bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In situ
predator conditioning of naive prey prior to reintroduction
Authors: Blumstein Daniel T. , Letnic Mike , Moseby Katherine E.
Published: July 2019

Many translocations and introductions to recover threatened populations fail because predators kill prey soon after release; a problem exacerbated for predator-naive prey. While pre-release training has been shown to work in some situations, it is time consuming and relies on using inferred predator cues and treating small groups. We review a relatively new and very promising management tool:
in situ
, pre-release predator conditioning. Here, the goal is to allow prey in large enclosures to live with low densities of predators to accelerate selection for antipredator traits (in an evolutionary sense) or provide prey essential experience with predators that they will later encounter. We review the published results of a large-scale, controlled experiment where we have permitted burrowing bettongs (
Bettongia lesueur
) and greater bilblies (
Macrotis lagotis
) to live with low densities of feral cats (
Felis catus
), a species implicated in their widespread decline and localized extinction. We found that both species could persist with cats, suggesting that future work should define coexistence thresholds—which will require knowledge of prey behaviour as well as the structure of the ecological community. Compared to control populations, predator-naive prey exposed to cats has a suite of morphological and behavioural responses that seemingly have increased their antipredator abilities. Results suggest that predator-conditioned bilbies survive better when released into a large enclosure with an established cat population; future work will determine whether this increased survival extends to the wild.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation
Authors: Bro-Jørgensen Jakob , Franks Daniel W. , Meise Kristine
Published: July 2019

The impact of environmental change on the reproduction and survival of wildlife is often behaviourally mediated, placing behavioural ecology in a central position to quantify population- and community-level consequences of anthropogenic threats to biodiversity. This theme issue demonstrates how recent conceptual and methodological advances in the discipline are applied to inform conservation. The issue highlights how the focus in behavioural ecology on understanding variation in behaviour between individuals, rather than just measuring the population mean, is critical to explaining demographic stochasticity and thereby reducing fuzziness of population models. The contributions also show the importance of knowing the mechanisms by which behaviour is achieved, i.e. the role of learning, reasoning and instincts, in order to understand how behaviours change in human-modified environments, where their function is less likely to be adaptive. More recent work has thus abandoned the ‘adaptationist’ paradigm of early behavioural ecology and increasingly measures evolutionary processes directly by quantifying selection gradients and phenotypic plasticity. To support quantitative predictions at the population and community levels, a rich arsenal of modelling techniques has developed, and interdisciplinary approaches show promising prospects for predicting the effectiveness of alternative management options, with the social sciences, movement ecology and epidemiology particularly pertinent. The theme issue furthermore explores the relevance of behaviour for global threat assessment, and practical advice is given as to how behavioural ecologists can augment their conservation impact by carefully selecting and promoting their study systems, and increasing their engagement with local communities, natural resource managers and policy-makers. Its aim to uncover the nuts and bolts of how natural systems work positions behavioural ecology squarely in the heart of conservation biology, where its perspective offers an all-important complement to more descriptive ‘big-picture’ approaches to priority setting.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
Toward Automated Classification of Pathological Transcranial Doppler Waveform Morphology via Spectral Clustering
Authors: Thorpe Samuel G. , Thibeault Corey M. , Canac Nicolas , Jalaleddini Kian , Dorn Amber , Wilk Seth J. , Devlin Thomas , Scalzo Fabien , Hamilton Robert B.
Published: July 2019

Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity waveforms acquired via Transcranial Doppler (TCD) can provide evidence for cerebrovascular occlusion and stenosis. Thrombolysis in Brain Ischemia (TIBI) flow grades are widely used for this purpose, but require subjective assessment by expert evaluators to be reliable. In this work we seek to determine whether TCD morphology can be objectively assessed using an unsupervised machine learning approach to waveform categorization. TCD beat waveforms were recorded at multiple depths from the Middle Cerebral Arteries of 106 subjects; 33 with CTA-confirmed Large Vessel Occlusion (LVO). From each waveform, three morphological variables were extracted, quantifying absolute peak onset, number/prominence of auxiliary peaks, and systolic canopy length. Spectral clustering identified groups implicit in the resultant three-dimensional feature space, with gap-statistic criteria establishing the optimal cluster number. We found that gap-statistic disparity was maximized at four clusters, referred to as flow types I, II, III, and IV. Types I and II were primarily composed of control subject waveforms, whereas types III and IV derived mainly from LVO patients. Cluster morphologies for types I and IV aligned clearly with Normal and Blunted TIBI flows, respectively. Types II and III represented commonly observed flow-types not delineated by TIBI, which nonetheless deviate quantifiably from normal and blunted flows. We conclude that important morphological variability exists beyond that currently quantified by TIBI in populations experiencing or at-risk for acute ischemic stroke, and posit that the observed flow-types provide the foundation for objective methods of real-time automated flow type classification.
The hormone neuroparsin seems essential in Lepidoptera but not in domesticated silkworms
Authors: Veenstra Jan A.
Published: July 2019

