bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social manipulation, turn-taking and cooperation in apes
Authors: Rossano Federico
Published: September 2018

This paper outlines how the focus on how communicative signals might emerge and how the capacity to interpret them might develop, does not yet explain what type of motivation is required to actually deal with those signals. Without the consistent production of appropriate responses to the production of communicative signals, there would be no point in producing any signal. If language is a tool to accomplish things with others, we need to understand what would lead to cooperation. The first step consists in avoiding the blind belief that all cooperation requires some prosocial attitude. A great deal of cooperation can occur while each participant in the interaction is selfishly attempting to maximize their own benefits or minimizing damaging consequences.

I describe how different types of turn-taking can be achieved via different levels of cognitive complexity and how interpretive turn-taking requires a great deal of cognitive abilities that great apes possess. Finally, I provide empirical evidence of social manipulation in non-human primates. Given our awareness of the occurrence of social manipulation during cooperation among human adults, it seems necessary to reconsider to what degree human communication and language evolution require unique prosocial motivations.
Why do we want to talk?
Authors: Semendeferi Katerina
Published: September 2018

Cognitive and emotional processes are now known to be intertwined and thus the limbic system that underlies emotions is important for human brain evolution, including the evolution of circuits supporting language. The neural substrates of limbic functions, like motivation, attention, inhibition, evaluation, detection of emotional stimuli and others have changed over time. Even though no new, added structures are present in the human brain compared to nonhuman primates, evolution tweaks existing structural systems with possible functional implications. Empirical comparative neuroanatomical evidence is presented here in support of such changes in the limbic system, including the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex. Given their possible functional significance, these alterations may further enable and enhance human interest and motivation to communicate beyond what is seen in other primates living in complex social groups. The argument here is that even though emotion processing is likely needed for increased social complexity independent of language, the reason why humans want to talk may be related in part to the enhancement of socioemotional processes resulting from the reorganization and rewiring of underlying neural systems some of which are interconnected to the language areas. Neurodevelopmental disorders in humans affecting both language and sociability fuel such arguments.
Projection friction stir spot welding: a pathway to produce strong keyhole-free welds
Authors: Mousavizade S. M. , Pouranvari M.
Published: September 2018

This paper introduces a novel facile method, called projection friction stir spot welding, to produce a keyhole-free friction stir welds based on a pinless tool method involving using a specially designed projection on the surface of the backing anvil. The projection plays two key roles contributing to the bonding mechanism and the joint strength: (i) encouraging the material flow perpendicular to the joint interface and (ii) bending the joint interface at the edge of the projection. The process enables pathway to produce keyhole-free welds with superior mechanical performance in steel sheets compared to the other spot welding techniques.
Inhibition of TLR9-NF-κB-mediated sterile inflammation improves pressure overload-induced right ventricular dysfunction in rats
Authors: Yoshida Keimei , Abe Kohtaro , Ishikawa Mariko , Saku Keita , Shinoda-Sakamoto Masako , Ishikawa Tomohito , Watanabe Takanori , Oka Masahiko , Sunagawa Kenji , Tsutsui Hiroyuki
Published: September 2018

Aims

Recent accumulating evidence suggests that sterile inflammation plays a crucial role in the progression of various cardiovascular diseases. However, its contribution to right ventricular (RV) dysfunction remains unknown. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)-NF-κB-mediated sterile inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of RV dysfunction.

Methods and results

We performed main pulmonary artery banding (PAB) in rats to induce RV pressure overload and dysfunction. On Day 14 after PAB, the pressure overload impaired RV function as indicated by increased RV end-diastolic pressure concomitant with macrophage infiltration and fibrosis, as well as maximal activation of NF-κB and TLR9. Short-term administration (days 14–16 after PAB) of a specific TLR9 inhibitor, E6446, or an NF-κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) significantly attenuated NF-κB activation. Furthermore, long-term administration of E6446 (treatment: days 14–28) or PDTC (prevention: days −1 to 28; treatment: days 14 to 28) improved RV dysfunction associated with mitigated macrophage infiltration and fibrosis in right ventricle and decreased serum brain natriuretic peptide levels.

