bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mammalian SWI/SNF collaborates with a polycomb-associated protein to regulate male germ line transcription in the mouse
Authors: Menon Debashish U. , Shibata Yoichiro , Mu Weipeng , Magnuson Terry
Published: November 2018

A deficiency in BRG1, the catalytic subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, results in a meiotic arrest during spermatogenesis. Here, we explore the causative mechanisms. BRG1 is preferentially enriched at active promoters of genes essential for spermatogonial pluripotency and meiosis. In contrast, BRG1 is also associated with the repression of somatic genes. Chromatin accessibility at these target promoters is dependent upon BRG1. These results favor a model where BRG1 coordinates spermatogenic transcription to ensure meiotic progression. In spermatocytes, BRG1 interacts with SCML2, a testes specific PRC1 factor that is associated with the repression of somatic genes. We present evidence to suggest that BRG1 and SCML2 concordantly regulate genes during meiosis. Furthermore, BRG1 is required for the proper localization of SCML2 and its associated deubiquitinase, USP7, to the sex chromosomes during pachynema. SCML2 associated, mono ubiquitination of histone H2A lysine 119 (H2AK119ub1) and acetylation of histone lysine 27 (H3K27ac) are elevated inBrg1cKOtestes. Coincidentally, the PRC1 ubiquitin ligase, RNF2 is activated while a histone H2A/H2B deubiquitinase, USP3 is repressed. Thus, BRG1 impacts the male epigenome by influencing the localization and expression of epigenetic modifiers. This mechanism highlights a novel paradigm of co-operativity between SWI/SNF and PRC1.

Summary statement

BRG1, a catalytic subunit of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, interacts with SCML2 (Sexcomb onmidleg-like 2), a polycomb repressive 1 (PRC1) factor, to regulate transcription during spermatogenesis. This represents a novel paradigm of SWI/SNF-PRC1 co-operation during gametogenesis.
Comprehensive analysis of miRNA and protein profiles within exosomes derived from canine lymphoid tumour cell lines
Authors: Asada Hajime , Tomiyasu Hirotaka , Uchikai Takao , Ishihara Genki , Goto-Koshino Yuko , Ohno Koichi , Tsujimoto Hajime
Published: November 2018

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles released from almost all cell types, which play roles in cell-cell communication. Recent studies have suggested that microenvironmental crosstalk mediated by exosomes is an important factor in the escape of tumour cells from the anti-tumour immune system in human haematopoietic malignancies. Here, we conducted comprehensive analysis of the miRNA and protein profiles within the exosomes released from four canine lymphoid tumour cell lines as a model of human lymphoid tumours. The results showed that the miRNAs and proteins abundantly contained in exosomes were similar among the four cell lines. However, the profiles of miRNA within exosomes differed among the cell lines and reflected the expression pattern of miRNAs of the parent cells. In the comparison of the amounts of miRNAs and proteins among the cell lines, those of three miRNAs (miR-151, miR-8908a-3p, and miR-486) and CD82 protein differed between exosomes derived from vincristine-sensitive and resistant cell lines. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the biological functions of the exosomal contents in the microenvironmental crosstalk of lymphoid tumours.
Limits of chromosome compaction by loop-extruding motors
Authors: Banigan Edward J. , Mirny Leonid A.
Published: November 2018

During mitosis, human chromosomes are linearly compacted ~ 1000-fold by loop-extruding motors. Recent experiments have shown that condensins extrude DNA loops, but in a “one-sided” manner. We explore whether one-sided extrusion can compact chromosomes by developing a mean-field model for polymer compaction by motors that actively extrude loops and turnover. The model establishes an upper bound of only ~ 10-fold for compaction by one-sided extrusion. Thus, it cannot be the sole mechanism of chromosome compaction. However, other, effectively two-sided mechanisms can achieve sufficient compaction.
Long read-based de novo assembly of low complex metagenome samples results in finished genomes and reveals insights into strain diversity and an active phage system
Authors: Somerville Vincent , Lutz Stefanie , Schmid Michael , Frei Daniel , Moser Aline , Irmler Stefan , Frey Jürg E. , Ahrens Christian H.
Published: November 2018

Background

Complete and contiguous genome assemblies greatly improve the quality of subsequent systems-wide functional profiling studies and the ability to gain novel biological insights. While a de novo genome assembly of an isolated bacterial strain is in most cases straightforward, more informative data about co-existing bacteria as well as synergistic and antagonistic effects can be obtained from a direct analysis of microbial communities. However, the complexity of metagenomic samples represents a major challenge. While third generation sequencing technologies have been suggested to enable finished metagenome-assembled-genomes, to our knowledge, the complete genome assembly of all dominant strains in a microbiome sample has not been shown so far. Natural whey starter cultures (NWCs) are used in the production of cheese and represent low complex microbiomes. Previous studies of Swiss Gruyère and selected Italian hard cheeses, mostly based on amplicon-based metagenomics, concurred that three species generally pre-dominate: Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus helveticus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii.