The primary sequence of the Arthropod neurohormone neuroparsin is so variable that so far no orthologs from moths and butterflies have been characterized, even though classical neurosecretory stains identify cells that are homologous to those producing this hormone in other insect species. Here Lepidopteran cDNAs showing limited sequence similarity to other insect neuroparsins are described. That these cDNAs do indeed code for authentic neuroparsins was confirmed by in situ hybridization in the wax moth, Galleria mellonella, which labeled the neuroparsin neuroendocrine cells. Although in virtually all genome assemblies from Lepidoptera a neuroparsin gene could be identified, the genome assembly from the silkworm, Bombyx mori, has a neuroparsin gene containing a 16 nucleotide deletion that renders this gene nonfunctional. Although only a small number of all silkworm strains carry this deletion, it suggests that the domestication of the silkworm has rendered the function of this neurohormone dispensable.
MicrobComp – graphical user interface enables an in-silico comparison of taxonomic differences between two amplicon datasets
Authors: Nussbaumer Thomas
Published: July 2019

The experimental and computational analysis of microbes is in the focus of basic and applied research for several decades already and has massively extended our knowledge of role and impact of microbes during that time.

Amplicon sequencing is still widely adapted and standard procedure to determine key species in a biological sample and despite a high number of different datasets being steadily generated and fed into current data archives, there is a shortcoming in data interpretation. Furthermore, more computational tools are still required to guide the researcher towards an in-depth understanding of an experiment in a more systematic way. Towards that aim, MicrobComp was created as a graphical user interface which allows to compare two separate species frequency tables that contain the relative or absolute abundance of microbial species in an experiment. Therefore, this tool can be of great help when studying different amplicon experiments where studies were originally performed in different experimental labs.
Evolution of a pest: towards the complete neuroethology of Drosophila suzukii and the subgenus Sophophora
Authors: Keesey Ian W. , Zhang Jin , Depetris-Chauvin Ana , Obiero George F. , Knaden Markus , Hansson Bill S.
Published: July 2019

Comparative analysis of multiple genomes has been used extensively to examine the evolution of chemosensory receptors across the genus Drosophila. However, few studies have delved into functional characteristics, as most have relied exclusively on genomic data alone, especially for non-model species. In order to increase our understanding of olfactory evolution, we have generated a comprehensive assessment of the olfactory functions associated with the antenna and palps for Drosophila suzukii as well as several other members of the subgenus Sophophora, thus creating a functional olfactory landscape across a total of 20 species. Here we identify and describe several common elements of evolution, including consistent changes in ligand spectra as well as relative receptor abundance, which appear heavily correlated with the known phylogeny. We also combine our functional ligand data with protein orthologue alignments to provide a high-throughput evolutionary assessment and predictive model, where we begin to examine the underlying mechanisms of evolutionary changes utilizing both genetics and odorant binding affinities. In addition, we document that only a few receptors frequently vary between species, and we evaluate the justifications for evolution to reoccur repeatedly within only this small subset of available olfactory sensory neurons.
Lentivirus-mediated long-term overexpression of specific microRNA for complementary miRNA pairs in mammalian cells
Authors: Qiao Shupei , Zhao Yufang , Li Kai , Sun Yulu , Sun Liuke , Hou Xiaolu , Tian Hui , Ye Kangruo , Nie Yongzhan , Tian Weiming
Published: July 2019

The establishment of a method that would overexpress or suppress of specific microRNA activity is essential for the functional analysis of these molecules and for the development of miRNA therapeutic applications. There already exist excellent ways to inhibit miRNA function in vitro and in vivo by overexpressing miRNA target sequences, which include miRNA ‘decoys’, ‘sponges’, or ‘antagomirs’ that are complementary to an miRNA seed region. Conversely, no methods to induce stable gain-of-function phenotypes for specific miRNAs have, as yet, been reported. Furthermore, the discovery of complementary miRNA pairs raises suspicion regarding the existing methods used for miRNA overexpression. In our study, we will study whether the traditional methods for miRNA overexpression can be used for specific miRNA overexpression while complementary miRNA pairs exist. In addition, we test various miRNA-expression cassettes that were designed to efficiently overexpress specific miRNA through the shRNA lentivirus expression system. We report the optimal conditions that were established for the design of such miRNA-expression cassettes. We finally demonstrate that the miRNA-expression cassettes achieve efficient and long-term overexpression of specific miRNAs. Meanwhile, our results also support the notion that miRNA–miRNA interactions are implicated in potential, mutual regulatory patterns and beyond the seed sequence of miRNA, extensive pairing interactions between a miRNA and its target also lead to target-directed miRNA degradation. Our results indicate that our method offers a simple and efficient means to over-express the specific miRNA with long-term which will be very useful for future studies in miRNA biology, as well as contributed to the development of miRNA-based therapy for clinical applications.
The unique topologies ofN6-Adenosine methylation (m6A) in land-plant mitochondria and their putative effects on organellar gene-expression
Authors: Murik Omer , Chandran Sam Aldrin , Nevo-Dinur Keren , Sultan Laure D. , Best Corinne , Stein Yuval , Hazan Carina , Ostersetzer-Biran Oren
Published: July 2019

