period. The color of pulp was better in the 12°C and 12°C plasma curing groups, with best results were found in the latest. Both the 8°C and 12°C plasma curing groups maintained their dark green surface colors, while both the 12°C and control groups turned from green to yellow. All groups showed a reduction in their initial hardness, with the 8°C group staying the hardest. Soluble solid and mealiness was increased to the storage during 90 days while decreased, that were long to maintain the mealiness texture in the 8°C storage pumpkin. The overall acceptability from sensory evaluation was higher in the 12°C plasma curing group, when compared to those of the 8°C, 12°C and control groups storage conditions.
Physicochemical properties and storage stability of blueberry fermented by lactic acid bacteria
Authors: Lee Dae-Hoon , Hong Joo-Heon
Published: February 2016

The physicochemical properties and storage stability of blueberries fermented by lactic acid bacteria were investigated. The viable cell count of lactic acid bacteria slowly increased to 5.96 log CFU/mL after 72 hr of fermentation. The pH decreased whereas titratable acidity increased after fermentation. The contents of total anthocyanin (31.52 mg/100 g) and cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) (5.41 mg/100 g) after 72 hr of fermentation were higher than those of non-fermented blueberries (16.10 mg/100 g and 2.21 mg/100 g, respectively). The L and a value decreased, and the b and △E value increased. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of fermented blueberries (2.21 g/100 g and 0.91 g/100 g, respectively) were higher than those of non-fermented blueberries (1.13 g/100 g and 0.49 g/100g, respectively). The DPPH radical scavenging activity and superoxide radical scavenging activity of the fermented blueberries were 30.74%, and 52.76%, respectively. The ferric reducing antioxidant power of the fermented blueberries (256.42 μM/g) was higher than that of non-fermented blueberries (191.52 μM/g). Anthocyanin and C3G content was stable in fermented blueberries after 42 days of storage. The results suggest that blueberries fermented by lactic acid bacteria have the potential to be functional materials in the food industry.
Effect of rice mash on the quality characteristics of strawberry jam
Authors: Kim Mi Jin , Kim Jin Sook , Chang Young Eun
Published: February 2016

This study investigated the physical, textural, and sensory properties of strawberry jam with different amounts (0%, 14%, and 21%) of added rice mash. The soluble solids, pH, and total acidity values of the samples were found to be in the range of 53.00~65.33°Brix, 4.11~4.20 and 0.66~0.80%, respectively. Soluble solids and total acidity decreased significantly as the amount of rice mash was increased. The L-value, a-value, and b-value increased on increasing the amount of rice mash (p<0.05). The glucose contents of the samples ranged from 3.86 g to 4.13 g. The fructose, sucrose, and maltose contents significantly decreased (p<0.05). The organic acid content was measured and it was found that, oxalic acid was not in the control sample (0% rice mash). As the rice mash content was increased, the succinic acid content also increased (p<0.05), but the citric acid content decreased significantly (p<0.05). In the sensory evaluation, strawberry jam with rice mash showed superior spreading property than that of the control sample. Strawberry jam with 0% rice mash had the highest color and taste score. For the overall acceptability, strawberry jams with 0% and, 14% of rice mash were preferable to that with 21%.
Identification and qualification of 500 nuclear, single-copy, orthologous genes for the Eupulmonata (Gastropoda) using transcriptome sequencing and exon-capture
Authors: Teasdale Luisa C. , Köehler Frank , Murray Kevin D. , O’Hara Tim , Moussalli Adnan
Published: February 2016