Results

Two NWCs from Swiss Gruyère producers were subjected to whole metagenome shotgun sequencing using Pacific Biosciences Sequel, Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION and Illumina MiSeq platforms. We achieved the complete assembly of all dominant bacterial genomes from these low complex NWCs, which was corroborated by a 16S rRNA based amplicon survey. Moreover, two distinct L. helveticus strains were successfully co-assembled from the same sample. Besides bacterial genomes, we could also assemble several bacterial plasmids as well as phages and a corresponding prophage. Biologically relevant insights could be uncovered by linking the plasmids and phages to their respective host genomes using DNA methylation motifs on the plasmids and by matching prokaryotic CRISPR spacers with the corresponding protospacers on the phages. These results could only be achieved by employing third generation, long-read sequencing data able to span intragenomic as well as intergenomic repeats.

Conclusions

Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of complete de novo genome assembly of all dominant strains from low complex NWC’s based on whole metagenomics shotgun sequencing data. This allowed to gain novel biological insights and is a fundamental basis for subsequent systems-wide omic analyses, functional profiling and phenotype to genotype analysis of specific microbial communities.
Ca2+-activated K+channels reduce network excitability, improving adaptability and energetics for transmitting and perceiving sensory information
Authors: Li Xiaofeng , Tayoun Ahmad Abou , Song Zhuoyi , Dau An , Rien Diana , Jaciuch David , Dongre Sidhartha , Blanchard Florence , Nikolaev Anton , Zheng Lei , Bollepalli Murali K. , Chu Brian , Hardie Roger C. , Dolph Patrick J. , Juusola Mikko
Published: November 2018

Ca2+-activated K+channels (BK and SK) are ubiquitous in synaptic circuits, but their role in network adaptation and sensory perception remains largely unknown. Using electrophysiological and behavioral assays and biophysical modelling, we discover how visual information transfer in mutants lacking the BK channel (dSlo−), SK channel (dSK−) or both (dSK−;;dSlo−) is shaped in the female fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) R1-R6 photoreceptor-LMC circuits (R-LMC-R system) through synaptic feedforward-feedback interactions and reduced R1-R6ShakerandShabK+conductances. This homeostatic compensation is specific for each mutant, leading to distinctive adaptive dynamics. We show how these dynamics inescapably increase the energy cost of information and promote the mutants’ distorted motion perception, determining the true price and limits of chronic homeostatic compensation in anin vivogenetic animal model. These results reveal why Ca2+-activated K+channels reduce network excitability (energetics), improving neural adaptability for transmitting and perceiving sensory information.

Significance statement

In this study, we directly linkin vivoandex vivoexperiments with detailed stochastically operating biophysical models to extract new mechanistic knowledge of howDrosophilaphotoreceptor-interneuron-photoreceptor (R-LMC-R) circuitry homeostatically retains its information sampling and transmission capacity against chronic perturbations in its ion-channel composition, and what is the cost of this compensation and its impact on optomotor behavior. We anticipate that this novel approach will provide a useful template to other model organisms and computational neuroscience, in general, in dissecting fundamental mechanisms of homeostatic compensation and deepening our understanding of how biological neural networks work.
Fungal symbionts produce prostaglandin E2to promote their intestinal colonization
Authors: Tan Tze Guan , Lim Ying Shiang , Tan Alrina , Leong Royston , Pavelka Norman
Published: November 2018

Candida albicansis a ubiquitous fungal symbiont that resides on diverse human barrier surfaces. Both mammalian and fungal cells can convert arachidonic acid into the lipid mediator, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), but the physiological significance of fungal-derived PGE2remains elusive. Here we report that aC. albicansmutant deficient in PGE2production suffered a loss of competitive fitness in the murine gastrointestinal (GI) tract and that PGE2supplementation mitigated this fitness defect. Impaired fungal PGE2production affected neither thein vitrofitness ofC. albicansnor hyphal morphogenesis and virulence in either systemic or mucosal infection models. Fungus-derived PGE2improved intra-GI fitness ofC. albicansby diminishing the killing ofC. albicansby phagocytes. Consequently, ablation of colonic phagocytes abrogated the fitness boost conferred by fungal PGE2. These observations suggest thatC. albicanshas evolved the capacity to produce PGE2from arachidonic acid, a host-derived precursor, to promote its own colonization of the host gut. Analogous mechanisms might undergird host-microbe interactions of other symbiont fungi.