Mitochondria are the main source of ATP production and also contribute to many other processes central to cellular function. Mitochondrial activities have been linked with growth, differentiation and aging. As relicts of bacterial endosymbionts, these organelles contain their own genetic system (i.e., mitogenome or mtDNA). The expression of the mtDNA in plants is complex, particularly at the posttranscriptional level. Following transcription, the polycistronic pre-RNAs in plant mitochondria are processed into individual RNAs, which then undergo extensive modifications, as trimming, splicing and C→U editing, before being translated by organellar ribosomes. Our study focuses onN6-methylation of Adenosine ribonucleotides (m6A-RNA) in plant mitochondria. m6A is the most common modification in eukaryotic mRNAs. The biological significance of this highly dynamic modification is under investigation, but it’s widely accepted that m6A mediates structural switches that affect RNA stability and activity. By performing m6A-pulldown/RNA-seq (m6A-RIP-seq) analyses of Arabidopsis and cauliflower mitochondrial transcripts (mtRNAs), we provide with detail information on the m6A landscapes in angiosperms mitochondria. The results indicate that m6A targets different types of mtRNAs, including coding sequences, UTRs, introns and non-coding RNA species. While introns and noncoding-RNAs undergo multiple m6A modifications along the transcript, in mRNAs m6A-modifications are preferably positioned near start-codons, and may modulate the translatability of the m6A-modified transcripts.
Environmental specificity in Drosophila-bacteria symbiosis affects host developmental plasticity
Authors: Guilhot Robin , Rombaut Antoine , Xuéreb Anne , Howell Kate , Fellous Simon
Published: July 2019

Environmentally acquired microbial symbionts could contribute to host adaptation to local conditions like vertically transmitted symbionts do. This scenario necessitates symbionts to have different effects in different environments. We investigated this idea in Drosophila melanogaster, a species which communities of bacterial symbionts vary greatly among environments. We isolated four bacterial strains isolated from the feces of a D. melanogaster laboratory strain and tested their effects in two conditions: the ancestral environment (i.e. the laboratory medium) and a new environment (i.e. fresh fruit with live yeast). All bacterial effects on larval and adult traits differed among environments, ranging from very beneficial to marginally deleterious. The joint analysis of larval development speed and adult size further shows bacteria affected developmental plasticity more than resource acquisition. This effect was largely driven by the contrasted effects of the bacteria in each environment. Our study illustrates that understanding D. melanogaster symbiotic interactions in the wild will necessitate working in ecologically realistic conditions. Besides, context-dependent effects of symbionts, and their influence on host developmental plasticity, shed light on how environmentally acquired symbionts may contribute to host evolution.
Muscle overexpression of Klf15 via an AAV8-Spc5-12 construct does not provide benefits in spinal muscular atrophy mice
Authors: Ahlskog Nina , Hayler Daniel , Krueger Anja , Kubinski Sabrina , Claus Peter , Yáñez-Muñoz Rafael J , Bowerman Melissa
Published: July 2019

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by loss of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene. While there are currently two approved gene-based therapies for SMA, availability, high cost, and differences in patient response indicate that alternative treatment options are needed. Optimal therapeutic strategies will likely be a combination of SMN-dependent and -independent treatments aimed at alleviating symptoms in the central nervous system and peripheral muscles. Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) is a transcription factor that regulates key metabolic and ergogenic pathways in muscle. We have recently reported significant downregulation of Klf15 in muscle of pre-symptomatic SMA mice. Importantly, perinatal upregulation of Klf15 via transgenic and pharmacological methods resulted in improved disease phenotypes in SMA mice, including weight and survival. In the current study, we designed an adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) vector to overexpress a codon-optimised Klf15 cDNA under the muscle-specific Spc5-12 promoter (AAV8-Klf15). Administration of AAV8-Klf15 to severe Taiwanese Smn−/−;SMN2 or intermediate Smn2B/− SMA mice significantly increased Klf15 expression in muscle. We also observed significant activity of the AAV8-Klf15 vector in liver and heart. AAV8-mediated Klf15 overexpression moderately improved survival in the Smn2B/− model but not in the Taiwanese mice. An inability to specifically induce Klf15 expression at physiological levels in a time- and tissue-dependent manner may have contributed to this limited efficacy. Thus, our work demonstrates that an AAV8-Spc5-12 vector induces high gene expression as early as P2 in several tissues including muscle, heart and liver, but highlights the challenges of achieving meaningful vector-mediated transgene expression of Klf15.
Galectin-14 expression in ovarian cancer
Authors: Oliveira Fernandes de Araujo Lorenna , St-Pierre Yves
Published: July 2019