The qualification of orthology is a significant challenge when developing large, multiloci phylogenetic datasets from assembled transcripts. Transcriptome assemblies have various attributes, such as fragmentation, frameshifts, and mis-indexing, which pose problems to automated methods of orthology assessment. Here, we identify a set of orthologous single-copy genes from transcriptome assemblies for the land snails and slugs (Eupulmonata) using a thorough approach to orthology determination involving manual alignment curation, gene tree assessment and sequencing from genomic DNA. We qualified the orthology of 500 nuclear, protein coding genes from the transcriptome assemblies of 21 eupulmonate species to produce the most complete gene data matrix for a major molluscan lineage to date, both in terms of taxon and character completeness. Exon-capture targeting 490 of the 500 genes (those with at least one exon > 120 bp) from 22 species of Australian Camaenidae successfully captured sequences of 2,825 exons (representing all targeted genes), with only a 3.7% reduction in the data matrix due to the presence of putative paralogs or pseudogenes. The automated pipeline Agalma retrieved the majority of the manually qualified 500 single-copy gene set and identified a further 375 putative single-copy genes, although it failed to account for fragmented transcripts resulting in lower data matrix completeness. This could potentially explain the minor inconsistencies we observed in the supported topologies for the 21 eupulmonate species between the manually curated and Agalma-equivalent dataset (sharing 458 genes). Overall, our study confirms the utility of the 500 gene set to resolve phylogenetic relationships at a broad range of evolutionary depths, and highlights the importance of addressing fragmentation at the homolog alignment stage for probe design.
“Coarse-grained simulation reveals key features of HIV-1 capsid self-assembly”
Authors: Grime John M. A. , Dama James F. , Ganser-Pornillos Barbie K. , Woodward Cora L. , Jensen Grant J. , Yeager Mark J. , Voth Gregory A.
Published: February 2016

The maturation of HIV-1 viral particles is essential for viral infectivity. During maturation, many copies of the capsid protein (CA) self-assemble into a capsid shell to enclose the viral RNA. The mechanistic details of the initiation and early stages of capsid assembly remain to be delineated. We present coarse-grained simulations of capsid assembly under various conditions, considering not only capsid lattice self-assembly but also the potential disassembly of capsid upon delivery to the cytoplasm of a target cell. The effects of CA concentration, molecular crowding, and the conformational variability of CA are described, with results indicating that capsid nucleation and growth is a multi-stage process requiring well-defined metastable intermediates. Generation of the mature capsid lattice is sensitive to local conditions, with relatively subtle changes in CA concentration and molecular crowding influencing self-assembly and the ensemble of structural morphologies.
Characterization and Transposon Mutagenesis of the Maize (Zea mays)Pho1Gene Family - Submission to PLOS Journals
Authors: Salazar-Vidal M. Nancy , Acosta-Segovia Edith , Sanchez-Leon Nidia , Ahern Kevin R. , Brutnell Thomas P. , Sawers Ruairidh J. H.
Published: February 2016

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for all plants, but also one of the least mobile, and consequently least available, in the soil. Plants have evolved a series of molecular, metabolic and developmental adaptations to increase the acquisition of phosphorus and to maximize the efficiency of use within the plant. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the AtPHO1 protein regulates and facilitates the distribution of phosphorus within the plant. To investigate the role of PHO1 in maize (Zea mays), the B73 reference genome was searched for homologous sequences and four genes identified that were designatedZmPho1;1, ZmPho1;2a, ZmPho1;2bandZmPho1;3. ZmPho1;2aandZmPho1;2bare the most similar to AtPho1, and represent candidate co-orthologs that we hypothesize to have been retained following whole genome duplication. Tissue-and phosphate-specific differences in the accumulation ofZmPho1;2aandZmPho1;2btranscripts were observed, indicating regulatory divergence. Furthermore, evidence was obtained for the phosphate-regulated production of anti-sense transcripts associated with bothZmPho1;2aandZmPho1;2b, suggesting the possibility of regulatory crosstalk between paralogs. To characterize functional divergence betweenZmPho1;2aandZmPho1;2b, a program of transposon mutagenesis was initiated using the Ac/Ds system, and, here, we report the generation of novel alleles ofZmPho1;2aandZmPho1;2b.
A new advanced backcross tomato population enables high resolution leaf QTL mapping and gene identification
Authors: Fulop Daniel , Ranjan Aashish , Ofner Itai , Covington Michael F. , Chitwood Daniel H. , West Donelly , Ichihashi Yasunori , Headland Lauren , Zamir Daniel , Maloof Julin N. , Sinha Neelima R.
Published: February 2016

Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping is a powerful technique for dissecting the genetic basis of traits and species differences. Established tomato mapping populations between domesticated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and its more distant interfertile relatives typically follow a near isogenic line (NIL) design, such as theSolanum pennelliiIntrogression Line (IL) population, with a single wild introgression per line in an otherwise domesticated genetic background. Here we report on a new advanced backcross QTL mapping resource for tomato, derived from a cross between the M82 tomato cultivar andS. pennelli. This so-called Backcrossed Inbred Line (BIL) population is comprised of a mix ofBC2andBC3lines, with domesticated tomato as the recurrent parent. The BIL population is complementary to the existingS. pennelliiIL population, with which it shares parents. Using the BILs we mapped traits for leaf complexity, leaflet shape, and flowering time. We demonstrate the utility of the BILs for fine-mapping QTL, particularly QTL initially mapped in the ILs, by fine-mapping several QTL to single or few candidate genes. Moreover, we confirm the value of a backcrossed population with multiple introgressions per line, such as the BILs, for epistatic QTL mapping. Our work was further enabled by the development of our own statistical inference and visualization tools, namely a heterogeneous Hidden Markov Model for genotyping the lines, and by using state of the art sparse regression techniques for QTL mapping.
Transcriptional pulsing of a nucleolar transgene
Authors: Vaňková Hausnerová Viola , Křížek Pavel , Hagen Guy M. , Lanctôt Christian
Published: February 2016

The pulsatile nature of transcription has recently emerged as an important property of gene expression. Here we report on the characterization of a RNA polymerase II transgene that is transcribed in the nucleolus. Using the MS2-GFP reporter system and live cell imaging, we found that the synthesis of a MS2-tagged transcript in the nucleolus was discontinuous in all of the cells that were observed, with periods of activity lasting from 15 minutes to 21 hours. The frequency of pulse lengths could be fitted with an exponential function, from which we determined that transcription occurs on average for periods of 20 minutes. These ON periods alternate with periods of inactivity which last on average 29 minutes. The post-mitotic reactivation of transcription was found to be asynchronous in daughter cell pairs. Our observation of discontinuous transcriptional activity in the nucleolus may reflect cycling in the assembly and disassembly of active chromatin structure in and/or around the rDNA genes.
A curvature correction turbulent model for computations of cloud cavitating flows
Authors: Zhao Yu , Wang Guoyu , Huang Biao
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the predictive capability of the streamline curvature correction model (CCM) and investigate the unsteady vortex behavior of the cloud cavitating flows around a hydrofoil.

Design/methodology/approach

– The design of the paper is based on introducing the curvature correction method to the originalk-εmodel. Calculations of unsteady cloud cavitating flows around a Clark-Y hydrofoil are performed using both the CCM and the baseline model.

Findings

– Compared with the baseline model, better agreements are observed between the predictions of the CCM model and experimental data, especially the cavity shedding process. Based on the computations, it is demonstrated that streamline curvature correction of the CCM model can effectively decrease predicted turbulence kinetic energy and eddy viscosity in cavity shedding region. This leads to the better prediction for the recirculation zone located downstream of the attached cavity, and dynamics of this recirculation zone contribute to the formation and development of the re-entrant jet.

Originality/value

– The authors apply streamline curvature correction to the calculations of unsteady cloud cavitating flows and discuss the interactions between the cavitation unsteadiness and vortex structures to get an insight of the correction mechanics.
Co-seismic and post-seismic behavior of an existed shallow foundation and super structure system on a natural sand/silt layered ground
Authors: Bao Xiaohua , Ye Guanlin , Ye Bin , Fu Yanbin , Su Dong
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the co-seismic and post-seismic behaviors of an existed soil-foundation system in an actual alternately layered sand/silt ground including pore water pressure, acceleration response, and displacement et al. during and after earthquake.

Design/methodology/approach

– The evaluation is performed by finite element method and the simulation is performed using an effective stress-based 2D/3D soil-water coupling program DBLEAVES. The calculation is carried out through static-dynamic-static three steps. The soil behavior is described by a new rotational kinematic hardening elasto-plastic cyclic mobility constitutive model, while the footing and foundation are modeled as elastic rigid elements.