Conclusion

Inhibition of TLR9-NF-κB pathway-mediated sterile inflammation improved PAB-induced RV dysfunction in rats. This pathway plays a major role in the progression of pressure overload-induced RV dysfunction and is potentially a novel therapeutic target for the disorder.
Modern physics in the museum
Authors: Boyle Alison
Published: September 2018

This paper examines how modern physics was collected and displayed in the UK over the (long) twentieth century, focusing on the national collections in the Science Museum, London. The emergence and establishment of modern physics roughly overlaps with the development of distinct science and technology museums. This provides an opportunity to explore how collections are shaped in response to scientists’ own narratives of their professional identities, institutional or political priorities, and how certain aspects of the material culture of a scientific area can become closely intertwined with its public image. By tracing the movement of a well-known artefact of modern physics – a cathode-ray tube used by J. J. Thomson in his ‘electron’ experiments – I show how collection boundaries could be porous, although overall collection framings persisted.
Elites and emulators: The evolution of Iraqi Kurdish asylum migration to Europe
Authors: Paasche Erlend
Published: September 2018

Research on migration’s internal dynamics has focused on labour migration and drawn heavily on cumulative causation theory. It is often believed that pioneer labour migrants of middling socioeconomic selectivity facilitate the migration of others in their networks by reducing the costs and risks of migration through practical assistance. Expanding migrant networks can allow for labour migration to grow although macrostructural conditions change. For asylum migration in the context of armed conflict, the mechanisms whereby migration grows may very well differ. For one thing, pioneer asylum migrants in such contexts are often social elites. What is the relationship between the movement of these elites and that of subsequent asylum migrants? This article traces the evolution of Iraqi Kurdish asylum migration to Europe from its inception by elite pioneer migrants to its continuation by non-elites, during four decades of altered contextual conditions. The analysis is based on 106 semi-structured interviews with Iraqi Kurdish migrants. An evolving interplay between exogenous and endogenous dynamics is observed, and so are commonalities with the social processes that underpin labour migration. The basic principles of cumulative causation seem to be operating, yet there is little to indicate that established migrants functioned as ‘bridgeheads’ for newcomers. The empirical analysis feeds into a concluding conceptual discussion in which I argue that, compared to labour migration, asylum migration from conflict-affected areas may be relatively less driven by the interpersonal networks that reduce costs and risks, and relatively more driven by what the article coins ‘emulation’, the observational learning of migration.
Preoperative Resectability Estimates of Nonenhancing Glioma by Neurosurgeons and a Resection Probability Map
Authors: Hendriks Eef J , Idema Sander , Hervey-Jumper Shawn L , Bernat Anne-Laure , Zwinderman Aeilko H , Barkhof Frederik , Vandertop W Peter , Mandonnet Emmanuel , Duffau Hugues , Berger Mitchel S , De Witt Hamer Philip C
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

Preoperative interpretation of resectability of diffuse nonenhancing glioma is primarily based on individual surgical expertise.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the accuracy and precision between observed resections and preoperative estimates of neurosurgeons and a resection probability map (RPM). We hypothesize that the RPM estimates is as good as senior neurosurgeons.

METHODS

A total of 234 consecutive patients were included from 2 centers, who had resective surgery with functional mapping between 2006 and 2012 for a supra-tentorial nonenhancing glioma. Extent of resection (EOR) and residual tumor volume (RTV) were segmented and an RPM was constructed in standard brain space. Three junior and three senior neurosurgeons estimated EOR and RTV, blinded for postoperative results. We determined the agreement between the estimates and calculated the diagnostic accuracy of the neurosurgeons and the RPM to predict the observed resections.

RESULTS

Preoperative estimates of resection results by junior and senior neurosurgeons were significantly biased towards overestimation of EOR (4.2% and 11.2%) and underestimation of RTV (4.3 and 9.0 mL), whereas estimates of the RPM were unbiased (−2.6% and −.2 mL, respectively). The limits of agreement were wide for neurosurgeons and for the RPM. The RPM was significantly more accurate in identifying patients in whom an EOR >40% was observed than neurosurgeons.

CONCLUSION

Neurosurgeons estimate preoperative resectability before surgery of a nonenhancing glioma rather accurate–with a small bias–and imprecise–with wide limits of agreement. An RPM provides unbiased resectability estimates, which can be useful for surgical decision-making, planning, and education.
Leadership and Change in Winnipeg’s Smart Policing Initiative
Authors: Catte Ryan , Linden Rick
Published: September 2018

If evidence-based policing is to be successful, we need to know more about how leaders can successfully introduce change into their organizations. This study looks at a Smart Policing Initiative (SPI) implemented by the Winnipeg Police Service. Line officers and management personnel were interviewed to determine how they dealt with the implementation of SPI. We used activity data to determine whether officers actually carried out the activities integral to the SPI programme. The research concludes that there was attitudinal ‘buy-in’ to the programme and that the officers did carry out the proactive policing activities mandated by the programme.
Do Female Officers Improve Law Enforcement Quality? Effects on Crime Reporting and Domestic Violence
Authors: Miller Amalia R , Segal Carmit
Published: September 2018

