bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reassessing the chronology of the archaeological site of Anzick
Authors: Becerra-Valdivia Lorena , Waters Michael R. , Stafford Thomas W. , Anzick Sarah L. , Comeskey Daniel , Devièse Thibaut , Higham Thomas
Published: June 2018

Significance

The site of Anzick contains the only known Clovis burial. As such, it presents a significant opportunity to explore biocultural processes attributed to a key prehistoric complex within First Americans research. Considering the site’s uniqueness and the existing
14
C age discrepancy between the human remains (Anzick-1) and the associated Clovis assemblage, obtaining robust chronometric data for this site is crucial. Through the use of different pretreatment methods, this investigation has yielded a comprehensive chronometric dataset that shows, most relevantly, that Anzick-1 is temporally coeval with the Clovis artifacts found at the site.
Timing of DNA damage responses impacts persistence to fluoroquinolones
Authors: Mok Wendy W. K. , Brynildsen Mark P.
Published: June 2018

Significance

Bacterial persisters are able to survive high concentrations of antibiotics that kill their genetically identical kin. Their tolerances are thought to arise from decreased activity of cellular processes, which limits damage from antibiotics. However, persistence to fluoroquinolones in growth-inhibited populations is not as cut-and-dried, with survivors of treatment exhibiting similar DNA damage as cells that die. In this article, we use a model system of persistence to reveal that the timing of events, such as DNA repair, following fluoroquinolone treatment is critical to survival and show that the same is true for WT populations. These data highlight the importance of processes following antibiotic treatments to persister phenotypes and establish that timing matters for genetically susceptible bacteria struggling to survive fluoroquinolone treatments.
Dislocation-controlled formation and kinetics of grain boundary loops in two-dimensional crystals
Authors: Lavergne François A. , Curran Arran , Aarts Dirk G. A. L. , Dullens Roel P. A.
Published: June 2018

Significance

Twisting a circular patch inside a large crystal does not always lead to a bicrystal. This is due to the topological properties of the resulting loop-shaped grain boundaries and the defects they are made of. By deforming a crystalline monolayer of colloidal particles using optical tweezers, we find that the product of the angle of rotation and the size of the patch needs to exceed a universal value that depends only on the lattice type for a grain boundary loop to form, while otherwise the deformation is elastically restored. We measure this universal value from the shrinkage kinetics of grain boundary loops and relate it to the complex dislocation structure and reactions, which we directly visualize in our experiments.
Transcripts from downstream alternative transcription start sites evade uORF-mediated inhibition of gene expression in
Arabidopsis
Authors: Kurihara Yukio , Makita Yuko , Kawashima Mika , Fujita Tomoya , Iwasaki Shintaro , Matsui Minami
Published: June 2018

Significance

The upstream ORFs (uORFs) in the 5′UTRs of mRNA often function as repressors of main ORF translation or triggers of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. In this study, we report on transcription start site (TSS) selection when etiolated
Arabidopsis
seedlings are exposed to blue light, and reveal that transcription from uORF-avoiding TSSs is induced throughout the genome. It is possible that transcripts arising from TSSs downstream of uORFs evade uORF-mediated inhibition of gene expression. Thus, uORF-avoiding transcription starts are an important mechanism of gene expression regulation during a plant’s response to environmental changes.
Origami mechanologic
Authors: Treml Benjamin , Gillman Andrew , Buskohl Philip , Vaia Richard
Published: June 2018

Significance

Autonomy separates robots from machines. Incorporating autonomy into soft robots is an outstanding challenge due to the mismatch between rigid electronics and the compliant bodies. In this work, we demonstrate origami as a platform for compliant mechanical logic, containing mechanical bits, logic gates, and signal transmission mechanisms that can supplement conventional electronic controls. Furthermore, these processes can be responsive to and programmed by the environment via the integration of adaptive materials. Thus, origami provides a framework in which sensing, computation, and reflexes can be seamlessly integrated into the compliant bodies of soft robotics.
Structure of a lipid-bound viral membrane assembly protein reveals a modality for enclosing the lipid bilayer
Authors: Pathak Prabhat Kumar , Peng Shuxia , Meng Xiangzhi , Han Yue , Zhang Bing , Zhang Fushun , Xiang Yan , Deng Junpeng
Published: June 2018

Significance

Cellular membranes are maintained as closed structures in the cytosol, and any breaches in membranes during reorganization are transient. However, open-ended membranes, likely derived from the endoplasmic reticulum, persist in vaccinia virus-infected cells during the assembly of the vaccinia envelope. A group of viral proteins have been identified to be required for this process, providing a unique opportunity for dissecting the molecular mechanism of membrane scission and remodeling. Our structural and functional studies of one of these viral proteins reveal a cage-like soluble protein that traps internally multiple lipids with a bilayer-like configuration. Our studies reveal a protein modality for enclosing the lipid bilayer and suggest a mechanism for stabilizing the open-ended membrane sheets.
Kinetic analysis of the multistep aggregation pathway of human transthyretin
Authors: Sun Xun , Dyson H. Jane , Wright Peter E.
Published: June 2018