Findings

– The shallow (short-pile type) foundation has a better capacity of resisting ground liquefaction but large differential settlement occurred. Moreover, most part of the differential settlement occurred during earthquake motion. Attention should be paid not only to the liquefaction behavior of the ground during the earthquake motion, but also the long-term settlement after earthquake should be given serious consideration.

Originality/value

– The co-seismic and post-seismic behavior of a complex ground which contains sand and silt layers, especially long-term settlement over a period of several weeks or even years after the earthquake, has been clarified sufficiently. In some critical condition, even if the seismic resistance is satisfied with the design code for building, detailed calculation may reveal the risk of under estimation of differential settlement that may give rise to serious problems.
Adaptability of turbulence models to predict the performance and blade surface pressure prediction of a Francis turbine
Authors: Zhu WenRuo , Gao ZhongXin , Tang YongJun , Zhang JianGuang , Lu Li
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the ability of turbulence models to model the flow field in the runner of a Francis turbine. Although the complex flow in the turbine can be simulated by CFD models, the prediction accuracy still needs to be improved. The choice of the turbulence model is one key tool that affects the prediction accuracy of numerical simulations.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study used the SST k-w and RNG k-e turbulence models, which can both accurately predict complex flow fields in numerical simulations, to simulate the flow in the entire flow passage of a Francis turbine with the results compared against experimental data for the performance and blade pressure distribution in the turbine to evaluate the applicability of the turbulence models.

Findings

– The results show that the SST k-w turbulence model more accurately predicts the turbine performance than the RNG turbulence model. However, the blade surface pressures predicted by the SST k-w turbulence model were basically identical to those predicted by the RNG k-e turbulence model, with both accurately predicting the experimental data.

Research limitations/implications

– Due to the lack of space, the method used to measure the blade surface pressure distributions is not introduced in this paper.

Practical implications

– Turbine performance and flow field pressure in the runner, which are the basis of turbine preliminary performance judgment and optimization through CFD, can be used to judge the rationality of the turbine runner design. The paper provides an evidence for the turbulence selection in numerical simulation to predict turbine performance and flow field pressure in the runner and improves the CFD prediction accuracy.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfils a test of the flow field pressure in the runner, which provide an evidence for judge the adaptability of turbulence model on the flow field in runner. And this paper also provides important evaluations of two turbulence models for modeling the flow field pressure distribution in the runner of a Francis turbine to improve the accuracy of CFD models for predicting turbine performance.
Influence of impeller-tongue interaction on the unsteady cavitation behavior in a centrifugal pump
Authors: Meng Long , He Min , Zhou Lingjiu , Yang Jing , Wang Zhengwei , Karney Bryan
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the cavitation dynamics in the blade channel of a centrifugal pump with a particular focus on the direct influence of the pump’s volute.

Design/methodology/approach

– A homogeneous multiphase model, namely the Zwart-Gerber-Belamri cavitation model, is employed to numerically describe the evolution of the process of cavitation within the pump. The RNG k-e turbulence model is applied to analyze the unsteady turbulent flow. A second order implicit formulation is used for the time discretization for the unsteady flow calculation and a finite volume algorithm is used for the space discretization.

Findings

– The cavities in the passage exhibit an obvious life cycle which includes initiation, growth, contraction, and separation, and collapse with a frequency corresponding to the impeller rotation frequency under off-design conditions. This phenomenon arises through an alternating interaction between reverse flow with the cavity interface and is associated with the response of the vortex region to the effect of uneven pressure distribution on volute and impeller-tongue interaction.

Originality/value

– This study simulated and analyzed the complex transient cavitation flow patterns inside a centrifugal pump and explains the reason for the unsteadiness. This knowledge is instructive in achieving the stable operation of pumps and in trouble shooting rough or cavitating operation.
A weak form quadrature element method for nonlinear free vibrations of Timoshenko beams
Authors: Liao Minmao , Zhong Hongzhi
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the implementation of a recently developed weak form quadrature element method for nonlinear free vibrations of Timoshenko beams subjected to three different boundary conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The design of the paper is based on considering the geometrically nonlinear effects of axial strain, bending curvature, and shear strain. Then the quadrature element formulation of the beam is introduced.