Author Summary

Candida albicansis a symbiont fungus that resides in the gut of a majority of people without provoking disease. However, residentC. albicanscan bloom and turn pathogenic in a subset of individuals who are immunocompromised due to infections or chemotherapy or who suffer a disruption of their intestinal microbial community due to antibiotic use. However, the fungal and host factors that regulate the fitness ofC. albicansas a symbiont or an invasive pathogen remain poorly understood. Here we focused on the physiological role of fungus-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the fitness ofC. albicansusing a PGE2-deficientC. albicansstrain and mouse models of infections and intestinal symbiosis. We found that fungal PGE2, contrary to previously described functions of promoting virulence, played no role in fungal pathogenicityin vivo. Instead, fungal PGE2specifically augmented the ability ofC. albicansto colonize the gut, in part by reducing fungal killing by intestinal phagocytes. Our results suggest that fungal PGE2synthetic pathways may be prophylactically targeted in individuals susceptible to invasive infections.
Which glue to choose? A neutron scattering study of various adhesive materials and their effect on background scattering
Authors: Rule Kirrily C. , Mole Richard A. , Yu Dehong
Published: November 2018

The background scattering from numerous frequently used sample adhesives has been investigated to determine the background contribution of these glues when used for inelastic neutron scattering measurements. Starting with a bare Cu sheet, different glues have been trialled, such as GE varnish, CYTOP solution, Teflon tape, Fomblin oil and two-component epoxy glue. Measurements were collected using the PELICAN cold-neutron time-of-flight spectrometer at ANSTO, which is capable of collecting data over a wide range of Q–ω space simultaneously. The results indicate that those glues containing hydrogen give much higher background signals, while those that do not contain hydrogen have a much smaller impact on the background signal. This was observed for both elastic and inelastic neutron scattering.
Synthesis and crystal structures of 5,5′-(propane-2,2-diyl)bis(2-hydroxybenzaldehyde) and 5,5′-(propane-2,2-diyl)bis(2-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde)
Authors: Sausa Rosario C. , Lastovickova Dominika N. , La Scala John J.
Published: November 2018

The title compounds 5,5′-(propane-2,2-diyl)bis(2-hydroxybenzaldehyde), C17H16O4, (1), and 5,5′-(propane-2,2-diyl)bis(2-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde), C19H16O6, (2), crystallize with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. In molecule (1), a >C(CH3)2group bridges two nearly planar salicylaldehyde groups [r.m.s deviations = 0.010 (1) and 0.025 (2) Å], each comprising a planar phenyl ring bonded with a hydroxyl and an aldehyde group. Similarly, compound (2) has the same bridging group, but it connects two nearly planar appendants [r.m.s deviations = 0.034 (1) and 0.035 (1) Å], each comprising a phenyl ring bonded with a hydroxyl and two aldehyde groups. Molecule (1) exhibits a bridge angle of 109.5 (2)° with the salicylaldehyde planes subtending a dihedral angle of 88.4 (1)°. In contrast, molecule (2) presents a bridge angle of 108.9 (2)° with its appendants subtending a dihedral angle of 79.6 (3)°. Both molecules exhibit two intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds involving the phenolic H atoms and carboxyl O-atom acceptors. In the crystal of (2), O—H...O hydrogen bonds between one of the hydroxyl H atoms and a carboxyl O atom from a symmetry-related molecule form a chain along [10\overline{1}]. In addition, (2) exhibits a strong visible luminescence when excited with ultraviolet radiation.
N,1-Bis(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamide
Authors: Detert Heiner , Bachon Peter , Schollmeyer Dieter
Published: November 2018

Condensation of ethyl acetoacetate and phenetidine gives the title compound, C24H26N2O4. The planar ethoxyphenyl group attached to the pyridine ring is twisted about 77.96 (11)° out of the plane of the N-ethoxycarboxamidopyridine unit. The carboxamide unit forms a dihedral angle of about 28.1 (2)° with the pyridine ring.
Power distance in India
Authors: Mathew Sagi , Taylor Greig
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how cultural differentiation can affect the successful transplantation of lean management and production techniques from the parent country to subsidiary countries in the developing world. In particular, the focus will be on car manufacture in India and the role of hierarchy in Indian society, with reflection on how this seeps into workplace and power relations.

Design/methodology/approach

Lean production techniques have been hailed as revolutionising modern manufacturing, particularly in the automotive sector. In developed world countries, car manufacturers have made significant gains in efficiency and productivity as a result of their implementation. However, as many of these multinational companies (MNCs) have expanded production into rapidly-developing nations to take advantage of both their market and low-labour costs, the introduction of lean production practices have met some resistance. This is because certain underpinning concepts and values of the lean system, such as team work, delegation of authority and upward communication can be considered incompatible with aspects of local culture and employees’ attitude towards work and their superiors. The analysis presented is based on a series of semi-structured interviews with managers and workers from an India-based subsidiary of a MNC car manufacturer and engagement with the existing literature.

Findings

It concludes that paternal relationships, religious values and group orientation in Indian society have a significant impact on the dynamics of the workplace and result in a brand of power distance that is specific to this national context, raising questions about the suitability of universal implementation of lean production practices.