Significance

Aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins is implicated in a number of debilitating human diseases. A mechanistic understanding of their aggregation behavior requires a quantitative description of the multistep equilibria involved in the self-assembly processes. Here we report the application of an integrative aggregation assay combining
19
F-NMR and turbidity measurements to reveal the kinetics and energetics of the human transthyretin aggregation pathway. A highly sensitive trifluoroacetyl probe enables direct observation and quantification of a weakly populated aggregation intermediate and reveals the importance of hydrophobic interactions for self-association. Extension of these studies to common pathogenic variants that are associated with early onset familial disease provides insights into the effect of the mutations on the kinetics and energetics of transthyretin aggregation.
Molecular cloning, expression and biochemical characterization of periplasmic nitrate reductase from Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Mintmier Breeanna , McGarry Jennifer M , Sparacino-Watkins Courtney E , Sallmen Joseph , Fischer-Schrader Katrin , Magalon Axel , McCormick Joseph R , Stolz John F , Schwarz Günter , Bain Daniel J , Basu Partha
Published: June 2018

Campylobacter jejuni, a human gastrointestinal pathogen, uses nitrate for growth under microaerophilic conditions using periplasmic nitrate reductase (Nap). The catalytic subunit, NapA, contains two prosthetic groups, an iron sulfur cluster and a molybdenum cofactor. Here we describe the cloning, expression, purification, and Michaelis-Menten kinetics (kcat of 5.91 ± 0.18 s−1 and a KM (nitrate) of 3.40 ± 0.44 μM) in solution using methyl viologen as an electron donor. The data suggest that the high affinity of NapA for nitrate could support growth of C. jejuni on nitrate in the gastrointestinal tract. Site-directed mutagenesis was used and the codon for the molybdenum coordinating cysteine residue has been exchanged for serine. The resulting variant NapA is 4-fold less active than the native enzyme confirming the importance of this residue. The properties of the C. jejuni enzyme reported here represent the first isolation and characterization of an epsilonproteobacterial NapA. Therefore, the fundamental knowledge of Nap has been expanded.
A review of abstract concept learning in embodied agents and robots
Authors: Cangelosi Angelo , Stramandinoli Francesca
Published: June 2018

This paper reviews computational modelling approaches to the learning of abstract concepts and words in embodied agents such as humanoid robots. This will include a discussion of the learning of abstract words such as ‘use’ and ‘make’ in humanoid robot experiments, and the acquisition of numerical concepts via gesture and finger counting strategies. The current approaches share a strong emphasis on embodied cognition aspects for the grounding of abstract concepts, and a continuum, rather than dichotomy, view of concrete/abstract concepts differences.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Varieties of abstract concepts: development, use and representation in the brain’.
Language as a disruptive technology: abstract concepts, embodiment and the flexible mind
Authors: Dove Guy
Published: June 2018

A growing body of evidence suggests that cognition is embodied and grounded. Abstract concepts, though, remain a significant theoretical challenge. A number of researchers have proposed that language makes an important contribution to our capacity to acquire and employ concepts, particularly abstract ones. In this essay, I critically examine this suggestion and ultimately defend a version of it. I argue that a successful account of how language augments cognition should emphasize its symbolic properties and incorporate a view of embodiment that recognizes the flexible, multimodal and task-related nature of action, emotion and perception systems. On this view, language is an ontogenetically disruptive cognitive technology that expands our conceptual reach.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Varieties of abstract concepts: development, use and representation in the brain’.
Interoception: the forgotten modality in perceptual grounding of abstract and concrete concepts
Authors: Connell Louise , Lynott Dermot , Banks Briony
Published: June 2018

Conceptual representations are perceptually grounded, but when investigating which perceptual modalities are involved, researchers have typically restricted their consideration to vision, touch, hearing, taste and smell. However, there is another major modality of perceptual information that is distinct from these traditional five senses; that is, interoception, or sensations inside the body. In this paper, we use megastudy data (modality-specific ratings of perceptual strength for over 32 000 words) to explore how interoceptive information contributes to the perceptual grounding of abstract and concrete concepts. We report how interoceptive strength captures a distinct form of perceptual experience across the abstract–concrete spectrum, but is markedly more important to abstract concepts (e.g.hungry,serenity) than to concrete concepts (e.g.capacity,rainy). In particular, interoception dominates emotion concepts, especially negative emotions relating tofearandsadness, moreso than other concepts of equivalent abstractness and valence. Finally, we examine whether interoceptive strength represents valuable information in conceptual content by investigating its role in concreteness effects in word recognition, and find that it enhances semantic facilitation over and above the traditional five sensory modalities. Overall, these findings suggest that interoception has comparable status to other modalities in contributing to the perceptual grounding of abstract and concrete concepts.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Varieties of abstract concepts: development, use and representation in the brain'.
Sources of suboptimality in a minimalistic explore-exploit task
Authors: Song Mingyu , Bnaya Zahy , Ma Wei Ji
Published: June 2018