Findings

– The efficiency of the method is demonstrated by a convergence study. Ratios of the nonlinear fundamental frequencies to the corresponding linear frequencies are extracted. Their variations with the ratio of amplitude to radius of gyration and the slenderness ratio are examined. The effects of the nonlinearity on higher order frequencies and mode shapes are also investigated.

Originality/value

– The computed results show fast convergence and compare well with available literature results.
A class of generic factored and multi-level recursive approximate inverse techniques for solving general sparse systems
Authors: Filelis-Papadopoulos Christos K. , Gravvanis George A.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose novel factored approximate sparse inverse schemes and multi-level methods for the solution of large sparse linear systems.

Design/methodology/approach

– The main motive for the derivation of the various generic preconditioning schemes lies to the efficiency and effectiveness of factored preconditioning schemes in conjunction with Krylov subspace iterative methods as well as multi-level techniques for solving various model problems. Factored approximate inverses, namely, Generic Factored Approximate Sparse Inverse, require less fill-in and are computed faster due to the reduced number of nonzero elements. A modified column wise approach, namely, Modified Generic Factored Approximate Sparse Inverse, is also proposed to further enhance performance. The multi-level approximate inverse scheme, namely, Multi-level Algebraic Recursive Generic Approximate Inverse Solver, utilizes a multi-level hierarchy formed using Block Independent Set reordering scheme and an approximation of the Schur complement that results in the solution of reduced order linear systems thus enhancing performance and convergence behavior. Moreover, a theoretical estimate for the quality of the multi-level approximate inverse is also provided.

Findings

– Application of the proposed schemes to various model problems is discussed and numerical results are given concerning the convergence behavior and the convergence factors. The results are comparatively better than results by other researchers for some of the model problems.

Research limitations/implications

– Further enhancements are investigated for the proposed factored approximate inverse schemes as well as the multi-level techniques to improve quality of the schemes. Furthermore, the proposed schemes rely on the definition of multiple parameters that for some problems require thorough testing, thus adaptive techniques to define the values of the various parameters are currently under research. Moreover, parallel schemes will be investigated.

Originality/value

– The proposed approximate inverse preconditioning schemes as well as multi-level schemes are efficient computational methods that are valuable for computer scientists and for scientists and engineers in engineering computations.
Send-for-review decisions, brand equity, and pricing
Authors: Qiu Chun , Popkowski Leszczyc Peter
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study firms’ decisions of voluntary disclosure of high product quality by sending their products to intermediaries for review, and how the nature of the reviews subsequently substitutes the brand names in terms of affecting the price of the product.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using data on camcorders and point
&
shoot digital cameras collected from multiple intermediary sources, this paper empirically tests the relationships among brand equity, send for review decisions, the nature of reviews and pricing, controlling for endogeneity.

Findings

– This paper finds that firms are likely to send their high-quality products to the intermediaries for review, but such likelihood varies across different brands. Relatively weak brands are more likely to send their products for review than relatively strong brands. By doing so, weak brands receive two benefits: first, intermediary reviews help eliminate price differentials between weak brands and strong brands. The more positive is the review, the higher is the price. When intermediary reviews are not obtained, some strong brands effectively charge a price premium over weak brands. Second, intermediary reviews subsequently attract more consumer word of mouth (WOM). The more positive is the review, the more consumer WOM is attracted.

Researchlimitations/implications

– One limitation is that this paper does not account for the influence of intra-brand competition. The second limitation is related to the assumption that intermediary reviews are accurate.

Practicalimplications

– This paper offers managerial implications to brand managers concerning send-for-review and pricing decisions. It proposes how managers leverage third-party endorsement in launching a new product.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the few papers empirically studying the interaction of two communication approaches: disclosure and brand signaling. It modifies the commonly assumed relationships among brand, quality and price by demonstrating the substitute effect of intermediary reviews and brand names on price. This paper is also the first research that empirically examines the impact of firms’ “send-for-review” decisions on generating consumer WOM. Managerially, this paper substantiates Godes et al.’s (2005) framework on how firms should manage social interactions upon the release of new products.
Leadership development methods and activities: content, purposes, and implementation
Authors: Megheirkouni Majd
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature of leadership development (LD) methods adopted by companies operating in Syria by exploring the content, purpose, and the implantation of LD methods.