Originality/value

“Power distance” has become a catch-all term for cultures with an orientation towards hierarchy and status in society. However, this categorisation masks some of the factors belying the phenomenon and intricacies relating to how it plays out in the workplace. It is simplistic to postulate that high power distance cultures might be incompatible with management approaches that decentralise authority and increase worker participation. Rather than rely on overgeneralisations, the analysis provided has attempted to deconstruct the composition of power distance in the Indian context and document systematically how features of Indian culture conflict with the principles of lean production techniques, using a case study from an Indian subsidiary of a MNC. In particular, the study finds that religion, caste and paternalism create an India-specific power distance that manifests itself in worker behaviour and workplace relationships.
Customers satisfaction by fuzzy synthetic evaluation and genetic algorithm (case study)
Authors: Nayebpour Hamid , Bokaei Mohsen Nazem
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new technique for the determination of effective criteria weight on satisfaction using genetic algorithm and fuzzy synthetic evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

The weight values express the relative importance of criteria. In most of research works, weight values depend heavily on expert knowledge, and customer’s perspective have not been considered. The proposed approach determines the criteria weight on satisfaction using genetic algorithm and fuzzy synthetic evaluation considering Euclidean distance between the computed overall satisfaction evaluation and the surveyed overall satisfaction evaluation.

Findings

The research findings show that different segments of customer have various needs and explain causes of various needs in customers using genetic algorithm and fuzzy synthetic evaluation.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is in it using a new approach in order to determine the weight of criteria. The main advantage of proposed approach is that it will help managers and researchers to determine the weight of criteria on satisfaction, and this process will no longer just rely on expert knowledge.
New Education beyond the school: Rosemarie Benjamin’s Theatre for Children, 1937-1957
Authors: McIntyre John Alexander
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the work of Rosemary Benjamin’s Theatre for Children in Sydney as a compelling narrative of the New Education in Australia in the late 1930s, an historical moment when theatre for children emerged as a cultural experiment rich in educational ideas.

Design/methodology/approach

Contemporary sources and archival records are explored through several interpretive frames to develop a historical account of Benjamin’s Theatre for Children from 1937 to 1957.

Findings

Benjamin’s concept of children’s theatre was shaped by English progressive education as much as the Soviet model she extolled. She pursued her project in Sydney from 1937 because she found there a convivial European emigré community who encouraged her enterprise. They understood her Freudian ideas, which commended the use of the symbolic resources of myth and fairy tales to help children deal with difficult unconscious material. Benjamin also analysed audience reactions applying child study principles, evidence of the influence of Susan Isaacs and the New Education Fellowship. More successful as a Publicist than a Producer, Benjamin was able to mobilise support for her educational cause among performers, parents, cultural figures and educational authorities. Her contribution was to pave the way for those who would succeed with different models of theatre for children.

Originality/value

This is the first study to employ archival sources to document the history of the Theatre for Children, Sydney and address its neglect as a theatre project combining educational and theatrical values.
The Pransky interview: Dr Aaron Edsinger, CEO and cofounder at Hello Robot Inc
Authors: Pransky Joanne
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a “Q&A interview” conducted by Joanne Pransky of Industrial Robot Journal as a method to impart the combined technological, business and personal experience of a prominent, robotic industry PhD-turned entrepreneur regarding the evolution, commercialization and challenges of bringing a technological invention to market.

Design/methodology/approach

The interviewee is Dr Aaron Edsinger, a proven entrepreneur and inventor in the field of human-collaborative robotics. Dr Edsinger shares his journey that led him from developing humanoids at Rodney Brooks’ Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT, to cofounding four companies, two of which got purchased by Google.

Findings

Dr Edsinger received a BS degree in Computer Systems Engineering from Stanford, an MS in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a PhD in Computer Science from MIT and did post-doctorate research in the Humanoid Robotics Group at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab. He co-founded his first company Meka Robotics in 2007 and that same year, he started his second company, HStar Technologies. In 2011, he cofounded Redwood Robotics, and in 2013, he sold Meka and Redwood to Google. From 2013 to 2017, he was a Robotics Director at Google. In August of 2017, he cofounded Hello Robot Inc.

Originality/value

Dr Edsinger’s work in robotics grew out of the San Francisco robotic art scene in the 1990s. Since then, he has collaborated and built over a dozen research and artistic robot platforms and has been granted 28 patents. His world-class robotic systems encompass Dr Edsinger’s innovative research in dexterous manipulation in unstructured environments, force controlled compliant actuation, human safe robotics, integrated mechatronic engineering and the design of humanoid robots. Domo, the humanoid robot he built, was named one of Time magazine’s Best Inventions of the Year for 2007. Out of the eight robot companies Google purchased in 2013, two were cofounded by Dr Edsinger. In 2017, Dr Edsinger left Google to cofound his new company, Hello Robot Inc, a stealth mode consumer robot company.
Why medical tourists choose Turkey as a medical tourism destination?
Authors: Sag Ilhan , Zengul Ferhat Devrim
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationships between the health tourists’ perceptions on decisive factors (i.e. experience, technological infrastructure, flight distance, legal and moral restrictions, touristic attractions, religious similarity, waiting time and price of health tourism) and Turkey as their choice of healthcare tourism destination.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this empirical study were collected from 288 patients in Turkey, all of whom being health tourists from various countries. Descriptive statistics and Kruskal–Wallis difference tests were utilized for analyses.