Balancing exploration and exploitation is a fundamental aspect of decision-making. It remains unknown whether people are close to optimal in striking this balance, and if not, how exactly their behavior deviates from optimality. Many existing paradigms are not ideally suited to answer this question, as they contain complexities such as non-stationary environments, stochasticity under exploitation, and reward distributions that are unknown to participants. Here, we introduce a task without such complexities, in which the optimal policy is to start off exploring and to switch to exploitation at most once in each sequence of decisions. The behavior of 49 laboratory and 143 online participants deviated both qualitatively and quantitatively from the optimal policy, even when allowing for bias and decision noise. Instead, people seem to follow a suboptimal rule in which they switch from exploration to exploitation when the highest reward so far exceeds a certain threshold. Moreover, we show that this threshold decreases approximately linearly with the proportion of the sequence that remains, suggesting a novel temporal ratio law. Finally, we find evidence for “sequence-level” variability which is shared across all decisions in the same sequence. Our results provide a new perspective on the explore-exploit dilemma, and emphasize the importance of examining sequence-level strategies and their variability when studying sequential decision-making.
Across-subject offline decoding of motor imagery from MEG and EEG
Authors: Halme Hanna-Leena , Parkkonen Lauri
Published: June 2018

Long calibration time hinders the feasibility of brain-computer interfaces (BCI). If other subjects’ data were used for training the classifier, BCI-based neurofeedback practice could start without the initial calibration. Here, we compare methods for inter-subject decoding of left- vs. right-hand motor imagery (MI) from MEG and EEG.

Six methods were tested on data involving MEG and EEG measurements of healthy participants. Only subjects with good within-subject accuracies were selected for inter-subject decoding. Three methods were based on the Common Spatial Patterns (CSP) algorithm, and three others on logistic regression with l1- or l2,1-norm regularization. The decoding accuracy was evaluated using 1) MI and 2) passive movements (PM) for training, separately for MEG and EEG.

When the classifier was trained by MI, the best accuracies across subjects (mean 70.6% for MEG, 67.7% for EEG) were obtained using multi-task learning (MTL) with logistic regression and l2,1-norm regularization. MEG yielded slightly better average accuracies than EEG. When PM were used for training, none of the inter-subject methods yielded above chance level (58.7%) accuracy.

In conclusion, MTL and training with other subject’s MI is efficient for inter-subject decoding of MI. Passive movements of other subjects are likely suboptimal for training the MI classifiers.
On the Orientation of Entorhinal Grids
Authors: Lebedev Mikhail A. , Ossadtchi Alexei
Published: June 2018

In the groundbreaking paper that eventually led to the 2014 Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine, Hafting et al. (2005) reported that when rats forage for chocolate crumbs in a large open field, some neurons in their entorhinal cortex, called grid cells, exhibit crystalline-like responses to animal position, i.e. grids. Among several key findings documented in this article, the authors noted for the first time that the grids of different neurons can be tilted relative to each other, particularly if these neurons are far apart. In support of this claim, the researchers illustrated two neuronal subpopulations with a 7-10° difference in their grid orientations. Since these data are available online, we were able to reexamine these findings. Here we report several clarifications to the original observations of Hafting et al. First, we show that the relationship between the entorhinal grids is more complex than a single rotation: for the neuronal subpopulations analyzed by Hafting et al., one axis of the hexagonal grid is indeed tilted, but the other axes are not. Second, we show that local ensembles of entorhinal neurons are preferentially tuned to certain directions defined by the grid; this effect is unclear when single neurons are analyzed in isolation. Third, we argue that rat navigation traces are patterned instead of being random. For example, the orientation of the vector field representing average velocity appears to match the orientation of the neuronal grid. Overall, our observations indicate that additional insights into the function of entorhinal grids could be provided by ensemble-level analyses and thorough examination of the connection between the navigation behavior and neuronal patterns.

Highlights

While our examination of the online dataset from Hafting et al. generally confirms their original findings, several clarifications should be made.

For the two neuronal subpopulations, where Hafting et al. reported a 7-10° relative tilt between the grids, only one of the grid axes is tilted, whereas the others are not.

When spatial response fields are plotted for neuronal subpopulations instead of single neurons, it is clear that each subpopulation exhibits spatially periodic bands aligned with one of the grid axes.