Galectins (gal) are multifunctional proteins whose expression changes under different physiological or pathological conditions, including cancer. However, so far, most studies have focused on gal-1 and gal-3, and to a lesser extent to gal-7 and gal-9. We still know very little about other galectins, especially the recently discovered ones, such as gal-14, a prototype galectin highly expressed at the maternal-fetal interface. Here, usingin silicoandin vitroapproaches, we report a correlation betweenlgals14expression and ovarian cancer. We found that high expression of gal-14 mRNA in ovarian cancer cells is associated with a shorter survival. Consistent with this observation, we also found thatlgals14is preferentially expressed in high grade serous adenocarcinoma (HGSA) ovarian cancer. Ourin vitrodata with ovarian cancer cell lines confirmed thatlgals14is readily expressed in HGSA. Interestingly,de novoexpression of gal-14 in HEK-293 cells increased apoptosis, both at the basal level and following exposure to low doses of etoposide. Thus, although the study of this galectin is still in its infancy, we were able to provide novel insights into the expression patterns of this galectin and its involvement in cancer.
DeepHiC: A Generative Adversarial Network for Enhancing Hi-C Data Resolution
Authors: Hong Hao , Jiang Shuai , Li Hao , Quan Cheng , Zhao Chenghui , Li Ruijiang , Li Wanying , Du Guifang , Yin Xiaoyao , Huang Yangchen , Li Cheng , Chen Hebing , Bo Xiaochen
Published: July 2019

Hi-C is commonly used to study three-dimensional genome organization. However, due to the high sequencing cost and technical constraints, the resolution of most Hi-C datasets is coarse, resulting in a loss of information and biological interpretability. Here we develop DeepHiC, a generative adversarial network, to predict high-resolution Hi-C contact maps from low-coverage sequencing data. We demonstrated that DeepHiC is capable of reproducing high-resolution Hi-C data from as few as 1% downsampled reads. Empowered by adversarial training, our method can restore fine-grained details similar to those in high-resolution Hi-C matrices, boosting accuracy in chromatin loops identification and TADs detection, and outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in accuracy of prediction. Finally, application of DeepHiC to Hi-C data on mouse embryonic development can facilitate chromatin loop detection with higher accuracy. We develop a web-based tool (DeepHiC,http://sysomics.com/deephic) that allows researchers to enhance their own Hi-C data with just a few clicks.

Author summary

We developed a novel method, DeepHiC, for enhancing Hi-C data resolution from low-coverage sequencing data using generative adversarial network. DeepHiC is capable of reproducing highresolution (10-kb) Hi-C data with high quality even using 1/100 downsampled reads. Our method outperforms the previous methods in Hi-C data resolution enhancement, boosting accuracy in chromatin loops identification and TADs detection. Application of DeepHiC on mouse embryonic development data shows that enhancements afforded by DeepHiC facilitates the chromatin loops identification of these data achieving higher accuracy. We also developed a user-friendly web server (http://sysomics.com/deephic) that allows researchers to enhance their own low-resolution Hi-C data (40kb-1 Mb) with just few clicks.
High throughput competitive fluorescence polarization assay reveals functional redundancy in the S100 protein family
Authors: Simon Márton A. , Ecsédi Péter , Kovács Gábor M. , Póti Ádám L. , Reményi Attila , Kardos József , Gógl Gergő , Nyitray László
Published: July 2019

The calcium-binding, vertebrate-specific S100 protein family consists of 20 paralogs in humans (referred as the S100ome), with several clinically important members. To assess their interactome, high-throughput, systematic analysis is indispensable, which allows one to get not only qualitative but quantitative insight into their protein-protein interactions (PPIs). We have chosen an unbiased assay, fluorescence polarization (FP) that revealed a partial functional redundancy when the complete S100ome (n=20) was tested against numerous model partners (n=13). Based on their specificity, the S100ome can be grouped into two distinct classes: promiscuous and orphan. In the first group, members bound to several ligands (>4-5) with comparable high affinity, while in the second one, the paralogs bound only one partner weakly, or no ligand was identified (orphan). Our results demonstrate that in vitro FP assays are highly suitable for quantitative ligand binding studies of selected protein families. Moreover, we provide evidence that PPI-based phenotypic characterization can complement the information obtained from the sequence-based phylogenetic analysis of the S100ome, an evolutionary young protein family.