We study the impact of the integration of women in U.S. policing between the late 1970s and early 1990s on violent crime reporting and domestic violence (DV). Along these two key dimensions, we find that female officers improved police quality. Crime victimization data reveal that as female representation increases among officers in an area, violent crimes against women in that area, and especially DV, are reported to the police at significantly higher rates. There are no such effects for violent crimes against men or from increases in the female share of civilian police employees. Furthermore, increases in female officer shares are followed by significant declines in rates of intimate partner homicide and non-fatal domestic abuse. These effects are all consistent between fixed effects models with controls for economic and policy variables and models that focus exclusively on increases in female police employment driven by externally imposed affirmative action plans following litigation for employment discrimination.
Attribution Bias in Consumer Choice
Authors: Haggag Kareem , Pope Devin G , Bryant-Lees Kinsey B , Bos Maarten W
Published: September 2018

When judging the value of a good, people may be overly influenced by the state in which they previously consumed it. For example, someone who tries out a new restaurant while very hungry may subsequently rate it as high quality, even if the food is mediocre. We produce a simple framework for this form of attribution bias that embeds a standard model of decision making as a special case. We test for attribution bias across two consumer decisions. First, we conduct an experiment in which we randomly manipulate the thirst of participants prior to consuming a new drink. Second, using data from thousands of amusement park visitors, we explore how pleasant weather during their most recent trip affects their stated and actual likelihood of returning. In both of these domains, we find evidence that people misattribute the influence of a temporary state to a stable quality of the consumption good. We provide evidence against several alternative accounts for our findings and discuss the broader implications of attribution bias in economic decision making.
On the integrability of Birkhoff billiards
Authors: Kaloshin Vadim , Sorrentino Alfonso
Published: September 2018

In this survey, we provide a concise introduction to convex billiards and describe some recent results, obtained by the authors and collaborators, on the classification of integrable billiards, namely the so-called Birkhoff conjecture.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Finite dimensional integrable systems: new trends and methods’.
Symplectic invariants for parabolic orbits and cusp singularities of integrable systems
Authors: Bolsinov Alexey , Guglielmi Lorenzo , Kudryavtseva Elena
Published: September 2018

We discuss normal forms and symplectic invariants of parabolic orbits and cuspidal tori in integrable Hamiltonian systems with two degrees of freedom. Such singularities appear in many integrable systems in geometry and mathematical physics and can be considered as the simplest example of degenerate singularities. We also suggest some new techniques which apparently can be used for studying symplectic invariants of degenerate singularities of more general type.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Finite dimensional integrable systems: new trends and methods’.
Does voluntary wheel running exist in Neotropical wild mammals?
Authors: Lunteren Peter van , Groenewold Marnix A. , Pozsgai Gabor , Sarvary Joseph
Published: September 2018

Running wheels are frequently used to improve the welfare of captive animals, increase environmental enrichment, and, by doing so, reduce stereotypic behaviors. It is, however, still debated whether or not wheel running itself is a stereotypy. New evidence emerged when Meijer and Robbers (2014, Proc. Royal Soc. B) reported voluntary wheel running of wild animals in the Netherlands. Since stereotypic behaviors are exclusively attributed to captive animals, the occurrence of wheel running in the wild suggests that this behavior is non-stereotypic. Our study explores that same line of investigation, examining whether wild animals will voluntarily use running wheels in a natural area in Paraguay in comparison to the urban and semi-urban settings in the Netherlands. Of the 1857 small mammal visits we recorded, only two occasions showed evidence of what could be considered as wheel running behavior; over hundredfold fewer than previously reported. The potential reasons for the observed difference in wheel running activity, such as different species pool or seasonality, are discussed. The difference, however, is likely to be due to the much lower probability of Neotropical mammals in a remote natural site encountering man-made objects and experiencing urbanization-related behavioral patterns. Additionally, in the light of our findings, we review the definition of wheel running as a stereotypic behavior.
The AP-1 complex regulates AXL expression and determines sensitivity to PI3Kα inhibition in esophagus and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Bdarny Mai , Prasad Manu , Balaban Noa , Ben-Zion Joshua , Dinur Anat Bahat , Grénman Reidar , Cohen Limor , Elkabets Moshe
Published: September 2018

AXL overexpression is a common resistance mechanism to anti-cancer therapies, including the resistance to BYL719 (Alpelisib) – the p110α isoform specific inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) – in esophagus and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC, HNSCC respectively). However, the mechanisms underlying AXL overexpression in resistance to BYL719 remain elusive. Here we demonstrated that the AP-1 transcription factors, c-JUN and c-FOS, regulate AXL overexpression in HNSCC and ESCC. The expression of AXL was correlated with that of c-JUN both in HNSCC patients and in HNSCC and ESCC cell lines. Silencing of c-JUN and c-FOS expression in tumor cells downregulated AXL expression and enhanced the sensitivity of human papilloma virus positive (HPVPos) and negative (HPVNeg) tumor cells to BYL719 in vitro. Blocking of the c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) using SP600125 in combination with BYL719 showed a synergistic anti-proliferative effect in vitro, which was accompanied by AXL downregulation and potent inhibition of the mTOR pathway. In vivo, the BYL719-SP600125 drug combination led to the arrest of tumor growth in cell line-derived and patient-derived xenograft models, and in syngeneic head and neck murine cancer models. Collectively, our data suggests that JNK inhibition in combination with anti-PI3K therapy is a new therapeutic strategy that should be tested in HPVPosand HPVNegHNSCC and ESCC patients.
The anaphase-promoting complex regulates the degradation of the inner nuclear membrane protein Mps3 in budding yeast
Authors: Koch Bailey A. , Jin Hui , Tomko Robert J. , Yu Hong-Guo
Published: September 2018