Navigation traces are not random and appear to match the orientation and periodicity of the neuronal grid.
Substrate-dependent cluster density dynamics in bacterial phosphotransferase system permeases
Authors: Benevides Martins Gustavo , Giacomelli Giacomo , Bramkamp Marc
Published: June 2018

Bacteria take up carbohydrates by membrane-integral sugar specific phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent carbohydrate:phosphotransferase systems (PTS). Although PTS is at the heart of bacterial carbon uptake and centrally involved in regulation of carbon metabolism, little is known about localization and putative oligomerization of the permease subunits (EII) of PTS. Here, we analyzed localization of the fructose specific PtsF and the glucose specific PtsG transporters from C. glutamicum using widefield and single molecule localization microscopy. PtsG and PtsF form membrane embedded clusters that localize in a punctate pattern within the cell membrane. The size, number and fluorescence of the observed clusters changes upon presence or absence of the transported substrate. In presence of the transport substrate clusters significantly increased in size. Photo-activated localization microscopy (PALM) data revealed that, in presence of different carbon sources, the number of EII protein events per cluster remain the same, however the density of PTS molecules within a cluster reduces. Our work reveals a simple mechanism for efficient membrane occupancy regulation. Clusters of PTS EII transporters are densely packed in absence of a suitable substrate. In presence of a transport substrate the EII proteins in individual clusters occupy larger membrane areas, thereby decreasing protein density in individual clusters. This mechanism allows for efficient use of the limited membrane space under varying growth conditions without need of protein removal and re-synthesis.

Importance

The carbohydrate transport system PTS is centrally involved in the regulation of sugar metabolism. Although much is known about the regulatory interaction, the genetic control and the structure/function relationship of the individual PTS components, we know almost nothing about the spatio-temporal organization of the PTS proteins within the cell. We find dynamic clustering of PTS permeases in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Using single molecule resolution photo-activated localization microscopy we could show that PTS EII protein cluster are dynamically changing protein density upon substrate availability. Our findings imply a novel strategy of regulating limited membrane space efficiently. Furthermore, these data will provide important insights in modelling carbohydrate fluxes in cells, since current models assume a homogeneous distribution of PTS permeases within the membrane.
Highly accelerated rates of heritable large-scale mutations under prolonged exposure to a metal mixture of copper and nickel
Authors: Chain Frédéric J.J. , Flynn Jullien M. , Bull James K. , Cristescu Melania E.
Published: June 2018

Mutation rate variation has been under intense investigation for decades. Despite these efforts, little is known about the extent to which environmental stressors accelerate mutation rates and influence the genetic load of populations. Moreover, most studies have focused on point mutations rather than large-scale deletions and duplications (copy number variations or “CNVs”). We estimated mutation rates inDaphnia pulexexposed to low levels of environmental stressors as well as the effect of selection onde novomutations. We conducted a mutation accumulation (MA) experiment in which selection was minimized, coupled with an experiment in which a population was propagated under competitive conditions in a benign environment. After an average of 103 generations of MA propagation, we sequenced 60 genomes and found significantly accelerated rates of deletions and duplications in MA lines exposed to ecologically relevant concentrations of metals. Whereas control lines had gene deletion and duplication rates comparable to other multicellular eukaryotes (1.8 × 10−6per gene per generation), a mixture of nickel and copper increased rates fourfold. The realized mutation rate under selection was reduced to 0.4x that of control MA lines, providing evidence that CNVs contribute to mutational load. Our CNV breakpoint analysis revealed that nonhomologous recombination associated with regions of DNA fragility is the primary source of CNVs, plausibly linking metal-induced DNA strand breaks with higher CNV rates. Our findings suggest that environmental stress, in particular multiple stressors, can have profound effects on large-scale mutation rates and mutational load of populations.
Low-frequency variation in TP53 has large effects on head circumference and intracranial volume
Authors: Haworth Simon , Shapland Chin Yang , Hayward Caroline , Prins Bram P. , Felix Janine F. , Medina-Gomez Carolina , Rivadeneira Fernando , Wang Carol , Ahluwalia Tarunveer S , Vrijheid Martine , Guxens Mònic , Sunyer Jordi , Tachmazidou Ioanna , Walter Klaudia , Iotchkova Valentina , Jackson Andrew , Cleal Louise , Huffmann Jennifer , Min Josine L. , Sass Lærke , Timmers Paul R. H. J. ,   UK10K consortium, Smith George Davey , Fisher Simon E. , Wilson James F. , Cole Tim J. , Fernandez-Orth Dietmar , Bønnelykke Klaus , Bisgaard Hans , Pennell Craig E. , Jaddoe Vincent W. V. , Dedoussis George , Timpson Nicholas , Zeggini Eleftheria , Vitart Veronique , Pourcain Beate
Published: June 2018

Cranial growth and development affects the closely related traits of head circumference (HC) and intracranial volume (ICV). Here we model the developmental genetic architecture of HC, showing this is genetically stable and correlated with genetic determinants of ICV. Investigating up to 46,000 children and adults of European descent, we identify association with final HC and/or final ICV+HC at 9 novel common and low-frequency loci, illustrating that genetic variation from a wide allele frequency spectrum contributes to cranial growth. The largest effects are reported for low-frequency variants within TP53, with 0.5 cm wider heads in increaser-allele carriers versus non-carriers during mid-childhood.
When an insecticide affects the adaptive value of intraguild predation by an invader
Authors: Cabrera Paula , Cormier Daniel , Bessette Marianne , Cruz Vanessa , Lucas Éric
Published: June 2018