Design/methodology/approach

– Middle and top managers were asked via semi-structured interviews to describe the content, purposes, and implementation of LD practices.

Findings

– The findings revealed that the LD interventions are mixed between experiential learning and self and team analysis. Specifically, five major methods or activities used in Syria: action learning, coaching, feedback, rotation, and networking. These methods and activities were not only used for a specific purpose, but also for multiple purposes.

Research limitations/implications

– Research data were conducted during what was called the Arab Spring, which has negative implications not only on the participants, but also on the way they responded to questions. In addition, the for-profit sector was only involved in the study because of its flexibility, lack of bureaucracy, and the application of LD.

Originality/value

– This study is the only study that investigated LD methods and activities in Syria.
iTech in library instruction: tips and best practices
Authors: Eng-Ziskin Susanna , Johnson Jamie
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to describe some best practices and tips for librarians who will be teaching in iPad classrooms.

Design/methodology/approach

– California State University Northridge librarians recently began teaching information literacy sessions to freshmen seminar students in a dedicated iPad classroom. Prior to this, they scoured the literature to find information on how to use the iPads to enhance their instruction. The kinds of papers they were looking for did not seem to exist so they began a process of trial and error during their instruction sessions to formulate their own best practices which are enumerated in this paper.

Findings

– A list of best practices for teaching information literacy sessions with iPads.

Originality/value

– This paper will be of value to instruction librarians who will be teaching in iPad or tablet classrooms. A search of the library literature shows there are no similar articles with practical tips and best practices for librarians.
Fall 2015 Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference
Authors: Klose Hrubes Annamarie
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on the Fall 2015 MARAC Conference.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper focuses on the use of technology in archives, libraries and museums, as presented in various sessions at the Fall 2015 MARAC Conference.

Findings

– Archives, libraries and museums are harnessing technology to archive Twitter feeds, digitize obsolete media, provide better online access to collections, automate workflows for patron-driven requests, conduct forensic recovery of born-digital objects and manage long-term access and preservation of diverse digital collections.

Originality/value

– The paper condenses the authors’ notes from various sessions.
Corporate involvement brings environmental improvement: the language of disclosure in Malaysian CSR reports
Authors: Rajandran Kumaran
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to analyse how Environment Sections in Malaysian corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports disclose environmental CSR.

Design/methodology/approach

– The analysis is grounded in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), which helps to examine the macrostructure (topics) and microstructure (language features) of Environment Sections. It is complemented by interviews with corporate representatives to obtain insights about these structures.

Findings

– The macrostructure consists of five topics of Introduction, Initiative, Featured Initiative, Adherence and Finance to enable a comprehensive understanding about environmental CSR. The microstructure emphasizes language features about corporate actions and descriptions to enable environmental CSR in a particular time, place and way. Through the macro- and microstructures, the disclosure in Environment Sections portrays corporate involvement as bringing environmental improvement. It displays the corporate perspective, which promotes corporations as agents of positive social change. The disclosure is seen to be influenced by Malaysia’s corporate context.

Research limitations/implications

– As the corpus is limited to ten corporations in three years, future research should expand the corpus to comprise Environment Sections from other years, countries, languages and industries.

Originality/value

– The paper is useful to people practicing and studying corporate communication, as knowing SFL can improve discursive competence or a systematic way to decipher and deploy language.
Profitability, state ownership, tax reporting and corporate social responsibility: evidence from Chinese listed firms
Authors: Xu Bixia , Zeng Tao
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the context of listed Chinese firms. In particular, it examines the relationships between CSR and profitability, state ownership and tax reporting behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is an empirical study using CSR reports published by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and financial data collected from the China Stock Market Financial Statement Database (CSMAR).