The nucleus is enclosed by the inner nuclear membrane (INM) and the outer nuclear membrane (ONM). While the ONM is continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the INM is independent and separates the nucleoplasm from the ER lumen. To maintain INM homeostasis, proteins mislocalized to the INM are degraded by the ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) pathway. However, the mechanism for turnover of resident INM proteins is less clear. Here we show that the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, regulates the degradation of Mps3, a conserved integral protein of the INM. Turnover of Mps3 requires the ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes Ubc7 and Ubc6, but not the three known ERAD ubiquitin ligases, Doa10, Hrd1, and the Asi1-Asi3 complex. Using a genetic approach, we have found that Cdh1, a coactivator of APC/C, modulates Mps3 stability. APC/C controls Mps3 degradation through Mps3’s N-terminus, which resides in the nucleoplasm and possesses two putative APC/C-dependent destruction motifs. Accumulation of Mps3 at the INM impairs nuclear morphological changes and cell division. Our findings therefore reveal an unexpected mechanism of APC/C-mediated protein quality control at the INM that coordinates nuclear morphogenesis and cell-cycle progression.
Mian: Interactive Web-Based 16S rRNA Operational Taxonomic Unit Table Data Visualization and Discovery Platform
Authors: Jin Boyang Tom
Published: September 2018

In recent years, there has been strong interest in examining the microbiome and its impact on human health and the environment. By leveraging modern sequencing technologies, investigators can quickly determine the composition of a given microbial sample. At the same time, the same investigations often yield an array of categorical and numerical metadata derived from the sequenced samples such as immunohistochemical measures or locality information. Understanding how the microbiome data is associated with this external metadata is essential in developing targeted treatments for chronic diseases or proposing bacteria-modulated host responses. While many R or Python libraries and command-line tools have been developed for specific analysis purposes, there are still relatively few tools to facilitate open-ended data exploration and hypothesis generation. Here we introduce Mian, an open-source web framework to interactively visualize or run a suite of statistical and feature selection tools on the microbiome to identify important taxonomic groups in the context of any provided categorical or numerical metadata. Visualizations include boxplots, correlation networks, and PCA or NMDS scatterplots. Tools include Fisher’s Exact Test, Boruta feature selection, alpha and beta diversity, and differential and correlational analysis. Mian supports multiple standard representations of the OTU table as input and optionally subsamples the data during the upload process. Users can also filter and aggregate the OTU table at different taxonomic levels and dynamically adjust analysis parameters to see how the visualizations, results, and statistical measures change in real-time. Mian is freely available at: miandata.org
Proteus: an R package for downstream analysis of MaxQuant output
Authors: Gierlinski Marek , Gastaldello Francesco , Cole Chris , Barton Geoffrey J.
Published: September 2018

Proteus is a package for downstream analysis of MaxQuant evidence data in the R environment. It provides tools for peptide and protein aggregation, quality checks, data exploration and visualisation. Interactive analysis is implemented in the Shiny framework, where individual peptides or protein may be examined in the context of a volcano plot. Proteus performs differential expression analysis with the well-established tool limma, which offers robust treatment of missing data, frequently encountered in label-free mass-spectrometry experiments. We demonstrate on real and simulated data that limma results in improved sensitivity over random imputation combined with a t-test as implemented in the popular package Perseus. Embedding Proteus in R provides access to a wide selection of statistical and graphical tools for further analysis and reproducibility by scripting. Availability and implementation: The open-source R package, including example data and tutorials, is available to install from GitHub (https://github.com/bartongroup/proteus).
Haploinsufficiency of the psychiatric risk gene Cyfip1 causes abnormal postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis through microglial and Arp2/3 mediated actin dependent mechanisms
Authors: Haan Niels , Westacott Laura J , Carter Jenny , Owen Michael J , Gray William P , Hall Jeremy , Wilkinson Lawrence S
Published: September 2018