Biological invasions can generate major ecological disturbances, such as changes in species diversity and structure of communities. It is believed that the multicolored Asian ladybeetle,Harmonia axyridisPallas (Col, Coccinellidae), recognized as one of the most invasive insects in the world, has reduced native coccinellids populations in several areas and is considered as a threat for biodiversity at large. A significant trait, favoring its invasiveness and its dominance over indigenous ladybeetles, is intraguild predation (IGP). IGP has advantageous adaptive value for individuals, removing competitors, potential predators and providing an alternative nutritive resource, when main resources are scarce. Previous research demonstrated that this invasive ladybeetle is highly susceptible to the reduced-risk insecticide novaluron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, whereas the North American indigenous competitor,Coleomegilla maculataDeGeer (Col, Coccinellidae), is not. Our study explores the adaptive value of IGP for each of the two coccinellids after preying on each other’s larvae, previously treated with insecticide. Our first hypothesis is that the invasive ladybeetle, susceptible to the insecticide, should lose the adaptive value of IGP, while the native predator not. Our second hypothesis is that the adaptive value of IGP for the invasive predator will be recovered over time, as a result of neutralisation of the insecticide by the intraguild prey (native species). The results support both hypotheses, and show that an insecticide can completely remove the adaptive value of IGP for the invader, while it does not change for the indigenous ladybeetle. Moreover, the study demonstrates that if the intraguild prey (non-susceptible to the insecticide) undergoes molt after being exposed to the insecticide, the adaptive value for the intraguild predator is restored.
Epigenetic maintenance of topological domains in the highly rearranged gibbon genome
Authors: Lazar Nathan H. , Nevonen Kimberly A. , O'Connell Brendan , McCann Christine , O'Neill Rachel J. , Green Richard E. , Meyer Thomas J. , Okhovat Mariam , Carbone Lucia
Published: June 2018

The relationship between evolutionary genome remodeling and the three-dimensional structure of the genome remain largely unexplored. Here, we use the heavily rearranged gibbon genome to examine how evolutionary chromosomal rearrangements impact genome-wide chromatin interactions, topologically associating domains (TADs), and their epigenetic landscape. We use high-resolution maps of gibbon–human breaks of synteny (BOS), apply Hi-C in gibbon, measure an array of epigenetic features, and perform cross-species comparisons. We find that gibbon rearrangements occur at TAD boundaries, independent of the parameters used to identify TADs. This overlap is supported by a remarkable genetic and epigenetic similarity between BOS and TAD boundaries, namely presence of CpG islands and SINE elements, and enrichment in CTCF and H3K4me3 binding. Cross-species comparisons reveal that regions orthologous to BOS also correspond with boundaries of large (400–600 kb) TADs in human and other mammalian species. The colocalization of rearrangement breakpoints and TAD boundaries may be due to higher chromatin fragility at these locations and/or increased selective pressure against rearrangements that disrupt TAD integrity. We also examine the small portion of BOS that did not overlap with TAD boundaries and gave rise to novel TADs in the gibbon genome. We postulate that these new TADs generally lack deleterious consequences. Last, we show that limited epigenetic homogenization occurs across breakpoints, irrespective of their time of occurrence in the gibbon lineage. Overall, our findings demonstrate remarkable conservation of chromatin interactions and epigenetic landscape in gibbons, in spite of extensive genomic shuffling.
Fully automated beamline control system for XAS beamlines
Authors: Mangold Stefan
Published: June 2018

Owing to the growing demand for complex in situ experiments, the handling of synchrotron experiments has become increasingly complicated. The control system at the XAS beamline of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology synchrotron was automated based on a user-driven development cycle. By combining intelligent remote-controlled hardware and highly integrated software layers it is now possible to record data with a high level of reproducibility, eliminating human malperformance. The additional advantage of automation is the possibility of real 24/7 operation without tiring. This paper focuses on the options of optimization and enhancement in the data acquisition.
Wine business performance benchmarking: a comparison of German and Ukrainian wineries
Authors: Goncharuk Anatoliy G.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare the efficiency of wine making in Germany and Ukraine in order to find the controllable factors of wine business performance using benchmarking tools.

Design/methodology/approach

The models of data envelopment analysis and other benchmarking tools are used to analyse the efficiency of wineries in two countries. Returns to scale, scale efficiency, super-efficiency and some other indicators are examined. The research is based on the sample of 36 German and Ukrainian wineries.

Findings

The hypothesis of higher wine making relative efficiency in Germany was compared with Ukrainian wine making, then analytically and statistically verified. A relatively high average scale efficiency score indicates good potential (above 30 per cent) for efficiency growth, due to the optimisation of a scale of production and sales. Generally, wine making in Germany and Ukraine has increasing returns to scale. The high-efficient wine business cannot bring great losses. It was found that the most efficient combinations of size and legal form of business organisation for wine business are presented in Germany.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by a single industry of only the two countries.