Findings

Statistically significant differences were found among health tourists in regards to the geographical regions of their residence. These finding suggest that differences among health tourists in regards to the geographical regions of their residence contributed to the healthcare tourists’ behaviors and health tourism market segmentations in Turkey.

Research limitations/implications

Among the constraints of the study are the time and funding limitations coupled with the limitations on the scale development attempts in the health tourism literature and limitation and biases related to primary data collection. Despite all these limitations, by being the first study exploring the health tourism market segmentations in Turkey, this study contributes to the literature about the perceptions of health tourists and their reasons in choosing Turkey as a health tourism destination.

Practical implications

Determining the Turkey’s health tourism market segmentations will generate the positive effect on the target market which is currently heterogeneous for health tourism operators and intermediary institutions. Moreover, this knowledge would allow the target market to be divided into homogeneous groups, with different marketing mixes for each group. Homogenized groups exhibit unified purchasing behaviors for their needs. Therefore, it is very important for health tourism operators and intermediary institutions to know how the preferences of health tourists from different geographical regions vary.

Originality/value

The paper fulfills a need for advancing the knowledge on the decisive factors in determining Turkey as the health tourism destination by revealing perceptions of health tourists from various geographical regions. This information is very valuable for the Turkey’s healthcare tourism marketing managers who desire to implement the strategies to achieve competitive advantage in the global health tourism market.
Innovation network, technological learning and innovation performance of high-tech cluster enterprises
Authors: Pan Xiongfeng , Song Ma Lin , Zhang Jing , Zhou Guangyou
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the influence of innovation network and technological learning on innovation performance of high-tech cluster enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a questionnaire, data are collected from Dalian High-tech Industrial park in China. In addition, structural equation model is used to identify the influence of innovation network and technological learning on the innovation performance of high-tech cluster enterprise.

Findings

The findings of this study show that the centrality of network location and the strength of the network relationship have a direct positive effect on technology acquisition, technology digestion and technology exploit of high-tech cluster enterprises. Meanwhile, technology acquisition has a direct positive effect on technology digestion, technology digestion has a direct positive effect technology exploit, and technology exploit has a direct positive effect innovation performance of high-tech cluster enterprises.

Practical implications

To improve innovation performance, high-tech cluster enterprises should not only nurture and optimize innovation networks but also improve technological learning ability.

Originality/value

This paper empirically supports the significant influence of innovation network and technological learning on innovation performance. While the results provide guidance for researchers and practitioners, it also adds value to innovation-related research.
When knowledge management matters: interplay between green human resources and eco-efficiency in the financial service industry
Authors: Moraes Silvana de Souza , Chiappetta Jabbour Charbel Jose , Battistelle Rosane A.G. , Rodrigues Jonny Mateus , Renwick Douglas S.W. , Foropon Cyril , Roubaud David
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Drawing on the ability–motivation–opportunity theory applied to the greening of service industries, this paper aims to analyze the extent to which green human resource management plays a role in the adoption of eco-efficiency principles in the financial sector. Environmental knowledge management represents one of the key green human resource management components.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a survey with 178 employees working within one of the largest financial banks in Brazil, which has been investing in eco-efficiency for more than ten years.

Findings

On the basis of structural equation modelling, this study has provided the following findings: Among all factors taken into consideration in this study, only environmental training positively influences eco-efficiency; training may be suffering owing to barriers associated with empowerment and teamwork; the eco-efficiency program of the studied company would get benefits if it provided more autonomy to employees; and finally, the eco-efficiency program of the studied bank could be more effective if connected with green teams.

Originality/value

To date, this is the first work that relates – with empirical evidence from Brazil – GHRM and eco-efficiency in the financial service industry.
Design-for-variety and operational performance
Authors: Boer Henrike , Boer Harry
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Design-for-variety (DFV) practices aim to help manufacturers to manage and mitigate the negative impact of product variety on operational performance. Theory suggests that designing products according to DFV practices increases operational performance by allowing more efficient processing of products, capitalizing on commonalities and by supporting cross-functional and cross-boundary coordination through simplifying product designs. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the latter proposition, and especially the mediating role of internal, supplier and customer integration in the relationship between DFV and operational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected in 2014 among 702 manufacturers from 22 countries as part of the 6th International Manufacturing Strategy Survey are analyzed through mediated regression analysis using SPSS 25, AMOS and PROCESS v3.1 software.

Findings

DFV affects cost/speed, quality, delivery, flexibility and service performance positively. Except for the role of customer integration in the DFV-cost/speed relationship, internal, supplier and customer integration partially mediate the relationship between DFV and operational performance.

Practical implications

In addition to allowing a more efficient processing of products, the positive effect of DFV on performance is also explained by the fact that DFV practices support cross-functional and supply chain integration. These practices allow manufacturers to create a set of design rules easily understood and communicated within and across organizational boundaries.