Author summary

Functional similarity among a protein family can be essential in order to understand proteomic data, to find biomarkers, or in inhibitor design. Proteins with similar functions can compensate the loss-of-function of the others, their expression can co-vary under pathological conditions, and simultaneous targeting can lead to better results in the clinics. To investigate this property one can use sequence-based approaches. However, this path can be difficult. In the case of the vertebrate specific, evolutionary young, S100 family, phylogenetic approaches lead to ambiguous results. To overcome this problem, we applied a high-throughput biochemical approach to experimentally measure the binding affinities of a large number of S100 interactions. We performed unbiased fluorescence polarization assay, involving the complete human S100ome (20 paralogs) and 13 known interaction partners. We used this measured 20×13 (260) protein-protein interaction array to reveal the functional relationships within the family. Our work provide a general framework for studies focusing on phenotype-based domain classification.
Synthesis, crystal structure studies and solvatochromic behaviour of two 2-{5-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]penta-2,4-dien-1-ylidene}malononitrile derivatives
Authors: Bogdanov Georgii , Tillotson John P. , Khrustalev Victor N. , Rigin Sergei , Timofeeva Tatiana V.
Published: July 2019

The synthesis, crystal structure studies and solvatochromic behavior of 2-{(2E,4E)-5-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]penta-2,4-dien-1-ylidene}malononitrile, C16H15N3 (DCV[3]), and 2-{(2E,4E,6E)-7-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]hepta-2,4,6-trien-1-ylidene}malononitrile, C18H17N3 (DCV[4]), are reported and discussed in comparison with their homologs having a shorter length of the π-conjugated bridge. The compounds of this series have potential use as nonlinear materials with second-order effects due to their donor–acceptor structures. However, DCV[3] and DCV[4] crystallized in the centrosymmetric space group P21/c which excludes their application as nonlinear optical materials in the crystalline state. They both crystallize with two independent molecules having the same molecular conformation in the asymmetric unit. The series DCV[1]–DCV[4] demonstrated reversed solvatochromic behavior in toluene, chloroform, and acetonitrile.
Risk factors affecting the ability for earned value management to accurately assess the performance of infrastructure projects in Australia
Authors: Ibrahim Maan Nihad , Thorpe David , Mahmood Muhammad Nateque
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a set of risk-related factors influencing the earned value management (EVM) concept as an assessment technique in evaluating the progress of modern sustainable infrastructure construction projects.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research approach has been adopted for identifying risk-related factors influencing EVM concept from a literature review and through interviewing industry personnel, followed by an inductive process to form sets of key factors and their measuring items.

Findings

EVM is a common method for assessing project performance. A weakness of this approach is that EVM assessment in its current form does not measure the impact of a number of project performance factors that result from the complexity of modern infrastructure construction projects, and thus does not accurately assess their impact in this performance. This paper discusses and explains a range of potential risk factors to evaluating project performance such as sustainability, stakeholder requirements, communication, procurement strategy, weather, experience of staff, site condition, design issues, financial risk, subcontractor, government requirements and material. In addition, their measuring items were identified.

Practical implications

This research assists projects managers to improve the evaluation process of infrastructure construction performance by incorporating a range of factors likely to impact on that performance and which are not included in current EVM calculations.

Originality/value

This research addresses the need to include in the EVM calculation a range of risk factors affecting the performance of infrastructure projects in Australia and therefore makes this calculation a more reliable tool for assessing project performance.
Computational investigation of laminar premixed hydrogen flame past a quenching mesh
Authors: Benim Ali Cemal , Pfeiffelmann Björn
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is the computational analysis of atmospheric, laminar, stoichiometric and premixed hydrogen-air flames in the presence of a quenching mesh. The assessment of the predictive capability of different reaction mechanisms, the clarification of the relative importance of the thermal and chemical effects for mesh quenching and the investigation of the influence of the mesh geometry on the quenching effectiveness are the focal points of the investigation.

Design/methodology/approach

The problem is posed as unsteady, two-dimensional. Differential governing equations are numerically solved by the finite volume method for the reacting hydrogen/air mixture, assuming an ideal gas behaviour. Thermal radiation and buoyancy are neglected. A coupled solver is used to treat the velocity-pressure coupling, along with a stiff-chemistry solver for the chemical kinetics. Second-order discretization schemes are used in space and time. A uniform grid resolution is used, where the grid independence in terms of the flame speed prediction is ensured in preliminary calculations for one-dimensional flames.

Findings

It is found that a detailed reaction mechanism is necessary for an accurate prediction. Meshes with round openings are found to be more effective that those with slit openings (SOs), by a factor of two in the maximum safe gap size. A perforated plate is observed to have a higher quenching potential compared to a wire mesh, for SOs. It is also found that the heat loss to the wall is the dominating quenching mechanism for the present problem, whereas adsorption of radicals plays a subordinate role.