Genetic risk factors can significantly increase chances of developing psychiatric disorders, but the underlying biological processes through which this risk is effected remain largely unknown. Here we show that haploinsufficiency of Cyfip1, a candidate risk gene present in the pathogenic 15q11.2(BP1-BP2) deletion may impact on psychopathology via abnormalities in cell survival and migration of newborn neurons during postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis. We demonstrate that haploinsufficiency of Cyfip1 leads to increased numbers of adult born hippocampal neurons due to reduced apoptosis, without altering proliferation. We confirm this is due to a cell autonomous failure of microglia to induce apoptosis through the secretion of the appropriate factors. Furthermore, we show an abnormal migration of adult-born neurons due to altered Arp2/3 mediated actin dynamics. Together, our findings throw new light on how the genetic risk candidate Cyfip1 may influence the hippocampus, a brain region with strong evidence for involvement in psychopathology.
Intrinsically aggregation-prone proteins form amyloid-like aggregates and contribute to tissue aging in C. elegans
Authors: Huang C. , Wagner-Valladolid S. , Stephens A.D. , Jung R. , Poudel C. , Sinnige T. , Lechler M.C. , Schlörit N. , Laine R.F. , Michel C.H. , Vendruscolo M. , Kaminski C.F. , Kaminski Schierle G.S. , David D.C.
Published: September 2018

Reduced protein homeostasis and increased protein instability is a common feature of aging. Yet it remains unclear whether protein instability is a cause of aging. In neurodegenerative diseases and amyloidoses, specific proteins self-assemble into amyloid fibrils and accumulate as pathological solid aggregates in a variety of tissues. More recently, widespread protein aggregation has been described during normal aging, in the absence of disease processes. Until now, an extensive characterization of the nature of age-dependent protein aggregation and its consequences for aging has been lacking. Here, we show that age-dependent aggregates are rapidly formed by newly synthesized proteins and contain amyloid-like structures similar to disease-associated protein aggregates. Moreover, we demonstrate that age-dependent protein aggregation accelerates the functional decline of different tissues in C. elegans. Together, these finding reveal that the formation of amyloid aggregates is a generic problem of aging and likely to be an important target for strategies designed to maintain physiological functions in later stages of life.
Proximal perimeter encoding in the rat rostral thalamus
Authors: Matulewicz Pawel , Ulrich Katharina , Islam Md Nurul , Mathiasen Mathias L , Aggleton John P , O’Mara Shane M
Published: September 2018

Perimeters are an important part of the environment, delimiting its geometry. Here, we investigated how perimeters (vertical walls; vertical drops) affect neuronal responses in the rostral thalamus (the anteromedial and parataenial nuclei in particular). We found neurons whose firing patterns reflected the presence of walls and drops, irrespective of arena shape. Their firing patterns were stable across multiple sleep-wake cycles and were independent of ambient lighting conditions. Thus, rostral thalamic nuclei may participate in spatial representation by encoding the perimeters of environments.
Automatic interpretation of otoliths using deep learning
Authors: Moen Endre , Handegard Nils Olav , Allken Vaneeda , Albert Ole thomas , Harbitz Alf , Malde Ketil
Published: September 2018

The age structure of a fish population has important implications for recruitment processes and population fluctuations, and is key input to fisheries assessment models. The current method relies on manually reading age from otoliths, and the process is labor intensive and dependent on specialist expertise.

Advances in machine learning have recently brought forth methods that have been remarkably successful in a variety of settings, with potential to automate analysis that previously required manual curation. Machine learning models have previously been successfully applied to object recognition and similar image analysis tasks. Here we investigate whether deep learning models can also be used for estimating the age of otoliths from images.

We adapt a standard neural network model designed for object recognition to the task of estimating age from otolith images. The model is trained and validated on a large collection of images of Greenland halibut otoliths. We show that the model works well, and that its precision is comparable to and may even surpass that of human experts.

Automating this analysis will help to improve consistency, lower cost, and increase scale of age prediction. Similar approaches can likely be used for otoliths from other species as well as for reading fish scales. The method is therefore an important step forward for improving the age structure estimates of fish populations.
Illness, social disadvantage, and sexual risk behavior in adolescence and the transition to adulthood
Authors: Alley Jenna , Owen Rebecca Y. , Wawrzynski Sarah E. , Lasrich Lauren , Ahmmad Zobayer , Utz Rebecca , Adkins Daniel E.
Published: September 2018

This study investigated the influence of illness on sexual risk behavior in adolescence and the transition to adulthood, both directly and through moderation of the impact of social disadvantage. We hypothesized positive effects for social disadvantages and illness on sexual risk behavior, consistent with the development of faster life history strategies among young people facing greater life adversity. Using the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we developed a mixed effects multinomial logistic regression model predicting sexual risk behavior in three comparisons, risky nonmonogamous sex vs. 1) safer nonmonogamous sex, 2) monogamous sex, and 3) abstinence, by social characteristics, illness, interactions thereof, and control covariates. Multiple imputation was used to address a modest amount of missing data. Subjects reporting higher levels of illness had lower odds of having safer nonmonogamous sex (OR = 0.84, p < .001), monogamous sex (OR = 0.82, p < .001), and abstinence (OR = 0.74, p < .001) vs. risky nonmonogamous sex, relative to individuals in better health. Illness significantly moderated the sex (OR = 0.88, p < .01), race/ethnicity (e.g., OR = 1.21, p < .001), and childhood SES (OR = 0.94; p < .01) effects for the abstinent vs. risky nonmonogamous sex comparison. Substantive findings were generally robust across waves and in various sensitivity analyses. These findings offer general support for the predictions of life history theory. Illness and various social disadvantages are associated with increased sexual risk behavior in adolescence and the transition to adulthood. Analyses indicate that the buffering effects of several protective social statuses against sexual risk-taking are substantially eroded by illness.
Hox genes limit germ cell formation in the short germ insectGryllus bimaculatus
Authors: Barnett Austen A. , Nakamura Taro , Extavour Cassandra G.
Published: September 2018