Originality/value

While previous research tends to consider one DFV practice and limited sets of integration mechanisms and performance dimensions, this paper consolidates the most common DFV practices into one construct and encompasses the three forms of integration and six performance dimensions dominating the DFV literature.
Linking leader–follower proactive personality congruence to creativity
Authors: Roopak Kumar , Mishra Sushanta Kumar , Sikarwar Ekta
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Drawing from the literature on person–environment fit and proactive personality, the purpose of this paper is to empirically examine whether congruence between the proactive personality of a leader and his/her follower is facilitative/inhibitive of creativity of the follower.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected in two waves from 355 followers and 36 corresponding leaders working in a large manufacturing company in India. Hypotheses were tested using polynomial regression analysis and response surface method.

Findings

The results indicate that leader–follower congruence in proactive personality is more likely to encourage followers’ creativity. Moreover, leader–follower congruence at higher levels of proactive personality showed higher levels of followers’ creativity than when dyads are congruent at lower levels.

Practical implications

Findings suggest that human resource management in organizations should consider matching leaders’ proactive personality with that of followers’ to foster employee creativity. This is critical from the perspective of recruitment and dyad formulation for jobs that demand creativity.

Originality/value

Research examining why and how congruence in personal characteristics between a leader and his/her follower foster followers’ creativity is at best scant. The study is a novel attempt to examine the effect of congruence in leader–follower proactive personalities on workplace creativity of the follower.
Risk of psychiatric disorders in rosacea: A nationwide, population‐based, cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Hung Chih‐Tsung , Chiang Chien‐Ping , Chung Chi‐Hsiang , Tsao Chang‐Huei , Chien Wu‐Chien , Wang Wei‐Ming
Published: November 2018

Rosacea has been reported to be associated with psychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, a nationwide study of the relationship between rosacea and comorbid psychiatric diseases in an Asian population has not been conducted. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of rosacea in the various psychiatric disorders by using a nationwide database in Taiwan. Data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan from 2000 to 2013. In total, 7881 patients with rosacea and 31 524 age‐ and sex‐matched controls were enrolled. Patients with rosacea tended to have more coexisting psychiatric disorders. After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity and residence/regions, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of psychiatric disorders for patients with rosacea was 2.761 (95% CI = 2.650–2.877, P < 0.001). Among them, the highest adjusted HR are phobic disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder of 7.841 (95% CI = 7.526–8.170, P < 0.001) and 6.389 (95% CI = 6.132–6.657, P < 0.001), respectively. The National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan does not include the information about rosacea subtypes, severity and laboratory parameters. In conclusion, rosacea is related to various psychiatric disorders. In addition to anxiety and depression, patients are also at increased risk of phobic disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Review and meta‐analysis found that prenatal folic acid was associated with a 58% reduction in autism but had no effect on mental and motor development
Authors: Iglesias Vázquez Lucía , Canals Josefa , Arija Victoria
Published: November 2018

Aim

The impact of prenatal folic acid on children's neurodevelopment and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remain unclear and this review and meta‐analysis aimed to quantify any associations.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus and The Cochrane Library until June 2018 with no language restrictions. Standardised mean differences and odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals are used to describe any associations between folic acid and mental development, motor development and ASD.

Results

The search strategy identified 647 papers and 16 were finally included in the meta‐analysis after the application of the exclusion criteria. These provided a total cohort size of 756 365 children aged 11 months to 15 years from 10 countries. The main finding was that prenatal use of folic acid was associated with a 58% reduction in the risk of ASD in children. We were surprised that better scores for mental development were associated with low prenatal exposure to folic acid.

Conclusion

Although the results should be interpreted with caution, they showed that routine prenatal supplements of folic acid were associated with significantly lower levels of ASD. Further studies are needed to reach a firm conclusion, given the multifactorial aetiology of neurodevelopment.
Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1 is a key mechanosensitive molecule of the esophageal myenteric neurons
Authors: Dong Hui , Tang Bo , Jiang Yanfen , Mittal Ravinder K.
Published: November 2018

Aim

Our earlier studies showed that mechanical stretch activates inhibitory motor neurons of the oesophagus; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we sought to examine if Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1 (NCX1) is responsible for the mechanosensitivity in the esophageal myenteric neurons (EMN) of rats and humans.

Methods

The function of NCX1 in primary culture of neurons was determined using calcium imaging, and mechanosensitivity was tested using osmotic stretch and direct mechanical stretch. Axial stretch‐induced relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was also studied in vivo in rats.

Results

The expression and co‐localization of NCX1 with nNOS were identified in the EMN from both rats and humans. The extracellular Ca2+ entry caused by ATP through purinergic signalling in the rat EMN was significantly inhibited by selective NCX blockers. Removal of extracellular Na+ to activate the Ca2+ entry mode of NCX1 induced an increase in the cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]cyt), which was attenuated by NCX blockers. Osmotic stretch and mechanical stretch‐induced [Ca2+]cyt signalling in the rat and human EMN were attenuated by NCX blockers as well as specific NCX1 knockdown. Osmotic stretch and mechanical stretch also induced [Ca2+]cyt signalling in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells with NCX1 over‐expression, which was attenuated by NCX blockers. Finally, NCX blockade inhibited axial stretch‐activated LES relaxation in vivo experiments in the rats.