Originality/value

In contrast to the previous studies in the field, a detailed reaction mechanism is applied instead of a single-step one, while still using the latter for comparison. The role of wall-radicals interaction for the quenching effectiveness of the mesh is addressed for the first time. Parametric studies are performed on the mesh geometry, which was not done before. Hydrogen is considered as fuel in contrast to the great majority of the previous work.
Corporate governance and the timeliness of audited financial statements
Authors: Mathuva David Mutua , Tauringana Venancio , Owino Fredrick J. Otieno
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The nature of corporate governance (CG) mechanisms in an entity may influence the timeliness of the audited annual report. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the “quality” of CG in a firm has a significant association with the time it takes the audited annual report and financial statements to be released.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a set of 543 firm-year observations over the period 2007–2016, the authors examine whether a validated CG-Index is associated with audit report delay (ARD). The authors employ both granular as well as aggregated approaches to the analyses. In addition, the authors include control variables known to have an association with ARD in the panel data regressions.

Findings

The findings, which are robust for self-selection among other checks, reveal that financial expertise in the audit committee, board size, board meetings and independence in the board are associated with longer ARDs. Some CG attributes such as board diversity (i.e. women and different nationalities in the board) are associated with improved timeliness of the annual reports. The results also reveal that a longer tenure for independent directors in the board is associated with a shorter ARD. Overall, the authors find that the composite CG score has a positive influence on the timeliness of annual reports.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses on listed companies in one developing country. Additional studies focusing on other jurisdictions could yield more results.

Practical implications

The study is useful in highlighting those CG characteristics firms should focus on toward the attainment of timely corporate reporting to aid in decision making by users.

Originality/value

The study is unique since it emphasizes the importance of focusing on an aggregate CG-Index, and the contribution of the CG-Index toward the timeliness of annual reports.
Adopting situationally relevant modes of music information at different stages of information-seeking processes
Authors: Rousi Antti Mikael , Savolainen Reijo , Vakkari Pertti
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the picture of situational relevance by examining how modes of music information are viewed as situationally relevant at different stages of information-seeking processes among music students.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data of the present longitudinal study were collected in two phases by utilizing questionnaire and interview methods. Informants comprised of 14 university-level music students representing the fields of music performance, music education and music theory and composition. Modes of music information were approached through the information typology presented by Rousi, Savolainen and Vakkari.

Findings

The findings indicate that not only the modes of music information were seen as situationally relevant for different reasons by the three participating music student groups when at the beginning of their tasks, but also that the perceived situational relevance of the information modes underwent changes as their tasks progressed to focus formulation and post-focus stages.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the small number of participants, further research is needed to verify the results concerning the differences in information-seeking processes between diverse music student groups.

Originality/value

The paper showcases that approaching music information through frameworks that classify information sources at diverse levels of abstraction enables an accurate description of information-seeking processes and illuminates context-sensitive development of situational relevance of music information of diverse modes.
Citations to chemical databases in scholarly articles: to cite or not to cite?
Authors: Tomaszewski Robert
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Chemical databases have had a significant impact on the way scientists search for and use information. The purpose of this paper is to spark informed discussion and fuel debate on the issue of citations to chemical databases.

Design/methodology/approach

A citation analysis to four major chemical databases was undertaken to examine resource coverage and impact in the scientific literature. Two commercial databases (SciFinder and Reaxys) and two public databases (PubChem and ChemSpider) were analyzed using the “Cited Reference Search” in the Science Citation Index Expanded from the Web of Science (WoS) database. Citations to these databases between 2000 and 2016 (inclusive) were evaluated by document types and publication growth curves. A review of the distribution trends of chemical databases in peer-reviewed articles was conducted through a citation count analysis by country, organization, journal and WoS category.

Findings

In total, 862 scholarly articles containing a citation to one or more of the four databases were identified as only steadily increasing since 2000. The study determined that authors at academic institutions worldwide reference chemical databases in high-impact journals from notable publishers and mainly in the field of chemistry.

Originality/value

The research is a first attempt to evaluate the practice of citation to major chemical databases in the scientific literature. This paper proposes that citing chemical databases gives merit and recognition to the resources as well as credibility and validity to the scholarly communication process and also further discusses recommendations for citing and referencing databases.
Does corporate governance affect dividend policy in India? Firm-level evidence from new indices
Authors: Pahi Debasis , Yadav Inder Sekhar
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nexus between corporate governance and dividend policy of listed Indian firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Using new corporate governance stipulations, five new indices were constructed, namely, overall board governance index, board structure index, audit committee index, compensation committee index and nomination committee index. Using the newly developed indices, disclosure index and different firm-specific control variables, different panel Logit and Tobit regression models were estimated for 482 non-financial and non-utility listed firms during 2006–2017. Also, before the econometric analysis, mean difference test was conducted to examine the differences in dividend behaviour and corporate governance practices during pre- and post-Companies Act, 2013 and between payers and non-payers.