Findings

– The paper finds that state ownership is positively associated with CSR and its three components including the governance, social and environmental scores; firm profitability is positively associated with CSR and its market score; and tax reporting behavior is negatively associated with the environmental score. But the result is weak.

Research limitations/implications

– The results in this study should be treated with some caution as the sample size of 85 observations represents only a small fraction of China’s listed firms. A larger sample size is desirable and may affect our results.

Social implications

– This paper is of interest to policy-makers, corporate management and academics who wish to explore the relationship between CSR and other firm characteristics.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first study which provides a comprehensive examination of CSR and its four components in connection with Chinese firms. In particular, it examines the relationship between CSR and profitability and state ownership.
Do ethical firms create value?
Authors: Karim Khondkar , Suh SangHyun , Tang Jiali
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This study aims to examine the value relevance of ethics information.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study adopts event study methodology to test the market’s reaction around the announcements of World’s Most Ethical Companies (WME), a ranking based on firms’ overall corporate social responsibility performance. The authors calculate the abnormal returns of firms on the WME lists to investigate how stockholders respond to the disclosure of ethical information.

Findings

– The authors find significant and positive abnormal returns around the announcements of the lists of ethical firms. Specifically, positive market reaction on the first day after the WME announcement (Day 1) is observed.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the existing literature of the relationship between business ethics and firm value. The authors provide evidence that ethics can be aligned with firms’ financial goals. Further, this study is the first to use the WME announcement as a proxy for ethical firms.
Longitudinal diffusion MRI for treatment response assessment: Preliminary experience using an MRI‐guided tri‐cobalt 60 radiotherapy system
Authors: Yang Yingli , Cao Minsong , Sheng Ke , Gao Yu , Chen Allen , Kamrava Mitch , Lee Percy , Agazaryan Nzhde , Lamb James , Thomas David , Low Daniel , Hu Peng
Published: February 2016

Purpose:

To demonstrate the preliminary feasibility of a longitudinal diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) strategy for assessing patient response to radiotherapy at 0.35 T using an MRI‐guided radiotherapy system (ViewRay).

Methods:

Six patients (three head and neck cancer, three sarcoma) who underwent fractionated radiotherapy were enrolled in this study. A 2D multislice spin echo single‐shot echo planar imaging diffusion pulse sequence was implemented on the ViewRay system and tested in phantom studies. The same pulse sequence was used to acquire longitudinal diffusion data (every 2–5 fractions) on the six patients throughout the entire course of radiotherapy. The reproducibility of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements was assessed using reference regions and the temporal variations of the tumor ADC values were evaluated.

Results:

In diffusion phantom studies, the ADC values measured on the ViewRay system matched well with reference ADC values with <5% error for a range of ground truth diffusion coefficients of 0.4–1.1 × 10−3 mm2/s. The remote reference regions (i.e., brainstem in head and neck patients) had consistent ADC values throughout the therapy for all three head and neck patients, indicating acceptable reproducibility of the diffusion imaging sequence. The tumor ADC values changed throughout therapy, with the change differing between patients, ranging from a 40% drop in ADC within the first week of therapy to gradually increasing throughout therapy. For larger tumors, intratumoral heterogeneity was observed. For one sarcoma patient, postradiotherapy biopsy showed less than 10% necrosis score, which correlated with the observed 40% decrease in ADC from the fifth fraction to the eighth treatment fraction.

Conclusions:

This pilot study demonstrated that longitudinal diffusion MRI is feasible using the 0.35 T ViewRay MRI. Larger patient cohort studies are warranted to correlate the longitudinal diffusion measurements to patient outcomes. Such an approach may enable response‐guided adaptive radiotherapy.
Eco-evolution of cancer resistance
Authors: Klement Giannoula L.
Published: February 2016

Contrary to high-dose cytotoxic chemotherapy, where they proliferate unopposed, drug-resistant cancer cells may be at an evolutionary disadvantage in presence of low-dose chemotherapy owing to the high metabolic cost of their resistance mechanisms (Enriquez-Navas
et al
., this issue).
Genetic study of schizophrenia returns the complement
Authors: Marson Alexander
Published: February 2016