Hox genes are conserved transcription factor-encoding genes that specify the identity of body regions in bilaterally symmetrical animals. In the cricketGryllus bimaculatus, a member of the hemimetabolous insect group Orthoptera, the induction of a subset of mesodermal cells to form the primordial germ cells (PGCs) is restricted to the second through the fourth abdominal segments (A2-A4). In numerous insect species, the Hox genesSex-combs reduced(Scr),Antennapedia(Antp),Ultrabithorax(Ubx) andabdominal-A(abd-A) jointly regulate the identities of middle and posterior body segments, suggesting that these genes may restrict PGC formation to specific abdominal segments inG. bimaculatus. Here we show that all of these Hox genes, either individually or in segment-specific combinations, restrict PGC formation. Our data provides evidence for a segmental Hox code used to regulate the placement of PGC formation, reminiscent of the segmental Hox codes used in other arthropod groups to establish other aspects of segmental identity. These data also provide, to our knowledge, the first evidence for this ancient group of genes in determining PGC placement within the context of axial patterning in any animal studied thus far.
Analysis of the gut and gill microbiome of resistant and susceptible lines of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Brown Ryan M. , Wiens Gregory D. , Salinas Irene
Published: September 2018

Commensal microorganisms present at mucosal surfaces play a vital role in protecting the host organism from bacterial infection. There are multiple factors that contribute to selecting for the microbiome, key of which are host genetics. Flavobacterium psychrophillum, the causative agent of Bacterial Cold Water Disease in salmonids, accounts for acute losses in wild and farmed Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The U.S. National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture has used family-based selective breeding to generate a line of rainbow trout with enhanced resistance to F. psychrophilum. The goal of this study is to determine whether selective breeding impacts the gut and gill microbiome of the F. psychrophilum-resistant as compared to a background matched susceptible trout line. Mid-gut and gill samples were collected from juvenile fish (mean bwt 118g) and microbial diversity assessed by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Results indicate that alpha diversity was significantly higher in the mid-gut of the susceptible line compared to the resistant line, while no significant differences in alpha diversity were observed in the gills. Mycoplasma sp. was the dominant taxon in the mid-gut of both groups, although it was present at a decreased abundance in the susceptible line. We also observed an increased abundance of taxa that could potentially be pathogenic in the susceptible line, including Brevinema sp. and Enterobacteriaceae members. Within the gills, both lines exhibited similar microbial profiles, with Candidatus Branchiomonas being the dominant taxon. Together, these results suggest that selectively bred Flavobacterium psychrophillum-resistant trout may harness a more resilient gut microbiome, attributing to the disease resistant phenotype, providing a framework for future experiments.
Predation at a snail’s pace. What is needed for a successful hunt?
Authors: Gruijters Wouterus T. M.
Published: September 2018

Daily observations of wildParyphanta busbyi(New Zealand Kauri snail) along the edge of a driveway were carried out for just over one year. Documented behaviours include the snail’s speed of movement, thrusting their heads down into leaf litter to wait in ambush for prey, the daily retreat into lairs, burrowing, and the grooming of the snail’s shell. The most significant environmental factors affecting the presence of the snails were humidity and wind direction. There was a migration of snails into and out of the observable study area at different times of year. Due to the snail’s pace of 1.9 to 3 m/hr relative to its prey at 5-10m/hr the snails would need to migrate to and inhabit areas where there is likely to be trackable prey. Overall the observations indicate the hunting strategy of a periodically active ambush predator sometimes based in a lair and migrating to suitably humid and windless areas as needed to allow tracking of their prey.
Cost estimation accuracy in supply chain design
Authors: Asmussen Jesper Normann , Kristensen Jesper , Wæhrens Brian Vejrum
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how management attention and supply chain complexity affect the decision-making process and cost estimation accuracy of supply chain design (SCD) decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The research follows an embedded case study design. Through the lens of the behavioural theory of the firm, the SCD decision process and realised outcomes are investigated through longitudinal data collection across ten embedded cases with varying degrees of supply chain decision-making complexity and management attention.