Findings

The overall evidence suggests that the firms having stronger corporate governance tend to pay higher dividends suggesting that the firm’s propensity to pay dividends increases with the improvement in corporate governance standards. Among the corporate governance indices board structure, audit committee and disclosure norms show a significant and positive relationship, whereas compensation committee and nomination committee show a positive but insignificant relationship with dividend policy. Control variables mostly had the expected impact on the dividends of the firms.

Practical implications

This study suggests that the establishment of the strong and effective corporate governance system is desirable to mitigate the agency conflicts between managers and shareholders and limit managers’ opportunistic behaviour in dividend payout policy.

Originality/value

This study is one of the latest studies to use several newly constructed indices on corporate governance mechanism based on new stipulations which bring new evidence on their specific impact on the dividend policy for an emerging market economy like India.
Symbolic categories and the shaping of identity
Authors: Morales Jeremy
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to study the symbolic categorisations management accountants produce. It examines the categories they use to describe their work and analyses the meanings they attach to such categories. This aims at explaining how management accountants can follow a common occupational orientation despite the need to adjust their practices to the specificities of their local and organisational context. The author’s argument is that management accountants build symbolic categories to create a bridge between what they do and who they are. The author further argues that symbolic categories are needed to make sense of a practice in tension between a common aspirational orientation and heterogeneous local contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on a multiple case field study conducted by observation and interviews in a range of organisations.

Findings

This paper examines the empirical diversity of management accountants’ practices and perceptions through the symbolic categories they produce. The author finds that categorisation work constitutes a central mechanism to build a shared narrative despite heterogeneous situations. The author further shows that through symbolic categorisation work, a variety of activities ranging from bookkeeping through managerial support to hierarchical surveillance and challenge in the name of the shareholder are subsumed under stable labels. This, he argues, serves to mask financial accountability, shareholder orientation and hierarchical control behind a narrative of “support” and “partnership”.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to literature on management accountants’ identity by showing the central role played by symbolic categorisations. It also contributes to literature in accounting more generally by showing how symbolic categorisation work blurs the lines between “operational support” and “shareholder value creation”. The same words are used to refer to activities that managers consider helpful to make operational decisions and other activities that increase shareholder control and surveillance and encourage managers to internalise the frames and objectives of shareholder value creation. Symbolic categories that include hierarchical financial accountability within a narrative of “support” and “partnership” masks “financialisation” behind a rhetoric of “business orientation”.
Pro‐neurocognitive and anti‐sarcopenic benefits of one‐year metformin therapy in ovariectomized aged mice
Authors: Zakeri Maryam , Fatemi Iman , Kaeidi Ayat , Zakeri Mohammad Ali , Hakimizadeh Elham , Hassanipour Mahsa , Rahmani Mohammadreza , Hassanshahi Jalal , Ayoobi Fatemeh , Allahtavakoli Mohammad
Published: July 2019

Health promotion and healthy nutrition significantly increased life expectancy around the world. Aging is associated with an increase in age‐related diseases. The use of metformin (Met) as an anti‐aging drug has recently been proposed based on its widespread use in clinical practice. Reports have shown that Met acts as an anti‐aging agent. In this study, the effects of long‐term, 1 year, Met administration on aging‐related behaviors and longevity in ovariectomized mice was studied. Met (1 and 10 mg/kg, daily) was administered orally in ovariectomized mice. The anxiety‐like behavior, working memory, and physical strength were measured through elevated plus maze, Y‐maze, vertical grid holding, and the obligatory swimming capacity tests. Brains were harvested to measure brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level. Also, the Kaplan‐Meier survival curves were used to show differences and similarities in survival patterns. Met (10 mg/kg) decreased anxiety‐like behaviors as well as increased muscle strength and working memory in the ovariectomized mice. Moreover, Met increased the physical strength and longevity as well as the level of BDNF in the ovariectomized mice. Our results indicate that Met administration can be an effective strategy for having a healthy aging in the absence of female gonadal hormones and reverses deleterious effects of ovariectomy‐induced aging possibly through BDNF.
Different paths for inclusion in Thailand: improving special teachers as leaders in the development of inclusive education
Authors: Kantavong Pennee , Kiettikunwong Narong
Published: July 2019