Practical implications

This study provides useful information for researchers, investors and policy makers, enabling them to understand the current state, basic problems, controllable factors and efficiency levels of wine making in Germany and Ukraine. It may be useful to wine producers in these countries for improving their business performance.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that compares wine business performance and discloses its factors for Germany and Ukraine.
A SERVQUAL approach to identifying the influences of service quality on leasing market segment in the German financial sector
Authors: Ramanathan Usha , Win Sandar , Wien Andreas
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the nature of the relationship between service quality and desired customer behaviours in the leasing market using an appropriate service quality measurement model. The authors take a step further by recognising the possible differences in influence of service quality in private and corporate customers, and those business dealings with low, medium and high lease values.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use deduction method to test the SERVQUAL in the German leasing market and the relationship between customer satisfaction and desired behavioural outcomes. The developed questionnaire is based on the 22-item scale of the SERVQUAL approach. Samples are selected based on convenience sampling.

Findings

The authors found differences in the levels of influence by SERVQUAL dimensions on corporate and private customers as well as among those customers with different leasing contract values. From the regression analyses, it is clear that “assurance” from the leasing company is the most common SERVQUAL dimension that has significant impact on overall service quality perceptions and obtaining customers satisfaction and loyalty (behavioural outcomes).

Originality/value

The authors recognised that all financial services are not created equally to meet customer demands. Hence, the customer expectations of service quality from these services will be different. The authors contributed to the marketing literature by studying customer perceptions of service quality by specifying financing aspects of financial services, i.e. leasing. The authors further contributed to the literature of SERVQUAL model in financial services by dividing customers into two different types of customers and those with diverse leasing contract values. The authors found that priorities given on service quality dimensions by them are different. These concepts were never considered in the literature. This also implies that future studies on financial services marketing need to recognise such differences in the research.
Positive moods and word-of-mouth in the banking industry
Authors: Lien Che-Hui , Wu Jyh-Jeng , Hsu Maxwell K. , Wang Stephen W.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of functional value and symbolic value between positive moods and word-of-mouth (WOM) referrals in the context of Taiwan’s banking industry. In addition, this study investigates the moderating effect of relational benefits on the relationship between perceived value and WOM.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model was tested using data collected from customers (n=362) of the top 10 domestic banks in Taiwan. Structure equation modeling was employed to test and validate the conceptual model.

Findings

Positive moods are found to be an important predictor of functional value, symbolic value and WOM in this banking service study. Four types of relational benefits are identified including social, special treatment, confidence and face. Note that two distinct segments of bank customers are identified in terms of relational benefits: those who appreciate face benefits (n1=169), and those who appreciate general relational benefits (n2=193). The findings reveal the existence of partial mediation between a banking customer’s mood and WOM through functional value and symbolic value in the overall sample (n=362). However, it was found that functional value partially mediates the influence of positive moods on WOM among respondents in the “general relational benefits” segment only. That is, relational benefits are found to moderate the relationship between functional value and WOM.

Originality/value

This study expands the existing body of knowledge on customers’ perceptions of value by differentiating types of value perceptions.
Multicriteria reliability modeling and optimisation of a complex system with dual failure modes and high initial reliability
Authors: Twum Stephen Boakye , Aspinwall Elaine
Published: June 2018

Purpose

System reliability optimisation in today’s world is critical to ensuring customer satisfaction, businesses competitiveness, secure and uninterrupted delivery of services and safety of operations. Among many systems configurations, complex systems are the most difficult to model for reliability optimisation. The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance of a novel optimisation methodology of the authors, developed to address the difficulties in the context of a gas carrying system (GCS) exhibiting dual failure modes and high initial reliability.

Design/methodology/approach

The minimum cut sets involving components of the system were obtained using the fault tree approach, and their reliability constituted into criteria which were maximised and the associated cost of improving their reliabilities minimised. Pareto optimal generic components and system reliabilities were subsequently obtained.

Findings

The results indicate that the optimisation methodology could improve the system’s reliability even from an initially high one, granted that the feasibility factor for improving a component’s reliability was very high. The results obtained, in spite of the size (41 objective functions and 18 decision variables), the complexity (dual failure modes) and the high initial reliability values provide confidence in the optimisation model and methodology and demonstrate their applicability to systems exhibiting multiple failure modes.

Research limitations/implications

The GCS was assumed either failed or operational, its parameters precisely determined, and non-repairable. The components failure rates were exponentially distributed and failure modes independent. A single weight vector representing expression of preference in which components reliabilities were weighted higher than cost was used due to the stability of the optimisation model to weight variations.