Findings

The findings suggest that as supply chain decision-making complexity increases, cost estimation accuracy decreases. The extent to which supply chain decision-making complexity is readily recognised influences the selection of strategies for information search and analysis and, thus, impacts resulting cost estimation errors. The paper further shows the importance of management attention for cost estimation accuracy, especially management attention based on conflicting goals induce behaviours that improve estimation ability.

Research limitations/implications

A framework proposing a balance between supply chain decision-making complexity and management attention in SCD decisions is proposed. However, as an embedded case study the research would benefit from replication to externally validate results.

Originality/value

The method used in this study can identify how supply chain complexity is related to cost estimation errors and how management attention is associated with behaviours that improve cost estimation accuracy, indicating the importance of management attention in complex supply chain decision-making.
Health and wellness of Canadian commercial motor vehicle drivers
Authors: Crizzle Alexander , Madani Larijani Maryam , Myers Anita , McCrory Cassondra , Thiffault Pierre , Bigelow Philip
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solicit perspectives from stakeholders concerning health, environmental and operational challenges among Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in Canada (truck and bus drivers).

Design/methodology/approach

Two focus groups and one interview were conducted with key industry, government and advocacy groups representing or working with CMV drivers. Perspectives pertaining to working conditions, health issues, driver recruitment and retention, and other key issues in the CMV sector were obtained.

Findings

The findings show that undesirable working conditions are primary issues that impact recruitment and retention, as well as health and wellness (H&W), and productivity of drivers in both the truck and bus sectors. Compared to our US counterparts, finding parking areas and rest stops were seen as a major issue for Canadian truckers (particularly in the north). Unfortunately, there is limited or out-dated information on drivers and companies in Canada. Stakeholders stated the need for more information from both carriers/companies and from drivers themselves (particularly long-haul drivers).

Research limitations/implications

This study identifies gaps and key priority research areas pertaining to the H&W of the CMV sector in Canada that require further investigation.

Originality/value

CMV drivers are considered a vulnerable sector of the population. While drivers themselves have reported on undesirable work conditions leading to poor health, prior studies have not assessed the awareness or perspective of stakeholders involved in the CMV sector. This is the first study to capture stakeholder perspectives of the working conditions and health outcomes of CMV drivers.
Challenger sale: a dynamic method for customer engagement and value creation in business-to-business relationships
Authors: Osmonbekov Talai , Adamson Brent , Dixon Matthew
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to further explicate the notion of challenger sale.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used for this article is a personal interview.

Findings

The interview provides readers with insights and explanations of the challenger sale method from the authors of the book.

Originality/value

The interview allows the readers to learn directly from the authors of the methodology.
Improving the operational efficiency of outbound retail logistics using clustering of retailers and consumers
Authors: Mohanty Mahamaya , Singh Rashmi , Shankar Ravi
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate ways to improve operational efficiency of outbound retail logistics considering retailers and consumers by using clustering approach. The retailers are allocated to serve a cluster of consumers. This study demonstrates economic and environment benefits that are achieved in terms of reduced delivery time, transportation cost and carbon emissions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on modeling the outbound logistics of a retail chain by using Kohonen self-organizing map (KSOM). KSOM is an unsupervised learning and data analysis method for vector quantization, which is based on Euclidean distance method to form clusters.

Findings

Appropriate clustering of retailers and consumers provides efficient locations of retailers that are identified using the KSOM training algorithm. It provides optimum distance with lesser delivery time, transportation cost and carbon emissions.

Research limitations/implications

The implication of research includes modeling of operational procedures in a retail supply chain, which is a crucial task for a business. These operations positively affect the reduction in inventory and distribution costs, improvement in customer service and responsiveness to the ever-changing markets of consumer durables. Overall results are insightful and practical in the sense that implementation would result in consumer convenience, eco-friendly environment, etc.

Originality/value

There is not enough research available on outbound retail logistics considering retailers and consumers using clustering approach.
Service work in 2050: toward a work ecosystems perspective
Authors: Subramony Mahesh , Solnet David , Groth Markus , Yagil Dana , Hartley Nicole , Beomcheol Kim Peter , Golubovskaya Maria
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the changing nature of the relationship between service workers and their work arrangements. Building upon classical and contemporary management theories and examining current trends and disruptions in employment relationships, it proposes a dynamic and relational model applicable to the management of service work in future decades (notionally in the year 2050).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces and develops the concept of worker–ecosystem relationship as a core construct to describe the participation and productivity of workers in the significantly transformed work environment of 2050.

Findings

This paper argues that in work ecosystems – defined as relatively self-contained and self-adjusting systems – work arrangements will evolve toward less-clearly defined employment relationships characterized by long-term social contracts, tightly defined work roles and physical proximity of workers and organizations.