Conclusions

We demonstrate a novel NCX1/Ca2+ pathway in the mechanosensitive neurons of rat and human oesophagus, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of oesophageal motility disorders.
How do we identify people at high risk of Type 2 diabetes and help prevent the condition from developing?
Authors: Fagg J. , Valabhji J.
Published: November 2018

Aims

To review the evidence regarding the identification of those at high risk of Type 2 diabetes and the conceptual and clinical criteria defining high risk, the prevention or delay of onset of Type 2 diabetes through lifestyle interventions, and the evolution of evidence from efficacy trials, through effectiveness trials in real‐world settings, to implementation programmes at scale.

Method

The wide scope of this review precluded a systematic approach, therefore, we present a narrative review that highlights key themes and contemporary developments, drawing on landmark studies, previous systematic and expert reviews, and previous meta‐analyses.

Results

While the diagnostic thresholds for Type 2 diabetes are accepted, international consensus on whether, and how, to classify those at high risk of Type 2 diabetes has not been achieved. There is ongoing debate about which laboratory test to use and each test's corresponding inclusion threshold, about where the balance of clinical benefits and harms sit when defining thresholds, and about how affordability of subsequent preventative interventions might influence the derivation of such thresholds within any particular population. A remarkable international effort has seen the evolution of interventions for those at high risk move from efficacy trials, through effectiveness trials, to implementation at scale, and the evidence supporting each stage is reviewed.

Conclusions

To achieve healthcare system sustainability, many countries are now focusing on disease prevention. To complement population‐level interventions that address the obesogenic environment, lifestyle interventions that empower individuals at high risk of Type 2 diabetes to modify this risk beneficially are now being implemented at scale.
Effects of livestock grazing on grassland carbon storage and release override impacts associated with global climate change
Authors: Zhou Guiyao , Luo Qin , Chen Yajie , He Miao , Zhou Lingyan , Frank Douglas , He Yanghui , Fu Yuling , Zhang Baocheng , Zhou Xuhui
Published: November 2018

Predicting future carbon (C) dynamics in grassland ecosystems requires knowledge of how grazing and global climate change (e.g., warming, elevated CO2, increased precipitation, drought, and N fertilization) interact to influence C storage and release. Here, we synthesized data from 223 grassland studies to quantify the individual and interactive effects of herbivores and climate change on ecosystem C pools and soil respiration (Rs). Our results showed that grazing overrode global climate change factors in regulating grassland C storage and release (i.e., Rs). Specifically, grazing significantly decreased aboveground plant C pool (APCP), belowground plant C pool (BPCP), soil C pool (SCP), and Rs by 19.1%, 6.4%, 3.1%, and 4.6%, respectively, while overall effects of all global climate change factors increased APCP, BPCP, and Rs by 6.5%, 15.3%, and 3.4% but had no significant effect on SCP. However, the combined effects of grazing with global climate change factors also significantly decreased APCP, SCP, and Rs by 4.0%, 4.7%, and 2.7%, respectively but had no effect on BPCP. Most of the interactions between grazing and global climate change factors on APCP, BPCP, SCP, and Rs were additive instead of synergistic or antagonistic. Our findings highlight the dominant effects of grazing on C storage and Rs when compared with the suite of global climate change factors. Therefore, incorporating the dominant effect of herbivore grazing into Earth System Models is necessary to accurately predict climate–grassland feedbacks in the Anthropocene.
School lunch—Children’s space or teachers’ governmentality?
Authors: Fossgard Eldbjørg , Wergedahl Hege , Bjørkkjær Tormod , Holthe Asle
Published: November 2018

This article discusses social aspects of school lunches in Norway. How do 11‐year‐old students experience and perceive their packed lunches and lunch breaks and to what extent is the lunch break a space for children's sociality or an area for teachers’ governmentality? The study is based on 25 focus group discussions and drawing and writing assignments with 165 participants. A large proportion of the students expressed that they appreciated their packed lunches because they could decide for themselves what and how much to eat. Additionally, shortage of time and disturbance and noise in the classroom could ruin a good meal. The main issue that the students raised in relation to our question of sociality was with whom they could sit and eat their packed lunches. This finding underlines the importance of considering the emotional dimensions of eating and that commensal eating is not dependent on sharing the same food. The children experienced that the lunch break was governed by an adult agenda in which they had limited opportunities to create their own spaces.
Prophages in Salmonella enterica: a driving force in reshaping the genome and physiology of their bacterial host?
Authors: Wahl Astrid , Battesti Aurélia , Ansaldi Mireille
Published: November 2018