Practical implications

The high initial reliability values imply that reliability improvement interventions may not be a critical requirement for the GCS. The high levels could be sustained through planned and systematic inspection and maintenance activities. Even so, purely from an analytical stand point, the results nevertheless show that there was some room for reliability improvement however marginal that is. The improvement may be secured by: use of components with comparable levels of reliability to those achieved; use of redundancy techniques to achieve the desired levels of improvement in reliability; or redesigning of the components.

Originality/value

The novelty of this work is in the use of a reliability optimisation model and methodology that focuses on a system’s minimum cut sets as criteria to be optimised in order to optimise the system’s reliability, and the specific application to a complex system exhibiting dual failure modes and high component reliabilities.
Assessment of ISO 9001:2015 implementation factors based on AHP
Authors: Almeida Diogo , Pradhan Ninad , Muniz Jr Jorge
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss factors to support ISO 9001:2015 implementation. A framework for identification and prioritization of factors is applied in Brazilian power train suppliers (Tier 1). Brazil is the eighth largest vehicle manufacturer in the world.

Design/methodology/approach

The data analysis presented in this paper is grounded in an empirical study involving ISO 9001 certified Brazilian companies (47 plants) that supply auto parts to power train assembly plants. They represent almost 50 percent of the Tier 1 Brazilian power train suppliers. Data collection and analysis is performed with the participation of managers who are experts in quality management systems and ISO 9001. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) supports the mixed methods approach. The data analysis is broken down by electrical components, machining, sub-components and small parts manufacturers.

Findings

The factors assessed are top management commitment, team commitment, training, responsibilities and authorities defined, schedule for implementation, quality culture, resource availability, integration between departments, level of bureaucracy as well as level of awareness regarding the ISO 9001 significance. A new factor was identified, which was not cited in the literature, quality staff reliability.

Research limitations/implications

The research is applied to suppliers of powertrain manufacturers and could reflect other sectors. It is important observe that the automotive sector represents a microcosm of the organization in general and many production models stem from there.

Practical implications

Understanding the critical factors is important to ensure that managers allocate resources appropriately during implementation and maintenance of ISO 9001:2015.

Social implications

Organizations around the world have, until 2018, to upgrade their quality systems to ISO 9001:2015 and the results of this paper can support strategies and decision making about that.

Originality/value

This paper evidences the relative importance among factors and ranks item in order of importance for ISO 9001:2015 implementation. Prior studies indicate the need to develop a mixed methods study to examine the role of the critical factors to support the ISO 9001:2015 implementation as done in this paper.
Proposing the core contributor withdrawal theory (CCWT) to understand core contributor withdrawal from online peer-production communities
Authors: Jiang Ling , Mirkovski Kristijan , D. Wall Jeffrey , Wagner Christian , Benjamin Lowry Paul
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Drawing on sensemaking and emotion regulation research, the purpose of this paper is to reconceptualize core contributor withdrawal (CCW) in the context of online peer-production communities (OPPCs). To explain the underlying mechanisms that make core contributors withdraw from these communities, the authors propose a process theory of contributor withdrawal called the core contributor withdrawal theory (CCWT).

Design/methodology/approach

To support CCWT, a typology of unmet expectations of online communities is presented, which uncovers the cognitive and emotional processing involved. To illustrate the efficacy of CCWT, a case study of the English version of Wikipedia is provided as a representative OPPC.

Findings

CCWT identifies sensemaking and emotion regulation concerning contributors’ unmet expectations as causes of CCW from OPPCs, which first lead to declined expectations, burnout and psychological withdrawal and thereby to behavioral withdrawal.

Research limitations/implications

CCWT clearly identifies how and why important participation transitions, such as from core contributor to less active contributor or non-contributor, take place. By adopting process theories, CCWT provides a nuanced explanation of the cognitive and affective events that take place before core contributors withdraw from OPPCs.

Practical implications

CCWT highlights the challenge of online communities shifting from recruiting new contributors to preventing loss of existing contributors in the maturity stage. Additionally, by identifying the underlying cognitive and affective processes that core contributors experience in response to unexpected events, communities can develop safeguards to prevent or correct cognitions and emotions that lead to withdrawal.

Originality/value

CCWT provides a theoretical framework that accounts for the negative cognitions and affects that lead to core contributors’ withdrawal from online communities. It furthers the understanding of what motivates contributing to and what leads to withdrawal from OPPC.
Delivering the promises of trait‐based approaches to the needs of demographic approaches, and vice versa
Authors: Salguero‐Gómez Roberto , Violle Cyrille , Gimenez Olivier , Childs Dylan
Published: June 2018

Few facets of biology vary more than functional traits and life‐history traits. To explore this vast variation, functional ecologists and population ecologists have developed independent approaches that identify the mechanisms behind and consequences of trait variation.

Collaborative research between researchers using trait‐based and demographic approaches remains scarce. We argue that this is a missed opportunity, as the strengths of both approaches could help boost the research agendas of functional ecology and population ecology.