Originality/value

A novel yet theoretically rooted construct of work ecosystems is introduced, using this new lens to predict changes in the nature of service work in 2050.
Employee engagement, positive organizational culture and individual adaptability
Authors: Parent Jane D. , Lovelace Kathi J.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the connections between employee engagement, positive organizational psychology and an individual’s ability to adapt to ongoing organizational change.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature on individual adaptability, positive organizational psychology and employee engagement is reviewed. A model that suggests that a positive work culture enhances employee engagement and in specific cases leads to increased adaptability is developed.

Findings

While organizational engagement will have a positive effect on the individual’s ability to adapt to changes, job engagement will have the opposite effect, uncovering potential obstacles to change management in organizations.

Research limitations/implications

Suggestions for future research are provided with the intent to further academic research in this area. This model can serve as a starting point for future research design and can be tested in organizations undergoing various changes.

Practical implications

A positive culture fosters both job and organizational engagement within an organization. Managers can understand how to cultivate a positive, engaged environment for employees while understanding how certain job changes might have both positive and negative effects on an individual’s ability to adapt.

Originality/value

A model for identifying relationships between positive organizational behaviors, two types of employee engagement (organizational engagement and job engagement) and an individual’s ability to adapt to change is helpful to researchers and practitioners alike.
Multinational enterprises perceptions of the national corporate social responsibility priority issues in South Africa
Authors: Makka Anoosha , Nieuwenhuizen Cecile
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the perceptions of multinational enterprises (MNEs) representing four key economic sectors in South Africa regarding what the most important national corporate social responsibility (CSR) priority issues are for the country. This paper also investigates whether MNEs in South Africa are overwhelmed by the number of CSR issues in the country.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research approach was used. Thirty eight semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with CSR practitioners at MNEs in the banking and finance, manufacturing, mining and services sectors. Data were analysed by means of qualitative content analysis.

Findings

The majority of participants in this study indicated that the top three CSR priorities for South Africa in order of importance are education, training and skills development; building and developing local communities and health care and wellness. Another significant finding was that MNEs indicated that there are too many CSR issues in South Africa.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study highlight the need for South Africa to develop a national CSR index which clearly articulates the top CSR priorities of the country. This study explored the views of MNEs from four economic sectors of the South African economy. This study can be expanded to incorporate other sectors.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide guidelines to MNEs and firms about the key CSR priorities for the country.

Originality/value

As far as can be ascertained, this is the first study that seeks to identify the key national CSR priority issues for South Africa from the perspective of MNEs operating in the country. This study determines whether MNEs in South Africa are overwhelmed by the number of CSR issues that they are confronted with.
Revenue‐Sharing Contracts under Demand Uncertainty in Shopping Center
Authors: Monden Aika , Takashima Katsuyoshi , Zennyo Yusuke
Published: September 2018

This article investigates shopping center rent contracts that have a two‐part tariff structure: charging a fixed rent plus a percentage of sales. We consider a game‐theoretic model, wherein a shopping center developer offers different contracts for two types of retailers: large and small. The retailers face demand uncertainties. We show the developer offers a lower percentage fee for the large retailer. Alternatively, it offers a higher fixed fee for the large retailer, unless the small retailer faces largely uncertain demand. The developer's expected profit increases with the demand uncertainty, which would suggest the developer should assemble nearly homogeneous retailers.
Protective Effect of Grape Seed Procyanidins against H2O2‐Induced Oxidative Stress in PC‐12 Neuroblastoma Cells: Structure–Activity Relationships
Authors: Luo Lanxin , Bai Ruifang , Zhao Yuqing , Li Jing , Wei Zongmin , Wang Fang , Sun Baoshan
Published: September 2018

To establish a structure–activity relationship for procyanidins, we verified the cyto‐protective effect of 13 grape seed procyanidins, ranging from monomers to trimers against H2O2‐induced oxidative stress in PC‐12 neuroblastoma cells. Our study demonstrated some procyanidins were able to significantly protect PC‐12 cells from the H2O2‐induced cytotoxicity suggesting they possess neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress. Procyanidins’ protective effects against oxidative stress mainly depended on their polymerization degree in addition to their structural features. A positive correlation was found between procyanidins’ polymerization degree and the protective effect against oxidative stress in PC‐12 cells. The presence of 3‐ or 3’‐galloylated groups in the C‐ring of procyanidin molecules significantly increased their protective activity as well. These results demonstrated that galloylated high‐molecular‐mass procyanidins would be of more interesting as promising antioxidant natural compounds. This work for the first time demonstrated the structure–activity relationships of 13 procyanidins’ antioxidative stress activity, which could have a significant impact on future development of procyanidins for healthy food products or drugs to treat disease such as neurodegenerative disorders.

Practical Application

This work evaluated the protective effect of procyanidins against oxidative stress in PC‐12 neuroblastoma cells and established their activity–structure relationships, which provides useful cellular evidence for the further investigating the structure‐optimizing and function‐exploiting of procyanidins.