Genetic variation in human complement component 4 (
C4
) genes contributes to schizophrenia risk.
Two diagnoses from bone marrow biopsy: multiple myeloma and Paget's disease of bone
Authors: Mohamed Muhajir
Published: February 2016

Multiple myeloma and Paget's disease of bone show certain similarities such as increased osteoclastic activity and predilection to the axial skeleton. However, pathological and radiological changes of the bones are distinctive between multiple myeloma and Paget's disease of bone. This case report describes a patient who had a concomitant diagnosis of multiple myeloma and Paget's disease evidenced from bone marrow biopsy. Such a co-existence is rare, with only a few cases reported so far.
High 17-hydroxyprogesterone level in newborn screening test for congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Authors: Levy-Shraga Yael , Pinhas-Hamiel Orit
Published: February 2016

We report a case of a female infant with an elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone level detected in the newborn screening for 21-hydroxylase deficiency, the most common cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The physical examination was unremarkable including no dysmorphism and no signs of virilisation. In the absence of clinical evidence of androgen excess, as would be expected in a female infant with 21-hydroxylase deficiency, further evaluation was performed and led to the diagnosis of the extremely rare disorder, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency. This case highlights the differential diagnosis of elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels in newborn screening and the importance of correct diagnosis for improving patient care.
Acupuncture for urinary incontinence after stroke: a protocol for systematic review
Authors: Sun Zhongren , Yu Nannan , Yue Jinhuan , Zhang Qinhong
Published: February 2016

Introduction

The aim of this study, which will include randomised controlled trials (RCTs), is to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for patients with stroke and urinary incontinence.

Methods and analysis

RCTs will be searched electronically in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL and four Chinese medical databases from their inception to present. Manual retrieval will also be conducted. RCTs will be included if acupuncture was evaluated as the sole or adjunct treatment for patients with stroke and urinary incontinence. The primary outcome will be measured by using the pad-weighing test. The secondary outcomes will include urination diary, bladder capacity, clinical symptom scores, the number of patients healed completely in trial follow-up period and adverse events. The study selection, data extraction and evaluation of study quality will be performed independently by two researchers. The methodological quality of the included trials will be assessed by using the Cochrane risk-of-bias criteria and the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) checklist.

Dissemination

This systematic review will assess the current evidence of acupuncture treatment for patients with stroke and urinary incontinence. The findings of this study will be published through a peer-reviewed journal and presented at a relevant conference.

Trial registration number

CRD42014015611.
Economic burden of multidrug-resistant bacteria in nursing homes in Germany: a cost analysis based on empirical data
Authors: Huebner Claudia , Roggelin Marcus , Flessa Steffen
Published: February 2016

Objectives

Infections and colonisations with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) increasingly affect different types of healthcare facilities worldwide. So far, little is known about additional costs attributable to MDROs outside hospitals. The aim of this study was to analysis the economic burden of multidrug-resistant bacteria in nursing homes in Germany.

Setting

The cost analysis is performed from a microeconomic perspective of the healthcare facilities. Study took place in six long-term care facilities in north-eastern Germany.

Participants

Data of 71 residents with a positive MDRO status were included.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The study analysed MDRO surveillance data from 2011 to 2013. It was supplemented by an empirical analysis to determine the burden on staff capacity and materials consumption.

Results

11 793 days with a positive multidrug-resistant pathogen diagnosis could be included in the analysis. On average, 11.8 (SD±6.3) MDRO cases occurred per nursing home. Mean duration per case was 163.3 days (SD±97.1). The annual MDRO-related costs varied in nursing homes between €2449.72 and €153 263.74 on an average €12 682.23 per case. Main cost drivers were staff capacity (€43.95 per day and €7177.04 per case) and isolation materials (€24.70 per day and €4033.51 per case).

Conclusions

The importance of MDROs in nursing homes could be confirmed. MDRO-related cost data in this specific healthcare sector were collected for the first time. Knowledge about the burden of MDROs will enable to assess the efficiency of hygiene intervention measures in nursing homes in the future.