This special feature, which spans three journals of the British Ecological Society due to its interdisciplinary nature, showcases state‐of‐the‐art research applying trait‐based and demographic approaches to examine relationships between organismal function, life history strategies and population performance across multiple kingdoms. Examples include the exploration of how functional trait × environment interactions affect vital rates and thus explain population trends and species occurrence; the coordination of seed traits and dispersal ability with the pace of life in plants; the incorporation of functional traits in dynamic energy budget models; or the discovery of linkages between microbial functional traits and the fast–slow continuum.

Despite their historical isolation, collaborative work between functional ecologists and population ecologists could unlock novel research pathways. We call for an integrative research agenda to evaluate which and when traits are functional, as well as their ability to describe and predict life history strategies and population dynamics. We highlight promising, complementary research avenues to overcome current limitations. These include a more explicit linkage of selection gradients in the context of functional trait–vital rate relationships, and the implementation of standardised protocols to track changes in traits and vital rates over time at the same location and individuals, thus allowing for the explicit incorporation of trade‐offs in analyses of covariation of functional traits and life‐history traits.
Red‐backed fairywrens adjust habitat use in response to dry season fires
Authors: Sommer Nathalie R. , Moody Nicole M. , Lantz Samantha M. , Leu Matthias , Karubian Jordan , Swaddle John P.
Published: June 2018

Fire disturbance in tropical savannas is integral to maintaining habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity, but its impact on avian species is highly variable. Savannas in northern Australia have recently been invaded by gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus), a perennial tussock grass that fuels late season fires at eight times the intensity of native vegetation. As gamba grass rapidly outcompetes native species and promotes more frequent and intense fires, it greatly decreases landscape heterogeneity and alters the effect of fire in tropical savannas. To investigate how a small passerine, the red‐backed fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus), responds to fire disturbance and gamba grass cover, we studied their fine‐scale habitat use throughout the dry season before and after a high intensity fire. We used two spatially distinct approaches, radio‐telemetry and a transect‐based population census, to quantify fairywren habitat use at the group and population level, respectively. Radio‐telemetry and transect surveys revealed no direct mortality associated with the severe bushfire during the middle of the study season, suggesting fairywrens are resilient in the short‐term to fire disturbance. Our results indicate that fairywrens are largely flexible in their habitat use – instead of relocating after fire, they re‐centre their home range around the most photosynthetically productive habitats, dominated by saplings. While we found substantial variation in habitat use among social groups, red‐backed fairywren groups generally avoided dense habitat areas dominated by mature gamba grass. We conclude that red‐backed fairywrens are resilient to fire and flexible in their habitat use in the short‐term; however, in the long‐term, gamba grass may pose a threat to population viability. The importance of flexible behavioural strategies in tropical passerines will increase as fire regimes are exacerbated by invasive species and climate change.
Newly developed serine protease inhibitors decrease visceral hypersensitivity in a post‐inflammatory rat model for irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Ceuleers Hannah , Hanning Nikita , Heirbaut Jelena , Van Remoortel Samuel , Joossens Jurgen , Van Der Veken Pieter , Francque Sven M , De bruyn Michelle , Lambeir Anne‐Marie , De Man Joris G , Timmermans Jean‐Pierre , Augustyns Koen , De Meester Ingrid , De Winter Benedicte Y
Published: June 2018

Background and Purpose

Serine proteases have been re suggested as important mediators of visceral pain. We investigated their effect by using newly developed serine protease inhibitors with a well‐characterized inhibitory profile in a rat model of post‐inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Experimental Approach

Colitis was induced in rats receiving intrarectal trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid; controls received 0.9% NaCl. Colonoscopies were performed on day 3, to confirm colitis, and later until mucosal healing. Visceral hypersensitivity was quantified by visceromotor responses (VMRs) to colorectal distension, 30 min after i.p. injection of the serine protease inhibitors nafamostat, UAMC‐00050 or UAMC‐01162. Serine proteases, protease‐activated receptors (PARs) and TRP channels were quantified by qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Proteolytic activity was characterized using fluorogenic substrates.

Key Results

VMR was significantly elevated in post‐colitis rats. Nafamostat normalized VMRs at the lowest dose tested. UAMC‐00050 and UAMC‐01162 significantly decreased VMR dose‐dependently. Expression of mRNA for tryptase‐αβ‐1and PAR4, and tryptase immunoreactivity was significantly increased in the colon of post‐colitis animals. Trypsin‐like activity was also significantly increased in the colon but not in the faeces. PAR2 and TRPA1 immunoreactivity co‐localized with CGRP‐positive nerve fibres in control and post‐colitis animals.

Conclusions and Implications

Increased expression of serine proteases and activity together with increased expression of downstream molecules at the colonic and DRG level and in CGRP‐positive sensory nerve fibres imply a role for serine proteases in post‐inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity. Our results support further investigation of serine protease inhibitors as an interesting treatment strategy for IBS‐related visceral pain.