Thanks to the exponentially increasing number of publicly available bacterial genome sequences, one can now estimate the important contribution of integrated viral sequences to the diversity of bacterial genomes. Indeed, temperate bacteriophages are able to stably integrate the genome of their host through site‐specific recombination and transmit vertically to the host siblings. Lysogenic conversion has been long acknowledged to provide additional functions to the host, and particularly to bacterial pathogen genomes where prophages contribute important virulence factors. This review aims particularly at highlighting the current knowledge and questions about lysogeny in Salmonella genomes where functional prophages are abundant, and where genetic interactions between host and prophages are of particular importance for human health considerations.
NRT1.1B improves selenium concentrations in rice grains by facilitating selenomethinone translocation
Authors: Zhang Lianhe , Hu Bin , Deng Kun , Gao Xiaokai , Sun Guoxin , Zhang Zhengli , Li Peng , Wang Wei , Li Hua , Zhang Zhihua , Fu Zihao , Yang Jinyong , Gao Shaopei , Li Legong , Yu Feiyan , Li Youjun , Ling Hongqing , Chu Chengcai
Published: November 2018

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and other animals, yet approximately one billion people worldwide suffer from Se deficiency. Rice is a staple food for over half of the world's population that is a major dietary source of Se. In paddy soils, rice roots mainly take up selenite. Se speciation analysis indicated that most of the selenite absorbed by rice is predominantly transformed into selenomethinone (SeMet) and retained in roots. However, the mechanism by which SeMet is transported in plants remains largely unknown. In this study, SeMet uptake was found to be an energy‐dependent symport process involving H+ transport, with neutral amino acids strongly inhibiting SeMet uptake. We further revealed that NRT1.1B, a member of rice peptide transporter (PTR) family which plays an important role in nitrate uptake and transport in rice, displays SeMet transport activity in yeast and Xenopus oocyte. The uptake rate of SeMet in the roots and its accumulation rate in the shoots of nrt1.1b mutant were significantly repressed. Conversely, the overexpression of NRT1.1B in rice significantly promoted SeMet translocation from roots to shoots, resulting in increased Se concentrations in shoots and rice grains. With vascular‐specific expression of NRT1.1B, the grain Se concentration was 1.83‐fold higher than that of wild type. These results strongly demonstrate that NRT1.1B holds great potential for the improvement of Se concentrations in grains by facilitating SeMet translocation, and the findings provide novel insight into breeding of Se‐enriched rice varieties.
Daily Maximum Erythemal Dose Rates in the Tropics
Authors: Silva Abel A. , Yamamoto Ana L. C. , Corrêa Marcelo P.
Published: November 2018

The maximum erythemal dose rate (EDRmax) at the Earth's surface tends to occur at local noon. However, clouds can make the timing of EDRmax significantly away from local noon. In fact, EDRmax and its time of occurrence depend mainly on the solar zenith angle at noon (SZAn), site's altitude, the total ozone column (TOC), cloud cover, cloud genera and aerosols. This work depicts the daily incidence of EDRmax for Belo Horizonte (19.92°S, 43.94°W, 858 m a.s.l.) in the Southern Hemisphere tropics for a period of five years (2005–2010). Daily values of EDRmax ranged from 0.063 W m−2 (1σ > 6.9%, Moderate UV‐Index of 3, winter) to 0.486 W m−2 (Extreme UVI of 19, summer). Indicative values of EDRmax for cloudless days were 0.336 W m−2 (summer, TOC = 258 Dobson Units), 0.311 W m−2 (fall, 260 DU), 0.253 W m−2 (spring, 274 DU) and 0.143 W m−2 (winter, 246 DU). Radiation enhancement events by clouds made EDRmax up to 45% higher than the reference EDRmax for cloudless summer skies at a time resolution of a few minutes. The main cloud genera to be associated with such events are Cumulus, Altocumulus, Altostratus and Stratocumulus. The EDR can also be significantly affected by aerosols, which attenuated on average 0.031 W m−2 (22%) of the erythemal UV in a case study at the site.
A Bayesian Approach for Extracting Fluorescence Lifetimes from Sparse Data Sets and Its Significance for Imaging Experiments
Authors: Santra Kalyan , Smith Emily A. , Song Xueyu , Petrich Jacob W.
Published: November 2018

The measurement of fluorescence lifetimes, especially in small sample volumes, presents the dual challenge of probing a small number of fluorophores and fitting the concomitant sparse data set to the appropriate excited‐state decay function. A common method of analysis, such as the maximum likelihood (ML) technique, assumes a uniform probability distribution of the parameters describing the fluorescence decay function. An improvement is thus suggested by implementing a suitable nonuniform distribution, as is provided by a Bayesian framework, where the distribution of parameters is obtained from both their prior knowledge and the evidence‐based likelihood of an event for a given set of parameters. We have also considered the Dirichlet prior distribution, whose mathematical form enables analytical solutions of the fitting parameters to be rapidly obtained. If Gaussian and exponential prior distributions are judiciously chosen, they reproduce the experimental target lifetime to within 20% with as few as 20 total photon counts for the data set, as does the Dirichlet prior distribution. But because of the analytical solutions afforded by the Dirichlet prior distribution, it is proposed to employ a Dirichlet prior to search parameter space rapidly to provide, if necessary, appropriate parameters for subsequent employment of a Gaussian or exponential prior distribution.