This study investigated how support from other organisations compliments or reinforces the activities of teachers and parents in order to optimise the development and improvement of students in inclusive classrooms in Thailand. The objectives of this study include: (1) investigating the changes in teachers and parents who joined a municipal Human Resource Development (HRD) program in Khon Kaen Municipality; (2) evaluating the success of the program against its expected results; and (3) analysing the results and proposing improvements to the program to benefit students with disabilities. In order to examine the overall outcomes of the program for the concerned parties, qualitative survey‐based research involving questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions, employed with school administrators, teachers and parents, was used. The major findings are that school administrators and teachers paid more attention to students with a diversity of needs after joining the program, although participating parents’ acceptance of students with disabilities was low. The program evaluation revealed that participating teachers managed their classrooms better. Lastly, in order to improve the program in the Thai context, more acceptance and awareness must be created among both teachers and parents.
Development and Optimization of Cold Plasma Pretreatment for Drying on Corn Kernels
Authors: Li Shuai , Chen Shanshan , Han Feng , Xv Yan , Sun Huimin , Ma Zhongsu , Chen Junyi , Wu Wenfu
Published: July 2019

This study was conducted to optimize a process of cold plasma pretreatment for hot‐air drying on corn kernels. Effects of plasma pretreatment time (30, 40, 50 s), plasma pretreatment power (300, 400, 500 W) and drying temperature (37.5, 45, 52.5 °C) on drying time and drying rate during this process were investigated. Polynomial equations were established through a three‐factor and three‐level Box‐Behnken design and used to evaluate the optimal operational conditions for the drying process. The optimal pretreatment conditions were drying temperature at 52.5 °C, plasma pretreatment time of 50 s and plasma pretreatment power of 500 W, and the corresponding drying rate and drying time were 3.6163 (g/g h−1) and 1.29 hr, respectively. The AFM images showed that cold plasma pretreatment can change the topography of the treated surface with some micro‐holes, which explain how the plasma pretreatment can improve the drying process.

Practical Application

Cold plasma pretreatment can improve the efficiency of corn kernels drying. Furthermore, it has potential application for reducing energy consumption in drying. Cold plasma pretreatment could be potentially applied in grain drying.
Does hallucination perceptual modality impact psychosis risk?
Authors: Niles H. F. , Walsh B. C. , Woods S. W. , Powers A. R.
Published: July 2019

Objective

Subthreshold perceptual abnormalities are commonly used to identify individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for developing a psychotic disorder. Predictive validity for modality‐specific perceptual abnormality severity on psychosis risk is unknown.

Methods

We examined prospectively collected data from 164 individuals age 12–35 meeting criteria for CHR followed for 6–24 months or until conversion to psychosis. Using intake interview notes, baseline perceptual abnormality scores were split into auditory, visual, somatic/tactile, and olfactory/gustatory components, and auditory scores were further split into those for verbal vs non‐verbal content. Relationships between perceptual abnormality characteristics and conversion were assessed with Cox proportional hazards regression and logistic regression.

Results

Unusual thought content and paranoia were predictive of conversion, but no modality‐specific perceptual abnormality score predicted conversion status or days to conversion. However, when auditory perceptual abnormalities were further categorized as verbal vs non‐verbal, the severity of verbal experiences was predictive of conversion to psychosis (P = 0.007).

Conclusions

Perceptual abnormality scores failed to meaningfully predict conversion to psychosis in either direction in this CHR sample. However, verbal auditory experiences may identify a group of CHR individuals at elevated risk of conversion. Further exploration of the relationship between phenomenological aspects of perceptual abnormalities and conversion risk is warranted.
The International Society for Plastination
Authors: Latorre Rafael , Henry Robert , Adds Philip J. , Baptista Carlos
Published: July 2019

The International Society for Plastination (ISP) was conceived as a means of defining plastination as an area of professional activity and serving as an agency for disseminating information relative to the art and science of plastination. In this paper, we present the purpose of ISP, the Journal of Plastination, the Plastination Index and the different international meetings organised by ISP.
The impact of the prostaglandin D2 receptor 2 and its downstream effects on the pathophysiology of asthma
Authors: Brightling Christopher E. , Brusselle Guy , Altman Pablo
Published: July 2019

Current research suggests that the prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) receptor 2 (DP2) is a principal regulator in the pathophysiology of asthma, because it stimulates and amplifies the inflammatory response in this condition. The DP2 receptor can be activated by both allergic and nonallergic stimuli, leading to several pro‐inflammatory events, including eosinophil activation and migration, release of the type 2 cytokines interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐13 from T helper 2 (Th2) cells and innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILCs), and increased airway smooth muscle mass via recruitment of mesenchymal progenitors to the airway smooth muscle bundle. Activation of the DP2 receptor pathway has potential downstream effects on asthma pathophysiology, including on airway epithelial cells, mucus hypersecretion, and airway remodelling, and consequently might impact asthma symptoms and exacerbations. Given the broad distribution of DP2 receptors on immune and structural cells involved in asthma, this receptor is being explored as a novel therapeutic target.